Chapter 30

Ruined plans

"Hermione!" Pippa burst unceremoniously into the office, making Hermione jump. "You need to come with me right now."

"Why? What is it?" Hermione asked, putting her brush down and wiping her hands on her apron.

"I haven't got time to explain, just come with me right now." Pippa grabbed her arm and almost dragged her out of the office.

Hermione followed her out of the house and saw the cart she had ridden when she first arrived, waiting in the yard. Pippa leapt onto the front athletically and Hermione tried her best to jump on equally gracefully but didn't manage it and fell forward, grabbing the rails.

"Are you okay?" Pippa asked, but she was already moving the cart forward and Hermione didn't bother to answer her, instead concentrating on getting herself upright.

"What's going on?" Hermione repeated her question and Pippa glanced back at her.

"It's Draco, we were with Bernard. Draco had just taken a blood sample and while he was doing that, we were trying to move his enclosure around so we could get into his cave more easily."

Hermione felt her heart begin to thump in her chest. "Is Draco hurt?"

Pippa nodded. "Yes, I think he will be fine – it's just his arm but it looks nasty."

Hermione took a deep breath. Just his arm. That was good. "Bernard is so gentle – I can't believe he would hurt him," she said.

"Oh, it was just an accident," Pippa looked over at Hermione. "You know how curious he is, he was trying to get involved and Draco was in his way."

They rode in silence for another minute before Hermione realised something. "Why are you fetching me?" she asked. "I don't have any medi-wizard training?"

Pippa glanced over at her again, her eyes narrow. "Draco was asking for you."

Hermione couldn't contain her blush and was then immediately annoyed at herself. She could not blush in front of Pippa! Pippa was still staring at her, obviously waiting for her to say something.

"I'm not sure I'll be very much help," Hermione said.

"I don't think he's asking for you to attend to his injury," Pippa said. Her tone annoyed Hermione, it had an unspoken and resentful implication.

"I don't think he is either," she replied, making herself sound confident.

"He was very adamant," Pippa continued. "He must speak to you before we send him off to with the medi-wizard. Didn't realise you'd become so important to him."

Hermione heard Pippa's tone but ignored her as she suddenly had an inkling as to why Draco was so desperate to see her. She was pretty sure, despite their recent relationship, that he didn't need her there to comfort him. She covered a grin at the thought of Draco desperately begging for her to be with him because he was hurt. This must be to do with the trap they were setting. Pippa had said he'd just taken Bernard's blood.

They had reached the enclosure, which was bright, all the large lights on. There was another cart outside by the gate and Hermione could see a small group of people inside the enclosure.

She didn't wait for Pippa and walked into the enclosure, hurrying over towards the group. Toby saw her and came running over.

"He's okay, Hermione," he said. "It's a nasty break the medi-wizard says. He's not attempting to fix it here as it could mean re-breaking it at the hospital."

Hermione grimaced at the thought. "Sounds awful."

"Draco said he had to speak to you before he went. He was adamant about it." Toby looked at her enquiringly, obviously expecting an explanation but Hermione ignored his question.

Pippa caught them up. "Where's Bernard?" she asked Toby.

"They've taken him out to south field," Toby waved his hand. "He's fine but we needed him out of the way for now."

Pippa nodded. "I'll go and get him, once we have Draco sorted."

They had reached the gathered group and Hermione could see Draco who was lying on a blanket on the floor. He looked pale, his eyes glazed and he seemed to be holding himself stiff. There was a middle-aged wizard waving his wand over him.

"We need to expediate you to the hospital, Mr Malfoy," he was saying but Draco was shaking his head.

"Draco?" Hermione stepped forward and Draco winced as he turned towards her.

"You must stay perfectly still," the Medi-wizard looked at Draco disapprovingly.

"I need to speak to Hermione in private," Draco said. His voice didn't have its usual commanding tone but the staff around him did as he asked and moved away until she was the only one within ear shot.

She could see Pippa, Clem and Toby standing just to one side watching them intently but she ignored them and bent down low next to Draco.

"Are you okay?" she asked, trying not to look at his arm which was bent in an unnatural angle.

"Fantastic," Draco answered, sarcastically.

"You know what I mean!" Hermione sighed. "Toby said you'll be okay."

Draco grimaced again as he moved just slightly on the floor. "Merlin!" he exclaimed and Hermione looked down at him anxiously. He took a shuddering breath then spoke so quietly she had to lean even closer to hear him. "I've taken all the samples – they all know. I made it really obvious."

Hermione nodded. "Good – where are they?"

"Just at the entrance to the cave – in a tray. I'm going to make a big deal of asking Clem to put them in the fridge but I need you to make sure he does do that."

Hermione nodded. "Don't worry, I can make sure."

Draco gave a little groan and she gave him a sympathetic glance. "I've messed the plan up."

"No – it's fine. I can handle it."

"You have to be careful – you and Luca."

"Yes, we will. I'll make sure he's safe."

"You'll have to do it, just the two of you, until I'm back." Draco shut his eyes and took a deep breath, a wave of pain taking hold. "You'll need to….."

"I know what I need to do," Hermione interrupted him. "You need to go and get fixed. I will take care of everything else."

"Remember to check the…." Draco started to speak again but Hermione held up her hand to silence him.

"I am perfectly capable of dealing with this, Draco," she said, firmly. "I've handled far worse situations than watching a bit of dragon blood." She raised her eyebrows at him, daring him to question her again but he didn't and she stood up. "Take care – let them fix you."

The medi-wizard levitated Draco who groaned loudly as his arm moved.

"Clem," Draco called out and Clem hurried over.

"Yes?"

"The tray of samples, near the cave….it needs to be put in the store room fridge," Draco said, loudly. "Don't forget or we will have to take all the samples again."

Clem nodded. "No problem."

The medi-wizard then held up a broken picture frame and he and Draco disappeared as the Portkey lit up.

Pippa stepped forward. "I'll go and fetch Bernard," she said. She turned to Clem. "Are they blood samples that Draco asked you to store?"

Hermione tried to not show any reaction to her question to Clem, making a show of folding the blanket that Draco had been lying on but she listened intently.

"I think so," Clem said. He sounded perfectly normal.

"What do we need more samples for?" Pippa asked.

"Not sure."

"We had some only a short while ago." Pippa pressed the issue, making Hermione's suspicions sky rocket. She seemed very interested.

"I don't know Pip," Clem said again. "There is obviously a reason and I'm sure we will be allowed to store them on this occasion, given the circumstances."

"I'll take them if you like?" Toby offered. "You can help with Bernard."

"No, it's fine. Draco asked me so I'd better do it," Clem answered.

Hermione saw Pippa leave and she followed Clem towards the cave.

"That was scary, wasn't it?" she asked, falling into stride with him.

"Very." Clem picked up the samples and looked at them curiously.

"Can I walk back with you?" Hermione asked knowing this would allow her to make sure Clem stored the blood.

Clem glanced at her. "Of course you can." He gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "He'll be okay, Hermione. Try not to worry."

They walked back together, Clem carrying the samples.

"Can I ask you something?" Clem said after they were a few minutes away from the enclosure.

Hermione nodded. "Yes? What is it?"

"Is there something going on?"

"What do you mean?"

Clem stopped walking and grabbed her arm. "Well, it's just that yesterday you mentioned storing dragon blood…"

"Oh, that wasn't anything. I was just using that as an example of how Draco sometimes bends the rules," Hermione spoke too quickly, trying to keep her eyes away from the samples Clem had in his hand.

"I didn't say anything in front of Pippa but we did take blood samples not long ago. It is strange that Draco has taken more so soon, especially with the strict rules about dragon blood and as you had mentioned it yesterday…"

"Well, I don't know anything about dragon blood," Hermione tried her best not to sound flustered.

Clem was staring at her intently. "Why did Draco want to speak to you so desperately? Is he in trouble? Are you in trouble?"

Hermione turned away from him and started walking again. "It was about the children. Come on, we need to get back so you can store those safely."

They walked the rest of the way in silence and Hermione knew Clem wasn't being fooled by her lies. Why was she such a terrible liar!? Clem turned towards the storage shed and she followed him, hoping he didn't question why.

While Clem stored the samples in the huge fridge, Hermione took her chance to have a discreet look around. The mezzanine, accessed by some sturdy looking ladder steps, covered almost half the roof area and looked full.

"It's mostly dry food sacks up there," Clem made her jump having finished his task and moved to stand behind her. "And some spare equipment."

Hermione nodded but didn't reply, afraid she might dig an even bigger hole if she started rambling on, instead she changed the subject. "Did you come to a decision about Pippa and feeling like you want to leave?"

Clem ran his hands through his hair. "I dunno, Hermione," he sighed loudly. "I feel like everything is changing here."

"Draco wouldn't want you to leave," Hermione reassured him, hoping that this was true because it would depend on who was involved in the blood thefts. "You certainly shouldn't leave because of Pippa." Hermione felt a little anxious knot in her stomach, remembering Draco. "I hope Draco's doing okay and it's not too painful when they fix his arm."

"I'm sure he's fine, Hermione," Clem reassured her again. "He's tough enough to stand a bit of pain and we know they can mend his arm."

Hermione nodded. "You're right."

"You really do like him, don't you?" Clem asked her, his eyes twinkling.

"Yes, I like him."

"You know what I mean."

"I do know exactly what you mean," Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "But we were talking about your love life, not mine."

"Sad fact is neither of us have a love life, do we?" Clem gave a chuckle and Hermione grinned at him.

Suddenly, there was sharp, scraping noise outside the store and both she and Clem turned to face in the direction the noise had come from. Clem went to speak but Hermione stepped forward and placed her finger across his lips, shaking her head. Whoever that was, they couldn't find them standing here. That would ruin the whole plan!

She tried to convey to Clem with just her expression that he needed to remain silent whilst pointing to the stairs that lead to the mezzanine. He looked at her puzzled but thankfully took her instructions without question and they climbed the stairs to the mezzanine, just as the barn door opened.

They didn't have time to crouch down so Hermione just stood very still and desperately hoped that the person entering the barn didn't look up. She was shocked to see Liam closing the door behind him and walking straight over to the fridge. What was he doing here? She didn't even know he was on the reserve; she hadn't seen him for days and days.

Clem tapped her on the shoulder and lifted his arms questioningly but she couldn't explain so she just indicated that he be quiet again. Liam had opened the fridge and Hermione watched with bated breath to see what he would do. He reached in and took something from the shelves. Hermione leant forward to see what it was but he had his back turned. Whatever it was, Liam had very little reason to be here and no reason at all that she could think of to be taking anything from the fridge.

Clem took a step forward and the floorboard made a creaking sound. He froze and Hermione held her breath. Liam looked across the barn at the door but he didn't look up. Hermione was sure he'd look up at any moment but after what seemed like an eternity, he turned back towards the fridge, replaced whatever was in his hand and walked briskly out of the barn.

After a few seconds, Hermione let out the breath she had been holding and turned towards Clem. He had his arms folded across his chest; his face serious.

"What the hell is going on, Hermione?" he demanded.