Chapter 18 - Escape

There was a moment of silence while Hermione processed his words. So it's true, Hermione thought, feeling silly. As real as Ron's death. Her eyes flicked to Draco's face. She was surprised to see him looking so... forlorn.

Hermione pushed down the handle of the door. "I-I have to go," she mumbled and started running back to the guest room.

"Seen enough of me, have you?" Draco yelled down the hall.

Draco woke up the next morning to a terrible migraine. He grimaced and went to the kitchens to get a warm mug of coffee.

"Mother!" Draco exclaimed, surprised to see her up that early. He went over to the table where she was packing sandwiches. "What are those for?" he asked curiously.

Narcissa Malfoy beamed. "We are going to the Muggle beach for a picnic!" she announced.

"We are?"

She nodded cheerfully. "At last!" she said. "A family outing!"

Hermione came in at the second and stared uncomfortably at Draco for a while. "Are you ready, Mrs. Malfoy?" she asked, after breaking the stare.

Draco blocked Hermione's view of Narcissa as he spoke. "She's going?"

Narcissa sighed and eyed him sternly, as if she was talking to a spoilt brat. "Yes, she is," she said wearily.

"But she isn't family!"

His mother glared at him. "I want her to go and that is settled, no questions asked!" She waved her hand. "Look what you've done to the poor girl."

Draco turned behind and was somewhat not surprised. Hermione was gone.

"So this is a beach," Draco commented, his eyes scanning girls in bikinis.

Maybe this is a bad idea, Hermione thought, cringing at all the other girls who are obviously prettier than her. Draco seems to be enjoying himself too much.

"We'll be in California if you need us," Narcissa told them lightly. That caught Draco's attention.

"You are not staying?" Draco asked the obvious, in an incredulous way. "And why am I not surprised?" he asked softly under his breath, but was loud enough for Hermione to hear. If Narcissa and Lucius heard it too, they did not show it. Anyway, they Apparated the next second.

Hermione drew in a shaky breath. "So... I'll just set up the umbrella and unpack the basket..."

Draco shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said and walked off, without another look. Probably off to find pretty girls.

Tears stung Hermione's eyes as she watched him walk away mutely. And then, Hermione ran away herself, dumping everything onto the dry sand.

"So I told the salesgirl, 'No! This looks utterly huge on me!' and she told me - I can't believe it - she told me that..." the pretty blonde continued obliviously.

Draco stifled a yawn. Just his luck to pick on a loud mouth. Better to just end her life.

He was just about to put his hand into his pocket and take out his wand when he recalled yesterday. Hermione broke his wand. Damn. Which reminded him...

The green and silver band around her middle finger. Draco had thought only his red and gold ring was designed that way.

Was it fate? Did she get the ring from the same person he got it from? And - free? Questions swarmed in Draco's head and were left unanswered. Oh yes, the most important question. Did she plan to give it to him?

"Hey!" an irritatingly familiar voice interrupted Draco's train of thoughts. He looked away from the blonde and groaned out loud. The blonde that was with him looked at him with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

The teenage girl he saw in the Allens'. What was her name again?

"Brenda?" Draco questioned, staring at her nose.

She frowned. "Blanda," she corrected.

The blonde's eyes drilled an invisible hole into Draco's temple. She cleared her throat. "Oh yeah," Draco said. "Blanda, this is... " Oops. His memory sure was bad today.

"Kelly," the blonde said frostily. Draco shrugged in a heck-care manner. "Excuse me."

Blanda waited till Kelly was gone before giving him the eye. "Are you still dating my stepsister?" she asked, practically spitting out the word stepsister.

Draco ignored her question. "What's wrong with your nose?"

Blanda covered her face self-consciously (Vain pot, Draco thought.). She leaned in. "I'll tell you a secret though if you promised not to tell anyone."

Draco raised his eyebrows quizzically, looking bored.

Blanda looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. "I think Hermione is a witch," she whispered in a hushed tone. "Her new foster parents made t-this horrible nose on me."

This time, Draco finally looked interested. "Her new foster parents?" he queried.

Blanda nodded eagerly, glad to have Draco's attention. "They look horrible and scary. The female had a mouth too wide and ears too big. The male looked wicked. Eurgh."

Draco arched his eyebrow. "And how did they make your nose look...?" he asked, even though he knew the answer.

She shuddered dramatically. "The female used a wand and muttered some kind of ritual," she said, raising and dropping her voice.

Ritual, Draco repeated amusedly. "Ah... I think I know her foster parents."

This time Blanda looked interested. "You do? Are they horrid?"

Draco nodded exaggeratedly. "They are terrible. And evil. And mean."

"Really?"

Draco looked at her with self-pity. "No, I lied."

Blanda gaped at him and put her hands at her hips. "How dare you lie to me! Don't you know who I am?"

Draco laughed. "I don't care who you are- " he paused. "But do you know who they are?"

"I know they practise Wicca," she said confidently.

"Actually, it's witchcraft. And it was a spell, not a ritual. Oh, and I forgot to mention that- " he smirked. "They are my parents."

Cold realisation slapped her on the face. She clamped her mouth. "Oh my God. I didn't mean to insult them."

Draco counted to three.

Fear overtook her. "Oh my God, you're a warlock?" she shrieked.

Thankfully, no one can hear us hear, Draco thought grimly. He, then, smiled angelically at Blanda. "How did you guess?" he mock-breathed.

Blanda started to back away.

This is going to be so fun, Draco thought.

Hermione finally stopped when she thought she was a safe distance away from the beach. She took deep breaths for some time before regaining her senses.

"Hello there, cutie."

Hermione jumped back and spun around. A man around her age with black hair and eyes to match was looking at her appreciatively. She stepped back, frightened. It was then she noticed the mark on his forearm. The same one on Draco. The Dark Mark. And she realised, she actually knew who this person was. Someone who was Draco's friend. Someone who attended Hogwarts.

Marcus Flint.

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::Author's Note::

I am, like, so fed up with this thing. The number of reviews vary when I surf my computer and the school's. So frustratingly annoying. Just thought you guys would like to know that the story is ending SOON. I actually typed something at the end of the previous chapter but it didn't came out. What I wanted to say was, yesterday was so depreesing for me...! I flunked my essay! How discouraging can my teacher get? Anyway, thank you, all of you for adding me as your favourite author and reviewing. Heh heh. *secretly smiling*

LonelyGer