A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews. Just to let you know, the Draco/Ginny ship is important to this plot. It will be parallel to H/Hr in the fact that H/Hr will be very strong in their commitment while D/G struggle. I have no issues with Ginny as long as she is away from Harry…lol. I am however interested in the relationship between Draco and others, as evil as he can be, I see him a little human too. I hope to bring that out. =-)
Chapter 5
"Hermione?"
A hand waved in front of her face, and she snapped her head up, finally focusing on the doe eyed blond woman staring at her, her hair in a bun with a stick holding it up…a wand. "I'm sorry, what?"
Luna looked at her concerned. "You look an absolute mess."
Shaken out of her deep thoughts, Hermione frowned. "Er…well thank you for the compliment Luna."
Luna fingered her cork necklace and looked suspiciously at Hermione. They stood in the middle of a muggle café, Hermione was ordering some tea. She had met with Luna for a lunch date, but mainly to get away from the bookstore for a while.
"Honestly Luna, stop gawking at me. I'm just worried about Harry," she turned to the cashier. "Earl grey tea please, with a dash of cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey."
She was indeed worried about her husband. For days after the Malfoy visit, he poured over that parchment she stole, he barely slept because he was obsessed with figuring it out. Not that she did much better. She did feel groggy herself.
"I took a piece of parchment from Draco's. It's charmed to look blank and no spell I've used can reveal what's on it."
Luna shrugged and stirred her cappuccino. "Maybe it's just blank."
Hermione leaned against the counter. "Maybe. I don't know. All that for nothing. Subjecting Harry to be in the presence of that trallop and that bastard Draco. Ginny was practically oozing pheromones all over Harry." The girl behind the counter handed Hermione her cup of tea, and Hermione sat it down on the counter.
"Well, that's not even an issue. Harry would never do that." Luna replied simply.
Hermione dropped her eyes. Her mind began to swim with all sorts of thoughts. No Harry would never do that again.
Right…
Shut it Hermione, you should be ashamed of yourself. He loves you.
Of course, but he's also a man, and Ginny's well… well come, she looked good.
She's a whore!
Luna looked concerned at Hermione's perplexed face and waved her hand in front of her again. Hermione snapped out her daze and turned back to reach for her cup and a man's hand laid on hers.
"Excuse me," Hermione apologized, "I thought that was my cup."
The tall young man smiled, and waved a hand. "No problem, I think this one's yours."
He handed her the other cup on the counter and Hermione smiled back. She really was out of it today.
"Thanks."
He flashed another smile and headed out the door of the crowded café. Hermione turned back to Luna and absentmindedly sipped her tea as they walked to an empty table. "I shouldn't care about Ginny. We have bigger problems. My husband's being harassed by the Ministry."
"Well, let's go back to the photos. Draco's obviously been trailing you...and us. How do you know he's not doing it now?"
Hermione and Luna looked around the crowed café at the nameless faces among them. Anyone could be tailing them. Hermione sipped her tea again.
"Maybe I should have let Ron beat his ass when he had the chance."
Luna smiled at the thought of Ron's overambitious masculinity. "Maybe. My Ronald's very hands on. At least that's how he gets information out of me. He does this thing you know…with his-"
"LUNA!" Hermione grimaced.
"Right. Sorry. I should get back soon, I've got patients. A Healer's job is never done. Plus, Ron and I are having dinner with Daddy."
Hermione smiled and went to say something when she heard several loud pops and people screaming. Luna heard it too and their heads both snapped up, staring wide-eyed together at the scene happening in front of them. Outside the café, flashes of color flew everywhere and two men dressed in black shooting off those spells.
"Who? What's going on?" Luna exclaimed, pulling her wand out of her bun, her blonde hair cascaded down her back.
They saw two very familiar faces, they looked like…
"Impossible!" Hermione yelped as she watched defenseless muggles get blasted just outside the café.
People around them scattered for cover and Luna and Hermione ducked behind an overturned table. "Who is it Hermione?"
"I-I'm not exactly sure but it looked like Vincent Crabbe Senior, and Goyle!"
"Are you sure?" Luna whispered nervously. Her knuckles were almost white as she clutched her wand. "They are supposed to be in Azkaban!"
Hermione let her wand slip into her hand out of her sleeve, and she dropped her cup of tea on the floor. She could feel her nerves coming over her again, as she felt sick and also a bit woozy. After inhaling a few breaths, she looked at Luna. "I don't know what's happening but we have to do something. They look like they are about to start killing muggles."
Luna nodded and peeked over the table. "This makes no sense! How did they get out?! What-oh my god, Hermione, he just stunned a woman! You think we can take them?"
Hermione peeked over the table and back at Luna before they slowly stood, wands at the ready. Just then, an odd sensation swept over her. Hermione felt a tingling in her arms and feet. Her head began to feel heavy. She staggered backwards and leaned against the counter behind her. The room seemed to be spinning and her hearing became distant. Outside chaos continued but Luna could care less. She stared at Hermione as she tried to walk forward and open her mouth to speak, but instead her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed in a thud on the floor. Everyone still hidden in the café looked to see her collapse and a few ran over to help her. Luna gasped and tossed the small table aside, pushing the others away, repeating Hermione's name and shaking her.
Something odd struck her; no more spells were being cast. As she held her unconcious friend, she looked outside to see no one there. Luna focused back on Hermione, who was limp and cold to the touch. The crowd around her began to grow and someone shouted, "Call an ambulance!"
Outside the window, not seen by anyone, the tall young man smiled,then dropped an untouched cup of tea in a garbage can, and disappeared with a pop.
Ron walked off the Pitch receiving some high fives from his teammates when he saw Harry standing in the distance, his hands shoved in his pockets. He smiled widely and walked over to his friend, who smiled back.
"I watched the last bit, you did some serious keeping."
Ron ran a hand though his sweaty red hair. "Thanks. Did you see that sorry tosser of a seeker?"
Harry nodded and began to walk with Ron to the lockers. "I stopped counting after he missed the snitch for the 3rd time. A blind deaf and clumsy giant could have caught it faster than him."
They talked a bit more but as Ron got closer to the locker doors, Harry's mood changed. "I came here to talk to you. We both know Malfoy's having us both followed."
"Yeah, the bloody ferret is just doing it to spook you Harry."
"No..." Harry shook his head and pushed his glasses in place. "No…I believe Malfoy's just doing his job-"
"-Harry, come on mate. He's a liar, a murderer, and no matter how many Ministry badges he has, he'll always be evil."
"Ron, he's not that evil…" Harry exhaled slowly, almost painfully.
"Why are you defending him?!" Ron was turning red and he clutched his broom in frustration.
"I'm not! But you have this blind hatred because of Ginny!"
"Like you never hated someone because of someone you love!" Ron spat back.
Harry looked at his friend and even though he wanted to punch Ron, he was right. Harry took in a deep breath and continued. "I don't trust him Ron. But he's the least of my problems. Coogle has him doing something. And I don't think even Malfoy understands the implications of it."
Ron shifted his stance and looked at Harry. "You mean the ashes."
He studied Harry's intense face and continued. "Harry, it's not the first time he's done someone's bidding without thinking of the long term." Ron bit his lip before he continued. "Dumbledore."
It was always a hard subject. The murder of Dumbledore, regardless of Snape's supposed allegiance, regardless of what the order or the Ministry told Harry, would always be connected to Malfoy. Harry was quiet for a minute, staring at the hard cement floor in front of him. He would never forget it. Ever.
"I remember Ron. But that piece of parchment he bewitched holds the key to something. Hermione's been working on it day and night, but nothing is working."
"Do you want to pay him another visit?" Ron asked as his fists clenched.
"No. That won't work. Malfoy's smarter than that now. I need to find his weakness. And blackmail him."
"Like what Harry? He has no soul. He doesn't care about anything."
Harry remembered Draco in the bathroom 6th year, crying in front of Moaning Myrtle. He had his weak points. "There's someone that can always get to Draco."
"Who? Ginny?"
Harry stared back at the pitch they just left. "No. His father."
Before Ron could speak, McGivern, the crappy seeker, came running out the lockers.
"Ron!"
Ron rolled his eyes at the sight of the wanker. "What?!"
"Your girlfriend just called. Something has happened! She's at some sort of muggle healer center called St. Catherine's!"
Luna stood frustrated in the hall of St. Catherine's Hospital. She had no way to get Hermione out of there without disappearing in front of thirty or so Muggles. Well, they did just see two dark wizards hex people… So when the ambulance came, she simply told them Hermione was her sister and piled into the back of the weird contraption and ended up here. She didn't know what happened, she was scared to death; Hermione's eyes went in the back of her head like a seizure. If she could just get to her in private she could use her wand…
"Luna!" Ron's voice echoed down the hall as he ran towards her with Harry in tow.
She had called the bookstore, but Amy didn't know where Harry had gone. Ron ran up to her and looked her over before hugging her tightly. "Are you ok? What happened? What's wrong? Why are you here?"
Luna had to pull away to breathe and answer Ron's questions. "It's Hermione."
"What!" Harry exclaimed in the hall, causing several passers-by to stop and stare his outburst. If anything happened to her I swear… "Where is she? What happened? Where is she?"
"Is she alright?" Ron panicked.
Luna wiggled out of Ron's hold and she pulled flustered Harry into the empty waiting room. "Calm down. Please. Something crazy happened. An attack outside of a muggle café."
"What?" Ron gasped.
"Who?!" Harry responded in kind.
Luna frowned. "Hermione said she recognized them, Death Eaters. Crabbe and Goyle's fathers."
Ron looked at her confused. His girlfriend wouldn't lie, but sometimes she did say strange things. Maybe this was one of those times. "Are you sure Luna?"
"They are in Azkaban rotting!" Harry barked as he ran his hands through his hair.
Luna looked down and softly stated, "Not anymore."
Everyone was silent as they watched Harry pace. The sound of his voice cracked with emotion. "What happened to Hermione?"
"We were at the ready, and suddenly she became disoriented and passed out."
Harry went to charge down the hall, ready to scream for his wife when Luna pulled him back and shook him. "No! Listen to me! She's okay. She's okay, Harry. Please. I swear, she's breathing, she has a pulse. She just passed out."
Harry's face flushed and he was shifting nervously side to side. "I want to see her."
"I know. But I have to tell you this first. Nothing hit her! She looked sick before Harry but something made her fall out. I have to get her to my office. It's too risky to take her to St. Mungo's."
"Why is it too risky to go to St.Mungo's?" Ron asked and Harry held the bridge of his nose, trying to calm himself.
"The Ministry. Coogle, I still don't know his card. Where were the Aurors? Why wasn't anyone there to stop it?!" Harry fumed.
"I have no idea. They were gone just like that! Minutes, Harry. It only took a minute."
He hit the wall with his fist and no one knew what to say. Harry felt like everything Coogle said to him was true. He wasn't able protect his wife. And Death Eaters were out of Azkaban now. Holy mother of God. Silence surrounded the group for a minute.
Harry composed himself and turned around to go find Hermione. Luna walked into the hall with him and a confused Ron followed, staring.
"We have to get Hermione to Luna's office. She doesn't know what happened, but Hermione's alive. I don't want them touching her here. Luna will look at her."
Ron looked at his shaken friend and nodded. "Right. How do we get her out of here without being noticed?"
Harry thought hard for a moment, his emotions barely containable, but he forced himself to concentrate to get his wife to a safe place. "I'll sneak in, and Luna you distract the nurse or whoever is in the room with questions. I'll side apparate her to your office."
Ron frowned. "That's your plan?"
"You got a better one?" Harry hissed.
"No…not in particular." Ron consented as he followed.
Luna nodded and walked down the hall with Harry to where Hermione was being held. Inside were two doctors, and a nurse was taking Hermione's pulse. Luna looked back at Harry before walking in. She nodded at him and he stepped out of sight with Ron.
"Excuse me, any word on my sister's condition?"
The two older doctors looked up at the wide-eyed blonde and back at each other.
"Well, Miss, we honestly don't know what's wrong. We ran all the proper testing, and everything came back clean."
The other doctor frowned. "I've scheduled a CAT scan for her, as well as some more testing. Does your sister have any genetic disorders we should know about?"
"Allergies?" The other asked.
Luna shook her head and covered her hands with her face, pretending to sob. "No…no." She sputtered. "She…well…I don't want to talk about this in front of her. She can still hear us."
They nodded simultaneously at the woman and ushered her out of the curtained area out of earshot. Ron stared at Harry and noted that the nurse was still checking Hermione's vitals. Harry just stood there staring at his pale motionless wife, his heart sinking in his chest. I should have been there.
His thoughts were interrupted by Ron moving into the doorway shouting out, "Excuse me! Can you show me where the toilets are? I have to go really bad."
The nurse looked up annoyed and jotted notes about Hermione's IV down before replacing her chart and walking over to Ron. "Down the hall, just there."
Ron scratched his head, still trying to trick her out of the room. He began bouncing on his heels."Where? I'm sorry. I'm bloody horrible with directions and I really need the loo. "
The nurse glowered at him, huffed, and pushed past him to escort him to the loos. Harry who had been standing across the hall acting as if he was waiting for someone else, took his chance and ran in the room to Hermione. Her chart sat at the foot of her bed, so he grabbed it and shoved it in his jacket. Luna might find the muggle doctor notes useful. Harry ran a hand down her pale cheek before working to detach the IV in her hand. He could hear Luna pretending to sob loudly, keeping the doctors occupied, but he knew the direction to the loo was short. He gently pulled the IV out and tossed the tubes on the floor. Harry lifted Hermione in his arms and drew his wand, muttered something, and disappeared with a pop.
Luna heard the pop and stopped her wailing. She smiled and looked up at the perplexed doctors in front of her. Seeing no one was around, she pulled out her wand and pointed at them, "Obliviate."
A flash of light later, the two doctors blinked and stared at each other. The blonde was gone but they didn't remember anyway. Meanwhile a nurse walked by dazed and stared confusingly at the pair, before she scratched her own head and mumbled, "I just forgot what I was supposed to be doing just now."
He was greeted by the sight of a ginger haired man, tossing papers about as he walked in the doorway.
"Dweedle? What are you doing?" Draco frowned as he entered his office. He slammed his door behind him, causing the office to shake slightly. Dweedle froze like a deer and stared at Draco, his face red. He was standing over Draco's desk, papers thrown askew. He had already looked through the file cabinet with no luck. Now he was caught red handed.
The red head stuttered horribly. "I-The Minister wanted me to find something. You were in a meeting. You'll have to take that over with him. We have an emergency."
Draco chucked his briefcase down angrily, his eyes dangerous and violent. Apparently the Minister was not happy with his progress with Potter. He stalked over to Dweedle, who cowered as Draco loomed over him. "Emergency? What kind of emergency? And exactly what does he have you looking for? Behind my back, while I'm in a meeting?"
The red headed Auror gulped at the sight of two pale angry eyes staring him down. Even though Draco wasn't intimidating in size, his temper was well known. There was a story how Malfoy once hexed a suspect into a never-ending rabbit hole. But he composed himself and stared back at Malfoy. " Death Eaters attacked a muggle neighborhood today."
"Who?" A pain hit Malfoy's chest. He knew there were a few Death Eaters still hiding, but they wouldn't have done anything as crazy as attack a muggle neighborhood in broad daylight. "Are they on the list?"
"Crabbe and Goyle. They escaped Azkaban yesterday."
"What? Why wasn't I notified about this?!" Malfoy jerked his head up and Dweedle flinched a bit.
"You were in a meeting. And this morning the attack happened so quickly…we didn't know until it was too late."
"Have you spoken to Auror Crabbe and Auror Goyle about this?"
He watched Dweedle nervously shift his feet. "They've been notified. They are currently in detainment. We have to see if there is a connection, if they knew anything-"
"They don't! Their allegiance is to the Ministry! They wouldn't do this!"
"So you say." Dweedle snapped and then stepped back away from an irritated Malfoy.
"They are good Aurors. Damn it. Where there any casualties?" Malfoy frowned, as he looked at his covered forearm. Even though the mark was no longer visible, it was still taunting him.
Dweedle nervously shook his head. "No. A few were stunned. I sent three Aurors on detail. We had to do a mass oblivation."
"Are you nutters?! Three Aurors? This isn't a hiccup of magic from a child wizard. You should have sent Special Forces! Someone to talk to the Muggle Minister…Who did you send?"
"We're on it now, Malfoy. It's being handled." Dweedle scoffed. He knew how to do his job; he didn't need Malfoy to tell him. The Minister had entrusted him with a serious duty.
"Right. You're obviously on it. So…" Malfoy spoke slowly, his thoughts shifting to why Dweedle was in his office at all. "Why were you here, rummaging through my things?"
"I was just-"
"Just rummaging through my confidential classified files," Draco growled, pointing at the mess Dweedle had made of his office. "Order or not, it is illegal according to Law 3.40 to have you in my confidential files, looking around. Now what does the Minister want?"
Dweedle frowned. "He asked me to look for a piece of parchment with something on it. He's highly busy with this attack business."
Draco glared at the man, pondering whether or not to throttle him now or use him for information. Did the Minister not trust him? Why wasn't he notified of the attack? This was still his department, correct? Did the Minister think he was incompetent to investigate the attack after the Potter mess?
Malfoy fought with his inner demons. Maybe he doesn't trust you... you are lying after all. Keeping things from him. What did the Minister want in his office? Malfoy knew exactly what the Minister was looking for, it was the parchment he had bewitched and stashed away at the Manor. But how the Minister knew it was missing or had figured who had it, he didn't know. The parchment that was missing.Now he really had to find it before it fell into the wrong hands. "Care to be more specific?"
"A schedule of some sort."
Draco could have just shown weakness but he didn't. Hesitation could cost him. He knew exactly what the Minister was after. Why? He had no idea. But he couldn't afford for it to be found. It would cost him dearly. Draco stepped back from Dweedle slowly and picked up his briefcase. "If you tell me what he wants, maybe I can just give it to him?"
Dweedle sucked in a breath. "Like I said, he simply requested I look for a schedule. You'll have to take it up with him."
"Well how would you have known what he was looking for, if he never told you?"
Weddle's brow furrowed and he was about to stammer out a stupid excuse when Malfoy waved a dismissive hand at him. Draco knew he was lying. It's any surprise Dweedle became an Auror, he had no backbone or element of authority. "Well… I'll be happy to supply the Minister with any schedule he needs…if he'll let me know which he is inquiring about."
"I'll give him your…message," Dweedle nodded.
"Good, get out of my office."
Dweedle had no wish to get on Malfoy's bad side, nor did he want the Minister on his bad side either. It wasn't his fault the Minister called him in this morning while Draco was in a meeting. He didn't want to accept the assignment, but he couldn't say no. Well, that's not true. He liked that the Minister called him into his office, praised his work, and wanted him to be his "good pair of eyes". The Minister expressed dire need for this particular item. Dweedle truly thought he had scheduled his office invasion thoroughly.
He didn't look at Malfoy as he hastily exited Draco's office, slamming the door behind him. Draco stood in the middle of his office, wondering what the hell he has gotten himself into and where the hell was that piece of parchment?
Luna waved the wand twice and looked back at her Healer book. She read carefully to make sure she was correct in her diagnosis and turned the page, biting her lip in concentration. Again she flicked her wand and a blue glow illuminated the room. Outside she could hear Harry and Ron pacing, waiting for her to tell them anything about Hermione. Harry of course was an emotional mess and Ron wasn't much better.
She sighed and closed the book, as she looked back at her unconscious friend. Luna laid a warm hand on Hermione's forehead and chanted an incantation under her breath. Suddenly Hermione gasped and sat upright. This caused Luna to smile, and she walked over to get a blanket for Hermione. Hermione whipped her head around, confused, on where she was and how she had gotten there. She felt heavy still, and sweaty. Her breathing was ragged. Luna spread the blanket around Hermione and rubbed her back, softly telling her to calm down.
"You're safe. We're in my office. Harry and Ron are outside. It's okay. You were unconscious. Whatever it was, it was countered by my Bumnexus remedy. Simply channeling magic to the unconscious side of your brain."
Hermione nodded, still trying to catch her breath. She stared at Luna almost bewildered. Harry and Ron popped their heads in the door, and beamed widely at Hermione who was obviously conscious now. They went to come in, but Luna held up a hand.
"Can you just give me a few minutes? She's still very disoriented."
Ron nodded, and tugged at Harry who didn't look like he was too happy about waiting and longer. The door shut and Hermione finally caught her breath as Luna handed her a cup of water.
"Wh-what happened?"
"Do you remember being in the café?" Luna quizzed, rubbing her back gently.
Hermione nodded and sipped the water. "Yes and we- we were talking."
"Yes. And then?"
She kept staring at the cup, in a dazed yet worried look on her face. "I was drinking tea."
"Yes. What else-?"
Hermione interrupted her, her face growing concerned. "An attack! Was I hit Luna?!"
Luna shook her head and rubbed Hermione's back to sooth her. "No. There was an attack but nothing hit you."
Hermione breathed out. "Then…what happened?"
"I was hoping you could tell us."
"I was drinking tea and then we saw the attack…" Hermione stammered, sipping her water and then frowning at the cup. She remembered the tea tasted god-awful. She wanted to tell Luna they should never go there again, but then the attack came. The tea tasted so awful.
"Hermione?"
She continued as if Luna wasn't there. "A man… a man behind me handed me my cup. I had put it down."
"Yes and then we saw the attack-" Luna tried to urge the story along.
Hermione torn her eyes away from the cup, flashing entering her brain as she processed the sequence of events. Coffee, tea, man, attack, falling down into darkness. The man. The tea. The horrible tea. She gasped and looked at Luna. "Someone poisoned me."
Luna frowned and took the cup from Hermione's hand, which had begun to shake. She continued to rub her back to calm her. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure!" Hermione yelped.
"Ok. We need to get someone in to look at you. But first I have to ask you something."
"Who will we get to come in? I don't want to go to St. Mungo's! The questions! I don't want to answer any questions! It was probably that idiot Draco's doing. Where's Harry?"
"Calm down Hermione. I know. We'll find someone we know. I just need you to calm down."
Hermione clenched her blanket. "Calm down?! Luna, someone poisoned me! I can't just calm down!"
"Hermione…"
"Get Harry and Ron in here!"
"Shhh… just breathe and try to relax."
"Relax? You relax!"
"No, you need to just take a moment." Luna soothed.
"I can't!" she began sobbing wildly, scared, upset, and pissed beyond belief.
"You have to!"
"Why?"
Luna let a smile creep across her face. "For the baby."