A/N: Just wanted to remind you up here once again, the last chapter was in the past, this one comes back to the present, though some time has passed since we left Hermione at the hospital . . .
Chapter 16 – Where
I sit on a porch.
The rain is pounding down on the canopy roof above my head.
And I stare with frustration at the wand Harry gave me, because I feel like I can't do anything. The wand itself is fine and I can perform great spells, well, great for a new wand. But it isn't doing anything for the situation and that's the frustrating part.
I'm awake and able, but at the same time so far away from finding him.
It's been two weeks since I saw Draco in my mind. Since I was in that coma.
It's been nearly that long since the last time I had a good night sleep.
Harry and Ron had me moved to a safe house as soon as I was able to leave St. Mungo's.
Nothing happened.
Ron left, and I was fine.
But Harry brought everything from the ministry.
He said it wasn't safe.
Nowhere was safe.
Not until we knew the extent of this.
He's remembering last time; last time when the Death Eaters gained control of the ministry and there was no one left to trust.
It could be happening again.
Because it has been too long.
But I'm glad he's taking me seriously.
Ron, I'm not so sure about.
I don't know what's going on with him.
I do know, that they're afraid for my safety.
I'm afraid for Draco who has been alone now, forty-one days.
And they've done, who knows what to him during that time.
I've been counting.
And every day that passes breaks my heart a little more.
But they need a full moon and that's not until March ninth.
At the moment, it's only the third of March, so the panic hasn't set in yet.
It hasn't left me.
I want to fight.
I want to find those insane, evil, saddists, and kill each and every one of them for what they did to us. They're trying to bring back the man who stole every bit of light, hope, any sense of safety, from the entire wizarding Britain. They want to bring him back to finish what he started.
Unless they're dead, it'll never end.
Bellatrix has already broken out of Azkaban once, and that was when there were dementors guarding the prison.
This won't stop.
And I hate that I'm thinking like this.
I was naïve, innocent.
Then the war.
Then life.
Then this.
And I don't know what to think anymore.
I just want it to be over.
And I want Draco back.
I want him safe.
So, I sit, shivering with cold, and stare at the night sky, wondering where he might be.
He's still alive.
They need him to die at the proper moment.
But it's coming.
And I know, I need my strength. I need to rest and recover.
Because I want to fight.
I need to fight.
I need to be there to watch her fall.
And I need to be there to tell Draco he's alright, that I didn't break my promise, that I made sure he was found.
Do we know where he is?
No.
Do we know where their plan will unfold?
We're narrowing it down.
And I see their point, we need to keep our heads, keep our strength.
But that doesn't mean I like it.
We know they have all the parts. We know they need a body of water and a full moon. We know that body of water needs to be isolated, needs to be difficult to find.
But it's wizards we're chasing.
They could literally go anywhere.
I hear the boys as they march into the front room on the other side of the door behind me.
They're fighting.
Ron is constantly angry.
He's angry at Harry, but it's more personal than that.
I think he blames him for what happened to me.
And I hate it.
I hate that Harry is having this weight constantly thrown upon him.
It wasn't his fault.
I don't know the whole story.
They won't talk about it.
Not about what happened to them while I was captured.
But I know that Harry is not to blame.
"Who are you to say! How dare you want to get involved now and criticize me for being wary!"
I can hear Ron yelling.
I try to block it out.
But I can't when it's everywhere.
I don't know what happened.
I do know Harry doesn't deserve this.
"You're the one who's making the same mistakes! At least I learned from mine!" Harry shouts back.
And silence.
There was something of a finality in the statement.
I don't understand.
But the silence is thick, heartbreaking.
And I wait for it to be broken.
It isn't.
How has everything gotten so much harder?
I'm barely keeping it together myself.
I can't get between them in this.
It might just shatter every bit of composure I have left.
I just wish they'd stop for good.
I take a deep breath of the night air, taking in the soothing sound of the rain.
Time passes, and I know it's getting late.
But I can't find it within myself to move.
I like the outdoors.
It might seem a bit mad, but I feel closer to Draco when I'm out here.
I don't know where he is but he's somewhere under this same sky.
The door opens behind me, and the unexpected creek makes my heart leap into my chest, my head whipping around to face the sound.
I suck in a deep breath to calm my racing pulse.
It's Harry. Only Harry.
"Hermione," he calls, though his voice sounds heavy. "Come inside. It's cold, and dark."
"I know," I say softly, hiding the sudden panic deep within me.
I don't move and Harry comes out to sit beside me.
"You're thinking about him," he points out.
I sigh. "Yes."
"There's something you aren't telling us," he accuses.
"You know everything you need to, everything that's relevant to this case," I tell him.
Being judged over what I feel for Draco is not what I need right now.
"But we're best friends, Hermione. We've been through so much. I don't want you to feel like you can't tell me," he says.
"Maybe there are some things that just don't need to be said," I counter.
"Ron and I," he pauses, "we're doing our best. We know a lot happened to you that we can't begin to understand. We don't know who we can trust to help us, and this is the biggest thing we've faced since the war. And it's been hard for us to see eye to eye right now. But I just got you back and . . . I want to know."
He takes a breath. "This thing with Malfoy. There's more to it than preventing Voldemort's return. Isn't there?"
I close my eyes.
"Yes," I finally say. "Look, I don't want to argue with you. We just need to find him."
"Alright," he tells me. "All I'll say is be careful. Trauma can change things."
It's not what I thought he would say, but this is Harry.
I know he's worried about me and I know he still hates Draco.
But he trusts me, he trusts my judgement, and is sticking by my side in this.
"Ron might be a bit touchier though," he adds.
"Oh, I know. It's why I never told you before," I admit.
"Let's go in, have a good night's rest. Tomorrow, we'll work on finding him. As long as you want," he says.
"Alright." I stand.
Though, I know a good night's rest is not something that will reach me any time soon.
Author's Note:
Hello my amazing readers! I hope everything is going well for you guys. It's a bit crazy with final exams, but I thought I'd post anyways and have a little study break while editing.
Thank-you so much for all the reviews this past week, it was so great to hear that people are enjoying my story.
Harry and Ron don't seem to be getting along. What could have happened to make them fight? And what is up with Ron? Let me know your thoughts on what is happening.
I know, the timing is a bit off. And I also know it is a story which is actually set in the past, so it doesn't even matter. But it is something that bugs me. I had this written though a long time ago, and I didn't exactly calculate out when I was going to post this chapter. Most of you probably don't care lol.
I hope you guys have a wonderful week, and I'll be posting again next Sunday!
