I don't own HP. Wish I did, but I don't.
AN: OMG this fic passed 1,000 reviews this week. Ya'll are awesome!
XXX
As soon as Draco and Theo stepped into the sitting room the door swung shut and several spells shot out of Hermione's wand as she spoke.
"Now that we're all here - minus Fred, who is keeping an eye on the Order and Neville, who is at home. And they both have their journals open - we can get down to business."
Weasley sighed, "And here I was hoping to just enjoy Christmas."
The Weaselette snorted, "Grow up big brother, the war won't pause just so you can enjoy your pudding."
Weasley threw a pillow at her, but she easily caught it, "Hmm, maybe I should be the Gryffindor Keeper."
Hermione rolled her eyes at this, "Grow up you two."
"Yes, ma'am," they said in unison, making everyone laugh, though the two youngest Weasleys glared at each other instead.
"From what Snape said the Ministry is working overtime to regain control of things," George said, trying to draw everyone back on topic. And Draco was fairly certain it was George, since Hermione had said Fred was in the kitchen. "They're crawling all over Hogwarts, sending their aurors in for mental and magical health checks, and refusing to release bodies."
Weasley frowned, "Have you talked to Percy recently? Did he say anything at the meeting?"
George shook his head, "No, that git is trying to walk a narrow line. He's refusing to release anything that isn't currently public knowledge. He did say something about emergency procedures available if the Board of Governors can't instate a new headmaster or headmistress, but clammed up after that."
Hermione interjected, "We'll worry about that later, or let the Order deal with it. I had a breakthrough when speaking with Draco earlier about the oddities of his family magic. Now," she took a deep breath and hurrying on before anyone could ask what oddities were part of Draco's family magic, "I was told by Dumbledore, Padfoot, and Uncle Remus not to reveal this unless I thought it absolutely necessary. Well, now I believe it is necessary. Several years ago I learned - quite by accident - that Voldemort had anchored himself to this world in some dark manner. I haven't been able to find a name for the anchors, but I know he had to give part of himself to make them because-"
"Horcruxes," George said grimly. "They're called horcruxes. The Order was arguing about them a few months ago, so Fred and I did some research down on Knockturn Alley. Creating one involves deliberate murder and splitting your soul. Then you put the soul in an object. Apparently Voldemort had five, but he planned on six. That way he would have seven soul pieces if you count his original body and all six objects."
"Or a living being," Hermione stated.
George frowned, "No, the books said nothing about living beings."
Draco noticed that Luna was hastily scribbling in a journal very similar to the one Hermione had earlier. Were they a communication device?
"Fred asks what being you think has a horcrux," Luna said, not looking up.
"The snake," Hermione answered, "it explains why Voldemort was able to control it so directly when it killed Dumbledore."
Harry gasped and everyone turned to look at him.
"Mate, what's wrong?" Ron asked, looking concerned.
"The not-place... The twisted creatures... I saw the pieces of Voldemort's soul! There was one attached to me!"
His eyes were beginning to fill with panic and Hermione immediately jumped up and ran to hug him, Draco could hear her humming and, curious, he closed his eyes and followed the chain to Hermione, from there he traced another link to Harry. It was hard going, but when he got there he was immediately surrounded by pleasant images of the two Gryffindors' childhood together. Getting an idea he threw up one of his own memories of Harry, of the boy denying Draco's friendship and staying true to the Weasleys.
He felt Harry's surprise at a new presence in his mind, but he relaxed almost immediately and then Draco felt Hermione pull out. He quickly followed her and, on the way back to his own mind, he heard her whisper, Thank you, but please stay out of Harry's mind unless invited. Especially if I'm there.
A minor wave of shame and hurt swept over Draco, along with a touch of anger, but he pushed it down. She was right, though he hated to admit it. He shouldn't go poking his nose in private places unless invited.
When his eyes opened again he saw that Hermione was no longer hugging Harry, rather, the Weaselette was there, her arms wrapped around his waist, her head tucked under his chin. Hermione was, instead, standing over near him, if he reached out he could touch her shoulder. He had the sudden urge to do so, and his arm was raised halfway before he realized what he was doing. He quickly lowered his arm, hoping no one had noticed.
"No, Harry, I don't think you're a horcrux anymore," Hermione said firmly. "I think, from what you told me and the sudden change in dreams, that for that single instant you were merged so tightly with Voldemort and the snake that you were practically one being. The deliberate death of Dumbledore, which the snake and three Voldemort soul pieces fully supported, acted as the chance for a soul to split. But, this time, with the help of the blood wards connecting us, you managed to detach your soul from the horcrux. You sent it towards the snake instead. Or so I'm assuming from your description, though you could have sent it back to Voldemort himself."
Everyone stared at her, the room was entirely silent except for the sound of the fire crackling in the grate. Draco was trying to wrap his mind around all of the information that had just come his way.
"So, we kill the snake and Voldemort can die?" Ginny asked.
"Unless he's made another horcrux," George answered.
Harry shook his head, "I-I don't think he made another horcrux. Before, when I had part of him inside of me, I kept having dreams of a long corridor and a room of glass orbs. It felt more like he wanted information, rather than immortality."
"You were dreaming of the Hall of Prophecy," George said. "The Order has been guarding it for months now. Apparently there's a prophecy about you and old no-nose. He's only heard part of it and wants the rest. Problem is, only two people can retrieve it, and one of them is in this room."
Hermione's eyes lit up, "Who wants to sneak into the Ministry?"
Ron groaned, "Can't I heal from our last adventure before we start a new one?"
"Indeed," Draco found himself saying. Not that he would classify what happened five days ago as an 'adventure'.
Hermione frowned, "No, we need that prophecy and we need to get it before we get sent back to Hogwarts. I suggest tonight. Very few will be working today and most of them will be off at Hogwarts leaving no stone unturned," she rolled her eyes at the last bit, and Draco couldn't blame her. Honestly, the Ministry was proving to be even more stupid than he thought possible.
"Well, if we do that I have to go, obviously," Harry said.
Ron frowned, "You shouldn't bring more than two or three others in with you I think. Everyone else can be standing by with their coins, ready to rush in as backup. I'll run interference with the older generation. Think I'll need support though."
"I'll stay with you. I'm not much use till I learn to use this properly." Theo held up his right hand, the black leather gleaming in the firelight.
"Neville is out," said Luna. "He doesn't think he can concentrate properly until Pansy wakes up."
"Harry isn't leaving my sight," the Weaselette said firmly."
"I'll go with," said George, "Fred can be backup."
"Fred disagrees," said Luna, "says it's your turn to play backup."
George frowned and thought.
"Hmm, maybe he's right. He did play wingman last time we were at the Twisting Wands…"
Hermione rolled her eyes again and Draco couldn't help but wonder how many times the Weasleys had caused her to do so. He wondered if he'd ever be the one to make her roll her eyes. The idea gave him a warm fuzzy feeling that left him rather confused.
"I'll also go with," Hermione said. "We can easily floo there, but we need a good excuse for not being home. The Order meeting can't last forever."
"Quidditch," Luna said.
Everyone turned to stare at her. She shrugged, "Go play quidditch at the Academy. The four of you can slip out, run to the Department of Mysteries, and come back. Theo and Ron can stay here and play chess."
Hermione frowned, "Luna, you and I never play quidditch."
She smiled, "Yes, but we can pretend, and they'll assume we mean to sneak in and raid the Academy library. Alianore caught me in there last week. Before the battle."
"That actually might work," Harry said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. There was no more panic in his face, now it was filled with purpose.
"So, Ginny, Hermione, George - or Fred - and Harry will sneak in. Theo and I will stay here and play chess, keeping an eye on the floo. Luna, Fred - or George - and Draco will provide backup. Sounds like a solid backbone of a plan," Weasley said, looking thoughtful.
"Um, I think we're forgetting something," the Weaselette said.
Everyone looked at her.
"What?" Weasley asked.
"Are you sure?" Hermione said.
"Sounded like everything to me," George said.
Now the Weaselette rolled her eyes. "Honestly. All of us have been friends since we were practically in nappies. We know we're all in this together. But Malfoy and No- Theodore are new. Harry made a conscious choice and offer to Pansy to join us. Aren't we going to actually ask them if they want to be part of this? Instead of assuming?"
Draco suddenly had every pair of eyes trained on him for a moment, before they slid over to Theo and then back again.
"Well?" George said. "Do you want to join us in our continued defiance of the Ministry and all Death Eaters?"
Draco looked over at Theo, noticing a mirrored look of surprise, glad he wasn't the only one that didn't expect to actually be asked to join their group.
"What are you, anyways?" Theo asked.
"Indeed, I thought you were just friends, not anything organized," Draco added.
George chuckled, "Well, we are friends, but thanks to Hermione I think we can call ourselves a little club now, though we have no official name. Personally, Fred and I like the New Marauders."
"Speaking of organized…" Hermione grabbed a drawstring bag that looked eerily similar to the one Pansy had been carrying around all last term.
She reached in and pulled out two more drawstring bags, two journals, and two galleons. "I made extras, since you just never know. Here," she handed one of each item to Draco, then gave the others to Theo. "The coin can be used to communicate it in emergencies. It heats up when used, so be careful. The books are all connected, we can chat with each other that way, using call signs. The bags are truly bottomless. Just put your hand in and think of what you want. As long as it's in there it will come to your hand. The opening expands for larger items."
"Like so," the Weaselette said, she pulled her own drawstring bag off her belt and reached in to pull out her broomstick.
Draco held up the bag, his eyes wide in amazement, "You actually made a truly bottomless bag?"
"Yes, she did, and Fred and I have the full rights to sell them, as well as the twin journals once the war ends," George said proudly.
"But the ones they sell will only connect with one to three other journals. These ones connect with any journal I tell them to," Hermione said, a trace of pride in her voice and a glimmer in her eyes that made her entire face shine.
"You need call signs," Luna stated. "I think Dragon is good for Draco, and as for Theodore I think-"
"Apple," Theo said firmly.
"Apple?" Harry asked curiously.
Theo met Draco's gaze, a steely coldness visible that had never before shown itself, "Yes, Apple."
"Very well, Apple for Theodore. Does Dragon work for you, Draco?" Hermione asked.
Draco shrugged, not really caring, "It's fine."
"Alright, I think it's fitting," she sent a glare at Harry and Draco saw the other boy turn a bit red and look away. Obviously realizing that Hermione had finally learned what her vision in St. Mungos meant.
"Now that's settled, let's get to planning," Weasley said. "It's nearly seven and you can't play quidditch too late. Apple, you're with me, we'll keep a journal open, feel free to write if help is needed. We can round up the Order if it's absolutely necessary. Gred, Phoenix, Prongslet and Ginger will sneak in and steal the prophecy. Use the cloak to make sure the way is clear before everyone moves in. And Gred will come supplied with some of your new products, right?"
He looked at George, who nodded, "Of course."
"Moon, Forge, and Dragon, you keep a journal open and wait at the Academy. Make enough noise no one realizes there isn't a real quidditch game going on. Grass will, of course, be sitting this one out due to Snake's condition. Sound good?"
Everyone nodded, though Draco heard the Weaselette mutter under her breath, "Ron really relishes being King…"
"I heard that!" Weasley said, trying to throw another pillow at the Weaselette, but finding that Hermione had put all of them out of his reach. He settled for sticking his tongue out at her before getting back to business. "Now, let's see about working out any details. I think-"
Draco tuned the red-head out. He may regret it later, but he would just do whatever Luna (When had he stopped thinking of her as Lovegood? And why?) told him to do. Really, he just wanted to support Harry and Hermione in their goal to rid the world of snake-face. Details didn't matter.
He just wanted revenge for his father's magical chaining and death.
He found it interesting that while Hermione had instigated the raid on the Ministry, it was Weasley who was planning the details.
And Harry was doing nothing but nodding along and occasionally sharing details from his dream visions.
This group really wasn't what he had ever imagined it to be - and he had imagined it quite a lot. Especially after Pansy joined them.
And now he was a part of it.
A scary thought, but one that left him with a comfortably warm feeling in his chest, soothing the pain and guilt he still felt over his father's death and Pansy and Theo's injuries.
He was part of it.
An idea formed in his head.
Hermione, we need to share that we can communicate.
But, do you really want them knowing your weakness?
He couldn't help but laugh, drawing everyone's eyes and making respond out loud.
"Hermione, I'm chained to you. How is that a weakness?"
Her soft brown eyes met his and she blinked owlishly for a moment. Then she laughed herself, "Point."
Everyone looked terribly confused.
"Care to explain what's going on?" Weasley asked.
It was Harry that spoke, "Malfoy family magic forces you to magically chain yourself to someone powerful that you admire. Draco is chained to Hermione. I'm guessing they've found a benefit of it."
Hermione's chuckles drifted away, "Yes. We can speak mind to mind. Similar to my connection with Harry, but also different."
"Wait, you can talk to Potter in your head? And now Draco? How is that fair?!" Theo exclaimed.
"It's not," the Weaslette said.
Really, he needed to not call her that. It wasn't particularly flattering and he'd already stopped calling her brother Weasel. And she certainly ranked higher on his list than her brother.
"It's a long and complicated story. At least for Harry and Hermione. I'll explain it while they're on the mission, " Weasley said.
Theo nodded as Weasley turned his attention back to Draco.
"So, if you two can speak mind-to-mind that means we must adjust things accordingly."
And he went off again, changing things up. Draco sighed and found a chair to sit in. He wondered if anything would actually faze this group.
Because it sure didn't seem like it.
And he knew that couldn't be real. Everyone had a limit on how much 'weirdness' they could take. And when this group reached it's limit...he really hoped he lived through that - because it would not be pretty.
Author's Note: A lot of talking, no action, but the next chapter makes up for it. And, yes, no private time for Dramione, but you're about to get lots of it. So don't worry.
Also, yes, I did have Harry get rid of the horcrux, with the help of the blood wards. Someone on FFN guessed it. So, kudos to potter-centric!