mudblood. (dramione fanfiction)

chapter six: periculum captivitatis

It was the day of the mission. Draco couldn't push it back any further than today, knowing too well that the Dark Lord may question him otherwise. It would be similar to every other mission he had gone on. The objective given by the Dark Lord was crudely simple: to kill any Order member, or otherwise torture for information, in view. Draco grasped the handles of his wardrobe, stepping inside and using Accacio to summon his cloak and mask from the very back. He hated wearing the damn things, and not just because they were fucking creepy, but because the mask was always too hot for his liking.

He slipped the coat over his usual black suit and held onto the mask as he crept out of his bedroom. Gazing at the clock, Draco sighed at the displayed time. It was almost five in the morning, which gave him plenty of time to complete the Dark Lord's wishes. Just before he could leave the apartment, he gazed over to an open door. Hermione had left her bedroom door open and was in plain sight sleeping quietly. Before he could stop himself, Draco walked towards the door and went to close it.

And maybe it was the fact that she finally had her mouth shut for once, but Draco couldn't help admire how gracefully she slept. Sure, her hair was a mess, but her facial features remained poised and gently sculpted. Draco leaned forward, grasping her door handle and slowly closed it without making any disturbance.

"Draco?" he heard her quiet and confused voice from inside the bedroom. It was intoxicating, hearing her use his first name. Intoxicating in a good manner that Draco quickly shoved away. He could've kicked himself, she was way too alert for his liking.

He reopened her door and gave her a sheepish smile, "I was just trying to close it for you."

Hermione sat up, stretching her arms above her head and letting out a rather cute yawn, "Oh," she paused to rub her eyes. She took in Draco's form, leaning against her door frame. He was wearing a large black coat, holding a mask in his left hand. As soon as her eyes fell to the mask, his grip tightened and he moved it towards the back of his body self consciously. "Where are you going?" Hermione asked sleepily.

"I have to go somewhere for the Dark Lord," Draco said with a hint of sadness in his tone, "I'll be back later tonight. Just make yourself comfortable as usual. Sorry for waking you, Granger." He finished, turning his back on her and proceeding to leave her room.

"Wait," Hermione called after him softly. There was something about her morning voice that was so pleasantly smooth and kind. Draco cursed at himself internally for giving her so much attention to detail. He halted and turned his head to her. She lay back on her side and gripped a pillow beside her, "Be safe." she almost whispered, before her need of sleep got the better of her and she drifted off again.

Draco felt an unusual warmth spread across his chest at her words.

He closed her door quickly and quietly, feeling something he hadn't in too long. He felt like he was cared for, strangely enough. Blaise and Daph loved and cared about him, sure, but hearing it from someone such as Hermione Granger was something entirely different. The sincerity of her words replayed several times in his mind.

"Fucking hell that was refreshing," he muttered to himself, flinging the front door open and stepping outside to apparate.

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The group of Death Eaters turned their full attention to Draco as he briefed them with instructions. Draco detested his own instructions, knowing that they wouldn't apply to him or Daphne anyway. Without any small talk, himself and the few others apparated to where Draco had discovered on the map nights before. It was as he had expected, just another broken town. Broken from the impact of the Dark Lord. Draco thought that perhaps the town would have been pretty at one point, but now it was mostly just piles of broken buildings.