Chapter Playlist:
Leave My Body : Florence the Machine
I Gave You All : Mumford Sons
You Are a Memory : Message To Bears
Gravity : Eden
Statues : Alexandre Desplat
*
"You know... I always wondered if half the shit Harry got up to with Hermione and Gingersnap all these years were true, but we were just delivered to Hogwarts on the back of a fucking centaur, and now I'm certain I know nothing." Theo was saying as they watched the large group of centaurs gallop off into the Forest once more. "I'm beginning to wonder if I should be more impressed that we've managed to stay alive this long."
Draco ran his hand over the scars along his chest feeling the tender, but surprisingly well healed skin there.
"—though," Theo continued, "I suppose Harry doesn't deserve credit this time. The centaurs came to our rescue for our dear Guardian of Gardens after all—"
"That's Lord of Dragons to you, you fucker." Draco stretched one arm over his head, surprised to find no soreness.
"Daddy of Dragons?"
Draco made a face.
Theo waved his hand in the air with a slight grin at his best friend, "Semantics. I'll come up with something better later."
"You two Nancy boys done enjoying the view? We've got a war to win!"
Draco and Theo turned at the sound of an Irish accent calling out to them from behind. They both immediately took in the massive transparent magical dome covering the castle, humming with powerful magic. Just within it, Dean Thomas and Seasmus Finnigan we're exiting a tunnel entrance growing out of the hillside that had certainly not been there moments ago.
"Nancy boys, hm?" Theo said calmly, "—suppose you would know, wouldn't you Finnigan?'
"Fuck off Nott." Seamus's face burned a bright red color, his fists tightening as he glanced nervously at Dean and then glared back at them. "Come on Dean. They can stay out here and wait for their precious Lord for all I fucking care—"
"Ginny sent us to retrieve them, Seam, we can't just leave 'em." Dean answered and then nodded at Draco and Theo to follow them. "Come on."
"You two see Zabini or Parkinson?" Draco asked as they ducked into the tunnel behind them.
"In the infirmary, I think." Dean said over his shoulder.
"Daphne Greengrass was wit 'em too" Seamus added, "—she was carryin' a bloody nasty lookin' limb. Pomfrey should know how to reattach it though."
Theo and Draco shared a glance.
Dean turned to the right as the tunnel came to a fork, explaining, "Just a bit deeper this way."
Theo leaned forward, lowering his voice as he hovered just behind Seamus's shoulder, "You must hear him say that a lot, don't you Finnigan?"
Seamus lifted his hand, a lone middle finger directed at them over his shoulder as he continued walking behind Dean. Theo heard Draco muffling a laugh behind him as the tunnel came to a winding turn.
Hermione chambered up onto the mantelpiece and through the hole behind Harry as Neville led them through the portrait. There were smooth stone steps on the other side: It looked as though the passageway had been there for years. Brass lamps hung from the wall as the earthy floor was worn and smooth; as they walked, their shadows rippled, flamelike, across the wall.
The others had gone ahead of them with the recruits still remaining from the vicious battle. Hermione couldn't let her mind linger on the lifeless bodies they left behind now or she knew she wouldn't be able to put one step in front of the other. Her focus was on Harry's determined strides before her.Each place his foot landed she would place her own, relying on the comforting thought of knowing she would follow those footsteps anywhere— that they were in this together.
The bitter taste of an ending was curling around the tip of her tongue, and though the end was all that they had hoped for, the fear of what it would take to see it through plagued her mind—
She knew Neville was speaking to them, but she found she couldn't concentrate on his words. He was repeating to Harry what he and the others had already told her of Hogwarts since they left, telling Harry of his gran and how she had been living on the run, of the Carrows punishment on the students, of Snape as Headmaster... she noticed Harry's step slow at the mention of Snape, but then became more frantic as if he needed to be out of this tunnel as badly as she did.
The darkness of the passageway, save for the flickering light, and the silence was all too dull... allowing them both to too much time to think. And for all the comfort Hermione normally took in planning and preparation she knew they didn't need to think right now. They needed to act. With each step she thought of the young recruits falling one by one, of Pansy's loud wailing scream as her arm was detached from her shoulder, the vicious slice of Greyback's claws raking over Draco's chest, the panic she felt when she became conscious again and they were in an unfamiliar room and he was not there... it tore at her chest, her bones, her lungs—
Harry told her Draco was safe with Theo... that Remus had ensured they get back... that they would be fine and were right behind them...
She wasn't used to the suffocating feeling she felt from being apart from Draco. It wasn't the same as when she had been separated from Harry and Ron, similar, but it ached differently... like the gap in her heart understood that they had hardly began to brush the surface of all they could be together and it demanded for him to be near again to fill the void.
Focusing on Harry's promise she forced a deep breath in and as she exhaled out she shoved the fear away... knowing that it wouldn't be the last time she needed to do so.
Grateful that a spark of light began to stretch up ahead, she felt the pulse of magic float through her. There was a simmering blue lit barrier before them and they passed through with ease and then it was gone.
"That would be the enchantment barrier McGonagall set up to protect the castle— to keep any one other than students and teachers in or out, with the exception of Order members and Zabini's step-fathers lot of course... She's placed curses over every entrance for anyone with the Dark Mark, even dementors can't get through— brilliant, isn't it?" Neville smiled at them over his shoulder and then stopped as they approached a seal in the passageway, partly visible through the dim light.
They watched as Neville lifted a gold coin from his pocket, and Hermione couldn't help but feel the small smile tug on the corner of her mouth. Neville noticed and smiled back at her.
"These have been great," said Neville, beaming at her. "Blaise mentioned that he used a similar charm on his ring to communicate with Malfoy, Nott and the others.Blaise said Malfoy copied the idea from you, Hermione.Surprisingly clever those Slytherins... wasn't too keen on the idea of them joining our ranks at first, but turns out not all of 'em of are of the rotten sort."
Hermione felt her smile stretch fully at the thought of Draco being inspired by her use of the Protean Charm during fifth year, wondering just how closely had he been paying attention to her over the years...
"The Carrows never sorted how we were communicating, it drove them mental. We used to sneak out at night and put graffiti on the walls: Dumbledore's Army, Still Recruiting, stuff like that. Snape hated it."
"Used to?" Asked Harry.
"Things got a bit difficult towards the end— had to hold up in this room all of us, but now your here Harry. Come on— they're going to go barmy when they see you two."
Neville rubbed the coin in his fingertips and a few moments later the small seal in the wall began to creak open, light filtered into the dark passage until they were met with a large room full of students all turning to them, rising where they sat and hovering just outside the entrance.
Hermione immediately recognized the room the passage opened up to as the Room of Requirements, but was surprised to see the scattered cots and hammocks strung about, students clothing folded and tossed around, plates of discarded scraps and goblets half full and empty... she wondered how many of them had been hiding out in here before McGonagall took over.
"Look who it is! Didn't I tell you I'd be back with something good!"
As Harry and Hermione emerged into the room behind the passage, there were several screams and yells: "HARRY!"
"It's Potter! It's Potter!"
"Hermione!"
"They're back! LOOK! THEY ACTUALLY CAME BACK!"
"THAT'LL BE TEN GALLEONS FOSTER. Deals a deal you pessimistic prat."
The next thing she knew, arms were being thrown around her and Harry from every side. As soon as they were released by one, they were pulled in once more by another. She felt her hair ruffled, her back patted, her hand squeezed, by what felt like more than fifty people. She suddenly felt overwhelmed with a warm sensation, though equally perplexed. She glanced over at Harry as the chatter began to lessen over the room. She wasn't surprised to see him blushing a bright color, a smile on his face as he scanned over the crowd. He looked... proud— nervous, but proud.
"Okay, okay, calm down!" Ginny was shoving through the crowd and moved towards them. She had a trickle of blood on her forearms and neck. She gave Hermione a reassuring smile that she was fine, squeezing her arm once and then moved to embrace Harry. She heard her mumbling to him, 'I'm glad you're okay.' Harry squeezed her back and they pulled apart.
"How's Pansy?" Hermione asked her.
"Still with Pomfrey. Daphne stayed with her. Blaise and I had to brief McGonagall that you were on your way so she could adjust the wards for Malfoy... you know, since he ahh..." Ginny trailed off, but Hermione nodded quickly to let her know she understood that she was referring to his Mark.
"They should be adjusted by the time they get here." Blaise added shoving through the crowd and moving to Ginny's side. "We just left Remus with the rest of the Order. He said Draco was conscious and Theo had everything handled when he left them."
Relief was only briefly felt as Hermione glanced behind him then, noticing a few new faces, though she knew Ginny had mentioned the recruitment of Slytherins, she was still shocked to see how many had chosen to join Dumbledore's Army at Blaises request. As if hearing her thoughts, Blaise smirked at her and shrugged.
"What can I say. I'm quite irresistible and very difficult to say no to."
Hermione laughed as she saw Ginny roll her eyes fondly at him, mumbling, 'tosser' as he shot Ginny a wink.
"Where's Ron?" Harry asked as he scanned the faces in the room. Hermione felt a pang of guilt for not have asking the same question.
"Mum said he went off with Fred and George, but I haven't seen them.We came straight here after telling them what happened at the safe house. "
Harry nodded, inhaling a deep breath. "Right."
"Tell us what you've been up to, Harry!" Anthony Goldstein called out. He was standing on something to see over the sea of people, gripping with one arm from a banister off the their left. "There've been rumors—"
"We've been keeping up with you on Potterwatch—" Another voice, Hermione thought sounded like Cho Chang, added as the others began to follow suit.
"You didn't really break into Gringotts, did you?"
"Heard you escaped on a dragon!"
"They did!" Neville boomed proudly over the group. Hermione was slightly taken aback at the presence he demanded among the group. Apparently he had become the choice to take lead in Harry's absence. It was another reminder to her that they had all grown up too fast, but she thought it suited Neville, this new confidence.
"What were you after?" Ernie asked.
Before any of them could ask another question, Hermione noticed Harry flinch, his eyes shutting as if he had just been burned, his fingers pressing to his forehead.
"Harry..." She moved closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder as he turned his back on the crowd to face her, leaning into her a bit for support. "Harry— what is it?"
"He's coming." He grunted out for only her to hear.
"Harry? You alright? Need a moment to sit— you're probably tired—"
"No." Harry said curtly. He looked at Hermione with a look that told him time was running out. He turned his attention to the room. "Hermione and I need to get going."
Hermione noticed all of their expressions fall, some growing confused as they glared at him.
"Well— where? What's the plan? What are we to do?" Someone asked, Hermione thought it was a Ravenclaw student but couldn't be sure.
"Plan?" Harry repeated, quite irritably, Hermione noticed. "I haven't— I'm not—"
"Harry..." Hermione said softly as he clenched his jaw tight. She could tell he was trying to suppress his frustration for needing to be so cryptic, but having little patience for how little time they both knew they had. She turned back to the sea of faces, watching them, she shared a glance with Ginny who simply nodded.
"Alright everyone just back off for as 'sec yea? Let him breath." Ginny was waving her hands at them and a few of the closer in the group began scattering backwards.
Once the others were of out hearing range, Hermione pulled Harry aside towards the portrait they had just come through.
"He's close. We have to figure out what it is were looking for and fast." Harry said in a hushed whisper to her. "We still haven't a way to destroy the cup either—"
"Actually we do." She whispered back. "Theo was meant to tell you back at the safe house, but I suppose things did get a bit out of hand—"
"Theo? Tell me what?"
"That the Basilisk is still in the Chamber, here in the castle. Meaning that all we need to do is—"
"—use the basilisk fang to destroy the cup! 'Mione! That's brilliant!"
"That's exactly what I said when Theo came up with it." Hermione felt her lips tug into a fond smile. "He said he remembered you telling him about it." She gave him an amused look, lifting one brow accusingly. "I wasn't aware you two were so well acquainted before."
There was a brief silence as Harry's graze drifted down to the space between them, she thought she saw color rising to his face but it faded just as quickly as he shrugged. She considered her friend for a moment and reached for his hand, squeezing it once.
"When did you know?" When he didn't respond she clarified. "I can tell you two care for one another, Harry. When did you know you?"
"Too late, I think." His response was almost to low for her to hear.
Harry considered her for a moment. He looked as if he was about to say more, but then there was a loud thump on the other side of the portrait and they both turned their attention to the muffled voices on the other side.
A moment later the portrait swung open and a very annoyed looking Dean Thomas shoved a very red faced Seamus through just before Hermione and Harry. Seamus stumbled a bit before turning around, lunging at whoever was behind Dean, but Dean, being slightly taller and broader in stature, was able to hold him back.
"Touchy subject, Finnegan?"
Hermione felt her heart swell at the familiar aristocratic teasing drawl. Theo. Though the swelling wasn't completely for Theo, but more of who she knew to be with him.
She noticed Harry straighten at the sound of his voice and take a step towards the portrait, but then seemed to think better of it.
"Let me at 'em Dean— I swear to Merlin I'm gonna kill 'em— I'm gonna—"
Dean stepped away from Seamus then, making the short tempered boy fall to the ground as he lost his balance.
"Ow my arse! — what the— HARRY!" Seamus shouted from his place on the floor once he realized why Dean was staring gobsmacked behind him. He shuffled to his feet, rubbing his backside, wincing slightly, but with a wicked grin directed at Harry.
Just then Theo shoved through the portrait, a slight smirk on his face as he winked at Seamus, "A sore arse— a bit of a familiar feeling for you, isn't it Finnegan?"
Dean had to pull Seamus back once more as he lunged forward, but Hermione hardly paid attention to the crude things the Irish boy was sprouting at Theo's back as Theo ignore him and turned towards the portrait.
The moment Hermione saw the familiar blur of blonde her feet were already moving of their own accord and she was replacing Theo as he steadied Draco, flinging her arms around his neck, unable to remove the smile from her face. He stumbled back slightly from the impact. She hadn't realized how much she was attempting to not think of the last time she saw him... the roaring fire behind him, Greyback lunging forward, her heart shattering —
"Draco..." She sighed into the crook of his neck as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. She could feel his face tucked into her curls, his lips curling into a smile by her ear.
"Miss me Granger?"
She laughed, wiping at the lone tear she hadn't realized had been shed and pulled back to look at him.
"I was so worried that—"
"I know." He said softly, "Me too."
She brought her hands to either side of his face. Although he seemed perfectly calm she could see the relief flooding behind his grey eyes as he peered into her own. She quickly began scanning him for more injuries, expecting to find the terrible result of what she knew Greyback could do, but beneath her fingertips through his blood stained shirt she only felt raised skin that had been patched together. He winced and she immediately pulled away, but his arms remained around her waist, keeping her there.
"I'm sorry—"
"Don't be. Just a bit tender is all. Lupin left Theo a rather quick working potion for me. Practically all healed."
She nodded, and realized he was still smiling down at her, his eyes roaming all over her face as if he hadn't seen her in years and was trying to find all the differences that time had caused. It was enough to make her go dizzy with desire and all she wanted to do in that moment was kiss him. To kiss him and remind them both that they were still alive— that they were together—
His mouth was slowly lowering to hers, as if he was thinking the same thing...
The sound of Theo clearing his throat clearing beside them forced her to jump in his arms. She turned quickly, stepping out of his embrace, forgetting they had an audience. Theo was smirking at them.
The entire room seemed to have gone quiet around them. Every person was watching them with mixed expressions of confused horror and disbelief. Hermione tucked a piece of hair behind her ear nervously, glancing over at Ginny who looked slightly mortified, but also trying to give her a reassuring smile.
It was then that Hermione realized that some of the students were glaring at Draco.
There were muffled whispers of:
'I can't believe it'
'She must be under some kind of bloody curse'
'What's he doing here?'
'He's one of them'
Harry moved to Hermione's side, standing slightly in front of Draco and Theo and she wondered if he realized what that defensive stance implied to the others or if he was simply demanding the attention of the room, having lost his patience. He was rubbing at his scar again.
"Look— there's something we've got to do and we haven't got a lot of time."
"What do you need us to do?" Neville asked quickly, ignoring the still shaken group of students.
Harry glanced over at Hermione wearily. She knew he was trying to make a decision on whether or not it would be best to be honest with them. She watched his gaze flicker behind her to where Theo stood before he turned back towards the rest of the group.
"Dumbledore left us with a task," he began carefully, "and we weren't meant to tell anyone—"
"Seems as though you've told Malfoy." Seamus countered. "How is it you'd trust a bloody Death Eater over us?"
Harry looked annoyed then, but thankfully Neville spoke up.
"We're his army. Dumbledore's Army. We're all in this together, Harry. We've been keeping it together while you lot have been off on your own—"
"Wasn't exactly a picnic, mate."
All eyes turned towards the back of the room at the new voice joining the conversation. Hermione watched as the crowd began to part down the middle. There, at the back of the room, stood Ron with a sheepish grin on his face directed at her and Harry.
"Ron!" She called as Fred and George and Luna entered the room just behind him.
She was torn with the emotions fumbling inside her at seeing Ron again. Relief, happiness, excitement, anger, confusion, bitterness— Her body seemed equally as perplexed as it tensed and hesitated to move forward. Ron wasn't rushing towards her either. She didn't know what to make of the entire situation; it felt foreign and so far from their normal comfort of friendship. There was a relief boiling within her and she hated to admit it, but it held a certain bitterness that couldn't be ignored.
"Hi everyone!" Luna said brightly. "It's great to have everyone together again!"
Ron was moving towards them and Hermione shoved away the feelings of betrayal long enough to pull him in for a tight hug. Despite everything, he was still Ron. He was still her best friend, and nothing could ever change that.
His embrace was stiff and ended quickly as he stepped back to give her a tight smile. He opened his mouth and then closed it. His brows pulled tight and then sprung up in an attempt to look unbothered.
"You— erm— You look well."
There was a slight tug in her chest as she gave him a smile back. "You too."
"I, um— I'm glad you two are safe." He added, glancing wearily over at Harry.
"Ron." Harry nodded stiffly at him.
If the room had been tense at the arrival of Draco and Theo moments earlier, it was only intensified now as they watched the three of them interact.
"And just where have you lot been off to?' Ginny asked her brothers. "What's that behind your back Fred?"
"Never mind you little sister. We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Wait til you see what we've been up to Harry old boy!" Fred said to Harry, easing the awkward tension slightly, as George added, "Yea...Those Death Eaters won't know what hit 'em!"
"Look—" Neville said sternly to Harry, causing the conversation to turn towards the matter at hand. "I never said it had been a picnic, but I don't see why you can't trust us. Everyone in this room's been fighting. Everyone in here is loyal to Dumbledore. To you."
"Of course we are!" Lee Jordan added. "Harry knows that Neville."
"So what's the plan Harry?" George asked.
"There isn't one." Harry responded.
"Just going to make it up as we go along, are we?" Fred said with a grin, jabbing his elbow against his twins and they both announced, "Our favorite kind."
Hermione could sense Harry growing more frustrated with the more people watching him, but then Ron was stepping forward to whisper something so only she and Harry could hear.
"You think there's a horcrux here, dont you?"
Hermione frowned at him, "How did you—"
"Luna told us you were coming back to search for something." He explained, he glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one could hear them and turned back. "Everyone can still help. They don't need to know it's a Horcrux if you don't want them to... but if we don't know where to look and You-Know-Who is planning to be here any second it can only help to have everyone know. Don't you think?"
Hermione found that she agreed with Ron. She watched as Harry glanced from Ron to her, and she nodded. "I think Ron's right. We don't exactly know what were looking for, we need them." Sensing that Harry was still unconvinced she lifted her gaze to where Theo stood knowing Harry would too and hoping she understood what she was implying without actually saying it— that they could trust others with this secret. She added softly, "You don't have to do everything alone, Harry."
They waited as Harry seemed to be considering it. After a long stretch of time he sighed.
"All right." He said softly to her and Ron and then turned to address everyone else, "Okay."
At once, all the murmuring and jokes from the twins ceased as they waited for Harry to speak again. Everyone looked alert... excited.
"There's something we need to find... something— something that will help us overthrow You-Know-Who. It's here at Hogwarts, but we aren't certain where. It might have belonged to Ravenclaw. Has anyone heard of an object like that?"
Hermione glanced to where Cho, Michael, Padma, and Terry were gathered, all Ravenclaws.
Luna stepped forward then, shoving gently past Dean and Seamus to talk to Harry.
"Well, there's her lost diadem. You know of it, don't you?" The blonde Ravenclaw turned to Theo then, who shifted uncomfortably as all eyes turned to him. "We discussed it in the dungeons, remember, Theo? The lost diadem of Ravenclaw? I told you of how Daddy's been trying to duplicate it."
"Yeah, the lost diadem..." Theo said striding forward, stopping on the other side of Harry, "...is lost, Luna. That's sort of the point, isn't it?"
"When was it lost?' Harry asked them.
"Centuries ago, they say," said Cho. "Professor Flitwick says the diadem vanished with Ravenclaw herself. People have looked, but..."
"Nobody's ever found a trace of it." Michael finished for her.
The look of disappointment flashed over everyone's face and Harry looked even more frustrated than before. His fingers pressing to his scar once more as he mumbled, 'of course they haven't...'
"What is it exactly? A diadem?" Ron asked nervously.
"Its a kind of crown," explained Terry Boot. "Ravenclaw's was supposed to have magical properties, enchanted the wisdom of the wearer."
"Yes!" Luna confirmed, "Daddy's Wrackspurt siphons—"
"Not sure that's relevant at the moment, Lovegood." Blaise whispered to her calmly.
Hermione was searching her brain for anything she may have missed, calculating everything they knew about Horcruxes, hoping something would ring off in her mind when she heard Draco clearing his throat behind them.
"Uh— Potter."
She turned to see him looking smaller than she ever had before. He had his arms folded over his chest and seemed to be very distinctly trying to avoid the heated glares coming his way from everyone in the room.
"I think I might have an idea where to find it."
"What?"
"I've— uh, I've seen it, or at least I think I have."
"Impossible!" Said Terry.
"He's lying!"
"What is he even doing here anyway?"
"Don't trust him!"
The voices continued to grow and Hermione was about to say something, but then she was struck speechless as Ron's voice roared over the rest.
"EVERYONE SHUT UP! LAY OFF 'EM, ALRIGHT?" Ron was glaring back at the group of now surprised faces. "Malfoy's here. He's trying to help, same as you lot. Not saying I like it anymore than you do, but were wasting time we don't have, yea?"
When Ron turned back around he just shrugged at Harry and Hermione, who were both openly blinking at him in utter amazement.
As if to heighten his point the castle seemed to vibrate and shake beneath their feet, and the hum of magic attempting to penetrate the barrier outside thundered through the air. Everyone became deathly still then.
"Where'd you think you saw it, Ferret?" Ron demanded, pulling everyone's attention back to the urgent more matter.
Draco grimaced at Ron but seemed to be grateful all the same.
"Here, actually."
"Didn't I just say were running out of time. Don't be so bloody cryptic—"
"I'm not. It was here. In this room, but while it was the Room of Hidden Things. I stumbled upon it last year when I was—" Draco glanced away and then at Harry rolling his eyes. "Well, you know."
"When you were hoarding in a group of Death Eaters, you mean?" Seamus mumbled for everyone to hear.
"You're certain it was the diadem?" Harry asked, ignoring Seamus. "No, but it's somewhere to start, unless you've got a better idea?'
Harry glanced around the room and then quickly turned to Ron when he came to a conclusion in his head. "Alright. Ron? We'll need everyone out, think you can take everyone to Remus and the others while we conjure the Room of Hidden Things? Check the castle along the way? Ravenclaw Tower, maybe? Just in case."
A large smile shot across Ron's face and Hermione thought Ron looked relived at having his best friend ask him for his help.
"Yea... Yea. I think I can manage it."
Harry shot him a friendly smile back. "I know you can."
Neville turned to everyone then and raised his arms out. "Looks like we've got a war to win! Whose with me?"
There was a loud outburst of cheering and clapping around the room. Some students jumping while others were raising their wands, a few sparks of light streaming upward.
"Well what are you fools waiting for?" Fred announced after him.
"Let's get out there or all the good Death Eaters'll be taken!" George shouted next.
The cheering continued as the twins and Neville began shuffling the others out. There were a few shouts back at Harry wishing him luck.
Ron turned to them as the last of the crowd cleared out. "What will you two be doing?"
"Hermione will be destroying the one we've got while Malfoy and I search for the other." At the mention of Malfoy Ron frowned slightly, and Harry added, "He's already seen it, Ron. He knows what to look for."
Hermione felt a heavy arm flung across her shoulder then and glanced up to see Theo smirking down at her.
"I already know what you're going to ask and the answer is: Yes, but of course, my dearest Granger, I would love nothing more than to accompany you to the deep and dark creepy place that hosts the rotten corpse we seek to destroy that treacherous bit of Dick Lord's soul."
Hermione couldn't stop herself from grinning as she rolled her eyes fondly at Theo. She looked over to see Ron's brow pulled as he regarded the long lean arm draped over her shoulder.
"He's surpassingly resourceful and not entirely as absurd as he'd want you to believe." She explained.
Theo smirked winningly down at her. "I'll take that as a conformation of my accompanying you then."
"It's only fair I suppose." She sighed.
"Deep dark creepy place?' Ron asked.
"Chamber of Secrets. We need the fang of the Basilisk to destroy the cup we found at Gringotts." Harry explained and then shot a glance at Theo, there was a small twitch of his lips."And Mione's right— she'll be safe with Theo."
She swore she felt Theo's arm tense around her and his pulse quicken as Harry's eyes lingered on him.
"Alright..." Ron nodded. He scratched at the back of his neck and glanced around at the four of them. "Just be careful alright? I'd offer to come along, but mum's having a fit over Ginny wanting to fight. I promised her I wouldn't let her leave my side."
"We'll come join you soon as we can." Harry promised.
There was a short pause and then Harry lunged forward to pull Ron into a tight embrace. Hermione smiled as she watched Ron seem to sag with a bit of relief and hugged him back.
She thought she heard Draco mumble something along the lines of 'for fuck's sake Potter we haven't the time' as Theo nudged him saying 'why don't you ever hug me like that?'
Harry and Ron shared a few muffled apologizes and then Ron was shoving him backwards.
"Alright. Alright, you sap— enough already."
Harry laughed and stepped back.
"See you soon then?" Ron asked.
Harry hesitated and Hermione saw the flickering of something in Harry's expression, as if he was forcing himself to not say something. Out of the corner of her eye even Draco's shoulders seemed to fall slightly as he dropped his annoyed glare on the two.
"Yea..." Harry forced out, nodding. "Yea, see you soon."
Ron glanced over at Hermione and reached for her hand, squeezing it once.
"Be careful, Ron."
"You too." He released her hand.
"You coming Ron?!" Neville called from the door, waiting.
"Good luck." Ron gave them both one quick smile and turned to leave.
It was clear, as the four of them stepped back into the corridor upstairs, that in the minutes that they had spent in the Room of Requirement the situation within the castle had begun to take a turn: the walls and ceiling were shaking worse than ever; dust filled the air, and through the nearest window, Harry saw a burst of green and yellow lights so close to the foot of the castle that he knew the Death Eaters must be working relentlessly to penetrate the enchanted barrier.
"If we don't find you in the courtyard with the others after we destroy the cup we'll come look for you both here." Hermione was saying as she pulled Harry in for a tight gripping hug.
Harry nodded at her and then she was being pulled into Draco's arms. Harry quickly adverted his gaze, struggling to ignore the sound of her surprised gasp of delight as Draco began lowering his lips to hers.
Harry turned away, shuffling a few steps away and glanced over to find Theo watching him.
Harry wanted to say something. He wanted to reach out to him the way Draco had just done with Hermione—
He couldn't.
Could he?
It had been painful enough to lie to Ron moments ago... he wasn't sure he could do it again. He knew it was best to hide the truth from Ron, to protect him from knowing that 'No, Ron, I don't think I will be seeing him soon...'
But then again, Theo wasn't Ron. Theo wouldn't want Harry to protect him, to comfort him with lies... not anymore... maybe before—
Before— when what they had was only a cherished secret they kept only for themselves, a secret that had meant much more than either of them were willing to admit—
Before— when Theo would look at him much like he was now... because hadn't he always looked at him like this, but only now could Harry understand what that look meant?— The look that Theo so often gave him when they would spend those rare evenings not talking, but just existing next to one another— draining the other of comfort without acknowledging it— and right now...
Right now, Theo was staring at him the way he would on those quiet evenings... on the nights where he understood that Harry couldn't talk because things were too heavy and he just needed an escape from it all... It was on those nights he would give Harry this look, and with that one look it was as if Theo was absorbing whatever emotion Harry leaked into the atmosphere, tucking it away, hiding it in the hallows of his own bones where it could never bother him again—
—with that one look Theo was offering to bear it all...
Harry cursed himself for never recognizing this before, for being so selfish, so blind— that while Theo's bones were laced with his own grief, terror and pain, that Theo was still desperate to rid Harry of his — selflessly willing to carry it so he wouldn't have to— as if he would rather drown under the weight of their combined pain than have Harry feel an ounce of it at all.
All this time while Harry struggled to protect everyone else, Theo only ever wanted to protect him; an impossible task, Harry knew this... if only he had realized it sooner he could have spared Theo from believing he could. But he also knew it was too late because Theo was looking at him still... offering... and Harry knew the damage was done.
The damage was done.
Harry knew before the nights end that his love for Harry would destroy him.
Harry wondered why he was surprised to find the Fates capable of such cruelty. He was the last person who should expect anything less. But even so... even if all that he and Theo had was a cruel glance of everything that could be, he knew— Harry knew — he would have gladly done it all again if it meant knowing the person standing before him now. He would take the cruelty of them over never having Theo look at him the way he was now.
Harry took a step forward.
"Theo, I—"
There was a loud sound coming from the lower floors within the castle, forcing Harrys attention back to the present. A loud cracking noise echoed through the air.
"Meet you back here in one hour." He heard Draco confirming quietly against Hermione's lips and then she was stepping back. She gave Harry one more quick glance, murmuring, 'be safe', before reaching for Theo and pulling him along with her. Theo staggered backward, brow furrowed as he regarded Harry, and then turned to join her at a jog, glancing back at him only once before they disappeared around the corner.
Harry inhaled a deep breath, shaking himself into focus and realized Draco had begun pacing in front of him with his eyes shut, summoning the Room of Hidden Things.
The feeling of his scar pulsing distracted him from his previous thoughts, and he quickly tries to ignore it. He knows Voldemort is approaching. There is a glow from the enchanted dome coming from the window down the hall, and below Harry can hear the clashing sounds of the castle's suits of armor marching towards the courtyard, sounds of rushing footsteps as students and teachers position themselves for battle—
Just as the door to the Room appears Harry and Draco both freeze. A hushed vicious whisper creeps into the air around them, forcing them to listen; a voice both Harry and Draco know intimately.
"I know that you are preparing to fight..."
As Voldemort's voice hissed all around them, the sound of screams echoed from deep within the castle. Draco moved quickly then, springing into action. He shoved Harry inside the carnivorous and cluttered room.
"This way." He told Harry and they both darted forward searching maniacally as the voice continued to invade their senses.
"Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood."
As the door to the room closed behind them the sounds of the battlegrounds outside were silenced, the kind of silence that presses in on you from all sides, that seems unavoidable no matter where you turn, the voice slithering within it felt deafening...
"Give me Harry Potter..." Voldemort continued. "Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded... You have until midnight."
Harry forced his mind to focus on the task at hand, knowing that the quicker they found and destroyed the diadem Voldemort would get exactly wanted, Harry would give himself over. Harry wondered briefly if he should turn himself over now and save everyone the trouble of having to fight at all. He wondered if Malfoy was thinking the same thing as Draco had suddenly stopped, causing Harry to almost bump into the back of him.
"Hello darling Nephew."
Harry's attention jolted to the right where a cackling laugh echoed around them. He knew that laugh, but as Draco and Harry moved into a defensive stance, back to to back, wands at the ready, glancing frantically around the cluttered towers of mess, they saw no one.
"... or should I say traitor?"
The black outline of a figure approached them though it was far too tall and broad to be the source of the feminine voice that continued to cackle around the room.
Another figure approached them from their left and finally a third, the wild raven colored hair that belonged to the witch who was speaking came into view.
Bellatrix.
"Ready Freddie?"
"Ready Georgie!"
Neville heard the twins conversing behind him as he headed to the other end of the bridge towards the large group of Snatchers awaiting for the enchanted dome to dissolve. Ginny, Blaise, Luna, Parma, Nigel, Ernie and Cho were stationed on the opposite end, awaiting any Snatchers that may get through once the barrier drops. They had just watched several of Voldemort's army evaporate after attempting to penetrate the barrier and Neville felt his heart humming in his ears, lungs, and chest on a fast repeated loop with each step forward. Just beyond the castle Neville could see the large flames roaring in the distant night sky, the quidditch pitch set ablaze with fire. He turned his gaze back down to the large group of Snatchers as one lone ember began to descend. The wizard standing in front, leading the large pack, was watching it wearily.
Neville sent a nervous glance across the bridge behind him. He saw Seamus kneeled down next to Fred and George, a mischievous grin spreading over his features as he lifted his thumb into the air, signaling to him that they were ready. Neville lifted his wand and placed the last of the explosion packets that Seamus had invented on the ledge of the bridge at its entrance.
The Snatcher in the front was slowly lifting his foot, testing our the barrier enchantment and when his foot touched the earth one stride in front of him he slowly lifted his gaze to Neville's. A slow smirk crossed his dirty face and Neville felt his heart fall into his stomach.
"Here we go." He mumbled to himself and lifted his wand just as quickly, sending a jolt of stinging magic at the wizard before retreating backwards.
"AGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The yelling erupted into the night air as the massive army rushed forward. The front man lunged towards Neville, who had begun sending several hexes there way as he sprinted across the bridge.
His lungs burned as he pushed himself to run faster, dodging the bright spells shot his way. The bridge above him crumbled and he knew a sharp piece of wood had lodged itself into his right shoulder. He hardly registered the pain as adrenaline shot through him, forcing him onward. The sound of a loud explosive went off behind him. He glanced up and saw Fred, George and Seamus activating the explosion packets and shielding him from the Snatchers hexes as he raced forward.
"Neville!"
"HURRY!"
The bridge was crumbling behind him and he felt his footing begin to sink. With one last lunge forward he shot a rope from the end of his wand, pleading that one of his friends latched on to it in time. He was falling with the rubble of the bridge around him, gripping desperately to the end of the rope when he felt his body yank to a stop. He could hardly catch his breath as he tilted his head up, but a soft laugh escaped his tightening chest when he saw Fred and George smiling down at him as they tugged at the opposite end of the rope.
"Well, that went well." Neville croaked out, giving them a gin as he flopped on the solid surface again. "Quick reflexes, boys."
"Well?' Seamus asked with far too much excitement in his eyes, black char from the explosion covering his cheek. "That was bloody brilliant!"
"More than brilliant." George offered.
"Yea, more like mental." Fred added, lifting Neville to his feet by the elbow. "Quick thinking with the rope, mate."
Neville was about to respond when he felt someone's arms wrapping around his torso, slightly knocking him out of breath was more, though this time with the pleasant addition of long soft blonde hair getting caught in his fingers.
"That was so brave, Neville." Luna said beaming up at him. She lifted herself on her toes and planted a firm kiss to his lips. "I've wanted to do that for awhile now. Now seemed a good a time as any, don't you think?"
Neville was blinking at her as if she had just sprouted out another head. He may have heard Fred and George making an inappropriate comment and Ginny giggling, but hardly bothered with acknowledging them. Instead he lowered his mouth the Luna's again, savoring the softness to her lower lip between his. When he pulled away he found her blinking much like he was moments ago, a large smile formed on his mouth as a warmth he hadn't ever known to exist spread down his body.
"Yea," He breathed out nervously, "Yea, I think now is a good a time as any."
"For Christ's sake man, keep it in yer pants! We've got more Death Eaters to be rid of!" Seamus groaned.
"Takes down an entire army of Snatchers once and suddenly he's Casanova." Dean added with a wink at Neville.
"Casa-who?" Seamus asked.
"Muggle reference. He was a ladies man, basically. Totally hot."
Seamus frowned at Dean, "Wait— you, um— you think another guys hot?"
Dean just shrugged. "Yeah. I think loads of guys are attractive."
Ginny and Blaise shared an amused glance as they watched Seamus piece it slowly together in his head.
Fred and George moved to clasp both Seamus and Dean on the shoulder, guiding them back towards the castle as the others began to to do the same. The sounds of the battle drawing them back to reality.
Fred leaned in, glancing at the two boys, "Why don't you two just kiss already and stop pretending you're straight, yea?"
"What?" Seamus sputtered, "I'm not a—"
"Yes, you are." Dean said stopping to turn towards Seamus. He gripped his face between his hands and pulled Seamus in, latching his lips on his best friends and then pulled back a moment later to smile at him. "They're right and we may die so... well, now you know."
Seamus froze in shock, his face blushing red.
"Come on Lovebirds." Ginny called over her shoulder, rolling her eyes at her brothers who were now exchanging galleons on a bet they probably made in regards to said kisses that had just sprung out of no where.
Neville smiled at Luna and she reached for his hand, lacing her fingers with his. As they passed, Seamus glanced at Dean's hand and did the same. He lifted their intertwined fingers and gave Dean a nervous glance.
"Is this— uhh— is this what we're meant to be doin' then?"
Dean just laughed and began following after the others. Seamus smiled though, as Dean's fingers remained locked around his, gripping tighter the closer they got to the castle.
A/N: Yes, I know, it's been awhile. I have reasons. I won't bore you with them. Sorry if this chapter seems rushed (didn't have energy to edit or reread) But just know I am still here and still very much excited to share the rest of this story. Only a few chapters to go and still so many loose ends to tie up. Hope everyone is well :)