From the Ashes

09 - The Meaning Of It All

"This." Harry passed her the bit of parchment with the prophecy. There was silence for a moment as Hermione scanned the lines and then reread them twice more.

"Do you suppose this is real?" Hermione asked. "Where was it?"

"I think it's very possible that it is. It was upstairs, in the parlour." Harry paused, "It was pinned to the table with this," looking disgusted Harry fished out the dead snake and the knife.

Hermione recoiled and then tentatively leaned in for a better look. She glanced away from the snake seconds later. She knew an adder when she saw one. The dagger was thin, almost more of a letter opener. She took it from Harry, turning it over in her palm.

"Do you think it's goblin-made?" Ron asked.

"It's hard to say... If I had access to my office, I could ask Gulink. His family once worked in crafting..." Hermione's voice tapered off as she gave the knife a closer look. Gulink was the goblin liaison in the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

"He'd probably try to commandeer it," Ron said. Hermione knew that he was thinking back to Griphook.

"Yes, well... Other than discovering what it is and where it came from, we have no use for it." Hermione said. She gave Ron a particularly cold look. Ron had always been quick to judge other races, it was a side effect of being pure blood. He had a tendency to disregard other's needs and rights... or at least not acknowledge them. Ron didn't notice this look, he was glancing at the kitchen doorway. While they had been talking, Astoria and Draco had approached the kitchen.

"Can we join you?" Astoria asked, flashing a straight-toothed smile at Ron and Harry. Ron turned slightly pink and nodded.

"Of course!" Ron said, gesturing at the empty chairs by the table, "sit where you like."

Harry and Hermione shared a look behind Ron's back, part amusement, part annoyance.

"Thank you," Astoria said. Draco smirked over at Hermione.

Hermione wrapped her arms tightly across her chest, keeping her expression professional, a slight flush was creeping upper her neck. Draco raised an eyebrow and seated himself next to his wife. She grasped his hand in her own and nodded at Ron, "please continue, no need to stop your discussion for our benefit."

Ron spluttered, starting to speak, but Harry beat him to the punch.

"We were just discussing the findings of our investigation at your Manor." he was speaking directly to Draco. Now that Draco was less fearful, his usual cocky, assured nature was beginning to seep back in. He lounged in his chair.

"What did you find?" He asked. Hermione watched him closely. He was a shadow of his old self, a lingering arrogance mixed with contempt. The difference was that now Hermione could see it for what it was, a facade. Beneath it was self-doubt, fear, confusion, and a need to be the best. She was familiar with it. She had, in fact, spent her first six years hiding behind good grades and the need to perfect herself.

She knew better now, but back then she had thought of it as the only way to gain acceptance within the wizarding world. It had helped, but she had still been teased, just like in the Muggle world, and she had been further ridiculed by Draco and Pansy Parkinson. She would never in a thousand years have considered the possibility that she would only three years later be standing across from Draco Malfoy on the same side.

"This knife, along with a dead snake, and this note." Hermione crossed and placed it on the table, carefully avoiding touching Draco's hand. He grasped the knife, turning it over as she had, squinting at the small markings along the blade.