Blood Ties

A/N: Thanks for all the unending support. I heart you all big time.

Chapter 37

Draco was distant with her as they went about fulfilling Dumbledore's orders. She knew that he was upset with the way that he had treated her. She concentrated on sending him love and forgiveness through their bond. It was the only thing that she knew to do. When she'd tried to talk to him, he'd totally shut down. Her eyes misted slightly as she recalled that morning in their room.

"Draco," she tried.

"Don't," he commanded. "What's done is done."

He paced away from her pulling on his blond locks. "We need to get a move on. We have much to do and we must hunt before we go to the Ministry."

She nodded slowly. She didn't miss the tender look in his eyes as his gaze swept over her. Remorse and guilt colored his end of their tie. She didn't know what she could do to comfort him. She resolved that she would try very hard in the future to not trigger such instincts in him. She believed that last night had hurt him far more than it had hurt her.

They finished their hunting quickly and there was no time for play afterwards. Hermione had discovered that Umbridge was in possession of one of the Horcruxes. She didn't know it of course and neither did Voldemort. But Hermione had found Regulus's journal in the library. She knew that the drawing of the necklace within was the horcrux. She also knew that to be the necklace that the old toad wore around her neck.

Their mission would be very tricky. Hermione couldn't go into the Ministry at all. It was too risky. Voldemort had placed a high price on her head. It was only slightly safer for Draco. He was going to go to her office and glamour her secretary. Then he would corner the foul woman in her office and take the necklace from her. He would glamour her after to forget all about the necklace.

Hermione was a bundle of nerves as she stood outside the Ministry, hidden under a disillusionment charm. She didn't like it. She had pleaded with Draco to leave his end of their connection open so that she could feel what he was feeling. She wanted to know immediately if he was in some kind of trouble. She didn't care how dangerous it was for her. If he was in danger, she would go and help him.

He'd said no, stating that she didn't have to worry, that he could handle himself. So now, here she was across the street form the Ministry, a bundle of nerves. He'd only been gone for five minutes, but to her it felt like five hours. She tried hard not to fidget as the seconds ticked by. It might take him quite some time to get to Umbridge's office. It depended on who he ran into inside. It really was a shame that they could no longer use polyjuice potion. It didn't work on their undead tissue.

After forty-five minutes, she was ready to go in after him. She was just getting ready to go inside, when he appeared beside her. It was all she could do to not throw herself on him. She was so relieved.

"Don't do that to me ever again," she stated flatly. "Do you know how worried I've been? Why did you shut me out like that? I'm just as capable as you."

"I know," his voice was low in her ear as he prepared to walk them to their next destination, Diagon Alley.

"I just didn't want to see you in danger or get hurt again. After last night…" his eyes were haunted as he trailed off.

Her eyes softened further as she tugged him to a reluctant stop. "Draco, about last night…"

He faced her fully and placed his finger over her lips, shushing her. "I hurt you," he stated, his voice tormented. "I bit you, I forced myself on you."

"Instincts," she whispered and licked his finger. "Don't you see, Draco? It is what you are, what we are. It was my fault. I should have stopped Sirius. I didn't know what to do. I panicked. I didn't want to hurt him. I tried to glamour him but he closed his eyes. Then, when he did what he did," she avoided saying the words. She didn't want to bring forth those instincts again. "After I tasted his blood, I had a hard time pushing him away. Don't you see? I was weak. I'm not as in control of my thirst as I thought I was."

He backed her up against the wall and captured her lips with his. She moaned as the taste of his blood danced across her tongue. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"There's no need," she replied as she cupped his cheek. "I'd forgiven you even before anything happened. I know that you're a good man and a good vampire. You just need to see that for yourself."

She took his hand and guided him into The Leaky Cauldron. They still had to rob Gringott's. It was sure to be their biggest test yet.

End Note: Thoughts? Things will go pretty quickly from here. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Review, let me know how you'd like this to end. I'll see you lovelies Friday.