"How is she?" Harry asked as soon as he saw Draco, stopping dead. He'd been pacing back and forth in front of the door, his hands once again in cuffs. Draco stared at him for a moment.
"Who do you mean," Draco replied scornfully, "the one you're fucking or the one you're fucking over?"
"She told you?" Harry spat back, picking up his pacing again, a fire in his eyes. "Look, I never really meant to, it always just sort of happened. After Cosette started to avoid me, she sort of just appeared and I don't know, but then I found out that Cosette was gone, really gone, I haven't even thought of Rhiannon until she-"
"What did you say?" Draco asked sharply, advancing on Harry. "What did you say her name was?"
"Rhiannon," Harry answered slowly, "Rhiannon Montmorency, and I swear I never knew she was a Death Eater…where are you going?!" Harry yelled after Draco's retreating form. He tried to follow, but Draco slammed the door shut behind him, and Harry was left to pace some more.
Draco stalked up the stairs, pounding his feet and clenching his fists. When he got back to his room, he kicked the chair from under his desk, knocked over two lamps, punched the wall, and was starting on his bookshelf when Cosette caught his arms and pulled him back. He was crying, hot, angry tears that Cosette hadn't seen since they'd been children.
"What happened?" she asked softly, her eyes searching out his.
"It's Rhee," he whispered, turning to cradle Cosette in his arms. "That girl he's fucking, she was Edan's girlfriend Rhee."
---
Hermione was quietly reading a book she'd found in the library, Tristan on a blanket laying next to her, when a small, nervous looking house elf came up to her, wringing his hands.
"Miss, a man is here to see you." Hermione furrowed her brows and nodded to the elf, suggesting that the visitor be permitted. She went back to reading, albeit distractedly this time, before she heard a familiar, chilling voice.
"Hermione, love, you look unwell." She froze, her hands tightening on the book. "Don't tell me you've been under the weather?"
"Gavin," she said softly, making herself look at him. Instead of the pulling desire she'd hitherto felt when she saw him, her stomach turned and she was forced to look away again. "I think it's really best if you just leave."
"That's no way to treat a guest, darling," Gavin continued, moving to pour himself a brandy. "Would you like one?"
"No, thank you," Hermione ground out, feeling more and more anxious every second she was made to stay in his presence. "After your drink, I suggest you leave. I'm expecting other company."
"Oh, really? Perhaps I know them."
"I'm afraid you don't," Hermione lied, putting her book down sharply. Gavin raised an eyebrow and watched her during a long sip.
"Dearest, I think we should talk about certain things that have transpired between us," Gavin cocked his head in mock innocence, but Hermione could feel more than see the deceitful look in his eyes.
"Nothing 'transpired,' Gavin, but a few too many drinks and a mistake I'm trying to deal with," she spat, gathering up Tristan to put in his crib. She leaned over and stroked his happy little face with her finger, for a moment forgetting the man behind her. She turned around and crossed to the bar, pouring herself a glass of deep red wine. "Now, I'll have to ask you again, please get out of my house."
"Hermione," Gavin pressed, standing up and leaving his cup behind. "Why are you trying so hard to fight this?"
"I have nothing to fight!" Hermione exclaimed. Gavin's jaw set and he advanced on her, pushing her against the wall and knocking her glass from her hand, spilling wine on the carpet. Hermione gasped and struggled under his grip, his calloused hand scraping against the scar Lucius had left for her during the final battle, and Hermione's eyes watered.
"Look, sweetheart, I don't know what kind of game you're playing but I'm unfamiliar with the rules. Generally, having an affair results in more than one night, and while I'm prepared to wait, I have never been partial to denial." Gavin stopped, hearing the shattering of a glass not far behind him. He spun around, dropping Hermione, who cowered and held her throat.
"You fucking liar," Hermione heard a sweet, female voice she recognized. "You are absolutely fucking repulsive."
"Oh, Ginny," Hermione cried, rushing over, "I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry, I wanted to tell you everything but I couldn't, I just couldn't and now…"
"Hermione," Ginny said softly, "Sit down, honey, get a drink and sit down." Hermione nodded, crying to herself over a new glass of wine, and curling up on a chair. Ginny was seething, watching Hermione until she sat, and then turning on Gavin. "Every word you ever said to me was a lie, wasn't it?" she demanded, her voice too loud and too shrill.
"No, Ginny, you don't understand…" Gavin pleaded, his composure undone for the first time Hermione could remember.
"I don't understand? Really?" She scoffed and moved closer. "I did a little research after I last saw Hermione. I found out that someone had slipped her Imperius potion in a glass of water, and probably her wine. And I was here to tell her, but I found you instead. So, congratulations, I can call the Ministry and they'll be here to send you to Azkaban and you'll have plenty of time to think about how you've effectively screwed us all."
"Ginny, please, let me explain myself!" Gavin yelled over Ginny. Ginny pulled back her arm and smacked Gavin across the face, her mother's ring leaving a heart shaped mark next to his left eye. Hermione cowered lower in her chair and Tristan began to whimper.
"You don't fucking need to," Ginny whispered, staying close to his face. "So get out now and make sure I never see you again or I'll put you in Azkaban." Gavin sighed, trudging out of the room silently. Ginny fell back into a chair and sighed.
"Gin?" Hermione asked softly after a moment. "Are you okay?"
"No, Hermione, I'm not, you're not, and we're not going to be until we finish every bottle of liquor left in this godforsaken manor."
---
Draco was pacing his room, Cosette curled up underneath the duvet on the bed. He'd exhausted himself with his outburst, but his feet wouldn't let him sit down. Rubbing his neck, Draco peered out the window, watching as the last black limousine drove off. He nodded, sighed, and stole softly out of the room. Halfway down to the main meeting room, he met Mallory.
"It's been ages since you were around," Draco drawled coldly, surveying the man before him with disdain.
"I'm here to tell you all the men you've summoned and their apprentices are in the main ballroom, awaiting your word," Mallory said, his eyes downcast and bloodshot. Draco placed a fingertip under his chin and pushed up, meeting his eyes. He frowned and ran his fingers over the heart shaped bruise gracing Mallory's left eye.
"What's that from?" Draco asked, curious. Mallory's eyes flicked around Draco's face, before he started to laugh desperately.
"It's what I got for fucking your wife," he said, his voice cracking and his eyes shutting with mirthless laughter. Draco ground his teeth together and punched Mallory as hard as he could. Mallory jetted off the landing and down a flight of stairs, coming to a stop at the banister on the next floor. He was still laughing, a trickle of blood spilling from his mouth and onto his cheek. Draco picked him up and set him on his feet, but Mallory had to lean against the railing to stay upright. "That's right, Malfoy, I fucked her and I fucked her friend. And they both would have done it again. You see, to them, I'm a charming lawyer who would do anything to make them happy, not just using them to undermine you and gain power." Draco punched him again, sending him down a few more stairs. Mallory lay at the bottom, his laughter bubbling up from his throat and spilling blood over the marble stairs. "Isn't that what this is all about?" he called, his voice thick. "It's a power struggle, and I intend to come out on top."
Draco slowly descended the next flight, his fists clenched and his jaw set. Mallory watched him approach, his laughter dying with each step, until he was panting on the floor in front of Draco. "Get the fuck in that room, and don't fucking leave. Tell the rest of them to wait with you." Draco picked up Mallory again and pushed him. "Go, or I'll fucking kill you right now." Mallory stumbled off as quick as he could, leaving a dribble of blood in his wake. Draco sighed, rubbing his eyes, before pulling out his wand, whipping it around in the air, and sprinting up the stairs.
---
Cosette woke with a start when the door banged open. "Draco?" she asked blearily, yawning. "Draco, what's wrong?" Draco was now rummaging through a closet.
"Go to the ballroom and get Harry, right now," Draco commanded. When Cosette made no motion, Draco turned. "I mean it, Cosette, you need to hurry." Cosette nodded, and pulled herself out of bed. She looked at Draco for another second before bolting down the stairs. She burst into the ballroom, finding Harry sitting near the door, staring at his feet. Cosette's stomach somersaulted and she took a deep breath.
"Harry," she started, and he looked up at her suddenly with so much hope that Cosette nearly cried. "Harry, come on. We have to hurry."
"What?" he asked, getting up to follow her. "Cosette, look, the window's have all slammed closed." Cosette paused a moment and surveyed the room. The window's weren't just closed, she deduced, but had disappeared entirely. She took a deep breath and turned back to Harry.
"Come on," she said, a bit shaken, and led the way upstairs. When they emerged in the bedroom, Draco was waiting for them, holding a napsack, two brooms, and a map.
"Here," he said, giving each a broom, Cosette, the map, and Harry, the sack. "The brooms are charmed to follow the map. It will lead you back to the manor. Stay there until you hear some word from me. Take care of my son, will you?" he asked Harry, biting his lip slightly. Harry nodded. Draco returned the gesture and reached into his robes. "Here are your wands," he said, holding out two identical pieces of holly wood. Cosette and Harry looked at them for a moment, taking the one closest to them, and feeling their own familiar magic tingle in their hands. "Now," Draco continued, striding to the nearest window and flinging it open, "Get out, and don't look back."
Just as he finished, the window on the far side of the room made a loud cracking sound as it shrunk, before disappearing with a pop. All three stared; two with wonder, one with dread. Harry turned to ask about it as the second window popped into oblivion and the third began, but Draco shook his head and motioned to the window. Harry nodded and jumped, flinging his broom between his legs and shooting off a little ways. From his perch, he could see that all but four windows had disappeared, and the castle was beginning to get hazy. Cosette came out a moment after, just before the last window started to crack. She flew up next to Harry, watching as the sealed up castle faded and shimmered like a mirage.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" she asked meekly, quietly. Harry sighed.
"I don't know," he answered truthfully, and followed Cosette as she streaked off into the distance.
---
Ron was pounding on the door, screaming, his face wet with sweat and tears. Hermione answered the door, her face expressing concern.
"Hermione, Hermione, I…I…" Ron began, but he collapsed against her, sobbing, shaking, and gasping desperately for air. "They're coming home, they're coming home!"
"Who is?" Hermione asked frantically, her heart jumping.
"Harry and Cosette, they're coming home, but Draco, Draco…" Ron shook his head, unable to look at Hermione. Ginny had been standing behind Hermione, and she saw her legs begin to weaken.
"Ron, come here," Ginny said softly, helping her brother stand, half carrying him inside. Hermione swayed on the front step, trying to guess what had happened, expecting the worst. A moment later, Ginny reappeared, her arms encircling Hermione in attempt to help her as well, but Harry and Cosette landed in the front garden before they got inside.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled, running to her. He grasped her as hard as he could, and she returned with just as much desperation. "We don't know what happened, there wasn't anything to do, he made me promise, he made me promise…" Harry breathed against her hair. Cosette moved slowly, almost unconsciously, toward the door, brushed past the three friends on the porch and disappeared.
"Harry, please tell me what happened," Hermione pleaded, her voice broken. Harry bit his lip.
"The whole place, the whole damned castle just shut itself up and disappeared. Draco, he…he…" Harry stuttered, trembling, but Hermione squeezed his hands to urge him on. "He sent Cosette and I off, and he disappeared with the castle." Hermione stayed still for a moment, her eyes searching Harry's.
"Ginny, can you please go check on your brother? Take Harry with you, and ask the house elves to brew up a real strong pot of tea. This is going to be a long night." Ginny nodded, taking Harry's hand and leading him inside. Hermione took a deep breath. The night was cool, a precursor to the winter ahead. The end of October, and Hermione thought back exactly one year to the Halloween ball, the excitement at seeing everyone together again. And now here they were again, yet now missing three. Another deep breath, and she turned and went inside.
Ron was still shaking, more mildly, but it was obvious he had something to say. Harry was next to him on the couch, Ginny in a chair opposite. Cosette was nowhere to be seen, but Hermione figured she knew her way around well enough. Ron jumped when Hermione came in, and immediately sprang into motion.
"Hermione, I had a dream. I've been having dreams, all week long. I know. I know everything, Hermione, but I just don't know how it all ends."
---
A.N. So here I am. Chapter seven. On the night HP5 comes out in theatres. A little bonus to the night, so to say. Still unbeta-ed. Probably unrevised. Reviews are always welcome, although I feel like my readers have all supposed me dead by now, considering it's been ten months since I last updated, and I am very sorry for that.
