Chapter 5
The Burrow was a study of different emotions. A little over a week since the death of Albus Dumbledore, the leader of the Order of the Phoenix, and everyone was on edge. When Hermione arrived on the steps of the Burrow, a few hours early, Molly wrapped her in a hug, then put her to work in the kitchen.
But the whole house seemed to have a lightness to it whenever Molly would remind everyone that the house had to be spotless for the wedding in a few weeks. Laughter could be heard throughout the yard as Ron and the twins attempted to de-gnome the garden; Ginny and Molly were singing off-tune to the Weird Sisters while doing the dishes; and Arthur was always tinkering with things in the garage down the path.
Hermione had only been here for two days before she approached Arthur about joining the Order. She found him in his garage, a muggle radio in front of him, and the look on his face was so bizarre she caught a laugh in her throat.
“Mr. Weasley,” she started, but he waved her off.
“It’s Arthur, Hermione,” he said. “How many times must we tell you that you’re like a daughter to us.”
She smiled. “I was wondering if I could get in touch with Kingsley and Moody.”
His tinkering with the radio paused abruptly. “Hermione, don’t think I don’t know what you’re about to ask me, and the answer is no.”
“No? But I’m seventeen!” Her voice sounded shriller than she had intended. So much for wanting to come off as an adult. “I want to join because I think it will benefit the cause. I’m smart enough to not get killed. I have decent dueling skills, and frankly, I don’t see how one year tucked safely away at Hogwarts will do anything but prolong this war.”
My Granger, I didn’t know you had a desire to pause your learning to fight a war. How was it possible for him to hear her? She was speaking, not thinking it!
Butt out of my head, please.
Since you asked so kindly. Was it possible for him to sound amused inside her head? Don’t forget your orders from Snape.
Arthur was staring at her, considering what she had said. Finally he seemed to come to a conclusion. “Fine. I will ask Kingsley and Moody if you can join a single mission. We have a meeting tomorrow.”
Smiling brightly, she thanked Arthur and went back to the main house. She had to dodge Molly who needed extra hands in the kitchen and always seemed to find her and Ginny, but Hermione found herself sitting on the spare bed in Ginny’s room.
The door opened and the red-headed girl popped her head in. “Hey, are you hiding from mum?”
“No offense, but yes,” Hermione replied sheepishly. “Feel free to come in and we can hide together.”
Ginny laughed and stepped into the room. “So, how was your trip to America?”
“Good.” She didn’t know what else to say because she didn’t actually go to America. Hermione silently wished to tell Ginny what was going on.
You can’t. Malfoy’s voice caused ice to turn her veins. She knew she couldn’t tell Ginny, but she was so lonely. After her breakdown in the safe house, Hermione realized she has been lying to everyone around her for years.
“Are you okay, Hermione?” Ginny’s voice caused her to slap her makeshift Occlumency shields up to avoid Malfoy’s prying.
She nodded. “How are things with Harry?” Changing the subject is always good.
Ginny beamed and launched into a story about how Harry has been sending her secret notes when the Dursley’s weren’t aware. The younger girl was so in love with Hermione’s best friend, she couldn’t help but smile at the happiness awaiting Harry after the war. He had put off accepting Ginny’s affections and acting on his own because he wanted to protect his love, but Hermione secretly knew it was selfishly motivated—Harry needed something to keep himself going.
If you absolutely trust the she-weasel, I give you permission to use my name.
How the hell can you focus on what you’re doing if you are constantly listening in on my private thoughts?
It sounded like he laughed in her head. It is not my fault your Occlumency could use some work.
Explain to me how this connection works later tonight. She closed her eyes, trying to pay attention to how Harry’s summer was going according to Ginny. And for the second time today, stay out of my thoughts!
Another sound of laughter flitted through her mind. It was a pleasant laugh, not filled with malice or hatred.
A hand on her knee broke her thoughts. It was Ginny, giving her a concerned look. “Hermione, are you sure you’re okay?”
Hermione grabbed her wand from her pocket and pointed it at the door. “Muffaliato.”
Looking back at Ginny, the girl had a shocked look on her face. “Ginny, I have to tell you something and you have to promise to keep it a secret.”
“Do Ron and Harry know?” Hermione shook her head. Ginny’s face seemed shocked. “Oh wow. Do you have a secret boyfriend or something?”
The laughter in her mind came back. MALFOY! It stopped.
“The night of the Astronomy Tower, I saw who was in there with Dumbledore. They were talking under a silencing spell, but Dumbledore saw me hiding and let me listen to the conversation.” Hermione tried desperately to keep her voice from shaking.
“But you told everyone you didn’t see and then you were stunned with the boys?”
She shook her head. “I had to. If I told Harry what I saw, he would have been furious.”
Ginny moved to sit back on her bed. “Hermione, do you know who killed Dumbledore?”
Don’t answer that. So much for butting out of her thoughts. Besides you don’t even know the answer.
Could you tell me, then leave my thoughts alone?
I could, but you wouldn’t believe me.
“No, Ginny, I don’t,” she said. Hermione felt like she knew the answer. It was clear who could have done it; she saw him with her own eyes as his wand was aimed at Dumbledore, but Snape removed her before she could see if he went through with it.
Ginny looked confused. Hermione kept talking. “I don’t know who killed Dumbledore, but I do know who was in the Astronomy Tower and how Harry and Ron ended up in a classroom.”
“Ron and I were sitting in the common room when we felt something was wrong, so we left to find Harry using the D.A. coin. He told us to go to the Astronomy Tower, and when we arrived, I went up to the little alcove that allowed me to see.” Hermione took a breath and Ginny gestured for her to continue. “Draco Malfoy had Dumbledore cornered and unarmed. They were talking, and when Dumbledore lifted the silencing spell, he asked me to keep a secret. Malfoy stunned Harry and Ron but left me standing.
“I was so confused, but he didn’t give me much information. He mentioned a prophecy, but Malfoy refused to tell me what it was. Then Bellatrix came up the stairs with a few more Death Eaters, and Snape, of all people, came and took me to Harry and Ron under Disillusionment. He said to make it seem like I was stunned too and had no idea what happened, and that he would contact me in a week to explain things.
“Ginny, I didn’t actually go to America with my parents. My parents don’t even know I exist. I modified their memories after Harry saw Voldemort return. Snape sent word that he would come fill me in a few days ago, but before they could, a Death Eater came to my parents’ house where I was staying.” She stopped talking because the rawness in her throat told her she was about to cry.
Ginny looked pensive. “When you say ‘they’ do you mean Snape and Malfoy?”
Hermione nodded. Then she realized how that sounded and she hastily continued. “I apparated to a forest I used to go to with my parents, and Malfoy came to get me. He took me to a safe house for the Malfoy family and Snape was there to explain a few things from the night Dumbledore died.”
“Wait,” Ginny interrupted, “How did Malfoy know where to find you after you left your parents’?”
A blush crept up Hermione’s face. “He can read my thoughts.” Ginny looked gobsmacked.
“He, Draco Malfoy, pureblood heir, can read your thoughts?” The young red head’s voice was exasperated. “Since when?”
“Well, that’s part of the prophecy that Dumbledore was trying to learn about,” she said quickly. Ginny gestured for her to continue. This conversation seemed much easier to have with the Weasley girl and not Harry and Ron; they wouldn’t have let her finish. “Apparently, a few days before we went to the Department of Mysteries, a prophecy was given. It ended up in the Hall of Prophecies, and Lucius Malfoy found it. But only those a prophecy is about can retrieve one, so after he was arrested, he sent Draco to get it.”
“The prophecy is about Malfoy?” Ginny asked.
“And me.”
“No way, that is so ridiculous,” Ginny laughed. When she noticed Hermione wasn’t laughing, she sobered. “Wait, so you’re attached to a prophecy with Draco bloody Malfoy?”
Hermione nodded. “I guess when I was hit with Dolohov’s curse, that was what identified me in the prophecy, I ended up entwined with Malfoy.”
“Do you know the whole prophecy?” Another nod. “Tell me.”
She took a breath and pulled from her memory of hearing the prophecy. “The one with wounds from a silent curse sleeps for four days, healing what was broken, darkness lies ahead. The one whose future is marked by the dark, connected to her unknowingly. Together they will forge the key for the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord, then fall into oblivion.”
Ginny was silent for a few moments. “Four days? You slept for four days while they healed you initially but then they said your heart stopped on the fourth day.”
“Ginny, what I am about to tell you seriously cannot leave this room,” Hermione pleaded. She was desperate to protect Draco Malfoy, the boy who her magic deemed was worthy of saving. “Not even Harry can know.”
“Okay, I promise no one will know,” Ginny said seriously.
“The day after the Department of Mysteries, Draco Malfoy was brought to Voldemort to receive the Dark Mark,” she said, keeping her voice low despite knowing there was a silencing spell on the room. “Snape was there, and he said he has never seen this. When Voldemort was giving Malfoy the mark, a black mist began attacking it, trying to prevent it from fully marking him. Snape said it went on for three days, but on the third day, the mist stopped.”
Ginny shook her head. “I don’t see what this has to do with you?”
“Malfoy said the mist felt like a heartbeat and smelled like primrose, and on the third day of his marking, around mid-afternoon, it stopped.” Hermione took a deep breath and without pausing finished. “Ginny, my heart stopped beating the same time Malfoy’s black mist stopped fighting.”
Hermione closed her eyes, terrified of what Ginny’s reaction might be. This was the most information Hermione had shared with the younger girl, and it was the first time she told any of her friends about what she did to her parents. But Ginny simply moved to sit next to Hermione and wrapped an arm around her.
“Your magic chose to save Draco Malfoy, didn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Your parents really don’t remember you because you wanted to protect them at fourteen years old?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to tell me anymore right now, but I would like it if you kept me updated on this, so you don’t feel so alone anymore.” Ginny’s comforting hug was all Hermione needed at this moment. “One question though.”
“Yes?”
“Did you have a secret affair with Malfoy or something?”
Hermione laughed hysterically. “Oh, gods no!”
“Dang, I was really excited for you to tell me if he was good or not for a second there.”
The girl dissolved into a fit of laughter. Hermione slapped Ginny on the shoulder. “That is so immature of you.”
“Come on, I think mum will lose her head if she finds out we were hiding from her up here.” Ginny motioned for Hermione to lift the silencing spell, and the chaos of the Burrow filled the room once more.