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. |
A/N: Props to my beta mamacita for her wicked editing skillz and for her help with the new summary.
Harry and Ron were back at the Ministry early the next day, neither of them having slept well the night before. Ron yawned and shifted in his chair. "Okay, so you're going to tell Hermione's parents she's missing. What then?"
"Then tonight at dinner you're going to tell your mother." Harry had the perverse pleasure of seeing Ron cringe.
"I've always said you possess a cruel streak, Potter." Ron's face became serious. "You do realize she's going to be a mess? She's only just gotten over losing Fred. I don't know how she'll take the news."
Harry sighed. "We can't hide it from her. The Prophet is going to get wind of Hermione's disappearance sooner or later and personally I'd like to avoid a tongue-lashing."
Ron grunted in agreement, having experienced Molly's tongue-lashings many a time. A polite knock on the door had both boys swinging their heads up. A petite witch with shocking red hair stood in the doorway.
"Hi, my name is Glenna. I work at Mind Over Magic in Diagon Alley. My boss told me you wanted to speak to me. Sorry, I would have been here sooner, but I couldn't kick my cold."
Harry blinked sleepily at her and it took a moment for Ron to place her. When he did he vacated the chair to shake her hand. "Yes, we have a few questions. Please have a seat." He gestured to the chair that was now empty. She sat and looked expectantly between the two.
Harry leaned forward. "You helped our friend Hermione last Friday. She came in and bought a book called How to Divine Your Inner Self Through the Interpretation of Brain Wave Patterns. We were hoping you could tell us if she said anything and what her demeanor was like."
Glenna paused, trying to recall that day. "Oh yes, now I remember. She has curly brown hair and eyes, right?" At Harry's nod, Glenna continued. "She didn't say much, just that the book was a birthday gift for a friend and she liked the shop. She seemed…tired."
"Did she say anything else?" Ron asked.
"She asked where the gallery was located and I told her." Glenna gave a little shrug as if to say that was all.
Ron and Harry shared a look. "Thank you for stopping by, Glenna, we appreciate it. I must ask you to please not tell anyone about this conversation. If you can think of anything else, please don't hesitate to owl us." Glenna departed, leaving Harry and Ron in stunned silence.
Willow Suntree was in a fine rage. She knocked a half-finished canvas off its easel and threw tubes of paint at the only other person in the room, who stood silently against the wall watching as the artist flew off the handle.
"Do you have any idea how much money I could have made off that girl? Instead I was forced to kill her because you couldn't be bothered to put a simple Stunning spell on her!"
The wizard knew that the best way to handle Willow was to just let her rant. He wasn't about to admit that Julia Grey's death was his fault. She'd been unconscious when they had taken her out of her holding painting to transfer into her permanent canvas that was set to be sold on the black market within the week. Julia had regained consciousness while he was taking Willow up against the wall and tried to make a run for it. She'd got a fair distance from the house before Willow hit her with a Stunning spell. Unfortunately, when she was Stunned Julia hit her head. They had tried to treat her as best they could without a Healer, but she eventually died due to swelling in her brain and the wizard had been forced to dump her body.
Willow was so furious she was seeing red. "I expect you to find me another girl to replace her."
He shook his head no. "Things are getting too dangerous. They've discovered the girl's body, and with Granger missing they've increased security. It's only a matter of time before her disappearance is made public, and that will get people's hackles up. I think we should just lie low, yeah?"
Willow's face scrunched up in rage. "You're going to get me another girl." The implied threat was not lost on him. "And don't think I've forgotten about the fact that you haven't recovered Granger's painting." Her eyes flashed a second before she launched her self at him and ravaged his mouth. They both knew he would do anything she asked.
Hermione glanced up from the TV to sneak a peek at Draco. He was sitting quietly on his bed reading old newspaper articles and flipping through books. He'd set up the TV for her in hopes that she wouldn't bother him, and she was trying her best not to ask all the questions that were whirling around in her head.
She gave an exaggerated sigh and peeked through her lashes to see if she'd caught his attention: no such luck. She turned her attention back to EastEnders. It was an hour later before she looked back up to catch Draco looking at her. She was momentarily stunned. Her breath caught in her throat. No one had ever looked at her with such intensity.
"What?" she asked.
"Do you know when you laugh you make this weird snorting noise?" he commented.
She blushed and looked away. She only made that noise when she laughed really hard. She couldn't help it; parts of the storyline were just too much. "Yeah, well, you talk in your sleep," she told him defensively.
Draco tilted his head and looked at her. "Do I?" His voice lowered, causing her to flush. "And what do I say?" He moved off the bed, stretching as he moved toward her. He smirked, watching her watch him.
"Mostly nonsense, but once you called out to your father." Hermione watched as Draco stiffened. Obviously he had issues concerning Daddy Dearest. Hermione wondered if he ever went to visit Lucius or even wrote to him.
Draco didn't want to talk about his father and he wasn't about to give her an opening. "I've been reading back issues of The Prophet. Not that it was very helpful. I would much prefer to get a look at your Auror files."
"I know them by heart, so you can ask me anything. What were the books for?"
Draco shoved his hands in his pockets. "I was looking for a spell that would release you from the painting."
Hermione didn't know what to say. She'd just assumed he wouldn't bother but would leave it to Harry and Ron to figure out. She was touched that Draco was making an effort on her behalf, especially since that wasn't part of their agreement. "Thank you, Draco. I'd appreciate any help you can give me." It wasn't lost on him that she had just addressed him by his first name instead of his surname for the first time.
"Don't worry about it. I'm not finding much, anyway. I'm starting to wonder if I should go to the Manor and look through the books there." Hermione read between the lines and knew he was telling her that the Manor library was better equipped to research Dark magic.
"I'm going to go order some food. I'll be back." Draco started to leave but turned back. "Do you want me to change the channel before I go?"
"No, it's fine, thanks." Hermione watched as Draco left. A kind of truce appeared to have settled over them after their fight yesterday. She was confused. After he'd stormed out on her the day before, she'd had a lot of time to think about what he'd said. Hermione hated to admit it but she was judging him based on past experience, and there was a secret part of her that did feel superior to him and who gleefully enjoyed rubbing it in that their side had won the war. She was aware that if they were going to find the missing witches, she needed to move on and give him a chance. He was being really decent.
Some time later found both of them watching Dr. Who as Draco ate Thai for dinner. After he had eaten his fill he turned down the volume and looked at Hermione, waiting for her attention to turn to him. She was half dozing so it took her a moment to focus on him. "I think we can both agree that the first step is to find the woman who sold me your painting, and hopefully she can lead me to who put you in it in the fist place."
Draco watched Hermione for a reaction to his plan of action. She just smiled a sleepy smile. "I think that's a brilliant idea, Draco. I just wish I could do more to help."
"I know you do." He looked at her a moment longer before saying, "Let's call it a night." He went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Later that night they both lay awake, wondering how it was possible that they should find themselves attracted to each other.
Harry and Ginny arrived at the Burrow, both nervous about the evening ahead. They were running a little late due to the fact that Harry had had to go to London and inform Hermione's parents of her disappearance. It was absolute hell for him. He could give the Grangers reassurances all day, but the fact remained that he and Ron were struggling.
Ginny opened the door to the Burrow and they walked into madness. Mrs. Weasley was rushing about trying to finish the meal and George was setting the table. Bill and Fleur were playing with their daughter in the next room. Mr. Weasley and Ron could be heard coming down the stairs.
"Ah, there you two are; I was beginning to wonder. Hermione seems to running late as well." Harry and Ginny darted a quick look at each other.
Before either of them could make up an excuse, Ron jumped in with, "Hermione couldn't make it tonight, Mum. She told me to tell you how sorry she was. Something came up with a case she's working on."
Harry sent Ron a meaningful look, which Ron ignored. Mrs. Weasley nodded understandingly. "I hope she's not working too late. Last time I saw her she looked like a strong wind could knock her down."
Soon everyone sat down to dinner and the conversation swelled around them. It was not lost on the company that Ron, Harry, and Ginny's laughs and smiles seemed a little too forced and a little too bright. After dinner, while Ginny and Fleur were helping Molly clean up, Mrs. Weasley launched her not-so-subtle inquisition.
"Are things all right between you and Harry, dear?"
Ginny froze momentarily. "Thing are just fine with us, Mum."
Mrs. Weasley, never one to be put off, asked, "Do you know how things are with Ron and Padma? He seemed very tense tonight."
Ginny shrugged. "I have no idea how things are with Ron and Padma. You'll have to ask him."
But Mrs. Weasley was like an old dog with a bone. "I was wondering if the reason Hermione didn't show up was because of Ron's relationship with Padma."
Before Ginny could reply, Ron's voice said from the doorway, "The reason Hermione isn't here, Mum, is because she's been kidnapped and we have no fucking clue who took her or where she is."
The only response to his words was the sound of a dish hitting the floor and breaking into dozens of pieces.
Hermione came awake in pitch black, uncertain of what had awoken her. She leaned up on her elbow and waited. There it was again. She quietly stood up and walked to the front of her painting to see Draco sitting on the side of his bed with the heels of his hands pressed against his eyes, having what appeared to be a panic attack. She wanted to say something but knew he would hardly appreciate her catching him in a vulnerable state and would most likely lash out. She turned around and lay back down on the floor. She was still awake hours after she heard his breathing calm.
A/N: So my dears, did you like?
Liz, Shetan, Ginerva Weaslby and Paigeey07: Thank you so much!
Meankitty69: I like to think I'm cruel in all the right ways :)
Kazfeist: It bugs me too. I think the angst/tension factor that comes from introducing her character as someone other than evil is greatly overlooked.
smurphy: Oh how I look forward to your reviews like a giddy school girl. The stories I enjoy the most have them snipping at each other before forming a relationship. Yes, Harry is indeed pulling the pieces together but the question is will he do so before or after Draco does? Astoria lives off her trust fund (lucky witch). Rebecca is fellow Auror. As for your other questions, goodness, you are far too smart for me! You will keep me on my toes when writing future chapters. I'm so glad that you are loving the fallout. When you're done you'll have to tell me your opinion on how Sage is going to end it. I want to believe Kazfeist, I really do but I'm not so sure.
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