A/N: What's up y'all! I'm back after a long hiatus. I'm so sorry for the long lapse between chapters. I got the first ten written when I was on quarantine but then I went back to work and that took a lot of my time. I didn't have any time to myself to edit anymore.
That's not the only reason that I've been gone. I've been working like a dog over the past few months on the final stages of my novel and I'm finally happy to say that I'm a published author. 2 and a half years of hard work are finally on paper.
If you want to purchase my fantasy novel (and if you don't, it's no big deal) you can find it on Amazon for the price of $7.77. The Marked Ones by J.H. Kirkhoff
It's also available on the Kindle under the same name for $6.79 !
Now that I have more time on my hands, I hope to be back with you guys more now! Be on the lookout for more content soon!
-The Real Jon Snow
"They were all over us before we could even lift a finger," Blaise said, holding the ice pack to his head. He had cracked his head pretty badly against the floor during the attack. "Madam Bones and I were down by the floo, ready to go to tra- Harry's." He quickly corrected himself. Although Dumbledore was here with Moody, he had to remember that the person conducting this interview probably wasn't a friend. He was just an Auror. "We were down by the floo, and we were just waiting on Susan at that point."
"Susan Bones, you mean?" The man clarified. Dawlish was his name if Blaise remembered correctly. The boy nodded. "So, it was just you and Madam Bones?"
"Yeah, that's right." Blaise nodded.
"Could you tell me Mr. Zabini, why you were in the Bones residence in the first place?" Dawlish questioned.
"That's not pertinent to the case, Dawlish," Moody barked. "Stick to the questions."
"That was a question, Alastor," Dawlish retorted. Ever since Mad-Eye had retired, everyone knew that he was Dumbledore's boy. He didn't doubt that the Headmaster had men planted in the Auror Department as well. "The boy has to answer it."
"I was invited here by Madam Bones," Blaise responded. "Susan is my girlfriend."
Dawlish wrote this down. "I see. You can continue with your view of events."
Blaise sighed. "Someone kicked the door to the manor in, and before we could even raise our wands, five Death Eaters had their own pointed at us. We were outnumbered."
"And did they say what they wanted?" Dawlish asked.
"They were just there to send a message they said," Blaise continued. "You-Know-Who saw Madam Bones as a threat. He wanted to take care of her."
"You-Know-Who," Dawlish responded, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "The Dark Lord? Int-"
"Keep to the questions, John," Dumbledore interjected. His voice was cold and brokered no room for argument. "The boy has been through a lot."
"As you wish," Dawlish replied. "What happened after these Death Eaters showed up?"
"They were about to kill Madam Bones when one of them dropped dead," Blaise continued. "S-Susan has heard the shouts from upstairs and had managed to sneak up behind them. She used a Severing Charm on him. That got the rest of their attention, and we were able to get our wands out and return fire, but there were too many. Madam Bones told me to run. I wanted to stay and fight, but she called her house-elf and had her transport me away from the battle. She dropped me outside of Daphne's."
"Daphne Greengrass?" Dawlish asked. Blaise nodded.
"I informed Lady Greengrass what happened, and she called Dumbledore."
"Why, Dumbledore?" Dawlish asked. "Why not call the Ministry."
"Probably wanted some action to be taken." Moody barked. "That's why he called bloody Dumbledore."
"Is Susan alright?" Blaise asked hurriedly. Madam Bones had shown up at Greengrass Manor shortly after he did, but she hadn't been alone. She had been carrying her niece's motionless body in her arms. "Please tell me she's okay."
Dawlish shifted uncomfortably. "She's at St. Mungo's lad. She's been severely hurt. That's all I can say."
"But you know more?" Blaise asked. Dawlish didn't respond, but his face gave away his answer. "You have to tell me!" Blaise demanded.
"Tell the boy what you know, Dawlish," Moody demanded. "He fought against Voldemort's boys when you lot have been dragging your feet. The least you can do is tell him how Miss Bones is doing."
Dawlish flinched when You-Know-Who's name was uttered. "They don't recognize the curse that hit her. I'm sorry lad, but they don't know how much longer she has."
Blaise didn't respond. Susan was dying. HIS Susan. The girl that he had loved from almost the second that he had set his eyes on upon. The girl who had forsaken her friends for him. HIM. And now she was dying. And there was nothing he could do about it. "I want to see her," He muttered.
"We just need to wr-"
"I believe that you need to question Lady Greengrass as well, do you not?" Dumbledore interrupted. "I also believe that you have taken enough of Mr. Zabini's time." Again, his tone brokered no room for opposition.
"Fine then," Dawlish replied. The old man might've been Albus Dumbledore, but he was still lucky that Dawlish didn't arrest him right now for interfering with an investigation.
"If you would grab my arm Mr. Zabini," Albus said, gently offering his hand. "I will take you to St. Mungo's."
Blaise wasted no time, and within seconds they were in the hospital. "Name?" the nurse behind the desk asked.
"Albus Dumbledore and Blaise Zabini," the older wizard replied. "We are here to see Miss Susan Bones."
"Just sign here, please," she said and nodded at the piece of parchment in front of her. The two wizards did so. Blaise's signature was little more than a squiggly line. He just wanted to get past. "Miss Bones is one floor up in room E4." As soon as the witch had uttered the last syllable, Blaise was off at a run.
He knocked the door to the staircase open and thundered up. "Excuse me!" he shouted, pushing past several people as he sprinted through the halls. He was treated with several glares, but he ignored them. If they really felt so strongly about it, they could duel him.
He soon arrived at his girlfriend's room but was almost turned away by a witch with pink hair. "Hold up there lad." Her hand had gone to her wrist where her wand must've been holstered.
"You have to let me through!" he demanded. "My girlfriend is in there!"
"I can'-"
"Nymphadora!" a voice rang out. Madam Bones stalked down the hallway. She had a bandage wrapped around her head but otherwise appeared as if she would recover. "Let him through."
"Yes, Madam Bones," the girl who only appeared to be just out of Hogwarts scrunched her face and moved to the side.
Blaise wasted no more time and went inside, and then his heart broke.
There she was. Susan. She had a blanket covering her lower body, but she was naked from the waist up except for the bandage that was wrapped around her chest. She was whiter than snow, and her chest was barely rising with the breaths she took.
"No," he choked out and ran to her side. "Sue. Can you hear me?"
"She's in a magically induced coma," Amelia said in all but a whisper as she came into the room. "They put her under as soon as she got here to try to figure out the counter-curse. They haven't had any success."
"What will happen," Blaise asked, clutching Susan's hand firmly almost as if he was afraid she'd disappear from the bed.
"She's dying Blaise," Amelia's voice choked up. "There's nothing we can do for her."
"You can't just give up!" Blaise snapped. "There has to be some counter curse, some potion. Something!" He refused to believe this. His girlfriend couldn't die right now!
"Don't you think we've attempted everything twice?!" Amelia raised her voice. "Every single healing potion, every single spell. The wizards and witches here are the most talented in the world! They've tried everything!"
"Do you think this is easy for me?" she gathered herself. "Do you think I want my only family left in this world taken from me? The coma is slowing the curse, but it is still progressing fast. They say she only has an hour maybe at most. I don't want my niece to suffer."
"What are you talking about?" he asked, looking up at her. "What are you planning on doing?"
"We have no choice," Amelia responded. "We have to end it for her."
"Kill her?!" Blaise moved as if to shield Susan from her own aunt. "You can't!"
"She's already dying. Whatever this curse is, it is slow and painful. I won't allow her to live the rest of her life in agony. I'm sorry Blaise, but I am her guardian, and this is my decision."
The law was on her side, but that didn't make it any easier. Tears began to stream down his face, and he buried himself into the blankets surrounding Susan. "C-C-Can I-I at least s-s-s-say goodbye?"
Amelia nodded, a short imperceptible movement of the head. "Nymphadora!" The pink-haired witch came into the room. "Could you please get the doctor. We need to wake my niece. So we can say our farewells."
"Yes, Madam," Nymphadora nodded solemnly and left the room. She returned seconds later with a man in tow.
"Madam Bones," he nodded towards her and then saw Blaise. "You must be Mr. Zabini. I am very sorry for the circumstances, but I will need to wake Miss Bones." Blaise gave a nod and moved back slightly, but that's as far as he would move. "Enverate."
Susan's eyes slowly fluttered open, and her breathing picked up. "B-Blaise?" she got out when she saw him. "What happened? Where am I?"
"You're in St. Mungo's, Sue," he croaked, trying to keep it together for her. "They brought you here after the attack."
"Is Auntie alright?" she asked.
"I'm here Susan," Amelia said soothingly as she moved to her niece's bedside. "I'm here."
"Good. I'm glad they didn't get you," Susan said and tried to smile but could only grimace in pain.
"Take it easy Sue," Blaise whispered to her. He was still clutching her hand in a death grip. He would never let go. Not truly.
"When can I leave?" she asked. Blaise and Amelia looked at each other, both their hearts breaking at the same time. "Auntie? When wi-" Again came another grimace in pain.
"Susan," Amelia barely got out. "I'm sorry. The curse that hit you, there's no known fix for it. I-It's slowly eating your organs from the inside."
Susan didn't respond. The gravity of the situation hit here. She wouldn't leave this bed. At least not alive. "So I'm going to die," she said plainly as if discussing the weather. She was clearly trying to keep it together.
Amelia slowly nodded. "At least I'll get to see Mum and Dad," Susan responded weakly. "That's good, isn't it?"
"Susan," Amelia whispered. "I know this is a lot to process."
"You're rig-" Another grunt of pain. "How much longer do I have?"
"I'm sorry, but maybe two hours at most, and that's if you're lucky," the doctor spoke up when Blaise and Amelia couldn't get the words together. "I will give you some time alone."
"Thank you, Doctor Manfred," Amelia said before the man left. "Susan, this won't be quick. I don't want you to suffer."
"I get it Auntie," Susan weakly nodded through the pain. "Do what you have to."
Amelia couldn't take it anymore. She clutched Susan's hand tightly. "I know I'm not your mother, but I've always thought of you as a daughter. You have been the best part of my life Susan. You're like your parents more than you know. They would've been so proud of you."
Tears now came down like a river across Susan's cheeks. "I love you auntie. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to raise me."
"I love you sweetheart," Amelia smiled even though her heart was breaking into a million pieces.
"Blaise," Susan got out now, looking to her boyfriend. "I guess this is it."
"Yeah," Blaise muttered. "I guess it is."
She smiled weakly at him. "You've been my best friend the past year Zabini. I couldn't have asked for a better person to love me and stand by me."
"I love you Sue," he whispered, leaning over to place a gentle kiss on her lips. "I love you."
"I love you Blaise." Tears began running down her face again. "Please tell everyone else that I'm sorry that I won't be able to fight Y- Voldemort with them. Stand beside Harry. Help him end this."
"I'll fight with him as long as he'll have me," he whispered. "I'll make sure this never happens again."
Susan smiled weakly, but then her smile waned. "Tell Hannah that I forgive her. I forgive her for everything she said. Tell her that I love her. She's been the best sister I could've asked for."
"I'll tell her," Blaise only just managed to say.
"Auntie." Susan looked at her aunt. "It's time."
Amelia called the doctor in. He was carrying a small vial of some reddish liquid. "If you'll just drink this, Miss Bones," he said soothingly. "You won't feel a thing."
Susan weakly nodded. "I love you guys." She whispered to her aunt and boyfriend, who couldn't stop shaking. She accepted the liquid and swallowed it. Her eyes fluttered open and close for a few moments before they finally shut forever.
Susan Amelia Bones was dead.
"Who was it," Blaise finally said after what felt like an hour of silence. "Who cast the curse."
Amelia looked up at the boy. "Why do you wish to know? I understand that you are upset Blaise but-"
"Madam," he interrupted her. "Please. Just tell me. Who killed Susan?"
She sighed heavily as emotion wracked her body. "I can't be certain, but I believe it was Antonin Dolohov. I recognized his voice."
"Antonin Dolohov," he repeated. He had heard the name, but now he would memorize it. He would memorize the man's face—every piece of it. And then when it was finally time, he would look down into those eyes and watch as they closed forever.
"I don't need any extra protection," Daniel argued to Dumbledore and Moody in his study. "What we need to be doing is going after the bastards who did this to the Bones."
"I'm sorry Daniel, but you're a high-value target," Moody told the man. "You're the frontrunner for the Minister at this point, which means the Dark Lord sees you as almost as big a threat as Dumbledore. You'll need protection."
"I can look after myself," Daniel sighed. "And the Ministry has already assigned a protection detail to me. I will not have dozens of people running around my home, disrupting my family's life."
"That reminds me we'll need to assign some people to your daughters as well while they're at school," Moody added.
"That will not be necessary," Dumbledore said.
"No offense Albus but his daughter and nephew were attacked on school grounds," Moody pointed out. "And with Voldemort back, it'll be even harder to protect the students."
"I am in contact with the Board of Governors to station Aurors on school grounds," Dumbledore replied. "If they vote yes, then I will be in contact with the Ministry soon enough."
"Aurors at Hogwarts?" Daniel said. "Better than Dementors."
"And no offense to the Department, but if the Dark Lord comes to my manor, then those Aurors won't have a chance of stopping him," Daniel continued. "My girls will still be in danger when they're outside school."
"I understand your concern Lord Greengrass, and I do believe I have a solution to this," Dumbledore said. The man might not go for it initially, but Albus knew Daniel would do anything to protect his family.
"What?" Daniel asked. "What is it?"
"As I am led to believe the Black Family residence is protected by many wards, including the Fidelus Charm," Dumbledore said. "These wards are imbued into the very house itself and has staved off many enemies over the year."
"I am aware of this, Albus," Daniel replied. "Where are you going with this?"
"I am suggesting that both your daughters live at Grimmauld Place this summer," Dumbledore finally said.
"Live with Sirius?" Daniel blinked. It had really come this far. His daughters were being driven out of their home. "I don't even know if Daphne and Astoria would be willing to go."
"I do believe that they can be persuaded," Dumbledore said. "And if you tell them to, they won't have any choice in the matter."
"It'll be easy to convince your oldest Daniel," Moody cut in. Dumbledore had mentioned the idea to him before, and he had thought it was their best bet. "All that she'll hear is she gets to live with her boyfriend for the next few months."
"Oh…erhm.." Daniel shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know Albus."
"If you are worried about certain…ahem…urges, I have no doubt that Sirius will provide separate rooms." Dumbledore looked anywhere but at the father. As Headmaster of a school, he had knowledge of these types of situations. It didn't make this any easier.
"I'm still not a hundred percent certain," Daniel replied. Knowing Daphne, that wouldn't stop her. Harry was an upstanding young man but the thought of his daughter doing…that was not something he liked to think about.
"I understand your hesitation, but this could be our only option," Dumbledore said. "If we place them within a Ministry safehouse, they would be found soon enough."
"There is the Fidelus Charm though isn't there?" Daniel argued.
"That is true, but all Voldemort would need is the general area. A well placed Fiendfyre curse would do the rest. It would still destroy the safehouse and all inside of it."
"Isn't that true for Grimmauld Place?" Daniel asked. "Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy were both raised as Blacks. What's stopping them from telling the Dark Lord how to get into their childhood home?"
"I can't fully explain it," Dumbledore admitted. "Sirius has assured me though, that they will not be able to get inside. And I do not believe that even Voldemort would be willing to burn down the home."
"Why do you say that?" Daniel asked.
"Because Harry is there," Dumbledore answered. "He wants to kill Harry yes, but he wants to do it HIMSELF. He wants to torture Harry in front of his followers to show his power."
"I know it sounds mental," Moody added. "But they're safest with Potter. As long as he's in that house, the Dark Lord will hesitate to destroy it."
Daniel didn't respond. He didn't want to send his girls away at all. He didn't want to be Minister even. He just wanted his family to have a normal life, but that was an impossibility at this moment. He would do anything to protect his girls. "I give my permission," he finally answered. "Make the arrangements."
Dumbledore nodded. "I know this isn't an ideal situation," he said sympathetically. "But the protection of your family is paramount at this point. If they can be made to suffer then Voldemort will have a way of getting at you."
"Where are your daughters?" Moody asked. "They should start getting their things together. We should move them in there before the end of the day."
"They are there now," Daniel answered. "Mourning Miss Bones."
The living room at 12 Grimmauld Place was silent as a crypt. After the news had come that Susan had passed away at St. Mungo's, nobody had known what to do. Fleur had returned to her flat in Diagon Alley and had told the rest of them that she would keep them in her thoughts. Cedric had returned home. He had to write the rest of Susan's friends and inform them of what happened if they didn't already know. Or her former friends anyway.
"I just can't believe it," Neville said. "She's gone." There was a silent affirmation at his words.
"How did this happen?" John asked nobody in particular. "They had protection, didn't they? Wards and other charms?"
"They probably had basic protection wards," Daphne said. "But they have the same problem as our manor. Unless a very powerful wizard is performing it, then the Fidelus Charm won't work. The manor is just too big."
Harry sighed. "Have we heard from Blaise?"
John shook his head. "He's at his mother's estate in Portugal right now. He just said he needed to be alone for a while."
"I can't imagine what he's going through," Tracey said. She moved closer to Neville as if trying to assure herself that he would be safe by her mere presence.
"This is war," Harry commented. "I know that sounds like a cruel answer, but Sirius told me things like this would happen."
"How can you even say that?" Hermione asked Harry. "Our friend is dead."
"I know Hermione," Harry said coolly. "She was my friend too. But things like this aren't going to stop. He's trying to instill fear and terror in the world right now by going after us. Trying to break us all down."
"We can't let that bastard win," John said, putting an arm around Hermione. He would die before he let someone hurt her.
"That's why this training is so important," Harry replied. "It's just like Susan said: this is our war too."
Nobody else responded, but everyone clearly agreed with him. That was when the fireplace lit up in green. "Daphne?" Daniel's voice called out. "Are you there?"
"Dad?" she blinked as her father came through with Dumbledore. "Did something else happen?"
"No dear," Daniel shook his head. "There's just something that needs to be discussed. With you and Harry, I mean. Sirius as well."
"Is it the matter we were discussing last week Dumbledore?" Sirius said from the doorway. He had been in the kitchen when he heard Daniel call out.
"It is," Dumbledore nodded. "Is there a place that we can talk privately?"
Sirius nodded. "My study. Follow me."
"What's this all about?" Daphne whispered to Harry as they were led away from their friends.
"I don't know," Harry said honestly. This had to be connected to the attack on the Bones' residence. Were they moving Harry somewhere?
"Please have a seat," Sirius said as they entered the study. It looked like Daphne's father's study at home.
"Was is this about?" Daphne asked her father, who wouldn't meet her gaze.
"Daphne," Daniel sighed. "Nobody is safe anymore. We saw that with the attack on the Bones. The Headmaster came to me with an idea, and after a discussion with your mother, I agreed to."
"What is it Daddy?" Daphne had never seen her father like this. Whatever this was, it was obviously hard for him.
"For the remainder of the summer and perhaps longer, you and your sister will be residing here at Grimmauld Place."
"W-What?" Daphne looked at Sirius, who nodded.
"You'll be allowed to stay for as long as you need to," Sirius offered her a gentle smile. "I'm more than happy to shelter you and Tori."
"What if I don't want to leave home?" Daphne said.
"This isn't a discussion Daphne," Daniel said firmly. "I can't protect you at the Manor. It's a sad thing for any father to admit, but it's the truth. If the Dark Lord came to our manor right now, I'd be powerless to stop him."
"But what about you sir?" Harry asked. "He'll be coming after you as well, won't he?"
"Aye, he will," Daniel nodded. "But the Ministry has already assigned me protection. If he attacks, Jane and I will have time to get away. I won't allow them to get their hands on Daphne or Astoria, though."
"Does Astoria know?" Daphne asked.
"I spoke to her about it before I came to see you. She isn't pleased, but she will accept my decision."
"Daphne," Daniel said gently. "Your mother and I love you. This is why we're doing this. We just want to know you're safe."
"I understand dad," she gave him a slight smile despite the circumstances. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"Where will I be staying in the house?" Daphne asked her eyes, glancing at Harry.
"One of the guest bedrooms," Sirius said quickly. "We have more than a few. You and Astoria are welcome to choose any of them."
Harry avoided Daniel's gaze. This was the first time that he had seen his girlfriend's father since he had been doused in water. "Sirius," he said instead. "Did you change the wards on the house when you moved in?"
"No, why would I?" Sirius asked, confused. "They're still just as strong as the day this place was built."
"But won't your relatives be able to get in?" Harry pointed out. The look on Daniel's face made it clear this was a concern of his as well.
Sirius grinned before shaking his head. "Not a chance," He walked over to a bookshelf and grabbed a rather large tome off it before setting it down at the desk. "This is the house registry."
"The what?" Harry asked, perplexed.
"The key into the home basically," Sirius clarified before opening it. Inside, Harry spotted his own name, John's, Hannah's, and a few other written on the pages. "Anyone who I key into the wards has access inside."
"Others," He turned a page, and there was a much longer list of names written down. "Like my cousins, Bellatrix and Narcissa do not. The magic functions as its own Fidelus Charm. They have no access and can't even remember that Grimmauld Place even exists."
"It'll keep those Death Eaters out, I can assure you of that," Sirius finished.
"Very good," Daniel said.
Dumbledore agreed. "Before we lose any more of the day, I think it is best that young Miss Greengrass returns back home to collect her belongings."
Daniel nodded. "Harry," he said. "Could I have a word with you?"
"Erhmm…" Harry shifted uncomfortably.
"It'll only take a moment," Daniel said. The tone in his voice made it clear this was something that needed to be discussed.
"I'll see you by the floo," Daphne whispered to her boyfriend and gave her father one last look before leaving with Dumbledore.
"Don't hurt him terribly Daniel," Sirius only half-joked before leaving the room.
"How are you Harry?" Daniel asked when they were alone. "I know the past day can't have been easy for you."
"I've been better sir," Harry answered honestly. "Susan was my friend. I'll miss her."
"I didn't have the pleasure of spending as much time with Miss Bones as you did, but she was always kind," Daniel offered a weak smile. "I just wanted to speak to you about the living arrangements."
Harry knew this would come up. "What about them?" he asked, trying to play dumb.
"I hope you know they are necessary," Daniel said instead. "If what Sirius said is true, then this is the most warded house in all of England. I know Daphne and Astoria will be safe here."
"I would also like…ehem…to apologize for what occurred between us the last time I saw you," Daniel said.
"Excuse me?" Harry asked, his face tinged pink.
"The erhm conversation I overheard with you and Daphne," Daniel cleared his throat. "It caught me off guard. It's not something fathers would like to hear their daughters discuss."
Harry suddenly wished he was anywhere but here.
"I'm not a fool Harry. I was your age once as well, so I know the urges. I know when the time comes, you'll be respectful towards Daphne. All I ask is that you be safe. I'd rather not be a grand-pappy just yet."
Like seriously, could Harry just burst into flames right now? "Sirius gave me the talk, sir." His face was redder than the Weasley hair color right now.
"Right. I just wanted to apologize was all," Daniel clarified before clearing his throat again.
"What was that about?" Daphne asked Harry once he came back down.
"Nothing," Harry said in a high pitched voice.
"So, she's going to be living here?" John asked Harry as he lifted Daphne's suitcase up the stairs to the guest bedroom. "Her and Tori?"
"Yeah. Until further notice, I guess," Harry replied as he lugged Astoria's suitcase behind him. What the hell did she have in here? He was in shape, but this was going to tear a muscle.
"Shit," John remarked to himself. "Harry," he said suddenly. "You don't think Hermione is in any danger, do you?"
This got Harry's attention. Of course, he had thought about his best friend's safety, but he hadn't actually talked to Dumbledore about it. "She would," Harry responded. "I'll talk to Dumbledore later about it. I'm sure we'll come to an agreement."
"An agreement about what?" Hermione asked when both boys appeared at the top of the stairs, where she was talking to Astoria and Daphne.
"About who is the most beautiful witch in the world," John said. Hermione blushed at the compliment.
Astoria let out a fake retch. "Can you both get a damn room?"
John shrugged. "I mean mine is one fl-"
"JOHN!" Hannah called warningly from upstairs, and he blanched.
"Never mind then," he said meekly.
Their tiny group gave a collective chuckle. This was nice. After the day they had, they needed something to distract them from the horrors of the outside. "Just this room in here Harry," Astoria nodded as her sister's boyfriend lugged the suitcase in.
"What do you have in here Tori?" he grunted as he managed to prop it up by the bed.
"Books," she said simply and zipped it open. Inside was an assortment of books, from ten thousand-page tomes to small pamphlets.
"Oh Tori," Hermione almost said lovingly. "You just became my favorite Greengrass."
"Okay then," Daphne grumbled.
Harry put an arm around her and smiled. "You're still my favorite if that means anything."
She returned his smile. "Can we talk? Privately?" she asked.
He nodded. "We'll be right back," he said to the others as he led her out of Tori's room. A short walk up the stairs and a trip down the hallway, and they were in Harry's room. "What is it?" he asked as they both walked in.
"Daph?" he asked as she only looked at him. "What's wro-" Whatever he was going to say next was stopped when she threw her arms around him and started snogging him senseless.
He reluctantly pushed her away and held her firmly by her shoulders away from him. "Not that I didn't enjoy that, but what brought it on?"
"Harry," she said weakly. "Susan is gone."
"I know she is Daph," he said and leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I know."
"She and I were born only two days apart did you know that?" Harry didn't. "She was August thirteenth, and I was the fifteenth."
"She was a good person and a great friend," he said. "She'll be missed."
"That could've been me, Harry," Daphne said. "I can't but think that. What if they had come to our manor instead and I had been there? There's so much I haven't done yet that I want to do."
"It wasn't Daphne, and it never will be," Harry said determinedly. "I won't let them hurt you."
"I know you'll try Harry," she said and gave him a small smile despite herself. "But it doesn't always work out the way we want. I will fight with you, and if I die, it'll be worth it. I'll have died for something I believe in. But I want to live. I want to have a family with you. I want to spend my life with you, Harry."
"Are you wanting me to propose right now?" he said nervously. He knew he loved Daphne, but he wasn't ready to be a husband just yet. Keyword being yet.
"No," she rolled her eyes. "It's just horrible to know finally what that monster is capable of. It's different when you read about it or when it happens to someone else. But when it happens to someone you care about it just brings the reality home."
"I know," he said gently. "That's why we have to beat him. We can't let him do this to anyone else. But people will die. People we care about. That's why we need to win."
"I know we can," she smiled at him and held him close.
He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her into him. He couldn't put into words how much he loved this girl before him. He would die protecting her. "What did my dad talk to you about anyway?" she asked.
He was glad that she couldn't see his face turn red. "Uhm well…he just wanted to talk about the living situation we'd be under while you're here. Mostly about the sleeping arrangements."
"Oh," Daphne said absentmindedly, and then clarity struck her. "OH!" she was glad he couldn't see how red her face turned. "He didn't try to scare you off, did he?"
"I like your dad, but I wouldn't have paid him any mind even if he did," Harry replied. "He just told me…ehem…when the time does come to be respectful."
"Bloody hell," she groaned. "Just what I need: my father talking to my boyfriend about his daughter's sex life."
"Is that why you snogged me when you came in?" Harry asked, trying to steer the conversation away from Daniel.
She looked embarrassed. "Yes," she said meekly. "I didn't want to die without showing you how much I love you. I was being stupid."
"Daph, you're a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them," he smiled before kissing her gently. "We'll have the rest of our lives for that. But you don't need to do it just bec-"
"Do what exactly?" Astoria asked from the doorway.
Daphne's eyes went wide. Harry forgot to fully close the door when they came in. "H-How long were you standing there?"
"Oh, I came around when Harry was saying that Daddy talked to him about you and him shagging," Tori shivered. "That must've been horrible."
"Just as horrible as my little sister listening in on a private conversation," Daphne glared at her.
Tori shrugged. "Well, the door was open, and Daddy told me to keep an eye on you while you were here. I just wanted to make sure you guys weren't…up to anything."
"Anyway, Hermione is about to leave," Tori said. "She wanted to say goodbye."
"That reminds me I need to talk to Dumbledore later," Harry said to himself more than anyone.
"Maybe John already did. I saw talking to him about something downstairs," Tori said. "Sirius is going to drop Hermione and John off at her house. I guess he needs to talk to her parents about something."
"…Why doesn't he just apparate?" Harry groaned. Sirius had gone out and bought some brand-new Ford Mondeo (A/n: Just so you know I'm not a car person. I literally just googled 'most popular cars in 90's England'. If the Mondeo wasn't actually a well-liked car, let me know) that he had been using any excuse to drive around the neighborhood. Whoever had given that man a license was a danger to the city as much as Sirius was. Harry hoped he had a license, at least.
"I'm going to talk to Dumbledore about just taking them there himself," Harry said and walked out of the room, leaving the Greengrass sisters with each other.
"So…" Tori said, breaking the silence.
"What," Daphne replied.
"So…you guys started shagging?"
"Why…WHY?!" Daphne asked. "Why must you look into my business like that?"
Tori wasn't fazed and only shrugged. "I wouldn't be a little sister if I didn't." With that, she turned and left the room, leaving her sister shaking her head.
"Thanks for the ride again Sirius," Hermione said as she stumbled out of the car. LAND PRECIOUS LAND! She had almost lost her lunch several times in that death trap. Next time she would just have her parents pick her up.
"Don't mention it Hermione," Sirius beamed at her. "John, if you want to talk to Mr. and Mrs Granger about what you and Dumbledore discussed, I'll be right out here. Just let me know if you need anything."
"Sure, Black," he responded. His girlfriend's parents weren't the only ones he was planning on talking to. He would talk to his mother about getting her boyfriend a few driving classes.
"I really wished the Headmaster could've popped over here instead," Hermione said to her boyfriend as they walked away from Sirius's car. He had been more than willing but urgent business had drawn him away. What it had been, he hadn't said.
John shrugged. "At least you don't have to go back with him," he shivered for effect.
"You should be nicer to Sirius," Hermione tutted.
John shrugged again. "I like him. He and I have the same type of humor. I just like taking the piss out of him sometimes."
"There's a reason for that, I'm sure," she muttered.
"What'd you say?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said quickly. She wondered when Hannah was planning on telling her son about his true father. Hermione had been noticing Sirius making an attempt at being fatherly with John without trying to be appear being fatherly. More than a few times, Hermione had to spend time with her parents because her boyfriend was off with Sirius. It didn't bother her though. She loved her parents and was glad that Sirius was trying to get to know his son better. Even if said son had no idea.
Hermione walked up to her door and tried to open it up. To her surprise, the door just came open as soon as she applied some force to it. "That's odd," she said.
"Do your parents usually leave the door open?" John asked.
"No," Hermione answered plainly. "Mum? Dad?" she called inside. No answer.
They both walked in. "I don't like the look of this," John said to her as his hand inched towards his wand.
The house was silent, which made this even odder. Usually, Mum would be making dinner in the kitchen by this time, and Dad would be watching whatever football game was on at the moment. "Mum? Dad? Are you home?" she called out and was answered by the muffled sounds moaning coming from the kitchen. Her eyes went wide, and she sprinted off.
"Hermione!" he called after her and went after her.
They ran into the kitchen, and Hermione was horrified when she saw her parents tied up and facing each other in two chairs. Her mother's t-shirt had been ripped, and her dad had been beaten. He had two black eyes, a split lip, and had blood running from a cut on his forehead. "MUM! DAD!" she called out to them and sprinted towards them.
"I wouldn't go any farther, Granger," a familiar snide voice said from behind them.
John turned to see a wand between his eyes. And a blonde boy holding it. "Malfoy?" he asked.
"That's right Duffy," Draco smirked. "Glad to see me?"
"Can't say I am," John spat. "You're going to pay for this."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Oldest line in the book. I see someone gave you what was coming to you. Was it from daddy?" he showed Duffy his right hand. "I still owe you for this though."
"I'm going to kill you Malfoy!" Hermione yelled at him, and she started to undo her parents' bonds.
"I vouldn't do that Herm-oh-ninny," a deep voice said as he stepped into the kitchen.
"V-Viktor?" she gasped. This had been the first time she had been this close to the other boy since the Yule Ball. Where he had tried to "get close" to her as he put it.
"In the flesh," he smirked. "So, these are your parents. I vould say it is a pleasure, but it is not."
Krum looked to Malfoy. "I thought Veasley vus supposed to vatch the entrance."
"He should've been," Malfoy grunted. "Weasley! Where the hell are you?"
There came a loud thunk from upstairs, and the hurried pattering of footsteps as someone came sprinting down the stairs. Into the kitchen came her former friend. "Wh-" then he saw Hermione. "H-Hermione."
"Ron?" she said, and her eyes narrowed. "You're with them now?"
"I-" he began before Malfoy interrupted.
"Seems Weasley couldn't stay away," he smirked. "In fact, when the Dark Lord came along, he was on his knees. He knew the natural order of things would be restored."
"Now," Malfoy continued and motioned for John to back up, which after a glare in his former dorm mates direction, he did to stand by Hermione. "Let's get down to business. You both are extremely close to that prat Potter. So close in fact, that the Dark Lord has marked you. He wants to send Potter a message. I didn't expect you to be here Duffy, but we'll consider that a bonus."
"Fuck you," John spat.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Crucio," John fell to the ground in pain. To his credit, he didn't scream. "Come on Duffy, why don't you sing me a song?" To Draco's annoyance, the other boy still wouldn't scream. "Cunt." a flick of his wand and the curse was stopped
"Y-You're weak Malfoy," John got out in haggard breaths. "You've always been weak, and you'll always be weak."
Malfoy glowered at his former rival before delivering a kick to his ribs. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Hermione yelled and tried to run at Malfoy before Krum grabbed her. He held her around his waist and had his wand at her throat.
"I vouldn't do that again, Herm-oh-ninny," he whispered into her ear.
"Let her go, you bastard," Matthew said from his chair. "I'll kill you if you-"
Krum rolled his eyes and hit the man with a Cruciates curse. "You von't be doing much of anything," he smirked as the man howled in pain. Viktor let the man soak it in before cutting the curse off abruptly.
"DADDY!" Hermione screeched.
Draco smirked. "As much as I'd like to keep this going, we have a schedule that we need to keep to," he nodded to Weasley. "Stand him up."
Ron silently moved to John and grabbed him, dragging the boy to his feet. "Always knew you were a prat Weasley, but I never thought you'd go this far," John looked at the other boy who wouldn't meet his eyes. "Death Eaters killed Susan, and you're throwing in with them?"
"Bones is dead?" Draco said. "Shame good looking bitch. Was going to ask the Dark Lord if I could have her as a gift once the war was done."
"Guess I'll have to settle for Greengrass," he said, looking at John.
John didn't respond but started to laugh. "What's so funny Duffy?" Malfoy barked at the boy annoyingly.
"You idiots," John responded as soon as he was done laughing. "Even if you kill us both here today, it won't matter."
"And why is that?" Draco asked, wanting him to get to the point.
"Because you'll have killed two of Harry's closest friends," John smirked at Malfoy. "And he'll make you die screaming."
Suddenly Ron shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe this isn't the best idea Malfoy," he said, allowing the trepidation to run into his voice.
"Shut up, Weasley!" Malfoy snapped. "This is happening."
"And dammit if I don't enjoy it," he grunted and shoved the wand against Duffy's throat. "Any last words?"
"Yeah," Duffy's eyes narrowed. "SIRIUS NOW!"
"EXPELIARMUS!" Draco's wand came shooting out of his hand and into Sirius's own. When he had heard Hermione screech, he had come into the house with his wand ready.
"Krum, kill the bitch!" Draco ordered the boy as he dodged a follow-up stunner from Black. He needed to get the hell out of here.
"AV-" Viktor began but cried out in pain when Hermione cracked her leg up into his manly bits.
Ron released Duffy and backed up into the kitchen. This had all gone sideways. He was only supposed to be the lookout. That was it.
"Hermione, get your parents out of here!" Sirius ordered as he trained his wand on Ron. "Not a move, boy," he said coldly. Ron threw his hands up in surrender.
In all the confusion, John had trained his wand on Krum. Fuck. Malfoy had gotten away before he could curse the ferret. "I'm going to kill you Krum," John growled.
"You vill try," Krum responded. "AVADA KEDRAVA!" The green light shot towards John, who dropped towards the ground and fired off a spell of his own.
"DIFFENDO!" the cutting spell hit Krum and took his head at the neck. Blood spurted out of the man's body like a fountain as his head hit the floor, rolling behind the telly.
"Mum, Dad," Hermione squeaked out to her parents as she hastily untied them. "Are you alright?"
They both responded by wrapping their daughter in an overwhelming hug. "We were so worried about you dear," Emma said, clutching her daughter close. "When you didn't come home, we thought they had already gotten you."
"I'm fine Mum," Hermione whispered to her mother. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't been friends with Harry, then they wouldn't have gone after you."
"Shhhh, don't talk like that," Matthew said to his daughter. "They hate people like us anyway, so they would've gotten to us eventually."
"We really should be thanking you both," he continued looking up at Sirius and John. "You saved us."
"I'm just glad you both are alright," Sirius said to them both before turning to look at his son. "Take over here while I call Dumbledore. He needs to know what happened."
John nodded absentmindedly and trained his wand on Weasley. He had just killed someone, and it hadn't bothered him. Did that make him a bad person? Krum had been trying to kill him and the rest of them after all, so it was self-defense, but John thought he would feel some type of way about it.
What really was getting to him was what Hermione had said. She was right about Harry. If they hadn't been friends with him, then her parents wouldn't have been in this particular situation. He knew it wasn't Harry's fault, but it was still a fact.
"John?" Matthew said again.
"Huh?" he said, looking to his girlfriend's father. "Sorry Matthew, did you say something?"
"I was asking if you were fine lad," Matthew repeated. The boy had just taken a life. Self-defense of course, but Matthew had been in the forces before he went to study. He had seen things and knew how the boy might be feeling.
"Yeah, I'm fine," John said simply.
"Please, I'm so sorry," Ron got out as he began to cry. "I didn't kn-"
"Stupefy," a red light shot from John's wand and into Weasley ending with him crumpling to the ground. "Shut up."
"I can't believe that Ronald would go along with these people," Emma said, shaking her head. She had only met the boy a handful of times, but he didn't seem like the type to believe what these 'Death Eaters' believed.
"I can't believe it either," Hermione said with a touch of sadness in her voice.
"Alright," Sirius said, coming back into the room. "Dumbledore is on his way with a few members of the Order."
"Good. I want to speak to him anyway," Matthew said. "Maybe about how we can protect Hermione while she's at school."
"That's actually why I came with her sir," John said. "To talk to you and Mrs. Granger about all this."
"I would love to hear whatever you have to say," Matthew nodded. "But I do believe that I could use a drink first. Sirius, would you care for one?"
"Most definitely," Sirius nodded.
"John?"
"Yes sir?" he looked to the man who set out five glasses. "Oh, uhm sure."
"I know how you feel son," Matthew said, gently setting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's horrible, but it had to be done." John nodded but otherwise didn't say anything. Matthew poured out five glasses of brandy. "It'll calm your nerves love," he said to his daughter as she took the glass and drank.
"Now why don't you tell us more about what you came to speak to us about John," Emma said as she sipped on her glass. She had never been a brandy girl but made an exception this time.
"Has Hermione told you about Grimmauld Place?" John asked.