Hermione might have played a bit too cocky. To attack this ward, she had to conjure a tear of pure joy from herself. She didn't need to actually shed it, but to conjure it from a joy she felt. Then she'd blast it at the ward. Well, for that, she needed to have a joy. How ironic that she didn't. It could be anything, nothing big, it just had to be real. What did she enjoy? Coffee? Err, cookies? That was idiotic. All she could think about now was jam, on toast, when had she last eaten already? Shit, she was going to ridicule herself. Think, she needed to bloody well think. Oh sleeping. Yes, sleeping had become a joy since that stone bullshit. This had to work or she'd pass out in shame. She closed her eyes and pictured herself going to bed, with nothing to worry about. Oh she so desperately needed a good, devoid of worries, night of sleep. A full night, about eight hours, would be perfect. She pointed her wand at her temple, and thought of nothing else but of fluffy pillows and soft covers on a firm mattress. She didn't need to voice anything, if it was a pure feeling the wand would extract it itself. It drained all her strength to dismiss every other thought, and to fully concentrate on the sole bliss of sleeping. She clenched her jaw in the effort, and sweat pearled on her upper lip.
"Fuck!" She heard and knew she'd succeeded. Malfoy was agape at the minuscule drop of joy that lolled at the tip of her wand. She almost jumped in pride. She'd perfected that technique so long ago, when things hadn't been this bad, and had doubted her abilities for a moment. But she still had joy in her and it was awesome! She smiled her face out until Neville cleared his throat.
"Oh right." She said before turning to the wall and focusing on Lavender. "You need to attack it simultaneously for it to work. Remember that one?"
"Course." Nodded Lavender, wand at the ready, eyeing Hermione's with a fierce stare she only arboured on the field. Hermione threw that precious tear of joy to the worn padded wall, aiming inwardly for the ward. As soon as the tear hit it, the ward shone faintly, but they didn't get a chance to see it for more than a millisecond, that Lavender hexed the ward with blue sparks. The ward disconnected from the wall, appearing in its light blue shine, and wavered. Its shine died down little by little, and it finally shattered to vanish completely after a few seconds.
"YES! Awesome! Mione you're a genius!" Lavender was ecstatic and hugged her in her amazement.
"That was impressive Granger." Congratulated Zabini. Maybe he really liked her after all, he was actually smiling at her.
"Err, well thanks Zabini." She answered awkwardly. Malfoy was looking at her, mouth slightly open. He put himself back together the instant she laid eyes on him, and she assumed he felt uncomfortable, if the fact that he apparently had no idea what to do with his hands meant anything. He opened his mouth just as she realised she'd better stare elsewhere.
"Guess they called you brightest witch of our age for a reason. It's a shame you're so irritating it counteracts your feats." Hermione chuckled, it was the closest thing to a compliment he would ever voice to her. The people present were of friendly territory for him, even Neville, so he didn't take a huge risk but she appreciated the gesture anyway.
"Thank you Malfoy." She said. He rolled his eyes and pouted in response. Zabini looked amused but his attention got rapidly taken by Lavender. She, on the contrary, wasn't paying him any, she was still on working mode, and tapping her foot on the floor with impatience. Hermione smiled, Lavender was becoming just like her.
"Right, what's next on the list Lavender?"
Just like that the two women went back to work. Granger was amazing. He had to confess it, at least to himself. She'd just created magic. She could have entered the manor any time if she'd wished to. Draco couldn't proclaim it the safest place on earth any more. Its wards weren't that impressive after that. Did she know she was the only one in the world to be able to do that? Draco had meticulously studied every ward that guarded his home, and they were all close to unbreakable magic. So strong it had taken him years to master some of the charms so he could alter them as needed. And she had been an auror what? Two years? Amazing. Fucking brightest witch for sure. That amazement had made him voice it. Of course he'd said it his own way, not going soft and all those big fat lies. Her eyes had shone with a mix of embarrassment and pride. He'd have to best her in something someday. His balls were at stake. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he caught eye of Blaise, who was staring at Brown, openly. He was clearly amazed. Draco doubted it had anything to do with her magic though. Longbottom opened his mouth and removed the both of them from their trance.
"See? Told you it would be interesting."
"Shit, this is more than interesting. I want to do that!" Extolled Blaise.
"Well, keep with us then." Smiled Longbottom. "Might be interesting to go see the others too. I reckon there will be more action over there." They followed him out and went back to the first door they'd skipped before.
"Right, before we get in, there's a magical barrier only aurors can pass. So no one else gets hurt. Err, don't be surprised if you can't take more than a few steps in."
Draco nodded, Blaise grumbled some sort of agreement and they finally walked in what had to be the largest room of the floor. It was probably five times bigger than the other training rooms they'd visited, and was similarly padded, from ceiling to floor.
What was happening in there was complete chaos. At first all Draco could see was a blurred scene of shooting sparks and crashes, accompanied with loud and hectic yelling. When his eyes got used to the rapidity of the movements, he could distinguish an ugly redface and Thomas, revolving around each other in a huge downpour of magical attacks and blocks. The two aurors were training their arses off. They jumped, ran, yelled, fired hexes at their backs, to rebound against the walls, and straight to the other's face from time to time. They never stopped, it was a constant fight, paced by hexes and spells, and to Draco's utter surprise, curses. They never hit though, as the other always managed to duck or block. It was a staccato, set as a clock, each tic followed by an equally powerful tac. Draco realised he knew every spell, hex or curse they used, and that they were mostly the minor injuring type. It was probably in case they hit their aim, so no one got really hurt, at least Draco hoped. Then he remembered that a simple green flash had made Granger blow up a wall, but then, she was an exception to almost every rule he knew. Shaking away that thought he went back to the aurors' agility, which was unique. While he wasn't sure he could live up to their rhythm, he knew for a fact that he had a vast knowledge on curses and the like. He knew a whole lot of nasty ones. Blaise elbowed him on the side and whispered his way:
"Mate, their moves and our attacks …"
"I know."
"We have to work with them." Blaise looked half-amazed, half-disgusted at the idea. He was right though, even if the aurors could maintain this furious rhythm for hours on, he was sure they didn't know as much as he and Blaise did, coupling their skills could be amazing. But Draco felt out of place at the moment, the remembrance that he already had a job had just knocked on his forehead.
"No, you do. You're the future auror, I'm just here because they lack people."
"In fact you are wrong." Potter's voice made the both of them startle. Longbottom was smiling, as if he knew scarhead had been there.
"Oh am I?" Draco asked, sceptical. Why would he be there then? He'd been useless all day.
"Actually you've been in because you know much more on that particular case than any of us. And also … hem, because we've got your file." His file? What was he talking about? Potter rolled his eyes before continuing. "You know that since we work for the ministry we all have a file, right?" He added at Draco's questioning face: "Oh Merlin's sake Malfoy did you read your contract at all?"
"Imagine Hermione's reaction if it'd been any of us …" Half-chuckled half-winced Longbottom.
"I have no idea what you're babbling about Potter, but you're not making any sense, go take a nap."
"Shut it, you signed this contract, they put a trace on you ever since. So it's easier to spot moles and to investigate incidents." Oh shit. So they knew everything he'd been doing since he'd started working for the ministry? What the fuck was that? Draco started boiling inside, anger and rage bubbling up under his skin, clenching his jaw and fists, until Potter laughed.
"By Godric this is your stupidest move ever Malfoy! Just so you know, it only activates when you use heavy magic. We don't know if you scrougify your pants ferret."
"Show me that file." He hissed in response, the feeling of betrayal invading him.
"If you calm down." Warned Potter. But Draco wasn't about to calm down, he'd been spied on for years! Without his knowledge! Well, it was his own fault but …
"Accio. Here Malfoy. You do realise we've all got one right? This isn't about you, and since you haven't read your contract, know that you have access to this any time, and can consult any of ours. Only Kingsley and I saw yours, it's written on it." Potter arboured an amused smile while explaining this to Draco. His explanation made the angry bubble in his throat pop. So they all had one that they could consult whenever they saw fit? Seemed fair enough, a good precaution actually, probably Granger's idea.
"Lee's idea." Said Longbottom, as if sensing Draco's thoughts. Blaise intervened at that:
"Where's that idiot anyway?"
"He's not an idiot Zabini, and he's up with Kingsley." Potter corrected. Blaise scowled but Draco's interest returned to his file. He didn't appreciate just acknowledging this after years but again it was his own fault. Shit he was the idiot. His file registered all the manor wards, a few complex charms he'd used for work and the like, and lastly the parchment charm, followed by Granger's name.
A memoriam solis, Hermione Jean Granger.
Jean? At the end of the page were Potter's signature, followed by a date two years prior, about the time he'd first asked Draco's help, didn't trust him that much back then apparently. Kingsley Shakelbolt's signature was there too, the day Mrs Zabini had been murdered. So they'd checked on him to be sure he was trustworthy. It was the least he could have expected of them, the most prudent move. Draco would have done the same if he'd known.
"Could have been useful on Lestrange …" Mumbled Blaise.
"It has to be signed with the wand to be effective. Lestrange was dead. But Lee actually used some of that magic to find a way to trace the parchment."
"Oh. Can't believe I didn't fucking …" Started Draco.
"Look, what I was about to say earlier …" Cut Potter. "You've got a cleaner record than I do Malfoy, it's even cleaner than Hermione's actually … We already knew you were trustworthy but the fact that you helped us and didn't try anything on your own … Well, Kingsley decided that if you ever get bored of international whatever, and want in, then you're in." Did he want to keep working like this? Draco looked at Blaise and his dark friend was smiling encouragingly. That would definitely keep him busy, and he would learn a lot. If Granger's earlier performance was of any relevance there, he could learn a great deal of things. Plus he would actually feel useful for once, he would participate in taking down those horrid monsters that once were part of his atrocious family.
"Come on mate, we could kick arses together! You'd learn how to do that drop thing from Granger! And we could curse those damn Gryffindors off the world in training!" Draco smiled, Blaise made quite a few points.
"Malfoy, what do you say?" Draco thought, if he was in, he was in as an auror, no way he would be training. From the corner of his eye, he could see that Weasley and Thomas had stopped working, and were watching the exchange with interest. It would also mean working with the Weasel. Yuk. And with her. A cleaner record eh? He had to check her file. Potter looked impatient. If Draco was to become an auror, he had to at least keep some pride.
"If I'm in, I want in now. Not after some stupid training from Creevey." Potter chuckled.
"Fucking knew it! Revelio!" Two files appeared in his right hand. "Upstairs. Zabini, you too."
"Wait, why would he be in when I have to start as trainee?" Asked an outraged Blaise. The answer was obvious.
"Cause you don't have a file mate." Potter nodded:
"Just … err trust me on this."
Hermione got a flying note in the middle of her explanation that made Lavender swear under her breath.
"Briefing." She called for her. This would have to wait. Lavender was a fast learner, she'd catch up on the most important things quickly anyway. They both slowly walked back upstairs, panting a bit when they reached the floor above the training rooms. They'd been training the whole day and this kind of magic was self-destructive. They were positively exhausted and the perspective of bearing with a briefing, and every little step of planning that it implied, was dreadful. Hermione knew they were both feeling drenched right now, but gathering her last forces to enter the meeting room, she knew she'd have to remain patient and straight thinking, for it was one of the most important meetings of the stone case.
All the others were there already. Kingsley, his face serious, was at the end of the large table, Harry on his right, Ron on his left. Next to Harry was an empty seat, and then Neville, one was left next to Ron too, and then were sitting Dean and Lee. So, this was a proper meeting, a real one, as the first one they'd had a very long time ago, when Lavender had joined. Hermione instinctively looked at the other end of the table, and her suspicions got confirmed. Malfoy and Zabini sat there, an open file before each of them. Hermione took her seat next to Harry, and Lavender next to Ron.
"All right, as you noticed girls, this is one of those formal things." Hermione smiled at Kingsley's words, he was always a tad nervous when he had to ask all of their opinions. "So, I'll go straight to the point. Malfoy wants in, no training, AND he has one more condition apparently. Then, Zabini, wants in to. Since we don't have a file, I recommend training. Em, we'd like to hear your condition Malfoy before we take any decision."
"I want to see everyone's file. And I want everyone to see mine. If I'm in, I won't tolerate mistrust. I won't justify myself any longer, and I won't bear with any other accusations." Malfoy looked determined, and his request was only fair in Hermione's opinion. Seeing his file would probably reassure some of them, even if Harry had already told them it was clean. And it was only fair he would see theirs too. Maybe it would give him the chills when he'd see Lavender's one. Hermione smiled at the thought. Her smile deflated as she remembered her own file. No one protested or commented, as it was the strict protocol Kingsley had established in such meetings. They waited for him to speak again.
"Zabini? Anything to ask?"
"Well, same, would only be fair to know who I'm working with. I don't have a file to show, but I'll prove myself." The dark man just looked curious. Hermione shook her head slightly, no one was dupe. He just wanted to see the files. Kingsley almost smiled.
"Right. So, Malfoy, with his conditions, those in favour?" They all looked at each other, Lee, who was also taking a vote, as he had both his nose and feet in the aurors affairs since the beginning, but had never participated in such meetings said, breaking Kingsley's rule:
"Fuck it looks like a trial! Charged stand up!" They all chuckled more or less, hiding their mouths or looking down. He was going to loose a hand or something.
"If you don't want me to kick you arse Jordan you'll shut the fuck up. This is no joking matter, as accepting someone in our ranks could influence the entire wizarding community, I expect you to behave." His left fist was clenched on the table, his brows furrowed almost to the bridge of his dark nose. He looked so intimidating right now, that Lee literally lowered in his seat. Everyone went back to the most serious face they could manage, Kingsley was a powerful wizard, their rightful minister of magic, and even if since the war and because of his implication in the order of the phoenix, he'd become a friend, it didn't mean one could mess around with him or his rules. Hermione knew that, but seeing it now that they were all hanging on their last thread, brought back the gravity of the situation they were all in.
The wizarding community, indeed, depended on them and what little remained of the order, they needed to quit joking around. That pinched her chest a bit, as she instinctively touched the corner of her parchment, poking out of her pocket. That didn't necessarily need to end, but it needed to be pushed aside for a while. They wouldn't stop working until they'd catch those mother-fuckers anyway. Kingsley gave them all a look that meant he clearly didn't intend on repeating himself and he raised his hand as Hermione did too, inviting the others to do the same. She, Dean, Lee, Neville, Lavender, and Kingsley had their hands raised. Ron's and Harry's stayed down.
"Ronald your objection?" Kingsley's eyes darted a flash of anger that clearly stated that if it had anything to do with his stupid trust issues, or his jealousy, he would be in serious trouble. Plus, Hermione would kill him. She shot him her best glare and he considered it a second before nodding. Oh, so this wasn't some grudge holding idiocy.
"I require a test." Oh, clever. Of course they should at least test his abilities. Ron had really changed too. As much as it surprised her, every time, he was the best for field related things. Malfoy wore a strong mask of blankness that Hermione recognized from school. He was hiding his thoughts and feelings, his nose up, and his grey eyes standing out from the other side of the room. They were storming, everything he hid on his face, reflecting in them in a way, Hermione was sure, no one could decipher.
"Harry?"
"Same here. Just to be sure he can live up to the rhythm. His file is brilliant, but not in the fighting area. We all need every skill."
"Fair enough. Those who agree?" Every one lifted their hand this time. Kingsley nodded and pointed his wand at the file before Malfoy, from his end of the table. He shot a light charm at it.
"Here, read it now. If you agree, sign it." Malfoy nodded and opened the yellow file.
"Now, those in favour of Zabini poking his nose in our files before going to training?" That made Hermione frown. If she hadn't known Kingsley for years she'd have thought he was joking. No one dared chuckle or smile this time. Why not? They all knew her past didn't they? Her worst curses had been witnessed by at least one of them anyway. When they'd caught Macnair for example. The list was long. Furthermore, they'd witnessed everything he'd do in the future, and Hermione felt like she could trust him. He had a hopeful look on his face and seemed to genuinely want in. Hermione raised her hand right after Neville and Lavender. Dean followed, then Ron, who was studying Zabini sceptically. Kingsley followed, and then Harry too. Lee didn't.
"Lee?"
"Why don't we test him too? He's got no file but I heard things. I'm fairly certain he can pass through test too. Maybe not charms though but …" Zabini looked so surprised, his eyebrows almost joined his hair line, and his mouth fell slightly open. Then he recovered and questioned Kingsley with a lifted eyebrow.
"Zabini?"
"I'd like to know what he heard that would overcome our mutual hatred and make him think I could possibly skip training."
"Can't this wait?" Kingsley looked impatient and sighed as Lee spoke.
"I'll be short Kingsley." He didn't even answer and waved him to go on, slumping a bit in his chair, as if giving up on his attempt at formality. Hermione felt a sudden wave of friendliness and compassion overtake her for the elder man. He was such a fatherly figure that he reminded her of Arthur from time to time. It was one of those times and her heart constricted as she thought of Arthur. He and his sons were in Azkaban right now, guarding a drooling Bellatrix among other atrocities, all the while surrounded by humongous dementors. Lee's voice pulled her back in reality.
"I overhear things. That's why I'm here Zabini. I have err … Italian friends. I heard a lot about a certain black English very young man coming back to his country during a war he didn't want in. He'd come to Milan with his aristocratic grand-mother. Apparently starting from scratch to build an empire isn't something you're afraid of, and I reckon you had to fight your way in their community, since your reputation had followed you. It made quite the fuss."
"That's all you know?"
"Details weren't available no." Zabini just nodded and they shared a hateful glare. Animosity was heavy in the atmosphere and Kingsley took this as a good time to cut in.
"Done. Zabini, those in favour with test?" Hermione wondered what would have been in Zabini's file if he'd had any. Fight his way in? What did that mean? His reputation? Did he go against his pure-blooded supremacist reputation? Or was it the other way around? She looked at him as everyone took their time to think. His eyes were firing darts towards Lee as if he wished him dead, which didn't help. What made up her mind was Malfoy's look at his friend. He eyed him from the corner of his eye and nodded almost imperceptibly. Hermione trusted Malfoy apparently sufficiently to believe he wouldn't let anyone badly intentioned join them. She lifted her hand before anyone else this time. Zabini's attention got caught as everyone looked at her. He shot her a bright grin that went up to his ears. All animosity gone from his face, he looked friendly, and his smile seemed genuine. She gave a small one back that only aggravated his. She looked around and when Lavender caught her eyes she nodded and lifted her hand too. Everyone followed suit. Malfoy turned his gaze to her too, his eyes slightly pleated, and the right corner of his mouth twitched under his few days blond beard. She smiled, lowering her face to the table, he was thankful. She'd taken the right decision. Now she was scowling, how was it that she could decipher his thankfulness over a slight twitch of his mouth?
"Good. Coins now please."
Coins? That took Draco's interest right away. The coin tapping bullshit. All amusement at Granger's smiling gone. The aurors, except Jordan that was, rummaged through their pockets. They all retrieved, almost simultaneously, a coin. A regular golden coin, that looked like a Galleon. Shakelbolt took three out. He placed one facing him and held the two others in his hands, toying with them.
"Hermione? A bit of story telling?" Granger smiled her face out. She cleared her throat before starting:
"Right, so remember Dumbledore's Army?" She was addressing Blaise and he. That rang a bell, fifth year! Their Gryffindor bullshit rebellion! She continued as if she'd just been stating.
"During fifth year we created a group of students, to counteract Umbridge's attempt at dictatorship. Harry was to be our teacher in defence against the dark arts. We used the room of requirement to practise, and I had cursed a parchment we all signed for traitors, but you remember that of course." Draco nodded, he remembered quite well their first shared laugh, the first night she'd stayed at the manor, as well as the humongous boils that had spelt beetle on the face of that Ravenclaw traitorous girl. It'd been one vicious move from Granger. One that had always amazed him a bit, even if he'd never confess that.
"As you must understand, it would have been quite inconvenient for us to be seen talking or planning meetings while that pink old bat was around, or any of you for that matter, so we needed a way to communicate without actually seeing each other. That's when I created the first version of those coins. Harry would tap his, and the date and location of the next meeting would replace its serial numbers. We would be warned by the coin getting warm in our pocket. This had many inconveniences. First we could just pay something with it, or loose it, second only Harry could tap it, and third it would only deliver numbered messages."
"Wait you created this in fifth year?" Draco's astonishment had just been voiced by Blaise. It was not really complicated to duplicate a numbered message, and it was just a mirroring charm. But for a fifth year … Granger had definitely known her shit back then.
"I did. Anyway, now we all have a … more complex version of it. We are linked to this coin, thus meaning you'll have a part in the process. It will be connected to your wand, the way it is to ours. That means that it can't be more than a meter away from you, or it'll vanish and come back to your wand, and that you'll know if you have a message. It's quite an unpleasant feeling but it's efficient. Any of us can tap it, and send a message that will attend all or only the particular coin you're aiming. It doesn't take much practice. You just need to concentrate on the message or password, and the coin you aim, or nothing more if you aim all of them, and tap it with the very tip of your wand to deliver your message. You can deliver only five words and of course we have a code. Eh … I guess that's all is it?" She asked turning to the others.
"Essentially. Any questions?" Blaise shook his head and Draco followed. It had a few similarities with their parchment and was quite simple and practical to use. Less funny than his parchment though. Again very fucking clever.
"None. Great."
"Oh! I forgot! We have Galleons, any person related to our service has a Sickle, and regular and trustworthy telltales have Knuts. Luna's got a Sickle for instance." Added Granger in one streak.
"Right, Hermione would you?" Shakelbolt gave her the two spare coins he'd been toying with. She nodded and grabbed them, before standing towards them.
"Zabini you need to sign first. Malfoy I didn't see …" Shakelbolt extended his neck as if he could read their contracts from the other end of the table.
"I signed." Draco answered, he'd signed only three minutes after they'd asked him to read. The contract was fair and simple, he'd done so right away. Blaise was almost finished reading his, and Granger was now standing to his left, waiting for Blaise to be done. She wasn't looking at him and faked pretty badly a strange interest for Blaise's contract. As soon as he signed, a tiny yellow spark blinked on the surface of the parchment. That was the file being created and placed in the archives Draco guessed, how stupid of him not to have noticed that when he'd signed his first contract. Granger impatiently deposited one coin before each of them.
"Wands up please." She asked. Draco followed orders, and looked at her. She had that determined glaze in her whiskey eyes. She was frowning slightly and pinching her lips in concentration. She started with him, and pointed her wand at his coin. Then she half-turned to face the entire table and pointed her wand with wordless magic at each and every golden coin of the room. She then turned back to him and said, peering at the coin, and he was sure, purposely not him.
"Tap it please." She said and as he did, she did too at the exact same time. His coin glowed a bit before vibrating slightly for a few seconds. Draco felt a strange twinge in his wand arm. Once the coin settled back on the table, looking as any other Galleon Draco had ever seen, the twinge vanished.
"Harry?" She said, still eyeing the coin.
"Right." Potter tapped his coin, blinking a millisecond. Draco's twinge came back the instant and he knew he had a message. The coin read working? And Granger seemed satisfied.
"Care to answer please? Only Harry for test." She said, this time crossing eyes with him. She had a spark in the corner of her eyes, and she was fairly close, he could see those damn freckles again. He nodded, out of words and tried to do as she'd explained. Think hard about his message and Potter's coin, and tap the coin with the very tip of his wand. She gave him an encouraging half-smile and he did it.
"Working." Said Potter.
"Great." She then went around him to side with Blaise and repeated those exact same moves, the encouraging smile a bit larger this time. Maybe the fact that Blaise was grinning his face out helped.
"All right." Shakelbolt checked his watch. "It's already seven, Harry?" Potter nodded and addressed them all, taking a too serious face in Draco's opinion.
"Right, so, briefing for an hour. Then we all take a fifteen minutes break to eat something. I'm positive no one except Ron realised we skipped lunch. Then we exchange ideas and prepare the tests until midnight. I want everyone, no exception." Draco saw him shoot an unforgiving glare at Granger. "To go to bed. Be back tomorrow at eight. The tests begin as soon as everyone's ready, eight five that is. After that, and depending on the outcome of the tests, we have two days to get ready. We go off of those damn walls in two days. Clear?" Everyone nodded, even Draco followed the movement.
Potter had a strange leader way about his speech and it didn't leave any space for disagreement. Draco guessed he'd taken this trait from Shakelbolt. He should be pissed to be ordered around by the boy-who-bloody-lived twice, but he didn't. Draco folded the corner of a page from his contract. Longbottom started talking first, and detailed everything they'd work on during the day.
While the potato spoke, Draco looked at the others, keeping his hands busy with the contract page. Blaise, at his right, was carefully listening to what Longbottom had to say, even if they'd worked together, he also added bits from time to time. His best friend had just agreed, and encouraged him to follow his example, to be a part of this team. A team solely made of Gryffindors. A team solely composed of old enemies.
Jordan was taking notes, his dark locks covering half the scroll he was writing on, concentration and cleverness written all over his face. Long gone was the teenage boy that commented sarcastically on their Quidditch prowesses. That man was a noisy skilled wizard. The very thought made Draco's nose wrinkle in distaste. He didn't hold any particular grudge against Jordan, not as much as Blaise anyway, but the perspective to work with him was still mildly irritating.
Next to him, Thomas was listening attentively, his scroll as blank as a newborn. Draco didn't know a thing about him but the man seemed compliant enough. He'd share a quick whisper with Brown from time to time, and Draco could see it was an usual thing, they most certainly worked as a team on a regular basis. Brown had the exact same attitude, but her face portrayed a fierce determination that not even Granger could manage to hint. Her scars didn't lower the effect, if nothing it accentuated it. She looked wild, in a dangerous way. Draco couldn't wait to see her file, he'd heard she'd taken down Greyback, and that her team mates had let her fight him on her own. She'd taken a revenge Draco could never imagine anything about.
Next to her was the git, the redface, the agape idiot, the temperamental wanker. Draco cocked his head to a side, the wanker had required a test for him. Which was a mature and prudent move, only Potter had backed. He'd apologized and explained his attitude, talking about Draco being part of his team. He'd also insulted Granger like an idiotic thirteen year-old, and been forgiven in three damn minutes. Wanker. Mistreating troll. Draco would never like him, it was a certainty. But, as he'd offered, ignorance was the grown-up thing to do, and Draco could cope with that.
Shakelbolt was next, his frown showing his absorption in Longbottom's speech, he was taking notes without even giving a glance at his scroll. The man seemed to be a great boss, a fair and clever one, friendly to the others when the time was right. At least answering to his orders wouldn't be much of a struggle.
At his right was Potty, the one unsurprisingly supposed to take Shakelbolt's place in a near future. Draco had trouble confessing this to himself but who else than Potter would be good at the job? The git was so selfless it was sickening. His face made every witch and wizard of the country smile, and he spoke well and fairly. Now that Draco knew more details about his daily routine he felt a bit more respect for him. Frowning at this thought Draco looked at Potter's right and Granger was sitting there.
Granger know-it-all bookworm. Confusion and mixed feelings were everything that assaulted him at her sight. They were in a sort of middle ground, where no proper boundary was clearly settled, but where mutual respect and consideration were present nonetheless. A strange banter that permitted them both to let off some steam flew around them too, and as unexpected as it was, he was glad. She was taking notes quickly, with that muggle pen she always toyed with. Her nose twitched to a side as she nudged at the inside of her bottom lip, apparently considering something. That made those bloody freckles of hers move a bit. Draco shook his head, he was exhausted, and clearly those damned spots on her face were taking way too much of his attention.
The last bit on his new work team, was Longbottom. The man had improved in the few years Draco hadn't even spared him a thought. He'd gotten some balls. The ironically short legged man had gotten out of his sluggish shell. Maybe cutting in half that atrocious snake had woken him up. Draco's stomach lurched dangerously at the thought of Nagini. Thank Merlin the thing was off this world. As for Longbottom, working with him wasn't much of a burden, and they'd gotten to an effective pattern. Maybe he'd come to appreciate the partnership.
Neville finished talking as Hermione put the last dot on their list of wards. There was nothing in there she wasn't capable of breaking, which was a positive point. Dean and Ron started explaining their usual preparation of missions, and the only supply they apparently lacked was dittany. It was bad news and Harry tapped his coin for Luna right away. They'd need it. It was one of the most indispensable health supply to bring with them. They'd reviewed the usual, and as always they'd left nothing uncovered. Hermione felt strongly proud of her team. After years of failures, they'd gotten such a strong experience that nothing was left to chance. Even if chance never really followed them actually. Maybe she could brew a batch of felix felicis some day. She snorted at her own stupidity, she'd never have enough time to even think about the recipe. Then it was hers and Lavender's turn, and she signed for Lavender to speak. Once she'd given a list of everything she'd learned, Harry seemed deep in thoughts for a moment.
"Right, how long will you need?" He asked.
"Few hours Harry, we can't do much complex teaching in such short notice, but it'll be just fine with maybe three more hours of practise." Hermione answered.
"Mm, right. Okay, break." Said Harry and Kingsley stood up the instant:
"I'm off, I'll come by tomorrow morning for briefing, midnight guys." He said and nodded to the lot of them all at once before leaving.
"Malfoy, can I have a word?" Harry inquired and the named blond stood and followed him out of the room. Ron conjured five full plates of sandwiches from the cafeteria and started eating savagely without further ado. They all ate in a stretched silence, under a heavy atmosphere. Until Zabini opened his irritating mouth.
"So, Granger, you were the first to vote for me, weren't you?" His smirk was infuriating. Hermione refused to answer. "I knew I was too cute for you to hate me still." He added refraining a laugh at her obvious irritation.
"Well, try to use your looks tomorrow when I test your wand aptitude. We'll see how well that works." She smirked for emphasis. He laughed and Ron almost chocked on his sandwich.
"I can't wait."
"If I were you Zabini, I'd stop the provocation before she explodes." Dared Ron, and regretted it the instant at the glare Hermione shot him. His apologetic frown was faked, even an owl could have seen that.
"Maybe I'll just start exploding aurors instead." She stated. "I'll send you right off to training Zabini, I also voted for that if you reckon." He laughed again. This was all just idiotic. She was on her nerves because the day had been inhumanly too long, and that briefing annoying crap had vanished the almost imperceptible remains of her patience.
"We'll see. I may surprise you bookworm." He said. She snorted, she actually had no idiotic nickname to give back. She promised herself she'd find one. Zabini couldn't annoy her like that and just get away with it. Her thoughts were interrupted by shouting. Harry and Malfoy had apparently been talking in the corridor, and the word Harry had wanted had become a disagreement. Zabini's left eyebrow lifted almost comically and he stood to go check on them. Ron was too reluctant to leave his poor dinner to follow so Hermione stood too, sighing.
"So where would she go?"
"Well there was very few options Malfoy so it's either with Andromeda Tonks, or with Fleur Weasley."
"Err, she'd never go to her sister, and wait Fleur Delacour you mean?"
"Yes she's married with Bill, they have a daughter, Victoire."
"So it's either I send her with her sibling to kill each other or with a Weasley?"
"Look Malfoy we don't have a thousand safe houses that are occupied. There's the Burrow if you prefer."
"No thanks. You must have more than two options though."
"We have, but she'd have to be alone there Malfoy. Look, Meda's agreed to take her in. Fleur too, with reluctance, but I think they'd manage to get along with less of a struggle. It's your decision."
"No, that's not possible."
"Then she stays at the Manor."
"That's not possible either Potter."
"Well she'll have too. If what I can offer is not up to your palace standards I don't give a bloody damn Malfoy. You've got your options and that's it!"
"Well sorry I have standards! And for your bloody information letting my skilled and angry mother alone in a place with her rejected sister is the worst idea EVER. As for living with Delacour and a Weasley, you can very much see what would probably happen the moment I tell her that. She'd glue herself to the manor floor and thus incapacitate us to use it."
"Well it's your bloody issue not mine!"
"There's another option Harry." Both Potter and Draco jumped at the interruption. Blaise was at the door frame, arms crossed, and looking irritated:
"Fuck Granger! Always cutting short the fun!" He said. She rolled her eyes and pushed him from the door, closing it behind her. Draco wondered what other option she'd thought about. He couldn't figure out one, and that was mainly why he'd shouted at Potter, out of frustration.
"And what would that be? I see none Mione."
"Well, she'd have to be alone there but …"
"Then it's not an option Granger." She lifted her hand to his face, still looking at Potter. How dared she?
"Here me out. Harry, where would she be safe, in a huge enough house to keep her occupied, where there is still an house elf …"
"No way." Potter's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
"Come on Harry it's part of her family's heritage, I'm sure she'd accept without making a fuss."
"Right, maybe … but she'd be alone. Shut it Malfoy." Draco was starting to boil, if they kept cutting him like he was crap he'd just snap.
"No, I won't shut up. This is my mother's safety at stake here and I won't leave her alone I don't know where …" Again!
"Harry? You're the only one who can …"
"Right. Malfoy she can stay at my place." His place? What the hell was he on about? What did it have to do with his mother's heritage?
"What on earth …"
"I own Grimmaud place. I don't know if you …" Oh. Grimmaud place. That rang a bell, he'd heard about the place after Severus' death. It'd been in the Black family until Sirius Black.
"You own it?"
"Sirius was my godfather, he left it to me. It's mine, and … well I …" Potter looked torn.
"What?"
"I think you can trust him Harry." Tried Granger.
"I know. It's just … Zabini what I'm about to tell never leaves your mouth is that clear?"
"You can trust me too you know, I have a file now." Blaise gave Potter an angry smile that clearly meant he didn't appreciate being treated as a possible traitor.
"Yes, yes, you're right. Look I own the place, never use it, and I'm the secret keeper to its location. No one will find her there. She'd be in a family home, not really inviting but … I could bring you there to visit …"
"Harry?"
"What now Hermione?"
"Well, since we'll probably be using the Manor, I thought … maybe …" She looked like she was trying to make him swallow shite without him noticing. She had a tentative smile playing on her lips and a hand raised to her friend's arm. The manipulation wasn't so subtle.
"No. No. No." Potter shook his head in refusal.
"Come on there's enough rooms and you're never there."
"Oh my … Godric's bullocks this is not a bloody hotel!"
"She wouldn't be alone all the time if one of them fails test … and safe. Harry she saved your life it's …" Wait, was she talking about he and Blaise? What …
"Don't! Don't guilt me into inviting every bloody Slytherin there is in my home." She was. What was she on about? Like he would stay at Potter's! Draco was about to object but somehow the golden exchange was too interesting for him to word anything, and Blaise stilled as fascinated by them as he had been by Brown.
"You hate that house." She frowned.
"I don't!"
"And you're a bad liar." She stated, now probing her hands on her hips looking all bossy.
"Whatever it's my house I do as I please! Accepting Mrs Malfoy there is well enough, that I don't have to … It's already …"
"That's enough. You're only arguing because you're tired but you know I'm right. Malfoy and Zabini will spend at least the night at Grimmaud place with Mrs Malfoy AND as this is the best option she'll stay there until it's safe for her to go back to the Manor."
"I don't think so Granger." Draco finally managed to speak. She was nuts if she thought she'd boss them around like that.
"And what do you propose then Malfoy? That she stays with her sister, where only order members can visit her? It would be nice, she'd babysit little Teddy with Ginny. Maybe you could also go back to the empty Manor the both of you love so much, while we lower the wards for Lestrange to come by. How does that sound?" Shit. Blaise looked surprised at the lecture and wasn't saying anything, examining Granger curiously, his head cocked to a side. He would be of no use there. She was making a point of course, but there was no way in hell he was letting her take this sort of decision for him. That they'd come to a point where they tolerated each other and could manage to laugh without a sneer was a thing, but there she was going too far.
"Who the hell do you think you are Granger? You're not ordering me around. It may work with Potter and Weasley but it won't with me."
"See, I think it will. Because I'm right, and you know it too. I'm only bossing you around as you put it, because you're being irrational if you think there's more options for your mother. There's none."
"Salazar's fucking beard Granger you're such an irritating little …"
"Know-it-all?" She cut. She was refraining a smile that cut Draco's anger short. She wasn't angry, and she wouldn't argue any further. Yes, she was right, she was always bloody right. Blaise laughed at her cockiness, and even Potter arboured an amused smile. Draco deflated and sighed.
"Potter doesn't want us in his home."
"In fact, I've been bossed around Malfoy. She's right." Potter then put a hand on her shoulder and Granger looked all … affectionate to scarhead. It was disgusting and it twisted Draco's insides a bit. He shoved away a strange will to punch the git in the stomach. Weird, he rolled his eyes and looked at Blaise.
"What do you think?"
"Well mate I'm homeless. I'll go wherever. I doubt there's another place with a house elf." Potter and Granger exchanged a smile at that and Potter said to Blaise:
"Don't get yourself all worked up there Zabini. Kreature's … well you'll see." Granger was chuckling but Draco didn't care about the elf. As long as his mother would remain safe and possibly not angry he could consider going to Grimmaud place. He had to, actually, and that made him growl a bit for himself. He was going to live at Potter's from now on. Well, he'd only be there that night and it couldn't be worse than the Manor anyway.
"Right then, but don't think you'll get away with this that easily Granger."
"I wouldn't expect to." She smiled. A genuine smile that made her damn sodding freckles wiggle a bit on her nose. Shit he'd become soft. There was no way to deny it any longer. She'd made him go soft. He was surrendering way too easily, she'd have to pay. For real.
"Then I think you should both go pack now. Bring your mother back around midnight. This should leave us just the time to plan the tests, right Mione?"
"Yes."
She'd won. She'd bossed him around. Hermione was still feeling a slight bout of satisfaction from her earlier little lecture even after Malfoy and Zabini had left to the Manor. They were now, the old team, gathered around the table in the meeting room, yawningly preparing to test the two former Slytherins that had just joined them. Lee had left for an early night in, he'd be solicited enough later on and wouldn't take part in the tests.
"Shorter than usual then?" Asked Dean, after Harry had talked about their lack of time.
"Yes, I know it won't be enough to check their abilities as future aurors but for now we just need to know if they can manage on the field for what's coming."
"Right so mainly for field then? If they fail they'll stay here."
"And a bit with Neville too, maybe they have some particular knowledge we could use."
"Malfoy's good with wards, maybe test him with Mione too?"
While everyone added their bit of idea, it became clear to Hermione that what was usually a full day of testing would have to fit in an hour or two tops. They needed to test their skills to know if they could participate actively in their upcoming mission, but also what they were capable to do outside the field, so if they stayed here, they could be helpful. Their participation or non-participation would be decisive in the mission planning, and they had to be the most accurate possible. Hermione didn't know nor Malfoy's nor Zabini's level in a fight, and she had just a small idea of what they could be capable of otherwise. Malfoy worked for a bureaucratic branch of the ministry, that required skills in communication, and he had mastered the Manor's wards, which was impressive but maybe not enough for him to be useful. His knowledge of death eaters was a must but if he was unable to put up a good fight he wouldn't go with them. Zabini apparently knew a bit about fighting, but she didn't know any detail, and as for his wand work, all she knew was from school and it wasn't brilliant. It wasn't relevant either, it was from years ago.
"We need a full test. An hour of field, an hour of wand art and skill testing." She said, loud enough for everyone to listen to her.
"Yes, but an hour for field …" Started a sceptical Harry.
"Constant battle Harry. I think Dean, Lavender and I can manage that. We'll take turns first, and then work on them simultaneously to test their team work." Cut Ron.
"Then we'll all be needed, would be less tiring." Said Neville.
"And it would give them a good idea of how we all work too." Added Lavender. "You're right Neville I think we should all work on them, and then you and Hermione can test their wand art and skills. Then we can finish with a code and rules meeting, someone could give them a scroll or something." Everyone looked at Hermione at that mention and she sighed.
"Right, a regulation and code scroll coming then."
"I'm sorry Mione, but we're short on time …"
"I know Harry, I'll work on that now then. So we agree? One hour field? You guys work on the details? And Neville and I can work on shortening our bout of testing."
"Agreed, work everyone."