Until the end Dramione

Chapter 16 Schemes and reunions

She felt alive again in this place. She couldn't have wished for a better view, a better feeling of well-being. Then she noticed a double wooden door opposite the armchairs. When she opened it, she knew this was where she belonged. A large off-white and gold four-poster bed sat in the ice-brown and cream room, to the left a dressing table with a magnificent antique-style mirror, and next to the door, a desk. There was also a window overlooking the beach. Next to it, a small door that probably led to the bathroom.

The young woman sat down on the bed with the utmost care, as if she feared damaging the sheets by touching them. The clock on the wall read twenty-one thirty. She couldn't be too far from England.

She could finally give herself a moment of rest, relaxation, and respite, and forget everything that had happened to her so far. What's more, she knew her love was reciprocated, and the very idea brought a smile to her face. Never had such a feeling of joy and satisfaction made her heart beat faster. She felt sublimated at the mere thought of what Draco had told her earlier.

Lying back on the bed, she let her mind wander to everything that had happened to her. Yet she remembered that she hadn't said anything to him. She hadn't even thanked him for the risk he'd taken. She blamed herself. She would have liked to show him her gratitude. To prove that she loved him as much as he loved her. To prove to him that she was not indifferent to the fact that he accepted her feelings despite their history.

Hermione couldn't fall asleep, too shaken by events. Moreover, she wondered if Draco was safe at the moment, since he had risked his life to save her. She just hoped he'd escaped unscathed...

At the manor, an hour after the escape, Lucius arrived. No sign of Voldemort. Draco was somewhat relieved, but the moment was crucial. He was about to find out whether their plan had worked or not...

As soon as he stepped through the doorway, the two Death Eaters hurried to inform the master of the house. At the mention of this incident, he glanced doubtfully at Draco. He suspected his son of being behind the escape, and made no bones about it:

- Was my son, Draco, there when it happened?

- Why don't you ask me directly if I'm the one who freed her, Father," challenged the Slytherin, "instead of beating around the bush?

- I don't see how your son could have freed her," said one of the Death Eaters. He was with us when it happened. And nobody came down as far as I know.

- Right...

Seeing that his son apparently had nothing to do with the muggleborn's escape, Lucius went up to his room, under his son's darkly satisfied gaze.

AN HOUR EARLIER...

Draco was in his parents' bedroom with his mother, trying to find a way to free Hermione. After his mother had found the photo, he returned to his room, where he removed from his dressing room an all-black suit like the one he was wearing, as well as a shirt of the same color. He grabbed some shoes and made sure there were no elves around, before returning to his mother. She was already waiting for him, with clothes and a bottle containing a strange, unappealing liquid.

ooO

After ordering Hermione what she needed to do to get out, Draco found himself alone in the cellar. He reached for the black leather case he had on him and extracted the clothes his mother had given him. He wondered where she'd found them...

ooO

In her bedroom, after coming downstairs to warn that she was about to go to sleep, Narcissa stared in disgust at the strange liquid at the bottom of her bottle. She put in what appeared to be blond hair... The bottle was soon emptied... The woman struggled to suppress a gagging feeling, but once it was gone, she slowly made her way to her mirror. In front of her, she was pleased to see her reflection: Draco...