However You Wish
Chapter 8
The day after Draco had secretly sent his letter, he had been anxious all day. He paced the perimeters of the Burrow, jumping at every rustle of wind or crunch of leaves. Even Molly noticed he was on edge when he cut himself with a peeler just as she called him to carry some clean laundry outside for her.
The sky was a beautiful pink and ruby hue when he went to round up the hens for the night. Walking into the coop, he spotted a small brown envelope placed where the hens would have laid their eggs.
Realising that the letter he had been expecting had arrived, he breathed a sigh of relief as his fingers smoothed across the paper. Quickly scanning the place to check he was alone, he ripped open the envelope.
So happy to hear you're fine. Take care of yourself wherever you are. I know your father is hunting you down. He questioned me a few weeks ago but I think I was able to misdirect him.
Since you're caged in some pigsty, I'll find out what I can about that woman. Expect Hermes to leave you some post in the same place.
B.Z.
Draco incinerated the letter with his wand and finished his task of putting his girls to sleep. He felt marginally better now that Blaise was out there helping him with one of his dilemmas. Locking up the chicken coop and casting a protective charm around it, he went back to the Burrow feeling more relaxed.
Pansy accepted the cup of tea from Narcissa as they sat opposite each other in the drawing room. They exchanged short polite formalities as they waited for the third member of their party to arrive. Pansy smiled at Narcissa as she focused on staying calm and poised. The invitation to this meeting was sent to her a few days ago and a part of her worried the wedding would be called off.
Lucius entered the room shortly. Pansy thought he was still rather handsome, which reassured her that Draco would be too in his autumnal years. She stood to greet him.
"My dear, Pansy. You don't have to get up for me," he said to her as he leant in to drop a kiss on her cheek.
Lucius placed himself next to Narcissa and Pansy sat up a little taller, taking up as much space as possible for this rather formal meeting.
"Thank you for meeting with us," Narcissa said.
"Anything for you, Narcissa and Lucius. I think we are rather close," Pansy suggested.
Lucius nodded at her.
"We are interested to hear more about your encounter at Diagon Alley the other day. Could you tell us in detail what had happened?" he asked.
Pansy had explained briefly in a letter about what she overheard outside the joke shop. But here she was given the opportunity to spare no detail as she recanted her story to her future in-laws.
"Even though it is very unlikely Draco would ever consort with the Weasleys, I believe that family may have come into contact with him." she concluded.
Lucius and Narcissa nodded along with her and thanked her for the information.
"We also have another question," Lucius began. "What do you know about the author Rose de Bois?"
Pansy was startled and felt her cheeks heat up at the question.
"I know more about her work, but very little about the author in person," Pansy answered. "She's supposedly very secretive and on the day of Draco's… flight, it was her first ever book signing. She doesn't do interviews with Witches Weekly or the Daily Prophet. Some of her fans believe she's Belgian or even Swiss."
"Do you know anything about her life before her writing career?" asked Narcissa.
Pansy shook her head.
"She said to the fan before me that she was once in a dull desk job, but gave no specifics."
She noticed the way the couple glanced at each other before Narcissa offered more tea to everyone. Pansy wondered what the connection was with Rose de Bois to warrant it coming up in their conversation about Draco.
Lucius asked, "Would your parents be willing to have dinner with us next week? We have much to discuss."
Pansy smiled sweetly at him. "I'm sure they would be honoured to."
Their conversation stayed on lighter topics and Pansy could sense that their meeting was about to come to a close.
"Thank you Mr and Mrs Malfoy for the delightful afternoon," she said after placing her cup down.
"Before you deprive us of your company, we have something for you," Lucius said, standing up and taking something out of his robes pocket.
Lucius placed a small vial in her outstretched hand. It had been several years since Pansy had sat in a potions class, but the clear liquid contained within the cool glass was instantly recognisable. Veritaserum.
"We are having difficulty with Mr Zabini," explained Lucius. "He's not being very… cooperative with our search for Draco."
Pansy swallowed, finally understanding why they invited her round for tea.
"It would be most helpful for our family if you could convince him to talk," Narcissa added as the older woman stood to grasp Pansy's arm.
She glanced between stern silver eyes and sapphire blue ones. She beamed brightly at them, hiding her nerves.
"Leave it to me," said Pansy reassuringly as she placed the vial securely in her purse. "The things we do for our family."
The couple smiled back and saw her out at the door. Pansy held her cheery expression until the gates at the edge of the estate closed behind her. She let out a heavy sigh and Apparated away.
Hermione didn't wait to brush off the soot from her hair or clothes when she landed in the Burrow's fireplace as she rushed towards the kitchen. She arrived in a crowded room of worried Weasleys. Ron, George and Harry were there. Arthur was trying to soothe Molly as she wept into a bright handkerchief.
"Is she at St Mungo's?" she asked Harry, noting how pale he looked.
"They sent Ginny straight there after her fall," he replied.
"How the hell did someone manage to throw a hex at her during the middle of a match without being caught?" George asked.
"Robards has a team of Aurors scouring the pitch now trying to find the bastard, but St Mungo's won't let any of us stay there until she's out of the operating theatre," added Ron.
Hermione chewed her lip nervously, her eyes scanned the room until it landed on the tall blond standing by the doorway. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. In her panic, she almost forgot that he was living here.
"We may be waiting for a while, so I'll put the kettle on," she suggested. She squeezed past everyone as they too started to make their way into the living room.
She began to fill the kettle with water when the cupboard opened and mugs clanked against each other. Turning around, she blinked twice as Draco laid out fresh mugs on a tray. Her throat tightened as she focused her attention on the kettle, the water slowly filling it to the top.
"This is my fault," Draco said, breaking the silence between them.
"Don't be ridiculous," she argued. "Quidditch fans do all sorts of crazy things." She started the kettle and reached for the teapot at the same time as Draco did.
They both flinched and Hermione grabbed the pot. Draco reached for her shoulders, giving her no option but to stare into his hardened steel eyes.
"They don't send people suffering from normal hexes to St Mungo's. Whoever that was, they are more than just an aggressive Quidditch fan. I think..." He paused to swallow. "They're sending me a message, that they're onto me."
"But that doesn't make sense, if your family is trying to send you a message, why would they attack Ginny?" she argued.
"I don't know why, maybe they know she's somehow linked to my disappearance," Draco contemplated. Hermione's mouth fell in disbelief, wanting to argue that it can't be possible, but Draco beat her to it.
"Granger, you and I know they are capable of doing something like that to anyone." His eyes gazed down at her right arm, the one inflicted with a horrible scar.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "For all of this and what my family did to you. My father isn't exactly like Aunt Bella but he's capable of being just as terrible."
Hermione fought back the burning sensation in her eyes. Blinking furiously and turning away so that he couldn't see her face.
"We will do whatever we can to keep you safe." she said, whilst busying herself by spooning tea leaves into the teapot.
"Maybe I should leave. They probably know I'm here."
"Don't be silly," Hermione argued.
"You're not listening to me, Granger. My father will hunt me down—"
"They can't possibly know. Kingsley sent you here because he knew the least likely people who would help you are the Weasleys. Your family would have to think you're a changed man in order to believe you are under their roof."
Draco cocked an eyebrow at her and Hermione wished she could take those last words back. Why was it so hard for her to admit that the Draco Malfoy before her, the one she has gotten to interact with these past few weeks, wasn't the same teenager at school?
"What I mean is, you could have used your own personal wealth, connections and intelligence to hide from your family. Yet here you are. You trusted that we would keep your location safe. I can't speak for the rest of the Weasley family but I wouldn't compromise your safety. So please," Hermione asked. "Please stay."
He cocked an eyebrow at her but said nothing more, moving away from her to reach for milk and sugar.
"Before you go," he pulled a small envelope from his back pocket and placed it on the counter. "Please, can you pass this on."
Hermione tucked it away as the kettle began to whistle. They hurriedly finished making tea and carried everything wordlessly to the living room.
It was way past midnight by the time Hermione got home. She was exhausted from sitting around waiting and then rushing to the hospital. When they arrived, Ginny was thoroughly sedated from sleeping draughts. Molly was besides herself and only with a lot of persuasion did the mother return to the Burrow. Despite the long day Hermione was wide awake in her living room, staring at the small letter that she had placed on the coffee table. Conflicted between the feelings of fear to open the letter and anxiousness to know it's contents. Her pen name was written neatly in cursive script. Taking a deep breath, she picked it and ripped it open to read.
Dear Rose,
Your letter filled me with such hope. To feel your care in your words, to smell the edges of the paper where your perfumed wrist had smudged across.
You ask about my future plans once I'm no longer under Aurors' protection. During the war, I never thought I would live to see adulthood. But since then, I have given it some thought and fancy myself as a potioner's apprentice . I would enjoy creating potions for St Mungo's and for those who need it. In whatever spare time I can, I would travel, see the sights and meet people of different cultures and backgrounds. I want to be with someone special and perhaps we could raise our children. They would know they are safe, loved and they can be friends with anyone they want.
Those are my dreams but I'd like to know more about you. I'm sure there are many people who ask how you started your career as an author and why did you start. But is there anything else in the world that you want to do?
Hermione mentioned you were at Hogwarts in Ravenclaw a few years before us. Did you enjoy your time at school?
Forgive me if it comes across as forward or mad, or a mix of both but I am incredibly taken with you. You told me when we met that love is indiscriminate . Perhaps I will start to come round to your point of view.
Even in the trapped position that I am in now, I think of you all the time. I envision your face beaming with a warm radiance when you smile. I think of your dulcet voice which reads to me.
I'm thankful for your friend Hermione who has allowed us to connect, no matter how slow this process may be. Please do not tell her I have said this about her, because we were not on good terms before. She is too proud as it is now, I wouldn't want her to get any ideas.
I look forward to your next letter. I hope one day, we can speak in person and once you have gotten to know me better. The opportunity will arise for me to prove I am the man for you.
Yours forever and a day,
Draco Malfoy
Hermione's hands shook as she placed the letter down. Her head reeled with the information, with the new perspective of the blond she couldn't stop thinking about. Lying down on the sofa, she curled up into a ball and let out a shaky sigh. She wondered how she allowed herself to make such a big mistake like falling in love.