A/N: Sorry it took me so long! But it is the holidays and, despite how it might look with my quick updates, I do have a life outside of Fanfiction. Obviously, I'm not going to finish this by the end of the year like I planned, but it will definitely be over in January. So close!
When outside of the confines of their safety net, Lucius cast a Detection Spell to locate Polly, since finding the only Eagle Owl in this forest would be far easier than finding a specific person.
Everyone was silent as they walked through the brush and trees, Astoria obviously deep in thought about what it was she was planning to do. As much as her father deserved to die, there was no coming back from this sort of murder. Still, she had to do it. For herself. For Ron.
Draco kept glancing back at where the tents had been, wondering if he should have given Hermione a better kiss goodbye. What if it was their last?
No. He couldn't think like that. They had only just found each other. There was no way he was going to lose her again. They would find Arron, kill him quickly, and get right back to their campground. It was too risky to go after the others right now. For that, they would need to come up with an actual plan. Not just wing it, like they were currently doing.
Looking down at Astoria's wand-hand, Draco noticed it was shaking. He hurried his pace so he was walking next to her and grabbed her free one.
"Stori, you don't have to do this," he said.
Astoria glanced sideways at him and gulped. "Yes, I do. It needs to be me, Draco. As sick as it is, I honestly don't think I could bear any of you doing it instead. He's still my father and none of you need justice the way I do."
"Well, if you change your mind, just say the word and I'll step in."
Astoria nodded, even though she knew she would never 'say the word'.
The five of them continued to walk cautiously through the forest. They may have had a Detection Spell on the owl but there was no way of knowing how close they were to it, just the general direction. Also, there were three other purebloods lurking around and, for now, they were hoping to avoid them entirely. The longer the purebloods were ignorant to their presence in the forest, the better. If they continued to think that only Hermione, Narcissa, Astoria and a wounded Pansy were out here, it could only work in their favor.
Suddenly, they heard some leaves crunching under what must have been someone's foot. Uncertain of the direction, they all moved into a circle facing outwards and held out their wands, making sure to remain completely still.
More leaves crunched in the direction Lucius was facing. Everyone turned towards it, Astoria grabbing back onto Draco's hand with her own shaky one.
A cloaked figure stepped out of the brush, pushing branches out of their way. The figure froze when they saw all of them standing there, scanning each one until their eyes fell upon Astoria.
"Astoria!" said Arron, pulling back his hood. "What are you doing out here with … with them?"
Astoria's hand continued to shake in Draco's. The others all looked at her, still holding out their wands in case it became necessary to strike. It did not seem like she was going to make a move. Then, without any warning, her hand stopped shaking. Her entire body eased as she stared back at her father with a newfound fire.
Astoria's eyes narrowed as she raised her wand a little higher and shouted, "Avada Kedavra!"
Arron dodged just in time, the Killing Curse shooting right past his left ear. His head whipped back up to stare at his daughter for a split second but, once he saw the rage that had now surfaced, he took off running in the opposite direction. Astoria ran after him, followed closely by Draco, Lucius, Phillip and Sophie.
"Avada Kedavra!" she shouted again, accidentally striking a tree.
The tree began to fall fast towards the ground, but Phillip caught it with a Levitating Spell. Sophie attempted to reattach it somehow while Phillip continued to hold it up, trying to spare the other purebloods the sound of it falling. Draco and Lucius continued to chase after Astoria, who was chasing after Arron.
They caught up to her just as she missed hitting her father with another Killing Curse. She hit a little too far left and he went right.
"Stori, maybe you should take a moment to actually stop and aim if you're going to do this," said Draco, getting impatient. They were making far too great of a commotion.
"I'm not trying to hit him, Draco. I'm leading him. Trust me, I know what I'm doing. I have spent every summer wandering this forest since I was five. No one knows it like I do. One more shot and I'll have the bastard cornered."
Astoria curved through the forest to come at her father from a different angle. When he tried to circle back around, she shot another Killing Curse at him, making him turn in the opposite direction.
"Got him!" she shouted to Draco and Lucius before running and jumping through the brush.
They tried to run after her but then, suddenly, Blaise was in front of them, his eyes going wide and his lips mouthing, "What the fuck?" before shooting the Cruciatus Curse in their general direction. Both dodged; Lucius to the side and Draco falling backwards.
Lying flat on his back, Draco could see Polly staring down at him from a high branch. He waved and said, "Hi, love and baby! I'm all right," knowing very well that Hermione was watching.
"Who the fuck you talking to, Malfoy?" demanded Zabini. "Crucio!"
Draco rolled out of the way and under a bush. "None of your concern, Zabini!"
"Draco!"
He looked over to see his father crouched down beside him.
"I will take care of this. You, go after Astoria."
Draco nodded. "Don't you dare go easy on him. He deserves to bloody fucking suffer for what he did to Astoria." And tried to do to Hermione. He shuddered at the thought.
"Will do," Lucius said with a smile.
Draco crawled on his hands and knees out of the way before getting to his feet and running in a crouched position. He heard his father shout, "Crucio!" behind him and hoped with all his heart that it had hit.
He headed in the direction Astoria had gone and ended up in a large clearing. Astoria stood near the edge of it with her wand pointed at her father, who stood on the other side by the edge of a deep cliff. The sound of running water echoed from below. The river that flowed into the lake.
"Astoria, stop this madness!" shouted Arron, trying to take a step forward but, when Astoria pointed her wand more forcefully, he stopped.
"Draw your wand!" she demanded, still staring at him with a fiery vengeance.
"No! I would never draw my wand on my daughter!"
"Then how about at me?" said Draco, stepping out of the trees and pointing his own wand at Arron.
"If Astoria was not standing beside you, I would gladly -"
Draco took several steps up.
"Still too close."
And several more to the side.
Arron took out his wand and aimed it at Draco.
"No!" shouted Astoria. "Your fight is with me!"
"There is no fight between us, Astoria! You're talking like a mad woman! These people have poisoned your mind! They deserve to be punished!"
"The only person whose mind has been poisoned, Father, is you. I have never felt clearer in all my life! These people you are so dead-set on killing, helped rescue me from that … that prison! But you … my own fucking father left me there! LEFT ME!"
"Only because I knew they weren't going to do anything to you! Your judgment may have been clouded by that boy, but I am positive you will come back to our side and so is Rita. You're a pureblood through and through."
Astoria was absolutely livid. She wanted to tear his fucking eyes out for being so naïve. In fact, she would have done it if Draco had not run back over to hold her back.
"Do not touch my daughter!" shouted Arron, once again trying to take a step forward.
Astoria pushed Draco off of her and held her wand up high, stepping forward herself and aiming it right at her father's heart.
"Pansy's a pureblood through and through too, Father! Did they leave her alone?"
"Well … no, but -"
"No buts! She is a pureblood and she's been tortured for months for pretty much doing the exact same thing I did! We both tried to help the other side! The right fucking side who would never leave their daughters in the hands of a psychopath! Rita told Blaise to do whatever the fuck he wanted with me, Father!"
Arron went white.
"And you know what? He did! He beat me and then had his way with me, and when he got sick of me struggling, he gave me Amortentia and took away my freewill! Would Draco ever do that to me? Would Ron?"
"I -"
"Yes! You! Always fucking you and your chauvinistic pureblood ways! What about me, huh? What about what I want?" Angry tears had already been dripping down Astoria's cheeks, but now she was full out sobbing, trying hard to keep her wand-hand steady. "You took the only man I ever loved away from me!"
"No, I -"
"Admit it! Admit that you never planned for Ron to live! I want to hear you say it!"
"No -"
"ADMIT IT!"
Arron took a deep breath and stared back at his daughter, nearly tearing up at the sight of hers. "Fine. When I first went to the Weasley brat -"
"RON!"
"When I first went to Ron,I never intended for him to live at the end of all of this," he finally admitted, "because Rita never intended for his wife to live." He motioned his head towards Draco. "But, then, I suppose he knew that. That's why he added that last term to our vow."
"He's not an idiot!"
"Could've fooled me."
Astoria pointed her wand sharper.
Arron sighed. "Astoria, you don't understand. I just wanted you to be happy."
"I was happy! I was the happiest I had ever been in my life! But you … you took it all away from me! Because of you, Ron has already begun to die!"
"He should already be dead."
"NO!" she screamed, suddenly finding her courage again. "No," she repeated in a deep, drawling voice. "You should already be dead."
"Do it then," Arron said, taking a step forward. "Kill me." Another step. "You know you want to."
The closer he got, the more Astoria's hand began to shake. She whimpered as she tried hard to focus on keeping her wand aimed at him.
"Stori," called Draco from beside her.
She glanced sideways at him.
"Remember what I said. Just say the word. You don't have to do this."
"No. No, it has to be me," she cried shaking her head. "A-Avad …" She gulped. "Avada K-Ke …"
"Please, stop this nonsense, Astoria," said Arron, nearly reaching her. "You can't kill your own father." He stretched out his hand and put it on her wand, slowly lowering it to her side. "There, you see?"
Astoria swung her other hand and smacked him hard across the face, nearly knocking him to his knees.
"Fuck you!" she shouted. "Because of you I lost the love of my life! And you don't even care! You don't even fucking care! I hate you! I HATE YOU!"
Astoria started pounding on him relentlessly. Arron did not fight back, but he did try to grab her wrists to keep her from hitting him.
"Astoria, please, stop! Please, you're my daughter. I love you. I -"
"Don't fucking touch me!" she screamed, pulling away from his grasp.
"Hey!" Draco ran over and pulled Astoria free from the flailing hands - namely hers.
"You have to die! YOU HAVE TO DIE!" Astoria pulled away from Draco and held her wand back up, pointing it at her father.
Arron climbed to his feet and took several steps back, tears now streaming down his cheeks as he realized the anger in his daughter's eyes was not going away.
"It is the only way Ron will have even the smallest chance of living!"
"He chose someone else over you, Astoria. Why are you still fighting for him?" Arron asked, just trying to understand. He continued to step back, small step by small step.
"You threatened his best friend's life! I was angry at first but, then I realized, if the situation was reversed, I would have done the exact same thing! I would have given up Ron to save Draco's life as long as I thought he was going into safe hands. He never believed you would hurt me! How wrong he was …"
"He chose you in the end, Astoria," said Draco, pointing his own wand at Arron.
Astoria and Arron both looked at him.
"When he finally told us what he knew, the first thing he said was that this wasn't just about Hermione. We needed to help you too. He was worried about you, Stori. He knew telling us was a risk, especially for Hermione, but he took it. He took it because he loves you."
"Is that really true?" she asked in an almost whisper.
"Of course it is."
Astoria began to sob uncontrollably, her hand once again unstable but still aimed at her father.
Arron looked at his daughter and began to sob himself, still taking small steps back. "You're my daughter, Astoria, and I love you. I just wanted you back."
"It was your choice to lose me in the first place," she said, finally dropping her wand and falling to her hands and knees, watching mindlessly as her tears sunk into the dirt. She had given up. She thought she could do this, but she just couldn't. Despite everything, she still loved her father and she couldn't be the one to take his life.
"I know. It was my choice and I'm sorry. All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. And now I know what I must do. I can't be selfish. Not when it comes to you." Arron wiped his eyes and looked at Draco. "Kill that bastard for what he did to her."
Astoria clutched the dirt in her hands and looked up. Arron caught her eye and sighed deeply.
"I made a vow to do everything I could to make sure you lived a happy life and I broke it. It should have been me that died, not him." He stopped stepping backwards just short of the cliff and paused, taking a moment to look closely at his daughter. "Break the snow globe I got for you in Switzerland. The one with the Snow Dragon flying around the Alps. It is the only way to lift the shield without me. Glass will fall but it is nothing a small Protection Spell won't stop." Arron smiled peacefully. "Good luck with Ron."
And with those last words, he took one more step back, plummeting himself over the edge of the cliff.
"DADDY!"
Astoria ran unsteadily to the edge. She tried to look for her father's body, but all she caught was a small glimpse before it was lost somewhere amidst the rocks and roaring rapids. Draco grabbed her from behind and pulled her away.
"Don't look, Astoria!"
"But my father! My father!"
"I know," he said, pulling her head into his chest.
Astoria clutched his shirt and cried into him.
"Why … why did he do that?"
"I don't know," Draco answered honestly.
Arron Greengrass jumping off of a cliff was definitely something he wasn't expecting. It seemed he did love his daughter after all.
"Draco!"
They both turned to see Phillip and Sophie running into the clearing, several hexes shooting by their heads. They were soon followed by Gorden and Quinn. Draco and Astoria stood up and joined their friends in pointing their wands at the new arrivals.
"Holy fuck!" shouted Quinn when he saw Draco. "How many of them are there?"
Right on cue, Lucius ran into the clearing, followed shortly by Blaise, who now had a divine new tattoo on his face. Draco squinted his eyes to read it and started laughing hysterically.
"Good one, Father!"
"I thought it was appropriate." Lucius smirked, obviously very proud of his hexing of the word 'Rapist' on Blaise's forehead.
"Lovely. Now 'e just needs ze word 'Murderer' right under eet," said Sophie, shooting a hex at Blaise.
He blocked it and ran over to Quinn and Gorden, who both started laughing.
"What does it say?" asked Blaise, rubbing at his forehead. "I can't see."
"I'll save the surprise for when you have mirror handy," said Quinn. "You better damn well hope that it comes off."
"Will it come off?" Draco asked Lucius.
"Not easily." His father smiled.
"How the fuck did you get through the shield?" Blaise demanded, seeming to want to forget about his new ink.
Draco couldn't help but laugh. Fucking idiots, not even understanding that they would have to have been through it before it went up.
No one answered.
"Where's Arron?" he demanded next.
"Check over the cliff," Draco said, motioning with his head.
Astoria whimpered beside him. He grabbed her hand.
"You killed your own father?" Blaise asked, looking at Astoria in disbelief.
Astoria took a deep breath and made sure her wand was pointed at him. "No. He killed himself the moment he joined forces with that Skeeter bitch. All of you did."
Blaise was visibly upset.
"Oh dear." Astoria frowned. "Poor, sweet, Zabini is actually hurt by the news of my father's demise. I know you liked to think of him as your own father, considering your mother killed off every one of her husbands before you ever got to know them and all. Perhaps you will tell Daphne what I did, and she will move her hatred from you to me. You two will bond once again over your grief," she mocked, that fiery vengeance returning to her eyes. "You're fucking delusional of you believe that."
"Fuck you!"
"I believe you already did that you fucking prick! Avada Kedavra!"
The Killing Curse came out much easier when aimed at Blaise and not her father.
Gorden leapt at Blaise and knocked them both to the ground, the curse just missing them. Blaise tried to jump back up and retaliate, but Gorden pinned him down.
"We are outnumbered, you idiot! This is no time to be getting into a duel! Without Arron, we're going to need all the manpower we can get! We need to retreat!"
"Fine," said Blaise, sneering over at Astoria.
They got to their feet and darted into the forest with Quinn just behind them. The others all ran in pursuit. They knew they had the upper hand right now and they'd be fools not to take advantage of it.
Unfortunately, the purebloods were moving awfully fast and it was hard to get a good shot with all of the trees. When they got dangerously close to the house, it was time to call a halt to this chase.
Without a word, Astoria turned around first and started running back towards the tents. The others all followed.
Catching up to Draco, Lucius breathlessly asked, "Did she do it?" while they ran.
Draco shook his head. "She wasn't lying when she said he killed himself. The guilt made him step right over the cliff."
"I must admit, I'm relieved," said Lucius. "Killing him is something, I feared, she would never come back from."
"She still might not," said Draco. "Not if Weasley doesn't make it out of this."
Polly swept through the forest and took the lead. She guided them towards the tents and through the shields. The moment they got there, Hermione ran out of one of the tents and right into Draco's arms.
"I'm never letting you leave my sight again," she said into his ear.
"Was Polly watching me the entire time?" he asked.
Hermione nodded against him. "I never thought I'd say this, but I am so thankful for what Arron did." She pulled away reluctantly and grabbed his hand. "Let's go save Ron."
The two of them walked into Ron's tent. Astoria, Lucius, Sophie and Phillip were already inside.
"So how do we do this?" asked Astoria, who was kneeling beside the bed and holding onto Ron's frozen hand.
"We need to unfreeze him," said Draco, stepping forward with Hermione still permanently attached to his hand. "Then we let the vow run its course."
"And then?" Astoria asked, slowly looking up at him.
"And then we try to revive him. Do you know how to do that?"
Astoria nodded. "We just need to send waves of energy to his heart. To get it pumping again. I've never done it before but I've seen it many times. I should be able to do it."
'Should be' didn't sound too convincing.
"Are you sure you want to do this now, Astoria?" Draco asked, feeling Hermione's hand tense in his. "We can wait."
Astoria shook her head. "I'm just as powerful as any of those other Healers. If this doesn't work then it can't be done. I can't wait any longer. I need to know if he's gone or not."
Draco sighed and put a hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps we should move him to the center of the room. So we have more space."
Astoria nodded and stood up. Lucius came over and picked up Ron while the others moved the sofas, chairs and tables out of the way. Once there was an empty space, Lucius put him down in the middle of it and stepped back. Draco held out his wand. Astoria started to move forward but Draco motioned for her to stop.
"First, let it run its course. Then do whatever it is you have to do."
Astoria nodded.
"You ready?" he asked.
She nodded again.
Draco aimed his wand, took a deep breath and said, "Congelo Contrarium!"
Color started to return to Ron's cheeks as the Freezing Charm wore off. Within moments his hand was twitching, then he was shooting up and choking for breath, locking eyes with Astoria for one split second before his heart stopped completely. He fell back, dead.
Astoria ran forward, put her wand on his heart and shouted, "Vis Fluctus!"
His chest shot into the air but he did not wake up.
"Vis Fluctus!" she shouted again.
Nothing.
"Vis Fluctus! Vis Fluctus! Vis Fluctus! It's not working!" she cried
Hermione clutched tighter onto Draco's hand, crying as she watched this girl try so desperately to save her best friend. They had always known it was a longshot, but that didn't stop them from hoping for the best. At this moment, though, it seemed like all hope was lost.
Suddenly, a surge of energy ran from Hermione's hand to Draco's. He screeched out and pulled his away.
"What the -"
Hermione lifted her hand and looked at it. "The baby!" she shouted. "Merlin, Draco, the baby! It makes me more powerful! It …" She ran forward and crouched down on Ron's other side. Putting her hands on his heart, she shouted, "Vis Fluctus!"
His entire body jerked off of the ground. Astoria stared at Hermione with wide, astonished eyes.
"Get air into his lungs!" Hermione ordered. "Vis Fluctus!"
His body jerked ridiculously high again. Astoria aimed her wand at his lungs and started filling them with air. His chest began to heave.
"Vis Fluctus!"
With that last wave of energy, Ron shot up and gasped for air, gagging as he clutched at his heart.
"Ron?" Astoria cried as his breathing began to steady.
He turned towards her, his eyes widening. "Astoria! Merlin, please tell me you're not dead too!"
Astoria shook her head, both laughing and crying at the same time. "No, I'm not. And neither are you!"
"What?" he said, looking down at his hands and wiggling his fingers before using them to pinch himself. "Ow!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. She was slightly offended that he hadn't even noticed her yet.
"Is my word not good enough or something?" asked Astoria, crossing her arms.
"It's not that. I'm just … surprised." He looked at her and gave a toothy grin. "I'm alive!"
She nodded again and smiled back.
Ron reached out and pulled her into a hug, laughing hysterically as they cried in each other's arms. "I know we're technically broken up, but can I kiss you?"
Without answering, Astoria hurled her lips onto his, using her hands to cup his face while she kissed him tenderly.
After a long moment of this, everyone else began looking around uncomfortably. Eventually, Hermione cleared her throat to remind them of the other presences in the room.
Ron stopped kissing Astoria and turned. "Hermione? How long have you been sitting there?"
"The entire time," she answered a little coldly.
His eyes suddenly drifted to her stomach. "What in Merlin's name is that?"
"That would be my son," said Draco, stepping forward and crouching down beside Hermione. He rubbed her stomach.
Ron let go of Astoria for a second to hug Hermione. "So you're all right? You're both really all right? Nothing happened to you?"
Hermione's breath hitched a little. She shook her head.
Ron moved his eyes to Astoria. She looked at him very seriously and said, "No. Of course not."
"Oh, thank Merlin!"
Ron pulled her back into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist and clung to him, looking over his shoulder and using her eyes to plead with Hermione and Draco not to say anything. They both nodded in agreement. It was not their place. But neither believed she should keep a secret as big as this from the person she wanted to marry.
"Perhaps, we should give you two some time alone," said Hermione, climbing to her feet. Draco was quick to jump up first so he could assist her.
Draco, Hermione, Lucius, Sophie and Phillip all headed for the exit.
"Hermione!"
Hermione turned back to see Ron's eyes staring intensely at her.
"I'm really glad you're all right," he said with a smile.
"So am I. That you're all right, I mean," she said, smiling back. "Thank you for trying to save me, but don't you dare make an Unbreakable Vow again!" Hermione pointed at him sternly.
Ron laughed and nodded. "You're the boss."
"We've been friends for over ten years and you're just finally getting it." She rolled her eyes before letting Draco pull her out of the tent, giving Ron and Astoria the private time they needed to mend everything that had been broken.
XXX
Several hours later, Draco, Hermione, Lucius, Sophie and Phillip all sat in the one vacant tent while Narcissa sat outside, keeping watch. Now that they had been discovered, everyone planned on taking turns out there.
Sophie kept pacing around nervously while everyone tried to come up with a plan to get that snow globe. Eventually, she excused herself to go and work on healing some more of Pansy's wounds. Phillip tried to get up to go with her, but she told him not to and then practically ran out of there.
Phillip's eyes shot to Hermione. He looked at her concerned for a second before she finally said, "I will go and check on her." She stood up - all the while Draco pulling reluctantly on her hand - and followed her out.
Outside, Narcissa was currently looking up and peeking through the trees to see the position of the sun. Hermione could only assume that she was eagerly waiting for it to go down.
In Pansy's tent, Sophie was already sitting beside her bed with her wand out. They both lifted their heads when Hermione entered.
"What's going on, Sophie?" she asked casually.
"Nozing." Sophie turned back to Pansy and started healing her wounds.
Hermione slowly walked towards her. "It certainly didn't seem like nothing a moment ago. Are you hiding something?"
Sophie shook her head and squeaked, "No."
Hermione moved her eyes from one witch to the other. "Pansy?"
Pansy shrugged. "How should I know? She just got here when you walked in."
"Yes, but Sophie talks very fast." Hermione stopped by the bed and crossed her arms. "Sophie, you don't want me to pull the 'you kissed my husband while I was kidnapped so you owe me' card, do you?"
Sophie gulped. Pansy looked at her and let out a faint chuckle. "You did?"
"I was not een my right mind," Sophie answered. She took a deep breath. "Fine. I weell tell you. But, when I do, you cannot freak out, okay? I really do not want you to get your 'opes up."
Hermione nodded, now more curious than ever.
"When we were een ze forest earlier, I got seeck and I vomited. While eet might 'ave just been nerves, ze last time something like zis 'appened, I went to a 'Ealer and found out I was pregnant."
Hermione squealed but quickly threw her hands over her mouth. "Sorry. But … when? How?"
"I think the 'how' is pretty bloody obvious," said Pansy, rolling her eyes.
"Phillipe and I slept together once, on Christmas."
Oh, thank Merlin. Hermione tried really hard not to sigh out loud in relief. She had been worried Sophie had a one night stand or something.
"I came in 'ere to ask Pansy eef she remembered zat Pregnancy Test Potion she deed on you because I … well, I just need to know.
Hermione nodded her head enthusiastically with a wide grin on her face before looking expectantly at Pansy.
Pansy smirked. "While I remember what goes into it, I don't exactly remember the measurements."
"I can use Legilimency to get those!" Hermione said excitedly. "I'm going to go and get some hairs from Phillip! You two get everything else together!"
Hermione ran out of there, trying to control her smile. She went into the other tent and was happy to find Phillip sitting right next to Draco on a loveseat, since Lucius had taken the only armchair in this smaller tent for himself.
"So do we know what room the snow globes are in?" asked Phillip.
"Probably Astoria's old bedroom," answered Lucius. "Perhaps it is time we broke up the lovers next door and asked for her assistance in locating it."
"Do any of us really want to be that person?" asked Draco. "Because I know I certainly don't want to be the one to walk in on them shagging." He cringed.
"They're not in Astoria's old room," said Hermione, walking over to her husband. "That's where they were keeping her and there were no snow globes there."
She plopped onto Draco's lap and started snogging him senseless, scooting so she was slightly on top of Phillip as well. While Draco seemed surprised at first, he eventually just went with it.
"Uhh … Hermione …" Phillip tried to interrupt, but the couple wasn't having it.
Hermione ran her hands into Draco's hair, making sure to grab a little of Phillip's too. Merlin, she was thankful this loveseat was so small. When he tried to move out of the way, she pulled.
"Ah!" Phillip screamed. "Hermione, what the hell?"
"Sorry," she said, coming up for air. "I thought that was Draco's hair."
"You enjoy it when she pulls your hair out by the roots, mate?" asked Phillip, rubbing at his head.
"Definitely," said Draco, raising his eyebrows suggestively before kissing his wife again.
Hermione only let him get in a few little pecks before standing back up. "I should probably get back to helping Sophie heal Pansy. She's fine, by the way," she said, looking at Phillip. "Just wants everyone in top condition before we start any wars."
"Is that all you came in here for?" he asked.
Hermione nodded. She leaned down and kissed Draco one last time before leaving the tent, several hairs now clutched tightly in her palm.
"Well, that was weird," said Phillip as soon as she was gone.
Draco turned to him and raised his eyebrows. "Was it?"
XXX
"Are you ready for this?" Pansy asked Sophie, holding a sprig of orange flowers over the cauldron.
Sophie gulped, but still nodded. "I 'ave to know."
Pansy nodded back. "Orange smoke means you're pregnant, white means you're not." She took a deep breath and said, "Here goes nothing."
Pansy dropped the orange flower into the cauldron and stepped back. All three witches watched closely as it erupted. Soon, a cloud of thick, white smoke emerged. Sophie stared at it and immediately started to cry.
"Well … zat ees a relief," she said, wiping at her eyes. "Finding out you are pregnant when going through a divorce ees definitely not ideal. I guess … eet really was just nerves."
"Sophie …" Hermione reached her hand out to touch her shoulder but Sophie pulled away.
Pansy stared vacantly into the cauldron, trying hard not to cry right along with her. She had really been hoping Sophie was pregnant. If, for nothing else, to at least relieve her horribly guilty conscience. She hated being responsible for the destruction of a couple who had once been so in love. Even if it wasn't entirely her fault, it still felt that way.
Suddenly, the entrance to the tent opened and Draco, Lucius and Phillip stepped inside.
"Are you brewing a potion?" Draco asked curiously when he noticed all three girls were standing over a cauldron.
"A Healing Potion," Hermione said quickly.
"I hope you didn't stick the hair you yanked out of my head in there," joked Phillip.
Sophie whimpered. She tried to hold it in, but that only made it louder and squeakier. Everyone looked at her. She avoided all of their eyes and said, "Excuse me," before running out of the tent.
Phillip stared after her, and then moved his eyes to Hermione. "Is she all right? Did I say something wrong?"
Hermione sighed. If only he knew. "Maybe you should go and check on your wife, Phillip. You're not divorced yet."
Phillip stared at her curiously for a moment before following Sophie out.
"What happened?" asked Draco as soon as he was gone.
Hermione frowned. "Sophie's not pregnant."
"Did we think she was?"
"She did," answered Hermione. "I guess they hooked up on Christmas."
"In our guestroom?" Draco rolled his eyes. "Typical."
In the other tent, Sophie was laying on the bed, crying into a pillow when Phillip came in.
"Sophie, are you all right?" he asked, slowly approaching her.
She shook her head while continuing to sob into her pillow. "Eet ees never going to be right again, Phillipe."
"What do you mean?" He took a seat on the edge of the bed.
"You and me," she answered. "We are never going to be right again."
"Sophie …" He reached out and touched her arm, but she waved him off.
"Please, don't."
Phillip sighed. "Could you please just tell me what happened?"
Sophie slowly sat up. She wiped her eyes before turning towards him and saying, "Remember when I got seeck een ze forest?"
"Yes." He nodded. "You said it was nerves."
"Well, I thought eet might be something more zan zat."
Phillip scrunched his face in thought for a moment before widening his eyes. "Sophie, are you -?"
She shook her head quickly. "No. I am not. I just 'ad Pansy brew zat same potion she deed for 'Ermione and eet came out negative."
"Oh," said Phillip, casting his eyes to the bed sheets. "That's … that's good, I guess."
Sophie nodded, though, neither looked very convinced.
"A baby ees ze last zing we need right now."
She sobbed again and lied back down on the bed. Phillip sat frozen for a second, before finally moving so he was lying beside her, throwing an arm over her side and squeezing her against him.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Holding you," he answered. "Just because we're separated, doesn't mean I love you any less, Soph. I know you're upset. I am too."
"Zen why are we separated? I meess you … so much," she cried.
"I know. I do too," he said, leaning over and kissing her wet cheek. "I'm just … not ready yet."
Sophie nodded while clenching her eyes shut, forcing her tears to stream steadily down her face. "Just let me know when you are, okay?" she asked, putting her hand on top of his and squeezing. "I love you, Phillipe."
"I love you too, Soph."
Sophie continued to cry while Phillip held her close, realizing right away that this is what he should have done six months ago. He was never there for her the way he should have been, because he was always thinking in the back of his mind about how he had failed her. But he had a plan to make this all right again. When this was all said and done, he was going to prove to Sophie that he deserved her love. No matter what.
XXX
Shortly after it got dark, Lucius went outside to sit with his wife, who kept looking around expectantly.
"Waiting for something?"
"Someone," she answered without even a glance in his direction.
"I see." Lucius paused. "Perhaps we should talk about this before -"
"When I asked Arron about him, he told me the one I should be asking is my husband. That is all I know. So before you go and start spitting things out -"
"I will tell you everything if that is what you want, Narcissa," he said. "I never meant for it to be a big secret. I barely knew you back then."
"You knew he was my boyfriend. And when I came to you after he disappeared, you knew that I was on the rebound. That didn't stop you from taking my virginity, did it?"
"Yes, I was a prick back then. I admit it."
"Did you even feel guilty at all? Being with me when I was so upset, knowing very well where he was and what had happened to him the entire time?"
"No," he answered honestly. "But I do now. I feel more than just guilty. Ever since I got my sanity back, all I ever think about is all of the wrong I have done over the years."
"So … tell me then. What happened with Ethan?"
Lucius was just about to answer when there was a rustling in the trees. A shadowy figure was leaping overhead. Narcissa stood up from the chair she was in and stepped out of the shield's boundaries.
Lucius watched as the vampire he had not seen in years, dropped from the trees and hugged his wife. "Narcissa, thank heavens you're all right! Are the others -?"
"Yes, they're all fine," she answered, taking his hand and pulling him through the shield.
Lucius stood up as they entered, noticing the curious way Ethan eyed him.
"This is my husband," Narcissa said, motioning towards him.
"Yes, we've … met in the past," said Ethan, studying him thoroughly. It was quite obvious that he didn't care for him.
"How did you get away this early in the evening?" asked Lucius, not fully trusting the vampire.
"Normally, when I wake up, Master Greengrass comes to me and gives me orders, but he wasn't there tonight, and no one else pays me much mind."
Narcissa cringed at the title Ethan gave his possible murderer.
"I am afraid to inform you that your 'Master' Greengrass is dead," said Lucius, obviously just as disturbed by the title.
Ethan looked at them uncertainly for a moment before finally saying, "I am sure that is for the best."
Narcissa nodded. "Perhaps we should all step inside," she said, leading the way.
Lucius motioned for Ethan to go first, which he did. He slowly followed after.
Inside, Draco was trying to kiss a reluctant Hermione, who kept opening her eyes and glancing at Pansy.
"Don't mind me," she said as she worked on healing her own wands with the wand Narcissa had given back to her.
"Draco, this is … too weird," said Hermione as he moved his lips down to her neck.
"But all of the other tents are taken." He pouted. "Parkinson doesn't mind. She just said she doesn't."
Pansy shrugged casually and continued what she was doing. "He's snogged girls in front of me before. While we were together, even."
Hermione pulled away and gasped. "Draco Malfoy, you are such a pig!" she shouted, smacking his chest.
"What? Are you surprised?" he asked.
Hermione thought about this. "Not at all."
"All right then."
He kissed her again. This time, she did not struggle.
Before they had much time to get really into it, the tent opened and Narcissa walked in.
"Honestly, Draco, she is your wife. Please stop fondling her like some common hussy."
"But she likes it," he said, giving her breast a little 'honk, honk'.
Hermione hit his hand away. She looked mortified.
Ethan walked in just behind Narcissa, smiling when he saw Hermione, but becoming ecstatic when Pansy looked up at him.
"You're awake!" he said, rushing over to her in a flash and scooping her into his arms.
Pansy struggled beneath him. "Yes, and still a little fragile. So if you could just … ease it a bit."
"Sorry," said Ethan, loosening his hug.
"Is this the vampire?" Draco whispered to Hermione.
She nodded. "And possibly your mother's first boyfriend."
Draco's jaw dropped.
Hermione lifted his chin to shut it. "I haven't gotten confirmation yet, but I'm pretty certain -"
"You are correct," said Narcissa, who was now standing directly behind them. "But keep it down. Vampire ears."
Hermione and Draco nodded. Luckily, Ethan was a too distracted to have heard them.
"Well, now that he is here," said Lucius, "perhaps we should go and get the others so we can devise a proper plan."
Draco volunteered to go and get Sophie and Phillip, but no one wanted to be the one to interrupt Astoria and Ron. Who knew what they were doing in there.
"Oh, I'll bloody do it," said Pansy, rolling her eyes. "Honestly, it's just shagging. No need to be so prude about it."
Pansy began limping towards the exit. Ethan was quick to help her. He tried to pick her up but she insisted on walking, so he just leant her a shoulder.
Once everyone was gathered and sitting in a circle, Lucius took the lead.
"It is time we come up with a plan to finish this once and for all."
Everyone else could not agree more.