Temptations | By : Nikkilicious Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 16330 -:- 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. |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any part of the franchise. This is a work of fanfiction, written solely for the enjoyment of myself and other fans. No profit is being made off of this work.
AN: This isn’t a filler chapter, though it might feel like it, lol! But it had to be put in. Also, there are probably going to be about two or three chapters left, depending. Its almost over! Aww.
Enjoy. And thanks to my beta: me_4_ever.
“We dance round in a ring and suppose, While the secret sits in the middle and knows”
-- Robert Frost
They were in separate beds when the Ministry members came in. Madam Pomfrey had woken them up hours earlier so that they could get cleaned up and eat. She hadn’t said a word to either; just led them to the bathroom and then re-bandaged their wounds again, if needed. Hermione and Draco hadn’t said anything to each other either. As far as they were concerned, there was nothing to say.
McGonagall and Snape had come in to the Hospital Wing first. From the looks that they were giving, neither seemed happy about what was going to happen. But the meeting was a necessity. Everyone was more than curious as to what had occured over the last few weeks and some questions were going to have to be answered.
“I know you’ve barely gotten settled but the sooner we get this over with, the better. I’m warning you right now, its not going to be fun. For all intents and purposes this is going to be an interrogation.” She told them.
Snape kept his mouth shut and stood to the side, but, Hermione saw something that she’d never seen in him before. Concern shone through his eyes, coming through the fog of his normally stormy orbs. He was hiding it but she noticed it, though, and wasn‘t sure how to feel about it.
When the Ministry officials came in, Aurors were at their sides. They were silent, not even offering a greeting, and it made the entire situation seem very foreboding. The five of them set up their chairs in a straight line and sat down. Hermione was slightly offended by it all; she had been missing for weeks and been through hell and back. Weren’t they supposed to be even a little sympathetic? Hermione and Draco weren‘t the bad guys, but the Ministry was sure acting like it.
The man in the middle cleared his throat and the second he did the other four officials around him pulled out parchment and quills. Crossing his legs, he rested his hands in his lap and looked at the two students in the beds across from one another.
“We’re here as official Ministry representatives and we are going to ask you some questions concerning your whereabouts these past few weeks. I’d like, first, for you to tell us exactly what happened to you. Start from the beginning and don’t leave anything out.” Hermione immediately disliked him and her opinion wasn’t far off from Draco’s.
But, never-the-less, she, and Draco, told them everything that happened, with exceptions. Certain parts of the stories just had to be left out. Just the thought of what they’d done made Hermione blush, which she hoped had gone unnoticed by everyone in the room.
The officials and Aurors stayed quiet and listened intently. The only sound in the room besides Hermione and Draco’s voices were the scratching of the quills as they took notes on what the two students were saying. It was a long, detailed story, but finally they finished. Thick silence filled the room as Hermione and Draco waited for a reaction.
The man in the middle once again cleared his throat.
“So you are saying that when you disappeared from the forest you ended up in a place that resembled some familiar Wizard location and each time you seemed to be overrun with a new emotion?” He inquired, slightly disbelievingly.
Both nodded, though, the way he said it angered them greatly.
“And you just… worked your way out, did you? Never ran into any trouble?” He was leading them, they knew. He didn’t trust a thing they said and now they were starting to think that he was almost suspicious of them.
But they said nothing and again, they nodded. As far as trouble went, Hermione and Draco told them about the fight at the end but they didn’t exactly reveal every little detail. They just said they got into a scuffle and as they were fighting, they magically ended up back at Hogwarts.
“And you have no idea how you got home.” This time, it was a statement and said snobbishly at that. Draco couldn’t keep it in anymore.
“No, we don’t know how we got home!” He said, the volume of his voice rising a bit.
“We told you what happened and we weren’t lying. Why are you questioning us like we’re prisoners or something? We were the ones who were missing for weeks. We should be the ones calling the shots.”
Hermione agreed full-heartedly with him but his outburst seemingly went ignored by the officials.
“Mr. Malfoy, you are the son of Lucius Malfoy, known Death Eater, is that correct?” Draco growled lowly, but it didn’t faze the man.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Answer the question, please.”
“Yeah, I am. Do you know any other Draco Malfoys?” The man ignored Draco’s smart tone.
“You do realize that your father is missing right? A prominent Death Eater lose and hiding among us? And then his son disappears from Hogwarts, one of the most secure places in the Wizarding World? And not alone. He disappears right along with Hermione Granger, a well-known associate of one, Harry Potter, and a muggle-born witch, at that. Doesn’t that seem a bit… intriguing to you?” Before either got a chance to respond or defend themselves he went on. “And of course we’ve heard of your reservations with one another. Not exactly friendly, are you?”
“How did you kno-” Hermione tried but she was interrupted.
“So now you understand why we are asking you all of this. We are required to take every precaution to make certain that the students and staff at this school are safe. Their security is top priority.”
Hermione and Draco knew that was load of bullshit. It was just the excuse they used to find out what they really wanted to know.
She couldn’t believe the Ministry was accusing them of consorting with Death Eaters. Or maybe she could.
“Look, sir.” He paused and, surprisingly, focused his attention on her. “We understand your worries but I can assure you, we are just as confused as everyone else. We were in the forest one second and then away the next. We want to find out what happened more than anyone.”
She wasn’t sure if it was her pleading that did it, or the fact that the man in the center was finally starting to crack, but he cleared his throat again (making her cringe inwardly at the reminder of Umbridge) and went on with something else.
Not long after, the man in the middle stood and all the other officials took that as their cue to get up as well. They magicked their chairs away and prepared to leave, not intending to say anything else.
“Wait!” Hermione blurted out. They stopped and turned back to her. She furrowed her brows. “Well… do you, I mean… what happened to us? Do you know?”
There was silence for a moment before the man, still in the center, took a step forward.
“I’m sorry Miss Granger but we are unable to inform you of that at this time.”
“Meaning, you have no idea.” She hadn’t meant to say it but she knew it was true. Draco shot her a look, perhaps one of shock but a bit of admiration was swimming in his eyes as well.
The Ministry man narrowed his eyes on her and turned away.
“We will notify you with any updates as soon as we can.” And with that, they all filed out of the room.
Hermione and Draco were left feeling quite empty, quite angry, and quite unsatisfied.
Professor McGonagall came back in not long after that. Hagrid was with her and he looked both relieved and saddened at the same time.
“Hermione. Malfoy. You’re alrigh’. I’m so glad. I-I’m so sorry. I am. I didn’t know. I swear!” He started blubbering the second the words poured from his mouth and McGonagall sent him a look. Hermione sat up straighter and held out her hand to him.
“Hagrid, its okay. We’re fine.” He came forward and held her tiny hand in his giant one. “Now what are you on about?” She asked.
“About that nigh’. With yer detention. I was a bit distracted, ye see, and I didn’ remember McGonagall sayin’ anythin’ about monitoring the detention. I should ‘ave never told you to go by yerselves.”
“Got that right.” Draco said, his arms crossed over his chest. Hermione pointedly glared at him and, surprisingly, he kept his mouth shut. She could have even sworn he sent an almost apologetic look towards Hagrid.
“Well, you didn’t know Hagrid. We don’t blame you.” She assured him. “But I am curious. Why was it you were so distracted? I saw the scratches all over your face.”
He gave a sheepish look, his cheeks turning pink.
“Oh, that. Righ’. Well, ye sees, I had some Bowtruckles. And you know how those little creatures are ‘Ermione. Wild things. Someone had sent ‘em to me that nigh’ and I wasn’t sure what to do with ‘em. Well I finally got ‘em under control but that was hours after you left.”
Hermione seemed to accept this, nodding at him. She knew Bowtruckles well enough after reading about them. Mean things they were. They were very aggressive and she had no problem believing they’d attacked him.
“Why did you send us to the forest for detention anyway?” It was Draco this time. Everyone gazed his way and Hermione’s mouth almost fell open. She realized what an important question that was and was slightly annoyed that she hadn’t thought of it.
McGonagall cleared her throat and took a step forward.
“I didn’t, mister Malfoy.” Hermione and Draco looked at each other, eyes wide, curious. “Apparently, someone was impersonating me. We aren’t sure who or why but I’ve no doubt that it was poly juice potion at work. That person gave you detention in the forest, knowing Hagrid would have no idea seeing as he wasn‘t scheduled.”
It all made sense then. Wherever it was they’d been sent, it had been intentional. Someone wanted them gone.
Silence fell over the room as everyone got lost in their own thoughts. With all this new information, Hermione and Draco were more confused than ever.
After a few moments, McGonagall spoke again.
“Its getting late and you’ve had a long day. I want you to stay in the Hospital Wing one more night and tomorrow you may return to your dormitories. As for now, rest and relax. Try not to think about all of this.”
Impossible advice really, and they all knew it. Neither would be able to stop thinking about it, even if they tried.
Still they nodded and she turned to leave, Hagrid following behind her.
After the Ministry’s interrogation and their talk with the Professors… they still hadn’t really found out anything. The entire thing was a complete mystery. One they were itching to solve.
AN: Sorry that you had to wait so long. I know its short but there you have it. More information will be revealed! Sooooooooon.
Next time: it’s the climax. That is all I’ll say.
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