I don't own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They belong to the lovely JK Rowling

Chapter 38: For the Sake of Family

"Harry, I met with Professors Dumbledore and Snape the day of the demands." Hermione said. Her eyes filled with tears, but she sniffed and refused to let them fall.

"I'm so sorry, Harry. I'm sorry, Lily, James. There's something you have to know…"

…..

Harry sat at the table, unmoving. He didn't know what to feel. He didn't know what to say.

Lily and James clutched each other's hands, and neither were meeting anyone else's gaze.

Molly had her hand over her mouth as silent tears fell, and Arthur had his arm wrapped around his wife's shoulders. Ron mirrored his father, only with an expression of stormy anger and resentment on behalf of his best friend.

Hermione only stared at Harry, searching for a reaction, while Ginny mirrored her brother's expression: rage on behalf of her husband.

"So, what you're saying is we can't kill the bastard without losing Lily and James as well. That's what you're saying?" Ron asked quietly, bridling his temper at the injustice of it all.

"Yes." Hermione whispered.

"Bollucks. I don't believe it." Ron stood suddenly, his stature and anger creating a very imposing figure. "This is utter shite, and there's got to be another way." His fist slammed the table, and he looked around the room expectantly. When no one reacted, he threw his hands up in a gesture of surrender and stormed out of the room. They heard the slam of the front door as he left, and an audible crack! as he disapparated, his anger making his departure loud enough to be heard all the way inside.

They sat in silence for what seemed an eternity, all lost in their own horrified thoughts. The only movement was their drinking of Ginny's fresh batch of tea, ignoring Ron's full teacup, which lay untouched.

"So, what can we do?" Arthur asked, breaking the silence. He squeezed his wife's shoulders as a sob nearly escaped her throat.

"We can't let Voldemort die. Simple. We – we capture him, or…" Harry stammered, regaining his voice. He trailed off, knowing it was impossible. Voldemort could not be allowed to live, and yet his parents couldn't be allowed to die.

"I… I don't know what to do." He finally finished, looking at Lily and James desperately. He had only just gotten them back.

"There's nothing you can do."Came a voice suddenly behind them harshly. The group snapped their heads, searching for the source of the noise. A rustle of movement drew their gaze, and Astoria Malfoy suddenly appeared, letting the invisibility cloak drop to the floor, her wand outstretched, her face stony and impassive.

"Astoria, what -?" Ginny stood as Harry grabbed her arm to stop her from rising. Astoria had her wand trained on them all.

"Shut up." Astoria said. "Just, shut up. I overheard everything, and I seem to be the only person who fully understands the implications of what you've all just discussed." Her wand was steady, and eyes steely, as she pointed the wand at Lily Potter. "This isn't what I had planned, but it might just do." She whispered, almost to herself, before continuing.

"Astoria, what's happened…?" Arthur asked cautiously. "This isn't like you."

"Oh, what do you know!? I live here a few days and suddenly you think you know me? Well you don't. You all want to know how to kill Voldemort without killing the Potters? Well, why don't we kill the Potters to assure that Voldemort will die?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt herself fly backward, slamming into the wall behind her. She crumpled to the ground, and felt the tug on her wand as she was nearly disarmed. But she had been expecting it, and so gripped her wand tighter, refusing to relinquish it.

She gasped, trying to get breath back into her lungs, and looked up into the face of Harry, his wand outstretched. He had drawn so fast she hadn't even seen it before she was already on the ground. Ginny was close behind, his own wand drawn. The rest of the group followed suit, aiming at her defensively.

"What the Hell do you think –" Harry began, his eyes dark and stormy with rage.

"DON'T YOU SEE!?" She shrieked, hysterically, pain exploding in her back as she struggled to rise, holding tightly to her wand still. "Sacrifices must be made! For the greater good, for the rest of the wizarding world! For… for Draco!" she dissolved into tears, sobbing, no longer able to hold in her desperation.

Harry lowered his wand, and motioned for the others to do the same.

"No." he said. "Not at the expense of my parents. Not again." Lily and James continued to hold tightly to each other, and Lily allowed the tears to fall. They watched as Astoria continued to sob.

"How can you?" She asked, rasping. "How – how can you just allow so many to – to suffer, and – and my husband – Draco - to suffer? With Voldemort dead, he – he might live!"

"Because, Astoria, this isn't the first time I've had to make hard decisions that affect the lives of others." Harry said coolly. "And, because I know that killing Voldemort won't save your husband, any more than it will save my parents." Harry spoke in a cold, detached sort of way. "If Voldemort were to suddenly drop dead, it would only result in chaos, and no doubt your husband would be caught in the cross fire. He is hated by too many on both sides."

Astoria sniffled, regaining control of her emotions. "But if you could save them? If you could save the ones you love…" She began in a whisper, pleading. Before she could finish, however, Astoria gasped, her hand flying to her throat. Her eyes were wide with terror, and her hand gripped a thin gold chain that glistened at her neckline before falling beneath her robes.

"Draco!?" she gasped, closing her eyes in concentration.

"What is it!?" Hermione cried, and Harry quickly moved to her side. She drew out the necklace, clutching it in her hand. Harry's eyes flew to it, and understanding dawned immediately.

"Astoria, this is it, isn't it!? Why didn't you tell us you had it!?" He demanded.

"No, no, no." She moaned, "Not now!" Releasing the chain and putting her hands to her head, she clutched it as if she was in great pain. Harry reached for her, but she began to struggle, flinging herself away from them, her eyes closed tightly, and screams suddenly ripped from her throat.

"Astoria is it…. Is it Malfoy? Is it Draco? Astoria!" Harry entreated again, his voice rising in volume. She refused to answer, and instead began kicking out, as if fighting off an invisible enemy, screams continuing to drown out the voices around her.

"Get it off her! GET IT OFF HER NOW!" Harry yelled, grabbing her hands in a vice like grip and pulling them away. Lily took hold of the chain, lifting it frantically over her head, only to drop it to the ground in shock.

Astoria ceased her screams, and began to sob. Arthur took her into his arms, hugging her and looking at Harry, bewildered.

"I think it's cursed!" Lily cried, clutching her hands to her chest in residual pain.

"No, no it's the trinket left by Draco! She said his name, as if she were speaking to him. It must have a connection, like they can feel what the other is feeling. It means…" Harry paled, looking at the necklace once more. "Perhaps Draco will still be able to think consciously. If they torture him to unconsciousness, or kill him, we lose our chance." He whispered, cognizant of the fact that Astoria was right next to him. He looked at Ginny, grimacing at what he was about to do, then reached forward and took hold of the necklace.

"Harry, no!" Ginny cried. Harry ignored her.

It throbbed and shocked his hands powerfully, and suddenly it was like there was a distant screaming filling his head. But it was muted, like from far away. Harry's grimace deepened, and hardening his resolve, he placed the necklace over his head.

Suddenly, it was like he was a teenager again, being sucked into one of his visions of Voldemort. He looked out from the eyes of someone else, and felt their emotions. He could hear their thoughts.

At the moment, the only thought was torment. A man stood over him, pointing a wand at his chest, the cruciatus curse tearing his very nerves apart. He wasn't sure how long it lasted, only that when it was finally lifted, it left him weak and dizzy. Harry gasped and trembled, his body burning and aching. He strove to clear his thoughts.

Malfoy? Draco? A long pause, until Harry heard the voice of Draco Malfoy in his head.

Astoria?

No. Harry thought, hoping he was doing this right. It's me, Harry. Harry Potter.

Oh Lord, you've got to be joking. Get out of my head, Potter! Came the distant groan, the thoughts somewhat scattered. But Draco's repulsion at having Harry of all people in his head was obvious.

Another painful tremor rocked their bodies, and Harry forced himself to focus through the pain.

Malfoy, where are you? I can help you!

He cut off as another bout of the cruciatus curse fell upon them. Harry fought to form coherent thoughts despite the torture, but it was impossible, and Draco was shutting down.

Malfoy! Dammit, Malfoy, tell me where you are! He thought desperately as knives seemed to pierce his skin. Draco was fading quickly, and blackness was descending upon them both. Draco, hold on! Don't - ! Tell me where you are!

I'm sorry, I - I don't know anymore. I can't remember how I even got here. Draco voice came as a whisper, almost more to himself than to Harry.

Harry looked though Draco's eyes, and the face of the man above them came near as he crouched down. Draco's eyes were closing and blurred, and Harry couldn't make out the man's face. "I do hope you're listening, Mrs. Malfoy, because this is your last warning. Do as you're told or say goodbye to what little sanity he has left." He said. Harry recognized the voice. Ollivander!

Despite Harry's frenzied protestations, Draco succumbed to blessed unconsciousness, his mind darkening, leaving only nightmares for Harry to witness.

Harry removed the necklace, throwing it away from him like it would contaminate him, and found himself on the ground, looking up into Ginny's worried eyes. She was caressing his face, like she was trying to rouse him. Tears were in her eyes, and Harry knew immediately he had not succeeded in keeping the shared torture between only himself and Draco. Other faces loomed above, and Harry looked up blurrily.

Taking a deep breath, Harry sat up with a start, sweat coating his body and his muscles aching at the mere memory of the shared torture.

Harry swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. "Draco is still alive, but…" he trailed off, and allowed Ginny to help him to his feet. His throat felt raw, so he knew he had been screaming.

Astoria lay in Arthur's arms, trembling and sobbing.

"Why didn't you tell us you had it!?" Ginny snapped at Astoria, clutching Harry's arm to help steady him. "WHY HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING THIS FROM US!?" she barked, and magic filled the room as the china from the table burst, spilling tea onto the floor. "HOW COULD YOU…" Suddenly, Ginny's voice broke off, and she clutched her head in pain, her wand clattering from her hand to the ground. Behind her, Molly suddenly collapsed, falling to the floor with a painful thud.

Ginny looked around and sank to her own knees, no longer able to speak. Harry immediately descended with her, cradling her as she seemed to go in and out of consciousness. He laid her on the ground, and strode towards Astoria.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Harry bellowed, raising his wand. But his eyes were blurry, and his wand unsteady. He couldn't aim. He held onto the wall to remain upright and gasped as Arthur, too, fell unconscious. He reached out as Hermione's knees buckled. He reached forward in an effort to help slow her descent, then winced as he lost his balance, falling to his hands and knees.

"What… what did…" Harry struggled to form coherent words, and he felt his wand being torn from his fingers as he was disarmed. He reached blindly forward, but was unable to use his arms or turn his head. He fought against the sudden drugged state, and felt more than heard the dining room tremble slightly as Lily and James hit the ground as well, their boneless weight reverberating through the floor to his body.

He watched as Astoria stepped over their prone forms of those around her until she was behind him and out of sight before he finally lost consciousness as well.

….

Astoria wiped her cheeks absentmindedly as she looked at the small group at her feet. She did not hear Ollivander's last warning, but she had no doubt what Draco's torture had meant. She was running out of time, and this was her last chance.

It worked better than she had originally thought. She knew she would be hidden in the invisibility cloak as they had their secret meeting, making it easy to slip the slow acting sleeping potion into the tea kettle. She hadn't meant to stray from her plan, but as she listened to their discussion, the knowledge about Lily and James shocked her. It changed everything! If she could just kill Voldemort, what power would Ollivander have any more? What power would any of them have? Was it really so simple?

She held her wand tightly, and looked down at Lily Potter. It would be so easy, she thought, one killing curse, and Voldemort would be dead. She stole herself, gulping thickly, and rehearsed the words in her mind. If she had known it could be that easy, perhaps she would have done it ages ago.

But even then, she had never performed such a curse. Even during school as a fifth year, she had so hated performing the cruciatus or imperius on other students. Her curses were barely effective, and as a result she was often punished instead. She just never had had it in her to hurt another.

But then again, she meant what she had said to Harry. Sacrifices had to be made. Draco had known it. She knew it too. Which is why they were in the mess they were in now; Draco captured, and she… a soon to be murderer for the sake of her family. She opened her mouth hesitantly, disappointed at herself when no sound came out. She tried again, but was forced to close her mouth with a clack! of teeth.

Could she really do this? She thought, desperately, not noticing as another figure entered the room silently. Draco had been willing, and even attempted murder on multiple occasions for the sake of his family in the war!

"Should I not be willing to do the same?"She whispered aloud, her hand shaking. But even as she asked herself the question, her wand began to lower, her eyes closing in defeat.

"Do it." Came a voice suddenly.

She spun around, shocked. There, in the doorway, was Scorpius.

"I told you to wait on the stairs and keep lookout. I told you that I would take care of it." She snapped, lowering her wand fully.

"I heard what they said, too. If you kill her, you kill the Dark Lord, and father will be safe. Not only him, but the entire wizarding world. Do it!" he said again.

Her heart froze in her chest, and she didn't move; she didn't speak. She just stared at him blankly, not letting her emotions show.

"I'll do it, if you want." Scorpius said quietly, gulping thickly, his lower lip trembling just slightly. His blonde hair was disheveled, his cold gray eyes just like his father's. His skin was pale – too pale, and he continued to tremble, as if trying not to cry. She was stunned by his fervor, and she studied him in silence, calculating and expressionless. Finally, she spoke.

"Do you really think you could?" she asked quietly.

…..

Scorpius gulped heavily as he looked at his mother now, standing above the unconscious form of Lily Potter, her wand lowered, her face impassive.

"Do you really think you could?" she asked.

He had known this was the night. He had known his mother was in the dining room under Harry's invisibility cloak, placing drops of sleeping potion in the tea kettle. He had refused to go to bed, instead slipping his Extendable Ears beneath the door after Mr. Potter had entered the room, and listened intently as they explained the terrible connection between Voldemort, Lily, and James Potter.

He growled as he heard his mother be thrown across the room, almost rushing in to help her. But what help could he be? He didn't even have a wand. He heard his mother's screams, and then Harry's. He remembered his own encounter with the necklace, feeling the horrible pain and fear that his father was in. He didn't know how much longer his father had, but if tonight failed, he knew it wouldn't be long.

He wanted Draco to know that he didn't care what horrible things he did when he was younger. He had been so disgusted at first, but the past was the past. People could change, and bad people could become good people. Scorpius just wanted his father back – even if it meant forgiving him his past.

"Do you, Scorpius? Could you kill for your father's sake?" Astoria asked again, and his eyes snapped back to her, bringing him back to the present. Her face remained impassive, as if honestly waiting to see what he would say. He looked her in the eye, and suddenly a deep understanding filled his heart.

He realized then exactly what his own father had experienced all those years ago - A love for his family, and a bravery that perhaps many would refer to as selfish. But it was a different kind of bravery than what others think – a willingness to do what was necessary to keep his family safe, even if it meant destroying his own soul. Even if it meant being loyal to someone as evil as Voldemort, because to choose otherwise would mean the death of his parents.

Yes, his father had been put in an impossible position when he was in Hogwarts because of his parent's actions, and out of love and fear, he had done terrible things. Things he regretted.

Though Scorpius wondered, even now, if Draco would have changed his actions back then if given a second chance.

Maybe… maybe not…

"Well?" Astoria asked again, no doubt reading his thoughts as only a mother could as he stood there in silence.

No. He was not his father. Whether that was a point of pride or shame he was still unsure, but his father's bravery he most certainly lacked.

His face crumpled, and he looked at the ground in shame. "Mum." He whispered pitifully, a one-worded cry, and he felt her rush forward and envelop him in her arms. It was all the answer she needed.

"I would never have allowed it, anyway." she breathed, holding him tightly to her. He shook his head, tears running freely now.

"I just want to help him, mum." He sobbed.

"I know," She whispered. She pulled away but didn't release him, instead holding his shoulders tightly and looking him in the eyes. "But he would not want you to destroy yourself for him. He would not want you to bear what he has borne nearly all his life."

She seemed desperate for him to understand, and fear laced her every syllable as she looked at her son. "You are too good, Scorpius. You have too good a heart. You are the best of us all, and you alone remain blameless in this family." She said thickly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "But I am not, and any guilt is upon my shoulders." She drew him close again as she began to sob at what their little family had nearly become.

Through all the pain and agony caused by the war, it truly was this next generation of children that had brought light back: their innocence, purity, and wholesome detachment of the past, having been the first children to enjoy life without the stain of a Dark Lord in over a hundred years.

Scorpius had brought redemption to her family. He had brought redemption to Draco.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for all that I've done. You should never have had to see any of this, you should never have been placed in such a position. I will make sure you never have to make the choices Draco had to make." She finished vehemently. She kissed him quickly on the forehead, straightening up.

She looked again at the Potters lying on the floor, and drew a deep, steadying breath. "It was a moment of weakness, Scorpius. Killing an innocent will not save your father, nor should it be the price." She said, as if resolving herself. "We will stick with the original plan, and you will go to your room and wait for me to contact you." She ordered, and Scorpius nodded.

She passed by Lily until she was standing over Ginny. Ginny alone remained awake, her eyes roaming the room. Her senses would have been severely affected by the drug, and Astoria wasn't sure how much she had heard, much less understood, about what had just occurred between her and her son. But she hoped not much.

Either way, she was pleased to see she had been successful with her measurements. Ginny's cup of tea had received a significantly less potent batch of sleeping potion. It was a highly illegal substance, and was more commonly used by perverted and disgusting wizards while on a date. Just a couple drops in someone's drink would make them lethargic, confused, and unable to function well enough to refuse or fight.

Ginny's eyes focused on Astoria above her, confused and frightened. "Give me the necklace." Astoria demanded. Ginny blinked, as if processing the request. Astoria growled in impatience as Ginny refused to answer, instead only barely managing to shake her head no. "Give it to me willingly, or I will force you to do it." Astoria hissed. "I heard you perform your enchantment, and I know which one you used. I need only your consent, and I can remove it for you. Now give me the stone!"

Another shake, and Astoria frowned. "Fine. You've brought it on yourself. Imperio!" She cried. Ginny whimpered. "It's been a long time since I used this spell. I've not used it since sixth year, and I didn't relish in it then. But needs must, I suppose." Astoria said icily, repeating the incantation and adding more force. For the first time, it seemed Astoria was actually being successful at casting the control spell.

In Ginny's drugged state, Astoria was surprised at her ability to fight the curse for as long as she did. Finally, however, in exhaustion and pain, Ginny surrendered. Nodding her consent, she allowed Astoria to remove the necklace. Astoria removed a vile from her robes pocket, and placed a couple drops in Ginny's mouth, allowing her to drift away into dreamless sleep.

She looked around her, searching for her telesol. Upon finding it, just barely out of Harry's outstretched hand, she reached down and lifted the necklace from the ground, draping it around her neck. She needed only wait a moment before the voice sounded in her head.

Do you have what I asked for? Ollivander's voice filled her mind, and anger bubbled just beneath the surface.

Yes. Where shall we meet? A sharp scene of a tall, foreboding fortress loomed into sight, and like a secret-keeper revealing the location of a fidelius charm, coordinates appeared in her vision.

I'll be waiting… he purred, before cutting off contact, and instead Draco's unconscious nightmares loomed in her vision.

She carefully removed the telesol, and handed it to Scorpius. She retrieved the cloak from the ground and tucked it away in her robes with the Elder Wand she had taken from Harry, and the locket she had taken from Ginny.

"Don't forget what I told you." She said as Scorpius hugged her once more. "And don't forget the plan. It's not over yet." Scorpius nodded mechanically, fear and desperation still radiating from his frame. She hugged him tightly once more before leaving through the front door, and disapparating into the darkness.