Hello hello my darling darlings!

So, I may have happy cried a few times over the last few weeks, one because FTT WON. OMG. IT WON BEST DRAMIONE TIME TRAVEL FIC AND I AM STILL SHOCKED. ALSO FTT HIT 1K FOLLOWERS. WTF?! OMG THANK YOU ALL SO, SO MUCH. Thank you all for voting, and I am so grateful for all of you, just thank you.

I've had writer's block for the past couple weeks, and I was also sick for a few days last week, but I'm all better now don't worry!

I do know that I'm going to be updated less frequently because of school, but I'm going to try my best to at least update once every other week. I do have the beginning of the next chapter written, and if I find time tonight then I'll hopefully write most of it up.

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.

Seriously, thank you so, so much for all of your lovely reviews, asks on tumblr and just for enjoying this story. I love you all.

For the past two days, Charlus's only company had been Mipsy-who, whilst a delightful companion, was far too concerned with his wellbeing to chit chat for the most part.

So when he felt the someone cross the wards, he smiled. He knew that magical signature anywhere, and the invisible lines of magic that tied the two of them together felt stronger than ever. The smile faltered when he recognized the other signature.

Hermione? Charlus wondered briefly, and thankfully he didn't have to wait too long before his wife and daughter entered through the open door.

Dorea had owled and said she had some matters to attend to involving their twin children, and had also mentioned that he need not worry. Of course he had worried, frustrated that he was subjected to bed rest when something could be wrong.

He hadn't imagined this.

Hermione looked so frail, so fragile as Dorea held her against her and assisted Hermione's movement.

When Hermione's tired eyes met his though, all he saw was love. "Hi, Daddy."

"Hello, sweetheart," Charlus responded, eyes meeting that of his wife with a questioning gaze, Dorea subtlety shook her head, and mouthed, "later."

Dorea helped Hermione over to the bed, and the exhausted witch climbed into bed, curling up into her Father's side. It was only a few moments before she was out, and Dorea was pulling the sheets up and over her. Charlus brushed one of his daughter's dark curls out of her face and watched her peaceful sleeping face.

"What happened?" Charlus whispered lowly, noting the way Dorea's fists clenched as she walked around the bed until she was by his side, facing him as she sat sideways on the bed. One of her slender hands moved to rub along the length of his thigh.

"Dorea?"

"Dumbledore kept our children locked up in his office for two days straight, probably to make changes to the Unbreakable Vow that Minerva kindly told me that they had made previously," Dorea spat venomously, looking at Hermione with grief. He knew that look, Dorea felt like she had failed their children. Fury, red hot and blazing inside him surged to the surface, barely contained as the magnitude of Dumbledore's actions struck him. He needed to pay.

He took one look at his wife however and knew that firstly he needed to make sure she knew that none of this was her fault.

With his free hand, he moved to grasp the one that was resting on his leg, and he had to shove the bubbling rage that was threatening to burst out of his seams down. "We'll get him back for this, we'll go to the Prophet, the Wizengamot, something-"

"We can't," Dorea sighed heavily, closing her eyes, making a frustrated noise before she met her husband's eye once more.

"What do you mean, we can't?"

"Hermione and Draco refused to let me do anything, saying that we are all going to need the bastard in the future."

Charlus narrowed his eyes. If his daughter wasn't sleeping right beside him, he would probably have already left in a huff, puffing as he headed straight for Hogwarts. That would have been his first instinct, now however, it seemed like he wouldn't be able to do anything to avenge the wrong that had been carried out against his children.

Dorea knew him very well, and could read him like a book. She merely said, "trust me, if Hermione and Draco hadn't stopped me, I would have torn him limb from limb, and made it so that no one would ever find the pieces."

Charlus's brow drew together in confusion and concern and he asked, "why isn't Draco here?"

Dorea sighed, shrugging her shoulders, "I don't know what happened exactly, but Hermione and Draco aren't very happy with each other right now, more Hermione than him though I think."

"I suppose Hermione didn't say anything about what the Vow entailed?" Charlus asked in resignation, the fire blazing inside him began to simmer, but he knew that it would perhaps never go away since he was able to do anything in retaliation. Dumbledore deserves to pay for his misdeeds.

"No, and I doubt she will-," Dorea said with pursed lips, "-whatever it was has to be extremely important if Dumbledore was willing to risk incurring our wrath."

"It must also be very important if Hermione isn't willing to tell us what it's about," Charlus said sagely.

"Or if she doesn't wish to go after Dumbledore. We have a fierce snake hidden behind lion's fur for a daughter," Dorea smiled proudly for a moment, but her smile hastily fled her features. "Whatever it is, it isn't good for any of us, it can't be...and I can only fear what is coming."

"Marlene, I told you already. I can't tell you what happened. No matter how much I may want to!" Draco yelled at his girlfriend. She had been pushing, pushing, pushing, pushing, pushing and pushing for hours, and he was tired and bloody irritated. Not necessarily, more at the entire messed up situation he found himself in.

"I can't do anything, I can't do anything and it's driving me fucking mental. I can't help the people I want to help, and I am feel so useless it's unbearable!" Draco screamed as his fingers dove into his hair, pulling at his locks as he did so.

Hermione had been gone for five days, five days and she hadn't owled him know how she was. He knew that she had owled Lily and sent a letter for James, Sirius, Remus and Peter as well.

They were currently in one of the abandoned classrooms down in the Dungeons, and Draco had throw up locking and silencing charms so no unwanted ears would try and listen in on their conversation. The room was bare aside from the dusty blackboard at the front, and Draco's voice bounced off of the walls almost violently, filling the huge empty space. There were a few torches along the walls that Marlene had lit when they entered, and they had been in here going back and forth for hours.

Marlene wanted to know what was wrong, and Draco didn't, couldn't talk about it.

Draco sank to the ground, caving into himself as he knelt on the ground, holding his head and rocking back and forth. He hated feeling useless. It was like living with him all over again, trapped and confined and not able to do anything to protect the ones he loves.

Their fate was sealed, they were all going to die, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Cautious hands slid across his back, rubbing soothing circles and he sensed Marlene kneeling onto the dirty stone beside him. She just stayed there as he dry sobbed, no tears wanted to fall, but he couldn't seem to breathe properly, and heavy shuddering breaths were floundering in and out of his mouth.

Marlene just held onto him. Even after he lashed out at her, and it just hit him again by how much he cared about the witch.

When he gathered his wits about him, he sat back on his haunches and just looked at her. Worried blue eyes, honey blonde curls. He smiled at her weakly before pulling her in for a hug, clinging to her warmth. Her fingers clutched at the back of his shirt, and her soft breaths filled his ears.

"I'm sorry for yelling," Draco murmured.

"I'm sorry for pushing," Marlene breathed back, leaning back just enough so that she could meet his eyes. "I know you told me a while ago...and I haven't said it back yet...but I love you Draco Potter, and you are far from useless." Tears began to run down Marlene's cheeks.

"Say it again," Draco requested, hands moving to grasp her face and wipe away the hot tears.

Marlene fixed him with a stubborn look, and hesitated before blubbering out, "I love you."

Draco kissed her then, her forehead, her cheeks-kissing away her tears-and finally her lips, pulling her closer to him. Breathing her in. Lavender and honey.

He didn't want to think about the future anymore right now, all he wanted was to live in the moment. He recalled something that Hermione had once said. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

He decided in that moment that he would love them, and spend as much time with them as he could. It was all he had left.