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.
Author's note: I edited the previous chapter, so if you haven't read the chapter called "Lord Malfoy", please read that one first :)
PS: For everyone leaving comments to continue the story, don't worry, I will. Thank you for your support and actual argumentative advice on warnings and tags. You are the best! Love, Naiadx
- May 13th, 1995, Room of Requirement –
"Reducto!" Hermione yelled as Harry jumped out of the way in the nick of time, almost landing into Draco's silent Stupefy as he did. The raven-haired boy rolled backward instead and hid behind one of the giant rocks that the Room had provided for their training session, panting heavily. For the past few months, they had been training intensely, trying to prepare Harry for whatever was waiting in the maze. For what was beyond the maze. This had always been the plan. The only reason why Harry had decided to take part in the Tournament anyway. To figure out why his name was put in that cup, to begin with. To fight whoever had put his name in it.
"Draco," Hermione said, catching his attention as Harry was now rapidly firing back spells at both of them. They had started using their mental connection as a combative advantage whenever they were up against Harry, Cedric, or any of their other friends. Luna was the only one who could predict what they were planning to do and had so far been the only one to beat the duo. Granted, they had just been fighting other teenagers, but even Amelia and Sirius had been impressed when they saw Draco and Hermione go at Harry, trying to increase their best friend's agility, stamina, and magical power. Andromeda and Tonks had stopped by one weekend when they were on their way to visit Professor Lupin. The healer and auror told them that all three of their magical cores were larger than they should have been at their age. After Draco got drained so often, they conferred with Deandra on what to do. The spirit had suggested training their core like a muscle, which was exactly what they had been doing. He also noticed the veela magic was finally starting to calm down, not unnecessarily coming out and draining him anymore.
"Yes 'Mione? Any suggestions?" he answered as he levitated and hurled one of the other giant rocks at Harry, making the Potter Heir run away to a better hiding spot.
"We need a distraction," she told him. "You are better at disillusioning yourself. Go for Harry when he least expects it. I'll hold him off."
He looked at her, nodded, and saw her close her eyes, concentrating. Draco disillusioned himself, waiting for her signal.
"Avis," she mentally whispered, sending a hoard of tiny birds after Harry. The boy-who-lived waved his wand, red magic spilling out of it and stunning half of the birds, before ducking as more of them flew at his head, some knocking off his glasses. He scrambled on the floor, trying to find them.
"Permanent sticking charm for his glasses, perhaps?" Hermione wondered as Draco crept up on Harry, ready to stun his best friend. Harry got hit right between his two shoulder blades when he finally found his glasses and Hermione cast the slowing spell at him, as well as a cushioning charm before he could faceplant into the floor.
"I swear this is not fair," he grumbled as Hermione put his glasses on his face and Draco had revived him. "Do you know how difficult it is fighting you two when you don't even need to communicate?"
"Do you hear something, 'Mione?" Draco asked, ignoring Harry, and turning around in a circle with his hand behind his ear, acting as if he was trying to figure out where all the noise was coming from.
"All I hear is excuses," Hermione quipped, smirking at Draco as she helped Harry stand up. "You should ask Sirius to teach you a permanent sticking charm," she advised. "The one that his mother used to use. Losing your glasses in the middle of battle doesn't sound like a good idea."
Harry nodded in response, Draco handing him a towel so he could wipe the sweat and grime off his face. His best friend accepted it gratefully and Hermione passed them a bottle of water.
"If we weren't two, we could never beat you," the blond told his best friend earnestly. "Your magical power is humongous for someone your age, Harry. Being Lord Slytherin and Heir to house Peverell and Potter might have something to do with that, but still. Don't underestimate yourself. Sirius said himself that even he and your father weren't as skilled at D.A.D.A. when they were your age. Not even Lupin was, and he got his mastery when he was only nineteen."
The raven-haired boy nodded at his best friend, walking over to one of the sofas that the room had provided. They had been training for a few hours, as they did every Saturday, and they all needed a break. Hermione slid down in front of the sofa, sitting in between Harry and Draco's legs, putting her hair up into a messy bun, as she conjured her notebook. She'd made a list of offensive and defensive spells that they would need to learn in order to be prepared. A shorter list of healing spells had also found its way into her notebook, as well as a couple of spells which could be considered dark. All three of them also carried a separate notebook which only they could open, containing their family magic. Harry had even started to learn to cast in parseltongue. Hermione had suggested it to him, saying it would be advantageous if his adversaries couldn't understand what he was casting. He and Luna had gone down to the Chamber of Secrets that same night, hiding under the invisibility cloak, to talk to Sirona and ask her if she knew any useful spells that her Master had shown her. Draco had discovered back then that the two of them had been sneaking into the Chamber every few weeks ever since second year, taking some food for the basilisk and chatting with her. Hermione had smiled, saying it was wonderful of him and Luna to visit their old friend and not letting her be lonely in the Chamber, even if she was asleep.
After Dobby came in with some tea, Sirius walked in shortly after, followed by Amelia. They had been joining them for quite a few Saturday afternoons, considering none of the professors were allowed to aid the champions in practicing for the Tournament. Molly Weasley had been more than happy to babysit the twins on these occasions.
"Rough day?" Sirius asked as he looked at the cuts and bruises that were slowly healing on his godson's face and arms, hugging him close to him.
"I'm fine," he said. "I almost got them too, if Hermione didn't pull another N.E.W.T. spell out of her a-" the brunette looked at him, daring him to continue that sentence. "Her arsenal," Harry finished sheepishly. Draco grinned at Harry.
"You should be having fun and playing quidditch instead of training as if you are preparing to join the Auror Academy," Amelia sighed as she hugged Harry close to her, smiling at Hermione and Draco in greeting.
Dobby offered more tea and a loveseat popped up for Sirius and Amelia to sit in.
"Have you figured out yet who put Harry's name in the cup to begin with?" Draco wondered. Ever since Amelia had gone back to work in January, she had sent out multiple Aurors to spy across England and Scotland, and even some to Eastern-Europe, Tonks being one of them due to her Metamorphmagus skills.
She shook her head. "No, which is why Sirius and I thought we should teach you a thing or two about getting out of anti-apparation and anti-portkey wards. Unless there are strong leylines nearby, the perimeter usually isn't that wide. It can perhaps cover a small property, but it should be easy to outrun. You should be able to detect portkeys and those types of wards, in case they will be sending you into a trap, Harry," Amelia specified.
For the rest of the afternoon, they proceeded teaching them how to be able to detect portkeys as well as wards concerning apparation and portkeys. Draco didn't tell him he knew all of this of course, and nodded at the appropriate moments, even acting as if he was struggling casting a Portus charm. Hermione got it on her first try, making Harry raise his eyebrows at her.
"After what happened to 'Mione, I want you three to start checking your letters and your food," Sirius said. "Especially since the third task is nearing. Potions and curses can be easily added to items. Just… Be careful. All of you."
The detection charm was a simple charm to learn and they all got the hang of it fairly quickly, Hermione adding it to her ever-growing list.
"I am impressed how the three of you have improved over the months," the Marauder admitted, looking at all three of them seriously. "The three of you make each other better. You push each other to be your best selves. James would have been proud."
Harry smiled at his godfather, getting up to put himself in between his Godfather and his wife. "Our little kitten here," Sirius said as he pointed to Hermione, "is just like Lily. Always prepared, sometimes overthinking a little, but using her book smarts and quick thinking to keep you two out of trouble." He then hugged his godson closer to him, ruffling him through the hair. "And you, Harry, have shown that you're a powerful but compassionate wizard. Don't think I didn't notice you've been teaching some of the younger years some extra D.A.D.A. Remus has been losing his mind trying to figure out how the Slytherin first- and second years have been doing so well compared to the other houses." Harry blushed. It was true. Ever since Astoria had asked him for some help with her D.A.D.A. homework, Harry was now holding a weekly session in the common room, helping mostly the younger years to improve their defence skills. Hermione had whispered to Draco more than once that their best friend would be a great teacher one day. Considering Harry had taught and led a whole army of students against that toadface Umbridge in their previous fifth year, he couldn't help but agree.
"But then there's you, cousin" Sirius said, looking at Draco intently. "Amelia love, what is it you always say about Draco?"
She smiled. "Take this as a compliment, dear. But you have the mindset of a soldier. You try to strategize. I notice how you always look for escape routes. Try and find the perfect vantage point. For the past few weeks, I've seen you holding back when training with the others. Your wand flow is beautiful. Have you been attempting to improve your cast sequence?"
Draco sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. He'd never been good at it the last time around. Linking his spells and wand movements together so he would increase the casting speed of his spells was quite difficult. It was almost like muscle memory, some spells fit better together than others. Considering there weren't many new spells for him to learn as he'd nearly sat his N.E.W.T.s last time around, he had started practicing his casting sequence in the past two weeks, not ready yet to teach Hermione and Harry since he was unsure he was even doing it right.
Sirius whistled, impressed. "Me and James only started learning that during auror training. Have you been thinking of becoming an auror?" he wondered.
Draco had never given much thought to what he would do after all of this was over. Part of him was even wondering if he would make it out alive. If there would be a price to pay at the end for all the changes he'd made. For the lives he was trying to save.
"Don't think like that, little dragon," Deandra soothed him.
"I think I am more suited as a politician," he answered finally. "Perhaps work at the Ministry, or invest in the Potion's business Daphne and Hermione want to start up." Hermione started to lean towards the Ministry, but as potioneering had become so dear to her and Daphne's, she couldn't help but want to be a co-owner and start a company with her best girl friend. To bring the Dagworth-Granger name to the forefront again if possible.
They kept talking for a while as they drank tea and ate some biscuits. No one liked that Harry was going to be used as bait, but Harry courageously answered he wanted to end it sooner than later, after hearing about the prophecy.
"We still need to figure out what the other horcruxes are," Hermione pointed out. "I've been thinking that the snake you have been seeing, could be one. Perhaps because it is also a living being, it is easier to look inside its head?" she posed.
"Astute observation, Hermione," the Head of the D.M.L.E. praised her. "I've been working together with the goblins. Since two of the items they retrieved were owned by the Hogwarts Founders, they are starting to think Voldemort has used other heirlooms to house his horcruxes.
"The sword of Godric Gryffindor is out of the question," Sirius stated. "Minerva and I have discussed and explored that route already. Perhaps he had some other heirlooms that are historically known?"
"There is the lost diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw," Harry mused. "Luna told me about it on one of our nightly outings. Said she'd tried to find it before but hadn't had any luck so far."
Draco raised his eyebrows at that. Luna out of luck. She didn't need luck. She probably knew exactly where the Horcrux was, but either couldn't get to it or was waiting for the right moment to reveal it. Over the years, he'd learnt to never question the Ravenclaw.
Amelia took out a notebook, an eagle feather quill popping up in her hand. "That could be a possibility," she agreed. "The diary was also of his own making, and the snake is his familiar. Perhaps… A Gaunt family heirloom?"
"Those vaults were cleared," Sirius shook his head. "As Lord Slytherin, Harry is technically also the Lord Gaunt. There was nothing to be found."
All five of them thought out loud, throwing ideas around on what the horcruxes could be. Amelia said she would let her aurors brainstorm for a bit and see what they would come up with, checking if there would be new routes to explore.
"What if the others will be in danger," Harry suddenly whispered. "Viktor. Fleur. Ced? They don't know that something might be waiting at the end of the maze. I don't want them to get hurt because of me."
"They won't get hurt because of you, Harry," Sirius soothed him. "If there is something waiting in the maze, then it will be the death eater's fault. Not yours. We are training Cedric, at least. But we can't tell anyone. That would ruin the plan."
The teenagers nodded solemnly.
"I'm scared," Harry admitted. "But after I heard mum scream last year, with that dementor… After I learnt about the prophecy and the horcruxes. It's inevitable, isn't it? He will keep coming back, until one of us…"
"It's alright to be scared, pup," Sirius assured him, pulling a watch from his pocket. "Speaking about the plan, Amelia and I have come up with something, to keep you safe. This watch belonged to your dad. We added some tracking charms and portkey charms to it, so if you ever are in trouble, we will know where to find you. A whole team of aurors will be ready to follow you if something goes wrong," he assured him. "I've also added some… Additions under the glass of the watch. There's Potter and Black blood in it. After my mother kicked me out of Grimmauld, me and your father spoke a vow to become blood brothers. It should keep you safe in case your own blood magic connected to the Evans family fails."
Harry held his father's watch in his hands as if it were sacred, thanking both Sirius and Amelia for such a precious gift.
"Great aunt Cassiopeia's handiwork?" Draco questioned as Harry handed him the watch to have a look at it.
"You know of it?" Sirius sounded surprised.
"I…" What was he supposed to answer to this? That he'd once made it as a trinket to gift to his wife as a marriage vow? To protect her? "I dabbled in some protection charms and blood magic, seeing if I could also make something to protect Harry, Hermione, and my mum…" he admitted. He wasn't lying. He had been tinkering on some new trinkets for his friends and family. He just didn't start dabbling with it recently. He actually knew what he was doing.
He reached into his pocket and handed the ankle bracelet, this time coloured in silver and emerald green, to Sirius.
"Remarkable runework, cousin," Sirius admired as he lifted up the bracelet to the light, Draco's own blood shining through one of the charms hanging off of it. "Quite powerful too. Infused with both Malfoy and Black family magic."
"I've been trying to see if I can add them to lordship and ladyship rings," he admitted as the ankle bracelet was passed between the four of them, all studying the runework he'd begun with. "Since 'Mione doesn't have one yet, I assumed something else that was inconspicuous could help her."
"That's very considerate of you, Draco," she said, thanking him as she handed the bracelet back to him. "You've been thinking about keeping me and Harry safe, and that means a lot to us."
Harry agreed. "But what about you mate? What will protect you?"
Draco smiled at his two friends. "You two and Deandra will."
- June 24th, 1995, Third task -
It was the day after their end-of-year exams. Instead of spending the day relaxing, Draco and Hermione had been helping Harry and Cedric prepare for the maze. Hermione had even found a way to stop a blast-ended skrewt after Dobby had moved what seemed to be half of the Malfoy library's collection on hybrid beasts into the boy's dorm room. Theo and Blaise had just shrugged when Harry and Draco had been stuffing books under their beds. Apparently Pansy didn't want any more stuffy books spreading in her dorm room. Ugh. Draco was glad he didn't have to put up with her this time around.
Hermione adjusted Harry's collar and checked at least three times if he had his invisibility cloak and his extra wand, which had been the courtesy of an obscure store in Knockturn Alley and a lot of galleons from Sirius. "Just… be safe," she whispered, tears in her eyes as she hugged Harry to her.
"Yes, mum," Harry joked at his best friend, his fierce hugging betraying his actual emotions. He too, was worried. And he loved her for being worried about him, for taking care of him.
"It's alright, 'Mione," Daphne had said after she too had been checking over Cedric, making sure he was ready to go. "They will be alright, right boys?" she asked as she hugged Hermione to her. Both girls now were teary-eyed and Draco swung his arms around them. "Don't worry you guys, I will take good care of 'Mione and Daph while you're gone. Just disillusion yourselves if something goes wrong, and get back here, alright?"
Both girls looked up at their friend gratefully as they waved to Harry and Cedric one last time before going to the viewing stands. Cedric had been told about the plan by Amelia and Sirius the night before since Harry and Cedric would be entering the maze together. "Stick together, and get out if something is wrong," the stern Lady Black had said, putting a portkey into both of their hands. "The codeword is "willow", and should return you right here to the entrance of the maze."
Draco and the girls put themselves with Neville, Hannah, Theo, and Susan. Sirius and Amelia were sitting in the row behind them, Draco's mother arriving only a while later and sitting down next to her cousin. She looked at her son and gently put her hand on his shoulder, giving him some mental support.
"They will be fine," Lady Malfoy-Black said to the three teenagers.
Draco nodded, but he was still apprehensive. Yes, this time they were prepared. And yes, they had a portkey on them. But the last time, Cedric had died. He didn't know how Daphne would take it if that were to happen again. He didn't even know how he would take it. In the past year, and especially the past few months, he'd started seeing the Hufflepuff Prefect as one of his close friends. He understood how the boy was so popular and well-liked by his peers. He was always smiling and joking around, having fun with those around him. Was Cedric's death also something that was meant to happen?
Deandra tried to soothe his worries, but he was not as easily distracted this time. He needed to be alert. In case something did happen.
Luna and Blaise joined them, sitting in front of the three of them. Luna was wearing her famous radish earrings and leaned back onto Draco's knees. "You've trained him well enough," she said, looking up at him.
"I just don't feel like spending another night, watching over one of my friends in the Hospital Wing," Hermione sighed at Luna.
The tiny witch's eyes glazed over. Draco and Hermione looked at each other. They knew what that meant. "Harry will not be the one ending up in the hospital wing tonight," she whispered, blinking rapidly when she sat back up, Blaise keeping her steady.
"I need to go. Now," she urgently said as she hopped over the railing of the stands, casting a cushioning charm to stop her fall, before almost sprinting off in the direction of the castle again.
Daphne and Hermione each clasped one of Draco's hands, as Blaise was trying to pass the other spectators, excusing himself. "Luna, dear, wait for me!" he yelled as he finally got down the stands, sprinting after his girlfriend.
"We don't have time, love," she called back at him. "Get your beautiful arse over here and run faster!"
Susan giggled at Luna's antics, but Hermione leaned over to Draco. "That doesn't bode well if even Luna is distressed," she said, biting her lip worriedly. Both girls cuddled closer to him, still holding his hand for support, as Harry and Cedric were starting to enter the maze.
Neville swung his arms over Hermione and Susan. "Harry will be alright," he said, as both Harry and Cedric looked backward at their friends one more time, waving at them. Then they were swallowed by the maze, an eery quiet settling over the stands.
"Harry and Cedric will be fine," Draco told both of them. "I promise."
The waiting was excruciatingly long, the three of them growing more worried by the minute. Even Neville had started to fidget next to Hermione, Susan, and Hannah switching spots so Hannah could hold her boyfriend's hand. Draco couldn't let them feel or notice his own worry though. If something happened, they would have to be prepared. He glanced over at Neville and Susan. Both of them had been looking at the maze but were also silently scanning the crowd. Something was brewing. He could feel it. Sirius putting his hand on his shoulder, confirmed his suspicions. "Stay calm, cousin," he whispered.
The first red fireworks, followed by a huge bang, made all of them jump, Sirius and Amelia holding their wands ready.
"Miss Delacour cannot continue, and will end in fourth place," Ludo Bagman announced as some of the mediwitches and mediwizards ran into the maze with a pair of aurors, ready to retrieve the girl.
"I hope she's alright," Ron said from the next row over. "Bill will kill anyone that hurts a hair on her head."
After another ten, slow minutes, another red light went up. Shortly after Viktor Krum who had seemingly been stunned was being carried to the healers' tent on a stretcher.
"Seems like we are looking at a Hogwarts victory, folks," Bagman announced happily. "Will it be the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain, Cedric Diggory, or will the Boy-Who-Lived prove to be the victor?"
Hermione had started chanting next to him, praying for them to be alright, almost as if it was a mantra. As if it would come true if she just said it often enough.
Only a minute later, a blue light flashed at the end of the maze and the Hogwarts Band started playing celebratory music immediately. "Oh my!" Bagman yelled. "It seems like we have a double victory, as both Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter touched the cup at the same time. That's Hogwarts teamwork and fair play for you, we would like to welcome the boys…"
Bagman went quiet, waving his hand at the Hogwarts Band. "Did the portkey not go off to return the boys here?" his muffled voice sounded through the speakers. It was quiet for about ten seconds, and Draco was readying himself, Amelia and Sirius now rushing down, wands ready. "What do you mean the portkey sent them somewhere else, Willoughby?" Draco couldn't help but smirk as he saw that idiot Percy Weasley blush at Bagman forgetting his name.
"Aurors!" Amelia called sternly, a group of about twenty wizards and witches surrounding her from all corners of the crowd. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Diggory have been brought to an unknown location. It is safe to assume this is the work of death eaters. Line up. Our portkey which is bound to Mr. Potter's magical core will leave in twenty seconds."
Albus Dumbledore had made his way down to the group. "With your permission, Madam Black, I would like to join you, to help see to my students' safety."
Amelia and her husband exchanged a quick look before she nodded and told the Headmaster to hold on. She looked at the deputy Headmistress, and right before the portkey took off, she told her to "take care of the school while we are gone, Minerva."
As soon as the aurors and the Headmaster disappeared, chaos ensued. One of the stands exploded in a rain of fire, students, parents, and other spectators screaming. Professor Lupin and McGonagall, the only two teachers in their box, immediately stood up. "Get back to the castle!" they yelled, as multiple death eaters started crawling out from under the stands and came straight out of the maze. Lupin had already put up a Protego Maxima as a Diffindo was heading their way.
"Neville!" Draco yelled, catching the Gryffindor's attention. "Take the younger ones to the castle together with Daphne and Hannah. I, Theo, Susan, and Hermione will hold the line in the back."
All of the other students nodded, a few seventh-year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs joining the fourth years, starting to lead them all away.
Draco almost stumbled down the stands, pulling his mother with him. "Faster, Mum," Draco urged Narcissa on, as she was shielding two first-years.
"Viktor!" he heard Hermione yell. The Bulgarian was running straight at her, and Draco noticed something was off. That glazed expression… Oh no. A quick glance at the man behind him, cackling. Karkaroff. Had he been the one to enter Harry's name? Was he the one who had orchestrated all of this?
"'Mione, Viktor is imperiused," he warned her, Hermione noticing the signs only a second after him, stunning Viktor on the spot, Susan catching him with a levitating charm.
"We'll take him," Theo said, some second-year students taking over the levitating so Theo and Susan could focus on shielding charms instead.
They were moving slowly, trying to dodge all the spells flying overhead. Even Draco's family magic couldn't handle all the spells flying at them. His shield was powerful but not this powerful. He willed the veela magic to give him more raw magical power. He and Fleur had been training, so he wouldn't unwillingly transform and use his magic. Having a bit more control of it, all that happened now was that his eyesight got better and his core grew beyond its usual capacity.
What was happening? None of this had happened the first time around. Had getting rid of Barty Crouch Jr. truly led to this? Had he made the wrong decision in getting the death eater arrested?
Hermione deflected a stunning spell for him and Theo, stumbling as she did. As he reached out for her, a purple spell flew over his head, Deandra telling him to duck in the nick of time. Theo and Susan were leading the others further to the castle, he, Hermione, and Lupin falling behind. Another curse was cast, and both Remus and Draco turned around, shielding the back of the group, only to come eye-to-eye with Greyback.
"Remus. Malfoy. What a pleasant surprise," the death eater greeted them, licking his lips, and holding Hermione in his grasp. All Draco could see was red. No. Not again. He could feel the magic swirling inside of him, ready to lash out.
"Put her down, Fenrir," Remus warned him, pointing his wand at the werewolf.
The werewolf took one of his long nails and scratched Hermione's neck, leaving a trail of blood. "This one yours, Malfoy?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and showing his teeth. "Perhaps I will have a taste of her first."
Draco had to give it to Hermione. Instead of scared, she looked defiant. "For your information," she grunted out, gritting her teeth. "I'm not an object to own." To everyone's surprise, the smaller witch swung back her elbow harshly, right into the werewolf's precious parts, making him lose his grip on her. Both Lupin and Draco reached out their arms, pulling the witch behind them, Draco putting a shield riddled with family magic around the three of them for protection.
Greyback actually laughed. "I love it when they are feisty," he growled.
Lupin stepped in front of his two students again, ready to stop Greyback at all costs. It was then that the man who had cursed him when he was only a little boy started tilting his head, studying the Professor. "Why do you look so… human?" he wondered out loud. Draco could see the realization hit the death eater like a ton of bricks. He was sniffing the air and stumbled backward. "No… That's impossible," he stammered, getting more and more enraged as he realized that one of his victims had been cured of its lycanthropy. "It should be in your blood. I should be able to… No!" His confusion and disbelief had turned to rage.
"Don't you like our precious gift for Remus?" Hermione taunted the werewolf, her wand trained on the werewolf. He didn't know when the witch had become so confidently foolish, but it reminded him of... No. He shook his head. 'Mione was her own person. A Gryffindor hiding in a snake's skin. "How many of your sires would you lose if this became common knowledge? You'd be an alpha without a pack."
The werewolf howled, running straight at the shield. Draco smirked. "Nice one, 'Mione," he told her. Being as enraged as he was, trying to get to Hermione, he didn't see that Draco pulled a vial out of his pocket, purple fumes swirling within. He wasn't a chaser for nothing. One well-aimed throw and Fenrir Greyback froze, just as Lupin had done when he first ingested the cure. Slowly but surely, Greyback turned into an old man.
He started screaming, touching his body, tearing at his own face in disbelief. In disgust of himself. Even more enraged than he was before, he jumped forward into the shield, not caring how it burnt part of his skin off as the magic hissed dangerously at him. As he aimed for Hermione, the brunette yelled out a Diffindo, chopping off one of his arms. He could feel her disgust when the limb fell to the ground. Disgust at herself for hurting another human being.
"He's a monster," Draco told her, trying to calm her down. He would need her to be focused now. They still weren't safe. One mistake, and she could die. "He would have done worse to you."
A quick stunning and incarcerous spell by Remus had the former alpha werewolf go silent. Draco cast an incendio at him, cauterizing the wound. "Wouldn't want this one to bleed to death," he said, rolling Fenrir over with the tip of his foot so he could look up in all three of their faces. "Death would be too easy an out for you."
"That was very brave of you, Hermione," the Professor said as he put his hand on her shoulder, praising her. "It is always difficult to hurt someone else, no matter how foul and monstrous they might be. Are you all right?" Hermione nodded, hugging herself. "You used that spell in self-defence," Remus told her. "A monster like him would have killed you if he had the chance."
She smiled up at her Professor and glanced at Draco for confirmation. He'd advise her to go talk to a mind healer after tonight. Hell. All of them could use a talk with a mind healer after the despair and destruction they'd seen. The smell of burnt flesh still hung in the air. Luckily the younger years had reached the castle by now, only a few stragglers left behind, fighting the last few death eaters. He sincerely hoped no one had died or gotten seriously injured. Well. No one on the Light side. The world could do with fewer of snake face's followers.
"Let's get this one ready for Amelia, shall we?" Lupin asked both of the teens as he started levitating Fenrir behind them, leading them toward the castle, looking left and right for any danger.
When they were about halfway to the castle, Draco's blood turned cold. His mother was screaming. He whipped his head around and saw his godfather deflecting another spell from the death eater which had just thrown the torture curse at his mother. Hermione called out his name, but all he could see was his mother, withering in pain. His godfather also seemed enraged, fighting off the death… No. His father.
"You," his father spat as Draco cast a hex at his father, his godfather shielding his mother. "Of course, you would run to the aid of your mother! Do you know what you have done? Ruined the Malfoy name, all because of a little mudblood. All because of her."
"Ruined the Malfoy name?" he taunted his father, casting an incarcerous at him, barely missing. "If anything I am restoring it. Getting rid of you and turning you into a no-name without a House definitely helped. No one will ever associate the name Malfoy with you again, Lucius. And it wasn't anyone else's fault but your own."
Lucius was enraged at this. Being without a House was more than just shameful. It showed his status as an outcast. Not even his own family wanted him anymore. A purple spell flew over Draco's head, and when the blond was ready to get back at his father, he suddenly noticed that he had instead aimed his wand straight at Hermione who was still somewhere behind him Draco with Lupin. She had her back turned, their D.A.D.A. Professor almost forcefully pulling her away from Draco, trying to get her to safety. When he turned to face his father again, he saw the beginnings of a curse leaving his wand. Straight at her. He didn't have time to cast a shield. She was too far away. All he could do was…
He jumped in front of it.
The first thing he felt when the curse hit him was pain. Excruciating pain. It was as if his chest was blown wide open, air, blood, and magic seeping out of him. It felt like his magic was being snapped in half. Snap. Snap. Snap. He could hear 'Mione screaming in panic and he tried to reach her but… She wasn't there. In despair, he lashed out with his magic even more, trying to find her. No. No. Where was she? Had the curse hit her after all?
He vaguely heard his mother screaming, and even felt her magic crackling all the way to the tip of his toes. "How dare you hurt my son!". A barrage of different spells lit up the sky. Purple. Red. Blue. Green. He hoped his father got hit with that one. Bloody hell, this hurt.
The pain was getting too much to bear. But he had to find her. He kept lashing out, Deandra telling him to calm down. But he wouldn't listen, couldn't listen. The last time he felt this emptiness was when Bellatrix… When she… No.
His father must have survived the onslaught of spells as he heard him yell back at his mother. "He deserves it if he wants to have the mudblood! If he values her life more than his own!"
Severus interrupted him, panicking "No. The Dark Lord…"
It was silent after that, and his father suddenly laughed. "You know what that means, Severus. Our Lord is calling. He has returned." A distinct pop could be heard, and others soon followed. Then, he heard running. Shoes and boots slushing through the mud and grime of the battle.
"'Mione," Draco finally gritted out, his magic unable to find her, realizing his mother was sitting next to him. Her face was bloody, her hair streaked with mud and her expensive robes ripped to shreds. She held one of his hands up to her face and she looked down at him, tears in her eyes.
His godfather fell down on his knees, right next to his mother. "Blood Replenishing potion, Cissy," he stated as Draco could feel his godfather charming the potion straight into his stomach. His mother had started chanting healing spells, only to be interrupted by the words my son… My son…
A silver hue covered him, and he could see Deandra's face, looking down at him worriedly. He heard more than one person gasp at the sight of the Spirit. Someone ever wondered out loud if she was bound to Hogwarts. "The lordship should give him more power, but the healing… It isn't working," she said, worriedly, moving her hands over his chest, trying to heal him to the best of her ability.
"Deandra, what should we do?" he heard Hermione hiccup as she too was now starting to heal him. He felt her magic touch him when she healed him, but he couldn't hear her in his mind. 'Mione. She was alive. But then why… Why couldn't he find her? He tried to reach out again, but Deandra put her hand on his shoulder.
"Stop lashing out, Draco. Calm down. Everyone's fine. You're the one who should relax. You need your magic to heal you," she told him, wiping his sticky hair out of his face.
"Cold," he said to Deandra, as commotion could be heard in the distance. Distinct pops, followed by screams and gasps reached his ears. Why was it so loud? It sounded like a horde of elephants running towards the castle. Toward him.
"We got Pettigrew!" he heard Harry yell happily as he got closer, his godfather seeming to clap him on the back, no one noticing the blond boy dying in the mud yet. "And we- Draco? No!"
More people were starting to surround him, but all he could see were his mother's and Deandra's faces, the only ones close to him. Everything else was getting dark. Cold. Misty. He had issues focusing, and the pain became unbearable.
"Harry!" he heard Hermione yell, obviously crying. An oomph was heard when she threw herself in her best friend's arms. Harry hissed, making Hermione worriedly ask: "Why is your arm bleeding?"
"One of them got me with a knife," his best friend grunted. "That's not important now, what happened to Draco? Is he alright?"
A knife… What… Thinking was hard. But it meant something… He knew it did. His father had said the Dark Lord had returned. The flicker of a memory of spending one of his afternoons in Sixth Year with Hermione in the Room of Requirement. She'd been trying to figure out how Voldemort had returned and had found the ritual that Harry had described in the Restricted Section.
"Blood from the enemy, unwillingly given," Draco muttered, his eyes fluttering shut. It was so cold, even though it was the middle of June. Perhaps, he should just take a nap…
"What mate?" Harry asked bewildered, right as his Head of House started to curse, understanding what Draco had meant.
"Why isn't this working, Deandra?" Hermione desperately asked as she sat down next to him again, her knee hitting his hip harshly. He could barely feel it. The pain was just too much… Maybe Draco hadn't been imagining that blood and magic were oozing out of him. His godfather was now trying to cast a song-like incantation. Vulnera Sanentur. It definitely hurt way more than the Sectumsempra curse. But he couldn't tell him that. Couldn't tell him he'd once been the victim… Or hadn't he? Why were his memories so blurry?
"Looks like Black family magic, Cissy…" Sirius whispered. "Bellatrix might have taught them… I should have stricken her from the tree…"
His mother gassed. "No. Not my son."
Draco closed his eyes once more, he wanted to tell his mum not to cry. That it was alright. They were going to be alright, even if he wasn't.
"I can't feel him…" Hermione whispered to Harry and Deandra. "Why can't I feel him?" He felt her hand slip into his. There it was. That soothing feeling of her magic which he'd become so used to. Even if he could only feel it on the tip of his fingers. It was enough to not feel as cold. As empty. As lonely. Harry's hand soon clasped over both Draco's and Hermione's, the teen trying to pour his magic into him. Draco chuckled. Harry's magic could almost never be drained. What a force to be reckoned with. Voldemort was in for a treat if he would fight Harry once he reached adulthood. Would he still be there to witness that? Or was this truly the end?
A bright flash of orange and red made the darkness disappear. He tried to open his eyes. People were grumbling, Luna telling them to get out of her way. Her blond hair tumbled down over his face, her curls tickling his nose.
"Drink up, Draco" she urged him on, lifting his head. He couldn't drink. Everything was just too much. With a flick of his godfather's wand, he could feel the pain start to lessen as whatever potion she'd given him seemed to be working. What it wasn't healing, was that damned empty feeling in his magical core.
"Miss Lovegood, I see you've met my familiar?" he heard the Headmaster question her. Oh. That other voice casting healing spells at him must have been Dumbledore then.
"Yes, Headmaster. Me and Fawkes had a little heart-to-heart. He's very therapeutic to talk to. You must be happy with such an empathic and supportive familiar. He was so very kind. He was moved to tears by the end of our conversation," she airily said.
Phoenix tears. Of course. "You're brilliant," he told her earnestly, coughing as the darkness was still clawing on the edge of his vision. His mouth tasted like blood. "Why so cold?" he wondered.
"You've lost a lot of blood, Draco," his godfather answered. "We will give you some more blood-replenishing potions before we move you to the Hospital Wing. Poppy will be here soon to help stabilize you."
They didn't get him. He was cold. "No. Cold. Empty…" he whispered. "Missing something."
"Your brain cells?" Harry joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't scare us like that, mate."
Hermione's hand moved in his. There it was again. That tiny thread. He felt it, wanted to hold onto it. To the warmth of her magic. He wanted to follow it, but it didn't lead anywhere anymore.
"Snap. Snap. Snap," he deliriously told them, Deandra's tear-streaked face filling his vision as she kept pulling her hand through his hair, soothing him with her magic. Blimey. If even Deandra, Dumbledore, and Harry pouring their magic into him hadn't been enough to heal him before the phoenix tears, he was glad he wasn't seeing the damage that had been done to him.
"'Mione ok?" he wondered after a minute of silence, people still chanting and pouring their magic into him.
"I'm fine," the brunette witch hiccupped, her grip getting stronger in his hand to show him she was there.
"Harry?" he enquired.
"Never better, just wait until you properly join the land of the living again. I've got so much to tell you," he answered.
"Ced alive this time?" he slurred.
"This time?" Hermione questioned out loud, right as he could hear Cedric confirm he was indeed still alive.
"Good," Draco whispered, closing his eyes. "Snap. Snap. Snap."
He could feel Deandra's worry seep into him as well. "Are you alright, little dragon?"
"Cold. Lonely."
He passed out.
- June 25th, 1995, Hospital Wing –
Hermione had begged Madam Pomfrey to let her see him. She'd thrown a tantrum when the matron told her she couldn't yet. That she wasn't his family. Harry had stood there and argued with the mediwitch right alongside her. That they had every right to be there with him. They had always been. Her mother and Amelia had tried to shush her when she tried to walk through the doors, passing the matron, Harry at her back. Both of them were given a Calming Draught. They were told they could go and see him tomorrow.
"I need to see him," she argued once more the next morning after the third task. They didn't understand. He was gone. She couldn't feel him anymore. She felt so cold. "I need to see with my own eyes that he is safe," she defied Madam Pomfrey.
The mediwitch had called Andromeda, and eventually even Narcissa had entered the hallway, wiping away the tears on Hermione's face, hugging her to her. Lady Malfoy-Black clearly hadn't slept a wink ever since her son had been moved to the hospital wing. If it hadn't been for Luna coming with those phoenix tears… She didn't even want to think about it.
"He hasn't woken up yet," the witch told Hermione. "Are you sure you want to visit him? See him like this? The damage to his chest… It will take a while to heal."
Hermione recalled seeing him, lying in the mud somewhere between the Quidditch Pitch and the castle, dark magic clawing away at him. Eating away at him. She almost wanted to vomit just thinking about it. She would be forever grateful that he'd taken it instead of her. But why had he? And why did she feel so goddamn cold?
"I will stay with him if you want to get some rest?" she asked Narcissa when they finally stood next to his bed. He looked so frail. Even more pale than usual. He seemed to be asleep, but she could barely see his chest move to breathe. Dark circles were under his eyes and his lips were chapped, that same sickly pale colour as his skin. His pale blond hair had turned dull, almost grey.
She nodded her head at Narcissa who was closing the privacy curtain, leaving them in a quiet bubble as she smiled at Hermione gratefully. There was nothing for Narcissa to be grateful about, Hermione thought. She should have been the one lying here. Not him.
As she sat down in the chair next to his bed, she looked at him, resisting the urge to listen if his heart was actually beating. He was alive, she told herself. Even if he was gone. A shiver ran down her spine again. Cold. Empty. Lonely. Her feelings had mirrored his. She had felt it right after he took that curse for her. Something inside of her snapped, dragging the magic out of her. Dragging his magic out of her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, searching for his magic. He was still there. His core was just so battered and bruised that she could barely feel him. She grasped his hand, reaching out with her own. If only she could pour the life back into him...
"Don't," she heard Deandra whisper in her mind. After meeting the Spirit at the Manor that first night, they had become fast friends. Deandra had become her mentor, educating her on magical theory and history. She loved spending a few days every holiday at the Manor, sitting in the library with Deandra, Draco sometimes joining them. The spirit seemed grateful for her friendship when she spoke up again. "He would want you to gain your strength back after last night's battle. You should both rest. Being here with him is enough for now."
Was it? Was it really enough? "Can't I do at least something?"
"You could talk to him," Deandra encouraged. "I'll help you."
Hermione could feel the tingle at Draco's fingertips, Deandra's magic inviting her in. The Spirit was the only connection between them now… How had it come to this? When she felt her body fall asleep next to Draco's, her thoughts seeping into his, she gasped. Even his mental image was battered and bruised. His mind was in ruins, his occlumency barely protecting the one room that was always locked, even to her. She knew that door. The entrance to the Drawing Room at Malfoy Manor. The place where he kept his secrets. Where he'd kept everything from her for the past few years.
She took a deep breath, walking over to his still form that was leaning against those same doors. Still protecting. His head was hanging down, indicating he was asleep. Even in his mind, he was resting. Out of it.
"Can he hear me?" she wondered as she slid down the doors, sitting next to him, her head resting upon his shoulder.
Deandra appeared in front of them now, her silver glow giving her at least a little bit of warmth. She sighed. It reminded her of his magic, it being so intertwined with the leylines in Wiltshire. Being so intertwined with the Spirit.
"He can hear us," the Spirit answered, sitting down in front of them. "Just don't expect any response for now. He needs to heal."
She took Draco's hand in his, trying to feel his magic. She almost choked up when it wasn't there anymore. She should have told him… All those years before. Maybe then, this wouldn't have happened… Maybe her magic would have kept him safe, just like she was now sure his magic had kept her safe many times before.
"I found out about the vow," she whispered to Draco's still form, surprise lighting up in Deandra's eyes. "Two years ago, during the summer between second and third year when I was studying in the library, and you were out playing Quidditch… I found a hidden door. You know curiosity always gets the better of me," she chuckled. "Imagine my surprise when the door opened to me, leading me to a small office. And on the wall, there was a…" Hermione swallowed deeply. "A Malfoy family tapestry. My line didn't just descend from Celeste… It was also connected to yours. I was married to you."
"I thought I hid it from all Malfoys and their elves living in the Manor," Deandra whispered, bringing Hermione back to the present. "We forgot… You are a Malfoy… Oh, little one, why did you never tell us?" the Spirit wondered.
"I didn't understand at first," she admitted. "I thought Draco and Harry had been playing tricks on me. Harry has always known I had a crush on Draco."
Turning her head back to Draco, seeing no response from him at all, she continued. "You acted so normal when you came into the library. I thought you were coming to see me because you knew I'd found your stupid joke. When I felt your magic coming near, I rushed back into the library and I was so out of breath when I tried to get back to the main room. I was ready to act as if I hadn't seen anything, or as if it hadn't bothered me in the slightest. But then you… You didn't mention it at all. And I couldn't help but wonder if… If it wasn't just a prank you two were playing on me."
She remembered going to Gringotts only a few days later. The heritage test should have shown Draco coming up as her husband if it was real. When she was taking some books from her family vault, she asked if Director Ragnok had a few minutes to talk to her about marriage contracts. She would never forget the surprised look on the goblin's face.
"When I spoke with Director Ragnok, he said he had made a vow to not tell me anything about how we got married," she shook her head, smiling. "He thought I would be angry. Scared even. Assured me that you were trying to find a way to annul it. To give me a choice, and I… I felt-"
Hermione dropped her head in frustration and shyness, a blush spreading on her face. "I felt like you didn't want to be married to me," she laughed desperately. "I was such a silly little girl, honestly. I was almost fourteen and somehow I like the idea of being married to you. My best friend. If I had to spend my life with someone, if magic had bound me to someone, then of course it would be you. Muggles grow up reading about princes coming to save the day. Even if I used to argue with my mum that princesses should save princes too… That day when you walked into me at Flourish and Blotts… You saved me. Showed me I wouldn't be alone anymore like I'd been for the first eleven years of my life. Showed me I wasn't just a know-it-all-little freak."
Her eyes were getting teary now. "I was so confused and angry. Why would you hide something like that from me? After everything we've been through? Why wouldn't you just talk to me? Why would you annul it without my knowledge? Without consulting me? Honestly, you know me better than that. You know how I hate secrets, how I hate not having a say in things…"
Was she being a hypocrite? He had hidden the vow from her, but now as she was older, she understood he had tried to make sure she could live her life freely and peacefully. She too had been hiding things from him. Her distrust in him grew because he wasn't being honest with her, even if he still was her best friend. All because of whatever he was hiding behind that damned door behind them.
"When Ragnok sent me a letter, saying that you'd found a way around the vow and that I was free to do whatever I wanted, I… I thought it was all a hoax. I thought I would at least feel something when it happened, you know? That if your magic left mine, I'd feel something. But I didn't feel anything. After doing some research in the library, I figured it was because we were never bound properly to begin with. I started to wonder if some ancient vow made by Armand Malfoy made his two lines come back together. Started wondering if all we were ever meant to be was just friends. And then, when you started to act as if nothing had happened, even closing yourself off from me and Harry, giving me space… My stupid teenage insecure self started to wonder if you were just friends with me because of some marriage vow."
She was quiet for a while, Deandra observing her, understanding she needed to collect her thoughts. She smiled at the Spirit thankfully and sadly. Why hadn't they just been honest with each other from the beginning?
"At the Yule Ball, when you implied that you liked me, I just. I was furious with you for leaving me with that. After a whole year of convincing myself that you wanted to just be friends, even going out with that idiot Michael Corner on the most disastrous date I have ever been on, you told me you liked me. Do you know how confusing that was? I could strangle you. Hadn't you annulled that stupid vow because you didn't want to be married to me? I spent more than a week of my Yule Holidays reading up on veela magic, thinking that was what had triggered you, even if you've kept convincing me it isn't like that. And I know it isn't like that. I spent enough evenings writing letters back and forth to Bill and talking to Fleur to know that now," she admitted.
"I just kept convincing myself that we would be better off as friends," Hermione continued. "The bond had been a fluke the first time after all. Trust me, I've read up enough about vows in the past few years. Not feeling it be broken, would mean that magic didn't deem it worthy. Didn't deem us compatible, even if your veela magic argued that it was. I even theorized for a while that it was because of me being of Malfoy descent, that your magic had latched itself onto that bond instead, thinking it meant something more."
"Is that why you kept asking me about bonds between family members?" Deandra piped up. "I thought we were speaking hypothetically, and you were interested in Sirius and James' bond as blood brothers. That you were planning to make one with Harry?"
Hermione blushed at the Spirit's question. She had been using her Slytherin cunning and misleading her a bit, even if she was still planning on offering Harry a blood bond. Becoming a real brother and sister in front of magic. He had always been there for her, even when Draco hadn't. Had listened to her as they walked around the lake, Hermione venting out her frustrations, Harry and Ginny jokingly replying all she needed was just a good snog.
"Yes," she answered Deandra eventually. "But I was wrong… Yesterday, I felt it. He never truly annulled the marriage vow. Of course not. Those are impossible to break unless the vow is fulfilled or if there are some disgusting clauses like in Narcissa and Lucius' vow. The focus of it was just shifted, so it could be fulfilled. Even if was only partly. I'd just spent so much time researching betrothals, marriage vows, bonds, and veela magic that I never thought about what our marriage vow could include. All I knew was that a proper bond would need my consent, which I had never given. And I am sure the reason why magic somehow thinks I did is hiding behind that damned door behind us," she told Draco sternly.
"When you jumped in front of that curse from your father…" she shivered, the cold running down her spine. "The vow was fulfilled. I felt you leave me. Felt your magic which I had gotten so used to that I didn't even realize it wasn't actually mine leave me. Like the threads between us were being snapped. It had been such a part of me for years, ever since I ran into you in that stupid bookstore, that I hadn't noticed it was you until you were gone."
She angrily wiped at the tears in her eyes, choking up. "I thought you had died when I felt you leave me. But then I could feel your core, lashing out and trying to grab onto anything in despair. You were completely out of control, and what was even worse was that you couldn't grab onto my magic, because… You changed it to focus on the life debt. You were ready to die for me just so I could be free," she cried. "If you hadn't broken it, we would have been stronger. My magic could have helped protect you, help heal you… If it wasn't for Luna, then…" No. She didn't want to think about that. Didn't want to realize what would have happened to him if she'd never come back with Fawkes and his phoenix tears.
"All I feel is loneliness," she whispered, curling in on herself. "Cold. Like half of my magic is gone."
Deandra had crawled over to her now. "Oh my sweet child," she whispered, cradling Hermione in her arms. "Draco has always done what he thought was best for you. He never wanted anything more than for you to be happy and free. To live your life as you choose it."
She hiccupped, looking up at the Spirit through her tears. "But what if I choose him? Even now the bond is gone… I can't. I don't want to be without him. There's more than just a stupid bond holding us together. There's always been more than that keeping our friendship alive. He just won't tell me what," she said, smacking the door behind them in frustration.
Deandra let go of Hermione again, sitting back across from her, and looked up at the Drawing Room door, studying it. The one thing they would always protect. "If he told you what is behind this door… You might hate him for it. If anyone would be able to get into your mind before the war is over, many lives could be lost," she said solemnly. "He will explain, in time. Luna has seen that he will and that you will understand. But I am not sure if now is the time, little one. It would endanger more than just you. It would endanger Harry. Draco himself even. The lives of many wizards and witches. Would you risk that? If you were in his shoes?"
The gears in her mind started turning. Many lives could be lost? Of course she wouldn't want to endanger any of her friends. Or even any innocent lives for that matter. But why… What did he know about the war… No. Could it be? That whatever was behind that door was… No. No way.
"Was that real?" she suddenly blinked at Deandra. She remembered now. His Boggart. Her dying had been his Boggart. His being a death eater had been his Boggart. What had it told him? That he couldn't save her? That he wouldn't be able to save her this time… "Oh Merlin," she gasped, looking straight at Deandra, the spirit frowning as she followed her train of thought. Followed Hermione's worries and panic.
"'Mione," she whispered. "It's alright. It won't-"
"Some things are always meant to happen," Hermione whispered in fear as she tumbled backward, the door behind her suddenly opening ever so slightly. She scrambled to her feet, looking at herself. No. Her older self as she walked further into the room. Merlin, she looked horrible. As if she'd been starving herself for months. How old was she? She couldn't be much older than she was now… A year or two? Eighteen? Perhaps? And just like she'd expected, she was dying on that drawing room floor. Harry, oh sweet Harry, was cradling her, crying and… Was that Ron Weasley wailing her name? She shook her head. No. That couldn't be right. A figure moved in the corner of her eye, and she almost jumped back. Draco was slightly taller than he was now, slightly older, but he looked so gaunt. So sick. Not full of life like he usually did. Actually, studying Harry, he looked smaller than he was at nearly fifteen, even though he too was clearly older… And his face. Why was it so bloated?
She could see the three of them arguing for a short while, Ron being stunned before Dobby handed Draco something. Was that a… Time-turner? No. No way. How far had he gone back? A year? Two? Definitely not more than three. If he had, then… Was he insane? He could've splinched himself through time, killing himself in the process. And all, just for her? To make sure this wouldn't happen?
Watching in horror as the scene unfolded and replayed itself at least three times, seeing how Bellatrix tortured her, she almost got a heart attack as she felt a warm hand slip into hers. "Always too smart for your own good…" Draco whispered, looking as gaunt as his future self did. "I promise you now, that you will not end up like her."
Torn between asking him if he was alright and looking back at the scene, she suddenly connected the dots. All she had to do was see his pained expression, see how the Manor responded to her dying. In the future, she had been his wife. For a short few minutes before her death she had been, for all intents and purposes, the Mistress of the Manor. There had never been a vow between her and Draco, not between him and this version of herself anyway. That had been the reason he'd wanted to break it. To give her a choice, in case his wife wouldn't pick him again. What an idiot. She would always pick him. Some things were always meant to happen. She turned around, hugging him close to her.
"You have some explaining to do, Mister," she scolded him lovingly. "But I suppose, so do I."
He hugged her back, still lacking his usual strength, and she quietly led him out of the Drawing Room again, closing the door behind them. There was no need for either one of them to let that memory replay on a loop. When she walked back to what she referred to as the entrance of his mindscape, she noticed it had started rebuilding itself, slowly but surely. Good. It meant his strength was increasing.
"It's looking rather shabby in here," she joked, earning a glare from him as he was leaning onto her now.
"I literally almost died, 'Mione. I can't imagine your head would look much better," he drawled.
"Then let's take a trip to mine, shall we?" she quipped back. "After what we just saw, I feel like I should finally get a chance to have my say in this, don't you agree?"
He nodded sheepishly at her. "I'm sorry. For keeping this from you."
She smiled up at him, Deandra appearing next to them, taking Hermione's hand, ready to seep magic in her so Draco could more easily enter Hermione's mind.
Hermione shrugged. She'd been thinking about it ever since she'd seen him pull out the time-turner. What would she have done? Would she have risked her life to save Draco? To save Harry? To save Ron Weasley even? Yes. She would. "Honestly, I probably would've done the same. If it had been you dying and I had a time turner… I would go back to stop it. To stop the war. I just don't know if I would keep so many secrets from you just to protect you."
Draco chuckled, or well, coughed, it was hard to tell at this point. "Actually, you did. Kept your secrets so well you obliviated me out of your head," he answered, scolding her slightly. "Even obliviated yourself out of your parents' lives just to protect them," he whispered.
Her eyes went wide. Would she? Would she sacrifice love just to keep her family and loved ones safe? She contemplated that for a minute, thinking what she would do, not what her future self would do. She blinked when she came to the conclusion that she indeed would do anything to keep her friends and family safe. Harry. Draco. Daphne. Luna. Their Hogwarts friends. Her mum and dad. Sirius and Amelia… If it was up to her, she'd even go back further, save her brother from the Dursleys if she could. Wait a second…
"Did Harry grow up with the Dursleys last time around?" she asked. Draco almost physically wincing was enough of an answer for her. "How long?"
"Until he turned seventeen," he said solemnly, getting tired and leaning onto her even more, Deandra trying to hold him up now as well.
"How far did you go back?" she whispered to him. "How old are you? You and Harry looked so… Like you were less yourselves. Harry looked like he missed a growth spurt or two."
"I-," he seemed to struggle with that answer, unsure about the answer to his own surprise. As if he hadn't thought about it before. Interesting. She made a mental note of that. Time travel wasn't all it seemed, perhaps. "All the way back to first year," he finally admitted. "And… I don't know how old I am anymore. Honestly, living through puberty again feels like my brain cells regressed with all that angst. Like I lost a year or two while my emotions got jumbled and ended up in a train wreck. Around twenty or twenty-one, mentally?" he guessed.
Deandra laughed. "He definitely lost at least a year of common sense after puberty hit him. It was as if talking to a brick wall."
Draco scowled at her. Hermione had to resist the urge to put her finger between his brows, making his frown disappear.
"You have so much explaining to do," she scolded him, not really angry, but still unsure. "But first," she announced, nodding at Deandra that she was ready to go. "I too need to show you something. No more secrets?"
He nodded in agreement. "Never."
When Hermione woke up for a few seconds, opening her mind to Draco and Deandra, she noticed that Harry was now sitting on Draco's other side, flipping through the Quidditch results in the Daily Prophet. He'd put a blanket on her, and she and Draco were still holding hands. Her brother in all but blood looked at her when he felt her magic touch his, getting his attention.
"He will be alright," she breathed. "If you'd want to talk to him for a bit, Deandra can help you."
Harry smiled, putting the Daily Prophet to the side. "You guys hang out for a bit. Me and Ced need to go and get our winnings for being the first ones to reach the cup. You know, before that loser Bagman runs off with the money." He walked over to her and placed a kiss on top of her head, ruffling her hair. She loved Harry. If only he knew what Draco had done so that he had a family this time, instead of spending another seven horrible years with the Dursleys…
Sleep overtook her when Harry tucked her in, putting the blanket around her more firmly.
"So," she said to Deandra and Draco as they were standing at the entrance to her mind, entirely based on the Bodleian Library in Oxford. She walked over to one of the books, her memories sorted by year. "Let's take a look at this one first if you are feeling up to it?" she asked Draco. He looked less gaunt but still had trouble standing, leaning onto Deandra.
"Sure," he whispered. "Just give me somewhere I can sit down while observing."
She laughed at him, opening the book and sucking all three of them into her first memory. The memory of meeting him, at Flourish and Blotts.