A/N: So yes, lots of heavy filler in the last chapter, but... yeah, no. It had to be done, and more heaviness is below (albeit more exciting and important to the plot I think... and more Draco/Hermione time!). Thank you to my lovely reviewers :) feedback is always much appreciated and seriously makes me write faster. Hope none of you minded the wait and having an OC for their department head. I switched the rating to M as a sweeping precaution and I pretty much scrapped the plan I had for this chapter to start with. Kinda. Ish... You'll see.

Disclaimer: Not mine, except for the plot and OC's I come up with. Happy now? I'm not.


Friday Evening, March 31, 2000

Apparating into the tastefully decorated entrance hall of Malfoy Manor with her bottomless overnight-bag in hand, holding on tight to Draco, Hermione was taken aback by how different everything seemed. Rich, warm woods and gorgeous paintings complemented Slytherin green walls, and a grand staircase built of multicolored marble led up to the rest of the house. Little alcoves could be seen on the second floor, containing various bronzes set upon plinths, and vases full of fresh spring flowers. Slowly letting go of the man beside her, Hermione asked if it had looked like this before, not trusting the rushed, anxiety-ridden memories she had formed from her last visit.

"No, not at all. It was mostly solid-black marble with green and silver accents scattered throughout. Very cold. Lots of snobbish family portraits, and most of the rooms were rather too opulent - for my tastes anyway. Now as you can see, it's really quite cozy. Mum had a field day redecorating everything," he said with a smile, remembering his mother's enthusiasm and how the process had helped purge so many of the terrible memories associated with their home after Voldemort had taken up residence there.

Just then, one of the two enormous fireplaces on either side of the space, the left one, chimed to announce either a Floo call or a visitor coming through. Draco's brow furrowed. "That's odd; most people use owls to contact us here. It's not like they can get in by Floo with the wards un- " Whatever else he was going to say was cut off swiftly as the fireplace roared to life with green flames and Theo practically flew out of it, crashing into the hard floor with a groan. "Unless I've personally made an exception. Such as in Theo's case," Draco finished dryly, thinking his friend should have been more practiced at his landings by now.

Scrambling to his feet at the sound of his name, Theo took the chance to approach and start yelling at them, waving his arms around in an emphatic way that would have been comical were it not for the words pouring out of his mouth almost incoherently. Attempting to steer them toward the fireplace, he shouted, "You two! Come on, get your arses moving! You need to get out of here! If we know then they'll know! We need to get back to the office right now to get you to a safehouse! Your Mum's missing, Drake; we had an Auror following her around but someone strung him up and took your Mum right out from under us - " This last bit was delivered as Theo managed to wedge all three of them into the large fireplace. Darkly cloaked figures began materializing in front of them and started casting Dark curses, only adding to Draco's surprise. Hermione threw up shield charms while Nott threw down the Floo powder and yelled out their destination, and Draco had only just managed to lift his wand to try to help when the flames engulfed them.

Landing on his feet in the empty DMLE bullpen, but jostled into the nearest desk by Theo who'd been next to him, Draco snarled and kicked viciously at the offending piece of furniture, beginning to see red as the shock of it all wore off. Not only had he just found out his mother had been taken by some seriously sick fucks that fucking hated his guts, but his home was no longer safe. Merlin's tits! The layers of age-old wards protecting the Manor were gone, something that had hitherto seemed like a ridiculous notion. Salazar's shitty fucking goddamn son of a bitchy motherfucking pricks! Deciding to punch the wall this time, his thoughts screamed, Fuck! Fucking bloody BASTARDS!

With his thoughts hazed over with fury at them, at himself for making his Mum a target, and a deep-seated fear for her well-being, Draco felt fully ready to kill someone right then and there. He almost missed the gentle touch on his arm, but his body registered the pressure and turned toward it.

Hermione. He looked at her, his mind clawing its way back to reality as he caught a brief flash of emotion in her eyes. Fear. She was afraid of him.

Draco's rage instantly evaporated. He was absolutely ashamed of himself. He had lost control yet again today, and frightened the woman he loved, probably uprooting whatever budding feelings she had started to harbor for him.

But as he watched her, he could see that quick flash of fear had already been replaced with a fierce set to her tawny eyes that told him she was determined. Determined to do what? She should be looking wary now that I've calmed down, shouldn't she? Instead of backing away, she came closer, holding his gaze and moving her hands up to frame his face. She brought her lips within inches of his own by getting on her tiptoes. "Draco Malfoy, this is not your fault, do you hear me? It's Voldemort and these psychotic racist cells who you need to be blaming, not yourself," she told him in a quiet, listen-to-me-you-idiot tone. "You think you scared me just now?" she asked, raising her eyebrows incredulously and watching his own brows draw together in confusion. Hermione leaned even closer, stopping just short of letting their lips meet. The ghost of her breath tickled him as she whispered, "I was scared for you."

Draco wrapped her up in a tight embrace and leaned in the rest of the way, sealing their lips together in a slow, meaningful kiss. An apology... for acting like a nutter. Just as he tilted her head back to taste her, feeling Hermione's tongue brush against his own, there was a loud, "Ahem," that came from across the room. "As much as I am thrilled for you both, we do happen to be on a rather tight schedule." Theo extended a folded umbrella toward the still-intertwined, blushing pair who looked at it with confusion. "It's the portkey to the safehouse and it leaves in about fifteen seconds," he explained curtly. Eyes widening, they immediately grabbed on, not wanting to get left behind.


So Blaise and the She-Weasel's plan was moot. About goddamn time.

Theodore Nott paced thoughtfully around the living room of the safe house , a large cottage really, and wondered if Draco and Granger were together-enough yet for him to hope that they would share a room. There were only two bedrooms in the place, and he didn't fancy having to sleep on the couch. Which he would do if he had to however because he was a decent person. For the most part. He let out a sigh. His friend had just had a lot thrown at him, and Theo knew he loved his mother dearly.

Draco had flipped out at the office, and that would have been quite understandable had it been anyone else, but this was Draco. He just didn't do those sorts of things, losing it and punching walls like a normal, infuriated male. Theo would know, after sharing a dormitory with him for six years.

Quickly grabbing the portkey and case file to share with them later, he had turned back to see Hermione step up to the tall, livid blond with her hand outstretched. The words formed in Theo's mouth to warn her back, but then she touched the man's arm and Draco practically deflated like a balloon. Interesting. In a surprisingly tender manner, Granger then proceeded to tell him off about something - Theo couldn't understand their low tones to know exactly what was being said - and then they started snogging. Fantastic, he couldn't help but snark in his head, unable to quell the slight stab of jealousy that sprang up in him.

Theo had turned to watch the clock instead of the lip locked couple, giving them privacy while counting down the seconds to when the portkey became active. Just how Caphette had connected their portkey to activate ten minutes after an anti-theft charm was set off at the Manor, signaling their arrival, he was unsure, but it was genius. The old Auror still knew his way around a wand.

Theo's pacing was interrupted by Hermione calling out that dinner was ready. He would have cooked for them himself, but Granger had insisted and he gave in, knowing that his own skills in the kitchen needed work. Draco's are probably nonexistent, he thought with small smirk. Coming to the table where a simple meal of spaghetti with marinara sauce and canned green beans was laid out on three plates, he sat down on one end and waited for the other two to take their seats. A newly showered Draco came in just as Hermione sat next to Theo, a glass of water in her hand.

Taking his place on the other side of Hermione, Draco broke the tentative silence first. "The Auror guarding my Mum, who was he?" he asked, apprehension coloring his tone.

Theo retained his calm mask in the face of the questions he'd known were coming, but swallowed nervously and paused before he spoke. "I would have rather left that until after dinner, but then you'd only think the absolute worst if I didn't give you an answer... Granger, I'm sorry, it was one of the people you knew pretty well. Seamus Finnegan." Hermione inhaled sharply, her already wide eyes filling to the brim with tears that slowly, quietly began to spill over; Draco, hating himself for his inability to let the topic lie until after they'd eaten, moved his chair closer to wrap his arm around her shoulders and bring her to his chest. Theo solemnly excused himself to the couch in the living room, taking his plate and leaving the two to comfort each other.

Already having had time to process the news, Theo dreaded having to tell them just how Finnegan had died. Nastily, painfully, and with a message. It would probably inspire a repeat performance of tears on Granger's part, and sicken Draco to his core...

Seamus had been gutted like a fish and hanged down in Knockturn Alley. A small piece of heavy, black parchment was pinned on his chest, reading, 'Your Mum for the Mudblood,' in a swirly, silver script. It had been signed in silver wax imprinted with a sickle.

Theo may not have been aware of Draco's exact mission, but he understood enough of his friend's job to know he had pissed off whatever cell he'd been working with up until now. The message could only be directed at Draco considering it was his Mum who had been taken, but the Mudblood bit made Theo wonder... Could that mean Granger? It had to be. But did the cell want her to cause Draco pain, assuming they knew she was at least his partner, if not more, or did they have plans for her? These are Slytherins; of course there are plans for someone that integral in the war effort. Devastating him is just an added bonus.

Nott pondered in silence, finishing his food before heading back to the kitchen to confirm that Granger had indeed cried herself out. Draco was still close to her with his right hand resting on her knee while they ate. Neither spoke when they saw him enter, deposit his plate in the sink, and lean back against the counter with his arms crossed. Why do I have to be the one to do this? Why not Caphette? he thought fervently, wishing that the recently calmed atmosphere could just stay calm.

The two at the table understood Theo's signal that he was ready to talk when they were, so they swallowed their last bites and shifted the chairs around to face him, hands clasped firmly. His mouth turned down in the corners, and his eyes were hooded, imparting a sense of dread.

"Whatever you have to tell us is going to be even worse than someone dying, isn't it?" Hermione posited in a small voice filled with anxiety. "Theo, just spit it out, please."

He sighed helplessly at her plea and began to explain everything that had occurred since that afternoon. "Caphette got your owl earlier and placed Aurors on both Potter's and Granger's flats in Muggle London and in the Weasleys' joke shop in Diagon Alley. He also assigned one Auror to the Manor and a few to the Burrow; they were to explain to Narcissa, Molly, and Arthur that they had to accompany them whenever they wanted to go out, except for Arthur's job at the Ministry. Granger, the Ministry protection on your parents has also been beefed up in case you were wondering." She nodded and he continued. "Narcissa already had plans apparently, so Seamus tagged along shopping with her before she was supposed to meet up with the Greengrasses at a fancy new bistro. She had some business in Knockturn Alley to take care of, and that's where Finnegan was found." As Theo went on to describe the state of Seamus' body, Hermione turned a greenish color and Draco remained outwardly calm, unable to keep from blanching, however, when Theo came to the message all three of them knew was meant for him.

"You're certain the signature was the imprint of a sickle?" he inquired in a strained tone. Theo nodded, handing him the case file that had pictures of the evidence in it. "And you're still not sure how the Manor was stripped of its protections?" Another frustrated nod.

"It's the Sycamore cell, isn't it, Draco? They want me in exchange for your Mum..." Hermione trailed off, her eyes empty and staring but the cogs and gears in her mind grinding away.

"So we're going to have to either go in and get her, forcibly or through trickery, or negotiate with them for something else," Draco stated matter-of-factly.

"Or... We could give them what they want," Hermione supplied thoughtfully, chewing on her lip.

Looks like it's going to be the couch tonight, Theo thought morosely, heading to the bathroom to avoid the entire discussion and hopefully drown it out with a shower if they started yelling.

"Absolutely not," Draco icily declared.

An indignant, "I'm perfectly capable of this!" put a dangerous glint in the blond's eyes and prompted the even-toned rant that cut off her next sentence.

"You'd be all by yourself and surrounded by a bunch of psychotic bastards bent on revenge. They intend to make a public statement with your body. Don't even try to tell me that you're hoping to rely on backup, because these are Slytherins, Hermione. You're valuable so they won't make the place they take you to easy to find or track. Either they would hold you hostage to lure Potty and Weasel out and complete the set, maybe have a bit of fun with you during your stay, or they would torture and rape you relentlessly before cutting you up into tiny bits and delivering said bits in some awful, dramatic fashion that would devastate the Wizarding World. And your friends. And me. It is the worst possible plan, love. Even a reckless Gryffindor like you can understand that just charging into this situation will only get you killed, no matter how adept at taking care of yourself you happen to be."

Her lip curled and anger flashed darkly in her eyes at the blunt words that hurt all the more because they were true. "So since you seem to know so much, what's the plan? Hmm? Just how do you intend on rescuing your mother if you can't even locate them to begin with, partner?" Hermione bit out, bitterly pleased to see Draco flinch at the title she had tacked on at the end. They had agreed that they were seeing each other exclusively following their joint epiphany at her flat, but all the affection she felt for him got tossed to the sidelines when he started trying to tell her how to do her job.

Draco ducked his head and raked a hand through his hair like he always did when frustration took over. "If you give me some time, I'll think of one. Caphette's had a bird's-eye view of this case the whole time so I guarantee he's going to contact us sometime soon with his own ideas."

"Fine," Hermione told him coldly, standing stiffly and still pinning him with a glare. He hated that expression on her face, the one that froze out the compassion and humanity in her eyes, the one that said he had hurt her with his vote of no confidence. It told him he was scum for making her feel like a child.

He certainly felt like scum now, but would not change his position in this argument for anything. He just wanted to to get rid of the look on her face, and decided to sacrifice his pride to tell her the biggest reason he wouldn't condone such a plan. "Hermione... you know the logical choice is not to give yourself up. And it's selfish, but I refuse to give you up. Not for this. Not for a suicide mission. We're going to get my Mum back some other way, but I need you to realize that at this point... you're all I have left."

Draco knew now he had succeeded in melting her chilly attitude. She had bowed her head and squeezed her eyes shut to stop any tears from forming, and when she began speaking again, it sounded shaky and tired more than anything else. "No, I'm not. We may be together but I'm not the only person in your world. You have Blaise and Theo in your support system too."

He moved in front of her and grasped her hands to intertwine their fingers. "I meant out of the two people in my world that I love," he said softly, throwing caution to the wind in his quest to make her understand. Her head snapped up to look into his vulnerable, grey eyes.

"What?" she breathed. "You... love me?" Her eyes were wide and disbelieving, still bright with unshed tears.

"Yes, Hermione. I am in love with you. I don't expect you to say it back right now, but my feelings should have been obvious this morning when I practically shut down on your living room floor."

"But... why did you? Shut down like that, I mean," she inquired curiously, as he shifted closer so that their chests were touching and she had to crane her neck to keep eye contact with him.

"Because I never believed I would be able to love someone, that I was even capable of that. Growing up under my father, knowing all my past mistakes as a Death Eater, all the terrible, nightmarish things I've seen and done in my short time working with these cells, I didn't think anyone could come to really care about me, as emotionally scarred as I am. Until I saw that picture on the wall and realized that my heart wasn't defective, that I did have all of that, and it had been staring me in face this entire time."

"Oh, Draco," she whispered, bottom lip trembling with emotion as she reached up on her toes to give him a soft kiss. He let go of her right hand to tangle his left in her hair, returning the action reverently, passionately, pulling away to kiss her face and neck at times but always returning to her lips. He did his best to memorize her face, the feel of her skin, her unique scent, trying to drink her in while telling her how much she meant to him without words. Her free hand cupped the side of his face, before slipping down his neck to rest flat on his pounding heart.

Pulling back for air and shifting the hand in her hair to rub up and down her back, Draco dropped her other hand now to cover the one on his chest. Looking deeply into her darkened gaze, he said quietly, "It's yours, love. It's all yours."

She took a deep breath, her own chest bursting with a warmth she'd never felt before. To see the naked love and devotion in his eyes, in Draco's silver eyes, directed towards her made her want to laugh and cry and sing all at once. It felt right, like she could drown in those eyes forever. Without overthinking her next actions, she glanced down and maneuvered their hands from his chest to hers, covering his hand and setting it just above her own fast-thumping heart.

Moving her warm chocolate orbs back to his own, which were now filled with an ardent spark of hope, she replied just as quietly, "It belongs to you, Draco." She tilted up to capture his smiling lips once more before whispering, "I love you too."

With a slight groan he buried his face in her shoulder and they hugged each other tightly, each closing their eyes and not noticing when Theo came out of the bathroom, perplexed with the turn of events.

Well I may not have heard screaming, but that still didn't turn out the way I thought it would... The small bedroom for me it is then.


A/N: Woo! You let those emotions OUT Draco :) Anyone up for sexytimes next chapter? I'm still undecided... Don't hurt me if I include them but decide to skim over the details! And who's up for more Theo?