AUTHOR'S NOTE: It has been so long since I've posted a chapter on any of my fanfiction with COVID-19. Now that I know that my parents and grandmother are safe from any craziness, I have finally been able to breathe and write chapters. As of right now, The Pariah and The Assassin has more chapters being written than Once Dead, Twice Living, but I am working as best as I could. It's great to be back, but at a slow pace.
CHAPTER FOUR: The Beginning to the End
Blood.
Destruction.
Murder.
Fear.
The few things that no one ever expected to experience after the war was over. When Voldemort had fallen and Harry Potter won, the Wizarding World thought that they were finally at peace. Oh they were wrong. Completely wrong.
Draco Malfoy was moving with the aurors who were brought to check the damages made in Diagon Alley and to check if there were any survivors. Every shop front they searched, bodies piled. Multiple bodies were being floated away being sent to St. Mungo's. Draco couldn't stomach the view he saw. It was something he was familiar with, but it would never change the feeling he felt looking at it.
Many were lost. Draco saw the bodies of different ages, but it was the bodies of children that made his heart pound. The sight of children, who were preparing for their next year in Hogwarts, were now dead. Many had their mothers' arms around them trying to protect them from whatever impact happened, but many were alone.
"I prayed that I would never see this sight again," Harry said walking slowly with Draco. "I had hoped that for once, we finally had peace."
Draco was about to speak when he felt something thrown to his head. Whatever it was splattered all over his head. He sighed roughly knowing exactly what was about to happen. It happened every time he came into Diagon Alley.
"You are not welcomed here, Death Eater!" a man yelled to Draco's right, "It was your kind that did this!"
Aurors surrounded Draco immediately. He knew that it was Potter's doing, but he didn't want them to defend him. He may be part of them now, but to the outside world, he should be rotting in Azkaban or dead.
More people joined in throwing fruits, vegetables, and whatever to the aurors that surrounded Draco. Many got hits on him, but others were hitting the other aurors.
"DEATH EATER!"
"LEAVE!"
"YOU'RE NOT WANTED HERE!"
"MURDERER!"
"SCUM OF THE EARTH!"
Those words no longer phased Draco, but he knew that many of them meant it. These people were the reason he stayed clear from Diagon Alley and had things delivered to his flat.
"ENOUGH!" Potter yelled and everyone seemed to have stopped, "If you are not here to help those who have fallen or assist the aurors in recovery and rescue, I want you gone. I don't need people who decide to be prejudiced while we are doing our job. Leave now or I will personally charge you for assaulting an auror."
Many apparated out of Diagon Alley, only a few stayed. Some of those few sneered at Draco as he continued towards one of the shops with two other aurors. Yes he was a pariah, but before he was a pariah, he was an auror and a damned good one at that.
"I don't understand why they continue to judge you," Lark Buttonwood, the auror helping Draco with recovery, said, "You've proven time and time again that you no longer hold that sort of belief. You've bloody sacrificed your life for the Wizarding World multiple times to protect those bastards from the rogues."
"So long as I bear the mark of that evil man," Draco frowned as he rubbed his left arm, "I will always be tormented that way."
"Well it is blood hypocritical of them to hate you," Lark rolled his eyes as he levitated multiple debris to open the shop front. "I sometimes regret coming back to Europe. My years at the MACUSA were the best years of my time as an auror. Yes those yanks were absolute shites, but we got along."
Draco listened to his fellow auror ramble on before he heard something. He lifted his hand and immediately Buttonwood shut his mouth. Draco could hear it. It was faint, but he could hear the small cries of a child under the debris. He looked at Buttonwood and the other auror who immediately started moving the debris away quicker. Draco moved into the debris until he found the child. The young girl was underneath an ancient table that was holding a huge block of debris. Sometimes Draco thanked whoever made the magical furniture.
"Hello little one," Draco smiled at the little girl who looked no older than six years old, "I'm Draco. Are you hurt anywhere?"
The little girl opened her tear stricken eyes and looked up to Draco. She shook her head, but that's when Draco noticed something else. Behind the little girl was the body of a woman underneath a huge chunk of debris. The woman's arms were wrapped around the little girl.
"Mummy," the little girl started to shake the mother, but she did not move.
Draco frowned before looking up at Buttonwood and the other auror who were frowning as well. He turned back to the little girl and placed his hand on her back. "Was it just you and your mummy, little one?" he asked as Buttonwood started working on removing the debris from the mother.
The little girl nodded her head. "Daddy was 'upposed to see us at the ice cream shop, but he didn't come. Will mummy be okay?"
Draco's heart broke for the little girl. He couldn't answer that. He knew from the moment he saw the mother that she was no longer alive, but he couldn't tell the little girl that. "I'm not sure, little one. Do you have a name?" he asked.
"Emmie."
"Emmie, love," Draco put his hand on her cheek, "I need to carry you away from the floor okay? I need to take you to the healers who are outside to make sure that you're okay."
Emmie nodded before looking at her mother. For some reason, Draco knew that this little girl probably knew that her mother wasn't alive anymore and it broke his heart even more. She looked back at him and lifted her shaking arms to him. Draco lifted her and she immediately wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. As he walked, he could feel her body shake with sobs.
When he walked out with the little girl, the healers immediately came towards her. They tried to take her from Draco, but she shook her head and cried more. "Would ye mind stayin' wit her, Malfoy?" a healer asked.
Draco nodded as he followed the healer towards the station they set up in front of Gringotts. He sat down where the healer told him to. The healer did a quick flick of their wand and he knew that she was checking to make sure that there was any internal damage on Emmie.
"Nothin' that we need ta worry about," the healer said with a smile.
Draco nodded. "Emmie," he said as he pat her back softly.
She pulled away to look at Draco. The healer handed him a handkerchief and he wiped the young girl's face softly. She had a few hiccups from crying, but she had calmed down.
"What is your surname, Emmie? Or your daddy's name?" Draco asked.
"Mummy says I'm Emmie Goldhurn," she said softly.
Draco nodded. He knew a Goldhurn. He worked for the Ministry somewhere in one of the departments. Draco wasn't aware that he had a child. "Buttonwood," Draco saw the man come towards them, "Can you see if you can call for Goldhurn? He works somewhere in the Ministry."
"Goldhurn, you say?" Buttonwood asked.
"Yes. That is Emmie's father."
"Draco, I don't know what to tell you," Buttonwood frowned.
"What do you mean?" Draco looked down at Emmie who seemed to have dozed off from crying too much.
"Goldhurn was one of the confirmed kills when we first came to Diagon Alley. He was found underneath the rubble that came off Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
Draco frowned more. Emmie was now an orphan and that broke his heart. "Do you suppose that you can look into if Emmie has any relatives she can go to."
"I knew Eric, that's Goldhurn's name," Buttonwood sighed, "His parents died during the First Wizarding War and the aunt, his mother's sister, that took care of him had passed after he graduated Hogwarts."
"Her mother's side?"
Buttonwood shook his head, "I knew I had noticed this little girl when you brought her out of the shop front. Her mother, Lila, is or was a muggleborn. Her family perished during the early weeks of the Second Wizarding War."
Draco frowned looking at the little girl who had a firm grip of his robes even though she was asleep. She had no one or at least no one that she would be familiar with. It broke his heart.
"Why don't you take her over to Andromeda's?" Harry appeared beside Buttonwood. "We have everything here under control and I am sure that if we brought that little girl to the Ministry, she'd have a fit. She'd probably even have a bigger scare if you weren't with her."
"Do you think that wise?" Draco asked.
Harry nodded, "I'll inform Arthur of the child and we'll figure it out from there. Right now, the only comfort that little girl has is with you, Draco. So it's best if you go with her and wait for her to wake."
Draco nodded as he stood up slowly making sure he did not disturb Emmie's slumber.
"Once everything is settled here, I'll head straight to the Ministry," Harry looked at Draco, "I'll floo you if we can figure anything out for her."
Once again Draco nodded before gripping the little girl securely and apparating away from Diagon Alley unaware of a set of eyes watching him disappear with the child.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Teddy! Lunch is ready!" Andromeda called out for her grandson.
The little six-year-old metamorphmagus came running down the hall sporting bright pink hair. "I'm here grandmum," Teddy giggled as he climbed up on one of the chairs.
"And who are you supposed to be today, love?" Andromeda asked with a laugh as she placed the little boy's plate of food in front of him.
"I was thinking of a flamingo, but feathers are too hard," Teddy pouted, "So I made my hair pink!"
Andromeda smiled just as Draco appeared in the sitting room. "Draco?" she was shocked at the state of his being, "What happened to your robes?"
"Diagon Alley," Draco said softly.
That's when Andromeda noticed that he was holding a child. She watched as he placed the sleeping child on her couch and summoned a blanket. "Oh darling," she frowned as she moved towards the pair, "Was she in that mess?"
Draco nodded, "Her parents perished in the attack," he said looking down at Emmie, "I'm sorry to intrude, but Potter told me to come here until everything is cleaned up at Diagon Alley."
Andromeda nodded, "You know you never intrude here, Draco darling. Teddy would be happy to know that there's someone his age or close to his age. How long will she be here?"
"Until we find a relative for her," Draco frowned, "The destruction… it's bad, Andy."
"I know, love," she placed a hand on his shoulder as he sank beside the sleeping child, "I hoped that we wouldn't see that amount of destruction anymore, but we knew the consequences when those rogues escaped."
Draco was about to reply when Teddy screamed with joy. "DRACO! YER HERE!"
Emmie woke up immediately when Teddy screamed. Andromeda looked at Teddy who frowned knowing he got in trouble. "Sorry Grandmum," he immediately apologized.
"Where am I?" Emmie asked as she sat up and looked around.
Draco smiled, "You're in a safe place, Emmie. Do you remember my name?"
Emmie nodded, "Dray-co," she said slowly, "Mummy's gone isn't she?"
Draco heard Andromeda cry softly when Emmie asked him that question. "I know it must be scary, Emmie, but I promise that nothing is going to happen to you."
Emmie was about to cry, but Teddy came up to her and took her hand in his. He smiled his toothy grin at her. "Don't worry! We can play together!" Teddy promised, "Draco gave me quidditch toys that fly around us. I can share them with you."
Emmie blushed and Draco laughed. She turned to look at Draco. "You won't leave if I go play?"
"I'll be here with my Aunt Andy," Draco gestured to Andromeda, "Before you play, would you like to eat something?"
Emmie shook her head as she hopped off the couch and kept her hand firmly in Teddy's. Teddy smiled as he pulled her away from the two adults.
"My name is Teddy, but my big boy name is Edward," Teddy spoke to Emmie as he pulled her towards the stairs.
Draco watched them until their voices muffled by Teddy's bedroom door. "I am worried about her," Draco admitted to Andromeda.
"Emmie?" Andromeda looked at her nephew who now occupied the couch, "Do you not think that they'll find a family member to take care of her?"
"One of the aurors knew her parents and he mentioned that the grandparents all died a while ago. Potter said that he'll go to the Ministry and check for her records."
Andromeda smiled looking at how stressed Draco looked. He seemed to not have realized how soiled his robes were. She quickly casted a scourgify and that was what made him notice.
"Thank you," Draco smiled, "I have even more of a reason to never go to Diagon Alley."
"Cissy had the same issue a few weeks back," Andromeda frowned, "I miss your mother. I know I can floo call her, but I loved when she was here in England instead of France."
"She enjoys France," Draco chuckled, "When father had died in Azkaban, she needed a change. The manor wasn't a place that made her happy, so she packed up what she wanted and freed some of the elves before leaving England."
"Has she owled you recently?"
"She has not, but I do not expect her to most of the time," Draco sighed, "She's been so busy with her tailor shop that she usually forgets that she has a son in London constantly worrying about her."
"The last time Cissy wrote to me was when she was featured in the Daily Prophet for being the next Wizarding World's greatest fashion designer," Andromeda laughed, "I know she misses you. She may not owl as often, but I know she misses you."
Draco nodded, "A colleague of mine at the French Ministry keeps an eye on her for me. With the Rogues very active and those assassins that kill every Death Eater on the run, I needed to make sure that she was safe."
"You don't think that those monsters will harm her, do you?"
"The Rogues or the Assassins?"
"Either."
"I'm not sure," Draco frowned, "But I made sure that my mother was safe. I mean father's protection charm still is around her even though he passed, but I'm worried it might not be enough, especially with Rodolphus still at large and those assassins more active."
"I am sure that she will be fine," Andromeda smiled, "I can floo call her today to make sure she's okay. I suggest you owl her or floo call her as well."
Draco nodded. He closed his eyes for a bit before he heard the fireplace activate. He opened his eyes to see Potter coming through.
"Harry, dear," Andromeda walked over to the other man and kissed his cheek, "Has everything been settled in Diagon Alley?"
Harry nodded, "The clean up crew now are getting all the shops and roads fixed as we speak. There are 20 confirmed kills and a hundred more injured."
"Those poor souls," Andromeda frowned, "Well I suppose the two of you have some business to talk to, I'll put some tea on before going to check up on those children," she said before turning back towards the kitchen.
"What did Kingsley say about Emmie?" Draco asked.
"She's in need of a guardian," Harry frowned, "The orphanage is currently to capacity and the witches there would've gladly taken her in, but there is just no room left."
Draco nodded. After his mother left, he transformed the manor into an orphanage for children who lost so much during the Second Wizarding War. He had every dark object, Malfoy painting, and anything that could cause harm to anyone removed and sealed in one of his vaults. The darkest objects were placed in the Department of Mysteries for study.
"How about she stay with me and Teddy?" Andromeda suggested, "Teddy gets bored when he's home and I would love for a little girl again in the house."
"Where are the children anyway?" Harry asked.
Before anyone answered, they heard giggles coming from upstairs. The three adults walked up to find that Teddy was making Emmie smile bright by changing his appearance.
"Teddy just has that feel of him that makes people smile," Harry said softly.
However, even with speaking softly, Teddy's ears perked up and looked up at the intruders. "HARRY!" Teddy screamed with joy before getting up and running to his godfather.
Harry laughed and shook his head before lifting Teddy up and hugging him. "You're getting too big for me to carry, mate," Harry said.
Teddy laughed before shaking himself to get down. He pulled Emmie towards the adults and smiled. "Emmie, this is my godfather, Harry Potter."
The moment Teddy said Harry's name, the little girl's eyes lit up like it was Christmas. "You are Harry Potter!" she jumped with joy, "I have your chocolate frog card!"
Harry smiled, "Do you collect the cards?"
Emmie nodded enthusiastically, "I have so many at home. Mummy made a whole book for me to keep them in."
When Emmie said mummy, her whole demeanor changed. Draco immediately knelt down next to the little girl who instantly gripped his arm. She shook her head and wiped her tears. "I promised Teddy I wouldn't cry," she said softly.
"It's okay to cry, little dove," Andromeda smiled softly, "You went through something very scary and it hurts you."
"Mummy and daddy are really gone, aren't they?" Emmie asked Draco.
Draco looked up at Andromeda who frowned but nodded. "I'm sorry, love, I wouldn't want to lie to you."
Emmie hiccuped, but she did not let tears fall. She wrapped her arms around Draco's neck. He sighed before wrapping his arms around her securely and standing up. He walked them over to Teddy's bed and sat down. Teddy climbed up his bed and sat with them. Draco placed Emmie on his lap and wiped the tears that strayed.
"How would you like to live here, Emmie?" Draco asked looking at the little girl with a smile.
"With Teddy?" Emmie asked.
"And my aunt, Andy. She will be taking care of you and you'll be able to play with Teddy as much as you want."
"Will you visit me?"
"We will," Harry answered instead of Draco, "Besides, I have some cards that I can give you that I'm sure are very rare nowadays," he winked.
The three adults watched Emmie think for a bit. Draco knew it was going to be some adjusting to, but he felt that this would be the best place for Emmie.
"Will I have to get new things?" Emmie asked.
Draco shook his head, "I'll personally go grab whatever you want me to grab from your old house. Just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you."
"Are you sure that you're going to visit?"
Draco laughed and nodded, "I'll visit every week. And maybe just maybe if you and Teddy don't cause Aunt Andy any trouble, I'll take you guys somewhere on my day off."
Emmie smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Andromeda smiled at Draco's interaction with Emmie. He was good with kids. She's seen how he was with everyone's children, but the way he spoke with Emmie, it made her heart soar. His mother would be so proud of him.
"Well then, Draco, you have a mission," Andromeda laughed, "You go grab Emmie's things and I shall take the children with me to follow Harry to the Ministry to get guardianship of Emmie. We'll come here and have dinner."
Draco nodded and stood up. "I will see you in a few hours, Emmie," Draco looked down at the little girl, "And I'll have Greeny, my house elf, bring your things once I've collected it."
Emmie nodded before Teddy distracted her. The three adults smiled before walking back downstairs. "We'll see you for dinner," Andromeda looked at her nephew as they got to the sitting room.
"I will see you," Draco smiled softly, "Potter, I'll see you at the office."
Harry nodded and watched Draco disappear in green flames. He sighed softly and Andromeda put her hand on his shoulder.
"She'll be good for Draco," Andromeda said.
Harry smiled, "I know."
Andromeda pat his shoulder and nodded. "Let me grab the children and we'll head to the Ministry."
Harry nodded as Andromeda disappeared upstairs. There was a dark feeling in him that was worried about what was to come. Diagon Alley was just the beginning of something and now he had to figure out what that something was.
The winds were changing and Harry felt that they weren't changing for the good.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Fucking hell, Blaise thought as he ran in the shadows from the spells being thrown haphazardly around.
"How the bloody hell did they find us?" he growled as they climbed up trees.
His partner was breathing hard looking down at the Rogues and new recruits were searching. "I smell a werewolf," the woman spoke as her eyes searched the darkness of the woods.
"Of bloody course they would have the werewolves on their side even though that bastard Fenrir is dead," Blaise looked at his arm and noticed the glow of their message from Xenophilius calling for them to retreat.
"Blaise, only one of us is going to make it out of this," his partner said looking at him.
"Fuck off with that bullshit, Brown. Granger would kill me if I left you behind," he said as he heard the howls of the werewolves. The recruits were now just looking around the area not realizing that the two they were chasing were just right above their heads.
"Blaise, I am injured," Lavender looked at her leg. She slapped a salve that Hermione gave them, but it wasn't going to be enough. "I am just slowing you down."
"You're a fucking werewolf, you should be healing," Blaise growled as he felt a shift in the wind. He didn't like that shift. He didn't like it at all.
"Whatever I was hit with is not healing," Lavender said more quietly now that someone was right at the base of the tree she was on. "Blaise, you know the rules. You know what we have to do."
"I can't leave you."
"You have to," Lavender frowned. "I can hold them off until you disappear. This is our life now, Zabini. So you are going back to your wife and you are going to like it whether or not you disapprove of my decision."
"I outrank you, so you have no right to say anything," Blaise said as he shot a silent curse to a recruit a distance away to get the ones near them away from them.
Lavender growled before she jumped from her tree and towards Blaise. She was trying to protect her family and this was the only way. Blaise looked at her with wide eyes as she gripped his hand. A soft glow spread through their linked arms and Blaise knew what that meant. "We have a job to do, Blaise," Lavender said with a frown as tears fell down her eyes, "And you're needed for that."
Before Blaise could even say anything, he felt his body being pulled by the portkey on their gloves. Before he spun away, the last he saw was Lavender howling and jumping down from the tree. The last he heard was the shouts of the Rogues heading towards her.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I do hope you enjoy this chapter! The next chapter will be up sometime next week. It has officially become the longest chapter I am currently writing.
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