Title: Fire and Powder
Chapter: 10
Disclaimer: If I owned HP I wouldn't be sitting in my dorm right now writing this.
Authors note: SORRY this took so long, I spontaneously got a life. Really, I have no idea where it came from, but don't worry I think it's mostly over now, haha. I've been to stir crazy in my dorm room these past few weeks so I've been hanging out in the student center and walking around town and hanging with friends and whatnot. Not writing this has been killing me though, so I am hopefully gonna get back into it. I wanted this chapter to be longer, but I wanted to post something more, alas here you are. Big thanks to Mallory for betaing the first half of this, the remaining mistakes are entirely mine.
"Instead, I try to adjust to the dawn, letting the tears fall where they may, because it is morning; it is morning and there is so much to see."
- Libba Bray (The Sweet Far Thing)
Draco poured himself a cup of tea, letting it cool before he took a sip.
"Would you like some?" Draco offered, nodding at the kettle.
They were seated in the kitchen, the sun having set hours ago. His parents still weren't back and he doubted they would be any time soon. They had finally given up their reading in favor of discussing possible plans over the small wooden table rather than the library floor.
"Do you think I can?" Hermione asked.
Draco raised his eyebrows. "You tell me."
"I suppose I can try."
Draco summoned another tea cup and poured a cup of the steaming liquid. He wished they could have house elves, but his father insisted they could have been corrupted by the Dark Lord and they couldn't take the chance. Draco was not used to doing things for himself, but luckily this was a magical kettle which was basically automatic.
Hermione gripped the handle of the delicate teacup, unsure. She hadn't had any…human urges…since being dead. She hasn't been thirsty, or hungry, or had any other bodily cravings. Would the tea go straight through her? She was able to hold onto objects well enough, but people still walked through her as though she were empty air.
"Don't just stare at it," Draco mocked, taking another sip.
Hermione glared at him and promptly brought the cup to her lips, pressing the glass against her lips. Warmth. Peppermint.
"So?" Draco prompted as she set the cup down.
"Needs sugar," Hermione replied, grinning despite herself.
Draco resisted the urge to smile back. "Well, I'm not a house elf so you're going to have to get it yourself."
Hermione frowned at the mention of house elves, thinking of her efforts with SPEW. But now wasn't the time to discuss politics on magical creatures with Malfoy. They had bigger rivers to cross.
"I think we need to leave," Hermione abruptly stated, staring into her tea.
"What are you talking about?" Draco scowled.
"I think we need to leave…"
"Damn it Granger, do you have to repeat everything? Just get on with it!" Draco snapped, hand clenching into a fist against the wooden tabletop.
Hermione narrowed her eyes angrily. "If you would have let me finish! I think we need to leave and go find Harry and Ron."
Draco fought the desire to slam his head down onto the table. Hard. "No. I'm not going to chase down Potter and Weasley and beg for forgiveness. You're bloody mad!"
Hermione huffed, taking another sip of tea, letting the warmth calm her before speaking. "How else do you expect us to reach full redemption? We need to do something! You killed me fighting for the dark, now you need to fight for the light!"
Draco angrily ran a hand through his hair, overwhelmed. "We are not going to find your friends, Granger."
"Do you have a better plan?" Hermione questioned, glaring.
"I don't know. But we haven't considered all our options yet!"
"Oh yes, because we have so much time to sit around pondering what ifs for every single scenario, really Malfoy! We are running out of time as it is, we need to act!" Hermione was growing frantic. She felt like a clock was constantly ticking in her ear, time passing furiously around her, propelling her towards death for a second time.
"Maybe it isn't worth it," Draco mumbled into his hands, struggling to retain his composure.
Hermione gaped at him. "Is that what this is about? You don't think it's worth it? You'd rather die? I've died once, Malfoy, thanks to you, and frankly I am not doing it again!"
"Mm rry"
"What did you say?" Hermione prompted. Frustrated, she reached across the small table, prying Draco's hands from his face. She was surprised to find his eye were red, pale skin blotchy, as though he were struggling not to cry.
"I said I'm sorry," Draco repeated, his eyes harsh.
Hermione absorbed the words slowly, hearing them but not believing Malfoy capable of saying such a thing. And to her, of all people.
"I know it doesn't make it better," he continued. "But I really didn't want to do it."
Hermione looked away, unsure. She suddenly became aware of Draco's hand still in hers from when she pulled it away from his face. She abruptly let go, settling her hands safely in her lap.
"But what are we going to do?" Hermione asked, her anger gone.
Draco took in a deep breath. "I think you're right that we need to leave. But I don't necessarily think running off to your Gryffindor entourage is the solution."
"It is," Hermione assured him. "They're looking for—" she immediately caught herself.
"Looking for what?" Draco asked, confused at what had Hermione so choked up.
"They…I can't tell you."
"Damn it, Granger!" Draco's anger sparked back to life. "How do you expect us to work together if you can't even explain why you expect me to just leave my family and run all the way back to England—where the Dark Lord has me on the top of his kill list—and join your lunatic friends?"
Hermione looked at her hands, contemplating. They did need to work together. But she couldn't just tell Draco about the horcruxes! He could run to his father! Or the Dark Lord! Sure, he seemed to have turned away from the Dark, but she didn't know for certain and she really couldn't take any chances.
"I really can't tell you, at least not yet. You'll just have to trust me, this is the only way to defeat…" she struggled to say the words "the Dark Lord."
Draco reined in his anger. Now wasn't the time to explode. "What exactly are you suggesting?"
"Well," Hermione began, drawing a map in her mind. "We need to leave Spain, to begin with, and head back to England."
"And how do you expect us to find Potter? You don't expect him to just be sitting around waiting for you to come back from the grave, do you?" Draco bit out, venom lacing his voice.
Hermione grew silent, sadness settling over her like a heavy blanket. Her friends thought she was dead. By all accounts she was dead. They would be devastated, she knew this, but they would keep moving. Keep fighting. They still had horcruxes to find, which could be anywhere really. Harry and Ron could be anywhere. Panic bubbled in her throat causing her to choke on air. How would she ever find them again?
"You don't know where they are," Draco stated.
Hermione just shook her head.
"Then how do you expect us to find them?" Draco asked, his voice softening against his will.
"I…I don't know. But we can't stay here." Hermione wiped her eyes, destroying all evidence of moisture. Crying wouldn't solve anything.
"I can't leave my family," Draco stated.
"You don't have a choice," Hermione bit back.
"They're in danger…the Dark Lord is after us, I can't just leave them!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes, unrelenting. "You can't just stay here! You'll die! That won't do anyone any good now will it?"
Draco crossed his arms defensively, leaning back in his chair, not bothering to respond.
"It won't and you know it. If you want to help them, we need to leave. Like I said, I don't know where Harry and Ron are precisely—" Draco scoffed but Hermione ignored him "—but I do have a few ideas as to where they could be, and honestly anywhere is more productive than here!"
"My family didn't just come to Spain for the weather!" Draco shouted. "My father's contact is very knowledgeable and can be of service—"
Hermione abruptly interrupted him, her irritation flaring. "Oh really? That incredibly 'knowledgeable' man who basically threw you out of his store because evil demons were haunting you? Yes, good plan, expect him to save you!"
Draco really wanted to hit something. Repeatedly. Again, he fought to contain his anger. To think that he apologized to Granger just a few minutes ago, what was he thinking?! He was bloody mad! No, actually, she was bloody mad!
"Excuse me, Granger, but Sunik is a very accomplished wizard who specializes in a certain breed of dark curses which personally effects my family!" he roughly thrust his arm forward, furiously yanking back the fabric covering his forearm to display the Dark Mark. "Pardon me for wanting to free myself from fucking eternal damnation!"
Hermione barely glanced at the mark, completely unaffected. "You keep forgetting that failing to reach full redemption means eternal damnation!"
Draco finally gave in the urge to slam his fist against the table, relishing in the clatter of the china and the way Hermione jumped back in her seat. "Damned if I stay, damned if I don't."
"Don't be such a pessimist."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Realist."
"We really need to go back to England," Hermione repeated. "As soon as possible."
"If you say that one more time I swear…" Draco trailed off.
"Swear what? You'll kill me?" Hermione asked, sarcasm dripping from each word. "Because that worked so well last time."
"Go to hell," Draco replied, letting his head fall to the table with a soft thud. Bloody mad.
"I'm already there."
Draco didn't even bother to pick his head up as he said, "We'll go."
Hermione felt accomplished, as though she had just won some huge battle. Of course, the real battle hadn't even begun yet, but she'd take whatever victories she could get when Malfoy was involved.
"Not right this second, you imbecile!" Draco exclaimed as Hermione stood up from the table.
"We don't have any time to waste, Malfoy!"
"I realize that, thank you, but because I am not dead, unlike yourself, I actually need to sleep. We'll leave tomorrow."
Hermione decided not to press the matter further. That was a sensible argument, after all.
At just that moment there was a clamoring from outside. A loud bang, followed by the sound of muffled laughter and the heavy front door being pushed open.
"Shit," Draco cursed, taking out his wand to get rid of the tea and cups.
Hermione peaked around the kitchen door, seeing a very drunk looking Lucius Malfoy leaning on the Indian man from the previous night. Narcissa Malfoy hovered behind them, sober and apprehensive.
"Draco!" Lucius abruptly shouted, his arm reaching forward into the air in front of him.
"Yes, father?" Draco responded, composing himself and appearing in the doorway next to Hermione.
Lucius squinted his eyes, as though seeing his son in front of him was a struggle even though he was only a few feet away. "There's nothing to be done, boy! We have exhausted all options!"
Draco raised his eyebrows at his father's drunk ramblings, looking towards Sunik for answers.
The Indian man appeared to have participated in the nightly drinking as well, but he was far less inebriated. "Not all our options, Lucius, just…most."
"I'm sorry, I'm confused," Draco asked, fighting to control his frustration.
Lucius released a dark chuckle and would have fallen over if not for the man he was leaning on. "The mark, boy," Lucius jerked back the fabric on his arm, revealing the mark. "There's nothing to be done. We are…" he struggled to think of the word, his mind a fuzzy mess. "Doomed! The Dark Lord will be upon us soon." And with that Lucius Malfoy collapsed onto the loveseat, giving in to the drunken blackness.
Narcissa eyed her husband on the couch before turning sympathetically towards her son. "Don't hold this against him, please…I think he just feels responsible."
Draco nodded despite the anger building inside him.
"This has been a very wearing night, perhaps it is time I leave you all. I am sorry I cannot be of more service to your family, please contact me if you have any trouble with my contact," the Indian man said, bowing slightly and heading towards the door.
"Thank you for your assistance, we will indeed be in touch," Narcissa responded, moving to open the door for Sunik.
The night air was chilly as it seeped through the doorway. The man paused, one foot through the entryway, the other still firmly within the home. "Wait," he spun heavily on his heel, dark eyes sweeping the foyer and coming to rest on Hermione who instinctively stepped back towards Draco.
"Yes?" Narcissa prompted, confusing marring her features. "Is there a problem?"
The man narrowed his eyes as though he could see the curly haired girl now standing with her arm pressed against Draco's.
"A presence still lingers with your son," Sunik informed her.
Narcissa looked at her son, not seeing anything but him standing in the kitchen doorway with an odd expression on his face. "Pardon?"
"A presence," the man repeated. "I suggest he take care of it, clearly he did not follow my previous advice and seek assistance, for now I sense the demon is distinctly stronger."
Draco took a step forward, inadvertently placing himself between the man and Granger. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said firmly, feigning innocence.
"Draco," Narcissa asked. "I thought you told me you took care of this?"
Draco kept his face stern. "I did, mother."
"Not well enough, evidently. I shall leave you now, but I highly suggest you take care of this problem soon." The man nodded once more, before heading out the doorway into the night air.
Narcissa quickly shut the door behind him, taking a moment to reset the wards guarding the house. When she was through she turned back to her son. "What is the meaning of this, Draco?"
Draco held his ground. "I didn't lie to you, mother, I took care of it."
"Then why is there still a problem?"
Draco noticed Hermione still standing rigidly at his side.
"There is no problem," Draco stated, fingers rubbing slightly against Hermione's wrist, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"I certainly hope not," Narcissa said, deciding to let it go for the night. "Go to bed, Draco, we are leaving tomorrow when your father is…" she looked at her husband snoring lightly on the loveseat, "less indisposed."
"Leaving?" Draco questioned, his fingers ceasing their stroking.
"Yes, Sunik was kind enough to provide us with another safehouse. We will be leaving the continent." Narcissa explained.
"To where?" Draco couldn't believe his ears. They couldn't just run and hide forever!
"We will know for certain tomorrow, we have an unlisted portkey scheduled for the afternoon."
Draco quickly composed himself, sliding the mask back into place. He knew what he needed to do, there was no doubt about it now. "Yes, mother," he nodded. "I'm going to bed now, goodnight."
"Goodnight, Draco," Narcissa said, squeezing his shoulder affectionately as she passed into the kitchen to brew herself a cup of tea before bed.
Draco walked quickly back into his bedroom, not bothering to set a silencing ward as he moved to retrieve a medium sized backpack from under his bed.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, having followed him into the room. She watched confused as he rummaged through drawers, shoving random clothing and items into the backpack.
"I'm packing," he said, reaching deep within a bottom drawer to retrieve a stash of galleons. "Obviously."
"You can't seriously think it's a good idea to follow that idiot's advice and leave tomorrow with your family to God only knows where!" Hermione shouted, shocked.
"Of course not, Granger, don't be daft. That man is clearly mentally impaired! The nerve of him to suggest that I have a problem! We're leaving. Not with my parents. Just you and I…I don't know where we'll go, I suppose back to England…and I don't know what we'll do, but for once I agree with you, we can't stay here."
Hermione was shocked by his sudden compliance. "When are we leaving? Still tomorrow?"
Draco shook his head, zipping up the backpack and slinging it over his shoulder. "No. We're leaving now."
End Note: Sorry for the mild cliffhanger. I needed something to keep you waiting for my next update, lest you give up with me all together! I make no promises this time, but the next update should be up sometime next week. As always, reviews make me write faster. Be well.