It seems that the only time I can write is when I have insomnia. I guess that's how it works.
Disclaimer: I do not own nor make money on Harry Potter. Names or places outside Harry Potter that appear similar to other sources are coincidental.
03 Draco's Situation
"Harry, we have an emergency!" called out Hermione as she burst through Harry's office door with Draco. Harry, who had been taking a nap at the time, did not bother getting up from his couch. He merely rolled over on his back and placed his arm on his forehead.
"How now, who calls?" replied Harry airily.
"Are you serious? How can you be asleep during work?" said Draco upon seeing Harry.
"Oh, hello Professor," said Harry perking up. "I did not hear you come in." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Harry, get up! This is not the time to be sleeping," said Hermione. She hastily related the events of the conference as she searched the room for something. Harry listened has he rubbed his eyes.
"Apart from the sudden threat to our lives, I found the presentation rather successful," concluded Hermione still searching.
"What on earth are you doing?" inquired Draco after Hermione's behavior.
"If I do not find this certain book, I cannot instigate our plan. Harry quit sitting there and help me!" said Hermione.
"Why should I? You seem to be doing well," replied Harry from the couch.
"At least tell me where it is," said Hermione.
"I can't. I don't remember," replied Harry curtly.
"Harry Potter, if we do not find this book Draco's life could potentially be in danger!"
At the words "Draco's life" Harry was already out off the couch felling books from shelves and turning out the contents of drawers. Then Hermione saw it. A rather thick leather bound book was sitting rather plainly on the windowsill. Hermione exhaled and went for the book, hastily turning pages. Harry saw her and stopped his search.
"Oh, I knew you'd find it," said Harry returning to the couch. "I should have just continued on with my nap."
"Here!" exclaimed Hermione pointing to a page. "When we use this spell, Draco won't be traceable."
"That was the plan," said Harry matter-of-factly.
"Wait a minute!" interrupted Draco. "How come everyone seems to know what is going on here but me?" Hermione and Harry looked at each other for a moment. Harry nodded at Hermione with an unspoken understanding.
"Professor Malfoy," started Hermione turning to Draco. "I wished I had told you sooner. Indeed I wish none of this had happened, but it has finally come to this." Draco stared at her, anticipating her explanation. Hermione's brows furrowed, and she rubbed her temples as if conjuring the correct words to say. "Professor, you have been targeted by a certain group of dark wizards." She turned her head slightly away from him. "I got involved with them. They have a plot to take over the wizarding world, and you are at the center. I do not know much, but I do know that the success of their plan lies in the execution of a complex series of incantations that must take place in a very specific location."
It was all very difficult to take in, but Draco listened. He could not imagine ever being affiliated with such a group. Although Draco did his best to avoid people, as an academic, he had been compelled to make certain acquaintances. But never had Draco suspected that he met with anyone he thought to be a practicer of dark magic. Draco took a deep breath, and allowed Hermione to continue.
"This location is unknown even to the Kradi. That is their name, the Kradi. They are a very ancient group with a very dark past. If they find this lost chamber, they may be able to resurrect their fallen kin."
This made Draco double take.
"Fallen kin?" he inquired. Hermione realizing Draco's confusion, started to rummage through the books again. She found it, no thanks to Harry's haste in felling them, and opened it to show it Draco.
"A legend tells of a great dark magic that has the ability to bring the dead back to life," said Hermione pointing to an illustration. It depicted a group of wizards standing outside the mouth of a cave being consumed by swirling sand manipulated by magic controlled by surrounding wizards. "The Kradi were thwarted by a band of good wizards, and this secret chamber was buried beneath the sand forever." Draco's eyes widened, coming into realization of his role in the whole situation.
"They want me to find this chamber," said Draco. Hermione nodded enthusiastically.
"A couple months before I started my position at the university, I read your article on the analysis of magic manipulated objects. It was brilliant. I knew that it had the potential of taking the magic secrecy field into a new era. I was so impressed. I could not help but hope that you would continue your research," said Hermione.
Draco felt a pang of pride upon his heart for being thus praised. Draco never necessarily sought out praise for his work, but never did he hate it. However, never… never had he felt more appreciated at this moment than he did in the whole of his professional career. Draco could not help but smile at Hermione's compliment. His heart nearly stopped when he realized that she was smiling back. He would have taken this opportunity to thank her for her compliment, when her face suddenly grew grave.
"What is it?" asked Draco.
"I hoped that the Kradi would never find out about that article. I wanted you to continue your work, but I knew that if you published again the Kradi would certainly find about it. So I asked Harry to devise a plan should the Kradi ever discover your research. I had Harry take you off of your research, and force you to pursue mine." There was a tinge of regret in Hermione's voice. "And we made up a plan in case you were ever to be found out."
Draco still had many questions, but he understood more now than he did before. Still, there was one more thing.
"But when we were attacked, they were looking for you. That woman addressed only you. They still might not know who I am," said Draco.
"We cannot take that risk. Besides, if they did not know you then, they certainly know you now," said Hermione
"But what did they want with you in the first place?" asked Draco.
"Enough! We are wasting time," interrupted Harry. This is the first in a very long time that Draco saw Harry being serious. Hermione and Draco had been so deep in conversation, that they had not realized that Harry had left the room, and returned bearing various items of a peculiar fashion. Evidently, he had read the spell in the book and went ahead and began collecting the necessary supplies.
"Wow, you did something useful for once. Thank you," said Draco. Harry's face lit up at Draco. Draco could not help but respond to the look with an awkward nod.
"We need one more thing," said Hermione after observing the objects. She darted out of the room to retrieve it.
"Here," said Harry. Draco turned toward him and found that Harry was putting some sort of necklace around his neck. He stood so close to him, Draco could feel Harry's breath on his neck as he lent forward. Draco felt the pace of his heart quicken as Harry's arms wrapped around his neck to clasp the necklace. Harry finished took a step back. Draco looked down at the object around his neck and saw a simple compact mirror. "It will help us keep in touch," explained Harry, "while you are away."
"Away?" asked Draco. "Where am I going?" Harry did not answer his question, but looked at him with longing in his eyes. Then Harry did something that made Draco's body go stiff. Harry suddenly approached Draco and embraced him tightly with his head resting over Draco's shoulder. Draco did not have any idea of how to respond. The only person he remembered ever hugging him was his mother. Harry most definitely was his mother. Draco felt his face grow hot. Draco gritted his teeth. Just his luck that Harry Potter would be the one to see his face so flushed with anger…yes, that must be it - anger. Harry parted from Draco but left his hands on Draco's shoulders. Harry looked into his eyes.
"I will miss you," said Harry softly. "Please be safe while you are away."
Draco hastily turned his head away from Harry's gaze.
"Don't be ridiculous!" said Draco through clenched teeth.
Just then Hermione returned. With all the objects set in place strategically around the Draco and Hermione, the spell was performed.
"Do you think this will work?" asked Draco.
"I hope it does, because we are going to need it out there," said Hermione picking up an all too familiar looking bag.
"Out there? Where are we going?"
"Egypt."
