Chapter 14 - Of Truths and Intentions
It was Friday afternoon and Hermione was scrunched over the reports her subordinates had given her. She sighed as she pored over the paperwork she still had to review before turning over to the Head for final approval. Most were about the upcoming International Magical Leaders Conference. She had been doing nothing since yesterday except reviewing the materials for the conference with a meeting once in a while.
True, she had cooked dinner last night to make up for Luna's sumptuous breakfast. That proved to be relaxing and the night's activities with Harry (though they haven't really slept with each other yet) was yet another distraction from work.
Now though, in her office, on a Friday afternoon, she sat poring over numerous reports. When will I get through this day? It's Friday. The day before a weekend of relaxation ensues. And she's overworking herself once more. Typical.
She straightened up in her chair and rubbed her strained neck. She stood up and stretched her aching back from sitting for far too long that day when she heard a soft knock on her door. She looked over and said, "Come in."
Jane peeked and when she saw her boss looking a bit cranky, hesitantly said, "Uhm, Miss Hermione? There's a messenger here that has a present sent for you."
Hermione breathed in deeply and said, "All right. Have it brought in. Place it over that table, please." She sat down and rubbed her eyes, hearing her door close. When she opened her eyes, she gasped at what she saw. Upon the table opposite her desk was another big bouquet of roses in a basket. Although this time around, the roses were multi-colored, peach, the usual red, white, yellow and even blue. Beside this bouquet, in a smaller basket, is a bottle of chilled white wine, tied with a red and silver bow.
Hermione stood and walked over to the bouquet to look for a note. There was none. Looking at the wine, there she saw a small folded parchment hidden beneath the bottle. She broke the seal and read apprehensively.
Dear Hermione,
A token of appreciation for gracing me with your presence last Wednesday. I hope you are fond of white wine, one of the finest in Britain, by the way.
If you wouldn't be too busy tonight, may I ask you to join me for a simple dinner to possibly discuss other business transactions that your department might have.
If you would agree to this proposition, kindly write in a simple "yes" in this parchment and this will automatically be a Portkey for you at 7PM to take you to where we would have dinner and do business. Formal attire would be greatly appreciated.
Hoping for your acceptance.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
Hermione stood there in her office, unable to process the words blazing from the note to her. She clutched the note tightly in her hand and read it once more. Business transactions? What in Merlin's name does this mean? We don't have any other events that need financing. Plus he should have taken this up with our Head like he usually does, not with me. Not unless… She glanced up at the roses and the wine. Then back at the note she held in her hand and the proposition written there. No. No. No. No. Please say that what I'm thinking is not what I think it is.
At that precise moment, Harry came in her office. "Jane just told me to go in and see -" he stopped in mid-sentence, clutching the doorknob in his hand, seeing the roses that perched on Hermione's table and the look of terror in Hermione's pale face while clutching a piece of parchment in both hands.
"'Mione, love? What's wrong?" Harry immediately went over to Hermione and hugged her briefly. Eyeing her warily, his gaze shifted from her to the roses and wine that sat on the table in the corner of Hermione's office. His eyes went back to Hermione and the note she clutched, a question lingering there.
Not trusting herself to speak, Hermione handed over the note to Harry. "It's from Malfoy," she said quietly.
Gently, Harry took the parchment and read it. Without looking at her, he said calmly, "Seems like he's trying to get you to meet him again. And what's with the roses and the wine?" He looked up at her and saw the answer in her face almost at once. "So your thoughts and hunches the other night were true then? You don't have any other events that need financing and why does he tell you of this when he usually brings these kinds of things with your Head as you told me?"
Harry already knew the answers to his own questions even when Hermione didn't answer. Unconsciously, he crumpled the parchment he held in his hand and growled quietly under his breath, "Malfoy…"
Hermione did not even attempt to snatch the crumpled parchment in Harry's hand. She knew that Harry was mad at what Malfoy is trying to do with her. Why in the world would Malfoy be doing this in the first place? Giving her a big bouquet of roses with white wine to boot, inviting her to dinner for business although she knew he meant otherwise. This is insane! He is insane!
"Harry," said Hermione cautiously, walking over to him and encircling her arms around him. "Don't worry about it. I don't plan on going anyway. I told you about it the other night. I don't want anything to do with Malfoy. You know that. Trust me."
Harry sighed and softened a little then hugged Hermione back. "I know, love. I trust you, you know that. I wouldn't be standing here if not for you. It's Malfoy I don't trust." At the mention of Malfoy, both Harry and Hermione stiffened.
Hermione tightened her hold on Harry and thinking that he wouldn't hear her, whispered, "I love you, Harry."
Harry, with his Auror senses, heard her though. Instead of replying however, he tilted her head up to meet his and kiss her lightly on the lips. Hermione deepened the kiss by opening her lips and teasing Harry's lips with her tongue. Harry opened up to her and a battle of domination then ensued. They kissed for several minutes, stopping only when they heard Hermione's clock went off, signaling that it's time to finally go home.
"Let's continue this at home," whispered Harry breathlessly, his forehead resting on Hermione's. Hermione simply nodded.
Harry kissed Hermione once more on the tip of her nose and left her office. They agreed to meet at the Atrium in 10 minutes, giving them ample time to fix their things before going.
Hermione sighed. At least, Malfoy became useful in this situation. I get to snog Harry senseless. And in my office, nonetheless! She grinned at that thought and went on fixing her things. Then she sashayed out of her office, said goodbye to her secretary and walked briskly towards the Atrium where she would be meeting her best friend/boyfriend.
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Draco paced in his Manor's study, looking every once in a while at the parchment that lay on his table. Why isn't it shimmering? It should have been shimmering an hour ago when I sent that letter!
He had charmed the note he sent to Hermione to become a Portkey once she signed "yes" to it. He had then connected that parchment to the parchment lying on his table, charmed to light up once she wrote "yes." But it's not lighting up and it's already 6:30PM?!
Draco continued his pacing, keeping watch on the parchment on his table. Finally, his clock chimed 7:00PM and the parchment finally turned black. He sighed and slumped in his chair.
"Hermione won't be coming," he said to no one in particular, defeated.
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Remus Lupin was enjoying his coffee that Saturday afternoon in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place, reading yesterday's Daily Prophet. Although the house was originally Harry's, after the war Harry entrusted the house to Remus and Tonks, giving it as a wedding gift for the couple. The house was not how it was before, however. Mrs. Black's portrait at the entrance hall was already gone, thanks to Harry. The wall of elf heads was also gone, replacing it with portraits of those from the Order, the Trio being the prominent one, thanks to Ron. The house looks lighter and not at all bleak like it was before. The walls are whiter and cleaner, thanks to Hermione. Now that the war is over, the house doesn't need to be kept within the protection of the Fidelius Charm although it is still heavily guarded with a lot of security wards.
"Tonks, love? Can you get the door?" called Remus from the kitchen when the bell rang. He heard Tonks ambling towards the door from the living room, tripping a little on her way. Remus chuckled at that. He heard the sound of the front door opening and several hushed greetings.
"Hello, Remus."
Remus looked up from his paper and grinned. Standing up, he walked briskly towards their guest. "Harry! What brings you here?" he asked, while shaking his hand and bringing him to a brief friendly hug. He motioned for Harry to sit across from him. "Coffee? Tea? Juice? Butterbeer?" he offered.
"Butterbeer would be nice, thanks." And with a wave of Remus' wand, he summoned a butterbeer to the kitchen, stopping right in front of Harry.
"So, what brings you here in Grimmauld Place?" Remus repeated.
Harry chuckled. "Can't a bloke visit his very good friends every once in a while?"
Remus grinned and shook his head, sipping a bit of his coffee. "Really now, Harry, what brings you here? You rarely visit seeing as you're so busy this past few months. Do you have some news that you probably want to tell us?" Tonks walked in the kitchen at that exact moment and sat beside Remus, grinning knowingly.
Harry feigned innocence and looked at them with startled eyes. "News? What news?"
Tonks laughed. "Oh, c'mon now, Harry. You know exactly what we're talking about," she said, wriggling her eyebrows suggestively.
Harry sighed dramatically. "Ok, ok. You got me." Remus and Tonks waited for him eagerly to say something but Harry remained quiet, his face turning red by the minute.
"Hmmm… Does this involve a certain bushy brown haired, know-it-all witch that we all know and love?" Remus asked innocently.
Harry rolled his eyes but nodded as well, his eyes twinkling.
Tonks squeeed in a very un-Tonks-ly way and stood up. "I knew it! I knew it! I was right, Remus. Wasn't I? Wasn't I?"
Remus laughed and said, "Yes, yes, love. Of course you are. We both are, remember?" Then he turned to Harry, grinning. "But I'm sure that's not what Harry went for here. He didn't come here to tell us about just that. So tell me, young man. What is it really that brings you here?"
Harry suddenly turned serious. He cleared his throat and said grimly, "Malfoy got in touch."
The reaction was quite unexpected. Well, Remus' at least. He sputtered his coffee that he was sipping all over the kitchen table. Tonks gasped and hurriedly stood up to get a dish cloth, tumbling her seat in the process.
Harry blinked, a bit surprised but continued on explaining. "And to Hermione, no less. We all thought he was gone and yet he comes back, after all these years and makes an appearance."
"He wasn't entirely gone, Harry," said Remus quietly. Tonks refilled his cup with coffee and sat beside Remus again, looking expectantly at both men. Then Remus sighed and said, "Tonks, love. Could you leave us both for a couple of minutes? There are some things I need to discuss with him in private." Tonks started to argue but was cut off by Remus. "Please, love?"
Tonks stood up grumbling and made her way towards the door, muttering something about why men are so secretive, especially with their wives.
"What do you mean he wasn't entirely gone? Do you know any of these, Remus?" asked Harry, suspiciously, his butterbeer lay forgotten in front of him, when Tonks closed the kitchen door.
Remus sighed and leaned back on his chair, his eyes focusing on Harry. "I think it's time for you to learn the truth about what Draco has been doing all along. I hope Minerva is ok with this, though," he added in an undertone.
Harry leaned back as well and looked at Remus expectantly while crossing his arms. Remus sighed again, closed his eyes and massaged his temples. Upon opening them, he focused once more on Harry and said, "He helped the Order during the war, Harry. Like Severus did."
Harry opened his mouth to react but Remus raised his right hand to stop him. "Let me finish. Yes, Harry. Severus still helped the Order after your sixth year at Hogwarts taking Draco with him. They really didn't return to Voldemort as you probably expected. Well, yes they did but on the pretense that they were doing his bidding which they were not. But they didn't dare show their face with the Order and at Hogwarts for your seventh year. They kept on helping us though by giving inside information in Voldemort's circle."
Harry couldn't resist it and interrupted, "How did you know that they were helping us back then?"
Remus took a sip of his second cup and said a bit quietly, "I would know. They reported to me and to Minerva as well at least thrice a month."
Harry couldn't grasp what he was hearing. He gaped at Remus, not really believing what he was being told. Draco Malfoy, long-term enemy at Hogwarts, the one who was tasked by Voldemort to kill Dumbledore; then Severus Snape, the one who killed Dumbledore in behalf of Draco were helping them during the war, anonymously though.
"But why didn't anybody tell me about this? If anyone should know at that time, I should have. Seeing as I'm the one tasked to destroy all Voldemort's Horcruxes," demanded Harry angrily.
"Harry, don't you see?" said Remus, patiently. "Minerva and I chose to disclose from you where we are getting our sources and information since we know that you wouldn't quite understand the situation back then."
"Understand? Understand?! You thought I wouldn't understand?!" asked Harry, disbelievingly, his voice rising.
"Listen here, Harry," said Remus, with a hint of impatience in his voice. "We didn't tell you because we know how you would react when you find out that your two most hated - well, probably second in line; Voldemort, being number one - were the ones helping you out in your quest for the Horcruxes. Do you think you would hear them out? Do you think you would believe them when they're the ones telling you?"
Harry stood up and paced, shaking his head, in disbelief. "So they were the ones who helped us find the locations of the remaining Horcruxes? And what exactly were these Horcruxes?" He stopped pacing and looked to Remus for answers.
"Yes, Harry," replied Remus, a bit tiredly. "We were only channels. We believed that if the information looked like it came from me and Minerva, it would be easier for you to believe us than them telling you the exact information we gave you."
Harry sat down again and took a big swig of his butterbeer. After a couple of gulps, he emptied the bottle and asked for one more. When Remus handed him a new one, he took another couple of mouthfuls, wiped his mouth and stared at Remus. "You're not lying to me about all of these, are you?"
"Why would I? You are like a son to me, Harry. When Sirius -" he stopped and breathed deeply. "I made it my priority to look over you. I know you don't trust Severus, but take a look at it from my side. James and Lily were my close friends. So was Sirius. And especially the Headmaster. But I still chose to work closely with him because of Professor Dumbledore's orders and Severus' proven loyalty still towards him."
Harry still looked disbelievingly at his mentor. Remus sighed. "Use your Legilimency with me, Harry. You'll find out," said Remus, staring back at Harry.
Harry shook his head, sighed and slumped back in his seat. "I trust you enough, Remus." He breathed in deeply and took a big gulp of his butterbeer once more. "Great… Just bloody great…" he muttered.
"What is it that you said about Draco getting in touch?" asked Remus, tentatively.
"He got in touch. And with Hermione, no less," he said gravely.
"What's wrong with that?" asked Remus, finally relaxing now that the truth was out.
"I could feel he has intentions. Not-so-good intentions. Towards Hermione at that."
Remus chuckled. "Really? And is The-Wizard-Who-Saved-The-World, the prior Chosen One feeling jealous about this?" he asked while raising an eyebrow.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Really Remus, how childish," he said mockingly. Then he proceeded to tell of Hermione's encounters with Draco and the very recent one, the roses with wine and an invitation to dinner. He also told of what he and Hermione thought of Draco's intentions.
Remus was quiet after Harry's account of what happened between Draco and Hermione. Then without saying anything, he stood up and motioned for Harry to follow him. They walked towards the library, where they found Tonks lying on one of the couches, napping, with a book on her chest.
Careful not to wake Tonks, Remus quietly made his way towards one of the corner tables where a stack of Daily Prophets were scattered and started to fumble through it. Harry followed. When he reached Remus, he saw him clutching a very recent Daily Prophet.
"Here, read this," said Remus, thrusting the newspaper in Harry's hand.
Harry held the paper and read the date. It's the day Hermione first met with Malfoy. Then he looked on and scanned the front page. At the bottom part of the front page is a small article that was probably Remus' answer to Harry's musings a while ago. He looked up and saw a smug smile on the face of one of his mentors.
"Malfoy's already engaged?!"
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(A/N - So sorry for not updating this story sooner than you guys expected. Been busy with… stuff. Oh well… And of course, thanks a bunch to my lovely beta - Lady Starlight, who never ceases to be patient with me [wink, wink] Ü).
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