Chapter Thirteen
Draco carefully detangled himself from a sleeping Hermione, dressing quickly before heading to the door. Wand at the ready he looked through the peep-hole to reveal the minister for magic, and their secret keeper,
"What advice did you give me when I was pardoned?" he asked through the door,
"Besides don't fuck it up…I told you to take this freedom and live life to its fullest" Kingsley said, Draco turned the handle to the door and allowed the older man in,
"What are you doing here?" Draco asked as a greeting but before Kingsley could reply Hermione began screaming from the bedroom, Draco span on his heals before running to comfort Hermione "Hey it's ok" he soothed taking her in his arms, "You're safe" he whispered, looking to the door where Kinsley was standing, "Give us a minute" he asked, the older man nodded and moved away from the door, "My love, Kingsley is here, I need to go talk to him" he whispered,
"I'll come" she mumbled,
"No, it's ok you need sleep" he said, giving her a soft kiss on her head. "I doubt it will take too long" he smiled letting her go and getting to his feet.
"Is it always like that?" Kingsley asked, Draco let out a sigh,
"Most of the time, I've woken to find her curled on the sofa a few times. What can I do for you Minister?" Draco asked, sitting on the sofa opposite the couch Kingsley had settled in,
"Daphanie Greengrass" Kingsley said, Draco let out a groan,
"Please tell me the fucking Greengrass family has nothing to do with this bullshit" he raked his hand through his hair,
"We've had a witness who overheard Miss Greengrass speaking with someone, we're unsure who the man was but he seems to have convinced Miss Greengrass that there is a prophesy, that Hermione will birth the dark lord, I'm not sure why Miss Greengrass believes this, but she is claiming to be your wife, and that the Malfoy lawyers will be in contact because The Aurors will not tell her where you are" Kingsley said,
"Oh, fuck my life" Draco growled, "There is no way in hell that, that psycho is my wife…I'm not married, full stop!" Draco growled, "The Greengrass family all belong in St. Mungo's, every single one of them have more than a few screws loose. So she was involved in Hermione's attack?" he asked,
"We don't know for certain, however when asked if she had any information on what happened to Hermione and Yourself, she said, who gives a fuck about that whore, I want my husband here now…or the Malfoy Lawyers will be in touch!"
"Right, like I said mental" Draco groaned, "So why are you here?"
"We're at an impasse Mr Malfoy, if you are willing, I think we may be able to get more information out of the woman…"
"No" Draco said, "I mean it, you saw how Hermione is, I'm not leaving her alone and until we know who is after her, she is not returning to England"
"Draco" the two men looked to the bedroom door,
"Hermione, you should be sleeping," Draco said,
"We need to go back, if she can give us the information we should try" Hermione sighed,
"No Hermione, it's not safe, they have already proven that they can get past the Aurors, it's not safe" Draco insisted,
"So do we hide for the rest of our lives?" Hermione asked, Draco's shoulders fell, he knew she was right, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing her again.
"She stays with you" He turned to Kingsley, "You are the minister for magic, I really don't like this but she is right I want to be able to walk in public holding her hand not hide in a safe house for the rest of our lives" Draco said,
"She will be under my protection and not let out of my sight, you have my word"
"Draco, do I not get a say in this?" Hermione snapped,
"No" Draco said, "I won't let you get hurt again…I couldn't stop My aunt Hurting you…Hell I couldn't save you from that fucking house elf and Weasley, your safety is the only thing that matters to me" Draco said
"Kingsley, could you give us a minute?" Hermione asked turning to return to the bedroom "Draco!" she snapped,
The door swung shut behind him, and he felt the bubble that was the silencing charm she had thrown up,
"Hermione, please" he said moving to where she stood with her back to him, "I need you to trust me, I don't know what I would do if you got hurt again," he said placing a tentative hand on her shoulder, "I love you, I have for many years, hell I even gave you the answer on the Basilisk" he said as she turned, looking at him in confusion,
"What…wait," she stammered trying to remember how she had come across the information on the creature that the Slytherin founder had hidden in the school…
Hogwarts 1992
Hermione pulled another three books down from the library bookshelf, turning to take them to the table she felt a hard body crash into her,
"Watch it Granger" Draco sneered, kicking the book she dropped aside, "Damaging school books, I though that was below you" he said before walking away leaving Hermione stunned.
Present Day
"You crashed into me on purpose?" she asked,
"Of course, I did, what did you think that the exact page you needed happened to fall out" he smirked,
"I didn't think about it" she said,
"Clearly" he said wrapping his arms around her waist, "I've always adored you from a far Professor Granger…why do you think I didn't identify Potter at the manner?"
"That I thought was because you were too scared to call him there if you were wrong"
"Seriously, I saw you and Weasley, I knew exactly who he was" Draco said, "I'm begging you, please go with Kingsley, I will talk with Daphanie, she's deluded, perhaps I can use that in our Favour…but I need to know that you are safe, Potter and Weasley have already proven that they are not infallible, But Kingsley is the minister for magic, he's a former Auror, He's the only one I trust to keep you safe until I return" He rested his forehead against hers. "Please" he begged,
"I'm not happy about this" She said, "But I will remain with Kingsley" Hermione relented.
"Thank you" Draco said letting her waist go and cupping her face with both hands and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Let's get this over with!" he said letting her go and turning to the bedroom door.
"Are you sure about this?" Harry asked the blond again.
"If it gets us the information…But you need to keep my wand because I may just attack her if I have it to hand" Draco said. Ron was sat across the office glowering at Draco,
"And you know that if she gives you a name, you are to remain here, you are not to play vigilante hero" Harry said,
"Hypocrite" Draco said looking at the dark-haired man,
"tou·ché" Harry said, "But don't do it for me, or for the fact that as the head Auror, I could easily have you kept in custody until the case is solved…Do it for Hermione" Harry said, "You need to stay here and let me do my job" he said, Draco just nodded,
"Lets get this over with" Ron snapped,
"Ronald," Harry warned,
"He's right Potter, lets get this over an done with" Draco said, Harry nodded and moved to the interrogation room door.
Draco stepped into the room where Daphne Greengrass was sat looking at her nails,
"I told you I have nothing to say to you until my husband is here" she said not bothering to look up,
"I wasn't aware that you were married" Draco drawled,
"Drakie" she squealed, "They have kept me here for three days" she wined, "I knew you would come rescue me" she said wrapping her arms around his neck and attempting to kiss him on the mouth, but Draco turned away,
"Tell me who gave you the Prophesy?" Draco said grabbing her arms and holding her at arm's length,
"Drakie what are you on about?" she smiled sweetly, "Ouch Drakie you're hurting me" she said as Draco's grip tightened,
"Who wants Hermione Granger?" he asked again.
"You know who it is, he said you were there when the dark lord gave the prophesy?" she said fear beginning to show in her eyes,
"I've clearly forgotten" he said,
"Dolohov, Antonin Dolohov!" she said,
"Where is he?" Draco snapped,
"At our house, Draco I don't know what is going on with you, you need to come home with me, you need to continue your fathers work" she said, "And be there what our son is born" she said placing her hand on her belly
With that Draco faulted, his grip on her arms releasing.
"Daphne Greengrass, I know your parents clearly dropped you on your head as a child, but the last time I saw you was at the end of the war, so if I had slept with you, you would have been pregnant for four years…however since I never even fucked the school broom, there is no possibility of that" he pointed at her "Could be mine" Draco turned on his heals and exited the room as Daphne fell to her knees screaming.
"Antonin Dolohov and it sounds like he's at Malfoy Manor" Draco said, "I knew I should have burned that hell-hole to the ground"
"Draco, will we be able to access the property?" Harry asked,
"What do you think, I guess I have to go back to hell" Draco growled, Harry was sure that Draco was moments away from punching the wall,
"Ok, you should go and update Hermione and Kingsley. I need to speak with my team and make a plan, Seamus, can you please get a healer down here, we need to confirm if Miss Greengrass is indeed pregnant" Harry said, Seamus nodded and grabbing his cloak he headed out of the door. "Ron, I need you to go down to the records and pull up any information we have on the Malfoy manor" Harry said,
"Sure…I owe you and Hermione an apology" Ron said standing in front of Draco, who staired at the redhead man as if he had two heads, "once this is over, I owe you a drink" Ron nodded, "Don't hurt her like I did" Ron said before exiting, leaving both Draco and Harry standing there in complete shock.