Smoked… and Mirrors

58. The Pig

Ron had the latest Ministry update on Madam Puddifoot's murder and had called an emergency meeting at The Blue House.

'Carmichael says she was definitely murdered BEFORE Ephraim's rally. Early hours of Sunday morning...'

'Who do they think did it?' Harry asked, snaffling one of Arlene's famous cookies from a heaped plate on the kitchen table.

'Usual bullshit. Foreign agents… One thing's for sure, it was brutal. Scrimshaw said he'd never seen anything like it.'

'Yeah, it was fucked-up,' Draco frowned. 'Place was shredded. And… bits scattered everywhere.'

This didn't sit well with Hermione's breakfast from a few hours ago.

Molly blanched. 'Are you suggesting she was dismem—?'

'Yes,' Ron said abruptly.

'If the place was shredded… it sounds like her attackers were looking for something,' Hermione said, looking at Draco.

'You're thinking Sylvestra, aren't you?'

'It's logical… If Sylvestra wanted Anna's papers, Katya knew where they are - hidden in a painting at Madam Puddifoot's.'

'Are you saying Draco's wife TOLD Sylvestra where to find this picture?' Neville asked.

'She wouldn't need to. Sylvestra's a brilliant Legilimens…'

'Assuming Madam Puddifoot was tortured, let's hope she didn't tell Sylvestra that she gave Katya's painting to Angelina and Hermione,' Harry said ominously.

A sullen silence descended on the table.

'This is a rather grisly line of thought,' Thelonious said, gently prefacing what he was about to say… 'but it sounds like Madam Puddifoot died DURING torture, so it's unlikely she revealed anything.'

'S'pose there's no point chopping someone up once they're dead,' Ron said dismally.

'As a precaution I think we move Binta and Anna's papers out of The Blue House,' Hermione said to Bill.

'I agree – but we're a bit tight on space here.'

'She could stay at my parents' house? It's quiet and there's a spare room.'

Bill nodded in agreement.

'Has Sylvestra said anything on the Corundum?' Harry asked Thelonious.

'Not a dicky bird.'

'What about Selwyn Haast?' Hermione asked. He'd been present when Sylvestra negotiated Katya's release with Dolores.

'Nothing. In fact it's gone rather quiet… suspiciously so. There was something a few days ago from that guy in Egypt. Josep. Something about shipping…'

'The Alaydaa…' Draco said gloomily. 'Hassan says they've been leaving Akhr Makan.'

'What's Alaydaa?' Molly asked querulously.

'A militia unit. Josep's commander-in-chief.'

'I wonder where they're going?' Hermione fretted.

'We shouldn't rule out Ephraim as a suspect in Madam Puddifoot's murder,' Neville said, rowing back. 'She gave him grief over this restoration business.'

'Tad extreme to torture her to death though,' Bill said, looking sickened.

'This wasn't Ephraim,' Hermione said. 'He was shocked Madam Puddifoot was murdered.'

'He didn't know,' Draco agreed reluctantly.

'Seems like Ephraim doesn't know a lot of things these days,' Neville said, a bemused expression on his face.

'He's being cut out of the loop,' Hermione said definitively. 'I chose not to tell Ephraim that Sylvestra's traded Katya behind his back. I didn't want him working out we have Magda… and Anna's papers. But if he knows Sylvestra's freelancing, he'll question her loyalty… any bust-up and this lot could tear themselves apart.'

'Do you want me to set something up?' Neville asked.

Draco folded his arms and glared.

'I'll meet him in the pictures…' Hermione decided.

XXX

Ephraim stood at the entrance to Katya's tower and listened.

'Nothing…' he said soberly. 'She's gone.'

'Dolores said Narcissa will take her place. But the tower's still empty…'

Ephraim wandered away from the tower to the lakeside. 'Well, she hasn't been fixed yet.' He gazed into the murky, brown water. Rain pitter-pattered onto the lily-pads and the surface of the water was a swirl of widening concentric circles. 'There's an in-between stage. A sort of… limbo.'

'A blank canvas…'

Ephraim swivelled to look at her. 'How do you know that?'

'Salvedra tried to put me in a picture.' Hermione chilled at the memory.

Ephraim regarded her curiously. 'I guess you'd be quite the prize. A powerful Muggle-born with colour-magic. That's unusual.'

'I doubt it,' Hermione retorted, irritated by his inference. 'Anyway. Dolores says he wants me. But not to frame me. Not anymore.'

Ephraim's colour throbbed to such a degree Hermione could barely see him beyond a foggy blue miasma.

'Do you know about the work he's doing at Akhr Makan?' she asked.

'He's had a presence there for many years … since before we were born. But Gilgad modernised the site, I suppose. It's a Centre for Excellence.'

'Excellence… Is that what you call it?' Hermione said sniffily. 'They ran tests on Harry. He's never said what they did.'

'I'm not surprised,' Ephraim muttered darkly.

'There were samples from Sylvestra, too.'

'She'd have volunteered! She passionately supports his cause.' Ephraim stared at the lake. 'It's best you don't come into the pictures ALONE anymore, Hermione... it's not safe.'

'Oh, I'm fine like THIS… when I'm not actually real.'

Ephraim looked sceptical.

'Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that Katya's in OUR world and Narcissa is HERE.' Hermione turned as if intending to go…

'Wherever they've put Narcissa will be shielded,' Ephraim said, drawing her back in. 'Probably colour-magic… I'll look for her. It's important she's found before she's fixed.'

'What difference will it make? Dolores says only those with colour-magic can pass between worlds, which means she's stuck.'

'Dolores lied…' Ephraim said acerbically. 'If Narcissa ends up in the tower then yes, she's fixed. But not before.' He gave her a shrewd look. 'Which is why it's incredible Katya's been released. Only Salvedra could enable that… I'm guessing someone cut a deal? Katya in exchange for Narcissa?'

Hermione said nothing.

'… which has me wondering how you knew about this, Hermione.' He laughed, seemingly innocuous, but with an edge. 'I suspect you want to tell me and this is the main reason I heard from Neville.'

'It was Sylvestra.'

Ephraim raised his eyebrows and looked back to the lake, digesting this.

'So you'll probably be seeing Katya very soon, Ephraim.'

'Not if she's with Sylvestra,' he said ruefully. 'We've fallen out.'

'Oh…'

'Over a number of things, but mainly YOU.'

'Me?'

'She wants me to arrest you for treason.'

Hermione froze. 'I hope you said no.'

'Of course. Though I'm probably foolish not to.' He gave her a regretful look. 'There's something you should tell Draco... It's Milton. The gardeners at Malfoy Manor found his body… Most of it, anyway. He probably tried to defend Narcissa...'

'I'll tell him….' Poor Scorpius, she thought… 'Thanks…'

Hermione moved away but Ephraim stayed at her side as she drifted through the paintings.

'When Salvedra tried to take you, how did you get out?'

'Draco… don't know how.'

'Because he really wanted it.' A smile flickered on Ephraim's lips. 'My stepson's found himself through love… It's peculiar. I feel both happy for him and furious all at the same time.'

'Well, I'll leave you to your psychological wrangling.'

But he continued to shadow her…

This was the flaw in the plan… Telling him to turn around and count to ten like they were in a game of hide 'n' seek wouldn't cut it.

'I'd like to meet again,' Ephraim said.

'If you find Narcissa…'

'To talk.'

'If I say yes, will you go away?' she asked, exasperated.

'If you promise…'

'Okay – but I choose when!'

Ephraim beamed. 'Good… Oh, how's Gwen?'

'Fine…'

'She looks like Anna.' His eyes twinkled. 'Though her greatest attribute is her resemblance to yourself.'

XXX

'Why promise him anything? The man's a cunt.'

'He's looking for your mother. It's good to encourage him.'

'ENCOURAGE HIM? Ephraim doesn't need fucking encouragement. He's a sick bastard and he's reeling you in!'

'Not THAT type of encouragement…'

'Should fucking hope not.' Draco twisted around in bed and glared at her. 'This whole thing - it's making me mad as hell! I don't want you sneaking into pictures being chummy with him! Is that clear?'

'He had a right to know what's happened. Katya and Sylvestra are his daughters!'

But Draco's blood was up. He loomed over her.

'Ephraim doesn't have a right to ANYTHING! Let alone spending time with you.'

'You're being stupid!' she hissed. 'And don't tell me what to do!' She pushed him away.

Draco grabbed hold of her legs and held them still. 'So you're saying you WANT to spend time with him! Is that it?' He stared at her, wild-eyed, face flushed. 'Go ahead then! Fuck off to Ephraim!'

Hermione wriggled free and sat up. 'How dare you!'

His eyes dropped to her body and Hermione blushed with sudden self-consciousness and folded her arms over her naked breasts.

'I can't stand the man! He makes me want to itch my skin off.'

'Fucking crap way of showing it… ' Draco sneered peevishly. 'You held hands with him the other night for two minutes and thirty-four seconds!'

'I… WHAT?' Hermione gaped at him. 'What are you talking about?'

'In the park. Your cozy chat.'

Hermione's mouth dropped open. 'You're fucking mad! Delusional! You TIMED a handshake?' She swung her legs off the bed…

'Where are you going?' he said, wrestling her back on.

'There's no point us talking about this, Draco…' she said, feeling winded, and yet all too alive to the feeling of his hot skin against hers. 'You're paranoid. And that's an end to it.'

'I just… sense something,' he said through gritted teeth, pushing her deeper onto the bed. She tried to sit up but he pinned her arms back, flat against the pillows and stared down at her.

She couldn't stop gazing at his mouth. It was open, inviting.

'I don't want you near him,' he said.

'It could be useful.'

'You have a connection… And you don't hate him enough,' he said bitterly. 'I can see your feelings, remember?'

'And I can see yours…' she sighed longingly. She trailed her eyes down his body. For all his fire and fury he was very aroused… 'And I think we just fuck this one out…'

They locked eyes and a heated glow rose up his body into his face. 'This is a real thing, Hermione. And it keeps happening… You can't just SEDUCE me and it's all okay. It doesn't work like that.'

He looked down at her body beneath him and blew out his cheeks. 'Actually… who am I fucking kidding?' he groaned, 'you fucking can…I'm so turned on here I can't see straight.'

They fell into each other's arms, clinging to each other desperately. His hands were strong on her body; a brutish strength that made her want to bite down on him… and he muscled his way between her legs and his mouth was on her neck.

She could still feel his anger pulsing, his whiteness bursting… a torrent of feeling. It rolled through him as he devoured her body with his mouth, raking his fingers through her hair, kissing her with intense, blinding passion. He grabbed her buttocks and thrust into her, battering her with hard-eyed rage and desire until she was moaning deliriously.

'Oh god… you really are mad,' she gasped in helpless exhilaration, feeling like she was melting from the inside out, barely able to catch her breath.

Something jolted within her. A dazzling, blinding whiteness… bathing them in light… They'd combined – BOTH their magic types shadowing and inflecting their every move, thought and feeling… notching up the intensity.

She was surprised the bed didn't burst into flames and they didn't leave scotch-marks on the sheets.

'That was… primal,' she panted afterwards - bodies intertwined, glistening with sweat.

'What triggered us combining?'

'I guess it was a super-charged moment of intensity? I don't know...'

'I'd like to,' Draco said, a quizzical look on his face. 'Because it's not just colour-magic bonding. And it isn't just sensory overload, or we'd be lighting up like fucking Christmas Trees every time we screwed.'

She nestled against his arm stretched out behind her on the pillow. They faced each other, just a few inches apart.

She could sense something else – uncertainty, insecurity.

'I'm sorry,' he said, eventually.

'For what?'

'For being such a prick…'

'It's okay,' she smiled. 'At least you know you WERE one.'

'But… after, too. Having sex… I - I lost my head a bit… Worried I hurt you…'

She smiled, eyes glistening. 'If you did, I'd have said.' She stroked his cheek and hair and he momentarily closed his eyes, sighing in relief.

'I'm just feeling a bit fucked-up with everything… Like I want to kill the world…' His eyes darkened. 'It's not fair for me to take that out on you.'

'Well, you've good reason to feel angry. Your mother's stuck in weirdo-land, and your son was abused, and deep down you think Ephraim killed your father… and… you've just lost a friend...' she added in softer tones.

And his wife was back, but she didn't want to get into that right now…

Draco turned and stared at the ceiling. A wave of sadness washed over him.

'Milton. He was always - there.'

'I know… And you're allowed to be sad, Draco. You can't be Mr Fucking Sort-it all the time... You can be whatever you want with me… I promise.'

XXX

Hermione found it hard to concentrate… her mind kept drifting to Draco.

Last night had turned into one of those nights…

At some point in the early hours their magic had combined AGAIN and they'd glowed so brightly she'd had to screw her eyes shut to ward off the glare.

'Hermione!' Ernie laughed. 'We've asked you the same question FIVE times…'

Hermione jolted back to reality and Bill's study, which was increasingly looking and smelling like a potions lab..

'Sorry, was away with the fairies…'

'Oh, is that what they call Draco these days,' Fleur said with a sly smile.

'What do you mean?' Had she unconsciously said his name?

Fleur's eyes sparkled mischievously. 'You're dog-tired and you keep sighing… and you've got a massive love-bite on your neck.'

Hermione's hand shot to her neck in horror. She'd always HATED hickeys on other people…

'Thought we were testing the Stypticon?' Bill groused in abrupt tones behind them. He gave Hermione an unforgiving glare.

'Mummy,' came Hugo's voice from the doorway. 'Can we play in the pretty flower field? Magda likes the colours.'

'Better you keep to the garden, dear.'

'It's okay,' Fleur said cheerfully, unfastening her apron. 'I could do with a break. Where's Aunty Gabby?'

'She's coming, too.'

Hermione slipped into Fleur's place while Ernie carefully applied a spatula loaded with Stypicon Solution to a small blank canvas. Hermione cast a series of quick drying spells.

'Might have gone a bit too thick…' Ernie murmured, demonstrating his usual diligence, something that had impressed Hermione.

'I'm popping up the village to make a few calls,' Bill muttered.

Ten minutes later there was a loud bang from the kitchen and a shrill wail…

'Mummy!' screeched Hugo.

Hermione and Ernie dashed from the study almost colliding with Hugo. Magda was upside-down in his arms, wriggling like an eel, her hair grazing the floor.

Hermione scooped Magda out of harm's way and clutched Hugo to her breast. 'What's happened? Where's Aunty Fleur?'

Hugo was too convulsed to speak properly. His eyes were red and swollen and his face was awash with tears and mucus… 'The men in things… they came…'

'Where?'

'Field.'

Hermione's head felt hot and clouded – a whining sound echoed in her ears. Fleur and Gabrielle were out there and someone had come for them…

'I'll go!' Ernie declared boldly.

'No…' I have colour-magic, she almost said… She planted a kiss on Hugo's forehead. 'Promise to stay with Ernie. Indoors.' She mustered a smile, even though her heart was turning over.

She ran with a speed that made her sides ache even before she reached the boundary… She was gulping for air, screaming inside.

They'd been found – somehow they'd been found - and Hugo had run with Magda.

My boy. A hero, she thought.

She vaulted over the boundary wall, wand aloft, brimming with colour-magic…

Six Alaydaa in their metallic costumes and bug-eyed masks… two dead. And Gabrielle stretched out on the ground.

Four Alaydaa were charging at Fleur, pushing her towards the cliff-edge. She let off a sneaky Stupefy, knocking one to the ground, but without help she'd be a goner.

Go, Hermione whispered, imagining an Alaydaa falling through the sky…

Focus and flow

With a blood-curdling yelp, two Alaydaa accelerated then lost their footing, screaming in fear as their feet skidded across the grass and their legs and arms cycled manically into empty space before gravity took over and they tumbled to the rocks and sea below.

'Watch out!' Fleur yelled as an Alaydaa fired a killing curse in her direction.

Hermione swerved and struck back, a ball of fire bursting from her wand, blasting the Alaydaa with such force his metallic smock smouldered. He screeched, a high-pitched whistling sound, but hit back immediately with a string of stunners that had her zig-zagging across the field to avoid them.

Fleur ran towards her but the Alaydaa she'd stunned grabbed her ankle.

Hermione was stuck. Should she defend Fleur or evade attack?

The Alaydaa didn't give her a choice as he fell to one knee and aimed. A flurry of metal arrows arced over the field towards her…

Hermione immediately threw up a translucent shield and the arrows bounced noisily like fist-sized hailstones and clattered to the ground.

But the Alaydaa was determined. A second bout of arrows hurtled through the sky. And then another…

This was clearly a seasoned warrior, she thought… Power, stamina, skill…

She glanced at Fleur who was screaming at the top of her lungs and fighting with bare-teethed ferocity. Spell after spell slashing in a blizzard of light…

Hermione closed her eyes and imagined a wall, a cage… anything to fend off the Alaydaa who had his arm raised, ready to strike again… She dropped her shield, luring him in, and heard him muttering - a dark, bubbling sound.

An incipient shard of green sprang forth, unfurling in slow-motion… She slammed down hard in her head, like a guillotine, snapping the light from the world. A tunnelling blast smashed the green shoot into a pale puff of smoke and ripped into the Alaydaa, splintering him into thousands of pieces, like a smashed jar – glinting and dying in the sunlight.

Hermione stared ahead, panting loudly, barely able to believe what she'd done.

But there wasn't time to think. Fleur had fallen to the floor and the Alaydaa threw himself at her, like a large, leaping locust. Fleur rolled sideways and the Alaydaa crashed to the ground but her wand was pointing straight at the Alaydaa and she cast a spell that had him thrashing and screaming – and then he stilled.

Fleur looked up, bereft, and stumbled towards her sister, tears streaming down her face.

Hermione joined them, fervently wishing her heart-rate would slow… sharply aware that the pretty, purple flowers were scuffed and ruined and that her body was aching terribly from the peculiar spell she'd unleashed to finish off her attacker.

Three men dead… What have I become?

'Is she—?'

'Not yet,' Gabrielle groaned. Her gown was tattered and bloodied – a slashing spell of sorts had done this to her, Hermione thought glumly. Fleur peppered her sister's face with kisses and whispered in French.

Hermione quickly scanned the other Alaydaa for signs of life. Clean kills…

'That was me,' Gabrielle said. 'Azkaban here I come.'

'No,' Fleur said, laughing and crying at the same time. 'We're French… we'd get posted back to Vendome... but they'd be too pissed to care.'

'Where did they come from?' Hermione asked, still shocked.

'Nowhere!' Fleur cried. 'Literally nowhere!' She picked up Magda's white rabbit, 'Houblon', trodden into the ground. 'Poor Magda. She'll be wondering what the hell's going on.'

XXX

'I'll have Rose and Hugo at Wisteria Cottage for a bit,' Ron said. 'For a bit of boring normality.'

Hermione didn't feel emotionally equipped to argue. If that was best for the kids then so be it. On top of this, she was feeling exhausted...

But Rose surprised everybody by falling into loud paroxysms when the moment came to leave, throwing everything packed in her suitcase around the living-room.

Hermione tried to restrain her usually mild-mannered child but Rose was screaming in her face. This then triggered Magda who clearly felt crying was the 'thing' to do. She'd barely recovered from an earlier tantrum because she'd left poor Houblon, yet again, at Shell Cottage.

Scorpius watched from the sofa; silent, surly.

Draco quietly scurried around the room picking up Rose's treasures, folding her clothes.

'It'll be nice,' Parvati argued, a sweet smile on her face, but Rose wasn't having it…

'Scorpius and Magda come too,' she sniffed.

Ron gave Hermione a desperate shake of the head… The 'adults' had already had this debate. Ron didn't want to be responsible for somebody else's children, especially those requiring a higher level of protection. Hermione saw his point…

'You don't want me,' Rose whimpered.

'Of course I do,' Hermione said fighting tears.

'But I can't see what's happening if I'm not here.'

'That – that's probably a good thing,' Hermione said earnestly, shooting a glance at Ron who was holding Hugo's hand.

'Rose,' Draco said in firmer tones. He knelt down and took her in his arms. 'Everything here will be FINE. Scorpius is going to have a nice time and you'll see each other in a few days…' He looked up at Ron, arching his eyebrow, slightly antagonistic. 'Won't they? It's a few days, that's all.'

Arthur stepped forwards and replied for his son. 'Yes. Definitely, Sunday…'

'Picnic on the beach at The Blue House,' Ron said cheerily to Rose and Hugo. 'And we're going to the Quidditch – Chudleigh Cannons are playing Kenmare Kestrels.' He gave Draco an icy stare. 'We can all go I suppose.'

But Rose vehemently shook her head. 'Nope. Not The Blue House.'

'The thing you're scared of has gone…' Draco said.

But she was adamant. 'Worse thing.'

Draco looked unnerved. Maybe he actually believed Niko's rubbish about Rose being a seer? Rose bent her mouth to Draco's ear and whispered.

'I'll look after them, I promise,' he said tenderly. He looked at Ron. 'Should we give you our corundum so it's easier to keep in touch?'

'Got a better idea,' Ron said, pulling something out of his pocket. Hermione recognised it as their two-way mirror. He sat next to Scorpius and put one half in his hand. 'Now look at that…' He gave the other half to Rose. 'Okay, Munchkin. Say something.'

Rose looked in the mirror and pointed at Scorpius's face. 'I can see you!' she squealed.

Scorpius fell about laughing and was sticking his tongue out and pulling faces into the mirror for the rest of the evening until Ron had taken the mirror from Rose's hands when she climbed into her old bed at Wisteria Cottage and Scorpius was tucked up in his at Folkvangr.

XXX

Ernie raised his glass of wine and declared a toast, celebrating the 'Big P.'

'Does this mean you've - what was it again? – made an opaque picture?' Agatha asked, wrinkling her nose in confusion. 'Aren't ALL pictures opaque?'

Fleur heaved an impatient sigh. 'I've already explained this, Agatha…'

The sea was too chilly to swim but the sand was a firm butter-yellow – perfect for a game of football to burn off lunch. They had the beach to themselves courtesy of Muggle-repellent charms. Almost everyone was here – except Gunter and Elizaveta who were in Geneva. Even Harry's children had come for the Quidditch match.

Seamus had scored tickets for most adults and the older children, but only five for the Kenmare home stand.

'One of these is for me and one's for Draco – there's no way you can go in the Chudleigh end,' he told Draco. 'If your disguise slips, you'll get torn to pieces…'

Molly reminded everyone not to get too engrossed in football as the Quidditch kicked off at five.

Most of the kids and half the adults were playing football. It was a warm afternoon and many of the men went topless; something Hermione found disorienting. Niko, for example, was almost impossible to talk to normally once she'd discovered that under his clothes he was the hairiest man she'd ever seen.

Hermione settled on the sand with a glass of wine but the wine made her feel queasy so she tipped it away.

'When do you think Henrik and Parvati will get it on?' Hannah asked. 'I mean, look at them…'

Yet again Hermione felt a little chastened that she hadn't noticed their obvious connection.

Angelina was scrutinising Henrik with fresh interest. 'Got to say, that guy's actually better-looking with his clothes off.'

Agatha side-eyed Hermione. 'You've bagged the best bod, Hermione… you lucky thing.'

Her eyes followed Draco as he dribbled a ball along the shoreline…

'I haven't BAGGED anyone,' Hermione said prissily, aware that Ron was just a few feet away chatting to Gwen.

'Sounds like you're having a lot of fun, though.' Agatha flashed her a saccharine smile. 'Parvati says your house isn't very soundproofed...'

Hermione flushed scarlet, feeling a bit betrayed.

'No one's blaming you!' Angelina chirped up. 'He's fit as fuck...'

'Strange… because he was NOTHING at school,' Hannah agreed in casual tones.

'May I remind you? Hermione's still married to my BROTHER,' Ginny said tartly.

There was a scuff of hot sand and Draco slid to a stop in front of Hermione. He reached out his hand… 'We're swapping ends. Do you want to play?'

'I'm wearing a dress! And I can't do sports!'

'Yes, you can… ' he grinned. His hair was already brighter in the hot sun and his skin glowed. She'd thought it before, but warmth really suited him.

They walked towards the sea, hands bumping against each other.

He was holding a ball in the other hand and kept twirling it on his finger.

'Show-off,' she teased. He threw the ball at her and she batted it back catching him in the stomach. He fell to his knees and keeled over.

'Oh god, I'm so sorry.' And she knelt beside him, but he burst out laughing and dragged her onto the sand.

'Draco, everybody's here,' she hissed as he gazed down at her.

'Then let's go somewhere they aren't.' He grabbed her hand and they ran along the water's edge towards the neighbouring cove behind a length of rock, kicking up sand and splashing each other…

They were barely around the corner when he backed her up against the rocks and kissed her. The sun was warm on his bare back and she felt bubbly with excitement.

She fervently wished they were alone…

'Sadly we're not,' he murmured.

'Did you read my mind?'

He gave her a curious look. 'Perhaps?'

'Maybe that's your particular colour-magic skill?' she joked, 'besides kicking the shit out of stuff.'

She snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. His hands slipped under her dress and a warm, white balm wrapped itself tightly around them as they savoured their moment in the sun, reluctant to leave it.

'We're going!' Harry called.

'Where did you go?' Ron asked as they strode up the beach. He was weighed down with blankets.

'For a walk – it's pretty here,' Hermione said brightly.

'Something's up with Rose.' Ron nodded to the far side of the beach. 'Refuses to go back.'

'What's happened?'

'Won't say… won't come to the Quidditch, either… Oi, Malfoy!' Ron shouted at Draco as he walked towards Rose, 'maybe you can talk some sense into her? … She's taken a shine to him for some reason,' Hermione heard Ron say to Ginny as they walked up the beach. 'To be fair, Scorpius is a nice kid… What's that bloody noise?'

A pealing, sing-song siren echoed along the coast road and an ice-cream van headed past, chiming tunelessly.

'Better get a move on,' Ron said. 'The charms must have expired.'

XXX

'Why's there a PIG in the garden?' Hermione cried when they got back to The Blue House.

The children were squealing hysterically as a runty pig cantered around the lawn, desperate to escape their attentions.

'It was crying outside,' Audrey sighed. 'Seamus thinks it's escaped from the pig farm over the hill. He'll take it back later.'

Seamus was waving a voluminous, green hat shaped like a shamrock. 'Draco! Got a hat for you!'

Hermione's face cracked into a smile. 'It can be part of your disguise.'

'It'll BE my disguise.'

Henrik was less keen to wear his shamrock hat and Scorpius and Alfred were barely visible under theirs. Everybody else was decked out in Chudleigh Cannons regalia. Henrik looked crestfallen when Audrey was a last-minute drop-out and gave Niko her ticket.

'Get some rest, beautiful,' Draco said as they left.

Rose heaved a sorry sigh and retired to the kitchen with a book.

Rose had asked Draco not to go to the Quidditch, wanting them all to return to Folkvangr. But Draco didn't feel he could disappoint Scorpius and Hugo.

'Arlene and Tuyen are putting up a paddling pool for the little ones if you want to join them?' Hermione asked tentatively.

'I'm fine.'

'Are you coming outside?' Dennis asked Hermione in buoyant tones. He was collecting butterbeers for his 'campaign strategy' meeting with Briek, Tansy, Neville and Ziff.

'I might pop upstairs for a nap if that's okay?' Hermione yawned. 'You going to be okay?' she asked Rose, half-wondering if she should take Rose and Magda home. But Magda was happily splashing in the pool with the other toddlers.

'I'll be fine, Mummy. Go rest.'

XXX

Hermione jolted awake. There was a sharp, cracking sound followed by a long, rolling rumble and the net curtain twisted and swung as a strong gust of wind blew through the open window.

Hermione stumbled from Gwen's bed to close the window and glimpsed Dennis heading into the wooded wilderness that occupied much of the right side of the garden.

Heavy grey dusk had fallen and the weather was worsening… She worried about Draco and the boys at the Quidditch.

The door swung open. It was Rose, her eyes large and wary.

'The pig's gone.'

'THE PIG?' Hermione asked, still half-asleep. 'Well… no one's taken it, dear. The gate's warded.'

'Uncle Neville and Dennis are checking for holes in the wall.'

'It's probably snuggled under a bush. Hiding from the storm,' Hermione said in soothing tones.

But Rose sat on the bed and crossed her arms. 'I don't feel good, Mummy.'

Hermione folded her into her arms and sighed.

There was a nervous tap at the door… It was Kai, looking ghostly pale in the gathering gloom.

'They're taking too long.'

'It's only been a couple of hours…'

'Not the quidditch… Neville and Dennis. Ziff thinks so too.'

Hermione eased Rose away and returned to the window. Dark shadows were falling across the lawn, black clumps of scrubby thicket lined the wall by the gate. But it was still, lifeless…

'Where's Ziff now?'

'Downstairs with Briek and Tansy… Audrey's in the kitchen. Molly's having a bath.'

'The kids?'

'In the nursery with Arlene and Tuyen.'

'Okay…' Hermione quickly processed the geography of this. 'Is there a cellar here?'

Kai hesitated before answering. 'Through the kitchen pantry.'

'… Okay… I think we move the children.'

'To the cellar?'

Something was wrong. She could sense it now…

That pig wasn't a pig at all…

'I told you, Mummy,' Rose whispered.

'Rose, darling, stay with Kai. I won't be long.'

The nursery was at the end of the corridor. Arlene and Tuyen were singing to the toddlers while Joyana and Hoang slumbered in Moses baskets. Magda's face lit up when Hermione walked in.

'What's wrong?' Tuyen asked.

XXX

'Weather's turned,' Molly shivered, rubbing her arms. She looked out at the sky as she tightened the cord on her dressing-gown.

'The pig's gone.'

Molly shot her a baffled look.

'Neville and Dennis are looking for it. They haven't come back.'

Molly stared at her, eyes flint-sharp. Her face sagged.

'You don't think it was a pig, do you?'

'No.'

Molly exhaled deeply. 'Where are the children?'

'Getting dressed. There's a cellar.'

Molly nodded but her attention was drawn to the view outside.

She jerked open the window. Strong winds howled, sounding like the sea had come ashore and was crashing against the house.

'Neville?! 'she shouted against the storm. 'Everything alright?'

Hermione could hear his voice carried back on the wind. 'Can't find Dennis!'

Hermione's chest tightened in panic. She tried to Apparate… just to see if she could.

She couldn't…

'Meet me downstairs,' she said to Molly and hurried away.

XXX

Arlene and Tuyen were fitting George's shield-wear to the children in the hallway.

'Ziff,' Hermione said urgently. 'Take a jug of water and the bag of buns on the kitchen table into the cellar and hide with the kids. I'll seal you in.'

'He needs someone magical with him,' Molly muttered.

'Tuyen…' Hermione said. 'Take these and join him.' She thrust some fireworks from George's barrel of joke shop goodies into her arms. She spotted a spool of diaphanous fabric - Saunders' Invisible Silk – and bundled this on top. 'You could try this to hide the kids If necessary.'

Audrey padded into the hallway from the kitchen. She gazed at Hermione with protuberant pale eyes. 'Is there any way we can contact Percy? The others?'

Hermione shook her head. 'Phones won't work.'

Briek and Tansy wandered in from the garden, alarm etched onto their faces.

'We can't find Neville now,' Tansy said plaintively. She looked mousy and scared.

Hermione's stomach turned over but she knew she had to stay calm.

'I'll search the garden, but we need something – an alarm – in case an intruder comes into the house…' She pulled out one of George's most impressive creations - Thor's Thunder Cracker. 'If someone stays in the living-room they'll see both the front door and out the back.' She automatically looked at Molly, who nodded.

Arlene grabbed a handful of firecrackers. 'I'll stick in the kitchen and set these off if anyone comes in.'

'There's also some decoy detonators,' Hermione said. 'Could help us look like there's more of us than we actually are.'

Everybody stared at each other…

'Whatever happens, whoever's here… we need to buy time until the others return,' she added.

'I'll go upstairs and keep watch,' Briek said, his long, gangly limbs climbing the stairs two at a time.

'Lock all windows and doors - except the front door, which has to be watched at all times.' She thought a moment. 'Does the downstairs toilet have a window?'

'It's closed,' Arlene said firmly.

'No, it's open,' Audrey said, 'I'll lock it.'

Hermione looked outside. The garden was still and dark. In contrast, The Blue House was lit up like a shop display window.

'No lights,' she said, dropping her voice. 'We have to make it difficult for anyone to see us or find the children.'

A single candle remained - in the living-room - guttering in the breeze.

XXX

As soon as Hermione stepped outside she could sense colour-magic. Someone powerful – the pig-person - was in this garden… But where?

'Let's do a perimeter check,' she said to Tansy and Kai.

'The gate's open,' Tansy said, looking like she might burst into tears.

Hermione's heart sank but a furtive rustling from the trees opposite caught her attention. She sealed the gate then hurried across the garden, Tansy and Kai close behind.

She could see a dark figure crouched over someone lying on the ground.

It was Neville, frantically trying to revive Dennis who had an ugly gash on his neck.

Neville turned helpless eyes to Hermione and her insides clenched... Pig-person meant business.

Neville hoisted Dennis over his shoulder. 'I'll take him indoors.'

Hermione saw that her friend's eyes were wet with tears. 'Good idea,' she said softly, uncomfortably aware that they were being watched… She whispered a Homenum Revelio.

Not human then. Not right now... Which meant this was an animagus.

She decided against unveiling them with the Homorphous Charm. That would provoke a confrontation and they weren't ready.

She quickly ushered the girls back towards the house.

'Is Dennis dead?' Tansy asked.

'Looks like it... but - right now we've got to focus on other things I'm afraid...' Like surviving...

Tansy looked stricken. 'When I said before I was a bit of a squib, I meant it.'

'No one's expecting you to be a Defence expert, Tansy. But you two can be our early warning system,' Hermione said, hoping she sounded positive. 'And there's always something you're good at.'

'I can manage a tickling hex? And my brother used to like doing that wobbly-legs jinx on me when we were kids.'

'Perfect,' Hermione grinned. 'Your job is to slow intruders down and, if safe, send an alert – purple firecrackers should do it…'

'I nicked one of these…' Tansy brandished a portable swamp. 'Last one I think.'

'That should go by the gate.'

'I'll go do that if you like,' Kai said, and Tansy handed it over.

'Okay, Tansy, you take this side. Hide in the trees close to the house. Use the decoy detonators to distract.'

Tansy tried to smile. 'I'll try.' And she went on her way, tiptoeing through the trees.

'I'll sneak round the woods to the gate,' Kai said, face stiff with determination.

'No. The pig-person's over there…' A big gun… Biding his time… 'I'll cast a Disillusionment Charm on you. Should get you across the lawn…'

'I've never killed anyone,' Kai said plainly.

'And you're too young to try. Your job is the same as Tansy's. Alert and delay.'

'I'm alright for a leg-locker curse. And I know this really mean jinx where you make someone's eyes jam up…' Kai said feistily.

'Cool. Most important though, stay safe.' Hermione cast the Disillusionment Charm and Kai was good to go.

While they were talking, Neville exited the house and slipped into the shadows, out of sight, and Hermione noticed a small light wink from Briek's upstairs window… followed by another, then another… and another.

A thunderous explosion suddenly rocked the house and a flaring orange and indigo blast illuminated the hallway.

Molly had detonated Thor's Thunder Cracker…

A volley of rockets fired across the landing and now there was an exchange of wand-fire and a furious scream rent the air…

Arlene?

Hermione's heart leapt. Kitchen. Someone in the kitchen… She darted forwards but sensed someone close behind. A bug-eyed Alaydaa…

'Stupefy!' she hissed, sending him flying.

More lights flashed from Briek's window. She soon lost count, distracted by shouts of pain from the gate and a frantic rustling through the bushes … voices shouting in frustration… The swamp? she wondered. There was a yelled curse in a foreign language and a thumping crash.

She had to ignore this for now… get to the house. Stop any intruders finding the children.

She didn't dare enter via the front door so wormed her way between the house and side-wall.

The window to the downstairs toilet was wide open. She gingerly reached inside to pull it closed and saw the dark shape of a body on the floor… Hot bile surged into her gullet.

Audrey…

Why was it so peculiarly dark beyond the toilet door? Arlene had pocketed a stash of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder for emergencies… Had that time already come?

There was a short scrubby patch of garden at the back of the property. Had Alaydaa entered this way? It seemed unlikely… the wall was very high with jagged glass.

She inched around the back of the house and unlocked the kitchen door.

'Lumos,' she muttered, shielding her wand under her dress to smother the light as she entered. Arlene was crouched under the table with her finger to her lips.

Hermione nodded, closing the door behind her. No sound from the pantry. The spell she'd cast was holding… or Tuyen and Ziff were the most amazing babysitters in history.

Hermione could see leaping lights and colours reflected on the wall leading from the kitchen to the living-room. But then, quiet…

Hermione peeked inside the living-room. Dennis was laid out on the sofa, chalk-white, lips parted.

But no Molly…

The front door was half-open.

A huge white rabbit hopped across the lawn, confounding a couple of Alaydaa who swerved to avoid it. In any other circumstances, Hermione would have laughed… but a sour-tasting thought struck her.

Houblon - Magda's white bunny – lying on the purple flowers outside Shell Cottage… Bill's rock-solid security measures had prevented the cottage's detection so the Alaydaa struck when Houblon ventured beyond the boundary…

But Houblon had transferred from Shell Cottage to here a couple of days ago and - typically - got left behind. And now Houblon had led their attackers here.

Only one person had the time and opportunity to cast a tracker on Magda's precious toy… Sylvestra.

A series of stunners were traded across the lawn – Neville, she suspected. And a tall, hulking figure came into view… Hulda, looking healthier than hoped after her defenestration at The Burrow.

'Hermione…' hissed a voice to her left.

Molly slunk out of the shadows. 'Nasty-looking wizard came charging through here. Think I scared him off... He headed upstairs.'

'Upstairs?' Briek was alone and she couldn't hear anyone else moving about. 'Are you sure?'

But as she spoke, Hermione realised they had company. A tall shadow that she'd mistook for part of the grandfather clock shifted. Whoever had gone upstairs had rendered themselves invisible - and come back down…

She quickly pulled Molly onto the verandah outside.

A decoy detonator erupted a few feet away… Tansy… followed by a blazing trail of Diabolic Daredevils, amongst George's bestsellers, knocking a trio of Alaydaa to the ground.

A retaliatory barrage of blasting spells tore through the thicket followed by a sharp screech of pain… An over-curious Alaydaa screeched with laughter and then toppled over, victim to Tansy's tickling hex.

Hermione slipped back inside… but the shadow had gone.

She looked left to the kitchen… Dark and silent... then moved to the living-room.

A pencil-thin figure was looking out of the window, speaking in hushed tones to a piece of corundum.

Hermione chilled when she saw his face – gaunt, vulpine - reflected in the glass.

Asusto…

Icy terror crept up her spine when she realized he could see her, too. And he was watching her with a thin-lipped smile.

She instinctively switched to colour-magic and imagined a hurricane-force wind hurtling across the living-room, smashing Asusto through the window...

The glass cracked but Asusto spun around with a raw magic block and counter-punch. Hermione swerved and powered a blast straight back, hitting him in the chest. He reeled… but then a strange, sickly scent stung Hermione's nostrils. She shrieked as a profusion of monstrous green vines, the width of a man, with huge orange flowers like gaping mouths burst out off the walls, swallowing everything in their path.

'Oh dear!... Your friend's being eaten!' Asusto laughed in droll tones – and he was gone... But where to? She frantically looked around but then saw that Dennis was encased in vines. She slashed at the thick, green tendrils but they tightened their grip.

'Diffindo!' she yelled, sickened by the sloshing, slobbering sound as her wand severed the plant. The plant leaked a gooey, red resin, but Dennis had been freed.

She levitated Dennis up the stairs, bursting into the room where Briek was throwing spell after spell at the garden, and lay him on the bed.

'They're everywhere,' Briek said, a desperate gleam in his eye. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he waved his wand like a crazed conductor trying to tame the winds… ironically, a dramatic downpour suddenly tumbled from the skies, accompanied by an electrifying fork of lightning and an ear-splitting crack of thunder.

A ferocious trumpeting echoed across the garden and a colossal, lumbering mammoth thudded across the lawns, swinging to and fro, knocking Alaydaa into the undergrowth.

Briek cackled with laughter. Wand-arm jerking with the effort he unleashed a second beast… a hissing blue lizard that shot between the legs of the mammoth targeting a shadowy figure skulking at the back of the garden.

'Come out and play you fucking pigman!' Briek yelled, excitedly. 'He stands and watches… that is all…'

Hermione held her breath as a runtish man stepped deeper into the garden, irradiating colour-magic.

He smiled at Briek with his floppy clown's smile and his piggy eyes glowed black.

Josep...

'I think you should pull back, Briek…' Hermione said, churning with trepidation as Josep lifted his arm. He thumped the air and the rain parted and a whirling vortex of dark, magical energy screeched across the garden, striking the house with earth-shattering force.

'Merde!' Briek barked, falling from his perch at the window. He brushed off Hermione's efforts to drag him away.

'I kill this man!' Briek screeched as another thunderbolt struck home and the house was swaying, creaking, the window rattling in its frame.

Briek swished his wand and the blue lizard flew at Josep - but Josep flicked his wrist and the lizard evaporated… followed by the mammoth, its bulk dissolving in the driving rain.

Briek breathed hard. 'No… that cannot be.'

He steeled himself to rejoin battle but the front of the house was rocking as it bore the brunt of Josep's violent blows.

Briek looked very disgruntled. 'I cannot let this PIG defeat me!'

Where was Neville? Hermione frantically thought, looking down. The only person she could see was Hulda stomping across the lawn - only to stop as though stunned and keel over.

Kai's Leg-locker curse… but Hulda was already levering herself off the ground.

Suddenly Hermione sensed Josep's eyes had turned to her… she instinctively recoiled.

Her attention was drawn by a fierce rumpus downstairs. A series of explosions ricocheted around the house and plaster-dust flaked onto her shoulders.

Josep unleashed an almighty blast, truly testing the house's ability to remain standing...

'Briek—'

'Go!' he said firmly, his eyes bright and feverish as he locked eyes with his adversary.

Hermione retreated to the landing above the stairs. The ceiling was a feast of jousting colours and shadows and Molly was screeching curses at the top of her voice. A ferocious white blast erupted, blanking her mind, and a chorus of anguished cries filled the air as a hefty thump smashed with the weight of a bomb into the house.

Hermione felt the floor beneath her feet shaking, floorboards splintering. A rumbling snarl assailed her from both sides as the floor curled upwards, chasing towards her at high speed - a tsunami of wood and nails and concrete. She skidded to the stairs as the joists cracked and snapped.

She grabbed the banister and her stomach lurched as it fell into empty space and the steps exploded beneath her feet… and she was falling into black… purple spangly stars twirling in slow-motion inside her head… before accelerating towards a bright, glowing whiteness…

'It's okay, beautiful… I've got you!'

Draco's arms were tight around her … and her heart was skipping beats with relief and joy.

'The children… we've got to get them out of here,' she said breathlessly. They'd pulled apart but were still holding hands, and she was trying to stem the adrenalised shaking of her legs.

'Where are they?' he asked, urgently.

'Cellar,' Molly said. Hermione hadn't seen her at first. 'This place is about to come down around our ears…'

In perfect riposte, the house shook, pummelled by another blast.

'Seamus says there's a secret gate out the back. He's waiting,' Draco said.

But Molly had snapped her wand into her hand and was firing across them…

A tall, hulking figure – Hulda - plodded stiffly into the hallway, stomping through rubble and bodies to get to them.

A sleek, red skein of magic… then another and another… and Hermione and Draco were spun apart, Molly flailing on the floor.

Hermione squinted through the choking dust and realised a second figure, Grimm, was behind Hulda - wand in hand.

Hermione released a dazzling array of lights that splatted and bounced like lava bursts and then threw up a transclucent shield, chiefly for Molly.

Molly clawed at Hermione's leg to drag herself up, panting hard.

'Go do what you have to do!' Draco bellowed… He threw a curling white colour-bomb at Grimm who skated across the tiled floor into the grandfather clock. The clock teetered and fell on top of him with a heavy chiming clank.

Hulda bore down on them, face distorted with rage. Draco battered her with wave after wave of searing white magic until she was squealing and squirming, a flaming pillar of scorching white whirling around in the middle of the hallway.

Arlene screamed…

Hermione didn't have time to pick Molly up from the floor where she was circling on her hands and knees as she ran towards the kitchen.

The kitchen was cloaked in thick darkness. Hermione could hear Arlene whimpering, could scent her blood – a dark, slick pool shading the floor.

'He's still here!' Arlene sobbed.

A dark shape skittered across the ceiling and a bug-eyed Alaydaa dropped to the floor and a glowing whip swiped Hermione's face. She stumbled backwards in shock, grabbing at thin air as she fell.

'Stupefy!' Molly screeched from behind her… and there was a flash of red targeting the Alaydaa - but he bent backwards, inhumanly flexible, and the spell whizzed over him.

He reared back and slashed his whip, catching Hermione around the neck and yanking her towards him. She whimpered as the rope tightened, choking. She tried to focus and flow… but before she'd even completed the thought the rope had loosened and there was a loud crunch and thud.

Draco was running towards her, shimmering white. She'd never seen him as blindingly bright as this…

She looked beyond him and Hulda was lying on the floor, eyes still and staring, blood oozing from her mouth.

Draco hauled Molly to her feet and kicked aside the body of the Alaydaa.

'The other one. The creepster,' Arlene shivered, 'he came back… but now he's gone!'

Hermione dashed to the toilet… the window was wide open again! She sealed it and only now dared to look down.

Audrey was splayed on the floor, cold and rigid. Hermione re-arranged her body into a more dignified position.

She heard a gasp behind her. 'Oh no!' Molly cried. 'Poor Percy.'

The room shook and dust fluttered onto their heads and a penetrating, high-pitched cry – shock, frustration - suddenly ripped through the house and then stilled.

Tears flooded Hermione's eyes. 'Briek…'

Molly squeezed her arm, eyes shining. 'Come on, love… We've got the living to think of. Draco's getting the children.'

'Where are they?' Hermione asked.

Arlene's wand softly glowed in the darkness - but no children.

But then Hakim flipped down his silk and grinned. 'No, little man…' Draco said fondly. He ruffled his hair. 'You need to keep this up.' He turned to Tuyen. 'His eyes aren't so good, can you make sure you hold his hand as he goes through the fields?'

'Of course.'

'Seamus is waiting by the back wall. He'll guide you to shelter…'

'Hang on guys,' Arlene said. Molly was quickly winding bandage around her torso.

'Draco?' came Rose's voice. A blurry covering flipped back and she threw her arms around him. 'Thank you for coming.'

He hugged her tightly and his voice was lost in her hair.

'Scorpius is home now,' Rose said. 'The others are coming.'

'How do you know?' Hermione asked.

'Because she's a goddamn pocket genius,' Draco enthused. 'She used the two-way mirror to talk to me at the Quidditch. Seamus and I portkeyed direct while Henrik took the boys across the stadium to tell the others.'

'Remember you're shiny... Both of you…' Rose said. 'I'll look after Magda, don't worry.'

Magda gazed at Hermione with large, soulful eyes and a fat bottom lip that trembled. Hermione's heart ached, knowing what she had to do. She held her close.

'Hey,' she said tenderly, 'I'm afraid Houblon stays here, darling… he's a bit poorly.' She gently eased the bunny from the child's grasp. Draco quickly fashioned a small, orange bird from a kitchen duster and pressed it into Magda's hands instead.

Ziff hustled them outside. Hermione's face fell to see a sheet of rain slashing down from the dark skies above.

'Impervious charms!' she hissed to Arlene as they were swallowed into the darkness.

'What's up with Houblon?' Draco asked.

'I think Sylvestra planted something.'

Draco sighed…

He grabbed the corundum, kept on the kitchen table, then shrank the stone and pocketed it.

XXX

The rain was beating down so hard Hermione felt she was being pushed backwards.

There was the occasional whip and whoosh of wand-fire from the front of the house, but this faded into an eerie silence.

'We need to help the others,' she said in beseeching tones to Draco and Molly.

Molly looked careworn and exhausted. 'There's too many, Hermione. And I'm not much use. Getting too old for this caper...'

'Rubbish, Mrs Weasley,' said Draco. 'The way you held off Hulda and those Alaydaa would put most wizards to shame.'

Molly's eyes crinkled into a satisfied smile.

They edged towards the main garden along the side of the house.

The window to the lavatory was open again… Hermione ground to a halt.

'We closed this, didn't we?'

A cold frisson of fear washed over her. 'SHIT... Asusto… He was invisible earlier.'

Hermione sensed a bolt of panic surge through Draco, stronger than anything she'd ever felt from him. 'Do you think he could hear us in the kitchen?'

'They know the kids are outside!' she sobbed, holding onto him.

'Mrs Weasley… can – can you find a way to tell Neville and whoever else, that we're heading to … where – where are we going, Hermione?'

They'd need a place to organise… a shelter. The only building nearby was… 'The pig farm!'

Molly held her wand aloft and fired three red plumes into the air… 'Hopefully they'll make their way to me … it's deathly quiet out there.'

XXX

'Why can't we hear them?' Hermione croaked, tears streaming down her face…

All these young lives in their hands and they'd released them into the path of wolves.

Draco gazed back at The Blue House, now plunged into darkness, and to the rolling downs leading to the beach. The soft surge of the sea echoed towards them, despite the wet wind slapping into their faces. The rain, however, was easing.

'The pig farm is on the other side of that hill.' Draco pointed across bleak, muddy fields. A country lane weaved to their right and skirted round the hill, out of sight.

Draco scrabbled in his pocket for his phone. 'At last. We've got service.'

XXX

'Look!' Hermione said, pointing to an ice-cream van parked up the lane. It skulked in the shadows of a high hedge ranged behind a long brick outhouse. Judging by the stench and the snuffle and grunt of livestock, this was clearly the piggery.

A baby was crying… a thin, reedy wail. They were in the right place…

A door opened and a rectangle of light fell across the path leading to the ice-cream van.

Grimm closed the door and the orange glow of a cigarette flickered into life.

'He's limping,' Draco observed.

'Didn't the clock fall on him?'

'Played dead... Didn't want a fight.'

Hermione considered this. 'They were manipulating us… They wanted to force us into moving the kids into the open. Once the house started falling down, we had no choice.'

Draco heaved a sigh. 'Josep was their joker. Breaching the wards as a fucking pig and then fucking the place up.'

'Thing is… he came up against OUR Joker,' Hermione said with a heavy heart. 'Briek bought us time.'

Hermione almost squealed with joy to see Harry flying on a broomstick towards them with Henrik behind him. Harry jumped off the broom and pulled her into a hug.

'We should never have left you unprotected like that… I'm so sorry.'

'How is everyone?'

'Parvati's taken Tansy to Folkvangr. She's hurt.' Harry bit his lip. 'Percy's… not great. He's with Molly and Neville. Arthur's gone to Shell Cottage… to break the news to Gabby…'

Draco had crept closer to the building and found a spy-hole. He jogged back.

'Is that the ice-cream van from the beach?' Henrik said curiously.

'I reckon they're moving the kids into it,' Draco said. 'Okay, we've got a bunch of Alaydaa. Some in the farmyard, some in the piggery. Josep and Asusto are inside with fucking Sylvestra and Tom Bennet—'

'Bet that's who she was shagging…' Hermione thought out loud earning her a puzzled look from Harry.

'Selwyn's going through the kids.' Draco gave Hermione a meaningful stare, 'Rose and Magda are being moved to a pen at the back…'

Hermione felt sick. Salvedra would want Rose…

'I think we take out fucking Frankenstein by the backdoor… panic them a bit,' Henrik said, wanting to act quickly. 'Can I have my bag, Harry?'

Harry pulled a tiny duffle bag from his pocket and tapped it with his wand, returning it to its normal size. It was full of guns. Henrik assembled a rifle, adding a silencer, and tucked a hand-gun into his belt.

Draco picked up a gun.

'You don't need it,' Hermione said disapprovingly.

'Have you used one?' Henrik asked.

'I've seen movies…' Draco said with a crooked grin.

Henrik was cold-eyed. 'They're not fucking toys.'

Draco pushed a gun into his belt all the same.

Harry was texting. 'I think we wait until the kids are in the van and stage an ambush… Bill, George and Angelina are on broomsticks and can target the van once it's on the move… Henrik? Are you listening?'

But Henrik was trailing Grimm's movements with the sight on his rifle. 'Frankenstein's got the keys … He's the driver. Can you guys use your funny magic to make one of US look like that fucking freak down there?'

'Without Polyjuice, no,' Hermione said huffily.

'Hold on.' Harry texted again.

Moments later, Niko crested the brow of the hill… 'I can do it, but it's a tight window - five-minutes!' he said.

Ron, Ernie and Kai joined them.

'Where's Oleg?' Draco asked.

'Bad pie at the Quidditch. Chucked up on your nice cream carpet,' Ron grinned.

Harry quickly explained what was going on.

'Right, this is what we're going to do,' Draco said. 'Once Niko becomes Grimm, we'll have five minutes tops to storm the building and panic them into moving the kids out. Henrik. You're the sniper on the hill… Pick off Alaydaa… sow chaos. Harry, Ron, Ernie and I will move straight into the hanger. We need to act FAST. Once they've secured the kids, they won't give a crap about the spares…'

He turned to Ernie and Ron. 'Your job is to save the adults! They won't have wands so… here… take mine. I'll use colour-magic. Give this to Seamus.'

Harry passed his over too, but Draco shook his head when Hermione offered.

'Harry and I will fuck things up… massive show of strength… Niko. As soon as you've got the kids signal Bill, say you're on your way… You'll have company in that van. Take them out.'

Draco looked at Kai. 'You're too young for this. Why are you here?'

Kai flushed hot crimson.

'She can go with Niko; comfort the children,' Hermione said quickly. 'What do I do?'

'Rescue our children.'

'I think I should be doing that,' Ron said snippily.

'Only needs one person,' Draco said firmly. 'There's a door at the back. Knock out whoever's on guard and Apparate... that's why you need your wand.' Draco swallowed hard. 'You okay with that?'

'Of course.'

'When everything's done, meet at the beach… Is Grimm still smoking?' Draco asked Henrik.

'Yup.'

'Okay. Take your shot.'

XXX

Hermione could hear the pigs bashing themselves against the sides of their pens in panic.

The back door was ajar… She could see Sylvestra – tall and austere-looking in black with a mane of silvery-grey hair. Arlene was kneeling in front of her, sobbing loudly, and a baby's cry pierced the air.

Selwyn pulled Joyana from Arlene's arms and she flopped onto the floor, shoulders heaving… Josep came into view and roughly dragged Arlene out of sight. Her knees bounced along the floor and she tried to twist free, but he swiped her hard around the face.

Hermione felt hot anger tremble through her. She shifted angle to get a better view… To her horror, Arlene was joining a line-up with Ziff, Seamus and Tuyen.

They were going to be executed…

Her hand chafed against her wand…but she had to trust the others. Her priorities were Rose and Magda, languishing in a pen just a few feet away, guarded by a single Alaydaa.

A series of gunshots echoed around the farm-yard and a frenzy of activity broke out: screams, shouts, a rolling wave of white, then green… huge pounding blasts that shook the walls and sent the pigs circling round and round their pens, whining fearfully.

Sylvestra quickly dipped from view…

Hermione, cloaked in a disillusionment charm, slipped inside, shielding her eyes from the dazzling whiteness that was blazing from the far end. Draco was on form…

Alaydaa with toddlers and babies hooked under their arms were disapparating. Hermione heard the grunting jolt of the ice-cream van's engine and its melancholic siren…

The Alaydaa guarding Rose and Magda looked twitchy. She could hear his breathing, harsh and frightened.

She muttered a Stupefy and he fell to the floor.

Rose and Magda were clutching each other. Hermione gathered them into her arms.

'You can't see me,' she whispered, 'but I'm here to get you out.'

'I can see you, Mummy,' Rose smiled.

Hermione lifted Magda into her arms and led Rose by the hand outside… and quickly Apparated.

XXX

The sea was an ink-black expanse streaked with shards of moonlight. The sand was cold and dark.

Magda perched on Hermione's knee. Rose crouched down them beside them, her face keen and pale…

'She's been very good, Mummy.' She planted a kiss on Magda's snubby nose. Magda giggled but was trembling with cold. Hermione wrapped her arms around her and muttered a warming charm.

'She's lovely,' she breathed, with a sudden twist of her heart that shocked her.

'Where's Draco?'

'Coming with Daddy… Any minute now.' She hoped… anxiety was gnawing at her like a small, cold animal in the pits of her stomach.

Sharp cracks and a series of figures loomed into view. Not Draco... His silvery hair would catch the moonbeams…

Ziff bounded over. 'Ready to head to Folkvangr? Seamus has a Portkey.'

Ernie strode across the sand, cock-a-hoop. 'That went well!' he declared. 'Draco and Harry are checking out The Blue House. Ron, too. Won't be a minute.'

'Okay… I'll wait.'

The ice-cream van, siren twanging jauntily, pulled up. The van's headlights blinded her - then dimmed. Doors swung open and there were excited cries and the thud of footsteps on the boardwalk leading to the beach.

Henrik lumbered towards Hermione from the shadows.

'Boys not here yet?'

'Coming… Make sure everyone gets back safe.'

'Sure thing.'

'You coming guys?' Seamus called.

Hermione kissed Magda. 'Henrik will look after you,' she cooed. Her mouth was like Draco's… she could see that now. 'You too, Rose.'

Rose kissed her mother. 'Remember. You're shiny...'

Hermione smiled, worrying that Rose was getting a bit obsessed with this shiny stuff.

'Ernie…' she hissed once the kids were further up the beach. She stood up beating damp sand off her legs. 'Did anyone get hurt… or…?'

'The Grimm guy. And Henrik whacked a load of Alaydaa,' he said with a lopsided grin, 'but the others Apparated I'm afraid.'

Hermione was left in the darkness… the wind whistling softly through her hair, the sea churning alongside her, its foamy white tendrils fizzing closer…

'Where are you?' she moaned.

'I'm here,' came a voice behind her.

Hermione swung around to face Sylvestra, her hair twisting in the wind like a nest of silvery snakes.

Sylvestra placed both her hands on Hermione's arms and an insidious darkness crept through her, snuffing out any light inside… She felt weak, powerless. Unable to move.

She tried to speak but nothing came out – a dry, throaty sound…

Sylvestra advanced closer so that her body was hot against Hermione's. 'I'm not going to hurt you,' she purred. She raked her fingers down Hermione's body, then paused. She cocked her head and looked at Hermione with narrowed eyes.

A small voice cheeped out of the darkness. Sylvestra raised her hand to her mouth. 'As I thought… Beach.'

A single crack indicated someone had Apparated close by.

Hermione stared at the bold ruby ring gleaming on Sylvestra's hand.

Sylvestra looked at it and sighed. 'Yes. Poor ole Daddy. Getting a bit lost these days… He probably hasn't even noticed it's gone.'

Men's voices … laughing, banter…

Not now, Hermione begged … unable to move or speak to warn them.

'Dunno how we got the wrong fucking beach,' Ron griped. 'Who's that with Hermione?'

There was a whipping sound and a bright flash and both men had crumpled to their knees.

A tall figure was ambling behind them – silvery hair gleaming in the moonlight. He stopped… and vanished.

'Draco's coming, isn't he?' Sylvestra smiled. 'I read minds, remember?'

Hermione heaved a soundless sigh.

'I won't hurt him. Not if you agree to come with me.' She was looking over Hermione's shoulder.

Hermione could sense his whiteness flaring, followed by a thud on the sand as the stranger swiftly joined them and knocked Draco to his knees.

'Let her go, Sylvestra,' Draco growled.

Sylvestra burst out laughing. 'Why should I? You don't NEED her anymore… Your wife's back, Draco. Waiting for you… My sweet little sister…' she trilled. 'Although…' her voice dropped an octave, 'I should warn you, darling… she's in one of her moods… She wasn't very happy when I told her what you've been up to while she was away.'

'I don't fucking care! Just – just don't hurt Hermione! PLEASE! I'm begging you...'

The corners of Sylvestra's mouth dragged down in a show of disappointment.

'Honestly, my love, I think it'll go better for Hermione if she's tucked up safe with Salvedra…'

She spun Hermione around at dizzying speed to face him.

Selwyn Haast held Draco in an arm-lock, his wand jabbed upward into Draco's chin, forcing him to watch…

'Salvedra will be thrilled with her…' Sylvestra crooned. She slowly slid her hands over Hermione's body, sucking in her lower lip. Hermione inwardly cringed at the feeling of dark taint that crept down her body… 'Quite the surprise package…'

Sylvestra raised an eyebrow at Draco and licked Hermione's neck in a long, wet stroke and her tongue delved into her ear. 'Even tastes nice…'

Draco jerked violently against Selwyn, his whiteness rising like steam from his body.

Hermione whimpered silently, shivering with fear and revulsion as Sylvestra slunk her hand under her dress, tracing a path with sharp nails from Hermione's knickers to her breasts before caressing her belly.

'GET OFF HER!' Draco snarled, surging forwards. Selwyn screwed his wand tighter against Draco's neck. Yellow sparks crackled. Draco convulsed and spittle frothed at the corner of his mouth.

'I have my orders, Draco,' Sylvestra asserted, tossing her silvery locks. 'Grandmaster wants her.'

'Is -is that what you're reduced to? Salvedra's skivvy?' Draco choked hoarsely. His teeth were bloodied… 'Thought you were stronger than that.'

'YOU thought NOTHING of me, Draco!' Sylvestra shrilled in a voice that could shatter glass. 'I was the shit on your shoe! That's all we are to you…. Me AND my sister!... At least Salvedra respects me…I can be my true self. Working for a true cause.'

Hermione could feel Sylvestra's chest heaving against her back, could feel her breathing, damp and hot, against her neck.

'You don't deserve RESPECT,' Draco retorted. 'You're barely human.'

Sylvestra vibrated with fury.

'Does it make it easier to think that, Draco? To ignore the fact I did everything for you… I managed your home, your life, your parents - while you fucked off round the world being my Daddy's favoured child… I was left babysitting my poor, mad sister, making sure your life was never inconvenienced by the truth. But you never cared! We were just currency in a deal you cut with Daddy!'

'You used your time managing my life to torture my son, you fucking bitch!' Draco retorted in sardonic tones.

Hermione could feel Sylvestra's darkness swelling, surging…

'I was holding your life together, Draco, because I – not Katya - not anyone, is the closest to a wife you've ever had… I was LOYAL! To you and my father… Giving up things I wanted. Even you… And I got nothing in return… But I will! It's my time now!'

She clutched Hermione's arms tightly, her finger-nails digging in. 'And you're going to pay, Draco!... You're going to give me something for services rendered…'

Sylvestra sniffed Hermione's face and smiled. 'I don't know whether to steal you or kill you. But you've been murdering my joy. Ruining everything…'

'NO!' Draco cried urgently, trying to jump up but smacked down by Selwyn. 'Yes, I was a shitbag… but it's not Hermione's fault. It was me. All me. My fault alone…'

Sylvestra opened her eyes wide in surprise. Hermione could sense she was enjoying this… revelling in his pain.

'I'll do anything… Give you anything you want, if you let her go,' Draco asked in beseeching tones.

'ANYTHING?' Hermione could feel her glee… 'It would have to be a lot to make up for the Grandmaster's disappointment… or MINE, for that matter.'

'Take me instead.'

'Salvedra IS interested in you, Draco… but… he'd want what Hermione's offering much, much more…' Sylvestra pondered this. 'Of course I could let him do what he wants with her and THEN kill her…'

'No! I meant it,' Draco's voice was shaking… panicked. Hermione could hear his breathing – harsh, forced. Filling her mind… 'Whatever you want, you can have. But in return, Hermione walks free. And you never hurt her or anyone she loves.'

Hermione's mouth fell open – a silent scream. She tried to shake her head… Don't make promises! She won't honour them. Jammed so close to this woman she had the measure of her…. A viper's pit of dark confusion, but her soul was bleak and grey.

Sylvestra twisted Hermione's face, forcing her to look at her. 'What's it like to be the golden girl, Hermione? The one everybody wants!' She sighed melodramatically. 'But your very existence demeans Draco. You've reduced him to a snivelling shell of a man begging for his MUDBLOOD WHORE like she's his whole fucking world!'

'BECAUSE SHE IS!' Draco bellowed, voice cracking, his cheeks suddenly wet with tears. 'I love her…'

Sylvestra fell silent and stared at Draco…

A broiling darkness rose inside of Hermione, oozing painfully through her veins… she tried to cry out but felt her heart slowing, her mind clouding over… She closed her eyes…

'NO!' Draco shouted… but his voice was fading. She faintly sensed commotion, grit and sand peppering her face, her hair…

And then she was gasping for air.

'Silly Draco… He chose death,' Sylvestra said in bored tones… 'HIS death.'

Selwyn had his knee on the back of Draco's head and was pressing his face into the sand. Draco's voice was muffled and his body was spasming…

Hermione was drowning inside, her soul was on fire, her insides were screaming to leave her body… She couldn't move, couldn't speak. Her eyes were blinded by tears..

'Enough…' Sylvestra's voice was gravelled, pained.

Selwyn snapped Draco's head back.

For a brief moment, a cloud scudded past the moon and his face was illuminated… beautiful, agonised... coated with sand and saliva, his eyes burning hot coals.

He gazed at Hermione and tears ran down his face, rivulets through sand… but there was a faint shimmering immanence lurking beneath his skin…

They locked eyes and she felt a zephyr of his magic swirling, a small plume of smoke scattering in a breeze… a faint tremor deep inside. Raw magical power ached through her and they were glowing; bright, nuclear white…

Fierce power surged, her limbs loosened.

Sylvestra jumped backwards, as though scalded. 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?'

Throbbing with magic from every pore in her body, Hermione spun around and punched her fist hard into Sylvestra's face. It landed with a crunch and Sylvestra wobbled, bones jellied, and crumpled onto the sand.

Hermione threw herself at Sylvestra, roaring her fury… power crackling, glowing with such intensity Sylvestra was cowering, shielding her eyes.

'Don't EVER touch him again!' Hermione screamed.

She raised her arm to strike and Sylvestra disapparated…

Selwyn shrieked in horror and stumbled backwards… falling onto his back, legs and arms dangling like a stranded beetle.

'What do we do with you?' Draco asked, teeth glinting in the moonlight. He repeatedly kicked Selwyn in the face – fury finally unleashed like a white-hot flame.

Draco wrenched Selwyn's bloodied face close to his. 'You fucking hurt my child,' he hissed. 'And many others… Harry?' he called, 'can you move yet?'

'Beginning to…' came a croaky reply.

'Do you want this piece of shit or do I kill him?'

But Selwyn didn't wait for a reply. He head-butted Draco in the chin and grabbed a handful of sand, throwing it in his eyes, and then seized his wand…

'Avada Kedav—!'

But a thunderous shot resounded around the beach – catastrophic, deafening…

Hermione's ears were ringing and Selwyn was limp on the sand.

Draco lay on his back, panting heavily, the gun in his hand… Hermione knelt beside him and tried to smile but she was crying too hard.

Ron tentatively placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder. 'You alright?' He had a pained look on his face. 'That was… fucked-up.'

She nodded effusively, swallowing back sobs.

Harry crouched down beside her and squeezed her hand tightly.

'Thought I'd lost you,' he murmured. His face was streaked with tears.

He helped Draco sit up and patted his back as Draco coughed up blood and sand.

'Fucking hell,' Ron grunted, poking at Selwyn's body with his foot. 'You shot him! Right through the heart…'

'Beginner's luck,' Draco groaned. Hermione mopped up his face with the hem of her dress. He gazed at her longingly, but Ron was just a few feet away.

'And what the fuck's that weird white glowy thing you two 'ave got going on?' Ron asked uncertainly.

They were still shiny, though fading.

'I think it's what happens when souls speak – as one,' Harry said.

'Oh,' said Ron, and his eyes dimmed.

XXX

CHAPTER TRACKS:

"REACH OUT" by SLEATER-KINNEY

"BLIND FAITH" by CHASE & STATUS

"Во Мне (Live)" by ZEMFIRA

"HELTER SKELTER" by THE BEATLES

"ALL MIRRORS" by ANGEL OLSEN

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my original characters.