A/N: Again I apologize for the delay in updating, and seeming to have abandoned this story. I'm very much attached to this story and will not abandon it! I already know how this story will end, it is justa matter of getting the middle to my liking. Thank You for staying with me for so long, I appreciate it!
R & R!
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A couple days later the six of them were all in the kitchen eating breakfast in silence. Beautiful, sweet, serene silence. It had been four days since Cuyler had come and found a wonderful, WONDERFUL, complex two-person spell-charm combination that finally removed that horrible portrait from the wall.
Asta and Brynjar were looking over a copy of the prophet, while Harry, Ron and Hermione were talking in hushed tones over their food. Malfoy sat across from Asta and Brynjar, cup of tea in front of him with an Ancient Runes book from Hogwarts in his hand. All was calm and relatively quiet, until they all heard a sudden thud coming from behind them, causing Asta to quietly move from her chair towards source of the noise. She quickly gestured for them to act as though nothing was amiss while she was trying to find the source of the disturbance.
The trio carried on their hushed mutterings, Brynjar continued to casually flip through the paper and Malfoy continued reading; all watching Asta fervently, and paying their actions very little mind.
As she reached a small cupboard door she heard rustling from the other side. She unsheathed her dagger as she reached for the handle of the cupboard, thanking Odin that she put a permanent silencing charm on the snaps for her dagger sheath. She took a deep breath before ripping open the cupboard door to reveal a house elf with bat like ears, a long flat nose and black beady eyes. She could tell he was about to apparate away, so she grabbed the elf by the front of his cloth gruffly, and hoisted him out.
"Is he or she yours Harry?" Asta asked as she kept ahold of the small elf, but crouched down next to him on the floor as he shouted angrily at her for touching him.
"Filthy blood traitor! Touching Kreacher when she has no-" Kreacher began to wail but was silenced by Asta who rolled her eyes with a grin.
"I take it HE technically is, but he more or less has a loyalty to the house itself?" Asta said as she laughed at the elf who was now red in the face from the temper tantrum he was throwing. "Shall I let him go?" Asta asked looking at Harry for an answer.
Harry looked as though he wanted to strangle the elf, for he was just as bad as the damn portrait. Harry looked at Kreacher, who seemed to have tired himself out slightly from his, thankfully silenced, tantrum. The little elf has stopped flailing so much and has taken up glaring at Asta with malice. Harry was shaken from his internal struggle by Hermione who was tapping him on the shoulder.
"Harry, maybe he knows where the real locket is." Hermione whispered, discreetly pushing the locket into Harry's hand while eyeing Kreacher, still feebly struggling in Asta's hand. "Ron did find that R.A.B was Sirius's brother, Kreacher did serve the family in this house," Hermione paused looking back briefly at Ron, who nodded slightly, before turning back to Harry, "he's bound to have seen it at some point."
Harry's shoulders slumped slightly at the thought of having to talk further with Kreacher. The foul little elf is always unpleasant, and can never keep his old mistresses blood prejudices out of his mouth. Finally, he heaved a great sigh and nodded his head in consent and Asta lifted the silencing charm on Kreacher. As soon as she lifted the silencing charm on Kreacher, his profanities were audible once again but were quickly shut down by Harry.
"Filthy MUDBLOOD! Setting foot in Kreacher's Mistresses house, accompanied by blood trait-" Kreacher began, but was silenced by Harry.
"Kreacher!" Harry shouted at the elf, face red with anger. "Shut up! You will not use the word mudblood anymore! You will not call anyone in this house blood traitors! You will not utter anymore profane words regarding blood purity in this house! You will call everyone by their names when you speak to them. Do you understand me?" Harry shouted, looking down at the elf, whose eyes were filled with hatred and malice.
"Yes Master." Kreacher growled, as he attempted to bow while Asta still had a hold of his pillow sack.
"Now; Ron, Hermione and I have a few questions for you, and I expect you to answer them. If I have Asta let you go, you are not to apparate away, you are to stay here and answer our questions, do you understand?" Harry commanded firmly.
"Potter." Malfoy snapped from the other side of the table, gesturing for Harry to come closer to him.
"I'm a little busy Malfoy." He snapped, not wishing to prolong the discussion with Kreacher any longer than necessary.
Malfoy hurriedly made his way around the table towards the Trio, not exactly knowing why he feels the need to warn the Golden Boy about the elf, but he feels like he should. Once he reached the three of them he grabbed Weasley, for only Merlin knows what reason, and pulled him aside to relay his message about the elf. He knew full well that Weasley would pass the message along to Potter and Hermione anyway.
"No touching Blondie." Brynjar warned semi-playfully, semi-seriously from the other side of the table as Ron pulled his arm out of Malfoy's grasp.
"What? So I am the only one that can get man-handled?" Malfoy shot at Brynjar, who was eyeing his every move.
"Yes." Asta replied, matching Brynjar's look but with more ferocity and murderous intent.
Malfoy sighed and rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to Ron, who was watching him impatiently
"I've seen that elf at MY HOUSE just a day or so before the big guy and the raven-haired one kidnapped me." Malfoy whispered to Harry. Both men turned to look at the small elf who was having a hate-filled staring contest with Asta. "He is more loyal to my Aunt and her family than anything, but if you are his true Master you must order him to not go back to any Death Eaters houses' to pass along information. Otherwise, he will go back and tell my Aunt whatever she wants, when she asks him."
Harry considered this information for a moment, having a hard time buying that Malfoy would suggest he order his house elf NOT to go back to any Death Eaters residences, if he wanted to be rescued. Especially since he knew that Malfoy knew, that Harry would do anything to keep his friends safe.
"Why would you want me to tell him NOT to go running back to your Aunt, if it means it will get you saved?" Harry asked, Narrowing his eyes at the blonde.
Malfoy's eyes widened in true shock at Harry's words. Unable to believe that Harry would really think he would rather be found and brought back into Voldemorts' clutches, than be held hostage and safe.
"You really think I would rather go back to a home where I can't do anything and get tortured?" Malfoy snapped, his eyes squinted and his usual sneer plastered on his face. "Even with all the manhandling that happens to me here, I would much rather be here than back home."
Harry hadn't thought of that. He certainly didn't think anyone would torture the "Malfoy Prodigy". Clearly, he was wrong. He considered what Malfoy said and, though he still thought it suspicious, he decided to follow Malfoys' advice.
"Kreacher, Asta will let you go. HOWEVER, you are not allowed to go to ANY Death Eater houses AND you are not permitted to talk to them if you see them at any point while you are outside this house. If they try talking to you, you will ignore them and disapparate back home." Harry ordered firmly, staring down the grumpy elf, whose eyes went wide with anger. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes Master." Kreacher hissed in reply as Asta released her hold on him.
"Good. Now, have you seen this locket before?" Harry asked, watching Kreachers face, noticing he cringed away from him a bit.
"It's Master Regulas' locket." Kreacher replied, eyeing the trinket.
"But there were two… Where is the other one?" Harry asked, just realizing that Asta, Brynjar and Malfoy were all still in the room. He internally cursed himself for letting the little elf get him all riled up.
"Kreacher doesn't know where the other locket is." He replied, sheepishly looking away. "Master Regulas ordered Kreacher to destroy the other locket, but no matter how hard Kreacher tried he could not do it." Kreacher began quivering and hyperventilating. "Kreacher failed Master Regulas… He failed!" Kreacher wailed before lunging for a cast iron skillet to punish himself with.
Hermione was too quick though, she summoned the skillet and held tight on it.
"Kreacher! No punishments." Harry barked, stunning the elf into silence.
"Master?" Kreacher asked wearily, unfamiliar with this type of treatment.
"Was the other locket ever in this house?" Hermione asked softly, waiting for Kreacher to spew vile words her way, but they never came.
"He came in the night… He took many things, including the locket." The elf explained, actually looking Hermione in the eye.
"Who took it Kreacher?" Harry asked, already having suspicions as to who took the locket.
"Mundungus. Mundugus Fletcher." Kreacher growled.
"Thank You, Kreacher." Harry spoke kindly, before dangling the locket in front of Kreacher, who eyed it intensely. "Take it. It clearly means a lot to you." Harry added, watching in amazement as Kreacher gingerly reached out and grasped the locket in hand. Kreacher was watching Harry intently as his hand grasped around the pendant, clearly waiting for Harry to pull it out of his hand.
Once it was in Kreachers hand, and Harry let go, he started sobbing while clutching the necklace to his chest.
"Th-th-thank you Master. Kreacher is gra-grateful." Kreacher wailed as he took the necklace back to his bed, only to stop short when he went to put it under the rags that he slept on. His rags were gone. Replaced with a small animal sized bed, and nice blankets. Kreacher spun around, looking for who could have done this while they were all in the same room. "What happened to Kreachers bed?" He asked nervously, looking between the six of them.
"That wasn't much of a bed." Asta replied, her face impassive as she watched the small elf look at her in disbelief. "I couldn't bare the thought of knowing that you actually slept on a blanket covered pantry shelf! Hopefully this is more comfortable for you." She added, not thinking anything of what she had done for him, since her own elves had actual twin beds themselves.
"Thank you Miss….?" Kreacher faltered, not having actually remembered her name.
"Asta. No Miss, just Asta." She replied, a small smile on her lips as she watched the grumpy, battered elf tuck HIS locket under HIS new bed.
"Does Master need anything else from Kreacher?" Kreacher asked, turning away from his new bed ruefully. "Would Master like something to eat?" Kreacher offered, a new found kindness for the lot of them.
"That's ok Kreacher. Why don't you take a break from house work. We will call you if we need anything." Harry replied kindly.
"Thank You Master." Kreacher replied before, happily climbing into his cupboard bed and closing the door.
Everyone was silent for a moment or two, Harry and Ron were dumbfounded that alls it took for Kreacher to cooperate and be pleasant was being nice. Seeing as the elf himself was bitter and rude almost all the time. They were pulled out of their thoughts as Brynjar spoke up.
"Seems like a good time to check up on the guys and see how they are making out with the search for that guy, huh?" Brynjar asked, looking between the lot of them.
"That sounds like a good idea." Asta replied, not really in the mood to run back to the village again after the whole thing with Astrid. "Why don't you go back and see if they are there, and what they got to say." Asta added, going back to reading the paper.
"Will do." Brynjar said cheerily, dropping his head down to kiss Asta on the top of the head before going down the hall to the floo.
"You think they may have found him already?" Hermione asked, brushing past Malfoy as she made her way to the seat next to Asta.
"Oh, I'm sure they have. The big guy told me that they like to 'play with their food', so to speak." Malfoy answered, settling himself on the other side of the table.
"I'm sorry?" Harry asked a little uneasy with the phrase Malfoy used.
"Thanks a lot, Blondie." Asta groaned, setting the paper down and rubbing hert head in frustration. "We like to make the people we are hunting down think they are going crazy. One minute they see us and the next minute they don't." Asta explained. "We don't physically torture them if that is what you are thinking."
"Oh… I mean I guess that is better than physically harming them." Ron said, looking a little terrified, making Asta laugh lightly.
"Look, we just find them so quick that if we didn't have a little fun, we would be back to the village waiting for something else to happen the same day." Asta bragged. "We are very focused."
The room became silent again, except for Kreachers snoring. After a few minutes, Harry spoke up.
"I'm rather impressed that, even after hearing us question Kreacher about the duplicate lockets, you still haven't asked to be filled in." Harry stated to Asta, watching her face, unable to read her expression.
"Well, to be honest, I kind of have an idea of what you're doing and what you are looking for." Asta replied, albeit somewhat sheepishly, before nodding her head in the direction of Malfoy before continuing. Harry had given up by this point. If Asta knows, Malfoy is just as smart as Hermione, he could only assume that Malfoy would have deduced it as well.
"And?" Harry asked.
"You're hunting horcruxes." Asta stated boldly. The looks on the trio's faces told her she was right. Malfoy, however, was terrified.
"Are you telling me, that monster has made a means to bring himself back from death?" Malfoy asked, eyes wide and face paler than normal.
"That is exactly what he has done, and not just once… but six times." Harry stated, watching Asta's eyes widen drastically.
"Six?!" Asta cried out. "That twat split his soul, seven times?!"
"Yes." The trio answered in unison.
"Do you know what the objects all are? Do you have any idea where they could be?" Asta asked with a sense of urgency, summoning a piece of parchment and a lead pencil out of her pouch to take notes.
"Well, I destroyed Tom Riddles diary in the Chamber of Secrets, and Dumbledore destroyed Marvolo Gaunts ring, which was two of the six." Harry began explaining, then Hermione took over.
"Then we know of the locket, but we need the real one, which is why we have to find Mundungus." Hermione explained.
"But as for the other three, we got no clue yet." Ron finished, looking forlornly down at the table.
Now Asta fully understood the stress they were under. They have the weight of the world on their shoulders and have no idea where to begin. That would be enough stress for anyone.
Just then they heard the floo roar to life, and Asta made her way towards the sitting room down the hall, and peered around the corner. She saw Brynjar and a bloodied and bruised coward begging for mercy.
"I 'ont know why you was after me, but I haven't done nothin' wrong!" Mundungus pleaded, looking to earn some sympathy from the large man who had a hold of him.
"Shut up, you piece of shit." Brynjar growled, shaking the man roughly before walking towards the kitchen. "They had just gotten him and were about to bring him to the King."
"Harry!" Asta called, from the hall, quickly getting a punch in on the coward. "Brynjar has a present for you!"
Harry came into the hall and saw Mundungus in Brynjars grasp, bloodied and bruised, and he couldn't help but feel happy at the sight of him. He deserved the beating he got for what he did to Mad-Eye and for stealing from Sirius. He gestured from Brynjar to go back into the sitting room with him, and the trio followed behind.
"Why you send a group of thugs after me? I ain't done nothin'!" Mundungus shouted at Harry, who just glared at him.
"They aren't thugs, they're Vikings. And I didn't send them after you, Asta did." Harry retaliated, his arms crossed as he glowered at the short balding man. "You're the reason HER COUSIN is dead. But that's not what I want to talk to you about. After Sirius died, you turned this place over, don't deny it. There was a locket. Where is it?" Harry asked, leaving no wiggle room for the theif.
"Why? Was it valuable?" Mundungus asked, his eyes wide with wonder.
"You still have it?" Hermione asked urgently.
"He's prolly worried he didn't get enough money for it." Ron spy, eyes Mundungus disgustedly.
"Had to bloody give it away, didn't I? Some Ministry hag asked to see me license for selling wares on the street in Diagon Alley. Said she'd let me go if I gave her the locket." Mundungus explained, looking defeated.
Harry, Ron and Hermione all exchanges exhausted looks as they each tried to think how they were going to get the locket off a Ministry official, when two of them were wanted.
"Who was the Ministry woman? Do you know her name? What she looked like?" Hermione asked, her mind still reeling.
Asta stepped forward and placed a finger on Hermiones' temple, sharing the image she got from Mundungus' mind. Hermione groaned as the image of Dolores Umbridge floated in her mind.
"You've got be joking?!" Hermione groaned, earning Harry and Ron's attention. "Umbridge. Umbridge has the locket."
"Damnit!" Harry cursed before removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes in frustration. "As if a normal Ministry official wasn't going to be hard enough, WHY does it have to be her!" Harry shouted at no one in particular, before starting to pace.
"Do you need him for anymore questions Harry?" Brynjar asked, firm hold still on Mundungus' shirt.
Harry looked up towards Brynjar, deep in thought, and shook his head no.
"Perfect. Time to go coward." Brynjar said menacingly, making the short man nervous.
"Wh-where are you taking me?" Mundungus asked, a slight tremble in his voice as he looked between Harry and the large man who had hold of him.
"To your death, you spineless thief." Asta growled, waving her hand at Brynjar to take him away.
Mundungus was trembling head to toe, begging for them to spare him. Going on about how it wasn't his fault Mad-Eye fell off his broom, and that they would have done the same if they had seen You-Know-Who in person. They all took good care in informing, and reminding him, that they all have been face to face with him, and were brave enough not to run away.
After Brynjar disappeared through the floo with Mundungus crying and begging the whole way, Asta turn to the Trio, wanting to clarify who this Umbridge woman was.
"Didn't a Ministry woman with the last name Umbridge teach at Hogwarts a few years ago?" Asta asked, believe she knew the name from the various articles about her time there in the paper.
"Yeah. She caused a whole lot of problems that year." Harry ground at as he clenched his left fist, bringing the faded scars to the surface.
"She tortured students with quills that wrote in your own blood if you acted out, or if she thought you were plotting against the Ministry." Hermione began to explain, her voice trembling with anger. "She was so DESPERATE for information to make Dumbledore look like a criminal, that she was going to use the cruciatus curse on Harry. She's a vile, despicable woman." Hermione added, visibly upset by recalling the memories.
Asta couldn't believe the staff allowed this kind of stuff to happen in Hogwarts, only to remember from the papers that Dumbledore was sacked and replaced with Umbridge for a small period of time.
"Well, if we are able to find out where she lives, I can kill her and get your locket." Asta offered, knowing they were the murdering type, but given the hell that woman caused she figured one of them might go for it.
She did manage in making all three of them smirk at the thought of ridding the world of Umbridge, at least.
"Now that you know where to find the locket, what are your thoughts on retrieving it?" Asta asked, wanting to know how best she can help.
"We will have to infiltrate the Ministry, and take it off her." Harry declared, mind already set on this plan of action. "The problem is, how are we going to do that." He added wracking his brain.
All four of them jumped when they heard Malfoys voice. "Polyjuice potion of course." He answered flatly, strolling into the room, his hands in his pockets as he looked around at the startled faces.
"Were you listening this whole time?" Ron barked, his eyes squinted at the platinum blonde.
"What else is there to do?" Malfoy replied lazily, sitting on the beaten-up couch, wrinkling his nose when dust came flying up in his face.
"He does have a point though." Hermione stayed, trying to stop the impending fight between Ron and Malfoy. "Only problem is, we don't know who would be best to turn into, or even once that is done, how to navigate our way around the Ministry." She added to the already hefty pile.
"Both Weasley and I have been to the Ministry hundreds of times with our fathers, I'm sure," Malfoy began, nodding towards Ron in acknowledgment, "between the two of us we can lay out a generic floor plan at least. And I know all the 'right' people you should look for to doppelgang, thanks to my father." Malfoy added, looking at the firm faces of the trio.
"Least your father was good for something…" Ron mumbled under his breath, crossing his arms and looking away from the blonde.
"Agreed." Malfoy replied to his snide comment, with absolute sincerity. "With any luck, you three will kill him, and somewhere along the way, don't really care how, my father will be killed. That way no one has to worry about him again." Malfoy added bluntly, earning shocked looks from the trio, but not Asta. She nodded approvingly at Malfoy for his statement.
It took the trio a moment to recover from Malfoys cold statement regarding his own father. NONE of them, not even Hermione, expected Malfoy to say something like that.
Just as they were getting over the shock, Brynjar came strolling through the floo, a little bit of blood on his knuckles.
Asta shook her head at him with a smirk on her face. "I knew you wouldn't be able to just drop him and come back."
Brynjar returned her smirk, and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't wanna miss out on ALL the fun back home." He replied. "Why are you all still standing in here?" He asked, looking around at the frustrated and shocked faces.
They all looked around at each other and shrugged their shoulders. Harry lead the way back to the kitchen, where Kreacher was busy cooking away.
"Would Master like stew for dinner?" Kreacher asked, a tiny apron strapped around his body.
"Sure Kreacher. Thank you." Harry replied kindly, taking a seat at the table, the others following suit. "So you know who we should look for to turn into to get into the Ministry?" Harry asked Malfoy who was just coming into the kitchen.
"Yes." Malfoy answered, taking up his seat at the end of the table.
"Wait, he's helping now?" Brynjar asked, thoroughly shocked.
"For the time being, anyway." Harry replied, his face hard and impassive as he looked from Brynjar to Malfoy.
"I can give faces, names and schedules of the most useful people for what you're trying to do." Malfoy declared, inspecting his fingernails, starting to feel a small sense of superiority again.
"You think with You-Know-Who's take over, these people will maintain their old schedules?" Harry asked incredulously, as Kreacher set a bowl in front of him.
"They're wealthy, prissy Pureblood Ministry officials. They won't alter their schedules and habits just because He is back." Malfoy snapped his reply, matter-o-factly.
Harry and Ron rolled their eyes at his typical attitude. Kreacher has served all of them a bowl of stew and bread to go with it. After eating they got to planning their first move.
For the next few days they studied the information both Ron and Malfoy laid out for them about the Ministry and the workers they should look for. They were planning their attack for the end of September, hoping that would be enough time to make sure they had the plan down pat, and back ups in mind for if and when something goes awry.
The following week Harry and Ron went out to obtain the hairs they needed for the three of them. They refused to bring Hermione along, due to the steadily growing demand in the muggleborn registration area. They didn't want to chance anyone getting a hold of her, so they made her stay behind with Asta, while Brynjar accompanied the two.
Asta and Hermione were sitting in the sitting room, each reading their own book in mutual silence. Malfoy was upstairs sleeping in late, again. Kreacher was cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast. Asta decided to break the silence.
"So how was your last visit with Cuyler after the meeting with my father?" Asta asked, looking up over her book to see Hermione blushing slightly.
"It was really nice. He really is sweet." Hermione replied, giggling slightly. "His mum showed me his baby pictures! He was so upset!" She laughed, recalling his face as she looked through the albums with his mum.
Asta couldn't help but laugh. Cuylers mother did love his baby pictures, and in her defense, he was an ADORABLE baby.
"Did you see the one by the front door?" Asta asked, laughing herself from seeing Hermione laugh. "He HATES that picture!"
"Oh I know, he tried to hide it from me when I went over there with him after he fought Balder." Hermione replied, snickering as she recalled the photo of him running around his sitting room butt naked.
"You know, he really likes you, a lot." Asta stated, her cheeks tinged red from her attempt at girl talk.
Hermione turned red, as she clutched her book tighter to her chest as she thought of him. She really liked him, but she didn't want to get to attached to him incase she winds up not making it, or vice versa.
"I do, and I like him very much as well." Hermione replied, looking at Asta who was just as red.
"I've honestly never seen him so happy. Plus, he's more social since he met you." Asta admitted, fiddling with the pages of her book awkwardly. "Do you think you may want… you know, to get serious with him when this is all over?" Asta asked, watching as Hermione's face tuned an even darker shade of red, and a blonde head poke around the corner.
"Well… provided we both survive this whole thing… I would like to be able to date him." Hermione replied, imagining being able to go out on a real date with Cuyler, no panic or worries, just a normal fun date.
Malfoy leaned back against the wall, and let out a defeated sigh. He knew this was going to happen. He knew she was going to fall for that kind, muscular, nerdy bearded man. Cuyler had been nothing but kind to her from the beginning, whereas he had not. Cuyler had essentially worshipped her since they met, where Malfoy had knocked down her self-esteem. He was foolish to think that he stood a chance at being with her.
While Malfoy was mourning his non-existent loss, the floo roared to life and Harry, Ron and Brynjar came strolling into the sitting room. Looking a little ragged, but otherwise fine.
"How'd everything go?" Hermione asked, jumping up from her seat to greet them.
"It was going well until we tried to get hair from Runcorn." Ron grunted, unceremoniously flopping down onto the couch Hermione had been sitting on. Hermione snapped her head from Ron, to Harry and Brynjar.
"Runcorn apparently trusts absolutely no one, and tried to kill me when I tried to lure him towards me asking for directions. Luckily Harry and Ron were there to help." Brynjar explained, making his way towards Asta, who wrapped her arms around him. "You two are pretty strong." Brynjar praised with a chuckle at Hermiones shocked expression.
"It's good you all are ok." Asta stated as she released her hold on Brynjar. "Did you all get what you were after?" She asked, looking between the three of them for an answer.
Harry nodded, holding up the three baggys with hair in them.
"Give them here, I'll put them in my bag until we are ready to go." Hermione ordered, reaching out to take the bags from Harry, then they all made their way towards the kitchen at the beckon of Kreacher.
"Dinner is ready Master." Kreacher called from the end of the hall, bowing low, even though the only one who could see him do so was Malfoy.
A few more days went by, Harry Ron and Hermione continued their planning, including Asta and Brynjar in some of the planning. They finally had everything planned and they were encroaching on the day of execution. Tensions were high as the realization of what they were planning hit them all. Well, all except Malfoy, who had taken to locking himself in his room and drinking heavily.
Ron was making his way down the hall, to meet the others for breakfast, when he walked past Malfoys room and heard what sounded like sobbing. At first, Ron thought he was hearing things, so he stopped and listened more intently. He heard a small sob and sniffles behind the door. For some reason, Ron couldn't help but feel compelled to check on the ferrety blonde.
Ron knocked on the door lightly. "Malfoy? Malfoy, you alright?" Ron asked, leaning his ear against the door.
"I'm fine, just let me be." Malfoy choked out, wiping his nose and taking another swig from the bottle. Doing his best to drown his feelings for the girl he will never get. Startled from his self loathing and pity party by his bedroom door was opening slowly.
"Merlins beard Malfoy! It smells awful in here!" Ron exclaimed, gagging slightly at the strong smell of body odor, vomit and alcohol. "What is wrong with you lately? You're skulking more than usual." Ron added, scrunching his nose at the dirty, mussy blonde.
"Nothing Weasley. Just let me be, will you?" Malfoy groaned, looking up towards the tall ginger with bleary grey eyes.
"If nothing is wrong, why are you getting pissed all day and night, and hiding in your room?" Ron asked sarcastically, looking at the amount of liquor bottles around his bed.
"Nothing that can be fixed by me, or anyone else. Furthermore, it is not something I wish to discuss with you, no offense." Malfoy replied, shakily pushing himself up so he could face Ron.
"Like I want to have a heart to heart with you either. I just heard you crying in here, and wanted to check that you weren't dying in here." Ron shot back at the blonde, not caring if he was hurt or not, he was feeling nosy is all.
Malfoy smirked slightly, he couldn't help but find the amusement in how Weasley and him are in the same boat. What he found extremely amusing, was that Ron was handling it better than he was, and Ron was closer to her than he was.
Just as Ron was about to give up and walk out of the room, Malfoy spoke up.
"How are you handling it so well?" Malfoy asked, staring down at the bottle in his hands absently, waiting for Ron to respond.
Ron was thoroughly confused by Malfoys cryptic question. How is he handling what so well? The war? He didn't understand what he was going on about. He tried wracking his brain, thinking about everything Malfoy could know of that would make him sad or unhappy. Then it hit him. But there was no way, no way Malfoy could possibly… He quickly stepped into Malfoy's room and snapped the door shut behind him.
"You… you like Hermione?" Ron asked, his eyes squinted in disbelief and anger at Malfoy. How could he possibly think he had the right to have feelings for a woman he tormented for years? If he truly liked her, how could he have treated her that way without feeling guilty?
Malfoys hanging of his head was answer enough to his question. Malfoy couldn't deny it, and he wouldn't. He just couldn't understand how someone who had spent so much time with her, and knew all about her, could be handling such harsh rejection. Combined with knowing she was completely infatuated by a more compatible and strong man.e s He jHhjjjjdla
"How?" Ron asked, glaring down at him in full disbelief. "How could YOU, of all people, have feelings for someone as kind as Hermione?" Ron added.
"I… I wouldn't have deserved her, even if I had a chance." Malfoy replied, looking up at Ron with red rimmed, wet eyes. "How do you deal with the situation with Cuyler so well?" Malfoy asked, taking notice of Ron's visible cringing at the mention of Cuyler.
"Not that you really deserve an explanation, or tips, but… Harry told me that if I really…. Loved her, that I would be happy for her." Ron grunted out, not really wanting to talk about her feelings with Malfoy of all people, but he could clearly see that he was hurting. "I was mad at first, but the more I thought about it the more I realized he was right. If I couldn't have her, at least she has someone who will keep her safe and take care of her alongside Harry and I."
Malfoy listened to every word, desperate to find any way he could to live with this heartbreak and move on with his life. Harry and Asta had the same mindset regarding this issue. As much as it pained him to know he wouldn't get to be the one to hold Hermione, comfort her or even kiss her, to know that she is happy brightened his mood slightly. He still wished he could be the cause of her happiness, but as long as she would have him as just a friend, he would be happy and grateful.
"That's the same thing Asta said to me." Malfoy replied, looking at the floor between his feet. His heart still shattered, but slowly he was allowing himself to see the light. "Doesn't it still hurt? When we got together for the meeting, and when he came over to work on the painting?" Malfoy asked, knowing the answer, but desperately looking for validation and help with this.
"I never said I liked seeing the prick when he came 'round, but his presence is bearable because he makes Hermione happy, and I like seeing her happy." Ron replied, leaning back against the door. "It'll get easier, but only if you stop allowing yourself to dwell on it." He added, turning to open the door. "Please take a shower, you smell horrid." He added as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx*xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The day had finally arrived. Harry Ron and Hermione were going to infiltrate the Ministry to steal the locket from Umbridge. They decided to leave Asta and Brynjar behind, that way they can save their energy in case they need them at some point before they get back.
They were all sitting around the table eating breakfast, everyone was seemingly calm. They were chatting about nonsense topic, what they read in the paper, wondering what the weather was going to be like that day; anything to keep themselves calm before they left.
Malfoy came strolling in, and offered one final tip before they left. "Remember who you're impersonating. They are pureblood elitists. They are confident and snobby," Malfoy began, looking at the three of them, "don't act nervous or you'll be questioned."
Malfoy looked at each of them hard before taking a seat at the end of the table, and pulling the paper up to read. Acting as though he hadn't just gave the morning and ominous feeling.
The trio looked at each other around the table, each of them feigning confidence, so as to not alert the others of their apprehension. All three of them looked dreadful, pale skin, bags under their eyes; clearly not having slept very well. Hermione was the first to stand, signaling their departure, the other two followed suit.
"Make sure you have your pendants before you go, and that you have accessibility to them after you've taken the potion." Asta reminded, rising to follow them towards the front door.
"Be careful, please." Brynjar added, leaning up against the stairs as he watched them all disappear under the invisibility cloak. The three left behind watched the front door open and close, signaling they had left. Asta, Brynjar and Malfoy all silently wishing them luck and praying for them to be safe as they stared at the closed door for another moment before returning to the kitchen in wait.
A few hours had passed and they decided to pass the time, Asta and Brynjar decided to play gin rummy. Asta had already won two games and they were starting their third. Malfoy was watching them play, fascinated by the game they were playing.
"Question for you two, what happened with Taylor and her ex?" Malfoy asked, doing his best to seem non-chalant, as he kept his gaze on the game they were playing.
Asta looked up at Malfoy briefly before looking at Brynjar, who gave her an amused look, and back to her cards. "She used to date Gunnar, but he broke up with her. Said her 'spirit was too dark' for him, because she goes through periods where she will be happy and talkative, then out of no where become introverted and kind of bitchy." Asta explained, looking towards Malfoy for some kind of reaction, but he kept his face and mind blank.
"Does she have a mood disorder?" Malfoy asked, genuinely curious and concerned about her well being. She was the first one in that whole village that was actually nice to him and didn't treat him like a bag of shit. Plus she is pretty hot. His heart still ached for Hermione, but he did feel a certain attraction towards the blonde Viking when she took him away from the Vikings who were treating him like garbage.
"No, it is a…. side effect of sorts from her gift. Being able to summon and control the dead tends to fuck with your hormones and mood." Asta explained, throwing down a few cards, declaring Gin again. "It's not Gunnars fault, he didn't know she had a gift, let alone a gift that fucked with her mood. But she was really heartbroken when he ended it with her." She added, shuffling the deck again.
Malfoy took this in, imagining the blunt, hot blonde crying again, like she did at the meeting over her father being dead. He really could understand her mood swings, which normal women have every day. He felt bad that Gunnar couldn't stick it out and broke her heart. She seemed so nice, at least to him, and he honestly found her intriguing.
"So, does your friend Gunnar still have feelings for her?" Malfoy asked, looking up at Brynjar for the honest answer. Knowing most likely that Gunnar would be more honest with the big guy than Asta.
"Yeeeeaaaahhhhh… He does, like really bad…" Brynjar replied, knowing he had no choice but to answer, since Asta was sitting there watching him intently. "He honestly never lost his feelings for her, he just couldn't take the drastic mood swings." Brynjar added, looking to Asta for validation about her mood swings, because even she couldn't deny Taylors' mood swings were ridiculous.
Asta nodded in agreement. "However, my father and I think her mood swings are due to her suppressing her gift. We think it was fucking with her emotions more than they normally should." Asta explained as she redealt the cards to her and Brynjar.
Brynjar hadn't given any thought to why her mood might be the way it was, after the meeting that is. Before she was ousted, he just assumed she was bi-polar or something.
"I didn't even think about-" Brynjar began, stopping short when he felt his pendant going off. His head snapped towards Asta, whose hand was down at her hip touching her own pendant with wide eyes.
"Let's go." Asta declared, jumping up out of her seat running into the hallway.
"Stay somewhere hidden until we get back, incase we pick up a hitchhiker." Brynjar ordered, before they disapparated to the Ministry, where harry, Ron and Hermione were in danger.
It is rougher than I would like, but I am back in the swing of writing the story. I hope the rest of the chapters come to me quickly and easier!
I hope you enjoyed this! Please R & R!