A Living Secret ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 23 ~ A Shocking Development

“Draco Malfoy Acquitted of Complicity in the Death of Albus Dumbledore”

Hermione read the newspaper headline with disbelief. The Ministry had found that Draco Malfoy was under the control of the Imperious curse when he attacked Albus Dumbledore, which he claimed was placed on him by none other than Professor Snape. In fact, Draco was praised for his ability to fight the curse long enough to keep from killing the Headmaster.

“The lying little snake,” Hermione hissed, shaking the paper with fury.

To add insult to injury, Draco would be returning to Hogwarts this term to finish his studies. Hermione folded the paper up and threw it down on the table.

”I know my dear,” Minerva said, looking at Hermione sympathetically, “It’s terrible, but the trial was quite extensive with experts and all. The Ministry had to look at the facts, and since Professor Snape was not present to refute the claim, there was little anyone else could do. Perhaps he was under the curse, Hermione. Draco never seemed the type who would kill.”

Hermione snorted.

“Well he won’t be getting a warm welcome from me, that’s for sure,” the witch said, “I think he’s a big security risk to be honest.”

Minerva sighed.

“Be that as it may, we can’t refuse him. He’s been cleared,” the Headmistress said, returning to her breakfast, “We have to accept the findings of the Ministry.”

“But he has the Dark Mark, Headmistress,” Hermione said.

“Yes, but the lawyer claimed Draco was forced to accept it by his father and has no true loyalty to the Dark Lord. Since Lucius is a known Death Eater and in Azkaban, the Ministry believed that he did force Draco and Narcissa both to take the Mark. There is no proof either has ever been involved in any illegal acts before this…incident,” Minerva said. “So Mr. Malfoy is back and that’s all there is to it, my dear.”

After Draco’s release by Voldemort, Narcissa Malfoy took her son to a secret location and hired the best Memory charm experts she could to alter Draco’s memories. She then hired good counsel and Draco turned himself in to the Ministry.

He couldn’t tell them what happened after he and Snape ran, only that he was found wandering the Manor grounds days later, very disoriented. Investigation found there was evidence of memory tampering, but he did conveniently remember hesitating killing Albus and the Ministry Council saw their last conversation, sans Draco telling how he let the Death Eaters in. They also witnessed Severus bursting into the tower and casting the Killing Curse on the Headmaster. This was the first real physical evidence they had of the killing via pensieve, and coupled with Harry’s affidavit, it was quite damning for the Potions Master.

Now Draco had a way to work himself back into the Dark Lord’s good graces and Voldemort had another spy at Hogwarts, though the pureblood would have to be very careful.

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The next morning a very hung over Severus walked out into the throne room after Peter knocked on his door and informed him that Voldemort wanted to see him. The fat wizard was cleaning up after the revel, and Voldemort’s familiar Nagini was lying in the middle of the floor, dozing, a huge human-sized lump in the middle of her serpentine body. The Dark Lord must have given her a treat.

Severus walked around the snake and stopped in front of the throne, bowing rather stiffly. He hadn’t had a chance to drink any sober-up potion or eat, and was in horrible shape.

“Good morning, Severus,” Voldemort lisped in a rather enthusiastic voice, “I see you chose to curl up with a bottle of firewhiskey last night, rather than our entertainment.”

”Yes, my Lord. I fear I may have drunk a bit too much,” Severus replied.

“Well, what I have to tell you may have the effect of a couple of cups of coffee, my loyal servant,” Voldemort said, his red eyes glittering, “Draco Malfoy is returning to Hogwarts.”

Severus sobered immediately. Could he possibly have heard what he thought he did?

”Excuse me, my Lord?” the Potions Master said, not wanting to ask the wizard to repeat himself.

Voldemort smiled liplessly.

“You heard me right, Severus. Draco is returning to Hogwarts. He has been cleared by the Ministry of all complicity in the death of Albus Dumbledore,” Voldemort said, watching the wizard closely, “It seems he was acting under an Imperious curse, cast by no other than you.”

Severus stared at the Dark Lord.

“They’ve added one more hat to your crimes. The Imperio spell is enough to get you life in Azkaban by itself, since it is an Unforgivable,” Voldemort hissed, “There is your repayment for your mercy. But you have to admit…the boy is smart. I’m glad I didn’t kill him now. It seems I have another spy at Hogwarts now.”

Voldemort narrowed his eyes at Severus.

“Which means your ‘Miss Granger’ is no longer needed. I think it is time to make an example of the close friends of Mr. Potter, starting with her. I am going to have her taken and brought to a revel. My Death Eaters love muggle-borns. Her body will be left in front of Hogwarts itself as a message. I am going to enlist Draco to make her available,” the wizard said.

Peter, who was mopping up blood, looked up and leered at Severus.

“I believe they will enjoy her very much, my Lord. When do you plan to have her taken?” the Potions Master asked, carefully lowering his Occlumency walls to hide any emotion he might be feeling.

“Oh, I haven’t fleshed out all the details. By the next revel…so within the next month or so,” the despot replied carelessly. “If that doesn’t flush Potter out, next we will get Ronald Weasley. Then he will have no one. This will make the boy quite mad and quite vulnerable. He will do something stupid. Make a mistake so I can end his life once and for all. Then…then comes my time.”

“Yes my Lord. Isolation is an excellent method to throw an individual off balance,” Severus agreed.

Voldemort nodded.

“What do you think of Draco’s ruse of blaming you to regain his place at Hogwarts and clear his name, Severus?” the Dark Lord asked him curiously.

“I think, my Lord, he acted like a true Slytherin. I wasn’t there to refute him in any case. Well done,” the wizard replied.

Voldemort smirked at him.

“You seem much more alert than you did several minutes ago, Severus. I told you this news would wake you up. You have no need to watch the gates of Hogwarts now. The witch’s fate is sealed. I would like you to brew a few potions for me and rest up for your trek to the next Horcrux. You are going to need both your wits and strength to check it for me. You can’t afford to make a single mistake,” Voldemort said warningly, “I will brief you Thursday night and you will leave at sunset on Friday.”

“Yes my Lord,” Severus said, bowing.

“You may go. I will send Peter in with the list of potions shortly,” the Dark Lord said.

Severus returned to his rooms, his brow furrowing the moment he closed the door.

Hermione was now a target. Damn it. Damn Draco…the little shit. He might have balked at killing Dumbledore but the Potions Master knew he would have no qualms at all about turning Hermione over to the Death Eaters, he hated the Gryffindor witch so much.

Despite all the safeguards, Hermione was no longer safe at Hogwarts. The revel was a ways off now. He would let Harry know this latest development after they destroyed the Horcrux. Hermione would have to leave the school until all this business was over with.

The witch wasn’t going to like that.

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That evening the Hogwarts Express arrived at the station. Instead of boiling over with a full chassis of exuberant students, a few subdued bodies seemed to weep out of the bold red doors. All in all, Hogwarts had less than three hundred students, including new first years.

Hermione, seated at the Gryffindor table with her housemates watched as the sad little group of less than twenty first years were led in by Professor Sinistra and sorted without too much fanfare. She introduced the heads of houses, then the rest of the staff, welcoming Matilda Hagg to the ranks. Professor Hagg scowled at the students accordingly. Hermione was reminded for a moment of Professor Snape, who began terrorizing students from the first night in.

The Headmistress then gave a rather lackluster speech, welcoming the new students and advising them all that the year would be “focused on academics” and that trips to Hogsmeade would not be announced except on the actual day it was to occur for security reasons. She also told the students amid groans of disappointment, that there would be no balls this year due to budgeting issues.

The feast consisted of two meats, baked chicken and roast beef, two selections of vegetables, string beans and mashed potatoes, two selections of drinks, milk or pumpkin juice and treacle tarts for dessert. For the first time, the staff had to eat what the students did. Special orders were no longer available due to the reduced budget.

Draco Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table surrounded by whatever classmates had returned, all of them wide-eyed and questioning him about last year as if he were some kind of celebrity. Hermione scowled at him blackly when his gray eyes met hers. He looked as if he’d smirked at her. A very subdued Ronald Weasley sat several seats down from Hermione, looking at her furtively. He’d tried to speak to the witch, but got the brush-off. Ginny sat across from Hermione, looking a bit distant. She was wondering how Harry was.

Ron had to talk to Hermione, just to find out how Harry was doing. Plus, he wanted to try and fix what went wrong between them. Ron might have stood a chance at that, if Severus hadn’t kissed Hermione and fired her imagination…then turned into “fantasy man” at Harry’s house, feeding her darker urges though he didn’t touch her.

It was hard for a man or boy of flesh and blood to stand up to a dream. Ron didn’t have a hope in hell of turning Hermione back to him. Not until the world kicked her in the ass and her fantasy was somehow shattered by reality.

The fact of the matter was that in Hermione’s mind, Professor Snape had thrown down the gauntlet and was on his way to becoming what she desired him to be, when the wizard had actually drawn a line in the sand, intending on not crossing it. Both had very different reactions to what occurred at Harry’s house, Hermione believing Professor Snape to be acting in character in the situation and Severus believing he was losing touch with what mattered most, which wasn’t a randy little Gryffindor witch with a warped perception of him.

The Sorting Feast over, Hermione watched as the house prefects guided the new students to their houses. Gryffindor only received four new students. She followed them out, only to be stopped by Draco, who sneered at her.

“Hello Granger. How’s Potter doing? Hiding someplace with his tail between his legs now that Dumbledore’s gone?” the pureblood said, his lip twisted unpleasantly.

“Don’t talk to me, Malfoy. I’m not fooled by you at all,” Hermione snapped at him, trying to push by the wizard.

“You don’t have to be, Granger…you can think what you want, but I’ve been legally cleared of any wrongdoing and have just as much right to be here as you do,” he said, letting her pass and frowning after her.

If anyone knew where Potter was, the mudblood did, he was sure. And he’d find out. Voldemort wanted to know.

“Gods, I hate him,” Hermione thought as she took the stairs up toward Gryffindor tower. She looked back and saw Draco turn into the dungeon corridor. How was she going to even stand to see him in classes?

When she finally made it to the Fat Lady, both Ron and Ginny were standing outside of it, waiting for her. She might have walked past Ron, but she couldn’t ignore Ginny, who stepped up to her.

“Hi Hermione. How’s Harry doing,” the witch asked, her brown eyes searching Hermione’s face.

“He’s just fine Ginny,” Hermione said.

“Where is he?” Ron asked Hermione in a rather demanding voice. Now that he saw her up close, he felt a little angry at the way she dumped him.

“I can’t tell you, Ron…it’s a secret,” Hermione said.

Ron scowled.

“I’m his best friend. I’ve got a right to know where he is, Hermione. You can’t just cut me out of the loop like that,” he hissed angrily.

Hermione looked at him. He was right of course. But Hermione didn’t want to share any information with him, especially about Professor Snape. It would require too much work. This was the downside of trying to deal with someone you had a relationship with. When it turned bad, you just wanted to put them out of your life. But Ron had been a friend to her for years. How was she supposed to turn her back on him completely, especially when he cared about Harry just as strongly as she did.

“Listen, next time I talk to Harry I’ll ask him if he wants me to tell you where he is, Ron. It’s the best I can do,” Hermione said, giving the Fat Lady the password and stepping through the entrance, closely followed by Ron.

“Of course he wants me to know where he is! I’m his best mate,” Ron seethed behind her, “Tell me, Hermione.”

”No,” she said firmly, entering the common room.

“You’re a pig-headed piece of fluff, you know that Hermione?” Ron said, his face red and fists clenched.

Hermione whirled on him.

“Ronald Weasley, you haven’t been here three hours yet and already you’ve started arguing with me. That’s why we aren’t together now. You don’t understand anything! Anything at all!” she yelled at him, then with a fairly decent billow of robes mounted the stairs and went to her room, Ginny looking after her.

Ginny understood the need for secrecy. She looked at her brother and shook her head.

“Way to win her back, Ron,” she said, then walked up the stairs herself, Ron left standing in the common room impotently as the first years looked at him.

“What are you all looking at?” he snapped, making the poor students jump.

Momentarily satisfied with his bullying, Ron stalked up the stairs that led to the boy’s dorms.

Hermione was being completely unreasonable.

As usual.

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A/N: Ron’s back. Sigh. And Malfoy too. Thanks for reading.