The one thing that Harry and Draco noticed about the rebellion was how incredibly organized they were. Everything was either heavily gaurded with spells or other trusted members that were highly dangerous to deal with. The rebellion was well stocked as far as weapons, both magical and muggle, but they were magically upgraded, food supplies were generally good, and everyone had a job.
Harry and Draco were led to the weapons area, and at first Bishop didn't want to let them through, "but they were former Death Eaters, are you sure it's not too soon?"
Azadeh looked at him, "YOU'RE a former Death eater." Bishop shrugged and let them all pass.
Draco stared in awe, he could not believe the amount of ammo they had and watched as Azadeh took out certain weapons and expertly handled them, careful not to touch certain ones in areas that might set them off. "Alrighty, these are some of our most basic...this is a grenade, but not just any. Yes, it does explode, but will devoid anyone within it's radius of magical ability for about five minutes, great for immediate escapes. Then we have a gun that will fire spells, you just adjust the settings instead having to say them, they're set on stun but will kill, thought we try not to use that. So, those are some. Then there are my favorites like the exploding card deck, and some spying devices like this pen...it records and we have gotten some useful information. All these are Bishop's inventions..." The man stood proudly and then went back to his work, in an almost humorous manner.
Harry liked the grenades, "have you ever tried to capture anyone with these?"
"Well, yeah...YOU, actually. But you were a little too slippery for us, had to say I was impressed," Azadeh nodded.
"When?"
"I think I was seventeen, a year before Lucius captured me. I was on top of the roof of one of the halls or something. You were a big deal as far as capturing was concerned, the 'big score' so-to-speak and I was determined to capture you."
Harry grinned.
Draco looked at her, "and what happened?"
"Well I failed, obviously," Azadeh looked sarcastically at him. "Actually, it was a little more disasterous than that. He figured out I was there and started shooting spells at me, shattering the glass on top, scaring the hell out of me and he had figured out I was a woman which was even worse."
"I remember now," Harry had an enlightened look on his face. "Yes, I did. I figured it out and started to chase you...noticed your figure right away and was eager to see the rest."
Draco cocked an eyebrow, "so you almost killed the poor girl?"
"No, but I gave it my best to try and disable her..."
Azadeh looked at Harry, "Actually...you did scar me." She rolled up her black pants and showed a small scar on the back of her calf. "Got me with one of your little spells that hurt like hell by the way. Cut right through my jeans."
"So I had my mark on you from the beginning," Harry said thoughtfully.
Bishop shook his head, "I've forgotten how territorial the new potions make you all."
"Unfortunately...but Draco won't feel the effects as much because he hasn't taken them the full year it takes for them to imbed it into his system."
Draco bowed, "alas, I will lose some of my strength and agility...but, at least I'll be able to keep my head in dire situations."
"Good, we need a strategist," Bishop looked at Draco in a thoughtful manner. "Harry will be especially good at executing orders, he's quick, and he'll be even quicker once Azadeh's father trains him in your arts, Azadeh."
Azadeh grinned, "yep, I'll be married to one of the most dangerous men in the world...that will be a great subject at dinner parties, 'hi, you've met my husband...he'll snap your back and neck like they were twigs...' That won't scare the hell out of people. Eh, I'd probably say that just for fun, anyway. By the way, what's Hermione going to do?"
"Oh, she's also a stratagist, but it's good to have two heads instead of one..get another opinion, keep each other in check, you know?"
Azadeh ran up to Bishop, "er, are you sure that's a good idea? Hermione killed Draco's mother and they don't exactly get along and quite frankly, I don't wish to die because they tell us to go left, when we should have gone right because they're arguing."
"Relax, we'll watch them for a while and see how they do.."
Hermione walked in and everyone was looking at her funny, "what?"
"Well, we were just talking about you," Azadeh came up and grabbed Hermione's hand. "Um, I was wondering how would you feel about having another strategist working with you...you know, give you a fresh point of view?"
"That would be okay...who did you have in mind?"
"It...it was Bishop's idea..," she was interrupted.
"THAT'S right...blame me," Bishop rolled his eyes.
"WELL IT WAS!" Azadeh snapped, then turned back to Hermione. "Anyway, they were thinking about Draco."
"WHAT!" Hermione snapped.
"Well you don't have to get all excited, Granger, we're just working together," Draco drawled.
"That's not the point! I killed your mother, why would you want to work with me and considering your a pure-blood, why would even bother!"
"Bother with what?" Draco asked.
"I..uh, well...considering...," Hermione didn't mean for that to come out the way it sounded. "I mean, well...just working together!"
"Granger, I am aware that you killed my mother, but I do believe you were defending yourself? Besides, I know the whole story, she cornered you and you didn't have a choice...I've gotten over it, alright?"
Hermione felt embarrassed and flustered, "WELL, I just want to make sure I don't end up with an Avada to the head because he gets a sudden urge to avenge his mother, that's all!"
"I promise...it'll be okay," Azadeh smiled. But Hermione still felt embarrassed for some reason, why was she so upset? She left...and Azadeh followed her, leaving Harry and Draco looking confused.
Hermione walked quickly down the dirt roads that the rebellion had created, feeling a little lost. Sure, she felt bad that she had killed Draco's mother and for some reason, she trusted he wouldn't harm her if they were alone, but...the idea of being close to him, it scared her for some reason. Had Jasper ruined her for all men? It was bad enough that for the first five years Hermione seemed sexless to Harry and Ron, but Jasper never really made a move towards her either. Only when he started yelling at her that she didn't try to seduce him, did she realize that she was desireable on some level. Now, she didn't even know how to react to her own feelings towards men...what was she supposed to do? And what was even more embarrassing...was that Hermione was still a virgin, at least to her it was.
Azadeh came up to her, "hey...hey, what's going on? I know you and Draco have a bad history, but we'll watch him."
Hermione stopped with her back turned to Azadeh, she noticed that Hermione's shoulders seemed to bobbing up and down a bit. "I'm sorry," she said meakly.
"For what?"
"I just...I don't know how to describe it."
Azadeh moved her mouth to the side a bit as if she was thinking, "you sort of like Draco, don't you?"
"NO! I mean...I don't know, I just find myself feeling so ackward towards any of the men here I find attractive. I just feel like I don't know what I'm doing... I wanted my first time to be with Ron and now he's gone, I'm still..."
"There's nothing wrong with that, you know. I wish that Harry had been my first, but it was Lucius instead," Azadeh hugged Hermione.
"I...I didn't know, I thought you belonged just to Harry! Did he hurt you?"
"No, he was gentle, suprisingly enough and we connected on some level, but no, Lucius was my first. So, I know how it feels. When I thought Harry was dead, I figured that this was as good as my life was going to get, I had been caught and like I always do, I go with the flow...even if it seemed dark. But you shouldn't feel ashamed...Jasper didn't really make you feel like a woman, did he?"
Hermione shook her head.
"I remember when I first met you, how strong you were..."
"That was before all this, when I lost everything...Ron...now...I don't feel the same anymore!" Hermione clenched her fists, so angry at the fact that she felt like she'd become weak, not knowing what to do and she ALWAYS seemed to know what to do. "I don't even know what to say to Harry, I don't know him anymore...it's not the same like it was when we were in school, he doesn't respond to me like he used to."
Azadeh realized that Hermione was feeling so much loss, loss over Ron, loss over the former Harry, and uncertainty of a new bond between her and Draco. "I know...at least about Harry. Even if my father helps Harry regain most, if not all of his memory, he still won't be the same...Harry will still be aggressive, possessive...a killer. It's what Voldemort has done to him, he's changed so many lives and not all of it came out good in the end. Change can really suck, and to be honest, I don't know what to do either..."
"I just feel so...sexless...like I'm not even a girl."
"Oh, well, tell that to half the guys I catch looking at you."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better," Hermione stated.
"Hey, I may be many things...and especially, according to you...psychotic, but I am not a liar. It's a very cruel thing to lie to someone about something like that. Besides, it's like I don't know where you're coming from, I always had to dress as a boy everytime I had to go out somewhere, actually, I had to dress as a boy anyway. Look at what I do! Ironically, you know who brought it out in me? The whole GIRL thing? Lucius."
"NO WAY!"
"Yep, that son of a bitch turned me a little more feminine. At first I felt ackward, but then you get used to it...can use it to your advantage. Hey! I know. One of my friends is having a party and you know, you could use one of my corsets, you're around the same size as me..."
"I don't know...," Hermione winced, having her chest go all the way up to her neck wasn't exactly appealing.
"Trust me, I know...they're kind of wierd at first, but I like them now...good for Harry," Azadeh grinned evilly.
"I DIDN'T NEED TO HEAR THAT"
As promised, Azadeh and Hermione got dressed together. Hermione had the same reaction Azadeh did when she wore her first corset, trying to shove her breasts down a little. "Tried that, won't work," Azadeh smiled.
They came down all dressed up with make up and in party wear, not necessarily dresses, but nice outfits. Azadeh jumped out, "TADA!" Harry grinned from ear to ear, she looked gorgeous as always. She looked around and Hermione wasn't following her..."come here..." Azadeh reached out with her hand and grabbed Hermione's neck..the boys heard 'owe, owe, owe', before she appeared with Azadeh smiling.
Draco's eyes widened, Hermione was beautiful...Harry noticed and raised his eyebrows, but then his attention went to Azadeh again.
"Um, okay...ready to have some fun?" Azadeh immediately took Harry's arm and Draco offered his to Hermione's, she took it and felt a little odd but at the same time, very happy. Azadeh loved it, she wanted Draco to be happy, and since he couldn't have her, he'd have someone that was just as good, if not better, and Hermione could keep him in line probably better than her anyway.
Draco and Hermione were dancing slowly together, he didn't know how he felt about it really. There was the girl he used to torment, call 'mudblood' all the time. Never in a million years did he guess he'd be dancing with her. Draco liked how shy she was, it was obvious she was inexperienced and he could smell a virgin a mile away. That was a fun thought, he only had a virgin once...and Hermione was looking like a formitable conquest after all. Still, his heart seemed to go back to Azadeh, yet he knew he had to move on. He looked their way, and as usual, Harry and Azadeh were lost in each other, dancing far, far too close for even a slow dance.
Draco focused on Hermione, which made her nervous...she had never and didn't know if that's all he wanted from her. If that was all, she couldn't give it to him...she wanted someone who loved her, it couldn't be just lust. Hermione, in her almost tragic use of timing started to talk, "Draco, I'm sorry about today...I didn't mean to over-react. It's just our history..."
"I know," he lifted her head up to meet his eyes.
'God, he's gorgeous,' she thought.
Draco started to hold her closer. Hermione was reacting to him, pressing her body against his. He thought that this was right, it felt right, and then she had to kill the mood...
"I just...want you to forgive me, for your mother. I know you hated me, you had to...I just want you to forgive me, it's important. I didn't mean to...but I couldn't perform the Crucio because I didn't want to cause her pain..."
"Granger, don't worry about it...I know, at first I was angry, but you were defending yourself and as one gets older, you aquire certian points of view you didn't have before...," Draco held her and she sighed.