Thank you to the wonderful beta of this story, AmbiguousGoldfish

Chapter Twelve - Taking a break

Harry woke to the sound of cracking followed sizzling as someone cracked some eggs into a heated frying pan. Though his head pounded he felt reasonably well rested, and as he breathed in the smell of cooking mushrooms his stomach growled and he realized just how hungry he was.

Harry slowly sat up, grabbing his glasses from the bedside table before arching his back and stretching, letting out a groan as his muscles relaxed.

"Hey, mate, you finally decided to wake up!" Ron exclaimed, turning to the source of the noise.

Harry let out a mumbled "morning" in response before standing up.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Ron asked as he watched his friend stumble out of the cot.

"...alright," Harry muttered as he rubbed his temples, trying to ease the senseless pounding, feeling as if tiny jackhammers were drilling into his skull.

Ron frowned, knowing that Harry was lying but he knew better than to push the subject. "Breakfast will be done in ten minutes or so if you wanted to go and wash up?" Ron suggested, giving Harry the chance to pull himself together.

Harry let out a small moan as he nodded and looked around the tent. "Where's Hermione?"

"She's outside with Draco checking the perimeter wards " Ron answered.

Harry nodded slowly before making his way to the bathroom.

...

Hermione and Draco had completed a full lap, but as a precaution Hermione analysed the perimeter once more, double and triple checking to make sure everything was in perfect order. Draco paced beside her squeezing the stress ball that Hermione made him back at the cottage.

Ever since Harry grabbed him by the arm to save him from falling off the dragon, every so often he had been getting small shoots of pain running the length of his forearm.

"Draco? Can I ask you something?" Hermione spoke, breaking the silence between the two.

"Oh, yeah, uh, sure," Draco responded, taken back a little by Hermione's request.

Hermione took a deep breath not sure how she should start. She been wanting to ask Draco this since they escaped Gringotts. They walked in silence for a few more seconds.

"Have you ever cast an unforgivable before?" Hermione finally asked.

"...You felt it didn't you?" Draco asked. "That feeling can become addictive if you use them too often," he warned.

"What is it? I've never felt anything like it before" Hermione mused.

"It's complicated. I'm not sure if I even understand it fully but basically dark magic, like the unforgivable curses, can give you this feeling of euphoria and power. It's a terribly addictive feeling for some, which allows the dark magic to prey on the weak,`` Draco explained "Dark magic...it isn't just magic...it's like a whole being in itself."

Hermione stayed silent as she processed the information. She wouldn't have called the feeling she got from casting the spell good, it was more of an uneasy feeling.

"Just don't cast another unforgivable unless you have to," Draco said. He turned to face Hermione and could still tell that something was bugging her . "What is it?"

"It's just...Harry tried to cast the Crucio curse during his fifth year and he couldn't do it...he didn't have it in him," Hermione said. Expressing that comparison aloud solidified her fear that she was becoming something much darker and fearful than Harry would ever be.

"The cruciatus curse is much different; you really have to want to cause them pain for the spell to work. I'm willing to bet anything that you won't be able to get the spell to work either," Draco assured her. "Casting an unforgivable doesn't make you evil, it's the intent behind the use of the spell. You used the spell to help us get into Gringotts."

Hermione only nodded still, unsure of what she thought about the whole thing. While she processed, she subconsciously rubbed at the word 'mudblood' that had been carved into her skin. If she had the chance she bet she would be able to cast the spell on Bellatrix, making her feel the same pain that she had caused Hermione.

"We should head inside. I bet Ron has breakfast ready by now," Hermione spoke, swiftly changing the subject.

By the time Hermione and Draco had returned inside, Harry was sitting at the table as Ron brought the food over.

"Are you doing okay this morning?" Hermione asked Harry as she sat across the table from him. Draco took the seat beside Harry so Ron could sit next to Hermione.

Harry gave a small affirmative hum as he continuously tapped his cup of coffee, watching as the liquid rippled within the mug.

"Alright," Hermione murmured, and she started to fill Harry's plate up.

Harry let out a grumble as Hermione pushed the plate towards him, knowing she fully intended on forcing him to eat every morsel. He lazily picked up his fork and stabbed at his eggs before taking a bite.

Once he ate the first bite of food, Harry didn't have any problems devouring his breakfast, finding himself starving.

Hermione smiled to herself as she watched Harry eat, glad to see his appetite had returned so she didn't have to pester him to take a few bites.

"I was thinking we could use this day to rest up, take it easy," Hermione suggested. "I know I am pretty tired from yesterday," she added before Harry had the chance to say that he was fine and could carry on.

"That does sound nice," Draco agreed.

"... take a few days to rest and figure out our next move," Harry said, not realizing he had played right into Hermione's hand.

The rest of the day passed by lazily, and as Hermione suspected, Harry spent most of it asleep on the couch regaining his strength. The three passed the time teaching each other various games, both muggle and magic, and they fell into an easy rhythm, at peace in each other's company.