Hermione sighed happily, glancing down at her gold bracelet. She was so deep in thought that when Moon knocked on her door, she didn't even notice.
"Hermione?"
She looked up, seeing that someone was at her door. "Yes? Come in!"
Moon walked in the door, a look on his face that made her skin crawl. "There is some mail here for you. I haven't read it, I promise."
"Thank you, Moon. Can I have it, please?"
He handed the small envelope to her in a rather hurried fashion, as if the letter had a deadly curse inside of it and he wanted it out of his hands as soon as he possibly could.
Hermione was lost in confusion once more. Why was Moon acting this way?
"Is everything okay, Moon? You are acting rather strange…"
"Everything is fine! Perfectly fine! No worries here!" Moon coped a high-pitched voice, walking out the door as he spoke. When he was outside, he shook his head in disgust.
Hermione sat down at her desk, carefully opening the letter to find it was from Draco himself. She grinned happily, reading the letter slowly to make it last longer than it really should.
My Dearest Hermione,
Tonight's arrangements have been slightly altered. I have been alerted from outside sources that someone has found out about our relationship and plans to watch us tonight. Meet me, as planned, by the large willow tree, but keep yourself concealed. Wear either a midnight blue or jet-black cloak. They won't be able to see us with such dark colors on.
With all my love,
Draco
Hermione nodded to herself. "No wonder Moon was so strange when he spoke to me…he must be the one who discovered that Draco wasn't dead…"
She paused in mid sentence, making sure no one was watching her, and then she dodged out her door and stole about sixty purple sheets of paper.
Her memos.
After she carefully worded her memos and wrote them on each piece of purple paper, she sent them on their way. It was a rather humorous sight, seeing all these purple paper airplanes flying about the office. Once she let them loose, she found a piece of parchment and sent a letter back to Draco.
My Love Draco,
I received your owl and I understand what you mean. I can tell that something is up with Moon. He's not himself, and I had a feeling that he knew something was going on. I will find myself a very dark cloak and take the long way round. If I am a little later than I usually am, that's because I will be starting a diversion within the office. I sent my memos about as well…hopefully they will get my message and listen to me. They should, since I am second in command…pretty much.
I love you…do you know that? Well, if you don't, I do. I love you with all of my heart…
With all the love that I possess,
Hermione
She gently kissed the letter where her signature sat, getting a small amount of ink upon her lips. This is what she wanted. She then kissed it once again, but farther down. Hopefully he gets the idea…
After the letter dried, she folded it, placed it in an envelope, and called to her owl, Mystic. "Can you find him?"
Mystic gently nipped her hand in a very loving way. She was a very reliable owl and found everyone that Hermione wanted her to.
"Good girl…now, go!"
The owl took her words literally and took off faster than she usually did, spooking a few people who were walking beside her office.
"Calm that owl down, Lionheart! It looks like it's about to kill something! Or someone!"
"Sorry, Eagle!" Hermione chuckled softly to herself. "I just need to get a letter somewhere rather quickly and my owl understands me rather well when I tell her what to do."
"I can see that!" Eagle dusted off his cloak. "May I have a word with you, Lionheart?"
"Of course…"
"Actually, Shadow wishes to speak with you."
Hermione's eyes went wide. "Oh, I just remembered…I can't at the moment. I have to, err, be somewhere in a relatively short amount of time. Can you delay the meeting to tomorrow?"
"Of…of course. I completely understand. I will leave you to your work, Lionheart. How about nine thirty tomorrow for the meeting?"
"Can it be about ten? I might be a little late getting back in the morning."
"Ten o'clock it is." Eagle, like Moon, was acting rather strange. "See you tomorrow at ten, Lionheart."
"See you then, Eagle." She shut her door, breathing heavily. Hermione knew there was something going on behind her back, and now Shadow was getting involved…
What did everyone have against her?
The hours ticked past as Hermione paced her room, thinking of the many possibilities that would turn her closest friends against her. Was it the hunger for power? Was it to get back at her for becoming the second best Auror in her league?
Or was it just because she wasn't strong enough to kill someone?
There were so many possibilities…so many unanswered questions.
Hermione looked at the clock nervously. 12:00 p.m.
She grabbed her jet-black cloak, threw it about her shoulders, concealing her entire body and ran out the door of her office and out into the Ministry of Magic itself.
As she ran, she tried to keep her mind off the fact that someone could be following her every move.
But the more she tried to not think about it, the more the thought of a stalker tracking her every move.
Hermione was panting heavily, but she eventually reached her goal of the large willow tree beside the Thames River.
Draco was sitting there, reading a small black journal. "Hello there."
"Hello." She gently kissed him. "You seem solemn tonight."
"Because Moon was behind you the entire time."
"I knew that. Let's just hide out in a corner somewhere." Hermione grasped his hand. "Please?"
"Hermione…do you know that I am rather gifted in song?"
"Why are you trying to change the subject?"
Draco looked into her eyes. "Because I am trying to make it like we are NOT in love!" He whispered rather harshly. "Try to act like you are talking business with me!"
Hermione was taken aback, but she understood. "I understand…but I did get word this morning that someone named Alex was gaining power."
Draco was in shock. "Alex? Alex is gaining POWER?"
"Yes…supposedly, he is going to try and come after you or something of the sort. I know it sounds rather childish, but he wants revenge."
"Revenge? What, because I'm a Malfoy?"
"What are you talking about?"
"All he wants is to be the best Death Eater the world has ever seen, but he can't accept that I am the best! Bastard…"
"You aren't a Death Eater anymore, Draco…"
"Yes, I am. When the mark is burned into your arm, you are a Death Eater for life. There is no turning back."
"So, you still have contact with them?"
"They all think I died. Word was sent to them that you "killed" me. Don't you remember that man you call Shadow sending out a message to the Dark Lord?"
Hermione nodded. "I didn't think they believed it…what I heard was that they didn't believe a word we said to them."
Draco was silent for a moment, then he gently kissed Hermione. "He's gone…"
Hermione sighed with relief. "Good…I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to show any form of affection for you…"
"But you had better get back to the Ministry soon…but I have to tell you something before you go."
"What is it?"
"If Alex does come after me…let me fight him alone. I don't want to loose you again…" A single tear fell down his cheek.
"Draco…I have to at least help you…" She began to cry as well.
"Hermione, there is nothing you can do…they will kill you. I can't let them hurt you…"
"I was told to kill you, my love…I am not afraid of death."
"But I don't want to loose you…I already had to leave you once. I don't want to leave you again…" The tears began to fall faster down both of their faces…it was a horrible thing to see, the two lovers thinking about their possible deaths.
"I will respect your wishes…but if any word hits my ears that you are in trouble, I will be at your side. If I have to die to save your life…I will do it. Draco…don't you understand? I love you too much to let you fight Alex alone."
Draco nodded. "Let me try…I have faith in myself, Hermione. There is something that you have to learn about me. When I know I can do something, I usually like to do it alone."
Hermione was silent, the tears still falling down her cheeks. "I won't loose you, will I?"
Draco shook his head in reply. "I won't let you loose me again, my love. I will never let you feel that pain…"
The two of them embraced for what could be their last time together as free people.