A/N- My sincerest apologies for the delay in posting this chapter. The hectic summer months didn't afford many opportunities to write. While I can't promise a regular posting schedule in the foreseeable future, know that this story is very much a priority. Hope you enjoy the long-overdue update!
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When they landed somewhere in the middle of a barren expanse of land, with nothing but a run-down shack and arid desert between them, Hermione let go of Draco's hand allowing herself to breathe freely for the first time. "Where did you bring us?" she asked Harry, her words coming in heavy pants.
Her expression was resilient and thriving with purpose, but her head pounded with a nauseating sense of dread, the pain throbbing like a festering wound at the base of her skull.
Harry frowned as he stumbled through the low brambles lining the front edge of the safe-house, pacing back and forth, eardrums still abuzz with the echoes of the disembodied voice. His hair, now damp with sweat, fell in limp wisps across his forehead. He moved his baffled stare to Hermione before answering.
"This is the Ministry's safe house in Desouk. It's about 80 kilometers from Alexandria. We should be protected here while we sort this all out." He raked a hand through his sodden hair, looking just as confused as his counterparts felt.
Draco rubbed his lips together and released a long agitated breath. "We haven't even been in Egypt twenty-four hours and everything has already gone to shite. Why do I get the feeling that anything you two half-wits touch turns into hippogriff dung?" He made no attempt to conceal his irritation with Ron and Harry as he fixed them with his signature scowl.
"Malfoy, it's hardly their fault that MacNair and his cohort have seemingly turned into murderous despots. How were they to know their plans included taking down the leader of Wizarding Egypt?"
"Yeah," Ron piped in, clenching his fists until his knuckles cracked, "you're acting like we planned to have the Minister taken out- like we asked for this or something-"
"I would have thought two intelligent Aurors such as yourselves would have worked intelligence before we got here- you know, had some sort of sense of these two clown's M.O. You had us believing we were after a bloody houseplant- not Voldemort 2.0. They murdered the Egyptian Minister for Merlin's sake!" He breathed in the shock of that statement with a thinly veiled snarl. "What the hell have you two knobs been doing these past few weeks if not working intelligence?!"
Ron's face twitched a nasty shade of fuchsia as he charged toward Malfoy with his wand out. "You fucking git!" he shouted, pointing his wand directly between Malfoy's eyes at the same time Hermione shrieked, lunging forward to wedge her body between them.
"Ronald! Put down your wand!"
He puffed out his chest even further, but lowered his wand a fraction of an inch, instead glaring at Hermione. "Look at you, defending him again. He really does have you brainwashed, doesn't he?" His lip was curled and his eyes looked rife with betrayal.
"Nothing good will come from this, Ron- and you know it- so, lower your wand and let's all go inside and talk this through like adults." Her hands were outstretched placatingly while her body covered Malfoy like an impenetrable shield. She noticed the flash of anguish that marred Ron's features, feeling it slice through her chest and settle in her already roiling stomach.
"I have nothing to say to him," Ron spat, begrudgingly dropping his wand and shoving it back into his pocket before retreating to where Harry stood looking worse for wear. "C'mon, Harry. Let's go."
Harry's face twitched apologetically as he slowly made his way down the stone path toward the safe-house behind Ron, looking over his shoulder to where Hermione and Malfoy stood.
When they finally crossed the threshold, Hermione turned to Malfoy, her jaw set as she willed herself not to erupt. "Why must you always rile him up?!" she ground out between clenched teeth. His scowl hardened at her scolding tone. "Has it ever occurred to you to simply keep your inane commentary to yourself for once? I mean, seriously, you should try it sometime. You might be surprised by how-"
"I make no apology for verbalizing what most people think but are too afraid to say," he replied, hunting for a satisfactory argument that would knock her back into place. "You can't tell me you weren't thinking the exact same thing- all the time and energy we've poured into our research- while those two tossers let MacNair's mission slip right under their idiotic noses! What in the literal fuck have they been doing these past several weeks apart from mucking up every aspect of this case?" His eyes snapped away from hers when he noticed a pained look washing across her face, groaning as he raked a hand through his hair. Instead, he studied the gritty landscape surrounding the property, just able to make out what looked to be a river in the distance. He shuffled on his feet before chancing a glance back at her, flinching when he saw her sizing him up with that aggrieved look she'd had a habit of casting him lately. He'd intended to continue his argument with her but she'd completely disarmed him with just one glance. "What? Am I wrong to have thought they should have been doing more reconnaissance?"
"You're certainly not wrong to feel how you feel." Her features were calm and soothing, but he could see the flurry of admonition spinning behind her eyes. "I only wish you'd refrain from allowing your judgments to be aired in a manner that causes unnecessary battles to ignite among us. We're all on the same team here- working toward a common goal. It helps nothing if we're fighting with one another."
Draco was too exhausted to argue with her. Plus, her weary look had an unfortunate way of dragging thoughts of reconciliation out of him. He was starting to think he'd need to add going soft to his laundry list of character flaws only recently acquired following his relationship with Granger. At the moment, all he wanted to do was sink into a corner and have a moment to collect his thoughts on both the subtle changes in his personality as of late and what in Merlin's name had happened in the courtyard back in Wizarding Alexandria. In that order. He reached down to pull the hem of his sleeve, brushing away several flecks of dirt and sand before fixing her with a fractured stare. "You're right," he finally managed. "There's no sense in standing out here making a spectacle of the things we can't change."
She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as she studied him further.
He was both handsome and smart and something about the way in which the stormy pools in his eyes had relaxed as his breathing slowed to a steady rate caused a funny feeling to wedge in her chest.
It was such a shame there would be no chance for her to witness the other subtle ways he'd grow and change throughout his lifetime.
She shook her head and privately scolded herself for the stupid and inappropriate things her brain was encouraging her to do like throw her arms around his neck or press her lips to his. She could have been watching him for minutes or hours when his mouth began to curve into a grin. "What?" she asked, eyes blinking with an uneven flutter.
"Do you plan on standing out here for the rest of the afternoon or might you like to accompany me inside to start strategizing on what our next move should be?"
Her voice finally found her before she could turn away. "You're right. We'd better hurry before Ron and Harry claim all the good rooms."
He barely moved, looking as though he was fighting the urge to say something.
Instead, he extended his arm toward the walkway, gesturing for her to lead the way.
Once inside, they were met with a visibly flustered Harry who was hovering near the doorway shooting Ron a look of warning that was returned in equal fervor.
"Hey," he said using his body to stop them from fully entering, "before things have the chance to get heated again, I just want to throw out there that there's only one bedroom in here and I've already decided Hermione gets it. Since you know, she's the only girl."
Draco narrowed his eyes into suspicious slits, glancing from one to the other. "Ok, and why should this utterly un-noteworthy development be cause to blockade us from entering?"
Harry shifted on his feet, eyes flickering over to Hermione to channel her for backup if needed. "Because I knew how you'd react to sharing space with Ron and me and I wanted to be sure-"
Draco pushed past Harry as he migrated into the sitting room, knocking into his shoulder as he went. "I find it hard to believe with all the Galleons the Ministry has, this is the best they could do." His nose wrinkled in disgust as he glanced around the dilapidated shack, scarcely furnished with a tattered couch and several tired-looking armchairs. He clamped his mouth shut and sniffed airily. The amalgamation of dust, mildew, and something unidentifiable made his throat burn as he gulped down a scratchy swallow.
The trio watched as he made his methodic rounds, each half expecting him to turn tail right out the front door. Hermione nibbled her lower lip, calculating her next move. But before she had the chance, Harry cut in.
"It isn't much, but its wards are ironclad and the protection spells are impenetrable. Besides, we shouldn't have to stay here long if we manage to devise an effective strategy to nab MacNair."
Malfoy stopped his perusal to size up the three pairs of uncertain eyes that were watching him with rapt attention. "And where pray tell are you recommending we sleep while we're devising this effective strategy of yours? Upright in a moth-laden armchair? Oh, I know- right over there slumped over the kitchen table." He pointed to the area just beyond the sitting room where a rickety dining table stood surrounded by four spindled chairs that each leaned precariously to one side.
Harry cleared his throat as he approached Malfoy in the same careful manner one would approach a rabid animal. "If you had let me finish, I would have told you that there is a small screened porch on the other side of the kitchen that has two chaises. I figured Ron and I could transfigure them into cots and you could take the couch." He waited with bated breath for Malfoy's reaction. Seeing no immediate opposition, he added, "We can figure the rest out when Theo gets here."
Draco's eyes locked on Harry's. "Wait, you're telling me five people will be sharing this shoddy-looking garden shed?" His teeth ground together so hard it felt like his jaw could snap. "Theo was set to come at which time an arrest was imminent, which I think we can all agree that particular outcome has never been further from a reality! So do tell, when were you going to inform us that Theo would be joining this pathetic circus that's currently masquerading as an investigative team?"
Harry willfully ignored the insult. "Well, without the backup the Egyptian Ministry's Auror department would have afforded us, I figured we could use Theo's help. I sent him a Patronus while you and Hermione were outside, and if my instructions are followed, he should be here before the night is up."
He ignored the searing sensation sparking in his nerves, looking over at Granger for the soothing distraction she had grown to be as of late. "And what do you say about all of this?"
"I'd be happy to have any of you take the room. I've fallen asleep on my sofa loads of times and-"
"No," Malfoy interrupted, "Potter's right- you should have the bedroom. I'll sleep here." He dropped onto the soiled davenport, unleashing a cloud of dust that caused him to hack into his elbow as his other hand fanned the microscopic debris.
Hermione stepped forward with her wand outstretched. "Here. I will cast a couple cleaning spells to tidy up a bit. That way perhaps this place will be a bit more tolerable."
"I doubt that will help," Malfoy grumbled under his spluttering breath, his elbow still covering his nose and mouth.
Ron continued to watch the spectacle unfold from where he was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed and a deeply displeased scowl adorning his face. Even watching Malfoy struggle to breathe amidst the cloud of dirt did nothing to lighten his mood. He finally pushed off the wall, standing upright. "Are you ready to head out then?" he asked Harry.
Hermione's head swiveled toward them from where she crouched level with the couch cushions muttering an inaudible cleaning spell. "Wait, what? Who's heading out?"
Harry stepped forward. "Ron and I are going undercover into Alexandria to see if we can't gather some more information about this prophesy and maybe in the process collect some more intelligence on what MacNair's endgame is. I think that will help determine our next move. Do either of you need us to retrieve your belongings from the hotel? Ron and I brought our stuff with us, so-"
Hermione stood up and clutched the beaded bag that draped loosely across her chest. "No, Malfoy and I brought our things with us. But Harry, wouldn't it make more sense for all of us to go together? We could cover more territory-"
"I think someone should be here if Theo arrives. Besides, I think we could all use some time to clear our heads." The covert glance he gave her met her eyes with a flash of understanding. Ron didn't want to be around Malfoy. And she was sure that if she were to ask Malfoy, the feeling would be mutual.
She nodded her head, eyes traveling down to where Malfoy sat hunched over with his elbows on his knees, hands clutching his head and muttering something under his breath. Their current predicament had clearly drained him of his patience. "We'll need to find food somewhere, so maybe-"
"Ron and I will bring something back with us when we come." He signaled for Ron to follow his lead over to the door, looking back and studying the scene before offering a weary nod. "We shouldn't be too long- no more than a few hours. And, hey- thanks for cleaning up a bit."
Once they were out the door, Malfoy coughed in bewilderment, glancing up to find her staring down at him with a concerned expression on her face. "What?" he asked, fully expecting a lecture for his latest bout of broodiness.
She shifted on her feet, making quick work of continuing the circular wand movements to scourgify the room while also doing her best to avoid his question.
"What, Granger! Spit it out!"
"It's just- I think-" She stopped her pacing to wheel around to face him. She sighed, blowing an errant hair from in front of her face and tucking it behind her ear. This wasn't exactly a conversation she was wanting to have, but given the circumstances, it seemed it could no longer be avoided. "I think I need to tell Ron about us." When the words were out she realized how ridiculous they sounded, the confused look on Malfoy's face confirming that notion.
"About us, as in what exactly?" He fidgeted in his seat, fingers drumming wildly across his knees as images of the prior evening flashed before his eyes.
"Well," she said, dropping into the chair next to the davenport, "I'm sure you've noticed how angry he is with me- and as an extension, you. And well, I think if I were to tell him this whole thing has been a ruse, his anger might assuage a bit- you know, long enough so that we can all tend to the job we need to do. I mean, you said yourself that when we get back from Egypt we'll go to the papers with the story of our split, so it's not like we have to concern ourselves anymore with-"
Malfoy brushed his hands down his pants with unnecessary force and rose to stand. "That's fine, Granger. Do whatever you need to do to appease your friend." The words carried enough bite to snap a wand in half causing Hermione to wonder what she'd said that warranted such a hostile reaction. As he cut past her, she reached out without even thinking and grabbed his arm, using it to pull herself up to stand.
"Malfoy, don't go running off. I only thought that telling him would ease some of the tension here. If you'd rather I not-"
His eyes snapped down to where her hand grasped his sleeve, the beginning of a sneer marring his features. "If Weasley needs assurance that you're not sullying yourself with the likes of me in order to behave himself, our ruse isn't the only sham here."
A deep crease formed between her eyes that matched the twisting in her chest. She lifted her chin to give him a long look. "No one is saying I'm sullying myself with you. I only thought if he knew we are nothing more than coworkers, he'd come around to seeing you as less of a threat."
His nostrils flared with unexpressed outrage. "I think you and I both know that ruse or no ruse, you and I are more than just coworkers," he said, baring his teeth.
The possessive way in which he said it caused her pulse to quicken which she tried unsuccessfully to tamp down. She kept her features hard, not allowing herself to believe he was alluding to anything more than their tentative friendship.
"But if you'd feel better about yourself telling Weasley none of this has been real, don't let me stop you."
He brushed past her on his way to the kitchen, leaving her to breathlessly drown in his words.
Finding her hand suddenly felt cold without his touch, she steeled herself and continued muttering cleaning spells until the sitting area was at least void of any dust or cobwebs.
She glanced over at the kitchen which was now empty and idly wondered where Malfoy had gone off to.
What had caused him to have such a chafed reaction to her suggestion?
She decided to take a few fleeting moments to have a look around and perhaps get settled into her quarters before delving into the events surrounding the Egyptian Ministry takeover.
It certainly was no coincidence that MacNair and his cohort arrived in Alexandria and the Egyptian Minister turned up dead. She was certain they were directly responsible and dread settled somewhere in the pit of her stomach when she considered the implications.
Opening the bedroom door near the end of a narrow hallway, she cautiously peered inside before stepping in.
The first thing she noticed apart from the strong musty smell permeating from within the cramped space was the dated floral comforter hanging helter-skelter off the queen-sized bed, tattered lace drooping loosely onto the floor. Light poured in from a small window on one side of the bed illuminating thick layers of dust that covered nearly every surface stretching from the rickety nightstand to the fossilized wooden dresser on the other side of the room. As her eyes scanned the doily-covered bureau for a place to set her bag, she noticed another small window with its shade drawn. To allow for enough light to flow through while she worked to scourgify the filth, she reached over to raise the shabby window covering only to find a jarring sight beyond its pane.
Unlike the golden rays pouring in from across the way, a sinister black fog in the distance stifled any fragment of light from seeping in. Hermione craned her neck only to find a dense layer of darkness traversing the horizon in the direction of Alexandria, thick ribbons of black haze tainting the sky. Mounting concern for Harry and Ron returned as she tried to interpret the sudden change in atmosphere and she briefly wondered if Malfoy had yet to notice the deeply troubling sight. Her instinct was to run toward the danger, but Harry had asked her to remain behind. And so she stood wrestling her impulse to Apparate on the spot against seeking out Malfoy to share with him her rising distress.
She backed away from the window, pausing to extract Malfoy's black travel satchel from her bag and placing it on the edge of the bed along with her own belongings before backtracking into the sitting room. Her footsteps were every bit as apprehensive as she was as she traversed the cramped confines of the kitchen, instantly noticing the back door leading to the covered porch Harry had mentioned earlier. There weren't many places in the otherwise oppressive cabin for him to find refuge, so she gambled on pushing through the partially-ajar opening, only to find him standing there staring out at the murky sky with a deeply unsettled look on his face.
He turned when he heard the flimsy door slam shut with a sharp clack, swallowing the urge to meet her arrival with a biting remark. Instead, he pointed to the worn screen panels lining the porch beyond which the telltale signs of Dark magic swirled. "Have you seen this?" he asked twisting back to face the looming darkness.
Hermione shifted on her feet, nodding as she stepped forward to stand by his side. "Do you think we should head into Alexandria, try to find Ron and Harry?"
Her question earned her a huff and a side-eye from Malfoy. "I have no interest in following those two buffoons to their doom."
A stilted moment passed before Hermione reacted to what was likely another failed attempt to lure her into an argument. "So, you won't mind if I go then?"
His apathetic look turned dark as he leaned over slightly, his eyes trained on her. "Interesting how you tout their infinite aptitude, yet the moment they are tasked with something that may be considered the slightest bit challenging, you're the first to go running off to save them. Surely I can't be the only one who sees this glaring contradiction."
She armed herself with every defense she could muster to argue her point, but quickly reading the aggrieved expression on his face, she opted for the lesser battle. "If you'd rather I stay here with you, you only need to say so."
An irritated breath escaped his lips, but he said nothing in return, instead continuing his strained perusal of the blackened sky. Hermione glanced around at the feeble chaise lounges dotting the porch and sat down, patiently waiting for the next attack. When it didn't come, she patted the cushion next to her, deciding a good offense was her best defense. "There's space here if you'd like to join me."
His supremely unimpressed look told her she'd miscalculated, but to her surprise, he stepped back, dropping onto the seat next to her.
Several anxious heartbeats passed in strained silence. "I'm worried," she finally said, tracing her finger over the tattered seams of the chaise cushion- a dated chocolate brown faux leather smattered with what was likely once a vibrant orange floral print. He watched the movement as it somehow had the surprising effect of diminishing his fiery emotions. "I'm not sure we're equipped to handle something of this magnitude." She tried to ignore how the unlikely admission caused a renewed dread to wash over her, reminiscent of her days on the lam with Harry and Ron during the war.
Draco pressed his lips into a thin line and slipped his hand over to where her hand lay, fighting the urge to lace their fingers together. "There's no one more equipped to handle this than you, Granger, that much I am sure of."
The relief she felt at his assurance was palpable as she watched his finger glide absently back and forth across her skin.
The air between them still swirled with tension, but somehow it was uniquely comfortable.
She shifted to face him with a bent knee, lifting their hands onto her leg with the movement and silently wondering what he was thinking about all this- the unnatural vibrations churning in the distance, being trapped in a dilapidated shack with her and her friends, this bizarre chemistry the two of them seemed unable to extinguish. She wished she could do something to unwind the knot in her stomach as she scrutinized the intent behind his hand's action. She had already come to terms with her attraction to the wizard, but she vowed to resist it nevertheless.
"I'm not sure how we missed MacNair's aim to take over the whole of Wizarding Egypt. I suppose now that I think about it logically, it makes sense that whoever he's working for seems to believe he's somehow the heir to the Ptolemaic Dynasty. And maybe he is-" She trailed off, her mind scrambling for knowledge and answers.
"Hopefully Potter will bring back some useful information when he returns." His eyes narrowed a fraction as a distant rumble of thunder reverberated through the air.
She felt the slight hesitancy as his fingers coiled around hers while her thoughts ran wild with the quickening of her pulse.
There were far more pressing matters to discuss, but she couldn't fight the urge to want to divest the underlying meaning of his cautious fingertips swallowing hers in their warmth.
"I put your travel bag in the guest room," she offered up, suddenly finding the superficial topic of luggage to be far more within her control given the circumstances. "And I finished cleaning the sitting room so that you and Theo can settle in a little more comfortably. When you have a chance, you should have a look around."
"I was planning on making a quick sweep outside to reinforce the wards but when I'm finished, I'll gladly take you up on the grand tour."
"Well, there really isn't much to look at apart from some moderately shabby sleeping accommodations and a less-than-opulent loo. But, if you'd like, I will happily show you both."
With a heavy sigh, he rose to stand, pulling her up with a tug of her hand. "When I return, I'll be expecting a full report on how many locusts you've exterminated." The charming way his mouth curved into a lopsided grin stymied her train of thought, rendering her speechless as he turned and walked away.
