Boys Night, Girls Night

Here we go :-) I find it funny when I get reviews asking when I am going to post when I am already in the final editing stage of a chapter. It makes me feel like I am granting wishes :-D

___________

38. 

Déjà vu?

That was Draco’s main thought walking through Hermione’s new apartment. He stared intently at the living room setup. Then he looked at his father holding a window drape against the length of his arm, his other hand waving his wand over the fabric, mumbling to himself. Draco directed his eyes to the windows… was it him or did they seem fuzzy? Draco gave his head an experimental shake; maybe his brain was still foggy with sleep.

Ambling over to the bookcase he spotted a muggle electronic. There was a contraption of some sort, an iHome by reading the label, with a small rectangular device. An Ibox? Icase? Something Draco didn't usually put much thought into figuring out. He reached for it and turned it around in his hands. He remembered Hermione using it in the kitchen when baking, blaring the music so loud that Draco couldn't get any work done. He secretly thought she did it on purpose. She always looked a little mischievous  when he had to come out to ask her to turn the music down.  

Spotting Harry looking at him oddly, Draco mutely held it up for Harry to see. "Can I take this?"

Lucius snorted. “Draco, don’t be silly, it’s a crime scene. Though I do give Ms. Granger some respect for being able to work a muggle electronic in a magical atmosphere.” Lucuis frowned while inspecting the windowsills.

Draco sighed and placed it back on the shelf. What, did the iHome kidnap Hermione? he though sarcastically.

Something wasn’t right, and it had nothing to do with the ridiculous bubble- head charm that Harry was making her use. Ginny watched Draco looking around Hermione’s new apartment with a queasy look on his face for a minute.  Ginny had been here numerous times this week to help Mione move in and decorate. But, something just didn’t look right. She looked out the window over the sink, then spun around and glanced over the apartment as a whole. It was the windows, she decided. Something was definitely wrong with the windows. Making sure Harry wasn’t looking she took off the charm which made her look like a fish bowl was on top of her head.

Men.

 Lucius seemed to agree with her window assessment because he was examining the floor length windows with a lot of concentration. Before she could investigate further, a sudden movement out of the corner of her eye diverted her attention.  A floating piece of parchment had appeared with a soft pop. Before Harry, Lucius, and Ginny could move, Draco read his name off the letter and grabbed it quick as a snitch. Ginny watched in horror as the parchment liquefied and absorbed into Draco’s skin. Draco let out a hoarse groan and doubled over, falling to his knees. Lucius shouted Draco’s name and sprinted over despite Harry's warning.

 Draco was white as a ghost, on his knees, one arm clutching his middle, the other his head. Ginny nearly crossed the short distance but something in Harry's face stopped her. He looked anxious, wand out, like at any moment someone was going to attack. It took a second to realize that she was already being shielded by Harry, in a bubble of protection, and couldn’t move even if she wanted to.

After a second, Draco stood up, obviously weak, and shook his head to Harry's whispered question, and leaned on his fathers shoulder for support. Letting down his protection around Ginny, Harry walked over briskly.

"You need to leave. It's not safe."

"What is going on with Draco?"

"Ginny, please, you need to leave."

"But why? No one is here. I'm fine."

Draco, still supported on his father, walked painfully over. "Harry, did someone live here, besides Mione, that we know? It looks familiar."

Ginny studied his face. It was sickly white with a clammy sheen. "Damnit, someone start answering my questions! What in the hell just happened?"

Harry let out a low note of frustration. "Fine. Draco, no. Mione is the first person to live here that we know in our circle. Ginny, Draco was just...just.." Harry looked for a moment unsure how to describe what just happened. Lucius couldn’t describe it any better than Harry. They both looked to Draco.

Draco gave a grim smile. "Let's just say I received a message."

"and?"

Harry, finally goaded, snapped. "and you need to leave, we all need to leave, right now. I promise I will explain once we get back to the apartment. But its too dangerous here right now, and quite frankly Ginny I'm not sure its the best place for you with...well, its not safe." Harry finished lamely after Ginny's eyes blazed furiously.

"I'm so going to hurt you later..." She whispered fiercely, looking at Draco for some inexplicable reason.

She should have saved the effort; both of the Malfoy's were far from paying attention.

Draco pointed to the iHome one more time. "Please?"

Lucuis sighed, exasperated. Draco needed medical attention. That letter, that curse, however anyone wanted to look at it, needed to be taken care of as soon as possible. Lucius met Harry’s eyes over Draco’s head. They needed to get out of there right now.

Harry looked at Draco peculiarly, weighing the safety of those present and the minor issue of disrupting a crime scene.

“Fine, take it. Let’s just get the hell out of here, ok?”