Asking | By : superrogue17 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 22233 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
"...Your parents are the reason I switched sides."
Neville was crying, wishing he'd never asked. "I need to go." And he ran away.
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"Your dad really made you watch all that, Malfoy?"
"Yeah, and that was the condensed version, Potter. It was even worse to watch than to hear, especially since my father thought it was one of the greatest exhibitions of dark power ever."
"No offense, but your dad was a sick bastard."
"I know trust me, I know. I asked my mother about it after he died. She said it was one of the worst things she ever saw in her life and, if my aunt hadn't threatened to do similarly to me, she'd have gone to the authorities in a heartbeat. She also said it was the reason she was so against Father taking me before Voldemort. She was afraid I'd be forced to do similar things."
"You mentioned earlier a task that Voldemort gave you, what was it?"
"Well, Little Weasley, I was supposed to figure a way to get the Death Eaters into Hogwarts and kill Dumbledore."
"Is that how he died? Did you kill him?"
"No, though he wanted me to. I was standing there with my wand pointed at him, the words on my tongue and I just couldn't do it. I couldn't get the words past my lips. All I could think was, my parents and I are going to die. I couldn't kill him and my parents were going to die for it. Then Uncle Sev came in, he put his hand on my shoulder and looked proud that I didn't have it in me. He took his wand out, nodded to Dumbledore, and cast the killing curse. I found out later, that he had agreements with both my mother and Dumbledore to do it if I couldn't."
"Why couldn't you do it, Draco?"
"The old man had never been anything but kind to me. He'd give me these Muggle candies, Jolly Ranchers he called them, I loved them. Uncle Sev told me that in order to cast the killing curse you had to find some true hatred in your heart for the person you want to kill. Uncle Sev didn't hate Dumbledore, he just hated that the old man put him and me in that position. He said he used that to cast the curse. I've only ever hated two people; Voldemort and Father. I couldn't find the hatred to kill the old man. It just wasn't in me."
"I'm glad. I mean, I'm sad that Snape had to kill Headmaster Dumbledore, but I'm glad you couldn't do it."
"So were Uncle Sev and Mother. Honestly, so am I. It's just a damn shame the old man had to die to get to this point."
"Well, I figure he's happy that You-Know-Who is gone, even if he did have to die."
"I know he is, Ron. I talk to his portrait almost every day."
"Dumbledore has a portrait? Where is it, Potter?"
"In the Headmistress' office, Malfoy. You didn't know?"
"Bloody Hell, Potter! Of course I didn't know. I'd have gone to him for help from the start if I had known. Let's go, I have a portrait to talk to."
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Outside the Headmistress' office:
"Potter, do you know the password?"
"Yes, McGonagall decided to follow Dumbledore’s lead. The password is 'Lemon Drop'."
At those words, the door to the office opened and the four young people walked in.
"Hello, students. I trust all is well. Is there something you need?"
"Yes, Headmistress, we'd like to speak with Dumbledore if it's possible."
"I am here, Mr. Potter. What would you like to speak to me about?"
"Actually, sir, I’m the one who needs to speak to you. It's about the Head Girl."
"Would this, by any chance, have to do with a certain new Ministry Law Severus informed us about?"
{I might've known Uncle Sev would come to him with that information.} "Yes, sir. I could really use some advice. Hermione doesn't seem open to the possibility of my having changed. In fact, she's apparently considering the best possible way to kill me and not end up in Azkaban."
"Hmmm, were I you, Mr. Malfoy, I would not be concerned. Ms. Granger is quite talented with her hexes and curses. However, luckily for you, she's not truly likely to kill you; it's not really in her nature."
"I'm not worried that she'll kill me, just that she'll never believe I've changed. I need some way to convince her. I was hoping, sir, that you might have some suggestions to add to the ones I've already received."
"The simple answer, while difficult, would be to be nice to her both privately and publicly. Publicly does have its drawbacks, as your housemates do not know of your previous change of heart. However, when the Law is revealed, it will make your actions less suspicious to them."
"My concern there is whether the other Slytherins will take it out on me or her? Pansy is a perfect example; she fancies herself the future Mrs. Malfoy and tends to be rather rude to any female that gets within ten meters of me. Hermione’s blood status will just be an extra motivation for her to be cruel. Crabbe and Goyle are another example; they're too well heeled to challenge me, but they'd love nothing more than to cause Hermione grief."
"Malfoy, did your father and Mr. Parkinson have a marriage contract drawn up for the two of you?"
"No, why, Weasley?"
"Simple, you need to tell her there was no agreement finalized and you have no intention of marrying her. I mean, you are Lord Malfoy now, right? You control your family's future."
{Hmm, that might be the most intelligent thing I've ever heard come out of the weasel's mouth.}"Good point, Weasley. Yes, very good point. I do think I'll be taking a detour through the Slytherin House common rooms in the near future."
"And as for Crabbe and Goyle, if they're dumb enough to challenge Hermione, they deserve everything they get and then some."
"You are correct, Little Weasley. She can take care of herself, no need to worry. I think I'll be going now, I believe that before we met, Longbottom left the muggle flowers in my room.”
"How'd he get them in there?"
"I gave him the password when he told me the flowers had arrived, Potter."
"You may want to change your password. Neville's hurting now, but once he gets his wits about him, he'll be angry. And an angry Neville is an irrational Neville."
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A/N: Thank you for the reviews and kind words. Sorry for the delay, I lost the betaed copy of the story and had to do some retrieval work.
LunaSeay: I'm glad you love it. It would be very disheartening if my beta wasn't enjoying what I write.
catysmom: I'll update just as fast as I can, I'm kinda impatient when it comes to fanfics myself.
Donavonee: I'm truly glad you thought the last chapter was that good. I was kind of concerned how it would be received considering the way the story had gone previously.
liuv2dance: Thanx. I kinda like the premise myself. :D
dells: You're gonna love what Hermione does when she finds out what's been going on.
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