522Hey StarrySkyAtNight herr...but you can call me Starry...this is a fic about Hermione and Draco just after sixth year and Dumbledore's...well...who knows. Anyway...read and review cause your feedback means lots...
Disclaimer: I would be dreaming if I really owned Harry Potter...but this is pure reality baby...
That Fateful Summer
First Minister
It was early when a hand roughly shook Draco's shoulder to wake him. At first Draco thought it was only a dream and continued to sleep. In fact he was convinced of the thought when the shaker didn't come back. But soon after he slipped back into a deep sleep the rough hand shook Draco again making him sit up in anger and slight fright.
"What the hell!" Draco screamed pushing his hair out of his eyes where it had fallen to see who was being so rough with him. "Oh it's just you."
"Get up. It's time for us to be making our way home." Said Severus Snape, the ex professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.
"Has it been cleared?" Draco asked pulling his legs out from beneath himself. He dangled them over the side of the bed, his bare feet coming in contact with the rough floor boards of the broken down old cottage that they had been staying in since the succeeded in the mission of killing Albus Dumbledore.
"Of course. It's safe for you to return to your home. I however must go as soon as I can to the Dark Lord where I will receive further instructions." Snape said as he gathered his very few belongings. They hadn't had time to properly prepare the cottage. Draco's mother had been once since the mission was completed to give her son a change of clothes and bring some food for them.
"How could it possibly be safe?" Draco wondered aloud.
"You have been cleared of all charges." Snape said quickly. "I however am wanted. I will stand trial and be sentenced to death, if I'm ever caught."
"I got off?" Draco said not thinking clearly still being half-asleep.
"How can you not figure this out on your own Draco. You were my brightest student."
"Other than Granger."
"Yes well." Snape looked away to continue his activity. "Your mother was able to convince them that you were under the Imperius Curse."
'Clever Mum.' Draco thought stretching his arms above his head. After having a good stretch Draco rose from the bed and grabbed the thing he had been wearing the night the old man was killed, his Hogwarts uniform. He had worn it a few times since it happened and each time he did that night seemed to flash through his mind in vivid detail.
He walked to the tiny bathroom that had a sink toilet and shower so close that you were almost occupying them all at the same time. Draco put his clothes on the floor by the door and climbed in the shower. He turned on the water and grinned at the warmth that fell down on to his face. How relaxing a nice shower could be sometimes.
Draco's mind went back again to that starry night on the Astronomy tower. He remembered every word that Dumbledore spoke before Snape appeared and killed him. They had started to make sense to him as Dumbledore spoke them. But now they just seemed so far away. None of them were true now. He wasn't ever going to have that chance again.
'I couldn't have taken it then either.' He thought, as he turned and let the water beat at the tight muscles of his back. 'I would be murdered. No joining Dumbledore is the last thing I could ever do. Besides I would get so much more power with the Dark Lord.'
Draco looked down at his right forearm. There would soon be a mark on that arm. One much like the one that his father has, and his godfather in the next room. It was his destiny. It was his birth right as a Malfoy.
'You're going soft Draco.' He scolded himself as he ran his fingers through his sopping wet head under the water flow. 'What would father say?'
Draco knew his father would be able to see his weakness right away. There was never hiding anything from that man. He was the smartest most cunning person that Draco had ever come across in his life, except of course the Dark Lord. He envied his father in that respect. If only he was half the man that his father was sometimes. Things would be so much easier.
Draco stepped from the shower after cleaning his hair with the last little bit of the cheap wizard shampoo that Severus was able to get before they went into hiding.
He toweled himself off with the filthy thing beside his clothes on the floor. It had once been a fluffy white towel but it was that no longer. When he was fully clothed he stepped out of the bathroom and saw Severus waiting for him.
"There's no more shampoo." Draco said grabbing his bag that his mother had brought to him.
"There's no need for it anymore." Severus said standing from the old broken and quite shabby looking lounge chair.
It really had been the worst two weeks of his life in that cabin. It was a filthy two-room shack with one window and one door. There was no fireplace so if it had been winter they would have frozen. Luckily it was the middle of June so it was quite hot. However the heat could sometimes be unbearable. Draco hadn't been allowed to leave the shack because being a Malfoy and having such wonderful blonde hair he would surely be noticed by any wizard that happen to be in the area. Snape would apparate away leaving Draco alone for hours at a time with nothing to do and no one to talk to. That had been the worst times because his thoughts about Dumbledore's final words to him would eat him alive.
"Come Draco, its time to leave." Severus's husky voice interrupted Draco's thoughts making his head turn toward the man, his eyes lifting from the floor where they had been focused.
Draco didn't say a word but just walked over to where his godfather stood holding a Portkey. When Draco laid a hand upon it Severus counted backward from three and they were off.
Draco could feel his body slamming against that of his godfather's as they soared away toward their destination. It was an abrupt stop that always caught Draco by surprise but he had learned long ago not to fall; Malfoy's never fell.
"Draco darling!" cried his mother when he turned to see that he was in the entrance hall of his home. Draco wished that she would rush forward to embrace him for he had missed her the most. Draco had always loved his mother more than anyone, especially his father. But instead of rushing forward she stood there, stiff as a board beside the man that he resembled so much.
"Son." Lucius said inclining his head slightly.
"Father."
"Go upstairs to your room and get your things unpacked. Change out of those uniforms and put something decent on. You will return when I send Tunic to fetch you."
Draco nodded keeping his head bowed slightly before leaving his father's sight and heading up the stairs to his room. As he passed his mother he could feel her eyes following him but he couldn't say anything to her or that would earn him a beating.
Draco had never liked his father for as long as he could remember. It was true that he envied the man, but he never had liked him. There were traits that his father had that Draco would kill to have, but he detested the way that his father treated his mother, or women in general for that matter. He seemed to act like they were inferior beings, something that Draco disagreed with completely.
He thought of his mother as the most compassionate person he had ever known, especially with the things that she had seen and had to deal with. It amazed him at how she could always think of him before herself. He loved her for that.
But Draco never treated any females like they were inferior to him, except of course the Mudblood Hermione Granger. But she was a different story. She was a Mudblood; he couldn't very well soil his reputation and his name as a pureblood by being civil with her. It was just wrong. But he treated all other girl's fairly.
He would never hit a girl, no matter what, that included the Mudblood. He just thought that it was wrong. Girls were so much smaller than boys were, so much less powerful, physically. He wouldn't have a problem dueling with one if she could handle it. It would actually be a challenge that he would love to accept and win.
As Draco entered his room he began thinking about the Mudblood. She and her little friends must be lost without Dumbledore. By killing him he had crippled their side greatly, but they still had Potter. That guy would never die, no matter what anyone threw at him. He Weasley and Granger all seemed to over come it like it was just a homework assignment in Care of Magical Creatures. He couldn't understand how they could be so resilient.
"I bet Potter's been working all summer so far on a plan." Draco said his smirk coming out for the first time in a while. There had been nothing to smirk about in that shack.
He walked over to his walk in closet throwing the doors open wide. He stepped inside walking all the way to the back and picking out a shirt. As he made his way forward another article of clothing that would go with the outfit would be plucked off the bar and draped over his arm. When the doors were finally closed behind him Draco held an entire outfit and was proceeding to put it on.
Just as he had finished tying his jet black dress shoes did a house elf pop into the room. The elf wore a little tunic, which is where it's name derived. It bowed deeply its ears flopping over its head to slap the ground. Draco had always thought house elves ridiculous creatures. Their eyes were too big and their ears were just hilarious.
"What is it?" he asked not wanting to hear the answer that he knew was coming.
"Master would like yous to joins him in the studys Sir." The elf said as it straightened.
"I'll be down in a moment." Draco said waving his hand at the elf. That was the universal signal that told all house elves to get the hell away, something Tunic did very quickly.
Draco walked to his adjoining bathroom and glanced at himself in the mirror. He ran a brush through his hair and turned walking across his room to the door. He opened it up his stomach falling to his toes for he knew what was coming. They were going to discuss his induction.
As he reached the stairs he heard voices coming from the study that he was supposed to be in. It was definitely his father and godfather having a discussion of some sort.
Draco slowed his descending steps trying to listen as carefully as he could. They seemed to be having a pretty in depth discussion and Draco had a sinking feeling that it was about him.
"Our Lord has just told me of his plans for Draco, Severus, and they are marvelous." His father said.
"Can they be revealed? Is that why you called the boy down here?"
"Of course Severus. He will be notified immediately because things must progress quickly. The Dark Lord is eager to make the changes." Draco reached the entrance hall and his footsteps began to echo off the marble.
"Draco don't dawdle." His father called as Draco turned and started toward the room.
When Draco reached the doorway he saw that his father and godfather were the only ones in the room. His mother was no where in sight and Draco wondered if his father hadn't hit her for some reason as he always did.
"Where's mother?" Draco asked as he walked to the chair that waited between his father's and godfathers.
"She's not here. This is between us." Lucius said. Draco knew that meant that he didn't think that woman should hear such talk because it wasn't their place.
"Draco there is some very important news that I'm about to tell you. This will affect you entire future and mine as well. The Dark Lord has created new plans. He wishes for you and I to move up in ranks. I will be promoted to First General but he needs someone to take my place."
"Me." Draco said and his father nodded.
"It's a great honour to serve as the Dark Lord's first minister. You will be his confidant and be privileged to all his plans. You will have great power, and the ability to command."
"When do I get all this?" Draco asked in what must have sounded to his father as an eager voice because Lucius immediately began to smile.
"You must finish your seventh year of school before you get the position. In June you will be marked and will gain the rightful spot beside our Lord. But there is more Draco." Lucius said and Draco's eyes which had been focused on the ground again snapped up and met the icy blue ones exactly like his own.
"More?"
"Much more. You, after becoming the First Minister, will be required to marry. You will have to produce an heir with in a year."
"What! I have to get married and have a kid within the next year. Why father, why does it have to happen so soon?"
"The boy's quite right Lucius. Why must it be so soon?" Severus asked finally joining the conversation.
"It must be soon because you Draco are part of a prophecy. You must have a child and it must be male within the first year of your marriage. If you do not do this than a drastic change will occur that may change the direction of the war. If you don't do this Draco we could lose the war." Lucius said staring at his one and only son.
"So I have to become first Minister, find a wife, get married, and have a son within the next year while trying to get through seventh year." Draco said completely astonished.
"Your bride has already been chosen Draco for it was in the prophecy. You and this girl share the prophecy together." Lucius explained.
"Who is it?" Draco hoped it wasn't Pansy Parkinson.
"That is what we have yet to discover. Only her birth date and a clue was given."
"Then how did you know I was part of the prophecy?"
"The prophecy gave your birthday with the hint of dragon."
'Damn name.' Draco thought to himself.
"What is her hint?" Draco asked wondering if she even went to Hogwarts.
"Hers was much stranger than yours Draco. It was: H. L. Ion."
"That makes absolutely no sense." Draco said unhappily. "Am I going to be the only one searching?"
"All of the Dark Lord's followers will be searching. We have her birth date to narrow it down but there are still millions who have the same birthday." Lucius said frowning. "But we are sure that the girl will be a pureblood which will narrow it down just a bit more."
"This is a lot for you to carry on your shoulders Draco but you'll see the load get easier." Severus said somewhat mysteriously. There was something about that man that always seemed mysterious to Draco.
"I know you must be exhuasted from sleepless nights in that cabin Severus. Why don't you stay here this evening. You can go rest for the afternoon if you wish." Lucius offered. Severus only nodded.
"TUNIC!" Lucius roared loudly making Draco's ears ring.
"Yes m-m-master?" the little elf said as it popped to his father's side in a second.
"Take Severus to the most lavish and relaxing guestroom that we have in this house. Make sure that whatever he needs is given to him." The elf nodded and beckoned Severus to follow him.
"As for you Draco you are dismissed. There will be meetings from now on however that you must attend every Thursday evening. They will be about locating your fiancee and bringing her back where she belongs."
"Yes father." Draco said after bowing his head. He left the room quietly as to not disturb his father's thoughts.
Draco wanted to get away to think about the load that was just dropped on his back. He walked to the rear of the house where he stepped outside and looked about at the bright garden. The sun was shinning warmly upon the grass as Draco walked on it. He headed over the small hill that lay behind his home, straying from the path for where he was going there was no path.
When he reached the top of the steep hill a wonderful sight greeted him. Below it there was a bright shinning blue lake that belonged to his father. It had been there for as long as Draco could remember. He had swum in it as a child with his best mate Blaise Zabini.
'I haven't heard from Blaise all summer.' Draco thought but then remembered that no one knew where he was over the summer. He decided that he would make a call over to see what his friend was up to. Maybe they would be allowed to go out for a day to some muggle town where they could have some fun. 'Just can't be a Thursday evening.'
As he started down the hill toward the lake Draco couldn't help but think of what his summer might have been like had he gone with Dumbledore to the light side.
'I'd see lots of Potter and Weasley and that damn Mudblood.' He thought another smirk appearing on his pale face.
He tilted it toward the sun using his hands to shield his eyes. The rays felt wonderfully warm on his face, almost like they were warming up his cold heart. He shook his head.
'I can't think like that. Father will know. I cant be going soft now, not when all this stuff is being put to me.'
He took a seat on the bank of the lake watching the water ripple from a fish or bird in it. The bright blue sky was reflected in it's surface as were the fluffy white clouds that hung in it.
"Why does it have to be me?" Draco asked the reflection of the sky. He leaned forward hoping some sort of sign would be present in the surface. All that he saw was his reflection. The reflection of the next First Minister to the Dark Lord, the next Mr. Malfoy with the trophy wife on his arm, the next father to his only son and heir.
End chapter one.
Tell me what you thought. Sad about Draco having so much piled on all at once...but that's just the life of a future Death Eater...according to me that is...
Starry