On the Way to the End - Dramione

Chapter 18

Two Days Later

Hermione took another sip of her tea and looked around the living room. She sat beside Draco on the couch a foot of distance between them. Next to Draco was Blaise and in the armchairs opposite the couch was Harry and Ron. Blaise had just arrived, maybe ten minutes prior with the boys in tow. 

He had gone to get them when she received a patronus from Harry on wanting to plan the next steps. In Harry's message, he mentioned having found a few of the Order Members at one of the safe houses that wasn't on the map. 

Tonks, Lupin, the Weasely's, McGonagal and Shacklebolt were just a few on the list of people who were there. Hermione felt content. Things were starting to fall into place. The war could be over soon. 

"This is perfect, we have numbers for after we kill Voldemort, people to help take charge again," Harry said. It was so nice to see the fire back in his eyes. Hermione hadn't seen that fire in a while, but she guessed that ridding the Horcrux did him good. 

Back when they were on the run, Harry's spark flickered. But every time they destroyed a new Horcrux, it came back a little more. Hermione just hoped that when they took on Voldemort again that he would be able to finish things at that time. 

"So what, how do you want to go about this?" Blaise asked Harry. 

"Well, I can locate him in my dreams now, so right before we do this, I'll locate him. We just have to wait until he's mostly alone. Then, I'll take only a few people with me, just to watch my back while I face him." Harry explained. Hermione nodded, it made sense. 

Draco shook his head, "that'll never work. He's never alone." 

Hermione furrowed her brows but continued listening. It had been over a day since Draco had come back and he was seemingly doing well. He got good sleep and slept well into the afternoon the next day. Hermione spent her time watching over him and talking to Blaise. She was becoming rather close with the dark-skinned wizard, he was actually okay when he wasn't teasing her. 

She had sent a patronus to Harry to tell him that they had gotten Draco back and he replied with the news on the Order. The next morning after that, Blaise went and brought them back there so they could all discuss as a team. 

"Well, that's why I'll bring people with, probably you lot," Harry said. Hermione wondered when Harry had decided to trust Draco and Blaise but she wasn't complaining. She knew her friend always thought these things through. He was quick to forgive but he didn't forget, a quality she appreciated about her friend.

"This plan is going to get you killed, Potter." Draco scoffed. 

"Well then do you have any suggestions?" Ron chimed in, clearly annoyed with Draco's negative attitude. 

"I just think you should make sure your bases are covered." He shrugged, looking away.

Hermione looked at Draco. It was unlike him to shoot down ideas without offering others. She was beginning to think something was wrong with the boy. The night prior, Draco, Blaise and she all had dinner together and he wasn't his usual self. Hermione had assumed it was just the after-effects of a night full of torture, but she was beginning to worry more and more as time went on. 

"What's that supposed to mean exactly?" Ron asked, confusion in his tone. 

"Yeah, Draco, what is that supposed to mean?" Blaise spoke. He sounded concerned. So it wasn't just Hermione who was worried. Interesting. "What exactly did you hear while you were at the Manor?" 

Draco looked at his friend, he wasn't happy. "The Dark Lord wasn't happy about us ridding of his final Horcrux." His body went rigid. He looked at Hermione and sighed. She was looking up at him nervously. Merlin this was fucking killing him. No one made a sound. The air was so thick he felt like he was drowning. "So he made another."