Icarus

Acting out all their fears

You feel it in your chest

Your hands protect the flames

From the wild winds around you

Icarus is flying to close to the sun

As was to be expected, Hosgmeade was busy. Brimming with excited children and equally flustered parents, it was as lively as it had been all those years before the war. For some time, they were both able to go unnoticed, but Hogsmeade wasn't that big and with so many people around, it was bound to happen. Besides, between Evie's blonde and Hermione's trademark curly hair, there was little way of them blending in.

'Where is this shop again?' Hermione asked trying to ignore the sneers and glares as they walked.

'Up here.' Evie answered. 'I'm sorry Hermione,' she said. 'I just wanted to get something really nice for Draco.'

'You have nothing to apologise for, Evie,' she replied vehemently. 'Like you told your brother, we're not going to hide away because people refuse to believe in change.'

Evie chuckled finding comfort in Hermione's resolve and optimism. They slipped into the antique store, the bell ringing loudly as they did so. Evie led them to the counter pulling a piece of parchment from her cloak.

'Hello,' She greeted the woman behind the counter.

'Yes?' the woman asked impatiently.

'I'm Evie Row-'

'Yes, I know who you are. What do you want?' she all but snapped at them. Her beady eyes flickered between Hermione and Evie with obvious distaste. Hermione ground her teeth, hoping to tamper down on her annoyance.

Evie arched a perfect brow and looked at the sneering woman before the most sickly-sweet smile graced her features. 'If you know who I am then surely I don't have to explain to you why I am here.' She replied primly slapping the parchment down on the counter. The woman looked at the parchment suspiciously, 'Oh it won't bite,' Evie said grinning, 'But I might if you waste any more of my time.'

The woman scowled but when all Hermione and Evie did was smile at her she huffed, snatching the parchment off the counter and moving into the back room.

'So, have you spoken to any of your friends?' Evie asked looking over at Hermione.

'What is there to talk about?' Hermione asked scowling again.

'Hermione,' Evie sighed, 'They're your friends… your family. You can't just cut them out of your life.'

'I didn't cut them out! They cut me out! I followed Harry into a war, gave up my family and he…' she stopped breathing deeply. 'I didn't cut them out Evie. They decided not to trust me.' She said sadly. 'Even when we had nothing to go on during the war, when we were camping out in the middle of the forest with no idea of what to do next, I never gave up on Harry. I never stopped believing in him. Is it too much to ask that he trust me in the same way?'

'No, it's not,' Evie answered quietly. She hated that her friend was being pulled in two different directions all because of an accident that was so far out of her control. If only they could see the good that had come from Hermione and Thorfinn's bonding.

Hermione took another deep breathing settling her nerves, 'It's okay Evie. I won't push them. They have to be ready to accept Thorfinn, you and Draco in my life as not just a phase, but a permanent fixture. And… they're not quite there yet.'

'So if they did, would you just forgive them?' Evie asked raising a brow. She knew Hermione was unbelievingly forgiving but she didn't think it was right that her friends treat her so badly and then get off scot free.

'Of course not!' Hermione answered. Evie sighed in relief. 'Too much has been said and done between us for it to all go back as it was.' Hermione looked down at her hands and then with a sigh continued, 'It will probably never be the same between us but hopefully we can find some way to be friends again.'

'I'm glad you see for yourself that you deserve better, Hermione,' Evie said with a small smile. But when Hermione only frowned she explained, 'You know if this had happened early you would have probably accepted their feeble apologies and said nothing about how they made you feel and it would have been forgotten and those two would go on believing they did nothing wrong.'

'That's not – I would,' Hermione tired arguing but Evie stopped her quickly.

'Yes, that is exactly how it would have played out because its already happened so! How many times have they done this to you in the past?' Evie questioned with a raised brow.

For the briefest of seconds Hermione regretted telling her everything that had ever happened between the golden trio. It lasted only a fraction of a second before Hermione realised her friend was right and was grateful she was there to remind her of it.

Hermione bit her lip, in defeat.

Evie placed a hand on her friend, 'You deserve better Hermione. We might have been children and that's okay but it's not an excuse to everything. At some point we have to grow up and learn to be better, don't we?'

Hermione sighed and nodded, 'Yes.' She answered quietly.

The disapproving woman re-entered carrying a small box that she placed on the counter. She did her best to ignore Evie and Hermione as she started cashing up the item. They paid her no mind and soon enough were walking out of the antique store with Draco's present safely tucked away in Evie's cloak.

'I could really do with a butterbeer right now,' Evie mumbled as they walked through the iced path.

'Come on,' Hermione said looping her arm through her friends as they trudged towards the Three Broomsticks, rather jovially.

}{}{}{}}{}{}{

'Hello?' Draco called as he walked through the quiet manor.

There was no reply but he heard the shuffling and followed it to find Thorfinn looking a little anxious as he sat at the grand piano. Draco looked around, noting it was quiet… too quiet. He glanced at the burly wizard who, despite sitting on the piano bench, was not actually playing anything.

'Where are they?' Draco asked entering the room and sitting down on the couch.

'Out,' Thorfinn answered. Draco raised a brow in surprise. 'Hogsmeade,' Thorfinn supplied.

'Alone?' Draco questioned.

Thorfinn nodded grimly and when Draco made a face Thorfinn scoffed, 'You try telling my sister and Hermione they shouldn't go out because the general public hates us, let's see how far you get,' Thorfinn challenged.

Draco nodded in understanding. How foolish of them to think they could tell Hermione and Evie of all witches what to do? They should have known better.

'Stubborn witches,' Draco huffed.

'I have every faith in them as witches but…,' Thorfinn sighed in defeat. He did not like tempting fate in this way. He had, of course, all the faith in Hermione and his sister. It was the rest of the world he did not trust.

As they both sat there anxiously waiting for their witches to return, a startling thought occurred to Draco.

'Is it always going to be like this?' Draco asked. 'Every time they go out, are we going to be waiting anxiously and uneasily like this?'

Thorfinn thought it over. 'Yes.' He finally answered. 'As much as Hermione wants people to accept us, they never will, not completely. We will always be what's wrong with this world,' Thorfinn explained and Draco, despite thinking it was quite grim, couldn't help but agree. It wasn't a fanciful notion as a pariah but merely an honest conscious understanding of how things would always be in their world. Of course, now that their bond had firmly and finally settled itself, the connection between Hermione and Thorfinn was stronger than ever. And because he could so clearly feel her happiness and contentment at that moment, he did his best to tamper down on his anxiety. He didn't hate that she had gone out into the world without him. He simply hated the fact that there was nothing he could do if anything went wrong. He hated the mere idea of feeling so helpless, he didn't want to think of what he might be like if he ever had to feel such a way.

'I love her, and her optimism in spite of everything is rather amazing but it doesn't work that way.' Thorfinn said ruefully.

Draco sighed, 'Well we're going to need to find something to pass the time because this is fucking depressing.'

Thorfinn laughed, 'What do you have in mind?'

Draco smirked and then walked over to the whisky decanter. He poured them equal fingers into the glass tumblers. He handed one to Thorfinn and got comfortable on the couch again.

'So, married huh?' Draco said.

Thorfinn couldn't help but grin. 'You know how the old magicks work, Draco.'

Draco nodded. 'And Hermione… she's okay with this?'

'Yes. I think she understands better now that our bond is as strong as it magickally can be. It doesn't scare her.' Thorfinn answered. 'I never said thank you for uh… what you did for Hermione.' Draco frowned, confused at what he meant. 'She mentioned it was you that helped her through this whole bond thing.'

Draco shrugged. 'She's been a far better friend to me than I deserved. It was the least I could do.' He took a sip of his whisky before continuing, 'Evie mentioned our plans for tonight,' Draco said sounding a little hesitant.

'You don't agree with them?' Thorfinn asked.

'It's not up to me,' Draco answered. But when Thorfinn motioned for him to continue he gave a more honest answer, 'I don't think it's wise going out there right now given how well we've been received lately.'

'But?' Thorfinn prompted.

'But this is what the girls want,' Draco sighed almost painstakingly. 'And Merlin knows we'll never be able to tell them no.'

Thorfinn chuckled at that, though he didn't deny it himself knowing it was completely true. They sat drinking in amiable silence for a bit, each savouring the well-aged burn of the whisky. Thorfinn eyed the blond wizard carefully and Draco being the perceptive, smart wizard that he was, knew what was coming.

'Go on then,' Draco prompted.

Thorfinn scratched at his beard thoughtfully. 'She's too good for you,' he said. Draco didn't even flinch. 'You don't deserve her.'

'I know,' Draco admitted.

'But now that I have said that I feel somewhat of a hypocrite given…,'

'Hermione?' Draco offered. Thorfinn nodded and Draco sighed. 'Then you of all people know what it feels like.'

'What?'

'To be loved by them,' Draco answered. 'She believes in me,' Draco told him sounding awed. 'She looks at me not like I'm some broken terrible thing but like I'm actually worth something.'

Thorfinn nodded, his hands combing over his beard in thought. He understood deeper than words could convey that he truly knew what Draco was talking about.

'You weren't the only one saved by a witch you don't deserve,' Draco told him.

'Evie's had a hard-enough life because she is my sister,' Thorfinn sighed looking down into his glass. 'I haven't always been a good brother to her. I fucked up and put her in danger more times than I could ever forgive myself for.'

'But she did,' Draco reminded him.

Thorfinn smiled fondly at this. The women in his life have a tendency of leaving him speechless.

'Being a Death Eater's sister wasn't the life I wanted for her.' He said this time looking at Draco. 'It won't be any easier now that she's with you. But you make her happy and that's all I really wanted.'

Draco looked at Thorfinn, knowing and understanding how much Evie meant to him said very seriously, 'I will do my best to keep her happy.'

'I know. Just swear to me that you will always treat her right,' Thorfinn asked.

'I swear,' Draco replied without hesitation.

Thorfinn smiled and a firm understanding passed between the two. Without much preamble, Draco set up the chessboard and they had only been a quarter of the way through their game when Thorfinn felt it.

He stiffened immediately, feeling that icy prick along his spine and then grunted when he felt the sharp stab.

'Mate?' Draco asked concerned.

Thorfinn felt his stomach twist, knowing without a doubt what he was feeling as it grew exponentially.

Hermione.

He looked up at Draco but he couldn't quite form the words as the pain grew. With each painful stab at their bond, he grew more fearful for Hermione. Stumbling back from his chair and sending the chessboard and pieces scattering across the floor, he groaned with his hand over his heart.

'What is it?' Draco asked.

'They're in trouble,' Thorfinn forced between clenched teeth. 'I… I can feel it… the curse. Fuck!' he swore as his magic fought within him, demanding to be set free. Fighting to be let lose to find his mate, to protect her above all costs. Their bond protested the loudest and he groaned when he felt it twisted painfully, knowing that Hermione was experiencing far worse.

'Where are they?' Draco demanded. 'Thorfinn!' he called when the burly wizard winced, the pain over what his mate was currently enduring tormenting his every breath.

But Thorfinn didn't answer him. He couldn't focus on anything but his instincts telling him to go to Hermione. Their bond screamed in silent outrage until he couldn't help but voice it himself. His hoarse cry scaring even Draco.

It twisted, painfully and with each turn of the pain, his magic roared in protest. He dug his fingers into his hair, trying to force his thoughts to focus.

'Thorfinn!' Draco called sounding quite startled.

Thorfinn looked up but noticed that Draco was not looking at him in shock but rather at his hands. His eyes flickered down to the silver bracelet that bound his magic. It quivered and tiny angry sparks flew from it. He gasped in pain as the bracelet burned over his pulse, quickening his heart beat before it started squeezing almost as if it were shrinking. Cursing his luck, Thorfinn grappled desperately with the bracelet. He didn't have time for this. He needed to get to Hermione.

'Fuck,' he swore again through clenched teeth.

'What's happened?' Draco asked.

'The blasted thing… it's… fuck!' Thorfinn cried frustrated.

'Thorfinn, we don't have time for this! The girls!' Draco urged.

'I know!' Thorfinn growled.

He looked at Draco and then down at his bracelet. His fist clenched together and as it shot angry little sparks, it shuddered once more. With that final furious shake, it split, falling to the ground in a loud echo.

They both stared at it in utter shock.

'Did you…' Draco began, casting a furtive look at the broken remains of the bracelet that lay at Thorfinn's feet.

'No,' He answered truthfully. 'There isn't any time for this. Hogsmeade. Now.'

'Thorfinn you don't have a wand,' Draco reminded him severely. 'Even without the bracelet, we can't be sure your magic will work just yet.'

'I know! But I can't – fuck!' he groaned again and his heart almost stopped when he felt the familiar heat of that blasted curse. Not caring any more, he roughly grabbed Draco by his collar, pulling his close. Through clenched teeth he hissed, 'Take me to Hogsmeade, Malfoy.'

'Where exactly?' Draco asked. 'Hogsmeade is too big. We'll never find them in time.'

'We figure it out when we get there!' Thorfinn demanded.

'No!' Draco argued and Thorfinn's eyes flashed dangerously as he growled but Draco stood firm. 'Use your bond. Try and find her,' he reasoned.

Thorfinn cursed himself for not thinking of that sooner. He pushed the fear for Hermione and Evie aside for a moment, calling on his bond, all but begging it to help find his mate. To help sense where she might be.

'Somewhere near the Hog's Head,' Thorfinn said suddenly.

Draco nodded and when Thorfinn grasped his shoulder, he apparated them to the alley beside the Hog's Head. The sound of their arrival was immediately drowned out by the sound of shouting. Before they could take another step forward, Thorfinn grunted and this time he reached out, holding himself up against the wall. Hermione. The curse that had been laid upon her, had been done so with cruel intention and malice. The bond shivered, scaring Thorfinn and he didn't hesitate for another moment, heading towards the entrance of the alley. They had barely made it to the entrance, glad to find that the girls weren't far. Evie stood with her back towards them and though Thorfinn couldn't see her face, he could see that she looked quite ruffled. Her wand was raised in defense, shaking ever so slightly. Behind her lay Hermione. While a crowd had gathered, no doubt to watch the Death Eater whores suffer, Draco and Thorfinn noticed that it was only two attackers that Evie was fighting off. A powerful curse threatened to knock her off her feet as she threw up another shield. Thorfinn looked to Draco and the blonde nodded, in silent understanding.

A second curse flew at Evie, grazing her shoulder and she cried out in pain. The sound of his sister's cried coupled with the sight of his mate's limp form awakened a terrible anger. A cold, dangerous rage unlike anything he had ever felt in all his time as a Death Eater consumed him. Thorfinn stepped forward and his arrival caused a hush over the crowd. It was enough of a distraction that Evie needed to try and disarm one of her attackers. But his reflexes were too good and at the last moment he managed to dodge it.

Thorfinn reached Hermione in quick strides and Draco gave him cover before taking stance beside Evie. This only seemed to spur on the attackers as they all but laughed in delight when two more joined their number and suddenly Evie and Draco were outnumbered.

'Hermione!' Thorfinn called urgently.

She groaned but didn't respond any further. Thorfinn shifted and felt something roll against his knee. Her wand.

Glancing up he saw that despite the numbers, Draco and Evie were doing a good job of fighting the attackers off but they would not last much longer. Not when they were outnumbered. He was conflicted, desperately wanting his family to just be safe.

Hermione gave a sharp intake of breath. He glanced over her body quickly taking in what had been done to her. Even in her unconscious state she clutched at the side and Thorfinn was willing to bet that's where the magic wildfire had caught her. He pushed aside her curls and when he saw the trail of blood down her face, his decision was made for him. She whimpered again as his fingers grazed the cut on her forehead.

His fingers wrapped around the cool wood of his mate's wand. His magic hummed and buzzed ferociously. He stood, careful of Hermione as he looked around.

Without warning he raised the wand in his hand. His magic and rage had built up and with a familiar flick of his wrist he sent one of the attackers off his feet. Only, the force and power of his magic was more than he expected and the attacker was sent flying through the air and crashing into a display window.

The sound of glass shattering echoed as the crowd and more importantly the attackers looked at the burly wizard in shock. When their attackers stupidly didn't back down, Thorfinn sneered and stepped forward.

'Alright then, who's next?' he asked menacingly.

His question was met with silence and then all at once wands were raised and all hell broke loose.

AN: Hello dear readers!

Firstly, thank you so very much for your support and patience with this story. Truthfully it has been an emotional few weeks as I am now stranded outside of my own country without a clear way back home. It's been difficult and on most days just getting out of bed is a mission in itself. I sincerely promise not to abandon this story. I've got the last couple chapters already planned out. It's just a matter of writing it out.

With that being said, I would like to thank all the readers who have been following, favourited and reviewed this story despite my delayed updates. Seeing your support and reading your reviews has given the motivation to push forward. Thank you so very much!

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and hopefully I will upload the next very soon. As of now this story will no longer update to a schedule but like I've said before I have every intention of seeing its completion.

Please do leave me a review! It really does brighten my day!

Also if you're interested in seeing the cover image for this chapter, you can find it on my Instagram account: immortal_dragon_empress

There is a lot going on in the world right now so wherever you are please stay safe!

Song: Icarus – Bastille

Cheers!