The Unity of Opposites
Chapter Five
Understanding
''Where you suggest to start looking?'' Kingsley asked Draco.
He was sure that the young man standing in front of him had a very good idea of the same thought that was in his mind – start from the past.
When Nehone murdered the first woman on his long list, Kinglsey had searched everywhere to find out where did he came from.
His disappointment came faster than he expected when he couldn't find anything to link Nehone to anyone in the Wizarding World.
Kingsley had thought that it was a made up name - a cover, so his true identity can stay hidden in the dark. There was no wizarding record that held his name.
Draco's words did have a meaning. If the man knowing to the few families of the Wizarding World was indeed Muggle, their investigations would take another turn.
''Muggles.'' he said at once as if he read his mind. He looked at Kingsley and he nodded.
''I will make a Muggle pass for you to use soon.'' he said and he looked the young man, taking his blazer in his hand, ready to leave.
''Kingsley.'' he said not looking at him.
''Where is Granger?'' the question popped into his head and saw him over his shoulder, raised his shoulders in unawareness.
''I will go.. check on her.'' he said cowardly.
''You should.'' he answered and he watched him leaving his room.
He smiled to himself. Regardless the messed up situation that they there in, Draco found a way to see beyond himself.
That was the one thing that he afraid the most. From the moment Draco offered his services to the Aurors Department, he started to be obssesed with the nature of his work.
It was time that he had to stop him from overtaking that small power that was on his hands and blew up a whole investigation.
But his time, Kingsley could see that he was controlling himself - plus his words did have a meaning. A meaning that it was safe from him to say that had crossed his mind.
Was Nehone that brave? Pretending to be a pureblood in a community fighting to take the unnamed power? How was he able to fool the Dark Lord himself? And of course, how was he able to keep himself safe, with everything that had happened then?
Those days were dark - there were days that hiding was a way to survive. How could he overpass that stage and be so open and close to the Dark Lord?
A hovering made him look in his window. A big owl flew inside made some rounds and threw him a fine parchment. His thoughts broke and took the letter to his hand.
I hope this helps your research. It was written on it – at the end was McGonagall signature. The letters disappeared and he read an address. Kingsley knew to what research she was referring.
At least he could try, he encouraged himself and he grabbed his robes, destroying the paper in his hands.
Draco was walking fast into the Law Department. It was a busy day and everywhere there were people, trying to go somewhere, or do something.
He passed some of his family's old friends who he didn't even bother greeting. He had a rather unpleasant feeling in his stomach.
Last time he had that kind of feeling, the Dark Lord gave him a task. A task that costed him everything he cared about.
After some intense walking he was able to find Granger's station. In the second corridor, there was a wooden door with her big calligraphic golden initials.
Draco raised both of his brows at the sight of it. It was the first time he saw that door closed - as it was the first time that he saw the initials.
He was certain that she wrote them. And then they call me self centred, he thought and he raised his hand to knock on the door when a small voice stopped him.
''I am afraid she not here yet. Would you like for me to pass a message?'' she asked him and Draco turned his head to see where the voice was coming from.
To his left there was a young lady around his own age. She was wearing glasses, not like Potter's glasses more like Seeker's – which made Draco made a disgust face.
She didn't bother looking at him as she was writing something in her parchment in front of her.
''Can I help you?'' she asked him after some minutes of silence.
''I wanted to see Mrs Granger.'' he said, fixing his blazer and putting his hands behind his back.
Draco knew that her secretary knew about her fake statement of leaving the country - as well as the hidden entrance to her office, so no one could see her.
He narrowed his eyes to her. That was not how he had planned it in the first place. Did she really leave her secretary uninformed about his relationship with her?
He looked at her like he used to look all the people that tried to overlook him. Something about that woman made him want to be in line.
He was feeling like professor McGonagall had called him in her office - like he had done something terrible.
''I already made it clear that she is not here. Now, would you like to leave a message?'' she asked him when she finally looked at him.
Draco felt strange – she didn't hold back from his handsomeness. That felt strange - unreal even. He frowned and she frowned back.
''Non of the above.'' he said and he left like a hurricane with a rather fast beating heart.
Where is she?
His steps were quick, he could almost run to that point. In his mind, there was only the thought of her. Maybe something bad happened?
He shook his head for the bad thought to leave. Maybe she overslept. Maybe she was in her parents' house. Maybe she wanted to go for some shopping – she was a woman after all.
Maybe she or the ginger friend of hers had a doctor appointment, pregnancy can be tough sometimes – or maybe something bad happened to her? `
He started to run now with not a Malfoy way. The thought of her in pain suddenly made him want to puke. Why he was feeling like that?
She was not his friend. She was not his lover. She was nothing to him rather a colleague - a colleague that had been targeted.
His mind was telling him to relax. Nothing bad could happen to her - she is Hermione Granger. She could defeat anything ain her path.
But his heart - his heart was trying to warn him. A shivering that was making him feel paralyzed was running up and down his spine.
He arrived at the elevator where he saw the line waiting to go in. He pushed some people to pass. That was not his day.
Some of them called him names, some pushed him back too, some just let him pass. When he was the first in the line he let himself took a big breath.
He started to call Merlin in his mind, wishing for her to be in her house. He didn't know what possessed him to act like that. Perhaps Granger was right – this case can drive you crazy.
The sound of the elevator's ring sounded and his heart started to beat fast once more. He put himself in and pressed multiple times the bottom to level zero.
He could feel his breathing coming in and out rather fast. If he was not that frustrating he would see the reason that he was worrying too much.
''Can you please - '' he said the moment the doors opened and he pushed the man in front of him to run to the fireplaces.
He stepped into the first fireplace he found and he whispered Granger's address breathless. That was taking forever.
The cloud from the fireplace gone rather quickly, with Draco moving his hands left and right in the air.
The light from the sun was shyly bursting into her living room. The curtains were half closed and there was a hint of fresh smell in the room.
Draco thought that she might have enchanted her house to have a pleasant smell. That was relaxing he thought, it meant that she was still here.
Everything around him was peaceful. Some new books that they had bought together some days before were on her coffee table.
He looked around him. Her house seemed different in his eyes in that moment. It felt more vulnerable, more.. Muggle.
He stepped out of the fireplace and he wipped together his hands, where some powder left. He looked around him again. Something was not right.
His feet led him to the kitchen. There was no coffee in that Muggle machine he so much hated – which he thought it was weird.
Granger always makes some extra coffee in the morning. Not for her, for him - because even if he was not admitted it, he liked Muggle's coffee.
His steps walked him to the hall. All the doors around him were closed except the bathrooms'. Out of the blue, her cat jumped at him meowing, scratching his leg.
No voice came out of his lips. He looked down at the fabric of his trousers and it was ripped off. He cursed under his tongue.
The cat run towards Hermione's door. With his paw he started to scratch the door. He wanted to go inside - he wanted to make sure its owner was there.
''Granger?'' he called and he knocked at her door. ''Are you decent?'' he asked, not wanting to jump into a half naked Granger.
He knocked the door once again. No answer came to his ears. Cowardly Draco opened the door to Hermione's bedroom.
There she was in front of him, her thin figure slightly visible through the blankets. It was like she became one with the bed.
Her cat run towards her, jumping on the bed and sitting next to her legs. The morning light was trying to bust inside her room. He took a step and the curtains opened wide. He could see her clearly now.
''Granger?'' he said once more and walked towards her. ''Are you asleep?'' he said when he was next to her.
His feet stepped on something. He looked down and - it was her wand. He broke it. His brows frowned and he looked at her sleeping figure.
His brain was telling him that there is something wrong with the picture he was witnessing. Worry took him over.
''Granger?!'' he said and he put away the hair on her face.
The sight of her made him scared. Her eyes were wide open, her mouth shut, both hands into fists. A panic took over him. He pushed the blanket away.
Her body was in an embryonic position and her left arm fell to the side when he took out the blanket. He took her face in his big hands and he shook her.
''Granger, do you hear me?'' he said, trying to make eye contact with her.
Her eyes were stuck to the emptiness. Nothing. He sat next to her. He could feel the heat from her body. He put two of his fingers to her neck and he found a pulse – a very weak pulse.
He put his left arm under her knees, his right hand, hugged her shoulders and he stood up. He apparated them to St. Mungo's.
''Somebody please! Please! Help me!'' he yelled at the top of his lungs until one of the healers run towards them.
Kingsley stood outside of the small door. He questioned his memory about the address of the man that headmistress McGonagall told him to visit.
He fought with himself for a while, wondering if he should knock the door or not, but his hand moved quicker than his mind.
No one answered the small door that held the name, The Quiet Ritual. Kingsley looked around him and saw that people were passing by like he was not there.
Was it enchanted? He frowned and he put his hand on the handle. At once he was inside of the store.
''Hello?'' Kingsley's voice echoed in the big rounded room.
He looked at the shut tight door behind him and he raised his brow. He sighed and he looked around him, taking in all the new information.
To his left there were shelves with small bottles of liquid and as his eyes kept travelling to the walls, the bottles got bigger and bigger.
All around him there were books - on the floor, in the stairs, even some were floating from the ceiling. Kingsley took one of the books in his hand and he read the title.
Golden Frogs and Waterlilies The Guide - Kingsley looked at it, surprised and let it back to its place. That was not something he should know.
A tiny series of dusty glass only windows, all around the walls made Kingsley frowned. What kind of a store was that?
There was a very significant smell of potions in the air. He followed down the stairs and he was in the main area of the room.
In the middle, there was a big squared table, with no space on it. Kingsley sighed again. He looked at some brewing equipment that were handmade.
''Hello?'' he said again, this time louder and a man showed behind a pile of books.
He was a tall man, with brown hair. He had the most thick eyebrows, Kingsley had ever seen. He was wearing some kind of eye protectors and he took them off before he spoke.
''Sorry mate! Yesterday there was an explosion in an experimental potion and my right ear..'' he stepped out of the corner taking off the gloves he was wearing and facing him ''.. it's blowing.'' he said and he looked at him from bottom to top.
''Are you waiting here long?''
''Only three minutes.'' he said finally and walked towards the man. ''I am Kingsley Shacklebolt.'' he said and extended his hand to shake.
''The - the Minister?'' he asked not giving his own hand.
He had a strange expression - like it was the first time he had someone from the Ministry visiting him. Kingsley's eyes fell on his hand being in the air and cleared his throat.
''I am sorry, right.'' he shook his hand and he looked at him funny. ''Albert Pharris sir.''
''McGonagall gave me your address. I hope it's not a bother.''
''No, not at all! Thank Merlin mate! I thought you were here for the experimental drug!'' he said and his face darken suddenly.
''The what?''
''What?'' he said, pointing his blowing ear and turning his back to him, not wanted to believe what he just said. Kingsley narrowed his eyes.
''Mr Pharris.'' he said and he stopped him.
He put his hand on his shoulder and turned him around to face him. He could see that he was being afraid about something, but it was not something he wanted to know at the moment.
With his wand he pointed to his ear. At once his hearing was back to normal. He knew that his work wouldn't be done if he didn't heal him.
''Oh, thanks mate! I don't like healing myself! My Muggle nature you see.'' he said and he continued walking.
Kingsley noticed that he was walking funny. His left leg might have a bad injury in the past. ''So what can I help you with, sir?'' he asked him when he offered him a seat at the table.
Kingsley pulled the chair to find some books. He looked at the man in front of him and back at the chair.
Pharris stood up and took the books in his hand, placing them to the floor. With his sleeve, he cleaned the chair and offered him to the seat.
''Sorry, I was not expecting quests.'' he said, walking to the other side of the table and sitting down.
''Clearly.'' Kingsley said and he mimicked his previous actions of taking some books off the table and placing them to the floor. Now he could see him better.
''So to what I can - ''
''I have this research regarding the Heather's Stones.'' he said and the man's brows frowned. ''I was hoping maybe you can help me clear some thoughts of mine?''
''Of which one?'' he said, narrowing his eyes. Kingsley put out the photo of the purple stone.
The man had a very concerned look on his face - it made Kingsley question the reason why he was looking at him like that.
''What seems to be the problem with it?'' he said and he pushed away the picture.
''I would like to know its potentials.''
''Potentials?'' he said and he laughed a little. ''They are unknown.''
''I came here today, Mr Pharris, because I know that they are not unknown to you.'' he said and he pushed the picture in front of him.
''You are in deep waters Mr Shacklebolt.''
''I've been in worst Mr Pharris.'' he said, and the man raised a brow at him.
''There was a time that I was a little bit of extreme in the matter of the power in the Muggle Science with the wizarding abilities. I injured myself in one of those days.'' he said and he put his hand on top of his knee.
''But to put an answer to your question, their power is untamed but yet rather understandable – I am sure you already know that.'' he stood up and he waved Kingsley to follow him.
''There are a lot of ways to break something unbreakable if you know where to look.'' he said and he started to walk in a big hall that Kingsley didn't noticed.
There was a big enchanted bookcase with thousands of books. Kingsley didn't recognize any of the titles even if he was a bookworm himself.
Pharris walked for some seconds until he stopped, made a surprise sound and grabbed a book. He once again waved to follow him. They went back to the table and Pharris sat opposite to Kingsley.
He cleared the surface of the table completely, but waving his wand to the books. Pharris sat in his chair and pulled it closer to the table.
''This book has every Muggle herbal in the world. Page 104.'' he said and the book opened.
On the left page there was a pink flower that Kingsley had never seen in his life. Calluna, it was written on top. He looked at Pharris surprised.
''Calluna? The heart of the Heather Stone?'' Kingsley asked, still having a surprised look on his face.
''See, in the Muggle World the plant had been used for kidney's healing. They collect it, boil it and then drink it. They have the knowledge of its power.'' he said and he took the book away from him.
He looked at the fine petals of the flower. He too had the knowledge of the power that was held inside that delicate plant.
''In the Wizarding World, well we took our time examining other elements, some more flexible than the others.'' he said and he looked at Kingsley with defeat.
''But when the Heather's Stones first appeared it was hard to any wizard or witch to measure its value.''
''But you have involved yourself with its power. How can no one ever learned about your projects?'' Kingsley asked remembering his words.
''I didn't want to in the first place. My experiments as well as my research was funded by me, and for my own personal - '' he looked at the Minister frowned. ''Well, it hardly matters at the moment.''
''To answer your question, Mr Shacklebolt, its potentials various, you can not just brew the plant and demand for a healing.''
''It needs mixture.'' he said and he looked at the man whose face radiating.
''Exactly! If you have the right amount of every knowing ingredient and with the right brewing, you will find yourself in front of a very, very interesting outcome.''
''Why did you stop trying then?'' Kingsley asked and looked at the man in front of him.
''Like I said, there are a lot of ingredients – you can make a different potion if you just mix the portions. One can research for decades until he finds something.'' Kingsley nodded. He should see that coming.
''Plus it is rather difficult to find Calluna any time of the year.'' he added, but Kingsley didn't pay attention to that detail.
''Let's just say that someone has the.. way of making a successful potion of a Heather's Stone – what would be the outcome of that?'' Kingsley asked the man and he could see the interest in his eyes.
''Hypothetically asking?'' he said, feeling the excitement growing inside of him. There was a smirking in his lips.
''Of course – academics reasons only.'' he said and the man's face slightly fell.
''I suppose, from cosmetics to healing deathly diseases, to internal youth, even defeating death if the spell and the one who does it are strong enough.''
''What.. what do you mean?'' Kingsley asked – his breath caught up his chest.
''Every wizarding being has its calling in a specific sector in this world – mine was in potions, yours I presume was Law.'' he said and Kingsley nodded.
''I can not have the right impulse in your sector, and you can not have it in mine. Hence, the calling from young age, the sorting hat, the - ''
''I know how Hogwarts works Mr Pharris.'' Kingsley was having a realization attack – how didn't he see that coming?
How was he so blind? Maybe Malfoy was right – maybe they were in the blind side of the story. He cleared his throat.
''You need to understand Mr Shacklebolt, that the Muggle's ingredients - their use in our world can bring multiple outcomes.''
''Okay, but if one has the way, but is not that strong, can one give the know-how to somebody else to make it for him?''
''It depends on the spell – I mean, if the spell can fix your hair for example, yes, but if the spell can provide you with internal youth, then no. The spell has to recognize you from step one – from the moment you start the fire.''
''What can somebody do to make himself able to proceed to the potion making?''
''Oh Merlin – ah, unwand magic, magic from afar, continued magic – just some that popped in my head – and of course all of them by drinking the right potion. Those things come hand-in-hand.''
''And how long until this person is able to proceed?''
''I really don't know Mr Shacklebolt. It is in the person.''
Kingsley was feeling like he had just woke up from a long sleep. How was he not able to see that? With this new information Kingsley knew that Malfoy was right.
Nehone could be a Muggle, and he had knowledge of the true power of the Muggle pure ingredients, that help the wizards and witches back in the time where Wizarding World was just a fantasy.
He sat back to the wooden chair and looked at Pharris. He had taken the book in his hand, and he was reading something about Calluna.
This was bad. This was really bad. If Nehone knew all about the Heather's Stones, it could mean that he had practised in the past.
Perhaps that was the reason why he left London in 1951 - maybe he had found a way to provide himself everything that he ever wanted.
He looked at the man in front of him. Why he was feeling like his mind was filled in with information he already knew?
''Mr Pharris? If one, has Calluna, and the Heather Stone, what will be the outcome of that?'' Kingsley asked, and the man slowly rose his head to look at him.
''Are we still talking hypothetical?'' he asked him after some time of staring at each other. Kingsley nodded without saying a word.
''I believe that he would find himself into a very unpleasant environment. The Heather Stone can not be next to its own power for long. It will cost him too much.'' he said and his hand fell to his knee under the table.
Kingsley looked at him, not wanted to believe that Nehone was that idiot to do that. He thanked Pharris and he shook his hand.
His mind was lost in his thoughts, and he knew that he would take the long way to his office. Perhaps he shouldn't go to this office right now.
There was that bar, the one Steele was saying about - he could go there. A drink was something that he needed right now.
He walked towards the stairs. His eyes fell to the book about the golden frogs and he sighed, when the question popped in his head.
''Mr Pharris.'' he said and he looked at him over his shoulder. ''Where someone can find the heather plant?''
''Scotland. There is a very good quality there.'' he said to him and Kingsley's jaw tightened.
Shit.
''Mr Malfoy.'' the nurse softly called his name but he didn't seem to hear her.
He was sitting on the floor, his back leaning to the wall, hands covering his face. He stood there for the past two hours, pacing up and down the hall waiting for someone to come outside of the door they put her and tell him some news for her situation.
His heart was beating fast, his mind seemed to have locked out any thought and his body started to hurt. He wasn't used to sit on cold marble. What in Merlin's name happened? Why was she like that?
''Mr Malfoy!'' he heard and he jumped to his feet. His hand run down his cheek.
Was that a tear or his long covered eyes forgot about the bright light of that stupid lamps? He looked at the nurse in front of him.
''Is she alright? Can I see her?'' he asked, not wanting to hear no for an answer.
''She will be. Mr Malfoy, how long was she like that?''
''I do not know. Last night I was with her - she was fine!''
''You see, she is in shock – apparently a spell that injects itself from her eyes, made her body fall into a shock.'' the nurse said with the softest voice.
''Her senses will be back soon, but her mind, well is still not very well healed. You need extreme patience – we do not know how long it will take until she is fully healed.'' the nurse told him and he felt like his knees betraying him.
His ears were blowing, his eyes were blinking multiple times and he was feeling a fire inside of him. ''Mr Malfoy?'' the nurse called him and he snapped out of it.
''Yes.'' he cleared his throat. ''May I see her?'' he said and the nurse nodded.
She started to walk, entering a door and walking down a hallway with big windows. The evening light was creating big black shadows on the floor.
''Here we are.'' she said with the most kind voice. ''I will come see her in an hour. Until then..'' she said and she opened the door for him to pass.
He heard the door closing, and a guilt built up inside of him. She was there, in a bed that could easily fit three people.
He was happy to see that she was alone in the room. He demanded it, when he gave her name to the nurses. It was better this way.
He wouldn't know what to do with more than one patient in the same room with her. He wanted her to be able to recover alone, with no one seeing her stage.
He walked to her and he sat in the chair next to her bed. She was sleeping, her brows were frowned. Whatever dream she was seeing, it made her stressed.
Cowardly he ran his thumb to her forehead and she seemed to understand it. He felt her small sigh. He took his hand back and looked at it.
She wasn't as warm as she was when he brought her here. She was cold, but a coldness that Draco had felt over the years. She was feeling alone.
''Accio blanket.'' he said softly and at once there was a silver blanket in his hands. He covered her body with it and he sat once again next to her.
He looked at her delicate body, her long curls around her porcelain face, pale lips shut, wishing for time to go back and take away whatever pain she felt.
That was his fault. He should have protected her more. He should have been there more. Only Merlin knows what had happened and she ended up like this.
He cursed under his tongue. He cursed himself, his arrogant mind, his way of behaving. Why was he that stupid?
What was he thinking leaving her alone, in a place that this psycho knew? He sent her a fucking present to her house and he thought with some spells she would be protected?
He took his eyes away from her. It felt pain growing inside of him, a pain he had never felt before. It was something he could have prevented.
''Draco?'' he heard Kingsley's voice and he turned around to see him.
He had owled him the moment he brought her to St. Mungo's, but his owl never returned to him. ''What happened?''
''S-She is in shock.'' he said in a small voice.
Kingsley walked towards them. He saw Hermione laying in the bed - her face looked like she was dead. A weird feeling caught up with him.
''What did they say?''
''We have to wait until she wakes up.'' he said, his eyes never leaving her face. ''She will wake up.'' he said, trying to keep his pain hidden.
''If you want, I can - ''
''No! I am not leaving.'' he said and he looked at him.
''I will stay here until she wakes up.'' his eyes filled up with regret, pain and defeat.
''I will stay here, and when she will wake up, I will find that bastard and ripped his heart out with my own hands.'' he said calmly and he continued watching Hermione.
''Draco you can't stay here long.''
''I can and I will.'' he said to him, his jaw tighten. ''She was my responsibility Kingsley! Mine! And I failed her once again as I did in the past. I will not leave.'' he said determinate and Kingsley didn't want to push the situation further.
''I will put Auror's - ''
''I already told Nestor to take two of the most trustworthy men.'' he answered at once and Kingsley knew that he wasn't any great help at the point – he had to leave.
''I will be in the Ministry.'' he informed him and Malfoy only nodded, not taking his eyes away from her sleeping form.
She will be fine. She will be fine. Draco repeatedly was saying to himself not wanted to think something else than that.
We will be fine.