Author's note: The first two sections of this chapter were originally posted as one shots in Nott in the Cards fest.
T.W. Infidelity (not between main pairing), non-con underage, murder, domestic violence, obliviate, childbirth, pregnancy, blackmail, Dumbledore Bashing
Chapter 7: Death Eater Family Secrets
25th of June 1994
Ministry of Magic
London
Theo flinched at the sound of the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot pounding his gavel against the wide oak bench in front of him, commanding order in his courtroom. The audience immediately quieted, and Theo fidgeted in his seat, pulling at his perfectly pressed sleeves.
"If there are no other witnesses," Tiberius Ogden drawled, obviously irritated with how long the trial had been dragging on. Theo's eyes flickered to the man seated comfortably towards the front of the courtroom at the defence table, looking as if he didn't have a care in the world. As if he already knew the outcome of his trial.
Thoros Nott leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled on his chest as he smirked in the direction of the prosecutor. The case against him was flimsy at best, and he knew it. Despite the evidence pointing to the monster that masqueraded as a man, most of it had been rendered useless. Most likely from well placed bribes in the right hands.
"No, Your Honour." The flustered young wizard, who was fresh out of his law mastery program, gritted out between his teeth. It wasn't at all a surprise that someone so inexperienced was given the case of the century, the first time that a sitting Lord of one of the Sacred 28 had been tried for the murder of his wife in over five hundred years. The House of Nott had deep pockets and even deeper connections in the Ministry.
"Well, if that's all the evidence and testimony, we'll break while the members of the Wizengamot come to a verdict." The panel of ten members, all older wizards in their formal robes and elaborate hats, stood from their seats and swept from the room, disappearing into the chambers beyond what the general public was allowed to see.
The hairs on the back of Theo's neck pricked as he felt eyes lay on him, but he didn't have to look to know who it was. The runes that had been carved into his skin to keep him from speaking against his father burned under his robes, as if they too could sense their owner's attention.
Theo sobbed as his father pinned him to the ground with his knees, his mouth gagged after he'd vomited when he'd re-entered the room at the wrong time. He'd tried to hurry back to help his mother, but he'd been too late and too weak to save her.
'I don't trust a whimpering little queer,' Thoros hissed as he pulled his blade from his robes. 'Be happy this is all I'm doing to you,' his words were lost on Theo as the pain sliced through him.
A scream ripped from his throat as he felt every cut of the knife carving into his skin. The runes that would force him to forever keep the family secrets, even long after his father was dead.
His eyes watered with the pain as Theo turned his head to the side so he didn't have to look at his flesh being carved into with crystal blade radiating with Dark Magic. He tried to turn his head further so he couldn't see what was left of his mother. Her long brown hair was splayed out on the floor, wet from the pool of blood surrounding it.
"Care to join me for tea while we wait?" The appearance of Gawain Robards above Theo pulled him from the memory and back to the present.
Theo glanced in the direction of the defence, fear filling him with what the monster would do if he saw who was speaking to him. With the entire table preoccupied, Theo relaxed for a moment and he turned to the Auror and stood without any other gesture of agreement. He followed the older wizard from the courtroom. Hopefully his father wouldn't notice his absence, and if he did, well, maybe his punishment wouldn't be too bad. But he couldn't stay in the room, it was suffocating him to be so near that man.
They moved swiftly and quietly from the room, no one sparing a glance at the fourteen-year-old boy and the Auror leading him away. Stranger things had happened, Theo supposed, as he kept his head down and eyes glued to his shoes. This wasn't the first time Robards had spent time with Theo, but the officer was always careful with his wording and questioning in all the years he'd been investigating the claims of abuse at Nott Castle that came from concerned members of their circles. Thoros couldn't be as brutal as he was without some whispers of it escaping the dark heart of the House of Nott.
They moved to the little tea cart that was set outside the courtrooms, the older wizard stepping forwards to order two cups of tea and paying for them both. As if Theo didn't have access to more money than the bloke could even fathom, but still, the gesture was nice enough.
"How are you holding up?" Robards always asked him that, even though Theo never gave him an answer. Today wouldn't be any different.
'Thoros Nott, you're under arrest,' Robards stood in the doorway of their home, putting the spelled cuffs on his father. 'There's no getting out of it this time, you son of a bitch. We've got a witness and the memories will be extracted and used against you.'
Thoros turned his gaze onto his twelve year old son and a shiver spread through Theo's entire body when he looked into the evil pale blue eyes. Without a word spoken to his heir, Thoros Nott was taken from the dining hall and through the floo to be held at Azkaban.
'I've contacted Snape,' a couple Aurors spoke to each other, walking over to where Theo stood silently. 'He said we can deliver the boy back to Hogwarts early since there's no next of kin.'
'Isn't there someone attacking the students there? Do you really think that's wise?'
'Better than leaving a twelve year old to wander these halls alone, even if he has elves to care for him. I can only imagine what cursed objects the kid might stumble upon around here.'
"Kid, you alright?" A hand on his arm pulled Theo out of the memory and he looked up to the Auror who'd fought for him, even if it was a losing battle. No one could protect him from Thoros.
Theo said nothing, holding the warm cup in his hand and stared blankly at the wall in front of him. What did he need to speak for anyway? The things the runes kept him from saying were all he wanted to scream. The things that he could say were unimportant. So instead he said nothing, looking into the cooling tea in his hands.
Robards drank his tea without another word, allowing Theo to use the quiet chattering in the corridor to keep his mind from drifting to darker places. As they waited for the Wizengamot, Theo began to count the stones on the wall. The pattern they made was so simple and it calmed him, his heart rate evening out as he just counted, time having no meaning anymore.
2643, 2644, 2645, 2646…
"It's time," Robards whispered, putting a hand on Theo's shoulder. Theo's first instinct was to push the other man away, but his legs began to tremble at the thought of seeing his father again, so he allowed the Auror to lead him back into the courtroom.
The crowd was much louder in here than it had been outside the doors, but Theo couldn't concentrate on anything as he locked eyes with his father. The look he gave Theo was ominous, and it was without a doubt that if he came home tonight that Theo would feel all the pent up aggression that the trial had caused the evil man. Theo wanted to lean into the protection that Robards could give him, but he knew his father well enough that it wouldn't be wise to further anger the man. Stepping away and breaking out of the man's hold, Theo's eyes were glued to his shoes as he quickened his steps until he was back in the front row as was expected of him.
Chief Warlock Ogden stepped back up onto his high platform, settling himself behind the bench. His eyes scanned the crowd as everyone settled into an eerie silence before turning his attention onto Thoros.
"Before we give the verdict, I thought I might say a few words." The crowd began murmuring since it wasn't typically how things were done. This wasn't the first trial Theo had sat through, but it wasn't the usual. This time, his father had gone a step too far, and Theo knew this was a warning from the man in charge that they couldn't cover up such a crime again. They couldn't cover up the murder of a Sacred 28 heir…
"Eighteen months ago, our Auror department was alerted to a disturbance at Nott Castle. An unknown origin, but still our fine men answered the call swiftly."
Thoros had pulled his wand from his sleeve, his face had an impassive look, but that made him even more frightening. Theo longed to reach out to grab his mother and run from the dinner table, but he knew that there wasn't anywhere they could hide where his father wouldn't find them. He always found them.
'Alexandria, I think I've had just about enough of you softening up my heir. How do you expect the boy to represent our house if you dare allow him to care for filthy mudbloods.' He spat the words and Theo's eyes widened at his tone. He hadn't known his father had intercepted his letters to his mother…
His mother stiffened in her seat, her hands stilling above the quail they were eating before clearing her throat. 'There is someone attacking students at that school! Just because he's concerned for his classmates–'
'That's enough!' Thoros moved his wand so swiftly that Theo couldn't even process what was happening until his mother's body fell to the ground in a crumpled heap as she screamed in pain. 'I'm going to show you exactly what happens when someone tries to taint our name!'
Theo scrambled from his chair, trying to get between Thoros and his mother, but when he locked eyes with her he was frozen. Though she couldn't speak, Theo knew what he needed to do. Running from the room to one of the elves' secret passages. Theo had to crouch, but he kept moving until he was in the foyer. Grabbing the floo powder, Theo threw a handful into it, opening the connection to the emergency Auror department before rushing back to the dining hall. Even with it being Christmas, someone would be there to get the call.
Theo sprinted back through the passage, the fastest way to get back to his mother. If he was quick enough, maybe he could get between his parents and buy his mother the time they needed for the Aurors to come through. Theo pushed the door open and slid back into the room, his absence not noted by his father. His mother's screams were still echoing through the room, Theo scrambled towards her. But he was too late.
With one more flick of his wand, Thoros Nott slit Theo's beloved mother's throat. Her blood sprayed from the wound, coating his face as he stumbled before falling to his knees. His eyes were wide as he watched the life drain from her face.
'Now, to deal with you.' Theo didn't even register his father's words before he was pinned to the ground.
"When they arrived at Nott Castle, they rushed onto the scene, but were unfortunately too late." The Auror was solemn with his delivery and shook his head in sorrow that was not faked.
Theo's arm burned where the runes had been carved into him, but he didn't even notice the pain because he couldn't take his eyes off his mother's crumbled body. When Robards burst into the room, he first spotted Theo sitting with his knees hugged to his chest. Following his line of sight, Robards finally noticed the collapsed witch on the floor. He rushed to her body trying to save her, but it was too late. Her throat had been cut and her eyes were lifeless.
"The wizarding community has mourned the loss of Alexandria Nott, the light her life brought unlike any we'd ever seen. Leaving behind a husband and son, we know the Auror department worked tirelessly to bring her killer to justice."
'Son, I need you to give me something.' Robards was pleading, but no words could pass Theo's lips. 'He says it was an intruder. Now, we both know that it wasn't an intruder, we both know that no one uninvited could get through those wards he has up.'
Theo only turned his head to look at the wall where he knew there were other Aurors standing on the other side watching the interview. How he longed to tell them about the beatings his father gave him. The cursed objects he'd watched as the monster used on his mother as he experimented. Even though he was only twelve, Theo was already so tired with life.
"After a long deliberation, the Wizengamot has come to a verdict. In the case of The Wizengamot vs Thoros Tiberius Nott, we find the defendant not guilty on all charges."
'With your mother gone, I can finally raise you to be the son I ought to have.'
Theo's entire body tensed and he refused to look towards his father. There was no one to save him now.
25th of June 1994
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland
Theo was numb as Robards escorted him back to Hogwarts following his father's trial. He didn't even feel nauseous after apparating, which was uncommon for Theo. After the results of the trial today, he just felt numb, empty. They walked together in silence from the apparition point outside of Hogsmeade up the hill to the castle. Theo kept his hands shoved in his pockets and his eyes on his shoes as they made the trek up the muddy path.
The June night was chilly, but they were in the Scottish highlands. Theo didn't bother trying to cast a warming charm, the cold hurt a little and the pain was better than feeling numb. Looking up at the waning gibbous moon, Theo wondered what it was like up there. He just wanted to be anywhere but here, although Nott Castle was an equally terrifying option. His father was going to do unspeakable things to him when he got home and there was no one that was going to be able to stop him. He'd already proved that the Ministry of Magic would never hold a lord of one of their Ancient and Noble Houses accountable.
His father wouldn't kill him, Theo knew, but there was a great deal of pain between life and death that could be explored. Theo suspected he'd learn it all intimately over the summer.
It was late in the evening by the time that Theo and Auror Robards entered the castle. Dinner had long since ended and there were no signs of any other students.
The Headmaster stood alone in the grand foyer waiting for them. The kind twinkling of the man's eyes rang false to Theo especially when the man squeezed his shoulder and smiled down at him. Theo struggled not to pull himself away from the old man's claw-like hand, his touch made Theo uncomfortable. Everyone's touch made Theo uncomfortable, really, except maybe Draco's and he was hardly a physically affectionate best mate. But maybe tonight he would touch him, lay a supporting hand on his shoulder. It would be too much to hope for a hug and Theo felt his mother's absence strongly.
"I was so sorry to hear about the outcome of the trial, Mr. Nott." Dumbledore offered a kind smile that Theo couldn't help but think was about as real as his father's innocence in his mother's death.
Then why did you cede your position as Chief Warlock for the trial? If you cared so much why didn't you show up for even a single day of the questioning? Theo wanted to scream. Why didn't you do a single thing to make sure that justice happened? Aren't you supposed to be a beacon of goodness! What's good about letting my mother's murderer walk free?
The spells that his father had put on him caused his chest to feel tight and everything to burn like a Cruciatus. Theo was quite familiar with how those felt. He wondered what Dumbledore would say if Theo told him that he was looking forward to his father's use of the Cruciatus over the summer, it was less terrifying than the Imperius.
Instead he nodded and said nothing. Why bother speaking when he couldn't say anything of importance. What difference could he make with the spell that silenced him.
"You can head down to the Slytherin dormitories now, Mr. Nott," the Headmaster instructed, motioning towards the downward staircase.
You mean the dungeons? Theo wanted to ask. That's what the rest of the school calls it. Saves time doesn't it? Get us used to being kept confined and in the dark like the monsters we are all destined to be?
Instead keeping his expression impassive, he bowed formally to the Headmaster and Robards. The Auror looked like he had something else to say, but wasn't going to do it in front of Dumbledore.
Theo did not immediately head down to the dungeons, he went down a few of the steps and then cast the strongest disillusionment charm that he knew in order to sneak back within earshot and eavesdrop on the two men. One didn't survive living in the same house as Thoros Nott and not become skilled at learning how to hide. His heart clenched at the voice in his head that sounded like his mother urging him to practise the charm, to get stronger, better, more magically powerful, to survive, to live.
Theo found a place to hide where he was out of sight of the two men, but could hear everything that they were saying. The castle was eerily quiet so their voices seemed to echo around him.
"Gawain I need you to speak to the boy and convince him to work with me. He trusts you, it's obvious," Dumbledore began. The Headmaster was giving his most earnest expression, the one that always struck Theo as painfully fake.
"Work with you how? Do you care for his well being at all? You do realise that they're whispering about you in the Ministry, Albus, and yet, you didn't stand up for your own student. The boy now spends more time under your care than in his own home, and you didn't show your support. You know your word could have influenced the outcome of this trial. I also happen to know that you prohibited Snape from providing any testimony. I've spent enough time in St. Mungo's taking reports on that boy to know how he comes back from holidays. Do you know what that looks like? Parents are becoming wary about you. If the head of Hogwarts refused to help an abused boy whose mother was murdered, what hope is there for the rest of the students, especially after last year's near fatalities?"
Dumbledore continued as though Robards had not spoken. "I want him to spy on his father for the Order of the Phoenix. Thoros Nott is an unrepentant Death Eater and if Lord Voldemort returns he'll be one of the first to know, better to be able to see your enemy than be blind."
With the headmaster's proposal, Theo's eyes grew wide. Spy, on his father? Was the old man mad? Even after Ogden made it clear to Theo's dear old dad that he couldn't cover up Theo's murder, Theo knew that he'd be begging for death if he were to do that and be caught. And he would be caught.
When Robards finally spoke after a long pause, his shock could be heard in his voice. "You cannot seriously be thinking about recruiting for the Order in the face of tragedy? Nevermind that he's a child, he'll be killed, Albus. Have you seen his scars? Because I have. I've spent time in the fucking hospital room while he was rendered unconscious more than once. Lord Nott is utterly unhinged."
"Thoros wouldn't go so far as to kill his sole heir." Dumbledore clucked his tongue, causing a chill to go up Theo's spine. "Regardless, we all must make sacrifices for the greater good."
Robards sneered angrily, "I'm not going to sacrifice a child! Especially not that one! He's been through enough."
"He wouldn't be the first necessary sacrifice when fighting the darkness, Gawain," the Headmaster said calmly, seemingly unconcerned at the anger that he had evoked in the other man.
The spells his father had cut into him burned, Theo wanted to scream out every crime his father was guilty of. If it had only been an unbreakable vow, Theo would have been willing to die in order for his father to face justice. The spells in his skin gave no such opportunity. He'd break them someday, he swore to himself.
"Well, if you aren't willing to help me there is no reason for you to remember this conversation. Obliviate."
Even though he was disillusioned, Theo sank further back into the shadows in which he hid, unbelieving that the Headmaster had obliviated an Auror. Did the Ministry even check to see if Aurors had been obliviated? Was there even a spell to check for that sort of thing?
"Well, thank you for escorting Mr. Nott back to Hogwarts, Gawain." Theo could hear the sound of shaking hands, robe fabric twisting, palms striking each other with force.
"No problem, Albus. Wish I could do more for the boy. Now I've got to be going, the missus will be worried." Theo stayed in his hiding place for a long time after the doors had closed behind Robards and the Headmaster's steps had vanished up the stairs.
Theo wanted justice for his mother, but there was no justice for witches, nor any justice for Slytherins.
Even Albus Dumbledore only wanted to use him until his usefulness was at an end.
Theo had no intention of being useful to any of them, not to Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix nor to his father and the other Death Eaters.
20th of August 1996
Parkinson Estate
Lake District, England
Pansy was sitting at her vanity, sorting through all the belongings that she was planning on taking back to Hogwarts. Her prefect badge sat next to her hairbrush, more as a taunt than anything she was proud of any longer. Truthfully the only reason she'd even been excited to have the title the previous year was because she would get to spend more time with Draco, but since the summer, she had heard very little from her boyfriend. Or, ex-boyfriend now she supposed. It had been over eight weeks since she'd heard from him, all her owls being returned unopened and the floo access blocked.
She swiped her hand at the blasted badge, causing it to clatter to the floor. The blasted boy, any thoughts of Draco these days made her bitter. Even stranger yet, Theo had also been up to something, because when she'd reached out to him with her concerns over Draco, instead of their normal discussions, Theo hadn't replied. Theo had never ignored her owls before, not since they first became friends as children.
Boys claimed that girls were mysterious, but here they were, being mysterious.
Brushing her hair from her eyes, Pansy stood and made her way over to the bay window in her room that overlooked the wild flower field that was located artfully near the estate. She felt her lip twitch as she looked out to her ex-friend, recently turned sister-in-law, laying out with her brother and their newborn daughter. Last year's scandal had been smoothed over with a quick wedding and Tracey dropping out of Hogwarts after her OWLs. What would she even need NEWTs for after all, she'd already married into money. Ranunculus was hardly going to allow his wife to work outside of the home. He was really conservative that way, unfortunately not conservative enough that he kept himself in his pants rather than in her friend's knickers.
Tracey, Pansy now suspected, had only befriended her to entrap her brother. Little Peony, already wearing the most pristine rompers and bonnets, looked like an ugly little pug in ruffles. Pansy could admit that she wasn't the fondest of small children, but what her brother had managed to create with Tracey Davis over their fifth year Christmas holiday was an abomination.
"Pansy," Posey Parkinson's sharp voice caused Pansy's spine to straighten, though she did not turn to face her mother. "Your brother is here, aren't you going to come say hello and see your niece?"
"I don't suspect that they are here to see me, besides I was about to meet with Daphne and Astoria in London to do some last minute shopping for school." The lie fell from Pansy so easily, though Posey would never know. The Greengrass family was preparing to flee to France with the return of the Dark Lord, and the thought of not saying goodbye was unbearable. Winston and Anita Greengrass hadn't even told their daughters yet what the plan was, but the sisters had overheard their parents hushed discussions over discreetly moving funds and buying properties under false names.
Though some of the Pureblood families saw the Dark Lord's rising as a sign of a promised future to come, others were very aware of the dangers he posed, even to those he swore to uphold.
"Pansy, are you listening to me at all?" At some point while Pansy was lost in her thoughts, Posey, stern faced and elaborately dressed for a casual day at home, had crossed the room to take hold of Pansy's upper arm. The bite of her mother's nails digging into Pansy's flesh had the teen gasping, though she tried to show no signs of being affected.
"Ranunculus is going with your father for a meeting with a certain predominant member of our society later. It would be best if you would align yourself to be in favour with the men of our house if you wish to continue this lifestyle you find yourself so accustomed to."
"Yes, Mother," Pansy whispered, wishing for the evil witch to disappear as quickly as she'd come.
"Go say hello, then you can go off with your little friends. Your father was wanting to speak with Winston anyway, you can pass the message along."
"Yes mother, I'm sure will be excited to hear that," Pansy replied smoothly, her heart aching even more, as she wondered if she would ever see Astoria or Daphne again.
18th of March 1998
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire, England
"AHHHHHHH!" Narcissa's hand paused as she lifted her teacup to her lips, the sounds of her sister's screams through the halls causing a chill down her spine.
"How much longer do you suppose this will take?" Lucius asked, an air of annoyance at the screams. "You, too, made such a fuss, crying and screaming over it, waking me up, even through the silencing charms."
"The healers said she was nearly finished," Narcissa answered, the tension in her shoulders keeping them stiff as she heard another gurgled cry, but this one did not sound like Bella. "It shouldn't be much longer."
"Well, I'd certainly hope not. If the Dark Lord knew–" Lucius' fingers tapped on the table, briefly revealing his nerves.
"He will not. Euphemia Rowle has already agreed. She's just awaiting my call."
Another scream, this one very clearly coming from Bella, had the two Malfoys pause in their actions. Being under house arrest by the Dark Lord was challenging enough. However, when Bellatrix had disclosed that she was keeping a secret from her beloved Lord, well, they desperately hoped that whatever had taken him away from England would keep him occupied for at least another day. There was no telling what his reaction would be to such a secret.
Despite that the manor had been turned into the headquarters for the Death Eaters, Lucius had somehow managed to use his silver tongue to convince Thoros Nott to use his castle for this week. Something about the werewolves and needed cleaning, Narcissa wasn't sure of the details, but Thoros had agreed to give them a week to sort it out and that he would hold court while the manor wasn't available.
"Mistress?" A healer from St. Mungo's calling drew Narcissa back to reality as she looked towards the library door. The young woman was shaking and her white robes were stained red from blood, but it didn't appear that any of it was from her.
"Has she…"
"She's doing well, you may come to see her anytime," the girl bowed her head, the black curls falling in front of her face to hide wide frightened eyes before she stood upright and scurried from the space, the terror for her life obvious in her trembling hands and bowed head.
The poor child, she had no idea what was coming for her. Narcissa sniffed and bit back her emotions as she watched the girl who reminded her slightly of the little Gryffindor that she knew that Draco fancied. Merlin, she hoped his occlumency shields held or he'd get them all killed. She shook herself and attempted to focus on the thing that might get them killed today. Draco's love life was a problem for another day.
"Well, call Euphemia, the sooner we can be done with this the better," Lucius spat, his movements shaky from all the torture that he'd been subjected to since he'd been broken out of Azkaban. "If he finds out we've hidden this from him, we'll all be dead."
Narcissa wasted no time, sweeping from her chair and out of the sunroom into the small chambers where she conducted all her private matters. This was one of the few rooms that had yet to be overrun by Death Eaters and other monsters that the Dark Lord had brought into the home. Looking over her shoulder to ensure that no one had seen the hidden entrance, Narcissa quietly closed the door, sealing herself inside.
A handful of her limited supply of floo powder was thrown in the hearth, with a burst of emerald flames licking up the decorative stones. "Euphemia," Narcissa hissed, her voice staying low despite her privacy wards. "Euphemia, quickly, it's time."
With as much grace as she could possess in that moment, Narcissa moved away as the elderly witch she'd only known from galas and other charity auctions came through. Looking around, the Viking witch straightened her shoulders and brushed away the soot that had collected on her fine ruby robes. The golden blonde hair that was now more grey than anything else had been artfully done onto the top of her head and her tall stature made her appear intimidating, though Narcissa knew better by this point.
"Cissa," the older witch greeted, her body stiff as her eyes darted about the room searching for any danger.
"We're alone, but only for a moment," Narcissa assured the other woman. "We're still in agreement, only until–"
"Only until it's safe, yes. We must make haste," the statuesque witch said, moving swiftly towards the exit, her distress at being at the Death Eater's headquarters obvious. Narcissa could only nod her head, reluctant to say more, never knowing how much Lucius was able to discover through his powers as Lord of the Manor, despite currently being a prisoner in his own home. Malfoy Manor still responded to its Lord after all, the blood magic was woven into the very foundation of the stonework.
"Right this way," Narcissa held her hand out, directing the elderly witch which way to go once they exited the private study. When they reached the bottom of the stairway that led to the private suites where the family was staying, both women pulled up short as a blinding green light came from under the doorway of the nearest bedroom.
The sound of multiple bodies hitting the floor made Narcissa's stomach turn, though as soon as the light had dissipated, she glided up the ornate staircase as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. A soft murmuring of voices could be heard through the doorway, though the words were muffled with a privacy charm. Narcissa turned towards Euphemia, but the other witch was paying her no attention. A bead of sweat showed on her brow, but otherwise she seemed completely at ease and as if nothing was out of the ordinary on this night.
Not wanting to interrupt the conversation or overhear anything that she might be punished for, Narcissa raised her fist and gave two hard knocks. Before her hands were even clasped in front of her, the door had already begun to swing open.
"Cissy?" The cracked voice of Bellatrix called out. "Cissy, is that you?"
"Of course," Narcissa replied, sweeping fully into the room and into the view of her elder sister. "I've brought–"
"The thief!" Bellatrix hissed, clutching the blankets around her closer to her body. "She shall not leave this room alive!" The unhinged witch cried out, reaching for her wand, but Lucius was too fast, grabbing it away from his sister in law.
"Now, now, Bella. We had this discussion. Mrs. Rowle is here to help us, she's going to keep from the Dark Lord finding out about this–"
"THE DARK LORD WOULD BE PROUD! THE DARK LORD WOULD WANT TO KNOW!" Bellatrix screeched, clutching the mass of blankets to her chest. "THE DARK LORD–"
"Would kill us all," Lucius simply answered. "Now, Bella, hand it over."
"I will not! This is the heir of the Dark Lord!" Now that Bellatrix had brought attention to the baby, Narcissa could see the tuft of soft black curls sticking out from the blanket. "He will want to meet her!"
"Obliviate," Lucius bit out, using Bella's own wand. Narcissa's eyes widened as she watched her sister slump sideways, the newborn baby in her arms rolling down the bed, wailing as she went. "Cissa, take the child, quickly. If Nott is already trying to come back, he will only grow more suspicious with each passing moment."
With shaking hands, Narcissa moved towards the bed, her sister's unconscious and bloody body laying at an awkward angle that looked eerily like the three dead healers on the floor.
"Cissa!"
"I apologise," Narcissa stated, her voice steady, but her hands continued to tremble. When she finally reached out for the crying baby, her heart clenched as she looked down at the face that was so similar to Draco's when he was first born.
The plan was so simple, she would hide her niece away from the Dark Lord until she was able to escape with Draco. Then she would retrieve the girl from Euphemia and the three of them would make their way to South America. To her knowledge Lucius only knew about hiding her niece, not her desire to escape. She was confident the Dark Lord and Lucius would never find them there.
"Cissa," Lucius growled, the threat clear in his voice.
Clearing her own throat, Narcissa, bit back the emotions that were threatening to overcome her as she handed the baby off to Euphemia. With the baby securely in her new nanny's arms, Narcissa could feel her heart clenching at giving the girl away, even though she knew it was for the best.
"Imperio," Narcissa's voice was hardly more than a whisper, the spell leaving her wand. If it wasn't for the sheer desperation to keep the child safe, she knew that it would have had no effect. "You are to keep the child safe and hidden from sight. No one can know that she exists. Not your children, not your husband, no one." Narcissa gave the instructions that Lucius had laid out under threat against their own son. "No one may know the daughter of the Dark Lord and Bellatrix Lestrange exists."
Despite that Euphemia had known that the curse was coming, her body and mind still struggled as it took hold. Green light from the flames in the fireplace filled the room, giving a disturbing glow to the unconscious and deceased witches in the room. Once the Viking's fight had ceased, her body straightened to her full height and she walked without another word straight into the flames and back to the tower she called home.
As the emerald began to clear the room and darkness took over, all thoughts of the night whirled in Narcissa's mind. The child, what she'd been forced to do to one of her few allies, and now how she was going to care for Bellatrix when her half-mad sister had no recollection of what had happened to her.
However, when Narcissa turned, in the dim moonlight that barely lit the space, the only sight she could see was her husband pointing her sister's wand in her face.
"I'd say I'm sorry," Lucius sneered and Narcissa's blood began to run cold as what was about to happen dawned on her. "But I'm not."
Narcissa turned on her heels and made a last ditch effort for the exit, she couldn't let him, she had to get away! She had to remember! He would ruin everything!
"Obliviate."
18th of April 2013
Cheshire Hotel
London, England
The hotel was in the Muggle city centre, it wasn't especially posh nor threadbare and worn. It was clean enough for Percy's purpose and only twenty-four galleons, five sickles and a knut a night. And it was far enough from Diagon Alley that wizards were unlikely to stumble upon him, not that Percy was that foolish. He'd taken polyjuice potion in a public loo outside the train station and had checked in with his false Muggle id that matched the hair he'd stolen. The polyjuice would have worn off long before his feminine company arrived. He didn't want her to have any doubt about who made her fall apart.
Percy poured himself a whiskey and sat down to wait.
A soft knock at the door came just a few minutes after the polyjuice had worn off and Percy had begun to sip on a second glass.
He opened the door a crack and saw Tracey's smiling face. He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her inside, and he kissed her mouth just to stop the incessant giggling.
"Eager are we?" She whispered against his lips, but he only growled in her mouth and bit down on her lip, causing a yelp of pain. He fucking hated it when she talked.
Gripping her waist, he spun her around and pushed her backwards onto the bed. She toppled over ungracefully, but he could care less. A wave of his wand and the thin robes she wore disappeared, exposing the body that he'd used for his pleasure.
She wasn't attractive by any means, but a cunt was a cunt.
Vanishing his own clothes across the room, Percy dropped between her legs, stiff and ready to take what he needed from her.
"Wait, I'm not wet!" Tracey protested, but Percy wrapped his hands around her throat, cutting off anything else that she might say.
"Then I suggest you get on that," he growled, plunging inside her, the resistance of her opening obvious and slightly painful as his cock chaffed without the lubrication. She gasped and groaned, tears bubbling up in her eyes at the mistreatment, but Percy continued to rock into her until she was dripping with desire. She really should have been ready, it wasn't like they were meeting to have tea for Merlin's sake.
Who needed foreplay when she eventually got there?
Holding her throat with only one hand, Percy grabbed one of her legs and pushed it towards her chest, opening her wider for him to go deeper. He could feel her cervix touching his tip at this angle and it made him moan with how good she felt clenched around him.
A few more pumps and Percy could feel his abdomen tightening before he was spilling inside her, pushing his seed deeper with his pelvis pressed firmly against her opening.
Dropping her leg and rolling onto the bed next to her, Percy closed his eyes, satisfied with his performance. Did she have an orgasm? No, but what did he care? She was nothing but a whore that was more than willing to take whatever crumbs he was willing to give her.
"Perce," the woman next to him rolled towards him. Merlin, he hoped she wasn't going to ask him to cuddle. She didn't seem to understand what this was about at all. And fuck did he hate nicknames.
"Yes?" He asked in his blandest voice.
"I'm pregnant."
Fuck. Not again. Percy inwardly cursed.
"And it's mine?"
"Well of course it is, my husband and I barely ever shag."
Percy resisted the urge to yell at her, but only barely. Rolling away from her instead, he summoned his trousers and began to dress.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Tracey asked, sitting up, her eyes wide as she watched him button his shirt and put on his shoes.
"Take care of it? I'm not sure what else you're expecting me to say. We've been having an affair, Tracey, its not a secret romance no matter what you are telling yourself." Percy replied, grabbing his jacket and slipping it on.
"I…I can't terminate a pregnancy!" The witch exclaimed in outrage, her hands covering her abdomen protectively as if Percy himself would pull his wand on her and begin to crucio her until she'd miscarried. Temping, but not his style. Why did she need to be so bloody difficult?
"Then I suggest you go shag your husband and convince him that it's his." Percy clipped, glaring at the witch, who was now fully crying, and had his nerves on edge. Strolling from the room and slamming the door closed, Percy cursed himself yet again for preferring sex without the use of contraception charms.
19th of April 2013
Deputy Minister of Magic's Office
Ministry of Magic
London, England
Percy gave a tight smile, or at least what he assumed was a smile in the direction of the newest administrative assistant. He'd, well, he'd messed up where she was concerned. He'd been introduced to her friend, and now, well, now he was paying the price for doing more than saying hello. It had been a gross miscalculation on his part. He'd sworn off English witches for a reason, and yesterday's events just reminded him of why.
If only Tracey Parkinson, the friend in question, would go back to wishing her husband would pay attention to her and forget that he existed, it would be the best case scenario in his mind. The witch was a little too obsessed to be properly discreet, it was doomed to attract attention. Attention that Percy could not afford.
As the door clicked open, Percy nearly dropped his wand at the unexpected and highly unwanted person sitting behind his desk with mud stained boots resting on important and confidential documents.
"What do you want, McLaggen?" Percy asked as he quickly regained his composure. "I'm not exactly in any condition to entertain today, and, as you can see, you're not on my schedule."
"It seems there's a lot of people missing from your schedule these days," McLaggen said, causing a shiver to run up Percy's spine, though he hid his discomfort. "Let's see, Virgil Dickens, age five. Father, Tim Dickens was found to be sterile, yet his sweet wife Emily was able to produce a son after working for the Minister's Office. They are doing quite well in New York by the way."
"I don't see what this has to do with me," Percy said, his jaw tight as he began to shuffle through paperwork, but his mind was racing. Emily had sworn that she wouldn't tell a soul, even making a witch's oath to him.
"Alright, what about little Jose Diaz, age five as well. His parents had immigrated from Spain to England, only to flee mysteriously and rather quickly seven months before little Jose's birth. His mother, Georgina, claims that her family has a distant history of redheads."
"I'm still not–"
"Devnet Finnan, age thirteen, flaming red hair. Though, being Irish she fits in a bit better. Her father Ruarc, was off tracking down Death Eaters for the Irish ministry for the entirety of 1999, although mysteriously those records have been wiped as has his memory. Rolan Utkin over in Russia at only three already has his name down for a top spot at Durmstrang, being the grandson of the Russian Minister. Shall I continue? The list is rather long and almost impressive. Didn't know you had it in you, honestly, Weasley. It's funny what one can find when there's enough reason."
"And what reason is that?" Percy asked, his stomach sinking as the list of names that he knew was much longer than he would ever want to know or admit.
"I need to be Head of the DMLE," McLaggen explained, his fingers laced behind his head after he tossed a thick file onto the desk. "I have an acquaintance that can make things happen."
"Then why me?" Percy asked, glancing down at the file, pictures of redheaded children he'd tried to forget existed spilling onto his desk. "If they can make it happen, then what do you need me for?"
"We need a new Minister of Magic, someone who isn't as…self righteous as Shacklebolt. Someone who doesn't shy away from getting his hands dirty once in a while," McLaggen sneered, and Percy could tell from the way his nose was flaring and how tight his fist was gripped that this was not his idea. McLaggen was doing someone else's bidding and was very worried that Percy would not fold to the pressure.
"And you think that person is me? What does this acquaintance have on you to make you a puppet as well?"
"Stuff that Gryffindor courage, Weasley, where has it gotten either of us? Unless you want the entire world to know that you've managed to spread your seed onto every continent and then a bit more than that." McLaggen seethed, always failing at masking his anger. "Now, do you want to be the Minister of Magic, or do you want the world to know that you outdid your parents in repopulation efforts? Almost entirely with married witches at that. Can't imagine that your wife would approve."
Another glance down at the file with a smiling little girl with flaming red hair and who was clearly of Asian descent, the Japanese Ambassador's wife was her mother if he remembered correctly. Percy let out a sigh and sat in the chair opposite of McLaggen. "What do you need me to do?"
29th of August 2013
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire, England
"I don't understand why we're being charged with wrangling the sprogs," Scorpius complained. Vi glared at her brother, who was snapping his fingers, conjuring the blue bell flames their mother had created in her second year.
Of course by the time she taught the twins, she'd insisted they learn how to do it wandless at the age of eleven. And they had. They hadn't particularly shown off their magical skills in the past, but Scorp knew they'd been considered prodigies in the future. Maybe it would be fun to be underestimated for a while. He was considering some other small charms that he could do to entertain the Zabini horde when his twin's anger pulled him from his thoughts.
"You really are questioning why you're on house arrest until we go to Hogwarts?" Vi snapped, lifting her chin as she moved away from her brother. The Zabini children were expected to arrive at any time so that Aunt Luna and Uncle Blaise could join their parents at St. Mungo's to meet with the rehabilitation healers and discuss Theo's current status.
"You are a bloody arsehole!" Vi yelled, turning on her brother, cutting his wandering thoughts short and causing his flames to go out, though not before singeing his favourite shirt.
"What–" Scorpius began to ask, but Viola stepped up to him with her finger jabbing into his chest and cut him off.
"Drugging me! You bloody drugged me and then found Papa by yourself! Then, I had to–" Vi stopped her rant, her body going rigid. Had they not been so close, Scorpius could have mistaken her behaviour for being cold and uncaring. Being at least somewhat aware, as minimal as he could be, Scorpius knew that he'd truly fucked up in this decision.
Not being the best with words (at least kind ones), Scorpius opened his mouth to say, well anything, but quickly closed it. Viola's hard steel exterior was the complete opposite of the words and the emotions that she'd just moments before been shouting at him. How was he supposed to talk to her about finding Theo the day before when she closed down like this? How was he supposed to fix this? He hated fighting with her, they were supposed to be in sync, not at odds. It was simply unnatural.
"Viola, Scorpius!" The sound of their Grandmere's voice rang through the halls of Malfoy Manor, pulling the twins from the staring contest they'd unknowingly been engaged in. "The children are here and on the Quidditch pitch!"
Viola didn't even hesitate, blinking her eyes much too rapidly before turning on the balls of her feet and quickly heading toward the west wing's atrium garden. Scorpius didn't move, not wanting to be near his sister when Viola would inevitably get her hands on a beater's bat. He had been on the losing side of her wicked swing more times than he dared to count. Playing with children, however, one hoped that would tone down his sister's competitive streak. Knowing his sister, however, she wouldn't pull any punches and would crush her competition, regardless of their age or skill level.
Putting his hands in his pockets, Scorpius meandered towards the west wing, whistling to himself as he moved along. The portraits had long since been silenced, unable to tolerate his Half-blood existence, but still their glares and the mouthed slurs thrown his way had him occasionally flipping a few of the old hags off. A handful of threats to burned portraits still slipped out of Scorpius. Grandmere had tried to put the blood supremacist portraits into the attics, but Malfoy Manor had better sticking charms than Nott Castle; their papa had burned all the Nott portraits long before he and Vi had been born in the original timeline. Scorpius hadn't noticed any at Nott Castle when they'd first arrived, perhaps it had already happened. He had been a bit distracted when they arrived. He tried not to think about the fact that their papa had probably been killed only moments after he and Vi had been sent to the past.
He kicked at one of the rugs as he went, taking his aggression out on it. Scorpius hated fighting with his sister above everything. She was the one person who had always been there with him, through everything. Watching their mum and dad be killed while they were hiding behind papa. Sneaking into the clubs during the war when they were desperate for a much needed break. Standing together after they witnessed all their friends and loved ones being tortured by the Black Empress and her Death Eaters. Running from the Death Squad and then finding themselves thrown back in time. Losing everyone that they'd ever loved or known.
The only person he could rely on was Viola, and he'd betrayed her. At least, that was the way she viewed it, but he was really only trying to help. She'd needed to sleep, he really only had the best of intentions at the time.
"Something something road to hell, something something good intentions," he muttered to himself, as he walked.
Scorpius had just entered the indoor garden, the sounds of the waterfalls splashing against the rocks was soothing. Through the glass walls and ceiling, Scorpius could see his sister already up in the air on the pitch knocking poor tiny young James from his broom while little Cole screamed like a girl and baby Al trailed behind Viola in the air like a love sick puppy on his little child's broom.
The past was weird.
A tugging on his earlobe pulled his attention away from the pitch as Scorpius reached out for whatever was assaulting him. "What the fuck?"
"Oh good, Darcey was looking for you," Aunt Luna's dreamy voice floated through the garden as she stepped out of the lush greenery. "I think she was worried for you. That or she has been eyeing that earring since she first saw you and wanted it."
"You have niffler named Darcey?" Scorpius asked, looking down at the earring the little creature was holding in her paws. "I'll take that back, thanks. I'm not typically a sentimental bloke, but a friend gave this to me." Scorpius told the tiny creature, plucking the little snake from the tiny claws.
"Yes. One of my past hobbies was selling medicinal herbs, Darcey would help ensure payments were made. Sometimes people were…difficult about paying their debts." Luna answered, the long white sundress she wore showed the prominent small bump where he knew Pandora was currently growing. Not Viola's Pandora though…Would she even be anything like the wild lesbian healer that they knew in the future? He missed her ridiculous collection of latex and vinyl catsuits. Fashion in 2013 was painfully boring compared to 2032, and 2032 Pandora had been next level fabulous.
"You sold drugs?" Scorpius asked, pushing away the sad feelings that thinking about Pandora was eliciting in him. "Actually, that sounds about right. You are best friends with Theo, sounds right up his alley."
"Actually, I was in business with Neville. Theo just happened to be our best customer."
Scorpius looked away from the little niffler in his hands, finally releasing the creature, who scurried off to Luna as he tried to put together the information that he'd just been given.
"Uncle Nev…he…"
"He's not as straight-laced as everyone thinks he is. We had a monopoly on the market in our eighth year and then after he became an Auror, whenever a competitor would arise Nev would do a sting operation and get them shut down. Really it was a brilliant business model; Blaise frowned upon it though, so we had to close the shop. He still does it on the side, however, just not to the extent that we did back then - it was such a big enterprise in those days."
Of all the things that Scorpius ever thought he would discover in the past, this was not one of them. The Neville Longbottom that he'd known growing up would have never approved of drug use or anything that was even remotely grey area. The Neville that had raised his best friend would have been up in arms had he known half of what Scorpius and Hermes had been up to while in school with Vi and Pandora…Fuck, he needed to not think about the future so much. He didn't like feeling like this. There was a Hermes-shaped hole in his life and Scorp hated it, he'd hated it when Hermes had left for New York, but there had still been a possibility they'd see each other again. Now Scorpius was here and now and his best friend wouldn't even be born until next year.
"Aunt Cissa said that you had been giving her and Viola a sleeping draught to sneak out of the house," Luna said, drifting away from Scorpius and towards the small koi pond.
"Grandmere told you that?" Scorpius asked, trailing behind the odd woman that had stepped into the role of mother figure the past few years of his life.
"Hm, I suppose she didn't tell me. I sensed it rather, her dreams have been in turmoil recently. The sleeping draught was a reasonable explanation," Luna explained, crouching down to brush her fingertips over the surface of the water. "It isn't always easy to be a member of this family, Scorp. My mother abandoned this home and not even twenty years later I was kept as a prisoner in the dungeon here, under the same roof where my mother was born."
"I'm out of place, being in the wrong time…" Scorpius trailed off, moving to stand above Luna so he could watch the fish swimming around her fingers. "I know the place we came from was complete shite and that we have to stop it, but we don't belong here."
"Hm," Luna mused, watching the koi intently while Darcey slept peacefully on her shoulder. The two of them stood there, simply watching the fish and listening to the rustling of the leaves and the movement of the water for what felt like hours, though truthfully it was only moments.
When Scorpius began to get restless and shifted his weight, Luna let out a breath and a spark of magic erupted through her fingertips, transforming the fish into doves that burst from the pond with a splash. The pair of doves flew high into the trees, until they had reached the ceiling where they darted out the open window and into the world beyond.
"Have you ever considered that you might be wrong?" Luna asked, her blue grey eyes looking towards the sky and watching as the doves disappeared.
"Wrong about what?" Scorpius asked in confusion.
"That perhaps this is where you've always belonged, and that the stars and the universe have finally aligned to welcome you home."
Scorpius didn't know what to say to that and then he felt a tiny hand pulling on his own. He looked down to see a little redheaded girl gripping his finger. Lily Luna…Scorpius tried not to let the way that he'd last seen her flash across his thoughts, but it did anyway: her blood all over the foyer at the safehouse, half her torso missing. He swallowed. A ghost flickered across Luna's face and Scorp was scared she'd read his thoughts. He'd suspected that she could more than once when he'd been a kid. He focused on the little girl next to him, willing the ugly visions away.
"Hey Lily," he said, squeezing her tiny fingers. What was she now? Six? Growing up with them it was much easier to remember them all, but who already existed and who didn't? What he needed was a Zabini kid cheatsheet.
"Hey Scworp," she said with her little girl's lisp and smiled up at him. "Can I play with you and Darcy while Vi plays quidditch with the big kids?" Of course when she said it it sounded more like 'kidditch.' It was completely adorable really.
"Sure kiddo," Scorpius smiled, and tried to ignore all his ghosts even with one of them swinging his arm and humming a happy little tune to herself.
August 29th, 2013, early evening
St. Mungo's, Third Floor, Potions and Plant's Poisoning
London, England
"Theo, Theo sweetheart, it's time for you to wake up, dear." Theo heard the soft feminine voice floating somewhere above him, but he was so tired and his body ached so much that even the idea of opening his eyes made his head scream at him.
"Bugger off," Theo murmured into his pillow, sliding deeping into the warmth of the bed.
"Theodore Alexander, is that anyway to speak to your mother?" The woman scolded, pulling the blanket away from his head.
"But Mum," Theo complained, putting the pillow over the top of his head to try to avoid the day for a few more moments. "I don't want to go to London today."
"But, my darling boy, you get to go to Hogwarts today. Cissa told me that Draco is very much looking forward to sitting with you on the train, now isn't that exciting?" His mother asked, brushing her long black curls out of her face. The darker complexion from her Greek heritage was a contrast to Theo's own olive skin tone, but still, the similarities between them were striking.
"Draco is going to want to just talk to Crabbe and Goyle. That's all he's been doing all summer when I'd go with father to Wiltshire. Crabbe even pushed me into the pond and Clarence the peacock nearly drowned me." Theo whined, not moving from his bed while he pouted, his arms crossed over his chest. "Why can't I just stay here with you? You can teach me more charms and I won't ever have to leave you."
"Oh, my beautiful boy." Despite his crossed arms, Theo let out a cough as his mother pulled him into her chest and hugged him tight.
The fog cleared and Theo was standing with his shoulders pulled back, trying to be as still as possible as his father came through the floo behind him.
"Filthy mudbloods, everywhere," Thoros spat out, as a little curly haired witch rushed past with her obviously muggle parents in tow. "Alexandria, watch what you touch, I wouldn't want you to get something and infect me," his father stated, moving away from Theo and his mother over to where the Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle families stood together discussing something.
"Theo, darling, you'll be just fine," his mother's voice was so low that Theo could hardly hear her. However, despite the urge to wrap his arms around her, Theo didn't move towards her, but instead began to walk towards the train so that he could begin loading his trunk aboard.
Theo's eyes darted in the direction of the other Pureblood families, and when he noted that his father was no longer with him, he could feel his entire body relax. At the thought of his father, the pain from the fresh burn on his arm flared up, causing him to let out a gasp, which was quickly followed by a cooling charm.
"Don't let them see you struggle," his mother whispered, her body so near and so warm that Theo desperately yearned to lean into the comfort that he knew she would give him. However, he didn't, because if he did, it would be his mother and not himself who would be suffering the consequences of the public display of weakness.
"Never." Theo kept his chin raised as he watched his trunk magically be lifted onto the train.
"I love you my sweet little fellow," Theo finally turned his head slightly to take a look at his mother. Tears were filled in her bright blue eyes, striking against her dark skin. Her hands trembled slightly, though from nerves or the bouts of being tortured this morning, Theo didn't know.
Theo tried to ignore thoughts of his father and his brutality as he felt the cool wave of the privacy charm that his mother often employed to keep them from Thoros' notice so that he could finally relax. Falling into her arms, the emotions that Theo had been holding back finally broke like a damn, the tears pouring from his eyes as he tried to hold onto his mother as tightly as he could.
"It's about time for you to go," Theo pressed his eyes tighter, shaking his head against her breasts.
"No, I can't leave you alone with him, I won't. Not again."
"It's okay, my sweet. He's not here with me anymore, I'm safe now."
"Mum," when Theo pulled away he was still looking at the same Alexandria Nott that he'd remembered. However, instead of looking up at her, she was looking up at him now. He realised that he was restored back to his adult body.
"What a handsome man you've grown to be," she whispered, reaching up as she brushed stray curls away from his eyes.
"I've missed you…" Theo trailed off, looking into the eyes he thought he'd never see again.
"I've missed you as well, but it's time for you to go. They're all waiting for you." His mother said, stepping back and out of his reach. "It's not your time yet, you have much to do before you can join me."
"It hurts, mum. I– I don't think I'm strong enough."
"Oh, my darling, you're stronger than you give yourself credit for," his mother stated, stepping backwards towards a light that was growing bright with each passing breath. "It's time for you to wake up now, and take hold of your destiny."
Theo gasped for air as his consciousness returned to his body. His chest heaved and the chill in the air was made that much more pronounced by his sweat covered body. His teeth chattered and his body was trembling, but Theo couldn't focus on the physical response he was having, because above him stood Draco and Hermione.
"Granger, get the Healer, he appears to be in shock," Draco said, his face hard as he waved his wand over Theo's body doing a triage scan, unable or unwilling to wait for the St. Mungo's Healer to arrive.
"You're here… You're both here…" Theo's mind was in such a daze as he looked at the witch and the wizard that he'd slowly begun to yearn for in the last few weeks. The feelings he'd been pushing aside and denying no longer allowed him to box them up as his feelings for them had grown in intensity.
"Of course we're here, you wanker," Draco snapped, reaching into his expanded pouch to pull out a few of his own potion vials, seemingly unwilling to wait for the St. Mungo's staff's arrival before treating Theo. He forced Theo to drink, which caused the physical aches to cease immediately. "Where else do you think we'd be when our partner goes missing and then our daughter's desperation re-ignited the family bond with Mipsy and Buffy and all four of you appeared in my bloody sitting room." The words 'our partner' hung in the air for a second until the rest of what Draco had said sank into his fuzzy mind.
"Viola found me?" Theo's blood ran cold as his mind went to the teenage girl, his own daughter, that he knew had already been so traumatised in her short life. He had just failed her again. "Wh-what was she doing at the castle?"
"It doesn't matter what she was doing there," Hermione said, cutting off a red faced Draco, who looked as if he could continue his rant still. "What matters is that she found you and at some point we'll have to address that and all the trauma finding you brought up for her. For now, we're just happy that you're going to be okay."
Hermione reached out for his hand, the warmth of her touch startling Theo, but he didn't pull away from her. Instead, he looked into the rich brown eyes, a ping of sadness washing over him as he thought about what he'd been so willing to give up. Theo turned to look at Draco, who while still angry, Theo could tell that the anger was a mask for the fear that Draco was still carrying. Fear, at the thought of losing Theo. Draco cared about him. The past was in the past and there was the possibility of a real future between the three of them. A future that Theo's own future self had sent him memories of. The apple orchard bit had been really perfect. Maybe he could be that person. Draco and Hermione deserved that.
"Yeah, I'll be okay."
Draco scowled at him and groused, "Yeah, this time I'll make sure of it."
Theo tried to smile reassuringly at Draco, but it didn't seem to soothe the other wizard.
Draco cupped Theo's cheek with his palm. "You can't do this to me again, alright? I can't take it. You have to get sober now. Promise?" Draco's silver eyes were desperate as they stared into Theo's.
Theo's throat felt tight, but he nodded and choked out, "I promise, yeah."
"And we'll be here for you Theo," Hermione promised, tears on her lashes. "Every step of the way."