CHAPTER 8
Disclaimer: Still not mine. I just take the characters and make them dance.
"Step over here to your left, please!"
Hermione took a moment to orient herself after landing in a room, holding the broken teacup that has just been a portkey, before moving over to the left with Draco.
"American accents are so odd," Draco mumbled as they headed out of the portkey room.
Hermione laughed. "Better get used to it."
"So, where do we go from here?"
"We're supposed to be meeting the woman at the apartments in about a half hour. I wanted to give us time to get here and maybe eat before meeting. Plus, it gives us time to figure out where we're going," Hermione said, nose stuck in a map. "She said she has a special apparation room for potential tenants to use."
"Let's just go get it over with now. I want to look around Boston," Draco said, steering her towards the exit. "How far is it from Boston to Salem anyway?"
"Not too far, according to this map. It's maybe a little over a half an hour in a car? For us, no time at all though, obviously, if we apparate. There are also some apartments in Salem we can look at. They'll be closer and more secluded," Hermione said. "It depends on what you're looking for. Boston has more to do, but Salem is quieter."
"Seclusion is usually good for our types. It's so odd that they just mix muggles and wizards here!"
"America is more cluttered, I think, so it's hard to really separate everyone for very long. Massachusetts isn't very large, so it was probably hard enough to stick a huge academy in here. But from what I've read, Salem has a fairly large wizarding population, mainly due to the school. There's also 'Wizarding Markets', apparently, which I'm assuming are like Diagon Alley," Hermione explained, still reading the map and information pamphlet.
"I'm already thinking living in Salem will be easier," Draco said, looking a paler than usual. He paused near the exit. "Are you ready for this?"
Hermione finally looked up. "Not at all," she laughed. "Let's go."
She pushed open the door and they both stepped onto the streets of Boston. Draco looked around, definitely paler than normal now. "Yes, I'm definitely thinking seclusion is best."
Hermione just laughed and led the way down the street.
XXXXX
A little over an hour later, Hermione and Draco were walking around a townhouse in Salem. The apartment in Boston had been too closed in for Draco's taste. She had to remind him that he was used to having a bedroom the size of a house, so he would have to learn to settle. But even Hermione had to admit that the apartment didn't live up to what she was looking for.
This townhouse, though, was beautiful. It was perfect to her. It was two stories, with the ground floor being the living area, kitchen, and dining area. It also had a little half bathroom for guests. Up the stairs was a bedroom on the left and then one on the right, each with an individual bathroom.
Hermione walked into the kitchen to see Draco poking the microwave buttons with his wand. Luckily, the woman showing them the house was a squib so she wasn't worried about her walking in and seeing.
"So, what do you think?" she asked, hands clasped in front of her and practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Draco looked away from his assessment of the microwave to glance at her. "Obviously you love it."
"Well, yes. But we're going to be living together, so if you don't like it, then we can keep looking."
"No, I like it. It's much better than that last place. This is almost like a house, so it's nice. Fairly roomy. And I like the layout of the bedrooms."
"Me too. So should we tell her we're interested? And get your head out of there."
Draco pulled his head out of the appliance and scowled. "I wasn't going to start it. I was just looking. And yes, let's go talk to her."
XXXX
"Here in Salem, we take academics very seriously. There is not an abundance of wizarding universities, as most of you found out when researching. This is mainly because seldom do witches or wizards decide to pursue their studies after finishing their seven years of required schooling. Most either go into jobs in your respective ministries or go into an apprenticeship," explained Terri Jackson, the Dean of Salem. "So when students such as yourselves actually decide that you would like to continue going to school, we want to offer you the best. It will not be easy, but it will be rewarding."
Hermione was perched on the edge of her seat during orientation, excited but nervous, wanting to absorb all the information she could.
Draco, by comparison, was sprawled out lazily in his chair next to her, looking as if he would rather be anywhere but inside the giant auditorium.
"You may see and interact with many muggles during your schooling here because our cover is a small muggle college. There are not as many wide open spots to hide a school out here on the east coast, so we blend. When muggles see our university, they only see the front building, which belongs to the muggles. All of our buildings behind it are masked with repelling charms."
Hermione scribbled down notes furiously whilst Draco looked amused at her antics. She thought everything was relevant for notes.
"During your stay, it is important to concentrate on your studies, obviously, especially for those with a major and a minor. However, we also urge you to get involved with the clubs on campus. Your time at University should be a pleasant one filled with new opportunities. We have everything from your standard Potions and other Academic clubs to art clubs. We recently had students form our first LGBT group, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered."
Here, many of the wizards and witches snorted or laughed. The Dean glared at the audience until they were silent.
"I should also inform you all that bullying and violence is not welcome on this campus. The only fighting that shall occur will be the trained events or the Defense classes. If you attack another student outside of those reasons, and if it is for something as petty and stupid as a hate crime against their race, gender, religion, or sexuality, then you will be brought straight to me and I will throw you out. Remember, you are paying us to come here. We are not obligated to allow your entrance."
Draco felt a twinge of happiness at her words and defense of the gay club. It looked like America had people just as backward as England did. Maybe the Wizarding population in itself was still backward. He wondered if muggles were any better, then shook his head to stop himself. This was no time to be thinking about muggles.
He had to remember that he wasn't just here for school and to have fun. It was easy to forget things like the war and the Dark Lord when he was so far from home, but he knew he had to stay focused. The only reason he was at this particular school was because of the witch next to him.
He knew that the Dark Lord didn't really care about Hermione. She wasn't very pretty. She wasn't essential or important to the war. Nothing she did really did anything to tip the scales either way.
She just had the misfortune of being best friend to Potter. And now that the Weasel had left his side, no doubt the Dark Lord had heard, and he would want to destroy any happiness that Potter had left that much more. That meant destroying Hermione.
Draco was there under orders from the Dark Lord to spy and get information against Potter. He was there under orders from Dumbledore to keep them both safe.
He was there under orders from his father to survive.
He tuned back in to the lecture in time to hear Dean Jackson finish out her speech with, "We all welcome you to Salem with open arms. Even without Divination, I have a feeling that these next few years will be extremely interesting."
Draco just nodded agreement whilst everyone around him clapped and cheered.
XXXXXX
A few days later, Draco and Hermione landed back in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, after apparating from the Ministry where they had rode their portkey to.
"Whew!" Draco said, falling into the nearest chair and laying his head down on the table.
"Harry! Are you in? We're home!" Hermione yelled, sending their bags flying to their rooms with a flick of her wand.
Not hearing a reply, Hermione shrugged and walked up to her room where she found a few letters waiting for her in her tray.
Grabbing them up, they were revealed to have come from Professors McGonagall, Snape, and (most confusingly) Dumbledore.
Hermione,
You should be at orientation this week, I believe, yes? Do let me know how it went!
Did you and Mr. Malfoy find a flat to rent? I must say, I'm still in shock from when you revealed who your flatmate would be. However, I understand how any familiar face would be welcome in a strange new area.
I can't wait to hear how you like the campus.
Please give Mr. Potter (and Mr. Malfoy) a hello from me. Especially Mr. Potter; he hasn't returned my owl.
I do worry about him.
-Minerva
XXX
Minerva,
Yes, we just got back in maybe ten minutes ago! I loved the campus. It was beautiful, and I know in the middle of fall the colors will be gorgeous.
And yes, we found a lovely flat. It's a two-story, with both rooms being on the top floor but separate. It's perfect. Draco is actually much easier to get along with now that we're out of Hogwarts. And even he's feeling the fear and pressure that moving is bringing on. We're not about to declare our love for one another (poor Lucius Malfoy would keel over) or anything, but we definitely get on.
Harry is…going through a rough time at the moment. He hasn't written to anyone that I know of. I will most definitely pass on your greeting.
-Hermione
XXX
Miss Granger,
How was your orientation? I do hope you were able to contain yourself when you went on the tour and saw the library.
Please attempt to not disgrace the name of Hogwarts by piddling on the floors in your excitement over new reading material, or whatever it is that you may do.
Did you find a place to stay with Mr. Malfoy? I believe you mentioned something about a flat?
The Headmaster inquired about Mr. Potter earlier and asked how to contact you through your new floo. I trust you don't mind that I shared with him how, but even if you do mind it hardly matters since I have already talked to him. I did, however, want to give you some warning if you were confused about a letter from him.
I also explained that your reply would most likely pop out of his fireplace, so he should be expecting that as well.
The gist, Miss Granger, is this: I trust you had fun, and hope you kept as safe as a person can during these troubling times.
Good luck in school.
- S. Snape
XXX
Professor Snape,
I do believe that aside from my recommendation letter, that was the nicest you have ever spoken to me.
A girl could get used to it.
I have just written Minerva with the details of the new townhouse and school, and we both know that she will be sharing it all later, so I will let you hear it from her rather than have to hear a repeated version. But yes, I loved the school. And yes, we found a place to live. And I definitely had fun.
Speaking of safe, I trust that you still have all of your limbs? I hate thinking of you in danger. I hate thinking of any of the people I care about in danger. Hopefully, soon, there will come time when I won't have to worry so forcefully.
I do have a letter from Professor Dumbledore. I was just about to read it when I decided to reply to you first. Thank you for the heads up. And obviously I don't mind if he knows how to get a hold of me. I trust your judgment where that information is concerned.
-Hermione
XXXXX
Miss Granger,
I hope this letter finds you well. And I wish I would say I was writing for a nice chat, but alas, child, that is not the case. Life is seldom so simple anymore.
I wanted to enquire about Harry. Severus related to me that he had words with Mr. Weasley, and shared with me some of what you both had been discussing concerning him. I wrote to Harry over a week ago, but have yet to get a reply.
I know you can't force him to reply, but do try to talk to him. I will, of course, continue sending letters whether he replies or not.
When you reply, you can send it via floo to Headmaster Dumbledore's Study. That will go into my personal chambers.
-Albus Dumbledore
XXXXX
Professor Dumbledore,
I do try talking to him. Every day that I see him, I talk to him.
Thank you for your concern and help.
-Hermione
XXXXX
Hermione shook her head slightly as she sent both letters through to the recipients. She appreciated the Headmaster's concern, but felt a little irked at the hinted assumption that she hadn't tried to talk to Harry.
As the new school term approached every day, Hermione grew more and more worried for her best friend.
Caught up in her troubled thoughts, Hermione started when her small floo turned green and a letter fell into her tray. She recognized the familiar spiky scrawl on the front that belonged to her former Potions Master. Honestly, after all the essays of hers he had defaced in that handwriting, she would be very slow indeed to not recognize who it was.
There was a bang and then she heard, "Hermione! Are you back?"
"Yeah, Harry! I'm coming down!"
Grabbing the letter, she stuffed it in her pocket and flew down the stairs and into the waiting arms of her best friend.
"I see you kept yourself alive, Potter," she heard Draco say from the steps behind her in his lazy drawl, but she could hear the smile as well.
Harry just squeezed her harder and looked at him as well as he could over her bushy hair.
"Yeah, I'm all in one piece. So how did you like it there?"
"Oh Harry, it was beautiful! You're going to need to visit sometime!"
Harry led her into the kitchen where he started making tea.
"I…don't think that would be smart, Hermione," Draco said, following them both in.
"Why?" Hermione squawked as Draco noticed Harry tense.
"Listen, Granger," he started, falling back into calling her by her surname. "The whole point of Dumbledore sending us both off to a different continent is for safety. And," he raised his voice over Hermione's attempt to interrupt, "the only reason anyone believes you're in danger is because you're his friend!"
"Hey! Hermione is in danger probably because Voldemort knows how important she is to the war effort!" Harry shot back.
"Oh please, Potter. Hermione may be important to you, but compared to the war effort? Come on. She's not that important. She's smart, yes. And she's a muggleborn, which they hate, yes. But she doesn't hold some magic key or force to helping end the war. Now, if she worked with a team to try and find a way to stop the Dark Lord, she would be important. But, as far as he is concerned, she's nothing more than an irksome mudblood (sorry!) that is best friends of the man he's trying to kill. And by now he knows that Weasley is no longer in your posse so she is your only real friend! I know she is important to you, but for him, she's just another way to hurt you. And he's keeping tabs on you, believe me. And if, on a holiday, you're not to be seen, where do you think he will expect you to be?"
Harry slammed Draco's tea down on the table in front of him, sloshing most of the contents out, before gently handing a cup to Hermione.
Draco closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"I know you think I'm being an arse, but you have to trust me on this. He will come for you, and he will find you. The only reason anyone believes that her and I are somewhat safe over there is because the Dark Lord doesn't wish to waste man power continent hopping. He also believes that by having her so far away, and in the company of me, no less, that it will weaken you. If he really believed her to be so important, then he wouldn't care if she hid in South America. He would find her. But you…you're Harry Potter. If you went over to Salem, he would see that as a beautiful opportunity. He would be able to kill Hermione, kill you, and introduce himself to the States with a bang."
With that, Draco turned on his heel and walked away.
Harry sat down at the table next to Hermione and thunked his head onto the wood.
Sighing, Hermione started to rub his back.
"He's right, isn't he?" she heard him mumble into the table.
"Unfortunately."
"I hate when he's right."
Hermione just kept rubbing circles onto his back and sipping her tea.
"I'm really going to miss you, Hermione."
"Oh, you'll be fine. Turn this place into a bachelor pad. It will be disgusting," she laughed. Harry stayed silent.
"I don't know what I'm going to do when you're gone," he said, still talking to the table.
Hermione paused for a second before continuing rubbing his back. Tears sprang to her eyes as she looked down at her troubled best friend.
"Survive, Harry. That's what you'll do. You're going to survive."
The two friends sat that way for a long time, both hoping they could believe her words.
Author's note:
Wow. I'm sorry it's taken so long. I wish I could blame it on life, but really it was just writer's block.
Please don't give up on me.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing.