Dancing With Dragons

HELLO AGAIN and so soon. I'm really trying to write and get all these thoughts out of my head and onto paper or well the screen. Thanks for the review I got on the last chapter BUT I'd like to see more!!! Let me know what you think. This one is shorter than normal but I think it's a good one....


CHAPTER 28: Memories Twist Down the Dancing Vortex


Once Hermione had gotten all the raw, un-nameable emotions out she walked slowly back to the castle all the while expecting that someone to jump out at any minute at tell her this was all a joke. She wasn’t lucky enough for that of course. She cleaned herself off as best as possible before walking back into the dorm. Ginny was still engrossed in the book.

“Hey Mione, you okay?” Ginny asked as she walked by.

“Oh ya, ya I’m fine. I took a quick jog. I really need a shower.” Hermione didn’t want to look at Ginny for fear of bursting into tears. She wanted to tell Ginny to run and hide but before she looked at these memories and spoke with Professor MaGonagall she didn’t want to spook Ginny. What if they wanted to frighten Ginny out of the dorms? She needed to be a hundred percent sure before she told her friend. Still…“Oh and Ginny, I wouldn’t leave the dorm today. I barely made it out of Snape’s clutches on the way back. Seems some people heard noises by the old prefects bathroom last night and for some reason he fancies it was us.” She tried to sound light.

Ginny laughed and it hurt Hermione to hear. “Well, I was going to get another one of these muggle books but I guess that can wait till tomorrow.”

“Yea, but I have to go see Professor MaGonagall in a couple of hours I could pick one up for you.”

“Do you think you should go out again Hermione? I mean you can only be lucky so many times when Snape in one of those moods.”

“Sure, I’ll be fine. I’m meeting with Professor MaGonagall and I can get her to walk me to Library and back, so I doubt anyone will give me too much grief for that. Plus, her classroom is really close.”

“Okay, I’ll let the others know too.” Hermione made to leave feeling a bit better when Ginny yelled, “Oye, what are you meeting Professor MaGonagall for?”

“Oh, I didn’t do so well on my test Thursday and she wants to talk to me. I’m sure about how just because of our predicament I shouldn’t slake.”

“Hmmm, that not like you and you’d think she’d give you a brake but she as cold as ice that one. That’s weird though you even studied for that test.” Ginny shrugged and went back to reading.

Hermione gave praise to the captivating qualities of muggle litterateur as Ginny was normally more perceptive than this. She hated lying to Ginny, especially seeing as she had passed the test with flying colors. She snuck off to the showers, as it was the only safe private area she knew of.
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The temperature of the water didn’t really seem to make a difference to Hermione. She was huddled in the corner of the shower, letting the water beat pour down – this seemed all to familiar to her- as she looked at the five vials that danced around from the beating of the water droplets. She had tried several spells to make sure that there were no curses or dark magic laid upon the vials and had found none. She almost wished she had so that could wake up from this surreal experience and know it was a trap. She opened up the first vial marked DM and hoped there wasn’t a way to curse memories. She was pretty sure that it was impossible to do.

She poured the memory cautiously into her small pensieve she had bought herself one year with her Christmas money. At the time it had seemed superfluous. It was a small dull blue stone that had been smoothed down. The ruins, some she didn’t even recognize, lit up as she pour Malfoy’s memory into it. It was the first time she had ever used it and the shimmery silver of the memory was tantalizing to the eye. She sighed and thought if Ginny was endanger she needed to do this sooner then later.

She peered into the stone and suddenly felt like she was being pulled in. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling but when she could make out her surroundings she shuddered. She was in a large dinning hall and people all in Death Eater attire were bustling about, pushing past her hurriedly. But they weren’t so much brushing past her and moving through her. It was like being a ghost. She could tell that many of them were drunk from their speech and laughter but she couldn’t make out many of the faces.

As the faceless crowed thinned she saw what the memory held for her. There around the table stood several people un-hooded in their black robes. Her heart started to thunder in her chest as she laid eyes on Voldemort himself. She let a shriek leave her lips at the man’s, if you could call him, vile appearance. He was more snake than a man. Everything in her body told her to leave. To run screaming for her life. She started to step back as she heard his voice boom. She didn’t want to even see him through the eyes of a memory but she kept herself calm by remembering it wasn’t real, or not real anymore. She walked around the table and stood by Malfoy.

Malfoy looked worn but his eyes were a blaze as he started talking. Hermione listened in horror as he spoke of capturing Ginny. He grew more brave and passionate while he spewed his plan. It was all true, she realized. No one could fabricate a memory this well.

She stared back and forth in horror as Bellatrix goateed Malfoy by claiming he didn’t have to gall to kill and maim. What sick people they were! She roared out loud knowing it was no good. No one could hear her. “I’ve seen enough,” she yelled at the memory of Malfoy. She raised her hand and slapped his face but it just went right through. She hated Malfoy with a fierceness she hadn't thought capable, but even she had to admit there was an evil cleverness behind the plan. To bad his intelligence was being wasted.

“Of course my Lord,” the room echoed and all bowed.

“Good! Now all of you get out of my sight.”

She watched Malfoy’s face as the memory dissolved. It was torn between angst and accomplishment. ‘Good,’ she thought, ‘I hope you feel the pain of what you did forever.’

She came out of the memory feeling hot and shacking. It was true! Her best friend was at risk of being taken my Voldemort himself and the man she thought she loved had all but given Ginny to him on a silver platter. She had so much rage inside her she wanted something to BLEED! She grabbed at the vials and smashed what she had grabbed against the cold, hard title wall of her shower. The pieces of glass shattered down all around her and the memories dripped from the wall and twirled down the drain by her feet. She watched as the silver element liquefied at the touch of water and drowned in the twisting vortex. If only she could make the problem go away as easily.

When finally all the silver mattered washed down the drain Hermione made a reach for her wand to clean up the mess – she had a lot to do. But as she reached for her wand she felt a vial she had missed. It was another one marked DM. Seeing as Pansy had been there Hermione neither wanted nor needed to relive the same memory from a different standpoint. Zabini didn’t have much to offer in that regard so she didn’t care. But what else could Malfoy have. It only took the one memory and she believed. But what if this memory gave more away. She cursed and poured the last remaining memory in the pensieve. ‘Fuck you,’ she thought as she entered the memory.

She realized at once that she was standing in the head dorm, in Malfoy’s room none-the-less. She was standing next to Malfoy who was looking at himself in the mirror.

‘Wow,’ she thought, ‘was she about to see a memory of Malfoy making love to himself in the mirror.’ She didn’t need a memory to know how in love with himself he was. Suddenly Malfoy started talking.

‘I hope you watched the other memory first,” he said into the mirror, ‘or this explanation and…ummm….apology wont make much sense.’

“HA. You can’t apologize for what you’ve done!”

The stupid memory of Malfoy kept going, ‘I know there is no apology good enough for what I’ve done and maybe this message to you is just self-indulgent.’ Hermione shook her head in agreement though she noticed for once in Malfoy’s life he looked uncharacteristically uncertain of himself. ‘If it wasn’t Ginny it would have been you Granger. I didn’t make up the plan to kidnap someone close to Potter. No matter how awful I am I would not have done that for power. But you had to know it would come.’ He was sounded a little too smug about that.

“Screw you.”

‘I know, fuck me for being a cruel bastard, but believe me I didn’t mean for it to end up this way. I didn’t choose Ginny I just was trying to get them to choose someone else or no one at all. I know that isn’t going to matter to you but I wasn’t lying about what I said to you. I couldn’t let them capture you because…’ Malfoy looked vulnerable for moment and than his cold exterior came back into place. ‘ More than the fact that there are time when I like having you around no one could find out about our affair. I’d be dead with in minutes of them finding out. Plus, you and I both know that you have an idea what Pot Head and Wonder Ginger are up too. So consider what I was trying to do as a favor.”

The logic she still had left for this whole mess could appreciate the delicate place Malfoy had been in. And if they had found out what was in her mind about Harry and Ron they would ended up being more hunted than now and Voldemort would surly gather up his Horcruxes before they had a chance to find and destroy them all. It would be an end to all they had worked for and most likely an end to their only hope. It was a terrifying thought, but she still hated Malfoy.

‘I know you hate me or at least think you do but we have a lot to plan in a little amount of time Granger. They are already on there way to getting the decree. We don’t have much time.’ He looked grim and Hermione was sure if she could see her own reflection she would look grim as well. The memory faded and she was back in the shower. She cleaned up the mess, dried off, and got dressed. She wanted to exploded with fear and rage but Malfoy was right about one thing they didn’t have much time. She caught Ginny as she was coming out of the dorm.

“There you are. Diner?”

“No, remember I have that meeting with MaGonagall.”

“Oh yea. Diner after? Oh and do remember my book if you have time.”

“Sure. Actually, listen Ginny I was thinking we could spend the night in Room of Requirements. You know get away from all this. Maybe have Luna, Neville, and Seamus join? Like the night we all took shots but a sleep over too.”

“Spent the whole night? I mean that does sound like fun.”

“Good!” She tired to smile. “You know what, pack a bag of clothing and be ready when I get back.”

“You’re acting strangely…”

“No I’m not I just want to have a little fun. I really stir crazy.” She cursed herself for lying but she didn’t want to tell Ginny yet. She needed a plan. One was already forming but still... “I really have to go. Don’t want to be late.”
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The three of them paced in Draco’s dorm. They had all three agreed not to talk until Granger got there for fear another fight would erupt. Finally at three minutes before the two hours were to expire they heard a knock at the door. ‘Thank Merlin,’ Malfoy thought, ‘she believed them!’ Hermione Granger was actually going to be Draco’s savor. That stupid bitch, always being right and so righteous.
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Pansy opened the door looking tense. They gave each other dirty looks but didn’t speak.

They all stood for a moment just staring at each other. She couldn’t believe this was actually happened. She had real Slytherins and Death Eaters standing in front of her asking for her help. She finally broke the silence.

“Okay, well obviously I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe you. I mean I can’t believe that this is actually happening.”

“Well it is,” Malfoy murmured looking smug and unhappy. She sighed and gave back Pansy and Malfoy their wands.

“So what is plan?” She asked. They just looked at her. “You guys came to be with no plan?”

“Hey!” Zabini said looking pissy, “We came this far. Aren’t you the resident smart ass?”

“Name calling makes me like you less and not think as hard so shut up dick spanker.” Pansy actually stifled a laugh at this and then instantly looked harassed. “I was thinking about everything and I think the best course of action is to go straight to Professor MaGonagall.”

The three groaned loudly. “Listen, I can’t offer you what you’re asking for by myself. I’m going to try hard to arrange that I’m the one gathering the Intel from you three but it’s not going to stop the Order…”

“The Order?” They all piped in.

“Yea, come one The Order of the Phoenix. It’s not like it’s a secreat. They talk about them in the History of Vol…”

Malfoy pointed his wand at her mouth. “SHUT UP! DON’T SAY HIS NAME!”

“What?! There is no fear in a name Vol.”

“NO! You don’t understand, as of tomorrow they are keeping track of anyone who says his proper name. It’s away of keeping track of those outside his circle who are talking about him.”

“Dear Merlin, they can do that?”

“Of course they can,” Pansy spat, “Dark Magic can do so many things you can’t even imagine and shouldn’t be using his name anyway.”

“We don’t have time for this. As I was saying it’s a book called A History of ‘HIS NAME’ and the Last War. It doesn’t matter. It is the group of people you will ultimately be working for who can gain amnesty for you and hopefully your parents. They trust me but seeing as I’m here and not a Professor I don’t have much contact, but before your people over ran the whole school I believe Professor MaGonagall did. She’a the one we need. I can only give you the support of what I have here.”

“What do you have here Granger?” Malfoy asked. She knew a part of his questioning was because Malfoy had forever been trying to find out where she snuck off to.

“I don’t know if I can’t trust you. Any of you. So I’ll be doing the questioning around here.”

“We already know there has to a student rebellion formed mostly likely by you and your band of loyal Potter fans. Obviously we know that by the fact that the decree is going to be mandated for that purpose.”

“Fine but all I can tell you is that we have been established for a few about two years now and you’ve been working hard to do our share. But seeing as we are locked off from the world we don’t have much pull with what’s left of the ministry or the Light Side.”

“MERLIN Draco. This is what you’ve set us up for! To be helping a fucking student rebellion against HIM. Working with a bunch of nimrod, good doers who don’t know the faintest about dark magic! This is not only fucking stupid bit it’s suicidal.”

“We know plenty!” Hermione yelled over the chaos that was starting to brake. “Listen! We are really good and we are the only allies you are going to get right now. But if you help us out we can get you into the Order no problem when we get out of here.” Hermione wasn’t a hundred percent on that but she had to believe she could. “It’s not going to be easy to get everyone to trust you but we can do it. We can give you a different way. We can’t be locked in this school forever and when we aren’t I’m sure Professor McGonagall will take you to Order, especially if you show your trustworthy here. But until then folks you are part of the DA.”

“DA?” Pansy and Zabini asked together.

“Dumbledore’s Army,” She smiled.

“Oh Merlin’s balls.” Zabini said. Malfoy gave her a knowing look and she was pretty sure they were both thinking of a different time, fifth year.

“Okay, so first we go to MaGonagall and get her approval. Then we see from there. But you can work with us and become a part of the DA. That part is settled but we need to get Ginny in a safe hiding place now. Maybe even off the campus.”

“You all should get off the campus,” Pansy said. It made Hermione think differently of her. “None of you will be safe. If HE can’t have Ginny he will have someone.” She knew Pansy meant her. It did strike her with fear. She knew she was putting herself in a lot of danger but the path was set.

“I can’t leave. If we could get everyone out that would be great but I can’t leave. Especially now that I need to be as close as ever with you three.” Zabini shook his head, Pansy made a pained face, and Malfoy smiled wickedly. "So I'm thinking that Malfoy you'll have to do most of the spying inside with you-know-who. Seeing as, of the three of you, your the closest to him. Pansy I'm sure you could keep moving up but I'd stay put in your ranking and keep eyes and ears on the other Death Eaters. Get invited in the smaller but more frequent raids and missions that are being handled by Death Eater leaders but not right from Him. That we can have an angle on a couple of sides. Zabini if you were smart I'd keep the Dark Mark off my arm in less you have to. You need to start spying on what is going on here. Every move with in this castle. And I think you should be the head Intel guys. Work more directly we me and possibly the others because as long as you don't have a mark on your arm it is just a tad less suspicious if we are found together."

“I knew you would come through Granger.” Malfoy had that dame smirk.

“Shut up Malfoy. I will never forgive you…”

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

“DRACO are you in there! Open up!” Came a loud booming voice. Everyone stilled because everyone knew that voice especially Malfoy. There came another voice, one with a wheezing giggle.

Hermione pointed her wand. “What is your father doing her?” she whispered harshly.

“Pansy take Granger up stairs now! Come right back down and looking fucking happy.” He spun on Hermione. “As soon as we leave you get to Ginny Granger and you take her somewhere, anywhere safe. Take as many people as you can or none at all I don’t care but get the fucking out of here. The decree. Its here already.” Hermione felt like fainting.
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OoooOOOooooo what's gonna happen!