Ambition's End: Hunter's Chance
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine as they all belong to JKR.
"Thank you," said Hermione as Ginny finished with the first fitting of her wedding robes. It had taken longer than she had expected, but for good reason. For all her faults, Ginny kept her customer's comfort in mind during the fitting. She had worked slowly, which meant that Hermione hadn't been poked once by a single needle. That was an unusual occurrence that she definitely wouldn't mind happening again, and it spoke volumes as to the other witch's skill.
"Oh no worries," Ginny replied as she put her materials away and the robes back on the dress form. "Do you like it though?" she asked, shyly looking up at the older witch.
"Yes," said Hermione. She nodded her head decisively. Thankfully whatever Katie had said to Ginny weeks ago had got through to the other witch. Ginny had finally realized that her idea of the perfect wedding and Hermione's were different, and the robes reflected that. The initial designs had been too fanciful for Hermione's taste. After the decision had been made to go with Ginny's shop, she had made a point to let Ginny know tactfully that she was afraid that the robes might be too hot. The other witch had readily agreed to modify the set of wedding robes by combining a few of the layers together. The resulting sketches depicted a set of robes that were both simple and elegant, an aesthetic that Hermione truly appreciated.
"Good," said Ginny. She beamed brightly. "Make sure everyone knows that too, okay?"
Hermione sighed. Some things would never change. "That way your shop gets more publicity?" she asked.
"Yes. I know, I know. Sometimes I am a bit much. But you see, fashion is a very hard business to break into, and I have to make use of what contacts I have. Otherwise I will never last." The redheaded witch shrugged her shoulders. "So I'm sorry if I'm annoying, but I really do want to succeed. I would hate it if I had to shut down."
"I understand." And Hermione did understand. She hated failing at anything herself, and she could hardly fault anyone for not wanting to be a failure. "Although you do know that if you need any financial assistance—"
Ginny pulled a face. "I know. Trust me, I know. Both Harry and George would be more than willing to give me any money that I need. But I don't want to do that. I want to be able to succeed on my own. I want my business to be my business, not just some amusement that the men of my life encourage me in."
"It's not the brightest thing to do though, to refuse help if you really need it," Hermione pointed out. "If it comes to that, promise to pay them back."
"Oh no! They would never take it."
"Make them," replied Hermione. She was about to mention how there were always ways to make men listen, but she stopped herself. While she was happy that Ginny was being so manageable these days, she still didn't see the other witch as being one of her close friends. She wasn't going to reveal too much to the younger witch or give her any assistance in learning how to control the men in her life. After all, Ginny already held more influence over Harry than Hermione would have preferred. She wasn't going to do anything that would increase that influence.
Thinking of Harry, however, reminded Hermione about where he was at. She wondered if Ginny knew, and so she decided to ask that question. "By the way, I've heard that Harry is back at Auror training or some rubbish like that."
Ginny's eyes sought out the ceiling. "Unfortunately it's true. It does sound like an awful rumor though, doesn't it?"
"Not awful. Ridiculous. Ludicrous even. Of all the junior Aurors they could have picked! There are plenty of others who need more training than he!"
"I know! That's what I said when I found him packing up the other night." Ginny wrinkled her nose. "He was given no notice too. I wouldn't have found out until after he left if I hadn't decided to drop by and surprise him." She frowned. "Unfortunately, he had a bigger surprise waiting for me—the news that he was leaving straight away—and I didn't like it one bit."
"No, I don't imagine you would. Do you know when he will be back?"
"Sometime this week is all I've heard. The head of his department is being very secretive about everything. Usually Dad manages to hear something about what the Aurors are up to. Ron is an Auror too, you know, and Dad does have other friends in the department. But he hasn't heard a thing." The young witch sighed. "I do hope Harry gets back this week. I do miss him. And Ron too, of course," she added as an afterthought.
"Of course."
"But I was thinking. Maybe there's a reason for all of them getting sent away," Ginny continued. "Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I noticed that all the junior Aurors who got sent away on this surprise training trip were the more promising ones. Like Harry and Ron and others. Maybe they'll be promoted soon." Ginny's face shone with hope. "Harry would really like that. That would give him lots more leeway in performing his own investigations."
"Maybe that's it. He certainly is worthy of a promotion." Hermione didn't think that was the case, but she saw no reason to disillusion Ginny. There was always the outside chance that the other witch was right. Besides, she doubted that Ginny would believe that Givens was a threat. The redheaded witch was more likely to think the same way her brother did. Weasleys, as a rule, tended to give people who had been on their side during the war the benefit of the doubt.
"Well I have to get going," said Hermione. She absentmindedly straightened her robes as she walked over to fetch her bag.
"There's no rush. You're welcome to stay here if you want," said Ginny. She smiled. "I don't mind having an audience when I work. I know it bothers some people, but not me."
"Thanks, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass on that. I promised Draco that I would meet him at Flourish and Blotts after we finished here."
The younger witch raised an eyebrow at those words. "Draco, is it?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What? Is it so strange that I would call him by his name?"
"No, no, I suppose not." Ginny shrugged her shoulders eloquently. "It would be odd if you didn't, I guess. It's just that…well it's just hard for me to think of him as Draco as opposed to Malfoy. He always was so beastly towards you too, and so it's…it's…oh I don't know how to put this well!"
"Then put it badly," Hermione suggested blandly. She didn't really want to be having this conversation. However, it was important for her to know what Ginny really thought of her being with Malfoy. Ginny had been very supportive in public, even acting as though she was impressed by the romance of it all. She had certainly been all too willing to support Hermione by designing the robes for the wedding party.
However Hermione had noticed that whenever it was just the two of them together in private, the other witch didn't behave the same way. She suspected the way Ginny acted in public was an act, put on in part to avoid a public confrontation with her boyfriend's best friend and in part because of the opportunity that this wedding afforded her fledgling business. But when the witches were alone together, Ginny would often make remarks that could be interpreted as disparaging Hermione's relationship with the Malfoy heir. Indeed, throughout the entire fitting, the Weasley witch had made several comments hinting about how Hermione should feel free to talk if there was anything wrong at all. Thus she needed to know what Ginny's real thoughts on the matter were so she could influence them as necessary. She didn't want Harry's girlfriend to be giving him any bad ideas, after all.
"Fine. When I first heard of your betrothal, I thought it was a joke. And a very bad one at that. But then you didn't owl me back right away to let me know that it wasn't real, and I got worried." Ginny frowned as she turned towards Hermione and away from her work table. "I know you're capable of taking care of yourself. But it seems inconceivable how you could forgive him for all the abuse he put you through back when we all were in school. I can hardly forgive him for all the awful things he's said to and about you. I don't understand how you can."
Hermione took a deep breath. She was glad that she stayed long enough to hear Ginny's concerns. Frankly she had never expected the other witch to be so worried about her. Certainly she had never wanted or asked for such concern. But she supposed that it was just as well. It couldn't hurt Hermione to have the younger witch be as fond of her as she appeared to be. It was always better to have more friends than enemies.
"There's nothing to forgive," said Hermione. She held up a hand, signaling for silence before Ginny could protest that. "I know that we were never friends, and I know that's an understatement. But at the same time, I can't fault him for being such a nasty, little boy. That was the fault of his parents." The corner of her lips turned up in a small smile. "He is genuinely trying to mend his ways. No, that's not giving him enough credit. He has changed so much already, and he really is very charming, and he's a great conversationalist, and…."
"It sounds like you really love him," said Ginny. Her tone was a strange one, filled with equal parts amazement and anger.
Hermione looked down and willed herself to blush. "Maybe," she said. She then looked up at the other witch through her eyelashes. "But you have to admit there's not a better looking wizard out there," she said slyly.
Ginny coughed nervously in response. "I'm not going to do that," she said as she refused to meet Hermione's eyes, instead choosing to focus intensely on the floor. Hermione couldn't help but chortle at that answer.
"No, you wouldn't. That's just as well for Harry though." She stepped forward to take the ginger haired witch's hands into her own. "Don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing. Trust me. I wouldn't bother with Draco if he was still the same bully that he was back in school. He has changed, and I'm ever so glad that I gave him a second chance. Okay?"
"I guess. It's not as though you're going to listen to me anyway," Ginny noted with a small sigh. "If you're happy, then that's what really matters."
"Thank you," Hermione replied earnestly. She proceeded to say good bye to the other witch. She had already wasted too much time there, and she was running late to meet Draco. She quickened her stride as she made her way towards the book shop. Hopefully she had convinced Ginny not to say or do anything to protest Hermione's match with Draco. Even if the Weasley witch did though, Hermione felt confident in her ability to deal with that, no matter how many people Ginny might have convinced to help her.
Approaching Flourish and Blotts, Hermione looked around to see if she could catch a glimpse of her fiancé. A flash of silver caught her eye, and she immediately peered more closely in that direction until she saw her fiancé. It was fortunate that his hair had a tendency to stick out in a crowd. That made it infinitely easier to find him when she had to look for him. She suddenly wondered how he would react if she sneaked up on him. Grinning to herself, she darted through the crowd, doing her best not to draw his attention to her. She quietly approached his back, inwardly gleeful that he hadn't noticed her yet.
"Hello Hermione," he said when she was only a foot away from him. He turned around and winked at her.
She huffed in annoyance and crossed her arms. "How did you know it was me?" she asked. "For that matter, how did you spot me? I know that I was being careful."
"There is nothing more suspicious than someone trying to be inconspicuous," he replied. "Besides of course I noticed you. Your head of hair does tend to stick out in a crowd." He smiled charmingly at her, and Hermione found herself blushing for no reason at all.
Stop that, she told herself firmly. Yes, he's very handsome and all that, but that's no reason to act like a foolish witch. It's not as though you're actually falling for him. But even though she tried to school her reaction, her blush only deepened as he stepped beside her and snuck a hand around her waist, drawing her closer to him. He bent his head so that it was almost touching the top of her own and inhaled deeply.
"You always smell so good," he told her. "Not at all how I would imagine."
"Do I even want to know—"
"How I used to think you would smell? Like musty old books of course. You were always to be found in the library at school, engrossed in the largest tome you could find." He pulled back from her and winked.
Two could play at that game. "That wasn't question I was going to ask," she said, a wicked smile forming on her lips.
"Oh?"
"I was going to ask how long have you been imagining what I must smell like?" This time it was her turn to toss a saucy wink his way. He coughed and blushed, and he looked utterly adorable. Hermione laughed softly as she stretched up to land a quick kiss on his lips.
However, she wasn't as quick as she thought. Though his first reaction was to let out a soft sigh, his arms somehow circled around her and pulled her closer to him before she could step back. She closed her eyes as she relished how soft his lips were and how good he smelled. It probably would have gone on for much longer if the both of them didn't realize at the same time that they were still in public.
And just like that, it was over. He abruptly released her and stumbled backwards. Simultaneously her eyes flew open and she stepped away from him. His blush returned once more, and she was again struck about how charming he looked when he seemed unsettled. That thought brought heat to her own cheeks, and she forced herself to look away before she could embarrass herself even more.
They stood there silently for what felt like ages. However it was only a few seconds later when Draco cleared his throat and spoke up. "So shall we get going?" he asked awkwardly.
"Oh! I was thinking that we could go inside Flourish and Blotts first. I haven't been for awhile and I know there are bound to be books that I want in there," said Hermione.
"I should think that's the case regardless of how long it has been since you last visited it," Draco noted dryly.
"So you're going to deny me the pleasure of visiting my favorite shop?" Hermione arched an eyebrow playfully at Draco. She was a little annoyed at the mere thought of being so close to the book shop and not going in, but surprisingly only a very little. She could always return later, and the girlish part of her was sort of hoping that Draco already had made other plans for them.
"Perish the thought. I have not the slightest intention of that. I simply want to eat before you lose yourself in the stacks," was Draco's response. "Because I know once you go in, you won't come out again for ages."
"You're exaggerating."
"Not by much."
She couldn't very well argue with that. She knew her own tendencies well. She did have a habit of losing track of time whenever she was surrounded by books, whether she was in a library or a book shop. She checked the time and saw that it was just after lunch. "All right. Let's get something to eat," she said. Then she smiled brightly. "That will give me more energy to peruse their selection once we come back here."
"Of that, I have no doubt. With any luck though, I will have enough energy to wait you out." He reached out and hooked his arm through hers, and then they set off. She let him take the lead as it was clear that he had some place in mind. He expertly weaved through the crowd, taking care to make sure that no one bumped into her.
However, all his care was for naught when suddenly Dennis Creevey simply careened into her from behind. "Ow!" exclaimed Hermione as she stumbled forward and into Draco's back.
"Watch where you're going!" Draco snapped sharply at Creevey as he maneuvered to steady her. The other wizard looked a sight, his eyes wide open and an aura of panic all about him.
"Are you all right, Dennis?" asked Hermione. She had been wondering how best to approach the younger Gryffindor ever since she had learned that he was the one trying to prevent Muggle-borns from going to Hogwarts. She hadn't contacted him yet because she figured that she had until the start of next summer to choose how she was going to handle him. Now, however, she was wondering if that had been the right decision to make. It was fairly obvious that there was something wrong with Creevey.
That only became more apparent as his face lost all color as he recognized who was speaking to him. "Oh! Sorry Hermione. Didn't see you there." He twisted himself about so that he was only facing Hermione. She didn't think it was by chance that he was ignoring Draco. "So sorry, so sorry. I'm sort of in a rush. Well, I'll see you around." And just like that, he darted off before Hermione could say anything else to him.
"I always thought something was wrong with him," Draco mused aloud. "I would go on about how rude he was but clearly he wasn't all there."
"No, he wasn't, was he?" Hermione agreed. A shiver ran down her back. Something was very, very wrong here, not the least of which was the fact that she didn't know what that something was. She immediately switched gears mentally and began looking critically around her. It never hurt to be careful, she decided, and after an encounter like that, she didn't know whose safety she was more worried about—Draco's or her own.
"You know, I don't think I've ever heard you disparage one of your Gryffindors before," Draco was saying as he began guiding her through the crowd once more. "I would have thought that—"
"Pigs would fly first?" Hermione asked wryly. Though she appeared playful, she hadn't let down her guard. She was still watching everyone around them carefully.
"Pigs have flown before, in the Wizarding World. I am positive that you know the spell for that as well."
"Actually you're right. I do." She didn't explain herself further. Hermione frowned. There seemed to be a large crowd gathering towards the Leaky Cauldron at the entrance of Diagon Alley. Draco followed her line of sight and a matching frown appeared on his own face as he noticed the ever-increasing crowd too.
"What is going on over there?" he wondered out loud.
"That's what I would like to know." Hermione grimaced. That was putting it lightly. She dearly wanted to find out what was happening, but her gut was telling her that they were better off not going over there.
"Then let's go," said Draco, tugging at her arm. "I'm curious as well."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I don't think so."
He looked at her sharply. "Why not?"
"Trust me on this one. Whatever is happening, it's not good. And I don't want either of us to get blamed for anything bad that might be over there." She looked up at him and into his steel grey eyes, willing for him to trust her instincts and drop the matter.
He sighed. "Very well. You did agree to eat with me before spending the rest of the day in Flourish and Blotts, so I suppose I owe you that much. Come on. The restaurant isn't far." He started walking forward, holding tightly on to Hermione as he picked his way through the crowd once more. It didn't take too long for them to reach their destination. It was a small restaurant that was practically empty. That was a relief to Hermione. While she didn't shy away from being seen in public, it was tiring to have people always watching you while pretending as though they hadn't noticed you. She never did like being stared at.
Unless it's Draco doing the staring, a treacherous voice whispered inside her head. Against her will, she blushed. He had been gazing at her ever since they had taken their seats, watching without saying a word as she looked over the menu. And that damn voice was right, it hadn't bothered her. That's because it's different, she argued silently with herself.
Obviously, that annoying voice replied. Different because you're actually interested in him and so you don't mind his attentions.
More like I have agreed to accept them and so I can't really protest them, she argued back. Then she stopped. She was arguing with her own damn self, which was extraordinarily silly. She decided to instead focus her attention on the blasted wizard who had caused such silly behavior, albeit unintentionally. "Do I have something on my face?" she asked sharply. "Or is there another reason you can't stop staring?"
"Sorry," he said. A sheepish look briefly covered his face, and she felt guilty for being so harsh with him. "I didn't mean to stare," he mumbled. "It's just hard to believe…."
"Hard to believe what?"
"That you and I could be like this with neither of us plotting the other's imminent demise." He smiled brightly at her, and her stupid heart started beating faster.
Stop that, she told it sternly, but it didn't listen. She sighed softly. All right, Hermione. I guess you can't ignore it any longer. You are very obviously attracted to him, and it's making you act like a silly girl. Probably because it's been so long for you since you've last been with a wizard. She sighed again. Unfortunately, she was stuck with Draco. It wouldn't do for her to find relief elsewhere seeing how she was betrothed to marry Draco and all that. She would be faithful to him. She didn't want to have to deal with the fall out that would inevitably occur if she wasn't.
Besides, who would want to cheat when you have such a handsome wizard sitting across from you? Hermione shook her head furiously, trying to stop that train of thought. She had to get better control of herself. She decided a change of topic was the best course of action.
"Yes, well, people grow up," she said to respond to his last remark. Before she could say anything else to change the subject, he spoke up.
"You certainly did." A lascivious smirk appeared on his face as he looked her up and down boldly. She found herself blushing yet again. It was beginning to get a little bit ridiculous.
"Stop that," she told him. "I know that you've been with more beautiful witches than me, so don't even try to pretend that you're taken with me that way. I know better. It's insulting for you to think that you can fool me." She glared at him. Hopefully if she could get him to stop acting so forward with her, it would be easier to control her own foolish attraction to him. That was something she simply had to get a handle on, especially since she knew very well that he only saw her as a valuable commodity and not as a witch.
"Yes," he agreed. "That is true. But Hermione, there is far more to chemistry than looks alone." He shuddered. "Not to mention the fact that sometimes the most beautiful visage hides the most hideous of voices. Thank Merlin your voice is actually attractive."
"Oh?" She cocked an eyebrow at him. "And here I thought I sounded like a bloody nag most of the time."
"Bossy, yes. A nag, no." He shrugged. "I like your voice. It's not high-pitched like most witches, and not at all affected. It's low and calm and dead sexy. I don't even mind listening to your lectures, so long as I don't have to pay attention to what you're actually saying."
Heat returned to her cheeks, and she forced herself to look at the menu. "So what's good here?" she asked, now very desperate to change the subject. She didn't like where this conversation was headed. She also didn't like how she managed to lose control of it. She knew that it was all because there was a part of her that fancied him. She briefly wondered if it was possible for her to seal that part of her away.
Unfortunately that probably would entail the use of dark magic, and there were some lines that she refused to cross. She sighed. She would have to deal with her attraction to him the hard way. By reminding herself constantly of her ultimate ambition and how she couldn't afford to let herself get distracted by a wizard.
Not even an insanely good-looking, charming, sexy wizard like Draco Malfoy.
Draco had noticed that Hermione had seemed guarded ever since they had run into that rude Gryffindor acquaintance of hers. Her instincts had proved to be superior to his for once as she had noticed the commotion over at the Leaky Cauldron before him. He had wanted desperately to go and find out what was going on, but she had stopped him.
He was grateful for that. After thinking it over, he had come to the conclusion it was better for him to stay away. He didn't want to be blamed for anything he hadn't done, after all, and his experiences with Aurors had taught him that they were all too ready to blame him for anything bad that had happened. He was certain that they would learn what the source of the commotion was when the evening Prophet came out.
So it was he escorted Hermione to a favorite, small restaurant of his. He had promptly proceeded to flirt with her outrageously. He was rewarded by her blushing several times, and it was all he could do not to smirk victoriously. Clearly his carefully planned seduction was already working on her. She was starting to become attached to him just the way he wanted her to.
They headed back to Flourish and Blotts after they finished their meal, just like Draco had promised. The crowd that had been lingering near the entrance of Diagon Alley had dissipated while they were away, much to his disappointment. He had been hoping that some of the crowd members would still be around to talk about what they had seen. He sighed as he held the door open for Hermione. He supposed he would just have to wait for the news to hit the Daily Prophet. While the Ministry was still fond of cover ups, too many people had been there for that to happen.
However, a bit of luck struck as they walked past the register. Two witches were chatting with the store clerk, describing what they had seen. Draco immediately pretended to be interested in some nearby books, and he was not surprised to see that Hermione had done the same.
In some ways, they were remarkably alike.
"So what happened?" asked the clerk as he rang up the witches' purposes.
The elder of the two witches leaned closer to the clerk and whispered, "They say that Terence Higgs was found dead in the Leaky Cauldron, that's what."
Draco froze at those words. Higgs had been in Slytherin like him. He had actually played on the Slytherin Quidditch team along with Marcus Flint. Immediately his mind leapt to all sorts of conclusions, not the least of which was that whoever was behind Flint's murder might have went after Higgs. That was especially true if there was any sort of evidence that linked the two Slytherins together. He felt a sudden chill as he wondered who else Flint could have been associated with.
Someone tugged at his arm, and he jolted back to awareness. "I don't think that there's anything I want here," said Hermione, blinking at him. "Shall we get going?"
"Yes," he said. "Of course. Is there anywhere else you would like to go?"
She looked him over with a critical eye, then shrugged. "Not really. Shall I escort you back home?"
It was on the tip of his tongue to protest that he was the wizard in their relationship and he didn't need to be watched over by her. But he didn't. The fact that she had offered to see him home meant that she was concerned about him. That was something he wanted to encourage, not nip in the bud.
Besides a part of him was scared of what might be out there. He wasn't about to admit to it though. He refused to let fear rule him. He was no longer content to remain a scared, little boy.
"I'm fine," said Draco. "I know you must be tired, so please don't feel obligated to drop in to speak with my parents."
She actually looked pained at that suggestion, as though it was particularly distasteful to her. "I'm not all that tired," she said. "But perhaps it is best that I don't go. I wouldn't want to impose on your parents' hospitality."
The two of them left the book shop and parted ways shortly after. For his part, Draco immediately returned home. He Apparated into the foyer of his home where he was greeted by the sight of his father anxiously pacing back and forth.
"Draco!" said his father. His shoulders straightened as relief settled over him. "Thank Merlin. Your mother and I have been worried sick."
"You've heard the news, I take it?" Draco asked.
His father nodded his head. "I believe everyone knows. At least everyone who was on our side. Your mother has been inconsolable, wondering where you could be. Come on. Let's go to her sitting room to see her before she goes mad."
"Why didn't you—"
"Send an owl? Or go looking for you myself? Because you're a grown man, Draco, capable of taking care of yourself." His father grimaced. "You can thank me later for convincing your mother to give you until this evening to make an appearance."
"Just as well Hermione and I ended our outing early today," Draco noted absently.
"Yes." His father lengthened his stride as they approached his mother's sitting room. Two more rights and then they were there. His father opened the door and motioned for Draco to enter, something that almost never happened.
"Draco!" cried his mother as he walked through the door. She got up from her seat and practically flew across the room to embrace him. Draco winced as she hugged him tightly. This was clearly the reason why his father had wanted him to go in first.
"I'm all right, Mother." He awkwardly patted her back. It was embarrassing how much she worried about him even now, but at the same time, it was comforting as well. He never had to doubt that his mother loved him very much.
"Yes, yes, I can see that you insensitive boy." She pulled away from him and took several steps back. "What took you so long? You must have known that we would be worried." She looked accusingly at him.
"I'm sorry. I came as soon as I heard the news."
His parents exchanged a glance. "You mean, you didn't see what happened?" asked his father.
"No, I didn't. I saw that there was some sort of a commotion around the Leaky Cauldron. However, I didn't go and investigate." Draco shuddered, remembering how Hermione had prevented him from doing that. "I didn't want to give the Aurors to pin anything on me, you see. So instead I went on with my business and spent a couple hours with Hermione."
"Excellent," his father said approvingly. "That is exactly what you should have done." His mother shot his father a disapproving glare. Lucius coughed. "Well, except for one thing. You should have found some way to get a message to us to let us know that you're safe."
"You don't think I'm capable of taking care of myself, Father?" Draco asked slowly.
"I hope that when you have children that they are as difficult as you," his father replied evenly. "That is not relevant. Asking that you give us some peace of mind doesn't mean that we think you're incompetent. It's very much the opposite in fact. You are very competent, but even the best of wizards can be taken by surprise." His father paused. "Which is why it is always wise to have someone you can trust by your side."
"Yes Father. I will make certain to remember that." That was no lie. His father was right. No one could predict the future so the cunning wizard always made sure to have an ally who would watch out for him.
Fortunately, once he managed to win Hermione's heart, she would be the perfect candidate for the job. In fact, she already did watch his back. He grinned to himself. He was very fortunate to have such a witch choose him. With her by his side, there was nothing that could stop him.
He sneered openly as the sobbing, heart-broken parents left Auror headquarters after identifying the corpse. They had only got what they had deserved. They hadn't cared who they had hurt, who they had killed during the war. Now that it was their own son though, they sniveled and acted as though they deserved pity.
They didn't deserve anything like that. He hoped that they lived for years after this, remembering each and every day that it was their choices that had led their son to his doom.
Givens smirked. Everything was going well for him. He was able to put an end to another one of the Death Eater brats without anyone seeing that it was him. He had been worried for a moment, thinking that he had heard someone. But it had only turned out to be a mouse. Nothing for him to be afraid of. He was able to get his job done and then enjoy the fruits of his labor. The only thing that would have made it better was if he had been able to pin the whole thing on the Malfoy brat.
Unfortunately, that simply wasn't possible, even though he had seen the pale bastard loitering in Diagon Alley. He couldn't do that, not so long as the brat was under the protection of Hermione Granger. For that witch had the ear of the Minister, and that made her and hers impossible to get to.
It wouldn't last forever though. Eventually he would find out what hold Malfoy held over a witch who should have disdained him. And once he did then the younger Malfoy's days would be numbered.
He couldn't wait for that to happen.
Author's note: That's it for this update. Thanks for reading. Please review. It would really make my day.
Also my thanks goes out to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: dynonugget, SelectAnother, mlui, Dame Brittany, inadaze22, wickedwench1, oneamsoundstage, HazelFromBehind, shat, Jaid Ziaen, pelagic, halolikeanangel, Chanteur d'ombre, Stine, ebbe04, and Spooky Kat 87. :D I really enjoyed reading each of your responses. Thanks so much!