A/N- I wanted to take a moment and thank you all for giving me the determination to keep this story going. I'd also like to answer a question I have been asked quite a bit- "Why put Hermione in Slytherin?" The answer to that is because I was doing a re-read of the books and two of the things Hermione did struck me as very sneaky and cunning.
1. When she jinxed the parchment for Dumbledore's Army.
2. When Umbridge was carried off by the centaurs and Hermione didn't stop them. If you know anything about mythology, you know why that is pretty messed up considering what would happen to females carried off by them.
3. I consider myself a Slytherin and really wanted to see what would happen if I paired two my favorite characters up like this :)
With that being said, read on guys. You're awesome.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE- Planning
"We have yet to pass Malta but we cannot stop until we reach Rhodes. The Dark Lord knows of the Malfoy and Black hideouts in Catania, Samos and Izmir. I had a great-great-great uncle who married a Greek Muggle and was cast out of our family. There were no sons and the rest are all deceased, so his home in Rhodes technically belongs to me now," Malfoy explained quickly.
"But I read in a book that Rhodes is the most populated island! Surely there are dark witches and wizards who would know we are there?" Hermione said.
"My plan is to take you and Isola there and keep her safe. I have to return to England to find our parents. And to face The Dark Lord, however it may end." Malfoy said.
"However it may end?!" Hermione repeated. "How do you think it would end, Draco? And your plan is to leave us on an island? You're insane!" Hermione exclaimed.
"You were perfectly happy to be left alone two weeks ago! What would we do, bring Isola along for a war? That would never work. Our greatest plan is to keep Isola concealed until the war is over. We don't even know if Rhodes is safe yet!" Malfoy shouted back.
Their arguing in the small cabin woke their daughter instantly. Both parents went to hold her but Hermione beat him to it. "You can't fight me in front of her like this," Malfoy said.
"We cannot fight in front of her," Hermione growled as she rocked the baby. "How are supplies? Are we able to make it to Rhodes?" Hermione asked changing the subject.
"I thought I would have another month to fill the ship. We need to conserve as much as we can. I know the villa in Rhodes will have little to no supplies at all," Malfoy said with a big yawn.
"When did you sleep last?" Hermione asked once Isola was calm again. "I don't know anymore but I have to go replace the charms," he said. Hermione told him to sleep and that she was perfectly capable of protecting them until he woke. Begrudgingly Malfoy agreed after he went through every spell (which Hermione had already known) and specific instructions to keep Isola safe.
Malfoy passed out immediately from exhaustion and Isola fell asleep shortly after. Hermione went out above deck for the first time and explored the ship. She was used to the smell of rotted wood and salt by now but she didn't know how ragged the ship was until she inspected it.
Without magic the ship would not be moving at all. The sails were torn rags and holes were visible in every part of the ship. Every cabin was bare save for the rooms Malfoy and Hermione lived in.
For the next two weeks they slept in turns. While one was catching up on sleep the other would care for Isola and replace the protective charms. "It's your turn to rest, hand her over." Draco said when he woke up that morning.
"We should arrive tonight if my calculations are correct. Will you be ready?" Hermione asked as she handed Isola to Malfoy. "Of course I will and you must follow my instructions as planned," he said for the 100th time.
The plan would be to keep the ship far off shore and have Draco row to the island and find his ancestor's home. Once inside, if everything were safe, he would return to the ship and take his wife and daughter ashore.
Hermione was less than thrilled with the plan but it was the best one they had. If the situation weren't secure Draco would send sparks up to notify Hermione she must leave for another port elsewhere in the Mediterranean.
"Go to sleep, Granger. I'll wake you when it's time," Malfoy said as he left the room cradling Isola in his arms. Though worn out Hermione could not fall asleep easily with every possibility of danger running through her head.