Hello lovelies! I am so sorry for uploading this late. There is a chapter that I inserted and I wanted to finish that first before uploading a new chapter. I hope you guys would enjoy this new chapter. Have fun!
Chapter 7 – The Man Behind the Door
When Hermione woke up and was greeted by that beautiful morning, she had almost forgotten that there was a war. It was one of those days when the sun gave light but not warmth, so she indulged herself with the comfort of her bed for a little while. Hermione buried herself in her blankets, willing to get lost in the wonders that surrounded her. But she was already awake and it was too late to put her mind back to rest.
She decided to get up and to admire the beauty of the place. She wanted to get lost for a few minutes, to steal some moments of reprieve from the wretchedness of war. She fixed her bed and went down to the kitchen. She made tea and waited for the pot to emit vapor. She inhaled, engrossing herself in the spicy and bitter aroma of Earl Grey. She poured herself a cup, got her coat and went outside.
It was barely after dawn. She could make out the ball of flame, emitting light from somewhere faraway. She was thankful for small blessings. She was grateful for the beauty of the place and for the almost non-existent warmth of the rays of the sun. She stared at the horizon as the teal sky was painted with shades of yellow. She admired the waters of the Strait of France, so blue, mirroring the magnificent sky. She let her eyes rest on the lighthouse, standing tall amidst waves of sapphire. She appreciated how it served as a beacon to seafarers, how it prevented ships and boats alike from getting lost. She wished for her very own guiding light, something or someone to help her survive the war so she could go back to her old life.
Her old life. Hermione sighed. She knew she was treading on dangerous waters the moment she realized she used old and life in the same sentence. It hurt her to no end to think about her past and look at her present. How her parents were still a part of her being even though they had no recollection of her. Small tears fell from her eyes. She wiped them with the back of her hand. Internally, she fought the sadness and the misery but tears still threatened her eyes.
She decided to whisper, "Hermione, you can do this." It didn't seem good enough. She was still unconvinced, still feeble. She repeated it, this time louder. "You can do this, Hermione." Tears were still looming in her eyes. She yelled, breaking the serenity of the surroundings, adding a flaw to the perfect paradise, "I can do this!"
In that moment, everything seemed to stop. The sun rose completely, engulfing her in its rays. She smiled and thanked the heavens for gifting her with a safe and picturesque haven. She let some moments pass. Then, she decided to go back to the house to do her duties and lose herself in an entirely different set of thoughts.
Bravery was something that Hermione knew she possessed. Hell, she was sorted into Gryffindor and that ought to mean something, right? But as time passed by, she realized reading about bloodshed did not exactly prepare one for being a part of it. She was afraid, terrified even, but she could not tell anyone, because in a war, there was no place for fear. She knew she needed to be brave. But fear was a sly enemy and it crawled into one's being when one could not fight back-in moments alone, in dreams-leaving one defenseless and paralyzed after the encounter.
She felt grateful that she, Harry, and Ron were not sent into battles just yet, but her gratitude triggered guilt. This feud was because of her, was for her, she believed. Not really for Hermione Jean Granger, but for the Muggle-borns, the Mudbloods as the other side called them. This was more her fight than those who constantly risked their lives during battles, like Moody, Lupin or even Harry, because they had magical blood and she did not. Still, she could not help but be grateful and feeling even an ounce of that brought about a wave of self-reproach. So when Tonks asked her to keep company with their house guest, who was strangely locked behind a door, she gladly did. She needed to become useful, to feel that she was not just consuming space in Andromeda's house, for her to wash away the guilt that had been consuming her completely.
Hermione did everything impeccably. She always exceeded expectation so when she was asked to accompany the man behind the door, she planned to do as told and even more. Hermione prepared breakfast for herself and for the stranger. The truth was as much as she hated not knowing how to do things, she had no idea how she was going to attend to someone that she was not allowed to see. She thought that they could eat simultaneously while she was free and he in isolation. She was not asked to feed him, but she did not think it was possible to remain sane while starving.
For a moment, Hermione considered the possibility that this person could be one of the enemy, a prisoner. She brushed it off as soon as she thought it, because Tonks would never ask her to keep a captive company; maybe to guard, but not to mingle with. In the end, she decided that she would help this man, both for Tonks and for her own sanity.
Hermione knocked on the door. "Hello. Good morning. Are you up?" She pressed her ear against the wooden door and she heard a soft grunt. She waited for more reactions from the other side of the door, but nothing came.
"Hello, again. I need you to say something if you're already up," she said with a soft voice.
"Go away." He sounded weak with his voice barely audible.
Her eyes were wide and filled with shock as she asked, "Malfoy?"
She did not know how or why she knew that voice. They rarely talked and the words he uttered were always ones of insult. She did not understand why that voice stirred something in her, something unexplainable. She assumed it was anger and rage. After all that he had done, she was bound to be furious. She experienced a lot because of this person, years worth of taunting and discrimination. It would be fine if it was only her that was harmed, if everything ended with the poison that came from his mouth. But he let the Death Eaters in Hogwarts, leaving many injured and Dumbledore gone forever.
"Go away." His voice was tired but the words were uttered fiercely.
For a moment, she doubted her assumptions. But in the next, she was positive. She knew that voice. How it ridiculed her every chance he got. Suddenly, the wounds that she buried deep were fresh once again. The blame for everything that happened at the end of their sixth year awoke in her senses. She felt the pounding of her heart and her breathing that seemed to follow each other without stop. She was enraged and her fury was taking a toll on her. She placed one hand on his door and tried to control her breathing to calm herself.
"I will leave your food. I will just look for Tonks. I will leave, but you need to eat." Her voice was stern and uncaring but confusion was getting the best of her.
Hermione frantically searched the house, feeling a sense of panic. She remembered the woman she saw upon her arrival. Thoughts raced in her mind, making her dizzy. She tried to open all the doors in the house. She pressed her ear to each one but heard nothing. She decided to check downstairs. She went to the kitchen but it was empty as well. Finally, she decided to go to the study. Her hands were already on the brass knob when she heard voices.
"But he is family, Mad-Eye! I promised my sister that I would look after him. He will not be treated as a prisoner." The voice was regal and stern. It was clear that the woman meant what she said and would not be swayed to believe otherwise.
"Sister?" Mad-Eye huffed. His eyes traveled to the door and he exclaimed, "Someone is behind the door." Like clockwork, the door burst open and revealed a very nervous Hermione. "Miss Granger, it is not polite to snoop around." Mad-Eye shot her a look that made her cringe.
It took Hermione a while before she could answer. She had only encountered Mad-Eye a few times and each time he never failed to intimidate her. For one breath, she had forgotten that she was a Gryffindor and wanted to hide in her room. In the end, she kept her head up to prove that she did nothing wrong.
"I just wanted to talk to Tonks about the man behind the door," Hermione paused. "This was the last place that I checked. I was afraid that I would be interrupting something important if I asked for her. I was about to leave, really. I'm sorry," Hermione muttered with a very apologetic voice. She did not want Mad-Eye angry. Hermione was afraid enough of the Auror during his normal days. She was sure that Mad-Eye being furious at her would just do wonders for her terror.
"It's okay, Mad-Eye. Hermione needs to be a part of this conversation. I gave her the task of accompanying him," Tonks explained anxiously.
"What?" Mad-Eye gasped and paused for a moment. "You plan to waste Hermione's talents watching over that vile creature you call your family? He is a threat to the Order. He is a Death Eater! You know what he has done. You were there, Nymphadora," Mad-Eye jeered, his voice full of contempt and malice.
"Do not call me-" Tonks snarled but stopped herself and inhaled. "He did not kill Dumbledore. He is family, Mad-Eye. My mother is right," Tonks said in a low and worried voice.
Hermione kept quiet. Although she believed that she could partake in adult discourse, she was certain that she must be not included in this one. Her principle did not stop her thoughts, while she was silent, her mind was taking part in the conversation. Apparently, she and Mad-Eye had the same sentiment but the Tonkses believed otherwise. How could she have forgotten that Andromeda was Narcissa's sister? That somehow, Tonks and Malfoy were cousins.
"Why do you care about him now, Andromeda? I thought you were estranged from your family? Hadn't they disowned you because you married a Muggle-born?" Mad-Eye questioned, evidently intrigued with the situation.
"Do not act like you know everything, Mad-Eye." Andromeda gave the Auror a glare so deadly, Hermione could not believe that Mad-Eye was still looking at her after. Andromeda continued, "He will not be treated as a prisoner. Being that this is my home, I do not even understand why we are still having this discourse," Andromeda declared. For Hermione, hearing that voice with such certainty must be the end of the conversation.
"Your house, which you volunteered for the Order!" Mad-Eye protested. "I do not trust the boy. He is a danger to all of us."
"He is not a threat, Mad-Eye!" Tonks was getting irritated by Mad-Eye's hyper-vigilance. It seemed like the repeated discussion was wearing on her and dulling the edges of her patience.
"The boy does not remember. I do not know what my sister removed from his mind, but he does not remember enough to choose to be against us. His life is in danger, You-Know-Who wants him dead. He is not safe in his own home. Do you just expect me to stand idly by as my sister suffered while her son is in danger?" Andromeda burst out while tears were falling from her eyes. "Be kind, Mad-Eye. Have sympathy for my sister and her son. Especially the boy, could you imagine not being able to remember anything about yourself, to lose everything that you are, to have no idea what is important?"
There was a split-second when Hermione thought that the Auror would yell back at Andromeda. She was dumbfounded when all Mad-Eye gave was silence and a turn towards the door. Mad-Eye never backed down for he never lost a fight… until now. Defeated, he left the three women alone.
Andromeda, Hermione and Tonks were stunned by Mad-Eye's sudden abandonment of the argument. They all knew that in battle, it was his word always. But for the first time in so many years, it was Andromeda, a woman who deeply cared for her sister and a woman who wanted to keep her nephew safe, who won.
With the argument and Mad-Eye suddenly heading out, Hermione did not fully hear what Andromeda said about Malfoy. She had wanted to ask but only silence was left between the three of them. Hermione battled with herself whether or not she should break the silence but curiosity got the better of her. "Would somebody please help me understand?"
"Mother, I do not really understand. I think you should explain to Hermione." Tonks looked at Andromeda, waiting for a response.
"As you've heard, my nephew is currently residing here and he will continue to do so until the end of the war." Andromeda gazed at Hermione.
"Mal-Draco?" Hermione gasped. She did not understand why she was so surprised. Maybe being sure and having another person confirm it were two entirely different things, she thought.
"Yes. Draco, son of my youngest sister, Narcissa, and that bastard of a man, Lucius." Moments ago, Andromeda was almost sad but the mention of Lucius made her eyes like fire. She took a deep breath to control her temper.
"Miss Granger, if you could accompany my nephew while you are here, that would be most appreciated."
"I don't know…" Hermione stammered. "I'm sorry." Hermione looked to her feet. She knew she needed to become useful but she was not sure if she could handle being around Malfoy.
"I am sorry, Hermione, but only you are here. Harry is still at Privet Drive and Ron is at the Burrow. I will do my part in caring for him, but I need to leave from time to time. Ted and I have urgent matters that require our attention. And Dora has even more pressing business to take care of." Andromeda's eyes did not leave Hermione. She waited for Hermione to look at her again.
She didn't know if she should say what she was thinking but she decided to anyway. She closed her eyes briefly before saying, "I agree with Mad-Eye." She tried to take her eyes off her feet but she realized she couldn't, once she uttered the words. "Even if I didn't, he hates me: my blood and all. Besides, even though he sounds weak, I do not think he needs me," Hermione protested.
Andromeda sighed. "He does not remember anything so whatever disputes you two shared in the past are all forgotten. My sister did not give up her son and take away his memories to become our enemy. She wants Draco to start anew, in a world that he was never a part of. You have to trust me on this Miss Granger. I will never do anything to sabotage our cause. I refuse to be the reason for our side to lose. Draco is here as my nephew, not a refugee of war and most certainly not a Death Eater." Andromeda's voice was hopeful. "Please help him."
"I still don't understand. Dumbledore was murdered. They succeeded. Why would they want Mal-Draco dead?" Hermione felt too uncomfortable to ask Draco's expectant aunt. She looked at Tonks inquisitively.
It took a while before Tonks realized that Hermione was asking her. When she did, she quickly responded, "Draco was tasked to do it. I am sure you know enough, Hermione. Harry was there."
"Yes, he told me, but I still do not understand. If they wanted Dumbledore killed, and they succeeded, wouldn't it be futile to take Mal—Draco's life?" She pressed further.
This time, it was Andromeda who answered. "As you may already know, Draco has the Dark Mark. They did not deem him worthy enough to be a Death Eater. If one could not take a life, what purpose would that person have in their beliefs?" She uttered those words with so much conviction that Hermione could not help but ponder on them.
She fell silent. It seemed that the world had stopped. She had to remember to breath. She inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled. "I will do it."
After her words, stillness filled the room. Andromeda and Tonks smiled at her. She thought of Draco Malfoy, of the boy she went to school with. She remembered Harry's story about the night in the Astronomy Tower, how Malfoy had the chance to kill Dumbledore. The Headmaster was defenseless; he just needed to say "Avada Kedavra"and he could have been the most celebrated Death Eater. Instead, he lowered his wand. Now, he was suffering because of the choice he made. She considered the idea that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't evil after all.
A ray of sunlight entered the room. Hermione never understood Draco Malfoy but in that moment, everything seemed clearer.
Of course, reviews are loved! I also would like thank my lovely betas, Ariana and Daena for helping me with this story!