totally have been trying to keep chapters in the 6K range... whoops. Enjoy!
Warning: reference to self-harm in this chapter
Hermione, Draco, and Neville collapsed onto an antique patterned rug in a dimly lit living room. Hermione could barely get up, the stinging of her ears combined with the apparition made her so light headed she thought she might pass out. Draco was at her side in seconds, ignoring his own injuries as a cut across his left eye began to leak blood down his cheek.
A girl in a maroon and gold sweater had been lazily reading a book on the ugly sofa. She blinked in shock at the three when they landed in front of her. Neville eyed her quickly and told her to get help. She scurried off, her long braids whipping behind her.
"Granger, can you hear me?" it was the first time Draco's voice ever sounded panicked but Hermione could only hear parts of it. It was like he was talking to her underwater and she strained to look in his direction.
"Stinging hex," she managed, pointing to her neck. The pain was still not ebbing. The room swam in front of her eyes. She could just see Draco's blonde hair hovering over her and the outline of Neville next to him. "And I hate apparating." Draco chuckled before she passed out completely. His face dropped.
"Is there a healer here? Where are we Longbottom?" Draco rounded on Neville.
"Relax Malfoy, that's where I just sent Angelina," Neville gestured to where the girl had been on the couch. "She'll alert the healing staff and it'll only be a matter of time until the whole lot knows we're back. I expect Moody and Kingsley will want to speak with you."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Great. And where exactly are we again?"
Neville shifted on his feet, glancing at Hermione. "I… I don't know if I'm at liberty to say where exactly. We're in headquarters… of the Order of the Phoenix. We're safe here."
Draco clenched his jaw. "Alright. She needs a healer though, if that hex hit a nerve or travels to her brain she could be in more trouble than we know. And where are the others? Didn't we all apparate to the same place?"
Neville ran a hand through his hair. "Calm down Malfoy, it was just a stinging hex, nothing Madam Pomfrey can't fix. And we did all apparate here, but we chose different rooms so we don't all end up on top of one another."
Suddenly a man was at the door, limping on a knobbly walking stick. His grey hair was grizzly around his face, his electric blue eye whirled in its socket before focusing on Draco. "And what," his voice pulled on the letters, "do we owe the pleasure of having a Malfoy here Longbottom? Eh? You didn't even have the audacity to tell us you were going somewhere, so let's hear it before I lose it on you boy."
Draco stood up straight as Alastor Moody came shuffling towards him. Neville looked Moody in the eye. "Recon on Ginny and Luna, messaged us through the DA coins. It led us to some apparently defected Slytherins. Ginny and Luna vouched for them," Neville shrugged. "We couldn't leave them."
"And her?" Moody nudged Hermione's limp arm with his leg. Draco started at him but held back. The blue eye swiveled towards him.
"We aren't sure how she fits in, Ginny and Luna met her in hiding. She's a witch though. We were kidnapped by Greyback's lot. Dueled them until we could apparate back."
Mad Eye grunted before walking over to Draco. Draco's jaw was tight. He tensed as Mad Eye's blue eye moved in jerks as it stared at him. "Defected, eh?" Moody raised an eyebrow and Draco's face stayed neutral.
Ginny burst into the room then, frantic. George and Theo were on her heels. Theo's right arm looked broken and George was still sporting a black eye in addition to his broken ankle. He clutched the wall for support as he eyed Hermione on the floor.
"What happened? Where's Pomfrey, we need a healer!" Ginny yelled at the boys, rushing to Hermione's side. Theo eyed Draco, who was still being scrutinized by Mad Eye. He made his way slowly to Draco's side.
"Miss Weasley," Mad Eye said, not taking his eye off of Draco. Ginny looked up and any emotion she had dropped. "You are supposed to be in hiding."
"Mad Eye," she smiled weakly, "Good to see you too. And uh, yeah, about that..."
"We'll discuss it later," Moody mumbled. He turned his eye to Theo then. Theo averted his gaze to his arm.
"Angelina went to get Pomfrey," Neville wiped a sheen of dirt and sweat from his forehead. Ginny gave a short nod as she knelt by Hermione's side. Moody's eye flickered into the back of its socket before jumping to the doorway. Poppy Pomfrey rushed in with two other healers, a frown on her normally cheery face.
"Get them upstairs, the ones that can't make it on their own," she said, taking in the state of the young witches and wizards in front of them. George waved at one of the healers and pointed to his ankle. One of them rushed over.
"I will levitate this one," Pomfrey frowned at Hermione's crumpled figure on the floor.
"Stinging hex to the neck, in case that helps," Neville said to the healer. She nodded as she pointed her wand at Hermione.
"Will she-" Draco started towards Hermione but Mad Eye stared at him with scrutinizing eyes. Draco stopped abruptly. "Will she be alright?" Draco looked to Pomfrey nervously.
Madam Pomfrey appeared startled by the young wizard in front of her. "Yes- yes Mr. Malfoy, I believe she will be. Once I run the diagnostic I can determine how to treat her. You don't look great yourself though, I can already see the bruising and lacerations on your shoulder, so please follow suit to the hospital room," Pomfrey tutted and with a swirl of her robes she levitated Hermione out.
The other healer stood by the doorway waiting. "We should go, she hates it if we don't follow up with her," Neville said, pointing a thumb at the door. Mad Eye grunted at Draco and Theo again before limping off ahead of them.
"Come find me when you are all set. Especially you," he stated, pointing with his chin at the Draco. "We need to talk." And in seconds, Moody was gone.
As they were ushered out the door by the healer they were met by Katie and Blaise rushing towards them. Luna trailed right behind. "Infirmary?" Katie was reluctant as she eyed the healer beside them. Neville nodded and led the way up the staircase.
"Moody wants to see us after," he mumbled. Katie nodded solemnly and glanced at the slytherin boys. Blaise had joined Theo and Draco, all of them looking miserable. No one said another word.
...
Hermione blinked open her eyes slowly. It was still dim in the room and her eyelids felt heavy, as if she'd been given medicine. She was lying on a cot in a large room. To either side were chairs and more cots. It was some sort of hospital room despite the old aristocratic decor that littered the walls and archways.
She blinked some more to bring her vision into focus. It was difficult and her neck felt stiff. She glanced down at herself, noticing the bandages on her shoulder from Fenrir's claws. The skin around and down her left side was all still grotesquely bruised.
"Oh good, you're awake!" a soft voice floated over to her. A tall woman with gray streaks in her hair came bustling over to her side. "That wasn't long my dear."
"What happened?" she asked, only just noticing the wands still clutched in her hand.
"You were hit with a stinging hex to the neck. It hit a nerve in the back of your head causing your vision problems and strain to your ears. That should have subsided with the restorative potion I gave you. The vision will take another few hours to clear. Nerve damage isn't easily healed."
"Oh," Hermione said quietly, not sure what to make of all the woman just said.
"I'm Poppy Pomfrey. You can call me Madam Pomfrey or Pomfrey or Poppy, whatever you'd like. I was the healer at Hogwarts before… well before," she stated in a matter-of-fact kind of way.
"I've heard so much about Hogwarts," Hermione managed with a frown. She looked up at the witch with uncertainty. "Ginny and Luna told me... I-I never got a letter."
Madam Pomfrey frowned. "Oh my dear, how awful. I'm so sorry. How did you- did you meet the girls in hiding then?" Hermione nodded and Pomfrey straightened.
"And the boys?" her voice was stern then as she busied herself with Hermione's diagnostics. She flicked her wand over Hermione and a jet of light shot out and disappeared inside her. Suddenly there were colorful readings above her head that Hermione couldn't make out. Madam Pomfrey studied them intently.
Hermione panicked and sat up too fast. "Draco, where's Draco? Is he alright? Was he here, Fenrir crushed him and I tried to help but, I, I..." She startled the witch who turned away from the diagnostic. Hermione's vision was spinning.
"Relax, Mr. Malfoy is quite alright, although if he let me treat him sooner he probably would be in better shape. Fussy that one. Wouldn't leave your side until I told him you wouldn't wake for another few hours. I imagine he is downstairs with Moody. He wanted to see the boys straight away once healed."
Hermione laid back down, her mind racing. He was alright, she breathed in quickly. It was a relief she hadn't known she needed. Madam Pomfrey eyed her curiously. She turned back to the diagnostic.
"It will be another hour or so before your vision returns fully. You are lucky that spell didn't hit the nerve directly. Your left side will be stiff with the contusion hexes, they were used extensively and will appear fairly ugly for a while. I'll give you a pain relief potion to take regularly so it doesn't bother you until it's healed."
Hermione's eyes were wide. She had only read a couple small excerpts on healing in one of the books from the library. It was a branch of magic that fascinated her. "I won't feel anything?"
"Precisely. Just don't go throwing yourself down the stairs or putting extra exertion on that side and you'll be fine until it heals," Pomfrey bustled to change a dressing on her shoulder. "This might scar though. That bloody werewolf is a menace to us all."
Hermione watched, her eyes wide as the cuts were revealed. They should have been much more fresh, but nothing was left but small red lines that looked a week healed. Hermione decided magical healing was now her next subject to research.
When Pomfrey was done, she looked at Hermione and handed her another potion to take. "Here's some Dreamless Sleep, it will help. And dear, Moody wants to speak with you as well, at some point. I told him I would let you decide when you are ready. It certainly doesn't have to be today. Just a heads up. Now rest, you're safe here."
Hermione peered at the potion suspiciously before taking it. She felt the weight of it hit her mind, wiping it into a dull cloud. Her eyes felt heavy. "Where exactly is here Madam Pomfrey?"
Madam Pomfrey smiled, "Why you are in headquarters. Welcome dear, to the Order of the Phoenix."
…
"We've all told you in our own words what happened, that's three different times. Please don't make us explain it again," Blaise rubbed his forehead in exasperation. He had a bandage wrapped around his left ear. Blaise and Theo sat on a rigid couch against a wall in a large room.
It appeared to once have been a drawing room, but a large wooden table had been placed in the middle. It was overtaken with papers and war plans. Behind the table were chalkboards with strategies, lists, and spells. A fireplace sat opposite the table and spanning the length of one of the walls was an old and tattered looking tapestry. Its golden threads of an enormous family tree glittered in the firelight. When they'd walked in, Draco had averted looking at it.
He currently sat backwards on a chair, his gray eyes storming as he stared at the flames. Five people stood around the room at various spots, all having listened to the Slytherin boys tell their story. It hadn't been easy for them to tell it, but Blaise and Theo had been willing and made sure to answer all the questions that came. When it was Draco's turn, he didn't look at anyone. His jaw was rigid and his features drawn as he tried to be honest.
When they all had spoken, Mad Eye grunted from behind the table. He was leaning with both hands on his staff. His eyes flickered to a disheveled looking man in his mid thirties who stood with crossed arms. The man sighed.
"Of all the places you could have ended up," Remus Lupin shook his head. "How could we have underestimated where any wizarding families might hold property?"
A young witch with short pink hair shifted on her toes next to him. "Wasn't something we considered. We warded the area, but my guess is the family wards overpowered the ones we used. Blacks were notorious for them too, mum told us. Malfoy and anyone with him could walk right through no problem."
Tonks glanced at Draco, who twitched at the mention of name. "Sound about right, cousin?" she smirked at him in a familiar sort of way that made Blaise grimace. Draco scowled.
Moody's magical eye swirled around its socket. "Answer her boy."
Draco straightened, itching at the bandages under his shirt. "Yes. The wards are old blood magic in most of my family's properties. Much like this one too."
"Right," Lupin sighed. "Should have guessed as much." Tonks put her hand on his shoulder. "Should we send for the others? To corroborate the stories?"
Mad Eye nodded to Tonks, who squeezed Lupin's shoulder one last time before disappearing out the door. "How many of you are marked? Just Malfoy? And you've been enchanting it so you can't be traced or the death eaters would already be at our door," his blue eye zipped from Theo to Blaise to Draco so quick it made Draco dizzy. He stared at the ground as he felt the dark mark twitch with pain under his sleeve.
"Just me," he said through his teeth. "Snape gave me the enchantments. It's protected."
"Good. And you keep up with them you hear? Shame you didn't have the sense to say no. Better not be a ploy to get in here with it, mark my words, I've worked with the worst of em, your father included. I don't take light to sabotage. Not. One. Bit."
Draco's grip on his chair tightened. Theo eyed him nervously. Draco could feel the anger boiling under his skin. "Believe me, I wanted to say no," his voice was low and broken. "But…" he sighed miserably, "no wasn't an option."
A tall woman with a tight bun stepped out from behind the table then. There was no mistaking her familiar emerald robes and severe pursed lips. Draco looked over at her briefly as she cleared her throat. There was pity in her eyes.
"Moody, Kingsley, please. You know as well as I do that they are telling the truth. They were children when this began for Merlin's sake, forced into this! And he certainly doesn't deserve you scolding him for a past he didn't get a say in creating," she narrowed her eyes at Moody. Draco watched her, feeling for the first time a sense of gratefulness for his old professor.
"We must take in all those in need of our assistance," she continued, "Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood have sensible heads on their shoulders. I trust their judgments. Just the fact the boys came here willingly and told us everything is admirable. We need to start somewhere and burning the bridge of the young ones is not the way to do so."
Tonks was smiling as if she was ready to high five the regal witch. "Well put Minerva! Let's do it, let em stay Kingsley," she nudged the auror with her elbow.
"Yes well," Kingsley's voice was strained as he glanced sideways at Tonks, "but we must take precautions even so." He sat at the table studying the young men. "I would like to add to our numbers, believe me. But I want trustworthy people on our side. Ones that are fighting for the right reasons, not because they have nowhere else to go."
Theo took a step forward, his chin up. "Look, we chose to leave our families. We get it they are shit but it wasn't easy. And it took us a while to realize, we're sorry about that too. But we have rejected their twisted excuses for values. All of us see the wrongs we were raised in and we want to make things better." Blaise nodded in agreement.
Draco looked up, a glint of remorse in his eyes as he looked at Kingsley. Kingsley stared right back at him and Draco thought of all the times his father had wished the worst on the man. It was pathetic. They all were. His father, the death eaters, the Dark Lord. Someone needed to stop them. He thought of Hermione in Greyback's disgusting hands; his anger coursed in his veins. It was getting difficult to stay silent.
"We're here to fight," Draco's voice was low again and it startled several people in the room. He was facing the flames and the color of it danced dangerously on his gray eyes.
Blaise gave a nod. "If you just let us prove it." It was quiet as the words settled on every person in the room. Kingsley was still looking at Draco with curiosity. Lupin raised his eyebrows, impressed at the three young men in front of him.
"I've also known them a long time," McGonagall eyed the three over her square spectacles. "While Mr. Malfoy does have a more… complicated past, Severus has watched over them. He will assure us of their intentions when he returns."
Kingsley nodded. "Yes, you are right Minerva. I don't doubt you, I would just feel more comfortable hearing from the rest as well."
As if on cue, Tonks waltzed back into the room then and took up her spot by Lupin. She smiled at him as Ginny, Luna, Katie, and Neville filed in after her. They all took seats by the table as Luna waved at the Slytherins. Theo and Blaise gave weak smiles back.
"George is still in the infirmary, along with Hermione," Ginny said as she curled her legs under her. She appeared the least injured, with only a couple of cuts along her cheek and neck. Kingsley nodded. Tonks winked at her.
"About this other woman you've brought. Explain Ginevra," Moody's eye swiveled until it settled on Ginny. Her shoulders straightened.
"Well, I met her at the uni see, and she was a muggle, or at least we thought she was…" Ginny detailed the whole situation, from meeting Hermione and becoming friends then to the party. When Ginny got to the part about Hermione finding out about magic she avoided telling them exactly why Malfoy and Hermione were together that morning. Tonks guessed and was snickering into the back of her hand when Malfoy glared at her.
Ginny explained how Malfoy went into crisis hearing Hermione's blood status, the interventions, and how that led all of them to come together. Draco didn't look anyone in the eye although he felt their stares. It was unnerving, his life and memories being talked about like this. He could feel the guilt rising in his chest. Laid bare, it was obvious how stupid he had been. He had learned so much. He hoped they'd believe Ginny and Luna because he wasn't sure they'd believe him no matter what he said.
Draco chanced a glance at Ginny, who gave him a sympathetic smile before she continued. Ginny made sure to emphasize that Malfoy had changed his ways, thanks largely to Hermione, and how Hermione had even taught the rest of them a thing or two about prejudice. She told how they moved in, how Malfoy was teaching Hermione wandless magic, and how they were searching for a way to contact the magical world to get news. Moody tsked at this and Ginny chuckled apologetically.
By the end, McGonagall's eyes had grown wide and she was frowning. Lupin shook his head. "Well there's your proof Kingsley," McGonagall was studying Draco over her glasses. He ignored it. "Their story matches what Mr. Zabini, Mr. Nott, and Mr. Malfoy have told us too."
"That still doesn't explain why they're all here," Lupin was tapping his wand on his palm impatiently. Tonks reached out a hand to still it.
"I can answer that," Luna said too cheerfully before she dove into the rest of the tale. When she had finished detailing the magic coins from the DA, Goyle showing up, and Hermione and Luna getting kidnapped, Neville and Katie chimed in.
Neville was apologetic for planning the rescue mission without seeking out Moody or Kingsley first. Moody glared at Neville, which made him fidget as he went on to explain all that had happened with Greyback's pack.
"So really, it was lucky they came for us or we'd probably gotten overrun by those bloody wolves of his. Greyback's a nightmare up close. Poor Hermione, he took special interest in her," Neville glanced at Draco before turning back to Kingsley and Moody.
"Why's that?" Kingsley's brow was furrowed.
"He kept saying that…" Neville paused. Draco could feel his anger pulse again and he clenched his fist to keep from showing it. Moody's magical eye whizzed to Draco instantly. "He kept saying he smelled Malfoy on her. It was so… odd." Moody slowly blinked, the realization of it sinking in.
Kingsley didn't seem to care; he was preoccupied with sorting through some of the papers in front of him. Lupin looked pale at the mention of the werewolves and Tonks was rubbing his shoulder.
"Alright, we accept your explanations. When Snape gets back tomorrow, we'll all speak with Miss Granger and confirm it all, figure out what to do with her. But for now, get some rest. All of you. You look like hell," Kingsley stood, a piece of paper in his hand. He handed it to Lupin.
"The others will show you to some rooms," McGonagall stated, with a nod. "See Poppy if you need any Dreamless Sleep." The Slytherins looked grateful to finally get away. Neville and Katie waved and the boys went to follow them out the door. Before they reached it, Moody grunted at them again.
"Do not give us a reason to doubt you. It would be unwise." They all nodded silently and disappeared down the hall.
…
Neville and Katie walked quietly through the hallway and up the upstairs. A grand clock on the wall said it was past 2 am. Tiredness crept in while they had been interrogated and their bodies ached from dueling.
Katie showed Luna to the room she shared with Angelina. It was on the third floor. There were three other doors and Neville stopped outside his own. He gestured up another staircase in the corner that Ginny was already disappearing up.
"So there's only one more bedroom open down here," Neville pointed. "The other is on the top floor. It was the only level that didn't take to us expanding it. Old magic I guess," Neville gave an awkward chuckle. "But it has a king bed, so I guess you guys can decide who gets it. It is next to Ginny and Harry's room however. Not that Harry's here but..."
"Thanks Longbottom," Theo nodded and gave Neville a small smile. He followed Draco and Blaise to the stairs.
Neville shifted his weight on his feet. "Hey," the boys all turned. "Ginny's a right stubborn witch sometimes and well, McGonagall said it right back there. I guess what I'm saying is, if they can forgive you all… I'm all for it too. I won't say it'll be overnight, but I hope it's a start…" he looked at the floor, his hand on the doorknob.
Blaise blinked at him and took a step back towards Neville. "A chance, Longbottom. That's what you're giving us. And that means more than you know. Thank you." Neville smiled sheepishly. Theo gave a smile and nodded a thanks as well. Neville turned the knob and disappeared into his room.
The Slytherins walked over to the stairs in silence. Theo looked at Draco nervously. "You alright mate?"
"Wondering if Moody is always so charming," his voice was cold after all the sincerity in the drawing room. He rubbed his injured shoulder, trying to ease the tension there and ignore the bit of tingling in his dark mark.
Blaise sighed. "This whole thing is weird. Being talked about back there like we weren't even in the room."
Theo stirred. "I'm sure he's just reminded of our parents. Not an easy thing, having three slytherins turn up, I reckon."
"No. Not easy," Draco watched the exhaustion fill his friends' faces. He sighed. "For us either. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make this harder with..." his voice trailed as he moved his hand to his forearm.
"That mark bullshit was uncalled for," Blaise put a hand on Draco's arm. "He'll come round. McGonagall's on our side, we got Ginny to like us. That's something." Draco rolled his eyes.
Theo laughed. "So does that mean you don't want to room next door to her?"
Draco's expression grew contemplative, but Blaise answered before he could. "Oh we're taking the room down here, no question. As soon as Granger's out of the infirmary they're going to want to shack up again and I'm not about to have to listen to that while I'm sleeping."
Theo gave a wolfish whistle as he and Blaise started for the door. Draco ignored them and the heat rising in his chest as he climbed the first step. But he turned. "So what happens when one of you fancy a shag with an order member?" he smirked. Theo narrowed his eyes and Blaise looked awkwardly away.
"We'll cross that bridge when we need to," Theo said between his teeth and they were gone.
Draco climbed the stairs, considering all that had happened. He figured if he was going to have to be part of the Order of the Phoenix, at least Blaise and Theo would be right there with him. Like always. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad… And at least Hermione was here too. Hermione...
At the top, he got to a small landing and there were two enormous, old wooden doors. He muttered lumos and saw that one of the doors was closed with a light on underneath. He figured it was where Ginny was. The other door held a plaque. It was a "do not enter" sign for Regulus Arcturus Black's room. Draco eyed it curiously.
Draco's eyes flashed as he opened the door. The room was small but decorated with slytherin colors. It was small but a fireplace was opposite the huge bed and two long windows showed the street below. It looked like it had been recently dusted and swept.
Walking to the fireplace, he noticed a large picture mounted on the mantle. Boys in quidditch robes stood in rows. A dark haired boy sat in the middle smiling. The word seeker was written in silver over his feet. The boy looked a lot like Sirius Black so Draco assumed it was Regulus. Although distantly related, Draco felt an odd sense of comfort in getting to use the room.
He pulled out spare clothes from his pocket, silently thanking himself for placing the extendible charm on his cloak. As he yanked on his shirt, the stone dragon figurines came free and clattered to the floor. He stared at them sadly and reached to put them on the mantle.
Then he changed and draped the extra clothes and his cloak over the lush armchair squashed in the corner. Draco saw his reflection in a small mirror by the chair. His hair still had a little blood dried to it and he looked pale. He wondered then if he'd have to go downstairs to find the washrooms.
Too tired and sore to think about showering, he slumped onto the bed. But sleep wouldn't come and he wasn't sure he would welcome it if it did. Nightmares were sure to run wild in his mind after what happened. He turned over, thinking about Granger instead; her bravery and her exquisite dueling that was a result of his teaching. It was just last night she had slept in his arms and now the room around him felt severely empty.
It wasn't long before he found himself following the stairs back down to the main level. He made his way silently to the infirmary. He just wanted to see her, it had been hours since she passed out and she'd probably be asleep. But worrying about her, rescuing her, seeing her injured. He felt the pain of it all and wished he could ignore it.
His chest gave a small lurch when he saw her curls spilled out on the white blankets of the cot. She was asleep, facing away from him, but it didn't matter. He looked around for any sign of Madam Pomfrey or the others. Besides George Weasley softly snoring a few cots away, no one was around.
Draco walked up to the opposite side of her bed slowly. His breath caught as she sighed and fidgeted, but she remained asleep. Pomfrey had given her Dreamless Sleep, he assumed, judging by how peaceful she looked. Her forehead was free of wrinkles and her hands lax of any tension.
That's when Draco noticed the bruises. They covered her left hand and arm and he bet if he pulled the covers from her they would trail down her side all the way to her foot. He gritted his teeth. Her neck was a splotchy red from the stinging hex. He sighed as he sat down next to her.
She didn't wake but rather seemed to curl herself closer to him unconsciously. "I'm sorry," he whispered as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. She didn't move. When he stood, she mewed softly and he turned back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the green dragon.
He placed it in his palm and used his free hand to wave the magic over it. The little dragon came to life, stretching its wings and shaking its spiky head. Draco gave a small smile as he placed it next to her. It wandered up to her chest and curled its wings and tail around itself as it went to sleep. Draco walked back to the door, grabbing a Dreamless Sleep Potion from the supply table and heading for the top floor.
…
A grizzly man with a swirling blue eye and scars scattered over his face was staring down at Hermione when she woke. It jolted her awake and she sat up, nervously pulling at the covers. That's when a tiny dragon beside her snapped its small jaws in protest. Moody's eye swung over to it confused and Hermione looked down at it.
She blinked before she smiled in recognition. She pulled it over to her lap and it nestled back into the covers with a puff of smoke. Moody shook his head and stepped back. There were two other people standing beside her bed. One was a tall woman with her lips pursed sadly and glasses that framed her eyes in squares. The other person was quite her opposite. The man had greasy black hair and a large, hooked nose. His expression was unreadable but he showed no signs of having ever smiled.
Hermione mustered up any confidence she could and held her chin up. "Good morning."
"Miss Granger," Moody leaned on his staff. "We've heard much about you from Weasley and Lovegood. Now how about you make sure they told it to us right."
The tall woman huffed and when she spoke, her accent was Scottish. "Don't scare the girl Alastor," she gave Hermione a brief smile. "The least you could do is introduce yourself first." She sounded like she was reprimanding a student and Hermione wondered if she was one of Ginny and Luna's professors.
"I am Minerva McGonagall, I was a teacher at Hogwarts. This is Alastor Moody, auror, and Severus Snape, former teacher as well. We are all members of the Order of the Phoenix. You know of the Order?"
Hermione nodded. "Thank you Minerva," Moody's regular eye rolled. "Now that we've exchanged pleasantries… we need to know your side of the story. Ginevra and Luna and the boys have already told us but if it doesn't match what you have to say, well then, we have some problems don't we?" he grinned at her and it was toothy and crooked. She smiled nervously back.
"Is it true, Miss Granger, that you did not know of the wizarding world until this year?" McGonagall's mouth was thin when she spoke.
"Yes it's- it's true. I was young when I figured out I could... do things others couldn't… I know it now that it was magic," Hermione looked at her hands. McGonagall's features grew grave.
...
It took Hermione nearly an hour to tell Moody, McGonagall, and Snape her story. She avoided some of the more intimate details with Draco, hoping they would just see the friendship of it evolving. She also was hesitant in giving all the details of the attack with Fenrir Greyback, chalking it up to the freshness of the trauma. She stared at the purple on her arm as she talked. Moody grunted occasionally and McGongall looked like she was checking off a mental list of facts.
"That's when we managed to apparate here with Neville, Katie, and George and well… I don't remember much else," Hermione glanced at the bedside table. A pile of wands sat there and her eyes grew wide. "Did no one tell the others their wands are here? I summoned them right before we apparated and-"
"Whose are they?" Moody limped over to the table.
"Luna's. And Neville's, George's, and Katie's," Hermione said. "The death eaters took them when we were kidnapped. That's why Greyback assumed I lied. I didn't have a wand on me..."
McGonagall stiffened. "Well. To be able to summon objects you've never seen and take on a manic werewolf such as Fenrir Greyback without a wand of your own or proper training. It's quite the feat Miss Granger. It is a shame you never got to show your academic prowess at Hogwarts."
Hermione smiled warmly at the comment. "Thank you. I wish I could have gone, at least while it was open. Draco wasn't the worst teacher but..."
It was the first time Snape made any kind of expression. His mouth curled up on one side. "Is that right? Mr. Malfoy never appeared to have an inclination for pedagogy."
Hermione stared at Snape, who seemed to want to have a problem with her. Moody shifted his staff. "Now Granger, your story fits well with the others, I'll give you that. But we need to prove it. More than just hoping you're telling the truth."
"Prove it? How?" Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. A flicker of fear darted up her spine.
"With a branch of magic called Legilimency. Severus here is well practiced, he has already spoken with Zabini, Nott, Malfoy. He'll look over your memories, make sure they fit and that will be-"
"Look over my memories?!" horror crossed Hermione's features. She pulled at the blanket again, gathering them around her.
McGonagall was cross. "Is this really necessary?"
"Yes," Moody barked. "I'm not about to have some unknown come in here without proof! Constant vigilance Minerva! We can't risk a spy! I'm considering having the Slytherins tested too, but if her memories prove their worth, we won't have to."
Snape was still standing at the end of the bed, but he had taken out a long, black wand. He held it delicately as the corner of his lip twitched. "Just do it Severus, before she frets any longer."
McGonagall looked ready to grab Snape's wand from him. Hermione paled as Snape made eye contact with her, his dark eyes locking on hers. They held a small sense of power that made her feel weak. He lifted his wand and muttered Legilimens. Before Hermione even knew what happened her mind ripped open at the seams.
While it wasn't necessarily painful, Hermione still felt an immense force pushing through her mind as she lay their helpless. It felt intrusive and Snape pushed his way into the very depths of her mind before he began to look around. She saw herself as a little girl, doing magic by mistake at a playground for the first time. She felt the rush of exhilaration she had that day and knew Snape was feeling it too.
Then the memory was gone and it was replaced with more examples of her magical abilities. They flew by fast; her discovery of how to use her powers, levitating books alone in her room, repairing a broken sandal on a vacation by the lake, using magic to play a prank on an old boyfriend who dumped her.
And then the past few months and emotions came in more in detail. The first day seeing Ginny as an innocent new student and Malfoy as a pretentious rich boy, seeing Ginny do sleight of hand magic and convincing herself it was nothing. The evolution of her friendships with Ginny and Luna, posing as muggles.
And then the dusky heat of the party swam to the surface. Hermione panicked and tried to forget the details but Snape picked at it until he could see it clearly. Her interactions with Blaise and Malfoy and the ravenclaw uniform were vivid in her mind. She saw herself walking drunkenly home and she willed her magic to block out the image of her tangled in Malfoy's sheets.
She thrust forward her fear, seeing Malfoy doing wandless magic the next morning and Snape grabbed onto it eagerly. He watched as she ran, confronted Ginny with tears in her eyes, and the girls' confession of the wizarding world. It all came tumbling from her mind in waves and Hermione was beginning to feel nauseous.
Then there was the anger and fear of Malfoy walking into her office and seeing Ginny. The confrontation felt just as tense as it had in real life so long ago. Then faster, memories of Malfoy's anger, his outbursts, Blaise and Theo drunk telling their stories. Snape slowed, dissecting the facts and going over Malfoy's emotions several times. Her mind was starting to ache.
Malfoy seemed to be of particular interest to him. Snape moved through all the practice sessions and the arguments and they watched the anger dissolving into indifference and then clarity. It felt raw and beautiful to Hermione to suddenly see her relationship with Malfoy laid out in full, but at a price. Her mind began to ooze pain.
Then without realizing Snape pulled forward the images before she could stop him. And there she was, kissing Draco, flirting with him over Exploding Snap, laying in his arms in his enormous bed, tumbling in his silk sheets. She panicked again. She shoved the face of Fenrir Greyback forward instead and the memories of last night loomed in front of her mind.
Snape pushed through the kidnapping, the torture, and the werewolf attack like they were nothing. He saw the Crutiatus, he grabbed onto Greyback's threats, his comments about her scent and then his conversation with Malfoy, the mention of Malfoy's family.
And then Hermione finally felt relief; the force of the invasion into her mind eased and the pressure vanished. She blinked, the light in the room feeling all too bright, the pain lingering. In front of her stood Moody, McGonagall, and Snape, all staring. Snape's eyes watched her with interest. McGonagall looked miserable.
"How do you feel, Miss Granger?" she questioned, taking a step to come to her bedside. "I will have Madam Pomfrey bring you a potion to relax. Meddling into the mind isn't easy especially for the person getting meddled," she glared at the two men.
Moody clicked his tongue. "Was it for good reason, Severus?"
Snape took a long time to answer. "Confirmed. Everything," he continued to study Hermione. "It is remarkable the ability she has been able to maintain despite no formal training." Hermione glared at Snape. "But Pomfrey should be alerted, she has been subject to the Cruciatus and should be treated thus. If Pomfrey doesn't already know. Especially with Legilimency..." McGonagall paled and scurried off to find the healer.
Moody grunted. "And the boys? She met them defected and all?"
Snape's lip curled up slightly at the side. "Yes, they were defected and in hiding, like they said. It is all true."
"Aye," Moody clicked his staff on the ground.
"Although, concerning Mr. Malfoy…" Hermione felt her face grow hot as Snape continued. She tried to push away the lingering pain in her head. "Her memories are… interesting. I expect we will see a much different man in Draco than the boy we once knew at Hogwarts. And it will be because of her."
McGonagall had returned with Madam Pomfrey, who was frowning miserably. Moody looked pleased. "Good. We don't need some foolish little ferret running back to his mummy the minute the death eaters start calling."
"Draco may have been misguided, but he isn't some foolish little-" Hermione began, but Moody already turned to go and Hermione had laid back on her pillow, faint.
"Thank you Granger. Get some rest," he mumbled as he hobbled out the door. Snape gave her one last analytical look before he turned on his heel and was gone.
Hermione huffed hard enough to wake the little dragon that she forgot was snoozing on her lap. It growled at her and McGonagall's features drew. "I'm sorry Miss Granger. Moody is, well he is harsh to say the least. He is just trying to protect what we have worked hard for. I'm sure you will be a great addition."
Hermione gave a weak smile. McGonagall just nodded and patted the bed before turning to leave. Madam Pomfrey was frowning as her wand hovered over Hermione and she said a complicated incantation. "I apologize, my dear. I went with a basic diagnostic spell, doesn't pick up the Unforgiveables. If I would have thought!"
"It's alright," Hermione managed, but the witch merely shook her head and the pounding in Hermione's mind continued. A colorful display of information shot out of the wand again and Pomfrey put a hand over her mouth.
"My dear, it's far from alright. Untreated Cruciatus and Legilimency don't mix. Curse Severus and Alastor for their methods!" she shook her fist at the door. Hermione's face dropped.
"You will be able to treat it, right? Will I be okay?"
"Yes, you will be alright, but you won't be out of here as quickly as we hoped. I have to neutralize the dark magic in your muscle tissue or you could end up with tremors and arthritis. Then I have to make sure the combination did not reach the nerves into your brain. I will give you a pain potion and then some Dreamless Sleep once I've finished."
Hermione drank the first potion and laid back down. As she felt the potion taking effect, she thought of Malfoy and all the memories that he filled up in her mind. She felt his absence as she looked at the little dragon. He had been here.
And then Pomfrey started.
…
Draco sat on a stool in the kitchen, watching Blaise and Theo go through the shelves looking for a snack. A cold cup of coffee sat in front of him, half drunk. He stared at it wistfully. His shoulder still felt like it had been crushed by a train, but Pomfrey said it would subside within the next day or two.
It was early morning and he felt the ache of dueling resting in his bones. He had a cut running down his left eye that was starting to heal and dark circles under his eyes. He slept miserably despite going to the infirmary to see Hermione beforehand. He had woken in a cold sweat and blood, his dark mark scratched open of his own doing. He cleaned it the best he could but didn't go back to sleep.
He hated what the nightmares did to him. He owed it to the fact that it was the first time he had been among the death eaters and werewolves in so long that the nightmares had come back in full force. He stared down at his poorly bandaged forearm as it stung and twitched. Maybe he should have Pomfrey look at it after all…
Suddenly the door to the stairwell opened and Draco looked up. The black cloak of Snape appeared, a smirk on his long face. Draco grimaced and Blaise and Theo stopped rummaging. The air felt thick.
"I was wondering where you would find to hide yourselves away," Snape said coolly.
Draco narrowed his eyes. "We aren't hiding."
"Could have fooled me," Snape flicked his cloak out of the way as he sat down. "Although I heard Pomfrey kicked you out of the hospital wing once she mended your shoulder. Any particular reason for wanting to stay?"
Blaise and Theo stood silent but exchanged glances. Draco shrugged and stirred his coffee.
Snape sighed. "Greyback was sent by your mother to find you. He's been tracking you for the past month and you know he's good at his job, plus he doesn't want to disappoint," Snape's tone was mocking. "When he ended up with the muggleborn, he knew he had a link to you. He knows he has a link to you."
Draco froze and his hand slowly lowered to the table, his nails digging into his palm. Snape watched him curiously. "I saw her memories Draco, don't try to hide it-"
Draco's eyes flashed. "You used Legilimency on her?! Did you even explain it to her first, Merlin knows she's more than just muggleborn, she's practically a muggle!"
"Which is why you need to proceed cautiously. She can justify to what extent you have defected your old values, which I must say, is admirable Draco. But I hope you've considered the cost if you or she gets caught," Snape's voice was bitter with warning.
Draco gave a solemn nod and he brought his left forearm onto the table. Blaise and Theo walked quietly over to them. "Then I need your help," Draco said as he unwrapped the bandages. The Dark Mark was just visible under multiple red gashes that had torn the skin to bits. Blaise and Theo stared as Snape sighed and drew out his wand.