"That woman. How did she know?" He gasped out as the warmth of a searing hot sun slowly beat down the cold wall surrounding his heart. He felt deeply invaded. Like he had swallowed lungfuls of ice water. Self consciously he rubbed at the faded mark on his arm.

"She has the Sight," After a moment to adjust the sun she pulled him down the street by his sleeve.

"Wait, like that old bat in divination?" While his strides were longer but she was taking such harsh and frequent turns he was having trouble keeping up.

"Not even remotely close to the same level." She scoffed, " The people here are much more in touch with the spirits. She is actually good at it."

After a few blocks the path widened and they were able to slow to a less urgent pace. He ripped his arm away from her clutching hand. "You can let go of me now. I am not a lost child."

"While you are here you are my responsibility." She stopped and turned on him with a fireceness that brought back the memory of a very sore jaw for him. "I will NOT have you running off and getting Anike in trouble do you hear me?"

"I don't plan on murdering any muggles Granger. Besides what does some lowly gate agent have to do with it?" He scrunched up his nose in indignation that he should care about paper pushing physics.

"Are you really that daft?" She questioned with a roll of her eyes. With a firm shove he found himself in a darker side alley with brown stone walls climbing up either side of him. There was barely enough for a door to open outwards left alone for a distance between him and the mudblood that he would prefer. Made all the worse as she ripped up his left sleeve flashing his faded dark mark.

"What exactly do you think this is Malofy?" She scowled as she held up his arm. "Do you think it's some pretty little boyish tattoo with a fun story attached?"

He growled as he yanked his arm back. Barely feeling her nails scrape against his skin in his anger. "Of course not. You think I am proud of this? I know what I have done and it's over. Gone. No more. Don't touch me again."

As he tried to side step her and move back out onto the street she blocked his way again. "I could give less of a shite if you are proud of it. It is very dark magic. It taints you. Oh sure in London everyone may look the other way. 'Oh what a child of circumstance.' or maybe 'everyone did what they had to.' But not here. Here they sniff out dark magic like the cancer it is and snuff it out before it infects everything else."

"I am not infecting anyone else." He shot back with venom. "I haven't cast any dark magic in a long time. Nor do I plan to."

"Why risk it? Anike made the exception for you because you were with me. She could lose her job, get thrown in jail and who knows what else. It doesn't matter if it was yesterday or 20 years ago. It is not allowed here and neither are you." She finished with a growl. Draco was burningly mad. How could they treat him like some outlaw because he was forced into something as a child. It wasn't his fault he got his lot thrown in with a mad man.

"Oh," He breathed condescending, "perhaps I should just go home then? Why did you even bring me here, considering? Were you hoping they would snatch me up and you would have rid the world of the evil scion of Malfoy?"

"I simply need you. Nothing more." A church clock struck in the distance and there was silence between the two wizards as the chimes rang out. With a huff Heromine turned heel and stepped out into the street. Seeing no other option he followed.

They fell into step together as she guided him around the city. After a few blocks the majority of his anger had dissipated. After a few more the sun had burned off most of his indignation. By the time they turned onto a street filled with a muggle market the silence was near killing him. He had expected a lot from Hermione Granger. Anger, sass, wit. Silence wasn't something he had ever seen her use. It was mildly upsetting.

Before he could ponder on it any longer they passed another muggle stall laden with wooden masks and talismans. He gave it the same cursory glance as every other stall when his eyes landed on something familiar. The creeping feeling coated him like a gel halting his movement. When his eyes rested on a carved jet necklace he sneered. That is magical.

The wholly muggle shopkeeper took his notice as admiration and launched into what was supposed to be a convincing speech. "You have a good eye, Great Sir. That is a magical talisman. It is made from the blood of the popbowa. It will give you great fertility and sustenance. Although I am sure with such a beautiful young wife you need it not? In that case I can give it to you for a very low price."

Hermionie bristled next to him and he couldn't help but snicker. Was she more offended by him stopping or the wife jab. As if he would ever touch a mudblood.

"Malfoy. We need to go." She spat irritably.

"Oh ho. She is full of venom. Like wild cobra! Dangerous and beautiful. I envy you."

"Dear," He smiled as she scowled. His voice was full of honey, helped by the fact he noticed something she didn't. "The man said it's magical necklace. We must get it for your Aunt Marge."

"Indeed it is!" The shopkeeper supplied helpfully. "Very magical. I got it from a real wise man in Zanzibar. Very rare to find here."

"Hear that -" He was thrown off balance when she pulled him away with a shocking amount of strength and no small amount of rudeness. By the time he registered what happened the shop was out of sight and Hermione was marching them away again. Planting his feet he brought them to a halt.

"Granger. Are you mad? We have to go back." She spun around with a look of total exasperation.

"Why so you can pick up a Viagra necklace? The women of London and wherever the hell else can wait. We have places to be."

"I hardly need it and I am insulted you implied so. Don't get me wrong I know you are so much slower than the rest of us but do try to keep up. That thing was real magic. In muggle hands. Who knows what trouble it'll find. We have to go back."

"I didn't peg you for a secrecy upholder." She quipped casually. "But we aren't going back. There is no need."

"No need?! I have to get snuck into the country like some sort of exotic beast but when a muggle has a dangerous magical item that could blow the cover off of the existence of magic suddenly rules don't apply?" He hissed in disbelief. He wondered exactly how long it would take to get back and what he would do if the charm was gone.

"It's not against the rules, Malfoy." She drawled in disgust. "Do your research."

He must have given her a strange look as she threw up her hands before turning and stalking off. "Haven't you ever been anywhere? And I don't mean Europe or only to magic epicenters. I mean to real cities. Where muggles and magic mix? Countries that are different from Britain. That have been around longer?"

He dodged a swift walking man with cages packed on his back. The traffic was getting worse and he was trying to focus on keeping the ratty mess of hair ahead of him. "Of course I have. I was just in India a week ago as you well know."

"Indeed. What did you think of the temples? The ritual? The celebrations?"

"That they had lovely chanting and flowers but not nearly enough drinks. Why?"

"God do you ever pay attention to anything." She ducked under a beam that shot in from the right before it disappeared back into the chaos. The people were pressing in closer, like a giant river of humans as he fought to remain directly behind her.

"I haven't lost you yet, have it?" He challenged as they broke through into a massive marketplace. She stopped abruptly in front of a fountain and dramatically swung out her arms.

"Look where you are, you arrogant cad. Look and think." People flowed around them like clockwork. The smell of various street foods mingled in the air. Vendors called out goods to passerbys. It took him a moment to realize they were calling to muggle and wizard alike.

"There's magic!" He stated in wonder as a muggle child played crackersnaps with some wizard children, smiling with glee when the rolled bones exploded into a harmless shower of sparks. A housewife off to the left was arguing with a merchant over a fire protection charm. A fortune teller was fanning herself in the door of her tent attempting to catch anyone's eyes.

"Of course there is." She sighs in great exasperation. "This continent is the birthplace of magic, it's been around as long as human kind. There is no Statute of Secrecy here. The muggles all know."

He dipped backwards to dodge a colorful flying fish that was being chased by two boys. The very idea was absurd. Muggles interweaving with Wizards. It would be a bloodbath. And yet, right in front of him healers were treating ailments, both magical and muggle. Witches were weaving enchanted clothing for protection of anyone who asked. Vendors selling meat of Merlin knows what. Noone batted an eye and if there was a raised voice it was over the price of dates not blood."I didn't know a place like this existed."

"How did you not see it in India, one of the most mystical places on the planet? Magic here is the everyday. It's normal. Have you ever actually been anywhere?" The clock sounded again, just one chime to indicate the half hour mark. Hermione scowled again. "We need to go. Now."

He caught barely a glimpse before she was back in the sea of people, just a smudge of light brown amongst an ocean of color. He lost sight of her a few times but managed to see her dip into a shop just as the flash of her dark robes disappears. FIghting against the current he managed to get himself spat out next to a sign labeled the Lion's Pelt. He had only a moment before she stuck her head out again.

"Well are you coming or not?" Clearly it was not a question as she slipped back inside before he could answer. He figured he was in for a penny at this point and followed her in. The shop was dark and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust.

"Sister Hermi! It is so good to see you!" The voice was lower pitched and has a warm and hearty feel to it, like a deep laugh. His eyes adjust to Heriomine being put down from what he assumed was a spinning huge. A middle aged man with a bare chest and a shaved head assessed her like one would his own daughter. His eyes smiling and proud. He had dark inked tribal tattoos lacing up his wrist and flowing onto his chest.

"You don't sleep enough my child. Are you still taking that devil drink?" He lectured while shaking his head.

"It's just tea, Awero." She supplied helpfully. "I would love another lecture but were already running late."

"Pah. Dirty leaf water. Some thick zoba would do you up right." His eyes landed on Darco with a narrowed suspicion. "Who is this boy? Did you bring home a husband? He has not asked us. I do not like him."

It appeared to be the national 'let's-hate-Draco-day' wherever they were.

"Good lord no. He is my assistant. Which we do really need to get to work."

"Ah yes yes. The potions. You are our savior indeed, little lion. Well hurry on, go fix them." He made a shooing motion towards her with a smile.

"I just hope it works."

"I know it will."

"Pray to the spirits." She responded and gestured for Draco to follow. Awero's eyes were fixed on him. While not as dark of a look as the girl had given him earlier he still felt like something on the bottom of a very nice shoe. When she pulled back a tapestry revealing a mountain of rugs he was proud to say it was just about what he expected.

"What now? Are we taking a magic carpet for a spin?" He kept pace as she stepped forward, clammering up the pile.

"So clever. A rug joke in a rug shop. However do you think of these things?" He grimaced in distaste as his foot slipped launching a wave of dust into the air. "Just wait, it's on the other side. I have told him hundreds of times to clean out this back room. But does he listen to me? No, of course not."

She beat him to the top and crested over it, much to his annoyance. "I can't imagine why."

As he heaved himself over the tip, the carpet directly below him began to slide. Before he could regain any grip he was halfway down the tower and sliding out of control.

He drifted to a remarkably graceful stop at the base just a few feet from where Hermione was dusting herself off. Apparently not even phased. "I told him all this just accumulates dust. Which will just aggravate Alanie's allergies but what do I know?"

She strode off as Draco regained his footing and pulled back another tapestry on the wall. This time bright light streamed through the entrance, making her just a black outline. "I swear you think more people would listen to me by now."

She passed through the gate leaving Draco to follow, wondering just how he got into this mess. He was indeed so busy wondering he missed the 3 eyed cat stitched into the cloth.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Hermione sighed as the breeze blew across her face. It smelled absolutely wild, like heat and grass and mud. How she had missed it. Under better circumstances she would have to visit again. Life tends to get in the way and she had always been notorious for getting wrapped up in work. Maybe after this cleared up and she got rid of Draco she would make the trip. Speaking of which, the brat in question pushed through the magical doorway she turned to face him.

He looked around in great surprise before spotting a herd of zebras and sighing towards the sky.

"Africa. You brought me on to bloody Africa?" She took great pleasure in dirt and dust covered robes along with his heaving chest. Apparently the kind of exercise he was used to was only found in a gym.

She gave him a moment to recover his breath while she transfigured her dark London robes into a light white linen. Immediately the sun felt less oppressive and more like a warm hug than a baking oven.

"Nigeria to be specific." She turned in the direction of some blurry barely distinguishable huts. "Almost there. But I would consider changing robes if I were you. It's only a kilometer away but you are going to overheat fast in all that black.

She paused, partially out of politeness and partially out of shock when he began muttering a spell. His dark robes did indeed change to linen but still remained stubbornly black. Well you can't help a fool.

Once he had finished, she set off down the dirt path leaving the tree and the hanging tapestry drifting in the breeze. Well, it was less of a path and more of a game trail that had been tamed. By the time the children had started shouting Draco was sweating and she was smiling.

The shouts came in quick succession as children popped in huts like shy toadstools reemerging moments later with adults gripped in their small and eager hands. Hermione smiled and waved to the people welcoming her home. They were just passing the first houses when a stately figure emerged from the largest hut.

"Sister Hermi! I have missed your kind eyes!" She ran forward into his comforting arms. Ignoring the perplexed look she was sure Draco was sporting.

"Brother Arike. It has been far too long!" His smile faltered and his normally kind brown eyes told her the news before his words did.

"Father Arike now, Great Sister. Father Ajin has joined the spirits. We are not sad as he had lived a good life before he began his second one." She forced her disappointment and tears to the back of her mind. She knew it was so much harder for Ajin to lose his parent but it still stung.

"I wasn't fast enough." She managed to squeak in despair. "I wasn't clever enough."

"Nonsense little lion." He corrected her by shaking her shoulder lightly. "You are fast and clever enough to be here today. My father was old. There are others still living who need you. Come."

He guided her into the largest of the huts. From the outside it seemed fairly simple. With walls of mud-packed grass spanning a circle about 6 meters wide and a thatched roof. However, inside the secret of their village leaked out. Thick mopani wood floors had been sanded to satin and the room was easily 5 times the size it appeared from the outside. Airy reed walls accounted for airflow while keeping any wildlife out. Large paper blade fans circulated the breeze through the medical wing and out the window. The plush lightning bird stuffed beds were full, something that was far from usual, and a bubbling fountain in the corner gave the air of a meditative retreat not a hospital.

"Would someone please explain what is going on?" Hermione glanced at Draco with mild amusement. He had reacted just like Ron did when presented with an unknown concept. She wondered how upset that would make him.

"Oh yes my friend. So sorry I am-" Arike cut himself off as Draco blinked blankly at him.

"What on earth is he saying?" Draco questioned Hermione.

"How have you not had a potion of Many Tongues by now? One would figure someone of your position would have need of the knowledge." She cursed as she shuffled around her beaded bag tied to her waist, digging for her first aid kit.

"Don't be daft. I have. I just… can't understand what this man is saying." Draco defended. He gestured towards Arike who looked deeply amused by the whole situation.

"Well did you brew it yourself, because it's clearly flawed. What is the point of a Many Tongues if it doesn't register every language?" Withdrawing the kit she opened the latch to find the sky blue bottle strapped to the side. Gingerly she withdrew it and shuffled over to Draco.

"Hardley. I used the same potion the ministry uses. Are you implying theirs is subpar?" He shot back.

"I have no idea I have never used it but clearly it's failing in at least one regard, just like you. Stick out your tongue." In a childish move Draco did so, with his arms crossed and face scrunched.

"Sister you are fiery today. Be nice to your friend or I shall have to seperate you." Draco spun as the words finally sorted themselves out in his brain.

"Granger? I didn't know you had any siblings and yet apparently everyone in this god forsaken country is related to you." He remarked somewhat civilly given the circumstances.

Arike laughed good naturedly. "She certainly is well loved. Hello friend of Sister 'Granger' as you call her. I am Father Arike, chief of this tribe. How may I address you?"

"How about three spineless ferrets stacked in a robe?" Hemione suggested from where she was packing her kit back up. "Conniving evil snake would cover him pretty effectively too."

"Hermi." Arike chastised despite the fact she was just as old as he was. "You should be nicer to your friends."

"I wouldn't be friends with that harpy if you paid me." Malfoy scoffed, earning a dangerous look from the chief. While Malfoy didn't exactly shrink back, he did seem to make some calculations in his head.

"Were just colleagues." He added much more respectfully.

"Well colleague of Hermi. What shall I call you?"

"Draco, Draco Malfoy." He paused for a moment then added, "of Britain."

"Hm well Colleague Draco… of Britain. I hope you are here to help and not just bicker. We have many lives that hang in the balance." He quickly turned towards Hermione, back to being her friend and brother. "Adio is the worst off we have. Maybe 2 more days. Her mother hasn't stopped weeping since last week."

"Malfoy, grab the basket. I left it by the door." She glided over the nearest bed casting a small cooling spell over her and the girl. While the heat wasn't oppressive she needed to sense any change in the girls fever at a moments notice. Currently, she was burning up.

Malfoy settled across from her, gingerly placing the basket full of Cure-All next to her. Or what she had hoped was actually Cure-All. She supposed this would be the test.

"What does she have?" Malfoy grimaced as the girl winced. Clearly lost in an unknown dream or pain. Hermione hoped for the first.

"I have no idea." She gestured to the basket as she bent down to listen to the girls ragged breath. "It starts as a fever. Then their breath grows tight and choked. Then they fall into a coma. Cool her off."

"Is it a muggle disease?" He questioned as the bowl of river water was set beside him. With a suspiciously practiced hand he wrung just the right amount of water out before patting her head clean of sweat.

"Not that I know of. We tried malaria, sleeping sickness, yellow fever. Literally everything remotely matching at least two of the symptoms. Anything else doesn't explain how it spread." She sighed as she looked at the filled beds.

"That's why the mother couldn't visit?" Draco asked as she uncorked the first vial of cure-all. "Is it fatal?"

"You either don't get sick, stay sick, or die. There is no getting better as far as I can tell. I need you to feel her head. Tell me if it gets warmer or cooler." He nodded, moving to rest the child's head in his lap. The back of his hand placed gently on her forehead. Poor Adio. She was only 6, she had just come to know magic and happiness before being struck.

"Magical then?" He offered, shifting Adio's head more upright as Hermione brought the potion close to her lips.

"I'm no healer." She responded as the potion seeped into the girls mouth. "Just a pharmacist."

When the bottle was empty she pulled back and waited. Only the sound of the fans squeaking and ragged breathing echoed. After a few minutes in silence she sighed. "We tried everything I could find for magic too. There is… I just don't know enough."

"Saint Mungos?" He suggested while gently petting the girls pillowy dark hair. It was an odd sight, she had never considered he could be gentle.

"I couldn't get anyone to come. And I couldn't risk moving someone there and starting a pandemic." But could she have tried harder. She could have name-dropped she supposed. But even then, if they didn't know she could have just infected another person.

"I have a family healer. She has always had a soft spot for children?"

"No." Arike stated from where he leaned against the door. "I appreciate the offer. It is kind. But sister Hermi and all of our people have dug through everything we could find. English books included. If this does not work. There is nothing. No need to kill anyone else."

"Oh." Draco looked down at the girl haunted. It was strange, seeing him as a person. It certainly distracted her from her failure of a potion. But that was not why she brought him.

"Draco." He looked up somewhat startled. "I know this may be insensitive. But I need to ask."

She glanced up at Arike who made a point to focus on the ceiling like it was diamond encrusted. "I brought you here because of your.. History. I need to know. Could this be a curse..or?"

He seemed to think for a moment before opening his mouth and shutting it. Instead he closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. It seemed like ages before he opened them again. "I am no expert. But it doesn't feel like it. Or at least it doesn't feel like dark magic to me. It may just feel different here. I don't know. Sorry."

Somehow the apology seemed hollow. Or maybe that was just her. It was their last hope. A shot in the dark. Hours and hours of time wasted where she could have been looking for other answers. She almost killed herself, almost killed Malfoy. For a failed potion and another dead child.

"Ganger." She glanced up but he was staring transfixed on the girl below him. "I think it's going down."

"Sorry?"

"Her fever. I think it's breaking. Feel." He removed his hand as she placed her own on the Adio's forehead. It felt nearly the same, almost no different, and yet. "I don't know if its actually changing or I am just hoping it-"

She removed her hand and placed her ear close to Adio's chest. Praying for a large breath. She was blessed with a large ragged inhale, immediately followed by a violent cough. Hermione sat up just in time to swipe for a bowl as the girl bolted upright, confusion in her eyes and a hacking cough. Horrid sounds exited the girl as she half hacked and half vomited into the bowl. She found herself surprised when she moved to rub Adio's back but already found Malfoy's hand there. She shot him a questioning look but he just shrugged.

"I've done this before you know." And while she didn't really count a drunken stag party in the same realm as a coughing child at least it seemed to be effective.

When the girl had finally worn herself out and leaned back Hermionie checked the bowl. Inside was a thick tarry mucus. Certainly nothing that looked like it came from a human.

"Malfoy?" She gestured to the bowl and met his grimace. "I take it you've never seen it before?"

He shook his head before easing the small girl off his lap. Her breathing had returned to normal and her fever broken. She shifted awake for a moment before settling back on her pillow. She had done it. Her last ditch effort was enough. And she had saved them.