Sorry for the delay, life's been a bit hectic lately. Here's another chapter Remember to Review and whatnot :) Disclaimer: I obviously don't own anything except this plot. ;)
Luna giggled. Hermione turned her face to Luna with an astonished expression. "What?" Luna asked, "It's funny," she smiled at Hermione teasingly Hermione rolled her eyes in response. She turned back to Malfoy.
"You seem as cocky as ever Malfoy," Hermione retorted, letting her eyes drift around the space to give the impression that he didn't intimidate her. She heard Draco chuckle, his voice sounded slightly different now, huskier. It made the hairs on the back of Hermione's neck stand up.
"You've changed Hermione, I can see that you aren't so righteous anymore. Especially if you are here to beg for help from a werewolf," Malfoy spoke with his usual teasing nature, but Hermione detected hesitancy in his voice. She knew Malfoy well enough to know that he wasn't sure what to make of her or what she made of him, so he was testing the waters. She had no prejudice towards werewolves, so she was not baited by his words, however the implication that the order was helpless rubbed Hermione the wrong way. There were many issues with the order, but they were hers and, in many ways, she held leadership roles within the order. Hermione didn't beg. Ever.
"Malfoy, I have no issues with werewolves". However, I am not here to beg for anything she thought to herself. She turned her gaze towards his sharply, making intense eye contact as Luna had instructed, "I have come to offer you help and hopefully come to a mutual agreement as we have a common enemy that I'm sure you are aware of," she spoke with a steady voice that spoke of maturity. She too had grown up since she last saw him.
"Ah yes," Malfoy responded with a wistful smile, "good old moldywart" Malfoy replied. Hermione didn't let the surprise that he used one of the twin's nicknames for Voldemort show on her face.
"It makes sense to band together to defeat him, so I don't see why we should delay it or resist it any longer," Hermione stated boldly. She was trying her luck here and she knew it. Malfoy must know that they had much more to gain than him from this alliance. He gave her a long considering look.
"I think we both know I need a bit more than that to sway me into this mutual agreement," he used her terminology whilst using his fingers to mimic quotation marks around her words.
"Okay well we can share our supplies with you or guard another, safer forest for you to use and we could also get you wands," Hermione tried, her heart beating hard in her chest while she kept a calm and collected mask over her face. She was hooked on every breathe he took whilst considering her offer, hoping against all hopes that he would just accept. She lifted her chin slightly and she saw him refocus he gaze back on her thoughtfully.
"We could use wands," he said finally with a longing emotion colouring his voice. Hermione was honestly a bit shocked that he hadn't made fun of her offer or degrade her during the process. She analysed him again and found the signs of defeat apparent on his face as he thought her proposal over more. It was obvious that he cared of these people and knew how drastically easier life would be if he accepted this bargain for his people. Hermione was really seeing a different side of him today.
This wasn't any easy decision to make. Hermione knew he would struggle because, although he was a werewolf, he was still a wizard as well. He knew that he would be required to make a blood oath to confirm that if The Order provided wands to the pack, that he would lead the pack into battle with The Order, regardless of whether it was best for his pack or not. An Alpha always had the underlying desire for what was best for his pack so naturally there would be a conflict within himself.
Since Malfoy wasn't looking at her anymore, but rather down at his hands lost in thought, Hermione chanced a look at Luna. Where she felt confident with this offer due to Malfoy's reaction so far, Luna did not look as confident. Luna looked as she had when they had first walked in, hopeful but fearful.
"I will have to discuss this matter with the council," Malfoy suddenly exclaimed in a relenting voice. As if it was the last thing he wanted to do. "It is not that I don't want to strike a bargain, it's that they may not agree on the conditions. Some of the werewolves in this pack are old and believe that, although wands would be useful, they are not a priority compared to other things that need to be done to keep the pack safe," he explained.
"Wait I've never heard of a council within werewolf packs before," Luna questioned in a puzzled voice. Draco offered her what Hermione thought might be a genuine smile.
"Well I'm not a typical Alpha, now am I?" Draco responded. "I believe in equality and everyone having a voice in decisions that drastically impact the pack."
Luna seemed to take his answer well and just nodded. "Shall we attend this council meeting Alpha?" Luna asked politely. Draco gave Luna a delightfully surprised look. Hermione took this to mean that Draco hadn't realised Luna was so well versed with werewolf laws and as such was impressed by her. Hermione felt the energy in the room shift as Draco suddenly recognised her as someone much wiser and more important than he initially thought.
"I see why you brought her," he spoke to Hermione but kept his eyes on Luna, "You both may come Luna," he spoke now to Luna, as he rose from his desk and gave her a pat on his way past them. He advised them to stay put before heading out of the room. Hermione could only guess he was rounding up the council members.
Hermione sat down on a chair with Luna and they bent their heads together to talk strategy for the council meeting. It was hard to really finalise what they would do or say as they weren't sure how the meeting would go. Would they be allowed to talk? Would they have to ask permission to talk? Would they even need to? Maybe the other council members would understand how important wands would be to the pack.
Soon Lavender entered the room and gestured for them to follow her. They followed her out of the building. The sky had grown dark and Hermione suddenly realised they had been here for longer than she thought. Kingsley would start to worry. The last thing she wanted was a group of the order bursting through the trees and ruining everything. It wasn't that they were incompetent, just that they were impulsive and didn't understand the sensitivity of the mission.
"Lavender we will have to leave soon or send notice to the order to let them know we are okay, or they might react… well impulsively," she emphasised the last part of her sentence in order to convey her meaning. Lavender gave her a knowing look and nodded. They followed Lavender around to the back of the camp where there was a fire pit with a roaring fire going, set up in the middle of a circle of benches. Lavender gestured for them to stand near the fire in the middle of the benches. Hermione counted around 7 people seated around the fire, all men. When Hermione and Luna took their places, standing in the middle of the circle so all could see them, Lavender took her place upon a bench. Hermione was grateful there would be at least one female amongst the council. The positioning for Hermione and Luna was awkward because in order to face Malfoy they had their backs to half of the council and all members were murmuring just out of earshot. However, Hermione ignored her willingness to survey the whole circle as she knew keeping her head and eyes in the Alpha's direction was the sign of utmost respect. Luna followed Hermione's lead, shaking of the uncomfortable feeling of all the eyes on her back.
Before anyone else spoke Lavender announced that Hermione could send a message to Kingsley, so Hermione conjured a Patronus much to the delight of the council members who watched in surprise as she conveyed with her mind what message she wanted her Patronus to carry. She didn't want the werewolves to hear what she was relaying to Kingsley. When she was done she straightened up and returned to her usual demanding posture. Malfoy cleared his throat to convey the meeting was in order and Hermione watched as every other council member fell silent and gave their complete attention to Malfoy. Hermione was struck by how much respect Malfoy received compared to when they were in school.
"We are here today to discuss a matter involving the order. They come to us offering to band forces, so we can destroy a common enemy. An offer has been made by their advocate Hermione Granger and I must admit it is tempting. I have called you all here to hear your concerns and your opinions on the deal for as you know your Alpha cares not only about what is good for the packs safety but also what is best for your happiness." Draco spoke with an authorative and warm voice that enraptured Hermione. She found herself viewing him through their eyes. They were so lucky to have someone like Malfoy leading them in the place of someone like Greyback. Only someone who was as smart as her would think of introducing democracy into a werewolf pack.
Hermione was aware that Malfoy had tormented her most of her childhood but other than that Malfoy had never really done anything truly horrible to her. Yes, he had called her names and yes, he had bullied her during their school time together, but they were both children and Hermione knew she would have been bullied just as bad if she had attended a muggle school. It was always people of her nature and personality who were bullied, the ones who couldn't sit quietly in class.
It seemed that Malfoy had grown up a bit, not just physically but mentally too. She didn't trust him, but she suddenly realised that she didn't hate him either. Not the way she hated Voldemort, not the way she hated Bellatrix. Malfoy had never truly harmed her other than not protecting her when she was being tortured, but Hermione knew that would have been suicide. Malfoy was not stupid, he may have felt bad for her in the moment, but he wouldn't lay down his life for someone he's never been friends with either. He was a Slytherin and so survival and knowing which situations where appropriate to act in where a natural trait. She knew how it might sound to others, but given the circumstances, Malfoy could have turned out a lot worse. This didn't mean she forgave him though. He would need to earn that.
Suddenly there was multiple conversations going on at once and Hermione broke out of her daze and her eyes darted around analysing each person she could see to determine what had happened. She looked at Luna who whispered, "He told them what the deal was,". Luna always knew when Hermione had drawn into her own mind. Hermione slowly relaxed her muscles that had sprung into defensive mode.
"Enough," Malfoy's voice boomed over the top of the conversations.
"Beta Garner what are your thoughts?" Draco turned to an old man that was seated to his right. The man had a greying beard and hair and Hermione knew that he must be an elder within the pack. It was tradition according to Luna that an Alpha have two Beta's, one was usually old, and one was usually young to represent generations within the pack, although it wasn't uncommon for this to not always be the case. Luna seemed to think he required the same respect as the Alpha since she was bowing her head towards him slightly in a submissive stance. Hermione decided to do the same.
"Draco this is a rare opportunity. The Order would have you believe otherwise but they desperately need our assistance. What I think is that a trade of wands for our lives in war is not a fair trade at all," there was an uproar on the other side of the fire in response to this. Hermione desperately wanted to turn and see who was on her side, but she resisted. Draco held a hand up to command silence again before turning to his left.
Hermione tried to see who was sitting on Malfoy's left, but the figure had drawn a hood so far over his face that she could only see shadows underneath the hood. Something about the shape of the man, the way he held himself and the shape of his fingers that were woven together by his clasped hands that rested in his lap gave Hermione's mind an itch that she couldn't shake. She knew this man from somewhere. His hands were very slender and thin, almost feminine. The cloak the man wore seemed to hang very loosely from his body, obscuring the shape of his body so much that Hermione could only make out small feet.
She looked sideways at Luna who was staring at the man intensely, her face seemed paler than before. If anyone recognised him it was Luna, she was always drawing people. Her eyes darted to Lavender's face who seemed to smile in anticipation of something. Hermione' heart started to beat rather rapidly. Suddenly she found herself paying rapt attention to every movement from the man.
"And what do you make of this offer, Beta Weasley?" Malfoy's voice echoed in Hermione's ears. Weasley? But all the living Weasley's were at The Order's base. Hermione half expected Ronald to be sitting under the cloak at this point. Her utterly confused thoughts were interrupted by the man pulling his hood backwards from his face and letting it drop to his back. Slowly the face that haunted Hermione's dreams came into harsh clarity. Hermione felt herself stumble back slightly in shock. Hermione hadn't felt emotion like this in a long time. The fire danced off the face, giving it a haunting quality. The moment seemed so surreal that Hermione literally pinched herself discreetly to make sure she wasn't in another nightmare. Her eyes raked over the luscious red hair, the freckled face and finally to the warm brown eyes.
She couldn't speak but she didn't have to, Luna spoke for her.
"Ginny?" Luna's usually airy, joyful voice broke pronouncing the name that they had agreed they would never speak again. Ginny's eyes were full of unshed tears and both Hermione and Luna could sense the monumental pain emanating from Ginny's form. Ginny gave them a warm smile and a cheeky wink, despite the emotional turmoil both the visitors and she seemed to be feeling and turned her body to face Malfoy's.
"I don't think the wands are at all such a trivial subject as Garner seems to think," She gave Garner a pointed look to which the older werewolf seemed amused. "Wands are almost impossible to come by these days and there aren't any more wandmakers who haven't either joined Moldywart's side or The Order's side. This will be our one and only chance to get them and imagine what we could do with them. The potions we make for the sick would be finished that much quicker and could be multiplied. We could communicate with other packs and within our own pack without having to shift. We could move our pack more often and more safely than ever before. It might sound initially like an unfair trade but when you think of the possibilities they are endless," Ginny stated with the air of someone who was obviously important within the pack. Hermione was impressed with how Ginny had grown into such a confident leader. She still remembered Ginny's severe anxiety and ridiculously low self-esteem when it had come to Harry Potter. She also suddenly realised where Malfoy got MoldyWart from.
Malfoy quietly received her advice, nodding his head while she spoke with a thoughtful look on his face. "I will have to discuss this further, I think one on one which each of you as I understand you all have strong opinions on this matter. I will give you quarters to reside in tonight and then I will have an answer for you tomorrow." He directed his last words towards Hermione and Luna. They both nodded, and Lavender led them away.
On their way to their new quarters Hermione couldn't help but think about everything that had happened back at the fire. Whose favour would the group sway in. Hermione chanced a look back only to notice that the werewolves who had been seated behind them were young. It seemed to her then that the conclusion she could draw was that the younger werewolves agreed with Ginny's remarks whereas the older werewolves agreed with Garner's remarks based on the outcry towards Garner's remarks that had come from behind her when she was standing in the circle and vice versa. She wasn't sure what to make of Ginny. Her best friend, who everyone thought long since dead was alive. Why hadn't she contacted them. Why hadn't she told them. Didn't she know they grieved for her every day. Didn't she know that no one ever really recovered from it. Suddenly Hermione was angry.
Who did she think she was to do this to them. She had no idea what Hermione had been through. She had abandoned her. No, Hermione thought, she had abandoned them both. She checked on Luna to see how she was coping. Luna's expression was one Hermione had never seen before. She looked shattered. Luna looked like her whole spirit was shattered and stabbing her from the inside out. Her pain was clear on her face and Hermione couldn't help but reach her hand out towards her. Luna analysed her offer for a few seconds before slipping her hand into Hermione's. Lavender looked backwards to them as she reached their quarters and came to a stop. She noticed their entwined hands sadly and spared them a small empathetic smile before leaving them. All Hermione could think was the no matter what happened tomorrow, Ginny was going to cop an earful from her.