Chapter 12

A voice in the back of her head was pleading with her, telling her to struggle, get away, do something!

But Draco had asked her to trust him. Ok, so maybe trust isn't a valued commodity in the circles he ran in, but for her it meant something. And he knew that. He knew he was asking for her to give something she couldn't take back easily.

She had to decide: either trust him now or bolt. Both decisions were permanent.

She wanted so bad to believe he wouldn't turn her in.

Hermione stood frozen, halfway up the staircase, Draco pulling desperately at her arm. He stopped, turning full towards her now.

He let out a deep breath, saying in a tone laced with frustration, "Look, I know, I'm acting somewhat scary right now. Are you scared of me?"

Hermione shook her head.

After a pause Draco said, "Can't see you, you know."

"Oh….yeah…I mean no, no I'm not scared of you, not really…."

"Do you really believe I'll turn you in, when I've gone through the trouble of keeping you hidden from her?"

Hermione thought about it. "No…" she said, in a small voice.

Then he did something completely unexpected. He pulled his wand from his pocket, holding it out. "If we get into trouble, you know what to do."

She just stared, confused.

Draco sighed. "Look, to be perfectly honest, you know your wand work. Besides, you're invisible. So, if something goes wrong I trust you to watch my back."

"Watch you back…where are we going?"

"You'll see, just follow me, quick."

Hermione grabbed the wand and continued behind Draco. He did still keep hold of her hand, though.

***

Hermione remembered this room from her disastrous explorations of the second floor. One wall was covered in expensive brooms, displayed like artwork.

"Brooms…" she said "but I can't fly! I'm horrid! How am I supposed to watch you back?"

Draco sighed. "You'll ride with me, of course, idiot."

"Whose the idiot?! Where are we supposed to go…" She trailed off. "…the cabin, of course…"

Draco smiled. "Exactly."

He started pulling down a fast-looking broom (though to be honest, they all looked the same to Hermione).

Hermione asked, hesitantly, "You gave me your wand to show that you trust me. I followed you because I've decided I trust you, too. I won't just take that back. So…"

"So, "don't take advantage of my trust," or some such nonsense as that?" He asked, pulling open the window. A gust of freezing wind blew in, but at least it wasn't snowing. "Look, when I gave you my wand before, to heal yourself, you didn't know that you couldn't disapparate on Malfoy property, right?"

"No…wait, were you testing me?! What if I had tried to escape?"

"But you didn't." He said, grinning. He looked much too full of himself. "Was it because you owed me for saving your life, and you didn't want to get me in trouble…or was it because you wanted to stay with me?"

Hermione didn't want to think too heavily on that. She didn't like to think that she was that selfish, with everything banking on finding that damn horcrux.

The horcrux! Bellatrix was here to just "check up on the house?" Riiiight. It had to be here. Draco didn't know; he was just here to stay out of the way until he's needed. He couldn't know, either. If things went bad, and Draco returned to Voldemort after all this, he'd be killed for that knowledge.

Hermione sighed heavily. Retreat for now, but she'd have to return eventually.

"Draco?" A voice called from down the hall. Too close. "Do I have to do everything myself?"

"I'm not a damn house elf." Draco mumbled under his breath, climbing on the broom.

The foot pedals in the back meant the broom was not made for two people. Climbing on the back, Hermione found she had to bend her own legs back along the top of Draco's, pressing herself against him and clutching his waist. Did she mention she found flying terrifying?

Draco moved the broom forward. The broom was definitely fast, even with two passengers.

***

True to his word, it took about a half hour to reach the cabin. In fact, Hermione was sure it was longer.

The ride was bitter cold. It lacked the freezing icy wet experience of snow, but it was still almost unbearable.

Draco had at least had the foresight to throw on a cloak that morning. Hermione had not had that luxury. The bottom of the cloak was under Draco on the broom, so there was no chance of her grabbing it and using it too. They probably should have thought about the cold, but it had been such a close call as it was.

The invisibility spell wore off about halfway there, but the two were pretty sure no one was following. "Aunt Bella is actually used to me disappearing when she visits." Draco yelled over the roar of the wind in their ears. "She shouldn't be too suspicious…at first."

The cabin itself was…small. It actually looked like it could be a normal camping cabin. Hermione and her family had spent several summer trips in one similar.

They landed just outside the door, and not too gracefully, either. Draco hopped easily off the broom at the moment it was on the ground, but Hermione just tripped and got a face-full of snow. So much for not getting all wet.

"S….sorry." Draco said, teeth chattering.

Hermione groaned and pushed herself up. Draco reached out a hand.

Hermione reached up to grab it, and Draco said, "My wand! I want to get inside; it's freezing out here."

Hermione gaped at him, and handed over the wand. Once it was in his hand, he started towards the door. Suddenly he turned back on his heel, grinning. "Just kidding." He said as he helped her up and brushed the snow from her.

"Jerk."

He just laughed as he opened the front door.