Blood - Chapter 16

"So Malfoy are you up to going into that castle?" asked Ron who still looked rather smug about his observation. He always felt that nobody gave him enough credit so this was a way to redeem himself. More importantly, it was a way to help Hermione. After all of these years, he still harbored feelings for the Gryffindor beauty.

"I don't like the idea," said Draco quickly tightening his grip around Hermione.

"You know that it's the only way," began Ron flushing all over again as he spoke, "I know you know it's right. She can't go in there alone and you're the only one–"

"Calm yourself Weasley. I said I didn't like the idea. I didn't say that I wouldn't do it."

"So we'll do this together?" asked Hermione meeting his stormy eyes. He swore that she looked more beautiful with each glance he took at her. He nodded gently.

"I'd go to the end of the world for you," he whispered before kissing her deeply. He heard heavy sighs coming from the other two men in the room. He was battling right then. A part of him was annoyed by their grunts which caused Hermione to tense in his kiss, but the other part of him felt quite smug; he always loved pushing their buttons. Hermione finally pulled back, much to Draco's dismay, and simply smiled at him.

"But–" he said in a low voice, "there will be some conditions Hermione. You will obey all of them."

He loved watching Hermione's eyes widen the way that they were. He had always thought she was beautiful when she was truly agitated. Something about that fiery look on her face always made her seem so damn sexy.

"Not the best thing to say to her mate," said Harry as though he actually thought Draco was unaware of Hermione's temper that had finally returned to her. Harry couldn't deny that he loved seeing Hermione's feisty side return, and at full force.

"How dare you say that to me Draco–"

Draco silenced her by placing his finger to her soft, pale lips. She muffled into him for a few seconds, but stopped when she realized that Draco was not going to let her speak until he had a say first.

"These conditions are for your own good. I'm sure that Potter and Weasley here will agree with me when they hear them."

She scoffed at him forcing a smile from his lips before she silenced herself.

"You're going to stay here while Potter and Weasley come with me to get the ingredients that we need," he said cooly. Hermione's eyes flew open as did her mouth, prepared to protest, but Draco spoke before she got the chance to speak again, "It's for the best, love. That...that thing is still out there looking for you. At least while you're here, then you're safe."

"And what about you and the boys?" she quipped back finally taking the opportunity to voice her opinion. "What happens if and when he finds you?" Draco just laughed.

"I'd love for him to find me. I hope that he finds me because when he does I'm going to give him the beating of his life. He'll be an inch from death upon finishing. I will beat him into a bloody pulp. I will–"

"She gets it. We all do," said Ginny who walked in carrying a tray of delights instantly making Harry's face light up. The tension seemed to temporarily leave the room upon Ginny entering. Hermione noticed that there was something different about her that she really couldn't place.

"Draco would you care for anything? Hermione?" she asked in a jaunty tone.

"Try the peppermint...things. Whatever they are, they're great!" chipped Harry between bites. Hermione smiled to herself as Draco simply shook his head. Before Taylor, he would never expect himself to enjoy the company of such people. He understood that Harry was the type of person that valued life, whether it was his own or not. Draco could relate with him about that now, after falling in love with Hermione.

"Ginny you look," said Hermione checking her up and down, noticing that she had a glow about her, "You look radiant."

"Must be something in the water around here. You look good too, 'Mione."

"Yeah you do," whispered Draco in her ear. She smiled looking down hiding the goosebumps that he had sent up and down her body.

"Can we please get back to what Malfoy was saying?" asked Ron impatiently.

"Yeah. Hermione will stay here where it's safe and we'll go and get the damn ingredients. Now I know where to get nearly all of them, but it will be hard," said Draco. Hermione wanted to claw his eyes out, his gorgeous silvery eyes out, when he said all of that. How can he expect me to stay here while he goes off and plays hero? This is my bloody battle? I have the right to go!

"I can get the dragon scales. Charlie can get them for us," said Ginny before returning back to the kitchen to continue baking.

"Great. One less place we have to go. Anybody else?"

"I can get the centaur hair. Firenze no doubt will send me one of his. When will you need it by?" asked Harry who had shoved another pastry in his mouth basking in the delicious taste for a moment.

"In a few days time. We won't be able to make it in a day. I'm afraid that it may take quite a while," said Draco sadly. "I just hope that Alan is underestimating us. However, death eaters are usually smart enough to know never to do that. They may be evil, but damn if they're not intelligent people."

There was silence again in the room until Ginny walked back in carrying another platter of goodies singing lightly to herself. One could say that it was blatantly obvious that something was up with her for the person who spoke up next was Draco.

"Hermione is right. There is definitely something different about you SheWeasley." Ginny burst into a fit of giggles once Draco finished and Harry laughed as well. Hermione and Draco shared confused looks before looking back at the two noticing that Ginny had sat herself on Harry's lap looking exceedingly cozy.

"Well I'm just really happy–"

"Love you can tell them. They're bound to find out," said Harry cutting off Ginny, but in a way she was glad for. She nodded at him before turning her attention back to Hermione and Draco.

"Harry and I are getting married."

"GINNY!" screamed Hermione as she rose to her feet. She scrambled over to the redhead, tripping over Draco's feet. Draco caught her before she could fall, but she pushed him aside to hug the only other female in the room. Draco, Ron, and Harry all shook their heads. Ron even muttered what could have been clearly taken as 'women' had the girls not been screaming so much.

"When did this happen? How did this happen? Are you excited? Why didn't you tell me?" screamed Hermione in one breath. Ginny responded with just as much excitement.

"It happened two nights ago. He got down on one knee and asked in a completely spontaneous fashion which shocked me fully. Yes I'm bloody excited and I didn't tell you because you had so much to deal with and I didn't want to put anything else on you." Ginny sucked in a large breath upon finishing.

"Gin I'm so happy for you. This is amazing!" said Hermione hugging her again.

"Do your parents know about this?" asked Draco with a smile. Harry sank back into the couch with a frown turning white all the while. Draco started to laugh as he said, "You're in so much trouble."

"Why would you say that?" asked Hermione looking at him curiously.

"Cause he's right," sighed Ginny making Hermione look at her as though she was crazy.

"Your parents love Harry! Everyone loves him."

"No my parents love him as my brother's best mate; not as my fiancé. Why do you think I've been baking all day?"

Draco, Harry, and Ron found themselves walking around Diagon Alley locating the various ingredients that were left. It had been a week since they had discussed the plan and locating the ingredients turned out to be a more difficult and draining task than any of them had anticipated. Draco was growing anxious in the attempt considering that they had looked throughout all parts of the wizarding world, avoiding the local places at all costs. Draco even had visited his former potion's professor, but even he could not help them with one particular ingredient that was prudent for the success of the potion. They had searched high and low with Hermione becoming even more disgruntled with each passing day. She felt helpless, but Draco refused to let her help them search in fear of her safety.

They finally decided to go to Diagon Alley, the last place they wanted to go. The possibility that the ingredient was even there was slim, but it was still their last chance. All of them were smart enough to know that it did not only look suspicious for what they were asking for (considering that sphinx hairs were used primarily for dark magic and they were extremely rare), but the fact that they were altogether; Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were fraternizing with the infamous Draco Malfoy who had gone missing years before. Harry's fame was causing them trouble for they were frequently stopped, but he managed to brush all of them off. They just hoped that nobody from The Quibbler or any other news source followed them.

They went to several apothecaries, but none of them seemed to have the ingredients nor knew of any place to find them in, other than Knockturn. Draco desperately wanted to keep himself, as well as the other two (for the sake of Hermione), away from such a place. Not only was it littered with people that probably wanted to kill him, but he had a feeling he might run into a few choice people. If he did meet them, then his temper would probably be lost.

"Can we order them?" asked Harry feeling all hope lost, not wanting to go to that place either.

"Yeah right," uttered Ron in an annoyed voice, "Find a legitimate place to sell us such items through owl. Do you honestly think that the Ministry won't get wind of it."

"I have half-a-mind to let the Ministry take over this little endeavor," muttered Draco, practically to himself. Harry and Ron raised their eyebrows at them and Draco caught onto that quickly. "I said half-a-mind. The other half tells me that if we do that then she is dead."

"I still don't understand why the ministry can't go. They could probably break the charms that they have around the castle."

"Weasley I already told you that the idea you have is ludicrous. They want Ministry officials to go there. They're expecting it. Why do you think they caught Hermione so easily? They will not, however, suspect me. I hate to admit it, but I know what I'm up against considering that I use to be one of them." Normally Ron and Harry would have taken the opportunity to chew out Draco for that, but they noticed how hurt and angry he looked at that moment. They figured that he was attacking himself mentally enough for all of them.

"I still can't believe that Snape didn't have the ingredients. He has everything!" snapped Ron louder than he had intended. They got a few more stares, but the three men just continued to walk.

"Go easy on him," hissed Draco who cared for Severus Snape like the father he wish he had. "He did give us the unicorn tears and the water. We should be thankful for that."

"What do we do?" asked Harry stopping in mid-stride. The other two faced him and fell silent. Ron was completely clueless as to how to approach the situation. He felt that he had done enough simply by coming up with the great idea. Draco, on the other hand, knew what had to be done; he just didn't want to do it.

"I'll go down knockturn. I'll get the ingredient," he said quickly.

"No. We'll go with you," said Harry as soon as Draco had finished as though he expected him to say such a thing.

"Potter you're more famous than bloody Merlin. You are not wanted down there."

"And you are?!"

"At least I can go unnoticed. You, on the other hand, will be picked out and thrown to the dragons. I grew up in that Alley so I know what I'm doing. You two stay out here and just listen out in case something goes wrong."

Harry and Ron didn't even have a chance to respond for in the next instant, Draco was gone.

"Bloody Malfoy; he's going to get us killed," snarled Harry.

"Don't you mean that he'll get himself killed?" asked Ron. Harry shook his head.

"No, us. If he dies then we have to tell Hermione." Ron looked back towards the alleyway and shook his head.

"We're dead, aren't we?"

"Yeah mate, we are."

Draco had his black cloak pulled over his head shielding his blond hair from view. His hair, although baby fine and absolutely gorgeous, was a problem for him. It was the hair of a Malfoy, a trait that would alert people who he was. He did not want to be seen. Death eaters would love to pounce on him here. While he felt completely capable of handling anybody who dared challenge him, he was only one man.

There were several apothecaries and all of them said that they refused to do business with him upon realizing who he was. They knew he betrayed the dark lord and he was on the run from him. If they were caught doing business with him, then it would have been on their heads. He couldn't blame them, but he cursed them all the same as he walked out of each.

His hopes were fading. He knew that this was his last hope and yet there was no–

His thoughts died as a hand reached out and grabbed him. His first instinct told him to fight off his attacker, but he quickly realized that based on the size that it had to either be a woman or a very small man. He stopped struggling as he pulled off the dark figure's cloak. He was astounded by the sight.

"Mum?"

"Hello Draco," said Narcissa in a soft voice. Draco looked at her with his mouth hanging open as she shook out her long hair.

"Wh...why...huh?" She knew that Draco was confused nor did she expect anything less.

"Draco we don't have much time. I know what you're doing."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know that it was you who took the mud–Granger girl. I know she is in your care and I have heard from sources that you have fallen in love with her." Draco didn't respond to his mother telling her the answer. "Draco I know what you're going to do."

"Again, what are you talking about?" asked Draco getting frustrated. Repeating his words to Weasley was one thing, but to his mother who was a former Slytherin––well, that just vexed him even more.

"You're trying to make that potion."

"Mum I–" She silenced him by placing her finger to his pink lips.

"I'm not here to stop you. I..." she trailed off meeting her son's eyes. She always thought that her child had gorgeous features. "I'm angry at you. I am so disappointed in you Draco and you have certainly lost my respect. I'm sorry, but it's the way that I am. I expected you to join the ranks and you didn't. I can never forgive you for that."

Draco felt himself growing more tiresome and angrier listening to her words. How dare she say that! My own mother insulting me for going the other way. For attempting to be good!

"I know you must hate me right back, but it's in my nature and my blood. I'm always going to be a follower of him Draco and of your father. However, I do understand your feelings to love. Believe it or not, I still love your father and always will."

That was no shock to Draco. He had always known that, much to his dismay.

"I'm going to help you," she said in a low voice, one filled with disappointment. He wasn't sure if that was directed at him or at herself.

"You are?"

"I know what ingredient you can't find and I'll get it for you."

"Why?" asked Draco. He was actually perplexed by this.

"You're still my son. Consider this...just consider this my last gift to you. My last motherly gift." Her voice was nurturing and Draco felt a pang in his side. He felt an odd sensation growing in his belly as though he actually felt something from her small ounce of motherly care.

"After this, we will go our own separate ways. If we meet again then it will be on different spectrums. If I must Draco, I will end you. Please don't take those words lightly."

"I never have."

"Upon you finishing this potion, my advice is for you to take your Ms. Granger and getting yourselves out of here. Don't stay to fight this battle Draco. The part of me that still loves you does not want you hurt. However, I'll hurt you if I have to. You and your Granger do threaten what I have helped build. I will not see it destroyed. I will kill you."

"Are you threatening me mother?"

"No. I'm warning you. I'm warning you so that I don't have to do that. Please," she said gripping his shoulders tightly, "Please have her take the potion, do what you like to Alan, and then leave. Never look back. At least then, you'll be free and we'll never have to see each other again. Please Draco."

Draco didn't really know what to say. He was a loss at that moment.

"Meet me at the end of Diagon Alley tonight at midnight. I'll have the sphinx hair with me. I'm hoping that it's the last time that we see each other. I do love you Draco even if you did turn out this way."

With that, she was gone leaving Draco to feel something he had always felt as the son of Narcissa Malfoy.

Childish neglect; he felt eight years old all over again.

A/N: So what did you guys think? I definitely need some feedback about this chapter. I'm not sure if I like the direction it went.

"Blood" is a song by Paparoach. I seriously love his music even if it is overplayed. The chapter is based on the line, "Does it run in your blood to betray the ones that you love."

READ AND REVIEW!! If you can read it, then you can review it. Again, thanks Sweetsacrifice. Your words always seem to help with my writing.

Iris is the work of fanfiction. The characters belong to J.K. Rowling, but the featured story is mine.