A Mole
It was late into the night in the Malfoy’s Beccles library where Hermione and Theo were sprawled on a carpet, various books laid around them regarding previous Wizarding election tactics. Draco stretched his side slightly and Hermione’s blank application papers shifted in his lap.
Theo rolled over onto his side. “So, we have a few things to address.” He turned to face Hermione. “First thing – if you’re okay with it – we need to know what happened during the war and who else knows. Draco and I will assess how much of a risk the person is, and if they do feel like talking, how we can deal with it effectively. Next, your platform. What are you going to give the Wizarding World that the current Minister isn’t offering, and why will you be better? What are your qualifications?”
“And after that,” Draco piped. “We look at our competitors. Who is running against you, who is trying to drag your name through the mud?” He willed his voice to not crack at the last word. “And then we review the department heads at the Ministry – maybe even set up a lunch with them. If we can get their vote, the workers in their department have a higher chance of voting for you.”
“And once we get this down, we'll file your application.” Theo added with a smile. “Oh, and we have to get our marketing team ready.”
Hermione was watching them with her mouth slightly open. “Marketing team?”
“It can be a few people.”
“I see.”
“The weekends can be for that, for now. The weekdays while we’re in Beccles, we’ll finish up this case as fast as we can.” Draco finished.
Hermione paused, her eyes flitting between Draco and Theo. Within a week, her life had turned upside down. She and Draco were getting along well, and she was pleased that Theo was sticking around the manor. She could get her magic, her past, under control with Draco’s help. Both of the boys could get her started on her run for Minister but…
“Is there anything you want?” She asked, her brows furrowing.
“What do you mean?” Theo asked.
“You’re helping me with the election, and you…” She looked at Draco. “You’re helping me with my magic and the election. What… what do you want from this?”
“Anything you’ll give us.” Theo replied with a smrik.
Hermione gave him an exasperated look. “Theo.”
“You’ll hire Malfoy Enterprises for legal work when you’re Minister. We can overlook contracts within employees and other organizations.” Malfoy said, his steel eyes boring into hers.
Hermine paused for a moment before nodding. “If at that point, your company is in good standing, then it’s yours, Malfoy.”
Draco nodded in response.
“And you Theo?” Hermione turned to Theo.
“I would like to lead a department at the Ministry.” He said quietly.
“You what?” Hermione and Draco said in unison.
“Would like to lead a department at the Ministry. I’ll inform you later which one—I have two in mind and I believe I have the qualifications for it but I simply cannot choose at the current moment.”
Hermione smiled, her head tilting. “That is fine by me, Theo.” She turned to face the two of them. “That’s settled then?” She asked, and they both nodded.
***
Draco watched curiously over Hermione’s shoulder as she placed multicoloured pins over a map of Beccles. “We can stake out this place by place. The first is here—we’ll move our way East to West as we sweep the town.”
“The barn?” His eyes were flitting between the map and her hair. It was wild – Draco wondered if it locked onto all the moisture around it in a half meter radius. It moved on its own accord, flowing until it reached her elbows and brushing against him. It took everything he had not to breathe her in, to—
“Draco?” Hermione turned to face him; her brown eyes wide. “Do you think this is bad?”
“W-what’s bad?”
“Going East to West.”
Dear Merlin. “I think it’s fine. The Aurors can patrol as we go down—the only way out will be for them to flee into the ocean. International Patrols will catch them there as well.”
She nodded. “Good. We start at the barn then. I’ll send Harry an owl to let him know—we can start tonight?”
Draco nodded. “I’ll check on the neutralizing potions—they should be ready to be transferred to vials.”
Hermione gave him a grave smile. “Oh, the things we’ve signed up for.”
“Indeed Granger, indeed.”
***
At nightfall, Auror by Auror slipped across Beccles into their positions through the town. Harry would lead a team into an abandoned barn at the edge of town, including Hermione and Draco. If there was anyone to arrest, the Aurors would take care of it. Hermione and Draco’s job was solely to contain any magical or cursed objects and potions. The team was split into two; Hermione was paired with Harry and another Auror, while Draco and another two officers were trailing them slowly.
Draco held his breath as the two teams stepped into the barn. Harry and the Auror in front of Hermione cast silencing and disillusionment charms on both of the teams, effectively silencing their footsteps. The barn was empty from what Draco could tell aside from the stray bundle of hay. They crept forwards until they reached about a third way in.
“Harry…” He heard Hermione whisper ahead. “Harry, what is tha—”
Whatever Hermione was saying was effectively cut off as the Auror in front of her was hit with a bright flash of blue—a body-binding curse, and went down a thud. “Protego!” She yelled, her shielding charm shimmering the air around her. Draco, along with his two Aurors were swiveling around in their spots. Where had that hex come from?
“Come out!” Yelled Harry, his wand out in front of him. Hermione turned to face Draco, panic written across her face.
Draco caught it with the corner of his eye, the unmistakable glint of a raised wand, across the barn. His breath caught in his throat as he saw at least five figures step out.
“Granger!” He yelled stepping up to drag her to his side.
“Malfoy!” She hissed back, seeing the figures up ahead. “Flipendo!” She screamed at the first figure, and the spells began to be thrown back and forth.
“Expulso!” Yelled one of the figures and Harry shouted as the spell sliced through both his and Granger’s shield charms, effectively hurling the lot of them away from each other with a large boom.
Draco landed on one side of the barn with his ears ringing—he felt something wet trickle down the side of his face. Horror graced his stomach as he saw a figure clutching Hermione, a wand to her throat. Where was his wand? Fuck. “Hermione.” He gargled, staggering to a stand. “Accio wand.”
“Don’t move.” Another figure was holding Harry up—Harry who was actively struggling against his assailant.
The rest of the Aurors were fucking down, he could see the outline of their bodies in the dark. Draco pointed his wand at the figure holding Granger. His eyes couldn’t make out if hers were even open.
"Let her go." He snarled. "Let her go now."
“Malfoy?”
“Ron?” Draco and Harry yelled in unison.
“What the hell?” Harry yelled. The wizard holding him effectively let go of him and Harry spun to hold his wand against the other’s throat. “Wilkins?” He asked incredulously.
“Merlin, it's Hermione.” Ron whispered hoisting Hermione up against him. “'Mione, wake up.”
“What’s going on?” Harry yelled, yanking her from Ron’s grasp. “What are you doing here?”
“Mate you told us to meet you here after sundown to wait for the infiltration.” Ron said slowly, his eyes widening.
Harry’s eyes were flitting between Hermione against his chest and the rest of his team—some of them confused and others still on the floor. Harry raised his wand. “Expecto Patronum.” He cast his spell and his stag emerged from the tip of his wand and ran through the barn, effectively disappearing. “There's a mole. Send medics to Beccles.” Harry said gravely before he turned to face Draco, his glasses askew on his face. "Get the injured back to the manor."