Chapter 16 – Cole
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Ron and Luna had been following Cole for the last three months but Ron had no found evidence to suggest Cole was crooked. Luna strongly disagreed with Ron's conclusion. She trusted Harry's instincts and believed Cole was hiding something. As a result, she recorded, with meticulous detail, Cole's activities over the last three months. She looked for evidence in every little thing that Cole did. There were several normal Muggle habits that Luna thought were strange and could be proof of Cole's guilt. She was suspicious of everything from the shows he watched on television right down to the way he held his beer.
To Ron, Cole was a normal Muggle. He did nothing out of ordinary. In fact the life Ron led as a Muggle was almost exactly the same as Cole's. Everyone Cole met with was Muggle and he didn't see any magical influence in his life besides what he might have encountered on his job. There was simply no proof to back up Harry's theory that Cole could be involved in the whole Primus plot. Ron was beginning to think the whole thing was a grand waste of his time and maybe Harry had an ulterior motive that he wasn't consciously aware of to remove Cole from Hermione's life.
The only positive thing that came out of all of the surveillance was that he had a much better understanding of Luna. She no longer seemed weird or crazy to him. He may not always understand what she was saying but he knew there was always a point to her ramblings. He didn't know if that meant he had become as crazy as her or if he had deciphered the Luna language.
They fell into sort of a routine, in exchange for a few titbits of Luna's wisdom, he taught Luna about Muggles. The thing that interested her the most, were the animals Muggles kept as pets. She thought they were so boring and didn't understand how Muggles could think they were appropriate companions. Ron tried to enlighten her about a dog's intelligence. He had a dog in Australia and he had enjoyed the experience thoroughly but Luna didn't seem convinced.
Today, they were in a car following behind Cole on the M5. He was probably heading home after the long day in the office he just had. Ron absolutely detested driving. Even after seven years in the Muggle world Ron preferred travelling via, floo, apparition, broom or even portkey to driving. Driving was so complicated. The car itself was a mystery to him. He had no idea how it worked, just that it did. Then there were the rules and laws you had to comply with. Heaven forbid you got into an accident, then things got even more complicated. He learned that the hard way a few years ago.
"When did you learn to drive?" Luna asked curiously breaking him out of his inner rant about cars.
"A few years ago. Harry made me," Ron said acrimoniously. He had not enjoyed those lessons at all.
Luna chuckled, "Hermione tried to force Draco and I but we came up with excuses to evade her. Draco volunteered to baby sit and Nicolas decided to take me warschute hunting in Europe."
Luna fell silent and Ron spared her a look. He had never seen her look so sad. He had heard all of the stories of Nicholas Prince from his brothers and Hermione. They all seemed convinced that Nicholas had planned everything from the very beginning but none of them wanted to tell Luna that. She still believed that it was the virus that turned Nicholas insane. Hell even Draco believed the theory and referenced several incidents that showed Prince's true character before he was infected with the virus. Ron realised he had never heard Luna's version of the story. He figured Luna needed to talk about it. He had seen Harry suffer the effects of the war and he knew he only got better when he started talking about things.
"What was Nicholas like?" Ron prodded hoping she would open up and not hex him.
Luna inhaled sharply and he knew that was the last thing she expected him to ask.
"You mean besides his goal to end all wizarding life?" she asked sardonically.
"Yeah besides that. I'm sure when he asked you out, he didn't start with 'Hey pretty lady, wanna end the wizarding world with me,'" Ron said in a funny voice.
Luna actually laughed. "No, he did not introduce himself like that."
"So what did he lead with? Did he say you have a pretty smile, or did he talk about your beautiful eyes or kind heart?"
Luna blushed. "You think my eyes are beautiful?"
"Muggles like to say the eyes are the window to the soul," Ron replied avoiding the question.
"I see why you have so many witches on your arm. You are good with your words," she commented.
Ron guffawed, "The first 14 Muggle girls I asked out all dumped some form of alcohol over my head."
"I don't believe that," Luna said adamantly.
"Ask Harry and Ginny. They were both keeping count! The point is I eventually learned it's not about the line but the truth."
Luna turned away and looked out the window at the reflectors on the road side that rushed passed at they sped along. He thought maybe he had overstepped their friendship but then she spoke up in a soft shameful voice.
"He asked me if I had seen the narfull that ran past."
Ron felt anger bubble up inside him and he found himself a firm believer in the theory. He could picture how excited Luna would have been when Nicholas asked her that question. He could also see how it was a deliberate line designed to hook Luna. That pissed him off. If Nicholas Prince wasn't already dead, he might turn the car in his direction and curse him with the worst curse he knew. Since there was nothing he could do about Nicholas, he needed to focus on Luna.
"Luna, Nicholas Prince's actions are his actions and only he is responsible for them. You never intended to hurt anyone. You were intentionally mislead. Your work was taken and applied in a way you did not conceive. It's not different to a wizard taking the levitate spell and levitating a rock to kill someone. It's not the fault of the person that developed the levitate spell. Its time to let the guilt go and move one."
"I believe there is a Muggle saying, 'Easier said than done.'" She turned away from him again and Ron knew the conversation was over for the night.
Since Harry's visit to Hermione his soul had been restless. A huge part of him wanted to see her again. He found himself plotting to take half an hour breaks here and there so he could apparate to Norway and see her. The only thing holding him back was his friendship with Ron. He needed to talk this over with Ron before he went any further with Hermione. His only problem was that he and Ron never seemed to be in the Manor at the same times these days. That was why Harry was nursing a glass of firewhiskey at breakfast time in the kitchen waiting for Ron to appear.
"I think it's a bit too early in the day for that mate," Ron said pointing to the glass in Harry's hand.
"I've been waiting for you since last night," Harry informed him in a clipped tone.
"Me? Why would the Great Harry Potter be waiting for me?" Ron asked.
Harry gave him a 'don't be stupid look, you are important'. They had had that conversation many times in the last seven years and Harry was not going to rehash it again. He had other pressing issues to deal with. "I've been trying to talk to you for a week but you are never here. It was actually Malfoy's idea for me to sit in the kitchen till you turned up."
"Wow Harry, you should have been able to come up with that idea on your own," Ron pointed out before a thoughtful expression crossed his face, "How strange is it that Malfoy is actually a functioning member of our team?"
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one," Harry admitted. "He honestly isn't that bad."
Ron nodded his head in agreement, "A bit misguided at some times, a bit wand happy with the silencing spell but he's an alright bloke."
Harry tilted his head and encouraged Ron to elaborate on that.
"I caught my mom telling him he was not allowed to use a silencing spell to quite his son at any time. Apparently that was what his father did to him," Ron explained.
"Still better than spending your life in the closet under the stairs," Harry said bitterly.
Ron sighed, "I'm fairly sure if Luna was here she would say something strange at this point but she would mean it's not a competition to see who had the worse upbringing."
A small smile appeared on Harry's face, "How are things going with Luna?"
"Strangely, very good. I thought her weird tendencies would annoy me but they don't! I think I'm now fluent in Luna. It's a weird language but the philosophy behind it is often quite sound," Ron said proudly.
Harry smirked, "So you and Luna then."
The tips of Ron's ear's turned red, "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Sure you don't," Harry smirked wider.
"I'm sure you didn't wait here just to talk to me about Luna," Ron said desperate to change the subject of the conversation away from Luna.
It was Harry's turn to blush, "I kissed Hermione," he blurted out. Before Ron could say anything an explosion of words came out of Harry's mouth. "I know, I know. I kissed my best mate's ex-girlfriend. I'm not supposed to do that but it just happened. Well it didn't just happen I'm fairly sure we had dinner before it happened but I kissed your ex. I know you're probably mad. It is Hermione we are speaking about and I know how you felt about her when we were in Hogwarts. I'm sorry Ron but I'm also not sorry at the same time because I want to kiss her again."
"Hold up mate. Hermione is free to kiss whoever she wants and if that happens to be you. I'm ok with it but I don't want any details," Ron replied in a friendly voice.
"So it's ok if I ask her out," Harry asked a bit sceptically.
"Absolutely, just no details," Ron repeated.
Harry exhaled in relief, "That went a lot better than I thought." Silence descended on them before Harry chose to find another topic to talk about. "How's the case coming against Cole?"
"I'm not sure there is a case against Cole but Luna thinks there's definitely something up with that Cole guy," Ron said. "She insists that the way he puts his beer down at the pub is a code. I know Luna has this strange way of being right but I think her Luna sense is off on this one."
"Well how does she think the code works?" Harry asked.
Ron leaned back against the chair and covered his face in embarrassment, "I haven't actually asked her that."
Harry nodded, "Perhaps you've got a bit side tracked admiring her body," Harry teased.
"I absolutely did not. I have been watching him and I haven't seen him with anyone suspicious yet. I can tell you the type of beer he likes, the time he gets up, the time he goes to sleep, he's ambidextrous, has zero game with women or men, whichever he prefers..."
"Wait," Harry said stopping him. "Did you say ambidextrous?"
"Yes," Ron said not following how that could be important.
"The man I met favoured his right hand," Harry elaborated.
"I've seen him use both. He starts off the night drinking his beer with his right hand. After a few he'll use the loo and then when he returns he'll sometimes use his left hand," Ron explained.
Harry had two very important words to say, "Polyjuice potion."
Ginny walked into the bar and spotted her target seated in front of the long wooden bar drinking his beer with his left hand. The seats around him were occupied but that wasn't going to affect the plan. She looked around the bar and spotted Fred in the back in his old man disguise. She had half a mind to stroll passed him and dig her heel into his foot. When she told him to get the hair of a Muggle woman she could use for the potion she didn't expect him to go out and get one for someone so curvy. This woman had double D cups and Ginny honestly didn't know what to do with so much cleavage! To make matters worse, when George raided the woman's closet for a dress for tonight, he picked the skimpiest outfit possible.
She glanced over at the target and decided to get the mission started. She could deal with her brothers later. She walked over to the bar and squeezed between 'Cole' and the man on his left. As expected she immediately attracted the attention of the Muggle men around her.
"Oi," she called to the bartender, "Can I get a pint?" she called pointing to her particular brew.
The bartender stopped attending to a man at the end of the bar and moved to get her pint for her. The guy to her left started talking to her and she ignored him. The point was to draw 'Cole's' attention but he was the only man in the bar who had yet to give her a once over. She got her beer and found an empty table. She took a sip, the bitter liquid sliding down her throat, as she surveyed the bar. Several men were gearing up to make a pass at her.
She took another sip of the beer and prepared herself for the onslaught. One by one they came with their corny lines and offers and one by one she turned them down. The most innovative line of the night was if her drink needed a little protection from all the vultures approaching her. She tried to dismiss them politely but some had to be told a bit more forcefully that she wasn't interested in them. All the while, she kept a close eye on the 'Cole' by the bar.
In between the advances, Ginny contemplated her progress or lack thereof, with Marietta. Ginny had tried several times to engage her in social activities but only received the cold shoulder. The witch just refused to let her guard down around her and this made Ginny even more determined to figure out what Marietta was hiding. She had started to spearhead an office get together every month. Her editor loved the idea and most people (not Marietta) attended her events to keep in the editor's good graces.
She glanced back at 'Cole' and he was almost finished with his drink. He could either order another one or go to the bathroom and then the real Cole might return. She needed to make another pass at him before the real Cole returned. She left her empty drink on the table and headed back to the bar. This time she squeezed between Cole and the person on his right.
"Hey," she said trying to get his attention again.
He looked at her this time, his eyes falling to her chest before he looked back at his beer. She swore she saw disdain in his eyes; a look she had seen on many Slytherins when they spoke about Muggles. Harry's theory really could be right. The man turned his head away and refocused on his drink. She ordered another pint while the guy on her right tried to flirt with her. As soon as she got her beer she headed to the exit. She shoved her untouched beer into the hand of a guy passing by her.
"Your lucky night, a free beer," she said as she exited the bar.
Phase one was complete. She had to wait for the switch and then talk to the real Cole. The designated point for the second meet was on the street his flat occupied. Since the bar was two blocks away from Cole's flat he liked to walk back to his flat. This was the perfect opportunity to run into him again. Ginny wrapped her charmed coat around her and waited in the restaurant opposite the bar for Cole to leave.
While Ginny waited for Cole to return to his apartment, her mind suddenly shifted to Natalie. She had been living in the apartment next to Natalie for a few months and she had yet to figure out what Draco saw in that witch. She was absolutely horrid. Natalie sneered at her whenever she saw her and she poisoned all of her neighbours against her. She occasionally caught sight of Draco when he brought her some groceries. She knew her mother had given him a list of foods that Natalie should be eating and he came every week with it. She didn't know if Natalie always treated those around her with such disdain or if the pregnancy made her extra cranky.
She was broken out of her thoughts when she saw Cole exit the bar. She went to the bathroom and apparated to his street. She would have about a ten minute wait before he turned onto to his street.
As soon as she saw him turn the corner with his hands in his pocket. She started walking forward. Just as she reached him her stiletto magically broke and she tumbled into him. As expected he caught her and helped her to a standing position.
"Crap my shoe!" she said taking off the high black heel and looking at the broken heel. At the same time her coat opened up a bit so he had a clear view of her outfit, just in case he was one of those men that didn't remember faces.
She looked up at him, "Thank you for saving me," she said with a large smile.
"Not a problem. It's my job to protect charming young ladies," he replied with an equally large smile. He looked really cute with his dimples.
"Your job really?" she flirted back.
"Yes, I am an Inspector with the police service," he explained.
"I guess it really is my lucky day. I'm going to a pub a couple blocks from here, you can join me," she offered casually.
He looked down at her foot and he let his eyes slowly trail up her body, "Sorry just came from there but my flat is right up there," he said pointing above them. "With your shoe out of commission, you're welcome to join me. It's quite far to the pub with a broken shoe."
Ginny couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of her. She could see why Hermione was fond of him. He was quite charismatic. "Rain check?" she asked.
He laughed, "My name's Cole, you know where to find me if you're ever interested," he said. He made sure she was steady on her feet and then he tucked his hands back into his pocket and headed up to his flat.
That little interaction confirmed Harry's theory.
Hermione walked into the Ministry of Magic with a pep in her step and a large smile on her face. It felt really good to finally be home. If she stayed in Norway any longer she probably would have pulled her all of her hair out from boredom. Her last week had been pretty hectic though. Kingsley had paid her a visit to update her on the case and discuss a plan he wanted her to implement. He had informed her of the investigation into Cole and the results. She had been very angry that no one had told her anything but Kingsley reminded her that she was friendly with Cole and no one wanted to put her into the position where she knew her friend was being investigated and had to keep it from him. Despite Kingsley's reasoning, she sent Harry, Ron, Draco and Luna some very nice howlers. She spent the rest of the week collecting the items Kingsley needed for his plan.
She arrived in the Auror department and walked over to Seamus's desk, he was busy with parchment and plume.
"Paperwork was never your thing," she said with a smirk sitting on the edge of his desk.
His head snapped up and he looked hat her, "Hermione!" He jumped from his chair and hugged her tight. She got a slight whiff of perfume and Hermione realised he probably had a new fling in his life. She was gone for three months so it was more than enough time for Seamus to pick up someone new.
"Seems like you missed me," she quipped lightly.
"You have no idea how horrible it's been. Potwinkle made me finish all the paperwork you left behind!" Seamus complained woefully.
"Yeah you were way behind Granger," a new voice said.
She turned to find Millicent approaching them.
"I'm glad to see you're still alive. I was worried you would kill each other," Hermione teased.
The Slytherin witch embraced her lightly and Hermione got a whiff of the same perfume that she smelt on Seamus. Her eyebrows furrowed.
"I know that look. What are you thinking?" Seamus asked fearfully.
"Are you two sleeping together?" Hermione asked.
Seamus's eyes widened and he placed his hand over her mouth, "Shh, don't tell anyone. We'll get into serious trouble."
"Milistrode!" Auror Potwinkle yelled coming out of his office.
"Oh God he heard you," Seamus said horrified.
"He didn't hear a thing," Millicent said with a roll of her eyes.
"Shinnigan!" Auror Potwinkle yelled.
Hermione looked around confused and Seamus explained, "It's a thing he started. She's Milistrode, I'm Shinnigan. At least he fused our first and last names together. Harry's been assigned to work with Farwart and he's calling Harry, Farter!" Seasmus explained with a barely contained laugh.
"Milistrode, Shinnigan," Potwinkle said appearing at his office door, "Oh Granger you're back." He looked around the office and then declared "Auror meeting now. Call in all Aurors from the field."
There was a collective groan around the office.
"Why does everyone look like they are about to step into hell?" Hermione asked.
"Because we are. Whose turn is it to call everyone back?" Seamus asked.
Millicent pointed across the room to where a thing wizard was furiously scribbling away on parchment to give to an owl."
Hermione followed them into the conference room, Seamus insisting that she sit between them. They waited about twenty minutes before all of the Aurors returned. Harry got stuck sitting next to Potwinkle as he was the last one to arrive. Everyone fit around the table without having to magically expand the room. A lot of older, experienced Aurors were no longer with the Auror department. They had either quit in support of Kingsley or been reassigned to other departments in the Ministry.
Potwinkle started the meeting with the assignment of new cases, none which came to her. She thought all of the cases were a bit below the Auror paygrade. With everything that was going on, she didn't understand why an Auror would be assigned to find Mrs. Crinkle's missing cat.
He then moved onto a review of current cases. Seamus and Millicent were working on a theft that had occurred in the Ministry. They had no proof but they suspected that someone had snuck a dark object inside the Ministry to assist them in the theft. Potwinkle berated them for their poor work. Harry was working on a case that involved an illegal use of magic in the Muggle world. He had found the perpetrator but was waiting to catch him in the act. Potwinkle of course found problems with that. Not long after the lecture he moved on to updates from the other departments but Hermione realised that he was missing a very important case and spoke up.
"What about the investigation into the attack on the Minister's ball?" Hermione asked. "Or the assassination of the previous Minister?" She knew Mayweather had been working on that and she had been reassigned to training in Africa.
"Granger since you were away I will enlighten you. Auror Mayweather was reaching nowhere with those cases and since Primus was known to be behind them, I have closed those cases. I am personally handling the Primus case now. I have increased the protection around the current Minister of Magic and an incident like that won't occur again," Potwinkle answered arrogantly.
"That is just ridiculous. Primus is out there and you haven't stated any progress on that case. The previous Minister was assassinated and there's been no justice. Nothing is being done. You're focusing on petty crimes and ignoring the much greater threat! With the lack of progress in the last three months one might think you're working with Primus!" she accused.
"Auror Granger you are out of line. Three months suspension without pay!" a red-faced Potwinklke declared.
Hermione stood up with a smile, "Excellent. You've given me the free time to find Primus. Tell him I'm coming," she said. As she turned around to leave she heard Potwinkle's angry voice, "Leave your robes because you're never coming back here."
"Not a problem," she called as she slipped out of the robes as she walked. She had prepared ahead of time with jeans and a camisole underneath.
As she was walking away she heard Potwinkle yelling for Potter to come back. She spun around to face Harry with a teasing grin. "Farter relax. I'll get my job back when Kingsley is reinstated. Right now the priority is Primus and I can't focus on that when that wizard is doing everything possible to keep me off the case.
Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Are you sure about this?"
Hermione glanced around the empty office, all of the Aurors were in the conference room, and she reached up on her tip toes and pecked Harry on the lips. "I've wanted to do that for a while," Hermione admitted.
Harry looked dumbfounded by what she just did.
"I'm sure Harry. It'll work out in the end." She turned to leave when Harry's large hand clasped around her smaller one and he pulled her back into him. He wrapped his arms around her and he kissed her properly.
It ended far too quickly for Hermione's liking.
"I've wanted to do that for a while," Harry said with a rogueish grin. He winked at her and returned to the conference room where it Potwinkle was still screaming his name.
This time it was Hermione who stood there dumbfounded staring at the empty space that Harry had occupied. Before long a wide grin stretched across her face. Somewhere in her chaotic day she needed to make time for a proper snog with Harry.
She glanced at her wrist watch, it was time to meet Kingsley.
There were a lot of things that Natalie Spellfire hated. She hated Muggles, half breeds, Muggle-loving wizards, making potions, transfiguration spells, brooms, Quidditch and the list went on but most of all, Natalie hated being summoned like some animal, but when Primus called, you came. She hated that you couldn't apparate straight to the mansion. She hated the mile she had to walk, yes, walk, like all those Muggles she hated, Primus made her walk. It was even worse with her pregnant belly. She was now waddling like those damn Muggle ducks.
She was supposed to be worshipped. She should have been Mrs. Draco Malfoy by now but Draco was ducking his responsibilities. He was the worse Malfoy heir ever. She was sure had Lucius still been alive, Draco would have married her long ago, long before she had to conceive a child to lock him down.
The mansion eventually came into her line of sight and she was thankful that her walk was almost over. Her feet were killing her. Usually fog obscured it but today there was no fog. Though the sun hung low in the sky she was able to notice things about the mansion she hadn't noticed before like the carvings of magical creatures on the second floor. The house looked stately, no hint of the evil that lived inside.
She trudged up the stairs to the main entrance and knocked on the door. It opened and she entered, cursing when she looked at the staircase directly in front of her. She had been there many times and she knew Primus waited in a room upstairs. She groaned as she climbed the stairs. She wished she could cast a spell to take the weight off of her feet but Primus had cast a spell that prevented all wands except Primus's from working. Where Primus found that spell, she had no idea but she could use a spell like that.
At the top of the stairs she spotted the open door that led to Primus. The sooner she made an appearance, the sooner she could get out of there and back to the magical comfort of her home.
"You're late," Primus drawled as soon as she entered.
"I'm 8 months pregnant. You try walking here in this condition!" Natalie snapped.
"For your failure perhaps I should remove the burden," Primus said pointing a wand at Natalie's bulging stomach.
"Go ahead. I can't wait to get this thing out. It is so annoying with its kicking and making me pee all the time. The only reason it's still around is because it's my ticket into the Malfoy Mansion and you know you need me in there to complete your plans," she said stubbornly.
"I can just demand it from Malfoy," Primus replied unphased by her claim.
"But then that would be admitting the importance of the object to Granger and you don't want that," Natalie said cockily.
"No I don't, but there are other ways to get it. Draco is easily manipulated. He remains under the illusion that I don't know about his partnership with Granger," Primus pointed out.
"You're forgetting that he's a Slytherin. He isn't to be underestimated," Natalie said.
"His father wasn't to be underestimated. Draco is just a pale shadow of the Malfoy men that came before him," Primus countered.
"I think you're selling him a bit short. If I hadn't known going into the relationship what Draco really was, I wouldn't have found out. I would have been the perfect trusting wife like Narcsissa Malfoy," Natalie said.
"He's a Slytherin. Slytherins aren't to be trusted," Primus replied.
"But you trust me," Natalie pointed out.
"Do I?" Primus asked.
"You're a Ravenclaw," Natalie stated, "You're smart enough to know who you can and can't trust."
Primus levitated a piece of parchment over to Natalie. "Go to this address."
"What's at this address?" Natalie asked confused.
"The beginning of phase 3," Primus responded.
"Are you going to tell me anything more?" Natalie asked.
Primus's head cocked to the side and a wry smile appeared, "No."
Natalie stood to her full height, "I know you. You're just trying to rattle me. I'm too important to your plan to get rid of."
"If you say so but time is running out. I will be terribly disappointed if you're late for this meeting as well," Primus informed her.
"Well if you allowed us to apparate or portkey here it wouldn't be a problem," Natalie pointed out.
Primus smiled, "Since you're in such a delicate condition. I'll give you a portkey to this location and since I'm in a generous mood, I'll also tell you, you'll be in Muggle London to collect something from my informant," Primus said levitating a Muggle newspaper, the portkey, towards her.
Natalie turned up her nose at it. "Of all the filthy things," she groaned. She briefly contemplated not touching it but the thought of waddling a mile to reach to the nearest apparition point changed her mind. The moment she touched it she felt the familiar tugging sensation before the room disappeared.
Once Natalie was gone, a hidden door in the wall opened and a figure stepped out.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes."
"She could still be useful."
"Malfoy obviously doesn't trust her so we'll have to try another route into his mansion. If girlfriend isn't working perhaps we'll try nanny next?"
Natalie hated Muggle streets. They were always filthy and she felt dirty just walking on them. Primus had sent her to a deserted group of buildings. If Primus hadn't told her she was in London she would not have known. All Muggle buildings looked the same to her. Her family had a lovely estate on the moors. Thankfully Muggles could never live there since they lacked the magic necessary to live on the moors.
The sun had now started to set and the temperature was dropping. She cast a heating charm and continued to stand on the junction between the buildings. This wasn't the first time Primus had used her to collect items for him. She also made deliveries such as the hexed object she took into the Ministry last week. No one ever looked twice at a pregnant witch.
Her feet were really starting to reach the point where she couldn't stand any longer. She didn't know how much longer Primus wanted her to wait but she really needed to sit down. She was fairly sure that this was Primus's way to remind her that she may be carrying the Malfoy heir but Primus was still in charge.
"Hello Ms. Spellfire," a voice said.
She turned around to find a man standing a few feet from her. How he snuck up on her she had no idea. He was wearing a thick black Muggle coat but from the positioning of his hands she knew he was holding something under the coat.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm the man that actually delivers on his promises to Primus," he said to her.
Natalie rolled her eyes, "I'm supposed to collect something from you?"
"Yes, bullets," he said with a sickly smile.
She heard five loud bangs and her body was pushed backwards as pain exploded in her chest. She fell to the ground clutching her chest. Her hand met warm liquid and when she looked at them, they were covered in blood. The Muggle started coming towards her and she used all of her strength to apparate to the emergency room at St. Mungos.
She experienced excruciating pain but when the familiar walls of St. Mungo's appeared in her vision she thought it was worth it. She heard shrieks and saw healers running towards her but the one thing she focused on was that she would not allow Primus to get away with this. She needed to tell everyone who would listen who Primus was. She was levitated and taken into a room where she recognised the Healer who was working on her as Cho Chang. She kept trying to tell her but blood came out of her mouth every time she tried to form the words. Another healer bent over her and told her she needed to stop trying to talk and that he was going to sedate her so that they could work to save her life and the life of her baby. That was the last thing she registered before she slipped into the darkness.
Back at the junction the Muggle was on the phone, "It's done. The onus is on your doctor friend to ensure only the baby survives."
Draco paced the waiting room of St. Mungo's. Life hated him. He had just accepted that he was going to be a father and here it was now threatening to take that away from him. He had started to believe that he could be a dad. He believed that he could raise his son to be a responsible wizard and most importantly he would love his son the way he had wanted to be loved as a child.
Molly and Luna were with him as he awaited the news. They were off in the corner supposedly there on other business because he shouldn't be seen with them in public. Usually their presence, even at a distance, could comfort him but not today. He needed to know what was happening and if his son was ok.
The healer emerged from the emergency ward, "I'm sorry Mr. Malfoy but there was nothing we could do for her."
Draco felt like his entire world had come crashing down around him. What was he to do now?
The door behind the healer opened and a nurse appeared with a crying baby, a tuft of platinum blond hair on his head.
"We were able to save your son," the healer said in consolation turning to the nurse with the baby in her hand. Draco's entire world shifted on its axis again. His son was alive!
He quickly accepted his son into his arms. The baby opened his blue eyes and looked up at him. He was so innocent, so pure. Draco made the impossible vow of keeping the evil in the world from touching his son.
"Hermigan Luno Malfoy," he declared as he looked at his son.
Molly and Luna looked like they really wanted to come closer and hold him. It was in that moment that Draco made a decision. It was time to tell the Order that he was stepping out into the light. No more underhand dealings for them. He refused to be drawn back into that life for his son's sake. His son would not be tainted by all the darkness that ruined his life.
He looked up at Molly, "Come and hold your latest grandson."
Molly beamed at him as she rushed over and quickly removed Hermigan from him. She started gushing about what a beautiful baby he was. Draco had to bite his tongue to hold back the remark about him being a Malfoy and all Malfoy's were born perfect.
"Congratulations," Luna said as she came to his side. "Are you sure about this?" she said looking around the waiting area of St. Mungos. At that time of night it wasn't crowded but there were still quite a few people there.
Draco looked at her and smiled softly.
"Never been surer about anything in my life," he admitted to her.
"Good, it's about time you came out of that darkness," Luna said reaching down to squeeze his hand.
"You killed her! You killed her!" screamed an old witch as she entered the waiting room.
Natalie's mother had just arrived.
An: Thanks for reading. I know its been a long while since I last updated this story.