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Ingrid: your suspicions may prove correct... incoming drama on a much bigger scale than I originally anticipated. I hope this doesn't blow up in my face.
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Hope you like it guys. As always, reviews fill me with joy and make me write faster! xx
[Hermione 9:18 AM]
How's the sunburn today? Did you try the aloe vera?
[Hermione 9:47 AM]
I can show you the charm at morning tea if you really need it.
[Hermione 11:31 AM]
Hey, you up for lunch? I'm happy to go where you want, since you demonstrated your excellent taste on the weekend.
Hermione looked back over her message history from the last few days. Malfoy had been MIA since the weekend, after she'd sent that stupid text. She was torn between wanting to mentally slap herself and laughing. On the one hand, she was embarrassed by her 'wrong person text' and then doubly embarrassed again by her somewhat needy follow-up texts asking to meet up. On the other hand, if someone had told her in Hogwarts that she would be checking her phone for a text from Malfoy she would have laughed in their face. Truthfully though, she hadn't realised how much time she actually spent with him. Malfoy had somehow become one of her best friends. Her only close friend here in Australia.
Well, really if he wanted to carry on and sulk over her seeing other people then fuck him. She was a grown woman, and he had literally earlier that day agreed that they were 'just friends'. He didn't own her. He may be a Malfoy and own practically everything under the sun, but he sure as hell didn't have any claim over her! God he was being as bad as Harry and Ron in Hogwarts when Viktor Krum asked her out.
Even if a mocking voice in the back of her mind reminded her that she kind of wanted him to have some sort of claim over her.
"Ugh, fuck boys," Hermione muttered and ran her fingers through her hair with annoyance, immediately catching them in a snarl which only infuriated her more.
"Uh, excuse me?" Hermione's assignment partner, Emma, looked mildly alarmed.
Could the ground just swallow her up? "Sorry," Hermione apologised, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I was distracted and just thinking outloud. What were you saying?"
"I was saying I think we're just about finished on the PBL," she repeated. "Are you alright? Having some fuckboy trouble?" She raised her brows and smiled knowingly.
"Yeah, I guess," Hermione admitted. "Well we were just friends, but now he's stopped talking to me."
"All men are dicks," Emma replied dismissively. "Get over him and onto someone else."
Hermione squeaked in protest that it wasn't like that at all. The girl's quirked brow suggested that she thought it was exactly like that.
"Well anyway, come to the bar with me this afternoon. We deserve to relax after smashing out this presentation anyway."
Hermione considered the offer for a moment, before nodding. "Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks."
"No problem," the girl smiled, gathered her books and left Hermione alone in the library.
Hermione waited a few minutes to make sure that the coast was clear, and then reached into her bag and pulled out a scrappy legal pad. She quietly slipped her wand out of her shorts, tapped the pad and whispered specialis revelio. Immediately the legal pad transformed into a stack of copies of the Daily Prophet. She'd started having them forwarded to her, since she couldn't rely on any of her friends at home to keep her up to date. That would require acknowledging her and what she was doing here in Australia. She also liked to keep an eye on that Skeeter hag. Hermione began idly flipping through the issues, wondering whether she should read them chronologically, or change it up by reading in order of article that most interested her. Hermione reached the more recent issues and her heart leapt into her mouth.
INTERNATIONAL HUNT FOR ESCAPED DEATH EATERS screamed the headline, with Malfoy's sneering Azkaban mugshot underneath. With trembling fingers, Hermione opened the paper to the article.
Authorities are hunting for a number of convicted Death Eaters who have broken parole and fled England. They include, but are not limited to, Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott. While Nott received a suspended sentence in light of his age, relatively minor crimes and willingness to comply with authorities, Malfoy's trial was considerably more controversial. Malfoy received a suspended sentence, despite his serious charges -including the attempted murder of the late Albus Dumbledore, the attempted murder of fellow Hogwarts student, Katie Bell and the Three Broomsticks' barmaid, Rosmerta Allianz. Malfoy also allowed the Death Eaters entry into Hogwarts, the act which resulted in the murder of Dumbledore and several members of the Order of the Phoenix being seriously injured. His suspended sentence was largely due to the fact that war heroes, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, testified in Malfoy's favour.
There have been reports that Malfoy is now wanted for crimes against muggles in both France and the United States of America, with further rumours that he has now fled to the Southern Hemisphere. A source, who wished to remain anonymous, cited that Malfoy had been seen in Australia. This coincides with disturbing reports of increased muggle disappearances in many Southern nations. Most concerning are the rumours that war heroine, Hermione Granger, has also relocated to Australia to work on a special project aiding war victim recovery. When approached regarding Miss Granger's whereabouts and her current activities, Mr Potter declined to comment. Ronald Weasley, the third member of the Golden Trio also refused to reveal where Miss Granger currently is, stating only that "She's wasting her time" and that "[he] hadn't heard from her in a year." With Miss Granger's apparently forgiving and trusting nature regarding Malfoy, this reporter can only hope that should she encounter him, she will use her formidable skill and intellect and not act naively.
The Ministry revealed in an official statement to the press that, "We are taking these reports very seriously, and are working with our French and American counterparts to apprehend these dangerous men as soon as possible. We ask that members of the public refrain from engaging and report any further sightings of any former Death Eaters to the Ministry."
The Ministry is expected to collaborate with the French and American authorities to send a joint international mission to recapture and return these men to Azkaban. This reporter prays that neither Miss Granger nor any further muggles have come to harm.
Hermione let the paper fall from her hands in shock. She felt like the room was spinning. Her eyes scanned the article again. Reports of crimes against muggles. Hermione felt all the blood drain from her face, despite the fact that her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest. She couldn't reconcile the man she'd sat with at the library table, at lunch, at the beach with attacking muggles. But then, how could she reconcile Malfoy being kind to her with all of the cruel, vindictive things he'd done? Memories whirled around in her head, fighting for her attention. His pale face sneering, 'you'll be next mudbloods' under Mrs Norris in second year. Taunting them when the Death Eaters stormed the Quidditch World Cup… or had he be warning her to get away? All the vile things he did as part of the Inquisitorial Squad. Letting the Death Eaters into the school. Letting Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback into Hogwarts. Pretending not to recognise them at Malfoy Manor. Watching Bellatrix lash her with curse after curse, cackling madly. Doing nothing while MUDBLOOD was carved into her arm. Splashing her at the beach, teasing her over oysters. The room of requirement, blazing with cursed fire at the final battle.
Hermione was having a full blown panic attack. Her scar burned as she shoved everything into her bag and leaped up from the table.
Maybe Malfoy wasn't avoiding her because of a stupid text at all. Maybe he was hiding from aurors. Or maybe he was…
Oh god. I showed him where my parents live.
Hermione ran.
Hermione appeared with a loud pop. She would never ordinarily risk apparating into a muggle street, but now she was too frightened to care. She hid behind some camelia bushes and peered up at her parent's Queenslander. She couldn't see any movement inside the house. Sweat trickled down her back in the afternoon heat, and her thighs screamed at her for squatting position. Hermione bit her lip in frustration, trying not to cry as the battle raged within her. She wanted nothing more than to race up into the house and fling the door open to check that they were alright, but if they were alright, the sight of her bursting into their house would put their memory charm under too much stress and destroy their mind.
She couldn't believe that Malfoy would harm them. But if she didn't truly believe that, why had she apparated here?
A car pulled into the driveway, causing Hermione's head to snap to the sound. From behind the bushes, she breathed a sigh of relief as her father climbed out, and nonchalantly ambled up the steps. Her mother opened the door and greeted her husband with a kiss on the cheek, ushering him inside before he "let the air conditioning out". Hermione heaved a sigh of relief and collapsed against the ground. Her parents were okay. For now.
Now her mind turned back to the Malfoy problem. She desperately wished Harry was here. She felt panicked and overwhelmed. She hadn't felt this way since the war. And this time, she was alone.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Hermione pulled it out.
[Emma 5:31 PM]
Hey! You coming? The Engineering Soc is here and there are some FINE nerds. Check it outttttt ;)
[Emma 5:31 PM]
Sent image attachment.
Hermione almost didn't bother looking, but some strange force compelled her to open the picture. It was of the uni bar, near the pool tables, where several very attractive guys were playing pool. Including one unmistakeable silver blonde.
[Hermione 5:32 PM]
THAT'S HIM. THE FUCKBOY. WHITE BLONDE. DON'T LET HIM OUT OF YOUR SIGHT I'M COMING.
[Emma 5:32 PM]
Consider it done. ;)
Heart in her mouth, Hermione apparated back to her apartment. She grabbed a few dozen items, and then apparated again to a quiet part of the university grounds.
She strode up the path to the uni bar, flashed her ID and made her way inside. Emma waved her over to her table of friends and pressed a glass of beer into her hand. Hermione took a huge gulp to steady her nerves.
"Hermione, glad you could make it," she said warmly. Then her expression turned sly, "Fuckboy at 4 o'clock." Hermione followed Emma's gaze to the pool tables, where Malfoy casually leaned against the wall with a beer in one hand and pool cue in the other. He laughed and set his drink down, and bent over the table to take his shot.
Emma sighed, "They always have the best asses, don't they?" Hermione silently agreed. Emma turned back to Hermione, "But don't let it distract you. Go fuck him up." She gave Hermione a gentle shove and a wink. The rest of the girls at the table offered support and encouragement as Hermione hesitantly stepped forward.
She summoned her Gryffindor courage and marched straight up to Malfoy. "I need to talk to you."
Malfoy slowly turned around and fixed her with his steely eyes. "I'm busy," he drawled, sipping his beer.
"It's important," Hermione insisted, willing herself to remain calm.
"We're in the middle of a game, Granger."
"Oi Malfoy, don't be a dick," one of the other players admonished. He turned to Hermione with a smile, "We only just started, why don't you play for me? You'll be partnered with this wanker though." He jerked his head towards Malfoy goodnaturedly. It was clear that Malfoy did not appreciate the sentiment.
"Oh, I don't even know how to play," Hermione protested.
"Don't worry, we'll teach you. And Malfoy's shit anyway so there's no pressure," he laughed. Hermione looked dubious, so he pressed the cue into her hand and ushered her to the table. She shot a glance back over her shoulder at Malfoy, who looked positively murderous. Hermione gulped. Well, as long as she kept him here, he couldn't hurt anyone.
Hermione could feel his eyes burning a hole into the back of her head as she leant over the table, with the other student, who introduced himself as Daniel, showed her how to place her hand and hold the cue.
"So you need to hit the white ball into the bigs, those are the ones with white circles on the end," he explained with a friendly smile. Hermione nodded, and tried to line up the shot. She felt her tongue sticking out-a nervous habit she tried so hard to break-and forced it back in her mouth as she slid the cue forward. The white ball ricocheted off the wall and lightly tapped one of the big balls.
"Finally, something you're not an expert in, Granger," Malfoy sneered.
"Malfoy you're being a cunt, mate." Daniel informed him, before turning back to Hermione, "Not bad, just need some practise. Just try your best to aim and take it easy." He shot Hermione a friendly, easygoing grin that reminded her of Ron. She felt her nerves settle a little, even though she was distinctly aware of Malfoy watching her. Besides, she liked the Australian accent, and Daniel was pretty cute. She might as well play along.
A few more rounds progressed, and a few more drinks were downed, but there was little improvement to Hermione's pool game. Malfoy on the other hand, had irritatingly demonstrated significant skill. Casually leaning against the wall, he looked entirely too much like a predator toying with his prey to Hermione. He pushed his sleeves up, revealing his long pale forearms-though his left was now covered in swirling black designs that rather distracted Hermione, making her pool game even worse. Fortunately, he made no further comments other than a raised eyebrow when she missed the white ball entirely and accidentally drove the cue into the table.
"Oh bollocks," Hermione pouted.
"We'll make that a practise one," Daniel winked. "Here, I'll help." He began positioning Hermione's arms. "You're too stiff," he explained, "You need to let the cue slide."
"Am I doing it right?" She asked, biting her lip nervously. "Oh, it's no use. I'm hopeless. You should take over."
"Nonsense," Daniel replied brightly. "Here, we'll play together!" He started to angle himself so that he was lightly touching Hermione so that they could both move the cue together.
"I think I'll take it from here, Dan," Malfoy drawled. "It's my pool reputation on the line, so I'd better instruct my partner. Properly." Hermione froze as she felt Malfoy's hard chest press firmly against her back. He languidly stretched his long arms over hers, their bare skin touching each other and Hermione hating the crackle of electricity that shot up to her shoulders. He took her hands under his and re-aimed her pool cue as he leant his cheek against her head. "Let me show you how it's really done," he murmured against her ear. Hermione shivered, which only pushed her more firmly against him. "You seem tense," he remarked drily, "Relax."
"It'd be a lot easier to relax without you manhandling me," she shot back, keeping a sweet smile on her face. Malfoy chuckled darkly and slid the cue forward. The 15 rolled neatly into the pocket. Malfoy stood back, an arrogant smirk spreading across his face. Hermione stared at him incredulously.
"You get another shot now. You're welcome." He returned to leaning against the wall, eyes dark and unflinching. Hermione quickly made her shot, and joined him.
"Nice ink," she remarked, leaning against the wall with feigned casualness even though her heart was pounding.
"Easier to hide in plain sight," he replied, lightly shaking his left arm.
Hermione's head snapped towards him, "What do you mean by that?"
"Read into it what you will, Dr Phil." With a sly glance, he set down his beer and stalked to the table. He spent a moment considering the angles before moving around the table, easily sinking the remaining two balls and lining up for the black. Hermione watched him cautiously, keeping her eyes trained on his face and not on the way he'd undone his top button, or the way the sleeves clung to his muscular arms or his jeans to his well rounded ass. Potting the black, he sauntered back over to Granger, who handed him back his beer.
"Quite the display. Done peacocking?"
Malfoy shot her another arrogant smirk, and then drained his beer in one go.
"You do pick up a few things in the colonies," his eyes glittered.
"Now can we talk? In private?"
"Lead the way princess." Hermione rolled her eyes and stalked out of the bar, ignoring the calls and protests from Daniel and the suggestive comments from the other engineering students. Malfoy followed her, with a slight wobble as he stepped over the door frame. Nonetheless his expression was smug as he swaggered along behind Hermione as she strode down the path into the dimly lit and deserted bushland.
She came to a halt and turned to face him.
"So what is so damn-"
Hermione's hand snaked out lightning fast, grabbing Malfoy, and sidelong apparating him into her apartment. Malfoy, caught completely off-guard, staggered and fell against couch. Hermione whipped out her wand.
"Incarcerous," she hissed. Ropes immediately coiled around his wrists and ankles and snaked around the couch legs. Malfoy looked at his restraints and then back at her Hermione with wicked amusement.
"I didn't pick you for being into bondage, Granger." The git had the audacity to slouch back against the couch - as much as his restraints would allow- and smirk at her.
"Shut up," Hermione's eyes flashed, and she glanced down at her watch. "What are you doing here in Australia?"
"Seriously, Granger? Didn't we go over this?"
"Answer me." She levelled her wand at him.
"I ran away. From my stupid parole, from my parents, from my arranged marriage. Interesting foreplay, Granger. What's next?" He adopted a gruff voice, "Where is your rebel base? Name the system!" He chuckled to himself, obviously a little more drunk than Hermione had thought. She also deeply regretted introducing him to Star Wars.
Hermione glanced down at her watch again, "What's the most embarrassing moment from your childhood?"
"My Father catching me wanking and then sitting me down to explain how to do it properly." Malfoy immediately responded, before a look of shock and horror crossed his face. "What the fuck, Granger?"
Realisation dawned. "You spiked my beer with veritaserum, you sly bitch."
"Quite a lot, since I know you're an occlumens." Hermione affirmed. "Which is why I was flirting with Daniel. The next stage of the plan was to get you two into a drinking contest but you drained your beer anyway. And since now I know it's working, please let me know if you think you're dying from the poison and I'll give you the antidote."
"You're seriously fucked up, you know that?" Malfoy replied simply, though Hermione thought she detected a note of admiration.
"How are you feeling?" she asked anxiously.
"Pretty turned on, actually." He replied before he could stop himself, but he covered it with a cocky grin. "So why are you poisoning me? If you wanted to know my darkest fantasies you could have just asked, Granger. Hint, ropes-good start."
Hermione brushed his comments aside, though her cheeks were burning. "What are you doing in Australia?"
"Hiding. From family, Azkaban, Pansy."
"Since your parole, have you been to France?"
"Yes."
"The United States?"
"Yes."
Hermione took a deep breath. "And did you participate in any Death Eater activities whilst there? Did you harm muggles in any way or know of other dark magic operatives harming others?"
"No." His eyes hardened, the laughter going out of his voice. A muscle in his jaw twitched. The tattoos on his arm shimmered and dissolved as he lost control of the glamour he'd placed there.
"Then explain this to me!" She thrust the Daily Prophet in his face. His eyes skimmed over the article, becoming progressively angrier as he read. He twitched a moment, and then responded.
"It's a newspaper. They're designed to convey news to the masses."
Hermione glared at him. He was trying to fight off the effects of the potion by answering truthfully, but deliberately misconstruing her questions.
"Why are there reports of you having committed crimes against muggles in the United States and France?!"
"Most likely false reports by my many enemies who want to see me rot in Azkaban forever," he spat venomously. "I expected my friends to know better than to believe everything they read in the Prophet. Present party especially."
"But you have broken your parole and fled to Australia," she insisted.
"I don't deny that, Granger."
"Do you still harbour any blood prejudice?"
"Sometimes," he growled, eyes boring into hers, "It's hard to unlearn a lifetime of hate. Especially when someone is trying their hardest to respark that particular flame."
"Do you have any intention to harm my parents?"
"No. Never." He eyed her coldly, shutting down all expression into a mask of indifference.
"Well then why did you ignore me after I took you to their house?"
"I was jealous," he snapped, before sinking back into the couch with a furious scowl.
"Jealous?" Hermione repeated, bewildered.
"Of whoever you sent that bloody text to." He clamped his jaw shut, struggling with the effects of the potion.
"Oh," Hermione whispered. With all the panic of having hidden a potentially murderous criminal who might have been hurting her parents, she'd forgotten about the stupid text she'd spent the past week agonising over. "Oh god, this is all a horrible misunderstanding. I read the article today and I added that to you not being around in the week…"
Malfoy looked completely unimpressed, his gaze unflinching and accusatory.
"And I guess I added two and two and got five."
He raised a pale eyebrow, "You hadn't heard from me, so you assumed I was torturing your parents."
Hermione swept her hands through her hair, at a complete loss. "No? Yes? I don't know. I - How do you feel?"
"Et tu, Brutus." He clucked mockingly.
Hermione's shoulders slumped in defeat, "I'm sorry, Malfoy." She waved her wand over the ropes. He immediately sprang forward with a snarl, pinning Hermione against the wall with her wand arm above her head. He squeezed a pressure point in her wrist, forcing her to drop her wand with a gasp of pain.
"Is this more in character for you?" He hissed, millimetres from her face. "The big bad Death Eater chased the precious little mudblood half-way around the world so he could hurt her parents to get back at her for the war?" His eyes flashed with contempt.
"Malfoy, no that's not what I-"
"Don't lie to me," he snarled, "What was all this bullshit about this doesn't matter?" He waved his mark in front of her face.
"Malfoy-"
"Because it clearly does fucking matter. Or else you wouldn't pulled this shit."
"Well forgive me for going off our past history!" Hermione snapped. Malfoy pushed away from her in disgust.
"I knew this would happen," he said, pointing his finger in her face. "We can be all friendly and forgiving when it's just easy coffees and studying but I knew, the first time my past really came up - you'd turn your back on me."
"I didn't think-"
"That much is patently obvious." He shook his head and turned away. "You might have had a sodding lion on your robes in school, Granger, but you're just as much a snake as the rest of us."
Hermione felt like she'd been slapped.
"Malfoy," she began softly, fighting tears that threatened to build. "Draco, please…"
"Save it," he said flatly. "Accio, antidote." The small vial whizzed to his outstretched hand. He uncorked it and downed it in one fluid motion. He stomped out the door and slammed it behind without a backward glance. Hermione heard the vial shatter as he smashed it on her step for good measure.
Then she sunk to the floor and began to cry.
