Harry Potter and the Act of Fate
Chapter 6: Planning
It's been three days since the attack, three days since their journey began, three days since the drunken kiss. Harry and Hermione have been awkwardly talking to each other. Draco noticed this and chose to not say a thing about it. Their small talk would eventually be about how they were going to get the locket from Umbridge. Anything else said was awkward. The two death eaters had been released by the trio after Hermione wiped their memories. They still had no idea how they found where they were.
The trio where in the living room talking about the plan that was going to take effect tomorrow in the morning. It was to be a stealthy snatch. They were going to sneak in underneath the cloak of invisibility. They only had one problem.
"Draco do you know where the bathrooms to get in the ministry is?" asked Hermione hoping to fill the loop in their plan.
"Yeah but the thing is only one person is allowed through the flush," Said Draco.
"Well what if we lock the door from the inside?" suggested Harry adding himself at the conversation avoided the look that Hermione sent him.
"It could work but it would only hold them off for a while. I mean it would have to be three flushes immediately," said Draco.
"Well that's solves that part. How exactly are we going to find Umbridge once we're inside?" asked Hermione to Draco not daring to look at Harry.
"Well she could be in her office or in one of the courtroom," stated Draco hopelessly.
"So she could be anywhere in the Ministry," said Harry staring blankly at the floor.
"Yes," said Hermione her first acknowledgement to Harry in three days. "We could split up but our faces our posted anywhere as undesirables." Frustration was getting to them. They were one day away from attempting to steal the Locket inside the ministry but had no clue to locate the short toad-faced lady. A moment of silence passed and all of the three of them where trying to find a way to locate her immediately after entering the Ministry.
"Hermione," Harry asked her taking all of them out their thinking zone. She looked up to him with demanding eyes, "Have you ever wondered how the Marauder's Map worked?"
"Yes I have. It's similar to a muggle map maker. You simply design the hallways of Hogwarts to exact measurements and then you say an enchantment to show everybody's name in their locations. Why do you ask?" Hermione was looking at Harry weirdly while Draco had no clue at what they were talking about.
"What if we do one for the Ministry?" added Harry.
"Excuse me, but what exactly is a Marauder's Map?" asked a bewildered Draco.
Harry took this time to explain to his friend what it was. "It's a magical map of Hogwarts. It was mad by my Dad and his friends. They were able to put almost everything in it with the exception of the Room of Requirement and the Chamber of Secrets. Here let me show you. Hermione?"
Hermione was miles ahead of him as she had the blank folded paper out. Harry pulled his wand out and simply stated, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He gently tapped the paper with his wand and immediately ink began to appear.
"Messrs.Moony,Wormtail,PadfootandProngs, purveyors of aids to magical mischief-makers, are proud to present the Marauder's Map"
The very detailed map began showing the hallways of Hogwarts with every single professor in it. Draco was blown away as he began to read the names of everyone in it. He flipped the map in all direction looking at all pathways of the school.
"Wow. I didn't know Hogwarts had many secret passages, but they looked like their faded. What could that mean?" asked an amazed Draco.
"It means that Snape along with the Carrows have blocked the entrances," said Harry. Draco handed over the piece of parchment to Harry who coolly stated, "Mischief Managed" and it began to fade away.
"Draco you have been mostly everywhere in the Ministry right?" asked Harry as he looked at the blond teen and the eyes of Hermione on them. Draco nodded at him. "Do you think you can recount every hallway and floor?" Hermione's face lit up and she knew where Harry was going with this and grabbed some papers.
"I can try," was the response of Draco.
"Okay I want you to take out your wand and imagine every hall and floor you've been in and use your wand to magically draw it." Draco nodded again and closed his eyes to recall every detail he knew about the Ministry. He pressed the tip of his wand against the blank paper and slowly the ink began to conjure from Draco's wand. First the levels were the ones to come out, then came the Departments. Soon after came the elevators. Finally the one that took the longest, every hallway began to appear. Draco's eyes opened up and turned to inspect the map.
"That's what I remember about the Ministry. It is very close to it." Said proudly Draco.
"Brilliant just brilliant," said Hermione.
"Hermione do you know the enchantment the marauder's used?" asked Harry forgetting the awkwardness they had to each other.
"Yes I do," said Hermione as she took out her wand and calmly said, "loco revelatum." Soon one by one names began to pop in every hallway. The first floor looked packed as they could hardly tell who was there. The next floors where less crowded until they finally reached Level 1, where Dolores' office is known to be. Sure enough they found the footsteps of the head of the Muggle-born Registration Commission.
"Great job you guys, both of you," smiled Harry as he beamed at both of them. He first looked at Draco who only smirked at his work, but as he turned to Hermione she only nodded and she stood up and went to her room. With a small click on her door, locking it.
Harry and Draco only looked at each other and then at the door. Harry sighed and buried his hands in his heads. Draco showed some compassion and padded his back a few time before he himself went to get some sleep.
(3:25 A.M. living room)
Harry was sitting in front of the giant window that showed London. He just kept staring out there remembering the kiss they shared three days ago. Each time he replayed the moment, Ron came into his head. Harry's face just seems to get guilty each time it happened. He just couldn't believe what happened. He didn't even knew why it happened. Never the less they were now talking to each other briefly. The night had been quiet. No death eaters have shown up since the first night. The full moon outside made him remember of Remus who is out there somewhere in his Werewolf form, howling his pains away. How Harry wishes he could do that right now.
In his hand once again he had the deluminator Dumbledore gave Ron. This time he didn't do anything with it but just looked at it. He wondered what Ron would be doing with it or what he would be saying about the item. His eyes forever scanned the curious object. He sighed he place the deluminator in a nearby table and got up and went to the bar and prepared a glass of whiskey with ice. Once the drink was ready, he sat down again looking at the sky. The stars lit the night brightly. They hugged the moon with tightness and the clouds seem to add to the peacefulness the atmosphere was feeling, almost as if there was no war going on.
He took a sip of the whiskey and let the alcohol settle throughout his body. He scanned the skies for answers now about his situation with Hermione. He knew their friendship was in a struggle now. They couldn't even go three words in a conversation without feeling the awkwardness in the air around them. He took another sip allowing the liquid to flow down his throat.
"You know it was because of alcohol that we're in what we are right now," a voice behind him startled but calmed down was he knew who it was.
"Want to take a seat next to me 'Mione?" asked Harry patting down next to him. Hermione only nodded and sat down next to him. As soon as she did she rested her head on his shoulder. Merlin it feels good to have her near me again, thought Harry.
"What are you doing up late 'Mione?" asked Harry to his best friend who was also staring out in the night.
"I couldn't sleep I've been having the same dream for the past three days," she replied tiredly.
"Me too," said Harry remembering the Nightmares he has gotten because of what happened three days ago. It wasn't about the kiss. It was about Hermione being captured and was the one in pain this time not him, but knowing she was getting tortured was killing him in his dreams.
"Want to talk about it?" asked Harry as Hermione remained silent through his answers.
"Not really. I just want to stay here and enjoy the view." A comfortable silence grew between them, something that hasn't happened since the kiss. Neither of them spoke since it made them happy they were once again close.
"Hermione, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'm not going to let you get harmed by anyone." Harry's eyes fell upon her own. She was smiling gently, "Neither am I Harry. We're in this together you and I, along with Draco. We're going to get through with this for Ron and everybody else who has suffered because of him," Hermione said reassuring her friend.
"Thank you 'Mione and you are right we're going to get through this," He smiled at her and only let her lean in more on his shoulders and he wrapped his arm around her waist. Soon they we're both falling asleep. This was confirmed by a yawn from Hermione as her eyes closed. Her soft breathing was calming Harry down and soon he was beginning to fall asleep.
Before either of them fell to the floor, Harry picked up Hermione bridal style. She wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to slowly carry her to her room. He looked down on her in his arms. A peaceful image as her tamed bushy hair hid her eyes but he knew they were close. A smile on her lips was all he could see. He took her inside her room and laid her in the bed softly making sure her head didn't bounce. He covered her underneath her blanket, and placed a kiss on her temple and turned to the door, "Harry don't leave. Stay with me," said a sleepy Hermione.
Harry turned around a bit surprise but smiled and nodded, "Okay 'Mione I'll stay." He removed his shoes and laid next to her in the bed. Underneath the blanket Hermione's hand found his and gently pulled him towards her. He allowed himself to get nearer. Her hand took him closer to her as he was now wrapping his arm around her, their hands still holding on to each other. A smile crept on each other's face. Soon they were asleep. A sleep they both deserved free from any nightmares. Free from Voldemort. Free from Death Eaters. Free from Ron. Dreams that were only filled with each other being happy.
Back in the living room an object in the table slowly began to shine brightly. It soon began to disappear from the table. The deluminator that Harry left at the table wasn't there anymore.
Another chapter done guys. Thank you for keeping up with the story hopefully I get more reviews of how you think I'm doing until next timeā¦
