Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Author's Note: First of all, I don't really like this chapter...personally. But of course, from this chapter onwards, things will go haywire...a little. It's based on the song by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, "Cat and Mouse" hence the title.
Please leave reviews at the end!!!
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Harry looked at Hermione's brown eyes and smile at her.
"Help me get these questions answered Harry. Only you can do that." She said. Harry nodded his head and starts his story.
Harry had fled away that night. After the conversation with Hermione, he left the building without even a wink of sleep. He couldn't wait any longer. Adrenalin rush was pumping throughout his body and he just had to start early. He made his way by foot towards Godric Hollow where it all began. The night that Voldemort had taken his parents' lives away and the night he was stamped with his destiny to fulfil the prophecy.
He opened the creaking gate and with some help from magic, opened the door and let himself in. It was empty except for an old leather sofa in the living room. Harry had never grown up in this house but he had somehow become attached to it. He sat on the sofa and waited anxiously. He never closed his eyes as he anticipates the arrival of Voldemort. At about seven in the morning, the door opened and the dark hooded figure of Voldemort walked in.
"Well, well Harry. How smart of you to wait for me here. You're smart just like your filthy Mudblood mother of yours." He greeted.
Harry stood up from his seat and was ready to start throwing curses at his nemesis. He couldn't hear him talk about his mother like that. This fight was for her, for his dad, both who had died protecting him.
"I see that no one else is here to protect you from what I am about to do Harry. It's finally the day when I can kill you without the so called love protection that you Mudblood mother had given you." He said with a revolting tone.
"Flipendo!" They both said at the same time and sent each other airborne and hit the wall on each end of the house. Harry got up immediately, wand ever ready on his hand and pointed it at Voldemort who was quickly on his feet as well. They started to duel and Harry got hurt pretty badly in the process. His right leg was ready to give away but he remained strong.
"I will never let you kill me." Harry hissed.
Voldemort laughed loudly. "This is a joke Harry. A big joke."
A flash of electric blue light crosses the room and hit Voldemort right at his chest. Harry looked out the window and saw no one.
"Who was that?! MALFOY! I TOLD YOU I DON'T WANT ANY INTERFERENCE!"
"It wasn't me my Lord." Lucius Malfoy walked into the house.
"Hi…father." Harry turned around and saw Draco Malfoy standing behind him with his wand pointing to his father.
"Draco." Lucius Malfoy said.
Harry looked at the situation in front of him and took the every bit of advantage and pointed his wand at Voldemort. "BARDUS NECO!!!" Voldemort fell to the floor immediately.
"My Lord!" Lucius Malfoy shouted and ran to his aid immediately. Harry and Draco walked towards Voldemort with caution. He was chuckling.
"Oh Harry…Harry. Smart. That was smart." He said and then he smiled. "But it doesn't mean I'm stupid!" With every ounce of strength that he had, Voldemort withdraw a dagger out of his cloak and lunged towards Harry and pierced the dagger through Harry's shoulder.
"Wha-" Harry felt the worst pain he had ever felt when the blade of the dagger pierced through his shoulder. "Aargh." Harry screamed as he pulled the dagger out.
"You killed the Dark Lord Potter! You shall die too!" Lucius Malfoy hissed. But before he could point his wand to Harry, Draco pointed his wand to his father and kills him.
"Avada Kedavra!" Draco shouted with all his might, his voice full of vengeance. Lucius Malfoy's eyes were full of shock as he dropped to the floor. Draco recovered quickly, showing no sign of regret. He walked towards Harry who was shaking with pain.
"Potter, hold on. I'll get help."
"You're not so good yourself." Harry said. Draco had a bleeding arm and a deep gash on both his cheeks and forehead.
The door opened and a figure stood tall. He walked into the house and as Harry and Draco tried to see who it was, the figure drew his wand. "I'm here to help. I'll bring you to safety."
"Who are you?" Draco asked.
"Kyle James. I have save some of your friends. Both of you should be the last ones." He simply replied.
Hermione looked at Harry intently. "I think Ginny mentioned Kyle too. Who is he?"
"He's the greatest Healer the Academy has." Harry complimented.
"Oh…I remember now. He was there attending to Draco yesterday."
"Yes you're right."
Hermione reached out to Harry and touched his arm. "I miss you Harry."
"I miss you too. I miss hearing you nag at Ron and me." Harry said and as he saw Hermione's mouth hanged wide open he laughed loudly. "I'm kidding."
Hermione laughed too. They spend the next hour sitting side by side talking about anything and everything.
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Two days had passed since Charlie broke up with me. We never talked to each other all those times and I avoided him at all cost. I spend most of my time in the room, reading some books that I had taken from my apartment and sometimes, Harry would join me in my room and we would talk…just like old times. I enjoyed his company so much that it always saddens me when he had to leave.
One night, the Weasleys gathered around in the living room of the house that we had occupied for almost two weeks. Ginny, Harry, Ron, Draco and Pansy stood in front of them. Fleur, Micah and me sat behind the Weasleys.
"Supernus is sending us on a mission to destroy the plans of the people that have been trying to kill your family. He figured that it's only fair to let you in on this mission." Draco started. "We're setting off tomorrow. You will be able to go back to The Burrow but Pansy will be on guard duty to make sure that you will receive the highest form of protection. Ron and Ginny are not allowed to get involved in this mission and they won't be seeing you until the mission end."
"What? That won't do." Mr Weasley protested.
"This is for your own protection Mr Weasley…as it is for both Ron and Ginny." Harry reasoned.
"We won't be able to tell you what our plans are. The only thing we can let you in on about is that Harry and I will be setting off on the mission tomorrow and that Pansy will be guarding your family. We have back-ups in case Pansy needs them. Just keep your wand handy and stay safe. Miss Granger will have to stay in The Burrow too." Draco said as he looked at me. I nodded my head. "If everything is clear, we will leave now and send all of you back early tomorrow morning."
Mr Weasley resigned to the fate that his family's life was at risk and that the Academy was doing its best to make sure that they would stay safe. He sighed and Mrs Weasley rubbed his shoulders lightly to calm him down. Draco, Pansy and Harry left while Ron and Ginny remained in the house. Mrs Weasley was holding on to Ginny so tightly.
"Mum, we're all going to be fine. Draco and Harry know what they are doing and Ron and I…we'll be safe here in the Academy. I promise you that we will all see each other again by the end of tomorrow." Ginny said trying to assure Mrs Weasley that things would go as planned.
Harry walked into the house and made his way to my side. "Take care." He whispered. I looked up at him and gave him a small smile.
"I should be the one saying that to you." I said. Harry smiled sheepishly at that. "Harry, you can't save everyone you know."
"I hope you're wrong." He said.
I looked at him curiously. "Harry I'm not kidding."
"So am I." He took my hand and squeezes it gently "Take care Hermione."
That night, I couldn't really sleep well. It's like a wave of déjà vu was drowning me again.
"Take care Hermione."
It was almost the same as that night four years ago. My stomach started to churn violently and my heart was beating furiously. Why did Harry have to say that? I managed to fall asleep for an hour before I was woken up by Fleur, informing me that it was time to go.
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Ginny opened her eyes slowly and when she felt Draco's arms around her, she wrapped it around her tighter. She was scared. She was as scared for her family as she was for Draco. This mission was the most dangerous that Draco had been in. She knew he was capable but the thought of it just gave her stomach a hollow feeling. She turned around to face Draco's sleeping form and her heart started to accelerate. She loved him with all her might. She traced her finger along his face and it woken him up.
"Still worrying about me?" He asked sleepily. Ginny buried her face into his neck and breathe in his scent. She felt his lips on her forehead. "Gin, I'll be alright."
"I'm just scared."
"Shh." Draco stopped her. He cupped her face and looked at her closely. He captured her lips in a slow kiss, wanting her to deepen it. He traced his tongue on her lips and Ginny willingly opened her lips to let him in. They kissed passionately, savouring the taste of each other as if it would be the last time they would be able to do that. Draco kissed her cheeks, nose and eyes and when he felt tears on her eyes, he stopped.
"Gin, why are you crying?"
"Draco, you can't leave me. Do you understand? Because if you leave me then I am not able to live anymore. I love you."
"Ginny Weasley, I love you too." Draco paused and looked at her intently. "And I promise you, as soon as I come back; we're getting married straight away."
"But…" Ginny paused and looked at her fiancé. "We only plan to get married next year."
"Is it wrong that I couldn't wait to spend the rest of my life as your husband?"
Ginny smiled and pulled Draco into a hug. "Of course it's not wrong because I can't wait to be your wife either."
The fell into another deep kiss and made love to each other before Draco had to leave for the mission.
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Pansy lay down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling for hours. Her surroundings were so quiet that she could hear the ticking of her watch. It was about five in the morning and in an hour time, she would be escorting the Weasleys back to The Burrow. She looked at the empty bed beside hers and rolled her eyes. She did envy Ginny sometimes. Her love life with Draco was something no one had ever imagined. How could a Malfoy end up with a Weasley? She remembered the days when all Draco did was scorn at the Weasleys, teasing them about their horrible and poor life and made sure to bring them down.
But things had changed. Draco fell in love with Ginny and she, Pansy, fell in love with the other Weasley; one that she have sworn off will never touched during her days in Hogwarts. She loved his blue eyes and the freckles on his cheeks. She loved his orange hair.
Pansy got up from her bed and got herself ready. She washed her face and put on a fresh black trenchcoat. She tied her raven hair in a low ponytail and got her wand and weapon ready. It was twenty minutes to six when she was done and she made her way to the garden to ease her mind. She sat on her favourite bench and closed her eyes.
"So did you tell him?"
"Tell who what?"
"Pansy you know what I'm talking about."
"No I have not. Draco you have to keep it a secret between us. Only Supernus and you know about it. Please." Pansy begged.
"Until when Pansy?"
"Until I'm ready to tell Ron."
"What are you thinking about?"
Pansy opened her eyes and instantly smiles but only a little. She turned around and saw Ron. She beckoned for him to join her. "I was just spacing out." Pansy shut her eyes again and breathed in deeply and slowly breathes out. She did this a few more times until Ron finally speak up.
"I want you to take care out there." Ron said, almost to a whisper.
Pansy blushed lightly upon hearing his words of concern. "I will."
"I care about you Pansy."
"I know." Pansy said and turned to face Ron. Ron reached out and tucked some lose strands of hair behind her ear. She shivered at his touch, longing for more. Ron cupped her face and brought it closer to his. He placed his lips on hers; something which he had never done and Pansy was taken by surprise. But she didn't back away. She placed both her hands on Ron's neck and deepened the kiss. Ron breaks the kiss and rested his forehead on hers, both gasping for air.
"I love you Pansy."
Something inside her heart tugged violently. It brought fresh tears to her eyes. She knew she couldn't say it back even when she wanted to. It will destroy everything. She would be hurt and so would Ron and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Maybe that was what made her sat up straight which caused Ron to look at her in surprise.
"I can't. I'm sorry." She said and got up from the bench. She ran away in confusion and embarrassment, wishing that she could be free from the heavy burden on her shoulders and the lock and chains around her heart.
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We were all gathered outside the house as Pansy instructed us to remain close together. I didn't see Harry or Draco neither Ron nor Ginny. My heart was beating quite fast when I didn't see Harry. My mind started to rewind back to that dreadful day and I hoped that history would not repeat itself. I had a small bag in my hand which stores some of my clothes and books. I stood in between Fred and George. I rather be with them at that moment than any other Weasley. Fred and George had been helping me avoid Charlie which was a good thing. They had been giving Charlie scowls once in a while.
Pansy was holding a very tattered book and she told us that it will be a portkey to The Burrow. "Portus." She said and the book turned electric blue and was shaking for a while and then it stopped. "All ready now?"
We all placed a finger on the book and were soon twirling at fast speed and landed on the backyard of The Burrow. Pansy quickly ushered us in and disallowed for any kind of commotion. She told us that we shouldn't be attracting too much attention. We all went inside and Mr Weasley started the fire in the fireplace. The weather was quite chilly. Mrs Weasley was trying to act normal by starting to make tea. Fleur and I helped her out but it was more of an excuse for me to get away from Charlie.
"Fleur I think you should sit down. Take a rest." I said. She was about 30 weeks pregnant and I was so scared that her big bulging tummy would just burst. I was impressed that her small frame could carry such a huge weight and she was doing so for the second time.
"No no. I need to 'elp around. Diz iz all getting me quite rezless. I will sit when I feel tired."
Pansy walked into the kitchen and offered help but Mrs Weasley told her that she rather keep the family safe as she have Fleur and I in the kitchen with her. I smiled at her wistfully. Ginny had told me about Ron and Pansy. I was quite moody after Ginny told me everything. I still couldn't find the rationality of all these changes and it had affected me quite a lot. What I used to know had now changed and I wasn't accustomed to it. But I was ashamed of myself for being angry with Ron. He was a grown man and things had definitely changed since the last four years. I was not ready to accept it but I was willing to try. For one hour, none of us talked. Pansy came in once in a while to check on us. She would peek through the shut curtains to see if there was anything suspicious.
My mind was in a whirlwind. What is Harry up to now? What are they doing?
It pains me to see that I couldn't be part of it like I was during the war. I was useless and there was nothing I could do to help. The Weasleys were extraordinary quiet that day. Mealtimes were the times when they get noisiest. But that day, the dining area was quiet and only the sounds of clattering of fork and spoon on the plates were heard. It had been three hours since we departed and I was getting restless.
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"Two miles south-east…that way." Draco pointed to Harry. "Let's start walking."
"Yeah." Harry confirmed and they both started in their journey. They had landed on one of the many air bases of Consensio's and were making their way to the supposedly place of the dark wizard they had fight against three weeks ago. They were not surprise that the wizard didn't do much after the encounter with the Weasleys at the Ministry. Except for the attack on Percy Weasley's house, there was no other intrusion. Supernus believed that the attackers might know that the Weasleys were under their care and that since Percy have long fell out from the family, they had used him as some kind of a threat or warning.
Harry and Draco walked in silence, each of them concentrating on the task at hand. But Harry couldn't hide the fact that Hermione kept popping into his mind. Two nights ago, Supernus had called him into his chambers.
"Invictus, I know how what had happened since last week have caused you so much dilemma. But I'm urging you to think what is best for you. Rationally I hope that with the presence of Miss Granger, it will not blind you from the fact that I do care about your feelings. I want what is the best for you and also for your team." Supernus began.
Harry kept quiet and looked up to Supernus to acknowledge his words. He knew this was coming. He knew that Supernus would want to talk to him about this. "But sir, I can assure you that nothing will happen between her and me."
Supernus looked at Harry and smiled at him. His forehead furrowed trying to understand what the promising young man in front of him was saying. "You don't have to hide anything from me Invictus. I know."
"Sir, I know what the circumstances are. I know that she won't be allowed into this academy and I also know things have to go back to where they were after all these ends." Harry said and as the words sunk into his heart, he realised that he was stuck in this world that he had been in for four years. He could never get out and Hermione would never be let in. He also realised that thought were playing with his mind. He was thinking that it was probably better if Hermione had never come into his life at this moment. But he shook off that thought because he loved the fact that Hermione was around him again.
He walked back into his room with a heavy heart. He had to find a way for things to happen the way he wanted them to.
Harry and Draco kept alert. Their eyes scanned the swamp and thick forest around them. A fog had formed around them and it was getting quite cold. Harry absentmindedly rubbed his hand together to warm it up. They had been walking for about two hours and took a rest in a very dark pub. They disguised themselves and sat on a dark corner. The air was musty and it smells like a bunch of wet old rags. Draco and Harry had a quick drink and made their way again.
They reached a secluded two storey house close to evening. Weeds and dead flowers encircled the house like a row of fences. The only colours that reflected in their eyes were moss green, grey and black. A single light was on and it was coming from the right top hand corner of the house. It was flickering slightly.
"I think this is it." Draco murmured. Harry and Draco approached the house carefully, keeping in mind that they should never take advantage of the situation. For all they know, the dark wizards might already know of their plans to attack them. They peeked through the close windows on the first floor and saw at least two of them sleeping on the floor and one of them was guarding the back door. Harry and Draco looked at each other and then back to the guard at the door.
"I'll do it." Draco said.
"Ok. I'll be right behind you." Harry supported. Draco unlocked the door and the wizard immediately pointed his wand to Draco.
"Oh, it's you. You gave me a fright Agger." The wizard said placing his wand back into his robe pocket.
"Sorry." Draco grunted. "One thing though."
"What?"
Draco gave the wizard a hard punched on his nose and it bleed immediately. He winced in pain and Draco quickly cast the silencing charm on him "Silencio! Petrificus Totalus!"
The wizard immediately went rigid and his eyes were in shock. Draco rolled him so that he will be faced down on the floor. He transfigured himself back to get rid of the mousy brown hair and wrinkled face. He had earlier transfigured into one of the wizards that was sleeping on the floor. He beckoned Harry and they silently went up to the second floor. They reached a door where a dim light was escaping through the small gab beneath it. Harry immediately heard urgent whispers and it seemed like two people were discussing something which was probably secretive.
"There are two of them." Harry confirmed and Draco nodded. "We can't afford to kill them. We need them to uncover their plans to us."
"So we'll stun them and then we question them." Draco whispered back.
"On my go." Harry ordered. "Now!"
Draco pushed the door open and they both immediately stunned their opponent. "Stupefy!"
The two wizards on the opposite side of the door were thrown with great force towards the wall in front of them. One of them had his head hit hard on the wall and slumped on to the floor while the other had his left side hit the wall and he too slumped on to the floor with a thud. Harry immediately recognized one of them as the guy they had came across at the Ministry.
"Quick! Tie them up." Harry said.
"Incarcerous!" Draco and Harry said at the same time and thick ropes were conjured from the tip of their wands.
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The pale man started to stir about fifteen minutes later. He slowly opened his eyes and when he saw two masked men in front of him, he cursed loudly.
"Nice greeting mate. We didn't really expect that from you." Draco said sarcastically. He smirked and smacked the dark wizard's head.
"Ow!" He growled causing the other man to jerk. Harry pulled him up forcefully and slammed him against the wall. He pointed his wand to the dark wizard's chest, without even a slight tremble.
"Now, Ihmez," Harry paused and enjoy the frightened expression on the dark wizard's face upon hearing his name from Harry's lips. "Are you going to tell us what the plan is or not?"
"Never." Ihmez hissed and spit at Harry's face. What he did blew Harry's top and what Harry did next made Ihmez think twice before he said anything. Harry grabbed Ihmex tightly around his collar and wrapped his hands around Ihmez's skinny neck. Ihmez fought for air as his face turned paler every second. Draco looked at his partner in shock. He had seen Harry gone very angry but he was never like this. Harry loosened his hands around the enemy's neck and let him catch his breath for almost a minute.
"Untie us and I'll tell you everything." Ihmez said in between short breaths.
"You are not in the position to bargain here so drop it and just tell us what you're up to!" Harry shouted impatiently.
Ihmez chuckled lightly and stared at Harry, his dull eyes boring into Harry's emerald orbs. "You're something and I am not surprised by any of this. I came to kill the Weasleys but you lot had to jump in and do that entire heroic thing! And then you killed my one and only nephew, the boy I trained since he was twelve. What makes you think I'm going to relent and let you have the information I have?"
Harry felt his blood boiling and felt ready to strike his enemy again but one look at Draco and he knew that he should try to restrain himself. Harry ignored Ihmez and pushed him back against the wall.
"But I can tell you one thing though."
Harry and Draco cast their eyes on their enemy.
"Ihmez what are you doing?" The other wizard demanded.
Ihmez ignored him and continue to stare at Draco and Harry, shifting his eyes from one to another. "But I guess it's all too late."
"Do not play games with us." Draco warned.
"At this second…" Ihmez start and Harry tried being patient. "At this moment…my guys are probably in top of the Weasley's roof, making their attack!"
Harry and Draco looked at each other, their eyes filled with ambiguity and at the same time a mixture of worry and anger.
"You're lying!" Harry blamed.
"I'm not."
"There's only one way to know." Draco said. He took out a small glass vial from his left pants pocket and conjured a glass of water on to his hands. Ihmez's eyes immediately turned from boastful to fear as he recognizes the potion in Draco's hands. It was Veritaserum.
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Author's Note: Bardus Neco is something I made up. It's loosely translated to Latin and it means "to die a slow death".
pstibbon: Hope to hear more from you.
sam: Sam oh Sam, what do you ahve to say for this chapter...I found this not my best.