Chapter 2: Have we come that far
Disclaimer- As always I'm not the lovely J.K.R. or the awesome W. Brothers. I'm StormyShade I make no money from my fantasy! Not going to lie it'd be amazing to though! Lol
A/N- No mature themes as of yet.. only a little descriptive gore. I'll try to keep it within a tasteful manner there has been a murder after all. If not this is your warning. ^^ Onward and upward then.
Hermione stood staring at the now confident man with conflicting emotions running rapidly through her mind. It had been so long since Hermione last saw the Malfoy heir. How does one go about this? She didn't fault Draco for choosing his family over everything else. He had his own trial and tribulations to deal with, we all do at some point.
Hermione stretched out her hand, "Good evening, Mr. Malfoy I'm here by-"
"Granger, Mr. Malfoy was my father and his father before him. Just Malfoy will do," Draco said while taking her offered hand and shaking it gently.
Hermione flushed pink at the firm caress of Draco's hand,"I... Well..." she stammered before breaking the connection of their hands and shaking her head lightly.
Hermione cleared her throat quietly, "Richardson said I was specifically requested for this case."
Draco's small smile slide into a tight grimace as his hand traveled through his already messy hair before sighing,"We have been trolling through the crime scene for two days now. Some speculate that it's muggles who committed this tragedy."
Hermione began to unbutton her cloak stepping around Draco to hang it on the banister,"But?"
Draco chuckled,"But, I don't think it is. You see, there is no trace of anyone being here when this crime took place."
"That seems a bit off don't you think? With the parents and the two oldest son's being murdered in their sleep," Hermione paused briefly thinking.
Draco gestured to the stairs,"Would you like a walk through? Might help to see the problem before trying to figure it out."
Hermione didn't know if she would be ready for the horrors that await her in the bowels of the darkening house. She still awoke from grief stricken dreams covered in sweat and tears as the horrified screams catch in her throat.
Scratching the nape of her neck beneath her chestnut hair casting uneasy eyes at the black expanse of the upper floors. Hermione nodded mutely trying to prepare herself for what was to come. Each step she took up that grand staircase echoed in her ears. Bombarding her heart with the ever addicting taste of anticipation.
Draco guided Hermione through the dark labyrinth of the house with only the tip of his wand lit. Passing room after room all closed as if the house was still trying to keep its secrets. Hermione watched the intricate display of shadows dance across the walls when Draco came to a graceful hault.
"Granger I must warn you. Behind this door it's a terrible sight to see," Draco said trying to figure out what emotions Hermione was giving off.
Panic started to take over as Hermione stood before the door. Without thinking her hand shot out and grasped Draco's.
"Granger? Are you okay?" His voice quivered slightly seeing her like this.
"I..I can't," Hermione said ashamed of herself lowering her head.
Amongst the dark Draco's hand contrasted greatly as it caught under her chin to pull her head back up to look at him. "You don't have to do anything you really don't want to, just know you're stronger than this."
She knew they really needed her and if she would back out now the only one getting hurt would be the little girl fighting for her life at this very minute. Reaching her decision Hermione walked through the door holding her breath.
The first thing she saw was the beautiful features of the mother lying in a halo of bright crimson blood. She had been maliciously mutilated from the neck down. Hermione moved closer to inspect the large gaping wound. She had a clean cut from her breast bone all the way down to just below her bellybutton. Her heart was missing and the woman's organs were all thrown to the side with her stomach cavity filled with oozing fluids.
Shocked at what she saw Hermione stood slowly backing her way out of the room in a daze, flashes of dead friends and beloved teachers roaming around in her now fragile mind. Hermione's heart broke and she couldn't take on seeing anymore.
Draco pointed to the door on the right with pity,"This is the room of the young girl we found."
She wonder if the pity was for her or the orphaned little girl. At this point Hermione didn't care if he did or not. She pitied herself too for not being stronger.
Hermione inched closer to the door placing her hand on the knob. Taking in a deep breath she heard a click and pushed open the door slowly. The door groaned as she made her way over the threshold into the center of the room.
She let her instincts take over while scanning the room that was covered in purples and pale pinks. Her eyes locked on the window seat, knowing children this area of the room would be where she would keep her special things. Hermione tread carefully over the toy covered carpet. She started reaching for the collapsible top, when something moved just outside the window below. Strangely enough it was the same man from the gate shrouded in the same deep brown billowing cloak from earlier.
"Who is that?" Hermione asked leaning near the window.
Draco took purposeful strides to her side towering over her,"Where?"
Hermione pointed out the window moving over,"That man there, I met him at the gate and he escorted me inside."
Draco looked at him for a long moment seemingly unaware of Hermione's eyes traveling over his features,"I've never seen him before Granger. Are you sure he let you in here?"
Her eyes darted away from his, "Yes... that's why I was standing in the entryway where you found me. I thought he told you I was here."
"No, Granger he didn't but if he isn't with the auror office... then... Granger we have to get down there he might be the murderer," rushed Draco grabbing her by the elbow.
Draco gave her no time to react. The nauseating sensation of side-along apparition gripped her stomach in a tight hold as darkness took over. A second later Hermione found herself in the kitchen with Draco behind her. The look in his eyes betraying his inner thoughts.
Hermione shook her head with determination written on her face. She refused to play the coward anymore. "No, Malfoy. I will not be sheltered any longer. I've hidden away behind books and paperwork for too long. I..I have to.. I need this as much as she does," she pleaded.
Draco looked upon her with newfound admiration,"Alright Granger, have your wand ready."
The two old rivals made their way outside going unnoticed by the concealment charm Draco cast over them. He took the lead around a large oak tree with Hermione just on his left only a few feet away from the mysterious stranger.
"So you've come to get me have you?" the man taunted darkly. "It will take more than a blood traitor and mudblood to stop me."
Hermione stood frozen against the tree, their concealment charm gone. She fought against the unyielding force keeping her still.
"All of you have been so wrapped up in finding evidence you couldn't see past your own nose Draco. Until the mudblood showed up none of you even gave me a passing glance," he lazily walked over to Hermione playing with the loose hair around her face.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER," Draco shouted pulling free of the spell placed on them only to be thrown to the ground.
Thick thorny vines sprouted forth tangling themselves around Draco ripping into his skin. His muttered hisses of pain gripped her heart painfully. Hermione knew she had to do something. Yes... maybe if she kept him talking she could let go of her wand in hopes of it reaching Draco.
"What do you want from us? Didn't you get your sick twisted kicks last night from killing?" Hermione asked roughly trying to break free dropping her wand.
The man turned to her with a shady grimace,"That was a unfortunate thing I had to do, you know." He took a step closer now looming over her.
"Though it had to be done. It was the only way to draw you in- and now I have you," he said with that cruel smile stretching across his face again.
His hands snaked their way up Hermione's curved body burying themselves in her hair jerking her head back against the tree.
"Oww..." she cried breathlessly as a deep throaty chuckle caressed her ear.
"Mudblood you will be mine," he said confidently running his tongue along the shell of her ear.
Hermione's whole body shivered with adrenaline skyrocketing through her system. Her head snapped up feeling the spell slip from her stiff muscles. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a tight hold as her knee came up hard into his groin. He doubled over in pain, Draco stood behind him covered in dripping blood. A murderous look within his molten silver eyes. Draco grabbed him around the neck hauling him back up.
"I thought I told you not to touch her you disgusting bastard," Draco growled while his fist made contact with the villains face.
As the cloaked man fell down a hysterical laugh filled the silence.
"You think you can beat this but, the winds of change are upon us all. You will have to choose Mudblood to save them all," as he swiftly turned to churning black smoke the slight breeze carried him away. Hermione and Draco stood in the quiet emptiness stunned.