No Longer Helpless

Chapter Twenty-Eight
Something Hidden Beneath

Fang lifted his head to gaze at the stranger among familiar faces, before lazily resting it down again and dozing before the warm fire.

After a few minutes of tense and uncomfortable silence, Hagrid cleared his throat and stood. For a man his size, standing up from a close-knit circle left quite a noticeable gap.

Harry thought to question his long time friend and professor, but then he saw what he was up to. Hagrid had moved back toward a cabinet, which was known to most the friends to hold his many assorted teacups.

A few moments later, Hagrid set a matching set of cups down in front of Hermione and Draco.

“Thank you Hagrid, it has been a while,” Hermione said, sipping the hot liquid with a bit of cherishing glee. How she missed being inside this cozy cabin by the warm fire and surrounding by her closest friends. If only Harry’s acceptance meant they could act casual. She laughed inwardly, knowing it would be some time before that ever happened.

Though Draco made no move to drink any of the tea Hagrid set before him, he did give a curt nod and spoke one word, “Professor.”

Being called ‘professor’ was a joy Hagrid never seemed to become accustomed to. He blushed slightly at the young man’s use of the word and lack of disrespectful undertone usually carried.

The thick silence built between them and had Hermione not been so content in sipping her tea, she might have felt awkward.

Draco knew that whilst his kitten lapped at her drink, she’d be oblivious and under the impression that time would sooth all wounds. He knew better. As a Malfoy he’d been raised to know that no matter the circumstances, charm was a most refined tool. He needed to charm his way in and prove himself to her friends, otherwise he’d never have her. This was indeed his next step into her life, and he couldn’t afford to screw it up.

“Were any of the tribes willing to listen?” Draco asked.

Again, caught unaware, Harry and Ginny nearly sprayed their drinks into the fire. Wide eyed, they looked at Malfoy. Upon seeing his serious demeanor, though Ginny thought she saw a ghost of a smirk, they turned their attentions to Hagrid, wondering if it were true.

Running a hand over his course dark beard, Hagrid thought how to reply. He hadn’t necessarily wanted to keep it a secret, but he hadn’t planned on relaying all his troubles and those of the Order to the youngest members, who happened to have a lot on their plate as it was. “‘Ow’d you be knowing ‘bout that?” he asked

Judging from the big oaf’s tone, Draco knew the subject was not out of bounds, which wasn’t far from his conclusion before. While no one made any direct comment to him about the half giant’s whereabouts, it was pretty easy to piece the information together. Not only had he known that Dumbledore had sent him off on such a request before, but he knew the Magical Creature’s professor had an estranged brother whom was trained fairly decently by wizarding standards. So, that meant, he might have a bit more leverage to negotiate. Plus, the extended absence could only mean Order business.

Raising his brows, conveying that such knowledge was common he replied, “Why wouldn’t I?”

Frowning slightly, almost unreadable behind the beard, Hagrid paused for thought. While he didn’t believe anyone had told the youngest Malfoy, there was no denying he knew now. “Right,” he said, before hunching forward a little. “Well, then. None of ‘em were willing to even hear us out the whole way. We were lucky if we even got that far. Poor Gwarpy, I know it jus’ broke his ‘eart.”

Not wanting to feign sympathy, or deal with any sentiment really, Draco focused his subject more. “So, they’re allied to the Dark Lord?” The questioned had been answered long ago in his head, but they needed the conversation to flow and at this point there were very few things in common amongst them all. Sadly, this war and Voldemort was one of them.

“‘Fraid so. We all saw it coming though I suppose, silly to have gotten me hopes up in the first place,” he sighed.

“Yes, but now we know for certain what we’re up against. Do you have any ideas what other ‘friends’ Voldemort’s trying to make?” Draco prodded.

“You-Know-Who’s got all sorts o’ dark creatures, mind you Giants aren’t dark or anything, but yeh know what I mean all the same.”

“Well, I think the Dementors and Giants are enough,” Harry joined in. “Hagrid, where exactly do we stand?” Somehow, news of the Giants’ siding seemed to awaken a suspicion in him. Just how was the Light fairing? Did this have something to do with why Dumbledore was pressuring him to gain control of his wandless magic and Legimens so quickly?

Becoming rather fidgety all of a sudden, Hagrid played with the hem of his woolen sleeve. This wasn’t information that he should disclose. In his years of being around Harry he knew there was no use trying to lie or avoid the question, so he did the only thing one could do, he told the truth. “That’s not for me to tell yeh.”

A dark look came over those emerald eyes, and Hermione knew their was a storm brewing. There was no standing in the way of Harry when he had that look.

Hermione caught Harry’s eye and she willed him to keep looking at her. Harry’s eyes seemed so distant and far off, their color was deeper, almost forest green. The glance they held wasn’t too out of place, until the seconds added up and it became more than just a meaningful glance. Slowly, the light crept back into his eyes, and the wall seemed to fall. She smiled brightly, keeping his gaze until a small blush came to his cheeks and he looked down to the floor.

Harry had been ready to fly from the room and march up to Dumbledore’s office. It would seem once again he was left out of the loop and their was something going on that ought to include him. Of course, even through his urgency to know who was winning, he remembered the words spoken all too recently to him, about having to inquire before receiving an answer.

Just before he was ready to bound from his seat, dead set on his rash course of action, Hermione caught his eye. Those honey brown eyes that had flecks of gold, they seemed to calm him. When he looked at her he saw such a beautiful young woman who held the key to every man’s heart. She was his best friend, and he couldn’t ask for more. Even through his foggy haze of determination, her warm smile penetrated and his feet ground themselves again. As his mind became more rational he began to take note of her face and he cast his eyes down to rid himself of unwanted thoughts.

Clearing his throat, which was something he never did, Draco tried to further cut through the intimate blinking contest Potter seemed to be having with Hermione. If it would keep the emotional prophetic boy from looking at her like that again, then he’d divulge as much information as possible.

“Potter, I think we all agree this war has never been easy. If it wasn’t such a struggle, it would have been done and over with long ago,” he commented coolly, while casually resting his arm on the back of the sofa and behind Hermione’s shoulders.

Hesitating for a moment, Harry directed his attention to Malfoy, noting the way he draped his arm around Hermione, but dismissing it to a further recess of his mind. “What’s going on right now, at this very moment?” he asked.

With slightly furrowed brows Draco regarded Harry. “Well, I’d like to know that myself.” Upon seeing the displeasure written on the all too emotional boy, he heaved a sigh and told Harry exactly what he wanted to know. “Okay, Voldemort’s been gaining strength on a daily basis. It doesn’t help that we don’t operate in a manner where we can openly go about recruiting for our cause. He grows stronger while we remain the same.”

“Was that what Dumbledore said?” Harry asked.

Shaking his head, Draco continued, “Neither of us,” he gestured a nod to his side where Hermione was, “have been to many Order meetings recently. Moody keeps us pretty occupied.”

“I can imagine,” Harry stated, earning him a smirk from the Slytherin.

“It’s common knowledge Potter, do try to keep on top of things that concern you,” he chastised, but not in his usual malicious tone. It was more sincere, as if a flying instructor trying to explain why it was so important to practice caution while riding a broom.

Jumping to Harry’s defense, Ginny commented, “He’s got enough on his mind right now, without having to interrogate every adult just to get a shred of information about what’s going on out there.”

Quirking a brow at the Weaslette, Draco retorted, “I should think we all have a lot to deal with.” He paused, letting her process what he meant. “This war ‘out there’ as you so mildly put it, is not so far away from in here, that it should be taken lightly on any account.” Seeing the angry look on her face, he smoothed over, “I know that no one asked for any of this.”

The red head’s eyes calmed, and he continued, “But we play the hand we have been dealt, as Hermione put it to me a few weeks ago.” Now, everyone’s attention seemed to draw to Hermione who suddenly found interest in the design of the teacup she had. Her aversion might have been less obvious had the cup not been decorated with a single blue line around the circumference.

Peeling the focus away from an uncomfortable Hermione, Draco continued speaking still more to Ginny than anyone else, “No interrogations are needed to find out what’s happening. And even if it were, I should think that when it is something that concerns your life, you’d find a way.”

“What makes you the expert on knowing how this has effected us? Harry’s had to deal with this damn confrontation since the day he was born, if anyone knows about being effected by it, he does.” Ginny was reaching for anything. While Malfoy had made a colossal point, she couldn’t help but lash out at the way he cut her down to size so easily.

The worst part was that he wasn’t being his usual Malfoy self about it. He wasn’t sneering or being sarcastic, he was sincere and serious and honest. Oh, how she hated having her impressions of people turned around and flipped upside down. Even as she spoke her words she wanted to kick herself.

Once Ginny spoke in his defense, Harry wanted to clamp a hand over her mouth. It was that Weasley temperament. How pathetic it made him look to have his best friend’s younger sister jump to his defense. Okay, she was a close friend of his as well, but to Malfoy it would seem more the former.

Before Draco even opened his mouth to reply, Hermione tugged at his shirt. He ignored her protest and continued, “Firstly, I think Potter is capable of speaking for himself. And secondly, what makes you think he’s the only one who’s had to deal with it all his life?”

The words just flowed from his mouth at this point, and while he kept in check how he referred to them and his tone of voice, the content of what he spoke was something that flowed over as soon as he thought it. “Do you know who my father was? Do you have any idea what sort of learning a Death Eater’s son receives from day one? There are many who have had the Dark Lord’s shadow looming over them since the day they were born, so don’t tell me that Potter here is getting the worst of it!” he concluded in a slightly raised voice.

At this point Hermione was clenching his shirt and he finally took consideration of it. When he met her eyes he knew immediately he had said too much. While her gaze was soft and glowing, it held a weeping sadness that wrenched his heart. Her eyes had such concern, he didn’t know if he’d be able to wave her off and tell her it was nothing. Worse still, he’d misspoken in front of three other people whom he’d least want knowing.

Before he had time of a plausible excuse Ginny spoke up. Her voice seemed thick, as if her throat had been burning and gulping back tears. “Malfoy, I’m so sorry-”

Draco cut her off with a raised hand for silence. “Forget it, I meant nothing by it other than to make you see that there are many others out there who are effected just as much, and taking everything in stride.”

Ginny opened her mouth to speak further, to assure him that she knew what he really meant by it and that she was sorry and would always be willing to listen and that he needn’t make excuses, but an intense glare from Hermione stopped her.

With a single but stern shake of her head, Hermione ensured Ginny’s silence on the topic. The last thing Draco needed was for Ginny to get all sappy on him and promise her undying friendship now that he’d changed his ways. She loved Ginny dearly, but the younger girl just didn’t understand that Draco couldn’t be treated like Harry or Ron. The only thing he’d get from her was the idea that someone was trying to pry into his personal affairs and find out exactly what lead him to being with Dumbledore and the Order.

While Hermione softened her look at Ginny, letting her know she wasn’t angry or anything, Harry stared at Draco. Something within those silver eyes told him he didn’t want to know the truth or history of the youngest Malfoy. There was something beneath the surface that he had no right trying to uncover, so he’d best let the conversation go.

A loud snore broke through each person’s silent reverie. Hagrid was sound asleep in his chair, snoring contently. Four head’s turned simultaneously, Fang’s included. Hermione covered her mouth quickly, and tried to grasp her ribs and hold them in place, but it did little to help stifle her laughter. As she turned her head into Draco’s chest and continued with her fit, Ginny began giggling also.

It didn’t take long before each of them was dying to let loose their amusement, so they staggered to the door and filed out. While Draco kept his back turned and did little more than chuckle and scoff, the others were practically rolling on the grass. He was glad for the sudden distraction, and dammit if he didn’t find the brute’s snoring to be as humorous as the rest of them.

Straightening up and composing themselves, they began to walk back up to the castle.

“Mum will kill me if I don’t get back before dinner,” Ginny said amicably.

“Well, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that, since it’s still early,” Harry replied looking at his watch, it was just after three. What a long day it seemed to be.

“I wonder if I should go now?” the redhead questioned again, though more to herself this time.

Before Harry could say anything, Draco commented, “Go home. Obviously you won’t be able to concentrate on anything else unless you do,” he said.

Heaving a dramatic sigh Ginny agreed, “I suppose you’re right.”

‘Of course’ Draco thought, ‘I’m always right.’ A silly smirk came to his face.

“Of course,” Hermione said playfully, “Draco’s always right,” she ended sarcastically with a jab to his stomach.

Ginny and Harry laughed a bit at this. It wasn’t often anyone could poke fun at Malfoy and not have him jump to defend himself with a snarky insult. Of course, they knew full well that if Malfoy wasn’t insulting them they couldn’t insult him. Only Hermione could get away with it, and only she could do it and make it seem as though it was completely harmless. It would definitely take a while for them to get used to him being around, which they were almost certain was going to be as often as Hermione was.

Draco fell back a step, awe written all over his face. If anyone cared to look his way they would have seen it, but he pulled his cool mask on after a moment and picked his stride back up. Though, he still stared down at Hermione in wonder, it didn’t show.

How well she must know him. ‘And yet, she knows nothing!’ he reprimanded himself. Her trust was so implicit in him, and he hadn’t told her a damn thing about what happened. Guilt began to brew within him.

“Just so long as you know it,” Draco replied to her comment, earning a hardy laugh from her. Merlin, he loved to hear her laugh.

It was Ginny and Harry’s turn to be awed. They continued climbing the steps, but both thinking the same thing. ‘Did Malfoy just make a joke?’ They didn’t know what was more shocking, the fact that he was joking around with Hermione or the fact that it was something they would have said.

Once they were inside, Ginny suddenly became extremely apprehensive about something and didn’t seem to stop fidgeting. Harry was about to ask her if she was alright, when some understanding dawned on him as well. Wide eyed, they shared a brief glance of slight panic.

“Okay, what’s wrong?” Hermione asked, recognizing all the signs.

Ginny had just remembered that Ron was in the Gryffindor common room. There was a chance that he might have wandered and they could run into him any moment, which would be disastrous of course.

Clearing her throat and trying to collect herself more, she reasoned, “You two both look terribly worn. Why don’t you go back to your dorms and get some rest?”

The matter seemed decided before either Hermione or Draco could put their two sense in. Harry and Ginny were to return to the Gryffindor tower, while Hermione and Draco were to go and get some rest.

Just as Harry and Ginny began walking away, Draco spoke up, not settling for their decision, and piecing things together. “Will your brother be flooing home with you then?” he called to the youngest Weasley.

“Yes, he’s waiting for me right now I’m sure,” Ginny answered, hardly even stopping and turning to look at him.

“I see then, so he is here in the castle and not at your home?” he asked keenly, earning the attention he seemed to be demanding from the girl as she whipped around with the same panic in her eyes as before.

“Wait,” Hermione said. “Ron’s here?”

While Ginny’s mouth floundered for an excuse, Draco supplied Hermione with an answer, which seemed obvious at this point. “Weasley stormed off raging and has been sulking up here since, I suspect. And I can only guess what he’s throwing a hissy fit about.”

“Ginny!” Hermione chastised. “And you too Harry! You don’t need to lie to me about these things.”

Immediately guilty, both her friends stepped back and tried to explain. “I’m sorry ‘Mione, it’s just that he was so angry and I didn’t think you needed that right now.”

Sighing, Hermione didn’t even bother to make a big deal out of it, perhaps this made them even. “Is he in the common room?” she asked.

“I really don’t think you should talk to him right now. He was really angry,” said Harry with true sincerity.

‘Now you see her,” Draco thought, and as Hermione’s form vanished as if out of thin air, he finished, ‘Now you don’t.’ The second his partner questioned the freckle faced weasel’s whereabouts, he knew she’d be heading there as fast as possible.

At the confused and concerned looks on Potter and the Weaslette’s face he explained, “Flash Step. She’s no doubt at the entrance to your House common room right now.”

Harry and Ginny exchanged worried looks. Ron had been extremely upset and little time had passed to let him cool off.

Seeing their looks, Draco followed after Hermione, not liking the implications of those worried eyes.


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