Chapter Thirty Six: They Are Coming.
"They are coming!" squealed Ginny, waltzing around the laboratory, without noticing Draco's annoyed look.
"Who the heck is coming? More people to frustrate me?"
"Everybody! Everybody is coming, Draco!" Ginny yelled with sparks of happiness in her eyes. "The Aurors, the Order, my whole family! My parents and all my brothers! Even the older students from Dumstrang and Beauxbottons!"
But Draco didn't listen to her anymore; instead he had turned white after her mentioning the word "family". "Are you alright, Draco?" Ginny asked, managing to notice his change of expression through her enthusiasm.
Draco shook his head. "Nothing. Everything is alright," but there were notes of panic in his answer, even he couldn't completely hide.
"What is it, Draco?" Did I say something wrong?" Ginny repeated everything she just said in her head and her face lit up. "Are you afraid of my big bad brothers?" she asked teasingly.
"Of course not," he replied indignantly. How could she even say such nonsense?
"Then what are you afraid of? And you certainly are," she added, noticing his attempts to object.
'I don't want to lose you.' "You won't be allowed to come here, being under control of your numerous relatives."
"Who told you they can keep me under control?" Ginny said, putting her hand on her hip, looking like an Amazon woman.
"Yeh, that isn't really an easy task," Draco said with a small smile.
"Of course there could be problems, with the twins especially. But I'll weasel out of this some how, deal?"
"So you'll come as frequently as you did?" he asked with hope.
'He wants me to come here so much?' "I'll try."
Ginny was right. During the following three days, Hogwarts resembled more of a train station than a school. People were coming from all directions: by brooms, by Floo Powder and some apparated to Hogsmeade. The Entrance Hall was always full of people with trunks, waiting for a place to stay; And knowing Hogwarts, there was plenty of it.
Abandoned wings of the castle were quickly transfigured into guestrooms, so Hogwarts started to look more and more like a hotel. Almost all the unused classes were occupied, only one place remained completely empty – the Slytherin Common room. Not many claimed to stay there, because there wasn't a lot of former slytherins in that crowd of Hogwarts Army, as it was called by the students. Still, Dumbledore announced to the staff that he had saved a very special purpose for it.
The Weasley family arrived in the first portion of the guests. Of course, all the Weasley boys settled themselves in the Gryffindor Tower where they were provided with additional dormitories. Many relatives decided to join their children, not only to support the protection of the walls of Hogwarts, but also to be together with the family, to be united. Auror apartments were located on castle levels, four on each floor and a communication system was established between them, so all posts could be alerted in the case of an attack.
On the fourth day, the gathering of the Order of the Phoenix and the heads of the Auror groups took place in the big ballroom on the sixth floor. Dumbledore's office was too small for such an amount of people. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen!" greeted Dumbledore, sitting down into a huge armchair, set on a small podium.
"Firstly, I would like to thank everybody for their decision on coming here. I really appreciate your help. The whole wizarding world must unite to win this great battle against evil which consumes our world. I hope that your participation is the beginning of the reunion of all the members of the wizarding community.
Secondary, I would like to express my sympathy towards the Weasley family, which lost its house yesterday after another Death Eaters' raid," he said with a heavy sigh.
Another home, another family is ruined. The Borrow? Destroyed?' Ginny looked around frantically, searching the faces of her family members. Why did nobody tell her? "Is it true?" she asked her mother breathlessly. Molly Weasley looked away, tears glistening in her eyes. "Is it true!" Ginny demanded from Charlie, who stood beside her. He curtly nodded.
Ginny felt lost. Her sweet home was destroyed. The place where she had spent all her life. The symbol of the Weasley family love and now all that was left were ruins. It was a miracle how the house kept standing with such a hilarious construction, but it stood for more than twenty years! And now nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Something cracked inside her, like something died inside her body. She became dizzy, big tears started to fall down her cheeks. "No, no, it can't be happening," Ginny muttered, shaking her head.
"Ginny, darling, are you alright?" Molly asked with motherly concern.
"How can I be!" Ginny exclaimed hysterically and started to run towards the exit, pushing through the crowd.
When she was almost near the doors, they burst open and none other than Draco Malfoy appeared in the door frame. Ginny ran into him and he enveloped her into a comfortable hug. He didn't know what had happened, but his pendent signaled that Ginny was in danger. She wetted almost the whole front of his robes when he finally noticed the presence of other people in the room. He couldn't be prepared for such an audience; still, he instantly understood what was discussed there and decided not to grab much attention.
"Excuse us for a few minutes," he said, to the staring expressions and pulled Ginny towards the door. Either she was in a deep shock or too hysterical, for she didn't make a move. So Draco simply took her into his arms and left the room.
All the heads simultaneously turned to Dumbledore with an unspoken question. Draco managed to grab all the attention only with his very presence in the school, despite his last actions. "Now I would like to discus some serious matter with you," Dumbledore said calmly, as if not even noticing the entire ordeal.
Draco took Ginny to the nearby classroom. He set her down on a chair and cupped her face, brushing away the strands of her hair to look straight into her eyes. "What happened, Virginia?" he asked softly.
"Our house, the Borrow…" she managed to answer through sobs.
"You mean, your house was attacked?"
"Crushed, ruined," Ginny whimpered.
'Another home. Another powerful energy center. That cunning bastard.' Draco thought with venom. He brushed her tears with his thumbs. "Stop crying, Virgie. You must be strong. It's better than to lose someone, right?" Ginny nodded, but not absolutely convinced. "All your brothers are alive and healthy. You'll build another house."
"But Draco, it was our house. The best place in the world."
"I understand, but, please, stop crying. Smiles suit you much more, Virgie."
Ginny smiled weakly and dried her tears with her sleeve. "Thank you, Draco. I didn't think you could be so tender."
Draco felt embarrassed and confused. 'Tender? I haven't even noticed.'
"Let's go back. I am sure we'll hear something interesting," Ginny said, motioning for him to follow her.
They cautiously opened the doors and snuck in. Draco felt quite uncomfortable. He seemed to be out of place. At that very moment everybody was listening to a report by an Auror, concerning the recent attacks. Ginny found herself a place near her family. "If you need me, I'll be in the lab," Draco whispered into her ear and, after assuring that Ginny was safe and sound, headed to the doors.
"I suggest you join out meeting, professor Malfoy," Dumbledore's loud voice stopped Draco in his tracks.
The room became silent. "I wasn't invited, Headmaster," Draco said in a business-like tone.
"Sorry, I forgot to owl you. I thought your presence was obvious here."
Even Draco was surprised by such a statement. He nodded to the Headmaster and looked around for an unoccupied chair, which inconveniently happened to be near the Dream Team. Draco sighed and sat down between Harry and Ginny, who appeared by his side out of nowhere.
The report of the Auror was soon finished and waiting glances were set on Dumbledore. "My friends and Order members, I gathered you today mainly to set up a plan for a counterattack. Fortunately, thanks to professor Snape, we know the exact day of the Dark Lord attack – the 8th of May."
The face didn't beam at the information, because everybody could count and that left them a bit more than a week. "He can change the date, it isn't that important. He can attack in a month, when we will be exhausted from waiting," grumbled Mad Eye Moody.
"I'm inclined to disagree with you, Alaster. Tom always was a follower of the symbolism. This day has an important meaning in the history of Hogwarts. The eighth of May is considered to be the day of Hogwarts foundation, the day when the last stone was put into its walls. He wants to bring Hogwarts' downfall on the day of its rising. It also happens to be my birthday," he finished with a small smile. "That's why Tom will stick to his first plan. Any suggestions?" Dumbledore asked, glancing around the room.
"What is there to suggest? We just go and kick some Death Eaters' butts!" said one of the Weasley twins. A few snickered.
"I am happy for your determination and enthusiasm, mister Weasley, but the problem is that the Death Eaters are the last on our concern list. We are sure about werewolves and Dementors, but nobody knows what other dark creatures will be brought. And it isn't needed to be reminded that Dementors themselves are not teddy bears," Dumbledore went silent.
Everybody began to conjure ideas in their heads, but still nobody voiced a suggestion. "I've managed to bring two dragons with riders, sir. They are hidden four miles to the west of the castle."
"Very well, very well. But two is not many, Charlie."
"I know and those dragons are quite young, so there could be surprises also. They were the only ones I persuaded to come."
"We also have a few surprises in store, but still the advantages could be not on our side. We need some serious help."
"Use House Elves." Everybody turned to the source of the voice which happened to be Draco.
"Will you grant us with an explanation?" Mad Eye Moody snorted. "How can such a petite creatures defend the castle?"
"House Elves have powerful magic. The can apparate in the Hogwarts' territory and cast serious spells. The other advantage is their size: it is impossible to comprehend what hits you when it comes from the ground. That's why you can use them in the defense system, especially against humans," Draco almost recited 'Why can't they come up with obvious things?'
"But you can't!" Hermione exclaimed all S.P.E.W. like. "They can't just die there! You can't just throw them into the battle!"
"Granger, we all can die there. As for Elves, then it's their obligation to protect their home from intruders. Hogwarts is their home; they'll do it even without your asking them." Hermione pouted, but said nothing.
"Very practical proposal, Draco. Thank you very much. I'll go to the Kitchens right after this meeting." Somewhere a frustrated growl was heard. Probably, from one of the Weasley brothers. "If nobody else wants to speak, I would like to arrange the duties I prepared for some individuals," Dumbledore turned to his left. "Minerva, you'll be my general."
McGonagall smiled shyly. "You and the other professors will participate in the defense organization, mainly arranging the students and thickening the protection charms. You, my dear Severus, won't go to the battlefield this time," he said with a hint of concern.
"But, Albus, I am completely healed! I can't just sit here and do nothing!" Snape objected.
Halflife, who of course sat beside him, lightly squeezed his hand, trying to tell him that Dumbledore knew better. But Snape didn't want to give up so easily; he was a man for Merlin's sake! His place was on the front! "Who told you, you'll do nothing? Your place will be on the roof," Dumbledore said with mischief in his glance.
"The roof?" Snape asked with a frown of confusion.
He was not the only one. Even Draco couldn't understand what could be done on the roof during the battle. "You remember the siege of the Macintosh Manor, I suppose?"
Snape paled a little, but nodded. "But I don't know…it was so long ago. I am not sure I am still capable of doing it," Snape stuttered, all his self-confidence gone.
"You'll do it, Severus. They are being constructed right now. You can practice tomorrow, if you like."
"Will I be there alone?"
"No, no. There are three of them. Ten goblins will be at your service."
Snape sighed with relief. "Last time wasn't that comfortable," he muttered.
"What are you talking about, Severus?" Halflife whispered. Snape only shook his head.
"Well, everything is clear here." Dumbledore was given looks of 'Maybe to you, but we haven't understood a thing,' but he ignored them.
"Where are the children going to be during all this? I hope you won't ask them to fight, will you?" Molly asked.
"Only on a volunteer basis, Molly. As for others, I decided to move them to the safest place in Hogwarts. To the dungeons or more precisely to the Slytherin Common room."
That really was a thunder in the bright sly. Everybody started to whisper, discussing Dumbledore's decision. The thought the Slytherin Common room could be the safest place in Hogwarts was disgusting, especially to the true gryffindors of whom the crowd mainly consisted.
But Dumbledore's loud voice quieted them all. "Still, we have another great concern and I don't know how to approach this problem. I am sure Tom greatly relies on his new young Guards of slytherins. It is hard for me, because they were students of this school not more than half a year ago. It is difficult to cope with the fact they are not on our side," Dumbledore finished with pity for said students.
"I'll take care of it," came a firm response from Draco. "Don't think about it, I'll solve your sly problem."
"And what are you gonna do? Reminiscence about the old, good school days?" Ron asked with uncovered sarcasm.
"Oh no, I'll just fight them, as simple as that," Draco answered.
Ron's expression changed from smug to unbelieving. "Are you nuts? There is no less than thirty of them!"
"What is the first rule in fighting, Potter?" Draco asked out of the blue, turning to Harry.
"You must know your enemy," Harry answered automatically, without even thinking. Ron looked at him with shock and admiration at the same time, but still couldn't understand how Harry was capable of obeying Malfoy.
"You've learned you lesson well. Five points," Draco threw to Harry, and then learned back to Ron. "Taking into account Potter's statement, I need to know how to defeat them. Well, I know myself pretty well, don't I, Ronald?" Draco said, looking straight into Ron's eyes.
This look made Ron shudder. "Well, I suppose so," he said, taking his glance away. Draco smirked at that.
"Well, ladies and gentleman, if nobody has any questions, I would like to invite you to a refreshments table which was kindly prepared for you by the House Elves." At his words a big round table appeared in the center of the room. Everybody was tired and tense, so they gladly accepted the tempting food while talking about all which was said before.
"Potter, a word, please," Draco more stated than asked.
"Ok," Harry said with a sigh and started to go when Ron stopped them.
"Everything can be said in front of us," Ron stated.
Draco glared at him, but said nothing. "I want to ask you about your training process, Potter."
"What? Same time, same place?" Harry asked with a chuckle.
"No, we are through with that. You passed the exam already. How do you feel, by the way?" Draco asked without any concern, in his tone at least.
"Well, not bad, but still I sleep a lot and I feel definitely weaker than before."
"Thought so," Draco said with a nod and took a vial with a blue liquid from out of his robes' pocket. "Drink it, your powers will return faster."
Harry took it and examined it closer. "It is the one you talked about with…"
"Exactly," Draco interrupted not wanting the name to be revealed, especially with her brother right beside him. "Your training isn't complete yet. The final part consists of your work on yourself. You must decide what should be revised or studied more. Practice moves you think you don't excel. I think you understand the point. You have one week. And don't forget "Mind Games". Now I have other business to attend to," with that he turned on his heels and disappeared into the crowd.
"You had an exam in your Dueling class? How was it?" Hermione asked excited. Exams of all kind were her favorite topic.
"I was to kill him," Harry answered, make Hermione go pale and even Ron felt uneasy.
"If you passed it, why is he still alive?" Ron asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"He said I had almost done it. One more blow was needed to finish him off," Harry explained.
"How can he talk with you and even give you further instructions after you almost killed him?" Hermione asked bewildered.
"He told me I had done a good job, leaving him on the verge of death," Harry said.
"He is mad, utterly," Ron commented.
"Who knows, who knows…" Harry said under his breath.
Draco was on a very serious mission. It was a life or death situation. He scanned the room with his Vision, looking for an aura with a dirty green moving spot. He could bet that person was there somewhere, he must be. At last he found him and didn't like it one bit when he saw who it was, but it was his job. He sighed and started searching for Snape.
"Father," Draco greeted Snape who was in a deep conversation with some Ministry officials.
Snape grinned at Draco calling him his father. It was only one word, but it warmed all his insides. "You want something, Draco?"
"I think there is no point in covering our work any longer. They must be told sooner or later. I am sure now is appropriate, because wounded is one of them."
No names were mentioned, But Snape understood Draco's request perfectly. "Yes, you can do it. If there are any problems, send them to me." Draco nodded and left.
One of Snape's interlocutors asked with a frown, "I don't remember you having a son."
"The War not only takes, but also gives," Snape answered with a smile.
Draco founded his red-headed goal at the refreshments table. He tapped him on the shoulder. Fred Weasley turned to look at the person who dared to interrupt his flirting conversation and made a disgusted grimace on finding out the personality of the intruder. "What do you want?" Fred snapped.
"You must come with me."
"What for?" Fred asked smugly.
Draco lightly hit the right side of Fred's stomach and his face turned into a grimace of agony.
"That for. You are not healed completely. I know the way to do it."
"But how do you know?" Fred asked flabbergasted.
"Come with me and I'll answer your questions."
"But why should I trust you of all people?"
"Take your twin brother with you if you are afraid of a big bad Malfoy," Draco said with a sneer.
"Big bad Malfoy?" Fred rolled his eyes.
"Then why are we still standing here?"
"George! Come here! We are going on an excursion!"
After George joined them, they headed to the dungeons. When George saw Fred's companion, he looked at his twin, giving him a what's-that-suppose-to-mean look. On their way down, Fred quickly described the situation, which made George glance at Draco with even more surprise.
They wordlessly entered the laboratory and Draco stepped to his worktable. He started to prepare a cauldron and the ingredients right away. For a few minutes, the twins watched Draco, who skillfully chopped mandrake's root, but then Fred asked, "So how did you know about my injury?"
"You were cursed with the Turmilia curse, right?" Draco asked, without leaving his work.
"Yes," Fred answered hesitantly.
"I knew that someone was cursed with it and an antidote was made to lift it off. But there wasn't enough of the centaur's hair at the time, so the antidote was not able to heal properly. That's why the after effects were left. The leftovers of the curse eat your insides slowly but steadily. A painful process, isn't it? If you don't receive another portion of the antidote you'll die in three months," with that last sentence, Draco turned to face the twins, who's jaws were almost literally on the floor.
"How do I know all this? Because I made that antidote myself. How do I know it was you? It's my professional secret and I won't reveal it. Wait for an hour, the potion will be ready by then." He gestured towards the couches. "Make yourselves at home."
The twins found their voices at last. It wasn't easy to leave them speechless; they were Gred and Feorge for Joker's sake. But this was too much for them: Malfoy makes antidotes and for a Weasley no less, it was too unbelievable. Well, they didn't know that another surprise was in store for them.
Three glasses of butterbeer appeared on the table. They sat down and took a few sips. "So what is this place?" George asked, looking around.
"It is the laboratory for professor Snape's assistants," Draco said conversationally.
"Assistants? So there are more?" Fred asked with sudden interest.
"Yes, there is another one."
"So what do you do? Mix antidotes all the time?"
"No, I do the main part of the practical stuff, she does the research."
"She? So you spend hours here alone with a girl?" Fred asked with heavy text between the lines. Well, they were boys after all.
Draco restrained his urge to laugh out loud. If only they knew… 'Well, let's see where this conversation will lead us.' "You could say so."
"Wait," George began deep in thought, "so you were the one who made antidotes for Exhio, Ahillessus, Savana, Moderato, Kataracta, Speculisus curses?"
"And many, many others. Wait a minute, I don't remember Moderato. I know the antidote is Allegro, but…" Draco stood up and walked back to his table. He pulled out one of the drawers and took out a pretty big journal. "We keep record of all the potions made here, you can look yourself." He looked through the pages. "Here is the antidotes section," Draco pointed at the page with his index finger and gave the journal to the twins.
They looked through the pages full of records in neat handwriting. There were dates, names of the curses and antidotes to them carefully organized. "Do you know that you have saved lives of fourteen people?" Fred asked with wide eyes and a looking a bit pale.
"Fourteen people, you say? Well, there will be one more in half in hour," Draco reacted indifferently, but inside he felt happy. Happy that he had done something good, something worth mentioning. "I thought we'd die here from all the work. Of course, professor Snape made the more complicated ones, but it was Hell nevertheless. You know, five potions at once," Draco reminisced, he really was fond of that time.
He had got so much knowledge then, they worked like bees everyday. They were really good memories of perfect work by two real partners. George took his head into his hands and rocked back and forth. "I can NOT believe this. Malfoy saved my life," he said under his breath. "You saved my life three times," he said more loudly.
"Here goes your reputation of a troublemaker," Draco said with a smirk. "Well, you can say "thank you" at least."
Draco didn't think that it would end like this. They were so confused, like little puppies. And they had been smug in the beginning. "Thank you, Malfoy. For saving my life and the lives of my family and the members of the Order too," muttered George.
'Wow, the whole family. Well, maybe they won't kill me after this. We could still be friends with Virgie,' thought Draco with his spirits lifted.
The cauldron began to bubble and then abruptly got silent. Draco approached it, took out a goblet, poured some potion into it and gave it to Fred. He took it and drank it in one gulp. Nasty liquid went down his stomach and after another four minutes, he felt much better. "Where is that girl? I want to thank her too," the twins said almost simultaneously.
As if on cue, faint steps echoed in the corridor and the door began to open. "Virgie, we have guests today!" Draco said choking on a laugh.
"Virgie? Sounds familiar," Fred said thoughtfully.
Draco went to meet Ginny, leaving the twins on the couches. "Your twin brothers are here. Father says we can tell your family," he whispered only for her to hear.
Ginny nodded. "I like the nick name, by the way," she whispered back, smiling.
They reached the mini-living room and the twins readied themselves for words of gratitude, when they were struck but whom they saw. "Meet my potions partner, Virgie," Draco introduced her with flourish.
Fred groaned and fell back on the couch. "No way in Hell," whispered George and followed his twin brother. Now Draco couldn't help it, he began to laugh openly and loudly, Ginny soon followed.
I have finally understood how selfish I've become. I would like to thank my fair reviewers, who keep me happy after every chapter is updated. I am very glad that this story still interests you and hope to make it even more exciting in the future!
Love you all, Lady Arabella Malfoy!