tainted transparency || a harry potter story

Chapter Twenty-Seven: United Front

"Alright. So..." I started. "There's no need for introductions. But Draco, they know. Everything. And they're willing to but their differences aside so we can be stronger in numbers."

Draco looked up from his lap and looked between the trio and I. I sat with Harry, his hand in my own. Draco sat up straighter and sighed.

"I mean I already told you that I'm on board with whatever we have to do to get you out of this."

"Draco, both of us," I reminded him firmly. "We'll both be getting out of this. Okay? The plan is going to work with both of us."

"Hazel," Draco's voice was firm too. "I'm putting you before me. Whether you like it or not. We'll try for both of us, but ultimately, it's you were rescuing here. My family's in too deep which means if it's my fate to die with the death eaters, I'll die knowing you got out of it."

The trio looked shocked.

"Fine. Fine. Just- let's not talk about death okay?" I asked him. He nodded, then Ron sat up.

"So what did Sirius have to say about the first part of your plan?"

"He's on board. And he'll help," Draco said. "We just have to find a way to get the shrunken cabinet to him discreetly."

"Right," I sighed and sat up, my hand pressed to my chin in thought. "We can't just give it to an owl and tell it to transport it to him like we did the letter. Anyone have any bright ideas?"

"The fire," Hermione patted Harry's shoulder. "Remember? You talked to him in the fire last year. If he's been staying at home this whole time then why can't we try and talk to him tonight? When everyone's out of the common room."

"Hermione that's brilliant!" Harry exclaimed.

"It's not fast enough," Draco chimed in. "There are too many lives in danger here and the longer we wait the more chances there are of someone getting hurt."

"He's right," Ron sighed. "We need something faster."

"We don't have anything faster," Harry scoffed. "And it's not like we could just meet him at the gate. It's too suspicious."

We all thought about it for a while.

"Actually... Harry I think you're onto something there," I sat up. "Well send Draco's owl. It's the fastest one in the school. And we'll mark a letter to Sirius as urgent, tell him to come in his animagus form, then we'll meet him in Hogsmeade by the wood's edge."

"Hazel and I will go," Draco stood. "I can apparate. It's faster than two train trips. We'll hand off the cabinet there and be back before anyone notices we're gone."

Harry looked wary. But complied anyway.

"Okay. We'll go now," I stood up with Draco. "We'll shrink the cabinet while you two write the letter to Sirius. Draco's owl is the black one on the topmost perch."

"Alright. We'll meet back here," Harry grabbed my waist and kissed me. "Be quick."

Draco and I split from the trio who quickly made their way back to the common room where they're going to write the letter to Sirius.

"I'm confident about this plan," I told Draco. "I really am. I think it'll work."

"The first part," Draco sighed. "Still unsure about the second part. It's not concrete."

"Neither of the plans we've thought of have been concrete," I reminded him. "We have a plan. It's something. We can't think twice, we have to go at it full force."

Draco and I entered the Room of Requirement and found the giant cabinet. He pointed his wand at the large wood structure but hesitated.

"We can't go back after this. Hazel, once the cabinet's in that place there's no getting it back."

"I know. But it knocks off so many threats. This part is crucial."

"Right," He sighed heavily, then refocused on the cabinet in front of us. Then shot the spell at it. "Reducio!!"

We watched in shock as the once giant cabinet shrank from its massive size to a palm size. Draco picked it up and laughed a little, tossing it up and catching it.

I saw a flicker in his eye that scared me a little. But once I realized what it was... man it was hard for me to not be attracted to him. It's mischief. Rebellion. Against the man who has us gripped us so tightly in his cold clutches.

Draco pocketed the letter and turned to me, that same bit of mischief in his eyes slowly growing darker. He wrapped me up in his arms suddenly and slammed his lips against mine hungrily. I pulled away from him instantly in shock.

"Whoah! Uh... I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from," Draco set me down. "Don't hate me..."

"I don't hate you," I laughed and fixed my shirt. "Just- don't do that again. Especially around Harry. The deal would be off in seconds."

"I know, I know. I just got excited. I'm sorry. Let's go," Draco grabbed my hand and ran with it. I shook my head and ran with him so he wasn't dragging me behind him.

"You're insane, Draco Malfoy!"

"I'm fully aware!"

We met up with the trio back in the astronomy tower where we had designated as our meeting place.

"You got it?" Ron asked, the same wild look in his eyes that Draco had.

"Yeah," Draco showed them the tiny cabinet. "Funny seeing it so small now."

"Makes it all seem less intimidating, doesn't it?" Hermione managed a laugh.

"That it does, Granger," Draco grinned at her, but turned back to me. "We might get out of this. We seriously might get out of this."

"I know," The joy that bubbled up inside of me seeing Draco smiling and hopeful made me laugh. "Hope looks good on you, Malfoy."

"Wouldn't be this way without you."

"Easy, you two," Harry hugged me from behind. "I still exist, you know?"

"Fully aware," I kissed Harry's cheek.

"Told Sirius to tell us when he's ready and you two will meet him in Hogsmeade," Ron said to Draco. "Should be any minute now. Draco your owl is insanely fast."

"First names, Weasley?" Draco snickered. "Careful. Think you're starting to hate me less."

"You're easier to tolerate when you're not a stuck up ass."

"Never was," Draco shrugged. "Oh, shit. I'm gonna miss potions. Snape would have my head. I've skipped too much. I gotta go. Find me the minute Sirius writes back."

"Say hey to Blaise for me!" I yelled after him. He shot a wink at me before he disappeared down the stairs.

"So," Hermione scoffed. "He's... interesting."

"Hm? Oh," I nodded. "I told you. He's a completely different person now. Crazy what showing someone you care about them can do."

"You still owe us the story of how you broke him in," Ron laughed. "Because he hated all of us. Now it's like we don't even know him."

"Uh, have Hermione fill you in," I said. "If that was the start of Draco's potions class that means Neville's out of Herbology. Library. I bet he's in the library. I gotta go."

"Go get your brother. He's missed you," Harry roped me in for a kiss. "I love you. I don't think I've told you near as much as I should."

"I love you too. All three of you. Find me if you get a reply from Sirius!"

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a/n: I'm just now realizing that Sirius died in the previous year. therefore he wouldn't be alive to help them execute the plan.

so. Sirius is now alive. so I don't have to redo the entire last half of my outline. again. 🤦🏼‍♀️