A/N: Every week, I get so overwhelmed by all of your love and support! I really appreciate your reads, kudos, and comments so much!

AlphaBet love to BiscuitsForPotter and DisenchantedGlow.

The news that Theo had escaped Auror custody brought a torrential downpour of panic and terror on Headquarters. Most of the Order members were still at the house after the meeting, but those who had returned to their safe houses were quickly called back. Shacklebolt verified the identity of each person individually, and no one was permitted to leave the dining room while Shacklebolt and Potter painstakingly searched the house room by room in search of dark artifacts or hiding Death Eaters.

Draco and Shacklebolt spent several hours working on the wards on the building. Meanwhile, Granger set to work turning the dining room into a makeshift potions lab. She assembled a small team to begin brewing everything they might need in the event of an attack. Dittany, Polyjuice antidote, Veritaserum. Some of these potions took days to brew, but she got started as quickly as she could.

Potter gathered a team of trusted members to sweep and secure the remaining safe houses. Their main goal was to retrieve everyone's personal items and any important information kept on site and bring everything back to Headquarters for processing.

Draco asked Shacklebolt if it might not be wise to move Headquarters to a different location temporarily. Surely even with the strongest wards, it was only a matter of time before Theo found a way to get himself and the other Death Eaters inside.

"If we had another property that was large enough, I would certainly be interested in that. However, all of our safe houses are much too small to house everyone, and besides, the security is already strongest here." Shacklebolt's tone was stern, but a bit remorseful as he stared up at the large townhouse from the back garden.

Draco nodded and returned to the wards. He thought of the Manor. It was certainly large enough for everyone and it had the strongest wards that magic could create. But unfortunately, the Death Eaters had called it home for too long. There was no telling how long it would take and how difficult it would be to rework the wards to repel them. Besides, Dolohov had apparently set it ablaze last year after Draco had defected, and he had no idea how extensive the damage was.

For all he knew, there was no Malfoy Manor left. His stomach twisted. With his father gone and his mother abroad, the house was the only thing he had left of his family. So many memories there were now gone forever. Tarnished as it was with dark magic, it had been his home. Swallowing, he pushed his grief away.

They worked well into the night. By the time Draco finished with the wards, he was sure that even he would have trouble breaking into them. He only hoped it was enough to keep Theo out.

"Access is now only permitted to those currently inside Headquarters." Draco explained his work to Shacklebolt as he wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers, feeling shaky from hours of magical exertion. "Anyone not on that list will need to be escorted inside by someone who is. If you prefer, I can limit access even further by restricting the list of who can do the escorting to a select few."

Shacklebolt tapped his chin with one long finger. "Perhaps that would be wise. Yes, let's limit it to only a small group."

"If you provide me with a list, I can do that rather quickly." Draco tilted his head thoughtfully. "That will mean, however, that any members coming in from abroad or other assignments will need to meet one of those people at another location to gain access to Headquarters."

"I still think that's for the best. Nott has had contact with virtually everyone in the Order over the past few months. Having a small team of people to check identities before letting them in would be the most prudent." Shacklebolt waved his wand and produced a short list. He checked it over quickly before handing it to Draco.

"I agree, sir." Draco looked at the list.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Harry Potter

Arthur Weasley

Bill Weasley

Minerva McGonagall

Hermione Granger

Draco Malfoy

Draco blinked, shocked to see his own name listed among what he had come to think of as "the inner circle."

"Sir," he began, his voice faltering. "There's no need for me to be included just because I'm doing the wards. I would understand if—"

"You have proven your trustworthiness time and time again, Malfoy. There is no one on that list that I would hesitate to trust with my life or the life on anyone in the Order. However, if you do not wish to be included, it is your right to exclude yourself."

Draco swallowed, unsure what the right thing to do was. He had made so many mistakes in the past year. Trusting Theo. Not trusting Pansy. Attacking the Death Eater safe house. He knew he would never do anything to purposely put the Order in danger, but if he couldn't trust his instincts, then he couldn't be sure that he wouldn't be fooled by Theo somehow.

But then again, Shacklebolt trusted him. Trusted his instincts. For the first time in a long while, he felt needed.

After a moment's consideration, he waved his wand over the list. The names burned bright gold and then lifted off the page, flying across the garden where they hit the invisible barrier around Headquarters. They multiplied and scattered along the wards, shimmering like a golden shield around the house. He watched as his own name danced along, just next to Granger's for a brief moment before the names disappeared, protecting the home though they could no longer be seen.

"And what if one of those listed is Confunded or placed under the Imperius Curse?" Shacklebolt asked, pacing around the garden.

Draco shook his head. "I've added a 'Free Will' clause to the wards. If anyone tries to enter while under the influence of suggestive curses or spells, the wards will reject them. Even if they are on the list. Even you, Minister. As Secret Keeper, you have more access to the wards than anyone, but I have ensured that you will not be allowed in if the Death Eaters try to coerce you."

"Very well done, Draco. Impressive work," Shacklebolt praised with a slight smile.

Draco checked his watch. It was nearing four in the morning, but Headquarters was still bustling with activity. From the garden, he could see lights shining through curtains and hear the sounds of clattering pots and pans from the kitchen. It was far from the usual silence that accompanied such early hours of the day, but what was usual anymore? Draco understood their restlessness. Who could sleep with such danger closing in around them?

"Sir," Draco began, clenching his jaw and staring at his shoes. "Forgive me if this is out of line, but I can't stop thinking about all the things we should have asked Theo when we had the chance. Dolohov's plans, the location of their safe houses... There are so many things we don't know that could have helped us."

Shacklebolt nodded, his eyes sweeping over the garden. "I thought of that as well. But now that he has escaped, I'm glad we didn't ask him those things."

"Sir?"

The Minister looked at Draco with soft, thoughtful eyes and pursed lips. "If Theodore Nott had revealed the location of Dolohov and the rest of the Death Eaters, they would have certainly moved their entire operation once they were told what we know."

"But we still would have known. We could have launched an attack before they moved."

"A rushed operation might have led to several deaths on our side. This way, Theo will certainly tell Dolohov that we know nothing. When, you see, that couldn't be further from the truth."

"What do you mean?"

"We have our eyes on several Death Eater safe houses. Our scouting teams have been locating them and monitoring activities there. If they moved, it would be a major setback for our organisation."

Draco was impressed. It seemed that Shacklebolt hadn't laid all of his cards on the table. The man was stoking far more fires than Draco knew were even lit.

"Is there anything else you can think of for the wards, sir?" Draco asked, his tone heavy with exhaustion. He wanted to make himself available to ensure the safety of everyone, but after staying up all night, he felt tired and drained of his magic.

"I believe that should suffice for tonight. Thank you. If you have any additional ideas for security, I'd like for you to find me at once to discuss them."

"Yes, sir. Thank you." With a nod, Draco pocketed his wand and walked up the back steps and into the kitchen.

Several groups of Order members had formed, all bent low together to discuss certain tactics. A few people were eating and talking in low voices in the kitchen. Draco grabbed an apple and a bread roll and continued into the living room, where Potter was instructing Charlie, Bill, Angelina, and Lee on guard duty. The Auror nodded at Draco as he passed through, but didn't stop speaking.

Draco peeked into the dining room, where Granger was furiously adding lacewing flies to a bubbling cauldron, her hair twice its normal size. Dean, Ginny, Percy Weasley, and Alicia Spinnet were there as well, stirring potions and adding ingredients with unwavering focus.

Like a magnet, Draco found himself drawn to Granger's side. "Can I help?"

She looked up in surprise. "I thought you were working on the wards."

"We've just finished."

Her eyes danced over him, brows furrowing in concern. "You look exhausted. You should get some rest."

Draco shook his head. "There's too much to do."

"We've got a handle on the potions for now, but you really should get some sleep. Here…" She turned away from him to reach into a small cabinet. After withdrawing a small phial of deep purple potion, she turned back and held it out to him.

"Dreamless Sleep? Granger, I can't."

"I've altered it. It's my own design. You'll wake up alert if you need to. If there's an attack or something, you'll be wide awake. Not even the tiniest hint of grogginess. But you need to sleep," she insisted, thrusting the phial into his palm.

Draco looked at her warily. He had an odd feeling about going to sleep when everyone else was still awake. Besides, he didn't even know what room to sleep in. He'd been stationed at the Stewart house this morning. All of his belongings were still there as far as he knew. The recovery teams may not have gotten to the tiny, new safe house yet. "What about you?"

Granger waved her hand flippantly. "I'll sleep before too long. Just wanted to get a couple of Polyjuice antidotes done first."

Draco frowned. He wanted to finish their earlier conversation. But he supposed that romance was a bit trivial in the grand scheme of things. He could tell that she was singularly focused on the war effort, and would probably not respond well to being forced into another tense conversation about their rocky relationship.

"You've done enough for the Order today, Draco. Eat." She nodded at the food in his hands. "Then get some sleep. If you still want to brew potions tomorrow, I'm sure I can put you to work." She offered him a tight smile before turning back to her cauldron.

Perhaps she was right. As he turned away, exhaustion started creeping into the edges of his brain, making everything a bit fuzzy. Draco shuffled out of the dining room and down the corridor toward the stairs. Charlie stood by the door on vigilant watch, wand in hand. He smiled at him, but didn't say anything as Draco made his way up the stairs.

As he wondered which bedroom to choose, he realised through his slightly foggy brain that someone had cast charms outside each door, designating room assignments with floating silver letters that shone in the darkness. The first bedroom bore the names Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley. The room next to it read George Weasley and Charlie Weasley. Draco continued down the corridor, looking for his name until he found it listed beside Harry Potter.

He swung the door open and recognised the first room he ever stayed in at Headquarters. He'd shared the room with Potter then as well, and the boy wonder had refused to rest for fear of being murdered in his sleep.

He shut the door behind him and stared at the beds, wondering which one to take, before he noticed his rucksack laying next to the bed by the window. The Stewart House had been recovered after all. Draco reached into the bag to retrieve his green blanket. He spread it out on the bed, kicked off his shoes, stripped down to his pants, and climbed under the covers.

He ate quickly in bed, forcing the apple and bread down even as his stomach twisted to reject them. Then, he uncorked the phial of Granger's potion and drank it down, chasing it with water before he laid back on the pillows and pulled the bed covers up to his chin.

Granger's lumpy, green blanket was soft against his cheek and he took a deep breath, inhaling what was left of her scent before the potion pulled him quickly under into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Later that morning, the house was still loud and bustling with energy when Draco emerged from the bedroom at nine-thirty. He briefly wondered if anyone else had slept, but then he noticed how many of the Order members were milling about in pajamas.

He was pleased to see that Granger was one of these people. Her soft, pink pajama trousers had become all too familiar to him over the past few weeks, and though she had a large cardigan pulled tight around her middle as she sipped from a steaming cup of coffee, he could guess that the tank top underneath was the matching one.

Draco was glad that she'd forced him to sleep. He seemed to be a bit better-rested than several other Order members. Potter, for example, was still in the robes he'd worn the previous evening, and he and Shacklebolt flitted from room to room, talking in urgent tones as they both sipped from their coffee cups.

The next several days passed in the same way. People slept at odd hours. It was a quickly established rule that there was no speaking or excessive noise allowed on the upper levels of Headquarters to accommodate for altered sleep schedules. Though Draco shared a room with Potter, they were rarely in it at the same time. Draco did his best to sleep at night as usual, and Potter was typically asleep when Draco woke up in the morning and would sleep until noon or so.

Draco kept adding provisions onto the wards. Any reasonable witch or wizard would call them impenetrable, but Draco knew better.

All wards could be broken. It was just a matter of time and skill. By the end of the week, Draco had lost count of the number of wards on the building. If they added too many more, even the Muggles would be able to sense the magic buzzing around the house.

But, he supposed, a small breach of the Statue of Secrecy was a small price to pay for keeping the Order safe.

After three days, Draco still hadn't had much chance to speak with Granger. For starters, she was rarely alone. And when she was alone, she was typically bent over a cauldron or a book with such focus that Draco knew better than to try to speak with her. He spent his time helping her with potions in silence or reading books on advanced wards to see if he had missed any possible protections.

Headquarters was crowded. With all of the safe houses shut down, everyone who was typically spread out was confined to one household. Some of the members maintained their permanent residences, such as Arthur and Molly Weasley and Bill and Fleur. And while the other Weasleys would typically stay with their parents to create space, Shacklebolt was attempting to cut down on the number of people coming and going from Headquarters, so most of the Weasleys who were helping with guard duty or potions or other missions stayed on site.

They held meetings daily to update each other on various goings-on around Headquarters and other news of the war.

The teams that had been stationed abroad returned to Headquarters as well, making the house even more crowded than it had been when Theo first escaped custody. Camp beds were set up wherever there was room. No one had a bedroom to themselves. Several rooms held three or four people. For the time being, Draco and Potter were the only ones in their room. Weasley had opted to stay with his brothers rather than subject himself to Draco's presence. And that suited Draco just fine.

As much as Draco hated having Weasley back in the house, everyone was so busy that he hardly had to see the ginger menace. He was pleased to note that Granger hardly gave Weasley the time of day. She seemed so singularly focused on her potions that she barely spoke to anyone for longer than a few minutes.

This didn't stop Weasley from glaring at Draco and Granger when the two were brewing potions together or eating at the same time.

The worst thing that the abroad teams brought back with them—even worse than Ronald Weasley—was the news that Death Eaters and their newly-recruited supporters were travelling to Britain en masse. Huge numbers of dark witches and wizards were entering the country and scattering to various known Death Eater safe houses.

The known Death Eater properties were beginning to show more activity. Scouting teams had reported increased Death Eater movement at the heavily warded Lestrange Manor and Yaxley's house. Draco wasn't sure how many Death Eater safe houses there were, but he was willing to bet that these locations were just small samples of what was happening out there.

He was sure that Dolohov had been recruiting heavily, trying to strong-arm foreign witches and wizards into pledging their support for the High Minister. Although he wished he knew what their numbers were like, he could really only guess.

There was a real sense throughout the entire Order that a battle was fast approaching, one that would guarantee massive casualties on both sides and perhaps sway the war in one way or another.

After the Saturday meeting, Draco spent an hour or so checking the wards on the house while Shacklebolt met with a small group of high-ranking Order members. Then he brewed potions with the brewing team for the remainder of the evening. Granger was conspicuously absent, and Draco wondered if she was in the meeting with Shacklebolt. When he had finished his batch of Dittany, he extinguished the flame under his cauldron and made his way upstairs for the night. He passed Lee at the front door on guard duty and sent him a nod.

The bedroom was quiet and dark when he closed the door and he made his way to his bed. He shed his clothes as he went and fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He wasn't sure how much later it was when he was awakened by the sound of his bedroom door opening and closing. Assuming that it was Potter coming to bed, he barely opened his eyes before drifting back off.

The sound of a feminine voice silencing the room made him stir, and the next thing he knew, a warm body was sliding into bed next to him. He blinked, forcing himself into consciousness as soft curls brushed against his shoulder.

"Granger?"

She didn't reply, but her scent surrounded him as she nestled under his arm, her warm hand splaying out on his chest.

"What are you—?" He was cut off by her lips pressing gently against his.

Warmth bloomed in his heart and spread through his body quickly as he responded to her unexpected touch. Letting his fingers delve into her curls, he pulled her closer and returned the kiss urgently.

Was this a dream?

He had dreamed of this many times, but it had never felt like this. So warm, so soft, so real. "Granger…" It fell from his lips like a sigh against her mouth, and her fingers curled around his bicep as she kissed him once more.

Her leg shifted over his, and he could feel the heat coming from her center even as cold toes grazed his calf. With a shiver, he dragged his hands down her back to the curve of her waist, pulling her flush against him.

Was it possible for one's heart to explode from elation? She was here. In his arms again after such a cold absence. He could feel the warmth of her through her thin tank top, and he let his fingers dip to the sliver of skin between her top and the waistband of her trousers. She shivered against him, and he felt his cock twitch in anticipation.

She was so warm, so responsive to his touch. And she had come to him. What would she allow him tonight? Was it too much to ask to be inside of her once more? He didn't want to scare her off by assuming.

But then her hips shifted, and she rolled her center against his hip, a breathy sigh escaping her lips.

Feeling bolder, he let his hands dip beneath her top, dragging it up her sides to palm the skin of her back.

She lifted herself away from him, and for a brief moment, he thought she was about to leave. But then she swung one leg over him to straddle his hips, and she pulled her top off slowly and let it fall to the floor.

Her pale breasts were bathed in moonlight. Her curls fell wild around her shoulders, and her honey colored eyes stared straight into him for the first time in days.

Draco couldn't breathe for his love of her. He let his fingers dance up her thighs to her hips, but he didn't dare move too much for fear of her rejection.

She reached up, sweeping her hair to one side before bending low over him to kiss him tenderly. Her nipples brushed his chest, pebbled in the cool night air.

He couldn't stop his hands from dragging up her ribs to brush against her breasts. She smiled against his mouth as his thumbs circled her nipples, and he tilted his head up, kissing her through her smile.

Her hips rolled against him, and he felt his erection pressed against her center, hard and aching. Would she let him take her?

Warm hands dragged down his chest to the waistband of his pants and sent a jolt through him. She dipped a hand inside, lifting her hips to reach him. He groaned as her fingers wrapped around his cock, stroking him and squeezing him as their kiss grew more urgent.

Feeling bolder, he let his fingers dip into her pajama trousers, grabbing hold of the globes of her arse as she brushed her thumb over the weeping head of his cock.

All too soon, her hand pulled away from him, but only to try to pull his boxers down. He grabbed her waist firmly, dragging her down so that he could climb above her. He rid himself of his pants before reaching for her bottoms, pulling them off her legs and then dragging her knickers down as well.

She reached for him, encouraging him to settle between her open thighs as her hands wandered reverently over his chest and shoulders. Their eyes met briefly, and then she pulled his face down, kissing him deeply as she pulled his hips close.

Draco reached down, brushing his fingers against her, feeling how wet she was for him. Dripping. Desperate. He circled her clit until she was moaning and gasping into his mouth before he slowly slid into her.

Draco had hardly allowed himself to think of this—being inside of her again—since they'd fallen apart. It was too painful to think that it may never happen again. But this was bliss. The warmth, the softness, the way she arched against him with a moan when he filled her up, everything about her was perfect. He kissed along her jaw to attach his lips to the spot just below her ear.

Her nails dug painfully into his shoulders as he bit down, sucking hard to mark her, but he didn't dare stop. She was his, and he was hers, and he wanted the world to know.

He set a slow, deep pace, feeling their bodies move together as one. Her hands were everywhere, lips everywhere as he poured his love into her with everything he had.

As broken as he felt with everyone else, she was the only one who made him feel whole.

He tilted his hips, knowing that it would make the base of his cock drag against her clit with each thrust.

She cried out, arching her back as she clutched at his back, pulling him closer.

He kept going, determined to show her that he was worth it. Worth the pain. Worth looking past who he was… what he was capable of.

He kissed down her neck, snaking one arm under her waist to pull her closer to him. Seeing stars, he pressed into her deep and slow, and she released a mewling cry with each thrust.

He was close, but he was determined to get her off first. He had to prove to her… make her stay… never let her go.

"Hermione…"

She gasped in his ear and her fingers delved into his hair at the nape of his neck, gripping him hard.

Moving faster, he jerked his hips forward, being sure to hit her clit each time. Her breath became more erratic, puffing against his shoulder and neck, punctuated by her gasps and moans.

She cried out, arching her back as her legs quivered with her release. Draco groaned, losing himself to the blissful delirium she caused in him. After only a minute more, he came with a grunt, feeling his cock pulse and twitch within her fluttering walls.

She still hadn't said a word, but he couldn't stop from speaking loving sentiments against her neck as he peppered her with kisses.

Although she was quiet when he pulled out of her and moved to lie flat on the bed next to her, she curled into his side under his arm like she used to, and he pulled her close. His heart warmed as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and she kissed his chest in return.

He knew better than to ruin the moment with words, so he just held her tightly as she let her fingers dance along his chest. Soon, the warmth of her body and the sound of her even breathing lulled him to sleep.

And when he woke up in the morning, she was gone, and the bed was cold.

A/N: Updates every Monday

Next chapter posts: August 31st

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