Disclaimer: All characters presented in the fic are the property of J.K. Rowling. I just like to play with them on occasion
Author's Note: Written for elementaldeity for the dmhgficexchange on livejournal.
Special Thanks: Terri, Inell, Zephyr and especially nakhashmekashefah for the wonderful feed back especially in the eleventh hour.
One more note: I've gotten many questions as to why didn't Draco tell Snape about Rookwood in Hogsmeade. Draco in my mind was still wary of others. The only person he showed any faith in was Hermione, Harry and Ron got a little of that faith as an extension in her. It would have been wise to do so of course, but when in shock we don't always do the right thing.
Chapter Seven - Time Apart
The next two weeks were difficult on both Draco and Hermione. Although they were linked by some mysterious force, that particular piece of magic gave Hermione no power over affecting the wizard's mood.
Ever since Draco had heard about Rookwood's plans to come after him yet again he had been walking around brooding. Hermione had tried to draw him back into the research they were supposed to be focusing on for their latest assignment, however it proved ineffective.
While relaxing in their shared living room one evening Hermione decided that she'd had enough of his sour attitude. "Malfoy, I know that you are concerned about Augustus's plans, but you can't go about angry. Severus said that he would let you know what was happening as soon as he had more information."
Draco slammed the book he had been reading shut and on the table beside his chair. "And just what do you suppose I do Miss Perfect? Am I to sit around waiting for Rookwood to decide that he's ready to strike again with the hope that he chooses to include Pansy in his plans?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she calmly set aside the work that she had brought home. "I do understand that you are rightfully upset Draco, but if you think that I am going to sit around here and act as your whipping post, you are sadly mistaken."
Draco watched as she rose from the table and summoned her briefcase, depositing the parchments and books that she had brought home inside before retiring to her room. Frustrated at his lack of control over the situation, Draco rose to go and pour himself a glass of wine.
He had returned to his place before the fire, again trying to focus enough to read his book but failing miserably. His head shot up as he heard Hermione's door close and her re enter the room. Looking up to apologize he could not speak as she stood before him her bags packed.
"Draco, I know that we didn't have much success the last time we stayed apart but I cannot bear to watch you like this. You're negativity is more than I can stand. I think that it would do both of us some good if I went to the Burrow for a while."
"Hermione, I'm sorry. Please don't leave," Draco replied, fearing how much his mood would darken if he were to add a lack of sleep onto the heap of problems he was currently dealing with due to Hermione's absence.
Hermione sighed as she looked at the blond wizard. "No Draco, I've made up my mind. I know that it will be hard, but at least we are working together, we will still see each other daily and we can discuss a way to break this bond tomorrow over lunch.
"We really should have explored our options last year at Hogwarts, I simply cannot imagine how we can expect to spend the rest of our lives attached when we don't even have a viable friendship to speak of."
"If you're sure, you don't have to leave. I can return to the Manor and you can stay here."
Hermione considered his offer briefly before shaking her head, "No, I think it would do me well to go and spend some time with the Weasleys. I really have not seen them since I moved out and I think that some time under Molly's wing would help me put things in their proper perspective."
That night Draco spent tossing and turning without the comforting presence of Hermione in the next room. His dreams were scattered with images of Rookwood tending to his broken body as he promised him of the abuse that was soon to follow. Throughout the night as he slipped in and out of sleep, the dreams changed. His dreams took on the appearance of the photos that he had seen in his History of Magic texts while at Hogwarts.
When he finally rose, his eyes heavy from a night of restless sleep, Draco looked in the mirror and a voice from his dreams greeted him. 'You will be known throughout history as Draco the Dreaded,' the voice had spoken to him, before handing him a battle axe and helmet. A devious smile crept across his lips as Draco hurriedly prepared himself for his day.
Draco owled the office to notify them that he would be coming in late. Setting the appropriate wards on the flat, Draco affixed his cloak and Disapparated.
As he walked down the path that led to Potter's residence at Godrics Hollow, Draco considered what exactly he would say to him. Sure he and Potter had put aside a lot of animosity last year, but they still were not exactly best mates.
When he reached the door he still had not determined what he was going to say. As he reached up to knock, any coherent thought that might have been running through his head was erased as The Weasel and Loony Lovegood fell out of the door their lips locked together.
Luna broke their kiss as her ice blue eyes fell upon Draco. Blushing as she spoke she said, "Sorry, Draco Malfoy right?"
Mumbling a response of, "Quite all right," Draco strode past the couple. "I'm just going to go find Potter," he added as he stepped into the house.
He snickered as he walked through the two Auror's home. If Draco had taken the time to consider what Harry and Ron's flat would have looked like, this would have definitely been it.
There were Quidditch magazines littering the coffee table along side of empty bottles of butter beer. Several different robes and cloaks had been carelessly strewn across the back of the couches.
When he entered the kitchen he was greeted by the site of stacks of files and mail piled on the kitchen table. Harry was sitting before a breakfast of kippers, fried tomatoes, toast, and boiled egg.
"You do know one of the benefits of being a wizard is that you can use magic to tidy up," Draco drawled drawing Harry's attention away from dunking a strip of toast into his egg yolk.
Picking up a napkin to wipe his mouth, Harry stood and turned to greet his former schoolmate. "To what do I owe the pleasure Malfoy," he asked calmly, crossing the kitchen to pour himself another cup of coffee. "Can I offer you a cuppa?"
Draco walked into the kitchen, clearing some files off of a chair to take a seat. "Don't mind if I do Potter."
Harry walked over to the cupboard to fetch another coffee mug as he flicked his wand absently causing the water to boil and percolate through the coffee grounds. Pouring a cup for Draco and himself, he returned to the table next to Malfoy and sat down.
"So Malfoy, what are you doing here," Harry asked as he set his cup down to cool. "Somehow I doubt that you came by for a cuppa and a taste of Luna's fry up."
Draco took a long sip of the coffee, the bitterness of it invigorating him before looking at Harry.
"Actually Potter, I was rather hoping that we might be able to help each other."
Harry raised an eyebrow and raised the coffee cup to his lips. "Possibly Malfoy, but first you need to tell me why Granger showed up at the Burrow last night."
Recognizing the shock on Draco's face he chuckled. "Surely you didn't think that Hermione wouldn't tell me about her new living arrangements. We've been friends for too long. I knew that something was wrong when she told me she was moving from the Weasleys."
Draco shifted in his seat uncomfortable under Harry's gaze. "I must say Potter, I'm surprised that you and the Weasel haven't been by to hex me as of yet."
"Not that the thought didn't cross my mind," Harry laughed, "but Ron doesn't know. Hermione managed to convince him that she just felt as if she needed her independence after all. And while I'm not so sure how I feel about whatever is going on between you and Hermione, she's not a witch that is exactly receptive to being told what to do, no matter what the intention is.
"I can only assume that you all have had some sort of falling out and that is what led to her leaving?"
Draco sighed as he set his cup back down to the table. "Look Potter, I'm not sure what Hermione told you about our living arrangements, but I am pretty sure that whatever you think is going on between us is far from the mark. Hermione essentially left because I've been a bit unbearable lately."
Harry's hand flew to his mouth to prevent his coffee from spilling onto the table as he sputtered. "Malfoy, while I do not doubt your assessment, I am amazed to hear you speak so freely about your social challenges. So you've been brewing around acting like the prat that you are as of late. Let me guess, Rookwood?"
Draco nodded before allowing his mouth to turn slightly. "You know Potter, I thought that you Gryffindors were supposed to show some compassion. You needn't have agreed with me so readily."
Harry chuckled, "You have us confused with Hufflepuffs. Gryffindor bravery calls for telling the absolute truth, no matter how hard it might be for one to hear."
Ignoring Draco's look of indignation, Harry sobered. "Look Malfoy, I really do understand what it feels like to lie around and wait for some lunatic. I've been there before. But I meant what I said in the Leaky Cauldron, Snape shouldn't have told you about Rookwood and I will not involve you in Order business.
"I'm sorry if you feel I've wasted your time, but I think it would be best that you leave now, I can't help you."
As Harry stood to clear the table of his breakfast which had now grown cold, Draco's voice stopped him.
"Harry, this isn't about Rookwood. I am well aware of your position on that and while I do not respect it, I am intelligent enough to know that I can't change it. I just need to be doing something.
"I happen to know that you and Weasley have been making a lot of noise down at the Ministry about the trivial assignments you have been given while in training. I thought that perhaps you could use the assistance of someone not bound by the Auror's protocol."
Harry sat back down and raised an eyebrow at Draco. "You've got my attention. What assistance do you think this individual might be able to provide?"
Draco smiled. Though he had struggled with how to breach the topic with Harry, he hadn't been too concerned with whether he would be amenable to the idea.
Potter had spent seven years in and out of trouble because he couldn't stand to wait around until someone felt that he was ready to handle his destiny. Now that he was an adult, Draco doubted he would take to coddling any better than in his youth.
"Hypothetically speaking," Draco asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Of course," Harry responded, grinning.
Harry had been thoroughly impressed when Draco explained the number of resources at his disposal given his position within the Ministry. The position of an Unspeakable was not a particularly exciting one. Generally it involved a lot of research and paper work.
The reason the position was special was that they handled the most delicate forms of research within the Ministry, consequently granted access to nearly all of the information housed within the government. It didn't take much for Draco to convince Harry how beneficial that information could be to him in researching some of the cases the Auror's were having trouble with bringing to closure.
"I do believe that we might be able to work something out," Harry replied carefully. "Though I can't help but wonder, what do you get out of this?"
'What indeed,' Draco thought. He hadn't a firm grip on exactly what he was looking to get out of this exchange with Potter. He just knew that he needed to feel like he was doing something; something more than sitting behind a desk.
An eerie smile crept across Malfoy's face as realization struck. "Potter, I'm sure that in order to guarantee closure to some of these cases, it might be useful to have someone that might be able to confront the suspect without the… burden of Ministry policy."
"And you feel that you would be a good person to play this role," Harry questioned. "I'll admit, I have no doubt that you would be very effective in acquiring additional information that might prove beneficial through less than conventional means. And I'm well aware of your aptitude for using the appropriate level of discretion. But, I never had you pegged for the type that wished to run about chasing down criminals. Why do you want to do this?"
Draco paused, considering whether or not he wished to confess his motives to Potter. He was after all a Gryffindor and his motives might be considered less than honorable. But as he looked across at the man, he realized that though he would not care to admit it, Potter was probably the only person that could truly understand what he was going through right now.
"Potter, with the news about Rookwood let's just say I'm feeling a little bit..."
"Tense," Harry offered.
"Savage, reprehensible, barbaric," Draco corrected him, pleased when he saw Harry's smile of recognition.
"If I can't do anything but wait for Augustus to make his move, I would like to feel as if I am doing something. Sitting around researching natural magic just isn't doing that for me."
When Draco returned to the Ministry, Hermione relaxed as a wave of calm spread over her. She had barely slept at all the previous night. It had been many months since she and Draco had been apart and the longing she felt for his presence had only increased.
Hermione's dreams had been disturbingly vivid; images of her and Draco haunting the witch much of the night. The dreams had been in a way very innocent, but yet as she watched herself interact with Draco, it had been too intimate. It had been similar to watching herself with Harry and Ron during their days at Hogwarts, but more.
By about three in the morning, Hermione resigned herself to the fact that she would not receive any quality sleep and decided to get up. Unable to focus on reading, or even writing in her beloved journal, she pulled on a night robe and went downstairs.
Pulling out a kettle and some tea leaves, Hermione set the water to boil. As she sat down to the table, she heard footsteps descending the stair case.
"Ahh dearie, I thought I heard you up," Molly Weasley smiled as she pulled her robe together. "Excellent, I do believe that I could use a cup of tea as well."
Hermione looked at Molly's face, the ghost of sleep still clinging to her eyes. She obviously had not woken on her own accord.
"I'm terribly sorry if I disturbed you Mrs. Weasley…"
The older witch tutted as she shooed Hermione's apology with her hand. "Call me Molly dear. You are no longer some school girl and as much as I love you like a daughter, I would hope that we are also to some degree friends," she questioned, flicking her wand to pour the water over the tea leaves to steep.
"To tell you the truth Hermione, I knew that something was wrong when you decided to come by so suddenly to stay. Judging from the lines on your face, I think that you could use a friend tonight."
Hermione sighed. Molly was right. She would give anything right about now for Ginny to be home so that she could confess something she had been trying to deny for so long. But the thought of discussing her relationship with Draco Malfoy with Ron's mother seemed as far from therapy as one could get.
Mrs. Weasley interrupted her thoughts with a soft chuckle before launching into the motherly tone her mother had used so many times as she was growing up. "I know it might be hard to believe Hermione, but I am a woman before a mother. And it doesn't take a genius to see that some wizard has got you pretty well twisted.
"I can only imagine the horror stories that you have heard from my children, but I assure you that the way a woman treats her children and the way she treats her friends are two different things."
Hermione didn't know what possessed her. She of course knew that it was only reasonable that Molly Weasley had at some point in her lifetime dealt with difficult relationships, if not personally then through her friends. But that fact alone was not enough to propel her to launch into such a confession. Perhaps she had just kept her secret too long and could no longer hold it. Whatever the reason was, she found herself confessing to Molly the reasons for her move.
"Living with him is just… unbearable. He's spoiled, sarcastic, and as of late damn near impossible to be in the same room with. I don't know what made me think that we could possibly live together for any amount of time," Hermione exclaimed, her face turning red.
Molly watched the young girl intently, allowing her to verbalize her frustrations without interruption. She suppressed the urge to laugh as Hermione danced around what Mrs. Weasley knew from years of experience to be the true issue. She also knew well enough that if Hermione was not ready to discuss what was truly troubling her, that no amount of urging would get her to do so.
As silence fell in the kitchen, Molly stood to go and fetch the tea that had been steeping and returned with a cup for Hermione and herself. The two witches sat and drank the calming brew in silence for a few moments before she spoke.
"While I can imagine that you would feel somewhat stressed at being forced to move due to situations beyond your control, I assure you that I am not so naïve to believe that is what led you back here after nearly three months.
"I'm not going to pressure you for more information dear, you'll tell someone when you're ready. But let me give you this bit of advice. You can lie to many people, but you cannot lie to yourself."
Review Responses:
HGDMLova: Thanks for the review. Snape is Snape, but I must say I've developed a fondness for the snarky potions master.
Artemis1860: I am sorry that it took so long to update, it was not intentional. The rest of the chapters should be up very shortly.
kazfeist: here is more, and the rest should soon follow!
hoofservannt: I'm glad that you are enjoying it. Here's the update
RiahDragonHeart: Wow, pretty straight forward review. I'm so glad that you are enjoying.
Katie: I think you'll like how Ron ends up. It's been a while since I've written this, so I'm not sure what chapter it's in, but I get tired of the Ron bashing in fanfic, so I hope that I properly redeem him!
Michelle: Thank you for the wonderful compliment. Reviews are frustrating, although I will say readers here do a much better job of reviewing than at some other archives that shall remain nameless :) I hope you enjoy the update.