Harmonious Fire

Chapter Nine
He was staring down at her, asking her why. Why she ran off for six years, and why suddenly she was back. The intensity and accusation in his gaze forced her to talk. So she did just that, she recited her tale. From its beginning right to the very end.

*Flashback*

That night was etched on her memory forever. Her and Blaise had watched from afar as Hogwarts burned, a huge plume of smoke curling up into the faint dawn sky. They had waited and waited until they were sure that no one was left before they gathered together a select few Slytherins to search for the body. She could feel Blaise trembling beside her, he had lost his best friend, and she had lost hers. Along with her family. They only had each other. Eventually someone found something, on the outskirts of the forest, near to where he fell. They called to Blaise, he had run, like he had never run before. Dropping to the floor next to the prone figure of his friend, his lover, the one who understood him better then anyone. His blond hair was matted with blood, his leg was thrown at an odd angle and his face was ashen. Three deep gashes marred his back, blood seeping through the tattered shirt. To much blood, there was no way he was alive. But yet, Blaise saw it with his own eyes, Draco's chest rising steadily. He was still breathing. Blaise signaled to his cohorts to make room, he hauled Draco onto his shoulders and shouted at Ginny,
"Go with Pansy, she'll take you to the Manor. I need hot water, towels and a medi potion kit. Move it." Ginny ran to find the raven haired Slytherin. She found her, searching by the lake,
"PARKINSON!" Pansy turned, and drew her wand, "Wait! Its Draco, he's hurt. Blaise told me to..." Pansy flicked her wand, Ginny was sent flying back,
"Why the fuck should I believe you Weasley!" Ginny dragged herself to stand,
"Because its true Parkinson, Potter tried to kill him. He's half dead. We've gotta get back to the Manor." She shook her head,
"I don't believe you." A new voice coming from the distance, distracted her,
"Quit arguing Pansy and just do it." She turned to see Blaise coming from the forest carrying Draco, slung across his shoulders. Fresh blood was dripping down Blaise's arm. Falling into puddles on the dark grass. Pansy blanched, turning stark white. She grabbed Ginny's hand and apparated them both to the Manor's entrance hall. Pansy barked orders,
"The medi potions are in the bathroom, top floor. I'll get the water from the kitchen. Draco's room is the second floor. Ginny was gawping at the sheer size of the place. "There will be time to gink at the place later Weasley, get to it!" Ginny legged it up the four flights of stairs, finding the bathroom within seconds. She wrenched the cupboard open and got the box of potions. Grabbing some fresh towels along with it. She hurtled down the stairs to the second floor. Finding the room that housed the bed, she found that Blaise had already arrived. Draco was laid out on the bed. Still unconscious and barely breathing. Blaise was muttering under his breath,
"I can't fix all of this, god, please don't die Draco, what'll I tell her if you die. She can't live without you, I can't live without you. Please, please don't die." Ginny went to him, touched his shoulder,
"Blaise, I got the potions. Do you need my help?" He nodded mutely, she gathered the towels and used them to try and staunch the bleeding from Draco's wounds. She drew her wand and muttered a spell her mother had taught her, the bones in Draco's leg began to knit themselves together, along with any other broken bones he had sustained. She turned to her boyfriend, "Blaise, I need some old sheets torn into strips, I have to try and stop these cuts from bleeding." He nodded and went off in search. She couldn't quite believe what she was doing, saving Draco Malfoy's life was not something she thought she would ever do. She stripped his ruined shirt off, and replaced the already soaked towels. He was loosing too much blood, too fast. There had to be a blood replenishing potion in the kit somewhere. She found it, stashed away, half empty, hopefully it would be enough. She might have to get Blaise to go pick up some more for the next few days. She tipped it down Draco's throat, and watched as some of the blood flow slowed somewhat. She breathed a sigh of relief. It was still early days though. His breathing was laboured, and his face still pale. She tried to rouse him, but he wouldn't come round. That worried her. Maybe he just needed time. Blaise returned with the sheets, she made some makeshift bandages and strapped up the largest of the cuts. Then she strapped up his leg, hoping it would be enough. Pansy, in the meantime had arrived with the water and was gently cleaning the dirt and soot off of Draco's face, and the dried blood off of his torso. Ginny turned to Blaise, "Now we just have to wait for him to wake up." Blaise smiled his thanks, but said nothing more. He just sat there, watching over Draco. Never taking his eyes off him. It continued like this for a week, Blaise hardly moved. He slept on the leather sofa in the corner, leaving only to shower and for a fresh change of clothes. She bought him meals, but otherwise didn't bother him. It had taken her a week to explore the whole manor. It was two weeks until Draco showed any improvement. The cuts on his back were healing and the bruises were starting to fade. But he still showed no sign of waking up. She was on her last tether with Blaise, he was like a zombie. Finally she snapped,
"BLAISE! You have to stop this! He'll wake up when he wants to, but you can't sit here like this waiting. Its driving you crazy! HE has summoned you countless times, and still you won't move. Do you want to piss HIM off?!" This had elicited reaction, he had strode from Draco's bedside and apparated away to god knows where. She was left alone in the Manor, its vastness was suffocating her. He didn't return for days. She was beginning to really be concerned after the fifth day, and was about to apparate to enlist Pansy's help to find him. The two had formed a loose friendship over the two weeks she had been living in the Manor. Pansy had come every other day to enquire as to Draco's condition and Ginny both fed up of her dropping in and of Blaise's behaviour said that she would visit Pansy instead. Anyway, she was about to go and find Pansy, when Blaise arrived with a flash next to her. He looked worse than when he had left her. "Blaise, oh my god! What happened to you?!" He was looking around wildly, ignoring her question, he said,
"Is he awake yet?" She shook her head, he pushed past her, heading for the kitchen,
"What's going on?!" Still no answer, they reached the kitchen, Blaise turned to all the house elves and said,
"Pack up Master Draco's things, get him ready for being moved. Snap to it!" The house elves all scurried off in opposite directions. He turned to Ginny, "Pack a case, we're leaving." With that he strode out of the kitchen and disappeared into the dark corridors. She could only assume that things had changed, something had happened whilst he was away and they had to run. She made her way to her room and threw her few clothes into an old case she had found. A pop behind her, halted her actions, she turned to find a small, wizened house elf,
"Miss, Master Blaise requests that you meet him as soon as possible in Master Draco's suite." She glared angrily,
"You tell him, that he can bloody well come here and tell me what the fuck is going on!" The elf squeaked and disappeared. Five minutes later Blaise appeared at her door, a dangerous glimmer in his eyes,
"Are we having a problem?" She went over to him and stared him down,
"You're damn right we are, what is going on?! You disappear for days on end and then come back looking like shit I might add. Then order me to pack my stuff and tell me that we're leaving?!" He grabbed her and hauled her against the wall. Getting right down to her level, breathing heavily next to her ear,
"I did what you said, I went to see HIM. Needless to say he was pissed off at me for not reporting sooner, but he got over it. He wants to meet you, when I told him, that I had managed to turn a Weasley he was thrilled. He wants you to go to him and tell him everything you know. I said that you would. But there was a more urgent matter to attend to. Aurors have been searching for us, they consider you kidnapped rather than a willing participant. Malfoy Manor is next on their hit-list. I've been securing us a place far away from here. But we have to leave now. So like I said before, pack your stuff and meet me in Draco's room." He leant down and kissed her softly on the lips. Sending electric tingles down her spine. She then remembered his words, the Dark Lord wanted to meet her. She felt an icy stab of fear pierce her lungs, she dropped to the floor hyperventilating. She stayed like this for a while, struggling to catch her breath. She had to pull herself together, she had chosen this life, knowing full well what would have to be. Her allegiance to the Dark Lord had to be unwavering, lest he reject her and send her back to where she came in pieces. So she picked herself off the floor, threw on her traveling cloak and grabbed her suitcase. She took one final look at her room, before closing the door and heading down the stairs to Draco's suite.
They had left immediately, apparating together to a huge old villa, sequestered in a mountain range. It was cold, snow tipped the ground and frost hung from the trees. She turned to Blaise,
"What is this place?" He motioned for her to follow him inside, then indicated that the house elves should bring Draco in. The entrance hall was vast, huge columns, made of stone cold marble. It was light and airy though. A huge winding staircase stood in the centre. It was gorgeous. She heard Blaise tell the house elves to take Draco to a room on the second floor. He then addressed her,
"This villa was built by my ancestors, centuries ago. It was meant to be a hideaway, a get out clause as it were. Its totally unplottable, no one can find it. If they try, all they see is a burnt out ruin. Whilst I was away, I saw my Father, he told me to use this place to hide out. Until Draco was better, until we figure out what to do." She bit her lip,
"Are you sure we're safe? Where exactly is this place?" He smiled, a smile she hadn't seen on him for a while,
"My homeland. Italy. Come on, lets go upstairs. You have to see the view from my suite." She took his hand and allowed him to lead her upstairs.
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For four months they lived without incident. Draco remained in his coma, his wounds had healed but his mind had not. It was like his conscious knew that Hermione was not there beside him, and he didn't want to wake up to a world without her. Ginny had been presented to the Dark Lord, she had of course charmed him to accept her into the fold. He had asked her to take the mark, but she had been hesitant. He had seen this and questioned her reluctance. She had said that she was afraid, afraid of the change in her. He rewarded her for her honesty, and granted her two weeks to reconsider. When those two weeks were up, she would have to decide. He had taken Blaise aside and informed him of this, telling him to convince her or the punishment would be her death. Ginny had no choice. So she had returned after those two weeks and taken the Dark Mark, seeing it burnt into her skin made her sick to her stomach. It was a glaring reminder of what she had done, who she had betrayed. When they had returned to the villa, she had locked herself in her room and did not speak to Blaise for three days. He hadn't been phased, her reaction was unsurprising to him. She was after all still a Weasley, something he hoped to rectify in the near future. He had been sitting with Draco mulling over this when the blond had stirred. His eyes flickered, and his finger twitched. Blaise heard a groan and looked up, one grey eye was peering at him, then the other, then a croaky voice,
"What the fuck." Blaise smirked, at least he was still Draco. The dark haired man stood up and picked up the cup of water from the side table,
"Here, drink this." He tipped Draco's head forward and made him take a sip. The blond took a drink, and sat back. He looked around,
"We at the villa?" Blaise nodded, "What the fuck happened man? I feel like I've been asleep for a month." Blaise sighed,
"Try four mate." Draco's eyes jumped in surprise. Blaise continued, "Do you remember anything at all?" Draco grimaced,
"The last thing I remember is fucking Hermione against the wall in the Slytherin common room, then a fight with Potter. Then nothing." Blaise sighed again, then stood up,
"I think we need something stronger then water for this." He walked to the dresser, and picked up the decanter of whiskey, pouring two glasses. He helped Draco sit up, then handed him one glass, keeping the other for himself. Draco raised an eyebrow,
"Well then?" Blaise sat down again, tapping his fingers against the side of glass,
"The fight, with Potter. It ended badly. He cursed you, the Sectumsempra, then he threw you out the Great Hall window. You were practically dead when we found you. You've been in a coma for four months." Draco's eyebrows raised even higher, he took a huge swig of the whiskey, coughing as it burned down his throat,
"You're fucking kidding me? Four months?" Blaise nodded, he needed to say more but couldn't quite find the way to tell it, Draco was looking at him like he had grown an extra head. Those steel colour eyes drilling a hole in him, his brow furrowed, "What aren't you telling me?" Blaise tried to cover by making a 'I have no idea what you're on about face' but Draco just shook his head, "Don't fucking give me that look Blaise. I know you to well, what aren't you telling me? Its about her isn't it?" The dark haired Italian nodded slowly,
"She's gone." Dead silence. He wasn't looking at him, those steel eyes had drifted off, staring into nothing. Then a cold harsh voice,
"What do you mean she's gone?" A sigh, he didn't want to have to tell him this, it would break what was left of Draco's already fragile heart. Leaving something that was dead, cold and altogether more frightening then anyone could imagine. But he had to, he respected his friend, his lover more than that.
"She went back to them. I don't know if they dragged her kicking and screaming or she just gave up because she thought you were dead but she's gone back to them." Draco's eyes turned cold, dead even. He threw the glass at the fireplace, where it shattered, breaking into a million pieces.
"Get out." He said darkly,
"Draco..." The room started to shake, the decanter of whiskey smashed to the floor, and lights flickered. Outside storm clouds rolled in, thunder rippled across the mountains and the whole earth seemed to quake with anger. Blaise was afraid, he went to grab Draco's shoulder, to try and stop him. But he found himself thrown backwards, slamming into the wall which cracked with the force. The last thing he saw before he passed out were Draco's black eyes burning with seething wrath.
________________________________________________________________________________________

He didn't speak to anyone for weeks, the house elves took him food and the papers and that was it. Blaise tried to get to through to him but he just blocked him out. The Dark Lord sent summons but Draco ignored them. He was like a shell of the person he used to be. Even Ginny had tried to talk to him, but that had resulted in her having her head bitten off, and being told to switch places. To fuck off back to Potter and send Hermione back to him. At least on these days he reacted to something. Blaise was at his wits end, it was breaking his heart to see is friend destroy himself like this. But there was nothing he could do. Draco Malfoy had always been stubborn but this was different. He had built a wall around himself, and nothing it seemed would tear it down. They lived like this for over a year, dancing around each other, he and Ginny had fallen into a stable routine. Blaise was working for the Dark Lord, having to explain away Draco's disappearance each time he went. It wasn't hard, Draco did keep taking prolonged trips, never saying where he went nor offering a hint of what he was doing. He said it was best that none of them knew then they couldn't be held accountable should he be caught. Blaise accepted it, Draco had his motifs and who was he to question anything. Then one morning, eighteen months after the Hogwarts incident the morning paper arrived. Normal you might say, but the news it carried was not. Any hope that Draco would recover at all were sent crashing to a grinding stop.

WEASLEY AND GRANGER TO MARRY!

Read the headline, Blaise was just about sick, he raced to kitchen to stop the house elves from delivering Draco his newspaper but found it was too late. The resounding crash that echoed through the walls was evidence that as predicted Draco had not taken the news well. Blaise was out the kitchen in a flash and up the stairs to Draco's suite. He hammered on the door, when he received no answer he kicked it open. The whole place was upturned, the four poster bed cracked in half, the desk overturned and the remains of breakfast dripping down the walls. The newspaper lay in the centre of it all. Draco was no where to be seen. He called the house elves and sent a search party out to the surrounding area but nothing was found. Draco had gone without a trace. Ginny arrived in the doorway,
"Has he seen..." She trailed off, the evidence that he had indeed seen it right in front of her eyes. "Oh..." She finished, walking over to her boyfriend and laying a hand on his back, she whispered, "He'll come back right? He has to come back." Blaise shrugged her hand off and walked out the room, stopping only to tell her to find someone to clean up the mess. She was left then, Draco's constant mood swings were the biggest road block in her relationship with Blaise. It was like if he couldn't get through to Draco, then she couldn't get through to him. The past year had been hell. Sometimes she missed her life before all this. Her life with Harry. But she had made her choice and she loved Blaise more than life itself, but Draco she could do without. She picked up the newspaper and finished reading the article.

Celebrated heroes of the anti-war movement Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger are to tie the knot. In a statement by Mr Weasley earlier today, he claimed that he and his fiance were very much in love and planned to marry as soon as possible. Both good friends of Harry Potter we asked Mr Weasley how their union would affect their friendship, he replied,
"Harry is in full support of us, he is very happy that we found each other, especially in these dark times." The paper tried to get Mr Weasley to comment on claims that Miss Granger, whilst in her final year at Hogwarts school was embroiled in a situation involving the late Draco Malfoy. Mr Weasley denied that any such event occurred, saying only that Malfoy got what he deserved. As we all know, Malfoy was killed by Harry Potter during the siege of Hogwarts. His cohort Blaise Zabini is still at large, along with Mr Weasley's youngest sibling. Their whereabouts are currently unknown. The wedding of Mr Weasley and Ms Granger is set for late August.

She sighed heavily, her brother's marriage to Hermione was a turning point. Their lives here were dangling on a knife edge, Voldemort was displeased with them because of Draco and their positions in his ranks were resting on the blond's decisions. The Dark Lord was growing weary of his insubordination, and now any day could be their last. She dropped the newspaper on the floor, and left to find some help to clear up this mess.
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August was the hottest on record, the villa was bathed in the evening sunlight, a faint orange glow illuminating the ground. She and Blaise were sat on the terrace, enjoying the last vestiges of an otherwise tense day. It was the day of the wedding, they hadn't seen or heard from Draco since he had found out. Blaise had been worried for weeks. They had discovered the exact date by forcing a house elf to spy in Diagon Alley. It had overheard a conversation between Mrs Weasley and her son. The location though, was undetermined. So they couldn't go to see if Draco had done something stupid. So here they sat, individually worrying. He, concerned that Draco had got himself caught and killed, again. She scared stiff that Draco may have slaughtered her entire family with Hermione watching on victorious. As it transpired both their worries had been unfounded, for as the sun sunk beneath the mountains they heard a crack behind them. Blaise was on his feet immediately, spinning to face the newcomer.
"Ease up mate, its only me." Draco, nonchalantly leaning on the door-frame, a cigarette drooping from his lips. Blaise smacked him on the arm,
"Where the fuck have you been? I've been worried shitless." Draco smiled, then stepped forward, swaying slightly, Blaise grimaced, "Christ, you smell like you've drowned in firewhiskey." The blond laughed, then, an unusual sound, he hadn't laughed in a year,
"That'd be because today was a happy day Blaise. I went to a wedding." Ginny's jaw dropped, it was then she saw the blood, it stained his jeans. She raised her hand to her mouth in horror,
"What did you do Draco?" He looked at her, taking a long drag on his cigarette, he smiled,
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with dearest." Blaise took her arm, and said quietly,
"Go inside and make him some coffee. Strong and black." She nodded mutely and wandered into the house. Blaise turned to him,
"You want to tell me what happened?" Draco smiled at him drunkenly, then grabbed him by the belt loops in his jeans, pulling him forward. He smashed his lips onto Blaise's, kissing him with a hunger that Blaise hadn't felt in a year. Blaise shoved him off, "Draco! What the fuck have you done?!" The blond only smirked, and pulled Blaise forward again, sticking his hand down the front of his pants. Blaise shoved him off again. Draco made an exasperated face,
"Nothing! God." He stepped back, collapsing in one of the chairs that sat on the terrace. Blaise sat by him,
"If you've done nothing, why are your trousers covered in blood?" Draco grumbled, then said,
"I tripped. I got drunk and I fell." Blaise breathed a sigh of relief. They were silent then. The breeze picked up, whistling through the trees. Ginny came out carrying a cup of coffee for everyone. Blaise reassured her quietly that nothing had happened. Draco heard them, and said, "That's not strictly true." They both looked at him in confusion. The coffee had sobered him up, due to the fact that he suspected Ginny had slipped some kind of potion into it. He put his cup down and pulled out a cigarette packet from his pocket, lighting one up he took a deep drag, "I went to the wedding," at their shocked expressions he assured them, continuing, "Don't worry I wasn't seen. I stood in the back, in the shadows. I had to know."
"Know what?" Ginny asked, Draco looked up at them, an unrecognisable expression clouding his eyes,
"If it was for real. I watched her walk down that aisle to him. I saw them exchange their vows, I saw them become husband and wife. But then, I saw her eyes. It was like she wasn't there, like it wasn't happening. She turned her head, as if she could sense that I was there. She looked lost, alone. I wanted to tear Weasley limb from limb where he stood. But the whole place was crawling with Aurors." He turned then, to look directly at Blaise, untold secrets flashing between them, "I have to get her back Blaise. But I want Voldemort gone before I do. Will you help me?" Blaise nodded.
"What do we have to do?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

They kept her out of the plan of course, to be honest she didn't want to know of it. The less she knew, the safer she was. At least that was Blaise's excuse. But in some respects she was grateful for it, her job was less to help and more to look pretty next to Blaise at Death Eater gatherings. It was the general consensus among the other Death Eaters that Blaise Zabini's paramour was a trophy. A sign of triumph over Harry Potter. She was sickened by the whole affair. They would capture muggles, and torture them, until they...she shuddered at the memory. There was nothing else to do in this place, Blaise and Draco were away, god knows where. She was sat in the drawing room, a book of spells open on her lap, having not got the chance to finish up her final year she spent her days brushing up on skills unlearnt. It had been a month since her brothers marriage to Hermione, and she had hardly seen anything of Blaise. It was days like this that had her questioning her decisions in life. But then he returned and her life meant something again, when Blaise was with her she regretted nothing. This time he returned alone, looking like he hadn't slept in days. He came into the drawing room, where she sat, and collapsed next to her on the sofa. Eyes half closed, he said,
"Pour me a drink Red." She got up, and padded over to the drinks cabinet, dropping two ice cubes in a glass, she poured out the amber liquid. Handing it to him, she sat curled against his side, she bit her lip,
"I wish you'd let me help you. I hate seeing you like this. Every time you come back from these 'trips' you're exhausted, then you sleep for days on end and disappear again. I hardly see you." He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head, then murmured,
"I told you darling, its to dangerous for you to be involved, I don't want you to be held accountable for anything that we drag you into." She wouldn't be placated,
"But he's involving you! Its dangerous for you as well!"
"Draco knows what he's doing. We won't get caught, I promise." He turned her head to him, kissing her. One of those kisses that stopped the world, igniting the fire that he always stoked in her. She returned it, taking the glass from his hand and setting it on the table, she climbed onto his lap. Never breaking their kiss. She fiddled with the buttons on his shirt, popping open a few. She nipped kisses down his chest, unbuttoning the next few buttons. Her hands trailed down, he was kissing her neck, sucking and biting leaving a mark. He stopped when she stopped,
"What's this?" Her voice was full of a mixture of concern and anger. A thin white bandage was wrapped round his midsection, dried blood staining a large portion of it. He picked her off his lap, putting her back on the sofa and stood up. Picking up his drink, he took a large swig,
"Its nothing." She was behind him then, turning him round and lifting the bandage, a long this gash ran from his side to his navel. It was clogged with dried blood and didn't look good.
"THIS is not nothing. How'd it happen huh?!" He shoved her away,
"It doesn't matter." She shook her head, her face blazing with anger,
"So this is how its going to be? I'm just going to sit at home and wait for the day that you don't come back? The day when you get killed because of Draco and his stupid plan. Well screw you Blaise Zabini! I came here to be with you, and I'll be damned if I'm losing you. When Draco gets back, tell him I want to speak with him." Her expression softened slightly, she looked at the bandages, indicating it with a wave of her hand, "Get one of the house elves to see to that. It could turn nasty." With that she left him there in the drawing room. She returned to their suite, stripping off and throwing on the kimono Blaise had had bought for her. She went to their bathroom to run a bath. Over the water running she didn't hear the bedroom door open and close. Oblivious she removed her robe and got in the scalding hot water. Closing her eyes, she tried to relax, until she was broken from her reverie by a sharp voice saying,
"You wanted to speak to me?" Her eyes snapped open, here was her lovers best friend watching her take a bath,
"CHRIST DRACO! A little privacy if you don't mind! GET OUT!" He chuckled, ignoring her and putting the seat down on the toilet so he could sit. She rolled her eyes, "Blaise is going to kill you, you know." He shrugged, a wicked glint shining in his eyes,
"We've shared before, I'm sure I can persuade him." Her jaw dropped open at the mere suggestion. He smirked, "Only joking Weaselette. What do you want, he said you wanted to speak with me?" She tried to cover up as best she could before saying,
"How about we talk about the state my boyfriend is in?!" Draco looked nonplussed,
"Looked fine the last I checked."
"He's hurt Draco, and I get the impression its your fault! Where the fuck do you two go on these trips and why the fuck is Blaise coming home with six inch gashes along his stomach?!" The blond raised his eyebrows,
"My fault? Do you think that I don't give a fuck about what happens to him?! How dare you?" She leaned over the side of the bath and grabbed her robe, trying to retain her modesty as best she could, she got out of the bath, pulling the robe around her. She stormed out of the bathroom, he followed, she rounded on him,
"HOW DARE I? You endanger the life of the man I love all for you're fucking vendetta and you accuse me?! Fuck you!" She found herself being slammed into the wall, the strong smell of expensive cologne and cigarettes engulfing her, he leant down, his breath hot at her ear,
"You'd like that wouldn't you? Me and Blaise, taking you at the same time." His voice was as cold as ice, she shuddered, "From the moment you started this, you wanted it. You'd love it Ginny, she always did. Too bad for you that I don't fuck dirt poor blood traitors." He finished viciously, stepping away from her. He said in a somewhat pleasanter tone, "You'll mind your own business. Before you get us all killed. Understand?" She nodded mutely, watching as he swept out of the room. She collapsed to the floor shivering, his words ringing in her ear. She hated him. Wanted him. Loathed him. It would have been better for all of them if he had stayed dead.