Draco watched Hermione from the bed as she picked up last night's clothes and swept her hair into a quick bun.
"Shit, shit, shit!" she muttered as she whirled around the room. "Why do I always let you make me late?"
"I'm irresistible?" He laced his hands behind his head.
She stopped her frantic motion. "That is both true and extremely annoying." Her eyes raked over him and she made a frustrated sound before stalking to the bed and climbing up to straddle his lap. He welcomed her with a pleased smile and she took his face in her hands. "Almost criminally gorgeous," she muttered, leaning down to kiss him.
He reached up for her lips and promptly ran his hand up under her blouse to cup her breast.
"Draco!"
"What?" he said lazily, nipping at her lower lip as he started to push the fabric of her top up. If he could just get one more look at those glorious…
"Stop that!" she pulled her top down and drew back. "I have to open this morning!"
"Well you were the one who came over and accosted me," he said, swatting at her arse as she scrambled off the bed.
She was shaking her head and laughing as she ducked out of the bedroom. He heard the door to the loo close and the water start running, so he heaved himself up and found some joggers and a t-shirt.
Pulling the shirt over his head as he ambled down the hall, Draco felt a smile steal over his face as he went over some favorite bits from the night before: the bookshop and the ladder and then further activities once they'd apparated back to the flat. Earlier this morning too… His smile widened as he walked into the kitchen.
"Have a good night?" Theo's voice sounded from across the room, startling Draco out of his reverie.
"Shit, didn't realise you were here." Draco stopped mid-stride, trying to remember if he'd cast a silencing charm at any point last night. He didn't think he had.
"No worries." Theo smirked and his eyes darted down the hallway to where very obvious washing sounds were still coming from the loo. "I just arrived. Been at Francesca's. Want some juice?"
Draco saw that Theo had the old juicer out and a bag of oranges and grapefruit open on the counter.
"Yeah, thanks." Draco nodded, going to the fridge and looking in. "I fancy eggs," he said as he pulled a carton out of the cool interior. "Want some?"
"That'd be ace." Theo smiled briefly and turned to his juicing. "Will Hermoine want—?" He gestured with an orange over his shoulder.
"Not sure." Draco grimaced. "She's in a bit of a hurry."
"Ahh." Theo kept slicing and pressing fruit and Draco went to the hob and flicked it on. Silence reigned—somewhere between comfortable and uncomfortable—until the sounds of bustling movement came down the hall.
"OK, I'm off, Draco. My shift ends at six and—Theo!" Hermione appeared in the doorway. Her eyes darted to Draco's and her cheeks flamed bright red. "I didn't know you were—"
"He wasn't." Draco gave a tiny shake of his head.
"I wasn't," Theo said with more than a hint of laughter in his voice. "Do you have time for this?" He held out a glass of juice.
"For that? Ooh yes." Hermione stepped forward and took it, shooting Draco a relieved glance as she did so. Theo turned back to the counter and Hermione tipped the glass back and drank deeply. "Mmm, that's good."
The sound was the exact same breathy moan she'd made last time Draco had made juice. He shot her a grin and she made a face at him before finishing the glass and placing it in the sink.
"Thank you, Theo. I'm really off now. Bye!" She ran over and kissed Draco lightly on the cheek. He turned to walk with her down the hall, but she shooed him away. "No time! I'll see you tonight?"
"Absolutely." Draco gave her a long look and she paused for a second before blinking and shaking her head, then pivoting off down the hall.
"Juice was lovely, Theo! Thanks!" Her voice trailed off.
"Anytime!" Theo waved his knife as the door slammed shut.
Draco turned his attention to making the eggs and a plate of toast, while Theo kept on with the juicer until he had two full glasses.
"Coffee too?" Theo asked, holding up the cafetiere.
Draco grunted his assent and, soon after, they were sitting at the worn kitchen table sharing breakfast.
Again a sort of loaded silence settled over them, but for the clinking of cutlery and plunking of cups and mugs. It was the first time they'd been alone together in a while—since Draco and Hermione had gotten together in fact, and Draco found himself at a bit of a loss. He knew Theo and Hermione had cleared the air quite thoroughly a couple of nights ago—hadn't half liked it when Hermione had told him, but hoped he'd managed to not be an idiot about it—but he wasn't quite sure how to tackle Theo himself.
Finally Theo cleared his throat. "So. Everything's going well," he said, his eyes darting in the direction Hermione had gone.
"Yeah. Really good," Draco said, nodding at his plate. He looked up again to see that Theo's expression was guarded.
"Told you not to be a prat about her," Theo finally said. "You're a lucky bastard, you know that?" He pointed his fork at Draco, and his face relaxed into its usual mischievous lines. "Lucky she didn't give up on you."
"I do know that. You were right all along." Draco shook his head and took a long drink of juice. "Blaise was talking about the red dress girl when we were at the villa yesterday. From when I mentioned her to you before we even knew who she was. You had me pegged from the first."
Theo snorted. "It was a bit obvious. Especially after we realised who she was."
Draco nodded and felt a hint of a smile cross his features. "I'm admitting that now."
Theo snorted and returned to his eggs and they ate in silence for another few minutes. Draco wondered not for the first time about Theo's feelings for Hermione, but didn't intend to open that particular avenue of discussion.
There had been something else that had been weighing on his mind, though. He took a deep breath.
"Can I ask you something?"
Theo looked up, a question in his face.
Draco spun his glass on the table, then traced the ring of condensation it left behind. "While I'm gone or if I'm... incapaciated" —or dead, he thought grimly— "will you, look out for her?"
Theo went very still and Draco continued in a rush. "I know she doesn't need looking after, and she has Potter and Weasley, but they're about as likely to make it through this thing as I am. And if I don't make it, or gods forbid the other side wins, she is going to need support from someone in our world. I'll tap Blaise too, but I know that you care about her in a way that he doesn't." Draco stopped the torrent of words here and held Theo's gaze, which was troubled.
Theo blinked and looked down. "I'll be honest," he said slowly. "I do care about her. A surprising amount. More than anyone… since Daph. More than I've even let on to her." He looked up. "Are you sure you want to ask this of me?"
"Gives me all the more reason," Draco said quietly.
Theo sat back and blew out a breath. Draco raised his brows. "I mean, of course I will!" Theo said, shaking his head. "I'd do it without you asking. Aside from all the feelings, she's my friend. She means a lot to me."
His look turned a bit challenging and Draco felt his features tighten.
"But it's not like you have anything to worry about," Theo said, obviously reading Draco's face. "Unless you fuck up and do something really stupid."
"I don't plan to," Draco said evenly.
The tension went out of Theo's shoulders. "Of course you don't," he said more softly. "And of course I'll do anything I can to support Hermione when or if… I'm around and you aren't. We already have lunch plans for the first day of term." He gave Draco a faint smile and Draco remembered that Theo didn't know Hermione wouldn't be at Hogwarts come September.
"Right," he said, feeling a faint pulse of guilt. "That's great." He took a bite of toast and squinted at Theo in an exaggerated way. "Just mind you don't get too chummy while I'm away."
Theo smiled. "Not a chance. As I've said before, all she sees is you, mate."
Draco sobered. "Thank you. For all that. For, uh, pushing me. You were a real friend to both of us in this. At your own expense."
"Eh" —Theo put up a wry shoulder— "I've always had a self-destructive streak."
Draco snorted a laugh and realised with a pang that he would miss Theo, miss living with him and his friendship. Yet another unexpected effect of this strange summer.
Theo pushed back from the table, "Well. I have got some shopping to do. Cooking dinner for my last night with Francesa before she heads to uni."
"She's leaving already? Will you want the flat tonight?"
"She's off day after tomorrow. And yeah, that would be nice. We've been at hers a lot." Theo smiled briefly over his shoulder.
"Thanks for that." Draco said. "I'll arrange to stay at Hermione's tonight then."
"Ace." Theo inclined his head.
"Oh and did Lavender tell you about the disco plan for Friday night? Night before Hermione leaves?" Draco's chest tightened and he coughed. "Uh, Potter will be here and the girls want to have a big last thing with all of us."
"Right, Lav did give me the rundown. I'll be there. Wouldn't miss it. Our last night together, fuck." Theo shook his head. "I think I'm off a couple of days after that. What about you?"
"Unclear, but I'll probably be last to go. They have to deal with all you lot first. Get you back to school. Then they'll deal with me."
Theo nodded and Draco wondered how empty the flat—and the town—would seem without the others here. Maybe he'd go out to the villa for a few days...
Just then the crack of apparition sounded from the back of the flat. Draco looked up in surprise to hear Blaise's voice from down the hall as if on cue. "Hey mates! Everyone decent?"
"Yeah, in the kitchen," Draco called.
"Ooh, do I smell coffee? Hey Theo," Blaise said as he appeared in the doorway.
"Hey, man." Theo gave Blaise a chin flip. "I'm actually just going. I'll see you both Friday night?" Blaise nodded and patted Theo on the arm as he walked by. Theo waved and started down the hall.
"Hey, Theo! Wait!" Draco jogged after him, raising a finger at Blaise as he went.
"Yeah?" Theo stopped at the door.
"Just. Thanks, man." Draco slowed and held out his hand.
Theo looked down at it and back up at Draco's face with a puzzled expression, but he put out his hand and took Draco's. "For?" he asked with a little shake of his head.
Draco pulled him forward and into a half-embrace, clapping his back roughly. "Just… everything," he said as he pulled back. "For this summer. I'm glad we were in this together."
Theo's mouth dropped gently open, but then he collected himself and almost smiled. "Same," he said, then nodded and opened the door. He walked down the steps, paused and looked at Draco one more time, then sent him a little wave over his shoulder. Draco shut the door and ambled back down the hall, his mind full.
"What was that all about? Did I interrupt something?" Blaise asked as Draco came back into the kitchen.
"Nah, just a heart to heart between flatmates." Draco grinned and Blaise laughed shortly. "Did you say you wanted coffee?"
"If you've got it."
"I'll make some more." Draco got busy with the kettle. "And what brings you here?"
Blaise slid into Theo's seat. "Lav has an early shift and I'm on my own. Just thought I'd see if you were around. Maybe have lunch."
"Yeah, definitely up for that. I just ate breakfast but I'll be hungry again soon."
"Big night?" Blaise smirked and Draco raised his brows. "Glad that's going so well," Blaise said with a laugh. "You seem happy."
"Yeah." Draco looked down with a smile, but then he felt his face fall. "Of course, that's until I remember this time next week I'll be in some godforsaken Order safehouse."
"Yeah." Blaise sighed. "That's the real shit of it. Part of me still can't believe you won't be at school. Missing seventh year, man." He shook his head.
"I know," Draco said. "I mean, after my experience sixth year, I could pretty much take it or leave it, but it's strange to think you'll all be there without me."
"It's all going to be strange," Blaise said. "Who knows what's going to fucking happen?"
"Yeah. How are you going to spin your thing with Lav? I mean when you get to school?" Draco handed a mug of coffee to Blaise.
Blaise thanked him and shrugged. "Probably cook up some whirlwind thing at the beginning of term. Make it seem like it just started."
"Right. That would work." Draco nodded.
"Obviously your thing with Hermione is top secret. But what about Hermione and Theo?" Blaise squinted at Draco.
Draco knew this wouldn't be a problem but he played along anyway. Hermione's plans were not his to share. "I think she and Theo are going to be pretty open about their friendship. I'm not sure how secret these summer things are supposed to be, anyway. The Order is probably going to play them off somehow. Maybe as study abroad programs? Lupin said there'd be some sort of debrief before everyone goes back to school. Probably include some spellwork to alter perceptions and discourage questions too."
"Ah, OK. That makes sense. Lav and I can leverage that too."
"True. Everyone knows you and your extensive villa collection. You could have easily been staying nearby to wherever she was."
Blaise chuckled and nodded, but then his face grew serious. "Can you tell me any more of what you're planning yet? I mean, it might make sense for me to know if we meet each other out there. I'm going to keep on with my, uh, activities after school starts. As much as I can, at least."
Draco stared at Blaise and considered the idea. His default had been to share nothing more than the bare bones he'd told Hermione, but with Blaise not publicly on the Order's side, it wasn't as much of a risk. And Blaise was right, there was a good chance they might meet under 'friendly' circumstances, in which case it would be useful to have Blaise in on his story. He made a snap decision.
"Yeah, I think I should, actually." Draco said slowly. "But it stays strictly between us. Nothing to Lav or Theo. And especially not to Hermione." He flashed Blaise a warning look.
"Of course."
"So yeah, I've communicated with Lupin a few times since he was here and he's run my ideas back and forth with Order leadership and my parents, and I think we've hit on something that everyone agrees with—or at least isn't actively opposed to." Draco paused here. "Except for Narcissa, of course. She's opposed to all of it."
Blaise nodded sympathetically. "Not surprised."
"Anyway." Draco finished the dregs of his coffee. "The rough plan is to have me go back to a safe house after we leave here and then 'escape' from it, but sort of… quietly. I'll go out on my own, just slip away and alter my appearance. Then I'll lay low for a while, but my goal will be to get in with one of these smaller bands of death eater sympathisers that Lupin says are forming all over the country."
"Yeah, that's the type of thing Dolohov Jr. and Pucey are involved in. But there are others. I could actually help you connect with one. One where you aren't already known to the members."
"That's a good idea." Draco nodded.
"So you'd go in under an assumed identity and then what?"
"Get enmeshed in the group. Pass any information that I can to the Order while building up trust internally. And in the meantime, my parents will have a much more public escape from Order custody followed by an equally public return to the manor. The assumption is that Voldemort will seek them out there. Since my father's been away, the wards haven't allowed him access and Order intelligence says he misses the manor's comforts quite keenly. Apparently he's holed up in MacNair's falling-down pile in Scotland right now."
Blaise snorted. "Serves him right."
"I know. Fucking bastard." Draco laughed mirthlessly.
"OK," Blaise fanned his hands on the table. "So you're in with this small group, your parents are back at the manor with V. What then?"
"Lucius and Bellatrix smooth my way and I gradually reveal my identity. Then with evidence of my loyalty via my work with the death eater band, I make my move back to the manor. Hopefully I'm fully infiltrated and helping my parents with counterintelligence by early next year."
Blaise held Draco's gaze for a long time. "It feels bloody risky," he finally said.
"I know." Draco tapped his fingers on the table. "But it's what I've got."
"What if they don't want you back? Seeing as how you lowered your wand and all?"
"Then I'll stay out on my own and disguised. But I'm banking on the fact that Voldemort will see me as useful. For leverage against Lucius if nothing else."
Blaise shook his head vigorously. "Don't fucking like the sound of that, mate." Draco just shrugged and Blaise was silent for a long time before he finally looked at Draco. "OK. I'll help with connecting you with a group and then with some easy wins to build those death eater loyalty points."
Draco snickered. "Thanks, glad you'll be in my corner." It made him feel lighter somehow to think that Blaise would be looking out for him.
"Always," Blaise said with a serious look.
"And what are your plans looking like? For after all this?" Draco asked, realising he didn't know how Blaise was planning to mesh school and his recent activities.
"I'll be on the platform on the first. And then I'll be doing some of the same stuff when I can. Diantha will 'need me' for special engagements on weekends and the like. Winter break, Easter." Blaise shrugged. "But who knows what's going to fucking happen. By all accounts Dumbledore will not be back and if that's the case, the school will be vulnerable."
Draco nodded, suddenly very glad Hermione wouldn't be there. "Well, you be careful no matter what happens." He fixed Blaise with a glare. "No heroics. Get the fuck out if anything dangerous goes down."
Blaise chuckled. "When have you ever known me to be heroic?"
"True." Draco snorted.
"Well," Blaise patted the table with his palm. "I'm glad you told me. Glad I know what's going on and can help."
"Me too." Draco said.
They looked at each other for a moment. "You ready for lunch?" Blaise finally said, stretching back in his chair. "Might as well wring every last delicious bite out of this place."
"Agreed. Let's walk down to the pizzeria." Draco stood. "Give me ten minutes to shower and change?"
"Yup. I'll just finish the coffee." Blaise emptied the carafe into his cup.
Draco headed off down the hall and emerged a short while later, feeling refreshed. He and Blaise trundled down the stairs and emerged into the bright noonday sunlight, then began walking slowly through the square.
"What were you talking to Theo about?" Blaise asked. "It seemed serious."
"Ah." Draco glanced to the side. "I was just thanking him for pushing me. About Hermione."
"Really?" Blaise wrinkled his brow.
"I mean, I expect you to do that shit." Draco nudged Blaise's shoulder. "But he went against his own interests there."
"Yeah, he's never been much of a Slytherin." Blaise's smile gleamed briefly and Draco laughed.
They walked for a few minutes before Draco spoke again. "I also asked him to look out for her." He squinted against the sun. "If shit goes south."
Blaise sighed. "I really don't want to think about that."
Draco shrugged. "We both know it could happen. And I know you'd watch out for her, but they're friends and he has a...more vested interest."
Blaise just looked at Draco until Draco stopped. "What?"
"You could be inviting trouble there." Blaise shook his head.
"I trust her."
"But you shouldn't trust him."
"If I'm… not around, though?" Draco winced a little at the words.
Blaise closed his eyes and breathed in and out. "No, you're right," he finally said. "I'd do the same." They started walking again and Blaise turned to Draco with a slow grin. "But then, we're the consummate Slytherins."
Draco elbowed him in the side.
"What!? It's true!" Blaise cried, dancing away.
"For the record, I'm not trying to exploit Theo's feelings for Hermione. I more wanted to let him know that I'd want him to be there for her if I can't."
"You don't think Potter and Weasley will fill that role?"
"Not if their side loses. Or they aren't around for other reasons." Draco squinted into the sun.
"True." Blaise heaved another huge sigh. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."
They approached the door to the pizzeria and Draco held it open. "Let's hope."