A/N: And the plot thickens again! Enjoy :)
Harry's POV
I watched Draco leave and everyone else. Soon it was just Hermione and I left. We both headed into the office and looked around. "This is awful," she commented sadly.
"I know. I didn't picture this when we set this all up. Is there really someone out there who has such a problem with this?" I questioned.
"Apparently. I do think it's odd that this is happening just as soon as we've brought Draco on board," she commented.
I looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously, Mione? He didn't do this!" I exclaimed.
She narrowed her gaze at me. "I know he didn't do this. I'm simply pointing out that it's quite the coincidence that all of this starts happening when he comes back into your life," she replied angrily.
I took a deep breath willing myself to calm down. "It has crossed my mind, but I'm not sure what, if anything he has to do with it. It almost seems like someone is trying to set him up or his family up to take the blame. If it is former Death Eaters, it doesn't seem too far out of their reach," I told her.
"Do you think Draco has really shut out all the people he said?" she asked as she started flicking her wand and moving things back to their proper place.
"Yes. He honestly hasn't talked to anyone except his house elf until I came by the other day. It doesn't mean that his parents aren't talking though. He's been helpful the entire time with all of this and has answered all questions. He talked to his parents to get information about the owl for us. He wouldn't have done that if he played any part in this mess," I replied as I too started moving things to where they belonged.
"That's true. I'm sorry. I'm just so upset about this," she cried. Her shoulders sagged and she placed her head into her hands. I walked over to her and put an arm around her. She turned and wrapped her arms around me as she cried. I held her while she cried and felt my own anger boil over at the audacity of the people who did this. We were hurting no one with our mission. We were helping people.
We stood that way for several moments. Finally, Hermione's tears subsided and she stepped away from me smiling in embarrassment. I smiled back in understanding and we went back to cleaning. It wasn't long before our office was back to normal. We sighed and sat down on the couch that was in the middle of the room.
"So what happened while you were under the disillusion spell?" she asked after awhile.
I laughed. "We just talked about his reaction to what happened here," I replied.
"I didn't see him. How did he react?" she questioned, turning towards me.
"He was quite panicked about whether or not I was okay. Ron apparently tried to tell him I was fine, but Draco wouldn't listen," I replied, smiling at the memory.
She chuckled. "He's always been a bit of a drama queen, hasn't he?"
I started to laugh even more. "Yes, that's very true. This isn't annoying like his other dramatic moments like when Buckbeak hit his arm. Merlin, you would have thought he had his arm chopped off with the way he reacted," I said, thinking back on the memory. I remember at the time laughing at him and thinking he was being ridiculous. Now I just think of it as a fond memory.
"Yeah, that was so funny. He definitely deserved that. I wonder if that pompous attitude is still in there somewhere," Hermione contemplated.
I shrugged. "I don't know. I don't think so, but I'm sure there are hints here and there. I saw a bit of the old animosity when I first visited him, but since then we've been getting along rather well so…." I trailed off, blushing.
Hermione gave me a knowing look. "I should have known your reconnection with him would head down this path. Have you kissed anymore?"
"Yeah…. that also happened under the disillusion spell," I replied shyly.
She laughed and shook her head. "Whatever makes you happy, Harry."
We sat there in silence for a few more moments. "Are you ready to head out?" I asked.
"I think so. Tomorrow's a new day, right?" she replied.
I nodded. I stood up and reached out to help her up as well. She took my hand and stood. She hugged me and smiled. We headed towards the door, but about halfway there Hermione stopped suddenly and I ran into her. I looked up in surprise to see why she'd stop. Standing in the doorway was Marcus Flint from the Magical Games and Sports division.
"Flint, what are you doing here?" I asked, sidestepping Hermione and standing slightly in front of her. We had seen Flint around the Ministry and had always been polite. He'd come down a couple of times to visit with Theo and Pansy and some other people, but not very often.
"I wanted to come down and see if everyone was alright," he said as he looked around. His voice sounded off as did the look in his eyes. I released my wand from the holster. Hermione caught the movement and released hers as well.
"It's just Hermione and I. We were just heading out. Why don't you come by tomorrow and check in with the others?" I suggested.
We gripped our wands tighter and maintained eye contact on him. "Oh, I see. Yeah, I'll stop by tomorrow," he replied in a strange tone.
He turned and started to leave. Hermione and I both sighed and glanced at each other. Flint walked out so we started heading towards the exit as well. Suddenly, a loud crash was heard behind us. We turned back into our office and saw the couch we had just been sitting on and the table next to it tipped over. Hermione and I looked at each other in confusion and walked closer.
In that moment, I saw a flash in the corner of my eye and Hermione flying across the room, crashing into a desk. I whipped around, raising my wand. It flew out of my hand as I was disarmed. I dove to the ground, hitting my face against the corner of a table, as a spell came flying at me. My cheek ached as I scrambled over to a desk area to get some protection. I watched as Flint came further into the room. He stopped by Hermione and looked down at her. He turned and went to where I had hit the floor and looked around. I raised my hand to defend myself. My wandless magic was pretty good now so I wasn't completely without magic by not having my wand.
Flint came towards me slowly. I quickly cast a shield around myself and leapt up from behind the desk, surprising Flint. I tackled him and smacked at his wand hand. The wand tumbled out and I scrambled off of him to grab it. I whipped around and cast the incarcerous spell on him, effectively binding him. Flint laid there, struggling in the ropes. I made it over to Hermione, just as she was waking up. I found my wand nearby and cast a patronus to get Ron down here.
"Mione, are you okay?" I questioned as her eyes started to flutter open.
She sat up and coughed a couple of times. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a stunning spell. Oh, Harry, are you alright?" she said in alarm as she reached out towards my face.
I waved her off. "I'll be fine. I sent an alert to Ron," I told her. I kept my wand trained on Flint, but he was no longer struggling. He was just lying there.
Within seconds, Ron was rushing in with several other aurors behind him. He glanced at Flint before he was rushing over to Hermione and me. He looked Hermione over before he pulled her into his arms and held her. He looked extremely worried.
"Mione," he whispered. I looked away to give them some privacy. Today had been quite the day for those two and I was sure that Ron's nerves were fried.
I watched as the aurors were pulling Flint up off the ground. I stood up and moved over to them. "Let me see his face," I requested. Flint looked up at me. He still had a dazed look in his eyes. I nodded and they took him out of the office. "Ron?" I called out.
"Yeah, mate?" he replied sounding distant. I walked over to them and sat down again. He wasn't going to let go of Hermione any time soon.
He looked up at me in question. "I think Flint was imperiused," I whispered.
"I agree. He wasn't acting normally. His voice and his eyes were off. It would be worth looking at," Hermione agreed quietly.
"It would make sense. You can't have access to this office unless you're a Ministry official. I'll look into it. Do you think he's the one who did this in the first place?" Ron replied.
Hermione and I looked at each other. "Yeah, I think so. Maybe that'll give you a lead," I replied.
Ron nodded. "Yeah. Mione, I'm going to take you home and then I'll come back and see what we can find out."
"I can get home myself. Just stay here," she replied.
"I'll be sure she gets home, okay?" I interrupted, predicting that an argument would ensue purely out of Ron being so protective of her.
He looked like he didn't want to give in, but finally decided that it would be fine. We secured our office more so than before and headed to the lifts. Ron walked us to the floo and waited until we were both inside the fireplace, flooing to their home. I made sure Hermione was situated and secure before I flooed to Grimmauld.
Once at home, I went straight upstairs and collapsed on my bed. It wasn't long before I fell asleep.
XXXX
Draco's POV
I arrived back at the Manor around noon. I was restless. The morning had been emotional and eventful. I hadn't worried so much about someone in a long time as I did about Harry this morning and even then it was so different from other times I've worried. I was questioned in regards to an investigation. I spoke to Pansy and Theo after shutting them out for two years. I learned that former Death Eaters might be stirring the pot and of all the leftover Death Eaters, they were the scariest.
I called for Tibbles. He appeared next to me. "Yes, Master Draco?"
"I need you to apparate me to my parents villa. Can you do that?" I asked.
"Of course, sirs," he said, sureness not in his voice. I understood his wariness. Tibbles knew how messed up I was after the war and after I shut out my parents and friends. I could understand why he was reluctant to have me be involved with them again. He took my hand and apparated us both into the villas garden. I walked up to the porch and noted that the door was open. I stepped in with Tibbles by my side. He was tugging on his ear nervously. Another house elf was standing in the kitchen. She looked up at me in surprise.
"Master Draco?" she asked.
"Yes, Winny. Where are my parents?" I questioned.
"Theys are in the dining room. Right this way," she told me. She gestured to follow her so I did. It wasn't long before I was standing outside the dining room. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this, but I knew that I needed to talk to them in person where I could read my father's reactions much easier.
I heard my mother gasp as Winny told her I was there. I sighed before I stepped into the dining room. My mother was a blur as she rushed over to me and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. She was crying as she stepped back and grabbed my face and then hugged me again. I hugged her back, feeling genuinely happy to see her. If it wasn't for my father, I'd have still spent time with her over the past couple of years.
"Hello, mother," I said to her.
She stepped back and looked at me through her tears. "Oh, dragon, you look and sound so different," she cried.
I blushed slightly and looked away from her. My father was standing nearby looking his usual regal self. I looked at his eyes and saw the same softness in his eyes as the other day. It made his regal attitude less aggravating. "Father," I addressed with a polite nod. He nodded back.
"I'm surprised to see you so soon, Draco," he stated.
"Yes, well, I wish that my visit was meant for better terms, but alas, it isn't," I told him.
"Have a seat. What is going on?" my father directed.
I took a seat at the table, across from my mother who had returned to her seat. She looked rather pale. I hated involving them both especially her, but I knew it had to be done. "Well, Harry's and Granger's Dream Big office was ransacked today," I explained.
My mother lifted her eyebrows at using Harry's first name. My father's expression looked quite similar as well. I bit the inside of my cheek for revealing something so important to them. "Oh, Harry is it?" my father commented.
"Father, not the issue here. Their office was broken into and ransacked. A few former Death Eaters' files were taken. There isn't any pertinent information in them that is revealing, but regardless it's obvious that they targeted former Death Eaters. I was questioned as was Pansy Parkinson and Theo Nott. None of us are responsible for it and the aurors know that. What was important about this is that I talked with Pansy and Theo afterwards and they've heard rumors," I explained.
"Rumors?" my mother asked quietly.
I nodded. "Have either of you heard of anything?"
My mother and father exchanged glances and it appeared that this was news to them as well. They hadn't been talking with their former "friends" either. "No, we haven't heard anything. We don't talk to anyone from that time," my mother replied.
I looked over at my father. "Father?" I questioned, not ready to believe that he wasn't talking to people.
"No, your mother is right. We don't talk to anyone. What are these rumors?" he asked.
"Theo has heard that a couple of Death Eaters are starting things up," I replied.
"Who?" my father asked in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.
"The Lestranges," I said quietly.
My mother gasped and my father paled. They exchanged looks. "Is he sure?" he whispered.
"Yes, I think so," I replied.
"Draco, you can't stay at the Manor. It's not safe," my mother stated.
I looked at her in confusion. "Of course, it's safe. The wards are powerful on our house. I've strengthened them over the past couple of years and have completely changed who can come and go. It is limited to both of you and me. No one can get through the gate unless I allow them in. I am perfectly safe there," I replied.
She looked fearful. "There are other ways to get into the Manor, you know that."
I looked over at my father. He looked quite concerned for my safety. "She's right. There are other ways to get into the Manor. You need to stay elsewhere until the aurors can figure this out," he agreed.
"Where do you suggest I stay that is safer than the Manor?" I questioned.
They exchanged glances again. I had a feeling that I knew where they were going with this. "Stay with us," my mother suggested hopefully. My father nodded in agreement.
I shook my head immediately. "No, I can't stay here," I replied.
"But why? You can't still want to stay away from us?" my mother cried.
I sighed. "It's more complicated than that," I replied.
"How is it more complicated?" she demanded.
"I have a reason to stay in England," I stated.
My mother frowned for just a moment before she smiled a little bit. My father, on the other hand, looked confused. "What reason do you have to stay in England?" he demanded.
I blushed and looked over at my mother, wondering if she would rescue me. She smiled a bit more before she turned to my father. "He wants to stay because he wants to stay close to someone," she responded.
My father looked over at me in surprise. "You're seeing someone?" he questioned.
"Not officially, but kind of," I replied. Harry and I hadn't discussed that aspect of our relationship, but it seemed that it was heading that way.
"And who is it?" he questioned again.
I glanced at my mother and she shook her head slightly. It seemed that she agreed with my belief that my father wasn't ready to handle the concept of Harry and I in any form. "It's not important right now. I'm going to see if I can stay elsewhere though, just not here. If you hear anything, will you let me know?" I requested. I pushed back from the table and stood. My mother looked at me in alarm at the fact that I was leaving so soon. My father looked like he didn't want to accept my answer to whom I was seeing.
"I'll walk you back to the garden," my mother stated as she stood as well. I walked over to my father and held out my hand. He looked at it in surprise and took it. We shook and he held on a bit longer. When I looked at him, I could see the concern in his eyes for me. I appreciated that. I smiled politely and he let go. My mother and I walked back through the villa and into the sitting room. "Draco, darling, please be careful. I expect Mister Potter to take care of you while you are under his care," she said quietly to me.
I looked at her in surprise and blushed deeply. "Mother," I responded just as quietly.
She smiled at me. "Does he make you happy?"
I shrugged. I wouldn't say I was necessarily happy because we hadn't spent that kind of time together, but he definitely made me feel. "He makes me smile and not feel like a criminal or a horrible person. He makes me feel hope again and I don't feel lonely. He makes me feel like I need to be with him more than I want to be by myself."
She nodded, a few tears in the corner of her eyes. "That's good, dear. I hope that it stays that way," she whispered.
I nodded. Tibbles was waiting by the door for me. I started towards him, but then I remembered something that Harry had said to me that first night. "Mother, Harry said that you saved him in the forest. How did you save him?"
"He told you that? I didn't think he'd remember that. When the Dark Lord struck him with the killing curse and after Mister Potter had somehow woken up, the Dark Lord asked me to check to see if he was dead. So I went to him and realized that he was in fact very much alive. I asked him if you were safe and he said yes. In turn, I told the Dark Lord that he was dead," she explained.
"Thank you for that," I replied.
She smiled at me and nodded. I stepped back over to her and hugged her tightly. I let go and walked back over to Tibbles. We walked outside an went back to the spot we had come in at. I looked back at my parent's home and saw my mother standing in the doorway. I waved to her before I took Tibbles hand and he apparated us back to the Manor.
When I arrived back at the Manor. I rushed upstairs and packed a bag. I didn't want to just show up on Harry's doorstep, but I figured if I went there and he came home to see me, then everything would be fine.
"Tibbles!" I called out.
"Yes, Master?" he said as he popped into existence in front of me.
"We are going to shut down the Manor for a bit. Seal all entrances and then meet me downstairs in the floo room," I ordered.
He looked at me in confusion, but nodded. He disappeared and I went downstairs. I stood in the foyer and began casting more protection spells for the Manor. I knew it had very high security already, but I wanted to add to it even more. I wasn't going to be there, but I still wanted the home protected. I walked into the floo room and shrunk my bag down, placing it in my pocket. A few minutes later, Tibbles had come into the room with his own small bag.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"You are coming with me to Harry's. Are you ready?" I asked.
He looked very surprised by this. "I goes with you?"
"Of course. Are you ready?" I asked again.
He looked up at me with watery eyes and nodded. We stepped into the floo and he held onto my pant leg while I called out our destination.