Decode (Dramione)

Shapeshifter

There had been talk of a shapeshifter. Someone tricking the students at Hogwarts into thinking they were someone else entirely. Some say it came in the shape of what they most desired, be it the girl of their dreams or a handsome young man. Hermione thought herself to be smarter than to be fooled by something so ridiculous. Letting a shapeshifter get past her wits would be the day hell froze over.

Hell should have frozen over the day Cassian Oredor sat across from her. The same day Draco Malfoy started disappearing. Stunned by a handsome new face and upset with a new cold Ron, Hermione took it upon herself to make a friend.

Cassian was a tall freckled-faced brunette who was clothed in Gryffindor uniform. Hermione liked that he resembled both Harry and Ron with the brown fluffy hair and the warm freckles delicately splattered across the contrasting sharp features. When he spoke she resisted the urge to look surprised at his deep voice, she didn't know what to expect but that wasn't it. For the most part, Cassian looked innocent especially sporting the same red colors of Gryffindor that she did. That was one of Hermione's fatal flaws, loyalty.

Good thought Draco. He knew she could at least trust someone from her house even if they were a new face. He wondered when Hermione had gotten so easy. The pressures from Bellatrix Lestrange have begun to wear and tear at Draco's physical appearance, his face has grown paler and his eyes darker. He's become easily irritated and prone to aggressive behavior evident on his knuckles. Others have begun to ask questions and Crabbe and Goyle have distanced themselves. Of course, he never answers, rather he gives them a look that'll make them think twice about asking anything ever again.

Cassian and Draco are never seen in the same room. Granted there are enough students at Hogwarts to make it so that some will never share a class, but even in the Great Hall all students should be present at the same time for dinner, both were never to be found in the same space. Hermione only began to notice Draco's absence and presence when Harry did, maybe Harry was off cornering the white-haired boy somewhere, then that would explain both their absences for the beginning of the sixth year.

Harry has become drunk on the idea that Draco has been branded as a Death-Eater and is hellbent on proving it to everyone. So he and Draco had subsequently gone missing now and then. Hermione has attempted to follow Harry on his missions but he's too quick and too messy. Harry doesn't follow like a quiet and calculating animal, he stalks loudly with determination as though it was the only and right option.

So when Cassian Oredor showed up in the sixth year, Harry was far too caught up in his hero syndromed brain to notice or question the new kid. Ron's ego was too inflated by his quidditch matches and busy with newfound popularity while being an idiot towards Hermione to spare anything other than hello to him. Leaving only the least approachable and most stubborn hotheaded bookworm in Gryffindor to be the one to show him around obviously. Cassian played on the string that Hermione knew all too well, she knew what it felt like to be an outsider.

She hadn't yet noticed Draco's absence when Cassian's presence filled the void. She hadn't yet noticed the matching set of grey eyes that the two of them shared. She wouldn't take notice of this until she finally spared a real glance at Draco and for once just looked; it would take much longer for her to realize just how alike these two were.