Mistaken
Title: Mistaken
Author: jaded_icy_rose
Rating: R
Warnings: Language
Summary: After one night of pure passion, they wake up together. Chapter Nine: Hermione agrees to meet Harry, and neither one of them expect their surprise guest, and Draco gets a warning from someone.
Disclaimer: Nope. Again, not mine...*sighs* Oh how I wish...
A/N: Hope you enjoy - please review ^_^
Harry watched the door as he tilted his head and looked around the room for a moment. He’d been waiting for awhile, wondering when Hermione was going to show up. Harry wasn’t even sure if she was going to show up, but he wanted to be there for her, showing her that he was her friend no matter what she did or who she decided to date.
He only hoped that she really cared about Draco, and it wasn’t something that she was forced into.
Harry toyed with the handle of his glass as he pushed his hair out of his face. He looked up as soon as he heard the small ring of the bell at the door, and his eyes widened as he took a second glance at the woman who walked into the muggle pub.
It didn’t even look like Hermione.
He watched her as she ran her fingers through her straight brown hair, shaking out the snow as she began to unzip her black leather jacket. Her blue jeans were snug on her waist and hips and they flared out only a bit at her feet, though the pants themselves had tears all along her legs. When she had pulled her jacket opened, Harry was grateful to see the familiar shade of pink that Hermione liked wearing so often in the sweater she wore, but the sweater was more snug then Harry had ever seen her wear.
Their eyes met across the pub and a small smile came across Hermione’s face as she started her way towards him. Standing up, Harry opened his arms and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. It seemed like so long since Harry had seen her that he tightened his arms around her for a brief moment, and then slowly pulled away, letting her go.
“Good seeing you.” He started, glancing down only for a moment. Hermione bit her lip a moment, sitting down as she pulled her jacket off.
“It’s good to see you too, Harry.” She kept her eyes on the table, “Look, I know you’re worried about me.” She started, unsure of what to say.
“It’s not that…” Harry trailed off. Hermione sighed as she looked up and met his gaze again before she rested her chin on her hand.
“Then what could it be, Harry? I’m sure that you’ve already talked to Ron and he’s already told you tons of horrid things.” She put her hands on the table, “Hasn’t he?” Harry looked down, almost ashamed to admit that Ron had turned against her so quickly. “I knew it…”
“Hermione, it’s not that Ron’s really saying horrid things, he just…” Harry stopped himself a moment, trying to find the words, “It’s just that he doesn’t believe that you’d do something like this. He thinks that you’re doing it in order to get his mind off of you - which isn’t a bad thing really, it’s just…” Harry sighed, “I’m not making any sense am I?”
Hermione laughed a little, and it began to ease the tension that seemed to have grown between the two of them as Harry reached out and took Hermione’s hand. He stopped a moment before giving it a gentle squeeze.
“You can tell me anything, you know that right?” He told her, trying to reassure her of their friendship. Hermione smiled a bit and shook her head as she pulled her hand away from Harry. Not matter what she wanted to do; she couldn’t tell him the truth.
“I know that Harry, it’s just that I really have grown to like Draco.” She murmured softly, “He’s been treating me nicely, I can promise you that much and it’s not like I’m going to run off and join a bunch of Death Eaters.” She stopped, looking at Harry. “Not that he is anyway.” Harry raised a brow and leaned back into his chair.
“How would you know? Unless…” Harry stopped, coming to the realization that Hermione would know if there was a Dark Mark on Draco’s if they had…he took a deep breath in. “Well, I guess that settles it then.” He said a bit uncomfortable.
“Harry, it’s not that I’m trying to say this for everyone to get off my case, I mean I want people to stop asking me about it…but it’s really none of their business now is it?” She said, crossing her arms as she smiled a little, “It’d be like everyone asking you about the relationship you have with Ginny. You two love one another, and that’s enough for you.”
“You’re not, Hermione, you don’t love Draco do you?” Hermione’s eyes widened and she began to shake her head.
“What? God, no.” She whispered. “I mean, right now it’s just a thing between us, we satisfy the needs of the other person…” Harry groaned, making Hermione smile and laugh just a little, “Hey, you asked, Harry.” He rubbed his eyes underneath his glasses.
“I didn’t want to know that much, Hermione.” Harry exclaimed, a slow smile crossing his face as they both took a long drink of the beer that was put in front of them. He stopped after a moment and leaned forward, keeping one hand on the handle of his glass. “Tell me one thing, Hermione.”
“Huh?” She asked, wiping the foam from her lip.
“Are you happy?” Hermione took a moment, really stopping to think about what Harry was asking her. What surprised her was that she really didn’t have to lie.
“Yeah, I am actually.” She said, “I mean, after what I’ve been through with Ron…” She trailed off, letting her gaze drop away from Harry’s. “I know that you don’t approve of what happened between Ron and I, Harry. But what you have to underst-”
“It doesn’t matter what I approve of and what I don’t approve of, Hermione. Obviously, I’m proving that here. If it did matter, I’d have you chained in mine and Ginny’s basement making sure that you weren’t going anywhere near Draco Malfoy.” He smiled a little. Hermione laughed a bit as she covered her mouth, trying to keep from grinning.
“Well, I don’t know whether or not that’d work, Potter.” Draco drawled from behind Hermione, his arms crossed over his chest, “See, the way I see it…Hermione would find a way to get to me, or vice versa.” Hermione turned towards him immediately, her eyes wide. He wore a tight green shirt with his black baggy pants.
What are you doing here? She mouthed to him, away from Harry’s gaze. Draco smirked and raised a brow as he invited himself to their table, not bothering to answer her. .
“Hello, Malfoy.” Harry said, his voice clipped.
“Hello, Potter.” Draco smirked slowly, reaching out he grabbed a chip from the basket that the waitress had left. “How’s the little wifey doin’? Is she used to having more then, uh, one room?” He grinned a little. Harry’s jaw clenched as Hermione reached out and touched Draco’s arm gently.
“Draco, please…” She started, tilting her head as she licked her lips a second, “Be nice.” She warned. Draco met her gaze, knowing that it was important to her he growled a bit before he looked back towards Harry.
“Apologies, Potter. Figured I had to get one nice insult in before I was going to just sit here and have a nice chat with you and my girl here.” He leaned back, pulling Hermione’s chair closer to his. Harry’s eyes widened and he leaned back into his chair.
“It’s fine. At least I know that I’m going to have a family in the future, Malfoy. What are you planning on having? A group of Death Eaters at your dinner parties?” He asked. Draco smirked slowly, nodding a bit as if admitting that Harry had insulted him back.
“Oh I don’t know, Potter. It all depends on what Hermione here wants. If she wants a few dozen kids, well then I’m more than prepared and willing enough to provide them for her.” Hermione’s eyes widened as Draco turned to look at her, “What’s that you say about going all night, Luv? That I tire you out a bit?” Red seeped into Hermione’s cheeks.
“Good for you, Malfoy. We wouldn’t want any romance in a loving relationship, now would we?” Harry replied. Hermione sighed a bit, shaking her head before slamming her hand on the table.
“Both of you stop it now dammit.” Hermione demanded, both turned to look at her, Harry in slight shock while Draco grinned slowly.
“Ooh, I like it when she gets feisty.” Draco teased. Harry and he shared a laugh, making Hermione look between the two, almost grateful that Draco’s sarcastic self had decided to join in on their conversation.
“It’s even funnier when she gets mad at you.” Harry added, laughing a bit more before he met Hermione’s gaze. He stopped laughing as she shot him a look. “Well, I guess that settles it then.” Harry murmured. “I’ll see you at the wedding, Draco?” Draco smirked a bit and tilted his head as he looked towards Harry, extending his hand to him as he stood up.
“I’ll be there with bells on.” Draco smiled, shaking Harry’s hand as Harry patted his shoulder. Hermione watched the two of them carefully, and as Harry walked out the door she turned her glare onto Draco. He raised a brow, he knew the look without having Hermione even open her mouth, “Oh, now what?”
“You…” She trailed off, “You have to be the most…” Hermione pushed her hair aside and sighed as she bit the inside of her cheek, “The most sweetest guy I’ve met.” Before Draco knew what to do, Hermione’s arms were wrapped around his neck and she was kissing just below his earlobe. Draco slowly pulled her closer but then stopped before he put his hands on her waist, pushing her away just a bit.
“Hermione…” he stopped and ran his thumb along her jaw, “I know what it meant for you to have Harry support you before Weasel’s wedding.” Draco’s jaw clenched as Hermione turned away from him at the mere mention of Ron’s name. “Why do you let him affect her so damn much?” He demanded.
“It’s not as easy as you think, Draco.” She sighed, “He showed me that he loved me and was affectionate towards me. Can you tell me that you do that?” When Draco didn’t answer Hermione nodded. “See, I know that you are enjoying our time together but I know that you don’t love me.”
Draco pulled her hand as she stood up to walk away.
“What if I did?” He asked quietly. Hermione’s brow furrowed and she leaned in closer to him trying to hear him over the crowd.
“What?” She asked him quietly, her body pressed up against his.
“I said what if I did…” Hermione smiled a little and shook her head as she touched Draco’s arm affectionately.
“It’s sweet, but I know it’s not true.” Leaning forward she kissed his cheek softly, “I have a few more errands to run but then I can meet you back at your place, if you want me to.” She grinned a little. Draco took a few moments to collect his thoughts and he tried to regain composure as he gave her a crooked smile.
“Sure. Meet me back at the house.” He looked her up and down appreciatively, giving her a small inkling as to what he had planned for them when they both did arrive back at his apartment. Hermione smiled a little; biting her lower lip she grabbed a hold of his jacket that he wore and pulled him against her, kissing him roughly.
Draco’s arms wrapped around her, pushing their bodies against one another as Hermione gave his lip a little tug. Draco smirked and reached up slowly, tugging her hair just a little. When they finally pulled apart, Draco opened the door for her as they walked out to the street, but he blocked the doorway. He blocked it so her body was pushed up against his, giving them both a teasing pleasure. Before he let her walk away, he grabbed her hand.
“Don’t keep me waiting, Granger.” He demanded, giving her hand a small kiss. Hermione slowly grinned and pulled her jacket across her body tighter.
“You can wait till I’m good and ready, Malfoy.” She replied, giving him an appreciative look of her own. He let her hand go and watched her as she took off down the street. Glancing at his watch he estimated that he had a few hours to kill before he’d meet the brunette back at his place. He could do a few things till then.
When Hermione had disappeared around the corner, Draco turned and walked away from the shopping area, towards the Leaky Cauldron.
~*~*~*~
Draco wasn’t sure what he was going to do with the extra time on his hands. By the time he’d gotten to everything he wanted to in Knockturn and Diagon Alley, he looked at his watch and noticed that he still had plenty of time left. He growled his frustration as a guy brushed by his shoulder as the man shielded his girlfriend from the harsh wind. At least it looked like his girlfriend. Draco didn’t know, nor did he care.
What he did care about was the damn brunette that seemed to love teasing him and loved having her way with him, though on both occasions he really had protested. A sneer crossed his face as Draco thought of ways to ‘repay’ her. She had tortured him for their years in Hogwarts because he’d apparently been an arse to her, so now it was time for payback.
He always did hate how the sweater she wore just seemed a little snug and her skirt just a bit teasing in its length.
As his eyes began to water because of the cold stinging wind that tried to push him back, Draco looked back towards the Leaky Cauldron as he made his way through Diagon Alley. Food and drink sounded good.
Walking into the pub, Draco took the time to look around as he hung his jacket up on the small coat rack that had bent down to offer one of it’s free posts to him. There had been a time that he wouldn’t have been caught dead in a place like this; his father would’ve looked down upon it, a sneer on his face. Looking at it now, it seemed like a place where a lonely traveler could just disappear. And that’s what he wanted to do.
As he sat down and gave an order to a floating notepad and quill that was going around, Draco warmed his hands up but rubbing them together and pressing them against his mouth. Soon after the notepad had left, a bowl of soup and a steaming cup of tea arrived by the witch that carried them. He paid her, and then took a moment to notice that she was staring at him. He glanced around.
“Can I help you?” He demanded.
“Sorry, sir. It’s just that there was a gentleman that was just here, he…he asked me to give this to you.” She replied, a bit rushed in her response. Draco’s face must’ve shown his confusion because the witch was quick to pull out a small parchment from her pocket as she held it out to him. “I don’t know who it was, he frightened me a bit. But you seem like an all right chap.” She added. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
Draco shook his head as he reached out and took the small piece of paper that seemed old. He waited till she walked away to open it as he pushed his soup to the side. When he did, his blood ran cold.
Mr. Malfoy,
I have reason to tell you this, only because I think it’s time you really know what happened. Your mother, Narcissa Black, didn’t kill herself. In fact it was quite the opposite, she was murdered by the one man that you decided to stand up against.
Not by his hand of course, but by his order.
I suggest you take care Mr. Malfoy, or else you might share the same fate as your mother - or even worse, the young Ms. Granger might suffer in your stead.
Don’t try to find me, if I find that there’s information that you need to know about, I will tell you the same as I did this time. It will do you no good to try and discover my identity. I’ve hidden myself away for some time now…and have become quite good.
Remember my warning Mr. Malfoy - you did well once in listening to me. Do it again.
Draco frowned at the letter and started to crumple it up. But something inside him told him to keep it; maybe it’d do some good. He sighed and looked towards his soup. Suddenly, his appetite was gone and he saw no need to finish it. Leaving a small tip on the table, he got up and grabbed the parchment.
Something was wrong with what that letter had said, and Draco wasn’t sure if it was the fact that it said his mother hadn’t killed herself or that Hermione was in danger. Either way, he didn’t want to let Hermione know about it, not if it meant that she’d be in trouble.
For some reason, he actually cared on whether not she’d live or die.
Author: jaded_icy_rose
Rating: R
Warnings: Language
Summary: After one night of pure passion, they wake up together. Chapter Nine: Hermione agrees to meet Harry, and neither one of them expect their surprise guest, and Draco gets a warning from someone.
Disclaimer: Nope. Again, not mine...*sighs* Oh how I wish...
A/N: Hope you enjoy - please review ^_^
Harry watched the door as he tilted his head and looked around the room for a moment. He’d been waiting for awhile, wondering when Hermione was going to show up. Harry wasn’t even sure if she was going to show up, but he wanted to be there for her, showing her that he was her friend no matter what she did or who she decided to date.
He only hoped that she really cared about Draco, and it wasn’t something that she was forced into.
Harry toyed with the handle of his glass as he pushed his hair out of his face. He looked up as soon as he heard the small ring of the bell at the door, and his eyes widened as he took a second glance at the woman who walked into the muggle pub.
It didn’t even look like Hermione.
He watched her as she ran her fingers through her straight brown hair, shaking out the snow as she began to unzip her black leather jacket. Her blue jeans were snug on her waist and hips and they flared out only a bit at her feet, though the pants themselves had tears all along her legs. When she had pulled her jacket opened, Harry was grateful to see the familiar shade of pink that Hermione liked wearing so often in the sweater she wore, but the sweater was more snug then Harry had ever seen her wear.
Their eyes met across the pub and a small smile came across Hermione’s face as she started her way towards him. Standing up, Harry opened his arms and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. It seemed like so long since Harry had seen her that he tightened his arms around her for a brief moment, and then slowly pulled away, letting her go.
“Good seeing you.” He started, glancing down only for a moment. Hermione bit her lip a moment, sitting down as she pulled her jacket off.
“It’s good to see you too, Harry.” She kept her eyes on the table, “Look, I know you’re worried about me.” She started, unsure of what to say.
“It’s not that…” Harry trailed off. Hermione sighed as she looked up and met his gaze again before she rested her chin on her hand.
“Then what could it be, Harry? I’m sure that you’ve already talked to Ron and he’s already told you tons of horrid things.” She put her hands on the table, “Hasn’t he?” Harry looked down, almost ashamed to admit that Ron had turned against her so quickly. “I knew it…”
“Hermione, it’s not that Ron’s really saying horrid things, he just…” Harry stopped himself a moment, trying to find the words, “It’s just that he doesn’t believe that you’d do something like this. He thinks that you’re doing it in order to get his mind off of you - which isn’t a bad thing really, it’s just…” Harry sighed, “I’m not making any sense am I?”
Hermione laughed a little, and it began to ease the tension that seemed to have grown between the two of them as Harry reached out and took Hermione’s hand. He stopped a moment before giving it a gentle squeeze.
“You can tell me anything, you know that right?” He told her, trying to reassure her of their friendship. Hermione smiled a bit and shook her head as she pulled her hand away from Harry. Not matter what she wanted to do; she couldn’t tell him the truth.
“I know that Harry, it’s just that I really have grown to like Draco.” She murmured softly, “He’s been treating me nicely, I can promise you that much and it’s not like I’m going to run off and join a bunch of Death Eaters.” She stopped, looking at Harry. “Not that he is anyway.” Harry raised a brow and leaned back into his chair.
“How would you know? Unless…” Harry stopped, coming to the realization that Hermione would know if there was a Dark Mark on Draco’s if they had…he took a deep breath in. “Well, I guess that settles it then.” He said a bit uncomfortable.
“Harry, it’s not that I’m trying to say this for everyone to get off my case, I mean I want people to stop asking me about it…but it’s really none of their business now is it?” She said, crossing her arms as she smiled a little, “It’d be like everyone asking you about the relationship you have with Ginny. You two love one another, and that’s enough for you.”
“You’re not, Hermione, you don’t love Draco do you?” Hermione’s eyes widened and she began to shake her head.
“What? God, no.” She whispered. “I mean, right now it’s just a thing between us, we satisfy the needs of the other person…” Harry groaned, making Hermione smile and laugh just a little, “Hey, you asked, Harry.” He rubbed his eyes underneath his glasses.
“I didn’t want to know that much, Hermione.” Harry exclaimed, a slow smile crossing his face as they both took a long drink of the beer that was put in front of them. He stopped after a moment and leaned forward, keeping one hand on the handle of his glass. “Tell me one thing, Hermione.”
“Huh?” She asked, wiping the foam from her lip.
“Are you happy?” Hermione took a moment, really stopping to think about what Harry was asking her. What surprised her was that she really didn’t have to lie.
“Yeah, I am actually.” She said, “I mean, after what I’ve been through with Ron…” She trailed off, letting her gaze drop away from Harry’s. “I know that you don’t approve of what happened between Ron and I, Harry. But what you have to underst-”
“It doesn’t matter what I approve of and what I don’t approve of, Hermione. Obviously, I’m proving that here. If it did matter, I’d have you chained in mine and Ginny’s basement making sure that you weren’t going anywhere near Draco Malfoy.” He smiled a little. Hermione laughed a bit as she covered her mouth, trying to keep from grinning.
“Well, I don’t know whether or not that’d work, Potter.” Draco drawled from behind Hermione, his arms crossed over his chest, “See, the way I see it…Hermione would find a way to get to me, or vice versa.” Hermione turned towards him immediately, her eyes wide. He wore a tight green shirt with his black baggy pants.
What are you doing here? She mouthed to him, away from Harry’s gaze. Draco smirked and raised a brow as he invited himself to their table, not bothering to answer her. .
“Hello, Malfoy.” Harry said, his voice clipped.
“Hello, Potter.” Draco smirked slowly, reaching out he grabbed a chip from the basket that the waitress had left. “How’s the little wifey doin’? Is she used to having more then, uh, one room?” He grinned a little. Harry’s jaw clenched as Hermione reached out and touched Draco’s arm gently.
“Draco, please…” She started, tilting her head as she licked her lips a second, “Be nice.” She warned. Draco met her gaze, knowing that it was important to her he growled a bit before he looked back towards Harry.
“Apologies, Potter. Figured I had to get one nice insult in before I was going to just sit here and have a nice chat with you and my girl here.” He leaned back, pulling Hermione’s chair closer to his. Harry’s eyes widened and he leaned back into his chair.
“It’s fine. At least I know that I’m going to have a family in the future, Malfoy. What are you planning on having? A group of Death Eaters at your dinner parties?” He asked. Draco smirked slowly, nodding a bit as if admitting that Harry had insulted him back.
“Oh I don’t know, Potter. It all depends on what Hermione here wants. If she wants a few dozen kids, well then I’m more than prepared and willing enough to provide them for her.” Hermione’s eyes widened as Draco turned to look at her, “What’s that you say about going all night, Luv? That I tire you out a bit?” Red seeped into Hermione’s cheeks.
“Good for you, Malfoy. We wouldn’t want any romance in a loving relationship, now would we?” Harry replied. Hermione sighed a bit, shaking her head before slamming her hand on the table.
“Both of you stop it now dammit.” Hermione demanded, both turned to look at her, Harry in slight shock while Draco grinned slowly.
“Ooh, I like it when she gets feisty.” Draco teased. Harry and he shared a laugh, making Hermione look between the two, almost grateful that Draco’s sarcastic self had decided to join in on their conversation.
“It’s even funnier when she gets mad at you.” Harry added, laughing a bit more before he met Hermione’s gaze. He stopped laughing as she shot him a look. “Well, I guess that settles it then.” Harry murmured. “I’ll see you at the wedding, Draco?” Draco smirked a bit and tilted his head as he looked towards Harry, extending his hand to him as he stood up.
“I’ll be there with bells on.” Draco smiled, shaking Harry’s hand as Harry patted his shoulder. Hermione watched the two of them carefully, and as Harry walked out the door she turned her glare onto Draco. He raised a brow, he knew the look without having Hermione even open her mouth, “Oh, now what?”
“You…” She trailed off, “You have to be the most…” Hermione pushed her hair aside and sighed as she bit the inside of her cheek, “The most sweetest guy I’ve met.” Before Draco knew what to do, Hermione’s arms were wrapped around his neck and she was kissing just below his earlobe. Draco slowly pulled her closer but then stopped before he put his hands on her waist, pushing her away just a bit.
“Hermione…” he stopped and ran his thumb along her jaw, “I know what it meant for you to have Harry support you before Weasel’s wedding.” Draco’s jaw clenched as Hermione turned away from him at the mere mention of Ron’s name. “Why do you let him affect her so damn much?” He demanded.
“It’s not as easy as you think, Draco.” She sighed, “He showed me that he loved me and was affectionate towards me. Can you tell me that you do that?” When Draco didn’t answer Hermione nodded. “See, I know that you are enjoying our time together but I know that you don’t love me.”
Draco pulled her hand as she stood up to walk away.
“What if I did?” He asked quietly. Hermione’s brow furrowed and she leaned in closer to him trying to hear him over the crowd.
“What?” She asked him quietly, her body pressed up against his.
“I said what if I did…” Hermione smiled a little and shook her head as she touched Draco’s arm affectionately.
“It’s sweet, but I know it’s not true.” Leaning forward she kissed his cheek softly, “I have a few more errands to run but then I can meet you back at your place, if you want me to.” She grinned a little. Draco took a few moments to collect his thoughts and he tried to regain composure as he gave her a crooked smile.
“Sure. Meet me back at the house.” He looked her up and down appreciatively, giving her a small inkling as to what he had planned for them when they both did arrive back at his apartment. Hermione smiled a little; biting her lower lip she grabbed a hold of his jacket that he wore and pulled him against her, kissing him roughly.
Draco’s arms wrapped around her, pushing their bodies against one another as Hermione gave his lip a little tug. Draco smirked and reached up slowly, tugging her hair just a little. When they finally pulled apart, Draco opened the door for her as they walked out to the street, but he blocked the doorway. He blocked it so her body was pushed up against his, giving them both a teasing pleasure. Before he let her walk away, he grabbed her hand.
“Don’t keep me waiting, Granger.” He demanded, giving her hand a small kiss. Hermione slowly grinned and pulled her jacket across her body tighter.
“You can wait till I’m good and ready, Malfoy.” She replied, giving him an appreciative look of her own. He let her hand go and watched her as she took off down the street. Glancing at his watch he estimated that he had a few hours to kill before he’d meet the brunette back at his place. He could do a few things till then.
When Hermione had disappeared around the corner, Draco turned and walked away from the shopping area, towards the Leaky Cauldron.
~*~*~*~
Draco wasn’t sure what he was going to do with the extra time on his hands. By the time he’d gotten to everything he wanted to in Knockturn and Diagon Alley, he looked at his watch and noticed that he still had plenty of time left. He growled his frustration as a guy brushed by his shoulder as the man shielded his girlfriend from the harsh wind. At least it looked like his girlfriend. Draco didn’t know, nor did he care.
What he did care about was the damn brunette that seemed to love teasing him and loved having her way with him, though on both occasions he really had protested. A sneer crossed his face as Draco thought of ways to ‘repay’ her. She had tortured him for their years in Hogwarts because he’d apparently been an arse to her, so now it was time for payback.
He always did hate how the sweater she wore just seemed a little snug and her skirt just a bit teasing in its length.
As his eyes began to water because of the cold stinging wind that tried to push him back, Draco looked back towards the Leaky Cauldron as he made his way through Diagon Alley. Food and drink sounded good.
Walking into the pub, Draco took the time to look around as he hung his jacket up on the small coat rack that had bent down to offer one of it’s free posts to him. There had been a time that he wouldn’t have been caught dead in a place like this; his father would’ve looked down upon it, a sneer on his face. Looking at it now, it seemed like a place where a lonely traveler could just disappear. And that’s what he wanted to do.
As he sat down and gave an order to a floating notepad and quill that was going around, Draco warmed his hands up but rubbing them together and pressing them against his mouth. Soon after the notepad had left, a bowl of soup and a steaming cup of tea arrived by the witch that carried them. He paid her, and then took a moment to notice that she was staring at him. He glanced around.
“Can I help you?” He demanded.
“Sorry, sir. It’s just that there was a gentleman that was just here, he…he asked me to give this to you.” She replied, a bit rushed in her response. Draco’s face must’ve shown his confusion because the witch was quick to pull out a small parchment from her pocket as she held it out to him. “I don’t know who it was, he frightened me a bit. But you seem like an all right chap.” She added. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
Draco shook his head as he reached out and took the small piece of paper that seemed old. He waited till she walked away to open it as he pushed his soup to the side. When he did, his blood ran cold.
Mr. Malfoy,
I have reason to tell you this, only because I think it’s time you really know what happened. Your mother, Narcissa Black, didn’t kill herself. In fact it was quite the opposite, she was murdered by the one man that you decided to stand up against.
Not by his hand of course, but by his order.
I suggest you take care Mr. Malfoy, or else you might share the same fate as your mother - or even worse, the young Ms. Granger might suffer in your stead.
Don’t try to find me, if I find that there’s information that you need to know about, I will tell you the same as I did this time. It will do you no good to try and discover my identity. I’ve hidden myself away for some time now…and have become quite good.
Remember my warning Mr. Malfoy - you did well once in listening to me. Do it again.
Draco frowned at the letter and started to crumple it up. But something inside him told him to keep it; maybe it’d do some good. He sighed and looked towards his soup. Suddenly, his appetite was gone and he saw no need to finish it. Leaving a small tip on the table, he got up and grabbed the parchment.
Something was wrong with what that letter had said, and Draco wasn’t sure if it was the fact that it said his mother hadn’t killed herself or that Hermione was in danger. Either way, he didn’t want to let Hermione know about it, not if it meant that she’d be in trouble.
For some reason, he actually cared on whether not she’d live or die.