A/N- As always, your support humbles me. I'm sure you're tired of hearing me say thank you, but I can't help it. We're halfway through this fic, finally, and I'm well on my way to 700 reviews. Thank you. As I said, there are 49 planned chapters. Now whether it stays that way, I'm not sure. My muse is famous for coming out to play and gracing us with extra chapters. Therefore, happy halfway mark! Enough for now, this chapter is just begging to be written!
Disclaimer: I have begged and begged for J.K.R. to possess my soul so I can write more Harry Potter books, but no such luck. Therefore, I make due with fanfiction and story lines that have been done hundreds of times before.
Chapter 26
December 31, 1995
Severus would never admit it to anyone, but he was nervous. He had spent the whole day watching his daughter fuss over her two mates, scared to death that something terrible was going to happen to them that evening when they fetched the horcrux. While Severus wished he could say that her fears were unfounded, he knew they weren't. Albus would watch over them as best he could if it didn't interfere with his own personal goals. Who knew exactly what those were.
Hermione had begged him to try to heal her again, she said that she needed to go with Dumbledore and "her boys", but Severus had refused. It had broken her heart and made him feel terrible, but there was nothing for it. He wouldn't be able to heal her any more than he had already. While she had been upset and hadn't spoken to him for several hours, in the end she had understood that there were limits to magic and what he could do with them.
The Slytherin had commiserated with her, telling her that he didn't like the situation any better than she did. He knew that the whole situation made her nervous, so he had promised to stay with her until they returned, even facing his father's wrath if he was summoned. Hermione had begged him not to go that far, but he felt that he needed to since he wasn't able to heal her enough for her to go herself.
His daughter's loyalty to her friends still astounded him. It was true that Harry and Draco were more than friends, but she had willing cast herself in the path of an unknown curse from a famous Death eater to save Draco. While he was grateful for the gesture, he had wished that Draco had just taken the curse for her. Severus knew for a fact that Draco felt the same way, especially when he saw how Hermione had reacted to seeing the scar on her chest.
The scar was horrid, it didn't take a genius to know that. It stretched over the length of her torso and she was extremely self-conscious about it. Severus and Sirius were the only adults in the house that had seen it, Remus leaving any time that it had needed to be dressed. Severus would admit to wondering if the animagus had a bit of sick streak in him, but the truth had come out while his daughter was unconscious that the dog had only stayed during the most embarrassing part of the exams because Severus had demanded that he not leave them alone at any point in time until he returned.
It had been two days since his father had called him to his side, demanding an update on his granddaughter.
*Flashback*
The mark on his arm burned, no differently than any other time his master had called for him. Severus sighed, brushed the hair off his slumbering daughter's forehead, and began to back out of the room. Harry and Draco cast curious glances his way.
"The Dark Lord is calling. I'm sure he wants an update on his granddaughter. I will return." Both boys nodded sagely as they turned their attention back to his daughter. While he sometimes thought that neither of the boys deserved his daughter, he would be the first to admit that they both treated her well.
He made his way to the Entrance Hall even though he didn't need to be there to apparate via his Dark Mark. He pressed his wand to the mark and felt the familiar magic pull him into a tube of suction. When he felt the magic subside, he was standing before his father in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor. He made a concerted effort to not drop to his knees as was his habit.
"Father, you called for me?" He bowed his head in deference and his father returned the nod, even if it was infinitesimally.
"Yes, I would like an update on young Isabella." Severus gave another nod as he relaxed visibly. His father chuckled next to him.
"Were you worried that I was going to torture you? Beg for my granddaughter, the most powerful witch since the founders, to find fault in my actions and come after me?" While his words seemed amiable, there was a tiny bit of bite in his tone.
"No, I was afraid that you would send me on a mission while she has only just woken up." His father seemed to relax at his words, which Severus found curious.
"Tell me about Isabella Rose." Severus nodded, much happier with the situation that he had been.
"She woke up yesterday. She's in a lot of pain, but it wasn't anything that I didn't see coming. I knew the curse would cause her pain. She has a horrendous scar from the top of her left breast to the top of her right hip. It will show in every outfit that she wears that aren't school robes. She's extremely self-conscious and she doesn't feel as if she's pretty anymore, let alone worthy of Potter and Draco's love." He hated feeling like he was betraying her confidence, but there was nothing else that he could do. He could produce false memories, but the Dark Lord was a master. He only lied when he had no other choice.
"What do they have to say about the scar and their feelings regarding it.?" Severus knew that he was on dangerous territory. Nobody slighted his granddaughter, and if he was found to be a part of it, he would surely die.
"Both boys have assured her that the scar didn't matter to them, that she was just as beautiful as she had been before. She hadn't believed them, she had told them that this was their chance to leave her without any hard feelings since she knew that they deserved someone that was beautiful on the inside as well as the out, both laughed at her. They told her that she was all that they wanted, scarred or not, and I think that while she doesn't believe their words completely, she is beginning to." His father nodded approvingly.
"Nobody will say a word against her scar, I refuse to let her suffer further than she already has. When we win over the rest of the Order of the Phoenix and the public begins to follow us, she will be raised on a pedestal and all the young girls will wish that they had a scar as dashing as hers." Severus knew that if the Dark Lord did indeed win the war, his words would be the truth. He was making sure that no matter what they did, if Voldemort did win, Hermione and her two mates would come out on the other end with him smelling like a rose. While his actions made his slightly sick, he knew that his daughter and her two mates were the most important things to him, not his conscience.
"She would feel much better, my lord. I think she's just trying to find her niche in life and it's more difficult that she anticipated." Voldemort nodded sagely.
"Keep me updated, Severus, let me know if she needs anything. My granddaughter deserves to have the best of everything. I know that Alexandra's inheritance will go to her son, but yours will go to your daughter. How substantial is it, Severus?" Even though he really didn't want to discuss money with the Dark Lord, he knew that it would come down to this eventually.
"I'm not quite as influential as Malfoy, Potter, and Black, this being said, I'm far above most of the other purebloods. There is nothing that my daughter will ever want for." His father grinned at him.
"I'm pleased, Severus. Your daughter deserves the best and you have provided that to her in more than one way." For performing above and beyond your duties when it comes to being a parent, he mentioned for Severus to step forward. Severus didn't' understand how he had performed above and beyond, but he wasn't about to step forward and admit to being lazy.
"You have my blessing to torment both those boys until the day that they marry my granddaughter. I want to know that their intentions are true." Severus felt that this might be a little over the top considering he had already told his father how both boys had handled the scar situation.
"Yes, my Lord." His father smiled at him indulgently, a sight that he really didn't care for, and moved on to business.
"Tell me what you think of Dumbledore since your daughter has become injured saving her mate."
Just like that, the conversation was over.
*End of Flashback*
Voldemort had seemed with pleased with how she had been healed, pleased that she had escaped with nothing wrong with her but scars. He shouldn't have been surprised. Of course, he would expect that everyone would still consider themselves lucky to be with his granddaughter. Severus agreed with his father, but he didn't dare voice the opinion since his daughter felt the complete opposite was true.
Sirius and Remus were in the library with them. Hermione had begged last night to be helped to her room, so they could have a modicum of privacy, but it just hadn't been possible. The pain in her chest was still far too great. Therefore, the boys stayed with her in the library with no complaint, although they seemed extremely put out that they were interrupted constantly by the two Marauders. Severus didn't think that they did it on purpose, they just truly wanted to be in the presence of their young charges, but it was annoying them anyhow.
Severus never thought that he would be the one to say it, but he felt like he had finally found a kindred soul in the two Marauders. They both loved Hermione without boundaries, Sirius at the very least would do whatever it took to avenge Hermione or keep her safe. It was funny what a person could overlook in character if the person loved and protected their child.
The Slytherin no longer looked for things to argue about with the two Gryffindors; now he did his best to keep his young charges in the company of them, so he knew that there would always be somebody looking out for them. The Weasleys and the daft Ravenclaw girl came and saw his three charges often. The trio had told the twins, Weaselette and Lovegoood that the boys would be leaving for several hours that weekend. While their friends didn't appear to be overly worried, he doubted that his charges had told them the exact nature of their outing. He had a sneaking suspicion that only himself and the trio knew that.
The trio were quiet as they waited for Albus. He knew that Hermione was nervous beyond consoling, but there was nothing he could do to lessen it. The three of them were huddled on the bed together while he, Sirius, and Remus pretended like they were reading in the corner. It seemed like several hours, in truth it had only been one, when there was a knock on the library door. Rather than make the teens get up from the bed, Severus stood and opened the door by hand. Albus Dumbledore was behind it, twinkling grin on his face.
"Greetings, Severus. I hope that this evening finds you happy and well." Severus couldn't help but snort.
"I'd be happier if you weren't taking two boys that I've promised to protect with my life with you into the great unknown. I have a feeling that you will all be disgustingly Gryffindor about the situation. I can't even count on Draco anymore since I think my daughter and Potter have corrupted his innate Slytherin tendencies." Albus chuckled at his words. While Severus had been mostly kidding, he did in fact mean that he could see Draco being a brash Gryffindor if he thought that his actions might save Hermione from harm or hurt feelings. To say that the two Gryffindors in their trio had rubbed off on his godson would have been an understatement.
Hermione had already thrown her arms around Harry, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist while her face was buried in his chest. From the outside looking in, it appeared to be much more of a hardship for his daughter to remain at home than it would have been for her to go and hunt pieces of the Dark Lord's soul. He supposed that that observation was the truth, but that didn't mean that he understood it.
Severus watched as his daughter clung to her best friend, whispering who only knew what in his ear, making him promise to keep himself safe and come home as soon as possible. While he hated the fact that he had lost his daughter so early on in their relationship to boys, he loved the fact that the boys she had fallen for held her in such high regard.
Once Hermione released Harry, she moved on to Draco. He knew that she was the most nervous about the Slytherin going. She and Harry had faced many adventures together, she knew exactly how her best friend would react when it came down to brass tacks. She didn't, however, know exactly how Draco would react. Severus could hear her scolding his godson softly, begging him to not play the hero so she wouldn't have to witness him harmed again. Draco tried to placate her and keep her calm, but he just didn't see that working out so well in the end for him.
It did, however, since Hermione had nodded silently, buried her face in his chest, and remained silent. Albus watched as their goodbyes were finally said in full and they were able to pull away from Hermione without her throwing a huge fit. Severus laid a hand on both the boys' shoulders, silently slipping into their minds. He waited until he was granted access that he passed on his message of making sure to keep each other safe because the Headmaster couldn't be counted on to do so. Both boys nodded slightly, the barest mention that they had understood him. He stepped back, falling to the bed next to Hermione while the two boys stepped forward to meet with Albus. Potter spoke since he was the most comfortable with the Headmaster.
"Let's get this party started. The sooner we start, the sooner we'll be back." Albus chuckled and clapped his hand down on both boys' shoulders.
"Too true, my boy, too true. Let us begin." Severus couldn't help but feel nervous for the two boys. He made his way to Hemione's side, same as Sirius, so they could give her moral support as her two mates walked out of the room and into the unknown. As the three of them disappeared through the library door, Severus was sure of one thing, and one thing only.
It was going to be a long night.
-O-
Draco already hated this mission and they hadn't even left yet. Hermione had seemed so desperate as she hugged him close and begged him to be careful that he really didn't want to leave her at all. He was sure that she felt an extremely large amount of anxiety about the fact that both her mates could become injured while she was injured enough herself that she couldn't do anything about it.
He didn't blame her. When he considered the fact that she was so seriously injured because she had thrown herself in front of a curse that was meant for him, it made him sick. The last thing that he wanted to think about was her being injured, let alone with someone that really didn't care if the injury occurred.
While Draco didn't think that their Headmaster would set out to deliberately hurt them, he wouldn't be able to maintain his immaculate image if either he or Harry were injured on his watch, he knew that the old man didn't truly care what happened to either one of them. It was very apparent that Dumbledore didn't like Draco, but he had played up the fact since first year that he cared deeply for Harry. It was quite obviously a lie since the man had felt no remorse at leaving the boy with abusive relatives, being starved and beaten. The old man before them had hidden more secrets than he had kept in his whole life.
Draco gave a final wave to the girl that had captured his heart before he made his way out of the library behind Harry and Dumbledore. The wizened wizard led them to the entrance hall, the only place that you could apparate in and out of. Draco hadn't explored the house at all while he had been there, he had been far more worried about keeping Hermione happy and comfortable, but he had learned enough in his time there to know that there was only the one apparition point.
Once they had reached the entrance hall, Draco cast a nervous glance to Harry. The Gryffindor was nervous, this was a fact that Draco knew without a doubt, but it was completely hidden behind a hardened look of disinterest. Since he was supposed to be the snake, the one that was able to fool those around him about where his true loyalties lie, Draco followed in his friend's footsteps. His gaze hardened and when the Headmaster turned to have them take his arm, there was no trace of nervousness.
Draco and Harry both took the wizard's proffered arms. They didn't move in closer as they would have if it had been Severus but stood at an acceptable distance and gave the Headmaster a nod. Sensing that he wasn't going to get anymore from either of the boys, Dumbledore made sure they had a tight hold and twisted on the spot.
It must have been the several decades of experience that the Headmaster had on everyone else in Draco's life. The apparition was smoother than anyone else had ever performed with him in tow. Harry didn't seem to realize just how easy the apparition was, but that was to be expected. He glanced around to where they were located, but he didn't recognize a thing. They were in the middle of a street, muggle he assumed, deserted as ever. While Draco had heard many tales about muggles and how populated their cities were, he could admit that he was thrilled that there didn't seem to be any near now. He wasn't necessarily scared of the idea of muggles, but they most certainly made him nervous.
"No worries, boys, this was just a stop in between Grimmauld and our destination. It's a must-do when apparating three of us." Draco didn't speak but nodded his understanding. His father had always told him that it was difficult to carry more than one person side-along. Therefore, he didn't loosen his hold on the Headmaster's arm, instead gripping it tighter since he knew that the second leg of the journey could potentially be more difficult for an aging wizard.
The expected suction of apparition sucked him in again and this time when he opened his eyes, he was on the edge of a fucking cliff. He could see that Harry was as surprised as he was, maybe more so, but Draco remained silent. He assumed that the Headmaster would explain.
"We're here, boys, I know this seems to be an odd place, but this is where Tom Riddle performed his first muggle torture on children that he lived with in the orphanage. I think that constitutes as an important place to him. I don't want either one of you to use magic unless it is absolutely necessary. It would be very difficult to explain to not only the Ministry, but Voldemort as well, just why you were with your aged Headmaster in the middle of nowhere using magic when it is clearly prohibited by law." Both boys nodded their understanding.
Draco shared a look with Harry; the Gryffindor seemed to be just as worried as Draco was. They were going to retrieve a piece of the Dark Lord's soul and they weren't supposed to use magic unless they absolutely needed to. Suddenly, he was glad that the Headmaster hadn't asked this of them in front of Hermione. She would have lost the plot and there wouldn't have been shit that he or Harry could have done to make her feel better. Better that she be in the dark until they returned.
Dumbledore waved them to his side, only for him to whip out his wand and wave it in their general direction. Draco felt his feel leave the ground and for a moment, he wasn't entirely sure what was happening. Harry didn't seem to be doing much better, not until the Headmaster spoke.
"We have to go to the base of the cliff. I don't have much faith in my swimming skills, therefore, I will levitate the three of us down the cliff until we are in the correct place." Draco didn't feel entirely comfortable with this, but there really wasn't much that he could do. While he wanted to tell the Headmaster to fuck off and find the horcrux on his own, he couldn't abandon Harry to this fate. Therefore, he suffered in silence.
The winds were high and icy cold. Draco shivered as the Headmaster lowered them slowly through the air until they reached the rocky outcrop hundreds of feet below them. The waves were deafening, crashing against the rocks below them. If Draco hadn't been scared to death of dying at sea beforehand, he most certainly was now. It seemed like to took forever for their feet to touch the ground, even if that ground was sharp and spiky rocks. While he felt nothing but relief, Harry began rubbing the scar on his forehead. Draco caught his arm before the Headmaster could start forward.
"What's wrong? Why are you rubbing your scar? You only do that when you're in His presence." Harry seemed to realize just what it was that he was doing, freezing for a moment. When he answered, he seemed almost embarrassed.
"It feels like he's here. I guess that makes me a tad nervous about continuing." Dumbledore nodded.
"That just confirms that there is a piece of his soul down here. We must continue, but carefully." Draco wasn't sure how this confirmed anything, but he remained silent. He would ask Severus or Hermione later.
The trio entered a cave that was found at the base of the cliff and once inside, he watched Dumbledore wave his wand around the room at large. On one of the walls, a bright gleaming light shined before it fell dark once again. Dumbledore gave a knowing nod.
"It seems that Tom has done his best to conceal the true nature of this cave. A blood price must be paid before we can enter." The Headmaster pulled a knife from his robes and made to slice his palm. Harry reached out and stopped him before he could.
"We can't use magic. Wouldn't it make more sense for us to make the sacrifice, so you don't weaken yourself? If anything bad happens in there, it will be you that has to keep us safe." While Draco didn't even want to think about volunteering his blood, he knew that Harry was right. The Headmaster gave a nod that said that he agreed with his young charge. The old man's eyes turned his way and Draco knew he wasn't going to like what was said next.
"I feel as though Mr. Malfoy will have to be the one to supply us with the blood for the sacrifice. It might weaken me too much here that I can't protect us and the Dark Lord may be able to recognize young Harry's blood since he was brought back in a ritual that was based on his blood. It seems to be the safest plan of motion." Draco was pissed off. Not so much at Harry for speaking the truth of the situation, but at Dumbledore for making it impossible for him to refuse. If it had been Harry, Hermione, or Severus, he would have sliced his hand without the slightest doubt. The fact of the matter was that he didn't trust the Headmaster, therefore making him most unwilling to offer up his blood, the most powerful ingredient in a spell or potion. With just a drop of his blood, the Headmaster could quite literally turn him in to a slave.
Blood magic was nothing to dabble in if you didn't have to.
With much trepidation, Draco stepped forward and allowed the Headmaster to slice his palm. Instead of vanishing the knife, Dumbledore cast it to the ground and set it afire, which Draco greatly appreciated. Once the blood welled up in his palm, the Headmaster gestured for him to place his hand on the wall before them. Draco spread his hand on the sharp rocks liberally, coating the jagged points in his blood. It seemed like it took forever, like he had bled for ages, before the wall beneath his hand seemed to vanish before them.
Once Draco had gathered his thoughts about him once more, he looked up to see exactly what the wall moving had revealed to them. There seemed to be a lake before them, with a small island located directly in the middle of it. There was what appeared to be a pedestal standing tall and proud on the island, but there was no way to know exactly what the pedestal held without making their way through the water. While Draco was more than a competent swimmer, he didn't feel the least bit comfortable swimming across the lake to reach the island. Just as his finished thinking these thoughts, he heard Dumbledore speak.
"I'm not sure what lies beneath the depths of this water, but do not touch it. No matter what, don't touch it." Both boys nodded solemnly, but he really wanted to point out that they weren't going to be able to get across the lake if they couldn't touch the water. Before he could speak, Dumbledore raised his wand and a small boat appeared before them, oars on each side. The old wizard gestured for them both to board. While Draco still couldn't help but feel as if everything dealing with the Headmaster was a trap, Harry instantly boarded, almost as if he was eager for the mission to be over with.
It was in this moment that Draco realized that his counterpart was just as eager for their mission to be over as he was. Neither one of them like to be separated from Hermione, but for this mission to occur it had been a requirement. Draco quickly boarded the boat, trusting the fact that the Headmaster would be too scared to try anything with them for fear of what Hermione's reaction would be.
To his pleasant surprise, nothing bad happened to them. The Headmaster boarded the ship with them and the trio cast away from the shore without any further ado. Harry and Draco both took it upon themselves to row their little boat, making their way towards the island. While the Slytherin wanted nothing more than for their mission to be over so they could be back in the library with Hermione, he knew that they would have to muddle their way through this unknown maze. It was hard telling what the Dark Lord had put in place to protect a portion of his soul.
Harry threw the anchor overboard when they reached the edge of the island. Draco left the safety of the boat first, pulling the small vessel up on the bank as much as he could. He made sure that not only did he not touch the water, neither Harry or Dumbledore would touch it as they climbed out on their own. Both seemed to notice the lengths that he had gone to, but neither commented on his actions. Draco was grateful.
While Draco hovered at the water's edge, Dumbledore and Harry made their way up towards the pedestal in the center of the island. It really wasn't all that large. The Slytherin was unsure of just what could be hidden there, but he hoped against hope that it was a horcrux so the three of them could head home without further ado. Dumbledore seemed to examine the pedestal carefully considering his words carefully until he did decide to speak.
"The Dark Lord is far from stupid. There is indeed a horcrux in the bottom of this pedestal, but to reach it, one of us must drink the potion that resides inside it. While I know that it is important for me to take all the risks since neither one you can produce magic without the Ministry being aware, I feel as though I am the most likely choice. However, it is not likely that either one of you will go without affectation of this curse. It's likely that just about anything could occur after I get the horcrux out of the potion. I want both of you to do what needs to be done, fuck all the consequences. It wouldn't do for you both to die. Your mate would then turn completely to the dark and there would be no stopping the anguish that she brought to our world." While Harry had a disbelieving look on his face, Draco knew that what the Headmaster spoke was true. If Hermione felt as if she had lost both of her mates, she would lose touch with reality and it would likely result in her letting her grandfather manipulate her into doing exactly as he wanted.
"I will drink the potion in the basin of the pedestal. I want you both to promise me that no matter what I say or do, you will make sure that I drink every last drop. The last thing that I want is for it to be in vain." While Draco hated making that promise, he just wasn't brave enough to condemn a man to suffering exactly who knew what, he knew that it had to happen. Therefore, he hoped that Harry was strong enough to promise for them both.
Dumbledore took the chalice that the pedestal seemed to provide, casting one last glance at Draco before he drank.
"Make sure that no matter what happens to me, he makes me drink it. It's quite likely I won't trust you, but I'm trusting you to make sure that young Harry follows through on his word. Don't let me down, Mr. Malfoy." Even though Draco had a wealth of things to say in response to the Headmaster, he kept quiet. He simply answered with a nod, satisfying the Headmaster enough to make him chug down a whole goblet full of potion.
The first cup full didn't seem to phase him. He drank deeply from the chalice, almost realizing that the quicker that he drank it, the less side effects that he would have. Draco still wasn't sure just what side effects there would be, he just knew that nothing would remain the same after that first cup full. It was when he started the second cup that it all went downhill.
"Don't make me, it will kill her! Please no, I need to know that she is safe." At first Draco thought that the Headmaster was referring to Hermione, especially since there was no notable female in his life in the last hundred years. This all changed, however, when he heard Dumbledore's cries. These weren't about Hermione, but rather about someone that he cared about. Draco had no idea just who that could be. He watched as Harry coaxed another goblet full of the potion down his throat.
While it seemed to have no ill effect on the world or those in it, it seemed to leave Dumbledore quite delirious. The only time he seemed to make sense was when he was speaking of keeping "her" safe. Draco had assumed that this "her" was Hermione, but after the first several minutes, it was quite clear that they had no idea who "she" was.
Dumbledore continued to ramble, but Draco tuned him out. When Harry had run out of potion to give their Headmaster, he had simply set aside the chalice and waited for their fearless leader to tell him what to do. Draco knew that it wasn't going to be that easy. The Dark Lord would want to render anyone that found his hideout inaccessible, so he could only hope that their combined brain power would save them.
In the end, Harry ended up giving into the Headmaster's will. Just as he had taken the last drink of the potion, the horcrux, a locket made completely of silver, shimmered into existence under where the potion had resided. Harry reached his hand in and grasped the locket, pulling it out so he could stuff it deep within his jeans pocket. The Headmaster continued to beg for water, beg for forgiveness, and it was all Draco could do to not feel guilty for the way in which he regarded the old wizard. Rather than conjure water from his wand, Draco watched as Harry hurried to the edge of the lake to gather water for the Headmaster.
The Slytherin meant to shout a warning to the Gryffindor, but in the end, he didn't. It was clear that the Headmaster was delirious out of his mind and if there was any hope of him returning them back to Grimmauld Place, he needed water as he was requesting. What happened, however, wasn't what Draco had expected.
When the Headmaster quieted, Harry relaxed against one of the many rocks. Inferi began to rise from the water, hundreds of dead corpses, rotting away in the darkest of places. Draco had always been terrified of the idea of inferi as a child and it seemed that his mind had had good reason. In real life, they were terrifying.
They rose from the water as if on a mission, and after a moment's consideration, Draco supposed that they were. They didn't seem to see Draco, surprisingly, but they were all headed straight for Harry and the Headmaster. If Dumbledore had been his usual self, he wouldn't have worried. However, their Headmaster was still recuperating from whatever potion it was that he had ingested.
Harry resorted to physical violence as it was all that he had while Draco watched helplessly from the sidelines. After only a moment of inertia, he stepped forward into the fray, determined to help the Gryffindor that was as good as his brother.
Draco had never been much of a fighter, not physically at least, but he learned quickly that you had to throw your weight into the punches you threw, or they really didn't amount to much. He had no idea how long he and Harry fought against the rising number of Inferi; he had a feeling that it was longer than it should have been, but there was really nothing that he could do about it.
It was when a group of Inferi rushed Harry that they made their fatal mistake. The Gryffindor had fought as hard as he could, rather than as smart as he could, and the animated bodies had managed to drag him to the water's edge. Draco was fighting as hard as he could to get to Harry, determined to be there for him as much as Harry had been there for him during the rough times in his life.
When he reached the water's edge, the inferi had managed to pull Harry under the surface of the water. They still didn't seem to be intent on harming Draco, almost as if they couldn't really see him. He had a feeling that it had to do with the fact that Harry was the one that had awakened them by touching the water. Without a second thought as to what could happen to him, another Gryffindor trait that he seemed to have inherited from Harry and Hermione, Draco dove headfirst into the dark, cloudy water.
At first, he couldn't see exactly where it was that he was going. Draco could hear the movement of water all around him and It confused him as to where it was that he needed to go. Finally, he decided to let go of his mind and follow his instincts. He swam further down into the water, deep enough that his ears were popping from the pressure. His lungs felt like they were about to explode when he finally touched a body. Not a dead body, but a body that still held warmth. He instantly knew that it was Harry.
Draco grabbed ahold of his brother and when he did, he felt a wave of magic flow through him that he had never experienced before. He felt all-powerful. He couldn't help but feel like how Hermione described feeling when her magic rose in defense of her mates. Deciding that he needed to grasp hold of the feeling and use it to the best of his abilities, he dipped deeper into his core. It felt like it took forever, but in reality it probably wasn't more than a few moments.
His magic exploded out of him, fueled by Harry's contact. The inferi in their vicinity vaporized, as much as that was possible for something that was underwater. Draco didn't want to think about who the bodies that had been animated had been belonged to. Harry seemed to be lucid, but only just. Draco hooked his arm around the Gryffindor's waist and began to propel the pair of them towards the surface. Draco was about to burst from lack of air and Harry had been underwater longer than he had.
When the pair burst through the surface of the filthy water, both boys heaved a deep breath, filling their lungs with the sweet air. It was short-lived, however, since the remaining inferi set upon them once again. Draco could feel the sore spots and bruises that appeared where the inferi were doing their damage; Harry looked much worse than he did he was sure. The Slytherin could no longer fight against the dozen inferi that were trying to kill him. His energy had given out even though Harry was still fighting just ten feet away. His attempts were feeble at best, but he was still fighting, refusing to give in to sure death.
Draco felt the inferi pull him under. He tried to fight them, but his strength was waning. He had finally given up, hoping that the Headmaster would escape and tell Hermione that he and Harry had fought to the bitter end. He had taken his first full breath underwater, his lungs flooding with the dirty water, when he realized that there was an orange blaze above them.
In the space of several more breaths under the surface, Draco realized that Dumbledore had finally come back to himself and was fighting the inferi with what appeared to be fire. The inferi that had been holding him under the surface rushed to the surface, hoping to help their cohorts he was sure. Even though Draco knew that he needed air desperately, Harry was floating above him, not conscious. The Slytherin began to kick his way to the surface again, dragging Harry along with him.
From the marks on the Gryffindor's body, he had suffered far worse than Draco had. He assumed that it had to do with the fact that Harry had been the one that tripped the spell that raised the inferi. When the pair reached the surface, Draco could hardly breathe. He knew that his lungs were full of water, he needed the Headmaster to cast a spell to clear the water, just as he was sure that Harry needed. Neither boy had the energy to drag themselves out of the water, they simply laid there on the bank, their bottom halves still ensconced in the filthy water.
Flames were still erupting from the Headmaster's wand, torching the inferi that were on the island. Draco didn't have the energy to watch what was happening; he could only hope that Dumbledore's actions would save them all. It seemed like ages had passed when the orange blaze disappeared, and the Headmaster appeared at his side as well as Harry's. Harry appeared to be conscious, but only just. If he was awake, he surely wasn't aware of the surroundings.
Draco didn't have the energy to speak, and he surely didn't have the energy to fight back against the Headmaster grasping his wrist tightly. He turned his head just in time to see Dumbledore take Harry's wrist in his other hand. He was still able to tell that the old wizard wasn't doing well himself but was doing his absolute best to gather his energy, so they could apparate.
Draco would have sighed in relief but was unable to since the tight tube of darkness overtook him, pulling him back to Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
-O-
Hermione couldn't sit still to save her life. She knew that she was driving her father up the wall with her constant fidgeting, but she couldn't help it. She was worried about the boys being alone with Dumbledore and she was even more worried about what they might come up against if they found a horcrux. Her grandfather was not a trusting man and she couldn't imagine him putting a watch dog in front of a horcrux. It would be so much deadlier than that.
It had been several hours since they had left. Severus had forced her to take a vial of calming draught. She had fought him on it, not wanting the drugged feeling that she often felt after the potion but had capitulated in the end. She would never admit it to anyone else, but she knew that she needed it. While her father appeared to be the picture of calm and cool, Hermione knew that he wasn't. She knew that Harry wasn't his favorite person in the world, but he had taken an oath to protect her boyfriend. The fact that his own godson was now in the same situation couldn't be easy for him. It was due to this fact that Hermione had tried to make the situation as easy for him as possible.
Sirius and Remus were waiting with them. While Remus seemed almost as calm as Severus, Sirius was much more high-strung, much like Hermione herself. She knew that the animagus loved her dearly, but that didn't compare to how much he loved his godson. They had warned them that the mission was dangerous, and while they hadn't tried to stop Harry's involvement, Sirius was most certainly worried.
Hermione was pulled from her thoughts be a loud crack, much louder than the crack when the trio had left. She tried to rise from the bed, she made it halfway to her feet when Sirius reached forward and cupped her cheeks.
"Stay here, Poppet. You can't move too quickly. If they're injured, we can have them in here before you would make it out there." Even though she hated it, she knew that he was right. The Gryffindor just couldn't move too quickly since she was in terrible pain with almost every bit of movement that she made. Hermione waited in bated silence, her heart racing inside her chest. She was sure that the calming draught was now null and void in her system. There were shouts from the corridor outside of the library, Remus if she wasn't mistaken.
"Fred, use the floo and call McGonagall. Tell her that we need Poppy and that the Headmaster is injured." Hermione's heart stopped. If Dumbledore was injured, what kind of condition would her boys be in?
Hermione learned quick enough. The door slammed open and both of her boys were being levitated in the room by her father and Sirius. Both seemed to be conscious, but only just. Neither seemed to register exactly what was happening to them and that scared the life out of her. Remus came behind them with the Headmaster floating with him.
Severus motioned for Sirius to put Harry on one of Hermione's sides while he moved Draco to the other. Dumbledore was muttering to himself in the background while Remus transfigured one of the arm chairs into a small cot for him. Hermione wanted to hurry and see her boys, but a stern look from her father stopped her in her tracks.
"We don't know what's wrong with them, sweet, let me see what's wrong with them." She hated waiting, and she knew that she wouldn't have if it had been anyone other than her father asking it of her. She laid a hand on both their arms, lending what comfort she could in the situation at hand. Severus' wand waved over first Draco, readings that she didn't understand appearing in the air above him. When he seemed satisfied, he moved to Harry's side, Sirius moving out of the way so he could do the same to him.
Before he could speak and tell Hermione exactly what was wrong with them, Madam Pomfrey appeared in the doorway, Professor McGonagall at her side. The mediwitch started screeching about the fact that both boys were in the same bed as Hermione, that there would be no privacy and that just wasn't acceptable. Hermione had no plans whatsoever on moving from her current position between both of her boys, but Madam Pomfrey didn't know that.
"Miss Granger, I need you to remove yourself from the bed, so I can begin treatment." Hermione didn't respond, she simply ignored the woman. She turned to her father expectantly and motioned for him to proceed.
"They've both aspirated quite a bit of water, meaning that they have breathed in water into their lungs. Both have several injuries caused from who knows what, but that's all that I could ascertain in the short time that I spent with them." Hermione nodded and laid a hand on each of the boy's chest. Madam Pomfrey raised her wand toward Harry, intent on using it on him. Hermione looked up and met her eyes. While the mediwitch startled, she did not back down.
"Miss Granger, get out of the way so I can heal them, or I will be forced to remove you bodily from the room." Hermione gave the healer the coldest look that she was capable of.
"If you come near either of my mates, I will kill you." Severus and Sirius leapt into action, pulling the mediwitch away from Harry and Draco, while Remus and Professor McGonagall stood there, dumbstruck looks on their faces. Madam Pomfrey struggled against both men but relented when she realized that there was no way that she was going to win against them.
Hermione resumed her position from before, both her hands on their chests. Harry and Draco looked at her, but she wasn't certain that they were seeing her. Hermione closed her eyes, and though she was weak herself, she let her magic flow into both her mates. Her hands were warm from the transfer, but there was no outward sign that she was pouring her magic into them. Not until their cuts, bruises, and scrapes began to disappear. Everyone in the room gasped at the sight, but Hermione paid them no mind. Her focus was solely on the two boys beside her.
She was unsure of how long she worked on them, but when she was finished, they looked as if they had never gone on the damn fool's errand of finding a horcrux. Hermione slumped forward, almost as exhausted as she had been the first day that she had awoken from her sleep after being cursed by Dolohov. Her father rushed forward to the head of the bed, so he could guide Hermione back down onto the bed, her head landing neatly on her pillow. It was a good thing that both boys had been sleeping with her, leaving her natural place in the middle. She gave a deep sigh before rolling over onto her back. With both hands, she reached out and took the hands of her mates. Once they were secure in her grasp, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let the darkness overcome her.
-O-
Sirius didn't know what to think about what had just happened. He knew that Severus had assured he and Remus that Hermione had healed Draco from sure death before, he just didn't think that he would believe it until he saw it. And saw it he did.
Hermione was deeply asleep now, Severus shifting her slighting in the bed between Harry and Draco. Both boys had drifted off to sleep, both sleeping peacefully, or what appeared to be so anyways. Remus was speechless next to him, while Minerva kept her emotions to herself. It was Madam Pomfrey that surprised him.
The mediwitch rushed forward, her wand extended, as if she was bound and determined to heal the boys now that Hermione was out of the picture. Sirius knew in his heart that Hermione would never have denied those boys medical care if she couldn't heal their ailments. Therefore, after Poppy had cast the appropriate diagnostics and looked up flabbergasted, he no longer worried.
"These boys have nothing wrong with them, they're in perfect health. Someone better tell me how Miss Granger was able to heal them as she did, and to the degree that she did. Not to mention that I've never heard her speak a single threat in all her years at Hogwarts and she threatened to kill me." Sirius wasn't sure how to handle the situation, he really didn't know just what to tell the mediwitch and what to keep to himself. He wasn't entirely sure of just how trustworthy she was. Therefore, when Minerva stepped in, he was grateful.
"Poppy, you know that we're at war and that Mr. Potter and Miss Granger are at the very center of it." The mediwitch nodded reluctantly, almost as if she was nervous about what her agreement would be getting her into.
"There are things about these three that you aren't aware of, things that make them very special indeed. I ask that you not ask any more questions and keep your observations to yourself. Just promise me that if Miss Granger tries to heal them again and she threatens you to get you to stay back, take the threat seriously. She is not saying it for the sake of saying it. She will kill you and I don't believe that there is anyone alive that would be able to stop her." Poppy seemed dumbfounded.
"Surely the Headmaster…" Severus shook his head.
"I've seen her in action. The Headmaster wouldn't stand a chance. Speaking of the Headmaster…" Sirius understood that he wanted the attention off his daughter and respected him for it. He hated it when people fixated on Harry. Madam Pomfrey seemed to snap back to business, realizing that there was still another patient to be seen.
The mediwitch spent several minutes running her wand over the length of the Headmaster. Sirius thought that he had fallen unconscious but started when the woman spoke.
"The Headmaster is far from well, but he is alive and sane. He is resting his eyes, not truly asleep. He is severely dehydrated and has exhausted himself magically. I must insist that he return to Hogwarts with me, so I can keep a closer eye on him. Not to mention that the students will notice if he isn't in residence." Sirius nodded, inwardly thankful that the Headmaster wouldn't be staying at Grimmauld with them. Ever since Hermione had revealed to him just what Dumbledore had done to him personally, he wasn't too interested in being bosom buddies.
Sirius watched as Minerva stepped forward to help levitate the Headmaster towards the floo. Madam Pomfrey had decided that the floo would be safer and conserve more of Dumbledore's energy. While he didn't understand how, he knew that he was leaving that up to the Deputy Headmistress and the mediwitch. It took several minutes for them to take their leave, but once they were gone, silence fell in the library. Sirius finally broke the silence several minutes in.
"I've never seen anything like that before. She healed them both at the same time, completely. I watched them both try to heal her, and they only managed to do it partially. I thank Merlin that Hermione is on our side." Severus nodded sagely.
"It's a sight to behold. While the two boys are more powerful with her near them, she is still the catalyst. I'm not sure if she realizes it, or if they do for that matter, but the prophecy about her stands for a reason. She will either bring good to our world, or darkness to the depths never seen. While I hate it every single day, I'm glad that Albus took her from the Dark Lord's influence. I couldn't imagine her power being set upon the world." Sirius didn't know what else to say, therefore, he said nothing.
The three men sat there for ages, watching their charges and making sure that nothing happened to them in their sleep. When Sirius finally dropped off to sleep, he imagined a world where Hermione had been raised under Voldemort and turned the land to ruin. Needless to say, he didn't sleep well that night.
A/N- Boom, another chapter down. I've been working on this chapter for almost four days. I have one more day of my seven day stretch so pray for me! Anyways, thanks for hanging with me. Reviews = love so leave me your thoughts after the beep.
Next chapter, the horcrux is discovered to be a fake, but the real one is found and destroyed.
Love,
Alicia