Edited 4/23/23
Thanks to RabidCommentarian for beta work. And bam2305 for alpha-ing.
Here is your weekly Chapter! I'd like to direct you to the total chapter count! I'm pretty sure that's what we're going to get to, but as we know, shit happens!
Enjoy a little dram(a)nione!
Wednesday, March 4, 1998
Theo
The two of them stared at the spot that Draco had just apparated from. "I thought you said he was better. I thought that he didn't have those thoughts anymore!" Before she too could apparate away, Theo grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.
"I-" he cut off, "let's not jump to conclusions. He was probably just surprised, I-I'm not trying to make excuses for him, Mia. All of us react to this stuff differently. I make jokes, Draco lashes out, and you get a bit weepy…"
She sniffed out a laugh, "I do tend to get weepy, don't I? I know I shouldn't jump to conclusions but honestly Theo what else am I supposed to think. He's bullied me for years and now he apparates away without even saying anything. We're Soulmates! Merlin! I'm Soulmates with Draco Sodding Malfoy!"
"Well," Theo said with a chuckle, "I guess we see why he had to come with us, hm? Couldn't leave your Soulmate in the future!"
Hermione threw herself on Theo's bed and laughed hysterically. When her giggles had stopped, she pulled out her wand, "Nexus Vincula!" They watched the cords reach out, The golden cord stretched South, the yellow cord she knew belonged to Harry was led to the other side of the door, and the cord that belonged to Ron, which until recently had shimmered a very light pink, now bordered on yellow. She ran her fingers through Ron's cord with a sigh.
"I guess it's not meant to be, like I thought it was," she whispered.
"I-I'm not really sure what to say in this scenario, Mia. I could poke fun and say you're too smart for him, or I could just hold you while you let out the sadness."
She leaned into his side with a sigh. "Do I have to pursue the golden cord?"
"I suppose you don't have to, but I think it would be too hard to pass up for me, a Soulmate, Mia. That means you're so compatible that your souls are bound together. Everything about you is perfectly balanced. Let's not rush into anything either way, why don't you take some time. Pass along the info to the Order and they can collect Ted and Dirk when Draco stuns them. You better get back out to your Watch before they notice."
With a final hug, she called for Bennett who apparated her silently back to the front of the Cabin. Theo sat for a few more moments sighing heavily. Bloody Silver bonds, he thought as he apparated away toward Draco.
When he arrived at the shed they used to play in as kids, he saw the hurricane of destruction that Draco had caused. He spun on Draco. "You absolute imbecile. You're going to ruin the best thing that will ever happen to you for what!? Get your priorities straight before you lose everything."
"I'm sorry, I just-" Draco started sinking into his chair. "I don't know what came over me. She's just- I called her a Mudblood for years. I'm- bloody fuck!."
"Yes, in fact she'd never even heard the word before you said it," with a sigh he continued, "Draco. Call one of your elves," Theo said softly.
Draco raised an eyebrow, but complied. "Tilda," said Draco and watched as the elf in question landed between them.
He looked at Theo expectantly. "Ask Tilda what the difference is between a Pureblood, a Half-Blood, a Mudblood, and a Muggleborn."
"Tilda, answer his question, please," Draco said, looking curiously at the elf.
"Does the Young Master want the Truth or the answer that Master and Mistress believe?" she squeaked at him.
Draco looked confused. "The truth of course, Tilda, you know we don't lie to each other."
"This is very true Master Draco. Okay Tilda tells you. A Pureblood is being someone who's Magic has been purified through a Family Magic Ritual. A Mudblood is being someone who has never had theys Magic purified through a Family Magic Ritual. So a Halfblood is being someone who has one of each parent and a Muggleborn is being someone who comes from non-Magical parents."
"So someone can be a Muggleborn and a Mudblood?" Theo asked with a grimace at the words.
"That's being correct," Tilda said kindly.
Draco's jaw practically hit the floor, and Theo chuckled. "Granger and I had quite the shock as well with that one."
"Tilda how did this confusion happen?"
"Well Wizards and Witches don't be listening to the Elves when they tries to tell them," she said with a shrug. With a clap she grinned. "Oh! Young Master be discovering his Young Mistress, doesn't he?" she peered at Theo for confirmation.
Theo hid his laughter behind his hand and nodded. Draco stuttered at her, "You knewI!?"
"Well Tilda only be knowing when you threes comes back to us, because by then Young Mistress does the Ritual and becomes a Pureblood and we can sees the Cords!"
Draco looked at Theo curiously. "Oh Mate, you have so much to hear about. Granger should tell you about her Family Magics, but she's seriously impressive. It took Four full grown Wizards, two of us Heads of House, one Heir, and some Twin Magic to get her core back up to strength after she did the Ritual."
Draco just looked at Theo in surprise. "I'm fucked, aren't I?" he groaned.
"Mia is forgiving, but I think you'll have to learn how to apologise in order to get back in her Good Graces."
"But Malfoys don't-"
"Apologise, yeah. But I think it's time for a new era for the Malfoys, don't you?"
Saturday, March 7, 1998
Hermione
She'd sent along that Malfoy would be going on patrol over the weekend and that he'd agreed to stun anyone he found and "leave them for dead," almost immediately. She grimaced at the idea of sending Dean and Griphook into the Dungeons at Malfoy Manor, but knew that there was no way to get around it. At least they'd have Luna and Olivander there with them and it would only be for about a month. She'd send Bennett and Darcy in to make sure they had provisions as soon as they landed.
The rest of the week crawled by. Hermione had spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about what she wanted. And an embarrassing amount of time drafting a note to Malfoy about the whole situation. She didn't feel capable of making any decisions until they had a serious conversation about the Cord and what it meant to each of them. She tried to avoid Ron as much as possible as she sorted out her feelings about the Golden Cord.
On Saturday morning, as the trio sat around the table, Hermione got up the courage to show Ron and Harry the Cords. "Hey you two, I know this isn't super relevant to anything, but I was reading," Harry and Ron both chuckled, to which she rolled her eyes, trying not let her frustration at their dismissiveness show, "and I found this spell that shows your connections to other people," she was counting on the fact that neither of them knew that you had to be connected to a Family Magic in order to have Cords.
"Nexus Vincula?" Ron asked, mouth full of porridge.
"Yea-Yes, how did you know?" Hermione asked, a little surprised.
Ron rolled his eyes, "Pureblood, 'mione, everyone does it when they turn Eleven, it's like a Right of Passage…" he trailed off when he saw the confusion on Harry's face and the frustration on Hermione's.
"Well, uh, yeah it's a thing…"
Hermione sighed and waved her wand, "Nexus Vincula!" The three of them watched as the cords sprouted in all directions. Ron grinned at the light pink Cord leading toward Hermione, for the first time she noticed that the pink was darker on his end than hers. With a grimace, she watched as his face fell when he saw the Golden Cord pointing North.
Harry was looking at the Cords going in all directions, not sensing the tension between the other two. When he finally looked up, he looked between them, finally picking up on the change in mood. "What's wrong?"
Ron just sat silently, looking at the Golden Cord. Hermione started, "Well they all mean different things." She pointed to the yellow cords, "These are your standard relationships, brighter means stronger and lighter means weaker. These Copper ones," she said pointing to the cluster of copper shooting off of Ron, "are familial." She saw Harry swallow heavily at his lack of copper, "Obviously Muggles don't have cords so…" she cleared her throat. "This pink," she pointed to the cord pointing North for Harry, "means romantic relationships…" Harry flushed. "The silver is supposed to be a Soul Sibling of sorts. The Black one," she said pointing to the thick inky black cord shooting from Harry, "is an enemy, I'd have to assume that one is Tom."
Harry was nodding along, running his hand through each as she talked about them. "What about that one?" he asked, pointing to the Golden Cord.
"That's a Soulmate," Ron spat as he pushed away from the table.
"Ron I don't even know who it is!" Hermione lied, standing up and letting her chair fall to the ground.
"It doesn't matter, 'mione. I can never live up to that!" he shouted as he stormed away, and Hermione sank to her knees, feeling the tears creeping out. Honestly she wasn't sad necessarily, just frustrated. Yet again, Ron stormed out of the room without considering how his reaction would affect anyone else.
"I didn't think he'd react like that," she said quietly. "Soulmates are so rare, the book I read said there are only a few every generation."
"But isn't it a good thing?" Harry asked, coming to kneel next to her.
"Well yes, I suppose, but it's not Ron. And I had always thought-" she let out a sob and threw her arms around Harry's neck.
Around noon, Ron came out to the porch where Hermione was staring off into the woods. "'mione, I-" he started and sat down heavily next to her. "I'm sorry I reacted that way. I was just shocked. It's, well it's not what I expected, is it? I thought it would be us, you know?"
She just nodded, "What are you going to do?" he asked quietly.
"Well it seems like something I have to go for doesn't it? It's my Soulmate," she said with a sigh.
"Yeah…" he said trailing off. "It's not something that people just have. Mum and Dad aren't even Soulmates and I've never met a pair so perfectly matched." Hermione scoffed inwardly. Molly Weasley was a menace to society and was definitely not anyone's Soulmate, especially Arthur who deserved the world.
"I don't even know how to look for him-"
"You'll figure it out, you always do," he sighed. "I guess I'm glad it happened so early on, like what if we'd been married and you'd realised!"
She choked, biting back a sharp comment at his assumption. After a second, she responded, keeping her voice as light as possible. "That would have been quite alarming, wouldn't it?" After a few moments of silence, she turned to him, "I don't want to lose you as a friend, Ron. You're so important to me."
"You couldn't get rid of me if you tried," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. She felt a sense of relief at not having to pretend anymore. While she loved Ron, she'd realised over the past couple of weeks that she wasn't in love with him.
After a few moments, he shuffled back into the Cabin as she drew her knees up to her chin. The Blood Journal was sitting next to her with her Granger Family Dentistry pen laying on top.
It lit up brightly and she threw it open. A set of coordinates was written. "One man stunned, one dead, Thomas and one of the Goblins are being brought back to the Manor." Hermione crossed her fingers, hoping that Ted was the one still alive. She conjured her Patronus and sent it to Remus to find the bodies.
A few hours later, a Wolf Patronus came bounding into the Cabin. "Hermione!" Tonks' shrieked. "You epically wonderful witch! You and my cousin saved Dad!" He wants you to come by the Safehouse when you get a chance so he can give you a proper hug. Plus I have something I need to ask you in person!"
Hermione grinned. "Can I come tomorrow afternoon?" she sent back.
"See you for lunch!" Tonks' wolf flew back moments later.
She pulled out the Journal, "You did it, Ted was the one you stunned. He's alright back at a Safehouse." she wrote. "Thanks for saving him."
Draco
When Draco arrived back at the castle after the raid, he stormed into the Slytherin Common Room, grabbed Theo's arm and dragged him up to the Room of Requirement. When he'd stalked in front of the wall three times and the Room of Hidden Things appeared, he dragged Theo in.
"What, pray tell," Theo whinged for the umpteenth time since they'd left the dungeons, "is going on? Why have you taken me here?"
"We're going to get that bloody Horcrux and end this bloody war, I do not want to have to go on any more raids or watch any more people die. And you WILL NOT BE GETTING THE MARK!" he shouted, pacing back and forth.
Theo only raised an eyebrow at him unimpressed. "We cannot up the timeline until we figure out what the last horcrux is, Drake. I know you want to end this all, but I promise I will not be taking the mark. My beautiful skin could never take the abuse."
Draco slumped to the floor. "I was there, and I couldn't get both of the men, I don't even know if I got the right one. Theodore," he said looking up at him. "I don't even know what my own bloody Uncle looks like. How fucked up is that? Family is supposed to be of the utmost importance to the Blacks, and there is a whole branch of them out there that I don't even know."
Theo sunk down against the wall next to him. "Mate at least this time around you'll get the chance to meet them. The only people in my family I like are Nev and his gran, and I'm not even allowed to see them. Plus don't forget," he grinned at Draco, cheekily. "You've got me and a SOULMATE!"
After a moment, Theo stood and sprayed Draco with a jet of water before sprinting away. Draco spent a moment in stunned silence before he stood and chased after him. They ran around the Room for a long time, laughing like they hadn't in ages, finding ridiculous things that people had hidden over the years. When they got to the Vanishing Cabinet, Theo stood in front of it and ushered to it. "Take out that angst on this bad boy, won't you Drake?"
With a deep breath, Draco flourished his wand and watched as the cabinet burst into flames. Theo conjured two cosy looking chairs and some Marshmallows, a new Muggle favourite of his, "It's time for some s'mores!" Draco just raised an eyebrow at him, but shrugged and followed his lead as they roasted the Marshmallows.
After a few minutes, Theo looked at him. "I'm sorry, you know," he said quietly. When Draco just raised an eyebrow, he sighed heavily. "I'm sorry about leaving you at the end. It was the worst thing I've ever had to do. And feeling our bond break…" his voice cracked off.
"Theo, I needed you to leave. I-I never wanted this life for you."
"But Drake, I-you died. I was so mad at you for leaving me! God I've practised this bloody speech for ages, but I never thought I'd get to say it to you!"
Draco just blinked at him. He had left Theo. He'd left him all alone, hoping that he'd get out, but he never had any guarantee, did he?
"You left me! And you took a piece of my bloody soul, Draco Malfoy! I hope you never have to experience what that bond breaking feels like. I didn't think I was going to survive! Then I got to Nev's and I just broke. He had to tie me down so I wouldn't go back when I felt it break. What was the point if you weren't there!?"
Draco had never seen Theo like this. He was always quick with a joke, even when he was bleeding and bruised from his Father's abuse. He made light of everything. He was sitting across from him and Draco had never seen him look so broken.
"I won't say I'm sorry, Theo, cause I'm not. I did what needed to be done to protect you. And look where that all got us? You got laid, Theo. I didn't think that would bloody ever happen and it was with Thorfinn Fucking Rowle, your fucking dream man. You met Granger and got yourself a new fucking Silver Cord. Two Silver Cords? That's unprecedented. Who gave you permission to be so lucky?"
"Lucky," Theo scoffed.
"Yes, bloody LUCKY! You Travelled back in Time! We're here because you and Granger used those big bloody brains to try to fix shite. And we're here Theo. You and me, and Granger. We can do this!"
Draco heard him sniffle and pretended not to. Theo didn't like others to see him weak like this. They spent the next few hours wandering around the Room of Hidden Things, collecting treasures. When they left, Draco and Theo both felt lighter than they had in ages.
"You have to figure out how to apologise, Draco," Theo said softly before they left the room. Draco looked at his best friend for a moment before he left the room.
As they made their way back to the dungeons they passed Severus Snape. "Uncle Sev," Draco called out to him after a second. Theo looked at him, wide-eyed.
"We don't know the calculations," Theo hissed.
Draco shrugged, "Gut instinct!"
"Good evening, Draco," Severus purred. "What have you and Mr. Nott been getting up to this afternoon?"
"Was just wandering around the castle. Uncle Sev, can Theo and I talk to you? In private?" Severus just raised a brow, but followed them into an empty classroom. Theo threw up every privacy ward he could think of before Sevurus looked at them impatiently.
"What is it, Draco? I'm very busy running a school."
"I'm an Order spy," Draco said, curtly. Both men gaped at him.
He'd never seen Severus look quite so surprised in his entire life. Not even the time Draco had done Accidental Magic and turned Severus' robes sparkling blue when he was seven. "What? Why are you telling me you idiot boy?" Severus said, voice dripping with disdain.
"Because you were a spy for years before you killed the Headmaster, and then you made an Unbreakable Vow to protect me," Draco responded with a nonchalant shrug. "I figured you'd still want to help them. Here's your opportunity. I can pass along your intel as well as mine and we can stop the maniac faster."
"Draco," Severus said, slowly. "This is treason. What are you bloody thinking? I am one of the Dark Lord's most trusted followers."
"Are you really, Uncle Sev?" Draco said with a chuckle, he always knew how to get his Godfather going, "Remember when I was ten and you got the deed to your family home? And you told me about your very best friend from childhood? Well I've worked out who she was…"
"Don't!" Severus said, looking shocked by his own outburst. "Alright, Draco, who put you up to this? The Carrows? Your Aunt Bellatrix? They've always wanted to knock me down a peg."
Draco rolled his eyes. "No, I'm me, and I'm really a spy. Theo talked to his cousin, Longbottom, and they got us in contact with the bloody werewolf. Granger is my contact and she made me swear an Unbreakable Vow." He held up his wrist and dropped the glamour over the Vow's marks. "Now I'm passing information on to them, but figured we could do more with your help."
Severus was looking between Draco and Theo trying to understand the situation. Theo had thrown himself into a desk when Draco had started talking. After a few seconds of looking at them both with that soul-piercing look he'd perfected over the years, he nodded.
"Alright, I'll start training Nott, it would be too suspicious if it was you. I'll be needing a new protege since my own Godson didn't want my help," he finished with an eye-roll.
"M-Me!?" Theo squeaked, standing abruptly.
"Yes Mr. Nott, you don't think I've noticed how you've skated by all these years? You're perfect, and it will help us postpone the Marking ceremony for you."
Before Theo could disagree, Draco nodded and dragged his friend out of the classroom. "Come on, Nott, we've got a Witch to inform and some new calculations to make." Theo followed behind sputtering about Reckless Gryffindors rubbing off on them.
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