Twenty Sinful Nights with Draco Malfoy: PART EIGHT
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The town was somewhat gauche, but Hermione liked it. The townspeople were real and honest and just happy to have visitors, especially two pretty girls. The very young and the very old could sense something was wrong with Hermione. They would shake their heads in pity or disapproval, or cry in fear. Only Ginny seemed to notice the onlookers' faces.
Walking down to the town, to the inn, they were looked upon like parade floats on Christmas morn. "Do you think they know?" Hermione asked, quietly.
"It was your choice. You should be able to bear it before the world," Ginny responded.
Hermione scoffed. "I meant if they're wizards too."
"I meant what I said."
"Then why are you here, Ginny?" Hermione yelled, stopping just before the old entrance to the inn.
"Who's going to watch over you when you run out of that stuff and you fall back down to earth? Draco? Is he here now? Do you think he'd like what you've turned into?" she replied, first fueled with anger then softened by pity.
She pushed in the doors to the inn and walked to the front desk. A blonde young man with a mushroom cut and light blue eyes greeted her with a smile. He had profound cheekbones and donned old clothes but he still looked well put together. She smiled back and signed the registry. She pondered whether to sign her name but ended up writing "Lily P." Why, she didn't know and didn't really want to think about it. She had enough psychological problems to deal with.
"A room for one?" he asked.
She wondered if he was flirting with her. He kept stealing glances.
"For two. I'm traveling with a friend. She's ill and I need to keep an eye on her," she replied. Hermione walked in after that with a slightly darker expression.
"I see," he said, noticing her eyes and the way they collected light from the room like small vacuums in space. Hermione could feel Ginny's embarrassment, could see her lowered head trying to make herself invisible. "You're in room 12."
Ginny smiled him a thank you, took the key, and headed down the corridor. Hermione stayed for a second, looking over the boy. He wasn't afraid. He had seen Essence before. She smiled deviously, thinking she could use him later, and followed Ginny.
The room was simple. There were two beds with a large window at the far end. The walls were wood. Portraits hung were painted by talented townsfolk and made the simplest face or the loneliest landscape seem beautiful because they were drawn by the people that truly knew them best. It did nothing to liven the room though. The beds were plain and white and reminded Ginny of the boy at the front desk and his loose white shirt. There were no mints on the pillows. There were no phones or a pool on the third floor. But it would do.
Hermione looked into the bathroom. It was marvelously clean. She sighed and joyously announced, "I'm going to take a shower. Don't wait up."
"Want to be clean squeaky clean for when you see Drakey?"
"Ugh. I can't believe you just said that. Don't say his name like that, even in jest. I might vomit," she replied.
Ginny laughed and looked down. She was filthy too, from the shack, and decided both needed new outfits. "I'm going into town to get some clothes, okay?" she yelled through the bathroom door. "Will you please stay still till I come back? Go to sleep, alright?"
There was a moment of silence. "I'll be here." And the shower started to run.
She hurried past the front desk towards the door. "Ms. Lily?" the boy said. "Are you alright? Is there something you need?"
She furrowed her brow. He didn't want her to leave the room, she figured, which made her start doubting his intentions. Hermione's paranoia was hitting her too. She tried to shake it off.
"You shouldn't leave your friend alone," he said sweetly.
She smiled lightly. "Could you please make sure she doesn't leave? If anything, tie her up," she semi-joked.
"Uh… I'm not sure… Hell I'm positive I'm not strong enough to go against--"
"You know?"
"Too well."
She paused and closed the door. "What's your name?" she asked seriously.
"Adlai."
"Well Adlai, if it comes to it, don't get hurt, ok?" she said and put her hand on his shoulder. "Thanks."
He smiled and saw her go through the door before it hit him. "Wait!" he yelled, running out from behind the counter. "Go down Main until you see a store called Lena's with a yellow dress in the window. Tell them I sent you."
She didn't say anything, just gave a nod and a smile, and went on her way with worry wrapping itself around her like an anaconda, choking her every second she strayed from Hogwarts.
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"There's got to be a pattern. Why aren't we getting sick?" Harry asked Madame Pomfrey, standing over Ron's sleeping body. He looked paler than ever.
"It's not a sickness, Harry. You're thinking like a Muggle. It's not meant to be treated. They're alive. They'll remain alive. As soon as enough energy's been taken from them, it moves to another person and sucks it from them and so on. It's not killing. It's just… collecting," Dumbledore said beside Pomfrey.
She was starting to worry about him. He was looking tired, but who wouldn't? "We've had to add wings to the castle! It's getting to be too much!" she hissed, holding onto her forehead.
"How many have gone asleep?"
"Over a hundred."
Harry leaned forward. "Could it be…"
"No. This is not the work of Voldemort," Dumbledore corrected. "He's not… He can't reach this far into Hogwarts."
"Are you sure, Professor? What about Quirrell? And his diary? And Slytherin House, for crying out loud!"
Dumbledore frowned. "Voldemort has never set a foot in this school, understand? His minions and his egos have, perhaps, but never himself. To do this kind of damage, you need a link or proximity."
"You've seen this before?"
"Not like this but we've all heard the stories."
Pomfrey slowly faced him, realization dawning on her face like a veil had been lifted. "But who could have been so stupid?" she whispered.
Harry looked at them both across Ron's bed. "What is it?" he asked.
Dumbledore looked at him over his half-moon glasses, sighed, and began to explain.
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Hermione came down the hallway towards the main entrance in her same clothes but several pounds of dirt lighter. "Excuse me, miss?" Adlai said. "I was instructed not to let you leave."
"You're going to try to stop me?"
"If I must."
She raised an eyebrow. Something about him ticked her off. "Where did she go?"
"Lena's. Yellow dress."
"Gotcha. I'll go find her." He raised a similar eyebrow. "Boy, you know what I can do. But you don't know who I am. I'll be back… with my friend."
And she left.
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Draco had been prepared for the return to Hogwarts. He was outfitted with a steel-like armor engraved with two dragons facing each other, a heart in the middle with a scuff along the left.
"Excuse me, can you be rid of this scrape on the central heart?" he asked one of the tailors.
Om-ree walked in just then. He began to think she waited just for the right moment to enter a room. She knew how to make an entrance. She reminded him of Dumbledore. "No," she said. "It's part of the design."
"Why?"
"There is no perfect heart, no perfect romance. It's all over sanctuary. The scuffed heart." He raised an eyebrow. "They've sent for you. Albus is worried."
"They've what? Aren't we going to Hogwarts?" he said, stepped away from the tailors and down to Om-ree. She suddenly looked very old, much so than usual. It was the name. Hogwarts. It was the thought of returning.
"They've sent a bodyguard. That's all. It seems even Dumbledore cannot trust you will not fall to my charms," she joked, picking up a small box from the dresser.
"He sent a woman? Is it--"
"No," she said softly. "At least… I hope not."
That didn't reassure him. He shot her a small look as if to say she should watch her language and went out into the hall where she stood, his bodyguard… short, gangly, and pink.
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Hermione found the place quickly. The yellow dress was the most obvious sign. It shone through like a lighthouse beacon. And yet, the place was empty. Ginny was looking at herself in the mirror. The old lady, presumably Lena, was bringing in more clothes from the back.
"Oh! There are two of you! How wonderful!" she greeted when she saw Hermione walk in.
"Ginny, what's going on?" she asked.
Ginny turned from the mirror and smiled. It was a strange smile. It was a pretty smile. She realized Ginny did not always have the resources to feel special or beautiful. Hermione wouldn't spoil it for her.
"We don't get many young ladies around here. I keep making the dresses but no one comes. So I give them to you, as a gesture, to bring more our way," the lady said, dropping a pile of clothing onto Hermione's arms. "Go try them on."
Hermione stared at the pile. They were lovely.
"Pick something royal," Ginny said. "To wear in your dreams."
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"Are you kidding me?" Draco yelled. "You're who they sent?"
Tonks leaned away from the wall, her hair turned suddenly red. She walked towards him, angry, and he slowly retreated. "Are you in danger, you snot-nosed brat? Because I assure you, the hive only listens to their queen. Something goes down, they'll leave you so quickly your head will spin. Be grateful I even showed up," she said, poking him in the forehead. He realized he'd been cornered. And yes, he was scared of her, which meant she was somewhat of a worthy warrior.
"Alright. I'll shut up."
She cleared her throat and took a step back. Her hair went down to blonde. "If they ask, I'm a Veela, capisce?"
"What are you talking about?" he asked, starting to walk down the hall towards Om-ree's room.
"Dumbledore's order. Om-ree obviously knows but if we get caught, I'm a Veela."
"Why?"
"Voldemort values Veelas. He uses them all the time. Your father, a quarter of France…"
"That explains the kisses."
She stopped walking and opened her eyes wide. "From Voldemort?"
"From the French."
She laughed. "Do me a favor?" she asked.
"What?"
"Stop talking!"
He raised an eyebrow but obeyed. She was an Auror after all. She had to know what she was doing. She had to be able to protect him. She had to be there, right? He could trust Dumbledore, right? He stopped and gulped, took a deep breathe and walked into Om-Ree's room, thinking now more than ever what Hermione was doing at that very moment.
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"Do you think this makes me look fat?" she asked.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Ginny, you could be a 300-pound suit and you'd still look skinny as a stick."
"Are we done?"
"Not even close," Hermione responded, looking at her face in the mirror. She seemed older, especially around the eyes. Their new color astounded her. She looked… inhuman. When she thought about it, it was obvious. Draco would know.
"I meant with the clothes."
"I've been here 15 minutes!"
"We just need to get through Azkaban, right?" she asked.
Hermione nodded. She picked up a small pile of robes and walked out, saying goodbye to her childhood. She thought of Azkaban and figured this was the last she'd ever see of the inside of a clothing store. She wished she'd worn more pink.
They got back to the hotel and Adlai stopped Ginny. Hermione went inside the room, straight to bed.
"I've something for you," he said, handing her a small vial of light blue liquid. "It's for when she starts coming down."
"What? Where did you get this?"
"My mum went through it. Government experiment. They came up with this cure to the addiction, but her body still has to gather together again, regain her control. Does she have someone close?" he asked.
"He's gone missing. We're trying to find him. It's why she took the Essence," she whispered back. "Thank you."
She was about to turn around, the clothes still in her arms, when he caught her arm and took her behind the front desk. "Take me with you," he whispered.
"What?" she yelled.
"I know you don't know me but I can tell what she is and what you are and I can guess where you're coming from. I can see things, Lily. Future, past… I know you're going to Azkaban," he said.
She looked up into his eyes with a furrowed brow. "You're a seer?" He nodded. "Why do you want to leave?"
"I want adventure. You two? You know adventure. You have a destiny you don't even know about. And because I've seen it. I knew it the moment you walked in. You're who I've been waiting for. You in that yellow dress. I've seen you in my dreams for years."
"Ginny," she whispered a bit later, staring at their feet.
"What?"
"My name's not Lily. It's Ginny. And yes, Adlai… Get your things together and wait here for me."
Ginny went back into the room, wondering whether or not she could trust him. She opened the door and Hermione was getting into bed. "You're going to see him?" she asked softly. Hermione could read her small shock.
"I have to try."
"Are you going to tell him about his father?"
"He doesn't need to know."
Ginny nodded, her thoughts still in another world. She put the clothes down onto her bed and went to sit beside Hermione's. She took her hand and said, "I'll be here. Clutch my hand if you need to wake."
And just like that, Hermione drifted off into her own world, the one she created just for them both… only to find they were not alone.
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"Malfoy, what's wrong?" Tonks asked, flying beside him on her broom.
"There's something wrong. Something's different," he replied. They flew towards the nearest portkey, outside the forest in Hong Kong. From there, it took them to Scotland, far from Hogwarts but nothing could get inside it, nothing they knew of. There were no floo networks nearby. Nothing penetrated Hogwarts, not even Voldemort.
"Is it Hermione? That's her name, right?" she asked. She seemed sincere and honestly worried. He had a distance face, like he lived elsewhere in his head.
"I feel… people. They watch us."
"We're being followed?" She seemed alarmed and looked around but the sky was clear for miles on end. It was empty land, empty sky. The sun was just going down.
"No. Just me. I think I can hear them sometimes, when I'm flying especially."
"You know, there was an old wizard from Chile that taught at the academy. I had the pleasure of meeting him once. He was an avid flyer as a child and more so into adulthood. When I asked him why he'd stopped, he told me that he'd lost something. He said there was peace in flying. It took away thought. He did it on instinct, as any true flyer would, almost like meditation. He said he was too old to give away his thoughts. He was too old to lose himself and that he needed to hold onto the notion of reality as long as he could," she said, stopping to see his reaction. "Where do you go when think of her? What reality?"
"Many. We're linked by our dreams. She tried to contact me once while I slept. There was a mistake. Now I bare another mark. It follows. She follows me with it," he replied.
"I don't think it's her, then. I don't know much about Morpheus pendants. I can't even fathom being a Veela. But if it guides you, I'd say listen to it and chose to follow later. It might lead you to her."
He thought about it. Maybe she was right. So he closed his eyes and put out his hand for her to take. "Catch me if I fall," he said.
And he thought of Hermione.
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Her dreams were empty. Just endless white space, a room that was crowded and infinite at the same time. She couldn't see him but she felt him, recognized his soul.
"Ron?" Hermione asked. "Is that you?"
"We're here, Hermione," he replied in the form of an echo.
"I can't see you Ron. Where are you?"
She extended her hand and felt nothing but a light breeze. She thought of the jungle and Draco but not even his thought could comfort her in the void. And then he came. She could feel him too, lost within a sea of souls.
"Open your eyes, Hermione," they told her, this sea.
When she did, she did not wake. She shifted into the world beyond the void, beyond the dream. She saw the sea, the endless faces encircling her.
"What is this?" she yelled. They all seemed so familiar. "Who are these people? Are you… are you ghosts?"
"No, 'Mione. We're here for you. You called. We answered," Ron replied. His voice was loud amongst the whispering crowd.
"Hermione? Who are these people?" Draco asked.
"Draco? Baby, where are you?" she asked. The other voices took their cue to leave. She could only see Draco.
"Hong Kong," he whispered. He was getting farther away.
"Draco!" she yelled. "Draco, come back!"
"I can't. I'm falling…"
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Draco opened his eyes and saw Tonks, upside down on her broom, yelling for him to wake. His broom hovered beside him and he dangled from her hand over a grand cloud below.
He called for his broom and remounted it but the feeling that he was not alone kept with him. Even after he rode on as if nothing had happened and he had not seen her face, he could still feel her touch all over him like a blanket. And when he blinked, there she was again. And when he breathed, he smelled her. And he felt better, like he was going home to her time and time again.
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TO BE CONTINUED IN PART NINE:
--Can Adlai be trusted? Is he really a seer?
--What's going to happen with him and Ginny?
--Why the yellow dress?
--Will they reach Hogwarts in time to stop Snape?
--What's the link between the illness at Hogwarts and Hermione's dreams?
--Why did Dumbledore send Tonks?
--Will Hermione reach Azkaban?
--What will Lucius have to say?
--What happens when Draco reaches home?
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