A/N: Thank you all for the encouraging reviews, or just for following me or the story... That was really unexpected, but gladly appreciated! Here comes the biggest chapter - the turning point. Hope you enjoy! I believe there are two other short chapters. If you like fremione, I am currently writing a fic with these two :)
Have a good day!
It had been eyeing at his for the past hours, but for a reason, he could not commit himself to say the words. It was an empty piece of parchment, larger than the one he was getting messages from Hermione. He knew exactly what it was. Oddly, his path has never crossed so many interesting things since he had been looking for Hermione.
He was scared to find another pointless message. Something like ''Will you finally find me someday? Ferret! – HG'' or even ''It was JUST A PRANK! (you know, for all those years at Hogwarts, payback time!) – HG'' He imagined she would write something to piss him off, because that's what she was the best at. Or maybe nothing would appear at all.
Screw this, am I an auror of what? He muttered to himself.
''I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.''
The words echoed in his empty flat, like an empty promise.
Slowly, lines appeared, drawing the walls of Hogwarts. Amazed, Malfoy waited for the map to reveal the secrets of the castle he had spend 7 years of his life within. He could say steps, moving around the corridors, name tag identifying the students, as well as the teachers. His eyes scanned the map from left to right, then up to down.
On the Gryffindor common room was sketched a weird pattern. It looked like a circle with a straight line in the middle, cutting the circle in two and perfectly equal sides. Wait a minute, he had seen this before.
In Granger's favorite book. As well as on his own back.
He caressed the drawing, and found himself sucked in the map.
XX
The Gryffindor common room was incredibly silent and empty. Only Granger was sitting in the sofa, in front of the fire. Like in the first memory he had jumped in, they were both back in their school robes.
''I see you found the map,'' she whispered. ''I don't know if it's good or bad, to be honest.'' He walked up to where she remained still, watching the fire moving, as he sat beside her.
He took the time to observe her. He could feel his heart beat faster. She was there, in front of him, and alive. This time, she wasn't hurt. At least, she wasn't bruised yet. The flames were tainting her pale face orange, and it seemed as if her eyes were even more beautiful than he remembered. He held out a hand to caress her cheek, she jumped under his touch. She had been violated, she was sensible now.
''Granger, tell me, are you alright? ''
She laughed – a mad laugh it was. She never answered, her silent responding by itself. He wished he could do something about it.
''Why is it bad that I found the map?''
She finally dared to look up at him. Her eyes wear teary. ''Oh, Draco.'' She whispered before the tears started to roll down her cheeks. He couldn't help but take her in his arms.
''I- I wanted my mind to be safe. I knew they were coming. And I knew that they would break me down if they could break my mind. So I secured all my thoughts on the memories I left you. It was an old charm, white magic or something similar. It took me months. ''
She started to cry.
''When they hurt me, my mind runs away. It has been wandering who knows where. I could physically feel them touching me, but I didn't feel anything emotionally. '' She tried to reach the tears coming down her face, but Malfoy stopped her hand. He remembered, he always had tissue in his pockets. He used to wash away the liquid pain rolling down her cheeks. It was such an intimate gesture, but it was only one bit of his emotion. He wanted to protect her. He felt the urge to punch the wall at the thought of someone using her as a sexual slave. She was so much more than that.
Yes, he had always degraded her, back in school. But she represented something to him, something he knew he could never be or even achieved to be as a being: purity.
''I finally succeeded to cast the spell.'' She finished, her eyes piercing straight to his soul. ''I wasn't strong enough to contain all the magic in one object, so I separated in many.''
He started to connect to dots between her words.
The words escaped his lips before he could hold them back. ''What does it do?'' He murmured softly, half anxious and half apprehensive.
''It connects my mind to the one who was to find the map, Malfoy.''
Utter silence.
''But we can break it when I find you, right? ''
His heart started to beat faster in his chest. He sworn he could almost see it through his skin.
She nodded negatively. ''It's permanent.'' She gripped his hand. She hoped he would understand that she didn't have the choice. If her kidnapper could access her mind, they would have access to her soul. Her mind meant everything to her. It was the only muscle she had trained for years.
''What do you mean, permanent?'' He felt like a seven year old boy, always asking his parents around.
'' The map was the final glimpse of my mind, the last piece to the puzzle. You will be able to access my thoughts until I die, and so will I. ''
He was doomed. He cared about her, much more than anybody ever cared about him. But if he was to hear her think all day long, it was going to be hell.
''When does it start?'' Yet, he was trying, but he couldn't read her mind.
''Stop trying to read my mind, Draco. You are in a constructed memory; there is not enough of me, right here, right now, to read anything. When you will snap back to reality, it should happen.''
''Then please, don't let me go.'' He said to himself not looking at her. I'd be horrible to have her in my head, he finished for himself.
She put her head back on his shoulder, and he brushed her hair, only to find her famished, hurt and bruised again.
''Find me, Draco,'' she whispered before vanishing in his arms. He could still feel her warmth on his shoulder; he could still smell her shampoo. His arms were grabbing thin air, in desperate attempt to make her come back. Before he could call for her name, he vanished as well.
XX
Not much happened for a while. He had expected Hermione's thought to rush in, alike a river floods in the ocean. On the contrary, it was incredibly silent. He had caught one of two glimpses how what she was seeing live, felt one or two rush of fear. But other than that, he heard nothing.
What now?
Granger didn't give him any clues, or at least not much to handle to. And yet, he didn't feel her in his mind. He had the invisibility cloak, the Marauders map, a piece of parchment which he didn't really need anymore because he could apparently read Granger's mind.
Or maybe he could just happen to meet McLaggen somewhere. Say, the Leaky Cauldron where he always grabbed a drink after work. He took out the piece of parchment; in hope Granger would communicate him something since he hadn't found the way to communicate with her.
''Mischief managed,
-HG.''
He tapped the map, saying those exact words, and the ink slowly sunk back into the material, until there was none left.
He was not sitting right where Malfoy had expected it. In fact, he was nowhere in sight. Which was weird, because McLaggen was known for drinking. He was not an alcoholic, but not so far from it. Some say that war has taken all his family, and that was the reason for him to drink, some others pretend he's always been like that, even back at Hogwarts.
He walked up graciously to Tom, the bartender.
''Hey Tom,'' he started.
''Hey Malfoy, how's is going? Anything new on the Granger case?'' He put an empty glass in front of the auror, but Draco refused the drink with a movement of his hand.
Draco's brow knitted closer in the realisation of the question Tom had asked. ''How come you know about this?'' He whispered leaning closer to the barman, a threat in his voice.
Merlin, I really am becoming paranoid. Better find Hermione soon.
''McLaggen can't shut about it. Something like he's got Granger or he's gonna find Granger. Dunno. '' The man spat in the glass he was cleaning only to continue his job.
Malfoy's open hand hit the table with force without him even feeling the pain. Although he was numb to physical pain, his entire body was tensed under the pressure.
''You didn't think this could help the ministry, Tom?'' He hissed. ''G-Granger is suffering incredible things!''
''Hey, don't look at me like that. The guy has been obsessing over Granger for years. Once, he even thought he was married to her. Who knows what's real and what's not.'' He shook his head in pity. ''What a shame she never went on a date with him, my ears can't take this crap anymore.'' He nonchalantly shrugged taking an empty class and cleaning it with a dirty towel.
''I have to find her,'' he whispered to himself.
''Since when do you care?'' Asked Tom mischievously.
''Since when – '' His words got caught in his throat. He couldn't believe someone had actually asked him that particular questions, he was furious. He took a deep breath. ''It's the brightest witch of our generation I am assigned to find Tom, you understand? Hermione Granger is much more than just a victim – she does not need that to happen to her. She's already paid too much during war, more than everybody here! She's lived way too many things for a witch her age! S-She had fought for peace before you even knew there was a war going on. Bloody hell, she had stated to fight at the age of 12! 12 years old! That's the age when you worry about boys, not about You-Know-Who coming back! I have to find her, because she is destined to accomplish great things! And if she's dead, guess what – she can't do anything! Okay, Tom?! '' His monologue had started at a low tone voice but now he was practically screaming. Everybody in the room had stopped their doings. Drinks were held half way through the tables and the mouths, eyes were wide open and even Tom, the imperturbable Tom, had stop his movement.
''Malfoy, I think you like the witch.''
''You're wicked. I owe her big, that's all.'' He grabbed his coat, pushed the chair he had sat on back and left the Leaky Cauldron without even looking back.
He was just amazed by how fast he had lost control. That had never happened before.
Hell, Father would have killed me a long time ago if I had spoken to him like that.
When he stepped out, the air hit him in the face. He actually was thankful for the fresh air, it cleared his thoughts. His mind started to wander in many directions, but it often came back to Granger.
He remembered clearly the first time he saw her. Her hair was not something that could be missed. She had smiled to a dark haired boy, with green eyes and glasses. That's the first time he had fell the pang of jealousy in his chest. Growing up, he had realized he had nothing to offer her, really nothing. He was dark, she was light. As simple as this, he would only hurt her.
But now, he had the chance to save her. To do something for her, something he could never had done if he had been sent to Azkaban. She had saved him in so many ways, it was time for him to return the favor.
How was he supposed to establish that mental connection?
His answers came to him when he saw a library across the streets. Granger loved books. Maybe if he could find a place where she had lived something incredibly intense, it would activate the connexion.
He pushed the door open, and took a deep breath. How comforting could old books smell like? Old books, new books, they all had something to tell. They were the only respectable way to live more than one life. Maybe that's why Granger liked it so much. He stepped into an aisle, his fingers automatically reaching for the edges of the multiple books.
- Maybe if I could scratch his face and kick him in the nuts, it would distract him enough for me to run away...
- Granger? Are you alright?
- Draco! Yes, I am alright. Oddly, my kidnapper has not come to visit me today.
- Do you know who it is?
- No, he's always hooded, though he seems familiar. Anyway, I was just thinking about how –
Snap. Nothing. Deep silence.
I'd never thought I'd come to say this one day, but I hope I will hear her speak again, some day. I need to find her!
He flooed to his office at the ministry, in research of McLaggen's address. He looked up in the files of the minister, where all information concerning the auror would be kept. When he walked back into his office, something caught is eyes. He needed to verify. Strings were moved in a way that resembled a familiar pattern. Draco took a step back. Yes, yes, now he could see it.
''Accio, Marauder's Map.''
The map silently approached Draco and he grabbed it as if it was the most pressure object he had ever touched.
'' I solemnly swear I am up to no good.'' He tapped the map with his wand. He was getting used to saying these words. It felt good to him now, someone who has been so involved into darkness. How come someone as pure and right as Hermione Granger could even say such words?
The map fully opened, as the ink revealed the secrets of Hogwarts.
He was looking for a pattern, the same pattern he could see now on his wall of clues, on his bare back, something to relate the map to his clues.
''McGonagall, Flitwick...'' The names appeared on the map. Nothing to be alarmed of yet. Draco's brow knitted together as he saw the name of the man he had been looking for sooner that night.
''Mc Laggen.''
The name was there, stepping in front a room and then vanishing.
''Mischief managed,'' He whispered tapping the map again.
He flooed in the office of the Headmistress McGonagall without hesitation.
''Why, good evening Mister Malfoy. Anything I can do to help you? You must be here for a reason. You're not the type to pay your old teacher a visit.'' questioned McGonagall sitting in her chair across the room and looking at him over her copy of the Daily Prophet.
He nodded in her direction. ''Alarm the Ministry, head mistress. I have reasons to believe something is about to happen.''
Without discussing any further matters, Draco took out the map and whispered the words.
Mc Laggen hasn't reappeared.
Too bad because I'm coming for you, Cormac.
Draco too the steps to the seventh floor, where he had seen McLaggen the last time. How could someone just vanish off the map? Wasn't it suppose to show everybody?
He ran in the corridors, following his own trace on the map and looking for the auror. He was so busy observing the map he didn't see the obstacle obstructing the corridor. He tripped and fell. When he opened his eyes, he met, face to face, with a dead Cormac McLaggen. He could tell, by the lack of blood and bruise, which were the proof of physical fight and violence, that he had been hit by the killing curse.
That's why he had suddenly vanished off the Marauder's map. The map only showed living people.
He looked again at the map, in pure curiosity, and a name caught his eyes.
Hermione Granger was walking the corridors, beside Blaise Zabini.
What the hell is he doing here?
''Hermione!'' He yelled, raising up off the floor and started to run. ''HERMIONE!'' His voice echoed in the emptiness of the air.
- Draco don't! It's a tr – He Heard Hermione's voice but it was too late.
Malfoy was hit in the chest with a petrifying charm. He could not move, and that was not even what made him angry the most; he had literally run directly into a trap. He caught a glimpse of Hermione before she was sent back to where ever she was before. He had been so close, but was now so far away.
''My, my Malfoy. Who thought you of all people would run to help a pitiful mudblood? Hermione Granger, from all of them?''
He couldn't believe his eyes. His fellow Slytherin housemate and sidekick was towering him in all his madness, the effect of the potion washing away. Blaise Zabini kicked him in the ribs. A silent growl escaped his lips.
''Oh shut up, will you. Wingardium Leviosa. ''
Malfoy's body rose from the ground, in order to follow his kidnapper.
I can't believe all this time, it was right under my eyes. What a fool.
''What a fool you are, Malfoy,'' said Zabini reflecting his thoughts.
All the pieces of the puzzle fell together. The black-eyed must have been Granger. His office being upside down as well. But why would he had put clues to guide him to him on his wall of clues?
''Enjoy your stay, blood traitor.'' His head hit the floor in a silent thug, a hot liquid rolling down his head and his eyes closing.
''OI BITCH!'' Yelled Zabini. ''Step back! Crucio!'' He tortured Hermione right under Draco's eyes. To what the blond auror could gather, she had hit him in the eye, again.
He regained power over his muscles when Blaise left the room. Hermione immediately ran to him, her hands still tied up.
''Oh my God, Draco is that you! Draco!'' Two thin arms embraced him as best as she could and a delicate hand played with his hair. He felt his head being lifted and slowly set down on her cold thighs. ''Draco, stay awake, please.'' She whispered in a hush. ''Please, I beg you.'' He felt incredibly numb to everything. He felt numb to his physical pain, numb to his own mistakes and guilt threatening to show up on his face. He only felt her tears rolling down his face.
''Draco,'' she started to cry. ''You don't deserve this. Please.''
Her last word had the effect of her famous punch. He gasped for air as he finally opened his eyes.
''Hermione?'' He wondered. He looked for his wand, but of course couldn't find it nowhere.
''Fuck.'' He whispered to himself. He sat looking at her.
She looked terrible. She was only wearing a dirty, pearly night gown, had cuts and bruises on her whole body and her hair was more bushy than ever. Draco's eyes roamed her body in attempt to see if they were any major wound. Seeing none, he looked away.
''Is that what you are looking for?'' She said agitating a wand in front of his face.
''How did you – '' He tried to grab the wand but she put it out of his reach,
''You'd be surprised how much a little wandless magic and a distraction can accomplish when combined.''
''Impressive Granger. Give it to me.'' He held out a hand in requirement of the wand.
''This revenge is mine, Malfoy.''
''Well, Granger. I'm starting to like you,'' he said. ''By the way, how come I can hear your thoughts only when I'm in danger?''
''The spell must have not worked properly,'' she whispered. ''Probably a good thing,'' she shrugged off.
Outside the wall, a loud BANG! was heard, the wall shook as clouds of dust escaping the bricks.
Hermione looked at him.
''This is our shot, Malfoy.''
He nodded in her direction.
''Alohomora,'' she whispered pointing the wand at the door.
''Can't believe he thought I was so weak that he put the easiest spell on the door.''
They opened the door and what they saw was out of their minds.
Where there should have been only air in the door frame, was a reflective substance reflecting the two silhouettes. Him, his face covered with blood. Her, thinner and hurt, but with fire burning in her eyes.
Slowly, the image change, in Draco's eyes. Hermione was slowly fading away. But when he looked beside him, she was still there. There was only him, standing alone, in the mirror.
''What the – ''
''There's no time for this!'' She grabbed his hand and jumped through to substance.
XX
For the third time that time, the first being when he was petrified and the second when Zabini had dropped him, Malfoy fell on the floor. Spells were aimed everywhere, people were screaming. He could see many people of his department, as he could see people dressed as Death Eathers.
A deep, loud and profound growl escaped through Draco's lips. He was not going to let Hogwarts burn down to ashes again. Death Eathers had no reason to exist not anymore.
Seconds later, when he was starting to stand up, Hermione came through the substance and fell on him.
''Uggh,'' he moaned in pain. ''Really, Hermione?'' Automatically, without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her waist.
''Stand up,'' she rolled off him, pushing his arms away. ''There's a fight going on.''
As she spoke those words, a man appeared in front of him and ran in his direction. Yelling, he aimed his wand at Hermione.
''Die, mudblood!''
Without thinking – he seemed to be doing that a lot, recently - Malfoy pushed her behind and used his own body in order to protect her. He observed the attacked, when it dawned on him.
''Justin?'' He asked. ''But... you were dead?''
''Death Eathers never die, Malfoy! '' The man aimed a spell at him, a red light about to hit Malfoy was blocked by a powerful shield Hermione had conjured.
''Sectumsempra,'' she groaned back.
Justin fell on the floor in a thud, his new cuts letting blood flow. Hermione kicked him in the ribs. ''That's not war anymore, Jackass. I refuse to be kind to anybody, anymore.''
Draco held her back. She had all the right to be mad and to express it.
''Let me go, Draco! Let me kick him!'' She was fighting like the lion she was in his arms. She might have been through hell, back and forth, these past few days, but she was still strong.
''Granger let go, he does deserve this, I know. But he's not worth it.''
''Draco – ''
''Hermione!'' He turned her around to face her. Her hair was falling all over her face, there was blood on her lips, the night gown was not covering much anymore, he could see her deathly pale skin through it. She was looking up at him, with her deep brown eyes, full of heat and fire. She was begging him to let her go.
''Draco, please, let me jus-''
Before she could finish her sentence, he kissed her.
At first, that was not his plan. He was planning on making the long speech about violence, if it could only calm her down. But the way she looked up at him, like he was her savior, like he had really did something good for her, made his mind go nuts. The kiss tasted like blood. His, or hers, he didn't know and he couldn't care less. It was passionate, as if it was something she had been craving for the past few days: real human contact, to feel loved. It was a wonder she had not run after his attempt at holding her back. She was holding on to him tightly, like a child would hold on to their teddy bear at night. His arms rested around her, holding on to her like she was a fragile porcelain doll. She pulled away first, looking at him straight in the eyes. Before Draco could speak a word, a spell was sent their way, breaking their moment by the same time.
He walked toward Justin and took his wand. That what not his, but it was better than nothing.
''Potter!'' He called catching a glimpse of the boy who lived.
Harry turned to them, his emerald's eyes scanning the room in search of the voice. He spotted Draco first, then Hermione. His relief showed on his face.
''Hermione!'' He ran in his direction. When Potter reached them, he circled Hermione in his arms.
''We need to apparate to St Mungos! '' Hurried Harry supporting Hermione by putting his arm around his waist and putting her other arm around his neck.
''But Harry, what is happening?'' Questioned Hermione with sudden weak knees.
''We are trying to catch the Death Eaters. '' Said Potter.
''Zabini's leading them,'' Interrupted Malfoy. ''I think he still believes in that pureblood supremacy. He must've been the one I was warned about.''
''What about McLaggen?'' Asked Potter. ''We found his body when we arrived.''
People were still rushing around him, but it seemed to Draco that all the aurors were winning on the Death Eathers. Some of them were apparating back to the Ministry, in attempt for the criminals to wait for justice to thrive.
Ronald ran in their direction and hugged Hermione as well.
''Thank Merlin, I seriously thought I'll never see you again 'Mione!'' He gasped holding her tightly.
''Okay Weasley, step back, I'm taking her to St Mungos,'' said Malfoy putting a hand on her shoulder. ''You've got job to do. Find Zabini, and bring him to me.''
Draco didn't wait for either Potter or Weasley to approve, he just took her in his arms, bridal style, and walked in direction of McGonagall's office, where he could floo to the hospital. Hermione put her arms around her savior's neck, her head resting on his chest.
''Thank you,'' she whispered before fainting.
''Granger, Granger stay awake!''He started to run. '' Damn Granger, now I am the one begging!'' When he reached the office, he took a full hand of the green powder and floo directly to St Mungos with a knocked out witch in his arms.