And if we dream - Draco Malfoy/ OC
Chapter 34- Impact
Summary: Like some magnetic force, like some unbreakable bond she was drawn back to him again and again. And now, staying away was an inconceivable notion. "Always." she murmured, one hand finding his, the other tangling into his platinum hair, "Always."
-….-
This is going to be a marathon of a chapter because I just want to give you guys Draco! So I'm gonna get you through this chapter as one big one rather than two or three smaller ones! Lucky you! HAHA!
Enjoy the chapter! #
NOTE: Hi guys! I've been getting less reviews on the chapters recently and while I'm not someone who typically asks I would like to know now and then how this fic s going down with the readers and what works/ doesn't etc
Thanks guys!
-….-
"Umbridge." Avery said again from her lumpy seat in the living room where they had retreated after letting their captive return to his shady business.
"Yup." Ron replied.
"Umbridge who works in the Ministry." Harry repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past twenty minutes.
"So we just have to get the locket." Hermione almost nonchalantly, "From Umbridge in the Ministry. The ministry that has been taken by Deatheaters."
"You make it sound easy 'Mione." Avery scoffed. "What- we just Polyjuice into some poor Ministry sods and steal it from her."
She laughed, her friends stared at her wide eyed. "What?"
-...-
"We're Polyjuicing into Ministry workers and breaking in. Of course we are." Avery grumbled to herself as they waited in position for their final victim. Ron standing out on the street as if his hair didn't immediately identify him to any Wizard paying attention as a Weasley and therefore an enemy.
"This is a stupid idea." She grumbled again. "No one ever listens to Avery until she has a stupid idea and then suddenly they do!"
She watched from her lookout point as Harry stunned the second female, the one pictured with Umbridge in the papers on a number of occasions and jogged over to join her friends.
She glanced down at the woman she was to become for their endeavor and the others. They were all vaguely similar looking, almost like looking at herself and her friends in twenty years time. Hermione plucked a deep red hair from the womans head and added it to Avery's potion. The woman, Hanna worked somewhere on the lower floors of the Ministry, they hadn't quite worked out all the kinks in their plan and as Hermione had said were playing it by ear. Avery didn't like playing something so dangerous by ear, but then none of them particularly did.
"Right." Hermione spoke "Remember what we said - Don't speak to anyone unless absolutely necessary, just try and act normal." Avery almost laughed, when had any of them ever passed for normal?
"This is completely mental." Harry spoke, glancing at Avery.
"I said that immediately after suggesting it." Avery shrugged, uncorking her vial of Polyjuice.
"The world is mental." Ron said resolutely following suit, "Come on, We've got a Horcrux to find."
In unison they all knocked back their potions, it never got old to Avery, watching her friends faces distort and morph into someone else, she might have laughed if it weren't such a serious situation that they were in.
"On the plus side, she tastes better than you did Harry." Avery grinned, the feeling odd on her new face, the skin pulling tighter around her eyes and corners of her mouth.
They began the arduous and infuriatingly slow process of undressing their captives and styling themselves appropriately without causing too much undue nudity or embarrassment for anyone, Hermione fussing over Ron's thinning hair.
Avery glanced around at her friends. "Are we ready then?"
Harry nodded and one by one they left their hideyhole. Together they walked, as casualy as they could manage in their unfamiliar bodies towards the Ministry entrance, Avery hoped that it wasn't unusual to see these specific people interacting, maybe her Hanna had a long running feud with Hermione's new face, they often succeeded in these plans on dumb luck, crazy plans and Hermione's sheer brilliance but it would be just their luck that someone notice something amiss about these particular chosen people.
They split up, girls and boys, at the loos and sparing one last glance Avery and Hermione descended the stairs, The queues moved quickly and efficiently. One person entering a stall, flushing and not coming back out before another entered.
"The loos are a portal." Hermione whispered.
Avery nodded, "Gross."
They waited until a stall became free, Hermione going in first and disappearing with a flush. Avery entered and grimaced as she quickly stepped into the toilet, she couldn't risk her friends going off without her. Water rushed over her heeled feet as well as the telltale feel of silk and tingle of power that signaled a portal. She flushed and closed her eyes as she was pulled under none too gently.
With relief she stepped out of a doorway into the dark corridor she recognized as the Ministry. Her feet thankfully dry. Just off to the side of the moving throng of people she saw Harry and Ron stood waiting, Hermione just joining them. Attempting not to draw untoward attention to herself she moved quickly towards them, apologizing to someone as she stepped on their foot.
It took a moment for her to realize what her friends were staring at, distracted as she was by a young dark haired man being dragged up the corridor. More so though she noticed that nobody else even batted an eyelid at the occurence. Perhaps it wasn't an unusual sight since the Ministry had been taken by Voldemort and his followers. She could hear the young mans voice questioning what he had done wrong, panic evident in his tone, she hoped he would be okay. She opened her mouth to ask if the others had seen what she just had only to stop short when she noticed the fountain before them. "Is that-" she began.
"Muggles." Hermione answered, a familiar look of wide eyed apprehension even on this face. "In their rightful place."
"This is wrong. It's all wrong here." Avery whispered.
"I'm starting to freak out a bit." Ron answered.
"How long did you say this batch of Polyjuice would last Hermione?" Harry asked.
"I didn't." Hermione gulped.
"Let's move then. Before we morph back into ourselves." Avery hissed.
They moved quickly in one direction heading towards the lifts, as they entered a voice called, "Cattermole." They turned as one- Crap! Who was Cattermole again? Ron she thought.
"It's still raining inside my office. That's two days now." he spoke and with dread Avery noticed him to be Yaxley.
"Have you tried an umbrella?" Ron quipped.
"You do realize I'm going downstairs don't you Cattermole to interrogate your wife- now if my wife's blood status were in doubt and the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement wanted a job done, I would make that a priority. Wouldn't you? You have one hour."
Ron slammed the door closed and pulled the lever catapulting the car backwards.
"Blood status?" Avery asked as she watched Ron panic about a wife he didn't technically have.
Ron hesitated to leave the car once they reached his floor but did so with a spell suggested by Hermione and the three remaining moved on again, "If we haven't found Umbridge in the hour we find Ron and get out of here." Harry explained as the lift stopped again. The door opened and standing before them in all her pink glory was Umbridge herself. Avery would have thanked Merlin for the coincidence if she wasn't so worried about Umbridge being in an enclosed space with them. The woman stepped in as she greeted Hermione as Mithelda and Avery had to hold her breath and avoid eye contact. None of them had had a good relationship with Umbridge, Harry the worst.
"Aren't you getting out?" she addressed Harry, Avery felt a shove against her back from Hermione and stumbled after him.
"Hanna -" Umbridge called, "You don't get off here."
"I- I -" Avery stammered.
"Does Travers have you on another errand? I'll have to have words with him." Umbridge said, a sickly sweet smile stretching over her face.
Avery fought back a grimace, this woman whose face she was wearing knew Umbridge and Travers and who knew who else. It seemed like she even interacted with them regularly, enough for Umbridge to address her by her first name and talk of mutual things with a friendly, as friendly as she could get anyway, smile.
"Uh- yes." Avery giggled, resolved to keeping talking to a minimum as Hermione had ordered, lest the former Hogwarts professor recognize her voice or notice something wrong!
Without a goodbye they left Hermione with Umbridge and stepped further on to Harry's floor.
"This isn't your floor?" Harry hissed.
"Hermione pushed me!" Avery answered sending a smile towards a co worker who glanced their way, "Apparently I'm on an errand for Travers. Bloody hell Harry let's just find this thing!"
They walked slowly through the corridor, Avery staring shocked at the workers moving in perfect tandem, like a well disciplined army. "Mudbloods and the dangers they pose." she mumbled to Harry, knowing he wouldn't be able to see as well without his glasses.
"It's here." she whispered, gesturing to the heavy duty door that bore Umbridge's name.
Once Harry had executed his plan, using Fred and Georges creation in the Ministry really was a beautiful irony for Avery, they slipped quietly and Avery hoped, unseen into the office.
Avery had expected Umbridges office to be the same gaudy pink she had favored in Hogwarts but instead her office seems almost tasteful, though the sheer number of cat memorabilia was frankly alarming.
"Check everywhere, just be aware of any traps." Harry explained.
Avery nodded and began searching around, knowing the minute that Harry performed Accio that the locket would not be found in here.
"Look at this." Harry whispered.
He showed her the files he had found in Umbridge's desk, posters and files on all of them, big red crosses through the photos of the friends they had lost already, Sirius and Dumbledore and Mad eye and others. Avery closed her eyes, grief washing over her as she knew it had to be Harry. Once she had composed herself as much as she could she opened them again and with as little attachment as possible flicked through the pages. "Undesirable number one?" She asked.
"And two-" Harry pointed to the wall before them, a picture of Ron, "Three-" Hermione and "Four." Herself.
Avery stalked forward, "As flattering as this picture is- this is bad Harry- this means that they know we're with you or at least that they suspect we are."
"I know."
On a whim, Avery ripped the posters from the wall and added them to the files Harry had found, she rifled through more drawers even as a voice called for calm in the chaos outside of the office.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked watching her add any papers she could find to the pile.
"If we can't get the locket in here we're bloody well getting something. These might be useful. There could be information in here." She tucked the files underneath her blazer and into the waistband of her skirt.
"You think Umbridge has a list of Horcruxes and their locations or something."
"Harry. No." Avery deadpanned rolling her eyes. "Come on."
They left the office swiftly, ignoring the incredulous looks from the people outside and heading back to the lifts.
"We go downstairs to Hermione." Harry said even as Avery pulled the lever to do so.
They stopped at Ron's floor and though it took her a while to recognize his disguise the boy himself walked in.
"Morning." he said, without an ounce of recognition. Avery sighed.
"Ron- it's us." Harry said with as much incredulity as Avery felt.
"Bloody hell. I forgot what you looked like." Ron gasped, "Where's Hermione?"
"She's gone down to the courts with Umbridge." Harry explained.
The lift took them there far too fast but also far too slowly for Avery's taste, adrenaline making her heart pound aggressively in her ears.
Frigid air hit them as they stepped out. "It's bloody cold down here." Ron commented.
Avery shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, papers crinkling underneath her jacket. "Why is it so cold?" she asked, lip quivering.
The group resolutely ignored the older wizard being dragged away from the direction they headed, pleading his case loudly. Avery swallowed, wanting nothing more than to help but they couldn't risk drawing attention to themselves, not here on the lowest floor with no escape.
They moved forward again and Avery gasped as she noticed the large group of Dementors lingering above the court, only Umbridges patronas , a cat obviously, halting their descent. Avery refused to respond to the overwhelming sense of emptiness and sadness that threatened to envelope her as she stepped closer to where they floated above. It felt like the world was crushing down on her shoulders and all the grief and pain she had felt in her life was nowhere near as bad as she felt now in the dementors presence. The hurt and sadness losing Draco to the other side and leaving her beloved school and going on the run without so much as a goodbye to the people she loved seems to pale in comparison to the pain these creatures bought upon them.
"Bloody hell." Ron mumbled.
Avery silently agreed with him. She spotted Hermione sitting nervously beside Umbridge, quill and ink at the ready. A woman, Cattermoles wife sat, clearly scared before them.
"Mary Elizabeth Cattermole." Umbridges voice rang out listing off the womans address and family and blood status information.
"It's here." Harry spoke, distracting Avery from the scene before her.
"Reg-" Mary Elizabeth stole her attention, gesturing for who she thought was her husband to join her, Harry pushed him forwards and Avery hoped that she and Harry being there didn't seem strange enough to draw attention away from proceedings and their search.
Avery watched in horror as Umbridge relentlessly drilled poor Mary about her wand and other things, using questions that even someone telling the truth could not answer correctly. The questions were fixed and Umbridge and the few spectators present seemed determined already not to believe the accused. Harry's hand closed around Averys own, only then did she notice that she had been clenching her fists in anger. She relaxed under his touch. Don't do anything stupid Avery, she thought. But even as she thought it she noticed that Harry was moving past her. "Harry!" she hissed, reaching for him, but he ignored her, continuing to move towards Umbridge. Avery noticed his wand slip from his robes even as Umbridge did.
"What on Earth are you doing Albert?" Umbridge asked and Avery's head whipped towards her, that is when she noticed it, glinting against her horrid pink jumper, the locket, it had to be!
"You're lying Dolores." Harry spoke, his voice obvious and distinct, not that it mattered because his Polyjuice was wearing off, his face changing even as he stared her down, Avery slipped her wand into her hand, Hermione in her sights, ready, "and one musn't tell lies."
All at once, in slow motion it seemed Harry had stupefied her, Hermione had grabbed the locket and everyone was shooting spells left right and centre. Avery sent her own Stupefy careening over Ron's head, hitting Yaxley, who had drawn his own wand, straight in the chest , she felt a rush of pride as she did, the man had been an arrogant ponce, who knows how many he had threatened the way he had Ron this morning.
"Run!" Avery cried as Hermione threw the locket at Harry, she noticed Umbridges patronus dissipating, freeing the creatures above them. She shoved Mary Elizabeth towards her husband and followed close behind them, even as Ron played his part of protective husband. They ran, the four of them plus Mary as fast as was humanly possible towards the lift, the dementors cold and quick on their heels.
"Faster!" Harry cried. They piled into the lift, Avery stumbling in last, careening into Harry and Hermione, the doors closed a split second before the dementors hit, cold, shadowy hands reaching for them. Avery felt the pull of anguish and agony for mere seconds before Harry's patronus freed them, though she felt as if she had been hit by a muggle vehicle. She could only imagine how it was to be in Azkaban with only those things for company.
The lift catapulted them upwards and Avery cried, "What do we do now? You're visible Harry!"
"So are you!" Hermione said.
Avery gasped and slapped her hands to her face, her own very much Greenwood face. She watched as Hermione's face warped back too, only Ron still remaining disguised.
They walked quickly, with their heads down. "Don't notice us. Don't notice us." Avery mumbled under her breath as they did.
They stopped, Ron ridding them of Mary and morphing back to himself as she kissed him.
"Oh no." Avery groaned as the real Cattermole approached, in his underwear.
"That's Harry Potter." Someone called. "It's Harry."
"And the Weasley and Granger." someone else whispered
"The Greenwood traitor." Another hissed angrily.
"It's Potter!"
"The undesireables."
"Someone get the guards!"
"Stop them!"
The voices and shouts ranged from hopeful to happy to snarled threats and insults, clearly two sides of the war in one room. They ran, searching blindly for an exit, moving fast away from the uniformed guards that flanked them from both sides.
Avery grabbed Ron's coat and Hermiones hand, they had to stick together here.
They pushed through shocked spectators, shoving people out of the way, heading towards the portal exits. A spell ricochet out of nowhere, the stone muggle statue next to them exploding into tiny parts, raining chunks of stone over them and the people around them. Avery yelped as a shape piece flew into her face, nicking her on the forehead. She glanced behind only to see Yaxley heading after them. She suddenly wished she had done more than stupefy him.
They shot spells behind them as they sprinted towards the exit and freedom, "No!" Avery cried as gates began to close down in front of the portals. She ran faster jumping in directly after Harry, only something was different this time, this time they morphed and changed and were pulled in numerous directions.
Avery hit the floor with a hard thud leg landing crooked beneath her, with a cry. "Merlin!" she shouted, glancing around her at a wooded area she had never seen before, her wand was missing, she noticed with some detachment and she couldn't see her friends either. She was certain that the portal wasn't supposed to bring them here.
"Harry!" she cried, stumbling to her feet and shooting forwards in no particular direction, "Harry!"
"Over here!" she heard from behind her, she adjusted her direction and ran, downhill slightly, she saw her friends Harry and Hermione kneeling over a clearly injured Ron.
"What happened?" she cried, running towards them with speed, slipping and landing beside them.
"I've already told Harry!" Hermione cried, holding onto Ron as he whimpered in pain.
"He's been splinched." Harry explained, "Yaxley followed us to Grimauld place and we had to apparate here. Are you hurt?"
"Landed funny. I'm fine." Avery answered, "What can I do?"
"Nothing." Hermione said quietly, "The Essence of Dittany has to do its work."
The skin healed before her eyes and Hermione immediately moved to perform protective enchantments. Harry began to set up the tent and Avery stayed with Ron, running a comforting hand through his hair as he calmed down, she couldn't do much without her wand.
Once they were done and Harry had acciod her want from wherever it had landed they set up the inside of the tent, changing back to their own clothes and shoes for comfort and practicality.
"We need to destroy the locket." Harry said, once they were done, "Now."
The locket placed on a tree stump they took turns shooting the most powerful spells they knew at it, they even tried a few curses.
"The killing curse?" Ron asked.
"We can't risk an unforgivable Ron." Hermione said.
"It might bounce back on one of us." Avery agreed.
Nothing they tried though seemed to work, the damn locket remaining intact, not a scratch to be seen in the face of all of their not inconsiderable magic, they tried simultaneous spells all four of them shooting at once but nothing happened. Flames did nothing, curses rebounded, jinxes seemed to miss altogether and the locket remained, seemingly taunting them in the face of Harry's frustration.
"Harry stop." Avery sighed as he shot spell after spell. "It's not working." Her closest friend stopped shooting and picked up the locket, pulling it over his head.
"We have to keep it safe until we can destroy it." Harry spoke.
"It seems weird mate," Ron said, "That Dumbledore would send you after these Horcruxes and not tell you how to destroy them. Doesn't that bother you?"
Harry stormed off and Avery sighed, "I'm going inside." she said, limping slightly as she moved to the tent.
-...-
She sat, knees pulled up to her chest, reading through the files she had stolen from Umbridges office, that had somehow managed to stay with her during their escape. She pushed down the pain as she read through Sirius's file, then Dumbledores. She was surprised at the information they had on everyone, she had no doubt that there were copies of these files with other people. In her own file it had her age, appearance, complete with hair colour change, her parents names, occupations and description, well her mothers anyway, the father column read as unknown. The file held information on Avery's friends and known acquaintances, known contacts like Matilda. It said what type of wand she held, talked of her abilities in magic, her Hogwarts grades and even records of her detentions. They were thorough that was for sure.
She shuffled through more of the papers, the creased and folded ones she had acquired from the drawers of Umbridge's desk before they had fled. Scrawled shopping lists and errand lists, nothing that yielded anything useful, until she saw it, stationary that she recognized immediately before she even unfolded it and saw the Malfoy crest embossed on the top centre. She swallowed and opened it. It wasn't writing she recognized but it was neat and compact.
Dolores, it read, Draco Malfoy has completed his mission. We entered Hogwarts. Dumbledore is dead. We will contact you soon with more information.
The letter told her nothing more than she already knew, nor was it signed by anyone, though it did confirm that Umbridge was in cohoots with the Deatheaters rather than just making the most of their takeover, ultimately though it made no difference to anything, they had the locket and they could move on from Umbridge for now. However the letter still made her breath catch in her throat, she knew that Draco had not been the one to kill Dumbledore, Harry had told them himself, but some people on the other side believed he did. That could only be a good thing, it meant that Draco had to be safe, people believing him to have murdered one of their greatest foes. She ran her finger gently over his inked name and imaged she was running her fingers through his soft hair. Though hot tears welled up behind her eyes at the thought of him she refused to cry not with Ron in the main compartment fiddling with the radio for news, Instead she stepped outside of the tent and dropped the letter in Harry's lap. "Umbridge is working with them, not just for them." she told him. It took her a moment of watching Hermione in the distance to realize that Harry hadn't responded to her at all, in fact he still stared ahead, slumped against the tent, eyes distant, breathing heavily.
"Harry?" Avery asked. "Harry?! Hermione he's having a vision!" Avery recognized the signs from the years previous.
"You know who has found Gregorovich, the wand maker, he wants something that Gregorovich used to have and he wants it desperately." Harry explained breathlessly. "it's as if his life depends on it- Bloody hell that radio!"
"Don't!" Hermione warned, "It comforts him."
"It sets my teeth on edge, what is he expecting to hear? Good news?" the bespeckled boy spat venomously.
"I think he's just hoping not to hear bad news." Avery dropped her eyes to the ground, she could agree with that sentiment though she doubted that she would hear any news of Draco on there.
"How long before he can travel?" Harry asked, ignoring her last statement.
"I'm doing everything I can." Hermione told him incredulously.
"You're not doing enough!" Harry screamed, staring from the ground, letter dropping from his lap and storming off.
"Harry!" Avery admonished, "That's not fair!"
"Take it off." Hermione said, voice even, authoritative even without raising her voice. "The locket, take it off."
Harry did so and immediately the relief and guilt was evident on his face, "Better?" Hermione asked.
"Loads."
"We'll take it in turns okay?" she said, forgiving Harry immediately.
"I'll take it." Avery said, "You need to be alert for Ron." Hermione nodded and gave her the locket, Avery hesitated but slipped it over her head, immediately she felt the crushing weigh land on her shoulders as if she wore a brick around her neck instead of a lightweight locket. The evil inside the locket felt sentient as if Voldemort himself stood behind her breathing down her neck.
She retreated to the tent again. That night she took small bag of her own from Hermione's beaded purse and placed it under her pillow, she couldn't risk taking the contents out but inside she knew there to be a Hogwarts scarf of green and white that still smelled faintly of her blonde haired Slytherin.
-...-
The locket made sleeping nigh on impossible, as if her brain couldn't shut off while she wore it, whether that was because she knew what it contained or actual magic she couldn't be sure, the only thing she knew is that her feelings has been amplified and her thoughts muddled since she donned the locket. She lay on her bed, still dressed, they couldn't risk being found in their pyjamas, her wand lying on the pillow next to her, the mirror left to her by Dumbledore clasped in her hand, locket lying heavy against her chest.
She stared at her reflection though she wasn't really seeing herself so much as she was watching for something, anything. She had seen glimpses in that mirror, glimpses of something she just didn't know what and since she had put the locket on she had felt the overwhelming need to see it again.
It couldn't possibly be bad, not if it had come from Dumbledore.
"Come on." she whispered, "Do it again." She ignored Harry as he moved quietly to turn off the radio beside Ron's bed.
Avery sat up and picked up her wand "Aparecium." she muttered the revealing charm, nothing happened and the glass remained just that, glass, normal reflecting glass. She growled and threw the mirror roughly onto the bed.
She climbed from her cot, knowing she would have to give the locket to someone else soon, and headed outside, Harry following close behind her, she stopped short as she noticed the disheveled man walking past their camp, very close to Hermione, his voice muffled by her charms. Avery wrapped a hand tightly around the locket and held her breath as he moved past her and Harry, though she knew he couldn't see or hear them.
"Snatchers." Harry said, "Good to see your spells work."
"He smelt my perfume." Hermione replied quietly.
-...-
"And now for names of missing witches and wizards-" the radio presenter said solemly, " these are confirmed" Avery sighed, her head in her hands, exhausted from no sleep the night before, the locket really did take it out of you, Ron wore it now, "thankfully the list is short today- Jason and Alison Dinbrid, Bella, Jake, Charlie and Madge Farley, Joe Laurie, Eleanor and Sarah Gibbs, Harry Pembrill Triggs, Ron and Ellie Dawson-"
The list seemed to go on forever and never ending line of names, people missing, in hiding or worse. People she didn't know and had never met but people who the four of them fought on to protect.
Avery closed her eyes.
-...-
Moving on foot was hard, Avery hadn't slept a wink for well over thirty hours and her limbs felt heavy as lead, every time she lifted a foot she felt like she was lifting twice her weight. She could only imagine how Ron felt carrying the locket too.
Moving on foot also meant that they were out in the open much more than they wanted to be, they had to keep their wands at the ready and minds alert for anyone who might notice them in open fields or amongst abandoned burn out caravan yards. On more than one occasion they had had to hide out from deatheaters streaking across the sky, no doubt looking for people on their side and of course them.
Avery kept a close eye on Ron, watching as he glared at Harry's back every time Hermione even so much as looked at the other boy, she would have to tell Hermione later, when Ron carried the locket it obviously elevated an underlying sense of jealousy and anger that he possessed.
-...-
"George Peirson, Gabriella and Ebony Hart, Arthur and Jamie Slaven, Jacob and Emma Long"
-...-
They made camp again that night, after walking all day in aimless directions the need to move overriding everything else.
"He doesn't know what he's doing does he?" Ron asked.
"None of us do." Hermione said.
Avery sighed and picked up the mirror.
They spent a lot of time in silence now. The four of them. One wearing the locket and the others tiptoeing around them, conversation seemed meaningless between them. Unimportant. There was nothing to talk about anyway, nothing but dreary British weather and a directionless mission that had gone nowhere for days now.
Now though, Ron and Hermione sat talking, quietly as Harry slept. Avery fingered the locket around her neck and watched them with narrowed eyes. Hermione glanced up at her and smiled slightly and Avery felt immediately sick. They were talking about her, she knew they were. Merlin! Hermione had told Ron, she had told him and he knew and he would tell Harry and Merlin they would all know what she had done. She had betrayed them with a deatheater and they would never forgive her. She clenched her fists and glared at Hermione, she was supposed to be her best friend, through anything and everything, she had betrayed her, how could she? How could she? HOW COULD-
Avery ripped the locket off of her neck and immediately felt calmer.
"One of you needs to take this." she said, throwing the locket towards Hermione.
-...-
"Specialus Revelio" she said. "Informous."
The mirror remained clear.
-...-
Avery sat quietly outside of the tent, the cool air wafting over her bare arms, Hermione and the others remained indoors, Ron wore the locket and had been quiet all day, when she had left the tent Hermione had been cutting Harrys massively overgrown hair.
About time, Avery thought with a snort, staring out at her surroundings. Apart from Ron's surly attitude, not entirely due to the locket today had been rather peaceful and she sat here now, alone with the light from the tent illuminating the surroundings in front of her she felt almost content.
After what could have been minutes or another hour though the lights behind her shut off, plunging her and the tent she sat in front of into darkness. She frowned as the lights came back again. What was going on?
She stood and stepped into the tent just as the shouting erupted.
"I just thought after all this time we would have actually achieved something!" Ron shouted, "I thought you knew what you were doing I thought Dumbledore would have told you something worthwhile! I thought you had plan!"
"I told you everything Dumbledore told me and in case you haven't noticed we have found a Horcrux already!" He gestured to the locket at Ron's neck.
"Yeah and we're about as close to getting rid of it as we are to finding the rest of them aren't we!" Ron argued.
Hermione stepped forward, Avery stayed rooted where she stood by the entrance, watching as Hermione begged him to take the Horcrux off.
"Do you know why I listen to that radio everyday?" Ron asked, "To make sure I don't hear Ginny's name or Fred or George or mum."
"You think I'm not listening too?!" Harry screamed, "You think Hermione isn't? Avery isn't? You think I don't know how this feels?"
Avery blinked back tears, speechless as the argument escalated before her eyes.
"No you don't know how it feels!" Ron cried, "Your parents are dead you have no family!"
Avery cried out and lunged forward as Harry jumped at Ron in anger! She grabbed Harry around the waist and pulled him back as Hermione pulled at Ron.
"Stop it!" she cried even as Harry shoved her away, "Stop!"
"Then go!" Harry cried with finality, "Go on! Leave!"
Ron growled and yanked the locket off of his head, he threw it at the floor, landing in a pile at Avery's feet. She picked it up gingerly.
"You coming?" He said, gathering his things and Avery blanched noticing he was talking to her, she shook her head, "Ron."
"Course not, it's always been Harry hasn't it- being with him is the only way to get out of your mums shadow."
"Ron-"
"And you?" he turned on Hermione, ignoring his other friend, "Are you coming or are you staying?"
He took Hermiones glance at Harry as an answer and said, "Fine, I saw you two the other night."
"Ron that's nothing-" Hermione replied following him out of the tent.
"What-" Avery asked, "What just happened?"
"The Sword of Gryfindor is impregnated with Basilisk venom. It can destroy Horcruxes." was all Harry said before he stormed into his own compartment.
Avery's hands shook- she had seen Harry and Ron fight before but never like this, never with such horrible words. She stepped out of the tent just in time to see Ron apparate away despite Hermione's tearful protests. Ron was gone, he had really left them. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes she almost wouldn't have believed it herself.
Hermione ignored her imploring glance as she returned tearfully to the tent. Avery closed her eyes, breathed deeply and put the locket back on.
-...-
Hermione wrapped her scarf around a tree, a sign for Ron Avery knew, just as she had been for days now, maybe longer than a week. Time didn't hold much meaning these days.
Harry stood beside her silently, none of them had talked about the incident of Ron's leaving but it hung over them as a heavy weight. They were still no closer to finding more Horcruxes nor the sword of Gryffindor, nothing seemed to be moving along and a mournful silence had fallen upon them.
They joined hands once Hermione joined them and apparated again, another wasteland, empty, nothing around.
Avery swallowed a lump in her throat as she watched Hermione cry, pulling her into a hug, she felt Ron's absence too but not as keenly as Hermione did. She knew how Hermione felt though, in a way their stories were similar.
Harry moved on, preparing the protection charms as the girls hugged it out, Hermione quiet.
That night Avery took her seat outside of the tent again, now though she wasn't sure if it was for keeping watch or simply because she couldn't stand to be in the tent and the sad atmosphere that lived there with them. Music and laughter rang out from the tent behind her and Avery smiled to hear her friends having a moment, she didn't move to join them though, she didn't feel like laughing.
-...-
She lay most of the night glaring at The Mirror, she had capitalized the bloody thing in her head now, wondering how on Earth she could get it to work. It simply couldn't be just a mirror! It couldn't! The morning came slowly with no progress and she found herself sat with Hermione on the flat planes as her friend read the book that Dumbledore had left her. Avery opened her mouth to ask Hermione a question but was interrupted buy Harry calling! "Hermione! Avery! You were right! Snitches do have flesh memories only I didn't catch it in my hand- this snitch, I caught in my mouth!"
Hermione snatched the snitch from his hand, "I open at the close?" she read.
Avery took it from her and read over the same words, "What does that mean?" she asked
"I don't know," Hermione said, "But I've found something too, at first I thought it was an eye but I'm not so sure now." Avery glanced at what Hermione pointed at, a strange triangle symbol that she was almost certain she had seen before and she said as much to her friends.
"Yeah, Luna's dad was wearing that at Bill and Fluers wedding." Harry confirmed.
"Why would someone draw it in a children's book?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." Avery answered, which seemed to be the case with every question they asked these days.
-...-
Riiiing.
The shrill high pitched ringing seemed to overtake all of her senses, the crushing weight of the locket around her neck pulled her under into deep black anger and despair and she wanted to scream and scream and scream.
"Avery!" Harry cried, "Give me the locket!"
"Make it stop Harry!" she cried, grinding her teeth together, "Can't you hear that ringing? It's so loud!"
She clasped her hands to her ears, "And the whispering, the voices!"
"Take off the locket Ave." Harry's calm voice spoke through the haze she was in.
She pulled it off before she could change her mind and immediately the noises ceased, the voice dissipated and the ringing abruptly ended. She breathed heavily.
"You've been wearing it too much." Hermione said softly.
"You two need to have your wits about you." Avery whispered, "I'm not as important or helpful."
"We need you to have your wits too Ave." Hermione said, "Just share the load."
Avery nodded and left without further argument, heading to her compartment, she ruffled through the bedding and things and pulled Draco's green scarf free from it's compartment, slumped on her bed and cried. She was just so tired and sick of all of it, she knew that a lot of what she was feeling was down to prolonged exposure to the Horcrux but she couldn't help the tears that flowed freely.
She wanted Draco, she missed him more than she had ever believed she could. She wanted Matilda the woman that had raised her and that she hoped everyday was safe, she wanted Ron and his moodswings and Fred and George and Ginny and Lupin and she missed them all so much!
She wanted to see them so badly. From the corner of her eye she saw a flash of white and whirled her head towards the mirror she had left on the bottom of her bed.
"Oh my-"
She picked it up and she could see him- Draco, he stood in a hallway and whilst his expression was grim and his face gaunt he was alive and he was healthy. He was clean and dressed smartly. Avery choked on a laugh at the sight of him, like he had been in school, no sign of the war on him, bar for his eyes, his eyes seemed wise and much older than the last time she had seen him. Draco turned to someone in the mirror, she couldn't see who and said something, she couldn't hear what he said either but he didn't seem to be scared of the whomever he conversed with.
She stroked the glass of the mirror, her fingers stroking over his image and smiled.
"Reflect on what has been, what can be and what could be again." she mumbled.
She laughed, almost uncontrollably as she watched Draco walk down the hall until he was out of sight.
-...-
She told the others what the mirror could do after a few days of examining it and watching it like a hawk, learning just how she had to feel and what she had to think in order to get it to work, though they soon discovered that it only worked for Avery, "Dumbledore did leave it for you specifically Ave, perhaps it's enchanted or made to work only for you."
"Maybe." Avery replied, holding the mirror to her chest.
"Perhaps he knew that you would have intense enough emotions to make it work." Hermione guessed again, "or that maybe you would need it."
"So I can see Dr- people, don't you want to see the people you love too?" Avery asked, "Why me specifically?"
"I don't know Ave."
"Who do you see?" Harry asked from the other side of the tent.
"I see-" she hesitated, "Matilda sometimes, sat on a chair reading, sometimes she's knitting, she's - safe. Sometimes others - Lupin once and Ginny." She paused again, wondering if she should mention the next part, "Sometimes I think I see memories."
"Memories?"
She nodded, Draco smiling at her from the edge of the astronomy tower as her blasted cat (who was safe at the Weasleys cottage) betrayed her and purred under his touch, Dumbledores eyes glinting at her as she fled from the infirmary. "Sometimes."
"Like.."
"Umm," she thought of things she had seen that hadn't involved Draco- "Ron trying out for Quidditch, Ginny laughing. Little things really, nothing massive. Just comforting things. In Dumbledores will it said that I could reflect on things that had been, can be and could be again. I think this is what that meant."
"Can be? As in the future?" Harry asked.
Avery shook her head. "I highly doubt it."
"It is rare that magic can predict the future Harry," Hermione spoke, "Divination is really the only thing that can and even that is not a precise art and can be changed."
"Maybe it will show me what I want to see." Avery mused.
It could have been weeks since her discovery of the mirrors power or it could have only been a few days but she found herself watching it more and more often, thinking of certain people to see if she could control who she saw and when, she didn't think she could as the mirror often showed her people she loved at random. There was no rhyme or reason to whether she saw the past or the present and often she found it nigh on impossible to differentiate them, the only constant was that Draco was the one most often featured in the mirror. If she saw anything important, like one of their friends safe and sound or a Deatheater that they hadn't known of she would pass it on but otherwise she kept what she saw to herself. She never looked at the mirror when she wore the locket, afraid that the evil around her neck would distort or destroy the hopeful images and fond memories she saw before her. She hadn't realized that her behavior was becoming an issue until Hermione confronted her and every thing went wrong.
"Do you see him?- Draco?" Hermione asked quietly after Harry had left the tent one evening, the locket firmly around his neck.
"More than anyone else." she replied honestly. "I think- that Dumbledore knew about me and Draco. He saw me leaving the infirmary the night that Harry cursed him, I was under the cloak but he knew I was there. It was like he was waiting for me. I think he knew about us and I think he knew I would need this. I think he knew about Draco's mark and he knew that we would be separated ...that I would need this."
"It's mostly memories though right?"
"Mostly, but sometimes I see him and he's just sat on a chair or he's talking to someone or he's eating dinner or -" she smiled, "He's doing the most mundane things but I know that he's safe and I feel okay for a little while."
Hermione nodded, "Ave- have you ever seen Ron?"
Avery shook her head, "No. I'm sorry. I haven't ever seen him in there 'Mione. I'm sure he's fine."
"I miss him so much."
"I know 'Mione."
"It hurts to think about him, to wonder where he is and if he's well."
"I know, 'mione."
"Of course you do." Her friend sniffed, "Of course- Ave-"
"Yes?"
"Malfoy- Do you- did you- was it love?"
Avery hesitated, "I don't know. It was the most intense feeling I have ever felt. It still is I guess, when I think about him or when I see him in here. I don't know if it's love. It might have become love if we had had time or all this wasn't happening, but I don't know."
"Ave-"
"Am I hearing things right now?" Harry's angry voice sounded from behind them. Avery whirled around, shocked, Harry looked furious as if he already knew what he had heard.
"Harry-" She blanched as his eyes landed on the scarf that lay on her bed, out in the open, she watched his eyes widen and full recognition hit.
"You and Malfoy? You and MALFOY?" he roared.
"Harry-"
"How could you?!" the enraged boy screamed "How could you ever do that? Malfoy? Of all people! You know what he is - what he did!"
"He didn't-"
"He let them in! He fixed the cupboard and he let them into our school and Dumbledore died!"
Avery's breath caught in her throat and her eyes welled up, "Harry you don't understand."
"NO I DON'T! I don't understand at all. I don't understand how you could ever betray me like this!" He turned away only to freeze, "Actually- I do understand." he said lowly, "Deatheaters are drawn to other deatheaters aren't they?"
"Harry!" Hermione gasped.
Harry ignored her, completely overlooking the fact that Hermione had known about everything, choosing instead to send all his heightened anger at the perpetrator. "Like mother like daughter right Ave?"
"Harry-" Avery gasped, "I- I'm sorry- you don't-"
"The only reason-" Harry interupted, "-I'm not sending you out there with Ron right now is because Dumbledore left you something and if the past is anything to go by then it's important. You're a traitor. You're not one of us, you never have been and this just proves you never will be!" He yanked the scarf off of the bed, threw it to the floor and stomped on it with his boot, "This proves it!"
He stormed off and Avery gingerly picked the scarf off of the floor, tears crawling down her cheeks, "He didn't mean it Ave. The locket-"
"Yes he did."
Silence had fallen upon all of them after Harry's confrontation, the Chosen one sitting rigid outside of the tent, Hermione spent her time flitting between her two best friends, but Avery didn't blame her when she spent more time with Harry, he was on tenderhooks with the locket around his neck. Avery kept as still and quiet as she possibly could so as not to draw anymore attention to herself, Draco's scarf folded on her lap, the mirror in her hand, she hadn't seen anything in there since the fight though, despite trying. Just a reassuring glimpse of someone she loved would have meant everything right now.
"Ave?" Hermione's timid voice spoke into her compartment, the girl stepping through her tent. Avery kept her red rimmed eyes down as her friend joined her on her cot.
"Harry wants to go to Godric Hollow. He thinks there might be a Horcrux there, or at least a clue to where one might be."
"Is that wise?" Avery asked, sniffling.
"Probably not." Hermione laughed, her awkwardness extremely evident, "but he's insistent. He's also insistent that you come with us."
"He doesn't trust me with the tent I suppose. Thinks I'll take everything and leave?" Avery asked bitterly.
Hermione stayed quiet unable to deny that Harry had probably said something along those lines. "It's fine Mione" Avery whispered, "It's all fine."
"No it's not Ave," Hermione whined, tearful, "I knew about it and he's acting completely normal with me! I feel so bad! I'm on both sides here!"
"I'm not asking you to be on both sides Hermy." Ave said softly, taking her best friends hand, "just be with Harry, this is harder on him and if we go to Godric's Hollow- where his parents - he'll need someone to be with him. I'll be fine. Just one thing though-"
"Yes?"
"My mirror and - his scarf? While we're there can you keep it somewhere safe in the bag? I don't want to risk -"
"Do you think something will happen?" Hermione asked.
"We can never be sure can we?" Avery said, squeezing Hermiones hand softly.
-...-
The next morning dawned cold and crisp and to everyone's surprise the ground was covered in thick snow when they arrived at the Hollow. Hermione wore the locket around her neck, despite it being Avery's turn, Harry hadn't even attempted to hand it to her.
They trudged along the snow, Avery trailing just slightly behind so as not to catch Harry's line of sight but close enough that the boy could hear her every move and not find any reason to suspect her of any wrong doing. The thing was- Avery had know all along that what she was doing was wrong, she was sleeping with the enemy and this time it wasn't just a schoolyard enemy but a Deatheater, someone who had a mission from the Dark Lord himself. Avery knew she had handled it wrong, she should have told someone about Draco and the changes in him, she should have reported what he had told her, but out of no small amount of selfishness and worry for Draco's wellbeing she had kept it to herself, so she hadn't known any details but she had known something and could have prevented it. She had also known exactly how her friends would react, while she admitted that Ginny's acceptance had been a surprise to her she also knew that the youngest Weasley knew a little something about unusual and completely irrational love. Hermione had accepted it, as she did everything else with a good explanation and a shrug of her shoulders, Hermione could always be counted on to do that.
Harry though - she'd known that if he had found out he would take it badly, she took a moment to be grateful that Ron was not present at the moment of revelation, that would have been a real disaster. She had known all along of Harrys deep seated hatred for Draco, had once shared it herself but had carried on the deceit anyway. Harry had every right to be mad at her for what she had done. She just hoped and hoped that their friendship was not irredeemable.
"Harry-" Hermione's voice interrupted her musings from just ahead- "I think it's Christmas Eve."
It was then that Avery became aware of the singing from the church just ahead, the deserted streets, she blanched, she had always loved Christmas, it was her favorite time of year, settled around a fire with her friends and Matilda wearing a new knitted jumper with her initial and drinking warm tea. Here now though, she stood in a deserted street in her too thin coat, a hat plonked over her dark hair as her friends stood before her. Not all of her friends though and of the two only one of them could stand her presence right now. She wondered what Matilda was doing, if she was safe and happy and hoped she wasn't to worried for Avery. She wondered where Ron was, if he had returned to his family or found any allies. She wondered what the students of Hogwarts were doing- Neville and Luna and Seamus and even Lavender and Blaise Zabini. She wondered if they were safe and mustering up even a little Christmas cheer during this bleak time. She thought of the Weasleys and of Hagrid and McGonnagal and wondered if any of her loved ones were injured somewhere or dead, never to see the new year/ She wondered what Malfoy was doing right this moment, if the people holed in the Manor werre celebrating Christmas, if it was dark and cold and Draco was safe.
"Avery-" Hermione spoke, "Come on."
Avery wiped a stray tear from her face with a frozen hand and nodded, meeting Hermione's worried look with one of her own that said Be with Harry, Harry needs you right now. They were all in the same situation after all, only Harry's parents were buried here, in the cemetery opposite or at least that is what Avery heard her friends say.
She didn't enter the cemetery herself, just letting her friends go ahead and look. She couldn't allow her unwanted presence to ruin this moment for her friend.
She watched from the other side as Harry found his parents and as Hermione comforted him although she couldn't hear what they were saying over the rather comforting sound of Christmas carols.
She let a few more errant tears fall as she tried not to dwell on everything, on everything they had lost and were still losing.
She noticed the presence behind her back at the same time as Hermione noticed it. Avery threw a minute glance over her shoulder and knew that Hermione was informing Harry of the new arrival too.
The figure, a woman she could see, hunched and slow, turned away from them and began to walk away, Avery stood watching as her friends joined her, "Harry thinks he knows who that is." Hermione hissed, even as Avery began to join them in following after the figure.
"I don't like this Harry." Hermione whispered as they continued to follow the woman up the deserted street, at a relatively safe distance, Avery narrowed her eyes against the rising winds in silent agreement.
"Hermione, she knew Dumbledore, she might have the sword."
"I don't think she does." Avery whispered, though her comment went either ignored or unheard.
The shadows from the dark alleys and buildings seemed to loom dangerously closer, closing in on them even as they kept moving at a slow pace. Avery did not like this either, not one bit. The unnerving feeling that something terrible was going to happen settling in her gut like a lead balloon. So engrossed was she in scanning her surroundings, peering in to the dark for any oncoming attacked that she hardly noticed when Harry and Hermione had stopped walking, the moment she noticed and turned back however she realized immediately what she was looking at and choked back a shuddering breath, a small derelict building, roof missing, parts gone and broken. This was wear Harry's parents had died. Avery could say without any doubt in her mind that she hated her mother, she ahd never really known her father to have any opinion of him, but she could only imagine how she would feel, standing before the place someone she loved had died. She didn't dare reach out to touch Harry though as much as she wanted to try to comfort him. Avery started as she felt a cold breath on the back of her neck and jumped away, to find the old woman standing extremely close. Avery wrinkled her nose at the unusual smell that seemed to come from her.
"You're Bathilda Bagshot aren't you?" Harry asked earning no reply. They continued to follow after her until they came to a small house, much the same as the others on the street, it was dark inside and cold and the old crone- Bathilda- moved to light a candle.
Avery stood off to the side again, surreptitiously taking in her surroundings and exits without trying to seem rude if the old lady should catch her, she could she Hermione doing much the same. The place seemed, dirty and damp, almost like it wasn't being lived in.
"Miss Bagshot? Who is this man?" Harry asked gesturing to a picture of a good looking young man with slicked back blonde hair and a dangerous smirk. The woman gave no reply but gestured for Harry to follow her, he did so without hesitation moving towards the stairs - "Harry!" both girls hissed in unison though they were ignored.
"He shouldn't go up there." Avery said even as she cast a Lumos, "Something is wrong here."
"I know." Hermione whispered. Avery realized that she had been whispering too, and wondered what it was that made her feel so uneasy.
Hermione cast her own Lumos and began looking around, though Avery was at a loathe to pick up any of the dusty and dirty objects she followed suit, looking for anything that could be important, despite having no idea what she was looking for. She highly doubted his eerily silent old lady just had the sword of Gryfindor lying across her sofa. Avery did in fact check the sofa just in case, you never could be too sure with isolated old ladies, she reasoned.
"What is that sound?" Hermione asked, moving up alongside Avery.
"Buzzing. Like bees?" Avery said.
Hermione moved forward, towards the half open door in front of them, wand out she pressed it open a little more, the buzzing sound growing louder as she did so.
"Herm-" Avery said in a warning tone even as she moved to look over her friends shoulder. She gasped and stumbled back with Hermione as they saw what the room held. Feeling sick to her stomach at the sight of more blood than she had ever seen in her life and what she could only call remains she moved instinctively to the stairs, towards Harry and whoever he was really with, "Harry!" Hermione cried directly behind her.
They rushed up the stairs and through rubble and destruction towards the sounds of struggle they heard ahead and Avery ducked as Hermione cast a spell behind her, relief washed over her as they found Harry relatively unharmed, they crouched beside him.
"Nagini?" Hermione asked.
Avery nodded, anyone would know the sight of Voldemorts snake.
They kept their wands raised as they rose from their positions and what happened next Avery thought she would always remember in perfect clarity and in painfully slow motion. They glanced over the ledge to see the vile creature still stunned, "Is he?" Hermione asked.
Avery nodded glancing towards her friend, "I think so." It was in that split second that she had turned away from the enemy that it happened, with a loud hiss the snake lunged and Avery, closest to the edge and the slowest to react shrieked in agony a sharp fang slid smoothly into her ankle, the weight and sheer power of the creature made her fall to the flood with a thud even as her wand flew out of her hand. She glanced down as she tried to kick the creature off but the fangs stayed resolutely in her skin. She tried to scramble away as Hermione pushed Harry, the real target behind her and then looking up at her friends, Hermione, horrified and for once unsure of what to do, Harry who only hours ago had denounced their entire friendship now staring in horror and shock she knew what she was going to do.
"Go Hermione! Take Harry and go!"
"Ave!"
"Go!"
She saw the understanding glint in Hermione's eyes. Her brilliant genius of a friend would have already worked out the moment Avery did that Voldemort and his Deatheaters would already be on their way. It was so important that Harry was not there when they arrived. Naginis fangs yanked themselves from her skin and even as Avery moved she felt all energy draining from her and warm liquid coating her jeans. "Go!" she cried as Nagini moved towards them again, lunging forward as much as she possibly could she scrabbled at the snakes tail and pulled with all of her might. It was with a satisfying pop that she heard Hermione and Harry escape. The snake pulled from her grip, lunging out of the window even though they were already gone. Relief and fear washed over her in waves even as she lost balance and fell through the hole in the floor and landed with a hard thunk onto the bottom floor of the house where the prone snake had been just moments beforehand. Pain exploded throughout her person and she closed her eyes, keeping them shut even through the commotion of people arriving, of Bellatrix Lestrange crowing and cackling "We got one we got one!"
When she opened them again, her surroundings had changed and she had no memory of being moved or apparated, the filthy house with the gaping ceiling had gone and above her now an opulent ceiling, white and a massive chandelier and then a face crowding her tired vision. Avery's last conscious image before she closed her eyes to blissful pain free sleep was a shock of white blonde hair and a familiar, beautiful, horrified face.
-...-
"And now for the names of missing witches and wizards, Beverly Frank, Emily Howard, Julie Tugg, Andrew Bryant, Avery Greenwood-"
-...-
What do you think? Please do let me know what you think so I know what to work on etc!
Thanks for reading! More up soon.
We'll get Draco back soon!
