DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 61:

January 20-21, 1996

(ten days ago)

Draco Malfoy had, never in a million years, imagined that he would be willingly standing in an abandoned classroom with Potter and Granger without taunting them. He had always thought that he was better than them - Potter being a clueless half-blood who just escaped the Dark Lord at least two times by the skin of his goddamned teeth because of luck, and Granger being a mud-

Muggleborn, he corrected himself inwardly.

It didn't help that his godfather and head of the Slytherin House, Potions Master Severus Snape was whispering to her and his hand was on Granger's one shoulder, and Potter didn't even protest or give any negative reaction.

Not that he wanted to continue living with the Dark Lord, but he was gobsmacked the day his father, Lucius Malfoy, the most prejudiced Pureblood he ever knew, told him that he wanted out. As early as eight years old, Draco already knew that the Knights of the Walpurgis, also known as Death Eaters, were not a social circle. To even think of turning one's back to the Dark Lord was already treason and punishable by death. There was no way out. Only death.

But then, the impossible happened. His father and mother trained him with Occlumency and asked him to stay at a secret Malfoy estate in Scotland instead of asking him to go back to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire. There, his parents confessed that they had decided to work against the Dark Lord and turn to Albus Dumbledore, the only wizard the Dark Lord feared.

Truth be told, he wanted out, too, even before the Dark Lord could Mark him. The moment he saw him last year, the summer after his fourth year, he wanted to vomit, not only because of how horrible he looked but because of how vile he was. Draco and his best friends, Theo and Pansy, had a front-row seat of his cruelty even to those loyal to him.

Draco did not wish his future heir - not that he had a girlfriend or even someone betrothed - to live in a world where someone could harm them by simply existing. That was why when his parents told him their plan, he didn't question them and instantly swore his cooperation.

He had two tasks. One: watch Potter and Granger talking so he could have a vivid memory of the conversation when he showed it to the Dark Lord. He was going to modify the events before and after Potter and Granger's conversation so it wouldn't seem like an act since the Dark Lord would likely just focus on what Potter would be saying. Two: take care of the snake. Sounds simple? Not really. He, Theo, and Pansy had to help Mr Arturius Brown get into the Dark Lord's private rooms in the Manor, create a diversion, and let the full-fledged wizard kill the snake. That should be ten days from now, said his father and Professor Snape.

"Harry, are you ready?" Granger's voice drifted Draco from his musings. She was standing ten feet away from Potter and Professor Snape was still beside her, an arm around her shoulders.

They look intimate, Draco observed. Draco had known his godfather since he was in nappies. He had never touched anyone like that; not even Draco's mother who treated him like family.

Potter nodded and gave Granger a small smile, a curt nod to Professor Snape. "Let's bite the bullet."

Potter turned to him. "You ready, Malfoy?"

He shrugged. "As ready as I should be."

"Let's leave the room, then, Draco," Professor Snape said and approached him, but only after dropping a kiss on Granger's temple. "Later, dear," he whispered.

Draco and Professor Snape exited the room, but stood just outside the half-open door, peeking. Professor Snape Disillusioned himself, and Draco followed suit.

"Are you ever going to tell me what's with you and Granger?" he asked quietly.

"No. Not today," was his godfather and professor's only reply.

He knew he wouldn't hear any more from him, so he focused on the task at hand.

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Hermione had never dreamed of becoming an actress. Never. But to provide Draco with a real memory he could show the Dark Lord, she should bring her A-game in acting. That was a tad simple. She had fought in the First Wizarding War, so she had to lie often.

"Harry, what's this about?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

Harry looked panic-stricken. "Hermione, he's... he's after Sirius!"

"Who?" She made sure to mask her features with fear.

"You-Know-Who!" Harry exclaimed, gripping her hands now. "I... I saw it in my dream... Just like last year, during the Divination class, I dozed off, and then my scar hurt... But in the dream, I saw him talking to Wormtail and Crouch Junior. I thought it was just a dream. I didn't realize it at that time. But this year..." Harry trailed off to swallow as if he was going to confess something terrible. "I have been having the same experience. It's as if he's inside my mind. What do you think it is?"

Hermione frowned. "I have not read something about that, Harry. Well, the closest thing that I have ever heard of was Divination. But I dropped the subject."

"I need your help, Mione. We have to figure out why I have been having vivid dreams as if he's inside my mind..."

Hermione bit her lip and looked at Harry hesitantly.

"What is it, Mione?"

"W-what if it's because of Dark Magic, Harry? What if he's trying to plant those memories in your mind to scare you? Well, you know what they say... He's the darkest wizard the world has ever known..."

Harry turned sideways and looked defeated.

"I don't know what to do, Mione... But maybe, this is to our advantage. We can know what he's up to..."

Hermione squeezed Harry's shoulder. "Yeah, maybe. But I'll look into it, Harry. We'll figure it out."

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Right after that, Draco sent a letter to his father, telling him what he overheard earlier from Potter and Granger. By nighttime, Severus was summoned by the Dark Lord and he was asked to bring Draco to the Manor the following day.

Twenty-four hours later, the Dark Lord stood at his throne in the ballroom of Malfoy Manor, waiting for him and Draco. The Dark Lord was alone with Lucius when he and Draco arrived. With his two loyal servants, the Dark Lord used Legilimency on Draco to watch the memory of Potter's confession to Hermione about having vivid dreams. The Dark Lord was extremely pleased with what Draco discovered and promised to reward him and his family. He was in a good mood. Therefore, Lucius took the opportunity to suggest something to the Dark Lord.

"My Lord, if I may speak my mind.," Lucius said smoothly. "I think this is a good opportunity to get the Prophecy. We can make Potter believe that we have his godfather at the Hall of Prophecies in the Ministry. Surely, he will come to try to rescue Sirius Black. He is, after all, the only family he has."

The Dark Lord laughed... the kind of laugh that said he was pleased. He turned to Lucius with something akin to a sly smile. "Take care of the Aurors at the Department of Mysteries, Lucius. You have nine days. Make sure Potter rushes to the Department of Mysteries where I need him."

Severus saw Lucius looking pleased and bowed to their master. "As My Lord commands."

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It's ten to midnight. They should be back, she thought.

Hermione silently crept out of her dormitory and decided to visit Sev in his quarters in the dungeons. He would be alone there, and no one would comfort him if - only if - everything went wrong. They had already sent Leo home this morning. The headmaster promised him that the next time he was back at Hogwarts, he could freely roam around the castle and even watch Quidditch with everyone.

"Hey, you're still up."

She turned to the source of the voice and saw Harry in his favourite rickety chair in the common room. He was already in his pyjamas, hair dishevelled, and looked anxious. The Invisibility Cloak was folded neatly beside him.

"I've decided to visit him," she whispered as she approached him. "You?"

"Can't sleep," he confessed. "I lowered my shields earlier... just a tad; to take a peek of his mood. He was pleased, Hermione... But we're not sure if he had done something to Malfoy and Sn- I mean, Professor Snape. Sorry, I just..."

She gave him a sad smile and reached for his hand to squeeze it. "I wish I could tell you I'm 100% sure they are safe, but I can't do that. It's the psychopath Dark Lord we're talking about. Even if he's pleased with the news his men bring, he still punishes them. He does whatever he fucking wants," she said, frustrated.

Harry raised an eyebrow at her but with an amused look. "I've noticed you have been cursing a lot."

She smiled and shook her head. "Don't worry too much about Sev and Draco. If they're hurt, I'll try to heal them."

Harry gave her a questioning look.

"What? Professor Dumbledore didn't show you a memory of me as an apprentice healer?" It was her turn to give him an amused look.

"I saw a couple of scenes, but I was too focused on your love life and friendship with my dad," he smiled. "When this is over, show me more memories of you with my parents, will you?"

Hermione just smiled at that. She didn't have the heart to show him her encounters with Lily. Maybe she could just say they weren't friends because they had more differences than common things.

A few days ago, Hermione was called to the headmaster's office where she found Albus and Harry. Harry looked at her emotionally and his eyes were glassy. The headmaster explained that after testing Harry's Occlumency a few times, he had decided to tell him about Hermione and her family's roles in the war with Lord Voldemort.

The headmaster showed Harry memories of Leo in the summer - mainly about his time travel and Hermione's first childhood - when she came to Hogwarts with Sev as Hermione Puckle. Harry also saw her friendship with James, Remus, and Sirius from the headmaster's point of view. There was no memory of her encounters with Lily... Or the day when Lily hit her with Sectumsempra.

"Of course, I will. And I am quite sure Remus and Sirius will be glad to tell you stories, too, especially about our times in the Room of Requirement," she chuckled. Then, she sighed heavily. "But for now, let's focus on defeating the half-blood psychopath, yeah? And lemme check on Sev and Draco."

Harry handed her the Invisibility Cloak. "You can have this."

She smiled at him and ruffled his hair. "Well, this wouldn't be the first time I'm sneaking to see my boyfriend using this cloak. James used to lend this to me, you know."

Harry scowled. "Was my dad even aware of where you were going?"

She laughed. "Of course. He was very supportive of my relationship with Sev. I expect the same from you. See you later, Harry."

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January 30, 1996

(present time)

Molly Weasley quickly felt the dark magic emanating around them as soon as she, Arthur, and Bill set foot in front of a crumbling shack that still stood there because of magic but had clearly been abandoned for decades.

"Remember, do not touch anything," Arthur reminded them as he grabbed her gloved hand. It was Bill's idea that they all wore dragon-hide gloves. They weren't sure if it would protect their skin from the dark magic You-Know-Who created and set around the shack, but there was no harm in trying. The twins also provided them with some of their inventions: shield cloaks, shield hats, and shield gloves they wore on top of the dragon hide. Molly couldn't help but feel proud of her twins. They weren't achievers like Bill, Charlie, and Percy. None of them became a prefect like Ron. But they made her proud with their great inventions.

"Molly, dear, it's time."

Gripping their basilisk fangs, they followed Bill into the shack, and they took their time looking around, searching for a specific item: the Gaunt ring. They had memorized what it looked like from the Pensieve memory.

Half an hour later, Bill was pointing his wand at a gold ring with a large black stone floating in the air. Molly and Arthur moved aside so Bill could set it down on what was once a kitchen counter.

"This is it," she whispered to her husband and son, tightly gripping the basilisk fang.

"Molly, are you quite sure that you want to do this?" asked her husband gently, placing a hand on her back.

She met his eyes. "I want to. It will give me the peace of mind that I did something to protect my children."

She moved forward, standing in front of the ring, wand and fang at the ready. Then, a dark vapour emerged from the ring, forming seven human figures.

She saw her seven children sneering at her.