A Moment in Time
DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter (and associated characters, likenesses, concepts, etc.) belongs to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Scholastic, Inc. AOL/Time Warner, Inc., among others. I make no claim, written or implied, upon Harry Potter. No money is being made and no infringement or disrespect to the creators / copyright holders is intended.
Warning: This story will contain slash (ie. male/male relationships) and mpreg, although neither will be graphic.
A/N: This story was inspired by the many wonderful stories that I have read and enjoyed here at fan fiction and any similarities to existing stories is not intended. This story is AU, meaning that the events that occurred in the OOTP have not been taken into account and I am in no means suggesting the material described in this story should be considered as a direct interpretation of cannon. Also, I am American so I apologize in advance for any Americanisms.
Chapter Twenty Eight - Preparations for War
"Damn it to hell," Harry muttered as Draco's words 'we're under attack' finally managed to penetrate his bewildered brain. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. They had only needed five more days and they would be the aggressors. What god had they inevitably pissed off that wouldn't even allow them five more measly days. Now they were stuck once more on the defense. This wasn't right; they weren't as prepared as they should be. Harry cursed once more at how wrong this situation was.
Quickly taking stock of the unfortunate but unavoidable situation, Harry instinctively knew what needed to be done. "Dray, I need you to go wake the boys and Nicole; that is if this bloody racket hasn't already gotten them up. Dress them in their warmest clothing and get them safely out of the castle. Don't go out through any of the known passageways, even the 'secret' ones that only a few people are aware of. When I leave here, I will instruct the Guardians not to let anyone in or out of this apartment, until the threat is gone. That should at least buy you some time."
Harry paused for a moment, his mind swirling with everything that he wanted to say but deep down he knew that there just wasn't enough time. Damn, he cursed again as frustration started to set in. His first priority was to make sure that Voldemort and his followers didn't find the boys. "Even giving the Guardians those specific instructions, I still don't trust Voldemort not to be able to get in here; he is an Heir himself, so I don't want to take any chances. Look around here for a hidden escape route. The Guardians once told me that this apartment would adjust to fit our needs and right now we need for you and the boys to get to safety."
Draco wanted to protest, he wanted to tell Harry to take his plan and shove it where the sun doesn't shine, but the thought that their sons were in real danger made the blonde swallow his words. He would adhere to Harry's wishes and see his sons safely out of the castle. But once they were stashed somewhere where the Death Eaters couldn't find them, he would double back. Nothing was going to prevent him from standing at Harry's side as he faced off against that disgusting thing that called himself 'Lord Voldemort', nothing. This war had taken entirely too much away from him; his sacrifices had been too great not to see it through. Draco was determined to be there to see this war end, even if it killed him.
This attack was just so unexpected, even seeing Evan's drawing that afternoon which clearly showed a large scale battle being fought here at Hogwarts did not prepare him for the reality that was starting to unfold in front of his very eyes. When the siren first sounded, Draco immediately started to blame himself for not raising the alarm sooner, but by the time he had figured out what was really happening with Evan's school pictures, it had been practically time for Harry to come home. Draco knew that he needed to share this information with Harry first, before taking it to anyone else, even the Headmaster. Based on the dates on the back of the pictures, there appeared to be no set pattern of when Evan would have his visions before the attacks actually took place. However, he had noticed that an event had never actually taken place within three days of the vision before, so Draco had incorrectly assumed that he had plenty of time to warn everyone in the morning. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to be the case in this instance.
The fireplace flared to life, interrupting Draco's train of thought. Albus' grim face floated disembodied in the brilliant yellow flames. "Harry, we need you. The Dark Lord has troops approaching from both the forest and Hogsmeade; we only have a few minutes before he is within the grounds. The outer wards have already been breached and he is slowly dismantling the inner ones."
Harry broke eye contact with his lover only for a moment to acknowledge the former Headmaster. "Understood, let me get my cloak, I'll meet everyone in the Great Hall in five minutes."
Albus nodded. "Just don't take anymore than five minutes, we may not have it to spare." With those ominous words, the Phoenix's head vanished from the flames as quickly as it had appeared.
Knowing that this was his last chance to see Draco before his final confrontation with Voldemort, Harry pulled his soul mate close to him. "Dray I gotta go, but I need to go knowing that you will keep yourself and the boys safe for me, promise?"
Draco carefully crossed two of his fingers that were currently embedded deep in Harry's soft raven hair. "Promise."
Harry knew that Draco wasn't being completely honest with him, but he was smart enough to realize that that promise was the best he was going to get considering the circumstances. Leaning in Harry captured Draco's mouth in a searing kiss; a kiss that said 'I love you' in a way that words never could.
Draco felt the love and tenderness in Harry's kiss like he had never had before. Realizing that if something went wrong, that this could possibly be the last kiss that they may ever share Draco responded to the kiss with a desperation that initially surprised Harry.
Giving in to his lover's demand, Harry pressed his body up hard against Draco, the need for full body contact mutual. Draco completed him in ways that Harry had never believed possible. Harry was drowning, drowning in that one desperate moment, feeling overwhelmed by the love and need to protect and be protected.
Offering up a silent prayer for his family's safety, reluctantly, Harry gentled the kiss and eventually pulled back away from Draco altogether. "I've got to go."
"I know."
Harry looked deep into the endless pools of liquid silver that he loved so much. There were still so many things that he wanted to say, but he knew that if he started he would never be able to finish. Knowing deep in his heart that all the important things had already been said, Harry gave Draco one more squeeze before turning away and darting up the stairs to collect his plum colored battle cloak.
With a feeling of dread, Draco followed his mate up the stairs at a more sedate pace; his sons and Nicole needed him. But once they were taken care of, he was going to take care of his own needs, and he needed to be with Harry.
By the time that Harry entered the Great Hall, the majority of the remaining joint forces of Aurors and Order Members were already assembled. Some faces looked nervous, others looked a little excited, but overall, most of them wore a scared stiff expression. Harry himself felt apprehensive. After bearing the burden of being 'Harry Potter' for so very long, tonight it would finally come to some sort of conclusion. Win or lose, it all was going to end tonight, here on the grounds that had been so instrumental in the raven-haired man's childhood. It seemed fitting somehow that it all came down to this one last confrontation that was going to take place here tonight.
Drawing strength from the strong, cool gray stone walls that surrounded him, Harry felt a peaceful connection to the magic that was innate within Hogwarts. The blessings and power of the founders were with him. Taking a deep fulfilling breath, Harry let the ancient power fill him until he could take no more. Finally with a brief acknowledging nod to Dumbledore, Harry strode out the front doors ready to face his Grandfather, ready to fulfill his destiny.
Shortly, a worried Nicole and two sleepy three year olds were suitably attired in layers of warm trousers, long shelved shirts, and jumpers along with their warmest winter cloaks, hats, scarves and gloves. Matthew and Evan were bundled up so tightly that Draco wondered briefly if the boys would be able to move properly in so much clothing. One of the twins let out a little growl of frustration when they tried to rub their tired eyes and couldn't raise their hand that high as their arm movement was restricted by the bundle of clothing that they were currently encased in.
Sparing Matthew a brief moderately sympathetic glance, Draco quickly updated Nicole in low tones so that he wouldn't alarm the boys. Nicole's eyes widened when the reality of what exactly was happening became clear in her still sleep-muddled mind. "What do you want me to do?" she whispered, proud that her voice didn't tremble.
Draco nodded in appreciation of her ability to quickly pull herself together, knowing how difficult is was the first time he was faced with this sort of life and death situation. Nicole had been an equal participant in the conversations between Harry and Draco both in California and again here at Hogwarts when they had discussed potential situations and scenarios that they may have to face during this war. But until that exact moment in time when you realize that the horrors being discussed are no longer hypothetical but are in fact reality, you never know how a person will react. Draco has seen far too many men and women who could talk the talk but when faced with actual combat fell to pieces.
"First, we need to find a way out of here." Draco said softly. "Harry said that the Guardians once told him that this apartment would adapt to our needs, and seeing as how right now we need a way to get the hell out of here safely without being seen, there should be some sort of passageway hidden here that we can use to get the boys out of Hogwarts." Draco looked around the common room quizzically. "We just need to find it."
Leaving the twins standing in the center of the room, Nicole and Draco started to search for anything that could potentially give an indication that it was more than what it appeared to be. Nicole took the left side of the room and Draco the right. Before long the two frustrated adults met up at the waterfall, neither having found the smallest clue as to where this alleged secret exit was.
"Well, this just sucks."
Nicole gave Draco a soft kick to his shin to remind him of his sons' presence.
Draco gave the boys a sheepish grin before looking back at Nicole and rolling his eyes. "Well, it does." Seeing that she wasn't inclined to respond, Draco continued. "We've been over every inch of this room and we haven't found anything. I guess we'll have to split up and start searching the other rooms of the apartment, but I felt sure that if a passage existed it would be down here where it was easily accessible."
"No offense Draco, but why don't you just go outside and ask the Guardians if there is a way out of here and if so where it is?"
Draco just shook his head at Nicole's logical question. "Your right Nicole, now why didn't I think of that?" he replied sarcastically. "Well, maybe it is because Harry, in his infinite wisdom, put some extremely powerful locking and protection charms on the entrance when he left." Draco sighed. "Maybe you can break them, but I know for a fact that I can't and besides, in the event that we can't find a way out of here, I feel a lot safer with Harry's spells on the door than without them."
Not able to argue with his logic, Nicole simply went back to looking for an exit. After a few more minutes of fruitless searching, Nicole told Draco that she was going to take the rooms on the second floor and suggested that Draco search the rooms on the third. If they weren't able to find an exit after all that, then they both would tackle the lower level together.
Draco watched as Nicole left; once she was gone he turned to where the boys were still standing in the center of the room. Draco's breath caught in his throat when he saw the silent tears running down both of their faces.
Falling to his knees in front of both of them, he gathered his sons in his strong arms. "Hey you two, what's wrong, why are you crying?"
"Where's Daddy?" Evan croaked out, "I want my Daddy."
"Shhh Sweetheart, Daddy had to go out for a little bit. But he'll be right back. While he's gone, we are going to go on a little adventure, that's all."
"Fadder, me scared. I want my Daddy too." Matthew's voice broke as he started to sob.
Draco's heart wrenched as he held his crying children. Ever since Harry's attack that lead to the miscarriage and his subsequent hospitalization, the twins had become every protective of both their parents, in particular their daddy, although they had never before reacted this badly to Harry's absence. Draco prayed that this was just the twins overreacting and not some sixth sense of theirs predicting what was yet to come.
Knowing what he needed to say, even though he couldn't possibly know what the outcome of tonight's events were going to be, Draco reassured his beloved boys. "Daddy's going to be just fine. You'll see. He'll be back with us before you know it."
Matthew raised his raven head from it was resting against his father's chest and looked him directly in the eye, "Promise?", his little voice entirely too solemn.
Seeing Harry's eyes looking back at him, asking him for yet another promise that he may not be able to keep in such a short time was eerie. "Promise."
His promise seemed to satisfy both Evan and Matthew. After the boys had calmed down and Draco had gently wiped their tear stained faces, he got both boys situated on the sofa with some of their plushy toys. With a distinct order to remain there until either he or Nicole returned, Draco made to finally leave the room to go search the third floor.
Draco had almost made it to the stairs when a flash of red streaked into the common room. "Fawkes?" Draco thought that the bird would be out summoning others to help in this surprise attack. "What are you doing here?"
Fawkes just landed on the sofa near where the boys were playing and tilted his head at Draco. Still not understanding why the phoenix had made an appearance, Draco approached his trusted friend. "Did Harry send you? Do you have a message for me?"
Fawkes cocked his head again and this time let out a soft trill, which immediately calmed Draco's racing heart. He hadn't even realized that his pulse had been accelerated until he felt the healing powers of the phoenix song wash over him. Wishing with all his might that he had Harry's gift and was able to actually understand what the ancient bird was trying to say to him, Draco decided his best bet was to continue to question the bird.
"I wasn't able to find anything on the second floor, how did you make out on th…?" Nicole stopped mid-sentence when she saw the phoenix.
Draco was still studying Fawkes, knowing that he wouldn't be here right now without a reason when he responded to Nicole. "I didn't make it there yet, the twins had a little melt down and then Fawkes here arrived and I've since been trying to figure out why exactly he's here."
"Harry probably sent him to help." Nicole added helpfully. She then had to bite her lip to keep from laughing when her last comment received Draco's patented 'no shit' sneer. "Well, then what is he doing here if you're so smart?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "I'm working on it." Tired of listening to the humans bicker, Fawkes ruffled his feathers impatiently.
Moving in front of the blonde, Nicole looked deep into the bird's timeless eyes. "So how are you supposed to help us, Fawkes? Do you know how we are supposed to get out of here?"
The powerful bird gave an almost unnoticeable nod and then graceful flew up from his perch and landed on Nicole's shoulder briefly before once more taking flight and heading out onto the apartment's balcony.
Nicole decided to risk it and said, "I believe he wants us to follow him," knowing full well that that statement would earn yet another one of Draco's 'thanks for stating the obvious' glares.
Making sure that the twins were still occupied on the sofa, Draco and Nicole followed Fawkes outside onto the frigid stone terrace.
The bitter cold December air was unnaturally quiet and Draco noticed that the snow that had been falling steadily all day had started to taper off. Sharp gray eyes scanned the darkness, but he couldn't see anything beyond the flurries that continued their downward trek to the ground and the misty cloud that his warm breath made in the night air. It was just to peaceful, to still, almost as though all life knew the importance of the confrontation that was to be held in a short while and had decided to just sit back and wait it out. Draco had never before experienced a moment like this one where the very world itself gave the impression that it was just holding its breath waiting for the outcome that undoubtedly would change the existence of the wizarding world.
Shaking off his nervousness, Draco scanned the patio for the phoenix and saw Fawkes sitting in the corner on top of the dragon statue. "Okay you old bird, now what? You know, this would be a lot easier if you would just tell us what you want us to do."
Once more, the bird cocked its head at him as if in silent laughter.
"I do believe he is laughing at you," Nicole chuckled as she walked up to stand beside the blonde.
Draco shook his head ruefully, knowing exactly what Nicole was referring to as he was sure he had been the source of Fawkes amusement many times in the past. "Shut it and help me figure out what he wants us to do," Draco sneered as he searched around the dragon for a hidden passage way.
Ruefully, Nicole shook her head and started to run her hands over the cold stone statue looking for anything that may trigger a way out. Not finding anything, she sighed and stepped back to once more look at the phoenix for guidance.
"Alright, I admit it, we're stumped, pretty bird; how are we to get out of here? And what does it have to do to this poor sleeping dragon?"
Draco's head shot up from where he was crouched behind the dragon where he had been unsuccessfully trying to pry the statue away from the wall. "What did you say?"
"I was just trying to get a little bit more information out of our stubborn friend here," Nicole said despondently, the pressure of what was about to happen starting to resurface.
"No, I meant what did you say about the dragon?"
Nicole looked sharply at the blonde man as he moved to stand beside her in front of the statue, startled by his sharp tone. "I was speculating out loud what a potential escape route had to do with this sleeping dragon."
Draco didn't respond immediately as he critically examined the dragon, taking in everything from his carefully folded wings to his peaceful expression that was relaxed in slumber. "Surely they don't mean for us to do that."
"What? Tell me. What are you thinking?"
Gray eyes didn't even move from the statue as he responded to his friend, "Nicole, since you've been here, have you seen Hogwarts school motto?"
"I've seen it a couple of times, actually its part of the stained glass window that displays the Hogwarts seal. But as it's in Latin, so I never paid much attention to it." Nicole was starting to feel a bit excited. Maybe Draco was on to something here.
Draco screwed his face up, "What to you mean it was in Latin, of course it was in Latin, most of our spells are in Latin; please tell me you were taught to read Latin. What do they teach you over there in the States?"
Nicole wasn't the least bit upset with her companion's disbelief at her apparent lack of education. "I know enough for spells, I just never took the time to learn to read it seeing as it is a dead language in all."
Draco snorted before he remembered why they were having this conversation in the first place. "Anyway, seeing as you can't read it, I'll have to translate it for you. Hogwarts' motto is 'Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon'," Draco sneered as he finished his explanation, raising both his eyebrows.
"So, you think that we have to do what exactly, tickle this statue? And you wonder about the educational system in America, well at least we're not tickling dragons for goodness' sake." As she finished her last remark, Nicole shivered violently as a cold burst of wind blew harshly across the open patio. "Come on; let's get this over with so we can get the twins out of here."
In agreement, Draco approached the dragon. Feeling unsure of himself and incredibly silly, Draco stooped under the dragon's chin and with a slight shrug of his shoulders started to softly rub his finger tips over the smooth stone.
Nothing happened.
"Come on damn it, do something!" Draco yelled at the dragon in exasperation.
"Fadder, you not doing it right." Draco jumped in surprise and hit his head on the hard unforgiving stone statue as he towards where Matthew's voice had come from.
"Matthew. Evan. What are you doing out here? Didn't I tell you to wait for me on the couch? Now get back inside where you belong before I decide to punish you both."
Draco's sharp reprimand echoed loudly in the still night air leaving in its wake a stunned silence. Draco closed his eyes and shuddered as he heard the cool cruel tones of his father's voice leave his own mouth. This is what he was so afraid of, what he had feared since learning about the existence of his sons; Draco fell to his knees kneeling in front of his boys, feeling slightly sick to the stomach. Never again did he want to act in anyway towards Matthew and Evan that reminded him of Lucius.
Matthew stiffened as his father pulled him and his brother into a hug. "I'm sorry guys, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to yell, but you surprised me and I guess that I'm just a bit tense right now. I know that's not a good reason, but I promise not to yell at you again when you don't deserve it. Forgive me?"
Feeling their small bodies relax after his apology and cuddle in closer brought a tear to Draco's eye; Merlin, how he loved these two precious children. Now, he needed to focus on getting them out of here to somewhere safe. Distant muffled sounds of destruction and a whiff of curses made Draco realize that a considerable amount of time had passed since coming out here.
"Hey Matty, Sweetheart, what did you mean when you said that I wasn't 'doing it right'?"
Matthew looked between his father and the dragon statue a couple of times as though he was trying to sort something out in his mind. Finally reaching a conclusion, Matthew took a deep breath and whispered in a tone that lead one to believe they were learning the most guarded of secrets. "Jack doesn't like to be tickled under his chin. He only likes it when you tickle his twoes," the three-year-old said with a slight lisp.
Draco refused to meet Nicole's disbelieving eyes as all his attention was focused on his small son. "Can you show me how Jack likes to be tickled?" There really wasn't a need to ask who Jack was, as it was perfectly obvious that Matthew was referring to the dragon, but when everything was said and done, Draco made a mental note to sit down with the boys and discuss how exactly they came by this knowledge. "Can you show me?"
Draco saw the flash of excitement on his son's face before it was soon replaced with a troubled frown. "Jack said to not tell anywum, Fadder. I not want him mad at me."
"He won't be mad at you, Matty. He knows that this is a special situation and I'm sure he would want you to wake him up so that he can help us with our little adventure. Don't you think that it'll be fun to play with him some more?" Draco hated having to try to trick his own flesh and blood, but this was important and they had wasted entirely too much time already. Who knows what was happening outside by now? Harry may already be facing off against that beast and damn if Draco was going to let him face Riddle alone.
With a quick glance at his twin, who gave Matthew a small nod, Matthew made his decision. "Otay, Fadder, we show you."
Knowing that his own promise had been fulfilled and that Harry's family would indeed be able to get to safety, Fawkes gracefully took to the air once more knowing that his own adventures for the evening were just beginning.
Matthew and Evan knelt down on the frozen stone surface near the dragon's left front foot. Draco saw a small crack between where the dragon's foot rested against the platform and the hard gray surface itself. Carefully, the boys both wedged their tiny fingers into the small practically unnoticeable crevice and started to softly wiggle their digits back and forth.
The fleeting fear that in their current position the twins were likely to be crushed if their attempt to awaken the dragon was successful barely had time to cross Draco's mind before the statue gave a small shudder.
Soon the statue gave another slight movement, and Draco watched as the paw that the boys were so diligently stimulating lifted, giving the boys additional access to continue their administrations. Having made up his mind that enough was enough, Draco reached forward to grab his sons and remove them from any immediate danger. Just as he was reaching out to the boys, the dragon gave another mighty lurch and a jet of white hot flame erupted from his mouth. The dragon quickly stopped coughing up fire and started to roar with unsuppressed laughter. Apparently, this was one dragon who loved to be tickled.
Ducking just in time, Draco avoided the fireball by the skin on the back of his neck; however that didn't prevent the blonde from wincing at the ghastly smell of burnt hair. Draco emitted a small meep of surprise as both his hand immediately moved to cover his head, checking to make sure that his gorgeous locks were not on fire. Satisfied that in the worst case, he may be only slightly singed, but at least he wasn't on fire, or worse yet…bald…he moved to stand in between where his sons had started playing with the animated dragon statue.
"Matthew, Evan, why have you awoken me?" the dragon had curbed his chuckles and was eyeing the tall blonde man wearily. "You have broken your promises to me young dragonlings and I am most disappointed."
"My sons were only doing as they were bid, master dragon," Draco said with a small bow, careful to keep his tone strong but respectful, knowing that dragon spirits like the one that was inhabiting this statue were easily offended but only acknowledged others that they perceived as being strong as well. "The castle is under attack and we were lead to believe that you were guarding a safe passage out of here."
The dragon moved his attention from the two boys who he had become exceedingly fond of during their tenure in the Founder's Hall to the tall man, who based on his protective stance was undoubtedly was one of the boys' fathers. The dragon was impressed as the human refused to move a muscle as the dragon's cool gaze swept slowly over him, studying everything about the man. Not many humans had the nerve or willpower to hold themselves still under such intense scrutiny.
With a slight inclination of his large horned head the dragon finally acknowledged Draco's presence. "You have summoned me, human?"
"Yes master dragon, my name is Draco Malfoy, and as I mentioned, we are in need of your assistance. Will you aid us?"
The dragon continued his perusal of the man bearing the dragon name. He was certainly a fine specimen; he could certainly see where his sons' resembled him, although the boys were particularly special. The dragon had long observed not only this fair man but his dark mate from his isolated perch on the terrace. The men were both proud and extremely powerful, but they were so much more than that, and it was that extra component that had long decided this family's fate. These men and their offspring were destined to do wondrous things and be the bearers of gifts unparalleled to the wizarding world. Both men were more than worthy of his assistance.
With what could only be considered a small bow, the dragon rose to a majestic height on all four of his scaly legs and moved off of his raised platform to stand along side the humans. As he moved regally off of the platform, a small opening in the wall behind where he had been sleeping was revealed.
Draco's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the dragon bow to him. As a child, he had thought it was cool to be named after one of the fiercest and most revered creatures in the wizarding world. He had loved his name and had spent countless afternoons in the library at Malfoy Manor studying the animals that he had been named after. He had taken it upon himself to learn as much about the fascinating animals as possible and soon became something of an expert on them. His father had even indulged him by taking him to visit the dragon camps frequently, or as often as his work had permitted. However, never once in all the time he had spent reading about or observing the magnificent creatures did he ever hear of them acknowledging a human with any sort of reverence, almost as though an equal. It was unheard of. They had certainly never bowed to anyone, not that Draco was aware of. Draco's astonishment over the dragon's actions was pressed into the background as his eyes quickly took in the escape route that had long eluded them. With a deep bow of his own to the dragon and a whispered "thank you", Draco gathered his sons and Nicole and moved towards the exit, secure in the knowledge that no one would be able to get past the dragon spirit to follow after them.
Nicole went first into the dark passage, lighting her wand to provide some visibility, the twins quickly following. Just as Draco's blonde head was disappearing into the crevice he heard the dragon spirit's final message to him as the dragon statue once more moved back into place. "Take care of your offspring, Dragon, they are more precious than even you can image."
Startled by the dragon's sober message, Draco quickly looked back at the statue. "I will, I promise."
Without another thought about the magnitude of the promises he had made that day, Draco turned and followed his family down the narrow passage that would hopefully lead them to safety.
To be continued.