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Say Please	By : ColdWaterFairy Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 28196 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
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A/N: Thanks to mamacita, the best beta this side of HP fandom.
Hermione burrowed into the softness. It took several moments for her brain to catch on to the incongruence between what she was experiencing and what she was use to. She jerked awake, taking in the room. Her brain registered the noise coming from the kitchen—Draco was cooking. Feeling disoriented, Hermione paused; it was still weird to feel things like hunger, unclean teeth, and an urgent need to visit the water closet.

As she brushed her teeth she wondered how she would be received by Draco. It wasn't exactly the morning after, but lines had been crossed. She had very much felt how willing he was to cross the line. Washing her face, she ran through greetings in her head. She would play it cool and aloof. She didn't want Draco thinking she was just another slag throwing herself at him. Hermione shook off the voice in her head that was telling her she was doing what she herself had accused Draco of doing. It wasn't like he would want a relationship with her anyway. With that attitude, she went to get breakfast.

Draco heard Hermione get up. He felt his stomach give a quick clench. He wasn't sure how to act around her. Usually he would be unwaveringly polite, to the point where the girl beat a hasty exit. Even a few days ago he probably would have snapped at her constantly and generally tried to bring her off her high horse. He didn't want Granger to leave, and therein lay the problem. Hermione would return to her life as an Auror and he would be forgotten. He had gotten used to the company and, although he would never admit it, to her.

He had seen it last night when she looked at him. He aroused her but it was tinged with shame and confusion. Draco was used to those emotions being attributed to him; it had just never bothered him until now. Hermione wasn't the type of girl Draco usually met. She was the relationship type, not the casual-sex type, which made the kissing last night a little surprising. Do I want a relationship? With Granger? He was so deep in thought that when Hermione sat down he jumped.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. Oh, you made eggs just the way I like them. I can't believe how hungry I am." Hermione began to eat, scrutinizing Draco as she did so. "I'll write to Harry after breakfast and let him know I'm okay. I could meet him someplace else and make up some story if you'd rather not have anyone know I was here."

"Why would it matter?"

Hermione blinked at him. "Well, Harry and Ron may not be placated by my telling them you had nothing to do with my kidnapping. Do you really want to go through a grueling interrogation? I'm warning you, Draco, I might have moved on from our petty school rivalry, but Harry and Ron have a sore spot when it comes to you. It's like poking a badger with a spoon. Someone says Malfoy and they mutter nonsensical things like 'ferret' and 'git'. They wouldn't set you up or anything, just make the whole process of clearing you uncomfortable."

Draco didn't want to see Potter or Weasley, let alone have to prove his innocence, but it would be a way he could continue to have contact with Hermione. "It would be worth it just to see the frustration on their faces when they can't prove I had anything to do with your going missing."

Hermione shook a piece of toast at him. "You boys and your puerile need to needle each other." Standing up, she dusted crumbs off her hands. "Where do you keep your writing supplies?"

She couldn't decide what to write to Harry. No matter what she did he would immediately be suspicious. The mere mention of Draco would cause him to send in the cavalry. She finally settled on:

Harry—

Please meet me at 35 Belgrave Square. Don't tell anyone. I'll explain everything when I see you.
—M

She hoped he would be put at ease by her signature. It was the way she signed sensitive missives. After tying the letter to Draco's owl she decided to help him finish cleaning up the kitchen.
Ginny wished she knew where she had put her camera. She was positive that only concrete proof would convince Ron that right now he looked exactly like Lavender Brown did when she knew a juicy bit of gossip. Ginny sipped her tea and watched Harry move around in his kitchen, and did her best to ignore her giddy brother.

Harry snorted. "Really, Ron, will you just tell us what you saw already? I swear this had better be good or I'm going to smother you in your sleep." Harry was frustrated. The person he had sitting on Willow Suntree's place had nothing to report, Keller might be a killer and he was tired. All he wanted to do was tell everyone to go to hell. He picked at his breakfast before finally pushing it away.

Ron leaned forward as if to impart something of great significance. "Keller March is having an affair with Celeste!" When this didn't get the expected response, he frowned. "You know, the Minister's wife—that Celeste."

Harry threw a pillow at him.

"Oi, what was that for?"

"For being such an idiot," Harry replied.

"Don't you see? Hermione could have found out Keller was having an affair, so he had to do something. It's entirely possible that Hermione's and the witches' disappearance have nothing to do with one another."

Ginny sighed. "Except one flaw, genius—Hermione wouldn't care about Keller having an affair with the Minister's wife. She's not the type to gossip or blackmail. Keller knows this."

Ron sat back, the air taken out of his sails. "It's still plausible," he grumbled.

Ginny sipped her tea and waited. Harry turned to her. "What about you, Gin? Did you find out anything while you were following Blaise?"

Having always appreciated the dramatics of a pregnant pause, Ginny drawled lazily, "Well, now that you mention it...." Both boys focused on her with razor-sharp intensity. "He was in his office most of the day; he left occasionally to go harass department heads."

"Around two o'clock he suddenly raced out of the Ministry. I had to run to keep from losing him, and nearly took out Pansy Parkinson. The weird thing is Zabini didn't use the Ministry's Floo. He took the visitors' exit and then Disapparated. I was able to follow to his first Apparation site, but he had just Disapparated again when I got there. I find it interesting that someone as high and mighty as Zabini would take that exit and Apparate to Muggle London, let alone feel the need to use Apparation several times, as if to keep anyone from following him."

Harry looked pensive as he sifted through the information. He grinned wickedly for a moment. "Maybe he's shagging the Minister's wife, too."

Ginny knew he was just taking the piss, but Ron jumped all over it. "Maybe they're having some kind of torrid threesome. If anyone found out he'd be sacked in an instant, and everyone knows how much Zabini wants to be Minister of Magic. He could have kidnapped Hermione and Obliviated her."

Harry looked at Ginny as if to say, He's your brother. "I don't think that's it, but you're right about his behavior being out of character. We should definitely keep tabs on him. The good thing is we can now rule Keller out. I'm assuming he's found a way to trick the location spell into thinking he's inside the Ministry when he's really meeting up with Celeste."

The three of them were brainstorming how best to observe Blaise without tipping him off when there was a scratching at the window. Ginny went to let the owl in. Not recognizing the bird, she tossed the letter to the side. Probably another damn reporter or condolence letter, she thought. She fed the owl a treat and sent him on his way.
When Blaise awoke he reached out to find the bed empty. Doesn't that woman ever sleep? he wondered. Knowing where he would find her, he made his way to the study. He found Willow sipping her tea and looking out the window. He came up behind her and kissed the side of her neck.

"Morning, love."

Willow didn't immediately reply. "You do realize what we have to do, don't you?" she asked. "You're going to have to retrieve the painting from Malfoy."

"I was already planning on going over to his place this morning,"he agreed.

"You are also aware that you'll have to take care of him, aren't you?"

Willow felt him stiffen. Turning, she slid her arms around him. "There can't be any witnesses. Think of what we have to lose if we were caught. Anyway, Malfoy deserves it; you've said as much before." As if sensing his continued reluctance, she said, "Just this last time, love. Then I'm done. We'll settle down and get married."

He didn't answer. He pulled her to him. "I'll take care of you. I promise."
Hermione was pacing and Draco sat on the couch, watching her. "Sit down! You're making me all jittery looking at you."

Hermione flopped down beside him. "Why hasn't he replied to my owl? What if he didn't get it? Should I send another one?"

Draco gave her a look. "Merlin, woman, give him a break. He's probably waiting until it's dark. They'll probably want to keep your reappearance a secret for a while and see if they can draw out the kidnapper. I could be wrong, though, and they'll just use your reappearance for the publicity. The Ministry hasn't been getting good press lately."

Hermione sighed. Draco went into the kitchen and returned with two glasses and a bottle. He poured the liquid evenly between the two glasses and handed one to Hermione. "I've found alcohol soothes just as well as a calming potion."

She smirked. "I never knew you were so excitable, Draco."

He was about to respond when there was a knock at the door. He set his glass down and pulled out his wand. "Hermione, go to into my room and don't come out until I tell you to. No matter what you may hear."

"Why? It's probably Harry or Ron."

"Don't argue," he hissed. "Go!"

She raced into his room and shut the door. She felt trepidation skitter down her spine. It's only Harry, she told herself.

Draco Vanished the second glass and went to answer the door. The last person he expected to see was on the other side. "Blaise! To what do I owe the pleasure?" His voice implied it was anything but.

Blaise shouldered Draco out the way and walked in. "I must say, this is a little plain for a Malfoy. Whatever would Lucius say? Oh, that's right, he's in Azkaban. Tell me, Draco, does he still have all his mental faculties?"

Draco drew in a deep breath through his nose. "What do you want, Blaise?"

Turning around, the man replied, "I had the most interesting conversation with Pansy yesterday. In between her blathering about burying the hatchet she mentioned how you only had a portrait of Granger to keep you company." He paused looked at Draco, his eyes cold and deadly. "I want the painting. Just give it to me and I'll leave."

In the moments it took Draco to respond Blaise cast a silencing and anti-Apparation spell. "You're fucking mental, Zabini. I got rid of that painting right after Pansy and Greg were here for dinner. Did you really think I'd keep it after Greg mentioned the resemblance?"

Blaise's eyes narrowed in contemplation. Draco felt him trying to use Legilimency. Doing his best to Occlude Blaise without being obvious, he tried to inch behind the couch subtly. He just hoped Hermione would continue to stay hidden, no matter what.

"Then you wouldn't mind my looking around just to make sure."

Draco shrugged. "Be my guest."

Hermione eased the door open and heard the smooth voice of Blaise Zabini. What is he doing here? Did Harry send him? She flinched at Blaise's comment about Draco's father. His next words, though, made her blood run cold. Her eyes darted around the room. Maybe she could hide under the bed. Blaise wouldn't be expecting her to have gotten out of the painting. Before she could make up her mind there was a loud crash.

Draco had told her to stay put no matter what, so she tried her hardest to do just that. Next she heard shouting, and more sounds of dueling. She opened the door a crack and peeked out just in time to see Draco go flying across the room and slam into the kitchen island. His wand rolled into the doorway.

If I can just get to it before Blaise, I can take him out. Hermione inched out into the room and slunk along next to the wall, crouching down when she heard Blaise move toward Draco. Gathering her magic within herself, she Accio'd Draco's wand to her. Once she was gripping it securely, she decided to take a calculated risk and went back into Draco's room. It had been a while since she'd used the Patronus charm as the better way to communicate, but she didn't have time for anything else. "Harry, help! At Draco's!" Sucking in a breath she finished. "Blaise is the kidnapper." She watched as her otter swirled away.

Hearing Draco scream in pain, she whirled around. The familiar calm of her training settled upon her. Hermione was going to make sure Blaise paid for what he had done, but not before he told where the other witches were. Blaise had managed to pin Draco underneath his foot when Hermione next looked.

"Why are you so stubborn Draco? Just give me the painting and I Oblivate you. No need for us to get violent. Trust me, Granger is not worth it. Now tell me, where is the painting?"

Draco coughed. "I told you, you fuck, I got rid of it."

Hermione stood up, and pointing Draco's wand at Blaise, said, "I'm only going to ask once. Where are the missing witches?"
Harry ran his hands absently through Ginny's hair. He was in the middle of moving his chess piece to check Ron when something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. It took him a moment to realize that it was an otter, whirling and dipping its way toward him. He abruptly stood up, unceremoniously toppling Ginny off the couch.

"Harry, what the—"

The Patronus stopped in front of Harry and urgently whispered Hermione's message. Harry cut his eyes to Ron to gauge whether or not he was thinking what Harry thought he was thinking. Obviously Ron, was, because he lifted his wand and Disapparated. Harry grabbed Ginny and kissed her roughly, then he too disappeared.

Harry caught up with Ron in the Records Department. Ron wasn't even trying to put things back, just carelessly tossing files on the floor.

"Where the fuck would Malfoy's address be?"

Harry didn't answer but picked up another file, carelessly tossed it on the floor, and reached for another. Ron gave a triumphant cry and, grabbing Harry's arm, he raced from the room. Harry narrowly avoided running into the door jamb.
Draco could do nothing but watch in dazed amazement as Blaise and Hermione dueled. Blaise's movements were smooth and swift, whereas Hermione's were methodical and determined. Hermione, he decided, didn't need the fancy flourishes because she knew in the end she would win. Blaise had stayed neutral during the war, so he had no combat experience, not to mention all the Auror training Hermione had. It was really no contest. Blaise's only advantage was that he had no scruples, but that didn't seem to be working in his favor.

Draco dove out the way of a curse and ending up smashing his dislocated shoulder into a dining room chair. His cry of pain distracted Hermione enough for Blaise's spell to hit her and send her flying through the air. No one noticed that someone was tampering with the wards.

"Hermione!" Draco struggled to get up.

Blaise walked slowly over to Hermione and rolled her over with his foot. "Isn't that sweet? Oh, how the mighty have fallen," he sneered. "Look at me, Mudblood. If you just admit defeat, I'll make sure you die painlessly."
Hermione looked at him and smiled. "You know, Blaise, they called you a ladykiller back in school. The irony of the situation is not beyond me." She hoped she could keep him talking long enough to throw off the Body-Bind curse he'd cast on her.

Blaise just smiled. "I guess your answer is no." With that he raised his wand. "AVADA—"

Before he could finish, Draco tackled him from behind. He struggled to get Blaise's wand, but with only one could arm he knew he didn't have much chance.

Hermione was trying her best to shake off the dizziness she felt. She was in so much pain that she was physically sick. Where did Draco's wand go? She did a quick scan and, spotting it, silently summoned it. Wand in hand, she turned to see Blaise pin Draco and shove his wand into Draco's neck. His attention was so focused on Draco that he didn't realize Hermione had managed to throw off his binding spell.

Later, when asked, she wouldn't be able to recall what Blaise was about to say. All she would remember was the feeling of fear and panic she felt at the possibility that Blaise was about to kill Draco, and that she had to do something.
Harry and Ron were finally able to break through the wards on Draco's door and blast it in. They weren't prepared to see Blaise Zambini fly through the air only to be impaled on a nasty-looking splinter of wood from a broken coffee table.

While Ron ran to check on Blaise, Harry focused on Hermione. He'd never seen her look so unlike herself as she did at that moment. There was an aura of anger emanating from her that was so terrifying, he hesitated. In the end, though, nothing could keep him from her. Cupping his hands around her face, he turned it so she was looking at him.

"It's okay, love, I'm here. You're safe. Shhh." Keeping his left hand in place, his thumb gently stroking her cheek, he reached down and removed the wand that was clenched in her fist. She didn't fight him.

Blinking at him, she asked almost petulantly, "What took you so long?" Before Harry could apologize, she collapsed.
I apologize for the long wait between chapters. My muse was off in the corner having an existential crisis. I had to slap her around a bit and tell her to be a woman.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. So, tell me, was it who you thought it was?
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