One-Way Ticket

Chapter 25: Hermione's Heroics

"I have to go...my student...Lucie, needs some extra homework help this afternoon," fibbed Hermione, picking an old student whom she used to tutor that lived approximately two hours away from their home via train, "surprise test first week back. She just realised and phoned me this morning. Said she hadn't studied all holidays..."

"Oh. I thought Lucie was doing well?" said her mum, though Hermione knew she wouldn't call as Lucie's iron gated complex was far up a windy hill with poor connection and they barely picked up anyway.

"You can always do better," said Hermione, feeling the weight of her wallet, keys, spare jacket and more in her handbag which had one strap clutched precariously in her hand from where it rested on her shoulder. It had taken her a while to pull up the guts to do this, but a visit to Draco was far overdue, and sometimes the situation aged you and made you do more grown up things, like lying for the better good, that she had never done before. Like now. All she wanted was him back home and safe really, and it was worth this risk.

"Oh. I suppose you'll get her an A++," joked her mother, and Hermione forced herself to laugh along, "well. I'll see you later this evening. I daresay you'll be a long time, with her house being 2 or so hours away or something?" she said, still chuckling at her own joke.

Hermione still laughed along weakly. Perfect, just what she needed, unquestioned alias for the next few long hours or so.

She bade goodbye to her mother and arrived at the train station, heart thumping in her chest slightly as she purchased two tickets, a single and a return. She wanted Draco back, car or not. To hell with the car anyway. He was trapped in an unfamiliar place in the muggle world with dangerous people, for far too long, and she was sure he would do the same for her had the roles been reversed.

She caught the first train there, watching the brown rooftops and telephone wires snake by - it was such a long journey across the motorway there. The train went a different way and took slightly longer, though it all felt too soon when she had to step of and try to find Draco's hotel. Luckily he didn't really drive far from the motorway and she was able to recognise it from his text message description, which he sent her earlier this morning when she asked. She felt her heart thudding in her chest again as she located his floor and room number, knocking on the door.

It fell right open in an instant.

"Draco?" she called, relieved to see his form by the bed, he was staring at an empty wallet and looked in distress.

"What's the matter? Something bothering you?" asked Hermione, walking over, just glad she was able to find him.

"That bastard," he said, then straightened up when he saw her, eyes widening. Was it her or did he look recently sobered up? "You're here," was all that he said, glancing behind the doorway a little.

Hermione closed it gently, "And nobody else. I have my parents thinking I'm with Lucie, a student I used to tutor-"

Draco snorted, "Getting better at lying I see."

"I only learn from the best," she quipped, pleased to see he still had a sense of humour about him after the night. He did look a little still in pain, though she couldn't pinpoint where he had been hurt. That would have to be asked later.

"I'm flattered," he said simply.

"So I caught the train here. I've a single ticket for you too...it's good to have you back home. Not lost somewhere..." Hermione swallowed, "The car though...you'd have to leave it..."

"I don't have to. Stolen. It's already gone," said Draco, then a laugh came over him, "and he returned the wallet too. Found it outside my door."

Hermione frowned, "there's an element of the story I'm missing here."

"I have a lot to tell you," he said.

"You can tell me at home. Over a cup of hot chocolate," said Hermione, smiling when Draco caught her grin, "but let's get back home. Save it for then."

"You just want me home," said Draco, a tease to his voice. Was it her or did he seem more light hearted and playful since the nights he was stranded?

She tried to push it out of her mind as she led him out of the hotel room, he didn't have much to pack, as they made their way downstairs.

"I'm not buying a car again for a long time. I think I'm done with them-" he said.

"Good. You took awful care of it," said Hermione.

"How?" he asked, incredulous.

"No parking. Stolen in the end."

"You and I have a different definition of what's good taking care of or not," mused Draco, "I thought I changed the petrol regularly and kept the engine going well, paint job untouched-"

"A broken engine might've done wonders to it being stolen," pointed out Hermione.

"You saying I should have taken out the gas tank or something after I parked it here?" asked Draco.

"And then all you'd need is an accidental fire in your room to be 100 percent done for," said Hermione.

"I just can't win can I..." said Draco, a smile to his face.

"Not when arguing with me," said Hermione, as the pair broke into laughter. She had forgotten how easily he seemed to pull words or conversations from her, especially since he...she paused. She still wasn't a hundred percent sure he was more playful or relaxed since the night so she decided to drop that thought lest it bring about realities too exciting to think of. The receptionist smiled at them as they passed by.

"Checking out dears?" she asked, seemingly unperturbed by the sight of unfamiliar women with hotel suitors.

"Trip got cut short," said Hermione.

"Happens all the time around these places," said the receptionist, punching a few numbers into the computer and taking back the hotel key, "Good day."

"I know you probably don't want the car back, too much trouble and all, but if you wanted to make a police report now is the time..." murmured Hermione as they left the lobby and walked up the street.

"I can't. I had no license in my wallet so I can't prove the car was mine. Probably how he thought he'd get away with it," said Draco.

"He took your wallet?" asked Hermione.

"I tell you. It's a long story," he said, a grin to his face.

"I just can't leave you on your own now can I," she said, as they caught the elevator up to the platform.

"Thanks..." he said, expectantly, and suddenly pulling her close as they walked out of the elevator. A lone breeze ruffled by, the sun was getting ready to begin sinking behind the buildings, a lonely rattle of the train going in an opposite direction harboured the otherwise quiet sphere.

"For...rescuing me. And coming here. I...appreciate it," he finally said, his uncomfortableness with some aspects of the muggle world coming through.

"No need. You would have done the same for me if it were reversed and I spent a summer at your place," she said.

"And I would've thought that more likely than this to ever happen. But it's reversed..." he murmured.

Hermione smiled.

The train suddenly came, slowing to a stop with the wind flickering bits of leaves and dust of the platform. Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and they stepped on the train together, finding seats as the sleek vehicle's lights went on and it began to lazily snake it's way out of the platform, an event only occurring due to everything else that had led up to the very moment, from the accidental portkey, to the bickering at Hermione's house, the lazy days of exploring her muggle suburbia with her by his side, to the heist in the city and now, a rescue trip of sorts spontaneously decided by Hermione on account of a return and a one-way ticket in perhaps more ways than one...