Edited 4/24/23

Thanks to RabidCommentarian for beta work. And bam2305 for alpha-ing.

Weekly Chapter for you! I hope you enjoy! :)

As always, bam2305 you're my rock! 3

Tuesday, April 14 - Sunday, April 19, 1998

Hermione

Hermione blinked awake to a dull pain on her arm, and her body shaking. "Merlin, Mia!" a most familiar voice breathed next to her. She looked to her left and saw the one and only Theodore Nott sitting at her bedside.

"Th-Theo?" she asked groggily. "What happened? Where am I?"

"Shell Cottage, it's Tuesday, you've been out since Saturday! Gods I'm glad you're awake. Potter and Weasley are trying to make plans with the goblin again, and they don't trust me."

Hermione sighed. "Fill me in and then go and get them. Do you think Malfoy can get the cup?"

"According to Draco it was worse than last time, for both of you. You were both on the verge of-" he choked out a sob. "We made it in time, you're both alive…"

He gestured to her arm and she looked at it wrapped in white bandages. "Wh-what is it?" she said softly, reaching for it.

Theo gently unwrapped it, but before he'd finished the last layer, she knew what it was. Bellatrix had carved "mudblood," into her arm. "Will it…?"

"No, we got it to stop bleeding, finally, but I don't think it will heal, maybe ever, Draco gave as close to an antidote as he could find but…"

She just nodded and looked at him. "Is he alright?"

"Sectumsempra and Cruciatus. He got to me in time for me to heal him. His Mum is in rough shape though, we're trying to figure out how to get her out now. Bellatrix has already checked her vault and brought Draco so he could be keyed in as well. He thinks he can go when we get back to school, Snape's agreed to schedule a meeting with me so that I can Polyjuice as Draco so he has an alibi.

"After we have the cup we should be able to get the Diadem pretty easily. I want you to spend some more time healing up though, we need to wait until May 2nd before you'll be cleared to fight."

She sat for a few minutes, "I'm glad it was you, you know," she said, gripping his hand. "I don't think I could have come back with anyone else, Theo. I used to think my best friend was Harry, but he's really got nothing on you. I love you-"

"Oh so it's the snake then," Ron said angrily, throwing the door open. "I thought you said you didn't know who it was."

"Wh-what?" she asked, hackles raising.

"Your Soulmate. You've never once talked about Nott and now you're professing your love for him…" he spat.

"I-"

Theo fell off his chair, laughing so hard. Harry popped his head into the room, looking at the interaction curiously. "Oh my- Mia! Oh-" he was rolling on the floor at this point, laughing hysterically.

"Cast the charm, then, Ronald. You know my Magic is working on healing me…"

"Nexus Vincula!" he spat, crossing his arms and frowning at the yellow cord that connected him and Hermione. Harry just stood silently watching the proceedings. Hermione sat with her eyebrow raised at Ron, who had the decency to look sheepish.

"Theo is more likely to have a pink cord with you or Harry than me, Ronald. Now if you're quite finished, I was just telling my brother that I love him very much."

Theo had stopped laughing, but a few small chuckles came out at Ron's indignant expression. "I discovered it in first year," he said, wiping his eyes. "Mia of course didn't know, I'm not a monster, but I'd been begging Nev to introduce us for ages."

"Nev?" Ron asked, confusion apparent on his face.

"Yes," Theo said, as if he was talking to a child, "Neville Longbottom, you know the cousin that my Mum used to sneak us away to go and see?"

"He finally approached me in Third at the Library, when you all… but we've been keeping our illicit siblingship secret since then!" Hermione said with a chuckle.

Harry looked a bit hurt, "I can't believe you kept that from us," he said quietly.

"How would you, my best friends have handled it if I told you I had a sibling-like relationship with Theodore Nott, Son of a Death Eater and Best Friend of Draco Malfoy?"

The two Gryffindor's looked at each other and shrugged. "We would have heard you-" Ron started.

"Let's not begin lying to the poor girl now, Weasley," Theo said, and Hermione was surprised by his animosity. "She was fraternising with the enemy with Krum, you stopped talking to her for ages when she tried to protect Potter from a potentially cursed broom, you left them in the forest!"

Ron sputtered, trying to come up with a response, "And you," Theo said turning to Harry, "your head is so far up your own arse that you didn't even notice that Mia had been starving herself so you could get enough food in that bloody tent! You're lucky she contacted me in January to start giving her food!"

"I never wanted you to-" Harry started.

"Honestly Potter, this fucking war isn't about you. Hermione would be dead before you were if the Dark Lord had his way, even if she wasn't your very best friend! She's protected you and stood up for you at every turn, but you're so busy paying attention to your own sadness and the red-headed possee you never even noticed!"

"Theo, stop, it's okay, I'm o-"

"Don't. Mia, I have to say this. They need to know. Have either of you asked about her parents? Do you have any idea what she did?" Hermione cringed, when both of the boys looked at her.

"Wh-What does he mean, 'mione?" Harry asked quietly. Theo grumbled about 'idiotic nicknames' under his breath.

"I-" she choked, but gripped Theo's hand tighter. "I had to Obliviate them."

"Yes, of course, but you'll just reverse it after the war," Ron said, looking more confused.

Theo scoffed again. "She obliviated herself from their minds, Weasley. There is no coming back from that."

Hermione squeezed his hand. "I knew that they would use my parents against me, and I wanted to be there for you. I knew I couldn't have my attention divided while we were out and about." Harry and Ron gaped at her. "I-I didn't want to tell you, the two of you were carrying enough."

"Fucking Gryffindors and their martyr complexes," Theo said angrily. "When was the last time either of you stopped your bloody whinging and thought about Mia? You two would be dead if it wasn't for her. And she stood by you for years."

Theo dropped her hand and crossed his arms, sitting firmly on his seat next to her bed. "Theo," she said, turning toward him. "Thank you for being there for me, I know I haven't made it easy."

"Mia," he said softening. "You're the easiest part of my life." She patted the bed next to her, and he looked at it for a few seconds before he got up and laid next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Harry came and sat heavily in the seat that Theo had just vacated. Ron grunted and spun around, leaving in a huff. "''mione, I had no idea. I'm so sorry… I had no idea and… shit I've been an awful friend, haven't I?"

"No, not awful Harry, you've had a lot going on…" she said, trailing off.

"That's no excuse, Hermione. I'd always wanted friends growing up, and then you and Ron came along and I guess I just always took it for granted. I never wanted you all to have to fight for m-"

"They're not fighting for you Potter!" Theo growled. Hermione patted his leg, trying to calm him down.

"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I see that now. It's all this Chosen One Business, I guess it's gone to my head and all that…" Hermione let out a chuckle. Harry was the least arrogant, yet most oblivious person she'd ever met.

"Well I guess we should just start over then?" she asked, grinning at him. "Harry Potter, have you met my brother, Theodore Junius Nott? He's quite dramatic, but I think the two of you would get on splendidly."

Harry stuck out his hand and shook Theo's while Hermione blinked back tears. They just needed George and she'd feel like things were getting back to normal.

The rest of the week flew by, with Theo popping in and out of the Cottage to check on Hermione. Ron was pointedly ignoring her and Theo, but would come around when Theo was out. Finally on Thursday, Hermione cornered Harry and Ron who she'd seen creeping in and out of Griphook's room.

"What are you doing?" she said harshly.

"We-uh," Harry looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

"We're making plans for the next one, 'mione. We need the goblin to get i-" Ron said, crossing his arms at her.

"WE DO NOT!" she shrieked, pulling them into her room and gesturing them to ward the door. "Are you two bloody idiots!? Goblins hate wizards. They will never part with their treasures and they always get what they want."

"We were going to give him the sword af-" Ron tried again.

"Fucking BOYS!" she said, sighing heavily and throwing herself on the bed. "Goblins don't do later. They will literally do anything for their treasures including sell you out or kill you! You two honestly think that I don't already have a plan?" she scoffed.

"We… uh, we didn't want to slow down your recovery, we have a hair and the Order has some Poly-"

She held up her hand and then fished out the journal. "The spy is already set to get it for us and then deliver it. As soon as I heard that absolute nightmare of a human being shrieking about her vault, I knew it was there."

The boys gaped at her. "So have the goblin sent away before you promise him your first born son or something utterly barbaric and I'll fill you in on the actual plan." She did and the boys looked quite embarrassed that they hadn't come to her first.

"Next week, we'll go back to the Cabin and the spy will get whichever is in the vault and we'll be able to cross it off the list."

"Are you sure we can trust Ma-him?" Ron said, petulantly.

"Of course! He took a bloody Unbreakable Vow, you arse!" Hermione rolled her eyes at him and then pulled the covers up over her. "Now if the two of you are done planning the end of the world with your foolishness, I need a nap."

Wednesday, April 22, 1998

Draco

Draco regretted becoming a Death Eater more than anything else in the world, but walking through Diagon Alley with his hood up and his Mark out, watching people scurrying away made him feel very powerful. He scoffed at himself, that was the way past Draco Malfoy thought. Not Future-Present Draco. He sauntered his way to Gringotts.

"I need to see my Aunt's vault. I want to impress my girlfriend with a Black Family Heirloom," he said looking down at the Goblin, but not lowering his hood.

"Wand please!" he growled. Draco handed over his new wand that they'd registered as his shortly after the disappearance of the Golden Trio. It worked alright for him, but wasn't nearly as comfortable as his old one. It was a Sycamore wand, 11 inches with a dragon heartstring. Its owner had been one of the Snatchers who'd been dispatched after bringing the Golden Trio to the Manor.

The goblin nodded and led him toward the carts. Draco hopped in next to him and took the journey down to the vault in silence. He'd been practising the charm on an old cup that he'd placed in his pocket. Theo and Granger had managed to charm it to have a very similar energy to the Horcrux. Draco was to transfigure it to match as exactly as possible when he entered the vault.

When they finally arrived at the vault and passed the dragon, Draco couldn't help but feel a bit bad for it. It was just as trapped as he was, but unlike him the dragon didn't have Hermione Granger working on his freedom. When they got to the entrance of the vault, Draco looked around. His own personal vault was more full than the Lestrange vault, but this one had more Black Family heirlooms than his own. He wandered around, leaving the Goblin at the entrance of the vault. He took his time, making sure that the Goblin had stopped watching him so avidly.

He found a necklace, and casting a charm saw that it was merely a protection spell that would keep the wearer safe from most dark magic and poison. He put it in his pocket and then brought the cup down to rest in front of him. He began transfiguring his cup to look identical to the Horcrux. When he was satisfied, he levitated his fake cup up to the shelf, and slowly made his way back to the Goblin.

"I'm ready to go, my girl should be pleased with the things I'm bringing her."

The Goblin just looked at him with his beady eyes, not saying anything and directed him back into the cart. When they'd gotten back to the entrance, Draco made his way to the bathroom and disillusioned himself.

He went to the Goblin who'd taken him down to the vault. "Imperio," he whispered. "I want you to erase all traces of Draco Malfoy's visit on April 22, 1998. Anything that would let him be traced back to being here on this day, including but not limited to: destroying evidence, erasing documents, and erasing memories." The Goblin just nodded and began doing and Draco said, when he returned a few moments later, he lifted the Imperius and Obliviated all memory of the entire time from the Goblin's mind.

He quickly made his way back out of the bathroom, and sauntered to the entrance of the bank. He looked at his watch, it had been less than two hours to do the whole thing. He calmly walked down Diagon Alley, and used an Apparition Point to apparate to his room in the Cabin.

"I'm here," was all he wrote in their shared journals. Ten minutes later, she appeared in the hallway between his and Theo's rooms.

He stood from his bed when she entered his room. They stared at each other for a few seconds. "I, well I have to apologise, Granger. I didn't mean…" she just looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Well I- the day we found out, I didn't handle it well. I just-" he sighed. "You deserve so much more than a defected Death Eater. I'm not…you're…"

Finally she took pity on him. "I appreciate the apology, Malfoy. Theo tried to tell me that I shouldn't jump to conclusions and all that, but with our history…" she shrugged.

"I don't believe in Blood Supremacy anymore, Granger. I know I'll have to do a lot to convince you, but I don't and I-I'm sorry that I reacted the way I did. And for all the times I called you… that word."

"Did you know that you were the first person to say it to me? I hadn't ever heard it before you. It's going to take some time to get to know the new versions of us, but I feel up for it if you do?" He nodded curtly and opened his bag, handing her the cup that was wrapped in fabric.

"I-Malfoys don't apologise, Granger-"

"Well if you ever mean to solidify this Soul Cord, you'd better start. I know that if I am ever a Malfoy, my children will have no such rule." With that she apparated away, leaving him staring at the place she'd just been, gaping like a fish. She really was meant to be in Slytherin.

Hermione

When she arrived back at the front of the Cabin, Hermione let out a laugh. Ron and Harry came quickly to the front door and just stared at her as she bent fully at the waist and laughed harder than she had in ages.

"Do you think she's okay? Do you think M-the spy cursed her?" asked Ron.

"No-" she let out another laugh, "He didn't! I just-" another burst of giggles, "You should have seen his face when I left!" The boys looked at her warily. "You know how I kept Rita in the jar or cursed Marietta's face? Sometimes I think if I wasn't a Muggleborn I'd be in Slytherin, and now I think the spy thinks so too!" she fell to her knees laughing again.

"What did you say?" Harry asked. "Something that he'd never expect, but I can't-" she chuckled, starting to slow down. "I can't tell you what because it's part of the Vow."

By now she'd calmed down and opened the fabric to show them the cup. "I think we have some Horcrux killing to do?"

Harry and Ron grinned at her and Ron turned to grab the sword. "You seem…lighter somehow?"

"Yes, I think having a plan and getting to tell you both about Theo really helped lighten me up," she said, grinning at him.

Ron came back, swinging the sword in his right hand. "I think it's your turn, 'mione."

She reached out her hand for the sword and without even waiting for it to start spewing things at her, cleaved the cup in half. The boys looked at her, impressed.

"That was badarse!" Harry said grinning at her. "You didn't even blink!"

"Blink? What do I look like to you? I'm the Hermione Granger…" she said with a chuckle.

Ron was just staring at her. "Who are you?"

"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked, quickly coming down from her high.

"You are not the Hermione Granger I've always known. Obliviating yourself from your parents memories, being best friends with a Slytherin, this whole Spy Handler business, I have no idea who you even are anymore!"

"This is the me I've always been!" she said, feeling tears prick in her eyes, "You've just been too blind to fucking notice! I'm going to go somewhere before you say something you'll regret. I'll be back later!"

She apparated back to the hallway between Draco and Theo's rooms and marched over to Theo's bed and began sobbing.

"G-Granger?" she heard Malfoy call softly from the doorway.

"Great! Do you want to kick me while I'm down too? Come on! Have at me! What use am I to anyone except for my b-big fucking b-brain!"

"I- uh do you want me to get Theo?" he asked, stepping into the room.

"N-No I just need a minute."

She felt the bed sink where he must have sat next to her. "I won't say I'm much good at comforting people, but well I-I think I got you something?"

"You think you got me something?" she asked, blinking tears out of her eyes.

"Yeah, well I was in the vault and Bellatrix has loads of Black Family heirlooms and well I uh…here." he thrust a small box at her.

She opened it and saw the most beautiful, delicate necklace. It was a golden snake, wrapped around a small ruby. "I-I can't accept this, Malfoy. It's too much and you don't even like me!"

"It has nothing to do with that, Granger! You're my bloody soulmate and no one's worn this in years, too Gryffindor, and it has loads of protection charms and-"

"Are you trying to say you're worried about me, Malfoy?"

"Well I don't get to see you as much as I do Theo and…we've always had this sort of back and forth?" she let out a small giggle at his words. "I'm not saying I like you or anything, but seeing you cry, well I- it reminded me of all times that I… Just," he sighed, "it'll protect you from spells and such and I-"

She leaned forward and grinned at him "Just admit that you're worried about me, and I'll let you put it on me right now."

"I-" he grimaced. "Alright, bloody fine, I'm worried about you, Witch! Ever since I knew the Cord was connected to you I-" she spun around and lifted her hair for him.

"You're an infuriating, ridiculous woman, Granger," he said through clenched teeth

"Hm, but I'm your Soulmate so it doesn't really matter does it? Infuriating and ridiculous must be your type, I mean have you seen Pansy Parkinson?" she chuckled.

He groaned as he pulled the chain of the necklace around her neck and clasped it, letting his fingertips run across the back of her neck, eliciting a shudder from her.

"I'm not-" he sighed, against her back. "I'm not ready for… for all of this. I still need time, even if…"

"You can feel it pulling you toward me?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah," he whispered. "I-We can't right now, Granger. It's too much right now…"

"I- yeah I agree. Thanks for this," she said, fingering the necklace clasped around her neck.

He flushed, "Yeah of course… I have to go, Theo is going to be livid that I was gone so long, I just couldn't leave without…"

"Give him a kiss for me?" she said cheekily, nudging his shoulder. "Thank you for the necklace, Malfoy, it's beautiful."

"Only the best for a Malfoy," he said standing with a wink, and then apparating away before she could retort. She snorted. He'd gotten her back. Maybe there was something to this Soulmate nonsense afterall.

WHAT DID YOU THINK!? AREN'T THEY SO CUTE!?