Chapter Twelve

Into the Fire

Narcissa enveloped her little girl in a hug as soon as Harry had turned away. She let Adhara relax for as long as possible before pulling back and wiping her daughter's tears of frustration and nervousness away with her thumbs, smoothing her hands down Ada's face.

"Oh my darling girl. I wish I could give you more time."

"As do I, Mama. But as I told Draco earlier, I am ready because I have to be. The public image I am used to presenting as the daughter of the Drs. Granger should suffice for today, and we can work on polishing anything over the holiday breaks."

As she spoke, Adhara straightened her spine and let a mask of indifference fall over her features. She drew her wand and freshened her face with a gentle Tergeo before smiling at her parents and brother.

"Let's go blow the Wizarding World's mind."

Narcissa took Lucius' arm and Adhara took Draco's as the family of four walked down into the village.

The Malfoys were able to enter Honeydukes without being accosted. Adhara took this chance to share what her favourite Wizarding sweets were with her parents. Draco grabbed a large box of vanilla sugar quills for her and spirited them away for later that evening. They exited Honeydukes and headed towards Gladrags WizardWear when Hermione was stopped by Madame Umbridge.

"Miss Granger, what is the meaning of this?"

"Good morning Professor. May I introduce my twin sister, Adhara Hermione Narcissa Granger-Malfoy." Draco smoothly answered, his grip tightening slightly on Adhara's arm.

"Sister? Preposterous, Mr. Malfoy. I don't know how she did it but this Mudblood has you fooled." Umbridge sniffed, glaring at Adhara.

"Really now Dolores? If your opinion of my son is low enough that you believe he could be deceived, what does that say about your opinion of me as his father?" Lucius drawled, directing the pink toad's attention away from his children.

Umbridge spluttered in an attempt to answer him, but he continued over her.

"Or, is your opinion of Miss Granger so high that you think she is capable of having hoodwinked myself and my wife into believing that she is the daughter who was taken from us ten years ago? I assure you, Madame Undersecretary, that every precaution was taken to ensure the accuracy of the assignment that prompted Professor Snape to call us to the school at the beginning of the week. Miss Granger has consistently gotten the highest grades of her class, and you know that Professor Snape expects perfection out of his students. The truth of the matter is that the witch known as Hermione Granger is, in fact, my daughter Adhara," Lucius sneered, glaring down his nose at the woman.

"I . . . Lord Malfoy I meant no offense, of course. But this girl has continued to spread lies about the return of a certain Dark Wizard and is a known associate of Harry Potter."

"Whether or not you believe He is back is your prerogative."

Lucius released his wife and stepped into Umbridge's personal space, his voice lowering.

"I shall be speaking with the Minister about your medieval detention methods, Dolores. And you will learn how to 'respect your betters,'" He hissed, his eyes vowing retribution for the pain Adhara had endured at her hands.

Umbridge physically stepped back at the ferocity on Lucius's face, fear clearly written across her features. Narcissa stood behind the twins with a hand on the shoulder of each child. All three had hard looks on their faces, echoing their patriarch's. House Malfoy did not take kindly to those who had wronged them, and Dolores Umbridge would feel the full effect of their power.

She scurried away, not once looking back. Adhara clutched Draco's arm like a lifeline. Narcissa ushered them all into Gladrags and told the boys to sit before she took Adhara into one of the changing rooms. The moment the door was shut the girl clung to her mother, trying to slow her breathing. There were no tears, but Ada was trembling, almost vibrating with the force of her anger. Her magic was screaming to be let free and wreak havoc on Umbridge.

"Foul, loathsome, evil little toad. She flies in the face of decency and has the gall to call me a Mudblood."

Adhara was fuming, and Narcissa did her best to stay level headed in the face of her daughter's temper.

Well, her hair isn't the only thing she inherited from the Blacks then, Cissa thought to herself.

As insane as her sister was, Bellatrix's temper was something of legend, a trait she apparently shared with the niece she had lost. Narcissa took a deep breath before speaking.

"Adhara, I am proud of you."

This statement stopped the young witch's mental tirade.

"You're proud of me?'

" Yes, I am. You stood in the face of bigotry and hatred with dignity and grace. You rose above the level she is choosing to place you at by saying nothing at all. That takes strength and power of will that not many beings possess, and it is something to be proud of."

Ada was speechless for a moment before she hugged her mother fiercely, grateful for the second family she had been granted and that she hadn't let them down.

"Now, let's make sure you're the prettiest witch at the Greengrass Yule Ball, hmm?"

Ada nodded and Narcissa grinned. This first public outing as a family was going well, the encounter with Umbridge notwithstanding.

The Malfoy family enjoyed lunch at the Three Broomsticks before heading back up to the castle.

"You're sure this evening's Prophet will have the statement from the family and some photos from today?" Adhara asked her parents.

Lucius cupped the side of her face with his hand, tilting her head back to look at him.

"I promise that everything will be printed tonight. I know it's hard but try to relax a little bit Addy. All that is required of you is to eat dinner and then meet with Draco and Theo before going to bed. I'm sure Severus will let your being out past curfew slide for tonight, as the paper is sure to cause quite the uproar among the students and staff."

Addy stepped forward and hugged her father quickly. She was not looking forward to eating in the Great Hall, but if she timed it right she could be in and out before anyone who received the paper even saw her.

She turned and hugged Narcissa before stepping back.

"I love you both. I'll write to you soon with any relevant updates."

Draco hugged his mother and clasped his father's arm briefly.

"Mother, Father." He smiled at them both before turning to Ada.

"Come on, Twin. Let's spend some time working on our Twin Bond before all hell breaks loose in the castle."

Adhara looped her arm through Draco's and the two set off towards the Black Lake, knowing that the one on one time needed to happen if they were to make any progress.

After spending an hour with Draco, she had searched for Harry but hadn't seen hide nor hair of him. She spent a couple of hours in the library before returning to the dorms to freshen up before dinner. Unfortunately for Adhara, she wasn't quick enough to eat before the storm hit. As the papers began to drop in front of their recipients, the volume in the Great Hall dropped from its normal decibel level at dinner to near silence.

Ginny was sitting next to Hermione when her copy of the Prophet came. Hermione was resolutely staring at her food, refusing to raise her head. Ginny quickly unfurled the paper and sat there in shock, her meal forgotten as she read the front page article on the girl she thought was her best friend.

Lost Malfoy Daughter Found!

"This week has produced the return of a child long thought lost to the Wizarding World. When five year old Adhara Malfoy was kidnapped from the well guarded grounds of Malfoy Manor ten years ago, she was thought to have been taken by a group of Death Eaters seeking to harm Lord and Lady Malfoy.

"Lucius Malfoy was cleared of all charges at his trial shortly following the demise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, citing the Imperious Curse as his defense for the acts he committed during the war (see page 6 for a reprinting of our story, The Fall of the Mighty, detailing Lucius Malfoy's trial).

"We now know that she was hidden in the Muggle world under heavy glamour charms, and was legally adopted from the orphanage where she had been left by a well-to-do Muggle couple. Her legal pseudonym you may ask?

"Hermione Jean Granger.

"Miss Granger has consistently been at the top of her classes during her tenure at Hogwarts and was a glaring anomaly to the Pureblood Supremacist Ideology. The last witch to stand as such a beacon of light for the Muggleborn Community was the late Lily Potter, née Evans.

"Earlier this week, Lord Malfoy submitted a formal name change for his daughter which included the integration of both her magical and muggle name and parentage.

"The Malfoy Family has submitted the following statement about the return of their long lost child:

'We are grateful for the return of our daughter. While the circumstances of her kidnapping are still unclear, the information we have received has been submitted to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and charges will be filed against the perpetrators as soon as the dedicated Aurors assigned to her case have finished their investigation.

'Our thanks go to the quick thinking staff at Hogwarts who alerted us to Adhara's presence as soon as it was discovered she was within the school, and to the staff of Gringotts for their assistance in ensuring Adhara's health was optimal before she returned to Hogwarts. We look forward to getting to know the young woman our daughter has become and helping her fully integrate back into Wizarding society.'

"We here at the Prophet send our congratulations to the Malfoy Family on the return of their daughter and wish young Miss Adhara the best in her studies.

"The Prophet will continue to report on the ongoing investigation into Miss Malfoy's kidnapping as any new information is verified and released to us by the Auror's public relations office."

Ginny, while not as hot headed as Ron, had a temper that made their classmates always toe the line where she was concerned. She set the paper down as calmly as possible before turning to Hermione. Ginny stared at the girl beside her until her head rose and she made eye contact.

"Hermione, you and I are going to talk about this. I want to know everything, including the reason behind the sudden frostiness between Ron and you and Harry."

Ginny's voice was shaky as she spoke, fear and hurt in her eyes. Hermione's voice wasn't steady either as she replied to the closest girlfriend she'd ever had.

"Gin, are you done eating? I will answer your questions and explain everything but you aren't going to like all of it."

"This conversation is more important than dinner. Let's go."

Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and the two girls left the Great Hall and headed to the Room of Requirement. Neither of them saw the pair of Slytherin boys watching their exit, or the rage filled visage of the Headmaster.

Theo and Draco looked at one another, silently communicating before they stood in sync and left the hall, intent on following Ada to make sure this wasn't another Weasley trying to hurt her.

The girls had disappeared by the time Draco and Theo reached the seventh floor, and the two boys were getting more worried by the minute when they couldn't be found. Draco was stalking up and down the hallway and Theo just watched him.

"Drake, I'm sure Ada is fine. She's a capable witch and can take care of herself."

Draco stopped his frantic pacing in front of Theo and scoffed.

"Please, you can't honestly look me in the eye and tell me that you aren't as worried as I am right now."

"I never said I wasn't. Even before we knew she was Adhara, I was falling hard and fast for Hermione. I'm scared to death that something will happen to her and that I won't be there to have her back," Theo admitted quietly, forcing himself to look Draco squarely in the eye.

"She's the best thing in my life other than you, you poncy prat. No matter what answers I do or don't get from her tonight, that isn't going to change how I feel about her. Nor will it stop me from choosing her over everything and everyone else."

Draco's jaw dropped at Theo's words. He couldn't think of the last time Theo had willingly been so vulnerable. He turned and leaned himself against the wall next to Theo, the two boys sliding down until they were sitting on the floor.

"Well then we'll wait right here until it's our turn for answers. Convenient that she and Weaselette disappeared in the same hall she told us to meet her in."

"Us? Since when are you coming?" Theo had been looking forward to spending time one on one with Hermione.

"Since earlier this morning when Potter and my Father were acting all fine with each other. It was really weird. Apparently they had dinner together last night at the Manor before coming back to the castle and I need details."

"You're such a drama queen."

Theo rolled his eyes and shoved Draco with his shoulder.

"Oi! I resent that remark!" Draco snarked, grinning at his best friend. "King is a much more fitting title."

He had missed this kind of easy companionship with Theo. After Adhara was taken they had remained close friends, but they weren't as open with one another as they had been. The raw emotion Theo had just shown had been such a rare occurrence over the last ten years Draco could count the instances on one hand.

The two boys sat in the hallway and talked for the next hour, unknowing that the two witches they had followed were on the other side of the wall.

Hermione and Ginny entered the Room of Requirement and sat down on the couch that had appeared to suit their needs.

Hermione chewed her lip as she waited for Ginny to speak. Ginny sat there and stared at the brunette girl for a long while before speaking.

"Explain."

And so Hermione launched into her tale once again. The conversation with her adoptive parents from the summer, the potions lesson, the trip to Gringotts. She left nothing out and handed Ginny the copies of her tests from the bank to further back her story.

Ginny read the reports with horror, her eyes growing wider at each line until she came to the love potion. She closed her eyes to try and unsee the names next to the potion, begging the room for a training dummy to take her pain and anger out on. The moment it appeared, Ginny launched from the couch and fired off every spell she could think of. It was a good ten minutes before she stopped and returned to the sofa, sitting right next to Hermione and hugging her friend tightly.

"I swear I had no idea they were doing that to you 'Mione. I'm so sorry."

Hermione clung to the youngest Weasley and the two girls cried together. As their tears calmed, Hermione pulled back slightly and looked at Ginny.

"You don't hate me because I'm a Malfoy, do you?" She sniffed.

"I'll be honest, it grates a little. But no, I don't hate you. You're still you, that's all I care about. Just don't turn into a pompous pureblood princess, yeah?" Ginny grinned, making Hermione laugh.

"I'll only be that kind of prat when absolutely necessary, I swear." Hermione crossed her heart dramatically and giggled as she looked down at her watch.

"Shite!" She swore, grumbling under her breath.

"Ginny I hate to do this but unless you want to hear the whole tale again, and sit next to my brother and Theodore Nott while they fire off questions left and right, you're going to have to head back to the common room. I told them I would meet them in the hallway outside at seven."

Ginny blanched at the thought of sitting next to Draco.

"Nope I will leave you to that particular pair. I need to find Harry anyway and talk to him about Quidditch practice. My slimeball brother is going to get some payback from yours truly the next time we hit the pitch."

Hermione raised an eyebrow before saying, "Part of me wants to know and part of me doesn't."

Ginny sniggered and gave her best friend another hug.

"I'm sure the slimy git won't be able to stop whinging about it and how unfair it is that he was targeted. Can I explain what he did to the rest of the team? They may not know you like Harry and I do, but none of them will stand for anyone being dosed with a love potion."

"Yes, tell them. At least then you and Harry will have some backup."

"You're the best 'Mione! I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast."

Ginny ran out the door to the Room and tripped over Theo, crashing down onto Draco in a rather compromising position. Theo howled with laughter, the sound of his guffawing bringing Hermione to the door. As soon as she saw Ginny straddled across Draco's lap she giggled, trying to hold back her own amusement at the situation.

Draco and Ginny just stared at each other in awkward silence for a moment before a devious smile stole across the Malfoy Heir's face.

"I always knew you preferred blonds Weaselette." He drawled, smirking at the fifth year girl.

What Draco wasn't counting on was Ginny's ability to give as good as she got, a fact Hermione was well aware of. Ginny's smile was wicked as she used her position in Malfoy's lap to her full advantage. She centered her weight more firmly across his groin and rolled her hips down as she settled into his lap.

"Looks like you're more into redheads, huh Ferret? Parkinson not doing it for you anymore?"

Ginny's brown eyes danced with mirth at Draco's look of shock as his hands tightened on her hips slightly.

She leaned in and got her nose right up against his.

"Don't play with fire, Ferret, unless you're ready for my flames to lick you."

She gracefully rose to her feet and walked away, leaving Draco sitting there on the floor flustered and glaring daggers into her back as he watched her leave. He growled when he registered his sister and best friend failing to suppress their laughter, tearing his eyes away from Ginny's shrinking form to sneer at them, which only made them laugh harder.

"Come on you two, time for some answers."

She was finally able to speak after a couple minutes.

"Damn Weaselette." Draco muttered under his breath as he got off the floor. Theo snickered again and Draco huffed as he brushed past the other boy.

Theo rose and strolled into the Room of Requirement, taking it in.

"What is this place?" He asked.

"The Room of Requirement."

Draco and Theo looked at her blankly.

"The Come and Go Room?" She tried, and the light clicked for the Slytherins.

"How did you find this Ada? I've been looking for it since first year!" Draco looked at her with new respect.

"Actually, Neville found it after we had a group meeting about needing to actually learn practical DADA. He was wandering the castle looking for a place to practice where Umbridge wouldn't be able to find us."

"So that's why the Squad has yet to find you!" Draco exclaimed.

Hermione's face darkened at the mention of the Inquisitorial Squad, and she sent a venomous glare at her twin.

"You realise your position on that Squad directly correlates to her agenda of ensuring we are as uninformed as possible, right? And given our run in with Umbridge earlier today you've seen first hand what her opinion is of me and all those she considers to be lesser." Hermione looked every inch a Malfoy as she sneered down her nose at Draco, and he withered under her gaze, shrinking into the armchair he'd sat in.

"You were scary as Granger, but now you look like a combination of Mother and Aunt Bella and it's terrifying."

"Aunt Bella had better hope she never crosses my path after what she did to Neville's mum and dad." Ada's eyes flashed.

Draco swallowed thickly and stayed silent. He had no defense to give for Bellatrix, nor did the insane witch deserve one.

"As far as I'm concerned, I despise that you're in that pink toad's little club, but you can also do good while there. Aren't you one of her favourites?"

Draco nodded in answer to his sister's question.

"Use that position to see who in Slytherin is following their parent's ideology. Make them see the disadvantages of Voldemort's agenda. As inherent self preservationists, Slytherins shouldn't have been stupid enough to join him in the first place since he's wiping out whoever gets in his way, regardless of blood. Use Cedric as your prime example."

Draco merely nodded again, his brain trying to process everything Ada had said as he began to formulate a plan on how to do as she asked. Seeing that her brother was properly mentally occupied, Adhara turned to Theo who was reclined in the corner of the couch where she and Ginny had sat earlier.

He raised an eyebrow at her, patting the cushion next to him in a silent command. She steeled her nerves as she complied, curling her legs up underneath her skirt as she sat.

"I promised you answers, so ask away." She said, her voice only wavering slightly with nerves.

Theo reached over and took one of her hands in his, rubbing gentle circles on the back of it with his thumb.

"I don't think I have many questions. I would like to see the results of your tests from Gringotts, but only if you're comfortable sharing them."

"Theo those are going to make you angry, are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I want no secrets between us. I want to have your back as you've had mine, and that means knowing who the enemy is and what they are willing to do. I need to see it, Hermione."

She nodded, understanding what he meant. She picked up the two pieces of parchment from the floor where they'd landed after Ginny had so abruptly stood from the sofa and handed them to Theo, her heart beating wildly in her chest in anticipation of his reaction to seeing in black and white exactly what had been done to her and by whom.

When Theo came to the love potion on the list, his control slipped and he snarled, the feral sound snapping Draco from his mental planning and making Hermione jump.

"I'll kill him. He doesn't deserve the option of an honour duel, the bloody bastard deserves an execution." Theo's voice was tight and he worked to get his consuming rage back under control.

"What did he say to you when you confronted him about it with Potter?"

Hermione shook her head, not wanting to answer him. She had never seen Theo so angry, and Ron's words would send him hurtling off a cliff.

"Answer me, Hermione. What. Did. He. Say?" Theo's tone left no room for arguing. She couldn't have stopped herself if she had tried.

"He. . . He said I was nothing but a spy, and that my father was going to sell me to the highest bidder within the Death Eater ranks so I didn't sully the Malfoy pedigree with a child from a half blood or Muggleborn. That it was unnatural for a woman to be as ambitious as I am and because of my goals no wizard would want me. That he would be doing the world a favor by bringing me to heel, even though he wasn't at all attracted to me, though I was prettier now that the glamours had been removed."

Draco hissed in anger and Theo's eyes darkened, his magic calling for Ron Weasley's blood. He would deal with that pathetic excuse for a wizard later. He shut his anger in a corner of his mind and turned to Hermione, hating the ginger even more because he could see that she partially believed his words. Theo let all the affection he felt for Hermione come forward and make his eyes shine the clear ocean blue he knew she loved. He gently cupped her face in his hands and looked her in the eye. Hermione's breath caught at the emotion on Theo's face.

"Hermione, Ron is a lesser man for not seeing the gift that you are to our world. Any wizard worth the name knows that having a witch who can stand next to him as an equal is one of Magic's greatest gifts."

He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers, his thumbs gently smoothing the tears from under her eyes that she was refusing to let fall.

"I will always be here to remind you that your goals and ambitions are some of the most beautiful things about you. Don't let what that tosser said dim your passion Hermione. We need your fire now more than ever."

Hermione let the tears flow as she threw her arms around Theo, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you, Theo."

He held her close, and Draco watched his sister finally allow herself to let go and feel all the confusion, pain, and heartache that she'd suppressed for the last week. He locked eyes with Theo and the two boys nodded at one another. They would prove to Hermione that Ron was in the minority, no matter what.

Theo pulled back from her as she started to breathe more evenly.

"What do you need from me?" He asked gently, pulling his handkerchief from his pocket and passing it to her.

She dried her remaining tears before answering.

"Just keep being you, Theo." She smiled at him. "I can always count on you to know exactly what I need, no matter my mood. You know me better than Ron ever did, and I can't thank you enough for that."

"Well he was never very observant, was he? If he had been, he'd have never let you go or tried to tie you down."

She snorted at Theo's words.

"He saw what he wanted."

"What an idiot." Draco said, enunciating each syllable, and Hermione started laughing. Draco and Theo looked at her in confusion.

"I'm sorry, that reminded me that I said the exact same thing, nearly in the exact same manner, about him in first year. He really hasn't changed."

Draco grinned, looking proud of himself that he had brightened Ada's mood.

Theo checked his watch and saw that it was nearly nine. He stood from the couch and offered his hand to Hermione, who took it and rose to stand next to him.

"Let's get you back to Gryffindor Tower before we're all given detention for being out past curfew."

Draco hauled himself out of the armchair and handed Theo Hermione's bookbag.

"I can carry that myself you know." She huffed.

Theo pinned her with a look that dared her to try and take it from him, and she shook her head at him, exasperated.

"Good girl." He whispered, noticing the delightful shiver that ran down her spine at the phrase. She gave him a dirty look and he smirked at her.

Draco watched this exchange and shuddered. He didn't want any knowledge of his sister's preferences but sadly that exchange was seared into his mind's eye.

The trio walked into the hallway and split, Draco heading back towards the dungeon and Theo and Hermione walking up to Gryffindor Tower. They walked in silence, each teen lost in their own thoughts.

Hermione was lost in a storm of conflicting emotions. What was so different about Theo that she kept circling back around to him? She shouldn't be feeling like kissing him right now, or at all.

No, I like Harry! She thought, scolding herself. Do you? A quieter voice within questioned.

But she couldn't deny how Theo always seemed to know exactly what she needed. He had never once given her any cause to doubt him. There was no denying he was extremely good looking, and the commanding tone of his voice never failed to make her overworked brain shut down and agree to follow someone else's lead.

Since kissing Harry for the first time she had come to realise there was nothing more to their relationship than their stolen moments of snogging. She couldn't see things with him moving forward, especially with his insecurities that had begun to surface. Today was only the first in a long line of constant battles against himself that she just didn't have the energy to deal with. She didn't begrudge him those struggles, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to reassure him the way he would need. They were better off as friends.

Now to tell him that. She groaned to herself. She couldn't put that conversation off, but she also didn't want to have it at all.

I'm going to be hiding in the library for the foreseeable future. Lovely.

For his part, Theo was trying to tamp down on his excitement over her reactions to him. He was respecting her choice, but damn if tonight didn't make that all the more difficult. A question propped into his head and he simply had to know the answer.

"Hermione, is everything alright between you and Harry? I didn't see him next to you at dinner."

Hermione groaned aloud.

"Honestly, I don't think so. After you came over to our table at breakfast it sent him into a spiral that he couldn't quite shake. He didn't seem to believe that someone who paid such close attention to me could be just a friend."

"Well, he isn't wrong." Theo said quietly.

Hermione's head snapped to the side to look at him in shock.

"What?"

They stared at one another for a moment before he responded.

"I noticed you before I knew you were the girl I was betrothed to marry after we finished school. You caught my attention. Just because you're now the Pureblood Princess Adhara Malfoy, doesn't mean I didn't like Muggleborn Hermione Granger any less than I did the memory of the fiery five year old girl I used to run after around the Malfoy Manor gardens in the summer. I promised you on Thursday that I wouldn't push you into anything you weren't sure you wanted, and that promise will remain intact unless you tell me otherwise. But just because we're friends doesn't mean we can't be more, and Harry is right to be threatened by how much I know about you.

"You've stated many times during our talks that there are things about you that Harry and Ron would never be able to understand. Your upbringing is a prime example. Ron's family has never had money or societal standing, so he wouldn't understand how or why you fit into the Pureblood world. Not to mention his jealousy would always ensure he was bitter about the fact that you have more money than he does. And from what you've told me about Harry's upbringing, he would be able to understand how you could acclimate quickly, but ultimately he would always feel inadequate because he wasn't raised as he should have been. He would always feel three steps behind and further reinforcing his insecurities.

"You captivated me as a child and you captivate me now. However you stay in my life I consider it a blessing, but that doesn't mean I don't want more." He stopped them outside the Fat Lady's portrait and faced Hermione head on, gently tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

"I'm here, for whatever you need."

He hesitated before swiftly leaning forward and brushing his lips across her forehead, murmuring, "Sweet dreams," before immediately turning on his heel and walking away, leaving Hermione reeling and even more off kilter than she had been before.