A/n: Here's another update! Thanks to my beta loveinthemadness! Not yet edited.

The street was just as she remembered it, uninviting and eerie. They walked closely together, and thankfully the blonde had used some more of the salve before they departed, so he was not wincing with every other step he took. That was the good news.

The bad news was that just as he predicted, people remembered her. Usual's to the pub waved her way, indicating that she should come closer and chat. The girl continued to brush by them, thankful that she had the blonde at her side. He seemed to be ignoring everyone just then, but at least he kept them from drawing closer. None of those people really knew anything about her, just that she was once a shot girl. None of them knew whether or not she was seeing him or not. A small smile crept onto her face; perhaps she wouldn't have to speak to anyone at all.

He shuffled closer to her when they turned down what she had always supposed was an alley. But the further they walked, the more she saw. Blinking, she realized this place was cloaked to appear like an alley, so unwanted visitors wouldn't wander down there. Hermione had just begun to look around when he forced her hood up over her head.

"Don't let them see your face," he said sternly, walking beside her. "People in this place can hardly stand me, let alone someone like you."

Huffing at Draco's words, she straightened the hood and peered around. A few bystanders where peering over at her curiously, but she didn't hold their gaze. Immediately she knew this place was dangerous.

"A lot of illegal things must get sold down here," she mused, glancing around at the dingy buildings.

"You're right," he agreed, stepping back to walk directly next to her. "It's a black market here, and things are heavily overpriced. I don't particularly enjoy coming here anymore, not since the war ended. There are some dangerous figures that lurk in the shadows here."

"Dangerous figures hide everywhere," she countered, glancing at a passing woman her face shrouded and ducked so that her facial features couldn't be made out. "It's not about the figures hiding Draco, but the motives behind their lurking. So long as they leave you be, they can't fully be considered dangerous."

He nodded, though she could tell he wasn't exactly paying attention. His eyes danced around the place as they walked, as though he was on the lookout for someone he didn't want to see. They fell into silence, and she continued to walk with her head slightly bowed. Best to not start an uproar all because a gust of wind blew her hood off.

She didn't know much about this man, save a brief description Draco gave her before they flooed to this part of London. He was old, and apparently a stickler to his tastes. He liked high prices and small quantities, which in Malfoy's world wouldn't be a problem if the salve wasn't preventing unconditional pain on a continual basis. But Hermione was very uninterested in the amount of salve given, so much as what was in it. That was the main reason she decided to tag along; she wanted to see if the man would let anything slip about his ingredients.

Draco was not so optimistic. He didn't think she would learn anything by coming along. Hopefully, she could prove him wrong.

"Please don't start throwing out questions," he cautioned as they paused outside a door. "He's stubborn, and he likes to cut straight to the chase. And Hermione? Keep that damn hood up the entire time; don't look at his face. He's a racist, and although he never formally joined the Death Eater's I know that he is a Voldemort follower. I can't quite predict what he would do if he realized who you are, but let's not give him a way to find out, shall we?" She nodded, tired of him trying to hide her. Sure, she knew it was for the best at the moment but that didn't mean she appreciated it.

Inside, she never thought she would see such a crowded place. From outside, it appeared that the windows were simply darkened by drapes, but it was another story entirely. She couldn't even figure out where the windows should be once stepping through the threshold, due to the ridiculous amount of clutter that awaited them. Potion supplies of all sorts littered the walls, as well as some rather unfortunate animals that she couldn't quite stomach looking at. There were rags, the skeletons of ill-treated house elves, and an array of other seemingly random objects as they walked further into the establishment. She felt her blood chill as they neared a desk, and she noticed some rope that was supposedly charmed to keep Mudblood's at bay, rendering them unable to use magic while bound by the thick ties. She wasn't sure she believed that bollocks, but the mere fact that something repulsive like that existed made her skin crawl. Now she wasn't so sure she wanted to speak to this man at all. But she went there with a purpose, and she fully intended to see it through.

Draco tapped a bell, and half a moment later a grouchy man stomped out through a door that had to lead to the back. He was tall, matching the blonde's height almost identically, though he did have a slight hunchback. White hair lay matted to his head, and even from her spot behind Draco she could tell it was very greasy, flicked with slight bits of dirt. His hands were callused and cut, and she thought it was quite gross that he allowed the cuts to continue bleeding even while speaking to a customer.

"Mr. Malfoy," he said roughly, eyeing the young man in front of him for a moment before turning his gaze to Hermione's hidden face. "I see you've finally gotten off your arse and come back for more of that potion. I must be honest, I thought that you had finally decided to let yourself die."

"Unfortunately, no," Draco spat in return, and already there was obvious tension in the room. This man was nowhere near professional. "Well, go get it then, if you already know that that's why I am here."

The old man frowned, still watching Hermione. She observed the scene from beneath the hood, and watched as he quickly moved from behind the counter to stand beside them. "And then is she you're payment then for today?" he asked, cleaning off his hands. Her eyebrows shot up, and before Draco could stop her she had her wand drawn.

"If you're insinuating that he brought me here to offer you some form of service to pleasure you, then you're sourly mistaken. That might be acceptable payment in your line of business, but prostitution isn't something I will partake in-" She would say more, but Draco leaned forward and pulled her wand away.

"Don't mind her, she's a bit temperamental today," he said, draping an arm over her shoulders. "I'll be paying you in cash however," he continued when the man's gaze didn't soften. "I always pay for what I purchase."

"Yes well, just keep her restrained."

She tensed at that, but the man at her side gripped her shoulder and smirked. "Of course."

The nameless salesman walked into the back again, and she spun to face Draco. "You will most certainly not be restraining me! The nerve of that man!"

"No, I won't," he agreed without missing a beat, "But if I tell him I will, the conversation drops. Besides, you can't just go around pointing your wand at every person that irritates you. Life doesn't work that way."

"Oh don't lecture me," she snapped, crossing her arms stubbornly, "You do the same thing."

"Maybe I do, but right now it would be a good idea to not be so rash. I'm sure you noticed some of the merchandise on the way in, but I believe you have also failed to notice exactly why I pulled you away from someone who wouldn't even defend himself."

She paused. That was a bit of a curiosity, considering that he didn't even look like he cared. When she didn't answer, the blonde cocked an eyebrow and pointed up, and she followed his finger. There was quite an array of snakes hanging from ceiling decorations, all of which were looking down at them with hatred. She felt her mouth fall open a bit and she looked back at him.

"I didn't even notice."

"It took me a few visits to notice. They are very quiet, and they rarely hiss. But they obey his every command, and that's not a good thing. I was getting worried that they would come down to visit if we weren't careful. And in all honesty, I didn't expect you to be so feisty. With everything we passed, I had hoped you would be a hint more hesitant."

She turned her nose up, and the hood slid back a bit. "I'm not going to be hesitant when people assume disgusting things about me. He had no right thinking that."

"No, but its what he is accustomed to." He shrugged as the girls glare hardened. "It's not like its customary among Purebloods to sell women or anything like that, but he's a hell of a lot older than the bloody man appears. In his time it was probably not so unusual for a hooded woman to-"

"I understand," she interjected. "However, instead of being insulted again, I think I'll just go stand outside."

"I'm not sure-"

"I'll be fine," she called, already walking out the door. She didn't think she could hold her tongue if he made another comment like that, and the fact that Draco thought she could was almost comical. Sighing at the dreary scene once she got outside, she sat on the step and waited to for him to finish. There went her entire reason for coming, but she didn't feel like having another pointless conversation with him.

She had only been sitting there for a minute or so when she registered that someone was hurrying towards her. Cursing, she wished that she had taken her want back from Draco before she stepped outside, and quickly turned to face the oncoming person. Her eyes grew as she recognized who was approaching.

"Seamus?" she said, startled at who she saw. He seemed just as surprised to see her, and stopped panting in front of her, before sitting at her side. He glanced around, noting the people passing by.

"Never thought I would see you down here again," he said carefully, obviously trying to not use her real name in this dangerous environment. "What are you doing back down here?"

"I'm with Draco," she said, not bothering to come up with a lie. He had been at the pub enough times when the blonde was around to know that she was associating with him, and since there was surely an article up about them already declaring flase things, she didn't see any reason to lie. Actually, that might make things worse. "He had to pick something up?"

"And you came with him?" he asked, sounding confused as to why she would want to do that. She didn't even know why she bothered coming along anymore. "To this part of town?"

"Yes," she said, eeys narrowing. "And what are you doing down here? I know this place is close to the club, but its also a black market place and its allegedly only being used by dark wizards or previously dark wizards." She folded her arms. "From what I knew, you've never been the bad guy."

He narrowed his eyes as well. "Like you said Hermione, this is the black market basically. I come here to get what I need." He stood quickly as the door opened, signaling that Draco was finished. "If you need me though, you know where to find me." Before she could reply, he was hurring off again.

"What was that?" Draco asked as he helped her to her feet.

She only shook her head, thinking that the entire encounter was a bit strange. "You know, I'm not entirely sure."

"Well, I got the salve, though I wasn't able to bribe any of the ingredients from him. Looks like you're going to have to use that head of yours."

"Indeed," she replied as they began walking, but her mind was elsewhere. Something about Seamus seemed very strange today, and she fully intended to contact him now like he offered. She had a few questions rising up in her mind, questions that needed to be answered.