Chapter Twenty-Five
"Well, bang up job, you tosser."
Snape speaks as soon as we're out of earshot and his voice sounds harder than normal.
"I have no idea what came over me. The words just spilled out before I could stop them." I admit.
"Yes, well, now if anything happens to Granger you will be looked at, possibly killed or sent back to the Dark Lord-"
"Which is the same thing.." We both pause on the staircase as he turns to look at me.
"Yes, well..just don't let any harm come to her." He looks down and back up to my face quickly before turning and continuing his ascent.
"I'm not going to lie to you: you will be scrutinized much more heavily over at the main camp. They're not going to trust you, and they have good reason not to."
We reach my room and Snape stands uncomfortably in the doorway as I empty the drawers into a suitcase.
"A little help?" I gesture to the suitcase that's overflowing with clothes and look up at the oily haired wizard. He makes a face before unsheathing his wand from the sleeve of his cloak.
"You know, I doubt you will be needing a bow tie out in the fray." He flicks the wand upwards and the pile of clothes falls to the bottom of the suitcase. I watch it and smirk.
"You never know, Severus," I chide, "maybe the Order will hold a ball in the middle of nowhere. Isn't that what the 'good guys' are all about? Beating the enemy, making light out of dark, bringing joy to...monotony? Etcetera, etcetera..." I chuckle at my own joke, but Snape stays blank faced.
"Look," I grab a jumper off a hook close to the door and sigh deeply," I, more than anyone, am hyper-aware of my past. I was being genuine when I said I wanted to move on and leave that part of me behind me. I know people aren't going to just jump on board with a reformed Death Eater, I'm not daft...but that doesn't mean I'm going to pull a you and become a double agent for You Know Who, and I'm not going to just vanish...especially not when my mum is still fleeing for her life." I almost whisper the last part as I zip up the jumper.
"Indeed, but they do not know that, Draco, and it's not me that you have to convince of your allegiance. The members out at camp, in the thick of it, won't be so easily swayed as the majority in this house." He drawls, and I throw some toiletries into the suitcase and buckle it closed.
"Majority," I scoff, "And, I'm not concerned with convincing anyone. I feel like I'm talking to a bloody brick wall!" I sit on the bed and run my hands through my hair. The bruises on my side ache, signaling that I've overworked myself today.
"I don't agree with the Dark Lord, his methods or his beliefs. I feel good about standing with the Order...but my mother comes first. Her safety is my primary concern. Do you understand?" I look up, expecting a disdainful look from Snape, but his face is nothing but soft and almost understanding.
"I understand more than you think..I also understand that if you tell anyone else about how your loyalty to your mother over-rules your loyalty to the Order, being cast out will, once again, be the least of your worries." Snape shuffles his robes and flicks his wand once more. This time the suitcase shrinks to the size of a pill. I nod at him, pick it up and pocket it.
"Dually noted."
The back of his robes swing behind him as he turns to leave, and I follow him.
When we reach the end of the staircase, Hermione is already standing near the door. She wears a winter coat that is zipped up tight, and a small purple purse dangles from her left wrist.
"Ok, so, you will grab onto me and I we will apparate to our intended destination." She says stiffly.
"Right, one quick thing, first." I hop off the last stair and spin to Mad-Eye who is watching my with magical eye. "My wand?" I ask and hold out my hand expectantly.
Mad-Eye stares at my open palm and Mrs. Weasley clears her throat. With agitation etched onto his face, he opens the right side of his long jacket and sticks his hand into one of the deep pockets. After shuffling around in it for what seems like an eternity, he finally pulls out my wand. He holds it out, but before dropping it into my hand, he turns his arm abruptly and gives it over to Hermione.
"Hey!" I simmer.
"Draco, you're not stupid, you know this is just precaution." Hermione says, putting my wand in her own pocket.
"Uh-huh." I walk to her side, giving her a stony look. "Let's just go."
"Wait!" The red headed girl steps out from the kitchen, runs to Hermione and embraces her in a hug. I swear I think I hear her whisper something to Hermione, but she gives no indication of such.
"Be safe, please!" She murmurs as she lets go of Hermione and steps back.
"I will try my best, Ginny." Hermione gives her friend an earnest look and then turns to me. "Ready?"
"Do I have a choice?" She grabs my forearm and I have barely enough time to latch onto hers before we're suffocating, whizzing through the air to only Merlin knows where.
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