by juxtaposed
The battles keep getting bigger, the losses more profound. When the ultimate loss happens, everything changes. Everyone changes. Harry and Ginny now find themselves dealing with an old friend - and a new enemy. But how do you defend yourself against someone who knows everything about you? Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
also
Hermione reminisces. Harry has mental arguments. Ginny just has issues.
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies, blah blah blah, I don't own anything or anyone you recognize. Unless, of course, you recognize something or someone I do. No lawsuits or paperwork, please.
Chapter Nine: Of Mice, Men, and Glumbumbles"You're absolutely sure its safe." She quickly glanced around the room, then settling her gaze on him.
He nodded. "I placed all the wards myself," he told her, and that was reassurance enough. For all of Draco's cool arrogance, he really did have the substance to back it up, and Hermione found no need in questioning his abilities. "Took a while to ensure that this was absolutely unsullied, though. Malfoy manors do not often remain…impartial to the cause," he continued, giving her a meaningful look.
She understood. In other words, until Draco had come around, the Malfoy family was very much one of high – and influential – political standing, which meant that many, many, many under-the-table deals had been made, all borne witness by the house. And it being a building of magic, it would have been entirely too risky for there to have been too many contracts made in the same room. After all, who knew what might have transpired if knowledge of one agreement had made its way to another 'acquaintance'? So, obviously, they had built the manors to accommodate an infinite amount of rooms, but this led to another issue: knowing which rooms were already corrupt, and which weren't.
"I must admit I don't envy you for that process," she remarked wryly, and he, as expected, smirked.
"I find that I am enviable for many things, but on this occasion, I must concede. It was not a Quidditch match." The smirk remained on his face, and his eyes gleamed at her as he talked. "But, if I'm not being too arrogant, I daresay the effort was worth it. This room is damn near unbreachable."
Hermione knew he was right; she had felt the power in his extremely well-knit web of spells as she had entered the room. But she couldn't resist just ribbing the blonde wizard a little. "Well, then, I suppose it's a pity that you are too arrogant."
In a reaction that would have been unthinkable before three years ago, Draco simply laughed her off. It was a pleasant sound, smooth and lilting but deep and rich, and Hermione found herself smiling at the blonde. She missed this, missed the easy conversation and trading knowing smiles.
She had developed quite a good relationship with him, after that incident, one that ran into friendship, in a path that she later learnt rather mirrored Harry and Draco's. She never knew what exactly it was that had occurred to turn the former enemies into tentative –but genuine – friends, but she knew it wasn't her place to ask, and for once, had squelched her inborn burning curiosity. She distracted herself from asking questions by focusing on her own relationship with the platinum-haired Slytherin.
It had been a couple of days after her parents' deaths. She was still numb with shock, with her temper flaring up every now and then, only rivaled by bouts of denial, but she still hadn't quite come to terms with her loss. She hadn't yet grieved, hadn't yet cried for them. She simply threw herself even deeper into her books, this time delving into books on the Dark Arts. Her being the top student in Hogwarts had had its advantages, she had, with very little trouble, received a pass to the Restricted Section, on the grounds of research. It had been there in the Library, then, that Draco Malfoy had approached her.
She had looked up at him with a mixture of wariness and curiosity. He had simply stood there, his features schooled in a cool, calm manner, but his silvery eyes had gleamed with meaning, as always. She never really quite knew what it was that went through his mind, but she could always read certain things in his eyes that he meant to be read. "I'm glad you took heed," he had said simply.
She had nodded, slowly. She had understood what it was he had oh-so-subtly told her on that day – Voldemort was expecting her reaction, would have been waiting for her, would have caught her and killed her as well, after torturing her, not to mention she would have been bringing Harry and the others into the fray – and as much as she hated not being able to do anything, she knew the importance of self-control in such situations, and had locked herself in her room, forcing her friends to agree to hex her if she made any move to leave. She didn't know why Draco had chosen to help, and at the time she had been rather affronted at his interference, but in retrospect, she was grateful. He had, after all, saved her from being killed.
"I suppose I owe you my life, Malfoy. Thank you," she had said sincerely.
He had stared at her for quite a while, then spoke quietly. "Draco."
She had blinked, before she realized it was an invitation to call him by his given name. She was flattered, of course, she knew the significance of being given permission to address a wizard – or witch – by their given name, and she also knew Draco especially did not give such acquiesces easily, and almost never to a Muggle-born. She had smiled warmly, one of the few times recently, and nodded again. "Thank you, Draco."
He had nodded back, curtly. He seemed to want to say something more, and Hermione waited for him to. After a long pause, he did. "I know it must have been hard to stay away, but I'm glad you had the strength and wisdom to. It would not have served any purpose to have you lost." He was rather serious saying this, but then his lips quirked up. "And I imagine he must have thrown quite a fit that you disrupted his carefully laid plan."
She gave him a fleeting smirk. "Well, the best laid plans…"
He had surprised her when he continued for her. "Of mice and men, often go awry." Off her look, he smirked. "What? You think I never learnt literature as a child? I'm a Malfoy, Granger."
"Hermione," she had simply replied, returning his earlier gesture, and his smirk widened just a little into a sort-of smile. "I'm surprised that you deigned a Muggle book worthy of your time."
"A truly well-bred wizard learns of everything, regardless of however questionable the origin."
"Spoken like a true pureblooded wizard."
There had suddenly been a long pause between them.
"Hermione," he hesitated a little before using her name. "Despite whatever I have said to you in years past, you have given me little reason to think of you as anything less than my equal when it comes to ability. And while I might always bear a tendency in matters of blood and politics, I do not wish for it to be an issue between us, personally."
"Me neither, Draco. Dismiss my last comment as nothing more than a failed attempt at teasing you." Her lips curved up slightly.
He had smiled – not smirked - a little, then. "I'm not one to tease."
"So I'm learning."
Another silence had hung in the air, then Draco made to leave. "I should probably go." He pivoted, in a move reminiscent of Snape, then stopped and looked at her over his shoulder. "Oh, Hermione?" His voice betrayed that he was a little less than perfectly cool.
"Yes, Draco?" The feel of his name was still a little awkward, as was hearing her name from him.
His eyes had held her with a flash of regret and understanding. "I'm sorry." With that, he left, giving her one last casual nod.
"And Glumbumbles are nature's way of saying, hey, things could be worse!"
Hermione stared at Draco blankly. "Beg your pardon?" she asked, flushing slightly, embarrassed that she had been caught not paying attention to his words.
Draco smirked. "I said, Glumbumbles are nature's way of saying, hey, things could be worse!" Hermione fixed him with a look, and he chuckled. "Don't look so disgruntled. Before that, my dear, I simply asked if you would care for a drink before we begin our mystery discussion."
"Oh. Yes, please. Cabernet Sauvignon would be great."
"Cabernet Sauvignon? How terribly Muggle of you, Hermione."
"Yes, well, it'll help to take the edge off that atrocious pun you just dispensed."
"I shall ignore that, because it was not a pun, but a rather clever double-entendre, if I do say so myself." Draco said in semi-haughtiness.
"And you do," Hermione smiled oh-so-sweetly at him, and he scowled briefly. Muttering something about impertinent Gryffindoresses, he waved his arm, and two glasses of the wine appeared before them. "Gryffindoresses?" she asked, very much amused. Ignoring her, he simply handed a glass to her, then picked the other one up. She rolled her eyes at him and held up her glass to him. "Oh alright. Shall we have a toast?"
Draco finally responded. "Ah, yes, a toast is in order, I agree. And what shall we toast?"
"Friends," Hermione said softly.
Draco nodded. "Friends it is." He gently clinked his glass against hers. "To friends!" he pronounced.
"To friends," she echoed. She smiled at him as she raised the glass to her lips. He returned it, and they sat that way for a while, simply sipping their wine in comfortable silence.
After a few minutes, Draco cleared his throat, and she looked at him expectantly, only to see him wearing a similar expression. "While this is undoubtedly delightful, I know that you had somewhat of an urgent mission when you sought me out, so may I suggest that we do not delay you, and we proceed with our discussion?"
"Of course." Hermione paused, and studied him. He gazed back at her completely unruffled. She found herself smiling again, knowing that her instinct had been right again, and with no small amount of certainty, stated simply, "I want your help." He raised his eyebrows at this, and waited for her to continue. She did.
"I would like to make a...business deal with you, Draco."
AN: Dum dum dum...! And so endeth chapter nine! Which means that, yes, chapter ten is on its way, and there ought to be some nice little melodramatics in there. Oh, and if any of you are wondering about the supposed pun, look up what Glumbumbles do. (grin) Then behold my awful sense of humor.
Now, for my usual over-happy, over-exuberant platitudes of grateful-ness - which I just realized ought to be gratitude - my command of the simple English language is obviously undergoing some serious detriment. Anyway, I have two whole new reviewers, which is, based on my excellent aptitude at mathematics, a whole two hundred percent more! I'm pathetic, I really am. But you guys who review, I love you all. You make me have happy little jigs around my chair. And I'm inclined to do the individual-response thing, which I'm normally atrocious at.
So thanks, double-chocolate-chip cookies and never-dying gratitude to:
Zero Mind - thank you thank you thank you! (big grin);
SAR - "anxiously awaiting"? Gave me fuzzies. Thank you, and here you go!;
tiggieotoo - LoL, thanks for keeping quiet about Ron, I promise not to keep you waiting too long...; and
PettigrewWillPay - glad you like Harry and his inner voice :) and rest assured there will be more Harry-Ginny fluffiness on its way!...
for being such wonderful people and reviewing!
You know whats coming now - review and make my day? Please?