Dramione: Skills for life

22. Reunited

Happy Easter everyone
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Hermione reread the text twice before looking back at Draco. His face was overeager as he awaited her voice. She poked her tongue out of her lips, trying to decipher what was in front of her. Finally Draco got sick of waiting. "Hermione, what did you find?"

She looked up, having been yanked from her clouded mind. She sighed. "Okay, so we know that Agatha and Charles are related to Dolores Umbridge, who has obvious cause to want either of us harmed, right?"

"Right." Draco said, moving closer to her.

"But, what we don't know is who Olivia is. Is she the child of the Regis', ahem Giza's, or is she a Carson?"

"Right." Draco said, this time a tiny bit uncertain.

"Well, this here is a book of all the ancient families and alias. If a witch or wizard falsifies their identity for any reason, legal or not, it appears in this book. The Giza's are connected to the Selwyn's, but underneath the Giza is Regis and O'Malley." Hermione said, grinning. She had an 'aha' sound to her voice.

Draco merely stared. "Okay, you lost me."

She rolled her eyes. "Before we got Olivia, I read her file. The O'Malley's were a family living next door to the the Carson's at the time of the fire, and they had given a statement in the file. When actually it was the Regis-Giza's who lived next door! That's how they knew Olivia and that's how they knew about the locket!" Hermione said triumphantly. Draco only frowned.

"Mione, that's all circumstantial. There's probably tons of O'Malley's in Wales."

"No, you don't get it. The book lists addresses. They are the O'Malleys!" Hermione shrieked, her finger jabbing at the lines of text. Draco peered around her and read it. His eyes widened.

"So, they aren't her parents. We have to get her back! Come on, we have to get to the Ministry!" Draco shouted, jumping up and yanking Hermione's hand. She pulled him back, with much force granted.

"No." She said sharply. "Draco, it's bloody three in the morning. Come, let's go to bed. Then we can go in the morning. It's Saturday anyway."

Draco was unhappy having to wait, but Hermione was right. They very well couldn't wake up the entire ministry. Hermione led Draco to the Room of Requirement, where they had been sleeping recently. She cuddled into his arms. Draco pressed a kiss to her hair.

"We'll get her back. I promise." He whispered. Hermione was lulled to sleep by the gentle beat of his heart and the comfort that they had a solution.

The next morning, Hermione woke up after having slept a mere six hours. Her rest wasn't exactly restful, because she was anxious to get to the ministry. Draco had face the same problems. They walked back down the flights of stairs, in last nights rumpled clothes.

"I'll meet you in the Great Hall in half an hour." Hermione yawned, kissing his cheek. He nodded, watching her slip into the Gryffindor portrait hole. Once inside, she went right up to her dormitory. The rest of her peers were asleep or out, since it was nine o'clock. Hermione grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater. She tamed her hair with magic and got dressed. Thankfully, the shower had woken her up some. Hermione walked out into the common room, where Harry and Ron were lounging with Ginny on a couch. They were in a heated discussion about Quidditch, of course. Hermione ducked out of the common room, without saying anything to them. She knew they would question her.

"You ready?" Draco asked. He too was dressed nicely. Hermione hooked her arm with his and they left.

Once at Hogsmeade, they apparated to the Ministry. Hermione dragged Draco through the offices, directly to Kingsley's. The secretary seemed to recognize Hermione, for she jumped up and ran into his office. The minister appeared.

"Hermione, hello." He boomed, giving the young witch a hug. He shook Draco's hand firmly, which surprised the young man. Even though he was cleared of his crimes, he still wasn't exactly on good terms with the members of the Order, especially the ones who became officials in the Ministry. Nevertheless he remained stoic as Hermione explained the situation.

"Well, I'm not sure how...well, let me make a few calls." He said, rubbing his chin. She nodded and moved back towards Draco.

A secretary led them toward a conference room. The couple sat down quietly. "This is torture." Draco griped. Hermione nodded, laying her head in her hands. "I just hope this works." Draco gathered her into his arms. She fell into a restless sleep on his arms.

A little while later, Hermione felt herself being shaken awake. She blinked sleepily and heard the fateful words. "We found her. Olivia, we know where she is."

Waiting is usually characterized as tedious and upsetting, for people rarely ever talk about how much they love waiting. Hermione was used to waiting, but never waiting like that. Hermione was also used to being on the front lines of fighting, having been best friends with the Chosen One since she was eleven. Therefore, it was strange for her to be asked to wait behind. And, Hermione being Hermione, she would not stand for it.

"No! I'm coming with you." Hermione screeched. The men around her vaguely noticed how her hair seemed to cackle with electricity as she argued.

"Hermione, it's dangerous. We don't want you to be harmed." Kinglsey soothed.

"But why the bloody hell can he go?" She yelled, jabbing her index finger in Draco's general direction. He shrugged, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his robe. Hermione took notice to how he avoided his eyes, because he agreed with the others.

"Hermione, we need...we need...man power." Auror Buckley, the head auror on the case, barked.

"Oh, man power it is? It's not like I helped save the sodding wizarding world. Oh wait, I did!" She growled. "I'm only going to say this once more, I am coming with you whether you like it or not."

The group lapsed into silent. Hermione knew that they were breaking. She had used a convincing point. However, just to be sure, Hermione fired her last round. "Please...I'm her mother."

This time it was Kingsley who spoke up. "Let Hermione go. I know first hand she is more than capable of handling herself in the field."

She beamed and nodded. It was settled. An hour later, the troops were ready to roll. They apparated to a small house on the Scottish countryside. Hermione held Draco's hand tightly. Her heart was throbbing in her chest so hard she genuinely wondered if it was going to burst out of her body. Obviously her logical side knew that wasn't going to happen.

"We're just gonna go in, guns blazing?" Hermione whispered curiously. Buckley nodded, his wand pointed out. Hermione nodded and raised her own. It was moments like these when her protective nature came out, a masked facade that turned her into a born warrior. It was a harsher reality. Thinking back to the idea of being a soldier, Hermione realized how horrible it was. A tender seventeen year old off to war to fight against discrimination and cruelty.

"On three. One two.." He mouthed three, his fingers pointing toward the door. The broke off into a sprint. Hermione was right behind Buckley, watching his as he blasted open the door. Hermione heard screams from within. She slammed into the back of the man, feeling Draco do the same into her. Cautiously, she peeked around his shoulder and gasped. A cold feeling washed over her as she took in the scene. Gianna Regis-Giza-O'Malley, whatever, was on the floor. Her eyes were open, but her face was ghostly pale as the blood pooled around her head. Hermione shivered when she saw the slit in her neck, still bleeding. Roger was clutching Olivia to his chest, she was clearly petrified. He held his wand high and his face crazed.

"Roger." Buckley boomed. "Let the girl go."

"No! You're gonna take me away!" He shouted hysterically. Olivia wriggled against his grasp. He looked down at her, giving her a shake. "Quit moving you little brat. I'll kill ya! I swear I will!"

Hermione blinked on and caught Olivia's eyes. She felt something poke her back, drawing her attention to behind Olivia. Auror Pappas was moving forward, wand raised. He opened his mouth. "Stupefy!"

The jet of red light soars and hit Roger right in the back. His eyes blinked closed as he collapsed. Olivia, now free, sprinted toward Hermione and Draco. "Mommy! Daddy!"

Tears pooled into both of the couples eyes as they embraced her. Hermione never wanted to let go, and she hoped she never would have too.