Edited 4/16/23
Thanks to RabidCommentarian for beta work. And bam2305 for alpha-ing.
I did in fact go back and add a huge chunk about the Fidelus, so that's what's changed (in addition to minor edits on language!) We went from 4000ish to 4800+ words!
Here is your chapter. I'm not totally content with the part about the Fidelius, but maybe I'll go back and add to it later? Who knows!
Anyway, enjoy!
Friday, January 23 , 1998
Draco
He was seething. Fucking Pansy and Crabbe and Goyle. At least Blaise had fucked off with the Weaslette. But the other three. Salazar help him. He was ready to strangle them. He'd told Pansy in no uncertain terms that he was done with her, but the stupid witch wasn't taking the hint.
He'd taken to casting the Nexus Vincula during meals as often as he could to make sure he'd gotten everyone. She wasn't here. Whoever she was. Was she that much younger than him that she hadn't appeared 5 years ago? He shuddered thinking about his potential future soulmate who was under the age of 6.
He was storming around the castle, he knew it, and it just added to the intimidating presence he put out. A part of him was frustrated because he was good at playing the Lord. But it didn't bring him any of the joy it had when he was younger. He just wanted to be able to be himself. Not that he was really sure what that was anymore.
"Hey. Wanker," he felt a grape hit his head and caught the next one as it flew toward him.
"What. Do. You. Want. Theodore?" he bit out at his majorly irritating best friend.
"I wanted to let you know that I have some family business this weekend. I was hoping that I could copy your notes from Charms and Arithmancy tomorrow as I won't be here."
"Whatever. Of course," he growled back, scratching at the Mark on his left arm. He saw Theo's eyes dart to the movement and his lips pursed. "Merlin Theo, you'd think you were my bloody mother." He got up and stormed away leaving most of his classmates rolling their eyes. Draco tried to ignore the sadness he'd seen in Theo's eyes.
Pansy had followed him out. Of course. "Drakey," she simpered, "I thought I could help you relieve some of that pent up stress."
"Salazar help me," he grasped Pansy roughly by the arm, dragging her into a classroom. "Nexus Vincula." He watched as the cords extended from them, noticing how their cord had dulled to a barely shining yellow. He pointed to the Golden Cord. "I have no interest in being with you. I have a Soulmate out there, and the last thing I want to do is disrespect her with the likes of you."
"But Dracoo, why did you used to disrespect yourself with me?" she said with an audacious wink.
"Because I hadn't cast the spell since I was 11 with my parents and Theo and I tested it out this year. And I found out that I have a Soulmate and you are not it. You're nothing to me Pansy. Get. Over. It." She spun around and sobbed dramatically, hesitating at the door, hoping he would call her back. He scoffed as she finally stormed out. When he was sure she was gone, he walked himself up to the Hospital Wing and asked for a potion for his raging headache.
When Theo found him at dinner, he didn't say anything to Draco, just sat next to him, commiserating. "Want to go for a stroll?" Theo said at the end of the meal. Draco just nodded and stood, silently leaving the Great Hall next to his friend.
When they'd reached the 4th floor, Draco led them to an abandoned classroom. They Transfigured the desks into cosy chairs and sat silently for a while. "How much do you think is going to change?" he asked quietly.
Theo looked up at him, "Hopefully everything. I know you don't want to see all the calculations in depth, but there are some things that are stuck. They can't change no matter what we do. Some things are bound in time. But we can win this Drake, we just need your help," he ended pleadingly.
"I have been helping, Theo."
"More than last time yes, but honestly Draco we need to do this together, all three of us. We need you."
Draco scoffed. "Hermione Granger hasn't needed me a day in her life. The Golden Girl can do just about anything she puts her mind to and I won't stand in her way, but I can't hurt my Mother."
Theo sat silently looking disappointed. Great. Another person he'd disappointed, would it ever end?
Theo
The next day, Theo woke up with a spring in his step. He'd be meeting Mia right after breakfast. When he'd scarfed down his food, he sauntered down to Slughorn and told him that his Father had requested him for the day on some very important business. Slughorn, naturally agreed and sent Theo on his way.
When Theo had reached the Hogwarts property line, he apparated to a field that he used to transfigure himself. He then apparated to the town that was closest to the cabin. He met Mia at a cafe, and bought them both a cuppa. When she showed up looking like the female version of Theodore Nott he chuckled.
He grabbed her hand and apparated her to the cabin. Darcy and Bennett were standing in the doorway once they'd passed through the few wards the elves had placed.
"No time like the present then," she said nervously. He pulled her into a hug and cleared his throat, preparing them for the ritual.
It took ages.
The name Fidelus Charm was a bit of a misnomer. In fact, the ritual could barely be counted as a charm, as only the final step involved any wand waving at all. Theo sucked in a deep breath as he stepped into the ritual circle. Which had a circle, with a triangle in the centre. That, of course, was the first step was to draw the ritual circle on the floor of the cabin. Hermione, of course, had copious notes on what exactly the circle was supposed to look like. Fortunately for him, she trusted him to do his research, so she kept the academic lecturing to a minimum. Theo stood with Darcy and Bennett at the three points of the triangle, with Hermione sitting in the middle, a cauldron of bubbling potion that would be used to tie Hermione to the House as the Secret Keeper in front of her.
Theo, Darcy, and Bennett began the opening chant of the ritual.
"Hac in die Magicam invocamus, ut eius nos protectione benedicat. Hermione Granger hunc locum in aeternum servabit, locus ille magicus inviolabilis usque ad mortem sibi vindicabit." (On this day we invoke Magic to bless us with her protection. Hermione Granger shall keep this place safe in perpetuity. This magical place will be inviolable until death claims her.)
Theo could feel the Magic entering the circle. Small flames ran around the circle, between the three chanters and Hermione. Once the opening chant was complete, Theo nodded to Hermione who took a knife out of her robe and sliced her hand. She collected the blood in her palm and then, let seven drops fall into the potion. She quickly wrapped her hand in bandages she had on hand and then looked to Theo.
He began to chant again with the elves.
"Hunc locum ab extra defendat. Abscondita est ab alienis. Magia noster hunc Secretorum Custodum ad hunc locum adstrinxit." (Protect this place from outside. Keep the secret away from the unknown. May our Magic bind this Guardian of the Secrets to this place.)
He felt a dip in his energy at this point in the ritual, sucking in a few deep breaths to centre himself. Hermione looked between the three of them, worried. Hermione took the final piece of the potion, a paper that had the coordinates of the Granger Estate written on it and dropped it into the cauldron.
She began her own part of the chant, and Theo was awed to feel his own Magic begin to drain, filling the inner triangle with a visible blanket of Magic.
Magicae benedictione, huic me commendo loco. Magica mea eam ab ignotis tuebitur. Donec Secretum communicatur, in me vivet donec mors me petat. (By the blessing of Magic, I bind myself to this place. My Magic, will keep it from the unknown. Until the Secret is shared, it will live within me until death claims me.)
When she finished her chant, she looked electrified. Her braids had begun to float around her erratically. She lifted the ladle of the cauldron to her lips and drank the potion. When the Magic around her flared, Theo felt his Magic drain to a dangerous level. The blanket of Magic was soaked into the potion and Hermione stood, holding the cauldron in front of her and lifting it above her head, tilting it until she was covered in the liquid.
For a few moments, she was drenched in the purple liquid, until it flashed and disappeared. Hermione's eyes widened and she chanted her final lines.
"Perfecto hoc ritu peto Secretam huius loci. Sic fiat fiat." (With the completion of this ritual I claim the Secret of this place. So mote it be.)
She waved her wand in a complicated pattern and cast the charm that ended the ritual. "Fidelis ad mortem!"
He wasn't sure how long it had been, but Theo blinked his eyes open. He was draped across the couch in the living room. Theo had never felt so drained in his life. He looked over at Hermione who was slumped on the opposite side of the couch. Darcy and Bennett were curled together on one of the chairs. After a moment, Hermione stirred. "Theo," she asked, turning her head sluggishly to look at him, "Where are we?"
"Good one, Mia. We're at- at… it's on the tip of my toun- We're bloody geniuses! We did it! I have no idea where we are."
Then they laughed. He wasn't sure he'd ever laughed so hard in his entire life. She took a piece of paper and wrote:
Hermione Granger lives at Granger Cabin in Kielder Forest.
The ritual hadn't taken too long, but the sun was at its apex by the time they were able to rouse themselves. They thanked their past selves for thinking to prepare sandwiches as they gobbled them down.
Before long, Hermione stood slowly."Alright, I'm off to get Harry. Darcy, can you follow me invisibly so you can see when we're ready and let Theo know when to take the Polyjuice?"
"Of course Mistress!" squeaked Darcy.
Theo threw himself on the disgusting looking couch. "I shall await your return, Mia!"
She chuckled and apparated out.
Hermione
When she got back to the location that they'd agreed on she was shocked to find Ronald Weasley standing grinning next to Harry, casually holding the sword and Harry holding a destroyed locket. She remembered how this went last time. She was exhausted by this hunt and it felt like they had no leads and then Ron swooped in and saved the day and yet again she'd felt relegated to second place.
While she did feel rather excited to see him, there was a slight sense of irritation at the whole situation. He looked so bloody proud of himself as if she hadn't just drained almost all of her Magical energy in order to keep them safe. Sure he'd destroyed a Horcrux, but it's not like he'd been here, helping them stay safe. It surprised her just how annoyed she was. With everything that had happened in the future, she thought she'd be more excited to see him.
"Where have you been!?" she all but shouted at him. "Actually, what is the reason that I was stuck in the bathroom with the troll?"
He blushed, "Because I'd said to Harry that you were mental and you overheard me. What was the spell you used on me in 6th year when I brought Lavender into that room with you and Harry?"
"Oppungo," she said with a smirk. She turned to Harry, "Why does the Caged Bird Sing?"
"The Caged Bird sings of Freedom," he said much to Ron's confusion.
"What's all this then?" she said, gesturing to the Horcrux and sword. "No hold that," she said, holding up her hand when Ron was about to speak. "We should get to our next place. Come on you two, grab my arms, we're off to our next destination."
She reached out her arms and then made sure they were both ready to go. She apparated them out to the Granger Cabin. "I can't tell you where we are because of the whole connection to You-Know-Who thing, but needless to say we're under a Fidelius. Andromeda is inside to have a celebratory drink and then she has to be off. I'm sure she'll be quite excited to see you, Ron." She may have added that part a little louder than necessary so that Theo could hear and adjust his behaviour accordingly.
The boys followed her inside and looked around the cabin. "It's…nice?" said Ron scratching the back of his head.
She rolled her eyes and Harry punched him in the arm giving him a look. "We haven't been able to update it yet, Ronald. Andi and I spent all morning doing the Fidelius, I'll transfigure things later. "
Theo, Polyjuiced as Andromeda stood in the living room. "Let me help with that, Hermione," she tutted and waved her wand, everything automatically fixed itself, or as Hermione knew the glamours that were on every surface were wiped away. "Good to see you gentlemen, I was only expecting the one."
"It's a surprise to me as well," Hermione said, attempting to keep the bitterness from her voice.
"Well I think this calls for a small celebration. I put away your groceries while you were out, everything should be put away but let's have a glass of elf-wine as a celebration of this achievement then I must be off!"
When he'd finally begged his way out, cutting it extremely close to the Polyjuice cut off, Hermione turned to Ron and Harry. "Explain."
"Well see there was this Doe Patronus, and then there was a pond, and the sword was in the bottom and so I went in and then the Horcrux dragged me down, but Ron saved me. Then he destroyed the Horcrux and he was brilliant 'mione, truly! And then we got back to the place where we were going to meet you and waited…"
"You mean to tell me, Harry James Potter, that you willingly followed an unknown Patronus into an unknown forest, then dove into an ice-covered pond, after what you thought might be the Sword of Gryffindor, then almost drowned and was only saved because Ronald happened to be there? All of this with a borrowed wand!"
Harry had the decency to look sheepish. Ron looked affronted. "Don't be so hard on him, 'mione, we destroyed the Horcrux."
"Don't even get me started on you. You abandoned us for months and then just showed up just in time to save us and destroy the Horcrux!"
"'mione, I-" she huffed and spun on her heel and slammed the door to the bedroom. She was angrier than she thought. It was nice to see him, especially after she knew that he'd died, but he'd abandoned them. How would she be certain he wouldn't do it again?
The following days were trying. Hermione and Harry split the cooking duties, quite glad to have a full refrigerator and stocked shelves. Ron continued to try to apologise for leaving, but Hermione wasn't sure she was prepared to totally forgive him. They spent a lot of time talking about what the next Horcrux could be, Hermione diligently led them towards the Cup and the Diadem, but they were being stubborn.
She'd hoped that without the locket things would be easier, but she'd found that she'd gotten used to Theo and George and Harry and Ron just didn't offer the same mental stimulation. She loved them, she really did, and while Theo felt like the twin she'd never had, Harry had become more and more like a younger brother. His moods were constantly shifting, at least in part because of the Horcrux in his scar, but Hermione who'd dealt with a lot more war than this version of Harry and Ron put together found their softness to the difficulties of War a bit irritating.
A little over a week after they arrived, Ron approached Hermione asking to speak. She followed him outside to the porch, trying not to overthink the situation as she was wont to do.
"'mione, I just wanted to apologise again. I know that leaving was really terrible and I should have stayed, but I just- the Horcrux was seriously affecting me. I'm just so bloody sorry. I wasn't in my right mind and I regretted it right away and I plan on spending the rest of my days getting you to forgive me."
She looked up at his earnest face and could see her childhood friend. She quashed the tinge of annoyance at his lack of "I'm sorry." She internally cringed at "getting you to forgive me," and pretended that she wouldn't have preferred "earning your forgiveness." After a second, she reached for his hand and held it between hers. She looked through her eyelashes at him. He smiled down at her, and reached his other hand, brushing it against her cheek, lifting her chin to him.
He leaned down attempting to kiss her. At the last moment, she turned so that his lips landed on her cheek. She tamped down the tinge of guilt she felt when she saw his face fall. After a moment, she turned towards the forest and leaned her head on his shoulder to look out at the snow covered trees. Was this how it was supposed to be?
The following weeks went by in a flurry of research and attempts by Ron to initiate another kiss and Hermione avoiding them with all her might. She was eternally grateful that Harry politely ignored the tension between his two best friends. In a surprising twist, Ron was putting significantly more work into it all than he had the first time around. They tried to narrow down just where the Horcruxes would be, agreeing that Hogwarts seemed likely, they started combing through the memories that Harry and Dumbledore had gone through together, trying to find another location. She was still working with Theo on how they could get Draco to enter Bellatrix's vault for the Cup. For all their letters passed back and forth, Theo and Hermione weren't having much success in figuring out just what the final Horcrux was.
Thursday, February 12, 1998
Draco
The rest of January had continued to be terrible and February had dawned with more pressure and more torture and Draco was tired. He attended all his classes but barely paid attention to anything. At least Pansy was giving him the cold shoulder, something he couldn't find that he minded even the slightest. During dinner, he felt his Mark burn. After making eye contact with Severus, he made his way out the door, followed by Crabbe and Goyle, the Carrows following closely behind.
When they got to the Wards, they let the Mark apparate them away. Draco found himself in the foyer, although he knew that the rest of his party was at the gates, perks of being a Malfoy, he scoffed. He saw his mother standing there wringing her hands.
"Thank goodness, my Dragon," she said, rushing to him. "He's quite angry tonight," she added quietly. "Put up your walls now." Draco nodded and reinforced his Occlumency walls. He followed his mother into the Dining Room and took his place between his Mother and Father.
The Dark Lord was stroking Nagini's head at the head of the table. "Ssso kind of you to join ussss, Draco," he hissed. "Where are your lackeysss?'' he saw Crabbe and Goyle's fathers stiffen at the slight.
"The rest of the Hogwarts group was rerouted to the gates, but I didn't want to keep you waiting, Master."
"Yessss, you Malfoyss alwaysss ssso ssslippery and sssuave," the Dark Lord taunted. A few moments later, Crabbe, Goyle, and the Carrows appeared at the door.
"Severus sends his regards, and will join us after dinner," said Alecto snidely.
The Dark Lord nodded and turned to Dolohov. "What do you have to report?"
"I couldn't find any trace of the Mudblood's parents, but I did find another Mudblood for your pleasure, Master," Dolohov croaked. Draco hated him. Azkaban had not been kind to him in any way. Draco made eye contact with Thorfinn Rowle and noticed just how hazy his eyes really were. There must have been something to Theo's comment about Rowle being Imperiused.
Voldemort sighed. "For your failure you shall be punished, Antonin. But then I will allow you to lead our entertainment for the night."
"I understand, Master," he said reverently. The Dark Lord directed Bellatrix to torture Dolohov, who made a shockingly small amount of noise. The man honestly seemed to enjoy the curse. I wouldn't be surprised if he got off on both ends of the torture. Draco mentally rolled his eyes, but kept his face impassive, his Occlumency walls locked in place.
So far, This was nothing new, he wondered why his mother had come out especially to warn him before he came in. Finally, Bellatrix finished her torturing and slunk back to the Dark Lord, falling at his feet with a disgusting, simpering face. She also got off on this stuff, he thought internally shuddering.
After a few moments, Dolohov stood and told Thorfinn to bring in the prisoners. It was only moments after the small family was ushered in that Draco realised it. The young girl looked just like Hermione Granger had at the age of 11. The father stood proudly gripping his wife's hand who held a small child. The little girl stood defiantly. This was why his mother had told him to erect his shields.
It wasn't that he'd ever particularly liked Granger, but she was always there. Beating him at everything. She was just so bloody good at everything. And to top it all off, her mere existence threw everything his father had ever told him about Mudbloods in his face. When he'd been forced to watch her torture in the Drawing Room, it was almost more than he could take. She wasn't dirty or uncouth. When you sat her next to the Weasleys she looked like a debutante. Seeing this small Granger-like girl did something to him.
When they started with the torture. Draco tried to tune it out, he did. Keeping his Occlumency Walls firmly in place was one of the most challenging things he'd ever done. He still didn't completely know how he felt about everything, but one thing he was absolutely sure of? The Death eaters were disgusting.
How could they condemn others when they did this?
Tillie popped him back at the gates of Hogwarts and threw himself down, vomiting into the snow. , "Is Master Draco being okay?" he heard Tillie squeak. He could only groan. "Tillie be bringing Master to Master Theo."
Without a second thought, Draco found himself in Theo's bed. Theo jerked up and stared at Draco and Tillie with shock. "Master Draco be sick and needs his bond-brother's helps!"
Theo simply nodded and sent Tillie away. "What happened, Drake?"
"It was a Muggle family, they-" he choked out a sob, "the girl looked just like Granger when she was younger. And the baby, they-" he sobbed again. "Theo, they destroyed him. They made the rest of the watch as they threw him," he choked again and looked at Theo's face his Occlumency walls came tumbling down. He began to cry in earnest. "They threw him and-and he went everywhere. They bleed just as red as we do…" he couldn't hold back and sobbed as Theo held him like they were children again.
When he'd finally calmed down, he said. "We have to end this, Theo. Whatever you and Granger need me to do, I'll do."
Hermione
To say that Hermione was surprised to receive Bennett in front of her at 3 in the morning would be an understatement. The Elves rarely appeared outside of their little room or their work on the main house. She knew that they would sometimes bake or leave her recipes and prep meals. They always cleaned, but the boys were so unobservant they never noticed.
"Bennett," she hissed, "What is it? Is it Theo?"
"Mister Theo and Mister Draco be needing to talk to you, Mistress. Mister Theo says it be of dire importance."
"Darcy, can you glamour yourself to look like me and keep watch in case the boys wake up?" Darcy who popped out quickly nodded, donning Hermione's coat. From the back it was very convincing. She gripped Bennett's hand and he popped her into the hallway between Theo and Draco's rooms.
Theo was standing at his door and Draco was sitting on the bed, looking shell-shocked. When she gasped, his eyes shot up to her and he lurched off the bed, reaching for her. She cringed away from him.
"What happened, Theo?" she asked, blushing at her natural response to the blonde.
"He was called to a meeting and needless to say, he's agreed to spy." Theo said quietly.
"Oh that's wonderful, we could use your eye for the Arithmancy equations and I'm sure that you can help with uncovering what the newest Horcrux is…" she trailed off when she noticed that Draco was still staring at her with a haunted look. "Is he? Are you okay, Malfoy?" she asked softly.
"She looked just like this, Theo," he whispered, reaching out and placing a finger on her cheek. He wasn't really talking to her, but talking at her. "She can't- they" he choked out a sob. "Are you really here?"
"Yes Malfoy, I'm really here. What happened? What did you see?" she watched as he sank to his knees in front of her.
"Your parents-" she gasped, and he quickly added "no they didn't find them, but they found this other family and she- the girl had to be close to 11 and she looked just like you on the train and there was a baby and-"
She reached out to him and he gripped her hands looking up at her. "You're here, it wasn't you, we have to stop this."
Hermione and Theo led Draco to his room, which he barely even looked at before collapsing into the bed. "Please stay," he whispered, looking at her pleadingly. "I couldn't save you again."
Hermione sat next to him on the bed and he gripped her hand like it was a lifeline. Hermione wouldn't necessarily say she ever liked Draco Malfoy, he was a bully and he was irritating, but he'd always been consistent. The fact that this interaction wasn't consistent with everything she knew about him was jarring in and of itself.
Theo forced some Dreamless Sleep on him, and Hermione felt his grip loosen as he fell into his slumber. After a few moments, Theo ushered her back to his room. "We have to tell him everything," he said firmly.
Hermione wasn't so sure. "Malfoy isn't exactly someone I trust, Theo. I know that he's your best friend and everything, but…"
"We'll have him take an Unbreakable Vow! We need him Mia, and keeping him in the dark will just create dissension. We've run the numbers countless times. He will help us, you know it. You have to ignore your history. Please, for me?"
She huffed, "I'll think about it. He has to take the Vow though."
Shout out to RabidCommentarian and bam2305 for being great Alphabets!
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