Chapter 21
“There are no facts, only interpretations.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Shortly after their return to the Manor, Draco had been summoned. This time, leaving her alone in the Manor for two days without word. He hadn't meant to be gone so long, but the Dark Lord had left no room to negotiate his will. There was no other way. She was safe. He knew as much. The necklace, the ring, Nott and Zabini close by, and of course, knowing how resourceful she was.
He just had to hope the books and Lauren would keep her busy. Though she'd told him about his seamstress, he wondered if she would still fight her new role. Perhaps it was time to help expedite the severance of certain bonds. Without a wand, she could muster only so much damage after all. He doubted she'd be pleased, but then there was a reason he planned to kill Oliver Wood. With the memory as vivid as the night he'd stored a copy, he sealed it in a small crystal vial and sent it to Blaise. He wasn't ready to grant anyone access to him, not while he was in so deep. She'd get it, he knew as much.
As Friday lurked around the corner, he knew he had to hurry. His mother would likely arrive, sooner rather than later. He didn't want his bride to be to left to fend for herself. Even if it wasn't real, he wouldn't wish his mother's wedding and baby fever on his worst enemy, though if he thought it could kill Diggory, he would have tried.
He just had to find one person in a small village. How hard could it be? Since he was on the task, he knew the answer long before he returned to the body on the bed before him. Eventually he'd torture the right person. Until then, it would be a mess.
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The research kept her busy in bursts. It allowed her to get a lot of work done about the rituals that had been done around Stonehenge without getting the deeper answer they were looking for. There were vague references that were going to lead them to other books they would need in time. And once they did the vows that allowed her more freedom, she was going to go to that PO box to get the American's research and perhaps that would help fill in more blank spots. She needed a break from Lauren. She was a nice young woman, but she reminded her far too much of how she was before the war. A person that she couldn't be again. There was too much blood on her hands, too much ambiguity in what she considered right and wrong, and lingering guilt around getting her friends killed.
It was one of these breaks from the research that Blaise left her the vial, saying that Draco wanted to give her the chance to look over something. If she so desired. And then he left. No, I told you so's about the necklace around her neck or the ring on her finger. No snide remarks. Harry or Ron would have teased her about them being right. Perhaps Blaise just knew how volatile her moods were, and it was best not to poke at a cornered lioness who was still dealing with her new reality. For better or for worse, she was going to be his witch. And she had no idea if he just wanted her mind, to strike a blow to the insurgency that still fought, or something else.
Finishing her cup of tea, she nudged Crookshanks off of her lap and went over to the pensieve. Unstopping the vial, she poured the glimmering memory into the basin before she dipped her face into the memories, letting it suck her down to see what it was that he saw.
And rather than seeing just Draco, she saw Oliver. It sent another wave of guilt through her, but a few things she had to pay attention to. Oliver didn't seem to respond to Draco. She could distantly hear her own voice talking to Draco. The interrogation. She was a memory within a memory. Whatever Draco had seen, it had made him mad enough to want to destroy Oliver. To give her his hands as an engagement present. Even after everything she'd experienced, she was rather certain she'd prefer a less bloody engagement gift.
The first flash had Oliver talking to a few other insurgents, boasting about having been with Hermione. He didn't give details, but he did seem rather certain that he could be the best for her. Wasn't surprising. That couldn't be it. She was pulled deeper into another memory. She could hear herself with Krum. The thud of a headboard rhythmically hitting the wall, thinking that Oliver was on a job. Instead, the man had his back to the wall, sitting on his own bed with his length in his hand, stroking in time to the thrusts happening on the other side of the wall.
During the last seven years, she had never been with someone consistently. No one was her boyfriend or partner, just flings. To help her feel something. Apparently, Oliver didn't feel the same way. Obsession. She had accused Draco of it, but it seemed he wasn't the only one. Desperation came from doing what they'd done for years. Oliver seemed to think that if she got her revenge, she would fall into step. That she would be a grateful and doting little wife, willing to be spirited away from the fighting. Each decision to bring her into a job wasn't because he thought her capable but because he thought she would appreciate it once she finally got the rage out of her system.
Oliver Wood still saw a studious young woman with bright eyes that he could 'fix' and repair. One of their nightcaps had apparently been an attempt to get enough fertility potion into it that he might be able to force the issue. She hadn't had enough of the alcohol, and her own potions she took to keep herself from getting pregnant saved her. But how many times had he attempted that with those nightcaps? There were more memories, but she forced herself out of the pensive and felt like she was going to be sick. She stumbled away from the pensive and leaned against the wall, looking back at it with such revulsion that all she wanted to do was hex Wood herself. All he wanted was a meek, docile little wife.
They presented it as an equal exchange. Nothing equal about it. Had Wood always been like this, or had the war changed him as much as it had changed her? Didn't matter. Not really. Not when he would have trapped her into a life she didn't want. At least Draco was offering freedom to do as she wished, to save her friends that they could, to do what she wanted with his holdings and his money. With her mind.
After watching those memories, she felt like she needed a shower. To boil herself alive, honestly. But then she'd stay there for hours...The garden. Seeing the peacock would be nice. Though she didn't have a key to the damn garden. It had her leave the study, pulling her cloak around herself as she left the room. A pair of nice trousers and an off-the-shoulder blouse that was hugging her fuller figure. Draco had been gone for four days, almost a week, and as Friday loomed, she needed to try and ground herself. What better place than the grounds with the damn clingy peacock so she could feel like she could come and go as she pleased, even if she wasn't yet?
She approached a Death Eater, her expression cool and aloof as she asked where she could find Zabini. They didn't hesitate. A few still eyed that necklace like they couldn't believe it, but she didn't care. A lioness didn't concern herself with the opinions of mice. Given the directions to Zabini's room, she gave a knock as her only warning since the door was unlocked. Couldn't be doing anything too private. "Zabini? I have to ask..." She froze, eyes widening a moment.
Before her, Blaise's naked body shielded his lover from view. At least, a good portion of her. The pale skin and lithe limbs magically suspended over his bed, careful knots contorting her in all the right places, and despite his best efforts to maintain the magic that kept her on display for him while fielding the intrusion. No part of him could shield the cascades of long white blonde hair.
"Not a good time." The voice was a growl.
Hermione was rooted to the spot for a moment. Luna. That was Luna. And a very naked Blaise. Stepping back and closing the door, she stood there, blinking several times. "Oh bloody hell," she cursed, not bothering to control the volume of her voice.
If Blaise and Nott hadn't saved her from the other Death Eaters or pointed out that they weren't savages, she might have still attempted to go into that room and say more.
Was this where Luna kept disappearing to when they all thought she was dead or tortured?! Another spark of outrage and then hurt and betrayal were quick on its heels. How many things had she confided in Luna about over the years? How many of those things had wound up back in this very house?
"...Son of a bitch..." she cursed again, stepping away from the door to rub at her temples.
Behind the door, there was a shuffling and a soft thud of a body being set on the bed. A few unintelligible promises groaned and growled, followed by a light laughter that had kept Blaise sane the last few months. It was a while longer before he emerged, dressed despite his aggravation. She might not have been Malfoy, but she was in his room looking for him. It didn't help that he had no idea just how much she had seen or what she intended to do with that information.
"You needed to see me?" he asked as if she hadn't just killed hours of build-up.
If she hadn't heard that laugh, she would have thought that Luna was being controlled. Contained. Here, against her will. Even despite what Zabini had said. She cursed under her breath and walked down the hall, leaning against the wall to close her eyes and try to conceptualize what she had just opened the door to.
And then he sounded normal as if he hadn't just...No. She wasn't thinking about it. "Wanted the key to the garden. Needed to breathe...How long?" She couldn't help the last question, trying to keep the emotion off of her face but failing. Betrayal, concern, and hurt flashed for a moment before she schooled her expression.
Keys to the garden. Though there were gates, most were illusions of magic. Runes and other archaic magic to keep those uninvited out.
He blinked. "You're wearing it," he looked at the necklace on her neck. So many emotions flicked through her features, and he could only imagine what was going on in that head of hers.
"I..." he wasn't sure how to answer that. It wasn't exactly his place. "I can't exactly let her roam the Manor, but perhaps you'd like some company on that walk?" he offered. Draco hadn't exactly given him a list of rules that covered this particular scenario. What he had been clear about was keeping the lady appeased and safe. "I can stay behind. You'll barely know I'm there."
She glanced down at the necklace in question and then glanced back up at Zabini with a slightly raised brow. "He said limited. Wasn't sure how limited. Didn't have the chance to ask before he was summoned," she said offhand, not seeming hurt or upset by that at all. It just showed the nature of this relationship still being transactional. Just like he had said, after all.
Chewing at her bottom lip, she glanced back at that door and then back at Zabini. "....I've missed her. Thought she got abducted...I'd appreciate getting to talk to her. If the pair of you wouldn't mind...Blaise."
If Luna trusted him, she would have to see what she could do when it came to trusting him.
Blaise had to bite back commentary. He certainly had thrown her over his shoulder to bring her here, but she hadn't fought him. Not really.
A ghost of a smile perked his plump lips, and he nodded. "Five minutes," he said before going back into his chambers to figure things out.
She offered a slight smile herself and stayed leaning against the wall as she fiddled with the necklace. She had been too shocked to fight Draco before her wand had been taken. And then, when she had gotten here, she'd fought with what she had, and that didn't go all that well.
"Thank you," she offered quietly before she glanced towards the entrance to the hallway, tucking her hands into the pockets of her trousers.
With the door behind him, he looked over at the blonde still in his bed. "You are going to be the death of me," he eyed her, remembering he'd asked for a set number of minutes. Not enough to cave.
The blonde leaned up onto her forearms, the sheet almost sliding down her body as she did so, a smile curving her lips. "She can't have been that mad. So unless either of you is dying of embarrassment, I can't imagine how I'd manage that," she chimed, even as she looked over the other wizard slowly as if she were contemplating helping him right back out of his clothes.
"More so the fact that I need you to get dressed," he bit his lip. "Enough for a walk in the gardens," he added, only imagining what delicious decadence she might have come up with otherwise. "But after..." he tortured himself with another look over her body, those red marks from where every knot had dug into her flesh in ways he had only hoped to manage skin to skin.
A sigh left her lips as she slipped out of bed and summoned her clothing. Pulling on her knickers, a pair of leggings, and then her bra and a dress that was stripped with bright colors on the black, she started to pull back her hair, carefully braiding it, not minding that there were still red marks on her forearms that were visible—actually enjoying it. "Not a long walk, I hope. Though I suppose that will loosen back up my joints...You could start all over," she murmured in that airy voice as she glanced over at him.
"As if you have to ask," he watched her, ignoring the pulsing tightness between his thighs. He might have to have her handle it before he started over, though.
"Perhaps Malfoy will consider this another way we've helped him. Make her more relaxed here," she offered as she pulled on her flats and strode over to Blaise, lifting on tiptoe to press a kiss to the underside of his jaw. It was getting more and more tempting not to go back each time she was with him.
"Doubtful," he closed his eyes and enjoyed the brush of his lips. Keeping her in that uncomfortable stance where her toes barely touched the floor to keep steady, he stole a kiss.
"Come on before I risk wrath for more," he nipped her bottom lip and opened the door so he couldn't change his mind, ushering Luna out to face her friend.
Staying balanced on her tip toes as she kissed him back, she almost sighed into his lips, a slightly dreamier expression forming on her face as she looked up at him. The light nip had her giggle as she fell flat on her feet again. "Guess that depends on her."
She hadn't seen them together, but she had heard Blaise complain about Hermione's level of denial. It was something she understood. Trying to deny her attraction to Blaise had been something she'd done once. Now? She embraced it as much as she could.
Stepping out into the hall, she strode over to Hermione with a smile. "Afternoon, Hermione."
The brunette opened her eyes and glanced back at the blonde, easily noticing those red lines along her arms. It had a hint of pink color her own cheeks before she hugged the blonde, pulling her in with a sigh.
"I thought you died. No one had seen you since that last attack on a safe house," she admitted quietly, hugging her a little too tight for a moment before letting go of her.
Blaise tried not to scoff as if he would allow any harm to come to his witch if he had any power over it. Though that was becoming harder and harder the longer this went on.
Luna gave Blaise a pointed look over her friend's shoulder. She'd be lying if the bone-crushing embrace didn't hit a few tender spots.
"Not dead," she said breathily, needing a moment to recoup before looking over her friend. She certainly looked more alive. "The attack was my extraction," she swallowed down. She'd had to make a choice, and though she doubted her friend could really judge her, sometimes she still did.
Hermione tried not to fidget before starting to walk with Luna at her side towards the gardens, knowing that Blaise was going to follow. For her safety or something. He wouldn't want anyone touching his witch after all.
Blaise offered Luna a sympathetic smile. He'd massage and take care of those sore, tender spots later. Aftercare would be first before they started that all over again.
"I...see," she answered, trying not to be judgmental. Hermione was here too and had chosen this over death. But she wasn't nearly that intimate with her own partner. Convenience. Nothing more to it than that and physical chemistry. Did she know that they blew the building up?
"Longer than I would have expected," she licked her lips and turned to look at her friend. "The mission that had me stranded for eight days," she admitted. "Ended up healing that one," she gave a sniff as she motioned towards Blaise. "He saved my life," she admitted. He hadn't had to. "Of course, he was a real Crumple-Horned Snorkack about it." She wouldn't let him be too smug. It hadn't been romantic, and yet, it hadn't not been either. She had trouble explaining it.
Trying to poke fun a little, she tried to smile a little bit more. "So...been going on for a while...This why you stopped borrowing so many books?"
Blaise actually had to suppress a laugh, schooling his expression as he passed a few other Death Eaters. Those books had been lovely bits of inspiration. And now he knew where the blonde had gotten them.
Luna shot a glance over her shoulder as if to warn him she could have other ideas.
"They weren't quite hitting the same way," she offered. Just enough to annoy him while not exposing all their delicious depravities.
"That mission...That was a hard assignment," she breathed as they made they stepped onto the ground floor, steadily heading out the backdoor. "Sounds like I owe him a thank you...though I think you have that covered," she tried to joke with him like they weren't being shadowed by Draco's best mate. "If he was nice about it, I'd be more surprised."
The brunette glanced over her shoulder at Blaise before she focused back on Luna, almost hesitating before the gate before it opened for her. And she could hear the peacocks further away. Guard peacocks. This manor was still so strange.
Remembering just how that night with Draco had been, she gave a slight nod. "I suppose they weren't."
That witch was absolutely going to be the death of him. Because if she got too close to sharing what they got up to, he was going to punish her for it. The brunette had already seen more than enough to guess at what they got up to. But he stayed silent, letting the pair talk, letting Luna explain this to her friend.
“I wanted to see you when they brought you here,” Luna admitted after a while. Even then, she’d known she couldn’t. Malfoy still wasn’t her biggest fan, especially since she’d stopped slipping between the factions. “I’m glad I get to now, even for a little bit.”
That had her shoot a look over her shoulder at Blaise. The wizard simply shrugged. He wasn't in charge here. If he could have given his witch something, he would have. But he didn't have the power to.
Hermione let out a sigh and gave a nod. "I'm glad I get to now as well...I might see if I can make it so we can see each other more...If you and Blaise don't mind me stealing you some of the time."
She'd give them both the option. Something she didn't have. And this was going to be something she had to talk about more with Draco now.
"I can't very well keep her to myself if the lady of the house wants to see her." Blaise said as diplomatically as possible.
It was enough to make Hermione want to grind her teeth, her fingers ghosting over the front of that necklace.
Luna linked her arm with Hermione. “Not that I dislike my living arrangements,” she smiled easily. “I think I’d rather enjoy some…less needy company.” A soft chuckle escaped her, easily mingling with Blaise’s lower iteration.
“Not sure Malfoy will approve. He still has his doubts. Can’t blame him really…” Neither side had believed her sane of mind. She knew wherever she went, her presence was tolerated at best. Not Blaise, though. He’d even went looking for Nargles with her once.
The safe house had spared too many of her friends. Especially Hermione.
Keeping her arm in Luna's, she glanced over at the blonde with a small smile. "I'll see what I can do. Whenever it is that he comes back, I'm supposed to discuss a few of my conditions with him," she sighed. There was a bit of hesitation before she shook her head and brushed her hair out of her face.
"He can doubt all he wants. I still have doubts about Nott and several others, yet I'll have to trust him, won't I?" She reminded. The more she demanded, the more frustrated he would likely get, but she'd risk it. Especially for a small piece of normalcy.
Blaise resisted the urge to remind her again that it was Theo who had gotten Draco to keep her safe when she first arrived. Or that he doubted Granger would have believed that Luna was here of her own volition if she hadn't seen that herself.
“I don’t get to see the others,” Luna spoke in an airy, soft tone. “Only Blaise gets to torture the information out of me,” she threw a look back at him, not an ounce of fear in her blue eyes, tongue slicking over her lips.
“Just in case I have to go back,” she swallowed down. It was the part she hated most.
Which meant she was risking that sort of cover by pulling them both out of Blaise's room or Luna's room, to talk in the garden. She paused in the path as she looked at the blonde with a smaller smile. "...You want to stay." She stated simply. Not a question.
Blaise stopped several steps back and kept his eyes on Luna. He doubted Granger could convince Draco to let him keep her here, but perhaps she could manage.
Luna nodded. She wanted to just not deal with anything anymore. It was easier to just let Blaise take control.
“I also see the flip side. I’m too ditzy for the brass to think anything of me. They’d make me secret keeper and have me heal their higher-ups without batting a lash. Leave themselves exposed because I’m just such an airhead. My last disappearance, they assumed I’d been hunting some creature they don’t believe in. Barely even bothered with protocol when I returned…”
Fourteen years of bitterness and Malfoy, of all people, had given her the chance to prove herself, to show her worth.
Hermione grimaced. Even when she didn't believe Luna about the creatures that she wanted to hunt, she always knew she was a capable witch. Had been a major asset in the battle at the Ministry in fifth year. She spared a glance at Blaise and then looked back at Luna.
"They didn't like when Neville and I raised a fuss over it either..." she almost grumbled before she glanced down at the ring on her finger, then looked between the couple again. "I don't want this taken the wrong way, but I have to ask. I realize you're both standing here and I don't know your situation or dynamic or what have you. But if I'm going to come up with something to keep Luna here and safe, I have to know." That was more pointed at Zabini as she forced her shoulders to relax.
"....You actually care about each other? This isn't an escape to just feel something. It's actual genuine care for the other. Because if I can manage this, there isn't any turning back."
Blaise watched Hermione carefully. He wasn’t sure it was such a good idea to have her meddling. “Focus on your vows. Luna is safe with me,” he assured.
Luna leaned her head on Hermione’s shoulder for a moment. “I know you want to fix this,” she said gently. “I’m not sure I’d say no at a chance at Diggory,” she gave a smile looking between her two favorite people. “And I wouldn’t be alone.”
Leaning in against Luna, she listened to her a bit more before she looked over at Blaise. "I want her safe as well as happy, Zabini. And if she has to keep dealing with Diggory, it'll only be a matter of time before he tries to throw her under a bus," she grumbled, looking back at her friend.
"I'll talk to Malfoy about options. But I won't push, how about that?" She offered to both of them. If this worked for them, then it worked. "But you can't have her all to yourself, Zabini. Can't just have you, Nott, and the Greengrass sisters for potential company."
“He makes me happy,” she promised. Blaise made her feel more than happy. He breathed life into her very lungs.
“I appreciate you trying,” she added.
Blaise rolled his eyes. “I’m not holding her hostage,” he retorted. “I mean only partially.”
"Didn't say you were. But your witch is my friend, so I'll be stealing her on occasion," she stated simply, though she smiled just a touch. "I'll make sure I'm not interrupting, though."
Looking at Luna, she rested her head on hers for a moment. She was safe. And apparently very well protected. There wasn't much else she could ask for.
"We'll talk about what you may have told Malfoy about me later," she whispered to the blonde, but she didn't sound too mad. Even if the hurt was there. Of course, she'd have said something to stay with Blaise.
Luna flushed a bit. Draco had asked, and she had given him some information. Overall, though, they seldom were in the same house, so it wasn’t hard to avoid the subject. To give him other things, more valuable information.
“Not much, honestly,” she offered. “Except maybe from our last meeting. I didn’t understand the importance of something so…trivial until recently.” Even Luna hadn’t quite pieced together the entire tension between Draco and Hermione, and by the time she had it was too late.
Hermione flushed just a touch at that but gave a shrug of her shoulders. "Unintentional is something I absolutely can't blame you for, Luna." A sigh left her lips as she heard the peacocks again and glanced over in their direction.
"I think I'm going to pester a peacock before heading back to write out some of the ideas I have now...Do I need to walk you back so none of the wards do anything?" She asked, glancing back at Zabini. There was a lot she didn't know, and while she was still a little vexed to know that Luna was leaking information in the first place, she couldn't say anything. The brunette was preparing to give over what was needed to save what friends she could.
Blaise looked at Hermione. “I can always find a little alcove with Luna near the gate,” he gave the blonde a look.
Luna bit her lower lip. “I do love mazes,” she eyed him.
Hermione tried not to groan. "I'll make sure to make noises as I make my way back out of the garden so you can cast a spell or something then."
She lightly squeezed Luna's shoulder and gave her a small smile before drawing away to go walk over to check on the peacocks. At least one of the three liked her, and she would need to actually think up the rest of the vows she needed to come up with.
Blaise smirked. “Avoid if you see red sparks.”
Luna swatted at him as she drew closer. “I’ll make sure they’re green,” she winked.
They were ridiculous. Which she supposed was why Luna liked him....perhaps Zabini wasn't so bad. Nott was still up in the air. And everyone else? Probably not. She would be playing a role for the rest of her life. Now, she just had to make the rules with the person she'd be playing the role with.