Amid the Deadly Silence

Chapter 3: An Unexpected Flower

A black cloak swayed behind the man hiding inside it as he passed through a crowd of people. They looked at him curiously, but continued to go about their business. The blonde man continued down the road to a shabby shack and pulled out a long, wooden object and rapped twice upon the door. Replacing the shack was a large, concrete wall stretching across a deserted field. Two large doors opened, and the man walked in, whispered something to a guard, and was prompted to follow.

He moved through the cells, trying his best to ignore the calls directed towards him. He finally ended up at the end with another large door, where the guard knocked twice and left. The tall blonde entered into a dark room.

"I was wondering when you'd be coming here," a voice echoed from the room. "I was expecting you sooner."

"I didn't want to be here," the man answered, "but I have no other choice."

"Very good choice, Draco," the voice replied. "I assume you're going to give me what I want?"

"Yes," Draco said, looking down at the ground.

"Very well," the man answered. "Myers, would you escort Draco to hall eight?"

The guard nodded gruffly and motioned for Draco to follow. He looked behind him as the greasy-haired man known as Snape disappeared from view. Knowing he had to be quick, he summoned the guard's wand and pointed it at him. He then stunned him, along with the guards nearby so that he could have a chance to get Hermione out of this place. He moved swiftly through the halls and cells, searching for any sign of her. He passed through another hall with children, and it took every bit of him to walk away from them.

"Draco!" a girl's voice called to him. Hermione?

Draco turned around and saw a small, blonde-haired girl waving towards him. "Rose?"

"You remember! Draco, can you get me out of here?" she asked quietly.

His heart went out to the young girl. He had to make a decision, and make it fast. If he were to just get Rose, the other children would want to get out. Could he risk that? Could he handle leaving all those children behind? He could come back for them soon. He just needed more time...

He Apparated into the cell, looking around at the other children. "Rose, grab onto my arm tightly, and don't let go. I'm going to get you out of here."

The young girl giggled. "I've Apparated before, Draco. Don't worry about me."

Draco gulped and nodded before Disapparating from the cell. When they reached the outside again, he picked her up and started to run, searching desperately for Hermione's cell. When he reached hall 100, the rows ended. Had he reached the end? He couldn't have...Hermione wasn't in any of them! Where could she be? He looked around desperately, trying to think of what he should do.

"Draco...I hear footsteps," Rose whispered. Sure enough, there were guards running towards them. They were at a dead end and he couldn't turn back to continue searching for Hermione. After taking one look back, Draco quickly Apparated out of the Muggleborn camp, headed for Harry's home.

***

The windows were dark, and everything around the home was quiet. Were they even there? Draco knocked on the door. He waited a few moments, but no one answered.

"Do you live here?" Rose asked.

"No, but friends do. I hope they're alright," he replied quietly.

"I'm sure they all met at one house somewhere hidden," Rose told him cheerfully.

Draco looked at the child in amazement. Of course! The Burrow! Draco grabbed Rose and Apparated to the Burrow, where he hoped anyone was still there. He had nowhere else to go. The windows here were also dark, but again he still knocked on the door.

"Draco Malfoy? What's he doing here?" whispered a voice from the other side.

"He's dating Hermione," another replied casually.

"Since when?" a woman's voice demanded. "Don't tell me that's their daughter..."

"Mum, shouldn't we get the door instead of talking about his personal life?" a woman's voice Draco recognised as Ginny's said.

"Oh, right. Yes, of course. Draco dear, come on in!" the woman cried out.

Draco took Rose's hand and led her inside, where candles were lit all over the room. All of the Weasleys, plus Harry, their baby, and some woman Ron seemed to be smitten with were staring at him. Draco tried his best to ignore this and sat down in a nearby chair. They were still watching him. After a moment, he cleared his throat.

"You're all probably wondering why I'm here..." Draco started, looking at the curious people in front of him. No one said anything.

"Hello, everyone! I'm Rose!" Rose cried, breaking the awkward silence.

Harry moved forward, his hand outstretched towards her. "Hello Rose. I'm Harry," he replied with a smile. He then turned to Draco. "Who is she?"

"She's...uhh..." Draco looked down at the floor. He had an idea. "Everyone, this is Rose, my daughter."

Everyone's mouths dropped, their eyeballs practically popping out of their sockets. "Your daughter? You and Hermione...how?" Harry asked.

"No, no. With another woman. A pureblood," Draco answered. He looked down at Rose and mouthed that he'd explain everything later. She nodded her head and grasped his hand tighter.

"When did this happen?" Mrs. Weasley questioned.

"It was right after the first war. I didn't even know I had a daughter until a week ago. Her mum sent her to me, to keep her safe. See, she married a Muggle after giving birth to Rose. They assume she's a Muggleborn, so she sent her away," Draco explained.

The silence filled the room again, and Mr. Weasley cleared his throat. "How 'bout some tea, Molly?"

"Yes, of course. I'll put on the kettle!" She shuffled from the room, probably grateful to get away from the silence.

"Does Hermione know about this?" Ginny asked boldly, sitting down in a chair beside him. Everyone followed suit, finding a chair around the table.

"No, she doesn't. I haven't spoken with her in days," Draco told her. "I went to get her tonight. I was going to give myself up for her, but I couldn't find her. I don't think she's in a cell like the rest, unless they've hidden her."

"How do you plan on getting her back?" Ron asked. Ginny whacked his arm.

"Ron, don't be an idiot," she snapped. "Here, put Arabella to sleep, will you? She's tired."

Ron reluctantly took his niece and grumbled all the way upstairs. "I have tea!" Mrs. Weasley cried, setting it in the middle of the table. Everyone took one to keep themselves busy.

"Draco," Rose said to him. "I'm sleepy. Can I go to sleep?"

"Of course! Come with me, Rose. I'll set you up in Ginny's old room," Mrs. Weasley said, ushering her to follow.

Rose hugged Draco and whispered, "Thank you." She hurried off upstairs, and Draco smiled.

When Mrs. Weasley came back down, Draco turned to her. "I didn't mean to just barge in and expect this from you. If you want, we can clear out tomorrow."

"Nonsense. You can stay as long as you need to. The sofa is all ready for you, whenever you're ready to sleep," she replied.

Such hospitality shocked Draco, but he nodded in thanks. Soon enough, everyone but Harry, Ginny, and Ron had gone to sleep, leaving an even more awkward silence.

"We're worried about Hermione," Harry said to Draco.

"I know that. I am too," he replied. Why were they telling him something so obvious?

"We're going to help you get her back," Ron told him with a biscuit in his mouth. "We can think of a plan."

"I think I'll be okay on my own, thanks," he replied. "If you'll excuse me, I'm dead tired. Goodnight."

"What a prick," Draco heard Ron say as he left. "He's wants all the glory, just as he always has."

Draco knew this wasn't true, and he was angry that they felt that way. He loved Hermione. Couldn't they understand that?