Chapter 8
Draco woke up in a cold sweat, sitting straight up in the bed, panting for breath. Another dream. Pansy was frequenting his nightmares more than he liked. And the damn crib kept making a reappearance, but this night, it was engulfed in flames. Whatever the hell that meant. He should have paid attention in wacked-out Trelawney's class more. On top of that, today sucked completely as he was dealing with the escaped Death Eaters, the attack on the muggles a few weeks ago, and now, Potter's bookstore. He ran a palm over his face and stared down at Ginny, who remained undisturbed. Removing her arm that was draped around him, he slipped out of bed and pulled on his boxers.
The shit had hit the proverbial fan all right. All this time, he had been avoiding Coogle's attempts to meet with him, partly because he didn't want to be sacked and the other because he couldn't bare to see the look of disappointment on Coogle's face. Plus, it unsettled him a bit that despite his visit to the manor, the Minister never made mention of it. Then there was Dweedle. Dweedle had been a bleeding annoyance all week, asking for reports and the like. He was so smug, now working directly for the Minister.
He stared out the window and huffed loudly. Ginny didn't stir. Draco knew something was happening but he could figure out what. Potter had the insane idea that the Minister was a diabolical madman, but Draco didn't agree. Sure there were some elements lately that disturbed him, but no…this man had given him a chance when everyone else looked at him as a carbon copy of his father. He had to show loyalty to the man who was his only support.
Suddenly, the wards went off and Draco sprinted to the bed, grabbing his wand from under his pillow. Ginny jetted up, confused and watched as Draco sped out the room.
"Draco! What the-"
"Wand! Now!" He shouted not looking back.
Draco ran down the hall, his mind wielding. This could be it; Crabbe and Goyle seniors were here to kill him. A retaliation for his insolence against the Dark Lord. He would die tonight, but he would die fighting. He reached the foyer somewhat breathless, Ginny trailing behind him, when he heard pounding on the door.
"Draco! Don't answer it." Ginny pleaded in a whisper.
He stepped to the door. "I doubt seriously Death Eaters have the decency to knock."
With that he jerked the door open to find Harry standing there. It took a second for him to register that it was Potter standing at his door in the middle of the night, a smirk beset on his face. When he did come to the realization, he wanted nothing more than to punch him.
"Bloody hell are you on?" Draco spat.
Harry stared at him for a second and then lifted his hand. In it he gripped a piece of parchment. An important parchment. "This."
Draco gasped and he reached for it, but Harry was too fast and Draco nearly tumbled in front of him.
"Ah, ah. You gonna let me in, or shall I just make a late night trip to the Minister?"
Draco regained his composure and moved begrudgingly so Harry could step in. He knew he fucking had it. Draco sent a glare towards Ginny, his mind beginning to contemplate if she knew Potter did have the parchment. She caught his glare and looked wide-eyed at him.
Oh she's good. Faking as if she had no idea. She probably slept with him on the desk... Draco shook those thoughts out of his head and focused back on Potter.
"Where'd you get that? Give it back!"
Harry stepped back. "Nope, not yet. Few questions first."
Draco gripped his wand to hex him but before he knew it Potter had his pointed to his heart.
"Careful Malfoy, wouldn't want an AK to slip out of here."
Draco growled and relaxed his stance. He motioned towards the paper gripped in Harry's fist. "You have no idea what that is. Just give it to me."
"Why don't you tell me about it?" Harry raised an eyebrow. He was enjoying making Draco squirm somewhat. Standing in the foyer of his cold dark mansion, in his ugly black boxers, looking very irritable.
"And why would I do that?"
Harry shrugged. "I can think of two reasons. I will kill you. And then turn this into the Ministry."
"You haven't the guts. You'd get your ass thrown in Azkaban and kissed for killing an Auror." Draco stated simply.
It annoyed him as Harry just shrugged and gripped the paper tighter. "I've kinda on edge right now, losing my business and all. So who knows what I might do. But you however will be a stain in this nice foyer, and this will be given to the Minister after all."
"You don't even bloody trust him!"
Harry shrugged again. "I don't trust you either."
Draco rolled his eyes and dropped his head defeated. "It's my father's execution decree."
Harry frowned and held out the paper towards Draco. "Uncharm it and prove it. No fancy moves. You either Ginny."
Ginny watched the scene unfold. Draco stared at him, hating Potter with every fiber he could muster, but he knew he was defeated. He slowly lifted his wand, drew a breath and flicked his wand. The ink spread across the parchment and Harry read it aloud. "Decree of execution for Lucius Malfoy."
Ginny came over towards them slowly and looked at Draco. He was pale and his eyes red. She turned back to Harry. "How did you get that?"
"He stole it just like I told you." Draco spat.
"I didn't. I never left the foyer and you know that Ginny."
"He didn't I swear." She turned toward the pale man who just turned his back towards her.
"As if I would believe either of you."
Ginny felt an ache in her chest and she backed away. She fought the tears that threatened her eyes.
Harry didn't pay much attention as he continued reading the parchment. "Draco's just careless with his things. Why are you hiding this?"
"That's none of your business." He hissed. "You just opened up a can of worms without knowing what it was."
Draco stormed away passing Ginny and Harry to go back up the stairs. He paused and a flash of jealousy went across his face. "Ginny come back to bed."
Ginny looked at Harry, her eyes watering and she slowly turned and walked up the stairs past Malfoy, who was just standing there.
Harry shifted his feet in the empty foyer, and then turned to the door. He stopped and turned back around facing Malfoy. "Fine, I bet the Minister would-"
"Wait." Draco turned on his heel and walked back in front of Harry. He took a deep breath to calm his rage. "Ok, here it is, Potter. My father was to be executed. I stole that so he wouldn't be. Happy?"
Harry chuckled bitterly. "So your true colors are shown. You still have a soft spot for murderers. How sweet."
"You don't know anything about me. Don't ever presume to, got it? My father wants to be a martyr for the cause, he's begging for death. I'm making sure he lives and suffers every moment."
"Am I supposed to believe that?"
Draco stepped dangerously close to Harry. "At this moment, I don't care what you believe. No one wants to see that monster in pain more than me."
"So why you don't want Coogle to sign this?"
"I want him to be tortured, just like he tortured me and my mum for 18 years. I hate him like you hated Voldemort. My mum died trying to protect me. She died because of him. Sound familiar?"
Harry stared at him, knowing that he truly understood Draco's rage. "Were Crabbe and Goyle supposed to be executed too? Why didn't you just go to Coogle and-"
"Yes, but their sons did the same as me. We were in it together. But now they have escaped. And go to Coogle and say what? Please don't murder my Daddy?"
"You don't trust him either, do you?"
"You've been hexed stupid. He's my superior. I trust him." Draco didn't know if that were true or not. Too many things have happened. He was beginning to question things himself.
Harry looked at Draco and frowned. "You don't sound convincing. Do you think your father might know how or why they escaped?"
"I don't know. Shouldn't you be home, with your wife…whose bookstore just burned down yesterday?" Draco sneered.
"She's with Ron and Luna. She's safe, and I need to find out how to catch these bastards before they kill someone. So either you help me, Malfoy…or your father gets his wish and the Minister will find out his lapdog lies."
"Help you how?"
He watched Harry have a small lopsided grin and shoved the parchment back in his pocket. Draco gave him another look of death but that amused Harry. He just winked at Draco. "We go visit Big daddy Malfoy, tonight. I'll keep this as leverage."
Dweedle scurried into the Minister's office, his breath ragged. He had run all the way to the Ministry, jumped onto the lifts and right towards Coogle. He panted as he stood still and looked over to see the old man staring out of his window.
"Sir," he wheezed as he clutched a piece of parchment in his hands.
"Yes?"
"We have some news."
Coogle didn't turn, he looked straight ahead out of his window. "Good news I hope."
Dweedle nodded mostly to himself, as he padded closer to the Minister's desk. "Yes sir. Well...at least I think it is."
With that, Coogle turned slightly and sneered at Dweedle. "I'll be the judge of that."
The wheezing Auror dropped his head and nodded, scared to meet the eyes of his superior. He focused instead on the piece of parchment in front of him and read aloud. "As you know, I've been tailing Potter."
"Yes."
"And tonight he was at Malfoy Manor."
Coogle stared blankly for a moment and walked over to his desk. "Go on…"
"I used a sneak-o-scope to hear their conversation. Apparently, Potter found a bewitched parchment, Ministry property that Malfoy has taken, concerning his father." Dweedle grinned wickedly at this, since he absolutely hated Draco Malfoy. He hated the way Malfoy thought he owned the department, when Dweedle knew he could do so much better than him. This was his chance to prove to the Minister that Malfoy couldn't be trusted.
"What about his father? Is it the parchment I thought was missing? The parchment you failed at recovering?"
Dweedle winced at the harshness of Coogle's words and nodded solemnly. "Yes sir, it seems it is. Apparently Draco wasn't too careful with it, somehow Potter got a hold of it. Needless to say Draco was not happy knowing Potter has it."
"And now what?"
"They are headed to Azkaban. Potter's idea. To see Lucius Malfoy. We don't know what Lucius is capable of. And who knows, they might plot together to bring back the wrath of You-Know-Who! Malfoys are not known for their loyalty, Minister! I employ you, let me handle Malfoy now."
Coogle's face dropped into a frown and he turned away from Dweedle. "No. Let tonight happen."
"But sir, it's treason and we must-!"
Again the Minister shot Dweedle a silencing glare and turned back to the window, the lights of London mesmerizing him. "This is perfect. I want them to see Lucius Malfoy. Stay on Potter. For I feel I have to stay one step ahead of him at all times. And keep an eye on Malfoy too. He's certainly smarter than I give him credit for."
"Yes sir."
"What of his wife? And the bookstore?"
"Completely destroyed. I think…I think the young squib that was inside is in a bad way. The wife, Hermione Potter, well, I believe she is with friends. A Mr. Ronald-"
"Weasley. Yes. And Luna Lovegood." Coogle finished, his back to the window.
Dweedle breathed deeply as he shook his head. He suddenly had a groggy feeling. "Sir?"
"I'd like to be alone now. Go…stay on Potter and Malfoy."
The Auror gave a small incline of his chin and hustled out of the office.
"Bugger! Bugger! Bugger, Bugger!" Screeched Luna. The teapot whistled loudly and she huffed loudly. She swiped a dishrag and picked up the pot.
Ron peaked from around the corner, "you alright, luv?"
"I'm fine, stupid tea pot. I hate it. Stupid Muggle contraption."
Luna honestly was taking out her frustration the teapot. Everything Harry and Hermione had worked so hard for, gone. And for what? Now Harry was off ready to hex the buttocks off of Malfoy and Hermione was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Ron nodded and entered the kitchen. "Well, Hermione liked tea made the Muggle way."
Luna poured the steaming brew into three mugs. "How is she?"
She watched as her loving redheaded beau leaned against the counter. "Pissed. Distraught, worried…did I mention pissed?" He picked up one of the cookies Luna had prepared. "I think she's going to clock Harry when he finally comes home."
"Where do you suppose he went? He hurried into the office, dropped the bomb that her precious store got blown to bits, and nearly smothered her to death with hugs and left her here with us."
"She's going to hex his balls off." Ron quipped.
Harry came banging on her office door, his face distraught. He told Hermione the news, and she looked devastated, not only because of the store but because Amy didn't fair well either. Hermione cried relentlessly, and Harry did his best to comfort her before he suddenly jumped up, ranting about seeing Malfoy and beating him to death. Luna escorted an emotional Hermione back to flat where Ron was waiting, surprised Harry had left his wife in such a condition. Not that Ron minded, hell he wanted to tag along. But it was in the middle of the night and Hermione was a nervous wreck.
He peeked back to the lounge where she sat on the couch, sniffling.
"She's still crying."
Luna frowned and grabbed up the tray. "Maybe this will make her feel better."
They both cautiously walked towards her. Hermione's face was red from crying. She blew her nose and stared at them.
"Everything, fucking gone! Everything!"
"Hermione!"Ron looked shocked at Hermione's use of language and he turned to Luna.
She sighed heavily and then gave him the tray. She sat beside Hermione and rubbed her back. "Now, now…"
"I mean, what else could bloody go wrong? Are we going to find Hedwig beheaded? Maybe they will pop over and kill my parents-oh god, I didn't mean that! Mum! I have to call my mum and dad!"
"I called them Hermione. They know and they wanted to come over, I told them maybe Harry can bring you in the morning." Ron replied. He set the tray in front of her and tried to comfort her with Luna.
"Harry…" Hermione whimpered. "I'm going to kill him! How dare he leave me with this! Our bookstore! Amy, oh Merlin Amy!"
She began to sob again. Luna and Ron exchanged looks.
"Where did he go Ron?"
"To see Malfoy."
Hermione stared at Ron for a minute. "What was so bloody important he had to leave me to go talk to Malfoy?!"
Ron looked down, away from her piercing glare. "You know how Harry gets when he wants answers. I reckon, Malfoy's got answers, he surely knows something about these attacks. Being the Minister's bloody lapdog and all. Bloody sodding git."
Hermione gasped. "Ron, language!"
He looked increduously at her. She just cursed not even five seconds before but he didn't mention it. Instead he focused on calming her. In truth, he wondered why Harry felt the need to rush off as well. "He's trying to protect you. When he saw the bookstore on fire Hermione, he was so scared you were dead. I'm sure he thought you were dead. You know how he is, all impulse."
Hermione started to sob again and Ron looked back at Luna. He didn't know what to do. Whatever Harry was up to must be big. He would have never left Hermione in such a fragile state.
Luna pulled the crying witch into an embrace."We can go see Amy tomorrow. Before you go see you parents."
Hermione sniffed. "Yes. Her poor parents. And she couldn't even defend herself, she was a squib, I shouldn't have left to come see you Luna!"
"Hermione-" Luna went to interrupt , seeing that now she was just babbling emotionally and well...that could not be good. But Hermione continued anyway.
"I mean, first the attack, the poison, then the bookstore, and now the problem with the baby, Harry's going to go over the edge and I-"
"Hermione!" Luna squeaked, and Hermione paused suddenly realizing what she'd just done.
"What.problem.with.the.baby?" Ron asked slowly, his eyes going from Luna to Hermione.
Luna grimaced. She hadn't told Ron yet. Hermione realized that too and began sobbing harder.
"Oh shit." She cried.
Draco's cloak whipped around the hall and Harry walked the same pace. He could tell Draco was nervous, scared, and pissed. He had left Ginny at the manor, confused and upset, and she looked at Harry as if she was expecting him to comfort her. Harry simply stayed on subject, knowing he had a wife he desperately wanted to get home to, to console, but he needed answers first.
He noticed Draco stop abruptly, and turn to face him. His face was pale, and he looked as if he was going to vomit at any moment. Was he that scared of his father?
"Look Potter, maybe you shouldn't go in."
"Oh, I'm coming in. Are you-are you crying?" Harry looked at his face with amusement.
"Don't be stupid. No, I'm not crying. Look, my father won't bode well with seeing you there. He might clam up."
"Well, then you're an Auror, use your interrogation skills to make him talk."
Harry watched Draco through a nasty look at him before whipping back around. "You're becoming a true pain in my ass. And you'll give me the parchment when it's all said and done with?"
"Maybe."
Harry chuckled as Draco growled at him. He wanted to make him squirm a bit. They finally entered the cold stone entrance. An old blind man sat at a desk, and Harry sucked in a breath. He was almost skeletal.
"Prisoner?"
"Malfoy, Lucius." Draco muttered.
"Visitor?"
"Malfoy, Draco and...?" Draco replied and looked back at Harry to follow suit.
"Potter, Harry."
"Wands?"
"No fucking way I'm leaving my wand…with him." Harry whispered at Draco.
The old man sat up. "Then you do not enter."
Draco gave a smirk and handed his wand to the man, with Harry hesitantly following suit.
The old man nodded and turned to the giant steel door. He hit several random ancient runes marked on the door, and it swung open. Malfoy entered and Harry briskly followed. The door slammed shut and inside the corridor, tortured screams pierced their ears.
Malfoy turned to the left and another skeleton nodded at him and pointed.
"This way." Draco whispered back to Harry. "The Dead who owed debts are now guarding Azkaban. We still have a few Dementors to employ the kiss, but they are kept locked away."
"Right." Muttered Harry. He followed Draco in an empty room and the door slammed behind them. Inside the room sat a metal table and three chairs. They both took a seat and waited.
Harry glanced at Malfoy and watched him nervously shift in his seat. "Nervous?"
"I haven't seen this son of a bitch in years. I'm not nervous, I'm afraid I might want to kill him."
"You hate your father that much?"
"Surely you can't be that thick. You have met my father, I assume? You aren't the only one who had a fucked up childhood Potter. You don't hold the bloody title or anything."
Harry went to say something to Malfoy when he heard a faint pop and looked across the table to see Lucius sitting in front of him. Harry had to admit he was taken back by his haggard appearance. The man who was once mystical and strong, stood before him, sickenly skinny, pale, dirty, and broken. His pale eyes were sunken in and he glared at the pair.
Draco looked back just as shocked as Harry. His father's hair was missing in patches, and stringy and matted where the rest remained. He almost looked dead. He was even more shocked to hear his father speak.
"Draco, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Draco had to swallow the lump in his throat. His rage and hatred began to choke him as he stared at the man who abused him since birth. Who offered to sacrifice him tot he Dark Lord. The man who allowed his mother to be murdered. "I-I need some information from you."
"Do you?" Lucius perked up. He smiled and his rotten teeth made Draco shudder. "And why do you think I will answer you? You sorry excuse for a Malfoy. Look at you..." Lucius turned to Harry. "And hanging with Potter. My, the very definition of slumming Draco. Oh how I wished I would have sacrificed you to the war."
"Cut the shit." Draco growled. "I don't care what you think of me, tell me what you know about Crabbe and Goyle."
"And Minister Coogle." Harry added, causing Draco to frown at him.
"Like I would ever answer your questions, Potter. You disgust me. And you Draco, to come here and demand answer from me?" Lucius tsked. "You are still a stupid, stupid boy. Never worth anything. Always shying away from the greatness that was offered you, the greatness others would kill for. Such a waste."
"Well, feelings mutual." Draco spat. "Tell me what I want to know, and then we can both go on with our lives…well at least I can."
"Right, and will you finally let them kill me Draco? I know it's you keeping me from meeting my fate."
"You want to die Father? I wasn't aware evil could die so easily, but I can arrange for you to get the kiss if you answer us."
"What, are you Harry Potter's bitch now? First you hid behind that pathetic Snape, now you're tagging along with Potter," Lucius gritted through his teeth, while Harry looked over at Draco. Snape. Snape hid Draco after the invasion of Hogwarts 6th year. Harry had wondered where Draco had gone all that time, why they didn't get to confront him during the final battle.
His thoughts were interrupted by Lucius still ranting. "…Now you're mates with Potter and his mudblood wife, are you? Your cunt of a mother, Narcissa, always letting you get away with playing with dirty strays…" Lucius snickered.
Draco slammed his fist on the hard table, causing Harry to jump. His voice was dangerously low as he looked at his father with red eyes. "Look you black hearted piece of shit…tell me what I want to know and I guarantee you can get kissed tonight. Hell I'll beg for it. But don't you ever…EVER… let my mother's name leave your lips again. You put us through hell, and I will fucking hate you every day for it- dead...or alive."
Harry couldn't resist smirking. Malfoy hated his father more than he understood.
Lucius looked insulted and frowned. He was silent for a moment, causing Draco to get frustrated but then he spoke. "The doors just opened. And they walked out."
"What?" Draco shouted.
"What do you mean?" Harry quizzed.
"You wanted the truth you stupid spawn, I'm telling you! Crabbe and Goyle are not masterminds of any sort. They were freed. I don't know how or why. But they were freed."
"Impossible! The guards?!" Harry motioned to the door.
Lucius snickered. "And I am amazed they deemed you the 'Chosen One'. You don't seem too quick on the uptake."
Draco looked over to Harry. "Coogle? What about Coogle? Are you implying that Ministry officials allowed that to happen? Why would he? He's the Minister!"
"Cassius Coogle, was an enthusiast. He liked to watch. Which surprised me to learn he acquired such a position of power. But let's look at it this way, if he can, so could I." Lucius chuckled.
"So I should be worried about the Minister?"
"There's no background on him. No education. Nothing-"
Lucius looked almost maniacal. "He didn't pick sides. He wasn't going to. He was the son of a Druid and a High Wizard. He didn't need a formal education. He already had what he needed to survive. But.." Lucius picked up a roach that scattered across the table and popped it in his mouth much to the disgust of Harry and Draco. "-he's no novice. Master was very interested in Coogle. But we could never coax him over. Pity. Maybe Potter wouldn't be sitting across from me today."
"Well, maybe you should have had a better leader?" Harry hissed.
Draco stared at his father. "Crabbe and Goyle were released, they didn't escape. This doesn't make sense, someone inside the prison had to do it. Who?"
Lucius looked at his son. "Doubt you have enough brainpower to suss this one out, Draco. Now…about my kiss…"
The two men locked eyes intensely. Harry felt as if the room was going dark and everything would explode. Draco's anger and hate was so strong, and so was his father's. Draco broke it by smirking.
"Yeah about that. I'd rather fucking watch you suffer, you soulless bastard. You're already dead, I wouldn't give you the fucking satisfaction of being able to cross over. I hope you rot long and hard Father, for all the shit you put me through. This is your hell, this is your eternity."
"You lied! You said-!" Lucius began to yelp.
Draco stood and Harry did the same as they turned to leave. "I know what I said. I did lie. I learned from the best."
And with that they left a sputtering Lucius cut off by the sound of a slamming door.
"Draco-" Harry started but Draco stomped ahead, his rage evident. He was going to give Draco back the parchment.
"I don't want to talk to you right now." Draco spat, walking towards the old man to retrieve his wand, leaving Harry standing alone in the corridor.
WHACK!
"OH!" Harry grabbed his nose. "Fuck Hermione!"
"Where! Where have you been?! Do you have any idea what I'm going through right now?!" Hermione shouted. Her eyes were puffy, her hair even more frizzy than usual. Harry could tell she had been crying. Her knuckles were red from punching Harry square in the nose as she flailed her arms around.
Harry looked wide eyed at his wife and then looked over to Luna and Ron, who were just standing there doing nothing to help him.
"Told you she would clock him." Ron mumbled and Luna nodded. Ron stepped between them and turned to Hermione to calm her as Luna checked Harry's nose. "Ok…Hermione calm down."
"Calm down?! He left me! You calm HIM down!"
"Hermione…"
"I swear to Merlin Ronald, if you even mention my hormones, you'll get worse than Harry 'Leave your wife' Potter over there!"
Ron sighed and watched as Luna examined Harry.
"It's not broken." She replied, examining it as Harry watched Ron talk a yelling Hermione down.
"It's not like she didn't try." Harry muttered.
Luna stood in front of him. "She's scared. She's worried. She's pregnant. And you just left."
"I had to get ans-"
"Answers could have waited. Your wife needed you. Her whole life just got blown apart. As well as yours."
Harry closed his eyes. "I'm a git."
Luna glanced over at Ron and Hermione who was sobbing into his shoulder. "No…you're a man. A stupid, insensitive man. And a loving husband. Now, you guys are staying here tonight. Tomorrow, I will take her to see Amy and then she needs to go see her parents, got that?"
"Yes." Harry felt his heart drop at the sight of his wife.
"And the bookstore?"
"Destroyed. We'll-we'll have to start over."
"Well…" Luna replied, "We're used to that. Go lay down with her."
"Right." Harry replied and he walked past Luna and over to Ron who was holding Hermione. "'Mione?"
She sniffed and let go of Ron, allowing Harry to lift her in his arms and carry her into the spare room. Harry didn't look back at his two friends who sat exhausted and worried on their couch. He shut the door and laid her on the bed, her sobs quiet.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you. Not like this."
"No you shouldn't of. We're a team, or did you forget that?"
"Of course I didn't. I just needed-"
"It isn't just you Harry. It's me and our baby. We're a unit, so when you go traipsing off to places unknown, I'm bound to be pissed. We need to communicate and if you won't even do that-"
"I'm sorry, " he said looking down. She sniffed and wiped at her eyes.
Harry lay beside her and she snuggled into him. He stroked her hair and kissed her wet cheeks. "We'll be okay. Alright love? I'm an arse for leaving you with Luna and Ron."
Hermione wiped at her eyes. "Did you-find anything?"
"I saw Lucius Malfoy tonight in Azkaban. He-" Harry paused to take off his glasses and lay them on the night stand. "He said Crabbe and Goyle were freed somehow, not escaped."
"Oh god Harry!" she gasped into his neck. "You went with Malfoy! How?"
"The parchment, I showed him the parchment. It was his father's execution decree."
Hermione stared at him. "The parchment was charmed to hide that. But why? Malfoy is stopping his father's execution! That son of a -!"
Harry held her tighter to comfort her. "Shhhh. It's not what you think. As crazy as it sounds, I understand where Malfoy is coming from on this."
He could tell Hermione was chewing on her bottom lip. "You trust him now?"
"I'm not saying I do. I just…I saw him with his father. You just had to be there to understand the contempt he has for him. But as for everything else, I'm going to take care of it. As long as I can keep you safe ok?"
She nodded and looked up at him. "I'm not a fragile doll, Harry. We're in this together, they are attacking both of us. We're partners right?"
He smiled at her, even in the darkness of the room, he could see her beautiful face. "Of course. I love you."
She smiled and kissed her husband deeply. They loved each other more than anything and this just deepened Harry's need to protect her. The lovemaking was slow and quiet, a few murmurs of love from Harry to her, and Hermione sighed deeply and gasped as she was sent over the edge. And as she slept that night, Harry held her but he couldn't sleep. He had too much to worry about, too many questions to get the answers to.