Chapter Forty Five – Rescue and Escape
The Great Hall was in an uproar again. Draco was starting to think uproar followed Weasley’s around.
He sat down and bit into a golden apple while the group began to argue. The prisoner exchange was to take place in Trafalgar Square in London. All of the Weasleys wanted to go, of course.
The redheaded stick girl was immediately crossed off the list, much to her shrieking, stamping indignation. Draco vowed to get Potter a set of earplugs for his birthday. If they all lived that long.
Hermione sat down next to Draco and reached for a bunch of grapes. Her hip rested against his and their shoulders overlapped. He tried to remember if she had ever sat so close to him before. It made him slightly tense.
Draco was distracted by Ron joining the fray. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley had forbidden ickle-Ronnikins to attend, even though he was of age. The shouting grew even louder when Potter announced that he was going. Rufus Scrimgeour appeared via Floo Network and began issuing orders. The adults unanimously agreed the The Boy Who Lived would be The Boy Who Stayed at Hogwarts. Scrimgeour supported Molly and commanded Ron to stay, also, mostly to annoy Potter, Draco figured. The Minister didn’t seem to like Harry much. Three enraged Gryffindors plopped themselves next to Draco and Hermione.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, Malfoy,” Scrimgeour warned Draco. “As soon as I return, we’re going to have a full investigation into the deaths of Titus Mulciber and Albus Dumbledore.”
“Severus Snape killed Dumbledore!” Hermione burst out, rising to Draco’s defense like an angry lioness. “And Mulciber nearly killed us all! Draco acted in self-defense!”
“We will see,” Scrimgeour said shortly. “Bring the werewolf.”
Lupin entered, looking ashen and subdued. He had a chained Fenrir in tow. The werewolf seemed jaunty and relaxed. The room emptied quickly after that as they departed in groups for the Ministry of Magic. From there they would Apparate to London.
“Why didn’t you go, Hermione?” Ron asked when the place had nearly cleared out. Of Hogwarts staff, only McGonagall and Pomfrey remained. Draco assumed Hagrid was around somewhere, as he hadn’t been present for the mass exodus. Perhaps Filch. And the centaur, of course.
“I think most of the Order and half the Ministry is quite enough people to rescue Percy,” she said. “Besides, we have a Trinket to locate.”
Ron groaned. “Back to the library?”
“You guessed it.”
“We’re going to seach every bloody book that has even a passing reference to Godric Gryffindor,” Harry said grimly. “We’ve got to find that last Horcrux.”
Neville entered just as they were leaving, so they dragged him along after he collected a plate of food. Luna joined them. Draco had planned to go back to bed, but he felt more awake after eating.
Draco sat across from Hermione at a long table. If she wondered why he did not sit next to her, she didn’t ask. He couldn’t think clearly when she was leaning on him. Like Luna was at the moment. The Ravenclaw girl was cuddled up next to Draco like a happy kitten, clinging to his left arm while she idly flipped the pages of a book with her other hand. Her head was snuggled against his shoulder.
“Why do you suppose the Dark Lord wants to exchange Weasley for Greyback?” Draco asked suddenly. Several pairs of bored eyes suddenly fixed on him. “Doesn’t it seem odd?”
“He must have plans for Fenrir,” Harry suggested.
“I’m sure he does. The problem is that all the Death Eaters are expendable. Frankly, I think he’d rather just kill Weasley than go through the trouble of a prisoner exchange. There has to be more to it.”
Ron stood up and took over Harry’s usual pacing. Since no one had any further thoughts to add to the discussion, they went back to their books. Harry and Ginny wandered to a window niche and did more romantic gazing into each other’s eyes than reading. At this pace, it would take them six weeks to find any useful information.
Luna raised her head and placed a sweet kiss on Draco’s jaw. He saw Hermione smile sardonically and she raised a brow at him.
“Um… Luna?”
“Yes, Draco?”
“You do know that Granger and I are… sort of… together?” he managed. Both of Hermione’s brows shot up at that statement. Draco scowled. She needn’t look so damned surprised.
“Oh yes,” Luna said. “It’s obvious you two are passionately in love.”
Hermione’s cheeks turned an interesting shade of red at that comment and Draco blanched.
“Then why are you kissing me?” Draco asked, soldiering on. He reached up and wiped at the lipstick smear with his thumb.
“Because you smell so good. And you’re always nice to me, now. Not like before. You were horrid. But now you’re sweet. And I do like kissing.”
“Maybe you should try kissing someone else for awhile,” Draco suggested. Luna sat up and swiveled her head around. Neville sat nearby and his face turned beet red when her eyes fixed on him.
“Maybe I should,” she agreed. She slid across the bench and practically pounced on Neville before he could escape. She planted an exuberant kiss on him. Longbottom’s eyes were wide as saucers and stayed that way even after she released him. Luna tsked.
“You’re stiff as a board, Neville. You should learn to relax.”
Hermione began to chuckle. Draco heard her even though she tried to stifle it and he grinned at her. At least Luna was never boring. The Ravenclaw girl got to her feet. Within two steps, it was obvious she was stalking Ron, who started to back away in a panic.
“Now, Luna, I’m sure Malfoy was only joking about the kissing thing,” he said quickly.
“Don’t be shy. I saw you kissing Lavender Brown hundreds of times.”
Ron backed himself into a table and then Luna sprang. His cry of protest was muffled by her kiss. The others watched in astonishment when Luna refused to release Weasley and her arms went around his neck like a python closing in for the kill.
After a long, long moment, Weasley relaxed and his hands gradually slid around Luna’s waist. Draco looked at Hermione in bemusement and she clamped both hands over her mouth to keep from laughing. Weasley and Lovegood seemed oblivious to the rest of them.
“At least she’s not kissing me, anymore,” Draco muttered. They tried to ignore the snogging couple and went back to their tomes, but Draco kept glancing at the pretty blush tinting Hermione’s cheeks. He had to fight the urge to get up and drag her into the bookshelves for some kissing of his own.
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