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Beyond the Pale	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 81362 -:- Recommendations : 11 -:- Currently Reading : 17
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does, lucky woman. I make no money from this, which is probably why I'm poor as a church mouse.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
Every noise in the Great Hall died as two very angry looking students shuffle-stepped inside. Everyone knew what happened. How could they not? News like that spread by wildfire. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger had been caught in a duel in the hall that was so bad they had to visit the Headmaster. Then, in an unbelievable move in class, they tried to hex each other and ended up the victims of a rather ingenious sticking charm.

Absolutely everyone was silent as Draco and Hermione made their way to the front of the Hall, muffled cursing and hissing bursting from their mouths with every step. They obviously hadn’t made any progress on moving together as one since their potions class. Twice they had almost tumbled in their journey.

“Where in the fuck do you think you’re going Granger?” Draco snapped. “The Slytherin table is this way.”

“To the Gryffindor table, Malfoy,” Hermione growled.

“Over my dead body,” Draco hissed.

“That can be arranged!” Hermione snapped.

“Enough!” Melody barked, drawing everyone’s eye to her. “You two will learn to work together or you will be stuck with each other for a very long time. Now, I know you won’t settle on a table, so come up here.”

Melody waved her wand, making another chair appear in between her and Severus. The two students turned red and tripped their way to the dais. They argued heatedly for a few moments before Draco finally huffed and sat down in the seat, roughly turning Hermione and putting her sideways across his lap. Their arms were still stuck around each other, but at least they were seated now.

“Well done,” Melody said with a smile. “Now, I realize it’s hard to eat like that so I will release one arm each and only one.”

The couple sighed when one arm was set free. Now they could sip their blood without spilling it. They sat in silence, making sure to keep a brooding look on their faces. After all, no one could know that they were enjoying this immensely.

“So,” Melody said under her breath. “We’ll go hunting and then you two will go to the orphanage and see what you can find out. Does that sound agreeable?”

“Yes,” they said in unison.

“After dinner, I’m going to release you with a warning for retaliation. That way, you don’t have to worry about explaining your lack of desire for revenge.”

“Miss Bach,” Professor McGonagall’s strong brogue broke the silence that had descended on the hall. “Do you think this is necessary?”

“I do,” Melody answered calmly. “You didn’t see what I stumbled upon Professor. Not only did these two endanger themselves, but others in the castle as well. I think it is high time someone did something about this rivalry. It seems that the faculty in the past five years has simply seen fit to turn the other way.”

“I beg your pardon?” McGonagall blustered.

“What happens to a festering wound when you ignore it?” Melody asked. “It gets worse, that’s what. These two need to learn to squash their feelings toward one another. If they are forced to work together, they might see that they aren’t so different after all. Besides, it’s a good incentive not to have it out again, wouldn’t you say?”

“I think it is an excellent idea,” Dumbledore said, the annoying twinkle in his eye even brighter.

“Thank you Headmaster,” Melody said softly. “I believe this will be one fewer problem for the staff from now on.”

Melody smirked when she saw McGonagall spluttering for a moment. She covertly flicked her wand, filling her family’s glasses with another round of blood. Then she took a sip from hers to hide her lips. “By the way you two, now would be an excellent place to start honing those skills we were discussing earlier.”

Hermione jumped in shock, realizing that she was correct. Unfortunately, her start made her arse rub against Draco’s already semi-hard length, causing him to hiss at her. His arm instinctively came around her but he caught himself and repositioned her instead, muttering about how she was heavier than a mountain troll and making his legs numb. She harrumphed and shifted again, congratulating herself when he let out a strangled groan.

“Damn it Hermione,” Draco growled in her ear. “If you don’t stop, I swear I’m going to bend you over this table and give the entire hall a show.”

“Sounds interesting,” Hermione muttered back and shifted again.

“You’re going to get the arse whipping of a lifetime if you do not stop right this moment,” Draco hissed.

Hermione couldn’t help but squirm at the dark promise in his words. The punishment spanking she had received was fresh in her mind and she wasn’t very anxious to experience it again. But the spanking after that, that one made her knickers dampen all over again and she panted in thought.

“Stop!” Draco snapped a bit too loudly, drawing every eye to them.

Hermione gulped, feeling the weight of his order. “Sorry,” she said as venomously as she could. “Your lap is about as comfortable as a patch of dried nettles.”

“Nice save,” Melody chuckled softly. “Your time is almost done. Drink up, vanish some food, and I’ll let you go a few moments early to… talk things over.”

“Oh, we’re going to talk alright,” Draco hissed causing Hermione to shiver.

“Stop it now,” Severus snapped under his breath. “You will heed your mother’s order and listen to what everyone is saying or I shall punish you both.”

“Yes father,” both young vampires said softly.

They sat quietly, pretending to eat a bit of something while listening into the conversations of others. Most were amused conversations from students who felt they got what they deserved. It was high time someone knocked them both off their pedestals. It was eye opening for Hermione to learn she was also considered fawned over by teachers. She always earned her standing but others apparently didn’t see it that way.

Other students were shocked at their punishment. No one had ever thought that a mediwitch in training would have the authority to enforce such a harsh punishment. After lots of back and forth, they figured she was in the right. Most decided that they would probably have a yearlong war after this. Weren’t they in for a shock?

There were two conversations in particular that caught their attention. After a few debates, Hermione decided to listen in to her friends while Draco listened in to his. That way, they could concentrate fully and not miss anything. After all, they were still quite new at this.

“I’m telling you, something isn’t right with that mediwitch,” Ron grimaced. “Why on earth would she force Hermione to touch Malfoy if she knew what kind of summer she’s had?”

“I’m sure the mediwitch knows more about her condition than you, Ron,” Ginny scoffed. “If she didn’t think Hermione could handle it, she wouldn’t have given them that type of punishment.”

“But still,” Ron said around a mouth full of mash. “She has to touch Malfoy. She’ll want to boil her skin off.”

“Maybe,” Harry said, sounding distracted.

“Something wrong Harry?” Ginny asked.

“Hmm, nothing.”

Ginny waited until Ron was thoroughly engrossed in his pudding before she leaned closer to Harry and lowered her voice. “What is it Harry? What’s bothering you…besides the obvious?”

“Malfoy is a dominant,” Harry whispered back. “She might have control over herself, but she is still very sensitive to him. If he notices it, he could exploit it.”

“Not to mention his reaction if he realizes what’s in that teacup,” Ginny added.

“Exactly,” Harry agreed. “I mean, he’s less than a few inches from her. How does he not notice?”

“Honestly, I think he is trying very hard not to notice her at all,” Ginny mused.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, she was squirming earlier and he snapped at her to stop,” Ginny said softly, lost in thought.

“So?”

Ginny grinned. “Have you ever reacted to a girl wiggling around in your lap before?”

Harry turned beet red at the question and coughed to cover his embarrassment. “No.”

Ginny smirked. “Can you imagine how mortifying it would be for Malfoy to react to a muggleborn?”

Harry managed a small laugh. “Maybe that’s why the mediwitch did it.”

Ginny shrugged. “We can always ask Hermione later.”

Hermione fought hard not to blush at that. Draco had reacted alright. In fact, she could still feel him, his hard length straining through his trousers and digging into her thigh. It was just begging to burry itself in her entrance and now that she was paying closer attention, she could feel herself getting wetter. A tightening around her shoulder told her that Draco had noticed it too. Suddenly, this punishment didn’t seem very wise anymore.

“What did you hear?” she asked, putting her teacup up to her mouth to cover her lip movement.

“They’re planning on retaliating, of course,” Draco drawled. “They think my punishment is disgusting and are planning on writing to my father about the indignity.”

“That’s not good.”

“Decidedly not. However, there is nothing my father can do about it at the moment. I plan on heading them off before they can send word though. We can’t afford for the Dark Lord to find out.”

“No we can’t,” Melody broke in, “which is why I’m about to up the ante.”

Melody cleared her voice and stood up. “Alright then. Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, you have just successfully spent one meal together without killing each other. How do you feel?”

Both students just glared at her, not knowing what to say. It must have been the right response because Melody chuckled.

“I’m so glad you feel that way. I’ll release you in just a moment but I would like to give you…and everyone in this hall a warning. This will be the end of it. No retaliation will be tolerated on either side. Should someone retaliate, you two will be the ones to pay the price. I expect you both to conduct yourselves like the young adults you are becoming. If you can’t interact in a civil manner, then you don’t interact at all. Is that clear?”

“Yes Miss Bach,” they said together, unwilling to cause an even bigger scene.

“Very good. Now, you may go.”

Melody flicked her wand, allowing the spell to drop and both students to be free. Hermione practically leapt from Draco’s lap, though it was the last thing she wanted to do. Draco sprung from the chair, quickly drawing his robe around him to conceal his not so little problem. Both of them hurried off the dais and down the main isle of the hall, wanting to get out and at each other as soon as possible.

A commotion from the other side of the door stopped them dead in their tracks. Before they could get out of the way, they were barreled over by a snarling Alex holding a screaming redhead in his arms, Remus hot on their heels. They landed in a heap on the floor.

“Sorry,” Alex ground out as he tried to untangle everyone.

“Daddy!” Melody cried and leapt over the table, running to them in a panic. “What’s wrong?”

“Sorry I didn’t call ahead,” Alex said dryly. “I’m afraid this is an emergency.”

“Sage,” Melody breathed. “My Gods, what happened?”

Alex huffed. “Hasn’t been able to control it since you left. It’s only gotten worse, like holding a live wire.”

“Burned badly?” Melody muttered, trying to magically pry the still screaming woman from his grasp.

“I’ll say,” Alex said with a wince. “I can’t keep up.”

“Sage!” Melody growled. “Stop screaming!”

“It hurts!” She cried in a panic.

“I know, I know, but you have got to calm down. You’re hurting Alex.”

Sage let out a horrified squeak and clung to Melody, who yelled out in pain. She quickly let go and scooted backwards, accidentally bumping into Draco’s side causing him to yell as well. She shot forward, running into Hermione. Hermione screamed, the feeling of being electrocuted by hundreds of sharp metal needles too much for her to take. Sage jumped to the side and curled in a tiny ball, shaking and coughing from the onslaught of both her own magic and that of Hogwarts. They all jumped when Severus stupefied her.

“That takes care of that,” Severus said darkly. “I’ll get her to the hospital wing.”

“Thank you,” Alex ground out.

Severus gave a curt nod and flicked his wand. Sage’s unconscious body floated in the air, still twitching from the excess magic.

“Can you stand?” Melody asked.

“I don’t think so,” Alex sighed.

“I’ll take him,” Remus said and helped Alex up, taking the brunt of his weight.

“Thank you,” Melody said with a sigh. “Now, you two. How are you?”

“What in the bloody hell was that?” Draco snapped, holding on to his side.

“A shocking experience?” Melody offered.

“Bloody bint burned me!”

Melody sighed and nodded. “Miss Granger?”

“I’m burned too,” Hermione said quietly, trying desperately not to whimper at the searing pain in her hands. She had held them out to keep Sage from pushing into her completely and they suffered the brunt of her contact.

Melody nodded. “Hospital, both of you. I’ll have your burns fixed in a jiffy.”

They gingerly got up off the floor, aware of all eyes on them. They were careful not to make eye contact as they headed out. Whispers broke out, wondering who the mysterious strangers where and why the woman would burn everyone. No doubt, there would be wild speculations by curfew. One thing they were thankful for, most tipped their involvement up to bad luck. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When they entered the hospital, they saw Sage waking. She didn’t look like Nancy, but she smelled like her. She had long red hair and eyes the color of coriander. Hermione realized that this was the last glamour that Melody used to leave the house with. Alex had obviously put it in her hair to protect her. It wouldn’t do for the Notts to know that she had lived.

“Stupify!” Melody shouted, watching as Nancy fell back against the bed. “Here,” she said, shoving a tub of burn cream in Draco’s hand. “Go behind a curtain and sort out those burns. I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault,” Draco said, accepting the cream.

“It’s mine,” Alex said, pain evident in his voice. “I didn’t know what else to do. I’m afraid we busted up the place, Severus.”

Severus sighed and nodded, fiddling with something over in the far corner. “I figured as much. Did you notice a different feeling when you busted all the glass this time?”

“Sort of,” Alex ground out. “It was like…well, like getting off, only with a painful twist.”

Melody snickered. “That would be the exhilaration of magic. The pain was your inability to control it. We’ll work on that later. For now, the shirt goes.”

“Gladly,” Alex sighed and accepted her help shedding his shirt.

His chest was an angry red color, little blisters formed all over from enduring the raw magic Nancy released. Melody wiped a tear from her eye and began smoothing burn cream all over him. The welts started disappearing quickly with the help of the paste and Alex’s vampire healing abilities.

“Do you mind my asking what happened?” Remus asked.

Hermione and Draco jumped in shock, having forgotten that the werewolf had helped Alex in. Draco kept a wary eye on him from around the curtain as he smoothed cream into Hermione’s hands, kissing them when they were healed. Hermione carefully stripped his shirt, mindful of the burn on his side. She applied the cream while she listened to Severus explain.

“Nancy, or Sage, as her glamour suggests, is… or was until very recently, a squib. Alex has always had a bit of magic in him as well. When they mated, their magic strengthened and it has apparently jumpstarted Nancy’s core. She needs her magic to stabilize and then she must be taught to control it.”

“So this burning thing she’s doing?” Remus asked intrigued.

“It’s her magic,” Melody said. “I imagine she’s feeling about like you do on the full moon.”

“Ouch,” Remus said with a wince.

“Pretty much,” Melody said, finishing up Alex’s treatment. “It will probably last another few days. We’ll need to keep her here under heavy sedation.”

“Can you do that to a vampire?” Remus asked.

“You can’t poison a vampire, not even our kind,” Melody said. “But other potions are possible, for us at least. Sedation will require ten times the amount a normal human would because she’ll burn through it that quickly. Faster even, because she’ll need to feed daily to keep her strength up.”

“Has this ever happened before?” Remus asked.

“Not that I know of,” Alex said. “And believe me, we document things like this.”

Remus nodded. “Well, if you are all settled, I’ll see my way out.”

“Any activity tonight?” Melody asked as he turned.

“None yet. Why?”

“Hermione and Draco have a mission tonight. Keep a sharp eye please?”

“Of course,” Remus said and left with a bow.

“Where is Madam Pomfrey?” Hermione asked as she finished treating Draco.

“Told her to stay away,” Melody said, walking over to help Severus. “Said Sage had a dark curse and she shouldn’t be exposed to it.”

“And what are you doing father?” Draco asked, donning his shirt again.

“Making something similar to your collars,” Severus said. “Only it will suppress the defensive magic that is responsible for burning you. When her core reactivated, it rose to fight off the dark curse that drained it in the first place. It doesn’t realize that it was already broken, so this will stop it until it normalizes.”

“Will it work inside the castle walls?” Hermione asked worriedly.

“It will if we all charm it,” Melody said. “The magic of four is better than one and strong enough to fight against the castle…like Harry’s cloak.”

“What do we do?” Draco asked.

“Simply lay your hand upon Sev’s when he’s casting. He’ll do the rest.”

They watched in awe as Severus incanted charm after charm over the bangle bracelet lying on the table. It was a simple little thing, gold and plain, designed to cuff the wrist. As he chanted, little silver runes formed in the metal. Hermione recognized a few of them, the symbol for calm among them. She felt a slight tugging at her magic as he went, realizing that he was drawing her magic from her.

“It is done,” Severus said after a few minutes. “Let me slide it on her and we’ll give you some last minute instructions.”

They watched as Nancy’s irritated figure slumped the second the bangle was placed on her arm. She started breathing evenly, deeply. Alex blew out a sigh of relief, thanking Severus again before tentatively touching his mate. He smiled when his finger was uninjured and chose to curl around her. She let out a moan and shifted to press further into them.

“How long will she be out?” Hermione asked.

“Not much longer,” Melody said. “Stupify doesn’t last very long on us.”

“Now, your instructions,” Severus said stiffly, pulling a black satchel from his robes. “Initially, we were going to accompany you. However, it seems that we are needed here, so you will go it alone.”

“I’m sorry,” Alex said again.

“Actually, we were pretty much grounded before you got here,” Melody sighed. “Dumbledore needs us to sort through more memories…and brew the elixir that’s keeping him alive right now.”

“How long,” Draco croaked.

“Less than a year,” Severus sighed and shook his head. “But that is neither here nor there. During your meeting with the Headmaster today, he showed you memories from young Tom Riddle’s life. Did you gather anything from them?”

“Well,” Hermione hedged. “He liked to collect valuable things from his victims, like those things in the box in his cupboard. He also had a history of malicious behavior at a young age.”

“I think we’re looking for the locket,” Draco cut in. “It’s valuable, belonged to his mother, and was part of his lineage.”

“Very good,” Severus said softly. “Dumbledore believes it to be hidden in the seaside cave that the orphanage took the children to.”

“The one that he scared those poor children in,” Hermione said softly.

“The very same,” Severus said. “Your mission tonight is to revisit the orphanage and find out exactly where those seaside caves are. The new head of the orphanage, Madam Blotts, is expecting you in an hour. You, Draco, are to pose as Riddle’s long lost grandchild. Inquire as much about his past as would be normal for someone tracking down their history but express interest in their holiday habits. Mesmerize her if you must but we have to find out where it is.”

“How are we getting there then,” Draco asked. “Neither of us can apparate yet.”

“That is where this comes in,” Severus said, handing them the satchel. “Inside are your cloaks, portkeys, and some maps. The first portkey is our usual one to Spinner’s End. Grab the motorbikes. Shrink them down and pocket them. The second portkey, the spoon, will take you to the orphanage. From there, you’ll drive the motorbikes to the seaside the sisters direct you to using the maps provided. Search the caves for evidence of the Dark Lord’s magic. Remember, you’ll need to smell for it. Once you find it, and I cannot stress this enough, do NOT go barging in yourselves. Return back to Hogwarts and let us know. The quill will bring you to us.”

“How long do you think this will take?” Hermione asked, watching as Draco donned his robe and tucked the satchel into it. She followed suit with her own robe.

“We don’t know,” Melody said softly. “However, you must return at dawn, regardless of where you are at in your search. Make a note of where you were and we’ll be able to create a portkey for those exact coordinates for your next search.”

“Make sure you feed after you leave the orphanage,” Severus instructed. “You’ll need to keep your strength up. Be careful. Wear your glamours at all times. And… should you need help… tap the crucifix three times.”

“Good luck,” Melody whispered and kissed them each tenderly on the lips.

“Keep your wands in reach and look out for each other,” Severus said softly, giving them each a kiss and activating their glamours.

Just as his lips parted from Hermione’s, a barrage of teachers burst through the door. Dumbledore entered, eyes sparkling merrily, followed by an understandably irritated McGonagal, a dumbfounded Slughorn, and a flustered Pomfrey.

“I said it wasn’t safe!” Madam Pomfrey shrieked.

“It’s alright Madam,” Melody said with a tiny smirk. “It’s under control now. I fear it will be a week before Sage recovers but she’ll be just fine and only poses a small danger to others.”

“Alex Bach,” McGonagal said in astonishment as Alex turned to see what was going on.

“Professor McGonagal,” Alex cooed. “You look well.”

“You haven’t aged a day!” McGonagal spluttered.

Alex shrugged and gave her a smile. “You are too kind.”

“And who is this poor young woman?” Slughorn asked, his eyes sharp and wary.

“This is my wife, Sage,” Alex said.

Melody grinned and shook her head, turning to Draco and Hermione. “Off with you two now.”

“Yes mother,” they said in unison.

“What’s this?” McGonagal asked in surprise.

“Oh, this is Rain,” Melody said. “She’s my daughter.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Hermione said, making her voice just a bit higher than normal.

“Charmed,” McGonagal said in shock. “But where are Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy?”

“Oh, I already fixed them up and sent them off. They have instructions to return if the burns come back.”

“Is that wise?” Pomfrey asked in displeasure.

“It was just a little burn. Severus confirmed it. They need rest more than anything…and probably a bit of down time to lick their wounds.”

“That reminds me,” McGonagall said with pursed lips. “Whatever possessed you to humiliate them for their punishment?”

Melody grinned. “It worked. They won’t so much as look at each other the rest of the year, I guarantee it. In fact, they were so thoroughly disgusted with their punishment that I dare say that things between Slytherin and Gryffindor will be as silent as the grave this year.”

“We shall see,” McGonagall said.

“I thought I told you two to leave,” Melody said, narrowing her eyes at a shocked Hermione and Draco.

“Oh, sorry!” Hermione squeaked and ran out the door, Draco hot on her heels.

As soon as they cleared the infirmary, they put their hoods up. It would do no good to draw attention to themselves right now. No one even knew they were here. Only a few inquisitive stares caught them as they hurried out the door and into the forest. They barely glanced around before digging the old familiar tin can out of the satchel and portkeying to the river bank by Spinner’s End.

They were greeted by the stench of rotten fish and refuse. Not wanting to stick around any longer than necessary, they used their speed to run to their summer home. What they found when they got there caused them both to drop their jaws. Every window in the house was busted. Siding bulged in odd places. Clumps of earth were strewn about and the house seemed to wobble.

“Merciful Merlin,” Draco breathed. “How on earth is it still standing?”

“I imagine those extra wards father put up have a lot to do with it,” Hermione said in disbelief. “Should we tell him?”

“We need to. This place is in danger of falling down and it is too far gone for a repairo I think.”

“Well, we could try a few,” Hermione hedged. “Are any muggles about?”

Draco stood stalk still, his ears straining for any sign of stirring. He sniffed the air, wincing when a strong gust wind hit him brining the smell of rotting fish with it. Hermione mimicked him, hoping against hope that her senses were right and there wasn’t anything out there.

“Do you smell that?” Draco asked softly.

“What?”

“Nightshade.”

Hermione froze in fear. It was impossible. Zander was dead. She’d watched Alex plunge the silver crucifix in his heart herself. That night was forever burned in her brain.

“I was ‘opin ta find ye ‘ere,” an unfamiliar voice came from some distance away.

Draco quickly pulled Hermione into his arms, unwilling to push her behind him until he was certain where the voice was coming from. “What do you want?”

“Only ta ‘ave a look at tha new coven in town.”

“New coven?” Hermione whispered.

“Ya did ole Lysander in, dint ya?”

“Yes, with my father and grandfather,” Draco said carefully. “What is it to you?”

“I jus wanted ta see if ya were wantin’ ta pick up where he left off.”

“We have no desire to collect other covens,” Draco said slowly. “Show yourself.”

“As ya wish,” the voice.

Moments later, a man appeared a few feet from them. He was a vampire alright, his glowing blue eyes and elongated fangs giving him away. He was rather short and portly and reminded Hermione a bit too much of Peter Pettigrew. It immediately turned her stomach. Sensing her distress, Draco gently pushed her behind him, not so subtly baring his fangs to warn the other vampire away from her.

“Hey, strike ‘er easy mate. I ‘ave no quarrel wiff ya.”

“Then back down,” Draco hissed.

The vampire held his hand up in surrender, allowing his fangs to retract and the glow to fade from his eyes. He looked over at the house and then back at them.

“Care ta say what went down ‘ere?”

“A witch lost control,” Draco said softly. “We’ll fix it in a bit.”

“So tis true. You lot are a bunch a sorcerers and such.”

Draco narrowed his eyes. “What have you heard?”

“Oh, jus a bit ‘ere ‘n there. Mainly, word is, ya got a maniac after ya. He’s hell bent on convincin’ tha covens ta foller ‘im. Crazy, I says. Won’t have nuffin ta do wiff him, I won’t. But others…they’re startin’ ta listen. Jus thought I’d see fer meself, ya know. My coven’s small, ya see, and we don’t want no trouble.”

Draco relaxed only a fraction. “You’d do well to stay away from him. He’ll only cause you devastation in the end.”

“S’ what I figured,” the vampire said solemnly. “Name’s Robert…of the nightshade coven. Should ya be needin’ information, jus’ ask fer me. I’m sure yer leader will know how ta contact me. Mus’ be off. Dem humans won’t stay mesmerized forever now.”

“Goodnight,” Draco said softly and watched the vampire drift off with the night. He waited until the scent of nightshade vanished completely before he turned to Hermione. “We’re out of time, love. Can you send your patronus to father?”

Hermione nodded, concentrating with all her might and producing the strongest otter patronus she’d conjured to date. She gave it instructions to inform Severus on the state of his house and their meeting with the mysterious Robert before sending it on its way. No doubt Severus would pop by as soon as he could to repair the damages.

In the meantime, Draco pulled their motorbikes out of the garage and repaired the minor damages to them with a flick of his wand. Then he carefully shrunk them and placed them in his satchel before taking the portkey to the orphanage out. He held Hermione close as they were whisked away.

“Place is falling down,” Draco observed after they landed.

He was right. The orphanage looked a step away from being condemned. Then again, it had been open since the 1920’s, and it looked to be in bad shape then. She suddenly found herself nervous as they knocked on the door and waited for their call to be answered. What if none of the people who ran it now knew what they were talking about?

A woman not much older than them answered the door. She was dressed in a full habit and looked run down, exhausted in the extreme. But there was a kindness in her eyes. “May I help you?”

“Yes,” Draco spoke softly. “I’m Derik Bach and this is my wife Rain. We had an appointment to speak with Madam Blotts.”

“Ah yes, we’ve been expecting you,” the woman said and invited them inside.

The inside, despite having the barest of modern muggle conveniences, looked like it hadn’t be repaired in ages. Paint and wallpaper were peeling off the walls. While there were no holes in the floor, there were loud creaks and groans as they walked. They kept silent as they walked further down a hall and were shown into a shabby office. The desk was filled with papers haphazardly strewn about. A cracked leather chair leaned to one side behind it. There were two guest chairs, both looking to be about ready to collapse, their threadbare surfaces cracked at the seams. They seated themselves gingerly and tried to focus on their task.

“I was wondering if you two were ever going to show up,” a gravelly voice said from the door.

They spun in their chairs to see an elderly woman enter the room. She looked to be in her late seventies, at the earliest. Evidence of a hard life could be seen from the many wrinkles and dark circles under her eyes to the unsteadiness of her gait. This was a woman who had worked very hard in her lifetime. Then again, raising children was no easy task.

“I apologize for our lateness Madam,” Draco said, springing up and helping the old woman into her seat. “I’m afraid we were unforeseeably detained.”

“It happens,” the woman chuckled. “The good Lord knows that we’ve never arrived for anything on time in our lives. Now, I am Madam Blotts. I took over when the church bought out the place. And you are the Bachs?”

“Yes ma’am,” Draco said, taking the lead. “I was told that you had some information on my family, information that I’ve been trying to track down for years.”

“Yes, I got your letter Mr. Bach. I understand you are looking for information on Tom Marvolo Riddle. Is that correct?”

Draco managed to nod without wincing at the name. He did, however, squeeze Hermione’s hand just a bit too tight. He rubbed his thumb over her bruised digits in apology. It was a reflex reaction, something the Dark Lord made sure his subjects had beaten into them before their inductions.

“May I ask why?” Madam Blotts asked, her eyes narrowed at them.

“Well, you see, he is my grandfather,” Draco said and blew out a breath. “My father was conceived during a one night stand. My grandmother only knew my grandfather’s name. She never saw him again. He doesn’t know of my father, and subsequently me. However, I recently learned that he has been spotted in Cokesworth. I decided to look into his history and discovered that he was a ward of this orphanage. Really, I just want to know as much about him as I can, if only to know of that side of my family.”

“I see,” Madam Blotts said with a hum. “Well, the person who knew him best, Mrs. Cole, unfortunately passed on some years ago. However, for some reason, she kept Tom’s file in her personal files instead of the student ones. Since Tom would be about my age, I’d say it was safe to give it to you now. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Tom was not the most pleasant of people.” She reached in her desk and slapped a manila envelope down on the desk.

“Oh, I already knew that Madam,” Draco said softly. “But I’d like to know all I can about him.”

“Well, you won’t find it in that file. Oh, Mrs. Cole kept a fine record of all his deeds, but she could never get to the bottom of his…oddness.”

“You say he was an odd person?” Draco asked, intrigued.

“More than odd,” Madam Blotts said with a frown. “Mr. Bach, might I be frank with you?”

“Of course, Madam,” Draco said soothingly. “I’d like to know the entire truth.”

“Heed my advice son,” Madam Blotts said in a whisper. “Don’t go looking for him. You’ll find nothing but horror and misery there.”

“What do you know about him that Mrs. Cole did not?” Draco whispered back.

Madam Blotts eyes went out of focus, her mind a million miles away before she quickly snapped awake. “Tom and I were raised together in this orphanage. He was a horrible boy, always out for revenge, claimed he was extraordinary. He was, you know, but not in a wonderful way. He was extraordinarily evil, he was. The devil never found a more promising playground. I’ll tell you what, I’ll never go to the seaside again and if I ever see a cave, it will be too soon.”

“What is your full name?” Hermione asked, piping up for the first time since they arrived.

Madam Blotts smiled sadly. “When I was a wee lass, they called my Amy Benson. Mr. Blotts was the only one who saw past my…issues after Tom was finished with me. Unfortunately, he only lived for a year after our marriage. I joined the convent the month after he died. There will be no happiness for me.”

Hermione’s breath hitched at that. “Madam Blotts, the seaside you visited with Tom, where is it?”

The elderly woman’s face darkened. “I’ve never been able to say. He did something that night and it has tied my tongue forevermore.”

“I see,” Draco said, taking a deep breath to relax. “Madam, if you would, please look into my eyes?”

“Why?” the woman asked, immediately on the defensive.

“I merely wish to convey my gratitude,” Draco whispered, letting his magnetism flow over the woman.

She went sort of limp, her eyes widening a bit and focusing directly on Draco. When she was completely under, Draco raised his wand and placed it to her temple. A softly muttered “legilimens” and he was inside her head, poking about carefully for the memory he wanted. A few moments later, he pulled back and released her from the spell.

“Again Madam,” Draco purred. “We cannot thank you enough for the help you’ve given us tonight. We are in your debt.” He slid the folder off the desk and held out his hand for her to shake.

“Oh, it was nothing,” Madam Blotts said a bit dreamily. “I am happy to be of service.”

“We’ll show ourselves out Madam. Have a lovely evening, and thank you again.”

They hurried outside and down an alley before Draco stopped them. “Let’s take the bikes from here.”

“What did you see?” Hermione asked curiously, donning a helmet that Draco had managed to snatch from the garage.

“Well, he’s muddled her mind so badly, it’s like watching one of those horrible old muggle cinnamon things that Melody showed me once.”

“I think you mean cinema,” Hermione said with a chuckle.

“Whatever,” Draco said in irritation. “Anyway, the point is, I saw the place they went, and our bikes will only take us so far.”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked softly.

“The cave I think it is lies in the rocks on a cliff. We’ll need to swim there should we want to reach it.”

“Lovely,” Hermione said sarcastically.

“Oh I don’t know. I rather fancy a skinny dip,” Draco said with a smirk.

“Sex addict,” Hermione giggled.

“I plan on it,” Draco growled. “Come on. Let’s hit a dance club or something. I’m hungry…for more than one thing right now.”

AN: Enjoy your cliffhanger my lovely readers. *cackles evilly* This story has taken an unexpected turn and ran away from me. I've been writing like a maniac and should be able to keep up regular weekly updates. You may all thank my muse by providing e-chocolates and lots of praise. As always, thanks to everyone who reviewed. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I'm glad you stuck around. I was worried I would lose you in my long absence. Keep those reviews coming and let me know how I'm doing. Until next time... Love you guys.
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Beyond the Pale