Author's note: With a helpful comment from Wendy (insert hugs and kisses) i quite decided to give Draco's pov some consideration for the story. When i started to think about what his thoughts would be like, and how he might react to certain situations i thought of my own husband. My husband told me once that loving me was like 'trying to catch a falling star.' Damn near impossible- but satisfying. There's also a necklace that my husband always meant to give to his first child, i miscarried our first but eventually we had a daughter he could give it to. I share all of this with you so you can understand where my inspiration came from when getting into the headspace of Draco Malfoy. My husband and i are from the south so he calls me 'darlin' but the Draco of my story is an insert for my husband who's a fashion snob, piano playing fool. Additionally thank you to everyone for following along and sending kudos, and bookmarking the story. Truly i am happy to share this story with you all! Let me know in the comments- what Mozart piece do you think Draco was throwing down in this chapter?
Xoxo
Catstclaire
Ps-- This chapter is backstory, promise we will get back to the current story soon. Warning! Ladies and gents this chapter contains explicit sexual content, read at your own discretion.
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Hermione POV
Plush red carpeting. Smooth velvety seating. Heavy candelabras, and stunning chandeliers larger than Hagrid. Carnegie.
Carneige Hall. A place renowned world wide for it's illustrious musical triumphs. The Americans 'gift' to the Order of the Phoenix, temporarily of course. Though it could also as easily have been called their secret as it could be called a gift. Carnegie was not what Remus Lupin had hoped it would be when the deal with the Americans was first made.
Remus had hoped for a more public display of support from the Americans, one that Voldemort might see and take note of. Despite Remus's hopes, the Americans were willing to help the Order so long as it was not made public. For if the war fell to Voldemort's favor they did not wish to invoke his wrath on themselves. It was all very diplomatic- all very American Hermione quite thought. They were more than happy to push the war forward, even handing the Order a knife- but they were careful not to cut themselves on that knife weren't they? Of course not. The Americans had a way of inserting themselves into squirmishes across the world with ease- stirring the pot so to speak- then before they could be seen to have any part of it pulling back and leaving someone else to take the blame. If Voldemort's regime fell to the Order the Americans did not want to be seen helping the Order, this way they could remain as they were with the falsity of not having taken a side. They would be neutral.
When Kingsley sent the trio to Carnegie it had been extremely important that Harry get out of the country. Home was no longer safe. Voldemort was pushing himself into Harry's head more often. Hermione suspected the closer Harry was, the easier it was for Voldemort to infiltrate Harry's mind.
The supposedly fearless leader of the Order had stationed the golden trio at what Kingsley was referring to as their 'great hope for the future.'
The Americans gifted Carnegie to the Order to be used as their safe house, and a training facility all in one. What Kingsley promised the Americans in return, Hermione didn't know. It had something to do with Azkaban though, Sirius Black's name was one she overheard many times while still holed up in Grimmauld place.
Whatever the Order was providing the Americans it couldn't be good. It was something dark.
She had asked Mr. Weasley if he knew what the Order had given. He shook his head slowly, and told her to mind her step on the stairs. Everyone in the Order was starting to do that. Saying one thing when they meant an entirely other thing.
'Mind your step on these stairs, Hermione.' Loosely, she felt it translated to- 'Hush. Your questions are dangerous. Others are listening.'
Hermione had used her animagus to spy on several Order members while at Grimmauld place, none more than Kingsley. While in animagus form Hermione learned Kingsley was planning to send Draco Malfoy off to where the war was raging it's hardest. The frontlines where Bill and Charlie were more often than not. She imagined Kingsley praised himself on that one. He could send Draco off to die on the battlefield killed by his own, and Kingsley would still come out smelling like an absolute rose for offering him clemency. He, and the Order could be rid of the Malfoy heir forever.
That just wouldn't do Hermione decided.
Draco was still very much an enigma but since he had been at Grimmauld she had begun to trust him more with each passing day. He shared information with her, because she wasn't the only one sneaking around Grimmauld, and she shared information with him. Whatever they had going was good, and Hermione didn't break good things.
The day before the trio was due to leave for Carnegie Hermione channeled her mentor. Snape was a master of many things, but nothing more so than manipulation.
"You don't think, Malfoy might run into people he knows- friends of his on the battlefield?" Hermione preened into Lupin's ear. She faked a full body shudder for dramatic effect. "I wonder what might happen if he had to choose between an Order member or Crabbe or Parkinson-" Hermione put a hand over her mouth like she couldn't bare to keep going, she winced like it was painful to shut her eyes. "how awful to even imagine." She finished looking up at her one time professor like a lost lamb.
Lupin looked horrified the thought clearly hadn't even popped into his head until she put it there. She saw the wheels turning as he realized perhaps Draco would be less effective on the front lines than most.
Before they left the next day Draco was informed of his impending departure for Carnegie. Ron and Harry of course did not hide their displeasure.
"This must be a joke, Remus." Harry glowered.
"Won't be able to eat a damn thing." Ron muttered glaring at everyone in the room. He had been skipping meals in Draco's presence for days.
Then Ginny who already loathed the idea of being left behind said. "If the Ferret's going. I'm going." She summoned her suitcase from upstairs, and stomped her foot with finality.
Hermione simply smiled, when Draco gave her a quizzical look. She didn't deny it when he asked if she was behind the change in plans.
Carnegie had been changed in small ways to accommodate them. There were 3 concert halls. 1 for training. 1 for sleeping, and eating. 1 that was inaccessible to any of them. So far as Hermione ever saw only Remus and Kingsley ever went there. Then there were various side rooms, offices, storage and such.
The muggles thought it was under construction and it had been heavily warded against muggles and attacks.
The 4 Gryffindors and the Slytherin from Grimmauld weren't the only occupants of Carnegie. Luna Lovegood and her father were there. Neville Longbottom. Collin Creevey. Fred and George. Countless others popped in from time to time.
Order members who needed a place to go had one. Order members looking to fine tune their skills had a place to go to.
It was like living in a small air conditioned village. Everyone was assigned varying tasks to keep things running smoothly.
Harry, and Ginny kept inventory of supplies and food. Ron was given a prefect like role, he was an enforcer but so far as Hermione could tell it only meant guarding the 3rd concert hall.
Draco had been given kitchen duty and he thought it would be a riot to continue to torment Ron.
"He'll stop eating all-together if you start ladling his soup." she told Draco.
"That's the point." He grinned. "Can you imagine his face?" Malfoy held the stitch in his side as he laughed. "Here's your pumpkin juice, Weasley enjoy!" He mock winked.
Hermione laughed but felt guilty about it. Where had the days gone when she would have punched Malfoy for that sort of remark at Ron's expense?
...
Hermione POV
They stole a car somewhere around Hell's kitchen. Draco thought he recognized a death eater who might have been following them. They needed the car to blend in with the muggles on the street.
"If you've any protests, speak them now or forever hold your peace." Draco had told her with his wand hovering at the doors lock.
She scoffed. The least of her cares were some muggles losing their car.
Draco was still getting to know her. He was still presuming she was still the same girl he picked on at Hogwarts.
When she didn't object to stealing the suburban he merely raised an eyebrow at her. Like he was cataloguing it for further inspection at a later date.
"Alohamora." The car beeped, and the locks clicked.
Hermione pushed his hand out of the way when he wrenched the driver side open.
"You don't know how to drive." She peered up at him waiting for him to mouth off, but he didn't.
Draco walked around to the other side and slid into the seat next to her. He crossed his legs poshly, and he watched scrutinizingly as she put the car into drive.
There was a bottle of hairspray rolling around the floor, and Draco held it up while Hermione explained it's use. He sprayed it and the scent was chemical strong. He chucked it out the window after declaring wizard products superior.
"Looks terribly complicated, driving." He muttered dryly, and he flicked dust off his designer shirt that she couldn't see. "Who'd have thought turning the wheel to the right would make the car go right?"
She rolled her eyes, and clicked on the radio. Draco's eyes darted around looking for the source of the music playing. "Allright- that's clever." He allowed as his fingertips started to dance across his thighs the way she had seen them dance across piano keys when they were holed up at Grimmauld.
Sirius or someone in his family had left behind a piano. None of them had even known it was there until they awoke one morning to Draco playing Mozart. Not even Ron could find an insult while he played.
It was entrancing to watch Draco's fingers fly across the keys. It made Hermione wonder what other ways there were that Draco could use his fingers...
Ron stood next to Harry who's mouth was catching flies at the sight of their former bully serenading them at 7 in the morning. Ginny elbowed her when Draco was done with the piece, she wiped the small gathering of drool from the corner of her lip and quickly ducked out of the room to hide her face as it was embroiled in mortifying flames.
Ron played the bloody piano, and never had it done half of what it did to her when she watched Draco.
They hadn't gone any farther than exchanging some very passionate snogs at Grimmauld, and Hermione was quite unsure of what she made of it all.
"Could you stop making Ron think you're trying to poison him?" She asked keeping her eyes front as she changed lanes. "He's scared witless every-time he drinks pumpkin juice."
Draco and Hermione were picking an order up, food they were told. Draco helping the dining crew at Carnegie was to Ron's great horror. He had still yet to let go of 6th year when Draco nearly killed him with poisoned meade. Draco of course had not helped the situation. He'd leave little notes for Ron on his food platter when he delivered them to him. 'The roast lamb is to die for Weasley.' And- 'This was my mother's recipe she'd have been very glad to see you have it.'
He laughed, and the sound held incredible amounts of amusement. "Really? How entertaining." He stopped drumming his fingers while he considered her words.
"Don't play dumb. It doesn't suit you." Hermione beeped the car horn as another driver cut her off. New York was deplorable to drive in. She had been several times in her life of course, her parents enjoyed musicals, and the theatre. She hoped they could all come back together someday.
Draco agreed quietly. "I know it doesn't." He shifted to look around them. The sky was dark and the only light came from the other cars, and the buildings on either side of them. "Maybe i was wrong maybe it wasn't Dolohov back there-" he had begun.
"Don't change the subject. Ron's going to end up with an eating disorder if you don't knock it off."
Draco bristled slightly at her interruption then he reclined his chair back and closed his eyes.
Hermione grunted. Snape was going to rip her a new one if they didn't make it back soon. He was port keying in the next morning to take her to the cabin to work with her, and they still hadn't even picked up their order. If she didn't make it back by the time he showed up at Carnegie- well she didn't want to find out what would happen.
"What will you give me?" Draco finally asked after a few minutes of the radio being the only noise in the car. That Daryl Hall and John oates song was playing- Rich girl it was called.
"Give you for what?" Hermione watched a single rain drop plop onto the windshield.
"What will you give me- in exchange for leaving the Weas- Ron," he corrected. "Alone?"
Draco smirked when she briefly glanced at him. She flicked the windshield wipers on. They swished back and fourth as the car in front of her gently pulled to a stop. The light was red.
"Well?" He pushed. "Better be something good."
Hermione nodded as she stared at him. She's now aware that Draco won't lay off Ron unless he's provided equal entertainment.
The light is annoyingly long. The wipers continue to swish, and the rain picks up so she turns them on high.
"Oh FUCK!" Hermione screamed at the steering wheel as she gaped when the windshield wipers flung entirely off of the suburban and landed in a fresh puddle. Now the rain was blocking out her sight of the road entirely. "Snape's going to kill me." She gripped the wheel hard, and laid her forehead against it in defeat. She smashed the hazards on, and heard the beeping of the cars behind her as the light changed to green.
Draco sniggered. "Oh calm down- darling." Something deep inside her twitched. He sat up in his seat, and pulled his wand out. He cast a charm at the windshield. The rain peterred off to the sides, and her vision of the road was restored. "We have wands don't we." He pocketed his wand, and the veins on his hand stuck out slightly. She licked her lips, and put the car back into drive.
"Thanks." She replied, eyes now glinting fiercely with an unnamed hunger.
Draco smirked. "How often do you forget you're a witch darling?" She grit her teeth.
Darling.
Darling.
Darling.
When he said it all she could think of was his hands upon ivory, his hands wrapped around his wand- his hands- merlin when he said darling all she wanted was for his hands to be on her. To touch her, to feel her, to hold her and-
Hermione whipped the suburban down a side street. Then another. She accelerated and the engine roared as street signs blurred. She took a sharp left turn, and ran the light. Horns blared behind her.
"Woah- now darling!" She felt another twitch deep inside her. Draco fumbled with the seat belt as they went faster and faster. Her eyes were set in front of them set to task.
They finally came to an empty alleyway. She jerked the gear shift into park, and turned to Draco the same time he opened his mouth to probably accuse of her of being 'barking mad' again.
Hermione couldn't help herself. She leaned in closer and stole a kiss from his soft lips.
It had to be the worst possible place to make out, and she really didn't have time for it.
"What i'll give you to leave Ron alone..." She reached over and pushed his chair back as far as it would go, then clambered up onto his lap. "Is this." She scooted down his lap keeping eye contact until her knees hit the floor of the suburban.
Even though they were behind schedule and Snape was going to have her head for tardiness she ended up giving Draco head anyways.
"Holy Fuck!" He shouted when she swallowed around him. She grinned up at him and more demurely than she knew he thought she was capable of being wiped her mouth.
A few moments of breathless silence later and he pulled her into the back of the car where there was more room.
"Bloody muggle contraption." He grunted when he landed on the gearshift. Hermione giggled when he swatted at the car as if he could hurt it. "Think that's funny do you?" His jaw tensed.
"Yes." She undid the string around her top and let it fall, his jaw went slack. "Very much."
She rolled her eyes when he frowned at the garment briefly. To him all of her clothes were rags.
"You hate my clothes don't you?"
"Yes. Very much." He mocked. She had to stifle a groan when he finally positioned himself on top of her. "Malfoy's don't dress so..." He looked at the garment again like it had given him the finger.
He wriggled her out of her jeans.
"Muggle?" She ground herself up against him, and felt him press back just as excitedly.
"Malfoy's dress to, oh what's the word?" He palmed her sex and the spot that had been twinging deep inside her burst into flames. It was hard to remember what they were doing out here in this alley, or her own name when he used his fingers like- he pushed them inside her. "Impress."
He stroked her walls gently, while she tried in vain to form something coherent to say to him.
In...Out...In...Out...
Her fingernails dug into his arms, and she couldn't feel her toes.
"-'mmm not a Malfoyy-" She managed to gasp in the air between them.
Draco hadn't relented his assault. It was faster now.
In.Out.In.Out.
Something was building up, and it felt amazing. Like one of Snape's potions. She had accidentally used. Bottled bliss. Only what Draco was doing was a thousand times better than bottled bliss.
He whispered something that sounded a little bit like. 'Not, yet. You aren't.'
Oh!
She felt like she had floated away for a moment.
She crashed back down to strong arms, and a streak of blonde hair gripped in her left hand.
Draco Malfoy gave her cockiest look she had ever seen before he fucked her into the back seat of some clueless persons car.
After when they were both spent, and she was cradled in his arms no longer caring what Snape had to say to her for being late, she heard Draco singing the song on the radio from earlier.
'You Can Rely On The Old Man's Money'
"What do you want from me?" She whispered against his chest.
"This." He caressed the back of her neck. "Exactly this. You watch my back and i watch yours." His hand slunk further down until it was atop the small of her back.
She shuddered.
When they got back to Carnegie she made it very clear what had happened was merely a primal need, nothing more than the snogging they'd already been doing together. Hermione demanded it wasn't a big deal, and they wouldn't be doing it again. Draco agreed to everything she said. Allthough his thoughts were another matter entirely.
Draco POV
It was to Draco's disappointment he would no longer be able to hassle Weasley, somedays it was Draco's only form of entertainment at Carnegie, but to his great satisfaction he had gotten something much better.
He had felt this before. Once.
Loving Hermione Granger was like catching a shooting star.
It was impossible- and yet...
He had done it. He caught a falling star right before 3rd year. He had gone to stay with Severus while his parents vacationed in France.
Draco had been mind numbingly bored that summer. Severus never wanted to teach him anything exciting, and they had beans and toast for dinner far more than was to his liking. Draco had found only one activity at Severus's summer camp of eternal torment that could assuage his boredom.
Charting the stars. Severus owned a dated telescope, and it was one that Draco suspected had been muggle before some modifications were made to it. Draco would spend his evenings in the highest room of the rickety old house staring up at the heavens. Finding the stars one by one. All the Blacks were there. Draco. Andromeda. Cassiopeia. Sirius. There was one that he felt shined brighter than all others- Astra it was called. He highlighted it in the star journal he made.
One evening without any real significance-or so he thought, he saw it.
A falling star.
He thought to himself what would it feel like? To hold it in his palm? To look at the blinding light up close? How would it make him feel?
Silver mist burst across the sky, and it called out to him.
So Draco set out without telling his host. Draco didn't think he could do it. He couldn't actually catch that star as he watched it descend rapidly with every passing second. He would just watch it fall, it was so far away. Then suddenly it was like the star changed course, it was headed closer to Severus's home. The light around it pulsed and foretold of it's immense power as it wove through the air.
Closer, and closer. Draco began to panic. What spell? What spell could-
Then he remembered the time Potter fell off his broomstick during the quidditch match. The headmaster had used, oh merlin what was-
"Arresto Momento!" He yelled, and his knees nearly gave out as the star came to a screeching halt before him. The light was bright but it didn't burn, there wasn't any warmth in the star which Draco would later think back on sourly. He should have known a star should be warm and-
The star was large, bigger than him. He spelled it smaller, as small as he dared. All the while the magic in it crackled and whipped at him as he contained it with a magical barrier. Then when it was barely bigger than his thumb he brought it close to his face, smirking the entire time.
He had done the impossible he had caught a falling star.
"You did what? Last night?" Severus had glowered at him the next morning over another plate of beans and toast. "No you are mistaken.. you dreamt it-"
Smiling once more Draco pulled the fallen star from around his neck. He had turned it into an amulet of sorts. He handed it to Severus who stared at it with awe, and shock then a third look overcame him. Worry.
"You must never- never! Tell another soul!" Severus had grabbed him up by the scruff of his neck, and shook him. The plates clattered and smashed on his kitchen floor but he didn't seem to care as he yelled at Draco again. "No one can know!"
"- but my father, and-" Draco's prepubescent voice cracked over the words he struggled to find.
"Especially not them." Severus raged!"Tell me you understand!"
Draco didn't know what to do other than to nod dumbly. He was shocked he had thought perhaps his godfather might be impressed that he had caught the star- from the look of him however Severus was all but furious. He thought for a long time he had done something very wrong in catching that falling star.
When Severus knocked back 2 potion vials and calmed down he explained. "That was wreck less, an utterly foolish way to spend-" he slapped his hand against the table between them. "You could have died, a falling star- it's very powerful magic Draco. Power a 13 year old can not even begin to understand." His voice was tired. "When you are older i'll explain more to you, but for now keep it close to you always." Severus glanced once more at the star turned necklace laid on his kitchen table, and their conversation was over.
Snape had promised to explain the significance of having caught a shooting star but he died before he ever got a chance. Remus explained to Draco much later.
Draco would never forget how it had felt.
The feeling of that star beneath his fingertips- it made him feel powerful, and like nothing he had ever felt before. Like his magic would never wane. A feeling of infinite being- that was what it was like to hold a fallen star, and that was what it was like to love Hermione Granger.
Draco had not taken it off from around his neck since Severus had screamed at him that morning. He had worn it for years now. He meant to some day leave it for his first born child.
Hermione was falling asleep curled next to him in the back of the suburban, and her hand slid across the necklace. He felt a sudden charge in the air around them, and the stars magic crackled. He palmed it, and it silenced before it could wake her.
The star was a strange object in Draco's opinion he thought as he watched Hermione sleep. He had been around a lot of magical objects in his days some dark, and to his knowledge none of them had ever reacted quite like what he had just witnessed. It had hung around his own neck for nearly half a decade and never had he felt it like that.
When Remus told him what he did about falling stars all that time later, and Hermione had been cursed while pregnant with his child. Draco realized well it entirely made sense- why the star had reacted at Hermione's touch like that.
A shooting star as he was told was a wizard or witches soul as it exited it's earthly body. It happened only in instances of very nasty demises.
A shooting star was very powerful indeed. It made sense why Severus had emphatically insisted Lucius nor anyone else ever know. People murdered for the kind of power a falling star could offer, and Draco was only a boy. It was dangerous for him to possess it, but he wasn't willing to part with it.
Remus also explained the shooting star would have some of the leftover magical essence of the witch or wizard who perished. It would regard Draco as it's master with the little sentience it had. And before Draco ever even caught the little blighter it already knew exactly how it's magic would be spent under the control of it's new master. It was prophetic. It knew the future.
Draco lamented over whether or not to tell Hermione about the star for years. He decided against it- afraid that this knowledge may put her in danger. He decided he would tell her someday of course, when it came time to pass it on to one of their offspring. He would later be glad he decided this.
There were things that happened in their future Draco quite thought couldn't hurt Hermione if she never knew.
She never needed to know that when the curse hit her and their child- Hermione died then to. Just for a little while. Draco used the star to bring her back he hadn't known exactly what to expect. It was an unheard of use for a star. He had read research on wizards who had used them to cure incurable ailments, wizards who used them to regrow entire limbs, but as far as he could tell no one had ever dared to resurrect someone.
At first Draco never noticed the difference, he had his Hermione back and nothing else mattered. Then as the months went on- he could no longer deny the truth. Something about her was wrong. She was always cynical, even a little less than what he would call morally correct, but after he used the star on her she was never the same.
She languished in their bed for days on end. It was normal he told Potter- at first- of course she would be devastated by the loss of the baby- but this- this was something more. She would drink dreamless sleep draught, and he would find her muttering to her self things Draco wished he never heard.
'Have to kill her.'
'Must die.'
'Cut the throat.'
Draco watched as she fell deeper and deeper into darkness and there was nothing to be done but watch.
He was afraid of what Potter or Weasley might do, so he kept them in the dark the best he could. He didn't stop them from seeing her all-together of course there were Order meetings she had to attend and holidays, but he ensured it was less frequent that they saw Hermione. He took up her time as often as he could, even going as far to spend time with Potter and Weasley on his own so she couldn't.
It was entirely his own fault. The cock up had been his own doing. The desperation he felt at the thought of losing her had blinded him to the possibilities of what saving her meant.
Hermione would never be the same as she was before because when the star saved her life her soul mingled itself with the remnants of the person who created the star when they died. Part of her soul wasn't hers anymore.
Draco decided she would never need know.
What good could it possibly do?
...
Hermione POV
Severus Snape was a maniacal bastard. That much Hermione knew the very moment her feet crossed the threshold of his potions classroom at age 11.
"Since you seem to be under the impression my time isn't nearly as valuable as yours," He sneered down his hooked nose. "You Miss. Granger will be assisting me with the latest batch of potions Kingsley has requested."
She was going to throttle Draco when next she saw him she swore as she listened to Snape list off potion after potion, the next more difficult to brew than the last.
"2 vials of Amoretentia, 1 draught of Alihosty, an angel trumpet steeped in calming serum, 10 draughts of peace,-" Snape paused briefly to reinspect the list his mouth tugged then he continued. "they've requested a basin full of elixir #9, and 3 dozen vials of silver mist."
Hermione choked down her immediate response. The one she would have had if she hadn't been studying directly under Snape all this time.
Having worked under him she had a healthy fear or perhaps respect for Snape. She wanted to say 'But sirrr- that order will take ages.' The way he looked at her like the bug under his shoe however had her saying. "When should i have it all ready?" She turned to grab her cloak off the hook.
Snape smirked like he could hear the internal monologue of her thoughts.
"They need it immediately, they've captured some death eaters, you'll have to keep me company here until everything's ready."
Perfect.
Draco was getting punched. Square in the face like 3rd year.
This order would take at least a week.
Hermione would be stuck out on the middle of no where with Snape for days. He'd probably only feed her beans and toast. The phrase 'i'd rather gnaw my own arm off' came to her mind. Snape flicked his wand to pass the list to her. Once it was in her hands, she started to really go over the list, and it was odd.
"Sir-" She asked as Snape made himself comfortable in a transfigured recliner. "This list-"
He blinked at her in distaste.
"Yes, Miss. Granger do ask before i die of old age."
"Well what are they doing with these potions sir because-"
"Careful, Miss. Granger." He spelled a copy of the daily prophet into his hands. "We must mind what accusations it is that we throw out into the universe." It was a reprimand as much as it was a warning.
Hermione set to her work.
She tried valiantly to ignore the conclusion she came to at the sight of the list.
Everything on the Order's list was something that could provide calming or happiness. What would the Order need with things like Amortentia or an entire basin full of elixir #9 which was more commonly referred to as bottled bliss? Capturing death eaters was something Hermione knew the Order did...she was starting to wonder alot about what else they did. Something wasn't right about this gathering of potions. Why would the Order use them on death eaters of all people?
There was an unsettling answer Hermione didn't yet have. It clawed at her the entire time she brewed the contents of the list. Snape of course didn't help her nerves. He called out every single mistake she made though there were few. 'Are you blind, girl? That's a mandrake leaf not aconite.'
What were they doing with the potions she was making? Did this mean she was as complicit in whatever the Order did with them?
She again thought of the unknown thing the Order was giving the Americans in exchange for Carnegie. It all connected somehow she was sure.
It was Remus Lupin who came to collect the potions when they were ready. He nodded to Snape in greeting, and to her he gave the tiniest frown when he packed up the containers.
That confirmed it for her. The potions she made were of a cheerful nature, but they would not be administered in a way that would allow it.
Azkaban. Potions. Carnegie. The Americans.
How did they all connect?
...
Hermione POV
When she finally got back to Carnegie she confided in Draco.
"What should we do?" She asked.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" Her voice started to get louder and angrier. "The Order is using potions i brewed for-"
Draco slapped his hand over her mouth, and shoved her to her an area with low foot traffic.
"Watch it, Granger."
She sighed, and nodded. He had a mother to think of.
"Sorry i'm just upset." Hermione knew better by now. Before when she witnessed unjustified things happening around her, never had she had a hand in it, but now...
"I know but a very wise witch told me to keep my head down recently, and i mean to listen to her. She's incredibly brilliant." He nudged her shoulder with his.
She shared his bed that night. He didn't even have to call her darling.
...
Hermione POV
Ginny had managed to clear out everyone else from the smaller of the concert halls.
Harry, and Ron had been taking turns on the firebolt. Ginny, and Hermione watched them lazily from the upper tier of seats 30 or so feet off from the ground. Their legs were intertwined at the ankles and dangling over the railing.
Ron did a loop midair, and Ginny snorted.
"Merlin, my brother's a prat."
They were sharing a bottle of wine Ginny managed to steal from the kitchen. Hermione was feeling pleasantly loose, and happy.
"Ginn!" Hermione laughed, and elbowed her. "He'll hear you."
"Good." She declared with her arms suddenly crossed. "Do you know who he shared his bed with last night?" She asked in an outraged tone that Hermione was sure could match Molly's if she were present.
Ginny took a swig from the bottle keeping her eyes on Ron.
"Umm- i'm not." Hermione floundered. Ron's love life made her feel weird when she thought on it. It was like thinking about her own brothers if she had one.
Ginny pushed the bottle into her hand, and she took her own dreg. It was sweet, and had floral notes. Cheap she thought, certainly not something Draco would ever drink.
"He's a whore. That's all i'm trying to say."
"So on a scale of Luna to Ron- what's Harry?" Hermione questioned. She hadn't pushed the subject but she suspected perhaps Ginny and Harry were sharing beds. It seemed everyone was at Carnegie.
Ginny's face heated instantly. Then she laughed. "On a scale from- Luna to-"
Then they both roared in laughter as Ginny recounted the tale of 5th year when Luna cried after a boy tried to kiss her under a gathering of mistletoe.
"She's such a prude. I swear someone must have jinxed a stick to permanently stick up her-"
"There you are!" Someone thundered from behind them in their seats. They both jumped, and ended up on the floor trying to disentangle themselves. The bottle landed on the carpet and began to pour.
"Did you take this from the kitchen?" Draco's hands were on both hips.
Ginny and Hermione turned to look at each other dumbly, then Ginny pointed at Hermione. Draco narrowed his eyes, and spelled the wine out of the carpet. Hermione whirled on Ginny only to find she was throwing a leg over the rail, and jumping over it. She cast a cushioning charm before her feet made contact with the ground.
"My turn next!" She heard her yell at the boys.
Traitor. Hermione thought mutinously as Draco looked at her for an answer. She shrugged.
"So what- i'm of age."
He sighed.
"Cheers then." He took a sip of stolen wine, and sidled up next to her at the rail. They watched Ginny arc gracefully around Harry as he stood on the ground. Both of them moving like magnets- when one moved the other moved.
Hermione took the wine back, and gulped a sip around the smile creeping it's way onto her face.
Ron was messing with the sound system then, when he saw the eyes Ginny was making at Harry Ron got out of there quick. Every few minutes they'd hear some static.
Ron was still on edge Round Draco, but since the teasing notes had stopped Hermione hadn't heard much protest from him when Draco showed up. Except to say- 'What's he always lurking around us for now?' Hermione guessed it wasn't so much them as it was her.
"Well, well, would you look at Potter?" Draco was a mix of surprised, and surprisingly pleased at the display. "Ginerva looks quite taken with him don't you think?"
"She does." Hermione agreed with a warm belly and warm heart.
"You think it's love then?"
She nodded, she didn't even have to think on it. Of course it was love between Harry and Ginny, anyone could see it.
"How does one tell, do you think?"
Hermione elbowed him. "Shut up."
He laughed but pulled her back closer. "I'm serious Granger. Tell me. How do you know for certain it's love for them?" He jerked his head behind them where Ginny was now only hovering in front of Harry, and he was directing her attention to the broom's bristles.
"You just know- when it's love."
"So it's something you see?"
"No."
"Something, some scent in the air or-"
"No! Love is, it's just a feeling unlike any other. You just know when it's love because people do embarrassing things like pretending they don't know how a broom works just to get someone's attention." She looked back at Ginny and Harry. He was positioning her hands on the broom handle regardless of the fact that she had been riding longer than he had.
The static from the sound system came again, and a low melody played.
"Embarrassing things huh?" Draco smirked, and Hermione gripped the wine bottle tighter because if he called her darling at least once she had no doubt where she would be spending her evening. "Sounds like maybe you've felt this yourself?"
Hermione choked on her own spit. They had not spoken of their trysts in any sort of context other than that they were born out of loneliness and need. She was still coughing when Draco began to conjure.
He conjured a small platform that floated out in front of the rails. He threw a leg over with one arm on her, she pulled back.
Everyone from below were looking up at them like the sun had just morphed into a naked pixie. With varying degrees of concern for their own sanity.
She thought maybe she heard Ron yell her name up.
"Come on." Draco tugged. "Dance with me- darling."
"Okay." She was done for, and the bottle of wine was back on the floor with the contents restaining the same spot from earlier. He helped her over the edge, and they both stood on his make shift platform as Harry, Ron, and Ginny watched them confused out of their gourds.
Draco flicked his wand tip at the sound system Ron had been tinkering with, and the song from the night they shared in the car played.
'You Can Rely On The Old Man's Money
I T's A Bitch Girl But It's Gone Too Far'
Draco's hand was warm and inviting against her own.He lead them, and as they moved the platforms under their feet moved. Dancing 30 feet above the heads of her best friends hadn't been the way she thought this day would go, but nothing much ever went the way she thought it would anymore.
'Cause You Know It Don't Matter Anyway
Say Money But It Won't Get You Too Far,'
"Couldn't get much more embarrassing than this, could it?" Draco asked her as he spun her in a circle. She was wearing the same top from that night. "We'll do something about these clothes though i think."
It took her a beat longer than it should have to understand the underlying message of what he said.
"Draco are you saying that you..."
Hermione felt her knees give a bit, and he picked up her slack with ease, not even missing a step.
"-that you love me?"
"I've managed to confound the brightest witch of the age. I don't know whether to feel honored or displeased about that."
'Get You Too Far
And Don't You Know, Don't You Know in'
From below Ginny had come out of her stupor, and she had begun clapping excitedly.
'That It's Wrong To Take What Is Given You
So Far Gone, On Your Own'
"If you recall i told you the first night we kissed- i always had a soft spot for you. Is it so hard to imagine it grew?"
"Say it." She froze, and Ginny stopped clapping.
Draco ran one fingertip against her jaw as if to say 'fine.'
"I love you."
"This is idiotic. There's a war going on and-"
"Fuck the war. If not for it would you say it back to me right now? He demanded gently.
She looked down at her friends. Then back at Draco. She didn't want to be in love, but she was.
"I'm in love with you." She admitted.