October 8th

Draco never asked Hermione what it was that had her so distracted and upset when she returned to his flat following her visit to Ginny's house. As part of their agreed upon truce, whatever happened outside of his flat was none of the other's business. But, that didn't stop him from watching her out of the corner of his eye for the next twenty-four hours with concern. Maybe he was worried that she was about to have another one of her infamous episodes. She didn't know what went on in his head.

"I have somewhere I need to go this morning."

She made the announcement over breakfast. They'd settled back into the same sort of routine they had months earlier before she ran back to her husband. Most of the time it was pleasant and comforting, but sometimes it felt like she was living a dangerous lie. The peace they'd concocted couldn't stay indefinitely. Not when there was so much uncertainty outside.

"And I assume it is something that you can't tell me about?"

"Yes. Are you going to be an arse and track me when I leave?"

It was said playfully, but she meant it. The fact that he knew how to track her wherever she went was unsettling. Was it any wonder that Rodolphus had been able to find her the night she went to Knockturn Alley? Or even to her own home in Hogsmeade? At any point in time, Draco's uncle might order him to track down her location and she knew that he would comply.

"No, as diverting as that sounds, I actually have something to take care of myself this morning. I promise not to track you."

Of course she wasn't naïve enough to believe that he was being completely honest. She would have to make certain that her visit was completed quickly. Besides, it was too dangerous to linger long as it was. It wasn't as if she was entering friendly territory.

Hermione exited Draco's flat shortly after their conversation. A request that she try to be careful was practically shouted at her from the kitchen as she walked out the front door. Why did all of the men in her life insist on telling her the same thing over and over again? She was well aware that it was dangerous out in the big world. Did they think so little of her capabilities that they had to keep treating her like a child? It was enough to drive her round the bend.

It had been an entire month since she last knocked on Ron Weasley's kitchen door. She hoped that in that time he hadn't changed his mind about wanting her to be on his side. After the strange meeting she had with him and his older brother Percy, she had been nervous about returning. Thankfully, the door was answered by Ron himself. A bright smile greeted her. He didn't waste a moment stepping back to allow her entrance.

"I can't stay here long because I'm fairly certain Draco Malfoy will be tracking my location soon."

Furrowing his brow in confusion, she waved off any questions even before he could ask them. Her association with Draco would be too difficult to explain and she felt positive that if Ron knew about it, he wouldn't want her anywhere near him or his family. She would be dangerous. They took a seat at the kitchen table.

"I've been given a list of known associates of Rodolphus'. I wanted to ask you to verify its authenticity."

Ron accepted the piece of parchment silently, confusion still present on his features. Likely this wasn't how he expected his morning to unfold. Hermione didn't care. If he really wanted to prove to her that he was trustworthy and that she should consider joining his side, he would complete this favor for her. He took his time reading each name on the list, never allowing his facial features to give away his thoughts. Once possessed of an extremely expressive face, part of his training with Rabastan taught him how to guard his thoughts and feelings.

She'd read the list so many times by then that she was sure she had it mostly memorized. Most of the names hadn't been a surprise at all, but some of them were. Like Hannah's father. Mr. Abbott was high up on the list. She couldn't understand why a man like him, who loathed and detested the Death Eaters, would ever consider throwing his lot in with one of the most notorious. It reminded her of Thorfinn declaring he wished that he'd taken Rodolphus up on his offer months earlier. Maybe it would've kept Hannah alive. As much as she hated to admit that he was probably right, he was. Associating with her was what got her killed. No one would ever be able to convince her otherwise.

Almost all of the former Death Eaters were on the list too. Including Draco and his father. Knowing that she would show the list to someone else for additional verification, he made it as authentic as possible. It would seem suspicious if his name wasn't on it somewhere. Every moment that he read the list, the wider his eyes grew.

"Where did you get this list, Hermione?"

"Nuh uh. I'm not revealing my sources."

If the wrong person discovered Draco's treachery, he would be in deep trouble. Likely even dead. She didn't want to run the risk that he would be dragged into any bother for helping her. Even before he saved her life from the damned cottage she was almost positive that she already owed him her life. There were a few times while she was on the run that he saved her and he was instrumental in getting the ingredients for the polyjuice potion that saved Aberforth's life. She pushed away the inconvenient reminders that he'd also betrayed her when it was necessary to further his own gains. Their relationship was complicated to say the least.

"All right, but this is a very good list. Some of the names I wasn't even aware of."

"Rabastan keeps a lot from you?"

"Unfortunately, yes. He's gotten paranoid. Doesn't trust me as much as he used to."

She remembered her first visit to Ron's house when Rabastan just randomly showed up at the front door while she was there. It had been difficult to believe him when he assured her that it was an awful coincidence. She didn't believe in those. Most of her reason for going back the next day was to test him. If Rabastan dropped by again, she would've never believed another word he said. Ron had plenty of opportunity to warn his mentor that she was there. The fact that he didn't helped her relax. Maybe there really was more of her old friend still there than she knew.

"I'm still not sure that I want to join the group you and Percy are a part of."

There seemed little reason to beat about the bush. Her concerns about their organization were many. She was always a little leery of working with any part of the Resistance. Many issues with them cropped up over the years that had been difficult to forget or forgive. Putting the past aside to forge an alliance might not even be possible. Some hurts still lingered. Also, knowing that the Resistance was in such disarray did nothing to allay her fears. She'd seen how dangerous in-fighting could be and she was in no rush to put herself back in the same turmoil.

"I understand. There's history there."

"Yes, a lot of it."

She remembered her bizarre conversation with Ginny from the day before. Even after spending almost twenty-four hours thinking of nothing else, she was still at a loss. It all felt so surreal. Hermione despised that she was afraid of how her life would change if the truth got out. Everyone was right. She really was selfish. Everything was always about her and it always had been.

"Are you all right, Hermione?"

Ron's concern pulled her out of her thoughts. Embarrassed, she tried to assure him with limited success that she was fine. It wasn't as if she could trust him like she used to. Though she held on to a tiny flicker of hope that that might change, she couldn't tell Ron what had her so agitated and worried. Did he even know his sister had a daughter? Probably. If he'd been in contact with Percy for years, the subject would've come up. She wondered if Percy knew the truth of his niece's paternity. He was far from stupid and he was often underestimated.

"Yes, sorry. Just haven't been sleeping well."

"That have anything to do with the faded bruises on your face and neck? And that deep cut on your cheek?"

Part of her wanted to tell him the truth of what happened to her, but she had to keep reminding herself that just because she wanted their friendship to return, didn't mean it had already happened. There was a time in her past when she trusted the wizard with her life. They weren't there again yet. For all she knew, he was still working for his old mentor. Alliances were ever-shifting in their unpredictable world.

"Yes, partly."

She offered no further explanation of the reminders of the injuries she still carried on her skin. Magic could aid in the healing of wounds and sicknesses, but nothing was absolute. Draco did what he could in the privacy of his own home to tend her life-threatening wounds. If it took a little longer to heal than what she could expect from a stay at St. Mungo's, so be it. She never wanted to go back to that dreadful place again. Fearing that Ron might ask her more questions about her health, she changed the subject.

"What's happening with the Resistance? I understand that it's been a bit chaotic."

"It has been, but I really don't know much. Percy won't tell me everything. I just know that the leaders are starting to turn on each other. With the Dark Lord dead, some of them feel like they no longer need the Resistance and others feel like it's needed even more. There's also a concern that there are spies inside passing along private information about their structure and plans to those who don't need to know."

Every organization of any size since time began had their spies. It was nothing new. Of course there existed some within the ranks of the Resistance. Hermione just wish she knew which ones were suspected. She had a few theories, but without knowing more, she couldn't be sure. Certainly William Wood wasn't looking like a really trustworthy member after teaming up with his old friend to try to murder her. Or perhaps Aberforth was resentful that none of his fellow Resistance members helped to get him out of prison. It could be anyone. Speculating wouldn't get her very far.

"Thank you for your help, Ron. I appreciate you looking over that list, but I can't stay longer."

"Because of Malfoy?"

"Yes, I don't want him tracking me here."

They said their awkward goodbyes at his back door before she left. She was glad that Ron was of the opinion that the list was a valuable piece of intelligence. And she wanted to trust Ron because that would mean that Draco was being honest too. Something inside of her really wanted Draco to be honest with her. She was sick to death of lies. After thanking Ron one final time for his help, she returned to Draco's flat.

Her host was still inside his home when she entered the front door. Based on his position on the sofa in the lounge and the fact that he was still wearing his pajamas, it appeared that he had done as she asked and not tracked her to Hogsmeade. Still, the unsettling thought that he knew exactly where she'd been and why plagued her. She couldn't stay in his flat much longer. The paranoia would drive her mad.