Chapter 2
It was early in the morning when a large dark brown owl was tapping on the foggy window. Harry barely managed to open his eyes and recognize the owl that was staring at him with his green eyes. He stumbled out of bed to open the window allowing for the owl to enter and dropping a red stamp letter from the Minster right after shaking off the snow that had gathered in his wings. Harry scrunched his face at the wetness that now was on his wooden floors. Who knew how long the owl was sitting out there before being let in. He opened a small jar that sat on his cluttered desk and gave the owl a buttery biscuit before it returned to its owner. Ripping off the wax seal, Harry read through the letter. It was short and to the point but had him wondering why the Minister of Magic requested for his and Ron’s presence so early on a Saturday morning. Clearly it wasn’t something that could’ve waited until they were back in office on Monday.
”What is it?” Ginny grunted still half asleep, curled up in the bed underneath a thick wool blanket.
“Kingsley is requesting for me and Ron to visit him this morning.” He responded putting the letter on to the desk. He crawled back into the empty space and held his wife.
”On a Saturday morning? It can’t wait until Monday?” She mumbled trying to fight the sleep.
”Apparently not.” He responded as his hand was caressing her arm in a semi circle.
”Are you worried?” She asked quietly as the sleep was pulling her back.
After three months of the Scotland Ministry of Magic being formed, Harry and Ginny felt inspired with moving on with their lives. They had planned for a large wedding out in the Burrow. It was a whole week event with brunches, bridal parties, spa days, rehearsal dinners leading up to the main event. The Minster used their wedding as an invitation to other leaders of wizarding world to partake in the celebration. He had hoped bringing them here would show that Scotland was in control and had nothing to fear from their neighbors south of the border.
He remained quiet and before he knew it he could hear a small snore coming from his wife. “I don’t know yet.” He responded. It was never a good sign to receive a letter from the Minster requesting for a visit at such late notice. Over the past couple of months, he felt the anger of the country on the rise again. Over the years it always came in waves the anger but he felt himself close to being caught under one this time around. There had been no improvement on getting into Lumar. He looked over to the clock that hung on the wall and was relived that he still had a couple of hours before having to force Ron to wake up.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, thank you for meeting me at such short notice." Kingsley said as the duo walked into his office, greeting them with a friendly smile. He stood up to handshake both before returning to his seat and gesturing for them to sit as well.
"Of course, Minister." Harry responded while Ron simple just nodded at the minister.
The office was very bare compared to other offices. It had no bookshelves, no stacks of paper thrown around, not even a crumb from a snack. Just a large dark wooden desk in the middle surrounded with five maroon cushion chairs. The room was surrounded by a glass door and walls all around that would smog up from the outside when needing for a private moment.
"There has been some rising tension with the country. People are becoming restless with wanting to return to Lumar and connect back with their loved ones that were left behind."
"We've tried countless times, there isn't a way into Lumar yet. And Forget about getting in, we haven't even had contact with anyone in Lumar." Ron responded as his slouched back into the maroon chair with arms on resting on the sides.
"I don't blame them nor you either. It has been a silent 4 and half years since Lumar had been created and shut everyone out. The people are tired of waiting and they have been using you both as examples. Things need to change for the better. We need to set a better example for our people. And I am not saying to give up because we will never give up, but I need you both to stop with trying to find a way in for the time being." Ron readjusted himself and was sitting forward listening to every word that was coming out of Kingsley's mouth.
Harry and Ron both meet each other with a side glance followed by turning to look at each other trying to read each other expression before giving a nod to Kingsley.
“Why isn’t Hermione here? She’s been actively trying to find a way into the country as well. You would need all of us to agree for the people to take it seriously.”
“Miss Granger was requested as well but declined the agreement. I need you both to talk her into agreeing, I understand she's been feeling frustrated with marriage mandate. But this is bigger than the mandate. We need to stabilize the country. We are a team and need to be a united front, is that understood?”
“Yes sir.” They both responded in unison.
"Now that we have an understanding, I need you both to make the promise with an unbreakable vow."
Harry was quick to his feet followed by Ron, "I am sorry Kingsley, you want us to make an unbreakable vow? To not try to find a way into Lumar? For how long?”
"And to not leave the country as well." He responded firmly.
"Why?" Harry asked.
Kingsley let out a sigh, "The country needs stabilization. We need to keep you here for the time being. We plan on making an announcement of putting a pause on breaking into Lumar. the country will fight back but it will only be temporary, until everything settles then we can have it removed."
"You're barking. What kind of request is that?" Ron yelled back at Kingsley
"It is not a request, this is an order from your Minister. The Scotland Ministry of Magic is only over three years old. We are still trying to establish regulations and laws. With all records and documents being left behind in England. The country needs stability. We cannot have both of you still attempting to enter Lumar while trying to get everyone else to stay put. You both are honorable men, but your bleeding hearts can blind you. Please do not make this harder than it is. This decision was not taken lightly."
Six aurors dressed in all black with leather dragonhide boots, wands armed in hand stormed into the room and stood on guard while the Ministry Bonding Official stepped into the middle of the office. The glass windows quickly fogged back up to the ceiling as the door shut behind them. "Potter, Weasley let us begin." Kingsley motioned for them to step forward.
Hermione hadn’t noticed who was around as she started to get a clear view of the small run-downtown as the sun started to rise because Malfoy had found her and pulled her behind a large wooden gate. His eyes surrounded with dark circles from a long night and sweat starting to form near his temples. He brought his finger to his lips, and she could feel the fear that came off him. He was telling her to be quiet. She didn’t trust him the day before but knowing now where she was and that fact that he had found her and told her to be quiet. He firsthand would know what it is like to live in this country now and what this country would do especially to someone like her. She gave a small nod and continued to look up at Malfoy. He no longer was focused on her but past her, between the cracks of the wooden gate he was watching the movement of the town. After a few passing moments, he let out a small sigh of relief and then brought his attention back to Hermione.
Merlin and Morgana were on his side this day as they allowed his paths to cross with Hermione Granger again. He jolted his head towards the front door signaling for her to enter. She hesitated but knew she needed to get somewhere indoors.
Hermione entered the house, it had seemed small from the outside but once inside it, it was a decent size for a few people to live in. There was a small seating area with light creamed colored couches, there were a few golden frames that were hung on the wall behind one of the couches. They were of a young Draco with his parents, a picture of his parents which looked like their wedding based on the extravagant shimmery robes and pure white roses surrounding them, and one with Draco and another silver hair boy that Hermione did not recognize. She had heard rumors of an older brother, but nobody had ever mentioned him after the rumors died out and nobody had ever seen him either. The room was very simple with its dark wooden walls. But in the middle between the couches was a dark wooden coffee table where Draco placed down a bottle of fire whiskey.
She didn’t realize that he had entered the room, he chugged down a glass of whiskey before seating and extending his arm for her to sit on the opposite couch in front of the one he was seated at.
“Granger what silly suicide mission does the Order have you on?” he asked as he poured himself another drink.
“The Order didn’t send me.”
“Hmm and you want me to believe that you savior mudblood princess came across the border willingly into a country that wants you died, for no reason?” His silver storm eyes were staring right back into her eyes, never lifting as he finished his second drink, “Seems like a load of bullshit, Granger. Why are you here?”
“THE ORDER DIDN’T SENT ME.”
“Fine, let’s say the Order didn’t send you. So, who did? Potter? That must be it, you followed him all throughout Hogwarts like a lost little puppy and of course you’d let him talk you into coming to Lumar. And you’re supposed to be the brightest witch of her age.” He huffed, “I don’t even know why I am hiding you I should turn you over to the Dark Lord.” He shook his head in disbelief.
“Malfoy, I don’t even know what happened.” She paused, “I am not here because of the Order or because of Harry. I didn’t even know where I was until I ran into you and this town. I don’t even have my wand! Why would I cross the border here, get stuck into a damn tree, and not even have my wand?! Just let me cross back over, nobody knows I am here besides you. I won’t tell anyone that I ran into you. Please just let me go.” She responded back at him but not long after her stomach let out a rumble. Draco rolled his eyes.
“Down the hall to the right, clean yourself up. You are covered in filth.” He commanded as he left the room into the opposite direction of the hall.
Hermione sat there a bit longer before following his instructions once again and finding herself in his bathroom. She looked in the mirror and looked similar to who she was when her, Harry, and Ron had spent a year on the run. She washed the dirt that had dried on her face and attempted her best to remove the small branches and leaves stuck in her hair and put into a loose braid that hung over her shoulder now. She used a small white towel with water to rub her clothes a bit cleaner when she smelled something delicious and her mouth watering. How long has it been since she last ate? She hurried along and followed the scent to a small kitchen where Malfoy had walked into earlier.
Draco didn’t know what caused him to take pity on her, maybe it wasn’t pity, he just wanted her dirty body off his white couches. He had paid a fortune to bring them out here to the town and the number of times he pushed a very intoxicated Theo off them to prevent him vomiting on them was too many too count. He was shocked with how much dirt she attracted in less than 24 hours. She could’ve told him that she fought a pack of wild unicorns, and he would’ve believed her. He plated a bowl of cinnamon apple oatmeal and two scrambled eggs with toast on a plate and a steamy cup of tea on the table. He gestured again to the open seat at the table for Hermione.
The smell was too delicious to pass up. As Hermione took a seat and Draco placed down the plates, he sat in the open chair next to her. She grabbed a spoonful of oatmeal and before placing it in her mouth, she looked over to Draco. Draco didn’t have any food placed in front of him and he was sitting there watching her.
“I did not poison the food, Granger.” He mentioned, as if he could read her thoughts.
There was a loud knock on the gate outside, that caused them both to jump a little. Draco wasn’t expecting anybody. He silently walked over to a nearby window to see the unexpected guest. He rolled his eyes as he saw sand brown short curls over the top of the gate. He walked by into the kitchen where he left Hermione with. Noticing she had take some bites of the oatmeal and the toast.
"Stay here, I will get rid of him." Draco instructed before he walked swiftly out to greet his friend.
“What are you doing here, Nott?” Draco asked as he opened the gate just a creek to look at his friend.
“Ah, Drake is that how you greet your childhood best friend? Especially one that bring good news.” He pushed through the gate and hurried along inside. Draco quickly followed behind him.
“Nott, I was a bit occupied before you came unanno…”
Theo waved him off, “Draco, I know yesterday and last night was a mess with the whole losing Granger thing. But I heard there was a rumor about a female body being found in the west river, she’s about her age and described with long curly hair. Apparently, she was trying to cross back over.” He chuckled now, finding himself seated on Draco’s beloved white couches.
“Theo…”
“What clearly she deserves it for attacking you and then running off fro….”
“THEO!”
“Draco, this is good news! Hermione fucking Granger is dead! No longer our problem. You should be happier about that, you always wanted her dead anyways.” Sweet cinnamon apples filled his nostrils and Theo then remembered how he had skipped out on breakfast at the base camp when he heard the news. As he turned around to head to the kitchen, Theo was stunned to see Hermione fucking Granger. Alive. And in Draco’s apartment.
Hermione had been listening to their conversation the second that she heard their voices enter the apartment. At first it was a bit difficult to recognize the other voice but once Malfoy mentioned Theo, she pictured the quiet lanky boy from Hogwarts. He was battling second in their year with Malfoy all throughout Hogwarts. He always seemed to himself throughout the years, always observing or reading. Never getting involved with any distractions or fights. He had also grow into his wide shoulders now just like Malfoy, but his eyes, his eyes didn't have the same joy as before.
Theo is quick to aim his wand towards Hermione, “What is she doing here?”
“Theo, put your wand down.” Malfoy demanded.
Theo hesitated but remained with his wand out, “Draco, what are you doing? She can’t be here!”
Draco let out a sigh, “I know Theo. I’m still trying to figure it out. But please for the sake of Salazar, put down your wand.”
“What is there to figure out? She’s from the Order and she’s here in Lumar! Who knows what her plan is! And I’m not going to wait around and let you risk it all!” Theo’s stare did not falter from Hermione until Draco stepped between them, “Draco, please get out of my way.”
Draco shook his head, “The Order didn’t send her!”
“Bitch Potter did then!”
“No Theo, he didn’t!”
“That’s a load of bullshit Draco! And you know that!” Hermione was glad that Draco was larger than herself and Theo, she didn't feel as expose with someone pointing a wand at her anymore.
“She doesn’t even have a wand!” Draco turns back to Hermione, “Speaking of which, where is my wand, Granger?”
“I dropped it when Theo shot the killing curse at me.” She responded quietly.
“She was even trapped in a tree when I found her.”
“Draco, she could be lying! She had to have crossed over some way. She must have a reason to be here!”
“You really think I would come here voluntarily without my wand? Who in their right mind would come here?” Hermione chimed in.
“It doesn’t matter whether we should believe you Granger, accident or not you cross over border lines, you broke the treaty the Dark Lord had set. You need to be held accountable.”
Blaise and Pansy ventured out to the surrounding gates to remove the tree that Hermione had used to jump into base.
“Blaise, I say this because I do care about you, but you need to be careful with how you express your loyalty to Lumar. Theo and Draco aren’t their parents, but their support only goes so far.” Pansy waved her wand as she summoned for the chain gate to reattach itself to the other side.
Blaise flicked his wand and had the oak tree broken down into smaller wood chucks and had them brought over to their cart. He wasn’t going to have a good amount of wood go to waste especially with winter approaching.
“Love, this is not the life I have imagined with you. Too many years have gone by, and I can’t stand by and let more go when we have a chance of changing our lives.”
As the last pieces of wood had been placed on the cart, Blaise had spotted Draco’s wand, Hermione must have dropped it when she jumped over. He pocketed the wand to hand it back over to his friend. "Let's drop some wood back at the cottage and then reminder at Draco's."
"Oh yes, I am dying to get Daphne updated on last night. She is going to be so pissed she missed out. Plus I don't think Theo has made it back this morning." She slipped her wand back into her holster.
"Harry! Ron!" Ginny shouted once she entered through the front door.
Both Ron and Harry were in the kitchen discussing further meal plans with Kreacher when they heard her yell. "In the kitchen, Ginny!" Harry shouted back. Quick and loud foot steps were approaching them.
"Have any of you seen this?" She asked waving the Scotland Daily Prophet in the air, both boys shook their head no. "Hermione Granger reported stepping down from her active role in the Ministry. Although Miss. Granger has not been available to provided us further detail. Minster Kingsley Shacklebolt has provided us with Miss Granger abandoning any hope of breaking into Lumar. Too much time has passed in her personal opinion and no word on if she will return in the foreseeable future."
"Where are you going mate?" Ron asked while Harry as he slammed his phone down and now was zipping up his jacket and trying to pull out his gloves from his pockets.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to look for Hermione. She isn't answering her phone. There is no way she would step down without telling us. Are you coming with me or not?" Harry asked checking for his wand in his holster.
"You go to her studio and around her neighborhood. I will check with Professor McGonagall and Neville to see if they have heard from her."
Ginny runs into the kitchen and starts to throw up.
"Ginny!" Harry followed behind her.
"I'm fine, I just.. I feel so nauseous to even think that something has happened to Hermione. I knew she was upset with the marriage mandate but not enough to quit." She took the towel Harry handed to her to wipe of the remaining mess from her mouth. "I will stay here in case she comes by, but please let me know if you hear something." The boys hesitated leaving her behind but gave a nod and a kiss on the forehead before leaving.
"I cannot believe nobody came and got me! I could've helped with the search!" Daphne shut their gate to follow Pansy and Blaise.
"Sorry Daph, Theo said you weren't feeling well last night." Blaise replied and placed his arm around both the girls as his magic pulled the wood cart with them as they travel to Draco. They all lived on the outskirts of the town which made it easier for them to get to their friend. The dirt path was less crowded than downtown with the muggles and Death Eaters circling in and out of their daily routines. Daphne let out a soft hum in response.
"There is rumors of a female body being founded near the west river. Do you think it could've been her?" Blaise asked the girls.
"I would believe so, the body they found is around our age and long curly hair. And didn't you say that she didn't have her wand? She had no way to defend herself out there." Daphne responded back quietly remembering how much Hermione had intrigued her in school. The life she had fought so hard for to be ended just like that. In a unknown country, without her magic, all alone.
The group can hear shouting coming from inside Draco's living quarters, they rushed through the front door to find Theo aiming his wand to the one and only Hermione Granger and Draco standing in the middle defending her. Daphne was the first one by Theo's side, whispering her pleas to him. Minutes had passed before she was able to remove the wand from his hand.
"Everyone sit, now." Daphne instructed everyone, who at first hesitated with moving at first but all took a seat within the kitchen. Hermione found herself sitting in between Malfoy and Parkinson. Blaise had slide over Draco's wand, and was greeted with a thankful half smirk. He made sure to seat near Theo incase he needed to step in from another face off.
“We could just…” Theo started while eyeing Hermione as she tensed.
“No!” Blaise cut off grab Hermione’s arm to hold her from hiding away.
“But we can, I don’t know why you’re not thinking it. We can kill her, and nobody would know. Problem solved.” Theo added.
“Theo, you know you don’t believe in that bullshit.” Blaise snipped back.
“Blaise.” Pansy pleaded.
“No, don’t Blaise me. Before there was no hope. He keeps on such a short leash, it was nearly impossible to even think about it. But Granger is here. She is here in Lumar. She is the brightest witch of our age. She could get us out, don’t you see? We don’t have to live like this anymore.”
Everyone sat there silently taking in his words. He was right, nobody had even dared to think about fleeing Lumar. It was mandatory for each member to submit to weekly legilimens sessions and even a surprise session.
“No,” Draco added, “we will not kill her.” Blaise started to smile widely, “but we aren’t letting her stay here. We need to send her back to Scotland.”
The smile on Blaise’s face faded as fast it appeared.
“I am sorry my dear friend, but there is too much to risk by letting her stay here and to bring down Lumar.”
Blaise kicked up from his seat and slammed it forward and walked outside. Pansy was about to follow but Draco stepped in front of the door blocking her exit.
“You know how much of a risk it is, Pans. If we are discovered or if all fails. They wouldn’t just simply kill us. They’d torture us and our families and anybody who ever been in contact with. We'd all simply just disappear into their depths of madness in our own body and minds.” Pansy acknowledged that Draco was correct, it would be too much of a risk for them all to have Granger here attempting to set them all free.
“You don’t think it’s strange that Kingsley would make us swear to an unbreakable vow?” Ron asked.
“Oh, it is strange, I am trying to find out why he would demand us to make that kind of vow.” Harry responded as he placed his drink down on the the table. The loud music from the live muggle band drowned out their conversation. They had discovered this bar one night two years ago when they were what was called bar hopping. It had quickly became their favorite bar, it was hidden in the muggle world. Far away from anyone from the wizarding world to stumble upon them trying to have a normal night.
“You know what else is strange? Hermione leaving the ministry. If anybody still had hope of getting into Lumar, it was her.” He smiled tightly at the waitress who placed two glasses of beer on the table.
“I have tried reaching out to her. But nothing. I checked her apartment, the floo is shut. She isn't answering any messages or calls. Even tried the park around the corner where she would feed the ducks on her spare time even the small little bookstore down the street. She might've been a whole lot angrier with the marriage mandate that is coming out soon than she lead on.”
“Professor McGonagall and Neville haven't heard anything form her wither. They were both a bit surprised with the article in the prophet of her stepping down. And if she is angry with the mandate I don't blame her, who would want to be tied with that tosser. I mean it could be worse, she could've be with that prat Draco Malfoy.”
Harry chocked on his beer, "Oh Ron, we all know it's you wanting to be tied with Draco Malfoy."
"Harry this is serious."
"I know Ronald. Just make sure to include me when you and Malfoy tie the knot." He chuckled and then continued drinking his beer.
"Harry, I swear I will hex your bullocks if you bring him up one more time. I say one time that I envy the colour of his hair and you never let me live it down. Do you have any idea how hard it is to look presentable when my hair clashes with my clothing? It isn't easy having red hair, just ask Ginny." He begins to pat his hair off to the side.
They both quiet down when they saw someone from the corner of their eyes approaching them. It was Lavender Brown. Her blonde curls were a scattered matted mess, barely being held back by a bright glittery pink butterfly clip. She had dark circles under her eyes. To add to her lack of sleep her shoes hadn’t matched nor did her outfit. She always gave off the impression of caring about her appearance. She carried with her countless documents and articles from the Daily Prophet in her hands.
“Hey Lav, how are you?” Ron asked, still eyeing her disaster of an outfit. Ron and Lavender had been in a rough on and off relationship for the past five years. Lavender was very clingy and never fully understood when they were on their off time. And he made it perfectly clear they were off during this time.
Harry wasn’t sure if he should stay, based off her appearance, she was most likely about to cause a scene about her and Ron needing to get back together. He didn’t not like Lavender, but all her emotions were always heighten and overwhelmed Harry.
“Not good… and I don’t know how either of you are.”
Both Harry and Ron looked at each other briefly, unsure what she meant by that.
“Hermione leaving? I am not buying what the Prophet or what Kingsley are putting out there about her. I have been doing some digging, she talks to her parents about every day, so I figured she would go to them. Her parents are in Australia, correct?”
Harry nodded now thankful he decided to stay.
“I got in contact with her parents, she isn’t there. They hadn’t heard from her before the last training session. That was eight days ago.”
“WHAT?!” Harry yelled, “Are you sure?”
Ron sat there speechless, Hermione loves her parents and had always made sure to be in contact with them whether it was letters or using a muggle phone to hear their voice. He took a hard swallow and looked at his other best friend, “Harry?”
Harry was now fidgeting with his fingers, clearly his mind was racing. He was trying to think if that was truly the last time anybody has really seen or heard from her. It was common due to her work that she would be out of the country for days at a time. But her parents were a different story, she had always found time for them. “Could we move this somewhere private?”
Lavender put down her paperwork and looked at the duo, surprised that they were wanting to move elsewhere. She nodded her head and by then Ron had cleared their tab and were ready to leave. As they left the bar and turned to the nearby apparition point, Ron had grabbed Lavender and brought her to Grimmauld Place.
Ginny emerged from the kitchen and into the living room, “Hello lo.. oh Lavender. I didn’t know you and Ron were back together again.” Ginny eyed Harry as she went in for a hug with Lavender and mouthed to him what is she doing here?
“We aren’t together.” Lavender responded sharply.
“We ran into Lav at the Thistle Street, and she was mentioning some curious things about Hermione.” Ron explained to Ginny.
“Oh?” Ginny curiously looked over to Lavender.
“Yes, I was telling them that Hermione hasn’t been in touch with her parents in eight days.”
“I'm sorry what did you say?” Ginny frantically looking back and forth between their faces hoping she heard wrong.
"I already went looking for her but nothing. No answers from her phone, her house, the book store."
"Even the park around the corner with all the wildflowers and cute ducks?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, even the park around the corner with the cute little ducks." Harry answered.
Ginny stormed over to the near by fireplace, throwing in a handful of dust for the floo. "Studio 605, Glasgow." she yelled out. The fiery green flames transitioned to a blood red and died out, confirming Hermione's floo was shut. A shiver ran down her back and she turned slowly back to the group.
"I spoke with Kingsley a few days ago and he stated that she had gone out of the country to see her parents.”
Ginny’s eyes were widened open, and she turned to look at both her brother and husband.
“We brought you here because there is more that is happening."
"Kingsley forced Harry and I to an unbreakable vow to stop with our not leave the country.”
“What?!” Lavender dropped her belongs, allowing for the papers to scatter all on the floor and the nearby end table. "When did this happen?"
“It was the morning after training but we honestly didn’t know it at the time that she had been gone. Kingsley kept mentioning that there was a uprising with people trying to get into Lumar and attacking the ministry for allowing the separation to happen for so long. It is leading Scotland into a the brink of a war within itself.”
“Did he mention anything about Hermione?” Lavender asked.
“He only mentioned that she decline and needed to talk her into agreeing into the vow, something about being a united front. But this could be the real reason he demanded us to take the vow. He didn’t want us to leave to find Hermione.”
“If she isn’t with her parents, where would she go?” Ginny asked, "Maybe she went to visit Krum? She had always mentioned about wanting to go out to see him. They been in contact all these years."
“I didn’t make the vow….” Lavender mentioned before Ron had cut her off.
“No! Whatever you are thinking Lav, you can’t go!”
“You don’t have a say! You and Harry both made an unbreakable vow to not leave the country. And we aren’t together. What if she needs our help?” She starts to pull out at the skin around her already raw fingernails.
“This is Hermione Granger you are talking about.” Ginny snapped back.
“Yes, I know, and I know nobody could compare to the brilliant warrior goddess of Hermione Granger. But this is not like her. I know you have no real reason to think I would want to help because of my not so easy friendship with her. But I have known her as long as you all and I can feel it in my soul, something is happening to her. You have to admit something is happening here, the vow you both were forced to make and her apparently out of the country, if the Minster is telling the truth about her being out of the country, how coincidental was it that he so happened to force you into a vow to not leave the country after she has gone? This isn't about the stupid marriage law, something dark is happening and she's in the middle of it!”
Growing up Lavender always admired Hermione and hoped for a strong connection with her. But their personalities had always clashed with each other more than Lavender hoped, leaving Hermione in little interest in putting extra attention into their so called friendship.
“Why cant you sneak me back to the line. You don’t have to get me across, I can figure it out from there.” Hermione asked as she watched the group of snakes in and out of the kitchen, placing plates and bowls and savory foods on the table.
“That’s not possible.” Pansy responded back with just as she poured herself a glass of wine.
Hermione let out a huff and looked around desperately hoping someone who come to their senses and help her back.
Pansy took a sip of her wine, “We just completed our rotational switch, there is a new team out there as of today.”
“Yes, the El Alacran team. They are venomous and not ones to be trifled with.” Daphne added now seating herself down at the table as well.
Hermione sunk back into her chair and took a bite of the roasted potatoes. She was surprised with how delicious it was and practically melted in her mouth. She didn't think it was possible for snakes to be better cooks than her Gryffindor friends.
After a few moments of silence from everybody enjoying their steaks and vegetables, Draco had made a face to Theo, hoping that he would give in to his silent plead.
“No , we don’t have room for her to stay with us. She will have to remain here with you.” Theo said out loud and then took another bite of his steak.
“I agree, even if we had the room for another body, you have the better advantage of privacy here. It farther out of the town than ours and nobody would even dare to come out her unless its the search team.” Daphne nodded her head in agreement with Theo.
It was now Draco’s turn to let out a huff and of course added his signature of rolling his eyes with it.
The resumed with their meals. It was silent and awkward at first, but once Theo started to choke on a poorly cut piece of meat all hell broke. Pansy had jumped up from her seat to save Theo, Daphne had started to freak out and Draco simply rolled his eyes as the mess continued. After Theo successfully passed down the meat, the girls had burst out in laughter and continued as if Hermione wasn’t there. Once dinner was done, they all effortlessly cleaned the kitchen together, passing pots, pans, and plates and resetting the dining table.
“We need to head out for the evening.” Pansy announced as she dried her hands on a kitchen towel. Theo and Daphne had both agreed and headed out and Draco disappeared down the hallway.
Hermione stood awkwardly in the kitchen now knowing what to do next, of course she didn’t expect Malfoy to show her a grand tour of the place, but she also didn’t expect him to just leave her.
Draco had return back with a clean set of folded clothes and attempted to hand them over to her. She remained still and only gave him two blinks before he let out a long deep sigh.
“If you think that I am going to let you sleep on my couches in those clothes of yours, you are severely wrong Granger. Take the clothes or sleep on the floor.” He set the clothes on the edge of the couch before turning back to what she suspected was his room. Once she heard the click of his door shut, Hermione picked up the folded clothes and headed towards the bathroom. She stood in front of the mirror processing not only was she in Lumar but in the home of a Death Eater. Granted at least this Death Eater did not want to kill her based off the conversations from earlier today. He even giver het a set of clean clothes even if he used the excuse of dirtying his white couches.
Despite being feed, hidden, and with a clean set of clothes, Hermione found it difficult to find sleep. If anything she seemed more on guard than the night before. She worried for the chance of one of them turning their back and turning her in or even killing her. If she could bet on anybody it would be Theodore Nott. He was more on edge than anybody here, she could feel it when he was cutting his steak while glaring at her. That is for sure the reason why he wasn't paying attention to the giant piece of steak he put into his mouth. He was careful with ho he responded to the conversations with his friends. If a week ago she would've thought about finding herself in this situation she would have placed all her money on either Draco or Pansy for waiting her died.
The house was quiet, she could hear the hoots of the owls from outside and then the grandfather clock in the kitchen chime when midnight came around. She wondered if Malfoy had gone to sleep or if he would working out a plan on what to do with her. He did say at dinner he wasn't going to kill her and to send her back, but Theo was right it would be a whole lot easier for them to just kill her. There would be no risk of anybody finding out that they allowed an intruder to cross the border. Cross the border. How did she cross the border she started to wonder. She remembered she was at a training session with the Order members, they had everyone practicing their flying. Which might be the reason she was stuck in the tree. But what happened to her wand? Training wasn't even close to the border incase the Death Eaters finally came back, so how did she end up miles away, across the border especially without her wand? She could feel the tension of a headache growing in her front temples. She needed to sleep but how can she trust Malfoy? After the clock stroke midnight she never heard it go off again, maybe Malfoy had chimed it to stop during the night since she was used to clock always setting off a each hour. It made it hard to tell how much time had passed and she found herself frozen on the couch. She can feel how heavy her eyelids were getting but her mind was too awake to allow her to slip into sleep.
"Granger, does your mind ever just shut up?"
Hermione jumped not expecting to hear his voice, it was still dark in the house but she could see his silvery hair as he moved from the hallway into the living room. He had sat down and started to lace up his boots. She could hear her heart beating in her ears.
"I am headed into office today and then to hopefully find a way out for you. If you know what's good for you, you will stay indoors. Do not open the door for any reason, do not trust anybody besides the group. I am moving the phone from my room into the kitchen. And before you even think about it, the phone only works for calls in Lumar. I have it programmed for you to get in contact with me in the office if you need me, you just have to dial one. And don't ever answer the phone if it ring, nobody knows you are here and we don't want other people finding out about you, we cannot risk it. Also this is for you." He placed a small bag on the coffee table. She gave a small nodded as he disappeared through the door, she waited until she heard the gate shut. It just like that she felt her tiredness win as her eyes shut.
It was routine to use the train back and forth from camp to base. It was originally part of the route that was used between Hogwarts and Kings Crossing but over the years additional tracks were added and allowed for other non Death Eaters to use the train for travel within the country. Not many had the opportunity to own a vehicle and even then the Dark Lord only allowed for his top leaders to have the privilege of owning one. It helped separate the class and power to those truly loyal to the Dark Lord. The Malfoy's were among those privileged with this luxury but he rarely ever brought his vehicle on to camp. Even with it's improvements to meet the pureblood's standards, he never found himself in its submission. If anything he had missed being able to fly his broom, being able to feel the wind flowing through his hair, being so close to touch the stars in the night sky. But that was no longer a possibility in his new country no matter how far his loyalty was. Draco enjoyed his time on the train, he found comfort in being able to stare out the window to process thoughts or to be lost in a different life that could've existed. He always found himself grateful for the times he was alone with his team on the train. The ride from camp to base was only a bit over an hour. Once arriving, Draco stepped out to the platform and closed his outer coat. His office wasn't too far from the station, since his rotation just ended he most likely had a paperwork to complete.
Two soldiers stood near the exit of the platform, one with a clipboard marking never looking up and the other watching as people walked by mouth moving to the clipboard man. His brown eyes swept through the crowd until they landed on Draco. "Sergeant Malfoy?"
"Yes." Draco replied while bowing his head down and moving out of the walking pathway.
"He's here." The man reported into a small device resting on his upper chest. In just a matter of seconds Draco was surrounded with a group of death eaters he had not recognized. He knew it was better to cooperate as two soldiers grabbed a hold of each arm and another searched him for weapons and removed his wand from the holster and began to walk him away. He can feel his trembling heart beat fade away as his emotions were being locked in. He needed to lock any and all memories of the last 72 hours away.
"Ah what poor soul do we have in here today?" The man asked as he entered through the door to view who was sitting on the other side of the glass.
"Crucio!" A man shouted putting Draco under the cursed, he grabbed the arms of the chair until his fingers lost its pinkness.
"Malfoy?" The peppered hair man shouted before leaving the room to find himself with the integrators. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Major Auclair!" The men all shouted and bowed their heads. Followed by them trying to avoid getting hit with slicing spell that were coming from the Major.
"Do you have any idea who this?" Major Auclair shouted, grabbing what looked to him as the main integrator by his collar. "Untie him, NOW!"
"Major, he is just a worthless sergeant from the camp."
"That is Sergeant Malfoy, the last remaining son of our War General Lucius Malfoy!"
"WHAT?! No, no his files were empty. He had no family listed."
"And why do you think that was, you fool!" Major Auclair released his grip on the man's neck allowing him to catch his breath before hitting him with a crucio. The man shrieked in pain, losing control of his whole body as it shook and his arms fletching in all directions. His muscles were starting to spasm, making him crash down on to his knees and then down to his side. Major Auclair kneeled down and started to look through the man's jacket, until he found Draco's wand.
"This isn't some game, the amount of money you have taken this time from the ministry won't go unnoticed."
"Uncle you need to relax. I just needed something to hold me over while make the money back up."
"Cormac, you foolish little boy man. You keep gambling away you inheritance and then you take money from the Ministry. And it's now finally catching up with you. The Minister has started to notice some missing funds from the treasury and demanded for an inventory of it all. It's a matter of days until they have the final numbers." Tiberius could not believe how utterly stupid and childish his nephew had become over the years.
"And you will take care of it like you always do uncle." He replied with a smug smile on his face.
"Not this time Mac, you will replace the missing sum yourself. I am done with covering for you." His uncle finished his drink, placing the glass back on its holder. Cormac slid his feet off from the wooden desk and composed himself in his seat.
"What? We are family! Families wouldn't set me up for failure."
"Families wouldn't put their families in this kind of position. If I cover for you again, I would be putting my position with the Ministry at risk. You digged your own grave Mac." He laid a hand Cormac's shoulder as a signal of departure and was ready to leave the office.
"Uncle," Cormac stood up and grabbed his uncle's forearm, "I don't have the money anymore. I gambled it away. I have no way in making sure it's replaced."
"I'm sorry Mac but I am serious, I am done helping you. Keep yourself safe, rumours are Kingsley isn't as lenient as before." Before leaving Tiberius pulled Cormac's blazer to properly sitting in front of his chest and readjusted his tie.
"Do you have any idea how fucked we are going to be?" The man shouted through the phone.
"Oh Nicholas what are you complaining about now?" The shrink voiced asked annoyed.
"Sergeant Malfoy is your nephew! He is also the only living son of our top general Lucius Malfoy! Do you have any idea what his father will do to me when he founds out that you had me bring his son in for questioning?"
Bellatrix let out a sinister laugh, "You really didn't recognize the family name Malfoy or the pristine silver hair? You really are a pillock you know that. Plus my dear old nephew is no stranger to integrations, he knows they are mandatory."
"This wasn't a normal integration Bellatrix and you know that. We dragged him away, stripped him of his magic. We tortured for him for hours. We didn't even get a chance to enter his mind or ask any questions before we were interrupted by Major Auclair. They are going to tell his father. I have heard of the vile things he can do. I am not going down for this alone Bellatrix."
"Oh shut it. We were following orders from Our Great Dark Lord. He suspects there to be a traitor in the camp. Draco isn't crossed off the list of possibilities just because who he is related to until he is checked. His father knows that. I will handle this."
"How?" Nicholas demanded but all he heard was the click on the call ending.
"Thank you Major Auclair." Draco mentioned stepping outside.
"Drop the formalities Draco. To you I am Henry, we are basically family. The Dark Lord has a lot of new donkeys who have no idea which way is north and south." Henry had pulled out a cigarette and placed in between his lips allowing for Draco to light it for the older man. Standing under the canopy they saw a group of soldiers pile into a jeep and take off down the street. "Must be that time of the month."
"Time of the month?" Draco asked as the dirt from the jeep filled the air.
"For the routine search at camp." He huffed out puff of smoke.
Draco felt his chest tighten, the team most likely still be here on base somewhere leaving Hermione alone at camp. "Major Auclair."
The man waved a finger and tsked out loud, shaking his head in disapproval.
"Henry, can I ask for a favor?" It was noticeable the man perked up with hearing Draco call him by his first name.
"Of course my boy, anything for you." Henry respond, dropping the bud of the cigarette to the ground and brushing his heel to extinguish the small leftover flames.
"I need to borrow your car, there is a very important matter that I need to attend to."
When her eyes were finally able to open again, she felt the warmth from the outdoor sun beaming through the window, she moved to the kitchen for a glass of water and to check how much time has gone by. A little upset with how much time she had spent asleep, it was a bit after four in the afternoon. With winter approaching the sun was soon to be gone from the sky. She wondered when she would expect Malfoy back. She found herself back in the seating area peeking into the bag Malfoy had left her. To her surprise the bag was filled ointment and bandages for her cut on her leg and her own set of shampoo and body wash. When in the night was he able to come across these things for her? She didn't remember hearing him enter the room in the night or leaving through the front door. It is possible there was another exit, maybe in his room. She took it upon herself to confirm her suspicions. She quickly rushed to the bathroom to give herself a well deserved bath before Malfoy returned. The thought of being naked in the same house Malfoy was in sent a shiver down her spine, even if that Malfoy had left her things for her injuries. He most likely didn't want her bleed on to his precious white couches. She took liberty of borrowing another pair of clean clothes, he shouldn't mind, she thought to herself.
Hermione figured since she wasn't going to be answering the phone, she had turned down the volume when she was making herself a cup of tea. It had been non stop ringing for almost twenty minutes now, at the third call she felt tempted to answer it. It had to be important that the calls continued to come in, but she remembered where she was and that nobody else knew she was here. She never figured Malfoy was the type to be expecting constant callers. Once her tea was ready with a book she picked out of Draco's room earlier she snuggled up on the couch ready to start her book.