Haunted Together

Chapter 9: A Proposal

A week passed and the only contact she had with Draco was through Harry.

"How is he?"

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers, like he did every time Hermione asked that question. And she asked it at least twice per day. "The same as yesterday, and the day before that. He's oddly robotic, but who can blame him? His father decays more by the day and all he can do is watch. We've got the best people on the case- we even called in help from America and France- but I doubt anything can be done."

"What will happen to... it?"

"Well, if we can't reverse the transformation, which in all likelihood he's already too far gone for that, he will probably be sent to a facility to be studied."

Hermione shivered. She knew it made sense for the magical community to study the creature, and perhaps even for Draco to cooperate due to the nature of the transformation and his family ties, but she couldn't imagine what Draco was going through if he was part of the study or investigation. If he was watching them poke and prod at what used to be his father... Hermione's heart clenched at the thought.

"We could really use your statement about the events leading up to the maze, Hermione."

She shook her head, much to Harry's dismay. "No, I won't submit anything without Draco's permission. It's not my story to tell."

A sigh passed Harry's lips. "He's keeping everything close to the vest. Won't say much, just stands there watching. We can't prevent this from happening to others if we don't have any information." He shut his eyes and rubbed his temples momentarily. "I know this is personal, but it goes beyond that if it's a threat to our safety. To everyone's safety. Surely of all people, you understand that, Hermione."

A silence stretched between them. Hermione knew that Harry was right, but there wasn't anything she could do. Draco hadn't returned to his apartment. He wasn't returning her calls over the wand network. He quit his job prior to their visit to the manor the first time, and she had no way of contacting anyone else Draco may have considered a friend without digging through Ministry files, and even then, she hadn't seen or heard him talk to anyone else in the time they had worked together investigating the curse. Did he have no one to lean on? Confide in? No one but her?

Harry dismissed himself as Ginny came into the room and left Hermione alone with her thoughts. She passed most of the night this way, pacing around her loft, sitting at odd angles on the couch, on the floor, on her bed. Unable to sleep and unable to dream. She swallowed often, the lump in her throat never dislodging. She cursed at it, at the feeling that she had something to say but no way to say it.

After leaving the labyrinth, she had time to think about the familiarity of the scene with Draco cowering helpless from his father, no, from the dementor, pressed against the hedge, a liquid terror swirling in his eyes... Hermione shivered again. When she thought back to that memory, the edges blurred until the silver wisps from her dreams filled the edges like a border. The sharp bite of green apple assailed her senses and she bit down on the inside of her cheek.

Had she been dreaming about that night? For how long? She wasn't known for any skill in divination, so having a premonition was unfathomable to her. What could it all mean?

A light knock on her door, quick and short, caught her attention. Shuffling to the foyer, Hermione steeled herself and placed her hand on the doorknob. Her blood warmed and an overwhelming sense of knowing made her fingers tingle. There was only one person who would be at her door at this hour. Only one person brazen enough to appear at five in the morning.