Shadows of Redemption

Chapter 15: An Alliance Forged in Shadows

Harriet's POV

Hearing Hermione's voice, even through the rippling, enchanted mirror, made my heart ache with longing. I wanted nothing more than to leap into her arms, to feel the warmth of her presence and to know that, somehow, we could face this danger together. Instead, I could only watch, still trapped in this small Kneazle body, as Draco relayed our desperate situation.

Hermione's expression shifted from shock to steely determination, her mind already working through the implications. Ron, on the other hand, looked like he was having trouble processing everything. His blue eyes darted between Draco and the mirror, his mouth hanging open.

"Let me get this straight," Ron said, his voice laced with disbelief. "Harriet is stuck as a Kneazle, and Malfoy is the one helping her? Are we sure this isn't some kind of trap?"

Hermione shot him a sharp glare. "Ron, not now," she snapped. "We don't have time to question everything. If Harriet really is in trouble, we need to act."

I mewed softly, hoping it would convince them. Hermione's eyes flickered to the mirror, and I could see her shoulders relax ever so slightly. She believed me-she had to.

Draco took a deep breath, his grip on the mirror tightening. "We don't have much time," he said, his voice low and urgent. "They're planning something at Hogwarts. I don't know all the details yet, but it's connected to the start of term. If we can't stop it, then..." He trailed off, and I saw the genuine fear in his eyes.

Hermione leaned forward, her mind racing. "What do you need from us?" she asked, her voice resolute.

Draco glanced at me, and I felt the burden of the question pressing down on both of us. We had spent days searching for a way to reverse my Animagus transformation, but without the resources of Hogwarts or someone like Hermione, we were fighting a losing battle.

"We need your help breaking the spell on Harriet," Draco said. "There are books in the Restricted Section of the library, ones we couldn't access over the summer. If you can find anything-any spell or potion that might work-"

Hermione nodded, her brow furrowed. "I'll start researching the moment we get back," she promised. "But what about you? If you're in danger, how can we protect you?"

Draco's jaw clenched, and for a moment, the vulnerability in his eyes made my heart ache. He looked so young, so scared. "I'll manage," he said, though it was clear he didn't believe his own words. "But I'll need to know that I can trust you. If I give you information, it has to stay secret. No one else can know."

Ron crossed his arms, still looking skeptical. "And why should we trust you, Malfoy? You're still a Slytherin, and you've spent years making our lives miserable."

Draco's eyes darkened, and I tensed, afraid that this fragile alliance would shatter before it even began. But then he looked at me, and something softened in his expression. "Because I'm not doing this for myself," he said quietly. "I'm doing it for Harriet. And because I know what it's like to be trapped."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, the room fell silent. Hermione's gaze softened, and even Ron seemed taken aback. There was no denying the sincerity in Draco's voice, no mistaking the desperation that had driven us to this point.

Hermione nodded, her eyes bright with determination. "We'll help," she said. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect Harriet and stop whatever the Death Eaters are planning."

Relief flooded through me, and I let out a small, grateful purr. This was the first step, the first glimmer of hope in a situation that had seemed impossible. We had allies now, and we weren't alone.

Draco's POV

I never thought I'd be working with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, but desperation made strange allies. The relief on Harriet's face-or what I could see of it through her Kneazle features-was enough to keep me going. We had a plan, thin as it was, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a shred of hope.

Hermione was already thinking ahead, her mind racing. "We'll need to coordinate," she said, her voice thoughtful. "If you find out anything else, anything about what the Death Eaters are planning, you have to let us know. Use the mirror. And Draco..." She hesitated, her eyes meeting mine. "Be careful. They're watching you, aren't they?"

I nodded, the weight of that reality pressing down on me. "Always," I said. "But I'll manage."

Ron still looked unconvinced, but he gave a reluctant nod. "Fine," he muttered. "But if you try anything, Malfoy-"

"I know," I interrupted, my voice flat. "Believe me, I know."

With our fragile alliance solidified, the image in the mirror began to flicker, the spell starting to fade. Hermione's eyes widened, and she leaned forward. "We'll see you at Hogwarts," she said, her voice filled with urgency. "Stay safe, both of you."

The mirror went dark, and I let out a long, shaky breath. My hands were still trembling, and I felt like I had aged years in the past few minutes. But Harriet looked at me with those green eyes, and the hope shining there was enough to steady me.

"We did it," I whispered, a small, incredulous smile breaking through. "We actually have a chance now."

Harriet jumped down from the table and pressed against my leg, her warmth grounding me. For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, we could pull this off.

But the shadows of Malfoy Manor were still watching, and the clock was still ticking. The real battle was only just beginning.