Three more days.
That was all the time she had before her time was up and she would have to face the devil himself. Or watch Phillip get tortured and lost in the Phlegethon River.
Days had passed since Christmas and she was left with just 3 days and fourteen left to recruit for Phillip. Of course, that wasn't on her mind after her first encounter with a sphinx. All the books she could've read did not prepare her nearly as well as she had hoped, but it wasn't as if she could go and find a sphinx to practice on. They were few and rare, and with violent tendencies, they were neither allowed to be kept in captivity.
Now with the time ticking down, she had to focus. And she had to get Draco ready.
After slipping into comfortable clothing, she softly knocked on Draco's door. To her surprise, Draco answered quickly. "Good morning, love."
"Good morning, my dragon," she said. Her enthusiastic tone was far from her. Draco's face fell into a frown upon this recognition. "I am taking you on one of my missions today. I do not want you to get too involved, but you need to at least be prepared at what it might take to do what I do. I'll meet you for breakfast."
Down at the table, a small breakfast was in place. The house elves started, upon her request, to make her morning smoothies. It was the most Morgana could handle most mornings after the Christmas festivities. Draco finally joined up with her at the table, and instantly she started barrelling facts at him.
"We are going into town. Wear all black, but try to be inconspicuous. Probably best to skip the robes and wear muggle clothing. Keep your wand near, but you won't need it. Most of missions are done the muggle way, but on occasion I've had to use magic. Keep your emotions and behaviour in check. If ever we are to be separated when unwarranted, use your dark mark to call me. I will hear you."
Things were different since Morgana was sat down by his parents and told of her past and what will be. He had felt that maybe he wasn't supposed to hear it all, but Morgana seemed to find his mind and insist on him being present.
"You have been having visions, haven't you?" Lucius started that night after they had gathered in the library. Morgana nodded. Narcissa remained silent, but a smile slowly grew on her lips the more Lucius revealed to her. "The Vision your elders used to speak about was the ability to see the past, future, and beyond this realm. Only some of your family before you held this ability. It is a sign of the Gods, Morgana."
At this Morgana's heart practically stopped and she could hear Draco's flutter.
"Dear, I think you need to explain more. Morgana looks as if she's about to be sick," Narcissa said lowly.
"Your father, the Diamanté name, was and is part of the Gods. Your mother, the Iaculus line, was the protectors of the holy magic. Neither your mother nor father was chosen, but they were the protectors and the warriors to fight in the ranks of the gods. You were prophesised to be amongst the gods. The gods bestowed a gift among your family when you were born. And that gift was you. Your magic is ancient, your blood is old. You, my dear Morgana, are as old as magic itself and will live far beyond its existence."
"Morgana," Narcissa started when she noticed the young girl's brows furrow in question. "This means that not only is your ability older and more natural than the air around you, but you are a god. If magic – Merlin forbid – ceased to exist, you can make it from the water or from bending the air around you! The world is meant to bow to your feet."
"You just have to find your powers" Lucius started once more. "We were never told how this was to be achieved, but you have to find it in yourself. Look to your ancestors. Many of them had particular gifts – the Vision or the strength of a thousand men. But Morgana, you have this all within you. You are more than all of them and they all exist through you now."
After the news, she knew Draco would treat her differently. Right after the news was told to her, she retired to her room. Draco stayed with his parents for another conversation.
"Morgana," he softly said after she finished all the important information to relay. "I do not see you any differently than when you were the little girl who practiced magic with me. You are my little fairy and I'll always be here for you and to protect you."
She sighed. "I know, Draco. And I adore you dearly for it. But I do not wish to be a burden to you and for you to feel like you have to protect me."
"I'll always have the feeling of protecting you. My parents nearly adopted you and even my crazy Aunt Bellatrix kept her damn mouth shut when she got out of Azkaban. I've loved you since I knew what love was."
"Draco…" she started, but never finished. With her head bent down for the entirety of the conversation, Morgana did not notice Draco stand up from his seat until he was crouched down next to her seat.
"You are mine to take care of. We may not be bound by marriage or betrothal laws, but you are mine." He grabbed her hand and gave it a soft squeeze before standing up. "Before we head into this mission, I would like you to meet a few acquaintances of mine briefly."
She nodded. "When must I be ready?"
"I will meet you in the foyer in 30 minutes in the attire you asked of me," he informed her. Morgana nodded before taking his hand and going upstairs with him. At the top of the stairs, Draco reminded her once more of the time constraint and kissed her cheek before retreating into his room. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she wished for her reality to be different than it was.
Quickly, Morgana slipped into black pants and a fitted black sweater. Like most days, her hardest decision was her shoes. After staring hard at her collection in her closet, she decided to don a pair of steampunk black flats. Before grabbing her long, black coat that lay strewn at the foot of her bed, she tightened a utility belt she rarely felt the necessity to use; today, though, she had to do more than she normally would.
In a routine she never forgot, she placed her favourite pair of sais, two pistols, her tanto, and a pocket of shuriken into her belt. The only thing not in black was the necklace she grabbed. The silver and black beads of her rosary swung against her skin, underneath her shirt, but the holy symbol wasn't so much a symbol of hope for those she wished to use it against. Within the cross portion of the rosary was a few millilitres of a potion so ancient and poisonous that she didn't even have the cure for. Her predecessors created the potion with no intent of creating a cure.
"Elenei," she turned to her bird. "Nothing happens to those papers." Morgana stuck a thumb out at the pile of papers gathering on her desk. "Not even Lucifer himself can take those away from you, you understand?" The fiery bird nodded before flying over and landing atop of the papers. In a flash, she whipped the coat over her shoulders and awaited the young Master Malfoy.
"I have something for you." The light caught the silver of her bracelet, before enveloping a gleaming black weapon in her hand. Morgana handed over an extra pistol she carried in case she ever lost her own. "This is one of my personal ones. No one can ever trace this back to you as long as you carry it. It will fire without fail. Other than that, it is as simply a muggle weapon."
"What?" Draco asked as he took the black firearm.
"You will see me use mine. I don't expect you to use it, but just in case, you'll see."
"Alright," he hesitantly stated. "Let us go." For once, Morgana allowed him to apparate them to their location. She took his arm, and in a moment, she felt the unfamiliar tug at her navel. When the nausea was about to take over, their feet hit the ground. In front of her stood a rundown tavern with a creaky sign, faintly spelling out 'the Leaky Cauldron'.
"Have muggles ever wandered in here?" Morgana accidentally voiced her thoughts. Still laced with Draco, the two entered the building. The interior matched its exterior and only a few patrons sat in the mid-winter chill. The pair grabbed a seat at a table fit for more. Without having ordered, two pints were placed in front of them.
"No offence, Draco, but I don't drink prior to a mission." A flick of her wrist and the golden liquid and its container disappeared before appearing behind the bar. In its stead, a warm cup of hot chocolate. "I hate how you English folk have different forms of currency for muggles and wizards," she grumbled to herself as she magicked a few coins to appear on the counter from her palm.
The ringing of the entrance bell alerted her attention of newcomers. Out of the corner of her eye, four heads walked towards the very table they were sitting at. Morgana shifted her full gaze onto them, and in mid-step, they halted their oncoming.
Draco stood up noticing this. "Potter, Granger, Weasley's – this is Morgana."
"We've met," the four chorused immediately with blank expressions.
"Although never directly in person," Ron Weasley added.
"Why did you ask us to meet you and your new girlfriend here?" the boy with lush green eyes spat at Draco. Although not directly in a glare, Morgana could feel some disdain radiating off of his gaze.
Draco made to speak, but Morgana simply placed her hand on his. "I will speak for myself, Draco." She turned to the guests. "I apologise for never coming to your aid, even though Dumbledore had insisted on it. There are reasons why I could not."
Ding ding.
After they had all been placed in seats, Draco started again. "This was who the Dark Lord was after, Potter. She is the only person that can disband the loyalists."
"Isn't your father a loyalist?" Harry Potter spat back.
Ding ding.
While the two argued, she kept her gaze on the others. Hermoine Granger was staring curiously at her. Ron Weasley, hidden behind an ugly sneer, was forcing fear down. His younger sister, on the other hand, was giving a much more convincing sneer.
"Draco," Morgana calmly said. The cold ring on her finger brought his attention to her and stopped what would've been a shouting contest. "Please, allow me to explain. I don't know why nor did I know until recently, but this Dark Lord Voldemort was after my family and I. Now I cannot explain why – and you must trust me on that – but as I heard, there are still those who are loyal to him. But there are many more loyal to me. I will not take sides in this post-war politics, but there is a darkness still lurking."
"Why should we trust the words of someone who we know practically nothing about?" Ginny Weasley harshly whispered.
Ding ding.
"Also someone who essentially betrayed Dumbledore," Hermione added.
"You shouldn't. But you need to at least do so this very moment. Draco, defensive spells only."
Draco only had a moment to process what he was instructed, but it was enough as he dragged Granger down with him under the table. While the five of them hit the ground, Morgana stood on the table.
Like an action hero in the muggle books Hermoine marveled over, Morgana's coat billowed behind her as she drew both of her pistols. The silver gleamed in the light. If she wasn't seeing it with her own eyes, Hermoine would've sworn she was reading another fictional book.
Unlike Morgana, her opponents used spells. She could sense Draco's magic growing as he selected carefully which spell, on whom, and when to use them. This was simpler than his training. He didn't have to move; he just needed to stay and defend.
"Don't you dare raise your wands against any of them," Draco hissed through his teeth. If Morgana wasn't jumping across furniture, he would've run out into the duel and left the four Gryffindors to fend for themselves. But his new girlfriend was risking her life to protect them, and he would defend her. "If any of you cast a single spell and it hits her, I swear I will curse you all." His final warning landed upon them.
Morgana jumped across chair backs and tabletops as she fired round after round. It wasn't difficult for her to get her bullet to their targets, but something in her stomach was putting her off. When four bodies were lying in their own pools of blood, Morgana nearly crushed the windpipe of the final magical being in her way. "Who sent you?" she said in a soft, menacing voice. Her other foot connected with his wand hand, and she watched as the wand rolled to Draco's feet, not more than a few inches away.
Draco arose from underneath the table and held his wand to the wizard on the ground. "Answer her."
"I'd rather die," the man said in a voice coated in pain.
"Then die you shall." Morgana reached down and turned his head with a sickening crack. Draco watched her with blank eyes. He knew she was strong – he watched her train and fight – but he never realised that she was strong enough to break a man's neck with her hand.
"Nine to go," she muttered. Draco barely caught it. She was finishing the job today.
"What was that?" Ron half-yelled, half-asked in his shaky voice. Although grownup and in full adulthood, Ron was still witless. "What are you?"
"Calm down, Ronald," Morgana said. "I am just a witch like you or anyone else. I've just been trained not to be like you. My family didn't believe in being weak. At least your Weasley pride is strong. So, do you trust me now that I saved your lives?"
"If anything that's less of a reason to trust you," Ginny Weasley stated.
"Suit yourself," Morgana said before Draco could argue. "Just remember that if the Harry James Potter had failed in the prophecy then I would've been the one defeating Voldemort for all of you. Or if I had chosen differently, the one that you all would be bowing to. If you lot are so curious, ask Molly. She knows some of the truth. Let us part." She slipped her hand in Draco's. With a smirk he reserved only for the Golden Trio, Draco led his little fairy out into London.
"You did quite well in there, my dragon," she said with a small smile. In the muggle world, Morgana was not afraid to be more candid. She reached up on her toes and gave a small peck on his cheek. "I'm glad my training methods paid off." A smirk mixed with her smile in the most pleasant manner and Draco's heart gave a flutter.
"It did. But they bloody didn't deserve it."
"Hey now, be nice. They're politically correct. Although I don't care to mix my own blood with theirs, they aren't wrong for being born and sorted how they were. They are magic, and magic is true."
"Now you sound like a god," Draco joked. Morgana laughed lightly, but it didn't reach her eyes.
She glanced up at him. "Baby, can we not talk about this lightly? I don't know what this even means, but I don't like it. We'll talk about it when we ought to, please?" she pleaded. His blond head slowly bobbed in understanding. She wasn't willing to face what could be her early death.
Just as dark as her face had become, she turned them down a dark alley. When no one seemed to pass by, Morgana led him to the top of the fire escape on one of the buildings.
The building was the tallest in the immediate area. Nothing was around them; a small shopping centre, a couple of pubs, a few grocery stores, but nothing worthwhile. Morgana simply walked along the tall edge of their current surface. "Morgana, get down before you fall!" He couldn't stop himself from yelling at her.
Still atop the barrier, she spun on one foot and faced him. "I won't fall. Trust me, my dragon! And don't tell me you're okay with me being the target for hexes and curses, but not okay with me standing on the edge of a building."
"The difference, love, is that now you're choosing to be dangerous and callous."
She shrugged, deeming his logic fair, but she did not leave the edge. "I need to see where I'm shooting at," she answered his unasked question. And in a second, her pistol was out again.
The air seemed still when she shot. The echoing noise lost with the close of her eyes. One shot and she would rearrange her body just slightly that her next target would fall far from the last. In a quick leap, she was on the other side of the building and firing quickly and accurately as on the other side. Draco didn't know who she was shooting, but he knew that he was going to hear nine shots fired. It was a surprise when she lowered her arm after eight.
"You have this one." That was all she said before raising her hand out to indicate the pistol hidden in his cloak. Draco pulled it out slowly and suddenly, the weight of the weapon dawned upon him. In year six, he wasn't able to kill his former headmaster even though he was sworn to do so. In year seven, he couldn't kill any of his former schoolmates or professors. He couldn't even kill any of the death eaters even if he wanted to. She knew all this, and still expected him to shoot someone down.
When he didn't move, Morgana hopped down from her perch. "Draco, baby, you can do it. This isn't for me or your family or what's right anymore. This is for you. If you can't do this now, I can't save you from the soul-binding contract." She guided him to the ledge. She did not make him stand on the edge like she did, but only had him lean over it.
"I wish you didn't have to do this, but I know you can." She wrapped her hand around his, his trigger finger bathed in the warmth of hers.
Morgana didn't push him. She allowed him to go through his motions. All she stayed there for was for him to know that he was no monster. "Nine," he softly whispered as he lowered his hand.
"Thirty-six," she said when he turned to her with his head down. His gaze was downcast until she spoke. "You are no monster, my dear dragon. You are a warrior."
"Have you ever killed someone in… intimacy?" he asked, not knowing how to phrase the question properly.
Now it was her turn to hang her head. "Yes. I've broken necks, I've strangled a man, I have stabbed a woman, and I've casted several killing curses on someone. I've tortured and I've killed. I am not a good person, and I will not be a good god. You are not the monster, my dragon – I am."
As he held her delicate hands, he realised what she truly was. She had blood on her hands, and much of it. Despite all of that, she tried to live as a good person as much as she could. Never did he see her threaten anything, even nature, when it wasn't deserved. She never displayed biasness or any prejudice against those with different blood statuses than her. She took care of what she could without being asked. No, she wasn't a monster; she was justice.
"Let us enjoy the new year with a smile. I just want the last few days of this year to be just us." She beamed up at him a genuine smile. His eyes glittered with a hidden secret that he wouldn't share for days.
A/N: Hey! Sorry this came out a little late, everyone! I had family in from Texas and I got a bit of fever. Since it broke a bit, I've decided to update!
Thanks to my new subscriber AsterousShy! I hope you stick around for a while :) I'm sorry if this story is dragging a little bit. I have several ideas I want to incorporate before I reach the inevitable end.
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