March 2nd

Hermione didn't leave her bedroom much. It was easier to stay hidden and isolated than it was to try to integrate herself into a family she wasn't a part of. The Jordan family went about their daily lives only steps from her and though they each made an effort to draw her out of her confinement, she didn't budge.

She watched the world outside through a crack in the curtains. Knowing she was right in the middle of a Resistance stronghold was a big reason to stay inside. How many friends and family members of the nearest neighbors had she personally murdered? Or her husband? They were a respected couple within the ranks of the Death Eaters and feared by those without for very good reason.

A simple walk in the area before the sun went down the day before drew a number of uncomfortable stares. The address she had been given was the center of a small village comprised entirely of witches and wizards and their families. There had been some intermarriage with Muggles that had produced a number of residents who only sort of knew the significance of her presence. She could spot them in a heartbeat because they were the only ones not immediately rushing out into the front gardens to snatch their children up as she passed by. Some of them even smiled or gave her a nod.

It wasn't as if she wasn't used to be around those that loathed and despised her. Years with the Dark Lord meant that was an occurrence she had grown rather used to and comfortable with. The amount of infighting that took place within the Death Eater ranks was enough that they should all be ashamed of themselves. Loyalty was a difficult commodity to come across in the world she had been a willing part of for so long. She knew exactly how it felt to enter a room with every single person within wishing death and torture on her head. Once upon a time it even gave her a thrill. There were very few people in the world that she knew could best her if it came down to a duel. Only two, really. She was married to one of them and the pampered pet of the other. She vividly remembered a time when that kind of scrutiny gave her a rush.

With the Resistance, however, she didn't feel comfortable walking amongst them. She wasn't sure how exactly, but it seemed that magic was used freely in their corner of Devon without fear of reprisal. Either the Ministry never bothered with them because of their location or they had figured out a way around the trace. Considering they had been over a hundred miles away from the area when Ginny cast her patronus to warn Draco of her imminent arrival to their tent in the forest, Hermione assumed it was the latter. That was one of the few reasons she stayed. Perhaps, if she lingered long enough, she would learn how to tap into her magic without her husband being immediately alerted to her presence.

A knock on her bedroom door startled her away from the window. Though she wasn't expecting a visitor, there had been several knocks already that day: Sarah offering her breakfast, Posy wanting to know if she wanted to play outside with her, Lizzie asking a question about what she claimed was her lessons from school, Lee attempting to coax her out with promises of more fresh biscuits. None of them had worked. Lee's, however, had certainly been the most tempting.

Preparing herself for another request that she come outside and join the family, Hermione exhaled a heavy sigh before answering the door. A polite, but firm refusal was ready on her tongue, but it was unnecessary. Her visitor wasn't one of the Jordans coming to bother her again that morning. In fact, several days had passed since she'd last seen the man with the pale hair.

"Do you mind if we talk in private?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Draco's request, but didn't say 'no'. Stepping aside to let him enter her sanctuary, she closed the door behind him. He stood in the middle of the bedroom seeming ill at ease. Always the perfect gentleman. Part of her was tempted to be rude and not invite him to sit down. After all, she didn't really want to be in his presence again. Not since he had lied to her and deceived her in such a terrible manner. She had almost returned to her husband because of what he did, for Merlin's sake! Finally taking pity on him, she gestured to a squashy armchair next to the window.

Neither of them spoke for a number of awkward moments after he took his offered seat and she sat on the edge of the bed. When one had a great deal to discuss, where did they start? Hermione wasn't sure that she would ever stop being angry with his deception. Arriving at the Jordan house without knowing what she would find inside had been jarring. Learning that the witch who had been so kind to her when she didn't have to be was still alive had been decidedly pleasant news, of course, but she wished that she hadn't been forced to go through the trauma of imagining that their entire family was ruined because of her mere presence.

"So, I guess you probably want to know why I gave you those newspapers."

She couldn't keep from rolling her eyes at the ridiculousness of his statement. It was so uncharacteristic of him to speak so softly, so unsure of himself. Even when they were children playing at being adults, he was always so confident. A lot about him had changed since his family's fall from favor, but he still managed to comport himself with grace and self-assurance.

"That would be a great place to start, yes."

Draco sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Yet another mannerism she would never have imagined he possessed. If it was possible, he seemed the most uncomfortable about being around her as he ever had before. Coming clean about one's crimes had a tendency to do that to a person. When he didn't immediately offer up an explanation, she spat out a question that she had been deliberating on for days.

"Was it another test? Another way for you to figure out if I was worthy to be trusted?"

"Honestly? Yes, it was."

She was growing weary of continually being the subject of these tests. What purpose did they serve anyway? Was the very fact that she never wanted to be in her husband's presence again proof enough that she was no longer a threat? Some of the glamour and gilding chipped off of her former life. Once content to be a high-ranking member of the Dark Lord's most loyal Inner Circle, she desired to live an existence just a bit quieter than that one. Draco could at least have the courtesy to leave her alone while she tried.

"Would you kindly explain just what exactly I was being tested on?"

If he refused to answer, she made the decision that she would have no more use for him. He was the only reason why she was living amongst the rebels who wouldn't spit on her if she was on fire. One more lie or one more refusal to tell the truth and no matter how much he begged or pleaded, she would not stay. There were too many unknowns, too much potential for danger to keep putting herself in this same situation. Either he would answer her question or she would be out the door.

"I believed that you would do one of two things after you saw the newspapers. Either you would be unaffected and keep on running or you wouldn't. If you kept on running with no care or thought for the carnage you left behind in your wake, I would know that you couldn't be trusted. You would still be too concerned with your own safety."

She didn't want to interrupt him when he was finally being honest. That didn't mean she didn't still have more questions she wanted answered. How many more tests would she be subjected to until he finally decided she was trustworthy or until he left her alone?

"I hoped you would decide to turn yourself in. Go back to your husband and make him stop hurting innocent people in his search for you."

"You wanted me to go to Antonin?"

"Yes, because that would be the only way to get these attacks to stop. If there was still something worth saving inside of you, that would prove it."

Hermione had had enough of listening to the wizard. She rose abruptly to her feet and headed straight for the door. Over her shoulder, she made a final remark she hoped he would understand.

"I don't need anyone to save me, Malfoy. Least of all you."