Thank you to everyone who took the time to review, It was nice to see so many new people mixed in with my awesome regulars. Thank you to: Aid4, tomfeltonswifey, Fanficfan826, apls79, ASJS, Scorpia11, Addfam2008, Kotodashi Kyoshi, alluringmango, mega700201 mmiller0000 , Jen7, Ayr, RotcehM , mb1995, .babe , AnayaR and guests "Who", "MB" and "D"
This chapter is dedicated to Ayr. Thank you for your support and taking the time to comment and stick with me. I appreciate you.
So, fun fact-even taking out all my ramblings this Fanfiction is now longer than "The Prisoner of Azkaban" Not even close to being as cool as that epic piece of writing from the genius we all know and love...but still its now longer. That's right folks this is pretty much a novel, and there is more to come. Hope I'm keeping your interest.
*TRIGGER WARNING: This story is rated M for a reason. There will be violence, abuse, sex, violence around sex, sexual abuse, molestation etc. I don't want my story to hurt anyone so please do not read if you are not okay with reading about those things. You are warned.
Chapter 27: The Errand
Draco watched as shock gave way to pure unfiltered joy. Hermione's face broke open almost simultaneously into tears and a smile. She dropped Draco's hand like a forgotten toy and rushed over to Fred and practically jumping on him. Draco winced at the impact and Fred let out a grunt as he caught her wrapping his long arms around her in a familial embrace.
"You're alive," she had gone from zero to bawling in about three second flat and yet it was pure joy that exuded from her voice. "You're alive."
"Yeah," said Fred hugging her tight. "So are you apparently." He looked over Hermione's shoulder back at Draco. The redhead was obviously a little surprised that Draco had actually brought Hermione to him as promised. The glance was quick enough that Hermione didn't catch it, she was too caught up in holding on to her friend. Draco did catch the look and he made a mental note that Fred was far from trusting him.
You can't blame him with your track record.
"I thought you were dead," said Hermione finally pulling back. She wiped her eyes and looked at Fred. She reached out with gentle finger tips and touched the scar where Fred's eye should be "I saw you...laying on the floor. You weren't moving."
"I got an axe in the face," said Fred letting her touch him. "A magical one at that. Really quite painful. I don't recommend it." He smiled for her and Draco was amazed at the Weasely twins' ability to sidestep his own pain in order to make a joke that made Hermione feel better.
Hermione laughed and hugged Fred again. Fred closed his eyes and hugged Hermione back. His face softened in a way that was filled with love, real love and Draco swallowed. Fred didn't look like he wanted to sleep with Hermione, the hug didn't make Draco romantically jealous, and yet he felt a pang of jealousy at what they had together. A friendship that wasn't based on whose family you belonged to or whether or not you wanted to sleep with the other person. It was based on…well love and affection and it was something Draco didn't have.
Up until that moment Draco hadn't really missed it from his life, but now as he stood back and too the whole exchange in he felt a hollow space in his chest like something very important was missing.
That must be what it looks like to have a real, he thought and he found himself wishing that he could have something like that one day.
"But...how?" Hermione asked wiping at her eyes which were still sending happy tears cascading down her cheeks. "How are you alive?"
"Well...far as I can see…with my remaining eye." He looked at Draco pointedly. "It appears as if Malfoy here is responsible for my not being dead," Fred reached around and rubbed the back of his neck. "Though I am still wrapping my mind around that one."
Hermione turned to Draco.
"You saved him?"
Draco nodded. She beamed at him the smile warmed every inch of Draco's body. She was looking at him like he was the greatest thing and for the briefest of moments Draco felt like it was true. Then the smile vanished as quickly as it had come.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me before?!" she demanded marching over to Draco and hitting his chest soundly with the side of her fist. "You let me think I was responsible for him being dead for days!" she hit him again.
Draco made no move to defend himself. She was happy Fred was alive and that was what mattered. She had a million reasons to be mad at him, did it really matter if she was mad at him for this?
"Hermione," Fed called out from behind her.
"How could you?!" she demanded. "You asshole!"
"Hermione!" Fred said louder.
"What?" she demanded looking back at the redhead.
"I was unconscious the entire time. I just woke up last night."
Draco's eyes widened a little. Fred was…Defending him? Draco's eyebrows knit together. Why would the Weasely defend him? Now was the most opportune moment to side with Hermione and try to overpower him or escape or even just turn Hermione against him. Instead Fred was sticking up for him. It felt odd and yet Draco really appreciated at the same time.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Hermione asked Fred throwing her hands up in the air.
"He didn't want to get your hopes up for nothing," said Fred with a shrug. "Leastwise that's what he told me."
"Is that true?" Hermione demanded swinging back to face Draco. Draco could not name the expression on her face. He couldn't read her and that worried Draco because he didn't know what the right answer was-so he opted for the simple truth:
"Yes," he answered.
"Well why didn't you say so!" she said exasperated. "You let me hit you."
"It seemed like you needed to."
"Oh you great git!" she hit him again, this time with an open palm and no real malice. She rolled her eyes. "You are so infuriating."
"You're the one who's being violent," said Draco pointedly.
"It's your fault," countered Hermione and she almost smiled at him. Draco looked down at her and was about to smile back when he caught sight Fred taking in the exchange with a scrutinous look on his face.
Careful Draco, just because he stood up for you once doesn't mean he's going to take your side when he realises you have a thing for his little brother's girl.
"Tell me what happened," Hermione demanded crossing her arms and going serious again. "Tell me why you let me believe he was dead?"
"Hermione..." Fred said her name again, trying to pull her away from the warpath she was on with Draco as the target at the end of the line.
"Its fine," Draco said to Fred and then he looked back down at Hermione.
"He was in a coma," explained Draco. "I didn't want to let you know he was still alive while there was a chance he wouldn't pull through," Draco took a breath. "I didn't want to put you through losing him twice. I hated the idea of your suffering a loss like that twice and didn't want to risk you blaming yourself for his death all over again."
"Oh," Hermione's face crumpled as she processed everything he had said. Her bottom lip trembled. "I'm sorry," she finally managed and threw herself on Draco in a hug burying her face in his chest. She started crying again only this time it wasn't happy tears and it wrenched at Draco's chest. He didn't want her to cry like this. She didn't need to feel bad.
"It's okay," said Draco stroking her hair, "It's okay Hermione please don't cry."
Past Hermione's head he could see Fred looking at the two of them now much more quizzically, his head cocked to the side as if trying to figure out something important. Warning bells went off inside Draco's head.
Hermione pulled back.
"You save him. You kept him safe. You nursed him back to health."
"Yeah, he did," said Fred. "Though his bedside manner could use a little improvement."
Draco rolled his eyes at Fred.
"I'm not a nurse," he said dryly. "I'm not even planning on studying anything to do with healing. I've never been that good at healing spells," not till recently that is, he added mentally.
"No, you're not a nurse otherwise you would have to get one of those cute little outfits," said Fred with a sigh. "I love those lovely outfits," he sighed and then snapped up straight. "I absolutely respect the women who wear them," he said with conviction. "They are heroes' every one. Nurses have a hard job to do and I hear in the muggle world it worse, so you have to respect them." He gave a nod and then slid back down. "That said…I swear just seeing a nice pair of legs in a nurses outfit gives you the will to fight and keep living."
"Fred!" said Hermione laughing.
"What?" he asked with a shrug and a smile.
"I really am so happy you're alive," she answered shaking her head.
"Me too," said Fed. "It certainly trumps the alternative."
"I should say so," said Hermione wiping her eyes then she paused. "Your family! They need to know!"
"They can't know yet," Draco warned.
"Why not?" asked Hermione.
"Because, we need to keep Fred being alive on the down low until we have a plan in place to get out," Draco explained calmly. "The last place that Fred was seen alive was here and everyone thinks he died here. If he suddenly comes out as being alive it would let everyone know that there was a traitor inside this house, which would put everyone on high alert and make it almost impossible for me to hide the fact that that I am trying to keep you safe," he said looking down into her eyes intently. "It would also make it much harder to hide Fred," he added clearing his throat and looking away.
"I guess that makes sense," said Hermione.
"I hadn't actually thought of that," said Fred.
"Yes, well..." said Draco. "Slytherin-Cunning. It's a thing. Speaking of, I do have a plan."
"Care to let us in on it mate?" asked Fred.
"Yes," said Draco.
Did he just call me mate as in…Friend?
No, don't be silly, it's just his common vernacular. Draco shook his head mentally and then continued.
"When you're better," he said to Fred. "You're going to leave with a message of when and where to attack to get me and Hermione out of here safely."
"You and Hermione?" Fred looked surprised.
"Yes," answered Hermione. "The Dark Lord set a Bind between us which he can make Draco use in order to find me."
"Yeah, I remember him saying something about that when I woke up. I was slightly distracted by the headache and the whole being tied up portion of things," Fred waved his hand in the air. "Anyways, continue."
"Right," said Draco. "Which brings us back to the plan. If it looks like I was taken prisoner, then the Bind doesn't matter; It can't be used to make me find Hermione because I won't be around to use it."
"I'm not sure if you want to get taken prisoner by us mate," said Fred, using the friendly title again. "Not after that photo you sent."
There was a momentary silence and Hermione reached out a hand to Draco slipping it in his. He looked down at her Hand. The memory of that night, of what he had to do to her in order to make that photo. Draco shuddered and closed his eyes.
Don't think about it, he told himself, but he couldn't help it. He heard her screams fresh in his head and he wanted to run. Hermione squeezed his hand.
You shouldn't be holding her hand. You don't deserve her forgiveness or affection.
"He did it to save me from a much worse fate," Hermione said, her tone even and strong. "You-know-who has a habit of sending body parts. If Draco hadn't thought quick on his feet you all would have received a piece of me instead of that photo."
"That's monstrous," said Fred.
"Yes," said Draco opening his eyes.
This was getting too intense. Draco didn't want to think about that night. He didn't want to re-live it. It made the fact that he had slept next to her last night, kissed her, seem so wrong: like he had broken some kind of a rule, crossed some kind of a line.
"It is monstrous," he pulled his hand away from Hermione.
Like me, he thought.
Like what I did…That was monstrous too.
It didn't matter how many time Hermione said it was okay, it wasn't. It would never be okay. Even if she could forgive him for what he had done he would never be able to forgive himself. There was no penance great enough to tip the scales and right the wrong.
"I don't care if your friends want to take their pound of flesh," Draco continued. "I deserve to be punished for all I've done."
"No you don't!" protested Hermione, just as Draco had known she would. "You've done everything to save me and you've endured enough punishment already."
"I don't want to argue," said Draco shaking his head. He didn't, he just wanted to go. His skin felt too tight. His neck felt hot. He wanted to get away from everything, from everyone, but he couldn't. They were already inside the place that he usually went to hide from the world. Draco itched at his arm scraping his nails across the flesh hard enough to draw pink lines in the pale flesh.
"You won't win an argument with her anyways," said Fred going back over to his bed and sitting down. Draco saw that Fred suddenly looked very tired. "I've hear Hermione argue things and throw facts at you till you just want to roll over and surrender," he smiled at Hermione. "No offense though, I think it's brilliant especially when you do it to my brother."
The atmosphere of the room changed and Hermione shifted away from Draco.
That's right, when all this is done she's going back to him.
"Are you okay?" asked Hermione filling the silence and going over to Fred. "You look pale."
"A little worse for the wear," said Fred with a smile, "But all things considered I think I'm doing fine."
"Here," Draco handed Fred a vial stiffly. He met Fred's eyes and saw that the redhead knew exactly what his words had done. They were are reminder to everyone of where Hermione's loyalties were supposed to lay. "Drink up," Draco encouraged.
Fred took the vial without hesitation and threw it back, letting Draco know just how poorly off he was considering his earlier complaints about taste.
"We should let him rest Hermione," said Draco. Fred gave him a fleeting, grateful look.
Hermione looked at Fred and then wrapped her arms around the redhead with all the affection in her heart. Fred hugged her back and then gently directed her towards Draco.
"Close your eyes again," Draco ordered gently.
"Do I have to?" she asked.
"If the dark Lord looks into your mind do you really want him to be able to see where Fred is?" asked Draco.
"No, you're right," she answered. "What about if he looks into your mind?"
"I'm not saying it won't happen, but it is less likely," answered Draco. "And besides. He has no idea Fred is alive and I think we all would like to keep it that way."
"Yes," Hermione nodded then she turned and walked back to Fred hugging him one more time. "I really am so thankful you are alive."
"Yeah," said Fred and he looked back at Draco over Hermione. "Me too."
Draco gave a small tight nod of acknowledgement and then Hermione came back and stood in front of him closing her eyes. Draco took hold her arm above the elbow, not wanting to hold her hand with how raw he felt, and led her gently out of the room closing and locking it behind him.
He walked her out back to the dock which had stretched out to connect the island to the door to the outside world. Draco looked back and paused for a moment just looking at Hermione standing in the sunlight of his oasis.
She's here…for real.
She belongs here, a part of his mind said. He knew that wasn't really true, it didn't change the fact that he wanted her here. He wanted her to be here in place where no one else was allowed. He wanted to let her in. Having her here didn't feel quite as bad as he had thought it would. Her silhouette on his horizon was oddly…calming.
"Why have we stopped Draco?" she asked and her eyebrows knit together creating a cute little line at the top of the bridge of her nose.
Draco couldn't answer, knowing that he couldn't really tell her that the reason they had stopped was because he wanted to take a moment to just memorize her face and what she looked like standing here in the sun in his oasis.
"Draco?" She asked. "Is everything alright?" He watched her eyebrows tighten with stress and he placed his index finger on the line there.
She jerked slightly at the unexpected touch and then reached up with her own hand and followed his arm up from her forehead to his face. She rubbed her thumb against his cheek. He wanted to lean into her touch, instead he stood still and let her touch him afraid that if he gave in even a little it would lead to him giving in to everything and scaring her away.
"Words cannot express just how much I appreciate what you did for Fred," she said letting him know with her tone just how much she meant it. "I wish there was some way to repay you."
"I am forever in your debt Hermione," said Draco. "There will never be anything to repay."
"But how can that be?" asked Hermione. "When I am the one who owe's you my life?" She wanted to open her eyes so that she could look at him for real. Why couldn't he understand just how much it meant to her to have someone back whom she loved so much? Fred was like a brother to her. He and George were the big brothers she had always wanted and never had.
"You don't owe me anything," he scoffed.
"Yes, I do," she protested.
"No you don't" he shook his head and though she couldn't see it she could feel the motion.
"Please Draco let me feel like I have a little say in my world. Give me the power to say thank you somehow." She felt so powerless. She wanted to make him see, wanted to feel like she was being heard.
"You just did. Your smile, your reaction to seeing him, your joy was payment enough."
"Since when does Draco Malfoy deal in smiles and joy?"
"Since you came into my life and changed everything."
She felt him stiffen and knew that the words had clearly slipped out unintentionally.
"I didn't mean to change everything," she said softly. "I know my being here puts you in a difficult place."
"That's not what I meant at all," said Draco. "You changed things..." he swallowed. "For the better."
Pin prickles climbed up Hermione's arms and she shivered feeling slightly nauseous and she couldn't figure out why. Even though the wind around them was warm, she suddenly felt cold. The kind of cold that you feel when you know you are about to get in trouble. The kind of nauseous you feel when you have done something wrong.
"But...how?" she managed.
"You've made me stronger. Made me better, made me want to be better," he answered and she knew he was being honest because there was no one else around.
Hermione shuddered.
"I'm sorry," he said and dragged her forward. "I shouldn't have said anything."
"Draco wait," Hermione protested.
"Its fine, just forget about it please."
"No," she said and wrenched her hand from his grasp. "I can't forget you saying something like that."
Draco paused.
"You said you wanted to repay me, do it by forgetting this conversation and letting it go," there was a pleading to his voice and it reached Hermione.
He's hurting, she realized she could almost feel it in the air. There was something about this place. She wasn't sure how, but it felt like it was connected to Draco. Between the atmosphere and the bind she felt hyper-aware of his emotions in that moment and knew he really didn't want to talk about this now-that it was hurting him to talk about it.
She wanted to talk about it, but she didn't want to hurt him.
How could he say something like that and then just apologize and walk away from it?
You need to let it go, he deserves that much after everything he had done for you.
"Alright," she said nodding. She held out her hand and waited. A moment later she felt his hand slip into her own, it felt right. He led her back through some kind of a door and then sensed they were back in Draco's room.
"You can open your eyes now," said Draco and Hermione did. She stood there just looking at him. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing," she answered and stepped away.
There was a knock at the door Draco went to answer it but the door opened before he could reach it.
"That was locked for a reason," said Draco. "Namely I don't like people barging in."
"Yes well I knocked," said Lucius smoothing out his hair.
"And I would have answered," ground out Draco. She could tell he was unhappy about the intrusion into his room. Hermione realized why: They had just gotten back when the knock came. It was good timing. A few minutes before and the room would have been empty and his father would have likely sounded some kind of an alarm.
"You are to come downstairs at once, the Dark Lord has an errand for you," said Lucius.
"I'll be right down," said Draco.
"Now Draco," said Lucius.
Draco shot Hermione a glance.
Hermione didn't like this. She had a bad feeling about it coupled with the nausea she had been feeling just a few moments before she got the distinct feeling like something was about to go terribly wrong. They had, had too many good moments in a row. An errand for the dark Lord couldn't be a good thing. She wanted to tell him not to go. She moved to go to him and Draco shook his head and cast a chain around her halting her movements. Hermione could tell it wasn't real. She could barely feel the weight of them and knew she could easily wriggle out.
Don't go, she thought at him.
She saw him look at her with an expression she couldn't read and then he turned and left.
Draco followed his father down the stairs to the main room.
Voldemort was sitting on his 'throne' with Bellatrix beside him fawning over him like a high school girl over the star quarterback.
"Ah Draco," said Voldemort. "So good to see you again. I trust you're feeling better?"
"Much, thank you," said Draco.
"Good, then you'll be well enough to help me with a delivery," Draco's eyes went to the trunk that Snape had brought to the house earlier.
"Of course," answered Draco.
Voldemort waved his wand and the trunk opened. A small box lifted out and floated towards them.
"You are to deliver this to the address here," said Voldemort writing an address with his wand on a floating scrap of paper. "You will hand deliver it to a death eater by the name of Vladimir Blackthorn. Only to him do you understand?"
"Yes my Lord."
"Good," said Voldemort. "Don't disappoint me Draco."
"I won't," said Draco. He needed to stay in Voldemort's good graces if he was to keep Hermione safe. "You have my promise that I will do everything in my power to live up to your expectations in this," the truth of the words seemed to ring in Voldemort's ears and he smiled at Draco baring those pointed teeth.
"That's a good boy," Voldemort said and nodded. "Now run along." He turned to Bellatrix and sealed his mouth over hers.
Draco was only too happy to leave.
Vladimir Blackthorn lived in the darkest end of Knockturn Alley, past Borgin & Burkes. Draco made his way down the street feeling very much exposed. The shadows grew longer with every ally that he passed by. He could see have shaded faces of people who lived for the dark.
When he came to the address he knocked on the door and was greeted by someone from the shadows holding a wand to the side of his head.
"Malfoy," the deatheater said.
"Yes?" asked Draco trying to seem cocky.
"You got a delivery?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Give it to me."
"Not a chance," answered Draco. "Dark Lords orders I am to deliver it to Vladimir Blackthorn by hand and to him only."
"What a good little delivery boy," said the death eater with a snarl. "Let go on in then."
"That was the plan."
The death eater knocked in a simple rhythm on the door and another death eater answered opening the door. This one was a woman Draco recognized from the night of the ball at his house. She had dark black hair which hung down to her mid back and brunt bangs that suited her face impeccably well..
"Hello handsome," she said putting a hand on Draco's chest. "What brings you here?"
"I have a delivery for Vladimir."
"Ahhh," she stroked her hand down the front of his shirt. In another world, in another time he could have appreciated the attention.
Yes, she was a little older than him, likely in hear mid-twenties, but her style was that of someone striving for eternal youth. She had perfect round breasts which were supported by a heavy duty bra which kept them looking perky. His gaze was drawn to them, without allowing himself to linger.
"Nikita," came a low voice. "I see you are ready to entertain our guest." A man stepped out the shadows and Draco recognized him as Blackthorn.
"Of course my lord," said Nikita pouting her lips at the older man.
"Go fetch us something to drink won't you?" Blackthorn ordered smoothly.
"Yes my lord," she answered batting her eyelashes. She sashayed her way over to a cabinet at the other side of the room and pulled out a tray and glasses pouring an amber liquid into several brandy glasses.
"I have a package for you from the dark Lord," said Draco pulling the box from underneath his robes.
"I have been expecting it," said Blackthorn and he took a glass from Nikita's tray and sat down on the couch. "Sit," he ordered. Draco obliged only because it was poor manners to stand.
Nikita came and offered a drink bending down low for him so that her chest was almost in his face.
"Thank you," he said flatly.
Vladimir laughed.
"You seem unaffected by Nikita's charms," said Vladimir. "That is most unusual."
"Yes, well her beauty is not lost on me," said Draco shooting the woman a charming smile. She returned the smile tilting her head at him suggestively. "I am, however, on an errand for the dark lord and that is my priority."
It was a lie. Draco didn't want to be with anyone else other than Hermione and even the casual flirtation with Nikita felt like some kind of a betrayal.
Who are you and what have you done with the real Draco Malfoy? Draco thought at himself.
"What is the point in being evil unless you get to enjoy a little fun along the way?" said Vladimir giving Nikita a nod.
Nikita faced Draco and stretched her legs up and out so that she was straddling Draco facing him. She placed the glass of alcohol in between her ample cleavage.
"Drink up," she said in a sultry tone.
Draco wanted to shove her off his lap.
He knew that would not end well.
Suddenly a window crashed in.
Nikita leapt of Draco as he sprang to his feet. Several members of the order came bursting in through the main door and another came in through the window that had just been cracked in. Blackthorn took one look around picked up the box Draco had delivered and disapperated
"VLADIMIR!" Nikita yelled. A curse caught her across the side of the face and she screamed.
Another curse whizzed near Draco's head and he deflected a second one before it could hit him. His wand was warm and ready in his hands.
A woman came at him and Draco parried and then flung his wand outwards sending the woman careening through the air and into the nearest wall.
"Malfoy!" he heard a familiar voice and looked over to see none other than Ronald Weasely looking at him with hatred in his eyes. A fireball exploded next to Draco. The shockwave sent him flipping sideways into the chair that Vladimir had previously been sitting in. Draco landed painfully feeling his ribs crack with the odd angle of impact.
You can't kill Ron, Draco found himself thinking, as anger and pain boiled in him. A part of him wanted to though. He had never liked the redhead and now he was the only thing that could keep Hermione from staying in his life.
He's going to kill you.
Another curse flew through the air at him and Draco managed to parry it flicking his wand out behind him just in time. He dropped to the ground and rolled. With a flick of his wand he sent out a stunning spell.
Ron deflected it and cast a counter curse. Draco ducked out of the way.
"I'll fucking kill you!" yelled Ron letting out a yell and flinging a strike out at Draco. Draco deflected it sending the energy out to the side so that it blew a hole in the nearest wall.
Draco started to panic. He was far outnumbered and this time he didn't have the advantage of his enemies thinking he was on their side. In the woods he had been able to use that leverage against the death eaters. Here everyone wanted to kill him.
They have reason…
The thought distracted Draco.
Ron lashed out casting an incantation Draco had never heard before. Pain bloomed through Draco's leg and he let out a cry and lashed out with his wand instinctively. The counter spell sent Ron flying into the ceiling. The redhead crashed back to the floor unconscious.
Tonks and Remus came in to the room. Draco was a little surprised, and grateful, that Potter wasn't with them.
"Surrender now Malfoy," Tonks flung Draco back against a wall. His head impacted with a resounding thud. He struggled to raise himself up of the ground.
You have to get back, you have to make it back for Hermione.
You have to get back to her…
"You're coming with us," said Remus. "You need to answer for what you've done."
Yes I do, but not now, thought Draco. I can't leave Hermione alone.
Determination from thinking of Hermione lent strength to his limbs and Draco pushed himself up off the floor and stood to face his opponents. His leg felt like it was on fire.
"Not going to happen," said Draco and he lifted his wand. He felt the warmth flow through him and spun the wand around his body, once, then twice sending everyone outwards. Every door in the house opened, ever window shattered.
Draco stood in the silence that remained when the spell finished.
His head hurt. He reached back and felt the lump from where he had impacted. When he pulled his fingers back there was blood on them. He looked around him and the world tilted to the side.
Draco dropped to his knees…
and then the world spun out into black.
Hello Cliff.
Yes scrutinous is a word, it's an archaic conjugation of the word scrutinise. Also I hope you don't mind my starting off the chapter with a word like familial. I have faith you all know, or could figure out, what that meant. It just happened to be the exact adjective I wanted to use to describe how Fred hugged Hermione. I wasn't using a thesaurus, I'm just a giant nerd who reads too much.
This chapter is a whopping 5.5 k long-it took soooooo much work, so please show me some love and let me know what you thought of it. I must have read and re-read and re-wrote it 10 times so if I missed anything PM me and I'll fix it but I defs went word-blind by the end.
Look forward to hearing from everyone. Have an awesome week
