A/N: hello everyone; just a couple of adminy things:
Thanks everyone for the reviews for chapter 50. Normally I reply to the ones I can reply to, but I currently have a hole in my shoulder blade from a mole removal process, which was duly stitched for a couple weeks. I got the stitches removed recently, then yesterday I managed to bust my mole hole (ha!) open again and now it's stitched it up much tighter and very ouchier than before. Long, woe-is-me story short, I'm keeping shoulder movement to a minimum so I decided not to individually thank reviewers from the last chapter so I could write up this chapter instead. But collectively - thank you very much, as always.
Second adminy thing: this chapter has scenes involving Blaise, Draco and Hermione, and the timings aren't quite in sync with each other. So sorry! I hope it doesn't detract from the story.
(So, basically while chapter 50 was going on...)
Romania
Dragon Sanctuary
Hermione soon settled in to a routine life at the Sanctuary. Since most jobs at the Sanctuary involved getting up, close and personal with some of the most hot-tempered, fiery (in both senses of the word) and easily-offended beasts the planet had to suffer, the Sanctuary's Infirmary usually saw brisk business, so she was often up to her elbows in burns paste and other unguents, remedies, charms and bits of various people's bodies. Naturally, she was a quick study and a curious learner, and Euan was very pleased with her progress.
Especially after she helped Euan treat her first disembowelling without throwing up or passing out.
'Excellen'!' he exclaimed, as Hermione charmed the gaping wound so she could knit the incision together. 'If we get an amputation in, I bet you could heal it by yourself with nae trouble at all!'
Hermione looked at him in alarm. 'Please don't go to any trouble to procure one.'
She even healed Ron.
Sheepishly, he turned up to the Infirmary holding one of his hands in a tight grip. When she moved the uninjured hand away, she saw that his thumb was very nearly severed to the base of his hand.
'Wow,' Hermione breathed, as she began to clean the wound. 'Doesn't that hurt?'
'A little,' Ron shrugged.
'How did it happen?'
'Wasn't fast enough to get out of the way when inspecting a dragon's sore fang,' he said. 'He didn't appreciate having it prodded.'
'I suppose soothing words don't help much,' Hermione joked, knitting the severed tendons and veins together with her wand.
'They didn't even work on me when a Healer tried to take a gander at my teeth,' he laughed.
Hermione eventually closed the wound and had Ron test his thumb and fingers for reflexion and dexterity. Euan wandered over, took a look at Hermione's handiwork and nodded in approval.
''Ow's it feelin'?' he asked Ron.
'Just like a new one!' he proudly replied.
'Remember to take it easy over the next twenty-four hours,' Hermione said hastily. 'And let us know at once if you experience pins and needles or loss of sensation.'
'Sure will!' Ron grinned cockily and saluted her before sauntering out of the clinic.
Euan watched him go; his face inscrutable behind his beard. ''Ow was it?' he asked Hermione.
'Fine,' she replied, tidying up. 'No complications.'
'I mean' young Weasley.'
'Oh.' Hermione's hands slowed. 'Um, he was fine. Much like he used to be.'
'Tha's guid,' Euan said a little too slowly, sitting down on a nearby stool.
Hermione looked at him closely. 'Is there something I should know?'
Euan's twinkling eyes became guarded. 'I am reminded of the Muggle sayin' 'a leopard never changes its spots.'
Hermione felt something skitter over her heart.
She gave him a hard look, repeated the same question she asked Charlie. 'Am I in any danger?'
Euan hesitated. 'When 'e first arrived 'ere, Ron was a vicious wee bastard. He was a lazy, self-entitled brat at work, and a violent, drinking, whoring bastard ootside of it. Both Charlie and I 'ave 'ad to obliviate a number of poor Muggles that came into unfortunate contact with him, at least until Igor arrived an' he took over. But then 'e changed. Just like tha'.'
'What, overnight?'
'Aye, practically.'
'That's... odd.'
'But 'e's been as guid as goblin gold ever since.'
'Do you think the Auror's presence may have facilitated the change? A visual reminder of how close he was to being sent to Azkaban?'
'Nae idea.' Euan shook his head. 'Neither does Charlie, but I 'ave a feeling 'e'd rather let sleepin' dogs lie.'
Hermione smiled wanly. 'You like Muggle idioms, don't you?'
Euan grinned. 'Muggle English is a verra' expressive language.' But then he sobered. 'Even though the change was sudden, 'e's lived up to it. I havna' seen nay evidence of 'is returning to previous form. But just because I 'aven't seen anything, doesn't necessarily mean...' he trailed off.
'Yeah,' she finished quietly. She grasped Euan's hand. 'I'll be careful.'
'Aye, I think that would be best.'
Hermione smiled at him.
Euan looked around the clinic to check they were still alone. He cleared his throat, leaned forward and said 'Ah, this migh' no' be the best timin', but I was wonderin' if you were attached to anyone in particular?'
Hermione smiled again, but a little sadly. 'I'm with someone,' she said, 'but the relationship's had a bit of a setback.'
'Ah. Say no more.' Euan smiled sheepishly, got up from his stool and stretched. 'If you want tae talk, though, I'll be around.'
Impulsively, Hermione got up from her stool and hugged him. 'Thank you,' she whispered, and resolved to do something she'd been putting off.
Write to Draco.
Later
Hermione's room
Dear Draco,
I'm sorry it's taken me a few days to write and let you know where I am. You've probably been worrying.
Even when you find out where I am, you probably won't be pleased. But you have to trust in me and accept that I can look after myself and I don't need you fighting my battles for me. I promise.
I'm in Romania at the Dragon Sanctuary.
And yes, Ron is here. And Charlie. And dozens of other people you've never met.
All I'm going to say is that I really like it here, I'm learning lots, Charlie has been nothing but the perfect gentleman (even by your exacting standards) and Ron is – good. He's good.
He apologised (without prompting; that's the first time I've seen that) and he seems to be the same as he was before. Even better, possibly. He still talks with his mouth full, though. Some things will never change.
He's neither sought me out or avoided me. But I've been warned to be on my guard, so I'll continue to do that until I leave.
But now, I guess, is the time to address the photos of you and whoever the girl was.
What happened, Draco?
I want you to tell me everything. Everything you know.
I know there's something strange about the pictures. You look unconscious. I know you can never sleep through sex. You wake up even if I just put my hand around your morning erection.
It's just – seeing you have sex with someone else –
Please. Just tell me everything so we can put it behind us.
I'm sorry I seemed so distant at St Mungo's. A situation requiring some delicacy had arisen, and I didn't want you worrying from a distance.
I feel better now I'm at the Sanctuary. It really is a nice place to live in and work at.
I really hope things are going well at Hogwarts. Despite Snape's best efforts.
I miss you, Draco. Dreadfully.
Love,
Hermione
She felt tears prick her eyes as she sealed the parchment in an envelope.
She really did miss him.
Hermione met Ron on the way to the Owlery. He was heading that way, carrying a sheaf of orders and correspondence, and he grinned when he noticed the letter in her hand.
'I can take that to the Owlery for you, if you like,' he offered.
For a second, Hermione hesitated, but handed the letter over. 'Thanks Ron,' she smiled. 'Nice of you to save me a trip. I still get lost around here.'
Ron watched Hermione's long legs take her to the end of the corridor and disappear around a corner before he carried on to the Owlery. Once he'd despatched the various owls off to their different destinations, he leaned against an open windowsill, lit up a cigarette and held Hermione's letter up to the fading sunset light.
Assistant Professor D. Malfoy
Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft
Hogwarts Castle
Scottish Highlands
Ron's lip curled as he read the address. Wonder if the little swot's sent Malfoy a smut-filled missive or a long list of nagging complaints?
Only one way to find out.
He broke the seal and fished the letter out.
Well, that was rather bland, he thought as he set the letter on fire and sent the ashes tumbling out of the window to be caught by the wind. He wondered who was counselling Hermione to be on her guard. Surely it wasn't Charlie. Ron was certain he'd convinced Charlie that he'd returned to the flock a prodigal hero.
Still. Keeping Malfoy and Hermione apart is the name of the game, according to Pansy.
Not that he gave much of a shit either way.
Lucca, Italy (carrying on from where Blaise and Gia were in chapter 50)
The rest of the day slowly passed in amicable companionship, although it was tinged with an air of... something.
Blaise asked the house elves to make themselves scarce, and they had the house to themselves. They sat outside in the mild winter sun, dangling their legs in the magically-warmed swimming pool. When the sun set, Blaise helped Gia prepare a supper from whatever they unearthed in the kitchen, and he pilfered a pricey bottle of red from his stepdad's cellar.
They also talked. Carefully; slowly.
'Do you know why Pug-Face wanted to know where Weasley was?' Blaise asked as they ate.
Gia smiled a little at the unflattering name, but she didn't know. 'At Beauxbatons, she just spoke of getting revenge against you. For dumping her, and getting her expelled.'
Blaise thought. If Pansy wanted revenge against him, why did she need Weasley?
Wasn't Pansy's revenge against Blaise her torture and mutilation of Gia's body?
Has she moved on to the next person who thwarted her Hogwarts plans, and joined forces with an attempted murderer masquerading as a ginger idiot?
What enemy did Pansy and Weasley have in common?
Ah.
Draco Malfoy.
Carefully, Blaise put his glass of wine down and kissed Gia's cheek.
'I need to make a Floo call,' he said.
Hogwarts
Slytherin House Common Room
It was late when Blaise Flooed in, but Draco was still up, anyway. He wished he wasn't. But he couldn't sleep, not knowing if Hermione was okay. Or where she even was. Madam Pomfrey, alarmed by his sunken eyes and pallid features, proffered him with Dreamless Sleep; nasty stuff. It sat on the coffee table next to the settee he was slumped on in the Common Room, making a ham-fisted attempt to mark papers, supplied to him courtesy of Snape.
He wasn't sure if Snape was keeping him occupied with work as a thoughtful means of keeping him busy, or whether it was just part of his usual sadistic wankery.
When the Floo whooshed into life, hope leapt into Draco's heart –
But it wasn't Hermione.
It was Blaise, looking very serious.
'Draco,' Blaise's sooty, flame-filled face said. 'We need to talk.'
What Blaise had to say shook Draco to his core. He knelt in front of the gigantic fireplace, unable to take it in, constantly running his hands agitatedly through his hair.
'How safe are you at Hogwarts?' Blaise asked.
Draco shrugged. 'The wards preventing unauthorised access have always been pretty strong, but Parkinson managed to beat them. Dumbledore, Flitwick and Snape are working on something that picks up Polyjuice, but...' he trailed off.
'What about Hermione?' Blaise asked. 'Is St Mungo's secure enough' –
He watched in bemusement as Draco's eyes snapped closed, as if he was in pain.
'What's the matter?'
What isn't the matter?' Draco cried, and filled an increasingly incredulous Blaise in.
Later...
'You need to find her.' This was Blaise, stating the obvious.
Draco had already reached that conclusion.
'I'll Floo Padma once we're done,' he said grimly. 'And she'd better not stonewall me if she knows what's good for her.'
'Isn't it rather late?'
'Do you think I give a shit what fucking time it is?'
Blaise wisely let it drop.
'Well, if Hermione's in Europe, let me know. I can get to her faster than you can.'
'Thanks, mate. I owe you.' The lethargy Draco had been plagued with was now replaced with a fizzing cocktail of rage and fear. 'I'll let you know what I find out.'
'Um... what if Patil refuses to tell you?' Blaise asked delicately.
Draco looked grim. 'That's not going to be an option.'
Later still
Draco had to flirt, bully, bribe and outright threaten a not insignificant number of night-owl student Healers to get Ms Padma Patil to poke her cranky face through the Floo in St Mungo's students' common room.
Number of shits Draco gave: none.
'Malfoy, what the hell is your problem?' Padma snapped, or tried to – a gigantic yawn interrupted her midway through. 'I've got a bloody exam in a few hours.'
'Padma,' Draco snapped, 'I have very credible evidence that Hermione is in big danger. I need to know where's she interning. Now.'
'Well, I'll give you fifty house points for originality,' Padma mumbled, 'but I'm going to deduct them for getting me out of fucking bed. I am not going to tell you where Hermione is, so you can take it and suck it.'
'Padma, wait!' Draco cried as Padma turned to leave.
She stilled, arrested by the clear desperation in his voice. Suspiciously, she peered at his face; or what she could, given the Floo's grainy texture. He didn't look so hot.
'All right, Malfoy,' she sighed. 'Convince me. I should tell you where Hermione is, because...?'
'Because Parkinson and Weasley could very well use her to get revenge against me,' was Draco's simple response.
Even later
'Blaise?'
'Yeah, I'm here, mate. How did it go?'
'Hermione's in fucking Romania! At the bloody Dragon Sanctuary!'
'Wow.' Blaise processed this; then his blood ran cold. 'Weasley got banished there, didn't he?'
'Yes!' Draco left the Floo to pace agitatedly around the Common Room before returning. 'She's just landed on that wanker's lap like a gift from the gods! All she needs is a bloody bow around her neck!'
'Try not to worry, mate, I'll go get her.'
'Cheers, mate. Gods, I don't know what I'd do without you.'
'Get up to all sorts of mad shit, I'm sure.'
Draco half-smiled. 'I'll send an owl out to the Sanctuary to warn her, and expect your arrival.'
'Sounds good. I'll touch base when I know more, all right?'
'Yeah. Thanks, mate.'
'No worries.'
'Um, Blaise?'
'Yeah?'
'Will you be my best man? When I marry her?'
Blaise grinned. 'Only if you'll be best man at my wedding.'
'Deal.'
Lucca, Italy
Morning after Draco and Blaise's Floo-calls
Gia was troubled. Very troubled.
Blaise could see it written all over her beautiful face; and in the tension her body held.
He held that body last night. Except for the parts of the night that Draco interrupted. He didn't deny that his body craved her; he'd been missing and wanting her for months, but the scars on her body sobered his need.
Imagine your last sexual experience being so violent you passed out from the pain.
Well, he didn't have to. He saw it happen.
So he humbly invited her to share his bed, or he could take her back home or to the Lombardis.
He was quietly overjoyed when she shyly chose his bed.
They lay in his bed, watching the night sky view from his bedroom's large windows while he wrapped his arms around her vowed he would never let her go.
Some tears fell onto his skin; but Gia assured him they were happy ones this time.
But this morning, both washed and dressed, a very tense Gia watched Blaise get ready to travel to Romania.
Blaise watched Gia watching him.
He wasn't surprised when she suddenly burst out 'I know Hermione has to be saved! But – but I don't want that person to be you! Does that make me an awful person?'
Blaise crossed over to her and kissed her forehead. 'I know you're concerned about my safety. But I promise you I'll be fine. I want to take the least amount of time possible to find Hermione and bring her to safety so I can come back to you.'
'But why not get the Aurors to find her?'
Blaise and Draco had talked about this. 'The presence of Aurors might spook Weasley into disappearing, and he's currently the best link we have to finding Parkinson. I arouse less suspicion being on my own.'
'But that's what I'm worried about!' Gia wailed.
Blaise looked down into her fathomless eyes and said 'There is nothing on earth that will keep me away from you, Gia.'
She swallowed at the intensity of his tone.
'Furthermore,' Blaise added, 'when I come back, I'm going to ask you to marry me. I'll ask for your hand from your father; whatever it takes. Because this is how much I love you.'
Gia threw her arms around Blaise's waist and sobbed. 'Ti amo, ti amo, ti amo.'
Blaise smiled, and kissed her wet lips. 'Wait for me, soon-to-be Senora Zabini.'
She kissed him back with love and sadness. 'I will.'
