Disclaimer: I do not claim to own the Harry Potter series or any of its related topics. Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling and in respect to its creator, this fan fiction was created for entertainment purposes only, and is not part of the official story line. The plot is mine and any other characters you do not recognize. No reader/reviewer is authorized to post/translate this story anywhere else without my permission.
A/N: This story discards everything that happened in Book 6 and 7.
Title: Alexander Draco Malfoy
Author: Aoi Megami
Beta Reader: ladyelainemalfoy
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Cadmus Peverell's Resurrection Stone
[May 19, 2003, 19:10]
Harry ran as fast as he could out of the dungeons and into the night. He looked around, there were no signs of life anywhere, but then he saw a slight shimmer in the opposite direction and saw the transparent body of his future godson. He ran towards him and was shocked to see that he was so transparent; he could pass of as a ghost.
"Xander," he wheezed from all the running.
"It's weird," he heard him say. "I'm disappearing, everything else is disappearing, my clothes, my brother's journal, my wands," he listed off. "But the Time Turner," he raised the golden Time Turner that hung from his neck. "It's not disappearing," he stated.
Harry saw too. It was as solid as any other object. "Is that suppose to mean something?" he asked as he took a seat next to him.
"I don't know," Xander shrugged. "Maybe it's doing that to humiliate me," he smiled in defeat. "You know, for messing up with Time," he sighed.
"Don't talk like that," Harry scolded.
"I'm going to die Harry," Xander's voice shook.
"It's not over yet," Harry didn't sound like he believed his own words.
"Wait, that's not right," Xander sighed. "I'm not even dying; I'm just, ceasing to exist."
"Xander!"
"They've forgotten about me," Xander was sobbing as he buried his head on his knees.
"That's not fair! They don't even know," Harry reasoned.
"How is it fair to me?" Xander unburied his face and screamed at him. "I —" he paused suddenly. He'd hit rick bottom—again. "I'm sorry," he whispered, dropping his head back on his knees. "I'm scared, Harry," he rocked back and forth.
Harry reached out to lend him a comforting hand. But now his hand just went through him. It wasn't like before, even if Xander was translucent, he could still touch him. He was frightened, he might actually lose him.
"We have to tell them," Harry quickly suggested.
Xander shook his head. "They can't know," he said.
"We're running out of time, there are only a few hours left before you…" Harry trailed off. He couldn't bring himself to say it.
"I know," Xander nodded. "But you also know why we can't tell them," he whispered.
Harry stayed silent. "What do we do?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"We have faith."
Ron emerged from the green flames into a familiar cosy room filled with familiar and curious faces of the Order members.
"Weasley," a voice called in surprise. Ron turned to look and saw his old school friend heading towards him.
"Seamus," Ron greeted with a nod. His friend looked worn, as did everyone else. The once handsome face of the Irish boy now had a distinguished scar grazing from his ear towards his broken nose.
"What are you doing back?" Seamus asked. "The meeting over?" he asked.
Ron nodded. "I need to talk to Luna," he said.
"She's with your sister in her room," he said.
Ron nodded and passed all the other members in the sitting room to head upstairs to his wife. He reached the familiar door and knocked before entering. As Seamus had said, Luna was there, together with Ginny, James and his daughter, Rose.
"Ronald," Luna looked surprised, as did Ginny.
"How did the meeting go?" Ginny asked.
"I—uh—um—" Ron stuttered.
Ginny, sensing her brother's obvious distress, stood from her position and took James and Rose in her arms. "I'll leave you two to talk," she said and quietly exited the room. Ron thanked her on her way out while giving his daughter a loving kiss before closing the door behind them.
"What's the matter?" Luna asked her voice clear and warm as it used to be.
He sighed and took a seat next to her on the bed.
"I was given a mission," he said.
Throughout the years, Luna had grown into a more pragmatic person, especially after becoming a mother. Though she still believed that Nargles do exist, she can now differentiate when and where the proper time for her to be dreamy or when it was time to be realistic. Motherhood and the war had taught her that.
"What kind of mission?" she asked. Her voice shook a little, but Ron failed to notice. To him, Luna had always been brave. Nothing had always seemed to bother her. That was what he admired about her.
"Nothing dangerous," he said. "Yet," he added as an afterthought.
"What do you mean?" Luna asked.
"My mission is to find a Horcrux," he said.
"A Horcrux?"
Ron nodded. "More specifically, Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem," he said.
Luna's eyes widened. "That's not possible," she whispered. "That specific item of Ravenclaw's been missing for centuries. Nobody has seen a glimpse of it since Rowena herself owned it."
Ron sighed. "I know," he said. "Hence my dilemma," he rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I was given a clue that it could be in Hogwarts, the question is; where in Hogwarts?" he continued. "I was hoping you could help me, some clue or even a rumour of where it could possibly be in the castle."
But Luna ignored him, she had the dreamy look on her face, the same look she had when they were children and she was seeing those imaginary Nargles floating around her.
"What?" Ron asked after noticing that familiar look. It was the look she always had when she was trying to remember something.
"There might be someone who might have an idea as to where it could be," she thought out loud.
"Who?" Ron nearly jumped.
"The Grey Lady," Luna was smiling.
"The who?" Ron raised a brow in question.
"The Grey Lady," Luna said again.
"The Ghost of Ravenclaw House?" he asked.
Luna nodded with a smile still on her face.
"A ghost?" Ron repeated.
Luna nodded, the smile not wavering from her face.
"You do know all the ghosts of Hogwarts are gone since it was destroyed," he stated.
"Oh Ronald," Luna shook her head. "They're ghosts, they're not gone," she said. "They're simply drifting around."
"Drifting around?" Ron repeated. He knew there was an answer around her words somewhere, he just couldn't figure out where.
Luna only nodded.
Ron started to become frustrated. "But she's a ghost! What would she know?" he sighed exasperatedly.
"A lot more than I could offer you, I assure you," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"When you see her," Luna continued. "Tell her you're my husband," she smiled. "She was quite fond of me while we were still in school," she said.
"Okay," Ron said unsurely. "Problem is; how do I find her?" he grumbled.
"Hm," she nuzzled dreamily. "That's true," she whispered. "If only you could pay the piper to bring the ghosts back," she trailed off.
"The piper?" Ron looked at her.
"Hermione said it before, apparently it's a Muggle saying," she waved her hand in dismissal while the other hand rubbed soothing circles over her somewhat protruding belly.
Ron reached into his pocket, where that familiar chess piece felt so heavy under his touch. Then he remembered, just after Scorpius' birth, Hermione had mentioned the chess piece being a part of the Deathly Hallows. He didn't believe her then; he reasoned that she was talking crazy because of the after pains of giving birth.
But they were talking about it in the meeting too; Harry's cloak of invisibility and the Elder wand that Draco Malfoy inherited from Dumbledore. The last missing piece was the Resurrection Stone, the stone that could summon the spirits of the dead.
He gently took the piece out and stared at it. "No way," he breathed out.
"What?" Luna looked over at him with a questioning look.
"You're great," he grinned at her and leaned over to give her a peck on her forehead before bounding off the bed and out the room.
They reappeared with a resounding 'pop' in the outskirts of the Slytherin camp in the Forest of Dean. Draco, in exhaustion dropped down to sit on the trunk of a tree whilst Hermione sent her Patronus to the camp to announce to Pansy that they've arrived. She then sat next to him as they waited for their friend for further instructions. Draco reached out to hold her hand. Hermione turned to look at him and he looked like he hadn't slept for days.
"I just realized," he started. "You haven't asked me if I was feeling okay," he stated.
Hermione nodded. "It would've been a stupid question," she said.
Draco grimly nodded. "And yet you're still itching to ask," he smirked sardonically.
Hermione only nodded.
"Go ahead and ask Granger," he said. Hermione smiled, he hadn't called her Granger since they'd gotten married, though she hadn't officially changed her name to Malfoy yet, because of the ongoing war, she still quite like the sound of her last name whenever he said it.
"Will you answer truthfully?" she retorted.
"I might," his voice cracked.
She opened her mouth to ask but the sound of footsteps crunching on the forest floor diverted their attention.
"Oh Merlin," Pansy stumbled into their clearing. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight of her supposed deceased friend. "Draco," she sighed and she enveloped him in a tight hug. "You're alive," tears stung her eyes as she pulled away to see him better, to assure herself that it wasn't her imagination playing tricks on her.
"I'm sorry I worried you Pansy," Draco breathed. "But, my mum, is she…" he couldn't finish.
"Right," Pansy said quickly. "This way," she said as she led them back to camp.
Draco waited for Hermione and took her hand as they walked after their friend. They were led to the farthest area of the camp, away from the other scattered tents. The camp was dark so there was no telling who's who even if that person was standing before you. Pansy opened the flap of the tent to let them in.
Draco stood still, staring at the open space that led to his mother's remains. A weak oil lamp lit the place creating that eerie feeling. He breathed in, his hand tightening around Hermione's and stepped into the room with the two women following just behind him. He heard Pansy cast a number of spells around the tent to ensure their privacy.
There was nothing else in the room except that weak oil lamp and a makeshift coffin at the far end. He gulped, finally letting Hermione's hand go; he took a step towards his deceased mother. The mother he once promised to protect, but had obviously failed.
Each step he took seemed to weigh down his shoulders, the guilt, the despair, all stockpiling until he could no longer stand on his own. He nearly tumbled but he hastily caught himself. He willed himself to be stronger and took the final steps towards his mother's side. The sight was enough to make his knees go weaker, and finally, he fell, in a heap of distress and tears, as he cried at his mother's side, completely forgetting that he wasn't alone.
Pansy took a step towards him, with a thought to comfort him, an automatic reaction but Hermione quickly stopped her. She turned to look at her friend. Hermione was trembling. Pansy could tell that the other girl was eager to dash towards her husband and comfort him. But instead, she stirred Pansy in the opposite direction and led her out.
They exited the domain, Hermione clumsily closing the tent's flap to assure that Draco gets his needed privacy; he needed alone time with his mother.
"Hermione?" Pansy looked at her friend who had hastily wiped the tears from her face.
"Let's just leave him alone for awhile," her voice cracked.
Draco cried.
He thought that after what happened earlier, that he had no tears left to shed. But he was wrong, yet again.
He apologized tremendously, for failing to protect her, for making her trust him.
When he had finally got a hold of himself and when he had finally stopped crying, he found himself by her side, on bended knees, reaching out to hold his mother's cold hands. She looked so at peace, Draco would've thought twice if she was really dead or just sleeping.
She looked pale, though his mother always looked pale. Her lips were curved into a small smile that seemed to lessen his guilt. Her platinum locks flew freely on her back from its usual tight confines. She looked younger; the lines on her face were gone, like a huge baggage had been lifted off from her.
He smiled at her content look.
He then made her a series of promises. That he'd see through this war to the end. That he'd finish what he'd started. That he'd protect his family better. That he'd make sure Scorpius grows to know his grandmother's bravery, love and support. He promised her all that.
He sat there, his determination renewed, the fire within him sparked brightly, and he also felt shame. For that one moment, after learning of his mother's death, he wanted to give up. He'd clearly forgotten that he had other people he cared about. He had a wife and a son, two people he'd gladly give his life to. He had friends who were loyal to him, who trusted him, who followed him to make this big decision to go against everything they were brought up to believe.
There were people left who were still worth fighting for. Yes, not even his mother death would be enough to make him forget that.
They were sitting on a makeshift bench outside the tent and waited. The wind blew, but the spring night felt warm and comforting. They continued to wait for what seemed like hours until Draco finally emerged from the tent. He looked spent, paler and ragged, his quick appearance making Hermione and Pansy simultaneously stood in surprise.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked.
Draco looked surprised as he stared at her. Then finally with a genuine smile, he said: "I'm fine now."
Hermione returned his smile, knowing that the answer was real.
"Are you leaving now?" Pansy asked.
Draco raised the hood of his cloak over his head. "Yes," he answered. "To Godric's Hollow, I need to pay my respects to my Godfather."
Pansy nodded. "Be careful," she said. "The both of you," she added after looking at Hermione.
Hermione nodded and took Draco's waiting outstretched hand and they disappeared yet again, with a resounding 'pop', heading over to their last destination: Godric's Hollow.
[May 19, 2003, 21:32]
They had been there for the past half hour. Hermione stood a good distance away, giving him the privacy he needed, while he sat before his godfather's newly dug grave, silently staring at the headstone created for him.
He refused to wear Harry's invisibility cloak, with reason of wanting to pay his respect properly up front rather than being hidden. Not that anybody could tell it was him. They were in a graveyard, wearing dark robes with their hoods covering their faces at night, with no lights present; they were as good as invisible. Plus add in a Muffliato Spell and a chain of protective enchantments around them, they were sure nobody would see them.
"Why would Potter bury him next to his parents?" Draco finally spoke since their arrival.
Hermione smiled. She heard his silent question from her position and gave him the quick explanation.
"You're joking," he said in disbelief, his eyes not wavering from the headstone. He couldn't imagine Severus Snape in love with anybody, let alone Harry Potter's mother.
"Do you want to dive into his memories?" Hermione asked with a playful smile on her face. "I'm sure Harry will let you," she added.
"I think I'll pass," Draco said, making Hermione chuckle softly. Draco had always seen their former Potion's Professor as somewhat of a role model, a mentor, a perfect human being who didn't get controlled by his emotions, and to see him at his most vulnerable state would've destroyed the image he created for him since he was a child.
"He did say one thing before he passed," Hermione started, suddenly remembering the message Blaise passed on. "Something disturbing," she added.
Draco finally averted his gaze from the headstone to look at her. Hermione had always been strong; never letting anybody read her emotions. That was why Pothead and the Weasel were always in the receiving end of her anger, because they just couldn't tell whether her expression or words was what she was really feeling, and then they'd go and say something stupid, and then all hell would break loose.
But he could always tell. No matter how hard she tries to hide it, she could see it in her eyes; hear it in the sound of her voice, that whatever this message was, it scared her. He stood from his spot and walked over to her. He held her hands in his and willed her to look at him.
"What is it?" he asked, hoping that the look in his eyes and the sound of his voice would offer her the strength she needed. "What did he say?" he asked again.
"Blaise found Snape before he died," she started. "Snape told Blaise that our son is in danger," she said. Hermione felt his hand tighten on hers and witnessed his eyes narrow dangerously.
"Scorpius," he nearly growled their son's name in anger. He let her hands go and started pacing to control his growing fury.
"Draco, there's—" Hermione tried to explain but Draco's rambling stopped her.
"I knew I should've—" he paced. "That conniving little—" he continued, not truly finishing his sentences. "I'll make Astoria—"
"What?" Hermione's voice rose. "What about Astoria? What are you talking about?" she stood before him, stopping him from his pacing.
"It's her isn't it? She's after our son," Draco said.
"I wasn't finish," Hermione said.
"What?" Draco cocked a brow in confusion.
"Snape said that it isn't Scorpius who's in danger," Hermione continued. "He said, the other son is in danger," she finished.
"What other son? We don't have—" he stopped suddenly, his eyes fleeting down to look at her flat stomach.
In her embarrassment, she hit Draco in the arm to make him look back up at her. "I'm not pregnant you twat!" she nearly screeched.
"Then what's he talking about?" he asked, his voice also rising.
"I don't know," Hermione gritted her teeth. "But let's put that aside for now and talk about Astoria!" she growled, making Draco flinch.
He quickly gave her the five minute version of the story, being careful not to leave out any important detail, and by the time he was done, it was Hermione who was pacing.
"That—" she said in frustration. "That—" she shuffled through the mini dictionary in her head to pinpoint exactly what Astoria is.
"Hermione?" Draco looked at her worriedly.
"That bitch!" Hermione screeched after finally deciding that the word presented the girl so perfectly.
Draco gaped at her. He'd never heard Hermione curse before. Ever. She'd always scold Potter and Weasley, either it be accidental or not, even he and Blaise got scolded for cursing a number of times. She was mad, and he knew it, and quite frankly, he was a bit scared to say anything, especially if he said the wrong words that could set her off.
"That conniving little—" Hermione continued her rant.
"Hermione," Draco quickly cut her off. "What about Severus, what did he mean?" he asked, trying to ease of her anger even for just a bit.
Hermione sighed as she willed herself to calm down. "I don't know Draco, but I can assure you I am not pregnant," she said. They both sighed in unison.
"So what did he mean?" Draco looked back at his godfather's headstone.
"Draco," Hermione said softly. "We have to return," she said. "It's not safe for us to be out here for too long," she reasoned. But Draco knew better. She was shaken after that little revelation about Astoria. Hermione was probably eager to go back to their son. He couldn't blame her. He felt the same way after hearing about Severus' warning.
"Yes," Draco nodded, sending one last lingering gaze at his godfather's final resting place. "Let's go home."
[May 19, 2003, 22:56]
Ron was wandering around the destroyed castle with his wand on one hand and the Maurader's Map on the other. After a few minutes of frustration he stuffed the map back into his pocket. He didn't know why he thought the map could help. The castle was destroyed; nobody else is in there so what good was the map? He sighed and sat down on the cold stone floor. The roof above him was destroyed and he could visibly see the night stars.
He reached into his pocket and took out the chess piece. He wondered how it works. He twirled it around, trying to search for some kind of clue, but nothing. The edges of the pyramidal stone looked burned, like it survived a blow torch on full contact. It still sparkled, a marking beneath the surface revealed one that he'd seen in Dumbledore's version ofBeedle the Bard's story books; the insignia of the Deathly Hollows.
He still couldn't believe it.
And yet he still wondered how on earth this Resurrection Stone can help him with his quest.
Hermione nearly had a heart attack when she couldn't find Scorpius. Harry had to calm the parents down by telling them that Molly had taken Scorpius over to the Lovegood house since she couldn't find anyone to take care of the child.
"So how was the trip?" Harry asked. He looked tensed. He actually begged Molly to stay at the Lovegood house and to bring Scorpius along, lying that the pregnant Luna might need her mother-in-law's help.
"Where's Xander?" Hermione diverted the question.
"Around," Harry looked panicked. Truth be told, Xander's been disappearing and reappearing. He'd disappear for a few seconds and then he'd come back, still pale and translucent, getting worst as the clock winds down to his conception.
"What does that mean?" Hermione looked worried, which unnerved Draco.
"Nothing," Harry shook his head. "Oh!" he exclaimed forcefully. "Look at the time," he said. "It's getting late, we should rest, we can pick up Scorpius tomorrow, and you two should sleep together now," he nearly pushed them to their bedroom.
"What?" Hermione and Draco exclaimed in unison.
"I mean—you know what I mean," Harry blushed. "Go! Go…rest," he grinned.
"You're back!" a new voice exclaimed, joining into their conversation.
"Xander, what—" Hermione stopped herself. The younger boy was fading. She paled as realization dawned onto her. He was seizing to exist.
"It's just an after-effect," Xander dismissed her worry. But she knew better. She'd used the Time Turner as well. She knew all the rules and the consequences. And she knew that Xander knew as well. He could feign ignorance but she could see the fear in his eyes.
"We should rest," Harry butted in. "Come on, up to your rooms, let's go," Harry waved his arms towards the exit.
Draco rolled his eyes and leaned towards Hermione to give her a peck on the forehead.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked, her eyes widening at his actions.
"I have to go back," Draco said.
"Now?" Harry choked. Draco narrowed his eyes at him. Potter looked more broken about the news than his own wife was.
"They don't know I left," he explained to Hermione, as if the other two occupants in the room weren't present. "I have to go back before they find out I'm missing," then he looked at Harry and glared. "Because I don't have the special treatment as a double spy anymore," he spat.
Harry wanted to stop him. But if he did, he'd be acting out of character, and then Hermione would know something's up, which would be the last thing they want.
"M-maybe you should stay," Hermione stuttered. She looked unsure as she said the words. Like she couldn't believe she'd spoken the idea out loud.
Draco merely smirked and placed another chaste kiss on her forehead. "You and I both know I can't," he whispered. "I have to go," he said hastily and turned to leave without looking back.
Harry wanted to stop him. He looked at Hermione; she looked about ready to go after him. He willed her to do so, he silently begged her to make him stay. Instead, she breathed out and turns the opposite direction, heading towards her bedroom.
Xander ran past him after his father. Harry wanted to go after Hermione but he was too worried about Xander. They were in the hallway and they found Draco ascending the stairs to reach the surface when Xander stopped him.
"Draco wait," Xander stopped at the base of the stairs.
Draco paused without looking back.
"Please, you can't leave," Xander's voice cracked.
Draco turned. His eyes were cold as he glared at the younger boy. "Give me one good reason why," he snapped.
Xander flinched. He opened his mouth to talk but no words came out.
"Exactly," Draco growled and turned to leave.
Xander and Harry quickly followed him. When they reached the surface, Draco was already heading past the barriers in order to apparate away. Xander stopped walking. His hope, his father was walking away and he would soon cease to exist.
He opened his mouth to call him back. "I—" he started, but it was too late. He had already disapparated. "I need you, dad," he whispered helplessly.
"Xander," Harry gasped behind him.
Xander turned quickly, with silent tears in his eyes, cascading down his translucent face. He frowned at Harry in confusion. His godfather was looking at him as if he'd—he quickly looked down at himself in panic. He was disappearing again.
Xander looked back at Harry who shared the same horrified expression. Harry, with his mouth wide open in shock, watched as Xander disappeared and reappeared before him like a flickering lamp in need of a new bulb, until finally disappearing completely.
But unlike before, he didn't come back.
Chapter Word Count: 4,375
