Hermione stormed out of the pub, the cold wind hitting her face like cold water. She stood there for a moment, trying to let go of the memory of her and Draco hugging, memory that now seemed to never leave her mind.
“ Hermione, why did you run like that?” came Fleur’s voice from behind.
“ Nevermind, Fleur. Can we just go back at the Burrow?” Hermione asked.
Fleur nodded and they were gone.
---
In the meantime…
Addison Alden was talking to Ginny Weasley in the Gryffindor Common Room, when Melanie entered.
“ Melanie! Thanks God! “ Ginny shouted. “ We were waiting for you! “
“ Oops, sorry Gin. Let’s go. “ The three girls walked to the Room of Requirement, where tonight ‘s D.A. meeting was taking place. When they arrived there, they found the other D.A. members waiting for them. Neville, Luna, Dennis Creevey, Terry Boot, Michael Corner, Romilda Vane , Magnus Lewis, Henry and Fabian Hatch , and Michelle Kingston.
“ What took you so long?” Romilda asked, clearly irritated.
Ginny shot her a murderous look.
“ I… “ Melanie began, but was soon interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
The others seemed angry( except Luna) , but happy that everybody was there now. Ginny was still looking at Romilda with hatred in her eyes, while Addison was moving her eyes from Melanie to Alec, clearly realizing that they had been together, probably in a deserted classroom.
“ What are you up to?” Addison asked Melanie, but before Melanie could answer, Neville spoke.
“Silence, please. “ he said. Everybody shut up. They all had to admin, Neville was a great leader. “ Today we will be practicing, again, whatever spells you can’t do. I will divide you in 3 groups. So, let’s see. Romilda, Michael and Terry, please go practice over there. Luna will help you. Addison, Henry and Fabian, come here please, I will help you. Ginny, please take care of Lewis, oh, sorry, Magnus, Alec and Melanie. “
“ What about me?” the second year, Michelle asked.
“ Oh, sorry Michelle. I forgot.. nevermind. Go to Ginny. “ Neville answered her.
And so they starting the work. Romilda, Michael and Terry were trying their best not to make fun of Luna. Luna, however, didn’t care. She wasn’t much of a leader, and she knew she wasn’t any better at D.A.D.A.. Well, not better than Michael and Terry, anyway. About Romilda.. that was another story.
Addison and the Hatch twins, from Hufflepuff, were doing exceptionally great. Addison asked Neville to teach her the Patronus charm, and Neville, seeing that Addison was very talented, accepted. Henry and Fabian were Confundoing each other, or maybe they were just dramatizing everything, you never know when it comes to the Hatch brothers.
Ginny was trying to teach Michelle some easy spells. She was in her second year, and, if it comes to Ginny’s judgement, she shouldn’t be here. But she was Terry’s cousin. However, they were taking things her slowly with her . Alec and Melanie were trying spells on each other, laughing out loud. McLoud was , indeed, loud. Magnus, fourth year, was practicing Accio. Ginny smiled whenever she looked at him, she knew Harry was doing the same thing in his fourth year.
The meeting was soon over, and Neville went to the front of the room, for his goodbye speech. Everybody else sat down, on the floor.
“ Okay, guys. Thank you for coming once again, I hope you enjoyed everything. I talked to Professor Diggle, and in our next meeting he may come and help us. Do you have any more spells you can’t do? Except the hard ones. “ The rest of the members shook their heads, except Michelle, who shot Terry a murderous look. She wanted to learn more, but it looks like Terry didn’t want to force her.
“ Okay” smiled Neville. “ Any suggestions for next time?”
“ Cruciatus Curse” the Hatch brothers replied. Everybody looked at them with a this-is-no-joke look. The Hatch brother exchanged both confused and amused looks and shut up.
“ Any real suggestions?” Neville asked again, slighty amused.
Addison spoke. “ What about Expecto Patronum?”
“We already did that.” Michael said.
“ Well, we didn’t, so shut it up.” Melanie replied.
“ I agree, I’ve always wanted to create a Patronus!” Magnus said.
“ In your fourth year? What, are you Harry Potter or something?” Alec said. He realized what he really said too late. He quickly looked at Ginny, but he didn’t notice any tears in her eyes.
Neville looked over at Luna. “ Okay with this?” He asked her.
“ Sure. It’s never too early, it’s never too late. “ Luna told him, smiling, as usual.
Neville nodded. “ Okay then. See ya the day after tomorrow, 7 o’clock, okay?”
Alec and Melanie were the first ones to get up, leaving the room together. Addison smiled at them.
---
“After you. “
Susan smiled, at the sight of Draco holding the door for her. He was a real gentleman.
She entered, followed by him. As she observed how beautiful the restaurant looked like, she gasped.
“ Draco, you shouldn’t have...It’s beautiful” Susan told him.
“ Yes, I should have. There’s something I meant to tell you. “ He put his hands on hers and kneeled in front of her.
---
Over the past few days, Hermione managed to move in her new flat. She even visited her parents, who had been gone on holiday in Australia, and were now back.
She woke up the next morning, wrapped in the sheets of her new bed. She smiled as she realized that a little ray of sun woke her up. She loved this new flat, but she felt a little lonely. She didn’t have many persons to talk to right now, with Ron being how he was, with Ginny at Hogwarts and with Harry away… Her smile melted on her face as she thought about Harry.
It was time she had to do something, but she didn’t know whar. She was , however, sure that the Death Eaters kidnapped him. “ But where did they take him?” she asked herself.
“It must be a place only former Death Eater know or something” Her jaw dropped to the floor and her eyes widened in shock.
She quicly got out of bed and waved her wand. She was suddently clean, dressed up and ready to Apparate. But where should she Apparate? It was Friday morning… so he should be at work. But Hermione knew she couldn’t talk to him there;. People would suspect something, and she would have to see Susan. She wondered if Draco still wanted to marry Susan…. After he kissed another girl. Hermione couldn’t help but hope that, one day, Draco would be with her. Blocking the thoughts from her mind, she closed her eyes and Apparated… to the Malfoy Manor.
Flashback
Draco had entered the Great hall, chatting happily with Pansy and Blaise. It was so good to be back again, even if Dumby was still Headmaster. They went to the Slytherin Table and sat down. As soon as they got there, Draco’s eyes wondered about the Hall. He noticed Potter’s two friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, talking at they table. They were probably wondering where their leader, Scar-head was. Draco smirked to himself.
Draco examined the Hall again and again. The second time his eyes fell on Granger ( how did that even happen?) , he noticed something. She… she looked nice. Like, really nice. He slapped himself. What was going on?
“ Malfoy? Did you just slap yourself?” Crabbe asked on his stupid-boy voice.
“ Are you insinuating anything, Crabbe?” Draco hissed.
Crabbe shook his head.
“ Good. “ Draco muttered. He couldn’t stand a fight, anyway.
Maybe one day would come, when he’ll have a lovely family, a lovely house… a lovely job. And nothing to worry about. Maybe one day, he would figure out who he really was – the pureblood maniac Malfoy or Draco. Maybe… buit there was no time for that now. Draco couldn’t kill Dumbledore, but the proud Malfoy could try, at least.
End of flashback
“Draco?” Lucius called for Draco, standing in the doorway.
The engaged man looked up at the sound on his name. Lucius had woken him up from his thoughts… about that sixth year, when this had all started. His sacrifice.
Draco remembered what he felt when he looked at Granger, then. But that hadn’t been the first time… no.
Flashback
A bushy haired girl was being sorted now.
“ She is pretty.” Draco thought. “ I wonder if it’s true what the Parkinson girl was saying on the train, that she’s a mudblood.” He hoped not, it would have been a shame for him to even look at a mudblood.
End of flashback
Draco looked up at Lucius. He felt burdened.
“ Yes?” he muttered from his favourite chair.
“ I think it’s best if you come and see yourself. Guest room, floor no 1 . “ Lucius told his son.
Curious, Draco got up and went to see what was happening. He arrived at the door. He enetered the room and he froze when he saw who was waiting for him…
--
Hermione was waiting for him, in his house. She couldn’t believe she was doing it.
Draco suddently entered and she couldn’t help but smile at his frozen expression. However, Hermione remembered why she was there and she let her smile fall off her face.
There was no time for this.
Draco stopped in front of the door, looking at the big room. It was a dark shade of green, with two silver sofas, between them standing a coffe table. Draco sat down on the other sofa, in front of Hermione.
“ Granger. “ he nodded at her.
“ Malfoy. I came here for help…..”
Hermione heart started to beat faster and faster, and she didn’t know if she could finish was she had to say anymore. Here she was, in front of Draco, again, so close to him, again. She couldn’t figure it out if he really changed, or what he felt for her. Because he was probably going to be engaged soon. She felt trapped, she felt that if she made one more move, she might fell. So she didn’t. She kept staring at him, and noticed that he was confused too.
“ Go on.” Draco muttered, giving her half a smile.
“ I suppose you heard about Harry…. “ Hermione spoke.
Draco wanted to say “ Of course, who hasn’t heard about Scarhead?” but he controlled himself. Instead, he just nodded.
Hermione stared at him for a moment, and then opened her mouth to speak.
“ I think… it had something to do with your mother.” Draco’s heart stopped beating at her words.
“ Why would you think that?” he asked her.
“ I know it. Murder, people being kidnapped, this had happened before. And I know you want revenge. “
“ I am afraid I don’t understand. “ Draco said.
“ I think you do. Your mother was killed, under mysterious circumstances, and Harry was kidnapped a few days later. It means something, it means that some old, or new Death Eaters want to harm people. “ Hermione explained. “ And I need to know if you are among them. Because I think you are not. Neither is your father. “
“ Why do you think so? You don’t sound very sure. “ Draco snapped, a little bit annoyed about her acting like a know-it-all and and suspecting him.
“ Answer me. “ Hermione said on a strong voice.
Draco couldn’t keep the mask anymore. “ No. “
“ Do you want revenge?” Hermione asked him.
Draco thought for a moment, but then nodded.
“ Yes, I do. But I can’t do it. I can’t plot against them, I am sorry. “ Draco said.
“ Please..” Hermione begged, but Draco didn’t have time to think about it.
The door opened and Lucius stormed in. He looked concerned. Even if it was obvious that he was scared, he seemed to force himself to remain strong.
“ Father.. what is going on?” Draco asked, standing up. Hermione did the same.
Lucius came over to Draco and handed him a letter. Draco read it fast, feeling the fear and the hatred running through his veins.
“ What shall I do?” Draco asked Lucius.
Lucius didn’t hesitate. “ You need to take her from here. You know you can’t Apparate inside the grounds and you don’t have time to go at the door. “
Hermione froze. “Her” was probably Hermione.
“ Then… where?” Draco asked, even more confused.
“ I don’t know… I don’t know… Anywhere. “ Lucius replied.
Suddently, they heart a know at the door.
“ They’re already here?” Draco asked.
“ I don’t think they would knock… stay here. “
Draco and Hermione stayed there, eyes froze on each other and heart beating fast.
In a few minutes, Lucius entered the room again.
“ We have a problem.. “ he said.
Draco and Hermione looked beside him and saw Susan.
“ Shit. “ Hermione heard Draco whisper.
“ This isn’t good. And you say there will be something worse?” Hermione asked Draco.
He nodded.
----
Dear Lucius,
It is not our fault that you are an arse. You couldn’t raise your child well, and this is really, really bad. Dancing with a mudblood… I hope you have a good excuse. And you should have, because we are coming there. I know you can’t Apparate in and out, and it’s best if you don’t try to hide anyone. We will find out, believe me.
Take care, while you still can,
A.D.
A/N : And this was Chapter 11. Sorry for the long wait, I know I said at least 1 chapter/ week, but I was really stressed and I wanted to give you guys a 2000 words chapter. The next chapter should be up soon. :) By the way, I think I will do around 30 chapters, but I can't promise anything.
Thank you, once again, for reading, reviewing, and adding this story to your favourites!
Waiting for your reviews! Tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, or anything you want to tell me.
Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling, except for the plot and Addison, Magnus, Melanie, Alec, Henry, Fabian and Michelle. By the way, what do you think about them?
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Edit : Rating changed to Mature because of the swearing.
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