The Tarnished Trio Chapter Six
"The Dark Lord fell at Harry Potter's hands." Minerva started. Then the meteor storm struck. The whole place was in an uproar but we lost many on both sides not to the battle but to the storm. The storm killed many of our friends and enemies. We are few now and have decided to work together in peace to try to resolve things.
Severus looked up and asked. "Who on the Death Eater side survived?"
"Not many. Mainly minor men who were forced into Riddle's services. They quickly laid down their wands. It was then we realised most of our magic had gone. So in a way we had a stand off."
"You have lost your magic?" Severus asked in shock. The trio stared at Minerva taking in the news.
"Yes, no one as far as I knew up till now had magic. But you seem to have Severus as well as you Hermione. I do not understand how or why this has happened.
Draco frowned, he wondered if he had lost his magic as he had not used any since entering the tunnel to the shack. He pouted and extracted Hermione's wand from her jeans pocket. She turned to frown at him then smiled and nodded silently, understanding Draco's action.
Draco thought for a few moments picked up one of the rock buns and transformed it into a pile of sandwiches. He beamed from ear to ear and smugly sat back then just as swiftly handed back the wand with one hand and scooped up a couple of sandwiches with the other. Severus and Hermione cleared the plate of the remaining sandwiches. Hermione felt guilty with hands filled so set one back down. Scooped out her wand and transfigured the rest of the buns into plates of sandwiches and cake that was edible.
Minerva helped herself to the food as she realised the three were starving. She let them finish before she continued.
"Well I see you three have magic although I am sure it is weaker than normal?"
The three nodded. "It has got a little better since we exited the tunnel and I can feel it getting stronger as I eat. But it is nowhere near what it should be Minerva." Severus replied as he glanced to his other two companions for their opinion.
Both nodded.
"My magic is very week. "Draco admitted lowering his gaze from Minerva's stare. He felt a little uncomfortable being watched by her .
"Yes, mine is low too as S...er... the Professor stated." Hermione managed to catch herself from uttering Severus' name.
"Nice catch." Whispered Draco with a smirk into Hermione's ear.
Thankfully Minerva continued without much notice.
"As I said we are thin on the ground and have no way of communicating with the Ministry or did not tilll you three arrived with magic. That will help us a lot. Do you only have the one wand between you?"
"I have my mother's but it is broken." Severus announced followed by Draco revealing that his mother's wand did not really work for him and removed it from his pocket. It barely responded to him. It was next to useless
I am sure I can find you a wand to use." She took her wand from her sleeve and nodded towards Severus.
"Want to try my wand out Severus?"
Severus lowered his head and coughed as he felt a little dig in the ribs from Hermione.
"No, I shall borrow Grangers as it is similar to that of my mother's and am used to it now."
Minerva raised her eyebrows. She huffed. Then looked closer at all three sitting opposite her. She was sure there was more to this magic between the three. She would learn about it sooner or later no doubt.
Minerva drew in a deep breath and knew what she was about to reveal would upset Hermione a great deal. She had noticed the body language between the three on the couch opposite her and she knew in her gut that however Hermione reacted that both Severus and Draco would be able to support her. She liked what she saw regarding the dynamics between those three. Yes, she could imagine this was a new friendship that could go places.
"The war is over and no one has claimed victory. In my mind this meteor storm has devastated our kind enough. Thankfully Harry had dispatched Voldermort just as the first meteor fell to be precise. "
Minerva sighed and leaned forward looking directly towards Hermione.
Hermione had felt in her heart that if she had returned after being lost she would have expected Harry and even Ron to be there waiting to ask her where she had been. So far she had no such confrontation. She had tried not to think much since her return. She started to shake as Minerva talked. She waited for the words she did not wish to hear but stoically stood her ground.
Hermione was glad of the warmth from the two bodies sitting on each side of her. She knew she was shaking with fear but comforted knowing the two would help her to remain strong.
"My dear, I am so sorry..." Minerva's eyes filled with tears as she struggled to relate the dreadful truth to her ex student.
"They are both gone. Harry fell as the Dark Lord was blown to dust. Then in what should have been a happy victory, we watched in terror as the meteors hit. The first landed on top of where Harry stood. We later found Ron nearby he had been badly burned after being blown away from Harry's side. Harry Potter died a hero."
Hermione felt hot tears fall from her eyes that slid down her face to land on her hand that covered her mouth from her suppressed sobs.
We lost many including, some of your class mates but all of the Weasley's survived, apart from Ronald that is. We lost Nymphadora, Remus, Kingsley as well as others from the Order."
Minerva's voice hitched as her own tears slid down her face. "We also lost members of staff including Flitwick, some others are still missing."
Hermione broke free from between the security of Severus and Draco and fled the hut to get some air. Draco got up to follow but Severus caught him by the arm and forced him to sit. Severus knew there was worst news to come.
"Draco I am sorry... your parents were helping the Order in the last few weeks and helped save many lives in the process including helping students to escape. I am unaware of their whereabouts We have not found them yet."
Draco lowered his head. He was in pain from his injuries as the potions were wearing off. Tears escaped from his eyes and he hastily brushed them off and got very angry as he felt as if he had gone soft. Blubbering like a girl in front of his Professors.
"I am going to look for my parents. "
His voice hitched then he took in a deep breath, glared at Snape who had a restraining hold on his arm. He swiftly shrugged it off. But before he left he then stood straight and looked over towards Professor McGonnigall.
"Thanks for telling me." Draco stiffly moved through the door into the sunlight. He wondered if he could recognise the ash marks on the ground. With his stomach churning with fear he had to look for his parents.
Minerva wiped her face in both hands and poured out more tea. She had managed to hide her own wounds from Severus' view but knew when Poppy arrived he would notice that she was not all in one piece.
"Now that those two have left can you provide me with more detail about Slytherin House?"
Minerva wiped away her tears and tried to compose herself once more. "Most of the students got to safety. Lavender Brown along with Neville Longbottom, rallied the younger students and with help by Ambleforth Dumbledore all got to safety. That is apart from the senior students of age who preferred to say and fight for the side of the light. I am proud of all the houses, especially Slytherin. Do not look at me like that, Severus Snape."
Minerva scowled at him for rolling his eyes and sneering back at her words.
"Mister Blaze Zabinni has been a tremendous help, he got his senior Slytherin's to keep those on the Dark Lords side secured away. He also saved many lives including that of Ginevra Weasley. He is a young man of whom we can be proud. Pansy Parkinson also helped gather the young Slytherins and kept them safe then somehow she created port keys and got all of them home to safety. Then she returned to fight and yes, she fought against her friends and relations against the Dark Lord. Severus, you have a brave and loyal House. They protected Hogwarts."
Severus was bone weary and wished to sleep but knew he had to remain awake for now. He was sure the three of them were running on their magical reserves to remain up right.
"The only Death Eaters who survived were related to the Blacks and forced into the Dark Lords service they threw down their wands prior to realising our magic had gone. Severus I am sorry
we did not realise..." Her words trailed off. "Harry informed me of your memories and he gave them to me to keep for safety. I have them here in my pocket. Proof you were acting under Dumbledore's orders all this time. You silly man." Minerva moved onto the vacated couch seat beside Severus.
"Why did yeah not tell me, " She shook her head and thumped with her hand onto Severus' shoulder. Her voice shook with emotion and her Scottish brogue broke through as tears filled her eyes.
"Would you have believed me?" He asked looking up into her tired eyes and face.
"Of course I would. I knew you were up to something all year. I had my suspicions but with those Carrow Twins around I hardly got a moment free with you. Come to think of it I never was left alone with you."
"They and the Dark Lord thought I may be assassinated so he had them act as my body guards. But they were in fact more like prison wardens. They were on my heels from dawn till dusk. I did try to leave you clues."
"Yes, but you silly, I was so angry with you that I only realised this when it all blew up in our faces. You never did tell me how you three came to exit from the Shrieking Shack tunnel."
"I think we have enough to do and one day I shall tell all but not now. We need to gather our forces from all sides and see where we stand."
Minerva hugged Severus fiercely. Then she released him with a wince.
"You stink. Come to think on it all three of you stink!"
"What day is it?" Severus asked. Then on her response realised he had been in the shack for over seventy two hours.
"I dinnae ken how you three have magic?"
"I can only concur that it is only possible as we were buried under debris at the time of the meteors so possibly escaped its whiplash."
"Possible but something is lannoying me I feel as if I should recall something. But never mind lets get together with the others. They will be coming when the sun gets lower as Hagrid is roasting a wild pig for dinner. It is under the ashes by the side of his destroyed garden. Least we do not have to cook the veg."
Severus stood and winced.
"Poppy is out with Hagrid as soon as she returns I am sure she will wish to check the three of you over. But without her magic she is a little lost. But perhaps one of you three can do diagnostic or healing spells under her direction."
"Poppy is alive?" Severus smiled a rare smile. "I am glad for it."
"Yes and she too will be for you." Minerva chuckled. "But expect a right royal ticking off."
Hermione ran towards the lake and then spotting the giant squid dead on top with lots of dead fish and mer people. she swiftly turned after gagging from the stink and ran towards the old oak now half burned. Here she held onto it and cried. She had ran past craters and scorched marks in the ground and tried not to notice the red blood smears and other detritus in case it had been her friend Harry. She had cried herself to sleep. She woke up with a jolt as something was dripping onto her head. She had brushed it off but it had annoyed her.
She wiped her forehead and bile rose up into her mouth. It wasn't blood it was much worse. It stank and her stomach churned as the smell of death assaulted her nostrils. She had not smelled it earlier due to her distress and exhaustion.
She pushed away from the half burned tree and screamed. A body half burned and bloated was oozing its fluids as it decayed in the suns heat .
Draco scoured the grounds hunting for his parents. He did not find them. He had vomited the food he had eaten when searching and had recognised some items that had not been completely destroyed. He had found a ring that looked similar to one his Aunt Bella had worn. He left it on the ground. He had not wished to own anything of hers. He had shuddered and moved on.
He had come to the conclusion many of his Slytherin friends and family would be all gone and tried not to think on it too much. He had cried once out of the hearing range of the hut. He had a lump in his throat trying not to break down again. He knew he was a mess with a blotchy and swollen face from blubbering.
His father had been distant since the Dark Lord had taken over there manor. Lucius was a puppet in his own home and was desperate to survive. Draco had known his father was doing this to protect him and his mother. Lucius had taken many beatings.
Draco had been shocked when Aunt Bella and her husband had eagerly taken their turns at casting Unforgivables on his father at the Dark Lords request . Draco and his mother had been forced to witness his humiliation and both knew it was to disgrace him in their eyes. He had cried wanting his father to know that he had still respected him for protecting him. He wanted to find him alive to tell him to his face.
As for his mother, Marcissa, he could barely contemplate the thought she was dead. He had muttered a mantra under his breath for her not to be dead. He wanted both is parents to have survived this disastrous war. But if only one survived he wanted it to be his mother. She had protected him even offering her own life with an oath to protect him. He had only discovered this by Harry Potter of all people. He had informed him Snape was keeping him safe as well as the Golden Trio.
Draco was taken away from his personal thoughts by a scream and his body knew it was Hermione. He ran in the direction the sound had come from. He was running to protect her. He felt a little tingle as his magic tried to surge but it was so weak it was barely noticeable.
Hermione shuddered with wracking sobs. She had a dead bodies fluid in her hair and on her face. She could have known this person. Her stomach churned again as she wretched again. She was bringing up nothing but stomach acid now and it burned all the way up into her throat.
Then she felt the brush of magic. She knew it was one of two people. Then recognised the tingle as Draco. She spoke gruffly as she had screamed herself hoarse.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and it was like the catalyst she turned and threw herself into him. He nearly fell over backwards at the force. They clung to each other as they shared in their grief. Hermione's sobs started Draco and he wept clinging to this new friend of his. A very much unusual alliance. But he knew something special had happened under hellish circumstances in the Shack Tunnel. He had got closer to two people. They all shared a special bond and a very special magic as yet not realised.
"Granger..." Draco hitched, "What's wrong?" He know lots was wrong but for her to scream like that something had distressed her and broken her completely.
"Up..up..tree.." Hermione clung to Draco and sobbed into his shoulder. Her words barely recognisable but Draco looked up and regretted it. A dollop of goo dropped onto his face.
"Fuck" He swore wiping away the disgusting fluid. He had seen the thing in the half burned branches and realised it was or had been a human at one time. Draco moved them away from the dripping tree but stood holding each other while half kneeling on the scorched grass.
Severus accompanied Minerva to catch up with the rag tag remains of the battle. The survivors were all docile and the few from the Death Eaters bowed to his seniority no matter what they had heard. The sight of Snape and McGonnigall in deep conversation had those survivors having no doubt they were working together.
Severus avoided speaking to others for now. He quickly found where Draco and Granger had got too. He moved in silently but shook his head. both were standing and looked like holding the other upright. Both clearly distressed. He did not blame them he was distressed himself but had held it in check. He had never realised how much devastation could be caused by one snakefaced bastard and a meteor strike.
He enveloped both of them by wrapping his cloak around them in one clear swoop for a hug. Severus Snape was not a man to hug. But the surge of his magic with theirs was the quickest way to soothe all in one quick action.
Hermione felt the warmth of Severus wrap round her. She let go of Draco and turned to wrap her arms around his neck and Draco also turned to snag an arm
He shook his head as he felt the surge of his magic reaching out to the Muggle and the Pure Blood. Never in his minds eye could he have predicted this. He had suspicions of why their magic was recognised by the other.
"What am I going to do with you two?" He muttered under his breath. He shook his head as Hermione's magic surged strong as she found one of his hands and squeezed.
She had felt his magic approach and hers had lurched out to find him. the renewed contact gave her a boost and when he touched her she leaned into him further. The skin to skin contact had her magic flare up bright. It caught her by surprise and she leaned back to look up into his equally surprised face
Draco had felt the surge of Hermione and seeing her touch Severus hand he took her other and felt the surge of her magic into him.
Wet eyes were now dry and eyes looked at one to the other. Draco then took up Severus other free hand and the magic surged off in all directions surrounding them with a bright yellow glow.
Severus leaned into both of his companions and each rested a forehead on the other creating a triangle. The magic surged even brighter. A very bright white light circled them and it spiralled upwards then out and fell down around them ensnaring them in a magical globe of power.
"Oh Fuck!" Swore Severus aloud.
"What?" Draco and Hermione asked in unison.
"I have never seen anything like this before," Hermione whispered in awed surprised.
"What the hell is going on Severus?" Asked Draco looking around him with a dazed look on his pale face.
Severus let out a groan. He had hoped this would not have happened yet. He would have to be having words with Hogwarts Castle first.
"We will need to have a talk but not now. We need to get food, rest and some of us have hurts to be healed. Madam Pomfray will be with us shortly. Come but nothing of this..." he use one freed hand to circle around including the three of them. "Must be spoken of to anyone. This is our magic and we will need to discuss it together but later. The time is not right yet. "
Severus Snape, as far as the wards and castle was still Headmaster. He had a few secrets only the headmaster and castle shared. He stood in the area where his office had once stood. Of course it would have been over fifty feet above his head but the castle knew what to do. Severus ensured no one was about to see when he touched the castle bricks. He leaned into the remaining wall and closed his eyes. His magic thrummed then broke off.
The Castle had just revealed a prophecy to the headmaster, one old and ancient and as far as anyone knew never fulfilled. .
When Meteors fall and strike from above
Hogwarts will fall and lose what you love.
To restore the balance friendships must form
Between all of the Houses to weather the storm.
When the Light has fallen and the Dark as well
When MAGIC has gone with nary a spell
Witches and Wizards will all feel lost
Their world has gone at such a great cost.
With friendships new blood and loyalty bright
Three will come forth who must unite
A TRIAD ritual performed at the Castle wall
Will restore the balance and magic to all.
Severus swore under his breath as he knew he would need help to fulfil this prophecy. He needed to find Granger and Draco quickly. Time had passed and he had little time to make some things better. but he needed their magic to help.
The castle one of the United Kingdom's if not the World's strongest magical building even if it was damaged. Hogwarts needed him and the magic of the other two to bring back the magic to the Witches and Wizards of Britain. If they did not do this, then all magical folks apart from the three would remain as squibs.
But first Severus Snape would have to inform Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy that they would have to join together in a Triad in order not only to fulfil the prophecy to return magic to them all but that they would have to join in a unique bonding ritual.
"Buggering shite." He sneered and rolled his eyes. He growled under his breath as he realised in order to do this they as a Triad would have to have sex.
The End For Now
A Sequel is in the Making.