Chapter 9: The Infirmary
Dudley was glad to be able to help Harry and his friends. Yes, all his muscles hurt from carrying heavy stuff around, but the room was starting to look like a place where injured people could recover. Hermione had summarized the situation to Dudley, and he was concerned for the girls. He had no idea who they were, but Hermione said they were very nice people and not even if they were horrid would Dudley wish for anyone to be treated like that.
Andromeda and Tonks had just finished fixing the bedding on the three hospital beds Kreacher had found stored in the attic. They were old school, probably a vestige from the previous war, but they worked, and it was better than using actual beds. He was bringing a case of multicolored potion vials when Dobby appeared with two hurt young women. The black-haired one tried to hold the blonde girl up, but since Dobby had to leave right away, Dudley thew the case up, trusting that Hermione would either catch it or make it hover and he jumped to catch the girl. Remus managed to catch the potion case with his werewolf reflexes. As soon as Dudley held Luna, the girl started kicking, screaming, and scratching at him, her panic increasing when she felt manly arms around her. Dudley grimaced but didn't let go. He didn't know her injuries and didn't want her to get worse by dropping her.
"Luna!" Hermione rushed to her while Harry rushed to Cho. "It's okay. He's with us. Thanks, Dudley, I got her." Dudley backed away with his hands up and left the room.
Luna looked at Hermione with fear. "Hermione?"
Hermione put Luna's arm around her neck to help her walk, "Yes, Luna, it's me. I'll explain later. This is Andromeda Tonks, our Healer. You are safe here. We'll take care of you," Hermione helped Luna up on one of the beds.
"Harry! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Cho held onto Harry as tight as her sore muscles would allow. Harry returned the hug lightly. "I am so glad to see you! We knew you had to be alive!"
Harry grimaced... So that's the story these days. I am dead? Fuck, he thought, "I am glad we could get you out. Everything is going to be okay... You will be fine here. Just tell the Healer what you need," Harry replied, helping her to a bed. She couldn't walk properly.
"Harry, my parents, and Luna's dad... Please, they need to know we are safe. They must be going crazy," Cho requested.
"I'll take care of it. Once you are feeling better, we can send a note with your handwriting to assure them you are okay," Harry offered.
"Yes, that's perfect. Thank you," Cho kissed his cheek soundly.
It felt weird and off-putting. Fourteen-year-old Harry would have possibly fainted if Cho had kissed him like that, but now he felt nothing but his usual awkwardness at not wanting to be touched. By anyone other than Hermione, that is, a voice in his head reminded him. Harry nodded at Cho and felt Hermione's hand pull him away while Andromeda and Tonks started helping the girls. Hermione also pulled Dudley outside. Remus and Ted were talking in hushed voices by the end of the hallway.
"What if Andi needs our help, Mione?"
"Harry, they need privacy, and I don't think Luna is ready to be around men," Hermione replied. "We need to get screens too... We need to take care of those scratches, Dudley. We need the first aid kit. Hopefully, Sirius will bring back our wands," Hermione said to Remus who frowned and kept pacing.
Dudley smiled. The scratches did sting. "Thanks, I appreciate that."
"Mione, I'll go get it," Harry offered. "Andi may need you. Come on Dudders."
Harry rushed away as he was helping Dudley with his scratches when he heard Dobby return. He expected both Ollivander and Sirius, but the elf returned only with the wandmaker. Harry ran to help Ted carry a hurt Ollivander to the last empty hospital bed. Andromeda and Tonks had transfigured a couple of curtain rods and curtains into privacy screens so the girls would be more comfortable.
"Dobby, where is he?"
"He is sending me aways! I is going backs right now!" Dobby panted a bit and vanished.
Harry started pacing in the hall. After a while, he stopped and covered his face with his hands. He was trying not to freak out, but horrible images of his godfather being tortured or killed again kept popping into his brain. A band-aid covered Dudley saw Harry start to melt down and he knew he couldn't help his cousin, so he went to get Hermione who was bringing a new batch of potions from downstairs. He grabbed the potions, motioned to Hermione toward Harry with his head, and went to the Infirmary. Hermione nodded with a small smile. She approached Harry slowly. The last thing she wanted to do was scare him when he was already freaking out.
Harry's stomach was churning. Sirius can't die. He can't. Fuck! This is all my fault! He was about to go find himself a pillow to scream into when Hermione's slender arms wrapped around his waist.
"Harry, breathe. Sirius was an Auror for years. If anyone can get out of this alive is him. He has no intentions of dying on you again," Hermione kissed his back.
"I know... I just... It's that psycho bitch. Hermione, if he doesn't-"
"Shhh, it's going to be okay. We have Dobby on our team. That little elf is fierce, and nothing will stop him from bringing Sirius back," Hermione squeezed Harry and he felt the tension in his entire body reducing.
"Thanks, Mione," Harry sighed.
"Always, Harry."
Harry was helping Remus move Ollivander. Moony was using his wife's wand to levitate the old man. Garrick had been healed from his most troublesome injuries. Now he needed plenty of rest, nutrition, and hydration. Andromeda was worried that Sirius would come back quite hurt so she recommended that he was moved to one of the guest rooms near the Infirmary room. Ted stayed behind helping his wife change the bedding. As Remus smoothed down the bedding over Ollivander, the house seemed to scream inside Harry's head that there was potential danger coming. What the hell? No one is supposed to be able to come if they pose a threat!
"Remus, danger is coming!"
"What? I thought that was impossible!" Remus replied, trying not to scream in frustration. He needed his wand back. The marauder rushed after Harry toward the Infirmary room to find Dobby landing with a badly hurt female elf and... Narcissa Malfoy?
What the actual fuck?! Both Moony and Harry shared the same thought.
Andromeda was frozen with shock, as was Tonks, so Remus and Hermione rushed to move the unconscious woman and the elf. Harry grabbed Dobby.
"Dobby, what-?" Harry noticed Dobby was sweating and looked quite tired.
"Dobby is sorry Master. Lord Black was told to bring them. Dobby has to go now!"
"Harry, what should I do?" Andromeda looked at her sister torn in between wanting to help and not wanting to break her fealty oath.
"Stabilize her, restrain her, and keep her wand away from her if she has it on her," Harry replied mechanically.
"No wand," Tonks declared after trying to disarm the witch with her spare wand.
"Kreacher!" Harry called out. Remus was trying to wake the elf unsuccessfully. The tiny creature had lightning scarring all over her body. Several deep cuts were all over her arms and legs. The pillowcase that was her uniform was crimson with blood. Harry couldn't tell if it was the elf's or Narcissa's.
"Yes, mast- Oh, no! Maki!"
"You know her?"
The elf nodded, grief all over his features.
"Can you help us help her?" Harry asked in trepidation
"I can try... She was hit with Cruciatus. Elves are very sensitive to that," Kreacher looked quite upset at this.
"Fucking hell!" Harry growled. "Just... Do your best, Kreacher. Any ingredients you need that we have, use them. As much as you need. More supplies are coming tomorrow," Harry indicated. Kreacher nodded and vanished with the bloodied elf.
Hermione held Harry's hand and pulled him out of the Infirmary.
"I can't even... I mean what-?"
"Dobby says Sirius made him" Harry replied.
"Why would-?" Hermione began.
"I have no idea," Harry replied.
"Maybe-" Hermione started, narrowing her eyes as she thought about it.
"It was the only choice?" Harry completed.
"I mean... anything else makes no sense,"
"You guys are weird. This talking ping pong is confusing," Dudley handed them back the first aid kit. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"
"Yeah, go to the attic and see if you find anything else useful like hospital beds or bedpans, anything you think could be useful for Andy or her patients... I don't know..." Harry trailed off.
"You got it. I'll see what I can find. Are the girls alright?"
"They are stable," Hermione replied with a small smile.
Dudley walked away quickly, feeling very much like a third wheel.
As soon as Bellatrix cleared the debris, she started attacking her nephew and who she thought was the Undesirable Number 2: Hermione Granger. The crazed Death Eater saw Hermione with a glint that indicated she was worth her weight in gold.
"Drakey, you brought us a friend," Bellatrix smirked as she threw a barrage of spells that vanished the cells so she could attack them betters. "Welcome to Malfoy Manor little mudblood."
"Thanks, bitch, but I am not staying," Sirius/Hermione threw spell after spell. He could hear terrified screaming of both men and women in the distance. There was nothing defensive about this. It was fueled with years of hatred and resentment. Heightened by the knowledge given to him by the powers that be which made him faster, stronger, and more ruthless. Draco tried his best to defend himself, because out of the three people present, he was the least experienced duelist, not to mention the one with the most to lose if Dobby didn't manage to get them out. Hermione, Draco was loathe to admit, was made of stronger stuff than he was. Sirius/Hermione pushed him to the side when he tried to be on the offensive.
"Just protect yourself, you moron! I don't need your help!" Sirius/Hermione threw a blasting hex that threw Bellatrix several feet away. She landed with a sickening crunch and cursed as she threw several deadly curses at Sirius/Hermione which missed him/her by inches. Bellatrix hid behind the rubble as she sent a string of curses. Sirius/Hermione deflected a Diffindo and a Crucio and Draco was hit by both. His shield wasn't strong enough. He fell to the ground and ground his teeth not to scream.
In order of intensity, after Voldemort himself, only Bellatrix could torture someone like this without holding the spell for a while. She meant it witch such hatred that she didn't need to hold it. He was being tortured, true. But the most concerning thing was that the cutting curse landed on high on his thigh and the deep wound was bleeding profusely as his muscles spasmed and contorted painfully. Sirius/Hermione did a series of distracting spells out of the strategy book of the marauders which managed to take Bellatrix's attention away from them for a couple of seconds, but it was enough for Sirius/Hermione to send a second strong bombarda that made a chunk of the ceiling cave in and with it, water from the pipes rained all over the three of them.
Bellatrix was startled by the cold water and Sirius/Hermione took advantage of this and threw a variation of a cutting hex with Remus's wand that slashed deeply across Bellatrix's wand arm shoulder. This made her lose hold of her wand and instead, she threw one of her famous poisoned daggers at her adversaries. Draco would have gotten stabbed on his side if Sirius/Hermione hadn't thrown him down and landed on top of him. Unbeknownst to either of them, Dobby had just popped into the area. If it hadn't been for the breast plate he was wearing, he would have been toast. Dobby gathered the dagger and threw it back at Bellatrix who didn't see it coming because she was applying pressure to her wound. The poisoned blade cut her across the cheek. Before she could react further, Dobby summoned the witch's wand.
Bellatrix screamed, "How dare you throw my knife at me? You could have killed me!"
"Dobby didn't mean to kill. Dobby only meant to maim or seriously injure!" Dobby replied immediately with a small smile. Bellatrix was so surprised by his reply that she couldn't form a response or move. Bellatrix yelled for backup a second later, as another section of the wall collapsed trapping her beneath it. Sirius/Hermione stretched his/her arm towards Dobby while his/her other arm was wrapped snugly around a very hurt Draco's neck. Dobby took hold and they vanished as three more half-dressed Death Eaters came through the mess behind Bellatrix.
"You useless pigs! You were too late! Crucio!" she yelled with a vengeance as she summoned her elf that had an antidote to the poison in her dagger. Otherwise, she could die. As it was, the poison was already eating a bit of her skin and muscle. The elf moved the wall in a hurry, otherwise, his mistress would punish him too.
Dobby landed on a heap with Hermione/Sirius and a deathly pale, almost unconscious Draco Malfoy. Remus rushed to help Sirius/Hermione who handed him back his wand with a groan. He had been hit by several curses. However, as a former Auror, he was used to the pain and to patching himself up. Tonks' protective vest had helped significantly, though.
Harry and Hermione stared at Malfoy for a second before they ran to him too. Hermione took his wand and pocketed it. There was a quickly forming puddle of blood beneath his leg. Remus transfigured a chair into a cot and Harry lay Draco down on it. Andromeda went to Draco first, with that cut, he could die from blood loss.
"Drink this!" the healer placed the vial to Draco's mouth, but he looked at her in fear and confusion. She did look a lot like her sister Bellatrix. Andy tapped her wand to Draco's leg and his wound closed.
"It's a blood replenishing potion, Malfoy," Hermione explained. "You have lost a lot of blood."
Draco looked at her startled. She wasn't wearing that. But he drank the vial offered. From where he was, he couldn't see Sirius/Hermione who would start to transform back soon. Hermione helped Andromeda take care of Malfoy and Harry went to his godfather who still looked like his best friend and who was being undressed by Remus. It's Sirius, not her, Harry had to remind himself. Tonks made Remus and Harry turn around as she took off the vest and tried not to gasp. There were bruises and hastily self-healed gashes in several places. She swiftly removed the sports bra and pushed a t-shirt down "Hermione's" arms which were growing longer and more muscular as well as hairier. Once this part was done, Remus had to forcefully pull down Hermione's jeans from longer, thicker legs. Harry held a pair of jeans that belonged to his father and that he was certain could fit Sirius. Sirius pulled them up and undid his hair that was still held back by a braid. Harry hugged his godfather tightly and took Hermione's wand from him.
"I promised I would come back," Sirius smiled and pulled Remus in for a hug too. "I'll be fine Tonks, thanks to you. That vest saved my life."
Hermione pulled Dobby to the side and knelt in front of him with a concerned frown, "Are you okay, Dobby?"
"Yes, missy Grangy... I is just very tired... too many poppings," Dobby yawned and tried not to fall down. "More peoples than I is expecting."
"Of course," Hermione smiled. "I am sorry the mission changed so much. You must be exhausted. Go to sleep. You earned your rest. Harry and I can make dinner tonight."
"No, missy, I has to help Kreacher with Maki first," Dobby shocked himself at refusing her. "Kreacher is being mad at Dobby if yous is cooking."
"That's very kind of you, Dobby," she smiled gratefully at him, "You let me worry about Kreacher, alright? But as soon as you are done..."
"Off to sleep..." Dobby hesitated as he looked worried at a still unconscious Narcissa.
"They will not touch you. You have my word," Hermione promised.
"Thank you, Mistress," Dobby bowed with a smile and left.
Hermione blinked, "Mistress?" she whispered to herself. Her magic reacted at the elf calling her that. Weird.
"We are just glad you are alive and that the mission was a success... Added relatives notwithstanding," Tonks said, squeezing Sirius tightly. Then she turned to help her mother.
"What the hell are the Malfoys doing here, Pads?" Remus whisper-shouted.
"Family meeting, now. Andy, please stay with them. Ted can tell you everything later, okay?" Sirius said.
"Of course, go, go, go. Oh, but do come by later so I can fix you up properly," Andromeda replied without looking up. She gave Draco a sedative and blocked Sirius from view.
"Yes, dear. Absolutely," Sirius winked.
"Before any or all of you chop my head off," Sirius raised his hands in surrender. "Draco did a fealty oath to Harry and Hermione." The teens shared an incredulous look and stared at Padfoot willing him to explain further. "Narcissa couldn't do the oath because... well... she was unconscious."
"What were you thinking bringing them here?" Remus snapped, hitting the back of Sirius' head.
Sirius grimaced. Everything hurt and he really wanted a nap. Turns out that a newly resuscitated core is not ready for such a workout. Before he could answer, Ted added, "If they are caught and tortured, they can lead the Death Eaters to this area!"
"Yes, and so could you!" Sirius replied. "So could any of us!"
"Sirius, why?"
"Look, Draco told me he didn't want to be a Death Eater. He said he was rewarded with the Dark Mark even though he had realized he didn't want it because the Riddle was made to believe that Draco had killed Dumbledore."
"And you believed him!?" Remus frowned.
"Yes! I should have believed in my own fucking brother. Maybe then he'd still be alive."
"Sirius, please tell us you didn't do this to assuage your conscience at what happened between you and Regulus ages ago!" Ted exclaimed.
Tonks joined them, sitting on Remus' lap. He needed to calm down and touching her usually helped.
"No, it wasn't that... I mean, not just that. You don't know how things are there. Bloody hell! It's a house of horrors. I could hear distant screams. There's probably some torture chamber for their amusement. And Riddle was fucking Bellatrix on Draco's bed when I got to the manor!"
Everyone stopped mid-motion and stared in shock at the revelation.
"Please tell me that is your poor attempt at a joke," Tonks said. She looked green. No one was faring any better. Sirius didn't say a thing. "Padfoot, tell me that 'fuck' is a euphemism for something else."
"Merlin, I wish... Riddle wants to have a child... or well... an heir."
"Ugh. No. Stop it! The mental picture is-," Ted gagged. "Did someone burn that bed? I've never been a fan of Draco, but I don't think anyone deserves such filth..."
"That's what got Narcissa to the state she's in. Draco complained about the disgusting activities in his room to keep her away from the cell as I had him cornered. Dobby had just taken the girls and she would be able to tell something was up. He had her go and make them leave his room. She was attacked quite savagely for cock-blocking Riddle."
"Padfoot!" Hermione grimaced and covered her face with her hands. Everyone else had just groaned. "Let's never discuss that monster's sex life again, okay? Why was the other elf so hurt?"
"If I have to guess, I'd say she took a Cruciatus for her Mistress," Tonks replied.
"Yes, that's what Kreacher thinks. Fuck. I hope she makes it. Was Dobby alright?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Yes, just really tired. He said he would sleep after he helped Kreacher with Maki," she replied.
"We need to let Minerva know the girls are okay and with us," Remus said.
"And their parents," Hermione added. She couldn't even imagine the desperation the parents could be going through.
"Yes, I promised Cho that we would do that and that later they could send a note with their own handwriting, so their parents really believe it's them," Harry added.
"No need. I have been working on more two-way mirrors for months. It took me a while to find The Marauders' notes on how to make them, but I did, and now I have made four more pairs. The runes weren't done acting before but I checked them before, and they are done. We just have to be very careful who gets to keep them because while they can look at them, they can also look back into us," Remus replied.
Sirius stood with a wide smile and went over to kiss Remus's head. He then knelt and spoke to Tonks's belly. "It will never cease to amaze me, little one, that your daddy is so organized and smart. That will save us so much time, and unnecessary risk," he looked up at Remus who was smiling at him with a blush. Sirius looked at Tonks asking for permission. She nodded so he kissed her belly.
"Professor McGonagall has to have one," Hermione suggested.
"Definitely," Remus agreed. "I am just worried that it could fall into the wrong hands."
"We can tell Minnie to store it in between, you know," Tonks motioned at her own cleavage.
"Yeah, it's not like the Death Eaters are going to go looking for it there," Sirius nodded with a smirk.
Harry and Hermione shared a panicked look, "Fine, but Tonks has to tell her," Hermione said.
"Why me?" Tonks blushed.
"Sorry, but it was your idea, and you are pregnant, so McGonagall won't hurt you," Harry said immediately. "Can you imagine any of us telling her to stash a mirror in her... there?!" Harry blanched. Hermione grimaced.
Sirius and Remus's chuckles turned into laughs and then guffaws as they imagined the stern Scotswoman furious.
"Not to kill the vibes, boys," Ted started. His tone made the marauders sober up. "What are we supposed to do with the Malfoys?"
"If Narcissa wants to stay, she will have to do the oath as well," Tonks started.
"I am sorry but... IF?! She has no choice," Harry replied. "She can't leave."
"I agree with Harry. Oath or no oath. If she leaves it will only be a matter of time until we have a horde of Death Eater pirates trying to find a way to penetrate our oceanic defenses," Remus nodded at the teen.
Hermione smiled at Harry, "So do I. However, this poses an additional set of problems. What are we going to do with Luna and Cho?"
"If they leave this island, they will leave to go to their parents' homes," Tonks replied.
"They are part of the P.A. They are known as insurgents to Voldemort. If we were to send them to Hogwarts, they would be sent back to Malfoy Manor and this little stunt will have been for nothing!" Sirius added.
"Who is leading the P.A.?" Hermione asked, pensively.
"No clue. Please ask the girls later," Harry replied. Hermione nodded.
"Perhaps whoever is leading should have a mirror too. That way we can prevent stunts like these," Tonks suggested. "The resistance is not that big, and we cannot afford to get each other killed."
"True. But I don't feel comfortable sending a mirror unless we both know and trust their leader," Hermione frowned.
"What you two says goes. I think you know the students and the professors better than us at this point," Sirius replied. "Now, having the Malfoys here will be a challenge, but I think that since Draco did a fealty oath, they can also be a tool. They have the most up-to-date information on Riddle's strategy and plans."
"You don't really think that terrorist will not change his plans? Can you imagine his reaction to a member of the resistance stealing two of his toys right from underneath his nose?" Remus frowned.
"I am just glad I haven't had to see it," Harry shuddered. Hermione placed a reassuring hand on his back.
"I wanted to talk to everyone here about this. We can't have that... creature get into Harry's mind whenever he wants to," Hermione replied.
Harry blinked and turned toward her. "But he doesn't know-"
Hermione closed her eyes and resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Harry. He could be so oblivious. Remus nodded decisively at Hermione.
"She's right," Moony stopped Harry from complaining. Sirius looked slightly confused.
"Harry if he didn't know before today, he most assuredly knows now," Hermione said with a frown. Harry opened and closed his mouth several times but found that this was one of most times when she was probably on to something, so he didn't say a thing. She went on, "The Malfoys were held on a tight leash. They couldn't have told us. He will probably torture everyone in the manor just to make sure none of them spoke. But once he makes sure he doesn't have a mole, he will know. And you can bet your Firebolt and all the gold in your vault that he will use every resource available to take that connection, master it, and use it against you."
Harry took a deep breath. He found Hermione's hand under the table and squeezed. She was right, obviously. "Who here knows mind magic and agrees that training me in Occlumency is priority one?"
"I do," both Sirius and Remus replied.
"But I think Sirius should do the teaching. I have a naturally heightened ability to block legilimency because of my wolf side. Sirius's skills are excellent, and he got them through hard work," Remus smiled at his friend. It was also an opportunity for Harry and Sirius to bond as much as possible.
"Oh, hush you. You are making me blush. Tonks, control your husband."
Tonks chuckled, "Oh, please! You love the attention!"
Sirius laughed, "True. I'd love to teach you, son. It wasn't just hard work. It was fear of punishment. Walburga sure loved to beat us up when we weren't being good little Blacks."
The whole room went silent at that. Harry looked decidedly uncomfortable. Hermione knew that he feared that Sirius would see memories of his own abuse when they started training. Remus looked at the teenagers and he nodded at Hermione. She smiled, grateful.
"Padfoot, I need to talk to you. Let's go down to the beach. We will need the privacy," Moony stood up after sitting Tonks down on his chair.
"He won't stop flirting with me, Tonks! Look at him!" Sirius stood up and turned his expression into one of shock.
"Please, as if I even need to try," Remus lifted a brow at Sirius. "Remember what happened in sixth year?"
Sirius blushed scarlet and looked at Sirius in a clear 'Don't you dare' expression. "Why don't we go down to the beach, Moony? Immediately." He pushed Remus toward the door.
"No, go see Andy first. I will wait for you down there," Remus pushed him back and Sirius almost ran toward the Infirmary.
"Hey! Get back here either of you! What happened during sixth year!? I want the details! Give me the gossip!" Tonks complained.
Harry and Hermione were quite curious as well, but if Devil-be-damned-will-flirt-with-inanimate-objects Sirius Black was so embarrassed, neither teen felt their sanity would survive knowing what happened. It was probably too much for most people.
"I really think we shouldn't ask... for the sake of your marriage and the purity of our souls," Ted told his daughter.
"You are probably right, Dad," Tonks chuckled. "Let's go see if mom needs help," she added to her dad. Harry and Hermione looked like they needed privacy.
"We will write a note for Professor McGonagall about the girls and the mirror," Hermione smiled at Tonks.
"Sure," she replied with a wink, dragging her father away.
"What about this?" Hermione handed Harry the note for him to read. "Better?"
"Yes. Perfect. Just add the spell to make sure only the professor can read it and we can go check if Dobby is up for another trip," Harry smiled at her.
"Of course," Hermione took out her wand, touched the message with it, and whispered "Probare identitatis Minerva McGonagall."
"Ready?"
"Yes. The letters for Mr. and Mrs. Chang and for Mr. Lovegood are ready. We just need the girls to add their notes and their parents' names to do the identifying spell. Why don't you go catch up with Sirius and Remus? Decide how often you will train in Occlumency?" Hermione suggested. It had been around an hour. She hoped things had calmed down by now.
"Yeah, good idea," Harry kissed her forehead and left.
"Kreacher?"
"Yes?" the elf looked exhausted.
"How is Maki?"
"We did all we could. Now we wait," the elf answered sadly.
"I am sorry, Kreacher. Can I do anything to help her or you for that matter?"
Kreacher looked deep in thought for a while. Then he looked ready to break something on his head and his cheeks went red. "No, thank you."
"You were thinking of something. Tell me. I feel awful that I can't help more," Hermione insisted.
"Dobby and I are exhausted... Many eons ago... But no, it's just not done, Miss Granger. Thank you anyway," Kreacher bowed, almost falling over. He was that tired from all the magic he had spent trying to stabilize Maki.
Hermione knelt in front of him and took one of his wrinkly hands. "I didn't ask that. Tell me, please? Many eons ago what?"
"Many eons ago some wizards and witches would share their magic with their elves at will to help them heal and feel better. That was before we were indentured. Then we were equals... Or as close to equals as was possible. But it hasn't been done in... Mother Nature knows how long it has been by now..."
"That's such a good idea. Do you know how to do it?"
"Miss Granger would be willing to try?!" Kreacher was astounded.
"Of course. You and Dobby are so good to us. I don't see why I can't share some of my magic if that can help you heal better and faster.
Kreacher looked at her with true respect for the first time. "The words of the ritual have been lost to time. Kreacher thinks that maybe if you wish for some of your magic to help Maki... it could work."
"Okay, take me to her."
Maki was unconscious inside a big empty kitchen cabinet that was furnished with a large pillow. Hermione paled. "Why isn't she in a bedroom? That can't be comfortable..."
"Elves should never presume to use the accommodations of humans," Kreacher shrugged.
Hermione's eyes widened, "Wait a minute... Where have you and Dobby been sleeping all this time, then?" Hermione asked, highly concerned.
"The pantry, of course," Kreacher replied, perfectly comfortable with the situation.
Hermione gasped. "The p- The pantry?!" she sputtered. "That is entirely unacceptable."
"Should Kreacher sleep outside? Like at Grimmauld Place?" Kreacher looked down with resignation.
"What?! NO! Absolutely not... Gosh, Kreacher... I am so sorry. I can't believe they made you sleep outside. The winters must have been brutal. This house has far too many bedrooms and there is no good reason why you can't have one for yourselves."
Kreacher's eyes were wide and incredulous. Did she mean that? Could former painted mistress be wrong about Miss Granger?
"Can we move her safely? Levitate her to a guest room?"
"Yes," Kreacher replied, dumbfounded.
"Good. Wingardium Leviosa," Hermione swished and flicked, and the hurt elf floated ahead of her towards one of the bedrooms on the first floor while Kreacher followed her still shocked at Hermione's reaction to their living arrangements. Dobby heard their conversation while he ate and followed them too.
Hermione pulled the covers back and removed the decorative pillows. She then lay Maki down on the bed and slowly she covered the hurt elf and caressed her head gently.
"Okay, Kreacher. I think I am ready," Hermione smiled. "What should I do?"
"Place your hand on her chest."
Hermione placed her hand applying as little pressure as she could. Maki's breathing was shallow, "Now what?"
"Push your magic and wish for it to help her heal, Kreacher thinks," the old elf looked uncertain.
Hermione took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The worst thing that could happen was that this didn't work. Hermione focused on the injured Maki, and opening her core, she began to pull out magic and push it toward the elf's frail chest.
Kreacher and Dobby saw with amazement how tendrils of gold magic came out of Hermione's fingertips and the magic burrowed into Maki, healing the scarred, burnt, and exhausted body. Maki opened her eyes lazily and started floating off the bed.
"Mistress, that is okay! Stop!" Dobby pulled Hermione's arm away from Maki.
Hermione shook her head. The feeling was strange. She felt a bit tired, but not bad at all, "Did it work?" she asked and stopped to stare as she realized Maki was still levitating but her eyes had closed, and her body was sparkling. "Oh, wow!"
Kreacher's eyes were full of tears. "Yes, Miss Granger. She has been healed. Kreacher thinks her body is trying to make the most of your magic. You may have overcharged Maki. You are a very powerful and very kind witch."
Hermione was perplexed. Those were the nicest words Kreacher had ever said about her, "Thank you. I am just glad it helped. Now you and Dobby."
"What?!" Dobby and Kreacher gasped. Kreacher dabbed his eyes with a kitchen towel on his shoulder.
"I feel great. Let me help you both. You are clearly very tired from helping Maki. Now, I can't order Kreacher, but since Dobby called me Mistress earlier, I think can order him," Hermione smirked lightly.
"Dobby!" Kreacher told him off.
"It's okay. I don't mind. Will you let me help you Kreacher?"
Kreacher stared at her chocolate eyes trying to find deception but found warmth and love instead. "Yes, Mistress."
Hermione's eyes widened as did Dobby's. She looked at the elf in a way that said, 'I have questions and you will have to answer them later.' Dobby nodded. Both elves sat on the bed. Hermione knelt in front of them and placed both hands on their bony chests. "Here we go."
The process repeated and when Hermione felt a bit more tired than she expected, she let go slowly. When she opened her eyes, she was shocked. Dobby and Kreacher looked younger, stronger, and healthier than ever. Their eyes looked full of joy and gratitude.
"Mistress, you honor us with your magic," Kreacher stood and bowed so deeply that his nose almost touched the ground.
"It's my pleasure to help you. Now, I will talk to Harry, but I think he will agree that you should have your own bedrooms."
"If Mistress wants, Kreacher can be splitting this room into three chambers. It is too big for one of us."
"Whatever you think works better," Hermione nodded. It was already a miracle that Kreacher was willing to do this at all. "Dobby, can you please help me? Will you follow me?"
To hell and back, Dobby replied in his mind. Outside he just nodded with a huge smile.
Kreacher had to take five minutes to stop his inner freak out before he attempted to change the room. A remarkable witch had shared her magic with him. A lot of it. She didn't ask for anything in return. She didn't try to hurt him or insult him. Lord Black was right. Hermione Granger was an amazing human, and his old mistress was a very foul being.
"Dobby, why did you call me Mistress? Most importantly, why did Kreacher?"
"Elves can be having a Mistress that is bonding with them or theys can be bonding with a Mistress out of respect and gratitude. Dobby is thinking that Mistress will be Lady Potter one day, so she is to be my full Mistress one day. Kreacher recognizes Mistress is being the kindest most amazing humansy!"
Hermione blushed. "I... I don't know about the whole Lady Potter, but as a Granger, I appreciate the gesture."
"Master will be asking yous. Dobby is knowing," Dobby nodded confidently.
"What?! How?!" Hermione blushed.
"Elves see auras and cores. Master's core is being reaching to Mistress' core all the time. Potter magic is liking you a lot," Dobby smiled.
Hermione blinked her confusion away. "Ooookay. Thank you. I will try my best not to disappoint you." Mental note, research what the heck this all means and entails.
Dobby looked at her as if she had gone barmy. "That is being impossible. Mistress is sharing her magic with Dobby!"
"It's the least I can do... Now, do you feel like you have enough energy now to help us deliver a note to Professor McGonagall and to Luna's and Cho's parents?"
Dobby nodded enthusiastically. "Dobby is being super charged by yous magic. I is thinking I can do even fewer pops to get there!"
Hermione knocked on the Infirmary room door. Andy opened with a smile.
"Are they awake?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, but I don't want them to talk too much," the healer warned. "Narcissa and Draco are still sedated. Their injuries need more work. I'll go check on Mr. Ollivander. Hopefully, Ted and Tonks managed to get some information from him about how he came to be a prisoner."
Hermione nodded, "I will be here... Hey girls," she smiled.
Cho got up slowly and hobbled towards Hermione and hugged her. "I was never happier to see anyone in my life than today when I saw you in our cell. Thank you! You have no idea what you saved us from!"
Hermione hugged her back a bit awkwardly. They had never really been close. Before she could reply, Luna said, "That wasn't Hermione. Not really."
"Huh?"
Hermione sat at the end of Luna's bed while a confused Cho sat on her own hospital bed, "She's right. It was someone else who Polyjuiced as me. It was too high risk a mission and-"
"And Harry wouldn't let her risk it," Luna added with her usual dreamy tone.
"Actually no one here wanted me to go."
"Who was it? House of Chang owes whoever it was a life debt. My father will ask," Cho pressed.
"I will ask the person if they are comfortable with you knowing. I can't just decide on my own."
Luna tapped Hermione's shoulder "Can we communicate with our parents?"
"Of course. Dobby brought some writing supplies."
Five minutes later, once Hermione did the identification spells, Dobby left to give both the notes and the mirror to Professor McGonagall.
"Girls, I have a question. Who is leading the P.A. and who is a part of it?" Hermione asked, ready to take notes.
"Neville is leading us. You should have seen him in Hogsmeade. He's amazing," Cho replied.
"He was always amazing" Luna squinted at Cho.
Is Luna jealous? Hermione thought.
"Well, yes... but that day tops it all."
"Who is a part of P.A.? Full names, please," Hermione said quickly before the girls started fighting.
"Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Padma and Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Colin and Denis Creevy, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Terry Boot, Sue Li," Luna trailed off.
Hermione was impressed. She was not expecting more than five names.
Cho took over, "Wayne Hopkins, Oliver Rivers, Roger Malone, Anthony Goldstein, and believe it or not, Daphne Greengrass."
Hermione stopped writing when she heard the last name. "You are joking, right?"
"No."
"And you are sure she can be trusted?"
"The Death Eaters killed her dad because he refused to join them... They have always been neutral and hoped to remain so... but they were forced into choosing a side and they chose ours," Luna explained.
"Those bastards!" Hermione snapped. "Thank you for letting me know. How many people in P.A. have family members kidnapped or that had been hurt or murdered?"
"About half... but the other half is just a matter of time," Cho replied.
"Tell me, what does the P.A. need more than anything else? Any supplies?" Hermione offered.
Cho replied, "Harry."
"I beg your pardon?" Hermione frowned.
"Supplies would help and all... But she means that seeing Harry alive and well and knowing he is still fighting would help a lot. We are a bit hopeless. The castle is surrounded by dementors and the Carrows love to beat us all up... It's hard to keep the faith," Luna replied.
"He can't possibly go there yet."
"That's okay. Maybe he can say a message and we can bottle the memory and send it to Neville?" Cho suggested.
"That could work. I'll talk to him," Hermione nodded. "I'll let you rest. Are you hungry or thirsty?"
"A bit," Cho admitted.
"No, thank you," Luna replied with a grimace.
Kreacher appeared and placed two trays on the girls' laps. Cho started eating right away. Luna looked at the food with fear. Hermione thought that perhaps they had been made to eat disgusting things at the Malfoy's house. She took the spoon, filled it with chicken soup, and brought it close to Luna's mouth. Luna shook her head and tried to push the tray away. She got even paler than was typical for her and the bruises on her face looked far worse.
"I don't want that," the blonde girl said, her eyes full of tears. She started pushing herself away from Hermione.
"Luna, are you sure? When was the last time that you ate?" Hermione inched closer to Luna, placing her hand on the girl's forearm while still holding the spoon a couple of inches away from the girl's chapped lips.
"Leave me alone! I don't want anything in my mouth!" Luna slapped Hermione's feeding hand away harshly. The spoon fell with a clang and the girl threw the tray away too. It was convenient that Hermione moved quickly, or she would have been burned by the soup. She turned away from Hermione, sobbing, and hugged her pillow. "I'd r-rather s-starve!"
Oh, no. This is bad. This is really bad. What did they do to our Luna? Hermione thought as she looked at Cho questioningly. Cho winced when the food was thrown and stopped eating. Kreacher popped back, vanished the spilled soup, and left. Cho took a feather pen and a piece of scroll. Hermione took the note and gasped. It read "McLaggen forced her to blow him for refusing to answer questions or 'open her mouth' and cooperate." Hermione felt her very blood run cold. She wanted to scream. She wanted to bash McLaggen's face in with a hammer and castrate him.
Hermione went around to the other side of the blonde's bed, where Luna could see her, "Luna, oh sweetie. I am so sorry this happened to you. Please forgive me. I am so sorry that I tried to force anything on you. That was so stupid of me. It must have been so triggering. Those bastards! We will do things your way. Is there anything I can bring you to provide some comfort?"
"I-It's okay. You couldn't h-have known. Can T-Tonks come b-back? Seeing m-my mom would h-help," Luna said in a sad tone.
Hermione nodded to Luna's back. "Absolutely, I'll go get her."
Did Tonks know Mrs. Lovegood? I hope so, Hermione thought. She felt like throwing up again. How could anyone do that to Luna? Fuck. That could have been me.
Tonks and her parents were about to come in when Hermione stepped out. "Thank Merlin you are here," Hermione explained in hurried whispers what had happened. Ted and Andromeda helped describe Pandora Lovegood and Tonks started to modify her appearance. She walked into the Infirmary Room and Cho gasped. She had seen a picture of Luna's mother before. The resemblance was uncanny. Luna turned, "Mummy?" she whispered and started crying in earnest. Tonks hurried to hug the girl who was now making noises that sounded like a wounded animal. No one had ever seen her display so much emotion at once. Tonks was trying hard not to cry with the girl, but her hormones didn't help. Cho was crying silently, and Andromeda went to hug her after she took the tray away. The older girl held on for dear life.
Hermione had to leave the room. If Harry had been there to see this heartbreaking scene, he would kill McLaggen with his bare hands. Growing up, Hermione had always believed that murder was wrong no matter what. Now that she saw what those sickos were willing to do, she felt quite capable of using Avada Kedavra on their asses. They needed to figure out how to get the tortured out of Malfoy Manor. No one should go through anything like that.
By the time Harry reached Sirius and Remus, the friends had their own meltdown. Sirius had exploded and hurt himself in his rage and Remus had healed him. Now they were sitting down on the sand, in complete silence. Both felt like a failure.
"Hey, are you guys done?" Harry asked.
"Yes, come here, son," Remus waved him in. "I have to go check on things. I'll let you know when dinner is ready."
Remus stood and walked away. Harry sat where Remus had been.
"Remus told me about the Dursleys, Harry," Sirius began.
"It's fine, really. I mean... It's over and they are dead," Harry shrugged.
"Son, it is not fine. But tell you what... I'll show you my scars if you show me yours," Sirius offered.
Harry looked up, surprised. "You have scars?"
"A whole constellation of them. My mother was always obsessed with stars," Sirius chuckled.
"Can we not? I don't want to do that... I am just so relieved you are still alive. I feared the worst for a while," Harry sighed.
Sirius wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulders and pulled him in. "Hey, I would never. I mean... Who is going to teach you how to woo your lady friend?"
Harry grimaced and blushed. "Ugh, don't say lady friend in that tone of voice, Pads. It's weird."
"I hear no denial!" Sirius threw his arms up in triumph. "Oh, I will help you make her fall in love with you just like I helped your father... Ask Moony! There is no better wingman than yours truly."
"Somehow I doubt that..." Harry chuckled. "Now, please tell me everything about how I was almost Harry Snape. Everyone was so blasé about that, and it almost gave me a bloody aneurysm!"
"Oh, do I have stories for you!? I have them all. Snape is a butthurt git. You know the type, right? Can't get out of the imaginary 'friendzone' that he put himself in and then snaps at the girl for feeling betrayed to find out that all along he was just pretending to be her friend so he could get in her pants when she thought they were good friends for real?"
Harry nodded enthusiastically. That description reminded him of Ronald. Fuck! "So that's why Snape hates me... Because he couldn't be with my mom?"
"You looking like James doesn't help much either," Sirius shrugged. "Hey, if you ask me, you got the better end of the deal. Heavens knows you would not be as handsome as yours truly if you had Snape's genes," Padfoot laughed.
"Ugh... Gross... But you know Padfoor... sometimes I think you are all talk about all the game you supposedly got on Hogwarts and then Moony says something like what he did before about sixth year and I am scared to even ask," Harry chuckled.
"If he tells you, I will kill him," Sirius smirked.
"That bad? Or that good?" Harry wiggled his brows at his godfather.
"If I told you pup, I'd have to kill you too. Plus, we haven't even had a chance for me to give you 'The Talk,'" Sirius nudged Harry with his shoulder.
Harry got beet red. "Don't bother. I already had the talk."
"Please don't tell me it was McGonagall... Oh, dear! Was it Tonks?" Sirius looked genuinely concerned.
"It was Moony," Harry closed his eyes. He fully expected Sirius to playfully punch him so he flexed his arm and Sirius did land a punch on his bicep.
"SHUT UP!"
"I am you... I mean serious," Harry winked.
Sirius guffawed. "I would have paid a good amount of money to see that! Proper and shy Moony talking to you about sex. Damn. I am so mad I missed that."
"It actually went better than expected because I thought he was going to curse me or something"
Sirius turned his whole body to face his godson. "Curse you? Why?"
Harry blushed and shook his head.
"Did he find you doing something inappropriate?"
Harry's blush deepened.
"By yourself?" Sirius asked lifting a brow.
"Padfoot! Shut up!" Harry complained.
Sirius gasped, " With Hermione?!"
Harry covered his face with his hands.
Sirius grabbed Harry by the throat and applied a bit of pressure. "I only have three questions for you. One: was it consensual?!"
Harry nodded with fear, "Yes, she insisted." The hold on his throat was gone instantly and Sirius smirked.
"Two: were you responsible?"
"Sirius!" Harry groaned.
"What? I don't want any Lilies and James running around here... yet," Padfoot smiled.
"It's not like that! I mean we did sleep together... but not like that... We just fell asleep talking after... the Dursleys were killed, and we brought Dudley here. We were just sitting down in bed talking. I have no idea how, but when I woke up we were... um... c-cuddling... Tonks had gone up to look for Hermione but she wasn't in her bedroom so..."
"She came into yours and cock-blocked you?" Sirius laughed.
"NO! We didn't even know she saw us until breakfast and then Tonks talked to Hermione in private and Remus talked to me."
"Third question: how was it? You can't tell me you didn't even kiss her goodnight!"
"SIRIUS! Of course, I didn't!"
"But I bet you wish you had!" Sirius wiggled his thick brows at his godson who made himself small but said nothing.
After a while of awkward silence, Harry whispered, "You have no idea..."
The long squeal that came out of Sirius's mouth at that admission and the memory of the next few minutes of Padfoot freaking out and dancing around like a teenage girl would be blackmail material for Harry to use for years to come.
As he danced, Sirius started to chant, "Harry and Hermione kissing on a palm tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage, sucking his thumb, wetting his pants, doing the hula, hula dance!"
A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you are safe and sound wherever you are. I appreciate all your kind comments and compliments. I never knew that the kissing song ended like that! How appropriate! -Lux-