**Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Ms. Rowling
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Chapter 8:  Letters From Father

Draco crumpled the letter from Lucius and savagely pushed himself back from the table. Several Slytherins looked up at him as he turned away and walked out of the great hall. He felt eyes watch him as he walked though the door and refused to look and see if any of them were amber colored. He didn't want to meet her eyes right now. 

He walked out through the front doors of Hogwarts and onto the grounds. Draco took the crumpled letter out of his pocket and tore it into little pieces before letting them go. He watched the tiny scraps drift idly down towards the water of the lake. Draco knew that he would respond to this one. No matter how much he disliked Lucius, Draco knew that he could no longer ignore his letters, or his commands. At least this latest order was simple. Draco was only supposed to meet him in Hogsmeade before the Halloween feast. Draco knew what the purpose of the meeting was, Lucius was still trying to convince him to be a death eater, force him to follow in his footsteps. Sometimes Draco didn't really know why he didn't just agree. Everyone already thought that he was a death eater. Except for Granger though, she had seemed to believe him. Draco hadn't known why it was important for her to know that he wasn't a death eater, but it had been. He had been very surprised that day when he had found her fast asleep in their room. Her brown curls were fringing her face and Draco had thought that her hair wasn't nearly as bushy as he remembered. Draco glared out at the lake and remembered that morning in the library, for a moment, he had almost thought she was pretty. 

"Know-it-all Granger pretty?" Draco gave a snort of laughter that didn't mask his doubt.

Draco turned back towards the school; he could see several people had just come out onto the grounds. Moving closer he saw that they were Potter and Weasley carrying brooms with Granger between both of them deep in conversation. 

"Stupid Mudblood," Draco hissed as his eyes followed her across the lawn towards the Quidditch field.

Even though Draco went to the library almost every day, his meetings with Granger had become fairly rare. Their time together had eventually dwindled to only a few minutes together in the library to discuss their weekly progress report and in Arithmancy where they didn't speak. Draco had finally realized that Granger was avoiding him. He saw her in Potions and Care of Magical Creatures, but there she was surrounded by Potter and Weasley constantly. He couldn't even taunt her properly with them hanging around. Whenever he made a comment towards her, she would just step back and let her mighty protectors take care of it. 

"And who is she to avoid me? She's the mudblood!" Draco glared towards the Quidditch field as he saw Potter and Weasley rise up on brooms. He watched dolefully from where he was as the two friends released the little snitch from its box and began to chase it. 

Draco stalked through the castle doors and started to head towards the dungeons. On one of the walls was a notice of the first Quidditch match of the season. Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff on Saturday. 

"I could skip the match and go to the library. She'd be there then, she'd expect me to go to the match." He muttered under his breath as he looked at the notice. He didn't know why he wanted to see her. He tried to convince himself that it was only because he wanted to check her work. Half of his Arithmancy grade was dependant on her. But there was a nagging doubt in the back of his mind when he thought this, as if there might be some other reason for him to see Granger. As if he might actually want to see Granger, as if he might actually miss her. But Draco easily dismissed thoughts like that as being completely ludicrous. But he did find himself looking forward to Saturday with an odd sense of unjustifiable anticipation.



Draco had to fight his way through the throng of students that was pouring out onto the lawn for the upcoming match. He hadn't changed his mind about going to the library even though he almost felt guilty about not watching the match. He knew that to be prepared for their match against Hufflepuff, he really should become familiar with the way Cedric Diggory's replacement played. But Draco had little doubt that they would be pushover, no matter how well they played. Draco was rather proud of his Quidditch ability and it constantly infuriorated him that Potter somehow always managed to come out on top. He paused to watch a large troupe of Gryffindors pass him on their way outside, Potter and Weasley included. Draco was pleased to see that Granger wasn't with them. 

The library was deserted when Draco reached it; even Madame Pince seemed to be absent. He strolled through the shelves enjoying the resounding silence. He was pleased to see that the door to the antechamber was cracked open. Draco was aware that Granger was as careful with this room as he was. He wouldn't have been surprised if she came back to check that the door was locked after she had left. She would never leave the door open unless she was there. Draco and Granger both knew that the writings of O'Leary were very valuable, even if no one else could see the beauty of ancient manuscripts.

He stealthily opened the door and slinked into the room. Granger was 
sitting at the table in the squishy chair that she seemed to like so much.
There were several books around her but none were opened. Draco realized, as he came up behind her that she was reading a letter. Standing behind her, Draco glanced over her shoulder at it. He skimmed it quickly and then noticed with a bit of surprise that it was signed Viktor. 

"This couldn't possibly be Viktor Krum?" He wondered to himself.

He had always figured that Krum had been using Granger to disrupt Potter during the tournament. "What could anyone want with a buck-toothed know-it-all? Well, so she isn't exactly buck-toothed anymore, and so what if her being a know-it-all is one of Granger's better qualities? That shouldn't hold the interest of someone as famous as Krum." Draco felt a slight tinge of anger as he looked down at the letter. 

"Reading letters are we? Anything interesting?" Draco
breathed into Granger's ear. His mouth was so close to her head that her 
curly hair fluttered. 

Granger spun around to face him, her eyes wide with a bit of fright. "Malfoy! Haven't you ever heard of knocking!" She practically screamed at him.

"Why knock? I have a key." He sat down next to her, knowing that it made her uncomfortable to have him so close. 

"I swear, if you do that again I'll hex you. I don't know with what, but I swear I will." Granger's eyes flashed angrily at him and Draco had little doubt that she meant it. 

Deciding that a change of topic might be in order Draco stole the letter from her hand. "So, still dating the famous Viktor Krum?"

"No, not that it's any of your business Malfoy." 

Draco felt an odd sense of relief, no doubt happy that one of his favorite celebrities wasn't tied to a Mudblood. "Ahh, well now Weasley has his chance doesn't he?" Draco smirked as Granger gave him a glare. "Yes, I'm sure that Weasley will be pleased to know that Viktor is once again available." Draco knew how ludicrous this was, but then, so was the way that Weasley had acted last year. Draco might hate Potter and his friends, but he did like to keep tabs on them.

Draco watched Granger, waiting for the tide of rage that he knew must be coming as her face suffused with color, but when she opened her mouth it wasn't a verbal barrage that met his ears, but laughter. Pure and clean like a bell it rang out in the room and probably carried out into the empty library. Draco stared at her in stunned silence. He had made her laugh, not a derisive one, but happy and amused. Draco felt once again, what it might be like to have Hermione Granger as a friend and not an enemy, and for a single moment before all of his Malfoy training could kick him, he didn't think that it was such a bad idea.

"That has got to be..." Granger dissolved into laughter once again before regaining some self-control, "the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard. Don't ever let Ron hear you say that!"

"I don't care if he does, what is poor ittle Weasley going to do to me? And it's his own fault for being such a ruddy git that he didn't even see what was in front of him." Draco felt himself grinning back at Granger, but she had suddenly gone still.

"Wh...what is that supposed to mean Malfoy?" Granger seemed to have gone pale and she twisted the hem of her robe in her fingers. 

"What is what supposed to mean Granger?" Draco wasn't listening to her anymore, he had suddenly found himself captivated by a flash of white that had turned out to be Granger's slender ankles. He finally managed to tear his eyes away from the delicate image that she had presented him and meet her gaze. Then he knew what she was talking about, and he had no idea what he had meant. He stared at her opened mouth and then stood up.

"What do you think I meant Mudblood?" he hissed at her, pleased when she flinched slightly, the small peace that they had achieved only moments before was now gone. He snatched a book off the table, trying to give some credence to his unexpected arrival and then walked from the room leaving Granger staring wide-eyed at the floor.



Draco pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders as he pressed through the crowd towards the address that Lucius had given him. The directions took him down one side street after another until he had found what was probably the most decrepit part of Hogsmeade. The broken down house that stood before him was only one amongst many. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. 

"Welcome young Mr. Malfoy," a simpering man that Draco didn't know bowed him into the house. "Your father is waiting in the parlor down the hall."

Draco walked slowly towards the last room at the end of the hall; he took in every detail that he could see. The wallpaper was an old peeling print, what little furniture there was lay covered under almost an inch of dust. This was definetly not up to Lucius' usual standards of living. As he passed a door on his left, he could hear the soft murmuring of several men. Draco felt a pang of foreboding and he knew that nothing good could come of this meeting. The door at the end of the hall opened before he could reach it and he stood now before the icy visage of his father.

"Come in Draco," Lucius said in that low voice that use to make Draco shudder.

Draco showed no emotions however as he walked steadily into the room and stood looking around himself. This room was very different from what he had seen of the rest of the house. This room was clean and warm, the furniture, while old, looked comfortable. Lucius motioned for Draco to sit but he only shook his head and asked a question that he already knew the answer to.

"What do you want Lucius?" Draco asked him coolly, making sure to meet his eyes.

"Can't a father take an interest in his son?" Lucius made no attempt to make these words sound sincere. He continued in that same low voice that use to terrify Draco's mother. "I fear that you might be on the threshold of a gave mistake, and Draco, I do mean grave."

Draco let no reaction show to Lucius' words, he knew that he had to remain calm and silent.

Lucius sighed and took out his wand, "Draco, my son, I would really prefer this to be simple and painless. You would be a great asset to our cause, and your position as a student in Hogwarts makes you vital to the Dark Lord's plans."

"Crabbe and Goyle are there are well Lucius, I'm sure that they would be willing to join your lot." Draco felt the grip on his temper start to slip as a shiver of fear crept imperceptibly up his spine. 

"The Dark Lord doesn't care about Crabbe and Goyle, he wants you! And I will not tolerate you delaying his plans just because you don't know where your loyalties lie. If I have to remind you of all you that owe to me, then I will do so." Lucius had stood up and was facing Draco, his wand held loosely in his hand.

Draco held his head high and tried not to show his fear. He looked at the wand for a mere moment and knew it was a mistake. Lucius smiled cruelly at his son and then in that same low voice, hissed a spell that Draco had heard used many times before but never on himself. 

"Crucio"

The pain was immense, Draco could feel that white-hot light coursing through him, burning every inch of his body, drying out his veins and making his head scream in agony. He fell forward onto his knees but he refused to scream. His ears were pounding loudly and he never heard the curse being repeated again and again as Lucius cast the spell repeatedly. Draco only knew that every part of him hurt, every hair on his body was singeing itself to his skin, burning his flesh, he could feel it as great chunks seemed to dry up from the heat and fall off. Draco was trying hard not to scream, not to make a noise, not to let Lucius win. But a low moan issued forth from him that slowly escalated into a painful cry of defeat. And suddenly the pain was gone. 

"Open your eyes son."

Draco opened his eyes and looked up into the face of his father. The wand was still held in his hand, pointing casually at Draco. With the pain gone Draco could feel the tears that had been forced out of him during the agony. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but he felt so weak he could barely move.

"Draco, you will join us." It wasn't a request. Lucius expected no more argument from his son. And Draco felt himself nodding.

"Yes," he whispered, but Lucius still held the wand, watching him. "Yes father." Draco said, his voice felt dry and painful in his throat.

Draco didn't move from where he lay on the floor, his knees tucked up to his chin, Lucius turned and walked from the room without a glance back. Draco closed his eyes again. His father had won; had beaten him. There had been so much pain that he hadn't known what to do, and now his fate had been decided. He felt anger build up him, but he was too exhausted to move. There really wasn't any point to fighting it; he knew that, Voldemort was too powerful. At least this way he would be on the winning team. He wouldn't have to put up with the likes of Potter and his gang anymore. He saw Lucius' cold eyes in his mind and hated him, hated him more than anything in the world. And then another face came to him, one that he didn't hate. Warm brown eyes that were crinkled in laughter at something he had said. Someone that believed him when he told her that he wasn't a death eater. 

Draco grabbed the armrest of the closest chair and pulled himself up. He stood and looked shakily around him. There was a window against one wall. He stumbled towards it and crashed into a table. Pulling himself up with a curse he could hear footsteps in the hall. Draco pulled the window open and felt a breath of icy wind ruffle his hair. He knew that he was too weak to climb out of the window so he merely let himself fall out. Pulling himself to his feet once again, he leaned against the wall of the house and started walking as quickly as he could through the deserted streets. As he turned another corner, he could hear cheerful voices coming towards him; he ducked into an alleyway to wait for them to pass. 

Potter, Weasley, and Granger were strolling down the road oblivious to the dangers that lurked only a few streets away. Potter stopped short and turned to look into the alley. 

"Why are you lurking in the dark Malfoy?" Potter asked him coldly, and Draco felt oddly annoyed when Potter and Weasley both edged in front of Granger, blocking the pretty girl from view.

"I'm taking a stroll Potter, what does it look like," Draco snapped at him, wishing they would leave. "You really should watch out Potter, you'll lead your friends right into trouble you know." He knew that Lucius and his friends would be very interested in finding the fabulous Harry Potter in a fairly deserted street, not that Draco cared about what would happen to Potter, but Granger hadn't done anything wrong. It wasn't her fault that she was a mudblood.

But Potter wasn't getting the hint. Draco could see that Potter was
torn between two great desires, one desperately wanted to beat Draco's 
head in, but the other would rather just avoid Draco in general.

"C'mon Potter," Draco growled at him, Granger's face was peaking around Weasley at him; she seemed worried. Draco leaned farther back into the shadows. "Why don't you take your stupid mudblood girlfriend and help Weasley here shop for a house, I saw some lovely ones down that way. They even had a roof on some of them, I'd say right in his price range wouldn't you?"

Weasley dove forward but Potter grabbed his arm and muttered something to him that Draco couldn't hear. All three of them gave him a nasty look and then disappeared down the street. Draco gave an exhausted sigh and leaned against the wall. He felt his knees give as all the strength went out of him and he sank down to the dirty ground. He heard footsteps running, coming near him, and he knew that it was over. He couldn't escape Lucius. 

"Malfoy?" 

Draco's eyes shot open in surprise when he heard her voice. Granger stood in the mouth of the alleyway. She rushed to him and kneeled next to him.

"Are you all right? What happened to you?" Her voice sounded worried. Draco couldn't help but smile to himself, she was worried.

"I told you to go! I don't need you." He snapped at her, hiding the pleasure at having her worry. She placed one hand on his shoulder and the other lightly touched his chest through his robes. 

"Malfoy..." she started but Draco suddenly held a finger to her lips. He strained his ears, trying to listen, there was someone coming. He looked at Granger and knew what would happen if they found her here. He grabbed the wall and pulled himself to his feet. Granger stood up with him and was about to speak when he grabbed her roughly. He pulled her into a darker shadow and covered her mouth with his hand. 

"For once in your life, shut-up Granger." He hissed in her ear. Draco figured that she would argue but she immediately went still and silent. He pulled her close to him, mostly because he didn't think that he could stand without her support, but also because a tiny part of him was yearning to hold her. There were footsteps approaching, insistent footsteps. From where they were standing, Draco could see Lucius stop and look down the alley.

"He has to be close Goyle, look down there." Lucius commanded to a large burly figure that started down the alley towards them. "I never should have left him alone, it's his mother in him, she was hard to break as well."

Draco felt Granger tremble and he pulled her closer. They watched, petrified as Goyle came nearer to them. He could feel Granger's hand drop and reach for her wand but Goyle had stopped approaching, another figure had joined Lucius.

"Dumbledore knows that we're here, we have to leave Hogsmeade." The new figure told him. "Don't worry Lucius, we know where to find your son. He has no where else to go except for Hogwarts." 

Lucius nodded; looking slightly defeated he turned to the other men and all three disaparated with a popping sound. 

Draco stood for a few more moments; not wanting to move for fear that this might be a trick; that they were waiting for him. But finally he let go of Granger who took a step back from him. Draco leaned against the wall, he felt too exhausted to move. He looked at Granger, she seemed very frightened. He expected her to turn around and run the other way but she suddenly threw her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug.

"Are you all right Malfoy? What did they want with you?" She asked softly as she pulled back far enough to look into his eyes. Which Draco didn't think was far enough, as he had suddenly become uncomfortably aware of how close she was.

"I'm fine Granger," he said gruffly and pushed her back gently. She didn't say anything, just placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled him away from the wall.

"C'mon Malfoy, I'll help you get back." She told him as he leaned against her.

"People will see." He said as she started to guide him from through the alley. "And I don't need help from a mudblood." He snapped at her.

Granger immediately let go of his arm and Draco felt himself land hard on the ground. She turned to look at him, her eyes flashing.

"Look Malfoy, almost everyone is back at the castle now, the feast will be starting soon, so no one will see you being helped by a mudblood. So please, can you just stop being a prat for a couple of minutes?" She offered him her hand, which, with great reluctance, Draco accepted. 

Granger dug through her bag and found a bag of newly bought candy. After fishing around for a moment, she came up with a large bar of chocolate. 

"Here, eat some of this." She broke it in half and handed a piece to him.

"You know, Lucius isn't a dementor." He told her looking suspiciously at the chocolate.

"I know that, but it has lots of sugar in it. You'll feel better if you eat some." She told him simply and put the bag of Honeydukes candy back into her book bag. 

They walked slowly out of town and towards the school, Draco had to admit that he was feeling better now. The sun was setting and a soft red glow was lingering over the grounds. He didn't need to lean on Granger anymore and he was thankful for that. She made him uncomfortable when she was that close. She didn't ask him any questions about what had happened either and he found their silence to be comforting. 

Many windows were lit up in the castle, and they had to pass several grinning jack-o-lanterns on their way to the great hall. A rumble of many voices could be heard on the other side of the large doors as they paused before joining the feast. Draco turned to look at Granger who had stopped as well.

"You know Granger," he said quietly, "you're not as bad as I thought." 

She gave him an almost imperceptible smile and replied, "Thanks, I think. You're not so bad yourself Malfoy." And she entered the great hall to join Potter and Weasley, leaving Draco standing out in the hall thinking that today hadn't been that bad of a day after all.