The Unity of Opposites
Chapter Thirty Six
Chain
Hermione's hand curled around Draco's, who was tightening his grip every now and then, feeling his ears slightly blowing as the words she said, were still echoing in the back of his crowded mind. If he wanted to be honest with himself, he didn't want to hear how she came to the conclusion of his father being a genius, mostly because he was afraid of what was laying beneath the very cruel, unbreakable surface of his character. She was trying her best to make him stand, but he protested. She had a rather pinkish face, now that he noticed her carefully, and it wasn't for the small inked corner they offered them - frankly, he doubted she even cared for what the press will say about their relationship. He could see in her eyes, she was his and his alone.
He laughed when she let out a groan of combined desperation and amusement. He threw the Prophet aside, finally standing up and allowing her to guide him in the living room, where the previous pile of parchments were now organized in three different piles and placed in perfect order on top of the coffee table in the middle of the cornered sofa.
He sighed and she gave him a hard gaze over her shoulder. ''I really, really do not have the time - ''
''Stop talking.'' she mimicked the tone of his voice, making him sit on the sofa right in front of the three piles.
''Excuse me - ''
''Okay.'' she placed her hand on his lips, feeling them soft and slightly wet against her flesh. A strictly colour had shaded her eyes, almost reminding him the one her beloved professor McGonagall has. She was excited, a bit anxious maybe, but Draco could practically hear the gears of her brain working at full speed. ''Okay.'' she repeated and her face lightened up. He guessed her mind might linked some dots and, once again, if he wanted to be honest with himself, he might have wanted the same. He opened his mouth to speak, but she didn't allow it. ''Herbs.'' her hand left his mouth and landed on top of the first pile, ''Animals.'' then the second, ''Weather.'' the third. Her cheeks fired up even more, reminding him the numerous times he watched her sleeping next to him.
She was waiting to see something from him, a reaction, a bit of excitement, anything to measure up her own, but he just stared at her like she was a crazy witch. He sighed again, paying attention to her feverish face and not her words. He fixed the sleeve of his black shirt and took his eyes off her, feeling his cufflink a bit misplaced. ''Alright.'' he shrugged, and frowned when he couldn't fix it. ''Can you go get dressed now so - old magic.'' his eyes met her at once and she nodded with a grin on her face.
''Old magic.'' she repeated, her mind burned with the most obvious explanation. She had to order herself to breath, feeling as if she had unmasked the biggest mystery on the planet. ''Before he took his own life, Theophile said something was missing from the book! Remember?'' her patience ran thin and she only wished to tell him what she figured out. ''What if your father changed keywords in the book of Primis Lamia, and inherited them to you, knowing,'' she extended one finger, feeling her mouth dry, ''you are the one he can trust the most,'' she said and rose a second finger, ''the book will get stolen.'' the grin on her face grew larger - as did Draco's.
One by one every little detail of his father's memories started to click like perfectly made hand-work, making his face lighten up more and more, reminding the sun and every other sun. The veil of his once mean and distant father started to fade away like fog, thirsting him with questions - but for the moment, one thing was perfectly clear, ''We have what he needs to unlock Calluna.'' he said at last, knowing that it wasn't a win, but it wasn't a lost either.
ΛVΛ
Once again her heels echoed in the long, busy corridors of the Law Department. Even if she had to be there for a while now, she felt pleased, not for the eyes of the people burning her flesh, but for the welcoming aura of those walls, hugging her forgotten spirit like velvet and making her promise she will never leave again. Long mosaic floors with spotless rhombus designed patterns dressed the ground she was stepping, bringing her closer to her station. Even if there was no one there to tell her, she felt as if she was there yesterday. It was her dream job - since her very first years she could remember her book-loving self, she used to tell people she will be a lawyer. She smiled to herself, who could have ever prepared her for what had followed the previous years?
She heard some people talking about her. She should have given them a hard gaze, but she cared little about their fiery mouths gossiping the rumour written on the front page of the Daily Prophet - even if they expected to see some redness on her blemished face, she only filled her lungs with pride, reminding herself who she is. She passed by them, colleauges she once helped, talked to or assisted in many cases they said needed her prospective, now giving her the side eye. She rose her head higher, straightening her back and walking down the hallway to go to her office.
A gasp made her focus on the tired face of her secretary, who blinked twice to understand it was her boss walking towards her. ''Miss Granger.'' her surprised voice sounded broken. The young girl took her cat cut glasses off, standing up, and awkwardly running her hands on her wrinkled skirt, trying to fix it. ''Good morning.'' she sighed, watching Hermione walking closer and closer to her, making her stand in front of her desk, cheeks red and eyes heavy for the many hours in the Ministry. It almost took Hermione off guard. Gone was the girl she hired when no one else did when she finished the secretary training, the one who came with a bowtie in her hair, keeping in place her high ponytail. Now her hair was a bit messy, her clothes no near perfectly matched and ironed as she used to wear them.
She broke the girl. A small guilt overtook her brain, being told of how hard she works, but never believing she might have taken it this seriously. ''Good morning Amelia.'' she kindly smiled at the woman, standing in front of her, not wanting to look like she was judging her. ''Any more notes for me to see?'' she asked, walking pass her surprised face, to open the door of her office.
Warm end of May light was covering the room, golding every corner with the sweet taste of the upcoming summer. Everything was as she left them. Naked floors with the same patterned mosaic only in different colour, no curtains in the large window behind her desk where the enchanted full bookcase was surrounding it, a Muggle clock with Latin numbers and a scale of justice decorating the only empty shelf, a beautiful painting at her left, on top of the sofa, another bookcase at her right with a tall stand filled with drinks she never drank.
The image of Draco questioning the amount of alcohol in her office made her smile. Her hand rose to her covered chest, touching the thin chain holding the ring he gave her one more time. He told her it was to keep his mind at ease, his cheeks had blushed the moment he put it on her and she sworn his hands were shaking when he did it.
She forced herself to not think about him and walked inside, leaving the paper bag she was holding on top of the table and letting the red shoulder bag she was wearing slide from her and rest on the sofa. She took the small calender she had on her desk with the last date being back in March a day before she received the rose that sent her to the hospital. She cleared it, bringing today's date, finally watching the decorated paper with the number 29 marked in black ink and the month May in smaller letters. A ball of paper filled her palm and she threw it the moment her secretary walked inside, a small used, worn off at the edges, notebook in one hand and a quill in the other. She offered her a seat in one of the chairs in front of her office and she walked to sit on her own, enjoying the beautiful light coloured leather furniture and smiling at the memory of Ginny and herself buying it. ''Where are we with the contracts?'' she asked her, taking the professional tone in her voice and noticing to visit her beloved friend soon.
''The date for the final signs will be announced soon.'' she said, opening her notebook and clearing her throat. ''Mrs Winders had won yet another of your cases,'' she informed and looked at Hermione with a small shame in her eyes. ''It was your last one. No one came since.'' she took her eyes away from Hermione, looking at her hands.
''It's alright Amelia.'' Hermione's calm voice made her look at her. ''Even if it sads me, I decided we should work with other Ministries.'' her confused eyes made her smile. ''When the time comes, I will explain more, but for now,'' she stood up, walking to the paper bag she left on the table and taking out a white box. ''For you.'' she gave it to her secretary, watching her eyes sparkling. ''For the past three months your help has been more than enough. I will not forget it.'' she took her off guard, watching her cheeks burning.
''Are you - you are firing me.'' she said in one breath, tears starting to fall down her face making the dark circles under her eyes pop out even more.
''What - no, no!'' Hermione rushed to speak, grabbing some tissues and giving them to her. ''I talked to Mr Morales.'' she said and the woman froze at the hearing of their boss's name. ''He agreed to give you two weeks off.'' calm smile decorated her face, making the young girl do the same. She helped her open the white box with the gold bow, revealing fresh, handmade macaroons in all flavours. She had begged Draco to stop and shop before leaving, telling him how much he is going to love it - the sparkle in his eyes wasn't left unnoticed when he tasted one, making her note herself to introduce him to more Muggle foods, fearing his sweettooth might be feeling used with that same old pumpkin.
''Thank you Miss Granger! Thank you!'' she sighed deeply, standing up from her seat, ''I will be outside if you need me - ''
''Actually,'' Hermione cleared her throat, fixing her plaid skirt and awkwardly wiping an invisible stain off her black blouse. ''Well,'' she met her waiting eyes, ''for now on, if let's say Draco Malfoy comes and asks to see me without a notice, allow him.'' she ordered with a bit low voice and a pounding heart. She rose her eyes, watching a grin on her face.
''Of course, Miss Granger.'' she said with blushing cheeks, closing the door behind her, and leaving Hermione Granger alone in her office, staring at an empty piece of parchment on top of her desk.
Without second thinking and feeling her guts boiling under her flesh with a glorious purpose, she grabbed one of the quills she had on top of her desk and started to write down every little thing that happened the past months, hearing a demanded small voice in her brain seeking attention. She didn't want to be right, not this time.
ΛVΛ
The bell of the private elevator that was linked to his own floor at the Enterprise rang perfectly, covering the space between its doors and the closed double doors of his office, where the desk of his secretary was. The door opened, revealing the tall body of Draco, and Adrian Pucey thanked Merlin for Draco's attention being to Mr Galatius and not him courting with his secretary.
He rushed to push back, fixing his shirt and tie, watching the small embarrassment on her face. ''Don't worry.'' he whispered and she frowned, filling her face with question marks, asking herself how he managed to make her fall in love with him. She fixed her skirt in time to see the smirk on her boss's face disappearing. Adrian put his hands in his pockets, shrugging at his best friend who took big, steady steps towards them. ''Wasn't it about time!'' he said with a grin on his face.
Draco's face mimicked his secretary who rushed to take her eyes off him. ''Didn't know you were waiting.'' his eyes travelled from his friend to Thalia, to his friend again, wanting to believe she was much smarter than to fall for a womanizer like Pucey, and he was much smarter than to hit on an elegant, sophisticated woman like Thalia. He tried to sense Adrian's feelings, only to feel a small annoyance. Draco looked to her again, this time noticing her pink cheeks. Could they be fucking -
''Are we going to stare each other much longer?'' Adrian broke his thoughts with a forced snort and pointed his office with his head.
''Right.'' Draco met Thalia's embarrassed gaze once again, only to see her looking at the folders on top of her desk. ''Right.'' Draco said again, this time noticing his best friend's glances all around the room. He nodded and walked to his office, opening the double door, narrowing his eyes as the bright light blinded him. He wanted to curse, he really wanted it, but he didn't, reminding himself how his friends gifted him the renovation of his office - well, he paid for everything, but the idea was precious to him for a reason. He walked to his desk, watching the empty frame next to the photo of him and his friends. A smirk curved his face and he patted two times his chest, feeling the photo of Hermione and him - he might, or might not geminio it from the original photograph she had taken yesterday, using her Muggle camera, wanting to have her smiling face on his office, as a constant reminder of who he found himself being in love with.
Adrian threw a folder in front of him, breaking his thoughts. He frowned and opened it, reading, ''Time Turner Research?'' he unbuttoned his two buttons blazer and sat on his chair. ''What is this?'' he tried to read the first page of the file, which it was a contract, only to hear a small gasp that got his attention at once.
''You don't know?'' Adrian put a hand on his chest, faking an evil laugh. ''Baby you are in for a treat!'' he spoke with excitement, watching the confused, slightly horrified gaze of his best mate. ''What?'' he shrugged, standing up and taking the folder from him.
''Why you called me baby?'' he frowned and looked at his empty hands. He watched him shrugging again and put in front of him a piece of paper with sloppy, drunk handwritten names that made him frown even more. He had forgotten about that. He took the paper and wondering how drunk he was that night - Hermione had finished the photoshooting with his mother for the museum and he found shelter in the Enterprise with a bottle of firewhiskey he stole from the Manor. Now that he was remembering that night, his secretary stayed late and Adrian was there after hours too -
''I found what you were looking for!'' Adrian made his thoughts break once again. ''You remember asking me to do so, no?'' he asked, frowning at the way Draco's empty gaze fell on him.
''Right, yes.'' he read the names of the women Nehone killed and promised himself to never drink so much again. Adrian gave him the contract he saw before, this time reading it and a big smile shown on his face. Well, isn't this his lucky day.
''So, baby,'' Adrian teased him with a high pitched voice, hiding the satisfaction he felt when Draco rolled his eyes. ''Every single name here,'' his gaze and voice tone changed to a much more professional one, reminding Draco why he hired Adrian Pucey in the first place. ''used to work for the Enterprise or partnered with Abraxas.''
''What?'' he frowned and looked at the names again. ''Enterprise's workers? You sure?''
''Yes, well, everyone except for Parkinson. Hector's name is being referenced once, in a Law Department's statement to end the research.'' he gave him the parchment, making Draco frown again. A small knot created in his stomach, causing him to doubt his breakfast choice.
''Why would the Law Department want to end the research?'' he frowned more, reading the statement, ''And wasn't Mr Parkinson a Law Enforcer working for the Lead Officer in Hall of Prophecy?''
''Here says, he provided strong evidence in defence of Abraxas Malfoy.'' he gave him another parchment, this time the signature of Mr Parkinson was wide and perfectly clean at the end of it. ''As far as I understand the Ministry wanted only the original Time Turner and a small observation over the rest of them.'' he rushed to take his eyes off Draco, feeling the next few things he wanted to share rather hurtful. He looked at his hands and his heart pounded faster in his chest - there was a small hesitation in his mind, something that he blamed it on the numerous times he had seen Draco falling deeper into the abyss of self-doubt and hate, wanting nothing more than to end his life, as the burden of the unspeakable fate he walked on for some time burdened him like nothing else in his life.
He looked at him now, his best friend, the person he turned to whenever something idiotic happened that managed to upset him, the person who always was there for him no matter what and felt his mind going back at ease, realizing how much he grew in the exile of his own mind - he was a different man, a much wiser person. Surely, Adrian and Blaise had Hermione Granger to thank for that, but deep down they knew it was Draco's choice to become the man he is today.
''Adrian.'' Draco called him and he felt the hair behind his neck rise. His thoughts broke and his eyes focus to his threaded together hands on top of the folder he had rested on his lap. He was feeling impatient and he knew it - he called him again by his given name and once again, he felt shivers travelling up and down his torso - for the time their friendship started, Draco used to call him by his last name, finding numerous ways to tease him, showing off his unique creativity, or he would address him as mate, git, or even asshole if he managed to make him laugh, but whenever he was calling him Adrian, things were off. He cleared his throat, faking a smile on his lips.
''It is quite silly - ''
''Tell me.'' Draco's jaw tightened and out of the blue his eyes darkened. He looked at his friend, then the opened folder and his threaded hands.
''The people their names you gave me, they were working on the development of the original Time Turner, until the then Minister, Nobby Leach tried to stop the whole research.'' his lips sealed at once and Draco's eyes narrowed.
''Why.'' he meant to ask, but he failed as his best friend's eyes fell from him to the folder. ''Adrian.'' he called him again, this time his voice held a much more desperate tone, something that made Adrian feel ashamed for himself.
''They believed your grandfather wanted to find Tom Riddle in the past and bring him to the then future.'' he took his eyes away from him, knowing he will have a depressed look on his face, ''Abraxas denied everything, saying the Time Turner was destroyed.'' he gave him a photo of his grandfather holding the original Time Turner and he frowned as Draco's face was glowing. He looked behind him, thinking Granger might be standing by his door, but she wasn't. ''Leach asked for the Law Department to take action, only to be stopped by Mr Parkinson - mate, are you alright?''
Draco smirked at him, noticing how the chain his grandfather was holding was the very same he now had in the trunk back in his loft, the very same he saw him giving to his father in one of the memories Lucius stored for him - every little detail of those memories started to click in his mind, leaving some questions about Hector Parkinson, but at that moment, it hardly mattered. Both his grandfather and father tricked time by using the original Time Turner, seeking the easiest way to clean someone else's mess. A small pride started to build up, but he killed it, reminding himself of the things his family did to others, finding no excuse to this one exception. ''Yes.'' he said and sighed, watching Adrian nod too many times.
Knowing his father and remembering the things Abraxas taught him, he knew it must have been a higher purpose for their actions with the Time Turner, he only needed to take a step back and place everything in order, link everything and see the whole picture.
Adrian closed the folder and left it on top of his desk, watching him sit back in his chair and resting his chin in his hand, eyes focusing on the void - ''You need a moment?'' he asked him and Draco only nodded once, not even hearing his friend leave. A smirk decorated his face and a son-of-a-bitch look his eyes the moment he locked gazes with his father in the mugglefied family portrait in front of him.
ΛVΛ
She left her quill aside, watching the smaller, much more cleaner parchment that was exactly like the one she had made in Draco's loft months ago.
Everything was the same, the events, the names, the dates, the only thing that was different was the way her guts were telling her to run - the image of her fortune cookie quoting about it made her stomach turn into a hard knot. Her leg was nervously moving, her mind was constantly screaming danger, her eyes were starting to fill with tears. The distant sound of talking made her look at her closed door, now opening wide.
Her fingers cleared her cheeks and he frowned. ''Am I interrupting lioness?'' Steele's voice sounded bothered, not with her, but with himself for showing up like that. He rushed to close the door, watching the tissue box on top of the table and grabbed it, leaving it in front of her. He watched her taking one and cleaning her cheeks, shaking her head multiple times. A fake smile decorated her face and she took a big breath, clearing her throat and making herself much more comfortable in her chair.
''Hello Steele.'' she politely greeted, watching the frown on his face. ''I am just thrilled I am back!'' she fake an excited face, knowing he wasn't biting it. He nodded and looked around him, not wanting to see her slightly pink cheeks which made him feel uncomfortable for an unknown reason. He stood in the middle of her office, his own eyes feeling rather watery because of the storming sun behind her, almost making her look like an angel.
The image of his baby girl dead body in his arms came to his mind, only to be traded with Draco's dead body, lying cold on top of hard marble floors, where the only trace of life was Hermione's screams that could easily deaf every single person in this Ministry. He cleared his throat, forcing his brain to forget everything he saw in that damnful room and focus on the task he had told himself it as a priority.
''That's a very nice office.'' he complemented, finding a seat and placing his foot on top of his leg. ''No one wanted it?'' he realized once again, as the strong light coming from the window behind her made him narrow his eyes.
''What can I do for you - ''
''We need to talk lioness.'' he tightened his jaw, noticing the parchment on her desk, some names made his attention raise. He frowned and looked at her, then the board, then her again. She had a small panic in her eyes, along with a hesitation that was increasing his curiosity. ''What's that.'' he pointed with his head and rose a brow.
Her eyes left his and cleared her throat, watching the parchment under her forearms. ''A board.'' she cleared her throat again, folding the paper and letting it aside. ''I was just putting down some thoughts.'' she tried to hide the rest of her panic and what her mind was thinking, fearing of his ability to understand people. ''What do you want to talk about?'' her hands tangled together, putting her poker face for him to get tricked.
''I want you two to leave.'' Steele said at once, not even bothering to look at her. ''Pack a bag, say you have never seen Caribbean or some shit and leave.''
''What?'' a snort made him look at her.
''And maybe give me this board of yours.'' his hand tried to grab the folded parchment, but she acted fast, placing her whole hand on top of it and pulling it towards her. ''I'm guessing it's important.'' he rose his brow, noticing how the redness in her cheeks returned.
''It is.'' her lips sealed and she crossed her arms on top of her desk, watching him frown. ''Why do you want me to leave - ''
''You? No, Malfoy has to leave.'' he snorted and fixed one side of his leather jacket as it had been folded when he moved. ''Wherever you go, he goes.'' his eyes rested on the parchment she had hidden under her arms. ''Look dear lioness, to my experience, this can go two ways,'' he rose two fingers in the air, reminding her own self. ''One, this whole thing goes terribly wrong, terribly fast,'' he pointed at the board she had made, ''or two, you trust me and end this story as bloodless as possible.'' a deep sigh made her frown, noticing how his eyes lost contact with her when he said the word bloodless.
She wasn't going to show her small relief in his words - frankly she wanted someone to tell her she could leave, and if she wasn't Hermione Granger, she would have done it the moment he first offered it, but she had already made her decision, and it wasn't the fact that she now knew where to find Damien Nehone - it was because she had to protect him, she had to protect Draco.
The impatient eyes of Nestor Steele were not leaving her danger-written face of hers. The idea of Steele wanting the same thing popped into her mind, knowing he would do whatever he could to protect Draco - she wasn't a fool, she could see his fatherly instincts towards Draco. Something was telling her it was a suicide mission, but yet, wasn't the one she was about to do too? A small doubt drilled holes in her mind, remembering the times Draco had told her she was not alone in this story, making her fears of coming to the same conclusion as her more alive than ever. If Draco hasn't figured it out yet, could easily earn her some time, she only needed to leave from the Ministry unnoticed.
He snorted and took his eyes off her. His lips pressed together and looked at her hurt, ''If you have a way to end his story bloodless, please do.'' he stood up and walked towards her closed door, his hand tightening around the knob. ''I have grieved a lot in his life, I don't wish the same for you.'' he looked at her over his shoulder, watching the way her mouth dropped open. She stood up, wanting to confront him, but he had already left, leaving her alone with the sense she had the past days, of Draco slipping away from this life.
ΛVΛ
Hermione looked at the peaceful kitchen being bathed in the light of the afternoon sun, as small strings of light decorated the whole room with golden shades, almost making her feel she was in heaven.
Pictures of the whole family were spread on top of the table. Smiling faces of the people she considered it to be her second family caught her attention and she wanted to mimic their faces, only to fail - how amazing her second family was, how happy they seemed as they grouped together, and took photos to send to their beloved mother, how much she feared of the one person she spent her teenage years with. She took a picture of Harry and Ginny holding their son. She looked at her best friend and she felt her eyes tearing up. How much she wanted to talk to him, how much she needed his help. A strong bite to her cheek made her snap out of it and take a bit breath, smelling the chocolate cake on top of the counter, next to a plate of biscuits filled with cream and chocolate chips.
''Hermione.'' his familiar voice made her eyes leave from the photo of The Potters. She placed her hand on top of her chest, feeling the chain around her neck holding Draco's ring. Slowly she turned around, seeing him standing in the middle of the room with his hands hidden in his pockets and a small smile playing on his lips. ''What brings you here?'' he looked at her from head to toe, noticing her missing bag and wand.
She offered a smile, a real one, letting her hand fall from her chest. ''I wanted to see you.'' she rested against the counter, her grip tighten as she was trying to keep herself calm. ''I talked to Kingsley and to Warlock too. They agreed to limit your sentence.'' she gave him a perfect smile, watching him do the same. A hard bang sound echoed from upstairs and she had to tell herself to relax, feeling her nerves tensing as his lips curled up a little, his eyes never leaving her. ''Is Astoria here?'' she awkwardly asked, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
''No.'' the small smile on his face was not leaving. ''I told you it was just physical.'' he rose his brow and looked at her sighing. ''She is seeing someone else.''
''Molly then?'' she asked with confidence that rushed to fade away when he shook his head.
''No. She was out of glue and frames. We are alone.'' he walked towards her, stopping in front of the table and taking the photo of the Potters as well, admiring Ginny's smile. ''I left the window open.'' he pointed with his hand behind his back, leaving the photo along the others of the Families. She smiled to him and nodded, watching him turning around and finding his way to the staircase. She cowardly took a step to follow him, then another, taking the ring out and wear it, watching the chain disappearing like dust on top of old furniture. Two more steps and she was in front of the staircase, her eyes meeting his as he looked down on her. She felt her breath caught up her chest, but she held her calmness, reminding for whom she is here for.
''Aren't you going to offer me a cookie today, Damien?''