Circle of Love
Best Laid Plans
“Stupid children!” He hissed at the costumed youths. Their first foray into the Death Eaters world and their mentor wasn't pleased. Grabbing Goyle by the neck, Severus choked him as he said, “The orders were just to shake them up, not kill anyone.” He pointed to the seemingly lifeless body of Ron Weasley. Next to him lay Hermione Granger, unconscious but her chest drew up and down in a labored breath.
“Professor!!” choked out Goyle. “I'm sorry. He pulled his wand first!” He watched mirthlessly as his former student dropped to his knees. “Please, sir-” he choked silently as Snape cast a silencing spell on him.
“Enough! Malfoy! What happened here?” He demanded of Draco. Bloody Hell, he thought. How am I going to explain this to the Lupin? He shook the thought away.
“Well, sir,” Draco seemed to hesitate as he tried to form the next words, his grey eyes staring at the two bodies on the floor.
“Why are Mr Weasley and Miss Granger here and not in Hogsmeade, Mr Malfoy?” Snape sneered as he drew his long, hooked nose into Draco's face. Fingering an object in his pocket, he slipped into Draco's hand unseen by the other boys.
“Well, they followed us under that cloak that Potter has, sir. We didn't know-”
“Silence!” Damn Potter's cloak and the stupidity of those two Gryffindors. Probably borrowed for some snog session in the woods on the way to Hogsmeade. Now one lay dead and the other soon would be if the Dark Lord arrived before he disposed of this little problem. Damn Lucius for his interference.
Draco felt the object that Snape had passed to him. He knew by the feel it was the Professor's emergency portkey, because he'd been shown it once before. He'd been instructed how to use it in case the need ever arose.
“Stupefy!” Draco heard Snape say as both Crabbe and Goyle fell to the ground, senseless and out cold. The Professor knew he had a little time to tell the boy what he would have to do now.
“Use the portkey to take Miss Granger out of here when you can, Mr Malfoy.” He whispered. “This room is going to be overrun with Death Eaters soon. I'll be there soon to get you both, as soon as I figure out how to explain all this to the Order. Until then, keep Miss Granger and yourself hidden.” Snape turned to look at the four bodies on the floor. “Use those potions I gave you for emergencies on her when she wakes up.”
He watched as Crabbe and Goyle regained their senses, and moaned.
“You three must be punished for your actions,” he spat as he threw a few spells at Goyle, Crabbe and Malfoy, making them writhe on the floor in pain. As Snape kept the two others busy in their pain, he nodded to Draco that it was time. He watched as Malfoy slid closer to the girl's form and took her hand. Then, with only a word from Draco, the Portkey activated, and they were gone, leaving Snape, the two young Death Eaters and Ron Weasley's body in the room.
Draco leaned back against the hard stone pillar, and felt the mist's wetness as it swirled around him and the unconscious form of the girl beside him. He dropped the now useless portkey that was in his hand to the ground next to him. He wanted to curse Snape for this little trip.
They had ported to some Celtic druid's stone circle, and Merlin only knew where it was. It was too small by the looks of it to be Stonehenge, so it could be any of the smaller ones scattered across Europe. He heard Hermione groan as she moved, waking up from what Crabbe and Goyle had done to her. He was not looking forward to her initial reaction.
“Malfoy??” She looked around, still dazed from the spells she had been attacked with. “Okay, tell me, where are we?” Hermione felt her pockets for her wand and then searched around on the ground for it. “What have you done with my wand!?!?” she screamed at him.
“First, mudblood, I have no clue where we are. I know it's a druid's stone circle, but I don't think we are in England anymore. Second, I have no clue where your wand is. I'm guessing Goyle's pocket since he spelled you unconscious.” Draco sneered and stood up, brushing the dirt and leaves from his pants.
“Here, drink this, Professor Snape said it would help after you woke up.” He pulled a small vial from his pocket and extended it to Hermione. She slapped at his hand, and Draco watched it fall mercifully to the soft mound of grass, unbroken. “Its pepper up potion, you twit.” Malfoy picked the bottle up and tucked it back into his pocket. “Your loss, mudblood.” and Draco snickered at her expression.
“Cat got your tongue, Granger?” Draco smirked. This may be more fun than Snape planned. and his smirk widened.
“What has gotten you so amused, Malfoy?” Hermione tried to stand up, but still weak from the curses she fell back to the ground.
“Listen, Granger. If I had my choice I wouldn't be here with you. Your mudblood taints me with its presence. So, I'm going to give you the potion once more, and you will drink it like a good little witch should.” Draco placed a hand behind Hermione's head and made to tip the now open vial to her lips. She stubbornly held them closed, shaking her head.
“You taste it first.” Hermione mumbled between her clenched lips.
“Fine, Granger. I'll humor you.” Tipping the vial to his mouth, he took a sip and grimaced, as smoke drifted out of his ears. “Yeah, definitely vile pepper up.” Draco looked back her. “Happy?” Hermione nodded. “Fine, drink it then.”
Draco watched as Hermione drained the remaining potion, and retched as it went down. “Good mudblood,” and he laughed. “Feeling any better?”
“A Malfoy showing concern for a muggleborn?” Hermione questioned.
“Well if you die, Professor Snape won't be pleased.” He turned away. She still hadn't asked about the Weasel.
“Where's Ron?!?” Hermione asked as if she had read Draco's mind.
Bloody Hell! “He's dead.” He said harshly. Draco was not in the mood to play nice, and for some reason he knew Hermione would rather have the truth instead of a complex lie.
Still shaky, Hermione sprang up and slammed her fists in Draco's chest weakly, “You killed him!”
“Goyle did.” He said, trying to dodge her small fists as they pounded on him.
The scream of pain she let out seemed to shake the pillars surrounding them. It echoed and bounced off them endlessly. Draco clenched his fists to his side, waiting for the screams to end. As suddenly as they started, the reverberations ended, leaving her weeping and hiccuping on the ground. He never hated his spy status more.
“Why?” Hermione repeated in an endless litany between sobs.
“Why did you have to follow us?” Draco snarled. “It wasn't supposed to happen. Just a little practice before some real task. Now I'm stuck in some Celtic ruin with you. I hope Professor Snape comes for us soon, your mud blood reeks and it's making me sick.” Draco sneered as he pulled out his wand. “Stay here, don't make me bind you to the pillar.” He laughed at her expression.
“You're just going to leave me here?” Hermione exclaimed. She shuddered at his laugh.
“I'm not leaving you Granger. I'm going to see if that really is a berry bush over there and get some wood for a fire. Its getting dark and I prefer not to freeze.” With that Draco turned and marched off.
He hadn't expected to feel sorry for the little mudblood as she mourned her blood traitor boyfriend.
The small fire flickered cheerfully off the pillars, creating a small light and precious warmth. As it was, Draco watched Hermione shiver and drag her hands across her face as she stared broodingly into the fire. She seemed to be getting worse, and he hoped for Merlin's sake Snape arrived soon.
“Eat your berries,” Draco gestured towards the leaf in front of her piled with what he thought was raspberries. He popped one of his into his mouth, settled back and savored it as the juice slid down his throat.
“I'm not hungry,” Hermione mumbled. She leaned back, eyes closed and drifted into unconscious state again.
A/N I want to thank my patient beta Mon... for without her there'd be no flow. Huggles