Hey everyone!

I am aware it has been a while so I decided to give a brief overview of anything relevant to this chapter because I aware it may otherwise be very confusing...

Harry has begun having nightmares and is now hearing voices, particularly the word "mudblood."

Draco arrived at the Burrow looking for Hermione, only for Petunia to stir it up and excuse the two of them with having an affair.

Hermione has been acting very secretive and strange.

Draco is somehow aware who Dudley is but took off with Hermione before any answers could be given.

Harry, Ron and Dudley have gone off in search for Hermione and maybe a few answers...

Walking through the grounds of Malfoy Manor was like walking through a cemetery at night, leaving the same chills running down Harry's spine. Despite this, all he could do was remember the last time he was there. While the gardens were the same, a sense of loneliness now spilled from the grounds. They had been deserted. With Lucius locked away behind the walls of Azkaban, there was no one who bothered to keep them in check as the house was so rarely visited by its owners. For Draco and his mother it held nothing but pain, misery and death. What reason was there to return?

Harry, Ron and Dudley walked in silence up to the mansion one behind the other in a game of follow the leader. The house was nothing more than a shadow, Harry thought, but it was at peace; perhaps that was Hermione's doing. "The blonde boy lived here?" Dudley asked, looking around in awe.

Harry nodded, "His whole life... when he wasn't at Hogwarts."

"Rich maggot." Ron mumbled as he dragged his feet along.

Harry turned to look at Ron, who for the first time seemed just a little more spoiled than Draco. For a split second. Then it was gone. "Why am I here again?" Dudley asked, pulling Harry away from his best friend and back to the grounds of Malfoy Manor.

"Dudley, did you see the way Draco looked at you?" Harry asked as Dudley shook his head. "It was odd," he continued. "It was like he knew everything about you. You were definitely familiar to him, important even."

"We've seen that look before." Ron interrupted. Harry knew exactly what Ron meant but he didn't want to admit it. If he allowed himself to remember for even a second, Harry knew that the life he was building for himself now would begin to crumble beneath him. For all he knew, it already had.

Dudley looked between the two friends. "Really? Where?" Harry shook his head and looked back towards the house. "It doesn't matter. Let' just find Hermione."

Dudley wanted to say more, to ask another question, but he knew this was something that Harry needed to forget so he dropped it. For now. "How do we know that Hermione is here?" He asked instead.

"We don't." Ron said. "But we do know Hermione very well."

Harry sighed. "My guess is, she doesn't want to be disturbed, so she goes somewhere we really don't want to go."

"Why don't you want to come here?"

Ron looked over at Harry who shrugged and looked down at his feet. "It's a very long story." Dudley raised his eyebrows, he knew that Harry had been involved in a lot since becoming a wizard but he had figured out over the past few weeks that he didn't know the half of it. "So how are we going to get inside?" Ron wondered, looking up to the nearest open window while pulling his wand out of his back pocket.

Harry walked towards the door and knocked on it gently, surprised when it fell open at the slightest touch.

"Bloody hell. That was easier than last time!"

"Ron?"

"Hermione!" Ron cried when he he saw his girlfriend staring at him from inside the house.

"What are you three doing here?"

The three of them exchanged looks before turning back to Hermione. "We should bloody well ask you the same thing!" Ron said, storming in and grabbing her by the shoulders. She shrugged him off and turned motioning them to follow. "Stop acting like a child Ronald." Ron stood up straighter. She hadn't called him Ronald in years.

Harry pushed himself forward and joined Hermione. "Hermione just tell us what's going on." His voice was firm and impatient.

Sighing, she began to climb the staircase at the end of the first corridor they had entered, without bothering to turn back to see whether or not they were following.

For a while Hermione had been thinking about the war. And it wasn't until she had finally left Hogwarts that she had begun to sense a shift without really being able to explain it. She had thought it was her relationship with Ron but after a few weeks of acting on this, ignoring him most of the time and snapping at him the rest, Hermione realised what their relationship meant. He waited on her hand and foot, was kind, loving... Giving all that up could turn in to the biggest mistake she would ever make. And it just wasn't worth the risk.

She had just decided this when she wandered into Hogsmead, seeking some respite after the Dursleys had just been let loose at the Burrow, and saw Draco Malfoy sat alone in the corner of the bar with the stench of fetus clinging to his worn out clothes that were misshapen and discoloured (not to mention filled with holes). What intrigued Hermione the most was the colour of his hair. What had once been a rich platinum blonde was now so streaked with dirt it had dulled into a washed out grey. It didn't seem to bother him though, nor did the awful stench that bled from his clothes.

No matter how much of this she told them though, Hermione knew that they could never understand this. They had not seen it; they would think it was deserved. And maybe it was. However, she did want them so desperately to acknowledge that this wasn't a case of forgiving (or forgetting) all of the horrible things that he had done as Malfoy because he wasn't Malfoy anymore. Draco was just the shell of what Malfoy once was.

"Hermione where are we going? What are you doing here?" Ron asked as Hermione turned down yet another corridor.

"Draco is sick Ronald and I am here to help him."

"He isn't sick we saw him this morning!"

Before she could open her mouth to object Ron spoke again. "You needed to help someone. You were bored without it. You hated not being the smartest one, not having to save us everyday. You craved it." Ron accused, spitting out the words as if they were vermin. Her words were caught in her throat because for a split second she believed him. For so long it had felt like something was missing. But this wasn't like that.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione composed herself and walked on slowly. Sometime between then and when they reached the attic, Hermione began to speak as if she were speaking to no one but herself. "When I first saw Draco again he wasn't angry or appalled that I would try and speak to him, if anything he was embarrassed. He even gave up his stool at the bar so that I could sit somewhere. Physically, he didn't show any desperation. Yes, his clothes were covered in soot and he smelt of burnt toast but physically he was healthy. It was his eyes that gave him away. There was a plead inside that I couldn't ignore, it drew me as he spoke, so much so I couldn't stop staring.

"What did he talk about?" Harry asked.

"Not a lot at first. But when he did there was nothing personal it what he said. If I hadn't known him I would know nothing of his past, or even his plan for the future. And when I enquired after his family he avoided the question as if I had not asked it at all."

"Why would you sit and attempt to have a conversation with him in the first place?" Hermione heard the question from behind her, it was something she had asked herself once before but had not thought to find an answer. "I didn't at first but I guess curiosity got the better of me. I He was sat at the bar where I was ordering. He spoke to me first asked if I was still as good at magic, he asked if I would be willing to help him."

Ron wasn't convinced. "Why would you be so willing to help him?"

Hermione sighed. "I suppose it's the same reason why we chose to help Harry save Draco in the war despite our better judgement. Because no matter how many bad memories surround something... There is always the possibility we may get something in return. Or maybe it might just make you feel good in the long run. But it was even more than that. When I saw Draco in the bar I just wanted to know why he was covered in soot. I needed to know what had happened to him." Hermione explained.

"And you didn't just assume that everyone abandoned him because he's a death eater?" Ron said.

Hermione sighed. "That is the most reasonable conclusion. And the easiest leap to make. But as far I knew at the time people had left the Malfoy's alone. Harry, if it hadn't been for Narcissa, Voldemort would have found out that you weren't really dead. Voldemort could have killed you for real. They weren't the biggest enemies. So even though they were left alone, they weren't outcast." Harry knew that Hermione was right. Narcissa had saved his life and they had chosen to walk away.

"Harry you died?" Dudley's voice came from the corner and they all turned to look at him, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. Harry chuckled. Dudley obviously hadn't been listening all that well.

"Anyway, what is wrong with him then?" Ron said.

Hermione slowed and stopped outside a large door that had probably once been very grand for an attic. The gold was chipping now and seemed worn after being left alone for so many years. "Wait here." She said as she entered the room, closing the door firmly behind her.

"Draco?" The room was dark, Hermione could only just see a figure curled into a ball in the centre of the grand four poster bed I the centre of the room. "It's me."

"Hermione," A raspy voice chocked out. "Where did you go?"

"I went to open the door. We have visitors so I suggest you get up and dressed before I let them in. You have slept for long enough." She said while opening the curtains. Hermione knew how low it looked of Draco. He spent a majority of his time in bed willing the world to go away. When he needed to though, Hermione knew he was very good at putting on an act. "You have put me in enough trouble with Ron and the Weasleys, now I suggest you get dressed and apologise."

"You told me to get up and do something. So I went to visit you. I am never allowed to see you in public, maybe I needed help." He moaned as he dragged himself from the bed.

"I know, I know." Hermione soothed. "Everything will be sorted today. You need to tell them the truth."

"Is he here?" Draco sighed as Hermione held out his robe for him to slip his arms into.

"Is who here?"

"The muggle. I had another dream about him." Hermione swallowed and looked down at the floor.

"What happened to him this time?" She reached for the door knob but didn't open the door.

"He died." She winced and took a step closer.

"How?" Draco stepped forward to touch her on the arm. She pulled it away.

"I can't tell you that." She nodded and opened the door. "Potter, Weasley. Muggle." Draco said when he saw them. "What an unwelcome surprise. Follow your girlfriend all this way did you Weasley? Need your bodyguards to stop you getting scared of being alone?" He mocked as he brushed past them and down the corridor. Hermione attempted to hide a smile.

"Yes, he seems very ill." Ron glared at her.

"Follow him Harry Potter." The voice returned for the first time since arriving at Malfoy Manor. "Follow him!" Reluctantly, Harry gave in and followed Draco down the corridor. Hermione knew Draco was covering his tracks, acting how Harry would expect him to act. She rushed after him, wanting to catch his eye before the boys followed.

"He seems...nice?" Dudley commented only to receive a glare from Ron.

"Again, why are you here?" Dudley shrugged and slugged on ahead.

"I really wish I wasn't," he mumbled.

Draco, Harry noted, didn't seem any different to how he had been at school. Hermione was obviously blind to this, or perhaps it was all for show. "The pureblood has a secret."

For once, Harry agreed and rushed ahead with the others. "What are we all following Malfoy for? He's obviously feeling better and we have got Hermione, so let's go!" Ron whispered to Harry.

"I think there's something going on that we don't know about."

Ron groaned, "Of course there is, that's why we're here. But why do we always chase these things. If there is any danger you can count it will find us anyway." Ron was right, but that wasn't enough to make Harry go home.

"Draco!" Harry called. "Draco we came to talk to you!"

"Yes Potter, I gathered that much but thank you for your commentary." Draco didn't look as confident as he sounded. With no one seeing his face he could scrunch it up in an attempt to ease the pain in the back of the head.

"What does it feel like?" Hermione murmured appearing next to him, dragging him to a halt up against the green wallpaper of the corridor that led to the kitchen.

"Like I've been hit over the head with something hard...And heavy." He finally allowed himself to breathe and sunk to the floor from the weight of the pain. "I can feel the voice attempting to get in, he's there hidden behind the wall you suggested I put up." Hermione knelt to his side as the others arrived.

"Is he okay?" Dudley said wearily eyeing Draco up and down.

"Nothing that you can help with muggle." Draco snapped. "Why don't you head back to your clueless existence."

"Draco!" Hermione warned and he ducked his head. "They're here to help."

"No they're here to take you away."

Dudley, who had sulked a few feet away looked on in confusion. The blonde boy was not a nice character from what had been said and what he had just witnessed and yet Hermione seemed to be in total control of the situation. "Draco," Dudley heard Hermione say, "You need to tell them." But Harry had already heard enough of the conversation to work out what was going on.

"You hear it too, don't you?" He said, although it was more of a statement than a question. "The voice." Draco looked up and sighed.

"There are dreams too. Nightmares. And you are always there." Draco spoke only to Harry. "You are always taunting me about being the chosen one and being liked the best. And then he turned up." Draco motioned towards Dudley. "I didn't know who he was until I saw him with you the other day."

"But why would Draco be dreaming of Dudley if he had never met him?" Ron wondered, finally interested in the situation.

"It's not just him, the whole family have been in the dreams. I've been working with Draco trying to find out why." Hermione answered.

"So the truth comes out!" Ron cried sarcastically but he was secretly very excited that there was nothing going on between these two...He hoped.

Hermione ignored Ron. "And when I found out about you hearing the voices too, Harry, well I knew there had to be a logical explanation for this."

"Yes, someone is messing with the both of them." Ron interjected. "Revenge?" He suggested. Hermione nodded. "I had thought of that. But think: who would want to get revenge on both Harry and Draco?"

"And it has to be someone who knows of me." Dudley whispered from the corner. "What happens in the dreams?" Draco swallowed and looked at the ground.

"They're nightmares Dudley, but they aren't real." She said firmly. "And I will find out why you are in them."

Harry turned his attention to Draco who was still slumped up against the wall. "What does the voice say to you?" Draco shrugged and eased himself up and into a sitting position.

"Mostly instructions: 'do this' and 'do that.' And it chants stuff. 'Mudblood', 'muggle' and 'the chosen one' being favourites."

Harry nodded. "It's almost identical except mine likes to give a running commentary. I don't have as many dreams though. I have only had one only two days ago. The voice started when I woke up." Although it had felt like they had been going on forever, Harry wanted to add.

Draco smiled slightly. "The first dream was about three weeks ago. The voice has been constant ever since."

"And you have a dream every night?" Draco nodded. Harry had a feeling this was only going to get worse.

"And as much as I hate to admit it," Draco smiled briefly at Hermione. "Hermione has been a rock despite hating me. She couldn't tell you. I wouldn't let her. Instead, she insisted we lure you here once she found out it was affecting you too. The voice told me to trust you, that I needed to tell you." Draco winced in pain before crying out, his pupils expanding until the whole of his eyes were black.

"Draco!" Hermione cried, shaking his shoulders. "Draco can you hear me?" Harry, Ron and Dudley watched on in bewilderment as Hermione attempted to revive what was left of the Draco that they had once known.

From what Harry could tell was that for some reason unknown to any of them himself and Draco were experiencing the same voice in their minds and his dreams were going to get much, much worse. And for some reason the Dursleys were the key to it all. Perhaps, Harry thought, this had been going on much longer than he has been aware. Perhaps the voice can control minds. Perhaps it has affected others. And perhaps there was some bigger reason as to why the Dursleys and Harry Potter were finally getting along.

All was not well.