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The Inner Peace	By : Katay Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 16042 -:- 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.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
Whoosh
here we go!!!!!

Chapter
19:

Two days after Hermione�s shocking letter
from Lord Voldemort found her standing in a Death Eaters mass meeting. She
stood between her parents and Draco, along with the rest of the Inner Circle, in a
semi-circle behind Lord Voldemort�s throne, facing
the lower echelons. Masks were on and Hermione smirked at the night�s
proceedings. There had been some torturing of a few new recruits that hadn�t
been able to cast the Killing curse, along a few Crucios
for older members that had failed in their missions.

She was waiting for the main event though.
She knew that tonight the spy would be mentioned and couldn�t wait for Fred and
George�s reaction. She resisted the urge to tap her foot as the Dark Lord
droned about a raid on the new Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt.
She straightened as He said, �Thankssss to our mosssst recent addition to the rankssss,
the location of the Minisssster hassss
been given and the raid will commencssse in the
morning, before he issss able to get to work.�

She flicked her eyes over to the Weasley twins and saw them look a bit harder at the Dark
Lord�s mention of a spy. She practically had to choke on a grin as the Dark
Lord motioned the figure she knew to be Ginny, forward. Placing His hand on the
figure�s shoulder He hissed, �What a blow it sssshall
be for poor Harry Potter � hissss girlfriend being a sssspy and all.�

Murmurs broke out all over the hall.
Hermione noticed out of the corner of her eye the twins shuffling their feet
and she prayed they would do nothing stupid. She, however, hadn�t counted on
Voldemort saying, �Missss Weassssley
will be placed in troupe eleven; I feel sssshe will
be mosssst welcome there, no?�

One of the twins stepped forward and
answered calmly, �Of course my Lord.�

Hermione chuckled inwardly, Nothing like putting the sister in the brothers�
troupe. She�s toast! She watched Ginny stiffen at the Death Eater�s voice
and then shake her head slightly, Oh yes dearie, you aren�t losing your mind; although, you might
lose your life.

Hermione was still pissed off from an
encounter with Ginny in the hall a day ago. The younger witch had decided that
now, because Hermione seemed so firmly out of the fold, she could be taken down
a few pegs. Little weasel, growled
Hermione, thinks she can just sneak up on
me and tell me I�m a na�ve whore and will never be
better than her. Hah! Just wait till she finds out the Dark Lord is taking me
back and I can tell her who I really am.

She heard more murmurs break out and shifted
her attention back to the hall. Apparently, He had just made mention of an
outing that would happen in a week. She smirked to herself.

Then, he called up the one Death Eater she
could have gone without ever meeting � Fenrir Greyback. Apparently that night�s activities would include
an attack on Remus Lupin,
who it appeared, had taken himself to the Shrieking Shack a day early in
preparation for the Full Moon. Hmm I�ll
have to alert Remus about that one.

Once the meeting was over, the ranks broke
and flowed out. She walked beside Draco and said quietly, �I want to meet with
the entire group. Midnight tonight. Think it�s
manageable?�

He muttered back, �If you�re free. Will He
call you?�

She shook her head, �I highly doubt it. He
wants to stay away until our �outing� next week.�

�Ah. Well then, I suppose you want me to get
the group together for a meet tonight?� He kept his face looking forward.

�Right in one. We�ll meet in the Shrieking Shack, just
after Greyback is gone.�

She nodded to him and apparated
away, marveling at how formal they had become since she had been hurt.

She popped in just outside of Hogsmeade and transformed into her lioness form. She
prowled through the empty streets and made her way up to the Shrieking Shack.
She slinked up the broken stairs and sniffed out a napping Remus.
He was curled up on a bed in one of the rooms and she growled slightly to give
him a little warning of her presence. He didn�t move a muscle. She rolled her
eyes and stalked up to the semi-comatose figure on the bed. She nosed his foot
and lapped at his hand.

He awoke with a start, feeling something
very wet licking his hand. Licking � what
the hell?! He looked down and saw a huge, black feline standing next to
him. He started and it took all of his self-control not to jump up and scoot
further onto the bed, he knew that would only upset the rather large predator.
He watched in shock as it seemed to grin at him, Merlin, did Hermione put a hallucinogen in that Wolfsbane?!

His eyes widened even more as it stepped
back and purred before changing into � �Hermione?!�

�Hiya Remus! I thought I�d pop in and warn you that Fenrir was coming to pay you a visit. So how�re you holding
up?� She grinned at him.

He gaped at her and seemed unable to come up
with a coherent chain of words, �I .. you.. what?!�

She let her grin fall and sat next to him on
the bed, �Fenrir is coming to kill you. Voldemort
wants you out of Harry�s life. I came to warn you.�

He looked at her and sighed, �I can�t say I
haven�t been waiting for it. I don�t suppose I have much time?�

�Nope!� She said rather cheerfully.

He raised an eyebrow at her, �And I take it
you have a plan.�

She smirked, �Just a small one. Give him
this.� She handed him a small vial. �It's a Japanese remedy mixed with a few of
my own potions inventions. If you can, get it on his werewolf bite.�

He nodded silently and examined the bottle.
A crash was heard below and in the place of the young woman was a lioness once
more. She slinked to a corner and seemed to almost blend into the shadows.

He curled up once more on the bed, forced
his breathing to calm, and waited. He knew he would have to hold for the
perfect moment to set the serum on the older werewolf�s forearm, where his bite
was shown with pride. He heard the cracked chuckling of Greyback
as he entered the room and counted on his desire for bloodshed, not to kill him
immediately. The old wolf sniffed the air hungrily and prowled up to his bitee lying on the bed. He snarled and kicked him with his
foot, �You�re weak! You hide in here and cut yourself off! You could be
outside, running free with your pack.� He spat the last word out as Remus sat up quietly and watched him.

�And infect more with a disease that slowly takes away one�s
life? I don�t think so Fenrir. You did more than just
bite me that day, you made a lasting enemy.� Remus
growled lightly; Moony coming to the surface, eager for a challenge.

The two rushed at each other, nails scraping, teeth gnashing
and limbs flailing. Hermione marveled at a fight that was so innately animal
and yet also human. She stayed in the shadows and watched as Remus was taken down by a nasty punch of Fenrir�s, but kicked out the other werewolf�s knees as he
went down.

The two grappled on the floor for a few minutes, grunts and
growls echoing off the walls. Finally, Remus seemed to
remember his wizarding heritage and cast a binding
spell on Greyback. He kneeled over the werewolf�s arm
and poured the potion on the bite. It began to smoke and then the bite was
filled with what seemed to be molten silver. The two werewolves stared at it in
shock.

Hermione was watching it clinically, considering this was
the first test-run for her potion. Suddenly Greyback
began to thrash around on the floor, as though caught in an epileptic fit.
Then, his tongue lolling out and limbs fighting against the bindings, he
suddenly became still. Remus watched the body
suspiciously, while Hermione regarded it for signs of life. She stepped out of
the shadows and stalked towards the still figure on the floor.

She nosed the body slightly and found it extremely stiff.
She warily took her teeth and ripped through his shirt and chest so she could
look at his heart. She growled softly. Whoops.
Looks as though I need to work on keeping the silver in a
contained area, versus taking up the bloodstream � and well, coating the heart
and brain. She tossed her head at the kneeling Remus
and transformed back into her human form.

He stared at her, slightly in shock, �What in hell was that
potion?�

She frowned slightly and continued studying the decidedly
dead Fenrir, �Well, ideally it would take away his
curse and leave him just a man � the one thing he hated being � but well
doesn�t look like I had all the particulars down, does it?� She hummed to
herself quietly and tapped her bottom lip. �The idea is that the silver, being by
legend the one thing that can kill a werewolf, mixed with a wolfsbane
leaf elixir, being the one thing werewolf�s won�t go near, neutralizes the bite
and the toxins in the blood that come from it. I�m not even sure if it would
take away the lycanthropy, but I do think it would at the very least keep the
curse from being able to be spread.� She glanced over at Remus.

He gaped at her slightly, �What � how?�

She sighed and transfigured Fenrir
into a piece of birdseed and tossed it out the window. �Honestly Remus, Severus had notes everywhere about it and I just
picked up where he left off. The Asian communities have different ways of
managing werewolves, so I simply included them within the potion.�

He looked at her with wide eyes, �And you � you think that maybe
it will be a cure?�

She met his eyes and held them, �I don�t know Remus, that
obviously didn�t work as he was supposed to still be alive right now.� She
shrugged, �I�m going to continue working on it. That's the least I can do for
you after everything you�ve helped me with.� She walked over to him and gave
him a slight hug which he returned in full.

She nodded back at him and said, �By the way, don�t keep
shutting yourself off from everyone � it�s exactly what He wants.�

With that, she apparated away,
leaving a stunned Remus sitting on the floor thinking
over all that he had just seen and heard. A moment later though, his eyes
opened wide and he clutched his throat lightly, saying to the empty room, �Dear
Merlin, what if she did something to the Wolfsbane!�

Hermione landed in the Lestrange entrance hall and giggled
to herself about what thoughts might be wandering through Remus�
head. She loved the old werewolf, but it was always fun to mess with him a
little. Keeps him on
his toes.

She walked up to her room, her thoughts fully on the meeting
that night. As she entered the room, her eyes darted to her bed and she sighed
sadly when they landed on a well-made bed and no Draco. He always seemed to be
there waiting for her, and she missed him.

She wandered into her closet and picked out a black leather
floor-length dress. It had a scooped neckline and fitted bodice. The skirt
flared out at the hips and had two slits on either side for easier movement.
She placed a silver girdle around her hips that held her wand, healing potions
and a few bottles of Veritaserum. She pinned her hair
back so that it would stay out of her face but flow down her back.

She walked back out with a pair of flat-heeled, calf-length
boots and sat on a settee that looked out over the grounds. The sun had set and the clouds were still
slightly pink and red. She marveled at Nature�s staying power amidst all the
death and destruction that was visited upon Her.

She ran a hand along the empty bed and thought wistfully of
the few times Draco and she had been able to have time alone together. I just wish I knew why he is so distant now.
I mean I know I was hurt, but this mission is important! He should understand
that! She walked to the window and trailed a finger along the pane.

She suddenly growled and turned quickly. I can�t afford to be morose,
I�ve got things to do. She decided to let �V� take a bit of control, walked
briskly out the door and headed towards the entry way of her home to apparate back to the Shack for the meeting.

She arrived to see Remus standing
in one corner of his room while Draco and her parents were huddled in another
shooting the wary werewolf hard glances. She grinned and walked over to Remus who shot her a glare.

�You could have warned me you know.�

She grinned unabashedly, �Oh, Remus,
there�s going to be a meeting tonight at the Shack.�

He rolled his eyes at her. �Gee, thanks. SO
helpful.�

She giggled and walked over to the other group, �Ok guys,
he�s not going to bite until tomorrow night.�

Her mother grimaced at her, �V � that's not funny.�

Draco rolled his eyes, �Aunt, you know how V is, she can be extremely immature sometimes.� Hermione
winced and he walked past her and shook hands with an extremely nervous Remus. �Thank you for letting us appropriate
your hideaway.�

Remus only nodded, rather at a
lack for words at Draco�s calm voice.

Soon other apparition pops were heard and most of the Order
contingent had appeared. Tonks rushed over to Remus and they began whispering quietly about, Hermione
assumed, the earlier attack. Bill and Charlie both gave the Lestranges
a blank look and Hermione a large hug. Moody shook off his cloak and walked
right up to Bellatrix, coldly saying, �Madame, you look healthier.� She nodded
in semi-shock and Rodolphus had to bite back a smile.

Draco looked on with a sneer and addressed Moody with,
�Professor, it�s been a long time.�

Moody gave him a glance-over and replied, �Considerin� I
wasn�t your professor boy, it has indeed.� V stifled a smirk and saw a few other
Order members do the same.

She glanced towards the door and saw Molly, supported by
Harry, holding a hankie up to her nose, sniffling slightly. She walked over to
them hurriedly and helped Mrs. Weasley over to the
bed. She knew that the meeting would be hardest on the Weasley
matriarch. Almost as though on cue, the Death Eater
contingent apparated in as the others got settled.

Lucius Malfoy led the others into the room, shaking the two
older Lestranges� hands and nodding at his son. Moody
and he shared a bit of a stare-off, Malfoy finally giving in and sticking his
hand out. Moody took it and shook it rather harder than most normal people
would and Lucius seemed to flex his hand slightly afterwards.

Zabini followed, stopping to chat
quietly with Bill and Charlie, while Yaxley and
Urquhart spoke with Remus and Tonks. Pritchard, Carrow,
and Belby trailed the twins who were bouncing around
Moody, basking in his shock of their spyhood. Their
mum had known from the start, and Remus had
suspected, so Moody was the only one to be shocked.

Lucius looked over at V, who was worriedly trying to calm
Molly Weasley. He raised an eyebrow at her and walked
over. She looked at him in slight horror, What the hell does he think he�s doing?! She felt Harry stiffen next to
her as Lucius came up before them and bowed slightly to Molly. He held out a
hand and said softly, �Might I help you to a chair Madame Weasley;
I do believe we are to start soon.�

Molly looked up at him with wide eyes and sighed softly,
�That is very kind of you Lord Malfoy. I suppose we shall let bygones be
bygones now, no?�

He looked down at her, a glint of something - V could have
sworn was respect - in his eye, �I would like that Madame Weasley.�
With that he showed her over to a large plush chair he had transfigured and sat
her down facing V at the front of the room.

V looked out over the large group which had settled into
chairs and was watching her. Most members simply looked at her curiously; but
Draco refused to meet her eyes and Blaise kept giving
her winks, while the twins were shooing her to start talking.

She cleared her throat, �Ok, down to business. The Dark Lord
is going to be out in public a week from now.� She paused as everyone started
murmuring. �Rather unorthodox, isn�t it? He is planning to go on a date it so
happens � with me.� Voices began to be raised and everyone aside from her
family and Draco were looking at her in shock. �No, I�m not telling the details
of why, so get over it. However, this would be an opportune time for us to
strike.� She looked around the room. �If the group were to hide within the
restaurant, it would be a perfect time to end all of this. Then we could trap
the rest of the Death Eaters in headquarters and keep them from escaping.� Both
Malfoys cleared their throats. Hermione nodded at the
younger, since he had been first.

He stood and said coldly, �As well and good as that all
sounds, He�s not going to simply walk into a bistro and ask the waiter for a
table. The restaurant He takes you to will be thoroughly screened the entire
day leading up to His entrance. He will be joined by the entire Inner Circle as
bodyguards, and He will have the streets outside patrolled most of the day in
preparation. The staff will be replaced by those of the lower echelons, and it
will hardly be cake for anyone to simply slip in to spy on the Dark Lord, let
alone get away with killing Him!�

V nodded and said quietly, �Fair enough, so how might we get
around those potential barriers within the restaurant?�

Harry stood and said, �Well my invisibility cloak would
help. I can take at least one other person with me in there.� V nodded at him
and took notes.

Tonks stood and said quietly, �I
could morph into one of the Death Eaters that is supposed to be patrolling
also.� Lucius seemed to like this option and nodded at V.

Molly piped up in a wavering but calm voice, �We could key portkeys, but instead of keying them to a place, we key
them to your location Hermione. Then you could use a coin, much like the DA and
alert us when we need to appear.� Everyone looked around at each other and
nodded in excited agreement.

Moody growled, �Best idea yet, Molly.�

Rodolphus nodded, �I agree, that is definitely the best way
to go about it. But I do think Potter has a point with the invisibility cloak.
If the Dark Lord were to see him portkey in, Potter
would be dead on the spot. If he were hidden and cloaked for a few days before
in the restaurant, then perhaps we would have an element of surprise.�

The others nodded at this and Harry sent Rodolphus a
questioning glance, �So I would go days in advance?�

Bellatrix spoke up, �Yes, that seems the best way. You�d be
in a restaurant, so no fear of food, really.� He nodded at her slightly and
seemed to go back to thinking.

V looked around and nodded at Lucius, �Mr. Malfoy, you had
something to add earlier?�

He cleared his throat and said, �Yes, keeping the Death
Eaters contained is all well and good, but the Dark Lord will call them to
battle. It will not be as easy as you may think.�

Remus stood quickly, �Well we
could incorporate the rest of the Order with this, I think. Perhaps mass
magical-cages would help? We shall have to ensure that they stand trial, versus
merely killing everyone off.�

Some grumbled but V cut in, �He�s right. And with you all to
help us, we can ensure they don�t get away with it this time.�

The rest if the group nodded in acquiescence and she
commented, �The trials after shall be key.� She glanced around to see if anyone
had anything to add, nodded and said, �Alrighty then, that�s the layout. We�ll get down to details
as the day grows closer and we know more about what is going on. Something we
might look into is a way of seeing which Death Eater is which, so we aren�t
hexing one another.� She nodded at the twins, �Perhaps a revealing powder or
something?�

They grinned at each other, �We�ve got just
the stuff!�

She raised an eyebrow at them while Yaxley and Tonks said at the same
time, �Is it going to kill anyone?�

The entire group looked at each other and
then started chuckling, the ice broken by a similar reaction. After V had said
her last, the group stood up and began to mingle slightly, both sides
interested in what made the other want to help.

V sat back and watched the crowd, hope
bubbling in her chest for the first time that the plan might actually work,
especially if these people were able to put aside their differences for a
similar cause.

She watched Draco as he talked with the
twins and their brothers, his face a mask of calm and politeness. She wondered
at how he had shut himself off from everything, We may win this war, but I might have lost something even more important
� and I don�t know why. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into
Lucius Malfoy�s face. She saw his slightly worried glance and shrugged.

She averted her eyes from his own and studied
his face. Draco and he shared the same hair and aristocratic features, but
Draco�s were a bit softer, she thought, while the Malfoy Sr.�s eyes were more
of a blue than a grey. Draco had gained the same musculature as his father over
the years, but maintained a bit of youthful swagger, while his father had more
of a prowl. He reclaimed her eyes and murmured slightly, �Don�t pay him mind,
V. He is too prideful for his own good.�

She glanced at the man in question, who was
now laughing slightly with his group and said softly, �I�m just not sure the
problem is him.� Lucius walked away
to chat with Remus and Tonks
while V attempted to reach out her consciousness to Draco�s. She felt his
blocks up and tapped on them tentatively. His eyes shot towards her and narrowed.
She knew she could break them down without much bother, but he clearly didn�t
want her in anyways. She took a deep breath, looked over to where her mother
and Molly Weasley were talking and � sobbing? I don�t even want to know,
nodded at her father and whisked out the door.

Walking into the chilled night outside, she
looked at the starry sky and transformed into her dragon form, hoping that
perhaps she could make do with the memories for the rest of her time. She took
off, stretching her wings in the moonlight, unaware of a still figure on the
ground watching her every movement with regret.

A/N:
Well that was a hard one to write, I�ll admit. I wasn�t sure how I wanted it
all to play out. This and the next two chapters are rather short, but they need
to be there for the end ultimately. Leave a review to let me know what you
thought!
- 18
- 19
- 20
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The Inner Peace