March 2002
Two weeks — that's how long Draco had watched Hermione from a distance. Sometimes he swore it felt longer.
He packed his bags one day, wrote to his secretary that he'd be out of town for an indefinite amount of time, and then went to London. Draco found a room in the Leaky Cauldron — it was cheap, and it'll be the last place his friends would look for him — and he started on his plan.
He didn't want to leave without announcement, he didn't want to do this plan alone but his head was a mess, and it'll probably get messier if everyone was swarming around him.
Besides, he needed to clarify his suspicions. He needed to know that Hermione really didn't know who he was any more; this was something he needed to do alone.
So for the next two weeks, he watched her.
Every morning, he'd wake up at the crack of dawn, eat whatever the Leaky Cauldron had to offer, and would go to Ollivanders and watch from the window until Hermione arrived for work. Ollivander was either too scared of the stranger to tell him off or too old to mind, that's why he let Draco stake-out from his shop. Though the wand maker had tried to strike a conversation ("Mister, do you want some biscuits?" or "Sir, perhaps a seat will make you more comfortable,") he eventually gave up after Draco refused all of his offers.
Once Hermione passed by Ollivanders, Draco would move to Whizz Hard books that sat beside the Daily Prophet. He'd wait there, read a book or two until he'd see Hermione hours later to go out for lunch. He'll follow her to the place she'd eat in, sit at a table obscured from her view, and wait for her to finish. Once she finished eating, he'd go back to the bookshop and wait until she left. He'd follow her then to the Leaky Cauldron where she floo-ed home and then repeat the process the next day.
Despite doing that every day, Hermione had never once glanced his way. He had even thought to sit at the table beside hers when she was eating with the Ravenclaw seeker he forgot the name of, but even then Hermione didn't pay him attention.
He had done that for two weeks, wanting to give up, but one day, Hermione had finally noticed him — only it wasn't how he wanted it to be.
As Draco was following Hermione back to the Leaky Cauldron she suddenly turned a corner — something she had never done before. He stopped a block away, waiting for her to emerge.
Draco couldn't hear her; he wondered if she had apparated. He turned the corner to see if she was still there but the next thing he knew, he was being thrown to the wall.
He groaned and looked down to see Hermione looking up at him, one hand on his collar pushing him to the wall. She had her wand out and aimed at his throat. Draco wanted to ask how she managed to pin him to the wall but just settled that she was probably using magic.
"Who are you and why are you following me?" Draco felt his heart constrict as he confirmed what he already knew. Feeling defeated, he let his head fall down. . With his head down, he saw Hermione's pendant — the one he gave her during her birthday — and noticed the small peacock patronus walking around the little vial. The ropes around his heart seemed to tighten, but he felt a small surge of happiness that Hermione still used his gift despite not knowing who he was.
He felt the wand on his neck dig into his skin deeper.
"Answer the question," Hermione said through gritted teeth. Draco didn't answer, instead he looked at her and then started reading her mind. It wasn't long before Hermione realized what he was doing, but instead of blocking her mind, she pushed herself away instead.
"I don't know who you are, and I don't know what you want from me but if I see you around me again, I wouldn't let you get away this easy," Hermione threatened before apparating away.
Draco stood there for what seemed like forever. His mind was reeling and his heart was aching. Finally, getting back to his senses, he took three small breaths and started to walk to the Leaky Cauldron deciding that it was finally time to go home.
Draco didn't understand why this felt painful. He'd been forgotten by his mother, by his best friends, by all the people he had grown up with; he and Hermione had only been friends for a while. Why did her not remembering him matter so much?
Draco entered the house, the silence finally sinking in. He had lived in this house alone before he had met Hermione but now that she was gone, everything suddenly felt wrong. His feet dragged themselves towards the bedroom Hermione occupied. Her books were scattered all around the room — at the bedside table, on the window sill, on the shelf beside the door. Her jumper was draped on the chair. Most of her clothes were still inside the closet. He grimaced. Hermione had only been there a year and still the room felt like it was hers already. Draco glanced towards the bed and found himself snickering. Her bedsheets were gold and maroon. She was such a Gryffindor. He thought.
Draco swallowed a lump in his throat. The room smelled like her. He'd been around Hermione a lot the past year to know already know her scent and that same smell occupied the whole room as if she was still there.
But she wouldn't be, not any more.
Draco found himself angry. He screamed again and again until he felt his throat go sore, and he started throwing things around the room in outrage.
This was his fault and no one else.
He should've looked for her the minute she stopped responding to his letters; he shouldn't have been so confident she'd return to him.
But beyond all the anger, Draco felt an overwhelming amount of grief, realizing that the only person he felt a sense of normalcy with was gone.
It took him about an hour before he calmed down. The room no longer looked like hers. Her books, with ripped pages, scattered the floor. Her maroon sheets ripped apart. The clothes still hung inside the closet — Draco couldn't touch those.
He heard footsteps outside, but he didn't acknowledge it. Instead, he sat in the middle of the room looking at what he'd done. Now, the only place in the house that reminded him of her was gone too — even that he couldn't preserve.
Draco heard the footsteps stop outside the open door.
"Mate, are you alright?" Blaise's low drawl didn't make him better.
"Hermione doesn't remember me." Draco said; he sounded broken like that was something he had always been scared of — like Hermione not knowing who he was, was the one thing he wished wouldn't happen.
It sounded so unlike Draco that Blaise had to step around the room to confirm that it was actually Draco Malfoy he was talking to.
Once he knew this was his friend, Blaise said, "We know." Draco looked up, his stare asking how they knew.
"Daphne told us about bumping into Hermione in Diagon Alley, and she was so confused that Hermione didn't seem to remember her. We assumed that she might have been given Advena." Theo appeared behind Blaise, and looked around the room in shock. He turned to Blaise then to Draco who was sitting on the floor looking like he had thousands of things to say.
"Did you do all this?" Theo asked. Blaise shook his head, whispering that it wasn't time for those kinds of questions. Theo swallowed, and stood beside Blaise.
"Draco, we could always give her an antidote," Theo said, he meant it to be comforting. Draco gulped down and stood up. He was feeling extremely sensitive but that wasn't any cause to make his friends worry. He dusted himself and looked at both of his friends. "How long will that take?" Draco asked trying to keep a steady voice.
Theo shook his head, "We haven't procured any of the ingredients. It might take us at least three months for a new batch of antidote." Theo bowed his head as he admitted the truth. Hermione wouldn't be able to get the antidote until the first batch roles in. She'll get it at the same time as all of London. Blaise looked like he was about to say something but Draco interrupted.
"Then what's the point?" Draco murmured.
"If we can just be patient —" Theo started.
"She was here at the beginning, and she should be here when we see it until the end. What's the point of continuing all of this when she doesn't even remember contributing to any of this?" Draco inhaled a few breaths before turning away to all of her friends. Theo stared at Blaise not knowing what to do.
"I have to tell you both something," Blaise started but no one seemed to pay him any attention. Draco walked towards the living room followed by Theo.
Theo might not have been as unspoken as his friends but out of the three of them, he was the most optimistic — at least to the extent that their collective optimism went. He kept thinking of something to do — he can haul the ingredients from the reserve again, tell Weasley's wife that it was for Hermione or….
"Astoria," Theo whispered. "The antidote. I gave it to Astoria just before I went to Narcissa's. If we're lucky, she might not have drunk it yet," Theo stated.
Draco didn't even say anything. He was on his feet and was already flooing towards Astoria's place before Blaise and Theo can even register what he was doing.
Theo cursed and followed Draco through the floo. Blaise groaned, muttering, "But I have the antidote."
Sighing in defeat, he followed his friends.
Daphne had just finished her lunch in the study (Astoria had Pansy over, and she didn't want to bother them) and was heading towards the library when she heard the floo turn on. She didn't need to check who it was because a minute later, Draco was already storming out of the library screaming for Astoria. He looked furious and desperate and Daphne knew this wasn't a good sign.
"Hello, Draco," Daphne said calmly. Draco ignored her greeting and insisted on seeing Astoria.
Daphne looked around eyeing the door to the dining room subtly, "I can take you to her but could you please explain what you're doing here."
Draco groaned. "I just need to see her okay?" He tried to walk pass Daphne, but she kept blocking his path. Draco looked even more furious now.
"Draco, can you please calm down?" Daphne said. She then placed an invisible barrier between her and Draco because it was getting harder to keep him from storming the dining room. Daphne didn't know what Astoria did this time, but she wasn't about to let some angry man just attack her; that was what Draco looked like he was about to do.
Draco was insistent. He kept pushing through the barrier, and it was getting difficult for Daphne to keep him at bay, "Why are you even looking for Astoria?" Daphne asked.
"I need something from her," Draco answered. "I need to see her now," he commanded. "Well whatever it is you need from her can wait, she's with a guest," Daphne said crossing her arms in front of her.
"Daphne," Draco drawled but was interrupted by someone walking out of the library.
"Draco, mate. Let's be rational for a while," was the first thing Blaise said. He tried to walk forward and stand beside Daphne to join her in staring Draco down but was blocked by the barrier.
"You placed a barrier?" Blaise asked.
"I'm sorry, but he looked like he wanted to attack Astoria and I need to know why he's so insistent in looking for her," Daphne said. "And if that's means nobody gets through then so be it," she added. Theo staggered confidently out of the library, complaining that Draco and Blaise didn't have to leave him inside, only to fall ungracefully on the floor upon hitting the barricade.
Daphne stared at Theo in shock, "What are you doing here so soon? I thought you were at Narcissa's?"
Theo stood up massaging the back of his shoulders. "We're looking for Astoria," Theo answered. Daphne released and exasperated sigh and asked, "Why is everyone looking for Astoria?"
"Who is looking for me?" Daphne turned around to see her sister walking out of the dining room. This caused her concentration to waver and for the invisible barrier to come down. Draco would've immediately cornered Astoria if it wasn't for the other two men holding him back.
Daphne released a silencing charm across the room and pointed her wand at Draco. "Okay," she started, "I want you all to catch your breaths and meet me and my sister in the study. If you don't like this arrangement, then get out of my house," Daphne threatened. She smiled, tucked her hair behind her ears and walked towards the study for Draco and the rest to follow.
When they entered a few seconds later they already saw Daphne instructing some elves to bring up some tea. She sat down on one of the wing backs forcing the three men to sit on the sofa. Astoria sat on the arm of the chair that Daphne was sitting on.
"What do I owe the pleasure?" Astoria started. Her eyes gleamed as she glossed over Draco but settled on Theo. Daphne rolled her eyes at her sister. "Remember the gift I gave you earlier?" Theo said.
"The skincare potion?" Astoria asked. Both Draco and Blaise stared at Theo as if wanting to ask what she meant by that but Theo ignored them, "Well, silly me, I realized I switched the labels of that one with a swelling potion," Theo excused, "Is it possible to have it back. I'll give you a new set once I get back to my office." Astoria immediately nodded looking appalled at the prospect of having mistakenly using a swelling potion.
"It's in the dining room," she said, rising up from the chair,"I'll just go get it."
Daphne knew Theo well enough to know when he was lying. He had a nervous habit of wiping his palms on his trousers which was exactly what he was doing as he was talking to Astoria up to the moment she left. Theo turned toward Daphne when Astoria had gone; Daphne gave him a knowing smile.
"A swelling potion?" Daphne asked in disbelief.
"Yeah. A client had asked some for their plants. They said they were competing in a muggle competition involving farming," Theo stammered out - the wiping continued. "Really? And you just placed it beside skin potions causing you to mix it up?" Theo's face fell now knowing where in his little lie he made a mistake. All potions that went out from his company is arranged via purpose and Daphne was the same person who maintained that organization. Theo smiled awkwardly trying to think of an excuse but before he can defend himself (or humiliate himself further), Astoria walked back with nothing in her hands.
"It's not where I left it," she said looking extremely worried.
"Are you sure you didn't misplace it?" Daphne asked. Astoria shook her head, "I remember after breakfast when Theo came around I placed it on the top shelf, just beside the champagne glasses. I brought it down just before lunch and put it on top of the kitchen counter, so I'd remember to bring it up once we were done eating, but I heard you arguing outside, so I went to check and saw all of you there," Astoria explained.
Daphne called the house-elves and asked them if they saw the gift Astoria had left in the dining room. The younger witch started explaining the size and colour of the box and the elf just looked at them knowingly, "It was taken by the other missus in the room with Mistress Astoria — says Mistress Astoria gave it to her," Astoria looked wide-eyed and stared at her sister.
"Get out," was the only thing Daphne said to her sister. Astoria looked sorry. She kept opening her mouth for an explanation but Daphne just waved her off. Sighing, she walked out of the room. Daphne locked the doors and warded the room so that Astoria won't be able to hear what they were talking about.
"Astoria was with Pansy," Daphne explained looking at the confused looks of everyone. "Why would Pansy want to steal a box of skin-potion? From your company?" She added looking at Theo.
Without anyone else to turn to, Theo blurted out the truth, "It's an antidote, actually."
"For what?" Daphne asked.
Theo sighed and looked at his two friends. Draco signalled him to continue, so he did, and he told Daphne everything.
"During the early months of last year, someone polluted the air with a memory potion." Theo started, "This memory potion caused everyone in Great Britain to forget about Draco and everything about him — his family, our relationship with him," Theo said. Daphne scoffed, "What relationship?" Daphne asked.
"He's one of your best friends, Daph," Theo claimed. Daphne looked at Draco warily and then back at Theo. "That's quite a statement, Theo. I mean I like his company, but I've only met him last year." There was sadness in Daphne's voice as if she couldn't believe that she'd even be capable of forgetting a friend; she refused to believe that Draco had been her friend before she met her last year..
Blaise removed a picture from the back of his pocket and passed it to Daphne. It was a picture he kept around for a while in case any of his friends ask about their relationship with Draco. Daphne looked down at the picture and found herself smiling. She remembered this day — the day she confessed to Theo Nott a few days after the Battle of Hogwarts. They were all worn out, their families being convicted and everyone was so afraid where they'll be taken that's why Daphne took it upon herself to confess to Theo, before it was too late.
She remembered Blaise's haughty grin and Tracey's teasing. Pansy was passing around her purse telling them to pay up because she won the bet on who'd be the one to confess. Blaise was the one who asked for them to take a photo because that day was just too memorable not to remember. Daphne had that memory, every moment of it, embedded in her mind but as she looked at the photo Blaise gave her, suddenly the memory she remembered felt false. The photo in her hand had Draco standing in the middle with his arms around both Daphne and Theo; she didn't remember him being there.
Her heart lurched. She looked up to see Draco but the wizard had his head down as if waiting to be tried, to be accused of something. How hard must it have been for him? She thought.
"That's what the antidote is for — for the potion that erased our memory of him," Theo explained further when Daphne had nothing to say. Daphne held on to the photo compelling herself to remember the memory she was told she forgot.
"And you planned to give it to Astoria?" Daphne asked. Theo nodded, "But now we're planning to give it to Hermione. Apparently someone slipped her the potion this past few days. She doesn't remember who Draco is." Theo explained. Daphne nodded.
"It's Pansy," Blaise said. "She works with Hermione. It's easy to contaminate her coffee, her quill, or spray her with Cologne de Advena. She probably knew we were brewing the antidote. We need to find her," Blaise commanded. Everyone but Draco nodded in agreement. He was still sitting down, looking as if he was mulling something. "Our rift with Pansy was because of me," Draco said slowly, "Why had you not been friends of her if you don't remember who I am?" Daphne swallowed.
Theo turned to her and wondered the same thing. When he didn't remember Draco, the memory of why he wasn't friends with Pansy was because Daphne isn't but now that he had her memories back, it didn't make sense that Daphne doesn't remember her. Draco stared her down asking for an explanation.
"I just hadn't," Daphne said slowly. "I remember her arguing with all of us and then one day, we just stopped being friends." Daphne explained. "I never asked questions because it just seemed real." Daphne said.
Draco now felt confused. They might have found the antidote, but it was stronger than any of them have realized. Even with the antidote, they still didn't understand the power the potion actually had. They needed to find Pansy.
"Let's find her then. I need an explanation," Draco said standing up. Daphne released the wards around the room before allowing them to go. They planned to go to Draco's house first then talk there. Theo and Blaise passed the fireplace first. Before Draco could go, Daphne stopped him. "I want to go with you," Daphne said. Draco tried to refuse but finding no reason why he nodded. He let her go through first then followed after her.
When Blaise and Theo got out of the fire they were frozen on the spot as if they couldn't find themselves to move. That's how Draco and Daphne found them when they arrived at his home. Daphne had to strain her head to look through both Blaise and Theo's shoulder to see what was happening. Draco though looked paler than usual.
"You know despite her not remembering you, your floo network is still set up in her flat."
Pansy was sitting on one of the chairs, holding a box in one of her hands. Theo recognized it as the box of antidotes he gave Astoria. Seeing what Theo was staring at, Pansy smiled.
"Impressive Theodore. I didn't think you'd be able to brew it," Pansy said haughtily. "You weren't the best student in potions as far as I remember."
Daphne clutched Theo's hand as Pansy said this. Theo had always been insecure not excelling in potions in Hogwarts despite it being one of his favourite subjects — that's why he worked hard to get to where he is now. Pansy smirked and placed the box of antidotes on the table beside her. She then removed a vial from inside the pocket of her coat.
It was just a small vial but the way Pansy handled it made them all realize what it was — Advena.
"This was such a difficult potion to brew. I tried but despite perfecting my O. in the fifth year in potions this was a challenge for me. Though of course when you had the bidding of the famous potioneer family — the Haywoods — it became easier," Pansy stated. She had an annoying smile on her face as if she was enjoying the show she was putting on. The audience didn't seem as happy.
"You planted Alexander Haywood in Granger's life." Blaise remarked. No one had moved from their spot. It felt like they were all glued to where they were standing. Add to that the uncertainty of what Pansy would do in case they crossed her.
"O for outstanding," Pansy expressed, "He never knew of course. The sisters helped me willingly — as willing as they can get with a death threat on the line — but Alexander needed a little persuasion."
"You imperio-ed him?" Theo asked.
Pansy shrugged as if that wasn't much of a big deal, "I thought it would be a nice way to finally be able to use what I've learned in my last year of Hogwarts. Besides, it became a habit of sorts. I already imperio-ed my mudblood husband every day,"
Pansy stood up looking around the room, observing everything in it. It looked like she was taking it all in, theorizing how Draco lived his life in this humble home of his.
"You forced Finch-Fletchley to marry you?" Daphne muttered. "Oh dear, I didn't see you there, Daph. Nice to see you again," she said. Daphne's hold on Theo's hands tightened. "Did you know how hurt I was when you left. You were my best friend, Pansy —"
"Then you should've taken my side," Pansy asserted. Daphne stared at Theo asking what Pansy was talking about. "Of course you don't remember. It was my fault for not realizing earlier that giving you Advena would mean you won't remember ever betraying me. I couldn't stand the look on your face when you knocked on my door thinking everything was fine, so I had to make sure I left you feeling the way I felt when you left me," Daphne looked lost and angry. She couldn't comprehend why Pansy was the one that was mad when in the first place she was the one that started the argument. Pansy didn't explain further though. She gave Daphne a haughty grin before turning to Draco.
"After I lost everything from your trial — my father, my home, the money — I needed Justin. He was nice enough to take me in, saw how much I've fallen, but he would never marry me — I would never be able to take his money, so I cursed him," Pansy explained nonchalantly. "He was the one who stole all your records from the Ministry, cursed the Daily Prophet and set fire to it so no mention of you will ever see the light of day. It was a perfect plan if only Granger stayed where she was. I didn't know she was coming back soon. I would've afforded to pay her a visit if only she stayed with her parents a little while longer," Pansy huffed and sat back down. "Of course I tried again. But that blood-traitor Andromeda had to warn you about the water at the Greengrass party," Pansy snarled.
"You were there?" Daphne exclaimed. "You set off the pixies?" she added.
"The pixies were a distraction. I just needed to get into the kitchen," Pansy said.
"Why are you doing this, Pansy?" Blaise said.
She had a dangerous glint in her eyes as if she wanted to do something to hurt them. With one quick inhale, she calmed down but the murderous gaze remained. "Why I am doing this? Because he ruined my life," Pansy started standing up and walking towards Draco. "Perfect, spoiled, Malfoy heir — had the backing of the Chosen One and the Brightest Witch of her age at his trial and now everybody thought everything he said would be relevant," Pansy edged closer to him. "You sold out my father," she said in a whisper, but it cut through the silence easily making everyone hear.
"I was under a truth serum, Pansy. I didn't have a choice," Pansy didn't answer instead she laughed maniacally. "You think you can traipse around everyone because you had a powerful father — because your name was well known. You think you can have everything you wanted just because you're rich and have a family named that was still feared, despite what your family did in the war," Pansy took a deep breath, her anger bubbling at the surface — years of pent-up anger finally released.
"But Draco," she said a little too quiet and yet very compelling, and Draco had no choice but to listen, "who are you now without your name and your wealth?" Pansy smiled — a smile that made the room colder. Draco could see everyone around him shiver.
"You're nothing, Draco and I wanted you to feel what if feels like to have everything stripped away from you, like what you did to me," Pansy uttered. She sat back down at the wingback she was sitting on before. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at them — a challenge present in her gaze. "I have a proposition for you. Let me go, and I will give you the antidote you've been trying so long to brew," Pansy started, "Keep me, and I break this here," she added showing the vial of Advena. "Do you know how strong this is? Just inhaling it will make you forget everything? Of course, it wouldn't work on you, Draco. You can't actually forget your own life, can you?"
Pansy then removed her wand from inside her pocket and levitated the vial of Advena potion so close to the ground, that it'll be too easy to break and not easy to stop once Pansy decides to let go of the levitation on it.
"You're not going to get away with this, Pansy," Blaise said. Pansy shrugged, and smiled playfully as if that was just what she expected to hear. "I already have," she taunted.
"Tomorrow, at the latest, Justin will walk into the Ministry and admit to brewing Advena with the help of Alexander Haywood —"
Theo took a step forward but then took it back, "The Haywood sisters won't take your side over their brother, Parkinson," he said.
"By the time I leave Britain, the Haywoods would cease to exist. Besides, we've already agreed that Alexander would take the fall for contaminating the pipes leading to the whole of Great Britain not knowing who Draco is. I don't have much use for them after that," Pansy answered nonchalantly like their questions were a test, and she had already studied beforehand.
"Pipes?"
Pansy looked at them suspiciously, "You never knew?" she asked. "Granger did, but seeing as she has no memories of you, I guess she might have forgotten to mention it."
"You told me it was the rain?" Theo argued. "We thought it was the rain," Blaise defended.
"The rain?" Pansy asked genuinely confused. "I would say that was a welcome distraction but spreading the potion to the rain would've diluted it." Pansy explained, "With the pipes, there was an easy spell to drain it off with water and pour the Advena in it."
"How much potion did you brew?"
Pansy just smiled, "One cauldron. And I used a rather difficult cloning spell. You were always right about me, Blaise. I am good with Transfiguration."
"So what would it be, Draco?" Pansy drawled, not wanting to drag these any longer.
Theo and Blaise eyed each other as if both coming up with a solution. They both tried apparating but ended up appearing at other parts of the house. Pansy found herself laughing, "You know when you plan something you have to take care of every little thing, including the possibility of you apparating away."
"You put anti-apparition wards around my house?" Draco sounded furious. Pansy shrugged, "I mean, it took you a while to find me I needed to do something to pass my time."
Draco finally got his courage to walk towards her. He placed his hand on the antidote, and Pansy was already smiling as if she knew what Draco had always planned to choose. Pansy levitated the Advena potion towards her, and snatched it, ready to leave. "So many people could've helped you Pansy, if only you've asked," Draco said. Pansy glared but didn't say anything, "I'm sorry, Draco. I'm not that forgiving," she said before she apparated away.
Once Pansy was gone, Draco felt the anti-apparition wards lift. Everyone released a breath behind him. "I'll go find her," Blaise said. Draco shook his head, "Don't! No one follow her. She still has a potion and I can't have any of you lose your memories of me again," Draco said.
"But Draco, she has to answer to everything she did. This isn't a petty crime," Draco heard Daphne say behind her.
"I'd rather have Granger than Pansy," he turned to face them, a resigned look on his face as he cradled that antidote in his arms.
Theo placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, saying, "Let's go find Granger then."
"We need a plan," Theo said in the quiet room. After Pansy had vanished, Daphne insisted on going back to her house because she needed to rest and take in everything that had happened, leaving the three men in the house.
"Stating the obvious, Nott?" Blaise said as he sat down on one of the small chairs opposite where Draco was sitting. Theo was too busy pacing to sit down. "I mean it. No more barging into people's homes demanding answers," Theo directed this to Draco. The latter just shrugged and waited for either of his friends to start this planning.
"We have to talk to Potter, that's certain," Theo started. "Why can't we just go to Granger and give her the antidote. Why do we need to talk to Potter?" Draco complained.
Theo sighed, "Because anytime today or tomorrow, Finch-Fletchley will walk into the ministry and admit to all these," Theo said gesturing around the room. "Potter is an Auror and if we explain to him all these first then you have a better chance of getting on his good side," he added. "Why do I need to get onto his good side?" Draco asked, exasperated. He leaned back on his chair feeling rather tired.
"Because he's Granger's best friend and the last time I heard Granger told you to stay away from her," Draco fought back a snarl. He had told Theo and Blaise about his little encounter in Diagon Alley with the Hermione just after Daphne left.
He sighed. That information definitely put a damper on his plans of taking the antidotes directly to Hermione. Draco wasn't stupid to think that Hermione would take an antidote just because a few Slytherins told her so. Potter seemed to be a great plan, but it was a plan Draco didn't want to carry out.
"I'll hold you against this whole thing if I don't see Granger again, Theodore," Theo flinched. "Yeah fine, whatever. You didn't have to call me Theodore," he said sounding very offended. He turned to glance at their other friend in the room.
"Zabini, help me with this. You're awfully quiet," Theo said. Blaise leaned forward, hands clasped together. "I have something to tell you," Blaise said. He had been trying to tell his friends something earlier that day, but only it was only now that he remembered. Theo cocked a brow up but sat down at the only empty seat and waited for Blaise to continue,
"So I've been seeing Longbottom," Blaise started. Theo interrupted by saying, "We don't need to know about your love life now, Zabini."
Blaise glared at his friend but waved him off. "I mean I've been seeing him to work on the antidote. We've made a few batches the past couple of days," Blaise didn't want to glance at Theo lest the latter looked at him angrily. This was Theo's project, and he didn't like doing something behind his best friend's back.
"I mean, I haven't really contributed much. Draco's paid me for all the ingredients I've spent on the past months since he got access to his vaults. I just thought why not? I'm good at potions anyway," Blaise explained, looking down at his entwined fingers not trusting himself to look up at his friends.
"You know you could've just told me. I would've helped you," Theo said a few seconds later.
"I just didn't want to add to your workload," Blaise excused which made Theo roll his eyes because he knew far too well that wasn't the reason. Whatever the reason was unimportant now. What was important was they had a few sets of antidote ready and Theo just thought of a right plan.
The owl woke Hugo up. It was too early in the morning for either Sue or Ron to wake up, but Hugo's crying startled them both asleep.
Ron stirred on the bed whining, "And here I thought I could get a good amount of sleep since I had no work today."
Ron stood up from the bed telling his wife that he'll handle the baby. Sue and he were planning a nice stay at home day after finding out that Ron had a free day that day since the Ministry was closed because of unforeseen circumstances. It was odd, but a free day was a free day so Ron didn't argue.
The owl that greeted Ron wasn't an owl he was used to seeing. It was the Malfoy owl — at least that's what he knew; Hermione had sent them letters using this owl when she was in France. Ron didn't even understand why Hermione liked using it — it was enormous.
Sue, not being able to go back to sleep, walked out of the room and proceeded to take the note away from the owl, seeing as Ron hadn't done it yet.
Ron took Hugo into his arms, trying to block the view of the owl from Hugo. But Hugo didn't seem scared of it at all, in fact, he even looked like he wanted to get closer to it.
"Who's it from?" Ron asked standing beside his wife. Being near the owl, Hugo reached out his tiny hands and grasped the owl's head in his hands. The owl responded well to the child which made Sue and Ron look at each other knowingly.
"Bet he's going to be a magizoologist when he grows up," Ron said. "We're rubbing onto him too early," Sue replied. She opened the note and read it quickly. She proceeded to read it out loud the second time.
"They want us to go to Grimmauld Place?" Ron asked in clarification. Sue shrugged, "It sounds urgent," she said.
Getting their bearings, they changed and dressed Hugo before flooing to the Potters.
"Did you really have to contact the Potters at 7 in the morning?" Theo asked when he found out that Draco had already sent the owl that was meant for later.
"When you told me yesterday that you wanted me to tell the Potters to meet us today, I thought you meant first thing in the morning," Draco defended. Theo, who was already feeling absolutely peeved being woken up too early, huffed in annoyance. Blaise was not in a better state. He was rubbing his eyes to wake himself up and was barely even dressed.
Theo tutted but didn't say anything about the state of his friends, "How do we know we can go to the Potters?"
"They said they'll call," Draco said pointing at the snowy owl on the window. "Why didn't they send back your owl?" Theo asked. Draco just shrugged, also very confused.
Five minutes later, the floo network in Draco's place activated, permitting Harry to peek through. He left a cryptic, "You can pass," before vanishing.
The three men looked at each other nervously before crossing the floo network.
It felt like déjà vu — like yesterday repeating itself only this time they were standing frozen on the spot in Potter's living room.
"We're late aren't we?" Theo voiced out.
"So much for planning," Blaise commented.