Chapter 9
The rest of the week was spent in a frenzy as Molly attempted to purge the Burrow of any and all dirt or dust. Hermione had limited time to talk to Ginny about her meeting with Malfoy, and therefore taken to analyzing the thoughts and memories herself.
He never answered her about why he never said anything before that night on the Astronomy Tower, and now she wondered whether her knowing the prophecy in its entirety would impact the prophecy between Harry and Voldemort. She also noted that there was still a giant question hanging over the Order: who killed Dumbledore? Hermione, specifically, wondered why Voldemort hadn’t said anything about his victory over his old professor. Was it because Draco completed his task and Voldemort didn’t want to broadcast that he was wrong about Draco not completing the task?
I don’t like your train of thoughts at the moment, Granger.
Her wand paused its rovering over the garden to decorate the hedges. While she’s been retreating into herself with the housework, Malfoy had been radio silent.
What exactly is it you do every day? It was highly unlikely he would answer, but curiosity was her specialty.
I attend terribly dull meals with a man who is barely human, then retreat to my wing of the house to research whatever a horcrux is—her gasp cut off the sentence.
Where did you learn that word from?
Even though she could not see him, she hoped her tone was biting enough that he knew she was glaring. From across the lawn, Harry gave her an odd look.
“Are you okay?” He mouthed at her. She simply jerked her head once, then turned around and walked into the house.
Granger, I have had full access to your thoughts for a year. Where do you think I heard it?
Hermione threw open the door to Ginny’s room, plopped on the bed, and screamed into her pillow.
Malfoy, you didn’t ask anyone about them, did you?
She pictured him scoffing. Of course not. I went to the Malfoy library and researched it. After being able to listen to your thoughts on the subject a few months ago, I put two and two together. Now, I am attempting to help figure out if there’s more.
“If there’s more.” So, he doesn’t know? Malfoy, do you want to help? No one will have to know, not even Harry and Ron. If you are truly working to end Voldemort, I’d like your help on this.
Outside the door, Hermione heard Molly yelling for Fred and George to stop charming the dishes to tap dance.
Anything you need.
Ginny came bursting through the door, the picture of interest and mischief. “I heard a scream, I am hoping there’s a Slytherin dirty talking in your mind and not the fact that my idiot brother keeps asking mum to talk you into shadowing her as a matron of the house?”
Oh, I think the she-weasel is the best thing to come from the clan.
She glared at Ginny, picturing Malfoy standing next to her so she could intensify the glare. “I am so sick of you both.”
The red-head slammed the door and threw a silencing spell at it while she sat down next to Hermione on her bed. “Sorry, but I needed away from the wedding talk. Bill and Fleur arrived after you stormed away from the garden and I simply could not take the flittering eyes of the boys whenever she walks in the room.”
Well, this sounds a lot like girl talk, and if my mother taught me anything, it’s that sometimes witches need their girl talk. So, I am off, darling.
Hermione said the first thing that came to her mind out loud. “He calls me ‘darling’ and I can’t tell if it’s on purpose or if it’s something he took to doing before I knew he was in my head.”
Ginny gasped. “Oh, tell me everything and we will plan our outfits for tomorrow.”
So, Hermione got off the bed, and took one piece of advice from Ron and his mother: choose happiness wherever it may present itself. The girls talked and for a moment, Hermione felt like she was fifteen again, flitting about Gryffindor tower after she told Ginny about her library dates with Viktor Krum. Ginny was intrigued by Hermione’s bag and demanded she teach her so she could be prepared to flee like Hermione.
“I know mum wants me to go back to school and to remain out of this war, but Hermione,” the younger girl stopped messing with the dress she was holding. “I want to be an active member of this war. I have watched you do whatever is necessary to ensure everyone’s safety. If I am being honest, I want to be like you.”
Hermione wrapped her friend in a hug. “Ginny, if anything happens, I will get you out. Just stay with me. Harry and Ron may hate that we have put ourselves in danger, but we can hold our own. Malfoy put all his bets on me, and even though I never thought I would hear the words from him, I am placing all my bets on myself and this connection between us.”
“Malfoy always knew a winning side when he saw one,” the smirk Ginny wore was wicked. “But, frankly, everyone is focused on Harry and his prophecy, I want to see their faces when your prophecy is known.”
A bang at the door startled the girls. Hermione looked to the clock on the nightstand. They had been up here for nearly five hours. Ginny stifled a laugh and undid the silencing spell. Under her breath, she whispered to Hermione: “I’m backing Malfoy on his bet.”
------------------
The following night, Hermione could not recognize the Burrow’s gardens. The tent where the reception was taking place was surrounded by floating candles, and the gnomes seemed to finally take the hint that they weren’t wanted for the night.
She clutched Ginny’s arm, searching for Ron and the Polyjuiced Harry in the small crowd. The two girls snuck away from the last minute preparations for the reception to breathe and talk about the meeting between the trio and the Minister of Magic. It was now late in the evening, and the tent in the backyard was alight with merry cheers and drunken songs.
“Dumbledore left you a book of wizarding fairy tales?”
Hermione rolled her eyes, “Yes. What a ridiculous thing it was. Harry and Ron got wonderful mementos like the bloody Sword of Gryffindor, Harry's first snitch, and a magical de-lighter. But no, I am the Brightest Witch of the Age, and I obviously get a worn book.”
Ginny laughed.
When they spotted the gangly red-head, Hermione pulled Ginny along. She spotted Harry’s Polyjuiced red hair at a table with an older man, and figured she would ask later. Ron, upon seeing the two girls, broke into a grin at Hermione’s red dress. He held a hand out to her and shot Ginny a look.
“If you wanted me to go, you can simply ask, brother.” Ginny rolled her eyes and motioned that she would be over by the punch bowl.
Ron lead Hermione to the dance floor. “Mione, I have been thinking about our talk the other day.”
“Ron—”
“No, listen.” He had a nasty habit of interrupting her, and it was beginning to bug her. “I wanted to apologize. I didn’t even think about what your parents were doing or how you might have needed the help of the Ministry to modify their memories.”
She looked over his shoulder as they spun and spotted Ginny looking at her. “It’s fine, Ron.”
This seemed to pacify him and they lapsed into a silence. It didn’t last long. A ball of light fell through the tent’s ceiling and changed into a hawk. A Patronus.
GRANGER! GET OUT OF THERE!
Malfoy’s voice was screaming in her head while the hawk started speaking. She pulled Ron’s hand and bolted towards Ginny. The youngest Weasley found her easily and the two girls pulled Ron in Harry’s direction.
Kingsley’s voice could be heard throughout the tent:
“The Ministry has fallen. The Minister is dead. They are coming.”
At last, Harry grabbed onto Hermione’s shoulder and she wrapped Ron and Ginny around herself as tight as she could and apparated on the spot.
-----
When they landed in the middle of muggle London, Ron pulled Ginny out of the group.
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” He shouted.
Harry pulled the two girls into an alleyway, away from prying eyes. Ron followed, voicing his opinions on why Ginny shouldn’t have come. With a glare, Hermione wrenched her hand away from Harry and stepped in front of Ginny.
“The both of you will stop any and all complaints about Ginny being here right now,” her voice was stern and brokered no argument from Harry. Ron looked like he wanted to comment, but she held her hand up to stop him. “You have been trying to keep me sidelined from this war for weeks, going as far as sending your mother to talk about it with me. I have watched for years as everyone forced Ginny to the side, but Ginny came to me about wanting to fight and I told her I would fight for her.”
The green eyes of her best friend were trained over her shoulder, and she knew he was less upset about having Ginny here and just concerned about her safety. Ron was brooding, but nodded anyway. He mumbled loud enough for her to hear. “We haven’t got any clothes.”
Behind her, Ginny scoffed. “You’re telling me you three have been planning on going off on your own for weeks, and you didn’t think to be prepared in case of an emergency?”
Ron glowered at his sister. “Piss off, it’s not like your or Hermione are prepared.”
The two witches smirked at each other. If we weren’t in the midst of war and who knows how far away from each other, I could swear you would be proud of the Malfoy smirk Ginny and I just gave each other.
“Let’s go find food, shall we?”
The search for food was fairly quick. Muggle takeaway was always open, and Harry was able to spend a bit of the money his aunt left him. That bit of information left the other three gobsmacked, and Harry brushed it off. He never liked talking about his time with the Dursleys and the abuse he endured.
“So, what’s the plan?” Ginny asked when she was done eating her burger. “By the way, that was delicious and we should consider adding them to the wizarding repertoire of food.”
Hermione laughed. To the outside world, the four of them might have looked like teenagers out for a double date. They were laughing and attempting to joke with each other despite the darkness of learning their government had officially fallen to the hands of a purist maniac.
Harry looked to her for the answer and it wasn’t lost on Hermione the fact that she had planned this whole getaway far in advanced when Harry was the unofficial leader. “We could go to Grimmauld. There should still be protections on the house, and I believe it would open for Harry if Sirius left it to him.”
The other three nodded, finishing the last of their takeaway. Hermione sat and listened for any sounds out of the ordinary. Malfoy, thank you for the heads up. We are safe and heading to our safehouse. Are you okay?
After a few moments of silence, Hermione began to panic. Malfoy was quiet. He hadn’t said a word since he had screamed at her to get out. Malfoy?
Silence. Across from her, Ginny watched her carefully. Draco? She called again. Again, silence.
“We have to go,” she stood up and practically ran from the takeaway restaurant. Ginny caught up to her quickly while Harry and Ron yelled at her to wait.
“Is he okay?” The red-head muttered.
“I don’t know.”
When Harry and Ron caught up to them, she grabbed everyone’s hands and apparated them to Grimmauld.