tw: minor character death
When the night fell, she dreamt of him.
His fingers around her neck, and his lips devouring her lush pair, in an insatiable kiss. He was begging and pleading with her to surrender but she was fighting despite her body arching to welcome his touch, and her mind pleased with the warmth that had embraced them both that moment.
In her dream, she could feel the lightning bolt that surged through her being, and her magic slowly awakened and like a swirl, wrapped around Draco, bounding him to her.
They were back in the castle, she could see the cold waves crashing against the shores through the window while his lips remained latched to her pulse carving a signature of his own that would remain there for the next days to come.
And then, she heard her.
Her voice was distant, and her laugh manic.
She stared at Draco, whose pupils were blown and his lips were swollen and she stared at him, reluctant to let him go to tell him that they had to run.
Bellatrix was coming to get her, to torture her, to destroy her and even death would have been the the sweetest way out, the privilege that she didn't have.
Draco slowly let her go and Hermione's lips parted in a quiet protest. He hadn't heard a word because her screams were muffled and then she was pulled down into the cold waters of Scotland, struggling to push herself to the surface.
"Dancing with the enemy" the voice spoke, and she tried to look around only to be met with nothing but the faint light from the surface above.
"You get what you deserve" the voice spoke and as she felt the agonizing pressure in her lungs, she screamed, water filling her lungs.
Her hand pressed to her chest, she was hyperventilating, Her mind was clouded, she couldn't see where she was, and it told her she was still in the depths of the sea, drowning and panic washed over her. She barely noticed the long arms wrap around her, pulling her close. Hermione trashed around in response, determined to free herself from the hold and reach the surface.
"Granger" he whispered, keeping his arms tight around her petite frame.
"It's okay, it's just a bad dream" he whispered, and he held her until her breathing became steady and shallow. Slowly, she came to life, following his guiding voice, she searched for him everywhere in the dark abyss that was her mind.
She saw the emerald green thread that came searching for her and she held onto it tightly, and followed it, her muscles relaxing when his voice became louder and more clear. And she stared at him, eyes fixated on his gray ones.
"Draco" she whispered, taking a deep shaky breath.
His hand pressed against her cheek, searching her eyes and she blinked a few times as if trying to make sure that she was truly there, in his arms and it wasn't her mind mocking her and playing tricks.
"It was just a bad dream" he whispered again.
Her hand pressed against his chest, and she then saw that it was bare. She looked around and sighed in relief that she was in her room, pulling her knees to her chest, she curled up on his lap. She couldn't control the cold shivers that made her tremble and she felt his arms tighten around her figure. She could hear him whisper to her but she couldn't make out what he said.
This wasn't her first nightmare, she'd had many of them before. Images changed every time, it was her parents, Harry, Ron and her friends, images from what actually happened to imaginary ones, loud threats that were thrown into the air and Hermione always managed to snap out of it quickly even when she was in her weakest state, when she begged the almighty to take her soul away.
And yet, she stumbled and fell. She couldn't snap out of this one that easily. Hermione buried her face into his collarbone, and sobbed quietly. She did so on instinct, for a moment forgetting that she was in Draco Malfoy's arms. She could hear his voice whispering to her, he didn't stop, in fact she felt his fingers moving in circles on her back and she sighed, a part of her relieved that she wasn't alone, in a cage but, at least there was someone who was willing to hold her.
Physical intimacy and warmth were the things she had craved when she was alone. She realized fairly quickly how awful loneliness felt. She couldn't remember a day when she wasn't with her parents or with Harry and Ron and suddenly, they were gone, and she hated it. Though her body experienced pain, it was her mind that struggled the most, fighting every day to remain strong and looking for courage to remain hopeful.
Hermione's sobs became quieter and her heavy eyelids, swollen and stained with tears gave in to the heaviness that wrapped her in a warm embrace and she didn't feel him shift under her to place her back on the bed.
A soft caress to her forehead, and a barely there kiss to her reddened eyelids.
"You are safe. Remember, I promised to keep you safe"
"For how long will you be gone?"
Draco glanced towards Pansy briefly then, ignoring her intrusive stare as he focused on his breakfast plate. It had been a morning filled with tension and he knew that his best friends sensed the shift in the air. Though they all refused to comment on it, knowing that it was best to leave him alone and give him a chance to speak when he was ready, Pansy had very little patience, desperate to get down to the source of his discomfort.
"Maybe three or four days, whatever the Dark Lord commands"
He noticed her silence, and put his fork down, leaning against the chair. "Spit it out, P"
She sighed, "Are you worried about the trip or is there something else that is on your mind?"
Draco glanced towards Blaise who occupied a spot on his left side across from Pansy. He was holding his tea cup but, intently staring at Draco.
"No, I am not worried about the trip" he replied, unsure of how to explain what had taken place during the night.
Draco was used to nightmares, he'd had countless of them since the beginning of his sixth year in Hogwarts. And they had gradually gotten worse over time until he cast his first killing curse. With the second, and third, and more that followed, they slowly vanished, replaced by an odd feeling of shallow emptiness that accompanied him to sleep and greeted him when he woke up.
Perhaps, he wasn't ready to admit out loud that ever since she had come into his life, he felt less empty inside. His chest, that was once filled with warmth, had turned cold long ago but she had made things a lot more tolerable. And he wasn't used to seeing her weak and vulnerable. The insufferable muggle girl that had annoyed the living light out of him for most of his life, was meant to be strong and annoying not, weak and broken.
He had heard her screams and rushed to be at her side, what had greeted him shocked him and it was worse than seeing her locked in a cage. He felt the tension in his shoulders and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't shake off his discomfort, his mind worrying if she would be alright. After all, there was a limited amount of help that he could offer her and he understood that she needed care, probably longer term, than he could provide at that moment.
"She is not ready," he added, refusing to meet their gaze. With a frown, he sipped on his tea instead.
"She never will be" it was Blaise who spoke first, shrugging his shoulders when he was met with Pansy's widened eyes. "She is weak, and wasting your time and thus, ours by default."
"Blaise-!" Pansy interrupted, but he was unfazed by his lover's tone and glare.
"Did you really think she would be okay after what she had been through? Shit- even I wouldn't want my worst enemy in hands of Bella. Not for a day or two let alone for months-"
Draco didn't respond, he listened, his frown deepening and the tea in his cup getting colder as seconds went by.
"You should have considered it before saving her, Drake. I will blindly follow you anywhere, you know that but, should we really be trusting a mud-" he paused, when Pansy had kicked him straight in the leg under the table. He groaned, and with pursed lips continued,"Should we really be trusting a muggle girl who is damaged? Her place is in St. Mungo's not here. You expect too much from her-"
"I frankly disagree" Pansy reached to hold onto Draco's hand. "I think we should give her more credit even though she is a Gryffindor, an insufferable, very opinionated and terribly annoying sidekick of Potter's. Did we all forget the amount of times those three idiots had gotten into big trouble and how every time they came out of it unhinged?"
"Did you forget the time when Potter died like a loser?" Blaise protested.
Pansy scoffed, curling her arms around her chest. "And she survived. You focus on the fact that she is not stable, my love. And I agree with you. But, who really is in this world we live in?" she stood up, her hands shaking. "You should focus on the fact that despite everything she had endured in Bella's hands, she survived. So, why don't we give her more credit for that instead of claiming that she needs to be hospitalized instead?"
Her voice had gotten up a notch, and both wizards were familiar with what that meant. Draco didn't reply, he knew that she had a point but he'd allow her lover to deal with her. Thankfully, he had no such responsibility towards Pansy any longer.
"I am not a fan of hers, and you both know that I never was but, at least I acknowledge a drop of pride I feel towards her because she is a strong witch and I would appreciate it if the two important men in my life would acknowledge that too-" with a huff, she turned to the right and walked towards the door.
Blaise scrambled on his feet to follow his lover but both were stunned to find Hermione on the other side of the door. She had tears in her eyes, and her shoulders were hunched forward and she lowered her gaze, chewing on her lip.
"We will continue our lessons in the afternoon" Pansy was the first one to speak. Her voice was softer and she had a forced smile on her face. Hermione instantly recognized it, a cover of sorts that masked Pansy's true emotions. "Now go in and have some breakfast" she urged her and she didn't look back, walking away.
Blaise followed his girlfriend in silence, desperately trying to reach for her hand.
Hermione hesitated and though the door to the dining room was wide open, she didn't dare to venture inside. She had overheard the entire conversation, and it made her slightly uncomfortable knowing that Pansy had stood up for her. Despite the new light she had seen them in, she couldn't help but think if it was all to take advantage of her. She still had trust issues. And then, her heart ached for reasons she couldn't explain at that very moment.
"I know you are outside, I can see you" she heard him speak and with a hesitant step, she stepped through the open door.
He was sitting at the head of the table, a deep frown on his face. And suddenly, she felt too conscious about what had happened during the night.
She had assumed that she had dreamt it all, his embrace, his soothing words, the gentle caresses of his hand.
And the light kiss to her temple.
A part of her was still convinced that her mind had made it all up.
But maybe, she was wrong because, in a few blinks of her eyes, he was standing in front of her, his hand on her cheek.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, as gently as he could, unable to get rid of the tension in his shoulders and on his face.
And that moment, when his hand touched her cheek, she felt a shiver run up her spine, and she watched his eyes widen when she tilted her head slightly to the left to rub her cheek against his hand. She was wrong, she wasn't dreaming because she felt the familiar tingles of his touch spread across her cheek and the familiar scent and warmth embrace her.
"You were there for me last night-" she said. And she stared into his gray eyes waiting for an answer.
He nodded.
Hermione was unsure what the feeling was that overwhelmed her that moment. A mix of relief that she wasn't losing her mind, and longing. Because she wanted more of the warmth that he had been radiating. She noticed that she didn't feel ashamed at all, on the contrary, she felt comfortable around him, as if their intimate moment from yesterday had bound them together in an odd, magical way.
"Thank you, Draco"
He nodded again and removed his hand, his eyes falling on a light pout that formed on her lips.
"How are you feeling?" he asked again.
"I promise you I am okay. Your friends are right, I am afraid I may never be the same but, I am okay. I am certain that I am not the only one who has had nightmares. War does inexplicable things to us sometimes-" she chuckled awkwardly.
"Do you have them often?" he asked, and took her hand gently in his to guide her to his seat.
"I haven't had any since you saved me"
A soft blush on her cheeks, Hermione hesitated when he pulled the chair for her but she didn't protest and took a seat.
"Would you like to talk about it?" he asked, and grabbed an empty plate, filling it with eggs, ham and fruits.
The blooming blush on her cheeks caught his attention but he avoided staring at it and instead poured her a cup of coffee, with milk and honey and placed it in front of her.
"How did you know?" she stared at him in shock, and was met with his usual smug smirk.
"You forget that the elves answer to me. I do get a report every day of everything you eat, drink, and read"
"You know everything I do?"
"Generally speaking, not that you have many options around the house but, yes"
"I feel uneasy knowing that you are aware of my every move" she stared at her plate, and picked up a slice of an orange pushing it past her lips.
"It isn't my intention to make you feel uneasy. I won't lie that I worry about you-"
She looked up at him, studying his expression. It had softened significantly, and she picked another slice.
"It must be odd for you to worry about me- is it?"
Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he sat back, and contemplated her question for a minute or longer.
"It oddly feels natural-" he admitted, looking at her.
Like a veil lifting, the air between them got lighter. Draco relaxed his shoulders for the first time since he woke up and Hermione had forgotten the scene that she had witnessed on her way to the kitchen to grab some food, having woken up earlier than usual.
"You can feel it too, can you?" she asked, staring at her hands on her lap, bracing herself for a snarky remark or pure hatred that he could unleash towards her even though her mind tried to convince her otherwise.
She felt his hand caress her cheek, and he didn't pull it away when her gaze met his, "Does it really matter?" he asked, and she frowned.
"You asked me to see you as Draco, regardless of our past. If it didn't matter to you, you wouldn't have asked me to do that. If it didn't matter to you, you wouldn't have told me the truth why you got the mark, if it didn't matter to you, you wouldn't have saved Ron just because I asked-"
"And what happens when you realize that I am worse than the Draco Malfoy you have known all your life?" he frowned, and his gaze darkened.
"I know you are not the bratty teenage boy who despised Harry Potter and his friends-" before she could continue he laughed, tilting his head back as his loud laugh filled the room. He pulled his hand away and settled back on his chair. This wasn't the first time he had heard these words, in fact, there were some who wanted to know why he had despised the golden trio so much while they were growing up.
He had never admitted to anyone the childish jealousy he had felt towards Harry Potter.
He sighed.
"It's funny how it hasn't been that long since we all met and yet, here we are, living in a world that is so much different than the one before-"
"The world might have changed, people might have died and some might have survived and thrived but, you are still Draco. And I may not know you as well as your friends but, even I can see and feel that underneath all that, there is a different Draco than the one I have known most of my life-"
Silence fell between them and he stared ahead, at one of the few portraits that hung in the house. Ironically, it was a portrait from the muggle world, it was frozen in the time it was painted. And Draco liked it for that reason, there was no room for spying through portraits, and a lot of privacy that he realized he valued.
"Don't be so confident Granger-" he spoke, and Hermione stared at him with wide eyes, "I recommend learning from your mistakes because, I am confident that you will hate me more once you know who I have become"
"Hate is a very strong word, Draco" she whispered, and tried to reach for his hand.
Draco stood up abruptly, avoiding her gaze and her touch. "I will ask the elves to make you fresh coffee"
Hermione sunk in her chair, watching him walk away. She should have been used to it by now but somehow, she couldn't do anything about it.
Words sealed in between her lips just when she wanted to call his name.
Draco was gone for six days.
On the fourth day in the morning, Hermione woke up to the panicked screams of Pansy who was arguing with Blaise. Their door opened, they didn't pay any attention to Hermione's figure. Instead of standing there awkwardly, she made her way down the stairs and into the sitting room. Theo was pacing restlessly and Hermione paused, unsure of where to hide.
"I don't mean to-" she began clearing her throat in a way that he could hear her, and her words were cut off when Theo stepped forward, his hands gently landing on her shoulders.
"Are you scared?" he asked. And Hermione blinked in response, looking around them.
"Is there a reason why I should be?"
"Pansy could be rather loud when she is upset or worried so, I wouldn't pay her much attention" he gave her the most charming smile and turned her around pushing her towards the couch.
"Let's have some tea. Though I heard you prefer coffee" he added cheekily.
Hermione blushed, clearing her throat, "There are no secrets in this house, huh?"
"Not when the most gossip loving elf I have ever known in my life is in charge of running this house-" Theo called for the elf and ordered them both coffee.
Hermione had noticed the elf give her a cheeky look and she parted her lips and before she could make a comment, the elf disappeared with a loud pop. She sighed, covering her face with her hands before she remembered that she wasn't alone.
"Anyway, why is she upset?" she tried to sound interested, and maybe deep down she was. After all, Pansy was the person that brewed her potions that helped her body heal. And she had to be thankful for that, no matter how outrageous the thought was.
Theo hesitated and rubbed his temples, visibly tensing in front of her. "Draco hasn't returned," he said.
Of course Hermione knew that he was going to be away for three days only or maybe longer. Pansy had spilled that little detail a few nights ago to remind her that she needed to make an effort to learn how to move like Pansy when he was back.
"Is it not normal that he hasn't?" she hesitated, when she noticed the dark circles under Theo's eyes and suddenly, he looked so tired.
"No, ever since we-" he looked at her as if unsure how much he could actually say but Hermione silently encouraged him to go on with a nod of her head. So, he signed in return.
"Ever since we joined the ranks of the Dark Lord, we have had days when we didn't return home. Especially me, because of my rank" he fixed his collar showing off the silver threads. Hermione didn't miss the pride in his eyes and her mind wandered to the story of how he had gotten those threads on his collar.
"But, the commanders always know where we are. And they- the commanders- never disappear for longer than they should"
"Is Draco a commander?"
Theo nodded, with a smirk curling along his lips, "The best one we have" there it was again, the pride edged in the darkest corners of his eyes.
"And Blaise too?"
"Second best we have" he continued, winking her way and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Admittedly, Theo was a natural when it came to making anyone feel at ease. She had misjudged him.
"So commanders always return on time. What do you think could have happened?"
"That's the thing, I have no clue. The commanders directly report to the Dark Lord and he sees and hears everything and given the commotion we had this morning, even he has no idea where Draco is-"
They were interrupted by the elf who appeared with a silver tray with two cups of coffee and two pieces of French toast covered in cinnamon. Hermione felt panic slowly creep in, if Draco was missing, it meant that she was left vulnerable. And if Bellatrix found out, no one could save her from her wrath. As if he had sensed her discomfort, Theo moved closer to the edge of the sofa he sat on and lifted his hand to grab her attention.
"Hey, don't worry Granger. He will come back. He always does-" he tried to encourage her but Hermione could feel the blood brushing to her brain, she pressed her elbows to her knees, hands covering her eyes.
"How can you be so sure, Theo?"
"First of all, he is one of the most brilliant Death- wizards" he corrected himself, clearing his throat, "-I know. Second, he is a stubborn little shit and once he puts his mind to it, he will succeed no matter what and third, he has a reason to be back" he smirked, and Hermione avoided his gaze that screamed all kinds of inappropriate things at her.
"Pansy is worried because she is not out there with us. She has to stay back and wait. She knows what goes on out there. Because, we don't hide from each other and from Blaise, she knows that commanders return no matter what. It's our job" he pointed at himself, "to make sure they do"
"You don't wish to be a commander like them?" she asked, and then covered her mouth, realizing maybe she had stepped out of the line.
Theo smiled, "No, I have no intention of climbing ranks like those two. You might think because I am a Slytherin, it might be my biggest goal given where I am but it's not. Some Slytherins have values believe it or not"
"So Draco has none?" she asked, and he clicked his tongue, reaching to grab his cup of coffee.
"Draco has lost all his remaining values when the war ended but, he seems to have found some again, recently" he smiled knowingly, taking a long sip.
He hummed giving her a thumbs up, "This is really good, Granger-"
Hermione smiled awkwardly at him, and reached for a piece of toast, having decided to eat her worries away.
On the fifth day, the air shifted. The house was filled with tension. Blaise was sent on a mission to locate Draco and his entourage, tracing their steps. Theo was sent to France to make sure that Draco didn't fall into the hands of the resistance. And Pansy had remained in her room, assuring Hermione that if she had any news, she'd tell her.
While everyone was busy worrying about Draco, Hermione remained in her room, staring out of the window, into the backyard. She had barely eaten since it dawned on her that the wizard that had promised her protection had vanished and was nowhere to be found. She remembered her conversation with Theo and she understood why high ranking officials in Voldemort's army were hard to lose. They had a special trace on them through their Dark Mark that enabled Voldemort to watch their every move when they went on their diplomatic missions or to the front lines of the war with the resistance. And Draco's trace was last seen in northern Spain, in the Basque country, on the edges of France.
She wondered what would happen to her if something would happen to him. Would his friends help her? Would Bellatrix kill her in a fit of rage? Would she miss the feel of his hands - No. That wasn't it.
Hermione shook her head, and got on her feet, just when she was about to step outside, Pansy burst into her room. She was clad in the most beautiful robes she had ever seen, a tight emerald green dress underneath. And the heels to match her grace.
"I cannot sit here any longer. I will be going to the Ministry. It is my right as a private citizen to know what happened to him"
"Of course, it is. Please keep me informed if you hear anything"
"Don't do anything stupid Granger. You are safe here and I will be back as soon as I can"
Hermione nodded, and followed the witch down the stairs. She watched Pansy apparate from the front yard behind the wards, and she settled on the couch, pulling her knees to her chest and waited.
On the sixth day, in the late morning, she had received some news from the house elf. Pansy had managed to write a petition and use her connections to get the petition a priority seal. She'd try to see her father that afternoon and hopefully return with some news by the night fall.
Hermione hadn't left her seat, she had accepted a few spoons full of soup and a few cups of coffee and she waited. Nervously, her head aching, because of all the scenarios she had run in her mind.
When the night fell, there was a loud sound in the front yard and a loud thud. Hermione flinched from where she sat and thought that it was Pansy that had returned. She moved closer to the window to see why it was taking the witch so long when she was met with a figure lying unconsciously on the green grass.
It was Draco.
She could recognize his blonde hair anywhere, so she ran barefoot, stumbling a few times.
"Draco!" she called for him, and fell on her knees at his side.
He was pale, and his chest was covered in wet liquid. Hermione touched him, nudging him so he'd open his eyes and then, she noticed the crimson liquid staining her palm.
"Oh Merlin-" she almost sobbed, desperately trying to call him to consciousness. "Draco! Please" her hand cupped his cheek, and she leaned whispering his name over and over.
She was all alone, with no magic and she didn't know what to do. She called for the house elf that appeared with a pop beside her and urged her to bring Draco into the house. When they disappeared, Hermione struggled to find strength to get back up on her feet but she pushed herself, despite all the numbing pain that she felt.
Her ears were buzzing and she followed the elf's voice that called for back-up, and Draco. She rushed into his room, and was met with a ghastly sight. His blood covered uniform was long gone, a deep cut across his abdomen, and deep lacerations across his arms, he was wearing his pants only. His face was bruised and so pale that for a brief second, she was convinced that he was dead.
She rushed to his side, and studied his wounds.
"I have no magic. I can't do anything-" she screamed. The elves that surrounded her brought over options, bandages and ran diagnostics.
Hermione studied the diagnostics, with a frown and then, she was nudged by the smaller elf who held a kit in her tiny hands. "This is for Miss-" she told her.
Hermione opened the kit, and stared with her mouth open. There were surgical blades, a few different types of forceps, scissors, bandages, even morphine. "How did you get these?" she asked the elf, who shrugged her shoulders.
"Mistress Pansy keeps one hidden here and one in the castle just in case-" the elf said before attacking Draco's heavy boots to remove them one by one.
Hermione had a vague idea about what to do. The eldest of elves and her got to the business straight away. There was no need to use morphine because they had various potions. She quickly disinfected the large wound, "Oh Merlin, help me!" she murmured to herself gently beginning to stitch the large wound, after she disinfected her hands with a vial of alcohol she had found in the kit, her hand shaking as she held onto the forceps. The smaller elf began to use healing charms on smaller easier cuts around Draco's arms, using a few droplets from various potions to keep the wounds clean.
By the time she finished and they wrapped the large wound with a bandage across his torso, her hands were trembling, and tears were running down her cheeks. Her hands and shirt were covered in blood, and she sobbed surrounded by elves who had tears in their eyes. The eldest elf cleared the equipment and empty bottles of potions, leaving only a few at his bedside table and the youngest came to hold Hermione's trembling hand, whispering words of encouragement.
Half an hour later when Hermione returned, all showered, and dressed, she pulled a cover above his legs, tucking him under its softness and took a seat on the chair beside him. His paler than usual features made her feel anxious and she prayed to Merlin that he could make it through the night.
"Miss should eat or Master Draco will be very upset" the elf popped in with a tray. Hermione's eyes watered, and she rubbed them with her hands.
"He will be upset, won't he" she murmured.
The elf placed the tray on the table, and left her alone. Hermione stared at the bowl of soup and a few pieces of bread and gulped. She hadn't eaten in so long, she couldn't really when she was anxious thinking of all the worst possibilities.
"You have to wake up, Draco" she whispered, leaning closer. Her hand trembled and reached to hold his. It felt cold under her touch and for the first time, she realized that she was holding on to his long digits. They were bruised on the knuckles, and there were fresh cuts and old ones. And she caressed each and every one of them with her finger tips. They both carried so many scars and her mind was filled with so many "what if's".
She couldn't help but study his face. She realized she had never looked at him properly to notice every single detail and it was her turn to caress his cheek, gently with the back of her hand.
"Don't sleep forever, Draco…please don't"
He opened his eyes as if he was a forgotten soldier on the battlefield. He inhaled a sharp breath, feeling an ache in his abdomen, hissing instantly. He could barely move, there was a weight on his chest and he struggled to breathe. It took him a long minute to realize that he, in fact, had made it home. And he was in his bed. Then, he noticed a familiar pair of eyes filled with worry and tears staring back at him.
"How long have I been out?" he barely spoke, his throat dry and itchy. He coughed and Pansy rushed to his side, to pour him a glass of water, pressing it to his lips.
"Six or seven hours. I returned two hours ago and found you two like this" she motioned with her hands.
Draco frowned and turned to his side, finally noticing what or who had been constricting his movement. Hermione's head was pressed to the side of his shoulder, and her growing small hairs were stabbing his skin, causing it to turn red in places.
"What is she doing here?" he asked, whispering but not pulling his gaze away from her.
"The elves said she saved your life and then, remained at your side ever since"
"Stupid girl" he murmured, after a minute of silence and leaned his head towards her, to inhale her scent. His free hand moved to caress her head, and he closed his eyes, thanking the Merlin that he had made it back in one piece.
Pansy took her wand out and quickly ran diagnostics, for the second time in the past hour.
Draco squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed a lump edged in the depths of his throat. "She should rest properly" he looked at the witch. He was fighting again, the urge to touch her, the urge to keep her there at his side. But, he knew it was the worst idea possible.
"Don't worry-" Pansy whispered, and gently touched his arm, elevating Hermione with her wand.
Draco sighed, and stood up, his hand covering the bandages wrapped around his stomach. He had some letters to write, contingency plans just in case he wouldn't make it alive. But his stubborn self knew that he would. He would be the last one standing if it needed to be.
He was betrayed and they were ambushed and he had known since the moment they stepped into the safe house.
The more experienced Death Eaters had mocked him for his idea of having safe houses across Europe, but he spent a little over a month convincing the Dark Lord that they couldn't trust their victory in the war or their cockiness to keep them safe in the aftermath. Draco had hand selected his closest allies within the new ranks and personally identified the locations, warded the perimeters and made sure that they had a safe place to stay during their long and rather unpredictable travels to work on Dark Lord's behalf.
But, he was betrayed. And it shook him to his core. Because, Draco had always believed that he had invested enough in his relationships; personal or professional that people would always remember the favors they owed him. Or maybe, rather than celebrating the loyalty, he saw his relationships as business transactions, just like his father had taught him.
Thus, it shouldn't surprise him that there was a higher bidder. And one of his men had been bought out.
Magic aside, his gut screamed that something was wrong. The house felt too quiet, too eerie and Draco reached for his hand before hexes flew at him from all directions.
They were expecting him. They knew he'd show up in the safe house, on that day, at that exact time instead of heading to a local hotel.
And they had been prepared, brutal almost.
Draco had done his best, to defend himself and then, attack ruthlessly, sending silent killing curses left and right. Black and white shadows danced together, and the inside of the house, in the quiet Spanish countryside was lightened with hexes and curses that filled the serene air.
Crabbe was the first to fall, in an attempt to cover Draco because it had become clear that the attack was aimed at him because his men had formed a half circle around him, meeting the hexes and curses that flew his way.
Then, it was Marcus Flint, the side of his neck was severely damaged and the Death Eater fell with his hand wrapped around his neck, unable to stop the blood that kept gushing from his wound.
He had made the decision to fall back, and the remaining Death Eaters apparated with him in a cloud of smoke, one after another.
They had to go into hiding in order to ensure their safe return. If the safe house was compromised, the others could be too, including the portkeys. He had to get rid of the trace that was magically placed on his Dark Mark even though he was aware of the implications. They were not allowed to get rid of it, and if they did, it meant that they were defecting and didn't want to be found.
The betrayal came from deep within, because every possible move carved out by Draco, in case of emergencies had been compromised and they were tracked down like animals for two days, more men fell to ensure their commander would get to safety and Draco stubbornly remained behind to defend his men in return.
He had noticed easily that the Order had grown in numbers, he was met with new faces every time, from one spot to another, across different parts of southern France and northern Spain.
And then, he saw him.
A hint of red hair, that sent him the last curse that cut through his abdomen. Fucking Weasley.
Draco cursed at himself and at Hermione, was this how the blood traitor chose to repay Draco for saving his life? Draco had fallen on his knees, his leather glove covered in blood but, before he could find strength to apparate, using the last portkey that was hidden under an oak tree, that would take him to one of his last destinations that only he knew of, he saw a glimpse of a familiar face.
He could recognize the fear in the men's eyes anywhere.
Draco purposefully removed his mask so that the man could see the intention in his eyes. Even if he chose to betray Draco and the Dark Lord, he was going to pay in the most awful ways possible.
Draco smirked, his gaze fixed only on the wizard that had betrayed them all and vanished with a pop, before the others could reach him.
He had written a few letters that morning, but one of them was very specific.
Find Avery's daughter and wife. Bring them to me. - D.L.M
The moment she opened her eyes, she rushed to his room. Unsure of how she had gotten into her bed, Hermione pushed all the questions to the side, and wanted to see if he was still alive first. Panic washed over her when she was met with his empty bed, it was well made as if he hadn't never laid in it. She had wondered if she had been hallucinating instead, rubbing her temples.
The house had been quiet. Unlike the silence that had accompanied her in the last days, it was the calm kind of quiet. And she went down the stairs to see if anyone was home. She was met with Pansy who was busy picking fabrics, as if nothing had happened. There was no sign of sleepless nights and worry on her face. Hermione truly struggled to understand how they were capable of doing that.
And then, she had seen fear in Pansy's eyes and a sense of relief when their gazes met. Her dainty fingers were trembling as they held onto the expensive fabrics spread around the couch.
"Pansy-" Hermione whispered, cautiously albeit.
"He is with the Dark Lord" the reply was fast, as if the witch knew the questions Hermione was going to ask. "He left this morning with Blaise and no, I don't know when they will return. These things usually if not almost always take an unexpected turn. It is the Dark Lord, after all."
Hermione let out a shaky breath, she was relieved that he was up on his feet even though it didn't guarantee a thing about his wellbeing but the fear lingered and refused to let her go.
"Did he tell you what happened?"
She couldn't help it, she had so many questions but, she felt utterly numbed with the possibilities because, Draco wasn't out of the dark waters, he wasn't home and that could mean many things and all seemed to be not in the favor of Hermione's wellbeing and future.
Pansy pursed her lips, and looked away. There was something about her expression that hinted at anger and disgust.
"They were ambushed. Vincent, Marcus and a few others are dead-" her voice trembled, and Hermione took a step forward almost reaching out to the witch but she paused, reminding herself that she was not a friend and not to be trusted.
Pansy stared at Hermione, and she bitterly spat out the names one more time, "It's Vincent Crabbe and Marcus Flint in case your pretty brain couldn't connect the dots-"
Hermione nodded, but remained silent. Of course she knew who they were. Though she didn't have the best memories of them, if there were any but, she knew because they had spent years together at Hogwarts. She could tell that Pansy was in pain, angry even. It was written all over her features and though the witch had a moment of weakness and showed her emotions, Hermione so badly wanted to remind her that war was cruel and death was inevitable. There were many who have been grieving.
She had also lost her best friend and many more who she fought alongside during the war. But, she swallowed her pain and bit her lip. Instead, she did the unthinkable and stepped forward, grabbing the black velvet fabric.
"I always found the texture of velvet to be rather on the harsher side"
Pansy stared at her, blinking absentmindedly and then, she straightened her shoulders and stepped closer to Hermione, showing her another roll of red chiffon instead. "It wouldn't look good on you anyway. You'd drown under the fabric, but chiffon would do you justice. Even though it is also a type of velvet-if you don't mind that is, or we can always go for silk"
"Are you really asking for my opinion, Parkinson? Hey- not that I am complaining" a soft chuckle left Hermione's lips and she traced her fingers across the chiffon, liking the redness of it.
"I do, but I think red would be a bad choice for the ball. No one has ever seen me wear red, so how about silk either in black or emerald green?"
Hermione understood that very moment that it was the witch's way to say, thank you for not allowing me to sob and whine. Thank you for giving me a distraction.
She nodded, glad that they might have found an understanding with each other for the first time in years, "Silk sounds wonderful and I'd let you pick the color"
She wasn't sure if he'd show up that night. And despite the uncertainty, she waited for him, wrapped in a blanket, sitting by the stone stairs at the front of the house. Pansy had cast a warming charm around her after they spent most of the way going over her ideas of gowns for the big night. Hermione had played her part and remained silent, allowing the witch to grieve.
In return Pansy had revealed that she had kept a muggle general surgical kit and some other muggle supplies in hand because of Hermione, knowing that she couldn't use her magic and just in case something like that would have happened and Pansy wasn't around. It surprised Hermione to say the least but she applauded the witch's intellect to Pansy's surprise and light blush on her cheeks.
Pansy had warned her that he might not return that night but Hermione wanted to make sure of that herself. She'd wait for as long as it was needed. There were things she wanted to say to him and she was going to say them without waiting for another day for him to get hurt or possibly never return.
Her eyes were closing, and she knew it was past midnight because about forty minutes or so ago, she had heard the clock in the sitting room chime and she heard a loud cracking sound and sat up, rubbing her eyes.
The moment their gazes met, she threw the blanket off her shoulders and lounged forward, running barefoot on the cold grass. She wasn't sure if he'd push her away but, nothing really mattered that moment.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips when he opened his arms, and wrapped her against his chest. She could see that it came as a shock to him too and she wasn't sure if it was her running into his arms or him welcoming her that shocked him most. It didn't matter, they could feel the invisible thread that tied them together and Draco struggled to explain the mix of emotions he was feeling.
Pain from losing one of his best friends, relief that he was alive and back at home, and his heart was beating as if on steroids the moment he saw her figure running towards him. He didn't give away his physical discomfort, his wounds were still fresh after all but, she could see it from the dark circles under his eyes that it had been a challenge for him.
She tried to pull away, but he didn't let her. Instead he stared down at her, with a frown adorning his face, nothing new just the usual.
"You saved me."
Hermione shook her head, in protest, "It was beginner's luck, really. How are you feeling?" she asked, cupping his cheek and to her surprise, he didn't pull away and instead he leaned in closing his eyes.
"Like shit but I will survive. Trust me, I have had it worse"
"Draco, I am so sorry about your friends" she whispered, and waited for his reaction.
Though she didn't know all the details, she waited for him to lash out or say things that could potentially be painful because she understood that grief was unpredictable but that reaction never came.
Draco opened his eyes and stared at her, searching her cognac orbs to see if she really had meant her words. His features had softened when he saw nothing but honest intent and he held her closer in response.
"Why did you help me, Granger?"
"Because, no one deserved to die like that" she replied, and he chuckled, leaning forward to press his forehead against hers.
"Sneaky little witch" he commented, and Hermione's eyes were filled with tears. She didn't pull away because she didn't want him to see her cry and question why she was doing so. Because, frankly, she had no idea.
It was just she had realized that she didn't want to lose him.
The truth was, she had seen him in a different light since the sixth year. She had defended him over and over, and hoped that she was right. When he remained silent and didn't give away Harry's identity at the Manor, she knew that there was still hope to save his soul. And she could understand easily why he chose to protect his family over everyone else. She would have done the same and she has been doing the same for as long as she could remember for Harry and Ron had been her family too.
He had saved her and whatever the reasons he might have had for doing so, because she was sure that it wasn't as simple as helping her because she asked. But, he did and ever since he had asked her to see him as Draco, she was delighted by the opportunity and she knew she didn't want to lose him.
She had come so close the night before, so she whispered quietly against his lips. "I wanted to tell you that I am thankful, Draco. That you have saved me and you have opened up to me. That you have trusted me enough to bring me here and that you have saved Ron because I asked you to when you didn't have to do anything at all"
He tensed at the mention of the wizard's name and pulled away with a deep frown. "Granger, I am not who you think I am. I will hurt you no matter what. Whatever this is- that has been messing with my mind- it will end badly"
And she knew he was right.
"I know you keep me in the dark because you fear I will hate you when I know the whole truth. But, I trust that every decision you make will be not because you are a bad human, Draco-"
He wanted to tell her that very moment, all the things he had planned to do to two innocent women who were to be punished by Draco's hands for the betrayal of their father and husband but he kept his mouth shut. He wanted to tell her that it was the same Weasley boy she was begging him to save that threw the hex at him that almost sliced him in half and that the next time, he saw him, he wouldn't spare his life no matter how much she begged but, he remained silent, giving in to the version of himself that came out whenever she was around.
"I can't stop thinking about you, Granger. And all the ways you make my mind, soul and body react"
Hermione shivered, in his arms and closed her eyes, unable to believe the words she was about to speak.
"Don't stop-"
Draco tensed visibly, and cupped her face, "Don't ask for things you won't be able to handle, Granger"
"I have handled more than you can imagine, Malfoy. Listen to your ex-girlfriend when she says how strong I really am"
He had noticed how she referred to Pansy as his ex-girlfriend not as his best friend and his heart tugged at the thought and he knew she felt it against his chest.
"Granger…" he whispered, and she stared at his lips momentarily, before staring into his deep gray eyes.
"Don't fight it, Malfoy- I think I know that fighting it, is rather useless at this point"
He fell silent and studied her stubborn face. He knew that no matter how much he'd try to convince her to walk away, to forget him, she wouldn't. And he wouldn't be able to either.
Every night, since he had heard her beg for him to help her, he thought of how the war had transformed him. How he went from despising a witch because everyone he knew told him he should because of her blood status, and yet, when he saw her in that cage, she was just a human who chose to do the right thing he couldn't do. And he wondered every night if things would have been different if he was just Draco, not a pureblood heir, but just a regular boy named Draco.
He fought his mind every night, and lost. Because, when he looked past the war, the sides they took, what they believed in, she was beautiful, strong, intelligent and terribly stubborn and carried all qualities that he found to be noble and couldn't find in any witch that he had ever known all his life.
Draco didn't know when he actually gave up, fighting the side of his brain that found her attractive and wanted more of her.
"Granger," he whispered, "I might not be the person you want, but I am the person you'll crave"
Draco had stopped fighting, even though he knew that he'd hurt her terribly when she'd learn the truth and he knew that they wouldn't be able to be together in this world they lived in.
And Hermione wanted to confess to him that he was already the person she craved. For reasons she had accepted and understood and for reasons that yet to be revealed.
But, both knew that they were doomed that very moment when they stopped fighting against the current that was taking them into the waters unknown.
In southern France, in a muggle town of Lourdes, one of the major Catholic pilgrimage sites, stood a house, tucked away on the edges of the town. In the hidden rooms underneath, Ron Weasley had pushed Death Eater Avery against the wall, his brother Bill wrapping his arms around him to pull him back.
"Ron, calm down. Let him go"
"Why should I? Just because he snitched on his own kind? He is still a Death Eater. It was a mistake to bring him here-" Ron groaned, and pressed his elbow onto Avery's throat, and the wizard trashed under him, but gave up a few seconds later.
"Let him go" Bill had whispered in his ear, and Ron reluctantly lowered his arms and pulled away abruptly, punching a desk repeatedly instead until it broke in half.
"I had him right in front of him and I let him slip away" Ron groaned, rubbing his face with his hand.
"We can't go back in time, Ron. We did our best, Malfoy suffered significant losses and that matters" Bill frowned and motioned for Avery to take a seat.
"That won't be enough. Malfoy saw this bloody bastard so, what difference will it make now?"
They had been interrogating him for days since he showed up one night at one of their safe houses and informed them of an upcoming attack. The order didn't believe him at first but, when their intelligence had confirmed it, they evacuated in time, allowing Avery to defect. They took him as a prisoner and held him locked until he was ready to talk. And talk he did.
Bill sighed, he knew that Ron was right but he tried to look at things from a more positive perspective.
The door opened and a familiar laugh boomed in the darkened room to Avery's surprise.
"My, my. And I thought the rumors were false. Darling, Avery I had no idea you were such a shitty person"
The female walked in, with long strides with confidence that all the eyes in the room were fixed on her beauty.
"You have caused quite a scene I heard. Aren't you worried about your wife and daughter and what the Dark Lord will do to them?" her hand slid down Avery's shoulder and she chuckled softly, "Of course not, otherwise you wouldn't be here, a Death Eater turned a defector"
Avery showed no remorse, though his shoulders were slouched forward, he remained silent and the female showed her disgust, by spitting at his face.
"Antoinette" Bill spoke softly, and kissed the female on her cheeks. "I was expecting you tomorrow"
The female waved her hand gracefully, taking off her glove to show off her delicate fingers. She proceeded to remove her fascinator and took a seat on one of the empty chairs, crossing her legs, and pulling out a cigarette from her purse.
Bill stepped closer and lighted it with a tip of his wand.
"I have news" she stared at Ron, with a brow raised. He stared at her, and softened his features. She had been an immense help and support to the Order and it would be unfair to lash out on her.
She was one of the women who visited Hogwarts from Beauxbaton Academy, a classmate of Fleur's. A renowned beauty in France, she was a member of one of the oldest noble houses. And for her reputation of being a courtesan. She had charmed her way into the beds of many aristocratic and powerful men across Europe, wizards or muggle and though at first, she did so to entertain herself, she soon found the power she held over the men and took full advantage of it.
When the outcome of the war had turned, she had offered one of her family's homes in France to the Order while she continued to play her part as a courtesan and as a loyal member of the Aubigny family who supported Voldemort's new regime.
Bill asked her to give him a minute and he took Avery by his arm, dragging him outside into one of the cells. In moments like that, it worked in their favor that they used one of the oldest manors in France as a base.
"She is alive, and will be at the big ball with the Malfoy boy-" she spoke once he returned, closing the door behind him.
Ron stepped closer, eyes wide and before he could say a word, she silenced him with a flick of her wrist.
"Did you think it was a wise idea to hex him, Ron? Even though he is the one who saved you from getting the death kiss"
Ron froze, and Antoinette smirked, raising a brow as she stared at Bill.
"I haven't had the time to tell him. Actually, I had plenty of times but I wasn't sure how you'd react" he turned to Ron.
"It was Malfoy-?"
"Yes, he made it look like it was the Order but, the truth is it was all him"
"So what? You are saying he is on our side?" Ron questioned, with a scoff. It was hard to believe that the little boy that spent most of his youth jealous of Harry and throwing insults at the tree of them every day would be willing to move his ass to do anything good in this world.
"Not exactly-" Bill replied, a bit awkwardly.
"That is not important or relevant" Antoinette intervened. "I would appreciate it if you will stop behaving like a baboon Ronald" her heavy accent showed as her features were veiled, leaving no trace of a flirty female that had entered the room.
"We need to make it clear that you cannot go after Malfoy and if you try, you will be stopped. This is so much bigger than the Order and I expect that you will hold on to your promises Bill-"
"He slipped in the night without my permission-" Bill defended himself, but Antoinette wasn't impressed.
"Maybe, the Order needs a new leader who isn't a Weasley-" she suggested, and put out her cigarette on the old wooden desk.
"We can't have you jeopardizing the mission. So, instead of Ronald here, I suggest Ginevra to show up on the big day. At least one of you Weasleys has some sense and bone" she took out a red lipstick and began applying it slowly across her lips, staring at the mirror in her hand.
"That is not negotiable-" she added, and Ron lowered his head, trying to contain his anger.
"Now, let's talk about how the Order plans to extract her right under the Dark Lord's nose and I will see what I can do to improve your plans- "
She smiled innocently, earning herself a groan from Ron that she had expertly ignored.
a/n: thank you for your kind reviews! keep'em coming please! a few notes:
1. the updates will be once a week, on Wednesdays! as you can see chapters are getting longer and things are slowly taking off for our characters! and i need time to plan things out in my mind so it is a decent read at least!
2. i decided to make the female seductress character from previous chapters oc because it fit the narrative better!
xoxo-