Gilded Soul

Make Nice with the Know-It-All

Draco found Hermione exactly where he had expected: in the library. Unfortunately she was sitting with Weasel. After much deliberation on what spell to use to get her attention, he finally settled on simply walking over. He strode over to the table purposefully and quickly, so as not to lose his nerve. “Granger, I need a word.”

Ron leapt to his feet as if to protect Hermione from a conversation with Malfoy. “She doesn’t have anything to say to you, Malfoy!” Ron spat.

Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled Ron gently back into his seat. “It’s fine Ron. I’ll just go see what he wants. I’ll only be a minute.”

Draco could hear Ron grumbling as they made their way over to a secluded section of the library. “So what do you want, Malfoy?” Hermione said immediately upon reaching a private area.

“I need to talk to you… about Harry.”

Hermione shot him a dirty look. “Why in Merlin’s name would I help you now, after the way you bailed on him in potions?”

Draco looked confused for a moment, and then it dawned on him. “I was just a little freaked out. I overreacted.”

Hermione huffed. “I’ll say. You had him sulking for the rest of the day.”

“Really?” Draco asked with a slight grin. He never thought he could have such an effect on the Gryffindor.

Hermione scowled at him. “I’m going back to sit with Ron.”

“Wait, don’t leave. I’m so confused, and then there is this dream I’ve been having for months, and I think it’s all related, and I don’t know what to do.” Draco looked at her with drowning gray eyes and watched as she caved.

“Fine. Meet me here after dinner.” Hermione looked around cautiously. “We can talk then.” She turned to leave but stopped for one last word. “And you better not pull another stunt like you did this morning. I won’t help you break Harry!”

Draco nodded solemnly and watched as she whipped around and headed back to her seat with the red head.

--

When Draco entered the library later that evening, it was empty. Most students were still in the Great Hall, enjoying their dinner and the company of friends, but Draco found it stifling and ate only a little before heading straight to his arranged meeting place.

After half an hour, Hermione joined him and they sat at one of the back corner tables. Hermione positioned herself to watch the door over Draco’s shoulder. “So talk,” she said, obviously eager to get to her common room.

Draco began by telling her about his recent change of heart, and how Voldemort was living at his house, and everything he knew about his mother & father’s situations. When he started to talk, he just couldn’t seem to stop himself. He went on. Telling her about every feeling he had drummed up since their conversation earlier that day, and the reason for his “stunt” in potions.

Then he began talking about the dreams. “I’m in a forest, I don’t know which, and there is a large wall, and a wooden gate. The gate is locked, and I couldn’t get it open for a while, but last night someone else was there, trying to hand me the key, but I woke up too soon. Then Harry told me about finding a key… the key, and I freaked out and came to you.”

Hermione looked contemplative before she finally spoke. “I saw Harry with the key a couple nights ago. He was sitting in front of the fireplace just twirling it in his fingers. It was quite eerie.”

Draco leaned back in his chair feeling even more confused. “So he’s had it for a few nights? Did he say anything about it?

Hermione shook her head. “No, I asked him about it, and he just put it away in his robes. Didn’t say a word.”

Draco couldn’t figure it out. “Do you think he’s having the same dream?”

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip “I don’t know. Maybe?” Draco could see her wheels turning, but she didn’t say anything further.

Draco dropped his head into his hands. “What would that mean exactly?”

Hermione put her hand on Draco’s arm, and then removed it as if she had only realized who she was comforting. “Just be careful. Harry’s dreams are not always his own.”

Draco looked at her quizzically. “No, apparently we’ve been sharing.”

Hermione sighed and looked around. She leaned closer to Draco and whispered, “Voldemort has a direct link with Harry’s mind. He can invade Harry’s dreams and has even implanted fake images there in the past.”

Draco’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? I was worried about him living at my house; I couldn’t imagine having him living in my brain.”

Hermione nodded. “I know. That’s how we all ended up at the Department of Mysteries last year. Voldemort sent Harry a vision of your father holding Sirius hostage, and Harry went off to save him, but he had never been there. It was all fake.”

Draco cringed. “So how did Sirius end up getting killed?”

Hermione bit her bottom lip, and refused to say anything.

“What is it? Did my dad kill him?” Draco prodded worriedly.

Hermione shook her head. “You’re Aunt”

“Ugh!” Draco cried out. “No wonder Harry doesn’t trust me! There isn’t a trustworthy person in my whole family!” (aww… poor Draco…)

Hermione grinned at that. “I don’t know, you’re not turning out to be so bad. At least you’ve learned to think for yourself.” snickers

Draco blushed slightly and nodded. “I’m not sure if I feel better or worse for it though.”

Hermione laughed. “I should get going. I will see what I can find out about Harry’s dreams, and do some research on it. Want to meet me back here tomorrow?”

Draco nodded. “Sure thing.” Hermione got up to leave but Draco caught her arm. “Hey, Granger… thanks.”

Hermione smiled. “You can call me Hermione.”

Draco laughed. “Nah.”

Hermione just rolled her eyes and left Draco alone with his thoughts. Based on her reputation, he knew Hermione would be able to help him solve this mystery.

--

Draco had barely made it down the first corridor when a red-headed blur came at him like a freight train, slamming him against the wall. Draco had the wind knocked out of him and was trying to regain his balance when he found himself held by the front of his robes and pinned against the wall.

“What were you doing with my girlfriend, Malfoy?” Ron snarled.

Draco tried to free himself, but Ron had his shoulders locked against the wall. “Piss off Weasel!”

Ron moved in, holding his furious face just inches from Draco’s as he spoke, “I saw you in there with her.”

Draco sneered. “I was having a lovely chat with her. Why? Afraid I’m going to steal your precious Hermione away?”

Ron glared down at him with fire behind his usually dull eyes. “Don’t call her that!”

Draco laughed. “But Weasel, she told me to!”

Ron pulled his fist back and launched it quickly towards Draco’s sharp features, but Draco deftly dodged it and laughed again.

Ron’s face was soon the color of his hair as his hand came away bloody from hitting the stone wall instead of Draco’s face.

Draco grinned as he heard quick footsteps approach and his smile was made wider when he saw Professor Snape emerge from behind Ron and pull him by the ear away from Draco.

“Fifty points from Gryffindor for fighting in the hallway!” Snape spat, clacking Ron on the back of the head with his open palm. “And detention tomorrow night.” Draco smirked at Ron, but Snape caught the look and sneered. “Detention for both of you. A Slytherin should know better then to get caught.” Snape looked at them both for a moment with contempt before gliding quickly back down the corridor, black robes billowing behind him.

Ron shoved Draco one last time and stormed off in the other direction, muttering curses.

Draco sighed and made his way down to the Slytherin common room, it was almost curfew and he didn’t want to be spotted out in the corridor by Snape again.

--

The forest was cool and fragrant with the scent of wild berries. Draco made his way again to the locked door, but as he approached it, he realized it was ajar. He crept silently closer, hoping that whatever, or whomever, had opened the door, was no longer close by. The door opened with a steady creak and Draco stepped through, finding himself face to face with a large shrubbery. Draco looked left and right to find paths leading in both directions. Looking at he ground he noticed footprints, about the same size as his own, heading right.

He went left.

After a short walk he made a right turn, then another and came promptly to a dead end. “Right it is then.” After backtracking to the beginning, he followed the right side until meeting with another fork in the path. This time the footprints went left. Draco decided that they had been right the first time, so decided to follow them left. As he walked along he noticed little fungus-like creatures embedded in the hedgerow, following his movements with what he would swear were small eyeballs. Shuddering slightly, he moved along the path until he sensed rather then saw a figure up ahead.

Draco watched as a figure moved ahead of him, only detectable by the trickles of silvery light that shimmered around it when the moon beamed through the overhead trees. Draco rushed towards the figure and reached out, snagging a bit of fabric in his hands. The figure panicked and bolted, the little bit of cloth Draco was holding, ripped from the cloak with an awful sound.

Draco woke up short of breath, feeling as though he had walked a great distance. When he reached over to grab his journal he noticed a small silvery scrap of fabric in his hand. He quickly shoved it into the pocket of his pajama bottoms and after writing down his dream; he crossed the next item off his list. Smiling to himself, Draco thought he might actually stand a chance with Hermione on his side.