XXXIV.
Draco wished he could make time stand still. He wanted to prolong the inevitable raid for Penski as long as he could. The normalcy that settled over them all this holiday season had changed him. He’d never experienced anything like it. He felt drunk on love. Being surrounded by his family and friends these last few days had meant more to him than he could ever express. Even the few years before the war, things had been strained. Holidays weren’t the same as they were when he was a child. He just thought that part of growing up was watching the magic and allure of these seasons fade with time. But Hermione’s presence had pulled him right back under the spell of the season. He was deliriously happy, and so was everyone else.
It was so easy to forget the seriousness of the situation ahead of them. Everything was riding on this raid. Hermione’s future depended on him. This moment would determine the course of their lives together.
He’d made a choice, though. Now that they had the watches synced, they could be anywhere together. And that’s what he planned to do. If she could live off the grid forever, so could he. And he would if it meant being with her. He’d run away with her. They could see the world together. He didn’t need to work; he had billions of galleons.
He watched her peaceful lips sigh in her sleep. She was so peaceful, so beautiful. An ache stirred in his chest. He loved her so much that it physically hurt him.
He slid further under the covers. He needed to worship her before he had the arduous task of leaving her. He’d made every second count with her over the last week, and he wasn’t stopping yet.
He gently pulled away the knickers she wore under his quidditch sweater. He’d been thrilled she chose to wear that again last night. He felt a possessive power overwhelm him when he saw his name across her body.
He started slow. He left a trail of kisses up her thighs and over her core. She jerked slightly in her sleep, but he continued. His hands pushed apart her thighs, and he set to work on her beautiful center. He moaned as he licked and tasted her. She was divine in all ways. He cursed himself for not taking the time to do this years ago. He could have been feasting on her over a table in the library their fourth year instead of watching Krum exchange stupid notes with her.
Hermione moaned above him and let her hips grind in a circular motion.
“Draco?”
Sleep was weaved into her voice as she lifted the sheet. He winked up at her before plunging deeper inside. She ripped the sheet off of them and moaned while she watched him. He loved the feeling of her eyes on his. Even now, full of sleep and lust, they were the most gorgeous green color. She should have been a Slytherin for her eyes alone.
One hand traveled up under the jersey and found her nipple. His other hand joined his mouth and began to work her dripping core. He felt her abs clench and knew she was close. He continued his rhythm, not breaking for a second, and brought her euphorically over the precipice.
Right as she rode through the height of her orgasm, he was sliding inside of her. There was desperation as he sank into her. If anything were to happen to him today… he stopped himself. He couldn’t think like that. But she seemed to sense it too. She pulled at his neck and surrounded him in a passionate kiss. He knew she could taste herself, and it spurred him on.
“I love you,” she panted.
“I love you so much,” he grunted as he continued.
“Let me,” she said, putting her hand on his chest.
She pushed at him to trade places, and he let her. He sank back on the bed, and she climbed over him. He ripped the jersey off her so he could watch her glorious breasts bounce as she rode his cock. She sank down, and he groaned. Usually, she was shy and timid, but not this morning. She felt the same desperate fear he did. The what-if scenarios were suffocating. She moved with fury. Her walls clamped around him like a vice. He wasn’t going to last long like this. And by the sounds and feel of her, neither was she.
They came undone together. Hermione twitched gloriously above him, and he leaned up, pulling her closer for more kissing. He felt the wet tears pouring from her eyes and embraced her. He sat up, and she wrapped her legs around him.
“No, my darling,” he whispered against her wild hair. “No tears. Everything will be fine.”
She buried her face in his neck.
“I love you,” he said. “I love you, and I will come back to you. Today you get your life back. Let me do this for you.”
They stayed like that for several minutes. Hermione not saying anything while Draco whispered loving reassurances. He would come back to her. Draco didn’t break promises.
***
It was rare for Smith to join in on raids. In fact, Draco hadn’t seen the Head Auror join in on a mission during any of his time with the Ministry. He didn’t know if that should instill confidence or not. True to his word, Smith didn’t say anything. Draco had been able to trust him, and that did offer some reassurance. He looked down at his watch. He’d promised Hermione he’d wear it tonight in case anything went wrong, but he knew he wouldn’t use it. He had to get Penski. Her life depended on capturing him.
The team had been briefed on a high-level raid, but the details had been kept quiet. Smith and Draco knew who to look for, and that was enough. Weasley was back but stuck with desk work until Smith could figure out what to do with him. He was in a miserable mood, too. His sourness permeated the Department. On any other day, Draco would have threatened or hexed him, but he was too distracted to do it today.
Luckily Chang was with him tonight, along with Thomas, Flint, and Jenkins. They’d stacked the best Aurors for the raid. Smith had chosen wisely.
“Ready?” Smith asked.
His jaw was tight with stress. Draco knew Smith’s whole career and future were dependent on this raid. He’d sacrificed everything on the word of a former Death Eather.
Penski was set to arrive in a warehouse off of Diagon near seven. He met there to start his night watch on Thursdays. Draco knew what post he had, who else was on duty, and what kind of escapes he had with them. Chang cast an anti-apparition ward all around the block to secure them once they knew Penski was in place.
Thomas and Flint were going to cause a distraction along the eastern edge of the building while the rest of them entered through the west. A series of bangs and pops alerted Draco and the others that they were free to move. The chaos drew attention away from the other entrance.
Once inside the warehouse, they saw it didn’t matter. Nearly three dozen Inferi filled the space. The others had been warned there would be Inferi present, but they had no idea at the number Crespo had been able to produce. She had a small army.
Smith and Draco launched into action. They knew incapacitating them with fire worked, and that’s what they did. Flames filled the space below, and the others followed suit. It was unimaginable chaos. There shouldn’t have been this many here. There weren’t over an hour ago when they checked the space. They knew when to expect them. Someone had tipped them off. Draco raged as he tore through the Inferi corpses. The charred but still animated bodies littered the floor around him. Some tugged at his boots; others crawled toward him, their haunting faces screeching after him.
The smell in the space had been the worst part. The charred bodies were repugnant and triggered his gag reflex several times as he fought to find Penski. He was the only Inferi they could trust to reveal all the secrets of what’s been happening. He had to find him.
Desperation clawed at Draco as time dragged on. The longer they were here, the higher the risk was that Penski had gotten away.
Something moved in his peripheral. He spun toward it and watched as Amanda Crespo entered the doorway. A knowing smile played on her lips. Draco couldn’t hold himself back. He threw a curse her way. She blocked it and flashed her teeth at him. He could hear Chang and Thomas shouting something at him, but he was focused. The mission had changed. He would kill this bitch himself. He threw curse after curse at her, and she easily blocked them all.
“Attacking a Ministry official?” she tsked. “That’s grounds for criminal charges, Mr. Malfoy.”
She sent her own string of curses at him next.
“Though I think I have another way to keep you in line.”
Rage shook through him. He’d rather die than become one of her mindless Inferi. They were desperately outnumbered, though. And the Inferi weren’t dying.
A curse ricocheted toward Draco, and he moved just a second too late. It caught him in the leg, and another spiraled at his chest. Chang was there and pushed him out of the way. The curse caught his side, not his heart. But the blood began to pour out of his wound immediately. He crumpled to the ground, and his head smacked against the concrete. He groaned and gripped his side. Blood pooled around his hand. He felt lightheaded, and his vision spotted. This was bad.
He lost track of what was happening around him. It sounded like an ocean was roaring in his ears as he blinked and tried to focus. The pain was unbearable. It burned and seared, just like taking the mark had. Nausea swept through him. He had to help. He had to get Penski and get out of here.
A figure knelt in front of him. A hand brushed his cheek and tipped his head back. Warm liquid poured down his throat. A slender hand wrapped around his wand and took it from him. The blonde figure reached for his wrist, which covered his wound.
“I’ll meet you at midnight,” the voice said.
Her scent enveloped him as his eyes fluttered open. But before he could focus on her face, he was ripped backward. The portkey tore him away.