Fated

What Moves in the Night

As the adults planned and connived throughout the night, and Draco Malfoy continued his vigil beside his witch, somewhere else, other plans were being made.

"We need to infiltrate Hogwarts sooner than planned." The Dark Lord Voldemort hissed at his group of Death Eaters, all seated around a circular table in the bowels of Le Strange Manor.

"But my Lord, didn't Severus say that they are not ready yet?" Rookwood dared to ask, all the while keeping his head bowed.

"He has not made contact with us, we have no idea what has happened in the castle, what Power came out of there last night." Bellatrix, often thought mad, had snapped back.

"Maybe it would be prudent to wait for our spy to get back to us, we don't know what we are walking into." Rabastan LeStrange said carefully, avoiding their Lord's eyes.

"Whatever or whoever caused that surge of Power in Hogwarts need to either be brought onboard with us or destroyed. It's too powerful to let fester."

"Why are the Malfoys not here? Why are we here anyway?" Wormtail dared to ask what everyone was wondering.

Voldemort looked at his followers, his "best" warriors and sighed. They were at a distinct disadvantage, most of his followers were either getting on in age, half mad or incompetent. That much was clear in the last year. Something needed to change if he wanted to win this time.

"There is to be a change. A big change in our organization. The Malfoys have proved to be incompetent. I don't doubt their loyalty, only their aim."

The laughter that followed his pronouncement had an edge to it, nervous and anxious if he was to describe it.

"All of you will be tested. Those who survive will have a place in my new inner circle..." the emphasis on survive wasn't lost on his followers.

"Bella, start the testing tomorrow. And get in touch with Severus." The Dark Lord said as he stood up and apparated out of the Manor, not unaware of the hush and increased heartbeats that he left behind.

=================

Ronald Weasley was a laid back bloke, usually. He was usually the first to laugh, doesn't take anything all that seriously to be honest. The last two days however, has put him on edge not unlike Quidditch trials.

Harry has not spoken to anyone after he came back from the infirmary yesterday, woodenly informing them that Hermione was injured. He has gone to class today in a haze, barely there and not at all himself. Whatever had happened the night before has shook him to the core.

This, in turn, shook Ron even worse. Harry has faced Voldemort, a Basilisk, a Dragon, Death Eaters and goodness knows what more but he has never looked as bad as this. Whatever had happened to Hermione was monumental indeed.

Ron wasn't allowed to the infirmary for some reason, he tried seeing Hermione earlier but was prevented by Madam Pomfrey. Another thing that worried Ron. He, Harry and Hermione had been in the infirmary countless of times since their first year and this is the first time neither Ron nor Harry were allowed to see their friend. Something was going on and Ron was determined to find out what, even if Harry was still in his weird stupor.

Carefully, he sneaked around the castle, having liberated the Marauder's Map and Invisibility Cloak from Harry's trunk. Harry wouldn't mind, he wasn't even in his own mind. Ron chuckled at himself, proud of his own weird joke. He heard footsteps coming from behind and stopped, flattening himself against a wall. Shit. Taking out the Map and checking under a very faint Lumos, he saw Filtch and his cat, Mrs. Norris round the corner, not far from him.

Thankfully they were going the other way and Ron breathed a sigh of relief. Right, on to Hermione.

As he neared the infirmary doors, the sight that greeted him had him shaking in his boots. Not in fear, but in anger. Lucius, Narcissa and Draco Malfoy were just outside the infirmary double doors, along with their Potions Master. Why are they here? More to the point, why are they allowed to be here?

Ron pulled every ounce of patience he had in him, really his friends should be here to applaud his restraint, he was usually a punch now, ask questions later kind of guy, and tried his best to get nearer the small group without being heard.

"It will be okay my Dragon, she's a strong witch, she'll be okay." Narcissa was consoling his obviously distraught son. Why in the world would Malfoy be distraught over Hermione? Were the rumors true after all?

"Have you seen her, mother? Her hair turned white! White! Even whiter than mine or father's hair!" Malfoy murmured in distress, like he didn't even have the strength to shout.

"Madam Pomfrey has asked healers from St. Mungo's to come first thing in the morning. They will get to the bottom of this. Do not distress yourself, Draco, it's unseemly of a Malfoy." His father said sardonically.

This earned him a glare from his younger miniature. "Easy for you to say, Father!" He said disdainfully, "What if it was Mother lying there? Would you be so calm I wonder?" This shut the older man up quite quickly. His love for his wife was legend, after all.

This made Ron frown all the more. Why are these Death Eaters so concerned with Hermione? What is she to them?

"Go to your dorm, Draco, your parents and I will watch over my daughter tonight." Ron swerved his head to face his Potions teacher so fast, the movement from the cloak made a slight swoosh sound, alerting the small group.

"Who's there?" Severus intoned darkly, whipping out his wand towards the direction of the sound. The others were slower in pulling out their own wands but soon 4 wands were pointed in Ron's general direction.

Rona gulped. He didn't know what to do, he was outnumbered and he really didn't want to know if the rumors of the Malfoys dark magic were true. Not to mention he knows Snape wasn't a slouch at dueling either, having taught the dueling club back in second year.

Backing away very very carefully, Ron didn't even try to breathe, so scared out of his wits he was.

"Anyway, it's time to go Draco." Lucius said, turning around dismissing the sound. It was an old castle anyway.

"No, you go, I'm not leaving my intended." The blonde young man said with a shake of his head. "I'm staying right here."

Ron Weasley wanted to get away, but hearing Malfoy call Hermione his intended shocked him to a standstill. What. The. Fuck.

"Come, my Dragon, you need your rest too." Mrs. Malfoy cajoled her son, but the boy was resolute. Everyone could see it.

Severus sighed. "Very well, Draco will stay with me. Lucius, Narcissa, have a good night." He swept into the infirmary with a flurry of his black robes, wand still clutched at his side. Dungeon bat indeed.

"Go, Mother, Father. It won't do for Dumbledore to be aware of your presence." Draco said, also half turning towards the doors.

Narcissa looked at her husband and with a slight droop of her shoulders nodded. "Very well, Darling, but please take care of yourself. You won't do your future wife any good if you're dead on your feet."

Lucius urged his wife forward, only nodding to his son before walking them towards the south corridors.

Ron let out the breath he was holding as the Malfoys dispersed to their own corners. What is happening, he thought? Hermione is engaged to Malfoy? Snape is her father? How did this happen? Did Harry know? Did it have something to do with what happened last night? And what does that have to do about Hermione's hair turning white?

So many questions, not a lot of answers. Ron shook himself and started walking toward's the Head Master's office. Surely Dumbledore knew what was happening in his own castle, didn't he? Malfoy insinuated that he was not aware the elder Malfoys were here but that couldn't be right. Dumbledore knew everything, didn't he?

=================

Here's another chapter!
Enjoy!
-DS