𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐎

Chapter 6

Chapter Warnings: Here's where the story begins to earn its rating (and your last chance to get off the smut train!). Wanking and other adult content in this chapter and the next.

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Chapter 6: Here Kitty, Kitty…

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"…are you INSANE, Harry?!"

"Hermione, please, he's still sleeping!"

Draco reluctantly cracked open one eye as two voices permeated his consciousness. Harry was wrong. He wasn't sleeping anymore.

"Alright, alright, but Harry…"

The higher-pitched, obviously female voice became softer, and Draco could no longer distinguish any words. He yawned and rolled over, prepared to go back to sleep, when it hit him: Harry was talking to Hermione Granger.

About him.

He was suddenly wide awake. Quickly but silently, he threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. He slid his feet into the slippers that Harry had found for him the previous day. Quietly, he tiptoed out of the bedroom, following the voices down the hall to the living room.

"…never been done before, you know that."

"I know, Hermione, but I can't just abandon him."

Draco peeked around the corner. Harry was kneeling in front of the large fireplace, and Draco could just make out a bit of bushy hair and a disapproving expression in the flames. He ducked back behind the safety of the wall where Granger couldn't see him, and listened carefully.

"It's not abandonment if you send him back to his own time, Harry."

"No, it's murder," Harry retorted hotly.

Granger sighed. "Oh, I do wish you'd think these things through more carefully."

"What's to think about? If he goes back, Voldemort -" Draco flinched "- will kill him. Unless we could send him back to the exact moment he left and be sure that my past self still rescues him from the Time Vault, and you've already admitted how difficult that would be."

"I know I can send him back within twenty-four hours of the time he left -"

"And we both know that isn't good enough. If we're off by more than a minute, there's no telling what could happen. The Aurors might cart him off to Azkaban, or worse, the Death Eaters might get him again."

"Yes, but you can't just change time like this, Harry, it's against the law! Do you have any idea just how many laws we're breaking if we keep him here?"

"I don't care," Harry snapped vehemently.

Draco bit his lip, his chest oddly tight. Harry was willing to go very far to keep him safe.

When Granger spoke again, Draco could almost hear her headache. "I know you don't," she said, and there was a resigned sort of air about her. "Nothing I say will change you mind, will it?"

"If he dies, both Dracos die, Hermione." Harry's voice sounded oddly small.

Draco swallowed. He hadn't thought of that. The tiniest prickling of jealousy bubbled in his chest at the thought of his older self being more important to Harry than he was. He brushed it impatiently aside. He wasn't going to get jealous over himself.

Granger sighed loudly. "Oh, Harry," she said, her voice the same complicated mix of exasperation, affection and kindness that big sisters use when dealing with persistent little brothers. "Fine. Keep him."