Chapter 8
The group spends a couple hours after dinner making a plan for tomorrow. By the time they finish, it's almost five in the morning. Everyone quickly disperses, eager to get any sleep they can before they dock around eleven.
Hermione is the last one to descend the stairs. Draco is standing in Theo's doorway laughing, and the sight of this genuine emotion is still bizarre for Hermione to see. Draco says goodnight and Theo's door closes.
Hermione reaches her door just as Draco reaches his. As if a mirror of each other, their hands reach for their doorknobs and begin to twist. At the last second, Hermione says softly, "Malfoy?"
Draco's hand stills, and the only visible movement of his body is the steady rise and fall of his chest. His eyes stay fixed on his hand, but she speaks anyways, her voice slow and unsure. "I wanted to say... Thank you. I—"
"No need to thank me," he cuts in. His eyes finally slide to look at her, and the sincerity in them is startling. "And you do not need to explain yourself."
Hermione blinks. It is a rare occurrence in which she is at a loss for words. This is one of those times. "Okay," she replies after what seems like eternity.
The corners of Draco's lips curve ever so slightly. "Okay."
He opens his door and puts one foot through when she adds hastily, "Do not think you cease to get on my every nerve."
He just shakes his head at her, grin widening. "Wouldn't dream of it, love," and the door clicks shut.
Hermione closes her door behind her and releases a breath she wasn't aware she was holding. Groaning, she collapses on the bed flat on her back.
She is able to understand almost everything in her life, but her situation with Draco leaves her dazed and confused. Their alliance is necessary for their success, yet her feelings towards him are cryptic and jumbled. If someone asked her how she felt about Draco Malfoy three days ago, she would express her hatred with no question.
Now, she's questioning everything.
Has Hermione ever truly hated him, or did their rivalry and competition push them apart? Did she hate him, or did she hate losing to him, failing the Gryffindors and her parents?
She thinks of what he did for her tonight and frowns. He knew what she needed: he helped her, protected her. A small gesture, yet it meant so much.
Everything is changing so fast and she can't keep up.
Sighing, she shakes her head and sits up, trudging to the corner to retrieve her trunk. Might as well unpack while she's lost in her thoughts. She hoists the large luggage onto her bed and undoes the latches, pulling it open.
There's a lone piece of parchment placed on top of all her things, filled with scribbles in different handwriting. Hermione inhales sharply, recognizing the penmanship of her friends. Her family. Every note she reads, the more her heart aches.
This is an amazing opportunity, and everyone knows it has been your dream forever. There was no chance we would not let you go. - Albus
Please do not worry about your parents. I will keep up with your payments while you are gone, okay? I have a lot of savings, I'm happy to use them for you. I promise I will take care of them. Just be safe. - Harry
You deserve this, Mione. Seize it. I miss you already. - Ginny
I hope you have the adventure of a lifetime. I can't wait to hear all about it. - Ron
Best of luck to you! We wish you all the best. We hope you like our gifts for you. - Freddy and George
Hermione wipes at the single tear that escaped her eye, folding the paper carefully and placing it on her nightstand. She had a feeling she would want to reread it, a comfort, a reminder of home.
Looking through the rest of her things, she finds her standard wardrobe, as well as quite a few dresses and girly outfits that definitely came from Ginny's closet. Tucked into the side are three of her favorite books. There's also a plethora of gear and weapons, some familiar and some not. She stacks the books on her nightstand, puts her gadgets in her drawers, and hangs her clothes in the small closet.
Hermione picks out a simple white sundress for tomorrow, stuffing her usual black attire and gear into an inconspicuous white bag. She figured she should look normal so as to not attract attention.
Exhaustion begins to overcome her senses, so she strips down and pulls on her favorite shirt, a large light gray one with outlines of all the constellations. She loves the stars, loves their otherworldly nature and their ability to make her feel small. The constellations on her shirt are unlabeled, so at night she likes to wonder what each of them are.
She climbs under the covers and nothing has ever felt so amazing. Her head hits the pillow and her eyes immediately flutter shut.
Hermione's eyes are met with startling silver ones.
She jerks up, looking around her room frantically. But no one is there.
She lays back down cautiously, closing her eyes once again. There they are still, glinting eyes in a sea of darkness. This time, Hermione doesn't startle. She knows now that it's just her mind, and her mind was showing her those eyes. Those quicksilver eyes.
She falls asleep staring back at them.
_____
"Land ho!" A pirate yells, a bell sounding from the top of the main mast.
It's just past nine in the morning, the sun kind in its limited heat. The crew rushes to the sides of the ship to see for themselves. There, in the distance: Italy. From here, the ship is just small enough to travel through the Tiber River the rest of the way to Rome.
Pansy hops onto the railing and slides down the staircase, dawning a simple green dress that cinches at the waist and billows down to her ankles. She calls out a few instructions before turning to Hermione and the others. "Is everybody clear on their assignments?"
Draco nods. "Granger and I are all set for the heist." He doesn't look her way.
"Luna and I will be out gathering information about when boats are leaving tomorrow morning, as well as the security we must get past," Blaise says.
Pansy looks to Theo expectantly, who shrugs and searches his pockets with a smile. "I seemed to have forgotten my homework at home, Miss Parkinson."
Pansy shoves his shoulder and mutters, "Lord, give me strength."
Theo grins and Luna pipes in, "And you, Pans?"
"Theo and I will obtain the security information from Blaise in passing at precisely two hours past noon at the Pantheon. Then..." Pansy lifts the skirt of her dress, revealing dozens of weapons strapped to her legs. "We'll take real good care of whoever's in our way," she states simply, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"We have the day to ourselves," she continues, lowering her dress again. "We must keep with our partners, though not necessarily next to each other at all times, just near each other to monitor one another." Hermione can feel Draco's eyes on her. "We will not congregate as a group until the job is finished tomorrow morning, so as to not attract attention or suspicion."
"We meet back at the Serpent at ten to sunrise, and I'll manipulate the wind currents to get us out of here in plenty of time before the town awakens," says Luna.
"Alright, then." Pansy's eyes are gleaming, and Hermione can't help but gape at her hero. "Let's steal a portion of the Colosseum."
Hermione smiles, her enthusiasm mirrored in everyone else's expressions. Draco lets out a low whoop, echoed by Blaise and Theo. Theo's eyes light up, gasping. "We need a team cheer."
Blaise presses his lips together. "What?"
"A cheer. Like, a chant or something that we always say. Something like, 'Go, team, go!'" Theo looks around expectantly.
Pansy stares at him, eyebrows high on her forehead. "Are you serious?"
"Deadly so."
Hermione shrugs, finding herself quite fond of Theo's humor. "I don't see why not."
"How about, 'Blow it up?'" Theo makes an explosive noise with matching hand motions.
"Are we actually doing this?" Draco mutters.
"'Boom boom clap?'" Theo suggests again, clapping his hands together.
"Okay, we're actually doing this, then."
Pansy rolls her eyes. "'Boom boom clap' is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
"Come on, Pans, what's wrong with it?"
"The actual question is, what's not wrong with it?"
"There is something my mum used to say," Luna offers, so soft that Hermione almost doesn't hear her over Theo and Pansy's bickering.
"Shut up, the pair of you!" Blaise chides, smacking Theo's and Pansy's arms, who both yelp in answer. Blaise turns back to Luna, smiling gently. "Luna, what were you saying?"
Luna blinks up at Blaise, lips slowly curving. She catches some of her hair in her fingers and twirls it. "She used to say something when I was upset. She said it to encourage me that all of my trials and hardships would lead to victory. To glory."
Hermione thinks of her mother, brushing her hair after bathing, humming "Don't Dream It's Over" under her breath. Her chest tightens with the pain of what once was, what will never be again, and her eyes burn.
She feels the lightest brush of skin against her hand. Hermione swallows, eyes dropping to see Draco's knuckles barely grazing her hand beside her. She looks up at him, and he's already looking at her in that intense way of his, eyebrows drawn together and jaw tight. His eyes are hard, darting between hers.
The point where their hands meet sends a shock of heat through Hermione. It's overwhelming. It's electrifying. She doesn't move her hand, is afraid to. She forces herself to look away, clearing her throat. "Well? What would your mom say, Luna?"
Luna tilts her face up to the sky, closing her eyes in serenity. "Through the storm, to the stars."
The silence is tangible, and only the shouts from the rest of the crew fill the air.
"Damn," Blaise whispers, rubbing his jaw.
Luna opens her eyes, blushing. Her arms wrap tightly around herself. "It's just an idea."
Pansy shakes her head, shooting Luna a reassuring smile. "It's perfect. Right, guys?"
Draco hums, his right dimple appearing. "It's perfect," he says quietly.
A serious expression overtakes Theo's face, and he sticks his hand in the middle of their circle, gesturing for others to do the same. Hermione and Draco put their hands in at the same time, not once breaking their faint touch. He looks at her again, dark charcoal gray. She feels the burn between them get stronger. Brighter.
Stars. What is he doing to her?
"Through the storm," Theo says firmly, making eye contact with each of them. He winks at Hermione, and his gaze settles in a lock with Pansy's.
The six of them answer in unison. United. Six as one. "To the stars."