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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
- 25
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- 27
“We’re going to have to talk to Sirius,” Melody growled.

“Beg pardon?” Hermione asked in shock. She had been meditating for a while when her mother’s declaration pierced her trance.

“Here,” Melody snapped and threw something at her.

Draco was lying behind her and reached up and caught it. He brought it down so she could see it. It was a simple golden locket with a large S on the front. It looked rather ordinary and smelled normal. Draco opened it up and they both saw the note.

To the Dark Lord,

I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.

R.A.B

“Who is RAB?” Draco asked.

“Regulus Arcturus Black,” Severus spat.

“Sirius’s brother,” Melody elaborated. “I doubt he knows of Regulus’s defection, but he might have seen a locket floating around Grimmauld Place.”

“Can’t we just go poke around?” Draco asked.

Melody sighed. “We could, but I’m not too sure how keen Kreacher will be on that. At least Sirius can order him to give it to us, should that be one of the relics he is guarding so closely.”

“So we have to make nice with him,” Hermione said softly. “Maybe I should talk to him.”

“No,” Melody sighed. “I have to do this. Maybe he’ll be in a different mood with that spell in place.”

“And if he asks if the visions are true?” Hermione asked.

Melody grinned, flashing a bit of fang as she did. “I can neither confirm nor deny the status of my deadness.”

“Well that’s good fun then,” Draco huffed. “When are you going to do this?”

“Tonight,” Melody announced. “It’s already past lunch time. He’ll be sulking around the seventh floor, trying to sneak a peek at Harry by then.”

“Does Potter know Sirius is stalking the castle yet?” Draco asked.

“I don’t think so,” Melody said with a frown. “I know Remus hit Ron with a tongue tying curse so he couldn’t say anything. I heard Sirius and Remus discussing the pros and cons of Harry knowing. On one hand, I think it would be a good thing, might keep his ass here instead of wandering off into danger. On the other hand, it might make him reckless, causing him to sneak out just to speak with him.”

“Hard to say,” Hermione said thoughtfully. “But I bet if Sirius laid out some ground rules about visits, that Harry would respect them.”

Severus snorted.

“Oh stop,” Hermione grouched. “Harry will follow orders as long as he understands the reasoning behind them. No one told us that only he could retrieve the prophecy or even who we could trust to find out if Sirius was okay. Had he known…well, he wouldn’t have gone. I would have made sure of that. I would have marched him straight to the first known ally and spilled everything. Even if he did go, he would have never touched the prophecy.”

“Touché,” Melody said with a touch of a smile. “I always said the boy’s eyes should be wide open. Well, within reason. We should probably leave out the whole having to die thing. It puts a damper on one’s spirits.”

“He wouldn’t run away,” Hermione said, “if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“No,” Severus drawled. “More like run headlong into danger without caution because he was already aware that he would have to die. A reckless Potter is not an efficient one. I prefer to have all possibilities of the Dark Lord’s return destroyed before Potter makes his final sacrifice.”

“As do we all,” Melody said soothingly before anyone could remark. “Which is why I’m going to sniff Sirius out and have a talk with him. The sooner we find the real Horcrux, the better.”

Draco sighed. “I’ve also got to get started on that damned cabinet. The Dark Lord won’t be happy with my complete lack of progress.”

“We’ll help you with it,” Melody said softly. “We must stretch out the repairs until the end of the school year, but we’ll help you catch up.”

“Thank you,” Draco mumbled.

Severus nodded. “I have taken the liberty of informing Potter that you are indisposed for the weekend, Hermione. He and Ginny were rather cross with you and me on behalf of that dunderhead Weasley. In typical Gryffindor fashion, they completely forgot why one I explained that you’ve caught a rare illness that affects only vampires.”

“When will this poison leave my body?” Hermione asked tiredly. She felt limp as a dish cloth.

Severus gave her a grim smile. “You’re stronger than I thought you would be. I’d say you’ll be fine come Monday.”

Hermione nodded and closed her eyes, wishing for actual sleep and not just meditation. It would have been so nice to close her eyes and wake up Monday morning and have all this over with. Still, Draco’s presence made her convalescence bearable. He kept her calm and was an excellent meditation tutor. His voice soothed her and helped her slip into the fuzzy nothingness.

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“Wake up,” Draco hissed in Hermione’s ear.

Her eyes immediately popped open at the command. It was a rather strange one since she wasn’t asleep, nor could she ever fall sleep. However, it did catch her attention.

“What’s wrong?”

“Listen,” he whispered.

Hermione strained her ears to figure out what in the hell Draco was so tense about. While she was doing that, she let her eyes slide over to a nearby clock. It was after curfew! How had she managed to meditate all day long? No matter, she had to figure out what was upsetting her mate. It took a few moments but she finally made it out. Footsteps, two pair. That wasn’t unusual except that she knew Severus and Melody had gone with Sirius to look for the locket and then to hunt for her. They shouldn’t have been back yet.

“Who is it?” she asked under her breath.

“I’m not sure,” Draco said. “They’re too far away to scent.”

They lay frozen on the bed, hoping against hope that Severus reset his wards when he went out. He had talked about leaving them down in case Draco had to make an appearance or run out to get something. The first set of doors clicked open. No such luck then.

“Be careful. Malfoy’s supposed to be in here too.”

“Oh Harry,” Hermione huffed. “Him and that damned map. What are we going to do?”

“I vote knock him out and oblivate him,” Draco growled, pulling her tight against him.

“Do you think Ron is with him?” she asked in fear. She didn’t think she could handle another rejection so soon.

Draco listened hard and then shook his head. “Steps are too light. Weasley thunders around like a heard of hippogriffs.”

“He has successfully snuck out for five years,” Hermione snapped.

“And he still walks like that?” Draco asked, widening his eyes in mock surprise. It earned him a very weak slap and he frowned at the lack of power behind it. It worried him that she was still so weak after a day of rest. He grabbed her hand and placed a tender kiss on her fingertips.

“I’m fine,” Hermione sighed, sensing his worry. “I just have to eat and I’ll be fine.”

“I wish you didn’t have to go through this at all,” Draco growled and hopped out of the bed, shoving on the first shirt and pair of trousers he could find.

Hermione had to stifle a giggle. He’d somehow managed to grab her shirt and Melody’s jeans. The tight tee barely fit over his head and one arm. The jeans, while he could pull them up, buttoning them was another story. They hit him a few inches below the knees and were gaping wide open, creating a lovely frame for his flaccid cock.

“Fuck it all,” Draco growled and ripped the ill-fitting clothes off. He quickly accioed his own clothes and yanked them on, stumbling in his haste.

“I thought they looked good,” Hermione said with a giggle.

“Well, they certainly smelled good,” Draco said with a smirk but it quickly faded and his head jerked toward the door that was creaking open.

In a gust of speed, Draco flew across the room and pulled the bed covers over Hermione’s still nude and prostrate form. Then he snapped his fingers, making a candle flicker on and summoned a book into his hand. He sat in a cozy chair across from the foot of the bed, looking for all the world as if he were just reading. It wouldn’t do any good to shift into the shadows. Harry already knew he was here.

The door creaked open slowly. “Hermione?” Harry’s voice called out in a faint whisper.

Draco looked up, trying to act startled. He squinted, knowing Potter was under his damned cloak, and slammed his book shut. Then he took out his wand and aimed it towards the sound.

“Who’s there?” Draco called, stepping sideways and in front of Hermione.

“It’s Harry,” Hermione called, sniffing the air and realizing who the other person was. “And Ginny.”

“Potter,” Draco spat with as much disdain as he could muster. “She Weasel?”

“Why are you here Malfoy?” Harry asked as he pulled his cloak off.

“Detention,” Draco said curtly.

“After hours in Snape’s personal quarters?” Harry asked.

Draco shrugged. “It’s the weekend and I have to spend it babysitting a sick Gryffindor. Could you think of a worse punishment?”

Harry frowned. “Why you?”

“Why not? Snape had to run an errand. I agreed to watch Granger until he got back.”

“Again, why?” Ginny asked, her eyes narrowing.

Draco smirked a bit. “You’ll have to ask him. What are you doing here anyway?”

“We came to see Hermione,” Harry said. “She wasn’t in the hospital and Snape finally left the castle so we thought we’d come see her.” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “You’ve been down here all day Malfoy.”

Draco’s eyes widened surprise. It wouldn’t do to let Potter in on the fact that he already knew that. Instead, he crossed his arms, still keeping his wand trained on the two intruders just in case. He was going to protect his mate, no matter what. He had to think fast.

“It took some time to learn how to care for her.”

“You? Care?” Ginny asked.

“I. Don’t. Care,” Draco hissed. “But if I didn’t want to be expelled, then I had to learn.”

“What did you do to get almost expelled?” Harry asked.

Draco snorted. “Like I’d tell you.” He pursed his lips for a moment, making a hard decision. “You have five minutes Potter. Use them well. And stay a few feet away from her.”

“Why you-“

“He’s right Harry,” Hermione said weakly, knowing she wouldn’t be able to bear it if she could see his pulse. “You need to stay a few feet away.”

“What happened?” Harry asked, the look on his face one of ultimate concern.

Hermione shrugged. “Just one of those things.”

“It doesn’t look that way,” Ginny said with a frown.

Hermione sighed sadly and tried to sit up to no avail. Her muscles wouldn’t cooperate. She only moved about an inch before she flopped back against the mattress, completely spent.

“Stop that,” Draco snapped. “Dobby!”

Dobby appeared with a crack. “Yes Master Draco, sir?”

“Give us a cuppa?”

Dobby worried his hands, his lower lip quivering and ears drooping. “S-sir, there is only enough for one cup.”

“That’s fine,” Draco said gently, fearing the elf would start punishing himself at any moment. “Just hurry.”

“Yes sir!” Dobby squeaked and disappeared with a crack.

Two seconds later, a perfectly warm cup of blood arrived on the bedside table. Draco stared at Hermione for a minute before conjuring a straw and lowering the cup so she could drink it. He didn’t touch her like she wanted, but she could at least drink it. She sighed in relief and nodded when she was through. He placed the cup on the nightstand and retreated back across the room, feigning disinterest.

“Hermione, what in the hell is going on?” Ginny yelled, finally fed up.

“I’m just sick,” Hermione insisted. “I’ll be fine come Monday.”

“You don’t just get sick,” Harry said and then lowered his voice. “And since when are you and Malfoy mates?”

Hermione winced when Draco gasped. She knew exactly why he had done so. Harry had probably meant it as friends, but being a vampire had taken it to a whole other level. She hoped Harry hadn’t noticed but the gobsmacked look on his face said he had. Before she could explain, a silvery wolf floated into the room.

“Hunters! Hide!” It was Remus’s voice.

“Fuck!” Draco spat and ran across the room, summoning Hermione’s clothes as he went. He spared no attention for their guests as he helped his mate sit up and dress. Then he picked her up off the bed and turned the entire frame over on its side. He levitated and piled pillows to make a soft spot to rest and then gently sat her down on them.

“What’s going on?” Harry shouted.

“Shut it Potter!” Draco hissed as he closed the door and threw every locking charm he knew at it. “Didn’t you hear the werewolf? Hunters are coming.”

“Hunters?” Harry asked.

“Vampire hunters,” Draco said darkly.

Harry paled significantly and pulled out his wand. “What do we do?”

“We do nothing,” Draco said, transforming the couch into a flat board and putting it over the bed as a small roof for Hermione’s new hiding place. “You two get the fuck out of here because when that hunter finds us, he isn’t going to stop and check for a pulse. Through the floo, hurry.”

“What about Hermione?” Harry asked.

“He won’t touch her,” Draco said venomously.

“Why do you care so much Malfoy?” Ginny asked, her eyes flitting back and forth between Draco and a now trembling Hermione.

“There’s no time to explain,” Draco hissed, stiffening.

Hermione smelled it immediately. It was a smell she didn’t think she’d ever forget, a mix of musk and nightshade. She could tell it wasn’t coming from blood though, but rather a masking charm. It made her stomach hurt and she whimpered. Draco shot her a worried look and turned to the door.

“He’s too close. Get in with Granger, both of you.”

“No,” Harry said belligerently. “I’m going to help protect Hermione.”

Draco growled low in his throat. “Unless you can outrun a room full of wooden stakes and silver chain in full sun, I suggest you get the fuck behind the bed. You’re no good to anyone dead.”

“What about you?”

Draco rolled his eyes and jumped when the first blasting hex hit the door with a bang. He shook his head. “For once in your life Potter, quit being so fucking stubborn and get behind there. Hold a shield and if I …well, get her out of here the first chance you get.”

Harry looked at him oddly for a moment before pushing Ginny behind the bed and following her. When they were all curled up, he turned to Hermione. “Will you be okay with us back here?”

“I’ll have to be,” Hermione managed to grind out in between clenched teeth. It was all she could do not to attack them. “Did you manage to learn that scent blocking charm?”

Harry nodded and flicked his wand, making his scent disappear. He did the same for Ginny. “Better?”

“Much,” Hermione sighed and then squeaked when the door cracked under the strain of another blast.

“Fuck,” Draco snarled. “It’s not going to hold.”

“Y-you have to hide,” Hermione said faintly. “Give it the element of surprise.”

Draco chuckled bitterly. “Some of us aren’t shape shifting prodigies.”

“You can do it,” Hermione said more strongly. “I know you can.”

“Not fast enough to attack him.”

“Take my cloak,” Harry said, throwing Draco his invisibility cloak.

“Perfect,” Draco said and raced across the room. He threw the side chair on top of the transfigured board and secured it with a sticking charm. Then he leapt up, crouching behind the chair before placing the cloak on him.

A loud crash sounded, shattering the door inside. Wood sprayed everywhere with a force that embedded it in every soft piece of furniture available. Hermione cringed backwards, thankful that Harry put up a shield but terrified for Draco. She couldn’t see him now. She cast a weak spell that allowed her to see through the furniture but remained solid to anyone looking in.

“I know you’re in here,” a deep oily voice said. “I can sense you.”

Draco shifted his weight, springing in the air before a large stake came hurdling out at him. Dust flew around the room as the cloaked hunter magically threw stake after stake but never hit anything. Tired of the cat and mouse game, the hunter unleashed a slew of individual silver pellets in the air. They pinged off the walls and rained down on Hermione, Harry, and Ginny.

“HA!” The hunter yelled. “Got ya now!”

“That’s what you think,” Draco hissed as he flew across the room, tackling the hunter to the ground and sliding into the wall.

Before he could jump up and land the final blow, the hunter drew his wand and cast a sunlight spell. The room went in high relief, causing Hermione to snap her hands over her eyes. It was painful and it felt like an instant sunburn. In the caves, she’d had the protection of a cloak but she had no such luck now. She heard Draco and the hunter both grunt before more furniture exploded. She dared to open her eyes after the third or fourth crash.

The hunter was flying through the air at top speed. He hit the wall with a sickening thud before Draco shouted the petrifying spell at him. His body went rigid, hitting the floor with a sharp smack. Draco, no longer under the cloak, fell to his knees panting.

“Draco!” Hermione’s eyes frantically looked over him. To her horror, blood was pouring down his arms and he was holding his thigh.

“I’m okay,” he said hoarsely. “I’ve just got to get these wood shards out.”

Harry had apparently reached his tolerance for sitting still. He blasted the board off of them and sprinted across the room. He held his wand on the hunter but his attention was on Draco’s leg. It was bleeding quite heavily and Draco was trying unsuccessfully to pull a large piece of wood out of it.

“What do we do?” Harry asked.

Draco tore his attention away from the wooden shard in his leg. “First, we find out who this fucker is and why he’s here. Then, we make sure he can’t escape.”

“So how do we do that?”

Draco pulled out his wand and pointed it at the rigid figure. “Legilimens!” His face contorted with rage as he pulled back out. “That fucking bastard. Potter, grab his necklace. It’s a port key. It’s set to go off in one minute. Hurry.”

Harry sprang over and jerked the golden necklace from the hunter’s neck, flinging it across the room. It wasn’t but seconds before it heated up and disappeared. Harry snorted and lifted the hood from the hunter’s face, stepping back in shock.

“Dung?”

“No, it isn’t him,” Draco said. “He’s polyjuiced. Fat lot of good it did him. Bastard is lucky I’m the one who found him and not Fa- uh, Snape.”

“Harry,” Hermione called, fed up with watching her mate bleed out on the floor. “Bring me to him!”

Harry didn’t even question the order. He simply scurried over the broken furniture and lifted her out of the makeshift foxhole. He sat her down beside Draco and watched as she leaned up against him, trying to keep herself upright and pull the wood from his leg. It wasn’t working.

“Where’s my wand?” she asked.

“If I had to guess?” Draco asked, “I’d say it’s in a million pieces about now.”

“I need it to get this out!” Hermione said, trying to keep a calm head.

“Here, take mine,” Draco said, handing over his hawthorn wand.

Harry and Ginny gasped at the gesture but didn’t say anything else as Hermione started working on Draco’s leg. In no time, she had the wood out and the wound sealed. Then she methodically removed all the splinters from his arms and healed him as best she could. The minor ones sealed before she could get the wood out, making her resort to summoning charms. When she was finished, she handed him the wand and collapsed against his chest. Her calm was completely gone, replaced by shivers from nerves.

Not thinking about how it looked, he enveloped her in a bear hug, rocking her shaking form back and forth. He muttered reassurances under his breath, making sure she understood that they were going to be fine. Fear was radiating off of her in waves.

“Now you know how I feel,” Draco said.

Hermione couldn’t help but laugh at that. She supposed she could. “What now?”

“We wait for them to get back. In the meantime, I think we should let Dumbledore know.”

Hermione nodded. “Harry, could you cast another petrifying spell on the hunter and then go get Dumbledore?”

Harry looked at them agog but did at he was told. He made for the door, only to stop and turn around. “When I get back, you two are going to start from the very beginning. I’m not leaving until you do.”

“Fine Potter, just go,” Draco snapped.

Ginny eased her way into the middle of the room, careful to avoid the debris and gingerly sat in the floor across from the vampire couple. She pursed her lips in thought as she watched them rock back and forth. Finally she shook her head, realization dawning in her eyes.

“You’re Derik.”

Draco eyed her for a moment before looking to Hermione. Hermione sighed and nodded. Ginny had already figured it out. There was no sense in lying anymore. Draco had been caught dead to rights. He’d saved her and fought a hunter with amazing strength and accuracy. And he was also holding her so close it couldn’t be twisted another way. No, the truth might be better.

“I am,” Draco sighed.

“How long?” Ginny asked.

Draco quirked an eyebrow. “Since the beginning?”

“No,” Ginny said, shaking her head. “I mean, how long have you been a vampire? You weren’t one at the end of school last year.”

“How would you know?”

Ginny smirked. “I have my ways.”

“Oh really?”

“Oh stop,” Hermione sniffed. “Her ways include spying on a certain Italian.”

Ginny huffed. “Well, he was sexy and I noticed that you actually ate your food last year.”

Draco chuckled. “Fine. Hermione turned me after my sixteenth birthday.”

“You turned him?” Ginny asked in horror.

“He was turning anyway,” Hermione said. “I found out he was my mate shortly after I was turned. Actually, it was the day I first came out to Fred and George. He was drawn to me, as all mates are. Se-Professor Snape told him to take a hike.”

“Well apparently that didn’t happen,” Ginny said with a grin.

“No,” Draco said, his lips quirking in amusement. “I wanted her and I didn’t even know who she was at the time. She was wearing a glamour. I knew it was a glamour but I didn’t care. The next time I went to find her, I even knew she was muggleborn, but I still didn’t care.”

Ginny cocked her head when Draco’s lips fell, pursing in thought. “What happened?”

“Lysander and Zander,” Hermione growled. “They were the leaders of my inherited coven.”

“And they wanted her,” Draco hissed. “They each wanted her for their mate. Zander made the first move.”

“And?” Ginny pushed when Draco stopped.

“Draco was holding Lysander back with a silver cross,” Hermione jumped in. “But my, um, grandsire I guess you’d call him, got into it with Zander. Well, Zander asked for it really. He tried to harm his mate after he threw me across the room.”

“WHAT?” Ginny shrieked.

“Oh come on,” Draco sniffed. “You know she wouldn’t go along with any plan to own her, which is what Zander tried to do. She resisted. I’m not sure you realize how strong you have to be to do that, especially if you are submissive.”

“I do,” Ginny said with a frown. “I’ve read up on it.”

“Then you know it was phenomenal,” Draco said. “Anyway, her grandsire went after Zander and he was losing. I knew that he could finish him with my cross, so I tossed it over. He blew up in a cloud of ash. It was most satisfying to watch.”

“But that doesn’t explain why she had to turn you,” Ginny said.

“We’re getting there,” Hermione said. “Without the cross, Lysander had nothing to stop him from attacking Draco.”

“Why was he so interested in you Malfoy?” Ginny asked. “You would be just a snack to him, wouldn’t you?”

“Ouch She-Weasel,” Draco said in mock hurt. He smirked when she rolled her eyes. “He asked why I fought for her.”

“What did you say?”

“The only thing I could say. She was mine. I’d already figured out who she was by that time but I knew I had to have her. It’s hard to explain, really. I mean, imagine being so drawn to a person you can’t think about anything else.”

“I’m pretty sure I can do that,” Ginny said, clearing her throat.

“Ah, so you feel the same for the Golden Boy then,” Draco said.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him. “Not that it is any of your business, but yes.”

Draco shrugged. “Then you know why I had to fight. Lysander didn’t appreciate my answer, ripped my throat open and pumped me full of venom.”

Ginny frowned. “But that would have turned you anyway.”

“The turning is much easier if you drink a vampire’s blood,” Hermione cut in before Draco could say anything. “I drank most of his blood and then gave him mine. He finished turning seven days later.”

“And shortly after I woke, she left for the Burrow,” Draco said, his voice laced with sadness.

“There’s a lot more you aren’t telling me,” Ginny said.

“Well, it will have to wait,” Draco said, his head turning. “They’re here.”

No sooner had he said that, Severus and Melody came flying into the room, hauling two muggles behind them. They looked around wild eyed before he settled on their children.

“We’re okay,” Draco spoke up.

“Thank Merlin,” Melody sighed. “We came as soon as we heard.”

“Is Remus okay?” Hermione asked.

“He’ll be fine,” Melody said. “He’s a little banged up but nothing major. The hunters were prepared for vampires, not werewolves, so he had the element of surprise.” She looked around and whistled at the damage in the room. “Damn what a mess.”

“Sorry,” Draco said sheepishly. “Couldn’t be helped.”

“Well, no matter,” Melody dismissed. “You’re safe. That’s what counts. And we brought dinner. Looks like you could both use some. Oh, um, I assume Miss Weasley already knows.”

“I do,” Ginny said softly. “But um, I’m not sure I really want to see this.”

“You may wait in my study,” Severus said, pointing to the first room.

Ginny scurried out, edging past her professor and diving for a chair in the furthest corner. Severus repaired his bedroom door and put it back in place. Once they were cut off from Ginny’s view, he flew across the room and kissed his children. It was a kiss of relief, almost as if he was trying to reassure himself they were still there, still safe.

“We’re fine,” Hermione said softly when he pulled back.

She cupped his cheek, trying to convey that they really were okay. This was what she would miss out on if she weren’t a vampire. No one aside from their little group ever saw Severus like this, a kind and caring man who had a tender side. She loved her new family and it took some of the sting away from knowing that her real parents had no clue who she was. That reminded her, she needed to write a letter soon.

“Chow down quickly,” Melody said, tossing a couple of muggles on the floor.

They were younger teenagers, but they smelled delicious. They were both dazed as well, which made it easier to feed on them. Hermione had to have help since she couldn’t seem to sit up on her own but she made quick work of her meal anyway. Severus busied himself with putting the room to rights. When she and Draco were done, Melody snatched their donors up and hauled them out of the room. Severus followed dragging the still petrified hunter with him.

“You can go in now,” Melody called to Ginny, who was now sitting with Harry and a concerned Dumbledore in the study.

Draco was placing Hermione back into the newly repaired bed when they walked in. He had grown tired of the posturing and told her so as he laid her down tenderly. She couldn’t help but agree. Hopefully, Harry and Ginny would accept that Draco had changed. She wasn’t sure she could bear the thought of them snubbing her again. She already had so few who knew of her true nature.

“I’m ready for that story now,” Harry said dryly.

“Have a seat Potter,” Draco sighed and climbed into bed behind Hermione. “This is going to take a while.”

“Miss Weasley,” Dumbledore called before Ginny had a chance to follow Harry. “I wonder if I might have a word with you in the study.”

“Oh, um, of course Headmaster,” Ginny said with a frown.

The three teens sat in silence for a while, one not knowing where to start, the other two listening in on the conversation next door. There was a loud bang marking Ginny’s exit and a slow pair of footsteps that turned out to be Dumbledore’s. He stuck his head inside, more for Harry’s benefit than the vampires’.

“I asked Miss Weasley to go calm her brother down. It seems that he’s a bit frantic, looking for a certain piece of parchment that isn’t there. That should give you time to recount the story in its entirety.”

“Thank you Professor,” Draco said softly.

Dumbledore nodded. “I apologize for not being able to keep the hunter at bay. I’m afraid they found a way inside and copied Mundungus’s magical signature as well. I shall have another look at the wards come morning. I doubt they will send more before then.” Then much softer than Harry could audibly hear, he continued. “I do not think it wise to disclose your mission at this time.”

Draco nodded once to let him know that he had been heard. Then Dumbledore smiled at them both and nodded to Harry before leaving. The room once again fell into silence.

Harry finally sighed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “Look, you two might be able to stay up all night, but I’m beat. What’s going on?”

Hermione took a deep breath and started from the beginning.

AN: One of these days, our couple will get a break...but not today. *evil cackle* So, I already have the next chapter half written. This one is coming on nicely. Fair warning, if you don't like Ron bashing, I suggest you stop reading. It doesn't get any better for the foreseeable future. As always, thanks to everyone for your reviews. My muse accepts them in lieu of my blood, sweat, and tears...okay, maybe not the tears. Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing.
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Beyond the Pale