Chapter 38
June 18, 1996
Draco could not believe that he had allowed Hermione to run off with Potter and some of the dunderheads from Dumbledore's Army on some fool's errand. He'd been within inches of her, he could have grabbed her. He could have stopped her. He could have kept her safe, but he didn't and now he had to wait to determine what the consequences were going to be. She had kidnapped the toad-faced Headmistress before she went, so that was impressive and a bit terrifying.
That was Hermione in a nutshell though, beyond brilliant and just a little terrifying. Draco hoped that she'd gotten the putrid pink witch killed by something out in the Forbidden Forest. He could feel the thrill running through their bond, but then it faded.
Wherever Hermione had gone, it was too far away for the bond to hold.
By the time he made it to the dorms he was barely holding it together, his Occlumency was buckling under the pressure of his fear for their witch.
He crawled into his bed and one-way silenced the curtains so he could hear the room, but they couldn't hear him. Afterwards he warded his bed from everyone except the one person there that he wanted to join him in bed.
Once everyone else in the dorm had fallen asleep, as indicated by the cacophony of snores in the darkened room, the curtain flipped open as Theo slipped inside, sliding under Draco's blankets and pulling him close.
"She'll be alright," Theo whispered into Draco's hair.
"How do you know?" Draco asked, his voice cracking.
"She has to be or I'm going to become so Dark that Grindelwald and the Dark Lord will be nothing more than the pettiest of Knockturn Alley criminals," Theo laughed without humour. "And I'll burn the whole world down. I swear it.",
Draco looked up into Theo's solemn face and nodded. Hermione was what kept them in the light.
Without her?
Their wrath would shake the world.
...
Theo rose before dawn and returned to his own bed, despite Draco clinging to him. He'd carefully extracted himself from Draco's grasp, placing a pillow where he had been to give Draco something to hold. Theo couldn't wait for the day when they could just sleep together without subterfuge. It was difficult having part of your heart laying just a few feet away and not being able to touch them. It was torturous.
Suddenly, he could feel Hermione through the bond. She was back at Hogwarts and she was in agony.
Theo stopped himself from running through the castle screaming her name, only by squeezing his fists so tight that his palms bled.
She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive.
He sobbed silently while repeating the litany in his mind.
She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive. She's alive.
...
The two young wizards didn't even make it to the Great Hall for breakfast the following morning. Snape came into the Slytherin Common Room and sent another student to summon them from their dormitories. Snape himself knew better than to go into the Slytherin boy's dormitories. There was no end to the disgusting possibilities of what he might be forced to witness or so he announced that morning, or any morning really.
When Theo and Draco emerged from the bowels of the dungeon, Snape snarled, "It's about time! Follow me."
Theo and Draco exchanged looks and followed him dutifully. He led them into his office.
"Sit," Snape commanded. Both boys did so without even considering arguing. "There was a battle last night in the Ministry between the forces of the Dark Lord and the Order of the Phoenix. The Dark Lord revealed himself, but unfortunately both of your fathers were arrested. Your mother wants you home immediately, Draco." Snape noticed the lack of sadness on both of the boys' faces and wished things were different for Draco especially. His godson was growing up in the viper pit just as Severus himself had done.
"Can Theo come as well?" Draco asked.
"Obviously," Snape responded, looking at the two boys before adding, reluctantly, "Miss Granger has been grievously injured and I have to deliver to Madam Pomfrey some potions before I escort the two of you to Malfoy Manor. If you are packed and ready to depart in fifteen minutes, I will allow you to accompany me to the hospital wing." Snape looked at their confused faces. "And I'll distract Madam Pomfrey for a few minutes so you can say goodbye."
Theo and Draco's eyes were wide and their jaws dropped.
"Fifteen minutes," Snape repeated, "Or I'll go alone."
Draco grabbed Theo by the hand and they rushed from the room.
Severus Snape rubbed his face and hoped that he didn't come to regret this tacit approval of their triad.
Although what was one more regret in the scheme of things?