I promised you a chapter this weekend, and a chapter you shall have! :D
I think you'll either love or hate me for this chapter, don't worry, this isn't the last you'll see of Narcissa.
iamkortiz: I knowww, I'm so bad. I'm craving me some Remione. In all honesty though it is a Dramione fic...heh. Thank you so, so much, I'm so touched and happy xx
Kureiji-Kurai: Snape is going to be fun to write in the future. You'll have to wait and see on the Peter front ;) and I'm so glad you're enjoying the story so far :D Some questions may or may not be answered below. Your reviews made me so happy though xx
adavi821: THANK you x
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, only the storyline and any OC's belong to me.
July 2nd, 1973
Potter Manor
"Another year, more reflection, Mione?" Draco asked the cross-legged girl, who was sitting in the cool shade of one of the large oak trees. She threw back her head and stuck her tongue out at him before laying back against the tree; making sure to move her hair out of the way so it didn't get caught on the bark.
"Why did you agree to do all of this?" Hermione pursed her lips, hazel eyes regarding him carefully.
"Need to be more specific."
"Becoming younger again, going to Hogwarts again, befriending the boys, being so...so okay with it all?"
"You," Draco admitted.
"Me?" Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, looking for any of his tells that he was lying. Satisfied that he seemed to be telling the truth, she gestured for him to elaborate.
"You were the only person I knew, we're in a completely different time, starting from scratch was the most logical option." Draco explained, a little reluctantly; admitting that he needed her was still a bit uncomfortable to acknowledge, especially to himself.
"Do you think we're doing the right thing?"
"By the right thing, I'm assuming you're referring to being thirteen year olds again?"
"We could be getting rid of the horcruxes, making sure James and Lily live," Hermione whispered harshly, mentally berating herself.
"We talked about this," Draco brushed his bangs out of his eyes, and squatted in front of her. "Hermione, look at me," Draco demanded when she refused to meet his gaze. A crestfallen expression took over her features, her face contorting with agony.
"I feel like I've lost Harry. I miss him so much when I look at James sometimes," Hermione cried softly, wringing her hands together as she stared at her lap.
"Are you still having nightmares about Harry and Weasley dying?" Draco asked quietly, hand resting on her shin.
"Sometimes...sometimes I see the boys instead, Sirius being tortured, Remus being chewed apart by other werewolves, James getting hit with a killing curse, after being tossed around like a rag doll."
"They're ok, Mione. They are all ok," Draco attempted to comfort her weakly, but they both knew the truth. That none of it was really ok, or at least it wouldn't be in the future.
"We don't know what made that sweet, naive and meek boy into the twisted man that sold out one of his best friends and then offered his son to Voldemort to help bring that wretched man back. We don't know how to stop that, we don't know how to keep them safe. I can't keep them safe. I can't give Harry his parents. I get to be here...and I can't do fuck all," Hermione's eyelids squeezed shut tightly, her hands curling into fists as she raised them to her temples.
"Hermione," Draco croaked out, knees on either side of her outstretched legs, reaching forward to move her hands away from her face. "We can't keep focusing on that, we need to live now. We have them here with us now."
"I know," she rasped out, grasping onto his hands for dear life.
"You know that thing I found in the resticted section about someone mysteriously going back in time around the beginning of the 12th century?"
"There was no mention of whether it was a time turner or not," Hermione reminded him. "Even if they did go back in time like we did, we have no idea why they did."
"Still, they must have been needed. What if us telling Dumbledore about the future was part of why we're here? We don't know why we're here. All I know is despite what I may say, or the fact that schoolwork is insanely easy, I actually look forward to going back to Hogwarts every year. I love my parents, birth parents that is, but my house was a bit lonely growing up, I-" Draco stopped talking abruptly, clamping down.
"No. You don't get to do that. You don't get to stop talking about your feelings because it's in your nature to shut people out. This is me, Dray. Me." Hermione touched his cheek lightly, his hand still grasped in her right one.
"It's strange seeing them as teenagers...in my mind, they are completely different people. They aren't my parents here. They're happier, more carefree..." Draco trailed off, eyes glazed over. A few moments later, he blinked hard, and clarity returned to his irises. "Mum and Dad, Dorea and Charlus, it feels right being here. Fuck. I hate all this feeling shit," Draco grumbled, rubbing his chin with his now free hand. "Doing all of this over again, at first I'll admit I thought it was a pain in the ass, but now I'm actually enjoying school. Even though sometimes they can be immature ninnies and I want to scratch my eyes out, I still want to be with Moony, Jamie, Sirius and Peter. Occasionally I miss Theo and Blaise, they got me, they were, are, my best mates in the future. Hell, I like Frank, Alice. Don't get me started on watching Lily hex Jamie. I feel like I'm home, for fuck's sake."
"You going to befriend Neville in the future?" Hermione smirked, shoving his shoulder playfully.
"Maybe," Draco frowned, "we need to find a way to either protect Alice and Frank's brains, or a potion that can heal victims of the cruciatus curse. We can do that, we can change that...right?"
"In order to make the potion though, we would need to understand what happens to the brain after you've gone through that, and we don't have anybody to examine," Hermione pointed out.
"We have at least four, five years...that should be enough time?" Draco arched a brow. "We can figure it out somewhere within there?"
"Focus, first we have to make the Wolfsbane Potion," Hermione said sternly.
"How about this, I work on the Wolfsbane Potion and you work on finding a way to save our friends. I'll be fucking damned if I let anyone else die or be hurt if I can help it." Draco snarled ferociously.
"Were you serious about using Polyjuice potion to go exploring around muggle london as people closer to our own age?" Hermione queried, recalling a brief conversation where Draco joked that she could make it in her sleep; then they could sneak out and have a night out.
"It would be interesting wouldn't it?" Draco grinned.
"So I'm doing all the work basically," Hermione teased lightheartedly, letting go of him, grabbing the scrunchie around her wrist, and pulling her unruly curls up into a high ponytail, the underside a bit loose and messy.
"Polyjuice potion is cake for you."
"You forget we're supposed to be trying to become animagi."
"The boys need to stop swallowing their Mandrake leaves," Draco rolled his eyes, "Moony is going to catch on."
"Remind me why we're not telling him again?"
"They want it to be a surprise."
"First step in holding a Mandrake leaf under your tongue for a month, then you begin mediation, which reveals your animagus form, and after that you then work on the actual shifting...did I miss anything?" Hermione looked upwards and to the side in thought, biting her lip. Draco wanted to lean forward and bite it instead, but remained rooted to the spot, not daring to move, before he actually did it.
"Nope. Now here's something that will make you feel better. Picture Minnie with a Mandrake leaf under her tongue for a whole month. You know that she'd get it done on the first try, but still," Draco guffawed. "Especially at meal time."
"You're ridiculous," Hermione's light laugh, quickly shifted into more of a cackle, which made Draco laugh harder. The image of McGonagall staring loathingly at a plate of food, Mandrake leaf under her tongue fresh in their minds. The twins' spirit was lifted significantly. Then when the boys joined them under the tree; James and Sirius grinning mischievously as they picked Hermione up and ran over to the pool, with her kicking and screaming. If she was going down, they were going down with her. She held fast to their shirts as she went in, yanking them in with her. Remus and Draco stood by the side shaking their heads. Peter was leaning over the side, hand outstretched to help James out.
I give it a minute or less before James, or Sirius pulls him in...or Draco pushes him in, Hermione smiled to herself, lying back so she was floating on top of the water's surface. The sun shining warmly on the cool water. Draco's right. We can't keep worrying about things we can't change. I will see Harry again, Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville. I'll meet Theo and Blaise. I'll be able to see Teddy, joke around with Tonks...future Remus and Sirius; future Minnie, I suppose we won't need to stay at Hogwarts when we get back, since we are probably going to get our NEWTs here. We'll find a way to save Frank and Alice, to forgive Peter and Snape. Circe, Lily, my firecracker. I'm going to miss her something terrible. Riley...Merlin, what happened to Riley? I've never heard of her before. I need to keep her safe for Sirius. Hermione glanced down and saw the raven haired boy tackling Peter, who had indeed been pushed in. I can do this. Even if I can't save James and Lily, I'm going to fight like hell to save everyone else.
...
July 4th, 1973
Potter Manor
"This is a bit mental," Draco crossed his arms over his chest, watching as Hermione carefully stirred the bubbling potion in the iron cauldron in front of her. Hermione peeked at him, but then returned her attention to lowering the heat under the cauldron.
"This was your idea," Hermione reminded him in a sing song voice. She hummed jubilantly as she swayed lightly from side to side.
"It's only cause I remembered your story about second year...when you brewed it to spy on me," Draco mused.
The boys were outside playing Quidditch, with the exception of Remus; who was in the kitchen, 'helping' Mipsy and Dorea with double chocolate chip cookies.
Dorea had found a small unused room near the twins rooms, and shifted a few desks and tables in there for their use. After seeing that Draco had made a makeshift potion station in the corner of his room. Originally it was because he was trying to recreate his Godfather's Wolfsbane Potion. Every now and then his mind drifted to the young dark haired Slytherin. He was torn when it came to his Godfather. In one way he was tempted to try and befriend him, but on the other Snape seemed disinterested in any Gryffindors aside from Lily. Which was why for the past couple months, he had followed the perpetually annoyed boy. On one occasion he had almost been caught when he had crashed into his Mother. Narcissa looked flushed, cheeks pink, hair slightly out of place. Despite his upbringing and how stern his Father was, Draco could always tell that Narcissa meant the world to Lucius. That's why he had smirked smugly and teased her about it.
"I see that you and Malfoy have been having fun," Draco wriggled his eyebrows at Narcissa, who in turn scowled.
"Remind me why I haven't hexed you yet?"
"I'm charming, handsome, and delectably entertaining," Draco's mouth twitched upwards as Narcissa rolled her eyes.
"One question, Potter-"
"Yes, Cissa? I'm all ears," Draco leaned forward, giving her his full and undivided attention; turning his ear to her. She pinched it and shook her head when he began to complain bitterly.
"Why do you have grey eyes?" Narcissa asked the question that had been pestering her since she had met the young boy.
"Why do you have blonde hair?" Draco shot back with a scowl. "Blacks don't have pale hair, or blue eyes, yet you have both of those."
"Touche," Narcissa said wryly, smoothing out her robes before walking away.
"That's it? This may be the last time you see me for a long, long time, Cissa!" Draco called after the blonde.
"Good riddance!" She yelled back over her shoulder in a light tone, waving her hand in farewell.
"You're going to miss me, and you know it!" Draco bellowed, smirking to himself. Having you here at this age...I think it helped, I miss you, which is strange, since you were right here the entire time. Still. Having you here and seeing this side of you, and Father; it was brilliant. Even though Dad's always been a git.
...
December 25th, 1998
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmistrisses' Office
Harry was the first one in the Headmistrisses' office for the evening. Unbeknownst to the Boy Who Lived, his best friend was currently occupied in a long conversation with Luna about bowtruckles. Narcissa and Lucius popped in every now and then, but for the most part they had stayed away the past couple of weeks; leaving clear instructions with McGonagall to inform them of any changes of any new leads as to what had happened to Hermione and Draco.
Either Sirius or Remus came every night as well, the other staying with Tonks to help out with Teddy. In light of the current cirmcustances, Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini had been informed, and Harry and Ron found themselves enjoying the company broody, crude Slytherin and his dark skinned snide Italian best mate. McGonagall wanted to wait before she told Daphne or Pansy.
Harry was sitting in one of the armchairs, having gotten permission from McGonagall weeks ago to move about the furniture as long as it was returned to its original position. He had shifted it over by the window, and watched the snow piling up on the windowsill in the midnight blue sky. Wishing now he'd paid more attention when Hermione had pointed out the stars. Grasped lightly in his hands was a picture of Harry, Hermione and Ron from Sixth Year. On one of the rare days where Ron wasn't attached to Lavender at the hip. Hermione was in the middle, arms around both of her boy's shoulders. Ron turned to look at her, saying something, which caused her mouth to form a large 'o'. Harry had joined in the laughter, and soon they were pushing each other around playfully. Merry Christmas, Mione.
"I wonder where all of our pictures went," a voice murmured behind him, startling Harry so much, that he almost fell out of his seat, fingers on his wand. Relaxing when he turned to see Remus standing there, a pensieve look on his face. Harry's heart was still pounding in his chest, and he could hear it beating in his ears.
"What do you mean, Remus?" Harry frowned, thumb lightly rubbing over the picture's surface.
"Well I had a distinct memory the other day about us taking a picture together in third year, and I have no idea where it, or any of our other pictures went to be honest," Remus scratched his chin. Harry noticed for the first time in long time that his former professor looked younger, more like his actual age. His greying hair had grown thicker, and instead of the grey taking over like it had previously, it now only highlighted his locks. Remus didn't look as weary as he once had either. Maybe it was because of Tonks and Teddy, or maybe it was even because he was remembering crucial parts of his life that he had been missing, craving, even though he had had no memory of it even existing.
"Sirius said something similar, about gifts that he had gotten from Mione and...Malfoy," Harry pursed his lips, rubbing at his brow.
"Knowing Mione and Dray, they most likely made sure that we wouldn't be able to find any traces of them until they got back..." Remus trailed off, a deep frown on his face. There were several moments of silence until Remus' eyes widened in surprise as another piece of the puzzle fit into place. "I can't believe I didn't think of it before. Potter Manor, Harry."
"Potter Manor?" Harry frowned in confusion, having never heard of it.
"That's right...we never told you," a flash of guilt crossed Remus' features. Dumbledore had requested that neither Sirius nor Remus tell Harry about the Manor until after the War. Sirius had adamantly argued against it, but in the end had relented. Then after the War, things had been so hectic and chaotic that it had slipped everyone's mind.
"I'll send Sirius a Patronus and he can-"
"You called?" Sirius entered the room, having reverted back to his old style of dressing to some extent. Wearing black leather pants, and casual green robes which were unbuttoned, exposing his bare chest; on his feet were black leather, lace up boots.
"Potter Manor," Remus stated calmly.
"Fuck," Sirius swore, rubbing his knuckles against the slight scruff on his chin. That was another thing that had changed, both Remus and Sirius shaved more often, almost as if there was some inner voice that kept nagging them if they didn't.
"Well what are we waiting for? Mione and Malfoy?" Harry hopped up, striding over to McGonagall's desk and scribbling a note on a spare piece of parchment, to let the Headmistress know where he was.
The three males were out of the castle in record time, however they all came to the sudden realisation that none of them remembered where Potter Manor was, since there was a Fidelus Charm placed on it, and Minerva was secret keeper.
"Dumbledore knew," Harry said aloud, silencing the two friends that were tossing ideas back and forth.
"Knew what Harry?" Remus asked curiously.
"That he was going to die, it was the reason he made McGonagall secret keeper. Otherwise why wouldn't he have just been secret keeper. He needed someone he knew was going to live after the War. Why he insisted you wait to tell me. He knew Mione and Malfoy were going to go back in time. It's the only logical explanation." It was then that Harry noticed the locket around Sirius' neck.
"That's a large leap, Harry," Remus' brow furrowed deeply.
"It kind of makes sense," Sirius shrugged.
"What's that around your neck?" Harry pointed at the locket. Sirius didn't have any other jewellery on him, and Harry had never seen it before.
"Wait, is that?" Remus gasped, his fingers moving to his own neck, pulling on the chain and removing it from his jumper.
"Notice-me-not spell," Remus cursed under his breath.
"That's right...Mione cast it in a few days before she disappeared," Sirius snapped his fingers together.
"Why did it only now wear off?" Harry asked a bit flabbergasted.
"Mione liked to play around with charms as we got older, I guess somehow managed to make it that when we needed them again, we would be able to see them." Remus threw out a theory.
"Just like Dray made all those potions," Sirius reminded his friend. "Shit Moony, no wonder they were always so good at spells for pranks."
"Was it Mione who helped with the map then?" Harry asked, remembering one of their greatest tools.
"Moony here did most of the work on that when it came to spellwork," Sirius clapped Remus on the back, "but, Mione did help out every now and then. At the time she was more focused on making sure we all became animagi without Moony here knowing, it was a surprise," Sirius grinned brightly whilst Remus scowled.
"Getting back to the task at hand. Lumos maxima," Remus whispered, the tip of his wand shining brightly. "In case we need to see when we get there."
"Harry grab onto one of us," Sirius instructed, a bit more seriously now. Harry was closer to Remus, so he grabbed onto his right forearm, his hand was still grapsing his wand. Sirius reached out and grabbed Remus' other hand. "Let's hope this works," Sirius let out a deep breath, before closing his eyes. His hand reached up and he clasped the silver locket in his hand, the cool metal felt soothing, like home. Sirius eyes opened sharply as he said in a clear voice, "Potter Manor!"
With a loud crack, the three wizards had vanished.
Moments later the smell of the orchards is what hit all of their senses first, even though it was winter, the smell had lingered in the air. Harry opened his eyes to see Sirius facing the Manor, on his knees, sobs wracking his body.
"Nox," Remus said absentmindedly, eyes locked on the Manor.
"Remus, Moony, look. We're home." Sirius cried, tears flowing freely now. Harry had never seen his Godfather like this. He was rocking back and forth on his heels, arms wrapped around himself.
"Shit," Remus said, unable to get anything else out, silently crying as well, falling to his knees beside Sirius.
Harry had no idea what to do, it broke his heart to see two of the people he cared for most breaking down like this. He wanted to cry with them, even though he didn't understand what it was like for them. After all these years to return to place they felt safest, where they had been happiest.
"It's almost at if Mum is going to walk outside right now and tell us to get our butts inside before we freeze our arses off," Sirius sniffed, hands moving to dig into snow around him.
"Or Dad walking out into the gardens to read,"
"James flying from the orchards, Draco close on his heels."
"Mione hanging out the window with that damn cat on her shoulder."
"Do- do you want to go inside?" Harry suggested, both men turned to look at him over their shoulders simultaneously. Pain flashing in their eyes when they met his. I guess it's because I look so much like my Dad.
"I'm sorry you didn't get to grow up here, Harry. I'm sorry that you didn't get to know your parents." Sirius said, surprising Harry. Oh. I wasn't expecting that.
"Let's go inside. Maybe Mione or Dray left a clue." Remus put his hand on the ground as he got up, dusting the snow from his trousers, as it left slightly damp patches where it had been.
Remus held a hand out to Sirius, who gratefully accepted and stood up, both turning to Harry.
"You first, my boy," Sirius smiled gently, the tear tracks still visible on his face.
"You sure?" Harry asked, anxiety filling him as he looked at the house, it hitting him that this was his family home. Where his Father had grown up, where Mione and Malfoy spent years.
"Right now, you're the only Potter, Harry. This house is your birthright," Remus insisted, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder encouragingly.
Taking a deep breath Harry started towards the house. Remus and Sirius close on his heels, when they reached the stairs, Harry paused. "I-I," Harry tried to express how he was feeling, but he couldn't. A wave of sadness washed over him, and he clenched his fists, swallowing hard.
"It's alright, Harry." Remus ruffled Harry's hair, and somehow that gave him the courage he needed. To face all the memories and answers that were bound to be inside.
A small popping noise made them all freeze, and turn around slowly. "A Potter!" the small House Elf behind them hopped up and down in excitement. "Mother said a Potter would return. Mother said so, and here a Potter is."
"Mipsy?" Remus frowned.
"Mipsy is Pip's Mother!" The elf spun on her heel, hands smoothing her navy blue dress when she faced them again. "Mother inside. Pip will go get her!"
"We can go inside instead and see Mipsy?" Sirius suggested gently.
"Ooooo Pip is so excited. Mother said there would be Potter's again. Pip will go inside and wait!" With another small pop, Pip was gone.
Well she certainly diffused any of the tension. Mipsy? Was that our House Elf?
The three wizards looked at one another, shrugged and then walked up the stairs, Harry opened the door and was greeted by the sight of two House Elves.
"Harry Potter," Mipsy nodded, a proud smile on her face, a hankerchief dabbing under her wide, watery eyes.
"Mipsy!" Sirius greeted happily.
"Master could have left dog outside," Mipsy smiled sweetly at Sirius. "Wipe feet for once." Sirius sulked and Remus was stifling his laughter.
"Missed you too, Mips."
"Mipsy is not that long, why Mister Sirius refuses to call Mispy her whole name is beyond, Mipsy." Mispy shook her head. "Can Mipsy do anything for Master? Mistress told Mipsy your name before Mistress left."
"Mistress?"
"Mistress Hermione."
"Whoa, she didn't try to free you or-" Harry started before Mispy started to laugh, holding her middle. She was wearing a matching plain dress like her daughter, except hers was black, she had shiny buckle up shoes on, and so did Pip.
"It has been a long, long time since Mistress wanted to 'free' Mipsy," Mispy wiped a tear that had escaped away. "Master is very funny."
"Pip, go clean the kitchen please," Mipsy requested from her daughter, who looked slightly dejected that she couldn't stay but she nodded her head, curtsied, snapped her fingers and then vanished in thin air.
"If it's alright with you, can we look around, Mipsy?" Remus asked carefully, the nostalgia and memories overwhelming him.
"Why now is Mister Remus asking to look around own home?" Mipsy shook her head. "Mipsy has things to do, but Master will come back, yes?"
"Yes," Harry answered without hesitation.
"Master looks like Master James, different, but the same, and with Mistress Lily's eyes," Mipsy nodded, eyes crinkled as she smiled softly. She snapped her fingers and the candles inside the house began to light, one by one.
Before they could say anything else, Mipsy was gone, leaving the three males alone. Remus took charge of the situation. "You remember that chest that you had? Do you think our stuff could be in there?"
"I left it in my old room," Sirius recalled, "didn't you have one too, Moony?"
"Yea, it's back at home though. Haven't been able to get the damn thing open."
They trekked upstairs and headed in the direction of their rooms, when they reached Sirius' they headed inside.
"It hasn't changed a bit," Sirius said in awe. Band posters adorned the walls, the black sheets on his bed, the white duvet folded neatly at the bottom of his bed. His desk in the corner had been tidied, his chair tucked under it, the bookshelves that were partially stocked; due to Remus' influence.
"It's neat and tidy, Pads. I think you missed that bit," Remus snorted, "Mipsy probably tidied up.
"Yea, yea. The chest should be in here somewhere, I think I put it in my cupboard?" Sirius bounded across the room, running over his bed to the far left corner, where the cupboards were. Remus looked right, and saw that the bathroom looked relatively clean as well. A stark contrast from how crowded the countertops used to be; hair products and all assortments of cologne used to be scattered all over.
"Found it!" Sirius exclaimed, after rifling in his closet for a few minutes. Standing up and showing Harry and Remus the silver chest, "it has a undetectable extension charm on it," he explained to Harry. Who was looking at the small chest, it was slightly bigger than a music box. Sirius fingered the top, laying it down on the bed, and trying to remember how to open the damn thing.
"Our lockets," Remus said, he didn't know where it came from, but the words just spilled out of his mouth.
Sirius smacked his forehead, "of course." With delicate fingers he carefully opened the locket, a small key falling into his hand, but that wasn't all that was inside. "Moony...who is this?"
Kou Shon'u suggested the idea about the polyjuice potion by the way. Thanks for that by the way!
I seem to like leaving you guys with cliffhangers heh. Well the next chapter will be into the Marauders adventures during their summer vacation. Then they'll be in their third year, whoop whoop. I had some time this morning, so I managed to write the bit from the Headmsitress' office. To be honest I had written up until the bit about the picture, and then ideas stuck. I figured I should give you a little insight into things ;)
They are going to come across a couple dead ends, and I hope that wasn't too anti-climatic!
I hope you liked this chapter, and please review!
Love you guys so much,
Indieblue xx
P.S. My tumblr is indiebluecrown as always. Also how do we almost have 200 followers on this story, and almost a 100 reviews?