This is not gonna last forever
It's that time when you must hold on.
And I won't let you surrender,
And I'll heal you if you're broken.
- I'll Be Your Strength, The Wanted
A Rebel With a Tainted Heart Chapter 12 - finally!
Christmas time. It was Hermione's favourite time of the year – she absolutely adored the holiday and waited impatiently for it to come round each year. She couldn't put her finger on what specifically it was that she enjoyed the most about it, she supposed it was everything. For a start, there was the snow which usually began at the start of December. It was thick and fluffy and a startling white much like hundreds or even thousands of marshmallows had fallen from the sky to land leisurely on the cold ground. Hermione always thought that Hogwarts looked much prettier when the castle and its grounds were covered with the frozen rain – it enhanced the magical feel of the place.
Inside, the castle was slowly gaining decorations each day leading up to the holidays. The flame lit torches that adorned the numerous cold stone passageways throughout the castle were wrapped loosely in holly leaves and small red bows were tied to them, each bow omitting a Christmassy tinkling sound as a student or teacher passed by. Many thought they were an ingenious idea, designed of course by George, who had recently resumed his post in Weasley's Wizards Wheezes alongside Angelina. George wrote to Hermione occasionally, mainly to talk about how he missed Fred, but felt that his twin brother would have wanted him to carry on with the business they had dreamed up together. He told her about Angelina, who was now going out with him, and how she was a big help, in the shop and just generally. Hermione was glad that George had found someone, especially a girl as nice as Angelina and apparently Mrs Weasley approved greatly, although she was still unsure of WWW.
Mainly George complained about how much of a tool bag Ron was currently being. Hermione had giggled a lot at that – apparently Ron had irritated a lot of people recently. George told Hermione that at Halloween, Ron had returned very moody and annoying, complaining a lot, so much so that Harry had yelled at him which surprised Hermione. They may all have been best friends but Hermione wasn't sure if she even wanted an apology from Ron. She really thought he could have matured and just accepted things the way they were, but everyone knew Ron had a dark angry streak. It had first become apparent when the three were hunting for Horcruxes and Ron's jealousy and temper got the best of him, eventually leading to his departure. Such wasted tears, Hermione mused as she walked briskly down the nippy corridor to the Great Hall.
Professor Dumbledore had decided that he wanted the students to have an extra long Christmas with their parents, much like Halloween, after all the war had ended not long ago and people were still shaken up, especially with attempts of murder by escapee Death Eaters. Under Rufus Scrimgeour's regime, not many had been captured, quite a few still roamed about trying to wipe out those they dubbed as "traitors."
It worried both Hermione and Ginny as currently, Draco and Blaise were at the top of that list. With Blaise's dad running around with Draco's horrific Aunt Bellatrix, neither were very safe and had been warned by the professors to be careful when leaving the school. The beginning of the second week of December saw the departure of nearly all of Hogwarts students. Ron still had not properly apologised to Hermione, or even Ginny his own sister, whom also had fallen out with him. Pansy had hugged and kissed Draco and Blaise, crying slightly as she did so, leaving both of them looking very alarmed. Pansy rarely cried, apart from the few times Millicent Bulstrode had called her horrible names or when the Death Eaters hurt her when Draco and Blaise weren't around. Something was up with Pansy, but what? She told them that she wasn't sleeping that well, and how she was nearly crying at every little thing. But she and Ron were actually getting on well.
Ginny didn't understand Ron at all. He claimed that she and Hermione were just as bad as the Slytherins for falling in love with a pair, yet there he was, the loving boyfriend of a girl who once was the biggest bitch in Slytherin, actually, the whole school. Ron Weasley was such a hypocrite. He and Pansy seemed to be getting on extremely well and Ginny was positively certain that they were screwing behind closed doors. In fact, Theo and one of the other Slytherins had a bet going about it which looked very much like it was going in Theo's favour.
As Hermione continued to walk slowly through the winding passageways, she thought about everything that had happened over the past two years. She had hunted for horcruxes with her two best friends, they had taken on Voldemort and won, the Ministry had interfered at Hogwarts again, she was the girlfriend of Draco Malfoy, and she had to get married to him and bear a Malfoy heir – something she was sure would not go down well with Lucius, once he was out of Azkaban anyway. Bellatix Lestrange was still on the run with Negozi Zabini, something that worried Hermione and Ginny. Ginny was afraid for Blaise, after all he had been through he was a Slytherin through and through, and they were notorious for their secrecy. Of course, there were the few times that Ginny had got him to fess up and talk about his feelings and family. She liked talking to Blaise, he was interesting and although he was her boyfriend, she felt like she still didn't know the real him.
Ginny, of course, had always been a chatterbox it seemed, something that had not manifested truly until she had first come to Hogwarts. Being surrounded by so many brothers who constantly talked over her tended to overshadow that aspect of her personality. But Blaise, Ginny could never get much from him about his family – apart from the day they had found out about his father escaping prison with Draco's awful aunt.
-The copper curly haired Italian paced the bedroom floor of the dormitory he shared with his beautiful redheaded girlfriend. He couldn't sit still for more than five minutes – if he did, his head went into overdrive, he couldn't' stop fidgeting and all the bad thoughts came to the forefront of his mind, torturing him like monsters.
How could they have done it?
How could they have let him escape so easily? And with Bellatrix no less.
Bellatrix. Blaise sneered menacingly at the mere thought of the deranged woman, lip curling in disgust. She was nothing but trouble, always too much in love with the Dark Lord to focus on anyone or anything else. They said love changed people but Blaise thought Bellatrix took it to the extreme, you could practically smell crazy on her.
What about Christi – his little baby sister at only one year old? The Death Eaters had it out for Blaise and Draco, and both were sure that they would do anything to anyone if it meant revenge on the two. Narcissa was currently safe in France, with Lucius in Azkaban still and Sarafina alone with Christi. Blaise didn't have much faith in the woman he was forced to call mother – she hadn't been much of a mother to him or Christi.
What was running through his mind though were many doubts about Negozi – he had seemed so different the last time Blaise had seen him. It was wartime and although Blaise hadn't been as involved as Draco was forced to be by Lucius and Voldemort, he had still been there in the background. But Negozi had seemed much like Lucius, downtrodden and afraid, like they knew their Master would be defeated. Negozi had appeared like he did not want to be a Death Eater, like he had realised the cause was not what it had seemed – he seemed like he wanted to change, like he understood finally that it was all useless. And look at him now, Blaise thought bitterly.
"Blaise, what is the matter? Come on you can tell me, I want to know what's going on inside your head for once," A soft voice echoed around the room and Blaise turned to the source – it was Ginny, with her arms crossed against her chest, a concerned look on her beautiful face. The Italian sighed heavily, opening his arms for his girlfriend, who crossed the room silently and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"I can't stop thinking about what we found out this morning," Blaise muttered, rubbing a hand over his face tiredly as he lay on his back on their bed with Ginny sitting cross legged beside him.
"Blaise, you know everything will be fine. Dumbledore has promised your safety," The redhead half-smiled, taking his hand.
"I don't care about myself. I'm worried about Christi… and you," He mumbled, cheeks tinging red. Ginny swore he was the cutest thing she'd ever come across and she gave him a quick kiss.
"Listen to me Blaise you're the best anyone could ever ask for – Christi will be fine, you know Dumbledore would never let her be hurt and as for me, I will be just fine, right beside you where I want to be. I trust you."
Blaise didn't say anything because he was too taken aback by what Ginny had just said – she was the best thing that could ever happen to him and he loved her so much. Rolling over he grabbed her in a tight hug, burying his face in her shoulder as she ran her fingers through his chocolate curls. He loved her so much.-
Sitting at the table in the Great Hall, surrounded by Draco, Ginny, Blaise and the other teachers, Hermione opened the letter that had came for her. Who on earth would be writing to her? Not her parents or grandparents – they had written to her previously in the week. Opening the letter quickly, she scanned down the entirety of it, it was very long! Coming across the signature, Hermione subconsciously smiled at the familiar loops and swirls – Molly Weasley. Re-reading the letter again, Hermione's eyes widened in shock at the second last paragraph. Molly was such a kind woman, and so it was no surprise that Ginny had taken after her.
{I know that in the past we haven't been very accepting towards Draco Malfoy and vice versa, but you're happy and we know he is the one making you happy so for you, we would not mind at all if you wanted to bring him along to ours over Christmas for our big dinner together. Everyone agreed to it since you will be marrying him at some point, and even Ron made an agreement, well almost. I'd just hate the poor boy to be alone at Christmas and after all you're our family and he is with you so that makes him closer family to us. Please bring him along dear.}
"You're coming with me to the Weasley's for a pre Christmas dinner tomorrow, they invited you," Hermione said quietly to Draco beside her, expecting some sort of protest from him.
"Okay."
"Please come with- wait, what?" Hermione stopped halfway through her 'please Draco' speech to turn to him, wide eyed.
"I said okay, I'll go with you," Draco replied, smirking at Hermione's gobsmacked reaction.
"That's it. No moaning, or whining or anything? Who the hell are you and what have you done with Draco Malfoy?" The brunette giggled softly.
"You make me out to be so annoying, how unfair," Draco muttered, cracking his knuckles.
"Hello, because you are," Hermione raised her hands bewilderingly at him and he looked indignant.
"I most definitely am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Dear god will you two shut up already?" Blaise snapped, rolling his eyes at his best friend who glared straight back at him.
"Blaise quit it," Ginny smacked him in the arm.
"Ow, what the hell woman?"
"You deserved it!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"It's like they're married already," The teachers whispered to each other, watching the teens as they bickered playfully with each other. The teachers all smiled fondly as they watched them, this marriage law was a strange one, but it had brought everyone closer together.
~O-O~
Draco was nervous about going to the Weasley's, he hadn't been kind to them – hell he'd been a right little dick but he was past it all now and had apologised to them before, and later he would do so again. He was worried for Hermione; he wanted the Weasel to apologise to her. Draco knew she was hurt by how her best friend had treated her, no matter how much she denied it, he knew how much she had cried over the ginger git. She deserved to be apologised to and the blond hated how she had been treated because of him, he felt like an awful, awful person, a feeling that occurred quite often.
He knew something was brewing, his Dark Mark had been tingling painfully, more so than usual, all night and before Blaise left this morning to return alone to his Manor, he had commented that his had been too. Blaise left to return to one of his Manors in Italy, where he assumed Sarafina and Christi were currently residing. Ginny had shed some tears but the Italian had promised her he would see her soon, so she cheered up a little.
"Are you ready to go?" Hermione asked cheerfully, coming down the stairs with a bag.
"Uh, yeah," Draco muttered, running a hand through his blond hair before Hermione grabbed it lightly.
"Breathe Draco, it will be fine, they've accepted you're apology and they're welcoming you."
"I'm not worried about me, they can say what they want, I'm worried about you. Are you sure you even want to be seen with me?" The tall blond bit his lip, looking at the ground.
"Now you're just being ridiculous Draco, come on you idiot," Hermione grinned, taking his arm as they Disapparated from Hogwarts, thanking Dumbledore for lifting the charm, again.
They landed in a grey swirl of mist a few metres from the front of the Weasley house, rebuilt so it looked exactly the way Hermione remembered it before the War. The tall turrets and the odd topsy turvy-ish shape, it felt like home. Draco appeared somewhat impressed by the house also, by its size and strange persona. Suddenly the front door was opened and a familiar friendly figure came running out of the house to envelop Hermione in a tight hug. Mrs Weasley.
"Hermione dear, so lovely to see you. Oh, and you've brought Draco too. Hello my dear, I had hoped you would come. Dear goodness you must both be cold, do come in, the others will be arriving soon," The older woman explained quickly, smiling and enveloping Draco in a hug, which surprised him to no end.
"Arthur, Hermione is here. And she's brought Draco!" Molly yelled as they entered the house, Draco having to duck quite substantiously.
"Hello you two! Dear goodness, sorry about you having to stoop Mr Malfoy it appears we aren't used to such tall people here. How tall are you?" Mr Weasley came around the corner, hugging Hermione and shaking Draco's hand, laughing at how much he was having to bend over. Hermione was just glad he was being accepted.
"Um, about 6 foot three, 6 foot four?" Draco replied sheepishly, as Hermione giggled, swinging their conjoined hands.
"Oh my goodness, that's something! The kids of today, well, anyway, do you know much about plugs?" Mr Weasley asked brightly, and Draco smiled slightly.
"Yes actually, Blaise and I used to sneak into Muggle London a lot."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Come along then son," Arthur gestured to the back door and Draco kissed Hermione's cheek before following him, listening intently to Mr Weasley's excited babbling.
"My, he's certainly changed Hermione, a blind person could tell that. So charming, and such a gentleman," Molly gushed and Hermione laughed at her – she had missed her so much.
"Hermione!" A voice called from the doorway and suddenly Hermione found herself wrapped up in another hug.
"Hey Harry!" The brunette grinned, hugging back before letting go and stepping back, smiling at Ginny who had entered the room – with Ron.
"Um hey, Hermione could I, uh, talk to you for a minute please?" Ron stammered, rubbing the back of his neck as his face flushed a familiar tomato red colour.
"Okay," Hermione muttered, following Ron into a room upstairs, closely watched by Harry, Ginny and Mrs Weasley.
"Hermione, I – oh bloody hell. I just, I'm so sorry okay? I never meant for any of this to happen or for any of those horrible things I said. I was awful, I was a dick and I realise that. You're my best friend, you always have been and you always will be, nothing should ever change that. We've been through so much together and you're like my sister, I should never have hurt you the way I did. I think the stress of losing Fred just, it all became too much, you know?It doesn't matter who you're dating or who you're going to matter as long as they treat you right. And Malfoy, well he seems to be perfect for you and you seem to be perfect for him. I can't tell you how sorry I am can you please forgive me?"
Hermione didn't know if it was the heartfelt speech, the tears in his eyes or the red in his cheeks but she wanted to forgive Ron so badly. She missed her best friend, she missed their old trio with Harry and she didn't want things to be awkward. So she forgave him.
"Yes I forgive you, but let me tell you, if you ever do anything like this again, we will no longer be friends, remember that. What made you finally see sense? Or who?" Hermione added slyly, seeing Ron blush deeper.
"Pans. She may have, er, persuaded me to see sense. And I really am sorry, I'll even apologise to Malfoy," Ron replied sincerely, wringing his hands.
"I'm glad Ron, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too 'Mione," He grinned.
"Don't call me that ever!" She narrowed her dark eyes at him.
"Sorry."
~O-O~
Darkness fell quickly as some of the Weasley's along with Harry, Hermione and Draco settled down at the length of the dinner table, ready to enjoy the no doubt delicious meal that Molly Weasley prepared. No more than halfway through the meal they were interrupted.
"AHHH holy sh-" Draco yelled, causing them all to stare at him in confusion as he promptly fell backwards off his chair. Hermione got up and knelt at his side along with Mrs Weasley who tried to stop him writhing in pain. She took his face between her hands as his right arm grasped at his left - exactly where his Dark Mark was.
"Draco dear, what is it?" Mrs Weasley asked kindly.
"My mark, it's burning and it won't stop, that means they're on the move," He hissed in pain.
"Does it usually burn this much?" Hermione asked horrified.
"No, but it's because they know I'm against them, my body rejects the mark so when it burns, it's agony. It usually hurts all the time because it's red and raw," He said quietly, shutting his eyes with the pain.
"Why does it hurt all the time? Let me see it!" Hermione demanded. She gently took his arm and pulled up his sleeve. They all gasped at what they saw. The mark was there, not as strong as it once was when the Dark Lord was alive but still prominent. But Draco's skin all around it was red and sore; no wonder he was in agony.
"Oh my god, you weren't…?" She looked at Draco and he nodded in confirmation. The others gathered around them were thoroughly confused.
"Explain Hermione dear," Mr Weasley prodded gently.
"When Draco got the mark, he wasn't willing. He didn't want it and wouldn't let them give it to him. You fought them didn't you?" She looked at Draco.
"Yep, Yaxley disarmed me and tried to hold my arms down. Little did he know that I'm not as lean as I look. Caught him round the jaw with a right hook, knocked him clean out. Nearly broke Nott's ribs before eventually my own father took me down," Draco explained slowly, looking down when he mentioned his father. He hated when people pitied him and he didn't want it from Potter and the Weasleys.
"Your own dad took you down?" Ron was shocked and Ginny stood with her mouth wide open. None of them expected Draco Malfoy to put up such a fight and injure two of 'his own'. Malfoy sat up slowly as the pain began to subside and nodded.
"How did they get you to take the mark?" Harry asked, instantly regretting it as he saw the pain flicker across Draco's eyes.
"They did what they always do, they Crucio'd me," He revealed, eyes still downcast. His answer caused them all to gasp aside from Hermione.
"But you were used to it from your father, how many times did they do it?" She questioned softly.
"Used to it? From your dad? What does she mean?" Ginny interrupted, still as horrified as ever.
"Lucius Malfoy is no father of mine! He and Bellatrix used to take turns, you know, Diffindo or the Cruciatus Curse. 12 years I was subjected to it so, in answer to your question Hermione, it took them 8 tries to take me down by it. The first few times I fought it, but eventually it took me over. You know yourself that's why I sometimes get the nosebleeds, headaches and dizziness. They're all side effects from it being constantly used on you. I'm surprised I'm not completely mad yet," Draco spat. By the end of his explanation, Ginny and Mrs Weasley were in tears, whilst Harry, Ron and Mr Weasley were in complete shock.
"Oh you poor boy, I can't believe that," Mrs Weasley sobbed, pulling a surprised Malfoy into a hug, which he accepted. She released him after a while before smiling at him as he took her hand.
"It's fine, Mrs Weasley, I'm used to the pain now, it's something you learn to live with," He sounded calmer now and in a lot less pain as Harry and Ron helped him to his feet which shocked him.
"Wow Malfoy, if I'd have known all that, I would have been a lot nicer to you," Harry said shaking his hand.
"Yeah what Harry said, and I definitely wouldn't have called you a cowardly ferret," Ron chuckled, also shaking his hand.
"Again with the fucking ferret," Draco muttered under his breath so only Hermione heard which caused her to giggle.
"Aw Draco I'm so sorry!" Ginny sniffed, launching herself into his arms and he caught the fiery redhead, accepting her hug.
"You don't have to be i-" They all stared at him again as he broke off into a hiss of pain before staring blankly at the wall.
"Mr Malfoy?" Mr Weasley questioned, waving his hand in front of Malfoy's face to which he did not respond.
"He's having a vision! Of where they're moving to. I mean, I heard rumours that the Death Eaters did that, but I didn't think it was true," Harry murmured. A loud gasp and cough from Draco announced that he was out of his trance-like state. He suddenly looked very, very pale.
"What did you see Malfoy? Dammit! What did you see?" Harry yelled.
"They're, they're coming. The Death Eaters are coming here for me and you. They're going to capture you and kill me and Blaise. They want your blood for Voldemort's resurrection, using the resurrection stone, but they want me dead. Oh my god, they're going to kill my mum right in front of me," Draco shut his eyes tightly, rocking back and forth on his heels.
"We can't let them get you, and we especially cannot let them kill your mother Draco," Mr Weasley announced after a long silence.
"Who was it that, you know?" Ron asked uncomfortably.
"Fenrir Greyback. It's him that has my mother. Oh, I am so going to kill him," Draco growled.
"Do you know how long before they're here?" Mrs Weasley asked shakily.
"Two minutes. They deliberately left it til the last minute to send the vision so I wouldn't know," He muttered.
"The visions really are intelligent pieces of magic, I can't quite believe-" Hermione began, but he interrupted her.
"HERMIONE! As much of a genius as you are, it can wait, you all need to leave now it's not safe so I suggest you apparate far away from here. As for me, I'm staying here I need to get my mum from them," Once again, they all stared at him like he was mental.
"We are not leaving you and your poor mother here to face God knows how many Death Eaters!" Mrs Weasley cried indignantly. Malfoy made to interrupt but she silenced him with one of her all too familiar death glares.
"We stay and we fight. We protect our own and that's final!" No one dared question her.
A loud explosion like noise from outside, followed by echoing cackling alerted them to the arrival of the Death Eaters. They all quickly went outside to see a group of Death Eaters standing in a line facing them, masks covering their faces. In the back stood Fenrir Greyback, holding a rather irritated looking Narcissa Malfoy. Waving a hand, Malfoy dissolved the masks of the Death Eaters, revealing who they were.
"Yaxley, I should have known," Malfoy rolled his eyes at the older Death Eater grinning manically in front of him.
"Remember boys, we're here for Malfoy only. No harming anyone else and no killing him. Bella wants to do that herself," Yaxley ordered the others who nodded, looking annoyed about it. Yaxley turned and aimed a spell at Malfoy who raised a hand, deflecting it wandlessly.
"Wandless magic? So that's why the Dark Lord wanted him," A Death Eater piped up.
"Obviously, because you're all idiots and can't perform wandless magic," Draco replied disgustedly, deflecting another spell before striding forward. Three Death Eaters moved to stop him, but he stunned them all, leaving Yaxley and another, along with Greyback.
The other Death Eater got hit with a Petrificus Totalus, causing Fenrir Greyback to turn and run off into the long grass, dragging Narcissa with him. Yaxley tried to stop Malfoy but he punched him hard in the face, surprising the older man and knocking him out before running after Greyback. Mr and Mrs Weasley moved quickly, sending the unconscious Death Eaters to the Ministry with a Patronus to Kingsley Shacklebolt. Unfortunately, Yaxley had disappeared before they could grab him too.
A dark shape shot up into the sky from the long grass and they assumed it was Greyback. Seconds later, Narcissa and Draco appeared from the grass, relatively unscathed. They walked quickly over to the others, thanking them as Hermione hugged Draco.
"Perhaps you should stay with us for a while, it is not safe for you here," Narcissa offered, smiling widely.
"Are you quite sure Mrs Malfoy?" Molly asked unsure.
"Of course dear, and call me Narcissa," The woman nodded kindly, waiting as the family grabbed their trunks.
"Mum, where did the Death Eaters grab you? The house in France?" Draco demanded, as the others came out of The Burrow, trunks levitated behind them.
"Yes! Please, you must go before they try to burn it down son," Narcissa broke off and a sharp crack indicated that her son had disapparated, leaving the others once more highly confused.
"Oh no, all our family heirlooms and albums are in that Manor. All my photos of Draco as a baby and us together are there," The woman was nearly in tears.
"Hey, it's okay Narcissa, your boy will get your stuff," Mr Weasley patted her kindly on the back. Ten minutes later, Draco Malfoy reappeared with soot and blood all over his face and clothes, hair mussed up and a few items in his arms.
"Sorry mum, this is all I could get from the East Wing, you were right the remaining Death Eaters tried to burn the whole manor down but don't worry they only burnt the East Wing down, it'll be fine," He spoke calmly to his mother, before handing her all he was carrying.
-Only burnt the East Wing down. Wow their Manor's must be massive.
Molly Weasley was astounded at how calm and unaffected the Malfoy's sounded. Perhaps it was practice.
"That's fine, it's a small part of the manor. More importantly, what happened to you, you're covered in blood and soot!" The worry in Narcissa's voice was evident.
"Well they tried to burn it down with me inside but obviously that didn't work so once I got outside Macnair jumped me and broke my nose, but I'm fine see - Episkey! Ow.. Tergeo! Scourgify!" With a flick of his wand, his nose was back in its original place and he was completely clean and tidy looking.
"You have a lot of photo albums," Mrs Weasley smiled as Narcissa flicked quickly through them. Shock crossed their faces when some of the photos caught their eyes. Most were of Narcissa, Draco, Blaise and Pansy hugging each other and laughing a lot as well as quite a few of them with Lucius as well.
"Don't look so surprised you lot, we're not the heartless bastards we pretend to be," Draco smirked.
"I can't believe that, aw you're all so cute!" Ginny trilled, looking at the photos.
"I'll cry if I look at these anymore. Okay, has everyone got their belongings and ready to go to the Manor?" Narcissa asked and they all nodded.
"If you don't mind me asking Mrs Malfoy, why didn't you go there after your trial?" Arthur asked her.
"It's fine, it is because I couldn't get in," She replied.
"Why not?" Ron questioned.
"Well, as Lucius is in Azkaban, Draco is now the head of the family if you will. He was his heir and now that Lucius is no longer around, Draco has full control. He owns it all, all the money belongs to him to use as he sees fit. The wards over the main Manor only respond to the oldest male Malfoy. Lucius assumed he would be arrested and hoped that by placing that charm around the house, Bella could not try to use it. As he was sentenced, Draco rightfully took his place as head of the family, essentially becoming the oldest male Malfoy so the Manor's wards respond to him. Since he was at school, I couldn't get in and the house wouldn't reveal itself. God Bellatrix is such an arse," She explained, huffing at the mention of her 'sister'.
"So you own everything Mr Malfoy? Just how much is everything?" Mr Weasley asked him, amazed.
"Eh roughly 26 Manors, 17 businesses, 2 Gringotts accounts, 8 house elves and obviously the money, but I've probably forgotten something, always do," Malfoy said.
"How much money do you have?" Ron questioned innocently.
"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY! How dare you ask someone how much money they have, I'm ashamed of you, that was very disrespectful!" Mrs Weasley yelled at him and he cowered behind Harry.
"Its fine Mrs Weasley, really. Well I last checked the accounts about 4 months ago and since then its obviously gone up with the businesses. Also with mum being away and NOT BUYING RIDICULOUS THINGS! We do not need sofas in every room."
Here, Draco shot a pointed look at his mother who shrugged, laughing at her son's frustration.
"Every room? That doesn't seem that bad," Ginny looked like she agreed with Narcissa.
"There's about 307 rooms in the Wiltshire Manor Weas- Ginny." The Weasley girl's jaw dropped.
"Well, it's probably around 17.8 billion galleons now," Malfoy shrugged and waved a hand lazily while the others looked amazed, even famous Harry Potter, who let out a low whistle.
"Blimey Malfoy, even I don't own that much!" Harry ran a hand through his messy black hair, a gesture he did when he was surprised.
"Well we are the wealthiest family in the whole world at the minute, with the Zabini's a close second, as Blaise never forgets to remind me," Draco chuckled.
"Yup, Blaise is the head of his family now and I bet he polishes his galleons every day. He's always muttering about being second to you Draco," Ginny laughed and they all joined in. That sounded just like Blaise.
"We should leave; just think of Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire when you're disapparating. Go in pairs if you can, it means you have less chance of getting lost. Mum you take Ginny and I'll take Hermione," Draco suggested before he and Hermione disapparated with a loud CRACK!
-Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire. Harry felt his feet touch the ground and looked to his right where Ron was sprawled on the ground. Hermione was laughing whilst Malfoy raised an eyebrow amused.
-Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire. Mr and Mrs Weasley appeared with a POP! to see their youngest son lying on the ground. Typical.
-Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire. Narcissa and Ginny were the last to arrive with their arms linked. They were great friends already; Ginny thought very highly of the woman and respected her greatly.
Once they all had arrived, the young Malfoy began to wave his hands and utter words in a different language.
"What are you speaking Malfoy?" Ron had heard the language before but this time it was slightly different sounding.
"It's ancestral french Weasel, hold on I need to concentrate to remove the charms hiding the house and the wards!" He shook his head and began muttering again. Soon an extremely large mansion appeared in front of them, not looking as gloomy as it once had been.
"The wards are down, we can go in, after you," Draco waved a hand to tell his mother and the others to walk ahead. They could hear him replacing the wards and catching up behind them.
"Here I'll turn on the lights." With a snap of his fingers, the elegant, old-fashioned street lights dotted throughout the grounds lit up the Manor clearly. The Weasley's, Harry and Hermione all gaped at the beautiful grounds, no longer tarred by dark magic. Narcissa laughed at their expressions and beckoned her son over.
"Draco son, can you open the fireplaces please. Blaise will be arriving soon and may come through them or just apparate. You know what Zabini's like with them, always comes out the wrong fireplace if he uses it," His mother rolled her eyes at her sons best friend's idiocy.
"Sure, you can show everyone their rooms, alright? I'll open the house, do you know I do believe that Rabastan has put a charm on the door so as to not let you in, how pathetic," Her son commented and she couldn't help but smile at him. She was glad he wasn't as caught up in the Dark Arts, not anymore. With a boom, the Manor doors sprung open and they ushered everyone inside as Malfoy headed off quickly.
Mr and Mrs Weasley couldn't believe their eyes; the Manor seemed even bigger inside. The hallway was large and elegant, with various doorways leading into different rooms and at the end was a magnificent large, winding staircase which they soon climbed revealing a very long corridor.
"Okay, I'll show you the bedrooms first if that's alright. You'll all be sharing so Ginny and Blaise, Draco and Hermione, Harry until you leave for Daphne's tomorrow, Ron until you leave for Pansy's and Mr and Mrs Weasley. This first room here is Ron's," Mrs Malfoy smiled as he wowed at the room. It was gorgeous and very spacious, with large windows letting in the light from the streetlights.
"That door over there is a wardrobe. The other door is a bathroom, clean towels and toiletries are in the cupboard beside the shower. There are 4 empty rooms between everyone, so this one is Harry's," She continued on, allowing them to peer in before moving on.
"This is yours Ginny dear, or rather Blaise's which you can share. As he practically lives here, he has his own room, no doubt full of mirrors so he can look at himself. I'm joking dear ha, most of his clothes are already in there. Oh and there's his owl Buio, he must be arriving soon. I can't believe he called that owl Darkness? I mean, he only called it that because he liked the sound of it in Italian," She shook her head and they all laughed.
"Hermione, your stuff is in Draco's room just here. Thank God he's a tidy boy. There's your cat making itself at home, aw," The older woman grinned and Hermione laughed again.
"For God's sake, I thought you'd left that thing to die at Hogwarts, it's like 100 years old."
Ron burst into laughter at his comment. At this point the cat hissed at Malfoy.
"Yeah you can hiss cat, the first chance she's not watching you're getting thrown out of the window into one of the pools you little flea ridden fur ball. I know you understand me perfectly well now get off my silk sheets and go die somewhere else. Don't think I'm letting you back in, I'm putting up a freaking cat repellent charm," Draco hissed back. Everyone was howling with laughter at him, even Narcissa looked amused at her son's little outburst. Hermione, however, was not amused and smacked his arm once more.
"Ow, Jesus woman stop hitting me! Violence is not the answer!" He yelped and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"You are not throwing my cat out the window."
Ron and Harry laughed aloud again but quickly shut up before retreating to their rooms at a glare sent from Hermione. Narcissa, Arthur, Molly and Ginny watched on, biting back their laughter.
"I said I'd do it when you're not looking."
"That's not better."
"The cat goes to a better place and I don't wake up looking like a ginger eyebrow. It's a win-win situation."
They all snorted at his comment about a ginger eyebrow.
"Its not, because I'll have lost a cat. And for your information Malfoy, the cat is not 100, or flea ridden, nor did I 'leave it to die at Hogwarts' like you thought."
"Shame really, would have been a good thing to return to, something happy."
"What? A dead cat? You're so bizarre."
"It would be an improvement if it was dead. It's your cat, yet it still makes its way into my room. You can't control your cat which, by the way, is more like a ginger badger."
"Ginger badger? Are you calling my cat fat?"
"Face it Granger, you have a fat cat."
"No I do not Malfoy, it is perfectly healthy."
"You're delusional, the thing weighs a ton."
"How would you know?"
"I nearly suffocated one morning, when I woke up with it making its way on to my face. I swear to God it was on purpose. Your cat's trying to kill me!"
Everyone burst into laughter once more at the ridiculous idea and Narcissa interrupted Hermione as she opened her mouth to retort.
"As entertaining as this is, perhaps we could hurry up? You two, honest to God, it's like you're already married. Okay, this is my room and this, is your room Molly and Arthur," Mrs Malfoy opened a set of wooden double doors to show a beautiful room with expensive furniture.
"It's gorgeous, thank you so much Narcissa," Molly Weasley gushed excitedly. A note fluttered past them suddenly to land in front of the youngest Malfoy who instantly picked it up to read it.
"Blaise is nearly here, he says to, oh for God's sake he is so typical, he says to tell Ginny did you miss my gorgeous face?" He scoffed. "He is so self-obsessed, seriously who sa- ARGH!"
He broke off into a yell. They looked round to see a crumpled looking Blaise Zabini on top of a very annoyed Draco Malfoy on the floor. Ginny giggled at Blaise and reached out a hand to help him up as Hermione did the same with Draco.
"Christ Blaise!" Malfoy mumbled.
"BLAISE ALBERTO ZABINI, for once when you arrive at my house do you think that you might be able to not land on my poor unsuspecting son? Every time you come here you apparate right on top of him - how is that even possible? Your best friend was hit with Diffindo tonight, be more careful!" Narcissa scolded Blaise, who looked down at his feet in embarrassment.
"Sorry Mrs Malfoy and I don't know, it just happens. Crap, sorry Draco, did you get healed?" His eyes widened as he looked at his best friend.
"No Blaise I didn't, I got hit with Diffindo outside your girlfriend's house but we all decided it best to just leave my wounds and let me bleed out and cough up blood. So no one healed me but I'm still here," Draco said sarcastically, crossing his arms.
"Wow!" Blaise was impressed until his best friend smacked him round the back of the head.
"Of course I got healed you twat, it was Greyback that hit me ("aw damn he always was evil with that spell!") so about two minutes later I was already coughing up blood. How did you fare?" He asked, jerking his head to Blaise's left arm where his mark was.
"Not well, I saw the vision and tried to disapparate but they'd locked my disapparation through my Dark Mark. They knew I'd come to fight for you so they trapped me. I couldn't move out of the house and my dear madre left me, so once I could disapparate I figured I'd come see my better mothers. At least Narcissa and Molly would like me," Blaise revealed sadly and the two older women hugged him.
"Hello Arthur, good to see you. Now where's my gorgeous Ginny, did you miss me beautiful?" She jumped on top off him and he hugged her back before setting her down gently.
"You all surprise me more and more every day, in a very good way. Never thought I'd see the day that we'd be staying in the Malfoy family home," Arthur smiled back.
"I can assure you that we didn't either," Mrs Malfoy laughed.
"Blaise I need to speak to you, like now," Draco spoke suddenly, with a worried look on his face, which was rare. Usually he kept a cold mask on his face, devoid of any emotion whatsoever. Acknowledging his fear, Blaise nodded curtly, kissing Ginny quickly on the lips before following his best friend out the door and down the hallway.
"What was that all about?" Ginny asked as soon as they left.
"I've never seen them both look so worried," Molly commented.
"I have a feeling it's to do with those damn Death Eaters," Narcissa looked angry at the thought.
"I think I know what it is," Hermione spoke quietly and they all turned to look at her.
"Earlier on when Draco got hit with Diffindo, he fought with Yaxley to get his wand back. And when they did that, Yaxley said something to him that obviously disturbed him. It must have been about him and Blaise something to do with this plan the Death Eaters have to kill them," She explained nervously.
"I have a feeling it's to do with family," Mr Weasley sounded worried too.
"How can you be sure?" His wife prodded.
"Because Mr Malfoy had a guarded look in his eyes, the same one he has when people mention his father and Bellatrix or he talks about them. And Blaise, being his best friend knows this," He explained and they all thought about it. It made sense really.
"I guess we won't know until they tell us, come on we'll go to the next few rooms then downstairs," Narcissa said happily, snapping everyone out of the sombre mood.
"After you Narcissa," Ginny smiled politely.
"Okay this is one of the various bathrooms that you can use if yours is taken," The older woman gestured to a half open door before carrying on the tour.
~O-O~
"Draco I don't like this at all, why did they suddenly decide to target us?" Blaise asked his best friend once again as they stood down the hallway.
"It sounds like it wasn't sudden, rather that our own family had been planning this for a while. Yaxley said 'Tell Blaise that his dad will come for him as Bella will for you, later tonight if I were you, I'd keep my eyes open' and I believe him. You know that as hateful as he is, he's blunt and honest," The young Malfoy's mind was in chaos as he was sure Blaise Zabini's was also.
"Well, we need to prepare ourselves. I for one am going to kill my father when I see him, simple as," Blaise stated proudly.
"No Blaise you can't leave the protection of the Manor just to kill Negozi, for Ginny's sake. We can't start a fight with them, they can't get us if we stay inside the wards and if you go for your dad, I will hold you back," Malfoy warned him.
"Fine, but if I even hear that son of a bitch, I'll go crazy Dray I hope you know that because you know what I'm like when he antagonises me. You need to be prepared to hold me back if you're serious about us not leaving the Manor. If I hear him even for only a second, I will kill Negozi Zabini. I'm going to apologise to you now if I hurt you when you hold me back," Blaise said seriously.
"I know Blaise, I know. Apology accepted because I know you probably will break my nose. Again. Come on, we need to get back to the others." They both started to make their way down the hallway as they saw the Weasley's along with Hermione and Narcissa head into another room.
Without warning, both boys dropped to the floor, writhing once more in agony, clutching their left arms.
-Draco Malfoy, my gorgeous nephew ey, it's your aunty dearest, yes I escaped Azkaban sweet'ums, those Aurors are no match for me, I killed Sirius Black. I've come for you and I will kill you, come and play hottie.
"BLAISE THEY'RE HERE!" Malfoy yelled.
The voice pierced Draco's mind and he dropped his hold of his left arm to put both hands either side of his head.
"Dray ignore it- AGHH!" His best friend cut off, wrapping his arms around his head.
-Blaise Zabini, my son, it's your father, yes I escaped Azkaban, those Aurors are no match for me. I've come for you and I will kill you, come out and face me like a man.
"SON OF A BITCH!" Blaise yelled, getting up and running off, tripping on the rug just as Ginny, Hermione, Narcissa and Mr and Mrs Weasley came out of the room down the hall. They looked shocked to see Malfoy on the floor and Zabini running holding his head.
"Draco, what?" Narcissa started.
"I'll explain later. I need to stop him before he does something he regrets," He said quickly before getting up and running down the stairs after his best friend. They all ran down after him to stand in the door way.
"Do NOT come out!" Draco shouted back at them. Luckily he was a lot taller than Blaise and he quickly caught up running after him. Throwing his arms around his waist, he pulled him to the ground.
"What the hell Draco, I'm going to kill him - both of them!" The young Zabini was seething with rage, unaware of the audience standing in the Manor's doorway.
"I told you I'd stop you!" Malfoy shouted back. Blaise punched him in the nose, breaking it immediately and blood spattered everywhere. Shocked gasps echoed around the Manor doorway. Malfoy hit him back in the stomach and soon they were rolling around on the ground kicking and punching at each other, completely forgetting their wands. Kicking his best friend's already broken nose, Blaise broke free and got up, running to the gates and trying to get through them to the darkness that held his eager father. Luckily Draco caught him around the waist pulling him back into the safety of the Manor. He struggled in his arms but being taller and stronger Draco held firm.
"BLAISE STOP STRUGGLING I CAN'T HOLD THE WARDS WITH YOU FIGHTING AND THEM TRYING TO PENETRATE MY MIND!" Malfoys patience was completely gone, but Blaise paid no heed and continued to fight him. They both dropped to the ground as their marks burned and voices echoed through their head.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" They both roared at their family members who stood outside the gates, chuckling in the darkness. Taking the distraction to his advantage, Blaise apparated outside the gates and Draco apparated after him, cursing. Narcissa stood in the doorway horrified as green and red lights flashed in the skies behind the hedges. Hermione and Ginny were in tears beside her. Suddenly they all heard a shout.
"NEGOZI I'LL KILL YOU, YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A FATHER!"
"I DOUBT IT SON, YOU COULDN'T KILL ANYTHING AS YOU AND DRACO PROVED WHEN THE DARK LORD GAVE YOU TASKS! YOU'RE FAILURES!"
"YES I KNOW I'M A FAILURE MY DEAREST AUNTY TOLD ME EVERY DAY, DIDN'T YOU? BLAISE, WILL YOU GET BEHIND THE BLOODY GATES?!" Draco yelled at his friend once more, grabbing him by the waist and pulling him back through the gates into safety. Both were unscathed, apart from Draco's gushing nose, much to the relief of the women. They all watched two black clad figures disappear up into the sky and the two boys collapsed on the pathway, Blaise sobbing into his best friends shoulder. The young Malfoy just sat staring ahead into the distance blankly, rubbing his friends back comfortingly and ignoring his broken nose from which blood was flowing. Both young men were shaking, barely containing the infamous rages which were trying to take over them. They watched from the doorway of the Manor as the blond conjured his dragon Patronus.
"I need you to go to Kingsley Shacklebolt and also his second-in-command Jonathon Dawlish. Tell them that Bellatrix Lestrange and Negozi Zabini have escaped from Azkaban although I am sure that they already know. Tell them that they arrived at Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire tonight intent upon killing myself and Mr Zabini. The Death Eaters have been planning to kill us two for months due to us defecting to the side of the Order. Also tell them that we are fine, the protections kept them out but they are long gone. Thanks," Draco commanded and in a swirl of silver, the dragon darted away. In the doorway of the Manor, Narcissa turned to Ginny and Hermione who stood beside Mr and Mrs Weasley. Tears were running slowly and silently down both girls cheeks.
"I think perhaps you two should go to the pair, they need you. You'll need to calm them down before their tempers get the best of them," She nodded at them as the girls ran up the path to where the two best friends were sitting, shaking. Ginny gently pried Blaise off Draco and cuddled him tightly, giving him an affectionate kiss which he returned. Despite their constant teasing, they really did love each other. Hermione knelt at Draco's side and he pulled her onto his lap as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They sat their for a few minutes not speaking, before Hermione broke the silence.
"Are you okay? Sorry stupid question I know," She mumbled, playing with his hair as he exhaled slowly under her.
"Mm, I feel a lot better now, thank you," He flashed her a heart stopping half smile as she leaned her forehead against his.
"I'll fix your nose, here - Episkey! Tergeo!" She took out her wand, quickly snapped his nose back in place again before using it to siphon the blood off his face.
"Ugh I need to go in to have a shower and clear my head, wanna join me?" He smirked at her and she rolled her eyes before kissing him softly.
"We should get back inside, sort you and Blaise out," Hermione said quietly and Draco nodded, getting to his feet gracefully and pulling her up.
"All this walking and running, I'm so tired," She added, huffing slightly whilst Draco looked on amused.
"You're so lazy! Here I'll give you a piggyback in," He chuckled, bending down as she jumped onto his back.
"Woah, okay, you're very tall! Wow this is weird being this high up, I'm like a giant ooh!" He couldn't help but laugh as she kissed his cheek quickly. His witch was really something.
Ginny was hugging Blaise, who was clinging onto her for dear life. She could hardly watch, it was absolutely gut wrenching how heartbroken he looked. She glanced up as she heard movement beside her; just to see Draco give Hermione a piggyback and her kiss his cheek. She smiled to herself, Ginny always knew those two would end up together, Marriage Law or not.
"My own dad hates me, he wants to kill me. Draco's aunt -the crazy bitch one- hates him, and wants to kill him. What did we ever do to deserve this? After the worst childhood imaginable, we still managed to be beaten by evil's whips. Why us? Why?" Blaise mumbled as his witch fluffed his curly hair with her small, delicate hands.
"No one deserves to be put through what you two went through and are still going through. Your childhood will always haunt you, as will your father. They are disappointed that you aren't as dark as them, because you can't be. You two are so innocent and light; there is no evil within you, only fear of doing wrong. I want to help you Blaise, but I don't know how. You need to help yourself before I can. Come on, let's go inside and clean you up," Ginny kissed him softly, before taking him by the hands and leading him down the pathway to the Manor. Crossing over the doorway, sympathetic smiles echoed around the room. Mr and Mrs Weasley, along with Harry and Ron felt awful for the two boys.
"We know what happened," Harry spoke first, clearly embarrassed.
"Where's Draco and Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"Draco went to get a shower and Hermione went to sort her things out along with her cat," Narcissa answered, concern for her sons evident in her eyes.
"Okay well, I'm going to sort my things and talk to her while Blaise takes a shower." Ginny was just as worried as Narcissa and she was sure Hermione was too.
"Where were you?" Blaise asked suddenly.
"Who?" Ron asked confused.
"Boy fucking Wonder. Where were you when we were nearly killed?" He hissed, eyes narrowing in Harry's direction.
"I was with Ron playing Wizard Chess, I'm sorry we had a silencing charm on the room. We didn't know," Harry explained sheepishly while Blaise looked ready to throttle him. He opened his mouth to reply but didn't get the chance as his girlfriend slapped her hand over it.
"We'll be going now, okay. Move Blaise, go, come on and calm down. Control your temper," She whispered, taking him out the door and up the stairs to their room.
Once inside, Blaise slammed the door behind him, silencing the room and flopping down on the bed, sighing with exhaustion. He couldn't believe all that had happened today - was it all real? Maybe it was some crazy ass dream? But sadly, he knew it was real. Welcome to the crazy fucked up lives of Blaise Alberto Zabini and Draco Abraxas Malfoy - the unlucky ones.
His pulse jumped a little as he saw his girlfriend casually take off her top and replace it with a different one. It was the same always; every time he saw her it was as if they were the only ones in the whole world. Just looking at her he felt like there was no air left in the room and his heart had stopped completely. It was a strange feeling but not at all unpleasant, just foreign to him. Maybe it was love; he could only hope the feeling was mutual.
A/N: I am so sorry it has been such a long time since I've updated so I've made this chapter extra long! I will try to keep on top of updates but my exams are coming up soon so I'm not so sure I'll be able to update so much but I will try! As always I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you so much for sticking by this story and saying such nice things! You guys make my day - love you all thank you x