A/N Alright. This chapter is rather…not my favorite. But it leads up to things and was a necessary evil.
Lolua- Yeah Neville has a rough life. The houses are mixed up. Just focus on your gut instinct by all that you have seen so far. As for Draco, he has quite a tale. Keep reviewing.
Dementorchic- thanks for reviewing again. Yes the plot has thickened and in a bit I swear it practically curdles. Be prepared.
(Ginny)
It was Hermione who heard the screams first, I heard her feet pounding on the stairs and stumbled to look out my door. Fred and Angelina ran past as well.
"What's going on?" I called after them.
A faint noise came to me then, the keening shriek of a child. My heart froze and whirled around, but saw Lily sleeping soundly on my bed. Thanking every higher power I could think of I pulled my robe on and hurried after the others. As I reached the bottom of the stairs I saw Fred and Hermione hauling someone in from the outside.
"Mind his head." Hermione ordered.
"What the hell happened?" Fred asked angrily.
I heard Angelina's soft voice somewhere behind them, still outside in the steps.
"What…?" I began.
"Oh thank God, Ginny." Hermione gasped and shifted her weight a little to help balance the man knees.
"Neville's hurt, bad." Fred answered by question.
"What is it? What's going on?" Remus cried from behind me.
"Move, we have to get him upstairs." Fred growled and I pressed myself against the wall.
As the passed I saw Neville's wounds. Huge burns covering his arms, black and red, oozing a little. His eyes were closed but he flinched with every movement. Remus looked at me and motioned for me to follow them up, he would take care of everything else. I nodded and obeyed.
"On the bed." I called.
Together, Fred and Hermione managed to maneuver the injured man up onto the bed.
"What happened?" I asked pushing past Fred to inspect the burns.
"I don't know, heard the kids screaming and when we got out there he was laying on the ground like this." Fred replied a tremble in his voice.
"Someone get me my bag and some warm water." I ordered as I gently removed the remains of Neville's undershirt.
I heard both the other hasten to get my things.
The burns were not as extensive as I thought, they seemed confined to his arms.
"Someone was watching over you." I murmured.
"Ginny." He gasped.
I looked up and found his hazel eyes brimming with tears.
"Hush, I'm going to take care of you." I petted his cheek comfortingly.
"The girls." He whispered.
"They're fine, Angelina has them. Rest."
"It hurts."
"Shhh."
"Here's the water and your bag. Is there anything else I can do?" Hermione asked.
"Not now." I answered taking the bag from her and undoing the clasp.
"I'm going to help the others then."
I pulled out a bottle of green salve and nodded to her before she left. Neville whimpered as I poured the thick green liquid over his arms, it stung and I could smell the acrid scent of it slowly healing the burns. When I was done I sat at the head of the bed and rested my hand on his hair. His breathing eased and the tense muscles relaxed.
"What happened Neville?" I whispered.
"We were watching the sun…someone was in the bushes…him." The answer was disjointed with his weakness.
"Who?" I asked.
"Him. Ginny it was him. He's dead, but he …it was him."
Suddenly he began to shake uncontrollably, his breathing became rapid gasps for air. Quickly I grabbed his hands before he hurt himself.
"Neville! It's okay, you're safe now." I cried.
His eyes squeezed shut in pain, mouth a twisted line of agony, but he lay still. The tension in his arms told me he was holding the shaking back, refusing to let himself go.
"I'm going to die, aren't I?" He asked quietly through clenched teeth.
"Of course not."
"It feels like I'm dying."
"The burns aren't that deep, the fire wasn't on you for long. You probably won't even scar too badly." I assured him still holding his hands.
"I love you."
There was an instant of shock before I realized what he had said. Meeting his anguished gaze I found he was staring at me, waiting for my reaction.
"What?" I asked.
His hands tightened on mine, but I released them. Suddenly I didn't know what to do.
"I love you, have since I first saw you." He repeated the shaking commencing again on a smaller scale.
"Neville you shouldn't be saying things like that. You're hurt and I think you might be in shock." I explained trying to shrug it off.
Refusing to look at his face I dug for bandages in my bag, finding them I took his left arm and deftly began to wrap it. He flinched and his shuddering seemed to grow worse.
"If I'm going to die, I want you to know." He continued.
"You aren't going to die, so stop talking about it." I snapped.
It seemed nothing would stop his sudden flow of words.
"All through school I loved you, I'd have done anything for you. After you married Harry I thought I might die."
"You married Luna. You loved Luna." I reminded him.
He laughed a harsh, sad laugh and flinched again as I tied off the bandage.
"I love her, more than anything. She loved me back."
"Then stop this nonsense and pull yourself together."
"I never told her, not until the night she died." He gasped, I pulled his other arm to me.
"Stop this."
"I didn't think she loved me, Ginny. She loved Harry. Always had. Our relationship wasn't supposed to be like that, we were friends. But I loved her. And she died saving you for me."
I stopped wrapping the wound and looked at him.
"What?"
"She died for you, she took the curse so you could live, because she thought I loved you."
"You're lying." I stated and began wrapping again.
"Never."
"She didn't do that, Neville. She wouldn't have done that." I was being rougher than I intended and he cried out in pain.
"She did."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked tying the last knot.
He swallowed hard and a tear escaped to run down his face and onto the pillow.
"Because … if I die, you need to know. I couldn't let her die for nothing. I needed to tell you."
"I don't love you. I'm married. I can't love you." I replied.
He nodded and turned his face away from me. My heart ached at his sadness, but knew that I had done the right thing.
"Rest, I have to go meet with the others. You sleep and heal up."
I left the room before he could answer.
(Hermione)
Chaos reigned at Grimmauld Place. Adults and children milled about talking loudly and interrupting one another. Between Ivy and Lotus going into hysterics and keeping my children together, I was starting to go mad. It seemed that no matter how loudly I shouted no one would listen to me. I found myself standing in the midst of the living area, holding Lotus against me as she wept while Ivy curled up in a chair and hugged her knees to her chest.
"I want my daddy." Lotus begged again burying her face into my shoulder.
"You'll get to see him soon. I promise. Aunt Ginny is tending him. Don't cry, Love." I murmured and cuddled her to me.
At last I saw a familiar red head come down the stairs and enter the room. Her hands were shaking badly and there were tears in her eyes, I feared the worse. She looked up and met my gaze, I asked her silently the question that plagued everyone in the room. A tiny smile grew on her lips and my chest ceased to tighten.
"Your father is just fine." I whispered.
Tonks hobbled over and grabbed Ginny as she approached me.
"Is he…" She stopped and looked away.
"He'll be all right. The burns weren't nearly as bad as they could have been. Thank goodness we got to him when we did, had he been without the girls…" Ginny explained.
Tonks nodded and pressed her lips together anxiously, "I don't think I could stand it if he … if he turned out like me."
Ginny blinked back tears and squeezed the other girl's shoulder.
"We tried." She whispered.
"Oh, you stop, you did everything you could, my fault for going back in. Never you mind." The cane tapped the ground lightly as she made her way across the room.
"Can the girls go and see him?" I asked plaintively
"Of course, tell them to be gentle with his arms." She replied and smoothed Lotus' wild curls.
"Come on then," I called to Ivy, "Your father is waiting."
Ivy slipped off the chair and hurried after me. When we reached the room Ivy shoved the door open and ran to her father's side, tears back in her eyes. Lotus wriggled from my grasp and joined her sister.
"There's my babies." Neville grinned.
I saw his hands shake as he helped the twins onto the bed. They said nothing, but laid down on either side of him, heads pillowed on his chest. Patiently I waited just outside the doorway, trying not to overhear.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't so what you said." Ivy whimpered.
"It's ok, everything is fine." He assured her.
"You said to run and I couldn't, I wanted to see."
"Don't fret over it. What's done is done."
The girl sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Neville sighed and took one of their tiny hands in each of his.
"Hermione? Can they stay with me?" He called.
I stepped forward.
"Sure, just be careful about your arms." I said and turned to leave.
"Daddy, tell us a story." Lotus said very quietly.
"Okay," There was a pause, "do either of you know what a Crumple Horned Snorkack is?"
I laughed to myself and hurried back down the stairs to join the others. When I had reached the front room again everyone was in a rough circle listening to Ginny talk.
"The children must be moved." She said firmly.
Fred and George spoke their agreement, as did Arthur. Remus paled and Tonks looked about to cry. Only Angelina, who was somehow keeping the children from running around like crazy, seemed a bit confused. I had no doubt that Fred kept her updated about what was going on, but he seemed to have neglected to tell her where the children would be sent.
"Where?" She asked.
"A safe haven in the Forbidden Forest." Ginny replied.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Remus spoke up.
Everyone turned to look at him expectantly.
"That safe haven was built for a specific purpose. Mainly for me. I lived there for several years. It's just not a place to send children." He explained shaking his head.
"Why not?" Fred asked.
"Nothing goes near there, centaurs avoid it, there are few animals in the forest who would mess with a werewolf, but we would have a hard time getting to them if anything happened. You take a portkey to get there, but the protection charms and other things are activated by your arrival. No one else can get in and the only way out is a risky path through the forest."
Ginny pondered this for a while.
"I don't see what choice we have." She stated.
"Why not?" Angelina put in.
"Whatever attacked Neville and the girls knows where we are. It knows we are here and it knows that eventually it can find a way in. It's only a matter of time before something happens and we have another injured person and this time it might be a child." Ginny answered.
I glanced at the children and saw that only Lily and Bane were listening. Bane. I had completely forgotten that Draco was upstairs.
"Then it's settled, we'll send an owl to Dumbledore, he knew more about this place than we did." Ginny was saying.
"Remus knows." George said.
"I'm not authorized to make a portkey." The older man sighed.
"Ron and Harry didn't want to send the children away." I said finally speaking up.
Ginny looked at me, her lips pursed thoughtfully.
"They aren't here, they don't know what's going on. We'll send an owl to them as well." She replied.
I nodded and excused myself.
(Draco)
I woke in an unfamiliar room, shivering with cold. At some point during the night I had thrown the covers off and now my toes were turning a pale shade of blue. After much shuffling and searching I tugged a blanket off the floor and curled my feet happily into the warmth. Vaguely I remembered being tucked into bed by Potter's wife. A stab of pain went through my head and I winced, thinking hurt. Guardedly I cleared my head and stared up at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of the house. Voices drifted from downstairs, sounded like everyone else was up. I considered crawling out of bed, but decided not to. That might cause more pain.
I knew that I would have to get my son and go home soon. Pip would be worried and my father needed tending. My mother had probably stopped by already to find us gone. I would be facing her wrath as well.
"Draco?" A timid female voice called form the door.
I turned my head and saw Hermione peeking around the doorframe.
"Can I come in?" She asked.
"Sure."
"How are you feeling?" She sat in the chair next to the bed and regarded me anxiously.
"Better, I have my eyesight back."
She smiled sadly and suddenly I knew something had happened.
"What's wrong?" I asked trying to sit up.
"Neville and his daughters were attacked this morning. He was hurt pretty bad, Ginny's got everything under control though." She managed.
Realizations don't come easily to the Malfoy line, but at that moment I had one. Hermione was strong. Stronger than anyone else in her whole mixed up family. She took whatever life dealt and carried it without complaint. Tears were in her eyes, if not from sorrow then from mere stress, but she wouldn't let them fall. Not now, not when someone could see her. Later, when she was alone, rivers would pour from her eyes, but not now. In many ways we were alike.
"What are we doing about it?" I asked wishing the remains of my headache would go away.
"Sending the children away. We have to. Whatever it is knows where they are. We have to hide them."
"I don't remember much of last night, where will we send them?"
"A safe haven in the Forbidden Forest."
"That's a bit extreme."
"It's not like we have many other options. It has to be remote and it has to be hidden. I can't think of anything meeting those criteria more than the Forbidden Forest."
"True."
Sighing I rubbed my temples gently, trying to massage away the rest of the pain.
"Have you seen a healer about those headaches?" She was genuinely worried.
"It's nothing." I mumbled.
"It's something. You couldn't walk last night, and you kept talking nonsense, you should see a healer."
"What did I say?"
"You called me Pansy, and kept muttering things about your mother."
"Sorry. I didn't know what I was saying. It's just stress." I felt somewhat shameful at being so open.
"That was more than stress."
"I can handle it. I've got a potion at home that I take. Speaking of home, I had better go." I muttered and moved to stand up.
Realizing that I was only wearing my pants I began to search for my shirt.
"I'll let you get dressed and get Bane ready to go." She left quickly.
The second the door was closed I slumped down and moaned. The pain was getting worse, if I didn't get home to my potion quickly I would be in worse shape than before.
Soon I was walking into the living area, hoping I looked as pristine as before. Bane saw me and came when I motioned for him to.
"We're going home now." I said.
He nodded and we made our way through the group of Weasley's and their offspring, only be stopped by Potter's child. She grinned hugely and wrapped her arms around Bane. I raised an eyebrow at him but he just smiled back at her. When she let go finally we continued on our way. I wasn't sure how I felt about this friendship between Lily and my son. Though the look on my mother's face, when she found out, would be priceless.
Home was as it should be. Pip waited patiently by the fireplace and I was happy to see she had developed no new bruises.
"Pip was so worried, sir." She squeaked.
"Sorry about that, Pip, would you get me the bottle of potion for my headaches?"
"Yes, sir." She replied and scurried off.
"Go and get cleaned up, we're going back when I am through here." I told Bane.
He nodded.
"Oh, I noticed Lily." I said.
He smiled a bit and shrugged, "She's nice enough."
"Go take a bath."
Pip returned and handed me a small vial of liquid. I thanked her and sent her to help my son, swallowing the potion before making my way back the study.
My father lay exactly as I had left him. I watched his chest rise and fall steadily and willed it to stop, his eye lids flickered but he continued to stare blankly. Taking a deep breath I went about the routine of caring for him. I washed him and combed out his hair, tying it back in a loose black ribbon, I put new clothing on him and changed the sheets of his bed. After I had tucked him tightly in I pulled out a jar of baby food and carefully fed him spoon full after spoon full. All the while telling about my alliance with Potter and Lily's growing friendship with Bane.
When I was done I piled the dirty clothing and sheets in the hamper to be cleaned later when I had more time and went to find my son. He was sitting quietly in the living area waiting for me.
"How's Grandfather?" He asked.
I blinked at him, "Fine."
"Are we going back now?"
"In a minute. Pip, I need to talk to you."
The house elf nervously approached and cast her eyes downward. It seemed I would never undo the damage my mother had done.
"You aren't in trouble. I just need you to take care of things for a while longer. If my mother comes by simply tell her that you don't know where I am." I told her firmly.
She nodded, "Where are you going, sir?"
"I'll be back soon."
(Remus)
I wanted to wait for Harry and Ron. It seemed a bit hasty to just send the children away without their approval. I pleaded with Ginny and the others to wait it out, a couple of days wouldn't make to much difference, but Ginny would have none of it. If the attacker knew where Number 12 was, they could find a way in and the consequences would be more than any of us could stand. She had a point.
So I sent the owl to Dumbledore for her, while she composed the letter for her husband and brother. Even as she wrote I asked her to reconsider.
"Yes, I know Harry's going to be mad. And I know this isn't right. But I can't just sit and wait for whatever tried to kill the twins to come after my daughter. I won't. If he has a problem with that, which he will, then he can deal with it on his own." She stated with a fire in her eyes.
"You are very hard on him." I muttered watching Hedwig fly off with Ginny's letter around her leg.
She glared at me, "I don't know what he's told you, but it wasn't the half of it."
"Mostly he just says he wants you to forgive him."
"For what? For ignoring me for six years, for distancing himself from me until I hardly knew him, for not being able to touch me, for all the cruel things he's said lately? I have no problem forgiving him, Remus. He just won't ask." I sensed tears in her eyes.
"Give him time."
"I have."
She walked away quickly, calling for her daughter.
Dumbledore came soon after and the situation was explained to him. His face was grave as he listened to Ginny's reasoning.
"I see your point Mrs. Potter, but I must say that it might be better to wait for Harry and Ron." He said in his usual calm voice.
"And wait for the children to be hurt?" Fred interjected angrily.
"I understand the urgency of the situation."
"Then make that damn portkey." George growled.
I sighed and looked at my feet.
"Very well." The old man agreed.
"Wait!" Someone called.
I looked up and found Draco and Hermione coming into the room.
"Bane is going too." Hermione announced.
"Why?" I asked pulling her aside to let the Weasley's finish talking to Dumbledore.
Draco frowned, "If he is there, my mother can't get her hands on him."
"I don't understand?"
"My mother has been trying to find an excuse to get custody of my son for years now, she thinks she finally has one, but if he isn't here, she can't."
"Well, I don't care if he comes, it's up to you. Just know that you chose to send him out there."
Draco nodded and he and Hermione left the room to find the children.
There was a momentary fiasco when Draco realized his son didn't have extra clothing, but Hermione assured him that he could wear Meshach's. This earned her a glare from her son. Angelina and I had volunteered to go with the children so that Ginny and Hermione could stay behind. Fred was reluctant suddenly to let his girlfriend leave, but she insisted. After a few tearful goodbyes we all reached out and grabbed hold of the large mixing bowl we were using as a portkey. I felt the familiar grip around my navel and the world slipped away.
Lolua- Yeah Neville has a rough life. The houses are mixed up. Just focus on your gut instinct by all that you have seen so far. As for Draco, he has quite a tale. Keep reviewing.
Dementorchic- thanks for reviewing again. Yes the plot has thickened and in a bit I swear it practically curdles. Be prepared.
(Ginny)
It was Hermione who heard the screams first, I heard her feet pounding on the stairs and stumbled to look out my door. Fred and Angelina ran past as well.
"What's going on?" I called after them.
A faint noise came to me then, the keening shriek of a child. My heart froze and whirled around, but saw Lily sleeping soundly on my bed. Thanking every higher power I could think of I pulled my robe on and hurried after the others. As I reached the bottom of the stairs I saw Fred and Hermione hauling someone in from the outside.
"Mind his head." Hermione ordered.
"What the hell happened?" Fred asked angrily.
I heard Angelina's soft voice somewhere behind them, still outside in the steps.
"What…?" I began.
"Oh thank God, Ginny." Hermione gasped and shifted her weight a little to help balance the man knees.
"Neville's hurt, bad." Fred answered by question.
"What is it? What's going on?" Remus cried from behind me.
"Move, we have to get him upstairs." Fred growled and I pressed myself against the wall.
As the passed I saw Neville's wounds. Huge burns covering his arms, black and red, oozing a little. His eyes were closed but he flinched with every movement. Remus looked at me and motioned for me to follow them up, he would take care of everything else. I nodded and obeyed.
"On the bed." I called.
Together, Fred and Hermione managed to maneuver the injured man up onto the bed.
"What happened?" I asked pushing past Fred to inspect the burns.
"I don't know, heard the kids screaming and when we got out there he was laying on the ground like this." Fred replied a tremble in his voice.
"Someone get me my bag and some warm water." I ordered as I gently removed the remains of Neville's undershirt.
I heard both the other hasten to get my things.
The burns were not as extensive as I thought, they seemed confined to his arms.
"Someone was watching over you." I murmured.
"Ginny." He gasped.
I looked up and found his hazel eyes brimming with tears.
"Hush, I'm going to take care of you." I petted his cheek comfortingly.
"The girls." He whispered.
"They're fine, Angelina has them. Rest."
"It hurts."
"Shhh."
"Here's the water and your bag. Is there anything else I can do?" Hermione asked.
"Not now." I answered taking the bag from her and undoing the clasp.
"I'm going to help the others then."
I pulled out a bottle of green salve and nodded to her before she left. Neville whimpered as I poured the thick green liquid over his arms, it stung and I could smell the acrid scent of it slowly healing the burns. When I was done I sat at the head of the bed and rested my hand on his hair. His breathing eased and the tense muscles relaxed.
"What happened Neville?" I whispered.
"We were watching the sun…someone was in the bushes…him." The answer was disjointed with his weakness.
"Who?" I asked.
"Him. Ginny it was him. He's dead, but he …it was him."
Suddenly he began to shake uncontrollably, his breathing became rapid gasps for air. Quickly I grabbed his hands before he hurt himself.
"Neville! It's okay, you're safe now." I cried.
His eyes squeezed shut in pain, mouth a twisted line of agony, but he lay still. The tension in his arms told me he was holding the shaking back, refusing to let himself go.
"I'm going to die, aren't I?" He asked quietly through clenched teeth.
"Of course not."
"It feels like I'm dying."
"The burns aren't that deep, the fire wasn't on you for long. You probably won't even scar too badly." I assured him still holding his hands.
"I love you."
There was an instant of shock before I realized what he had said. Meeting his anguished gaze I found he was staring at me, waiting for my reaction.
"What?" I asked.
His hands tightened on mine, but I released them. Suddenly I didn't know what to do.
"I love you, have since I first saw you." He repeated the shaking commencing again on a smaller scale.
"Neville you shouldn't be saying things like that. You're hurt and I think you might be in shock." I explained trying to shrug it off.
Refusing to look at his face I dug for bandages in my bag, finding them I took his left arm and deftly began to wrap it. He flinched and his shuddering seemed to grow worse.
"If I'm going to die, I want you to know." He continued.
"You aren't going to die, so stop talking about it." I snapped.
It seemed nothing would stop his sudden flow of words.
"All through school I loved you, I'd have done anything for you. After you married Harry I thought I might die."
"You married Luna. You loved Luna." I reminded him.
He laughed a harsh, sad laugh and flinched again as I tied off the bandage.
"I love her, more than anything. She loved me back."
"Then stop this nonsense and pull yourself together."
"I never told her, not until the night she died." He gasped, I pulled his other arm to me.
"Stop this."
"I didn't think she loved me, Ginny. She loved Harry. Always had. Our relationship wasn't supposed to be like that, we were friends. But I loved her. And she died saving you for me."
I stopped wrapping the wound and looked at him.
"What?"
"She died for you, she took the curse so you could live, because she thought I loved you."
"You're lying." I stated and began wrapping again.
"Never."
"She didn't do that, Neville. She wouldn't have done that." I was being rougher than I intended and he cried out in pain.
"She did."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked tying the last knot.
He swallowed hard and a tear escaped to run down his face and onto the pillow.
"Because … if I die, you need to know. I couldn't let her die for nothing. I needed to tell you."
"I don't love you. I'm married. I can't love you." I replied.
He nodded and turned his face away from me. My heart ached at his sadness, but knew that I had done the right thing.
"Rest, I have to go meet with the others. You sleep and heal up."
I left the room before he could answer.
(Hermione)
Chaos reigned at Grimmauld Place. Adults and children milled about talking loudly and interrupting one another. Between Ivy and Lotus going into hysterics and keeping my children together, I was starting to go mad. It seemed that no matter how loudly I shouted no one would listen to me. I found myself standing in the midst of the living area, holding Lotus against me as she wept while Ivy curled up in a chair and hugged her knees to her chest.
"I want my daddy." Lotus begged again burying her face into my shoulder.
"You'll get to see him soon. I promise. Aunt Ginny is tending him. Don't cry, Love." I murmured and cuddled her to me.
At last I saw a familiar red head come down the stairs and enter the room. Her hands were shaking badly and there were tears in her eyes, I feared the worse. She looked up and met my gaze, I asked her silently the question that plagued everyone in the room. A tiny smile grew on her lips and my chest ceased to tighten.
"Your father is just fine." I whispered.
Tonks hobbled over and grabbed Ginny as she approached me.
"Is he…" She stopped and looked away.
"He'll be all right. The burns weren't nearly as bad as they could have been. Thank goodness we got to him when we did, had he been without the girls…" Ginny explained.
Tonks nodded and pressed her lips together anxiously, "I don't think I could stand it if he … if he turned out like me."
Ginny blinked back tears and squeezed the other girl's shoulder.
"We tried." She whispered.
"Oh, you stop, you did everything you could, my fault for going back in. Never you mind." The cane tapped the ground lightly as she made her way across the room.
"Can the girls go and see him?" I asked plaintively
"Of course, tell them to be gentle with his arms." She replied and smoothed Lotus' wild curls.
"Come on then," I called to Ivy, "Your father is waiting."
Ivy slipped off the chair and hurried after me. When we reached the room Ivy shoved the door open and ran to her father's side, tears back in her eyes. Lotus wriggled from my grasp and joined her sister.
"There's my babies." Neville grinned.
I saw his hands shake as he helped the twins onto the bed. They said nothing, but laid down on either side of him, heads pillowed on his chest. Patiently I waited just outside the doorway, trying not to overhear.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't so what you said." Ivy whimpered.
"It's ok, everything is fine." He assured her.
"You said to run and I couldn't, I wanted to see."
"Don't fret over it. What's done is done."
The girl sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Neville sighed and took one of their tiny hands in each of his.
"Hermione? Can they stay with me?" He called.
I stepped forward.
"Sure, just be careful about your arms." I said and turned to leave.
"Daddy, tell us a story." Lotus said very quietly.
"Okay," There was a pause, "do either of you know what a Crumple Horned Snorkack is?"
I laughed to myself and hurried back down the stairs to join the others. When I had reached the front room again everyone was in a rough circle listening to Ginny talk.
"The children must be moved." She said firmly.
Fred and George spoke their agreement, as did Arthur. Remus paled and Tonks looked about to cry. Only Angelina, who was somehow keeping the children from running around like crazy, seemed a bit confused. I had no doubt that Fred kept her updated about what was going on, but he seemed to have neglected to tell her where the children would be sent.
"Where?" She asked.
"A safe haven in the Forbidden Forest." Ginny replied.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Remus spoke up.
Everyone turned to look at him expectantly.
"That safe haven was built for a specific purpose. Mainly for me. I lived there for several years. It's just not a place to send children." He explained shaking his head.
"Why not?" Fred asked.
"Nothing goes near there, centaurs avoid it, there are few animals in the forest who would mess with a werewolf, but we would have a hard time getting to them if anything happened. You take a portkey to get there, but the protection charms and other things are activated by your arrival. No one else can get in and the only way out is a risky path through the forest."
Ginny pondered this for a while.
"I don't see what choice we have." She stated.
"Why not?" Angelina put in.
"Whatever attacked Neville and the girls knows where we are. It knows we are here and it knows that eventually it can find a way in. It's only a matter of time before something happens and we have another injured person and this time it might be a child." Ginny answered.
I glanced at the children and saw that only Lily and Bane were listening. Bane. I had completely forgotten that Draco was upstairs.
"Then it's settled, we'll send an owl to Dumbledore, he knew more about this place than we did." Ginny was saying.
"Remus knows." George said.
"I'm not authorized to make a portkey." The older man sighed.
"Ron and Harry didn't want to send the children away." I said finally speaking up.
Ginny looked at me, her lips pursed thoughtfully.
"They aren't here, they don't know what's going on. We'll send an owl to them as well." She replied.
I nodded and excused myself.
(Draco)
I woke in an unfamiliar room, shivering with cold. At some point during the night I had thrown the covers off and now my toes were turning a pale shade of blue. After much shuffling and searching I tugged a blanket off the floor and curled my feet happily into the warmth. Vaguely I remembered being tucked into bed by Potter's wife. A stab of pain went through my head and I winced, thinking hurt. Guardedly I cleared my head and stared up at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of the house. Voices drifted from downstairs, sounded like everyone else was up. I considered crawling out of bed, but decided not to. That might cause more pain.
I knew that I would have to get my son and go home soon. Pip would be worried and my father needed tending. My mother had probably stopped by already to find us gone. I would be facing her wrath as well.
"Draco?" A timid female voice called form the door.
I turned my head and saw Hermione peeking around the doorframe.
"Can I come in?" She asked.
"Sure."
"How are you feeling?" She sat in the chair next to the bed and regarded me anxiously.
"Better, I have my eyesight back."
She smiled sadly and suddenly I knew something had happened.
"What's wrong?" I asked trying to sit up.
"Neville and his daughters were attacked this morning. He was hurt pretty bad, Ginny's got everything under control though." She managed.
Realizations don't come easily to the Malfoy line, but at that moment I had one. Hermione was strong. Stronger than anyone else in her whole mixed up family. She took whatever life dealt and carried it without complaint. Tears were in her eyes, if not from sorrow then from mere stress, but she wouldn't let them fall. Not now, not when someone could see her. Later, when she was alone, rivers would pour from her eyes, but not now. In many ways we were alike.
"What are we doing about it?" I asked wishing the remains of my headache would go away.
"Sending the children away. We have to. Whatever it is knows where they are. We have to hide them."
"I don't remember much of last night, where will we send them?"
"A safe haven in the Forbidden Forest."
"That's a bit extreme."
"It's not like we have many other options. It has to be remote and it has to be hidden. I can't think of anything meeting those criteria more than the Forbidden Forest."
"True."
Sighing I rubbed my temples gently, trying to massage away the rest of the pain.
"Have you seen a healer about those headaches?" She was genuinely worried.
"It's nothing." I mumbled.
"It's something. You couldn't walk last night, and you kept talking nonsense, you should see a healer."
"What did I say?"
"You called me Pansy, and kept muttering things about your mother."
"Sorry. I didn't know what I was saying. It's just stress." I felt somewhat shameful at being so open.
"That was more than stress."
"I can handle it. I've got a potion at home that I take. Speaking of home, I had better go." I muttered and moved to stand up.
Realizing that I was only wearing my pants I began to search for my shirt.
"I'll let you get dressed and get Bane ready to go." She left quickly.
The second the door was closed I slumped down and moaned. The pain was getting worse, if I didn't get home to my potion quickly I would be in worse shape than before.
Soon I was walking into the living area, hoping I looked as pristine as before. Bane saw me and came when I motioned for him to.
"We're going home now." I said.
He nodded and we made our way through the group of Weasley's and their offspring, only be stopped by Potter's child. She grinned hugely and wrapped her arms around Bane. I raised an eyebrow at him but he just smiled back at her. When she let go finally we continued on our way. I wasn't sure how I felt about this friendship between Lily and my son. Though the look on my mother's face, when she found out, would be priceless.
Home was as it should be. Pip waited patiently by the fireplace and I was happy to see she had developed no new bruises.
"Pip was so worried, sir." She squeaked.
"Sorry about that, Pip, would you get me the bottle of potion for my headaches?"
"Yes, sir." She replied and scurried off.
"Go and get cleaned up, we're going back when I am through here." I told Bane.
He nodded.
"Oh, I noticed Lily." I said.
He smiled a bit and shrugged, "She's nice enough."
"Go take a bath."
Pip returned and handed me a small vial of liquid. I thanked her and sent her to help my son, swallowing the potion before making my way back the study.
My father lay exactly as I had left him. I watched his chest rise and fall steadily and willed it to stop, his eye lids flickered but he continued to stare blankly. Taking a deep breath I went about the routine of caring for him. I washed him and combed out his hair, tying it back in a loose black ribbon, I put new clothing on him and changed the sheets of his bed. After I had tucked him tightly in I pulled out a jar of baby food and carefully fed him spoon full after spoon full. All the while telling about my alliance with Potter and Lily's growing friendship with Bane.
When I was done I piled the dirty clothing and sheets in the hamper to be cleaned later when I had more time and went to find my son. He was sitting quietly in the living area waiting for me.
"How's Grandfather?" He asked.
I blinked at him, "Fine."
"Are we going back now?"
"In a minute. Pip, I need to talk to you."
The house elf nervously approached and cast her eyes downward. It seemed I would never undo the damage my mother had done.
"You aren't in trouble. I just need you to take care of things for a while longer. If my mother comes by simply tell her that you don't know where I am." I told her firmly.
She nodded, "Where are you going, sir?"
"I'll be back soon."
(Remus)
I wanted to wait for Harry and Ron. It seemed a bit hasty to just send the children away without their approval. I pleaded with Ginny and the others to wait it out, a couple of days wouldn't make to much difference, but Ginny would have none of it. If the attacker knew where Number 12 was, they could find a way in and the consequences would be more than any of us could stand. She had a point.
So I sent the owl to Dumbledore for her, while she composed the letter for her husband and brother. Even as she wrote I asked her to reconsider.
"Yes, I know Harry's going to be mad. And I know this isn't right. But I can't just sit and wait for whatever tried to kill the twins to come after my daughter. I won't. If he has a problem with that, which he will, then he can deal with it on his own." She stated with a fire in her eyes.
"You are very hard on him." I muttered watching Hedwig fly off with Ginny's letter around her leg.
She glared at me, "I don't know what he's told you, but it wasn't the half of it."
"Mostly he just says he wants you to forgive him."
"For what? For ignoring me for six years, for distancing himself from me until I hardly knew him, for not being able to touch me, for all the cruel things he's said lately? I have no problem forgiving him, Remus. He just won't ask." I sensed tears in her eyes.
"Give him time."
"I have."
She walked away quickly, calling for her daughter.
Dumbledore came soon after and the situation was explained to him. His face was grave as he listened to Ginny's reasoning.
"I see your point Mrs. Potter, but I must say that it might be better to wait for Harry and Ron." He said in his usual calm voice.
"And wait for the children to be hurt?" Fred interjected angrily.
"I understand the urgency of the situation."
"Then make that damn portkey." George growled.
I sighed and looked at my feet.
"Very well." The old man agreed.
"Wait!" Someone called.
I looked up and found Draco and Hermione coming into the room.
"Bane is going too." Hermione announced.
"Why?" I asked pulling her aside to let the Weasley's finish talking to Dumbledore.
Draco frowned, "If he is there, my mother can't get her hands on him."
"I don't understand?"
"My mother has been trying to find an excuse to get custody of my son for years now, she thinks she finally has one, but if he isn't here, she can't."
"Well, I don't care if he comes, it's up to you. Just know that you chose to send him out there."
Draco nodded and he and Hermione left the room to find the children.
There was a momentary fiasco when Draco realized his son didn't have extra clothing, but Hermione assured him that he could wear Meshach's. This earned her a glare from her son. Angelina and I had volunteered to go with the children so that Ginny and Hermione could stay behind. Fred was reluctant suddenly to let his girlfriend leave, but she insisted. After a few tearful goodbyes we all reached out and grabbed hold of the large mixing bowl we were using as a portkey. I felt the familiar grip around my navel and the world slipped away.