Chapter 14

The pair had been walking east for the better part of the day. As much as Hermione had hoped for fog, or overcast clouds, for any feeble cover they would provide, the sun shined bright and hot, rebelliously. They hadn't spoken much, Draco had retreated into a sullen mood, and Hermione had so much to consider that she wasn't in a talkative mood. She felt desperate for any inkling of an idea as to what to do next. They had nowhere to go, and they were afraid to use magic, in case they were tracked in any way. It was miserable, and Hermione's confidence in herself was slipping. Would Harry and Ron be disappointed in her lack of progress? Would McGonagall? The idea of them being disappointed in her hurt deep in her heart. The noose was back and getting tighter.

Hermione felt a hunger pain deep in her stomach. She couldn't remember the last time she had been completely sated, could not even remember the last time she had had a complete meal. They had happened upon a small stream, where the two of them drank the dirty water until they could hear it sloshing in their bellies. That had been hours ago, however, and Hermione's throat felt parched and dry now.

"Granger," Draco said, inclining his face towards hers. "I have an idea."

"Yes?" she asked, her mind emptying of other thoughts as she gave him her full attention.

"Do you Remember Susan Bones?" he asked, swatting at a mosquito buzzing around his face.

"Yes," Hermione responded, immediately, recalling the Hufflepuff girl who had fought alongside the Order at the Battle Of Hogwarts. Her entire family had been killed by Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

"She has a job at the Ministry." Draco said simply.

"How? She fought against you-know-who and the Ministry?" Hermione was puzzled.

"I know, but sometime after that there was a program Half-bloods and blood traitors could go into, in order to get forgiveness and rejoin wizarding society. Some kind of program where they have to renounce their past beliefs, and register with The Ministry, forfeit their wands to be magically restricted against certain spells, and some other stuff I can't recall. But I remember her always being under suspicion, and watched, because certain Ministry members and Death Eaters felt she would deflect again, given the chance." Draco answered thoughtfully.

Hermione chewed it over. "Do you know where she lives? Do you think she would help us?"

"I know where she lives, but I'm not sure if she would help. I can't think of anything at all. She won't believe me at all but you're Hermione Granger, and with Potter gone I couldn't think of some one more representative of The Order and their beliefs. Maybe if she saw you, talked to you, she would be swayed to help us in some way." Draco said. Hermione felt her cheeks grow warm, and a sense of pride at Draco's compliment. "If they think she deserves to be watched, and believe there is a possibility she will deflect, that mean's our chances of getting through to her are pretty good."

"What department does she work in?" Hermione asked, reflecting on his points.

"I'm not completely certain, but I believe she works in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. They don't give converts any positions connected with Magical Education, or Magical law. Anything that could be used to their advantage if they decide to deflect again, ya know?" He answered, pushing his hair out of his face.

"How would we get to there?" The thought of popping in unexpectedly to a Ministry's members house seemed daunting. "Especially if you say she is being watched?"

"We can't walk the whole way there. She lives in Greenwich, near London. We might have to apparate, but I worry about doing that," Draco said, "And when she was being watched heavily, I was still a recognized member of the Death eaters, so about 6 months ago. Things could be settled down around her now, or if they're not, chances are more manpower is being used to hunt Order Members. Now that it's been discovered that we fed your lot information, and were being harbored in one of your headquarters, the Dark Lord will probably be even more rabid to get rid of you all," Draco explained, looking a little concerned by his own words.

"Maybe we shouldn't just apparate directly on her doorstep though," Hermione said, thinking of the best way not to alarm the girl. "Are there any more of these kinds of converts?"

"Hmm...Hannah Abbot? I think. Ernie Macmillan, the Patil twins. Madam Hooch, I believe. Roger Davies. There is a whole registry. There are a lot of people in Azkaban, too, who tried to register and failed the process, or wouldn't claim loyalty to the Dark Lord and his rein." Draco answered, matter-of-factly. Hermione shuddered, thinking of how horrible cold and lonely the wizarding prison must be now that Voldemort was the Minister of Magic.

"Sounds bloody horrible. I hate that the world has devolved into this," Hermione said, her eyes getting watery. "Draco, I'm going to do everything in my power to put everything back to right. I must, and I have a plan forming in my mind to accomplish that... I don't expect you to stick with me or want to help. And that's fine. I probably owe you my life right now, and that's not something I'm going to forget. If we make it to Susan's house, and by some divine intervention she wants to help us, we can split ways. I'll tell everyone In the Order, or affiliated with it about what you did and how you have changed." Hermione said, with complete sincerity. It was the least she could do.

Draco didn't say anything for a long moment, his tall figure seeming to tower over Hermione as she looked up at him, waiting for a response. After a moment of tense silence, he stopped walking and put his hand up to rub the space between his eyes, as if he had a headache.

"Do all you Gryffindor's have to sound so bloody noble all the time? It's so tiresome to hear, I can't imagine it's not tiresome to have to put that act on all the time," He finally said, on corner of his mouth twitching up, betraying his serious tone of voice. "Seeing as how I'm a disgraced Death Eater, I have no family, Astoria will never betray her family to be with me or join me, I think my plans are open for a little while. Being a prisoner at Azkaban sounds so dull, and I don't really fancy the idea of running from certain death my whole life. Besides, you probably need someone with you that is smart enough to cast an unforgivable curse, seeing as how you're too scared too," He finished, trying to stifle a laugh.

"Oh, bugger off, Malfoy," Hermione snorted, swatting at his arm. Hermione felt a warm feeling in her stomach. It's kind of nice to sort of have a companion for this. Well, when we aren't at each other's throats that is.

"We need a plan, if we're to go to her house," Malfoy said, curbing the conversation back towards the matter at hand. "The only thing I can think of is apparate there, and I hide while you explain the situation to her. It's not much, but it's all I can think of."

"And if her house is being watched?" She countered.

"We apparate back here immediately, than run as far from this place as we can. If one of us gets grabbed, the other casts to kill and we bolt." He eyed her when he said that. She felt small under his gaze. "I mean it when I say, cast to kill Granger."

"Ok, deal." She answered, after taking a few minutes to contemplate her options. She had no other ideas, no other prospects. Besides, if push came to shove, she could cast an unforgivable curse, right?