I Pledge Myself Allegiance to a Better Night's Sleep At Home

Hermione completed her mission with Draco's consent within two days, though she didn't tell Harry Draco allowed it. That would only cause trouble, and she just wanted to get out of the little blonde boys hair. The whole 'I'm-not-as-bad-as-I-used-to-be' act was really just freaking her out. And the fact that he was living as a Muggle? Unbelievable.

She sighed and continued to pack her things. She didn't have to worry about it now. She quickly sent a message to Harry that the mission went well and Draco Malfoy was in the clear. She also told him she'd be home in an hour, because Merlin knows how much the boy worries.

When she was finished packing her things, Harry's stag came back with his message, and his voice said, "That's great, Hermione, and fine, you get a big 'I told you so', as always. Now, erm, you might want to know that Sam showed up today, 'Mione. He just wanted to know where you were, but I told him to piss off, very unlike me, so . . . there you go. You've should've seen Ron. But you're over him, right? Right. So, er, see you when you get back. Ginny wants to have dinner tonight."

Hermione sighed and put her face in her hands. Sam showed up? She couldn't believe he had the nerve . . .

"Ugh," she groaned and closed her suitcase, letting the matter go to the back of her mind. She sighed and brushed hair out of her face, putting her hands on her hips. "I'll go check on Malfoy one more time."

She left her suitcase and Apparated to Malfoy's apartment, where she saw Malfoy wasn't there, but two cloaked figures were in his bedroom. And she learned long ago that black cloaked figures were usually never good news. She backed up against the wall and listened intently to the conversation on the inside.

"The boy would never agree. Look at this pathetic life he seems to enjoy. He won't risk losing it. He couldn't cope with the Wizarding World the first time, and he can't do it again, Kale."

"He will agree to help us, Larkin. Because just like his father he has an evil streak within him, and if we just push the right buttons, it will come out. I know it will. Now put his things away. We have to get back before the meeting starts."

Hermione cursed silently. This meant a good number of extremely bad things. She definitely had to stay with Draco, just in case he decided to go with these most obviously evil people, whoever they may be. They were also a very bad thing, along with the fact that Hermione had no idea who they were. It also meant that she had to tell Harry, which would definitely not be good for his health. And it also meant she'd have to cancel dinner with him and Ginny, which surely was going to make Ginny an extremely scary shade of furious red. She probably already burnt five things in the oven, trying to cook the Muggle way.

Then, the front door opened, and Malfoy walked in, whistling – whistling! – quietly to himself, swinging his keys around his finger. Hermione waved her arms frantically and he looked up. He furrowed his brow and she put a finger to her lips, her face probably an alarming sight. He put his arms up slowly and gave her an exasperated look, which clearly meant, 'okay, I get it, Merlin'.

"Let's get out of here. We'll come back tomorrow to talk to the boy."

And then she heard the pops of them Apparating and she let out a huge breath she'd been holding and Malfoy immediately started talking, closing the door.

"What the hell was that?" he exclaimed, throwing his keys on the counter.

She ran her hands through her hair and started pacing. "This is way too much – dear Merlin, this is bad. We don't know who those guys were, or who they're working for, or what they want with you! I'm going to have to stay here with you for an unknown amount of time now. This is extremely serious. You're not going to join them are you?"

"What? What are you talking about?" he asked, looking at her like she was crazy.

"Those two men in there, who were obviously evil and obviously up to something that is certainly evil, want you to join their side! Which is evil!"

"Alright, just calm down, I'll say no –"

"Say no? I'm not sure you have much of a choice here, Malfoy, they seemed like the kind of guys who'll pull an 'it's a yes or we kill you' sort of thing –"

"Okay. Okay. Just calm down you're seriously freaking me out!" he exclaimed hastily, and they both took a slow deep breath. "You know, you are so different? What happened to being the intelligent, calm and collected one?"

Hermione took more offense to the comment than she should have. Obviously, it was because of her recent nasty break-up with Sam, but it certainly wasn't likely that she was about to admit it, and to Malfoy of all people.

"I'm still intelligent, you prick," she snapped, "I just – I've gone through a lot since Hogwarts, so I'm sorry if it bugs you. But what we need to focus on is you. And what we need to do with you."

"What, are you going to lock me up?" he scoffed, "I'm not seventeen anymore, Granger, I can take care of myself."

"This is out of your control, Malfoy," she said coldly, "Maybe you've been bumming around as a Muggle so long you've forgotten, but we're the good guys, alright? And we're trying to protect you. So let us."

"Bumming around as a Muggle?" he repeated with a loud scoff. It was just like him to miss the whole point of what she was trying to say.

"Listen, Malfoy," she said, lowering her voice. "I'm going to talk to Harry, and we're going to figure out what to do. You stay here until I come out of that fireplace, understand?"

"Granger, I'm not going to be commanded –"

"Just do it!" she exclaimed, "We're trying to help."

He sighed and shook his head to himself. "Fine."

XXX

"Hermione, you need to stay there with him. See what happens tomorrow. If it's something worth the attention, I'll send backup. Send me a Patronus if need be."

Hermione sighed and nodded. "I really hate this job, Harry. Could you not have sent someone else?"

Harry managed a weak smile. She worried for her friend a lot. The war had worn him down; though, he still maintained his position at the Head of Magical law Enforcement, and he did it better than anyone else had before him.

"I knew you were best for the job, Hermione," he said simply, "Try not to kill him, that'd make this whole mission useless."

She rolled her eyes. "Very funny," she scoffed, and then gave him a look. "You've been getting some rest, yeah?"

He shrugged, smiling at her look. "Some. Be safe, Hermione, don't worry about me. Worry about our blonde-haired ex-nemesis."

"Who says he's out ex -nemesis?" she muttered jokingly, and he grinned.

"Get out of here." He laughed. Then, she felt something hit her backside, and she gasped, furrowing her brow.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Nothing, nothing. I'll send word tomorrow."

XXX

As Granger so kindly went over to his fireplace with grudging stomps, he rolled his eyes and got himself a sandwich. He was acting calm for Granger, who seemed like she was going to have a heart attack, but he was really quite wary of this entire situation. What the hell would anyone evil in the Wizarding World want with him? He'd been gone for far too long to have anything of value for them. Unless they needed something from the Manor, where anything that they could possibly want lay – but they could just Apparate into the Manor, really, and get what they needed. Unless it was in one of those hidden offices his father had. . .

He sighed and shook his head. He supposed he'd just have to wait until tomorrow, when they would surely attempt to threaten and frighten him. Though – if it was something in one of his father's hidden rooms, what they didn't know was Draco didn't have a clue where they were or how to open them.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and rid such thoughts from his mind. This was all part of a past he never wanted to resurface, and here it was, rushing back quite too fast for his sanity.

There was a knock on his door, and he snapped his head up. He looked over and Granger was still busy in the fireplace (though he did get a particularly nice view of her backside, mind you), and he warily went towards the door, looking through the peephole. When he saw Ms. Mulberry, he cursed under his breath, and scampered over to Granger, kicking her in the bum to get her out of there.

She turned with dangerously wide eyes. "What in the hell is –"

"One of my Muggle friends are here." He hissed.

"Oh – should I – ?"

"Just – stay there, it's fine. I'll just tell her you're a friend." He said, backing up towards the door.

There was another knock as Granger said hastily, "Whoa, she? Is this a romantic friend?"

Draco rolled his eyes and ignored her, opening the door. Ms. Mulberry stood there in her four foot nine glory, wearing her knee-length floral dress with her scarf covering her white hair as usual. She held a fruit basket in her petite hands and Draco chuckled to himself.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Mulberry." He said, allowing her in, and then turned to Hermione, who now had her disguise on, and mouthed sarcastically, "Yes. Romantic friend."

"Hello, William." She said pleasantly, wobbling inside.

"Hi, Mr. Mulberry. I have another friend here, too – this is Nora."

Ms. Mulberry smiled knowingly at him before she went to shake Hermione's hand. "Just a friend, then?" she chuckled.

"Yes, Ms. Mulberry, we're just friends." Draco said, smiling with a roll of his eyes.

"Nice to meet you." Hermione said, smiling.

"Now, what are you doing here, William? Look at this place! It's a bloody mess! And eat that sandwich on the counter, boy, you're already skinny enough. Do you want anything, dear? I'm sure William can make you something. Come now, William, don't just stand there."

Draco shared a smile with Hermione and he shrugged. The stressful things in life would have to wait until Ms. Mulberry was gone, as usual.