A/N: Thanks for reading this! Giving me your precious time is flattering! Don't forget to review!
… … …
Hermione, fuming once again because of Lucius, who debriefed her most harshly before seeing her off, his eyes evil and blood shot, face red and his mouth, which was spouting off cold hearted warnings and spitting out little flecks of salvia as he threatened her into behaving, sat uncomfortably in the wizard car, next to an even more uncomfortable Narcissa.
Looking foul, eyes covered by black sleek sunglasses, she dragged on her long thin cigarette before the car pulled up to a ridiculously stuffy and expensive bakery.
As soon as they reached the entrance they were greeted by the stores owner, who was happy to have them as famous costumers, for surely the cake seen at the wedding was going to be quite coveted.
Narcissa's fake smile gave Hermione the creeps, but not nearly as much as when Narcissa put her arm lovingly around her as they walked into the shop, for paparazzi were just down the street snapping pictures for some wizard tabloid.
Hermione acted as sweet and agreeable as needed, making no genuine effort to actually be convincing, but doing a good enough job as to not be complained about. Narcissa was onto her behavior, but it was difficult to do anything about it.
Hermione certainly was sick of being followed around by photographers, not to mention the disgusting flakey shop owners they had to meet, and her cheeks definitely hurt from all the forced smiling. But Lucius had reminded her just that morning that he knew where her house was. Utterly fearful for her family, she had no choice.
Soon after picking out a cake she found herself in a posh and vain beauty salon, where numerous old wizard ladies were getting their wrinkles charmed away and having a beautician rub hair removal potion on their legs.
Hermione sat down next to Narcissa and followed her lead, giving her hands to the young stylish witch on the other side of the table.
The witch began to soak Hermione's hands in sweet smelling potions and remedies while scrubbing them smooth. It would have been relaxing if it wasn't for Narcissa and her manicurist's petty gossiping back and forth right next to her. Hermione didn't know how long she could stand hearing about whose wife was having an affair and which wizard was secretly in debt or had a firewhisky problem.
Relieved, another witch came to get Hermione after her fingernails, which had basically been neglected for months but were now pearly, smooth and dainty looking. The new witch led her to a chair where she explained she'd be deep treating Hermione's locks with a softening serum while also applying a magical facial crème. …If only she was being pampered for any other occasion, she'd be in heaven.
"You have beautiful hair," said the witch, while rinsing out the serum.
"Thank you," said Hermione shyly.
"Pretty hair on a pretty girl," she went on, "No wonder Draco wants to marry you," she winked.
Hermione forced an awkward smile. She knew she'd have to endure many more comments like that… but they were still so odd.
"Now it's just a few minutes under the dryer then…" and the witch led Hermione to a different seat, bringing a bowl like thing down over her head, "We just got these new dryers, they're jinxed to be silent, it's really nice…there's some magazines for you to read if you'd like…" then the witch walked off to ring up another customer.
The young women in the dryer seat next to Hermione, whose face was covered in a green kind of cream, surveyed Narcissa carefully; she was across the salon, conversing with her beautician about anti-gray hair potions.
"Pssst," said the young witch.
Hermione slowly looked over to her. Her heart stopped. She could not believe it. It was Tonks. Her nose was different, her lips were gigantic and her eyes brows were a completely different shape, but Hermione, the only one, could tell it was Tonks none the less.
"Don't squeal," said Tonks, then she smiled.
Hermione opened her mouth as to say something but could not, only to shut it again.
"I don't have much time," said Tonks, starring into a magazine, hardly moving her lips, "Are you well?"
"Yes," answered Hermione, "Just let me know how we're getting out of here. Do you already know the counter-spell for my binding charm? Will we just run? Or shall we blast our way out…"
"This is not a rescue mission," said Tonks.
"Wha..." Hermione could barely finish her word, unable to believe her ears.
"I'm sorry Hermione, we're all so horribly relieved you're ok, but you've got an assignment."
Was she dreaming? Was the order really going to give her a mission? After all she had been through?
"I'm so sorry Hermione, I really truly am. But this is such a great opportunity for us to gain some inside information. We need you to spy."
"You can't be serious!" Hermione exasperated.
"Shhh," whispered Tonks, "I know it's hard, but you're in no immediate danger right? And we really want to know why Voldemort wants you two married."
"I think I already know," Hermione insisted, "Lucius wants to be promoted in the ministry, so he wants a muggle loving reputation."
"Well yeah, we figured as much, but there's also something else going on …with prisoners in Azkaban, not ones that you'd think either, as well as some other things… Voldemort's been making some very peculiar moves… shady things are afoot. We need you to find out about them."
"Tonks, I-I can't…"
"Of course you can Hermione! You're one of the best members the Order of the Phoenix has ever seen! You could help us so much if you just played along it while longer. Just a little while longer Hermione. You still consider yourself dedicated to the fight against the dark arts right?"
"Of course," said Hermione, how could she ever doubt her?
"Well good, we'll be getting in touch again very soon. See what you can find out, however you can find it out, while still being in the character you have been. We're watching, we'll be protecting you all we can. I love you Hermione, it's so nice to see you, I'm so glad you're well. We all are. I must go. Be on guard"
"But-" yearned Hermione, only to see Tonks drop her magazine and look up to the approaching beautician, "All done!" she asked cheerfully.
"Yup," said the witch, lifting up the dryer, "Right this way then."
Tonks turned slightly to look back at Hermione and smiled feebly.
She watched Tonks pay and exit the salon, not even looking at Hermione again. It couldn't be. That did not just occur. It all happened so fast. Tonks can't be gone. Hermione urged so strongly to jump up and run after her, but it would only be a matter of time before Narcissa informed Draco, and he mentally recalled his permission for her to venture away from him, leaving her to suffocate to death. Instead she sat in the chair, the dryer on her head, fighting back the tears. She was numb and speechless when the witch returned to turn it off.
"Well don't you look lovely," said Narcissa, approaching the two of them.
Hermione looked up at the woman who was only pretending to like her. She looked away so Narcissa wouldn't see her glossy eyes, and noticed how busy the salon was, full of people coming and going, not a care in the world. Standing in the middle of the exclusive beauty parlor, being pampered, a beautiful engagement ring on her finger, yet unbeknownst to any of them, she was completely enslaved against her will. It was all so surreal.
… … …
Hermione saw Draco for the first time since the night before, when she had slammed her door in his face.
He appeared again in her door, carrying a tray of chicken noodle soup. Miserable and tired, she looked at him with disdained confusion. She was sure he was going to be a jerk, which is why she was surprised when he started out nonchalant and civil.
"Narcissa was worried since you said you were too sick to come to dinner," he explained blankly, causing Hermione to make sure she had heard him right about Narcissa being concerned for her, "She doesn't want you to lose any of the weight you've put back on," he added quickly.
"Oh," scoffed Hermione after he clarified, "How sweet of her," drawled Hermione sarcastically, walking over to her bed with Draco and the tray. Draco's body language was very stern and stand-offish, like he was during her first days at the manor.
"Well you have been sick a lot," he said, leering at her while setting the tray on the bed," You don't look any sicker than usual right now though."
'I knew the monster would escape,' thought Hermione, detecting Draco's rising meanness, "So? Like I can help it?" she said defensively.
"Well I believe you truly weren't well after you fell into the creek…"
"I think I went into shock or something…" Hermione muttered embarrassed, since they never really talked about the measures he took to make sure she made it through the night.
"…but I wouldn't go saying you're sick every night just to get out of dinner," he continued menacingly, "You're just going to bring yourself trouble."
"What do you care?" Hermione sassed.
"I don't," said Draco, "I'm just sick of getting caught in the middle of your bloody feuds with Lucius; I haven't had a peaceful day since…"
"You haven't had a peaceful day?" snapped Hermione, "Like I have?"
"Oh like running around getting your nails done is so hard?" he barked, everything she did irking him so.
"And what did you have to do today that was so horrible?" she fired back, both of them now arguing like sibling children.
"For your information, I had to get fitted for my tux in a stuffy tailor's and then I had to go get a new wand, which took hours to get just right!"
"Poor baby," mocked Hermione, "had to go out and buy more new things!"
"You wench!" yelled Draco, resorting to immature name calling because he was so flustered that she had the nerve to straight out mock him.
"Spoiled brat!" she insulted back. She had the nerve to fire back again!
"Shut up…," yelled a shocked Draco, looking flustered and turning red, No one dared insult him! He couldn't believe it, he couldn't allow! "You- You-… butthead."
Hermione's mouth dropped in anger… and then she furrowed her brow. Once she decided that yes, he had in fact truly called her a butthead, she couldn't help but smile in disbelief and start to chuckle.
Draco's face turned from angry red to embarrassed pink, and then he too, accepting that he really had said butthead, began to laugh as well.
"Jerkface," she finally said, hiding her smile.
Draco cocked his head at her, "Boogie eater."
Hermione's eyes grew wide in shock, "Wanker!" she responded.
"Skank!" he added quickly.
"Penis breath!" she cried.
Draco's laughter was full on once he heard penis breath, which had thoroughly surprised him. After watching Draco's angry face contort into unsuppressed uproarious laughter, Hermione too laughed, not believing her own mouth.
When the surprise and humor had subsided an awkward silence resulted, and the two's eyes shifted down to the carpet.
'What the hell!' they both thought. One minute they act like strangers and the next they were giggling like the best of friends. Then, in a flash of lightening their egos flair up and they're ready to throw punches. Both didn't know what was more perplexing, the other's crazy fluctuating behavior, or their own!
Luckily a house elf appeared at the door carrying a candle, breaking the thick layer of discomfort. A tiny version of Lucius's face appeared in the little flame when the elf reached Draco.
"Draco," said the stern little head, "I'll be in important meetings all day tomorrow and your mother is going shopping and to lunch with some friends. You need to be here in the afternoon to let the slayer in."
Draco nodded and the face disappeared with no farewell. He reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a can of Mountain Dew, "I brought you this, thought you might want one." Then he turned and disappeared out her door.
During their whole "spat", which ended up being quite humorous, Hermione had almost forgotten how miserable she was… until Draco put the can in her hand.
With a rush of nostalgia she was instantly homesick.
She fell in love with Mountain Dew while on a mission in New York City. Harry and she had drunk so much of it that night that they were ridiculously jittery from the caffeine and sugar that their stomachs ached. They merely laughed at their situation though, having too much fun for anything to bring them down, goofing around in their motel room.
Ron had gone to bed, getting some rest like Lupin had so strongly suggested, for the next day they'd be flying to Chicago, and then Los Angeles, then onward to every other major city, getting in touch with the magical communities there, searching for any trace of Voldemort.
But Harry had taken an unexpected liking to New York, and for the first time in a long while, well, basically since the end of 5th year, he was cheerful. Hermione didn't want to miss the opportunity to have a happy memorable time with Harry like they used to, and she stayed up all night with him joking and giggling.
But she had never expected them to kiss.
Nothing had been more confusing at that time, but Hermione managed to be sure about one thing, and that was to bring home cases of Mountain Dew with her to England.
Now there she was, with plenty of Mountain Dew yet no Harry. It was only Tonks and no one else who came to see her, whom Hermione got no explanation from.
It was even worse now, having a chance to be informed yet still completely in the dark. It tormented her, being so lost and alone, so out of the loop. 'No wonder Harry was such a jackass when we couldn't owl him…' she recalled glumly the summer before 5th year.
Hermione began to think very cynical thoughts again… wondering if the Order really cared about her at all.
She forced herself to stop.
The Order had made contact; they trusted her with a very important mission and believed her to be strong and capable enough to do it successfully. Not only that but they were watching over her, enough that Tonks was able to intercept Hermione in the salon without being caught. Plus, they were going to be making contact again. Soon even. Surely she'd get all her questions answered then.
At least that's what Hermione told herself over and over again.
In the meantime, she had a little investigating to do, and Lucius and Narcissa being gone the next day was the perfect opportunity.
Draco rolled over and punched his pillow down, extremely frustrated with himself. Why would he go through all that trouble just to give the muggle a Mountain Dew? He wasn't even thinking when he brought it for her; he had been acting so unlike himself lately.
For someone who he knew to be determined to escape anyway, his kindness and hospitality surely meant nothing to her. So why was he bumbling around like a fool, laying out red carpet for her wherever she went? He was even nice to her after she was horrid to him the previous night! And for what? Where did being nice get him? Honestly, what was with him lately?
Sure he pitied her. He knew exactly how it felt to be forced into a marriage and become a gossip beacon for the entire public, but it must be doubly horrible for her. The torture and cruelty she must have endured as Voldemort's prisoner wasn't something he wanted to think to much about.
But that did not excuse his behavior. Secretly, he knew why he was acting the way he was, and he knew it must desist immediately. Not harassing her or jinxing her like in their Hogwart's days was a kind enough gesture to bestow her and surely she should be gratefull enough for that. But going out of his way to be kind and friendly? Not needed and inappropriate, no matter how sorry he felt for her.
Besides, like he thought before, the little escape artist didn't appreciate it nor would she ever. An insult to all that was Slytherin.
'I've got to put a stop to my stupid despicable behavior!" Draco thought harshly to himself, making one final roll and shutting his eyes tightly.
……… "I'm not going to pretend its not dangerous Hermione, these people we're dealing with, they're very short tempered and violent, they don't trust anyone. A lot is riding on this…"
"I can do this Moody, just trust me," said Hermione.
"Then you've officially been assigned the mission," he grunted.
There was a stony pause.
"And Harry?" she inquired.
"He'll be working with you on this one." ………