April 20th 1998
In a dark forest, Draco and Harry staggered to their feet. Neither had attempted to apparate that far before, and it had taken a lot out of them.
They had been planning this excursion to months, but they had been forced into it early, having originally planned to 'disappear' after Harry's seventeenth birthday. Tracking the magical trace of the Death Eaters' apparition had been Harry's idea, and Draco had been sure it wouldn't work.
Harry had turned to Draco for back-up for several reasons.
Firstly, Draco knew and could counter some of the Darker spells that Harry didn't, having learnt them from an early age.
Secondly, Draco had more magical power than anyone else in the group, aside from Harry and, maybe, Hermione.
Thirdly, Draco was better at immediate tactics, whereas Ron was better with long-term strategy.
And lastly, though Harry knew she was likely to kill him when he returned, he wanted Hermione to stay safe.
Besides, Hogwarts would need her.
"Thanks for the heart attack," Draco said.
"No problem," Harry said absently, looking around. "Where are we?"
"I told you it wouldn't work," Draco said, waving his wand. "Tempus."
Smoke shot from his wand and formed words in the air. April 20th 1998, 2.30am, Albania.
"Albania," Harry read with a smirk. "Also known as suspected hiding place of one Tom Marvolo Riddle. I do believe you owe me two galleons."
"Alright, alright." Draco pulled a couple of coins from his robes and tossed them to Harry. "Now hang on." He paced out a large circle around Harry and the two bags, muttering protective charms under his breath.
"Since we're in Albania, I'm not restricted by the underage use of magic laws, am I?" Harry asked, pulling a tent out of one of the bags.
"No," Draco answered. "Nice of Mr Weasley to lend us his tent, although I doubt he knew what we wanted it for." He grimaced. "Hang on, I'm being shouted at."
Harry sniggered, putting the tent up with a wave of his wand. "I am so glad I don't have a bond with Mione right now."
Draco closed his eyes. Ginny?
DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY, I AM GOING TO MURDER YOU WHEN YOU GET BACK! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I AM?
Ginny! Calm down; we know what we're doing.
What exactly are you doing? Ginny asked in clipped tones, although no longer shouting in his head. And are you prepared for it?
We've been prepared for months, Draco assured her. This just pushed our plans forwards, that's all. We've got a tent; we've got food; we're alright.
And the plan? Ginny prompted.
Kill Voldemort before he kills us.
WHAT?!
Draco winced. Merlin, Gin, keep it down, would you? I think Harry heard that!
Sorry. Ginny didn't sound sorry in the slightest. And what do you propose we mere mortals do in the meantime?
Clean up the Ministry? Draco suggested. Get rid of Fudge? Get rid of Dumbledore? Anything along those lines would be helpful. Actually, I wonder if this'll work. He cleared his throat and intoned, both aloud and in his head: "I, Lord Draco Lucius Malfoy, Head of the Most Noble Malfoy family and chosen Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble Slytherin line, to hereby grant Ginevra Molly Weasley, granted Lady of the House status by Gringotts Wizarding Bank, permission to hold both the Malfoy and Slytherin Wizengamot seats by proxy." Think that'll work?
Should do, Ginny answered. I'll do my best.
I know. Draco sighed, knowing she wouldn't like what he told her next. Ginny, I need to block the link.
I understand, Ginny assured him sadly. I don't want you to get distracted. Draco … be careful.
I will. Draco sent a gentle wave of love through the link. I promise, Ginny. I'll come back to you.
As Hermione's shout faded away, pandemonium broke out in the Great Hall, but Hermione didn't let it take hold. "QUIET!"
Her voice echoed through the Hall, cutting through the panic, just as Jen apparated back in. "What did I miss?"
"Harry's not dead, Voldemort left with the Death Eaters, and Draco and Harry went after them," Hermione said sharply. "Anyone following you?"
When Jen shook her head, Hermione raised her hand. "Hogwarts, re-engage anti-apparition wards!"
Light flashed through the Great Hall – anyone else coming in was going to have to use the front door, like everyone else.
"Hermione, sit down before you fall down," Jen said. "Hogwarts students, you have been amazing. Your actions tonight have been exemplary. I ask the uninjured house-elves to set up sleeping bags in the undamaged classrooms and get some food together. We can start clean-up tomorrow. Those of you who came to help us, thank you. If you have a child in first, second, third or fourth year, I can confirm that we managed to evacuate all of those year groups, so unless someone snuck back in when no one was looking, they should all be alright. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. If your child is in fifth, sixth or seventh year, please head over to the right side of the Great Hall, and we will be with you as soon as possible. At the moment, we don't have a full list of casualties, so please be patient with us."
As people began to move, she turned to Hermione. "Are you alright?"
Hermione nodded, realising belatedly that there was a trickle of blood running down from a cut on her forehead. "I'm fine," she said, wiping it away. "We lost eight people that I know of …"
"Eleven," Susan corrected, approaching her. "Three more were killed in the last bout. They've been moved to the antechamber, but I haven't looked."
"I'll do it," Hermione said. "It's my castle … I just need a bit of time."
"Hermione, you've done enough," Jen said gently. "Got some rest; I'll handle it from here."
"No," Hermione said. "I need to … I have to … Jen, I …" She sighed, leading Jen over to where Bellatrix lay dead on the floor.
Narcissa stood nearby, staring dry-eyed at her sister's body. At her cousin's approach, she looked up, swiftly walking over to embrace Jen.
Jen stroked her cousin's hair, looking down at Bellatrix with an unreadable expression. "Who?"
"Me," Hermione said softly. "I wasn't even trying, Jen; it was a … It was an Impedimenta Jinx. It's not supposed to …"
"It's not your fault, Hermione. It was you or her." Jen passed a now-crying Narcissa over, and Hermione let her cry into her robes.
Relieved of her duty, Jen knelt beside Bellatrix, picking up her wand. "You could have had everything," she said softly. "You had everything, Bella. And you threw it away to worship a hypocrite."
"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered, feeling Narcissa shake her head into her robes.
"Don't be, Hermione," Jen said heavily. "Bellatrix Lestrange deserved to die. But I can't help mourning for the woman that Bella Black could have been." She reached out and gently closed her cousin's eyes. "Sleep peacefully now, Bella. And I pray that you find some redemption in the next life."
"My son …" Narcissa whispered, lifting her head. "Where's my son?"
"I don't know," Hermione admitted. "I'm sure he has a plan."
Ginny hurried up to them and Hermione was about to ask her to reassure Narcissa, when the redhead said something that made her blood run cold. "Did anyone see what happened to Greyback? Because no one remembers Portkeying him out and the moon hasn't set yet."
"Shit," Hermione muttered. "The lack of screams is reassuring, but … go and check the third floor corridor."
Ginny glanced over at Jen, who was now speaking to Amelia and had apparently not heard them. "Right, got it."
As she hurried away, Hermione felt Hogwarts shiver around them. "Amelia," she called. "The Minister of Magic's on his way with the aurors."
"It's about bloody time," Amelia muttered. "Let's set up the welcoming committee then."
In Ravenscroft Manor, Andromeda, Luna and Daphne were running the infirmary like a Muggle military operation. As soon as the injured were treated, they were either given a bed or told the return activation for the Portkey so they could return to the battle.
One of the fifth year Healers had been given a list of Hogwarts students and had checked off everyone downstairs in the ballroom, as well as kept a record of the people who had Portkeyed in and out.
It was Ron who had the common sense to send them a Patronus to tell them that the battle had been won, even if the war was still on-going, and Daphne made the decision not to send anyone else back to the castle.
As the general pandemonium died down, she caught sight of Luna gazing at a world map on the wall. "Luna?"
Barely blinking, Luna didn't look away. "James and Lily won't be happy about Harry running off like that."
Daphne sighed. "I know. They deserve to see the end of the war, but how can they? Remus and Jen have searched everywhere."
"Why don't we try apparating to the people rather than the place?" Luna asked.
Daphne opened her mouth to argue, then paused. Strictly speaking, one needed coordinates to apparate anywhere, so it wasn't possible to apparate to a person.
But had anyone tried it?
"The wards wouldn't let us," she said cautiously. "Would they?"
"The Death Eaters must apparate on somehow," Luna said. "And Addie apparated out without a wand."
It was certainly worth a go, she decided – the worst case scenario was that nothing happened. "Alright, come on then."
Andromeda was with a patient, so she called over to one of the seventh year Ravenclaws. "Mirabelle, hold the floor!"
Daphne and Luna headed downstairs, popping into the ballroom on the way.
A few students were unconscious in the corner, guarded by a few of the house elves.
"The Battle of Hogwarts has been won," Daphne announced. "We'll send you back as soon as we can."
They slipped out amidst the cheers jubilation, and took the transport stone out to the surrounding forest, where Daphne took Luna's arm and walked her to the apparition spot.
"Okay, focus on the Potters as hard as you can." Daphne closed her eyes, picturing the couple she'd seen in Jen's Pensieve – James Potter with his messy black hair that stuck up in the same place Harry's did, Lily with her startlingly green, almond-shaped eyes.
The image imprinted itself on her brain and she twisted sharply, feeling the beginnings of apparition, willing her magic to take her to them.
As soon as the dizzying sensation appeared, Daphne opened her eyes, erecting a Shield Charm in time to deflect the curses that flew towards them.
The element of surprise on their side, the two witches moved quickly, dispatching the five Death Eaters in front of them.
Once they were able to take a good look around, Daphne's jaw dropped.
She'd seen this place once before, in a picture drawn by Hermione, while Lily was inhabiting her body.
"I don't believe it," she whispered. "It actually worked."
"Right, according to these Order maps," Harry said, tracing one of the lines with a finger, "Voldie's hide-out is approximately 38 miles north-east."
Draco nodded thoughtfully. He'd been quiet ever since he'd entered the tent after his mental conversation with Ginny.
"You alright, mate?" Harry asked.
"It's weird not having her in my head," Draco said. "But yeah, I'm fine." He shook himself out of his thoughts. "So we going with Disillusionment Charms?"
"Have to," Harry said. "Mione's still got my Cloak."
"Probably for the best," Draco said. "They'll be expecting your Cloak. We'll set out tonight then?"
"Early," Harry agreed. "At dusk, I think. If we try to set up camp here," he pointed at several spots on the map, "or thereabouts, we should reach it within the week."
"Assuming he's there," Draco said darkly.
"Well, even if he's not, there'll be some Death Eaters," Harry said, rolling up the map. "We should get some sleep though; we've been awake for coming up to twenty-four hours now."
"I'll take the first watch," Draco said. "I'm not that tired."
Even though dawn was now breaking, it was dark in the tent.
Draco sat in the entranceway, his wand alight, his eyes alert for any sign of movement within the trees, which were just as dark, their leaves forming a dense canopy that shut out the light.
It was going to be a very long week.
Ginny sprinted up the stairs, brushing past students who were organising themselves into empty classrooms, and burst on to the third floor.
A chilling howl forced bile up into her throat and she hurtled towards the sound, trying desperately not to let any of her fear seep through the closed link to Draco – the last thing she wanted to do was distract him right now, not when it could be a matter of life or death as far as she knew.
The werewolf was picking its way over the blown-out corridor, its snout covered in blood, far too close to the alcove Jen had charmed for Ginny's liking.
It let out another howl at her appearance and sprang towards her – her mind went blank – she raised her wand and shouted the only spell she could think of.
"REDUCTO!"
It was a crude method, but it worked. The red beam of light made contact, a loud bang filled the corridor, and Ginny ducked as flesh and blood splattered over her.
Screams erupted from the nearby students but Ginny paid them no heed. She had no idea if the protective enchantments would stop a werewolf, but she wasn't taking any chances. Her wand was in her hand, dismantling the spells, even as she raced towards the alcove.
As a basinet – probably transfigured – came into view, Ginny slowed, unwilling to see the damage done, but needing to, because it was surely only a matter of time before Jen came running, and she didn't need to see that first-hand.
Not entirely sure what she would find, Ginny peered over the edge of the basinet, to see a perfect little baby, lying motionless on her back. She couldn't see any injuries, but that didn't mean anything.
Sending up a prayer to anyone that was listening, Ginny reached into the basinet. As she lifted the baby out, her eyes blinked open, her face screwed up, and she began to cry.
Ginny breathed a sigh of relief, tucking the baby up close to her chest. "Oh, don't cry, sweetheart. It's alright. We'll go and find Mama."
The journey back to the Great Hall was prolonged by questions about the baby, but Ginny finally reached the Great Hall, only to walk into a very loud argument that drowned out the sound of the baby's cries.
While Amelia tore into her aurors, Jen was facing Cornelius Fudge, shaking with rage. "HOW DARE YOU?! HOW DARE YOU SHIRK YOUR DUTIES LIKE THIS?! IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE WIZARDING WORLD, MINISTER, NOT PROTECT YOUR OWN SORRY HIDE!"
Hermione caught sight of her and waved her over. "Are you okay? And the baby?"
"I'm fine," Ginny said, soothing the baby. "She seems fine. Greyback was very close though – we are never going to get those stains out. Are you okay?"
"Not really," Hermione said, grimacing. "It's getting harder to hold it back; I'm going to snap, Ginny; I swear – one more thing …"
Just then, the doors to the Great Hall were pushed open again and a very familiar face walked in.
"HARRY!"
Running down the middle of the Great Hall, through the crowd of startled aurors, Hermione threw herself into Harry's arms, sobbing into his robes.
His arms encircled her automatically, rubbing her back, and she let herself cry, vague threats escaping her, threatening retribution for scaring her so.
Another hand stroked her hair and a soft female voice asked if she was alright. The voice was familiar and, as Hermione calmed down, she slowly realised that the man holding her was just a little too tall, a little too broad- shouldered to be Harry.
Pulling back, she looked up into his face to see mischievous brown eyes smiling down at her.
"Hermione?" James Potter whispered, realisation dawning on his face. "You're all grown up."
And that's all she wrote, folks! I'll be back soon with the sequel, Aftermath, so keep an eye out!