Here's the next installment for FLN. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you may recognize.
Chapter 17: Preparing For The Worst
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The kitchen looked like a bomb had gone off, there were people everywhere, some yelling other whispering into the ears of those next to them, and papers galore, everything from field maps to battle strategies scattered across the table, seats, and even the floor. Molly Weasley ran around trying to keep as much order as possible, constantly looking up at her clock to see where her boys were. Over time she'd added another clock, one for her adopted children as she called them, Pansy, Hermione, Harry, Draco, Twilight, and Blaise were all on it, she would see about this Charis before adding her, but already the girl was a big help as she fluttered around the kitchen serving coffee and tea, with little snacks balanced on tray.
This was the sight that Pansy Parkinson was taking in as she sat next to Andromeda Black at the table listening to Arthur argue with Mad Eye Moody. She could never be the mother and wife like those two could be, she couldn't even be considered a good fighter like Fluer or Tonks were. Sitting there she felt utterly useless, the one time they'd allowed her on a mission, she had been a seductress, and a bad one at that, Ron had to come charging in to save the day for her.
Searching the people around her, she caught sight of Hermione in the corner, her face absolutely pallid. There was a girl that could take charge in any situation, but now it was heartbreaking to see her. Standing she softly excused herself from Andromeda and made her way over to the once bright genius of the golden trio. "ARe you feeling alright, Hermione?"
The girl looked right up at her, honey golden eyes staring straight into Pansy's own dark eyes, "Draco, he hasn't come home... I know it's my fault, somehow, and I can feel it, just feel it that somethings wrong. He needs to be here, I can't remember any of these faces beyond what Dumbledore showed me in the book he gave me, but I don't know what's going on, I have a gist of things but not the whole big picture. I'm not any help here, I've been told to wait for Severus Snape. The potions master, I'm too help him find a cure for me, it's just I need Draco here, I just need to see he's alright." Pansy sat next to her wrapping an arm about her shoulders, "I see the pain I put him through just being around him, and I don't care if he won't speak to me or touch me, I just need to see him."
"I understand, truly," Her mind was drifting off to Ronald, her idiot fool who was so good at strategies but usually ran in headlong with a half-assed idea of what he should do.
Hermione rested her head on her shoulder, looking down at the Griffyndor she felt her heart sink at all the knowledge that was locked away somewhere. Who ever had devised this potion knew what they were doing, they'd locked away everything that the Order needed in one person. "Pansy, do tell me, does Draco, perhaps he," Pansy waited for her to come up with the right words, "Does Draco go to someone else?"
The blush that spread over the golden skinned cheeks was enough to show Pansy what she meant, "Draco hasn't entertained the thought of any but you since he accepted that you were his mate and began his mission of making you fall in love with him as mush as he was with you. Draco could charm any girl he wanted except you, you were quite the challenge for him, you two argued more than any couple I have ever seen when he first began trying to woo you. It goes to say you had good reason to be that way with him, and the bonehead couldn't figure out how to talk to you with out ending up fighting with you. You two finally agreed to even try dating during a duel here, one of the first times Draco, Blaise, and I attended an Order meeting. Took Harry and Ron holding you back and Blaise, Lupin, Bill, and Charlie holding Draco back, Dumbledore forced you both to spit out what you really felt about each other with Veritrueserum. Should have seen the look on you face when you admitted to being attracted to the Slytherin Sex God, you actually called him that."
Another blush spread across Hermione's cheeks, Pansy sighed, "About the same time that Ronald told me he didn't hate me, that's how he told me he liked me."
The front door suddenly banged open and loud voices could be heard from the entry hall, heavy thuds of feet and all Pansy could do was stand as a red head came around the corner, then she fell to the ground as she saw him. Crumpling to the floor, her eyes full of tears, "Oh, oh, Ronald..." He was supported between his two brothers, but he kept shaking his head when Charis and his mother mother approached him.
"No, no, go to Harry, get to Harry..." His eyes lifted and he looked her right in the eye, "Pans..."
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Hermione Jane Malfoy looked straight ahead as Pansy crumpled to the floor at her feet, she watched as Ron shrugged off his brothers to stumble down by her side. Pansy broke down the second he drew her against him. She just watched as Bill was tackled almost by Fluer, as Charis rushed into the next room where Harry was, as Ginny fell against Dean. The twins both stood staring at their brother and then looked up at her, "'Mione..." she just shook her ehad, no tears could come, but her mind could only wonder. "There's someone in the next room for you." She expected Severus Snape to be the one they were talking about, so she gathered up the majority of her research up in her arms, the rest was still in the study with the magical book of her life.
Dodging people and relieved couples she looked quickly into the family room to see Harry sprawled out on a couch with Charis at his side. They were fighting, she heard snippets of the conversation but apparently he didn't want Charis to take on and heal his injuries and she was going to whether he liked it or not. The sweet natured Irish beauty was going to have her way that was for sure, as her brogue grew deeper and her eyes flashing like lightning.
Turning to the other side she saw the formal drawing or dining room, it was last person she expected to see waiting for her. Dropping the books she held in her arms, she saw him leaning up against the wall, staring out the window. When the books hit the wooden floor with a loud thump his head jerked up to look at her, a small twitch of that same pained smile and then his face was stone once more. "D-Draco... you've come home." His eyes were still sad, but he walked forward and drew her into his protective embrace, settling his head down against hers, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"I was always going to return, my little kitten, I always come back to you." he whispered into her hair, he smelled earthily of sandalwood and perhaps a spice of cologne.
Pulling back from him, she bent to pick up her books, he always sounded choked and sad when he was like this, "I've been doing some research while you were gone, and i talk to Professor Dumbledore, Professor Severus Snape shall be here soon for me to speak to as well. Draco, I'm going to find a cure, don't worry yourself over it, I leave this war to you, I'm not much help anymore, I don't even remember learning any spells. Still I will do what I can, I refuse to be completely useless, I'm still smart so I will do any research possible, no one is better than me when it comes to find the right answers." She tried to smile up at him, but his eyes looked hazed over, almost as if he wasn't staring through her and not at her. "You're not seeing me at all, are you?"
"I see you, but just now, you sounded so much like yourself, it just gets hard, love, I am adjusting, it-it just takes time." The smile was almost real that time, she could see he was really trying, but she'd died to him, he had thought he'd lost her. He needed time to grieve her death, but she wanted him to see she was still here, she was alive, perhaps she didn't know anything about their lives but she was trying. Didn't that count for something?
Taking her face in his hands, he pressed his lips gently to her forehead, "Draco." They both turned then to see a dark man standing in the doorway, "Mrs. Malfoy, Hermione, I am at your service, the potions master, Half-Blood Prince himself, Severus Snape." His smile was eery to her, creepy almost, but she could tell he was trying to be genuine, suddenly something beat inside of her like a pulse, something drawing on her strength. They heard Charis cry out and Hermione dropped her books again, she felt somethig cool brushing across her skin and a sudden flash of light around her, a slight pain in her back. Her eyes opened wide as she saw only mist around her, then there was Harry standing, looking confused.
"I'm not ready for this, 'Mione..." he told her reaching out for her hand.
She reached out and grabbed it, "No, no you're not, not at all. It isn't your time Harry Potter. Let's go back, I say the Ether release you. What harms you shall be given to me, this is my gift, I am of the Ether." she whispered, she had no idea where the words came from but they were there almost tangible in front of them.
Then she felt something rush through them, she was looking up at the dark wooden ceiling, staring straight up into concerned soft grey eyes. Sitting up slowly, with Draco's hand at her back, she held her head, "Shh, it's ok... Love, are you tired? Do you need anything?" Draco asked her softly and she shook her head, then began to push up trying to stand but he scooped her up in his arms instead.
"What just happened?" Now he eyes caught Harry's, he was dazed but was staring adoringly into Charis's tearful eyes.
Clearing his throat, Snape stepped into her line of view, "You, Mrs. Malfoy, just used your gift to save Harry's life. It seemed something on his possession had been cursed, you kept him from going over into the Ether. Your gift, wasn't strong, actually it was dormant, the first time you were mortal, but perhaps when you became immortal and it gained its strength, it is still active even though you are mortal once again." He seemed to be contemplating this, "We were sure though, that your immortality was what gave you effective use of the gift, you being Life, it kept you from being drawn to the Ether as well."
Shaking her head, "I'll research it later, Snape, we have much to do. If you would grab those books from the ground, and Draco, if you're not going to let me walk carry me to the study. Snape if you would please follow, I can't be sitting around all night." They all stared at her again with that odd look, "Please do stop looking at me like that, I am your Hermione, I am bound to act like myself eventually." Draco kissed her then and she felt like she was in heaven.
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Sitting up in the couch, Harry shrugged off Charis, "Really, Charis, I'm fine. I feel like I could run a mile right now." She gave up but he knew she was still awhirl with worry for him, "I have enough on plate, not time to worry about my health, and don't go through the almost died bit again, I didn't know the mask was cursed thought it could have been useful if we wanted to stage a bit of chaos in their ranks is all." Her frown showed in her whole face, "Come along, I'm sure Molly is a hectic mess, always is when the whole Order is about and you would be a gracious help to , no need to fuss over me. I need to be helping decided what we'll be doing later tonight."
The grandfather clock rung out that it was six in the morning, no time for sleep they had only enough time in the day to even be half as organized as the Death Eaters probably were for tonight. Too many lives were in danger for him to even consider his own health. Standing he bumped the coffee table a bit, but soon found his balance as he walked back to the kitchen. Charis clung to his arm but as soon as they walked into the chaotic center of activity, she hurried off to get the tea kettle that was whistling. He noticed Ron was being iced almost everywhere on his body, and looked none to happy about it as Pansy set at his side keeping stasis charms on the bags so they wouldn't melt, doing the twenty on and off ritual. Ro hated being babied when he was hurt, but would suck it up for Pansy, who took joy in babying him.
Taking a seat next to Arthur and Ron, he saw the schematics for the arena where the muggle event was being held, it was going to be a right mess to have any type of battle there, too many ways for muggles to get clogged up and in the way, not enough exits.
"Well, what if we got enough of those portkeys, had them all programmed to take the muggles somewhere safe, not the orphanage but somewhere muggle, threw it at them as we came in?" Ron's idea would be good if it would work, but they knew it wouldn't too many issues, such as the sort of activation that would need, the time they didn't have to come up with enough portkeys or make them, and how did you explain them all just popping up somewhere else. It was too noticeable, too time consuming, and just too complicated for the moment.
Harry and Arthur were both shaking their heads, "We need something more simple, something muggles can do on their own that won't seem suspicious or just too magical to explain away."
"What about we sneak in before the event, and charm the doors to open wider when a state of panic and emergency is raised?" That was Draco Malfoy, he was standing in the entry way of the kitchen looking at them. "It's not a simple charm but it could work, it would be sort of the opposite of some of the Manor's emergency wards. All it would take is one wand to charm them and set that wand to lift the alarm for the charm to activate by you know it specifically apparating into the arena or something."
Arthur nodded, "That would work, Draco, why don't you take Percy and get to work on those, he's good with charms and you seem to know what you're talking about.:" When the blonde hesitated for a second looking up towards the second floor, Arthur smiled gently, "We'll take care of your girl, besides it shouldn't take you more than a couple hours to get it all done."
Harry turned to the estimated amount of muggles attending and thought how gruesome it could turn out if they didn't get them out in time, it would be a genocide. Exactly what Voldemort would want.
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The castle walls were icy, but he felt like he was on fire. Pressing a hand against the wall for balance he leaned his whole body against it. Staring into the darkness around him he didn't need light to help guide his way, the burning in his shoulder told him he was headed in the right direction. Pushing himself back onto his feet he kept heading down the hallway, he'd been called away so suddenly it had almost gotten one of his close friends killed. Hadn't realized he was going to stumble over Harry's body, with two tailing him and then Draco's appearance right as he was dragged away.
Gasping as the pain came sharp again, he stumbled a bit, his vision tipping the scale into darkness then back. He wanted to take a knife and cut the damn mark from his body.
Slipping on the stones he barely caught himself before his face got to say a personal hello to the cobble stones. "Damn you to bloody Hell, Voldemort!" He yelled and heard dark chuckling behind him. Rolling over he pushed himself up on one elbow holding his wand out with the other, a white-blonde headed man came into view strutting like he owned the world. The world would truly go to hell if that man ruled it, if you added a dose of crazy then he'd be identical to the Dark Lord. "Get the fuck back Lucius, I so don't want to deal with you." He growled glaring at his best friend's evil absentee father.
"Poor, poor, Blaise always around to see others suffer, but with dreams of being a hero. You can never be a hero, we know who she is now, you can't protect all of them. Who would you sacrifice for your sister's life?" The chuckle was if anything darker as the man bent to brush the tip of his finger across the wand, Blaise jerked back almost forcing himself to face plant again. "He's certainly not making it easy on you this time, heard you ran into the boy wonder and his group of misfits, didn't take care of them did you?"
Struggling to get on his knees, Blaise spat in Lucius's face, "Shut the bloody fuck up, I don't talk to mother fucking bastards like you."
"What language, Blaise. Your little mate would be shocked." He smirked then pushed him back onto the ground with a hard smack, "I'll see you soon, I'll be the one on the Dark Lord's right side."
It was Blaise's turn to laugh, "He doesn't trust you enough to let you far from his hand where he could crush you like a bug, Lucius. I'm the one he wants, the one he trusts, the one he begs attention from." He paused then as Lucius sent him a murderous look, "Me and oh, your son." Lucius lunged at him but Blaise rolled kicking out a leg to plant his foot right in the elder Malfoy's gut. Pushing himself up, bracing against the wall, "It will be me seeing you then."
"You can't save them all , Blaise, remember that! I did! I sacrificed my Narcissa for it, for my son!" he roared it at Blaise who narrowed his eyes.
Scoffing he kept at his crawling pace down the hall, "No, you sacrificed them both for yourself, you aren't that selfless, Lucius, you never could be."
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Ron Weasley was staring at everything laying before him on the kitchen table, Draco and Percy had returned reporting the successful job of charming the exits. In a panic none of the muggles would notice the simple magic enlarging the exits as long as they could get out with their lives. Strong sense of preservation they had, it was something he was counting on, didn't need any of them trying to play hero that was for sure.
Harry was going to be the hero in the end, Hermione had always been the brains, and he was the one who ended up figuring out how to get out of sticky situations and strategies for fighting. Now with Pansy to offer a cover of sorts at times with her connections, Blaise had connections too and could be counted on for fighting, Draco was good at always knowing exactly what neeeded to be done, a leader, and a fierce fighter. Luna, she'd been the healer, and was good for just knowing things, a comfort to have around. Charis was like that now, she was an exceptional healer, and could comfort a whole room with just her presence. Draco explained her odd abilities, it was all in her gift as an empath, it hurt her by using it, and he could see that pained Harry. Twi could always be counted on in a fight because she could guess a move before an opponent even knew he was going to make it, she was good with last second changes to plans. They all had their place, just like the rest of the Order rounded out everything they could ever need.
Looking up at his father who looked harried as he rubbed his hand across his quickly balding head. All of the Weasley clan was in this conflict, deep in the conflict, it worried both his parents unmercifully. Who wanted to lose a child before they died? It just wasn't supposed to happen, ever. Looking down at the end of the table Dean was holding his sister who was explaining to Tonks the situation and their part in everything. Planning for the worst, they always planned for the worst.
Ron had already estimated a death toll, he wasn't going to sugar coat their chances. They had no idea what the Death Eaters would be coming at them with so Ron had planned for everything. Staring at the plans before him, he a back-up plan for each of his back-up plans, there were codes listed out on the sides and he'd had the twins working devices all day that would easily allow them all to communicate during the battle.
Harry had gone to check on Snape and Hermione who had disappeared up into the study, Draco was talking to Dumbledore over in the corner with Moody. No one was ready, but it seemed like they had to be there really wasn't any choice.
Pansy was suddenly at his side again, "Ronald, you haven't barely ate or drank anything all day, you haven't spoken to anyone in almost an hour." She placed a warm hand against his cheek, he held back a wince as she brushed a cut, he had still refused to be healed. He was going to take it like a man, even if Pansy had loaded him down with enough ice packs to keep Antarctica cold for the rest of eternity. Just remembering her as he walked in back from his fight with Dolohov, he felt his stomach drop, she had looked like she was seeing a ghost, so he'd looked a bit rough, but not dead, had he?
"I'm fine, Pan. Just thinking, there's a lot that has to go just right tonight. The margin of error is just too big, it worries me." he explained as he pointed to all the estimations on the paper directly in front of his face.
Looking over them, he really couldn't see how they were going to manage to pull it off without a hitch. "There will always be mistakes, it's never going to be easy in a war. Ron sometimes, you just have to roll with the punches, take your losses and go. You can't plan for everything, war isn't easy, no one comes out of it unscathed." Tears were in her eyes, he was sure she was remembering him from only hours ago, seeing him dead before her eyes, and knowing she couldn't do anything about it. Leaning over he kissed her forehead, pricking the scab on his lip, he lifted a thumb to wipe a the bit of smear of blood away.
"Ron." He looked up at Remus Lupin, "You need to rest, and be healed, we need you at top shape for tonight. Let Draco take over for a while."
The red head turned to look at his tow-headed best mate and brother, "Drake, you think you can take over from here?" The other man nodded and began heading over from his conversation with the two older men.
"Yea, brother, you look like you could use a couple hits with the beauty stick, the ugly fairy got you good." Draco tried to smile as Ron chuckled softly, leave it to Draco to be the one to try to cheer him up with insults, "I'm serious, my man, you are one ugly SOB. Go get yourself fixed up, it won't hurt Charis and Harry won't let her deal with him so it would make her feel useful besides being a waitress to our lazy asses. Pans take care of him." Ron clasped his hand on Draco's shoulder and they shared a look that only men who had been through what they'd been through together could understand before heading off with his girlfriend to get healed and some good old fashion TLC.
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Draco had just finished up what Ron had started when Moody settled in next to him again, "You two have enough plans to have the Death Eaters heads spinning all night." Draco had to agree they seemed to be prepared for every possible situation, and he'd just got done flooing Charlie, he was sending a couple dragons down pronto. They may not be there by the start of the battle but hopefully they would make an interesting surprise appearance.
"Yea, prepare for the worst is what they always say. Don't know who the hell they are, but I'd be damned if they didn't always turn out to be right about everything." Moody smiled at him and he relaxed his shoulders a bit. If Snape was the father he'd always wanted, Moody was the grandfather he'd never had.
His mind kept wandering to Hermione, every time he checked on her though, she and Snape shooed him away. They were on the edge of a break through Harry had told him when he'd come back down an hour ago. What sort of breakthrough he wasn't sure but he hoped it was a good one. There wasn't really much he could do for them anyways, besides offering a third pair of hands adept at making potions. Moody sensed his nerves, "Those two will find her a cure soon enough, our girl may not remember us or or her real life, but she's still our girl, nothings ever stopped her before."
He sure as hell hoped Moody was right, Dumbledore had explained that his book of Hermione's life hadn't seemed to help much certain names sometimes would spark something for her but in her fake memories the potion provided for her. It had been a good idea but failed in execution.
Rubbing a hand across his eyes, he remembered his Aunt Bella's last words to him before she'd disappeared, bloody bitch was hard to kill now that she was immortal too. She'd told him he wouldn't find the answer here or anywhere else they'd think obvious to look. It kept bothering him, where wouldn't they think to look. Snape had brought resources from Hogwarts and Hermione had dug through books here. It had to be an old potion, nothing new that he had heard of was like this, produced these results, he was pretty well up on dark potions as of late anyways always trying to keep up on what could be used against them in the war. Still, they'd used something old, ancient most likely.
"We're not looking in the right places, Mad Eye, Bellatrix said it was something we'd never find, or well documented in anything we could anyways." Draco had been wracking his brain any free time he got for possibilities but everything he came up with was too easy and she'd made it evident it was going to be easy to find.
Moody seemed to be mulling over it too, "Have you tried contacting Blaise or Irial about this?"
Draco felt like smacking himself in the held with something really hard, maybe the table will do as he set his head against it with a hard thump.
"I'll get a hold of Irial, he's not too hard to get in touch with, seeing as since he pledge fealty to me we have a link." He sighed pressing a sense of urgency against the link that was fully connected with him, he brushed warmth across his and Hermione's barely there bond. Irial sent back somethign that felt like annoyance, "Oh bloody hell, he better not be shagging Luna." There was about a two minute quiet then the front door slammed open, the rooms darkened a bit, Draco stood exerting his own aura and the rooms brighten almost unbearably, with him being the source, so the man surrounded in shadows stood out next to him. Irial look irritated, "Aw, Iri, I'm so glad you're so cheerful and happy to see me!"
"Better be a good reason I'm here right now." He growled out but kissed Draco's cheek anyways, "Young ones just never understand things." He dramatically found himself a seat, "Now, the High King better start talking and quickly." Draco ignored that Irial was only wearing pants, dark black leather pants, his whole torso was exposed, showing all the dark tattoos, the ones across his face were frightening but the ones across his body seemed like warnings.
Draco rolled his eyes as he took out his black bladed dagger with the ancient language covering it, the same that had sliced open Irial's skin and had completed the fealty ritual by feeding him his own blood as an oath and bond. "I returned to Malfoy Manor last night, where I spoke to my dearest immortal aunty Bella." Irial narrowed his eyes then, "Calm, Iri, she just tried to kill me once, anyways she told me I'd never find the cure for Hermione documented anywhere I would think to look. I was hoping you might be able to help, considering your age and all, besides all your connections, you did know fucking Merlin!"
"Was that a jab at my age, young one? If only you had the wisdom of my years." Irial patted Draco's head then, "I could look into to it for you, it is unfortunate and saddens my heart what has happened to the High Queen. She has taken great care of those I hold dear to me." Standing the man looked heavy and burdened, much more so than when he had entered, "Perhaps, you could do me a favor, do try not to get yourself killed. I'm not sure how much I will be able to help you tomorrow night, but I do promise Voldemort will be finding no help fro me or my kind if that soothes your mind." Draco nodded to him, and felt Irial brush his lips once more across his cheek, "Luna wishes you all well, I shall send the same regards back to her and Blaise." Then like a shadow the man disappeared, much more quietly than he had come.
A small cough from the entry way caught Draco's attention, "Mind explaining why a weird, creepy man was bestowing you kisses?" It was Hermione, eyebrow cocked, arms akimbo.
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Amata Mercy R&R?