Chapter 20: Of Meetings and Marriage
Once everyone had been healed and placed in the now family rooms, there was a meeting in the library for those who were able to attend. The Weasleys stayed in their room. No one expected them to come out. The elves had brought them a warm meal and drinks even though they went mostly untouched. The war experts began writing on a whiteboard. Everyone sat heavily around the sofas and armchairs. They noted the experts drew the formation they started with and the position of their enemies.
"Who wants to tell me what went wrong?" General Xu paced with his hands laced behind his back.
"We were late," Chyou suggested, raising her hand.
"No. We got there as fast as we could for the circumstances. I am talking about things in our control," the general kept pacing.
"We should have used deadly spells," Hermione covered her face with her hands.
"YES!" the general threw his hands up. "Why are we even bothering to show up if we are going to do a dueling practice? These people want all of you dead! They would prefer if that death is as slow and painful as possible and you are trying to disarm them and stun them?"
Jing took a deep breath. "This is no time to be merciful! This is time to pay them back in kind. They have done their best to mess with all of us one way or another. They need to leave severely maimed if we don't manage to kill them as General Xu did to Malfoy..."
Longwei added, "If we don't start using their killer mindsets against them, they will decimate us. When you choose your spells think of all the harm they have caused you. You have lost your education, family members, your peace, your health, your everything because of them."
"Mr. Chang, as Head of the DMLE, I must tell you that everyone here, myself included would still be processed if they use an unforgivable," Amelia said sternly.
Jing sighed, "Madam Bones, with all due respect, I don't think anyone here gives a damn. If we kill Riddle, they should build us a freaking monument, and if they don't... no one is in a rush to go back to England. Are we?"
Most people shook their heads.
"My father has offered asylum when this is all over," Fleur said as she took a glass of water.
Harry's eyebrows went up in surprise.
"Beg your pardon? Who is your father?" Amelia blinked in confusion.
"Le Ministre des Affaires Magiques," Fleur replied after swallowing. Hermione helped her sit down. Just because she insisted that she was fine didn't mean she should be putting additional stress on her body, "He is probably furieux with me. But I did get the assurance of asylum in writing before I went to the Burrow, just in case. It's in Gringotts. My sister Gabrielle has access to the vault if something happens to me and my husband."
"Thank you. That is good to know. Let us hope we all survive this war to go live in France," Harry smiled at her with gratitude. She nodded.
"As I was saying, we cannot use stunning or disarming spells. There is no point in capturing those people. They are beyond repentance and forgiveness. They need to die. Ms. Delacour has the right idea. I had never heard the Exsangue spell, but I think we need more of that," the general nodded at Fleur.
"It's from the Delacour grimoire. I can teach you, but that will have to be tomorrow. I find myself quite exhausted. Harry, should I stay with my husband's family?"
Harry blinked and called Dobby with his mind. He had no idea what the final arrangements were, "Master, Mrs. Weasley and her husband have their own room. They will need privacy when the baby comes. It is ready for you, Mrs. Weasley," Dobby smiled and walked out of the room
Dudley approached the woman and offered her his arm, "Can you walk or would you prefer to be carried?"
"I think I can get there walking with your help, Mr?" Fleur asked, taking his arm.
"Dursley. Dudley Dursley, Harry's cousin," Dudley placed his hand on top of hers and they left the room.
"What a gentleman, thank you," Fleur smiled at him, and his ears went bright red.
"I want everyone who is healed in the training area tomorrow at 4 am. Everyone else, please clear the room, Jing, Longwei and I need to speak with Madam Bones, Lord Potter, Lord Black, and Ms. Granger," the general said.
Once everyone left, the general sat down. "Today could have proven fatal to all of us. We need roles."
"There's no point in us being here, otherwise," Jing said.
"I stood back until the end because I wanted to see how you fought normally. Getting to take Lucius Malfoy's legs from under him was an added bonus," the general smirked.
Harry nodded. "We need a list of spells that we can use to exert as much damage as possible in the least amount of time."
"Well, most families here have their own grimoires. Harry, do you have yours? Your grandfather was a spell maker, I bet it's full of useful spells and rituals," Longwei took a sip of his tea.
"How do you know that?" Harry blinked.
"Not only Hermione visits the library. I read up on your family," Longwei shrugged.
Harry blinked and looked at Sirius questioningly. His godfather looked pensive, "Did you see it in the audit?"
"I don't think so..." Harry sighed.
"Fuck."
"What? Can someone else use it against us?" Harry frowned with concern.
"They would have to be a Potter to open it and read it, so I don't think so. Perhaps Ragnok knows. I will call him later and ask," Sirius said adding a mental note to do that right after the meeting.
For a couple of minutes, no one moved or said a thing.
"General, would you like to share the good news you have?" Jing asked, clearing his throat.
"Absolutely. I have been talking to several particular contacts of mine around the globe. As you may know, non-magical governments are taking notice of all the suspicious," he made air quotes. "Gas leaks and explosions that have been occurring in the UK, not to mention all the missing persons reported," the General explained. "So, I told my contacts about what is going on behind the curtains they can't see through, and they are very concerned and upset that Britain's Prime Minister is not being forthcoming with the information, so they have decided to intervene and help."
"Whoa. Wait a minute, what exactly did you tell them?" Hermione was pale. "What about the Statute of Secrecy?!"
"Ms. Granger, I really doubt anyone will care about the Statute. I have diplomatic immunity. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken that chance. I told them the truth. There is a terrorist group kidnapping, torturing, raping, and murdering people flying under the radar of the authorities and it has been able to get away with all their crimes since the Potters were murdered," the General replied.
Harry blinked. "And?"
"Well, I know you don't know much about your family history, young man, but your family has had a Lordship for generations. The Queen always invited them to her celebrations."
"Hold on, The Queen knows? The Queen of England? As in Queen Elizabeth?!" Harry paled.
"Does she know that magic is real, you mean?" Jing asked.
Harry nodded.
Jing chuckled at the teen's innocence, "Of course she knows. She has been the queen since 1952 and she took over from her father. He was far more squeamish about magic, or so I am told, but she finds it delightful if a little frightening being non-magical herself. She doesn't entirely understand magic, but she does respect it."
"That is good to hear," Sirius nodded.
"There is a delegation of Ambassadors and their respective countries' Heads of Security that will meet with London's Chief Constable to discuss how to provide support to us. They were here for an International Security Summit, to begin with. I requested for Madam Bones to be there, and they acquiesced if Lord Potter and Lord Black attended. I demanded that if you two would be there, they would have to allow one of the three of us" he motioned at Jing and Longwei, "to be there and make sure that the Chief of Defense Staff is also present," the General smirked.
"The actual Chief of Defense Staff? The head of Her Majesty's Armed Forces?" Madam Bones was shocked. A meeting of the two worlds like this hadn't happened since the 1800s.
The General nodded, quite satisfied with his efforts.
"And they agreed?" Sirius was perplexed. This was unheard of.
"They did," General Xu smiled.
"When is this meeting?" Hermione asked.
"The day after tomorrow. At 10 am. We are invited to lunch so bring your appetite."
Harry frowned, "Not to point out the obvious but... We've been staying on this island for security reasons. How is going to a non-magical government office in London safe?"
"Who said it would be at an office?" General Xu mirrored the frown.
"You implied it," Hermione frowned.
"No. You assumed it. We are going to Buckingham Palace," General Xu said slowly.
"SHUT UP!" Harry exclaimed while Hermione gasped. "How? Where? I... Are we meeting The Queen?"
The General tried not to smile but it was hard not to. The teens' genuine excitement was contagious, "Maybe."
Hermione pressed a pillow into her face and screamed into it to calm herself down. Her mind was going to all possible bad outcomes. She pulled off the pillow and took a deep breath and a sip of water from a bottle Harry opened for her. "Despite what most of you may think, I don't want to be a buzzkill, I swear... But how is it that you going to Buckingham Palace is a good idea? The Death Eaters could attack the palace! They could kill Queen Elizabeth! I don't have to tell you the hundreds if not thousands of ways that this can blow up in our faces, do I? We are talking international warfare, maybe even World War III, and I don't know about you, but I couldn't live with myself if The Queen is murdered because of us."
Before anyone could reply, Dobby popped back in with a note. "From Mr. Weasley, Master."
Harry opened it and read it out loud:
Harry,
Remus and I are in the safe house. He's having a rough time, but we will be arriving as soon as possible. Tell Fleur all is well and that I love her. Remus sends Tonks his love as well. Please keep my wife from straining.
Bill
"Thank Merlin they are fine," Sirius sighed. He felt Amelia squeeze his hand and he returned the squeeze.
"Well, General Granger, you and I are going to have a meeting tomorrow after our training with the Chief of Defense Staff. You, Lord Potter, and me."
"What? I don't understand... I am not attending the meeting at Buckingham Palace," Hermione blinked in confusion.
"Not officially, you are not. Do you really think we would get Lord Potter out of this safe haven without his better half? You two are only safe and focused when the other is with you."
Hermione spluttered. The General was proving very smart. He smirked. She frowned slightly. She wasn't used to being anticipated.
"Come on, Hermione. We need to get some scrapes healed and start dinner," Harry pulled her up and out of the library before she had a chance to reply to the General.
Once they left, Sirius turned to the general, "Do you really have diplomatic immunity?"
"Not in England, but she doesn't need to know that," General Xu smiled like the cat that got the milk and everyone laughed. "It was about time someone surprised that girl."
"Too true. General, are your people in?" Sirius asked once the laughter died down.
"They are waiting for my command. I wanted to see if there was any potential here. I don't want to risk my men's lives for people who are definitely going to lose," General Xu replied.
"And now?" Madam Bones asked.
"I see the potential. The talent is there. The magical potential is there. We just need to turn the viciousness up a few notches, but we are doing this. Riddle is going down."
The training session the following day ended up severely damaging one-fifth of the island. They were sending cutting curses, bone-crushing curses, blood-evaporating curses, jaw-dislodging curses, the works. Everyone needed to be patched up by Andi and Lady Greengrass. Hairs had been cut and regrown as well as burnt so badly that Luna planned on asking Draco to braid everyone's hair securely out of the way. When he came out of Daphne's enclosure... if he did. Luna had seen her die with The Eye, but she was still holding onto life. It worried Luna what could happen if Draco lost Daphne. Astoria and Lady Greengrass weren't helping either. They kept looking at Draco in a way that left no doubt that they blamed him for what happened to Daphne.
Astoria refused to participate and was forced to help the elves cook and do dishes. No one got to just sit on their ass on the island. They had to earn their keep somehow. She complained loudly to her mother, who told her to choose between kitchen duty or Infirmary duty, where she would have to clean bedpans and all sorts of spills and bodily fluids. She chose the kitchen. All the teens insisted on staying, and their parents agreed, provided that they could also stay to train and fight. There was no point in going home to a Dark England, and they knew it. Harry was glad to hear that. Having people just sitting around doing nothing while their enemy grew stronger didn't sit well for him.
General Xu was satisfied. Their meetings couldn't have been more successful. The Queen had graciously welcomed them to the palace and wished them luck in their endeavors. Five hours later, after spirited discussions, negotiations, and demonstrations, INTERPOL agreed to place all the known Death Eaters on their most wanted list. There were billboards around Europe and Asia with their faces on them. They appeared in commercial breaks in the most-watched TV shows every day. Their descriptions were provided in radio shows as well. There had been several sightings, and law enforcement officers, both on duty and retired, were working together and making steady progress.
The large rewards were incentive enough, but when the authorities saw pictures of the victims of the terrorist group, as Hermione had insisted on taking and have Madam Bones bring them to the meeting, they made copies and sent them to all the people working on them. The faces were blurred, for the victims' privacy, of course. Private Investigators had so far captured 5 low-ranking Death Eater newbies. All of them, Harry noticed with a heavy heart, had graduated the year before from Hogwarts or would have been his classmates in the last year. Now, interrogators were working on them to get them to spill everything possible about Riddle and his plans. Interrogation teams had a retired Auror and an active non-magical officer.
The Security Service, alongside the Queen's Guard, agreed that Queen Elizabeth needed to be moved to Windsor Castle. The added protection from any intruders having to search 1000 rooms and 484,000 square feet was a relief. Warding the land was impractical. Thirteen acres (5 hectares) were too much to ward, so it was decided to ward all entrances to the house. That would take significant cooperation, but all security heads decided it needed to be done. They requested a demonstration of what defensive spells could do in dummies. When the Chief of Defense Staff so that with a flick of a wrist, whole heads and limbs could be severed at a significant distance and that bombarda maximas could decimate entire battalions, he was ready to sign a pact of no aggression and cooperation with the Ministry for Magic.
The dungeons that were used during World War II when there were threats of bombings would keep Her Majesty safe once again (as they did during The Blitz on London)* if push came to shove. Hundreds of guards and staff were willing to kill and die before anyone who wasn't vetted and authorized found the secret way down to them. The Ministry for Magic assigned 5 Aurors to always stay in Windsor in case there was an attempt to harm or kill Queen Elizabeth. Each Auror had an emergency portkey, and the queen would have a necklace that she could pull on, which would take her to Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight. The plans were set. The Queen's Guard and the Aurors were ready. The Queen had the help of her Guard to move her family to Windsor Castle. All public functions and commitments were rescheduled.
Once everyone involved was back on the island, safe and sound, they received a note from the Centaurs who had left Hogwarts after the giants destroyed most of their caves and killed a significant amount of their clan. Firenze, who made it out losing his mate and one arm, rushed to Hogsmeade to send a message to Harry Potter through his account manager. Hagrid didn't deserve the world of pain he was in. His screams could be heard all the way to the border of the Forbidden Forest. Firenze was glad that the Gamekeeper had at least punched that abomination. The Universe knew he deserved it. It took a while for the goblins to let him in. They insisted on healing his bleeding stump. Firenze had been very surprised by this, but the goblins informed him that Lord Potter and their goblin queen were cooperating with each other.
Draco sighed. He had lost count of how many days it had been since his aunt Andromeda began working on Daphne. Lady Greengrass was still furious with him. Astoria would try to attack him every time she saw him, and as a result, she was now forbidden from entering the infirmary. This was so frustrating. He could do so little. She would groan and moan in pain in her unconscious state. She seemed to have nightmares too. Sometimes he would see tears escaping the corners of her closed eyes. There was nothing he could do. Progress was happening far too slowly for a witch, and both Andromeda and Lady Greengrass were now convinced that some damage would not be repairable.
There was very little hope that she would ever be able to conceive, but Draco couldn't care less about that. Perhaps it was necessary for the Malfoy line to die with him. Daphne's hand was so cold that he had taken to obsessively feel her pulse and watch every breath elevate her chest as she inhaled. He was vaguely aware that someone would come every few hours to check on him. They would try to talk to him, but he was too focused on her. Nothing else mattered. He did eat bits and pieces of the plates that, without fault, would come three times a day.
Daphne's internal organs were swollen. There had been bleeding inside her abdomen, and as a result, everything there became irritated. Andromeda had been able to do magical surgery on her with the help of the elves, some of whom were particularly good at healing.
"Draco?" Luna's hand rested on his shoulder.
"What is it?"
"Harry wants to speak to you, Draco," Luna replied with a sympathetic smile.
Draco replied in a monotone, "I am taking care of Daphne."
"Draco, it sounds important," Luna insisted.
"Luna, not now, please," Draco said in an annoyed tone.
"If you don't go, Harry will come here and drag you out... or worse," Luna chuckled.
Draco lifted a brow, "Hermione will drag me out?"
"I didn't say it," the corners of her mouth lifted. "You did."
"Is something wrong?" Draco frowned.
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"Well, let's see... It's been five and a half days since you locked yourself up within these curtains. In that time... The Weasleys were attacked, and Mr. Weasley was killed, but you already know that," Luna sighed.
Draco blinked and shook his head, "Wait, what?!"
"Draco, you were here... Dudley and Dobby told everyone."
"I placed wards. I need to hear her breathing so I can be a bit calmer," Draco replied, still feeling a bit stunned by the news. He had never liked the Weasleys, but from all accounts, Arthur Weasley was the least objectionable of the lot... Oh, and that William Weasley. Even the Malfoy account manager had good words to say about him. "Luna..."
"You are wondering how come an old family like the Weasleys didn't use blood wards?"
Draco nodded, feeling a bit dumb.
"They did... Ronald betrayed them. He gave Riddle his blood voluntarily."
"He pulled an 'Et tu, Brute?'* on his parents?!"
"Like Brutus to Julius Caesar?" Luna blinked and tilted her head.
Draco nodded, still incredulous that Ronald had the backbone and the cold blood necessary to sell out his family.
Luna blinked again, "Well, Marcus was Julius' nephew, not child nor brother, but I see your point."
"If you weren't saying he betrayed them, I would find that very difficult to believe," Draco sighed.
"What else? Well, Hogwarts is now entirely under Riddle's rule. Kreacher rescued Gregorovitch, and he is working with Ollivander on giving wands to the remaining people without them now that Harry and Hermione have their staffs."
"Staffs? But people don't use staves anymore," Draco scratched the back of his head.
"Their magic was turning wands into ashes," Luna shrugged.
"Their magic... Sorry, what?!"
"Go talk to Harry, and I'll update you further when you come back," Luna smiled.
"Will you watch her, please?"
"Like a hawk," Luna beamed.
"You mean like a raven..." Draco stretched out.
Luna's eyes widened, as did her smile. "Draco... Was that a joke?"
"No, blondie... I don't joke," Draco frowned but couldn't do anything to hide his blush.
"It so totally was a joke! You are so funny!" Luna patted his cheek. "Who would have thought?"
"Shhh, they'll hear you," he complained, but he didn't push her hand away. "I'm going to see Potter before he sends Granger to find me too, blondie" Draco stood up on his finally completely healed leg. It was still a bit tender, but it had healed.
"Potter... You called?" Draco came inside slowly, blinking his shock at Harry's improved physical appearance.
Harry turned to him with a huge book in his arms, "How is Daphne?"
"Same."
"I'm sorry."
Draco shook his head, "Don't. If it weren't for your people rescuing her and taking her family in... Things would be way worse. We really appreciate it."
"Our people," Harry corrected him while waving him off and motioning for him to keep it down. "We told you. You are one of us now. No backsies," Harry chuckled.
Draco couldn't help but smile slightly at that, "What can I do for you?" Draco asked as his eyes quickly surveyed all the books. Why is he speaking so quietly? I know this is a library, but this isn't Hogwarts...
"How can I get into Slytherin without being seen?" Harry whispered, stepping closer to Draco. "We received intel that they are keeping Hagrid and Madam Pomfrey hostage."
"Fuck... I assume you don't mean using an invisibility cloak or a spell?"
Harry rolled his eyes so hard that Draco could have sworn there was a sound, "No."
"Are you an animagus by any chance?" Draco replied, frowning at Harry when he motioned for Draco to keep his tone of voice down.
"No," Harry looked disappointed at having to say that.
Draco shrugged, "Then I have no clue."
"What?! You can't have lived there for so long and learned zero secret passages or entrances!" Harry whisper shouted.
"Why are you being quiet?" Draco whispered back.
"Tonks fell asleep over there," Harry motioned to an armchair in the corner of the room. "And Fleur is asleep over there," he motioned to the sofa a few feet behind him.
"Fleur? Delacour?" Draco blinked in confusion.
"Yes."
"Oookay... so?" Draco asked.
"So?!" Harry grabbed Draco and pulled him outside to the balcony. He opened the door slowly and closed it even slower. To Draco's astonishment, Harry waved his hand over the door and muttered several wards... without a wand... or a staff(?). I need to remove the wards around Daph. I feel like I have lost weeks of information. What the fuck happened to Potter?
"Fleur and Tonks are both pregnant."
"I am not blind, Potter. Those bellies cannot be confused with anything else," Draco replied with a frown.
"Well, obviously. But precisely because of those bellies, it takes them a long time to get comfortable in any position so they can sleep for a while. We are trying to procure some special pillows they apparently HAVE to HAVE..."
"Special pillows?" Draco frowned.
"It's a whole-body pillow of some sort. You can see it when it gets here. I have no bloody clue," Harry shrugged. "In addition to the lack of sleep, they are also quite cross with their respective husbands, so they are not in a good mood all around. Since they are pregnant, you cannot do anything to defend yourself if they attack you. So... I can't stress this enough... Don't. Wake. Them. Up," Harry explained.
"Angry hormonal ladies. Got it. Why is Delacour here, though? Another rescue mission?"
"Fleur is now Mrs. Weasley," Harry replied nonchalantly.
Draco blinked, "I see... Mrs. Weasley, as in married to whom?"
"Bill Weasley," Harry replied with an amused expression. "Why the interest?"
"No reason. I just didn't know."
"Mhmm... Back to my questions... Level with me, Draco. This is important. Didn't you sneak around?"
"No, Harry. Believe it or not, I was a good student. I had no interest in the bizarre adventures you and your friends had every year. Having to go to the Forbidden Forest as a punishment for following you when I was a kid was enough... Not to mention Granger punching me."
"I forgot about that for a second. That was glorious... But you really never went to a broom closet or something? With Daphne? or someone else?" Harry wiggled his brows.
Draco looked at Harry like he grew an additional head, "With the dust bunnies and the spiders? Ew. No. It may come as a shock to you, but we Slytherins are not bashful or easily ashamed. People snog wherever they want in the dungeons."
"Ugh. That's something I didn't need to know."
"You asked," Draco shrugged. "I can't believe that the house of the brave hides in broom closets to suck face. How unhygienic!"
"There aren't a lot of private places in the castle... But don't change the subject. How did you manage to move the freaking cabinet around, then?" Harry scratched his head.
"That was different. I was doing it under duress, and I had help," Draco looked down at the ocean.
"What did he have on you?" Harry asked with a frown.
"Whom," Draco corrected.
"What?"
"It wasn't a what... it was a whom. He threatened to kill everyone I cared about, and you know as well as I do that killing people is something he does as easily as breathing, so... I couldn't refuse him. But other than emotional blackmail, I fail to see why he would keep Hagrid alive," Draco said this without thinking and had to take a step back at the ferocity of Harry's stare down. He corrected himself, "I mean... Madam Pomfrey, he can use as she is a healing professional, but Hagrid doesn't even have a wand."
"You think he's useless," there was a dangerous glint in Harry's eyes.
"NO!" Draco panicked. "I don't think he's useless. I just don't see why the Dark Lord would keep him around."
"To torture him, no doubt."
"Why?... Not that he has ever needed a reason, mind you, but I would have thought Hagrid left as soon as he could after the evacuation," Draco frowned.
"Well, because that useless man decided to stay behind to bury the students that Riddle and his minions murdered."
Draco grimaced and looked down, profoundly ashamed. "I'm an idiot... Sorry."
Harry side-eyed him but didn't reply to that, he merely added, "Also, apparently, he punched Voldemort."
"WHAT?!" Draco's eyes could have left his skull. Draco tried to say something else, but the shock was too much.
"The information we received indicates that Riddle said something disrespectful about the dead students. Hagrid was in chains, but he was so furious he broke free and punched Riddle in the gut and the jaw," Harry smiled in vengeful satisfaction.
Draco nodded. Out of nowhere, a wave of affection and respect washed away his previous ideas about his former professor. "Once we rescue Hagrid, we have to buy him a cask of his favorite liquor. I would have paid good money to see that."
"Same. We will buy him all his favorites," Harry gave Draco a lopsided smile.
A thought struck Draco, "Potter... Do you have a familiar?"
Harry sighed. "No. I used to. But Hedwig was killed."
"Let me do something to help you. If we are lucky, I may help you get into Hogwarts. I need writing material and a couple of days," Draco turned to leave. "I know you are probably on a tight schedule, but it's the best I have to offer."
"Thanks... Oh, and Draco... The Weasleys are here... Do NOT antagonize them. They are in mourning. Mrs. Weasley is like a mother to me. If you disrespect her, your circumstances could change drastically faster than you can say Quidditch," Harry said sternly.
"Of course. I am sorry for your loss, Potter... I know Arthur Weasley was close to you and Granger," Draco replied. Harry smiled and nodded. It was the sincerest Draco had ever sounded to him. Draco took his leave, tiptoeing back inside so Harry would see he really believed him about not disturbing the mothers-to-be.
Dobby approached Hermione, who was by the pool rereading the notes on bonds, with hesitation. Dobby wanted to think this conversation would end on a positive note, but he was very aware of his Mistress' beliefs on elves and slavery.
"Mistress?"
"Yes, Dobby. How can I help you?" she replied with a smile. She had given up on correcting the elves calling her that.
Dobby shuffled his feet, "I don't want to be impertinent..."
Hermione looked at Dobby with mirth, "Dobby, you could never. Tell me, what is troubling you?"
"The new elves are all completely healed now, Mistress... but they need a bond," Dobby blushed.
"Oh! Um, I don't know if I am the person you should talk to about this. Harry is in the kitchen, though," Hermione smiled.
"I am sorry, Mistress. I just assumed... Usually, service personnel is directed by the Mistress of the House," Dobby shuffled in his place.
"But Dobby, I am not married to Harry," Hermione chuckled.
"Yes, you are," Dobby replied without missing a beat.
"I'm sorry, what?!" Hermione's eyes were wide.
"At least Potter magic thinks so. You have a bond of Hecate... That makes you married in the eyes of magic."
Hermione's eyes widened, "It does?! Why didn't you tell us this?"
Dobby shrugged, "I thought it was in the books."
Hermione felt like she couldn't breathe. Would he feel trapped now? "It wasn't. Most information was general but none of it said anything about this being a marriage..."
"I am sorry, Mistress. I didn't mean to shock you."
"Oh, God... Give me a few minutes to talk to Harry, and I will call you back," Hermione motioned for Dobby to leave. She yelled and threw the book on Hecate to the pool in her frustration.
Harry got to her in a rush. He had felt her agitation, "What just happened?"
"I have something to tell you."
"Must be terrible," Harry said in a calming tone.
"Why?"
"In all the years I have known you, you have never mistreated a book. You cursed several people in our year for dogearing your books. And now you just threw a whole book, an ancient book, a first edition –I think– to the pool... Why?"
Hermione blinked and blushed. How could she say this to him? I can't beat around the bush, she thought to herself; taking a deep breath, she said, "We are married."
Harry almost dropped the plate of sandwiches in his hands. "Beg your pardon?" he placed the plate down on an accessory table.
"Dobby says having a bond of Hecate means we are married."
"I... Um... Ah..." Harry stammered. He couldn't find the words.
"You wonder how we got into that conversation?"
Harry nodded a bit dumbly.
"Well, he came here to ask me about bonding the new elves."
"And you wouldn't?"
"I told him to ask you. This is not my house and-" Hermione raised her hand as Harry was about to insist it was her house. "I know what you said, but I meant legally, and that is important for bonds. Narcissa only managed to unbind her elves because she and Lucius are still legally married."
"I see," Harry paced slowly.
"How are you not freaking out?!" Hermione stood up and pulled her hair back in frustration.
Harry stopped moving, "Should I be?"
Hermione looked at Harry with plain shock, "I just told you that magic unilaterally married us, and you seem perfectly fine with it," Hermione blinked in confusion.
Harry sighed and opened his mind to her.
I love you, Mione. Yes, this is yet another thing that was done to us out of our control, but it's not a bad thing, Harry thought. At least not for me.
I love you too, Harry. But we have just become boyfriend and girlfriend. I don't want that kind of pressure on our relationship. We are too young to marry, Hermione thought back.
Harry sighed and approached her, pulling her to him by the waist. Love, I don't think we can undo this. We can stay boyfriend and girlfriend for as long as you like. Once we are both ready, we can get engaged and do the whole traditional wedding thing. Come to think of it, the only wedding I have seen was Bill and Fleur's.
I just don't want you to feel pushed into something you don't really want, Hermione rested her forehead on his chest, marveling at the sparks coming off the spot where her forehead connected to his body.
It's a good thing that I do want this, I mean us, very much. I don't see any future without you in it, Harry kissed the top of her head.
Hermione sighed and hugged him tightly. So, are we binding all the orphan elves?
You tell me. I don't think we could ever need more help than Dobby, but I don't want them to lose their magic, Harry shrugged.
You do have more properties than this one. Maybe those need tending to, Hermione replied in his mind.
Alright, I guess we are adopting them all, Hermione smiled. But we have to show them a better bond than the one they had before. They deserve a home.
Harry smiled and kissed Hermione. Hearing her speak of the elves as if they were children tugged at his heartstrings. Only Hermione would see them like that.
Let's call them and bind them, then, Harry kissed her forehead.
Draco went back to the Infirmary and saw a scene that imprinted in his mind. Luna was sitting in between Daphne's legs. She was moving her arms and hands in intricate patterns, with her eyes closed softly, and it looked like a blue light was seeping out of Luna and into Daph. The blonde was also singing in a language Draco had never heard. Her voice was beautiful and soothing. Lady Greengrass stood next to Luna, staring in awe at the girl. Bruises and cuts that had resisted healing spells and salves were improving all over Daphne's body. Draco saw in slow motion how Luna opened her eyes and swayed a bit, so he rushed to catch her before she fell off the bed.
"Luna!"
"D-Draco?"
"That's it... No more healing work for you," Draco lifted her in his arms.
"Did you know she could do that?" Lady Greengrass asked.
"I don't even know exactly what that is... But Luna has a way of surprising people. Can you please stay with Daph while I come back, Lady Greengrass?" Draco kissed Luna's forehead. "Now, blondie, where's your bedroom?"
Luna pointed, and he started walking. As he moved through the hall, he hoped he wouldn't run into Longbottom. Heaven forbid the man thought he did something to blondie. He managed to get upstairs and was about to open Luna's, which he recognized because somehow the witch had decorated it with stars and glitter all over it –Merlin knew where she got all that– and while he tried to maneuver her weight to open the door, he felt the tip of a wand press against the back of his neck.
"Put her down, gently, now!"
Draco blinked. He wasn't used to people sneaking up on him. Being here had made him go soft and let his guard down. He felt too safe here. That was really bad for his preparedness. He would have to start training with everyone else.
"Listen, I know what this may look like, but I am just bringing her to rest on her bed. Luna was doing some sort of healing magic thing to Daphne, and she got too weak. I have no intentions of hurting blondie or... anyone else," Draco replied without turning around. "I just want her to sleep it off. I was going to ask the elves to bring her a pepper up for when she wakes up."
"Who the fuck are you, and what did you do to Malfoy?"
"Weaselette?" Draco turned slowly.
"Don't push it. I can still kill you where you stand!"
"What is going on here?" Neville approached them from his room, a deep frown adorning his face.
"Neville, thank Merlin! So, here's the deal... Luna was helping heal Daph and got really tired. I am just carrying her to bed so she can sleep but the Weaselette apparently wants to kill me because she thinks I want to hurt your girlfriend," Draco narrowed his eyes at Ginny.
"Girlfriend? When did that happen?" Ginny stared at Neville.
"Ginny, stand down... Draco is one of us now. Give her to me," Neville stepped toward Malfoy and took Luna from his arms.
"You don't seriously believe that," Ginny frowned at Neville.
"I do. Wanna know why? Because they did a fealty oath, and that's for life. He's not the bully you remember, and if Harry wants him and his mother here, you don't get a say on that," Neville shrugged and went through the door that Draco opened for him. "Oh, and Draco, play nice."
"I am playing nice. I'll have an elf bring a pepper up later," Draco nodded gratefully at Neville. "Weasley... I know it means nothing coming from me, but I am sorry about your father and your brother."
"Don't even try. You probably had a good laugh about it," Ginny turned and walked away before he could reply.
Draco sighed. "Dobby?"
"Yes?" Dobby appeared behind him.
"Luna is quite knackered from helping Daphne heal. Can you please bring her a pepper-up when she wakes up?"
"Yes, sir."
"And Dobby? I am sorry... for everything," Draco sighed again.
Dobby blinked and vanished without a reply. I wasn't expecting more than this. After all, that little guy went through hell, him not killing us in our sleep is more than enough.
Mrs. Weasley was sitting in a rocking chair contemplating her life. A few days ago, it felt like life was over. Today, it still felt like life was over, except she was on a balcony overlooking the most beautiful beach she had ever seen. The salty air moved her hair out of her eyes, allowing her to go back to her knitting.
"Unbelievable!" Ginny slammed the door as she came into the room.
"Ginevra! Don't slam the door! This isn't the Burrow... What did the twins do?" Molly turned to Ginny with a frown.
"Nothing! It was Malfoy! He was carrying Luna to her bedroom, and she was unconscious, and Neville snapped at me for trying to get that death eater to put her down," Ginny threw her hands up.
"Ginny... We talked about this. Harry believes him. He took an oath, and so did his mother. As much as we don't like their family, it doesn't mean that we have a say in anything, really. I know that we have had a hard time lately, but we are guests here. We have a lot to be grateful for."
"How can you say that?! We are bloody homeless, and fatherless, and Merlin knows what other disgrace will befall us before this war is through! All of that to support him, and he hasn't even talked to us since we've been here."
"He came to us in our hour of need!" Molly grunted.
"We wouldn't have been in need if he had been more proactive!" Ginny yelled. "I can't believe you expect me to be nice to the son of the man who caused me to be possessed when I was eleven!"
There was a knock at the door that halted the conversation.
"Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione's voice came through the door.
"Come in, dear," Molly said.
"I'm out of here," Ginny snapped. She opened the door to Hermione and left without even a hello, pushing her out of the way harshly.
Hermione wanted to ask what the hell was up her ass, but she decided to say nothing on account of all that Ginny had been through recently.
"How are you doing, Mrs. Weasley?"
"I am doing well, Hermione. You have done so much for us. We are all very grateful. Who knows if we would have ever even seen the Caribbean without you..."
Hermione smiled and approached Molly. "I am glad you are well. Harry and I didn't want to intrude. We know you are in mourning, and we didn't want to intrude.
"You are part of the family, dear. You could never intrude. Never mind Ginny, she blows up when she's hurting," Mrs. Weasley patted Hermione's hand.
"I know. Thank you. There is a rather... delicate subject I want to discuss."
"Oh?" Mrs. Weasley frowned slightly.
"As you know... my parents are very far away from me, and they don't remember me," Hermione tried not to let her voice break.
"I heard, dear. I am so sorry. Can I help you?"
"Um… Yeah, I need advice from a mom," Hermione blushed scarlet.
Molly smiled, "Okay, tell me my dear, and I will do my best."
"Please know that this wasn't done on purpose," Hermione took out a pensieve and enlarged it. "We are very sorry... We didn't even know what happened or how it happened and-"
"Merlin! Hermione Granger, are you pregnant!?" Molly was horrified.
"WHAT?!" Hermione went pale.
"Who's pregnant?" Charlie asked as he came into the room to gather some dragon scales for a potion.
"Fleur and Tonks," Hermione said a bit forcefully. Her cheeks were red. "No one else."
"Should I go?" Charlie asked, a bit confused.
"Yes, please," Hermione motioned for him to leave quickly, and he did a bit puzzled. She turned to Mrs. Weasley, mortified, "I am NOT pregnant, not trying to get pregnant, not even sexually active, if you must know."
"Pardon me, dear... What you said..."
"I know how it sounds. Please just watch the memories. I promise everything will make sense after that," Hermione uncapped a vial, and silvery drops fell into the pensieve.
"But what is this about? Do I need a calming draught?" Molly asked with a slight frown.
"It's probably a good idea..." Hermione handed her one. She waited until Molly downed it and whispered, "Harry and I were bonded. We have a bond of Hecate."
A full minute went by in complete silence. "What?! How-? When-?"
Hermione motioned at the pensive, and Molly went in.
After she saw all the memories of what happened since Harry and Hermione got to the island, she just sat on her bed. She couldn't say anything. She would try to begin a sentence only to fall silent.
"Are you cross at us?" Hermione asked, teary-eyed.
Molly stared at the young woman and blinked, shaking her head no, slowly. "No, sweetheart. I am sorry... I wasn't expecting any of this. So, you are technically married?"
"We are married and terrified. There's so little that has been written about this type of bond... Harry was quite calm when I told him. I expected him to freak out because I have been freaking out since I found out," Hermione pulled her hair back in exasperation.
"Oh, darling... Harry loves you," Mrs. Weasley smiled.
"Yes, but he didn't choose me."
"Hermione, I adore you, but you are being daft. His core chose you. His very magic chose you. He is in love with you, and you are in love with him, yes?" Molly squeezed Hermione's hands
"Yes..."
"I do think you are far too young to be married and intimate..." Molly frowned as Hermione blushed horribly. "Also, I don't think it gives other young people here good ideas if you share a bedroom, but-"
"We don't. But since the bond, it's like we can't be apart. It's physically draining."
"Of course it is. Bonds are ancient magic. It will pull you together."
"But not in the same room?" Hermione blinked.
"This is a mansion. I assume it has a master and mistress quarters, doesn't it?"
"Yes, but Harry didn't want to move in next to me unless I said it was okay."
"Alright, so are you okay with it?"
"We want to try an experiment. Since we bonded, we haven't been sleeping well... We think it's because we are apart. We wanted to see if you or the girls could help take notes as we sleep, nothing more, next to each other. When we bonded, there were lights and apparently some music and some runes that were like glittering. I've been trying to find all the runes in books, but I am still missing a few," Hermione explained. "Maybe, someone could write down anything different that happens while we are asleep."
"That is a good idea, dear. When do you want to do this?"
"Tonight. Why?"
"So, I take a long nap in the afternoon. I think it would be best if it were me. These gray hairs aren't decorative, after all, and I think the girls may miss something," Molly replied with a smile. "If you don't think it would be too awkward for both of you, that is. Perhaps Lady Chang could do it instead."
Hermione shook her head, "No, we'd prefer you. You know us."
As a sun ray hit the back of her chair, Hermione realized how much older Molly looked now. It's as if she had aged a decade since Mr. Weasley passed away. "Harry wants to have a memorial for Mr. Weasley. We don't know if you would like to keep it limited to just your family here or if you want everyone to be able to attend."
"He would have wanted everyone there. I didn't really want to spread the ashes on the ocean, but it is probably the best place here, isn't it?"
Hermione felt the house speak to her, and she replied, "There's a beautiful lake in the middle of the island with a waterfall if you would prefer to do it there."
"That sounds perfect, Hermione. Thank you. And thank Harry. Please let me know when you are going to bed."
"We will."
A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you are safe and healthy wherever you are. -Lux-
*Despite being a close friend, Brutus was among several angry Roman senators who viciously stabbed Caesar to death in 44 BC. This was an epic betrayal, and one cemented in popular culture by Shakespeare's lines in his play Julus Caesar, "Et tu Brutus? Well, then fall Caesar…" That line was never said by the historical Caesar. After 23 stab wounds, he was quite unlikely capable of saying anything.
*The Blitz on London from September 1940 to May 1941 and the V1 flying bomb and V2 rocket attacks in 1944 caused a massive amount of damage. It is estimated that more than 12,000 metric tons of bombs were dropped on London, and nearly 30,000 civilians were killed by enemy action. (Source: Imperial War Museums)