Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter Warning: None bad. Theo x Daphne fluff at the end

I just wanna run, hide it away

Run because they're chasing me down

I just wanna run, throw it away

Run before they're finding me out

I just wanna run

Blaise tumbled out of the floo and into his no longer immaculate living room. "Honestly, figlio, I know apparating in distress can cause you to splinch but that would be better than dirtying the living room," Elara said.

She was sitting in her chair sipping tea with a notebook on her lap. Blaise wasn't expecting her to be home, considering he hadn't seen her since June two years prior. "What are you doing here?"

"Making decisions," she answered. "I've met two different men, both of whom have proposed, and I'm trying to decide which to marry. Where have you been that's got you in a frenzy? And don't bother saying it's none of my business; I am your mother even if I've never truly acted like one. I just need to know ahead of time what assets to protect."

"At least you've admitted your faults as a mother," he mumbled. Elara glared at him. "I was summoned by the Dark Lord. Something about a prophecy I'm involved with along with seven others."

Blaise closed his eyes as he slumped into the chair next to his mother, missing the intrigued look on her face. "What was it all about?"

"Something about ambivalence that could make or break him," he mumbled. "I wasn't paying attention because most of his focus was on the stupid mudblood Granger. She's the center of his attention. I think Theodore is also in his eyesight. I left when things got messy."

"Messy how?"

"Lyle Greengrass showed up and tried to murder his eldest daughter. His son-in-law ended the fight quickly."

Blaise heard his mother huff. "Since when was she married?"

"Last June," Blaise answered. "I married her and Theodore with the power of the Selwyn seat."

"Why would you do that?"

"They were desperate. It was a small favor."

His mother chuckled, causing Blaise to look at his mother. "That was no mere small favor. If Lyle was truly trying to murder his spawn, then they got a full bonding. My darling figlio, you have a power over them."

"I'm not following."

"The two must be madly, deeply in love if you bonded them together."

"They were. The war was just starting with full forced attacks and Daphne had just learned her father was signing a marriage contract with the Goyles." Blaise summoned a glass of whiskey. "Honestly mother, none of this matters. I think I'm just going to take off to the mainland."

"You can't run from this," she snapped. At Blaise's startled look she calmed down. "If you hold a key spot in either securing or destroying the power of Lord Voldemort, then you must play the game, because in the end all this is is a game. You just need to know how to play. You have power over the Dark Lord because with one choice you could destroy everything, and you have power over Theodore and Daphne because you married them. They owe you."

"But they're my friends," Blaise said warily. "And you ran when this began."

"People like us don't have friends, Blaise. People of greatness and power have people we can control. We gain that with small favors and debts. I ran because I could not protect myself. I knew you could protect yourself, but I knew you couldn't care for the both of us. I only did what I thought was the most beneficial."

Blaise nodded. It made sense. He wanted to run. He was good at that. But he could see what his mother was describing. "What do I do? I can't run now. I have a job. I have people. What do I do?" And how does this make me hold power over you, he thought.

Elara grinned at her son and sipped her tea. Blaise didn't recognize the grin of a veteran of the game.

The first thing Hermione saw when she woke up were delicate silver swirls on a cream ceiling. Next came the sound of mumbles. Wincing as she turned her head, she saw Neville sitting next to her. His face was in his palms. "Nev?" Hermione croaked. Her mouth was dry and throat sore.

Neville slowly lifted his head out of his hands. "Hermione?" Neville practically launched himself onto Hermione, hugging her tightly. "Merlin, I didn't know when you'd wake up. I'm so glad you're okay."

"Where're we," she mumbled. Hermione couldn't remember ever being in a room like this, even with its warm, familiar feeling.

"Tom's house," he answered. She had been there before. "I found you on the floor of the Burrow and apparated back to my house. I happen to live next to the Greengrass family and Malfoy and Marcus Flint were there getting Astoria and saw me with you. They convinced me it was best to take you here, and I think it was the better choice."

"They've gotta understand, Nev. I need to explain…" Hermione pleaded.

Neville shook his head. "There's no going back now."

"What about you? This wasn't your mess."

"Your my best friend. You're like a sister to me," Neville smiled weakly. "You've always had faith in me and those people didn't until I cut a snake's head off and protected a few children. I'm on your side. Not theirs and not Tom's."

"Since when do you call him Tom?"

"Since he asked me to."

Hermione tried to smile but she couldn't. This boy she had known for years, who was as loyal to the cause they come, had followed her. He went straight into a territory of snakes because he believed it to be safer. "You need to go back while you still can, Neville. I can take care of myself."

Neville chuckled. "I've never had doubt that you couldn't take care of yourself. It's too late for me anyway. I was able to sneak back into my house only have to have Gran tell me to pack my things and leave. She said she wouldn't turn me in but she could no longer house me."

"Was she upset?"

He shrugged. "Hard telling with the old bird. I think part of her was fine with it. She's just as tired of the fighting as I am, probably more. Both wars have caused her family to be torn apart. I think she just wanted me safe."

Hermione was quiet for a moment. She thought about how Harry would react if he were awake. "What if we just run?" She asked.

Neville gave her a crazy look. "Did I just hear Hermione Granger suggest that we run? Are you ill? I've never seen you give up in any tough situation. You can't now."

"But I don't know what to do," She weeped.

"Do you trust yourself?" She shrugged. "Because that's all you need to do. Trust yourself and you'll know where to play your cards, Hermione. You're secretly good at games like this."

Daphne loved Theo's hair. It was soft and long enough for her to run her fingers through it without him looking shaggy. "Sometimes I feel like a dog," he mumbled against her chest. He had his arms wrapped around her, his hands on her stomach.

Daphne giggled. "Why do you feel like a dog? I let you on furniture. You're not on a leash."

"You're petting me."

"That's because I like the feel of your hair. It's relaxing. It feels like home."

Theo moved his head a little to look at her in the eyes. A small smile graced his face. "Any place with you is home."

Daphne rolled her eyes. "You can be so corny." Silence washed over them. Their heartbeats synchronized along with their breathing.

"Theo," Daphne said quietly, "What are we going to do?"

"We can't run," Theo admitted. "My father has us guaranteed protection from this side at least. And you might be thinking Tom will just betray it once my father is gone but their...partnership, for a lack of words, is a strong intertwined one."

"We can't leave. I refuse to join this side though."

"I already said we wouldn't join this side or the Order. I declared our neutrality from those two sides," Theo snuggled closer. "I could try to get you out of here."

"I'm not leaving you," Daphne said firmly.

"You could've died today. I can't risk your life. You are my agápi."

Daphne lifted Theo's chin. "If you aren't coming with me, then I'm not going. You told me that we will survive this. I'm not letting you lose hope. We may not be able to run together, but we can stand face together. I'd rather be together in hell than apart in heaven."

Theo kissed her on the cheek. "What would I do without you?"

Daphne chuckled and kissed him gently on the lips. "Wander lonely in this world. Now you have me to wander this world with."

Theo grinned. "Ti yw fy mhopeth; chi yw fy mywyd, fy ngoleuni, fy nghariad."

"Welsh instead of Greek," Daphne mused. "I forget you're just as Welsh as you are Greek."

"How could you forget? We have a house in Wales," Theo kissed Daphne's stomach once more. "I promise this'll be all over by the time our baby is here."

"Don't promise such a thing, Theo."

"But I am. I refuse to let our child grow up in this world."

"But you said we are neutral."

"Neutral from the Order and from Tom's side. We will join either side. This will be over before the baby takes its first breath," Theo reaffirmed. Somehow, Daphne didn't doubt him.

With the use of Google translate:

agápi (Greek): love

Ti yw fy mhopeth; chi yw fy mywyd, fy ngoleuni, fy nghariad (Welsh): You are my everything; you are my life, my light, my love