Flashback of Chapter 10:
After a long (or so it seemed) day of walking around and shopping, Orabella and Draco stopped by a nearly empty pub. Draco sat at the bar and got the attention of the bartender quickly. "I'll get a Firewhiskey," he said coolly.
"A butterbeer, please," Orabella piped up as she removed her cloak. It was a bit cool in the pub, a nice change from the slowly warming weather outside. The bartender nodded again and went to get their drinks ready. Draco surveyed Orabella with amusement. "What?" she asked when she finally met his silver gaze.
"A butterbeer? Are you a bloody sixth year?" he scoffed. Orabella glared.
"I can order whatever I bloody well want to. And yes, I am still a sixth year," she said sarcastically with a dramatic eye roll, and Draco shook his head.
"One Firewhiskey and a butterbeer," the bartender interuppted with a clang of the mugs.
"That was quick, mate," Draco said and put down two Sickles which quickly disappeared into the bartender's hand. He left them to their drinks and silence ensued as it did so many times when they were alone.
"So, tell me, Malfoy-"
"Draco," he corrected before he sipped his Firewhiskey.
"What?"
"My name. Draco." Orabella shook her head.
"Okay, Draco, tell me something about yourself." Draco raised a brow at her.
"Like what?"
"Like anything!" Draco scoffed.
"Alright, my name is Draco Malfoy," he said and took another swig of Firewhiskey. Orabella just rolled her eyes.
"I guess I'll start then. My mum and dad are dentists."
"My father was a Death eater."
"I'm an only child."
"As am I."
"I own a mobile phone in the Muggle world." Draco looked around quickly.
"Don't say that out loud," he hissed quietly, and Orabella shrugged. "Come on, let's get out of here." He took the packages in one hand and took her by the hand in the other, and proceeded to drag her out of the pub.
"I didn't get to finish my butterbeer," she whined, and Draco shot her a look.
"There's too many ears around here," he muttered. "You can't trust many wizards anymore, especially after the war."
"There was barely anybody in there!" she said stiffly, but Draco ignored her and continued to drag her along. They walked for nearly half an hour straight, and Orabella was panting by the time they were in front of signora Viendoli's cottage. "What was that all about?" she hissed. Draco shot her a silencing look before knocking on the door. Trity answered with a grim look on his face.
"Missus expecting you both earlier," he said in his scratchy voice.
"I know, we got caught up. There was a line. Why am I explaining it to you? Get out of my way and let us in," Draco said. Trity complied and he walked in with Orabella following behind. The door shut behind them and Adrina came flying down the stairs.
"Oh, dears! I was worried when you didn't come home at twelve!" she cried. "Did you get the packages?"
"Yes, we did. Sorry for taking so long. We were caught up in a line." Adrina clasped her hands together and nodded.
"I see. Let me see the packages." She took the three bundles from Draco's arms.
"Careful, it's a bit heavy," he said as he handed them to her. Adrina shook her head as she carried them as if they weighed like nothing.
"I can handle it dear." She carried them effortlessly up the stairs and Draco watched her with his brows furrowed in thought again. Orabella touched his arm, startling him a bit out of his thoughts as he looked down at her.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, and Draco looked back at the now empty stairs.
"I think so," he murmured. A loud cry from upstairs sent Draco moving to the bottom of the steps.
"Are you alright up there, signora?" he called. Adrina appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Oh Draco, there is something missing from the package. The skirt is of the wrong sort! I don't want to send you back out since you just came back…" Draco shook his head.
"It's alright, I'll take it back. Please, give it here." Adrina handed him the package and he began walking towards the front door. "I'll be back soon." Adrina nodded and disappeared upstairs again as soon as Draco disappeared, and Trity closed the door behind him. Orabella sighed and flopped onto the couch. I hope Adrina doesn't go loony on me, she thought.
"Orabella, dear!" Adrina called from up the stairs. Orabella stood and turned to face the staircase and heard a faint familiar Disapparating sound from upstairs. Weren't the Anti-Disapparition wards still on? Confused, she went to the bottom of the steps where Draco had been only moment ago and looked up.
"Signora Adrina?" she called.
"Stupefy!" an unfamiliar voice said behind her, and Orabella fell forward and everything went black.
Draco entered the house with a newly wrapped package in his hand. "Signora Adrina?" he called. He put the package on the coffee table and looked around. "Signora? Adrina?" Trity suddenly appeared.
"Missus not here. Missus go out with guest." Draco raised a brow.
"What? She went out with Orabella?" Trity nodded.
"Missus say to tell guest not to worry. Missus be back soon." Draco furrowed his brows.
"Thank you…" he murmured. He looked out the window. It was late in the afternoon. If they didn't come back by nightfall, something was wrong. He could sense something wrong already. Trity disappeared and Draco looked around Adrina's empty house. Something wasn't right. With his keen grey eyes, he searched the room with his eyes, when his gaze nearly passed a light spot on the carpet. He walked quickly over to it kneeled down near the spot, and looked down intensely at it.
"Is that…blood?" he murmured. Sure enough, there were three drops of blood on the fourth step, as if someone had fallen on there while bleeding. Quickly, Draco ran up the stairs, looking for any more evidence of it, and checked all the rooms upstairs. What caught his eye was the object in signora Viendoli's bedroom; thick pieces of glass broken on the floor.
Draco picked up a few shards and stared at them. They had a familiar inscribing on them. "Hermione," he whispered and his eyes widened in realisation and he dropped the pieces. "Orabella!" he yelled and sped out the door in a panicked rush.
Author's Note: oh no! what happened to Hermione?! Please review and tell me what you think! -LoVeDoNtHaTe
