CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE : - )
We dressed in complete silence the next morning; in fact, the house was so quiet that you could practically hear the person on the floor above breathing.
Last night almost seemed like a dream now. I had slept, but I had also woken several times throughout the night and Draco had been there, just as he said, and we had cherished each other again and again.
We had lain in each other's arms until Bill and come knocking on everyone's doors, telling us to get ready and meet in the kitchen. Now all the happiness I had felt last night was replaced by a giant weight in my chest as I glanced over at Draco. He would be a target, wouldn't he? He was a traitor to them after all. What would I do if something happened to him? My stomach clenched painfully and I felt like I was going to be sick. Nothing could happen to him, I just couldn't let it.
"Hermione" Draco said worriedly. "You're crying?"
Was I? I wiped at my eyes, and he strode across the room and pulled me into such a fierce hug that it took my breath away.
"You'll be safe" he promised. I shook my head against him. Who cared about me? What if something happened to him? What if something happened to any of my friends?
"We have to go downstairs" he reminded me, kissing the top of my head.
I nodded and pulled away from him.
"I'm ready" I whispered. I grabbed my black robes and headed for the door. We both wore black, in fact everyone did. We needed to fool the shop keepers this morning, and we needed to look convincing to do so.
We entered the kitchen, hand in hand, and sat down at the table. Most people were pacing back and forth as they waited for everyone to arrive. I caught Ron's eye and he grinned at me, but I could tell he didn't completely mean it. He was scared, same as me.
Parvati and Lavender entered last and I was somewhat satisfied to see that they even looked scared; at least they were taking this seriously.
Bill took the floor now that the kitchen was packed tight with the order. I wasn't fully aware of everything he was saying, not that I needed to be. I knew the plan; this was just a reminder so that there were no mistakes.
"If any of you find yourselves in danger, send up red sparks and anyone who is able to will come aid you, this goes without saying that if you see sparks and are in the position to help, do so immediately"
This worried me a little, if Harry were to see sparks he would go charging in that direction regardless of whether he was in the middle of a duel. I'd have to have a talking to him first.
"Remus is currently in Diagon, warning the compliant shop keepers that this morning will not be the real attack. The others however will be unaware and so again I caution you that they will throw all they've got at us and you are NOT to harm them. If I see anything other than a stunner or binder spell the person who cast it will be punished for it later however I see fit"
Bill, as much as an asshole as he was to me lately, was kind hearted and I knew for that reason that any punishment he had to dish out would be easy going. Colin Creevy had once been a part of this order, but unfortunately had been too panicked during any fight and had caused grievous bodily harm to a fellow order member twice. It had pained Bill to do so, but eventually Colin had to be kicked out of the order before he killed himself or someone else. I could still remember Bill arguing with everyone that he needed another chance.
"As all of us leaving the house at once to apparate would comprise our location and the floo network is not reliable enough, we will be taking three port keys, all set to leave at the same time and arrive in the middle of the alley. At this point we will be pretending to be death eaters so you must act accordingly"
I glanced at Draco, Blaise and Snape. They had the biggest responsibility. They would be the only people without their hoods up so that the shop keepers and morning shoppers may recognise them as the death eaters they used to be. Draco's platinum blonde hair was easily recognised, so I knew it wouldn't take much convincing acting on his part to have people running for their lives.
"Are there any questions?"
No one spoke up. The plan was in place, we had had it pumped into us for days now; all we had to do was hope that it worked.
"You have fifteen minutes to gather yourself before the port keys leave" Bill finished.
Draco and I stood up from the table just as I was tackled by a rather strong redhead.
"Ron" I breathed, hugging him back.
"You look after yourself, no matter what" he whispered to me.
"You know I will" I smiled into his chest, "It's you that's got to look after yourself!"
"Easy for a bloke like me" he teased. I smiled and kissed him on the cheek before letting him go. He and Harry had to wish each other well still.
It didn't take long before Ron was moved along and I was locked in another hug.
"Take care, Hermione" Ginny smiled to me.
"You too, Gin"
"I'm locked in the leaky cauldron, I don't even need to be careful" she grumbled jokingly.
I found Jake next. He was politely shaking hands as people wished him well. I pulled him into a hug.
"You're going to be fine" I assured him. "Luna seems sweet and vulnerable, but she's a tough dueler"
"I'm not too worried, to be honest," he admitted. "I just don't want to see anything happen to either of you" I nodded and blushed slightly. I was happy he classed me and Luna as close friends and to be honest I was hoping nothing happened to me or Luna too.
Fred and George weren't very good at emotional well wishing, so I got a pat on the behind as they walked past. As I'm sure it was there way of telling me to be safe, I didn't turn around and smack them this time.
"You know, you made an awful lot of noise last night." I turned around and smiled at Oliver.
"And I suppose it was definitely me and not all the people on your level?"
"Oh I remember your moa-"
I slapped a hand over his mouth and sent him a playful glare. "None of that Mr Wood, just tell me to be careful and that your life will suck if anything happens to me"
"I'm not worried about anything happening to you!" he laughed, "You could kick my arse in a duel, I'm sure you'll handle yourself brilliantly"
"Full of compliments, aren't we?"
"Don't know how to say 'thank you', do we?"
We laughed and he pulled me in for a hug and kissed my cheek before leaving to wish Katie well.
I had hugged Tonks, Molly, Arthur, Luna, Hagrid, Ernie, Dean, Seamus and even Bill, Parvati and Lavender when I spotted one redhead who I suspected was avoiding me.
I approached him and smiled guiltily at him.
"Hey Charlie." He nodded in acknowledgment and I bowed my head sadly. He didn't even want to know me right now, had what I so foolishly done really been so awful?
"Please, look after yourself today." I looked at him pleadingly, begging for him to say the same to me. The look he gave me clearly meant 'you wouldn't care anyway'.
"You're one of the nicest guys I've ever met Charlie" I said quietly, looking behind me to make sure no one was eavesdropping on this conversation. "And I know I don't deserve to have you in my life, but I want you to know that you meant a lot to me, and not just as a friend, that night wouldn't have happened otherwise. I just got so frightened afterwards; everything was just too… new."
He gave me a strange look and I sighed.
"I'm sorry, not the most appropriate time to be having this conversation. I guess… all I mean is take care"
I turned to leave but he placed a firm hand on my shoulder and turned me back around.
"Charlie?" I said hopefully. He pulled me in for a short hug.
"You too" he said somewhat awkwardly, before striding away. Even short and a little forced I couldn't help but smile, that was definitely progress.
"Hello there" I turned to face Blaise.
"Hello yourself"
"Do I get a hug too?" he smirked, holding his arms out wide. I smiled and stepped into his embrace.
"Look after him." I whispered against him. There was no need to elaborate on who I meant by 'him'.
"Draco has saved my arse more times than I can count; if anything he should be looking after me" Blaise retorted.
"Maybe I should get Bill to lock you up in the Leaky Cauldron too?" I suggested. He shoved me playfully.
I looked past Blaise to Draco who had just spotted us and was making his way over.
"Trying to avoid me?" he teased, pulling me away from Blaise and into his own arms.
"I try" I grinned. I stood on my tippy toes and pressed my lips against his gently. Blaise cleared his throat awkwardly and was ignored as Draco pushed harder against me, deepening our kiss.
I closed my eyes and pretended it was last night again, that impending doom wasn't on the doorstep, that it was just him and me. When we finally broke apart and my dreams were crushed again by reality I noticed Blaise and disappeared.
"I think we scared him off" I laughed.
"Probably" he smiled, trying to lean in for another kiss.
"Draco." I whispered, stopping him.
"Mm?" he was impatient with me.
"You promise me that if you see red sparks coming from my end of the alley that you'll stay where you are and let someone else deal with it?"
Draco looked at me thoughtfully before saying, "No."
"Draco!"
"I will not do nothing if you need me." He said simply.
I was about to argue when Bill shouted out to the room: "It's time, guys"
My heart dropped again and forgetting all thoughts of argument I almost knocked Draco over with the force of my next kiss. I hadn't had enough time to kiss him, to taste him, to cherish him. I needed more time.
"Come along guys!" Bill called out again, I couldn't be sure it was directed at me and Draco, but I had a suspicion.
It was Draco who broke the kiss, although regrettably.
"I love you, so much." He whispered in my ear.
"I love you too" I smiled back, unknowingly letting a tear spill from my eye. We walked out of the kitchen and into the living room where there were three odd objects. Draco and I joined the smaller crowd who were all touching a half used candlestick.
I threw the hood of my robes over my head and touched the candlestick so that my hand rested beside Draco's.
"Snape, Malfoy and Zabini, are you ready?" they all nodded stiffly, their faces set in determination.
"Alright, here we go!"
I felt the tug in my abdomen and closed my eyes as we were hurled across London. The candlestick was beginning to shake, an indication that it's magic had almost run out since we were just about at our destination.
Suddenly I was falling, but years of port key travel had taught me how to land properly and I bent my knees as my feet touched the ground and finished in a crouched position.
I was brought into the reality of things when a voice I loved was barking orders in a harsh, foreign voice.
"Kill the men first" he barked, "Dispose of any children, they are useless to us" my heart ached and I had to remember that he was only acting. But had these been orders that he had given in the past?
"Enjoy the spoils" Blaise added with a nasty grin. He caught my eye and he looked apologetic for his behaviour for a single moment before a sneer returned to his face.
"Attack you fools." Snape snapped. I was unsure if he was acting or if he was genuinely annoyed that none of us had reacted so far.
A blue light whirled past my head and it began. Draco and Harry ran in the direction the spell had been cast and moments later there was a yell of surprise and a dull thud as a body hit the ground unconscious. I made a dash for Madam Malkin's, another person following but I hadn't bothered to check who. I blew the door off of its hinges, probably unnecessarily, but she had been a right twit a few days prior and I was going to have a sick satisfaction in stunning her.
"What on Earth-" she appeared at the bottom of the staircase which led to her private quarters in a nightgown with curlers in her hair.
"STUPEFY!" I yelled. My jet of red light hit her directly in the chest and she crumbled to the floor ungracefully. I smirked and flicked my wand at the unconscious woman to levitate her closer to the door.
"Unsettled business…?" I whirled around, having forgotten about my extra, causing poor old Madam Malkin to fall back to the floor.
"You don't want to know, Ron." I laughed to the red head. I brought her back into the air and succeeded with levitating her over to the door. I was sure her bottom was going to bruise, but then again, she thought I was a death eater; she was going to feel lucky to just be alive.
I turned back to face Ron just in time to see a spell whizzing towards him. The glass window shattered just as I blocked it, sending Ron crashing to the ground.
"Ron!" I ran over to his side and fell to my knees. "Ron, are you OK?"
He rolled over and I cringed at the chunk of glass wedged into his skin just above his eyebrow. Noticing my panicked glance his lifted his fingers and gingerly touched the shard.
"Bloody hell," he winced. "Can you take it out?"
"Can I?" I glanced at it again. "No chance, Ron, you need Lupin"
"What can he do, give me chocolate?" Ron scoffed. "I need St. Mungo's"
Ah, there were the dramatics, a little delayed admittedly.
"Come on, I think it's over" I risked a glance out the window and saw the order regrouping in the middle of the alley.
Bill was pointing this way and that, giving orders to any poor order member not doing anything. "Take the unconscious into the Leaky Cauldron, Tom has a room upstairs for them"
"Bill!" I called out, running over to him, Ron's arm clutched in my hand.
"Ouch, Hermione, easy up" he complained. I rolled my eyes and pulled him forward so he was standing directly in front of Bill.
"A stray spell smashed through Madam Malkin's window, I managed to block it, but Ron got hit by the debris"
"Shit," Bill muttered, inspecting the wound. "You can't fight how you are, Ron"
"I'm going to fight," he growled. "I'm teamed up with Harry, remember?" I smiled fondly at him then. Although he was brainless at times and fiercely afraid of death, he would never back down from a fight.
Bill considered him for a moment. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Alright, go see Kingsley, he's got experience with quick fixing wounds, but don't expect it to look as pretty as Madam Pomfrey's handiwork" Bill warned. Ron gulped but nodded.
"Cheer up;" I nudged him, "I'm sure Lavender will love a scar on you."
"You think so?" Ron asked, glancing around for the blonde.
Of course, she was a bloody idiot, probably would love the idea of her boyfriend looking dangerous. "I'm positive," I smiled, "Just make sure you walk past her with that chunk still in your head, sympathy, you know?"
He grinned at me before his eyes locked onto his target and he left my side. I let out the annoyed sigh I had been holding. How I loathed giving relationship advice to my ex-boyfriend, but then, I didn't want to seem like the friend that couldn't move on. And I had moved on, there was no doubt about that… maybe I was too worried about what people thought of me.
"That was nice of you," Bill whispered in my ear. I jumped at how close he was standing behind me. I inched away from him as subtly as I could without causing offence before turning around and smiling at him.
"Was it?" I forced out cheerfully.
He seemed to notice my odd behaviour and his expression hardened slightly.
"Have you moved Malkin into the Leaky Cauldron?" his voice had an air of authority about it again. I shook my head and he cocked an eyebrow at me. "Well, see that it's done."
He went to walk away and I grabbed his arm, more out of anger than anything else.
"Is there something you want, Granger?" he snapped, shrugging his arm out of my grip.
"It's Granger now is it?" I hissed at him. "What the hell is your problem?"
His eyes widened and his nostrils flared as his temper rose. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards the Leaky Cauldron. I waved my wand towards Malkin's and sure enough she came floating after us as he pulled me into the pub.
We walked up the stairs in silence and he stopped in front of an open door. I floated Malkin in and dropped her on the floor next to a clerk I recognised from the Magical Menagerie. He then pulled me into the room next to it and closed the door behind us.
"You got something you want to say?" he hissed angrily, "go ahead then, say it"
I glared at him for a moment, shocked that he wasn't just blasting me for speaking down to him in front of other order members.
"Well?"
"You're a right git, you know that?" I snapped at him.
"Is that right?" he hissed, clenching his fists. I knew he wouldn't strike me, but it still worried me that he was this angry.
"Yes, Bill, you used to be so lovely," I remembered back to his stay at the hotel, sure it had been awkward at times because I knew his intentions, but he had still been so sweet. "I used to enjoy spending time with you, you were my friend."
His face had been softening until I dropped the 'F' word. No male wanted to be dumped in the 'Just Friends' category by the girl they were pursuing.
"Well, things change."
"Yes, they did. I found someone." He flinched, "And you loathed that fact so much that you cut ties with me altogether. You can't even look at me!"
"I don't care that you found a boyfriend, I care who that boyfriend is!" he gritted out. "You had one job, get this guy arrested. But no, you chose to betray the Order. Betray me. You chose him over your friends."
"What you mean to say is I chose him over you. I chose the ex-deatheater over the head of the Order of the Phoenix. I must be crazy right?" I yelled at him. "Am I close, Bill?"
He said nothing, just glared at me.
"You made your feelings very clear to me at the hotel, Bill. And you were OK with the rejection at the time, but the moment I bring Draco into it, you hate my guts"
"It had nothing to do with feelings, I'm angry because you chose to betray the order" he hissed again.
I shook my head at him, "Why can't you just fess up like a real man?"
Bill looked down at the ground, his fists shaking in rage. He looked back up at me, his eyes sad. "What does he have, that I don't?"
I sighed in relief, he'd admitted. Now we stood a chance of getting past this and back to being friends.
"Oh, Bill." I smiled at him but he didn't return the favour. "You are the better man, as cliché as it is, you've dedicated your life to good, and Draco didn't. It would have been easier to be with you, no past to complicate things. But I just love him, Bill. I have no explanation as to why I could love him when I spent years trying to make myself like you. Maybe you just remind me a little too much of Ron."
"Great," he replied somewhat sarcastically. He seemed to have relaxed. At least, his hands weren't balled into fists anymore. "But Charlie didn't?"
I blushed deeply and broke our eye contact. "That's different."
I knew the moment the words had left my mouth that they were going to get him worked up again.
"Oh really, so you can't date me because I remind you too much of my younger brother, but it's perfectly fine to shag one of my other brothers?"
"It took a long time for me to come back from Ron, he hurt me badly." And he had, our constant fights had left me in tears more than I smiled back then. "I found Charlie just weeks after the break up, when my confidence was at its absolute lowest. And my morals, as it were."
He growled in frustration and I knew I had broken him down. Now he was frustrated because he had treated me like dirt for a while now without real cause other than his own selfishness. It would have been easier for him to just hate me.
"This was not an appropriate time for this conversation." He stated.
"I accept your apology then," I said sarcastically. He gave me a half arsed grin and walked to the door.
"I'm sure they're looking for me," what an excuse to leave the end of an awkward confrontation. "Hey, Hermione?"
Well he was calling me by my first name again, that was always a promising sign. "Yes, Bill?"
"You don't have any past, present or future relationships going with the rest of my family, right?" he said it like a joke, but somehow I think he was just double checking.
"Oh yeah, Bill, I forgot to tell you about me and Ginny" I said sarcastically. He let out a bark of laughter at my reply and left the room. I sighed in relief; I really didn't want to talk to him about the twins, even if that 'relationship' was purely flirting.
I felt like I was on a role today. I had made love to my boyfriend all morning, patched things up with Charlie, taken down Malkin, pep-talked Ron and had fixed things with Bill. Now I might receive a Christmas present from Mrs Weasley after all, because lord knows I wasn't getting anything while half her family disliked me.
I left the room cheerfully. Tom waved to me as I walked past him and I glanced at the clock. It had taken us all of fifteen minutes to take down the shop keepers. Albeit they had been severely outnumbered, plus we had had the element of surprise.
"There you are, Hermione." Ginny smiled, her face was red from all the excitement of this morning.
"Hey, Gin, how did you go this morning?" I asked, leaning against one of the tables.
Ginny let out a very disgruntled noise and shrugged, "about the same as everyone else. I didn't get hit but I didn't take anyone down either"
"And that's the same as everyone else?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. Did the shopkeepers all pass out on their own accord then?
"Yes. Your boyfriend and his pals didn't give anyone else a chance," Ginny muttered, "They stood in the middle of the alley and stunned every shopkeeper that so much as peered out of their windows. They're scary when they fight."
I laughed nervously at her attempt of a joke. "I suppose that can be a good thing though, when they're fighting for us."
Ginny bit her lip and looked up at me worriedly. "Sure," she said uncertainly, "but do all of the death eater's fight that well?"
I shook my head and tried not to look too worried. Maybe she would still get her chance to fight them, assuming they got into the pub.
"Let's pray not," I smiled and hugged her. "I guess I'll see you afterwards."
"I guess so. Good luck out there!"
Our goodbye was only short and sweet this time; there was still work to be done. This was exactly the reason why Bill made us wish each other luck before we got here.
I left the pub and walked back out into the alley. It was good fighting weather, assuming it didn't rain. It was overcast. No sun to get in your eyes, but no rain to block your vision either.
I smiled as I reached the rest of the order and weaved my way through to the blonde.
"There you are." He said with relief. He pulled me close to him and kissed the top of my head.
"I heard you fought good," I commented, "So good we apparently didn't need everyone else."
"Who told you that?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Ginny."
"Ah. Well the shopkeepers were caught off guard, most of them were just getting out of bed," he said modestly, "but believe me, we're going to need all the help we can get for the death eaters."
"How good are they?" I asked hesitantly, unsure if I really wanted to know the answer to that question.
"Very." He said bluntly. "This is why you're only being teamed with Potter."
"I love you, Draco" I whispered, leaning up and kissing him.
He pulled me back to him just as I went to walk away. "I love you too, so terribly much"
He let me go and, hesitantly this time, I walked away. I found Harry and we made our way over to Florish and Blotts, just as all the other pairs made their way to their designated shops. We had a few hours to repair the damage we had made. It needed to look as normal as possible when the death eaters arrived, shattered windows and holes taken out of building may come across as suspicious.
There was still much work to be done. And once we had finished… we waited.
A/N: Next chapter is the battle! Cross your fingers everyone gets out OK! Love to hear what you think! Review!
xSiriusxstalkerx
