The Dragon's Tale

The Dragon's Epiphany

Much to her horror, all five boys returned back to the room after dinner. Malfoy deposited her dinner on the tabletop. Even Crabbe and Goyle gave her some of their sweets. She was a little apprehensive about eating anything that came from the others. So far, Malfoy hadn't tried killing her so she was willing to give him some of her trust. She wasn't so willing with the others.

Four of the boys grabbed their bags. "You coming?" Theo asked.

Malfoy shook his head. "I'm not dumb like you lot. I finished early to make time for other things." Malfoy grimaced at the last part.

The air in the room turned sullen. Four pairs of eyes turned sympathetic. "Sorry, man," said Blaise.

Theo patted Malfoy's shoulder. "Good luck." His words sounded hallow to Hermione.

After that, the boys left, leaving behind a down casted Malfoy. Hermione took off from her perch on the nightstand and landed on his shoulder. She was curious as to what could have an arse like Malfoy feeling down.

Malfoy laid a hand on her shoulder blades. It was gentle enough that it didn't crush her wings. "Do you want to come with me, Bookworm?"

Hermione mewed in response. She was curious to see what had all the Slytherns in such a sullen state.

Malfoy used a vanishing spell on her. "Be quite," he whispered to her before he left the room.

The others were sitting around a table in the common room with a few others. They paid no attention to Malfoy as he slipped out. Hermione shuddered. She missed the Gryffindor common room.

Malfoy took to the stairs. When no one was around, he would lay a gentle hand on her as if he were trying to keep her from falling. As if. Hermione knew Malfoy would never do anything like that. Though she also thought he would never play mother to a baby dragon.

To her surprise, Malfoy stopped on the seventh floor. The urge to fly away from him to find either Harry or Ron was strong.

She never got the chance. There was no one on the floor so Malfoy had put his hand on her once again.

Malfoy continued on his walk only coming to a stop once he reached the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. He turned toward the wall across from the tapestry and began to pace. Was he doing what she thought he was?

When Malfoy finished his pacing, the door for The Room of Requirement appeared. What did he want with The Room of Requirement?

Malfoy opened the door to reveal a mess. There were piles of junk everywhere. What would he need with all of this?

He came to a stop in the center of the room and pulled out his wand. He held it up to her and undid the vanishing spell. He then picked her up and sat her down on the floor. "Stay close to me. I don't want to lose you in here." Hermione huddled closer to his legs, having no plan in leaving him. She was still curious as to what he was planning.

He walked them farther into the room. When he finally came to a stop, Hermione had an idea as to what he was planning. Standing before them was the Vanishing Cabinet, or at least one of them.

Malfoy did another spell, making a small bag appear. He reached into the bag and pulled out a bird before placing it into the cabinet. Hermione tensed up her wings before leaping forward. She made it in just when Malfoy closed the door.

"Bookworm!" Screamed Malfoy. Why would he scream? A funny sensation filled her. Her cells felt as if they were tearing themselves apart. Maybe she should have thought the plan through. That was a lot of pain just to see if her hunch was correct.

"Right on time."

She heard clapping on the other side. "This is it! I can feel it!" The voice turned her blood to ice. Harry was right. This was proof that Malfoy was a Death Eater.

Hermione glanced over to her companion, curious as to why Malfoy was sending a bird to his aunt. Hermione felt the blood in her veins turn to ice. The bird was lying beside her in a dead heap. That's why he needed the bird! There was something wrong with the cabinet. But why was she still alive?

She didn't have time to ponder. The door to the Vanishing Cabinet opened. There was no way she wanted to confront a bunch of Death Eaters!

Hermione stole a glance at her now dead companion and decided to do the same. She rolled over and closed her eyes. Then she decided to stick her tongue out to add to the affect.

The inside of the cabinet was bathed in light as the door was opened. "Another fail," said a voice she didn't recognize.

Heels stomped on the floor. "He'll get it. Draco will not fail the Dark Lord," screamed Bellatrix.

The door to the cabinet slammed shut. The familiar pulling sensation washed over her once again. This time when the door opened it was Malfoy on the other side. She continued to play dead. There was no way she was going back with him! She needed to find Harry and break this curse so she could tell him everything!

A sob ripped through the air, almost making Hermione cringe. She felt Malfoy's hands slip underneath her. A second later she was laying against his shirt. "Bookworm," sobbed Malfoy. He continued to hold her as he cried. The shock Hermione felt made her body stiff and unable to move. Her heart skipped a beat. Who knew Malfoy cared so much.

His body shifted away from hers and her back came into contact with the cold, hard floor. Then everything turned into utter chaos.

A scream ripped from Malfoy right before a spell slammed into the nearest pile of rubble. Things began to plummet to the ground. Hermione forgot she was playing dead and jumped up from the floor. She watched as Malfoy unleashed another spell.

Hermione wanted nothing more than to escape. She turned to scurry behind the cabinet when another scream was ripped from Malfoy. She took one look at him and made up her mind. She would find another way to warn Harry.

On outstretched wings she jumped into the air. With a few pumps of her baby wings, she landed on Malfoy's shoulder.

He jumped and turned his face toward her. "Wha-Bookworm!" In a quick motion, he had her in his arms. He slammed her against his chest in a tight hug that caused her to cry out.

"Sorry." He loosened his grip on her. "How?" His grey eyes looked onto her, wide with shock and disbelief. She c****d her head. This was a different side to Malfoy then she was used to seeing.

He rubbed his thumb along her snout. "I thought you were dead." She shook her head and snorted. He would find out today that she was no dumb beast.

His chuckle was broken by a sob. He continued rubbing her snout. "Did you play dead?" She nodded her head the best she could. She was still pressed against his chest.

"Who's a smart dragon?" He cooed. Yep, she definitely wasn't used to this side of Malfoy.

. . . .

"Come on, Ron! We're going to be late!" Ron slapped his hand away then promptly fell out of bed.

"What was that for!"

Harry shook his head at his friend. "Come on, already."

After Ron changed into his robes, the two of them ran out of their room. They ran all the way to class and were still late.

"Hermione's still missing," hissed Ron once they found their seats.

"I know. I can see," replied Harry.

"She's going to kill us. She hates to miss class."

Malfoy, who was unfortunately sitting behind them, took that time to comment. "What. Did the mudblood not have enough nerve to show up today?"

Ron's face turned the same shade of red as his hair. Harry put his hand on his shoulder, hoping Ron would take the hint. "Don't," whispered Harry for emphasis.

Ron turned to face him. "Why don't you just use the you know what to find her already."

Harry shook his head. "I promised Dumbledore that I wouldn't. Not yet."

Harry saw Malfoy's hand sky rocket into the air. "Does Gryffindor lose points since Granger couldn't bother to show up?"

The professor peered at Malfoy. "Put your hand down. And no. Miss Granger is helping professor Dumbledore with a task. She is excused from lessons today."

"Lucky," Ron muttered under his breath.

Harry shook his head. Hermione definitely was not lucky. He wondered what his friend was up to.

. . . .

Draco tucked away some food from his dinner. "I'm leaving." He announced to his roommates. They nodded, already knowing where he was off to.

Draco hurried out of the dining hall and headed for the Slytherin common room. He was able to get in a few jabs at Weasel and Potter earlier but was unable to concentrate during classes. He was worried about leaving Bookworm, especially after the previous night's events.

The common room was unsurprisingly empty. He rushed down to his room and opened the door. Bookworm peered at him from where she was curled up on his bed. Yes, he finally decided she was a girl. Bookworm reminded him too much of her namesake to not be a girl.

The little dragon leapt up from her spot and met him. He was glad to see she had settled down. When he had first awoke this morning, it was to find an antsy dragon pacing the room. None of the boys could figure out what was wrong with her and decided to leave out of her cage. It seemed to have helped.

"I brought you something." Instead of laying the food down, he tried to hand feed her. The dragon looked at him for a while before gingerly taking the food out of his hand with a snort. She reminded him so much of Granger. He wondered what the task was that Dumbledore had her on? Dumbledore. The thought of the professor instantly turned his mood sour. This was not a year he was looking forward to finishing.