Hermione shrank the bags, put them in her pocket, next to her money sacks, refused to even mumble a word to Malfoy as they continued on their way to Diagon Ally. The clouds above them started growling deeply after a while, and just as Hermione and Draco were walking into the Leaky Cauldron, a light rain had began to fall, causing the Londoners to scurry for cover.
Hermione wound her way through the wooden bar tables and stools, nodded quickly to the bar man and eventually found herself tapping the brick wall in the back room. She didn't even really wait for the arch way to completely appear before she squeezed through the gap, and began to walk down the stormy ally way, heading to the café they had gone to the previous day.
She had already sat down at a table when Malfoy entered. As they had agreed he wouldn't meet Fly with her, Malfoy glared at her but couldn't say anything so he continued on until he sat at the table behind her. He had taken a little longer to walk into the café, as he had grabbed a copy of the Daily Prophet on his way down so he had something to do.
Hermione glanced at a clock on the wall and saw it was only 11:15. sighing and realizing she didn't bring anything to read, Hermione was resolved to looking out the window at the rain that was starting to fall heavier.
Less then ten minutes later, an owl crashed into the door, and as someone opened it, the owl flew through the door, and landed on Hermione's table. Hermione frowned, aware that most people in the café, including Malfoy, were staring at her. She reached forward, grabbed the parchment, opened it. In less then 20 seconds, she had read the note, and had stood up, leaving the café.
Malfoy couldn't follow her immediately so he had to wait a few minutes before leaving to try and find her. He found her waiting for him a little way down the street, standing under a roof for shelter against the pouring rain.
"What's wrong?" he asked, shaking his head like a dog.
"Fly's rescheduled the meeting place." Hermione mumbled, reading the letter aloud.
"Roxanne, please meet me instead at another café out side the Ally. Leave the Leaky Cauldron, head left down the street, follow it to the end, then cross the road to the right. follow this street for about three minutes before you come to a café with a flashing sign out the front. I will be waiting in there and make sure you are alone, or I will call this whole thing off."
"Are you still meeting at 12?" Malfoy asked, huddling under the roof as best as he could.
Hermione nodded. "And that means we have little over half an hour to get there."
Malfoy knew what she was getting at. Basically, get moving, but he glanced apprehensively at the rain that was pouring down in heavy sheets. Hermione couldn't hear his protests over the thunder as she scrunched the letter up, shoved it into her pocket then ran through the rain up the now deserted ally way as the shoppers had taken shelter in the shops waiting for the rain to pass.
Malfoy rolled his eyes, hitched his collar up then ran after her, nearly slipping on the wet pavement. He had his hands in his pockets and suddenly thought how silly he and Granger must look to the shoppers who were staring at them through the shop windows. Two people, running through the heavy thunderstorm- Idiots.
Within seconds, he could feel the cold water penetrating his very bones and wondered why he was putting himself through this. He didn't really need the magical word to back off him. He had enough money to run away, and never have to associate with them. So as Draco Malfoy ran through pouring rain, only meters behind Hermione Granger, he asked himself the one question- why am I here?
Even when he was out on the wet streets of London, catching up to Granger, he still hadn't thought of the correct response. The gutters on the road were flooding with storm water, and the cars had all flicked their lights on and were moving at a crawling pace. A few people scurried on the side walk, trying to get either home or under some shelter. Hermione was a few meters ahead of him, and Malfoy jogged to catch up to her.
They stayed next to each other, trying to shield their faces from the howling wind and pouring rain. Malfoy glanced at Hermione and saw she was actually smiling. She must love this, he thought bitterly. Her hair didn't frizz up at the first sign of moisture as his did. Sure he groomed it, but come on.
They jumped over the puddles that were starting to form on the sidewalk and after fifteen minutes, they found the street ended at a t. thunder and lighting crackled above their heads as Hermione punched the walking button on a metal post. They waited, Hermione not bothering to protect her hair as it was already soaked through, same as her clothes. The light turned green and they crossed the slippery road.
Hermione stopped under a shop roof after she spotted the café sign, and waited for Malfoy who was trying to kick some water off his shoes. "You go in first, and" her voice was cut off by a large roll of deep thunder. She waited, and then spoke again. "I'll follow you in a few minutes."
Malfoy hesitated then nodded. "Alright then. But what happened to me sitting near by?"
Hermione thought for a moment. Malfoy was watching her. She was still had a small smile, her hair was soaked, clung to her face, and her clothes were soaked but she looked so relaxed and comfortable. "Don't sit until we have. Look over a menu or something, then wait for us to sit. Find a table then."
Malfoy slowly nodded, then turned around and continued on to the café where he disappeared inside. Hermione had noticed his hair- windblown and wet and realized he looked better like that- more natural. Normally his hair was packed with chemicals that looked nice, but gave him a prickly, unapproachable look.
Hermione glanced at the shop she was standing in front of and saw it was one with expensive looking jewelry. She browsed the shop windows for a few minutes, then glanced at the clock and saw she had five minutes.
Slowly, Hermione turned away from a really, really nice ring, and walked up the street, back into the rain, before quickly ducking into the muggle café. It was a long and skinny building, and was absolutely packed with people taking shelter from the weather. Hermione could see Malfoy towards the back of the shop where the counter was, casually looking over a menu.
It was a dark, but comfortable café. A skinny waitress walked over to Hermione at the door and smiled warmly, unlike the weather. "May I help you Miss?"
"Yes, I'm supposed to be meeting someone here…" Hermione said.
"Name please?"
"Roxanne." Hermione said as casually as she could.
"Right, this way please." The waitress led her through the crowded tables to a woman, about Hermione's age who was sitting alone next to the café window.
"Roxanne?" the woman asked, looking up. The old man was right- she had brown hair, nearly the same shade as Hermione's, startling blue eyes, had a white face, and was a middle weight. She wore a white top with jeans and a brown jacket hung over the back of her chair.
Hermione nodded, removing her own jacket and sitting down. "Fly I presume?"
"Yes." The woman nodded, and over her shoulder, Hermione could see Malfoy had spotted her and had managed to snag a table near by. "First, what's your real name?"
Hermione was startled, but hesitated to respond. "Let's just keep it as Roxanne."
"Real name or no information." Fly snapped, looking at Hermione with hard eyes.
Hermione sighed then mumbled. "Hermione."
"Good. Glad you found me." The woman's eyes eased. "I had to be sure. Potter wanted this told in strictest confidence."
"He is like that." Hermione said, ordering a cup of coffee from the skinny waitress. "He said you had a favor to ask of me."
"Hold on, do you even know about the Searers?" Fly asked, folding her arms on the table.
"I found Harry's notes last night." Hermione said. "But I don't know that much."
"I see. Well I don't know if I can trust you, but I trust Potter, and he apparently trusts you…so…" Hermione waited patiently as Fly hesitated to continue. When she was ready to talk, Hermione's coffee had appeared and she began stirring it. "I was dating one of the boys from the gang. I am a squib myself, and I like to have my fun…you know."
Hermione nodded, taking a sip of the coffee.
"Well, one night, I met a very attractive boy, who was dangerous and I always fall for them" Fly continued, smiling. "After a while, when I had gained his trust, he introduced me to a few of his buddies and soon I was in the main layer of the Searers. I knew most of what was going on, but what could I do to stop it? Besides, I was in love."
Malfoy, a few tables away, snorted. Over the noise of the café, Fly couldn't hear him.
"After a few more months, the main boy of the Searers, believed I belonged to him…well my boyfriend wasn't fond of this, and so now begins what I know as the Sewer War. No one above ground knew about it, but soon the Searers had split into two groups. The crime in certain areas of London escalated, as the groups were trying to out do each other. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named eventually became concerned about the problem, because he needed the Searers united to have their full muscle help. If they were separated, and he had the support of one side, then he knew the other side would go to your side as it were, just to get the other Searers back."
Hermione nodded.
"So he convinced the other side of the Searers to try and get me, so my boyfriend would have no reason to be against the others. Anyway, I was informed of their plan, and had to run away, without telling my boyfriend. Later, I was informed that the other Searer boys had told him that your side, the Ministry had found me, thinking I was a friend of Voldermort, but that the Ministry didn't know about the Searers. My boyfriend and his crew returned and reformed the original Searers, with new rules, like not cracking onto each others girlfriends."
Hermione was watching her carefully, trying to figure out where this was going while Malfoy was only just resisting hitting his head repeatedly on the table. It was something like a tragic love story to him.
Fly looked sadly down at her cup of tea. "They told my boyfriend that I was dead. His anger towards the Ministry soared and now he leads the attacks against witches and wizards. The attacks are apparently so violent that at one point, Voldermort was even considering letting him become a Death Eater."
"Wow." Hermione breathed. "What was his name?"
"Blake Simons, or 'Kelpie' was his nickname." Fly replied. "Anyway, that's the beginning of the story, and ever since, I've had to hide so the Ministry or Searers don't find me."
"But Harry found you." Hermione pointed out carefully as to not insinuate that Fly didn't hide very well.
Fly smiled. "That he did. But the boy could find a needle in the ocean."
Hermione cracked a grin. "He sure could."
"It did take him a few months to find me and gain my trust. In return for all my information he offered me safe passage out of the country." Fly said.
Hermione nodded then glanced out the window, watching the cars go slowly by out in the rain. "And you met with him the other day?"
Fly nodded slowly. "I don't know what he was planning, but I think he was looking for a way into the Searers group."
"Did he?"
"I think after a while, he was more interested in gathering information on Voldermort." Fly said, sipping her tea. "He told me that he would get me out of the country, then he would pass his information onto the Ministry, because he was more interested in getting Voldermort. We said goodbye then had parted ways." Fly said, not sounding concerned. "Though he disappeared."
"Hmm, I know." Hermione said, not choosing to share the information that she was being accused of his disappearance.
"So, onto the favor he asks of you." Fly continued. "He wanted you to know that you don't have to do this, though he has something to ask you. He wants to ask you to infiltrate the Searers."
Hermione coughed on her coffee. There was no way that she had any intentions to go anywhere near this group of people who so happily hurt others. "I see."
"He knew you would be a little hesitant, but wanted you to think of it." Fly said.
"Ok." Hermione said. "I will."
"The day that we met in the park, I told him of a place were I knew the Searers would be raiding…" Fly said. "Saturday night, in two days, the Searers frequent that part of London. You have until then to decide."
"Did Harry have an idea as to how I was to get into their network?" Hermione asked carefully.
"I told him that the Searers always respect tough men and sexy women." Fly said. "Which is true. All you would have to do would to make sure you find them, and be…flirty."
"I see. What of tough men?" Hermione asked. Malfoy was even closer to hitting his head- Granger? Flirt? Shouldn't someone buy her a book or a manual for something like that?
"If they see them bash someone up, either physically or magically, the Searers would accept him, as long as he was a squib or a wizard." Fly said, keeping her voice down enough so that they couldn't be overheard.
"Right."
"But there was another part of the favor." Fly said, hesitating.
"Really." Hermione asked, waiting.
"Yes… he wanted you to help me out of the country." Fly said, not looking at her.
Hermione blinked. He did what? After a minute, she looked at Fly, who was studying her tea cup very intently. "When are you planning to go?"
"Potter said I was to leave when you wanted to go." Fly said, only just meeting Hermione's eyes.
"I see…was this all you were meant to tell me?" Hermione asked, leaning back into her chair.
"Yes. I think so." Fly said, pausing for a minute. "So?"
"Well I will take you out of the country, but I'm not sure when." Hermione chose her words carefully. Checking the clock, Hermione saw it was 12:30. She wondered what else she was supposed to say.
"I should warn you- be careful if you chose to go into the Searers network. I don't know if you will enter it with someone for help, but if you do, know, especially if this person is a man, know that you will not be safe until the man establishes himself within their group."
"Er…thanks for the warning." Hermione said slightly confused. Of course she was thinking of entering the Searers, to help Harry, but she would ask Malfoy to help her. She had no doubts he could pull off the tough image. After all, he has done it most of his life.
"You will need it. And I hope you don't mind the sewers. Trust me, you will spend a lot of time down there." Fly said. "But don't get me wrong- the Searers don't stay down there long, and when they come above the surface, they are very social. The balls, parties…oh, they are fabulous."
Hermione raised an eye brow, detecting perhaps some longing and love in her voice. Hermione doubted she would think they were fabulous.
"I have to go, but when you are ready to tell me when you can get me out of the country, send me an owl." Fly said, setting some muggle money down on the table. "Goodbye."
Hermione nodded, smiled and said goodbye. Soon after Fly had left the café, Hermione put some money down on the table and went out the door. She waited for Malfoy, who caught up to her in a few minutes. "You heard most of that I presume."
"Yes. Every word, and if I ever meet someone so up themselves about a relationship with a gangster, then I will kill them myself- how did you survive?"
"I have no idea." Hermione said. "But at least I know what Harry wanted me to do."
"Hmmm. Infiltrate them. Good luck with that." Malfoy said, leaning against a wall as the rain and thunder continued to play havoc in the sky.
"I don't think so. You are going to help me." Hermione said, pushing some of her hair out of her eyes.
"I think not." Malfoy said indifferently. "I have no desire to prance around the sewers of London."
"You want to clear your name." Hermione said.
"So?" Malfoy raised an eye brow. "I just need to find him. Besides, I told you last night- saving the city is Potter's job, not mine."
"You know you cant find him without my help." Hermione said, looking calmly at him through her hair. "And we both know he wont come back just because you ask him. Oh, and think of what he will say when he learns you left me in the hands of the Searers?"
Malfoy looked at her with an agitated, though defeated expression. "If you desire my company so much, then you will just have to ask."
"It was you, Jake Aarons who wanted us to have a couple cover I'll have you know." Hermione pointed out.
"I remember. Still a good plan, but when I suggested it, I didn't think I was insinuating that we joined a murderous group of squibs to get information."
"Malfoy, for once in your life, do something for the common good." Hermione said, then turned on her heal and started walking back up the streets that were practically deserted now. The rain was coming down, if possible, harder then ever, and Hermione was sure that she could shrivel up like a prune.
Malfoy grudging followed her. She was right, but he really didn't fancy walking around in the sewers. Besides, how did she plan to fit this in with meeting Pansy, to see if she had any other information, and dropping this woman out of the country? There was no way Malfoy would be accompanying her for that.
Hermione turned to walk up the street, but stopped walking. Malfoy nearly ran into her. "What?" he asked.
Hermione didn't need to speak. Further up the road, standing in the pouring rain was a form Hermione barely recognized, though she recognized it none the less. Andy.
"Oh shit." Was the only words Hermione could come out with.
Malfoy turned to look at her, a smirk on his face, for who could be someone to cause her to swear? He turned his gaze up the road to where the figure stood. He didn't know who it was.
"Who is this? An ex lover?" Malfoy asked, still smirking. Hermione hit him.
"No you fool. That's Andy."
"Glad to see you still remember my name." Andy shouted, his voice being carried across the wind.
"How could I not." Hermione replied, feeling suddenly scared. She was almost completely vulnerable. If it weren't for Malfoy, she would have run. With Malfoy beside her, somehow she felt a little safer, even though she knew he wouldn't save her life or even help her if trouble was to arise. The feeling in her stomach that told her that she might be attacked at any moment was getting stronger.
"I'm not going to attack you." Andy said, starting to walk towards her.
Hermione glanced at Malfoy, but nearly screamed for it wasn't Malfoy she was looking at. Malfoy had black hair instead of blond, his features had changed slightly, and his eyes had turned an icy blue.
"What the hell?"
"Cant have a death eater knowing its me." Malfoy grumbled.
"True." Hermione agreed. Andy was within a few meters by now.
"How have you been?" he asked, smiling at her.
"Great." Hermione said, not smiling. "I assume you got out of the hospital safely."
"Of course I did." Andy said, with a strong air of cockiness. "Who is you little friend?"
Malfoy, who decided to start their couple act now, pretended not to know who Andy was and extended a hand. "Jake Aarons."
"I see…you move on quickly don't you Hermione." Andy said, looking at Malfoy's hand but not making an effort to shake it.
"I don't know what you mean." Hermione said, for once thankful that Malfoy had snaked his arm around her waist- if he didn't, there was a small chance Hermione may have run away.
"Of course you don't." Andy said, smiling at her. "I just wanted to thank you for your help at the hospital."
"No need to thank me." Hermione said resisting the urge to hit him.
"And I have to say, that I heard of your unfortunate stay in Azkaban." Andy continued, never taking his eyes off her.
"I bet you did."
"Though I heard you escaped with Mr. Malfoy." Andy said.
Hermione just managed to not look at the man beside her, who didn't react. "I did."
"Where did he go?" Andy asked curiously
"I have no idea. We went our separate ways. One could say we had a rather dark history, so there was no question staying in each others company." Hermione said, almost hearing the snort coming from Malfoy. "But you already knew that didn't you, since I was your mission and everything."
Andy frowned in frustration. "Well, I do know all that I can about my missions." He hissed.
"So do I." Hermione said. "Come on Jake." She and Malfoy walked around Andy, and started up the street, bothered no longer by the weather. Andy followed.
"Where are you off to?"
"None of your business." Hermione said, as Malfoy's hand slipped off her waist and grabbed her hand.
"But there is something I should tell you." Andy said, trying to step around her so he could prevent her from walking. He wasn't interested at all in her companion.
"Spit it out." Hermione said, sighing, but she did not stop walking.
"Well I cant while you are walking." Andy said, getting very angry. She was making this plan impossible to follow through.
"I'm sure you can-" Hermione was cut off as five dark figures suddenly surrounded them. She squeezed Malfoy's hand in pure fright as the five figures, jeering and laughing advanced on them.
"More friends of yours?" Andy asked, sounding on guard all of a sudden.
"I thought they were some of yours." Hermione asked.
Malfoy was thinking quickly, as he had no intention of fighting, or running away. Why the hell was this happening to him? He doesn't deserve this. He could feel Hermione next to him, becoming very nervous.
The figured came even closer, and one tried to grab Hermione, but Andy reached out and hit the man on the shoulder, pushing him backwards. Another reached forward for her, but this time, Malfoy stuck his foot out and tripped him over.
Hermione was beginning to feel extremely scared, as the men seemed more interested in getting her then the two men she was with. Malfoy was forced to let her go as he had to push her behind him to keep her away from two more men coming at her.
Make no mistake, it wasn't a move of affection- mainly one of the Malfoy within himself that felt it was his duty to protect her as she was a woman surrounded by five men who threatened her safety. He would never let this come out of his lips.
Malfoy ducked as one of the men threw a punch at him, and hit the man in the shin. The other attacker tried to tackle him, but Malfoy stepped aside and the man ran past them, hitting one of his own. Andy was busy keeping them away from Hermione on the other side. He took a heavy blow to the ear, and a bloody nose. Malfoy was hit it in the jaw, and his eyebrow where a cut formed. One of the men pulled a knife on him, and cut his arm. He was then punched in the chest, causing him to back up a little and grunt.
Before she knew it, a full blown fight will erupt, and she will be caught in the middle.
Hermione drew her wand, deciding this was an emergency, and knocked their five attackers out with a quick flash of bright light. Andy was stunned for a moment, but Malfoy grabbed Hermione's hand, jumped over one of their attackers and ran up the street.
Andy quickly chased them.
"What do you want?" Malfoy snapped when he saw their follower.
"Ease up there Jack." Andy said.
"It's Jake." Hermione and Malfoy answered automatically.
"whatever." Andy said. "Hermione and I have a history together, so if you don't mind."
"Excuse me Andy, but Jake is with me now," Hermione said calmly. "Bugger off!"
Andy hurried to catch up to them as Hermione and Malfoy continued up the street.
"Hotel?" Hermione said to Malfoy.
"I don't think we have a choice." Malfoy said, nodding at Andy.
"Oh for the love of Merlin." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Andy, for heavens sake! Spill what it is and be gone."
"There is no where for me to go."
"Pardon me?" Hermione asked, noticing how Malfoy was clutching at his chest. She put his arm around her shoulders. "Are you alright?" she whispered.
"Fine." Malfoy replied sarcastically.
"Do you want to know or not?" Andy asked, agitated that her attention was wondering to another male.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine. We'll go to a hotel and you can tell me then." She said, though she wasn't interested.
Malfoy sent her a look, asking her if that was wise.
"We can kick him out later." Hermione muttered softly to him. They started along the street, in the rain, and totally depressed. This was not how Malfoy saw himself ending this day.
Andy however was glad- it was going along smoothly.
After twenty minutes, they saw a nice looking hotel. Hermione helped Malfoy up the stairs and into the foyer. A woman behind the desk looked curiously at the drowned trio.
"Have you walked through that?" the woman asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Get into a fight?" the woman said, looking at Malfoy's bloody brow, and jaw, and Andy's nose and ear. The rain had washed all the blood away during their walk, but now they were out of the rain, the blood wasn't washed away.
"Something like that." Hermione said, still supporting Malfoy. "Could we have a room please?"
"I only have one double bed room left I'm sorry." The woman said, raising an eye brow.
"That's fine." Hermione said quickly.
The woman rolled her eyes, and nodded. "Sure."
After a few moments, the woman led them up the stairs and two minutes later they were walking into their room. It was a nice enough room and the woman left them alone.
Hermione glanced at Andy. "You sit on the couch."
Andy didn't want to take her orders, but made his way over to the couch and sat down. He was so tired as he had spent most of the day tracking them down.
Hermione supported Malfoy into the only bedroom and sat him down on the king size bed. He laid down, grumbling and groaning. "I'll fix you up after I'm done with Andy."
"You know he's a Death Eater."
"Really, I had no idea." Hermione said sarcastically.
"He could be on a mission from Voldermort." Malfoy continued, sounding bored and in pain.
"I have no doubt," Hermione said. "But we can ditch him in the morning. Right now, you need to rest and heal."
Hermione stood up and left, walking out to see Andy lying on the couch.
"You have five minutes to spill your story." Hermione said, sitting down on another chair.
"Your friend seems to dislike me." Andy mumbled, opening an eye.
"He doesn't warm easily and you have just wasted thirty seconds." Hermione said coldly.
"Does he know what you are?" Andy asked, raising an eye brow.
"Yes, he is a wizard if that's what you're asking. Now you only have four minutes. Hurry up."
"Fine. As I'm sure you've figured out, I am in your debt considering you saved my life." Andy said, sounding like he was retelling a tale he had told many times. "Voldermort didn't want me in the debt of Harry Potter's friend so he abandoned me."
Hermione snorted. "As if Voldermort would let you to just walk out."
"He didn't." Andy said, then slowly lifted his shirt.
Hermione hissed a breath of shock and slowly got up to get a better look. "What…" her eyes settled on his chest where there were a series of horrid bleeding scars that had come from a whip.
"I didn't just walk away." Andy said, lowering his shirt.
"Why haven't you healed them?" Hermione asked, sitting on the coffee table.
"Cant." Andy grumbled. "I was never a good healer and the blasted things are cursed so they cant be healed."
Hermione shook her head. She pulled out her wand, and cleaned up the blood and healed his ear and nose. "Why did you come to me?"
"I told you- I am in your debt. I have to pay you back." Andy said. "May as well start now right?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't need your help. I can take enough care of myself, and I have Jake to help me. You should leave and do something useful."
"I cant. I owe you my life, even if I don't want to admit it."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You don't understand. We have things that need to be done, and I cant have a death eater trailing behind."
"Why ever not?"
"Why do you think?" Hermione said, glaring at him.
"Ahh…your worried I will betray whatever it is you are planning against the dark lord." Andy said. "But you must believe, I have washed my hands of him."
"I don't believe you." Hermione said, standing up. "You can rest here the night but then you are to leave in the morning and if I see you again, I will turn you over to the ministry."
"No you wont." Andy said, as Hermione began to walk towards the bedroom.
"Oh?" she said, turning back to look at him. "And why is that?"
"Because you escaped from Azkaban. You are on the run. You wont turn me in because they may be able to track you down."
"There are ways of turning you in Andy that wont put me in harms way." Hermione said, then turned around and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her and locking it with her wand.
"Conversation not going so well?" Malfoy asked.
"Don't you start," Hermione said, walking over to him to examine the cuts. She healed them in a heart beat.
"I still don't know why you invited him to stay." Malfoy said, leaning into the pillows.
"How else was I to get rid of him?" Hermione asked, sitting down on the bed.
"what was it that he was so desperate to tell you?" Malfoy asked, refusing to move over on the bed- this was his side after all. There had been an unspoken agreement that he and Hermione would share the bedroom, as Andy thought they were together, and as Hermione refused to share it with Andy, she had chosen the lesser of two evils.
"He has apparently left Voldermort." Hermione said, sighing.
"And you believe that rubbish?"
"Not for a second." Hermione said. "But he has some very nasty whip wounds to prove it."
"I see." Malfoy said, rolling onto his side to face her. "What happens in the morning? If you're so sure he hasn't left Voldermort, then he cant come with us to the Searers, much less even know we know about them."
Hermione sighed again. "I don't know. He doesn't seem keen to leave."
"Of course he doesn't. Voldermort probably told him to keep an eye on you to see if you lead him to Potter." Malfoy said.
"More then likely." Hermione agreed. "Well we could always ditch him in the morning."
"Sounds like a plan." Malfoy said.
"I'm going to bed." Hermione said, using a spell to swap her clothes with her new pajamas. She also threw Malfoy's clothes at him. "Here, take your expensive pajamas."
Malfoy grinned, then used his own wand to change.
Hermione climbed into the other side of the bed. This was acutely uncomfortable. She was practically falling off her bed, trying to keep far away from him. She was scrunched up underneath the blanket. It took her a long time to fall asleep. Malfoy seemed to be asleep within seconds.
Malfoy woke up before Hermione in the morning. He rolled over and saw her, only centimeters away from him. She had a small smile on her mouth, and her hair was lying lazily around her face. Malfoy found himself staring at her for a split second before he physically slapped himself, and looked away. He laid back down against his pillows, thinking and wondering. After resting his head on his arm, Malfoy stared at the roof. The sun wasn't shining and Malfoy could see it was still raining outside. He gave Hermione ten more minutes before gently tapping her on the shoulder and waking her up.
Hermione made a strange nose before slowly opening her eyes. She saw him within seconds, and had to do a double take before realizing who it was. "Morning." She said, rolling onto her back and stretching. "Is it time to ditch?"
Malfoy nodded. "Bright and early." He said sarcastically.
Hermione groaned. "Is it still raining outside?" Hermione asked.
"Yes." Malfoy answered, and he only just remembered that he still had his disguise on.
Hermione slowly got up, and tip toed over to the door. She pressed her ear against it and listened for any signs that suggested whether Andy was there. After a moment, she could hear him snoring softly. "Ok, it's safe."
She used the same spell to dress herself in her new clothes. She chose the blue singlet shirt then had the black jacket slide on over her arms. She pulled her hair up into a messy bun then glanced at Malfoy.
He was still lying on the bed, eyes closed.
"Come on slob, get dressed." Hermione said, picking up the clothes she had been wearing yesterday and tossing them out the window. "We should go."
Malfoy grumbled something, then rolled out of the bed. It took him ten minutes to get dressed and then he began grumbling about not being able to fix his hair.
"Leave it out." Hermione said. "It looks more natural."
Malfoy gave her a strange look but before he could give her a smart come back, Hermione had unlocked the door and crept out. She didn't pause as she left the room and stepped out into the corridor. She waited three minutes for Malfoy to turn up.
He came out of the apartment, carrying his pajamas.
"You could have left them there." Hermione said. Malfoy handed her pajamas which she shrank and put in her pocket.
"So where are we headed this morning?" Malfoy asked as they walked down the corridor heading back down to the foyer.
"I think we see Pansy to see what she has to tell us." Hermione said as they walked up to the woman at the table. "The man in the room will pay when he wakes up."
The woman nodded and they left the hotel, heading outside. The weather was exactly the same as last night- cold, windy, wet and complete with thunder.
"So how do we get to Pansy's?" Hermione asked, as they were immediately soaked through again.
"I assume she's at her family's estate." Malfoy said, beginning to walk up the street. "That's further out of the city then Potter's house. We could fly."
"I don't think so." Hermione said quickly. "I am not getting on a broomstick any time soon, especially in this weather."
"It would just make the trip easier." Malfoy grumbled as he knew if they didn't fly, it's one five hour train trip to the village, then a twenty minute walk up to the house.
"I don't care." Hermione said. "It's just not happening. I don't care how long it takes us to get their the muggle way- just as long as we're back tomorrow night to do this Searer thing."
"Which is something we still have to discuss." Malfoy said, flipping his hair out of his face.
"Well by the sounds of it, we'll have plenty of time." Hermione said, casting him a smart smile. "So how do we get there?"
"It's a five hour train trip." Malfoy said.
"I don't care. Let's find the nearest station."
"It's a rare train Granger. Not many go to the village. The train terminates there."
"Well then, we had best find where it starts." Hermione said, spotting a sign for a train station.
Malfoy sighed in defeat. "You didn't mention this to the Death Eater did you?"
"No." Hermione said. "Trust me, he doesn't know where we are going."
Just to be sure, they both cast strong no tracking spells on themselves then continued onto the train. Before they got there, Malfoy stopped and stuck his arm out to hail a cab.
"Only Kings Cross will get you there." He said, climbing into the back of a taxi.
"We have to work on our communication." Hermione grumbled, sitting down beside him. Malfoy smirked at her then told the cab driver where they wanted to go. The rain smacked down on the roof, and against the window.
Hermione rested her head on the back of her seat at watched London getting soaked outside. The car splashed through the large puddles. "Horrible weather inet?" the cab driver said, turning a corner.
(A/N: I know inet isn't a real word but just incase you cant tell, it says, "Isnt it." Its just slang I suppose.)
"Yes." Hermione said. Malfoy seemed to have no intention to speak to the cab driver.
"So where are you to headin?" the cabbie asked. "Out into the country where its not rainin' so much?"
Malfoy was about to tell the cabbie to just shut up and drive the car, but Hermione gently elbowed him. "No, we're just going to visit a friend of ours."
"That's nice. You two together?"
"We're engaged." Malfoy answered, smirking as Hermione shot him a deathly look.
"Aww." The cabbie made another turn then rolled to a stop in the traffic jam. "You set a date?"
"Sometime around Christmas." Malfoy said as Hermione rolled her eyes and looked back out the window as the cab crept forward.
"That's real sweet that is." The cabbie said, smiling at them through his mirror.
"Thank you." Hermione said, smiling at him.
The cab crept forward again, it wipers working double time in the heavy rain. Hermione thought there was a chance they could get flooded. The rain was coming down so heavy, and consistent, that it wouldn't surprise her if the car floated along like a cork. Lightning lit up the sky, and cracked somewhere close by. It was so unexpected that Hermione jumped.
"It's only a storm." Malfoy mumbled, smirking at her.
"Shh you." Hermione said, not looking at him.
Soon after, still stuck in the traffic, the cabbie turned on the radio and began tapping his hands on the steering wheel. Malfoy rolled his eyes, muttered something along the lines of "Oh for the love of Merlin" And looked out the window.
Hermione folded her arms across her chest and briefly wondered what Andy was going to do when he woke up and found he had been stiffed for the hotel bill. Maybe she should have ordered him an expensive breakfast…
The cab rolled forward, then suddenly sped up as the traffic started moving, but soon they had to stop again. There was another ten minutes of crawling, before they moved along smoothly. It took them half an hour from here to move through London before the cab pulled up outside Kings Cross Station.
Hermione paid the cabbie, then she and Malfoy walked into the station, heading over to a man in one of the ticket stands. As Hermione didn't know where they were heading, Malfoy took charge and spoke to the man. After a moment, he handed them two tickets and told them to go to platform 12. It felt odd for Hermione to not be going to platform 9¾.
They moved further into the station and soon found platform 12. The train was due to arrive in twenty minutes.
(A/N: please, if you live in London, and there is no platform 12, or its not a country train…I'm sorry- remember, I don't live on that continent!! Just bare with me!)
Hermione sat down on a bench and a second later Malfoy sat next to her. She watched as the Londoners around them as they carried shopping bags, brief cases, children and luggage. Hermione missed her simple life- okay, that was a stretch, her life never was simple, but it was at least simpler then this!
Malfoy chose to examine his fingernails while he waited. He wondered what Pansy would say when he turned up to her family's estate with Granger in tow. Probably nothing pleasant, or PG.
When the train eventually arrived, Hermione led the way into one of the silver carts. She managed to snag two seats and sat down next to the window. The cart was nearly full, though when malfoy sat down, he promised the crowd will be practically gone by the time they were within cooee of the village. When Hermione asked why, Malfoy simply offered her a knowing smirk and looked away.
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked out the window as the train began to slowly roll forward and move away from the platform. After five minutes, when Malfoy had enough time to gather his thoughts, he turned to Hermione.
"I think you should go in disguise to Pansy's estate."
"Pardon me?" Hermione asked, tearing her eyes away from the frightening storm outside the window.
"Pansy isn't going to be very cooperative if you are there." Malfoy said, staring her down with a 'This isn't up for discussion.'
"I don't care if she isn't or is. I will get what I want." Hermione said. "Besides, how do you think Harry would have done it? She would be the same with him."
"No she-" Malfoy cut himself off. The truth was, in school, towards the end, Pansy had begun to think Potter was an interesting specimen, but her pureblood ties, friends, and family held her back. However, that didn't stop her from looking.
"What?" Hermione asked, sensing there was something on the tip of his tongue that he wasn't sharing.
"Never mind- just do what I ask, this once."
Hermione sighed dramatically but nodded. "Fine. I'll dress up."
"Good." Malfoy said.
"I
suppose my name will be Roxanne." Hermione said, glancing quickly
out the window as a huge roll of thunder caused the train to shudder.
"And why am I coming with you? Or at least, what will you tell
her?"
"I dunno- you are a crazy woman, who wants to join something dark and dangerous, and my mother passed you on to me, charging me with the task."
Hermione raised an eye brow at this quickly formed lie. "Right- but wont she know about your escape from Azkaban?"
"She didn't know I was in there. Only my mother did." Malfoy said, strumming his hands on the chair rests.
"Well then shouldn't you contact her?" Hermione asked. "And let her know you are safe?"
"Maybe if we have time." Malfoy said casually.
"Don't be ridiculous. We can make time- she's your mother malfoy." Hermione said pressingly, looking at him and wondering if there was another tale behind this piece of news that he wasn't sharing.
Malfoy glanced at her with a mixed expression that Hermione couldn't read. "Maybe."
Sensing that this was where the topic was to drop, Hermione decided to talk about something else. "Well what about these Searers?"
"What about them?" malfoy asked, flicking damp hair out of his eyes.
"Are you going to meet them with me?" Hermione ventured.
"I don't see why I should. I'm not in this for glory, or to stop Voldermort." Malfoy had lowered his voice. "I just want to be left alone, with my family's reputation in tack."
"It will be- who knows, maybe the respect will grow. Come on malfoy, this is a chance for you to be the hero, not Harry." Hermione said, even though it killed her…because she didn't know why Harry couldn't be the hero even though he hated it. But someone has to be the Hero.
Malfoy snorted. Yeah. Why would he want to be the hero?
Because Potter stopped that from happening in school, an annoying little voice told him. Granger is right, like always- this is your chance!
Malfoy shook his head to stop the voice, a gesture that Hermione didn't see. He sighed, still thinking of his answer. If he helped, Granger was right- he would become the Hero because he helped destroy one of Voldermort's strongest allies, but people may come to believe he should do more…although it would be nice to de-thrown Potter for once. He really should give Granger an answer- he looks like a fool just sitting there while her question hung in the air.
"I'll think about it." Was all he said in response.
Hermione sighed, apparently satisfied that she at least had him thinking of it. Even she was still thinking about backing out. If she was going into this network with Harry, then she wouldn't hesitate because she knew Harry would protect her if something were to go wrong, but with Malfoy…well there was always a chance he could ditch her to save his own skin. But for some reason, there was a tiny voice in her head that doubted he would do that- too much of a gentleman.
After all, the voice continued. Remember what he did last night? He put himself between you and the attacking men. He even got hurt doing so. Hell, he could have pushed you in front to protect himself yet he didn't! You underestimate him.
Fortunately, Hermione often listened, and agreed with this inner voice. And here, right now, she didn't disagree on any particular point. She would never admit it, but she did actually owe her life, and probably the attachment of her limbs to the man sitting next to her, in his appearance disguise and who was looking at an IPod on the opposite isle with a quizzical expression.
"Thank you." Hermione said, holding back a smile as she realized he didn't know what an IPod was.
"For what?" Malfoy asked, tearing his eyes away from the odd little white rectangle.
"For saving my life last night. You put yourself in danger when you didn't have to." Hermione said, realizing how smooshy that sounded but didn't care. She at least was telling him what she thought and was prepared for the laughter that he was sure to produce.
Malfoy glanced at her and was silent a moment. "Don't take it personally…it's not within a Malfoy to back away from a threat. But don't you go start thinking I like you or anything. I was just being a gentleman."
Hermione smiled in relief, glad that he wasn't going to tease her. "Well I'm just saying thank you,"
"You're wel- wont happen again you know."
Hermione nearly laughed. "I hope there isn't another situation when it could happen."
Malfoy shrugged. "this isn't going to be a walk in the park Granger. This gang means business, and so does Voldermort. You should expect to walk out of this with a few near death experiences, if you come out alive that is."
Hermione rolled her eyes- a brief shining moment of niceness between them, then his mouth. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."
Malfoy just shrugged in response. "Better to be wise then ignorant.'
"I never was ignorant thank you." Hermione said, looking back out the window.
They traveled in silence for about fifteen minutes, when Hermione turned to look at Malfoy to see him staring at the Ipod again. "It plays music." She said softly.
Malfoy, who had been wondering what the IPod was, but wasn't going to ask, just looked at her and nodded.
"I wanted to ask you something." Hermione said, fiddling with her jacket. "But I don't want to offend you."
Malfoy was about to snap back with a smart comment like "you're entire being offends me," but just waved a hand in a gesture of 'just ask it.'
"Okay, but you don't have to answer if you don't want to." Hermione said, treading carefully. She had a feeling they were on smooth ground for the moment, nothing like school, and she didn't want to be the one to make it rocky. Having him on her side for this would be useful not to mention practical.
Malfoy sighed. "Just ask the damn question Granger."
Hermione nodded and took a deep breath. It was a question that had played on her mind over and over, and she wasn't sure if Malfoy would answer though she really wanted him to. "Okay. Remember in Azkaban when you said you were there because you had information you weren't sharing?"
Malfoy slowly nodded, wondering where she was going with this. If it were along the lines of did he know anything about Searers, then no, he hadn't known. Besides, didn't she think he would have told her if he had? He wouldn't make this any more difficult on his behalf.
"And then you mentioned you weren't really a Death Eater." Hermione said, seeing him nod again. "Well, I assume you want to hide away until the war is over, but that means you aren't with Voldermort any longer because you said you don't want anything to do with this whole thing."
Malfoy was now waiting for her to actually make a point.
"Voldermort doesn't strike me as the type to let people just leave him…how did you?"
Oh. So that was her question. Merlin, talk about something he may not want to answer!
"It's a long story." Malfoy said, preferring to leave that part of his history alone, and in the tiny volt in his mind that he had vowed never to open.
"We have plenty of time." Hermione delicately pointed out. "that's if you want to tell it." She added quickly.
Malfoy sighed then waited a moment so his words would come out in sentences. "Alright fine. I'll summarize. Voldermort told me to watch a family. Simple enough. I collected notes on them, watched their every move and passed the information on to Voldermort. Soon, the Death Eaters turned up and wiped the entire family out. I quickly got over my disgust and soon found myself in another job."
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the back of the seat in front of him like it was a movie and he was simply translating it for Hermione.
"Slowly my jobs became more important, and as they were, I gathered more information on everything. Instead of just gathering information, I was traveling the country, gathering recruits, going undercover to sass out what certain people knew…stuff like that. Then came the night when I was partnered up with a guy my age, who was tougher, meaner, colder and ruder then I ever could be- yes, such a being exists."
He smirked at Hermione, who gave him a half smile.
"Anyway, after some suspicisons, I eventually found out that he was going to betray Voldermort, and exchange information with the Ministry. When I confronted him, not threatening mind you, he attacked. We got into a massive fight, completely destroying the home we were hiding in, the magic we both used turned it to rubble by the end. Anyway, I didn't kill him, but he was close."
Hermione's eyes were wide. Malfoy glanced at her, and saw a sparkle of fear in her eyes.
"What? You would have done the same after you got sick of being tortured and have the killing curse fly over your head repeatedly- that bastard killed my bird!"
Hermione wasn't sure if he was trying to add a little humor, so she didn't smile or even react in the slightest way. She just waited patiently for him to continue.
"Anyway, Voldermort had sensed something wasn't right, and sent a few Death Eaters to pick us up before the Muggles had much time to call for help. I told Voldermort, after I had recovered, everything I had learned, and then later on I was told Voldermort had killed the boy himself. Betrayal is not something Voldermort takes lightly."
"But if he held you in high regard, as I also know he rewards those faithful to him, then how come you're here?" Hermione asked when Malfoy paused for a minute.
"Voldermort may hate betrayal, and so do the Death Eaters, but they also stick together and hate those who rat others out. Voldermort knew his other followers wouldn't be too friendly to me, so he decided to cut me loose. I had too much information for him to just completely forget, but he knew I wouldn't talk- I, like all Malfoys, keep my word and he knew that. And he couldn't kill me because there was no fit reason, and I had been loyal to him. He told me he had thought about it- one loss compared to glory he said, but knew it would be a mistake so he let me go with the knowledge that if I ever did talk, I would be hunted down like a dog and suffer a fate worse than death."
Hermione didn't speak or move for a full minute. It did make sense, kind of, though she couldn't understand why Voldermort would take such a risk. Then again, she knew what he said was true, Malfoy would suffer if he talked. But it did make Voldermort appear slightly, very slightly, more human.
"Now that I told you," Malfoy said, glaring at her with eyes that made Hermione recoil slightly. "I shall give you the same warning- tell anyone anything, and I will hunt you down."
Hermione nodded. She had no reason to talk- he had saved her life and had shared dangerous information with her. She may not be a pureblood bound by honor, but she was Hermione Granger damn it, and she knew when she should keep things to herself. In fact, you could tell her something, and she would never, ever repeat it.
"Good." Malfoy said, his gaze softening slightly. "So now you know. There wasn't some horrible battle where I fought my way out, I didn't only just escape with my life." Malfoy smirked. "Not quite the interesting tale you were imaging what it?
"It was more interesting then you think," Hermione said softly, then looking back out the window.
Soon after, Hermione, rocked by the gentle swaying of the train, and the calming sound of rain against her window, fell asleep. A while after that, Malfoy too closed his eyes and began to nap.
Holy Cow that was long!!
Many things happened, and things explained about Malfoy. I know some of it may have been "Oh come on." But I did my best. I didn't want Voldermort to have lost his viciousness, and this way, he was rewarding Malfoy in a way.
So let me know what you think!!
The plot is thicker then I originally planned, but who cares. It hopefully will make for an interesting story- cant have our two heros suddenly stumbling on Harry and the story is over. I need time for romance to blossom people!! hehehehe.
Ok. I'm off to write the next chapter.
R&R
Aj