Harmonious Fire

The Minister for Magic sat behind his desk looking over the latest reports of Death Eater activity. He was weary, the War was taking its toll on them all, the death of Ron Weasley and the surprise defection of his wife the heaviest blows since the loss of Dumbledore. He had thought, as they all did, that Hermione's loyalty belonged with them. He had been shocked to discover that ever since the fire of Hogwarts, Hermione Granger's heart had seethed with loathing and hatred for the lot of them. He knew that her involvement with Draco Malfoy at school had been more intimate then they first thought, but since she had married Ron, she seemed to change. However she was just waiting for the right moment to betray them all. The discovery that her lover was still alive gave her that incentive to finally break free. He sighed wearily, knowing what he did now, they were still a step away from finally destroying Voldemort. He had seen enough bloodshed to fuel many lifetimes, and he feared that the strain was destroying their one hope. Harry Potter was a much changed man since Kingsley first met him 8 years previous. Those who knew him best were worried, and quite rightly. This vendetta against Malfoy and Zabini were blinding him to the bigger picture, and though he didn't trust Ginny Zabini anymore than Harry did, he hoped her return may aid them. A tentative knock on his door broke his dark thoughts, Percy Weasley, his glasses characteristically askew stood on the threshold. He held a letter in shaking hands, his face white as a sheet, Kingsley's heart dropped, surely not more bad news?
"A letter Minister." Kingsley nodded slowly,
"I can see that Percy, thank you." Percy shook his head,
"Its not for you." A puzzled look crossed the Ministers face, Percy handed him the letter, he looked at the addressee, Mr. Harry Potter, laid out in elegant scrawl. The parchment was heavy, expensive, slowly he turned the envelope over. His face blanching at the crest on the back, a sleeping dragon curled around a bloodied dagger. He'd recognise it anywhere.
"Call Harry, tell him to come he as soon as possible." As Percy rushed out of the office, Kingsley rubbed his forehead, pacing back and forth, contemplating all form of meaning this development could hold. Could it be a taunt, calling them all out? Thinking on his feet, and to ease his troubled mind he ran his wand over the envelope, scanning for curses, hexes, poisons anything. However he knew it would be futile, Draco Malfoy was to smart to pull a trick as amateur as this. No, this letter spoke of darker agendas. He laid it down on the desk and sat awaiting Harry's arrival. He did not have to wait long, Harry burst through the door not much longer than twenty minutes later. The green eyes, so like his mothers zoned in on the letter, Kingsley followed the young man's gaze. Harry walked to the desk, and picked up the letter, turning it over he studied the seal,
"Have you checked it for curses?" He asked in a low voice, Kingsley replied,
"There's nothing, its just a letter." Harry snarled, of course not, whatever Malfoy's agenda was, the bastard was to sadistic to kill in this pathetic way. Taking a deep breath, Harry broke the seal, unfolding the letter. His eyes scanning the words, his fists curling at the parting sentence and his brain trying to make sense of the wankers intentions. He felt a hand on his shoulder, "Well, what does he say?" His old friends deep voice usually soothed him, but this, this was insubordination of the highest nature.
"He wants to meet. Claims he can help us." Harry's battle instinct told him it was a trap, that Malfoy was drawing him in and would strike as soon as he got in range. But his desire to avenge Ron, the avenge the women Hermione and Ginny once were overwhelmed his common sense. Kingsley gasped,
"Harry you cannot believe this, you know how Malfoy operates. This could be part of an elaborate plan to trap you!" Harry rounded on him,
"I realise that," he snarled, "But don't you see, this could be my only chance to avenge my friends!"
"Harry! Think with your head, the battle, your job is to important to waste on this vendetta!" The Minister watched as the young man's expression darkened, his mouth curling into an ugly sneer, that had no place on one so young,
"Do you really think that's the only thing this is about? Yes, the bastard killed people I care about, stole from me my closest friends. He's also Voldemort's right hand man! What if this is our only chance to get him, think Kingsley, he could give us what we need to end this!!" Kingsley considered his words, and made a judgement, he would let the Order decide. He walked to the door,
"Come, we shall go to Headquarters, the rest of the Order need to hear this." Harry nodded, however his mind was already made up, Malfoy would die tonight and there was no way he would let bureaucratic red tape get in the way, or the decision by those he held closest. This was his call, and nothing anyone would say would change that.
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Draco watched the sun rise over London from the roof of the apartment, a cigarette hanging loosely in his hand, the Final battle was closing in on them. He could feel it brewing beneath the surface of the earth, prickling under his skin. Below him the woman he loved was hastily packing her bags, preparing herself to flee at a moments notice, their plan was to tell his maniac Aunt that she had escaped, attacked them both and fled. He knew though, that she would never believe it. His mother's sister may be insane but she was not stupid. Draco's thoughts turned darker, he would have to consider another option. One that would put Hermione in danger, and he was loathe to do that. The roof door behind him opened, and he felt Blaise's presence come to stand next to him. He took the cigarette from Draco's hand and took a long drag, they stood in silence for a while before Blaise broke it,
"She won't believe us."
"I know," he sighed. "I don't want Hermione anywhere near her Blaise."
"We could kill her." Draco had thought of that, but incurring Voldemort's wrath more than he already had was something to avoid.
"I don't want to piss him off more." Blaise chuckled dryly,
"God forbid Draco Malfoy piss anyone off." The blond cuffed him the shoulder, almost popping it out the socket. "Ow, that hurt motherfucker. Seriously though, Bellatrix isn't as nutso as she looks, if we don't show her Hermione, she'll trip back to him and tattle." He finished with a slight curl of his lip, Draco took a long drag on the cigarette,
"Maybe we should all run, head for the hills and don't look back." Blaise had known the blond long enough to know that this was fear of losing them talking, Draco Malfoy was still selfish in a way, protective, he didn't like other people touching his things. Ron Weasley was a prime example.
"Don't. Don't do that, you promised us you would fight. Clear the way for us." Draco turned to his lover, a dark glimmer of malice in his eye,
"If I do kill her, we'll have to run. Voldemort will find out sooner or later, hopefully though we'll have the final Horcrux then." He knew it was a long shot, they still had no idea whether they'd be able to find the locket, and even if they did, the still had to kill the snake before Draco could finish this once and for all. Blaise however, had another plan in mind, one that he knew the blond wouldn't like, he steeled himself to be whacked one in the face,
"There is another way..." Draco raised an eyebrow,
"And what pray tell is that?" Blaise took a breath,
"We show Hermione to Bellatrix," Draco whirled around on him, ready to shout and curse and no doubt hex his balls off, Blaise put his hands up in defense "Please, hear me out!" He couldn't see Draco's anger subsiding, he was shaking and the sky around them whirled with darkening clouds,
"Draco, listen to him." Hermione had joined them on the roof, she was leaning against the door watching her fiance with worried eyes, his eyes met hers, she could see him visibly calm, he reached out for her. She went to him without hesitation. Slipping her hand into his, she held him and motioned for Blaise to continue.
"If we show Bellatrix that we have her, and that we will, without doubt present her to the Dark Lord in due course, we can fool her, buying us time to avoid him." Draco could see that it made sense, anything to buy them time, however he knew that his Aunt would not be satisfied seeing Hermione in one piece, she would expect evidence of her capture, and that Draco wouldn't stand for, he couldn't ever lay a finger on his Angel.
"No, I won't do it." He snarled, "She'll want more than just seeing Hermione, she'll want to torture her, see evidence of us torturing her. I am not going to stand by and let harm come to her!!" Hermione squeezed his hand,
"Baby, do you think I want to stand by and watch Voldemort destroy you for treachery? I'd rather die a thousand deaths, suffer a thousand Crucio's then live without you." The blond looped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his body, placing a kiss on her forehead, he leant back, looking deep into her eyes, saying to her, enunciating every syllable,
"I. Will. Not. Let her touch you. And I will not stand here and watch you hurt yourself." Blaise came up beside them, putting his hand on Draco's shoulder, the three of them feeling the power coursing through them,
"You're going to have to. Otherwise we're all dead, you know its the only way. Once we've fooled Bellatrix, we'll go to Italy. You'll meet Potter and then you can disappear, find the last Horcrux and finish this." Draco turned to look at him, his voice calmer, though there was an edge of desperation to his tone,
"Can you outrun him Blaise? Keep him at bay so I can finish this?" Blaise leaned in, resting his forehead against his lovers,
"Even if it kills me." The Italian felt a warm hand slide into his, the fingers curling around and sending loving warmth through his entire being,
"We'll outrun him together. I love you both so much, I would do anything to keep us together." She said, Blaise and Draco enveloped her in their arms, nuzzling her neck, breathing her in, knowing full well that this could be their final time together. Hermione looked to Draco, "What time will she be arriving?"
"It could be any moment." He looked at her, a painful sorrow in his eyes, but to see the strong look of determination on her face, he smiled a little. "Blaise go inside, clear anything of Hermione's and take it to Italy. Get back here as soon as you can." The Italian nodded, kissing them both before extracting himself from their grasp and disappearing inside. Hermione closed her eyes, and took a deep breath,
"Well, how should we do this?" He looked at her puzzled, before realisation set in,
"You can't ask me to do it." She lifted her finger, tracing the line of his cheek,
"You're the only one I trust not to hurt me...to much at least," she said with a slight smile. Her beautiful man's face turned anguished, she knew his history like the back of her hand. The abuse he and his mother suffered at the hands of Lucius, she knew how his mind worked. Placing both her hands on his face, she leant in and kissed him, "You're not him Draco, and I know there is no way that you would ever lay a finger on me. But this is an extreme circumstance, you're the only one," she repeated, he pulled her closer, closer then possible,
"Will you forgive me Hermione?"
"There's nothing to forgive," He pulled her sharply, a fierce look of passion and love blazing through her,
"I need you to say it. Its the only way I won't be disgusted with myself for what I am about to do." She stood on tiptoes, leant up to his ear,
"I forgive you Draco Malfoy, my love, my life." She pulled away from him, standing two feet away, even though her insides were shaking, steeling herself for the pain, she managed to pull her mouth into a lopsided smirk, "Now hit me you bastard."
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They arrived with a pop in the kitchen of Headquarters, about a dozen Order members were seated around the table, including Molly and Arthur, Charlie, Bill and Fleur, Lupin and Tonks, Aberforth Dumbledore who had joined their side three years in, Mad-Eye and his ex-Professor Minerva McGonagall. Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood made up the number. Percy Weasely had gone on ahead of them, explaining the situation and calling the meeting to order. The room, having been filled with hushed whispers fell silent as they arrived. Harry addressed them immediately,
"Whether you agree with this or not, I will meet with Malfoy tonight, and once I have heard what he has to say, he won't be breathing much longer." A collective ripple of discontent shuddered round the table, Lupin stood,
"Harry, I understand you want revenge for Ron, we all do, but we also know that Draco Malfoy never does anything without an agenda. We have to think what possible advantages he could gain by calling this meeting with you." Harry looked at his Father's friend, perhaps the most logical and reasonable person he knew, but reason was something Harry was way past, his heart had been blackened by grief, he looked at the table, to the people he considered vital to his fight, the topmost Order members, and said,
"You deserve to know the truth. All of you."
"What truth Harry?" Neville spoke up, he was almost as changed as Harry since the war began, Neville was now one person you needed by your side in a fight, his years of taunting and teasing at Hogwarts turning him into a hardened fighter, Harry nodded his head towards his old friend,
"The truth about Malfoy's real agenda. Though it is hard to believe, and don't get me wrong I despise him more than I ever thought it possible to hate a person, Malfoy's agenda is not far from our own." A gasp rippled around the room,
"He killed our brother! How is that an agenda like our own?!" Charlie half shouted, his face an angry red, Harry though remained placid,
"You misunderstand me, the bastard has his own agenda, but part of it is what we've been striving for." It was Luna who understood, her dreamy expression turning to shock and then understanding, the girl who everyone had thought Loony, had turned out to be a pretty powerful seer, but she had not seen this. Not until it had been revealed to their Leader,
"He wants to kill Voldemort," She spoke quietly, they hardly heard her. Harry looked in her direction, the look on his face confirming the truth of her words.
"Wait," Bill put his hands up, "You're telling us that Voldemort's right hand lieutenant, wants to off him?" His scarred face a definition of incredulity.
"Its hard to believe, but yes. He's wanted it for years, ever since Voldemort used him as a puppet to kill Dumbledore. He and Zabini have been hunting Horcruxes, I do not know if they found any or if they destroyed anything worth it. But I do know this, Malfoy killed his Father for getting in the way." The Order members blanched, as hard as they had tried not one of them had been able to get near enough to Lucius Malfoy to damage him, to hear that his own son had performed the deed. A shocked whisper started up. Harry let them get it out of their system, it was a lot to take in. But if he could just get them to understand that they needed the information that Malfoy possessed, that if he may know the identity of the last Horcrux. The end was in their sights.
"How do you know? How do you know it was Draco that killed him, that he wants the Dark Lord dead?" Harry looked to the Weasley's, sitting together in the corner, the grief evident in their appearences,
"It was Ginny. She told me the whole story. So now you know the truth, you have to make a decision. Kingsley thinks its madness to go tonight, but if it could mean the end of the war, I am willing to risk it. And I swear to all, once I have what I need, I will avenge the deaths that Draco Malfoy has on his conscience. He will not live to see another day."
"What if he kills you Harry." Lupin again, "He's almost done it once before and you were lucky to escape that time. This is six years later, he blindsided at Hogwarts, killed Ron. What if he kills you?" Harry laughed, a mirthless dry chuckle,
"Then I fully intend to take the bastard down with me. He dies, or we both do. End of." With that Harry turned on his heel and left them there. No doubt they would all discuss the situation and one by one come to him before midnight to talk him out of it. But they would not succeed. His mind was made up, with steely determination, he banished himself to the study to prepare for the coming fray.