Time Keepers

by Ceilidhchaos

Co-authored with SarahFraser. A Dreomione inspired by Aurelian. not for the faint of heart. If a trigger exists, it's in this. It's 2032 and the Black Empress and her Death Eaters reigned supreme. For 2 years, the world had been thrown into chaos and darkness. As a last ditch attempt to save his children, Scorpius and Viola, Theodore Malfoy-Nott throws them back in time to 2013.

13. Chapter 13

Chapter Nine

Secrets Never Stay Buried

2nd of September 2013

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland

"You are aware that you're doing too much with that outfit, don't you?" Vi asked, waving one hand at his ensemble as she dug through the satchel she was carrying with her. "Honestly, Gran is going to have a conniption when she sees you."

Scorpius double-checked the knot he'd tied his button down in, up a little high so that everyone would be able to see the Malfoy-Nott tattoos on his stomach. He had his "Good Boy" crop top on underneath and left all the buttons undone so that Ragnar would see it. He wanted to remind the delicious wizard of the night that they'd met. He smiled at the thought. Ragnar was certainly one of the parts of returning to Hogwarts that he was excited about.

"Well that's half the fun, isn't it? Being the grandson of the headmistress and all, she's not going to throw us out." Scorpius answered, looking at his nails before charming them glossy black. "What good is it if we can't express ourselves?"

"Hm," Vi answered sceptically, making Scorpius roll his eyes. He disillusioned the tattoos covering his arms, from elbows to wrists.

"Better?" He asked.

"Hardly," Vi answered as they stepped into the Great Hall for breakfast. Scorpius smirked as he looked over to the Slytherin table, enjoying the sight of Ragnar with his long tousled hair and the exposed forearms from his sleeves rolled up. He was again sitting with the younger girl that Scorpius now knew was his younger sister, Aethel. He didn't remember her from the future and that was a nice change of pace.

While they hadn't shagged – yet – Scorpius had replayed their kisses all night though and was more than ready for the continuation.

"You two, my office," Scorpius was pulled from his thoughts as he looked around, spotting his Gran walking towards them. She had her classic emerald green robes hiked up in her hands and the large brimmed hat that she often wore was placed perfectly on her head for the start of term.

"Can't I get some breakfast first?" Scorpius complained, but the elderly witch hardly paused as she passed by the twins, leading them back into the corridor and up the grand staircase towards her office.

Looking over in his sister's direction, Scorpius was again struck at how quiet she was being. She'd normally give some pushback to anything that someone would ask her to do, but instead, here she was just dutifully following behind an angry Gran.

When they reached the hidden entrance, their Gran stopped and straightened her shoulders. "The Winter's Tale." The gargoyle that guarded the headmistress's office nodded its head as it began to slowly expose the hidden staircase. Scorpius opened his mouth to protest, but Viola silenced him with an elbow to the ribs.

With a scowl on his face, Scorpius followed behind the two witches until they'd reached the office that looked so familiar, but felt completely foreign at the same time. The portraits of all the past headmasters and headmistresses were pretending to be asleep, but he knew that they were actually listening to every word spoken to advise the current head.

On her desk, Scorpius glanced down, seeing a framed photo of his mother and his Gran from their vacation to Spain. His mother had fondly told him the story of that trip and how it had solidified their mother-daughter bond and truly made them family. The same photo had sat on their mantel at the castle, but seeing it here in the past was an odd feeling.

"Do either of you understand the implications of what you've done?" Their Gran stated, waving her hand, two plates of full English breakfasts appeared at the coffee table in front of the plush couch and wingback chair. "Sleeping in the boy's dorm, that simply cannot be allowed." Her scowl was directed at Viola. "Applying a sticking charm to the other occupants' bed hangings to hide it is also completely unacceptable." Her narrowed gaze flicked to Scorpius who shrugged indifferently. "Timothy Clearwater was trapped for fifteen minutes this morning until Stafford Smith woke up and luckily had his own wand in bed with him."

"Hm, wonder what old Stafford was doing with his wand to his morning wood," Scorpius mused as he lifted a piece of bacon to his lips.

"You're lucky he did sleep with his wand, young man!" Gran snapped, her face turning redder by the moment. "That silencing charm in place, they couldn't even yell for help. It was only by sheer luck that Stafford thought to check the other hangings to ensure that he wasn't the only one who had been trapped."

"I'm not going to stop sleeping in Scorp's bed, if that's what you're getting at," Vi said, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not going to tell you why, but I'm just not. If these spoiled children have a problem with me needing to be close to my brother, then they'll have to get over it."

"Viola, be reasonable." The Headmistress pinched the bridge of her nose.

"No, you have no idea what we've lived through and what we've had to witness. The wars you've lived through thus far are child's play compared to the horrors that the Black Empress has rained down on us. I refuse to use potions, and the only way I can feel safe enough to sleep is if I'm with someone. As of now, that someone is my brother."

Scorpius would have preferred to be sleeping or not sleeping underneath, or on top of—he wasn't picky— Ragnar, but if Vi needed him, then Scorpius wasn't going to argue. This must mean she wasn't mad at him about the little faux pas with the drugging anymore and he'd take that as a win.

Scorpius thought for sure that Gran was going to protest further, but as she looked at Viola, something in the old witch softened and she shook her head in quick defeat.

"The two of you will have separate lodgings then, we have to respect the other students' rights to privacy. I'll make an exception, but only for this. Altered uniforms are non negotiable." Her stern look turned on Scorpius, making him feel like he was six years old again. Damn woman had always had that effect on him, not that he had any plans to listen to her about how he dressed. He smoothed his hair back and wondered idly if he could get Grandmere to send him some of the snake and skull hair clips that were in the Black vaults. He knew exactly where they were, right behind that cursed chest with the Rosier crest…he suddenly realised that Gran and Viola were staring at him, expecting him to say something.

"Noted," Scorpius muttered, diverting his gaze back to his breakfast. "Anything else you have for us, or are we free after we've consumed more caffeine than we should be allowed?"

"Yes, actually, there was also the topic of your coursework and the lack of testing on file with the Ministry," Gran said, waving her wand, conjuring two files that opened on the table in front of them. "As it stands, we don't have any way to know where to place you, so for the time being we'll be splitting the difference and enrolling you both in sixth year courses."

The clattering of Vi's fork was the only sound, causing Scorpius to smirk into his breakfast, ready to finally hear that fiery personality.

"Absolutely not," Viola's voice was trembling, the fury hardly being contained. "We are mastery level students, we could sit our NEWTs and pass them with flying colours today, we are not wasting any time in a sixth year class."

"Viola," Gran sighed, clearly struggling, "you have no records to be transferred in, the ministry simply won't allow–"

"Then I suggest you bring the Ministry official here this week so we can sit our exams. If you won't let us take our NEWTs, at least let us take our OWLs, and we can show you exactly where we are academically. Had Grandmere not insisted that we come here for the year, we would be perfectly fine going into a mastery program today." The silence in the office was thickening, but Scorpius was happy to let it sit, restraining himself from interjecting. "We didn't sit around and do nothing our whole lives! We've been home tutored by Hermione Granger, the Brightest Witch of Her Bloody Age since we were in nappies, and for the last several years one of the most brilliant Charms masters in the history of the Wizarding World!"

Scorpius loved the passion with which Viola defended their education, he just wished that she was able to reconcile their future parents with the people they were right now. He knew better than to suggest that though, and took another bite of food.

After what might have been hours, but was truly only a few moments, their Gran let out another sigh. "I'll contact the ministry and set up the exams then. Until then, here is the entire seventh year course list. Go through it, decide which ones you'd like to take and get back to me by the end of the day. I'll write you a note for missing class."

"Shouldn't this go through whoever our head of house is?" Viola asked, flipping through the parchment that had just been handed to her.

"No, I think for the two of you that I'll take that responsibility on myself." The headmistress pulled out a small flask and added a splash to her tea, glaring at the two young people daring them to make a comment.

The twins kept their thoughts to themselves.

Former Visitors Quarters now the Malfoy-Nott Dorm,

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland

As soon as they got their new room Scorpius spent half an hour adding blood wards and nasty hexes in case someone tried to come in without an invite. Viola explored every nook and cranny while he did that, before dropping down onto the green couch in the common area. She charmed the walls a nice deep green to match. Scorp threw himself dramatically onto the couch next to her, his head in her lap.

"This isn't too bad," he sighed.

"I know you're disappointed about not being one bed over from your new pet," Viola admitted.

"Absence makes the cock grow fonder, but no way, you are way more important than a random bloke, you know that, yeah?" Scorpius looked upside down at his sister.

Viola nodded, grateful for her brother's support. "So there's two bedrooms attached to this room, a bathroom and a little kitchenette."

"Well, look at this, it's like we got to be Head Girl and Boy without any of the tedious responsibilities," Scorpius smirked.

Viola rolled her eyes. "Which bedroom do you want to sleep in?"

"Whichever has the bigger bed. You kick me in your sleep." Viola smacked Scorpius hard on the arm. "You are so violent, just proving my point there, Vi."

Viola scoffed, "Whatever. I'm exhausted. Let's figure out which bed is bigger and then you can charm everything green and black so you can feel like you're in your element."

"Magical creatures in captivity deserve as close an enclosure as possible to their natural habitat."

Viola shoved him off the couch. "You aren't a magical creature Scorp."

"Yet!" Scorpius laughed from his place on the floor. Viola shook her head and went to choose a spot to sleep. There was really no reasoning with that brother of hers.

Draco's Flat

London, England

Hermione's curls were piled into a half hearted bun on the top of her head as she combed through the notes that she'd been compiling of the future.

"Granger," Draco called from the bar at the other end of the open floor plan. Hermione hummed in response but didn't move.

This future…The more she saw, the more, well they had to stop it.

"Granger," Draco called again, but still Hermione didn't move.

Ginny, George, Narcissa, Dean, Seamus, Lily Luna… No one was spared. The Black Empress, at the moment, had no power and had only killed Harry.

A pale hand appeared in her line of sight, pulling away from the notebook that she'd been bent over, slowly pulling all the notes they'd been compiling as they'd watched memory after gruesome memory. The book vanished from view and Hermione let out a huff, her head tilting up to Draco standing above her with a tonic water in hand.

With Theo currently staying with Draco, they'd removed all the alcohol from the flat in support of him and his sobriety. Hermione hadn't been home besides to grab more of her things since Theo's hospitalisation; she wanted to be here to help both the wizards that she was quickly caring about more and more. Despite how much she'd heard Draco mumbling about so much brown curly hair everywhere now, she knew that it was all a front and he secretly loved having the reminder that they were there. Or, at least that's what Hermione told him.

Still, Draco taking her work while she was reading it wasn't something that she ever took well. Even if she was enjoying staying with him.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you give me my notes back now," Hermione scolded, holding her hand out.

"Your eyes are bloodshot, Granger, and you've been looking at the same page for the last hour." Draco bent forward and put the tonic water in her hand while pressing his forehead to hers. "As a healer, I have to eventually draw a line and tell you it's time to take a step away."

Hermione scrunched her nose and narrowed her eyes at Draco, who was still obnoxiously close. The man, once you were brought into his orbit, did not know the definition of personal space. Honestly, he was like a golden retriever, if he ever took the time to become an animagus, he would make the most adorable little white puppy.

"Granger, Draco." Theo coming into the room didn't make either of them move, staying in their standoff. Upon seeing them, Hermione could hear Theo's chuckle rumble through the space, but still she didn't move. She couldn't just give up when it came to Draco. For one thing, he was infuriating when she admitted he was right and for another, things were starting to stir and the thought of his tongue between her thighs would do much more to help her relax than the tonic water.

"Before you two start shagging right there," Theo continued, rolling his wheelchair closer to them, "McGonagall is in the floo and said she needs to talk to all of us."

It was as if being drenched in ice water, hearing about her mum and knowing that she was waiting for Hermione to come for a chat.

"It's the second day, what could she possibly need to talk with us about?" Draco asked, moving away from Hermione, but holding his hand out to help her stand.

"I'm not sure, but she said it was a bit urgent, so I'm suspecting those sweet children of ours might already be causing a ruckus." Hermione looked at Theo, who despite what he was saying, was looking at her with so much lust she could feel her skin heating.

Theo seemed unable to stop himself, moving into her space and pulling her down to his level, giving her a kiss passionate enough to make her toes curl. His touch was soft, but his calloused fingers made her body shiver against his hold. He hummed into her mouth and Hermione felt as if she could melt into the floor right there.

Since his release from St. Mungo's, their relationship had begun to blossom. Draco had stopped denying himself the affection he wished to show the wizard he'd longed for, and in turn Hermione had also felt a strong pull towards Theo. With his recovery coming along, Hermione had even breached that line one day, giving Theo a light kiss after he'd woken up in the middle of the night and had set her coffee to be ready for her upon waking up.

It was the small thoughtful gestures that she'd never known Theo capable of that was drawing her towards him at a rapid pace.

"Hermione!" She heard her mother call from the other room, causing Hermione to pull away from Theo.

"We will be revisiting this," Theo whispered into her ear, giving her arse a slap as she walked past him.

The more she got to know Theo, it was easy for Hermione to see how their futures intertwined and how they all ended up together. They were the perfect balance, each person bringing something into the relationship that they all desperately needed. It would have seemed insane not even six months ago, and she shook her head as she hurried to the floo.

"Hermione, that took much too long and I'm too old to be kept waiting." Her mother chided and Hermione knew that her cheeks had flushed again, because now she was standing in front of the stern woman with her thighs slicked from the way her wizards had been teasing her.

"Sorry," Hermione mumbled, feeling as if she were a sixteen year old once again. "Er, I don't suppose this is a social call?" Hermione started, sitting herself on the floor between Theo and Draco. Whatever deity was listening, if they could make this quick, Hermione's mind was effectively elsewhere.

"Viola and Scorpius were caught sleeping in the Slytherin boy's dormitory. They put sticking charms on all the other occupants' bed hangings and trapped them until someone realised and released them."

"Someone is going to spread a rumour that they're like the Carrow twins," Theo joked.

"Theo!" Hermione squeaked.

"He's right, Granger," Draco admitted.

"Why would that possibly be the first place people's mind goes!" Hermione exclaimed, looking between the two wizards. "They're siblings!"

"Have you truly not looked at our family trees? I have no doubt that you went through that Sacred Twenty-eight nonsense that my ancestor wrote," Theo replied, leaning back on his forearms and then pushing his glasses up his nose. "The amount of inter-family breeding in the name of purity and keeping the fortunes in the family, it's really disgusting. Be shocked that you have perfect male specimens before you instead of a couple of disfigured abominations."

"That's…" Hermione trailed off, but she couldn't think of an argument. She had in fact read that book and had noticed how often branches that were much too close were wed and reproduced.

McGonagall cleared her throat, pulling the attention from the trio back to the task at hand.

"I need your approval before I do this, but I do have a private quarters for visitors. It used to be the Head Boy and Head Girl's dorm room, two bedrooms and a sitting room, but we had too many difficulties with that and changed the set up for the Heads. I have no problem putting them in there to avoid any more incidents, but I needed to discuss it with you all first."

"Well, I mean, if you think that's the best. Not sure why you'd run it past us first," Draco replied, rubbing a hand over Hermione's back. His mind obviously had wandered back to their earlier activities.

"Mr. Malfoy, just because I'm their grandmother does not give me the liberty to make decisions concerning them. You three are their parents, therefore, I must speak with you prior to making such a drastic change." Draco's light touches stopped and Hermione could feel the stone falling in her stomach. "As often as you forget, and despite that they are legal adults, they are still school children; therefore, not only will I continue to inform you on how their schooling is progressing, but I must. Now, if you don't have any questions for me, I must go. I'll make the arrangements and speak with you again soon I suspect."

Without another word, her mother disconnected the call and the emerald flames slowly morphed into their natural orange and yellow glow.

Hermione had known that having children was going to be a lot of work, but for some reason she'd imagined that having them away at Hogwarts was going to be easier? She had finally started to make some inroads connecting with Scorpius, although things with Viola were still tense. Hogwarts seemed like it would make things simpler. They'd write, she'd write, they might join them in Hogsmeade.

It seemed that her expectations were not meeting reality.

"Now, Granger," Draco murmured, his lips behind her ear. "Where were we?"

A shiver went up Hermione's spine and she could feel herself getting wetter with the proximity to her wizards. Even though she knew Theo was self-conscious about the wheelchair that he was currently using, Hermione still found herself desperate to have him.

His tousled curls, and the easy smirk that graced his lips more often than not these days. His blue eyes made her feel like she was diving into the ocean and Hermione wasn't sure that she ever wanted to surface.

A flick of her wrist and Theo's brows shot up into his hairline. His clothes were gone and Hermione could see how stiff he was. Next to her, Draco moaned at the sight of the nude wizard. His body was still recovering, but he'd begun filling out from eating properly and the added weight was doing him well.

"See something you like, Drake?" Theo taunted, obviously not aware of just how affected Hermione and Draco both were at the sight of him. "Seeing a cripple getting hard doing it for you?"

"Shut up," was all Draco said, walking over to Theo. He'd released his heavy cock and had it shoved between Theo's lips before his mouth could run away anymore. "Honestly, you're such a prat sometimes."

Theo closed his eyes and hummed around Draco. Draco's head fell back at the sensation, and Hermione twitched on the floor watching them. Her clothes were too coarse all of a sudden and her body was on fire. The moisture between her legs was nearly unbearable and she desperately needed them. Hermione wandlessly vanished her clothes.

Coming around to Theo's front, Hermione locked the wheels before climbing into his lap. With Draco's cock still in his mouth, Theo looked at her, eyes widening as he realised what she was about to do.

With her feet planted on either side of his hips and her hands gripping the wheels to give herself leverage, Hermione sank down on top of Theo, impaling herself. He was thicker than Draco, and the stretch he gave her at this angle nearly had her knees buckling.

However, tightening her core muscles and using her arms to keep herself from falling, Hermione began to ride Theo.

"Fucking hell," the brunette wizard moaned before sucking Draco deep down his throat, bobbing his head with more enthusiasm that Hermione had ever seen. Draco's long pale fingers were tangled in Theo's curls and the debauched sight was just so much that Hermione thought she was going to explode right there.

They were perfect together, and how Hermione had never seen it before was beyond her. Draco, so strong and confident in the public eye, but needed reassurance behind closed doors. Theo, the man who needed a purpose and without one was left floating. Then there was her. Desperate for the control and power that the wizarding world continued to deny her because of her blood status.

However, as Hermione sank down on Theo's cock again, she could feel the need they both had for her. How she was Aphrodite in their eyes, and nothing would ever change that for them. They would worship her, and she would care for them until her dying breath.

It was intense and far too soon, but as Hermione clamped down on Theo, her climax hitting her, she knew that it was right. She'd never find this with anyone else, nor would she want to.

5th of September 2013

Deserted Classroom, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland

It was day three of taking written examinations, and Viola had finally reached the twelfth OWL that the Ministry offered. She cursed under her breath as she tried to remember if they'd discovered how to bypass the inability to transfigure food yet, or if that was discovered sometime in the next seventeen years. Taking her glasses off, she set them on the desk as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.

She should have paid more attention to history.

Putting her glasses back on, Viola scribbled out her answer, deciding that even if it hadn't been discovered yet, she could play it off as if it were a theory she'd read in a passing note by Margrete Antonia. She was already a transfiguration master from Norway, which she knew for a fact as she'd written a paper outlining the woman's accomplishments in her third year.

The scrapping of the chair next to her had her nerves on edge, again. Scorpius on the other hand had gone through six of the assessment scrolls on the first day and when the ministry assigned proctor asked him if he wanted to review his answers before he submitted them, Scorpius laughed all the way back to his seat before opening another scroll and beginning on the next assessment.

It had been years since they'd had to sit in a lesson or exam together, and Vi had nearly forgotten what a pest her brother could be. The whistling, singing to himself, constant shuffling – all things that were out of his control, but annoyed her nonetheless. He had to be driving the ministry official spare.

"Aren't you nearly done?" Scorpius asked, looking in his sister's direction, as he pushed another scroll to the side.

"Mind your own work, I don't want to make a…mistake," Vi answered, not looking away from the parchment in front of her.

"I'll remind you, again, that there is to be no talking during the examination. After you've completed the written work for…every course, then we'll move onto the practical examinations." The proctor stated. Scorpius just didn't know how to follow instructions for the life of him, and complying when being asked to quietly wait was never his strong suit.

"Yes, well, I'm done with my written, so can I move along to the practical, I wanna get in a quick shag before supper." Scorpius informed the old wizard, who began to splutter on the tea he was drinking.

"Young man! Why…I…never!" The older wizard turned a colour that roughly approximated a beet.

"Yes, yes, you've never had someone so charming sit these bores, it's just the professors who will do the practical assessments, correct? Who's the charms master here? Is it that German bloke yet or is he not coming for a few years?"

"He's the Defence professor right now," Vi answered, her quill flying across the parchment as she finished her statement. "Anyway," with a tap of her wand, the scroll rolled up nicely and went soaring across the room and to the speechless man, "Finished. When will you get our results back? I'd like this to be expedited so that we could sit our NEWTs."

"Normally, it takes weeks to get the results," Vi opened her mouth to argue, but the wizard held up a shaking hand to stop her. "However, your mother spoke to the Minister and we'll have them expedited."

"If I get a perfect score on any of them, will you let me take my NEWTs?" Viola asked, her irritation at the entire process growing by the moment. "I don't want to–"

"We will discuss that with the Ministry after we have your scores, young lady. Now, if you both will make your way to the duelling auditorium in the next hour, we can begin your practical examinations. Whatever we don't complete today, we can finish tomorrow." The wizard flicked his wand, sending the scrolls of all the subjects that Hogwarts offered into his briefcase, then leaving without another word.

"So what do you think you got a perfect score on?" Scorpius asked, watching the man shuffle out the door, the tail of his robes getting caught in the closing door and ripping.

"I think everything except Transfiguration, I couldn't remember which of the theories had been reworked in the twenty-twenties. I may have accidentally cited something that won't be discovered for another ten years." Viola grimaced. "Oops?"

"Hm, fair. Though, perhaps they'll give you credit towards the advancements. That'll look excellent on a resume since for whatever reason, you want to work." Scorpius commented, twitching his nose and stretching his arms above his head. "Well, I think I'm going to go find Ragnar. Want to come with me? I want to see if he has any other Norse tatts disillusioned."

"Er, I think I'm fine, thanks," she refused, grimacing and putting up a hand in denial.

"Suit yourself, see you in an hour. If I'm late, send a patronus," Scorpius called over his shoulder, skipping towards the door.

"Or you could set an alarm!" Vi called out, but Scorpius was already gone, whistling to himself as he went in search of his newest toy.

Draco's Flat

London, England

"Have you heard anything yet about Scorpius and Viola's OWL results?" Theo asked from his place on the couch the moment that Hermione walked in the door coming from the Ministry.

She kicked off her boots and then flopped down next to him. "No," she sighed, clearly frustrated. "They were only willing to tell me that they finished their written tests today. All twelve of them though." She flashed Theo a tired smile. "Are you worried?"

"No, but maybe yes? I guess it's just weird that future me was homeschooling them, I've never even considered doing that. I just hope I didn't fuck it up like I do everything else." Theo closed his eyes and leaned back, trying to quiet his brain that couldn't stop worrying about whether the twins were as prepared as they thought they were.

"Don't be like that, T," Draco said from the doorway to the kitchen, drying his hand on a kitchen towel like a muggle. It was endearing to see him so domesticated, but Theo's head was too far gone to be able to truly appreciate the sight of the pureblood prince being a homemaker. "Future you sent them back in time so that they would be safe. He succeeded in that and we're going to finish the job. Hey Granger, I have dinner ready. We were just waiting on you."

"Merlin forbid I keep my wizards waiting," Hermione mumbled, shaking her curls out. "Let me go change and I'll be right back. I don't want to eat in my work clothes."

After she disappeared, Theo sat there in shock for a minute, his face going pale. Draco walked over in concern.

"What's going on? Are you feeling alright? Do you need a pain potion?" Draco asked, kneeling down and checking Theo's temperature by running his thumb over Theo's brow gently.

Theo shook his head and looked up at Draco. "She called us her wizards, Draco. Hers."

Draco laughed. "She did, didn't she? Come on, let me help you to the dinner table. I can't have you getting hurt again."

"I can walk on my own," Theo groused.

"When it's been more than a day since the last time you fell then we can talk about it," Draco murmured, wrapping one arm around Theo's waist.

Begrudgingly, Theo accepted the help Draco was offering him. Today had been a bit more rough than the one before. He'd been feeling strong and had pushed himself harder than he probably ought to have. He'd convinced Draco to get him out of the house and they'd gone shopping in Muggle London while Hermione had been at work. Even though he'd used a wheelchair, the simple effort had really done a number on him and he'd fallen between the chair and the bed. He was still sore although he didn't like to admit it.

"Isn't there something you can do to speed up my recovery?" Theo grumbled as he limped towards the table, heavily leaning on Draco for support.

"Your body has been through so much that it's resistant to magical cures now," Draco reminded him, and Theo could only scoff at the explanation. Surely magic had no limits, but Draco was the healer and Theo had to admit that he probably should have spent a bit more time learning this branch of magic. However, when one had no regard for their safety or their life, there was no need to know any basic healing spells.

They had made it to the table after a great deal of gruelling effort on Theo's part, and Draco had Theo settled in the large plush chair with armrests to help keep him in his seat. He felt like a damn child being tended to in this way. Even the foods Draco prepared were soft so that it was easier for Theo to chew and swallow. It was utterly humiliating.

"Stop, I can see the gears turning in that head of yours." Draco chided, sitting down next Theo as he prepared their plates and then a third one for Hermione. "I know we haven't been around each other much, but I can't tell you how many times I've had to do this for Granger since becoming her partner."

Theo still didn't move, only watching Draco's elegant hands spooning out the various dishes that he'd prepared. His signet ring sat on his pinky, the onyx ring pulling in all the light around it. It was such a contrast to his pale skin that it made his hands even more beautiful.

"Granger is reckless and brash. At the beginning of our career, she still leaned into her Gryffindor roots. She'd never cared for her own safety, always so focused on keeping Potter alive in her youth that self preservation didn't come naturally to her," Draco continued when Theo didn't respond.

A gentle hand on Theo's shoulder pulled him out of his thoughts and he looked up to find Hermione standing over him. Her whiskey coloured eyes were warm and Theo could see, not pity, but something he'd never seen directed towards him. It was as if she just cared, but Theo still struggled with accepting that she felt this way for him.

"Draco has mended me more times than I dare to admit," Hermione leaned down and brushed her lips against his cheek. Theo could feel himself blushing at the movement, but neither of his companions said anything about it. "Don't worry, we aren't here to judge you. We only want you to be the best version for yourself, and we're honoured that we get to walk through this with you."

Hermione sat at Theo's other side and said nothing else on the matter as she accepted her plate from Draco. The two Aurors moved on in their conversation, Hermione bringing up some meaningless office romance that she'd walked in on. A rookie Auror that Theo didn't know and one of the barely out of Hogwarts office assistants. The domestic scene was a bit jarring. It was as if they were any normal triad, and not three people trying to save the world while raising twins from the future.

5th of August 2030

Zabini Villa, Montepulciano, Italy

Selene Zabini reached out to grasp her sisters' hands. Ember on her left, Ruby on her right and Scarlet on Ruby's other side. Much different from their island home, their Nonna's villa was on a massive estate, with the only body of water being a massive swimming pool.

The entire estate was safe guarded by giant decorative walls that inside them and deep into the grounds were embedded with curses and charms that were nearly unbreakable. The four sisters looked at each other, each of them wondering what they had gotten themselves into.

"Mistress be wondering why these misses are standing at the gate," Selene let out a shriek as she jumped and turned to see her nonna's personal house elf, Frank, standing with a concerned look on his face.

Well, she liked to think it was a concerned look since she could never truly tell since he wore sunglasses that were tinted so dark it was impossible to see his eyes.

"We, uh…" Selene trailed off, looking at her younger sisters, who were as equally terrified of the elf as she was. "Well, you see–"

"Inside, all of you. Frank will get your rooms set with your things, the misses must speak with my lady mistress at once," the taller than average house elf sniped, waving a hand and directing the four sisters up the cobblestone walk towards an ornate fountain.

Surrounding the fountain were massive statues of nude men, who winked at the girls as they passed. Ruby clung to Selene's hand even tighter, the younger girl hardly ever having been exposed to much of the world until recent years.

The tiny nude angel at the top of the fountain turned his head to watch the sisters' approach, and when he realised that they were watching him, the stone stuck out a snake-like tongue, going as far as to hiss at them.

"What the bloody hell is this place?" Scarlet asked, jumping to hide behind Selene.

"I believe there is a reason father never wished for us to visit Nonna at her house and always insisted she stay at the island…" Ember replied, her jaw slack at the amount of nude male statues there truly were placed around the outside of the property. "Do you think any of these might be her husbands?"

"I think they might all be her husbands…" Ruby stated as she looked more closely at one in particular. "I think I recognise this one."

The ground beneath their feet began to shake, causing all four girls to scream and race towards the house. Toppling inside, the door slammed shut behind the girls just as heat licked up their legs.

"What the bloody hell!" Ember exclaimed, rolling off of Selene. "There's a fucking dragon watching us!"

"A…dragon?" Selene jumped to her feet and began racing through the halls, more statues of men frozen in time and paintings of the most powerful women across history hung on the walls, but Selene needed to see something.

With her sisters trailing behind her, Selene kept up the pace until she finally found the main sitting room. Coming to an abrupt stop, Selene felt the tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at the young dragon keeper sitting on the lavish couch near the fireplace where a small hatchling of some breed of dragon lay in the flames.

"Delia…" Selene trailed off, tears welling in her eyes as she rushed across the room, pulling her younger sister that she hadn't heard from in well over a month. "What happened, why are you here?" Selene cried into her sister's dark curls, her body sagging into the younger witch.

"Selene? Ember?" Delia's arms wrapped around her sister, her body rigid as they stood together. "Scar and Ruby? What the…"

"What happened! The last we heard was that you'd gone missing after the sanctuary attack!" Selene exclaimed, pulling back, to look into her sister's face. "Where are Alecksander, Uncle Charlie and Darius? Are they with you?"

At the mention of the wizards that lived at the sanctuary with Delia, the witch's arms dropped and she slowly moved away from Selene. Her shoulders slouched forwards and her gaze on the ground. Shaking her head, Selene's breath caught as she thought of the men that she loved dearly.

Alecksander…oh no Cole…

"Does Cole know?" Selene asked, her hands trembling at her sides.

"I've tried to send a message, but I'm not positive it got to him." Delia answered, still not looking at her sisters.

"Who…who was behind it?" Ember asked, the tremor in her voice audible, though she tried her best to conceal it.

"Death Eaters, Nonna's friends told her it was Dolohov. After the attack, Frank intercepted me on my way back to England. He told me that I needed to come back here with him, that England wasn't safe. Nonna, she's been, well, Nonna." Delia answered, turning around and going back to the hatchling, who was still slumbering.

"Well, what do you know?" Selene asked, looking at the others who were all still standing around the space.

"I know that Bellatrix is back and that she's threatened Molly and swore that she would kill all of her grandchildren, so that none of us are safe and that's why I couldn't go back to England." Delia had squatted down, putting on a glove that covered her entire arm before reaching into the dull flames to pet the baby dragon.

"But, Molly hates us? She doesn't even acknowledge that we're her grandchildren, blasted us off that bloody clock of hers and all," Ember exclaimed looking over at Scarlet and Ruby, who nodded their heads.

"It's true, she hardly accepts those of us," Scarlett said.

Ruby finished Scarlett's sentence in the eerie manner they had as twins, "who are biologically her grandchildren."

"Well," a voice came from the doorway. All five sisters jumped and turned at the newest arrival. Dripping in crimson robes that were embroidered with gold, their Nonna was a woman who had an air of power when she walked into the room. Her long braids were woven so it appeared as if she were wearing a crown, threads of gold also visible from her hair with what appeared to be diamonds as accents adorning the hair style. "Bellatrix does not care who Molly Weasley does or does not consider her grandchild. All of you are on her hit list."

Selene wet her lips, instincts forcing her to step away from the witch as she floated into the room. Her skin was so dark that her eyes seemed to glow and the bright red lip stain stood out, making her appearance even more dangerous. Their Nonna had always had a reputation for lethality and now they were seeing why. She'd always been on her best behaviour when she'd visited them in England and now she was unleashed.

"The question is, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to allow her to hunt your brothers and sisters while you're all sitting here safely in this fortress?"

The girls were silent as they looked at each other and then back at their Nonna. Selene felt her cheeks heating, and it had nothing to do with the fire that the baby dragon was lazily blowing into the room, heating the air around them.

"What do you suggest we do? It's not as if we can just waltz up to Bellatrix Lestrange, we wouldn't stand a chance against her." Selene answered, her fist clenched at her side. "After what happened to Mum, Hermione and Draco though. We can't leave them defenceless. We have to do something."

Selene looked towards her Nonna, who on very few occasions ever smiled. Though at Selene's declaration, one of the most sinister looks she'd ever seen crossed the woman's face.

"You don't stand a chance now, but I can take care of that. Training begins tomorrow."

2nd of September 2031

Edinburgh, Scotland

Though it wasn't quite yet fall, the Scottish air was still chilled and Ember could see her breath through the mask that covered her mouth and nose. The hood of her uniform was up, concealing her even more with the invisible material.

It was a shame that they couldn't replicate the Potter cloak, but they did the best they could with what was available to be made. As it was, unlike with the Potter cloak, they were unable to see through their uniforms, leaving them to be a set of eyes floating in the darkness.

The cackling laughter had Ember leaning her head towards the south end of the city, proving their intel to be authentic. A gust of wind was all the signal she received from Selene as the pair of them darted through the dark alleys and towards their manic target.

Silently the pair wove through the city, their focus lasered on where they were headed, though always aware of their surroundings. Boisterous men stumbled out of a pub to their left, while a mother attempted to soothe her sick newborn in the apartment above. The late night life of what should have been a peaceful city, bubbling below the surface as a madwoman roamed their streets, threatening to cause mass destruction.

The buzz of magic indicating wards zapped her hand, though not strong enough or dark to be the signature of the enemy. The blasted New Order of course had safe houses in the same city that the Black Empress's right hand was staking out to take over. It didn't surprise Ember in the slightest that the New Order's leadership was so unaware of the dangers they were in and putting these innocents in while sitting on their laurels and doing nothing about it.

The cackling broke the night again, and Ember quickened her pace, now close enough that she could hear the taunts aimed at a broken victim.

"Ickle little mudblood," the sing-song voice came, another round of muted screams following. "Sh, sh, shhh, I just need to mark you so everyone knows exactly what you are. This hurts you more than it hurts me," the vile witch laughed.

The smell of vomit filled the street as the sisters darted through the maze of the city, gaining on their unknowing prey.

"My Empress says I can't draw attention, but oh how I wish I could hear you, my pet." The whimpered cries carried towards the sisters as they slowed their steps, pulling their weapons from where they'd been concealed.

"I wonder, how far must I carve until I find out just how dirty your blood is…shall we find out?" Ember rounded the corner, her cinquedeas in each hand. The magic infused in them hummed against her palm, but Ember held them steady as she crept towards the wild witch.

Her black curls hung to the ground as she crouched next to her victim, humming to herself as she used her cursed knife to butcher the poor soul. The smell of blood made the air taste of copper, though the vomit and release of bowels was equally as strong.

Another slight gust of wind indicated Selene's location at her ten o'clock, alerting Ember that they were both in position and ready to strike.

"Icky little mudblood," Bellatrix cooed, "don't faint on me yet, we still have such a long night to go…"

A zap in her palm was the signal that Ember had been waiting for. With precision that would have made her Nonna proud, Ember and Selene struck. The long daggers stabbing into Bellatrix's back to hold her still while Selene moved in for the kill, using her longsword to decapitate the witch.

Pulling her weapons from the now headless body, Ember looked down at the unconscious man laying in the street. Mudblood carved into his face, while runes were carved into his arms and exposed chest. Ember was no expert in runes, however whatever the madwoman had been up to with this amount of dark magic, it was clear that it would have been disastrous.

"What should we do with the body? I think he might still be alive," Ember whispered, pulling her hood away so that her sister could clearly see her. "We have to help him."

"He's a bomb, the dark magic she's put in him, it's starting to seep into the Earth. Help me, we have to burn the body." Selene said, pulling her own hood away and sheathing her sword at the same time. "Ember, quickly, this could destroy all of Scotland!"

"Selene, you can't–"

"As your field leader, pull out your wand and help me!" Selene's voice was hard and Ember felt the command deep within her. The binding magic that Nonna had put on all of them, forcing her to pull her wand from her sleeve. "Pestis Incendium!"

The fiery serpent of the Fiendfyre shot out the tip of her sister's wand and Ember worked with her to control the flames so that they wouldn't spread. The smell of the burning body filled Ember's nostrils, as did the curse that had been placed inside him.

The serpent did exactly as was commanded, weaving about and devouring the man as he was the only source of fuel that Ember allowed. Selene's arm shook with the power, though she did not waver.

Only when the blood and the other bodily fluids that had been spilled had been burned and eaten by the fire did Ember finally move in to smother the flames. Gritting her teeth, Ember closed her eyes trying to concentrate.

She'd done this hundreds, if not thousands of times under Nonna's watchful eye. This time, however, the fire was fighting back in a way that Ember had never experienced before.

"Selene, I can't…"

"Ember, you must! The flames will devour the city otherwise!" Selene hissed, keeping her voice low so as to not attract attention.

"Selene…"

"FINITE INCANTATEM!" At once, the heat from Selene's fire was extinguished and being on high alert, Ember whipped around, her wand pointed in the direction of the person who'd saved them.

"It's just me, Lily Luna," the eldest Zabini sister said, pulling her hood away, revealing the bright red hair.

"What was my unicorn's name?" Ember asked, not lowering her wand, the doubt that this was truly her sister keeping her cautious.

"Moons, Starlight, Mars, Galaxy, and Pluto. You were going through your space stage when Papa bought them and you named them accordingly," Lily Luna answered smoothly, smirking in Selene's direction as Ember dropped her wand. "So, did you manage it?"

"It's done," Selene answered, gesturing towards the black spot on the cobblestone. "Her body was burned, but her head remains as a reminder to the Black Empress of what is coming for her."

"I'll make sure she gets the message then," Lily said, pulling a button out of her pocket. A tap of her wand caused the item to begin glowing a bright blue. Tossing it in the direction of the severed head, the portkey activated upon contact, sending what remained of Bellatrix Lestrange to wherever Lily wanted.

"You better get going before Ted knows that you've been meeting with us," Selene said, looking towards the moon. Ember thanked her stars that Nonna tracked the lunar cycles, with the full moon being the night before, any werewolves would be tucked away recovering still, though the moon was still bright enough to afford them plenty of lighting.

"Ted can't figure out who's killing high ranking Death Eaters without someone holding his hand. I'm in more danger of Theo figuring it out, but Theo's so lost in whatever his secret project is, he could care less." Lily Luna laughed, walking over to her sisters and wrapping them both in a hug. "Give Nonna my love."

"I'm not exactly sure that Nonna understands the concept," Selene said, a wicked smile on her face. "Perhaps I could give your love to someone else…" Lily's face turned pink at the mention, but cleared her throat and began to dig into her pocket.

"You are seeing her later tonight, yeah? Give her this, and let her know that we'll be in touch." The witch passed a black envelope to her sister. Inside it had the address of the safe house where they could next meet. "Until then, I'll be counting the hours."

6th of September 2013

Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland

Scorpius was practically jumping out of his skin waiting for Viola to finish her last practical exam. His school uniform long forgotten as he wore his training clothes of cargo shorts, combat boots, and his dad's abused Slytherin Quidditch jumper. Half his surname was displayed across his shoulders and gave him a bit of pride in his family as he walked through Hogwarts' halls.

Their last practical exam had been their Defence Against the Dark Arts, and it had included duelling with their DADA professor, Hans Schäfer. The bloke in their time was their charms professor and a bit more subdued. However, in 2013, he was in his third year of teaching DADA, and one tough nut.

Though Scorpius had lost, he couldn't even be upset, because it had been so freeing to be able to spar with someone and not constantly think about the threat of death.

The Ministry had spent the last day and a half running them through a ridiculous amount of practical tests, judging their skills in all twelve subjects. Scorpius, personally, found it to be a bit overkill. However, since his sister had insisted that they could pass everything – which they could, but it felt excessive – Scorpius hadn't tried to rein her in at all and gone along with it.

As they walked from the duelling auditorium that had been used for the practical exams, Vi was still being unusually quiet, but Scorpius had decided to let her be. He talked enough for the both of them, something his mother had often commented on when they were children. Scorpius, of course, took it as a compliment.

The smell of supper hit him and caused his stomach to growl, but when Scorpius spotted the wizard he was infatuated with, his hunger for food was forgotten.

"Come on, I know everyone has been wanting to know where the strange American transfer students have been all week," Scorpius stated, smirking down at his sister.

"Well, we were pulled from breakfast the morning after the feast and haven't been seen by the student body since." Vi deadpanned, shoving her hands in the pockets of the joggers she'd worn for the DADA practical, scandalising the professor, but he'd let her perform regardless. Viola of course had completely trounced him. She could probably teach Defence Against the Dark Arts now.

"Well, nearly the entire student body," Scorpius replied, thinking of the Norse tattoos he'd gotten to explore with his mouth. "Come along, I want you to actually meet someone."

"Joy to me," Vi replied in a monotone, but still she dutifully followed behind Scorpius towards the Slytherin table.

There was a single seat open next to Ragnar, but Scorpius still pulled his sister along behind him, sliding onto the bench and pulling Vi with him. The redheaded boy – Timothy he'd learned – scowled as he was forced to move, however said nothing further.

"Hm, this smells delicious," Scorpius commented, grabbing a plate as he began to fill it up for his sister. He skipped over the vegetables, knowing that she wouldn't eat them anyway before setting it in front of her and beginning on his own. "How have classes been this week? Has anything interesting happened?"

Scorpius could feel Ragnar's body stiffening the moment he sat down, but brushing the thick thigh did funny things for his insides when he imagined the Norse runes tattooed on them.

"Nothing notable, just the average first week of class things," Ragnar replied without hesitation, though his eyes were glued to the slice of ham on his plate, never looking in Scorpius' direction.

"Hm, well, we had an interesting week. Reason why we were missing," Scorpius continued, not letting the sex god beside him's dour attitude deter his trajectory. "Vi and I had to sit all twelve OWLs that are offered by the Ministry because our records didn't transfer over. Just finished up the practical exams today, that DADA professor, he's as tough as he is fit. Very lucky for us to have such a great instructor."

"There's no possible way you sat all twelve exams," the pug-faced Parkinson twit chimed in from across the table. "I heard that you had to be put on probation for practising incest in the boy's dormitory and your father had to pay the board of directors to let you back in."

The fork full of potato that Scorpius was about to eat paused at his lips as the girl sat back, smirking in his direction. "You know, using that dirty Malfoy money and all," the girl sneered.

"I'm sorry, I never caught your name." Meal and hunger forgotten, Scorpius set his fork down as the stoic mask of the Malfoy Heir fell into place. "May I reintroduce myself as Scorpius Malfoy-Nott and this is my twin sister Viola."

"Peony Parkinson and I've heard all the rumours about the two of you. Your mudblood mother got pregnant by two pureblood wizards and brought so much shame to their families that she abandoned you both to your filthy muggle grandparents in Australia. Then they got fed up with you and sent you back to England because you're freaks."

Scorpius opened his mouth to retort, but before any words could come out, a literal angel appeared, effectively silencing him.

"Is there a problem here, Parkinson?" The blonde angel of death was a sight. Pin straight white hair that came to her waist, a pale complexion that rivalled his own, and nearly glowing pale blue eyes. The black lipstick and kohl smudged eyes had him instantly enthralled. She was tall too, Scorpius suspected that if he were standing that she'd nearly be eye level with him. A quick glance at her feet showed that she was indeed wearing heeled boots, but it was a small heel. His mouth dropped open.

He couldn't have helped himself if he'd wanted to, his eyes locked on the slender and muscular legs. Her skin was so smooth that the desire to reach out and touch her and trail his fingertips to the hem of her skirt nearly had him doing just that. But Scorpius valued consent, at least when it came to sexual acts, above all else.

"Not a thing, Delacour." The girl, Peony, snapped back, leaning away from the witch standing behind him. "Though, it looks like this deviant poof is trying to stake his claim on your man, so you might want to talk to him instead of me."

A curtain of blonde hair fell between Scorpius and Ragnar as the witch leaned forward, and Scorpius could feel his heart trying to leap out of his chest at her closeness.

"I'd watch how you talk about what's mine, Parkinson. I'd hate for another accident to happen," the threat was spoken so low that Scorpius had a feeling that it was intended that he heard it along with who it was aimed at. The threat of violence had him instantly hard.

Fuck there must be something wrong with him.

Peony's eyes grew wide and she cleared her throat, looking at her companions sitting next to her, though they both seemed completely unaware of what had just been said. Without another word, the blonde girl stood back up and swept from the Great Hall without another glance in his direction.

"Who the bloody hell was that?" Scorpius asked, still staring at the doorway. His heart was beating a thousand miles a minute.

"That was Vivienne Delacour," Ragnar answered, speaking louder than a whisper for the first time since Scorpius had appeared. "Apparently, you belong to her now. I already do. Welcome to the club."

7th of September 2013

Draco's Flat, London, England

Theo woke up in slow degrees. He could feel someone running their fingers through his curls. And as he blinked and looked up into amber eyes and Hermione's sweet smile.

"Hey there sleepy head." She scratched his scalp gently with her nails. "It's time for your morning potions." Seated on the edge of his bed, she turned to where Draco must have laid out the potion vials, she looked over a small note in his handwriting with the order of the vials noted.

"Yeah, everything hurts," Theo responded, trying to sit up in bed.

"Hey, slow down," Hermione commanded, turning back to help ease him up slowly and tuck the pillows behind him.

"Of course Madam Head Auror," Theo quipped. "I wouldn't want to end up in cuffs." Hermione snorted, so Theo continued with his lopsided grin. "What did I do to deserve such a pretty nurse instead of the scowling healer I normally get?"

"Draco had to run to the apothecary and I'm going with Neville and Pansy to check out some of the places in the memories we've been reviewing after he gets back." Hermione picked up one of the vials and popped the cork gingerly.

As she brought it towards Theo's lips, he grabbed her wrist to stop her and she met his eyes. "I need you to be careful…I can't - can't lose you."

Hermione stroked his cheek. "I promise to be careful and I can't lose you either, so I need you to take your potions, Theo. Or Draco will be upset with both of us."

"I'd hate for Draco to come home and give me a spanking," Theo replied before dutifully swallowing the first vial.

"I don't think you are well enough for a good spanking," Hermione chided.

"Yet. I'm not well enough, yet." Theo gave her a grin and was pleased when she gave him a smile back.

"Come on now, let's focus on getting you well, darling," Hermione responded, bringing another vial to his lips.

Theo diligently swallowed and tried to ignore the way the word darling lit a fire in his chest.

15th of September 2031

Hidden Peverell Estate, Godric's Hollow, England

Slipping out of the bed, Lily looked over at her sleeping siblings. Omaira, Nova, and Apollo were all together in the king sized bed, a mess of limbs as they held onto each other. Pandora had long since snuck out of the house, most likely to not be back until just before sunrise.

If Papa and Mum weren't here, Lily wouldn't leave the youngest three. Even now, the thought of leaving them with one less protector made her uneasy, but there was only so often they could see each other and then only so much time to spend together. Padding across the floor in her stockinged feet, Lily only paused long enough for one last look at her slumbering siblings. Her heart swelled at the sight of their innocence.

How she wished to protect them and keep them from the horrors of the world. But that wasn't their reality, and a fact that she'd long since accepted.

Silently promising to be back before they woke, Lily slipped into the hall and into the bathroom. Opening the window, Lily climbed onto the roof, putting her boots on at last, Lily closed the window, grimacing as it creaked. Holding her hands up, she waited to see if anyone appeared, but after a few moments when the house was still quiet, she smirked that everyone was unaware.

Reaching into her satchel, Lily pulled her mother's old broom out. Pressing the tip of her wand to it, it grew back to its full size and then she was off.

Lily flew until she felt the shimmer of the ward allowing her to pass, and mid-flight she spun on the broom, apparating to the outskirts of Godric's Hollow. With practised ease, Lily sped through the familiar countryside until she saw the trio of willow trees. Turning her broom, she picked up her speed, crossing the secret entrance and onto the long since forgotten estate of her ancestors.

The mansion came into view quickly, and despite her already incredible speed, Lily pushed the broom even more. Time was a gift that Lily no longer took for granted. Every second spent in the air was a moment that she lost, and she wasn't willing to give up anymore than she already was forced to.

Tumbling off the broom, she righted herself, running through the front door. A low burning fire in the hearth was the only source of light, though Lily didn't need anymore than that.

At her arrival, the person responsible for lighting the fireplace turned and smiled at the sight. Long deep scars marred the blonde's face. The Norse rune tattoos covered her throat to act as some protection for the role she played in this war, but Lily saw none of it. She could only see the witch in front of her.

"Aethel," Lily whispered, rushing forwards, embracing her lover, holding onto her as if her life depended on it. "You're here."

"I almost wasn't…Dolohov is suspicious, he was behind the dragons and the wards in Edinburgh. I'm so sorry, I tried to warn you, but he wouldn't leave me, not even for long enough to send a patronus. Paranoid, old son of a bitch." Aethel ignored the fact that she was in fact a traitor to the Death Eaters.

"I don't blame you, you stopped whatever Bellatrix was planning. As many lives as were lost, we still save thousands more."

When Aethel opened her mouth to protest, Lily shook her head. There wasn't time to waste trying to process the shit that they were forced to do. The things they had to constantly sacrifice. They were on the losing end of a war, and there was always a chance that their next mission might be their last. Aethel, an active Death Eater, acting as a spy for the New Order and Lily working for both her Nonna as an assassin and Ted as an operative. Their risks were greater than most, but ultimately, they knew it was what they both must do.

Aethel moaned as Lily's hand gripped her thick blond braid in her hand pulling her in for a kiss.

"Fuck, I missed you so much," Lily breathed into Aethel's mouth before she invaded it with her tongue.

"I love you, Lils," Aethel breathed.

"I know," Lily replied, unbuttoning her lover's top, her fingers tracing over Aethel's scars and tattoos as she went.

"Such a romantic," Aethel laughed, her voice husky as Lily's face dropped to her revealed breasts, kissing and leaving marks as she nipped and sucked at them. Her mouth closed over Aethel's nipple and she worked in between her teeth, knowing that she liked a bit of pain with her pleasure.

Lily's other hand worked at the fasteners of Aethel's pants, desperate to see how wet and ready she was. When her finger finally slid between dripping folds, Lily let out a little hum of happiness.

"Have I ever told you how much I love that you don't wear knickers," Lily murmured, kissing her way down Aethel's torso as she dropped to her knees. She pulled her pants down further to get access to her sweet honey.

"No," Aethel admitted, shaking her head. "But you are welcome to show me with your tongue."

Lily smiled and proceeded to do just that.

8th of September 2013

Draco's Flat

London, England

"Where are you going?" Draco called out as Hermione was sorting through her bag. She wasn't paying much attention to her partner, distracted by her search for that darn cauldron she swore she shoved in her bag last time she'd been to her flat.

"I've got to run home for a bit. I thought I had grabbed everything we'd need, but it looks like I forgot the copper cauldron I need for brewing the enlightenment potion." Hermione grumbled, still not giving Draco a second look. "I might just stay there tonight since I'll have to be up every few hours to stir it. You and Theo don't need to be disrupted by me."

When Draco said nothing, Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration and moved over to the fireplace. When she went to grab the jar that held the floo powder, she scowled when it flew away from her and over to Draco. The blonde wizard held the green powder in his hand and she could feel her irritation with him rise.

"Draco, don't be a prat and give it back. I don't have time for childish games." Hermione stated, holding her hand out expectantly towards him. When he still didn't move, Hermione put a hand on her hip and pursed her lips, her irritation with the man growing by the moment.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, I swear–"

"Move in with me."

"I'll… I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Hermione said. Surely she'd heard him wrong.

"I said, move in with me." Draco stated, moving slowly towards her as if she were a wild animal that might scare off easily. "This is your home, Granger. Here, with me and with Theo. The idea that you view that dumpy little flat as anything to behold or treasure irks me more than I could ever express."

"Draco…"

"Hermione, the thought of not waking up every morning to your hair trying to suffocate me is unbearable. You having a bedroom away from me that you have the option to run off to is completely unacceptable."

"Draco!" Hermione scolded, but the blonde carried on as if she hadn't spoken.

"I'm selfish, Granger. There are things that I've outgrown as a man, but that however, is something about me that will never change. I'm selfish and demanding, and I'm telling you that as dramatic as it sounds, I can't live without you."

Draco had moved so quickly that Hermione didn't have time to react before his arms were wrapped around her. "Move in with me, Granger. No more separate flats, no more running back to your place. This is our home, and it's meaningless if you're not here."

His mouth was on hers, his possessive nature taking over her and Hermione could only melt into his touch.

When he finally pulled away, Hermione's head was spinning, but she'd never had so much clarity in her life as she stared into his silver eyes.

"Of course I'll move in, you prat."

30th of December 2029

Percy Weasley's Cottage, Kelham, England

You're in too deep now, Minister.

Percy was staring down at the piece of parchment that sat on the cover of his book. His jaw ticked as he looked at the messy scrawl, not wanting to even keep the text, Percy threw the entire book into the low burning fireplace.

Stepping out of his little cottage and into the garden, Percy turned on the spot and apparated to his childhood home. It had been years since he'd come to this place, not wanting to face the parents that he'd betrayed in his ambitions to gain the power that he now held.

"Mum?" he called out, stepping into the garden; he ignored the gnomes that were scurrying around in the snow. He huffed as he kicked one out of the way, stepping into the kitchen that was still filled with the warm welcomes that he'd known in his childhood. "Mum? Dad?"

His portly mother appeared around the corner, her hands scrunched in her apron as she looked up at him with tears welling up in her eyes. Her bottom lip was quivering, lurching herself in his direction, he was nearly knocked to the ground. Somehow he'd managed to stay upright, wrapping his arms around her, patting her softly on the back.

"Yo–your sister, that…Zabini! And my poor Georgie, killed! And Ginny - missing! Oh Percy, I knew that marrying that Zabini boy was the worst thing she'd ever done and now!" His mother was sobbing into his chest, the salt from her tears staining his shirt.

He looked past at the stairwell, where his father stood, watching the mother and son standing in the kitchen. Still rubbing soothing circles on his mother's back, Percy raised his wand at his father's and wordlessly cast the Imperius curse on his father before he could say a word.

With his mother still blubbering in his arm, rambling about the cursed Zabini family and how they had ruined Ginny and caused her death. The way his mother neglected to mention that Ginny had been nearly nine months pregnant made Percy's stomach clench uncomfortably. Unable to stand listening to her any longer, Percy turned his wand on his mother and instantly her quivering body stilled.

"The both of you will move to Canada to live with Ron and Padma. You will never contact any of your children in England again. You will stay there, hidden, and die there of old age, content with the simple life that Ron and Padma live. You will place both of them under an Imperius curse so that they will not report that you are here or ever contact anyone in England again. You will never come back."

What was an Unforgivable compared to everything else that he had done? "Just pack a bag. You have to leave." His parents moved swiftly out of the kitchen and up towards their room without a look back.

He pulled an illegal international portkey out of his pocket and rolled the small pebble around in his hand. Waiting for his parents, the chiming of the clock sounded, causing him to walk towards the sitting room where the family artefact was placed. The hands on the clock were many as the family had grown, but glaring back at him were the three hands that were noticeably missing.

Fred and George, Ginny's hand very obviously pointing at mortal peril.

The pain he felt for the hand that he'd had in each of their deaths. Fred, he hadn't been able to put the shield up in time to protect him from the falling debris. George, well, even though he hadn't been so directly involved in his death, it was still his fault.

Then Ginny, his baby sister. He should have done whatever he could to protect her. He shouldn't have cared about McLaggen's threats of exposing him. He should have shoved aside his ambitions for power, but instead she was missing. He wasn't a fool, he knew that her death was probably imminent. McLaggen is dark as they come and whoever he was working for was much darker.

Without looking away from the clock, he could hear his parents appear behind him. Turning around, he looked at their blank faces, and he knew what he had to do to keep them safe.

He couldn't be responsible for their deaths as well. Tapping the stone in his hand, he activated the portkey, the ridiculous rubber duck, pausing for just a moment before thrusting it into his father's hand. In a blink, they were gone.

"Goodbye Dad. Goodbye Mum," Percy said to the empty air.

Turning back around, Percy looked at the clock, his parents' hands moving to 'travelling' before landing on Ron and Padma's home with his youngest brother and sister-in-law. As he began to contemplate what he should do with his childhood home, Ginny's marker fell to the floor.

The shock and rage that filled him was unfamiliar to him, bubbling up through his blood as he watched as her hand disintegrated before hitting the floor. Without a thought, he raised his wand, blasting the damned clock that continued to taunt him to pieces.

Turning, he apparated from the home that he hoped he'd never have to see again.

15th of March 2032

Hidden Peverell Estate, Godric's Hollow, England

Pacing in front of the home that she'd grown to hate since the love of her life had been kidnapped. It hadn't been someone in the Black Empress's circle, or anyone that Aethel had been able to get her hands on.

The amount of people that she'd tortured in her pursuit of searching for any information, all leads turning up as dead ends.

Getting the note from Cole was her last hope. If he appeared with a name, she would set out to destroy whoever had stolen her love. Anyone who had touched a single hair on her head would pay.

She wouldn't be merciful. She would make them suffer, slowly. She would bring them to the edge of death and then heal them just enough so that she could punish them all over again. She'd do this, for every day that Lily Luna had been missing, she would cause them pain. All the pain that she'd had to feel, they would feel thrice over.

The crack of apparition had her eyes flicker up to where the man was now standing. He moved swiftly through the snow, even here in the protection of the wards not leaving a single footprint. With his face shadowed, she couldn't see his expression, but his body language was stiff causing her hands to shake.

"El," Cole began, but Aethel already had her wand out and pointed in his direction.

"Where is Lil?" Aethel hissed, her chest rising in slow steady breaths as she worked to keep herself level. It was taking every ounce of self control to not dive into his mind and just take the information that she wanted.

When Cole still didn't say anything, Aethel blasted a tree directly over his shoulder, the old dead tree bursting into flames that began to warm the air around them. "I'm not going to ask again, where is Lil!" Aethel roared, the magic in the air crackling with her unhinged rage.

"She's dead, she was pregnant and splinched herself escaping." Cole informed her, the mask he wore in place, showing no emotion as he spoke of his elder sister.

"You lie," Aethel scowled, but when Cole made no move to correct her, her stomach sank. The fire behind Cole continued to spread through the dead forest, the fire moving around until the flames began to jump towards the dilapidated manor. The fire roared, the air around them becoming thin as it grew.

However, neither Aethel or Cole moved. The plans of revenge continued to form in her mind, but she needed to know where to go.

"Who?" She seethed through her teeth.

"The Club Indulgence, that's all I know. She had their logo branded into her skin." Cole's face was flushed from the inferno that now surrounded the pair, but despite her skin so hot she felt as if she could melt, Aethel just glared into the face of the older brother of her love.

The sounds of the fire crackling and the manor collapsing behind them rang in her ears, but Aethel didn't turn to look in the direction of the devastation she'd caused. All she could think about was this little nothing club that had no idea the horrors that she was about to rain down on them.

30th of March 2032

The Club Indulgence, Newcastle

**CW: Underage/Non-con in this section **

With her hood pulled over her face and her ink black mask securely in place, Aethel swiftly began to move through the alley so that she was in the perfect position to watch the back exit of the club. Cormac McLaggen and Zacharias Smith were the owners. McLaggen hadn't been seen for a few days, but Aethel planned to hunt him down if he wasn't here tonight. A bit of a dive into their history and Aethel had been horrified by what she'd discovered.

There was a strange connection between the Greyback pack and McLaggen, but even darker, she'd found there was a slave trade. It had been kept under wraps, and Aethel couldn't deny that the Black Empress was sometimes unaware of the activities happening around the country, but this seemed like too much evil to be happening without her enjoyment and awareness. The Black Empress did love her slaves. The red-headed toddler she kept on a leash was evidence enough of that.

Truthfully, Aethel wouldn't have been shocked to find out that not only was the Black Empress aware, but that she was also behind the power that this pair held. As it was, in the books, they paid a heavy tithe so that their little club would be left be. However, Aethel didn't care what consequences would come from her destroying the place.

The countless lives lost of the occupants inside enjoying their evening, what were they to her? What had they done but be complacent to allow for these two to continue on their plans and continue to allow for children and women to be used and abused in a way that made Aethel's skin crawl.

The lights were still flashing, but it didn't matter. All the innocents that she would cause the death of, it wouldn't be her first. Her soul was already damned to hell, and without Lily, she was ready to let it rot completely.

Aethel sprinted across the alley and began to place the explosives that she'd had spent the past few hours constructing. Part magical and part muggle, they were more powerful and deadly with the combination than anything the Black Empress had ever requested from her before. And the things that Aethel had been forced into creating for that mad woman still made her shudder.

She'd managed to line the entire back of the building with the explosives, when she turned on the spot to do the same to the front. A line of patrons consisting of both New Order members and Death Eaters made Aethel scowl. Yes, they were all glamoured so their identities would be protected, but she knew they were all mingling here.

As she tapped the top of her head, the powerful disillusionment enhanced by the trinket in her pocket that she'd stolen from Death Eater headquarters, Aethel moved like a breeze placing the string across the front of the building.

She'd take them all. No one would survive her assault. If they feared the mystery that was Zabini sisters, who caused fear amongst the Death Eaters they'd all go in hiding for what she would do to them. One by one, Aethel would dismantle the entire world. Bring it all to ash, let the entire place rot in the depths of hell for what they'd done to Lily.

Her perfect Lily…

Lost in her thoughts, a boisterous laugh drew Aethel's attention away from the image she'd begun to form in her mind's eye. Looking forwards, coming out the front was none other than Zacharias Smith.

His greying sandy blonde hair and gut that hung over his pants, the man oozed money from the dragonhide shoes he wore to the fine robes and jewelled rings. He was laughing with some unknown women, their dresses so small that they covered nothing. His hands were gripping them as if he owned them. The girls smiled, though their movements were unnatural.

The brunette girl's head was titled much too far to the left, as if she was unable to hold it up herself. The blonde on his other arm moved the way one would picture an animated ragdoll to walk. It was obvious that had Smith not been leading them, neither would be able to make it more than a few feet.

While he laughed, neither girl with him made a sound. Another red flag for the situation. If they'd been drinking, then it would be expected that they'd be full of giggles, swooning over his words and hanging onto his arm. Instead their arms were limp at their sides as Smith had his way with each of them.

When his hand reached past the hem of the blonde's skirt, most likely fingering her, the girl didn't even react. Just stopped moving, swaying on her feet with a blank look upon her face as Smith snarled and bit down on her neck.

"My sweet little slut. Only…" smirking, he pulled away, sticking his fingers into his mouth as the girl began to slump onto the ground. The brunette was still standing, but her face was frozen and impassive. "On the ground next to her, I have an idea," he commanded, grabbing her wrist and thrusting her onto the sidewalk.

The thump of her landing sounded painful, but still Aethel didn't move, she needed the perfect opportunity to enact her revenge. She needed Smith completely distracted before she attacked. Slipping out of her outer robes, to ensure they wouldn't get in the way of her attack. Even though they offered an extra layer of protection, they slowed her. Aethel was lethal, her attacks so fast that her victims never saw her coming.

Smith already had his cock out of his trousers, the girls already on the ground, their legs spread wide for him. "That's it," he growled, ripping the dress away from the brunette as he plunged into her sagging body. "Fuck, so tight. A virgin? Yes probably, does it hurt? I wish I could hear your screams," he was panting as he clawed into her skin, leaving deep gashes in her tanned complexion.

He spat in her open mouth, continuing to assault the girl. Fuck, she looked young, now that Aethel was getting a good look. Fourteen, maybe fifteen at the most?

His hand gripped the blonde's thigh, dragging her to him. Blood was on his hand and his cock as he pulled it from his first victim. "I'm going to finish inside you. I miss having a pregnant cunt to fuck." His words caught Aethel's breath and her vision began to blur. "Just have to…yes, perfect."

A wave of his wand and the woman's hair changed to a bright red and her eyes the brightest green…

Any thought of stealth was wiped from her mind as she watched Smith continue his assault on the mindless eyes he'd made to look like those of her lost love.

Charging forwards, Smith had already turned, a look of shock on his face as Aethel pulled her dagger, slicing his cheek open.

"You bitch!" He yelled, jumping up to face her. Before he had a chance to pull his wand though, Aethel was already charging him again. She aimed her next swipe for the prick that was still hanging free, though he moved before she could take it clean off and only nicked the tip.

"Fuck you!" He screamed, lifting his hand as a wave of magic hit Aethel, sending her flying backwards. "You'll pay for that!"

Aethel rolled just as a blast exploded from the palm of his hand, the dark magic radiating off him so strong that she knew something was aiding him. Though, without the element of surprise, Smith had her on the defensive, hiding behind empty barrels of various things as he blasted each. The wall behind her was taking hit after hit, the debris showering on her.

Looking around, she found a fire escape that if she could reach it would give her the higher ground and slight advantage she needed. Throwing a hex in his direction before her shield, Aethel darted out towards the ladder, the need to get there so great.

"No!" A vortex appeared, as Aethel ran like hell trying to get away from it. She couldn't let it suck her in, if it did, she'd be done.

The air whipped around her, and she knew that this was going to be a losing battle. Whatever artefact Smith possessed that was giving him this boost, she was truly no match for it. In a split decision, Aethel turned to face the tornado barreling towards her.

With her dagger held tightly in her fist, she allowed herself to be swept up. The wind was stronger than she could have ever imagined, but her hate for the man controlling it kept her strong. She wouldn't let him get away, she just couldn't.

Whispering the tracking spell for her enemies to guide her aim, she released the dagger and it knew it had hit the mark when she suddenly dropped to the ground. Gasping for air, she blinked into the dim light.

"Argh!" She heard a gurtled Smith yell. His breathing sounded as if he were choking on a liquid and she smiled as she knew she'd hit her mark. His throat had been slit, but now she was left defenceless.

Attempting to sit up, Aethel groaned with pain, finding herself trapped and unable to move.

A barrel… she'd been impaled by one of the broken hoops of the barrels…

She tried to laugh, but a shooting pain silenced her in an instant. She blinked, ever so slowly, a form appearing over her.

"Aethel? Wh-what happened…?" The woman asked, her face slowly coming into focus.

Aethel couldn't help but smile softly at getting to see the face of her love as she died. Lily Luna's eyes were wide, the brightest green and most beautiful woman she'd ever seen.

"I can't live without you, the world would burn if someone tried to force me," Aethel tried to say, but she couldn't seem to move her lips.

"Aethel, please, hold on," Lily Luna's voice was trembling with fear and Aethel just wanted to ease that away. "My sisters are coming. They'll save you." Aethel realised that Lily Luna's form lacked solidity. Aethel could see through her. Perhaps she would join her love as a shade; she could only hope.

"I'm coming, my love, I can feel the end," Aethel promised soundlessly, wishing she could reach out and hold Lily Luna. Aethel's fingers went through her as she tried.

"Selene! She's over here! Aethel, please, we're here, Ember! She's bleeding out!" Lily was frantic, her face filled with sadness and fear as she looked down at her. "Aethel, AETHEL!" Lily called out, but the calm bliss and warmth was too welcoming to fight off any longer.

"I love you," Aethel whispered, barely managing to raggedly push the words out, and with one last breath, the world went black and she was gone.

10th of September 2013

Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England

"How much longer do you think this is going to take?" Draco asked, stepping out of their now shared room where Theo was sleeping. His recovery was slow going, but Draco was hopeful that by next week they could start working on physical therapy and getting in touch with a mind healer.

"Months, there's memories from countless people, some I suspect were taken as they were dying even. How Theo managed to collect all of this is…well, incredible." Hermione replied, looking at all the vials sorted by person and then date. "We don't have months, Draco. She's already started. Harry's dead and the wheels are in motion. McLaggen is already head of the DMLE and with his uncle, we can't just charge him for crimes we don't have evidence for or ones that he hasn't committed yet. Do you think, well, if I were to just keep going…"

"No," Draco shook his head, his eyes stern at her. "Memory fatigue can drive you to madness, there's a reason you have to take it slow."

"But, Draco–"

"No, Hermione. We can't risk our minds, what good would we be if we end up driving ourselves insane and not being able to stop this madness. No, we must take it slowly, there's no other option," Draco concluded, his hands shoved in his pockets as he sipped on his tea.

"Do you think there's a better way to do it then? I mean, who is this Ragnar Rowle?" She gestured towards the dozen vials with his name. "Some relation to Thorfinn? Do you think he might be a Death Eater?" Hermione asked, clearing her throat as she watched Draco flipping through the detailed notes Teddy and Theo had complied. "Yes, what we see from Blaise, Luna, Theo, and Teddy is all really important, but I think we need to start examining some of these memories of people we don't know."

Draco was silent, looking at the extensive collection of notes they'd put together. All the death and destruction they'd been viewing was enough to start to eat at her soul and Hermione knew that she had to do more. She had to stop the Black Empress before she could rise to power.

"As far as I know, all the Rowles in 2013 are either dead or in Azkaban, mysterious circumstances behind some of the deaths. Perhaps we ought to check them out more…" Draco trailed off, plucking one from the box it was safely stored in. "Maybe you're right and we need to explore more perspectives."

They worked in silence, moving around the vials that had names that they didn't recognise. The notebook Theo and Teddy had put together was spotty with the information on what they'd find with each memory. It made sense, keeping it vague enough so that if someone found them with all this, an enemy wouldn't know what they were looking at. However, not knowing what muck Hermione and Draco were about to dive into with every viewing had Hermione exhibiting heightened anxiety much like it had been during the war.

Years of therapy, growing up and becoming an Auror had given her the tools to handle these sorts of situations, but the constant being on alert for what was to come was even challenging to her. She couldn't imagine how the twins had done it - living during the Black Empress' reign.

The twins, they were just kids. Just as she had been when she'd first been thrust into war. It was like looking into a mirror seeing the broken and lost children that they'd been not so long ago, and Hermione swore that she wouldn't let her children suffer needlessly the way that she had been forced to.

"It's bizarre, isn't it?" Hermione mused, going through her notes of a memory that had been provided by an older Cole.

"What is?" Draco asked, he was busy getting Theo's next round of potions ready for when he woke, but still looked in her direction, his grey eyes filled with the same sadness she knew hers showed as well.

"Getting to see them, all of these children we know and love, even the ones who've yet to be born, all grown up," Hermione answered, thinking about how her sweet seven-year-old godson would grow into a terrifying warrior. How the same boy who'd just the day before had thrown a fit over how Lily Luna had taken the biscuit that he wanted was capable of murder again and again. "We can't let her win, we can't let her destroy our world, destroy all their futures…" Hermione could feel the tears wetting her face, but she didn't move to stop them.

Her walls came down just for the man across from her, because she couldn't be weak and show fear. Except when she was with Draco, she could. Never would he use such vulnerability against her as he had in their childhood. He'd grown up and shed those ideals, becoming the man that she admired and trusted with her entire life.

"No, we can't," his voice was just above a whisper, as he was moving away from Theo's potions and coming to sit with her. "But we have an advantage that she knows nothing of this information that we have, we know what she'll grow into and we can make a plan."

Hermione's breath hitched as Draco moved into her space and breathed her in. Looking up at him through her lashes, Hermione could feel the beating of her heart at his close proximity. It didn't seem to matter how many times she'd kissed Draco, because everytime she was with him felt like the most magical.

Their lips crashed together, the desperate heat she felt building bubbling over. She needed him, she needed him as much as she needed the air or the sun. Without abandon, she slowly climbed into his lap, straddling his thighs and caging him in.

A growl rolled through Draco's throat and Hermione could feel her body heating at his appreciation. Before Draco, she'd had lovers, but none of them had ever made her feel as sexy or as womanly as he did. He worshipped her, and gave her a confidence that she otherwise would have never had without being with him.

"Granger," the timbre of his voice rumbled through her and Hermione shivered.

A wave of her hand and all their clothes had vanished. When the sudden coolness hit his skin, Draco let out a gasp, but with her wet heat on top of him, it quickly morphed into a groan. Hermione ground down onto Draco's cock, smiling to herself as she felt him rapidly growing hard and thick against her core.

"Fucking hell, Granger," Draco moaned, rubbing his head through her slick folds.

Hermione smirked and angled her pelvis so that she could allow for the intrusion of his body. The stretch she got from Draco made her body tremble, and another gush to come from her cunt, coating him.

Thrusting up into her, Hermione's head fell back as she let out a cry. Draco continued to thicken inside her and the pulsing of his cock had her coming closer to her edge. Her nails were gripping his shoulders, piercing his skin and causing a hiss of pain from the man as she rode him.

As his thrusts up into her lost rhythm, Hermione could feel the pulsing of his orgasm inside her. The pressure was too much, and her thighs were burning from the effort of riding Draco. With a cry, Hermione dropped back down onto him, rubbing her clit just right against his pelvis and exploded.

Draco exhaled raggedly, pulling her close to him. "Mmmmm. That was what I needed."

"Me too," she mumbled back, her face pressed into his neck. "Me too."

19th of September 2013

Draco Malfoy's Flat

London, England

Over the past nine days, Hermione, Draco, Pansy, and Neville had begun working their way through the mess of memories of all the people that they didn't know. They'd discovered a few things in that time. One being, Ragnar Rowle was the son of Thorfinn Rowle and at some point would be turned into a werewolf as a punishment for some failure of his father's. Draco couldn't help but feel an affinity for the man at that discovery.

Ragnar had come to the New Order desperate for help rescuing his mate.

The Black Empress was using his mate, a Veela, for experiments to help boost her power. They'd also discovered that he had a younger sister named Aethel, who had worked as a spy with the New Order, something that it seemed only Ted knew about. She wasn't sure of their exact ages, but Ragnar and Aethel were probably at Hogwarts with the twins right now. She wasn't sure how much interaction with them the twins had in the 2030s, but she was sure it had to be awkward if they did know them. Not unlike the awkwardness between the twins and herself for that matter.

It was a lot to process, but Hermione just let out a sigh, knowing that if she ever met these children she wouldn't judge them for their father's mistakes. It seemed neither had been willing to become a part of the Black Empress' army and only did what they had to do for survival.

A feeling that Hermione knew all too well.

Walking into the kitchen, the sweet smell of waffles filled the air, mixed with bacon and coffee, her mouth was absolutely watering in anticipation. Draco was standing with his back to her, shirtless, though still wearing an apron as he stood at the stove, working his magic.

"What's the occasion?" Hermione asked, walking up to him and brushing her lips over his cheek.

"Happy birthday, Granger," Draco responded instead, kissing her forehead before turning back to his task. "The owl just delivered your morning paper, it's next to your coffee. I'll be finished in just a moment and then I'll join you."

Hermione shot a smile in Draco's direction, heading towards the table. Her housecoat was pulled tightly around her and she crossed her legs, bouncing her foot to the tune she was humming when the chiming of a floo call sounded.

Smiling, Hermione moved into the sitting room where the fireplace was. Seeing Minerva's face in the hearth wasn't a surprise as she moved over and crouched in front of the flames.

"You know, you could have just come through instead of calling," Hermione playfully chided her adoptive mother. "Draco is making breakfast if you have time to join us. The coffee is already finished and perfect."

"I need you, Draco, and Theo to all come to my office right now. It's a bit of an urgent matter," Hermione's face dropped at the seriousness of her tone and the fact that she kept looking over her shoulder. "Please, hurry," her adoptive mother said before cutting off the call.

When Hermione stood up, standing in the doorway, Draco's face was painted with concern, having overheard the conversation. Not wanting to waste any time, the pair rushed back to their bedroom and quickly dressed for the day.

While Hermione tamed her hair, Draco left to wake Theo and give him his daily potions. By the time they were all ready to go to Hogwarts, it had only been fifteen minutes since Minerva had called. Though none of them had spoken, it was obvious they all knew that it must be two teens that would be forcing them to go to the castle so early in the year.

With the floo powder in hand, Hermione called out for the headmistress' office and was whisked away in an instant.

"I'll bloody well buy out the entire fucking paper for this!" Scorpius was yelling, his school robes hanging open and his white button up was tied up to show off his navel. "Where does this wanker live? I'll have him by his bollocks!"

"What is going on?" Hermione snapped, commanding the attention of the room. Viola sat on the couch, a mask perfectly in place containing the raging emotions that Hermione could recognise from Draco. Scorpius on the other hand was nearly hysterical.

"Ron fucking Weasley! That's what's going on! Why is Rita Skeeter still alive is my next question! I'll do a damn sight more than put her in an unbreakable jar." Hermione flushed with the awareness that her future self had shared that with her children.

Picking up the copy of the Prophet that Hermione had yet to be able to read, there on the front page was a blurry photo of the twins someone had snapped of them at Harry's wake.

The Loose Morals and Questionable Ethics of Head Auror Hermione Granger

Should the wizarding world be relying on someone with such questionable judgement to step into the shoes Harry Potter left behind? This reporter doesn't believe so, and for good reason.

An insider, and former third of the Golden Trio spoke up after the reports began to surface of the mysterious appearance of twins that Granger had apparently given birth to while still a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Well, you see, long before I knew precisely what was going on I suspected something," Ron Weasley, now a full time resident of Toronto, Canada informed us over an international floo call. Weasley, who moved away from England in 2002 reports that he knew Granger had given birth to the children and had been forced to take a Wizard's vow to protect this secret.

"She was always friendly with Malfoy and defended him. It only makes sense that he's the father. Nott, I'm not sure that I ever heard him speak to her, but it doesn't surprise me. His father was a maniac and would have killed Mione had he ever known they were sleeping together," Weasley stated.

This reporter is horrified to hear such sordid activities were occurring at Hogwarts. But if readers have read my book, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, available wherever wizarding books are sold, then it is no surprise that this could happen under the poor leadership of Dumbledore.

"What happened to the children after that, Mr. Weasley?" This reporter queried.

"Yeah well, they were shipped off to Australia after she had them, that's why she sent her parents to live there…to take care of them that is. Didn't want to be a mum and obviously Malfoy and Nott didn't want to claim their children by a mudblood. Excuse my language Rita, but that's what Malfoy always called Mione back at school." This reporter is shocked and appalled that Miss Granger, always an emblem of Dumbledore's side of the war, had clearly fallen so low during the war as to dally with Death Eaters during the war!

Weasley's wife, Padma Weasley, who's twin sister shared a dorm with Granger at Hogwarts, had this to say: "We all knew that she didn't want to have children. She was very adamant that they would just get in the way of her ambitions, but this is low even for Hermione. Really a shame that she would disregard two children in that way."

"They attended Harry Potter's wake, but Hermione didn't even introduce them to anyone. Clearly she's still ashamed of her teen faux pas."

Hermione's entire body was shaking as she scanned the short article. Ron being an absolute arse was no surprise after the way he'd behaved at the will reading, but that…bloody witch…witches really.

"But he's saying mum didn't want us!" Scorpius was yelling, having continued his argument with Minerva while she'd read.

"Who the fuck cares," Vi said, her expression still blank. "All this does is reinforce our story so the entire world will believe it instead of looking too deep."

"Who cares! Our mum wanted us! We have never been something that she regretted or shoved away!" Scorpius yelled, throwing his hands up in the air. "This bloody arsehole, he's trying to taint her name all because he's a pathetic has-been and he's trying to make himself relevant!"

"So, what would you have us do?" Hermione asked the boy, handing that paper off to Draco to read. "Arrest them and demand they tell the truth? A truth that mind you we are trying to cover up."

"Well, no. But, still he and that cow of a wife he has both lied trying to slander you! It's outrageous! They had no idea we existed before they saw us at Potter's funeral. He thought Vi was a Potter for fuck's sake." Scorpius concluded, throwing himself onto the plush lounge next to his sister and crossing his arms over his chest.

"While it's true that Ronald and Skeeter are trying to drag me through the mud, and we can't risk my position in the Ministry being compromised, this still isn't the end of the world. They have their story that they're weaving and we can make a public statement. Use their hatred of me to reinforce your cover story and now we can fill in any holes without making it obvious that's what we were doing," Hermione answered smoothly, looking at the picture Rita had dug up from their fourth year of her and Draco standing about a metre apart as proof of their childhood romance.

She knew that Rita knew the story was bullshite. Even though she was a hag, she was an incredible reporter who could sniff out the truth anywhere.

"Actually, I'm glad Rita wrote this. If she came out with an article contradicting herself, that would be a bad face." Hermione smiled, looking at Draco and Theo who had been silent this entire time.

"So, just for clarification, you're wanting to do a press conference?" Draco asked, looking around at the room.

"No, we can just submit our own interview, maybe to someone under Skeeter, give them the scoop of the century, isn't Dennis working as a society reporter? And we can Include Minerva and your mother as well. A united front, that we have the support of our parents and that the privacy of our children will always be our number one priority. Maybe even send Ronald a thank you basket." Hermione finished, folding the paper up and placing it on the corner of Minerva's desk.

The room was quiet as they contemplated what Hermione had just proposed. Going public with her relationship with Draco and the budding one she had with Theo? It was a risk, but she felt it was one worth taking.

"Only if it's a basket of slugs, then we can send him a basket," was the only response she got from Draco. However, it was enough, and she smiled at her lover, remembering that moment in second year and shaking her head at how much things had changed since then. Theo reached out and squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Hermione was glad that she could finally present her growing family to the Wizarding World.

22nd of September, 2013

Malfoy Manor

Wiltshire, England

Sunday high tea with Draco was always one of Narcissa's favourite days. Getting to sit and chat with him about the happenings of his life and relax on the veranda overlooking the gardens was just the perfect way to spend a morning.

Though, in recent years the teas had begun to include Hermione, who Narcissa was quite taken with. Her intelligence, her beauty, her bravery, and the strong determination she held for everything she undertook. She was admirable and a perfect compliment for Draco.

Today, Draco and Hermione had even brought Theo. It had been years since she'd really spent any time with the wizard. Today, he was using a walker to move around instead of the wheelchair that she knew he'd been stuck in. He looked healthier than she'd ever seen him, a nice glow to his skin that had always been absent even in his youth.

Lifting the cup and saucer, Narcissa hummed to herself, being even more filled with joy as she watched her son quietly conversing with a nearly recovered Theodore. It had been years since she'd last been near her friend's son, and to see him now made her sigh with happiness that Alexandria would be proud to know her son had finally faced the demons that haunted him and had gotten the help he'd needed for all those years. Viola and Scorpius were proof of the man he was destined to grow into.

"Mother, I did have a…well, I'll admit it's a rather off putting topic, especially for morning tea." Draco started, his eyes looking between Hermione and Theo for the reassurance and the strength to continue his train of thought.

Narcissa took a sip of her tea, the warmth filling her before setting down the delicate goblin made china set. "And what might that be, my dear?" she asked after dabbing at the corner of her mouth with her silk napkin.

"Well," Draco made eye contact with Hermione, who nodded encouragingly to him. "Mum, we think father might still be alive and might have escaped Azkaban."

An image flashed in her mind. The dementor lowering its hood and leaning over her husband, his soul being extracted for it to feast on.

"It's just, this future, we've been going through the memories and Lucius is there," Hermione continued, but still Narcissa didn't move.

The guard grabbed him from under his arms and dragged his lifeless body from the chair as the Auror's patronus pushed the dementors into the corner so that Narcissa and the Ministry official could exit without harm.

"There's no other explanation," Draco supplied.

A bribe in place with a few discrete memory charms, Narcissa found herself in her husband's cell. The only sign of his pathetic life was the soft breaths he was taking, his eyes already unseeing as he laid on the straw cot.

"He must have faked his death," Draco continued.

Pointing her wand in his direction, though her hand trembled, she was determined that he'd be completely wiped from the Earth. A flash of green and his chest had stopped. They were all finally safe from him.

"No, he did not." Narcissa finally spoke as she looked in her son's direction. "Polyjuice is most likely. Someone must have kept it under stasis or taken some of his hair without my knowledge for all those years ago to inflict the most fear. I saw his body, Draco. I personally had to identify him and then make the burial arrangements. Trust me, your father does not live."

31st of July 1980

Catchpole

Ottery St. Catchpole

"Just got word, the Potters had a son," Xenophilius said, shuffling into the small sitting room that would double as a nursery for them in a few months' time. "Perhaps we'll have a boy as well, they could grow to be the best of friends."

Pandora smiled sadly in her husband's direction, her hands resting over the slight bump that had begun forming. Her thoughts weren't with Lily or James though, no, truthfully she could care less about the Potters than she did about the Weasley family who lived not too far from them. Instead her thoughts were with her sister-in-law and her new nephew who she was only able to meet briefly after his birth.

"Pandora, darling, it'll all be alright." Xenophilius consoled, "It's just money."

It wasn't just the money though, but how could he understand? Her entire life had been ripped away because she'd refused to be married off to Augustus Rookwood. The man was ten years her senior and nearly as deranged as Thoros Nott. She'd begged for a different contract, anyone, but her father had refused her requests. Rockwood was willing to pay for a virgin, and her father was going to collect.

Instead of complying, Pandora had sealed her fate. Sleeping with Xenophilius had been a mistake. He was a nobody with nothing to his name besides his blood status. Now she was here, stuck with him and pregnant with his child. She had a couple small properties of her own if she needed to run and a little money she'd hidden away, money wasn't the issue. She looked around the house that was barely better than a hovel according to her past experience, well money wasn't entirely the issue.

She didn't love her husband, but at least he wouldn't harm her or their child. She had to be content with that. If she could just stop missing Lucius, Narcissa and darling little Draco then things would be easier. She'd never been quite as good as the rest of the Malfoys at turning her feelings off unfortunately.

5th of May 2032

Somewhere in the countryside of Albania

Delia clutched the reins of the saddle on the back of her Romanian Longhorn, Hestia. She looked over her shoulder at her sisters, Scar and Ruby were with her, both their faces hard and their breathing even. They were completely unrecognisable from the first time they'd ever encountered Hestia outside their Nonna's home.

Directing Hestia to fly into the cover of the clouds as she scanned Albania for any sights of life, Ember's rabbit patronus skipped through the sky. "Ares is unsettled, we're close to the dark magic," her sister's voice faded as did the wispy rabbit.

Selene and Ember were together riding on Ares, Hestia's son, who was growing rapidly, but still young and his deep connections to the magic in the air made him more difficult to ride. However, neither Scar or Ruby had ever been able to master being able to fly a dragon and Ares had been attached to Ember since the day he'd hatched, so Delia didn't feel any unease in allowing her sister to ride the younger dragon.

One day, she suspected, he'd grow to be the largest Longhorn on record, but that was still a few years away yet.

"Near the border of Greece, there's something," Delia heard Scar say, and her ferret scampered off to deliver the message to their sisters who were slightly further west searching. "Ares will get them here quickly, but we can begin." Scar said, and suddenly the weight of her sister was gone as they dove off the back of Hestia and towards the secluded cabin they'd been searching for.

Delia didn't even bother with a glance, knowing that they would survive the fall. They had done it thousands of times before.

"Come on girl, I'll need you in position as well. We don't know what he has inside," Delia told Hestia, who apparently felt the same as she snorted in annoyance that said as if I'd let you go in there without me anyway.

They found a clearing that would easily accommodate both Longhorns, coming to a landing, waiting on Selene and Ember to arrive with Ares.

The plan was simple. Scar and Ruby would set all the anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards so that Dolohov would have no way to escape once Hestia and Dragons began to burn the property to the ground. The sisters would never have to see Dolohov, but they would get the pleasure of hearing his screams as he burned alive.

He's been the one supplying McLaggen and Smith with the artefacts to bind witches' blood to their own so they could become breeders and sex slaves. He'd been behind the attack in kidnapping the dragon eggs and burning the Romanian sanctuary to the ground, and had been the puppeteer for the burning of Edinburgh. They'd also been able to trace Bellatrix's plan to poison the Earth with dark magic as another one of his inventions.

He was the Black Empress' right hand, and he and his inventions had to be purged from this world.

Selene and Ember landed shortly after, both climbing off the considerably smaller dragon, each giving his snout a pat before joining Delia. With a nod to Selene, the eldest sister took off soundlessly into the forest heading towards the property to begin aiding Scar and Ruby in their warding of the property.

"Once the wards are in place, we will have Hestia and Dragons fly to opposite sides of the property and then rain their dragon's breath down on Dolohov. He'll never know what hit him." Delia explained, her eyes trailing on the edge of the trees where they stood. "He's too dangerous to approach any other way."

"Agreed," Ember said, before turning to her dragon. She whispered a few soothing words and commands to Ares, who merely snorted smoke from his nostrils in response.

Delia clicked her tongue and each dragon laid down on the ground to wait until it was time for them to take flight. As well trained as they were, Delia knew that they'd still need guidance for the beginning of their goal, after that, she and Ember would be able to join their sisters.

Their dragons always managed to find their way back to their trainers, so leaving them to their task was not a concern.

It wasn't a long wait before their sisters had returned, the three of them bright eyed and appearing pleased with themselves. Not waiting another moment, Ember and Delia took to the sky, getting their dragons in position. Delia flew with Hestia to the other side of the property, much larger than she'd originally anticipated, but the dark magic radiating up was stronger than anything she'd ever encountered before.

"Do it, now!" Delia bellowed over the rushing wind and Hestia let out a roar that rattled the Earth and began to engulf the house below. Ares followed his mother's direction, and with both dragon's breath, the magic began to fight back.

The blackest smoke she'd ever seen began to rise, making it impossible to see, but Delia urged Hestia to continue. The yellow and orange flames began to turn purple and blue with her efforts doubling. The heat was unbearable, even with her dragon hide uniform, it felt as if her skin were beginning to melt.

Turning and running towards Hestia's tail, Delia swan dove towards the ground, the wind rushing past her face only cooling her so much as the fire was still pouring down around her. A twist in mid free fall and Delia apparated back to the clearing where her sisters waited for her.

Even in the clearing a good few kilometres away, the heat from the dragons was still overwhelming, but at least now the cooling charms embedded in her uniform could properly work. The screams of the dark magic rang out through the night as it tried to fight back, but between the dragons and the wards it was completely and utterly trapped.

"AHH!" Scarlet shrieked, clutching her side as she crumbled to the ground. The other four looked up just in time to see another streak of purple light cut through the forest's edge. Diving to the ground, it missed the intended mark, instead exploding against a tree beyond them.

Scarlet was wriggling on the ground moaning while whatever dark curse had hit her, and when Delia looked up she could see the dark wizard who was their intended victim emerging. His eyes were dark and his face looked crazed, his lips turned in a snarl and his nostrils flaring.

"You'll pay! You'll suffer and pay!" he bellowed, the Russian accent thick, but the words were in English.

"Ruby! Guard Scar!" Selene yelled, her wand raised as she began firing curses towards the advancing wizard.

Delia and Ember followed their older sister's lead, their wands raised as they began working in sync to try and end this miserable man's life. They knew that despite their training that they were no match for him with all the trinkets that he'd surely embedded in himself.

Even with being outmatched, the sisters continued to hold their own against him. Ruby behind them was firing off shots that would hit their mark, making the man curse while also attempting to heal whatever curse he'd hit her identical sister with.

"I'll kill all of you!" The unhinged man screamed, Delia diving out of the way of a slicing hex just in time as it cut down a large oak tree behind her.

She could feel the burning of her muscles, and looking towards Selene she saw her sister still duelling and Ember was moving with a limp, having been injured at some point. Moving back into her position, Delia let out a hiss of pain, clutching her side that had been nicked by the hex. Pulling her hand away from the wound, her hand was stained bright red, but it was nothing she couldn't fight with.

A wave of her wand proved pointless as the dark magic refused to be healed. If this didn't end soon, they'd all be dead. Scarlet was in desperate need of a healer and the blood loss was causing Delia's vision to begin to spot.

However, she didn't have time to let that thought sink in. Instead she lifted her wand, and despite her strength draining, Delia continued to fight with her sisters. Ruby's screams cut through the clearing, and a chill began to rack Delia's body despite the blazing fire still raging.

"One down, four to go!" The wizard taunted, but Delia's head was spinning and she couldn't make sense of his words.

A furious roar split through the night just as Delia fell to the ground, her limbs unable to hold her up any longer. Her entire body trembled from how cold she was, and the sounds of the battle raging around her were beginning to fade away.

This was it. She'd been able to avoid death's hold for all these years and now he was here and ready to collect the debt she owed. All the lives that she'd taken and all the times she'd just managed to make it through, she wasn't the master of death and it was without a doubt that he was ready for her.

The screams were nearly whispers filling her mind as her body began to feel lighter than it ever had in the past. All the pain she'd felt was easing away, and she accepted the calm like a long lost friend.

The peace that she'd had for all those years living in Romania with her uncles. Getting to help care for the creatures that she loved above all else.

Suddenly the numbness that she'd felt just moments before was ripped away, pain like no other coursing through her side. Her throat ached, despite the warm liquid that was being poured in her mouth trying to cool it.

What the fuck was happening to her!? Hell, for all her sins, she must have descended to hell. Her body shook with such force as the pain in her side coursed through her. What was happening to her, she wondered as tears streamed down her face. Just moments before she'd been happy to lay her head down and let her fight be over and now she was being pulled back into the realm of the living once again.

"Delia!" She could hear Selene yelling her name. "She has a pulse, Ember another blood replenishing potion. Delia, can you hear me? Delia!" Selene's voice was desperate, her hands gripping Delia's shoulder, shaking her. "Delia, please!"

"What…" Delia trailed off, her throat aching and her voice cracking.

"She's alive! Quickly!" Selene yelled, lifting her from the ground and running. "Ember and Ruby, take Ares back to Nonna's and have Frank meet me on Hestia with a healer!"

Delia could hear Ruby's sobs, but didn't understand what was happening.

"Dolohov?" Delia managed to ask as Selene laid her head down on one of their bedrolls and covered her body with a cloak.

"Dead, Hestia burned him alive." Selene replied, clicking her tongue and snapping the reins. "She came in, must have smelled your blood. She cauterised the hex on your side and stopped the bleeding. The burns are pretty severe though, no missions for you for a while."

"Where's Scar?" Delia asked, her head clearing from the breeze on her face. "Ares isn't large enough to carry three yet, why isn't she riding with us?" When Selene didn't answer right away, Delia felt the pit in her stomach begin to grow. "Selene, where is our sister," Delia insisted again when it was clear that Selene wasn't going to speak.

"She's dead. Dolohov's curse killed her." Selene finally answered, her voice so soft that Delia hardly was able to make out what she'd said over the rushing wind. "Looks like the same one he used on Aunt Hermione, Scar wasn't as lucky."

Closing her eyes and resting her head back, Delia gritted her teeth and allowed the tears to spill down her cheeks. Under her, Hestia let out a great roar that echoed the pain that Delia felt in her soul. How many more family members would she have to lose to this war? How much more pain could she live through?

Author's Note: I wish you could see the art that was done for this chapter. It's on A03 and I shared it on Tiktok as well. Scorpius' outfit from the opening scene.