They all sat around the table, looking at Azadeh. She was dressed differently now, no longer the 'little Azadeh' they had known, instead, she sat with more confidence. Harry and Draco had both realized what they were about to do, what they were giving up, and why they were doing it. Draco doing it because he never really believed in Voldemort's propaganda, Harry doing it because of Voldemort's betrayl, but more for Azadeh. She brought him peace and happiness, and represented all the things he wanted in a woman. Despite Voldemort's intimidation, her fears of losing him, the threats...Azadeh did not back down.
"We have to leave tonight," she said softly. Draco nodded, as did Harry. "If you need anything, take it, and that includes money, but, as soon as you do, we know that any LARGE amount you take will automatically alert your accounts and it could raise the Death Eater's flags. We have one other Death Eater that defected a while ago, everyone thinks he's dead...Bishop Tanner."
Draco raised his eyebrows, he remembered Bishop.
"When Bishop lost his daughter because Voldemort thought she was a traitor, he lost all faith in what he believed in. We found him because he had been asking around, and like the Death Eaters, we don't like questions being asked about things we like kept quiet. When we approached him, he told us he wanted to join...but, we didn't quite believe him and had to run him through a series of tests to make sure he would stay loyal...nothing painful, just things that outwardly defy Voldemort.
Anyway, once we knew for certain that he wanted to join, he removed a large sum of money and immediately flags were raised. The next day, he was questioned and well, it was kind of a mess...had to rescue him, then make it look like we killed him. So, if you remove the money...you have to immediately disappear..."
"What about you?" Draco drawled. "I know you made quite a bit at your job with tips and all.."
"I started a mock account, but never really put anything in it. I've stashed most of it away in a hidden place, my father knows where it is now."
"What do you do with it?" Harry asked quietly.
"Well, you can keep it to yourself it you want...but I'm giving mine to food supplies and what not, and some of the things we come up with to stop Voldemort isn't exactly cheap. We have to obtain things that are 'black listed', muggle devices that Voldemort banned like cars and other things you'll see, and I think will be impressed with," she smiled. "Don't get me wrong, it's good to have an emergency supply of money in case something goes wrong, so don't feel bad if you want to keep most of it, in fact, it's probably a good idea...self-preservation."
"Well, you know my money is your money, right?"
Azadeh looked at Harry lovingly, "thank you."
Draco looked at her with such care, "I'm sorry, Azadeh"
She looked confused, "for what?"
"FOR WHAT? Are you kidding me? For all we've put you through, especially MY FATHER!"
Sighing, Azadeh looked down, "that, that's really...nothing. My innocence was taken a long time ago when this all started. I have watched friends die, but we all have. I have been responsible for quite a few bombings at a mere age of fourteen... All of our innocence has been taken in one form or another, that is what war does...it shatters everything you know into mangled pieces that you can't seem to quite put back together. The only thing I can hope for, is that when I have my child, it will be over and we have won.."
Harry grabbed her and placed her on his lap, hugging her, "it will...we will"
Lucius was immediately alerted at around 2 a.m. Large amounts of money were taken from Harry's and Draco's accounts, millions of galleons taken together. He was told to contact his son and find out why that much money was taken. Ever since Voldemort had learned of the rebellion, he kept a close eye on his Death Eater's accounts to make sure no one was secretly funding them, so, this happened every so often, but at times it had to do with wanting to buy an eleborate gift for a spouse or girlfriend. Lucius knew better.
He went to his son's home, every bit of clothing he owned was gone, certain artifacts that he held dear to his heart, like certain jewelry that was his mother's. Three chairs were out of their place, a meeting had happened. He went over to Harry's estate, the same thing... all personal items gone, only certain things were taken, including his house elf, Dobby.
Lucius shook in rage, it had to do with Azadeh, he knew it did! "DAMMIT!" he screamed at the top of his lungs and started to throw things. Then slowly turned himself around and headed out the door. Two small falcons few past his head, causing him to pull out his wand in caution...they dropped two small scrowls by his feet.
One said, "from Draco." The other was "from Azadeh." Not wanting to hear his son's excuses at this very moment, and needing to know and see her handwriting, confirming she was alive, he opened Azadeh's first.
Dear Lucius,
I suppose by now, you know I'm alive and well. I am sorry for the way things turned out, I never wanted to decieve you, even though you and I are on different sides. Most of all, I wish things could have been different, that perhaps you would have decided to join us, but I know you wouldn't. You believe too strongly in what you are doing, thinking you're doing the world a favor by getting rid or breeding out the muggles and muggleborns. I wish I could make you see how ignorant that sounded...even your own Merlin is said to be of muggle blood, but it only goes to show how people distort the truth to fit their own agendas. No one can enforce their will on humanity and have it turn out right, it's been proven through muggle and wizarding history, but, you have your path to follow and I have mine.
I know you are so angry with me, partly because I know you care about me, you don't want to see me with another man, and I'm sorry for that too. A man like you, does not forgive easily or at all for something like this, though at the the time, I didn't have a choice. Now, I do, and I choose Harry. So now, we are enemies and you will have to kill me on sight, there is no doubting that. But before all that, I want you to know that I don't regret you being my first, Harry would kill me for that, but it is true. You were amazing to me, a young girl's fantasy, a very handsome and powerful man wanted me and I never thought that would happen. Always dressing like a boy, I forgot what it was like to be 'girly', I guess, and you brought that back, so it might seem like I'm mocking you when I say this, but I'm not...
Thank you.
Oh, and by the way...you do really have a beautiful singing voice, I remember now.
Azadeh
Lucius folded the letter and put it gently in his pocket as if it was the most fragile thing in the world and sighed just a little, clenching his jaw, frustrated at his conflicting emotions. At one point he wanted to put his hands around her neck and strangle her, on the other, he wanted her back, and all he had was her letter. Next he read Draco's
Hello father,
Guess you've figured it out by now, Harry and I have defected and joined the rebellion. Like it's really a suprise, I always have disappointed you, and in a way, I'm sorry for that. My main reason though for defecting, would be of course, Azadeh. I know, I know, I have a snow ball's chance in hell, but it's a good reason...along with defying Voldemort's ethics, which I never agreed with anyway. Besides, I think this will be more fun. The muggle history books talk of a 'civil war', how it put father against son, brother against brother...same thing here, I guess.
I guess I just wanted to say my goodbyes, once it's reached Voldemort, we'll have a bounty on our heads the size of a small country's wealth, I'm assuming. Especially Azadeh...she managed to talk two Death Eaters into joining her... I guess you could call her a 'snake charmer', eh? But just to let you know, she's quite a fighter, never really seen anything like it, you'd be impressed. She's discaplined and thinks on her feet, smart girl. Ah well, see you on the otherside of the battle lines, and hopefully, both of us won't end up dead.
Draco
Lucius held his son's letter in his hand and stuffed it in his pocket, it only confirmed his son's guilt and he didn't know how he felt about that either. He was actually proud of his son for being able to fool Voldemort's little pet, but now he had no choice but to hunt down his own son, the heir to the Malfoy name. But a vandictive smile curled on his lips...he would catch Azadeh, she would be punished, but she was still too valuable to kill. He would keep her and inpregnate her, giving him another heir, so it all wouldn't be a total loss. However, first thing was first, to find the rebellion camp and do what was necassary to make the right things happen.
When they arrived, Hermione and her father, who was known as 'Wolfgang', were waiting for them. Hermione had tears in her eyes and hugged Azadeh first and then went to Harry, "do you...remember me?"
Harry looked confused, but said, "a little." She hugged him and smiled, but Hermione's look turned slightly dark when she saw Draco.
"Don't worry, I'm on your side," he drawled.
"Are you sure? We're keeping an eye on both of you, you know," Hermione spat.
"Fine with me, I'm not going anywhere."
Azadeh decided to interupt the uncomfortable moment, "uh, this is my father, Wolfgang..." Her father nodded his head, not one for many words. Harry and Draco nodded back.
"You're rooms are ready at my home, of course, Harry and Azadeh will be together, Draco, you will be in the room on the first floor, next to Hermione's...for security reasons," Wolfgang curled a small smile when Hermione tensed a bit, she never liked Draco, but for 'security reasons', it would be wise to have someone watching him. "I will be working with you, Harry, on regaining your memories, it will be a slow but progressive process. Azadeh tells me that you have blocked them, but I'm sure Voldemort has sealed a great deal of them away in your mind." Harry nodded. "You are all hungry, tired?"
Draco looked at him, "I'm famished."
"I see you have brought a house elf," Wolfgang looked at Dobby who smiled nervously. "Her grandmother will appreciate the help. Come, it's time to rest and tomorrow, we celebrate."
They were led to a fairly large house that was welcoming and warm. Food was on the table and Azadeh was immediately attacked by her grandmother, "AHHHH! My beautiful Azadeh!" The old woman who was clearly beautiful in her youth, didn't look like an old woman really...but in her eyes she was. She cried and held Azadeh, "did they hurt my girl?" Azadeh shook her head. "I've missed my girl!"
"Mother, please, give her room to breathe," Wolfgang smiled.
"OH, whatever...you're right. But you must be my grandson...Harry Potter, my grandson...," she hugged him too and pinched his cheeks. Harry was suprised at her affections.
After she gushed over him, they all sat down to a hearty meal, most of it was vegetables, some meats, that were all prepared in such a way, it was delicious, clearly made with love. Once they were all full, Harry sat back and put his arm around Azadeh, Hermione smiling at them, she was so glad he found love after Ginny...though she wondered if they would be together anyway, given how he reacted to Azadeh the first time. Harry noticed...she didn't have her wedding ring on.
"I've forgotten your ring," he looked down distressed.
"Ah, don't worry, I have another set, a wedding present," Wolfgang stood up and went to his room, then came back with two small boxes. When Harry opened them, there sat two beautiful white gold rings with sacred writing on them that stated, 'I will follow thee through the beyond'. Harry quickly placed them on their fingers and hugged Azadeh. "That I know means a great deal to Azadeh, because she said that the day she thought you were dead, when we paid homage to you." Azadeh blushed and started to tear, Hermione's lip started quiver too.
"Thank you," he said softly.
"You're welcome. Now, another matter. I hope this will not be offensive to you, but we need yours and Draco's wands. We ask this of all newcomers because we have to make sure they weren't planted by Voldemort and since you two were former Death Eaters, it is especially necessary."
Harry and Draco nodded, they handed their wands over to him. After catching up and Draco telling them how he managed to fake Azadeh's death, even Hermione was impressed, in school he was a bit of an idiot always nipping at his father's heels like a lost puppy. They all turned in for the night.
Harry and Azadeh looked at each other, he had given up everything for her and he didn't care, it felt right. "Did you really say that, 'I will follow thee through the beyond?' She nodded. He hugged her tightly, she loved him that much, but should he be suprised? Azadeh had shown him time and time again how much she did...still, for some reason, it always suprised him.