The Marauders: The Next Generation 14
With these words Hermione fainted.
Draco caught her before she hit the floor, picking her up and placing her gently on the bed.
Vincent looked at Draco and asked, "What can I do?"
"I need you to get Emily and then ask Neville if the children can stay in their suite tonight," Draco said as he got a damp wash cloth and started to wipe Hermione's face.
"I'll be right back," said Vincent as he left.
"Hermione? Wake up Sweet," he pleaded as he wiped her face with the cloth.
Hermione's eyes started to flutter and then finally open. She slowly sat up and hugged Draco crying into his shirt.
"What are we going to do?" she sobbed.
"I don't know," he whispered as he hugged her back.
They heard a knock at the door and Draco pulled away from Hermione.
"That's Vincent, I'll be right back," he said.
When he returned to the room Hermione was sitting on the bed hugging her knees rocking back and forth sobbing.
Emily rushed over to her.
"Hermione, what's wrong?"
"Lucius isn't dead," she said dully.
Emily gasped. "How, why?" she stumbled.
"Best that we can make of it, Lucius had a nurse at St. Mungo's that helped him escape," Draco paused, "Then, eight years later, they found a woman who was a expert at lifting difficult curses. She was able to lift it," said Draco watching Emily's face to see if she understood exactly what he was saying.
Emily turned white and slowly sank to the bed.
"Nnooo, please, you aren't telling me that I was the one that lifted the curse," she sobbed.
"I believe that you were," said Draco sympathetically as he placed a hand tenderly on her shoulder.
"Please No, how could I betray you like that?" she asked crying.
Hermione crawled over to where Emily was sitting and gathered her into her arms. After a few moments she pulled away taking Emily's face gently into her hands and said, "Look at me."
Emily lifted her eyes, tears streaming down her face.
"Don't ever blame yourself. They stunned you, took you from your baby, from your family, put you under a curse and made you lift that curse. Then they put a memory charm on you. If it hadn't been for Kyleigh's gift of seeing, we may have never found you. So don't ever blame yourself. Do you understand me?" asked Hermione.
Emily slowly nodded.
"I never want to hear you say it was your fault again. Do I make myself clear?" Hermione asked sternly.
"Yes," said Emily meekly.
Hermione then placed a kiss to Emily's forehead and gathered her into her arms as if she were a child.
After a few moments Emily pulled away and said, "Do you realize how much you just sounded like Minerva McGonagall?"
Everyone laughed even Vincent.
"Don't tell me she is still at Hogwarts."
"She became Head Mistress when Albus Dumbledore became Minister of Magic," said Draco.
"I have been gone for a long time," said Vincent.
"Back to the subject at hand, what are we going to do about that son of a bitch?"
Draco looked at Vincent and smiled, "Now that's my Hermione."
Emily and Hermione went to Emily's suite and told Kyleigh, Neona and Jamison that they were going to be in charge for a little while that the adults needed to discuss something.
"We'll be right next door if you need us. You will also be sleeping over here tonight. Like a slumber party," said Hermione.
"Neville has already put Garth and Patrick to bed. The rest of you can watch television. I believe they have the cartoon network here. That should entertain you guys for a while," said Emily.
Hermione waved her wand producing fluffy sleeping bags in front of the television.
"If you want a snack, I believe there is juice in the fridge and snacks in the cabinet. But don't over do it," Hermione reminded them. She then kissed Martin and Kyleigh goodnight.
As they started to leave, Kyleigh ran up to Hermione at the door.
"He's not dead is he?" she asked.
"Who dear," asked Hermione as she turned white.
"Lucius."
She pulled Kyleigh into her arms and said, "No he isn't. How did you know?"
"I have been dreaming about him. Just last night I had a dream that he got me," said Kyleigh.
"He won't ever get that close," said Hermione.
"He's close right now," said Kyleigh.
Hermione looked at her with pure terror.
"Kyleigh, we need to talk to Draco."
"Neona," called Hermione, "Kyleigh will be back in a few minutes."
"Okay Hermione," Neona called back.
When they got back to their suite Hermione said,
"Draco, Kyleigh has something she wants to tell us."
When they were all seated, Draco, Hermione, Emily, Neville and Vincent, Kyleigh told them what she saw.
"I have been having dreams and visions again."
"Your dream catcher isn't working?" asked Emily.
"I was so excited about the vacation I forgot to bring it," Kyleigh said.
"Understandable," smiled Emily.
"So what of these dreams," asked Draco.
"Well just last night I had a dream that Mommy was about seventeen again and Lucius had hit her and was trying to….." Kyleigh became upset.
Hermione pulled her into her arms and said, "Honey, why didn't you tell me you had a bad dream? You know you can always wake me or Daddy up."
"I know, I just didn't want to scare you. Since my dreams have all come true, I thought that you would get really upset," Kyleigh said softly weeping.
"No matter what your dreams are about," said Draco as he placed a loving hand on Kyleigh's back, "You need to let us know if you have one, alright?"
"Alright."
"Now, how about I tell you about my dream and you tell me how close they are," Hermione said soothingly to her daughter.
"In my dream," Hermione said, "I was about seventeen again and Lucius had hit me and was attempting to rape me again. As I started to wake up I realized that it wasn't me, it was you. Is that what happened in your dream?"
"Exactly."
Draco was shaken…. Had Hermione had her first premonition?
"Tell us about the vision," said Vincent.
"Well the other night when we were playing in the fountains, I saw him in a vision. He is somewhere with a waterfall and palm trees," said Kyleigh.
"Could you see his face?" asked Draco.
"Yes, he looked like an older version of you Daddy, only not quite as handsome."
Draco blushed.
"He wasn't old like Professor Dumbledore? I mean wrinkled with white hair?" asked Hermione.
"He did have white hair and had some wrinkles but not that many," said Kyleigh.
"That's why he looked so young in my dream," gasped Hermione, "His wrinkles are gone."
"That makes sense," said Emily, "Sometimes when a spell is broken the person kind of regenerates. You said that after just a few months, Lucius started looking really old, this was caused by the stress of the spell. Once the spell is broken he goes back to the way he was before the spell."
"What we need is a picture of him so we can ask around if anyone has seen him," said Neville.
Hermione sat thinking for a moment. "We could make a pensieve and extract that memory from Kyleigh."
"There's another way," said Vincent.
"How?" asked Draco.
"Computer technology. Kyleigh can describe him to me and using a program I have on my computer I can generate a picture of him that should be very close to what he looks like," Vincent explained.
"I didn't realize that computer technology was that advanced," said Draco.
"Oh yes, you can do just about anything on a computer these days. As a matter of fact, there is an elite group of wizards that I can e-mail the picture to when we are finished. Maybe they can find out information for us. If he is around, they are going to know about it. They keep tabs on all of the old death eaters just in case they decide to start up Voldemort's cause again," said Vincent.
"That would be very helpful. We need to know where he is," said Hermione.
"When do you want to do the picture?" asked Draco.
"We can do it in the morning," said Vincent.
"Excellent," said Hermione, "Kyleigh are you ready to join the others?"
"Yes," she said trying to stifle a yawn.
"I'll walk her over," volunteered Draco.
When they got to Neville and Emily's suite Draco asked gently,
"Are you afraid?"
"No because I know that you won't let anything happen to us. I love you Daddy," Kyleigh said as she flung herself into Draco arms holding him tightly.
"I love you too Sweetness," said Draco as he held her tight, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Daddy," she said as she kissed him sweetly on the cheek.
When Draco entered his and Hermione suite he heard Vincent saying,
I'd like to come back to England with you."
"Will you be safe?" asked Emily.
"Yes, now that Voldemort is gone, there is no reason for me not to go back."
"You are more than welcome to stay with us at Malfoy manor, we have plenty of room," offered Draco.
"Of course in a few short weeks there will be close to a hundred children there. It is also a primary boarding school for witches and wizards," said Hermione.
"It's about time someone else opened up another primary school. The one I went to there was this one teacher that was awful. I tried to help another child and was suspended for talking in her class," said Vincent.
"I believe she is the reason we started The Malfoy School," said Draco.
"So you won't mind a bunch of children?" asked Hermione.
"Are you kidding, maybe if you need help I could pitch in," said Vincent.
"We just might take you up on that," said Draco.
"So how long to you think it will take you to close up your shop?" asked Emily.
"It should only take a couple of days to get my affairs in order. I had been planning to relocate anyway so my partner will just buy me out. The paperwork has already been started. I will call my attorney in the morning to get the necessary papers drawn up."
"Attorney's work here on Saturday?" asked Emily.
"Mine will, she is a client and a dear friend. I should be ready to go no later that Tuesday," replied Vincent.
"Alright then," said Hermione, "Lets all meet at your shop tomorrow around eleven."
"That would be perfect," said Vincent as he rose to leave, "I'll see you then."
He then turned to leave and kissed Emily on the cheek.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight," the others said in unison.
After Vincent left, Emily turned to Hermione and said, "I guess we should be leaving too."
"Thanks for letting the children stay with you tonight," said Draco.
"Not a problem," said Neville, "We know that you two must have a lot to talk about. And don't worry about Kyleigh having any nightmares, we have loads of dream catchers."
"I just wanted to say again how very sorry I am for what I did," said Emily.
Hermione gathered Emily into her arms, "It wasn't your fault. Do you understand me. I do not blame any of this on you. Don't torture yourself with this. We will find him before anything happens. Please."
"Thanks," said Emily, "For being such a wonderful friend."
"You are a wonderful friend too. When I think of what Lucius could have done to you it makes me sick. I am just so glad we got you back form him," said Hermione as she hugged Emily again.
"Oh, by the way on a happier note, how do you like your tattoos?" asked Neville.
Still wearing her bathing suit top underneath her shirt she undid the buttons.
"What do you think?" she asked smiling.
"Oh my, very sexy. I think maybe Emily should be getting one," Neville said blushing.
"Well it's late we should be leaving. Call us in the morning when you get up. don't worry how early, we are very early risers," said Emily.
"Thanks again," said Hermione as Neville and Emily we leaving.
"Anytime," said Neville, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
The moment Emily and Neville left, Hermione took off running to the bathroom and proceeded in getting violently ill. Putting up a brave front was hard work and the stress had finally gotten to be too much. Hermione was a very strong woman but anything to do with Lucius just made her crumble.
As she knelt on the floor with her head in the toilet, Draco wet a wash cloth, pulling back her hair for her and gently bathed her face. She looked up at him with a faint smile but immediately her head dived back down as she became ill again. After a few minutes when it was apparent that she would not be sick again, Draco gently washed her face and hands then tenderly kissed her on the cheek.
"You alright now?" he asked concerned.
"Yes, I just want to brush my teeth, take a shower and go to bed."
"Need any help?"
"No, I'll be fine."
"Alright, but if you need me I'll be in the other room."
When he left she brushed her teeth, undressed and got into the hottest shower she could stand. As she stood there letting the hot water cascade over her body, her mind started to wander. Lucius is alive. Suddenly her body started to shake and a gut wrenching sob that had been trapped in her body exploded and she broke down.
Upon hearing her sobs. Draco was immediately at her side. He turned off the water, gently wrapped her in a fluffy towel and carried her sobbing into the bedroom. He sat on the bed enfolding her into his arms.
"Sweet," he soothed, "Everything will be alright. We will get through all of this."
"What is his problem? Is he a fucking cat? Does he have nine lives or something? Why can't he just die?" she sobbed.
"Believe me this time I will watch him die. I will make sure he is dead. This I promise," he said kissing away her tears.
"I'm really sorry I broke down like this," she said guiltily.
"Better that you breakdown when it's just you and me. It's not healthy to keep all of that bottled up inside. Besides, had you done that in front of Kyleigh and Martin, you would have scared them to death."
*sniff* "Pretty scary huh?" she asked with a half smile.
"I'm glad it doesn't happen very often," Draco said with a smile as he kissed her softly on the lips.
"I need to get dressed," Hermione said as she got up.
"Oh I don't know, I kind of like you the way you are," Draco said smiling.
"Like this?" Hermione asked with her arms out stretched, "or like this?" she asked as she pulled the towel from her still damp body.
"Oh most definitely like that," Draco said with an evil grin, "Nice tattoo."
Hermione pouted, "Well I don't particularly care for the way you are dressed."
"Well, that just won't do," he said as he started to slowly, tantalizingly, remove his clothes, "Better?" he asked as he stood there in the buff.
"Mummm much," Hermione said with a raise eyebrow, "but there is only one problem though."
"And what would that be?" he asked.
"You are all the way over there," she pouted.
With that, Draco advanced on Hermione and pulled her into a passionate embrace.
"Now that's better," she purred as she kissed his new tattoo.
Draco squirmed.
"What's wrong dear," she smirked knowing that he was extremely ticklish.
"You know Hogwart's motto. Never tickle a sleeping dragon."
"And why is that?" she asked trying not to giggle as she slowly backed away from him in mock terror.
"Because they attack," he said as he started chasing her around the room.
With him on one side of the bed and her on the other she asked,
"And what happens if the tickler surrenders?"
"The dragon promises to make the night a very pleasurable experience for the tickler," he said smiling evilly.
She threw up her hands and said, "I surrender. Do with me what you will my fierce dragon."
Draco slowly walked around to her side of the bed.
"Humm, what to do with you," he said contemplating as if he were in deep thought as he looked her up and down, "Kiss me."
"Anything my dragon desires," she said as she put her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
When the kiss was finally broken they heard a distant clap of thunder. Feigning fear, Hermione said, "Will my dragon protect me from the storm brewing?"
"My lady, when we start to play, you won't even notice the storm outside. You won't even be able to hear it over your cries of ecstasy," Draco whispered seductively in her ear nearly turning her knees to jell-o.
"Well then maybe my dragon needs to put a silencing charm on this room. I don't want to share you with anyone," Hermione whispered back as she softly licked his collarbone.
"Most definitely."
As the storm outside raged, they were oblivious. They heard the thunder but it was hard to distinguish whether it was real thunder or just their hearts pounding.
Morning came way too early for Draco's liking. After a night of incredibly passionate love making, Draco and Hermione finally fell asleep around 5:00am utterly exhausted.
They had set the alarm for 9:00am so they could have breakfast and be at Vincent's shop by 11:00am. At about 9:15am, Hermione called Emily to see if they were up yet.
"Oh yes and everyone has been fed and they are all sitting there with Neville watching a movie called Hocus Pocus. I think that he is enjoying it as much as the children are," said Emily laughing.
Hermione giggled, "So what is on the agenda today?"
"Well I thought that I would go with you. Maybe seeing some sort of picture will jog some memory somewhere and I can be of more help. Neona and Martin wanted to stay here with Neville. They have a slew of movies picked out and since it is still raining, going outside is not an option," said Emily.
"Did Kyleigh sleep well last night?" asked Hermione concernedly.
"Like a baby, I will be sending a dream catcher back with her tonight. She is too young to be troubled with those kind of dreams," said Emily.
"Thanks Emily, I really appreciate all that you have done. Are you sure Neville won't mind having all of these children around?" asked Hermione.
"No not at all, they can order up room service and watch movies. The weather is supposed to be nasty all day."
"If you are sure it is no trouble," said Hermione.
"None at all. Why don't you and Draco have a nice quiet breakfast and come over around 10:30am."
"Thanks Emily, we really owe you one."
"So what's going on?" asked Draco as he was coming out of the shower.
"Well you have two choices," said Hermione with a grin, "We can either have a nice leisurely breakfast or," with this she paused for a moment, "I could tickle that sleeping dragon again."
"I opt for the dragon," he said as he crossed the room.
"I thought that you might," said Hermione giggling.
At 10:30am they went next door to the Longbottoms.
"Ready?" asked Hermione when they came in.
"Yep," said Emily, "Now you lot, don't drive Neville nutters."
"We'll be fine," said Neville, "Go make your picture and we will see you when you get back."
Emily leaned down and gave Neville a kiss goodbye and then they were gone.
When they reached the shop, Vincent was ready for them.
"Alright Kyleigh, all you have to do is tell me what he looks like. I have already generated what I can remember of him and you tell me what needs to be changed," said Vincent.
Kyleigh looked at the picture and hesitated looking scared.
"Sweetness," said Draco as he pulled her close, "It's going to be alright. Don't be nervous. We'll help you."
Kyleigh took a deep breath and said, "Well first of all his hair is not that pretty. It's white now. Short on top and long on the bottom. He wears it in a ponytail. Also around his eyes there are wrinkles."
"Like this?" asked Vincent.
"His hair is longer in the back."
"Now?"
"Good on the hair but his eyes, they aren't scary enough and he needs a few more wrinkles."
Vincent knew that he had it right the second he finished because as if on cue, Kyleigh, Hermione and Emily all gasped at the same time.
"I take it that is what he looks like," said Vincent.
"Exactly," they said together.
By the time Vincent had the picture copied and printed it was closing on 1:00pm. With Draco looking over his shoulder, Vincent sent the picture via e-mail to about fifty wizards world wide and asked them to keep an eye out for Lucius. If by some chance they see him they were not to apprehend him, but to owl Albus Dumbledore on his whereabouts. Vincent also sent an e-mail to Percy Weasley, who was really big into computers through the ministries new office on muggle studies and research. The e-mail sent to Percy simply asked him to owl Sirius, Severus and Albus Dumbledore and to ask them to please be at the manor on Wednesday afternoon. That Draco needed to talk to them and that is was of the utmost urgency. By the time they were finished with the e-mails it was 2:00pm. Emily called Neville to see how they were doing.
"We are just fine. We ordered up room service for lunch and the children are currently watching a movie called Dragonheart," said Neville sniggering, "Tell Draco there is a dragon in it named Draco."
"Alright," said Emily giggling, "we are going to grab something to eat and we will see you in a couple of hours."
"Perfect, then we can have a late dinner," said Neville.
"Excellent, see you in a while. Bye," said Emily.
"Bye."
They went to a small café down the street from Vincent's shop and had a light lunch. The conversation was somewhat brighter than it had been the last day.
"So," said Vincent, "You are telling me that Severus Snape was in on a joke?"
"It was so funny," said Hermione as she wiped the tears forming in her eyes, "There they were, some of Hogwarts best practical jokers and they had turned into very large canaries, all due to Severus and Kyleigh. It was priceless."
They spent the rest of lunch filling Vincent in on some of the things that had been happening in the wizarding world. Vincent knew of some of it because of his e-mail friends but didn't know the inside story. The real story.
"I really feel bad that your vacation is being cut short," said Vincent.
"There will always be more vacations, besides it we don't get Neville and the children out of here away from that television they are going to become couch potatoes," laughed Hermione.
"I think we have created a monster," smiled Emily.
The next couple of days went extremely fast. On Sunday Vincent suggested something educational and took everyone to a wonderful place. Books a Million. They had to practically drag Hermione and Kyleigh out of there kicking and screaming.
"Hermione, you and Kyleigh can't possible take that many books back with you," laughed Draco.
"Oh yes we can Daddy, Mommy bought a trunk to put them all in," said Kyleigh with her prettiest smile. You know the one that Draco can't resist.
Draco laughed throwing his hands up in the air. "I should have known."
Vincent wrapped up all of his business affairs by Monday evening so they were all set to leave for England on Tuesday afternoon.
The plane ride was uneventful except for the unexpected turbulence that only seem to effect Neville's daughter Kara and Martin. Draco knew it was once again his little angel Kyleigh, but didn't saw anything because he had a sneaking suspicion that Vincent may have also had something to do with it.
Most of the trip Kyleigh, Neona, Jamison and Vincent had their heads together in what Draco thought was maybe plots against some of the teachers at Hogwarts. Draco knew that if there was a plot for more practical jokes, that Kyleigh would be sure to include Severus. You never mess with an ali and Kyleigh needed to laugh. The poor child was wise beyond her eleven years and needed to have fun like a child.
When they got home, the whole house welcomed them back. As the children went off to play, the adults got down to business.
"So what happened?" asked Severus.
"I think everyone needs to sit down first," said Draco.
When everyone was seated, Draco looked at Hermione and she gestured for him to proceed.
He cleared his throat and began.
"It seems that Lucius Malfoy isn't dead."
Katarina immediately fainted. After Severus revived her Draco said, "Sorry for being so blunt but there is no easy way to tell you."
"How," asked Sirius.
"Well it seems that he escaped from St. Mungo's with the help of one of his nurses that was under the imperius curse," said Draco.
"Who else helped him?" asked Sirius.
"My guess is Walden and Jareth," said Draco, "But that's not all."
"It get worse?" asked Narcissa as she grew very pale.
Draco looked at Hermione and she took over. With tears in her eyes she said,
"It seems that they were the one's that kidnapped Emily. Also put under the imperius curse, she broke the spell I put on him."
Narcissa paled more and Katarina ran from the room. Severus immediately took off after her, catching up to her as she sat on the stairs with her head between her knees. She looked up at Severus and asked, "what are we going to do?" as her tears fell.
"I don't know," said Severus as he pulled her to him, just holding her for a few minutes. "I think Draco may have a plan, let's go back in and see what he has to say. Alright?"
Katarina sniffed, wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up. As they walked back into the room Hermione came over to Katarina and hugged her. "Sorry about how I just acted," said Katarina. "It's just a bad shock." She then walked over to Emily and said, "I hope you realize that none of this is your fault."
Emily stood up and hugged Katarina. "We will get through all of this," said Emily as she handed Katarina her handkerchief.
"I know."
"So I take it Draco you already have a plan?" asked Sirius.
"Yes, I would like you to meet Vincent Inkinsoot aka Painted Hawk."
"It's you," said Sirius as he crossed the room to stand in front of Vincent. The room became very quiet. "It was your testimony that cleared me. You were a death eater. You saved my life."
"Yes. I didn't know you weren't guilty until I saw Peter. He came to me to bring me back to Voldemort. I told him no, that I would rather die. He damn near killed me that day, left me for dead. Albus found me, he was on holiday. He patched me up and told me that it may be best for me to leave the country for a while. I had told him then, if there was anything I could ever do for him just to let me know. That is when he told me of Sirius' plight. I couldn't let an innocent man die, so I wrote a letter to the ministry and explained everything. I even gave them proof that Peter was alive."
"What proof?" asked Sirius.
"I owned a muggle tattoo parlor. There was a surveillance video tape from my shop. .It had the date on it. Peter also just happened to confess that he was the one that blew up the street. He just loved to brag about that story."
With tears in his eyes, Sirius stuck out his hand to Vincent. Vincent brushed his hand aside and embraced him like a brother as he whispered in his ear, "I know you would never do anything to hurt James or Lily. I am so sorry for all the pain you had to endure because of Peter."
"Thanks. Now about this plan."
Vincent proceeded to explain to them about the picture and the e-mail. That Albus should be hearing something in the next couple of days. He did but there was nothing good. Lucius had been spotted here and there but no one knew where he was at the moment but they would keep and eye out.
It was also decided that lives would go on as close to normal as possible, however no one would be left alone and there was to be an adult with the children at all times except when they were inside Hogwarts or Malfoy manor. Extra wards had been set up around the manor to ensure that no one could get in.
The last week of August, Kyleigh and Jamison were taken to Diagon Alley so they could get their supplies for Hogwarts. On Sept 1, Draco, Hermione, Vincent, Kyleigh and Jamison went to Kings Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Express. The goodbye's were tearful.
"I can't believe you are already going to Hogwarts," cried Hermione.
"I know I am so excited. What house do you think I will be in?" asked Kyleigh.
Draco and Hermione said together, "Gryffindor!"
They all laughed as Kyleigh kissed her parents goodbye. As she neared the train, she turned and ran back to Draco, jumping into his arms saying tearfully, "I love you Daddy."
It was all Draco could do to keep from bursting into tears. "I love you too Sweetness."
As he gently put her back on the ground she grabbed Hermione and said, "Take good care of him okay?"
"You know I will. I love you so much Kyleigh," said Hermione.
"I love you too Mommy. Send lots of owls, okay?"
"Lots."
The whistle blew and Kyleigh ran to get on the train and as it started to move, Kyleigh said as she was leaning out of the window, "I'll see you at Christmas." And the Hogwarts Express was gone. A new generation of Malfoys at Hogwarts began.
A/N: this is the end of The Marauders: The Next Generation. I hope you have enjoyed it. However the story isn't over yet. Far from it so hang on there will be more. I am not quite sure of the name yet. Keep and eye out for it. Please review. I like to know if like you the story.
Disclaimer: anything from the Harry Potter series is not mine but belongs to the fabulous J K Rowling, I just borrowed some of her character for a while. I hope she doesn't mind.