A/N. HERE'S A LITTLE CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF YOU. With what you know from Chelsea, Adam, Yvette, and Mag's personalities what House do YOU think they'd be in if they went to Hogwarts?
I know what House I would put them in, but that won't be revealed until much later.
Unfortunately I don't like half of this chapter. I had bad writer's block and sort of pushed myself to write it. That's also why it's shorter. I hope it's acceptable.
…~oOo~…
Chapter Four: In Which Coffee is Discussed, Again
"So what do you think all the grown-ups are up to?" Margot asked.
Chelsea blinked, feeling suddenly very nervous. Margot had no clue that Chelsea eavesdropped on the Order meetings and knew more than she should. So she gave her trademark answer – she shrugged.
Margot arched a speculative eyebrow at Chelsea. They walked together in the garden doing the flora scavenger hunt that Longbottom gave them for homework. Well, Chelsea was doing the work while Margot just kind of followed along. Chelsea didn't mind, she liked Margot's company while Adam was off flying with Mr. Potter.
"Come on, Chelsea, you have to know something," Margot said, prodding Chelsea with her elbow. "You disappear somewhere during the meetings."
"Adam and I just…do homework in the library," Chelsea lied smoothly.
"You 'ave gotten better at lying, I'll give you that," Margot said with a smirk. "But I checked the library. You were not there, nor was Adam. Unless you two got off to, as you English say, snog somewhere…?"
Crinkling her nose and shaking her head in obvious disgust, Chelsea gave Margot the answer she'd expected.
"Then you were spying, yes?" Margot pressed.
Biting her lip and deliberating whether or not to confide in Margot, Chelsea ran her thumb over an orange petal of an exotic flower twining itself around the birdbath in the garden. With springtime came the blooming of so many new flowers, herbs, fruits even. Their strawberry plant that their class planted together were ripening beautifully and the blueberries the older kids, Margot and a few others, were flourishing as well.
"I shouldn't tell you," Chelsea said with a deep breath.
"I can keep a secret," Margot promised.
"But don't you get visits from… Snow?"
Margot thought about this. "Maybe you're right. Snow could be picking around my mind and I wouldn't know…" She hooked an arm around Chelsea's neck playfully and said, "You're the smart one, aren't you?"
"I just…think a lot," Chelsea said, holding very still as Margot tossed an arm around her.
Margot laughed and agreed, "Yes, you do. Too much, perhaps."
Chelsea wanted to smile, but it died on her lips when she looked up and saw a girl in the garden with them, staring over the bush right at Chelsea. She had never seen the girl before, but something about her was oddly familiar. She looked Chelsea's age, about thirteen, and wore a blue dress with a lace collar and puffy sleeves. Her hair was kept out of her face by blue ribbon and she smiled at Chelsea, giving a wave.
"Chelsea?"
Hearing her name being called, Chelsea's tunnel vision towards the girl dissipated and the girl faded from existence.
"Chelsea, are you alright?"
Swallowing, Chelsea looked back at Margot and said, "Did you see her?"
"Who?" Margot asked, looking around. "I saw no one, Chelsea. You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I think I may have," Chelsea said, her palms feeling clammy.
"Do you want to go talk to Granger?"
"No," Chelsea said, shaking her head. She has enough on her plate.
…~oOo~…
It was all timed out perfectly. Hermione had gone over and adjusted the plan thirty-three times exactly. And when she presented it in its completion to the Order, they all agreed it would work. But still she doubted herself. Not that she'd admit it, especially to Draco, but he saw it in her eyes. Even though Rita had the key to get into the heavy lockdown section of Azkaban, had been quizzed on the map and layout of the prison, and had two Portkeys – one to stick through the bars for Shacklebot and one for her – Hermione was still a nervous woman.
The Kingley's Portkey would bring him to the sitting room of Grimmauld Place where Hermione waited anxiously and Draco watched on from the doorway, waiting for his mind to come up with something to day that wasn't spiteful or offensive. He couldn't help but feel like he was still in the primary school way of thinking that if you like a girl, you should just bully her and kick dirt in her face.
"Coffee?" was what he finally came up with. Genius. Swoon-worthy. Really, you dolt, can't you say anything that isn't insulting or monosyllabic? Or have you just completely become your godfather in every way? He berated himself thoroughly.
"Harry is getting me some," was her response.
He gritted his teeth. "Anything else then?"
She gave him another one of her specially hacked off looks. "Your absence would help."
"Someone is getting cocky," Draco said sourly, raising his own mug of coffee to his lips. "Too bad I'm as invested in the outcome of this prison break as you."
Pinching the bride of her nose, Hermione looked well and truly annoyed. Until Harry Potter walked in with a mug in one hand and a three year old Teddy holding his other, looking happy as little boys always are with currently black hair, sticking up everywhere. This only made Draco want to shave Potter's head in his sleep.
"Tea for the stressed-out genius," Harry said, putting the mug in Hermione's hands.
"'Mione, I gotta lotta pictures ta show you!" Teddy said, waving a handful of papers
"Oh, I cannot wait to see them," Hermione said, hefting Teddy onto her lap and setting her mug on the table. "What's that there?"
"Bluebell," he answered, which was the name his stuffed dragon, which he pronounced kind of like "Blah-Bell".
"Would you like anything, Malfoy?" Harry asked Draco.
"Coffee would be brilliant," Draco said.
Harry was shocked that he took the offer without any snide remark, but just smiled and went to pour him a cup.
"Drake," Teddy said, running over to him on short legs that didn't carry him nearly far enough for the speed at which they moved.
"Draco," Draco corrected him, but with no venom in his tone. "What is this?" he asked when Teddy handed him a big piece of bright yellow paper. On the paper were four blobs. One blob was purple, the other green, one was blue, and the last was black. They were varying heights and shapes.
"'Mione," he said, indicating the purple blob made of big spirals, and then the green he said was, "Harry," then he stabbed the black blob, telling him it was, "Draco, and me." He was the smallest blue blob.
"Why am I the dark blob?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What do you expect?" Harry said upon entering again and giving Draco a mug. "You're always dressed like you're on the way to a funeral."
Ignoring Harry, Draco sighed and walked over to the coffee table and traded Hermione's tea with his coffee. Hermione looked at him archly until he said stiffly, "You still drink coffee when you're uneasy, don't you?"
"I thought we've been through this," Hermione said staring him down. "My drinking habits are none of your business. And whether I am uneasy or not is absolutely none of your –"
"Just shut up and drink the coffee, will you?"
"If you're trying to do something nice for me, it's sort of negates by telling me to 'shut up', you useless –"
"I wasn't trying to be nice, I was correcting Golden Boy's stupid mistakes, because he supposedly 'knows you so well' –"
"He does know me well, unlike you!"
"Well, excuse me, I only spent the three years where he played dead watching you mope and play innkeeper for the bloody Order, who, by the way, treated you like a ticking time bomb while I treated you like a human, but I guess we're going to completely disregard all that time because someone is having a hissy fit."
"Hissy fit? I'll show you a hissy fit, Malfoy, if you're asking for it!"
"Half of everything you do and say is basically a temper tantrum because you haven't got your way."
Hermione opened her mouth for her next retort with a red face until a tiny hand clamped down over her mouth. Teddy looked suitably upset and nervous. "Stop," he said. "P'ease."
"Yes, please do," Harry added, wide-eyed and looking uncomfortable in the corner where he'd backed up into. "This is getting you both nowhere while we should all be focused on more important things, like waiting for Kingsley to drop out of the sky. He's the one that led the Order into the Battle of Hogwarts. He knows battle strategy and how to get things done. We need him and we need the both of you to quit your bickering already."
"Shut up, Potter," Draco said sharply. "Don't play peacemaker here."
"If you're going to continue your childish arguing, I'll take my godson into the next room if you don't mind," Harry said, narrowing his eyes at Draco.
"That's another thing I'm not pleased with," Draco said darkly, turning to Hermione. "Why is it that when Andromeda comes around, she takes Teddy away from Hermione but then Potter comes back and he seems to be playing daddy."
That seemed to strike a sore spot in Hermione. She winced and then slowly stood to bring Teddy back to Harry. "Harry, will you take Teddy into the kitchen?" she said coolly.
"Stop fighting," Teddy said, irritated.
"We will, darling, I just have a few things I need to discuss with Draco," Hermione assured Teddy with a sweet smile. Teddy seemed only slightly appeased and allowed Harry to lead him out. The moment they were out of the room, Hermione marched up to Draco and shoved him hard in the chest. "You are the most worthless man I've met," she hissed, only to shoved him again. "Sometimes I fantasize about a world where you were actually evil, just so you wouldn't be my problem anymore! But, alas, no! I would be so lucky!"
"And sometimes I fantasize about a world where you were less of an intolerable hag just so I could drink a cup of tea in peace," he growled back. "Or do something semi-nice for someone who looks like they need it without being harassed and berated. That would be lovely, wouldn't it? Ideal, really."
"I don't need you here, Malfoy," Hermione whispered, losing some of her steam. "I don't."
"Well, I need to be here," he answered shortly.
"Why can't I just Floo you when Kingsley gets here?"
Because I've decided that Snape can bugger off and that I will have you one day. I want you too much.
Fact of the matter was that Draco Malfoy was not used to not getting his way. When he wanted something, he wanted it fiercely, and usually he got it. But the one thing he wanted more than anything before happened to be the one thing being denied to him. He wasn't sure how he would get Hermione after he royally fucked up that Christmas, but he was a Slytherin. He was cunning, manipulative, ambitious. He didn't expect Hermione to fall only for his charm, she was too clever for that, but he had a few tricks left in him.
The only real problem left was that whenever Draco was around Hermione, his brain tended to just kind of shut off. All of his charms fell to dust and his common sense became putty. Which then caused him to say stupid, angry, bullying things like he was in Hogwarts again because that's all his mind could handle.
It was during that silence that Draco tried to come up with an answer that would make Hermione realize he should stay, Kingsley Shacklebot dropped out of the sky, landing on the carpet with a heavy thud. In his hand he clutched the spoon they had made the Portkey.
Kingsley Shacklebot's once-healthy dark skin was grey and his imposing figure was scrawny and thin. He wore Azkaban stripes which looked five sizes too big for him, but once probably fir him perfectly. He was wheezing, coughing, and fighting to get up off the ground after the disorienting transport of the Portkey.
Hermione and Draco both rushed to his side. Hermione knelt down and braced him as he fought to sit up and Draco hastened to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. He heard Hermione's soothing voice telling Kingsley that he was safe and that everything was fine. He wheezed his thanks in his heavy accent, over and over, as Draco returned with a glass of water and Harry Potter.
"Harry Potter…" Kingsley gasped as Hermione led him to sit down in the loveseat. "I cannot believe…it is really you."
"And I can't quite believe it's you," Harry said, walking over to taking Kingsley's large hand in his and shake it firmly. "Welcome back, sir."
Shacklebot nodded his head heavily, looking on the verge of sleep. "And to you, Mr. Potter." His eyes slid to Draco. "What is he doing here?"
"He's one of us," Hermione said reassuringly. "He's been spying for us for the last four, nearly five, years."
"Snape is…he is truly gone? I heard the rumors, but my capture at the battle, it happened all very quickly…"
"Yes, Snape is dead," Hermione confirmed.
"Draco has taken up his torch," Harry said. "I trust him with my life."
"Then so do I," Shacklebot said, but his eyes were drifting shut.
"Drink this water while I make up a bedroom for you," Hermione said, taking the cup from Draco and putting it in Shacklebot's hands carefully, making sure his hands were steady and that he could hold it. "Harry will get you some toast with butter. We're going to be careful about what we give you to eat – I know you're probably starved but you haven't eaten a solid meal and years and I don't want you getting sick when you're finally home again."
"I am grateful for anything you provide," Shacklebot intoned.
Draco followed Hermione out of the room and they were up the stairs when Hermione whispered, "Can't you leave now?"
"We were not done with our conversation," Draco hissed.
Amelia Bones walked out of her room as they walked past and inquired, "Has Kingsley arrived as planned?"
"Yes, he's downstairs," Hermione said. "Feel free to say hello to him. I know you worked together at the Ministry."
With a tight smile on her thing lips, Ms. Bones headed towards the stairs.
And Hermione went back to glaring at Draco immediately. "Our conversation was over. Kingsley is back, the plan worked. Now we just have to hold up our end of the deal with Skeeter and the Vow is complete." She shot him once last scowl before entering the spare bedroom and going to the closet for sheets.
Draco stood by the door, having a feeling he'd be kicked out soon. "You're always angry with me."
"You're an aggravating person, Malfoy," Hermione answered, putting down the first sheet and then spreading out the duvet. "You make a lot of people angry."
"You tell everyone how trustworthy I am," Draco said, stepping forward to help her make the duvet even on all sides of the bed. "You tell them that I'm a good guy, that I belong in the Order just like the rest of them. And yet you treat me like a villain." He sneered. "You used to be nice to me, you know. You used to make me crepes and coffee in the mornings and make sure I had clean pillow cases. What happened?"
"You know what happened?" Hermione snapped at him, absolutely steaming. She threw down the pillow into its spot at the head of the bed. "You ruined everything, Draco. You let me down for the last time that Christmas."
"It was just a –"
"You said you'd be there," Hermione stressed, her eyes turning sad for a moment rather than hostile. "You promised that you'd be there for Christmas morning. And you weren't."
"That was out of my hands," Draco said lowly. "The Dark Lord –"
"He returned, I know. Again. But then I didn't see you for weeks and when I do…" Hermione shook her head. "You were cruel."
"What? Did you think one kiss would change that?" His jaw locked in place. "Did you think I'd turn from frog to prince just like that? I've always been cruel, Hermione, and I don't know how you expected anything different."
"In the attic the night Harry came back… you were so sweet to me," she said, obviously not believing a word he said. "When I was coming back from the Veil, I heard your voice. You were begging me to wake up. You said you cared about me. And then…you were back to being the Slytherin prat you always were."
Draco didn't know how to respond to that. She was right. Every single word was true. How could he deny that? "What do I have to do to get you to forgive me?" Draco finally said. He didn't know what else to. He just wanted her to stop hating him. He missed the days when she would always greet him with a smile.
Hermione was quiet while she turned down the bed. Just before she left the room she looked him dead in the eyes and said, "How can you look for forgiveness when you never even apologized?"
Draco watched her walk away and thought, I'm more sorry than you'll ever know.
…~oOo~…
~ So Long And Thanks For All The Fish ~