Ch.12 It's a Long Story
Disclaimer: Rowling's are Rowling's, mine are mine.
Warning: later chapters will contain OOTP spoilers, there will be a mild Mercedes Lackey crossover. I don't want to be one of those writers who gives review ultimatum's, but I won't post again until I get one review, all I need is for some one to say that they read it. Thank you for you time.
Draco hid Hermione in his shirt pocket right before he and his mother left. They took the Floo system to The Leaky Cauldron and then a Portkey from there to the Kings Cross. Suki sent Draco's trunk to the platform. As the train started to pull out of the station Draco headed for the last car on the train.
When he entered there was already a small brown-haired girl in shabby robes sitting there nose deep in a book. She looked up at him and asked, "Is this your normal compartment? I can find somewhere else to sit." She spoke with a southern slur that made her I's sound like Ah's and sit came out as seit. With that she got up and left. Draco watched her to make sure that she was gone for good before he took Hermione out of his pocket and set her on the seat. He swiftly removed the spell and returned her to her normal human self. They sat down together on the seat neither saying anything for a while.
"What did V-Voldemort do to your father when he found out I escaped?", Hermione broke the silence.
"Father never said exactly. I imagine he was punished though. The Dark Lord has decided that the only thing coercion does is make you stubborn, so I think he's going to try the honey technique."
"How are you going to explain your defection to the other Slytherines?"
"I'll tell them that it's part of a plan that they aren't privy to, and I'll tell father that I'm trying to win you over to our side."
Hermione was prevented from saying anything else due to the fact that Harry and Ron had just come in. Both looked like they were ready to hex Draco back to the Hogwarts's founding. Ron drew his wand, but just as Hermione expected he would Harry held him back for a moment. He opened his mouth to speak but Hermione cut him off, "Would you both please sit down? There's a reasonable explanation for all this if you'll just listen. And would you put that down?" She added irritably to Ron. Looking at her like she had lost her mind he lowered his wand and sat down. Harry followed suit and said, "Alright, we're listening."
Hermione sighed and said, "It's a long story, but we have time." She launched into the entire painful story with Draco occasionally putting something in. When she finished both of the boy's were looking pale and frightened for her. Harry thought for a moment then said to Draco, "I don't like you and I won't pretend otherwise, but Hermione trusts you. I swear, if you break that trust, so much as make her cry, I will personally see to it that you die a slow and painful death." Ron nodded his agreement Draco looked at Harry and for a moment blue ice met green flames, both flashing with protectiveness over one brown haired girl. Hermione watched the battle between brother and lover wondering if she would have to stop them from killing each other.
Then, "that's fair enough Potter, just know that the same goes for the two of you. She's been through enough." With a final squeeze of her hand he rose and said, "I had better go find Crabbe and Goyle tell them where I've been." With that he left and the other two turned their talk to their summer at the Burrow. Harry, it transpired, had spent the last three weeks of vacation there. Hermione leaned back against the cushioned seat and let her friends conversation wash over her. There wasn't peace between them and Draco, she had never expected peace, not so soon at any rate. There was more of a balance of will's than anything. One thing's for certain she thought to herself it's going to be an interesting year.