How to Play Nice by WeasleyForMe
Bill finds out that his new work assignment has him paired with Hermione. Can he learn how to play nice with her? Bill/Hermione
Hermione couldn't move. She and Bill had both been stricken silent by what they saw on the map. After a deep, shaky intake of breath, she managed to whisper, "We need to go after them."
Bill watched as Hermione quickly pocketed her wand and started to march to the door.
"Hermione! Don't be crazy, we need a plan first," he said, raking his hands though his hair.
"No, we need to act now," Hermione insisted.
Bill shook his head adamantly. "It's too dangerous. We can't just rush into this! Considering what happened this morning, Hermione… someone broke into your flat!"
"That's exactly the point! We don't have a lot of time!"
Bill sighed, not wanting to argue with her. He felt, this time, that she did have the right idea. He slowly started to nod in agreement when Kingsley swept into her office.
"What is going on in here, Hermione? Edna told me you were running up and down the hallways earlier like a maniac."
"We know where Dennis and Penelope Clearwater are," Hermione quickly answered. "And if you don't mind, I'm going to go get my assistant back right now."
Kingsley stood in the doorway with his arms crossed. "Explain," he said firmly.
Sighing, Bill thrust the map into his hands as Hermione started to explain what they discovered. Bill noticed that she conveniently left out the bit about her apartment being invaded, but he was wise not to comment.
"You're sure about this? All of the Muggle-borns currently in London are on this map?" Kingsley asked, running a finger along the star labeled Hermione Granger.
"It seems that way. See, you and Bill aren't labeled while I am. And over here, see, it says Dennis and Penelope are together," Hermione said, trying to make her point as quickly as possible. She felt like her blood temperature was alternating between boiling up and draining of all warmth.
"And if it's a trap?" Kingsley asked cautiously.
"That's a chance we will just have to take," Bill said, finally siding with Hermione; he even received a small smile from her as he took the map and pocketed it.
"I'll call in the law enforcement group immediately," Kingsley said, and the three of them were already leaving the office.
"We'll get a head start on them," Hermione said, taking Bill by the hand. She didn't wait for a response from her boss before taking off down to the Apparation point.
Apparating into a Muggle inhabited area during the day was all but forbidden by the Ministry, but Hermione vanished herself and Bill and reappeared near Dennis' flat regardless. The clouds had already given way to rain in this end of town, and they quickly ducked under a shop awning upon arrival.
"The street is up that way," Hermione said as she gestured to the left, ready to rush into the unknown.
Bill pulled her close and held her against himself. She looked up into his face, clearly scared, but Bill could also see bravery in her eyes. He kissed her hard, remembering everything from the previous night. He wanted to take her home, make love, and pretend this whole scenario would sort itself out without them. But he knew what they needed to do.
Hermione returned his kiss, but released him almost as quickly. "Let's go," she said, and they both dashed out into the rainy street.
They rushed past many pedestrians before turning onto East Trenneman Street, which turned out to be a much narrower alleyway. They ran as quietly and cautiously as they could manage; every few houses, they would pause to have a look around. Soon, Hermione was pointing to the rundown little row house that she had memorized as being Dennis' address.
Bill grabbed her by the arm and pulled her behind a dumpster. "Let's check the map before we go in," he whispered. Hermione nodded and they quickly found their location. According to the map, Dennis and Penelope were just inside the building across the street.
"Let's check to see if there is a back way inside. If not, I suppose we'll start blasting our way through," Hermione muttered, pushing her dripping wet hair out of her face.
"You're the boss," Bill replied. Before Hermione could answer, she felt a blast of magic rush past her face and hit Bill in the shoulder. He was flung into the middle of the street, landing in a horribly awkward position. Hermione spun around and drew her wand, but before she could raise it all the way, she realized there was another wand aimed at her, just inches away from her nose.
"You make it too easy, Mudblood," came a man's voice from beneath a hooded cloak. Hermione recognized the voice as Gregory Goyle's, and she was nearly certain that he was the man who broke into her flat just hours before. He pulled his hood back, revealing his enormous, beefy neck and smiled maliciously at her.
"No need to waste any magic on her," said one of the Carrow twins who had emerged from behind him.
Goyle nodded in agreement before punching Hermione directly in the nose. She could feel some of the bones in her face shatter before blacking out on the pavement.
Pain shot through Hermione's entire head as she opened her eyes. A kaleidoscope of colours greeted her, and she blinked several times unable make her vision clear. She was sitting against the wall in a dimly lit room; by the smell of it, she was in a musty old basement. She tasted blood in her mouth and was certain that her lip was bleeding down the front of her clothes.
"I was so afraid they'd get you too."
Hermione spun her head to her right and could vaguely make out Dennis sitting next to her. She recognized he was still wearing the clothing she last saw him in at work days ago. She considered his words for a minute.
"How long have you been here, Dennis?" she asked him quietly
He sniffed back some tears and said, "I have no idea. A few days, I guess."
"What have they been doing to you?"
"Well, they alternate between using the Imperius curse on each of us and forcing us to hurt the other," he said, unable to stop himself from crying. "We need to be punished for trying to compete in pure-blood society."
"Who else is here? Just the Carrows and Goyle?" she asked quickly, trying to garner as much information as she could. She felt around in her pocket for her wand, but knew it was useless.
"Yeah, I think so. I haven't seen much of Goyle, but he just took Penelope out of the room, threatening to kill her now that they have you."
Hermione's head was spinning with ideas, and her vision was finally clearing. But, when she went to stand, her head started to pound again.
"I don't want you to worry, Dennis," she said as she steadied herself and took a step around the perimeter of the room, using the wall to aid herself. "Kingsley will be here soon with law enforcement backup. And Bill came with me; maybe he will manage to help us." She knew she was grasping at straws, but there was still a chance that Bill would come to.
"He's over there," Dennis whispered, and Hermione turned toward the far corner. Bill had been dumped unceremoniously in the room with them, clearly still unconscious. Hermione could feel hot tears starting to roll down her cheeks as the door opened and the room was filled with light.
The Carrow sisters walked slowly into the room, smiling happily with Goyle's large form behind them.
"Gregory, you stay here with the boys. Mudblood, you're coming with us."
Hermione felt herself being helplessly led away from the room.
Suspense! More will be posted shortly, as long as you're all still intrigued.
If you have a moment, please pop over to my profile and read my newest fic 'Blue' which I wrote for the Twin Exchange September challenge!