A/N Thanks for reading. The next chapter will hold many new developments in the plot. I'm sorry again for any typos that you find, I went through but my father has decided that it's ok to make the house three degrees all the time to save money on heat, and I can't usually feel my fingers while typing. Please please please review. I love reviews and there has been a serious lack of them lately.
(Draco)
Pip was waiting for us when we stepped out of the fireplace late that night. Her pale skin was bruised in several spots and she had been weeping. Kneeling beside her I patted the tiny bald head and asked her what had happened, knowing who had done the damage.
"The Mistress is in the study, sir." She whimpered and slowly backed away.
"Why is she here?" I asked standing again.
"Says, tell Master Draco to come to the study, sir."
My son took hold of my sleeve. I looked at his frowning face and covered his hand with my own, surprised by his actions.
"Bane, go to bed. I'll be there soon to say goodnight." I ordered evenly.
He nodded and hurried in the direction of his room, followed closely by Pip. I waited until he was out of sight and began the walk to my study.
She was waiting for me as the house elf had said she would be. Her long maroon robes sweeping the floor gracefully, one pale hand clutching a lace handkerchief, the other smoothing her hair absently. For so long I had admired her beauty, longed to have the ability to silence a room of people simply by entering, I would have given anything to command such a presence. All through my childhood she had been an exquisite shadow lurking on the edge of my vision. A shadow I called Mother.
"Mother."
She turned and a shiver went through me. The handkerchief disappeared in the folds of her robes and her hands clasped in front of her. Striking an innocent pose would have been enough to fool those less experienced in her ways, I knew better. She was only biding her time. Watching for a weakness.
"Draco."
"What are you doing here?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.
Her head tilted slightly to the side as though listening to me.
"I came to check on Bane. After your abrupt departure I felt it necessary to assure myself that nothing amiss had happened to my grandson." While her tone was that of a worried grandmother, in her flashing eyes she was a predator.
"Why would anything happen to Bane?" I asked my voice somehow remaining calm.
"You have left him alone before, no one but that house elf to watch over him. That's hardly appropriate behavior. And now keeping him out until all hours, one might call you negligent." The last word was spoken with unmistakable malice, however subtle.
"Pip is quite capable of handling the boy."
"Also, your father needs constant care. You do not have time for such late night excursions."
"It's not as if the old man were going anywhere." I snapped, regretting the words as I said them.
Her eyes glittered in the light from the fireplace.
"No, he isn't."
"Mother, I think it's time for you to leave." I closed my eyes to shut out her ever judging stare.
"I know where you were." Her voice was so soft I nearly missed it.
"What?" My eyes opened and she was closer than before.
"I know who you were with."
"Mother." I said warningly as she drew still closer.
I could see the makeup she wore to cover her age, smell the juniper perfume my father always bought her. The careful, deliberate movements were those of a predator closing in.
"Did you think I wouldn't know? That you could go there and come back to the same arrangement as before? How very silly of you."
My skin prickled at her words.
"We taught you better than that."
"Better than what?" I growled.
"Than to go spilling secrets into the ear of mudblood filth. What did she do in return? I hope you found her company pleasurable. That the possession of your son was worth a few hours with her."
"You know nothing." I stated clearly.
"I know more than you think, dear boy. I know of your debt to her. How she pulled you and your son to freedom. I know all of it."
"You need to leave. This is still my house. I want you gone, NOW." I hadn't meant to shout.
Her eyes gleamed again.
"This is just beginning. You have no idea what the future holds."
"Leave." I cried again.
"Go ahead, cling to your new 'friends' see if they help you in the days to come. See if they feel the same way about you when they find out where your father resides."
My jaw was tight and I held my ground. She would not make me act out again.
"You may never have taken the Dark Mark, but it runs in your veins. The more you deny it, the stronger it becomes. One day it will consume you."
I blinked and she was gone, the sound of her disapparation still in the air. A weight was lifted from my shoulders. Silently I collected myself and left the room to find my son.
He lay in his bed with the covers up to his chin, grey eyes peering up at me, the smirk of earlier gone. I sat on the edge of his bed and motioned that Pip could leave her post by the door. She obeyed and I pushed a few stray blonde hairs from Bane's face.
"Did you make any friends today?" I asked expecting sarcasm.
He thought for a moment, narrowing his eyes.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" I nearly smiled.
"I think, maybe, I did."
"Good." My hand moved to his cheek.
"Are you going to bed now?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Can you leave me a light?"
I felt my throat constrict with unshed tears as I nodded. The end of the week loomed ever closer, the end of our time together for two months. I refused to think of the empty house. Even if he tended to be snide and rude most of the time, that was her influence coming to light. I loved him.
Pulling my wand from my pocket, I held it to my closed fist and whispered a few words into the air. Slowly opening my hand I allowed a small bubble of light to emerge and hang in the air. Bane's eyes lit with wonder as I moved it to hover above the head of his bed.
"Thank you." He said.
"Goodnight." I replied.
"Goodnight."
(Remus)
Tonks took Lily upstairs when the fight started. Promises of candy and games easily distracted the young girl from her parents' problems. I paced tiredly in the living room while they continued the argument in the next room. In some ways I wished one of them would just leave, we all needed sleep, especially the child.
"You can't just take her back to the house." Harry was insisting.
"Why not? Why can't she go sleep in her own bed?" Ginny hissed.
"They managed to get in the house before. They could get in again. I just want my daughter safe."
"I can protect her."
"Not if there is more than one. What if they attack in a group? You can't fight off that many of them."
There was logic to Harry's words. Ginny wasn't strong, she could probably fight off one attacker but a group would easily overpower her. I repeated the same circuit of pacing I had just finished and sighed loudly.
"She hates it here, it scares her, and she's been living with Ron and Hermione for nearly a month. I just want her to be able to be in her own home tonight." Ginny explained.
"Stay at The Burrow. I'll feel better then." Harry begged.
"Feel better about what?" Her voice had dropped.
"That you guys are safe."
"I'm going home. I want to go home." She insisted with tears in her voice.
"Then go home, just leave Lily here. She can sleep in my room tonight."
"No. She's coming with me. We'll be fine."
"Damn it, Ginny, can't you just listen to me for once?" He shouted.
"What would you have me do?"
"All the others sent their children to The Burrow. She'd be with her cousins. Just let her go and be safe, you can do what you like."
"I'm not going back to that house alone and I'm certainly not stay here with you." She snapped.
There was silence and a few whispered words that I couldn't hear. I dared to hope that they had ceased to fight, that perhaps this was the first step to making up.
"You know what, screw you!" Ginny yelled and stormed out of the room and past me to the bottom of the stairs.
"Ginny, wait! I didn't mean it that way." He pleaded also pushing past me.
"Lily, we're leaving." She called up the stairs.
"Ginny, please."
"Don't talk to me. Don't say another word."
Little feet hurried down the steps and Lily met her mother at the bottom.
"Come on, we're going to stay with Uncle Fred tonight."
"But, I want to go home." The girl said with a frown.
"It's not safe there, we'll go home soon I promise." She whispered lifting Lily into her arms.
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but was met with a glare from his wife. She shoved him aside and stalked into the other room. Moments later we heard the roar of the fireplace and she was gone.
I waited for Harry to elaborate on what had happened, but he just started up the stairs. I heard him mutter something about getting up for work in the morning and then he was gone. Moments later Tonks came hobbling down the stairs with her cane.
"I guess it's over then?" She asked making her way to the living area.
"Yeah. Ginny took Lily to The Burrow." I replied sitting beside her on the sofa.
"Good. She should be safe there, at least until we figure something else out."
"I almost wish they had all stayed here." I mused.
"I know, it was nice to have company."
We sat there a moment longer.
"We'll I'm off to bed." She yawned.
"Goodnight then." I said smiling at her.
She eyed me up and down again, I waited for the proposition.
"Are you coming with me?" She asked slipping her hand along my thigh.
The thought was tempting. Very tempting. It was hard not to enjoy the feeling of her so close.
"Not tonight." I said gently taking her wandering hand in mine.
She paused and wet her lips with her tongue.
"Are you saying that you might consider it on another night?" She asked with devilish curiosity.
I allowed the smirk to come to my lips and found myself rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb.
"I'll make you no promises, but should we both survive the coming conflict, I'll consider your offer."
"I told you."
"Told me what?" I asked feeling mischievous.
"I told you that you couldn't resist me for long. Knew I'd wear you down eventually."
I laughed and found that I liked the sound, it felt like ages since I had laughed with any sort of conviction, my joy was cut short by her mouth suddenly on mine. At first I protested, tried to find a way to detach her, but in the end it was no use. She tasted far to good to stop.
"If you get lonely in the night…" She left the sentence hanging as she stood up.
"I won't."
She chuckled and I heard the tap of her cane on the floor.
As soon as I was sure she was out of ear shot I growled loudly and threw myself back on the couch.
"I thought you guys weren't." A voice said from the doorway.
"We aren't." I answered.
"Sure looked like you were to me." Harry replied.
"I'm going to bed." I announced and with a half smile on my lips I passed him and went up the stairs. Passing her room, I was tempted to simply go to her then. However, I walked on by, still tasting her mouth on mine.
(Harry)
Work was slow. I propped my feet up on the desk and leaned far back in my chair, watching the clock slowly tick by the minutes. There was paperwork to do and reports to turn in, but I couldn't find the will to do them. My mind drifted to other things, prophesy, my wife, my daughter, my grumbling stomach, and the growing need for a smoke. Sighing I let my head flop to hang off the back of my seat, several paper airplane memos floated above me, followed by Ron's face.
"Did you get this memo?" He asked looking down at me.
"What memo?" I made no move to right myself and he rolled his eyes.
"This one." In his hand he held a crumpled airplane.
"I guess not, as you have incapacitated it. How many times have I told you not to squish the planes? They have feelings too." Being upside down was affecting my mood, suddenly everything was funny.
He rolled his eyes again and thrust the paper at me, I ignored it.
"You know, you have freckles up your nose." I said pointing at his nostril.
He growled and shoved my feet off the desk, snapping me upright and knocking my chin to my chest. I cursed and tasted blood from my cheek where I bit it.
"Read." He said and again put the paper in my face.
"Fine, fine." I said unfolding the memo.
Quickly I scanned it's contents and frowned.
"This isn't even our department."
"I know." He replied gruffly.
"What do we have to do with the department of magical transportation?" I asked very confused.
"I asked that too, apparently an illegal shipment of exploding broomsticks is worthy of the presence of two aurors." Ron practically spat the words out.
"But…" I began standing up.
"I told them you just got back and they said it would only be for a day or two." He explained.
"I need a cigarette." I said and pushed past him.
"I thought you gave that up?" He called after me but I ignored him.
The last thing I needed was to be reprimanded about my old habits while trying to deal with the problems at hand. I did not want to go out of town, especially for something as stupid as illegal broomsticks. Nor did I really want to bother with the other problems either. It seemed that I walked a fine line between obsession and apathy. One minute I desperately wanted to work things out and the next I just wanted a good long smoking break.
"You know, you could wait for me next time." Ron said panting for breath.
I glanced at him and inhaled deeply, loving the feel of smoke in my mouth.
"It'll be okay, I'm sure the others can do without us." He continued.
Slowly I breathed a cloud of smoke in front of me and Ron coughed.
"How can you stand that? It stinks."
"Ginny kicked me out, Ron." I said at last.
"What?"
I paused and dropped the cigarette butt to the ground, stepped it out and then banished it.
"I've got a lot on my mind. I didn't mean to be rude to you earlier."
"What do you mean my sister kicked you out?" He disregarded my last statement.
"I'm staying with Remus."
"Why did she kick you out? What happened?"
"I don't know anymore, we aren't together and that's all that really matters." I muttered regretting that I had said anything.
"You are my best friend, I need to know these things." His hand grasped my arm.
"We need to go back in."
"Stop this nonsense and explain yourself." He demanded.
"We had a fight, she said she wanted some time alone, so I took off to give it to her. Is that enough or shall I describe it in detail?" I snapped.
"When did you fight?"
"The night of the party."
He paused and looked confused. I realized that most of the night had been erased for him by sweet wine and Hermione's kisses.
"I don't even remember you much at the party, I saw you go upstairs, was that…"
"No."
My mind drifted back to the few images I had of her that night. If I closed my eyes I could feel her twisting my hair in her fingers. Quickly I commanded myself to stop and focus on the present. She didn't want me and I was trying hard not to want her.
"But…"
"Ron, I'm through with this conversation, I just thought you should know, I'm going back up and finish my paperwork."
With that I turned on my heel and reentered the building through the back.
(Ginny)
Lily never asked questions and I was thankful for that. Several times I caught her looking at me curiously during the day, her green eyes inspecting my mood. I smiled at her and petted her long dark hair, trying to curb the inquiry making impulse before I had to explain things to her. Eventually she would need to know what was going on with her father and I. She would need to know that she was in danger and that she needed to be keeping all those defense spells in mind. She would need to know everything, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her, not yet.
Whenever I could get a moment alone I would go over the things Harry and I had said to one another. I did not regret a single remark, it was not in my nature to regret. Yet, I knew I had gone too far. I had said things I couldn't take back, but so had he. It would have been far simpler if the prophesy had not come to light. He would have forgotten his hero instincts and probably realized how he had been acting. We might have worked things out. Some of me still hoped we could.
"Mummy, can you put my hair up?" Lily asked me as we were getting ready to move once again to Grimmauld Place.
I nodded and sat her in front of my chair by the fire. With a wave of my wand a brush appeared in my other hand and I took to brushing the tangles from her thick hair. No matter how much we brushed it or how firmly it was tied, the wiry locks always came out of the ribbon. I used to tease Harry that he had passed on his one bad gene to the child, to which he would smooth his own hair unsuccessfully and say he had no idea what I was talking about.
"Where is Daddy?" I froze for a moment, but continued on.
"Working." I answered.
"Oh."
Quickly I pulled her hair back and tied the ribbon around it as tightly as I could without magic. She sat forward and one strand had already escaped. I sighed and shook my head.
"When will he be done working?" She asked turning to look at me.
Her resemblance to Harry was amazing. No matter how I tried I couldn't see a bit of me in her at all. From her dark hair, to her green eyes, to her thin build.
"I don't know. We'll see tonight."
She opened her mouth to say something else but stopped and closed it again. Another strand had escaped the ribbon, but she didn't mind. Instead she turned and ran from the room, ponytail bobbing behind her.
Not many hours later we were all standing on the step to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, Lily clinging tightly to my leg. Angelina knocked and Ron answered the door ushering us in quickly. As I tugged my daughter through the door he motioned to me that we needed to talk privately. I nodded and tried to hand Lily off to Angelina.
"I want to stay with you." She begged.
"You can't, go upstairs, now." I explained easing her grip fro my hand.
She didn't, pout merely frowned and followed the others up the stairs. I waved to her and followed Ron into one of the empty rooms.
"What is this about you kicking Harry out?" He began.
"You waste no time, can't even say hello." I rolled my eyes.
"Don't start with me, what's going on?"
"We had a fight of sorts and … he left."
"Why?"
"Ron, it's my marriage and it's my business."
His posture changed and he crossed his arms over his chest. I found myself on the receiving end of an incredulous look.
"He's my best friend and you are my sister."
"And it is our life and not yours."
"Are you going to work it out?" He asked suddenly quiet.
I sighed and rubbed my hands together nervously. That was the question I had been wondering myself.
"I don't know. We haven't gotten that far yet, we're still at the fighting part."
"Well get it together, we need both of you for this prophesy thing, you aren't much good to us fighting." He squeezed my shoulder a little before wrapping his arm around me.
Together we went back out to meet the others. I thought about what he had said. Mostly I agreed, we would have to work together to keep the children safe, but I still found myself getting angry when I thought of him. The hurt ran deep and it would take more than apologies to make it right.
(Lily)
Bane sat in his corner again, observing everyone with a lack of interest. I sat close by waiting for him speak, giving him time to get used to me again. The others were whispering to each other across the room and I frowned at them menacingly. Of course they ignored me.
"Who are they?" Bane asked suddenly.
"My cousins."
"They don't like me much." He replied.
"They aren't so bad, they just don't know you yet." I explained looking at him.
"You don't either." He muttered.
I laughed again. I'd never met a kid who was so self-centered as him.
"What's so funny?" He demanded angrily.
"You."
"Shut up."
I laughed harder and scooted closer.
"What are you doing?" His voice was back to being rude and nasty again.
"Want to play a game?" I asked ignoring him.
He paused and looked at me closely. I could almost hear his thoughts as he weighed every option. I was bothering him, but he was bored. He wanted to be alone, but he also wanted to stop being bored. Eventually he decided and asked what game I had in mind.
"Angelina brought a box of toys." I told him standing up.
He followed me to the wooden crate used to hold our things. Thinking carefully I pulled out a box of wooden blocks that wouldn't fall until you wanted them to and showed him. A smile almost came to his face. I dumped the blocks to the floor and we began to build.
"You and your father look alike." I said casually.
"Yes." He answered.
"Where is your mum?"
He pressed two blocks together and glanced at me nervously.
"She died."
"I'm sorry."
"I don't remember her. I was little."
"Where do you live?"
I decided to keep asking questions until he refused to answer.
"With my father." He answered still not looking fully at me.
"I live with my mum and dad and sometimes I live with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione."
For a long time he simply built on the tower, his tongue caught between his teeth thoughtfully, for once no anger or malice in his face.
"I live with my grandmother sometimes." He said very quietly.
"Why?"
"She teaches me things. How to act and how to dress and things like that."
"Both my grandmothers are dead."
"How did they die?" He asked.
I noticed the my cousins were edging closer, whispering to each other.
"My dad's mum was killed by Voldemort when Dad was little, and Grandma Weasley was killed in a battle."
He looked at me finally when I said the name of the dark wizard. His eyes reflected something very near fright.
"You say his name?"
"Of course. We all do. Why shouldn't we?"
"My grandmother told me that only a fool would utter his name aloud, unless they were his follower."
I laughed again, only not as hard. Meshach was standing very close by gesturing to me to come over.
"I'll be right back." I said and went to where my cousin was waiting.
"You shouldn't be playing with him." He said earnestly.
"Why not? He's nice."
"Do you know who he is? Has he told you who his father is?"
I shook my head and waited. Meshach would tell me eventually.
"He's a Malfoy. You remember who they are right? His grandfather was a Death Eater and his father probably is too." I would have laughed had he not been so serious.
Bane was still building on the tower. Though I felt some of his unease at my absence. His eyes kept drifting back to the corner and I knew I had to hurry back or risk spending another hour sitting and waiting for him to talk.
"Who cares?" I said becoming angry.
"Be careful what you tell him about us, I don't think our parents want us telling him things."
I glared at him and stepped closer until our face were only an inch apart.
"If you come over there and bother us, I'll…I'll…I'll use my wand." I growled.
He rolled his eyes and turned away, muttering something about girls. I stuck my tongue out at his back and hurried over to my new friend.
"What did he want?" Bane asked.
"Nothing important."
That earned me a genuine smile that lit his grey eyes nicely.
(Ron)
I was lugging Mia around in my arms at Hermione's request. The little girl was in a mood and when I tried to set her down she burst into tears, so I found myself opening the door for people while gently whispering comforting words in my daughter's ear. Snape found this extremely amusing and gave me an dubious look as he passed by.
"Hey." Mia said suddenly, startling me.
Snape turned to look at her and she began to struggle against me. There was a knock at the door and I grumbled, but set her down and turned to answer it. Behind me I heard Mia whispering excitedly to my old professor and I thought I heard him reply. By the time I had gotten Moody inside and on his way to the dining room Mia was alone in the hallway munching on levitating sherbet balls.
"Where did you get those?" I asked lifting her back up.
She shrugged innocently.
"Come on, just tell Daddy who gave you those." I pleaded.
She smiled a sticky smile at me and continued eating. I rolled my eyes and carried her upstairs to the others. Hermione met me at the bottom of the steps.
"Where's Mia?" She asked.
"I took her upstairs." I replied.
"But she was crying. What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything, someone gave her levitating sherbet balls while I wasn't looking."
"Who would do that?"
"You aren't going to believe me, but I think it was Snape."
Hermione laughed a little until she saw I was serious.
"Well, if that is the case then perhaps he's not as bad as we remember him."
I shook my head and we both went to join the others in the dining room for yet another meeting.
As usual the faces were grim, especially Harry's. He seemed to have grown more depressed since our talk at work, this wasn't going to be a pleasant time. The only person looking worse than him was Draco who merely stared off into the distance.
After the general outburst when Harry announced that he and I were being called away for a day or two, everyone calmed down and discussed what actions needed to be taken in the mean time. It was agreed that we couldn't be sure which child was which part of prophesy except for Meshach, but as Snape said, there was no being sure that even that was correct. If we did something with the children it would have to be all of them.
"The children must be moved." Moody croaked.
"Why? They are perfectly safe at The Burrow."
"Not really. The charms on the borders have been weakening, if they hadn't Meshach would never have had his accident." My father stated.
"We can strengthen them." Tonks suggested.
"It would take months to do that, at least a month to remove the first ones, you can't just leave them or they will interfere with the new, and maybe two more months to set up a spell large enough to surround the whole of the land, even if we just did the house it could take longer than we have." Remus put in.
"When Molly and I put the charms up it took us the entire nine months she was pregnant to get them all working correctly." Dad said leaning forward in his chair.
"Not to mention that it is still connected to the floo network. And the structure is old enough that it might not even take to the spells well. We could do more damage than anything." Moody explained.
"Then where would we move them to?" Hermione asked curiously.
"We could move them here." Neville suggested.
I saw my sister cringe, she hated this house, after our stint of living in one of the rooms the summer before her fourth year she had nightmares about it. I could hear her shouting in her sleep late at night, it would torture for her to leave Lily alone in this big dark place.
"Isn't there another option?" She pleaded.
"There are always more options." I rolled my eyes as Dumbledore put in his usual mysterious response.
"Like what?" Fred asked echoed by a nod from George.
"There are safe havens all over England that could be used." Albus continued.
"I'm not sending my children somewhere far away. No farther than I have to, anyway." I announced.
"If I remember correctly there is a small house located in the Forbidden Forest that could be used quite well for this purpose." Snape interjected.
"NO!" Harry said with finality.
"I don't think that it would be appropriate for children." Remus said quickly.
"I do not think you should dismiss it so quickly." Dumbledore admonished gently.
"I'm not sending my little girl out there with centaurs and thestrals and whatever other beasts lurk in those woods." Harry cried.
"If things become to dangerous here, you may have no choice." Snape muttered ominously.
"Do you know something we don't?" Draco said speaking for the first time, his grey eyes shining with anger.
"Calm yourself Mr. Malfoy, there is no reason to become angry." The dark haired man replied.
"If you know something, you should tell us." He said somewhat more calmly.
"I was merely stating a fact. If there is another war, or even another battle of any sort, the area will become unsafe for the children. They will have to be moved and to move them during the conflict will be much more difficult."
"True, but this time the fight is about the children. Whatever they are supposed to do and which ever they are, they are the ones who are in danger." George said frowning.
"I think we should try it here, see how this works out and if we need to move them later, we will." I said.
"I agree." Fred put in.
Since finding out that Angelina was pregnant he insisted that she remain in the safest place she could. He was not as overly cautious with her as I was with Hermione but he came close.
"It seems like a good course of action." Harry agreed.
A murmur went around the table and everyone agreed to let the children remain in Grimmauld Place until further notice. Though Harry remained adamant about there being no need to send them to the forest.
Harry nodded to me as we all stood up to get ready for dinner, I nodded back but motioned that I would talk to him in a minute. I hurried after Snape's cloaked form and caught him at the door.
"That was really nice of you to get Mia the candy." I said quietly.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." He replied frowning.
"Sure you don't, my daughter is upstairs floating above her cousins heads because some candy appeared out of thin air." I muttered.
"Stranger things have happened. Goodnight." He nodded to me stiffly and shut the door behind him.
"What was that?" Harry asked, coming around the corner.
"I was seeing Snape off." I replied and looked at him expectantly.
He raised an eyebrow in question but went on with what he wanted to say.
"I'm sorry I was short with you earlier. I'm a little high-strung at the moment."
"Don't worry about it, you're my brother, there's not much you could do to change that." I replied patting his shoulder.
"I have no idea what I would do without you." He whispered and turned to go back to the dining room to eat.
"Like I said, don't worry about it, that's what friends are for." I caught up to him and we entered the room together
(Draco)
Pip was waiting for us when we stepped out of the fireplace late that night. Her pale skin was bruised in several spots and she had been weeping. Kneeling beside her I patted the tiny bald head and asked her what had happened, knowing who had done the damage.
"The Mistress is in the study, sir." She whimpered and slowly backed away.
"Why is she here?" I asked standing again.
"Says, tell Master Draco to come to the study, sir."
My son took hold of my sleeve. I looked at his frowning face and covered his hand with my own, surprised by his actions.
"Bane, go to bed. I'll be there soon to say goodnight." I ordered evenly.
He nodded and hurried in the direction of his room, followed closely by Pip. I waited until he was out of sight and began the walk to my study.
She was waiting for me as the house elf had said she would be. Her long maroon robes sweeping the floor gracefully, one pale hand clutching a lace handkerchief, the other smoothing her hair absently. For so long I had admired her beauty, longed to have the ability to silence a room of people simply by entering, I would have given anything to command such a presence. All through my childhood she had been an exquisite shadow lurking on the edge of my vision. A shadow I called Mother.
"Mother."
She turned and a shiver went through me. The handkerchief disappeared in the folds of her robes and her hands clasped in front of her. Striking an innocent pose would have been enough to fool those less experienced in her ways, I knew better. She was only biding her time. Watching for a weakness.
"Draco."
"What are you doing here?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.
Her head tilted slightly to the side as though listening to me.
"I came to check on Bane. After your abrupt departure I felt it necessary to assure myself that nothing amiss had happened to my grandson." While her tone was that of a worried grandmother, in her flashing eyes she was a predator.
"Why would anything happen to Bane?" I asked my voice somehow remaining calm.
"You have left him alone before, no one but that house elf to watch over him. That's hardly appropriate behavior. And now keeping him out until all hours, one might call you negligent." The last word was spoken with unmistakable malice, however subtle.
"Pip is quite capable of handling the boy."
"Also, your father needs constant care. You do not have time for such late night excursions."
"It's not as if the old man were going anywhere." I snapped, regretting the words as I said them.
Her eyes glittered in the light from the fireplace.
"No, he isn't."
"Mother, I think it's time for you to leave." I closed my eyes to shut out her ever judging stare.
"I know where you were." Her voice was so soft I nearly missed it.
"What?" My eyes opened and she was closer than before.
"I know who you were with."
"Mother." I said warningly as she drew still closer.
I could see the makeup she wore to cover her age, smell the juniper perfume my father always bought her. The careful, deliberate movements were those of a predator closing in.
"Did you think I wouldn't know? That you could go there and come back to the same arrangement as before? How very silly of you."
My skin prickled at her words.
"We taught you better than that."
"Better than what?" I growled.
"Than to go spilling secrets into the ear of mudblood filth. What did she do in return? I hope you found her company pleasurable. That the possession of your son was worth a few hours with her."
"You know nothing." I stated clearly.
"I know more than you think, dear boy. I know of your debt to her. How she pulled you and your son to freedom. I know all of it."
"You need to leave. This is still my house. I want you gone, NOW." I hadn't meant to shout.
Her eyes gleamed again.
"This is just beginning. You have no idea what the future holds."
"Leave." I cried again.
"Go ahead, cling to your new 'friends' see if they help you in the days to come. See if they feel the same way about you when they find out where your father resides."
My jaw was tight and I held my ground. She would not make me act out again.
"You may never have taken the Dark Mark, but it runs in your veins. The more you deny it, the stronger it becomes. One day it will consume you."
I blinked and she was gone, the sound of her disapparation still in the air. A weight was lifted from my shoulders. Silently I collected myself and left the room to find my son.
He lay in his bed with the covers up to his chin, grey eyes peering up at me, the smirk of earlier gone. I sat on the edge of his bed and motioned that Pip could leave her post by the door. She obeyed and I pushed a few stray blonde hairs from Bane's face.
"Did you make any friends today?" I asked expecting sarcasm.
He thought for a moment, narrowing his eyes.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" I nearly smiled.
"I think, maybe, I did."
"Good." My hand moved to his cheek.
"Are you going to bed now?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Can you leave me a light?"
I felt my throat constrict with unshed tears as I nodded. The end of the week loomed ever closer, the end of our time together for two months. I refused to think of the empty house. Even if he tended to be snide and rude most of the time, that was her influence coming to light. I loved him.
Pulling my wand from my pocket, I held it to my closed fist and whispered a few words into the air. Slowly opening my hand I allowed a small bubble of light to emerge and hang in the air. Bane's eyes lit with wonder as I moved it to hover above the head of his bed.
"Thank you." He said.
"Goodnight." I replied.
"Goodnight."
(Remus)
Tonks took Lily upstairs when the fight started. Promises of candy and games easily distracted the young girl from her parents' problems. I paced tiredly in the living room while they continued the argument in the next room. In some ways I wished one of them would just leave, we all needed sleep, especially the child.
"You can't just take her back to the house." Harry was insisting.
"Why not? Why can't she go sleep in her own bed?" Ginny hissed.
"They managed to get in the house before. They could get in again. I just want my daughter safe."
"I can protect her."
"Not if there is more than one. What if they attack in a group? You can't fight off that many of them."
There was logic to Harry's words. Ginny wasn't strong, she could probably fight off one attacker but a group would easily overpower her. I repeated the same circuit of pacing I had just finished and sighed loudly.
"She hates it here, it scares her, and she's been living with Ron and Hermione for nearly a month. I just want her to be able to be in her own home tonight." Ginny explained.
"Stay at The Burrow. I'll feel better then." Harry begged.
"Feel better about what?" Her voice had dropped.
"That you guys are safe."
"I'm going home. I want to go home." She insisted with tears in her voice.
"Then go home, just leave Lily here. She can sleep in my room tonight."
"No. She's coming with me. We'll be fine."
"Damn it, Ginny, can't you just listen to me for once?" He shouted.
"What would you have me do?"
"All the others sent their children to The Burrow. She'd be with her cousins. Just let her go and be safe, you can do what you like."
"I'm not going back to that house alone and I'm certainly not stay here with you." She snapped.
There was silence and a few whispered words that I couldn't hear. I dared to hope that they had ceased to fight, that perhaps this was the first step to making up.
"You know what, screw you!" Ginny yelled and stormed out of the room and past me to the bottom of the stairs.
"Ginny, wait! I didn't mean it that way." He pleaded also pushing past me.
"Lily, we're leaving." She called up the stairs.
"Ginny, please."
"Don't talk to me. Don't say another word."
Little feet hurried down the steps and Lily met her mother at the bottom.
"Come on, we're going to stay with Uncle Fred tonight."
"But, I want to go home." The girl said with a frown.
"It's not safe there, we'll go home soon I promise." She whispered lifting Lily into her arms.
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but was met with a glare from his wife. She shoved him aside and stalked into the other room. Moments later we heard the roar of the fireplace and she was gone.
I waited for Harry to elaborate on what had happened, but he just started up the stairs. I heard him mutter something about getting up for work in the morning and then he was gone. Moments later Tonks came hobbling down the stairs with her cane.
"I guess it's over then?" She asked making her way to the living area.
"Yeah. Ginny took Lily to The Burrow." I replied sitting beside her on the sofa.
"Good. She should be safe there, at least until we figure something else out."
"I almost wish they had all stayed here." I mused.
"I know, it was nice to have company."
We sat there a moment longer.
"We'll I'm off to bed." She yawned.
"Goodnight then." I said smiling at her.
She eyed me up and down again, I waited for the proposition.
"Are you coming with me?" She asked slipping her hand along my thigh.
The thought was tempting. Very tempting. It was hard not to enjoy the feeling of her so close.
"Not tonight." I said gently taking her wandering hand in mine.
She paused and wet her lips with her tongue.
"Are you saying that you might consider it on another night?" She asked with devilish curiosity.
I allowed the smirk to come to my lips and found myself rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb.
"I'll make you no promises, but should we both survive the coming conflict, I'll consider your offer."
"I told you."
"Told me what?" I asked feeling mischievous.
"I told you that you couldn't resist me for long. Knew I'd wear you down eventually."
I laughed and found that I liked the sound, it felt like ages since I had laughed with any sort of conviction, my joy was cut short by her mouth suddenly on mine. At first I protested, tried to find a way to detach her, but in the end it was no use. She tasted far to good to stop.
"If you get lonely in the night…" She left the sentence hanging as she stood up.
"I won't."
She chuckled and I heard the tap of her cane on the floor.
As soon as I was sure she was out of ear shot I growled loudly and threw myself back on the couch.
"I thought you guys weren't." A voice said from the doorway.
"We aren't." I answered.
"Sure looked like you were to me." Harry replied.
"I'm going to bed." I announced and with a half smile on my lips I passed him and went up the stairs. Passing her room, I was tempted to simply go to her then. However, I walked on by, still tasting her mouth on mine.
(Harry)
Work was slow. I propped my feet up on the desk and leaned far back in my chair, watching the clock slowly tick by the minutes. There was paperwork to do and reports to turn in, but I couldn't find the will to do them. My mind drifted to other things, prophesy, my wife, my daughter, my grumbling stomach, and the growing need for a smoke. Sighing I let my head flop to hang off the back of my seat, several paper airplane memos floated above me, followed by Ron's face.
"Did you get this memo?" He asked looking down at me.
"What memo?" I made no move to right myself and he rolled his eyes.
"This one." In his hand he held a crumpled airplane.
"I guess not, as you have incapacitated it. How many times have I told you not to squish the planes? They have feelings too." Being upside down was affecting my mood, suddenly everything was funny.
He rolled his eyes again and thrust the paper at me, I ignored it.
"You know, you have freckles up your nose." I said pointing at his nostril.
He growled and shoved my feet off the desk, snapping me upright and knocking my chin to my chest. I cursed and tasted blood from my cheek where I bit it.
"Read." He said and again put the paper in my face.
"Fine, fine." I said unfolding the memo.
Quickly I scanned it's contents and frowned.
"This isn't even our department."
"I know." He replied gruffly.
"What do we have to do with the department of magical transportation?" I asked very confused.
"I asked that too, apparently an illegal shipment of exploding broomsticks is worthy of the presence of two aurors." Ron practically spat the words out.
"But…" I began standing up.
"I told them you just got back and they said it would only be for a day or two." He explained.
"I need a cigarette." I said and pushed past him.
"I thought you gave that up?" He called after me but I ignored him.
The last thing I needed was to be reprimanded about my old habits while trying to deal with the problems at hand. I did not want to go out of town, especially for something as stupid as illegal broomsticks. Nor did I really want to bother with the other problems either. It seemed that I walked a fine line between obsession and apathy. One minute I desperately wanted to work things out and the next I just wanted a good long smoking break.
"You know, you could wait for me next time." Ron said panting for breath.
I glanced at him and inhaled deeply, loving the feel of smoke in my mouth.
"It'll be okay, I'm sure the others can do without us." He continued.
Slowly I breathed a cloud of smoke in front of me and Ron coughed.
"How can you stand that? It stinks."
"Ginny kicked me out, Ron." I said at last.
"What?"
I paused and dropped the cigarette butt to the ground, stepped it out and then banished it.
"I've got a lot on my mind. I didn't mean to be rude to you earlier."
"What do you mean my sister kicked you out?" He disregarded my last statement.
"I'm staying with Remus."
"Why did she kick you out? What happened?"
"I don't know anymore, we aren't together and that's all that really matters." I muttered regretting that I had said anything.
"You are my best friend, I need to know these things." His hand grasped my arm.
"We need to go back in."
"Stop this nonsense and explain yourself." He demanded.
"We had a fight, she said she wanted some time alone, so I took off to give it to her. Is that enough or shall I describe it in detail?" I snapped.
"When did you fight?"
"The night of the party."
He paused and looked confused. I realized that most of the night had been erased for him by sweet wine and Hermione's kisses.
"I don't even remember you much at the party, I saw you go upstairs, was that…"
"No."
My mind drifted back to the few images I had of her that night. If I closed my eyes I could feel her twisting my hair in her fingers. Quickly I commanded myself to stop and focus on the present. She didn't want me and I was trying hard not to want her.
"But…"
"Ron, I'm through with this conversation, I just thought you should know, I'm going back up and finish my paperwork."
With that I turned on my heel and reentered the building through the back.
(Ginny)
Lily never asked questions and I was thankful for that. Several times I caught her looking at me curiously during the day, her green eyes inspecting my mood. I smiled at her and petted her long dark hair, trying to curb the inquiry making impulse before I had to explain things to her. Eventually she would need to know what was going on with her father and I. She would need to know that she was in danger and that she needed to be keeping all those defense spells in mind. She would need to know everything, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her, not yet.
Whenever I could get a moment alone I would go over the things Harry and I had said to one another. I did not regret a single remark, it was not in my nature to regret. Yet, I knew I had gone too far. I had said things I couldn't take back, but so had he. It would have been far simpler if the prophesy had not come to light. He would have forgotten his hero instincts and probably realized how he had been acting. We might have worked things out. Some of me still hoped we could.
"Mummy, can you put my hair up?" Lily asked me as we were getting ready to move once again to Grimmauld Place.
I nodded and sat her in front of my chair by the fire. With a wave of my wand a brush appeared in my other hand and I took to brushing the tangles from her thick hair. No matter how much we brushed it or how firmly it was tied, the wiry locks always came out of the ribbon. I used to tease Harry that he had passed on his one bad gene to the child, to which he would smooth his own hair unsuccessfully and say he had no idea what I was talking about.
"Where is Daddy?" I froze for a moment, but continued on.
"Working." I answered.
"Oh."
Quickly I pulled her hair back and tied the ribbon around it as tightly as I could without magic. She sat forward and one strand had already escaped. I sighed and shook my head.
"When will he be done working?" She asked turning to look at me.
Her resemblance to Harry was amazing. No matter how I tried I couldn't see a bit of me in her at all. From her dark hair, to her green eyes, to her thin build.
"I don't know. We'll see tonight."
She opened her mouth to say something else but stopped and closed it again. Another strand had escaped the ribbon, but she didn't mind. Instead she turned and ran from the room, ponytail bobbing behind her.
Not many hours later we were all standing on the step to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, Lily clinging tightly to my leg. Angelina knocked and Ron answered the door ushering us in quickly. As I tugged my daughter through the door he motioned to me that we needed to talk privately. I nodded and tried to hand Lily off to Angelina.
"I want to stay with you." She begged.
"You can't, go upstairs, now." I explained easing her grip fro my hand.
She didn't, pout merely frowned and followed the others up the stairs. I waved to her and followed Ron into one of the empty rooms.
"What is this about you kicking Harry out?" He began.
"You waste no time, can't even say hello." I rolled my eyes.
"Don't start with me, what's going on?"
"We had a fight of sorts and … he left."
"Why?"
"Ron, it's my marriage and it's my business."
His posture changed and he crossed his arms over his chest. I found myself on the receiving end of an incredulous look.
"He's my best friend and you are my sister."
"And it is our life and not yours."
"Are you going to work it out?" He asked suddenly quiet.
I sighed and rubbed my hands together nervously. That was the question I had been wondering myself.
"I don't know. We haven't gotten that far yet, we're still at the fighting part."
"Well get it together, we need both of you for this prophesy thing, you aren't much good to us fighting." He squeezed my shoulder a little before wrapping his arm around me.
Together we went back out to meet the others. I thought about what he had said. Mostly I agreed, we would have to work together to keep the children safe, but I still found myself getting angry when I thought of him. The hurt ran deep and it would take more than apologies to make it right.
(Lily)
Bane sat in his corner again, observing everyone with a lack of interest. I sat close by waiting for him speak, giving him time to get used to me again. The others were whispering to each other across the room and I frowned at them menacingly. Of course they ignored me.
"Who are they?" Bane asked suddenly.
"My cousins."
"They don't like me much." He replied.
"They aren't so bad, they just don't know you yet." I explained looking at him.
"You don't either." He muttered.
I laughed again. I'd never met a kid who was so self-centered as him.
"What's so funny?" He demanded angrily.
"You."
"Shut up."
I laughed harder and scooted closer.
"What are you doing?" His voice was back to being rude and nasty again.
"Want to play a game?" I asked ignoring him.
He paused and looked at me closely. I could almost hear his thoughts as he weighed every option. I was bothering him, but he was bored. He wanted to be alone, but he also wanted to stop being bored. Eventually he decided and asked what game I had in mind.
"Angelina brought a box of toys." I told him standing up.
He followed me to the wooden crate used to hold our things. Thinking carefully I pulled out a box of wooden blocks that wouldn't fall until you wanted them to and showed him. A smile almost came to his face. I dumped the blocks to the floor and we began to build.
"You and your father look alike." I said casually.
"Yes." He answered.
"Where is your mum?"
He pressed two blocks together and glanced at me nervously.
"She died."
"I'm sorry."
"I don't remember her. I was little."
"Where do you live?"
I decided to keep asking questions until he refused to answer.
"With my father." He answered still not looking fully at me.
"I live with my mum and dad and sometimes I live with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione."
For a long time he simply built on the tower, his tongue caught between his teeth thoughtfully, for once no anger or malice in his face.
"I live with my grandmother sometimes." He said very quietly.
"Why?"
"She teaches me things. How to act and how to dress and things like that."
"Both my grandmothers are dead."
"How did they die?" He asked.
I noticed the my cousins were edging closer, whispering to each other.
"My dad's mum was killed by Voldemort when Dad was little, and Grandma Weasley was killed in a battle."
He looked at me finally when I said the name of the dark wizard. His eyes reflected something very near fright.
"You say his name?"
"Of course. We all do. Why shouldn't we?"
"My grandmother told me that only a fool would utter his name aloud, unless they were his follower."
I laughed again, only not as hard. Meshach was standing very close by gesturing to me to come over.
"I'll be right back." I said and went to where my cousin was waiting.
"You shouldn't be playing with him." He said earnestly.
"Why not? He's nice."
"Do you know who he is? Has he told you who his father is?"
I shook my head and waited. Meshach would tell me eventually.
"He's a Malfoy. You remember who they are right? His grandfather was a Death Eater and his father probably is too." I would have laughed had he not been so serious.
Bane was still building on the tower. Though I felt some of his unease at my absence. His eyes kept drifting back to the corner and I knew I had to hurry back or risk spending another hour sitting and waiting for him to talk.
"Who cares?" I said becoming angry.
"Be careful what you tell him about us, I don't think our parents want us telling him things."
I glared at him and stepped closer until our face were only an inch apart.
"If you come over there and bother us, I'll…I'll…I'll use my wand." I growled.
He rolled his eyes and turned away, muttering something about girls. I stuck my tongue out at his back and hurried over to my new friend.
"What did he want?" Bane asked.
"Nothing important."
That earned me a genuine smile that lit his grey eyes nicely.
(Ron)
I was lugging Mia around in my arms at Hermione's request. The little girl was in a mood and when I tried to set her down she burst into tears, so I found myself opening the door for people while gently whispering comforting words in my daughter's ear. Snape found this extremely amusing and gave me an dubious look as he passed by.
"Hey." Mia said suddenly, startling me.
Snape turned to look at her and she began to struggle against me. There was a knock at the door and I grumbled, but set her down and turned to answer it. Behind me I heard Mia whispering excitedly to my old professor and I thought I heard him reply. By the time I had gotten Moody inside and on his way to the dining room Mia was alone in the hallway munching on levitating sherbet balls.
"Where did you get those?" I asked lifting her back up.
She shrugged innocently.
"Come on, just tell Daddy who gave you those." I pleaded.
She smiled a sticky smile at me and continued eating. I rolled my eyes and carried her upstairs to the others. Hermione met me at the bottom of the steps.
"Where's Mia?" She asked.
"I took her upstairs." I replied.
"But she was crying. What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything, someone gave her levitating sherbet balls while I wasn't looking."
"Who would do that?"
"You aren't going to believe me, but I think it was Snape."
Hermione laughed a little until she saw I was serious.
"Well, if that is the case then perhaps he's not as bad as we remember him."
I shook my head and we both went to join the others in the dining room for yet another meeting.
As usual the faces were grim, especially Harry's. He seemed to have grown more depressed since our talk at work, this wasn't going to be a pleasant time. The only person looking worse than him was Draco who merely stared off into the distance.
After the general outburst when Harry announced that he and I were being called away for a day or two, everyone calmed down and discussed what actions needed to be taken in the mean time. It was agreed that we couldn't be sure which child was which part of prophesy except for Meshach, but as Snape said, there was no being sure that even that was correct. If we did something with the children it would have to be all of them.
"The children must be moved." Moody croaked.
"Why? They are perfectly safe at The Burrow."
"Not really. The charms on the borders have been weakening, if they hadn't Meshach would never have had his accident." My father stated.
"We can strengthen them." Tonks suggested.
"It would take months to do that, at least a month to remove the first ones, you can't just leave them or they will interfere with the new, and maybe two more months to set up a spell large enough to surround the whole of the land, even if we just did the house it could take longer than we have." Remus put in.
"When Molly and I put the charms up it took us the entire nine months she was pregnant to get them all working correctly." Dad said leaning forward in his chair.
"Not to mention that it is still connected to the floo network. And the structure is old enough that it might not even take to the spells well. We could do more damage than anything." Moody explained.
"Then where would we move them to?" Hermione asked curiously.
"We could move them here." Neville suggested.
I saw my sister cringe, she hated this house, after our stint of living in one of the rooms the summer before her fourth year she had nightmares about it. I could hear her shouting in her sleep late at night, it would torture for her to leave Lily alone in this big dark place.
"Isn't there another option?" She pleaded.
"There are always more options." I rolled my eyes as Dumbledore put in his usual mysterious response.
"Like what?" Fred asked echoed by a nod from George.
"There are safe havens all over England that could be used." Albus continued.
"I'm not sending my children somewhere far away. No farther than I have to, anyway." I announced.
"If I remember correctly there is a small house located in the Forbidden Forest that could be used quite well for this purpose." Snape interjected.
"NO!" Harry said with finality.
"I don't think that it would be appropriate for children." Remus said quickly.
"I do not think you should dismiss it so quickly." Dumbledore admonished gently.
"I'm not sending my little girl out there with centaurs and thestrals and whatever other beasts lurk in those woods." Harry cried.
"If things become to dangerous here, you may have no choice." Snape muttered ominously.
"Do you know something we don't?" Draco said speaking for the first time, his grey eyes shining with anger.
"Calm yourself Mr. Malfoy, there is no reason to become angry." The dark haired man replied.
"If you know something, you should tell us." He said somewhat more calmly.
"I was merely stating a fact. If there is another war, or even another battle of any sort, the area will become unsafe for the children. They will have to be moved and to move them during the conflict will be much more difficult."
"True, but this time the fight is about the children. Whatever they are supposed to do and which ever they are, they are the ones who are in danger." George said frowning.
"I think we should try it here, see how this works out and if we need to move them later, we will." I said.
"I agree." Fred put in.
Since finding out that Angelina was pregnant he insisted that she remain in the safest place she could. He was not as overly cautious with her as I was with Hermione but he came close.
"It seems like a good course of action." Harry agreed.
A murmur went around the table and everyone agreed to let the children remain in Grimmauld Place until further notice. Though Harry remained adamant about there being no need to send them to the forest.
Harry nodded to me as we all stood up to get ready for dinner, I nodded back but motioned that I would talk to him in a minute. I hurried after Snape's cloaked form and caught him at the door.
"That was really nice of you to get Mia the candy." I said quietly.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." He replied frowning.
"Sure you don't, my daughter is upstairs floating above her cousins heads because some candy appeared out of thin air." I muttered.
"Stranger things have happened. Goodnight." He nodded to me stiffly and shut the door behind him.
"What was that?" Harry asked, coming around the corner.
"I was seeing Snape off." I replied and looked at him expectantly.
He raised an eyebrow in question but went on with what he wanted to say.
"I'm sorry I was short with you earlier. I'm a little high-strung at the moment."
"Don't worry about it, you're my brother, there's not much you could do to change that." I replied patting his shoulder.
"I have no idea what I would do without you." He whispered and turned to go back to the dining room to eat.
"Like I said, don't worry about it, that's what friends are for." I caught up to him and we entered the room together