Donohov let Hermione go through a secret passage way that ended towards the middle of Hamilton. Apparently he trusted her a lot, because he told her of several other hideouts where she could find him. After that he disapparated, and she spent an hour or so looking for Harry and Malfoy who more than likely took off the Chameleon Charm the moment she fell through the ground. When Hermione finally found them, she was in shock at the sight of roughly twenty people cowering in fear having two wands pointed at them.
“Harry! Malfoy! What the hell are you doing?!”
“You’re back!” Harry said with relief, but, along with Malfoy, not lowering his wand.
“Yes, I’m back and now let’s get the hell out of here.” Hermione said quickly as she grabbed both of them by the arms and disapparating with them. “What did you two think you were doing back there?” She scolded once they were back at Malfoy’s flat.
“You were missing, Granger.” Malfoy told her. “What did you think we were going to do? Just sit around and wait to see if you came back alive?”
“So you torment civilians? Well that’s bloody brilliant…”
“’Mione will you just stop badgering us and tell us what happened with Donohov?” Harry snapped irritated. Hermione sighed and sat down.
Fine, well that reward that Donohov was talking about is real, and it’s a pretty big one too.”
“What is it?”
“…Mattock promised him that he could get Nicholas Donohov out of Azkaban.”
“Are you kidding me?” Harry asked in surprise. “How could Mattock promise to give him something like that? Nicholas is in Azkaban for life.”
“It’s possible for him to get out with a retrial and a piece of evidence that wasn’t counted the first time around. It can prove his innocence.”
“If Nicholas is innocent then I’m a garden fairy.” Malfoy scoffed.
“Then you’d better break out your cute little tutu because Nicholas is innocent. He didn’t commit those murders. Donohov did.”
“Nicholas went to Azkaban for him?”
“That’s right, and Donohov feels guilty as hell for letting it happen. That’s what Mattock’s controlling him with. But he’s not controlling him anymore,”
“Whose control is he under now?”
Hermione looked up at Harry with his anxious eyes. She braced herself for what was going to happen next and said,
“Mine,”
“Yours..?” Malfoy chuckled insanely. “Yours..? What exactly do you mean by yours?”
“I mean it the way it sounds. Donohov won’t come after you anymore so long as I can get Nicholas’ freedom.”
“’Mione, are you nuts?!” Harry shouted. “What gives you the right to promise something like that?!”
“What else did you expect me to do? Do you not realize how this tips everything into our favor?”
“As much as I hate to agree with Potter, he’s right.” Malfoy said grimly. “Have you even thought about how you’re going to pull that off?”
Hermione bit her lip and slowly shook her head. No, she hadn’t thought that far ahead. She’d have to arrange a retrial for Nicholas. She’d have to find a way to get the evidence needed in order to prove his innocence. That same evidence would probably be with Mattock, who by now should know that she and Malfoy aren’t at any of the other safe houses and is going frantic.
“I think the first thing we should worry about is Mattock. He’s the piece that holds this whole thing together. Harry, go to the Ministry and talk to any and everyone you can find except for Mattock and the other exec Aurors. Find out what’s going on and get back to us in person by tonight. We can figure out the next course of action after that.”
“Fine,” Harry conceded as he prepared to disapparate. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Hermione.”
“Yeah, me too,” She murmured.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The rest of the night was quiet. Hermione was standing by her bedroom window feeling the cool breeze brush across her skin. She shivered here or there, but the numbing effect it had was worth it. In just four days everything she had thought about the Ministry and its justice system had gone down the train and now she could hardly call herself an Auror. At that moment she despised her title. She hated laws. In her mind all authoritative figures could go straight to hell and she’d be quite fine with that.
“Granger..?” Malfoy called. She turned around and saw him pushing her door open and slowly stepping inside. “Is your bedroom okay?”
“It’s fine, thanks.” Hermione told him. “Haven t gotten the chance to explore the whole place yet, but, from what I’ve seen, it’s nice.”
“Yeah, well, with our current situation we might not be staying here that long.” He chuckled.
“I’d laugh right along with you if what you said wasn’t such a reality.”
She sighed and sat on the edge of her bed, running her fingers through her hair.
“I just can’t believe the turn of things. Years on end trusting in the Ministry, wasted.”
“You can’t say that based on just one person’s actions.” Malfoy said as he sat down next to her. “Mattock created this, not the whole entire wizard government.”
“That’s easy to say, but, do you believe it?”
“…Good point,”
The two of them laughed and drifted into silence. Hermione reclined on her bed while Malfoy got up and walked over to her window.
“Granger, can I tell you something?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“You surprise me.”
“What? What do you me that I surprise you?” Hermione asked him. Malfoy sighed and turned to face her.
“Well, I’m pretty sure that you know by now you’re labeled as the ‘brainy one.’ But seeing the way you are as an Auror, you’re anything but. So, in that retrospect, you surprise me.”
“Hmm, looks like I’ve impressed the illustrious Draco Malfoy.”
“Shut up,” Malfoy told her, though he hadn’t turned back to the window fast enough to hide a small smile. Hermione was about to comment on it when there was a pop, and Harry was standing in the middle of the bedroom.
“Harry, what are you doing back here so soon?” Hermione asked him as she sat up from the bed. “Who did you talk to at the Ministry?’
“I didn’t have the time to talk to anyone.” He told her. “I was too preoccupied reading this.”
Harry unfolded a Daily Prophet paper and gave it to Hermione. When she caught a glimpse of the title her heart stopped and she could hardly speak.
“What is it, Granger?”
“Things just got a hell of a lot harder…” She said as she passed the paper to him. When Malfoy saw the first few lines, he realized why things had become difficult.
Have You Seen Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy?
As of today both Auror Hermione J Granger and Ministry witness Draco Malfoy have completely slipped out of Ministry contact. Though details of the case Auror Granger is working on cannot be divulged, it can be said that she is in charge of the well-being of Mr. Malfoy. Unfortunately over the course of a few days, she has shown defiance within the wizard government and is hereby viewed as a threat and an obstruction to an important Ministry case. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Auror Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, contact Aubrey Mattock immediately.
“Wait, so what exactly does this mean?’ Malfoy asked.
“In simple terms, Hermione has become a fugitive and now the entire wizard government is looking for her.” Harry told him. Hermione put her head in her hands and groaned. Things were going down faster than she could fix them, but there was no time to sulk over it. They had to move fast, and she already had the next move going.
“Malfoy, do you have an owl around here?”
“Yeah, why..?”
“I need it to send a letter to Donohov. We’re going to need one of his hideouts.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If there was one thing that Hermione hated, it was caves. What she hated also was being underground, so when Donohov had sent her the coordinates of one of his hideouts and she and Malfoy apparated to it, she was horridly displeased. It was at the base of a mountain somewhere in Asia and it looked like as if it was carved out by a giant mole. The smell of it wasn’t too satisfying either.
“How on earth can Death Eaters evade the Ministry by living in such conditions!” Hermione exclaimed as she put a hand over her nose. She almost wanted to gag seeing Malfoy take strong and deep breaths.
“You can cope with anything if you’re trying to avoid Azkaban.” Malfoy told her. He chuckled at her as they continued walking down a slope, going further beneath the mountain. When they hit the very bottom there was a door, and standing before it were two people Hermione thought she’d never see again unless it was at a Ministry hearing.
“…Nott, Avery,” Hermione greeted uneasily. “I didn’t know you two broke out of Azkaban.”
“Technically it was an Azkaban holding cell,” Avery sneered. “And we didn’t break out, we were released.”
“Well, I sure hope you told Mattock thank you.”
Nott snickered and glanced at Malfoy before he did a series of wand movements on the wall of dirt behind him. Moments later a door appeared and he opened it.
“After you,”
Hermione and Malfoy stuck close together and walked inside. It was like Death Eater sanctuary, and Hermione suddenly felt like as if everyone was going to encircle her and torture her nonstop. Surprisingly, she felt more secure when she saw Donohov come out from an adjacent door and smile down at her after giving a curt not to Malfoy.
“Honestly, Miss Granger, I wasn’t thinking that you’d contact me so quickly.”
“Yes, well, Malfoy and I can’t afford to be seen right now.” Hermione told him. “I’m, uh, wanted by the Ministry.”
“Ha, the irony..!” Donohov laughed. “The hunter has become the hunted and is mingling with the rats; how bloody fantastic.”
“Oh, stop being so full of yourself.”
“Oi, I think she’s gettin’ a tad angry.” Another Death Eater, who looked much like a Goyle, scoffed behind Donohov. Soon the whole underground cave was in an uproar and Hermione was regretting her latest decision.
“Alright, alright, let’s be nice, gentlemen.” Donohov silenced them. “We need her, so let’s be on her good side. Now, have you figured out how you’re going to free my brother yet? It’s the only reason why I’m keeping you and Draco here alive you know.”
Hermione stared at him, anxiously waiting to hear what brilliant idea she had. The other Death Eaters were laughing gently, possibly thinking of all the things that they wanted to do to her. Malfoy, who was standing beside her, was giving her a worried look, because the last time they talked, she hadn’t a clue how to get Nicholas Donohov out of Azkaban. Luckily, Hermione was a quick thinker, and if she had pre-thought this idea a while ago, Harry would’ve slapped her silly because it was crossing lines that would truly make her a fugitive.
“…How do you feel about kidnapping someone?”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Potter’s going to kill you.” Malfoy was telling her.
“I don’t know, I think if he wasn’t a Ministry official he’d be rather pleased.” Hermione responded and nodded to Donohov who was wearing an expectant smile. “You know where to be and when, right?” She asked Donohov.
“We’ll be there, don’t worry. We wouldn’t miss this show for the world.” He told her, and then with his men disapparated.
“You know, Granger, if you were on different sides, you’d be a damn good Death Eater.” Malfoy commented.
Hermione looked at Malfoy and saw him genuinely smiling as he tucked his wand in place. She smiled back and sighed.
“Let’s go.”
The two of them disapparated and to be honest both were surprised to see that it was pitch dark. Being at Donohov’s hideout truly made them lose all track of time, but not so much to know that midnight had not yet passed, and that Mattock had not yet left the Ministry.
The streets for the most part were deserted. There was no one to watch out for, so there was little need to watch their steps in such depth. Five minutes passed, ten, and then fifteen. Hermione was beginning to think that for once in his life Mattock had left the Ministry early, but just as she was about to say something, the devil himself came out from one of the Ministry’s passage ways with a smile on his face. He was humming a tune, but he quickly stopped when he caught sight of Malfoy who was standing at the end of the lane.
“Mr. Malfoy,” Mattock said with surprise. “Well, out of hiding now are you?”
“Something like that,” Malfoy responded as he took his wand out. “You know Mattock you’ve made things quite difficult for Granger and I.”
“And vice versa… If you’re here so is Granger, so why don’t you just tell me where I can find her so I get her out of the way and resume business.”
“You want her so bad then turn around.”
Mattock quirked a brow and did as Malfoy suggested, surprised to see that Hermione was standing behind him with a mischievous grin.
“You’re hardly wise, Granger, coming out in the open like this when you’re a fugitive.”
“And that’s your problem, Mattock. You’re always underestimating me. Innoculous,”
Mattock was unconscious before he hit the ground, and Hermione had a smile on her face when he actually touched the pavement. Malfoy chuckled and shook his head.
“Can I kill him?” Malfoy asked.
“Merlin, I hope that’s not a serious question.”
“It was just a suggestion,” He mumbled, as the two of them grabbed an arm of Mattock and disapparated with him. They took him back to the hideout under the mountains and bound him to a chair. He was none too pleased when he woke up from the spell.
“You’ll go to Azkaban!” Mattock was shouting at them. “Both of you!”
“Not before you,” Malfoy snickered. “Granger, I think you’ve got some questions for him.”
“Yeah, starting with did you really think that I wouldn’t find out what you were doing?”
“I think we established that when you had burst into my office the other night.”
“I’m not talking about that you’re making Donohov kill Malfoy by promising his brother’s freedom, though you and I both know you were never going to give it to him.”
“…How did you find that out?”
“I have my ways, and now you’re going to tell me where the evidence is to Nicholas’s case.”
“Why? What does it have to do with you?”
“Because that evidence is going to help me keep my new best friend,” Hermione sneered. “Donohov, you can come out now.”
Mattock’s face dropped when he saw Donohov come out from the shadows. Two seconds later Donohov had his wand poking Mattock’s throat, and Hermione suddenly feared that he’d kill him before they got what they wanted.
“Tell me where the evidence is or I kill you.”
“You kill me, and you’ll never know.”
“Correction, I kill you and it’ll just take longer.” Donohov scoffed. “Personally I’m hoping you’re a bit stubborn so each one of my men can take turns torturing you.”
What happened next shocked the three fugitives in the room: Mattock laughed. He laughed whole-heartedly so that a tear or two was falling down his cheeks.
“Your men..?” He was saying between fits. “Your men..? Just because they say that they’re loyal to you, doesn’t mean that they are. And by now, I’m sure that Nott and Avery have done what I told them to when they came and warned me about my kidnapping.”
“Damn it,” Hermione said as she stuffed her wand into her back pocket. Mattock was still laughing and tied to a chair as she was ushering Malfoy and Donohov away from his presence as fast as they were able to. “He was a step ahead of us again!” She shouted to them as they were running through the magically dug out tunnel.
“What are you talking about, Granger?” Malfoy was asking her. “What was Mattock talking about back there?”
“They know! The Ministry knows what we-”
Hermione was cut off in mid sentence when there was the sound of footsteps roaring towards them. She, Malfoy and Donohov stopped in their tracks and brandished their wands.
It was quick and Hermione could hardly believe her eyes. At least twenty Aurors came rushing through the tunnel, and Hermione thought that she’d never see so many jets of light. It was hardly a fair fight, and she didn’t know how long Malfoy and Donohov could continue fighting without using an unforgivable. Not long apparently when Malfoy began saying the Cruciatus Curse.
“Malfoy, don’t-!” Hermione shouted at him, but soon felt her body pressed against the dirt wall in the customary Ministry restraint. What surprised her most was the person who was performing the restraint.
“Harry, what the hell are you doing!”
“’Mione, shut up.” Harry told her. “It has to be this way.”
Hermione was in disbelief, and felt him twist her arms tightly behind her back to magically bind her wrists together.
“Azkaban conference room, three a.m.…don’t fall asleep.” He whispered into her ear as he slipped something into her denim pocket. Harry forcefully pulled her away from the wall and held her by one of her arms.
“Good work, Potter,” Mattock said as he strolled down the corridor.
“Thank you, sir.” Harry replied grimly.
“Take them to the Azkaban holding cells.”
Harry nodded and tugged Hermione down the tunnel. Hermione could see the bitter and angry faces of Malfoy and Donohov, but she mouthed to them that it was going to be fine. At least, that’s what she was hoping.
__________________________________________________________
authors note:wow, this story's taking more turns than i originally thought lol... hope you all are enjoying it and unfortunately, this story may have only one or two more chaps left. i didnt realize that it was ending so quickly! *tear* so, keep that in mind and thanks again for reading! dont forget to review since your such marvelous reviewers :)
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