Chapter 12
Saturday September 3rd, 1999
Hogsmeade Village
The Three Broomsticks
2:12 p.m.
It was Friday when the message came, spelled so that it couldn't be traced. It simply said that they would kill Josephine unless Lucius, Draco, and anyone who could lay claim to the throne renounced that claim, effectively ending the monarchy and any chance that it would ever be reclaimed. If they renounced their claim, they in turn renounced the claim of their children… It was a lose - lose situation, they couldn't renounce the throne, even to save Josephine, as much as they wanted too. On the other hand of course was the fact Thomas was ready to kill every last member of the Order to get information, Lucius was just behind him in that sentiment but also knew that it could just make things worse, they couldn't initiate this war even if technically the Order had by taking Josephine.
Blaise and Ginny had opted to stay in Camelot, though Ginny stayed to Josephine's wing, after the kidnapping, and echoed the sentiments, Draco beside them and stalking the halls like a caged animal, Seraphine by his side when she wasn't standing guard over the twins. Many of the others had come as well, Eva and Horacio and their family, Gabrielle and Aleksey, Pansy and Millicent, all of the 'royal family' being called back to Camelot for protection as well as simply to be together while waiting to hear good news Goddess willing.
They hadn't said where they were keeping Josephine obviously; the answer came from a surprising source in a way. The last thing Ginny had expected was an owl pecking at the window early Saturday afternoon, a letter from Minerva McGonagall explaining she had gotten information about where Josephine was and wanted to explain in person and give her the portkey that would take anyone straight there and past the wards. Ginny had been a bit wary but… this was a chance to save her friend and she wouldn't run from it. Lucius, Thomas, and Draco were in a meeting with the Death Eaters, getting a report on the progress of the search and such, so she couldn't tell them, and Blaise as far as she knew was with them, so decision made, she made her way to the Three Broomsticks alone with Kiya and Seraphine, who immediately picked up on what was going on, no doubt Kiya had told her, by her side. She planned to make her way up to the castle as quickly as possible from Hogsmeade, get the information and return to Camelot then explain things to the others.
As she stepped into the Floo point, she never noticed the figure stepping out of the shadows.
Ginny appeared in the Three Broomsticks a few moments later, slightly out of it from the trip but still able to focus enough that she nearly took a step back at the sight of Harry waiting in the middle of the room as Rosmerta cleaned the bar across the room, the building empty save for a few patrons that she really didn't recognize.
"Hey Gin," he whispered with a slight smile, "I know, you weren't expecting me, but if you'll just come with me, your cousin is waiting upstairs," he stressed, hoping she'd get the unspoken message.
"How dare you address me so informally Sir," snapped Ginny coldly, any hint of former kindness towards the man before her missing from her voice.
"Forgive me your Majesty," he spoke quietly, "But I assumed you might not wish the few here to realize who you were."
"Then you should have addressed me as My Lady as I am still the Countess of Rosewood, despite any other titles I may bear as I have not given you leave to use my given name, regardless of any history we may share."
"As I said, I am sorry My Lady," he repeated quietly. "Perhaps we can move this discussion upstairs, where your cousin waits. She is eager to see you as I'm sure you are eager to see her after this time apart..." he continued, /-/Come on Gin, take the hint so we can go and you can get the woman and be back to Camelot, before the others decide to change their mind about the change of heart.../-/
"Fine. Lead me to my cousin."
"This way My Lady," he nodded and made his way upstairs and to a room at the end of the hall.
"Kiya, step back," Ginny ordered, the cheetah having stepped in front of her, blocking her way into the room having sensed something wasn't as it seemed. "Kiya," Ginny ordered a second time, the cheetah stepping back reluctantly allowing Ginny to step towards the door and open it before stepping inside.
Immediately across the room she saw Josephine sitting in a chair by the fireplace, watching her with wide eyes, but otherwise unmoving as she sat rather calmly. Behind Ginny, Harry frowned, she hadn't been that calm when he left to go downstairs to meet whoever came, instead she had been insisting it was a trap that Albus and the others were up to something and he was playing right into their hands...
"Josette!" Ginny cried as she raced over to her friend. "Josette it's time to go," she said quietly, trying to get her friend to stand up. "What did you…" she began to demand as she spun to face Harry, only to trail off when she took in the scene before her.
"Hello Ginny," Percy smiled, with him were half a dozen other men, and Blaise, who had a bloody nose but otherwise seemed unharmed, save for the fact he wasn't saying anything or moving really... Harry was between the group and the two women looking back and forth, confusion all over his face.
"What's going on?" he spoke quickly.
"Dumbledore sent us to escort my sister to see him. We found her husband when he appeared a few moments after you two left to come see the bitch," Ron sneered.
Blaise's eyes shot towards Ron, flaring at him for all he was worth without moving a muscle.
"Release him immediately," Ginny demanded. "He is the King of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands and I order you to release him."
"'Fraid we don't answer to you Ginny, we don't recognize any of you royals," Ron smirked.
"What is going on?" Harry demanded as he moved towards Ron, "For the love of Merlin let Zabini go, and undo whatever the hell you did to Lady Malfoy!"
"Sorry mate, we're under orders of Dumbledore, he wants Ginny, so he's going to get her. And Zabini here is gonna get what's coming to him."
"Wh.. What..." Harry just stared at Ron in shock.
"NO!" Ginny cried in anguish as she watched the men turn on Blaise and start punching and kicking him as he crumpled to the floor. She was prevented from reaching his side as Harry grabbed her around the waist, holding her back. "Kiya! Rickon! Oh Gods no! Aslan please…oh Blaise," Ginny sobbed as she watched them attack her husband.
"My Lady please, don't try to get in there, promise me you'll stay and I'll do my best to help him once I know you'll be safe," Harry whispered in her ear.
"Let me go," Ginny pleaded desperately through her tears as she struggled in vain to break Harry's hold on her. "Stop it! You're killing him! Oh gods…Blaise! Blaise you can't leave us…we need you Blaise…Blaise please…please don't leave us…Let me go!"
"Ginny!" Harry hissed to try and break through her panic, "I can't help him if you go charging in there without any magic to help you. They'll hurt you and not give a care. Believe me I'm as upset about this as you; they used me as much as they used McGonagall to get someone here. Stay with your cousin, please, let me go help your husband before they do kill him."
"Harry please help him," Ginny pleaded, all thought of position and titles forgotten in her fear for her husband. "They can't take him from us, please…stop them…Harry please…we need him…"
"Stay here," he nodded before moving towards the fray, sending many of his own comrades flying across the room and placing binding spells on as many as he could, the initial shock that Harry was attacking them keeping them from attacking him until Percy sent Harry flying across the room, hitting his head hard against the wall. Groaning he managed to cast a silent incantation to remove any spells on Josephine before passing out.
Josephine quickly sent spells at the remaining ones standing, as Ginny ran to Blaise's side, rising to follow after her, giving them space as she mentally assessed the full extent of his injuries, in the back of her mind the question echoed, what did Ginny mean by 'we'?
"Blaise?" Ginny called quietly through her tears as she carefully lifted him up and rested his head in her lap. "Blaise don't leave me, you can't leave me, not now, not when we need you most. Blaise please, you can't leave me, not now, not when you're going to be a daddy," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Dr…" Blaise mumbled quietly, trying desperately to hold onto consciousness as he watched Ginny shake her head, letting him know she hadn't told him yet.
"I only just found out. Blaise you can't leave us…"
"By the Goddess," Josephine breathed, "Rest cousin, we'll get you back to Camelot and the Healers of Avalon, you'll hold your child I promise you," she continued determinedly, before she suddenly went flying across the room. Looking up from Blaise, Ginny saw more members of the Order, Moody this time among them, quickly casting counter spells on the others, a glance at Josephine found her once more unmoving as she stared at them, fear in her eyes once more.
"Why are you doing this?" demanded Ginny through her tears as she held onto Blaise as tightly as she could. "We have done nothing to you. All we want is to live in peace. Narnia has done nothing to warrant such an attack on us."
"Narnia is a farce," Ron spat, "A lie your little friends made up to make you seem important. Well you're not, you never were, you're nothing but a Weasley like the rest of us, and even then you're a disgrace to the family. It's time you learned your place. Time you realized no one is going to take you away to be a princess when you're nothing more than a whore to them."
"How dare you," hissed Ginny angrily. "I have ruled over Narnia for over four years you bastard. I am not a whore either. I am Queen of Narnia, Empress of the Lone Islands, the great-granddaughter of King Peter of Narnia, the granddaughter of Lord and Lady Prewett, the Countess of Rosewood, the Duchessa di Piancenza and the Marchioness of Wentworth," she seethed as she tightened her grip on Blaise's tunic.
"Riiight," Ron rolled his eyes, "Someone get the spoiled brat so we can get going, and someone grab Harry, whatever you did to make him turn on us..." he muttered as two of the men moved towards Ginny.
Ginny waited until the two men were close enough before pulling a dagger out of a hidden pocket in her cloak. She had found the dagger exploring Cair Paravel one day after she and Blaise had first arrived there and learned from Aslan that it had belonged to her great grand aunt Lucy. She didn't know what had made her decide to tuck it in her pocket before leaving but was grateful she had it as she slammed it into the foot of one of the men, twisting it as hard as she could as she pulled it out before throwing it towards the other man, hitting him square in the chest.
"Bloody Fuck!" Ron yelled, the Order members reacting as one to raise their wands and point them at Ginny, a dozen spells hitting her at the same time before she collapsed to the floor unconscious. "Someone get the chit and the others," he ordered as Moody went to get Harry, others helping the injured men while Percy went for Ginny. They filed out quickly, until only Ron was in the room, looking between Blaise and where Josephine glared at him for all her worth, "Relax Majesty," his voice dripping with sarcasm, "we won't hurt my sister, and you might just be able to save your cousin yet," he smirked before dropping a small glass ball that had been in his pocket, it bounced a bit, cracking but not breaking, inside a swirl of mist began to grow, "Not sure how long it will take, but that thing breaks open, all the spells will be counteracted, might even give you time to get him back to your precious Healers," he winked before strolling out of the room.
Minutes seemed to crawl by as Josephine focused solely on her cousin, sparing a momentary glance now and again towards the ball as the mists inside grew larger, pushing at the cracked glass surrounding the storm, soon it would prove too strong and break its hold, but would it be soon enough? They had blocked her magic, taken her voice and left her immobile, but she could still feel him through the bond of their blood, it was small in comparison to the bond she shared with her brother and nephew, but they had spent years strengthening it as best they could, just as she had with Gabrielle... and she could feel him, just there, hanging on but barely. Part of her knew she should focus on Lucius or Draco or Thomas, but that would be pulling her focus from Blaise and those moments... she couldn't risk it just to have him slip away without that one thread to hang on to until they got Ginny back, and Draco... she'd have to hurt the three of them later, when this was over and the memories weren't quite so painful, for not telling of the marriage. Then she owed them a party to celebrate, just the small group of them, they would be the ones to decide if a ball would be held to reveal it... There were other things, pulling on her mind, reminding her of the consequences of their marriage; that Draco could not claim the throne now, she'd have to push harder for Lucius to marry once more or else the thrones would pass to her children, but that was not as it was meant to be, one of each... NO! She couldn't listen to the voices now! She pushed them back, focusing fully on him, sending what strength she could, the hope she could... She felt the spells leaving before she actually heard the sound of tinkering glass, hitting every surface of the room as it exploded. She was up and by his side before the last of the fragments fell to the ground, "Hang on cugino (cousin)," she urged him before carefully stretching out alongside him, wrapping an arm across his waist while taking his hand between their bodies, then focusing on home, apparating from the room.
"By the Goddess!" Regulus yelled when he heard the pop, jumping half a dozen feet before he focused on what had appeared in the room, "Oh by the Mother's blood, Josephine," he rushed towards them.
"Summon the Healers," she ordered as she moved back, "He's near gone Reg, please," she focused on him. He nodded before rushing to write a quick note and send it to Avalon while summoning an elf to send for the Healer there in the castle. The Castle Healer appeared momentarily, shooing them from Blaise's side as he set to work, Priestesses from Avalon arrived just after, but she was already heading towards where Regulus last knew them to be, meeting with the Lady in Lucius' private study.
"My Lady Queen, let me warn them," Regulus asked as they walked down the halls, staying with protocol as there were ears that could hear here.
"There isn't time, send some people to the Three Broomsticks, upstairs is Seraphine and Kiya, I didn't bring them with me, focused on Blaise first, they're probably going crazy unable to get here..." she countered as she stopped outside Lucius' study, "Go, and be careful we need to figure out who the damn spy is, I am going to enjoy making the traitor talk," she swore darkly before raising her hand to the doorknob as Regulus nodded and hurried away. As much as he knew he should warn the others, he was more loyal to her and he had her requests to fulfil.
Just as she started to open the door, she was thrown back, not harshly but just enough, by a spell of some sorts, the door opening and closing quickly to reveal her husband, "Thomas?" she frowned before being pulled close, "I can't breathe my love," she whispered after a few minutes of simply embracing him. "Why are you here? Why aren't we just in there?" she asked once he set her down on her feet.
"We had to give time for Lucius to leave and some means to allow him to see and be involved with the coming conversation was arranged, without him being in the room."
"Okay... beyond confused," she nodded slowly, "But I don't care if he's out, he better be cause I have a nephew to go tell his wife has been kidnapped and his husband is near death and... oh I don't want to do that," she took a deep breath before squaring her shoulders, "Make sure Lucia is gone, I need to tell him as soon as I can."
Thomas nodded, completely lost as to the comments about Draco and wondering if his wife had lost it while she had been held, but simply turned to open the door, finding Lucius gone but his head appearing in the fireplace. That was exceedingly simple... Reaching back he took her hand and opened the door completely to let her in, the moment she spotted Draco though she was across the room, wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm so sorry mon neveu (my nephew)," she whispered, "We never saw what was right in front of us..." she continued as she stepped back, "Sit, please..."
"Zia (Aunt)?" asked Draco worriedly, sensing something wasn't right.
"The Order had McGonagall send a letter here, Ginny must have gotten it. They told Harry they were letting me go, the fool didn't realize..." she sighed, "Ginny came, and Blaise after her, I'm so sorry my love, they've taken Ginny and Blaise... I couldn't get him here as fast as I wanted they had me unable to move, the moment I could though I brought him, the Healers are with him... I'm so sorry mon neveu (my nephew)," she whispered once more.
"Is he still alive? Is she?" Draco asked as he sunk bonelessly into the chair behind him, a cheetah appearing from the shadows behind him and taking up position next to him, resting his head on Draco's lap, Draco's hand going to his head unconsciously.
"Barely, but I have faith in the Healers, I sent word to Avalon, the most gifted have come, he will live," she swore, "She was as well when I saw her, I do not think they intend to harm her, especially now that they know..." she trailed off. Was it her place to tell? She should let Blaise, would her cousin even remember the words one of his mates, his loves, had spoken...
"Now that they know what Zia (Aunt)?" demanded Draco, rising to his feet once more. "What is it they know?"
"He should tell you, she should tell you, it shouldn't be me," she sighed heavily, "She's with child my love, she had just learned, told him as hope to hang on for the three of you..."
"NO!" Draco raged as he stalked towards Lucius' desk, picked up a crystal paperweight, spun around and threw it as hard as he could towards the fireplace, the paperweight shattering into tiny pieces as it hit the mantle.
"Majesty please," pleaded the cheetah quietly as it stepped in front of Draco, drawing his attention. "You must remain calm. You cannot help them if you cannot think clearly and to do that you must remain calm."
"Aslan forgive me and protect them," Draco said quietly.
"He does, he will," Josephine promised as she rose, pulling him gently back towards the couch, brushing a hand through his hair soothingly, "The Goddess and Aslan will watch over them all my love."
"Um..." Lucius began quietly from the fireplace after a few moments, still blinking from the unexpected display of light from the crystal shards that had fallen in front of his 'head', "Perhaps I'm more tired than I thought from the lack of sleep this past week, but I think I missed something... something rather important..."
"You and me both," Thomas agreed quietly.
"What is there to be confused about?" The Lady spoke up for the first time since Josephine had joined them, "Our young Dragon has been joined with the Fair one and our young Wolf, it is as it was meant to be, three joined as one, as the Goddess herself is three, the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. They are one, and will be until the end of all."
"Wait, just to make sure I translated that right in my head, you and Ginny and Blaise are married?" Thomas clarified.
"When?" Lucius asked quietly.
"How too?"
"Now is not the time for questions," Josephine snapped at her two Kings, "Later, when Ginny is back and Blaise is well."
"We've been married for a little over a year," Draco said quietly, his eyes downcast so he wouldn't risk meeting his father's gaze, knowing of his past relationship with Ginny. "We got together for the first time two weeks after the coronation."
"Perhaps speaking of happier times might bring peace to your soul even for the shortest of time, and hope to your heart," The Lady spoke gently.
"I don't know why I tracked her down the way that I did, I just knew that after seeing her again at the coronation I had to speak with her. I had to tell her."
"Tell her what?" Josephine asked softly as she continued to brush her fingers through his hair, reaching where it ended at his shoulders only to reach up and repeat the movement; as he in turn stroked the fur of his own companion from Narnia, another thing she hadn't noticed, another thing that stabbed at her to how much she had been blind.
"That I loved her," he said simply.
He had been visiting Cair Paravel quite frequently over the couple weeks since the coronation and was slowly learning his way around the castle without the use of a guide. When Blaise had been called away to deal with a matter of state on this most recent visit, Draco decided to take advantage of his new found knowledge of the castle and seek out the absent Queen. He knew Ginny was in the castle, he had seen her not an hour before making her way through one of the private passages that were reserved for the Royal family and their guests. Silently he made his way along the passage towards the one door he was looking for, knocking quickly before he could change his mind about what he was doing.
"Draco?" Ginny asked in surprise when she opened the door and found him standing on the other side, running his hand through his hair nervously.
"My Lady Queen," Draco greeted with a small bow. "May I speak with you privately?"
"Of course," Ginny said stepping back to allow Draco to step through the door. "I'm alone except for Kiya, she never leaves my side just as Rickon never leaves Blaise. They know everything that goes on in these rooms, we keep no secrets from them in any way," she explained when she noticed Draco eyeing the cheetah lying by the fireplace, who had placed her head back on her paws when she saw that her Mistress was in no danger. "What is it you wished to talk about?" she asked closing the door.
"My Lady…"
"Ginny. In these rooms you may call me Ginny," she told him.
"Ginny," he said.
"Better," she smiled as she walked over to the chair she had been sitting in earlier and retook her seat, not quite in the same way she had been sitting before as she suddenly felt like slouching was not the most appropriate position to be seen in. "What did you want to talk to me about?" she prompted again.
"This isn't easy for me to say but I haven't been completely honest with you Ginny," Draco said as he sat on the edge of the chair opposite Ginny.
"About what?" asked Ginny in worried curiosity.
"Do you remember our conversation in the garden at Camelot the day my father and aunt were crowned?"
"I do. You told me that you told Simeon those things because you were angry at my brother and because I was a Weasley and basically had no right to be a noble," Ginny said.
"I wasn't completely honest about why I told Simeon what I did," Draco said quietly.
"Draco…"
"I did it because I'm in love with you," he said quickly before he could chicken out, his eyes downcast, not wanting to look into Ginny's eyes for fear of what he would see there.
"You what?" asked Ginny is disbelief, not sure she had heard him right, rising to her feet and starting to pace before the fire.
"I'm in love with you. I have been for a long time, I just refused to acknowledge it," he told her as he watched her pace.
"But you hate me!" Ginny cried as she threw her hands up in the air. "You've hated me for as long as I've known you! You were one of the few people who actually bothered to take the time to notice me and all you ever did was pick on me and tease me and make my life a living hell."
"You think I don't know that!" countered Draco as he stood up and took a hold of Ginny's arms to stop her pacing. "Think about it Ginny. You said it yourself. I was one of the only people to take a notice of you. Why do you think that was?"
"Because I was a Weasley and another target for your hatred," countered Ginny.
"I thought so too at first until you up and disappeared from Hogwarts so suddenly. That's when I finally realized what I felt for you and what I was doing with all those altercations. I saw you Ginny. I've always seen you, the real you and I was trying to draw you out of the shadows. Someone as fiery as you should not be relegated to the shadows. A fire like yours needs to be unleashed, not extinguished."
"Draco…" Ginny found her words suddenly cut off as Draco let go of her arms and took her head in his hands and pulled her towards him, kissing her fiercely, his arms encircling her moments later as he deepened the kiss. Ginny's mind was racing. She couldn't believe that Draco was actually kissing her and that she wasn't trying to stop him, in fact she was quite enjoying it, feeling herself slowly giving in to his ever deepening kiss.
"No need to stop on my account," Blaise smirked from the doorway when Ginny and Draco broke for air a few minutes later.
"Blaise," Ginny said worriedly as she stepped back from Draco and started towards her husband. "I swear it's not what it looked like."
"It looked to me like the two of you were quite enjoying the kiss," Blaise shrugged nonchalantly before he stepped into the room, the door swinging shut behind him as he started walking towards Ginny.
"He was taking advantage of me Blaise, just like his father did," Ginny said as she walked up to Blaise, trying to stop him from advancing any further.
"Ginny..." Draco whispered, hurt evident in his voice, "I thought you had stopped comparing me to my father..." hurt turning to defeat.
"Draco I…" Ginny began spinning around to face him. "I didn't…I didn't mean it like that. I didn't mean to hurt you it's just…"
"Just what?" he asked quietly.
"Draco…your father…he…" she began as she stopped in front of him, hesitating, unsure if she should take his hand or not.
"There's a reason Ginny reacted the way that she did when your father insisted on dancing with her at his coronation Draco," Blaise said as he stepped up behind Ginny, his hands resting reassuringly on her hips.
"What's that?" asked Draco quietly.
"The night of the Winter Ball, after you spoke with Simeon, his reaction was rather…painful," Ginny said.
"Painful how?"
"He hit her Draco…hard," Blaise said.
"Thomas found me and helped me from the room, keeping the eyes of everyone away from me. He left me in your father's study, not realizing that he was in there. He was livid when he learned what Simeon had done. I was so nervous. This wasn't the first time we'd been alone together and I was afraid of what he might do, especially when he backed me against the window," Ginny said.
"He didn't…"
"No. You're mother walked in before anything could happen. He hid me from her view so she didn't know I was there," Ginny said. "Your aunt showed up a few minutes later and took me upstairs. What she failed to tell me was that it was your father's rooms she'd left me in."
"Bleedin' hell, I'll smack her bloody head," Draco grumbled darkly.
"She was only doing what she thought I wanted Draco," Ginny told him.
"What you wanted?" he asked in disbelief.
"Draco, back at the start of the school year I ran into your father at Hogwarts and I mean I literally ran into him. I don't know what I was thinking but I kissed him…"
"Brave girl," he smiled, "Well now that comment about running into Malfoys makes sense now..." he continued wryly.
"I thought for sure your father was going to kill me and I honestly didn't care. I think in a way I wanted him to because it would mean I wouldn't have to suffer anymore."
"He obviously didn't kill you," observed Draco.
"No he didn't. In fact he did nothing at first. I started to walk away only to find myself suddenly pinned to the wall and being kissed like there was no tomorrow."
"What does this have to do with my aunt leaving you in my father's rooms?" asked Draco curiously.
"My guess is I must have been talking in my sleep or something and she overheard me," Ginny shrugged.
"So what happened when my father found you in his rooms?"
"What I thought I wanted at the time but certainly not what I was expecting," Ginny said quietly.
"Your father made love to Ginny that night," Blaise said.
"He then proceeded to throw me out of his rooms first thing the next morning telling me to forget it ever happened and to keep my distance from him if I knew what was good for me," Ginny said.
"And unbeknownst to either of them, your father and mother were never bonded since she was involved with Snape since before they were married. When Ginny returned to school after the holidays, your father used the bond that was formed between them that night to proceed to torment Ginny in what she believed were her dreams, not knowing that it was in fact happening," explained Blaise.
"I thought I was going crazy. I couldn't make them stop so I tried to end it permanently. When that didn't work is when I agreed to marry Harry thinking that if I showed him I was moving on he would leave me alone."
"I remember the party. I also remember the two of you disappearing partway into it after watching Potter spend his entire time with Granger and not his fiancée," commented Draco.
"I asked Ginny to marry me that night," Blaise said.
"I agreed on the basis that Blaise make love to me right away, that instant. I thought it would make the dreams stop. I was wrong. I fell asleep in Blaise's arms only to wake up in your father's. I tried to fight him off but I wasn't strong enough and he had me pinned to a table. When I woke again I was back in Blaise's arms. I panicked. I knew I'd never get away from your father if I stayed. It was then that I realized the times with your father weren't dreams, that they were real, that they really happened," Ginny said as she went to wipe away an escaping tear only to have Draco gently do it for her.
"How did you know?" he asked quietly, sharing a concerned look with Blaise over Ginny's head.
"My wrists were red and raw from where he'd pinned me to the table," Ginny said quietly. "I did the only thing I could think of. I ran. Only Blaise ran after me. He caught me by the forest, which is when we came across a centaur who told us about Cair Paravel and how my coming had been foretold."
"Ginny decided to come here and I refused to leave her side so I came along. We've been here ever since," Blaise said giving Ginny a comforting squeeze. "The night of the Coronation, Aslan married us and told us that the bond we formed that night will supercede all bonds before it. As long as our love stays true, your father has no hold over Ginny."
"I am sorry for all the pain my father put you through Ginny," Draco said as he gently brushed a strand of hair behind Ginny's ear. Sharing another look with Blaise over Ginny's head, he placed his finger under Ginny's chin and gently encouraged her head up, closing the distance between them.
Realizing what Draco was about to do Ginny went to take a step back only to find she couldn't as Blaise was still standing directly behind her, his hands on her hips. Ginny found herself feeling rather uncomfortable when Draco's lips gently touched hers knowing that her husband was standing right there watching another man kiss his wife. Ginny thought her mind was playing tricks on her when she felt Blaise's hands move off her hips and up her sides before starting to work on the laces on the back of her dress as he began planting kisses along her collarbone as Draco continued to kiss her. When Draco broke the kiss moments later she felt her dress slowly falling to the floor as she felt one hand wrap around her stomach and another around her back, looking up she was surprised to see Draco and Blaise locked in their own heated kiss, a kiss that looked as if it was familiar and yet still filled with passion. Ginny whimpered at the sight of the two men locked in a passionate kiss, drawing them from it momentarily only to have them turn that passion towards her as they laid her down on the pillows piled in front of the fireplace, taking up positions on either side of her. None of them noticing Kiya quietly rise from her spot and make her way towards the door, spending the night in front of it, ensuring that no one would dare disturb her mistress and her lovers.
"Knew I was imagining things when you visited in Boston," Josephine grumbled lightly under her breath, winking at Draco when he glanced at her, "I'm happy for you mon neveu (nephew), for all of you. Course that doesn't mean there won't be a few issues we have to deal with now that you're a King of Narnia..." she glanced towards Lucius, "but they can wait until after we are all back safely in Camelot's halls and you can go home to Cair Paravel with your beloveds."
"I would like to see Blaise," Draco said quietly.
"I'll take him," Regulus spoke from the doorway, "The Healers have done all they can, want to give him time to rest before continuing to administer spells to make his healing faster, but he shall live. He is awake but won't be for long, and is asking for you my King," he continued quietly. "My Lady Queen, I have the information you asked for, I'll return with it..."
"Of course," she nodded before watching her nephew.
Without a word Draco rose from his chair, the cheetah rising with him and following Draco silently as his King made his way out of the room.
"So..." she began once both were gone, "Now that we've covered the insanity of my cousin being nearly killed and one of my closest friends being held by the same bastards that just held me hostage for over a week... which I was in Godric's Hollow I think, not sure where exactly, doubt they're there but..." she realized she probably should have mentioned that already.
"I'll go, arrange a team. They need to explain..." Thomas glanced between her and the two other occupants before leaving.
"Explain what exactly?" she frowned.
"There is a spell about you my Lady Queen," The Lady began, "Our seers saw it just in time. They that took you placed it, a mix of a spell and potion you may not remember taking. It is keyed to your bonds to the High King and your King. If the three of you are in a room together, it will kill you all."
"You're kidding me, right?" she stared at her incredulous, "Lucia she's joking, this is all some really big let's pick on the newly found member of the family deal right?"
"I'm afraid not Josephine," Lucius sighed.
"You know, I was in the middle of planning how I'm going to torture my little traitor into revealing everything he or she knew. Also planning how I'm going to kill the youngest male Weasley quite slowly if his older brothers didn't mind and Gin wouldn't mind letting me have the honour, still not sure who's going to get the third son... Planning how I'm going to tease Gin and Dra and Blaise about this for the rest of our lives was the bright spot in my mind... but you know, this just managed to completely take even that away... Can I please kill Dumbledore, slowly, painfully, indefinitely?"
"Once we get our hands on him, he's yours Josephine."
"Goody, although I suppose I could let you have him and just focus on Molly," she growled. "Oh dear God, she was one of my captors... Zut! She has Ginny now..." she realized, her heart dropping. "Oh by the Goddess Lucia, if we loose her... it will take Draco and Blaise with her, a part of us will go too, and everything we have done will be lost."
"You think Molly would harm her own daughter?" asked Lucius.
"You think she still sees Ginny as her child when Ginny not only betrayed her and studied the way of Nobility but claimed the title of Rosewood and the monarchy of Narnia, taking four of her brothers with her into our world?" she countered quietly before sighing, "Where are you brother mine? Thomas is gone and will be for a while, I need to see you, you've been lost from my mind too long, and the first time since the day I came into this world... Please, while I can before we can figure out a means to avoid the three of us together, at least until we manage to figure out how to counteract the bomb I essentially am."
"I'm in my sitting room," Lucius replied.
She nodded before rising, "Can you please let Thomas know when he returns?" she focused on her friend and the one she had trusted to watch over Avalon.
"As you wish my Lady Queen," she nodded. "May the Goddess watch over you," she continued quietly so only Josephine could hear, before Josephine left and made her way to the sitting room.
"Lucia?" she asked as she entered the room.
"I'm here," Lucius said holding his glass up so his sister would know he was sitting in the chair that had its back to the door.
"Get your arse off that chair or else I'm going to be sitting on your lap hugging you," she spoke as she crossed the room. "Course considering in all honesty I'm ready to collapse, that might not be a bad thing..." she continued thoughtfully as she reached the chair.
"Sit," Lucius instructed as he took a drink of the whiskey that was in his glass.
She raised an eyebrow, not sure if he was giving permission or not, but said screw it for the moment and promptly dropped down to sit in the chair with him, wrapping her arms around his neck before he had a chance to say anything, "You have no idea how much I was lost without you there in the back of my mind mon frère (brother)."
"And I you i miei cari angioletti (my beloved angel)," Lucius replied. "I've lost her completely haven't I?" he asked quietly, his gaze on the fire.
"In this life," she agreed softly, letting her head rest on his shoulder, "We tried brother mine, but she is where she belongs in this life, as much as we wish things might be different for the sake of your heart."
"It was never my intention to drive her into the arms of Blaise and my son," he sighed.
"Yours or mine. But sometimes, our intentions have nothing when it comes to Her will."
"If I had only known…"
"What would you have done different?" she asked softly, hoping by talking and getting these things out it might make it easier for him to move on in this life, and perhaps the others to come.
"I would have rid myself of Narcissa all the sooner and then would have been free to be with Ginevra in the way we both wanted instead of tormenting her the way that I did and driving her into the arms of others."
"Then perhaps the blame could be traced back to me, you were blind to what was going on, but had I raised a fuss before, even a quiet one within the family, you would have left her. Instead I simply tried to murder your former wife the majority of my childhood before finally threatening her and leaving to spend my time in Avalon and on sabbatical."
"I treated her horribly and I will never forgive myself for it. I stood there, watching her as my words destroyed the fire inside of her, the fire I saw burning inside her that day she first kissed me at Hogwarts. I watched as she crumbled before me and I did nothing to stop it. I broke her heart and stomped on the pieces as I threw her out of my rooms that morning."
"I know." she agreed simply. "But you are a good man."
"I don't believe Ginevra, your cousin or my son would agree with you," Lucius sighed.
"I'm fairly certain I know my cousin and your son well enough to see they would recognize that while what you did to Ginny was horrible, it does not mean you are a bad man, you were weak, you made a mistake. Contrary to the belief of many in this world who follow us, we're not perfect brother mine. As for Ginny, perhaps not now, but perhaps someday she too will be able to look back and see that you are a good man, even after all that has happened."
"She will need to be in a room with me for longer than five minutes for that happen Josephine and I don't see that happening any time soon, her current situation not included as I know my son well enough to know he won't rest until his Queen is returned to him."
"Dear Lucia, she will be returned, of that I am sure. And I did not say it would happen tomorrow, but given time, when she has more proof that the bond between you can not be accessed, that you will not do what you did that night at the Ball will not be repeated. Then she'll start to trust, slowly but surely."
"Did you learn anything about why they wanted Ginevra while they were holding you?"
"I didn't even know they wanted her. I didn't see many of the Order members after first waking, saw Dumbledore once, mostly just my guards," she muttered darkly, "Oh, your former wife's lover says hello..." she sighed, pushing those hours aside she couldn't go there now... "Then today Potter showed up, led me out of the house and took me to Hogsmeade, to Rosmerta's, he went to meet whoever came and cast the spells on me so I couldn't help. From what was said there though, I think they want to use her to try and take us down, even if their plan to use me as a murder weapon worked... Ronald wants to punish her for betraying the family," she admitted at last.
"Let the Goddess protect Ginevra and take pity on her family for my son and your cousin surely will not."
"I shall gladly dance around their graves, after I have had my own revenge..." she agreed evenly.
"Josphine? Lord Lucius?" Regulus' voice spoke from the doorway behind them. Josephine stretched up to look over the chair to see him. "Forgive me for intruding, but Minerva McGonagall is here, she asked to speak with you my Lady, and insisted that your guard be called."
She frowned, looking down at Lucius before focusing on Regulus, "Have her brought here, and the others when they have gathered, and if you can have Thomas join us through the fireplace as we did earlier." Regulus nodded before turning and leaving and she focused on her brother once more, "If Minerva is seeking us out..."
"I know," he nodded before helping her stand and following her, Thomas' head appeared moments after before a knock at the door drew all of their attention.
Saturday September 3rd, 1999
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The Entrance Hall
4:15 p.m.
Another aggravated sigh accompanied Minerva McGonagall's spinning on her heels to cross the Entrance Hall for what seemed the hundredth time. Someone from Camelot should have been here by now, and yet she was still waiting for them. "By the Gods," she threw her hands up suddenly, glancing over as a student scrambled back the way they had come.
Whoever had come, it was likely they either came by Floo which would mean Rosmerta's, or apparated, but odds were Rosmerta would still know if any of the monarchy suddenly appeared in Hogsmeade. Making her way quickly towards her office she sent a letter off to the witch before returning to the Entrance Hall to wait. Sighing softly she glanced around the hall, remembering years gone by when she was simply the Deputy Headmistress and teacher, instead of the Headmistress. She missed her classes, missed the simplicity of knowing she was on the right side, fighting the evil that was the Dark Lord. But now things were so very different…
She had to admit, many of the changes Lucius and Josephine had made were for the better, she and Rosmerta would discuss it whenever she went down to the village. And the Dark Lord as he was once known seemed to be a different man completely since his relationship with the former Countess de Winters. That didn't mean she could simply forget the things he had done, but she was also looking at other aspects, the anger that Albus held against the Malfoys, something she had never seen in him before, even against the former Dark Lord. Avalon had returned, as had Narnia, two things she thought to never see in her lifetime, just as her grandmother and her grandmother before her had never seen, never even expected her great-niece and her descendants to witness.
Another sigh, she changed directions only to stop at the sight of the owl flying into the room and watched as it landed next to her. Taking the letter she sent the owl back on it's way, reading the quick message from Rosmerta explaining the Queen of Narnia herself had shown up in her Floo, meeting Harry /-/Why was Harry there?/-/ and he led her upstairs to meet her cousin, not long after they went upstairs the King of Narnia had shown up only to be assaulted by Order members stepping out of the shadows and they took him upstairs. Yelling and fighting later, a second group had joined those upstairs and then later everyone came downstairs with Ginny in tow and an unconscious Harry, no sign of the guest Harry had escorted into the building under cloak or Blaise Zabini. She wasn't able to go anywhere as some of them stuck around for a drink, much to her annoyance honestly, when she was finally free she started upstairs only to have her Floo come back to life, this time with a group of former Death Eaters turned royal guard. She just pointed, they returned with the High Queen's companion and Ginny's companion, both of whom had arrived with Ginny, but no sign of Blaise or the other person. Her room though was a complete mess when she had looked.
She set the letter down, slowly looking around the room, she had called this school home since she herself was eleven for the most part, followed the lead of the Headmasters before her, followed Albus Dumbledore without question for the better part of the last fifty years. When it had come down to it though, she had chosen the school over him, putting her students first. She thought they had understood though, she supported the Order, even as she watched the changes for the better in their world. And then today she got that letter from Albus telling her to write and tell them they were willing to do an exchange, she hadn't questioned, and now it seemed she should have… Harry being involved was never mentioned, torturing Blaise Zabini was never mentioned, taking Ginny was never mention… They had used her. She couldn't deny it… And it wouldn't be long before someone from Camelot came looking for answers when they found out she had been the one to send the letter, putting the school at risk… her students at risk.
"Merlin's blood Albus, have you truly lost your mind? You once said this school was the most important thing to you…" she spoke to the silence of the room. Her decision was made before she realized she was even considering it, turning she made her way up to her office to contact the Deputy Headmaster and inform him she would be away and he was in charge, and to not let anyone on or off the property until she returned unless it was someone on behalf of Camelot as they couldn't deny them. A bit of Floo powder and she was on her way to Camelot, being taken to see one of the High Queen's advisors, one she recognized immediately as a certain member of the Black family believed dead. She'd wonder about it later, as she was quickly ushered to a private study before being led to another room.
Regulus opened the door and let her in before stepping back into the hallway, leaving her in the room with the High King and Queen, the former Dark Lord's head floating in the fireplace.
"Welcome to Camelot Headmistress McGonagall," greeted Lucius.
"My Lord King, my Lady Queen, my King," she inclined her head to each of them. "I have an urgent matter with which to speak to you, before you are led to believe that I am involved in a plot I am not. For the sake of my school..."
Josephine glanced at her brother before nodding towards one of the empty chairs, "Have a seat Headmistress McGonagall," she instructed quietly. Minerva nodded and moved to sit as Lucius and Josephine took seats by each other, across from her. "What is it you wish to tell us?"
"I received a letter this morning, from Albus Dumbledore, instructing me to send a message to Queen Ginevra specifically as to information I had, that I needed to speak with her. To be honest I didn't quite understand why it was he was so insistent that she come to Hogwarts but, I thought it was better to simply not question. An unwise decision looking back on it. I have long considered Albus a dear friend and leader, but now... I have seen the changes since you took the throne, seen the return of not only Avalon but Narnia, you are not destroying the world, instead saving it... And after today, I can no longer follow a man who seems to have a hatred for those who are honestly making our world a better place." she paused to sigh, "I did not know of what was to happen in Hogsmeade, Rosmerta explained what had happened when I wrote to see if anyone had arrived from Camelot. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I honestly did not know of Harry and I'm assuming you my Lady Queen were the figure Rosmerta saw him bring, I did not know you would be waiting for her, that they would..."
"And yet you sent for Queen Ginevra, when she has no ability to speak for Camelot, only for Narnia and they wanted to barter for the High Queen herself? Did you not consider sending for me or for her husband?" questioned Lucius.
"To be honest I assumed she might tell all of you when she got the letter. I simply addressed it to her on the envelope; the letter itself was to all of you. I was following Albus, you don't question him, well I didn't," she corrected herself. "It was a mistake that I will likely never make up for, but I have information that might be able to help in some small matter. I have heard rumours these many months as to who the spy within the High Queen's bodyguards is..."
"What do you know?" Thomas demanded from the fireplace.
"It's a woman; she wants to see your Majesty dead as you stole him from her as Lavender told me she heard. I myself overheard Andromeda complaining to Tonks about her sisters, plural, being around all the time..." she finished with a sigh.
"Narcissa did not take her exile well," commented Lucius.
"Perhaps we should have put her out of her misery at the time," Josephine suggested before looking towards the fireplace, "Why are you growling my love?" she frowned.
"Bellatrix," Thomas answered on a growl in the fireplace before a knock on the door drew everyone's attention.
"Sisters," Josephine realized, Andromeda only had two, her former sister-in-law and her current bodyguard.
"Enter," Lucius instructed as they rose once more, the three 'royals' realizing where this was going, if it was true.
"My Lord King, My Lady Queen, the Queen's bodyguards are here," Regulus spoke after he opened the door.
"Send them in," Josephine nodded before retaking her seat, a moment later Alexander Avery entered first, followed by the Lestranges, Rebastian, Rodulphus, and Bellatrix herself. Sara and Melissa rounded out the group, reminding Josephine that Walden had been lost that day. "Later we must do something to honour MacNair," she looked over at her brother then Regulus, the latter nodding.
"My Lady Queen, it pleases us all to have you returned to us," Rabastian spoke as he bent slightly.
"Thank you Rabastian," she smiled.
"What are you doing here?" Bellatrix glared at Minerva.
"I requested an audience with the High King and High Queen," she answered coolly.
"Is that wise? She is a known sympathizer of Dumbledore," Bellatrix focused on the three.
"You question the decisions of your Queen?" Josephine questioned quietly, a hard edge to her words though.
"Of course not my Lady Queen," Rodolphus spoke up for his wife.
"I think I would prefer to hear your wife's response Rodolphus," she countered quietly.
"I would never question my Queen's decisions," Bellatrix responded, "I am just worried for your safety and the safety of our King."
Minerva gave a sort of snort 'hrump' thing that had Josephine glancing at her before focusing on her guards once more. "Headmistress McGonagall actually had a bit of interesting information to give to us."
"About the Order?" Regulus spoke up.
"How do we know she's not here on the Order's behalf, trying to trick you!"
"Because unlike the other members of Dumbledore's ranks I spent my time with recently, I see the honesty in her spirit Bellatrix," she remarked coolly,
"What information does she have my Lady?" Regulus continued, ignoring Bellatrix's outburst for now.
"It seems the spy who betrayed my trip last week, has someone in the Order who was complaining about them, a relative, well two actually. I'm not quite sure what disappoints me more, the fact that one of my own would betray me, or that it would be one whose blood flows through my nephew's veins."
Immediately, Regulus and the other bodyguards turned towards Bellatrix who merely rolled her eyes. "You would believe this follower of Dumbledore over me? I've loyally followed your King for decades; the Prince is my own blood. Why would I betray you my Lady Queen?"
Josephine smirked as she rose, "I suspect any number of reasons honestly," she began conversationally, "Perhaps because Draconis passed your family's title to Regulus instead of to you, denying you and yours a place within the court. Perhaps because your sister has been disgraced and left to live in shame for the rest of her life due to my revelation of her affair with Snape... Then again, perhaps it is because for far too many years your eye has wandered from your husband, you once thought yourself worthy of the Dark Lord himself, that he would choose you above all others by his side. Of course this was before everything with Potter and the years he spent trapped between life and death. Hope sprang new didn't it though? When Thomas was returned completely to the world of the living... And he still didn't choose you... Instead he chose me..."
"A spoiled selfish brat," Bellatrix spat, Josephine merely raised an eyebrow as she stopped her own speech, "You tricked him, cast a spell over him, made him into this... this disgusting shell of his former self. And for what? You're nothing more than a stupid child born into the right family, you don't deserve it, you never did. You betray your class, associating with a mudblood loving Weasley bitch, made everyone accept her as a noble... pathetic... And you... you're just a common, pathetic, Order whore, and even then you couldn't satisfy them could you? I heard them complaining about how frigid you were; makes one wonder how you even keep the Dark Lord in your bed. The Gods know he had darker tastes than an innocent little wallflower like you could know. Then again perhaps you do, maybe you let him do things to you that would make your mother blush, tie you down like Snape and the others did… course then again considering the fact you still left them wanting, perhaps not..."
"How dare you speak that way to your superior," snarled Lucius, who with a flick of his wrist had Bella flying back and pinned her to the wall.
"She's not my superior," Bellatrix growled.
"She is a Queen of Camelot and the Lady of Avalon," sneered Lucius as he increased the pressure holding Bella to the wall. "She is your superior in every sense of the word as is the Countess of Rosewood. Now where are your little minions holding Queen Ginevra hostage?"
"Even if I knew I wouldn't tell you. She's going to get everything she deserves."
"You better pray to whatever Gods you worship that she and her child comes out of this alive because if not, I will not stop my son or Mr. Zabini from doing whatever they desire to earn retribution on you and everyone you support," Lucius hissed.
"Your son my Lord King?" Rodolphus asked quietly, he, his brother, and the other bodyguards coming out of their shock at everything they had heard.
"My son will not take kindly to even the slightest harm coming to his wife and child I can assure you. You are just lucky he is not present in this room as we speak Bella, for if he was your life would be forfeit but I dare not pull him from his bedside vigil."
"Merciful Mother Goddess," Rodulphus and Rabastian whispered in sync, "You witch!" Rodolphus growled as he focused on his wife. "I put up with your adultery for years, I wouldn't shame my family name with a divorce. But you betrayed our Queen to a fate..." he shook his head in disgust, "You're own nephew's child may die, you never loved me, I'm not that stupid to believe it, but you loved your sister, her grandchild is the one in the hands of those cretins... you know something..."
"Oh grow up Rodolphus, you're as stupid as she is," Bellatrix rolled her eyes.
"Enough," Josephine spoke evenly, "Take her to the dungeons, Fenrir can find out anything she knows."
"Make sure he leaves her alive. I want my son to have the pleasure of deciding her final fate," Lucius instructed.
"Of course your Majesty," Sarah Wilkes nodded before casting a silencing spell on Bellatrix and an Imperius, then leading the way to the dungeons with the rest of the guard, save Rodolphus and Regulus.
"Forgive me my Queen, I did not know," Rodolphus spoke quietly once they were gone.
"I do not blame you Rodolphus, nor does anyone present here. Your actions proved where your heart lies," Josephine smiled.
"Thank you my Lady Queen," he nodded, "I'll be just outside when you wish to leave," he continued before making his way out the door into the hall.
"I know I have no right to say this, but I am so very sorry," Minerva spoke up softly after a few moments of silence.
"You're right, you haven't earned the right to apologize," Josephine looked towards her, "But you are on that path, my thanks for revealing Bellatrix. The question now is what do you want? The Order will learn that Bellatrix was revealed, and it won't take long for them to figure out it was you."
"That's true," she nodded, "I came here already knowing that I had made my choice your Majesty. Albus put the students at risk with his plans. The school and its students are my first priority, I came here to give you what I know and to offer any services I might provide, with the hope that you might allow me to remain with my students as I have."
/-/Brother mine?/-/ Josephine focused her thoughts on the bond between her and Lucius, /-/What do you think?/-/
/-/I see no reason why she shouldn't. She was used, it was not her intention to deceive us or Queen Ginevra,/-/ he replied.
/-/I agree. And perhaps while I do not wish to ask her to put her life at risk, she can find information for us still, not all in the Order might realize she isn't exactly on their side./-/
/-/I would trade her life for Ginevra's in an instant to ensure my son's happiness,/-/ Lucius replied.
/-/True. True/-/ she agreed before focusing on Minerva. "We agree, you may return and lead your school, but we ask that any information you have or may find, you let us know immediately."
"Of course Majesty, thank you my Lady Queen, my Lord King," she inclined her head to them.
"Someone needs to inform Draco of the situation," sighed Lucius tiredly after Minerva had left.
"I'll go," Josephine nodded, she smiled at both of them before making her way from the room, Seraphine waiting on the other side and she dropped down to the ground to greet her companion before the door hid her from their view.
"Would you be particularly upset if a number of people turned up dead? Once I get my stubborn wife to eventually admit who it was that Bellatrix spoke of, besides Snape…" Thomas asked after a moment of silence.
"Not in the slightest. None of them are high enough for their disappearances to be noticed or make a difference," Lucius said.
"Good," he nodded decisively. "Once she has spoken with Draco and Blaise, if you need her she'll be in her chambers. She'll see a Healer of her own and rest if I have to use Imperius on her. If you need to talk to someone besides her, as much as I know you two are each other's greatest confidant and comfort, I'm here if you wish my friend."
"See to your wife Thomas," Lucius instructed.
"Good day my Lord," Thomas replied before disappearing from the fireplace.
"For your sake my son, I hope we find young Ginevra soon, before any real harm comes to her," Lucius sighed quietly as he rubbed his eyes tiredly.
Saturday September 3rd, 1999
Camelot
The Royal Court of Narnia's Rooms
5:42 p.m.
She stopped long enough to change into something a bit cleaner, along with a refreshening charm, before heading towards the rooms that were once Blaise and Ginny's, now Draco, Blaise, and Ginny's. They had moved Blaise there after the Healers had done the majority of their work. Glancing down at Seraphine she smiled briefly before knocking on the door.
"Your Majesty," Kiya greeted as the door opened.
"Kiya, it is good to see you up and moving like Seraphine," she smiled. "Can you inform my nephew I wish to speak with him?"
"Thank you your Majesty. I'm afraid Lord Draco refuses to leave Lord Blaise's side. He is beside himself with worry and grief. He blames himself…" Kiya trailed off sadly as she looked towards the bedroom door.
"I can relate to the feeling that plagues his soul. Will you see if he would object to my joining them?"
"I will see," Kiya said before walking from the room, returning a few moments later. "This way your Majesty. Lord Draco will see you."
"Thank you Kiya," she nodded before following her into the room, "Mon neveu (nephew), tesoro (treasure), how is he?" she asked as she crossed to his side, wrapping her arms around him gently, briefly, before stepping back. She'd let him come to her from now on.
"He's still sleeping," Draco said quietly. He gently stroked Blaise's hand with the thumb of the hand that was holding onto Blaise's, the two other cheetahs lying on the bed surrounding him, Kiya soon joining them.
"The Healers said he should wake soon," she offered quietly. "You can't blame yourself Draco, as much as your heart insists you must."
"Can't I?" snapped Draco angrily. "If only I'd gotten here sooner then maybe Ginny wouldn't have gone alone and she would be here right now and Blaise would be fine and we'd be celebrating Ginny's pregnancy."
"Do you blame me?"
"You're as much a victim as Ginny," Draco said quietly.
"But if I hadn't taken the carriage to Avalon, had taken more of my guards perhaps I would not have been taken and Ginny would never have had a reason to come in answer to Minerva's letter."
"And they would have just found another way to get at Ginny," Draco sighed. "It's part of why I was late arriving. Charlie had been receiving reports of attempts to gain access to Narnia by people who intended to do our people harm. With the Order taking Ginny, I'm of the opinion that it was the Order who were trying to breach our borders in an attempt to get at Ginny. When they couldn't they found another means of achieving the same thing."
"And yet you still blame yourself when it is obvious the Order would stop at nothing to get to her, to destroy us all?"
"It was me who insisted they come ahead of me. If I had come along then this never would have happened!" snarled Draco as he leapt from his seat and started pacing.
"Tesoro (Treasure)..." she sighed, "My love please, do not do this to yourself. Neither of them would want to see you like this, and they would be the first to tell you not to blame yourself. If you can not listen to your heart, or to me, then listen to them."
"She's right," came the quiet remonstration from the bed.
Josephine glanced towards the bed and smiled at the open eyes watching them, quietly moving to stay by the door, give them some privacy at least.
"Thank the Goddess," Draco sighed as he quickly made his way over to the bed, helping Blaise sit up by propping pillows up behind him and helping him get a drink to wet his throat. "How are you feeling Aimé (Love)?" he asked quietly, brushing strands of Blaise's hair behind his ear.
"I've been better Amante (Lover)," Blaise said leaning into Draco's touch slightly. "Beloved?"
"Still missing," Draco said sadly.
"We might have a way of finding her," Josephine spoke gently.
"How?" asked Blaise quietly. "She's carrying our child Draco, we can't leave her in the hands of the Order for long."
"Minerva McGonagall came to give us information she had. The letter she sent, she honestly didn't know that the Order were using her to get Ginny to Hogsmeade. She revealed who the spy was, and has denounced Dumbledore. Until they realize she has turned on them, she intends to find out what she can to help us."
"Potter," Blaise said.
"What about him?" demanded Draco.
"He didn't know either, if they don't do something to get them back on their side; I have hope that he will be there to protect her as best he can."
"Can we get word to him? See if his loyalty is with the Order or with Ginny?" asked Blaise.
"We'll try," she nodded.
"This is all my fault Aimé (Love)," Draco said. "If I'd gotten here sooner or even told you about the reports that Charlie was getting then…"
"Amante (Lover) don't!" snapped Blaise. "This isn't your fault. I would have done the same as you in that situation and you and I both know we both would have kept the information from Beloved so as not to upset her or worry her more than necessary, she has enough on her mind to begin with and you know how hard it was to convince her to come to Camelot in the first place and not simply because your father was here."
"I know but…"
"No buts Amante (Lover)," Blaise told him.
"What kept her away if it wasn't my brother?" she asked softly.
"It was me," Draco said quietly, dropping his gaze to the side of the bed.
"It wasn't you Draco. She loves you, just as I do and just as I know you love us. Draco you have to remember her upbringing, that's why she was so hesitant," Blaise said.
"She feared reaction to your relationship?" she sighed, "Another mark against Molly Weasley."
"Yes she did," Blaise said tiredly. "The Narnians accepted it easily enough; they don't care as long as their Queen is happy. Even Charlie doesn't care. All he cares about is the happiness of his sister. But even that wasn't enough to ease her fears. We tried to tell her that you wouldn't judge her nor would the nobles but she was still fearful."
"I have never understood the prejudice of Muggles and common ones, love is all that matters..."
"We have told Ginny that over and over again and yet her fears and concerns were never eased. I think she feared your reaction above all others," Draco said.
Josephine shook her head sadly, "Then when we get her back we'll have to make it perfectly clear that I am beyond thrilled for all of you."
Sensing Draco's fear, which mirrored his own, Blaise took a hold of Draco's hand and pulled him onto the bed with him, Draco settling down beside him as he wrapped his arms around his husband. "We will get them back Amante (Lover), we will do whatever we have to in order to make sure we get them back," he said kissing Draco's temple gently.
"I'll let you rest my loves," Josephine crossed back to the side of the bed, "Fret not, we will find her, I'll see her back by your sides, our family will be whole once more," she promised quietly, bending to kiss Draco's forehead then Blaise's, before turning and quickly leaving the room before they had a chance to respond.