From Venice with Love

Hermione found Draco in the living room slouched in a chair. He was glaring at Ron and Remus, who were playing chess. He looked up when Hermione entered the room, his scowl deepening.

Hermione motioned for him to follow her into the other room. He hesitated for a moment before pushing himself out of the chair and following her. They went into the drawing room which was deserted, and Hermione closed the doors behind them.


“I am so sick of this place!” Draco snapped before she could say a word. “I can’t go anywhere without running into one of them.” Hermione wasn’t sure if he meant the Order or the Weasley’s, but she didn’t interrupt. “I can’t believe I have to stay here, day after day.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, when he took a breath. “I wasn’t thinking about how hard all this is on you as well. I’m just afraid for Dante.”


“No, you’re not. You’re worried about you. You know that my mother won’t hurt him. Just be honest.” Fury laced his voice as he spoke.

“Fine. I’m worried she’ll try to take him away from me. You as well.” Hermione looked at a spot on the floor near Draco’s shoes.


“Was that so hard to say?” Draco said, his voice losing the edge it had moments before.


“Yes, it was actually,” Hermione answered.

“You shouldn’t worry about my mother,” Draco said. He sat down on a velvet chair and looked at her. “I told her that she would need to accept you as my wife and Dante’s mother, if she wished to continue to be in his life.”

“What did she say?”


“That she would try.”


“What about your father?”

“She thinks my father is going mad. Paranoid and ranting a lot. She says that You-Know-Who is descending further into madness himself. Many of his followers are turning from him, only the ones like my father and Aunt Bella, who are crazy themselves, truly follow him anymore. Even if Potter does nothing, he may self destruct on his own.”

“You need to tell Harry,” Hermione said.

“I will, later tonight. We’ll be going back to the Manor though, at the end of the week. My parents will be coming back from Italy next week and it will be too late.”

“I wish you wouldn’t go,” Hermione said.

“I can’t stay locked up in here much longer. I feel like it’s getting smaller all the time.” Draco put a hand through his hair.

“So really, you’re helping Harry for you?” Hermione said, smiling slightly.

“Of course,” he teased, smiling back. “When did I ever do anything else?”

Hermione walked towards him and sat in his lap, playing with his soft hair. “Do you know what we were doing this time last year?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure you do though,” he said, pulling her close.

“We were at the opera,” she said, memories filling her head. “It seems so long ago, I feel so much older now.”


“When this is over we’ll go back,” Draco told her softly. “I’ll take you to a hundred operas. We’ll show Dante Venice, Rome, take a nice long vacation.”

“I’d like that,” Hermione sighed, snuggling closer to him.


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

This trip to Malfoy Manor seemed much tenser. Besides the original group, Hermione noticed that Ron, Bill and Charlie Weasley were going as well. The Order, along with Draco, spent a lot of time in the proceeding days locked away, going over plans. Hermione tried to entertain herself with Dante and spend time with her friends but this trip seemed more important, which filled her with dread. This time when Draco left, she paced the floor waiting for their return. Harry had said that it may be hours, and she was still pacing hours after Dante had been put to bed.

“This is driving me crazy!” she said to Ginny. “What are they looking for anyway?”


Ginny shrugged. “It seems to be important,” she said. “I just wish-“ she stopped abruptly.


“What?” Hermione asked.


“Well,” Ginny blushed. “Harry and I have been getting closer. I just hope that when he’s done saving the world that maybe we would have a shot.”

“Really?” Hermione grinned. “That’s wonderful, Gin! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It a fairly new development, I’m still trying to get used to it. Besides,” she chided. “I don’t think you have any room to talk to me about keeping secrets.”

“Of course,” Hermione blushed slightly. “I only meant-“ she paused. “Oh!”

“What?” Ginny asked, her mood sobering quickly.

“My necklace is heating up. Draco hasn’t used it in ages!” She quickly pulled the necklace out and into her hand.

“Ambush,” it read. “Hurry out here. You’re the only one that can get through the wards. Save us.” Hermione gasped as she read the words out loud for Ginny. “I have to go!” she said, running towards the door.

“What? Hermione, no! You have to wait until we notify Professor Dumbledore.” Ginny’s panicked voice followed her down the hall.

“I have to go now, it says hurry!” She ripped open the front door and stumbled outside.

“Hermione!” Ginny said, hurrying after her. “Draco would never tell you to do this! There’s something very wrong about that message!”

“She’s right, you know.” Hermione turned and immediately recognised Pansy Parkinson standing in front of her, holding Draco’s necklace. “It’s a shame you didn’t know that.” With a sneer, she clamped down on Hermione’s arm and immediately, with a lurch of her stomach, Hermione realised her mistake.