Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to HP. It all belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros., and any other entities involved.
In Hogwarts, Headmaster Dumbledore was quietly putting away a Pensieve with his secret memories. Secrets that he had kept for many years.
If his correspondent Hermione Granger was right, then maybe there was a way to pry Harry apart from the negative influences of the Malfoy brat, and maybe even persuade the brat himself.
Minerva McGonagall entered the Headmaster's office, clearly flustered about something. She said, "I'm not sure I should interrupt you Albus, but that damned woman was so insistent! Tell me if you don't want to see her and I'll send her away, her and her snobbish ways."
"Who is it, Minerva?"
"It is Mrs. Malfoy who has come to see you, Albus."
"Well, let her in, then," Albus replied with a renewed twinkling in his eyes. Things were looking up, indeed!
Narcissa entered regally, nodded briefly in the Headmaster's direction, and took the seat he'd proffered. A casual observer wouldn't notice anything amiss, but to Albus's trained eye, she looked a little shy, a bit unsure of herself. Quite a change from her usual Malfoy demeanor, and something he could work with.
"What brings you here, Narcissa?"
"If you must know, Albus, I thought that things with Draco would be alright after we performed the Bond."
"I'd thought we'd become the perfect family we could have been so many years ago, if not for Lucius's dreadful interference. Draco would look up to me, and I would guide him and protect him from every danger in the Wizarding World. He would eventually marry a nice pureblooded girl, and the continuity of the Malfoy and Black lines would be assured, as has been done for hundreds of years."
"However, I've found that Draco has turned against me! He will not hear my counsel, I hardly recognize Draco as the sweet little boy who would listen to my advice and seek shelter with me against the storms of Lucius's tantrums. He is getting way over his head and I fear for his safety. He practically threw me out of the Manor."
"Also it seems he is attracted to Mr. Potter, and that would certainly be the end of the Malfoy line. The family's bloodlines cannot end with him!"
"Albus, we both have to reign in headstrong boys who resist our guidance at every turn. I think we can help each other."
Dumbledore replied sternly, "Indeed we can. Would you do an Obedience Vow with me?"
Narcissa paled, and answered wistfully, "I cannot, Albus. The Bond with Draco is of such a nature that if a Vow were placed upon me, he would instantly know about it. He would mistrust me and that would negate what we are trying to do."
"However I will swear you a solemn Witch's Oath that I will support the Light side and work towards its victory against the Dark Lord," Narcissa had taken her wand, and with practiced ease had flicked it whilst saying the words, thus ensuring the Oath's intent and power.
BBBBBBBBBBBBBB
Meanwhile, in the Manor, Draco and his guests had congregated in the front lawn and waited for the helicopter to arrive. Draco had led them to a central spot with a clear intention in mind.
If one were an Eagle Animagus and would soar above the Manor and the manicured landscape, one would notice faint lines in the greenery, small elevations in the topiary figures, conspicuous absences in the orchards suggesting to the trained eye what would seem like the spokes of a wheel, converging upon a small, raised space in the lawn where Draco had guided them.
Having reached the spot, Draco swished his wand and said, "I've lowered the Anti-apparition wards, I would suggest you leave so I can defend the Manor."
Nobody moved, and it was Harry who answered, "Of course we won't leave, Draco, we're Gryffindors, not Slytherins."
Draco grimaced at the barb, and turning to Ginny said, "Do you trust me?"
"Completely, Draco."
Draco summoned a knife, and presenting it to Ginny said, "Then cut your palm deep enough, place it against mine, and repeat after me this incantation, while swishing and flicking your wand thus."
George countered angrily, "You can't do that Ginny, that is clearly a Dark Arts spell!!"
Draco continued with a cool, disdainful drawl, "Dark or Light, it all rests upon the intent of the casters. This is ancient blood magic, and the only hope we have."
"If you look carefully, you can discern some kind of lines converging here, these are ley lines, they are currents of magic. They show up in certain antique buildings, the Pyramids, the Parthenon, Stonehenge and here. This place is a reservoir of magical power, and if we could tap it we could use it."
"Over the centuries, Malfoys have tried to harness this power, but they failed miserably. I've come to the conclusion that they failed because they approached this greedily, trying to conquer the power in hate, and it backfired. If our intent is true, we should be able to tap into this power, this Nexus."
"But one person alone cannot handle that amount of power. That is why I need Ginevra, as an anchor and to receive the other half."
Harry interjected, "I could be your partner, Draco!"
"I'm sorry Harry, but the incantations only work with purebloods."
The rest of the Weasleys and Hermione looked at Draco mistrustfully, only Ginny and Harry looked confident. She said, "I'll do it, Draco, what is the spell?"
"Servo villa quod Malfoys(1), we have to repeat it three times."
"Ok, let's do it."
Draco cut his palm, and pressed it against Ginny's, who had likewise used the knife provided by Draco to cut her own palm. They were concentrating on their work and didn't notice as Harry cut his own hand and put it atop the other two and said the incantation together with them, "Servo villa quod Malfoys."
When they noticed Harry, both Draco and Ginny glared murderously at him, promising nothing good for daring to interfere with the spell.
Draco knew that the conditions in which the spell was intoned had to be carefully controlled or he'd end up like his ancestors, consumed by it and transformed into stone. How dare Harry tamper with that?
As they repeated the incantation for the third time, a bright light enveloped them and quickly expanded like a sphere, losing brilliance in the process but remaining distinctly visible.
The sphere grew until it touched the borders of the Malfoy estate and then remained stationary.
Ginny could feel the combined power of the New Golden Trio, and it made her giddy. She could feel Harry's innate good magic, his Gryffindor propensity to rush into danger. She could also feel Draco's powerful magic, a curious blend of Dark and Light, something utterly indescribable, like himself.
Harry felt the magic almost as an extension of his own body and feelings. Most of all he felt himself loved - as Ginny would put it - he felt himself embraced in a warm blanket of comforting feelings emanating from Ginny and Draco, their love and need of him. It was a humbling experience for him.
Draco basked briefly in the overpowering nearness of his partners, their unique magic mingling with his own and effecting vast changes in the state of the magical reservoir. However, he had to concentrate and direct their combined magics to merge with that of the magical lines, and erect and construct a magical shield enveloping the manor like a cocoon.
The others watched from outside, entranced by the display of powerful magic and hoping that it would be enough to derail the awful plans of Voldemort.
However the sound of the helicopter's rotors forced their attention upon a rapidly growing shape. The helicopter was painted completely black, it did not have any markings whatsoever that would indicate its provenance. It gleamed malevolently in the sharp summer air.
They could see the aft rotor shimmering briefly after having passed through the shield.
Draco said mournfully, "They have passed through the first and second barriers."
"Let's hope this works."
BBBBBBBBBBBBB
After Narcissa had reached her quarters in Hogwarts, she instructed her house-elf to put away her things. She went to her white trunk, emblazoned with the coat of arms of the House of Black. She stooped and retrieved a mirror. She knew that its counterpart was safe in the hands of Andromeda; she could talk with her discreetly through this Black heirloom.
She urgently said, "Andie, come on, Andie!"
The face of Andromeda appeared, and she said, "How are you, Cissy?"
"Tell me, how is Draco?"
Andromeda Tonks replied soothingly, "He's fine Cissy, he seems to have reconciled with Harry. They went to the brook."
"Andie, you must tell me if something untoward happens. Draco is so sure of himself sometimes, he worries me. It's like seeing Lucius young again, and I'd rather he weren't so cocky all the time."
"He does not appreciate the Dark Lord's threats and power as I do. The wards on the Manor are strong, but I have placed my own brand of magic upon it."
"Something I took from Lily Potter's book. A spell woven out of love, designed to protect one's child. The drawback is that I must activate it at my end, so please tell me if there is any danger."
Andromeda solemnly answered, "I will tell you Cissy."
"I'm weary, Andie. I feel cold, and so alone, but I must do this."
"First of all, I'm sending you by Proxy a potions book. I want you to put it discreetly in the library, making sure that Draco will notice it and read it. It won't be hard; he's so besotted by potions."
"What's in the book?"
"It's a rare tome that I got from our Black cousins in Hessen. It describes with boring exactness the correct way to brew an antidote potion which will make the person imbibing it invulnerable to any potions or spells affecting the will. In effect, the potion strengthens the free will of the person taking it."
"It requires the petal of a black rose grown on the right bank of the Rhine, at the entrance to the fabled Alfheim, the realm of the Light Elves."
"This petal will be placed conveniently on the book, so Draco has all necessary ingredients. I hope he will brew a correct potion like he did with the Suggestion potion I led him to. He will need it soon, we will all need it."
"I'm exhausted, Andie. I would rather be in attendance at the Dark Lord's court, where I can handle the dangers, than here with Dumbledore, where I don't know the intent behind their so patronizing smiles."
Suddenly, Andromeda's face in the mirror turned, and she spoke softly to someone. Presently she turned to face Narcissa again, and she gulped at the naked urgency and fear in her sister's eyes.
Andromeda immediately stated, "Nymphadora tells me we are under attack, Cissy! Draco has disabled the wards so we can Apparate out, so it must be really serious. I think it's time for you to intervene. Goodbye Cissy!"
Narcissa let go of the mirror. She visibly recovered herself enough to stand up again and with a swish of her wand, she intoned, "Contego meus filius(2)."
She called her house elf and together they walked to the Great Hall. Dumbledore had placed her near Gryffindor Tower, so she had to descend some stairs. She wanted to be in the open air, away from the secretive atmosphere of Dumbledore's Hogwarts.
On the stairs, she started feeling out of breath, panting. Her vision blurred, and her exhaustion that she had kept barely at bay throughout the day increased. Soon enough, darkness engulfed her, and she faltered on her steps and fell, embracing the darkness.
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
The dark speck having grown considerably larger, it remained stationary above the gardens.
Draco enunciated carefully, as if he didn't have a care in the world, "I wonder how they passed through the wards, especially if they are Muggles."
Harry stared incredulously at him. The wind ruffled Draco's platinum locks and billowed his robes, his cheeks were flushed and there was an intriguing glint in his grey eyes. Draco had never looked as beautiful as in that moment.
Draco concentrated on their conjoined magic and forced it to do his bidding. He willed the shield to shrink from its former size and envelope only the Manor and the gardens.
Ginny looked intently at Draco. He was staring defiantly at the helicopter, as if he could mow it down by the sheer force of his regard, and, maybe, he could.
The shield shrunk and solidified, shining brighter than before and placed below the helicopter.
The moment they had been waiting for occurred: a single missile was launched from the machine.
There was time for the twins to look at each other and shrug nonchalantly, time for Ron to embrace Hermione, and time enough for Harry to look wistfully at his partners in magic.
Then the missile struck the shield and it activated. They could briefly see the outline of the helicopter above them before the missile exploded. There was an ineffable moment when the shield momentarily strengthened as if receiving power from outside, but no one noticed.
The explosion was so bright; it was as if they were inside the sun itself. They were momentarily blinded by it; they didn't see the brightness engulf them as if trying to search for a way to enter their little cocoon and destroy them.
The shield stopped some physical aspects, but not the sound. There was a clap of thunder so loud it deafened them for a few minutes. The sonic waves reached the Manor and destroyed every window inside. Fortunately for Andromeda and Nymphadora, they had been walking toward Draco and his group when the missile struck and thus were out of reach of most flying debris, nevertheless, some glass slivers reached them and cut their robes.
It was a testament to the power of Muggle explosives that the trees directly below the missile were uprooted and flung away as if they were toys of Giants' children. Later Ron would gleefully point out that some topiary figures were destroyed, including the spider that attacked him.
The New Golden Trio and their friends carefully stood up and tried to make sure that no one was hurt. Slowly they could recognize shapes and hear sounds.
Ginny inwardly congratulated Harry, Draco and herself for some superb spell casting. She glanced around and saw the Manor, looking worse than before, but still standing. She contemplated the ruined gardens and uprooted trees and considered herself lucky to have survived that.
She saw Andromeda and Nymphadora Tonks walking toward them, and she waved at them. They saw her and waved back, until Tonks blanched and shouted, urging Ginny to turn around.
She turned around, and what she saw froze her blood.
Tbc
(1) Servo villa quod Malfoys: Protect the Manor and the Malfoys
(2) Contego meus filius: Protect my son