"Winny is sorry, master Draco, very, very sorry is she!"
Draco tilted down his chin to gaze at the house-elf, who cowered behind her tea towel, bowing her huge head so low that the points of her large ears swept against the marble floor.
"That's fine, Winny, I understand," he drawled softly. "I'm not Father, you know. These days, even Father isn't himself." He reached down to pat the shoulder of the house-elf. "Now go and do your chores. You're the only house-elf left in this house and we need you."
"Masters need Winny, and she'll do her best!" Winny puffed up her thin chest with pride and popped out of the parlor.
"What was that all about, Draco?" Narcissa gazed at her son, gasping slightly as she paused next to the French windows, returning from a stroll through her precious gardens. She sauntered towards the middle of the parlor, arching her eyebrow at Draco.
"I told Winny to give a letter to… someone." Draco paused for a moment. "But she was unable to deliver it; it seems the wards placed by the Ministry impede her magic."
Narcissa nodded curtly, the sunshine pouring from the windows limning her blond hair in a soft halo while she shook her head. "I was afraid of that. Those wards constrict magic around the house; that's why I had to send most of the elves away when they started getting sick. Luckily, Andromeda accepted the burden and they're at her home."
She craned her neck toward the dashes of color of her gardenias, lilies and roses among the green lawn in the garden, savoring the sight. Merlin knew the flowers would decay swiftly if she lacked the help of the house-elves.
"They will aid her in taking care of Teddy, given that your Harry is otherwise occupied." She turned to gaze keenly at her son, her hands nervously tugging on the ruffles adorning the sleeves of her robes.
Draco's cheeks blushed a fierce red as he stuttered, "My Har... Harry? What do you mean, Mother?"
"Those owls from nowhere that kept coming to the house with the Dark Lord's minions all around required protection, son." The corners of her lips lifted up in a weary smile. "When I cast an illusion charm on them, I couldn't help but learn who had sent the owls." She raised her hand to forestall Draco's protests. "It makes no difference, I assure you. I would have learned the truth anyway when I asked Harry about your welfare in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, the Dark Lord watching our every move."
Narcissa paused to gather her breath. "His Gryffindor honesty shone through Harry's features, and I could see his love for you even at that dark moment."
"So Harry… loves me?" Draco said tentatively.
"You can trust a mother's instincts; or better yet, ask him yourself when you see him." Narcissa shook her head minutely at the obvious cluelessness of her son. She had seen it coming long ago, when Draco endlessly complained about Harry during every Summer break, and Harry Potter reacted so strongly to Draco's taunts.
She stepped towards her son, raising her arm to touch his shoulder. "I'm not displeased by this; on the contrary, I only want to see you happy, son."
"What about Father?"
"Leave Lucius to me," Narcissa said softly, belying the threatening smirk that crept up her face.
Draco sighed deeply. "It may not matter in the end anyway. I doubt even Harry can pass through those wards, I notice their shimmering in the distance when I take a walk in the garden."
"You have to keep the flame of hope alive in your heart, Draco. Harry Potter is extraordinarily resourceful, trust me." Narcissa nodded at her son before making her way to the French windows, her slim hand resting on the ornate golden doorknob. "I've seen him survive Avada Kedavra, cast with all the hate at the command of the loathsome wizard who tortured us."
Narcissa sighed at the soft footsteps of her son leaving the parlor, frowning when Draco coughed discreetly into his hand before closing the door.
She crossed her arms, her shoes tapping nervously upon the marble floor. Narcissa trusted she would be able to follow her own advice and remain hopeful, for the truth was that she had discovered a horrendous fact.
The wards not only affected the magic of the house-elves, but also the health of her family. She could see it in Lucius and Draco, even herself. That little stroll in the garden had greatly taxed her strength. And all the owls she had sent to the Ministry reporting this ugly development remained unanswered.
She had to place her hope in the love she had seen briefly in the eyes of Harry Potter, the day when the fate of the Wizarding world rested on the shoulders of a brave young man.
oOoOo
Bill Weasley strode out of the chimney, his footsteps faltering for an instant before he recovered his poise. The afternoon sunshine glinted off his earring and struck copper sparks off his bright red hair, tied in a neat ponytail that reached to his shoulder.
He was immediately assaulted by a barrage of questions from his brother and his friends.
"Thank Merlin you're here, Bill. What took you so long?" said Ron.
"Will you help us break the wards?" Harry said breathlessly.
"We have to make our way to the Manor; I trust you know the way?" Hermione said, standing next to Ron.
"The flimminywickets are known to nibble on malicious wards. It's a pity I haven't seen any around, have you?" Luna said in hushed whisper.
"Oi, you lot had better pipe down!" Bill said, raising his arms. He leaned his tall frame on the wall as he gazed at them. "First off, Ron told me all about those wards, and I have some ideas about how to break them. Actually I'm late because I was speaking to Tinaxle, my goblin boss. He seemed keen on helping me for some strange reason…"
"The Malfoy vaults!" snorted Hermione. "Bet the goblins want those vaults to remain under the control of the Malfoys and not the Ministry."
"That may well be so," Bill said. "Anyway, the goblin told me something strange. He hinted that the wards appear to be indestructible just like Voldemort, but they could be vanquished in the same way."
Harry shivered, feeling the intense scrutiny of his friends. Then he squared his shoulders and fished out his wand, the hawthorn wood pliant around his fingers. "There's only one way to find out, right? Let's go to the Manor and save Draco!"
"We'll have to Apparate just outside the gates," Hermione said. "Better make it half a mile to be safe. You all know the place?"
Everyone nodded, including Bill. He knew the layout of the Manor, having studied the map in his office just before Tinaxle showed up.
The wizards and witches duly Apparated, making their way to Malfoy Manor.
oOoOo
Bill muttered a spell in Gaelic, deftly swishing his wand at the glimmering wall that shielded the Manor grounds from their eyes. A strong red beam shot straight towards the wards. They all held their breath as the red grew, splashing against the magical barrier before being slowly reabsorbed.
"Bloody hell!" Bill cursed, hunching down his shoulders. "That old incantation is supposed to be irresistible! It is even hinted at in the ancient sagas."
"What will we do?" Ron narrowed his eyes at the wards. "It's the fifth incantation you've tried, and those bloody wards appear to be getting stronger and fatter."
"What if Harry casts the spell?" Luna said with a serious mien. "Remember what the goblin said? That the wards could be vanquished just like Voldemort? Perhaps the final touch we need is Harry's magic."
Bill nodded at that and walked up to Harry, coaching him in the precise way to utter the incantation, holding his wrist to show him the correct motions.
Meanwhile, Hermione gazed around at the grounds and remembered vividly the anguish and pain of her stay in the Manor. She wondered if she would be able to visit the place if Harry decided to settle down with Draco. Glancing at her best friend's stern features while he listened to Bill, Hermione recalled the travails they had endured through the years and the answer to her doubts became clear; of course she would visit the Manor if Harry was there.
Places were not as important as the ties of friendship and love that endured.
Harry stood in front of the Manor grounds, feet firmly on the earth as he glanced at the shimmering wards. Swishing his wand just like Bill taught him, he said the incantation in a strong voice. A green beam shot out of the hawthorn wand which pulsed briefly between his fingertips; having reached the wards, it spread and dappled them with emerald spots between the angry reds. Harry held his breath, his heart hammering a harsh rhythm on his chest as his magic and the wards clashed for endless seconds. He lowered his chin, sighing despondently when he saw the green being reabsorbed into the wards.
He had failed, and Draco remained trapped inside, vulnerable to the attacks of the wizards that preyed on former Death Eaters.
"If only we had something stronger, mate!" Ron said, his features twisted in anguish at the obvious sadness of his friend. "You are the most powerful wizard in the world but when you vanquished the noseless git, you were the true master of the Elder wand and Voldemort's spell backfired!"
"Bloody hell!" Harry yanked on his hair, despair stamped on his features. "We need the Elder wand! I'll have to go back to Dumbledore's tomb and get it back."
"Perhaps not," Luna said, her voice resonating oddly in the lonely grounds a hundred yards away from the ominous wrought iron gate that jealously guarded the entrance to Malfoy Manor. "My dad knows the legend of the Deathly Hallows, and he's mentioned they're immanent."
"What?" Harry said, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"The Elder wand will always dwell in this world, just like Death does," Luna said in a whisper.
"But I placed it in Dumbledore's tomb!" Harry said with a big lump on his throat. "When I die, the wand's power will be broken."
"Do you honestly believe you can get rid of something that Death itself has wrought?" Luna sighed. "The wand of Destiny cannot be destroyed because it partakes of the qualities of Death, its creator."
She stepped towards Harry and gently gripped his elbow, raising it slowly so the smooth polish of the hawthorn wand glimmered in the afternoon sun. She thrust her chin at it and said in an awed whisper, "This is the new wand of Destiny."
"Are you barmy, Luna?" Ron said harshly. "Remember Ollivander's words? The Elder wand chose Harry as its master after he defeated Draco, and it remains where Harry put it, in the tomb!"
"Ron, I believe Luna is right," Hermione said slowly. She disregarded the astonished stares of her friends and went on. "I no longer wholly believe in what Ollivander told us. He was an old man and set in his ways. I choose to believe what Dumbledore showed us through the example of his life. It is our choices that define us."
"That can't be..." Ron started to say, but a glance at Hermione's raised hand caused him to stop.
"A piece of wood may have affinities, but remains an inanimate object with no free will, no matter how magical it is," Hermione said calmly, walking towards Harry. She touched his robes and splayed her fingers on his chest. "The magic that lies in your heart and your choices made you the master of the Elder wand. What it means is that whatever wand you choose as your own is the wand of Destiny."
"You can't escape your fate as the master of the Elder wand just like you cannot escape Death," Luna said sagely.
Harry shot an imploring look at Bill. "What do you think?"
Bill shrugged. "Luna and Hermione raise interesting points. I'm not versed in the Deathly Hallows like you lot; but I have to say I've met stranger things and magic in the course of my work."
Harry craned his neck to look at his best friend. "And you, Ron?"
"You know me, mate," Ron shrugged nonchalantly. "Hermione's reasoning eludes me, but she's correct most of the times."
Harry raised his wand, glancing around at his friends. "But I just used this wand on the wards and it did nothing!"
"Because you did not believe in your heart you were holding the wand of Destiny," Hermione pointed out. "It is your feelings, your beliefs and magic that power the spell."
"So if I use this wand, fully convinced I'm using the wand of Destiny and launch an incantation at the wards with all my heart, they'll break?" Harry said, wiping the sweat off his brow with the palm of his hand.
"I'm convinced they'll break. I've seen you face insurmountable odds and win," Hermione said, her belief in her friend obvious in the proud smile she shot at Harry.
Luna nodded her assent, joined a few seconds later by Bill and Ron.
"Fine, but what incantation will I use?" Harry said.
"Not the one in Gaelic," Hermione said. "I can't make up a spell for you in a moment, Harry. I do advise you, though, to concentrate on what your heart tells you."
Harry took a deep breath, slowly turning his back to face the wards. In those long seconds, so many feelings and memories rushed through his mind that it was a maelstrom whose vortex centered on one person: Draco Malfoy.
Brief glimpses of blond hair as Harry rushed after Draco and the Snitch. Reaching down his hand to lift up Draco and save him from the hellish flames of the Fiendfyre because he could not bear the thought of Draco dying. Harry eyeing him wearily and noticing the anguish stamped on Draco's features as he denied knowing him, Snatchers and Death Eaters surrounding them on all sides. Draco distracting Goyle so they could make their escape in the Room of Hidden Things.
His mind finally settled on the memory of facing Draco in their first duel which was presided by Snape and Lockhart. He recalled his feelings at seeing Draco's smirk while he taunted him. The truth was, Harry had been confused and a bit afraid, but those feelings were overwhelmed, as always, by the strong emotions Draco pulled out of him with that smirk.
Harry planted his boots firmly on the ground and squared his shoulders, glaring at the wards that dared keep him from Draco as he raised the hand that wielded the wand of Destiny.
He pictured Draco's lips twisted in his trademark smirk as he drawled, 'Scared, Potter?'
"You wish!" Harry said softly, his heart settling on the spell he would use. It was the one he had employed against Draco so many times – and it was the same spell he used to destroy Voldemort.
Harry brandished the hawthorn wand with studied ease as he said in a strong voice, "Expelliarmus!"
tbc