4.1 | Draconian ✓

11 | alohomora

   

A/N

When I asked about readers in the previous chapter, I was expecting like thirty, or maybe even fifty. I honestly wasn't expecting 500+ of you guys, which is really incredible considering this is a re-post. Anyway, I want to thank you all for your support. Fanfiction, in particular, has always been a roller-coaster for me, but I've never regretted anything that I've written.

So, first-time readers—enjoy the ride. And re-readers—welcome home.

x Noelle

  

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1 1

a l o h o m o r a

Unlocking charm.

WHEN DRACO RETURNED that night, he paused at the sight of Blaise sitting alone in the living room. His friend was drinking – an unusual sight since he was the least inclined among them to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

Blaise glanced up, noticed Draco, and set the bottle down. "Hey, mate. Join me?"

Draco nodded and sat down in the chair opposite him. "Where're the other two?"

"Theodore went to call on one of his slags again," Blaise returned dismissively, before gesturing vaguely to Draco's room. "And Pansy's in there with Hermione."

Draco froze. "So you – "

" – found her? Yeah. I went in to borrow a book from you and found her hiding under the bed. By the way, you should really change those locks on your door."

"It's fucking pointless; the three of you would stand in front of my door puzzling over the locks until you figure them out."

Blaise grinned. So his suspicions had been right after all. He was certain that Draco knew all the locks on their door as well, but he just didn't barge in whenever he liked. Then his smile faded when he remembered what he'd seen earlier.

"I viewed her memories," he said, at last. Draco's eyes flew to his, the expression in them cold, and Blaise steeled himself. "She told Pansy I could."

"How bad were they?"

"You haven't seen it?" When Draco shook his head, Blaise frowned. "Aren't you even the slightest bit curious?"

"Of course I am. It's just – " Draco shut his eyes for a brief moment. " – I don't know if I want to see them. I don't know if I want her to tell me either. I – I don't know if I want to risk knowing."

"Because of the guilt," Blaise guessed. "You're terrified to know what happened to her during all those years you couldn't find her. But it's not your fault, mate. You tried. We all did."

Draco looked at him in surprise.

Blaise chuckled. "You think I didn't notice? Draco, for years, you told us that our task was to search for informants. Pansy and Theo may have bought whatever bullshit you fed them, but I never did. If searching for informants was really to help the Order, then they would've been fighting back by now. Instead, all we did was prevent the Dark Lord from knowing anything about the Order. So I figured that you were trying to get information to find someone. Didn't know it was Hermione Granger, though."