A/N: Hallo, I'm back again. I apologize for not updating; I was trying to do it every day, but I had a funeral this weekend, and man, was it weird. The father of the deceased got into a fight with his other son. Never saw that coming. Anyway, I've also found it easier to write two chapters at a time, and I'm not sure if I'm going to update one chap. every day or two chaps. every other day. Let me know what you think.
P.S. I'm so glad I'm finally getting more readers! Just so you all know, I have another fic called Dirty Snake (Freak in London) which has received very few reviews. I'm not sure if it's that the title or if it's a crappy story. Please let me know without destroying my little piece of self-esteem that I still have. Thanks a ton!
Hermione jerked her arm out of Draco's. Who does he think he is? My savior? "Let go of me. I can do it myself."
Draco felt her anger and decided to tell her why he was here. "'Mione-"
"Don't ever call me that." She couldn't believe he had dared to call her that. He had no right!
Draco felt the anger, the hurt, rolling off of her in waves. "OK, I'm sorry. Please, listen to me for just a minute."
"Why should I? Where did that ever get me?"
"If you would let me-"
"I don't-"
"GUYS!" Blaise shouted. Both Hermione and Draco looked over at him. "You need to get out of here. There are other Death Eaters here, and they've probably heard you by now. They will be up here shortly to figure out what the hell you're yelling about. So let's go." Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by Blaise. "NOW."
Where do I know him from? "OK. If I can get out of this window, I should be all right."
"Then go," Draco said.
"I'm trying. My robe is stuck."
"Hold on." Draco tried to free the robe from the rusty nail sticking out of the windowsill. "It's stuck. I can try to tear it off-"
"Don't you dare. This is my favorite cloak from Ron." Gods bless your soul, Ron.
"Well, if you want to leave today, you'll either need to tear it or take it off." Blaise was the intervening voice. He didn't know what had happened between the two to cause this bickering, but he knew if they didn't get her out of here soon, she wouldn't be the only one taken out of the house in a body bag.
Hermione didn't want to leave the cloak. The burgundy color complemented her hair just right; it had also been her last gift from Ron before he died. But as Blaise had just pointed out, it was the cloak or her life. She figured she could always come back and get it sometime, but now wasn't it. "OK, help me back in the window. I'll take it off."
Draco reached out and grabbed her around the waist. She doesn't eat enough. I can feel her ribcage. "Here we go." He set her on the ground. She quickly pulled the robe off and threw it on the floor. Only the piece that was still stuck on the nail hung there.
"Alright, up you go." Draco lifted her up. Blaise, unbeknownst to either of them, was taking a peek up her skirt. Not that he cared or anything. Yeah, right. Just 'cause I can't see Ginny all the time... he never got to finish his thought. Suddenly, Hermione was out the window, sitting on a tree branch. Draco was leaning out the window, holding her hand until she had her balance. Draco called Blaise over to help him.
"On the count of three, levitation spells. One... two... three. Wingardium Leviosa," they said at the same time. Hermione gently floated down to the ground. She turned back to the window, gave the men a small nod of her head, and disappeared.
Three seconds later, Blaise and Draco heard a thundering noise. It was the rest of the Death Eaters stomping up the stairs to see what all the yelling was about. They burst in, wands at the ready, and pointed them at the first figure they saw.
"What in the hell do you think you are doing?" Draco yelled. "What do I look like to you?"
They all stopped and stared at Draco. "Um, um... uh... well, um..."
"DAMMIT! PAY ATTENTION! The Mudblood was here, might still be here, and you're all staring at me like I'm a- a-"Draco couldn't think of anything to say. "A freak show attraction. GO FIND HER! NOW!!" Draco pointed at the door. Slowly, they turned around and started stomping around the second floor.
"That was close." Blaise wiped the sweat off his forehead. He opened his mouth to ask Draco what that was all about, but was interrupted.
"Not here. Not now. Seven o'clock, regular place."
Blaise nodded and followed Draco out the door.
XXXXX
Hermione ran in between two houses about five blocks down the street. She had a stitch in her side and her knees were still shaking. She always had a lot of thoughts running through her head, but right now only two were pestering her. What were those two playing at? and Where do I know the other guy from? She racked her brain but came up with no clues, no nothing. There was certainly something funny with him. His aura was so... normal.
She reached into her cloak pocket. At least, she tried. Oh, shit! The secret object is in my cloak! I have to go back and get it. It'll have to be later, though. She had to go tell Dumbledore what she witnessed, and besides, the place was full of who knew how many Death Eaters. She knew there were more than ten, which was about nine too many for her taste to go it alone. I'll go tell Dumbledore. He'll know. He always knows.
A/N: So. How'd I do? Does anyone else remember who else 'always knows'? First person with the correct answer gets a cookie. No, even better, they will receive two cookies.
Does anyone want to know what happened to Ron? Let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcome, too.
Later,
-Kat
