Striving For Something Not Temporary

A/N: Alright guys, I hope you like this chapter. I\'ve been finding them harder and harder to write as the plot progresses, but it should be a bit easier from here on out. Tell me what ya think!



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Deep in the wilderness, set on unplottable soil, a creature was perched in a position of power. It was here, in an intimidating looking framework on the Isle of Drear, a meeting was set to commence.

“Lucius.”

A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows and lowered himself into a dramatic bow. “My Lord.”

“I assume since you are standing in my presence at least some of my plan is going accordingly?”

“Yes, my Lord.” He dropped to one knee. “The next stages are coming along faster than we had hoped.”

“Oh?”

“Yes my Lord. The ingredients were easier to come by than we had anticipated. The potion is being brewed as we speak.” Lucius spoke with more confidence.

“That is marvelous news indeed.” the creature hissed. “When will you have it ready?”

“The potion takes two months to brew, my Lord.”

“I didn’t ask how long it took to brew, I asked when you will have it ready.” the creature spat.

“I’ll see what I can do, my Lord. I’m certain there is time to be shaved off it somewhere.” he bowed lower to the ground.

“Excellent. See that it is done.” he spoke with finality.


***


Hermione finally made it down to the great Hall for breakfast the next morning. It was a painful experience to leave Draco lying so perfectly in her bed when she went to take a shower. The sheer sight of him made her blush widely from the previous night’s activities.

After gathering all her belongings together in her backpack, she chanced one more glance at his angelic form that lay unconscious on her bed. Naughty territorial thoughts wove inside her head as she turned around out of the room. She’d slipped out the door of their common room just as she heard him stirring.

It brought a certain humor to her in a way. She’d heard stories of people sleeping together then come morning the woman was left alone while the man slipped off during the night. It wasn’t as though what she and Draco had was meaningless, anything but actually. She just found an ironic satisfaction that the Slytherin Sex God was waking up to an empty bed this morning.

She was still humored with that thought as she sat down and started choosing her breakfast from the overflowing dishes that were laid in front of her at the table. Suddenly she felt quite ravenous, and grinned more widely at what she had been doing to work up her sudden appetite.

“Well someone looks quite ethereal this morning.” Ginny chirped from her seat across the table. “Have a good night’s rest I take it?” she continued with a sly grin.

Hermione could feel her cheeks flaming to rival one of the colors of her house. “Good morning Ginny.” not making eye contact.

Ginny burst into laughter. “Out with it girl. I know there’s something you’re not spilling!”

As she was gearing up to counter with a stubborn reply, the morning owl post led her to distraction. Relieved to have something to concentrate on besides the sordid details of her and Draco’s newest nighttime habits, she looked in the air and found an owl flying to her with the newest edition of the Daily Prophet.

Pointedly ignoring Ginny, she unfolded her newspaper and started to read. Almost instantaneously, she felt nausea bubbling at her insides. All color drained from her face. She heard Ginny talking in the background, but the blood rushing through her eardrums hindered any comprehension as to what she was saying.

“Are you alright? Hermione, say something!” Ginny slapped her wrist repeatedly as to get her attention.

Hermione stared blankly at nothing in particular as she dropped the newspaper in front of Ginny’s plate.


MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN


The Ministry of Magic announced late last night that there has been, yet again another mass breakout from Azkaban Prison.

Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, confirmed to reporters that four more high-security prisoners escaped in the early hours two nights prior. He has already informed the Muggle Prime Minister of the dangerous nature of these individuals.

When asked why he hadn’t informed the magical community earlier about these escapes, we were left with no comment.

The names of these prisoners have not been disclosed at this time. The only information that we have is that they are known to have ties with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and are most certainly Death Eaters.

“We are doing all we can to round up the criminals and beg the magical community to remain alert and cautious. On no account should any of these individuals be approached.\" was the only certain information we had gotten from Fudge besides “Well for is certainly better that ten this time, right?”

Clearly the Minister’s heart is in the right place.

We will be following up this article with any new leads that are received. As such, as soon as we know who these dangerous Death Eater are, so will the general public.

“What the bloody hell?” Ginny managed to muster.

At the sound of Ginny’s voice, her mind slowly started to function again. Shooting up from the table, she grabbed the newspaper from her friend’s clutches and started for the huge oak doors.

As she briskly walked down the corridor, her only thought was that she had to talk to Draco. The article was absolutely worthless! It contained no information towards who to be on the lookout for. The only thing the article did was represent fear inside of anyone who read it. Looking down at the words again to try to find something she missed, she was jerked from her goal as someone latched onto her arm and pulled her sideways.

“I missed you this morning you sneaky little lark.” She heard as the person nuzzled his face into her hair.

“Draco! I was just coming to find you.” she stated breathlessly.

Grinning into her neck, “Well you obviously weren’t doing that great of a job, you all but walked right passed me woman” Continuing a trail of tender nips down the column of her neck.

“No, Draco listen..”

Filled with sudden curiosity, he cut her off, “Hey, why did you leave so quickly this morning? You didn’t even give me a kiss goodbye!” he pouted as he moved in to give her a kiss.

He was really making this harder on her than it already was. Her mind was momentarily lost in the sensations only he seemed to ever evoke in her. She wanted this to be a playful meeting. Some lighthearted goading for him waking up alone, but she knew she needed to stop this. He needed to see this article.

“What’s wrong with you?” he stammered after he was slammed to the wall of the alcove he pulled them into.

“You need to read this Draco!” she waved the newspaper in her hands that was pressed up against his chest.

A look of confusion crossed his face as he took the paper from her grasp. As he gazed down to read the headline all color left his already pale face. He looked down at her with shock and worry. “Is it..was..my dad?” unable to make a coherent sentence.

With a look of benevolence, she reached up and caressed his cheek with her palm, “The article didn’t say who they were baby.”

He leaned into her touch and closed his eyes. The only sound escaping him was a long shaky sigh as the newspaper dropped out of his hands and laid forgotten on the ground.

Hermione stepped forward and closed the space between them. Embracing him with her head resting on his chest, “It’ll be okay Draco. We’ll figure this out, he can’t touch Hogwarts. He won’t touch you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.” he managed after a long moment as he rested his chin on her forehead.


***


There was absolutely no concentration left in her for classes as all her concern went out for Draco. She’d already lost a total of thirty-five house points by Snape, and as it was, Potions class wasn’t even halfway over. How he could tell she wasn’t pointedly ignoring him rather than thoroughly distracted by her own thoughts and worries, she had yet to fathom.

She watched Draco from the corner of her eye as they started working on their potion. He was in a daze. He barely looked away from his table, not even caring to start the required assignment. As it was, this was the only potion in her academic career that she managed to muck up.

She really didn’t know what this meant for them, to see him like this. A failed attempt at trying to talk to him between classes left her unsettled. She didn’t like seeing him closed off. It took over six years to see him for who he truly was, and she didn’t want that dam to be sealed off once more.

She knew she was being selfish thinking of her feelings in such a way instead of his, but he was a part of her now. Would he shut her out from now on? He hadn’t managed one word to her since breakfast, so she resolved in her mind she’d give him space to deal with whatever he couldn’t bring himself to confide in her.

She poured a sample of her disastrous potion in a vial before labeling, corking, and setting it on the professor’s desk. As she was gathering her belongs together before exiting the classroom, she heard Professor Snape’s voice bellow, “Mr. Malfoy, a word with you after class.”

Sighing as she exited into the corridor, the only thought that pondered her mind at that moment was if nicotine could be administered directly through one’s bloodstream.


***


“You wanted to see me Professor?”

“Sit down boy.”

Draco took a seat on the top of the table that sat directly in front of Snape’s desk. He knew this was coming. If anyone was going to make him confide in them, it would be Severus. He was the only constant in his life. The only person that eased the pain when he found out his father was incarcerated in the first place. He was also the only person that reassured him it was okay to think of other options besides that cold ugly green mark that resides on so many unfortunate arms.

“Now,” he looked up from a random piece of parchment on his desk, “I can only assume by your behavior this afternoon that you’ve taken the time throughout the day to read the Prophet?”

Draco’s muscles tensed at the mention of the front page news. “Yes Severus. I know of it.” he admitted with a defeated sigh.

The pair sat in silence for a few moments before Draco finally spoke again. “Was it him? Did my father escape?” He looked into his mentor’s eyes to grasp for any confirmation.

Snape fixed his eyes to his favorite student with a solemn stare. “Lucius was among them, yes.”

Draco slumped his shoulders in defeat. A cold chill washed over his bones at the sound of those words.

Professor Snape eyed his pupil suspiciously. “What is it Draco? You’ve never been afraid of Lucius before. He’s an evil man, but he won’t bring harm to you. I won’t allow him to make you take the mark if it’s something you don’t want. You know that, boy.”

Draco remained silent for another long moment before looking back to his professor. Giving an unconvincing nervous laugh he finally spoke, “That’s just it Sev, I don’t give a shit about the mark. I’m not afraid of the harm he’ll do to me. Not direct harm anyway.” Shaking his head and looking back to the stone floor, “It’s how he can hurt me indirectly that I’m most terrified of.”

Confused by his cryptic rambling he inquired further, “Indirectly? What are you taking about Draco?”

Still looking at the floor, he spoke, “I’ve fallen in love, Sev. I’m terrified he’ll do something to her.”

“In love?” he sat in shock that the boy wouldn’t have mentioned this to him sooner. “Lucius wouldn’t cause harm to the one you love. He wants an heir Draco, you’re worried for nothing.”

“She’s a muggle-born, Sev.”

“What?!” The thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. The boy had always talked about pureblood courtships. He’d only seen him with pureblood girls. When had this happened? “Who is she, boy?”

Draco lifted his head to meet his gaze. “It’s Hermione. I’m in love with Hermione.”

“Granger?!” The dark greasy-haired man sputtered in disbelief.

Draco held contact with his eyes in a cold stony defiance. “Yes sir. Hermione Granger.” spoke in such a way as to dare the man to argue.

Snape was rendered speechless. The absurdity of this pairing just seemed too unbelievable. Of course Lucius would not like this one bit. Not only was she a muggle-born, she was an extremely high profile one at that.

With her ties to the Potter boy, there’s been an unspoken price on her head for years. No, this was not information he was expecting to hear. In fact, it was information he really didn’t need to be hearing. His poor head. His migraine would a severe one today, he just knew it. “She will not be harmed, Draco. You have my word.”

The boy looked at him in disbelief. There were so many questions as to how he could think himself so sure as to promise him something so huge, but the finality in his tone told him his questions would remain unanswered. “Thank you sir.” he managed before turning off the table, and disappearing through the door.


***


Hermione was lighting a fresh cigarette with the butt of her old one as she saw Draco stumble out onto the balcony. He looked extremely flustered. An unlit cigarette was hanging from his lip and he was searching his pockets frantically.

“Hey, you got a light?” he murmured, still trying in vain to find his lighter.

She silently outstretched her hand as he took the lighter and lit his cigarette, flinging himself down on the chair with a sigh.

“How are you holding up?”

He closed his eyes and exhaled. “Good I suppose. Considering my lunatic of a father is on the loose terrorizing the town folk with his tribe of tyrants.”

“Well, we don’t know that for sure, the Proph–“

“No,” he interrupted. “I talked to Snape. He confirmed it.”

“Oh.” she mumbled, looking more than a little dejected.

“Christ, how can everything get so fucked up in less than a day?” he questioned more to himself than her, running his hand through his hair.

“Nothing’s going to happen to you Draco. I promise, I won’t allow it!”

“Oh, and what are you going to do, hole yourself up in your room with an invisibility cloak on? He scoffed. “The only way he’d harm me is if he did something to you. I can’t put you through that.”

“Put me through what? What are you talking about?” anger was rising in her at his insinuations. “I think you’re making too big of a deal out of this Draco. He’s not coming near Hogwarts, and he’s not coming anywhere near me!’

“How do you know that? Ho do you know he’s not in the forbidden forest right now, just biding his time until he can sneak in here?” he bellowed.

“Why would he Draco? Jesus, he doesn’t even know about us! No one knows about us except for Ginny, and she wouldn’t tell a soul!”

“And what if you’re wrong, Hermione. What then?” he spoke a bit more fragile.

“Look, I’m not wrong. There’s no way four Death Eaters escaped Azkaban on a whim, just to come after you or me. They obviously have bigger plans than that Draco, and we’ll just have to figure them out when it comes along.” Sighing, she leaned back further in her chair. “Listen, if you’re that concerned about it, maybe we should just take a break for a while, ease your suspicions a bit.”

“What?! No!” he shouted angrier than ever.

“Well you’re a pureblood Draco, even if your father’s out for other reasons, if word gets back from anyone in the school that you’re dating a mudbloo–“

“You watch your mouth.” he spat. Pointing at her and interrupting her thoughts yet again.

If the situation hadn’t been so seriously bizarre, she would have laughed that he was the one offended by that horrid term. “Well what do you want then Draco? You can’t have the best of both worlds, and you can’t take your fucking frustrations out on me either. I won’t stand for it!” she spat venomously. “I’m not some object you can hide away in the closet until your earliest convenience, so when you figure out whatever it is you want, you let me know.” she threw her cigarette down and stormed back into the common room.

Draco shot out of his seat and followed her inside. “Hey! I’m not finished with this Hermione, don’t you walk away from me!”

“Well tough shit, I am!” she screamed from across the room as she was approaching the portrait hole.

“Accio Hermione!” he roared.

All of the sudden she felt herself flying through the air and landing in a pair of strong arms. “What the fuck Draco?! You can’t just hold me hostage!”


“I told you not to walk away from me. We’re not through here.” he said a bit more gently.

“Let me go! You’re a fucking lunatic, you know that?” she wiggled her body and pinched a hold of anything she could get her hands on trying to work herself free.

“Stop! Just stop it. Calm down for a minute and just listen to me God damn it!”

Her eye full of stink had taken over her entire face as she crossed her arms and huffed at him.

Dropping her unceremoniously onto the couch, he started, “Listen you can’t say something like that to me and just leave. There’s nothing that I have to figure out. You’re it for me Hermione, plain and simple. I have no uncertainties about us. If you get in a fit because I want to protect you then that’s fucking tough, you’ll have to deal.

I’d rather see you unruly and lash out on me, then never be able to see you’re beautiful face again.” he reached his hand out to cup her face. “How can you fault me for loving you? I could never live with myself if I lost you, can’t you see that? It would tear me up inside.”

Her eyes softened a bit at his words, “You can’t treat me like some porcelain doll and hide me away as some form of protection Draco. I’m not going to break from the threat of something that most likely will never happen. I’m a big girl, and I don’t need a bodyguard. I know you’re just trying to do what you think is best, but this isn’t the way.”

“Just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it.” he clutched her waist and burrowed his head into her lap.

Reaching her hand out to run her fingers through his hair, she whispered, “Just keep loving me, baby. That’s all I need.”




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