Chapter 19
Author note: A quick reminder that I'm shit at accents - you'll have to use your pretty little imagination.
…
August 24th, 1994
She returned home from Draco a couple of days later. She and Daphne had still been figuring each other out after their dinner conversation, but a sort of ceasefire had been set. The blond girl had gone home to sleep and do what she needed to do with a family, but had otherwise spent the days until Hermione's departure, at the manor.
And it had been alright.
She was starting to understand why Theo and Draco had suggested bringing Daphne into their tiny group. She looked like someone who spent enough time in front of the mirror to make both Lavender and Parvati jealous. But she was also incredibly smart - and witty! Merlin, that girl didn't talk like someone who was bred into pureblood society.
Hermione had no doubts in her mind, that with time, the two of them would be fast friends.
But right now, it was another sort of… Friend… Who had her attention.
During the summer, Viktor's letters had unexpectedly started picking up. He was writing more often, and she got an answer back from her letters, almost immediately - sometimes he even sent it back with her own owl! She couldn't believe it, and was having trouble grasping his sudden interest. She couldn't quite understand how he could go from leaving months between answers, to sending a new letter every day. One or twice, she had even gotten TWO letters in a single day.
She had looked at it from every angle, twisted it, turned it, looked at it from behind and under - but she didn't get it. Nothing made sense.
She knew that she appreciated him spending so much time writing her, even though most of the time it was just small notes - but he still had to spend some time doing it. But she also had a small inkling that maybe he was reading something into her letters, that she hadn't intended.
He had started signing his letters with 'Yours, Viktor'. Hermione cringed at the thought.
Draco doing it made her gitty beyond approach, it made her giggle, smile brightly and hug the damn letter to her chest like it was the best thing she had gotten! Then she would read it again, fold it up nicely, and put it into the stack with all her other letters.
Viktors didn't make her feel like that. It made her frown, and sometimes reel back a bit from the offensive words. Between the two of them, there was no doubts what-so-ever about who she would choose to spend her time with - or who she spent the most time writing.
Unfortunately, Draco's letters didn't arrive quite as quickly as Viktors. But when she received it she already knew that it would be longer, more in-depth and much, much more him, than what Viktor was trying at.
Right now, though, she was looking at the latest letter from Viktor, and sighed hard before opening it. Let's go, then.
"Dearest Herm-own-ninny,
I am sorry to tell you that this will be my last letter until after the final match. Coach is whipping us up to do our best, and he does not want me to write. But he can only hold me from you for a short while.
I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Perhaps you will come see me after we have won? (She snorted. He had been very adamant about them winning.)
I will introduce you to my team and they will know whom I have talked so much about. (Involuntarily she blushed so hard, she could almost feel it on her toes. He had talked about her? To his team? They knew who she was? What in Merlin's name was going on?!)
Ps. Your owl bites a lot. What happened to small striped one?
Yours,
Viktor"
When she finished the 'ps.'-part she looked at William's owl in the window. She had been borrowing it while he was at Max's place for the week, and had used it to write Viktor so that she could use her own to write literally everyone else.
She looked at Goliath - William really watched too many cartoons when he chose to name his owl after a damn gargoyle. "Did you bite Viktor?"
The grey owl hooted instantly.
"You can't just bite people Goliath, that's not nice." She chastised. How was she having a conversation with an owl? "Why would you do that?"
The owl hooted again, and did a movement that looked an awful lot like a shrug.
How the hell could an owl be sassy?
She decided that today wasn't the day, and went to the jar she had with owl treats and picked up a small handful. She put the majority of the treats in front of Goliath. "I'm sure William would be proud." The owl hooted happily and started instantly munching on the treats.
She crouched in front of her own owl in her open cage, and put her hand with the treats in. "You're not biting - are you, Ivy?"
Ivy.
That was the name she had chosen for her owl. After arriving home from Draco's home last month, she had spent a lot of time thinking about what had happened there, whom she had met and what they had talked about. But time and time again, she thought back to their trip into the forest, and for some reason the plant-name struck her as perfect.
When she had gotten home, she had sat down with the small owl and ask her what she thought about the name.
Ivy had hooted happily and ruffled her wings.
So, Ivy it was.
The bird hooted happily again and picked the last treat from her hand. Hermione caressed it softly before withdrawing her hand.
"Hermione? Are you bringing toothpaste?" William asked as he emerged through the door that had been open ajar.
"Well, hello to you too - when did you get home?"
"Just now. Mum wanted me to come home in time to pack my back before going to bed. Apparently, we're leaving early?"
"Yeah. I think mum said something about leaving by 8? Ish?"
William grimaced, openly un-enthusiastic at getting up before ten in the morning. "Anyway, are you bringing toothpaste? No use in both of us packing for one night out."
She took her bag from the floor and threw it on the bed by some of the things she had managed to take out before Viktors letter arrived. "Yeah - though, it's almost empty so I'm not sure if it's enough for the both of us. Can we share yours instead?"
When she didn't immediately get a response from him, she looked up to find his eyes fixed on something on the bed.
The recent letter from Viktor.
"Before you start nagging me about something that is absolutely none of your business, I'll have you know that I want absolutely nothing to do with him, in whatever possibly perverted way you have in mind." She sneered at him.
"Does he still…?" He looked away with a pained look in his eyes, completely diverting them from her and the letter.
She shoved her bag to the other end of the bed before sitting down hard with a sigh. Looking up at her brother, she found him by the window, petting Goliath while looking out the window.
He looked like he was anywhere but here, but a deep bob of his throat told her that he was still present.
"Hitting on me like his life depends on it? Oh yes, he's been fairly… Enthusiastic, lately. Answers right away, writes like his scripting poems. He's told his teammates about me, William! His bloody teammates! And the guy doesn't even try to spell my name properly." She picked up the letter as a point but threw it on the ground in frustration, "I've done everything short of ignoring him! Well… I've done that too, to be honest, but that only made him question why I didn't answer him. Then I've answered him with zero emotion and short letters, but then he asks if I'm angry with him! ANGRY! Can you believe it?! Like he's wondering why I could possibly be angry at someone to whom I'm only good enough company when he has the bloody time for it?!"
She knew she was ranting, but finally letting it all go to someone, even someone like Wills who had been against their friendship from the very start, felt so relieving. Like she had been aching for so long, and not been able to show or feel anyone about it.
Of course, it wasn't like it was a complete secret that she knew him, but it was only the one who was closest to her who knew. Luckily, no one had come around asking if she could ask for an autograph.
Harry had been pretty starstruck when she had told him, but it faded quickly for some reason.
William took a seat on her chair silently, and looked at her. Urging her on.
"I've thought so hard to figure out what I've done for him to give me this attention, and I can't think of anything except answering his letters." She said in a low voice, "But I don't want that attention - and I don't know how to make it stop without being rude."
"Nene, you don't need a reason. If it makes you uncomfortable, then he needs to stop. It doesn't matter what's gotten into his head - you have the right to say that you don't want that attention on you."
"But how?" She sighed. She felt like she had already tried to put some space between them, and it hadn't helped.
"How about you just don't answer that letter - you haven't done that yet, right? (she shook her head) - good - then we'll take it from there. You'll be surrounded by people you know at the games, so we just don't let him get too close. Don't worry Nene, I'll keep you safe." He stood and went to hug her.
It would seem that Draco's hugs weren't the only thing in this world to take away all of her problems. "Thank you."
He ruffled her already unruly hair, "Anytime, Nene. That's supposedly what brothers are for." She saw that smile and glint in his eyes that meant he was having fun on her cost. "I'll get the toothpaste - anything else?"
"UNO!" She quipped excitedly, instantly thinking of the cardgame they had just gotten at the start of summer. He didn't answer her, but laughed out loud and closed the door behind him when he left.
…
The area was massive. There was really no other word for it.
She, Wills and Grandma had arrived at a designated apparition point before walking towards where their tent was supposed to be located.
They might as well have been walking for hours, but really, she had not the faintest idea. She had long since lost any feel about where they were going, or where they came from.
They must have walked past hundreds and thousands of tents at this point, and everywhere she looked she saw even more rows of tents. The only thing out of the ordinary - the ordinary being fucking tents - were the gigantic stadium in the horizon. Because yes, this place went all the way to the bloody horizon.
All along the way William had excitedly mentioned what teams each coloured flag meant, how you could tell, who their star players were and of course, what they were known for. He went, smoothly over the Bulgarian flag, because she obviously knew damn well who their star player was and what he was known for. Including trying to pull girls three years younger than him.
Talking about Krum was awkward to say the least, and they all knew it.
It hadn't been any less awkward than when they had been told that Bulgaria had actually made it to the final against Ireland. William had been in a horrendous mood when they had seen in the paper that morning
Apparently, Bulgaria had ended on a third place until the finalist Chile had been disqualified for use of unauthorised potions. And thus, by default, Bulgaria had ended up in the finale anyway.
"This is you." Grandma brought her back to earth as she steered them to the left and opened a tent flap.
Bending down to enter the tent, the first thing Hermione saw was Harry and Daniel lounging on some oversized pillows on the floor, in the middle of what looked like an extensive debate about quidditch strategics - if going by the small figurines zooming around their heads was anything to go by.
She and William quickly put their things away after having greeted Emmeline with hugs, and giving their goodbyes to their grandma, before joining Harry and Daniel on the floor.
A couple of hours later they found themselves surrounded by Weasleys. Apparently, they had arrived around 5 or 6 o'clock that morning, and had all been allowed a proper nap.
Ginny, Fred and George were as always, happy to see them and were all smiles, jokes and hugs before they also joined the assembly on the floor. Ronald arrived last with his father. Where Arthur smiled and waved before greeting Em, Ron threw his bag to the side and sat down, hard, on the floor. Somehow, he looked like someone who had just gotten a proper warning though she couldn't for the life of her figure out what for. Maybe he was as much of a brat at home as he was at Hogwarts.
Hermione shrugged inwardly. She couldn't care less about how he behaved as long as he steered clear of her.
…
The teenagers ended up spending the rest of the day lounging, chilling and discussing everything that had happened during the summer. And of course, discussing every single possible aspect of quidditch and the different outcomes of tonight's match.
When it was time to leave, the excitement became almost like a buzzing through the room, and the kids quickly readied to go.
"Alright, listen up!" Em called and brought the attention to her. "There'll be loads of people out there, and not all of them will be as nice as we'd like. We stay together - no going off on adventures, yes, Hermione, Daniel and Harry I am most definitely looking at you - and most importantly, we leave together. There will be a stop at a souvenir-shop and a place to buy snacks on the way, but that will be it. Toilet trips need to be done now. Any questions?"
"If we have to pee while the match is on, can we do it over the edge of the balcony?" Fred asked seriously.
"What about a dump?" George asked with somehow even more seriousness than his twin.
Em looked at them like they had grown an extra head, and turned to look at their father who shrugged with a barely there smirk. "No? Well, unless you want to get arrested."
"Wicked!" They echoed grinning, and quickly ran in the direction of the temporary toilets in the back of the tent.
…
If walking to the tent had been an experience out of the ordinary, following the never-ending stream of people moving towards the stadium was extremely extraordinary. There were so many people. Everywhere. It hadn't taken more than a few people bumping into her to get forward faster, before she was pulling further into their group of friends and family.
Before she knew it, she found herself between William and Daniel, the first of which took her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She squeezed it back in thanks.
…
When they arrived at the stadium and started climbing the stairs, she was all but ready to turn around, walk back and never again look at Viktors face.
He was everywhere. On flags, posters, plastered on the walls in murals, chanted loudly or in loud hooligan-like songs, that she felt like she had heard multiple different versions of on her trips to the football-stadium with her dad. Of course, there were also the Irish posters, flags, songs and chants, but they didn't seem to annoy her as much.
Though they had met Seamus Finnigan on their way to the stadium and promised his mum to cheer for the Irish, she heard both Ginny, Ron and Harry join in on the "KRUM! KRUM! KRUM!"-chant.
She rolled her eyes so hard at that, she was confident she got a peek of what her brain looked like.
They met Zabini and his mum when they were about two thirds of the way up, but even they couldn't put a stopper to the fantastic mood of the group as she tried to make them feel less for not having seats in the ministerial box. "Oh, don't you worry about us, Zabini. We'll be quite alright." Em said in an overly sugar-sweet voice before she opened the door to a private box, right beside the ministerial box.
The look on the dark-skinned woman's face when she realised what was going on, was glorious. Even Blaise seemed to be without words. Even more so, when his mother nearly smacked him in the face with the door, as she wrenched it open with a scowl.
"I love karma." Em muttered with a smirk as she held the door open for each of them.
As Hermione stepped into the room, she hit a solid wall - of persons. The others had apparently only just entered, before stopping. Luckily, she wasn't the only one as Em muttered for them to 'please move', from behind her.
This was enough and suddenly she could see why they had stopped.
"Merlin's beard," Daniel gasped, "I wish dad was here to see this."
They had in fact their own box, with anything they could ever want to eat or drink.
"Merlin, Grandma wasn't kidding when she said she had gotten us seats." William muttered, looking absolutely gobsmacked. "I don't ever want to know how much she paid for this."
"Don't worry about that Wills." Em said as she stepped fully into the room and put his arm around him, giving him a soft one-armed hug. "This is all me - Rhea and Arthur simply paid what they saw fitting. I would have gotten this either way."
"But… Why? Why not just ordinary seats?" Hermione wondered out loud. Sure, this was really nice. But going so much overboard? There had to be a catch.
The woman sighed hard, before giving them a sad look. "It's been a rough couple of years with everything that's been going on…" She now looked at Harry who Hermione could see guiltily looking into the ground while he fiddled with the Irish flag he had just bought. "We wanted to make sure that you could all be left alone from whatever is happening, for one night. Just, one night. You all deserve it, each and every single one of you. So, this is for you to enjoy." She then smiled brightly and had a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Now let's watch the Irish beat some Bulgarian Bonbon's, shall we?"
"I think that's the best idea you've ever had, Em." William laughed and elbowed Hermione, and she could do nothing but grin because that really was the best idea.
…
Veelas.
Who in their right mind brought a hundred fucking full-blooded Veelas to a Quidditch World Cup Match? WHO?!
It couldn't have been any other than the Bulgarians - apparently.
She looked on in horror as the Veela started dancing and any and all men at the stadium went mentally blank, as normally accustomed when watching a Veela's dance. She looked to the only female adult in attendance, not knowing what to do. The woman just shook her head with a smirk, drew her wand, and pointed it at the opening of the box that was pointed towards the field.
At least they won't kill themselves trying to impress the damn things. Hermione thought to herself.
The dance seemed to steer towards a sort of climax when it suddenly halted. The world seemed to be at a momentary standstill before angry yells erupted from all around the stadium. Of course, her own friends weren't excluded from that. They were confused at what had happened and angry at it stopping, even though it would have possibly killed each of them if Em hadn't done something about it, and if the dancing hadn't been stopped.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist mates, we've got all evening for that." The woman said and leaned back comfortably in her chair, as the Irish mascots flew in from between the goalposts throwing gold around everywhere.
Leprechauns. Interesting.
Then came the Bulgarian players, and she swore she had never in her life seen anyone fly as fast as they did.
Of course, she knew it was him before she heard Ron fangirling somewhere beside her.
Knew it before she felt William tense.
She knew what he looked like, though he had been full incognito the last time. From all the posters, pictures and flags she had seen over the past five or six months since they qualified for the cup, she damn well knew how he looked on a broom, and for some irritating reason that meant that she could pinpoint him among the rest of his teammates.
She didn't want to be able to pinpoint him.
The Irish national team arrives shortly after, then the obligatory mascot tauntings before the match had begun. Hermione had soon forgotten all about Viktor, and was just enjoying the game.
…
Each and every one of them were hanging over the enchanted barrier as they yelled, cheered, booed and screamed at the teams.
The Irish were quick to take the lead, but the Quaffle were on the Bulgarian side as Viktor did the Wronski Feint successfully, calling the game to a time out for the other seeker to get medical attention.
Viktor slowly soared upwards while looking around him - probably looking for the snitch - and really, she should have known it would happen at some point… He passed close enough to their box to look in, and he saw her.
"Woah, that's Viktor Krum!" Ron called out like everyone in the room didn't know who it was.
Viktor ignored his outburst as his face changed instantly from one of complete focus and concentration, to that of someone who thinks they caught someone watching them. Like the two of them had a secret that no one else knew about.
Except for his entire team whom he had apparently told all about her. And her brother, whom she knew was furious at the moment as he put his arm possessively around her shoulders.
That somehow seemed to bring Krum back to himself, as he scowled at Wills, before blowing her a kiss and winking at her - then flew upwards at topspeed.
"Idiot." Wills mumbled and drew his arm back. She just chuckled - uncomfortably.
Meanwhile the other occupants started discussing loudly about what on earth had just happened, while Harry settled with giving her a questioning sideye and a lifted eyebrow. Apparently, no one but her, Harry and William had fully realised that Viktor's focus had been on her.
Only, her.
…
They had lost.
Somehow, the Bulgarians had lost even though Viktor had caught the snitch. She heard Ron and Harry discussing loudly about how he could be so stupid to catch it when they were behind, but Harry reasoned that Krum must have realized they would have never caught up to them. He was clearly just trying to end the game on the Bulgarian's terms.
Arthur had just announced that they would be staying put for a while, so as to not leave right in the rush of people, when someone knocked on the door.
"Merlin, I hope that's not a -" Em never finished her sentence as the door was opened and a serious looking grey-haired man greeted them with a formal bow. Why on earth is he bowing?
She was half expecting to get Harry Potter freebies as happened every once in a while, but she hadn't expected this. "Hermy-oh-ninny Granger?" He asked in English though he had a thick accent. An Eastern European accent, perhaps?
"What does he want with her?" Ron sneered while looking from the man to her.
"Silence." Em's authoritarian voice silenced him instantly, though Hermione still felt his angry eyes in her direction. Luckily, from the man's point of view Ron might as well have been staring daggers at his sister. "It's Hermione." Em corrected.
"Are you her, then?"
As carefully as possible, Hermione took a small step back, placing her behind William and Harry who were luckily much bigger and much taller than her. Each of them took a step into the space she had previously occupied, effectively hiding her from view.
If he couldn't see her, she didn't exist. Right?
"No. What do you want with her?" Em didn't seem impressed with the man, just as he didn't seem impressed with her either.
"Ms. Granger has been invited to the private quarters of the Bulgarian National Team, by personal invitation from Mr. Krum."
"Well," It was Arthur's turn to step in as he physically stepped in front of the group. "she's not going alone. Either all of us go, or none of us."
"You can leave her in my care - I will bring her back to you." He said monotonously.
"But she's not with you - she's with us. Either we're going, or she's not. There's no in-between." Em stated as she backed Arthur up.
The man looked at Em like he didn't give a shit what she had just said. "Okay. Goodbye." He then turned around and left. The second the door had closed behind him, the room erupted in chaos.
"VIKTOR KRUM WAS ASKING FOR HER!" Ginny fangirled and looked like she might actually faint.
"WHY COULDN'T I GO?!" Ron moaned.
"Hermione, what did he want?" One of the twins asked - right now, she didn't know if it was Fred or George.
"How do you know Krum?" Daniel asked.
"HERMIONE!"
She didn't know how to answer their questions. The attention was once again on her, and she didn't want it. She really didn't want it. She wanted to go home into her own bed, under her own duvet, and just be.
She suddenly didn't want to be anywhere near the group of people, whom she normally enjoyed spending time with. Except for Ronald of course - he could go to hell for all she cared.
"Back off everyone." Mr. Weasley yelled to his kids.
Hermione somehow managed to lock eyes with Emmeline and hoped to every deity in the world that she could convey everything that was going on into one look. The woman frowned deeply, before turning and whispering to the Weasley patriarch.
Had it worked?
Of course, it hadn't. Hermione couldn't do Occlumency nor Legilimency.
"We're leaving - let's go." Arthur called to the group and then they left. Ron, Harry and Daniel had tried negotiating a raid on the snack table before they left, but were told that everything would be brought to their tent since it had already been paid for.
…
If Hermione had thought it had been rough walking towards the stadium, collectively as a group, it was nothing against heading back to their tent. People were loudly singing celebratory songs about the game, shouting, laughing and just plain celebrating. The earlier pre-game buzzing of the campground now seemed to be even louder. So loud in fact, that it was next to impossible to carry on an actual conversation.
They had tried, of course, to get out of her what was going on, and why did Krum ask for her, how did she know someone as famous as him and so on. The questions seemed to be neverending. But they hadn't succeeded, and she had feigned not being able to hear them, as to why she couldn't answer their questions.
During their trek back, William had been relentless in his hold of her hand and she loved him all the more for it.
…
About an hour after leaving the stadium, they arrived at the tent.
Before anyone had a chance of attacking her with questions, everyone was guided inside - except for her, William (who refused to let go of her), Em and Arthur. Harry sent her a sympathetic look on his way in, while most everyone else were excitedly debating the game and players, as they finally were able to hear their own thoughts.
Once the tent flap was down and warded against unwanted ears, she went into explaining what was going on. William, of course came with his side of the story as well though she did still find it awfully presumptuous of him to think that she would apparently 'fall right under his charm'. He sent her a 'I told you he would try'-look when she snorted irritably at him.
"So…" Em looked like she was trying her head at algebra for the first time. "He's creepy, making move after move while you're shutting him down, and you don't want that kind of attention but you can't ignore him. Correct?"
"Yes." She and William agreed at the same time, and Hermione sent him a scowling hot look, hoping that he would burn to death by it. He might have held her hand ten minutes ago, but that was obviously in the past.
"I'm sorry Hermione but I'm with Wills on this - dumb his ass or let him know how the world works. This has gone too far." Em said.
"But how? I don't know how to do that."
"Just tell him how it is - if he's actually a good person then he'll accept it for what it is." Wills shrugged like it was the easiest thing in the world.
Em gave him a small smile. "You have to remember, mate, that not all people are all well-mannered as you. Your parents really went through at that note."
"Listen, I'll help you write something when we get home, alright? But let's go celebrate with the others before they drink all the butterbeer, yeah?" She knew that William was trying hard to better her mood, while also trying to get rid of Viktor, but she couldn't help the sinking feeling in her stomach at having to maybe hurt his feelings. But she managed to give him a reassuring smile and a nod, and then they went in to join the celebrations.
…
Hermione woke up as someone shook her roughly, telling her to get up 'leave the stuff - it's not important!'. She heard a lot of noise outside the tent but thought it was just people celebrating into the night. Then the drowsiness left her and she heard it for what it was. Screams. And explosions. Em was rushing at both her, Wills, Daniel and Harry all at once.
As Hermione pulled on her clothes from the day before, she heard Mr. Weasley giving his own kids the same messages, pairing people up and assigning protection-responsibility as he had to go help the authorities.
"I have to go as well." She said calmly. Only then, did Hermione realize that Em was in full Auror-gear.
"Mum! No!" Daniel Pleaded rushing over to hug her closely. Em let her son hold her.
"I'm sorry love, but I have to." Her eyes focused on William then, "They are your responsibility now, mate. Get back to the apparition point as fast as possible. I'll meet you there as soon as I can."
"But I haven't gotten my licence yet!" William cried. Hermione could hear the panic in his voice, hear it as his voice shook. "I can't do it Em! I haven't side-alonged before!"
Em, without releasing Daniel who still clung to her in fear, moved swiftly to William, softly grabbed his chin and made sure that he was looking at her before she spoke, "You are one of the most capable young men I have ever met and I know that you can do it, because I have watched you train your apparition. You may not have your licence - but I know that you can do it. Please, give me your wand." William quickly extracted his wand with shaking hands and handed it to Em. She pointed it to her Auror-badge, the wand lit up purple, and then it was handed back to him. "If your apparition-licence is questioned - show them your wand and tell them I gave the authorization." He nodded without questions.
Each of them somehow managed to be pulled into one massive hug, where she continued speaking though her voice kept breaking up. "I love you all so very much, and I will see you- see you soon. I-I promise. I promise. Now, you keep each other safe - and get the hell out of here as quickly as you can." She quickly kissed each of them on the forehead before running out of the tent - closely followed by those that she viewed as her children, both by blood and by bond.
…
They were running. They had promised that they would run - move as quickly as they could - and so they did.
Though they were running in the opposite direction of the hooded figures and most of the explosions, spells were still flying everywhere. If they were friendly or from the enemy, they didn't know, and by silent agreement, they hadn't stopped to ask.
The ground was wet and slippery, from what she didn't know and it wasn't like she had the time to look down and figure it out. She just really hoped it wasn't… blood. Hopefully someone had dropped a butterbeer or firewhiskey… Or, maybe, a lot of it?
They were running behind a particularly large tent, when suddenly William came to an abrupt stop. She would have run into him, if she hadn't hit a dry patch of grass in the middle of the muddyness.
They were at one of the larger roads through the campside, Hermione realised, and it looked like they had to cross it.
"Can't - we - just - stay - on - this - side?" She gasped out between breaths. Never in her life had she been so happy for the cardio she got at Hogwarts with all those damn stairs.
"No - we have to. It's the most direct way. Ready?" He asked to no one in particular as he looked from side to side, his head barely sticking out of its cover. There seemed to be a sort of ceasefire at the moment, and they would have to take advantage of it. "Right - now!" He shout-whispered, and then they were off once again. They sprinted across the road just as spells started flying again.
Reds, greens and yellows. It was like a rainbow - except rainbows were just pretty to look at where as these were trying to hurt them.
Possibly kill - though Hermione was trying very hard not to think about that. Definitely not thinking about that.
On the other side of the road, the ground was more grassy, which helped them gain some speed. Not that Hermione thought she could possibly run any faster at this point. Her legs felt like they were on fire.
As they turned left they saw the magical fence of the campsite, signalling that you were now leaving and therefore going into muggle territory. That also meant free passage through apparition.
They were almost there.
She knew that the boys would have been running at a much higher pace if she and her small legs hadn't been holding her back, but they all seemed to have a similar mindset as they sprinted like they never had done before, towards the border.
It's right there. We're safe.
They were a few meters from the border, when a large black figure - almost like an oversized bat - stepped out from behind a tent and grabbed William - and then her. Daniel and Harry ran directly into them, being completely unable to stop with the speed they had been running.
The boys were already trying to fight their way off the person holding on to them, but Hermione was completely still. For some reason, something in her mind clicked at the smell of the person. She knew them.
"Shh..." They shushed urgently, and Hermione instantly lit her wand, lighting up a blond-haired man.
"Lucius!" She gasped and flung her arms around him in happy recognition.
"Who are you?!" Daniel demanded as he stepped forcefully away from the man, not realizing that he meant them no harm.
"This is Draco's dad!" Hermione whispered, stepping away from him like William had already done, but still staying in the shadow of the tent.
"We need to get you out of here." He whispered to them, looking back and forth like he was checking his corners or something.
"We were just doing that!" William argued in a hurry, pointing towards the borders, "Em told me to apparate us home."
"You can't go that way, it's being watched."
"Where's Draco?" She asked, panic starting to hit her once again. She didn't know if he would be here. What about Theo? Had they gone home early, then? Or had something happening to them? Was that why Lucius was keeping look-out? Was he watching over Draco and Theo who were hidden?
Hermione started looking out and down the paths around the tents in a hurry.
But what if Draco was at home? Then what was Lucius doing here?
She made the sudden realisation that she had no idea what the man did for work - he might be an Auror on duty for all she knew.
"I sent him home already - and I'll be doing the same with you."
"What-"
"Sura!" He whispered hurriedly.
A small houseelf appeared directly in front of Lucius. "Master called for Sura?"
They were suddenly lit up by green, from above them. They all looked up to see a skull floating in the air, a serpent moving out of its mouth before twisting into a knot. "Take the kids home to Draco. Now."
"Yes Master." The elf bowed, and before Hermione could really fathom what was happening, they had each grabbed a hold on the elf and were transported into something she knew fairly well at this point - the living room of Malfoy Manor.
Never in her life, would she have thought it a good thing that her friends knew of the friendship she had with Draco. But it would seem, now was such a time. Had they not known, she feared that they had fought Lucius over leaving with a houseelf they didn't know, by the command of a man they didn't know - and then to a place none of them knew.
But they had done it - because she knew him. She knew the houseelf - and she knew the place.
Someone gasped not far away from her, and then she was staring up into something blurry.
Shaking her head at the dizziness from the travel, she looked down, and saw that someone was sitting on the floor in front of her - as close as possible without physically touching her.
"Her-Hermione, dear?" She looked up, and saw passed the blurriness, where Narcissa was standing, a hand grabbing the couch so forcefully as leaned forward, Hermione feared the woman would break it.
She then focused on the blurriness that had now turned into eyes of Molten-grey - pupils so dilated that the eyes looked almost black.
Her throat tightened into a knot, and she threw her arms around Draco - as his arms went around her frame. "You're okay." She whispered. "You're okay. You're okay. You're okay."
"You're okay." He echoed, as Narcissa helped the rest of the guests stand.
…
It was early morning, Hermione realised, as she saw the sun rising a short while later. Narcissa had quickly called for some tea and light breakfast, while Harry and Daniel had floocalled their dad to tell what was going on, and William had ringed their parents to do the same.
It was agreed that after something to eat, Daniel and Harry would floo home - while Hermione and William would wait for their parents to pick them up. Hermione had argued that she did have a room here, and they could sleep for a bit and then come home later in the day, but their parents wanted them home sooner rather than later.
So, it was agreed.
Hermione was pushing her eggs around the plate in a daze, when Harry spoke; "What happened? What's going on?"
Narcissa sighed hard, "We won't know for certain until Lucius returns or the morning paper arrives… But I think - I think - Death eaters." The name of the group came out like a hushed whisper. Like she hadn't actually said, but the wind had decided to blow the sound in through the window. "Things have been mulling for some time now - as you know (she gave Harry and Daniel a look full of deep sorrow) - but I'm afraid it's escalating if you all are being sent here in the middle of the night."
"Escalating?" Harry was looking at Narcissa
"I'm afraid that's all I'm able to say before your parents have given their consent to you knowing. You're children for Merlin's sake - you shouldn't be a part of this nonsense." She answered flatly, and refused to answer any more questions on the subject.
All through breakfast, Draco had focused on his own plate, eyes downcast and eating very little, though Hermione could have sworn that his eyes dashed to her every once in a while.
A short while later, the Black 'brothers' made their goodbyes with tight hugs, before flooring home to Grimmauld Place.
…
Some 40 minutes after making their phonecall, she and William watched as their parents entered the diningroom. Both of them, rushing to their children with uncharacteristically glassy eyes.
"Mum!" Hermione choked as all air left her by the impact of the woman, whose arms were instantly flung around her daughter's small frame.
"Are you alright?!" Her mum gasped in a sob as she held her daughter out in front of her by her cheeks. She twisted and turned Hermione's face, looking her up and down, before extending an arm to William and doing the same to him. Satisfied with what she saw, she hugged both of them closely, their father joining them from the other side. "We were so worried." She sobbed into the crook of William's shoulder, and Hermione felt her own shoulders shake with suppressed emotions that were finally bobbling over.
Reluctantly, she felt her father let go while her mother continued her deathgrip. Hermione didn't mind the proximity.
"Thank you so much for taking care of them." She heard her father mutter.
"Anytime, Alexandre. They are always welcome here." She said in a shaky voice. Looking to the side and towards them, Hermione could see her father embracing Narcissa warmly, even as the woman held steadfastly onto her son's shoulder.
"Thank you." He muttered and backed away. "Jean - let's get the children home."
A few minutes later, they found themselves by the car in front of the manor, as she had done so many times before.
Her family were walking towards the car, while she stood alone with Draco - his mother standing at the top of the stairs, ready to wave them off.
She fidgeted with the night-shirt that she was still wearing. The oversized grey t-shirt had a shining white tooth and 'Granger's Dental Practice' written on the front in black cursive lettering.
"Can I- would it be alright if I-" Draco stumbled over the words and couldn't seem to finish his sentences. Looking up at him, she saw that he was standing right in front of her, his eyes bloodshot and with deep dark circles. Merlin, he must be exhausted.
But looking into his grey eyes, she knew what it was he was asking, and so she took the final step into his personal sphere, and wrapped her arms around him. And without thought, she whispered: "You don't have to ask me for a hug, Draco. Your touch - it-it doesn't hurt."
Then he hugged her tighter, and while he did so, she felt him break as he sobbed against her.
