Hermione watched Ginny set off her patrol as she stood leaning against a tree in the woods behind Malfoy Manor. It had been five days since the raids on the Order's buildings had taken place and she still hadn't managed to persuade Harry to drop his ridiculous rescue mission. The morning after the raids Harry outlined his decision to post a constant two person guard on Malfoy Manor with the aim of eventually breaking into the building. Hermione had argued against the decision but Harry was adamant, he was in charge and they would do what he said.
The last five days had produced a division in the small group of Order members, Ron and Ginny had blindly followed Harry's decision and wouldn't hear a word against his bad judgement. Both Lee and Charlie had sided with Hermione's more logical argument that they should be concentrating on defeating Voldemort, but Harry wasn't listening to reason any more. Luna and Dean had both refrained from joining sides, instead they worked on trying to bring everyone together and stop the arguing that was a constant presence in camp.
Harry's pig headedness was the reason Hermione was standing in the woods behind the Manor, wondering how she was going to fulfil her orders from Voldemort. No argument Hermione had managed to come up with so far had persuaded Harry to move on from his rescue mission and Hermione was rapidly running out of ideas.
The only idea she had at the minute involved proving to Harry it was dangerous to be lurking outside the headquarters to Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Despite apparently watching the Manor closely, none of the other members of the Order had realised that Voldemort was aware of their presence, Hermione had spotted Lucius watching them from a window on several occasions and she knew the blond man would have made sure their presence was known to the Dark Lord.
Hermione was so lost in thought she failed to notice the person sneaking quietly up behind her. The first Hermione knew of the presence behind her was when a hand came over her mouth, stifling the scream that threatened to escape at the contact.
"Be quiet, Weaselette might hear."
Hermione relaxed immediately as she recognised the voice whispering in her ear. Moving the hand covering her mouth, Hermione turned and came face to face with her smirking boyfriend.
"What are you doing here?" She asked her boyfriend, checking that Ginny was nowhere in sight.
"I live here, Granger. What's your excuse." Draco smirked, moving forward slightly so Hermione was trapped between him and the tree that she was leaning against earlier.
"You know what I mean." Hermione rolled her eyes at Draco's smartarse attitude.
"I thought I'd come and see if everything was alright." Draco said. "Camping outside the Manor wasn't part of the plan."
"It's Harry, he's obsessed." Hermione told Draco, relived to finally be able to talk about her growing frustration with her friend.
Hermione then quickly explained to Draco about Harry's rescue plan and his refusal to listen to reason.
"Maybe I can help you." Draco said, after Hermione had finished talking.
"How?" Hermione asked, grateful that Draco was trying to help her.
"You want Potter to abandon his rescue mission." Draco said, an idea forming in his head. "He might if he realises how much danger is involved in spying on us."
"I thought about that, but I don't know how to achieve it." Hermione sighed.
"That's where I come in." Draco grinned. "Who'll be here tonight?"
"Ron and Dean." Hermione replied, wondering what her boyfriend had planned.
"Good, tonight Weasley will see I don't like to be spied on." Draco smirked, thrilled Weasley was on patrol tonight.
"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked, warily.
"You'll find out tonight." Draco replied, not revealing his plan. "Just make sure you capitalise on what happens and convince Potter to go to Hogwarts."
Hermione wanted to question Draco more but she knew him well enough to know he wouldn't be forthcoming on the subject.
"Thank you." She settled on saying, giving him a quick kiss. "I just wish I could have done my part without help."
"You would have thought of something." Draco said trying to reassure Hermione, he was only just realising how much her inability to get Potter to listen to her opinion was bothering her. "Besides I'm just speeding things up for my own sake."
Draco chuckled softly at Hermione's confused look and decided he should explain himself.
"The quicker you complete your part of the plan, the quicker we get to be together. I miss waking up with you." Draco explained, the few days Hermione had spent at the Manor before the raids had made their newest separation even harder.
"I miss waking up with you, too." Hermione smiled.
Draco dipped his head and kissed Hermione passionately, pressing her further into the tree. Hermione responded eagerly to Draco's kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and playing with his soft hair. Draco's hand trailed down Hermione's body to play with the hem of her top, slowly he moved his hand back up under her top and towards her breast.
Hermione moaned softly into Draco's mouth when his hand cupped her breast over her lacy bra. Hermione broke the kiss as Draco's hand continued to massage her breast and tease her hard nipple.
"We shouldn't do this here, Ginny might come back." Hermione gasped, feeling Draco's arousal pressing against her thigh.
"And she might not." Draco replied, kissing Hermione's neck.
Any protest Hermione might have mustered was dismissed when Draco moved his head and kissed the brunette witch. Hermione lost herself in Draco's embrace, running her hand under his shirt and drawing her nails down his spine. Without breaking the kiss Draco's hand's fell to Hermione's waist where they began to unbutton her jeans.
Hermione broke the kiss, needing air, and helped Draco manoeuvre her jeans down her legs while she started to unbuckle his belt. While it wasn't the easiest position to have sex, they managed to manoeuvre themselves enough so Draco could enter Hermione.
Knowing Ginny could appear at any moment they knew they had to be fast, luckily they had plenty of practice with quickies while at school. It didn't take long before Draco had Hermione on the edge of her orgasm, he knew her body extremely well and knew exactly how to turn her on quickly. Not long after they began, Hermione reached her peak, triggering Draco's release as hers hit her.
For a few minutes Draco stayed inside Hermione as they both recovered, eventually he pulled out and the pair of them quickly readjusted their clothing to make themselves presentable.
"I should be off, before Weaselette returns." Draco said once they were both decent again.
"Okay. Thank you for the help." Hermione smiled, giving Draco a peck on the cheek. "Be careful tonight."
"I always am, baby." Draco replied, giving Hermione a quick kiss before stepping away from the brunette.
A sound nearby caught both Hermione and Draco's attention and made their heads swivel towards the sound. Worried it might be Ginny returning, Hermione turned back to Draco only to find the blond had disappeared. A second later, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief that Draco had scarpered quickly when Ginny emerged from the trees coming from the direction in which the rustling noises had been coming from.
After his encounter with Hermione, Draco headed back to the Manor. He was relieved that Weaselette had waited until they had finished before returning, The Dark Lord wouldn't have been happy if Hermione's true loyalties were exposed before he had Potter in his grasp.
Draco entered the Manor and headed for the library, the room that Voldemort was using as his office in the Manor.
"I suppose you've been to fix your mudblood girlfriend's problem."
Draco whirled round at the sound of his father's voice, he saw Lucius leaning against the living room door with a glass of firewhisky in his hand.
"Don't you dare call her that." Draco threatened his father, knowing if it came to it the Dark Lord would back him over Lucius.
"I notice you didn't deny you've been helping her." Lucius spat. "So much for her being the way to Potter, she can't even steer him in the right direction."
"That's been taking care of." Draco said, carrying on walking past the living room.
"By you, not her." Lucius grumbled, before turning and leaving Draco standing in the hallway staring after him.
Draco shook his head at his father's attitude, he had hoped after their talk that he would be more tolerant of Hermione and their relationship. Unfortunately the day after their talk was the day that Potter started watching the Manor, and Lucius had been complaining about Hermione's incompetence ever since.
Deciding to deal with his father later, Draco headed for the library where he found the Dark Lord sitting at the desk.
"Draco, I take it things went well." Voldemort greeted the blond with a smirk.
"Yes." Draco replied, wondering how much about his encounter with Hermione, Voldemort knew.
"Good, I hope that means Potter and his friends will be heading for Hogwarts soon."
"They should be, I can't see Potter wanting to stick around after tonight." Draco smirked, looking forward to his upcoming meeting with Weasley.
Voldemort smiled at his protégée, pleased to witness his dark side was still evident despite the love he had for Hermione.
"It will be a relief leaving tomorrow to know that Potter won't be hanging around here any longer." Voldemort said, looking out of the window towards the woods.
"Where are you going tomorrow?" Draco asked, he had never heard the Dark Lord mention a trip before now.
"We are going to Belgium." Voldemort announced. "There's something I need to pick up."
"Whose we?" Draco asked, wondering if he meant himself or his aunt Bella, they were the only two of his Death Eaters that ever travelled with him.
"Me and you." Voldemort said, standing up. "I'll be here to pick you up at nine, don't be late."
"I'm never late." Draco smirked.
"Good. Nagini, come." Voldemort said, leaving the room.
Draco watched as the snake untangled itself from where she was lying, curled up with Crookshanks, and followed her master out of the room. Since Crookshanks arrival the day of the raids, the cat and snake had formed an attachment to each other and would often curl up together whenever Nagini was in the Manor.
"Come on, Crookshanks." Draco said, picking the cat up and heading to his wing of the Manor.
Unless Voldemort and Nagini were around, Draco preferred the cat to stay in his wing of the large house. While his mother was quite fond of the animal, Lucius despised the ginger cat and the feeling seemed mutual as Crookshanks would hiss whenever the elder Malfoy appeared in his line of vision.
Arriving in his wing, Draco put Crookshanks down and the cat headed straight for Draco's bedroom. When Draco entered the room, he found the cat curled on his bed, where it had slept every night since his arrival. Picking up his book from the bedside table, Draco headed out onto his balcony to read before the night's fun he was planning on having.
Hermione was sitting by the fire, chewing her bottom lip nervously. Ron and Dean had relieved her and Ginny from watching the Manor a couple of hours ago and Hermione was curious as to what her boyfriend had planned for the pair.
"Are you okay, Hermione?" Charlie asked, sitting down next to the brunette.
"I'm fine." Hermione attempted a smile, hoping to reassure the redhead.
"It's Harry isn't it." Charlie said, everyone had picked up on the atmosphere between the two friends. "Don't worry, he'll come round eventually."
Hermione nodded absent-mindedly, she was getting sick of Harry and his attitude. If it wasn't for the Dark Lord and his orders, she would have abandoned Harry days ago. Since her return from patrol hours ago, Harry had pointedly ignored her, so Hermione had sat by the fire in silence.
What Harry didn't realise was that his attitude was only proving to Hermione that she was doing the right thing by joining the dark side. While she had her doubts the first night in the forest, Harry's attitude and actions combined with her brief encounter with Draco earlier in the day spurred Hermione on, making her more determined the ever to deliver Harry to the Dark Lord so she could finally begin living her life.
A commotion on the other side of the fire suddenly drew Hermione's attention, together her and Charlie ran to see what was going on. Arriving at the assembled group, Hermione saw Ron lying on the floor writhing in agony.
"What's wrong with him?" Ginny cried.
"Let me see." Charlie said, squatting down next to his brother. "Someone pass me a calming draught."
Lee hurried over to the supply bag and rummaged around until he found the potion in question and handed it over to Charlie.
"Harry, hold him down." Charlie ordered, as he tried to administer the potion.
With Harry's help Charlie got the potion into his brother and was finally able to calm him down enough so he could check over his injuries.
"Ron, you've got a broken arm." Charlie told his brother, who was no longer crying and whimpering.
"Is that it?" Ginny asked. "I meant, was there nothing more serious." She hastily added when everyone looked at her.
"No, just a few cuts and scrapes." Charlie explained as he cleaned Ron up. "But the arm was broken by magic, it hurts much more than if you break it another way."
"Hermione can you make me a sling please." Charlie ordered, as he checked out Ron's injured arm. "And bring a pain relief potion."
"Can't you fix it with magic?" Harry asked, looking at his friend.
"Yes, but we still need to put it in a sling for extra protection. A limb broken by magic takes longer to heal." Charlie explained. "Thanks, Hermione." He said, as Hermione handed him a sling.
"Ron, this is going to hurt. Sorry." Charlie grimaced as he pointed his wand at his brother.
A blood curdling scream pierced the forest as Charlie cast the spell to heal Ron's arm. Carefully he put the arm into the sling and gave Ron the pain relief potion.
"It'll hurt for a few weeks, but you'll be soon be good as new." Charlie told his brother.
"Thank you." Ron rasped out, finally able to talk once the pain started subsiding.
"Ron, do you feel up for telling us what happened?" Harry asked, anxious to know what had brought him back to camp without Dean.
"Yes, but can I have some water first."
"Sure." Harry reluctantly agreed as Luna took Ron to sit by the fire and handed him a flask of water.
"How did you know Ron's arm was broken by magic, Charlie?" Lee asked as everyone gathered around the fire.
"A friend of mine in Romania once had it done to him, during the first wizarding war, he told me all about it. It's an extremely hard spell to master and it apparently hurts like hell." Charlie explained.
"I can confirm that, it's the worst pain I've ever felt." Ron said, finishing his drink.
"What happened Ron? Where's Dean?" Harry asked, satisfied Ron was fit to talk.
"We were doing patrol as normal when I heard a noise, I went to investigate and found Dean and Malfoy fighting." Ron started.
"Malfoy, I should have known it was that evil bastard." Harry exploded, interrupting Ron's story.
"Anyway, just as I arrived Malfoy managed to get some of them handcuffs on Dean and he just disappeared." Ron continued, after agreeing with Harry about Draco's nature. "Malfoy saw me and started to come towards me, I drew my wand but before I could cast a spell he threw a curse at me and I was in agony with the pain in my arm."
"How did you get away?" Luna asked, engrossed in Ron's tale.
"I'm getting to that." Ron shot Luna a withering look, not noticing the one Hermione shot at him in return. "I was lying on the floor and Malfoy came and stood over me. He then told me he didn't appreciate people spying on him and his family and if he ever saw another member of the Order in the vicinity of the Manor he would kill them. He then told me to pass the message on to Harry, then he just left."
"You mean he let you go?" Lee asked, surprised Ron had survived a confrontation with the Death Eater.
"Yes, I could hardly deliver the message if he killed or captured me." Ron explained.
The group sat in stunned silence for several minutes, digesting the fact that Dean was now captured and it was no longer safe to watch the Manor.
"I think tonight proves it's time to change tactics." Charlie said, breaking the silence.
"I agree, it's time we got to work on defeating Voldemort." Hermione said, gaining immediate support from Charlie, Lee and Luna.
"But everyone's still being held prisoner and Malfoy has to pay for what he did to Ron." Harry shouted, Ron and Ginny agreeing with him.
"Harry it's time you started focusing, you're supposed to be trying to defeat Voldemort. Not getting revenge on Malfoy." Hermione shouted, standing up to face her friend. "Do what Dumbledore wanted you to do and destroy the Horcrux's."
Hermione stormed away from the fire, worried in case she said something in anger she would later regret. Hermione sat down under a tree on the edge of the campsite, she could see the others sitting round the fire having a heated discussion but she couldn't hear what was being said. When she calmed down she was planning on returning to camp and try again with Harry. She had gotten a reaction with her mention of the former headmaster and wasn't against using the memory of the old man to get Harry to comply with her wishes.
An hour later, Hermione had calmed down enough to return to camp, just as she was about to stand up Harry plonked himself down beside her.
"We've decided to head for Hogwarts in the morning." Harry told her, looking unhappy with the decision.
"But you don't want to." Hermione surmised.
"No, I think we need to rescue the others. But Lee pointed out the school holidays have just begun so the school will be empty, bar a handful of Death Eaters." Harry sighed.
"You're doing the right thing Harry." Hermione smiled, placing a hand on Harry's arm.
"I hope so." Harry said, shrugging off Hermione's touch and standing to glare at the brunette. "You better be able to get through the wards, or we'll have wasted our time."
"I'll get through the wards, don't worry." Hermione replied, put out by Harry's condescending attitude towards her.
"Make sure you do." Harry ordered before heading back towards camp.
Hermione stared after Harry, disgusted with the way he had just talked to her. Hermione watched as Harry ignored everyone in the camp and headed straight into his tent, Ginny and Ron watching sadly as he brushed past them without speaking. Hermione headed back to camp herself, she had plans to make for the following day. Finally she could begin following her orders and deliver Harry to Voldemort. Nearly a week after the raids they were finally heading in the right direction, Hogwarts.