Fic: Keep Holding On (Draco/Hermione)
Title: Keep Holding On
Author: kalina_blue
Rating: PG-13
Prompt Set: 100.1 (Draco/Hermione)
Prompt: 40. Ragged
Word Count: 704
Summary: In times of war fighting is inevitable.
Warnings: AU after HBP. Title comes from a song by Avril Lavigne.
A/N: Written for Welcome to My Nightmare: dramionedrabble ’s Halloween Challenge 2008. Day 03: Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal! -- Aliens.
Click here to see my Dramione table for 100quills .
“I say, we take as many Order members as we can muster, and take the bastards out,” Ron suggested, earning a few approving nods, but also several sceptic glances from some of the assembled witches and wizards.
“Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!” Draco commented dryly. “And you want to barge in there and risk even more lives?”
“What’s wrong, Malfoy? Are you afraid?” Ron asked. “Or do you just want to avoid us taking down any more of your friends?”
“Trust me,” Draco spat back sarcastically, “if I were still a Death Eater, I’d have killed you a long time ago.”
“Is that so,” Ron growled, taking his wand out.
“Yes,” Draco said, pointing his own wand at Ron.
“That is enough,” Harry shouted warily. “This isn’t helping.”
Ron and Draco continued to stare murderously at each other, but they lowered their wands.
“Let’s consider all our options before making any hasty decisions,” Harry suggested in a tone that left no room for argument.
The discussion about their next manoeuvre continued, however, Hermione was barely able to concentrate. Draco had been right; their last mission had been a disaster. Not only had they been unsuccessful in obtaining another Horcrux, but Neville and Tonks had been severely injured during an unexpected fight with several Death Eaters. It would take weeks for them to recover. Seamus hadn’t been so fortunate. Dean was presently gone to bring the Finnigans the sad news.
Hermione sighed tiredly, rubbing her side were she had been hit by a stray Blasting Curse during the fight. She had been lucky the hex hadn’t been directly aimed at her; otherwise she would have been more seriously injured. Noticing her discomfort, Draco shot her a worried glance, but Hermione shook her head to signal that she was okay, and Draco redirected his attention to the ongoing discussion. He was still arguing heatedly with Ron whether they should attack right away or wait until they had more of an advantage.
It wasn’t the first time that those two disagreed on the Order’s battle plans. Ron and Draco had been at each others throats ever since Snape had brought Draco to the Order after the Death Eater’s attack on Hogwarts, and their fights had only intensified when Hermione and Draco had become romantically involved.
Finally the argument around Hermione came to an end, although without having yielded any actual results. Realising that they were all too exhausted to properly plan their next move, Harry had adjourned their meeting until the next morning. Slowly, the Order members dispersed. Hermione saw Draco heed for the staircase and followed.
“Did you have to get in another fight with Ron?” Hermione asked, once they had reached their room.”
“It’s not my fault the idiot doesn’t know the first thing about tactics,” Draco replied.
“Draco…” Hermione sighed.
“What, Hermione?” Draco asked, raising his voice. “I’m tired of it. I’m tired of constantly having to prove I’ve changed sides-tired of having to explain my every move. Going in a second time would have been suicide, and the Weasel would know it, too, if he had more than a single brain cell.”
“Look, you have to understand Ron. It’s not exactly easy to trust you-“
“Maybe I shouldn’t be mad at the Weasel for constantly second guessing my allegiance if even you have your doubts,” Draco spat.
“Draco, you know I didn’t mean it like that,” Hermione replied, choking down the tears that welt up in her eyes. “Please, let’s not fight about this.”
“I’m going to take a shower,” Draco said, his face a stony mask. Turning away, he went into the bathroom, leaving Hermione alone in their room.
Hermione lay back on the bed, tired, listening to the water run in the adjoining bathroom and to her own ragged breathing. This war was slowly chewing them up from the inside out, and Hermione didn’t know how much longer they could last.
By the time Draco came back from his shower, Hermione was already half-asleep. She vaguely registered Draco tugging the covers over her body and laying down beside her, but she was too exhausted to care.