Disclosure Hp belongs to JKR. The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
The longest day 5
"What I am saying, is that I also love you." Henri concluded; and Draco definitely growled. Camellia barked once, thinking Draco was rude; she hoped Henri would be accepted; she wanted a friend. Sari made a strange sound, liking what Henri said.
"Okay," Hermione was all flustered, not knowing what to say. Henry winked at Draco who bared his teeth, duly ignored by everyone. The brothers smiled, thinking Draco would miss a good thing; the Malfoy Magic was a little like theirs, so they knew much.
Hermione wrote down:
- Extras = 1 for me, and 3 more, that makes: 4 souls. Running Total: 19 + 4 =23 Souls
Hermione smiled happily, looking at the new numbers.
"Henri, what are your sisters' names?" Hermione asked.
"Oui, Celine and Diane, we called them Cee and Dee, I teased them when they were little but the names stuck," he smiled wistfully.
Hermione nodded and added to the scroll.
Total of souls eligible – 23. To be rescued, providing they meet conditions and the portal judges them worthy.
23. Sirius- 23-1
22. Regulus- 22-1
21. Narcissa- 21-1
20. Marcel- 20-1
19. Cee- 19-1
18. Dee…
17. Severus
16. James
15. Lily
14. Remus
13. Tonks
12. My father
11. Cedric
10. Fred
9. Colin
8 Vince
7. Lovegood
6. Alastor- Moody
"The list has five more to go, Moody was killed by magic, if he is there. Let's leave it like that. I can think of others, but according to this we can leave extra spaces if we are prepared."
Henri couldn't stop smiling; he hoped she would accept him. Draco gave him evil looks non-stop, Henri smiled back. Draco was a good little wizard; okay a spoiled Malfoy but sweet; whatever happened to him?
After much arguing Rosier was added; he was Draco's cousin. He had been a Death Eater, 19 years old. Lucius chose him, saying Evan was like Draco, misguided yet not bad.
Hermione added
5. Rosier
"That leaves four, amazing, but of course, it depends of my decision." Hermione meant about accepting Henri. "We need to explain that everyone is a maybe."
Lucius, agreed, still planning to bring the journals. Hermione had suggested Dobby, however Lucius thought it might be better not to plan, he wasn't sure Dobby would be in such a place.
It was 11:19, and they started to work systematically. Henri excused himself, his eyes were closing, he went to a couch, pulled a cover from his satchel, covering his entire body and head. It was difficult to see someone there. Sari curled by his side and went to sleep. Hermione thought the dragon like, looked like a plush toys. Then Henri, uncovered, looking sleepy, woke her up, "Sari, sorry, but go and get my mother." Sari groaned but woke up, then disappeared.
L'roy spoke inside Lucius, I don't want that traitor demoness here. I might not renew my contract if she stays here. Draco is right, they should leave. Lucius ignored him as well.
Lucius was still planning to bring the journals. Hermione had suggested Dobby, however Lucius thought it might be better not to plan, he wasn't sure Dobby would be in such a place. It was 11:19, and they started to work systematically. Henri was out for now.
Draco whispered, "Hermione, do you like Henri?"
"Yeah; but what I like is how many we will be able to bring back. I love you." Hermione had decided; she must be crazy, but she liked Henri a lot. He said he would wait for closeness. She wondered what the Malfoy Magic was. Draco felt more at ease, maybe there could be perks.
So they started contacting people they sent the scrolls, via house-elf, and also owls. They sent send six owls, L'roy was staying at the home front.
Lucius had finished talking to Andromeda who promised to be there in half an hour and offered to talk to Molly and Arthur. Lucius dreaded the issue so he gladly deferred the duty to her. He had remembered Molly's brothers, and called Andromeda, who agreed it was a good idea. She would also take care of Evan, who was her first cousin. She still had mementos from him and could also represent the other Blacks. Lucius laughed, and decided this should be renamed the Black Mission. They had places left, Molly's brother could be brought, unless Hermione didn't accept Henri.
Harry and more
Next, they started with Floo calls, and the first to be reached was Harry, "Harry, do you remember that I was with Draco earlier?" Hermione asked.
"What are you doing at Malfoy's?" Was his grumpy answer.
She told him most of what had transpired, and was finally able to relate her tale, so far so good. But as soon as she mentioned the marriage part, Harry's eyes opened like angry saucers.
"My parents were happy the last I saw them, I'm not certain they would want to be rescued. You promised us that you would come back, whenever you felt we were adults. We are responsible adults and ready for you. How do you know this is not a Malfoy scheme to get in your knickers," he was being nasty and unnecessarily hurtful.
At hearing the tone that Potter used with their witch, Lucius came by the Floo, "Listen young man, we don't have any nefarious interest on Hermione; she is going to marry us; it is legal to do so. We are offering to rescue your parents; it is your call, but better give us some items of them. Thus, if they want to come with us, they will have the choice."
Harry's arms were crossed, seeming more than unhappy.
"I need to see you privately about Narcissa, if you decide not to assist us today, then come tomorrow; otherwise be here by 3:00 PM, with the items she asked for. She gave you two a fair chance that you threw it away. I'm not planning to follow your example." Lucius was firm; no need to tell him about Henri yet. He didn't want Harry to create problems.
Harry was subdued but still appeared upset. He recognized both Ron and he had been asses with Hermione. They had, frankly, let the witch slip between their fingers. He was ashamed to confess that he had listened to Ron, "Harry, she is a sure thing, while she is with us, she will not see anyone else. And when we have our fill of other witches, she is ours. It is a fail-safe plan."
He wanted to stay with his two beloved friends for the rest of his life. He had wanted Hermione since he was thirteen, well Hermione and many other witches. Sirius had warned him, and Remus had done the same , "Harry, she is going to be a beauty; and she is intelligent and a powerful witch. If we were her age, you wouldn't be able to keep us away from her; and she wants a triad even better."
He could hear their voices as if it were today, and did he listen? Of course not, he liked Ginny, she was popular and a Weasley, but she wasn't Hermione. Sirius had been right; the Malfoys had recognized her value, and wanted to keep her.
"I will be there, but I cannot vouch for Ron. Thanks for thinking about me. And Malfoy, bonding is not marriage; until the day you marry she is up for grabs." Harry smiled smugly.
"If she doesn't marry us, all the rescued will fade away within two weeks, that would be a cruel deed, don't you think?" Draco ran to tell Harry his piece, and after that, Harry closed the connection.
Luna was next, "Hermione, this is a dream come true, do you really mean it? My father is in a trip to Tibet. He is conducting a seminary about the rare magical creatures in the area. Imagine him, when he comes next week and finds my mother here. Oh Hermione, I hope this is not a dream. I will be there as soon as I can get a couple of my mother's things, how exciting."
Lucius smiled, this was wonderful. His with witch's face glowed.
Then he decided to talk to Arthur, who was overjoyed. Lucius had asked him to be secretive with the Ministry, and he assured him it wasn't even a problem. "Ah, bring something from the Prewett brothers; we don't know who is actually there, and who would not want to come back."
"Lucius, I am uncertain as to how Molly will handle your relationship with Hermione. She has her heart set for one of our sons to marry her. Maybe I will bring George, and Bill, and also Charlie who is here now, and we will surprise Molly later. I was friends with both her brothers. I also have access to lists of the fallen, with pictures of them. If you are going in, and some are not available, you should be ready bring some other names in the order I list them.. I will help you with that." Arthur offered. "Ah, but you might have other choices of your own."
"I am afraid that most of the people I knew and died as a result of Magic, wouldn't qualify for coming back, yet I am not a judge." Lucius appeared sad. He was thinking about cousins that had died during the first war. They were young, yet they had died while doing some awful deeds. However, he would see what he could find.
By the time they finished contacting others, it was nearly two P.M., or 14:00, "We need to eat, to gather all the materials, and must be at the room to prepare it for the pre-rituals. We will not be able to get started until 7 or 8 tonight. It might not give us enough time, to gather all the people inside the veil."
Hermione and Draco made a disgusted sound, they needed a break, and Lucius was a tyrant. "Why is it that Henri cannot get up and help." Draco grumbled.
"He will, he said give him a couple of hours." Lucius was exasperated. "Let's go."
As they were preparing to leave, the Floo activated.
Family Matters
The face of Rodolphus Lestrange showed upside down. "Brother, may I come in? I am in great danger, and this is not a trick. The woman who came to your home, was neither Narcissa, nor Bellatrix; instead was a sort of Gollum with her soul inside. Sorry, her body waited nearby; she is alive. Please let me come and explain. You are also in mortal danger, and Rabastan is missing; I suspect she is using him as a hostage. I am with Miriam."
"Who is Miriam," Draco whispered.
"His niece, who has been hiding with the older Lestrange since she was born. I am not even sure how to tell you this," Lucius was considerably pale and now appeared tired and upset.
"Figure it out, I am sure I won't like it, but I am also sure, I need to know." Draco has lost any traces of the playful wizard. Hermione was reminded of the nasty snake who had made her life hell; this Draco she disliked. This day was not going well. Now she wanted Henri to wake up. She didn't want to change her mind.
"Come in and throw your wands when you come in." Lucius ordered, turning his face to look at Draco and Hermione, "Things couldn't get any worse. I suspect one or two of you, are not going to be happy."
Draco did a double take when Rodolphus and Miriam came in. This was a perfect double of— nah impossible. Or maybe, it could be, except with the Lestrange almost violet color eyes, and their strange multi-color hair, very wild. His stomach did a flip, and Hermione, seeing how upset he was, gave Lucius a crossed look. Lucius in turn, shrugged his shoulder. He wanted Henri to wake up; he needed his help. Henry was like Marcel, a level headed Malfoy, almost. No such thing as that, he was a Malfoy nevertheless, whatever.
"I told you so," Lucius said to no-one in particular. As for Miriam, the young witch, she was petite, as most of Lestrange females. Besides she was a rarity as well, not many females in the Lestrange line. It usually happened if they only had one father, which was almost never the case. Their last name, meaning the strange ones, suited them quite well.
Miriam, appraised Draco up and down, stuck up her chin up, and looked the other way, crossing her arms.
"So for that despicable colorless worm, for that sorry nothing spoiled brat, I was denied a mother my entire life?" She asked Rodolphus reproachfully.
"I am sorry darling, she was afraid her father would throw her out, and Lucius wouldn't marry her." Rodolphus answered, while the other three people watched the interchange.
"Woo, stop there. I want to know what is going on here. Father, Uncle? Anyone here cares to elaborate?" Draco asked, while Camellia and L'roy watched the tempers rising.
In cue both backed up to one corner. They had shared enough fun for one day, and things were bound to get worse. L'roy wanted a biscuit and communicated that to Camellia, and, cowardly, both vanished out the room to look for nourishment. Let's go my dear demoness. I know where your mum hides the goodies; I know you know the ward and can open the jar. Let's go before that nasty Sari comes back; she is a glutton of goodies and males. I should know. L'roy prompted Camellia.
Miriam Lestrange and Old Secrets
"Let's all sit down." Lucius invited the newcomers to take a seat.
"I don't want to sit, I will stand," the newcomer witch stated, Hermione had just noticed the witch's lavish attire. She had robes made out soft wool, embroidered with Celtic designs, and the gold jewelry matched the main knots. She was also made-up as if she were going to a ball; she glided along with a cloud of expensive perfume around her.
"Firstly, who are you calling a worm, and, secondly, who the hell is your mother. And pray tell where is the party," Draco asked, she annoyed him. Why is she so made up before lunch? Draco thought. "And lastly, what is up with the claws?"
He hated long nails; the new witch's nails were naturally very long and painted extra bright red, matching her lips. Hermione thought she was very beautiful, making her feel under-dressed and under-made up. She snickered thinking about the witches she had often seen with Draco, with war-paint, ready to kill, as early as breakfast. He was acting very hostile, and she had the feeling she knew why.
"Don't be ridiculous nasty slug; this is my normal attire; I like to look my best, not like that witch next to you who could use some serious upkeep. However, I hope she isn't wasting her time with you; she is too good for you, even in her rundown state." She seemed to think better about insulting Hermione.
She took at appraising look at Hermione, "I will teach you how to look your best, you could even look better than I do. Why waste your time in that, that..." Miriam was still standing, her arms crossed, behaving like she had stepped on something disgusting.
That did it. "Out, out of my home, now, I don't care if a demon is waiting for you to have you for midday snack; I hope one is. Get out of our property at this very instance, or I will have to use force. Father, do ask that witch to leave." Draco held his wand, acting his part as the former Slytherin prince, hauteur and venom pouring out his pores.
Hermione didn't like this Draco and wished him gone; she considered Henri and dropping Draco. Maybe the Slytherin prince was just hiding under a façade.
"Time out, and you, Miriam, also be still, sit by your uncle." Lucius commanded. He was getting one of his migraines; he started pressing his thumbs by his nose bridge. Henri needed to wake up. If anyone could keep Draco in check was Henri; when Draco was little, he followed Henri, and Henri was his hero. Henri knew how to do with Draco. Hermione saw Lucius's stress and wanted to go by his side, away from Draco. Now, she wasn't so sure about Draco.
The two brothers, Drexel and Axiom, just stood there, watching the exchange, what was with females? Both wondered at the same time. It was a good thing they could stay six months away, except for missing the marital bed, and the children, which was the hardest part. Though, the display here made them cringe, and be glad they were spared such joys.
Rodolphus seemed reluctant to appease the young witch; he wasn't good with young people; and much less with the feisty female who had been raised by doting grandparents, who let her have her way her entire life. She had two loves, shopping in all the big cities and cooking.
She was a fantastic, temperamental chef, whose dream was to open a restaurant for magic customers, liked to make potions, and dabbled in the Dark arts. A mention of a marriage contract had left many with headaches for days, making her happy this was the case.
Lucius stood up, "Everyone is going to keep their mouths closed, and I am going to tell you what I know. Afterwards, Rodolphus is going to explain what is going on here, and why he has come and claimed sanctuary, and why I should grant him asylum." He turned towards the brothers.
"Drexel, double up the defenses around the perimeter."
"Sir the Portkey to the Manor takes nearly eight hours," Drexel remind him.
"Right, then, Axiom, you need to fly to the Ministry to see Mr. Weasley, privately. Take one of the Malfoy Manor seals for identification. Tell Weasley to here as early as they can come. You can go and pick them up whenever they are ready; make sure you wear the concealments. Ask him to alert Diggory of our present situation. Then stop by Grimmauld 12. You must explain to Mr. Potter that plans have changed; he needs to be here as soon as he can. Don't use the Floo for now." Lucius commanded
Lucius had realized that if Rodolphus was there, they would need to be prepared. This would be the longest day of his life. And his desire for Hermione was increasing exponentially, making his ability to make informed decisions more difficult. All he could think was of her; his body was becoming slow and heavy. He needed a potion, but which?
It had crossed his mind to wait till the next solstice to be able to better plan, but he imagined the portal wouldn't abate the compulsions, and harnessing their desires would be impossible. Lucius thought it would be good, if told everyone what he knew.