When they arrived back at Grimmauld Place it was alive with activity. They had been sitting in the kitchen for five minutes and Astoria had run in and down to the potions lab twice within that time. Hermione could hear the sounds of Theo and Daphne from upstairs calling out instructions to Astoria and Pansy. Glancing up as Harry came rushing into the kitchen Hermione jumped up and ran to him hugging him fiercely, "Merlin Hermione can't you keep yourself out of trouble?" Harry admonished hugging her back. Laughing Hermione shook her head, "Apparently not," she responded as Harry led her back to the table to her chair. Taking a seat at the head of the table Harry looked around at Blaise, Draco, Damon, Ron, and Hermione, "So despite the little mishap with Damon and Hermione the mission was a success," Harry told them.
"I've sent an owl to Remus, so I'm expecting him any minute. He probably won't be happy so if you want to get out of the line of fire I would," Harry told them. "Once you tell him who we saved and what it could mean to our cause I'm sure he'll get over it," Ron piped up. Furrowing her brow Hermione asked, "Who did we save?" "Ollivander wasn't the only one down there," Blaise told her, "Lupin's own father in law was down there along with one of your Gryffindors Dean something and a goblin."
Gasping Hermione turned to Harry, "A goblin?" she inquired. Harry nodded his head as he answered her, "Yeah and not just any old one. The same one who took me to my vault my very first trip to Gringott's. I'm hoping he'll help us." "I knew going there would pay off," Hermione smiled triumphantly, "And Dean is he ok? And Mr. Tonks?" she asked. Shrugging his shoulders Harry told her, "I think so. Theo was yelling out instructions and didn't really have the time to answer any questions." Feeling her arm cramp up Hermione rubbed it absentmindedly. "You should get looked at too," Damon spoke up watching her rub her arm, "The crucio curse has after effects," he told her. "I'm okay," she told him. Damon opened his mouth to argue when he was cut off by a loud voice screaming, "HARRY JAMES POTTER!" Laughing Draco stood from the table and grabbed Damon's hand pulling him up from the table, "Well looks like the warden is here so we'll be off," he told them as he and Damon made their way to the kitchen door. Jumping up from the table Blaise and Ron followed Draco and Damon to the side of the kitchen door as they waited for the mad man to come stomping down the stairs. "It's okay Harry I'll stay here with you," Hermione smiled watching the fear growing on her best friends face. Glancing at Hermione Harry smirked, "You should. This was your idea not mine." Eyes wide Hermione exclaimed, "Not entirely."
"There you are," exclaimed Remus as he came through the kitchen door. "What the hell were you thinking?" he asked hands on his hips glaring at Harry and Hermione. Standing quickly Harry pointed at Hermione, "It was her idea," as he ran from the room and followed the four laughing boys up the stairs. "HARRY!" Hermione yelled after her best friend. Eyes wide Hermione stood and faced the fuming werewolf behind her, "Ok so it sort of was," she told him raising her hands in surrender, "But you can't be that mad considering we saved Tonk's father," Hermione told him with a hopeful smile.
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Hermione entered the bedroom she shared with Draco and Damon and promptly slammed the door effectively cutting off the conversation the five traitors were having, "You guys suck," she exclaimed glaring at Blaise, Ron, Harry, Draco, and Damon, "Forty-five minutes, that's how long he yelled. Half the time I don't even know what he was yelling about he was just yelling to yell. And you five idiots left me down there," she hissed with her hands on her hips.
Jumping off the bed Harry cautiously approached her, "I'm sorry Hermione. I shouldn't have left you down there. I'll talk to Remus and make sure he knows it wasn't just your idea." Rolling her eyes Hermione hugged Harry, "It's fine," she said pulling away and heading for the dresser, "Tonks showed up and was more then okay with what we did. She calmed Professor Lupin down. Anyway I'm going to take a shower," she told them pulling out pajamas and heading back towards the door, "After all I did have to suffer through that lecture after enduring Bellatrix's crucio. I'm a bit sore and tired," she said giving them all an innocent smile before exiting the room.
"I knew her 'it's fine' was a lie," Blaise exclaimed, "Good thing I'm not married to her, she's seriously mad," he continued looking at Draco. Rolling his eyes Draco looked at Harry, "Why do I have to deal with her? This wasn't my idea it was yours and hers. You deal with her." Shrugging Harry smirked, "She's not my wife," he responded before walking out the door taking a laughing Ron with him. Glaring at their backs Draco turned to Damon and Blaise, "I love how tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum just shoved this into my lap," he said standing and stalking out of the room.
Laughing Damon called, "If her temper now is anything like I remember, good luck." Chuckling Blaise hopped off the bed, "I think it's safe to say it's exactly like you remember," he told Damon before he to exited the room.
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Standing under the spray of the shower Hermione closed her eyes and tried to stretch her tired sore muscles. She knew she was experiencing the after effects of being under Bellatrix's curse. She hadn't been under it for longer then a minute but it was so strong that she kept getting cramps in her muscles. Taking a deep breath she forced herself to focus on relaxing. It only lasted for a few seconds before she was hit with another cramp this time in her left leg. Buckling under the pain she sat at the bottom of the tub and massaged her leg. Not having the energy to get up she simply sat and let the spray hit her. Pulling her legs up she laid her head on top of them and closed her eyes. There hadn't been time to reflect on what had occurred at Malfoy Manor but it was hitting her now. She owed her life and Damon's life to Lucius Malfoy of all people. They may have survived until Draco could've gotten to them but it wasn't a definite. Lucius was the one that stopped Bellatrix from cursing her more then what she had already done and he was the one that allowed Damon the opportunity to stun her. Hell he had given her her wand back. She didn't understand his motives but if it involved her son she was going to find out what Lucius was planning. Hearing the bathroom door open and close Hermione opened her eyes, "I'm not in the mood Harry," she called out. Raising her head as the curtain was ripped back she was surprised to find her husband looking quite angry, "Potter, visits you often while you shower?" he snarled. Sighing she laid her head back down, "Of course not. I just figured it was him coming to apologize again," she answered.
"Why are you sitting there like that?" Draco asked. "I had a leg cramp and didn't have the energy to get back up," she answered honestly. Hearing him sigh she raised her head to watch him pull the plug up on the tub and start to remove his clothing. Alarmed she asked, "What are you doing?" Glancing at her Draco smirked, "Killing two birds with one stone. You're to tired to do more then sit there and I'm in need of a wash so we'll take a bath," he explained pulling his pants off.
Blushing Hermione squashed herself as far into the corner of the tub as she could, "Draco, that's highly inappropriate," she exclaimed. Raising his brow he stared down at her, "How's it inappropriate? In case you forget you're my wife and I've already seen all your naughty bits," he told her kicking his boxers off and stepping into the tub. Covering her eyes with her hands Hermione muttered, "Oh Merlin. You have no shame." Pulling her hands away Draco made her look at him, "Why are you embarrassed? Couples do this sort of stuff all the time," he told her as the water slowly rose in the tub. Blinking Hermione whispered, "I know that. I just didn't realize we'd be one of those couples." Furrowing his brow Draco looked at her quizzically, "Why wouldn't we be?" This time Hermione looked at him questionably, "I don't know I just figured since you haven't tried anything since the night of the wedding you wouldn't want to have that sort of relationship. Especially when we still continue to annoy and fight with one another the way we do." Smirking Draco grabbed her soap and started to lather up a washcloth, "Hasn't anyone ever told you about make-up sex, Granger?" he asked as he slowly picked up her arm and started to wash it.
Leaning back against Draco's chest Hermione smiled shyly. She couldn't believe they had done it in a tub. She didn't even think it was possible. Sighing she closed her eyes and relaxed in the warm water. Kissing her neck Draco murmured against her neck, "What are you thinking about?" Shrugging Hermione answered, "Nothing really. It's just very surreal to have us here like this." Laughing Draco told her, "You know if we were still in school I would've won 100 galleons by being the first to deflower the Gryffindor princess."
Turning slightly Hermione stared at him, "You guys had a bet?" she asked disgusted. Nodding his head Draco told her, "Since fourth year when us males finally took notice that you were in deed a girl under those robes," seeing the look on her face Draco laughed, "Don't worry we all knew none of us had a chance with you." Rolling her eyes Hermione turned back around and relaxed back against Draco again, "Well I guess I would've won the bet as to which Gryffindor could get with a Slytherin," she told him laughing. Her laugh turned into a gasp of pain as her right arm cramped. Grasping it she started rubbing. "What's the matter?" Draco asked alarmed. "I'm having a cramp," she explained as she felt his fingers start to massage her arm too. Once the cramp was gone Draco shifted and got out of the tub. Grabbing two towels he waited for her to stand as well before wrapping her up. "Let's go. We're going to see Theo. He may have something to help with the after effects," he told her helping her from the tub. "Draco, it's close to midnight. I'm sure he's in bed. It's been a long night for everyone," Hermione admonished. Handing her her clothes Draco told her, "I'll wake him." Rolling her eyes she dressed and allowed him to take her hand and pull her out of the bathroom and up the hallway to Theo's room.