A/N..I hope you guys are enjoying! Let me know if you think anything doesn't make sense, or fit the story.
Chapter 6
The air in Grimmauld Place was still, and quiet as Hermione sat on the edge of the musty bed she had been sleeping on. She was listening to hear if any one in the house was awake. She had been itching to transform into her animagus form since she had returned to Grimmauld Place, four days earlier, but couldn't bring her self to risk it with the house so busy.
If one of them sees an owl in the house, they will be suspicious, and try to investigate how it got into the house, who it belongs to, why it's here. That'll be a ball to deal with, Hermione thought dejectedly. Her and her house mates had spent they day trying to learn how to bewitch parchment with Percy's new bit of magic, and it had been a welcome distraction from the monotony that was life in hiding. Hermione had picked the incantation up fairly quickly, only needing two pieces of parchment to master the technique. Luna had taken a bit longer, but Hermione wondered if that hadn't been for Neville sake, to make him feel better about how long the process took him. He, true to form, had a bit more trouble learning the bewitchment, and it had taken about ten rolls of parchment and most of the day for him to pick it up. When he eventually had, the four house mates had allowed them selves a few minutes of unbridled happiness as they congratulated each other, and cheered to Percy's wits. It had felt nice. It had felt normal. It had pulled Hermione back to a time when they had been stuffed into the Room of Requirement, trying to learn new spells and hexes as Harry guided them. That had been a funny time. Sure, they were staring down the barrel of a loaded shotgun that was the rise of The Dark Lord and his disciples. Sure the Ministry was in peril, and Umbridge's corruption loomed over the students like dark storm clouds looming over a calm ocean. But they had each other- and more so than that, they had hope. The mountain before them seemed tall, and monstrous. But it also seemed climeable.
Hermione stood suddenly, and crept to her door. She couldn't hear anything beyond the sounds of wind through the old houses rafters. Now, or never, Hermione thought quickly, took a deep breath and transformed.
She suddenly seemed so much closer to the ground, and was filled again with that feeling of lightness. This is amazing, She though to herself delightedly. She spread her wings and flew over to the dresser, that was against the south wall of her room.
I want to go outside, She thought abruptly. But she knew that would be stupid. Although Grimmauld Place was under every piece of defensive and offensive magic know to wizard-kind, there was always that small chance some Death Eater or ministry member was lurking about, with some new bit of magic that could leverage them entrance. Better to not tempt fate, she supposed, feeling crestfallen.
She longed to spread her new wings and fly through the streets, unseen and unaccounted for. If the Order knew about her new ability, they would surely put her to use, gathering information and spying about the Ministry, or Hogwarts. She would have been elated to do those things, of course. But getting the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand, were paramount. For over throwing Voldemort, for fixing all this mess the world around her had become. For bringing back Harry. Truly bringing him back, not the shells of a human souls come back as when the Resurrection stone was used alone. But, coupled with the Elder Wand? Harry would cross back over the Veil as he was confident that the stone, the wand, and Lily Potters blood were the trifecta needed to complete this undertaking. Lost in thought, a sudden banging noise erupted from downstairs. Hermione transformed back to her human self hastily and grabbed for her wand. She heard the sound of voices roaring to life, and feet stamping on the old hard-wood floor downstairs.
Hermione quickly bounded down the stairs, stopping up short when she reached the bottom step and almost falling flat on her face. She managed to grab the Bannister and right her self before that happened. Her jaw fell open as her brain connected faces to names, and realized Moody was standing in the back entrance way with none other than Narcissa Malfoy, and Draco right behind her.
"Moody, bloody hell, they were your connection?" Neville Asked, not lowering his wand. His other arm was extended in front of Luna, as if the to shield her from what ever this situation was. Percy Finally made it down the stairs, straightening his robes and looking disconcerted, eyes dashing madly between Narcissa and her son.
"Alright, everyone calm down," Moody said, not moving an inch from his defensive stance in front of the Malfoys.
"Hello Draco, Hello Mrs. Malfoy," Luna said easily, reaching one of her small hands up in salutations. Draco grimaced at her and Narcissa sniffed.
They both looked disheveled. Draco's blonde hair was spiked wildly about his head and his cloak was horrible torn around him. His face looked pail, and his grey eyes looked dark, and danced about the room madly. There appeared to be blood dripping down one of his hands, and he only had one shoe on. Narcissa's blonde hair looked singed on one side, and she had one eye just starting to darken into a black eye. Her cloak hung raggedly off her shoulders, torn through the yolk in the back, and her visible arms were covered in cuts and bruises.
"Allistair, are you positive this is a safe place?" Narcissa hissed, her eyes turned to Nevilles still raised wand.
"Lets all just sit down around the fire and talk about this real quick. Longbottom, put your wand away. Lovegood, go make a fire in the Front Room. Granger, Weasley, is there any tea or coffee left?" Moody's magical eye swiveled around wildly, lighting on one face to the next. When no one moved, Moody snapped out "Today, would be nice you lot." And they all scurried off, Neville and Luna to the front room, and Percy and Hermione to the kitchen.
Hermione reached into one of the cubbards and found a sugar bowl. There wasn't any milk in the house, but they had sugar at least. Percy was heating the kettle. Their coffee supply had dwindled to nothing, but there was still tea.
"Do we have a tea tray?" Hermione asked, her voice shaking slightly. What in the hell are the Malfoys doing here? She thought wildly.
"Err, in that cubbard, I think," Percy answered, his own voice quivering.
Just when things seemed settled down, the world drifts off it's axis once again. And I expect Moody'll want us to house them. And Feed them. And deal with them. Hermione thought darkly, her brain flashing through images of Draco in their 6th year, brooding and menacing, tasked with ending Dumbledore's life.
When They had sufficiently put the tea tray together, Percy and Hermione entered the Front room. Narcissa was seated on one of the threadbare, but still plush, arm chairs. Her back was ram rod straight, and she held her head up highly still. Current circumstances had not seemed to have wavered her pride, it would appear.
Draco had his back to them all, leaning against a wall and attempting to heal his arm with his wand.
Luna hurried over to Hermione and took the tray out of her hands, placing it on the coffee table. "Thank you, 'Mione." She said softly, picking up a cup of tea.
"Yes, thank you," Neville said automatically, eyes trained on Dracos back.
"Narcissa, would you like a cuppa?" Moody asked, gesturing towards the tray. She sniffed, and after a moments hesitation nodded.
Hermione handed her a cup of tea with a shaking hand. It did not go unnoticed. Look at me, serving tea to one of the Death Eaters wives. What in the name of Merlin is this? She thought bitterly.
"Moody..." Percy began, leaning against one of the chairs, but looking much to keyed up to sit.
"Alright, so everyone here knows each other more or less. Narcissa here has been my connection on the inside. As you can see, things went wrong tonight and here we all are. Narcissa has given us extremely valuable information about you-know-who's plans, and comings-and-goings. It has been valuable to us all," Moody said, his eyes catching Neville's. "And I promised her, and by extension Draco, protection and a chance to escape from the Death Eaters in return. Until I can arrange something else, this place is my only option."
It was quiet in the room as every one digested what Moody had just said. Hermione looked up and briefly caught Draco's eyes, before he turned back towards the wall and continued to work on his arm. She involuntarily shuddered. You've brought arrogance and deceitfulness into this house, Moody. She thought angrily, meeting Moody's eyes.
"In case you lot hadn't noticed, there is a war going on. Conditions aren't ideal. I don't have time to place peace maker. No fighting, not bickering, just suck it up and deal with it until something else can be arranged," Moody Barked, directing a few words in turn to each of them. His magical eye had swiveled in his head and was looking mainly at Draco's back.
"In case you hadn't noticed, you've brought one of the conspirators into this house, responsible for Dumbledore's death," Neville spat in retort. Pulling the sword of Gryffindor out of the sorting hat, and killing Nagini really changed Neville, Hermione mused, watching a boy she had scene freeze up at the first thought of confrontation, raising his voice to Moody. But I suppose the war has changed all of us, really.
"Longbottom, Snape killed Dumbledore. Draco was a child than, and Dumbledore himself believed we could sway these two to away from the you-know-who." Moody retorted, starting to sound irritated.
Hermione watched Draco's head turn as Moody spoke, and his eyes flashed when Moody called him a child. How the bloody hell does Moody see him as trust worthy?
"And how can you ensure our safety with them here-" Neville began, face starting to turn a violent shade of red.
"Longbottom we have every bit of magic know to man hiding and protecting this place-" Moody answered, hands turning in to fists.
"I'm not talking about from the outside world!" Neville cut him off. "I'm talking about ensuring our saftey from that one!" Neville spit out angrily, gesturing with his wand towards Dracos back.
Draco turned suddenly with that, and moved closer to his mother. "In case you very much hadn't noticed, Longbottom, my mother and I were brought here by one of your own, who we have been clandestinely helping for months now. We have been outed and our lives have been forfeited on the other side. Because we have been feeding Moody information- accurate information! Did you think that was some cunning ploy to gain entrance to Grimmauld Place? Would my father be dead if this one some bloody ploy to get in here and finally rid the world of Neville Longbottom and his band of merry men?!" Draco bellowed out, pulling his own wand out, his eyes flashing, as he moved closer to Neville.
Actually not a bad premace to gain access to us at all, Hermione thought, immediately growing more suspicious. Is Lucious truly dead? Hermione moved her eyes to look at Narcissa, who had a lone tear trailing down her face.
"Draco, enough. We owe none of them an explanation," Narcissa said, raising one of her hands to Dracos wand arm.
"Enough!" Moody barked out, startling the few of them in the room.
"Lucuios is dead?" Percy asked, directing his question towards Moody.
"Yes, it's a right miracle I made it over here with these two. They are under Order protection, and I mean to get them out of the country at some point. You-know-who's lot knows they are alive, and probably suspects they are with me, or somewhere with the Order. Bill and I will be swinging by tomorrow, to bring supplies and check on things. I have to go now, there are people I need to notify about tonight events. I'm sealing the door behind me, for now. The Death Eaters are out every where tonight, and there numbers are bigger than I had anticipated." Moody started to rise. "Granger, Weasley, a word?" Moody started making his way towards the back entrance.
Hermione fallowed suit, with Percy behind her. The air around them seemed frantic, and loaded with nervous energy. Hermione's throat felt hard, and her migraine from a day ago was starting to resurface.
"Alright, Longbottom isn't going to make this easy, I see that. He won't lay his anger aside for the better of The Order. Keep and eye on things, and try and diffuse the situations as they come. Please," Moody added, looking weary and care-worn. The corners of his mouth were pointing down, and dark bags were blooming under his eyes. His shoulders were slumped, as if the weight of the world was getting heavier with each passing moment.
"I'm not saying to cozy up to them, but try and keep in mind, they did us a great service that cost them gravely." Moody said. I remember a Moody who couldn't be arsed with Death Eaters and their affiliates. Hermione thought, marveling at this softer side of Moody presenting itself.
"And if either of them proves troublesome?" percy asked.
"Then lock in one of the rooms till I return, stun them, take their wands, do whats necessary." Moody answered concisely, turning his back on them open the door.
Once he stepped out, Percy and Hermione looked at each other. Hermione suddenly felt very weary, as he she hadn't slept in days. He arms felt heavy at her sidesand her temples were throbbing at the side of her head.
"I'm going to go get a couple of rooms ready for them," Percy trailed off, looking just as tired as Hermione felt.
Hermione walked back into the front room, to see Draco and Narcissa in there alone. They were seated on the couch together, heads bent close, and talking quietly. It was and odd sight to see. The regal Malfoys, be-sodded and filthy, sitting in the Ancient house of Black. She supposed Narcissa had probably been in this home at some point, maybe many times, while it was still inhabited by Blacks. She wondered if it felt surreal for Narcissa, to be back in this dilapidated place, knowing it had been used by the Order for several years now. So many questions swirled in Hermione's mind. Are they trust worthy? Being at the front and center. Moody seemed to accept them, which should be good enough, but Hermione seemed to have a permanent chip on her shoulder since the war started and she didn't know if she could accept them.
"What do you want, Granger?" Draco asked nastily, realizing she was standing in the door way. His eyes were blood shot.
"Percy is getting some rooms together for you both. Separate rooms, but they'll be next to each other." Hermione answered, grimacing at the pair.
Percy emerged behind Hermione, signifying the rooms were ready. As Narcissa and Draco stood to follow him, Narcissa stopped short next to Hermione.
"Thank you," Narcissa said stiffly, although she looked anything but thankful. Did Narcissa Malfoy just tell ME thank you? Hermione thought, bewildered. What fresh madness is this? She puzzled, watching them retreat up the stairs, following Percy.
Hermione allowed her self to fall into one of the thread bare arms chairs, wondering where Neville and Luna had disappeared too. Probably to Neville's room. I'm sure he won't feel safe having Luna sleep separate from him, She mused, thinking back to all the times Harry, Ron, and her had slept side-by-side hunting horcruxes. A sudden pang of sadness hit her, remembering that time so long ago. And we thought things were grim then! What stupid, naive fools we were.