Chapter 9: Of Possession and Progression
The lamps in the lounge flickered and went out, plunging the windowless room into darkness. A loud slam followed by a definitive click locked them in. Harry and Theo lit their wands and raised them quickly; in the same instant Draco Stunned Ron with such force the redhead was thrown backwards against the door.
Blaise tugged Hermione behind his back and he and Harry shot Disarming spells at Draco, who blocked the spells easily with a laugh.
Hermione felt her heart quiver. That isn't his laugh.
Draco began crossing the room with a horrible smirk on his face. Blaise retreated with Hermione behind him, holding her in place with the arm that wasn't busy trying to Freeze his best friend. Harry stayed close to Blaise's side; Hermione could barely see between them. Draco's black eyes darted rapidly between the retreating group and Theo, who tried to draw his focus by moving in the other direction.
"Leave her alone," Theo said, in a surprisingly calm voice as he duelled. Draco's lips curled into a sneer.
"She's MINE," he hissed.
Theo dodged Draco's bolt of red light, but Draco had sent another, anticipating the direction of Theo's dodge. The taller boy crumpled to the ground and the light on his wand disappeared.
Draco snickered. Harry glanced desperately towards Ron and Theo, but Draco was casting curses fast and Harry didn't have time to send an Enervate in their direction. He blessed his ability to cast a strong Shield Charm. Even in this state Draco couldn't break through it, but they were all at a disadvantage.
Hermione felt the solid wall behind her back as they ran out of room to retreat. She stared, frozen, around Harry's arm into the black eyes of her possessed Guardian. The string connecting them had hardened into ice. Draco's pale skin practically glowed in the single light from Harry's wand and his eyes were like telescopes into the farthest, coldest reaches of space.
He tried to RIP me out of his soul …?
Tears stung her eyes as Hermione gripped her wand, not even sure how to use it. She didn't want to attack him, but her choices were running out. Blaise and Harry should be more than a match for Draco; what was the Darkness doing to him? The two wizards were panting from the effort of duelling and Hermione could only imagine how exhausted Draco should be, but he advanced on them ceaselessly like a machine, casting nonverbal spells more quickly than Hermione believed him to be capable of.
A deep, horrible laugh spilled from Draco's throat as he cornered the trio against the wall.
"You forget I'm the Lord of the Earth!"
He tossed his wand aside and extended his empty hand to the panelled wall behind them. The polished walnut depicted elaborate carvings of a forest. At Draco's command two of the trees sprang to life and Hermione screeched as their branches reached out of the wall.
Their Shield Charms were useless as the branches caught Harry and Blaise around the middle and pulled them away from Hermione. Harry struggled pointlessly as he was firmly trapped against the wall while more branches snaked around his wrists and ankles. His lit wand fell from his hand. A quick sideways glance and a frustrated yell told him Blaise was having the same trouble.
Hermione raised her wand, but she was too late. Draco wandlessly disarmed her and before she realised how close he was, he slammed her backwards against the wall hard enough to knock the wind from her lungs.
Blaise thrashed so hard against the tendrils holding him in place that blood ran down his wrists from the splinters tearing into his skin.
"Draco, STOP IT!"
Hermione struggled to catch her breath. Draco pressed her so tightly against the wall with his body that she thought her ribs might crack. Her feet dangled below his knees, and she felt his hot breath against her neck.
"Foolish Malfoy brat couldn't accept he was good for you …"
The poisonous hissing was directly out of her nightmares.
"He felt a hint of doubt thanks to his friend's feelings and latched on it. It's so easy to take control when the mind already believes it's broken."
"Draco, please, this isn't you–" Hermione choked as his cold fingers suddenly pressed against her throat. He dragged his lips across her neck and pressed them against her ear.
"Too late, little Mage. But you should know he has such a powerful desire for you. Potter's best friend, the untouchable little Mudblood … the only girl he could never have. Then he won you over against all odds and look what he did …" the sultry chuckle that came from him dripped with malice. "He never even took advantage of his delectable little prise."
Hermione couldn't even turn her head to stop him from thrusting his mouth on hers and attacking it. He bit her lips hard enough to draw blood as he pressed her body into the wall. His free hand slid up her side, fingers icy against her bare skin. She tried to bite at his tongue, but he moved too fast.
Blaise ignored all the stinging in his wrists as he fought furiously against the enchanted tree branches. He looked desperately across the room at the motionless lumps that were Theo and Ron. He knew Narcissa's chambers were too far away for her to hear the chaos, and he couldn't even call the house-elves as they only answered to the Malfoys and Theo.
Harry's feet dangled uselessly two feet above the ground. He knew if he managed to Summon his wand, he'd be sure to drop it again thanks to the awkward angle of his wrist. He didn't trust his wandless magic to Stun Draco without hitting Hermione, even if he could manage to Stun wandlessly … more likely he'd just steal Draco's attention and get Stunned himself.
Think, Potter …
Hermione struggled desperately, trying to think while her possessed boyfriend assaulted her mouth. She'd once thrust twenty students away when they attacked her, but her magic was spread among her Guardians now, which quite possibly left Draco more powerful than her. He uttered a predatory growl as he left her bleeding lips alone and started biting painfully along her jaw, fingers still pressing at her throat. His other hand crept up her spine and she shuddered at the cold of his touch, making him chuckle lowly.
This isn't him … it ISN'T … the real Draco was always warm, and he'd never take pleasure in her fear. His soul is broken–
Suddenly Hermione knew what to do. His grip on her body was tight, but her left arm was free. She slowly began to lift it up along the wall, grateful for the near-darkness. Hoping to distract him, she desperately twisted her neck under his hand, encouraging him to bite the right side of her jaw and down her throat. He didn't see her left arm rise or notice that she was just able to tilt her gaze to meet Harry's eyes in the dim wandlight.
Harry stopped wriggling against the branches still holding him rigidly as Hermione silently pleaded with him to understand. He gritted his teeth and began to stretch his bound hand painfully towards her. He prayed it would work.
Just one touch …
Hermione cried out in pain when Draco's teeth broke her skin and she felt blood trickle down her neck to her collarbone. His chest rumbled against her as he let out a guttural laugh and licked his lips clean.
"You're finished, little Mage," he growled against her ear. She gasped for air as his hand tightened around her throat completely and her vision started to go fuzzy.
Reach …
Harry was too far away. She felt her arm start to fall.
Harry could see her eyes darkening. He felt a small bone in his wrist shatter as he forced every ounce of his strength into the attempt to loosen his hand.
It was just enough. His fingers brushed Hermione's and he felt the warmth of their connection.
It was the tiniest sensation against her fingertips, but Hermione grabbed hold of it with all her might. Crackling, violet energy poured into her body. She focused on the cold fingers at her neck, and she thrust the energy into him like a wave.
Draco froze as his body illuminated with violet light. Hermione just caught a look of pure fury in the black, dead eyes before he was thrown away from her with the force of a Banishing Charm.
The enchanted trees vanished back into the wall. Harry and Blaise landed on the floor with groans. They crawled to Hermione, who'd fallen in a crumpled heap against the wall. She raised her head and soundlessly called out for Draco.
Harry struggled to his feet. He paused only to snatch his dropped wand and relight the room as he stumbled to the pale Slytherin lying utterly still. Harry felt a pulse and breathed in relief. He quickly aimed revival spells at Theo and Ron, who awoke in a daze.
Blaise propped Hermione against him as he examined her bruised and bitten neck. She felt drained of all energy and wished she could fall asleep against Blaise's shoulder.
Theo and Ron leapt to their feet and looked back and forth between Draco and Hermione in horror. Instinctively they both made for Hermione, but Harry called them over.
"His soul … tell me what he looks like now." Harry wheezed. He felt like he'd run all the way across Little Whinging. His broken wrist screamed at him as it hung uselessly by his side.
Theo fell to his knees beside Draco and studied him carefully. Ron glanced at Hermione but saw the worry for Draco in her eyes and resisted running to her. He focused on the unconscious Guardian.
"Something's different …" Ron murmured. "There's still Darkness there, but it's weaker, I think."
"His soul is fighting to heal itself," Theo decided quickly. He reached out and grasped Harry's arm. "Use mine."
Harry squeezed his eyes closed and concentrated. He felt warmth – energy – moving from Theo into his own body. Where he'd been exhausted he found a sudden renewal of power, as though he held dead batteries that were struck by lightning. He pressed his other hand to Draco's icy chest and imagined pushing the magic into him.
Ron's jaw dropped. He watched Draco's energy – his aura? – heal. The jagged, smoky air around his body was magically repaired as the dark cloud was forced out. Like a horrid monster it twisted and writhed in pain, and Ron thought he could hear it screaming …
And it was over. Harry and Theo fell back in exhaustion. Theo looked closely at his motionless friend and breathed in relief. Draco's soul was back to normal: the perfect silver-golden combination of Draco and Hermione.
Ron shook himself out of his reverie and looked carefully around the room. Harry's aura was bright and clear but beginning to fade from exhaustion, and Theo's hardly looked better. Across the room, Blaise ignored his own damaged aura; he was trying to coax Hermione into his arms so he could lift her.
"Blaise, you can't, you're hurt–"
"You're more important," he grunted.
"Let me," Ron said softly. Blaise dropped his shoulders in relief as Ron lifted Hermione and laid her on the nearest sofa. Hermione sat up immediately, shaking her head.
"I'm fine, Blaise got hurt by that stupid tree–"
"Tree?" Ron asked blankly.
"I need your help, Ron," Harry said as he struggled to his feet. He leaned against his friend who walked him over to where Blaise remained slumped against the wall.
Blaise's wrists and ankles were slashed as though he'd been whipped. He grunted as the other boys pulled his bloodstained T-shirt over his head; from the sofa Hermione could see a ring of bruises and cuts surrounding his ribcage where the splintered wood dug into his skin.
Harry was hurt too, Hermione realised as she struggled to get up. Theo quickly placed a hand on her arm and made her stop.
"It's alright," he said softly. "It looks like Blaise is the most badly hurt right now, but Ron can help Harry heal him. Then I can help heal you and Harry."
"Keeping priorities straight is so hard when I love all of you," Hermione answered quietly. Theo grinned. He sat on the floor next to her sofa and took her hand.
After they let go of Blaise, Harry began filling Ron in on what happened since he was Stunned. Theo listened intently while he stroked the back of Hermione's hand with his thumb. His brow furrowed in interest when Harry described the wall panels coming to life.
Harry's voice cracked as he talked about Draco choking Hermione. Ron's hands clenched into fists and Theo turned back to look at Hermione's damaged neck.
"She managed to reach me just in time; I tried to send my energy to Draco through her, to heal him, and I guess it worked." Harry finished.
"It did," Ron reassured him. "I don't see the Darkness in him anymore."
"Wasn't sure I could heal like that, I guess we just assumed … Theo said he broke his soul, so it's like he was injured–"
"Draco," Hermione said suddenly. The blond had sat up from the floor and it seemed he'd been listening.
Draco glanced down at the drying blood on his hand, then slowly rose to his feet and looked at the girl he loved. Her throat was ringed with dark bruises; there were marks all around her lips, across her jaw, and there was a deep, ugly bite on her neck.
Draco choked in horror and stumbled backwards. He tripped on his way to the door, which was quickly blocked by the newly-healed, still-shirtless Blaise.
"Oh no, you don't. Harry and Hermione still need to be healed, and we need you."
"No … let me go. Keep– keep her away from me–" Draco croaked as he tried to push past his friend.
Blaise grabbed his shoulders and held him firmly in place.
"YOU didn't hurt her! You were a right idiot, Malfoy – tried separating your soul, for Salazar's sake – but it wasn't you that attacked us!"
"Get over here," Ron called. He'd half-carried a wearied Harry to Hermione's sofa where she gently held Harry's injured hand. Ron took her other hand and reached for Theo. Harry didn't have to tell them he needed all of them.
Tired of Draco's protests, Blaise simply picked up his thinner friend and effortlessly threw him over his shoulder. Ron didn't bother to stifle a snigger. Blaise flung Draco onto the sofa beside Harry, snatched Draco's hand in his own, and grasped Theo's with the other.
Harry held his left hand to Draco, waiting.
Draco stared; his eyes trailed to Harry's broken wrist and back up to Hermione's injuries. He shook his head and inched backwards, tears filling his eyes. Hiding his emotions from them was no longer a priority. They protected her; he didn't deserve to be one of them–
"Draco," Theo said firmly. "Help us fix this. It won't work if you're not willing; we've all been injured too much already."
Through the hand Blaise held tightly, Draco could feel his friend's determination, his resolve. He should be angry, Draco thought. He should HATE me.
"It possessed you," Harry said softly. "Your eyes were black. It wasn't you."
"It's my fault," Draco whispered. "I felt it … and I couldn't stop it–"
"If the Darkness was easy to fight, we wouldn't be here." Ron said furiously. "If you walk out on us now, Malfoy, we're done for."
Hesitantly, Draco allowed Harry to take his hand. He can heal them and then I'll get out. I'll go somewhere where I'll never hurt her again.
Draco's determination vanished the instant their hands connected as a sudden jolt of energy zoomed around the circle.
He could hardly believe it … they were communicating. Every emotion from the others resounded in his mind; in one instant, Draco could understand every pulse of magic from their souls as clearly as if they were speaking English.
He felt Harry willing their magic to heal them. Not just himself and Hermione, but to heal Draco's damaged heart. It didn't matter that magic couldn't heal a heart like that; Draco felt how much Harry wished he could do it.
He felt Ron's anger; not at Draco but at the Darkness for making Draco turn on them.
He felt Blaise's resolve willing their souls to train to become stronger so this would never happen again.
He felt Theo's steady, reassuring logic like an unwavering marble pillar. And he could feel the very thing he feared so much – that Theo's love for Hermione was stronger than his own.
But it was different. Because her soul was spread between them all, Theo loved them all. Each Guardian knew love for their friends, their families … but Theo had nobody else. Every bit of love he possessed was here, in this circle.
Draco finally understood. He didn't love Hermione less because he also loved his mother, and neither did Theo's lack of love outside this room mean that he loved Hermione more than Draco. Love just … didn't work that way.
Hermione was damaged, scared, bleeding because of him and he was terrified to look at her, but he felt her calling for him. He looked into her gentle face, her soft brown eyes, and he felt her love. She'd been so scared … not of him, not even of the Darkness, but that the Darkness would take him away forever.
She loved them all, with every piece of her heart … and he'd forgotten the truth.
I AM her Heart.
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They were healed in under a minute, but Draco absorbed more emotions in that minute than in the last several weeks combined. His former concerns about needing Occlumency to shield his mind from dangerous emotions no longer mattered. It made sense to hide from the Dark Lord, but he could trust these people. His friends.
After the Guardians released hands Draco slowly told them everything. He talked about the emotions he felt moving between them on the night they bonded. He explained the connections between each of them and Hermione. Blaise grinned widely at the notion that he was Hermione's big brother even though she was older. Hermione exchanged a sly glance with Harry when Draco compared them to twins.
Finally, Draco described everything he felt just then as they were all joined. It was strange trusting Harry Potter and his friends like this, but it was shockingly easy to accept his new ability; none of them minded having their feelings recognised.
Theo immediately spun into a long-winded comparison of Draco's power to his own and wondered if he could learn to see the emotions Draco described, or if Draco could learn to feel the magical connections Theo saw in their souls.
Draco tuned him out a little. He wondered if the reinstatement of Hermione's soul within his own had influenced his decision to suddenly accept all this Hufflepuffish emotion, but he decided he didn't mind. She was a better person than him, and she'd proven that they were better in each other's lives even though he feared he'd drag her down.
Her warm body snuggled closer into his side, and he decided he needed to stop underestimating how strong Hermione Granger was.
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Not for the first time, Narcissa fully expected her son and his friends to drink in the lounge and collapse into sleep instead of retiring to their bedrooms. She did not, however, expect the sight that awaited her when she noiselessly opened the lounge door in the morning.
She didn't expect all the cushions and pillows to have been removed from every sofa in the room but one. She didn't expect the four visiting boys to be spread protectively on the cushions before the single intact sofa, upon which two figures lay together entwined.
Narcissa often used to peer into her young son's bedroom to watch him sleep; it gave her peace to see him at peace. But since the protective enchantments upon their bedroom doors became necessary after their home was open to less worthy guests, she could no longer enter her son's room at will.
Now, she relished in the sight before her. His tousled white-blond hair had grown long, and it swept across his face, nearly covering his closed eyes. Unlike the last time she found the boys asleep in this room, Draco wasn't twitching from the after-effects of a nightmare, nor struggling in his sleep as if reaching desperately for something that wasn't there. He was perfectly at peace, the only movement coming from the light rise and fall of his chest.
And curled up into his side was the Elemental Mage herself. Narcissa pressed her fingers to her closed lips and breathed a contented sigh.
Draco had written to tell her he was bringing his girlfriend round, and he wrote, "you might be surprised when you realise who she is."
Narcissa had to hold back a laugh. He truly believed she was so easy to fool.
"Mother, that silly Granger girl is beating me in every class. How could a Mud– I mean, a Muggle-born girl be better at magic than me? She hangs on Potter all the time, like HE'S so bloody special …"
"It's not fair the most beautiful girl at the Yule Ball had to be that Mud– I mean … Granger."
"I … I know this girl. She's the most stubborn creature I've ever met. We could torture her to death, and she won't talk."
"No, I won't hurt her. She's smart. I can get her to co-operate …"
"Yes Mother, Blaise and I saved her life. I guess I decided she wasn't so bad after all."
And after the war, when he should've been able to return to his old self, her son became moody and lonely. Narcissa barely needed Blaise to confirm that her son fell arse over cauldron for the silly Granger girl. When they teased each other across the dinner table last night, she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her son so happy.
And now, even in the depths of sleep, he held her as though she were made of glass. Her arm moved; she reached over and seemed to grasp his shirt in her sleep. As if he sensed her need, he immediately pulled her closer and her head fell snugly against his chest.
Narcissa loved the Mage Elementum. But never in her wildest dreams did she imagine it was real, or that her own son would be such an important part of it.
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