Damn Them All to Hell
Chapter Two
Was it possible to suddenly contract jaw-drop disease? Harry tried once again to work those jaw muscles—for crying out loud he used them every day to eat, talk, gape, and…well, let's not go there. Once didn't work, and twice was a pathetic failure, thrice was abysmal but good old four…Harry managed to close his mouth and banish that blush from his cheeks. He and his dirty mind, Harry shook his head. If Harry were five, he'd be begging someone to scour his brain with acid, or perhaps a nice pickling solution.
But what he needed right now was his perfectly functioning—albeit tainted—brain and he needed to…
"PAY ATTENTION!"
Harry jolted, his green eyes startled and his jaw firmly closed as he stared at his boss. Foreign had never yelled at him before. Sure, he had yelled but really yelled, no. Foreign had never before lost his temper at one of his aurors, he had never actually yelled at them with menace lacing his voice and Merlin, Harry was confusing himself. But he knew something was wrong—very wrong. Not only had Dillon all but admitted that Harry's death was not as far fetched an idea as he would have liked. He'd been completely and utterly serious about Harry and Hermione settling their affairs before they left that very afternoon for wherever Malfoy was taking them.
It was obvious from Dillon's demeanor that he was stretched a bit too far, and it was evident that he was none too happy about the mornings proceedings. He gazed at Harry, sympathy evident in his eyes.
"I've already assigned people to your case. You might be under Mr. Malfoy's control, but I have no intention of leaving you or Hermione there, Harry."
"Who did you give it to?" Harry asked, his composure finally making an appearance.
Dillon tried not to grimace. "Colhurt and Murbrew."
"Why not Sloan?" He watched Foreign's brows rise impressively. "What? Last I checked he wasn't under any good for nothing binding contract."
"He's not." Dillon said slowly. "But he's otherwise detained."
Well, that most defiantly had an underlying implication of back the fuck off if I've ever heard one, Harry thought.
"Colhurt may be new, but he is most definitely not stupid and Murbrew is…well, Murbrew." Dillon shrugged. "He's rather good at…"
Harry grimaced. "Yes, Merlin, yes, I know."
Dillon chuckled, but didn't say more on the subject. "The contract you signed with Malfoy is binding until he decides the terms have been met. However…"
"You're willing to play dirty when the threat is extinguished." Harry asked, green eyes watching the older man shrewdly. Dillon nodded and Harry smirked. "So…you didn't sell us out to Malfoy?"
Dillon sputtered, his skin becoming splotched before he lowered trained eyes onto Harry's. "You and I both know that I do not take bribes." He challenged Harry to say different, but the raven-haired man only nodded his head.
"I had to ask."
"As any well trained auror would."
"And you reacted as any falsely accused individual should." Harry stated dryly as he stood. "I've got an inkling that my time here is coming to an abrupt end." His eyes lingered on the clock, which to his misfortune was cheerfully informing him that the time was indeed ten to twelve.
Dillon's teeth worked against each other as he kept his jaw tightly shut. He wasn't allowed…
Coughing briefly, he stood, gained his lost composure and turned to his auror, hand outstretched.
"We'll be seeing you and Hermione soon."
Extending his hand, Harry nodded. "I have no doubt." He released the hand and turned, he only had a few precious moments left before his life would be inevitably turned upside down and he had no wish to spend them in the office of Dillon Foreign—no matter how much he respected the man.
Dillon watched the poor man leave, and wondered if Harry would want to come back after it all unfolded. He sighed heavily. "I doubt it Harry, I don't even think you have a clue what you've unwittingly gotten yourself into."
Hermione smiled as Harry entered their office for the last time. "How did the talk go?"
"He put Colhurt and Murbrew on it. They're going to be leads on the 'who's threatening Malfoy this time' case." Harry groaned as he settled into his oh-so-comfy chair. Merlin was he going to miss this!
"Colhurt and Murbrew!" Hermione exclaimed. "Why not Sloan? Why not Kingsley? Why not Berry and Fizz?"
Eyes closed and face relaxed Harry could only mentally roll his eyes and offer Hermione an uncaring shrug. "Because he gave it to Colhurt and Murbrew."
He heard her sigh and the soft shuffle as she moved closer to him. A moment later, he found himself with a lapful of Hermione. She laid her head tiredly on his shoulder and let out an exhausted breath.
"If I'd known this was going to be what greeted me at work today, I think I'd have stayed in bed." Hermione muttered into Harry's neck.
He chuckled, wrapping arms languidly around his friend, allowing her to relax against him fully—without fear of toppling out of the chair.
"Mm…think of it, you could still be curled up next to your future hubby."
Hermione groaned, and Harry felt her begin to lift a hand to smack him lightly on the chest. "I swear, one of these days…" she trailed off, no real venom in her voice.
"Poor baby." Harry felt her lips curl up into a smile and closed his eyes. "Do you think you should tell him?"
"How I practically belong to Malfoy?" Hermione asked and got her answer as she felt Harry nod.
"Yeah."
She shifted, bringing one hand to play in Harry's dark hair. "Well, I probably should. But you know he'll probably have a fucking fit…it is Malfoy after all."
"Do you think we'll ever find someone who he hasn't pissed off and wouldn't stab him in the back given a chance?"
"Unlikely Harry." Hermione grinned as she met with sparkling green eyes. "Very unlikely." She wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders. "I'll tell him."
Harry rested his chin on Hermione's head as he cradled her to his chest. "I don't think you have to worry. I got the feeling he plans on sticking."
"'Bout time someone did." Hermione muttered, this time there was resentment in her voice, despite her effort to keep her mood light—it darkened significantly.
Harry tightened his grip on her. "Hey! I'm offended. I'd say I've stuck pretty damn close."
"Ha ha, Harry. You know what I mean." Harry made a noncommittal sound. "Oh hush, I love you, you big idiot."
Neither of them noticed the door to their office open, nor had they noticed the change in atmosphere. It seemed a sudden rain cloud had formed and was hovering menacingly above a certain brooding white-blond head.
"Now isn't this just too cute." Malfoy smirked as the aurors jumped, his eyes narrowed slightly as Potter's arms tightened around the woman on his lap…and her own around Potter's shoulders. He took in the scene as he rested his back against the doorjamb. Potter was slumped in the black chair, head resting against Grangers. His black locks had to be trimmed. Draco tucked the information away for later use. He wasn't about to have someone who sported a ruffian-motif around his children. Potter would need to be groomed beforehand. Granger, on the other hand, had grown up it seemed and—besides her current position on Potter's lap—looked professional enough, and womanly enough. She wouldn't be near as much work in the looks department, he decided. But she'd have to get the hell off Potter's lap! And take her arms from around him, and to stop resting her head on his goddamn chest! That would not do at all. Not. At. All.
"Malfoy." Hermione groaned as she buried her face in Harry's neck. "It's not yet noon, go away."
Harry brought his hand to Hermione's shoulder, giving it a tight and reassuring squeeze. He felt her tension, tension he knew was mirrored in every tendon of his own body. He really didn't know if he was ready to do this. What were the consequences of refusing the contract he'd signed? Maybe he should consider them. Maybe…
"Au contraire Granger. In approximately fifteen seconds, it will be midday. I do hope you two are ready. I am not hanging around this," Draco's nose wrinkled in distaste, "hovel any longer than necessary."
Granger was muttering something that was most likely unpleasant and starring him, but Draco didn't care. And he definitely did not care for Potter's obvious amusement at whatever the idiot woman had said.
"Get your asses out of that chair, pick up those sordid excuses of luggage and follow me." His children were most likely awake now. He knew it was wrong to indulge them—it was unfit of Malfoy's to squander the day away, but it was easier to do what he'd had to do this morning without the chaos his children would have caused. Sneaking out of his own home, Draco shuddered, Merlin had he sunk so low? He glanced behind him, pleased to see a trailing Potter and Granger. Yes, he obviously had.
Foreign was out of his office, Draco was grateful. He didn't need any more delays. It had taken him too long to connect his fireplace temporarily—oh so temporarily—to the man's office, and now he was more than ready to just get home.
"You first Granger. Fist full of floo powder into the fire and 'penitence'."
"I know how to use the fucking floo network Malfoy!" Hermione retorted scathingly and felt Harry's free hand calmly splay against her back.
"Mione…" Harry said softly, but Malfoy cut him off.
"We'll have to work on that language of yours Granger." Cold gray eyes met with angry brown. "Do not use such foul words around my children."
Harry kept his hand firmly against Hermione's back sending the slightest tendril of magic out to touch her, calm her, remind her.
Hermione's lips were parted and Harry could see the numerous retorts bubbling up, fighting to get out. He increased the pressure and urged just a bit more magic through their connection. "Just go, Hermione."
He could see the hatred in her eyes, the gratefulness, the fear, and the blankness that never quite left. Ever. Harry sighed as she reluctantly grabbed a handful of powder and disappeared with "Penitence!"
He glanced up at Malfoy, whose eyes were set on him. Harry shuddered slightly. Malfoy had always creeped him out in the oddest ways. He had changed, yes, he'd grown and matured. Harry scoffed at his thoughts. Sure, Malfoy had taken on a few more inches in height, and sure, his hair was a bit longer and just as immaculately cared for, and yes he wore an impressive suite and his stance demanded respect…but had the ferret actually matured? Doubtful. Very doubtful, Harry blinked and waited. "Is there a reason we aren't following her through?" He asked finally.
Malfoy's eyes snapped to his and Harry caught the briefest glimpse of confusion before the mask was back in place.
"By all means Potter." Draco sneered. "Continue on."
Shaking his head, Harry swallowed his anger and his retorts. Malfoy was a prat, he reminded himself, just ignore him. He grabbed a fist full of powder and got the hell away from the blond—even if it was only for a few seconds.
He came out into a well-lit sitting room. To his left, Hermione was dusting her self off, eyes roaming the room. The curtains were drawn, Harry realized, and the morning light was pouring through with abandon. The couches were worn, he could tell, but still not what he would call comfortable.
With a small pop Malfoy appeared, he gave the two only a glance before his eyes drifted to the ceiling. A loud crash was heard and then a thump. Harry watched Malfoy intently and was a bit thrown by the love he saw briefly.
"Stay here."
Like they had anywhere else to go? Harry thought, still a bit miffed at the possibility that a Malfoy could feel such a complex emotion as love. He sat down on the squishy couch and patted for Hermione to join him.
"This isn't Malfoy Manor." Hermione mumbled.
"Yeah, I noticed that too."
"Any clue exactly where we are?"
Harry glanced out the window, there was a back yard fenced off by a rather ominous looking forest. "We could be on an estate…somewhere, or we could be in the middle of nowhere…somewhere." He said finally, crooked grin overtaking his features.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Captain Obvious strikes yet again."
"Well, I really don't have a clue. I'm sure, after we get the chance to look around and such, we'll be able to get our bearings."
Hermione nodded. "Though exact location will most likely be unplottable."
"If the wards are anything like those on the Manor, then yes. But…"
"He seems different somehow. Have you noticed?"
Harry nodded only slightly. There were so many things that were different about the blond, he really couldn't pinpoint exactly which she was talking about.
There were steps; a thundering of elephants, and Harry grimaced as Draco walked back into the room, followed by his children.
"Children, this is Ms. Granger, and Mr. Potter."
A single glance at the blond brigade had Hermione peering at Harry, eyebrows raised, did he notice? Harry nodded, yes he very much did.
All of them eyed the two aurors with interest, but remained silent.
"Well, now that the introductions are done. Why don't you go to the kitchen."
Why exactly Malfoy wanted his children in the kitchen, Harry didn't know, but the mini-Malfoys obeyed and in a blink were gone from sight.
Hermione grimaced as Malfoy smirked at them both. "Sweet kids, don't you think Potter?"
"If they are what you say they are." Hermione said through clenched teeth. He was bating Harry and they hadn't even been in the house for ten minutes!
"Anything to add, Potter?" Draco asked, ignoring the seething woman standing next to the raven-haired man.
Harry lowered a guarded gaze on the other man. "I have nothing to say."
Draco nodded. "Then you wouldn't mind taking yours and Ms. Grangers luggage up to your respective rooms, now would you?" He wasn't asking, and Harry really didn't care. He'd take anything thrown his way as long as he didn't need to be in Malfoy's presence any longer than necessary.
"Here, 'Mione." Harry took her suitcase and brushed his lips lightly against her cheek. "Don't let him get to you." He whispered softly.
Neither noticed that rain cloud as it made its stormy return.
Draco had to turn away from the disgusting display of affection. "Up the stairs, to your left Potter. Granger's room is the third and yours is the fifth. Try not to get lost."
Rolling his eyes as he passed the blond Harry gave into the urge to mock the man. God, if only he could get lost, he thought blissfully as he ascended the stairs.
Hermione tried not to bolt up after Harry. How was she going to survive this—she could barely…no she wouldn't think on this. Malfoy would not get the best of her. She would do her job. She would protect his children…
But she needed answers first.
"Ask away, Granger." Draco said softly as he lowered himself into a high backed chair.
Hermione's eyes shot to him. "How do you know I've anything to ask?"
Draco smirked. "Call it a mother's intuition if you will."
This sent a shiver down her spine. God, Malfoy a mother…that was disturbing to say the least.
Her eyes narrowed, she'd rather do this with Harry present. But…Malfoy had sent him away first chance he'd gotten. Why? "I don't think, Malfoy that you lying to Harry and I…" she paused, "and the ministry, was the best way to start off."
"Whatever could you mean?"
Hermione grimaced. Where had all her training gone? Why did she feel like she was back at Hogwarts, a defenseless first year? Suck it up! Hermione yelled at herself. There, she thought whilst taking a deep and calming breath. This couldn't be that hard. Just get yourself under control and deal with the situation at hand. That was easy enough, she decided, as the situation did intrigue her. Lowering her intelligent brown eyes to meet sly silver ones, Hermione spoke.
"Pray tell, Malfoy, why your children are under a glamour?"
