OK, GUYS!
Quick note - this chapter came out to about 7,000 words, so I decided to divide it up.
Without further yammering, here is the long awaited next chapter.
The last look in Draco’s eyes sent Hermione spiraling into a state of panic. By the time she’d apparated back to the Ministry, her knees were bucking and she was shivering like a leaf about to drop from the branch of a tree. She was torn between going back and staying put like Draco told her to do. The worry was nearly making her sick, and her thoughts were all colliding and bouncing through her head like a boomerang.
“Should I tell Kendrina – No, she’d get mad at me for leaving. Should I go ba- No, Draco told me to leave. Is he ok? I don’t know what to do!”
Many of the witches and wizards walking about were shooting questioning looks at her, but not stopping to ask what was wrong. She felt dizzy and out of it; and the fact that Draco didn’t appear with each passing minute didn’t do anything to settle her wild nerves. Her fingernails were digging into her face, decorating it with crescent – shaped marks.
“Hermione?” said a familiar voice somewhere in the back of her head.
“Great, now I’m hearing voices.” She muttered.
A tap on the shoulder came after that, and she KNEW she hadn’t imagined it, even with an active mind like hers. She turned quickly to face her caller. She was met with acid green eyes, ebony hair, and a concerned facial expression.
“Oh, hi, H-harry.” She managed in a weak, quivering voice.
Harry’s eyes grew wider as he detected the horror in her voice.
“What’s wrong? What happened? Are you ok? I swear, if that prat -”
“Oh, shut it!” She exclaimed firmly.
He immediately fell silent, and looked at her patiently, as if waiting for her to tell him something. When she didn’t speak, he took it upon himself to prod her.
“’Mione, why are you so… ” He seemed at a loss for words, not quite able to find the correct emotion for what she appeared.
“So what?” She attempted to snap, but it came as more of a weak, feeble voice, much like that of a frightened child.
“Are you going to tell me what happened, or am I going to have to hex Malfoy? Because if you don’t tell me, I’m going to assume it’s something to do with him, and - ”
“We were ambushed.” She cut him off in a barely audible voice.
He immediately became more alarmed.
“What do you mean?!”
“I mean we were ambushed.” She said impatiently.
“Wha- ”
“There were Death Eaters… at the hideout… They were just… just waiting for us.” She choked out.
She felt Harry’s hand slide through hers, warm to the touch.
“We have to tell Kendrina.” He said firmly, attempting to drag Hermione with him.
“NO!” Her voice carried, causing more people to look in their direction. She didn’t care; she couldn’t let Kendrina know.
“Hermione, you’re being ridiculous, she needs to know, it’s perfectly simple -”
“It’s not SIMPLE, Harry Potter. If we go to her right now, she’ll take me off the case. She’ll fire Malfoy - ”
