Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to an enormous conspiracy of sadistic adults who like to torture adolescents by forcing them to write disclaimers. The conspiracy calls itself "J.K. Rowling."
Author's Note: I just decided that I didn't want to write my own disclaimers anymore, so I stole that one from my friend Phinea. Thanks. I honestly have nothing to say, except thank you to all of my reviewers.
ThousandI: Maybe you've noticed, but we both read Severusgirl's work, don't we? I just realized that as I was reading through some of Madness II's reviews. Yeah, don't know why this came up. Anyway, yeah, Lucius was totally annoying me, so I'm glad she's out of there too.
Cold feet:I'm glad to know you like it and I hope you keep reading. Um, and I think its Einstein. And I'm completely flattered at the comparison.
In Dreams: claps and pats In Dreams on the back I'm very proud of you! I know how much work that takes. However, I'd like to know what you're confused about. I really tried to make everything clear back there. Sorry.
Alenor: I'm happy for you. Um, Lucius used the Finis charm, which, if you don't remember from earlier, sends them to the boundary of wherever they already are.
Chibimecools: Are you still reading?! I was so excited when I read your review. I thought for sure I had lost you.
Sailor Moon Rose: Ick! No, I hope you weren't thinking that kind of punishment.
Perfect by Nature: It makes me so happy when I have new readers. If I stop updating, I give you my full permission to tie me to my computer. : )
Chapter 17: Return Home
Draco stood dumbly, his eyes fixated to the spot that Hermione had recently stood. Slowly, he closed his eyes and turned to his father, who was standing with his arms crossed, glaring at his son.
"Now, perhaps, you will forget about her," Lucius said in a voice that seemed to evoke a chill that ran all the way up Draco's spine, giving him an agonizing headache.
He grabbed his forehead and staggered a few steps.
"You certainly won't be following them, will you?" Lucius mocked a concern, as the headache only got worse.
Draco fell to his knees as his vision blurred from the pain.
"No, you're far more sensible than that. But really, stay in this house, Draco, or you will regret it."
Tears were beginning to leak from Draco's eyes, and, as hard as he tried to manage them, they flowed with ardor, sending his body into crashing sobs.
"Stop crying..." Lucius stared for a moment with his calm disposition but, as his son's sobs grew stronger, he began to tremble in rage. "You are a Malfoy! Stop crying!" he shouted as his son as he kicked him hard in the stomach, sending Draco on to his back.
Draco rolled to try and hide from his father, but Lucius began pelting him with his fists about the face until Draco had indeed stopped crying. Lucius stepped back from his son and opened the door, waiting for Draco to rise.
Slowly, Draco stood and made his way to the door, glancing back at his father before raging out of it- Lucius following him closely, lest he tried to follow them.
Hermione and Harry landed ungracefully on top of each other when they were banished to the edge of the Malfoy premises. Hermione had tears streaming down her face and Harry tried to pat her shoulders comfortingly, but really made no progress in calming the witch down.
"Come," she cried, "let's go back and get him!"
However, Harry could see the several security guards coming toward them and tried to urge her forward.
"No, it's too late," he whispered in her ear as she shook her head and tried to pry herself from his grasp.
"No," she screamed, trying desperately to get free.
"Excuse me," the security guard says as he approached them and caught the attention of Hermione, "Do you two have a reason for being here?"
"No," Harry shook his head and pulled the trembling Hermione along, "we're leaving."
"No!" Hermione got free and ran towards the guard, pulling at his vest, "I need to get in! I've got to see Draco! Please!" she wailed.
"Ma'am, I really must ask you to step away," he cautioned gently.
Hermione fell at the guard's feet and continued to sob, crying out incoherently and Harry came to pick her up.
"Sir, you need to get her out of her. We don't allow uninvited guests."
"I understand," Harry said, hoisting Hermione up by the armpits and trying to drag her away.
"And try taking her to the doctor," the guard said, watching them back away, "She doesn't look like she's in her right mind."
"Thank you," Harry said, stopping for a moment and really taking a look at his wife.
After careful examination, the guard broke his concentration by clearing his throat and pointing out at the horizon. Harry nodded and picked up Hermione- who weighed considerably less than she had the last time he had seen her- in his arms and started walking away from the Malfoy manor down the vast hillside until he had reached a decision on where to take them. With a flick of his wand, he and the shivering Hermione apparated to the only safe place he could think of- Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizarding.
Albus Dumbledore felt like he had aged at least thirty years in the last three months- losing three of his star students and dealing with the desperate fears of several thousand protective parents. And he wasn't the only one who took the loss difficultly. The entire staff of Hogwarts, especially Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape, the heads of houses that had lost the students, especially felt responsible and spent their time either feverishly searching or subconsciously wallowing in guilt as they went about their daily activities.
Even now, far into mid-year, the two heads of houses would glance at each other in the hallway, meaning in each look that was both sympathy and accusation. Their conversations were awkward at best. Therefore, the reaction that ensued one innocent February afternoon during a staff meeting when the two missing Gryffindors appeared was shocking to say the least.
Minerva McGonagall sat at the foot of the long table across from Dumbledore, discussing the most recent NEWT standards for Transfiguration.
"Really, Albus," Minerva continued in her confident but reserved voice, "the Orchas and Vir Astrum charms are hardly taught at Auror level, let alone standard school."
"I understand that, but seeing as how the war is rapidly increasing and may well call on our younger generations, I think it would be wise to equip them with more than the standard spells."
"Yes, Minerva," came the slimy voice of Severus Snape from the corner, "You will notice that the curriculum for my NEWT students has been heavily advanced as well."
"As have mine," voiced several other frustrated teachers.
"Even with the war," Minerva urged on, proving herself once again a woman who does not give up easily, "the students' grades must still be thought of. I can think of very few students who will be able to master the spell and therefore attain a passing grade. I suggest we allow the capable students to take an extra class and provide the advanced magic there."
"Speaking of capable students, Minerva," said Dumbledore with a bit of a twinkle in his eye, "I believe two such ones have just arrived in my office."
With those several words, the entire Hogwarts staff's eyes bulged to at least twice their size, in the case of some, three times. The inference made as Dumbledore swiftly stood and glided towards the door was caught by all the teachers and, just like a bustle of cattle, the group of fine, upstanding adults pushed their way through the crowd, shouting obscenities and elbowing people in the ribs just to get through.
By the time they had escaped out into the hall, they raced shoulder to shoulder where they met the Headmaster at the statue leading to his office, where they waited impatiently for Dumbledore to give the signal to enter.
Excitement filled the room to the brim as the teachers raced to see two of the students they had missed so much. Not just the thought of seeing them, but the anticipation of which two of the three they would meet, kept everyone on their toes. Even the teachers that didn't have one of them as students had missed the presence provided by them during the past few months. They had missed the melodrama, the paranoia, and the heroism that seemed to follow each of the three missing students wherever they went.
What they did not expect to see were two ragged, worn people clinging to each other as if they were still children. Hermione Granger, the shining light of the academic world, deliriously muttering into the shoulder of Harry Potter- the Boy Who Lived- and the hero of the entire school, who appeared positively terrified and wracked to the last nerve.
"Professor," Harry whimpered as the tidal wave of teachers poured into the room- addressing no one in particular. "Help me."
McGonagall ran forward and took Hermione from him, standing her limply on her feet and checking her for fever or any other ailments.
"Friends," Dumbledore stood before the mass of people behind his desk, "Mr. Potter and Miss Granger have been here only a few moments..." Hermione and Harry exchanged profound looks of realization, unrecognized by the people around them. "Therefore," Dumbledore went on, "I would appreciate you all hold your questions for another time."
There was a mass of nods and the staff quietly made their way from the professor's room, all but Professor McGonagall, who stood anxiously at the door.
"Professor...?" she timidly asked from the door before Dumbledore raised a hand to silence her.
"Yes, Minerva, you may stay," he smiled and sat down.
McGonagall sighed easily and ran to help the arrivals to their seats. After that, she conjured a small chair in the back of the room and sat inconspicuously, paying rapt attention to the proceedings.
"Now, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore brought his long fingers together at the fingertips and analyzed Harry for a moment before continuing, "It seems you have been on another of your adventures." He smiled widely and giggled for a moment to himself, "You may rest assured of our complete relief that you both are safe. Now, I must ask you, however difficult it is for you, that you tell me what has happened to you since you seemed to disappear."
Harry took a deep breath before speaking, handling the subject matter gingerly and omitting any questionable material. He began with the abduction of Hermione, leaving out that it was from Draco's quarters and continued with their search and finally her discovery, leaving out the closing confrontation with Lucius and their sudden matrimony. When he had finished, he turned to Hermione, whose face was lowered and put his hand on hers comfortingly.
Dumbledore sat, absorbing the tale, for a long while and finally spoke again.
"And where, may I ask, is Mr. Malfoy?"
Hermione lifted her face and said before Harry could even think about the question, "He's at his house..." and with a final thought, "He's safe."
"Miss Granger..." Dumbledore began before being interrupted by Hermione.
Her eyes were wide and she stared forward with a blank expression as she spoke, "I'm sorry Professor, but that's not my name."
Dumbledore looked at Harry, clearly questioning the girl's sanity.
"Don't worry Professor," Harry said, his tone becoming more and more comfortable, "she's fine. She's just been through a lot."
"Professor," Hermione said, turning the old man's attention to her once again, "My name is Mrs. Potter."
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose slightly as Harry turned desperately to Hermione, taking her hand. She smiled at him with a friendly look on her face.
"We can't lie, Harry. We'd better just deal with it," she whispered.
He nodded and turned back to Dumbledore.
The professor sat back in his chair and smiled, "I must say, I'm a little put out that I wasn't invited."
In spite of themselves, the Potters both laughed.
"It's not like that, Professor..." Harry started.
"I understand, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore straightened himself and stood, starting towards the door, "that there are things too private for an old man to meddle in."
"Oh no, Professor," Harry said quickly, standing, "the wedding wasn't like that."
Dumbledore turned towards the pair of them; Hermione now stood beside Harry, and said with a hint of amusement in his voice, "I wasn't talking about the wedding." He smiled and turned away, stopping for a moment, "Minerva, you will kindly reinstate them as you see fit."
With that, the old Headmaster closed the door to the office behind him, leaving the Deputy Headmistress and couple alone.
McGonagall remained in her seat in the corner and Harry and Hermione turned their chairs to face her.
"Tea?" she asked after they had situated themselves.
"Yes, please," Hermione said quickly, already getting used to the more pleasant things her life had been missing.
Three cups of tea appeared before them and each of them took one, sipping slowly, taking in the feeling and allowing it to warm them to the core.
"Now, taking your new relationship into consideration," McGonagall said, "I will warn you that the choice I have already made will perhaps not be to your liking. However, I believe it best that you, Mr. Potter, continue your regular schedule as you had before your little adventure. Miss... Mrs. Potter, I suggest that you begin a new schedule with the lessons that we see fit, coinciding arbitrarily with your husband's lessons."
They both nodded and voiced their agreement.
"The second matter of business is your sleeping arrangement." She took a breath, as if approaching a delicate and very awkward subject.
"Professor," Harry interrupted, "I think it would be appropriate that, for the remainder of the school year, I resume my residence in the Gryffindor boy's dormitory and that Hermione sleep in the girl's."
Hermione looked at Harry in both surprise and relief at his suggestion.
"That is precisely what I had in mind," McGonagall said, standing. "Now, if I am not mistaken, I believe you would both do well to have a good meal. You may come and eat in the staff's quarters if you would rather not join your classmates just yet."
"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said, standing and taking Harry's arm to urge him along, "I could certainly use a good meal."