Hunting For The Sun

CHAPTER TEN

My Little Meggy

Dawn was blushing roses along the rim of grey stones and casting blades of peach fire into the lilac of the fading night. I paused for a moment, but Malfoy kept going. We had been here since just past sunset last night, and we were still travelling. He seemed to know his way, but I couldn´t think where we were going that wouldn´t have been quicker through the city. I slid down a long block of concrete dusted with sand and stumbled to my feet at the other end. I was dusty, dirty and bleeding from a lot of grazes and cuts I had procured during the rough night on the Wasteland. I smeared a hand through the grime on my face, and tore a strip off my shirt to bandage my hand, which I had cut on a blade of glass around midnight. I wrapped it around as tightly as I could, ignoring the blue tinge appearing at the tip of my fingers. My hair was still plaited back, thankfully, but it was full of dirt. We could have hired a helicopter to fly where we were going, but Malfoy is ever one for dramatic entrances. By now I had guessed we were picking our way to the Ministry, and as he had been believed dead it would be so dramatic of him to stump up the marble staircase, covered in dust and blood. I respected his melodrama, and thus made no comment, not that I could have caught up with him. For a dead person, he sure moved fast.

I sighed and kicked at an inoffensive rock that happened to be in my way. I pretended it didn´t hurt, and hobbled after him. As the sun broke over the heaps of rubble I saw Malfoy silhouetted beautifully against the golden sky, coat flowing in the wind and hair drifting around his face. I took a moment to watch. He was perfect, for me. Anyone else would have hated him, but I knew him too well, and I was too much a part of him and vice versa to ever hate him unless I hated myself, and that was my cardinal rule: Love ever thyself. If I could forgive myself, I would never need to forgive others. If I could love myself, I would never need to love others, or so it went. I failed on that point, but otherwise it was sound. I just needed to be a little less strict.

Malfoy turned, and waved to me. `Stop gazing dreamily at me and hurry up,´ he grinned. I threw a brick at him, missing by miles, and proceeded to pull over the block and run across the fence panels resting on the destroyed carriages of trains beneath.

`Stop throwing bricks,´ he chided. `I only accept thrown underwear.´

`Shame you already pissed your in terror when I threatened to chuck your shirt overboard,´ I smirked.

`Please!´ he objected. `I wasn´t pissing myself.´

`Yuh,´ I scoffed, then clapped him on the back, wincing angrily as my hand throbbed and seared.

`What did you do?´ he asked, taking my hand in his.

`Cut it on some glass,´ I said bravely, starting to fish for sympathy. I was looking in the wrong place.

`Twat!´ Malfoy laughed, then kissed me and jogged across the side of a fallen bridge.

`I´ll get you for that you insensitive shit!´ I screeched, going after him.

We continued through this graveyard of a city until the sun was high above, a tiny white disk in the crisp spring blue of the sky. Malfoy, who was at that point holding my hand, pulled me to face him, and looked me over critically. I was totally nonplussed. He gently undid the bandage on my hand, and smeared the bloody cloth across my face, then across his. He rubbed a little more dirt onto my skin, and then quite deliberately took out his knife and sliced it across his cheekbone. It bled a lot, but it was shallow, so he was in no real harm.

`Now we look like we´ve really been through the wars,´ he smirked.

`Oh clap, clap,´ I sneered, then laughed.

`Where are we going?´ he said. `The Ministry? Thieves set upon us! You falsely accused Rae of murder, and she found me and we went into hiding, but no one would believe us when we said who we were! Or the Rebels? We were never really against you! Rae came to find me, and persuade me to be all nice, then she found out that it was never really me. We were always trying to help you, but stay undercover!´

He shrugged, and raised his eyebrows to me.

`I think we should go to the Rebels,´ I said, not necessarily because of my own agenda. `The Ministry know I did all that, because I told them.´

Instead of looking at me like I was totally stupid, which I had expected, he grinned and clapped me on the back. `Good girl! The Rebels, then?´

I nodded, and he gestured for me to lead the way. I dropped down into the tunnels under the rubble and worked my way West and into the city. It took me about a half-second to get my bearings. The city had long been my playground, and I knew it better than I knew Malfoy. I pointed, and began to speak, but was cut off as I found a cold steel blade against the pulse in my throat.

I froze solid, and put my hands up, as you do.

`My, aren´t you pretty?´ said a voice. It was a man´s, but not one of the ruffians. The voice was clear, sophisticated. `And such lovely clothes. You´re one of them aren´t you?´

`If you could define `them´ for me sir,´ I said tremulously, flicking my tongue over my suddenly dry lips and swallowing.

`The Death Eaters,´ he spat. I still couldn´t see him.

`I´m not one of them, I assure you,´ I said, trying to stay calm.

Never let anyone rule the situation,

Malfoy always said. You are the one who is honouring them with your presence, therefore YOU are in charge.

`What are you?´ he said. The blade was pressing right against my pulse.

I flicked my eyes to the side, and saw the man holding Malfoy slam him against a wall and twist his arms up behind him, he would regret that. Sure enough, it wasn´t more than two seconds before Malfoy flicked his leg up the back and pulled the man´s leg out. He swapped places with him, and held his pistol to his captive´s temple.

`If you kill him, I will kill her,´ my assailant told him dispassionately, digging the blade in a little further.

`Stalemate,´ Malfoy said with no hint of emotion.

`Indeed. What shall we do about this?´

I knew Malfoy knew that I saw him slide his other gun out and point it at my captor under cover of his coat. He could kill both before anyone knew, but I didn´t know if it would work that way. Malfoy believes in luck, you see. I don´t.

`Who are you both, and what side are you on?´ the man asked coolly.

`I think you should let the lady go,´ Malfoy said. `Your feud is not with a girl, lest you be a subhuman.´

`I reserve the right, then, to ask you to free my friend.´

`You certainly do,´ Malfoy nodded. `Shall we let them both go?´

`No. I don´t trust you,´ the man said, catching both of my arms, and pulling them behind me, slipping his arm through them both so that I was arched back and wincing in pain.

`Well, who are you?´ Malfoy said, cocking the trigger on both guns quietly.

`I think I rule the situation,´ the man said haughtily.

`Alright then,´ Malfoy shrugged. `My name´s Seamus Finnigan -` He shot me a sideways look. `--And I´m against the Death Eaters.´

`You?´ He dipped his arm, and I was jerked back. Pain shredded through my shoulders and lower back. I couldn´t help it, I whimpered.

`Hermione Granger,´ I whispered, screwing my eyes shut in agony.

`And you are Rebels?´

`We are if that´s what´ll make you let go of her,´ Malfoy said carefully.

`It may. Release my friend and I will release yours.´

But I was watching Malfoy, he had slipped the hidden gun back into its holster and drawn his dagger. He stabbed the man in the heart, and then shot my captor in the head. I fell to the floor, gasping. Malfoy ran over and dropped to his knees beside me.

`I didn´t hit you, did I?´ he asked, feeling over my shoulders and arms for breaks, presumably.

`No,´ I said. `He just hurt me quite a lot.´

`Well he won´t do that again,´ Malfoy sneered, prodding the body with his boot. When he saw how upset I was he enfolded me in his arms, and I cried against his shoulder.

`What´s wrong,´ he asked, sounding scared.

`No one´s ever done that before,´ I choked.

`Really?´ he frowned.

`No. I´ve never been threatened that badly before,´ I said, putting a hand to my throat. I knew before I touched it that the skin had split. Blood soaked my fingers, turning them the colour of rubies.

`Here, let me,´ Malfoy said. He knocked my fingers aside gently, and pressed his fingertips against my skin. There was a sharp tingle, and I could feel the flesh bonding before he let go, and kissed the restored skin softly. He helped me to my feet and held onto me for a while. I wobbled in his arms, and turned to look down at the man. He looked familiar. He had dark brown hair, and muddy green eyes. His skin was very pale, but he was clearly wrapped with muscles. Malfoy started to walk me away, with a look of disgust on his face, but I glanced back at the second the man´s eyes popped open.

`He´s alive!´ I yelled, skipping back a few steps and drawing my gun on reflex, aiming between his eyes.

`Bloody people and their magic wards,´ Malfoy frowned. `Do you want me to fill you up to the eyeballs with lead?´ he asked politely.

The guy propped himself up on an arm. `Hear me out,´ he coughed. `You´re rebels? We are too. This was a misunderstanding. Can you come with us?´

`We´ll come,´ I said, `but you´re to be the one under guard.´ I drew my dagger, and helped him up. Malfoy looked unsure.

`Are you sure you want to do it?´ he asked me.

`I owe him this,´ I said grimly. The man wasn´t the only one who knew how to make people uncomfortable. I tied his arms with rope from my bag and bent them up his back. He squirmed, wincing.

`I´m not done yet,´ I whispered right in his ear. `No one does that to me and lives. I´m Black Widow, and you won´t stand in my way.´ He froze with surprise.

`Black Widow? You´re a figurehead for my clan! I´m so sorry. Had I but known...´

`But it doesn´t change things,´ I smiled darkly. This was a method I had learnt a while before, and I swear by it. I tucked a dagger next to each of his wrists, and turned them blade-out. If I gave him a little shove he would die. I think he realised that, because he was very co-operative. I held the customary dagger to his throat as well, then let him walk back into the tunnels, leading us. I kept my hand against his tied arms, holding the daggers in place and making sure that I could kill him at any time. Malfoy looked utterly dubious, but slightly impressed. I shot him a grin.

We wound through countless tunnels, and never had to clamber over anything. I pouted at Malfoy, rubbing my arm ruefully. We had walked for over an hour when signs of life started to appear. People were staring at us as we went by, but none dared to try anything. I flicked back my hair, well aware how cool I looked. We were both in black, covered with blood and dirt, clinking with weapons and drop-dead hot. I love that effect. Drama is all you need sometimes.

There was what had once been a mall of some kind, now roofless and seemingly converted into a throne room. With many kinds of weapons, warriors lined the walls. The throne was unoccupied currently, and my prisoner turned to me.

`May I go to my seat?´ he smiled.

`One reason why,´ I said flatly.

`Because I mean you no harm,´ he suggested.

`I reserve the right to kill any number of your snivelling minions if you displease me,´ I said boldly, removing my daggers and slitting his bonds. He rubbed his wrists gratefully, and ascended the broken escalator to sit in his throne contrived of junk. I glanced around the room, taking in all the guns in plain view about us. The clouds drifted white and puffy overhead, and the sky was the colour of cornflowers. It was a lovely day to be a hostage.

`You may,´ he grinned, sinking into his chair. We stood alone on the tiled floor, looking up at him. Malfoy´s hair was drawn back from his face and held fast by the sweat and blood. I´m well aware that it wasn´t the time or place, but he looked very cute and defiant.

`What do you want with us?´ Malfoy began.

`We want to know who you are and if you can help us,´ the leader said promptly. I was still fighting with that sense of familiarity that exuded from him.

`Well, can we trust you?´ Malfoy asked, looking around conspiratorially.

`Of course,´ the leader said, leaning forward despite himself.

`Well, then we can tell you that I´m actually Obi Wan Kenobi and this is Princess Leia,´ Malfoy said furtively.

`Look what is it with you?´ the man said, standing up. `We don´t want to hurt you!´

`Tell that to the girl you almost killed,´ Malfoy snapped, his colour rising. Had he been born with hackles, they would rise too. He was at that point when if you looked at him through the corner of your eye he looked like he stood in a ball of flame. His eyes flashed black, silver, then red.

`You have no idea where you are, do you?´ the man asked.

`On the contrary,´ Malfoy said coldly. `You know not whom you mess with.´

`So tell me, you arrogant young man.´

`Draco Malfoy, you conceited old man.´

His face took on a look of horror. He drew back in his seat, and flicked his hand. All the weapons around us were raised and aimed at him.

`You´re dead!´ he shrilled.

`Yes, I wondered when you´d spot that,´ Malfoy smiled mirthlessly.

`And who´s this?´ he asked, pointing at me.

`That would be Rae,´ Malfoy said, standing at ease with his hands in his pockets, ignoring the guns aimed at his head.

`Rae? Rae Who?´

`Rae, my girlfriend,´ Malfoy clarified.

`The Dragon-Child? Your murderer?´

`Yes,´ he smiled. `We´re very proud of her.´ He ruffled my hair.

`Who are you, old man?´ I asked, trying not to think of the guns. You rule the place...

`I see no reason to answer you,´ he sniffed.

`Well, I can see plenty,´ Malfoy reasoned.

`What?´

`Do you know who this girl is?´

What the hell was that boy going on about?

`No. Should I?´

`Well, yes,´ Malfoy nodded, looking between us. It fell on deaf ears. What could he possibly mean?

`I still do not understand, I´m afraid.´

`Just look at her,´ Malfoy urged.

`I am, she looks like you.´ I was getting quite put off by all this scrutiny. Everyone else was looking at me too. I gave them a few death-stares that shut them up.

`Well, that´s understandable, isn´t it?´ Malfoy smiled.

`I don´t follow,´ the man said, he seemed to be calming down. He was so familiar!

`Well, when you´re as painfully attractive as she is, you don´t settle for second best, and the best has got to look like you,´ he explained. I blushed. It took my attention off the warriors, and they began to stare again.

`Who are all these people?´ Malfoy asked, changing tack.

`These are the warriors of the people.´

`Typical showy name,´ Malfoy sneered.

`What about you? You say you´re a rebel now?´

`Yes,´ Malfoy said. `The Death Eaters did me no favours. Dying is a chance to reinvent oneself. I chose this path this time.´

`I suppose. Will you help us?´

`What can you do for me?´ Malfoy asked, folding his arms.

`You are a fighter, it would seem,´ he noted.

`Yes.´

`We are the force that will fight the Death Eaters at the climax.´

`Are you now?´

`We are, and we need all the people we can get,´ he said fervently.

`So you´ll take anyone?´

`Rae, if she is who you say, is the most famous rebel there is.´ It was the first I had heard of it, I swear. `We´ve lost our leader, and we need a figurehead.´ I tried not to look too guilty about Harry. It was a mistake. Everyone makes them. `Rae would be a figurehead of cunning and strength, you would be a prize.´

`How?´ Malfoy asked, trying not to appear interested.

`Well, if we had their glorified leader and their worst enemy, we could show them off and distract the enemy.´

`Like that would work,´ Malfoy snorted. `If we fight it will be for our benefit, not theirs. Now will you tell us who you are?´

`I? I am Rhodry Kelwaedd, and you are standing in my throne room.´

Megara Kelwaedd. Meggy Kelwaedd. Little Meggy. Rhodry. Rhodry Kelwaedd, leader of all those people. Megara would lead them to victory. `Only Megara can do it, darling! She can win it for us!´

`Hello father,´ I said.