My eyes fly open, my left forearm burning with such force I nearly scream. I untangle myself from the bedsheets and look at my left arm. The Dark Mark inked into my skin is very bold and nearly popping out of my skin. My eyes start watering in pain. I run out of the dormitory, up severel staircases, down long corridors, and out the oak front doors. I see Snape walking out on the grounds and I run up to him. "Why's it burning?!" I whimper, sounding like a pathetic child. "It is because the Dark Lord is calling us to a meeting. Can you Disapparate?" He says without looking at me.
"Y-yes." I say, following Snape off the grounds. Snape turns to me. "Disapparate." And with that, Snape vanishes in a long streak of black smoke, hardly visible in the darkness of the night. I close my eyes and turn on my heel. I suddenly feel as if I'm being sucked into a tube, not being able to breathe. After a few seconds, my feet slam onto the ground in front of my manor, Malfoy Manor. I spot Snape and follow him inside. We cross the threshold and go down a long corridor, coming out in a large dining room with a long slick black table, every seat full except for two. I see my parents and walk over to the seat in between them, sitting down. Snape sits somewhere to my right and we all look at the head of the table, Lord Voldemort sitting at the very end of the table.
"Draco....Severus.....Welcome...." He says, his voice high and cold. Voldemort turns his ugly face to look at me. "Draco...I have a task for you, young Draco....." Voldemort says in a voice like a whisper. I nod, trying to suppress the fear I'm feeling. "I need you to murder Albus Dumbledore." He says, his eyes going to slits. The Death Eaters around me gasp and my mother and father tense. My eyes widen very slightly before I nod again. Voldemort smiles hideously and says, "that is all I called you, Draco, for. You alone are dismissed." I stand and walk outside, trying to keep from fainting. I Disapparate to Hogsmeade, and make my way up to Hogwarts.
* * *
I lay in bed, waiting for the sun to rise, thoughts zooming in my head. Killing Dumbledore? How? I ponder on the question of "how" for what seems like hours before finally it's time to get my books and go to class. I skip breakfast, going outside for Herbology. I quickly go from class to class, not paying attention, until it's my free period. I walk up to the library, scanning the shelves of books for any clues on to how to murder one of the most powerful wizards of the century.
I am so focused on looking for any helpful book I don't even notice the girl watching me from the end of the isle. I look over and see Hermione watching me, her hair wet from the rain. "What are you looking for? Maybe I could help...." She murmurs. Startled, I turn towards her. "Oh, er, I just need a charms book....." I lie. She takes a book out of her arms and hands it to me. "This might help, or..." She scans a shelf and pulls out a dusty old leathery book and hands it to me. "This could help, too." She says with a small smile. I smile slightly and set the books next to my book bag on a table. "Thanks, Granger." She blushes. "I'm still Granger?" I raise my eyebrow.
"Well....if you would rather me call you by your first name....." Hermione nods. "Alrighty, Hermione." She blushes furiously. "Thanks, Draco." Hermione whispers. I almost don't notice her take a few subtle steps toward me. We are very close, now. I clear my throat to break the silence and turn around to cast a levitating charm on all of my books. "I best be going. See you around, Hermione." And with that I walk out of the library, my books following me.
Author's Note: Sorry for it being so short and boring! I'll try to make something happen between Hermione and Draco in the next one!!! 👊 ~Kindle Malfoy
