Chapter 18-Guilt

Draco felt consumed with guilt, his godfather had died protecting the knowledge of his whereabouts and now The Order had lost its inside man. Draco believed that there was only one thing he could do to put this right, as a tribute to his Godfather and to help bring an end to the evil monster who had destroyed Snape, Draco would need to take his place. If Remus couldn't see the necessity of this now then he would act alone. He wasn't a member of The Order of the Phoenix, he didn't need their permission and if it meant keeping his mother and Hermione safe he would act alone.

Draco knew he could never tell Hermione what he planned; he knew she would try to dissuade him and he might let her. Ultimately he was a coward and he knew returning to the Death Eaters would result in pain if not his death. He needed a convincing story otherwise Voldemort would never buy it. He had been missing for the better part of a year the only feasible explanation would be that he had been a prisoner of The Order. He needed Remus' support, there had to be some 'secrets' he could give Voldemort that would be convincing but not compromise The Order. Draco determined to put together a plan then approach Remus.

This still left the other problem, Hermione. He had promised to make her his wife to use the Malfoy blood magic to keep her safe. He needed to marry her and soon; at least he had had a while to consider this and he believed he had a viable plan.

All he need was his mother to distract his father for a short time. Although he didn't really want to think about his mother seducing his father he knew it would be the only way to distract him sufficiently to allow Hermione and himself to sneak into the grounds of Malfoy Manor and marry there.

"Where are we going Draco?" Hermione asked him as he dragged her across an open field to god knows where.

"You said you would marry me!" he said a wicked smirk spreading across his face, " have you changed your mind?"

"No," she said sounding entirely uncertain, "but I don't see what that…" she trailed off as a neo-classical folly came into view. Its columns were swathed in white jasmine and lilies the lone figure of a man waiting for them on the steps. Draco turned to her in all seriousness then.

"If you have changed your mind Hermione…"

The look that she gave him then melted Draco's heart. It said 'I love you with all my heart and soul and I will not be parted from you.'

"No," she said simply, "I have not changed my mind."

"Quickly then we have little time if we are to avoid detection," she clearly didn't understand the urgency so he clarified, "We are on Malfoy land, my father might feel my presence and he will detect the changes in the wards when you become a Malfoy."

In truth it was all a rushed affair and Draco was sorry she could not have the dress and the big wedding befitting a Malfoy bride. Later he promised silently I will make it up to you. It was enough for now that he did all that he could to make her safe.

"I love you Mrs Malfoy," he told her as he caught her staring at her wedding ring, "whatever may come always remember that, no matter what I might outwardly say or do, whatever roles we might be force to play in this war never doubt that I love you."

Hermione looked at him curious,

"What are you planning Malfoy?"

"Oh it's 'Malfoy' now is it, now that you've caught the wealthiest heir in the Wizarding World?"

His teasing was an intended distraction he could not afford for Hermione to suspect what he was planning. He had met with Remus the day before the wedding, although he had at first objected Remus had reluctantly agreed to Draco's plan to return to the manor. He would pose as an escaped prisoner. He would allow Voldemort to see his memories, he would pretend to have seduced Hermione to secure his escape, and he would allow Voldemort to see Headquarters. Both Bellatrix and his mother would know the house, headquarters would be compromised but The Order would have moved to another safe house, somewhere Draco was not aware of, before the Death Eaters arrived. Draco would have no knowledge of the new safe house-which would mean he would not know where Hermione was but that meant she would be safe.

Voldemort would see his memories of Hermione, the confusion he had felt over his feelings for her, it was a calculated gamble but they aimed to hide his true purpose behind as much of the truth as they could.

Voldemort was a skilled legilimens and although Draco was a skilled occlumens it would not do for him to hide too much- Voldemort would know. So they would hide the truth in plain sight. He would acknowledge he had been at headquarters with Hermione, he would acknowledge confused feelings for her- it would be enough to make it seem real and hopefully save his life. Draco was under no illusions, he knew he would suffer for his absence but his cover should be just enough to help him survive.

Draco knew, as he lay with his little witch cradled in his arms, that it might be their last night together. He might not live to see her again but he was determined to avenge Snape and do what he could to help the light defeat Voldemort. Draco pulled her tightly to him examining every centimetre of her face, imprinting her likeness on his memory. Knowing that Hermione would be the last thing he would think of, if the end should come, he resolved that he would know her by heart, every piece of her.

Hermine moaned her arousal as his hands began to caress her fragile form, learning again the softness, the curves, the scars mapping out the glory that was Hermione Malfoy. He made love to her that night with a passion that would have inspired poets and as he slipped from their bed, as the purple haze of dawn filled the room in his aunt's home, he understood why men had fought wars for the love of a woman.

Silencing his foot fall he dressed quickly he allowed himself one lingering glance at his sleeping love, I love you he silently told her before he turned and left to face an uncertain fate.