Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It and any characters from the franchise that may appear in this fanfiction are the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling. This story was written for entertainment purposes only and no profit is made from this story.

Chapter warning: Mentions of rape and torture during the Second Wizarding War.

- August 1st, 1994, Gringotts –

Sirius had not been pleased when they arrived at Gringotts, on the day of his wedding anniversary nonetheless, when the Director of Gringotts had told him that they had already found and destroyed three other horcruxes. Amelia held her husband's hand and gasped.

"Three?" she whispered. "If Harry is the fourth, then how many has he made?"

Before Draco could answer, Hermione had spoken up. She hadn't slept at all since Harry woke up last night and had followed Sirius to the Black Library, reading up on Horcruxes as much as she could. She'd even summoned Dobby to ask if he the Malfoy library held any books on the topic. There were few, even if the Blacks and Malfoys had always strayed more to the dark, than the light. Those few books she had read, and the ritual required for making a horcrux, had made her want to throw up. She could not believe that something so foul was currently residing in her brother in all but blood. "If he has at least four, then he has seven total," she said. "Three and seven are the most powerful magical numbers."

Everyone had sat dumbfounded when they realized how insane the Dark Lord had become to make seven horcruxes. To split a soul in two was already mindbogglingly dangerous. To split it into seven pieces, one had to be insane. Perhaps, making the first had made the Dark Lord stray further and further into darkness, his deranged behaviour partly explained by the fact that his mind was so splintered and filled with dark magic.

Amelia was close to going back to work earlier than planned, but Sirius calmed her down and told her to stay with the twins until they were at least one year old. They had no clue what the other three horcruxes were either way. When Ragnok had explained to them that one of the horcruxes was found at Grimmauld Place when the goblins came to remove dark objects from the house, Lord Black had immediately summoned Kreacher. The old house elf had then explained what had happened to Master Regulus, and that he'd replaced the horcrux once he realized what it was. Sirius had broken down over his lost little brother who had died, trying to make a dent in the Dark Lord's plans. Amelia and Harry hugged him closer as he mourned his brother, both of them whispering words of encouragement.

What Draco had not expected when they were talking to the Director, was for Harry to refuse to have the horcrux removed.

"Harry," Hermione had almost hissed at him. "Have you gone completely mad?"

The raven-haired boy shrugged and adjusted his glasses, showing he had been thinking for a while now. "If I understand correctly, Director, a piece of Voldemort's soul is stuck in this scar? Meaning, apart from my own soul, there is a piece of his as well?"

Ragnok had nodded, also dumbfounded that the boy did not want the horcrux to be removed.

"So, if, hypothetically, Voldemort would hit me with a killing curse, would he be ripping my soul from my body, or his own?" the boy wondered out loud.

Draco blinked. Could that work? It was completely crazy, but if it did, he would have an added layer of protection against Voldemort. Granted, the soul piece could probably make Harry go insane as well. He remembered Potter being particularly unhinged during their fifth year last time around. Perhaps, that had been the work of Voldemort? Had that been what had lured them to the Department of Mysteries?

The director started rummaging through his papers, all the research the goblins and curse breakers had done the past few years bound together in a thick report. He grumbled angrily and spoke a spell in Gobbledegook, making the papers sort themselves so the document he was looking for would show itself to him.

"Even if Voldemort would be killing his own horcrux instead of you, Mr. Potter," the goblin began, "the connection between you and the Dark Lord might drive you mad. You say you've seen him kill someone. If he becomes aware of you being able to read his thoughts, he might send you misinformation…"

"So?" Harry said, his arms crossed. "If the horcrux is a free out-of-jail card so I can take an Avada to the face, then why can't I be the one to send him misinformation? It must work both ways, right?"

Sirius sighed. "Pup, this is why you shouldn't have been sorted in Slytherin. Your Gryffindor bravery together with the snakes' cunning is already making you crazy. If you-"

The director raised his hand, begging Sirius to stay quiet as he kept reading the parchment that had come up first. Hermione leaned over the desk, trying to read upside down to see what the Director was on about. The old goblin lowered his glasses at the five wizards and witches in front of him. "I will check with my curse breakers to be one hundred percent sure," he said. "But to me, it seems as if Mr. Potter is correct. If the Dark Lord tries and kill him, he will not succeed. Not the first time at least."

"Harry, are you sure?" Draco asked, leaning over to his friend. What he was talking about was madness, even if it would work. Who would want to willingly jump in front of the killing curse? Only Harry freaking Potter had that sort of saviour complex it seemed.

"Perhaps this is the power he knows not," Harry whispered, only loud enough for his friends and family to hear.

"I swear, if you are hellbent on throwing yourself in front of another killing curse, just because of a prophecy, then I will- ugh." Sirius sighed, letting his head fall into his hands in despair.

The director dropped the pen he was holding since he'd been making some notes on a new piece of parchment. Draco was surprised to see that the goblins had adapted to using pens instead of quills sooner than wizards did. "A prophecy? About Mr. Potter and the Dark Lord, I assume? Well why didn't you say so sooner!"

Harry sheepishly nodded at the director, not wanting to reveal its exact contents to the goblin.

Director Ragnok barked out some orders in Gobbledegook, none of the others but Draco were any the wiser about what he was talking about. He then looked at Draco and asked him if Deandra would be willing to assist them in doing some research on the specifics of the horcrux and leaving it in place. Draco looked at the others present, noticing they were looking confused that the Director had addressed him.

[She would be pleased to help you, Director. She will stay behind once we leave since most of my friends don't know about her existence.] the blonde answered.

Hermione shook her head, the other three just gaping at him. "I'm sorry," she said. "But did you just speak Gobbledegook?"

The blond shrugged, making it look like it was not important. "I had a lot of time to read."

Hermione frowned at that, clearly not believing him. "And I didn't?" she challenged him.

"Deandra taught me," he told her trying to pacify her and not wanting the others to know about the Spirit residing within Malfoy Manor. "Maybe one day, she can teach you." He wiggled his eyebrows at her, and he could feel Hermione's excitement. Merlin, it felt good to be back to normal after all those months of trying to stay away from her. Basking in her emotions was something he'd sorely missed.

The adults kept talking with Ragnok, considering the advantages and disadvantages of keeping the Horcrux in Harry. As head of the D.M.L.E. Amelia agreed that being able to survive a killing curse cast by Voldemort would be invaluable. She was just worried about how the connection might influence the boy mentally now that the Dark Lord was clearly gaining more power.

"I just don't understand, Director," Harry suddenly said. "How have his horcruxes gone unnoticed for so long, if you've already found three? Someone must have found another one, no? Or had some suspicions?"

Ragnok eyed Draco before answering, the blond subtly tilting his head in a nod. "Well, the Headmaster has known for a long time. Came to check personally after he discovered we had destroyed three of them, actually. As he is the leader of the light, I assumed he would have shared this information with his closest followers, your godfather being one of them."

Amelia twitched, and Draco smirked inwardly. Seemed like the Headmaster was in for another shouting match and that the light was realizing how all the secrets he kept could be leading to their downfall.

- August 25th, 1994, The Quidditch World Cup –

The silver trio and all of their friends and families were sitting in one of the best boxes to watch the Quidditch World Cup finals, thanks to Draco convincing his mother to not rent out his father's box. The elder Malfoy had been extremely displeased to have to share his box with the Weasleys and had decided to sit with the Minister instead. Draco was sitting on the edge of the third row, Hermione next to him, Luna on her other side with Blaise. Harry, Ginny, and the rest of the Weasleys were on the front row of the box, almost hanging over the side of it, watching through their omnioculars to see what was happening.

Once the Bulgarian team flew onto the pitch, Viktor Krum showing off his skills, Draco could not help but wonder if he would fall for Hermione's charms again. He kind of hoped that he wouldn't. It was then he heard the oohs and aahs of his male companions. Ah. The veela must have arrived.

"Ehm, why is everyone going crazy?" Hermione wondered as she huddled closer to Draco, looking at all of the male occupants going wild and whistling at the Bulgarian team's mascots.

"They're just responding to the veela allure," Luna said, seemingly bored, as she was knitting some sort of orange hat while watching the pitch. "It will be over once the Bulgarian mascots leave."

Hermione looked at her Ravenclaw friend incredulously, unsure about what she had just said. "Oh," Luna said, her eyes glazing over for a second, missing a stitch. "I forgot you haven't learnt what they are yet. They're semi-human magical beings. Their allure can be quite seductive, which is probably why nearly all the boys are trying to get closer to them."

"So, the veela down there are luring in anyone who is attracted to women?" Hermione wondered out loud. Draco knew she was probably already planning on asking Dobby to bring her some books on the topic of veelas. If it was something she didn't know about, she'd do her best to learn more about it. It was just her way.

Luna nodded absentmindedly as she took hold of Blaise's hand, leaving her knitting behind. One touch and her boyfriend snapped out of the allure. He smiled at her gratefully and she winked at him, taking up her knitting again with one hand and checking if the orange hat actually fit on his head.

As Draco watched the veela finish their dance, a wave of confusion coming from Hermione hit him.

"Why are you unaffected?" Hermione suddenly asked. "Are you-"

Oh, Merlin. 'Mione did not just think that. He swore he saw a fleeting thought of him and Harry, wondering if all of their shenanigans had actually meant something more to Draco. If he ever wanted to win her over, making her think he wasn't interested in women was definitely not the way to go. Draco's cheeks turned red and before he could answer, Luna started to laugh.

"Veela allure doesn't work on those with veela blood," the blonde said, accidentally letting go of Blaise and making his eyes glaze over again. "It's why me and Draco are unaffected."

"Veela blood?" Hermione whispered, the cogwheels in her mind turning. "But I thought the Malfoys were Sacred Twenty-"

Draco put a finger on her lips and winked. "Don't let my father hear you," he whispered. "He's too much of an idiot to realize that the Malfoys' pale blonde and silver hair is more than just a family trait. That it's actually magic."

"Are you saying that the creature blood stays active down the generations for that long?" she asked, mentally making a note of how she'd never thought about how Draco's hair had been as pale as his father's even if his mother was a descendant of the house of Black.

"Deandra doesn't know how strong it is. But it shows in my physical attributes yes, even though I'm lacking the allure as you might have noticed," he answered. He raised an eyebrow at her as she looked contemplative. "Or have you perhaps noticed some sort of allure, Miss Dagworth-Granger?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively and she slightly elbowed him in the ribs, smiling at him.

When they turned their heads towards the pitch again, they noticed that Ron was almost climbing over the railing, Ginny holding onto her brother with her whole body weight, yelling at him as Mrs. Weasley was telling the twins that they could not bottle the allure for one of their inventions, as that was impossible. Both Hermione and Draco laughed at their friends' antics.

After the veelas and the leprechauns had introduced their teams and entertained the crowd, the group of friends watched the finale together with their parents, Narcissa winking at her son when she saw that Hermione was huddled tightly under Draco's cloak as well once the wind started picking up in the stands. Draco sighed. If his mother was also in on the bet, he'd honestly hex Harry for ever starting with it in the first place.

Deandra had been staying with the goblins for a while now, trying to figure out if Harry would be able to take an Avada to the face without suffering any harm. Draco had missed the spirit's presence in the back of his mind, and he had spent the past weeks trying to spy on his father, calling in Dobby for help. That elf had spent too much time around the remaining Marauders not to have learnt a thing or two about blending into the wall and gathering information without being noticed. They had to figure out who was helping Voldemort this time around. It couldn't be Barty Crouch Jr. as he had been kissed by the Dementors. But then, who? One of the Eastern European death eaters who gave his father that cursed book? He knew they were planning something for the Quidditch Cup finals. Just like last time. Draco came prepared, however.

As Viktor Krum caught the snitch for Bulgaria, the Irish fans went completely wild, seeing as Krum had only caught it to save his team's dignity. Ireland had scored so much, that even the snitch could not beat them.

When they headed back to the tents, the whole box staying with the Blacks, Draco pulled Hermione and Harry into one of the smaller bathrooms with him, locking and silencing the room so no one could interrupt them.

"What's up, mate? You've seemed awfully quiet today," Harry said, his cheeks sunburnt from being outside all day. 'Mione also noticed and waved her wand at him with a cooling charm, making the raven-haired boy sigh in relief.

Hermione nodded in agreement. She had felt Draco's apprehension almost all evening. Apart from his teasing on veela allure, he hadn't said much. He hadn't even felt that excited about being able to witness the World Cup finals.

The blond pulled his hand through his hair. "I think the death eaters are making their move tonight," he whispered. "I've been trying to spy on my father ever since he left that blasted book with Ginny in their second year. Just, keep your wands close. Let's sleep in Harry and mine's compartment. Ginny, Luna, and Blaise too. Ron will probably bunk with the twins and he's safe with them."

"What about Daphne?" Hermione asked, worried for her friend.

"Lord Greengrass and Cedric will protect her and her sister," Draco answered. "Let's just get out of here before someone sees us."

He was already too late, as the twins had been ready with their extendable ears, trying to listen in on the conversation.

"Harrykins!" Fred yelled. "What are you three snakes planning? Anything fun?"

Harry laughed. "If you need help with pranks, ask Sirius or Dobby, guys. I'm heading to bed for the night."

Fred and George kept pestering Harry on the way to the rooms he and Draco shared, so he eventually agreed to join them for a butterbeer, his hand close to his wand, nonetheless. Good. Draco had been trying to teach both Harry and Hermione to be more vigilant. That's what they would need if they were to win the war.

Hermione had run off to Ginny and Luna, hooking her arms around their elbows. "Gin, Luna, you want to come and have a slumber party in Draco and Harry's room?" she asked, innocently. "Blaise will come too, right?" she asked the dark-haired wizard.

He nodded, taking his pyjamas with him. Draco looked at Harry one more time before entering the compartment, the boy giving him a curt nod to let them know he would be there soon.

The six of them kept talking until late at night, before dozing off one by one. He could get used to this, hanging out with his friends and just joking around until late at night. Luna had even provided some entertainment for them when she whispered a spell even he didn't know about and small magical lights had lit up the tent's ceiling like the night sky, trying to form the outline of various animals. One of them had come close to Blaise, and he'd sneezed when it came too close, making the light zoom away to the other side of the room, hiding behind Luna. All of them laughed. Draco couldn't help but wonder if this was what peace felt like.

For the second time that month, Draco woke to the sound of someone screaming. He definitely did not want to get used to that. He raised his wand, lighting up the room with a Lumos charm, looking at all of his friends' faces. Blaise, sleeping soundly since nothing could ever wake him up, was lying flat on his stomach drooling. Draco nudged him awake with his food, the wizard mad at him until another ear-piercing scream could be heard from outside.

He had to get them safely out of here. "Harry, Blaise, protect Ginny and Luna," Draco ordered, slipping back into war mode, as he put on his cloak and threw Harry's over to him. "'Mione, you stay with me at the back of the group as we make our way to the main living area. Everyone, keep your wands at the ready."

The teenagers all nodded at him, putting on their cloaks to protect against the cold. When they ran into Sirius and Mr. Weasley in the middle area of the tent, they noticed the two men had no clue what was going on. They were rubbing the sleep out of their eyes and seeing as there was an empty bottle of firewhiskey on the table, well… They probably weren't too sober either.

"Is everything alright?" George asked as he poked his head out of the compartment he shared with his brothers, his wand at the ready. Ron looked as sleepy as Blaise and was being urged forward out of the room by Fred.

"Death eaters," was all that Draco answered, immediately sobering up the two adults with them. Draco was glad his mother had decided to portkey home after the match. She did not need to witness this. What his father and his so-called friends had been up to. Their relationship had been strained for years. She would be quite displeased if she learnt that her husband had reverted to his old ways, especially now that she had reconnected with her sister and the Black family. Jean Granger had also become a dear friend of hers, the women often going for a cup of coffee in muggle London when their children were at school.

Sirius looked grim, but immediately jumped back into auror mode. He too had lived through a war before, and he would not let any harm come to the teenagers in front of him. "Children, take the portkey to Grimmauld Place," he said as he pulled out a sickle from his pocket and cast the Portus charm. They all nodded and huddled around Sirius who was now putting his hair in a ponytail and transfiguring his pyjamas in something more appropriate for battle. "It will leave soon. Me and Arthur will stay behind and fight the death eaters," he said. "Tell Amelia to put on the kettle and that we will be right home. She will probably send for some extra aurors. I never get her to just relax and forget about her job… This will definitely make her want to get back into the field," he sighed.

"We'll stay," the twins exclaimed, ready to fight. "We're almost off age, Dad. We can help."

Arthur smiled at his sons but shook his head. "Your mother would have my head. Protect Ron and Ginny. That is more than enough help. And be responsible for once and take care of the younger ones, alright?" His sons reluctantly nodded at their father but agreed. They would take the others to Grimmauld.

Draco could feel the magic in the portkey ticking down. He was not about to leave while his father was roaming around, torturing muggles. He'd show those death eater cunts a thing or two. Perhaps even curse his father like he'd been longing to do for so long. Whatever notion he'd had before that his father could be saved had been thrown out of the window ever since he dropped that cursed book into Ginny's cauldron. His passive-aggressive comments about his choice of friends had also become too much to bear. He was beyond saving, that much was clear.

Mr. Weasley kissed Ginny on top of her head, patted his sons on the back, and ran out, Sirius following him as he put up a defensive shield consisting of Black family magic in the doorway. Lord Black turned around one more time, winking at the teenagers, joining the fray and chaos outside.

"Don't you dare, Draco Malfoy," Hermione said, as she looked up at him. She must've felt his conflicting feelings. His determination and loathing. She'd recognized it for exactly what it was. He wouldn't be going with them to Grimmauld Place.

Feeling that the magic was about to pull them away, he let go of her hand quickly. She looked down, panicked, and tried to grab onto him as he took a step backward. "Draco, no," she pleaded as she disappeared together with the others. He could feel her mentally scream at him, her anger and worry for him apparent.

"What have you done?!" she yelled in his mind. Well. That was impressive considering the distance between them. She must be using a lot of her magic to reach across half of Britain. "I am going to have Amelia order aurors to come and get you immediately. Have you completely lost your mind?!"

"I'm sorry, love," he answered as he transfigured and glamoured himself, adjusting his clothes to be completely black. He pulled the hood over his face, just in case someone would recognize him as an older, duller version of Draco Malfoy. "Me and my father need to have a little chat."

He shut her out then, no matter how difficult it was, and made his way outside. It was pure chaos, just like the first time. Back then he'd gloated, claiming that Hermione should be careful considering she was muggle-born. He cringed at his behaviour. All of that, just to impress his father. What an idiot he'd been. Multiple tents were on fire, and he could see a small group of death eaters all dressed in their death eater garb levitating and torturing a muggle family ahead of him. Mr. Weasley and Sirius had been joined by Amos Diggory, Cedric, and Lord Greengrass. He hoped that Daphne and Astoria were at least alright and that the men had had enough time to give the girls a portkey home. He did not want them to be running out here. Some of the death eaters had only joined the cause because they wanted to sow and reap chaos. Finding a few little girls along the way, no matter if they were pure-blooded or not… Draco shuddered at the thought, trying to shut out the memory of some of Voldemort's cronies raping some muggle-born witch, Draco's aunt forcing him to watch, her wand at his back.

"Draco!" Deandra suddenly yelled in his mind, her presence taking up less space in his mind than he remembered. He'd missed her and was glad she had come to aid him when he needed her most. "Hermione called on me, told me you'd done something stupid. Why didn't you tell me what you were planning on doing tonight? I would've come back from Gringotts, I would-"

"Of course, she called on you," he thought as he disillusioned himself and made his way to the smaller group of death eaters, ready to pick them off one by one. Oh, he would enjoy taking a few of them out. Hopefully, if they ended up in Azkaban, more lives could be saved. "Probably a bit of shock for her that that actually worked."

"Well, she is a Malfoy, no matter if she's married to you or not. She's quite miffed with you," the Spirit answered, pleased that Hermione was still so very protective of Draco.

"I would be too if I was her," he said, looking for a good vantage point so he could start taking out death eaters. "But I can't let things happen exactly like they did last time. I can't let them hurt any more people than they already have. There are no more excuses for me to hide my abilities. After three years of getting the best grades alongside 'Mione and Daphne, no one would bat an eye if I could hex them. Well. Perhaps if it was a dark curse," he smirked.

Deandra's pride filled him, urging him onward. Giving him strength. "Your magical core has been developing rather well. You could always claim the Manor if you want the Malfoy family magic to answer you only. The magical reserves should help you if you are planning to take on multiple death eaters on your own."

Draco stunned one of the death eaters from behind, the other four turned around to see who had been attacking them, casting random spells behind them. Idiots. He'd already moved out of the way. He had no clue how these were supposed to be the Dark Lord's best.

"Not yet," Draco answered her. "If I take control of the wards now, he'll know. I need to figure out what he's been up to. If he's been helping Voldemort to get his body back. I can only do that as long as he lives in the Manor. No use in spying if there's no one to spy on."

Deandra sighed in agreement. "Let me at least give you some of my strength, little dragon. If only for a little while."

The surge of magical power he felt from the spirit made him feel as if he could take on the world again. It was way less than the power he'd gotten all those years ago when he became Lord Malfoy, but it was still significant. He still wasn't back to his regular power yet, but he could feel that his core had been growing more steadily than it had the last time. He was unsure what exactly had brought that about, but he would never say no to being stronger. To be able to protect his loved ones.

"Why, the greatest magical power of all makes all of us stronger, little dragon," Deandra said as she was scouting ahead together with him, pointing out spells that were coming from behind before they'd even left the caster's wand. "I thought you'd realized by now that the love of your family and friends is what makes you get stronger?"

"That sounds awfully like a lot of Gryffindor bullcrap," Draco answered, making Deandra laugh.

"I'm quite sure I would have been in any house but Gryffindor had I been sorted," she replied as the Malfoy heir kept twisting and turning, dodging random curses and stunning death eaters as he went.

Three of the four remaining death eaters he was originally following were surrounded by aurors by the time Draco had positioned himself better. Good. He could try and backtrack, see if any stragglers were left behind that he could take down. Or perhaps help some families that were left behind in the chaos. As he was ready to turn around, leaving the aurors to it, he saw the fifth member of the group running away into the woods, chasing-. Oh no.

He took off sprinting as fast as he could, glad he'd been keeping in shape for quidditch. Perhaps he could convince the guys to start doing some cardio when they got back to Hogwarts. It would help them in the war. He ran after the death eater but was slowed down significantly as he had to dodge curses flying over his head. He heard the girls' screams, deeper into the forest, suddenly interrupted by what must have been a silencing spell. They probably thought the forest was safe, and were told to go there. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear Cedric calling their names. Daphne. Astoria.

Finding 'Mione was always easier. But Harry, Daphne, and Blaise were around him so often that it was almost second nature for him to find their signature. As fast as was humanly possible while still being stealthy, he concentrated. If he wouldn't have found her signature, he would have definitely felt the fear of her little sister, Astoria. A young child like her would easily let go of her occlumency, letting all her emotions out.

He was still disillusioned but looked carefully from behind one of the thicker trees in the forest. Daphne was shivering in her pyjamas, her long blond hair streaked with mud. She was aiming her wand straight at the death eater that was approaching her and her little sister. He saw that she was trying to cast spells, but no sounds came out of her as they had been silenced, Astoria silently screaming. Fuck. He should have taught them the principles of wandless magic way sooner. Urged his godfather to help the snakes get more proficient in silent casting too. He made a mental note and was ready to cast a body bind at the death eater, until he spoke.

"Fresh meat," the broad-shouldered death eater grunted out, licking his lips.

Draco came to a halt. No. Not Greyback. He could take on death eaters alone, but apart from Bellatrix, Greyback was probably the most unhinged of them all. He was so in tune with his werewolf powers, actually enjoying being one, that he was way better at resisting magic than Lupin ever was. He cursed on the inside, wondering what to do. Backup. He needed backup. Desperately.

He conjured his Patronus and mentally urged it to find Cedric, Lord Greengrass, Sirius, and Mr. Weasley. The otter didn't need to be told twice and ran off in the direction where Draco had last heard the Hufflepuff captain call for them. Dear Merlin, he hoped they wouldn't be too late.

Now, he needed to plan. He looked up at the trees. Physical damage would be best to harm Greyback. Perhaps he could let a tree fall on him? That would bring Daphne and Astoria in danger… Perhaps if he got closer and magically swung one of the rocks at him? No. The werewolf would hear him coming if he came any closer. He had to risk it though, hoping he was too distracted by the two girls in front of him.

"You can do this," Deandra encouraged him. "All you need to do is hold him off until the others arrive."

"I could really use some of that Gryffindor courage right now," Draco muttered as he tried to walk closer to the werewolf, as silently as he could. He'd tried to hide his scent, but werewolves were notorious for hearing and smelling anything. When he stepped on one of the forest's branches, he cursed inwardly. The wolf turned its head around and sniffed the air, a wicked grin appearing on his face.

"Malfoy, how nice of you to join us. Want to have some fun with them yourself?"

Well, no more use in hiding he supposed. He swallowed deep, his hands clammy from fear. Greyback could probably smell it on him. Fuck. Draco threw off the disillusionment charm and walked closer, still hooded as he pointed his wand at the sisters, making Greyback laugh. Daphne and her sister were scrambling backward, the fear evident on their faces. Then, as he was close enough, he aimed his wand at Greyback.

The wolf tilted his head like a dog in wonder. "And here I thought you'd join me and your father in having some fun," he grinned. "Did that little mudblood friend of yours make you weak, boy? Or has your daddy not taught you how to have fun with some little girls? Lucius always felt too good for that. Thought it was beneath him to soil himself with some mudbloods. But these two… They aren't like your mudblood. These are pure." He sniffed the air again and swallowed thickly, hunger in his eyes.

Draco's heartbeat increased. He knew about 'Mione? And what was that about his father? Had he actually joined them in… No way.

The werewolf laughed as he picked up on Draco's ever-growing fear, showing off his sharp teeth. "Oh yes, I know all about your little friend. Hermione. Your father has told me all about her. And her parents."

Not trying to get distracted, he casually flicked his wand to the Greengrass sisters, Astoria's sobbing now obvious. Daphne, realizing she had her voice back, seemed to be out for blood. "Diffindo!" she yelled, stabbing her wand forward toward the death eater, his werewolf reflexes making him easily jump aside.

"Oh, a feisty little girl," he said. "That makes it way more interesting. Way more fun."

The werewolf waved his wand in their direction again, the roots from the trees grabbing hold of their ankles, keeping the sisters from running. Daphne was casting Incendios at her feet, trying to slow the roots down, but to no avail.

As the death eater started approaching the sisters, Draco's fear turned into anger. How dare he prey on the sisters. How dare he insinuate he would go after Hermione? "Pick on someone your own size, Greyback," Draco spat as he cast a dark curse his way.

The death eater deflected it with his wand, grinning. "Seems like daddy has taught you some tricks, after all, Malfoy. Sadly, magic doesn't work as well on a werewolf like me."

He cursed inwardly. Of course, it didn't. He used a levitation charm, smacking a giant sharp rock into the werewolf's back, but he just stumbled slightly and shrugged it off. Where were the others? His Patronus should have reached them by now. Stalling Greyback was harder than he'd thought.

"Perhaps, I should teach you a lesson your daddy has never taught you," the werewolf said as he now prowled towards Draco, grinning wickedly.

"Get out of there, Draco," Deandra said urgently.

"I can't leave them here alone," he answered. If he did, they would be… It would be his fault.

"My loyalties lie with house Malfoy," the spirit answered, trying to force his body to back up. "I can't let the heir die. The bond won't let me."

He struggled against her for a second, not wanting his legs to move. Greyback saw his chance and jumped at him, knocking only his cloak off his body as Draco's quidditch reflexes saved him and he jumped out of the way in the last second.

Daphne gasped her hand in front of her face in shock. Even Greyback seemed confused. The kid had smelt exactly like Malfoy's runt. But this wasn't a kid. This was a man, somewhere in his early twenties. Teenagers didn't grow muscles like that, and even if the brat played quidditch, he shouldn't have been this broad-shouldered yet lean at his age. Or this tall. He didn't even really look like him, except for that pointy face and pale complexion. Malfoy didn't have silver hair or… cat-like eyes.

Draco hadn't even noticed how tall and broad he'd become. Deandra gasped. "It's the veela blood," she muttered. "It can't be anything else. Even if you don't turn into a harpy, your body is trying to adjust to being able to take on Greyback physically… Just so you can protect them. Daphne is as much your family as the others… I- I haven't seen this in centuries, Draco. I didn't even think this was possible."

He balled his fists, testing out the muscles in his arms, his strength showing. "If magic doesn't work," Draco grinned, "perhaps I should do it the muggle way." Surprising even himself, he put all of his weight behind the punch he threw at Greyback's face, wondering in the back of his mind if Hermione would be proud of him when he heard the werewolf's nose crunch.

The death eater staggered back, enraged. No way he would get past the Malfoy brat now. But he could get to the girls. He set his eyes on them, jumping in the air as Draco took him by the throat and smacked him into the ground, rocks, roots, and mud flying everywhere. He heard men yelling now, and saw wands lighting up behind him.

"This isn't over, Malfoy," the death eater spat before he disappeared in a whisk of black smoke. Fuck. Draco should've taken his wand.

"At least the girls are safe," he thought as he took a deep breath, trying to calm down and walking over to Daphne and her sister. Now that the danger was gone, so were his extra powers. He was slowly reverting to his regular old self, his clothes shredded in multiple places. "Are you two alright?" he whispered as he crouched down on his knees next to the Greengrass sisters.

Daphne had been hugging Astoria closer to her and she nodded numbly. "Draco?" she whispered. "Is that really you?"

He looked down at himself, almost back to normal. She must be confused as to why he looked like an adult.

"It's me," he said, feeling the last bit of veela magic roll off him, shrinking down to his regular size again, his hair colour changing to its usual pale blond. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't let anyone know I can do that, though. Not even 'Mione."

Daphne frowned. "She will want to know what happened," she stuttered as Draco hugged her closer to him, her tears finally spilling onto Draco's shoulder. The shock had hit her now that they were safe. He opened his left arm and Astoria also snuggled into his side, still crying and clutching onto what was left of his shirt.

"Shh, it's alright now," he whispered as he held the two girls close, mouthing a warming charm as he put a kiss on top of Daphne's head. "You're safe. The others are coming."

Right as he said it, the Hufflepuff captain came running down the hill headfirst, his father yelling at him to be careful and slow down. His father was right. That had gotten him killed last time, to run head-first to that stupid Cup. But not this time. He'd make sure Cedric wouldn't be hurt. Perhaps, he could be another life saved…

"Daphne!" Diggory yelled as he crashed down next to the trio, bleeding from a cut on his head and face. Draco let go of Daphne so she could hug her boyfriend, her crying intensifying when she was holding onto him for dear life.

The adults had approached now, their wands aimed at the blonde's back, wondering who the intruder was.

"Draco, what are you doing here?" Sirius asked, lowering his wand as the youngest Malfoy looked up at him with the same grey eyes as Sirius'. "Please don't tell me, Harry and Hermione…" He started turning around, waving his wand and casting a Patronus to run off to Amelia.

"They actually listened to you for once. Don't worry, Hermione will give me a proper scolding," he exclaimed as Lord Greengrass also showed up with one of the ministry workers, running towards his daughters.

Draco could see the fear in their father's eyes as he watched both of his girls crying in their mud-streaked clothes. Cold fear gripped the older man, as Astoria finally spoke.

"Daddy! Draco saved us from Greyback!," she half yelled, half hiccupped from below Draco's arm as he was trying to help her stand up so she could go to her father. The poor thing was still shaking, clearly in shock. Where was Remus and his chocolate when you needed him?

"Greyback?" Mr. Weasley asked, motioning to the others to lower their wands. Good, he saw that Draco was not a threat. "Are you alright, son? He didn't get to any of you, did he?"

"Nothing a Pepper-up potion can't fix, sir," Draco answered as Sirius walked over and started patting his cousin on the head and shoulders to make sure he was alright. After Lord Black was sure he didn't have to explain a random bout of lycanthropy to Narcissa, he hugged Draco in a tight hug.

"You did well, son," he said. "But for the love of Merlin, never do that to us again. You could have died."

Something inside of Draco shifted. Both Mr. Weasley and Sirius had addressed him so casually. Son. They had both worried about him. Told him he did well. His own father had never done any of these things. All Deandra could do was soothe him as he realized his own father, was less of a father figure to him than the Weasley and Black patriarchs.

"Was that your Patronus that came to get us? The otter?" Lord Greengrass asked, still holding onto Astoria as Daphne walked over to her father. He lovingly touched her head, making sure she was safe, before looking back at Draco.

"Yes, sir," he sheepishly nodded. He hadn't been planning on everyone figuring out his skills so soon. But he couldn't just sit back and watch. Couldn't watch them get hurt.

"Thank you, Draco," the blonde man answered, adjusting his glasses. "House Greengrass will forever be in your debt. You can name anything you want. If it is in my power, I will give it to you."

"Daphne is my friend," he answered. "She and Hermione are basically joined at the hip. I couldn't let anything happen to them. Especially not Greyback."

"Still," Lord Greengrass said. "We owe you a double life debt. All you have to do is ask."

"There is one thing which you could give me," Draco said, surprising the other wizards presents. "Your vote. On the Wizengamot. I will need it. We will need it."

"We?" he blinked at the 14-year-old boy in front of him, not expecting he would be making political alliances already.

As he listed all heirs, and sometimes even lords and ladies, of the houses that had allied themselves together, even Amos Diggory's eyes turned wide. A vow was made, and Sirius was in charge of binding the oath between Draco, Lord Greengrass, and Amos Diggory.

"And so, the list only gets longer," Draco told Deandra as Sirius shoved a portkey into his hands, sending him off to Grimmauld where an angry Hermione and Harry would be waiting.

Malfoy.

Black.

Potter.

Dagworth-Granger.

Slytherin.

Weasley.

Bones.

Longbottom.

Lovegood.

Abbott.

Zabini.

Greengrass.

Diggory.

Thirteen votes. And all of them would be under his control one day. Not his father's.

- October 31st, 1994, The Slytherin Dorms –

"So let me get this straight," Hermione sighed, clearly frustrated. "First, my one idiotic friend decides it is a good idea to go and fight some death eaters and face off against Fenrir Greyback-"

"He did save me and my sister," Daphne quipped as she was nibbling on some Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans while lying on Harry's bed. It was good to see Daphne so light-hearted and joyful again. After their encounter with Greyback, the sisters had spent a few days in St. Mungo's, recovering from the shock. Lord Greengrass had promised 100,000 galleons to whoever could catch Greyback. So long, no one had succeeded.

"And I'm very grateful for that, but that is beside the point right now, Daphne," Hermione answered. "And now my other idiotic friend wants Dobby to stop removing his name from the Goblet of Fire, even though someone has been attempting to put his name in for the past four hours. Am I the only who is actually making some sense around here?" she asked, crossing her arms as she sat down next to Daphne, making a face when the bean she took from her friend's bag tasted like snot.

Draco honestly thought it was stupid as well. After what had happened in the previous timeline, he'd ordered Dobby to make sure no one would be putting Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire. Since the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students had arrived the previous evening, the elf had already magically picked out Harry's name five times. Thinking he would finally be able to catch a break and keep Harry safe, Pothead had announced he wanted to join the Tournament just to see what they were up against. He was clearly in the wrong stage of his brain development as a teenager, not seeing and understanding risks as well as he should.

"No offense, Harry, but you are simply not skilled enough to get through the Tournament," Draco agreed. "It was made for wizards and witches that are off age. That have passed their O.W.L.S. You are more than two years away from that point. I get that you think that going along with this trap would be one-upping Voldemort, but I do not. Neither does 'Mione."

"Ginny thinks it's a good idea," Harry said as he threw one of his snitches up in the air, catching it again as it came down. "If someone is trying to kill me, probably Voldemort, then what better way to tell them to fuck off than doing exactly what they want? I'll be prepared, right? Sirius and Amelia can put some charms and portkeys on me. I'll be fine."

"Ginny is a Gryffindor," Hermione said as Daphne offered her an orange-coloured bean, this one tasting much better than the last. "Jumping headfirst into a magical contract as binding as the Triwizard Tournament without thinking twice is what Gryffindors do. You are not a-" She saw Harry opening his mouth from his position on the floor and took his pillow, throwing it at his face. "Don't you dare say it, Harry James Potter. You are Lord Slytherin for Merlin's sake. Start acting like it."

Harry laughed as he caught the pillow and put it under his elbows, laying flat on his stomach, still nervously twisting the snitch in his hands.

"Just think about it, 'Mione," he tried to convince her. "If we train enough during this year, then we can finally figure out who has been helping Moldypants get his powers back. You know I'll be perfectly safe if he tries something on me."

"That still doesn't change the fact that this Tournament was made for students that are of age. You are not a sixth- or seventh-year student. You don't have enough spells in your repertoire to go through with this. People have died in these tournaments, Harry," Draco said. To some extent, he perfectly understood where Harry was coming from. Merlin, he had an immense amount of knowledge about the future. He was doing exactly what Harry wanted to do. Use his knowledge of the war to prevent it. If not prevent it, to save lives. The difference was, Draco was an adult. Harry, was not.

His best friend smirked at him, throwing the snitch at his face. Draco might not have been as good a seeker as Harry, but he still had the reflexes and caught the ball in his hands. "You're right, Draco. I'm not skilled enough to get through it. But you are."

Draco blinked. What did he mean?

Harry just grinned at him. "Right, Daphne?"

"You told them?" Draco asked, raising his hands in the air in frustration. "I specifically told you to not tell them." How was he supposed to explain his increase in magical power was not just the veela blood. He and Deandra had been discussing what had happened, why he'd gotten so much older. To her understanding, the veela was strongest when he was in prime condition. The body of a fourteen-year-old boy was not that. So, the magic had adapted itself to suit his needs, to match his mental age rather than his physical one.

"Do you know how persistent your best friends can get?" Daphne huffed at Draco. "Besides, they didn't get it out of me. Tori told them."

Draco shook his head. The second-year witch had started following him around the castle like a lost puppy, her admiration and saviour complex for him obviously showing. It was cute, but honestly, he'd rather she stopped popping up everywhere. The guys were starting to make new bets.

Unsure if he should show his friends, contemplating in silence as they all waited patiently for him to come to a decision, Crookshanks crawled out from under Draco's bed and meowed loudly. He then jumped onto Draco's bed and started making biscuits on his pillow.

"Hey, that's mine!" he yelled at the half-kneazle who just flicked his tail at him, and turned around after the spot was kneaded to perfection. He rolled up into a ball and closed his eyes, immediately snoring.

"Don't change the subject by scolding Crooks," Hermione said, crossing her arms. "Show us."

"I can't just show you," he said exasperated. "I don't even know how I did it. All I knew was that Daphne was in danger and magic wasn't going to help against Greyback, so magic… Gave me strength."

"Alright then," Hermione argued back. "Then explain how you got to the forest in the first place. No one saw you. The battlefield was pure chaos, Sirius said so himself. How did a fourteen-year-old blond pale boy dodge all of that and end up in the forest fighting Greymane?"

She was way too smart for her own good. Had always been. He sighed and twirled his wand above his head, growing another head taller than he already was, his eyes changing to the deep blue colour of the disguise he'd been using ever since he arrived in this timeline, his hair darkening and getting longer.

"Human transfiguration is N.E.W.T. level," Hermione gasped. "Care to explain how you did that?" she added mentally.

"'Mione you know I can't tell anyone about Deandra and what she can teach us," he said. "Could you please just drop it?"

He and the spirit had figured out that the older he got, the more normal it would seem if he knew advanced spells. Since he couldn't keep fooling his friends, and especially not Hermione, they had decided to tell her that Deandra had taught him. Daphne would probably be doubtful as well, but she was not as pushy as Hermione, rather thinking over things on her own. Harry would probably think it was "wicked" and not question why his best friend could sit his N.E.W.T.s at any day.

The brunette frowned at him and turned to Harry. "If you really want to continue with this plan, you will tell Sirius as well as Professors Lupin and Snape. Get their consent, or at least their willingness to help you. You need to be trained. I will not see my best friend die due to his own stupidity."

Harry nodded eagerly. They still had a few hours before the champions would be picked, so he grabbed his cloak and ran out the door, already on his way to the staff room to meet Professors Lupin and Snape.

"Why do we have a lion hiding in the snake's den?" Hermione said, letting herself fall backward on Harry's bed, taking his pillow and screaming into it in frustration.

Draco smiled. Technically, that was all his fault. He'd been the one to nudge them into thinking of Slytherin as a worthy house. To see its good traits and not just the dark wizards and witches that were so often associated with the house.

"Ced already put his name in the goblet," Daphne said as she too let herself fall backward, taking Hermione's hand in hers. "What if whoever is trying to hurt Harry, will also hurt him? Or the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons student?"

"We will help him too," Draco answered as he joined the two girls, flopping down as hard as he could in between them, making their bodies floating for a second. Both girls giggled, and it seemed as if all the previous frustrations were forgotten.

He already knew what the tasks would be. Who would be chosen. If Sirius, Remus, and Severus agreed, they would be able to train them. He turned his head and looked at Daphne and Hermione. He would need to train them too. Daphne had already come too close to becoming a death eater's victim. He'd never told anyone that the werewolf knew about Hermione too. He'd protect her. Maybe even give her a new charm and protect her with blood magic like he'd tried to last time. For now, he needed to train them. Wandless magic. Silent magic. Transfiguration. Defence as well as dark arts. Hermione was a prodigy in charms and runes so she probably could teach him a thing or two. If they worked together, they would make it. They would be prepared. Prepared for war.

That night, everyone applauded their three champions. Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, and Cedric Diggory. When the goblet lit up one more time and spat out Harry's name, the Slytherin got up and waved his wand before joining the other champions, just like he'd agreed on with his godfather. They didn't need any negative media publicity.

"I hereby declare on my life and my magic that I did not enter my name in the Goblet of Fire or ask anyone else to put it in there for me. So mote it be." No one needed to know that he had asked someone to stop removing his name from it. He knew it was in there. He had just not been the one to enter it.

When he cast a casual Lumos charm and walked off with Professor Dumbledore, Hermione leaned over to Draco. "Please promise me you will do everything possible to protect him," she said.

"Not just him," Draco promised, taking Hermione's hand as he looked at his Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw friends. "All of us."

- November 24th, 1994, The first task –

Hermione's hand was clutching onto Draco's arm as they watched Cedric face off against a Swedish Short-Snout. Daphne was torn between hiding herself behind Draco's back and making sure her boyfriend wasn't being burnt to a crisp. He'd known about the dragons. Made Hagrid spill the tea one afternoon just by asking the right questions. The gentle half-giant had begged them not to tell anyone and Harry answered he would only tell Cedric as they were training together for the Triwizard Tournament. Hagrid had reluctantly nodded, saying it was good to see there was no inter-house rivalry after two Hogwarts champions had been chosen. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were less than pleased, but once it was discovered that Harry indeed had not put in his name and that he'd been entered under a fourth unnamed school Ludo Bagman was under scrutiny by the Ministry. They thought he would've protected and charmed the Cup properly. Amelia had even written a formal level of complaint, getting ready to start her job again in a few months.

"They will be fine," Draco soothed both Hermione and Daphne. "We've been training for almost two months. Even if Professor Snape and Professor Lupin weren't allowed to help us due to the tournament's rules, Sirius and Amelia have been doing a wonderful job teaching us, have they not?"

"Easy for you to say," Hermione huffed. "All of the spells seem to come naturally to you as if you already knew how to cast them."

He ruffled her hair lovingly and laughed the comment off. By now, Cedric had grabbed the egg while the dragon was distracted by the Labrador he'd transfigured from a rock. Hermione was still displeased that only Cedric and Draco had been able to easily transfigure and conjure items. She was still having more issues, the adults claiming it was because her magical core hadn't properly developed yet.

Daphne screamed when the dragon turned its head and burnt the side of Cedric's face instead.

"You better get down there," Draco said to her as the Hufflepuff barely escaped with his egg, Madam Pomfrey immediately taking care of him.

The blonde witch nodded and left her friends, making her way down as fast as possible to go check on her boyfriend, leaving Hermione and Draco alone on the bench they'd been sharing.

"I just hope Harry will be fine," the brunette whispered. "I know the easiest will be for him to summon his broom, but the other spells we practiced-"

"He will be," Draco shushed her. "You worry too much."

"Someone should worry about the two of you," she answered, biting her thumb in nervousness as she saw Harry enter the tournament area.

When Harry got the egg, this time without angering the dragon and making it break loose and fly after him, Sirius and Amelia cheered so loudly that Draco had to silence them for the sake of everyone's eardrums. The couple hugged each other and jumped up and down like a bunch of teenagers, making Hermione laugh.

"Isn't it nice," she whispered, "that Harry finally has two adults taking care of him as if he were their own?"

Draco smiled. It sure was.

- December 25th, 1994, The Yule Ball –

When they'd been notified that the Yule Ball was going to be held at Hogwarts this year, Draco had intended to ask Hermione if he could escort her to the ball. What he was not expecting, was to find her giggling with Daphne in the Slytherin Common Rooms when he, Harry, and Blaise came from a round of flying around the Black Lake. Since there was no quidditch this year, they had agreed on keeping in shape together with Cedric and the Weasleys, meeting up once a week for some flying practice and casual quidditch games. Some of the Durmstrang boys had also joined them and they were trying to set up some unofficial quidditch matches, seeing if Beauxbatons also wanted to join.

He still remembered how Daphne had proudly exclaimed to the boys that Bulgarian seeker Viktor Krum had asked Hermione to the Yule Ball only a few hours after the event was announced. And that she'd said yes.

He really didn't want to be here with Pansy again. Not like last time. She'd asked him, of course, but he politely declined. When Hermione was unavailable, he figured he could take Astoria instead. She was finally starting to get over her saviour complex and crush on him. Instead, she had started to rely on him more and more as a big brother. He'd always wanted a younger sibling and the little witch was exactly that. Nagging him like a little sister, but listening and supporting him through thick and thin. She, along with the other girls of their study group, were getting ready in the Gryffindor girl dorms since Lavender Brown was quite skilled in hair and make-up charms.

Harry, Blaise, Cedric, and Draco were waiting downstairs for their dates. Harry turned as red as a tomato when Ginny walked down the stairs in a pastel green and pink dress.

"You look lovely," Harry told her as he took her hand, making her blush as she thanked him. They still weren't an official couple, even though it was obvious they were heading that way.

"The others will come down soon," she told the three other boys as she waited alongside them. "Just wait until you see 'Mione," she whispered to Harry.

Before any of the girls joined them and came down the stairs, Neville and Theo came from the direction of the kitchens, escorting Hannah and Susan.

Daphne and Astoria came down together, both in silver dresses that their mother had designed for them. Cedric kissed Daphne on the cheek, and Draco greeted Astoria by kissing her knuckles, making her blush slightly. The fourth-year Slytherin then turned around, frowning. Her blonde hair was sleeked back behind her ears, showing off her diamond earrings. She was holding an emerald-green clutch bag and turned towards the stairs.

"'Mione, what are you waiting for? Get down here!" the blonde yelled, waving her hand.

Hermione shyly stuck her head around the corner of the stairs, twiddling her fingers in her hair, a sign she was nervous. No wonder it was always frizzy. If she kept going like this, all of Lavender's hard work to turn her hair into soft curls would be undone.

"Come on now," Ginny urged. "You can't leave your date waiting."

There she was. In that same periwinkle blue dress as last time. As he'd learned throughout the years, some things never changed. Some things played out the same as they did the first time around. Or well. Almost the same. This time, he was the jealous jerk instead of Weasley. He tried to keep the smile on his face as she smiled at their friends, Harry kissing her on the cheek and telling her she looked stunning. When she looked at Draco, she could feel the worry in her eyes, her magic reaching out to him to ask what was wrong.

He shook his head, smiled, and didn't allow her or her magic to come closer. If she saw him, truly saw him right now, he'd be a wreck. He didn't need to ruin her evening. Not like Weasley had done. She frowned at him, but as she opened her mouth, Krum had shown up with one of his schoolmates who was taking Lavender Brown to the ball.

"You look beautiful, Her-my-own," the seeker said, taking her hand so they could open the ball, as Krum's blonde friend greeted Lavender kissing her knuckles, whispering something to her in Norwegian. Even though she couldn't understand, she giggled and blushed, making Draco roll his eyes.

After the ball started, they had been seated at the same table as the champions, Hermione hanging on every word the Bulgarian said. Astoria had noticed him getting more and more frustrated and had put her hand on his, leaning over to whisper in his ear. "I know you like her, Draco. But this is unbecoming of a Malfoy. Show some restraint."

He sighed and nodded at the youngest Greengrass. She was right. This was what he said he would do. Give her freedom. Let her date whoever she wanted to date. Let her pick him on her own accord. But seeing her, looking exactly like she did all those years ago, like the first time he'd had a proper conversation with her… It was difficult. He had always been good at keeping a line between his 'Mione and her. But the older they became, the more she grew up… They were exactly alike. He couldn't fool himself anymore. He was in love with her, just like the first time around. She was growing up to be a young woman, and she reminded him so much of her.

After dinner, they started dancing and he'd danced with almost all of his female friends, even doing a weird chicken dance with Harry making McGonagall smack them over the head with a menu she had rolled up. When Astoria told him she had to take a trip to the loo, Luna twirled from Blaise's arms into his, making sure he wouldn't leave the dancefloor. She was wearing a long, light purple frilly dress and had flowers in her hair. She looked so very Luna that it made Draco genuinely smile for the first time that evening.

"Are you worried?" the blond asked as Draco waltzed around the room with her. "That she might not pick you this time around?"

"This time around?" Draco asked casually, twirling Luna around, trying not to bump into Dumbledore and McGonagall as he did so. That would be pretty awkward, to say the least, to lose his dancing partner in the arms of the Headmaster or Deputy Headmistress.

"You know me well enough to not play games with me, little dragon," the seer stated, almost making Draco stumble at that particular nickname. Malfoys did not stumble while dancing, however. His mother would have his head if he dared to. "I've always known what you were. I was quite disappointed with you when you decided to break the vow," she quipped.

"Then what should I do," he sighed as the song was coming to an end, Blaise making his way over to them as he had dropped Susan off with her date again.

Luna smiled up at him. She took a flower out of her hair and put it in the breast pocket of his dress robes. "Be honest with her."

"You know I can't, Luna. Not about everything," he told her as the song ended. He kissed her knuckles, thanking her for the dance by using proper wizarding etiquette.

"About your feelings for her," Luna said as she kissed Blaise on the cheek once he grabbed her by the end.

"What are you two on about?" he laughed as Luna put another one of her flowers in her boyfriend's breast pocket as well.

"Only the fate of the Wizarding World, love," Luna winked before she started leading him onto the dancefloor. Blaise laughed at her joke, but Draco swallowed. Somehow, he felt like Luna wasn't just joking. She knew something he didn't. Merlin, she always knew something that everyone else didn't. That was Luna after all.

"Draco?"

He whipped around, Hermione standing right behind him, still as gorgeous, a soft smile on her face. "Would you like to dance with me? Karkaroff is talking to Viktor and I noticed Astoria hadn't returned…" She twiddled her fingers. "I've been wanting to chat with you all evening."

He nodded at her and offered her his hand, as he'd done at every other Yule Ball they had attended. "Not this one, though," he thought bitterly. At least, he could enjoy this one dance with her. That was more than he'd been allowed to do last time around.

"How did you and Viktor even meet?" he asked casually when they started a slow waltz, Draco leading her.

She blushed again. How he hated that she did that because of Krum. "At the library. He's actually quite shy, considering his status as a famous Quidditch Player. He helped me and Daphne with some Arithmancy while you, Harry, and Cedric were training…"

As she kept chattering on, he started to tune her out. He didn't want to hear about this. He didn't want her to be excited about attending the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum. He wanted her to be his. He didn't think that he'd actually lose her to someone else. Even if he'd prepared himself for it. The veela inside of him howled out for his mate. Draco stomped the feeling down.

Hermione stopped talking when the song ended, suddenly noticing he hadn't really been paying attention to a single word she'd said. "Draco, are you quite sure you're alright?" she asked as the song stopped. He could see Krum approaching them from behind her, a smile on his face. Oh. He was in love with her. He could see it clearly now. It was like looking in the mirror. That foolish boyish grin that he himself used to wear around Hermione so often. Krum loved her.

"Don't worry about me, love," he said, kissing her knuckles. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." He handed her to Krum and he could feel her magic reaching for him, but he just shrugged her off, making his way to Astoria.

"Will you be alright if I leave a bit sooner?" he whispered to her. "I don't think I can do this tonight."

The tiny witch smiled up at him sadly and nodded. "Harry and Daphne will take me home," she said. "Thank you for asking me to come with you. It was fun meeting everyone and being able to be part of this even though I am only a second year. You take care of yourself." She patted him on the back and Draco walked out, finding himself in the hallways, going up the staircase to the nearest classrooms.

He'd been here before. Followed her. He didn't know what he was expecting to find when he opened the door to that same classroom he'd found her in all those years ago. After taking a deep breath, unsure if he could physically manage to continue, he closed the door quietly behind him and sat by the window where she'd been sitting, looking out at the moonlight. So much had changed. So many lives had turned out better. Even his. Was all of that worth it if he had to give her up?

He didn't know how long he was sitting there, just staring outside, letting the memories of her flood his mind. How she'd confided in him that life before Hogwarts wasn't just sunshine and rainbows. How she'd giggled imagining his family's face if they realized he was technically married to a "mudblood". How she'd scolded him for describing her perfume in the Amortentia and how she'd kissed him that first time on the quidditch pitch. This was the first memory of them that would not come to be. The first one only he would remember.

"I miss you," he whispered to the darkness in front of him, clutching the time-turner he had started to wear around his neck in his hand, trying to get some support. It had become a reminder of her. Of why he was doing all of this in the first place. Just a simple notice-me-not-charm, and no one ever knew it was there. The last thing connecting him to his beloved Hermione. "Dear Merlin, I miss you," he choked as Deandra appeared next to him, feeling his sorrow. She held him in her arms as he let the silent tears fall.

"It's alright, little dragon," the spirit said, putting her head on top of his, stroking his hair. Just like his mother had done when he was a little boy. "You've been so brave, sweetheart. You've done so well. I'm so proud of you. She would be too."

Draco looked up into Deandra's silvery eyes as she wiped his tears away and kissed him on the forehead. At least he wasn't completely alone in this. The best thing that had come out of this had been Deandra. She would never leave him, that much was certain. The spirit nodded at him before she suddenly frowned. He could feel it too. Her magic was approaching them. Deandra touched his cheek one more time and disappeared in a mist of silvery magical glitter, right before the door burst open. Hermione was looking at him intently, holding her periwinkle blue dress up a bit with one hand. She'd clearly been running, and she was completely out of breath.

"Draco," she said as she came closer to him, reaching out with both her body and her magic to comfort him. "What's wrong, what happened? I could feel your despair all the way to the Great Hall." She sat next to him, worry evident on her face as she grabbed his hand, looking at his still tear-streaked face. She started studying him all over, making sure no hair was out of place. He wasn't physically hurt, was he?

"Why don't you tell me what is wrong?" She got out a tissue from one of her magical pockets in her dress and handed it to him. Why was she so sweet to him? When all he was doing was being a pathetic ass because she had chosen another.

"Stop it," she begged. "Your emotions are overwhelming me. I thought someone had died when I felt you a few minutes ago."

What the brunette witch didn't realize was that someone had. She had. The Hermione that loved him was gone. And he was starting to wonder if he'd ever see her again.

"'Mione," he whispered. "I'm sorry I'm being an ass, alright? I just… I couldn't bear to be down there."

"Why not?" she asked, still confused. "What happened?" She grabbed his hand tightly in hers, urging him to continue.

He looked into her deep brown eyes, not able to say the words out loud. "I wish I had been the one to ask you to the Yule Ball," he said earnestly.

Her face was illuminated by the moonlight. She looked exactly like all those years ago. He wanted to lean in and kiss her. Tell her everything he'd done because of her. How she'd changed him to be better. But he couldn't do any of those things. She'd think he was crazy. Tell him no one should mess with time. Hate him for taking Ron and the rest of his family away from her, even if they had started a tentative friendship.

"Then why didn't you ask me?" she whispered.

"Because… you seemed to want to go with Viktor when he asked you," Draco answered. "And I didn't think it appropriate to ask you after you already said yes to him."

"I would've gone to the ball with you," Hermione answered. "You are my best friend, if you needed a date then I-."

Oh. Now she was just being cruel. Draco laughed, making her brow furrow even more at him. "I didn't want you to go to the ball with me as my friend, Mione," he said. "But I figured you would want to go with Viktor as his date, instead of as mine."

Realization finally dawned in her eyes. "Oh."

They just stared at each other for a while, her hand slipping out of his. He'd basically just confessed his feelings to her. Said he wanted to take her as his date and not as a friend.

"I don't… Draco, you're my friend, and after what happened last year, I thought-" Hermione answered, sounding distressed.

"It's alright," he interrupted her, even though it certainly wasn't. He'd prepared himself for this for years. Always promised she'd have a choice. Annulled the first part of the vow and left it on a life-debt instead. But now that they were sitting here, and she was denying him, it felt like he was losing her all over again. It didn't matter that he remembered her. Remembered loving her the first time around and had fallen in love with her again this time. Because she didn't remember. She didn't love him anymore. At least not like that. Deandra was trying to hold him together on the inside, trying to keep his heart from bursting. She was mourning together with him. Hermione had always been the Mistress of the Manor. She would always be. Even if the vow had been altered, the unmistakable thread between them was still there.

He shushed her when she wanted to speak up again and pressed a kiss on top of her head as he got up, ready to leave. "Go out there and dance, have fun. Your date will be missing you after all, Miss Dagworth-Granger," he smiled sadly at her, before leaving her in the classroom.

When Hermione ran out to catch up to him, he'd already disillusioned himself and was walking down to the dungeons, warding the boys' dorms against any girl attempting to come in. He couldn't face her. Not tonight.