From Wiltshire, With Love

Chapter 5

Having been caught unawares from the sudden Side-Along, Draco collapsed onto the floor in a mess of napkins and ice cream and cursed loudly. Before he had a chance to get his bearings, he found himself bound to a chair on the other side of a room he didn't recognize.

"You fucking twat," he spat, glaring at the smiling girl who was looking supremely satisfied with herself. "Let me out. Now."

He struggled ineffectively with the ropes and scowled at the ice cream on his Quidditch jersey.

"Sod it all. Did you have to get ten scoops?"

Granger waved her wand, removing the ice cream from his shirt and hands.

"I like cherry." She sat on a bed across from him, crossing her legs in front of her, and blinking her eyes at him. He could tell she enjoyed playacting at being a kid.

"Stop it. That's weird."

He struggled against his ropes again. Bugger, they were tight. Granger didn't skimp on her binding hexes. She smiled with that toothy grin again and he scanned the room, trying to get a sense of his surroundings. It was a girl's bedroom with mild earth tones for coloring. Non-moving pictures adorned the wall.

Draco curled his lip in distaste.

Muggle.

Some stuffies were piled on the bed next to her. Books were everywhere.

Lots of books.

Too many books.

He snorted. "Where the hell are we? Is this your room?"

Fucking swot.

"Yes," she said in the little girl's voice. "And I'm not alone in this house. I'll hex you if I feel threatened in any way."

He shot her a look of disgust. "Even if I would, I certainly couldn't to a..." He eyed her. "How old are you supposed to be anyway?"

Granger chewed on her lip. Now he could see the intelligence and maturity in her expression. It was extremely unsettling in a child. "Seven. I think." She flicked her gaze down at the rug. "That's going to stain."

Draco glared at her as she cleaned it up with her wand. "Find someone who cares."

His eyes travelled to the desk to his left, surveying a litany of Muggle objects that he couldn't identify. He sneered again.

"In case you're having trouble recalling," he spat at her. "You asked me to meet you. Out with it, Granger. And release me. You've already got my wand."

She waved her wand and the ropes disappeared. He stretched his arms and rolled his wrists around, grateful for the release in pressure. The little girl eyed him. "Veritaserum. Why can't we use it? It's not a potion."

Draco smiled meanly at her. One thing about... whatever this was... was that he was in control of the flow of information. When it came down to it, she needed him.

"Who else knows about this?" he countered without answering. "You said you're not alone."

She glared at him, obviously angry that he didn't answer her question right away. "I'm not alone, but only one other person knows who is giving me information. The Order doesn't want you compromised. We're not stupid, Malfoy."

"Oh yeah?" He raised his eyebrows. "Then what the fuck are you doing, asking me if I want to meet out of nowhere like that? What if I was with my father? Or Aunt Bella? Or the Dark Lord?"