CHAPTER 24

September 30th 2001

Draco Malfoy stared blankly at the disgruntled woman before him. Her brown eyes were fuelled with anger. He had never seen her so worked up before. Did she seriously just suggest they go into hiding?

"Why would we do that?" Draco questioned her proposal.

Granger grabbed him by the side of his arms and squeezed them tight. Her touch was like fire to him even through a thick sweater. There was no way he could run away with her, it would be too hard to stay sane.

"We have to get ahead of your father's game. If we are in his line of sight he has too far of an advantage." She pleaded with him.

He gathered that Granger knew what she was talking about, seeing as she and the two puppies outsmarted Voldemort by going on the run. Plus, neither of them knew where Lucius was, so a peace treaty was out the window.

Draco was starting to doubt his choices of remaining friends Granger. If he had just submitted to his family's traditions, none of this would be happening. Fuck the fucking purebloods.

"Where are we supposed to go? You are a celebrity within the wizarding world, there are eyes on you everywhere." He was doing whatever it took to come up with any other plan.

"We will go into the muggle world. I have enough money from my parents to keep us on the run for at least a few weeks." Granger reasoned, dropping her grip on his arms.

"What about Weasley? And Potter? I refuse to spend any more than an afternoon with those idiots."

"They will have to stay behind and cover for us. To ensure that the ministry and public still believe we are here."

She really had this all worked out. Draco was going to have no other choice if he didn't come up with an alternative soon.

"What is your thesis for disappearing? To kill Lucius? I love to break it to you, Granger, but neither of us have the conscious' to do that." The wizard took his last shot.

"Why are you so against this? Can you not see that this is our only option right now? The letters were pretty clear in your father's intentions." Granger easily dodged it.

She was right. They had no other option. They could not sit like ducks and await their attack, there needed to be strategy and going underground will give them some time to do that. It just pained Draco to have to do it. Surely, two brilliant minds like theirs would be able to find the solution in no time. He was screwed otherwise.

"Fine, Granger. What do we need to do?" He finally surrendered.

Not ten minutes later she had packed a small satchel, charming it to fit clothes, medical potions, and other necessities she deemed appropriate. Draco did not pay attention, he was too busy staring at the layered parchments on the floor. He should have known Lucius was up to something. Why had he been so naive in thinking he got away with it?

"I have everything I need." Granger broke his dissociation, tying her messy hair into a high bun. "I shall inform Ron of where we are going and meet you at your hou-."

"No." Draco interrupted before she could finish. "I cannot risk you travelling on your own. We will both go to mine and then tell Weasley."

"Fine." She agreed reluctantly. "We will have to apparate to steer clear from the floo network."

Both of them were on edge at this point, and Draco could sense it was only going to get worse the longer they were on the run.

Granger held out her arm for him to grab, and before he knew it, there was a pull at his stomach spinning them to a new location. It appeared that she had chosen to stop by his house first, probably wanting to spend as much time as she could with her fiance. They landed with a soft thud at the bottom of the hallway stairs.

Draco led the way up to his bedroom. He was in such a rush that he had forgotten that Granger had never seen this part of the house before. There was not much character to it, but it still felt weird having her in there. She seemed a little thrown by the lack of black paint covering the walls, shocked that he had decorated with gold and green accessories. If they had the time, Draco would have explained the reasoning behind his change of taste.

Granger stood near the bedroom door as he packed his bag with haste. Draco did not bother caring about what shirts went with what pants, nor whether his socks would match his belt, they just needed to get out of there as soon as possible. Stripping himself of an ego.

While he stuffed shirts into her bag, Granger began to over analyse how she blatantly missed Lucius communicating to her. "How did I not recognise that it wasn't Ron sending me those letters? I knew it wasn't him in Romania, why did I think he ever actually wanted to write to me? Even at school he hated writing over summers? I shouldn't have missed it. I was so idiotic-"

"Granger." Draco interrupted her with a panicked bellow, "Enough."

"But did your father use a charm to make it look like Ron's handwriting? I've read about those but have never found a use for it. How would he have gotten Ron's handwriting in the first place? Do you think Ron is part of this? Is he being blackmailed?"

Draco paced between his wardrobe and the bathroom, half listening to her self destructive rant. She was talking so fast, he didn't even think she was listening to herself.

"What if deep down I just wanted to believe it was Ron sending me those letters? That part of me chose to think he was trying to be a better boyfriend, and I just missed every obvious sign."

He halted by the bathroom door, looking over at the embarrassed woman. "I think we both have been ignoring the obvious."

Granger swallowed, her sad eyes dazed, staring into the open nothing.

As he placed the final item of the soap bottle into her charmed satchel, a sound of glass shattering came from downstairs. Draco panicked, running out of the ensuite bathroom to see if Granger was still near the bedroom door.

She was not.

He spun around in a circle, checking if she had moved out of his sight.

Only the room was empty.

Anxiety started to rise within Draco, and the heavy thuds of someone making their way upstairs only heightened it. He jumped at the motion of someone pulling him into the corner of the room. His back smacked against the wall silently as a small hand pressed against his chest to keep him in place. Granger stood below his tall stature with a finger pressed to her lips. A fierce look of determination glazing over her eyes.

Granger whipped around and flattened her body next to Draco's in the corner. She non-verbally cast an illusion spell with one arm, and pushed her other against his frame to force him to remain still. She was blending them into the wall.

They both held their breath at the sight of a hooded figure creeping into the room.

Draco immediately recognised the man as the Scottish assassin who was sent to kill him in Romania. Slick wanker clearly didn't learn his lesson. The bearded hitman scanned the room with his wand ready to fire, double checking under the bed and within the closets. Not afraid to toss objects that came in his way.

The wizard and witch were relatively safe up until the Scottsman started to make way to the bathroom. Something must have triggered his senses, seeing as he was now almost nose to nose to where Granger was standing. Draco could see out of the corner of his eye that if either of them were to lean a centimeter forward, they would be touching. Granger did not tremble in fear like a typical person would, but rather kept her composure and did not quiver even with the close proximity. He was ready to swipe the moment there was any indication they were caught.

By luck alone the assassin kept moving, stepping aside and stalking into the bathroom. He came out again once it was cleared. Granger let out a silent breath, squeezing her fingers against Draco's chest. He could feel her nails piercing his skin. It stung but he did not mind.

The Scottsman gave up on looking for his target and exited the bedroom. Draco tried to take a step forward but the unexpected strength of Granger's arm held him in place. She must be taking precaution and ensuring he had left the house before they made any sudden movements.

A few minutes passed and Granger lowered her arm. Holding her finger to her lips again she held out a hand for Draco to take. The packed sachet hung across her body. Not wanting the intimacy of an interlocked grasp, he took her by the wrist instead. Fortunately, she did not seem to be offended by the gesture.

Within a few seconds they went from standing in Draco's apartment bedroom to the front gates of an apartment complex he did not recognise. They appeared to be standing between two houses numbered eleven and thirteen. By the look of the dampened street with moulded brown bricks, it indicated they were still in London.

Granger pulled herself free from his grip and began swirling her wand. Whatever spell she cast, shoved the two odd numbered houses aside to reveal the twelfth apartment hidden in plain sight. A set of worn front steps were exposed, leading to a bettered front door with a silver knocker in the shape of a twisted serpent. It looked awfully familiar to his mother's family crest.

Draco stood in anticipation as Granger ran up the steps and used her wand to open the front door. She held the door open for him to follow her in.

The entrance of the apartment led into a long hallway, lit with gas lamps and a large overhead chandelier. Where the hell were they? Before he could ask her that exact question, she answered it for him.

"Ron!" Granger yelled into the open. "Harry!"

Potter popped his head around the corner of a room to the side of the hallway. A puzzled look was slathered across his face at the sight of the two of them together. This must be his and Weasley's shared home. It was not how Draco expected it to be at all. A chandelier did not meet the stereotype of two Gryffindors.

"What's going on?" The scarhead asked with concern, stepping out into the hallway.

Granger ran down the hall to meet Potter where he was standing.

"Lucius is back. Malfoy and I have to leave." She panted, adjusting the satchel on her shoulder.

Potter looked up to Draco with a furrowed brow. The two did not need to speak verbally as their gazes met, Potter appeared to understand what needed to be done in order to protect them both. He did not question their plan.

"Where is Ron?" Granger pressed, feeling the time to escape slipping.

"I'm here." Weasley appeared from the kitchen at the end of the foyer. "What's wrong? Why is Malfoy here?"

Draco remained at his position near the door. Now was not the time to cause a fight, nor spark aggravation. He and Granger just needed to establish a plan and get out of the wizarding world.

"Oh God, Ron!" She gasped, running into her fiance's arms and embracing him with all her might. The ginger returned the hug, pulling her tight to his chest.

Weasley looked directly into Draco's eyes from across the narrow hall. He held his ground and did not look away, wanting to keep a little of his dignity today. Granger broke their connection the second she pulled away from his caress.

"I don't have much time to explain, but I need you to hear me out. Okay?." She begged.

"Okay?" He glared at her with worry.

"Malfoy's father has been trying to kill him ever since he renounced himself from their pureblood traditions and we became friends. Lucius was paying hitmen to ensure his son did not taint the family name by taking his life, but Malfoy fought them off for years. We thought he had died and it had stopped but he had just been laying low. Now, I have been sent a death threat of my own and we have to leave in order to get ahead of his-"

"Wait a second!" Weasley interrupted her with a yell. "Why didn't I know about this? You didn't care to think to tell-"

"It was not my secret to tell!" Granger roared back.

"I don't give a fuck! How do you know Lucius is still alive?"

"Harry has been doing an investigation and discovered his body to be a fake."

Weasley's reddened face turned to his best friend, infuriated to be left out of the know-how. The ginger stormed over to Potter and pushed him against the wall.

"You knew!" He spat in the scarhead's face. "You knew she was involved and you didn't tell me?!'

"It was not my secret to tell…" Potter reasoned with shame.

"Ronald!" Granger pulled her fiance's attention back to her. "Malfoy and I have to get out of here. We cannot stay in the wizarding world with Lucius out of ministry control, he will know where we are at all times."

"I am not letting you run off with that bastard." Weasley demanded with his back to the man he just insulted. "Let me take you somewhere safe."

"No." She denied his request. "I need you and Harry to do what you can to guarantee that the ministry and public believe we are still living our regular lives, while we get ahead of Lucius. There is a cupboard full of Polyjuice in my spare bathroom. Use it."

"You can't actually believe I am going to let you run away can you?" The ginger was in denial.

"Ron…" Granger grabbed his face but refrained from kissing. "We do not have time to argue. Malfoy's house has already been broken into, and who knows where they plan to attack next."

Draco watched from afar as Weasley came to terms with what his fiance was explaining to him. In order for Granger to survive he had to let go of his pride and let her go on her own. To be fair, it would have killed Draco to have to do the same if he were in the red-head's position.

Weasley turned on his heel and stormed up the hall to where Draco was quietly standing. He braced himself for a punch in the jaw. Instead, the freckled weasel chose to grip him by the sweater and push him against the door. The impact winded the blond for a second.

"Listen here you wanker." He barked. "This is your fault, her life's in danger. If you don't do everything you can to make sure your old man is dead, I will personally kill you myself. And I won't do it as quickly as a hitman would. Got that?"

As much as Draco wanted to show Weasley who was truly superior, he knew they didn't have the time for a dispute. He chose to let the ginger have his moment. There was a good reason for his reaction anyway.

"Yes." The Slytherin hissed in compliance.

As Weasley dropped him to the floor and walked back to Granger, a thought crossed Draco's mind.

Astoria.

Fuck. What was he going to do about her?

"Potter." He thought on his feet. "I need to ask a favour of you."

"Uh, sure." Potter hesitated to agree, but made his way over anyway.

Draco pretended to shake his hand, but pulled him close so that his ear was met with his mouth so only Potter could hear the request.

"Do not react or ask any questions." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Potter nod slightly in response. "My relationship with Astoria Greengrass. Can I trust that you keep her updated on our situation without giving too much detail?"

Draco backed away from his ear, locking eyes with his glasses. Naturally, Potter held an expression of confusion. He widened his eyes to clarify his seriousness.

"You got it." The Gryffindor accepted, tightening his grip on their shake.

"Thank you." The Slytherin replied.

"Ron. We need to leave before they trace us back here. I have to go." Granger spoke urgently behind them.

"I hate you doing this." Weasley resisted.

"I know. We have no other choice."

"I um, I-"

"Yeah… You too." She did not let him finish. A kiss on the cheek was all Granger offered her fiance, in hopes it would not be their last.

Granger looked almost in pain as she made her way back to Draco. Like it was killing her to have to leave her friends with no reassurance as to whether or not she'd return. They had won the battle with Voldemort, but the war was still raging for muggle-borns.

Granger refused to look back to her lover on her exit, choosing to keep her sanity and walk out the front door without stopping. Draco gave a soft nod to the men in the hallway, an unspoken promise to keep their girl safe no matter the cost, before following her lead. Draco closed the door behind him, guessing that if he looked back, the apartment would no longer be there.

The atmosphere of the darkened London streets had changed since they arrived. The once blue sky was now heavy with rain clouds as the subtle wind had picked up. Draco approached the Granger standing on the curb with ease.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked out of courtesy.

"No." She shot him down. "We should go to the centre of town. The more people the less likely we are to be recognised."

"Okay." They were in for a long journey, and over the years he had learnt to pick his disputes. Granger needed to lead, it was in her nature.

Draco gripped the pastel green cardigan as he wrapped his hand around her wrist. It was soft and reminded him of comfort he had not felt since he was a child. A crack of lightning struck in the distance the moment the two twisted away to their new destination.

The calm before the storm was coming to a close.

Granger brought them down to a back street in London's square with a pop. There were so many distracted muggles walking around that the chaos covered their sudden appearance. Draco's ears were filled with loud honks of moving vehicles and his eyes were threatened by bright lights. He may have lived in this city for a few years, but the anarchy of muggle London never ceased to shock him.

"Come on, Malfoy." Granger began walking down the crowded path. "We need to find a place to hide for the night."

Draco followed her usher, frowning at strangers that bumped into his shoulders. As they came to a halt near a crossroad, a droplet of water fell onto his cheek. He looked up to the black sky, saddened by the lack of stars sparkling above them. A second and third raindrop landed upon his eyelashes.

Just at the moment he returned his focus to the street ahead, Draco's gaze met with two hooded figures across the road. Pedestrians strolled back and forth behind the mysterious characters, ignorant to the duel that was about to unfold. Granger took a step off the pavement to walk across, but Draco tugged her upper arm and pulled her back.

She knitted her brows up at him in confusion.

"Run." He growled.

Granger did not need to hear him twice to know what was required of her. They both took off at a sprint back down the street they originally came from.

Draco whipped his head over his shoulder to see the two men had not held back in chasing after them. Granger took leadership in weaving through the congested crowd while he did not stray far behind her. Their breaths were heavy with the cold wind filling their lungs.

Thunder rolled as they beelined for a flock of people that would assist in holding back their attackers. Draco knew that it was illegal for the hitmen to start throwing curses in an exposed muggle city, but he clung to his wand just in case.

Granger turned a corner swiftly, pulling Draco into an abandoned alley perpendicular to the direction of the street. Their chests heaved in hopes that they would not be seen in the dusky aisle.

A few seconds passed before the two hooded figures darted past their hidden location, unaware of runaways that had fooled them. They both let out a breath of relief as the sky opened up above them with a flood of water. Heavy rain splashed all around them.

Granger did not take even a minute to recoup or recharge. The reckless girl ran through the shower and back onto the open street. Draco had no choice but to trust her instincts and follow.

Through the busy traffic, Granger spotted an isolated vehicle parked on a sideroad. Draco's mind was racing with any other option. As much as he respected her, he did not trust a muggle invention.

"No way." He grunted, knowing full well the plan her brain was sewing together.

"Running is too big of a risk." She reasoned.

Before Draco could even think of an excuse, Granger was already running across the road.

"Hey!" He yelled as he jogged to keep up. "What are you doing?"

"We need to hide where they won't find us!" She bellowed back through the sounds of thick droplets slapping the pavement.

Granger pulled them behind the long red car, crouching at the side door which was hidden from oncoming pedestrians. She flicked her wand and unlocked the vehicle. Two quick beeps and flashing lights indicated she was successful.

"Get in." She instructed, pulling the door open for him.

"Are you fucking crazy? Do you even know how to operate this muggle shit?" He hissed at her.

"Do you trust me?"

"This isn't the fucking time to play trust games-"

"Do you trust me?!" She repeated with more force.

Draco frowned, scanning her up and down from their squatted position. Rain fell from his fringe down onto his plush lips. He licked it away with his tongue.

"Yes." He groaned in response to her question.

"Then get in." She pushed him so he would crawl into the passenger seat.

Draco felt his damp clothes stick to his skin while he sat watching Granger creeping around to the driver's side. She quickly opened the door, jumping in and slammed it closed. He looked behind his seat out the rear view window, panicked that they were going to be caught.

"They'll never suspect us to be in a car."

"They might do, if you don't know how to drive." He exhaled, dark eyes meeting hers.

Granger closed her eyes and cast the perfect spell to start the vehicle. Draco was in awe of how quickly she could think on her feet. He felt the rumble of the car start beneath them.

"Please tell me you know what you are doing."

"I have a slight photographic memory. My father gave me lessons the summer I turned 16. It shouldn't be too hard."

They were going to die, Draco was sure of it.

Granger turned the dial on the dash to flick on the lights on the front of the car so they could see through the dark. Draco took one last look behind them to confirm they were in the clear.

"Don't fuck it up and draw attention. Go as slow as you need to." He encouraged her a little harshly.

Granger steadied her frantic hand that sat on the stick in between them, inhaling and exhaling to calm her breaths. Draco knew she could do this, she just needed to get out of her head. Then, in the rush of the race, he rested his hand on hers. Granger didn't dare look up at him, but he could feel the heat radiating from their touch.

"Put your belt on." She insisted, showing him with her free arm what to do. Draco mirrored her actions, strapping himself in with a click.

Granger used her left foot to press on a pedal below her, and pushed the stick in her palm forward. Draco let go of her hand, letting her do what she needed to do. As much as he needed to feel her, it would have held her back in the long run. He gripped the belt that was across his chest for dear life instead.

Going by memory alone, she turned the wheel and the car started to move, rolling down the road without suspicion. Draco's heart was beating rapidly fast, but tried to keep his cool to not distract her.

"Fuck me, Granger. You're doing it." Draco laughed in shock.

"Hold on tight." She grinned, looking over at him with a smile that spread across her cheeks.

Before he knew it, they were racing down the streets of London, lights blurring past the glass windows. Little did the witch and wizard know that this was child's play compared to the warfare they were about to face.