The meeting
Draco woke up mid morning to the smell of frying bacon, eggs, grits, and other delicious things.
When he finally showered and dressed. His mouth was watering as headed down the stairs and towards the kitchen.
Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny were sitting at the table chatting and as soon as Draco entered they fell silent and looked his way.
After about a minute, "are you going to stand there all day?" asked Harry coldly.
Draco walked over to the empty chair in between Ginny, who was eyeing him nervously, and Ron, who was glaring at him.
Comfy, Draco thought.
The breakfast continued with everyone ignoring Draco and not mentioning the previous nights events until-
"Well Hermione and Draco you're meeting with Amelia Bones at noon but you have a good half an hour," said Ron as he rose from his eat "I promised Percy I'd help him with some items concerning the ministry. So I'd best be off" with a pop he was gone.
"I'll be accompanying you two," Harry added "Ginny your parents will be here to take over your post around 12:30 p.m. so you can go to work with Fred and George, I should go get changed" she followed behind him before winking in Hermione's direction.
Hermione had a pretty good idea what Harry and Ginny were going to do alone.
Draco and Hermione had been quiet except for the occasional clinking of silverware against the china.
Hermione rose from her chair with her plate and cup put it in the sink then went towards the kitchen "thank you for saving me last night" she said hurriedly before leaving out the door.
At 11:45 a.m. Draco, Hermione, and Harry had apperated to the ministry of magic building. They went threw the main entrance and were on their way to the mistress of magic Amelia Bones' office.
When they got off the lift on the floor of the office, they had arrived Dumbledore, Kingsley Shacklebot, and Amelia Bones had already arrived.
Amelia Bones spoke first "Harry, dear thank you for escorting them here but we will not need you any further" she politely dismissed Harry, who looked disappointed but left.
"Okay well you two had quite a night as I am told and you both know that the plan went array, especially you Miss. Granger, so the only solution I have is for you two to go into the wizard witness protection program' she explained to them sullenly.
Draco and Hermione both exchanged confused looks for neither had heard of such a thing.
Instead of Amelia explaining any further Kingsley stood up and started to talk.
"The W.W.P.P. is a program for extreme cases, such as you two, now normally the fidelus charm would be enough but we can't afford just one protection. I'll give you the basics of the program: my team will set you up with new identities you will also live like muggles-"
"Wait a damn minute" Draco bellowed as he jumped from his seat "I refuse to live like a muggle, why can't we just live like wizards? What's the harm?" he finished.
Kingsley on the other hand answered in a calm sort of demeaning voice "if you want to stay alive, you'll live like a muggle whether you like it or not. And with as many people who want to kill you, you should be jumping for joy right now"
Draco sat down glaring daggers at Kingsley but didn't say another word.
"Now as I was saying, you'll be living with your guard, they'll be there to protect you and to help you adjust to muggle life"
He paused letting the information sink in for the two.
"Any questions?" he asked eyeing the two.
"Will we be able to say good-bye to our family and friends?" asked Hermione meekly holding back the tears that were threatening to flow forward.
"No" Kingsley answered shortly "it's too risky"
That's fine with me, thought Draco, I have no one anyways.
"You'll leave today in an hour to be exact" Kingsley continued.
Draco and Hermione immediately began to protest and shout at this news.
Then Dumbledore stood up to address the argument, "we can not risk anyone getting their hands on you two again. Also what if one of you were to let this information slip accidentally that would be an even greater risk to yourselves"
They were all quiet now, then Kingsley once again spoke "we have identification for both of you" he handed them two plastic card.
Draco's said Ezekiel Sullivan and Hermione's said Miranda Armstrong.
Draco eyed the picture I.D. the young man had similarities like Draco's but subtle differences that you could definitely see. For one Ezekiel had light blue eyes with flecks of hazel in them they were very on like Draco's cold gray orbs. Another thing Draco couldn't help but notice was that the young man also had light golden blonde hair Draco's hair was silver blonde that it was almost white. He was also tan while Draco was pale. Besides those few differences, you would think they were related if not cousins. The only thing that really irked Draco was that the boy's whole demeanor seemed to shine and smile, as if he had a happy childhood and was a nice guy.
Draco didn't like this.
Hermione also eyed the person she was to become with interest. The girl, Miranda, was 5'11 which was about 3 inches taller then Hermione was, her hair was brown like Hermione's but it was silky wavy and had low lights sprinkled here and there. Her chocolate brown eyes had flecks of green in them and she was also tan and well fit. Her stature wasn't slunk over as Hermione's usually was it was proud and self assured. This was something Hermione was definitely going to have to get used to.
"Your memories will be modified" Kingsley went on after they had been handed their i.d.s "so if you'll follow me"
But the two stayed rooted to their chairs.
"You're going to erase our memories," Hermione asked sternly, looking at Kingsley as if he had fallen off his rocker.
"No" smiled Kingsley "just modify them to make the transition into your new life....smother" he beckoned them forward "okay?"
They got up and began to follow Kingsley. Dumbledore preformed the fidleus charm, then their memories were modified, then lastly they were given American accents.
Since the fidleus charm had been preformed and no one was to know what they looked like Dumbledore had covered there faces with a ski mask so no one would be able to recognize them, then he led them into the chamber where Kingsley was waiting for them.
"You'll be traveling by port key to the check point, then you'll take muggle transportation the rest of the way. Your guard will be there waiting for you"
"Where will we be going?" asked Draco but he paused a bit, his American accent startled him.
"I don't know" answered Kingsley pulling Draco back to reality "it's a safety precaution, only Dumbledore knows"
"Who's our guard?" asked Hermione, she was getting nervous at these unanswered questions and being in the dark literally. It wasn't like her not to know everything and anything.
"Once again that piece of information I do not have. But they will be the only one at the checkpoint so don't worry"
He then looked down at his watch "Oye! The port keys will be activating soon. I'd better go. Stay out of trouble you too"
Kingsley left and Dumbledore came up from behind them "you can take off the mask now"
They did so.
"Now I need your wands," he said calmly
Hermione shakingly handing her's over, Draco on the other hand glared at Dumbledore and didn't move.
"Draco it's for our protection," Hermione scolded
"I know but what if something were to happen? What if something were to go wrong?" he looked from Dumbledore to Hermione "don't tell me you haven't been thinking about it Granger. We'd be sitting ducks. Sorry but I'm not going to wait around to be killed. I already don't like the idea of living like a muggle but feeling as useless as one"
He turned to Dumbledore then "and I don't think she should be one either, we aren't like the others who go into this program, this isn't a guarantee that we will be safe. I think she should keep her wand too"
Hermione was a little taken aback but didn't show it. She just rather sat quietly not looking at him.
Dumbledore seemed to think that this was fair and handed Hermione back her wand. He then turned around and picked up two rectangular slim boxes, one was silver and emerald the other was maroon and gold.
"What are those?" asked Draco as Dumbledore handed him the silver and emerald one.
"They're laptops," answered Hermione as Dumbledore handed him the maroon and gold one "it's a muggle device that is used for entertainment, work, and other things"
"Yes" said Dumbledore "very useful, and the newest edition customized to fit each of your needs" Draco looked his over disgruntled "don't worry how to use them will come to you soon enough"
The laptops started to hum a bit "oh and they are also port keys" Dumbledore added "well good luck to the both of you"
As soon as he said those words they felt the familiar tug on their belly buttons once again and felt themselves being hurtled threw space in time.
Before they knew what hit them they were in an abandoned warehouse staring at a shadowy outline of someone.
"Welcome to your new home, Miranda and Ezekiel" said the figure.