Ok, I'm back- now just remember, I don't know if there are any gardens in East London, or even what they would look like- this is my imagination taking hold. Hope it suffices. VERY LONG CHAPTER.
They followed the map, and soon found themselves at the park. It wasn't as big as ones as Hermione had seen on shows or indeed in real life, but it was clean, cut and pretty. The grass was a kind of apple green, and there were a few oaks scattered throughout the park, with patches of colored flowers. There was some kind of pond that stretched under a wooden bridge, with pond plants and insects buzzing around.
"Ok," Hermione said, walking along one of the many pebbled pathways. "Now where?"
"We could ask around to see if anyone has seen the prince of good."
Hermione frowned at him, but looked at the couples and old people feeding ducks around them. "Great. Our choices are couples who are taking a lovely stroll, or senile old people who cant remember what they had for breakfast let alone a man they saw a few days ago."
"Are those my only choices?" Malfoy asked, deciding to not tell her that as far as the magazine salesman was concerned, they were actually one of the couples taking a lovely stroll.
"Well we could ask the homeless man." Hermione said after a moment, when she spotted a middle aged man sitting on a park bench, wearing torn, dirty clothes and mud on his face. His hair was mattered and tangled, and his beard was stubby and untamed.
"I am not going over there." Malfoy said, looking revolted.
"Oh for goodness sake Ma- Aarons, grow up would you?" Hermione said, grabbing his arm and practically dragging him towards the homeless man. "He is bound to notice things."
"And why is that?"
"What else has he got to do? They are excellent at noticing things, trust me. Police use them all the time as witnesses." Hermione said, before releasing Malfoy and standing in front of the man. "Um hello."
The homeless man looked at her with wary eyes but after a moment, his gaze warmed. "Yes Miss."
"I was wondering if I could ask you a question." Hermione said, sitting down beside him. Malfoy kept his distance though he was close enough to hear everything that was said. The homeless man nodded. "I'm looking for a friend of mine, and I know he came here a few days ago."
"Many people come here Miss." The man said, a glint in his eye. "Could you describe your friend?"
"Scruffy black hair, green eyes, a scar on his forehead…he is about his height," Hermione pointed to Malfoy. "And you may have noticed him particularly because he likes to wear robe looking clothes…"
The man thought for a minute then nodded. "Ahh yes, I remember now. He was here around lunch time, and was alone for about five minutes before he was joined by a woman."
"A woman?" Hermione asked, a little shocked.
"Yes Miss. Rather ordinary looking. It didn't look romantic- more like a business meeting." The man glanced at Malfoy. "He a friend of yours?"
Hermione reluctantly nodded. "Afraid so, but he's more of an acquaintance."
"Well the two of them talked for about an hour. The woman did all the talking, and your friend just listened. When they were done, they went their separate ways, but your friend must have seen someone and ran from the park, before he ran into someone with flaming red hair."
"Ron." Hermione said.
"Who?"
"Never mind. Please, is there anything else?"
"The two of them seemed to argue for a moment, before men in long coats tailed them and they ran into that street." The homeless man pointed to a little ally way on the other side of the park. "I lost site of them."
"That's fine. Thank you for all your help. Could you describe the woman for me though?"
The man pouted as he thought. "Hair roughly your length and color, not the skinniest, chalky face…looked like a pug actually."
Malfoy's eyes widened. "Did you catch a name?" he asked.
The man shook his head.
Hermione wasn't sure what Malfoy was getting at, but she stood up none the less, and pulled out some money. "Thank you so much for your help."
The homeless man smiled. "Keep the money Miss."
Hermione shook her head. "Look, this isn't charity. I swear. It's because you helped us. Please take it."
The homeless didn't move, so Hermione set the money down where she had been sitting and walked towards the ally way. Malfoy quickly caught up to her where Hermione asked him what he was thinking.
"Pug face? Betrayer to Voldermort?" Malfoy said as they hurriedly crossed the road. "I think it could be Pansy."
"Pansy doesn't have brown hair." Hermione said. "Nor hair my length."
"Are you serious? That girl chances her hair color, length, anything every day. It's like a ritual." Malfoy said. "Makes it hard to recognize her."
"I still don't see her meeting with Harry." Hermione said as they turned into the ally way.
It was fairly long, with old homes and cozy cafés.
"Oh Merlin, they could have gone anywhere." Hermione groaned.
"Hold on, would your boy have been wearing protective spells?" Malfoy asked, pulling out his wand. Hermione eyed it apprehensively.
"Yes… why?"
"Well then there should be a trace." Malfoy said raising his wand. After a few spells, a faint yellow line appeared, tracing back to the park. "There is our yellow brick road."
"Where on Earth did you hear that?" Hermione asked, looking at him and smiling. Could it be that the Slytherin Prince has watched a muggle film and actually paid enough attention to remember something?
"It was in a film." Malfoy said, not realizing that this tarnished his reputation.
"I see." Hermione said, still smiling.
Malfoy looked at her. "What?" he saw her smile and was confused. What had he said? Merlin, he did have some culture behind him.
"Nothing." Hermione said, shaking her head. "Come on, follow the yellow brick road." She playfully hit him on the arm and began to follow the yellow line.
It took them down the ally way, out onto a main road. Hermione started following the line up the street, and simply looked like someone eager to get somewhere, as the Londoners couldn't see the line. Malfoy had to catch up to her, and when he did, she had only slowed because she couldn't cross the road.
"You know, I was thinking." Malfoy said, as they crossed the road, narrowly avoiding a car. "Why didn't we go to Potter's place."
"Well I don't know where that is." Hermione mumbled, running around a taxi.
"You don't know where he lives?" Malfoy said incredulously.
"It's one of Harry's protective things." Hermione said, following the line into a shop and out the other side. They walked along ten or so streets and lanes before the line began to fade. "Oh no, come on." Hermione moaned when the line completely disappeared. "Now what?"
"Well we can't follow this any more." Malfoy said. Hermione rolled her eyes. "So why don't we just go to Gringotts then plan our next move."
Hermione nodded after a moment and the two of them apparated to the doors of the bank inside Diagon Ally. Malfoy held the open for Hermione and they both walked across the marble foyer and up to one of the friendlier, if possible, looking goblins.
"Hello." Hermione said, smiling innocently. "We would both like to make a withdrawal from two accounts."
"Names?"
Hermione hesitated. "Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Draco Malfoy."
The goblin looked up for the first time, and frowned. "I have been informed that no withdrawals allowed on those two accounts."
"Oh…"
"By order of the Minister himself." The goblin continued. "Although… I've always been one on the warning lists for not listening to the memos…"
Hermione smiled. "Thank you so much."
The goblin gave her a small smile. "Keys please."
Hermione handed him her golden key, as did Malfoy but he was distracted quickly. Once the goblin told them to go through, Hermione glanced at Malfoy, and frowned.
"What's the matter?"
"Look," Malfoy said, pointing to the doors that they were supposed to go through.
Hermione looked over and her mouth fell open as her eyes settled on the yellow line they had lost track of. "He came here…but that could have been anytime."
Malfoy shook his head. "That spell only works for recent charms."
"So he made a withdrawal…he knew he had to go." Hermione frowned, but was pushed along to the doors where they waited for one of the little goblin driven rollercoaster carts to roll to a stop. Hermione and Malfoy clambered into the cart, then held on tightly as the cart rocketed into motion.
The cart speeded along the tracks. It flew up, dropped steeply down, turned sharply, went in spirals, every direction possible. Hermione soon felt ill and closed her eyes, hanging onto the rail so tightly that her knuckles were white. She felt like she was about to barf, but luckily, the cart rolled to a sudden jerking stop just outside her volt. Malfoy waited in the cart as Hermione quickly emptied her volt's fortune of galleons, sickles and Knuts which was a considerable amount, into sacks, shrank them and stowed them in her pocket. She climbed back into the cart, closed her eyes, and tried to fight the feeling of nausea rising in her throat.
A few minutes later, they were stopping at Malfoy's volt. Hermione got out of the cart to allow Malfoy passed and when she was climbing back into the cart so her legs could stop wobbling, Malfoy turned to look at her. "You can have a look at what a fortune looks like."
"No thank you." Hermione mumbled, leaning forward and closing her eyes so the objects around her would stop spinning. She had her hands wrapped around her stomach when Malfoy came back out. The little goblin was next to him but now that their money was collected, Hermione sat up.
"Excuse me, but did you see Harry Potter here recently?"
"Yes Miss. He was here barely five days ago." The goblin said, waiting for Malfoy to climb into the cart. He wasn't carrying any sacks so Hermione assumed he had done the same thing she had done. "He withdrew most of his volt I believe."
"Did you drive him?"
"Yes Miss. I was the only one on." The goblin said, now sitting in his seat, ready to drive the cart. "He was with a red haired man, and the two of them were whispering about something- I caught a few words. It was along the lines of a café here in the Ally, just down the road."
"Thank-" Hermione was cut off as the cart suddenly jerked into motion. Hermione couldn't grab the rail, so the nearest thing just happened to be Malfoy's arm.
Soon, the cart was stopping at their original spot. Malfoy had to help Hermione out of the cart, as she was near fainting, and he flicked a galleon at the Goblin, before walking through the doors, Hermione using him for support.
They walked out of the bank, and down the road until they came across their first café. Hermione was happy to see the yellow line was back. They followed the line into the café which was decorated with cream walls and dark furniture. The line went to a table that was near a shop window, but unfortunately, there was a few girls sitting at the table having lunch. Malfoy and Hermione sat three tables away, as close as they could.
A very plump woman in a white apron walked over to their table, pad and pen in hand. "What can I get you this fine afternoon dears?"
Hermione ordered a sandwich and juice while Malfoy opted for a pasta and coke. The waitress smiled sweetly at them then walked away. They waited in silence until the waitress returned a few minutes later with their orders.
"Wh-" Hermione was about to say something when she felt a strange tugging sensation on her arm. She looked down but nothing was there. She shook it off, but the feeling came back though stronger. It took her a moment to finally realize that the feeling was pulling her towards the table where the line was.
Malfoy, who had heard the first two sounds out of her mouth, looked up, pasta on fork, waiting for her to finish, but when it didn't come, he frowned. "What?"
"I…" Hermione hesitated. "I have to get to that table."
Malfoy glanced over his shoulder at the table. "Why exactly?"
"There's something calling my name."
"Are you serious?" Malfoy raised a sarcastic eye brow.
"Very."
Malfoy shrugged. "Fine whatever. We'll wait until they're done."
Hermione wanted to go before then, but she couldn't see a way so instead she busied herself with eating her sandwich and drinking her juice.
They had just ordered some muffins and a coffee each when finally the two girls paid their bills and left. Hermione didn't wait a beat before she quickly got up and sat at the other table, where she knew Harry had sat. Malfoy quickly followed and in less then a minute, the waitress returned to their other table, did a double take, then came over to them, before setting down their muffins.
"Pardon dears…but were you always sitting here?"
"Yes." Hermione smiled.
The waitress shook her head then left.
Once Hermione was sure she was gone and not coming back, she waited patiently for the feeling to return. Suddenly, a soft voice was chanting her name in her ear. Hermione closed her eyes, aware that Malfoy was watching her with a critical expression. After a moment, her hand moved on its own accord under the table. Within seconds she felt a note that was stuck to the base of the table. Hermione carefully tugged it off, then pocketed it.
"What?" Malfoy asked.
"Come on." Hermione said, dropping some galleons onto the table and rushing out of the café.
Malfoy followed her to a chair outside in the street where Hermione pulled the note out then unfolded the letter. She quickly scanned the letter and frowned. "It's from Harry."
"How does that work?" Malfoy asked, sitting down next to her, hands in his jacket pockets.
"He knew I would be looking for him." Hermione said. "Here, listen:
Hermione,
I knew you wouldn't accept that we couldn't come to meet you. By now, I'm sure you've followed my trail from the park, where I met with a contact. I found Ron following me- honestly, I'm not surprised. Anyway, I cant tell you much here, but if you want to find out what is happening, contact Fly Applie. She was the woman I met with. She will tell you everything you need to know. Fly will also ask you a favor on my behalf. You can choose if you do it.
Here is my address, where you may be able to find some information.
Love Harry."
"Does that guy ever share information?" Malfoy mumbled. "What ever happened to 'I'm here'? When did it all become cloak and dagger? Riddles for Merlin's sake."
"I don't know." Hermione said, folding the letter up and putting it back into her pocket. "Come on, we'll send a message to this Fly woman then head off to Harry's apartment."
Malfoy nodded, then followed Hermione to the Owl post shop that had an assortment of owls in cages out the front. Hermione picked the fastest owl, then found a parchment and quill. She quickly scribbled her message- Fly, Harry Potter sent me your way. Meet me tomorrow at lunch time at the Lower Side Café.
Hermione glanced at Malfoy, before finishing the letter.
Ask for Roxanne.
Once she was done, Hermione tied the note to the owls leg, paid the man at the counter then watched as the bird flew higher then the clouds.
"Alright," Hermione said turning to Malfoy. "Now we go to Harry's apartment." She pulled the letter back out of her pocket, checked the address then led Malfoy up the ally way, through the Leaky Cauldron and out onto the London street. Hermione hailed a taxi, and they both climbed into the back seat.
Hermione gave the address to the cab driver, then sat back as the taxi pulled of the curb and into traffic. After twenty minutes stuck in a traffic jam, Hermione closed her eyes and drifted into a light sleep. She slowly tilted her head and ended up resting on Malfoy's shoulder. He felt like knocking her roughly away but she looked so peaceful that he just gently lifted her head and moved it so that she was leaning against her window instead.
Malfoy stayed awake through the entire trip, and finally, after another half an hour the cab pulled up outside a run down apartment block, on the out skirts of town. Hermione woke up, quickly paid the cab driver, then scrambled out. She looked at the apartment block, with its broken windows and wondered why Harry would have chosen a place like this.
She and Malfoy scurried up the steps, then found themselves in a small cramp foyer. There was a staircase spiraling upwards, and it creaked and groaned every time they moved. It took them ten minutes to reach Harry's apartment. Malfoy picked the lock after stating how he could understand why Potter picked such a place. Hermione hit him on the shoulder but they went inside, closing the door.
"We should stay here the night." Hermione said, putting the lock on the door in place.
The apartment was actually a surprise- it was much better decorated. The rooms were painted with a light cream, with a fluffy white couch in the living room, a sold oak table and chairs, a marble kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom.
"Ok, it's not that bad." Malfoy said, pouring himself a butter beer from the fridge.
Hermione nodded. She was eyeing a cupboard near the kitchen table and she walked over to begin searching through it. Within ten minutes, Hermione had found a stack of papers. "Oh my god."
She carried the files over to the table, and sat down. She started scanning them, but Malfoy hadn't heard her. He was in the bathroom, and seconds later, Hermione heard him should "Holey Merlin, you could fit a bus in this bath."
Hermione didn't dignify that with a response. What she was staring at was far more important then what can fit in Harry's bath tub. It took her a moment to actually comprehend what the piles of paper were saying. Harry was following a group of dark wizards who weren't Death Eaters, more like wizard gangsters, who were simply the muscle for Voldermort. Apparently they lived in, disgustingly, the sewers, and used this as an underground way of getting around.
Hermione knew it wouldn't be easy to get Malfoy down there. Oh Merlin. It will be impossible.
Malfoy himself came out of the bathroom and leaned over Hermione's shoulder. "Did you hear me?"
"Yes Malfoy, Harry has a big bath. I'm really not interested."
"Oh come on." Malfoy said, throwing himself down on the couch. "It cant be any more interesting then the crap you're reading."
"Malfoy, do you know what this is?" Hermione asked, holding one of the papers up.
"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me." Malfoy said, sounding bored.
"These are all logs made by Harry." Hermione said, flipping through them. "It looks like he's been on this for months."
"And what is it about? But more importantly, can it help us find him?"
"According to this, Voldermort's muscle, known as the Searers, terrorize Muggle and wizards alike…and oh my god."
"What?"
Hermione looked up. "They're all Squibs! I don't believe it. What would make them fight for Voldermort's cause if they aren't even wizards?"
"One could ask the same about Filch." Malfoy said, not sounding too surprised.
"Anyway, Harry met with Fly Applie, who apparently was dating one of them at one point, someone called Kelpie."
"There was someone in the world at one moment who actually decided to call their kid Kelpie?"
"Yes Malfoy. Get over it." Hermione said. "I think Harry was planning to get into their underground network and destroy it."
"Did he ever do that?" Malfoy asked, draining his glass of butter beer.
"I don't know." Hermione said, scanning the papers. "Malfoy, this is serious."
"Ok, ok, so what are you thinking?"
"I don't know. Maybe this group- the Searers realized what Harry was doing and he was forced to run…either that or he was taken…though I doubt it."
"What do you think this favor is that he wants you to do?" Malfoy asked, sitting up.
"I don't know." Hermione said again.
"Honestly, I don't care about an underground group that does the work for Voldermort. I just want my name cleared, and for the magical world to get off my back."
"Malfoy, I don't think you understand-"
"Look Granger," Malfoy said, getting up. "I honestly don't care. We can get golden boy back, clear my name and he can go save the city." He put his drink down on the table then disappeared into one of the bedrooms.
Hermione shook her head, then began to study the papers until she knew everything Harry knew, or at least Harry had known when he had written it down.
From what she now knew, the Searers were a group of Squibs, with at least 100 members. They knew everything about Hermione's world, as did all squibs, but instead of living out their lives harmlessly, these squibs decided to follow their gangster tides. Knowing that their muscle could come in handy, Voldermort had recruited them to his side. The Searers loyalty was a swinging one, so Voldermort made sure that he kept fights and jobs coming their way.
Hermione couldn't believe it. This group attacked anyone who Voldermort told them to, robbed Muggles, attacked wizards and witches, holding them if necessary so Voldermort could made demands. It was a whole other network that seemed to work smoothly. No wonder Harry had to shut it down. But Hermione was curious as to why the Ministry wasn't aware of this. Her question was answered a few minutes later.
Harry found connections between some of the people in the Ministry and the Searers. Apparently some of them are relatives of each other and Harry wasn't sure if they would warn the Searers, so he had kept it to himself. Wise boy.
Hermione's eyes stung. She rubbed them, put the folders away and cooked herself something light to eat. It was only around 4 o'clock, but Hermione didn't care. It was around quarter to 5 when she had cleaned the kitchen, washed her dish, and begun to run a bath. It took ten minutes for the bath to fill. Hermione spent nearly two hours soaking in the bath.
It was almost 7 by the time she climbed out, dressed in underwear, singlet top and wrapping Harry's dressing gown around her. She went out, and saw Malfoy sitting at the table, eating something out of a bowl.
Hermione didn't want to speak to him, so she avoided his eye as she quickly got herself a glass of water and crossed to the bedroom that Malfoy hadn't occupied. This must have been the guest room. Hermione didn't mind. She climbed into the bed and was asleep within minutes.
Hermione rolled over next morning, before the sun had even a chance to clear the clouds. She threw the covers back, was immediately assaulted with a cold breeze, then pulled herself to her feet. Hermione made the bed quickly, used her wand to clean her clothes and quickly got dressed. When she was presentable, the sun had managed to peak briefly through the clouds, and Hermione finally realized that the weather forecast for the week had been wrong- it wasn't going to be cloudless, blue sunny days.
Hermione, after coming to the conclusion that she could predict the weather better, even without magic, walked out into the kitchen, unsurprised to find it abandoned. As the apartment had no real noise making machinery, Hermione, after a brief pause could hear the faint noises of someone stirring in a room close by. Hermione quickly made herself breakfast, which consisted of toast, and sat down at the table, once again running through the information she had discovered last night. Even though she had brewed over it, knew all she could know at the present moment, Hermione had a difficult time believing that there was an underground group who killed on behalf of Voldermort. However, there was part of her brain that told her it wasn't really that hard to believe, in fact, it was rather clever.
Malfoy didn't come out into the kitchen for nearly twenty minutes. By the time he had turned up, wearing a singlet shirt and pants, the clouds outside had darkened to the point where it was impossible for the sun to shine. Hermione hoped it wasn't an omen for the days events.
Hermione had finished her breakfast and was washing the bowl when she heard Malfoy stifle a yawn. She turned around. "Morning."
"You sound too bloody cheerful." Malfoy grumbled, rubbing his eyes and sitting down.
Hermione, though not sure why, poured him a cup of tea and set it down in front of him. "Here."
"Is there something nasty hidden in this?" Malfoy asked, eyeing it carefully and with a look of withering.
"You know, if I wanted to kill you, don't you think I would have done it by now?" Hermione asked, rolling her eyes, then taking a sip of the tea to show him that it was safe to consume. As the taste settled on her tongue, Hermione suddenly realized that if he didn't want it, he didn't have to have it. "Actually, stuff waking you up- this tastes good."
"Well give it here then." Malfoy said, his hand reaching out.
Hermione shook her head, and walked off to the bathroom, carrying the tea with her.
Malfoy grumbled to his feet, poured his own tea, then sat back down. After a moment, he had pulled out the files Granger had been drooling over the night before and scanned them. He raised the tea to his lips, and took a sip. Damn. That did taste good.
Hermione was out of the bathroom ten minutes later, refreshed and ready for whatever this Fly woman may through at her. Or indeed anyone else she may come across.
When she was back out near the table, she immediately spotted Malfoy's reading material. "Taken an interest have you?"
"Not in the slightest." Malfoy mumbled, truly immersed in what he was reading. It may be true, he wasn't Potter's biggest fan, but there was something about these notes, something that suggested to Malfoy that Potter really knew how to survey and draw accurate conclusions.
"Alright then." Hermione said, sitting down next to him. "Now today, as I only told Fly to look for Roxanne, I think you shouldn't be with me- its ok to be in the café, near by, but not, I repeat, not obviously with me."
Malfoy nodded absentmindedly. In all other circumstances, he would have agued about being shunned to the side- a bench seat as it were, but something he was reading had caught his full attention. It was a small foot note in Potter's folders. It read:
Pansy Parkinson- suspected of having old relations to Searer Member. Visit Malfoy to get current contact details.
A few lines down, Potter had scribbled:
Malfoy in Azkaban under watchful eyes, note, he has committed no crime- Will offer him a ticket out if he helps. Visit Malfoy Day after tomorrow.
"Malfoy, did you hear me?" Hermione asked, hitting the table lightly to try and grab the Ferret's wondering attention.
"Hmm what?" Malfoy asked, looking up. "What did you say?"
"You didn't hear me did you?"
"If you're asking about lunch, with me in the background keeping an ear out, then yes I heard you. If you had mentioned anything else, unfortunately I didn't catch it." Malfoy said, then pointed at the footnotes. "Have you read this?"
"I didn't get a chance to read most of the footnotes…why?" Hermione asked, leaning forward. "What is it?" When she was done reading, Hermione blew air out of tight lips. "Great. There's another person we have to go and see."
"It's not like we're on a time limit." Malfoy said, putting the folders away.
"That may be so, but we cant out run the wizarding world forever- someone is bound to recognize us eventually."
"No doubt." Malfoy said.
"Well, come on, we can't hang around all day." Hermione stood up, and began gathering her things. Within twenty minutes, they were locking the apartment door behind them and heading down the stairs. It was shocking how the decorated abode of Harry's completely contrasted the building it was in. Hermione wondered what kind of life the other residents had, then figured out she didn't want to know.
They made their way back towards Diagon Ally before Hermione realized she needed some new clothing. By now, she was sure that the Ministry had someone staking out her apartment, so getting clothes from there wasn't an option. But Hermione hated the only other one- buying new clothes. To clear this up, she didn't hate shopping, but she hated buying new things when the old stuff is still in perfect condition.
Malfoy had strongly protested- "You don't bloody need new clothes!" but Hermione was determined, and managed to drag him into a department store. It took her less then twenty minutes to pull a dark pair of jeans, a purple top, a blue singlet and a black zip up jacket. She also ducked into the sleep wear area to pick up long pajama pants and a singlet shirt. By the time she was done, she was surprised to see that Malfoy had also picked out some pajamas.
After almost strangling him when Malfoy delicately pointed out he had no muggle money, and the fact that he had picked out the most expensive pajamas, a silky material, along with a matching black robe, Hermione grudging paid for both sets of clothing, snatched the bags and marched outside.
"You were the one who wanted to go shopping." Malfoy pointed out as he caught up to her.
"That is completely besides the point- I never offered to buy you something," Hermione hissed.
Wow!!!! That was looooooong! Lol.
R&R if you liked it….R&R if you didn't. I don't mind.
Aj