Been a couple of months!

This would be a good time to announce that I am going on an indefinite hiatus, mainly because it's really difficult to squeeze in my creative/narrative writing in the midst of my technical writing for school. I'm finding it hard to switch.

However, I will not abandon this fic. This is too good and I know that a lot of people actually read this, and I am not one to disappoint. I love my readers, and I hope you guys bear with me on this.

So, before the term starts, have a lengthy chapter on me :))

Dedicated to the people who are going to kill me at school tomorrow after they finish reading this.

Chapter 19: Eggs

Hermione had no idea what happened to Draco after their first Quidditch training. But then again, he was Draco Malfoy. No one could be exactly sure what was going on inside his head.

Her lessons were postponed the following weekend to make way for a function they were to attend in Godric's Hollow. Draco did not warm up to her, but both of them had to look good for the cameras.

The town square in Godric's Hollow was packed. The village seemed alive once again. The houses had been rebuilt, except, of course, the Potters'. The gardens were now alive with color, some with the occasional gnome.

They were the guests of honor for the inauguration of the town square, which had been rebuilt after the war. It was obvious that the event was well publicized.

Hermione tried her best to not get bored, to no avail. She had to pinch herself every once in a while to prevent her head from drooping on Draco's shoulder.

At last it was time for the ribbon-cutting. Hermione, Draco and the Minister stood together behind the bright red bow that was placed at the front pillars of the square's entrance. As the cameras prepared to shoot, Hermione saw something white and round flying towards Draco. Instinctively, she put her arms in front of him. The white thing exploded against her wrist, pain shooting throughout her arm and hand. Something sticky was dripping down on the ground. Another egg hit her in the face not long after. Soon, the entire place was in chaos.

Hermione was handed a towel as the cameras clicked madly. Their guards surrounded them and pushed them forward to move quickly. Hermione saw a slight look defeat on Draco's face before he disappeared into the car.

She never saw him again when they returned to the palace. Hermione was summoned alone by Narcissa. She wanted to know firsthand what had happened. While she told the story, her arm was being mended by the Royal Healer. There were small bruises and lacerations along where the egg had hit her arm. Her face was a little bruised as well.

"I don't know how it could have happened," Narcissa fumed. "We've been going over security for the past three days!"

"Has the culprit been caught, milady?" Hermione asked.

"Sadly, Princess, whoever did this managed to escape," Narcissa replied. "We have a group of Aurors already on the job, tracking spells and apparitions that have occurred throughout the incident. How is the Prince?"

"I—I haven't been to see him, milady," Hermione admitted.

"Very well," Narcissa said. "You may leave. Do try and talk to him." Hermione stood up and curtsied.

At first she was hesitant, but she knew she had to gather her courage and talk to him. He might push her away, but no matter what happens, she was going to get him to talk to her.

"Draco?" she called, knocking tentatively on the door. She twisted the doorknob, which didn't give. It was code for "go away." Hermione huffed and knocked again. "Stop being so stubborn. Come out and talk."

She waited for fifteen minutes outside his door. Then again, Hermione Granger was not known for her patience.

"Fine!" she called, banging her fist on the door one last time. She decided to stay and wait him out on the patio. To her surprise, Dragon greeted her with a smile. He'd been waiting for her.

"Is he really that stubborn?" Hermione fumed.

"Yes," Dragon replied.

"He can't be like that all the time," Hermione said. "It's destructive. He'll need help soon."

"Don't worry," Dragon comforted, grasping her hand. "He'll be okay."

No one, not one person, was ever able to lure Draco out of his room. Hermione Granger would be the first.

Everyone always made the same mistake. They always tried to coax him out. They pitied him. They tried too hard. Hermione, however, made herself known. She was there, but she left him alone.

He opened the door of his room and looked around, making sure no one was around to see him come out of his hole. When he saw that the coast was clear, he walked out, expecting to see Hermione waiting for him outside.

He frowned when he saw that she was not there. He'd been so sure that she was only baiting him. He started looking for her to give her a piece of his mind.

He need not look far, though. Through the glass door leading to their patio, Hermione was, again, talking to his cousin. He clenched his fists, seeing how easy it was for the two of them to hold hands. Was Hermione cheating on him with Dragon? He returned to his room and slammed the door. He didn't bother to lock anymore. He was pretty sure that the message was clear.

Hermione felt a cold chill run down her spine. This was new and it made her uncomfortable. This was Dragon, and she had always been comfortable with him.

A door slammed. She let go of his hand and stood up.

"I'm going to try again," she said.

"It won't work," Dragon insisted. "The only person who could comfort him now is Pansy."

Hermione stopped in her tracks. Dragon realized that he'd gone too far. She continued walking.

She stopped in front of his door.

"Draco?" she turned the knob and the door opened. He was sitting in his reading chair, playing with Alfred.

"Yes?" he drawled, not paying attention.

"H-How are you feeling?"

"Okay," Draco replied, shrugging.

"Okay," Hermione sighed. "I'll just…um…I better go."

"Hermione," Draco called. She froze. He's never called her by her first name. "Just…promise me you'll never do that again."

"Okay," she whispered.

Draco hated to admit it, but what Hermione did made him respect her even more. He'd always thought that she didn't care. The sabotage changed everything.

He decided to go and see how she was doing. After all, she'd been the one hit by the egg. The least he could do was see if she was okay.

He stopped outside her room. He thought about knocking, but screw it, she enters his room all the time. That gives him access to her room as well.

He turned the knob and called out, "Princess?"

As expected, she was already calm and collected by the time he saw her sitting on the bed. Her eyes however, were red and swollen. And she sniffled every now and then.

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm not."

"You were."

"It's nothing," she replied. "Don't bother. I'm okay, really."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay then," he replied. He stood up and kissed the top of her head. Draco was not sure why he did that. Nevertheless, it felt right. "Thanks for looking out for me." He started to leave.

"I'm sorry we're in this mess," Hermione said in a low voice before he walked out. "I'm sorry you're stuck with me."

Draco turned around and smirked. "Not your fault." He left and closed the door behind him.

The eggman only barely escaped the Aurors in the area. He was lucky that he was able to change his appearance quickly. He ducked into a bar in Knockturn Alley where he was to meet his client. See, our eggman was a professional, a sabotage artist, he liked to call himself. And he was hired by only the wealthiest families.

"The private booth with the missus?" the barman asked.

"Yes."

"Follow me."

The barman put down his grimy towel and took a small torch with him. He led the eggman through a series of doors and hallways. He stopped in front of a door made of dark, chipped wood.

"The missus instructed that her visitor must knock in code," the barman said.

"I have that code," eggman said, eyeing the barman.

"Well, I'll leave it to you, then." He walked away, taking with him the small light of the torch.

When he was certain the barman was gone, eggman took his wand and waved it in front of his face, removing the charms he'd placed previously. He knocked with his wand once, and after five seconds, twice. The door creaked open.

"Bet you saw that in the news," the eggman said, by way of opening.

"Yes, I did," the lady in the hood said. "But it didn't exactly hit the prince, did it?"

"Unfortunately, milady," he replied. "She's a quick one, she is."

"That bint always manages to ruin everything," the lady said scathingly. The only things visible under her hood were her red lips, which were twisted in disgust. "No matter. They have received our message. You have done your job." She put a black drawstring bag on the table. The eggman grabbed it greedily and opened it. He then tipped it over, spilling the contents and letting the gold coins shine in his face. He grinned widely.

"Thank you very much, Lady Lestrange," eggman said. "Although… I am a professional sabotage artist. I believe it would help my line of work if… I hope you would let me understand why you did this."

"I could tell you," Lady Lestrange said. "But then I'd have to kill you. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

"Right," the eggman said, shrinking back.

"You best be off," Lady Lestrange. "The Aurors may have their men anywhere. Do not neglect your glamour charms.

"Thank you once more, milady," the eggman said, kissing the hand of Bellatrix Lestrange. She smirked and gave a nod.

The eggman grabbed the bag, its contents returned, and shoved it inside his coat pocket. He waved his wand over his face and left the dingy room.

So there. No promises with regards to the next update, but let's all hope it's soon. Thank you for all your lovely reviews. :))