Stuck With Me
Click clack click clack click clack
The hurried sound of his heels echoed in the corridors. In just a few moments he’d make it to the staircase. Damn, the bloody stairs, he didn't have time for the magical flippancy of the castle today. He could hear his labored breathing and was thankful no one was in the halls to catch his frantic attempt to reach the infirmary. Not that it mattered if they did, at least not at this moment. All he wanted to do was make sure she was alive. She had to be because if she wasn't he’d hand Potter over to the Dark Lord himself.
A chill ran down his spine at the thought of the red eyes he’d seen only once last summer. The cloaked man that had entered his father’s study had glanced at him only once and it had given Draco nightmares for days. He’d made it a point to stay in his bedroom when his mother suggested it from that point on.
His foot almost caught on the trick stair that loved, Longbottom. Shaking his head, he kept going. He had to focus. This was no time to think about last summer. Not when this one was approaching, not when he had to fear never receiving a letter over the summer like she had been promising.
“Damn you, Granger.” He grunted under his breath. He’d told her for months Potter was dangerous. He knew ithad to have been due to Scarhead and whatever half-cocked idea he’d talked her into.
He pushed himself to move faster. Why? Why was he running? Why did it matter? His heart was pounding, and his chest burned. Damn, these bloody stairs. He thought as he took them two at a time. The only saving grace was that all the students had been told to stay in their dorms which meant less traffic in his way.
Today reminded him a bit too much of last year. Last year around this time, Digory had supposedly ‘died.’ Which was speculation for everyone else but he knew the truth. Wormtail had practically preened about how he had done it. Shaking his head, he didn’t want to think about that. Not when he’d been urgently summoned by his head of his house. He knew it was about her. Why else would he call him here? The hospital wing came into view finally. He paused at the doors to take a deep breath before calmly opening them.
The click of his oxfords seemed to be muted as he walked through the room. Before he could get a look around the curtains, both Snape and Dumbledor came out. Urgent words were being whispered behind them but he couldn’t make out a thing. It was obviously charmed.
Dumbledor smiled at him. “Ah, Mr. Malfoy, it’s good to see you. I’m glad you came so quickly, we’re in need of your assistance you see.” A twinkle shined in the old man's eyes.
Snape's eyes narrowed in the direction of the headmaster. “I’d like to speak to Draco, alone.” He drawled out.
Dumbledore's eyes crinkled in mirth. “Very well Severus, do be quick now. It’s a matter of life and death after all.”
He patted the potion's master on the back before disappearing back behind the curtain.
Snape's eyes trailed after him for a second, his nostrils flaring as he breathed out a sigh of what seemed to be disdain. His eyes quickly cast back to Draco. “Do you know why I called you here, Draco?”
The blond swallowed. “Well…” his eyes cast behind Snape for a second. It seemed Dumbledor was back. Draco’s mind flashed to earlier this afternoon. He’d been in Umbridge's office, and Granger had mentioned something about Dumbledor's ‘secret weapon’. “I suppose it has something to do with…well…her.” He whispered out the last word. Discretion was of the utmost importance.
Not that they had anything to hide. They hadn’t exactly done anything too serious. They were…they weren’t…not exactly a couple. They weren’t actually together, it was just fun. No strings attached. They snogged in empty corridors, let their hands explore each other in empty classrooms, flirted behind stacks of books in the library, and fought like usual for everyone else. They didn’t talk about the secrets they both had. They didn’t talk about their blood status. Instead, they debated authors and practiced complicated spells together, and sometimes she would tell him about muggle life while he pretended to be uninterested and annoyed.
The other forbidden topic was that wanker Weasley and Potty the great git king. Fucking Potter, this was his fault.
“That indeed it is.” Draco’s attention was brought back from his thoughts. Snape was looking at him in the same way he usually did in class. The same look he gave all his students. A slight pressure he hadn’t known was there seemed to leave his head. “Draco, this evening Miss Granger came into contact with a deadly curse. She is behind this curtain and at this time we are unable to say if she will make it through the night. Saint Mungos is unequipped for a curse like this. Madam Pomfrey has given her something for the pain but that will eventually give way.”
Draco could feel a lump in his throat forming. He cleared his throat. “Right. So, why am I here?” Discretion, discretion, discretion. He chanted.
McGonagall snapped the curtains open and stepped out, blocking the view of the witch of the current topic. “As I said, Dumbledor, now I’m going to get Mr.Weasley before it’s too late.”
“Calm down, Minerva. Surely Mr. Malfoy would be a bit apprehensive, after all, he and Miss Granger's relationship is supposed to be a secret.” The older wizard wearily sighed.
Draco tried to get a peak at the witch again this time however he was successful. He gasped and surged forward, not noticing he’d flung himself through his two professors and past the headmaster.
She was on the bed, her shirt was cut open just up to the valley of her breast but still hid her modesty. A deep gash ran from cleavage to hip. The wound seemed to no longer be bleeding but was dark and purple around the edges of it. He looked up to her face, she was pale, and sweating. Her eyes were shut and her brows were knitted together and it reminded him of the face she made when translating her ancient runes homework. He found her right hand and gripped it in both of his. It was cool and felt clammy. “Granger?” He called her name. “Granger, open your eyes.”
He squeezed her hand in his, he waited a beat and when she didn’t move except to release a ragged breath, he looked to the only person in the room who he knew could help her.
“Do something.” He whispered out to his Godfather and when no one moved he felt the nerves he pushed down on his way up here, bubbling up. She was dying. He looked down at her, she looked a bit different, kind of blurry. “I told you Potter would get you killed.” He blinked and something wet splashed on the back of one of his hands.
“You can save her Mister Malfoy. Pureblood magic is a very powerful force.” Dumbledor stepped around to the other side of the bed and looked at him over his half-moon glasses. “We initially thought to ask Mister Weasley. However, Professor Snape suggested that maybe you would be a better fit for this. Though it is a lot to ask of any young man”
Draco looked up. “What is it? What magic do you need me to do?”
The headmaster smiled. “Mister Malfoy, what do you know about blood bonds?”
Draco ran his left hand through his hair, refusing to let go of her with his other one. A slew of information came to mind. “Blood bonds can be created by anyone including muggles. Some blood bonds can be made for friendships, debts, rituals, the dead, and unions.”
Dumbledor gleefully nodded. “Yes, and pure blood bonds are specifically more powerful than that of an average blood bond. Do you know why that is Mister Malfoy?”
With a huff and a quick casting look of worry towards Hermione, he asked. “Does she have time for a lesson? Or can we get to the point?”
Without any hesitation, the headmaster dropped the bombshell. “Draco.” He cleared his throat and then continued. “The wound here on Miss Granger is slowly draining her of her magic. Now we have it under stasis but that unfortunately will not keep her alive. To be honest, the cursed wound is also affecting our ability to heal her. Though, we believe that Miss Granger can be saved with a blood ritual -
“Then why hasn’t it been done?” He snapped, cutting the headmaster off. His heart was squeezing the patience out of him, and a pit in his stomach was slowly bubbling up with waves of grief. He felt queasy, yet he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. He doubted anything could come up.
Dumbledor seemed to be hiding a smile of mirth as his eyes cast to Snape.
Snape slowly moved to the headmaster's side. “Draco, in order to save Miss Granger she will need to be bonded to a pure bloodline. A line with a strong magical core. I do not believe Dumbledor would be the best match.” His eyes slid over to McGonagall. “Nor do I believe you or Miss Granger would be pleased with Weasley.”
Draco’s jaw clenched at the thought. Hermione bonded to Weasley. If it wasn’t so improper he’d spit at the name.
Without a response, Snape continued. “Draco, from what I know of your family. I believe the Malfoys have a blood ritual that bonds two people together, that allows them to share the magical core of the Malfoy counterpart they are with.”
“It's old…” Draco croaked out, then cleared his throat and swallowed the lump that was forming. “The ritual is, ancient. It would intertwine our lives forever.” He shook his head. “It would allow her to use familial magic from our magical core, it would help her.” He cast his eyes down at her sweating pale form. “But, it’s archaic. Granger would hate it. I…I would have control over Granger's life…she wouldn’t want that. I don't want that.”
Snape scoffed. “Do you believe Mister Weasley would have such a problem?”
“Severus!” McGonagall finally broke. “Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley are best friends. He would never do such a thing.”
Draco didn't miss the insinuation that he -Draco- would do such a thing.
Dumbledor gently raised a hand to halt the two professors. “Ah, Mister Malfoy, I do understand your concerns. However, I have full confidence that you would never take Miss Granger’s free will from her.”
Draco thought for a second then went still. His eyes cast to Snape who gave him nothing back but a blank stare. He glanced at McGonagall who was wearily looking at him, waiting for him to fail so she could run and get the blasted weasel. Looked back down at Hermione. “What if she hates me? What if…my father-
“Is currently being held in a cell at the ministry.” Snape interrupted him. Draco’s head snapped back to his godfather in question. Snape acquiesced. “He and several other Death Eaters were arrested tonight for an attack in the ministry.
His head started to pound and swim, and when he felt a chair hit the back of his legs, he all but collapsed into it. His gaze was cast down to the stone floor of the hospital. “Did he…was he the one who-
“No, your father did not curse her, Draco,” Snape answered the question before he could finish. He felt his chest untighten a bit. However that wouldn’t be enough, his father had been arrested. “Draco, the ritual?”
He closed his eyes and answered Dumbledor’s question. “Are you telling me the only way to save Granger is to marry her?”
He received a nod. “I understand this is a lot for a 16-year-old boy to be able to decide in a matter of minutes. However, if this is something you can not do, maybe because of other extenuating circumstances. Then you are free to decline Mister Malfoy.” Dumbledor's cheeriness had dissipated and replaced with a serious disposition.
It wasn't lost on Draco, what “other extenuating circumstances” meant. It wasn't as if he had not been about to bring up the same thing when he brought up his father. His father…who was now under arrest in the ministry. If he did marry Granger, his father would never know. He’d just have to get to the tapestry before his father did and glamor her away. He’d never know. He
could hide this, just until they could figure things out. Wait? Am I considering this? She’s not even my girlfriend, she’s…she’s…
“ I’ll do it.” He found himself saying before he had decided.
Dumbledor's hands clasped. “Wonderful! Minerva, if you wouldn't mind fetching Poppy for us. As we’ll need her to start casting the spells to help Miss Granger get back to health as soon as we wake her.” He looked back to Draco. “Please prepare your wand, Mister Malfoy.”
Draco let go of her right hand, pulled his wand from his robes, and watched as Dumbledor used a sticking charm to keep Hermiones in her limp hand. “Grab her hand, Draco,” Snape spoke.
He followed his words, both wands in both their hands. Madam Pomphrey bustled in with a cart full of potions and ground powders. “As soon as this is done, all of you except Severus must leave.”
“But-
“You do want her to live, don’t you!” She cut Draco off.
He clamped his mouth shut. Dumbledor finally chuckled. “Fear, not Mister Malfoy, the future missus will be in good hands.” He looked over at McGonagall. “Minerva, if you would please awaken her, we can begin.”
Draco paced slowly in Madam Pomphrey’s office. Granger was hardly aware of the situation. Dumbledor had hurriedly explained the circumstances, and to both Draco and McGonagall's horror, glossed over the terms of the bond. Hermione only managed to nod just slightly through the pain and exhaustion. Her breath was labored as she recited the words Draco told her to repeat. Her eyes were already rapidly blinking to stay awake long enough for the golden glow, that wrapped around their hands and slowly bled to red as it traveled up their arms shining crimson in their chest and around their hearts. By the time Dumbledor had dropped his wand. Her eyes were already closed, then he was being pulled away from her.
He could barely recall what had come over him as he began to thrash and curse for them to let him be near her. It was due to Snape’s casual wand movement and petrifying spell that they were able to remove him.
He felt sick to his stomach. He needed to be by her side. He needed to be with her. He needed to protect her. He saw Dumbledor’s face above him. “I understand the bond is calling you to her Mister Malfoy, just allow them to help her first. Then you can be at her side once again.”
That had been hours ago. Now he was stuck pacing and waiting for the idiot twins and the rest of the redhead brood to leave her alone. He should have been the one to see her first. But instead, as usual, bloody scarhead and weasel had to get in his way.
Knock knock
He paused just as the door opened. Madam Pomphrey strolled in. “Alright, you can go see her, but only for an hour. Professor Snape says he needs to see you in his office.”
Draco had barely let her finish before he was out the door and nearly running to Hermione’s side. He came around the curtain and took inventory. She was clean and in pajamas. A pair he’d recognized from early in the term. Her skin was back to its usual tan but she still looked tired, and her hair was…well, he loved it even if it did look like cornished pixies made a nest of it.
Finally, he caught her peeking open an eye. “You’re a terrible faker, Granger.”
She swallowed and wet her lips. “Malfoy.”
He walked closer to the bed and grabbed her left hand. It wasn't clammy this time and was much warmer. “What is it, Granger?”
She took a deep breath then fully looked at him. “Did we…” her breath shuttered. “Are we-
“Yes.” He looked down at her left hand gripped in both of his. “Since my father is now on his way to Azkaban, I suspect I'll be taking a trip to Gringotts as soon as we leave the platform. I’ll owl you a ring if you like.”
She snorted. “No need. I won't be able to explain to my parents why my former nemesis turned husband is sending a family heirloom worth…-hell it’s an heirloom, it’s probably priceless- because I nearly died following my best friend to harm's way.”
Draco grunted in agreement and looked back to her face. “Look Granger…I don't think, Dumbledor fully explained what that ritual was.” He took a deep breath. “I’ll explain it to you, but just know it isn’t complete until we…” he felt his cheeks heat up. “Well.” He cleared his throat.
She giggled and his eyes narrowed at her. “You don't need to explain anything. McGonagall told me everything before Harry and Ron came. I know we haven't consummated the bond, and it won't fully take hold until we do.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Then I just want to say that as soon as you're recovered… You can always end the bond. It might take a little while to get the runes down but it can be done. You don't have to stay tied to me forever.”
Her brow scrunched. “Draco, whatever you are thinking I'd like for you to stop right now.” She reached a hand up to caress his cheek. “I understand we didn't make anything official before all of this…but my feelings haven't changed. Have yours?”
He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. “No.” He whispered out. This entire term had been like a ride on a hexed broom.
September was still fresh with the death of Digory. Only to be reminded that evil comes in all forms, including pink, with Umbridge around. Then all the rules and regulations she started to enforce. However, Draco was quite pleased he ended up in charge of Granger’s detention for speaking out against the toad woman and having that muggle camera of her’s placed in his care.
He never would have thought it would lead to him snogging Granger by the end of the week, nor that she would corner him in the restricted section of the library where she’d snog him senseless while in a fit of anger. Which kicked off into an intoxicating game of pulling one another into hidden alcoves to make out. Or his favorite one where, after Hufflepuff of all teams defeated Slytherin in quidditch. Hermione had pulled him off in the room of requirements to cheer him up. Followed by him returning the favor with his hand in her soaked knickers before they left for Christmas.
Yes, while all the intimate moments were great for him and his raging hormones. It was nothing in comparison to debating about rune interpretations, dueling with her after dark in the room of requirements, and even just silently reading in the library, sitting across from one another with their backs against the bookcases, hidden in the restricted section. Fifth year had been one of his best years yet, and it was thanks to her.
He even had taken the step to tell her how he felt. He’d owled her a letter not but hours before she would be running head first into danger with Potter. She had sought him out and told him she loved him before running to be with that spectacled git, all he could do was call out he loved her too before running off to find Umbridge to stop whatever Harry would get her into.
He cleared his throat and turned his head to kiss her palm. “No, my feelings haven't changed, Granger. I love you too.”
She smiled brightly at him and sat up. “Good, then I don't think we need to end the bond…just don't violate my trust in you, Draco.”
.
.
.
.
.
.
Trust…she was foolishto trust him they all were. That’s all he could think while sitting in Snape’s office across from both his Godfather and Headmaster. He shook his head in defeat. “I don’t understand. Why! Why would you ask me to do that knowing what you know!” He wanted to claw his heart out. He wanted to go back in time. She would be safer if she was already dead. He wouldn't have to worry about this. His vision blurred as he picked up one of the chairs and flung it across the room.
It never impacted as Snape stopped it from colliding with a shelf full of potions. “I understand your frustration Draco, but do try not to kill us all.”
Draco paused and let out a cruel laugh. “I’d be doing us all a favor.” He looked at Dumbledor. “I bet Potter has no idea about this sick game you’ve played. Granger is now in the crosshairs of it all.” He saw the way the old man's eyes twinkled and he felt bile rise from his stomach. “I’m gonna be sick.” Not even a moment after he said it he found Snape had levitated a bin next to him.
Using his arm he batted the thing away. “What does he even want with me?”
Dumbledor sighed. “That we don't know. We only have what your mother said in the letter. Asking Severus to help you fortify your mind, we only suspect that Voldemort wishes to look into your thoughts. But fear not young Draco, the Black family line is very strong and skilled when it comes to Occlumency, you’re likely to be quite adept at it in just weeks. For now, you can pull your memories out and put them in this vial.” He held up a glass stoppered tube.
Again he shook his head. “There's too much.” He turned his back to them. “I spent all my free time here with Granger when I could. He’ll see her. If he sees her…” he whipped around to face them, his eyes wide as if already seeing the future. “If he sees her, I’m dead…if I die…Granger. She hasn't recovered yet. She’s…she’ll…- His stomach rolled again and before he knew it he found himself headfirst into a bin. Apparently, he was wrong about nothing coming up. The bile in his stomach was acidic and burned his throat.
He was only 16. It was one thing to ask him to save Granger's life and bond himself to her for eternity. It was a completely different thing to ask him to hide her in his mind lest his thoughts be searched by those spine-chilling red eyes.
He felt a hand on his back it felt oddly cold. He looked up to Dumbledore on his left trying to soothe him. “Draco, you must understand that from this point on you must never speak of anything you’ve heard this evening, for not only the sake of the world, but for the sake of the now Mrs. Malfoy.”
He shook his head. “Don’t call her that.” He jerked his body away from the headmaster. “She doesn’t deserve any of this. You should have sent all the muggleborns away and banned them from here the minute you knew he was back. You’ve done this. You and Potter. All of you!” He looked at his Godfather. “If she dies, it's not just blood on my hands, it's blood on both of yours as well.”
He let go of the bin and started for the door. “Draco!” Snape called out and he paused with his hand on the door. “We will begin your lessons after dinner. We only have a week before the term ends.”
He didn’t respond and quickly left the room.
Hermione had never been one to let her mind grow, idle. There was always something to learn, more knowledge to seek, and new magic to practice. A week in the infirmary was much too boring but thankfully she had a guilt-ridden Harry Potter who was almost too eager to hand his invisibility cloak off at her request. She had wanted to look into the bond more. In the last 3 days, it had felt as if her emotions were all over the place until she had started to wonder if maybe not all of them were solely coming from herself.
Ron of course was nosey as ever. “What do you need the cloak for anyway? You’re supposed to stay in bed?”
She rolled her eyes. “I need to borrow a few books from the restricted section Ron, if Voldemort is back and in the open, then we need to know what we're up against.” Her hand lightly touched her still bandaged wound. “I could have died.” She saw Harry tense up in the chair to the right of her bed. He was still nursing the grief of Sirius. Gently she grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight. “I chose to go with you Harry, don't take the blame for what those death eaters did.”
Harry stood up and snatched his hand. “But if I had just learned Occlumency this wouldn’t have happened. You wouldn’t be here, Sirius would be alive. No one would have gotten hurt.” he shook his head solemnly. “ I let him in.”
Hermione swung her legs over the bed and stood up. Pulling Harry to her, she hugged him so tight her injury started to throb. Clutching his head to her shoulder she spoke to him brashly as gently as she could muster. “Harry James Potter, you risked your life because you thought your family was in trouble. Any of us would do the same!” She pulled back and searched his face. His eyes weren’t with them, it was like he was lost in the memory of the night. “Look at me.” The crease in his brow deepened and he shook his head again.
She cupped his face and made him focus on her. “Look. At. Me!” Finally, his eyes slowly drifted to hers. “We are your friends and we are your family Harry. You didn't make anyone do anything they didn’t want to do. We’d follow you through brimstone and hellfire to make sure you make it back alive. You faced one of the darkest wizards in history 5 times. Not once, but 5 times.”
He pulled away and scoffed. “I was a baby the first time Hermione. I had no clue what was happening.” He pulled his glasses off and cleaned a smudge off of them with his shirt. “The sorcerer's stone helped me with Professor Quirrell. He nearly killed Ginny. I couldn't even save Cedric. His bloody ghost did more than I did. This last time…it was just a miracle I suppose.”
Hermione tilted her head to the ceiling and groaned. “You stupid boy.” She whispered, taking a breath she looked at him. “Harry, didn't you say that you hurt him with love this last time?” He nodded and she continued. “What makes that any different than any time before? Do you see my point? We show up out of love and our love is what makes you, Ron, and I strong. So please.” She grabbed both of his hands in hers. “I beg you to stop feeling guilty about being loved-
Before she could say another word she felt herself in a bone-crushing embrace and could hear the quiet sobs escaping his body. Not long after she could feel Ron wrapping his arms around them too. Her boys. She would always protect her boys….yet for the first time it felt much different, one of her boys was missing.
A new addition to the family that lived in her heart. It felt pulled in a different direction. Through the curtains, out the door, down the hall, descending the many stairs, and tethered down into the sublevels of the castle. One lone boy with platinum hair on the other side of the invisible tether. It strummed violently every few hours, it was like she could feel the bubbles of stress fluttering and jumping and swinging from a tightrope that was their bond. Which led her back to why she needed the cloak. She had to figure out more about the Malfoy bond.
That evening she found herself reading under the cloak by wand light. There were plenty of books on blood magic, lots of them on bonds, and a few just on purebloods. But only one book held information about all 3 and it was in tatters, the words nearly faded.
There were pages about many families, and tons about the dark magic they used. However, once she reached the pages about the Malfoys it was as if virtually nothing existed. She flipped through the pages gently. “There has to be more. This can't be it?”
Suddenly the cloak was ripped from her head, and she jumped back into the bookcase behind her. In front of her dripping in satisfaction and smirking was indeed a Malfoy. “Now what do we have here? A little swotty Lion out of her sick bed. Tsk tsk tsk.” He shook his head. “I wonder what she could be looking for in the dead of night.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, you’ve caught me. We’ll play the snogging game after I finish my reading.”
And with his seeker reflexes, he snatched the book from her hands and held it above his head. “I don't think so, Granger.” He smiled down at her. “You see I just happened to be making my way to the infirmary to check on a certain Mrs. when I got this odd niggling feeling I should stop here first.”
Hermione felt her cheeks heat up at the mention of being a ‘Mrs.’ Crossing her arms and clearing her throat she spoke. “Yes, well since you mentioned it, that's why I’m here. I thought I felt a pull or something of the sort this afternoon. I thought I’d look up bonds.”
Draco brought the book to eye level. “28 pure and sacred bonds by Cantankerous Nott.” He scoffed and began to flip through the pages. “How many books did this bloody tosser write?” He murmured. Finally, he stopped at the Malfoy page, scanned it, and smirked before closing it and handing it back to her. “You won't find anything in here, Granger. It has nice theories, but it seems my family does like to keep our secrets close.”
She grunted in annoyance. “I know, I’ve been here for two hours already and there is nothing.”
A genuine smile graced his lips, as he took a few steps back, he tucked one hand into his trouser pocket and the other lightly ran through his hair. “Good thing you have the next best thing to a book right here in the flesh, a real Malfoy.”
Hermione sighed and smiled before flicking her wand and sending the book back to its shelf. “You’ve not been back to see me in two days, Draco. I assumed you were feeling a bit of regret.” She looked him over. At first glance, he seemed to be just fine. Typical Draco Malfoy. Dressed in his lazy yet perfectly pristine uniform, missing tie and belt, first 3 buttons undone, and hair tousled. However, only she could see that something was wrong. The light stubble on his jaw, the slight wrinkle of his shirt, and the intensity of his stare which seemed slightly distant. “You don’t look well, Draco.”
His face twitched and his jaw clenched. “So what, do you suddenly think you can read me now, Granger!” He snipped out. Ignoring him she continued to stare him down, she knew he was lashing out, he wouldn’t be Draco if he didn’t. It would only be a matter of time before he broke- “Sorry.” He sighed and shook his head. “Snape has been teaching me occlumency for the last few evenings.” He finally said, his eyes looking to the left of her.
Immediately she understood. “Oh, I see. I guess he saw some things that you might not want him to.” She felt her blush starting to rise again.
“It's not what you’re thinking.” Pulling out the same vial Dumbledore had shown him, he tossed it to her, and she caught it clutching it to her chest. “All of those are in there. I was actually going to ask you to keep that safe for me. Can’t have someone stumble across it by accident. They’re special.” He whispered the last part.
Finally, he pulled himself off the bookcase. “Look, Granger. I don’t have much I can tell you. I don’t know much about the bond itself except for what it can be used for.” Slowly he came closer to her, “But I do know that as long as it's there it’s dangerous. You'll feel things, you might even know things I’ve not spoken yet. The most important part is that no matter what you think you know, you don’t act on it, alright?”
Her brow scrunched and she shook her head. “I don't understand. Draco what’s going on?”
“Nothing. Just, with you know who back, just lay low. Don't owl me this summer. I know we agreed to stay in contact but it's for the best. I’ll be in touch.” He shrugged noncommittally.
“Draco, you’re not making any sense. Just talk to me, or let's go to Dumbledore. I'm sure whatever it is, he can help us figure it out.” She tucked the vial in her pajama pocket and grabbed for his hand.
He snatched it from reach before she had the chance to grasp it. “No. Fuck him, the bloody old fool is the reason this whole situation has gone to shit.”
Hermione felt herself stiffen. “I see.” She took a step back and grabbed the cloak.
“Wait, Hermione. I didn't mean it like that.” He quickly moved to block her path.
“Then what did you mean?” She looked him dead in the eye, daring him to explain something, anything to her.
He thought for a second. “It's just best if you don’t know.” She started to shove past him. “Granger, wait!” He tried to stop her, but she refused to stop him.
“Granger!” He called after her, however, Hermione would later regret that being her last interaction with him for the term.
Present day.
Stepping out of the floo she kicked her heels off in different directions and dropped her briefcase next to the coffee table. Flopping down on the couch she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She’d have to contact Narcissa and look into having Lucius moved to a private care facility. Somewhere Robbards or anyone else for that matter wouldn’t be able to gain access to him.
She threw her arm over her face, it wasn't so much that she was worried about the treatment he may receive, that was neither here nor there for her. In some ways, she wished he’d suffered the same Draco had. It was almost cowardly the way he chose to do things.
If it wasn’t for the fact he’d covered up for his wife she’d call it selfish. Her mind violently flashed to the holding room, just before Draco’s verdict had been read. Hermione stiffened and sat up, shaking her head and taking a deep breath.
Who was she to judge? He and Draco had done the same thing. ‘It's the Malfoy way, Granger, just let me be a good fucking husband for once.’ That was one thing Draco hadn’t realized, he’d always been a good husband, it was her who often questioned if she was a good wife. Yes, he did suffer the sins of his father, but he’d also taken on the sins of his wife. Had she made the right decisions, and what if she’d gone about things differently? Would he have still ended up in Azkaban? Would there ever be a chance to redeem herself when it came to him?