Disguised and hooded Draco and Hermione could barely make it into the doorway of the Hogs Head. The meeting was filled to the brim with wizards, witches, and even a few goblins.
Standing on her tip toes and surveying the amount of crowd, Hermione grabbed Draco's hand behind her and pulled him into the room.
As they passed by, Hermione took mental note of everyone she recognized. She had had no idea what to expect going into this meeting but every familiar face was an old wound tore open further and further. She noticed classmates such as Lavender Brown and Padma Patil. These girls who would gossip until you glued their mouths shut, but never harm a fly unless necessary, looking absolutely broken with rage and grief.
Finally Draco and Hermione arrived at a spot near the middle of the crowd where they could see the table being used as a stage. Someone started to make their way up to it and the crowd began to chant.
"Death to Death-Eaters! Death to Death-Eaters!" The crowd ramped up the volume and Draco clutched Hermione's arm.
She turned to look at him and for a split second forgot that they did not look at all like themselves. Even with red hair and a hand-me-down robe, Hermione saw in his eyes that Draco was upset. Whether at this display of public hatred or with himself, she could not tell.
"Are you alright?" Hermione whispered to him.
Draco/Percy nodded and gulped.
"You can wait outside if you'd feel more comfortable." Hermione suggested. Draco shook his head.
"No. I need to hear this." He said solemnly. Hermione furrowed her brows but could not follow-up with questions as the speaker pointed their wand to their throat and began talking.
"Hello and good evening everyone!" The man a top the table that Hermione did not recognize spoke to the audience. The crowd roared, whooped, and hollered.
"Thank you for coming out tonight. Now, we have important updates. We know the ministry is seeing what we're doing. All of our posters have been torn down in Diagon Alley. Our point will not be ignored!" He spoke. The crowd cheered again.
"Tomorrow morning before dawn we already have a group of brave volunteers to spread our purpose and reinstate the informative posters across Diagon Alley. Doubling the amount this time. Next, we're bringing them to Hogwarts!" The man continued on, drawing the crowd further in with every word.
Hermione's jaw dropped. She had no idea that this organization was planning to advance their ideas on to children at school. As she was about to say something about this to Draco, the man changed his speech.
"To talk more about this week's plans, I present our leader, the woman who started it all, Cho Chang."
Hermione's breath quickened and forehead began to sweat, she nearly fainted. How could someone in her OWN department be running, nonetheless have started, this hateful organization. Especially someone as timid and sweet as Cho. She couldn't believe it, she wouldn't.
Nonetheless, Cho stood up on the table and began spewing plans for the week consisting of spreading the agenda of anti-death eater ideals and who would patrol the grounds of Malfoy manor each morning. The meeting eventually concluded and Hermione and Draco rushed out so they could not be seen or spoken to by anyone. They swiftly apparated to Hermione's flat.
———
"Oh my god." Hermione stated in pure shock as they landed in her living room. She repeated the phrase over and over until she noticed Draco had been noticeably silent. He was sitting on the sofa, staring blankly into the fireplace.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked him.
Draco laughed.
"Granger why on earth are you asking if I'M okay?" He responded. Hermione sat next to him.
"Because that was awful! That display of public hatred upset me, I can't imagine how it feels to be the subject of it." Hermione said exasperatedly.
"Yes. You can." Draco responded quietly. His eyes dropped.
"I saw to making you feel that way for many years of my youth." He added on. Hermione sighed.
"Draco I don't still hold you to any of that you know that right? You were just a kid! With no choice otherwise may I add." Hermione said.
"So you've said before but I just don't see how that can be true." Draco explained. Hermione grabbed his hand.
"Holding grudges is not worth it for how short life is." Hermione said. Draco looked down at their interlocked hands and took a deep breath.
"Hermione I'm so sorry." He said but couldn't quite look her in the eyes.
"I know you are." Hermione said. They exchanged an understanding look and started to form a plan as to how to confront Cho about the meeting before she found out about their attendance.
———
The next morning Hermione and Draco were up and moving before dawn. He had stayed over on her couch again after spending most of the night talking with each other. The plan was to pull Cho aside at work so they could get her side of the story before making the arrest.
As Hermione and Draco entered her office, they took deep breaths and prepared to act like everything was as normal. Luckily Dean was off today for Seamus' birthday and would not be their to follow-up with them about how the meeting went.
"Good morning everyone." Hermione said to her coworkers as she sat at her desk.
"Hermione posters have flooded the streets over night." A newer employee named Violet chimed in right away.
"Right. We can get teams on that first thing. Everyone head out to the lobby and split yourselves up into groups to go take the posters down. I will not be joining as I have work to do in the office today." Hermione instructed. Everyone nodded and made way for the door, Cho filed in. Hermione called her name.
"Cho. Could you help me with something before you leave please?" Hermione asked. Cho turned her head skeptically and walked back into the office. Draco quickly shut and locked the door behind her. It was now just these three.
"Could you tell me what this is?" Hermione asked. She slid Cho a picture taken of her speaking at the previous night's meeting. Cho's face reddened and she blubbered for words. Draco stood by the door further away from the confrontation.
"Would you like to explain why you've been going behind my back for weeks? Creating a platform that instills fear and hate in others?" Hermione asked. Cho finally looked up at her.
"That's not me." Cho said. "It must be edited."
"Now I know that's not true because I saw this happen in real time." Hermione responded. Cho knit her eyebrows.
"How could—" Cho audibly wondered in confusion.
"Polyjuice." Hermione responded. Cho clenched her fists and Draco stood up straight, pulling his wand out of his pocket in case this escalated.
"Fine. It's me." Cho said. Hermione waited for further explanation.
"I didn't mean to hurt you Hermione. I meant to hurt people like Malfoy, who deserve it." Cho said angrily, providing an aggressive side-eye toward Draco.
"No one deserves this! Those who committed crimes in the war went to trial and had punishments decided by the Wizengamot. There is no need to create the same type of hateful environment we just escaped, but reversed the other way. Why would you do this?" Hermione said. Tears began to fill Cho's eyes.
"They killed him. They killed Cedric and everyone moved on. Not me, I will not forgive and forget the death of my love so easily." Cho explained as tears rolled down her cheeks and onto Hermione's desk. Hermione's heart sank into her stomach. So, this whole operation had come from a place of grief and loss.
"I'm sorry Cho, I really am. Cedric is missed dearly I promise you. But I simply can't excuse this. Two wrongs do not make a right." Hermione stated.
"Promise you won't turn me in please I'll do anything." Cho said. Hermione raised her eyebrows, she didn't realize that she would give up so simply. She really was just hurt.
"Fine. I will not turn you in... yet. As long as you can prove to me that I'm making the right decision." Hermione said. Cho nodded her head as she wiped her tears with her sleeve.
"You can do this by disbanding this organization and encouraging all members to attend grief counseling. Better yet, make your final meeting a grief counseling session, I will set you up with a counselor personally. I will be monitoring to make sure this all happens." Hermione explained.
"Sounds fair I guess, but some of the members won't be easily persuaded." Cho said.
"You can give me the names of those who refuse . I will speak with them personally. Are we in agreement?" Hermione explained. Cho slowly nodded.
"You may go then. Take down those posters, and throw them away this time." Hermione added. Cho walked toward the door which Draco still guarded.
"Oh and one more thing." Hermione added. Cho turned around to listen.
"I would appreciate if you apologized to Draco personally." Hermione said. Draco's eyes shot up at her.
"I don't think—" Draco started but was interrupted by Cho.
"I'm sorry." She said. She didn't necessarily sound like she meant it, but it was a step forward. Hermione allowed her to go. It was now just Draco and Hermione left in the office.
"Well I think that went as well as can be expected." Hermione sighed as Draco moved toward her desk.
"I'm glad you won't have to deal with all of that anymore." Draco said with a small smile. Hermione smiled in returned but shrugged.
"I'm sure this isn't the end of it. Just because Cho was easily swayed doesn't mean everyone else that was a part of this... movement will be." Hermione replied.
"Still I'm thankful for your help. I might be able to enjoy tea in the garden again." Draco replied. Hermione laughed.
"That would be nice." Hermione looked up at him smiling.
"You should join me sometime." The words slipped out of Draco's mouth before he could stop himself. He and Hermione both blushed at the straightforwardness.
"I would be happy to." Hermione said. Draco raised his eyebrows and had to work to keep his jaw from dropping.
"It's been a pleasure working with you on this Hermione." Draco held his hand out for a shake and Hermione stood up to match his level.
She grabbed his hand but instead of shaking it, pulled it to bring him closer. With an inch left between their faces, she swiftly kissed him on the cheek, leaving behind two wide smiles between the both of them.
A/N: Hey so random update after almost two years??? I just was re-reading my own story (yeah I do that LOL) and it started really irking me that this one wasn't finished so I had to end it right away. Anyways... hope you are all doing well!