Hermione glanced at her watch again, thirty minutes; thirty fucking minutes since Harry had waltzed down here all angst and nonchalance. And he had every right to be, because difficult as fighting people driven by pure sadism was, the Order were organised now, and the Death Eaters knack for spreading discourse and enmity was hitting them hard – in their ranks, no one trusted anyone and they killed as many of their own as they did of the Order.
A scratching in the undergrowth and Hermione reached for her wand again, as she watched closely in the darkness a bush seemed to grow into a man – a tall and strong looking man except, as soon as he had stood and edged closer to her petite form he keeled over his head striking a half buried rock. Hermione pressed down on her legs and stood, wand pointing directly at him.
Unconscious. Bugger. Kneeling beside him her eyes widened in horror as she slipped the hood of an expensive finely tailored robe, sleek platinum blonde hair was revealed along with the all too familiar pale face.
"Malfoy…" Hermione breathed, glancing around nervously, but of course – there was no one there. She shivered as she saw the blood seeping thickly from the new wound on his head, but it wasn't the first, his robes were ripped through to his pale skin. Pale, scarred and bloodied skin. "What are you doing here Malfoy? What are you doing here?" She spoke softly as she pulled his wand from a pocket.
Standing up Hermione reached into her pocket for a small phoenix shaped badge and tapped her wand to it, within a few minutes she would be joined by another sentry. Glancing over Draco's wounds she performed a quick cleaning spell so that she could see the full extent of the damage but the blood began to flow again so quickly it was a hopeless case. She knew better than to try any healing spells, she was fully capable but without seeing the full extent of the damage it was dangerous. She could be doing him more harm than good.
Sitting back on her heels she studied Draco's face, flawed perfection. Unconsciously she brushed the blood matted hair from his forehead, her hand knocking the lump on his brow bone where he had been beaten long ago.
"Hermione?" She turned around to see Harry striding towards her. "Who is it?"
"Malfoy." She watched silently as Harry's mouth gaped and he knelt beside her, inspecting the wretched man before them.
"Merlin…" Harry glanced at Hermione and noticed the worry in her eyes. Seven years ago – they'd just left Hogwarts after the disastrous end to their sixth year, Malfoy and Snape had come to them at the Dursley's. Snape was a broken man – he had been working for the Order, but to find out what Draco's mission had been he'd done something which would kill the one person who had trusted him. Harry didn't know what Draco's story had been; Hermione had been the one guarding him whilst he grilled Snape. But when the pair had left to return to Voldemort, Hermione had watched Draco leave with a tinge of sadness and Harry knew that whatever he had said Hermione now trusted him implicitly.
"He needs treatment." Hermione broke Harry from his reverie and the younger boy nodded.
"You take him. I'll cover you here."
Hermione stood and with a flick of her wand she was guiding Draco towards the narrow tunnel entrance and Harry was helping them through to a small ante chamber where no lights burned despite the lanterns. Moving quickly she made her way up the hundreds and hundreds of steep steps that led to the main area of the fort, Draco floating just ahead of her all the time. Emerging into the relaxed quiet she guided the limp body towards the field hospital, as she stepped into the sterile area a young girl a few years younger than herself rushed forward.
"Colonel Granger…"
"Don't ask any questions." Hermione allowed Draco to come to rest on a spare bed. "Ignore any recognition of him that you might have, ignore any mark you may find on him, just treat him." She took a breath and stepped away from the bed. "And inform me immediately when he wakes up."
"Yes ma'am." The young healer saluted and Hermione turned on her heel, marching swiftly to the administration headquarters where she was greeted by Terry Boot.
He glanced at the large clock on the wall. "Morning Colonel, I thought you were…"
"I was. A small matter arose." She sat down next to Terry on a clattering old chair and swiftly pulled a register of troops towards her. "Harry's down at the track, on duty." She scanned the lists. "Connolly and Finch, they can relieve him."
"Certainly." Terry nodded and set about finding the summons badges for the two men. He noticed that Hermione had dropped her head into her hands and seemed in some pain. "Hermione?"
She stood quickly and gave him the briefest of smiles. "I'm okay Terry, I'm okay." He nodded and watched her closely as she crossed the fort towards the officer's barracks, disappearing into the darkness of the doorway.