Draco 6 August 2017
"Is that your quidditch bag Malfoy?" Potter glared as I threw my stuff in.
"Yes, other than the odor, it is probably my most used traveling bag. Easy to apparate with and all." I threw my broom into it.
"Why would you need your broom?"
I just roll my eyes, "Chosen One, ugh. How many times did my wife save your butt, because your lack of foresight - even with four eyes - is disturbing." I seem to have him riled up. "If there is an emergency, I'm throwing her on the broom and sending her off. I don't care. She's more important and getting her somewhere safe is the first priority."
"She can apparate."
"Not if they have her wand. Which is the first thing we learn on the dark side. Take the good guy's wand and that leaves them practically defenseless." It's my turn to glare. "See you need me Potter. You and your goody-good ways are nothing."
"Probably should bring a broom for Trini then."
"She has one if she can get to it. I taught her to carry one with her at all times. Everyone in the executive suite of Malfoy Industries has special training in abduction prevention. There are usually high prices on our heads, especially when we travel abroad."
"Malfoy, you may want to teach me some of these when everything blows over. Where does Trini have hers?"
"I'll send Theo Nott, he's the head of security. He has some really out of the box ideas that keep us all safe. And Trini, her's is an anklet. It's charmed. Doesn't need a wand to activate it. She just needs to be able to unhook the anklet and it will transfigure to a broom." Potter's jaw looks like it came unhinged. "Have someone call Theo if there is a ransom request. There is a key phrase that allows access to one of our private accounts." I hand him a card. "Have them hand this to him and it will be paid. No questions asked. Theo doesn't know, nor will he really care."
I think to myself, 'shit now with Hermione, Rose, Hugo and baby Esme, I need to increase the account by at least 30%' The crap that goes through my head at the worst possible times.
"I think I need to remind you of something, Malfoy. Hermione doesn't like to fly."
"If it is between getting her to safety or not, she's going to fly."
"From the looks of it, she won't want to leave you."
"If she doesn't have a wand, I won't give her the option." I love her too much. "Now are we leaving anytime soon or should I pour us another drink?"
Potter is so slow at times. He thinks I'm just going to sit around and chat when the love of my life can be in danger? I come close to knocking him with a bludger bat, but that would be counter productive now wouldn't it.
"I wanted to talk to you about something Malfoy, before we left. I just don't know."
"Words would be best Potter. Use your words." I watch him roll his eyes at me. "Sorry I'm not one for sitting around doing nothing."
Now he's chuckling, "You must have changed. I remember you doing anything to avoid work at school." I can see him steady himself, "I need to assign an auror to you."
"That wasn't hard now was it. No problem. Just have it be someone that can hold their own."
"What? You're not upset?"
Merlin, why should I be? I shake my head. "No. Wait one more thing - have him be young too. Someone that might not be completely prejudice against me because of my name and that isn't known in the dark circles. I can have him be a cousin of Nott and get him into anywhere we need."
"Young and able to hold their own. I think I know the perfect guy."
"If things go sideways, he's going with Hermione. I'm not going to have some bloody auror get killed on my watch. Don't need you aurors blaming me. Have him know that. He keeps an eye on me, but his first priority is her."
He nods but I can see there is something going on in his slow moving head. "You really care about her. I've never seen you put someone ahead of yourself like this."
"DUH Potter. Oh you are the Clueless One." I rub my temples, I probably should have had some sleep at some point today. "Now can we go?"
He nods and we apparate into the Ministry and head to the aurors offices for a briefing.
Potter gears up his team, I work on the enchantment for my broom for Hermione. Like Trini's, her's will go to the closest safehouse automatically. She may hate me for it, but I need to do this for her, for her kids, for us.
I look at the anklet, I choose a yellow gold design with the Malfoy family crest on it. Maybe if someone sees the crest, it might neutralize the scar on her arm. "I love you Hermione Jean Granger Malfoy, be safe" I whisper into it. She'll be able to hear it as soon as she gets to safety.
There are another few things that I have to do to fully prepare for this trip. For starters, double check on the nearest safehouse. I send one of the Manor's elves to it just to instill the wards and make sure it is presentable.
"Malfoy." I hear Potter come up behind me. "This is Anthony Rowley. Tony this is Draco Malfoy. He's an acquaintance of Hermione's and mine from school. You're shadowing him."
"Yes sir, Mr Potter. It's a pleasure Mr Malfoy. Your reputation precedes you."
Shit this is a kid! Not much older than Scorp. "I know I asked for someone young, but did you have to get a bloody 7th year?"
"Sir I've been in the auror program for three years now."
I'm taken back, "Really?" I see Potter withholding a laugh, "You're told that a lot aren't you Rowley."
"Yes sir."
"Drop the Sir. The only time I hear that is when I am at Malfoy Towers. Potter, how much does he know?"
"I left that for you to discuss. Might get you two to bond."
"Give me your wand, kid." He obliges. Thank goodness for toy soldiers. "Take this one. It's more inclined to dark magic." His eyes double in size. "You will learn things from me that will make your skin crawl, trust me. But you have to do that. Trust me. Hermione Granger's life may depend on it."
Potter nods in agreement. "Know that Mrs Weasley trusts him. You need to also."
"And know I call her Granger in normal conversation. If I call her Weasley, that means get to her and be prepared to get the hell out. Your duty is to supervise me, but it is also to make sure she and my aid Trini get the hell out. Trini has had preparation, I am not afraid of her. I am worried about Granger. I am going to give her this anklet, it will transform to a broom the moment it is unfastened and it is programmed to go to the closest safehouse. It is on a private island in southern Indonesia, near Australia.
"You may want to back out now, but I advise you don't. You will have a view of what you are up against daily, that is really unprecedented. Not even this one has seen what I have," I nod over to Potter. "Be afraid, but have a spine. You will see me not as I ever wanted to be seen. It is a black time in my family's history, one I battle to erase daily. So if you do want to back out, I wouldn't be upset, but I want you to do it now rather than in a battle that we are severely outnumbered in."
The young auror looks between Potter and I. "I won't hold it against you Tony. Malfoy is being honest. This may not be pretty. That's why I am insisting on you keep your coin on you at all times. Malfoy, we're getting one for you too. It's a beacon to where you are. Just squeeze it twice and it will alert us that there is trouble and how to get to you." He looked at me again. "Lastly Tony, you may hear something. Something that cannot be repeated under any circumstances. This I have to ask as a personal favor to me and my family. So please."
"Of course sir. Anything for you and your family."
"Thank you." Potter says. I just nod. I know it would be inappropriate to thank him, even though it is my secret he's keeping.
"Gentlemen, please give me a minute. I still am working on a cover for why I am going to be there. And trying to get a hotel reservation is becoming difficult."
"Draco, you can stay at the offices there."
"No I can't. I'm not an auror. And Tony here shouldn't either. He is my security liaison for MII in the Philippines. Therefore we aren't staying with you. I am trying to get the bloody imbecile at our holding in Manila to get me a suite. Even if it isn't the presidential suite - which currently the President of the Philippines is hiding out in so you know. It was also the last place Granger was seen."
"Thanks Malfoy, I'll pass the information on. And it probably would be good if you were in the hotel. See Tony, we can learn a few things from Draco here."
He left to relay the information I had to the rest of the team. "Did he just call…" I shake my head.
"Mr Malfoy sir," the baby faced auror asks, "did you really go to school with the Golden Trio?" Oh hell no please. I nod. "What were they like? In school I mean."
"Well Granger was an insufferable know-it-all, Potter had a chip on his shoulder, and Weasel - I mean Weasley - well he didn't deserve friends like Potter and Granger."
"Were you friends with them? Did you know them well?"
I chuckle, "To define my relationship with the trio I can sum it up easily: Third year, Granger called me and I quote an 'foul loathsome evil little cockroach' before punching me. Only recently have I been able to reconnect with Potter and Granger on a more civil level." I chuckle. Never would I think that I would laugh at that memory. "I have a couple of texts to get out. Can I have a quick moment."
Poor kid. I think I shocked the poop out of his arse. Literally. He went straight to the loo.
I send a quick text to Hermione, a mundane one so it doesn't seem like I know.
I send one to Scorp telling him I love him, I was the one who summoned the cloak but everything will be fine, and that we'll talk about his dream later.
I send one to Trini telling her that business is bringing me to her.
Last one to Blaise. All I say is "Hermione and Trini would like a Green Apple". That way he knows that to get the abduction fund ready and to alert Theo.
He replies, "Newborn. Can't get to Nott. You? Safe?"
So I guess it will fall on me. I text Theo, "Granger and Trini would like a Green Apple. No question. Manila. Going out tonight."
Theo responds immediately. "Ready. Need backup?"
I smile. That man is ready for either World War 3 or the third Wizarding War. "Good man. Ministry backup."
I can tell he's debating. "Called over to our hotel, rooms ready. 4 suites. I am sending my UC (undercover) team to shadow."
I bang my head on my desk. At least he got some hotel rooms. He got further than me. "No team. Unless they have DE (Death Eater) cloaks with them."
I know what crosses his mind "I can be there in 30. With my father's. I can also get Greg to get his father's if need be." Actually having one for my baby faced auror would be a good idea.
"Yeah an extra is needed. Sure you can get out?"
"Absolutely. Hotel in 30?"
"See you then mate."
I am ready to return to the dark side. Maybe not mentally, but at least I'm prepared as much as I can.
