Chapter 33
Chapter 33:
Granger wasted no time and immediately began detailing what is happening.
“As you must know I conduct research here and have been able to accomplish quite a bit of discovery in a short amount of time. My research is quick and effective due to many reasons, but one of those reasons has been my ability to get my hands on rather rare ingredients.”
Draco wasn’t sure where this was going, he was back to worried about her discovery of him.
“These ingredients I’ve obtained have come about in an unorthodox way and now I’m afraid it might have been an illegal way.” She started to bite her nails with worry.
“You see a few months ago these “gifts” began showing up at my office with no notes. There was not set schedule, rhyme or reason to how or when they appeared, but appeared they did. Most were thing I’d never dreamed to getting my hands on, things that made my theoretical research into actual research. At first I thought it might be the headmistress but I’m certain it’s not her. Then I thought it could be a secret admirer…”
Draco blanched at that second guess, AS IF.
“but then I thought it might be someone with devious motives, hoping to eventually blackmail or me use my research for bad business. Eventually, I came no closer to a guess or catching this anonymous benefactor or mine so I was reconciled to use these gifts to the best of my ability and pay the price later. That is until this last gift, it’s the reason I’m telling you all of this at all and why I need you help.”
Draco was very confused at where this was going, he didn’t think his gifts could be understood so many different ways and he kicked himself for being this stupid, of course he mind would run all the possible options and his stupid idea to never leave any notes or explanation. She cannot know it’s him and he must keep that way, this has gone so far of course. Feigning innocence wasn’t too hard for Draco so when she took a pause he asked: “and what was this last gift indeed?”
“How much do you know about Fairy water?”
“I know that it’s the stuff of legends. You can’t possibly be meant to tell me you got your hands on it?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. The Order discovered during the war that Voldemort was in search of it, what do you know of it?”
Draco hadn’t realized she knew that little fun fact from the war.
“I know very little, tread carefully Granger with your implications.”
“Oh please, I testified on your behalf or don’t you remember?” Draco physically recoiled at her words, how dare she throw that in his face like this.
“For someone who needs my help, you really are doing a fine job of taking the piss out of me.”
“Malfoy, just answer the question what do you know about the Water, because you can’t tell me you don’t anything.”
“what does it matter what I know, what exactly do you require from on this, my knowledge? If so I would think you’d be able to find what I know the forbidden section of this library no doubt.”
“You’re exhausting, you know what I seek won’t be found in books. I need to know if any of the surviving death eaters know about or be foolish enough to seek this water out. I need your help finding out who gave me that flagon and where they go it”
Draco was speechless, if he had known that giving her this gift would start this manhunt he never would have trekked all the way to the at fucking well.
Now Draco has to help fucking Hermione Granger hunt down her overly generous benefactor: Himself. He couldn’t well risk having her go to someone else.
Now this scenario, Draco hadn’t anticipated. Starting into Granger's earnest face Draco made himself a promise, this was the last time. THE.LAST.TIME. he would act before the thought.
He needed to make better choices.