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Dancing With Dragons	By : addictdragonX33 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 45272 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
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
- 31
- 32
- 33
It has been so long since I have written that I don't have a really good apology and most of the people originally reading have probably long forgotten me! And rightfully so! But I am back! And I want to thank anyone who has kept reading this long!

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CHAPTER 32: Bonding and Dumbledore's Eyes

Malfoy leaped up and started to pace. “What the bloody hell Granger! Some very powerful, maybe dark magical just branded our skin and we have no idea what it is or what it means! It could be extremely dangerous.”

            Hermione turned seriously practical. “Well, if I had access to a library I’d look it up. I’m sure I could find something about what happened. I wouldn’t panic until we know. I mean nothing bad really happened but a little burn and there is nothing I can’t find in a book. Plus, you don’t know it won’t fade. Some magics don’t last.”

            Malfoy’s teeth started to grind. “I really don’t need this right now. If anyone sees this they are going ask questions! How the fuck do I explain a dragon shaped burn to a group of death eaters!”

            “Well Draco, as you obviously know, does mean dragon in Latin. You could simply state you wanted to brand yourself. I’ve seen muggles do things like that before and…”

            “Shut up! Tell me when and where you found this, this necklace.” Granger who was a flurry with emotions started dressing as she told him the story. Every detail she could remember. The way the snow fell and the way the store smelled. Even the color of the man’s clothing. She had a very could memory she reminded him.

            “STOP! Stop fucking rambling that is not helping right now Granger! Do you really think you are going to find this one of a kind necklace that this random man, at a store I’ve never even seen or heard of, in a fucking book? Obviously this wacko you got it from put some kind of curse on it. Probably thought it would be funny to sell it to the first stupid, sappy idiot he could find.”

            “Why does it have to be a curse? And stop yelling at me Malfoy, it’s not as if I knew this would happen.” Hermione controlled her emotions as she paced. She had to use her brain. “ Well if we look at the events logically it would appear to be some kind of binding or branding magic. Maybe both. Could well be the reason it happened during intercourse. Furthermore, just because the necklace had this reaction doesn’t mean anyone cursed it. He seemed like a very nice man, and if you ever bothered to listen in class you would know that witches and wizards can transfer magical properties to objects they hold close or have strong emotional ties to without even know it.”

            “You are not teaching a class Granger! This happened to us. Furthermore,” he mocked her, “ there was no fucking branding or bonding going on. No one brands a Malfoy.”

            “Really? The skull on your forearm says different. Your are such an arrogant…”

            “ Screw you! We did not bond we fucked. That’s it. And this holds no fucking strong emotional ties to me.” He grabbed the necklace and ripped it off. The second the necklace hit the floor Hermione’s burn started to sting with a fieriness. She clutched her fists together as she tried not to let tears of pain and rejection fall from her eyes. And without thinking she said,

            “You’re lying.” She didn’t know how she knew, but she did. Often Malfoy’s reactions to their complicated lives were an enigma to her, but she knew with a certainty that he was full of shit. “You are a fucking liar. Why say that if it’s not true!” She yelled.

            “How the hell do you know I’m lying?!”

            “Because… because I can feel it.” She picked up the necklace and held it in her hand. She thought about happy things, better days, and tried to channel her love for Malfoy and all her friends into it. She didn’t know why she tried it, it just felt right, and the pain from the burn edged away. She thought of something. “Hold it in your hand! Project what ever your feeling right now into the necklace.”

            “NO! I’m not messing with that thing. This is bullshit.”

            “Please Malfoy for me…” And she pushed the necklace into his hand. The second she did, they both gasped from the electric shock of pain and horror that went through them. The feelings almost blinded her.

            “Merlin, so much pain. So much frustration.” There was one very tangible emotion. One that felt at home in her head even though she knew it wasn’t her own. She reached out to touch his face. “You are nothing like your father Draco.” He swatted her hand away and dropped the necklace.

            “Get the fuck out of my head Granger!” Malfoy stormed out.

            She yelled after him. “We are still going to rescue Luna with or with out you Draco!”

            She stood for a few moments hoping he would return but when he didn’t Hermione let it go. She had, had enough shock for one day, and her friends would be worried about her. She grabbed the necklace and crept from the bathroom. She didn’t have any more room for her emotions towards Malfoy. They had bigger issues than a cursed necklace.

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            She managed to make it back to the RR without any complications. She was tired and needed sleep but she didn’t think anyone would understand. Neville and Ginny were waiting for her right inside.

            “So!”

            She had almost forgotten that her and Malfoy had stayed to talk. Oops. She lied because she was too tired for anything else. “One of them will be in contact. We will have to start planning how to rescue Luna, but I don’t want anyone but us three and Seamus to know she has been kidnapped…for now. Right now, it will just cause panic. We all need sleep. Tomorrow we talk this through.”

            “I’m done with talking,” Neville sighed, “And whatever is going on between you and Malfoy knock it off Hermione. He is never going to be Ron or Harry.”

            Hermione could do nothing but stare at Ginny accusingly as he walked away. She put her hands up, “I didn’t say a word, I swear. It’s not exactly an issue anymore, right?”

            “I’m going to bed.” As she turned Ginny hugged her from behind.

            “Sorry. I didn’t say anything though. There is just this…something between you too. I love you Mione.”

            She patted Ginny’s hand. “I know. I love you too.”

            Her and Ginny slept next to each other. There were so many horrible things happening to her, to all of them, but for tonight knowing Ginny was sleeping safely next to her made her more than grateful for their few blessings. She thought about them all as she drifted to sleep. Worried about the DA, Ginny, Luna, Harry and Ron. But her last thoughts before she feel asleep, like always, were about Malfoy. She thought warm thoughts about him and as she feel asleep as her burn radiated a now comforting warmth. It almost, just almost, made her feel happy again.

            Malfoy tossed for sometime trying to sleep, his thoughts in turmoil over Granger rescuing the Lovegood girl. But suddenly just before the sun rose an unbearable warmth and almost happiness came over him. Those emotions didn’t feel comfortable inside his head and deep with himself he was aware they were not his own. But it helped him sleep. And in the last moments of his conscious state he thought about Granger, like he always did.

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            Hermione was one of the first to rise. Her whole body was stiff and sore. She could see bruises blooming all along her. But being alive felt good, she reminded herself. She managed to find the women’s bathroom the RR had made for them without tripping over to many sleeping bodies.

            The bathroom was large and while impressive in size it was simple and too the point. She figured it took a lot of magical effort to house this many people. It made her wonder if the room had enough magic to sustain them, but those were worries for another day. She located the showers and took a scolding hot shower. It was really too warm in the season by now for such a warm shower but it relaxed her muscles. She needed just a moment of peace.

            Finally, when she couldn’t justify staying in the shower any longer she got out and dried herself off. She almost left without looking at the burn but she had to know. Making sure no one was around she turned her bare back to the mirrors that lined the wall over the various skins. Her heart beat faster as her eyes took in the scene. While the burn was almost healed it has left a perfect scar of the lady riding the dragon. She felt branded like cattle.

            “Mione?” Hermione jumped to find Ginny and Lavender standing in the doorway. “Sorry to scare you. The room has provided everyone with breakfast. Come eat.”

            “Okay, be right there.” She tried to smile.

            “Everything okay. Did something happen to your back?” Lavender asked.

            “Oh no, I’m fine. Just checking out the bruises. I’ll be there in a moment.”

            The room was good, she had to admit it. There was a long table that fit most of them and a simple spread of food. Mostly no one talked until they had eaten enough to feed a small country. Hermione didn’t feel much like eating though.

            “The room isn’t going to be able to supply us for ever.” Neville whispered to her.

            “How do you know? I was wondering that myself but I’ve never read anything about its magical abilities. They are sort of a secret I suppose.”

            “I’ve spent enough time with this room to know it’s amazing but it’s limited. I can’t be sure but I think we may only be fine for a few weeks on food.”

            “I guess we will have to face that battle when it comes. I know it’s important but I don’t have any immediate answers and I don’t think it’s the most important issue right now.” Now that the food intake was slowing down people were starting to talk and many eyes were glancing their way. There were many students here, some she had never even seen in the DA before.

            “I think I may have a solutions I found…”

            Someone called out over the table and Neville’s thought was lost. “What do we do now? Can we leave? Is the school even safe anymore?” Questions like these started to fly. Answer and objections were being thrown like qudditch balls. “What about the others?” “What about our parents?” “Are the death eaters over running the school even more?” “The professors?”

            She suddenly missed Harry and Ron more than ever. She needed their guidance. She wasn’t cut out for this, right?

            Suddenly Ginny whistled loudly through her wand. The room silenced. “ENOUGH!” And than she looked at Hermione as if to tell her she must say something. And she knew she had no choice. She had to give these student, her friends, something after all the loyalty and help they had given her and Ginny the night before.

            She stood slowly, all eyes on her. “Listen everyone, I don’t have all the answers. I can’t stand here and pretend what happened last night was not horrible and dangerous. The war is, more than ever, at our doorstep. We have a choice to make here today. We can simply live here until we find away out. Go home to our families, if we have homes left to go to. I know I don’t. Or we can stay here and fight!”

            “I know this is not what you all want to hear but we are in grave danger and we will be ever day. This is more serious than I can put into words, but it’s just as dangerous out there right now. I know there are some new faces here but you stood tall with us last night for a reason. As for my fellow DA, we have been preparing for a moment just like this. This school still needs us. Our fellow students still need us. So does Harry Potter and Ron Weasely, and the professors. If I can get any of you out of here I will, but I’m choosing to stay. I’m going to stay and fight.”

            “How do we do that?” someone yelled.

            “ I can’t possible answer all your questions. How does everyone here want to go about it? I don’t know for sure. But what I do know for sure is we can’t let them just kick us out of our home this easily! I won’t let them! This school is ours. It belongs to all those who want to learn and love and I wont hand that over He-who-must-not-be-named. I can’t tell you how the next few days or even weeks will go, but I do know if we stick together we can figure this out. I say we stay here and give them as much hell as we can! We keep planning, destroying them at ever angle like we were before. Who is with me?”

            There was a long silence and suddenly Ginny stood. “I am. Always.”

            “I am.” Neville stood.

            “Of course.” Seamus stood. Lavender, and Cho stood as well. And soon the whole table stood.

            “To Harry Potter!” A fourth year boy who use to be on the quiddich team with Harry yelled.

            “To Hogwarts!”

            “To destroying death eaters!”

            “To US!” Hermione said. The table roared. She smiled. Maybe, just maybe they would make this out alive.

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            One thing about war, it was extremely boring when nothing was going on. After taking time to talk to most of the people at the table and promising to have a DA meeting once everyone had recuperated her Ginny, Neville, and Seamus finally found a space to talk privately.

            “That was just what they needed to hear Mione. I couldn’t have done it better.”

            “Thanks Ginny, I just hope it was the right thing to do though.”

            “What choice do we have?” Seamus said. “There is no way of getting this many students out of here. You saw what it took just to get Dean out of the school. They are certainly not going to just let us walk out of here after last night.”

            “Actually, I might have a solution to that and our food problem.” Neville started. “I was trying to tell you at breakfast but well I think I found a way out of here. Not that I plan on going anywhere. I meant what I said Hermione. I’m here to stay. I’m worried about my Grandmother but she’s a touch cookie. I know she is probably already in hiding or out there fighting. I don’t have a home to go too. I don’t know if anyone else noticed but there is this odd portrait in between the boys and girls bathroom. It has this sad looking girl on it.”

            “Yea, weird I noticed that when I went to get Hermione this morning. It struck me as odd the room would bother with decorative pieces of art, especially because I’m pretty sure there are no other paintings.”

            “Exactly what I thought. I noticed it last night when I was went to the bathroom when everyone else went to bed. I took as shower and it just kept bothering me. Why would the room put it there? It doesn’t do much without a cause. I just had to inspect it. I tired all kind of magic and nothing. I got really frustrated and decided to just take it off the wall. I mean it’s dame depressing looking and when I took it off the wall I found a small tunnel.”

            “What!” Hermione grasped. “You didn’t dare go inside it Neville.”

            “Welllll….I almost didn’t, but why would the room give us something harmful after all this? So, I claimed through and I found myself inside this horrible dingy storage room. I walked around a bit. It took me while to realize where I was…”

            “WELL! Where were you?” Ginny burst out.

            “Hog’s Head. You know, that dingy little bar and Inn in Hogsmeade. The place where the DA all started!” Neville seemed very excited but everyone just stared at him. “Can’t you see the connection? It’s almost like the room knows what we are doing and took us to the place where this all began.”

            “But why?” Hermione asked feeling both excited and skeptical. “I mean I’m sure the Death Eaters are smart enough to have the village already on lock down. The last time we were there the place looked dingy and dangerous. For all we know the owner could be in leagues with them.”

            Neville started to look down. “I don’t know Mione. I don’t think the room would do this for no good reason. I think it’s worth checking out.”

            “We could at least steal food,” Seamus chimed in.

            “I’m sure the owner would notice this much food missing.” Hermione said.

            “Do you have a better idea?” Asked Neville, looking stern.

            “Well no.”

            “Fine, than I say we check it out again tonight.”

            “It could be really dangerous Neville and after what we all just went through I think…” But Ginny interrupted her thought.

            “I think Neville is right. Plus Hermione, how else are we going to get out of here and rescue Luna without getting caught? At the very least it’s a some what less dangerous way to leave the school grounds.”

            Hermione could not argue with that logic. “Okay, fine, we can check it out but we have to be so careful. And we will need to tell Mafloy about the portal.”

            “I don’t trust him!” Neville and Seamus said at the same time.

            “Yea,” Ginny chimed in. “What if he tells the Death Eaters. They would have us cornered in here. It would be come a death trap for us all.” Ginny shivered at the thought. And Hermione had to admit that the idea was more than a little frightening.

            “Well, I don’t think we can get around it. We can try to just tell them where to meet us, but they are not stupid they will ask questions and figure it out. And after all they did for us last tonight I can’t believe you would distrust them anymore. They risked their lives for us. I think it proves their seriousness. I’m not a hundred percent about it either, but they are the only ones who can get us in and out of Malfoy Manor.” Hermione wouldn’t mind being able to do some snooping of her own around the lair of Voldemort. Maybe she could find out more about the last remaining Hercruxes although she wasn’t even sure how she would get in contact with Harry and Ron. But thinking about them was too hard. It was like pieces of herself were missing. She brushed it aside.

            “I think we should wait and talk to Malfoy in the next couple of days. He may at least able to give us more intel about Hogsmeade and the kind of Death Eater presence they have there. I don’t think we should all four go snooping around without a little more info. I may even be able to figure out who owns the bar and if they could be of any actually help to us. Once we have that we will have to get maps of the layout of Hogsmeade and figure out the best area in which to leave.”

            The rest agreed that Hermione was right. If they were going to do this they had to do it smart. The tunnel could be a blessing or it could be a curse and before they figured out which no one else was to know about it. It might cause people to try to flee through it without thinking of the consequences.

            The rest of the day was spent in mostly silent contemplation. Most people were still trying to absorb the events. Stories were quietly passed around. Some students practiced magic. Others played wizarding chest and various card games the room had kindly made available. Neville was losing baldy to Ginny at their third game of wizarding chest. It seemed Ginny had gotten her brother’s skill and patience for the game. Seamus spent his time talking and gathering any information for students he could. What they had been hearing around and their stories of the battle. But Hermione was concentrated on their task at hand. She was looking at the book selection the room had made available and trying to ask it for the layout of the village bellow. But what she really needed was to find away to contact Malfoy and tell them what they had found. She knew the group wouldn’t be pleased with her telling him but even if Malfoy was the biggest arse in the world she trusted him. And dare she think it again, loved him.

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            The school was in turmoil. Classes for the majority of students who were left had been canceled. Not that it mattered anymore. The school was a shame and everyone including Draco knew it.

            He spent his time with a group of his fellow student Death Eaters trying to search out the parties missing, but his heart wasn’t in it. He was worried about Hermione. Curious as to where she was, but purposefully not trying to find her and the others. His reaction to what had happened could have been better and he knew that, but he didn’t like being bound to another soul even if he loved this particular one. His bad mood increased through the day and he unleashed it on the few students stupid enough to be wondering the hall. The school was on lock down he would remind them violently. What? He had to play his part he told himself.

            What put him in an even worse mood was that any time he concentrated on the burn scar or touched it he felt not… himself. Almost as if he was vaguely getting someone else’s emotions and maybe even thoughts. They felt almost comfortable inside his head, but he knew they were not his own. He didn’t want to even begin to imagine what that meant. But if he were being honest with himself, and as of late he didn’t like to be, he knew the magic had formed some kind of connection between him and Hermione. How strong he didn’t know. What he could do with it he didn’t know. But he sure as hell didn’t want to know right now.

            After a quiet dinner him and Snape talked at length. His father had been brutally punished by Snape and few others, but his true fait was still yet to be seen. He had been sent back to the Malfoy Manor and was more than likely taking his predicament out on Draco’s mother. While Draco disliked his father he still was worried for his life and his mother’s. Especially his mother’s.

            Snape, who seemed to be extending a hand to Draco, informed him that their Lord was on very important business outside the country and would be for an undisclosed amount of time. He was searching something out, but Snape either didn’t know what or didn’t trust Draco enough to tell him. He shouldn’t, Draco reminded himself.

            He told Draco that starting tomorrow night patrols would be started again on a more massive scale through out the school, it’s ground, and Hogsmeade. Draco would be doing many of these late night patrols as the start of his own punishment. Snape was almost certain the group of missing students were hiding still in the school and was most likely in the Room of Requirements but wasn’t sure how to get to them. If that were the case it may be almost impossible to get to them. But he was certain that the group would be looking for away off school grounds so the perimeter of the forest and Hogsmeade were the main targets of interest. And as far as Snape was concerned Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasely were enemy number one and two at this school.

            Malfoy listened intently. Taking in all of Snape’s words as if they were a fine wine, but in the pit of his stomach he felt bile rising. He needed to get Hermione out of here. She would never be safe. And though he didn’t relish the idea of taking her into the snake pit he didn’t think anything would change her mind and he owed her that much. But maybe after they had rescued this worthless Lovegood, if they survived and that was big if, he could convince her to run. But maybe Draco should stop scheming. Look where it had gotten him. But whom was he kidding? Malfoy’s were born to scheme.

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   The last two weeks had been eventful for the group of students in the Room of Requirements. After two nights of trying to figure out a way to track down Malfoy, Neville’s patience wore thin and Hermione was out voted to examine the tunnel.

            For once something seemed to be going their way, and Hermione had to admit her worries of the tunnel had been ill founded. The owner and barkeep was a grumpy but good hearted old man with a long beard and shining eyes that seemed all to familiar. His name was Aberforth. To say the least, he had been more than shocked and less than pleased to find four students milling around at closing time in his storage room. He had actually been furious, but when he had heard their tale and realized they were Hogwarts students he begrudgingly agreed to help them in any way, which included food and information.

            He had given them a good deal of information about the state of the world outside of Hogwarts. Most of it grave. The Ministry was a shell of it’s self. Anyone who wished to hear the truth knew that Death Eaters and He-who-must-no-be-named were running the show behind the scenes. The crock of shit Muggle Born Act, as he lovingly called it, had been put into effect a week and half ago and those who hadn’t run were being brought to the Ministry in droves. Most were not heard from again. Trials were being held to document their linage and to prove that they were loyal to the Ministry and the Wizarding world. To all their shock and horror Dolores Umbridge was in charge of the trials.

            Hermione had found out just a few days ago from Aberforth, who had a reliable friend who lived in the Hogsmead and who’s husband still worked in the Ministry, that their had been a terrible breach in security at Gringots. Apparently two men had assumed ministry worker’s identities and had a stolen something from a vault. He knew nothing of what they had stolen but there had been a terrible fight in the undisclosed vault. A huge embracement to them. Security had been upped. There were rumors that it had been no other than Harry Potter, but it couldn’t be confirmed. Nor could it be confirmed if they had been caught and arrested.

The Ministries official report was that it had been two men acting out against Ministry by stealing money for their bizarre cause, which had thankfully been stopped for the most part. These men where dangerous rebel rousers who believed the lies that Harry Potter and the now deceased Albus Dumbledore had been telling. They used it as a campaign against Harry in so many words. It had scared Hermione, but as the article Aberforth had given her made no mention of anyone’s capture she assumed the men had gotten away. She was almost certain it must have been Harry and Ron. And while she was horrified at their stupidity at just walking into Gringots she was impressed. And she trusted that there must have been a very good reason to do so. A horcrux perhaps?



            The news for getting anyone out of Hogwarts was just as depressing. The new chief security agents of the Ministry, which was just a fancy term for Death Eaters who “worked” at the Ministry, were constantly patrolling the grounds of Hogsmead. They had made it impossible for anyone but themselves to magical enter or leave. Only those who worked outside the town were permitted to leave in less you were given specific authority. There were however short periods in the morning and at night when there was a passage way for those working outside the town to leave or come back. But it was constantly guarded. The reasoning was that Harry Potter was a fugitive of the state, and seeing as Hogwarts and the surrounding towns had been his home for six years it was likely he would try to return. He was wanted for “questioning.”

            They had given the news about the tunnel and Hogmead’s state to the rest of the students. Most had taken it as well as they could. Few knew any other place they could go. Most of their parents hadn’t been in contact or had left thinking their children safer in Hogwarts then out. How wrong they had been.



To no one’s great surprise the battle at Hogwarts hadn’t made the news or even the rumor mill. Hermione could only assume that all communication had been official shut down for student at Hogwarts. Apparently, no one had wanted there to be even a leak of the violence that had happened.

            While Aberforth had a reliable source working in the Ministry he was unable to contact anyone outside the town for all their communication was being watched. It was dangerous enough for locals living and working in town to talk amongst themselves. So there went the idea of trying to get a hold of any of the Order.

           And still looming in her mind was Luna. Every day that passed there was less chance she was alive. Hermione scouted the maps she had found of the layout of Hogsmead. She had gotten Aberforth to layout where the magical shield around the town lay and where the passage way was every morning and night. But the Death Eaters, if nothing else, were not a terribly stupid lot. They moved the location of the passageway every day.

            Her, Ginny, Neville, Seamus, and Aberforth had thought long and hard over how to get them out. That was after Aberforth had argued with them about leaving. For almost a week he refused to help them. But when finally they had gotten him on board they all agreed the only way out was through that passage. How to sneak them hadn’t been decided. There was to be a meeting with Aberforth that night. They would have to wait for his signal that the Death Eaters had done their rounds checking out all the local stores for any sign of Harry Potter or other fugitives.



            What had been most alarming to Hermione of all things that had happened those past two weeks was the utter silence form Malfoy. He had seemed to have forgotten them. Had his anger over the burn, which still held beautifully to Hermione’s skin, kept him from his promise to help them? Did he really want to forget their allegiances and go back to being a Death Eater? Seamus, Ginny, and Neville seemed to believe so. And also thought that even if he hadn’t time was running short for Luna and he obviously cared no for her or his promises. And at any rate, the passage and Aberforth gave them a reason to tell no one out side the RR about the tunnel to Hogsmead. Why tell if they could do it with out them. They seemed to be forgetting that Hermione was unsure they could get into the Manor without Malfoy.

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            Malfoy was in a terribly foul mood when finally Saturday came around. It had been two long weeks. He hadn’t heard even a peep from Hermione or the others. He was aware that some of that was his fault. The way he had left had been anything but pleasant, and he was still refusing to touch the scar. There were times when he almost felt the presence of someone else in his head, but he had learned long ago how to guard his mind. There was something in him that couldn’t bear to be marked again and even worse to be that connected with anyone. So he had tried to get a hold of her in other means. One mean really. By walking by the Room of Requirements expressing his desire to speak with Hermione. But the room would not budge. Who ever had asked for its assistance had done a good job of keeping anyone from coming in. While it reassured him that Hermione and the others were as safe as they could be it was beyond frustrating.

            Snape had been keeping him, Pansy, and Zabini busy and out of touch. Each had a different shift and well apart from one another. As if he didn’t trust them. And well he shouldn’t have Draco constantly reminded himself, but couldn’t feel too bad about it. Draco was used to guard the grounds and sometimes Hogmead often at night. He had very little sleep between rounds, finding the missing students, and Death Eater meetings. Snape was growing more angry everyday that the students were still missing and everyday Harry Potter hadn’t come to the rescue of the Lovegood girl. Draco tired to limit his discussion of the girl and her treatment. He had been at the hands of his higher ranking Death Eater brethren before and he was “one of them.” He would never want to be at their mercy if he wasn’t.

But most of all Draco hated when he was forced to guard the passage at Hogsmead. It was a very dull job of checking all the IDs. It was also dame depressing. The people looked like shells of themselves. Scared to look at him or any of the other guards. As if just looking at Draco would bring all their worst nightmares alive. Was he that evil? He didn’t want the answer to that particular question.

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            When the for of them had gotten the message that it was okay to crawl through the tunnel they made their way to Aberforth. They sat in his storage room on large bags of grain and drums of ale. Aberforth was his normaly rough self.

            “I still think this is a rudy idea.”

            “We know,” Hermione said in a flat voice. She was in no mood to have this fight again. “You said you would have important news for us.”

            “Yes, yes girl. You all are a pushy lot.” But she could tell behind his wild wiskers that he tried to hide a smile. “I have been trying for months to get a pass to leave the town and see my son. We have not been in touch and I…” But he let the rest of the sentence trail off and no one forced it. They all knew his line of thinking. “Anyway, they have kept refusing, but when this crock of shit Muggle Born Act went into effect my son was called in for questioning. I had not known of this until I got a notice from the Ministry of his trial.”

            All their eyes were wide in shock. They had not known that Aberforth even had a son or any family. “I am so sorry Abe.”

            “Hold your breath Fiery one. There is nothing that can be done. I am being called in as a character witness. I fear it will do no good. I know these trials are all for show, but I have finally been given the permission I needed to get a pass to leave the town.”

            “In other circumstances I would say this is great news. I am sorry Abe for your son.”

            “Aye. Yes, I am sure the trial will be bullshit but it is the perfect excuse to get one of you through.”

            “One of us!” Neville said staring at the man. “No we must all get through.”

            “It will be impossible boy! I have been given only permission to go myself. No one else.”

            “Then how to you propose to get even one of us through,” Hermione asked.

            “I will give my pass to one of you.”

            They all stared. Ginny finally spoke up in a soft voice. “I don’t think I understand…” But Hermione was beginning to.

            “No. No Abe I will not let you do this.”

            “Do what?” Seamus asked looking wide eyed.

            “He means to give one of us his place.”

            “How?” This was Neville.

            “Polyjuice. Are you sure you're all Seventh Years?” Aberforth asked.

            “Wait. You are going to give up your pass to one of us after we drink Polyjuice and become you? No, Hermione is right we can’t ask you to sacrifice this. No.”

            “Yes you will.” His eyes were stern. “This girl will die without your help. She may die anyway but you must save her and be free. My son is strong and they will undoubtedly only imprison the muggle borns for now. He will have his wife for a character witness and there is nothing anyone can say that will truly change their mind. You know this. But you may have chance to safe this girl and stop them from entrapping the boy.” They had started calling Harry Potter by other names afraid that like Voltemort there was spell to let the Ministry know when anyone mentioned Harry.

            “No,” Seamus who was brave enough to say what they were all thinking, “We will not take what may be your only chance to see you son. He will want you there as I would want my father.”

            “You will take it. I fear it is most likely a trap to get me to the ministry anyway. I fear they may no of my family.”

            “Your family?” Hermione asked looking into those shinning eyes that held a humor that she had seen before.

            “I am known here to most as Aberforth Mockingham. Most truly forget and some are just too young. But still the rumors fly and some know. But truly my name is Aberforth Dumbledore borther to the famed headmaster. I have been waiting for them to seek me out. Now which one of you will it be?”

            But they were not really listening to the question. They were looking at Albus Dumbledore’s brother and had not known it for two weeks. And suddenly Hermione saw those bright shinning humor filled eyes in another face and a tear slid down her cheek. “Dumbledore,” she whispered.

            Suddenly there was a very loud crack in the air outside the bar and than loud shouting. And like Aberforth’s eyes there was something to familiar in the voices. But really, it couldn’t be….

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Dancing With Dragons