Unofficial Portkey Archive

Harry Potter and the Triptych

By Vickles

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: roughly 10,518 (*huge smile*)

Disclaimer: I convinced the characters to hold off on the restraining order, but they said that I need to prove how much I love them, so hopefully this chapter will make them understand! *sniff*

A/N: Ignore the random hyperlinks, I don't know why they are there.

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Chapter 16: Revelations

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"What are you two still sleeping for?" Ron exclaimed as he opened the door and shut it loudly, waking them up, "Gretta's going to be here in ten minutes!"

Hermione gasped and looked at her alarm clock, "I forgot to set it last night!" Saying nothing else, they both jumped out of bed and went in their separate directions. Harry ran into the closet, throwing Hermione the change of clothes that she had set out for herself the night before and then Hermione ran into the bathroom. Ron watched from the door with amusement as all of this took place.

Only five seconds after closing the door, Hermione opened it again and ran out calling, "Wait a second!" and then opening the closet door where Harry, already having begun changing, had his shirt off.

"Yes?" Harry asked.

Hermione simply smiled and gave him a quick peck on the lips, "Good morning." She then ran out, leaving Harry happy and confused.

Five minutes later, after they'd both brushed their hair and teeth, they ran downstairs, each grabbing a buttered roll that Ron had set out for them. The three of them walked up to the living room and quietly waited for Gretta's arrival.

"Good morning," she greeted them as she Apparated in, "I expect you have your theories for me?"

Harry and Hermione simultaneously gasped and excused themselves. Ron, quite pleased with himself, handed his to Gretta. "They slept in this morning."

"Ah," Gretta nodded, "Well then I suppose I'll read yours first."

About twenty minutes later, after carefully reading each theory, Gretta smiled at them, as she always did. "So I assume you did a bit of experimenting together."

They nodded and Harry spoke, "It was hard to come up with any theories on what triggers our powers without comparing them to the other two."

"I'm glad you noticed that, and you all made some very good observations. Let's discuss those. Hermione, you can go first," she said, noticing Hermione's anticipation.

"Well, I believe that they are all interconnected, and that we share some things, but it's difficult to say, because every time I make an observation of one or two of us, it doesn't work with the third."

"Yes, that's correct. Have you made any specific observations of any one of you?"

"Well, yes," Hermione paused, "I think I've figured out how Harry's work."

"You have?" Harry asked, surprised.

Hermione nodded, "It came to me when we were at my parents' house, which I wrote about in my paper. It seems that when you make movements, they rather cue your powers. But I don't think it's just that. I believe that there has to be something else there."

"I've noticed that, too," Ron said, nodding along. Harry nodded as well, recognizing what they were talking about now that it had been brought up.

"You are very close, I must say," Gretta said, "But it's a bit more complicated and confusing than that. You see, each of you has three triggers, in a way, but they work differently.

"How?" Harry asked.

"Let's start with you," Gretta said, "Hermione says that yours is trigged by movement. This isn't quite true, but it's very close. What is triggering your powers is actually a conscious emotion or thought, not movement. The movements you make set your powers in motion, but they are already going from the things you are feeling or thinking. Does that make sense?"

"A bit," Harry replied honestly.

"Okay, how about I move onto Ron, then? Ron's emotions are what set his powers in motion, but an emotion is not enough for them. An underlying thought or instinct must activate his powers before he can use them.

"It's much like Hermione. Before she can use a power, it must originate from an instinct or emotion, which is why hers are the hardest to control and the most sporadic, if you have noticed."

Harry and Ron were still a bit puzzled, but something seemed to have clicked in Hermione, "So what you're saying is that we each are interconnected one way or another. Since Harry is the hand of the Triptych, instinct and movement are what act out his powers, but they actually originate from the powers Ron and I possess, which is thought and emotion. Our powers do not actually originate from our powers, then, they originate by the other two! That's why Ron's and my powers can both originate from instinct, why Harry and Ron's can both originate from thought, and why Harry's and mine can both originate from emotion. Our powers are interconnected!" Hermione smiled at her revelation as Gretta nodded.

"That's correct," Gretta told her as Harry and Ron began to catch on.

"So, if I want to use my powers, the power comes from an instinct or thought, but it takes emotion to make something actually happen?" Ron asked.

"Yes, I must say you three are catching on much quicker than I might have expected."

"Blimey," Ron said, "This is going to make training so much easier."

"Actually," Gretta said, "Your training will be changing from now on, as has already been arranged. This week you will be reviewing everything you have learned and you will have your last lesson with Moody, though he may still occasionally pop in. Tonks and Remus will continue to do daily workouts with you so you can all pick up endurance and strength, but they will also be teaching you strategy on the battlefield, which is something that I've heard you need. Being able to think on your feet is good, but you also have to be prepared. I will be working with you as well, a bit more than I have been, showing you different ways in which you can use your powers and talents without necessarily revealing it to the enemy."

"So when will this all be starting?" Hermione asked.

"Later this week. Also, I know you won't like this, but you will no longer have the weekends off," They failed to hide their disappointment and Gretta smiled sadly, "We just believe that time off is no longer efficient. If you have something that you must do, rescheduling lessons is possible, and we will give you Sunday mornings to relax a bit." The three sighed, relieved at that. "Now, if there is nothing else I am needed for, I promised Minerva that I would help her out up at the school today since the students will be arriving in a few weeks."

They nodded and bid her goodbye. Ron frowned after she left, "No weekends off. That royally stinks. I've been tired enough as it is."

"Look at it this way," Harry said, "No more essays."

Ron smiled, "Would you look at that, there really is a silver lining to every cloud."

"I'm going to miss the essays," Hermione said as they entered the kitchen, where Malfoy's tray of bread and water was out. Harry groaned and Hermione patted him on the back.

"I'll be back in a bit," Harry muttered before walking out after having had a quick bite to eat. Ron and Hermione ate the rest of their lunch, but Hermione hurried a bit through hers, leaving the kitchen not long after.

When she reached Draco's door, she sat down quietly, waiting for Harry. She knew the affect that Malfoy could have on Harry, as well as the rage that Malfoy inspired. The memory of Harry choking her in his sleep, thinking her body was Draco's, was all too vivid in her mind.

After fifteen minutes or so, Harry walked out, looking annoyed and tired, not noticing that she was sitting by the door right away. Then, as if he sensed her, he looked down, his features relaxing almost instantly, "Hi."

She smiled as she stood, "Hi." Leading him into the nearby study, she took the plate out of his hands and set it on one of the desks, then wrapped her arms around him.

It took a moment, but he soon relaxed into her embrace, exhaling softly. Hermione gently touched her lips to his skin, and soon he was doing the same kissing her collarbone. Remembering when he had unintentionally tickled her there, Hermione smiled, "You know, I never got you back."

"For what?" Harry asked as he continued his kisses and traced his fingers along her sides.

Hermione struggled to maintain her train of thought, though it proved to be difficult, indeed, "For tickling me that morning. I told you I'd get you back, but I never did."

"Mhmm…" was all that came from Harry's mouth in response, "And why does that matter?"

"I…" Hermione sighed gently as his lips began making a path to her lips, "I don't recall."

Harry nodded, "Good, then do me a favor."

"What?" Hermione asked, almost breathless.

"Quit talking."

Hermione willingly obliged, giving in as his mouth finally claimed hers. His hands rested on her hips, then drew up under her shirt where no fabric separated them. Not meaning to, Hermione shuddered a bit, holding his hand there so he understood it was okay. He nodded and went back to his ministrations, bringing one hand up and running it through her hair as their tongues continued to tangle. It was the perfect moment; right up until a throat was cleared from the doorway.

Harry and Hermione broke apart instantly and saw Ron leaning against the doorframe, a hand over his eyes and looking adorably embarrassed and apologetic, in Hermione's opinion, "I honestly hate to interrupt, but Tonks is waiting for us in the attic. I'll…I'll just see you up there." With that, he walked out, assuming they'd follow soon enough.

They quickly straightened their clothes and Hermione spoke, "Best get going to training then." She headed to the door but then was stopped in her tracks by an unknown source. A shiver went up Hermione's spine as she realized that Harry was holding her back with magic. She turned around, expecting to see a grin on his face, but his features were serious and his eyes were clouded as they bore into her. Without a word, he strode forward, grabbed the back of her neck, and pulled her into a quick, but fierce kiss.

He let her go, straighten up, and began walking out of the room, "Now we can go to training."

Hermione watched in a daze, her lips still tingling, as he walked through a door. Lightheaded, she began to follow him, stumbling a bit and smiling to herself, "Dear Merlin, I love him."

Training went on as normal. Despite the morning's revelations, Tonks wanted to hold off on any special use of their powers until later in the week as Gretta suggested, which was fine with Hermione since all she seemed to be able to concentrate on was Harry. She was relieved when the time came for him and Tonks to duel, though it did nothing for her current state. As they finally wrapped up, (Tonks won today, which disappointed Harry and made Hermione want nothing more than to walk over and kiss away his troubles) Tonks Disapparated. Harry and Hermione began to follow Ron out of the room when Ron turned around, an annoyed look on his face as he stared at them.

"Just stay here and snog, alright? It's all she's been wanting to do for the past three and a half hours!" Ron exclaimed, giving an involuntary shudder. "Meanwhile I am going to Diagon Alley to see if Fred and George have any good firewhisky or some kind of product to make me forget this afternoon." He shuddered again and left them.

Without further ado, Hermione practically pounced Harry, ignoring how sore he probably was and expecting him to complain. To her surprise, however, Harry chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Hermione asked, drawing back a little.

Harry merely smiled, "You want me."

"I…" Hermione felt the need to object.

Continuing to grin, Harry went on, "You want me so bad that it was emanating off of you and causing our poor friend mental damage."

Hermione pulled a few feet away from him and crossed her arms, trying not to smile, "Okay, fine, but what are you going to do it about it, then? Are you going to stand there and be cocky, or kiss me until I swoon?"

Harry smirked, "Well, I rather like being cocky…"

Those were the last words out of his mouth for quite a long time.

Around an hour later, (how time flies…) they headed downstairs into the kitchen, where Malfoy's tray was set out once again. Hermione grinned in anticipation and Harry looked at her in wonder, "I will never figure out how you are possibly getting him to talk."

"Don't take it personally, dear," Hermione said patronizingly, "I'm simply better than you."

Harry mocked the face that one makes when a person suddenly makes a realization, "My goodness, you're right! I will eternally be inferior to Your Greatness."

Hermione sniffed as she headed to the door, smiling, "I prefer Oh Great One, but that will do." With that being said, she headed up to Malfoy's room, opening the door quietly.

Tonight she set his food down and then proceeded to stand by the door. Before he could even take a bite Malfoy looked up at her, curious and irritated, "Why aren't you sitting?"

"You said that it annoys you when I sit."

"I know, but it's more annoying for you to stand there like that."

Hermione shrugged, "Then there is no pleasing you. Now eat or I'll simply leave and you can have food in the morning when Ron brings it."

Malfoy made a bit of a growl and then began eating, but not for long. After a moment he looked up, the irritation no longer betrayed on his features, "Look, could you just sit?"

"Why?" Hermione inquired.

"Because," was the only answer Malfoy gave.

"Do you want me to?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?"

Malfoy seethed, "Yes, I want you to sit here."

"Okay!" A bit too perky about it, Hermione semi-skipped over and sat on the chair.

He took a few more bites, and then looked up at her, "Why were you waiting outside the door this afternoon when Potter brought me lunch?"

"Do you actually care?"

"No, I suppose not."

"Then why should I answer?" Hermione quizzed.

Malfoy clenched his teeth and took some water. "Why do you have to be so difficult?"

Hermione leaned in, whispering, as if about to reveal a juicy secret, "I'm not the difficult one here."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Malfoy asked, offended.

"It means that between the two of us you are the one acting like an petulant child, stubbornly choosing to sit locked up alone in a room all day rather than answering a few questions and receiving the help you want and need," Hermione replied simply.

"I don't want any help."

"Then why did you come here?"

Draco opened his mouth to answer and then caught himself, grinning at her with the tiniest bit of respect, "Well done, Granger, but it won't be that easy to get me to open up."

Hermione merely shrugged, "I hardly expected it to be. You're the one that almost fell for it."

He continued to eat his dinner, "So, say I do care, why were you waiting outside the door?"

"I was waiting for Harry. Knowing how angry and tense you can make him I thought it might be a good idea to calm him down." Hermione had to contain the giddy smile that almost came to her face at the thought of what had happened earlier in her quest to `calm him down.' "Now do I get to ask you a question?"

Malfoy swallowed, "You can ask what you want, but I don't have to answer." He began to scrape the remains of his dinner off the plate.

Hermione leaned in, staring at him intently, "Why couldn't you bring yourself to kill Professor Dumbledore?"

Malfoy looked up, shocked and speechless at her question. Hermione took his empty plate, "I'll leave your water here tonight and let you think about that. Goodnight." With that, she left him, still staring silently into space.

When Hermione entered the kitchen, she found Harry deep in thought. Quietly she set the tray down and scooted next to him, "What's wrong?"

Harry blinked and turned to her as if just knowing that she was there, which was most likely the case, "I was thinking about Godric's Hollow."

"Yes?" Hermione urged gently.

"It's just that… is it just me or does something about that house not add up completely you?" Harry asked.

Hermione sighed. She had not wanted to bother him, but she had noticed the same thing the very first time they had went, "Yes, I noticed that parts of it seem a little off. I would have to go back there to verify anything, though. Why is this suddenly bothering you?"

"Well, it's just that…this whole mission, the reason we aren't going back to school and why we're training…it's all so that, eventually, I can end it, right?" Hermione nodded. "But going back there, I'm starting to wonder how it even began. I mean, why did my parents keep the fact that they were going to have another child a secret? I suppose what's bothering me is that….Hermione, how can I possibly end something if I'm not sure how it started?"

Hermione wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his shoulder, "I don't know."

"Do you think we'll ever find out about all of the things that happened before that night?"

"Not everything, I suppose, but we'll find out enough, I think. Are you sure you want to find out everything?"

Harry's head drooped, his cheek against the top of her head, "No. Then again, I'm not sure about a lot of things."

Hermione looked up at him, "What are you sure about?"

Kissing her forehead, Harry pondered this for a moment, "You. And Ron. But mostly you."

"I'm glad you can be sure about me. That makes me happy."

"You make me happy," Harry said giving her a kiss.

Hermione sighed and began kissing him backing when her stomach growled rather loudly, causing them both to giggle. "Oops," Hermione said, with a laugh.

Harry chuckled, "Apparently, I am detaining you from your meal."

His arm still around her shoulders, Hermione poured some soup in a large mug, drinking it like she would whenever she was sick. After she finished, she surprised herself with a yawn. "Goodness, what time is it?" she asked Harry.

Harry looked at his watch, "It's only eight thirty."

Hermione began clearing away her dishes, "I'm exhausted for some reason. I think I'm going to head up to bed, are you coming?"

"In a bit," Harry sighed tiredly as he stood, "I promised Ron I'd owl Ginny so she can come over tomorrow night. You know, so we can talk." He sat the last bit with loathing.

Smiling sympathetically, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss, "Don't stay up too late, okay?" Harry nodded, and with another kiss goodnight, Hermione headed upstairs.

On her way to their room, she ran into Ron as he was heading to his room. "Did you just get back?" she asked him.

Ron shrugged, "Yeah."

"Did you get that firewhisky you were after?"

"What?" he asked confused, then remembered, "Oh. No, I can't even count on Fred and George for that."

Hermione gasped in a joking matter, "The world must be ending."

"Seems like it. Where's Harry?"

"Writing Ginny."

"That's right. I forgot he was going to do that. Well, I'm going to bed. Goodnight," He gave her a quick hug and headed into his room.

Sleepy, Hermione headed to their room. She had barely changed clothes and gotten into bed when she fell fast asleep.

Tuesday passed with amazing swiftness. Ron had his last lesson with Moody in the morning, and it was a great success. He was able to selectively channel emotions into Harry and Hermione, the same thing he'd been trying to do for weeks. In the afternoon, they'd worked with Tonks and Remus. Harry practiced moving objects around the room, something he could only do occasionally before, and Hermione attempted to read Tonks' mind. Hers being the hardest power to control, it was still a bit random in occurrence, but the progress was obvious. As they headed into the kitchen Dobby presented Harry with a letter. Assuming it was from Ginny, Harry opened it as they sat at the table.

Harry,

I was very happy to hear from you, but I will not be able to come until tomorrow night. If that will not work owl me back, otherwise I will see you then!

Ginny

"Why was she happy to hear from you?" Ron asked.

Harry shrugged, "I don't know. All I said was that we needed to talk."

Hermione laughed, but stopped herself, apologizing "I don't mean to be rude. It is a shame, actually. Ginny is such a level-headed girl in all matters that exclude you, Harry." Ron nodded in agreement.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Well that just makes me feel all warm and tingly inside."

"Why aren't you taking Malfoy his food?" Ron asked Hermione.

Grinning, Hermione took a quick drink, "I have a feeling that I'll be in there longer tonight. Despite his best efforts, he's opening up to me."

"Sure he is," Ron said sarcastically.

Hermione quickly finished her food and grabbed Draco's tray, "Think what you will, but I know that you are simply jealous."

As soon as she entered his room, Hermione could tell that tonight was different. Rather than taking large amounts of food as he had previously done, Malfoy was nibbling it, not speaking at all. Hermione waited patiently, and it eventually paid off. "How did you know about…about that night?"

"That's irrelevant," Hermione replied simply, "The point is that I do and I know that you couldn't do it. What I don't know is why."

"I don't want to answer your question," he finally said, no longer eating.

"What do you think is going to happen here?" Hermione asked him, changing the subject, "Do you really think we'll just give up on you?"

"No," Draco admitted, "I just know that school starts in a few weeks and when that comes I'll be home free."

Hermione pondered revealing the information to him, then decided it could not hurt, "That's a great idea, except of course that we are not going back to school this year."

Malfoy raised and eyebrow, "That's rather stupid, isn't it? Especially for you, Granger."

"Why do you say that?"

Releasing a hard laugh, he rolled his eyes, "I may not like you, but even I know that you'd be Head Girl."

Hermione smiled, flattered despite herself, "You think so?"

Malfoy shook his head, going back to nibbling his food, "Don't be dumb about it. I was just trying to make a point."

"Either way," Hermione said, going back to what they had been talking about, "we're staying here so you being stubborn will not achieve anything." She watched as he continued to move food around on his plate, "Are you not hungry? Because I can just go…"

"No," Malfoy cut in, hastily putting a bit of food in his mouth.

"Oh, okay." That's when Hermione first saw it. Whether they liked each other or not, Malfoy did want to tell someone about what happened, whatever it was. Since Ron and Harry had suitably closed themselves off to him, she was now his only option.

"Do you actually want to know?" he asked after a bit.

"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked curiously.

"I mean that…do you actually want to know why I couldn't kill him or were you just trying to get at me?"

"Honestly?" Hermione asked and Malfoy nodded, "Honestly…and this stays between you and me, I hope you understand. Unlike Ron and Harry, I do not believe that you are completely bad, even if you want to be. I believe that you were raised to see a different view of right and wrong, but despite your best attempts, some part of you is telling you that what you see isn't as right as you have been led to believe. Harry told me what happened last year in that bathroom," Hermione's chest stung as she remembered the lashing she had received from Ginny later that night for `harping' on Harry, "And I know that, possibly despite your best efforts, you are capable of human emotion. That said, up until recent events I still would have believed you capable of murder. This leads me to want to know, why couldn't you do it?"

"You're wrong," he told her.

"About what?"

"That I'm capable of murder. I…I know that I pick on people…"

"You mean bully."

"Fine," Malfoy admitted, "I know that I bully and that I've done some horrible things, but even I…I couldn't possibly..." He looked down at his hands, avoiding her gaze.

Not knowing why, Hermione placed her hand on his, "I know that…" Those were the only words she said before suddenly his manner changed and he grabbed her wrist and flung her, sending her tumbling over the other bed and landing on the floor rather harshly. She had barely gotten to her feet when the door was thrust open, Ron and Harry storming in and slamming it behind them.

"What did you do to her?" Harry yelled in Malfoy's face. Hermione felt something sting and looked to see that her hand was bleeding, having sliced it on something. Not wanting Harry or Ron to see it, she hastily covered it up, but it was too late.

"Bloody hell…Harry, he actually hurt her!" Ron exclaimed, taking her hand despite her protests.

Harry looked like he could have given Malfoy the beating of a lifetime, but Hermione ran forward and stopped him, pushing him back by Ron. She turned to Malfoy, refusing to give up on him because of one little thing, "Fine then, you want to fight? Come with me." She disengaged the protections on the room and pulled Malfoy out, grabbing his wrist and pulling him out the door, Ron and Harry following close behind.

She took them to the attic, then handed Harry her wand, motioning for him and Ron to stay by the door and pulling Draco to the middle of the vast room. She tensed up for a fight, "No magic, just us. You've got your frustrations, I've got mine."

Malfoy seemed to think she was kidding, so, just to make sure he got it, she sent him a swift kick in the gut, hardly any force behind it. With that done, they began fighting. Malfoy was stronger, but she was quicker and more skilled, so it turned out to be a pretty even match. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Ron had to restrain Harry at first, but soon he relaxed, as much as he possibly could, at least.

As they circled each other, Hermione began speaking, "Why did you push me away?"

"Because," he grunted, getting in a punch on her side.

Hermione winced, but gritted her teeth, "Maybe it's because it's been so long, perhaps never, since someone has actually touched you without motive or bad intentions and it's now your instinct to repel anything or anyone that tries to get close to you."

"You're not trying to get close to me. You just want to know why I'm here."

"Maybe I want to know because I'm trying to get close to you," Hermione replied as their sparring went on.

"Maybe you're just nosy."

"Maybe I am. That doesn't mean I don't want to help you."

Malfoy made no reply, but simply focused on the fight.

Hermione knew she was getting somewhere. So this is what he needs. "What are you really fighting, Draco?" She used his first name for the only time in years, and she could tell it had an effect on him.

He did not speak, so Hermione picked up the chair, the one that had been her enemy for so long and, signaling a truce, handed it to him. "Break it," she instructed.

"Excuse me?" he asked, not taking it from her hands.

"Break it. Does one of us need to show you how?"

"No, I just…what do you mean?" She could tell that her sudden change in attitude had thrown him off.

"Just break it. If it helps you can picture that it's Harry," she told him with a quick wink, then went back to being serious, "Unless, of course, it's not Harry that you're fighting?" she prodded.

He sagged a little, taking the chair from her hands, "So you just want me to break it?"

Hermione nodded and stood back. Without further ado, Draco picked up the chair and smacked as hard as he could into the wooden floor, breaking off two of the legs. He proceeded to continue smacking it until all he held in his hands was a single piece of wood. Meanwhile, Hermione motioned for Harry and Ron to leave, which they did without question.

Malfoy looked up at Hermione, chest heaving, as handed her the single piece of wood silently.

Hermione took it and put the chair back together, sitting on it, "Did that help?"

He sat on the floor, "No."

"Did beating me up help?"

"No."

Hermione nodded and scooted off the chair, sitting in front of Malfoy, inches from him but carefully not touching. "At some point you're going to need to get past this," she said, trying not to sound too kind or too harsh, motioning to the chair, "Whatever this may be. You don't really trust me and I get that, but I have a feeling that you know things that could help us, and that we have the means of protecting you, since, in a way, we already are. All I have is one question."

Malfoy sighed, "Why am I here?"

"No," Hermione took a breath. She was taking a big risk by bringing this up, but she just had to know, "Why haven't you left yet?"

Draco looked up, startled, "What do you mean?"

"Surely it has occurred to you that you could escape whenever you feel like since I took you out of your prison, but you've stayed. Do you really want to go back where you came from?" Hermione waited for him to simply take off, knowing how angry Ron and Harry would be. To her surprise, however, Malfoy simply stood, heading to the door.

"I think I'm going to go finish my dinner." Hermione nodded and followed him, directing him to the room and closing the door once he was inside, feeling no desire to stay and watch him eat. Sighing, she walked up to her and Harry's room, knowing without much thought that Ron and Harry would be waiting for her there. When she walked in, she expected them to be angry with her, lecturing her about how dangerous it was for her to do what she'd done, but that didn't happen. Instead, they both jumped up, Ron checking to make sure she was all right as Harry pulled her into a hug.

After a moment Harry pulled back, holding her at an arm's length and looking down on her with pride, a look that she also noticed was on Ron's face. "I can't believe that you actually fought Malfoy," Harry said with a grin.

"And kicked his butt on top of it!" Ron added. Hermione blushed, raising a hand to her cheek. Ron winced, "Blimey, that's a pretty bad cut, there."

Hermione looked down at where she had hurt the back of her hand earlier, noticing for the first time that it was actually a bit deep. Harry gently took her hand in hers, covering the blood, and led her over to the bookshelf, scanning for a book. "I think there's a book on healing here somewhere…there it is." He said after a moment and released her hand, reaching down for the book.

Hermione gasped. No way, she thought to herself, her other hand flying to her mouth, "Harry, I don't think you'll be needing that book."

"Why?" Harry asked and Hermione merely held out her, now fully healed, hand.

Ron walked over for a closer look, then proceeded to stare at Harry in awe, "What the hell did you just do, mate?"

Harry seemed to be in shock as he delicately turned Hermione's hand in his own, "I…I guess I healed her cut."

Hermione smiled at him in disbelief, "Well I think that might come in handy on the battlefield, don't you?"

"I'd say so!" Ron exclaimed. "Is anyone starting to get the feeling that we're invincible?"

"I'm not sure about that…" Harry said slowly, "We'll definitely need to talk to someone about this tomorrow," he added, reading Hermione's thoughts.

"Okay, well…I think I'll be off, then. All of this activity this evening has got me knackered. Goodnight," Ron said, shutting the door behind him.

Hermione watched as Harry quietly walked over to the clothes, taking off his shirt and kicking off his shoes on the way. She noticed for the first time that his hands were trembling. Walking up behind him, Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder, turning him around, "This just now really freaked you out, didn't it?"

Harry nodded, "Not that it isn't great, but it just kind of popped up on me."

"I know. Don't think about it too much and let it wait `till morning, okay?"

"Yeah."

"Good," Hermione grabbed her pajamas. Since Harry went into the closet to change, she figured she might as well just change in the bedroom. She had changed her bottoms and had just pulled off her shirt when Harry walked out of the closet in his pajamas. Embarrassed at being caught in only her bra, Hermione quickly reached to grab her top, but Harry reached out his hand and stopped her.

"Please…don't," he said softly, his eyes boring into hers.

"I…" I need to put my shirt on now, Hermione thought desperately but could not find the words.

"Here," Harry said, pulling off his shirt, "Now we're equal."

Hermione swallowed, Oh, yes, that makes me feel loads less uncomfortable, her mouth dry, "Okay."

Harry pulled her over to the bed, both of them kneeling on the mattress. He stared at her, not rudely, just stared at her, as if taking it all in. Hermione finally tried to cross her arms over her chest, but Harry gently rested his hands on her arms, stopping her, and looking up into her eyes, "You're so incredibly beautiful, Hermione."

Hermione smiled and laughed a little despite how exposed she felt. "You go and say things like that and it makes me…" she said lightly before Harry stopped her with his lips.

He pulled away and smiled a little, becoming familiar with her again and allowing her to remember that this was Harry for a second, "No jokes for a bit, alright?"

Hermione nodded, barely hearing him as she became lost in his eyes, laying back on the mattress. Their kiss began to exceed the point of counting, and Hermione's skin began to tingle on her abdomen and back where his hands would touch her. Though she was grateful that he was carefully avoiding her chest, it only made her want him to touch her there more. Tenderly put her hand on his, pulling it up to the curve of her breasts as she felt it hesitating in her palm, telling him with her kisses that it was okay. It didn't take long for him to catch on, though he still remained a bit unsure. They continued on, Harry never pushing despite how much she knew a part of him must have wanted to. The material of her bra remained intact, but that was okay for tonight.

One small step at a time, Hermione told herself before she began to lose all logical thought.

Some time later, they lay in each other's arms, (not fancying sleeping in a bra Hermione had gone and changed into her pajama top) relaxing but not sleeping.

"It's eleven thirty," Harry said quietly in her ear, "We are going to be so tired tomorrow."

"I know," Hermione said, "But I'm not tired." She paused for a moment, and then added, "Actually, I'm hungry."

Harry sat up and turned to her, "Me too. You want to go get a snack?"

Hermione nodded and took his extended hand. They both donned their bathrobes and headed out the door, holding hands and in oddly good moods. About halfway there, their lips had collided (neither of them were quite sure how this happened). Not really minding, they proceeded on their way to the kitchen, giggling madly between kisses whenever they would run into something. They finally reached the kitchen, but the door was closed so Harry bumped into it. Fumbling with his hand to find the doorknob as Hermione continued to kiss him, Harry finally found it, smiling against her lips, and opened the door, sending them stumbling inside, cueing more laughter.

"Dear Merlin, please spare me before I vomit," came the voice of Draco Malfoy, sufficiently surprising them.

Hermione screamed in shock, breaking apart from Harry and instinctively wrapping her robe tightly around her, finding Malfoy sitting at the kitchen table drinking what looked like tea out of a coffee mug. "What are you doing in here?" she asked, wrapping her bathrobe tightly around her.

Malfoy shrugged.

"How did you get out?" Harry began interrogating him.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Chill out, Potter. Have I run away yet? Didn't think so, though I have to admit I almost did after that little show just now." He turned to Hermione, whose face seemed to be growing redder by the second, with less hostility, "You forgot to put the barriers back up so I came down to get something to drink."

Hermione mentally smacked herself as Harry crossed his arms, still looking at Draco, "There's a reason we've got you locked up in that room, you know, and…"

"Yes, I know. I am being left in solitude without any luxuries in life until I decide to say why I came. Believe it or not, I was doing something thinking just now."

"Really," Harry retorted, clearly not taking him seriously.

"Yes, really. I was thinking that I'm sick of being locked up and might as well just save you the trouble and tell you how and why the hell I came here."

Harry and Hermione shared a wary look, wondering if it could possibly be that easy. "I'll go get Tonks," Harry said, figuring that she may have access to Veritaserum, and Disapparated.

"I'll go wake up Ron," Hermione said, mostly to herself, and then turned to Draco, "Will you stay here?"

He shrugged in response, "I don't have anywhere else to go, do I?"

Not knowing how to respond, Hermione briefly nodded and Apparated to Ron's bedroom. Walking over to his bed she shoved him a bit, knowing how difficult he could be to wake up. "Ron," she said a little above her normal speaking volume. After a few more times she gave a little tug on his hair, sufficiently doing the job. His eyes popped open and he looked around the room wildly, "Whazzit? Whazzapning?" he asked, his words slurring together.

"Malfoy's decided to talk," Hermione told him.

"Now?" Ron asked, "How…why?"

Hermione briefly recounted what had happened with her and Harry going down to the kitchen to get a little snack, carefully leaving out the part of the state she and Harry had been when walking into the kitchen, not feeling the need to bother her friend with that considering what she's unknowingly put him through earlier. Ron nodded and pulled on his own bathrobe, following her back down to the kitchen where Malfoy was just as they'd left them.

Ron took a seat next to Hermione and across from Draco. "Only you could ruin a midnight snack," he said irritably.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow at Hermione, now scarlet red, and then turned to Ron, his features unchanging, "Well pardon me. I didn't realize that Potter's tongue was a midnight snack. I'll be sure to make note of that."

Thankfully, Harry and Tonks popped in before Ron could react.

"Isn't Remus coming?" Hermione asked.

Tonks shook her head, "He's had a busy week so I figured I'd let him sleep and I'd just fill him in tomorrow morning about the story behind Malfoy. Speaking of which," she took a seat directly across from Draco, setting her pencil and parchments pad on the table, "Would you be willing to submit to Veritaserum? To be frank, this is all a big waste of time if you are not."

He thought about this a moment, "If you tell me what you plan on asking first. I refuse to be taken advantage of." Clearly he's been in this situation before, Harry noted as he took a seat on the other side of Tonks.

"How can we possibly…" Hermione began in protest but Tonks interrupted her, nodding along with Malfoy.

"Okay, I can respect the right to privacy, even for the likes of you, and I've dealt with this before. We can perform the interview and then you will submit to Veritaserum."

"What will you ask then?" Malfoy questioned cautiously.

Tonks shrugged, "We will merely see if you answered everything honestly."

Draco pondered this, "Okay."

Tonks motioned for the three of them to begin, effectively letting them take control of the situation. Ron and Hermione nodded to Harry, who began, "Why did you come here?"

"The Dark Lord…"

"The Dark Lord?" Ron asked, referring to Malfoy's address of Voldemort.

Malfoy merely rolled his eyes, "Yes, Weasley. You grew up saying You-Know-Who, I grew up saying the Dark Lord. May I continue now?" They nodded. "After that night, when I couldn't kill Dumbledore…a lot of things sort of happened at once. Snape was put in place as the Dark Lord's right-hand man, basically, and I was, well, I was effectively shunned, I suppose you could say. My father disowned me and had me secured until they could figure out what to do with me. He forbid my mother to see me, but she did, every day. She'd bring me food, reassure me that she was taking care of things."

"She started circulating this story, saying that I was going to kill Dumbledore but Snape got to it first, and that I would have killed him if I'd just gotten the chance. Eventually this story reached Snape and the Dark Lord. In a moment of mercy, perhaps, Snape suggested that we test this idea."

"Test it?" Hermione interjected, puzzled, "How?"

"They brought me down to the prisons, where the Death Eaters awaiting death are caged. There aren't usually many, but he sometimes keeps a few there, tortures them, especially the betrayers. He can sometimes get information from them. They brought out one of them, and I knew who it was. We had known each other as children, because of our parents, and hated each other. When they had pulled him out, he had been begging, pleading-something that is useless in the Dark Lord's presence, but many try anyway. No one wants to die knowing that they did not do everything in their power to stop it."

"He saw that I was the one to perform the act and he just gave up, as if all that we had done to each other as children was enough for me to kill him. It was completely different, the way he looked at me. Dumbledore, he looked at me as if I was not a murderer, and I hesitated. This guy, though, he looked at me like there was no hope for him because I was the one holding the wand, and I knew I could not do it."

Draco paused for a moment, then sighed and went on, "When this became apparent to the others, a lot of things happened all at once. Chaos ensued, and Snape, once again, performed the murder for me. The Dark Lord, no longer caring, left us to our squabble, as every other man in the room proceeded to beat me. Thankfully, I'd already concealed my wand, or I would have lost it. My mum tried to get them to stop, but," his eyes began to water, just barely, though it was apparent that he was trying his hardest to keep it from happening, the others watching him, deadly tacit with their mouths slightly agape, "But my father yanked her away and pushed her across the room, yelling at her. In the moment that he turned to watch them beat me, she pulled her wedding ring off, enchanting it into a Portkey, then threw it at me. There was only a moment before the Portkey took me away, but that was long enough to see…" His face had now hardened as he stared at the table, and it seemed that the words simply would not exit his mouth.

"See what?" Hermione asked gently.

Draco raised his eyes to meet hers; "It was long enough for me to see my father send the Avada Kedavra at my mum."

The silence that sat in the kitchen following that statement was almost painful. Ron and Tonks stared at Malfoy in shock, while Harry watched as Hermione's face crumpled, hating that she should ever have to hear of such a thing happening. Draco sat back and exhaled, crossing his arms. After many long moments Tonks cleared her throat and spoke, "Do you have any plans now that you're here? Harry mentioned that you've been doing some thinking."

Malfoy shrugged, "I just figured that I might as well help the lot of you, seeing as I'm now number one on the Dark Lord's hit list."

Harry let out a hollow laugh, "Glad someone else is number one on that list for a change."

Rolling his eyes, Draco went on, "Fine then, number two. The point is that I can't go back, and there's nothing I could do short of murdering all three of you that would even get the Dark Lord to consider it, and it still probably wouldn't be enough, because even if he didn't want to kill me, my father still would. In addition, we have already established that point. Besides the fact that Granger already proved that you can take me on, though I wasn't really trying that hard, I probably couldn't do it if I wanted to, which, to be quite honest, I really don't."

Tonks looked at the three of them, "Any other questions?" They shook their heads. "Alright then," she passed Malfoy a shot glass with pumpkin juice and a couple drops of Veritaserum, "Drink up."

Malfoy did, waiting expectantly, emotionless.

"Is all that you have told us tonight absolute fact?"

Malfoy winced as if trying to hold the answer back, "No."

They all shared a look of surprise, "How much of it isn't?"

"Just one thing."

"What is it?"

"When I said I wasn't trying very hard fighting Granger earlier. She puts up one hell of a fight."

Hermione blushed and Tonks grinned, moving on, "Is everything else fact?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any bad intentions involving anyone in this room?"

"No."

"Do you really plan to help?"

"If I can."

Tonks looked at the three of them, waiting, then spoke. "Well it looks like my job here is done. I didn't give him much so it should take no longer than a minute or so to wear off. It's just me for training tomorrow, so I'll come later, seeing how late it is right now."

"So you'll be coming around noon?" Ron asked hopefully.

Tonks smiled and patted him on the head as she stood, "I was thinking around ten. See you all in the morning!" With a pop, she was gone.

Ron let out what seemed to be a yawn that he had been holding in for a very long time, "Can I go back to bed?" he asked the two of them.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "We're not your parents, Ron."

"Right. Well then, I am knackered. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Hermione and Harry replied as Ron left the room. Hermione turned to Harry, "So what now?"

Harry leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, unknowingly mimicking Malfoy, "Now…" he looked at Malfoy, "Would you be willing to give up any information necessary?"

He shrugged in response, "I don't see why not."

"Okay," Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and Hermione was beginning to see how much training was taking out of him. He looked up at Draco, "Do you plan on actively fighting or staying behind the scenes?"

Draco raised his eyebrows in thought, "I don't know…I hadn't thought about that yet."

Harry stood, Hermione with him, "We'll let you think about that." He turned to Hermione, "We better get some sleep, seeing as it is already one o'clock."

Hermione nodded and followed him silently out of the kitchen, hesitating just slightly at the door and letting him go ahead. She turned to Draco, "It was the right decision to talk." She paused, wanting to say more, "You no longer have to stay in that room, but…you won't leave the house, will you?"

"Don't really have anywhere to go, do I?" For one of the first times that evening she noticed some bitterness in his voice, and it oddly comforted her.

Hermione shrugged, "I suppose not." With that, she left him, taking Harry's arm that he held out for her as he waited in the hallway.

They didn't even turn the light on when they reached the room, quietly hanging up their robes and collapsing on the bed, Harry stopped to take off his glasses. Hermione yawned, "Are we going to keep holding onto his wand?"

Harry nodded, closing his eyes as he pulled her close, "Veritaserum or not, he needs to do something to show me that I can trust him."

"I know. Do you…"

"Hermione?" he interrupted.

"Yeah?"

"Is there any chance that this question can wait until tomorrow?"

Hermione smiled, "Of course, I'm sorry. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

~*~

Draco was already eating breakfast when Harry and Hermione entered the kitchen the next morning. As they began tucking into their own meals, Ron entered, grinning, "Good morning! Did anyone else get an extra thirty minutes of sleep last night? Just me?"

Harry shook his head, chuckling, as Hermione simply smiled as she continued to read the Daily Prophet. Draco frowned, annoyed with his own lack of understanding, as he watched, "Why did Weasley get an extra thirty minutes of sleep?" he asked the two of them.

Hermione looked up from her paper, swallowing her mouthful of eggs, "Because he didn't have to get up to feed you this morning."

"Well, I suppose I didn't luck out. My morning has gotten significantly worse."

The three of them looked at each other, none of them wanting to ask, but all wanting to get it over with. Finally Hermione sighed, rolling her eyes at the two boys, "Why is your morning worse?"

Draco smirked, "On top of having to look at Weasley's sorry face, I now have to look at Potter's as well."

Harry scowled, "You realize that I don't actually need a reason to lock you up."

"I'm shaking with fear. I bet I can get Granger to protect me."

Hermione scoffed, "Even if that were true, it wouldn't matter, seeing as I'm sure Harry could take me."

Smirking, Draco continued to look at Harry, "Notice that she didn't deny that she would protect me."

"She wouldn't defend you," Harry replied sternly.

"Oh really," Draco turned to Hermione, "Would you defend me, Granger?"

Hermione shrugged, "I refuse to defend anyone who can't refer to me by my first name, Draco."

Before anyone could say anything else, Tonks popped in, "Ready?" She smiled as the three groaned and followed her out the door.

Today they began working on some basic strategy with their powers. Harry was okay, but, being more of an improviser, Ron and Hermione were excelling much quicker than her was.

"You know," Tonks said to Harry as they headed back up to the attic after breaking for lunch, "This could be for the better. Ron and Hermione can strategize which leaves you free to do what's necessary while still coming in prepared. I think this might turn out to be a very good balance." That made Harry feel much better.

About two hours into their afternoon dueling, Draco came in, sitting on the floor and watching, unnoticed at first since they were all considerably focused. Ron was the first to spot him and called a truce, distracting Tonks and giving Harry the opportunity to bind her. He undid the spell and helped her to her feet.

"Did you need something?" Hermione asked as the four of them stood, attempting to catch their breath.

"No, I was just bored and I could hear you up here. How long do you go on like this?" he asked.

Hermione looked at her watch, "Ron and I usually go for another two hours and Harry and Tonks another thirty to forty-five minutes past that. Why?"

Draco shrugged, "Well, you will definitely have an upper hand against the Death Eaters in terms of endurance, at least. They work out in the mornings, but they're all about bulk and pure strength."

"Don't they ever duel?" Ron asked, surprised.

"Not really," he replied, "They just rely on those good old Unforgivables, if you haven't noticed."

Harry nodded and turned back to the other three, "Should we get back to it?"

"Actually," Tonks said, "I think it's time for some change up, since we're all learning to read each other too well. It's good, because when fighting we can aide each other, but when dueling it makes it a little too easy. Ron, you're with me, and then you two are together."

Harry hesitated, "Can't I fight Ron?"

Tonks laughed, "I wouldn't think of her as your girlfriend right now, Potter. Hermione's not going to go easy on you so I suggest you do the same. Now let's go." She began by sending a curse Ron's way.

After that, Harry didn't really have a choice, seeing as Hermione merely grinned and began sending jinxes his way, causing him to rack his brain for every counter-jinx known to the Wizarding World. Tonks was quick and creative, but she stuck to the classics. Hermione, however, almost never used the same spell twice. She didn't have the muscle Tonks possessed quite yet, but she moved easily, making her a difficult target.

At some point, they both abandoned their wands, putting them in their holsters, and used their other powers, sending various objects in the room at each other. There was a moment when Harry had begun moving Hermione, but that ended when Hermione sent a book flying to his gut. Instinctively, Harry lifted the chair that sat across the room and sent it flying. He realized a moment too late that Hermione was not going to be able to miss it, and it hit her very hard in the arm, despite his best attempts to slow it.

"Damn!" Hermione yelled, surprising everyone in the room as she cradled her arm against her body.

Harry ran up to her, apologizing profusely, "Are you okay?"

Hermione tried to laugh, despite the tears that fell from her eyes as Harry carefully took her arm, "I'm fine, just bruised." She growled a bit, stamping her foot.

Harry couldn't help but smile a little at her, "What is it?"

"I just…dear Merlin, I hate that chair!" Hermione half laughed, half sobbed. Harry let go of her arm, now healed, then wrapped his arms around her, looking at Tonks.

"Can I please fight Ron?"

Tonks laughed as she walked over, changing the subject as she asked, "So when did this new healing power come up?"

"Er…last night, was it?" Harry could scarcely believe it; feeling like it had been so long ago. Hermione and Ron confirmed his statements with nods.

Tonks bit her lip, "Gretta's stopping by tomorrow, I think. We can ask her about it then."

Hermione suddenly gasped softly, Harry the only one really noticing, and pulled away from him. She walked over to Malfoy, "Okay, go ahead."

"With what?" he asked, confused.

"You must have a million questions."

"Not really. Just one."

"Yes?"

Draco raised an eyebrow at her, "Where did you three get the Triptych?"

"How do you know about it?" Harry exclaimed, surprised.

He rolled his eyes in response, "Practically everyone knows about the Triptych, Potter. It's not a big secret or anything." Draco turned back to Hermione, "So are you going to tell me how you found it? You can't exactly deny it, especially after that little outburst."

Hermione looked at Harry and Ron, who merely shrugged, "Harry had it."

"The Potters had it?!"

"No," Harry replied, "The Blacks had it, but seeing as I am now the owner of the Black Family Fortune…"

"How…oh, Sirius…" Draco replied as if a puzzle were putting itself together in his head.

"What do you know?" Ron asked suspiciously.

Draco shrugged, "Nothing. It's just always been a mystery, where the Triptych is."

"Well, now you know," Hermione told him.

Ron looked at his watch, "Are we done? I'm helping out Fred and George tonight."

"We're done," Harry replied, "See you later."

"Bye," Ron popped out, Tonks following not long after.

Draco got up to leave the room. "Where are you going?" Hermione asked.

"I'm hungry," he replied simply, then left.

"Are you hungry?" Harry asked her. Hermione shook her head and he smiled. "Good, because I had an idea." He took her arm and led her up to their room, causing Hermione to giggle.

"You know, Harry, I think it is now you who wants me."

"What?" Harry asked as they crossed the room, "No…well, yes, of course I do, but that's not what my idea was." He snatched something from his bedside table and led them up to the roof.

Hermione smiled a bit, recalling their first kiss, "Harry, what are we doing?"

Harry smiled and took out his wand, setting the object that Hermione couldn't see on the ground and enlarging it. She gasped, "What we doing with Sirius' motorcycle…on the roof?"

Harry grinned, approaching her hesitantly, "Hermione…I want you to come flying with me."

"But…" Hermione stuttered, "Someone will see us!"

"No, there's a Disillusionment Charm on it that I can activate." He pouted a little, "Please? I promise it will be worth it."

Hermione looked at him, holding her ground for one moment longer even though she knew that she would give in, "Alright. But I have to be able to hold onto you!"

He simply smiled in response as he first helped her on, then got on himself, "Have I ever complained about that before?"

"No, I suppose not. Harry, are you sure that it's safe to leave Draco in the house alone?" Hermione searched for excuses as Harry started up the bike.

"I already asked Dobby to keep an eye on him and I have his wand, so there isn't much he can do. Now do you have anymore excuses before we take off?"

Hermione sighed, "No."

"Good, then hold on tight." Hermione let out a little squeal and grabbed Harry as they took off into the night sky.

Hermione kept her eyes closed for the first minute or two, making Harry a bit sad. "Hermione, open your eyes please. It's a really lovely night, you know, and if you don't look down I think you'll really like it."

"Fine," Hermione gasped as she looked around. They were flying around a public park, just above the trees. She allowed herself to breath, taking in the scent. Just as she began to get used to it, Harry descended, taking of the Disillusionment Charm when they landed on the soft earth. "Where are we?" she asked him as he helped her off the bike.

"I went flying around Tuesday night when you were with Malfoy. Here, follow me. There's something I want to show you." He took her arm and began leading her through the woods. After a moment he stopped her, covering her eyes with his hands.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione asked with a smile as he gently directed her through the trees.

"Just a second…here. Close your eyes." Hermione did as he said. "Are they closed? Good." He took his hands down and wrapped them around her waist from behind. "Open them."

Hermione looked up and gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. On the tree, he had carved a message:

`Hermione and Harry…

…Forever'

She turned around, expecting to find him grinning with pride, but instead he was simply staring at her. "I love you," he told her before she could say anything.

Caught off guard, it took Hermione a few moments to process what he had said, "I…I love you too!"

Harry smiled, "Really?"

Hermione simply kissed him, holding him tight as their tongues danced, embedding the moment in her memory forever. "Really," she replied.

Harry took her and held her, "So was that worth flying?"

"Definitely," Hermione replied with a smile, her eyes sparkling, "I want to do it again."

"That's a good thing," Harry told her, "Seeing as that's our way home."

Hermione exhaled softly, resting her head on his shoulder, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Hermione smiled to herself, glad that, just for a moment, everything could be perfect.

~*~

A/N: Thanks to Lady Starlight!

Okay, there was a LOT in this chapter, I know. Any questions/concerns/comments/issues/etc can be sent to me via email at hogwartzchik@yahoo.com or left in reviews.

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