She sat at her mahogany desk, left hand holding her cheek, a mocha scented candle sitting to the right. A single letter laid before her. The Order O.T.P, Ms. Hermione Granger. It had read. She had already opened it and went over the details. Multiple times. It had told her, that there'd be someone living with her.
Crookshanks purred and rubbed his head against her leg.
"Oh Crooks, looks like we wont be alone for much longer." She spoke quietly.
The cat jumped up into her lap. She pet his fur.
The letter was very vague. It had told her the reasoning, but never stated whom would be joining her.
Apparently, this person was under protection of The Order of The Phoenix. They trusted her because she was also a member. Although, she had her exact reasoning why she stayed in this, very muggle populated area. New York, New York. The Order had always been confused on why Hermione had decided to move to The United States. She had simply told them, "I'd like to get away from it all. Just to take a risk." Actually, she didn't even mind going away. Although, she had missed Harry & Ron terribly. She had a very different motive behind her living arrangements. She hadn't even lived in New York for long. It had only been four months. She had became quite comfortable. She lived in a very lovely apartment. Maple floors, and white walls. Filled with pictures. She glanced over to the picture that sat on a little end table, to the right of her futon, looking couch. It was her, Ron, and Harry. They looked so peaceful, and happy. She missed school. She missed always being with her best friends. Leaving them, was one of the hardest things, she had ever done. She stayed in contact of course. It had only been a year and a half since they had graduated from Hogwarts. Because Hermione had joined The Order, they allowed her to move away, but she always needed protection. Even though the war had ended, The Ministry, was still a mess. There were disappearances, and death eaters were being questioned and sent to Askaban. Everything wasn't back to normal, nor would It be for a long time.
She sighed at that thought, and glanced over at the clock that hung above her kitchen sink. It was nearly midnight. She ushered Crookshanks off her lap and he leaped.
She blew out the candle and took out her wand.
Lumos. She mumbled. Her wand glowed with a bright light.
She walked towards her door, and locked it. Although, Hermione had the option to use magic to lock the door, she always enjoyed doing things the simpler way, the muggle way, her parents way….
Tip toeing towards the right side of the apartment, she opened the door to her room, half way. She turned her head and looked at the door, to the other room, that was to her left, about 4 feet away. She just stared.
Then quietly, said,
"Nox."
And her light was out.
She closed her door quietly.
Malfoy sat quietly in Professor McGonagall's office, even though he looked patient, he wasn't. He was irritated to the core. He was tired of the questioning and confusion. He wanted to know what the hell was going on. It was so early in the morning. He had been awaken by her, and was so irritated.
"You know, my patience is wearing thin." He said through his teeth.
"You calm your tone, Mr. Malfoy." McGonagall warned.
"Oh, give it a damn rest, I'm not some bloody student anymore." He spat.
She eyed his behavior.
"I'm tired of sitting here, day after day not knowing what the fu-"
"That is ENOUGH." she said loudly. Her face turned a bit red.
"Then tell me why I am HERE, and what we are going to do about this damn situation."
Draco didn't like stating exactly why he was there. He knew. He just didn't want to recognized it. Or say it out loud. He was safe in his mind, for now.
"Look, we've found a place for you to stay. Although, it's a bit complicated." She started to say.
Draco eyed her suspiciously.
"You do remember Ms. Granger, correct?" She stated.
When Hermione awoke, she laid in her bed. Crookshanks by her feet, sleeping, peacefully.
She half-smiled and slowly removed herself from the bed, trying to be careful not to disturb his cat slumber.
Hermione walked toward her bedroom door and opened it, making her way to the bathroom which was right next to her bedroom.
She looked into her living room. The light shining in through the windows, illuminating her wooden floor.
Hermione opened the door to her bathroom and proceeded to remove her loose baseball shirt, and light blue pajama pants.
She turned the knob to warm let the water pour, and stepped into the ivory, and shut the curtain behind her.
He was tired, frustrated, and a bit hungry. He started to pack his things into a huge duffle that laid on his bed. He threw things around, not even bothering on folding the clothes that were spread out on his comforter.
His room was colored with black velvet and emerald green.
It was more of a apartment inside a room, size wise.
Draco heard the echoes of footsteps coming down the hall. The clicking of feminine soles.
His door opened.
"Draco?" A voiced cooed.
He didn't turn from what he was doing, he continued with the finding of needed supplies.
"Mother." Draco returned.
Narcissa stepped inside and watched her son gather his belongings.
"Would you like some help?" She offered.
He gritted his teeth.
"No." Draco said blankly.
"Oh Draco, please stop acting like that." Narcissa nagged.
He left out a puff of air, rolled his eyes, and turned around to face his mother. Ready to strike her with a harsh statement.
But, he stopped. Draco was looking into the eyes of his mother.
Her face looked, worried. Eyes full of sorrow.
He sighed.
No matter how much Draco had gotten angry, he just couldn't bring himself to insult his mother.
"Mother, I'm going to be alright."
Narcissa shrugged her shoulders.
"Its just…. Its just, why. Why her? Out of all the people in the world, her? It disgusts me mother." He said bitterly.
Narcissa looked at her son and reached out to him, putting her pale, plum painted fingers, on his shoulder.
"Draco," she said softly, "I'm doing this for your safety. With, your father missing, I just, I need to know that you're safe. You're all I have left." She said painfully, looking almost broken.
Draco furrowed his brow.
"But, if I'm not around, what about you? How are you protected?" He questioned her.
Narcissa sat on his bed, putting her hands in her lap, and motioning him to sit down with her.
"I'm going to stay with Andromeda." She spoke.
Draco scrunched his face.
"But mother, we don't-"
"Let me finish Draco." She interrupted.
He sighed. Frustrated.
"Well, as you know, she is my sister. She has become part of The Order. She can protect me."
"So, why can't I go with you?" He questioned.
Narcissa sighed.
"Because. Because you being with a muggle-born would be the last person they'd ever think to look."
Draco pondered. Well, she was right. Never would Draco even consider, being with a mud blood. Nor living with one. Everyone knew what his opinions were on them. He loathed them. Thinking they were nothing but blasphemy.
"I suppose you're right mother."
She reached out and stroked his hair.
"You're all I care about right now. And if that means to risk my life to save yours, then I'll do it." Narcissa said softly.
She rose up from the bed, walked toward the door and before closing it, she flicked her wand.
Draco turned his head to look at his mess of clothes, and bags.
Instead, he found all of his bags full, and zipped. When he turned to look for his mother, the door had already been closed.
"Oh Crooks, I don't know." Hermione said, standing in the spare bedroom.
The cat meowed at her.
"Should I put sheets on the bed? Or do you think that they'd bring their own? Wouldn't they expect to have sheets though?" She chewed on her bottom lip.
Hermione had been in a craze all day. She went to the grocery store twice, rearranged the bedroom three times, and managed to change all the soaps in the bathroom five times.
She just wanted this person to be comfortable.
Sighing, she went to the hall closet. Opened it, and grabbed two pillows, a sheet, and a black comforter.
Hermione was getting so tired. It started to get late. So she just flicked her wand, and the sheets were on the bed.
Then all of a sudden, she heard a hard popping sound.
"Somebody apparated it." She mumbled to herself, in the dark hallway.
Hermione took out her wand. Not knowing what to expect. She started to turn the corner, when she heard,
"Bloody muggle lock."
A door shut.
She scrunched her face.
Walked around the corner, and there. There he was.
Her heart jumped, her face started to turn red, and she clenched her fist.
"You?" She yelled.
Draco looked at her with a very blank expression.
