Beginning at the End ⏃ Dramione

Chapter 24: Transition

Draco set his bag down heavily on the table. He glanced up at Hermione as he reached for his potions, noticing that she was watching him too closely, like her mind was elsewhere. Placing a vial of Polyjuice on the table, he was about to speak when Harry approached.

"You have Polyjuice potion already?" Potter queried.

Draco nodded, lifting the vial to prove it while still looking at Hermione. She seemed to snap out of her deep thoughts suddenly, and cleared her throat.

Harry stepped closer for a better look at Draco's collection. "What's this?" He pointed to the box Hermione had previously explored while they had been living in the tent.

She crossed her arms, "It's full of hair."

Harry appeared perplexed, "Excuse me?"

Defensively Draco rebutted, "It was just for testing..."

Harry slid the case closer to inspect it, which Draco did not like, possessively sliding it back.

Adjusting his glasses with partial suspicion, Harry peered at the other items peeking out of Draco's bag. "Blimey, Malfoy, what are you, a mad scientist?"

Draco grinned, "Well..."

He was interrupted by a bitter voice near the stairwell, "You can get a lot when you're filthy rich, I reckon."

Both Hermione's and Harry's heads swiveled around to look at Ron; Draco only quietly sniffed, opting to say nothing, and proceeded to open a small box containing strands of Bellatrix's hair.

Continuing to keep his distance from the three of them, Ron had crossed his arms and merely leaned back against the newel post. Harry shifted so Ron could see what they were doing, in an effort to include him. "We're checking out the Polyjuice potion Hermione will have to take... to become Bellatrix."

Remaining in place, Ron only peered up, looking into the general area of the table and avoiding eye contact with everyone. Draco quickly shut his case; he assumed Weasley would not take it kindly if he discovered that one of the small drawers contained his own hair.

"Okay, Granger, here is her hair... and this is a vial of two-hour long polyjuice."

Hermione slowly reached out for both items, not eager to hold the hair of her enemy between her fingers. The hair was thick and coarse, and the second she plucked it from Draco's outstretched fingers, she wanted to drop it near the fire.

They had all gone quiet, but she could feel the boys' eyes on her, even Ron's. Not wanting to appear weak, she wrapped the hair around the vial and shakily grabbed her purse to find a small pocket where she could keep it safe. Having safely stored them away, she placed her bag down again quickly, like it had stung her. Someone shifted, which caused her to focus back on her friends, and she peeked up to see Draco and Harry exchanging glances.

Something about it bothered her, that perhaps both of them were thinking the same thing. Even if they had never agreed on anything in their lives, she did not want their first accord to be about her wavering courage.

"I'll be fine!" she burst out.

Ron seemed to have picked up on Harry's and Draco's mutual doubt. Taking advantage of the situation, he made his way over to the table near her, "I know you will be, Hermione. Bravest witch I know."

His abrupt mood alteration caused everyone to study him; something about it immediately bothered Draco.

Ignoring their scrutinizing, Ron stuck his hands into his pockets, "Anyone want to catch me up on the plan?"