Dancing With Dragons

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CHAPTER 29: Civil Conversation for Malfoys


Hermione was suddenly being pulled under the arm by Pansy. “Come on,” she hissed. Hermione could hear Malfoy’s father again and she didn’t need to be told twice. The two rushed up the stairs together and into Hermione’s old room. It looked much darker and sterile from when she had occupied it. She almost commented on Pansy’s decorating choices but thought better. The girl’s face looked horrified.

“It’s gonna be alright Pansy,” she whispered.

“Shut-up mud… Granger. I’m fine. It’s you that should be worried. If he finds you here with us…”

“I wouldn’t betray any of you if that happens.” Pansy looked at for a long moment as if really testing out the truth of her statement. Maybe Pansy was just as untrusting of her as she was of Pansy. Unthinkable as it was.

“That’s good to know Granger because there would be no where safe for you if you did.” She started riffling through her chest. She finally found was she was looking for and threw it to Hermione. “I took some of these from several student during patrol.” It was an Extendable Ear. “If I say ‘OH but my room is such a mess,’ you don’t think twice to clime out that window. Granger, if they find you here we could all be dead.”

“It’s four stories high!”

“Merlin you’re a witch, figure it out. Now, Darco’s father and Amycus or four stories.”

She gulped, “four stories.”

“Good girl.” Pansy plastered on a fake but charming smile and headed downstairs.

Pansy had left the door open just a crack. As soon as she heard the girl’s footsteps disappear she leaned against the wall and put the extendable ear facing out. She could suddenly make out the mummers of downstairs.

Amycus’ horrendous voice boomed through the magical ear. “I could have sworn I heard four voices before.” Hermione heart was pounded and she was having trouble breathing.

“No professor Carrow just the two of us. I’m assuming this has to do with…”

“Ahhh Pansy my dear how good to see you.” Lucius Malfoy’s perfectly manicured voice said as though he wasn’t pleased at all. Though Hermione never thought she had heard Mr. Malfoy pleased over anything.

“Mr. Malfoy, I thought it was your voice I heard. A pleasure as always. Nice to see you as well Professor Carrow.” ‘Ahhh, the pretentious pretenses of the purebloods. 'How dull,’ Hermione thought.

“Misssss Parkinson.” The way he said her voice gave even Hermione chills. “Now, Pansy, Draco we have…” But Mr. Malfoy’s voice piped in again.

“Excuse my rudeness. Mr. Blaise it had been a while. Is your mother doing well?”

“Of course she just got married again, sir.”

“Hmmm, yes I seem to remember an invitation. Her sixth or seventh marriage I presume.”

“Fifth.” Zabini’s voice seemed to stiffen.

“Enough with the niceties father. Do you have the decree?”

“Have some respect for your father, Draco,” Mr. Malfoy’s voice raised just a hair and then calmed. “We are obviously not here for idle chit chat but there is always time for short civil conversation. That’s where you lack in you manner’s boy.” ‘Ha!’ Hermione thought, ‘like Lucius Malfoy would know manners if it hit him on that giant head of his.’

“Sorry father, it is that I am just anxious to please Our Lord. I didn’t expect the decree to get here so fast. How ever did you manage father?”

This seemed to pacify Mr. Malfoy as he instantly started to regale the tale to the group. How pleased he seemed with himself for having beaten and blooded people for the this particular piece of paper.

“Lucius do you think it’s wise to talk in front of this one?” Amycus said.

“Zabini is loyal you can talk freely in front of him,” Malfoy said. It seemed such an ironic statement. Malfoy’s stern, elitist tone for those two men made Hermione fear for Malfoy against her own will. Then again, she had never seen Malfoy grovel to anyone anymore.

“He doesn’t have Our Lord’s mark,” Amycus kept insisting.

Zabini stepped in. “My mother is overly and wrongly protective of me. She only wishes to see me finish the school year out properly. But as I’m sure you are both aware she gives very generously with her wealth to the cause. I’ll soon be joining the ranks none-the-less.”

“Of course Mr. Blaise. We all know your mother’s puts out… a lot of her money for the cause. No doubt she has a lot to give after all those marriage.” Hermione could tell the room was tense from that comment. Maybe Zabini and his mother were not in as high a standing as she had supposed. “Draco, here is the decree. Our Lord sees fit to give you the responsibility of gathering the girl. Lets be to it and see that you don’t mess this up.” If she had known Lucius Malfoy better she might say she heard jealousy and worry.

“Of course father,” Malfoy said in not so kind of voice. “But first, where is Headmaster Snape? Our Lord said he should be with us.”

“He wasn’t in his office. I was on my way to find him when I bumped in to Amycus here. He offered to take me to your dorms and have this mess done with. I see no need to make such a hoopla over one little girl.”

“Yes,” Amycus said, “no reason to bother the Headmaster. There is more than enough of us to take one silly little blood traitor of a girl.” Hermione grew angry and anxious. She just had to get to Ginny first. She was just thinking of claiming out the window when Malfoy said,

“I know our Headmaster’s time is important but Our Lord specficly said he wanted him there. It would look rather unkindly on Snape if he wasn’t aware of the going ons in his own school, don’t you think so father.” There was silence. “Yes, well now that we are all in agreement I’m sure he is just down in the potions room where he spends most of his time.”

“Of course, young Malfoy,” Amycus whizzed angrily, “Let’s find the Headmaster. You Mr. Blaise should not come for this part. There may be sensitive matters to discus that those without the Mark cannot be a part of. You may come down to the main hall and see the festivities for yourself later though.” At this Amycus seemed happier.

She would rip him limb from limb if he even looked at Ginny wrong, she thought. But she could have kissed Malfoy. The Potions classroom was about as far from the Gryffindor Tower as you could get. It would give her time to gather Ginny. Her adrenalin started to pump even faster. She finally heard the door close.
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Zabini and Hermione slammed into each other on the staircase. No apologies where exchanged for the accident, time was running out. For the second time tonight, Hermione was being taken from under the arm and pulled along.

A hall down from the Gryffindor Tower Hermione finally forced Zabini to stop dragging her along like a bad puppy.

“Zabini! Here is good. I can’t even begin to explain you, Malfoy, and Pansy to Ginny or any of them right now. We don’t have time. Try to get to them and distract them. I know where I am going to take Ginny. Tell Malfoy we need to meet up somewhere safe. How about Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom at midnight? Do you know where that is?”

“Sort of. It’s that the deserted girl’s bathroom in the west wing?”

“Yea. Pansy will know how to get there I’m sure. Go!” Zabini turned and Hermione grabbed his shoulder. “Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me until we all make this out alive. Go GRANGER!” But she was already running towards the dorms.

The Fat Lady seemed rather put off by Hermione shortness with her, but she could care less for once. Hermione looked around and found Neville and Lavender still out in the common room. Her world was pulsating around the edges. She realized that the next couple minutes of her life and the decisions she made with in those minutes would determine the out come of Ginny’s life. She seemed to be taking in every detail of the room. In the fireplace the fire was snatching the life from the last remaining pieces of wood. The hot ambers danced in her eye. Neville was sitting in a large armchair in the corner amerced in paper work.

She pulled Neville’s arm with so much force they both stumbled. His paper work spilled around him fluttering to the floor like soft snowflakes.

“What’s the idea?” Neville sputtered.

Her senses were on over drive. She could smell that Neville had taken a shower but underneath that was earth. He must have snuck off to work in the Herbology classrooms again.

Hermione gave him a stern look and dragged him to Lavender who had just wished one of third years a warm good night. “Been having trouble sleeping, that one… what’s going on Hermione?” Lavender’s face turned from light to serious. Hermione could see her perfectly applied make-up was hiding the weary edges around her face. She smelled like perfume. The essence of Belladonna Hermione determined.

“I don’t have much time to explain. I found out from a really, really reliable source that Snape, Amycus and Lucius Malfoy are on their way to take Ginny. Now!”

“WHAT!” They both yelped. Some eyes started to look at them. She counted the eyes as her brain buzzed. Four pairs of eyes her brain ticked.

“Shhh. We can’t let this get out. It will cause mass panic. I don’t have time to explain right now, okay? Do you trust me that the more time we waste the more likely Ginny’s life is at risk?” They shook their head. She was talking and thinking a mile a minute. “We need to get the DA together and to meet up at the Room of Requirements where I am going to take Ginny. Wait, where is Ginny?” For the first time her brain was taking in the bigger picture. That Ginny was not here waiting for her like she had promised. Her heart sank.

“Well, you see she was worried about you and bored. Figured you got caught up at the Library…”

“LAVANDER!”

“She’s at the Library!”

“SHIT. BLOODY HELL! I have to get her.” She calculated that while the Gryffindor Tower was far from potions classroom the library was not. You actually had to pass it to get there. Neville had gotten Seamus by now and had filled him in. “Seamus you have best relations with the Gryffindors and Huffelpuff get to the DA members and tell them we have to meet at the Room of Requirements in one hour. It’s most important that no one gets caught! Avoid Death Eaters and Professors at all costs. Even if that means waiting till later to get to the room. Make sure they spilt up into twos. Lavender you get to the Ravenclaws and Luna. Tell them the same. Neville we need to get to GINNY NOW!” She was hyperventilating. The tense detailed pulsating vision around her world was fading and she was starting to panic.

“Calm down Hermione,” Neville tried to take her hand but she pushed it back. Hermione was dazed from fear. This should be her problem not Ginny’s.

“You don’t understand Neville. They aren’t just taking her to the dungeons they are taking her to HIM!” There was a collective in take of breath from fear and shock. “One more thing! I have good intel that the ministry is putting dabs on anyone who uses the proper name of you-know-who. Make sure no one uses that name anywhere in this school…EVER! Hell, it’s HIM from now on and that’s it.”

“How do you know this…” Seamus started.

“No time. Ginny. Now we all walk out of here like nothing is wrong. I don’t want any of the younger students put in danger.” They all nodded. They all walked out pretending to talk idly of getting a late diner while Seamus went upstairs to gather the few other Gryffindor DA members.
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As soon as the three were outside the dorm they split off running. Hermione had Neville’s hand forcing him to run as hard as her. Her breathing was harsh and ragged. The air still had the cold tinge of winter on it and it stung Hermione’s lungs but all she could think of was Ginny. Suddenly, as they neared the Library, Neville jerked her back hard. Her wrapped a damp hand around her mouth as she started to protest.

“Shhhhh. Listen…” Suddenly she realized there was talking and then….

“Get you filthy hands off me you scum.” She heard rough movement and laughter. She pushed Neville off her and evaded him as he made another grab. “Hermione no!”
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