Chapter Four
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention and I…MALFOY?"
Stumbling backwards, more from shock then impact, she couldn't seem to find her voice. Here was the person who mystified them all by changing sides to fight for justice, who had sacrificed himself in the heat of battle as a Death Eater spell flew directly at Harry. The person who was supposed to be everything she was fighting to stop, but had reformed and was dead for it – very much alive. And for some reason, in the 1940's? Hermione was beyond confused at this point. She couldn't think straight. He was supposed to be dead. How was he here? Maybe she really was in a parallel universe? What in the name of Merlin was going on? Finally able to form a coherent sentence she spoke.
"You're dead!"
Draco had been all the while staring, albeit incredulously at her, waiting for some kind of response. Now he merely smirked the trademark Malfoy smirk, staring down at the bemused girl before him.
"Oh wow, am I? I hadn't really noticed. Thanks for pointing that out Granger." He sneered, somewhat playfully at her.
Regaining most of her composure she glared poisonously at him. "Now is NOT the time for snarky remarks Malfoy! How are you alive? I saw you with my very own eyes fall into the midst of the battle for Harry!"
He looked bored, staring absently at his immaculately clean fingernails. "Granger, Granger, Granger. Do you really think I would have sacrificed myself to save Boy-Wonder? After all our years I'd have thought you knew me better then that!"
"You changed sides! You're with us now! Oh don't tell me you cha-"
She was interrupted by his deep voice.
"Don't get up in arms over it Granger. No I didn't lie to you or the precious order. It was all part of my master plan you see." He stated arrogantly, puffing out his chest in an attempt at being gallant.
She rolled her eyes already growing tired of his antics. Though she had to admit, she was glad to see him. He'd become a sort of friend, so to speak, after his reformation. She couldn't say she actually liked him or trusted him completely but he was a member of the order now so that had to count for something. And he was alive. She was no longer alone. And the relief that one person could make her feel was incredible. Even if it was Malfoy.
"What plan? Surely Harry would have informed me of it?" She asked sceptically.
He looked smug. "Oh, doesn't you're precious Lupin tell you all everything? No Granger, this was between me, Lupin and the mutinous Death Eaters. Well ex-Death Eaters now I suppose." He paused wistfully, somehow looking much older then before. She supposed war did that to everyone.
She nodded for him to continue.
"Oh-ho, I don't know Hermione, s'all very private, very confidential stuff. I'm not sure you can be trusted." He said airily, taunting her with his very tone.
She was fuming. "Just tell me now you bloody git! You do realise I'm about two seconds away from hexing you!" He sighed dramatically in reply, feigning hurt.
'Anyone, ANYONE, but him.' She pinched the bridge of her nose, already feeling the throb of a headache.
"Fine, fine. Anyway, that was no curse aiming at Potter. It was a time travel spell. And a dark one at that. Hence why I'm here and why it looked like I was a big hero saving Boy-Wonder. You see Granger, when you're with Voldemort, seeing him in the flesh, seeing his power," He couldn't help but show some pride at this. Old habits die hard she assumed, "You begin to realise, compared to him – your Order looks bleak. Don't go giving me that indignant look. I'm on your side."
She took a minute to comprehend all of this. "So, there were others? Other Death Eaters I mean, who…well wanted out?" She asked, almost in awe of the thought.
He rolled his eyes, "Yes Granger I know, hard to believe people like me can make mistakes I know. That's irrelevant anyway. We had decided between us that if, at some point in the final battle, things looked grim, which they did, we'd have a plan B. So, hence why I'm here. Everyone will think I'm dead, when really I'm here dealing with Dark Lord junior." He paused again, scrutinising her, "And what pray tell is Gryffindor Princess doing here all by her lonesome?"
She forced herself to not hit her only ally, took a deep breath and answered, "The same thing as you…well minus the Death Eaters and the pretending death. I…was the only one left. Everyone was…d-dead." She struggled to acknowledge it aloud. It was too real, coming to terms with it. She gritted her teeth and carried on, "So I knew this was our last hope. You…you didn't see it – them. The bodies were…everywhere. It was awful. You've no idea…" She barely whispered.
Draco's face instantly darkened. He glared at the floor with a frightening look twisted into his features. It was the first time, Hermione had ever been intimidated by him. She didn't show it, but suddenly she grew apprehensive. What had irked him so?
He appeared to have gritted his teeth. "Oh I don't do I? Granger, I've seen more then you'll ever know. When you join the Dark Lord, you don't just run around and act scary. No. You kill. You torture. You watch. You laugh. You can do nothing but that. Have you ever been forced to watch an innocent person tortured until you can almost feel there lungs rip apart from screaming? No, I didn't think so. Just because I made the wrong decision everyone assumed I no nothing of hardship, of pain. But I know of it all. Never think for a second that I haven't suffered as you have Granger." He hissed, anger and pain flashing violently behind his silver eyes.
She recoiled and stepped back. Instantly she wished she hadn't said anything. She felt horrible, selfish for assuming she was the only one hurting. Cautiously she reached out, placing a hand delicately on his tensed shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think, for once," She earned a half hearted smirk for this, "But you know, I understand."
Suddenly he looked at her, his moonlight eyes boring into her, calculating and analysing. His anger seemed to subside and she felt him relax. They stood there in silence like that for some time. It was unspoken but still there and it helped. Both knew pain, both felt pain but at least, both understood. And that, at least, helped.
