Draco found himself walking hand in hand with the love of his life. How had he ever gotten so lucky? Where did she see the good in him and forgive him for everything, he had ever done to her and her friends. For all the bad that he had said to her. They were walking through the garden, it had become one of her favorite spots to go with him, especially since he did not seem to have the strength for long walks through any of the city streets. He felt the warmth that radiated from her and all he could do was smile and look at the beautiful roses that his mother had been growing and catch sight of a couple of birds that flew past quickly. He felt Hermione give his hand a squeeze and he took to giving her hand a quick squeeze before he stopped and turned towards her.
He found his arms snaking their way around her waist and pulling her close against him. It had felt so right. Hermione's smile just seemed to be infectious and he found himself pressing his lips to hers and when her arms wrapped around his neck he felt her sigh with content and he had just pulled away to look into her beautiful brown eyes when suddenly sounds filled the air like someone apparating all around them. He jerked harder than he meant to and next thing he knew he was no longer in the sunny gardens, but he was jerking himself out of bed to look all around for the source of the sound.
His eyes darted all around the dark room as he felt his heart racing, trying to beat out of his chest. When nothing jumped out at him he turned his attention towards the outside. He peered through the window and let his eyes take in the dark streets down below. He wasn't sure what he was looking for but something had just made him feel terrified. He kept looking for signs of life on the streets and all he could figure out was maybe it had been a weapon. Being in New York there was always the sound of gun fire going off in the middle of the night.
Draco took in a deep steadying breath as his quickly beating heart started to slow down. He walked out of his room and turned on the livingroom lights. He had started to appreciate the small things such as electricity though he sure did seem to miss his old ways. There was just something to hearing the crackle of the flame from either a candle or the fireplace. He loved to smell the smoke that hung in the air as it burned.
He took in a slow steady breath as he set a pot onto the stove and started a batch for a cup of tea. He knew that one way to always calm his nerves was always to have a hot cup of tea. It would sooth him and let him ease back into a sleep. He pulled out a tea bag and set it into a cup and then walked back towards the winows of the living room his steel gray eyes searching for any kind of movement. He could hear sirens in the distance and knew that soon the red and blue lights of the officers would arrive and then they would start their own search.
He hated the city. He sat wishing he could be back at home. There was nothing more he wished for than the quiet nights where the most he heard was the gush of he winds. Where he could look out the window and see the stars. He ran a hand through his unkept hair and was met with a few tangles but kept his eyes out the window as he listened for the whistle of the kettle. Instead he heard the noises of the two men he shared the apartment with and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
His mind went back towards Hermione and the time that they had shared. He missed every second with her and though she had mentioned coming to see him he found himself adamnt on denying her. He would love to have her close and to hold her close to him once more. But he knew that it was just too dangerous to have her here in this part of the world. He had nearly lost her in the first war and he couldn't chance nearly losing her on a second war that she had no part of.
He heard the kettle whistle and he found himself turning from the window just as the flashing lights from the police cruisers turned onto the street down below. He walked over towards the stove and pulled poured himself a generous amount of water into his cup before he let the tea bag start to soak. He glanced over at the sugar cubes and found that he was not interested in them like he normally would have and after a moment of letting the bag soak and dunking he picked up his cup and took a small sip nearly regretting the eagerness of having the tea as his mouth found itself scaulding.
He tried to blow the heat from his mouth and tilted his head back and just took to swallowing the burning hot liquid. He set the cup down and glared at it. He should have known it was too soon but he was trying to calm himself enough and keep his mind busy with other things than the panic that was still right there at the edge of the cliff ready to pull him down along with it. He dug in the cabinet and pulled out a bag of crisps before ripping them open and pushing one into his still burning mouth. Draco looked out the window again before picking up his cup and walking back to his room and glancing over at the desk he had in the corner and saw his unfinished letters along with the ones he had gotten from both his parents and Hermione.
He sat down in the chair and set his bag of crisps and tea down. He picked up his pen and looked over the note he had started for Hermione. Draco shut his eyes and thought back to his dream. He could smell her once more. Feel the warmth of her against him. The sound of the gardens had been so real. He ran a hand through his blonde hair and started to write once more. He wanted to be with her and somehow he just could not bring himself to let her anywhere near this hell since they had already gone through their own battle and with him being so close to losing his own life in this one.
Draco continued to write until he found that the sun was pouring in around him. He needed to flip around his schedule badly. He was supposed to be on the night shift tonight. They were scheduled to patrol this evening. Draco sealed up his letter and set it to the side. He would mail it off before he went out tonight. He soon pulled another scroll of parchment over to himself and started to write his mother. He knew that she worried nonstop over his well being and kept informing him of everything that his father was trying to do to get him back home with a medical leave.
But it felt like forever now. They had been going for months now fighting each step of the way. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and finally gave up. He folded the bag of crisps over and leaned back running his hand in his hair before gripping the ends of it. He needed rest. He had to be on top of his game this evening. He pushed himself up from his seat and walked two steps towards his bed before falling ontop of it. He gave a loud yawn and pulled the blanket up over himself before he shut his eyes and found himself asleep in moments, ignorning the fact that the sun did nothing but try to keep him awake with the brightness that flooded through.
"Terror Strikes New York" Hermione glanced at the title. Her eyes went to the pictures and she saw apartments torn apart, lit on fire. People lying in the streets, some running and screaming. Her brown eyes raked over them before she started to read through the piece that the Prophet had decided to share with them.
'With the continuing war in the United States late Friday evening an area known as the Bronx was found under attack once more by the opposing side, that claim themselves to be freelanders. Much like the Death Eaters, followers of You-Know-Who they claim to follow just one leader and that they will claim the whole of the states as their own and make sure that Magic is the one powerful race.
The attack took out close to half of the bourough out and left thousands injured, hundreds dead, many are still missing as a large search is in place to look through the fallen buildings to find loved ones.'
Hermione pulled her eyes from the paper. Her heart was racing and she could feel the anxiety racing through her. Narcissa and Lucius had yet to come down for breakfast and she found the internal struggle as she felt the panic going through her much like last time. Was he okay? She had just gotten his letter right before the Daily Prophet hit the table and now she couldn't control herself as she shook from head to foot. The nausea was pushing its way through as she gripped the paper and looked over towards the door.
Hermione stood up on shaking legs and started towards the door. Would either of them be upset if Hermione had gone up towards their room? She had not gone off towards their side of the manor yet but she had a bit speaking in her mind telling her they'd be okay. Especially with news of what was going on right now. She hesistated only a second longer before her mind was made up. She took off racing towards the area that she knew was Narcissa and Lucius' bedroom. She hurled herself up stairs two at a time feeling her heart thunder in her chest.
She turned right on one of the hallways and came to a halt half way down and stared at a large. She was breathing hard. Her lungs were trying to pull air into them and her mind was turning to every worst in the book and she felt tears finally stinging her eyes. She raised a fist to the door and gave a loud knock. Hermione tried listening hard but her gasping for air and shaking from head to toe. She kept the paper clutched in her hand and she raised her fist and started knocking again only for it to be ripped open midknock to look up at Lucius in a black silk robe.
It was nearly instant. He looked confused for a second but she noticed what little color was in his face drained as he glanced at the paper in her hand and saw the tears in her eyes. "Lucius?" She heard Narcissa ask and it took every bit of her not to break down as her shaking hand reached out and held the paper to her soon to be father in law. But he did what she had least expected. He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. Hermione tried to keep herself together and no longer gasping for air decided it best to hold her breath to keep everything in.
She heard Narcissa rushing over towards them and she felt the paper being taken out of her hand and she shut her eyes tight as she felt the tears running down her cheek as she felt Lucius looking over towards the paper his wife had shaken free. There was a soft gasp from Narcissa and she felt one of Lucius' arms come from her and felt the shift of weight as his other arm had wrapped around his wife. Hermione gripped Lucius' robes and felt the hot tears still rolling down her cheeks as she tried to control herself. They hadn't heard anything. It wasn't like it was Draco. But he was too close to the area.
"I have to find out." Narcissa was saying and Hermione opened her eyes and pulled her face away from Lucius' robe to look at her. She was gripping onto Lucius and looking up at him. "I need to make sure he was safe from all of this." Lucius made a small noise and lead them both over towards the bed before he sat with them both. "Calm down. We know of nothing yet. But I need to go and speak with a few people." Lucius did not move from his spot as both women seemed paralyzed.
Hermione kept her hands wrapped in his robes as she tried to pull air into her lungs. To make her mind focus instead of rushing into all the worst possible scenarios. She felt the soothing touch of a hand over her back and she tried to keep the tears from falling. "Who are you going to see? I should go with you." Narcissa started at once. Lucius silenced her. "No. I want you here. Both of you. Just incase someone comes up with something and tries to get us here." Hermione watched as Narcissa bit her lip and give the smallest nod.
Hermione felt Lucius start to move and made herself sit up right, her hands moving from his robe. She seemed at a complete loss of what to do. Someone had been holding her and keeping her from losing control. She felt his hand slide from her back and watched as he walked off towards a rather large closet. Hermione looked at her hands and gripped them together tightly to try and get them to stop shaking. Her eyes took in the ring on her left hand and she felt the pain intensify of not knowing. But her mind changed as she watched a hand come in and grasp hers. Hermione looked up into Narcissa's face and saw the woman smiling just barely.
"How about some tea?" Tea? Hermione didn't know if she could stomach anything right now. But it would give her something to do with her hands. She found herself nodding. "I…I think that would help." Narcissa looked very pale and the woman seemed to be pulling on a much braver face than she herself could muster.
Hermione allowed herself to be pulled up off of the bed and found herself arm in arm with Narcissa being lead back through the manor. It had only taken a short moment before they were in the kitchen and Narcissa was sitting with her. The elves had jumped to the simple request of tea and ran for bicuits and carried over a pot with two cups. She picked up a spoon and started to add sugar to it. They both sat in silence as she to drink slowly.
They both sat drinking. Both waiting trying to figure out what to do other than panic or voice their worry amongst each other. Lucius had only poked his head in to say he was off and gave Narcissa a quick peck before he took off. They were left alone to wait and see what would come to them. Someone would speak to Lucius or someone would have common sense to send an owl. Something would come to them.
(So my computer decided to hate me for a bit and after a couple little repairs it seems to have done some good. Sorry for a little more angst on this chapter. Let me see where it can end up come the next one)