Runaway IX
DH Shipper
Hermione Granger was at a loss for words. How could Ron have done this to her… and to Harry? He knew that they were in love and the love they had for each other was true. Nothing could break the bond Harry and Hermione had come to form. Yet, Ron still tried to meddle in the middle of their bittersweet love. Silent tears drifted down her cheeks as she wondered what thoughts raced through Harry's mind.
"How could you," he asked her quietly. His green eyes met her brown ones. "I didn't think that after all these years you could have feelings for him.
"I don't Harry," she replied curtly. "I can't believe I let him do that to me… to us. I love you, Harry and you alone. There can be no other one for me."
Harry sighed and held her close. "I just want this to be over with. I was considering giving up my position in the Agency."
"What can I say to stop you, Harry? You're strong and brave. You're stubborn as a horse. Did anyone ever tell you that?"
Harry chuckled. "All the time."
"Now don't you have a job to do, Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, Ms. Granger. I do believe I do. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to file an incident report with The Agency." Harry left her side to scrawl a note to The Agency concerning Ron, Hermione, the Death Eater attack and Elizabeth.
--- ---
Draco Malfoy was not a happy man. After doing some close consideration, he had come to the conclusion that his father knew the identity of the Dark Lady, but he had chosen not to inform Draco. For some puzzling reason, Draco couldn't think of a reason as to why his father would not tell him. Unless...
Draco sighed. The Dark Lady was just an identity holding someone's real personality behind it. His blond hair was tousled and disorderly after many hours of thinking.
"What ever happened to Danielle?" He asked himself.
She had missed several of the meeting times for the Agency, and she had also failed to owl Draco, much less speak to him in person to set up a dinner at a fancy restaurant. His father had mentioned that she was the daughter of a prominent Death Eater, and that if he should screw this one up, he would receive the torture of a lifetime. Why was this doomed relationship so important to his father in the first place?
"So many questions... so little time," Draco muttered.
He walked over to his large oak desk and sat down (sat down) facing the moonlit window. He flipped open a manila file folder. It contained information on Hermione Granger, being known notoriously as the Hogwarts Head Girl who murdered a first-year Hufflepuff named Madeline Danquell. Indeed, Draco had had a crush on the perky and brilliant head girl, but that puppy love quickly faded as she was framed for murder.
Besides, he wouldn't have wanted leftovers from Potter's plate.
"Draco!"
Draco looked up to see the stern face of Lucius Malfoy waiting for him in the doorway. Quickly and discreetly, he closed the folder and stuck it in the desk drawer. He tugged on the drawer to make sure that it was locked. Knowing his father's cleverness, Draco had installed charms to protect against the "alohomora" spell.
"What do you want now?" Draco looked up regally from his plush leather chair.
"The Dark Lady..."
"Yes?"
"She believes that it was I who told The Agency about our plans in Hawaii." His face was pale in the candle-lit room. He was disheveled because of the matter, and it showed in his appearance. The usually groomed, shoulder-length hair had pieces of hair sticking out of its usually neat ponytail. His dress shirt was tucked out and several of the buttons had been mismatched.
"How did you come across this information?"
"Oh come now! I have my sources," Lucius spat back. He obviously was not clear in mind.
"Why does this concern me?" Draco drawled as he looked at his nails in arrogance.
"You are my son and heir to this estate and my fortune. You should care because this directly affects you."
"If you are gone, then I will inherit the money and the estate. End of story," Draco sneered. He secretly felt pity for Lucius, but Draco's wrongdoings brought Lucius' wrath upon him.
"I can't believe you, Draco!"
"You taught me to be this way," Draco said pointedly. "Besides, there is nothing I can do to help a man in your position. If I were you, which I am glad I am not, I would go to the Dark Lady and beg for her forgiveness. You-know-who was notorious for giving people second chances. How can this lady be any different?"
"But-"
"Father, this matter shouldn't be discussed further. Please leave." Lucius turned on his heel and left Draco to think.
--- ---
Ronald Weasley was beyond despair. He had felt nothing but love and compassion since before his seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione had turned two former best friends apart from each other. Why? It was because she was too good for both of them, Ron decided.
He envied Harry. How could Harry get all this attention from the girls and still have a girlfriend? He was seated in his office at the Ministry of Magic building. There was a loud knock on the door interrupting his thoughts.
"Come in," he said gruffly.
"Hey Ron," Ginny Weasley said cheerfully. He received his sister's hug as she sat down on the chair.
"How are you?"
"I've screwed up a friendship and a romance all in one day," he sighed. "Can it be any worse?"
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," Ginny began. "It just got worse!"
"Our sister paper in USA (maybe just the US?), The Chronicle, stated that some of the witches and wizards in the Pacific region of California and Hawaii have had some disturbances in their spell casting. It seems that the interference is coming from a remote area in Hawaii, and sources say that it is dark magic brewing."
"Are you sure?"
"Well, Ron. This is the tabloid at work, so I'm not sure of what to think, but I would definitely believe that this so-called Dark Lady is at work in Hawaii. Say! That reminds me. Isn't Hawaii the romantic get-away that Harry and Hermione went to?"
"Yes," Ron grumbled.
"Aren't you going to alert the Agency?"
"I'm sure Agent Potter has already."
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"I don't know, Gin. ..." He paused. "I just don't know."
--- ---
The Dark Lady paced back and forth. Her plan was set in motion, and by tomorrow, she would have Hermione Granger and be ready to put an end to what her lord, Lord Voldemort, had set out to do, which was to kill Harry Potter and avenge the pain and suffering caused by a miserable child."
The complexity of her plan was foolproof, and she waited in glee at the ending results. What would happen to Hermione Granger and Harry Potter? They would be together in death. She nearly puked at the thought of them together in heaven. They were the perfect couple, except for her boyfriend and herself.
She thought of the relationship with Draco Malfoy, whom she had ignored for the past weeks leading to the climax of her career as the Dark Lady. What would follow the domination? She had a mind to set things right in London, such as burning the Ministry of Magic building and looting Gringotts bank. The possibilities were endless.
She threw herself back in the chair and sipped at a drink served to her from one of her servants. . Victory was so close that she could taste it. All she needed to do was defeat Harry Potter… forever.
--- ---
Hermione Granger awakened to a sinister looking eagle pecking on the glass window. She was apprehensive at first, but she had to let it in. You never know - it could be a clue on who had her precious Monique.. She retrieved the paper that was in the eagle's talons.
It read:
If you want your child, then follow the eagle to my resting place. Come alone. If you should tell anyone about where you're going, you will put your child at risk.
Hermione glared angrily at the letter. It was a trap, and she knew it. What would happen if she didn't choose not to follow the bird? It would endanger her only child. Monique was her pride and joy, and as a mother she took the risk to save her. Even if it meant that Hermione would give up her own life. She chose to follow the bird.
'If only I could tell Harry.' Hermione thought to herself. She wanted to, but she didn't want to risk her daughter - even if it (would) cost her life in return of the safety of her child.
She went into the night. She didn't look back, but pulled her robe tightly around her. The wind howled, and Hermione disappeared into the fog.
--- ---
A/N: Honestly! Long time no write! I promise that I will have the next chapter up within the next month, and it will be longer than this. I wrote this to get my hands typing again because I haven't typed up a story in the longest time. Chapter ten will be the finale of the Runaway series, and I'm going to be moving into 'Lost'. I'm not going to spill any details about it because it will ruin the ending for most people - except Dawn, my faithful beta reader. I will do a thank you for everyone who reviewed for Runaway (1-10). If you'd like to contact me, my e-mail address is runxaway@yahoo.com. My AIM screen name is kickass1157. -- DH shipper
