Beta love to CarbConnoisseur
"Right. Ah…" Sirius looked around the room at the strange assortment of people and rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "I don't really know how to do this," he confessed quietly. "So ah… how does Hermione put it? We're winging it."
Hermione chose that moment to appear. "Sorry. We got caught up in research. Do carry on."
Sirius snorted. "I was just explaining how I was going to wing it. Perhaps you have some insight?"
She rolled her eyes. "You need a happy memory. A really, really happy memory, and you have to focus on it. It… gets easier over time. I can cast now without a memory, but it took a lot to get there. Once you can cast the Patronus, we can teach you how to use it to send messages. Severus!"
Severus flushed as she caught him sidling into the room. "I can cast it, but I can't make it talk," he muttered. In a valiant show of self-restraint to honour their new truce, Sirius merely hummed.
"Right. Can anybody else cast it and just need to learn the message part?" Morag McKinnon and Dorcas Meddowes raised their hands. "Go and sit with Snape then," Sirius commanded. "Kitten, do you want that or the actual charm?"
"I'll do messages," she replied quickly.
"Of bloody course," Sirius muttered.
The lesson started strangely. All of them stopped to watch Hermione stare at Severus for an uncomfortably long time upon seeing the snake that erupted from his wand. The fact that Severus looked equally as surprised only made it more interesting.
"It's a bloody boomslang," Severus muttered as Hermione's eyes only got wider.
"Not… not what you were expecting?" Marlene hedged as both of them snapped out of whatever was going on inside their heads.
"No," Severus admitted softly. "I think I like this one better."
Still looking shocked, Hermione snorted. "A deadly snake? Could you have picked something more cliched?"
He shrugged. "A bat?"
Breaking the tension, Hermione laughed. "Point to you," she agreed wryly.
Half an hour later, Morag, Dorcas, and Severus had been dismissed. All of them were able to send their messages with ease, leaving Hermione and Sirius to work with Benjy, Regulus, and Marlene. It took them over two hours to finally get a corporeal form. Benjy's tiny hummingbird fluttered around Marlene's sheep. Despite mastering the charm, Marlene had not been impressed. Regulus had been even less impressed with his donkey.
"I think we're good," Hermione voiced with a sigh, listening to Benjy's hummingbird inform her that her hair looked like a good place to nest. "You've got the messenger part down, even if I dislike your messages." She shot Benjy a look making him grin. "And I… I have to research."
"How's it going?" Marlene asked hesitantly, all of them ignoring Regulus sulking in the corner.
"Slowly." Hermione winced. "It's… I have some information that narrows things down, but not enough. We're working on it, but it's taking longer than I'd like. The South East is a rather big area to trawl through records for."
Marlene winced. "If you need a hand…."
"Actually, if you really mean that I wouldn't say no, even if it's not today. There really are a ridiculous amount of records. Everyone in the house has been helping, but another set of eyes isn't going to hurt."
Marlene nodded. "I have a mission tonight but tomorrow afternoon?"
"Thank you." Hermione nodded. She looked exhausted at the very thought of going back to her research. Sirius knew it was driving her insane that it was taking as long as it was.
"Come on then, Kitten. Let's go and see if anyone's found anything while we've been playing with the pretty animals."
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "Is it really wrong to hope they did so I never have to look at another Parish record as long as I live?"
Laughing, Sirius pushed her out the door.
Hermione's head jerked up at the sound of a heavy thud. Beside her Sirius and James both tensed. They'd finally stopped pouring over old records when Dorea had fallen asleep at the table. Draco had gone to bed, leaving Hermione watching Sirius and James play chess. "Wands up," James murmured, standing slowly, casting silencing charms on their shoes. Hermione disillusioned them all as Sirius slowly opened the door. They crept down the stairs, heading for the entrance hall.
"Oh my god," Hermione whispered as she registered two bodies lying bleeding on the floor. Throwing caution to the wind, she ran towards them.
The Prewet twins looked back at her glassily as she began throwing healing charms at them, stemming the flow of blood from wounds she could see, but not brave enough to move them. "Get someone here, now!" she screamed at James and Sirius where they had frozen on the stairs. As if summoned, Draco appeared behind them, shoving past them to help.
"Get Madam Pomfrey!" he snarled, as he passed, startling them out of their stupor.
"Right… I… Right," James muttered, running for the floo.
"What… What can I do?" Sirius asked helplessly.
"Talk to them," Hermione commanded, still casting as Draco sliced through their robes so they could see their injuries. "Or find me dittany."
"I have dittany, Miss Potter," Madam Pomphrey announced, running through the floo. "Oh, my!"
"I've sealed what I can, but we didn't move them." The mediwich nodded, running her wand down the front of Gideon and then Fabian, leaving the results hanging above them.
"You've done well. Perhaps you'll consider a Healing apprenticeship when this is over. Now, blood replenishers, then we'll stabilise and turn. You'll help?"
Hermione nodded, taking the potions from Draco and attempting to coax the twins into swallowing them.
"You know the stabilisation charm?" Madam Pomfrey checked.
Hermione sighed. "Yes. I've used it more than once. I'll do Gideon?"
"Very well. Mr. Malfoy, move back from Mr. Prewet until I've got him in the air."
Sirius and James watched in macabre fascination as Hermione and Madam Pomphrey cast in a pattern they didn't recognise before carefully levitating the twins off the floor so they could rotate them. Draco vanished the blood under them and cast cushioning chams before the witches lowered them back down.
"Right. Let's get these clothes off and see what we're dealing with here," Madam Pomphrey commanded, gently pulling the robes off Fabian's back as Draco did the same for Gideon. All of them drew in a sharp breath at the mess the twins' backs were in. They looked like they'd been flogged.
"How did they not shred their clothes," Sirius asked, sounding repulsed.
"Spell of Dolohov's creation," Draco muttered as the witches slowly began repairing torn muscle, ligaments, and tendons before knitting the skin together and applying dittany. None of them realised how long it took until an utterly exhausted Hermione looked up and caught the horrified faces of several Order members.
"More blood replenishers and a pain potion. They're in for a tough recovery." Madam Pomphrey sighed, moving to allow Draco to administer the potions.
"They're alive though, " Dorea murmured. "This time they're alive."
The mediwitch hummed. "Bed, Miss Potter, and take it easy tomorrow… that was… you did well."
Hermione nodded, looking dead on her feet. "Where did you learn that?" James asked quietly.
She sighed. "I began shadowing Madam Pomprey in fifth year after He returned. I learned some in books and later, in shell cottage, Fleur taught me a bit. We… we had to be able to heal ourselves," she finished quietly.
"Right," Dorea commanded, sounding suspiciously choked. "You heard Poppy, off to bed with you. We'll put the twins in one of the guest rooms. You can look in on them after lunch. I don't wish to see you before that, am I clear?"
"Yes, Grandmother." Hermione yawned as she allowed Draco to escort her up the stairs.
"Are you alright, Princess?" Draco murmured, his eyes watching Hermione closely.
"I… we… we changed things," she stuttered finally, looking up at him with wide eyes. "I… I don't think it sunk in before with the basilisk, but… tonight… tonight we saved the Prewett twins. They should actually live, and Gods, Draco, how much does that change?"
He smiled slightly. "I have no idea," he admitted. "But Princess, they're not the first people we saved. Severus joined us months before he was supposed to. Regulus isn't going to die in a cave. My mother has an escape route if she needs it."
"I never thought about it like that," she admitted. "Not as a whole."
He snorted. "You are spectacularly dim for someone so intelligent, Princess."
She scowled. "I'm too tired to hit you."
"Thank Merlin for that," he grinned. "Now into bed with you. You missed your last Healer check-up and I imagine you have no urge for the witch to put you on bed rest. Ten galleons says Madam Pomphrey contacts her to come and see you soon."
"No bet," Hermione yawned, snuggling into him.
Hermione blinked slowly as she registered that the light outside was bright. Beside her, an amused-looking Draco smiled down at her. "About time Princess. I've been waiting for ages."
Hermine groaned. "What time is it?"
"Half past one."
"What?" she yelped. "The twins…."
"Are perfectly fine. I've already checked. Madam Pomphrey was administering more potions when I went in. They're not awake, but she's confident they'll be alright eventually."
Letting out the breath she hadn't been aware she'd been holding, Hermione nodded. "Thank you.
"Don't thank me yet," Draco warned. "Healer McMillan will be here in half an hour to check you over."
"Oh for fucks sake," Hermione muttered, shoving the duvet off her.
"Want some company in that shower, Princess?"
She rolled her eyes. "Not if I only have half an hour."
"We can be quick…."
"Just what every girl wants to hear, Draco," she replied drily, making him laugh. He still followed her into the shower.
The Healer looked amused when they got back to their room. "How kind o ye tae join us."
Hermione flushed. "Healer McMillan, Madam Pomfrey," she greeted.
"I hear ye had a bit o a magical workoot yisterday?" the Healer probed.
"Yes. It's… been a little while since I've had to do magic that complicated," Hermione admitted.
"Aye, I imagine it was. Let's be seeing ye then lass."
Cautiously Hermione sat on the bed, watching as the witch cast over her. "Well then, dae ye want the guid news or the bad news?"
"Good?" Hermione hedged.
The healer hummed. "Malnutrition's almost gone. Ye kin come off the potions nixt week. Yer still underweight, ye ken, so mak sure'n eat regularly. Nerve damage is also almost gone. Twae mair days and ye'll be done."
"And the bad news?"
"There's some bits I kin see I missed when I healed ye the last time. I kin try'n fix it if ye want?" Hermione nodded slowly. "Good, we'll hae a look at yer heart the day an'all if ye want?"
"As long as you still intend to show us the spells and the counterspells," Draco cut in.
"Verra well. Sit yer arse doon, laddie. Let's be looking ower you." Sighing, he sat next to Hermione. "Ye kin come aff the nutrition potions at the same time as the lass, but ye need to eat mair. Yer lass is a tiny thing. You on the ither haun' shouldna be. Add in anither meal. Anither week or so o' the nerve potions. The damage I healed last time's held. It's as gid as it's getting, lad." She paused, waiting on Poppy to record her findings. "Now, lie yersel doon Miss Potter. Let's be seeing if I can fix things."
Gingerly Hermione lay down. Draco moved her until her head was on his lap, his arm wrapped around her. "I fucking hate this," he muttered.
She smiled wanly. "It'll be worth it when you have a small pointy-chinned mini me whining at you to take them up on a broom."
Draco swallowed. The image of a tiny curly-headed child on a broomstick, spouting off random facts in mimicry of Hermione was painfully vivid now that it was an actual possibility. "Yes," he agreed quietly, squeezing her hand as the Healer raised her wand.
"Deep breath, Miss Potter. This is going tae hurt." Hermione tensed briefly before forcing herself to relax. Her grip on Draco's hand became painful as she forced herself not to scream as the unfortunately familiar feeling of wanting to claw out her own insides almost overwhelmed her while the Healer worked. "We're done, Miss Potter. I've healed whit I kin see an' I'm….cautiously optimistic. Now, stay aff yer feet lass, same as before. Are ye up for us hivin a wee look at those hearts?"
Draco looked down at Hermione, his eyes scanning her face. "Let's get it over with," she murmured softly. "They're going to confine us to a bed again. I'd prefer that happened all at once rather than having to endure two rounds of Sirius' version of entertainment. I already know more about the broom cupboards at Hogwarts than I ever wanted to know."
Draco snorted. "Fine. You first. You're already lying down." She rolled her eyes but didn't argue.
"Ye kin stay where ye are laddie. Ye'll jist need tae be movin' that airm. We'll be using altum somnum. Hiv ye heard o' it?"
Draco nodded. "I've seen Healers using it."
"Then ye'll ken the counter?"
"Revertere ad nos."
"Aye, verra guid lad. An' the wand movemint?"
"Sharp flick up above the forehead."
"Verra guid. Perhaps yon lass isna the only yin whae needs to be considerin' an Healin' apprenticeship."
"No thanks," Draco grimaced. "I'll stick to the potions. I might know the spells, but I don't have the stomach or the bedside manner for it."
The healer snorted. "Aye well. It was worth a try. Ye'd mak a formidable team."
Hermione shrugged awkwardly from the bed. "We still will. When we were… camping, we discussed looking at ways to incorporate different potions into healing. They're already used quite heavily, but the quality seems to vary and from what Draco says, which ones are used seems to vary depending on the Healer's preference. Some seem to prefer charms over potions."
Healer McMillan nodded thoughtfully. "Yer no wrang," she admitted. "A lot o' healin' is goin' wit yer gut. There are standard treatments but maist healers add in their ain twist, ye ken. It's why some o' us are better at some things than ithers. Magic guides, an if magic is tellin ye tae be lookin' at different potions wae yer lad, then far be it frae me tae contradict."
They nodded back but didn't say anything. "Now, Poppy'll put up the diagnostic and I'll pit ye tae sleep lass. It's likely tae tak some time." She pinned Draco with a look. "Ask yer questions, but dinna dare try an' stop the process. It kid kill her."
Draco paled but nodded, his eyes never leaving the diagnostic hanging over Hermione's body as he felt her go slack. He tried to tamp down the instant feeling of nausea that hit while he attempted to convince himself she wasn't going to be harmed, despite how vulnerable she was. He wasn't sure he breathed again until the Healer raised her voice from her mumbles, warning him she was going to wake her up.
"Draco?" Hermione slurred, blinking blearily up at him.
"How nice of you to rejoin us, Princess," he teased, squeezing her hand tightly. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore," Hermione admitted.
"Aye, ye will lass," the healer interjected, handing a pain potion to Draco to give to her. "But it went well. Ye'll be saire fur a few days, so I'll leave pain potions wi' yer grandmither. Tak them. Now, laddie, ye'll need tae lie doon."
"Severus," Hermione said softly, making the healer frown. "I… I can't do anything and I need…"
"Someone here whae kin guard yer back." The Healer sighed in understanding. Hermione nodded apologetically but didn't retract her demand.
"Perhaps an elf would be best?" Poppy voiced. "They can… remain hidden until it's safe."
"Trixie," Hermione called softly.
"The little Mistress bes wanting Trixie?"
"Can you go to Severus Snape and tell him we need him if he's able? Don't reveal yourself unless it's safe."
The elf nodded, popping out of existence. She returned five minutes later with a confused-looking Severus. His eyes widened as he took in the room.
"Little Puff? Is everything alright?"
"Yes. Healer McMillan was healing the damage on my heart. She wants to do Draco now but I can't…."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Move?" he suggested.
"I can't… I know, logically, she's not a threat, but I can't leave him with no protection."
Severus sighed. "Very well. I've left a potion that needs to be stirred in three hours. Is that likely to be a problem?"
"None at all, lad. The lass took about ninety minutes. I dinna think the laddie will tak ony mair time than that."
Severus nodded, transfiguring himself an armchair from one of the pillows and settling himself comfortably, his wand in hand. Slowly Hermione shuffled to the other side of the bed, keeping Draco's hand clasped tightly in hers.
Two hours later, the healer gently brought him back around. He woke to see Hermione propped up against Severus, whose arm was wrapped around her tightly. She looked pale and scared. Her grip on his hand was almost painful, although it was enough to ground him as he attempted to work out what was going on.
"Princess?"
"You took a wee bit longer tae heal, lad," the Healer cut in softly. "The damage wis… mair extensive than first shown, so it took a wee shade longer than I'd predicted. Yer lass was worrit and yon laddie his nae stomach fur it."
Severus' cheeks pinked but he didn't disagree. "He never did," Draco agreed softly, wincing as he moved, and his chest reminded him that it probably wasn't wise as Hermione climbed carefully off Severus and burrowed into his side. He could feel her tears. "Don't scare me like that again, Draco Malfoy," she scolded into his neck.
"Payback, Princess," he murmured, "for all the times you haired off with your ridiculous lion pride and shaved years off my life."
"Pain potion, Mr. Malfoy," Poppy commanded. "And neither of you are to move from this bed for at least the next two days, am I clear? No strenuous movement. No excessive magic. Let your body heal."
"Of course Madam Pomfrey," Draco murmured, taking the potion from Severus, trusting that he'd checked it.
"Good. We'll see you in a week to check things over."
Three days later, they finally convinced Dorea to allow them out of bed. "I never thought I'd say it, but I never want to be stuck in bed again," she groused.
"Draco snorted. "Perhaps next time it'll be… more pleasurable."
She rolled her eyes. "Get your mind out of the gutter Malfoy. We've research to present."
"But afterwards?" he asked hopefully.
She laughed. "Don't let Grandmother hear you. She'll have you in your own room with Trixie's warding. Come on, let's get this over with."
He pouted but followed her out of the room.
They arrived just before Dumbledore. Everyone was still milling around, talking about things that had nothing to do with the Order or the war.
"Kitten! Cousin! You look…" Sirius frowned, "better?"
Draco shrugged. "I feel better. I don't think we realised how much the damage was draining us."
Sirius nodded. "Makes sense. Come sit with us. Lils is trying to convince Moony to make an honest man of me."
Hermione's eyebrows rose sharply. "Oh?"
Sirius shrugged awkwardly. "I mean I wouldn't say no….."
"You just want a crup," Remus replied pointedly.
Sirius grinned. "Partly, but I quite like the idea of a pet wolf too."
"Pet wolf?" Remus echoed, looking distinctly unimpressed.
"Oh yes… I'm sure I've got a collar somewhere."
"And that is where we leave his conversation," Draco cut in looking horrified. "I have no urge to know what your preferences are. That's too much information….far, far too much."
Hermione laughed. "I always assumed the collar would be yours, not Remus.'"
Sirius turned pink. "It's not a bad plan," Remus grinned, eyeing Sirius speculatively.
"Might I also suggest a muzzle?" Severus added, hugging Hermione from behind, dropping a kiss onto the top of her head.
"Ball gag?" she enquired with exaggerated innocence, making Draco whine.
"Please, Princess. If you love me at all, you'll stop!" he begged as she cackled.
"What's… what's a ball gag? Is… is it a toy for dogs?" Sirius asked in confusion. There were several beats of silence before Hermione, Remus, and Severus howled.
"Gods, I needed that," Hermione wheezed, calming herself down as she swiped underneath her eyes to clear the tears. "You didn't spend long in Ann Summers?"
Sirius turned immediately pink as the realisation washed over him. "Oh. Oh… I…"
"It's not a no," Hermione grinned at Remus. Severus snorted into her hair as Draco shifted uncomfortably next to them.
"Princess, please stop!" he begged. "He's my cousin."
"Blacks are into that sort of thing," Hermione quipped, earning a betrayed frown from Sirius and a startled giggle from Lily.
"I've never been to Ann Summers," she mused idly as James seemed to swallow his own tongue.
"This is the ah… adult toy shop, Sirius mentioned?" he checked.
"Yup. Maybe we should visit before the wedding."
Hermione grinned back. "Grandmother would be horrified, but perhaps Alice and Marlene?"
"Yes," Lily grinned. "Marlene mentioned she'd spent some time helping you research?"
"Yes. She managed to eliminate almost half of the area we were looking at in about two hours."
Lily laughed, nodding. "She was always pretty efficient. Come on, let's find seats. Dumbledore will be here shortly, although Merlin knows why we wait on him anymore. Half the Order only speaks to him when they absolutely have to."
Hermione winced. "Yeah, I don't imagine he's impressed with that."
"You think he'll do something?" Draco asked, reading her face.
"I don't know," she sighed. "I don't think he likes being out of control and I don't trust him. It's… I don't know."
"He's been awfully quiet hasn't he?" Draco mused quietly.
"Too quiet," Hermione agreed as the Headmaster finally arrived, looking serene as he glided towards the seat at the head of the table.
"Now, what news have we today?"
Hermione and Draco shared a look. "We found Tom Riddle," Draco voiced.
"Where?" Charlus asked.
"Little Hangleton."
"Fine. We'll sort the team. Amelia, Edgar, Alice, Frank, do you still want to go ahead with this one?"
"Yes," they answered without hesitation.
"It's…" Hermione paused. "Look, it's cursed, so for the love of God be careful. I don't know what's on it or whether there are compulsions or other spells, but it contains a curse that will kill you if you touch it. Please, please, don't do anything stupid."
"We get it, Hermione," Alice soothed. "Don't touch the creepy ring with our bare hands. We'll take an elf if it'll make you feel better?"
"Yes, actually it would. I don't know if they're immune to the compulsion, but there's a better chance of an elf getting you out quickly. We already know he didn't consider their magic."
"You can take Lolly," Augusta offered, "And perhaps Socks?"
"Socks?" Hermione smiled.
"Frank's elf," Augusta explained. "He named him as a toddler when his favourite thing in the world was new socks." Several people giggled as Frank turned an interesting shade of red.
"Well take them both, " Amelia agreed, stifling her smile. "This week?"
"This week," Alice nodded. "We'll look at schedules after the meeting?" The table went quiet as the reality set in.
"It feels weird to be finally doing this," James murmured. Several people nodded their agreement.
"Well," Regulus cut in nervously. "I'm due at the Manor in a fortnight. Ah… I'd like a contingency."
"In what way Mr. Black?" Dumbledore asked with an arched brow.
"I don't know," he looked flustered. "Something to knock Lucius out? Someone with me!"
"That's preposterous."
"It's not," Hermione mused quietly. "We could organise something… untraceable… to put in his drink? Or… you could simply stun him."
"He'll know!" Regulus wailed. "He's Lucius bloody Malfoy!"
Hermione sighed, realising for the first time just how young and sheltered Regulus was as his hysteria took over. "Ok, something untraceable then," she soothed.
Beside her, Severus sighed. "For fucks sake. I'll stun him. You cast a cushioning charm."
"Or cast a bloody somnum charm," Draco muttered exasperatedly. "Ply him with firewhiskey. He'll think he took a nap!"
Regulus, Severus, and Hermione froze. "I could do that," Regulus agreed with a sheepish smile.
At the other end of the table Dorea, Augusta, and Minerva shared amused looks. "Well, now that's cleared up," Minerva began with a smirk. "Is there anything else we need to know?"
Amelia looked uncomfortable. "Pettigrew is sentenced to be Kissed in a fortnight," she said softly.
The marauders looked instantly tense. "Kissed?" Sirius repeated.
"Yes." Amelia looked apologetic. "I'm sorry. He's just too much of a risk."
Silently they nodded, none of them hearing the rest of the meeting.