"Fair enough. But what do I tell Harry? And can you subtly let Ron know that Harry has no idea what I'm putting in his trunk, that he won't find out until he gets wherever he's going?" Hermione asked.
"I can do that." Fleur said. "I'm going to the Burrow for lunch tomorrow, with Molly and Ginevra in St. Mungo's, I'll be doing the groceries for the house, as heaven knows, none of them seem to know how."
"Evening, Harry." Hermione grinned as she entered Harry's interview room.
"Hermione? I didn't think you were coming in today?" Harry blinked at his friend.
"I wasn't planning on it, but…" She held up a hand holding an envelope. "Headley asked me to bring you this." Dudley had taken Harry's offer to change his name and decided on Headley Evans-Potter.
"What's it say?"
"I don't know, Harry, I don't read other people's mail." Hermione answered.
Harry just looked at her before raising an eyebrow in question.
"Don't say a word, Harry Potter." Hermione glared at him.
Harry just smirked at her.
"Oh, shut it, Potter." She huffed, dropped the letter on the table and stalked into the attached bathroom.
Seconds after she'd closed the door there was a tapping from the main DMLE hall door.
"Come in." Harry called, wondering what was going on, he didn't usually get other visitors in the evenings or when Hermione was present. Trainee Laurence opened the door a crack and looked in.
"Mr Potter? A Mr Neville Longbottom is requesting to speak to you and Miss Granger, urgently. Will you-" The trainee began, only to be cut off.
"Yes, of course. Let him in." Harry told the trainee.
"Yes, sir." Laurence opened the door and Neville walked in. A Neville dressed in formal day robes.
"Neville? Hermione's in the loo, she won't be long. What's up?"
"Hello, Harry." Neville gave him a tight smile, as Hermione re-entered the room, obviously having heard Harry speak to Laurence and then to Neville.
"Neville? You alright?" She asked.
Neville visibly grit his teeth before answering. "This last week, the ICW declared that any of us that fought at Hogwarts could take our OWLs or NEWTs, take just the practical exams and they would mark that as our complete assessment. Some of us did it, some didn't. I did. I got six NEWTs."
"Congratulations." Harry smiled at his dormmate.
"The scores were sent out and I got mine this morning." Neville's words were bitten off, it was clear that he was angry about something. "Seeing that I passed, gran decided that, as I was of age and had my NEWTs, she would take me to Gringotts to petition for me to claim the head of house Longbottom position. I put the rings on, like the goblins told me to and claimed control of the estate and the family. We'd barely got home before gran told me it was time to let my parents go, that she'd only been keeping them alive until I'd left Hogwarts."
"Oh, Neville…" Hermione whispered.
"She said there was a potion that would send them to sleep and let them die quietly." Neville snarled. "I… I exploded. I destroyed half the parlour before sending her to her rooms and telling the house elves that she was to have no further contact with anyone outside the manor, today. Then I apparated to at Mungo's. They were waiting for me, but they thought I was going to go ahead with gran's plan. I bluntly informed them that I would be removing my parents and making sure that the only Longbottom that St. Mungo's would ever treat again would be Lady Augusta. That I didn't trust the hospital to do the right thing by my family."
"Hrrr…" The sound that came from Harry was a very animalistic noise, the growl of an angry animal.
"Hermione? I am here to formally request sanctuary in Hedwig's Nest." Neville asked.
"Say what? Hedwig's what?" Harry asked.
"Hermione's built a refuge for some of the… uh…" Neville trailed off, unsure exactly what to say.
"For people like Moony." Hermione finished for him. "I took what you gave me and used it to protect people that Umbitch and her cronies want to put down like animals. It's completely out of the Ministry's jurisdiction, they have no authority there at all. The Order's new leader was the one to suggest it. A couple of survivors from the battle, had been bitten, so far, they haven't shifted but that could be because Madam Pomfrey and Miss Sissy kept them so heavily sedated over the full moon, that the only thing they were capable of, was breathing. Some of their injuries were that bad." Hermione let Harry think that this was an island or a piece of property outside of Britain and the British Ministry's control, not a pocket-space in a trunk.
"Oh, okay…" Harry's head wobbled slightly as he tried to control his emotions. He didn't need to destroy the DMLE, he had to live here for another week, yet.
"And of course, you may, Neville." Hermione huffed. "I don't know why you thought you even had to ask. You've been working alongside those that are going to live there, you've put in as much effort as any of us. Why you thought I would deny you a home there, I just don't know."
"I didn't, Hermione, but I wanted to make it formal." Neville let some of the tension leave his shoulders.
"Oh, okay, that's good, then." Hermione shook her head. "Would you like me to ask Miss Sissy to move in now? She and her son did offer but I hadn't made a decision yet."
"I'd like that very much. I told St. Mungo's that I'd be back inside the hour and that they weren't to give my parents any more potions, food or drink, while they were preparing them for transportation. And that Luna and Bill Weasley would be monitoring the hospital's actions. If the staff did anything that I don't approve of, I would see that the hospital's reputation was completely and utterly destroyed." Neville's snarl was returning.
"Right." Hermione pulled out her wand and cast a Patronus. "Message to Miss Sissy." The ruffled, not-so-sleek otter nodded. "Miss Sissy? It's time. Please?" Hermione's voice was younger and sounded much more scared.
"Hermione?" Harry's raised brows made the question clear.
"Missy Sissy's husband is abusive, Harry, she's had enough and is taking my offer of a new place to live, but we were waiting until next week to act. This idea was created as a cover for her and her son. It means that I can call for her at any time, and her husband will be under the impression that she's tending to a very young pregnant girl. So, if I call, like I just did, and her husband is present, he won't be suspicious of her leaving, thinking it's just another medical house-call." Hermione replied.
"And what about her son?" Harry asked.
"He'll be along in an hour or two, that's the plan. He'll pack up the last of their things before he leaves." She answered.
Harry nodded. "Good plan, sneaky."
Neville laughed and Hermione blushed.
"What…?" Harry turned his head to look at them, slightly side-on.
"Hermione was muttering about our D.A. ʛalleons and having to recreate them, when Draco Malfoy asked what the problem was. She told him and he hummed and then told her to pretend she was a Death-Eater victim and was pregnant as a result. Miss Sissy's husband would back off instantly, if he heard that." Neville was still trying not to laugh. "And 'cause Malfoy is the only Death-Eater that wouldn't have done that, given half a chance… since then, a few of the refugees have taken to calling Hermione, Mrs Malfoy."
"…oh, okay, then…." Harry's eyes widened and his jaw fell slightly.
"Neville, so help me, if you don't shut up, I'm going to hex you pink for a week." Hermione ground out.
"I'm going, I'm going. Where should we meet you?" Neville chuckled.
"Have you got your expanded trunk with you?" Hermione asked.
"Of course, I don't leave it anywhere." Neville answered.
"Put your parents in there and meet me at… um… how does the shrieking shack sound? I'll have Miss Sissy with me, and I can transport you from there."
"Sounds fine by me." Neville nodded and approached Harry. "You'll be missed here, Harry, don't doubt that for one second." He hugged the man and stepped back. "See you." And left the room.
"If you're meeting this Miss Sissy, you'd better get a move on, too, Hermione. Let me know how everything goes, please?" Harry asked.
"I will." Hermione hugged Harry and followed Neville out the door.
Some hundred-odd miles to the west, in a handsome manor house in Wiltshire, a ruffled otter Patronus appeared in the dining room.
"Miss Sissy? It's time. Please?" It spoke with the voice of a scared young woman.
"Oh dear… she's early." Narcissa Malfoy nee Black sighed.
"Narcissa?" Lucius Malfoy's voice was full of warning.
"One of the idiots messed up. A girl got pregnant, I'm not sure whether it's Rabastan's or Rodolphus', but neither of them cared about precautions." Narcissa sighed, telling Lucius the cover that Draco and Hermione had decided upon. It helped that it was partially the truth, just that the girl who had actually gotten pregnant had committed suicide when she realised what had happened.
"Ah. And you're helping her. Out of the goodness of your heart? Or to promote our public reputation?" Lucius wanted to know which it was.
"No, Lucius, neither. I'm helping her because the child should have been my sister's and that is what Draco suggested we pass the child off as. A blood adoption and a few aging potions and it would be old enough to be Bella's. Trying to protect my mentally damaged sister is an excellent cover for why we were at Hogwarts that day. And it would stand to reason that I would take in her child and raise it as my own, it would also garner sympathy from those that lost family to the war." Narcissa replied, holding onto her calm by the slimmest of margins.
"And now she's gone into labour?" Lucius asked.
"Whether she has or not, I won't know until I examine her, but if she has, she's early, by nearly a week."
"I see… Well, you had best your things together and see to her. We shall not expect you back until we see you, my dear." Lucius didn't care how long she took, he was already planning on spending whatever time he could, in his 'research' chamber in the outer dungeons. He had a lovely little muggle girl to 'study', Narcissa being away would give him hours to play with the pretty young thing.
"As you say." Narcissa stood and left the room.
"Draco? What will you be doing while your mother is busy?" Lucius asked, frowning at his son, of late the young man had become rash and headstrong, it was time to put an end to that. When Narcissa brought the infant home, Lucius would re-educate his son, if the babe was a boy, it might be easier to simply cut his losses and prune the family tree. He'd have to think on it a little more.
"Mother asked me to search the attics, she believes there's a portrait of her great-grandparents Black." Draco answered.
"And what do you get from looking?" Draco wouldn't have volunteered without a reason.
"I shall be godfather to the newest arrival." Draco shrugged. That didn't mean this imaginary baby, but Headley Evans-Potter.
"You knew of the child?" Lucius brows rose.
"I was the one to who found her, I was the one to tell her she didn't have to keep it, I put her in contact with mother." The younger sipped at his wine. "I had seen what they'd done to her, in the initial attack. Finding her pregnant, I had actually thought Aunt Bella might adopt the child and raise it herself. Mother and Aunt Bella prepared the adoption potion, the babe only needs to be dosed and it would become Aunt Bella's natural child." That he'd also held the poor girl as she taken her last few breaths, had gutted him for weeks and was still affecting his sleep.
"Ah… well done. You see to your mother's search and I shall be in my research chamber for the next few hours. I would prefer that you not disturb me, until your mother returns." Lucius informed his son.
"As you wish, father. I'll send one of the elves, your research chamber is too cramped for my liking, the only time you've permitted me in it, I did not enjoy the experience." Draco admitted.
"Good, see that you stay out of it." Lucius patted his lips with his napkin and stood. He left the room and Draco waited patiently until he heard the door for the access tunnel to Lucius' 'research' chamber close.
The younger blonde knew he only had, at most, five minutes to act, the time it would take Lucius to get from the house, through the tunnel to the chamber, find the girl missing and get back to the house. After that it would be an exercise in frustration for the arrogant man. He stood and crossed the room in the hallway he approached the stair in time to see his mother descend.
"Please tell her that I will meet her where we first saw the shack at nine o'clock, mother." Draco requested. "I still have a number of things to see to."
"Of course, my dragon. Take my keys. Empty the vaults as best you can. Let's make this as difficult for Lucius as possible. I've also released all the elves. If you've 'turned', they'll still respond to you." Narcissa held out a delicate gold ring holding four Gringotts' keys.
"Certainly, mother." Draco gave his mother a light kiss on the cheek. "Stay safe." He begged.
"I will do my best." Narcissa nodded and headed for the transport room and its apparition point.
Draco pulled out the time turner that Hermione had given him and quickly sought out the isolated room he'd chosen as his 'turning' room. Once in the room, he turned the time turner back by one rotation. One hour would give him plenty of time to get started.
"Folly?" He made sure that the elf he called was not one that tended to he and his mother, after Lucius' 'lessons' under the cruciatus.
"Young master is calling Folly?" The elf appeared at his side.
"In father's 'research' chamber there is a young muggle girl. Remove her, obliviate her of her stay here and heal her as best you can. Then give her a blanket and deposit her in… hmm… let's say… Sheffield, in the entrance of a muggle hospital." Draco ordered. He knew that Lucius may discover him as the one to order her removal, but by then it would be too late.
Once that was done, he headed for his own rooms, he packed everything in them, right down to the furniture and even the rugs on the floor, knowing that his mother would have done the exact same thing within moments of Hermione's call. There was only one thing left to do.
The potion that Hermione wanted. He was discovering that, while it had initially been meant as a throwaway comment, he was fast coming to realise that he meant every word of it.
Her wish was his command.
"Pinny?" He called calmly.
"Young master calls Pinny." The youngest elf in the manor appeared with a quiet pop beside Draco.
"I did. In father's personal potions lab there is a cask labelled with the number five. Bring it to me."
"Yes, young master." The elf nodded and popped away, only to reappear in seconds with the cask which she laid at Draco's feet.
"Good. In the main study, in the top right drawer in the desk's lower sections, there is a decorative purple flask labelled with the same number, in the same handwriting. Bring to me." Draco gave what he believed to be his last order within the manor.
"Yes, master." The elf popped away and returned with the flask that Draco wanted.
"You may return to your duties." He waved the elf off.
"Yes, master." The elf vanished.
Draco took a deep breath, time to act. He slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a tiny box. A few taps of his wand enlarged the trunk. He stood it on its end and enlarged it even further. He tapped his wand against the lock and opened the lid/door before carefully placing the cask and the flask inside, on one of the shelves that lined the trunk's expanded interior, before taking up a broom that leant against the wall beside the trunk's entrance. Then he reversed his actions and re-pocketed the now small box.
He put on the glamour ring that he'd bought in Knockturn Alley and followed that with a carefully laid disillusionment charm and made his way to the room's small balcony before taking out the time turner. Seven turns and the room spun around him, when it settled, he mounted the broom and took to the air. He still had vaults to visit and (almost-)empty and a large wardrobe of clothes to collect from Twilfit and Tattings and only eight hours before he had to meet Hermione. Eight hours to make sure that he had everything on his and his mother's lists.
Nine o'clock and Draco walked the last few yards to the small clearing beside the gap in the fence that led to the shrieking shack. He paused at the sight of the young witch sitting on a rock, beside the fence.
"Good evening, Hermione." He called quietly and kept walking towards her.
She startled and looked up from the notes she was writing. "Good evening, Draco." She smiled at the blonde. "Your mother's already been, we had a… an unexpected development."
"Oh?" He came to a halt beside her rock.
"Neville claimed the Longbottom title this afternoon." She began.
"Ah…"
"No, that's not the issue. After doing that, his gran told him it was time to give his parents a potion that would let them die." Draco's eyes widened in shock. "As you can guess, that didn't go down well, I'm told the parlour was... significantly damaged. Neville removed his parents from St. Mungo's and formally asked for sanctuary in the Nest. He is on his way to Gringotts to empty the Longbottom vaults."
"Formally?" Draco's brows rose in surprise.
"Formally." Hermione nodded. "They're going with us. He's asked for your mother to attend them. I know it's a lot earlier than we agreed on but I'm really hoping you managed to get the rest of that de-aging potion."
"My dear Hermione." Draco smirked. "Of course, I did. It might be earlier than you expected but we did discuss the possibility and I recall saying that mother and I had a plan in place, that meant we would only require a few minutes to enact. You gave us those minutes and they in turn gave me eight hours. Thanks to a generously donated time turner." He held the little hourglass in front of her and waited until she accepted it. "For which I am very grateful. Eight hours was more than enough to finish off my few errands and empty the Malfoy vaults. The goblins were quite amused, and I think as a result of that, I got a better deal on gems than I may have, otherwise. Mother and I are as ready as we're ever going to get. Moving today is… There's less than seven days, now, before Potter enters the veil. Mother and I talked about it this afternoon, we reached the conclusion that we would have to disappear at least a few days prior, just to ward off suspicion. Realistically, we're probably only a day or two early, not the week you thought."
Hermione stared off into the distance while she thought about what Draco had said.
"You're right." She nodded. "I'll let the others know and get a schedule together."
"It doesn't matter so much about them, father's not going to rant at the Minister over them, he has no interest in them. The house wards are going to confuse him, the empty vaults are going to enrage him, but as Potter is sentenced to the veil and you have clearly stated your intentions to travel, neither of you will be of interest to him. Longbottom may be, just because of timing, but everyone else is working towards the reconstruction of Hogwarts. Father might question some of the staff, but as I won't be returning to Hogwarts after this, the last contact any of its residents will have had with me would be… yesterday lunch. I was helping Slughorn finish up the hospital's potion list." He smirked. "Father will be furious to know that he… was one of the last to see me."
Hermione's smirk matched his and the two shared a moment of pleasure at the thought of the man's reaction.
"Sweet…" Hermione sighed blissfully.
"Yes." Draco dragged his eyes from her face. "How do you plan to get me into the Nest? Aren't people still working on it?"
"They are, which is why, for the next few days, you won't actually be staying in the Nest. I created a trunk that is just a transition space. This is where the hidden refugees are staying."
"The hidden refugees, the ones that the public thinks are dead?" Draco blinked.
"Yes. You'll be staying with them, you'll be the first to know who they are. Your mother is in the trunk, yes, but she's so focused on Neville's parents that we haven't pushed their identities on her. I'm going to let you decide when she'll be ready to see them, once you know who they are." While she was talked Hermione retrieved a trunk and enlarged it.
"I don't like the sounds of this." Draco grimaced and turned to face the shack.
"No, I dare say you won't." A voice from the past said.
Draco spun around and saw a dead man.
"Sev…" Draco's eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped to the ground.
"Lovely." Snape drawled and flicked a wand to levitate the prone form into the air. "I shall see to Draco, Miss Granger, if you will pass the rejuvenation potion along to Narcissa? Once I retrieve it from his person."
"Of course, Professor." Hermione quickly followed the potions' Master and the floating blonde into the trunk.