Azadeh was up early, before anyone else. She was practicing, the sun still rising and the pink and orange hues danced in the sky, inspiring her to work harder. This time, she was working with a wire rope, swinging it around, causing it to sing in the wind. Azadeh remembered when she first played with this weapon, she knocked herself out trying to spin it.
She was worried about Draco and Hermione, it wasn't jealousy, it was out of concern. Why had Draco taken such interest in her all of a sudden? Plus, Hermione had been through so much already, Azadeh didn't want to see her friend hurt. But then again, was it really her business? Hermione was a grown woman, capable of her own decisions and THEY didn't need her permission. Maybe she was just over-reacting? Her focus on all this, plus her practicing kept her from noticing Draco watching her. Finally, she stopped and heard clapping.
"Oh, it's you...I guess I was a little too preoccupied," Azadeh smiled.
Draco loved the way she looked; sweaty and her clothing clinging to her from it. "That's fine, I've never really gotten to see you work with that before, it's very pretty what you do with it."
"Thanks, um, well...I'd better go and take a shower."
"Why in such a hurry? Would you like to spar?"
"Need a workout?"
"Maybe," Draco purred.
"Okay...I guess, weapons or hand-to-hand?"
"Hand-to-hand is fine."
Azadeh shrugged, "k."
Draco took his fighting stance and she took hers, he struck her first and she blocked him, "good, you're at least quick." He struck again and she dodged, striking at him this time. They did a literal dance in which they kept either hitting and blocking or hitting and missing, but having casual conversation inbetween like two sparring partners that have been together for a while.
"So, are you dating Hermione?" she smirked, but it fell when he frowned...Draco hit her, and hard. "Owe, I just asked a question, or is that private?"
"We're not dating, it's inbetween friends and a good shag once in a while."
"Oh, well...as long as Hermione knows that."
Draco hit harder, "SHE DOES."
"HEY, chill, I just asked. We don't have to talk about it if you're not comfortable with it!"
"I don't think I owe you any explanation!"
"I didn't ask for one! What's wrong with you, stop!" Draco was coming at her at full force, this was no longer playing, he was actually fighting her?
Draco was angry with her, he was angry because he wanted to be with Azadeh and he had just given her up to Harry because he wanted her to be happy. Not realizing how he would feel afterwards, thinking he'd be okay with it and he was FAR from okay with it.
"LOOK, if you want to 'SHAG' Hermione, you can...you're both grown adults!" She was trying to fend off his attacks, not wanting to strike back, not wanting to hit a friend.
"WHY IS IT OKAY WITH YOU!"
"WHAT!"
Suddenly she was hit square in the chest and Azadeh went flying and landed hard on the ground, gasping for air and coughing. "Azadeh! I'm sorry!" Draco bent by her side, looking at her and trying to hold her up. He felt someone tap him on the shoulder, it was Harry, and when Draco turned around, Draco was punched in the jaw and hard...he had seen it.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO MY AZADEH!"
After Draco shook himself out of it, he looked at Harry with such hate, even Azadeh could feel the energy from where she was at. She shrank a little when she saw how Harry and Draco were staring at each other like two cobras about to strike. "Harry, it was an accident, I let my guard down!"
Harry looked at her, "WHY are you defending him?"
"I'm not, I let my guard down...he didn't mean to... Besides, I've been hit harder than that."
He came up and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to her feet and guiding her back to the house, leaving Draco ready to kill him.
Azadeh was shoved into the bedroom, "HEY!"
Harry shut the bedroom door, "why were you even sparring with him?"
"I was working out, he came along and asked..."
"I don't want you sparring with him."
"Why?"
"BECAUSE I SAID SO," Harry hissed. "It's fine if you want to go on these little missions without me, but you are at LEAST going to listen to me with this."
"But, Harry..."
He put his finger up to silence her and shook his head with his eyes shut tight. "DON'T QUESTION ME ON THIS...," he hissed.
Azadeh said nothing, walked passed him to go to the bathroom and take a shower. She let the hot water go over her muscles, they were definately sore and a bruise was forming where Draco hit her. She lathered her hair and body and washing off, just standing there. "Please don't be using Hermione because you can't have me, Draco," she whispered. Azadeh heard the door open and then Harry got into the shower without consulting her. "HI! Have we met?" she said sarcastically.
"I believe so," Harry grinned. He looked at the bruises that were on her and touched her body gently. "I don't mean to argue with you, I know...I know how he feels about you and I have to make sure he keeps his distance. He's a Malfoy, whether or not he's changed sides...they don't stop until they get what they want, they'll even kill to get it."
"You're one to talk," Azadeh cocked one eyebrow.
"Yes, but I wouldn't truly harm anyone else..."
"You worry too much, I wouldn't let anything happen."
"I know my partner, my former partner, and like I said...they don't stop until they get what they want."
Hermione and Azadeh sat both Harry and Draco down to discuss what they had to do next, "we have to go to the black market and you two are going with this time."
Harry smiled, "about time."
"Yes, well...we have to pick up a shipment of some highly dangerous chemical known as Nitrogen and it's a delicate process. Need as many capable hands as possible."
"Exactly...HOW DANGEROUS, my pet?" Draco purred. Harry glared at him for a moment. 'MY PET!I wish he'd stop calling her that,' he thought.
"Let's just say it's a liquid and don't drop it...or bump it hard," Azadeh grinned as Draco's face went slightly pale.
"When do we go?"
"Tomorrow. You have to dress a little dark, kind of Gothic to fit in so no one will give you any trouble. Their rough people and if anyone gives you any trouble, it's best just to knock them out, get it out of the way. I've had to," she shrugged. Hermione looked at her sort of suprised.
Harry grinned, "OH REALLY? Who?"
"Just some chick that thought it would be fun to pick on the short girl...no worries, she never bothered me again. But most know better than to pick on the rebellion now, since we're organized and trained."
It was then that Hermione explained the plan, how they would get there and what positions they had to take, what weapons to carry, etc. When they were finished, they broke for dinner and relaxed.
That night was uneventful. Hermione found herself at Draco's door, biting her lip, she wanted him so badly. Yet, she knew he didn't love her...she could tell, a woman always could if they were willing to see the truth. With reluctance, she knocked at the door. "Come in, Granger."
Hermione looked at Draco's beautiful form, "I..."
"I know what you want, come and lay down," he purred.
As he made love to her, she realized how gentle he was and didn't even kick her out of his bed afterwards, Draco held her and let her sleep next to him all night. In all honesty, Hermione didn't know why, he should hate her for everything that she was, for killing his mother, did he mean it? Did he mean he'd forgiven her? She hoped so, with all of her heart.
Draco didn't know why he let Hermione stay in his bed, he should just kick her out, but he didn't. There was that moment he was a bit jealous at the fact that Bishop was paying attention to her. He felt conflicted. On one end, he would see Azadeh and no one else mattered, and on the other, he found himself thinking of Hermione too. Draco wasn't going to question it, just go with it, besides, she would be there in the morning and he liked it in the mornings too.
Harry stroked Azadeh's body. She liked it when he held her like this, possessively, greedily, kissing her neck, shoulders, and breasts passionately. And this was even after they had made love, and sometimes he'd keep himself inside her 'to stay connected', he said. Harry loved this, when it was just him and her, when they were loving each other. Never had he felt such passion with a woman, not even Ginny. He remembered now, not all still, but he remembered Ginny, how she sacraficed herself. That guilt still lay there, guilt because at the time he had feelings for Azadeh, he was hoping Ginny would stay behind so that when he came back he could tell her that he wanted to be with someone else. When the time was right anyway, after the dust had settled, he had counted on winning, but he didn't.
And he finally remembered Mrs. Weasley, who had been so supportive when he saw her last. Just yesterday she said that she'd forgiven him for all that happened these past four years, he really didn't know what he was doing under Voldemort's influence...and she was right to a certain extent. Harry felt that if it made her feel better that he didn't know what he was doing, then she should believe it. Everyone wanted to believe it, that he didn't know what he was doing, but he did. But Harry was a killer now, Azadeh's father had said so. It didn't bother him to kill anymore, not like it did over four years ago, and especially when it came to Azadeh. He would snap anyone's neck that got too close to her, either to harm her or to romance her.
Harry remembered sitting with her father during his last session, he remembered breaking down in front of Wolfgang, hating what he had become, now that he knew the person he used to be. Wolfgang said words that Harry thought he would never hear him say:
"You think it is a bad thing that you are this way now, I don't." Harry shot his head up. "You don't understand that I think it was meant to be this way. It is true, you are a killer and you are capable of it at any time, so is Bishop and some other former Death Eaters, it is who and what you are. Do you know the reason why Bishop goes with Azadeh most of the time?"
Harry shook his head.
"It is because she herself, is not capable of killing. She can't, the soul within her isn't capable, her compassion even for those who have done her wrong is so strong, the only thing she would do is stun them or knock them out. But if she found herself in true danger, like with Lucius Malfoy, it wouldn't be enough, he is too strong for her. So, Bishop went with her and if she was truly trapped, he was given orders to kill. I have done it too, to protect my daughter."
"What?"
"Yes. When she was a little younger than she is now, I think it was sixteen. We had caught a Death Eater and were questioning him. Azadeh stayed in the background, watching and he kept eyeing her. It made me very uncomfortable and he made lewd comments about her to some of the other guards, who would back hand him in response. One day, she brought him his dinner and somehow he had gotten out of his cuffs but pretended he was still in them. When she set the food tray down and went to leave, he was in front of the door, 'I'm getting out of here, but before I do, I'm going to have a little fun.' That is what he said to my little girl."
Harry's fists clenched, but he could tell Wolfgang was just as upset at the thought.
"After a few minutes, it was taking too long and one of the guards opened the door to find her on the floor and her clothes torn, the Death Eater on top of her trying to rape her. I was called as they held him...he didn't regret it, in fact he had every intention of doing it again, and he told me that if she was good enough, he'd take her back with him. And it was with that comment...I snapped his neck. He thought I wouldn't, he had heard that we respected life, but he pushed me too far. Azadeh was capable of defending herself, but she was still young in her magic and couldn't overpower him." Wolfgang paused. "That is why I am glad you are the way you are, because I know you will do what is right if she's in true danger, if you know they will not stop coming after her...nuetralize them, erase the threat."
Harry nodded, he could hardly believe this seemingly gentle man was telling him this.
"One day, she'll become a strong Shaman, stronger than me and Voldemort knows that. She'll make a good wife for you, because you are her balance, Harry. Some people in this world have a twin soul, like one soul is split in half...she is one of those, and you are the one that makes her whole, her other half. The moment I first saw you, I knew you were meant for my daughter. Before you, she was quiet, neutral, never really joyous as a young lady should be, but after you...Azadeh was so happy, this light came all around her as it does now. I am so glad you came back, because when she thought you were dead, she wished death upon herself all the time. I would have lost her, so do me a favor? Don't do that again."
Harry nodded, "I promise sir..."
"There's no need to make a promise, because I know that you will. Actions speak louder than words with me. People talk too much and say very little, and most of the time, their actions speak even less of them. So no promises."