Unbidden Love Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine: Uncontrollable Circumstances

Hermione was unable to tear her gaze from Malfoy’s fierce glare, though her mind screamed at her to fight or at least try to Apparate. It was like Malfoy was a curse all his own, his presence making it impossible for her to think or move properly.

Rubin was the first to break the unbearable silence. “Ah, I was wondering when your girlfriend would show up, Draco. Seems you really don’t leave her side.”

Rubin’s words took Malfoy out of his staring contest with Hermione, making Malfoy growl low in his throat and push Hermione behind him, though he still held tightly to her arm.

Malfoy leaned over to snarl in her ear, “Even think about breaking free, Granger, and you’ll never see your dear Ronald again.”

She believed him, though she still couldn’t figure out why. Hermione was slowly becoming convinced that Malfoy really could play mind games with anyone.

“I’ve heard good things about you, Granger,” Rubin addressed her, making Hermione shiver compulsively. This particular werewolf was the most intimidating and seemed to be able to stare into her soul with a single look. “Seems you fared particularly well under the Neo-Death Eaters’ hold. I was told you have a strong backbone and don’t give up easily. Strong attributes to have…particularly among our pack.”

Draco’s grip tightened on her arm so much Hermione feared him cutting off circulation. “Take one step toward her, Rubin, and I’ll exclude you from all dealings in the contract.”

A few pack members in the back muttered and hissed under their breaths, but Rubin merely grinned wider. “Young Malfoy, I would never lay a finger on her if it was against your wishes. You understand how much our pack needs to be involved in the hunt.”

Somehow Hermione doubted his words. His tone mocked them and only increased the chill in her body. She kept thinking how easy it would be for one of the werewolves to spring and attack without warning.

And that wasn’t her only concern…

“Draco…Draco, the full moon…” She couldn’t help but speak up, tugging away from Malfoy’s grip and motioning with her head at the silver orb behind the veil of thin clouds. Any moment the clouds would break up and unleash Hell around Hermione and Draco.

“Hush, Granger!” Draco snapped, narrowing his eyes at her like her fears were childish.

“Don’t fret, Hermione, there is nothing to fear.” Hermione hated how Rubin spoke to her slowly and consolingly, like a close friend or parent. It was more than just condescending, it was terrifying. “We’ve all taken the Draft today, so you’re not in harm’s way.”

“How can I believe you?” she asked, struggling to make her voice appear as collected as Draco’s, but instead it came out high and shaky. She knew the werewolves sensed her fear as well as they sensed the coming of the full moon.

Rubin flashed shining fangs at her. “Why would I harm you when you’re the only hope for the Neo-Death Eaters? They need information from you that is crucial for their rise in society. If they don’t get you to speak, they’re as worthless as…”

“Shut up, Rubin! When will you learn to hold your tongue?!” Draco was almost shaking with rage, and Hermione once again struggled to be released, but Draco merely held her closer to his side.

Rubin raised his eyebrows mockingly. “You don’t think she’s figured that much out already? You insult her intelligence, Malfoy. She needs to know how much danger she’s in if she doesn’t comply with your requests.”

Before Hermione could process his words, Malfoy had raised his wand and fired an unknown spell at the werewolves. Almost at that same moment, the clouds broke and poured beams of light onto the forest floor.

“Run, Hermione!”

Draco pushed her fiercely away from him, but Hermione’s mind couldn’t catch up. She struggled to her feet, peering behind her in a daze to find several pairs of silver and grey wolves lunging at Malfoy. She wanted to scream, but her voice had left her. A blast from Malfoy’s wand destroyed her daze, and she bolted from the battle and dashed around the maze of trees. She concentrated only on the pounding of her feet on the dirt and her frantic breaths, but that didn’t stop the snarls and barks from reaching her ears.

She had reached the outskirts of the forest and saw the still, comforting form of the Burrow when her senses returned to her forcefully.

What are you doing, Hermione?! she screamed at herself. Draco’s going to die there alone and you’re running away like a coward?

She was shaking so fiercely she had trouble reaching for her wand, but once she had grasped it and rushed back into the trees, Draco Malfoy came bolting toward her from the opposite direction and crashed into her. His weight crushed her to the ground, but that lasted for only a moment before he dragged her upright and started to scream in her face.

“What the hell was that, Granger! I told you to save your own skin and you’re rushing back like an ignorant…”

“I was trying to save your skin, if you care at all, Malfoy!” she shrieked back, pushing her wand into his heaving chest. Draco’s shirt was torn in several places and blood gushed from deep claw marks on his chest and arms, but he was clearly alive, which destroyed Hermione’s fears and let the anger form. “Or should I have left you to die by yourself?”

“Those beasts would never have killed me!” he exclaimed triumphantly, crossing his arms like he was positive of that fact. “They’d all be dead by morning if that had happened; my father would have seen to that…”

It took all of Hermione’s strength not to slap him across the face. “Oh, well excuse me for showing some compassion for you! Next time I’ll remember to save myself and let you perish! And can you imagine that I actually felt fear for you when you were talking to those werewolves?”

The corner of Malfoy’s mouth curved up in a smirk, like he truly doubted her words. “You always jump to conclusions, Granger, because you think you know all. But this time, trust me to handle things on my own. It may do you some good.”

“Ha!” Hermione laughed openly in his face. “When have I ever trusted you to handle things properly? At the very least, you owe me an explanation for what I heard and saw! Apparently I’m essential to the workings of your plan, so I’d better be aware of what dangers I’m facing. Even the werewolves know of my position in this whole thing!”

Instantly, Malfoy’s expression changed. He lost the mocking look in his eyes and gazed at her with something resembling alarm. “Knowing will only put you in more danger. If the Neo-Death Eaters find out what you heard tonight, they’ll be after you in an instant. They want you as ignorant as possible. Keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you, Granger. Speaking of this to anyone, even Potter and Weasley, is an instant death sentence.”

His words were supposed to create fear in her, but it only caused her anger to rise. “But I still know nothing, Malfoy, so how can I be in danger?”

His eyes narrowed further. “You know enough. It’s all too obvious that you know of what we’re speaking of, and I know that you won’t…”

Hermione was unable to control the panic that tightened her gut and froze her mind. It must have been visible on her face, for Draco’s expression suddenly mirrored hers and he let out a soft gasp.

“You made the Vow, didn’t you?”

Hermione’s jaw dropped slightly, which was all the confirmation Malfoy needed. The truth was out: Malfoy knew not only of her knowledge of the Elder Wand, but he knew that she had sworn to protect that secret. What he would do with that knowledge was the worst part of Hermione’s trepidation, and it kept her heart racing.

Malfoy didn’t hesitate for long before bridging the gap between them and locking stern eyes with her.

“You’ve put yourself in a poisonous situation, Hermione Granger. What were you and your mates thinking when you performed the Vow? Making it was the beginning of the end for you, for eventually someone on the other side would realize the truth. Now I have no choice but to act on mere instinct, which won’t be enjoyable for either of us.”

Hermione waited with bated breath for the moment when Malfoy began torturing her…

But that moment never came. Malfoy simply pushed her aside and motioned toward the Burrow with impatience. “Get inside before the werewolves realize you’re still out here. But be prepared, Granger…our next meeting is closer than you realize.”

Hands shaking at her side, Hermione cast a final petrified look at him before spinning on her heel and running back to the Burrow.

Hermione did not fall asleep until well past dawn. She kept replaying the night’s events over and over in her head, but she wasn’t able to ease her tightened stomach or calm her racing thoughts. What confused her was why they were determined to get the information out of her instead of Harry, Ron or another member of the Ministry. But she knew contemplating every aspect of the dilemma was worthless. Now that Malfoy knew the truth – that she knew the Elder Wand’s location and had made the Vow to protect it – it wouldn’t be long before he told his father, the other Neo-Death Eaters, the werewolves, and any other creature still supporting Voldemort.

But some part of her doubted that Malfoy would tell everyone what he knew. He seemed to be cautious about disclosing information, even to the werewolves. He had told the werewolves that she knew nothing, hadn’t he? And yet he did know that she knew. And when he was talking about the other Death Eaters, he kept referring to them as ‘them’ not ‘us.’ “If the Neo-Death Eaters find out what you heard tonight, they’ll be after you in an instant. They want you as ignorant as possible.”

The more she thought about it, the more her head hurt. There was only one thing she knew to be the truth – she was no longer safe to live quietly with Ron and Harry.

Malfoy would return soon, and when he came back for her, she may never be leaving his side again.

*

Draco Malfoy was not getting any sleep, either, as he rested on a pile of straw in an abandoned barn close near the Weasleys’ place. He could not get his encounter with Granger out of his mind, and neither could he forget the last letter he had received from his father.

It was because of this letter that Draco had promised himself he would not return to the Manor any time soon. He would be on the run, sleeping in abandoned building after abandoned building until he came up with a safe plan. It was not only Granger’s safety that he worried about if he couldn’t accomplish what he was forced to do.

Pulling out a crumpled and torn piece of parchment out of his pocket, Draco read through the contents of his father’s letter for the thirteenth time:

Son,

I held an important meeting with Carrow the previous night. He divulged to me new information that changes everything.

Carrow confessed that he has been studying Legilimancy for quite some time, and while the Mudblood was incarcerated, he saw a discrete image of her and Potter burying something underground. This cannot be anything but what we seek. Granger knows, Draco. She is lying to you, and you must do whatever is in your power to make her confess.

If this cannot be completed within a fortnight, we will take her and torture her until she either confesses or asks for death. If she does die in your hands, Son, don’t be alarmed – her death will only draw Potter toward you, and he’ll surely give up the location once seeing Granger dead.

May the Dark Lord protect you as you fight for what is rightfully ours. Remember whom you are doing this for.

Your Father

Draco’s hands shook as he finished studying the carefully written words. His father had brought up a very important question in his letter, and it was not related to Granger’s knowledge of the Elder Wand.

Who am I doing this for?