"I am fragile and unholy.

Open. Ravage. Eat."

— Tanaka Mhishi

" — we have reason to believe it is a weapon of some sort — "

Hermione's gaze was unseeing as she scanned the line on her parchment once more. Her mind whirled with the information Moody had just shared. She was overwhelmed — she tried building connections between the segregated pieces of information she had found, but all she reached were dead ends. Even after weeks of research, she had yet to come closer to understanding Voldemort's next steps to acquire his new vessel. And now, on top of this, she was at a loss with this new weapon he was supposedly working on.

"Bodies of muggles were found around the perimeter of the Ostium Jungle. These bodies were husks. Deformed," Moody grunted, before taking a swig from his flask.

Murmurs echoed around the room. Hermione's gaze shifted to the other ten seated at the table for the meeting. Ginny's fingers unconsciously tapped on the table, Seamus and Dean had their heads bent in quiet conversation, and Kingsley shuffled through his papers with a tired look in his eyes. The rest looked unsettled except for Malfoy who sat still across from her, a blank expression and air of indifference around him.

"As you can see in the parchment handed out," Kingsley began, quieting the hushed conversations, "we're planning to send out a team — this team — by the end of this week to scout out what's been going on."

The meeting went on for another hour, going over the details and the delegation of tasks. By the time it concluded, people trickled out of the room with weary expressions on their faces. There was once a time where meetings concluded with restless energy and excitement to be a part of a larger purpose. But now, that light was dimmed and all that was left were shades of people who were forced to grow up much more quickly than they had to.

Hermione turned, only to be stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

"Mione, how are you?" Hermione looked up, grinning at the sight of George Weasley. His hair was bright and untamable as flickering flames and his face was freckled in a pattern of familiar constellations. Despite the wicked scar along his jaw and bags under his eyes, his face still held a warmth to it along with the traces of boyish recklessness and mischief.

"Existing," she said with a half smile. Hermione avoided the lingering looks, particularly those of grey eyes boring into her.

"Come on, let's have a little catch-up, yeah?" George gave her a lopsided smile and put an arm around her, leading her out the room.

An easy silence slipped between them as they sat under an oak tree behind the safehouse. The air was chilly as dusk descended but Hermione welcomed it, the warmth from the muggle alcohol George had brought already spreading through her body.

"How was Germany?" Hermione asked, feeling pleasantly buzzed.

"Not as well as we hoped," he said with a grim smile. "We were able to recruit many who had fled Britain early in the war. Most of their families were eventually captured or killed so they no longer had anything to lose. As for their government, they are still reluctant to get involved — too scared of getting dragged in," he spat.

Hermione frowned and took another sip from the bottle in her hand.

"But enough about this war," George said, interrupting her thoughts. "Malfoy giving you any trouble?"

"Nothing I can't handle," she smiled at him with reassurance. "His son is the sweetest. Malfoy's still a git, but he hasn't come unscathed by this war," she murmured. The man still kept her on edge. She still didn't trust him enough to put her guard down, but he made her question some of her assumptions about him.

"Not that you need it, Mione, but I'm here, yeah? If that bastard so much as tries anything, just say the word I'll be there in a second — with some fire crisps of course to enjoy the show of you beating his pompous arse." George winked at her and she let out a hearty laugh.

***

"Where Mini, daddy?" Scorpius asked from his place on their bed where he had been playing with his stuffed dragon. Draco stiffened, pausing from reading a report he had been perusing.

"I don't know, Scorpius. She is busy doing things... with other people," he replied, leaning back against the headboard and taking a deep breath. Draco hadn't seen her since the meeting that afternoon when she left with the last Weasley twin. "It's getting late, Scorpius. Time for bed."

Scorpius frowned but nodded. Draco pulled back the covers and helped his son get settled in.

"Night, daddy," Scorpius mumbled, already dozing off.

"Goodnight, Scorpius," Draco replied, brushing his fingers through the child's pale locks.

"Night, Mr. Dragon," the little tot said with a yawn, clutching his toy tightly.

Thankful his son was a heavy sleeper, Draco kept the bedside lamp on so he could continue his work, his tension melting as Scorpius inhaled and exhaled rhythmically, proof that he was here, he was safe, he was alive.

It was just past midnight when he heard a bump followed by a giggle from the hallway. Curious, Draco creaked the door open only to find Hermione Granger drunk, stumbling and giggling in the dim hallway. She was alone, dressed only in those obscene muggle jeans and a tight top, seeming to have lost the jumper she wore earlier. He opened the door wider and stepped into the hallway, carefully shutting it as he went through.

At the soft click she turned around abruptly, face flushed under the moonlight streaming from the window, bringing her features into sharp relief. Her hair was still bound, a few wild curls framing her face. She looked up at him with wide eyes, startled and unguarded. Draco's gaze flickered to her parted lips, catching the way moonlight shimmered upon them.

"Malfoy, you startled me!" she admonished with one hand on her chest, an eruption of giggles and hiccups following afterwards.

"Easily scared, Granger? So it turns out the Gryffindor Princess is not all that brave after all." The corner of his lips lifted at her indignant look. He crossed his arms and leaned against the door.

"I'll have you know, I'm not afraid of you Draco Malfoy," she said in that swotty tone of hers. "In fact," she began but was cut off when she hiccuped, "In fact, I have never been afraid of you even when we were kids no matter how much you tried to bully and threaten me!"

The witch turned up her nose, her cheeks dimpling as a smug smile and a triumphant look settled over her face. He merely looked at her and tilted his head, amusement flickering in his features.

"Yes, my broken nose in third year would attest to that," he said cooly, a pale eyebrow raised.

"Well, you deserved it!" she replied, completely unapologetic. Draco huffed and shook his head.

"Yes, I suppose I did." Hermione was startled momentarily at his admission before she swayed and caught herself with one hand on the wall. When she recovered, she scowled at the floor and pulled her wand from her pocket. Draco was completely perplexed as he witnessed the Brightest-Witch-of-Their-Age threaten the floorboards for attempting to topple her.

"— nasty! Horribly rude! I'll show you!" Before she could mutter a spell, Draco immediately lunged forward and pulled her wand easily from her grip.

"Hey!" she said angrily. She managed one step towards him before she felt the world tilting forward. Before she knew it, she was hauled into place by a firm hand on her elbow.

Hermione looked up at him to tell she didn't need his help but instead an uncontrollable laugh left her upon seeing his scowl.

"What?" he asked when she refused to stop giggling.

"You're always so grumpy! You never smile. I promise you'll have nasty wrinkles between your brows like poor old Madam Pince," she said as her shoulders shook with laughter. She barely noticed his hand on the small of her back, guiding to her room.

"Not exactly much to smile about, Granger," he sighed, ignoring the mention of the Hogwarts librarian. He guided her to sit on her bed but the moment she touched the mattress she flopped backwards, giggling. "Go to bed, Granger. I want to get back to sleep and I can't do that with you waking up the entire house."

The witch simply rolled her eyes, kicking her shoes off and pulling her hair loose from its tie. Draco was momentarily distracted by the colossal bush of curls that sprung in every direction.

"Such a shame!" she exclaimed as she snuggled into her pillow.

"What is?" he asked, eyeing her suspiciously as he placed her wand on her bedside table.

"That you don't smile!" she said as if it was obvious. Her lids began to droop.

"And why is that?"

"Oh, because you have such a lovely smile of course." Draco's eyes widened as he stood rigidly before her. By the time he recovered, she was fast asleep, a playful smile on her lips.

***

Draco walked patiently down the stairs with Scorpius clutching his hand as he counted each step. "— elven, twelve, three-teen, fourteen, five-teen — "

The safehouse was quieter now — most members had dispersed in the morning except those who were assigned to the Ostium jungle mission. Despite being used to the glares and tension whenever he walked into a room, Draco felt more at ease now that the house was not as crowded. He and Granger hadn't really spoken since he found her drunk aside from the cordial greetings in passing. He doubted she even remembered he had helped her to bed.

As they approached the kitchen, he heard Granger's voice babbling to someone. His footsteps slowed trying to identify the voice. However, Scorpius had other ideas as he yanked his hand out of his father's grasp and ran into the kitchen calling out to her.

"Oh, hello Scorp! Are you hungry!" Draco just turned into the doorway as she placed a large dish of lasagna in the middle of the kitchen table. Draco noticed Scorpius hadn't responded and when he looked at his son, he saw him eyeing a man standing next to the table set for four places.

Viktor Krum.

"Draco Malfoy," the Bulgarian said, rising to shake Draco's hand. "I hev remembered you very well! I hold many thanks to you for inviting us Durmstrang delegates to the Slytherin table."

He was tall and built with heavy brows and dark eyes. He still looked very much like he did when Draco last saw him at Hogwarts. From the back of his mind, an image of spinning periwinkle taffeta and a wide smile flashed through his head. Vaguely, he remembered the Weasel's tantrum at the news of her and Krum dating.

"Krum," Draco said, giving him a firm handshake.

"Hermy-own was jost telling me that you are her partner. I am very glad you have chosen to change sides," he said seriously. "And who is this?" Krum said, noticing the blond-haired boy clutching Hermione's leg.

"Viktor, this is Scorpius, Draco's son," the witch said then smiled at Scorpius. "And Scorpius, this is Viktor. He's a friend of mine."

Krum gave Scorpius a friendly wave, but Scorpius still looked skeptically at him. There was a pregnant pause before Granger cleared her throat and sat Scorpius on a chair at the table before taking her own.

"Well, I happened to make enough for four. Let's dig in shall we?" Krum seemed oblivious to the tension as he eagerly sat beside her. Scorpius and Draco sat stiffly in silence as he chatted about the current situation of Bulgaria and how he was visiting England only briefly. Draco observed the ease in which Hermione sat as she conversed with Krum, her shoulders relaxed and a fondness twinkling in her eyes as the Bulgarian brought up happy memories they shared in the past. Draco averted his gaze from the pair, continuing to slice his meal and bring it to his lips in a fluid motion despite the loss of his appetite.

Draco winced for the twentieth time at the atrocious way the bloke butchered Granger's name. Her-my-own, Herm-own-ninny, Her-my-owny.

"Is Mi-ni!" Scorpius suddenly shouted. The three adults at the table looked perplexed at the child's outburst.

"Oh, Scorp," Hermione said with a light laugh, "it's alright."

Krum only chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. Immediately, Draco noticed his son's color go red, brows furrowed tightly and his breathing accelerating. Shit, he cursed. He knew his son was about to have a tantrum.

"Okay, that's enough for tonight," Draco said as he scooped his son up in his arms, turning him away from Krum and rubbing circles on his back. "Scorpius is tired, I better put him to bed."

Hermione, who noticed the tot's mood, rose from her seat. "I can — "

"It's fine, Granger," Draco said with an unreadable expression. She was about to protest when a large hand landed on her shoulder.

"I think the child is sleepy. Maybe it's best you let Malfoy go," Viktor said, oblivious to the fact that he was the source of Scorpius' ire. "Besides, I vos actually wondering if we could have some private time."

From the periphery of her vision, Hermione noticed Malfoy go rigid. Before she could face him, however, he was gone.

After clearing the plates with the help of Viktor who continued to chat with her, this time about his family, they went out to the back porch. It was a clear night — an array of stars twinkled as the trees swayed gently.

"I kept all your letters, you know," Viktor said as he joined her by the railing, a fondness in the deep rumble of his voice. "I remember becoming very proficient in translation charms over the summer because I vanted to impress you."

"Yes, your English did improve quite significantly," she chuckled.

She hadn't seen Viktor much over the course of the war, perhaps twice or thrice and only briefly. Deep down she was always grateful for his friendship. He had been her first in many things, such as the first one to actually see her as more than a brain one could copy homework off of. Though Hermione always berated herself for the vain thought, she couldn't deny that a part of her appreciated Viktor for being the first to see her as someone desirable. He had made her feel pretty and attractive — even when she was such a Know-it-All with wild hair.

"This partnership between you and Malfoy... "

Hermione blinked at him, waiting for him to continue as he stared off into the night with his brows pinched.

"What about it?" she asked slowly.

"Are you seeing him? As more zen mission partners?" Hermione actually laughed but sobered when she realized he was serious.

"Malfoy and I... " she began, not knowing how to explain it to Viktor in a way he would understand. Hell, she herself didn't understand the tentative partnership — truce? Friendship? — between them. "It's complicated, especially with our past... "

"I hev heard you are always with him and his son, no?"

Hermione hesitated. "Well, Viktor, he's not just a mission partner. He and his son are also my assignment and therefore my responsibility."

Viktor nodded his head slowly, processing the words. Hermione sighed, looking up to stare at the stars only to find the sky obscured. Vaguely, she thought she heard a door shut firmly inside the house, but thought nothing of it as she tried to hear past the rumbling inside her own head.

***

Hermione crept down the stairs, mindful not to wake anyone. Despite the weariness in her bones, she felt restless at the approach of their mission. She felt as if her mind had failed her. After her talk with Viktor, she had spent the last four hours doing last minute research for any more helpful information regarding their mission. Aside from finding out about a natural — but quite weak — anti-Apparition enchantment surrounding the jungle, she was nowhere closer to piecing everything together. More and more she felt like an imposter in her own skin. So many looked to her to figure out the puzzle, be the Brightest-Witch-of-Their-Age. Kings and Moody had not expressed any judgement for her lack of progress, but she could see their disappointment whenever she came up empty handed.

After finishing her glass of water, Hermione put it in the sink. She shut her eyes and bowed her head, gripping the sink's cool edge. So much was expected from her. So much was needed from her.

"That oaf keeping your bed warm while you're gone, Granger?" a voice drawled from the doorway. Hermione's head snapped up. In the reflection of the kitchen window, she saw the broad form of Draco Malfoy looming in the doorway. Her eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me?" she asked in a calm voice. Since they had moved to HQ, he had been distant, his eyes often glazed from occluding. She had assumed it was due to the crowds, but as the numbers dwindled, he remained cold.

"Didn't take you as one of the types who used sleeping around as a coping mechanism for war — " A jinx caught Draco's shin, turning it into jelly and causing him to drop to one knee. He clutched it with a hiss, glaring up at the wand pointed at him. Quickly, he reversed the jinx and walked over to the seething witch, towering over her.

"I wont tolerate your bullshit, Malfoy. Have I made myself clear?" Her arm was steady as she continued to point her wand at his face. "What I do and who I do it with is none of your fucking business. So what if I was with someone? It does not impede my duties and performance as a member of the True Order. I still uphold my responsibilities and duty to my assignments — "

"Assignments," he laughed coldly, a cruel sneer settling over his features. "Of course. How unfortunate that you've been assigned to Scorpius and I — "

"What the fuck are you on about!"

Suddenly, her eyes widened, wand arm faltering as it dawned on her that he may have heard her earlier conversation with Krum.

"Don't deny that we're just another one of your duties as an Order member," he spat. "If you are just going to treat this partnership as an assignment then I suggest you stop playing around with my son and confusing him!"

"What the fuck — "

"He's getting attached, Granger! Don't be fucking stupid! If you're just going to treat him like another one of your tasks on your checklist to save the world and make yourself feel better then I suggest you stop acting like his mother — "

Draco's head whipped to the side as a crack resounded through the kitchen. Hermione's palm stung, her breathing harsh. Rage filled every fiber of her being. But deep down, she felt a sickening in her stomach. She blinked rapidly, trying to relieve the stinging in her eyes. How fucking dare he. She – she never meant to. She never meant to cross boundaries or act like — fuck.

Slowly, Malfoy turned his head back. His eyes were empty and impassive now. The corner of his lip bled but he didn't seem to notice or care.

"I never — I never meant to overstep any boundaries or..." she swallowed and averted her gaze. "Yes, you and Scorpius are my assignment but I wouldn't treat... anyone so callously. I – I care for your son."

Malfoy's face was still blank but, eventually, he nodded. "I apologise. I went too far with what I said." It was his turn to look away. His jaw clenched. "Everything has been a lot lately, especially with everyone around. I didn't... I didn't mean what I said. You can do whatever you want obviously."