Author Note: I really do apologize for the long delay in these chapters coming out. I've seriously been working so much. Thanks to all of you that have stuck with me this far. Here is the next update, though it's pretty short compared to previous updates. Let me know what you think.
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Chapter 23:
Draco stared at the American Auror with such distrust, Hermione elbowed him gently in the ribs to prevent a blacklash. She knew that there was something going on inside his mind that she wished she could calm. He looked down at her and saw the pleading look upon her face. Taking a deep breath in, he moved to sit down at the kitchen table. "Does this have to do with my mother?" He asked crossing his hands together in front of him.
"You knew?" Stewart asked.
"I noticed something was different with her over the last couple of days. Pretty much right when my father got sentenced." Draco answered refusing to meet Hermione's eyes.
"That's when the offer was given to her. I've never actually met the person behind the threats on Miss Granger; but I was told that it was a woman. However, I feel that is a lie."
Hermione curled her bottom lip inward and then shifted her gaze to the sleeping Pansy on the sofa. Little did either one of these people know that they were being used for a selfish purpose. She understood Pansy's jealousy. She still loved Draco and he had ended the relationship unwilling on her part. "You are probably right about that." Draco said softly reaching for Hermione's hand unconsciously.
She twined her fingers through his, feeling the comfort surging through each of them. Stewart looked across the room to see Pansy pull her legs up closer to her chest. He knew that her condition was his fault. Clenching his hands into fists, he closed his eyes recalling the events that lead to the very moment he realized that he truly had made a huge mistake in joining a cause that was pointless.
He stood in the living area of his small flat with a letter in hand. An owl had pecked at the window alerting him to news from the unknown leader of a cause he was fighting for. Starting with the elimination of muggle-born Hermione Granger.
"Mr. Lyons,
It's come to my knowledge that you have grown quite close to Pansy Parkinson. That's fine by all rights; however, if you fail to accomplish your task, she will suffer the consequences of your failure. You must eliminate Hermione Granger before Christmas. I don't want her reuniting with Harry Potter. She will be unreachable then.
Do Not Fail."
He curled the piece of parchment in his hand. The anger swirled through him, realizing it was wrong of him to trust someone he knew nothing about, nor seen with his own eyes. The Chimera attack at the Ministry Christmas party was sent by the unknown specter and everyone in the Ministry blamed him because of his open disdain for the former Gryffindor Princess.
He was so very wrong to think that things could be different under leadership of someone that never showed their face to anyone.
Returning to reality that was in front of him, Stewart knew that he had failed in eliminating Hermione. He had never made the attempt. He was hoping that Narcissa would have done it for him. Of course that hadn't been the case. "It's my fault she's like this…." He admitted.
"How is it your fault?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I failed to kill you. He, she...whoever it behind it all punished me for not completing my task. I was hoping that Narcissa would have taken care of it to exempt me; but she's done nothing. Plus side though, this cause is utterly pointless. There will never be a pure blood dominance in this world today."
Hermione cringed at the thought that Draco's mother would try and kill her just to prevent her son from pairing with a non-pure blood witch. Stewart started to walk into the living room and knelt down on the floor in front of the sleeping Pansy. He reached out to stroke her cheek gently. She took a deep breath at the second his finger touched her skin. "My mother does what she wants. Though I have no doubt she will try to ruin my relationship with Hermione, simply because she is not pure blood."
"Why do you fight against it then if you know your family will do everything they can to ruin your happiness?" Stewart asked tucking a stray chunk of hair behind Pansy's ear.
Draco pulled Hermione closer to him and stood up from the chair. He stared into her chestnut eyes and placed his lips upon her forehead chastely. "She is everything to me. Changed me for the better and I can't imagine being without her. She has fought for everyone's freedom during the war and that should have been enough to change people's views of pure blood supremacy."
"Draco..." Hermione whispered, trying not to act on the swell in her chest upon hearing his words.
"He's right..." Pansy said weakly, stirring from her slumber.
"Pansy..." Stewart whispered.
She opened her eyes to meet his gaze, giving him a slight smile to reassure him that she was fine. He helped her to a siting position and moved to sit down next to her on the sofa, pulling her legs onto his lap. "Stewart, this isn't right anymore. I finally understand that and accept it. Hermione is not our enemy."
"Thank you..." Hermione answered wrapping her arms around Draco's torso.
"So who is the mastermind of all this?" Stewart asked interrupting the awkwardness of the conversation.
Everyone was quiet for a few moments, thinking of the possibilities. Hermione was drawing a blank and for the first time in her life, she didn't have an answer. However, Draco could think of only one person who still had the pure blood nonsense embedded into their brain. The name was at the tip of his tongue; but refused to come out. He swallowed hard and squeezed Hermione's hand tightly.
"My money is on my father." Draco announced.