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How To Train Your Auror 2: Family Ties	By : Alcoholic_Rootbeer Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 7990 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and I will not make a profit from this story

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
If you knew, knew what the bluebirds sang at you,
You would never sing along
Cast them out cause this is our culture
These new flocks are nothing but vultures
Because they took our love and they filled it up
Filled it up with Novocaine and now I'm just numb
Now I'm just numb
And don't mind me, I'm just a son of a gun
So don't stop, don't stop until your heart goes numb
Now I'm just numb
I don't feel a thing for you
"Novocaine" by Fall Out Boy
"Well, here we are…" Draco stepped out of the Ministry Floor designated for coming and going Aurors directly at the end of the floo network set up in the Ministry's atrium. Most of the other floos were closed now, shut down for the day, but Draco took no notice of them as he walked subtly across the floor, his boots clacking as he walked. He approached the front desk, greeted by an elderly witch; the same one who, two years ago, nearly died as a result of Greg Diggle's seize on the Ministry. "Aeris." Draco nodded his head to the elderly witch with half-moon spectacles perching delicately off the tip of her nose. "Pleasant to see you this evening. You're looking rather… glowly. Husband sticking it to you right and proper?"
Secretary Aeris's lips turned up in a half amused smile that she managed to snuff out in a second, returning to her predatory glare. "Auror Malfoy. You're in late this evening."
"Aurors never sleep," he smirked. Aeris looked up to the kitten perched on Draco's shoulder but said nothing, clearly not interested in whatever explanation he could possibly give for bringing a kitten into the Ministry.
"I thought the saying was 'Aurors never age'?" Aeris quipped, returning her eyes to her paperwork. "Whatever it is you're up to, I didn't see you."
"No, it's alright, Aeris," he assured her. "You can see me, just the once."
That caught her attention. Her eyes pulled back up to him, and her drawn on eyebrows flittered upwards in shock. "You really stepped in it this time, didn't you?"
Draco strummed his fingers atop her desk and smirked. "A whole mess of it, I'm afraid."
Aeris reached down under her desk, pulled out a small tin, and pried open the top. She offered it out to him. "Have a cookie, Auror Malfoy. You look as if you need one." He peered inside the tin, looking at an arrangement of cookies ranging from macadamia, chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter…
"Are… those double chocolate fudge?" Draco's mouth salivated. Like a greedy Gregory Goyle at Christmas dinner, he reached into the cookie tin and pulled out a handful. The elderly witch gave him a reproachful look, until she noticed his other hand -the one bandaged and swollen.
"Whatever it is," she said, "I didn't see you."
"Aeris-"
But she cut him off with a wave of her hand, and his mouth magically snapped shut. "I didn't see you. Are we clear, Auror Malfoy?"
Draco nodded, and the spell released. He tucked a few cookies into his pockets, bit into the double chocolate fudge, and closed his eyes in pleasure. After breaking up with the love of his life, abandoning his family, and about to tear apart the fabric of his good name, he allowed himself the one act of kindness; the yumminess of a cookie. He chewed on it like it was his last meal, savoring it, relishing in the taste. When he opened his eyes, the cookie was gone, and Aeris was fanning herself, red in the face.
"Merlin's beard, Auror Malfoy. Do you always eat cookies that way?"
Draco smirked. "Amongst other things." He sent her a wink and bade her farewell with a wave of his good hand, the kitten still perched atop his shoulder.
Hermione shook from head to toe. He was gone. Just… gone. There was no other word to describe it but gone. Not just physically in front of her to the point where she had no earthly clue where he went, but gone. Her Draco had been snuffed out like a candle in front of her face, replaced with a cold, empty vessel of unknown resolve. And she'd struck him -clear across the cheek. What had she been thinking?
He was about to call her a mudblood. That's what.
Mudblood.
She reached for her arm automatically, to the scars there.
He hadn't meant it. Couldn't have. Draco would never return to that kind of pureblood ideology… she closed her eyes, memories flooding her like a broken damn crashing into the town below; the first time they'd made love, he'd kissed each letter on her arm like it spelled out the word 'beautiful' instead of the atrocious mark she was left with. She didn't want to remember -it hurt too much, but the memory came anyway.
She could remember every word he'd described her as.
"You." M. "Are." U. "Beautiful." D. "Intelligent." B. "Brave." L. "Sexy." O."Kind." O. "Mine." D.
Had Abraxas Malfoy been able to puncture his fangs into Draco, the way Lucius had as a child? -No, she thought. Surely not. He'd said the word to goad her. To get her to lash out.
"Because Abraxas Malfoy is a cold, calculating man who has eyes and ears everywhere he goes."
Was she being watched this very moment? Hermione curled her arms around herself, Diggle's letter, still doused in Draco's blood, clutched in her fingers. Damn it all. Damn it all to Hell. She wiped at her tears viciously and slammed her fist into the wall next to her. Damn. That hurt. But it felt good, too. She understood, now, why Draco released himself this way. She smashed her knuckles into the brick. Again. And again. She wasn't sure how long she stood there like this, but she welcomed each brutal strike, imagining it were Draco's chest. Diggle's face. Abraxas's stomach. Lucius's tenders. Over and over she slammed her fist until something warm wrapped itself around her hand and stopped her -a hand, she realized.
"Auror Granger," came a soft, comforting voice. It was familiar, but Hermione couldn't place it. She thrust her fist out again, but the hand kept a strong barrier between her and the wall. "Auror Granger." This voice was more forceful this time.
The first thing Hermione noticed when she opened her eyes were the freckles along his nose. Maybe that's why she said it, barely above a whisper, "Ron?" The slits of her eyes opened completely, and she came face with auburn hair. Hazel eyes. Not Ron. Auror Jameson.
"Your hand," he said quietly, glancing down. It was scraped -bloody, just like Draco's had been. Seeing it made a crashing wave of pain hit her like a current -the sting was crisp, cutting, like needles against her knuckles. She winced, drawing her hand out of his. Owwww… oh God, the pain was excruciating… Why had she done it? Why? "Where's Auror Malfoy?"
"Gone," she whispered, looking down to her feet. "He's… gone."
"Gone? Gone where?"
Hermione turned her head to the side, humility and embarrassment filling her stomach. Standing ten feet away from her, clutching his mother's hand, was Scorpius Malfoy. His lips curled downwards in a small frown as he released his mother's hand and ran a dead run into Hermione's side. "Hermummy! Hermummy hurt!"
"Oh… oh, Scorpius…" She immediately crouched down and scooped him up in a hug. "No, sweetheart. I'm just fine. See?" She tried to control her breathing, as well as her tears. "I'm fine.."
"Where Daddy?" Scorpius whimpered into her shoulder.
"Daddy…" Hermione looked up, meeting Astoria's horrified expression. Beside her, behind her, stood Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. When Hermione's eyes connected with the eldest Malfoy man, she glared daggers, hoping he could feel her burning hatred for him all the way from where she crouched. "Daddy had to take care of a few things," she told Scorpius, her eyes never leaving Lucius's. "He told me to tell you he loves you very much, Scorpius. And he's sorry he had to leave you so unexpectedly."
"When Daddy come home?"
Someone was crying, filling Hermione's ears with tender sobs. Stop, she thought to whomever it was. Stop crying; you'll upset Scorpius. It wasn't until she reached up and touched her face that she realized she was the one crying. She scooped Scorpius up with her good arm, got to her feet, and kissed him softly on the cheek before handing him off to Auror Jameson. "Jameson, take them home."
"Auror Granger-"
"Take them home." She turned her eyes to him, her voice even and full of authority. She knew Auror Jameson had no choice but to obey her; she outranked him. "All of them except…" Her eyes turned to Lucius, and she stepped forward. "You. I have some things to discuss with you, Lucius."
Lucius narrowed his eyes. "I have nothing to say to you, witch."
Hermione reached for her wand in a flash, pointing it at the unassuming wizard. He stepped back, coughing but terrified. "If you don't speak with me, I will bring you in under obstructing of an investigation. Not to mention your involvement with a certain stone." Gone was the timid, in love Hermione Granger. Here, in her place, stood the confident, war heroine of yore. "Your call, Mister Malfoy."
"How dare you?" Narcissa started, taking a step forward. "That is my husband you're brandishing your wand at, Auror Granger!"
Lucius stepped forward, next to his wife, and placed a calm hand on her shoulder. "Easy, Cissy. I think I can handle a simple mudblood."
It was Astoria to react first, quickly drawing her wand as well, though it stayed at her side, subtle. "You will never say such degradation in front of Scorpius, do you hear me, Lucius? Or you will never see him again."
Lucius Malfoy paled, glancing over to the toddler in Jameson's arms. Auror Jameson shot Lucius a contemptible glare, putting a hand over Scorpius's ear. Lucius curled his lip up in a disgusted sneer and rolled his eyes. "I fear my hands are tied, Cissy. Be a dear and have a cup of tea for me when I return?"
"You should go back," Draco said to the kitten as it sluffed off his arm to a table in the Auror Division's portkey room. "They won't allow a kitten in Azkaban. You're here. You'll watch me touch the portkey. Tell him I'll have his prize to him within the three day window." He sighed. "I guess one of those days is mostly gone, isn't it?" The kitten didn't answer him, batting at a fly buzzing around its head. "Fuck, could you at least pretend to be a bit human? I swear to Merlin, if you hurt them while I'm gone…" The kitten stopped its attack on the fly and sauntered across the table, rubbing against his wrist with its cheek. "Stop that." He withdrew his hand at once. "Fuck it all. You're annoying." Hiss. "Well, you are. -The least you could do is quit pretending to be a sodding kitten for five bloody minutes. What's your damage? Are you extremely ugly or something?" HISSSSS.
The kitten jumped off of the counter, stretched its body, and sauntered off through the crack between the door and frame, no doubt to finish whatever task Abraxas Malfoy had given it as a side from monitoring Draco's movements.
Draco sighed in relief, his hand poised to touch the portkey at any moment. Any moment now, and he'd begin his life as a criminal… any moment… he could… "Fuck." He withdrew his hand and rubbed at his exhausted eyes. Hermione. He wanted Hermione here beside him. Needed her like the ocean needed the moon. "Stop it." He wouldn't do this right now. He had a mission. If he ever wanted to see Hermione again, he'd need to try.
Carefully, with his wand clutched tight, he placed his damaged hand over the portkey and slammed down.
Hermione and Lucius stared each other down in the middle of Hogsemeade as Jameson escorted Astoria, Narcissa, and Scorpius down the road and out of sight. When Hermione was sure they were alone, she slipped her wand back inside her pocket and said, "Right. This way, Mister Malfoy."
Lucius raised a cool eyebrow, leaned against his walking cane, and followed her down the street. Hermione forced herself to keep a slow pace so that he could keep up, but still felt no pity for the man. He deserved everything he got -this was his fault, after all. When they passed a potions shop and her eyes caught hold of a children's potion set, her heart leapt in her chest. She remembered the very first time Draco had opened up to her entirely as they practiced his patronus.
"I was the only child of two wealthy parents. I received whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. You'd think that would make one happy, but after so long it becomes expected. Soon, the joy gets taken out of everything…" He grinned, suddenly remembering something. "But, there was this one time… I told my Mum I wanted this potions set for Christmas. It was one of those beginner packages, with herbs and whatnot. But Mum told me no because she said I wasn't old enough to be meddling with potions yet. It drove me bonkers, it did. I told Father, but he just sided with Mum. But when Christmas time rolled around, wouldn't you know-"
"-It was underneath the tree," Hermione finished, settling her chin in her hand and smiling.
"Damn straight it was. And I was the happiest ten year old on the face of the Earth, as far as I was concerned. The next year I went into Professor Snape's potions class and aced it with flying colors."
Hermione reached over the counter and patted his arm. "Give it a go."
"Draco admired you," she said quietly, refusing to look Lucius in the eyes. "You know that, don't you? Before you turned him into a tool for the Dark Lord to use, he only wanted to please you."
Lucius remained silent, keeping a fair distance between them but still eyeing the potions set she stared at with quizzical interest.
"Something's wrong. Draco is harboring secrets, and the moment he woke up this morning, he wanted to talk to you. Tell me, why is that, Lucius? Why would a man who detests his father so much want to speak to him so urgently?"
The older Malfoy raised an eyebrow, still refusing to pass her a glance. "I suppose," he drawled, "Draco takes great interest in childhood degradations. He gladly reminded me, this morning, of all my shortcomings."
"I know, you know," she said. "About the stone. About your condition."
The corner of his eye twitched, but he still smirked. "Is that so?"
"Tell me what you know. You might be my only lead to finding Draco."
"So, he's missing, then." Lucius tutted. "Such a sniveling little brat, that one."
"He's your son."
"A son I used to be proud of. He's proven himself to be less than adequate."
"Ha. You're one to talk. Draco's only shortcomings stemmed from having you as a father."
"This is quite an interrogation, Auror Granger. What's next? Some therapy and a good cry?"
"What's next is I take you into Azkaban unless you tell me what transpired between you and Draco this morning."
"Azkaban?" Lucius scoffed. "On what grounds? I've been exhumed of all responsibilities concerning my connections with the Dark Lord. If you recall, I spent two weeks in prison awaiting trial where I was, finally, presumed innocent of all crimes."
"Yes, I remember. And so did your wife. And son. They spent those two weeks locked in a cell as well, thanks to you."
"Hmph." Lucius turned away from her. "Are we quite through here?"
"Hardly." She grabbed at the man's arm and turned him to face her. Hermione's heart leapt unexpectedly. She'd never been so close to Lucius Malfoy without him adorning his Death Eater mask. He smelled of tea leaves and tobacco, and from this close up, she could see so much of Draco in his father. "I know you sold Diggle the stone. My husband's death -Ron's death- it was your fault, Lucius. I have enough evidence to turn you in, you know. You could rot out your last days in a cell, next to the boy of the man you murdered."
"Murdered?" Lucius raised a cool eyebrow, turning to face her. He looked daunting, towering over her with his cold eyes boring into hers. "I may be a lot of things, Auror Granger. But I have never been a murderer."
Hermione felt rage -blind rage, and she balled her fists to keep from slapping him. "Douglas Bastian Diggle. Does that ring a bell?"
It took Lucius only a moment to pale and his eyes to narrow. "Even so, I still stand by what I have said. Diggle's death was a sacrifice of war."
"Is that how you justify murdering a man in cold blood? Carving squib into his arm? You created Bastian Cane. Diggle would have never sought revenge if you hadn't killed his father all because you thought him beneath you!"
Lucius chuckled darkly. "You really are a clueless mudblood, aren't you?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It is true. I was there that night. Though what this has to do with anything transpiring with Draco at this moment…"
"Keep going," she demanded. She needed to hear it. "Don't you dare stop now."
"So you can incriminate me for a crime I didn't commit?"
"I can already incriminate you for your involvement with the Pandora Stone." She squared her shoulders. "So spill the beans, Lucius. Or, I guarantee you, you'll find yourself in Azkaban quicker than it'll make your head spin. Not to mention, I will tell the presses about your lack of magical abilities. Everything, out in the open. Now."
"Do you think any of this will truly help you with your quest to find Draco? I guarantee you, girl, you're in over your head on this one. He's slipped into the darkness -as a Malfoy, I can testify to the wonderful feeling of giving one's self up to it. No matter how hard you struggle, you will never pull him back. He's joined the white wolf, Auror Granger. There is no return from that dark, dismal abyss."
"Is that any way to describe your father?" She glared, watching his tells for any surprise. There wasn't any. So, he knew about Abraxas as well.
Lucius smirked, leaning forward. "Clearly, you've never met the man."
Darkness. That's what met Draco Malfoy as he landed inside of the portkey room just inside Azkaban's Auror entrance. It was so decidedly dark before he waved his wand and lit the waiting candles to life. He wouldn't have long, he knew, before he would be found out. Time was of the essence.
Quickly, he opened the door into the musty, mold-smelling hallway and placed a silencing charm to his shoes so that they wouldn't clack as he trudged down the corridor on his mission. After years of practice, he knew just where to turn until he ended up down one of the darkest corners of Azkaban. This was reserved for the worst of the worst; the murders. The rapists. The life sentencers. And there Draco found him, curled up on his bed with his back facing the metal bars. Oh, how revenge was such a lovely dish. He remembered two years ago as Gregory Diggle looked at him from the other side of a set of bars similar to these. Raking his keys along the bars like piano keys. Draco did the same thing with his wand, stirring Diggle awake. He watched the brunette turn, his shaggy hair dusting over his eyes as he struggled to focus them. He scratched his beard, sat up, and blinked once at the blonde.
"Great. Another dream."
"Dreaming of me, Diggle? I'm flattered."
That caught Diggle's attention. His hands still bound by magic-dampening cuffs, he pushed himself up off the bed and walked the small space between the room to Draco. "Auror Malfoy. So you're real then. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He drawled, eyes glancing over Draco's attire. "Personal visit? No Auror badge being flashed in my face. This must be about the letter." He smirked. The bastard bloody smirked at him.
"Bold move, giving that to Hermione," he whispered, turning his eyes this way and that down the long hallway. No one present. Good. They wouldn't be able to stop him. He waved his wand, unlocking the gate to Diggle's cell. Diggle stared evenly at him, though he backed up a few spaces in the process. Draco stepped inside, closed the cell, and locked it behind him. "You're going to regret that letter, Diggle."
Greg Diggle sniggered, rolling his eyes. "Oh, come now, Draco. What are you going to do? Assault me?"
"Something like that." Draco smirked. "I'm going to enjoy this." He raised his wand directly at Diggle's chest and said, with conviction, "Crucio."
"Back to your accusations, Granger -I never killed Douglas Diggle. Was a squib beneath me? Of course. Did I detest him on every level? Absolutely. But I've never sullied my hands with blood."
"You lie. You're a liar. It's what you do."
"Clearly, you do not know me as well as you believe you do. Of course, what else should I expect from someone of your upbringing? Savages, the lot of you. -However, I do not wish to spend my last few days in a cell awaiting a trial that will take longer than my death. Perhaps a trip to a pensieve will persuade you otherwise?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "You'd do that?"
"To avoid a prison sentence? Of course. If it will stay your wand away from me, I'll gladly show you. Then, perhaps, you will leave these foolish notions behind you." He stood up straight, backing away from her personal bubble. "I will, also, give you everything I can on Abraxas Malfoy."
Hermione gasped. "That… would be most helpful. I'll call Harry-"
"-Oh, yes. Do involve the entire brigade, why don't you?" Lucius sneered sarcastically.
She felt around in her pockets, searching for her phone. Surely she hadn't left it back at the Manor? She sighed. Being so distracted by her problems with Draco, she must have. She sighed again. "Let's go, then. We need to get you back to the Manor, and I need to contact Harry."
"Oh, joy."
Diggle screamed. Draco didn't know a grown man was capable of screaming, but there it was, in front of him as he watched Gregory Wallace Diggle thrash on the floor, tears streaming down his cheeks. It was said the more someone meant the curse, the more painful the magic as it seared through one's veins. Draco contained years of built up anger, resentment, and frustration towards Diggle. He could see the torment written in the way his eyebrows turned in sheer horror, eyes closed, pain slipping down his cheeks.
Yes. This might have been the best part of Abraxas's plan.
He heard the guards stomping down the hallway, and smirked, releasing the curse. Diggle panted for breath at his feet, his green eyes staring up at Draco before he laughed. "Ohohoh… I have to give it to you, Draco. That was brilliant." He wiped at his eyes and began to throw his head back in uncontrolled laughter. "How'd you think you were going to get out of… ahaha… this one, you idiot?"
"Never planned to," Draco smirked, rendering Diggle still. All laughter died at his lips. The guards came. Draco put his hands behind his head, still staring down at his arch-enemy. He didn't try to fight it when the guards stepped in and removed his wand. All sounds drifted away into muffled silence as Draco found himself on the floor, arms behind his back, directly next to Diggle. The smirk on his face never ceased, even as he was hit with a binding curse. Even when the guards dragged him to his feet. Even as he was escorted out of the cell. He never stopped smirking.
What is Draco up to? Find out in the next chapter of HTTYA2!
~A.
- 15
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- 17
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How To Train Your Auror 2: Family Ties