In a very dark room, a very dark man sat quietly. Methodically he drums his fingers on the tip of a cane, creating a sound much like bone on bone. Serious he sits and stares into the fire before him. Each licking flame reflected in the wicked man's eyes. The Man made a jerking motion, sending his gaze to the corner of the room.
" I have told you several times" the man said, a flat look across his face, " You are to announce yourself when you enter a room Tuxian. I do not like people watching me!"
Behind the man in the over sized wing back chair, stood another man, outlined in the doorway by the lanterns in the hall.
" Be assured my lord." Tuxian spoke, finally walking towards Lucius, " I had no intention to cause you a startle."
" What news do you bring me Tuxian" Lucius Malfoy said flatly, eyes still on the fire.
" They did just as you presumed sire. I went to the house in Ireland only to find them already arrived. They have recovered their own copy of the book, thanks in part mostly to your son."
" You are to NEVER refer to that vile thing as my son" Lucius yelled, standing quite instantly. " Is that clear?"
" Yes my lord. I am sorry!" Tuxian lowered his head in a sort of bow, " but I do bare good news my lord"
Lucius waved his hand a little, as if you tell him he was allowed to continue, and sat.
" Yes Sire. We have identified the companions of Draco. Two Weasley children, Harry Potter, and two girls you may remember from Greyback's last visit to the manor. The blonde airy girl we captured and the Granger girl that Bella had so much, er, FUN with." A wicked smile etched itself across Lucius' face.
" How does one forget such a thing" He laughed
" There is more my lord." said Tuxian, as he knelt next to Lucius' chair. " I have seen Mortatium. He and Jobilant were keeping watch on one of the flat's belonging to the children. He said that Potter and the Granger girl showed up, retrieving several items from there. Mortatium said he properly expelled a "sectumsempra " spell. The one that Snape he taught us all. Says he nailed that girl right in the neck."
" Very good Tuxian. You may go, you have given me cause for enjoyment this evening..." Lucius said, waving his hand away.
" My lord..." Tuxian spoke as if afraid to, " there is just one more thing"
A small murmur of noise came from the direction of Lucius.
" The Granger girl. I've seen it with my own eyes. It seems as though your so...er. Draco and the girl seem to share affections for each other." Tuxian bowed slightly and started to exit the room.
There was a creak in the chair, turning to see what it was, Tuxian could see that Lucius was now sitting straight up, staring at him over the back of the chair.
" You're sure?" Lucius asked," Affections. Of what manner?" an air of thoughtfulness in his voice.
" Of the deepest manner my lord."
Raising an eyebrow, Lucius and Tuxian shared an evil smile at each other.
As Tuxian exited the room finally, he could hear a faint voice from behind him whisper, " Interesting..."
When Luna sat up in bed, Ron had his arms wrapped so tightly around her, she found it difficult to stand up. Forcing him off without waking him turned out be be a bit hard as well. Finally throwing her sweatshirt and shoes back on she exited the small makeshift bedroom and entered the main room. With a shiver she exhaled, forming a small cloud of breath in front of her. Quickly as her shivering little body could manage, she went to the wood stove and , with a swish of her wand, started a nice roaring fire.
The warmth had barely started to fill the room when Draco sat up from the couch, scratching his head. He meant to say hello to Luna, but she quickly put her finger to her lips, everyone was still in heavily needed sleep. With a nod Draco stood, almost tiptoeing to the table where Luna was getting out a few cups from her own bag.
In a breathy whisper Luna spoke, " I'll make some coffee for us, it'll heat us up" She could see Draco shivering just as much as she was, " Why didn't you sleep in a bed?"
It took Draco a moment to realize that Luna was referring to the fact that she had discovered him on the couch.
" Oh. I did, then about 3 this morning I woke myself up. I guess the moist air made me kinda stuffy, I was snoring like crazy. Just figured to myself that Hermione needed sleep, so that's when I came out on the couch."
Luna made the understanding " oh?!" face, pouring the hot water into their cups of instant coffee. Making a head jerk motion towards the door, they both stood and exited the tent into the cold morning air.
" What time is it?" Draco asked, fumbling for a watch in his pocket. Before he could answer himself Luna said, " I'd say a fair near 5:30 or so" As the words exited her lips, he caught the face of his watch, noticing the time was 5:27am.
"yeah..." he said, placing it back into his uncommonly deep pocket, " How'd you d that?"
" I was always good with astrological stuff. My mother used to count the stars with me when i was a child, before she died. After she was gone, i started to learn the names of them. I was always convinced i didn't know enough. I guess it was my way of passing the time, dealing with it all. My father on the other hand, he started collecting muggle baseball cards. I'm not really to sure what they were. He never opened them. Every day on his way home he would stop at a store and buy this little foil covered packages. When he came home he would throw them into a box, then sit in his chair and look at a picture of my mother. I say, i think our entire basement's full of boxes of those packages, now he's been filling the attic. So how are you?"
The suddenness of her voice stopping cause him a little startle. Her voice was very dreamy indeed, and sometimes it was hard to concentrate when she talked. " Oh well,..I guess I'm okay. Why do you ask Luna?"
" You've just turned your entire life over looking for worms for fishing. You have discovered that your parents are more horrible than was imaginable. Your father is taking Voldemort's place. We're running around like loose Garden Gnomes after a good tossing. Not to mention the fate of your sister. And as far as I can tell, you are discovering the love of your life,and the best friends you could ever ask for, have been in front of you for all these years. We welcomed you with open arms after all the bad things, not expecting anything from you. I do think, Draco, it is good to ask how you are..." Luna smiled at him. He thought she was at least.
Sometimes it looked like Luna was staring through things rather than at them, like she saw more than most did.
With a smile he placed his arm around her shoulder, she was quite a bit smaller than him, so in giving her a hug, it was nearly a head lock. " Thanks Luna. You know, I really think Adorabella would have liked you. All of you." Giving her a little kiss on top of her head.
" I am sure we will all have our chance." Luna said. She was odd, but this was one of the many times when you weren't supposed to correct Luna. She was who she was, and that is why they loved her.
" Holy SHIT..It's Cold. Why the hell did we leave the beach again?" Ron's voice came from inside the tent.
" Mortal Peril Ron!" Reminded Ginny, laughing a little with Harry but the sounds of it.
" Why is everyone being loud damnit?" Hermione chimed in." It's too early!"
" No it's not!" Said Ron, " It's no earlier than usual!"
Luna and Draco laughed, a bit. Draco spoke loudly through the tent, " Oy! It's 5:40 in the morning Ron!"
"RONALD!" Hermione yelled "I'm gonna kill you"
Suddenly there was a familiar sound of Hermione's shoe being thrown at a living target.
" Crazy Git!" Ron said, then quickly added, " Shit! Help! Hermione get off'a me!"
Ron voice was muffled and at that, Luna and Draco reentered the tent.
Harry and Ginny were peaking out of their tapestry grinning from ear to ear.
With a THUD Hermione and Ron came bounding out of the bed area, rolling around in a tangled knot. Hermione had Ron's ear. Ron had her hair.
Draco rushed over laughing, pulling Hermione off of Ron, kicking at him still.
" You guys are like little old ladies you know that" Ginny said, disappearing back into the darkness.
Both of the grumbled something unrecognizable and went towards the table, sitting at opposite ends of it.
Harry, being rather cold like everyone else, retreated to his bag and came back with a sweatshirt. Pulling it over his head as he walked, he bumped rather clumsily into a large shelf, spewing several of it's objects on to the floor.
" damnit..." Harry murmured, as he began to pick it all up. A spare tea kettle, a few books, old and dusty, and a green vase. As Harry picked it up a few small purple things fell out of it.
Taking a closer look, Harry stood. " Hey" He called to the group, " Aren't these puking pastilles?"
Ginny smiled, walking to Harry and retrieving them from the floor.
" Oh goodness, yes..."
It was almost as if Ron and Ginny had had the same dark, horrendous thought at the same time. Ginny snapped her self in Ron's direction...with a look they both said, " George..."
" I have no idea if Mum and Dad would have told them. They might think he's safe. But.." Ron went pasty white
" Oh Ron..." Ginny fell into the couch, faint like, quiet.
" With any luck they contacted him and he's staying at Angelina's house." said Ron
Harry turned to Ron, " there's only one way to be sure. You game?" Asking both Ron, then turning towards Draco.
Ron lowered his head a little, then nodded. Draco kissed Hermione's head, which was still frazzled from the wrestling match with Ron.
The boys all walked to the door, slowly, as if thinking it through.
After getting outside, with a look back at the tent, Draco spoke in a raspy whisper, " You think? Ya know, they'll be okay?"
Harry let out a silent but noticeable laugh, " Trust me, those three are more than capable."
A rustle of noise from behind made each of them tense up.
" Ron!" It was Hermione, rushing towards them, her cheeks already turning pink in the cold morning outdoor air.
Before Ron could say anything, Hermione was giving him a fairly heavy hug.
" I'm sorry. I hate it when we fight."
Without another word, she retreated into the tent, with a final wave at the door, to her three heroes.
" Drama much?" Ron said, shrugging, " you'd think we were never coming back, or heading into danger."
Draco and Harry grunted in agreement, walking into a close formation and stopping a few more feet from the tent
" I mean really. Worst case scenario, walking in on George and Angelina snogging. I've seen it, it's not pretty."
With a laugh, they were gone.
Appearing around a dark corner in Diagon Alley, Harry half expected it to be run down. However to his surprise it was bustling. Apparently no one else knew about the Lucius Malfoy problem, and no one cared about Azkaban's mass breakout, or well, break down.
With a wave to follow, Harry, Ron and Draco quickly walked towards Weasley's store. They moved slightly awkwardly, trying not to run and cause attention, but not to linger.
As they entered the shop, they were quite surprised to see that the store was not nearly as mobbed at the street had been. Keeping their radar high, they slipped towards the back room.
Ron drew the curtain to the side and slipped in.
"Ron!" It was Angelina's voice.
" It's okay guys, come here" Ron's voice emitted from behind the curtain.
With a look to each other, Draco and Harry followed Ron's suit and slid through the heavy curtain into the back room area. Harry had once been here before, several years ago when he made his first visit to the shop. Back when Fred was still alive. Angelina was quick to give Harry and enormous hug hello, nearly hugging Draco, she hesitated and realized who her arms were nearly around.
" Is this a joke?" She said, lowering her eyebrows, as if to examine Draco.
" I assure you." Harry said, smirking to Draco, " We're funnier than THIS."
Ron snorted a little into his fist.
" George will be back in a second." Angelina was obviously addressing Ron, but still remained standing in front of Draco, her arms now crossed.
" Angelina.." Harry said, stepping in the very small, if not miniscule, space between Draco and herself. " I promise you, he's okay! Hell, he's well, "in relations" with Hermione, do you really think he could fraud her?"
Angelina was now peering around Harry to see Draco, " alright.." she said hesitantly, " but if he steels anything, I'm blaming you"
she pointed at Ron.
" Trust me, He's got enough money to buy your entire stock for like..10 years." Harry said, but Angelina turned to him. giving her " not funny" look.
HArry quickly retreated his eyes to his shoes, sometimes she gave him a look that made him feel like Mrs. Weasley was yelling at him. Thankfully for Harry, that had never happened. He had however, heard her yell at her own children enough, that really, harry could only imagine.
Perfectly timed, the back door opened and in entered George. His robes looked worn, his hair more untidy then ever, and almost a forced smile across his face when he laid eyes on Angelina first. Harry had an immediate flash back to Tonks, when she was miserable,bidding for Remus' affection.
Angelina crossed the room with a smile, hugging George tightly.
"George" she said quietly, " your brother is here."
She moved to the left to reveal Ron standing there, his hands in his pockets. He had expected George to scold him for not keeping in contact with him. George however, putting down his bags, took two very long steps, being a very long person himself, towards his brother, grabbing him tightly and hugging him. " Hey kiddo" He said sweetly." Mum and Dad have been to see me. Hey Draco, Harry!" Harry was very relieved at this. It meant a lot less explaining on their behalf.
" Wait, if you know, what are you still doing here? Why haven't you gone into hiding?" Ron said, looking really concerned.
" well.." Angelina began, but George cut her off.
" I am NOT hiding from Lucius Malfoy, lousy git...no offence." He put his hand towards Draco, who in turn laughed heartilyD
" Oh by all means" He said in a serious flat tone, " hate the bastard! I do."
" George really. If you won't go into hiding, just, er, come with us." Ron said, almost pleading with him now.
George just looked down, griping his fist tightly. Draco could sense that he was getting a bit angry, and interjected.
" That's okay. it's fine" he said, looking around at everyone, " if they don't want to come stay with us that's just fine. Now we have to go back and tell Ginny her brother's too much of a coward to come and join us. he'd rather stay here and wallow."
Before anyone could do anything, George had his wand out and was in Draco's face.
" You--know--nothing--about--me..." He spoke through his teeth.
" no.you're right, i don't." raco said, remaining oddly calm. Everyone else in the room however, was on pins and needles. " But i know Ginny. She's going to be crushed. I don't know about you, but i certainly don't want to be the one to tell her you didn't want to go to her.."
Draco held his stance, but you could see a small amount of fear in his eyes when George did not immediately back down.
He did however, soon enough.
" alright. I guess we have no choice." He said, turning towards Angelina, and walking her to the direction of the stairs to the flat above. " but it's for Ginny and Ginny alone."
no one felt the need to disagree.
Within a few moments George and Angelina rejoined the boys back downstairs.
" let me just go close up the doors and we'll get out of here." she said, walking back through the curtain.
" it's all for the best" Harry said, patting George on the back, " it'll be nice to have someone else cracking jokes around, Ron's are getting old."
" Ron's jokes are more like my grandparents. Old since i was born." George cracked a smile in Harry's direction. This was good, this was the George that Harry knew and missed.
" Oh I am sorry sir, we're actually closing."
Angelina's voice could be heard from the main room of the shop.
" I'm not here to purchase anything. I'm looking for Mr. Weasley. I need to speak with him briefly." The boys all looked at each other with confusion and wonder.
They all went to the curtain and peeked through.
" I'll go get him, hold on" Angelina said.
" Harry...doesn't he look like.." Ron whispered...
" Oh THAT won't be necessary.." said the man..
" Harry...the house in Ireland.." Draco spoke ...
The man grabbed for Angelina, Draco ran out into the room wand up, followed by Ron, Harry and George. There was an explosion of lights and smoke. Angelina screamed.
When the smoke cleared, the man stood alone in the shop, with nothing but a bloody nose. Tuxian knew he had failed.
Landing in a clumped heap, the five of them groaned as they fell atop each other on the wet grass. The sun was now almost fully over the tops of the trees.Slowly they all rose and walked towards the tent.
" Isn't this dad's ministry tent?" George asked, as they entered it.
Walking in they saw Luna, Hermione and Ginny all sitting together on the couch, curled up in a sleeping bunch. Ginny's head raised a little, turning and seeing Harry she smiled. When her eyes moved over and saw George standing there, she jumped quickly off the couch. Running to her brother,she fell into his arms,crying. Harry could feel tears burning his eyes.
George looked over her shoulder, watching Draco walk to Hermione and kissing her head.
" I've sent a patronus to Mum. We wanted to make sure that everyone else was taken care of. Charlie and Bill are more than fine when it come to defending themselves. But Perce. Well, we've suggested he go stay with mum and dad for now." Hermione said, turning to Ron.
" Good, you know I was actually just thinking about that.." Ron said, turning to Draco, who seemed to be concentrating on other things. At the moment he was watching George and Ginny. Holding on for dear life, unable to let go of each other. George turned his head to Ron, putting his arm out. With his head down, Ron too joined in hugging his sister. George once again looked to Draco.
Without a sound He mouthed the words, " thank you".
Draco smiled, finally his absurd manner was used for good, and George didn't even need to punch him.
A/N sorry it took me so long to get this on here. Was having more of that fun writers block..yay...anywho..hope you enjoy. make sure you leave reviews!Dazen!