Written for the swimming class in Hogwarts.
Task: Butterfly - write about a partnership
WC: 909
I don't own HP.
Harry walks inside the room as if he's a caged animal without no way out.
The war is raging outside. An informant told them that the Death Eaters were planning an attack against Hogsmeade, so they all gathered there in order to avoid it.
During the battle, Hermione had been kidnapped.
He knows that they won't kill her, at least not yet. They will torture her in exchange for information first, then try to use her as bargain.
It makes him sick as he wonders what kind of things they will do to her.
"I can help."
He turns to the sound of the voice.
Draco Malfoy is leaning against the doorstep, his blonde hair falling over his grey eyes. Draco is a tall, strong man, but the war took its tool on him. He's thinner with bags under his eyes.
During the war, he decided to act as a double agent. Once a Death Eater, he found himself disgusted with what he was doing, so he decided to help them.
He doesn't know the details of it, but Hermione trusts him and for Harry, that's enough.
"I know where they are keeping her." He continues as Harry throws a distrustful look at him. "I can help you."
"It's a suicidal mission." Harry says, gripping his wand with so much force that he's afraid it might break.
"I know."
"They will know that you're helping us." Harry continues.
"I know."
"Why?" Dropping any pretenses, the boy who lived asks.
Draco shrugs, moving closer to him. "Because..." Harry watches as he looks anywhere but him. "Because she is a valuable asset to the team."
Even Harry can tell that what he said is bullshit. Sure, Hermione is a valuable asset and he's sure that they won't be able to win the war without her, but try as he might, Draco can't hide the emotion behind his voice.
"I remember you, during our duel lessons," Draco says, "you're quick but speed won't help you. They are merciless, which is something that you're not. And I can't go in there alone."
"You are trusting me to have your back?" Harry says, surprised.
"Granger trusts you to have hers." He says as if it explained everything. And in a way, it does. "So I trust you to have mine."
"And you're going to kill them? Just like that?"
Draco turns his grey eyes at him and Harry can feel a chill running down his spine. "Just like that. Unlike you, I'm not afraid of having blood on my hands."
Harry wants to shake his head, wants to say that it's wrong and that he shouldn't do that.
Instead, he only nods. Merlin knows what Draco has done before joining them.
"So I guess it's us against the world, huh?" He tries to crack a joke, in vain.
"I guess it is."
X
The mission was, against the odds, fairly simple.
The dungeon where Hermione was being held captive was empty, save from one Death Eater - Harry couldn't name him - that died quickly under Draco's power.
They spotted her on the last cell at the far corner of the room. Harry was keeping guard because, according to Draco, if they could avoid reveling that Draco had changed sides, at least for now, it would be a winning point for them.
She was awake but there were bruises on her fairly creamy skin. Her hair was all over the place and she looked drained.
"Hey guys." She says in a weak voice and Harry smiles with relief.
"I guess you'd seen better days huh." He hears Draco says in a low voice as the cell opens.
"I missed you too."
Harry is glad that he has his back facing them. He feels as if they are having a private moment and he wonders again what's going on between them.
He feels a tap on his shoulder and he instantly grins as he sees his best friend.
"I'm so glad you're okay." He says as he engulfs her in a bear hug.
"I knew you would come." She says, hugging him tighter.
He nods, unable to say anything else.
"I hate to break the reunion but we have to go." The slytherin says in a indifferent voice, looking to end of the corridor. "I have a feeling that they will be back soon."
The other two nods and, as Hermione uses Harry as support, they walk outside, ready to leave this hell.
X
"So," Hermione says, lying on her bed. Molly treated her wounds and decided that it would be best if she rest. "You and Draco working together huh?"
"Yeah, well," Harry scratches the side of his head. "I needed someone to help me rescue you. The others, even though they wanted to save you, didn't want to put anyone in danger, so I needed to do it by myself. And, in reality, he was the one who volunteered to go with me."
"I see." She answers and Harry can see that she has something on her mind.
"Did you like the experience?" She asks in a soft voice.
Harry considers it for a moment. They planned and Draco explained to him what might happened and, as he stops to considers it, not once did he doubt the man.
"Actually, I did." He answers it, sincerely, and he means it. "I'm glad that we have him on our side."
And he really is.