Chapter 36
April 25, 1996
"And then Fawkes, that's Dumbledore's phoenix, transported him away when the Ministry tried to have him arrested," Hermione supplied, "And now no one knows where he is."
"You know," Theo said from where his head was in her lap as she ran her fingers through his curls. "The actual events of what happened are significantly more outlandish than the rumours that we have been hearing down in the Dungeons. A phoenix helped him to escape. Honestly, it would have been less shocking if Dumbledore had Avada'd the Minister and Umbridge and then transformed into an unregistered Animagus."
"The phoenix apparently cried on Harry once and cured a basilisk bite," Hermione announced. Theo shook his head. Potter certainly had the luck of the gods.
"Speaking of unregistered animagi," Hermione continued with a small smile. "I've been so happy Rita Skeeter hasn't been writing about me this year. Thank Godric for all the drama with Harry and Hogwarts, and that I've stayed out of it."
Theo and Draco shared a secretive smile. "Yes, that is good that she isn't putting your name in the papers." Theo kissed her fingertips as they came near his mouth.
"I'm still annoyed about Educational Decree Number Twenty-Eight. Umbridge is going to be the worst Headmistress that Hogwarts School has ever seen. I think even Voldemort would do a better job than that toad." Theo snorted, although Hermione's ease at using the Dark Lord's name always made him nervous.
"And the whole Inquisitorial squad thing is beyond awful," Hermione paused in stroking Theo's hair to look up at Draco who was looking down at the two of them from the desk where he was finishing his Astronomy essay.
"There is no power on heaven and earth that could make me do anything for that woman. The least of her crimes are those against good taste and those crimes are more than enough. I would never want to be caught in a photo with her. And luckily my father doesn't care what I'm doing at school. The only thing that would make him proud was if I was secretly raping and murdering muggleborns here. Then perhaps he would take an interest."
"I swear Theo," Hermione sighed, " I always think that I can't possibly hate your father anymore than I already do and then you say something like that and I find there are further depths to his depravity."
"Imagine the stories that I think are not fit for public consumption," Theo responded, closing his eyes as he basked in her touches.
The bond felt warm between them, fed but not fully sealed. He knew that Hermione and Draco still weren't ready, but sweet Circe he was. He tried not to imagine what it would feel like to have Hermione or Draco beneath him, what they'd sound like. He nuzzled into her lap and attempted just to enjoy the moment for what it was. Closeness was hard enough to come by these days.
"I shudder to imagine," Hermione played with one of his curls, "I'm sorry that Lucius insisted that you join Draco."
Draco paused scratching away at his parchment, and fingered the tiny silver "I" on his robes that members of the Inquisitorial squad were forced to wear.
"I suppose at least it's silver. But I feel like a monogrammed toddler. J'ai honte de mon père de m'avoir fait faire ça." Draco complained, his expression dripping in scorn.
"I know that you are unhappy about it, Draco," Hermione consoled, "but I want you to tell me every little thing that you learn."
"N'importe quoi pour toi mon amour. I just don't think that my involvement will be worth whatever information I can gather for you," Draco pronounced, returning to his assignment with a frown.