Draco Malfoy and His Quest to Sensibility

by cleury

Chapter XXI

Though Jean Kidd didn't specify where to go, Draco apparated near to the house at the Moore. It was a good thing he had had a feeling he was going to come here again, as he had remembered carefully the specific details of the place. Hermione and Draco appeared in the area with a sharp clap. Both of them wobbled for a moment, before regaining their bearings.

As they moved uphill and through the field of long grass, he spoke. "Even though I brought you here, I don't want them to see you."

They marched towards the house, and they did so at a great pace, but as quiet as a mouse. Right now they had the element of surprise, and there was no need to give their enemy the advantage by alerting them to their presence. Draco looked up to the sky, and saw thunder clouds; things were ominous at best. He just hoped those ominous signs were meant for Jean Kidd, and not them.

"You don't think I can hold up on my own?" she asked, slightly indignant at the idea of herself playing the damsel protected by a strong man.

"No," he said as he scowled, realizing Hermione was a take-charge kind of girl who refused to be left out of a fight. Of course she would be! "I just don't want to have to look after you."

"You won't have to," she said,and stopped with her hands on hips. Apparently they weren't going to advance any further without resolving the matter. "I fought in a war. I can take care of myself."

He shook his head and didn't argue any further. "Just remember, apparate away if it gets too dangerous." Though he was out for blood, and Jean Kidd was more stupid than the Weasel King—if that was possible—he couldn't underestimate his fighting prowess. Jean Kidd didn't become one of the most fearsome pirates of the modern era by handing out cookies to his competitors.

She snorted, unconvinced. They were a few meters from the house now; Draco put a finger on his lips and pulled out his wand from his pocket. Hermione already held hers in her beside the window and slowly peeked in, careful not to expose anymore of himself than necessary. She ducked to the other side and peered in too.

"There's someone there!"

"They don't call you smart for nothing!"

"Is this the time for sarcasm?" she asked. "We're here for Crooks."

Draco nodded curtly and peered into the window again. "Okay, remember the plan."

"Yeah," she said as she waved her hand. Hermione appreciated an essay plan, or a library floor plan, but when it came to action and fighting, she found that no plan was the best plan. When she and Harry were finding Hocruxes and fighting Voldemort, anything they decided in advance was scrapped the moment something changed. It was positively tiring to prepare for something only to have it completely changed. "We go in, slaughter the blasted cat-napper, and rescue Crookshanks."

Draco's voice trembled slightly. "Metaphorical slaughter, right?"

"No."

Draco spluttered.

Hermione turned to face him, her face incredulous. "Of course I meant metaphorically."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "I was worried there for a moment. I know saving Crookshanks is important, but I don't want to be living with my father in Azkaban for the rest of my life."

She shook her head exasperated. "Seriously, Draco, sometimes you say the darndest things."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you referring to a Muggle TV show?"

Now it was her turn to raise an eyebrow. "Yes." She shook her head; this was not the time to talk about TV shows. Right now, they had a cat to rescue. "Come on, let's go." She leapt forward and rushed to the door. Draco pulled her back and flung her to the side.

"Even though you're the First Wife,you have to listen to me," he said. He pointed his wand directly at the door and knocked. "You stay on the side; I promise you'll get to hex him later."

A few seconds later, the door opened.

The instant the door opened, Draco swished his wand and completed his incantation.

"Stupefy!" he yelled, red light bursting from his wand. But the red light ricocheted, and hit Draco on the shoulder, sending him flying backwards. He landed on the ground with a thump, and heard a sickening crack. Fortunately, it wasn't his wand armthat was sending signals of agony to his brain, so he was still in commission. Apparently Jean Kidd wasn't as stupid as he thought, and Draco was annoyed that he had underestimated his intelligence.

"Good one, you might've got me with that," said Jean Kidd, deactivating his shield charm. He continued pointing his wand at Draco inching closer towards him and picked up Draco's wand. "Too bad I set up detection wards around my house. I can tell when people are approaching."

"Where's Crookshanks?" snarled Draco. "Tell me now!"

"Now, now," said Jean, his wand still trained on Draco. "You must be patient. If you don't follow as I say, I promise you'll never see your beloved cat again. If you want to know where he is, then follow me inside."

Draco saw Hermione scamper into building, and groaned loudly to keep Jean's attention. Jean made Draco stand in front of him, and kept his wand trained at his neck. Draco made his way into the house slowly, pausing as he reached the doorframe of the house. He checked out the interior of the house, and there was no sign of anyone. Good, Hermione hid herself in time.

"I'm not going to do anything until you tell me where Crookshanks is," he said loudly. He hoped Hermione would understand what he was trying to tell her. Don't do anything until we have secured Crookshanks.

"Yes, yes. If you listen to me, your disgusting cat will be there soon." Jean shuffled in from behind and pulled a chair for himself and Draco. "Sit."

Draco obliged. He tried to look for Hermione, but didn't want his eyes to wander just in case he was too obvious. He couldn't see any good hiding place in front of him, and concluded she must be hiding behind where he was sitting. He was bad for them, as it meant that Jean Kidd would be able to see any potential movement Hermione would make.

"Did you bring the map?"

"Yes, but I want to see Crookshanks alive and well first."

Jean laughed and shook his head. "You must think I'm stupid. I must admit, the first time I severely underestimated you and your friend. Don't think I'll do so again."

"The cat first," said Draco, his voice cold as ice.

Jean whistled. "At first I couldn't believe you would like such an ugly thing, but you seem quite attached to it."

"It's the inside that counts," admitted Draco.

Jean whistled and smiled. "Show me the Magic Routes first."

"It's in my pocket." said Draco. "You can take it out if you don't trust me."

Jean smiled. "Well, well! You've stopped underestimating me now? I had a feeling you were looking down at me. Snobby high-class boy snubbing poor commoners who can't read or write."

Draco tried his best to keep his face neutral as Jean Kidd approached him. The man kept his eyes and wand trained on his captive, moving withcaution and precision. There was no chance for Draco to pounce and reclaim his wand. Jean reached into his left pocket and pulled a scroll from Draco's pocket. "This it?"

Draco almost puked at the stench of his breath. The shit fairy lives in this man's mouth. Draco looked away and Jean cackled when he saw the official Ministry emblem on the side of the scroll.

"The cat," said Draco as Jean returned to his seat. "For the routes to appear, you need to a secret password. I refuse to tell you if you don't show me Crookshanks." His heartbeat quickly. Now, it was a race against time. Jean had to tell him where Crookshanks was before he noticed…

"Fine," said Jean. Draco breathed a sigh of relief as Jean pulled out his silver mirror and ordered his minion. "Bring the cat!"

Several moments later, Crookshanks was in Draco's arms. He smiled, glad to know that the feline was safe and sound. He looked over to Jean, who was none the wiser. He looked up at Jean, who still had the wand in his hand, and was staring at him, smirking.

I could leave now, thought Draco. He could apparate back to safety, even without his wand, before Jean could even blink. Hermione could apparate safely from her hiding place. But Draco's pride didn't want his wand to be left in the dirty hands of Jean Kidd, and he wanted revenge. The pirate had messed with the wrong kind of people.

No, I won't leave now, he finally decided. They still had the upper hand, the authorities were coming—though Jean probably wasn't going to spend any time in Azkaban for kidnapping Crookshanks, Draco could possibly spin it so that Jean would at least get a magical injunction to keep away from his company and Crookshanks.

"Don't look so happy, kid. And I know all about your wand-less Apparition. I set up wards to prevent you from escaping," said Jean, aiming his wand at Draco. "Tell me the pass code."

Or maybe not... It seemed the only way was to forcibly make their way out of there. "Hermione!"

Draco yelled as he dived under the table and he heard Hermione scream Stupefy, then a flash of red light passed above his head. Crookshanks hissed and jumped out of his arms, seeking refuge in the corner of the couch. He saw Jean dive to the floor, hiding behind chairs as Hermione continued to shoot spells at him. Draco rose and leapt across the table, grabbing for his wand, feeling the rush of magic fill him. A spell flew past his ear. "Watch it!"

Jean Kidd appeared right in front of him, and Draco managed to cast a shield spell just in time. He pushed himself off the table and put distance between himself and Jean. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a flash of red.

"For Crookshanks!" she screamed.

TBC.

My cat's name is the battle cry of my soul (that is, if I had a cat and weren't allergic to them). I think this chapter would have come out sooner if I wasn't so obsessed with Veronica Mars, the series is excellent, the plot is captivating and I love the main character, she's tenacious.