What If (Drarry)

13. Love

Draco didn't answer immediately. He knew he was being selfish, but he couldn't help and felt bad. If they went back to the day when Harry and the Aurors had tracked down the Death Eaters and prevent Harry to be dragged away... Well, that would mean that the raven haired boy would never realize that he, Draco Lucius Malfoy, was on his side. And therefore the thing - whatever it was - between them, would never be back again.

But sure, he didn't want Harry to be locked up in the headquarters just for him to go and save him... No, he can't do that. He had to live with the thought that after he finally realized, that what he'd been feeling for the boy wasn't hatred at all, now he had to forget. And continue his life just as he'd done before. Alone, knowing that there would be a Harry Potter somewhere in the world, who hated him more than anybody.

Well, it's still better, having Harry like this, than not having him at all.

Draco hoisted his gaze to look at Granger. "I'm in." he said weakly.

"Draco... Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

The other three shared an incredulous look before turning back to him.

"Are you sure-"

"Yes, Granger, I'm sure. I can't even be feeling better!"

"Why am I sensing a tiny bit of irony in this statment?" Ron mumbled, but immediately shut his mouth when Hermione gave him a warning poke in the ribs.

"Okay, just wanted to be sure before we take it further."

"Go ahead, then. What's exactly the plan?"

"Er... Right." Hermione sighed, then launched into thr explanation. "I thought I'll get the Time Tuner. But - as I'm sure there're some wards around it - I need to get as much information as I can before I actually act. Tomorrow we'll have a meeting. Just the minister and the heads of each departments. It'll be held in the minister's room, as usually, so I'll be able to look around. But then I'll need you, Ron! You'll have to distract the minister so I'll be able to stay in his office and examine the wards."

"If Weasly will distract the minister, why won' t you take the Time Tuner immediately? Why just examine the wards?"

"Draco, I know you want to get over with it as quickly as possibke, and finally get rid of us-"

"No, that's not what I meant... I... want to get Harry back as soon as possible."

"I know." Hermione smiled sadly. "We too, but we have to be careful. First I need to know how is the Time Tuner guarded. I think it's locked with very powerful spells. Maybe I wouldn't be able to break them immediately. I'll need to do a research. But then, as soon as I'll know what to do, we'll get it. I promise!"

Draco didn't look up into the girl's eyes. However he knew that she was watching him with an oddly knowing and concerned look, and that made him feel even more embarrassed. Not that he hadn't felt embarrassed enough until that.

"So. About the plan, again." Hermione clapped her hands so abruptly that each of the other three jumped in surprise. "We have to do it at night. I think the best appointment is when Mr Johnson's on duty at night."

Both Ron and Draco snorted, but Ginny - who'd never met the old wizard - sat still, not understanding what was so funny.

"We'll need all of you. During the day me and Ron will make the minister leave his office's door open. So at least we won't have to deal with that at night. We'll all Apparate to the Ministry. I assume Mr Johnson won't realize us, or at least won't assume that we're real people, not just ghosts. Anyway, we'll sneak up to the office, and get the Time Tuner."