A/N: Here's the next chapter. I'm about half way done with the next so I should get that off to my Beta super soon! Hope everyone is enjoying their day. If you want to see what I'm up to in my normal day life, you can find me here: Vine- Sierra Emilie. Snapchat- . Feedback is always great! A little shout out to the new readers!
Disclosure: J.K. Rowling owns everything Potter related. I own nothing and write this for fun!
Hermione rose out of the Inn's bed slowly. She hadn't slept well. She stretched out her body, slipped into her house shoes, and threw her bathrobe over her body. It was quite early—much too early for the other guests at the Leaky Cauldron to be awake. She knew Hannah would be awake, preparing breakfast for the guests. Hermione thought it would be nice to walk downstairs and have a quiet visit with her. She opened the door, leading out into the hallway with a deep yawn.
A hand shot out and wrapped around her arm tightly, startling her. On instinct she focused her efforts on getting out of the stranger's grip. She reared her left arm back and promptly punched the man square in the face.
"Ow! Bloody FUCK!" the man yelled, effectively dropping her arm. He brought a hand up to his face, attempting to stifle the blood that was now pouring out of his nose.
A deep chuckle sounded from behind her. Hermione pulled out her wand from the robe pocket and pointed it straight into Dean Thomas' face.
"I told you to make yourself known, Rookie!" Dean said through gulps of laughter, completely unaffected by the end of her wand near his face.
As the quick adrenaline rush wore off, Hermione's face morphed into confusion. She lowered her wand, but only slightly.
"Are you quite finished?" Hermione asked sharply as Dean continued to laugh.
He wiped the moisture away from his eyes, trying to school his features into something more serious. It didn't work. He looked past her at the man that was still cursing under his breath, looking for something to stop the bleeding. The laughter started again.
Hermione's lips quirked up and she cleared her throat, hoping to hide her own laughter that was trying to escape.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. Ah, what a way to start the morning, aye?" he said through gulps of air. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and that's when Hermione caught the shiny pin on his robes.
Dean was in full Auror robes. Hermione chanced a look at the man behind her. He was also in full Auror robes. Her face quickly became hot with embarrassment and anger. "Oh fucking hell! I'm going to KILL Harry!"
Dean put up his arms in surrender and smartly took a step back. "Hey now! I'm just following the boss' orders!" he explained.
Hermione took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. "And just how many of your lot did he...order to be here this morning?" she asked, surprised by how even-toned she sounded.
"Thewholeforce," Dean muttered incoherently.
"Come again?" Hermione leaned closer with a strained smile.
Dean cleared his throat and looked down at his polished black shoes. "The whole force," he said more clearly, chancing a look at the witch.
"THE WHOLE SODDING FORCE?!" Hermione screeched.
Dean shushed her and looked around at the other closed doors. "We can't talk about this here!" he whispered.
"Oh, and I suppose Harry wanted you to bring me straight to him?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips, looking very much like the prefect she was in school.
Dean would be lying to himself if he said she didn't frighten him, even to this day. "Well...I mean yes—" He didn't get to finish his sentence, as she stormed back into her room, slamming the door behind her.
"I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL I'M DRESSED AND FED!" she yelled. Impressively, the sound carried through the wood.
Dean rubbed his head as it was beginning to throb. "Well, that went well," he said to no one in particular. Dean turned to face the idiot he brought along to wake Hermione. He looked like he was about to pass out from the loss of blood.
Dean sighed as he pulled his wand from his pocket. He quickly fixed the rookie's nose and ignored the string of curse words still coming from the wizard's mouth.
"Come on. Get your arse to St. Mungo's. I don't have enough blood replenishing potion on me at the moment. And don't forget to write up a report!" Dean ordered as he hoisted the Auror up, pushing him down the hallway.
Dean sighed heavily, before returning to guarding the door to the room.
"A full escort through the Ministry? Honestly, this is completely unnecessary. For Godric's sake, I WORK HERE. I bloody well know my way around this building. No! Do not touch me. I do not need you to guide me to Auror Potter's office. Shoo!" Hermione bellowed at the Aurors escorting her through the office. The Aurors scurried away as soon as they crossed over the doorway that lead to the Auror offices.
Harry emerged from his office as soon as he heard the commotion. Dean followed Hermione at a safe distance. "Dean! I sent the force to get Hermione over four hours ago. No Patronus. Just a Floo call from a healer at St. Mungo's that Auror Davis was in their care and recovering! What the hell happened?" Harry yelled at Dean, completely unaware of the anger rolling off of his Muggleborn best friend.
Hermione pushed her best friend quite hard, causing him to lose his balance. "Your office. Go!" Hermione demanded sternly.
He followed her, looking back to see the Aurors snickering. "Don't you lot have work to do?!" Harry yelled before shutting his office door behind him.
He turned around slowly to find Hermione standing with her hands on her hips.
"Care to explain why I woke up to a whole Auror team outside my room?" Hermione inquired.
"Care to explain why you ran off to stay at the Leaky without telling Gin or me?" he shot back, crossing his arms over his chest with a serious expression.
Hermione bit the inside of her cheek, her tough demeanor faltering.
"Why are you staying at our house, Hermione?" he asked with a raised brow.
Her eyes widened. "Greyback," she whispered. She rushed across the room and hugged Harry tightly. "Merlin. Harry, I'm so sorry. Something happened with Malfoy, and I just needed space. I just didn't even think," she explained in a panicked voice.
He hugged her back briefly, but his frown didn't disappear. "Yes, well. Try to remember next time that a werewolf is out to kill you in cold blood, will you?" Harry sarcastically replied.
Hermione's brows furrowed as she stepped back from Harry. "How did you even find me?" she asked quietly.
Harry snorted and gestured for Hermione to sit down in a chair as he sat behind his own desk. "Well. Let's see. The ferret showed up at the Manor, after days of not being there, which I know you noticed. Is this some sort of weird mate thing you two have going on? Not informing anyone of your whereabouts and just taking the fuck off? Anyway, Ferret shows up, looking upset. I ripped into him about not taking the security that the Manor provides seriously. He explained that something with work came up that kept him at his office for a few days. He also explained that you were angry with him for, what was it? Oh yes, running off. Without notice," Harry gave her a pointed look as she continued to chew on her lip nervously.
He waited a few seconds before continuing. "Well, that was about the time he asked where you were, which I couldn't answer. He thought you were at the Manor, sleeping in your room after you two fought. I followed him to your quarters, only to find a barking Odie, and no Hermione. Malfoy started flipping out. I assured him that you would never go off without telling at least ONE of us where you went. We Apparated to your usual spots until we got to Diagon Alley. Malfoy essentially sniffed you out and I'm sorry, but that will never not be weird. I told him to go to the Manor, as the man was exhausted at this point. I sent the force out to guard over the Leaky. They were supposed to bring you here early this morning. So that's that. Now, explain to me why one of my new Aurors is in the hospital?" Harry finished his long winded explanation with an angry tone.
"I'm a complete fool," Hermione blurted out, jumping to her feet.
Harry watched her face form into a look of anguish. He calmed his nerves with a sip of water and sighed. "You're not a fool. Just made a poor choice," Harry reassured her. He could never stay angry at Hermione for long.
"No Harry. I am a fool. I've been completely selfish and careless about this whole thing," She admitted, now pacing his office.
"Why do I feel like you are talking about something completely different?" Harry asked through a puzzled face, his glasses slipping down his face.
Hermione walked over and pushed his glasses up his face. "Sorry for scaring you. And for punching your Auror in the face," she apologized, smiling sadly down at him.
Harry looked at her in disbelief. "You didn't?" he asked.
She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. "I've got to get back to the Den, the full moon is tomorrow," she said quietly before making her way out of his office.
When he heard the door click close, Harry laid his head on the stack of reports that needed his signature. He held down the intercom button on his office phone.
"Yes, Mr. Potter?" A cool female voice eventually asked through the speaker.
"Yes, Mary. Send someone to get Davis out of St. Mungo's. And would you pass on a message for me?" Harry instructed, suddenly feeling very spent.
"Of course, sir. What's the message?" his assistant answered.
"It's for Draco Malfoy. Tell him that she's fine," he said gruffly.
"Anything else, sir?" Mary asked through the sound of quill hitting a piece of parchment.
"Yes, actually. Tell him that if he doesn't get his shit together soon, I'll kick his arse," Harry said firmly. He heard the quill pause as Mary tried to cover up her chortle with a cough.
Harry took the phone off the intercom and laid his head back down on the stack of reports.