Life Renovations
Chapter Twelve
The Chase Has Begun
Miss Ginevra Weasley was a girl on a mission. Having been at the Order headquarters during the scheduled meeting, she naturally eavesdropped in, using her brothers' wonderful invention the Extendable Ears. Much of the meeting had to do with the Death Eaters peculiar behavior, such as the raids on Muggles which had momentarily stopped, as well as the Death Eaters roaming around as if there never was a war. Many of the Death Eaters had no official accusations put upon them and could not be apprehended by Aurors without any real evidence. This news seemed to displease Dumbledore and Ginny had been surprised to hear the anger and frustration emanating from the old headmaster's voice. Soon the Order began to discuss Harry and she found herself unable to believe what she was hearing.
"It seems the ordeal Harry Potter went through not long ago has stripped his good senses away… He must be dealt with before he puts himself or others in any more danger."
"Albus, what are you saying?" Ginny recognized Professor McGonagall's voice. The Transfiguration Professor's voice was hard edged, as if she were mad at the headmaster.
"He's left the safety of the Order and has taken up residence in the Leaky Cauldron."
"I don't see how that constitutes being called insane, Dumbledore." Ginny silently cheered when she recognized Charlie's voice. "Harry has been through a lot. This time he nearly didn't survive and probably wouldn't have if not for Malfoy. Harry probably wants time away to think."
"Charlie is right." Ah, there was Remus. "Harry's only wanting some space and time."
"And you know this for sure, Remus?" Dumbledore continued. "Voldemort may be changing his tactics, but that is no reason to relax our guard and allow a boy who has far too much information about the Order to stay alone unguarded. It's madness and it cannot be allowed to continue."
"What are you suggesting?" This came from Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Should we send Harry to Azkaban as well?" Ginny's eyebrows rose in surprise. Shacklebolt sounded calm as always, but there seemed to be some underlining accusation.
"Now is not the time to jest!"
And that was the second time Ginny heard Dumbledore lose his patience. She wondered if Shacklebolt knew about Dumbledore's orders to send Sirius to Azkaban without a trial. It angered her that Dumbledore was trying to do the same thing Ron was doing. Making people think Harry was losing his mind. It was clear now that Harry wasn't going to do what Dumbledore expected; the headmaster was beginning to fear.
Mad Eye Moody burst into the meeting room and Ginny held her breath as she listened to him go on about Harry and Draco having a lovely visit at Malfoy Manor. She remained completely frozen; positive Moody would catch her with his creepy eye. But Moody had worked himself up into such a state that it seemed he forgot his own rule about constant vigilance. Dumbledore sounded nearly happy to receive the news, and Ginny was sure he was trying to hide it from the Order members. Now he had the perfect opportunity and reason to get to Harry without any of the Order opposing him. Ginny listened on with bated breath as Dumbledore ordered that Harry and Draco should be found and taken to a safe house immediately. Clearly, to Ginny, Dumbledore was up to something else if he'd involved Draco in this. Draco didn't know anything about the Order beyond its location. But he couldn't give that over to Voldemort since he wasn't he Secret Keeper. So why did he want Draco captured as well? And Ginny was annoyed that no one else thought to question Dumbledore on it.
Dumbledore and Moody were going to Apparate to the Leaky Cauldron after they wrapped up the meeting, which Ginny thought should give her time to Floo to the Cauldron before them. She tried walking down the stairs in a casual way, in case somebody came upon her, but at the same time tried to keep her movements quick and stealthy. Ginny accredited her successful mission to the kitchen on the fact that she had to grow up sneaking around six brothers in a house that groaned and moaned with every movement. She wasted no time and quickly grabbed the Floo Powder to throw into the fire. She jumped into the green flames and was relieved to see no one would see her leave. "The Leaky Cauldron!"
She tumbled her way out of the fireplace and immediately went for the stairs once she'd picked herself off the floor. Glancing over on her way, she caught sight of Hermione in a booth near the large fireplace in the table area.
"Hermione!" She made a sharp turn and nearly knocked down an old wizard with stringy gray hair and a bulbous nose. "Sorry!" She kept going and ignored the wizard's scowl. She came up to Hermione's table and slapped her hand down upon it.
"Hermione! Harry and Draco are in trouble!" It was only then she noticed someone else was at the table, and when she looked, did a double take. "Bloody hell, Zabini! What happened to your eye?"
She eyed him curiously. Zabini made some very delicious eye candy and Ginny didn't mind taking a closer look. More than curious, Zabini didn't even glance her way, but instead was glaring at Hermione. He was squinting his right eye in a way that seemed very painful, as well as the area around the eye which was a purple bruise marring his lovely dark caramel skin.
"Hermione, did you do this?" Ginny leaned forward and pressed her fingers against the bruised skin. "I bet this hurts, doesn't it?" Zabini's eyes flicked over to met hers and Ginny felt that exciting thrill she always got when her heart skipped a beat.
"Ginny, what were you saying about Harry and Draco?"
"Oh right." Ginny dropped her hand and then bumped her hip into Zabini in order to get him to move over. Only instead of scooting over, Zabini fell over and remained there. Stiff as a board.
"You didn't stun him?"
"He allowed Harry and Draco to stun me. I simply retaliated," Hermione said angrily, glaring at the Slytherin.
"Why don't you release him already?"
"Ginny, tell me what's happened! Harry and Draco rushed off to Malfoy Manor like idiots…. I don't know what's happened!"
"They were fine at Malfoy Manor, I believe. But of course Dumbledore is concerned over the secrecy and security of the Order and doesn't want Harry or Draco to be able to run free. Or at least that's what he told the Order. But we both know he just wants to keep tight control of Harry, which is why he also wants Draco." Ginny pulled Zabini back into a sitting position and carefully slid him over against the wall so she could squeeze in beside him. "We need to warn them. The Headmaster and Moody are on their way here now to take them away somewhere."
Ginny became confused when Hermione sighed in relief.
"Harry and Draco aren't here. Severus was supposed to find them," Hermione explained.
"Not here?" Ginny sat back and blew out her breath. "Thank Merlin for that! I did my best to get here as fast as I could without anyone seeing me."
"You've always been an amazing Gryffindor," Hermione said kindly.
Ginny smiled brightly and pulled out her wand. "Glad you think so. I'm going to go one step further, make like Harry, and be a hero." She pointed her wand at Blaise. "Finite Incantatum."
"Two and a half hours!" Blaise burst out as soon as he could move, scowling at Hermione. "You kept me immobile for two and a half hours!"
"Don't hiss at me, Slytherin. It was your fault Harry and Draco got away. You deserved what I gave you."
"I didn't deserve the black eye!" Blaise snapped. He then turned to Ginny and grinned at her, showing off pearly white teeth against dark skin. "And yeah, it does hurt. Thanks."
Ginny sighed. "You're really very pretty, Zabini."
"I think otherwise," Hermione went on to Blaise, rolling her eyes at Ginny.
Blaise pulled his eyes away from the beautiful redhead and frowned at Hermione. "Look. Draco's my best friend. He tells me to distract you; I'm going to do it. I only hit you with a tickling charm and I never hit or stunned you!"
"Hermione, you may have gone overboard," Ginny snickered, and her friend blushed.
"I was angry," Hermione mumbled. "Professor Snape told me to make sure the boys stayed out of trouble."
"There you go, Zabini. You started to make me feel sorry for you, but it's your own fault for getting Mione angry."
"Forgive me, but have we met? You look like a Weasley," Blaise said, changing the subject easily when he realized he wouldn't be winning this argument.
"I am a Weasley. Ginny Weasley." She held out her hand and they shook. Hermione rolled her eyes again when Ginny fluttered her lashes. "I figured I'd be seeing you soon enough since Harry and Draco are together now."
"What an unbelievable and delightful coincidence!" Blaise exclaimed, grinning.
"Isn't it? Here, let me heal that eye for you." Ginny was glad she'd listened to Fred and George when they taught her healing spells. The twins were always in need of healing when they were off inventing dangerous things.
"You two are the biggest flirts I've ever met." Hermione stood up, preparing to leave them to it when suddenly there was a pop. Across the room, someone fell out of thin air and crashed into a table. "That's Draco!" she cried when noticing the pale blond hair of the wizard who'd just Apparated onto the table. She, Ginny, and Blaise hurried over and peered down at their dazed friend.
"Draco, mate! Are you all there?" asked Blaise as he patted his friends face. Draco's eyes were closed, but he was alive and awake, as was told by the loud groans coming from him.
"I forgot he can be such a baby," Ginny murmured, waving away the curious witches and wizards who had started to gather round.
"Yeah, he always goes over the top. Merlin, that hippogriff episode…" Blaise looked as if he would go on and Ginny looked completely absorbed by whatever may come from his mouth, so Hermione snapped their attention back to the situation at hand by knocking them both upside the head.
"Come on! We have to get Draco up, find Harry, and get out of here as quickly as possible. Dumbledore will be here any minute."
"Where's Harry?"
Draco's eyes popped open and he sat up, his pains immediately forgotten over his worry for his soul mate.
Harry?
Draco? Thank Merlin, I thought I killed you!
Where are you? Draco stood up and had to steady himself by grabbing onto Blaise until the world righted itself and he could walk without seeing triple.
The Leaky Cauldron, my room.
"He's upstairs. Did you say Dumbledore is coming?"
"Yes, and he wants to take you and Harry away." Hermione looked around as they moved and her gaze landed on the bar. It didn't take her long to come up with an idea.
"Go get Harry. Start thinking about what we're going to do." The others nodded and headed upstairs, while Hermione headed towards the bar. She stood at the end, away from the wizards and witches already there, and waited for Tom to come her way.
"Wha can I get for ya, Miss Granger?" Hermione motioned for him to come closer, and he leaned forward.
"Could you possibly do myself and Harry a favor?" she asked quietly, keeping a look out at the door and Floo area.
"A favor for Mr. Potter? Of course!" Hermione resisted rolling her eyes.
"Someone is going to come looking for us very soon. Could you, perhaps, forget which rooms you've given to us? We only need a little time."
"Of course, Miss Granger."
"Thank you, Tom. I'm sure Harry will be very pleased with you," she added with a bright smile
"An honor, Miss Granger. An honor."
Hermione ran upstairs, hoping Tom would still feel the same when he realized Dumbledore was the one to be distracted. She gave it a fifty percent chance Tom would immediately inform Dumbledore of their whereabouts. In the room, she found Harry in a corner talking quietly with Draco, while Blaise and Ginny were trying to come up with a way of escape. Hermione joined the last pair.
"Have we thought of anything?" she asked.
Blaise shook his head. "Some of us should have stayed down stairs, out of sight. We've basically just trapped ourselves…" Hermione gasped.
"Blaise, that's brilliant!"
"What? What did I say?"
Hermione turned to Ginny. "The twins!"
Ginny's eyes brightened when she caught on to Hermione's line of thought and ran for the window to release a Patronus message to Fred and George. The message had just been sent when somebody knocked. Five wands were instantly pointed at the door.
"I told Tom to tell Dumbledore the wrong room numbers," Hermione whispered to Blaise.
Harry came up beside her and whispered, "answer the door, Mione. Pretend it's your room if Dumbledore is out there. We'll try to think of something if you can stall him."
Hermione nodded and walked to the door, sliding her wand up her sleeve, knowing full well that if Dumbledore tried to do something to her, there was no way she'd be able to do anything about it, even if she tried using her wand. It just felt better to feel her wand against her arm. Behind her, the others gathered in the corner to the right of the door.
"This is so fucked up. We're hiding from Dumbledore," Harry growled. "I don't want to hide from him."
"Shut it, Harry!" Ginny hissed just as Hermione opened the door.
I understand how you feel, Harry. But now is not the time for a confrontation with Dumbledore. We're not ready, and you're still not feeling well.
I'm not a baby, Draco; I'll be all right.
Hermione schooled her features in irritation, opened the door, and then nearly fell down with relief. It was only Matilda the maid outside the door.
"Miss, I was sent to tell you those people you mentioned to Tom are here now. Downstairs."
"Thank you, Matilda. You should go now before they see you."
Matilda nodded and departed. Hermione shut and locked the door and leaned back against it. "That was Matilda, the maid. She says Dumbledore is here."
"We need to leave now. We can't just stay in here. I'm not fond of being trapped in places," Draco said.
"We could always try to slip down the stairs without being seen," Blaise said.
"Yeah," Harry moved towards the door. "Let's go. There are five of us and two of them; we can at least cause enough distraction for some of you to escape."
"You and Draco will be the ones to escape. Dumbledore isn't after me, Blaise, or Hermione."
Harry opened the door and as a group they filed out of the room and headed for the stairs. Draco suddenly stopped when he saw the top of Dumbledore's pointed hat bobbing its way up.
"Fuck!" he reached over Blaise's shoulder and grabbed Harry, who probably wouldn't have stopped otherwise, and they all rushed back into the room. Ginny and Hermione blasted the door with the strongest wards and locking charms they could manage.
"Get off!" Harry ripped his shoulder away from Draco's grip and scowled at the door.
"Don't be stupid, Harry. The hallway was too narrow to have any kind of decent fight," Ginny said. "He would have picked us off one at a time with a stunner."
"They're in there, Albus," came the gruff voice of Moody. "Number eleven." Everyone held their breaths and waited.
They were surprised to only hear two gentle taps at the door, and for a moment it didn't seem as if anyone was going to do anything. Finally, Hermione rolled her eyes and stepped close to the door.
"Hello?"
"Miss Granger, how are you, my dear?" Dumbledore's gentle voice inquired. Ginny snorted.
"Oh, Headmaster! I'm fine. What are you doing here?" Hermione turned and looked at her friends; widening her eyes as if to say she had no idea what she was doing.
"What are you doing?" Draco mouthed the words. Hermione only shrugged.
"I wonder if I may come in, Miss Granger. There is something we must discuss."
"I... I'm afraid not, Professor. I'm not decent. It has been a trying day and I've decided to go to sleep early."
"Surely you weren't planning on going to sleep with Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, and Mr. Zabini in the same room, were you?"
Hermione frowned. "We're having a sleep over. We're all very tired," she replied with a sharp nod.
"I see why it wasn't hard to get along with the Gryffs," Blaise whispered to Draco, who grinned despite the situation. He really hadn't thought Hermione had it in her.
"Where the hell are Fred and George?" Ginny hissed beside them. "They should have been here by now!"
And Severus? When we disappeared they would have gone looking for us, right?
He'll be here soon, Harry.
There was an impatient growl on other side of the door. "I can see you're all standing around, and you are so decent! I've got no patience for liars, witch!"
"Alastor…" Dumbledore murmured. "Open the door, Hermione. I must speak with Harry and Draco."
"I'm sorry, Professor. But I'm not going to do that."
"Harry," Dumbledore raised his voice. "I will blast this door open and I don't imagine you want to be responsible if one of your friends is hurt."
Hermione's eyes widened. That was a very cheap shot for Dumbledore to throw. Feeding off Harry's guilt and insecurities was something Voldemort would do. Was there really that much of a difference between Voldemort and Dumbledore?
Draco started growling and dug his fingers into Harry's shoulders. "Don't listen to him."
"He's only trying to bait you," said Ginny. Harry knew this was true, but he wanted to make himself clear to Dumbledore, and he wanted to do it now.
"I'm finished having simple words with you Dumbledore. I'm no longer doing what you say." Harry walked to the door and only continued to speak when his nose was nearly touching the wood. "You are not my guardian and you never were. You are only the headmaster of a school, the leader of an organization of gullible misfits. An organization where the misfits are used to suit others' purposes. Do you know who I am, Dumbledore? Do you know what your actions in the past have turned me into? How many times a week do people in the Wizarding World think of you and how many times a day do you think they talk about me?" his voice had lowered, emotionless and cold. Hermione felt herself get goose bumps, and for the first time ever, she feared her best friend. Looking at Draco, she noticed he had goose bumps also, but by the hot look he was giving Harry, it wasn't caused by fear.
"You don't want to make this mistake," Dumbledore said lowly.
"Dumbledore, I've spoken with the dead," Harry said lowly, and smirked when a full minute passed in knowing silence. "I made my choice when I realized who I wanted to be and when I discovered you were directly responsible for most of the bad that's happened in my life."
Harry returned back to Draco's side then as he didn't think it was safe to linger by the door any longer. He could feel Dumbledore's anger building up and mixing with his powerful magic, and Harry knew it wouldn't take much at all for the headmaster to knock down the door. Question was, how much damage was Dumbledore planning on causing? Harry motioned the others over until they were in a tight group and prepared to put a shield around them.
You can do that? A working shield around all of us?
I can try.
Draco shook his head. Typical.
Suddenly a loud explosion echoed throughout the Leaky Cauldron; wild screams immediately followed.
"Ah, that would be the twins." Harry murmured.
"How do you know?" Blaise asked and shared a confused look with Draco.
"The building didn't shake at all. It was only a din bomb," Ginny whispered to them.
"Death Eaters! Death Eaters are attacking!" Tom began yelling at the top of his lungs. "Headmaster! Dumbledore! Death Eaters!"
"Come, Alastor. We need to stop them."
"And Potter?"
"Where can he go? We'll visit again."
"Perfect!" Draco exclaimed when he went to check the door, and found no one outside of it.
"Do you think he really fell for it?" Ginny asked, poking her head out into the hallway.
"We don't have the time to care."
The group quietly made their way out of the room and down the stairs, pausing whenever someone yelled out. Being their sister, Ginny recognized some of the disguised voices as her brothers'. And then Snape came out of nowhere and she shrieked. Blaise didn't miss a beat and slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Professor! Thank Merlin." Hermione really looked relieved to see him. It was such a surprise to see, especially for Harry and Ginny. "You have to take Harry and Draco away. Dumbledore is here for them!"
"I am already aware. Follow me; we're going to Malfoy Manor."
"But Professor!"
"Now, Hermione!" Severus barked, and was relieved when she followed with no other objections. They were running out into the small entrance area when they heard Moody yell out behind them. Apparently they had been seen.
"You three go on," Blaise said as he stopped. Ginny and Hermione paused as well to stay with him. "I'll-"
"We," Ginny stressed and Blaise shot her a grin.
"We'll try to distract them some more and I'll take Luscious Red and Hermione to my place. From there we'll get to Malfoy Manor."
"Thanks, Blaise." Harry nodded and Draco patted his friend's arm.
"Later, mate." They ran out after Severus to the Apparition point and Harry was relieved to see both Remus and Sirius waiting impatiently.
"Thank Merlin!" Remus exclaimed.
"We're fine. Escaping Dumbledore's evil clutches turned out to be easy." Harry found it ironic he was now running from Dumbledore straight into Voldemort's clutches. Shouldn't he feel something other than mild relief?
"And he's pissed off good, too," Draco commented from beside him.
"I'm returning to headquarters now. Dumbledore mustn't see me with you or there will be no point in staying in the Order," Remus said before Apparating away.
"Come here, you! Worried me nearly to death, you have!" Sirius dragged a grinning Harry into a light chokehold, laughed at Draco's amusingly near violent reaction, and Apparated Harry and himself to Malfoy Manor.
When Harry felt his feet touch the grounds of Malfoy Manor, he tried to take a deep breath, and then promptly started to choke. Sirius' arm had instantly tightened around Harry's neck when he saw the Manor after landing. Harry started to beat his godfather's arm until Sirius realized what he was doing.
"Sorry, Harry," Sirius murmured.
Harry nodded as he bent over coughing, trying to drag air past his semi-bruised throat. Severus and Draco appeared then and Draco was instantly in front of Harry, wrapping his hands around Harry's throat, healing the injured area with his fingers.
"Thanks," Harry murmured gently, and held onto the fingers that were about to pull away. "Sirius was remembering something painful. He forgot he had me like that."
Draco nodded and placed a kiss on Harry's neck. "Sure you're okay?" he kissed the other side, trailing his tongue down to the hollow his Harry's neck.
"Mmmhmm." Harry allowed his eyes to close in bliss and then made a pitiful keening noise when Draco was suddenly lurched away from him by Severus, who had grabbed Draco around the back of the neck and was now toting the blond towards the dark double doors of the manor.
"We've just arrived and already you want to fornicate in the grass! Have you no shame, Draco?" The blond sputtered and tried to get out of his grip, and failed miserably. "This must be the work of the bond, because I cannot imagine you're in your right mind right now."
"You can let go, Uncle Sev. I'm fine now." Severus snorted and shoved Draco through the open doorway.
Harry and Sirius followed slowly after. Harry looking at his godfather's increasingly pained expression. "Sirius, you know you can talk to me."
"I know, pup."
Harry sighed. Didn't look like Sirius was prepared to talk about it anytime soon. When they walked into the manor, Sirius put a hand on Harry's shoulder to stop him.
"Do Remus and I need to have a talk with you? You know, about the birds and the bees? Cause I really don't want to have to do that."
"Padfoot, no!" Harry started to wave his hands in front of him. "I don't need the talk. I think I'm fine." He glanced over at Draco who was arguing with Severus over something or another. Besides, the way he was feeling Harry didn't give a damn what anyone had to say. All he wanted was Draco.
Sirius only had to look in Harry's eyes and realized exactly what his godson was thinking. "I realize you've found who you want to spend your life with, but Harry…" Sirius dragged them a few more feet away and lowered his voice. "Have you ever…uh…what I mean is..."
Harry tried hard not to blush, but wasn't succeeding. "No, Sirius, I've never."
"Harry, it hurts the first time." Sirius wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole. Harry could never be as embarrassed as Sirius was at the moment, and if he didn't love Harry so much he would have cursed James for making him the godfather. And because all this was painfully obvious on Sirius' face, Harry decided to take the conversation in stride and bring it to a close as quickly as possible.
"Yeah, that's what I've heard. I'm not worried. Draco will take care of me."
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "He's been with others?"
"Draco does have a reputation at Hogwarts. With girls…and boys." Harry's gaze sharpened and narrowed on Draco who suddenly looked at him and quirked a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Sirius started to laugh.
"What the hell is so funny?" Harry demanded.
"Most of its not true."
"What?" he snapped.
"The rumor about Malfoy's sex life is a bunch of rubbish. It was like that with Lucius when we were in school. Mostly it's for the Malfoy reputation. It's another stupid Malfoy tradition. I guarantee it, Harry."
Harry was quiet for a moment and Sirius figured he was mentally speaking with Draco. It was confirmed when Draco stiffened and his face started to flush.
"See, told you."
Harry left the Entrance Hall looking very satisfied and Sirius received a death glare from Draco for his troubles.
Severus wanted to sequester the boys in two separate rooms until Lucius returned, but Harry and Draco would have none of that and told Severus they weren't going anywhere except to the Floo Room to wait for Hermione, Blaise, and Ginny.
Sirius started pacing once they reached the Floo Room, wondering what the hell he was doing at Malfoy Manor again, voluntarily. Many years had passed since he'd last been to the manor, and the memories he had of those past times were some of the best he ever had. Sirius closed his eyes tightly against the pain in his heart. Merlin, he'd been so in love with Lucius back then. Sirius cursed his thoughts and turned to look for something that could take his mind off the past, but that was near impossible as the past surrounded him in white and gray marble.
"How did you two manage to Apparate out of Snape Manor and straight into the Leaky Cauldron?" Severus asked from his position between Draco and Harry. He was determined to keep the two boys apart, at least until explanations have been made.
"I want to know how Harry managed it without splinching," Lucius said on his way in. Immediately he sought out Draco and was reassured when he saw his son was not harmed in any way. And then he saw Siri standing in a corner, glaring into the Floo fire. Lucius wasn't usually known as a coward, but he lost his nerve when Sirius looked over and their eyes locked. Sirius' pain was clear in his eyes. Lucius looked away first and went to stand next to his son. Draco had been watching the exchange with interest.
"I didn't mean to do it, Severus, but I couldn't listen anymore. I just wanted to be alone."
"And you took Draco?"
Harry blushed at Lucius' question. "I guess not exactly alone. But then halfway to the Leaky Cauldron I lost him and then ended up on the floor of my room. I'm not sure how I managed to Apparate us though."
The Floo started up and everyone backed away. "Who are we expecting?" Lucius drawled.
"Blaise, Ginny, and Hermione. They had to Floo to the Zabini's first."
Lucius said nothing to this, but he was wondering how he would explain the presence of a Mudblood and more blood traitors to the Dark Lord. The flames jumped to a bright green and Granger tumbled out first, short of breath. She had scratches all over her face and was clutching her side.
Harry and Draco helped her up. "Merlin, Hermione, what happened to you?"
Hermione shuddered and pulled her hand away. Someone cursed when they saw the blood on her hand. "I'm fine. Just a little run in with Mad Eye. He really doesn't like Fred and George." She tried to laugh, but her voice trailed off and her eyes rolled to the back of her head. She'd fainted dead away.
"Hermione!"
"Give her to me." Severus swooped over and had the unconscious witch in his arms in moments.
"Take her to your chambers," Lucius told Severus. "I'll have our best Healer called immediately."
"Do not waste time, Lucius. If you know what's good for you, you'll drop your ridiculous prejudices against her."
"Severus, do you want me to get the Healer or not?"
Severus nodded and briskly walked out just as Ginny came through the Floo. She came out coughing and staunching blood flow over her eye.
"Where's Hermione!" she shrieked. She was injured by Moody. Where is she?"
"Ginny, it's okay. We're getting a Healer for her. What about you?"
I'm fine. Mad Eye won't soon forget my Bat-Bogey Hex!"
"And Blaise?"
"He should be right behind me. He had to warn his mother that the Order might be dropping by. I think we've all just jumped onto Dumbledore's Most Undesirable List."
Blaise Flooed in, and he looked murderous. "Oh, Dumbledore's going to get his. He had no regard for the safety of innocent wizards and witches." Blaise's arm was bleeding, but he didn't seem to notice. "Hermione all right?"
"Yes, she's being looked after." Harry said. "Hey, thanks Zabini."
"You can thank me by giving me something to do in regards to Dumbledore."
"We'll keep that in mind."
Severus entered his chambers and headed to his bedroom. He lay Hermione down and partially lifted her shirt to get a good look at the wound. His eyes glinted maliciously when he saw how deep the cut was. What the hell was Moody thinking to attack Hermione? He didn't know it, but Mad Eye had just given Severus his life.
"In here." Severus turned to see Lucius leading a young woman into the room. She walked with a bright smile and a tight bun atop her head. Lucius had wasted no time at all in getting Hermione help. And the best help at that.
"Lucius, thank you," Severus said once his friend and the Healer stopped by the bed. Lucius nodded and looked at the damage.
"That's deep. Moody did this?"
Severus gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Why, it's Miss Granger! I only saw her this morning with Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy." The Healer looked up. "I'm very surprised to find she's the one I'm to be working on here."
"And do you think you could start with that already, Bluemoon? She's already lost a lot of blood."
"Of course," Amortia Bluemoon then rolled up her sleeves, revealing the unmistakable form of the Dark Mark tattooed on her arm, and immediately set to work.
"You saw her this morning?"
"Yes, Severus. She and misters Potter and Malfoy came to have Mr. Potter's eyesight fixed. Odd though. Something was preventing me from completing the spell."
Severus watched intently as Amortia easily healed Hermione's wound. She was just preparing to clean and heal the scratches on Hermione's face, when the door flew open, letting in Harry, Draco, Blaise, and Ginny.
"Ah ah ah," Amortia said, waving a finger back and forth, stopping the progress of the group. "You are not to approach until I've completely healed Miss Granger. And yes, she will be fine."
"Healer Bluemoon?" asked Harry incredulously. She was a bit too far away for him to be able to see her clearly, but he recognized her voice easily enough.
"Yes, Mr. Potter. Nice to see you again."
"Er…Nice to see you again as well."
"Who is that?" Ginny asked, never one to be left out of things. Blaise bent over her shoulder so he could also hear.
"She was the Healer sent to heal my eyes this morning."
"Oh right. How did that go?"
"Didn't work."
"Oh." Ginny watched the Healer for a moment and soon caught sight of the Dark Mark. "But she's a Death Eater!"
"What?" Harry stepped forward intent on getting between the Healer and Hermione, but was restrained by Draco.
"Let her finish first," Draco said.
Harry pulled his arm away and scowled at him. "What, do you like her now that you know she's a Death Eater, Malfoy?"
Harry didn't mean it. He wasn't sure why he said it, and he definitely wished he could take it back when he felt the hurt his words caused his soul mate.
"That's not fair, Harry."
"Draco…I'm just worried about Hermione. I didn't mean…" But Draco's eyes had gone cold and dark and it wasn't just hurt coming from the Slytherin, but anger as well.
"That's fine, Potter. I should be glad to know how you really feel." Draco turned on his heel and walked away.
"You know that's not true!" Draco ignored him and was soon gone. Draco also refused to reply to any of Harry's mental calls. Harry looked back to find Ginny and Blaise watching him.
"Is there a reason why you're staring at me?" he snapped. They shook their heads slowly and backed away. His face was almost terrifying. It seemed when one soul mate was pissed, so was the other.