A/N: How's it going everyone? I'm not seeing reviews!? For all who have clicked the follow button, thank you so much!
I understand that this is taking a lot of time and the story is going very slowly. This all started on a whim and I had not planned it out before attempting to write it so please bear with me. I'll specify again that this is all written as and when the mood strikes, and there are ample moments wherein I just cannot fathom how to express what I want to convey. That being said, the next chapter is in the works and should be updated soon too.
Now, rant over, off you go! Enjoy!
Chapter 14 – And on we go!
Hermione made a real effort to be calm as she walked to Snape, she really did try, but she was fuming beyond reason.
How dare he not tell me? He knows the situation! He knows that we like each other! In fact, he was talking to Draco just the other day about how he approves, and yes I eavesdropped on them! But hell with it! Why didn't he say where they are? I have a right to know!
"Professor Snape…" Her voice was laced with ice "Where is Draco?"
Not caring that he was sleeping on the couch, she was on an agenda, and she will get all her answers.
"PROFESSOR SNAPE!" She bellowed.
To say that he jumped up in fright, wand at the ready, blank mask on his face would be an understatement. This would have had Hermione laughing for ages if she wasn't so livid at the moment.
"Where is Draco?!"
The only expression that Snape seemed capable of was a slight raise of his eyebrows. Hermione waited for five ticks of the clock before she asked again.
"I don't think you're hard of hearing Professor, but nonetheless, I'll ask you again… Where. Is. Draco?!"
This time he visibly gulped. "Miss Granger, I cannot tell you. I need you to trust me when I say that he's safe and accounted for, not only by me, but also the other elder Order members as well, and his parents."
This did nothing to quell Hermione's anger.
"That does not answer my question." She was still glaring daggers at him.
By this time, everyone had gathered at the threshold of the sitting area.
"Hermione…" Neville tried to approach her "calm down, if he's saying that they're safe, trust him."
She diverted her angry glare to Neville, which shut him up promptly.
"For someone who has detested this man since we began Hogwarts, you have some nerve defending him Neville." Hermione was positively seething now
"Miss Granger," Snape tried again "He is safe, I promise you. They've been taken to the safe house in which they had met their parents and will not return for some time."
He could finally see Hermione's anger dissipating, little by little as his words sank in.
"There have been an interesting turn of events since last night, and before I can go further, I would prefer if the Headmaster is here to tell you himself."
Hermione finally slumped in to the nearest armchair, feeling as if she was breathing for the first time that day.
"Okay" was all she could manage to reply.
At Safe –house 7:
Draco, Theo and Blaise had put up a major fight at having to leave the others, and currently they were lounging around, sullen and irritated at the curve-ball they had been thrown.
"Why couldn't he have at least had the decency to tell us while he was brewing the potion? We would have had the time to convince ourselves and the others." Theo grumbled
Blaise stood up suddenly, "Something doesn't sit right with me. It's like there's a puzzle piece missing or rather pieces missing, but I'm not able to figure out which ones."
"I understand what you mean" Draco nodded slowly "I want to contact the other safe-house. Either of you know how?"
They both shook their heads.
"Snape will come and get us. I'm going to hold on to that." Draco got up and strode off.
"Blaise! Theo! Where are you?" Draco shouted from the main hall.
"Mate, we're in the garden!" Blaise shouted back.
Draco sauntered over to where they were standing, just over the threshold of the balcony doors.
"Something is wrong Draco. I can feel it. It's right there, on the other side of the horizon, if we raise our hands, we might just be able to touch it."
"What are you going on about Theo?" asked a bewildered Blaise.
Theo sighed, a long deep, all-encompassing exhale "I'm a Seer guys, but I can't for the life of me figure out what's going to happen. It's like the magic is being blocked and the wall is so thick and powerful that I'm not able to surpass it."
"Describe the wall Theo." Blaise encouraged, voice just audible for the 2 of them to hear.
"I…It's…I can't mate, that's the thing. It feels like… It's full of dark magic, like HE is trying to stop me seeing anything."
"Can you reach out to it? Touch it perhaps? See if spells bounce off it?"
"It's not an actual wall that I would be able to bounce spells off Blaise" Blaise had the decency to look sheepish at the suggestion "But yes, I can mentally reach out to it. I can feel the power emitting through it. It's repelling me and not like a normal Protego, more like an army standing there and using the strongest shield charm possible, like Occlumency, yet even stronger. I can't explain it guys."
Nothing was said for a long time. All 3 standing there, in their own thoughts, gazing out at the horizon.
"We should get back inside. Maybe get something to eat." Draco suggested.
"Anyone else realise we're still in our pyjamas?" Blaise attempted to lighten the mood, earning a chuckle from the other 2.
Hermione's Room:
She was still restless.
Managing to sort out Draco's room as much as possible had only kept her occupied for no more than 2 hours, and did nothing to soothe the foreboding feeling that had encompassed her.
Pacing didn't help, nor did diving into her book. She was forced to just wait and let things unfold, and that was something she just couldn't do.
On a whim, she decided that she needed to talk to Harry, and the only way to do that, was to sneak into his room.
As quietly as she could, she made her way to Harry's room. Stopping, she pressed her ear to the door to discern if there were voices inside.
"You may go inside Miss Granger." McGonagall approached her, lightly squeezing her shoulder in support "He should still be asleep but he's fine."
Hermione had jumped at the sound of her voice from this side of the door. "Thank you Professor" she exclaimed and quickly entered Harry's room.
Cautiously walking up to the chair besides his bed, she sat on the edge, her eyes wandering across his every feature. On the first glance, he looked like he was in peace, like he was resting from a long day. Luckily Hermione knew better.
She tentatively reached her arm to smooth the hair back from his forehead. His head was slightly warm against her palm. Ruffling up his hair some more, Hermione let her hand drop to his cheek, caressing him lightly; she pulled her hand back to her lap.
"Hey Harry. We all need you to wake up now." She whispered. "It's been tough ride, I know, but I'm having trouble holding it all together and I need you." Willing herself to not cry, Hermione stood up and walked over to the window, overlooking the back garden.
"He took them away Harry. Snape… He sent the snakes away. And he's not telling me where. It's feeling as if this whole thing is being orchestrated by someone else and we're all puppets in his play."
"I'm stuck, and you know how much I hate not knowing everything."
Unbeknownst to Hermione, Harry had woken up and was looking intently at Hermione's back. His throat was dry and he couldn't emit any sound, so he just lay there, willing her to turn around.
Hermione let her head rest on the cool glass of the window. Her head was starting to ache and she was also feeling hungry but really wanted Harry to wake up first. She brought her hands to her face, rubbing her eyes, she turned back around.
As she looked at Harry, she noticed his eyes were open and a soft smile played on his lips.
She rushed to his side, "Harry!" it came out as a whispered thank you "Oh thank Merlin you're awake. How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"
Harry could not speak, so he motioned that he wanted to have some water, which Hermione rushed to hand it to him.
Slowly attempting to sit up on the bed, he scooted so he rested on the head board, surrounded by an army of pillows. Harry gave Hermione another smile.
Hermione didn't realise she was crying till Harry raised his arm and wiped a wayward tear of her cheek. "I'm fine" he managed to croak.
Those two words broke Hermione completely and she lunged to hug Harry. "I was so worried Harry. I can't lose you. Thank Merlin you're okay." She let her tears fall freely into his shirt, whispering reassurances again and again, Harry silently soothing her while his tears fell too. He hadn't felt so loved and he was grateful for Hermione and their friendship.
"Calm down now 'Mione. We need to talk."