Chapter 22: Mens Anima Nexu
Queen Anord had done a lot of pacing in the last few weeks. She had discovered two ways for the Longbottom heir to take his Lordship from under his grandmother. One was long, bureaucratic, and peaceful. The other was efficient, but things would get bloody. Lady Longbottom had already lawyered up and introduced a motion for a House Trial in the Wizengamot. Rumor had it that she was recruiting help from the other old Houses regardless of whether they were light or dark-aligned. The monarch sighed. Augusta Longbottom was probably desperate and a bit senile to do that. Her grandson was right to want to take the mantle. Anord sighed and thought of her beloved Etruko. How could a family be at each other's throats like that? Not that she blamed Heir Longbottom, but still. To break a House was so sad, especially a House that had survived so much and for so long in the most adverse circumstances.
To goblins, their family and clan were their pride and joy. Outsiders thought all goblins cared about was gold and winning battles. It wasn't that they didn't care for those two things, but if their house was on fire, they would get their loved ones out first; then, they would try to get their gold out, and lastly, they would find whoever set it on fire and destroy them. Some witches and wizards thought riches mattered more than family. Anord didn't like humans like that at all. Yes, rich wand carriers made the bank a profit, but they (especially the dark-aligned houses) were a significant liability as well.
Not that she was generally fond of humans, but Hermione and Harry she did like. The kids were transparent and genuinely good souls. Not once in any of their meetings had they ever asked for anything personal. The only thing Hermione had asked was if it was at all possible for a branch in Australia to try to find her parents' whereabouts or at least know if they were alive. She didn't ask Anord to bring them back. She didn't ask if there were goblin ways to return forgotten memories to humans. Anord took a deep breath as she waited for a reply. She didn't want to be the bearer of news that would make everything worse.
FLASHBACK
"All we want is to minimize the casualties to both your and our side. That's why we hesitated to propose this," Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and removed his glasses.
"That does you credit, Lord Potter. Many wand carriers wouldn't care if blood was spilled as long as it is not human blood," the queen bowed her head at Harry. "We agree to postpone, then."
"Yes. We understand your reasons for wanting Longwei to join us, of course," Harry nodded.
"Your Majesty... I... If it isn't too much trouble... I would like to ask for your help."
Anord kept her face inexpressive, took her long enough. "Tell me."
"I would like your help finding out if my parents are alive and well."
"I will ask our Australian branch elder to find out for you. However, bear in mind that as they are not magical and the process will be long and slow," Anord reminded the witch.
"I know. I just... I know I messed up. I shouldn't have erased their memories like that. I think I made them more vulnerable, not less, as I intended."
"It takes a strong character, Lady Potter, to admit to our own wrongdoing and be critical of actions we took that had negative consequences. I will let you know as soon as I know anything."
"Thank you. It means a lot to me that you are willing to help me," Hermione smiled at the queen.
"We have agreed regarding strategy. Now, as for the Death Eaters that will get here, they know that drawing their wands in our territory will end up in bloodshed."
The teens nodded.
"Because of that, I need your and Lord Black's assurances, in writing, that you will back up the Goblin Nation if the Wizengamot or the ICW get involved. The DMLE got in hot water with MACUSA for going to Montana for Mr. And Mrs. Dursley's deaths. They kept saying that anything regarding Lord Voldemort is theirs to investigate. Still, MACUSA was adamant that their jurisdiction and international laws ought to be respected. I concur with them. Everyone knows that if you violate goblin autonomy, you are dead. In any case, if this madness ever ends, Madam Bones will face severe consequences for this country's Aurors' encroachment upon foreign territories," Queen Anord frowned.
Harry and Hermione shared a look. No one had told them anything about that, "How severe?"
"She may lose her job and be barred from any public roles for a good time. MACUSA has complained before the ICW that the British DMLE is disrespecting their sovereignty and international statutes for the cooperation of law enforcement bodies across borders," Queen Anord replied.
"Shit. Okay. There are always so many consequences that come out of conflicts like this," Harry sighed.
"Precisely. Speaking of consequences, once this war ends... The goblin nation refuses to become a scapegoat... again," Anord frowned. "History is never kind to those who don't get to write it. Or did you ever learn anything good about goblins in Hogwarts' History of Magic?"
Harry and Hermione blushed. "No, definitely not. I will have our lawyer draft the document stating our support of you as a monarch and of your actions during this war, Your Majesty," Harry nodded.
"It must be in my vault before your people get here for our... um... sparring. No excuses."
"Yes, Your Majesty. It will be there tonight."
END FLASHBACK
As Anord reflected on her latest meeting with Lord and Lady Potter, she called the Australian branch manager through their international floo. It had been long enough. There was eerie silence before a soldier came through their international floo. The soldier that appeared before her had been beaten within an inch of his life.
As he bled out, all he could say was a very weak, "A-Australia has f-fallen, my queen."
The soldier fell to the monarch's feet dead with an expression of shame. He had failed his queen and his nation.
Anord fell to her knees and cradled the fallen soldier in her arms. She sucked some blood from the soldier's wound to have access to his memories of the past few days. It was carnage. The guards opened the doors to her chamber in alarm when her growls of anger and despair reached them. They went in looking for threats but only saw their queen holding a fallen soldier.
"Get me the elders!" the queen bellowed.
"Which ones?"
"All of them!" she roared
The guards paled, and one of them vanished.
"What happened?" the other guard asked, taking the fallen soldier from the queen's bloodied arm.
"The Australian clan has fallen..."
"All of it!?"
"A-All of it," Anord felt rivers of tears fall down her face. "We are going to war!"
"Yes, my queen. I will call the generals. Should I call for your secretary to bring you clean robes?"
"NO. Let them see the blood. Let them see what's at stake."
"The soldier?"
"Leave him. He shall be honored as a hero. Without him, we wouldn't know what has happened for Diaresi knows how long."
The soldier nodded, bowed to his queen, and vanished.
The queen covered her hands in more blood and painted her face with it. She sent a wish to the universe: Please let the Grangers be okay. We cannot afford to lose Hermione in grief. Not yet. Once Riddle is dead, we will have time to mourn, to wallow in the despair and pain of it all. Not now. Not until the dust has settled.
Draco had lost count of the hours he had spent by Daphne's bedside. All she would do was breathe and sometimes groan in pain. Both his aunt and Lady Greengrass had stopped measuring her magic potential. Both healers were sure that if Daphne ever woke up, she would no longer be a witch. She had reached the single digits in magical potential. That was only ever seen in squibs and muggles. Draco was trying not to lose hope entirely. Luna placed her hands on his shoulders, and he felt the usual wave of peace that came with her wherever she went. He turned and saw a plate of food on the accessory table at the foot of Daphne's hospital bed.
"Thank you, Luna, but I am not hungry," Draco smiled at her.
"It was worth a shot," Luna fidgeted a bit, "Draco, I need to talk to you."
"Can it be here? We can do wards if you want. I just don't want to leave her."
Luna looked at Daphne. She thought she saw a slight change in her aura, but it returned to how it was in the blink of an eye. Luna smiled slightly, "Sure... We need your help to prepare for the mission."
"My help?" Draco blinked, confused.
"Yes. Everyone with long hair needs it out of the way. We need you to create a braid that will keep our hair as close as possible to our skulls and backs," Luna flattened her now softly defined wavy hair against her head.
"I see. Go get Astoria, please. Since Longwei is being released today, he would have to approve the style. I will do a different braid on you and another on Astoria so he can choose," Draco nodded at Luna, who smiled and apparated away. Potter trusts her enough to add her to the wards. I lucked out in this adoptive sister business.
Five minutes passed, and Astoria came in after Luna as if someone had fed her hippogriff dung.
"Since I imagine you want to leave as soon as possible to go back to whatever you do here, I will do you first," Draco said, motioning for her to approach him.
"Do me!? Excuse you!?" Astoria frowned and blushed.
Luna blushed and looked down. "Sorry, I just said you needed her."
"Oh. I see. Fear not. I meant your hair, Astoria. I need you to sit down and allow me to braid your hair as I need to try two different styles so Longwei can choose which one will be better for battle, and my hair is not long enough for me to braid it."
"Why would I let you do my hair? I have no interest in whatever it is that is happening here. I will not be fighting. I only want my sister to get better so I can leave with my family," Astoria snapped.
Luna blinked as she grimaced at Astoria's tone. She could have sworn she saw Daphne move slightly. The Ravenclaw moved around the bed and focused on opening her third eye. For the first time in months, Daphne's aura was a healthy, lively hue. It was no longer gray. Could it be? She had to try.
Draco didn't notice Luna as he got up to grab Astoria before she could leave the Infirmary, "Astoria Sofia Greengrass! Enough! Your sister may never wake up, and you have been acting like a spoiled brat on Potter's tab! You refuse to train! You refuse to help most of the time! These people are feeding you! They are trying to nurse Daph back to health! They are clothing you and keeping you safe! And you keep acting like they are all beneath you! Your father would be absolutely appalled!"
While the two fought, Luna's eyes widened. She could feel Daphne's aura banging against some invisible barrier. Luna began manipulating Daphne's chakras to open them, and as soon as they opened a bit, she pushed as much of her magic as she could and help her wake up. This could be her only window of opportunity to try to help Daphne cross. Luna knew this was dangerous, but it could be the only time Daphne got to be conscious ever again.
"DO NOT SPEAK OF MY FATHER! YOU ARE NOT WORTHY!" Astoria yelled as she tried to free her arm from Draco's hold.
Draco opened his mouth to reply, but a soft voice froze him.
"H-He's r-right, Tory..."
A pin drop could have been heard. Astoria's shocked expression confirmed he hadn't been daydreaming about Daph's voice. Draco let go of Astoria as he turned at a neck-break speed to see Daphne's bloodshot eyes slightly open. Luna had somehow climbed unto the head of the bed and was sitting crossed-legged in some sort of trance. Her hands were hovering over Daphne's head. Her eyes were entirely white, and some light was coming out of them.
"Daph!" Draco jumped over the bed to get as close as possible since Astoria had sat on the other side of the bed. "Andi! Lady Greengrass!" he yelled as he kissed Daphne's forehead.
Andromeda ran to the bed and looked very shocked as she did spells to check on Daphne. What on Earth was Luna doing? The readings made no sense. Lady Greengrass ran to hug her daughter hugged her after Tory released her.
"Luna, what are you doing?" Andromeda asked. Luna was still in a trance and didn't reply. "Dobby!"
The elf appeared and stared in shock and fear.
"Get Professor McGonagall and Xeno here now!
Dobby vanished and reappeared with the two. He vanished straight away to get his Master and Mistress. They needed to know what was happening.
"How long has she been like this?!" Minerva asked, barely managing to hold on to a nearby chair.
"A few minutes, why? What is this?" Draco asked as Astoria held her sister and cried tears of joy.
"Mens anima nexu," Xenophilius replied. His eyes filled with tears. The last time he saw this, it had almost cost his wife her life. [Mind soul connection]
"Draco, mother, Tory, listen to me," Daphne said in a weak voice. "I don't have too long."
"What? What do you mean?" Lady Greengrass asked in desperation. "You just woke up."
"Mother, please listen. Don't interrupt. I can only do this because of Luna. She will have to stop soon... I need you to let me go."
Lady Greengrass gasped and shook her head repeatedly, "No, no, Daphne... Please, I can't-"
"My body went through a lot, mama... I am so tired. My core is gone... There is no coming back for me. I am draining Luna's core to do this. Without her, my body wouldn't be able to move beyond my heart beating and my lungs breathing..."
"Daph, I am so sorry... What happened to you-" Draco began.
"Is not your fault," Daphne caressed Draco's cheek. "I am sorry that I can't fulfill my promise."
Daphne slowly removed the promise ring that Draco had given her.
"No, Daph. It's yours. Forever."
"No, love," she insisted and closed his hand around the ring. "Time will heal you. You need to find someone else to build a life with. I am too broken. I am exhausted. I want to rest. I want you all to rest and stop guarding my bed. My soul is only anchored here because of your prayers and your wishes. This mangled body can't do life... and I think all of you k-know it."
Luna's hand, which was still hovering over Daphne's head, started to shake. Xenophilius was next to his daughter in an instant, forcing a grand pepper up and a double dose of Baruffio's Brain Elixir that McGonagall had just summoned from storage down her throat. Her hands shook less, but she seemed to be ready to fall from her position. Xenophilius climbed behind his daughter and held her sitting upright. Andromeda moved to Luna and found a vein to place IV fluids and potions, if necessary, after Xeno nodded. Luna didn't even flinch as the needle went in. Andi started the fluids as Luna read dehydrated in her diagnosis. All Andromeda could surmise was that whatever was happening depended on Luna's ability to hold on to Daphne's consciousness.
"I can't lose you too, Daph!" Astoria exclaimed, crying into her mother's shoulder.
"Tory, my beautiful b-bunny... I have h-heard everything that has h-happened as I was here immobile. You will n-never lose me because I will live in your h-heart forever. You need to let g-go of all that anger. It will c-consume you."
Harry and Hermione looked around the Infirmary in shock. That sounded like a very definite goodbye. What is happening with Luna and Daphne? Merlin!
"What happened to m-me was a consequence of my own a-actions. I don't want either of you to blame D-Draco or his mother. His f-father is to blame. All those men who h-hurt me are to blame. The Dark Lord is to blame. I joined the P.A. to a-avenge my father. I couldn't. Please avenge us both, but b-bear in mind that I want you to live until you are old and gray... all of you," Daphne's voice grew smaller the more she talked as Luna got paler and her shaking began once more.
Xenophilius cried as he held his baby. There wasn't anything else he could do to help her or give her strength. Her mother would have been able to help. Unfortunately, only golden cores could interact with golden cores.
"Daphne, I love you... Please fight this!" Draco begged, tears streaming down his face as he held her hand.
"I have loved you so much. A-All of you. I am sorry for anything I did that h-hurt you or put you in harm's way... I-I had so many dreams... so much h-hope that I w-would get to see the end of this w-war and that I could fulfill those d-dreams with D-Draco next to me. Alas, it is n-not to be... I can feel my time c-coming... Harry, Hermione," Daphne stretched out her free hand.
The pair rushed to her and held her hand together. It was icy-cold and clammy.
"T-Thank you... for what you have done for Draco, for m-me, and for my family," Daphne seemed to be struggling to find the strength to keep talking.
"It has been our honor, and we will continue to look after all of them," Harry replied with certainty in his voice, while trying not to cry. The expression of a young woman forced to give up on life due to all the damage done to her would stick with him forever. So much unrealized potential. So much pain. So much heartache.
"We will make them pay," Hermione nodded, her voice breaking. "They will not get away scot-free, and we will do our best to make their ends as painful as possible. You have our word."
Daphne nodded. "T-Thank you... Tory, p-promise me you will not blame y-yourself or mom or Draco for this... Nor Harry nor Hermione. P-Please. You must help them. You n-need to contribute to the war. It's what p-papa would have wanted, and it is my last wish too."
Astoria was crying with desperation at this point, but she nodded, "I p-p-promise."
"Narcissa?" Daphne's voice weakened as she reached around.
Dobby apparated Narcissa to the Infirmary, "I am here, dear," Narcissa took the girl's hand.
"P-Promise me that you will h-help Draco find someone to grow old with," Daphne begged.
Next to her, Draco wailed like a child. His heart hurt as if it was being pummeled by a hammer. His stomach felt as if he had swallowed led. He kept shaking his head.
"He made me so happy, Narcissa. H-He loved me so well, and he deserves to be h-happy too... He will need to find a special w-woman, so he doesn't grow bitter and resentful," Daphne squeezed Narcissa's hand, who could only nod. "It w-would have been an h-honor to be your d-daughter-in-law. I am s-sorry it w-will not h-happen."
Narcissa kissed Daphne's forehead, "Thank you for loving my son," she said with teary eyes and moved away from the bed.
Harry and Hermione shared a thought. We need to help Luna. They moved to the head of the bed. Hermione mouthed, 'Can we help?' to Xeno, who nodded. Their cores were as gold as could be, according to his daughter. Harry went around the bed quickly. He intertwined his hand with Hermione's, and they placed their joined hands over Luna's solar plexus chakra, which somehow seemed to be calling to them. Once their hands touched her, her back straightened up, and her shaking ceased. Both Harry and Hermione felt an immense pull on their cores. Neville and Dudley had just come in and got there in time to hold the couple up as their knees almost buckled. Luna's core had been like soil after a draught. Now that it had linked with theirs, it was thirsty.
McGonagall had summoned Kreacher to keep Andi away from the bed. She was rightfully concerned about the consequences of this, but Daphne had a right to say goodbye to her family. Sirius and Remus opened Longwei's curtain. They had been behind wards and stepped out to find chaos. Whatever was happening, it was ancient magic. They looked with concern at Harry and Hermione, ready to jump in. This injection of energy they seemed to be doing to Luna helped Daphne finish her goodbyes.
"Mama..." Daphne's voice was softer than before.
"Daphne, I-"
"No, mama... all that's left at the e-end is love, gratitude, and forgiveness... I love you s-so much... I am so s-sorry that I will pass so soon after papa... but t-this is my time to go. Thank you so much for everything you did for me... for us. P-Please promise that you will n-never turn your back on Draco and Narcissa, mama... Promise that you will k-keep fighting... And promise you will n-not remember me with s-sadness... The pain you feel now will l-lessen in time. I can't tell you it will v-vanish. But you will laugh and love again, and it will be so... so beautiful..."
Lady Greengrass cried her heart out while holding Astoria, who was too shocked to cry anymore, held onto her... but she nodded, "I p-promise, baby."
"Dobby?" Daphne could barely whisper at this point.
Dobby appeared next to the bed. He was crying, "Dobby is sorry h-he couldn't do more for you."
"Dobby, the k-kindness and grace you s-showed me gave me h-h-hope. That hope kept me alive for this... For that, I can't r-repay you. Know that your a-actions comforted m-me a lot. You are a w-wonderful elf. Your f-family is lucky to h-have you."
Dobby nodded. He bowed over the witch's hand and kissed the back of it. He then vanished.
Daphne smiled and looked away toward the ocean that could be seen outside the large windows. "It's so b-beautiful here..."
"Daphne?" Her mother asked with despair as Daphne's eyelids began to flutter to close one last time.
"I can hear papa calling me," Daphne smiled, and her lavender eyes closed, pushing two tears down her cheeks and her head lolled to the side.
"NOOOOOOO!" Draco fell to his knees and bawled. His mother rushed to hold him while Remus and Sirius ran to help Neville and Dudley move Harry and Hermione to beds. Xenophilius and Minerva rushed to move Luna, who was so deathly pale she was almost see-through and was drenched in sweat.
Once Harry, Hermione, and Luna had been stabilized, Xenophilius had been given a calming draught, and Daphne had been adequately covered, Andromeda motioned for Remus and Sirius to approach her.
"I am going to need your help."
"Name it."
"First, Remus, go get my daughter and tell her that I don't give a flying fuck, as she would put it, about how mad she still is at you. I need her here," Andromeda frowned.
Remus nodded and bit back his remark. He left swiftly.
"Now you, as Head of House Black, I need you to formally offer assistance to Lady Greengrass. She needs support from someone who knows the old ways. I am positive she will want to bury her daughter. The girl has been dying for a long time, and you know that traditional rites do not allow for the preservation of the body, so this must be done quickly."
Sirius took a deep breath and nodded. "Of course. Anything else?"
"Yes, I need you to do something about those kids of yours, Padfoot. They cannot keep doing unprecedented ancient magical feats just because their numbers are off the charts. Their cores are down to half what they were in their latest measurement," Andromeda said with a deep frown.
"Half?!" Sirius gasped. If they had any less power, to begin with, they could have lost their magic permanently. Fuck.
"Yes! They cannot keep this core insanity of extreme highs and lows. We have no idea about the consequences this could have on them long term. If their cores rupture, no one has the magical ability or numbers to help them..."
"Understood. I will talk to them," Sirius nodded.
"Do your best to let Lily take over your spirit, please."
"Yes, ma'am. I will."
They had a small funeral ceremony once Dobby and Kreacher cleared an area to have the cremation. Lady Greengrass had decided against burying her daughter because she didn't want her body to remain on the island. She wanted Daphne to rest next to her father. Once the war was over, they would make sure she did. With help from Andromeda and Minerva, Daphne was cremated according to the old rites, and her ashes were placed in a beautiful urn. Lady Greengrass went to Gringotts with Kreacher to put the urn in her vault. She wouldn't risk it spilling or being destroyed. When the urn touched Lady Greengrass' hands, her expression of profound sorrow morphed into a neutral face of barely contained murderous fury. She would not rest until she had killed as many Death Eaters as she could. When she visited Gringotts, she updated her will to protect Astoria in case she died in battle. Lord Black had been most gracious in his offers for help and protection. She also took the family's weapons from their vault and brought them to the island.
Draco was an empty shell of a man. Even the Weasleys, who in general disliked him, were very saddened to see the young man destroyed over the loss of his girlfriend. When Daphne passed, he screamed until he lost his voice. He ran out and stayed somewhere on the island for hours. Dobby had come to find him to make sure he would attend the cremation. Draco walked slowly. He didn't cry anymore. He couldn't. He looked like a soft breeze would make him fall. Luna had recovered remarkably quickly. Her core had been refilled to the brim by Harry and Hermione, and she was full of joy that they loved her enough to risk losing their magic to help her help Daphne finish her goodbyes. Neville had been there with her every hour she was recovering. As soon as she was able, Luna was by Draco's side every step of the way.
This loss had devastated him so that he walked slowly and stiffly, almost as if he himself had died and turned into a ghost. People on the island would sometimes find Luna holding him as he stared out into nothingness for hours. He couldn't cry anymore. She was the only person besides his mother with whom he seemed to be comfortable enough to share his pain with. Harry and Hermione hated having to ask, but they knew that the likelihood that Malfoy would be with Voldemort was high. They also knew that Draco would want to be there. Luna entered the kitchen as they finished making dinner and collapsed into Neville's embrace. He immediately stopped plating dinner and held her. She snuggled into his neck and sighed. Slowly she turned to Harry and Hermione
"Go talk to him. He should be open to hearing you for the next twenty minutes or so," Luna took a deep breath and began to cry. Neville held her in his arms, and they apparated away. Luna's empath abilities left her heartbroken and exhausted every time she helped Draco. Still, against Neville's and her father's pleas, she persisted. She had promised Daphne when she got in her head that she would be there for him and she wouldn't let her down.
Harry and Hermione walked down to the beach. Draco's pale skin looked out of place in the Caribbean. Draco was taking deep breaths as he stared away into the ocean and looked as heartbroken as ever.
"Draco?" Hermione asked softly.
He kept looking out into the ocean.
"May we sit down with you? There is something we would like to discuss," Hermione tried to smile.
Draco shrugged, so Hermione sat to his left, and Harry sat to his right.
"We don't want to bother you... We understand this is a very difficult time for you," Harry felt really bad for everything that had happened. Draco was remarkably brave to be still standing. The thought alone of losing Hermione was paralyzing and devastating.
Draco didn't respond. He just kept looking away.
"We postponed our plans to get into Gringotts and Hogwarts because we believe Daphne deserved a mourning period, and so did you and her family. Queen Anord agreed."
"I am sorry for the inconvenience," Draco whispered, lowering his head.
Hermione shook her head and lifted his chin back up, turning Draco to face her, "It is no inconvenience at all."
"We are planning on going there tomorrow, and we want to know if you want to join us," Harry replied, trying to keep his tone as neutral as possible.
After a few seconds, Draco replied, "Do you know if he will be at Hogwarts?"
"He?"
"Lucius," Draco said the name like he tasted the foulest thing on Earth.
Hermione bit her bottom lip. "Probably... He must be in a wheelchair, and I don't think he can move around freely... But Draco, Daphne said-"
"Daphne is... d-d-dead," Draco interrupted with difficulty. "I will not base my actions on what she wanted. I can't... I need revenge more than I need to keep breathing."
"Draco..." Harry began.
"Potter, please don't... Before you try to talk me out of this, answer me: if someone killed Granger, what would be the only thing on your mind?"
Harry closed his eyes and sighed, "Payback."
"Exactly," Draco nodded once.
Hermione placed her hand on Draco's shoulder, "What can we do to help you?"
"Take me to Hogwarts with you."
"Draco, are you sure you are ready? You know how Longwei feels about uncontrolled anger on the battlefield," Harry said with a grimace.
"Harry, with all due respect, I don't give a flying fuck about what Longwei wants," Draco replied. "You and Granger are the bosses here. So, please take me with you."
"We understand... However, your safety matters to us," Hermione turned Draco to face her. "You matter to us. You need to be safe and healthy. We know that seeing those that hurt Daphne dead is your priority. But we need you to be smart about this. We cannot take them all down at the same time."
Draco's eyes filled with tears for the first time in days, and he looked back and forth between Harry and Hermione. He found no deception. They looked steadfast and ready to help. "We?"
"Yes, Draco, we. You are not alone anymore," Hermione smiled encouragingly. "You are not going to get even on your own."
"We are here with you, and we will help you avenge her. You are one of us; get it through your head," Harry squeezed Draco's shoulder.
Draco took a few shaky breaths and collapsed, bawling like he hadn't in days against Hermione. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly while Harry found himself holding Draco's hand to provide some sort of comfort. Harry was surprised to find that Draco welcomed both of them into his space of pain. He held on to Hermione and to his hand as if they were the only things keeping him alive. A few hours later, when Narcissa came to get them for a strategy meeting that Longwei called, she was shocked to find her usually reserved son huddled between Harry and Hermione, looking into the ocean with a small smile of calm gratitude.
"Kids, Longwei needs all of us in the Library," Narcissa said after clearing her throat. She was fully expecting her son to jump away from the other teens, but he merely nodded.
"We will be right there, mother. Thank you," Draco replied.
Hermione lifted her head from Draco's shoulder first. Harry stood up to help Hermione up. She shook the sand off her clothes. Harry offered his hands to Draco, who took them. Once the blonde was up, he placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Are you about to tell us that this never happened?" Hermione held her chuckle in.
Draco chuckled, "No... I just wanted to say thank you... For everything. Truly. The funeral was beautiful, and I really appreciate you putting the mission on hold."
"It was the least we could do. Honestly," Hermione smiled and walked away to apparate.
Harry was about to follow her, but Draco stepped toward him and hugged him tightly, "Harry... Please forgive me."
"Whatever for?" Harry blinked, returning the hug a bit awkwardly. He was not expecting that.
"Everything I did at Hogwarts... Being here... Getting to know you... I feel so stupid that I ever fell for the person they wanted to make me believe you were. I was raised to believe people weren't good just because. They were good conditionally if the circumstances would spin that in their favor. But you? Fuck me... You are genuinely a good person just because it's who you are. I am really grateful that I have had a chance to get to know the real you... I already apologized to Hermione and pretty much everyone else here, but I am aware that the only reason they accepted me here at all was that you asked them to. I never quite understood their blind loyalty and their faith in you before... I get it now," Draco took a deep breath.
"You were forgiven a long time ago, Draco. Believe it or not, you weren't a strong contender in who tortured me the most," Harry chuckled. "I don't want blind loyalty... I need people that will speak up when they think I am being an arse. I know you will."
Draco nodded with a small smile and took a step back.
"I don't like you speaking like you are saying goodbye, Draco. We will give them hell, and we will get to live a good life once they are done. Okay? That's how we win. We win by changing magical society, by erasing prejudice, by fixing the law, by showing them that we will not allow them to sow discord among us ever again for reasons as stupid as blood purity," Harry nodded.
Draco mirrored the nod and felt a surge of affection and admiration for the young man. "It's not like we're dogs, are we? Your godfather notwithstanding."
Harry chuckled. "He's a mutt anyway!"
"I'd pay to see him react to you calling him that," Draco chuckled back.
"Not a chance! I don't need a prank war. Now, let me side apparate you. Don't think Longwei is above punishing us for being late to a meeting."
Draco looped his arm with Harry's. Looking at the ridiculous picture they painted as former enemies, Draco laughed for the first time since Daphne passed. Harry joined in the laughter, and they vanished.
The day was here. Harry saw all his people dressed in full dragonhide combat wear. Hermione's hand in his made him feel steady even with all the worry and concern he had for the survival of everyone here. Their plan was as thorough as possible, but the more people involved, the more likely casualties were. The families had decided to join. The Patil twins and their parents, Lavender and her parents, Angelina, Luna, and her dad, Neville, the Chang family and Tony (Longwei was still in bedrest, much to his annoyance), and most Weasleys except for Ginny and Fleur. Molly had to be given work in the Infirmary to keep her busy. Her heart couldn't handle battle right now. Astoria was readying the Infirmary with Andromeda and Fleur. She wasn't vetted by Longwei as she hadn't been training with everyone else.
Lady Greengrass had a score to settle with the bastards who had killed her Daphne. When Harry saw her come down the stairs, he had to stop and stare in awe. He had never paid much attention to her looks, but right now, he was impressed. Hermione's eyes were glued to the witch too. Her combat wear was all deep green. A knee-length robe, a steel-boned corset, tight pants, and combat boots that were all tailored to her frame. Her platinum gray hair, usually kept up on a chignon for her Healer work, was now pulled back on a complicated braid that had some crystal things shining in between her strands. Two silver combs pulled the hair on the sides of her head back. Her eyes looked more striking than usual. They were colder than ice and looked almost white. Harry noticed she was armed to the teeth. To the hair, Hermione corrected him. He frowned slightly. What do you mean? Hermione looked pointedly at her combs. Those aren't decorative. They have three super sharp blades. I saw her cutting through bone before while she sharpened them, Hermione thought to Harry. Harry blinked. Good for her. They all deserve the worst.
Draco washed his hands once he did the last braid on the remaining long-haired P.A. member. He did a quick braid to keep his hair away from his eyes. He made sure his mother wore all the protective equipment that Hermione had given them, and he changed quickly into his own. Placing the knives and poisoned daggers on different holsters. He made sure he had his backup wands and his tactical items from the Weasley twins.
"Draco?" Astoria's voice called from outside the door.
"Yes?" he replied as he opened the door.
Astoria jumped in his arms without warning, "Please come back."
Draco smiled slightly. This was the girl he remembered. "I'll do my best, Tory."
"Give them hell, Drakey" Astoria nodded with a smile and walked away.
Draco took a deep breath. Magic, help me end my father for good.
As everyone gathered around their respective Portkey holders, Sirius and Remus whispered to each other.
"We stick with the pup, no matter what."
"Of course..." Sirius fidgeted with one of his sleeves.
"Sirius, you cannot go after Bellatrix," Remus said in his most stern voice.
"Remy," Sirius began.
"No. You can't. I forbid it. Give me a wizard's oath that you won't," Remus insisted.
"That's unnecessary," Sirius looked away.
"That reply proves otherwise," Remus frowned.
"Sirius. DO. THE. OATH," Tonks whisper shouted as she waddled toward them.
"Dora, you shouldn't be leaving the Infirmary," Remus tried to help her to a chair, but she shook her head. She had had some troublesome bleeding, and her mother had put her on bed rest.
"Sirius Orion Black, you are Harry's godfather and my goddamned sister-wife. That means I must trust you to fucking keep both Harry and Remus safe. I will not have you doing some stupid kamikaze shit that can get either or all of you killed. Wizard's Oath, or you are not going!" Tonks stared at Sirius with such intensity that he couldn't even chuckle at being referred to as a sister-wife.
Sirius sighed, "Fine. I only tolerate your abuse because you are pregnant. Once you deliver that little bundle of magic, there will be hell to pay."
"I am very aware of that. Oath. Now," Tonks insisted.
Sirius took out his wand and did the oath. He sighed. "Let's grab our supplies."
Voldemort was bored. It was just one of those days. Had he told young Tom Riddle that days like these would be abundant in his path to world domination, his young self would have chosen a different career. Voldemort hated being idle. Not having something to do made him overthink things... That had proven almost fatal on that Halloween night all those years ago. If he hadn't started overthinking the prophecy, he would have just sent someone to kill Potter and Longbottom. But Tom Riddle didn't trust anyone in his troops enough. Had the Longbottom heir been with his parents, though, he was sure that Bellatrix would have succeeded. Bella...
His right hand was currently puking... again. Madam Pomfrey said that Bellatrix was having a complicated pregnancy and that her symptoms would be acute for the first few months. To make matters worse, he had been feeling ill as well. Meals that he had always been able to eat would upset his stomach. He felt tired and hungry all the time. Finally, he saw the Healer, and her diagnosis both scared and enraged him.
"You have Couvade Syndrome," she announced with the typical glazed-over eyes of someone under Imperius.
"What is that? I have never heard that term before," he frowned.
"The term couvade comes from the French word couver, which means to brood or hatch. It is when the partner of a pregnant woman develops pregnancy symptoms which, while sympathetic, are purely psychosomatic."
"Psychosomatic?" Riddle repeated. His eyes widened in shock.
"Yes. Psychosomatic means patients have bodily symptoms caused by mental or emotional disturbances. In your case, your body is sympathetic to hers and-"
"I know what the word means! Tell me, Poppy, do I strike you as the sympathetic kind!?" Voldemort backhanded the Healer, and she fell with a thud. This lowered the privacy ward she had erected. Bellatrix opened her curtains. One of their minions went in to lift the matron and get her to her office.
"My Lord! What are you doing?! I need her!" Bella complained.
"And I need to be the man I was before you got pregnant!" Tom snapped.
"Do not speak of my being pregnant like you had nothing to do with it!"
"I wish I had nothing to do with it!"
Bellatrix gasped. "You take that back!"
Before Voldemort could deliver his scathing reply, the doors to the Infirmary swung open.
"My Lord! Our source says the P.A. is breaking into Gringotts. Apparently, somebody leaked that there was something important being kept in the Lestrange vault."
Voldemort yelled in rage as another sudden wave of nausea hit him.
"Go! Take Amicus and Goyle! To keep the vault safe is your priority."
"Then?" the recruit asked with fear in his voice.
"Destroy as many of them as you can!"
"But sir... they are within Gringotts... If we draw wands in there, the goblins will respond, and it will be a blood bath!"
"Did I stutter? Kill as many as you need to but keep her vault SAFE!"
"Sir, it's a suicide mission!"
"What did your Death Eater Vow say?! Didn't you swear on your magic that you would die for this cause?! That you would die for ME?!"
"Yes, but sir... my family-"
Bellatrix replied, "They will be taken care of. GO!"
Voldemort gave Bella a withering look. "Do not make promises in my stead!"
"It's the least you could do! The Healer better be okay!"
He raised his hand in a gesture to stop and silenced her wandlessly. "That's enough!"
Inside Gringotts, it was madness. Explosions, screaming, the clangs of swords and shields, spears, and axes. Multicolored jets of light in flying in all directions. Grunts, growls, expletives, curses, the noises of destruction, and broken statues and chandeliers. Queen Anord watched, invisible, as her army did what it was trained to do: fight to the death for their queen and kingdom. The P.A. was proving that all that training was working. The group was larger than before, and it now included adults that were willing to kill and die for their kids. She could smell the air turning putrid with evil intentions before she heard the cracks of apparitions outside.
Queen Anord made her presence known with her typical battle roar. Then, in their mother tongue, she ordered, "Fighters, ignore the ones already here! Death Eaters are coming!"
Just like Harry and Hermione had said to the P.A., as soon as the queen roared, the soldiers turned away from them and toward the main doors. The P.A. ran as fast as they could to the railways. Queen Anord waved her staff at the steel doors that led to the carts that took people to their vaults as soon as the P.A. went through, and she vanished the doors and replaced them with a solid stone wall. The main doors flew off the hinges. The few adults of the P.A. that lingered were there, so Death Eaters didn't think this was a setup. Queen Anord's right-hand general was pretending to fight them, but it looked real.
Death Eaters had brought 10 Hogwarts' students new to their rank and let them go first to take most of the first heat, which they knew would be terrible. Then, they went in using the foulest spells, but they weren't expecting the monarch of the goblins to be right there fighting with her nation. The terrorists had grown up hearing all about her and the late king's might in battle. So, they went on full offense, but it had been years since someone had fought them with a bigger bloodlust and significantly more skills than they had. Death Eaters knew that Voldemort wouldn't bat an eye or lose a wink of sleep if any of them died.
Having to drag Weasley along was proving a severe liability. They had decided that they wouldn't be covering up for him. Whatever twisted ritual the Dark Lord had done to the redhead had returned his memories of magic and spellcasting. However, in return, it erased all thoughts of family, friendship, and personal history. He was more like an animal than a person. He was almost translucid. His veins were dark and thick. His eyes were vacant. He carried out orders, but he had no conversations or answered questions. He just existed and did what the Dark Lord asked him to do. The best thing that could happen to him was to die.
Bill Weasley stood behind some goblins and saw what was left of his former brother. Nothing but a skeleton; no soul in his eyes. His heart squeezed, and he felt a profound sense of failure. He had failed as Ronald's oldest brother. He looked at Mr. Brown, who nodded at him. The older man understood. He would guard his back. Bill took a deep breath and sent an AK curse straight to his brother's heart. Ronald fell toward a goblin who used his twin swords to cut the youngest former Weasley in half. Bill should have felt something as he saw Ronald fall. He felt nothing. Yet, he did manage to throw the incineration spell at his brother before his senses had him lifting Mr. Brown by the belt loops as he ran to a service passage. He smelled Greyback outside. They needed to leave. NOW.
Rubeus Hagrid was sore. This would have been a minor inconvenience if he wasn't stuck in the Chamber of Secrets with all the filth and the humidity. But he didn't have a wand, and even if he did, his wounds were getting infected faster than he could heal them. His whole back was covered. In crisscross lashes. He had no shirt or sweater anymore. At least they had brought Grawp, and they could sleep back-to-back for warmth and keep each other company. Grawp, however, was starving. They couldn't hunt here and other for the lonely dumb rat that they had managed to catch, and their captors didn't feed them more than once every two days. It would always be food that was stale or just tasteless. Grawp needed more calories, or he would attack Hagrid. He wondered how the other professors were. Grawp started to get restless and smell the air with a frown.
"What is it Grawpy?"
Grawp looked around, but they were kept in the dark. Hagrid's eyes were even less able to see in such conditions, but suddenly the entrance to the chamber opened, and the light from several wands blinded him. The torches around the chamber lit up, and Hagrid blinked to see the person he least expected.
"H-Harry?"
"In and out, Potter!" the general said sternly as he kept watch with Sirius and Remus.
Harry nodded. His eyes filled with tears when he saw Hagrid's state. He ran as Hermione vanished the chains holding Hagrid up by dislocated shoulders, making him fall with a thud. Grawp began struggling harder against his own chains.
"Grawp! No!"
The giant turned toward Hermione, confused.
"Yes, hello, Grawp. You know me. You must be hungry, right? Sirius! The food!"
Sirius levitated a dead chicken to them. It was good that they had managed to get some information from one of the older Slytherins who was escaping Hogwarts, making the most of the Gringotts' commotion. Grawp ripped it in half and handed one of the sides to Hagrid, who was putting on a blanket that Harry gave him after hugging him lightly, considering his wounds. Hagrid thanked him but insisted he should eat it as Hermione uncapped and handed him a potent nutritional potion and a pepper up, which he downed together.
"Come, we have to go. Time is of the essence."
"What about Grawpy?"
"Grawp," Hermione levitated another chicken toward him. And he ate it straight away, calming down the more he ate. "You need to come with us."
The general stared at her meaningfully.
"He deserves a chance," Hermione replied, smiling at Hagrid.
Grawp ran to one of the walls and banged on it. A thin wall crumbled to reveal a big door no one, including Harry, had seen. "Where does that lead to?"
"The cave by the lake," Hagrid replied.
"Which cave by the lake?" the general asked. At least now he understood how they got a giant down there. "There was no cave in the maps!"
Their wards began ringing. Someone knew there were people down in the chamber, and they were coming down.
"That's irrelevant right now; is it safe?" Remus asked.
"Moderately," Hagrid nodded. "The merfolk can help us."
"If you believe that to be true, so do we," Harry nodded. "Let's go!"
Sirius transformed into his dog form and went in first. His nose would help them. Remus rushed after Harry, and Hermione went in, followed by Hagrid and Grawp, who had to crouch a bit. The general made sure the wall came back by pulling a lever he found, and he closed the door behind them. Hopefully, the merfolk were open to helping them. They managed to leave the tunnel and reach an opening. Sirius transformed back.
"Remus, we need to strengthen this cave now!" the general said.
"The explosives! Harry, what time is it?" Sirius asked.
Harry looked at his watch. "No time for that! Against the wall and protego maximas, everyone!"
Hermione pushed Harry and Hagrid against the wall. Remus grabbed Sirius by the neck and pushed him against the wall. The general jumped toward Harry and Hermione and handed them a long shield to protect their heads and the staves. Everyone braced themselves, and within seconds, the earth shook with deafening explosions as chunks of stone began crumbling and falling around the cave. Both entrances to the cave collapsed in a rain of gravel and dust. Grawp stretched his body to cover Hagrid, Harry, and Hermione. Yet, before the rocks stopped falling, the ground beneath them collapsed, and they started falling among screams, debris, and flailing limbs.
A/N: Thank you for reading! There was a lovely influx of follows and favorites from new readers that made my week. I appreciate all of you. Welcome. Just so you know, as I post long chapters, it takes a long while for me to have them ready. Thanks to one of you lovely readers (shout out to you chuysaurus!), I had to correct something in the previous chapter. I apologize for the confusion regarding who abused Ginny. As I have many characters and subplots to work with, sometimes I can get confused. I appreciate people who correct me with kind questions instead of insulting me and calling me names. I hope the correction makes things make more sense, and I hope you are safe, happy, and healthy wherever you are -Lux-