Author's Note: So here's the next chapter. Thank you guys for the positive feedback on the last chapter. This chapter is longer than the last, though not the longest that I've done. I'm kind of hitting some writers block, but I'm thinking that it's about to break. Thanks for my loyal readers you guys rock!
Disclaimer: I'm just a nobody writing a fan fiction be cause that is how much of a dork I am!
Draco wasn't surprised to find that Hermione was still with him when he woke the next morning. And for the first time he didn't push her away, instead he found himself laying there with his eyes closed just listening to her steady breathing. He couldn't believe that he had said as much as he had to her about the dream. But in the oddest way possible it was good to have it off his chest. Of course she would pester him on the specifics when she woke up, and there was little to no chance that he'd supply the answers. However, telling her what he had, almost alleviated the need for the blade. Almost. He didn't want to believe that her closeness had any part in it but in the back of his head there was a voice that whispered something about how he should just accept it. Accept what exactly?
Granger was full of surprises, he speculated. Sure, he knew that she would help him. Though, he thought that once things got too much she would walk away, or dump him on to someone else and live in some blissful ignorance of what was out of sight would be out of mind. Somehow, that is what he thought after getting to know her in Harrogate. She had acted completely carefree as if she weren't at all worried about what was going on in the real world. Not to say that the Muggle world wasn't the real world, it just wasn't his real world, and with Hermione being a witch, it wasn't hers either. He figured that she'd help him because it would make her look like an angel of mercy and then just be done with him. After all, he was a Slytherin and that was what Slytherins did. Apparently, Gryffindors were carved out of a completely different cloth.
It was almost disgusting thinking about how much she had put on the line just for him. It was worse to think that he would never be able to fully repay the girl. He didn't like the aspect of being in debt to anyone. Still he couldn't full wrap his head around telling her about the dream. Not to mention pulling her to his side. Granger was beginning to show signs of feelings toward him that went further than just being a sympathetic person or friend. At least that was what he thought. It's not like he had another friend to use as a comparison. He could almost be certain that she would have fallen for the charade as Casper. But then again once he came out with the truth there was never any doubt about who they were and what they were to each other. So the vibes he was getting certainly confuddled him.
The little voice in the back regions of his mind was nagging at something. He did his best to tune it out. Whatever that annoying little voice had to say would be ludicrous. Was he just under a life debt that would make him more interested than usual in her well being or was there more to it. Fuck. That voice made itself heard even against what it was told to do.
Fortunately the girl it was wondering about was stirring.
"Get off me, Granger," that was becoming the only thing that he ever said to her. They were on a roll.
"Good morning to you too, Malfoy." She bit back, but complied with his not so gentle request.
Together they went down to the kitchen. Potter, surprisingly enough, wasn't there. Malfoy was a little shocked to not find the Scar-head there. He didn't quite realize until that moment that he found some sort of comfort in the forced conversations that they shared before the rest of the Order and household awoke.
Draco asked while setting up tea for himself, "Potter still working on that Horcrux?"
Hermione getting her tea together replied, "Most likely."
The fireplace blew up green flames and a blue haired Tonks stepped through. They did their little greetings to one another and Tonks got straight to the point.
"How could you two let Harry go after that Horcrux yesterday? You could have been killed! Kingsley and I were on it. We just about had her, and we still got her, but you guys could have ruined it for us. And you, Malfoy, were just about killed in the whole mess! Hermione I know that you are smarter than to let your irrational side take over."
"First of all, you should know by now that Harry will do what he feels is necessary no matter what the consequences are. Regardless of who gives the order or advice. I wasn't about to let my best friend go by himself. He is stronger than any of you think. I know it's hard for us, myself included, to wrap our heads around the fact that he really can take care of himself against Death Eaters and werewolves. I'm not saying that it was the most brilliant plan in the world, but given the circumstance, Harry wasn't about to let the opportunity go," Hermione said in a tone of voice that wasn't angry or condescending, yet letting Tonks know that she wasn't impressed with being scolded like a child.
"I wasn't in any more danger of being killed than Granger or Potter. I was just the unlucky one," his tone on the other hand left no doubt that he didn't feel he had to explain anything to his cousin.
"You need to quit acting like children. There is too much on the line to blow it all by ignorant actions."
Potter took that moment to practically stumble into the kitchen. His eyes narrowed with what Tonks had just said. Instead of saying anything he tossed a broken cup onto the table and sat down.
Tonks paled a bit, but countered, "Well good, you got the Horcrux, and destroyed it. But that doesn't change that this could have turned out much, much differently. Wait until Lupin gets here. He's going to hit the roof. And you're not going to want to see Kingsley."
"This isn't like you Tonks. Where's your carefree manner at?"
"There is not time for laughter and games in times like these Harry."
"This is when we need them the most, actually."
"Harry you need to grow up."
Green fire lit Potter's eyes. Malfoy had to suppress a smirk at his crazy cousin. "I am growing up. Unfortunately I never got the chance to experience what it was like to just be a kid. I've been growing up since I was eleven, the last of my inner child died when I watched Dumbledore fall from the Astronomy Tower. I am not going to answer to you or anyone else for the actions I'm taking to make sure that snake Voldemort gets what he deserves."
Tonks' lips pressed together tightly. She apparently had nothing to say after Potter said his piece. Malfoy had to admit that the boy was getting good at shutting bitching girls up, and willing to bet a large sum that he could work the same on the male half of the species too.
"Just wait until McGonagall and Lupin have their say, Harry. But right now you very well could have cost Kingsley's and my job for your foolishness. If you'll excuse me I have to try and fix what you messed up."
"Tonks," Potter said.
She turned to look at him, expectant of something.
"Why did you come here before you 'fixed' what needed to be fixed at the Ministry? It seems to me that I wasn't the fool here today. Kingsley's temper most likely has shifted if you came here before your bosses."
Whatever she was expecting it surely wasn't that. She was through the fireplace in the next moment.
"Nice one Potter," Malfoy said taking a seat at the table inspecting the cup.
"Are you hurt?" Hermione asked hovering over Potter.
He turned away from her, "I'm fine. A few bruises but that's nothing."
Hermione's face was screwed up with worry, but didn't say anything more about it. The three of them sat there in silence for a bit.
Tension in the house grew as Order members came and went. Lupin pulled Potter to the side when he came in. When they parted both had a strained look on their face. Obviously neither was going to relent on their views on the subject of discussion. Draco and Hermione were busy with research for anything that Ravenclaw may have left behind. The going was slow and they weren't making any progress. Malfoy was getting more and more annoyed by the lack of information. And the dungbat Weasley was lurking around the house all in a pissy mood for some reason or another. Granger was getting all huffy because the redheaded douche bag was making sure that he made her life a living hell. He decided that he'd vacate to his room so as not to witness yet another display of sexual tension between the two.