Cow, now this was nice, and in front of Neville. Her answer didn't wait and was … unexpected?
"Bull?" Hermione said, and it went out as a question. Malfoy looked … red. She realised he was holding back a laugh. Which made her laugh and he just followed. Neville looked completely lost for a moment and then recovered.
"Is that what made you laugh on that bloody parchment? Idiotic insults? You guys are so weird … Everyone's just loosing their mind here …" His statement didn't help the hysterical laughter that was currently taking over Hermione. Neville was right, they were all crazy. She was laughing her face off with Malfoy right now, and when it ended, the blond ferret actually wiped a tear.
"Granger you're so stupid I can't take it." Thank you very much.
"Well, I could have said beef but … no one would ever want to eat you …"
"Like anyone would want to taste that …" He looked at her from head to toe. "THAT is vomit-inducing Granger." There, laughter, again. Neville had just gone back to work, ignoring the both of them, frowning for himself over files.
"Don't throw up Malfoy you might ruin your precious robes."
"Aha! Jealousy?" He said pointing a long finger towards her face. "Considering the robes you're wearing that's understandable."
"At least I can wear white ones if I like. People would still be able to see me."
"We've been over that already Granger …"
"WORK! There's work! This is quite funny, I can give you that, but now is not the time!" Neville kept going under his breath: "Can't believe I'm the one lecturing Hermione, laughing with Malfoy, the world is going berserk …" Hermione chuckled. They'd gotten carried away a bit. Malfoy looked suddenly really uncomfortable. Which was quite funny.
"Hufflepuff." She called quietly before joining Neville at the table. She didn't let any time for him to answer and added: "We should take these to the archives Neville."
"Right let's go. You're not coming!" He yelped at Malfoy with a warning finger pointed to the blond's chest.
"I had no intention to Longbottom. And you don't win that one Granger. I'll get my revenge." He said before going out with a wide but slightly disturbed grin on his face.
Apparently their little banter existed outside the parchment. She doubted he'd have retaliated in front of Ron or Kingsley but he'd ignored Neville. At least it was really civil, from a deranged point of view. Oh and the hell to it, it was funny.
"You're friends with Malfoy now Mione?" Neville asked her, his round face slightly concerned, half-hidden behind the huge pile of files he was holding while walking out of the room carefully.
"What? No."
"Oh. And what was that then? Looked … crazily friendly to me … or at least the closest to friendly it can get while throwing insults at each other …" Right, what was it then?
"Err, I don't know, but it works. At least we're not yelling at each other."
"Right. We wouldn't want to have you argue with anyone …" He teased.
"Oh, shut up!" She answered playfully nudging him on the shoulder.
"How did it go?"
"Well, Harry had to threaten Ron to hex the crap out of him if he didn't listen to me. Once he listened he actually heard I was right. I don't get it you know, how is it that Harry's trust is never questioned and when it comes to me, even if I give the same trust as Harry, he just won't …"
"He's been on edge Mione, he's not taking well the fact that the order means practically only his family now …" Neville looked concerned for Ron, as he did for most of them now.
"I know …"
"But Malfoy's right, it's no excuse to insult you." Malfoy?
"Is that what he said?"
"Yes, and he looked quite pissed off in my opinion." That was true, he'd looked ready to beat the hell out of Ron.
"Oh, I think maybe the death eater calling made him snap …" It went out almost as a question, for she had no idea why the ferret would take her defence like that.
"Sure. And I understand it was unfair, but he took your defence, even Kingsley asked him why."
"Err I have no idea. You know … it's not that hard to be civil with him once you try and wear his shoes. Know what I mean?"
"Mm, I guess, wouldn't want his shoes for the world … Lavender's been joking with him too, maybe he's not that bad after all …" Neville looked so confused she had to at least try and reassure him a bit.
"He's still an arrogant prat Neville, but a funny one I guess."
"That's better, I was finally thinking the world was upside down. Malfoy a humble and wise man, and Hermione a yelling and insulting wreck!"
"Oh! Shut up!" He chuckled as they reached the archives.
"Let's go through these … it's already seven. Let's call it a night at ten, after you disillusion them?"
"Good idea. I haven't slept in my own bed for ages!"
"Few days Hermione." He winked.
"Feels like eternity."
"I know."
Blaise Zabini was on edge. He'd done absolutely nothing, for a whole day. He'd been left alone most of it, and had had to share tea and meals with Narcissa. Don't get yourself mistaken, Narcissa was quite the nice woman, and he knew her since he was little, but she was not the talkative type. It'd been so boring he thought he'd just shave his head for fun. He'd been in the library but the two Gryffindors had already taken everything useful there. He was useless, waiting there, watching over his friend's mother like a god damn babysitter, when those two deranged bastards walked free. This was so infuriating that he now had to grip the armrests of his chair tightly to keep himself from running away from the manor by foot. Which would be the stupidest thing ever. For all he knew there could be one of those bastards just waiting for him outside. He took a drink. He needed it. He'd promised himself not to, after Brown's lecture, but the hell to it he owed her nothing.
"Don't drink too much mate, I've got news." Draco was standing, leaning against his door frame, looking more like it was supporting him, than the nonchalant style he was trying for.
"Not too fucking late! Was so bored I almost ran out of here!"
"My office? I've got work to do."
"I … My, I almost offered my help! See what this place's doing to me?" Blaise stood and followed him down the stairs to the west wing.
"Yeah that Salazar forsaken place … Can't stand it but mother refuses to sell, no one would buy it anyway, and it's way too safe to now …"
"Mm. So? That lead?"
Draco had just told Blaise about everything Granger had found, which had somehow lead him to her little quarrel with Weasley.
"He called her a slut and she just forgives him like that? Too goody good for her own sake … thought she'd changed …" Blaise muttered.
"Well, she slapped him, twice …"
"Yeah well he deserved a good fist tasting … Like it's been all pleasant vacation around here!" Draco was surprised, Blaise would have defended her honour too? So it was just a normal thing to do then?
"You would have punched him?"
"Come on Draco you going soft? It's the weasel! Insulting their best bloody auror! It's a shame. I quite like her too you know, she's not as uptight as she used to be at school, actually fun to be around …"
"Fun?" Draco had asked more out of surprise than scepticism. He knew for a fact that she could be quite funny, and witty. His parchment was proof, and their little banter too. He also knew she'd changed. They all had, the sole exception seemed to be the idiot redhead.
"We had a couple of laughs when you were at work mate. She's nice. Brown's too for that matter."
"Right, you're right. I've had some too with them. Brown says hi by the way." Here, Blaise's interest was completely captivated now.
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really. She's out on intervention tonight."
"Right. Keep me posted tomorrow? Charm one of these parchments for me mate, I'm so bored …"
"I won't be able to answer all the time Blaise …"
"I know but at least important things?"
"Like if Brown says hi?"
"Shut it just do it."
"Only if what I tell you …"
"Stays between us, I know mate."
"Right, deal then, hold this."
After a few minutes of parchment testing, Blaise was out and Draco was finishing his last scroll for the bloody too long day. It took two hours. Now it was one o'clock, and it was earlier than ever, he could get five hours of sleep. Draco couldn't wait! Once comfortable under the sheets though, his mind was racing. Were Granger and Longbottom still working? Did they find anything? She said she'd keep him posted but maybe she was waiting until morning? Would she bother him in the middle of the night if she found something? Draco doubted it, she was changed but still got some principles, right? Shit this was unnerving. He wouldn't sleep! He felt weak while writing but couldn't help it.
- Anything or called it a night already?
The response took six minutes and thirty two seconds to come.
- Did you know that that bloody fucking parchment of yours could wake you up? That horrible thing sent green flashes in my bedroom! I woke up thinking I got avadaed! You sodding git! I said I'd keep you posted for Godric's sake! And don't you bloody comment on my swearing it's way worse aloud!
Draco burst out laughing. He hadn't known the thing could do that. He would have done it sooner! He could bet his hand she'd hexed the shit out of her place! This was worth all her wrath and swearing!
- You can't imagine the state I'm in right now. I can't stop laughing. It actually hurts! I haven't laughed this hard in years Granger! Tell me you hexed the place? Please?
- Wanker. I blew up an entire wall. AN ENTIRE FUCKING WALL YOU PRAT! It's going to take days to repair! You're lucky you're not around right now trust me. You'll pay for this.
The laughter didn't seem to fade, Draco was now hugging his ribs, trying desperately to maintain a proper grip on his quill. His response got written quite approximatively.
- An entire wall? This is the funniest thing ever. I have trouble writing. Oh and how do you plan on doing that pray tell? Can't make me blow up a wall … and your insults don't work any more Granger.
- I wish I could strangle you right now. With my bare hands you horrible idiot. I hate you!
Those last three words actually did something to his insides. He knew she was angry but … He kind of hoped she didn't. He'd thought she didn't. He chose to think she didn't. She couldn't he hadn't done anything on purpose.
- No you don't. Admit you would laugh too if it'd been me!
He swallowed hard when the words disappeared.
- Can't believe I'm writing that, but it's not like anyone would believe you, and since no one can see that … you're right. And of course I would laugh my face out at you. But I'm still so mad at you that you should expect some kind of bad treatment. I'm not letting this go. Whether you did this on purpose or not. You'll pay for this Malfoy!
She didn't. Why was he relieved? Because he didn't hate her either, and because he didn't want their little banter to end. It made him laugh. Draco realised he'd just scared himself over Granger. The perspective of her hatred had actually hurt him. He really didn't want her to hate him. Like she'd said, no one could see that, so he didn't see why he wouldn't at least offer to make it right. He wrote his answer trying to ignore the little voice in his head telling him he was going soft. He was just tired, couldn't think straight.
- All right, what do I do to make this right?
- You're going soft Malfoy or afraid of me?
Was she reading his mind?
- Definitely afraid of you. After today's show I wouldn't risk getting slapped again. Weasley's face has got your hand permanently printed on it.
- Maybe try not to make me blow up walls then? And if you want to make it right, come fix it you idiot!
He hadn't even started to think of an answer when she added.
- Don't come. It was a joke. Don't want to see your face, all my flat lacks right now is puke all over the carpet.
She'd forgotten to be precise. Too bad.
- Very thoughtful of you to spare me from vomiting Granger. Your face in the middle of the night might just do that to my stomach.
- Did you look at your own face these days Malfoy? You're no better. Ghostly pale. Low shoulders. Very few smiles. A bit snappy. Is Zabini still rejecting you?
Shit. She'd won. Justifying or denying would only make it worse.
- All right I surrender. You win. I'll deny I wrote this of course. Let's say I said: HYENA. Good luck finding a male equivalent now.
- Who said you were male? For all I know you're just a tall angry blond girl. A clumsy Hufflepuff. A little gazelle.
Here, right in his face. This was far more fun when he won. He was definitely going soft. But he had to admit she was gifted. When had she acquired such witted mockery? The Granger he remembered would never have called him a Hufflepuff as an insult! Because it wasn't really one. Who was he kidding, of course it was. She knew exactly what to say to get back at him, she'd just called him a gazelle. This was insane. But also insanely childish and freeing.
- I wonder why you were not sorted in Slytherin Granger, that was cunning and slightly devious. I am quite proud of you, you know, you're making progress. My teaching seems to have some affect on you. Soon you won't only be slapping Weasley, but mocking his hair too! Maybe one day you'll actually learn how to use sarcasm right! I put so much hope in you!
- You condescending, pretentious, idiot! By the way, my wall won't be repaired by magic. I used too many hexes and spells all at once! Do you know how disturbing it is to see your loo from your bed? You're paying so bloody hard for this!
She was so angry, Draco couldn't stop laughing at her sincerity. She'd just write what she was thinking. So she blew up the wall to the bathroom. No big deal, use the … oh she couldn't.
- No big deal Granger, if you want I'll send someone to repair that, take the guest room.
- I don't have a bloody guest room you twat!
He knew it! No guest room. Way to anger her even more.
- How do you do when you have guests then? Let them sleep on the carpet?
- No, that would be your special treatment only. They just get my bed and I take the couch but as you may not have realised I have a time consuming job, I don't have guests that often, and I'm not home that often either.
Right, of course she didn't have guests. Draco didn't have any either but he still got to sleep in his bed at night. Aurors were all exhausted, it could be seen on their faces.
- Well, fortunate I won't ever set foot in your now blown up flat then. And I saw that of your job, have you looked at Potter recently? The idiot sleeps on his desk, looks paler that I do.
- That's not humanly possible and you know that. You're almost translucent Malfoy, Harry's just a bit tired is all.
Translucent? Seriously?
- See what I meant by Hyena? A bit is the century's understatement. Speaking of this, now that I've stopped laughing, I realised it's nearly two o'clock.
- Right. I just finished dusting my bed anyway (I hate you). See you in the morning for my revenge.
Again. No, she didn't, she'd denied it, and she would have blown that parchment too in that case. Instead she'd kept talking. While apparently cleaning what remained of her bedroom.
- No, you don't. Good night Granger. Sleep … dust-free.
He wondered what her complex brain would prepare for her revenge. He'd had to be careful, even if he doubted she'd have the time to do anything.
- Good night GIT.
What he wrote next confirmed that he was definitely going soft, but he was also too tired to care.
That idiot blond head! How could he not know what the parchment he'd charmed himself, would do such a thing? Hermione had woken up to a green flash so intense she'd thought she was being attacked. Godric her reflexes were good! Exhaustion seemed to only have duplicated them. She'd jumped off the bed to more green flashes, and blown up what was facing her. Not just blown up actually, she'd almost set the entire building on fire. Thank god she had strong wards, the noise could have woken the entire city! Fortunately she'd realised instantly that the flashes had come from her desk, and she'd turned the fire down. What remained of her bedroom was a catastrophe. She'd used at least five spells before realising it'd come from the parchment. There was nothing to be saved of the damn wall! She'd cleaned the room while answering the git responsible for that, and had vanished the pieces of stone and bricks but was left with a gigantic hole facing her bed, with view right to the loo. Disturbing.
God she hated him! No you don't. How could he be so sure? Well, once calmed down, she knew she didn't. How could you hate someone who hated himself so much already? Who seemed so regretful too. He made her laugh. Lavender was so right, they all needed the bloody laugh. Plus, he'd offered to make things right, which was again another surprising thing coming from him. Was he worried about her being angry at him? No, that was stupid, all he did was trying to anger her, to laugh at her. But still, he'd stated, no you don't, twice. And she didn't. Was he bloody reading her mind or something? How did she feel about him anyway? Were they starting to become friends? Was Neville right? She had no idea, but now that hate was gone, she couldn't put words to replace it. She just didn't know. Plus, it was nearly two in the morning already and she didn't need to find out what they were, she didn't care, as long as it stayed as fun as it was. Now what she needed was to sleep on that, and in the morning, go back to work with some sort of revenge.
- Said GIT is really sorry he scared you. I just couldn't sleep not knowing. Night Granger.
Or maybe not. This was unexpected, and … another apology from Malfoy. Was the world ending soon? She'd told him they'd all seen past his sarcasm and mockery, and all knew he'd changed, but she only realised to what extent reading his last message. Even if there was no possible witness, again, he'd still written it. She felt herself smile. There would be no revenge after all. She knew he wouldn't want an answer to such a thing, as for when he'd said thank you, but she felt like she needed to.
- You're not a git Malfoy.
She also knew she wouldn't get one, but was still surprised when the words she wrote disappeared as soon as she'd put the dot on. He was still holding the parchment. She went back to bed, this time folding the torn parchment in her pyjama's pocket, where her coin always laid. She wouldn't risk blowing another damn wall, the place hadn't so many.
She was woken up way too early. The strident sound from the charmed muggle alarm clock she used was horrific. Couldn't she use her wand as all the other wizards and witches did? No, she had to like her muggle appliances. She almost threw the damn thing to the wall. And then she remembered she didn't have a wall any more. She went to the bathroom, pestering around for herself at all muggle things, and at the damn hole from which she could now see her bed. She wasn't half through her shower yet when something alarmed her to no end.
"Hermione?!" Harry? Shit, this had to be important. She covered herself with a towel and stormed out of the half-bath half-bedroom she now owned.
"Harry? What …"
"Another attack, they're going for it Mione, we need to find them now."
"Give me five minutes." He nodded and was ready to end the floo call, his head slightly turned to the side, when he caught something behind her.
"What happened to your bedroom?!" Shit, she'd left the door open.
"Err, nightmare."
"Wh … Oh my … really?" He looked completely bewildered, and concern was starting to show on his face.
"It's all right, I was half asleep, heard a noise, just thought I was attacked."
"Oh. Happened to me last year. Thank god I wasn't with Ginny, didn't blow up a wall though …" He seemed to remember quite vividly for he was grimacing. Hermione wondered when she'd learned to lie. It wasn't totally a lie actually …
"Anyway, five minutes." And he was gone. She couldn't have told him, right? No way. She grabbed the first pair of pants she found and a sweater, and had to scrougify antecedently clean robes just because wall dust had apparently landed everywhere in her closet too. She was at the ministry in four minutes. Looking like utter shite. Even her hair wasn't as nice as usual, she'd think about it later, she still had two month worth of potions for it and that was a blessing. She arrived in their meeting room before everyone else except Harry, Kingsley and Ron. Before she could ask, Harry explained:
"Muggle supermarket attacked. Incidents department on it with the obliviating. Dean and Lavender went directly from their mission to there to investigate what they could. They're coming back in a minute. We waited to wake you up."
"No need next time Harry." Oh he didn't agree she could see it clearly on his face even from the door. "Ron, the location?" Ron scowled.
"Useless, ruins. Nothing there, we were back at midnight."
"Midnight? And you waited until five to call me?"
"Calm down Hermione, it needed to be contained anyway, and you need to be well rested for your job today." Kingsley's voice was calm, but contained a warning.
"Right, because I only have today, isn't it?"
"Exactly. When Neville gets here, shouldn't be long now, you get to work." She nodded in response and took a seat.
"Don't take this the wrong way Mione but you look like shite. Here, take a coffee." Said Ron. She'd forgiven him for his horribly mean insults but she was exhausted and angry at everything right now, she didn't need to be reminded her missed proper shower. She shot him a glare that made him wrinkle his nose in distaste.
"Sorry … But I thought you went out early last night."
"Ronald, weeks of sleep deprivation don't magically disappear from one's face, maybe take a look at yourself. Now, I don't think reminding everyone that they look like crap is the right way to approach such issue." Said Kingsley, actually shooting him a glare too.
"Did he dare say that to you too?" Asked Hermione.
"Indeed." He said venomously. Hermione chuckled.
"Ron, maybe you're more sleep deprived than the rest of us. Angering the boss first thing in the morning …" She said, gabbing the coffee he handed her. Harry chuckled and received a death glare from said boss. A quite dishevelled Neville entered the room panting, with two mugs of coffee in his hands, and a huge scroll Hermione suspected to be blank.
"Work?" He asked her without sparing a glance at the others. Hermione didn't answer and jumped on her feet, it was going to be the worst day ever.
Once installed they needed to select only Applebea, Flint, Black and just in case, Greengrass and Parkinson's files from Gringott's. Then cross the data with the estate archives, and hopefully they would find acquisition of domains or houses or anything that could contain crazy bastards.
Draco woke up at five thirty. What a wonderfully resting night he'd had. Less than four hours of sleep. Life was just shit. He got ready quickly and arrived at the ministry for six o'clock. Potter was all over the place, he could hear him from the lift. What was going on? He went to the meeting room instead of Potter's office, only to be thrown a newspaper in the face. Oh. Shite.
"Contained I suppose?" He asked to Shakelbolt who nodded:
"Course. Hermione and Neville are in the archives working their arses off, those three" He showed the weasel, Brown and Thomas "Need some sleep, they've been here all night. And I have way too many meetings, Harry's coming with me to temper the press."
"Old war hero to reassure?" Potter nodded:
"It's extreme, people are starting to really loose their trust." Draco nodded back. Potter's face would restore some sense of security to the public eye, he'd defeated you-kn … Voldemort after all. Granger was right, he was dead.
"I must have million things to attend to then …" Draco started but was cut.
"No, I sent someone else, you're with us. He's from your department, an assistant I think, who is he already? Tall, large … I don't really know the …" Said Shakelbolt. What? Draco knew he had colleagues, and that his notes and reports didn't appear or vanish from his desk but he'd never really paid attention to them. Plus, he always worked from home, except for meetings, he'd just grab the work on the desk and … well he didn't know them.
"I … er …"
"Romilda Vane. And it's a she." Said Potter. The laughter that ensued was out-of-place in such a time, but very very welcome.
"Ugly Romilda works with me?! Salazar … Shakelbolt!" He said, between bouts of laughter, his former class mates, if he could call them that being all Gryffindors, still lost in between tears and laughs.
"Oh, my, I might need some sleep too." Shakelbolt looked ashamed.
"She's going to show her face to foreign representatives? Shit Potter, show yours first! At least for our country!" Continued Draco but Potter was lost in laughter and incoherent:
"Oh … Ah … Ron! Your lover's …"
"Shut the fuck up Harry!" Weasley looked purple again, but this time from embarrassment. Draco didn't dare say a thing for it could lead to again another angry confrontation, so he shrugged to Shakelbolt. The last seemed to have forgotten the events for his interest in the current matter. Thomas and Brown were holding each other in their continued laughter.
"Remember?" Halted Brown.
"Fuck yes!" Said Thomas and they were on again.
"Shut up! The three of you!" Started yelling Weasley. Draco couldn't take it any more.
"Come on Weasley, if it's really embarrassing I'll tell you one of mine, Brown knows it, she can tell if you're afraid I won't keep my word." This gave back some normal colour to the weasel's face, though it was in patches. He looked positively sickening. He eyed Draco suspiciously for a moment and then turned to Brown.
"I know one Ron. Trust me it's a good one too." She said.
"Remember what Mione said Ron. Come on it's just so funny! Kingsley's dying to know too!" Added Potter and after a moment of apparently intense thinking, not that the wanker could do anything intense though, he said:
"Fuck. Vane had sent Harry chocolate cauldrons for Valentine's day one year, they were err … Shit. Love potion. I didn't know and ate half the box."
"Nooooo ?!" Shock. That must have been horrific. Being infatuated with that monster. "How long?"
"Almost two days … I think, I don't remember everything clearly." He looked like he was going to be sick.
"Well you're about to puke you must remember some of it." Draco didn't even laugh at the git, he actually felt sorry for him. It had had to be funny for his friends of course, but the poor … wait was he actually pitying the horrible idiotic redface? Fuck.
"Yes and don't rub it in my face ferret tell yours now." His story was far less shameful that the weasel's … As much as he wished to anger him even more, he couldn't, they'd have to work together apparently. Shite.
"Well mine's … far less … err … disgusting."
"Spit it out."
"I fell in the lake and go swung around by the giant squid for fifteen minutes …" Draco said, looking falsely guilty now. He didn't want the idiot to think he was telling a lame story to annoy him. Which he so wasn't.
"SERIOUSLY?! Lavender you're going to regret this!" Well, Brown didn't care, she was still laughing her arse out with Thomas.
"If it can make you feel better, I went out with Parkinson a few times …" The weasel lifted his face to him, which took a few seconds to swap expression. From anger and shame it went to remembrance.
"Oh I forgot about that … erk." Draco gave him a disgusted smile. He'd actually snogged that self-righteous bitch.
"At least your past dates are on the right side." He mumbled.
"I … err, yes I guess. WAIT! VANE WAS NOT A DATE!" That didn't help the others calm down. Draco even chuckled before lifting his hands in surrender.
"All right, all right, I didn't mean it like that! And it's not so much of a shame you know, she's doing my job, far better that what that Parkinson bint's doing right now!"
"About that, Malfoy, you go help Hermione and Neville today, not tomorrow." Said Shakelbolt, slapping figuratively everyone with a large hand of reality. Shit, work. Draco nodded and walked out of the room right away.
He was almost at the lift when:
"Malfoy!" What did he want now? Fucking weasel, as if feeling sorry for him hadn't sufficed. The git grabbed the lift's door and entered with him.
"What?" Draco asked, trying not to sound too cutting.
"Err …"
"What?"
"Calm down it's hard to fucking say. Especially when you should say it first!"
"What in the world are you talking about?"
"I'm sorry Malfoy, for yesterday. I'm … not that you care, but my family's in danger. Too, I mean. It's not easy, all right? We hate each other. But Mione's right I've been loosing my shit. Harry trust you, that should have been enough." Draco looked at him right in the eyes. The git didn't understand did he? Draco didn't give a damn about his insults … except when it concerned his mother.
"Look at me Weasley. I won't say it again. I don't give a bloody damn about your insults, I've insulted you for years, I deserve those. What angered me yesterday is first, that you included those bastards in my family, they're not. I only have my mother. Who's in great danger too, if you recall." The git nodded, half guilty half angry already. Oh, he wasn't going to like the rest. Draco felt his fists clench and tried to remain calm. "Second, is that you disrespected Granger." The weasel actually looked so surprised it vanished every other emotion from his face. Then anger came again. Draco talked before he could, lifting a hand before his face.
"No, not like that idiot. Isn't she your best friend? The best auror there is? Your ex for Salazar's sake? I know, I'm not one to talk, but I've apologized to her and it's dealt with now. I don't disrespect her any more. What you said should have earned you a rightful punch in the bloody jaw Weasley."
"I know." He simply said, anger vanishing again. "And coming from you it must mean something." The idiot looked so guilty it was disgusting to witness. He took his face in his hands and rubbed his eyes before continuing. "Look Malfoy, I'm sorry I insulted your mother somehow. It won't happen again. IF you shut the fuck up about my house, that joke's worn off. Wait, and, even if it's none of your bloody business, Hermione and I are fine. She called me a bloody small dicked prat and an horrific cock sucking wanker. None of that is true." He cut himself, looking at Draco as if challenging him to say the contrary. Draco remained silent, he'd let him finish before. "She's not a slut either. I have anger issues, I can be horrible with her. Especially because … well I have no idea why I'm telling you of all people but … she counts more. She's been through hell and back and I worry more and shit, I snap at her more. She knows that, everybody knows that. I say things I don't mean. She forgives me. I forgive her. It releases the tension."
Right, it was awkwardly said but had a certain logic. Draco resigned with saying: "It's fucking weird." instead of insulting him.
"Yes, well, try and fight everyday for years straight, sleeping what? Four hours a night and you'll need to lash out too."
"I don't fight, but I work as hard Weasley. And I don't lash out on my friends."
"You don't have any …"
"Oh my …"
"Sorry, sorry, old habit. Err, look it's just like that. During the war …well, you don't know half of what we went through together. It's just the way we make it work."
"All right. It's none of my business anyway, don't write a dairy." The prat chuckled.
"Yes, well, against my opinion, they decided you're part of the team now, so you have to, at least, know that. I really don't want to touch you but …" He lifted his hand to Draco. "If not peace, at least ignorance?" He said. Well, Draco couldn't have phrased it better. It was their maximum. Touching his hand almost made his gag though.
"Right. Goodbye now." Draco said, walking out the lift, that had arrived to the floor minutes before, wiping his hand against his robes. Oh shit.
"Oh and Weasley, if you say a word about this conversation, I'll have to kill you."
"Err, same here ferret."
"Yes well, I know death eater's ways you've never heard of." Draco smirked to the git, who suddenly looked quite worried, just before the lift's door closed. Finishing with the upper hand was the least he could have done.
He'd lost enough time to annoying and shameful Gryffindors for the day though. Ironic that he had to join two others. After passing security, Draco entered in the wide alleys of the ministry's archives. Granger and Longbottom were not hard to find. They were in the middle of the gigantic and dark room, files flying all around them. They were looking quite the efficient pair. Accioing files, levitating others back, reading at the same time. This was fascinating. Granger in action, he thought. He had to admit Longbottom was quite impressive too.
What caught his sight and kept him a few paces away though, was Granger's face. She looked … fuck it was painful. Her under eyes were so dark, it was as if someone had given her two black eyes. Her hair was still close to blond but not as sleek as it'd been the other days, she'd been in a hurry, well, more than usual. Since when did he notice that sort of things? Anyway, she was nudging at her bottom lip determinedly, which was the only sign of life one could see on her face, she was pale as ever, so pale he could see her freckles from there. Their little night incident had had horrific consequences apparently and Draco felt suddenly really guilty for waking her up and scaring the crap out of her. He knew she didn't blame him, she'd said he wasn't a git. Which had left him fall a sleep with a shameful and very personal smile, he didn't assume. Still. He couldn't take his eyes away from her. This had to end. It was slowly killing them. If she looked like that, when she'd told him the day before she'd find the location with such trust in herself, it had to mean she was killing herself at work. They all were, he thought. He knew he looked like shit too, like a ghost, Longbottom looked dishevelled even his back to him, his hair was … a mess. Potter was … atrocious, Shakelbolt didn't recognize a woman any more, and Weasley … had apologized and offered the closest to peace he could to him. He thought about his mother and Blaise … It had to end. Today they had to find their location. It was a life or death matter now.