Epilogue : Ramin Djawadi
The Enemy : Andrew Belle
Wings : Birdy
Lost My Mind : Alice Kristiansen
Alive : Sia
Compass : Zella Day
About You Now : Meadowlark
The curved alley stretched before them as they stalked quietly through the night, disillusionment charms in place for any potential late-night strangers in passing. It was common place for Death Eaters to be seen in this dodgy part of town during this particular hour, though perhaps not for Draco, who almost always had his parents or aunt to accompany him. Now, he only had a cloaked Hermione Granger at his side and Harry and Theo under an invisibility cloak following behind them. His chin remained high, his ability to convey a calm demeanor had never failed him before so he saw no sense in not putting on a show now. He was a Malfoy after all, and in this current political climate there was really no safer name to carry, well at least for today.
He didn't need to glance over at Hermione to know she was nervous. Beneath her cloak, her shoulders were set high with tension. He could practically imagine her lip tucked tightly behind her tooth as her eyes scanned for any potential danger, small fingers firmly wrapped around her wand. Hoping to settle her nerves he extended his fingers tips to graze her empty ones, her fingers reacted to his touch instantly, curling around his own. He couldn't place the feeling that spread through his chest. It felt too surreal— her accepting him so easily.
"Almost there." He whispered into the night, quickening their pace slightly as he swore he could feel the presence of someone watching them, though he always felt that way while in this part of town.
Draco came to a steady halt, pushing open a wooden door to his left as he saw the faded, crooked sign dangling from its hinge: Trinkley's Trinket's and Thames Noble Nimble's. The abandoned shop door opened with a soft creak. He held the door open for Hermione to shove past him, pausing another moment for Harry and Theo to follow. He scanned the seemingly empty alley way once more, the haunting feeling of someone's eyes on him creeping up his spine forcing him to shove the door shut. Once he was inside he made quick to shut the store window with a wave of his wand, then placing locking enchantments on the bolts of the window and door. With one more wave of his wand he placed one last ward over the stretch of the door and alley just beyond it to alert him for any unwelcome visitors.
"What is this place?" Hermione's low whisper filtered over him as she trudged deeper into the shop.
As he turned around he saw her investigating one of the shop's cluttered shelves, her fingers lifting to touch one of the dusty trinket's on a tall shelf, her brow furrowed with curiosity, and then instantly yanking her fingers back when whatever she had been looking at turned into a small cloud of black fog.
"One of my Great Uncles old properties. My father told me he used to intercept information back when Grindlewald was rising in power." Draco explained, nodding towards the back wall. "There used to be a direct underground passage from here to the Ministry— the trinket's and nibble's were just a cover."
"You mean like a secret passage?" Harry asked, folding the cloak over his shoulder advancing towards Draco, "—directly to the Ministry Building? How is that even possible?"
"Wouldn't be much of a secret if he told you, now would it Potter?" Theo said calmly as he leaned down to inspect a glass tube containing miniature heads floating in green goo, his nose scrunched in horror.
"That—" Draco nodded at Theo in agreement, then added, "—also, it's been sealed shut for years now. So, I imagine the Ministry is very aware of it's former existence."
"Yes, riveting— truly—" Theo said as he took several quick steps away from something moving in a cage, gently nudging Harry in-between him and the very unsettling looking creature watching him. "—as much as I'm sure we'd love a history lesson concerning all the heinous and dark secrets of the Malfoy family, I'd rather if we did it else where, as to no longer remain in this ghastly place."
"Nervous, Nott?" Hermione asked, brow lifted in amusement as she moved to join them.
Theo scoffed and then began to open his mouth to respond when Draco moved quickly to clasp his hand firmly over Theo's mouth.
"What is it?" She asked quickly, recognizing Draco's sudden tense posture. He lifted his finger to his lips and glanced towards the door.
"Someone's coming."
They all heard it then, a boisterous voice accompanied by another muffled one from the alley. Draco took two quick strides to past her and lifted his wand, revealing a hidden door in the back wall. He reached for her arm, nodding for Theo and Harry to follow after her as he shoved her inside.
Hermione felt her back hit the side of the small closet, her heart pounding in her chest as Harry shoved himself between her and Theo. It only took another beat for Hermione to realize Draco had no intention in joining them as there was hardly enough space for the three of them.
"I'll be fine. Just don't make a sound." He assured her, as if noticing her panicked expression. "I can handle my father."
Her eyes widened in shock as she tried to process the panic dancing inside her veins, but then Draco was shutting the door, though he was still visible to all three of them. She wondered if he had charmed it, or if this was another tool of his Great Uncles he used to spy in previous years.
The small amount of light from the lanterns within the shop filtered through the cracks of the closet enough for Hermione to make out one side of Theo's body on the opposite end of the small space. He appeared calm enough, keeping his gaze firmly on Draco's back. Next to her, Harry was tense, though she couldn't make out his face. She focused on the sound of their three shallow breaths, forcing herself to remain as calm as Draco appeared standing near the entrance as three hooded figures entered, the men pausing briefly upon see the younger Malfoy there to greet them.
"Draco?"
Hermione recognized the silky voice of Lucius Malfoy before he tilted his hood from covering his long blond hair and pale features. He looked ghastly ill, as if all of the color had been drained from his withered body. She heard Theo swallow a shaky breath as the other two hooded figures moved to de the same. Hermione recognized Dolohov and if the hammering of her heart beat could thump any faster she was sure it would crack her ribcage. Theo seemed in a similar state of distress as his gaze was heavily residing on the other man, who, as she looked closer, she noticed favored Theo; though his dark brown hair longer in length and frame a bit stockier compared to Theo's structured features, the set of his playful grin and deep green eyes made it obvious to her... it was undeniable that they were related.
"Father." Draco countered calmly with a slight bow. "Dolohov, Nott Sr."
As Draco met his father's calculated stare, he felt a humming of uncertainty trickle through him. He took in the weary gazes of Nott Sr. and Dolohov, both glaring at Lucius as if they were not comfortable with Draco's presence.
"You didn't mention your boy was going to be involved, Lucius." Dolohov's deep voice vibrated around the eerily lit room.
Draco watched the corner of his fathers eye's twitch before his usual cadence returned as he answered over his shoulder, his gaze never leaving Draco's.
"I am as surprised as you are Dolohov, but I assure you, Draco is nothing if not discreet. I'm sure his being here is just a precaution. You'll forgive me for misremembering when deciding this location as our meeting place." Lucius smirked then, turning from Draco to smile at his companions. "You see, my son now has full ownership of inheritance and thus all of Malfoy properties, making it his responsibility to be aware of any unusual activity. When we entered the alley he must have been alerted and saw to investigate why the wards were activated." Lucius turned from them, his smile falling and his eyes darting to the side of the room, revealing a message only for Draco. "Am I right to assume as much, Draco?"
Draco forced his normal smirk over his features, nodding, "Wouldn't want any Order sympathizers slipping through the cracks, would we Dolohov? As I recall you let one best you not too long ago— Potter's sidekick, was it not? I must say, I regret I wasn't there to see it; you being bested by—"
Draco held his ground as Dolohov growled something unintelligible back and lunged forward. Lucius lifted his cane and landed it firmly over Dolohov's chest, stopping him mid stride.
"Now, now, Antonin—" Nott Sr. said through a throaty laugh,"—you know the boy's only toying with you. Let's let father and son come to an understanding so we can return to business." He nodded at Lucius as he gripped Dolohov's shoulder, forcing him deeper into the shop. "You've got ten minutes, Lucius."
"That little infuriating twat— Why the Dark Lord has some fucked up soft spot for that miserable little coward I'll never understand— "
Hermione watched Dolohov grumble as he and Nott Sr. slowly stalked deeper into the shop, towards their hiding spot. She glanced over at Theo, his gaze was still firmly set on his father, his expression unreadable. The sound of Nott Sr. laughing at Dolohov only a few feet away forced her attention back to the two men. She was grateful they stopped moving closer, but she grew anxious with every passing moment, hoping her soft breaths were silent enough.
"Come now, you know Draco is not entirely useless. He's proven as much to the Dark Lord at least." Nott Sr. answered back, lifting something from one of the shelves and placing it back down as Dolohov leaned against the counter, his arms tucked firmly across his chest.
"Certainly not as useless as your boy." Dolohov grinned wickedly as Nott Sr. turned around to let out another gruff laugh.
Hermione's gaze flicked to Theo's, but his gaze was now firmly cast down, his jaw clenched. She was certain she had never seen him so tense. His usual air of playful indifference gone, replaced with a darkening cloud of something she couldn't quite place. It wasn't anger or even sadness. The lack of his utter 'Theoness' almost felt numbing.
"What was it you said— oh, right, the Dark Lord would be better off recruiting a squib than your son—"
"A squib, an infant troll…" Nott Sr. nodded, loftily waving his hand through the air, "—either would be preferable, I'd wager."
Dolohov let out another bark of laughter. "If he's that much of a disappointment, why not be rid of him like you did with the other one?"
It was then that Hermione saw the subtle movement in the dim shadow, where the firelight filtered into their hiding place she could just make out Theo's trembling hand at his side. If she hadn't been paying such close attention she would have missed it; Theo's fingers were suddenly put at ease as Harry's longer fingers slowly intertwined them together. Her brow furrowed, momentarily shocked to see the subtle gesture from her best friend, but as she searched for Harry's face for an explanation, she was met with nothing but the darkness, unable to see much of anything.
"Should be grateful you took care of that one when you did, or you might have two disastrous disappointments to make up for."
Nott Sr. didn't respond, instead he seemed mildly irritated that Dolohov mentioned his son at all. He shoved away from the counter he was leaning on to walk deeper into the shop.
"Was this a business meeting or wasn't it? I'm growing bored with this disgusting shop." Dolohov persisted, "Lucius better hope he can make his son keep his mouth shut or I'll kill him myself..."
Their ramblings faded as they moved further away and as Hermione glanced at Theo once more, her eyes focused on the quick movements of his chest rising and falling and then glanced down to where Harry's fingers were still wrapped in his. She could see the whites of Theo's knuckles as he seemed to be clinging onto Harry for support. She replayed Dolohov's words in her mind...
Why not be rid of him like you did with the other one?
It only took a moment for the realization click inside her mind.
Theo never talks about it. He doesn't think anyone even knows he ever had a brother. Theo's mum was really sick after giving birth, it drained her of practically all of her magic... and a month later she took her own life. Theo's father was so furious that he took it out on the baby. He blamed it for taking his wife so he killed him and forced Theo to watch. He was only eleven then, I think...
She focused on keeping her breathing shallow as she remembered her conversation with Pansy on a few days ago...
Hermione attempted to keep her tears at bay, suddenly overwhelmed with pity for the wizard across from her. As if he could sense her eyes on him he slowly lifted his gaze to hers. She could only make out one side of his face and she wasn't sure what she expected... tears, perhaps? Or possibly a flash of pain in the deep green color, so similar to Harry's, but not as bright, more of a deep emerald— but she found no trace of pain at all, instead she recognized the emptiness, the vacant look of feeling so helpless, so utterly devastated to the point of giving into the numbness instead of feeling at all...
It was the same look she saw in the mirror after she obliviated her parents.
After a few moments it felt like too much for her and she dropped her gaze from his, shutting her eyes tightly, knowing that feeling would never really go away.
The moment the two wizards were out of hearing distance, Lucius gripped Draco's elbow taking them further away and placing a muffling charm around them.
"Mind telling me what it is you're up to father?" Draco said calmly, pulling out of his grasp. He kept his eyes on the hidden closet near the back. Nott Sr. and Dolohov were only a few feet away.
"I could ask you the same."
Draco rolled his eyes. "It's obvious the Dark Lord knows nothing of this meeting. I have no intentions of making him aware, either, so let's skip to the part where you tell me what you think you could possibly get away with without him knowing."
Lucius lifted an amused brow, "I could say the same to you."
Draco stiffened slightly. "Father."
"Oh, but how could I forget…" Lucius drawled lazily, leaning over his cane with a disgusted expression clouding his features as he glanced through heavy lids at his son, "He is very fond of you these days. Perhaps you have freedoms that I am not privy to."
Draco didn't miss the implication that this was nothing to take comfort in, and of course Draco knew that. The Dark Lord liking you was almost as dangerous as the Dark Lord wanting you dead, worse probably.
"What are you planning father?"
Lucius kept his heavy gaze on his son's. Something about his hesitance caused Draco to consider him closely, and it was then that a spark lit inside Draco; a painful spark, one that only lit when he thought of one person.
"Mother—? Is she—?"
"She's alive." Lucius said quickly. "For now… and I intend to keep her that way. It's why I'm here. Dolohov and Nott Sr. have bargained to assist me— for a cost of course, but one I will surely pay for in due time."
Draco felt a weight lifted off of him, but it only lasted a moment as he watched his father reach into his robes. When he pulled his hand out once more, cautiously gripping the Goblin-made iron handle, Draco took a slow step backwards, blinking at the dagger in his hands.
"But— that's— how do you—"
"It's the twin dagger of Bellatrix's." Lucius lowered his voice, closing the distance to speak intently to his son.
"The twin?" Draco repeated. "I don't understand— Why do you need it? What does any of this have to do with mother?"
Before Lucius could respond Nott Sr. was moving towards them with an impatient expression on his face. Draco searched his father's weary gaze, desperate for answers that he feared he would not be allowed to ask.
"Lucius—" Nott Sr. said firmly. "Time's up. We can finish our business at my estate, but we're leaving this instant."
Draco took a step forward to stop his father, but paused upon seeing Dolohov and Nott Sr. glaring at him, challenging him to do something that would allow them to use their wands against him.
"Draco…" Nott Sr. nodded his head, a forced grin over his pale face. "It was a pleasure running into you. The Dark Lord would be glad to hear of your diligence... as we are of your ability to remain silent about this harmless little meeting."
There was a dryness forming in Draco's throat, making him unable to respond; instead he simply nodded back. He turned to his father, finding his shoulders slumped and his expression tight, but Dolohov was already reaching for his father's arm to side apparate.
In the split moment before the three hooded figures were ripped away Draco met his father's stare, the foreign look of guilt clouded his father's grey eyes, forcing the breath from Draco's lungs to be knocked away. He struggled to catch his breath as his eyes remained on the spot his father was standing only moments before. Confusion overcame his scattered mind as thoughts of his mother surfaced. He blinked several times only vaguely aware that he didn't think he could move.
He shut his eyes, attempting to shift through his labyrinth.
The vines were still, almost as if they were locked in place. He reached for one, hoping it would respond to his urgency, but nothing shifted.
Nothing.
"Draco."
His eyes shot open at hearing the muffled voice, returning him to the present. He moved quickly to the hidden room and lifted the charm to reveal the door and forced it open. His gaze flickered across Hermione's panicked expression and he was certain he was going mad, because his lips flickered into a smirk instantly; any thought of his father's guilt or his vines unwillingness to move, momentarily forgotten as his gaze settled on hers.
"Are you alright?" She asked quickly, reaching for him, her small hands gripping onto his forearms.
"Worried about me, were you Granger?" A warmth skated across his skin as she rolled her eyes and lightly raised her hand to hit him on the chest. He was quicker in his reaction, his fingers closing around her wrist and pulling her against him. He felt her tense as he lowered his lips to her ear. "I don't know why you still doubt me."
"You're impossible. We're meant to be robbing a bank in the middle of a war and you're flirting with me."
"I wasted entirely too much time not flirting with you." Draco whispered as he inched closer to place a soft kiss on her lips before adding, "— and I intend to make up for it."
He pulled back then to smile down at her, but as he did his gaze landed on the two wizards whispering a few feet behind her, instantly noticing his best friend's rigid posture. Theo's arms were folded firmly across his chest, avoiding a very unsettled looking Harry Potter.
"Theo, what did he mean—"
"I said drop it, Potter."
Draco overheard the tail end of their whispered conversation, glancing wearily between the two seemingly tense wizards as they noticed him approaching.
"What'd Lucius have to say?" Theo asked quickly, stepping away from Potter. Draco knew Theo well enough to know he wanted to avoid whatever conversation they had just been having, so he obliged, knowing Theo would tell him when he was good and ready.
"He's made some type of deal with Nott Sr. and Dolohov. Didn't say much more than that, but we shouldn't stay here much longer." Draco glanced over at Hermione. "Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
"Remember what to do if we run into anyone who tries to speak to you?"
She nodded confidently, "Sigh impatiently and tell them I have no desire to speak to them, and continue walking as you apologize and make excuses."
"Let's hear it then Granger." Theo said, striding over to her and then taking on a slightly impressive Irish accent, lifting his shoulders back and conjuring a large pipe and a tweed flat cap, placing the former in his mouth and the latter snugly over his head.
Draco rolled his eyes at his theatrics, but allowed him to continue for the sake of knowing he was attempting to avoid whatever had him so tense moments before. Defensive mechanism #12, Draco thought fondly.
Theo popped the large pipe into his mouth and pulled it away, releasing a cloud of smoke. "Let's see what yer made of, Lassie."
Hermione sighed, "Is the Irish accent really necessary?"
"'Course it is." Theo scoffed. "It would be entirely useless exercise if you were the only one in character."
As Hermione tossed her black cloak aside to dig into her bag for the potion, Draco couldn't stop his eyes from lingering on the dress she transfigured beneath it. His eyes trailed down her exposed neck, roaming across the tanned skin that dipped beneath her collarbone. He swallowed, unable to bring his gaze from the way her black corset top hugged her figure, deliciously lifting the perky breasts he had only ever dreamed existed beneath her school uniform. He felt the heat of Potter's gaze on the side of his face and quickly adverted his gaze to the vial in her hands. She lifted it to her lips and he decided it was probably best to just look away from her entirely, knowing she would be much less appealing after the potion took effect.
"That is a disturbing sight." Theo announced after a few moments.
Hermione had been through this feeling before, and even though she knew the potion was brewed correctly she was still shaking with an anxious fear that the black curly hair covering her face may be cat hair and not the hair of the insane witch she intended on. The taste was as disgusting as ever, similar to what she imagined stale piss tasted like. Suppressing the need to gag, she glanced nervously at Theo and Harry and then Draco who was blinking at her, his nose scrunched.
"Well…" Hermione's soft voice coming from Bellatrix's body must have forced them speechless, because for a moment they all just stared in horror. "How do I look?"
"Hideous." Harry answered eventually.
"Forget the role-play—" Theo said, abandoning his Irish accent and abandoning his pipe and hat with a wave of his wand, "—let's work on your posture."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Theo as he circled her, his fingers resting beneath his chin.
"I'm not a prized cow, Nott."
Theo paused in front of her, his face scrunched in repulsion. "Who in Merlin's sweet sac would want a cow for a prize?"
"Nevermind." Hermione grumbled.
"Shoulders back. Chin up. She's a raging maniac, not a pouty school girl who failed her N.E.W.T.S." Theo demanded.
"I would never fail my—"
"Bellatrix doesn't whine, either, so enough of the screeching."
"This is ridiculous." Hermione mumbled, swatting at Theo's hands as he moved to fix her hair.
"I'm trying to help you witch!"
"Theo—" Draco sighed. "Granger's not an idiot. Besides, I'll do most of the talking. Let's just get on with it, yea?"
"Fine. Fine. Let's—" Theo nodded and then frowned as he glanced over at Hermione one last time.
"What is it now, Theodore?"
"Are you going to abuse me if I get too close?" Theo narrowed his eyes and Hermione shook her head, allowing him to take a step forward. He pulled something from his pocket and before she realized what he was doing he lifted a vial of red liquid to her lips. She pulled back.
"Is that blood?! Why on earth would you have a vial of blood in your pocket?"
"Of course it's blood." Theo said calmly, glancing over at Draco for back up.
"Actually he's got a point." Draco admitted, cringing slightly at the thought. "I've never seen my aunt without dried blood on her lips, or staining her teeth."
Hermione's eyes widened in disgust as Draco shrugged.
"That's not terrifying." Harry mumbled sarcastically, and then quickly mumbled an apology as Hermione shot him a look. "Right, not helping."
"If you're going to play the part, do it fully Granger. Commit! Even the smallest of details could mean life or death."
Hermione glared at Theo as he lifted the vial to her again. She took it from him and tipped its contents onto her fingers and lightly patted her lips, smudging away just enough to leave a bit lingering as she cast a drying spell. She forced her stomach to still as the need to vomit suddenly began to bubble deep within her stomach.
"Might want to hold off kissing her for a bit." Theo mumbled to Draco who shuddered.
"Shouldn't be too far of a stretch for you, since your lot is typically known for keeping relations within the family—" Harry said with a small smirk, even Hermione was biting back a grin and then instantly thought better of it as it forced her to taste the blood.
Draco took a step forward, but Hermione stopped him.
"Enough wasting time. Let's get this over with before I change my mind."
She turned on her heel and attempted to strut confidently towards the exit, with an annoyed Draco glaring at Harry following behind her.
Harry turned to face Theo, lifting the cloak over his shoulders, "Ready?"
Theo nodded, and took a step towards him. "Top or bottom?"
Harry swallowed, lifting his chin slightly. "Top."
Theo attempted to hide his smirk and turned around. He felt Harry's hands on his shoulders, then the warmth of his body pressing against his back. Theo felt a shiver of pleasure coarse through him as he leaned over, increasingly aware of how deliberate Harry was being as he shifted his chest and hips closer— but Theo much preferred to be the one to tease, rather than being teased, so with one swift movement he felt Harry's breath catch as he reached his hands behind them, placing his hands beneath Harry's thighs, gripping tightly as he lifted him up on his back. Theo pulled the cloak the rest of the way around them, forcing himself to focus on remaining hidden instead of Harry's firm grip around his neck and his light breaths tickling the hairs over his ear.
"All good back there?" Draco asked, turning to search for them in the seemingly empty room.
"All good back there?" Theo repeated in a whisper, turning his cheek ever so slightly and tightening his fingers around Harry's thighs where he was keeping him steady, even though Harry had kindly placed a lightweight charm on himself already. He felt Harry's lips twitch into a smirk, brushing against his cheek. He leaned into it and then his face was instantly jerked forward as Harry wrapped his hand around his jaw.
"Just fucking go, Nott."
"Sir, yes sir." Theo answered quietly, lightly biting at the closet finger still holding his jaw, momentarily lingering in the thrilling sensation that came from Harry telling him what to do. He flicked his tongue to graze the tip of his finger and as if realizing this wasn't the time or place Harry removed his finger a beat later.
Harry sighed into his hair, though Theo knew he was still smiling as he grumbled, "You're one twisted bastard. You know that?"
"All good here." Theo announced to Draco instead of answering him and shoved through the shop's exit and into the empty alley once more, only mildly distracted by Harry's thighs tightening around him with every step.
Theo was actually impressed by Hermione's performance... well, that was until she practically twisted her ankle after taking two steps into Gringotts. He and Harry both cringed at the sight of Draco's hand on her lower back to steady her and her turning to apologize with Bellatrix's rotten teeth smiling up at him. It was a very, very unsettling sight.
And as things often did for Harry Potter, and as Theo predicted things would... it got worse.
Her voice was all high pitched and nervous. Draco was calm and uncharacteristically fidgety, but quick with his responses.
As Theo had also predicted, they asked to confirm her identity. It was then that Theo realized the three guards forming something of a triangle from every exit, closing in on them. That was also when Theo knew simply showing the correct wand wouldn't be enough.
Without a seconds hesitation he moved past Draco, knowing he felt him clip his shoulder.
"Stall." Theo whispered and Draco nodded once.
"What are you—" Harry started to ask, but Theo swiftly silenced him as he shuffled quickly towards the stairs that led to the Goblin's podium. He lifted his wand, pushing it carefully out of the cloak.
"Imperio."
"Ah, yes, yes, of course Madame Lestrange. That won't be necessary after all. I can escort you myself. Right this way."
Theo watched Draco and Hermione share a quick glance, but moved quickly behind the wide grinning Goblin. He smirked to himself and glanced back to see the guards pausing in confusion and then shrugging to return to their post. It wasn't until they were out of sight of the other Goblins and standing before the vaults entrance, two massive metal doors, that Theo lifted Harry's silencing charm and handed him the cloak.
"Impressed?" Theo winked as Harry took the cloak from him, shrinking it down and stuffing it into his pocket. When he lifted his head to smirk at him, he took a step past him but then paused, bringing his shoulder to his, discreetly bringing his lips an inch from his ear as he whispered, "You wish."
Theo couldn't ignore the growing knot twisting near his lower abdomen as he bit back a laugh and turned to follow him towards the giant doors.
"Who are you?" The dubious looking Goblin regarded Theo and Harry wearily with his keys dangling in his grubby little hands.
"I'm your mother, Gunther. Now open the doors." Theo answered, watching as the Goblin nodded happily.
He glanced up to see Draco and Hermione blinking at him.
"Gunther?" Draco asked with a lifted brow as Harry asked just as amused, "His mother?"
Theo shrugged, glancing down at the rather petite Goblin. "Yea— looks like a Gunther. Gunther the Goblin. Ugly little shit, innit he?"
"Actually it's Herbert—"
"Nah, not anymore. It's Gunther." Theo patted the creature on the head and shoved past him to make his way towards the trolly cart.
"Right. Gunther..." The Goblin repeated with a frown.
"What did you do to him?" Hermione asked, following behind quickly as the large doors shut behind them.
"Imperius Curse." Harry explained and at her gasp he just shrugged. "Sort of brilliant really. Probably would have been found out otherwise."
"That's illegal—" Hermione started, but quickly sighed, "I don't know why I'm even bothering. Let's just get to the vault. Where to?"
Draco nodded behind her and they all turned to see the Goblin, Gunther?— Herbert?— waiting on a very sketchy looking trolly cart with just enough room for the four of them. As they edged closer to the trolley, Hermione gasped. Below the cart was an endless pit of moving trolley tracks, some of them shifting directions reminding her of the staircases at Hogwarts.
"Isn't there another way down?" Harry asked, eyeing the never-ending pit that seemed to grow darker and wider the deeper it went down.
"Scared Potter?" Draco asked as he moved to hop on the trolley cart next to Theo.
Harry and Hermione shared a nervous glance before joining them.
"Honestly?" Harry finally answered as the Goblin gripped a lever in the middle of the trolley cart and yanked it towards him. "Yea— a bit."
The cart lunged forward and whatever response Draco was going to say was lost as they dipped down, deeper into the twisting underground levels of vaults. Hermione gripped onto the railing and Harry's arm for support, shutting her eyes as the speed of the trolley and the scenery whipping by her began to give her motion sickness. They continued deeper and deeper and she felt as if the cart may never stop— that was until her body was lurched forward, grateful that Draco was quick to catch her before they both fell over the side of the cart. He steadied her against his chest, and she made the mistake of looking down. Her heart fell to her stomach as she realized they were stopped mid air.
"Why have we stopped?" Draco asked the Goblin.
"It would appear that something isn't working."
"No shit, Gunther." Theo said, glancing nervously around the cart to see if something was stuck in the tracks.
"Uh oh—" The Goblin said as the trolley cart began to vibrate.
They all followed the Goblin's gaze upward and a moment later a flood of water was being released over their heads, drenching them completely. One second Hermione was firmly planted on her feet with Draco's arms wrapped around her and the next she was falling through the air, the dreadful feeling like nothing she had ever experienced before. She gripped her wand tightly in her hand and forced her mind to settle long enough to react.
"Arresto Momentum!" Hermione heard Draco shout the same thing at the exact same moment, and a beat later she felt her body being suspended for a brief second and then thudding to the surface beneath her. She quickly shuffled to her feet, shrugging off the drenched heavy black cloak weighing her down.
Her eyes landed on Harry first, he was helping Theo stand and she was instantly relieved as she saw Draco lifting himself to his feet a few steps away from her. She rushed to his side, smiling despite her racing heartbeat, and helped steady him.
"Quick thinking, Granger."
"You too." She let out a breathy laugh.
"The Thieves Downfall— washes away all enchantments..." Draco said as his eyes roamed down her body. Hermione's entire body warmed as he lingered his sights on the exposed skin of her neck and chest before lifting to her bottom lip firmly tucked behind her tooth.
"What the devil are all you doing down here?" The Goblin was no longer under Theo's curse and was shuffling to his feet, moving away from them and began shouting, "Thieves! Thieves!"
"Fancy another unforgivable, do you Gunther? Imperio." Theo said casually, lifting his wand and Hermione flinched as a bright jet of light landed firmly on the enraged Goblin, who instantly relaxed.
"Hermione you're—"
"Obviously, Potter." Draco said with a roll of his eyes. "Enchantments don't work down here."
A loud animalistic roar vibrated and echoed around them causing them all to go deathly still.
"Was that a dragon?" Hermione asked, slightly awed and terrified all at once.
"Vaults this way." Draco said, nodding towards the winding path in front of them. "Come on."
Draco grew increasingly anxious the longer it took for them to find the correct vault. After several missed turns they finally emerged in front of the guarded vault. No matter how often he was near the size of a beast this large he never quite got used to it. He motioned for the others to stay put and began moving stealthily along the arched stone entry towards the wooden crate a few feet away. The large dragon huffed out a dream induced sigh, causing Draco to falter off balance for a moment, the smell revolting as it was strong winded. Finally he made it to the crate and reached inside for the small rattling instrument and motioned for the others to join him.
"So disappointing... To procure a Ukrainian Humpback to protect her belongings, but keeping the tool to weaken it on display for anyone to use..." Theo mumbled as he reached into the crate and grabbed the other instrument. Noticing Harry's narrowing stare of confusion Theo sighed as he explained, "I expect a higher level of creativity when it comes to my deranged villains, Potter— preferably unhinged to the point of developing a proclivity for ingenuity... If it's this easy, what's the point of having the dragon at all?"
"What are those for?" Hermione asked, suspiciously eyeing the objects in both of their hands as well as glancing nervously at the sleeping beast with a pained expression.
"It's been trained to expect pain when it hears the noise." Draco explained and began shaking the object, and as expected the beast began to stir frantically backing away from them so they could enter the opposite side.
"That's barbaric!" He heard Hermione shout from behind him.
"What were you expecting, Granger?" Theo answered, also shaking his own instrument vigorously. "A swarm of gentle fairies, perhaps?"
Draco continued shaking the instrument until they were all safely within the protected entrance outside of the vaults entry. The dragon blew out a heap of fire as he stopped shaking the instrument, but the heat of it died the moment it reached the invisible barrier before him. Ignoring the racing of his heartbeat he quickly moved through the narrow space to join the Goblin near the entrance, and stopped abruptly as the door that appeared before him was no longer the simple brass door he had remembered from his previous visit. Panic began to overcloud his confusion as his eyes scanned frantically over the door in disbelief.
"Fuck. Fuck— no." He breathed out and reached out to touch the door, just to be sure, just to fucking sure, and he could feel the truth settling over him, weighing him down and he wasn't sure when it happened but he fell to his knees, his short breaths no longer able to be heard as a buzzing hummed between his empty mind.
"Draco— what's wrong?"
"Draco— what the fuck's going on?"
"Malfoy?!"
Their muffled voices eventually entered his consciousness and he turned to see Hermione kneeling beside him, waiting for an explanation.
"It's different— I'm sorry— I thought—" He couldn't finish the sentence. He dropped his head back to look up at the door, the intricate edges sharp and no longer smooth. The lock he knew how to open completely gone.
"Don't tell me you can't get in!" Harry asked from behind him. Hermione shot him a look and Draco didn't even have it in him to respond.
"Draco. Talk to me. What's different?" She asked calmly.
He turned to her and threw his hands up, gesturing at the door.
"The fucking door has been changed! I can't— I don't know how to unlock this. Bellatrix could have changed it to anything— she could have—"
Draco felt the lump in his throat sink into his stomach as a thought struck him abruptly, the old vine whipping forward within his mind. The familiar feeling suddenly unfamiliar as he was certain his labyrinth had completely locked him out. He welcomed the sensation, gripping onto the vine tightly, using every ounce of his magic until he felt his breathing began to falter.
Cissy! You checked it didn't you?
Of course. It's safe within Gringott's I checked it myself.
Holding firmly onto that vine, he shot to his feet and quickly began inspecting the doors again and Hermione moved to his side. He glanced over at her, an odd grin forming on his face, one he was sure that made him look partially insane. He pointed at Harry and then began searching the intricate notches along the new doors.
Harry and Hermione shared a confused glance as Draco continued to frantically search the door. He paused then, turning to lean his back against it and shut his eyes tighter, bringing his hands to either side of his head. The vine was still there, but he couldn't see past his mother's response to Bellatrix, like the vine ended there with the answer he needed on the missing root lost somewhere in the corners of his labyrinth.
"Draco, mate." Theo said then, "Not to sound, you know, concerned or anything, because I'm hardly one to determine what behaviors are considered normal— but, ah, bud, you're acting sort of not, at the moment."
"My mother." He explained, snapping his head up to look at each of them and then landed on Hermione, searching her face, hoping she could help him slow his racing thoughts long enough to find the missing piece he needed. "Weasley's memory—"
Hermione's gaze darted between Harry and Draco for a moment and then realization seemed to spread over her face as her eyes widened and she gripped Draco's arms. She began nodding at him.
"Your mother. She was here."
Draco nodded, a small laugh escaping him.
"You think she changed the locks?"
Hermione furrowed her brow in concentration as she took a step back to examine the door once more.
"Can someone tell me—"
"Just let it play out." Theo murmured to Harry, leaning against the stone archway casually as he watched Draco and Hermione touch the doors rigged surface like prisoners who hadn't seen daylight in years hoping to claw their way up. Harry sighed and moved to join him, leaning on the wall just in front of him, crossing his arms over her chest, huffing impatiently. Theo leaned forward, resting his chin on Harry's shoulder, his fingers idly tracing the curve of Harry's spine through his shirt. "This is nice. We should do this more often."
Harry scoffed, tensing with every light stroke of Theo's feather-light touches, but remained perfectly still.
"You don't agree?" Theo teased, still watching as Draco paused to turn to say something to Granger.
"Breaking into a mad-womans vault guarded by a fire breathing dragon to steal a piece of the man's soul who wants to murder me doesn't really scream romance, no." Harry deadpanned, and then tilted his head towards the Goblins who was standing near their feet, its beady eyes blinking up at them in a daze. "Not to mention the creepy Goblin."
"Gunther's harmless... besides, he just enjoys the tension— the anticipation rising with every moment that passes— Can't blame him, really. Danger around every corner can be extremely—"
"Don't say arousing." Harry pleaded with a groan, making Theo chuckle.
"Fine. I won't." He lifted his chin and leaned back to return to his previous position, his front just a hairs-breath from Harry's back. "You saying it was better anyway."
(meanwhile...)
"Why would she change the locks?" Hermione asked, causing Draco to pause. A moment later he felt her hands on either side of his face, forcing his eyes open. "Draco, what is it?"
"I can't access it. She knew I'd come here— the rest of the memory, it's there— but I can't—"
Hermione studied his frantic expression, his eyes darting in every direction and his mouth turned into a frustrated scowl.
"It's— fuck!" He moved away from her and shut his eyes, bringing the heel of his hands to press firmly into his eyes, forcing himself to concentrate.
An onslaught of colors began to blur behind his eyes, none of them forming an image remotely recognizable as they normally did. He reached for the limp vines. He could feel pressure concaving around the surfaces of his mind. The shock of his chest burning forced his eyes open. He focused on Hermione's face and then settled on her wand outstretched before her, pointed at him.
"I think I know what to do." She said calmly, though her wrist was slightly shaking.
He swallowed, uncertainty filling him as she stepped closer.
"Do you trust me?"
He searched her determined expression, searching for a reason not to and without a moment to reconsider, he nodded.
With the image of Narcissa Malfoy planted firmly in her mind she inhaled a deep breath.
"Legilimens."
Left to right —
Suddenly, Hermione was no longer standing in the damp underground vaults within Gringotts, but standing along a path tucked between two tall hedges. The sun is bright overhead, slightly disoriented she stumbles forward as a blur of something jogs by her. The whisper of a voice echoing within her mind, Draco's voice. Her eyes follow the blur as it comes into focus and she continued to move through the twists and turns of the garden maze. Her guide clearly able to move through the confusing turns with little effort, as if every turn of green hedges did not look the exact same.
She stopped abruptly upon see the memory play out before her. The blur that passed her settled into the form of a slightly younger looking Draco. He moved quickly, a wide grin spread over his features as he joined his mother on a stone bench, startling her. He stretched on his back, laying his head in his mother's lap, extending a black book over his face that she took with a melodic laugh filtering through the air. The brightness to the memory version of Narcissa Malfoy struck Hermione the most. Her usual tight demeanor that she had come to associate with the stoic woman was missing, instead there was a youthfulness to her, a surge of happiness swelled through Hermione and she suddenly realized she was experiencing Draco's emotions from the memory and it was intoxicating and terrifying—
Does this mean you've finished with my present then?
Just open it mother.
Hermione's heart fluttered in her chest at the sound of his usual impatient drawl echoing around her.
Draco— this is... darling, these are beautiful...
Hermione moved forward, hoping to see the drawings he created up close as Narcissa flipped through the journal. Hermione just began to make out the edge of a sketch when Draco sat up, blocking her view, and pressed a quick kiss to his mother's cheek.
Happy Birthday Mother.
As Hermione felt the memory slipping into another, she saw a flash of green vines curling around the memory, yanking the perfect image of Draco and his mother away to be replaced by another scene entirely. Hermione wanted to look away. She wanted to pull out of his mind right then— find another way into the vault— she desperately wanted to— because the next memory felt heavy with guilt and an all consuming fear, her skin felt like she was absorbing every painful emotion that Draco felt as he swayed in the tight grip of two masked Death Eaters. His eyes red-rimmed from tears that hadn't fell yet, his entire body shaking with helplessness—
Hermione moved forward as the sound of his choked breaths ripped through her chest, tearing at the seams until there was nothing left but her struggling pulse in her battered heart. She didn't want to turn around. She didn't want to see what had caused Draco this much pain. She watched as he tried to drop his head, to look away from whatever was attributing to his misery, but each time one of the men yanked his head back to watch. Over, and over, cries of agony filled the room, with each new scream Hermione felt the pieces of Draco's emotions consume her.
Forcing her body to turn she found she no longer had the strength to stand; both she and the memory version of Draco fell to their knees, his arms were still trapped behind his back by the masked men, but Hermione's shaking hands were covering her mouth as a horror-stricken cry begged to be released, though nothing came.
If you wish to keep your mother from enduring any more pain, Draco, then you will vow to me that where your father has failed... You will not.
The sound of Voldemort's demanding hiss was the last thing she heard before the vines returned at began pulling her away from the horrible sight of Narcissa Malfoy writhing on the floor in front of her son, begging him to make it stop.
Upwards Loop —
There was less than a blink of a moment for her to prepare herself for the next vine that lashed out towards her. The emotions of each memory swirled around her, raging, longing, demanding to be felt in full force. She wondered how Draco managed to breath with how suffocated she felt from only experiencing this for moments.
The dreadful feeling of shame and guilt fell away and was replaced immediately by a warmth that pulsed through her like a wave of adrenaline. The stark contrast of emotions giving her whiplash, unable to focus the previous feeling as the next one swallowed her whole.
Two flying blurs whirled past her, darting through the darkening sky as something bounced between them. The sound of a faint, distant laughs rumbled all around her. The two blurs lowered towards the ground, coming into focus, her eyes focusing on the image of Theo and Draco, hardly older then twelve years old, with their brooms tucked beneath their arms. Theo's slightly cracked near one end, causing the wooden handle to swing lazily as he walked.
My father's going to murder me.
Don't be so dramatic, Nott. Just get a new one. Race you to dinner?
Last one there has to sneak into your father's office and swipe his last bottle of Ogden's.
You're on, Nott.
The scenery shifted around her as the two boys took off at a sprint, vines pulling her forward until she was standing in a dark corridor, an anxiousness creeping across her skin. She saw the younger Draco peaking through a cracked door as the sound of a loud crashing on the other side caused him to jump backwards. A movement later, Nott Sr. appeared, yanking the door open. Behind him, Theo lay on the floor struggling to get up. Nott Sr. glared down at Draco, roughly demanding he go home. Draco paused, his gaze flickering from the door to Nott Sr.'s blood stained hand, Theo's broken broom in his other.
Hermione didn't feel the vines turning around her, too consumed with the unsettling feeling bubbling within her chest, as a new scene appeared before her. Her heart thumped frantically in her chest as she watched Draco sneak through Theo's bedroom window. As he creeped forward, she winced as her eyes landed on Theo's sleeping form, a large gash running along the side of his face and a bruise beneath his left eye, blood staining his sheets. Draco moved to sit on the bed, lifting his wand and she watched at the bright red blood stain slowly faded, and the skin cut open along his face began to stitch back together. It was obvious he had very little experience with healing spells, the stitching was sloppy, but it would heal all the same. Hermione watched as Draco reached into his pocket and stood from the bed. He enlarged a shrunken broom, brand new by the looks of it, and he leaned it against the side of Theo's bed.
You needed a better broom anyway.
It took everything in Hermione not to let the tears demanding to escape fall down her cheeks as she watched Draco pause by the window, turning around one last time to look at Theo's sleeping form.
One day we'll make him to pay for every scar he gives you, brother. I promise you that.
As move vines began to shift before her she realized that searching through Draco's mind was different than any. There seemed to be no control over the memories replaying for her, only random collections of the memories with the heaviest impact on his life— the memories that forced him to feel— the memories she imagined he forced himself to suppress in hopes for a moment of peace from his grief and misery.
Right to left —
As if the heaviness in her heart wasn't enough, another round of his emotions began to engulf her and she gasped as the next memory came into focus...
She recognized her too bushy hair and her small frame as she bounced eagerly through the empty bookshop, waving too excitedly at the bookkeeper who grinned back. An embarrassed blush rose to her cheeks as she took in her obvious muggle attire, clearly out of place in such an establishment, though at the time all that mattered was that she get all the books she needed to prepare for the first day of school. She frowned, this was her first visit to Diagon Alley with her parents. She hardly remembered escaping into the bookshop alone, so how could Draco—
Her thoughts were suddenly stopped short as she saw the blur of an 11-year-old Draco scurrying past her, abandoning a book on the steps in his haste to move to the next row of books. She moved to follow him, but then realized he was hiding. She followed his gaze to the stairs to see her younger self slowly scanning the books along the wall as she ascended the staircase. Hermione wanted to laugh as he glared at her younger self picking up his abandoned book, but then he kept watching her— settling into his hiding spot, the corner of his mouth twitching whenever her younger self laughed at something in the book.
She couldn't bring her thoughts to catch up with the array of memories she had just seen, nor could she fathom this being one being real.
As the younger memory Draco moved from his hiding spot, appearing as if he was going to approach her, the bell of the bookshop rang out and she was torn from the light, curious feeling fluttering inside her and thrown into another memory.
Her chest tightened as her own blur of curls came into focus once more, though this time laying in a pool of her own blood. She already knew this memory, she had lived it and she had no desire to watch it play out again. Instead she focused on what Draco was feeling... the emotions he felt as she was being tortured were similar to the feelings he felt when he watched his mother being tortured, though no where near as intense. His Occlumency abilities clearly far more capable to shield him as she bled out before him.
The next several moments appeared in flashes, like brief glimpses into the happenings after Draco decided to save her...
She watched as he lifted her body and took her to his room. His composure never faltering, as if he cared very little if she lived or died. His guarded emotions forcing her to feel his straining effort to bury his emotions until he was completely numb. The feeling terrified her, she had never felt so hallow.
Another flash and she saw him standing stiffly near the door. She remembered this moment, too. She remembered feeling fear, but now a hollowness remained and she hated it. She hated knowing he felt nothing as her world was falling apart. Just as she thought that her own voice echoed around her and the hollowness began to shift—
How often, I wonder, are you sent to revive your families torture victims Malfoy?
Then she was watching herself stand awkwardly in her revealing nightgown after their first real conversation in his room. His eyes were roaming down her body and as she watched the memory with Draco's inner turmoil of emotions pulsing through a flame of desire burned within her. Each time she felt a rush of something that felt good it was numbed just as quickly.
To taste the brief feelings of want to have them torn away seconds later was torture to endure.
Another flash and she watched him tend to her as she slept in his bed only days after passing out from the curse. He worked quickly, but with a gentleness that she would have never imagined he possessed.
An agonizing fury of emotions swirled inside her as he paused and his finger tips moved from the bandage on her forearm...
Confusion and desire were building inside him... He was unable to suppress it the longer he lingered... despite the feeling of someone crushing his chest beneath the heel of their boot, pressing harder with each breath...
Hermione moved to get a better look at his face and was shocked to see him appear completely unfazed by the painful feelings raging within him...
His fingers moved from where they hovered above her jaw and slowly grazed her cheek to push a piece of her hair away from her face. He kept his fingers there, just barely touching her cheek, studying her for only a moment before the need to feel numb himself took over and he tore away from the bed, leaving the room without a glance backwards.
Down —
Hermione took only one breath before she was thrown into another memory.
You've let something weaken you.
She saw Snape repeatedly point his wand at Draco until he was a heap on the floor. Somehow the control on this memory felt weaker than the others, as if they were steadily falling apart the closer she got to the present.
Another flash and the image of Voldemort standing above a kneeling Draco forced the breath from her lungs.
Tell me, Draco, have I given you reason to become... uninspired?
No, my lord.
I thought not.
She felt it then, as a jet of light filtered from Voldemort's wand and crept over Draco's skin, sinking into his veins, she felt all of it; the strengthening of his Occlumency walls, the fear of not being able to keep her safe, his darkest desire to just let it all end, to let Voldemort end him for good so he no longer had to struggle with the battle inside him any longer—
Flick—
The moment Hermione felt herself being shoved out of his mind her vision returned to the present. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest, as her eyes settled on the grey pool of ice looking back at her. Draco's brow was pulled tight. He looked wounded, vulnerable—
Now that the suffocated feeling she felt the entire time she searched through his mind from his constant battle with his emotions was gone she realized just how painful it was to exist inside his head.
She swallowed a shaky breath and took a slow step forward, not sure if she would be able to take it if he pushed her away. She lifted her hand to the side of his face and instantly relaxed the moment he shut his eyes and leaned into her touch.
"Draco..."
His eyes opened and he reached for her hand, removing it from his face and began tracing the pattern as he spoke. "Left to right— upwards loop— right to left—"
"Down— flick— I know, I heard it too." Hermione nodded, and allowed him to step past her towards the door.
The memories revealed what they needed, but certainly not the way either of them had expected. Her mind felt empty and full all at once. She wasn't sure what to make of how he was reacting to her exploring through his mind. He seemed... calm?
She glanced over as Harry and Theo came to join them. Harry was watching her closely and she forced a reassuring smile over her features. Draco searched the door again and now with the code given to him by his mother he easily found the correct notches in the door he needed to place his blood on to release the lock on the vault's doors.
Hermione wanted to linger in the light feeling that washed over her the moment the vault's doors opened and revealed an endless amount of gold and rubies and treasures she would never dream of seeing in real life, but her heart and mind remained heavy with everything she had just witnessed. She felt Draco's fingers reach for hers as she followed them into the vault, pulling her aside as Harry and Theo moved further into the vault. He pinched her chin between his forefinger and his thumb, regarding her closely.
"You're upset."
Hermione wasn't sure why she laughed. Maybe because it was ridiculous for him to worry about her after everything he had been through?
"I had no idea..." She forced the lump in her throat down and tried to clear her throat, "Is it always that difficult for you?"
The corner of his mouth twitched, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Almost always."
"Almost?" She asked hopeful he was able to feel even a moment of relief. "When you sleep?"
"No," his smirk grew an inch as he moved his hand from her chin and wrapped it around the back of her neck, bringing his lips to hers, "—only when I'm kissing you."
Hermione had no choice but to allow herself a moment of getting lost in the warmth of his lips against hers and the spark igniting in the pit of her stomach— not that she needed a choice. She couldn't imagine denying him her kiss under any circumstance— even while in the pits of a Ministry building where they could very well be caught at any moment. Her body arched to meet his as the hands around her neck pulled her closer and she was suddenly reminded of the overwhelming feeling of lust she felt while shifting through Draco's memories. She buried her fingers in his hair, desperate to give him a moment of relief and it was over too soon.
Surprised to find that he was the one to finally pull away she pouted as her eyes opened into his. He laughed, his warm breaths spreading over her skin— and just making things worse for her really—
"I thought it'd be difficult for me to let you see those part of me." There was a rawness to his voice, a subtle hint of pain mixed with relief, what she imaged stumbling upon a diamond before realizing its a diamond would feel like.
"Wasn't it?"
"I can't explain it, but—" He shook his head, dropping it for a moment before lifting it again, "It felt— I don't know? It felt right to let you in. I—" He let out a laugh as he brought his hand to the back of his neck, "—fuck, I sound ridiculous—"
"Only a little." She teased, her heart feeling full as he smiled down at her.
They stood there just smiling at one another for several seconds before Hermione bit her lip and nodded behind her. "We should probably..."
Draco blinked out of whatever daze he was in and cleared his throat, "Um, right— we should— um, look around—"
Hermione turned to begin searching, but paused forcing Draco to steady them both to keep from knocking into her.
"I'm glad you did," She blurted out, a blush rising to her cheeks as she shrugged, "—let me see those parts of you— for what it's worth... I'm glad you let me in."
She would never admit it if anyone ever asked about how they escaped Gringott's on their horcrux hunt years from now, if they escaped, but she kissed him again— No, she wouldn't tell them that this kiss felt like it was the beginning of something more, something deeper, something terrifying to find when their lives seemed so fragile...
As she pulled away, their breaths coming to a slower pace, her eyes fluttered open to find his already open, a smirk stretching over his now wet lips that she found herself thinking about more and more with each passing day. His lips parted and for a split second she panicked, hoping whatever he was about to say wouldn't ruin the perfect memory she was crafting in her mind for her to remember when this was all over. Instead, the corner of his lips twitched and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her so close against him as he brushed his lips against her forehead, keeping them there as his whispered breath trickled over her skin.
"You could admit to me right now that you have every intention to completely break me and I wouldn't stop you. I'd fucking let you." Her chest tightened. She felt his lips tug into a full smile as he let out a breathy laugh, "I think you may have already..."
No... she would save this moment just for them.
A/N: yes, yes, I know... they are on an important *time sensitive* mission, but fuck it all, they deserve a happy moment after all the angst... also, I'm aware this is probably not the best place to end the chapter (like they are literally in the belly of the beast and their impending/potential capture is looming) but hey, inspiration strikes when it strikes and when it doesn't i post what i got or it will be another two weeks until I can force myself to sit down and write enough nonsense for things to start making sense :)
Enjoy and Review lovelies!