Chapter 3
“Mr. McLaggen! We’re reviewing the treasury we’d greatly appreciate if you are able to join us!” Kingsley mentioned as Cormac was walking past the front doors of Kingsley’s office.
He quickly stepped back to pop his head through the door, “Yes, I am… there’s something important that I need to get from Ms. Bell it will only take a moment.” He did not wait for a response before continuing due to his office. He didn’t think he would ever be thankful for it being on a separate floor of the Minister until that very moment.
As he exited the elevator he spots Katie Bell, “Were you able to get it?”
“Yes, but I don’t see how he would be able to help. I mean what can he do from his standing point….”
“Katie, I didn’t ask for you opinion on the matter. You work for me and the only thing that I requested was for the number. Give it to me, now.” She handed over a small, folded piece of paper and he gripped it in his hands and quickly into his office. He locked the door and slid into his chair while pulling out his mobile phone and placed it on his desk right next to the unfolded paper. He was tapping his fingers trying to debate how desperate he was. He heard a knock on there, it was Katie informing him that Kingsley was still waiting for his presence. It was a now or never situation. What is the worst that can happen he thought and dialed the number. The phone rang longer than he was expecting and just on the third ring when he was about to disconnect, the call was connected. He took a deep inhale before talking.
“Yes is this Mr. Avery?” Cormac asked through the phone while twirling his wand with his left hand trying to calm himself, and now his typical position on chair leaning back and both legs crossed over on top of his desk.
“Mhhm who is this?”
“This is Cormac McLaggen.”
“Ah yes I heard of you Mr. McLaggen. What can I do for you?”
“I need to hire your services, I have come into a little problem that will let’s just say I am not ready to pay the consequences. And many people who won’t be too happy with me when they learn the truth.”
“Mhhm I see, and you are aware that my services can only be provided within Lumar, correct? I can provide you with transportation within the country. This also guarantees safety within the country, but once I must warn you, there is no way out of the country. You must also adhere to live by the regulations of our leader. And everything does come with a price.”
“Yes, my uncle Tiberius will be the one covering my funds. I can provide you the with deposit if needed.”
“Yes, we will require a deposit, another payment once we get you crossed over into Lumar and a final one once we got you into a secure location.”
“Hmm and what would you say the living conditions would be for someone like me?”
“You are a pureblood, you will be held to higher standards than majority of the country, but you are not a Death Eater. You won’t have the same access as a pureblood who is an actual Death Eater.”
“And if I wanted to join the Death Eaters?”
“Simple you’d have every best thing Lumar has to offer. You’d just have to prove to Dark Lord himself that you are worthy to become a Death Eater.” Cormac stopped twiddling his wand and was thinking if he could pull it off. He was able to siphon money right underneath the Minister’s nose for years. How hard could it be to fool Voldemort? What kind of proof would he need to demonstrate? Words were so easy but action. Voldemort was a man who required action.
“I agree with your services and will need to evaluate the Death Eater position.”
“Boy, being a Death Eater isn’t a job where you can clock in and out or quit after a few months. There is no half-in-half-out type of bullshit. You either fully one or not. Your soul, everything you own, every thought you have would belong to Dark Lord for as long as you live.”
“No half in half out bullshit, but here you are offering service to sneak people into your precious country.”
He had a low chuckle before answering, “Sneaking people into Lumar? You really think the Dark Lord has no idea who would be coming into his country? That he doesn’t know that we are talking right now? Or that the only reason you need to go into this precious country of ours is for the fact that you embezzled millions from your Minister, and that they are so close to discovering your little secrets? You would be surprised to know the things we know boy. Just because the world knows nothing that’s happening within our borders, doesn’t mean that we ever stopped paying attention to what’s happening outside our borders.”
Cormac did not know what to respond back with.
“So, what do we say do we have an agreement, boy?
“Y-yes, we have an agreement.”
“Very well. Someone will be in touch with you shortly.” The tone of dead call echoed through his ears.
“Why didn’t you answer the phone?” Draco asked, walking into the seating room where Hermione had been sitting.
She looked up from the current book she was reading, “You told me not to answer the phone, Malfoy.”
He huffed just remembering the order he gave her. Not trusting who would be on the other side of the phone, he instructed her to never for any reason to answer the phone.
“There is a search happening in town right now…”
“Right now?”
“Yes, it’s a requirement. They make a surprise announcement right before and have a nice little visit with everyone in town.” He walked over to the front window and peered out through the curtains.
Hermione’s eyes widen, “They are coming here?!”
“Yes, and there’s isn’t enough time to move you elsewhere and before you even mention it, we cannot hide you. They will look everywhere.”
Before saying anything else, Draco moved to the hanging portrait of him and the other blonde boy, behind was a safe that was unlocked with his wand. He pulled out a small velvet pouch, and out came a stunning silver chain with a small lion with emerald gems as eyes. He approached Hermione with the pendant and motioned for her to place it on while he placed the portrait back to its original spot. Once around her neck she felt warm affect before realizing what it was doing. The pendant was charmed to change Hermione’s appearance with small subtle changes, made her hair a few levels lighter and brought her hair down to her waist and made her curls tighter and less frizzy, added more freckles across her cheekbones, and made her skin lighter than it usually was and made her an inch and a half shorter. The only facial feature that remained untouched was her eye color.
“Why couldn’t you have done a transfiguration charm?” She asked quietly as he peeped through the window one more time.
“It is routine that two guards stay outside to cast a revealio spell while the rest of the team search inside. It is to help find contraband items and unwanted guest trying to hide.”
The search team had just finished searching in a living quarter right across the dirt path.
“Do not speak unless spoken to, don’t make them assume that you are not from Lumar. Please for the love of Salazar, do not hide. There is no pointing hiding, they will find you. Do you understand?” Draco whispered to Hermione as he walked towards the door. She simply nodded one time as he prepared to open the door.
The knock came very loud and although Hermione had been expecting she still jumped at the sound.
“Ah good evening Sergeant Malfoy, sorry to disturb you so late in the evening. As you are aware it is routine for us to search your living spaces.”
“Yes, I am aware of the routine. This isn’t my first time.” He opened the door wide and gestured for the team to begin their job. The team had already started their search in the front garden waving their wands around. Two remained outside while the remaining four walked inside.
Draco watched as they all walked in and then turned out to the town as everyone was curious to see what the team would discover from each other. He waited for the question on who was seated in the front seating area, but the question never came. He sharply turned his head back into his apartment and Hermione was no longer seated on the white couch. He tried not to huff too loud, but he remembered telling Hermione to not hide. There was no point in hiding. He slowly followed the team making sure not to show himself being nervous and then a clatter came from the kitchen.
The leader of the search team looked over at Draco, “Is there someone else here with you Segreant Malfoy?” He started to look over his list, “I don’t see anyone else listed here besides you.” They both started to walk towards the sound leaving behind the remainder of the team in front of the apartment to search the other side of the living space.
“My apologies, didn’t get a chance to update living information.”
As they turned into the kitchen, they both were greeted with Hermione getting some water warmed up in a kettle. She looked up to both the guard and Draco and gave a small tight smile. “Good evening.”
“Yes, good evening, Miss?”
“This is Miss Audrey Greengrass. She is my fiancée visiting from the capital.” Draco answered, both the guard and Hermione turned back to Malfoy.
“Miss Audrey Greengrass? Any relations to the Corenlius Greengrass?” The guard asked now back to facing Hermione.
“Yes, he is my uncle.” She responded quietly with both of her hands laying on the countertop. She was using this as support to keep herself from shaking in front of the guard. The guard was now adding a note to his list.
“Well Miss Greengrass, despite who your uncle is. It is still mandatory for you to register when coming upon the camp.” He turned to Malfoy, “You will make sure to have your fiancée registered as of tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir.” He responded.
The team had already finished searching and had been in the hallway waiting to provide clearance to their leader. The team bowed their heads to both Draco and Hermione and left the apartment. They both walked towards the garden to ensure the gate was fully shut behind them. It wasn’t long before the town started to whisper to each other. The search in Draco’s apartment was longer than a typical search and had caused a stir within the town. The townspeople were surprised to learn that Draco Malfoy had a fiancée, he was always either alone or with his team. Never once did they see this fiancée before, never has he shown interest in anybody, always keeping to himself. It most likely was an arranged marriage between his parents or from the Dark Lord himself. It was still strange that the fiancée was now staying with Draco. Engaged couples don’t live together until after an announcement is made of their upcoming matrimonial but there was never any announcement that they remembered.
Uncomfortable with all the whispers and being pointed at, Hermione moved back into the apartment. Draco had followed in as well, making sure that both the gate and doors were shut. She sat back down in the same spot Draco had caught her in earlier. She reopened the book but couldn’t get herself to continue with reading. Draco Malfoy had rushed back changed her appearance and lied for her. He had the opportunity to accuse her of not only crossing the border but also breaking into his apartment. Maybe he feared that she would rat him and his team out.
Draco brough out another glass and bottle of fire whiskey and sat on the same couch from the other night. Across from Hermione. She tried not to look up and at him when he was pouring himself a drink.
“The search team, I didn’t recognize them. Some of them didn’t have any wands. Were some of them muggles? I didn’t think he’d allow muggles to work for…”
He nodded, “Typically the leader, the two on outside, and one inside are half-bloods while the remaining two are muggles under a confundus charm.” He swirled the drink in his hand before it was sliding down his throat.
“Wh-why not all half-bloods or even purebloods?”
“The search team, they’re not Death Eaters. They want to be, or they think they want it but of course they don’t meet the requirements to become one.”
“But why no purebloods?”
“Not enough of them to go around. Plus, all of them find the search time as scut work. They wouldn’t want to bring themselves to such a low level. Having to visit everyone in town, visit mu-muggles, touch muggle things. The purebloods are in the army, a good amount of them are on the rotation by the borders.”
“Hmm you know that I played that off very well, I do believe that earns me the bed tonight.” She unclipped the necklace and attempted to hand it back to Malfoy. Her appearance returned back to normal before the necklace was around her neck.
“No. And you hold on to that, who knows when you will need it again.” He responded, picking up the bottle and glass taking them back to their hiding place she had yet to figure out.
“Malfoy, I didn’t snitch you out when I could have. Your couch is only good for sitting and the occasional nap. I miss being able to toss and turn in my sleep without worrying I might fall off on to the hard floor.”
“How about you learn how to control yourself while you sleep?” He returned back into the front room.
“Ah yes because it is that simple for me to make sure to stay still while I am completely asleep.”
“Will do so.” He began to walk towards his room.
“Malfoy please.”
“It isn’t my problem Granger.” He tried to wave her off.
“How do you know how I take my tea?” She blurted out loud.
“What?” He stopped right in front of his room with his hand on the doorknob.
“My tea, the first morning I was here you made me breakfast and tea. Just the way I drink it.” She had followed him into the hallway but remained at the entrance.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Still facing the door, refusing to make any kind of eye contact with her.
“It was two teaspoons of honey and a dash of milk and a hint of lavender.”
“Hmm no-pe. Anybody can drink their tea like that.” He let out a chuckle, “Wow I didn’t think it was possible for anybody to be more self-centered than me or than Theo. But clearly you have us beat with thinking that every honey lavender milk tea is claimed by you.”
“Malfoy.”
“I am off to bed Granger.” He was finally able to turn the knob allowing himself to enter his room and close his bedroom door shut.
“JUST ONE NIGHT!” She shouted through the apartment. She waited for him to respond but he never did.
“What if someone breaks through the front door? I don’t have a wand to protect myself. You can’t just leave me out here defenseless.” Still no response.
“You must really don’t care about me.” She said in a much lower tone as she accepted defeat and brought herself back over to the couch. She tucked the necklace in her pocket, much safer if she kept it on her body. She covered her mouth as she fought back her tears. Being here in this country made her feel like how she felt first year when she had no friends or anybody who cared about her, in a place where people questioned her belonging. She didn’t think it was possible to feel this way again.
Draco never moved away from the door, he could hear the sniffles from her soft cry. He was trying to imagine how it felt like for her to be alone in this country with no friendly faces, to be in hiding, without a wand, not knowing if she would live to see another day. Yes he allowed her to stay in his living quarters, allowed her to eat the food that was provided to him, and even allowed her to wear his clothes but he never allowed her in. There was no reason to form any type of attachment to someone who wasn’t going to be here.
“I’m sorry Ginny, we haven’t seen her for a while since the last time you were here as a group.” The lady responded.
Ginny shook her head slowly, trying to process the situation that is unwrapping in front of them. “Just if you see Hermione can you tell her that we are all looking for her?”
“Yes of course!” The bar maid responded and moved on with the empty glass cups into the shelf below the bar.
“Granger’s missing?”
Ginny had been so in her head she hadn’t noticed someone else entered the bar and overheard the conversation. “Why the fuck are you here McLaggen?”
“That’s rude. And what makes you think that I her future husband wouldn’t know where she’s at.” He slid into the empty bar stool next to her.
Ginny knew it was wrong to hope but she did just for a moment, “You know where Hermione is?!”
“Oh no. But you are fools to not seek my help with trying to locate her!” He motioned for the bar maid over. “Yes can we get two shots of taquilla?”
“It’s tequila you dumbarse.” Ginny snapped. “If anything she probably ran away because she doesn’t want to be tied to you! Nobody would want to be tied to you !”
“I think you want to be tied to me, Weasley. You think I don’t notice those eyes of yours watching me. And I don’t blame you though.” He took one of the tequila shots and offered the second to Ginny.
“Excuse me?”
“That you regret marrying Potter. I mean at first he was the chosen one. You probably thought you locked it in the bag. But look where that left us. It’s been years and nobody can still get into Lumar. It’s quite embarrassing.” And in the same minutes Ginny spit out here shot and slapped Cormac across the face.
“McLaggen I will hex your balls so bad that they will Revert inwards and people will mistake you as a female. You leave my marriage out of your mouth.” She grabbed her coat off the back of the stool.
Still rubbing where Ginny’s hand met his check “I like it rough.” He has a smirk on his face, “Let me know if you need my help finding Granger.”