Asking

Lunchtime, in the Great Hall:


"Hermione, what are you doing after classes?"


"Studying in the Library, why, Ginny?"


"I should have known. No reason, just curious, do you ever do anything other than study?"


"Yes, I help Harry and your brother kill Dark Lords. Is that what you meant?"


"No. Don¢t you have anything else to do? A boyfriend, a hobby, something?"At this, Hermione looked at Ginny as if she had just morphed into Fluffy, three heads and all.


"I don't have time for any of the above, I have to study for NEWTS and make sure I don't end up in Azkaban for killing Draco Malfoy. Because, I can tell you, the thought has been going round in my head since Snape made us partners."


"Mione, you weren't there at Grimmauld Place before sixth year, Malfoy isn't the guy you think he is. He's changed, trust me on that."


"Harry, I do trust you, it's Malfoy I don't trust. Leopards don't change their spots and ferrets don't stop being ferrets. If he¢s changed so much then why does he continue calling me evil names and treating us like dirt? There isn't anything that I¢ve seen that will convince me he's changed."


Harry, Ron, Neville and Ginny shared looks of doubt. Maybe their plan to help Malfoy wasn't such a brilliant idea. If Hermione wasn't even willing to entertain the possibility of Draco changing, it was pretty hopeless.


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On the Quidditch pitch after classes:


"Malfoy, we may have a problem. I tried to talk to Hermione about you. I was trying to tell her you had changed and she was wondering how to kill you without ending up in Azkaban. She wasn't even willing to consider the possibility of you having changed."


"I really didn't expect anything else. We'll deal with that when we have to. Before we get this started, I'm curious. Weasley has already made his 'favor' request and, though I'm loathe to do it, I'm bound. Now I want to know; what do the rest of you lot want in exchange for your help?"


"No clue yet, Malfoy. Haven't really thought on it."


"Well, I don't really know for sure, but, I would kinda like to see your arms."


"You want to see the Dark Mark on my forearm, Little Weasley? You do realize when Voldemort died, it dissolved? All that's left is a scar in the shape of the mark, but okay. Here it is."


"That's wicked looking. Did it hurt?"


"Hell, yes. Both when I got it and when it dissolved. You can have that one as a freebie, if you will. And you, Longbottom, what is it you want?"


"You were at some of the Death Eater's meetings and such, right?"


"Well, yes, unfortunately I really had no choice."


"I was wondering if you had heard anything about what exactly happened to my parents? That's all I really want, to know what happened that night."


"Oh, hell, Longbottom! Yes, I know what happened to your parents, but trust me, you don't want to know. Hell, I don't want to know. Ask me for anything else, anything."


"I need to know. My whole life, I've needed to know. No offense, Harry, but you know what happened to your parents when they died. My mum and dad are in St. Mungo's in the Psychiatric Ward. They don't even realize anyone is there. I need to know what was done to them; maybe then the Healers can help them or at least try. Right now, all they can do is keep them from accidentally hurting themselves."


"Fine, I'll tell you what you want to know. The summer before sixth year, my father took me into his study. He wanted to show me the 'power of a dark magician'. He took me to his Pensieve and showed me a memory, not his mind you, my mother's. You see, she requested of the Dark Lord that she be permitted to stay at home with me and not attend the Death Eater's revels and such. As payment for that privilege she was to accompany my Aunt Bellatrix on a mission. She had two choices; go to the home of James and Lillian Potter or your family's home. She chose your home. She thought her job was to 'interrogate' your parents, purebloods weren't normally harmed. This time was different though, right from the start. Bellatrix started with the Imperious. She had your mother put you in your crib and had my mother go with you to keep you quiet. The chain you wear around your neck, she gave it to you, let you play with it. Then, she rocked you to sleep while my aunt did her best to cause your parents as much pain and misery as possible."


"What did she do to them?"


"What didn't she do? Cruciatus, hexes, every torture her sick mind could devise. Finally, she Imperious'd your father to...rape your mother. That's when your mum broke; that was it, she was gone. After all that, she finally Crucio¢d your dad until he cried like a baby, told him you were next and that was his breaking point. When she had finally had enough, she called my mother weak because she was crying, too. Threatened to do all of the above to me if my mother didn't buck up and do the Dark Lord justice. By the time I was done watching that memory, I had come to the conclusion that being a Death Eater was not for me. A week later, I contacted McGonagall and she took me to Grimmauld Place. I spilled my guts to her and Dumbledore. Told them about the task the Dark Lord had given me, how I was given the Mark beforehand as payment for my family's loyal service. Your parents are the reason I switched sides."


Neville was crying, wishing he'd never asked. "I need to go." And he ran away.


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A/N: You didn't REALLY think it was gonna stay 'cute' did you?