Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Closer	By : Nocturne Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 29793 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 6
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling. I do not own the Harry Potter fandom, nor do I make any money from this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 1-Closer
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- 8-8
- 9-9
- 10-10
- 11-11
- 12-12
- 13-13
- 14-14
- 15-15
- 16-16
- 17-17
- 18-18
- 19-19
- 20-20
- 21-21
- 22-22
- 23-23
- 24-24
- 25-25
- 26-26
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Astoria positioned her Death Eater mask accordingly, making her way further and further into the dungeons of Voldemort’s lair. She couldn’t stop thinking about her mini flashback to the Ministry Ball. It had been two years since then, two long years away from Draco and away from practically everyone she had ever known.

Sure, she missed him, but she felt more regret than longing, having left England before anything transpired between them.

The young woman made her way to his cell, feeling something tug at her heartstrings at the sight of him curled up against the cement wall, sleeping. She took off her mask for a better look. He had dark circles under his eyes. His clothes were filthy. His hair was matted. His skin was ghost-like. And, yet, as his eyes shot open at the sound of her footsteps, she could see they were still filled with the same kindness and understanding.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said. “Did you get my note?”

Draco nodded, sitting upright as she conjured herself a chair just outside of his cell. “Thanks for that. Have you seen her?”

“I haven’t, personally, but my informant is keeping close watch over her,” explained Astoria. “There’s more…”

“What is it?” he asked, skipping past any form of sidetracking. “Did something happen to her? Is she all right? He didn’t hurt her, did he?”

The worry in his voice made her jealousy ache. “She’s fine. He hasn’t hurt her, not physically.”

Draco motioned for her to continue. “Then what is it?”

“It’s her friend, her ex-boyfriend, if I’m not mistaken.”

There was a tinge of jealousy within Draco’s features, to her astonishment. “What about him?”

“Voldemort had him killed…to blackmail her.”

“What?”

For a moment she thought about whether or not it was wise to tell Draco about Ronald Weasley’s passing, but it was too late to back out. Sasuke would just have to be kept in the dark for this one. “The Dark Lord wants to recruit her, and since she’s clearly unwilling, he had a loved one killed as a measure of his seriousness.”

“So if she doesn’t co-operate…”

“Someone else dies.”

Draco stared blankly at the ground. “This is all my fault. I should have never involved her.”

“Don’t be stupid. Weasley’s ticket was up anyway. All you did was extend his life a couple weeks, offer him the chance to tie up loose ends.”

“Still. I hated the bloke back in school, but I never wished for anything like this to happen. I can’t imagine what Hermione is going through.” He buried his face in his hands, out of frustration rather than sadness. “I’ve been such a fool.”

“Here’s what I want you to do,” Astoria began, reaching between the bars and placing her hand on Draco’s shoulder. His head craned up at her touch. “I want you to take that rage, that frustration, and gear it into something tactical. Many people have died at the hands of Voldemort, and although Ron Weasley shouldn’t have joined their ranks the way he did, what’s done is done. All that’s left to do is take down the person responsible. Only then can we properly mourn the casualties and celebrate their lives the way they deserve.”

She had no idea where any of that came from, but it felt good to say it. What felt even better was the conviction in Draco’s eyes as she finished.

“What can I do?” he asked. “I’m still imprisoned.”

“Come with me this time,” she suggested. “I promise you we will find Hermione and get her out of harm’s way as soon as possible. But before any of that happens, I need you with us.”

“Us?”

“My informant and I.”

“Who is this informant?”

Astoria thought for a moment, deciding it was pointless to cover up anything else. “Sasuke.”

“Sasuke?” repeated Draco, dumbfounded. “As in, Ren Sanada?”

She was surprised to hear Sasuke’s real name come from Draco’s lips. Perhaps her informant was better known than she had thought. “Yes, Ren. How do you know him?”

There was a weird look in Draco’s eyes. “Him and I were recruited at the same time. We trained together.”

Go figure. Astoria digested the information. This was probably how Sasuke knew so much about her history. He’d heard of her from a very, very accurate source. She made a mental note to ask him about it later. “What do you think of him?”

Draco arched an eyebrow. “Erm. He was all right from what I remember. Very reserved, but quick in a duel. I only beat him once.”

Sounded like Sasuke to her. “Yes. He seems very trustworthy. I’m sure he’s taking good care of Hermione.”

“So, if you don’t mind me asking,” began Draco, eyeing her strangely. “Are you two…?” He flashed her an awkward look.

Astoria laughed. “Ha! I wish,” she blurted, comfortable with her openness. Her and Draco had an honest friendship. They rarely kept any secrets from one another, even the grimy ones.

He smiled, juxtaposing the worn look on his face entirely. “You know he had a thing for you back in the day, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Back when him and I were training together. He attended the Ministry Ball my parents threw during their first weekend at the new place,” explained Draco. “I remember he kept asking about that beautiful blue-eyed girl I was dancing with.”

Astoria’s eyes widened. “Sasuke? Asking about a girl? You’re joking.”

“I’m not,” Draco countered. “Granted, he did it discreetly. He asked if Alastair Greengrass knew I was bedding his daughter, and when I told him you and I were just friends, he asked why I didn’t go for it.”

“What did you say?” Astoria said casually, covering up her internal frustration.

The fair-haired wizard gave her a look that spoke volumes, the look, but only for a moment. “I told him you didn’t fancy me. Oddly enough he’s the one that encouraged me to ask you on a date. I guess you could say he’s responsible for how close we became.”

“What makes you think he fancied me? If he did, I’m sure he wouldn’t have encouraged you to date me.”

“It’s the fact that he encouraged me. He knew about all the others and never spoke a word about them, but as soon as you came around, he wouldn’t shut up about it,” shrugged Draco. “There’s no other way to look at it. He was clearly into you.”

She glanced off. “I doubt it…”

“Why the sudden interest?” asked the young man. “It was a long time ago.”

“Frankly, it feels as though he can’t stand me sometimes. It’s like he thinks I’m inferior to him.”

“Inferior?” repeated Draco, astonished. “I don’t think that’s the case, but even if it is, don’t give it a second of your attention. You’re a great girl, and I wouldn’t bother saying that if I didn’t think it completely true.”

Astoria gave him a thankful look. “Well, this was nice, but I should get going before the other guards check up on you,” she said, getting to her feet.

“I suppose,” he agreed, clearly sad to see his company go.

“I’ll be back at the same time tomorrow,” she assured him. “Rest up. You have quite the escape ahead of you.”

And as she left the dungeons, and the fortress entirely, Astoria couldn’t help but think of everything they discussed. Had Sasuke really fancied her so long ago? It made little sense. She was just a teenager back then. She hadn’t gone through have as much and learned half as many skills. But perhaps that said it all. He didn’t like her for her wand capabilities or position in the uprising.

He liked her for her.

Astoria bowed her head into the tent, unfastening her cloak and letting it fall to the floor as she made her way to the fireplace. It was already lid, which meant…

“You’re back early.”

His voice made her heart race. The young woman turned around and spotted Sasuke, sitting casually at the makeshift dining table. “Draco seemed well. We caught up a bit and I told him to rest up for tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” asked Sasuke. “That soon?”

Astoria nodded. “The sooner the better. I convinced him we would find a way to rescue Hermione later, but first we need him safe.”

“And he believed you?”

“Believed me? Of course he did. It’s true.”

“Like I said, Astoria…Hermione Granger isn’t going anywhere soon.”

“How do you mean?” she furthered. “I feel like you’re keeping something from me.”

Sasuke glanced away for a moment. “I have been keeping something from you, something essential to Hermione and Draco’s escape, to the uprising, to everything.”

She arched an eyebrow. “What is it?”

He looked her dead in the eye. “Are you familiar with horcruxes?”

~

Hermione held the journal in her lap, fingers shaking as she scratched her Quill against the page. Who are you?

Who I am is unimportant.

She frowned. What do you want from me?

I need your help.

Why should I help someone who wishes to remain anonymous?

The journal took twice as long to respond. Search for clues in the right places and my identity won’t be difficult to place. She was about to write up a reply, but there was more. Help the Dark Lord. Help him in everything he needs. Get close to him. Discover the inner workings of his mind, his deepest and darkest secrets…

She read on, feeling nervous and strangely excited all at the same time.

…even if it means separating yourself from current entanglements.

The nervous excitement turned into nausea. She knew exactly what this journal was referring to, or rather, to whom it was referring. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Exactly, wrote the journal. But, first, I have something to show you.

Hermione really felt as though she was going to be sick. She had heard all of this before, from both Harry and Ginny, in reference to Tom Riddle’s diary. It was a dangerous situation, but something about this journal felt safe to her, something about it felt…comforting.

She closed her eyes, just in time to avoid the blinding light that erupted from the pages.

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xo.
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