AN: This is it, the last chapter. Perhaps there will be an Epilogue...perhaps not. I haven't really decided as of yet.
I also can't promise the editing is up to par but I've looked over it so often my eyes have crossed. It is what it is.
As always...thanx for reading and enjoy *kisses*
Chapter 27 – The Remnants
Neville Longbottom was weaved through the trees absently gripping his wand while he made the long trek to Malfoy Manor. He didn't understand why the wards had been ridiculously strengthened. It would have made his life incredibly easier if he had simply been able to Apparate directly to the front door. Of course, nothing had been easy about his day thus far and Neville huffed, glaring at the estate home in the distance.
He had been cornered in an alcove of Malfoy Manor, by a sniffling Hannah, while on his way to meet with the First Team. She clumsily grabbed his hands and begged forgiveness. It had taken Neville more than a moment to realise she had strong feelings for her Ministry assigned husband and who was he to judge? It wasn't as if he was being particularly standoffish with his wife and why should he?
Sure, Neville and Hannah had been engaged, but he'd respected her decision to wait and look where it got them? Fact of the matter was he was quite fond of Pansy. She was the polar opposite of Hannah and perhaps that is what made them work.
The poor witch was absolutely starved for affection and Hannah had never been one to be overly affectionate. Neville decided he quite liked the attention. He couldn't say he was in love with her or anything, but he definitely cared for her and there was nothing wrong with it.
Neville had allowed Hannah to blubber a bit before putting a quick stop to it and as he trudged up the long hill, he was glad to be done with it. Everything that had first endeared him to her, he now found quite irritating. He felt a slight twinge of guilt for even considering the passing emotion and sighed.
"Finally." Neville muttered and pushed open the large oak doors of Malfoy Manor.
He stepped into the foyer, listening for the sounds of the women and came up empty. He carefully crept down the long corridor and heard the slamming of doors. Neville held his wand in front of his body and turned the corner, his mouth dropping open in horror.
Padma Weasley was reclined upon a chaise with beads of sweat decorating her brow and Millicent Weasley clutching her hand. She moaned, her eyes closing and Neville choked on the particles in the air, alerting them to his presence. He took a step forward, slightly curious and was immediately shoved back by none other than Narcissa Malfoy.
"Mr. Longbottom, delightful to see you've survived, however now is not the time to regale the ladies with tales of your heroism. I'm sure you'll be much more comfortable in the library with a liberal drought of firewhiskey." Narcissa snapped her fingers and one of her many house elves dragged Neville away as she succinctly closed the door.
"I didn't get to say a bloody word…" Neville shook his head, dutifully following the elf, only to run smack into his wife.
"Dammit Millie! I bloody well told you I was simply going to the loo!" Pansy Longbottom shouted the moment her bum landed on the hard tile.
She was so busy brushing down her skirts and tucking her hair back into its coif, she didn't see the masculine hand being offered until it was waving in her face. Pansy grasped the hand, looking up as she did so and her torrent of profanities died in her throat.
"N-Neville…you're here. What's happened? Are you alright? Are they all back? I haven't heard anything at all. Padma's well on her way to birthing the next Weasley and…" Neville chuckled, easily pulling his wife to her feet.
He was vaguely aware of her nervous babbling and he decided he didn't mind it, not one bit. Instead of answering her, Neville dipped his head and kissed his wife in such a way, there was no mistaking his affections.
Hermione Malfoy eased away from the preoccupied couple, slipping down another corridor before making her way back toward the sitting room. She knew Draco hadn't returned and her heart pounded furiously with worry. She hadn't the slightest inclinations to sit beside Padma during her labours but she knew there wasn't much choice in the matter. She dutifully pushed open the door, cringing upon the onslaught of Padma's groans.
"Hermione dear, come sit with me for a spell. I'm sure Millie and Daphne can tend to Ms. Weasley." Narcissa Malfoy smiled softly and Hermione was immediately drawn to her, crossing the large room swiftly. "I've cast a Charm over the settee, I simply could not abide her ridiculous caterwauling any further."
"Thank Merlin." Hermione sighed, immediately settling beside Narcissa and smoothing her pale blue skirts.
"I'm quite pleased you've deigned to wear the clothing I've provided." Hermione frowned for a moment, silently questioning the older witch. "Ah I see my son has neglected to inform you the particular dress you're wearing was mine when I carried him. I thought perhaps you'd enjoy something loose fitting as it is quite difficult to find appropriate clothing when expecting. Someone should really do something about that."
"It really is quite lovely." Narcissa covered Hermione's hand with her own, patting it lightly.
She leaned forward and poured them cups of steaming tea, as the perfect pureblood wife. Hermione knew she could never perfect the art and wondered if it bothered Draco. She couldn't help but to wonder if he missed the pureblood society galas and the house filled with prissy witches discussing the latest gossip.
"You worry your lip when you're nervous. You always have. It used to drive my son absolutely mad." Narcissa tittered lightly, placing a wedge of lemon on her saucer.
"It still does, I'm sure." Hermione unconsciously stroked her distended abdomen, while staring into the flickering firelight.
"When Draco was just a tot, I used to sneak away from the Manor. Oftentimes I would bring him with me, informing Lucius some errand or another was a moral imperative. He'd roll his eyes of course, but he never questioned me and I couldn't help but wonder if he knew the truth." Narcissa stirred her tea slowly, avoiding Hermione's probing gaze.
"What truth is that then?" Hermione was momentarily distracted by the hustle and bustle of witches behind them, but Narcissa quickly drew her back.
"My sister might have been burned off the family tree, but she's still my sister. I couldn't be so quick to pretend she never existed. We would meet, sporadically of course in a Muggle area, filled with greenery. Andromeda continuously referred to it as a playground but it didn't make a bit of sense to me then." Hermione was feeling uncomfortable with the intimacy of the moment and swallowed hard.
"Shouldn't we…aid Padma? It looks as though…"
"It was me. I overheard you before, speaking of your horrid mother. The day in the snow and your mother was…Merlin she was an abrasive woman. Andromeda kept insisting we should leave her to it as we weren't to meddle in Muggle affairs, but I couldn't leave you there. It didn't matter if you were Magic or Muggle, no child deserves to be berated for simply existing. It was easy to snatch you up in my arms and I always swore I could feel the magic oozing from you, but Andromeda said I was being ridiculous. You clung to me so tightly…I never wanted to release you, but I wouldn't have been able to explain you to my family."
"Do you…do you ever wonder what would have happened if you had kept me?" Hermione brushed the tears from the corner of her eyes with trembling fingertips while worrying her bottom lip.
"I spent many a year wondering what ever had happened to you. Andromeda never brought me back to that particular Muggle area and I can't help but suspect it was because of you. I wouldn't have been able to resist if I had laid eyes on you again. I wanted more children desperately but it wasn't in our stars." Narcissa carefully turned toward the witch her son adored and wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Did you know it was me when you saw me again? I mean…" Hermione hiccupped, trying to balance her raging emotions.
"I suspected, I couldn't be certain. I like to think, you still would have married my son, and we'd be exactly where we are, without all the mayhem of course." Hermione choked on a sob and buried her face in her hands.
Narcissa blinked her pale lashes for a moment and sighed. It had always been difficult for her to express herself in a physical nature, yet this situation demanded more. Gently, she pulled the witch into her rigid arms, her hands naturally smoothing the wrinkles on Hermione's back. Narcissa rocked her lightly, deciding she quite liked this maternal moment, even if her daughter-in-law was currently hormonally challenged.
"Well this is an interesting turn of events." Draco Malfoy smirked as he glanced down upon his wife and mother in their strange embrace.
"You don't happen to have a sense of humour, do you? I've definitely got to do something about that. I wonder if I could formulate a sucker, which forces the wizard to tell terrible jokes. I don't imagine that taking the place of a sense of humour but it could be highly amusing." George Weasley eyed the younger Slytherin with curious eyes.
He hadn't spent an exorbitant amount of time with Theo Nott, but it was obvious the wizard was wound a bit tight. George casually leaned upon the stonewall, observing Theo's level of concentration with wide eyes. He supposed the wizard was particularly adept at his job, otherwise he would have been left behind with the rest of the useless Junior Aurors.
"You're right. I can't bloody believe it." Theo Nott grumbled just loud enough for George to hear the muttered words.
"Yes, I'm brilliant. Can we blast in the wall now? I suspect Harry Potter has already bounded in, wand blazing and made a mess of things. He's quite spontaneous and without Hermione here to rein him in, I can't imagine this ending well." George wiggled his ginger eyebrows, anxious to get in on all the fun.
"Potter's just lost a bit of his nerve. I've heard it happens after facing dire circumstances. Sweet Salazar Weasley, you've got me defending Potter. I'll never feel clean again." A ghost of a smile passed Theo's thin lips before he brandished his wand.
"Was that a…did you…make a joke? Quick, call the Aurors. I'm having chest pains."
"Bloody hell, go warn Malfoy and the other Weasley. I'd suggest a lovely Shield Charm should protect them from the debris. I'm trusting you can handle the responsibility." Theo ignored the wizard grasping his chest to inspect the stones of the cabin.
George finally shrugged and snuck back into the cabin. He avoided the main living space as it seemed there was quite the shouting match taking place between Harry Potter and Cho Chang. He shook his head, knowing in his bones Harry had simply rushed ahead and all their plans were completely tits up.
"Oi," George's harsh whisper startled the wizards and he resisted the urge to chuckle at their surprise. "Old Malfoy, toss up a Shield Charm over the other Malfoy yeah? Nott's about ready to break through."
"What about me?" Ron Weasley nervously eyed the toddler while the desperation in his voice flooded the room.
"You're a big boy Ickle Ronnikins. You'll be fine." George winked, instinctively ducking as a particularly large crash emanated from the front room.
"I'm your brother, you've got to protect me." Ron was on the verge of tears and if it wasn't so pathetic, it would have been amusing.
"Yes, well I don't like you." George lazily replied, silently casting 'Protego' as he always did enjoy getting a rise out of his youngest brother.
Nick Moretti and Blaise Zabini were ignoring the Weasley banter in favour of observing Harry and Cho. From their positions, it looked as though Cho Chang was holding a quivering, barely conscious Astoria Potter hostage. Cho's hands were wound tightly in Astoria's blonde hair and Harry's wand twitched in his hand.
"You lot need to move your arses. It's getting dangerous out there. We've got to do something." Blaise hissed over his shoulder, feeling completely out of his element.
Cho Chang glimpsed a flash of dark hair and knew Harry Potter hadn't come alone. She snarled, digging her wand into Astoria's throat. She couldn't help but to revel in the fear in Harry Potter's eyes. She wanted him on his knees, begging for his wife's life in the moments before the witch took her last breath.
She growled when the debris of her husband's stone cabin crashed in the back room. Cho knew then, the Aurors were coming and calmed. She maneuvered closer to the front door, wishing to see the sky one last time, but she couldn't allow Harry to follow her. Cho took a chance and squeezed the back of Astoria's neck. The slight witch was bewildered by her predicament and remained silent through the pain.
"Confringo." Cho hissed, her dark eyes dancing in delight as the sofa burst into flames.
"Aguamenti!" Blaise Zabini leapt into the room, sweating profusely.
He quickly dove behind a curio cabinet, praying to whatever gods existing to bring him back to his quirky wife in one piece. Blaise wasn't made for confrontation or war, which is why he avoided the Second Wizarding War. All he wanted, quite honestly, was to sit in his back garden beside his wife and eat cake until he died. He had no desire to cast spells or wreck havoc and yet he couldn't stand idly by and watch more witches and wizards die. He had done that once and vowed to never again.
"Expulso!" Cho screeched, kicking open the front door to the cabin, her eyes never leaving the dark haired Italian wizard as the curio cabinet exploded into splinters raining down upon him.
Harry Potter wasn't a formidable opponent, not for her, not any longer. It was easy to ignore his existence as the wizard hadn't moved. His green eyes were locked on his wife's and it seemed he was frozen in terror.
Nick Moretti knocked Harry to the ground as a flash of red light hurtled through the air. The crack of knees on the ground caused him to wince and frankly, Nick wished nothing more than to shake Harry until his senses returned. He'd heard numerous stories concerning Harry Potter's heroism and downright guts when faced with the darkest wizard of all time. Nick fervently wished he'd known that particular wizard as it seemed the one on the floor beside him was a bit useless.
"Harry Potter, dat crazy bitch is leavin' wit your wife. If anythin' happens ta her, you ain't never gonna forgive yourself. For fuck's sake man, pretend she's Voldemort, cuz I hear ya dit int lay down an die for him." Nick slapped Harry's cheek, leaving a red mark on the wizard's cheek and hoped he hadn't gone too far.
"Can't imagine why you're bothering. Harry Potter has been a useless piece of shite from the day he was born. He couldn't even defeat Voldemort without, well everyone really. He's a fluke. He's not talented. He's not brilliant. He's reckless and his recklessness cost me everything!" Cho Chang shrieked, her voice finally breaking.
Harry struggled to his knees, blocking out the sounds of falling stone and shouts behind him. Slowly he stood, his gaze shifting from his wife's terrified wide eyes to the witch behind her. Harry stared into her soulless dark pools as Nick's words reverberated in his throbbing head. He resisted the urge to rub his scar as it had become habit more than anything.
"Get them out of here." Harry finally spat as a cacophony of angry wizards wafted toward them.
Nick hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was in his best interest to leave a questionable Harry with a psychotic Cho Chang until he remembered Xander. He didn't want the tot to witness the horrific acts he was sure were going to occur. Nick slipped around Harry, glancing over his broad shoulder one last time and nodded.
"Oh the great Harry Potter has finally grown himself some bollocks? How lovely. It would have been quite anticlimactic if you simply laid upon the ground when I killed you. I much prefer it if you fight back. I've always wondered how you managed to take down Voldemort, it's not as if you're particularly gifted now is it?" Cho threw her head back, her dark hair swinging and laughed maniacally.
"You're pathetic." Harry snarled, shaking the fog from his brain.
He knew he wasn't brilliant in the ways Hermione Granger was brilliant, but he also knew he was gifted. Sure, it didn't take much expertise to survive Voldemort the first time and he bloody well knew it. It was always the thoughts of his parents, which kept Harry going. He found comfort in their love, though he couldn't even pretend to remember them. It was the knowledge they had sacrificed themselves for him that fed Harry's passion.
Somewhere along the way, he had lost the will to fight. Harry couldn't help but wonder if his parents had ever felt the same, but quickly dismissed it. If they hadn't been willing to put everything on the line, he supposed they would still be alive and he would be dead. While Nick stirred the feelings Harry had kept tamped down, it was his wife and his son that renewed his vigor. He had never known true parental love and he would be dammed if his son knew the same heartbreak.
"Langlock." Harry growled, the slightest waft of satisfaction shivered through him and Harry could feel the tingle of his magic coursing through his veins.
There was a certain satisfaction in the outrage apparent in the psychotic witch. It was a little known spell, but Harry remembered his Potions book fondly. He silently thanked Severus Snape for the creation of the spell as he was finally free from listening to a nonsensical diatribe.
"Fucking hell she's silent. What'd you do Harry?" Ron Weasley stumbled from the back room, his red hair askew, and his clothing filthy and rumpled.
"George, get Ron out of here. He's distracting and I've got a job to do." The low timbre of Harry's voice set the wizards into action.
George Weasley breathed a sigh of relief, spying glimpses of the angry child determined to rescue the Wizarding World. While Cho Chang wasn't of the same caliber as Voldemort, she was threatening their livelihood and it seemed Harry wasn't willing to succumb to his fears any longer. George nodded quickly, losing his playful air and snatched his unkempt brother's arm.
He dragged a slightly struggling Ron through the gaping hole in his former cell and thrust him into the outdoors. Ron squinted from the glare of the sun and couldn't help but to chance a quick glance over his shoulder. He didn't relish the idea of leaving Harry behind. It had always been them, yet in the moments when it mattered most, Ron realised that Harry had always left him behind. Ron wasn't made for confrontations, but he had always put on a good show. It was what made him the epitome of a Gryffindor.
Ron allowed George to gently shove him toward the trees and sighed. He knew he wouldn't be much use in a fight without his wand. He also knew at the end of the day, it would fall to Harry. It would always fall to Harry and it didn't bother him in the slightest. He didn't wish to face the horrors Harry had, though he freely admitted to being tired of being referred to as the 'sidekick'. Harry was his best mate. Harry was his family and Ron couldn't help but to worry for his safety as he was Apparated away from the cabin in the wood.
Nick Moretti on the other hand, refused to listen to Harry. He wasn't going to leave a bloke who had barely regained his tentative grip on reality to face a madwoman. Lucius Malfoy agreed to remain behind as well and it was slightly unsettling to be in agreement with the older wizard. The two aimed their wands at the frenzied witch, knowing they would be unable to cast a spell with Astoria firmly lodged in front.
Cho's knowledge of non-verbal spells was astounding. It seemed she had spent many a year perfecting the art, unbeknownst to Harry Potter. It wasn't difficult to remove the spell that happened to glue her tongue to the roof of her mouth, but she wasn't about to make him aware of such things. She remained silent, contemplating her next move when Astoria Potter wilted in her arms.
The thin white sheet covering the blonde witch's nudity slipped, revealing her unclad breasts to the band of wizards. Considering Astoria's hands were magically bound behind her back, there wasn't anything she could do to cover her shame. Her cheeks flushed brightly, yet she was grateful the wizard's averted their eyes, keeping their wands trained on Cho.
"You snagged yourself a lovely piece of arse, Potter." Harry's green eyes flickered when Cho spoke, alerting him to her capabilities. "I think we all deserve a bit of a show, don't you? You've gone and ruined all my plans. It's only fair you suffer a bit yeah?" Cho hid herself in Astoria's long hair and pressed her back into the wall near the open door.
Harry swallowed hard. He adored Astoria, yet he also knew she wasn't adept when it came to warding off Dark Magic. He liked to think it was due to her naiveté, yet in the deep recesses of his heart, he knew it was the Slytherin in her. She had never been taught to resist, only embrace.
Lucius Malfoy exchanged a short glance with his son, his grey eyes flitting toward the back door. Draco hefted the sleeping toddler against his chest and nodded curtly. Nick caught the silent exchange and while he was curious, he wasn't about to draw attention to them. He managed to remain still and silent, even as Draco Malfoy snuck out the cabin.
"You've got nowhere to go Chang. It's over, you simply need to accept it. I don't know what sort of delusions you have, but you're not walking out of here with my wife. I understand how painful it is to lose someone you love. I understand better than anyone, but you don't see me rushing about injuring people to ease my pain." Harry decided it was in his best interest to appeal to Cho's humanity and lowered his wand slightly.
"You're a fool Harry Potter. You honestly believe losing your parents before you could even remember them compares? This is your entire fault you realise. If you hadn't been such a bloody Gryffindor, Cedric would still be alive. You ruined my life. You've ruined everything. If it weren't for you, John would be living a wonderful life and Cedric and I could have been happy." Cho's voice broke and Harry almost felt sorry for her, almost.
Astoria squirmed against the brunette witch, attempting to ease the ache of the wand digging into her skin. Of course, it only drew attention to her presence and caused her sheet to slip. She couldn't do much more than blush and stare at the hardwood.
"Imperio." Cho Chang whispered seductively into Astoria Potter's ear, yanking the blonde witch's hair in a practiced fist.
A flash of pale blond hair, just outside the cabin, drew Harry's attention. He ignored the whisperings of Cho in favour of concentrating on the best course of action. He refused to even contemplate the idea of a duel with Astoria in the mix. He couldn't risk his wife getting caught in the crossfire.
Astoria Potter, on the other hand, was drinking in every whispered word, sighing in relief as her wrists from freed. She nodded dreamily, allowing her eyes to slowly close as her hands pushed the sheet from her hips. Her back continued to blaze from the newly etched runes, but she was unable to resist the curse.
"Mr. Potter, I can't say I understand your course of reasoning, but I do suggest you do something before we're all forced to witness your wife's pleasure." Lucius Malfoy snarled, his grey eyes flickering dangerously.
Astoria Potter stroked her chest, tweaked her nipples, and slowly stroked her way down her supple body. She eased open her thighs and Harry choked on the saliva flooding his mouth. He closed his eyes and raised his wand, silently begging her to forgive him.
"Stupefy." Harry snarled, running the length of the room to catch his wife before she tumbled to the ground.
Cho forced herself through the door of the cabin, instantly running. She didn't take a moment to revel in the sensation of the warm sunbeams kissing her skin. She didn't glance over her shoulder as she heard thundering footsteps behind her. She dug her heels into the soggy ground and pushed forward.
She skidded to a halt, her feet slipping the mud. Cho Chang blinked three times, willing the apparition before her eyes to cease. Her breath caught in her throat, tears blurred her vision and her limbs failed. She sank to her knees ignoring the way the mud clung to her and stared.
"Wotcher, love. Don't just sit there, come on then." Cho stared at the rugged extended hand, absolutely certain she had gone completely mad.
"Impossible, you're not real." She scrutinized the imposing man blocking the sun until finally her small hand slid into his.
Cho allowed him to lift her to her feet and sling his arm across her shoulders. It was second nature to lean into his side and trudge up the muddy path toward their cabin in the wood. She decided Harry Potter must have cast the Killing Curse while she ran and perhaps death wasn't the horror she had always envisioned.
"It seems we have guests, love. Did you invite them? Are they wizards? Well isn't this lovely." The dark haired gentlemen held the door for his wife, smiling amicably at the collection of confused guests. "Allo, I'm John Wells, how lovely to meet you. Judging from the blatant scar on your forehead, I'd have to hazard a guess that you're the greatly esteemed Harry Potter."
Harry gawked at the Muggle, secretly wondering what the bloody hell was going on, when the man winked. Harry shook his hand and almost smiled. While he couldn't be certain, Harry was fairly sure this man was not John Wells, but the ruse was working to his advantage, therefore it was easy to nod while keeping a steady eye on a disheveled Cho.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Wells." Nick and Lucius followed suite.
While Nick wished nothing more than to hex the murdering bitch, he deferred to Harry who seemed eerily at ease. He studied the man he assumed to be a Muggle carefully. There were subtle things about the man, which seemed to be out of place. Nick spied what looked like a wand peeking from a slacks pocket, and even the gentle toss of the man's head alerted him to something amiss.
"Cho what on earth have you been up too? Our cabin is a right mess." John Wells easily settled into his favourite plaid armchair and studied his wife.
"You were dead. I know you were dead. I saw you. It's all Harry's fault. If he…if he…hadn't been so bloody chivalrous, Cedric would never have been in that cemetery." Cho paced the battered room, chewing her fingernails and mumbling under her breath.
"Love, that was quite a long time ago, yeah? I don't understand what Cedric Diggory has to do with us, with Henry and with your obvious rage toward Harry."
"Cedric would be alive. You'd be alive. Henry would…Henry would…"
"Henry wouldn't exist. Is that what you really want? You would trade the beautiful memories of our son for a school romance? I thought more of you really. I thought we meant more to you than that." John shook his head slowly with an air of sadness Blaise Zabini recognised.
He had remained silent and hidden for the majority of the argument and scuffle, but now that he was charged with watching over Astoria, he was more in tune with his environment. Blaise would know his wife anywhere, even when she was ensconced as a Muggle man. It was difficult to heed the warning in her eyes as he only wished to scoop her into his arms and disappear, yet he remained still. He retreated into the back room and was thankful Astoria was still safely bound and Silenced.
Blaise had wanted to return to the Manor with the witch, but Harry wouldn't hear of it. He was still a stubborn and reckless wizard even after all these years. Blaise supposed as much as things changed, they remained the same and Harry Potter was absolutely a testament to that.
"I've done terrible things John. I've maimed and murdered and taken delight in it. It eased the pain and I know it doesn't make a bit of sense, but it's the truth. It took me years to perfect everything and even then, it wasn't perfect. You should have seen it, John. You should have heard their screams as I carved into their skin. It was a beautiful symphony and it soothed my soul." Cho laughed and sobbed, covering her face.
"What were you trying to accomplish, love? Why would you destroy families the way ours had been destroyed? Did ye really think that's what I wanted for ye?" John stroked Cho's dark hair and sighed.
Frankly, Harry was a bit bored with the entire thing. He was itching for jinxes and hexes. He wanted to see Cho Chang writhe on the hardwood floor and beg him to spare her. He would, of course he would, but he wanted her to suffer a bit first.
"What was I trying to accomplish? Are you mad? I wanted them to suffer. I wanted them all to suffer. I wanted to listen to their flesh sizzle as I burned runes into their skin. I wanted to be there when Hermione Granger blew up because without her, Harry Potter is fucking incompetent.
'Do you know how bloody hard it was to convince Adrien Pucey to aid me? I mean sure, he'd already discovered I murdered Marietta, but even so. He didn't have the slightest bit of interest in altering the tombs, but I convinced him. I was brilliant.
'I was a bit sad she didn't die. However, she did lose the child and that was satisfying. It threw everything off kilter, which was absolutely magical. Draco Malfoy even left his position! That was bloody delightful. Potter was practically inept without him." Cho shoved John's comforting hand from her shoulder and laughed, long and loud.
"This isn't you Cho. You've got to stop this madness." John reached for her, but Cho evaded him, squinting her eyes.
"You're not John. I don't know who you are, but this is a trick. John would never…he never…you're not John." Cho shot a Stinging Hex in the direction of her 'husband', but her angst caused it to fly wide, striking the wall nearest Nick Moretti. "He's never called me Cho you bloody wanker!" She shoved 'John' and spun on the tips of her toes toward a calculating Harry Potter.
"Waddiwasi." Jewelry boxes, figurines, and even the small semblance of stuffed animals flew through the air toward their intended target as Harry stood stock-still.
Harry didn't wish to kill the witch, but he had no intention of allowing her escape. He supposed he could finagle a lovely locked ward in St. Mungos for the deranged witch. It was better than having her sent to Azkaban. Merlin knows that prison never did anyone a bit of good. In fact, history spoke volumes and everyone ever incarcerated there, if they managed to be released, was definitely worse for wear.
Cho Chang bobbed and weaved, narrowly avoiding the violent objects before hexing them into oblivion. She avoided even a glance in John's direction. Logically she knew it wasn't him, it couldn't be him, but emotionally Cho was compromised.
She hadn't spent months researching runes and a year formulating a detailed plan for it all to fall apart because she was caught in the midst of a delusion. Cho relied on the reverberating chant for her thin grasp on reality.
'Through my torment, you shall see…you deserve your tears, Harry Potter. Your love more than love is next. Know my pain and yours. Pay your debt, with your life.'
She wasn't aware the words were slipping past her lips as she flung spells and evaded hexes. Cho bobbed and weaved, laughing as the mania took over. She was lost and perhaps she had always been a lost soul. Loss had made Harry Potter stronger but it seemed for Cho, it stripped away the tender vestiges of her sanity.
Lucius Malfoy shuddered before he crept around the splintered bits of furniture. Quite frankly, Cho Chang's madness reminded him of Bellatrix. He knew there wasn't a bit of hope for that witch's recovery, and it seemed this one was a lost cause as well.
She was quite adept when it came to blocking spells and barely flinched when Lucius struck her with a Stinging hex. He grit his teeth knowing he could not resort to Dark Magic in order to apprehend the witch, but he couldn't say he wasn't tempted. He flinched as a thick scrap of ragged wood lodged itself in his thigh and growled.
"Ferula" Nick Moretti muttered, pointing his wand quickly at the gaping hole in Lucius Malfoy's thigh.
It was quick and easy work to remove the thick splinter but it was obvious the injury impeded the wizard's movements. The quick splint and bandage quelled the bleeding for the moment as the shouts around them grew to a crescendo.
"Bombarda Maxima!" Nick shoved Lucius into a small alcove created by a mountain of debris as the wall to their left shattered, causing bits of stone to crash through the hardwood.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry heavily relied on the tried and true spell, but Cho Chang knew the inner workings of his magic.
She had witnessed him use the spell countless times during their school years and Harry was nothing but predictable. She cackled loudly, spreading her arms as fiery bits of parchment scorched her long dark hair. Her mind's eye was filled with visions of Harry Potter's blood splattered across the ground and she knew it was the only thing capable of truly bringing her peace.
"You've got to do better than that Potter!"
"Petrificus Totalas."
"Protego."
"Diffindo." Cho ducked, smiling broadly before she lashed out once more.
"Evert Statum." Harry gasped as he was flung through the air, crashing against the rubble beside Lucius.
Nick and Blaise hurried to Harry's side, attempting to drag him to his feet, but he shook his head. Harry knew they were in dire straits and he couldn't allow them to remain, not on his watch. He refused to entertain the idea of more deaths on his conscience.
"Fumos." Harry whispered, coughing lightly as the smoky screen covered them. "Zabini, get Astoria out of here. Head toward the trees, you should be able to Apparate from there. IMPEDIMENTA!" Harry shoved the wizards from his person upon spying Cho Chang creeping through the gray cloud.
To Harry's great chagrin, Cho cast a Cushioning Charm and landed softly on her feet. She scurried into the kitchen to catch her breath, shrieking with rage. Any semblance of the witch he had once known was gone, replaced by a hellion determined to destroy everyone in her path.
"CRUCIO!" Cho Chang struck Harry Potter in the chest, twisting her wand with hands shaking with rage.
She felt waves of pleasure wash over her as he grit his teeth and the sweat broke across his brow. With her legs akimbo, Cho thrust every ounce of hatred and the burning fire for revenge into her spell until Harry had no choice other than to scream from the sheer agony of it all. She smiled, her dark eyes dancing with fascination as his back arched while he flailed upon the dusty ground.
It was easy to ignore the scrambling wizards, as she had her eyes set on her prize. Cho only wished John and Henry were present in order to see her greatest triumph. She was vaguely aware of two dark haired wizards scurrying about, but as Harry's screams grew, she sighed, feeling the tingles of gratification spread across her skin.
Cho lost her concentration for a moment, when she spied wands pointed in her direction and leapt to the side. Harry Potter's silent scream wasn't nearly as gratifying as his pain, but it couldn't be helped. The spell weakened and he rolled onto his side, clutching is abdomen as his body shuddered from the remnants of the curse attacking his limbs.
Cho retreated from the advancing wizards, though she noted with glee, Lucius Malfoy was still out of commission. She snickered while skirting the corner, peeking around the edge to determine her would be captor's location. She dug her fingernails into the filthy skin of her forearm until she felt the blood freely flow. It was a relief for her to watch the gentle pools drip onto the floor.
"You poor witch. You really are quite mad. I can't say I've a bit of hope for you." Cho snarled upon backing into the witch.
"He deserves it. He deserves every ounce of torment. He deserves to see his wife crumple at his feet and his son's mouth wide in a scream that will never be heard. He stole everything good in my life." Cho didn't fight the astonishingly strong grip of the dirty blonde witch.
She allowed Luna to shove her into one of the few remaining walls and even frowned as the wizards were waved away with carelessness.
"Cho, your family died in a horrific accident of Muggle means. I sympathise with your pain but to blame Harry Potter is a bit far fetched." Luna's dreamy expression would have been completely off-putting if it had been anyone else.
"No, you're trying to confuse me. Marietta said you would. He was there, Harry Potter was there, Marietta saw him and she…"
"Marietta Edgecombe was a vindictive, vicious tart who just so happened to harbour a grudge. Imagine being forced to wander about with 'sneak' etched into your forehead. She was using you to feed her own desire for revenge and your hurt refused to allow you to see the truth. You've got a chance now, but only if you stop this silly little endeavor."
Blaise Zabini's face reddened and he couldn't help but step closer toward his wife. He didn't know where she had been hiding and while he was relieved to see her standing in one piece, her current predicament was precarious at best. He admired the way Luna seemed completely nonplussed, even when faced with a trembling wand in her face.
"You're lying. I can't stop. I won't stop. I'll never stop. I won't find peace until he's dead, until they're all begging for their lives with their last breath!" Cho snarled and turned to Blaise with fire in her eyes. "Sectumsempra." She hissed, crying out in a howl of disappointment when the curse merely grazed his cheek.
"You leave me no choice, Chang." Harry Potter panted, one arm firmly clutching his side, but his wand steadily trained at her rigid body.
Luna Lovegood Zabini rolled her eyes to the heavens, knowing Harry would never be able to harm her. He felt entirely too much pity for Cho and it was obvious in the set of his green eyes. She allowed him his moment of indecision, watching his mouth move and the words flow through them, even as she blocked them out.
"Arrest?" Cho Chang threw her head back and laughed, drowning out Harry's Ministry approved speech. "Ava…"
"May the Nargles be with you." Luna whispered, drawing the dark haired witches gaze.
For a moment, Luna believed she saw acceptance and perhaps even relief, but the thought soon passed as she raised her wand. "Avada Kedavra."
Luna stepped forward to catch the witch, blue eyes meeting brown as the light flickered and went out. She held Cho for the barest hint of a moment before lowering her to the ground. With a steady palm, she stroked the deceased witch's cheek as a singular tear dripped down her dirt-streaked face.
"Luna…" Harry Potter huffed, even as he winced from the stabbing pain of fractured ribs.
"There was never a choice in the matter, Harry. I knew you didn't have it in you, you never did, and I don't fault you for that. Someone had to do it." Luna shrugged and quickly wiped her hands on her brown slacks. "Can we go back to the Manor now? I expect Hermione is beside herself with worry and well, I'd rather like to see the newest Weasley."
Luna skipped through the rubble, side stepped the larger stones and embraced her husband. Blaise and Nick stared, open mouthed, completely flabbergasted with the strange witch. Harry Potter shook his head, wincing while he traversed the terrain. They completely forgot the existence of Lucius Malfoy until he cleared his throat rather noisily.
"Oi, where did Nott run off to?" Harry scratched his head, glancing around the wreckage of what used to be a lovely, quaint cabin in the wood.
"Knowing Nott he went directly back to the Manor to give Hannah a good shag. I suppose he figured his job was done." Blaise hugged his wife tightly to his side and offered Lucius a helping hand.
"Ohh a shag sounds absolutely lovely." Luna smiled brightly, shielding her eyes from the bright warmth of the sun.
"You've a strange bird there, Zabini." Nick Moretti carefully surveyed the smoldering cabin, his gaze resting on Cho for a moment before following the ragged band of survivors down the incline.
Later, when they were safely ensconced in the confines of the Manor, they'd wonder if they did the right thing. Harry would silently curse himself for his lack of aggression. Nick would scratch his head and wonder how any of the British Wizards had managed to survive a madman. Lucius would growl while Narcissa tended him, cursing Boy Wonder for never casting a debilitating spell. Blaise would sigh, long into the wee small hours of the morning, for his lack of aid. Luna, well, Luna would smile, content with her decision, knowing that finally her old friend Cho Chang had a bit of peace.
"You scared me half to death arriving the way you did. I thought something horrid had happened to Harry and the others." Hermione Malfoy curled on her side, refusing to face her husband.
"Granger, I couldn't very well send Xander here alone now could I? It looked as though Potter had everything under control. Well, as much as he could manage anyway. I thought you'd be quite relieved." Draco stroked his wife's back, frustrated with her anger.
He hadn't expected her to beat him about the head and snatch Xander from his arms the moment Narcissa released her. He was quite looking forward to a heated snogging session, but Hermione had adamantly refused until she knew the outcome at the cabin. He watched her huddle with his mother of all people while he plugged his ears.
Padma Weasley was a screamer and not in a good way. Draco would have cast a Silencing Charm but it seemed his glorious wife had stolen his wand and refused to return it. It wasn't long before he sought solace in the library only to discover bloody Neville Longbottom there as well.
While Draco would never admit it, he had actually enjoyed drinking and conversing with the bloke. They'd had to chase Pansy off numerous times, but in the end, it was worth it. Draco wasn't willing to admit he'd consider the former Gryffindor a friend, but he didn't detest the wizard any longer and that was progress.
"You weren't even worried about them. You just…you went off with Neville and I discovered you lot later completely in your cups. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?" Hermione sniffled, secretly comforted by his touch.
"Nee, love it's Potter. He faced that psychotic bastard when we were just children. You can't imagine I'd suspect for a moment he'd hesitate when it came to one witch." Draco kissed the side of her face and her neck, his fingers gripping her hip as he whispered comfort in hear ear. "I wanted to be here with you, but you seemed to be clinging to my mother. I didn't have a choice really, I had to resort to firewhiskey to rid it from my mind." Hermione smiled, quickly converting it to a frown that fooled no one.
"You're such a bastard." She finally whispered, sighing softly when Draco softly squeezed her breast.
"Yes, yes I am, but you love me anyway."
Impatiently, Draco yanked her nightgown to her waist, growling in appreciation to discover Hermione's lack of knickers. He captured her lips in a quick, demanding kiss, pleased to find his wife wet and wanting as he stroked her sex. He settled between her thighs and slid home, groaning as she gripped him tightly. Draco dropped his forehead to hers and moved slowly, watching Hermione's eyes dilate and her pink lips part.
A loud smack interrupted their coitus and Draco paused, sure his ears were playing tricks on him. Another resounding smack, piqued his curiosity though Hermione was oblivious to such things. A soft moan from beneath him, returned his attention to his delectable wife.
"Ohh Neville." The loud breathy moan seemed to sound from the fireplace and Draco wished his wand was within reach.
"Yes Nick Yes!" The rigorous thumping from the bedchamber beside them, left Draco and Hermione with no delusions as to how Daphne and Nick were spending their evening.
"Theo, we can't! Not here!" Hannah's titter turned into a shriek, followed by the distinct patter of feet in the corridor.
"Bloody hell!" Draco shouted, still firmly lodged within his wife.
Hermione ignored the various sounds of lovemaking and shoved her husband onto his back. She pretended his sputters of resistance did not exist as she climbed up his hips and impaled herself. She rocked hard and fast with her palms flat on his chest.
Daphne Moretti's ear was firmly lodged against the wall, her bare breasts scraping the rough tapestry while Nick shagged her from behind. Listening to Hermione's low keens and breathy moans simply spurred on her race toward the finish, which pleased Nick to no end. He reached around her smooth hip and stroked her quickly while sinking his teeth into her neck. Daphne's fingernails scratched down the tapestry, her caterwauling of relief drowning out her husband's satisfied grunt.
"That was…" Daphne panted while sinking to the floor.
"Incredible." Nick interrupted and forced her onto his lap. "Imagine if that exuberant session gave us a kid." Nick sighed into his wife's dark hair while he toyed with her plentiful breasts.
"A child? Are you mad? I don't want a child." Daphne pulled away from his insistent arms, which only caused him to harden beneath her.
It was child's play for Nick to force Daphne onto her back, succinctly pinning her hands over her head. Daphne thrashed and begged, but he paid her no mind, easily sticking her hands to the floor with the aid of a little Charm. He spread her thighs and waited for her to calm.
"Tell me why huh? Tell me dat you don't enjoy the feel of my cock between your legs. Tell me your tits ain't aching to be touched." Nick teased her folds with practiced fingertips and it wasn't long before Daphne was thrusting against his hand.
"I can't…I can't leave you if we have a child. It…it would…bind me to you for…for…oh my gods…life." The angry tears leaked from her eyes, but she couldn't refute her body's response to him.
"Tell me you doan love me." Nick teased her with the tip of his cock until she was groaning in frustration. "I'm waitin' Daphne."
"I can't you bastard, I can't." Nick quirked his head and slammed into his wife, earning a hiss and tears of relief.
"Seems as though the Moretti's are having a bit of fun yeah? The Malfoy's as well and Merlin knows the entire Manor can hear Pansy having a go. Think we should join them?" Theo Nott wedged his wife between his arms and the wall, leering into her sweet face.
He'd been gentle with her thus far, but an animal instinct seemed to have overcome him. Theo needed her, he wanted her and he wasn't willing to wait a second longer. Hannah squeaked when he tore open her blouse, her eyes wide as the buttons bounced down the corridor. He didn't bother to remove her skirt, instead reaching underneath and ripping her knickers in a single yank.
"Wait, you…we can't just…"
"I'm going to fuck you hard and fast right here and you're going to love it." Theo easily interrupted his quiet wife and dropped his slacks to his ankles.
He attacked her neck with a fervor, sucking hard and leaving purple blotches on her pale skin. He wrenched her legs over her hips and without giving her a moment to breathe, situated himself at her opening. Theo growled and plunged into her warmth, grinding into her. He slapped her bare arse hard and gripped it in his palms before paying homage to her breasts.
Hannah was overcome with the flurry of emotions and the fear of discovery. She held onto his shoulders, inadvertently pushing her breasts into his face, which it seemed Theo enjoyed immensely. She was shocked by the violent quality of his lovemaking but she also found it invigorating. It wasn't long before she was rocking her hips and her nails were scratching a path down his sweat slicked back.
Draco wanted to concentrate on the sight of his wife bouncing on his cock. He wanted to enjoy the gentle sway of her breasts. He absolutely wished to rejoice in the tight warmth of surrounding him, but it seemed the guests of the Manor had other ideas.
"It seems the Manor has turned into a brothel." Astoria Potter tittered lightly behind her hand, ignoring the advances of her husband. "Slytherins never could resist a shag after a bit of violence."
"Exactly, why don't we join them?" Harry Potter wiggled his eyebrows while crawling across the expansive four-poster bed.
"Absolutely not." Astoria crossed her eyes and glowered at the half naked wizard, hard pressed to keep from laughing.
"Stori…the Healers said you were fine…"
"You Stupefied me."
"I didn't have a choice! I bloody well told you!" Harry leapt to his feet in the middle of the bed and shouted in anger.
Astoria smothered a giggle and absolutely refused to alert her husband to his cock dangling from the hole of his boxers. The four-poster bounced against the wall and Astoria knew Ron and Millie were going to keep up their activities long into the night. She shuddered, willing the imagery of such an occasion to dissipate while Harry continued to shout.
Finally, Harry jumped off the bed and headed toward the washroom. Not a moment later, he emerged with his hair askew and his face red with embarrassment and fury.
"You could have bloody well told me my cock was flouncing about!"
"What would be the fun in that?" Astoria batted her long eyelashes with a slow smile, ignoring his petulance.
Harry sat down hard in the high backed chair nearest the door to their bedchamber and plugged his ears. The last thing he ever wished to experience was the kaleidoscope of sounds emanating from every bedchamber in the wing. Between Pansy's squeaks, Daphne's cries, Hermione's moans, Millie's grunts and Hannah's breathy little whimpers, Harry was ready to combust.
Just when it seemed the cacophony of lovemaking had finally come to an end, the laughter began. Harry unplugged his ears, sure he was mistaken until it grew louder. He frowned heavily and ground his teeth together until his jaw ached.
"YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG! YOU'RE ALL BLOODY DOING IT WRONG!"
"It seems Potter is a bit disgruntled." Draco snickered into Hermione's hair, properly sated for the moment.
"Yes, well he Stupefied his wife, which definitely does not earn him a shag."
"You'd still shag me if I Stupefied you." Draco gently stroked the prominent mound of his wife's abdomen, pleased to feel their child thump against his palm.
"Definitely not." Hermione huffed with an indignation of which only she was capable and rolled away from him.
"Absolutely you would. You see, I'd have to make it up to you. I'd be torn apart from having to cast such a spell on my beloved wife. I'd be forced to pay homage to her body until the wee small hours of the morning. I'd have to make sure to earn her forgiveness with sweat soaked bodies and sweet words until she begged for release." Hermione smirked, ignoring the heat between her thighs.
"Yes, well Harry hasn't figured that bit out himself."
"He never did have that lunch with Blaise…" Draco pulled a light coverlet over their nude bodies to ward off the chill.
"Poor Stori…"
"Yes well, Potter always has been a bit stubborn, love."
"It seems some things never change." Hermione sighed and snuggled into Draco's side, relieved he had returned unscathed. Draco kissed her brow, his eyes speaking the volumes of words to never pass his lips and held her tight.
"And sometimes they do love…sometimes they do."