Imminent

For this dance, we'll move with each other
There ain't no other step than one foot, Right in front of the other
There's so many wars we fought
There's so many things we're not
But with what we have, I promise you that
We're marchin' on
(Marchin On, OneRepublic)

March 2006

Pansy hummed while she danced around the kitchen, her sleek black bob twirling in time with her matching black dress. Draco watched, a small smile etching across his face, content at seeing his best friend at peace and happy. Even though there were threats against her life, Pansy was not one to be deterred from still trying to live it to the fullest. He was thankful that Potter had taken young James out for the day to visit the Burrow. He needed this time with just Pansy for a while and she’d admitted she wanted some time with just her Draco. He smirked remembering how Potter had grimaced and made a face when she’d said so.

“What’s got you in a good mood now?” Pansy smiled as she plated up her latest creation. Draco could feel his mouth water at the sight of the properly cooked steaks. She was an artisan in the kitchen comparable only to Milly. Why she hadn’t gone on to be a chef, he’d never know, but Pansy was more than happy to be a stay-at-home mother, doting on Potter and little James.

“Just remembering how you sickened your husband earlier,” he murmured as he took a sip from his water glass. He thought for a moment how it would be nice to enjoy a small glass of wine with the meat but pushed that thought aside. That was a bad road to go down.

“It’s always going to be a struggle for you, you know,” Pansy spoke softly as she placed the plate in front of him before sitting across the table.

“Hm, and what’s that?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about, Draco. I can see it on your face no matter how much you try to Occlude. Don’t try to play dumb with me. Unless you truly plan on drinking yourself dead again?”

Ah, the Incident.

“Yeah, let’s not go down that road, Pans. I’ve been doing well without giving in. It’s just a periodic thought every now and then. Don’t give me that look.” He rolled his eyes at her glare., “All I was thinking was that it would be nice to have a glass of red wine with this perfectly cooked steak. Is that really so bad? Don’t even answer that because I know it’s not. I can confidently tell you that a sweet red wine would pair with it deliciously and you should try a glass.”

Pansy huffed and rolled her eyes, “Sometimes you can be so overdramatic.”

“Only with you, love,” he smirked and let out a laugh when she threw her napkin across the table at him.

“Now, tell me what’s really going on with you,” she started to cut into the steak and chewed a bite, patiently waiting.

“Trusting that you’re not going to tell your husband…there’s not much new yet. We’ve found a few rogue werewolves but nothing helpful. They were fully Obliviated. They didn’t even know they were werewolves. Someone is doing an excessively good job of covering their tracks. Preventing us from making any headway with it. It’s making us concerned that they’re going to escalate soon.”

Pansy hummed, “And?”

“Theo’s still adamant in his theory that Dolohov is involved. When we were in ranks, he was one of them who would experiment on people. Besides Aunt Bella and Greyback. I trust Theo but I don’t know how much of this theory is possibly just a grudge to do with his father.”

Draco couldn’t help the shiver at the thought of the tortuous nature of his aunt. He still remembered, and was reminded by the scars across his back, how cruel she could be during his training. He was thankful again for Milly teaching him how to heal and for her motherly nature to help keep the worst injuries as simple scars.

It always could’ve been worse.

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Pansy narrowed her eyes and raised a brow at him. Draco tried to stuff more food in his mouth to avoid her inevitable line of questioning. “Draco, I know you. I know when you’re keeping things from me. Now you tell me or I will never cook for you again.”

He swallowed, “I’ve got Milly.”

“You know she’ll listen to me before you.”

Draco growled but closed his eyes and let out a long breath. He had been avoiding telling anyone about the not-so-subtle clues Lucius had given him. He especially knew that Pansy would have a harder time hearing it. But if there was anyone he could trust to tell his thoughts to, it would be Pansy. Before Theo, before Blaise. Before even telling his own mother. 

Pansy was his person.

He propped his elbows on the table, resting his head on his clasped hands and looked Pansy directly in the eyes before he muttered, “Granger’s alive.”

Pansy sputtered around her glass of water and stared wide-eyed at him, “You –who–what–say what?!”

“Pans…”

“No. No. I heard you. Did you visit him? Did he tell you that?!”

“No, I visited Lucius.” Pansy cringed. “He was his usual crazed self. Mostly unhelpful. Except he made some comments about Granger. Very, very specific comments. He said that Granger had been caught by Greyback at some point after… his defeat. And he said that Greyback had caught himself a fox but always thought Granger was a lioness. And I know it sounds absolutely ludicrous but at one of the crime scenes there was this little fox and I swear to you, Pans, the thing seemed oddly observant. Almost like a human.”

“You think she was an Animagus?”

“Not was. Is . She is . I don’t know how to explain it without sounding barmy. But it just…it makes sense. There were certain behaviours that she had that are consistent with canines…” Draco trailed off at the smirk on Pansy’s face. “What?”

“Certain behaviours? Are you talking about during your little rendezvous or other behaviours?”

“Shut up,” he tossed his napkin at her face while she continued snickering, “Yes, alright? There were things during those times as well that explain it. But I’m more concerned with another comment Lucius said. He said that Greyback said she tasted divine.”

“Oh, Draco,” Pansy said quietly and reached across to hold his hand at the concerned look now adorning his face. “Draco. I may not know Granger as well as you do, but she is fierce. I very much doubt that even if he caught her, she wouldn’t have let him do such things to her. You know Lucius. It was probably all a farce to get a reaction out of you.”

“I know. That’s what I keep telling myself. But if it did happen, I feel like I’ve failed her. And what if he bit her? We have a theory that Greyback can turn people outside the full moon. What if he did it to her? What if that’s why she’s stayed away?”

“Draco,” Pansy thought for a moment, “I don’t have the right words to tell you right now. I don’t know if anyone does. But you didn’t fail her. Do you hear me? You have never failed her or anyone else. You have always been such a protector. Sometimes I think you put that responsibility on yourself too much. And if that is why she’s stayed away all the years, can you really blame her? She probably thinks she would be putting us all in danger and you know how Granger always was. Like you. Never wanting to put those you love in danger.”

Draco nodded but decided to put his Occlumency into place. He loved Pansy dearly but he wouldn’t allow too much to show through. If he did, he didn’t know if it would ever stop. And that wasn’t something he could chance right now.

“Did I ever tell you about how she saved me?” she spoke softly.

“Hm, you’ve mentioned it before but never really shared the details. I think I ended up being there,” he murmured, feeling saddened that he’d been present for her almost-demise.

“Yeah, I think you were. You should’ve seen when she first got there. I still have no idea how she found out where I was but I’m so thankful she did. She came bursting through the front doors, screaming my name. I thought I was hallucinating. But no, there she was. And then the others were bursting in around us. I remember we ended up outside, surrounded by all of you. I didn’t know if you were there yet.” Pansy had tears in her eyes at the memory. “I remember thinking that this was it. This was how I was going to go out but at least I took that bastard out myself. And Granger. My god , Granger was a sight. I remember being so terrified and she was just casting spell after spell and it was like watching some goddess at work and then she yelled for me to grab onto her and then we were gone. I think she Stupefied me or something because I don’t remember where we ended up. I woke up surrounded by Lupin and McGonagall.”

Draco reached over and wiped away the tears that had fallen from Pansy’s eyes. 

She gave a shuddering sigh. “I never got to thank her for it either, you know. I never got to see her after that. So if she is alive, if she’s out there…you find her. You bring her home.” She coughed once more to cover her tears before smiling. “Now, take me to the cinema like you promised.”

Hermione sighed contentedly as she navigated through the crowd in muggle London. Her blonde hair trailed in short whisps behind her. She kept her head down as she carefully avoided being stepped on and elbowed. Being shorter than her usual self was proving to be a bit more difficult than she had thought. She thought wryly that next time she borrowed someone’s body, she should make sure they’re at least close to her height. But she wanted a proper meal quickly and the restaurant she just left was absolutely perfect in her opinion. A deliciously cooked meal for the first time in weeks and her stomach was almost constricting-ly full. The good kind of full.

Her happiness was short-lived. 

Because there he was, just up ahead. He looked smart in his dark muggle jeans and black shirt. His coat billowed open as he walked with Pansy…away from the cinema and straight towards her.

Hermione felt panic start to rise in her gut until she reminded herself that she was Polyjuiced. She was a stranger. And even though every fibre of her being was telling her to go to them and reveal the truth and apologise…

Instead, she took a deep breath and continued walking as if nothing were amiss. Walking toward the man that haunted her dreams and memories for the last six years. Who she wanted desperately to hold and be held by. 

In a few seconds, she Occluded so heavily that she was sure there was no emotion in her eyes. She couldn’t risk it of course. Draco was a natural at Legilimency and reading people, a gift he’d mastered. But she had too. And she would be damned if she was going to allow this small mishap to distract her from achieving her goals.

She overheard their conversation as they neared.

“You men and your scary movies,” Pansy scoffed and linked her arm through Draco’s. “That was horrific and not in a good way.”

Draco hummed, “It wasn’t too terrible. Proper amount of jump-scares in my opin-”

Hermione could try to say it was an accident but she admitted to herself that she may have purposefully ran right into his shoulder. Well, technically his arm with how short she was now. And with her height being a problem for her balance, she almost fell over.

Almost. Because Draco, being ever the gentleman, had perfect reflexes and reached out to steady her. Heat flooded her face and body at the touch of his hand around her upper arm.

“ Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention ,” she signed as she took in his face. He was more strikingly beautiful up close than she remembered. Time had sharpened his features, chiselled his jaw, lengthened his hair. He looked worn down and tired, no doubt his caseload taking up all of his energy. She felt her stomach flip when she looked into his silver eyes as he smiled.

Silver eyes that she missed so dearly and that smile that made her knees go weak.

“Oh, sign language. I’m sorry, I don’t understand.,” he murmured and let go of her arm, “Are you alright?”

She nodded shyly, “ Thank you .”

She stood there for a second later, watching as they continued walking, before turning and walking away from the love of her life once again. Just like she had done six years ago after the battle of Hogwarts, when he had been calling her name through the castle…

Hermione hoped that soon she wouldn’t have to endure this heartache anymore.

It was a decent day, Draco decided. Not too cold and just the right amount of sunshine that it wasn’t too bright out either. Perfectly decent day if he was being honest. But his day now had the potential to go sour as he walked towards the door of the small inviting cottage. It wasn’t anything grand, just a small white-stoned home with a pebble walkway leading to an unassuming simple brown door.

It was what lay beyond that door that was going to decide how the rest of his day went. 

As he walked those last few steps, Draco’s mind kept wandering to the most inconspicuous encounter he’d had while walking with Pansy after their date night at the cinema. He’d simply ran into a woman and knocked her off her feet. Not quite off her feet but close enough. It was the most unremarkable encounter, no different than running into any other stranger but this stranger…this stranger caused a spark in him. Caused something to come alive again.

And that troubled him more than he’d care to admit. Because he’d been waiting for years, holding out hope and this unassuming stranger bumps into him and it felt like everything changed again. Draco felt slight frustration that he couldn't speak to her since she’d shown only sign language in that quick ten second encounter. But it was enough that her ordinary brown eyes had enraptured him. And now for the last few days, it was all he could think about.

Draco visibly shook himself and set his Occlusion heavily, shoving the encounter to the far reaches of his mind. He reminded himself it was nothing more than a random occurrence. Happened every day.

His boots thumped across the porch as he approached the door, his long coat skimming the tops. It had been several months since he’d last visited. His mother visited more often as she had more reason than he felt he did. But he also preferred avoiding it because every visit left him feeling drained and rather grumpy. Today though…today he would need to set that aside.

Draco swallowed the lump in his throat and raised a fist to knock…

Only for the door to open and a sandy-haired man to be standing on the other side.