Chapter 6

Splinched

"She's safe."

The words rang in Draco's ears like a sweet song. He felt his entire body relax for the briefest moment. It was almost enough to bring him to tears.

"They're in Grimmauld Place. They're making a move tomorrow, but I don't know what that is. She'll send word when she's safe," Severus explained. The young wizard's relief seemed spread to the Professor as he felt his tension melt away. Draco had just missed the message from Miss Granger but Severus felt grateful for the timing. Though Draco had grown so much in such a short amount of time, he would have feared a rash decision had the young man heard the message.

"How?" the young man questioned. Severus motioned up to the portrait of a now sleeping Phineas Nigellus Black. "She's brilliant," he breathed. "So what do we know?" His voice was low so as not to wake any slumbering portraits.

"Just that. She said that the Insufferable Know-It-All was there - Grimmauld Place - but not to try anything because there are charms in place and will be gone by tomorrow. She said she suppose I'd find out if she was still alive in the Prophet if they ever got their facts straight. Or maybe she would check in herself so that we didn't feel so lucky."

Draco looked confused. "That's strangely ominous. Why the tone?"

"To protect me - us - I assume. She doesn't know where he might have other portraits. She may worry being direct would mean our exposure."

"And her fake taunting won't tip off Phineas Nigellus? She's not a very good actress, I'm sure it seemed forced." He grimaced slightly at how bad of a liar she can be. She gets all sputter-y. It's quite endearing, actually.

"Portraits are only that, Draco. Surface level replicas. They're taught mannerisms, maybe a few memories, but they do not have the ability to think critically. The Phineas Nigellus has no reason to think that Miss Granger isn't sputtering and blotchy all the time."

Draco gave a low chuckle. "You noticed too, huh?"

"She's gifted in other ways."

"Hear, hear." Draco threw his head back against the back of the chair he had been sitting in for what felt like years. "What do you think she's planning?"

"Something public. She said we might hear about it in The Daily Prophet."

"Do you think she'll come her?" Draco's heart skipped a beat at the thought. Maybe he could grab her and run like he should have all those months ago.

The older man shook his head. "I think she would have been more direct of they had been planning to come here."

"What would warrant a story in the Prophet?" Draco snickered. She hated the Prophet. "Gringotts? St. Mungo's? The Ministry?"

"They don't have the clearance or connections to the Ministry. They wouldn't risk contact with Arthur Weasley. And that is the last place she and Potter should be as Undesirables One and Two and facing the Muggle-Born Registration Commission."

They exchanged a look. Draco said finally, "So they're going to the Ministry?"

"I'm so sorry, Harry!" she moaned as she attempted to heal Ron's splinched arm. "I couldn't shake him! I tried!"

"Don't be ridiculous, it was my fault!" She nearly retched as Harry pulled out Moody's eye. "I couldn't leave it there."

That had been weeks ago. They had been at this for so long and she felt like they had very little payoff. And while she thought she had understood what she had been in for, she was slowly being driven mad by the two men to whom she had sworn loyalty. They were bickering all the time and they knew a lot of it had to do with the Horcrux, she knew that their friendships were also going through the ringer. It didn't particularly help that when Harry and Ron weren't engaging in petty arguments they were attempting to talk about her behind her back. Do all men truly not realize how loud they are when they're attempting to be quiet?

It was fair, though. She just wished she could explain how she knocked back half a dozen wizards chasing them in the Ministry by simply screaming at them to "get back". That's how Yaxley was able to get her by surprise. He recovered more quickly than anyone else.

Hermione was pulled out of her thoughts by another bickering match. But there was something else. "Harry! Ron!" she hissed. "Stop! Listen!"

The witch thanked Merlin and variety of other deities that they were fortunate enough to hear the conversation happening right next to their undetected camp. All three of them were enthralled by the conversation being held outside with the group of misfits comprised of goblins, wizards, and their own Dean Thomas. They listened to the tale of Ginny, Luna, and Neville trying to steal the sword of Gryffindor. And then the twist that came from the goblins - it was a fake.

The trio listened to the ban of men take their leave and Hermione dove for her bag. She quickly leapt towards her bag and began to wrestle to get the portrait out. "I'm sorry Headmaster, I truly am, but I'm going to need to cover your eyes for our protection," she whispered. "Please help us, we have a few questions." Hermione could only hope that her pleading would be enough to appease the Headmaster. When he did not protest, she used a spell to place a blindfold over the portrait's eyes.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione then went on to ask for information about the attempted theft of the sword. Ron maintained a sour attitude which made the portrait snipe at him. Fortunately they had the information that they needed - Dumbledore used the sword of Gryffindor to destroy the Horcrux! Hermione whispered a thank you to the portrait and asked that he let Professor Snape know that they had been asking about the sword. She didn't know if that information would benefit him at all, but she felt the more he knew the better. She also didn't think now was the time to make contact with a full explanation. Soon... But not now.

Immediately, she and Harry began to theorize about the location of the real sword. They had seemed to generate a strong list of contenders when Harry unexpectedly triggered a bomb.

Again - but unlike any time before - the two men were at each other's throats. Hermione could barely register their arguments when suddenly wands were out. She drew her own and shouted before either of them got their chance, "Protego!" The force of the spell threw them both back and knocked the wind out of their hands. "Stop this!" she shrieked. "You're friends!"

"Yeah! And look what this friendship has gotten me!" Ron bellowed.

Harry stood up and dusted himself off. Hermione rushed over to Ron who was still on the ground.

"Leave the Horcrux," Harry said. Hermione helped Ron to his feet and watched the look they exchanged. Like they were seeing each other for the first time. And no one liked what they were seeing.

The witch bit her lip and fought back the urge to cry at the friendship going up in flames. She sighed and held out her hand for the Horcrux. Even from a distance she could feel the pulse of the magic. She could feel it as Umbridge approached her. She could feel the power radiating from around the toad woman's neck as Hermione sat taking notes at the Ministry. She could feel the thrum of the locket pulsating up and down her arms as she wore it as a bracelet. She had to swap back and forth between wrists to combat the discomfort in her arms.

Ron looked at her confused.

"The Horcrux. Please," she demanded.

"I get it. You choose him." Ron yanked the locket over his head.

"Ron-"

"You always choose him! No matter what I do. No matter what Krum did. Even bloody Malfoy. No one can compete with the love Hermione Granger has for Harry Potter," the redhead spat.

The next thing anyone registered was a resounding smack echoing in the tent. Hermione hadn't intended slap him, but she didn't regret it. "I'm choosing the world!" she shouted. "You know that Harry is our best shot! You know I'm right! I'm always right!" She mocked his perception of her. "Stop being to self-involved and short-sided!" She paused, addressing the issue she knew would cut deep. "I do love Harry, but I don't love Harry that way." Hermione straightened her stance but softened her voice so it no longer sounded like scolding. She heaved a deep sigh. "I chose Draco. I choose him. I will always choose him," a tear escaped. "We're no longer children, Ron, we're grown now. I loved you. I will always love you as my friend and family. But that's all it will ever be. And you just have to accept that."

Ron said nothing. He removed the locket from around his neck and placed it on the ground. The wounded wizard paused and called to Harry, "Good luck with that one. There's something wrong with her magic and you know it. Lucky if she doesn't kill you both."

Hermione looked after him, stunned.

Harry approached and gently touched her shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with your magic, Hermione," he assured her. "I'm just worried. And I think you are too."

The witch leaned into her friend. "You're right," she whispered. "I don't know what's going on. But Harry, I promise you, it doesn't feel wrong. I think I'm okay, I just don't know what it is."

"I understand that, trust me," he whispered.

She grabbed her pendant but to Harry it just seemed like she was holding her arm to her chest. She stroked over the inscription on the pendant before moving to pick up the Horcrux. She wore it as a bracelet so it would never contaminate her pendant. She knew it was an impossibility, but on an emotional level she had to ensure the pendant's safety.

She walked back towards Harry and he hugged her shoulder as they took a seat for dinner.

A/N: Slow and steady wins the race. I apologize for the unpredictability of life. Wishing you all health and safety during this time! I'll try to provide entertainment during this quarantine - expect weekly updates. I love you all! Please stay safe!