All of Harry Potter and anything related to it are the sole property of J.K. Rowling.
(Each title is derived from a song that, I believe, complements the overall narrative, if not the individual chapter.)
*TRIGGER WARNING – MENTION OF SUICIDE
London, 31 July 1997
Draco's Point of View
That had not been the goodbye I had wanted to share with my wife. I wanted to be supportive and confident. Instead, I had gone crazy. I was aware I had written in my diary that I had felt crazed once before, and the sex I described then had been very reminiscent of what had happened today. I had simply thought I had exaggerated the feeling—a bit of hyperbole. But now, I found myself questioning if I had somehow inherited the famous Black family madness.
My behaviour unsettled me to such an extent that I thought that if it was safe for me to do so, I would go to St. Mungo's in search of a healer. I hated the thought of ever ending up like my insane aunt, and shuddered at the thought of hurting either Hermione or Aiden because of it.
I lay motionless on the bed, tormented by my thoughts, when I heard the Grangers return. I closed my eyes in resignation of what was to come.
I responded to the knock on the door with a 'come in', only for Mr. Granger to utter a curt 'Nope', and promptly spin on his heel upon catching sight of me bound to the bed. I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious.
"What's wrong?" I heard Mrs. Granger query.
"I told you Hermione wasn't sick," I heard the man reply grumpily.
"I never disagreed with you," I heard her reply. I shook my head in frustration.
"Could somebody please come untie me?" I called out, refusing to let embarrassment colour my tone. There was too much that needed to be done.
"Is he tied up?" I heard Emma Grager query her husband.
"Yes," he replied shortly.
"Well, go help him," she said reasonably.
"Hermione can do it," he said grumpily.
"Hermione is gone." I called out and was met with silence. Moments later, they both appeared in the doorway.
"What do you mean, gone?" Mr. Granger queried, suspicion lacing his tone.
"She said she explained a bit about the war going on. She is of the opinion that she is necessary to help fight it," I voiced, my frustration seeping into my words.
"But she has a baby," Mrs. Granger stated, her green hazel eyes full of bewilderment.
"Yes," I agreed. "He is one of the reasons she is doing this. She wants him to be safe," I explained. Mr. Granger came over and began to untie one of my arms, a brown curl swinging down over a brown eye.
"Why did she tie you to the bed?" he inquired, and then leaned over me to free the other arm. I furrowed my brow as I thought about my response.
"I ah…" I began, at a loss for words to explain the situation.
"Obviously he was trying to stop her from leaving," Mrs. Granger told her husband, even as I was getting up from the bed. I wasn't going to contradict her assumption.
"Just when I think my daughter can't get any more irresponsible, now she has abandoned her duties as a mother," Mr. Granger said angrily, brushing the short curls back from in front of his eyes impatiently.
"That is going too far," I snapped, glaring at the man from across the bed. "She is well aware that Aiden is secure with all of us. The thought of leaving him, of leaving any of us, left her heartbroken."
"It's okay, Draco," Mrs. Granger said, and she came over and hugged me sideways. "Get dressed, and we should have lunch while we talk."
"Thank you, Mrs. Granger," I said, nodding and allowing myself to return her embrace. The casual intimacy of Muggles still struck me as strange but not altogether uncomfortable now.
"Emma, Draco. We are your family now. Call me Emma," she instructed me, then turned to her husband with an expectant expression.
His expression was mutinous, but he said, "You may as well call me Dan," and then left the room. Emma appeared pleased and gave me a warm smile. She followed him out, leaving me to finish dressing. I put on a clean shirt but put on the socks and shoes I had on earlier, feeling a bit more composed and then used the bathroom to freshen up.
"I suppose moving to Australia was all part of her lie," Dan was saying bitterly when I walked into the living area. He was pacing and gave me a scowl as I entered.
"Not a lie," I told him, going over to check on Aiden in his pram, where he was sleeping soundly. Emma had left him strapped inside, his blue nappy bag hanging off the front handle with all his belongings inside as well as a lot of other things. The Grangers had found that strange at first, but things like his bottles couldn't go in a Muggle cold box, so they remained in a magical one in his bag. "She really did intend for you both to take Aiden there."
"But not her?" Emma inquired, laying food out on the table. She sounded more curious than angry, unlike her husband, but I wasn't fooled. I had been around her long enough now to recognise when she was upset.
"She was never planning on going with you, no," I responded, moving to sit down and bringing Aiden in his pram over with me. Neither of them appeared particularly pleased with this revelation and shared a speaking glance.
We'd scarcely begun to pick at the lunch they'd bought, forcing myself to take a bite of the horribly greasy hamburger, even as I thought. I endeavoured to ignore the unpleasant sensation of the food in my mouth and focus on the problem at hand. I needed to move on to the next stage of keeping this family safe, and unfortunately, nothing was coming immediately to mind.
A knock resonated through the room, loud and insistent, and Mr. Granger moved to answer it. A man, clad in a Muggle law enforcement uniform and wearing a stern expression, stood on the other side in the hotel corridor yet remained silent. His gaze swept over Emma and me, still seated, before settling on me. He brushed past Mr. Granger, stepping into the room. I reacted on instinct, rising abruptly, my chair toppling over in my haste. My wand was in my hand in an instant, aimed squarely at him.
"Imperio," I said at once, and the light overhead burst into a shower of sparks making Emma scream in shock. Yet, paid it no attention even as I had that disconcerting moment of standing in two places at once. I recalled in that moment that I had used the curse on Madam Rosmerta in the previous year but dismissed it as unimportant now. It had only ever been an imperius compulsion, not the complete takeover I was attempting here. It had also been made redundant with the death of Dumbledore and would never be remembered by the attractive older witch.
"Are magicals aware we are here?" I demanded out loud because the Grangers were both making noises of disquiet.
"Yes, Draco, we are," the familiar voice of my godfather echoed in my mind. Out loud, I heard the other man's voice. I understood this to be the only warning Sev could provide. I hadn't expected the Muggle man in front of me to already be under the Imperius Curse and had thought to use him to make our escape, but now we had even less time.
"Stupefy," I said, and then quickly added, "Obliviate," as I couldn't risk the others discovering Aiden's existence. "Quickly take hold of the pram, and whatever you do, don't let go," I yelled as a crashing sound came from the door Dan had thankfully closed. Emma let out another shriek, but they both rushed over.
I was tapping my ring twice and had barely twisted it when I spotted Sev barring the others from entering the room, his arms spanning the frame as if making a grand entrance, his demeanour decidedly menacing. We were all yanked away by the portkey, narrowly missing the misfortune that I was certain would have unfolded. I was aware that our time was limited before they traced us, however.
The landing came with a jarring jolt, but the pram landed on its wheels, and both Grangers were still with me, and that was all that mattered. I dug straight into the baby bag and summoned two Anti-Nausea Potions; both Grangers were already vomiting violently. Dan recovered swiftly, but he was not happy.
"Drink this," I instructed, handing him the potion, and then went to where Emma was kneeling and handed her one too, with the same instructions. They both did as I said, and Dan then helped his wife to her feet while I went back to Aiden, moving as quickly as possible.
"What the hell was that? And where are we?" Dan demanded angrily, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings. We had landed in a deserted field, surrounded by trees and hills. Emma appeared decidedly shell-shocked, her eyes wide and her mouth open. I was glad I hadn't needed to Apparate because I wasn't certain Emma Granger would have survived that.
"Portkey," I told Dan. "We are at one of my family's lesser-known properties, or the outskirts anyway, but we can't linger; they will be here soon," I elaborated, lifting Aiden from his pram. The travel hadn't even woken him, so I was certain in that instant that my little fire dragon was all wizard. Most avoid the use of portkey travel with infants, and Apparition was out of the question, which made me doubly grateful for the Malfoy family ring.
I turned to hand Aiden to Emma, and she blinked as if waking up but held him close to her chest. I then detached Aiden's bag from the pram handle, collapsed it, and crammed the entire contraption into the baby bag. Dan observed my actions with curiosity, while Emma appeared too scared to comment. I handed the bag to Dan.
"Emma, I apologise, but this next part is going to be worse than the portkey for you. I need to summon the knight bus. Keep your eyes down and don't talk. There is a distinct lack of magic in your eyes," I instructed her. I waved my wand at the two of them even as I spoke and changed certain things about their appearances. I also transfigured their clothes to give them the semblance of a magical couple.
"Dan, take hold of Emma on the bus, sit on a bed, and hold her tightly. Even you are going to find this uncomfortable; everybody does, I'm afraid," I instructed him as I handed him one Galleon and five sickles. "When we get on, tell the conductor you want to go to the Leaky Cauldron."
"What about you?" Emma suddenly queried, her voice strained with fear.
"Aiden and I will also board, but we must remain unseen. Don't attempt to spot us. I'll disembark at the same time. Come on, we have been too long here," I declared, cradling Aiden back in my arms, casting a Disillusionment Charm on us, and extending my wand to summon the bus. "Remember to lower your eyes, Emma, and refrain from making eye contact with anyone."
"Alright," she whispered over the loud bang of the bus's arrival. It was a garish, purple monstrosity, a triple-decker no less, with 'Knight Bus' emblazoned on its side. It appeared utterly out of place and barely fit on the narrow road. The sound of the bus startled Aiden awake; I could tell by the way he squirmed against my chest. He made a small noise, but I hushed him, and he calmed against me, despite his inability to see me. A smirk played on my lips at my clever little dragon, and I kissed his invisible head in comfort.
We followed Dan and Emma onto the bus, which was crowded with witches and wizards of all ages and appearances, some of them carrying luggage or pets. I had no idea if it was unusual for it to be this crowded, of course, but it struck me as strange, and if I had the luxury of curiosity to me, I would have inquired. Instead, I remained silent as I listened to the young wizard, only a few years older than myself, talk and hoped he would make it quick.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch, wizard, or squib. Just stick out your wand or rub your Galleon and step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Karl Kirke, and I will be your conductor for this ride," he said as he took the money from Dan and gave him two tickets. "Where do you want to go, mate?"
"The Leaky Cauldron," Dan said confidently, following my instructions.
"The Leaky Cauldron, right you are," Karl said, nodding. "You can sit anywhere you like, but I recommend you hold on tight. This bus can get a bit bumpy."
"Likewise," I drawled at the wizard, causing him to startle. He accepted my coins but didn't otherwise comment on an invisible rider. He did frown at the two gold Galleons, however.
"Do you need change? Or hot chocolate?" He inquired, addressing the space where my voice had recently been, but I was already walking away.
Dan and Emma found an empty bed towards the back of the bus and sat down. I took the bed across from the Grangers and was glad when I saw Emma sit in front of her husband. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest a bit while he wrapped his arms around her. This was going to be unpleasant.
With another bang, we were off, and I saw them hold each other tighter as the beds moved and the bus was sped along at alarming speeds. Everybody on board was stretched and pulled in a variety of ways as the bus jumped locations or navigated places it should have been impossible for the contraption to travel. All the while being invisible to the Muggles and avoiding all their buildings and vehicles.
I had only been on the bus once myself, and that had been with Blaise Zabini. We had thought it would be entertaining to witness how the common people travelled when they couldn't afford Floo powder, weren't skilled enough to Apparate, or were squibs. I had hoped never to have to put myself through such an experience again, and now I was putting my son through it as well as the two Muggles who had become important to me. Aiden made a noise of distress too; his little face turned into my neck, and his little body curled against my chest. His entire fist was lodged in his mouth, and my neck was getting wet from his saliva.
"Hush," I risked saying once, quickening the rhythm of rubbing his back in comfort. He appeared happy with that. There was one stop to let an old witch off, and then we were off again, eliciting another squawk from Aiden. The sound was outraged, and I couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. The Grangers both appeared ill and sweaty across from me. A little less than ten minutes after getting on the bus, we disembarked along with a small crowd of others. Emma had trouble standing, but I helped support her with an invisible hand under her elbow, even as her husband helped her walk from the other side.
"Keep moving," I commanded them after we disembarked, as they went to stop, uncertain what to do now. I wasn't much better. We walked until we came to the alley, Hermione, and I had paused in when she brought me into the Muggle world on my birthday. I dropped my disillusionment and Aiden's, making us visible again. He still had his eyes open, and his whole fist was still in his mouth. Emma sank to the ground with her eyes closed, yet she held her hands out for Aiden. I didn't argue; it was evident that she needed the comfort of him. I handed him to her, and she hugged him close.
"Why are we back in the city?" Dan inquired, gazing down at his ill-looking wife.
"I am hoping the Death Eaters won't expect that. There are also a lot more magicals in the city, even Muggle London," I told him, and he nodded at that.
"What now?" Emma managed to utter. She appeared somewhat green but was doing better than I had hoped for. I ran my hand down my face as I thought.
"We need to find a secure place to reside. However, anything that can be traced by your Muggle authorities can be tracked by our Ministry. And the Death Eaters have infiltrated the Ministry," I explained, my brow furrowing as a few curious passersby strolled past us. "We need to keep moving. We need transportation that Aiden can travel in while being held," I told them. Dan and I both helped Emma stand up, even as she cradled Aiden securely in her arms, and then we began walking at once.
"Bus or tube," Dan said.
"I'm not familiar with what a tube is," I told him.
"Train," he answered. I frowned, puzzled as to why he hadn't simply stated that in the first place.
"Which will be easier to talk on?" I quired.
"Neither," Emma said, "but the bus is closer," she added, gesturing to an approaching red double-decker one down the street. It had a sign that read 'Route 15 to Trafalgar Square' which meant nothing to me. We hurried to the stop, and she waved her hand out for it. The driver opened the doors, and we all boarded. Emma paid for us this time with some coins. I hadn't even noticed she had her purse slung across her body, but I was glad that was one less thing left in the hotel for the Muggle authorities to go over.
The bus was crowded with passengers, some standing, and we never even attempted to reach the upper deck. We found a spot towards the middle, lower level, and endeavoured to blend in. As the bus lurched into motion, I found myself gazing out of the window. The sights were still alien to me—the countless lights, signs, and unusual buildings holding shops and restaurants—and all the traffic and pedestrians were still overwhelming in their numbers. I felt like I was in a different world, one that I didn't understand or belong to.
"Do you have a plan?" Dan inquired, a hint of ire lacing his tone, but I didn't believe it was directed at me this time.
"No," I admitted reluctantly.
"Where is Jomny? Will he be alright? And what about your owl? How will you get her back?" Emma Granger interjected abruptly, her voice laced with worry.
"Jomny is at Hogwarts with other House Elves. He'll return to me when he's able, but it might be a day or so from now. He needed a bit of personal time, and we didn't anticipate there being a problem," I responded, the day's earlier disaster still fresh in my mind. I sincerely hoped my friend was alright.
"As for Aquila, she will find me no matter where we end up," I assured her.
"What?" Dan exclaimed in surprise, while Emma queried, "How?"
"Owls are magical creatures. They can always find the witch, wizard, or creature they are bonded to," I elucidated.
"Owls are magical creatures?" Emma repeated, sounding incredulous.
"Yes, but they are so ubiquitous that there is no way they can be concealed like other magical creatures, and really, there is no point. Their magic is incredibly subtle, and nothing that can be easily noticed by muggles. When they fly at their fastest, they are invisible, and, as I mentioned, they can always find who they are bonded to. It is also very rare that they cannot find the person they are delivering mail to in general."
"If that is true, why do you lot bother buying owls? Why not simply go outside and claim the first one you see?" Dan questioned me, and I let out a small chuckle at that, feeling some of the day's stress melt from me.
"Owls are cantankerous creatures at the best of times, and very few of them agree to be bonded. There are specialists in the magical world whose sole job is to go out and find the birds willing to bond. From what I hear, it is quite a well-paying job, and an owl is not a cheap companion to buy or keep," I informed them.
"Well, that is good, I suppose," Emma muttered, her expression still reflecting uncertainty. Dan simply grunted.
Returning to the predicament at hand, Dan said, "We can't just ride around on buses all day and hope for the best. We need a plan, a place to go."
"All my properties are known. They would find us before I could cast the Fidelius Charm, and I don't have anyone to seal it," I told them. Neither, I was aware, had an understanding of what that was, but they nodded nonetheless.
"That is one of the spells you and Hermione were talking about," Dan said, proving me wrong.
"Yes," I agreed.
"What about your uncle Ian's cabin?" Emma suggested as she was running a hand over Aiden's sleeping head, his soft blonde strands barely visible in the sunlight, and hugging him close to her. Dan frowned and appeared uncomfortable.
"I don't know what condition it is in," he said, sounding very reluctant.
"Is this place known to people?" I queried, my curiosity piqued.
"As far as I know, no one knows about it anymore. We haven't been there in years, not since..." her voice trailed off as she glanced at her husband. He turned his head away, focusing on the view outside the window.
"Not since?" I pressed when it became apparent that neither was going to say more. Emma appeared poised to say something to her husband, but evidently thought better of it.
"Daniel believes the place is haunted," she finally whispered to me. Dan shot her a glare of irritation.
"Truly?" I queried, turning to him. "Did you encounter a ghost? Have you seen them often?" He appeared taken aback by my questions.
"Ghosts aren't real," Emma said with a chuckle.
"Yes, they are," I disagreed, puzzled as to why they weren't aware of that. I was discovering that Hermione really hadn't shared much of her life at Hogwarts with her parents, and I found myself questioning her reasons behind this.
In the next moment, the shared memories I had with Hermione revealed precisely how deeply Hermione desired to protect them and the extent of their poor reaction when she was confronted with a troll her first year. She had kept a lot from them because she didn't want to worry them and because she wanted to remain in the magical world. They both regarded me with further surprise.
"Yes, he is there," Dan responded in a whisper, sounding disturbed. His eyes flickered towards his wife, then quickly away. I noticed her guilt-ridden expression as she returned his glance.
She began to say, "I thought it was just the trauma of…" but he shook his head sharply, stopping her words. I chose not to press further into what was happening between them.
"Can I please have Aiden's bag?" I requested. They both cast puzzled glances my way at the seemingly random request. Dan passed it over without a word. I reached inside and whispered, "Unactivated Forgetfulness Potion," feeling a phial fly into my hand. My version of the potion remained dormant until blood was added, much like how Polyjuice Potion remained inactive until the essence of the person you were aiming to become was added. I handed the phial to Dan, who examined it with intrigue.
"I'm going to test your magical strength," I whispered to him, hoping no one was paying attention to us. I released my wand from my wrist holster, hoping this didn't cause any problems for the Muggle bus. "I'm going to make a small cut, and then I want you to add three drops of blood to that potion," I instructed him. He didn't appear convinced, but he gave a nod of agreement. Emma merely frowned at us.
I channelled the slightest amount of magic into his finger, creating a small cut. He uncapped the potion swiftly and did as I instructed. I observed the potion closely to ascertain if there was any reaction. It wasn't instantaneous, like it would be for a wizard or witch, but a distinct shine came to the potion, making it obvious it was active. I couldn't help but smile in relief. I had been told that any magic at all in a squib was a rare occurrence, and that was why so few worked in the magical world.
"Did it work?" Emma queried.
"Yes," I confirmed, a grin spreading across my lips as I retrieved the potion and stowed it back in the bag. I was aware I would have to dispose of it later. "Ghosts pose no issue for me. Moreover, I believe we have the beginnings of a plan. I believe you may be able to hide us, Dan."
"I assume that means we are going to the cabin then?" He queried, sounding resolved but not entirely happy.
"Unless you have another suggestion that is unknown to the Muggle world?"
"No, I don't," he replied. "But I wasn't lying when I said I don't know what condition it is in. It's only a very small cabin in the woods, near a lake in the forest of Dean. My uncle used to take me there when I was a kid to fish and camp. He died a few years ago, but didn't leave it to anyone. The last time we went as a family was when Hermione was ten, not long after he died, but I haven't been there since," Dan said, his voice low.
"I believe it is our best bet," I said. "It sounds like a secluded and safe place. And perhaps your uncle left some useful things there."
"I don't know," Dan said, shaking his head. "It's a long way from here, and I don't have the keys. And it's probably infested with spiders and rats by now."
"Don't worry, we can deal with those," I said confidently. Magic would deal with any repairs and rodents easily.
"But how are we going to get there?" Emma inquired, and Dan and I turned our attention to her. We had been forced to abandon their vehicle at the hotel and couldn't risk going back for it.
"We'll have to hire a car," Dan stated.
"Can that be tracked?" I inquired, and he swore.
"Language, Daniel," Emma admonished him, and he grunted in response.
"Can we buy one, or is that traced also?" I queried.
"Small car yards will take cash, but I don't tend to carry thousands of pounds around with me," Dan said with a touch of sarcasm.
"I do," I informed him without concern, and they both shot me surprised glances. I shrugged and said with a smirk, "I am exceedingly rich." Emma grinned at me, and Dan rolled his eyes.
"Well, your highness, I suppose you will be buying your first car today. You do have normal currency, don't you, and not those coins you magicals are so fond of? No car yard will take those," he said to me.
"Yes, but I will allow you to double check it before we hand it over, shall we?" I replied with equally as much sarcasm.
I watched the ghost, in his tweed jacket, shirt, and trousers, walk across the floor of the main part of the cabin, his translucent boots barely touching the wooden planks. He headed towards the partially open basement door and then down the stairs, where a rope was hanging from a floor beam that made up part of the ceiling. The basement wasn't even finished, the floor was still dirt, and it was altogether a cold and dark area.
I watched, with crossed arms, dispassionately, as the ghost of a Muggle man who bore a striking resemblance to my father-in-law with his brown curly hair and eyes hung himself with dramatic effect, kicking and jerking the whole time until he was supposedly dead 'again.' I clapped then to indicate to him that I had enjoyed his performance, because that was exactly what it had been—a pathetic attempt to scare me away. As if a mere ghost could unsettle a Malfoy.
"You were doing well until you glanced at me while you were jerking around," I informed him. The ghost lifted his head, sneering at me, his face twisted with anger and remembered pain.
"Get out!" he intoned with a spectral eeriness, visibly working to infuse his voice with the haunting quality of his ghostly presence.
"I'm afraid that will not be happening, but I do have a deal to make with you," I told him calmly, leaning casually against what passed as a bannister for the stairs. His eyes widened as if only now grasping that I truly could see and converse with him.
"I am beyond deals," he informed me as he struggled to free himself from the ghostly version of the rope. The real one was frayed and moving a little, as if affected by a slight breeze. I knew I would be getting rid of the awful reminder of what this man had done to himself in life.
"That is where you are wrong again. I can banish you to the realm you are obviously too afraid to cross over to. Ironic, don't you think, considering what you did to leave this life?" I told him with an unconcerned shrug.
"You're incredibly rude," he told me, glaring at me in disbelief.
"I have been accused of that, yes," I agreed with a nod.
"Why are you here?" he inquired as he stopped his useless struggling. I had no idea why he appeared stuck, but I figured he would sort it out eventually. It wasn't like it was the first time he had put on the performance after all.
"Your nephew needs somewhere safe to hide but wasn't happy about coming here. Apparently, you were less than pleasant the last time he and his family were here," I relayed, my tone dripping with boredom at his theatrics.
"This is my place, and I just wanted to be left in peace," he said angrily.
"Who gives a damn," I retorted, drawing another furious glare from the ghost. "We shall be taking up residence. My question, however, is, do you plan to act in a civilised manner, or will you be moving on?" I challenged him as I stared him down.
"I'm not going anywhere; this is my home," he roared at me, his voice echoing in the empty cabin.
"No, this was your home in life; now it is merely where you are choosing to exist and will inevitably go insane if you are not already, and I can change that in short order if you don't behave," I informed him, aware that all Muggle ghosts eventually lose all semblance of their former selves. With that, I finally pulled my wand out to wave it threateningly. I had no idea if he was aware of what it was, but he shot off through a wall, so I choose to take that as agreement for now.
I turned and headed back up the dangerous stairs with a shake of my head. This place was hardly ideal. When I was told we were coming to a small cabin, I had expected something closer to the shrieking shack. Instead, what lay before me resembled nothing more than a simple shed.
"Did you see him?" Dan questioned me with a worried frown when I was back outside.
"Oh, yeah. Hardly the epitome of hospitality, is he?" I remarked as I joined him and Emma by the van we had bought. They had been unpacking the few groceries we had stopped to get on the long drive here. Thankfully, it was still summer, so we had many hours of daylight left. We needed to make the most of them before night fell and the dangers increased.
"You've no idea," he agreed.
"Are we staying?" Emma inquired; she was still standing by the open back door of the van, still appearing unwell from the day's activities. Aiden was asleep in his new car seat.
"Yes," I responded, because there really was nowhere else to go. We all turned to gaze upon the dilapidated structure with its broken windows, missing wood, and collapsing porch. It stood like a nightmare, but it was our only refuge. "Malfoy House Elves," I summoned, hoping it would work. I was saddened when only four appeared before me, and one of them was my mother's personal House Elf.
"My Lord," they all chorused in unison and bowed to me. There was no point in inquiring what had happened to the others because I was already aware.
"Ceeny, how is my mother?" I inquired of the female House Elf, who was wearing a green ragged dress with the discreet Malfoy crest on the bottom right corner, making me grimace at the state of it. She was the one who had served my mother since my infancy, and I was accustomed to our House Elves being better dressed than this. It was further proof of the awful reality of the state of Malfoy Manor at this time, and I hoped I would have a chance to fix as much of that as I could.
"Not well, my lord," she replied, her voice trembling. "She is very sick and very sad. She misses you, my lord. But she wants you to stay away. They all know of your marriage, and the Dark Lord is furious. He has been most hard on My Lady in punishment. He took away her wand, and if he leaves the Manor, he orders your aunt to watch her." I let out a sigh at that, already suspecting my mother was without her wand. The Dark Lord had only permitted my parents to retain their wands when it was necessary for maintaining appearances over the past year.
"I will strive to save her when the opportunity arises, but at present, my hands are tied. You'll need to go back to her shortly, but I implore you not to disclose our encounter. I'm aware that I can't command you to do so, but she has no Occlumency shields, and the information is not safe," I conveyed to her, feeling angry and frustrated.
I hated being powerless to change what had been done to my family, to my world, to my life. And yet there were definite improvements that had been made too; only none of them could be laid at the feet of the Dark Lord, who was supposed to be the saviour of our society as it had once existed before Muggle-borns brought about such significant alterations.
"Ceeny will do her best, my lord," she said.
"How have you all managed to remain safe?" I inquired of them.
"Ceeny hides in Lord Draco's rooms as my master commands. The others hide in the attic's when not working, and even then, we's stay invisible," she told me.
"Do you think you can take care of the cooking and anything else on your own? I hate sending you back, but I have no choice, and I wish to keep the rest of you safe," I told her and the others.
"Monpy would prefer to accompany her, My Lord," the eldest of the House Elves interjected, drawing my attention to him. He had been a Malfoy House Elf since the era of my great-grandfather, and his attire was now equally as frayed and tattered as the rest of them. "The workload is too burdensome for a single Elf. Monpy will also see to the closing down of the other wings of the Manor if you will permit me."
"Very well," I agreed, then turned my gaze back to Ceeny so she would understand that my next words were intended for her as well. "Remain safe and be aware that you may return if things..." I let my voice trail off with a frown, realising there really was nothing more to say. The two House Elves bowed once more and vanished with a pop. I noticed the two Grangers were watching us all with interest. "Falry, Nimsey, these are my parents-in-law. Please obey them as you would any other member of the family."
"They are Muggles?" Falry queried with confusion, a sentiment I could tell was shared by Nimsey.
"Yes, they are," I replied, my gaze full of meaning. "You will treat them as you would any member of my family," I reiterated.
"Of course, My Lord," they said in unison, turning to respectfully bow to the Grangers. The Grangers both frowned, looking upset and worried, but maintained their silence on what was bothering them for now.
"Emma, can you please take Aiden and the House Elves inside? Dan and I have something to do out here. No matter what happens, do not come out," I told her. Her eyes widened in alarm, but then she nodded and turned to get Aiden from his car seat.
"Falry, Nimsey. Dan and I are going to attempt to cast the Fidelius Charm. Are you familiar with it?" I questioned. They both nodded. I was perpetually astounded by the extent of the House Elves' knowledge, particularly since they appeared to know almost everything and shared very little. "Will you be able to initiate the repairs on the cabin while we perform the charm?" I queried.
"Yes, My Lord," Nimsey responded on behalf of both of them, but they cast a speculative glance at Dan before shifting their attention to Emma. They watched Emma gather Aiden and then bent to pick up some of the groceries. However, before she had even fully touched one bag, they all vanished with a pop.
"I probably should have warned them not to do that," I remarked, considering how ill Emma still appeared.
"Will Emma be alright?" Dan inquired, casting an uncertain glance at the cabin.
"I believe she'll recover after a good night's rest. If not, a swim in the river will cleanse the lingering magic. Come on, we should begin if you are still willing," I suggested, choosing to overlook the confused and incredulous expression on Dan's face.
"Tell me what exactly we are doing," he queried as we walked around the cabin. It was a way of claiming the land that Dan was going to be tying his soul to. It wasn't usually necessary, but I thought that all the extra steps might help the little bit of magic in Dan to become accessible and receptive.
"The Fidelius Charm is a very powerful and complex charm that can hide a secret within a person's soul. The secret can only be revealed by the Secret Keeper, in this case you, who is the only one who can share it with others," I explained briefly. "Soul magic isn't to be taken lightly. It leaves runes on your soul that will forever change who you have been. Not physically, but on a spiritual level," I explained with utmost gravity, and I turned my gaze towards Dan with piercing eyes, hoping he understood the seriousness of what we were about to attempt.
"I didn't know souls were real until you and Hermione got married," Mr. Granger said, shivering a little. "I had always thought of souls as abstract concepts, not tangible entities that could be manipulated by magic."
"They're real, and they are the only things in this realm that are truly immortal," I confirmed, nodding slightly.
"I guess I should start attending church then," Dan joked nervously, endeavouring to lighten the mood. I merely shrugged at that. Magicals might believe in gods and the afterlife, but we did not attend church. We had our own rituals and traditions, our own ways of honouring and connecting with the divine.
"I'll do anything I can to protect my family," declared Daniel Granger with unwavering resolve, and I understood that his protection now extended to me as well. His gaze then shifted towards me, filled with intrigue. "I will do this, but I do wonder why it isn't you?"
"This magic works best when the person performing it has a personal connection to the place, object, or person they are striving to protect. The charm does transfer to others you have allowed into the secret after your death, but to a lesser effect, and once all who are privy to the secret are dead, the secret isn't protected anymore. Also, as I mentioned before, I would require another person here to execute the spell. It isn't one that I could cast on myself."
"Alright," Dan said. He appeared sweaty with anxiety and was absently rubbing his hands on his trousers. I nodded myself and hoped to Salazar I was remembering all the steps correctly. Hermione and I had gone over the spell in detail, but it was a complex one that very few individuals ever dared to attempt. If it weren't challenging, it would be commonplace.
A surge of magic coursed through me as I completed the Fidelius Charm, effectively concealing the small cabin from the eyes of the world. This had been a risky endeavour, but obviously it had worked. Dan smiled back at me, a rare sight indeed, and then abruptly collapsed to the ground. I was at his side in an instant, my heart pounding as I searched for a pulse. The fear that I might have inadvertently killed Hermione's father by draining his magic was great.
Relief washed over me when I found a pulse, but concern for Dan's condition remained. I hadn't fully grasped the sheer amount of magic the spell would take from both of us. I felt a bit drained myself, and I wasn't the one who was going to be carrying it with me. I was aware that now the charm had taken effect, the drain on our magic had ceased. I surmised that Dan's body had shut down to allow the appropriate runes to etch into his soul with as little discomfort to him as possible.
Neither Hermione nor I had noticed the process either, but I found myself hoping that Dan wouldn't be unconscious for eight hours like we had been. It wasn't safe for us to be out and exposed like this, not when the Dark Lord had people out searching for me. I also found it disconcerting that Aiden was somewhere close by, yet I couldn't get to him. Nobody could enter or exit the cabin until Dan was able to share the secret with them. Not without being unable to enter again in any case.
I had scarcely a moment to consider my next move while waiting for Dan to awaken when the sound of approaching hooves reached my ears. Wand still in hand, I adopted a defensive stance, prepared to protect both of us from whoever was coming our way. I found myself hoping against hope that it wasn't Death Eaters, or worse, Voldemort himself, although I doubted the latter would show up here.
Much to my surprise, three Centaurs emerged from the trees, but I didn't lower my wand. They were towering figures, muscular, with the torsos of humans and the legs and bodies of horses. Their long hair and beards flowed freely, and they carried bows and arrows, yet these were slung casually across their bodies. They didn't appear to be in a threatening mood at the moment. In fact, they regarded me with gazes of curiosity and, it could be said, hope.
"What do you want?" I demanded, steadfastly refusing to lower my guard, particularly when they cast the same curious gaze upon the man on the ground as they had on me.
The one in the middle stepped forward and said, "I am Vasanos, the leader of my herd. This is Ronan and Magorian, my companions." He was a tall, muscular Centaur with a chestnut coat and a long black mane. His eyes were dark and piercing, and he carried a spear in his hand. He wore a leather vest and belt with a dagger and a pouch. He appeared proud and confident, as if he was accustomed to being in charge.
The one he named as Ronan was on his left, a younger and slimmer Centaur with a light brown coat and a blonde mane. His eyes were blue and distrustful, but he didn't move to use the bow and his quiver of arrows that sat comfortably on his back. He wore a green tunic and a necklace of feathers and beads.
The third he indicated too was Magorian who stood on his right, an older Centaur but far from old. He had a grey coat and mane that had nothing to do with his apparent age. His eyes were green and calm; he also had a bow and quiver full of arrows and was dressed almost identically to his leader with his leather vest and belt.
"Draco Malfoy," I responded instinctively, my ingrained etiquette prevailing, and I inclined my head sufficiently to maintain my gaze on them. Despite the growing ache in my arm, I remained steadfast, refusing to lower my wand.
"Well met, young wizard," Vasanos said with a slight bow of his own head. "Forgive us for intruding at this time, but it was imperative that it be now. We were led by the stars and have waited many days for you and your companion to arrive. The stars told us of an unlikely haven, hidden by a powerful charm. They told us that this place could be used to shelter all those who would flee to these trees in the coming dark times."
"Dark times?" I repeated stupidly.
"Yes, young wizard. Dark times are upon us. The Dark Lord is not the only evil challenging our world, but his presence allows those with dark intentions to cause further havoc in his name. The Dark Lord and those like him will not stop until they have destroyed all that is good and pure in this world. They will not spare the Centaurs or any of those they see as half-breeds. The Dark Lord will not allow any to live who opposes him. He will bring death and destruction to all." All of this was not unknown to me, yet I still felt a chill run down my spine.
"I see you have not been untouched by the evil of this world yourself," he observed, pointing his finger at his own neck. Instinctively, my free hand rose, and I touched the scar that was still tender. I barely thought about it, besides when I saw it reflected at me in the mirror. It was a painful memory in more ways than one, and certainly not something I wished to deal with or discuss.
A sound from Dan drew my attention, so I stepped back and crouched down beside him, where he still lay, never turning my back on the three Centaurs. I had to lower my wand, but it gave the impression of a deliberate act, not because I couldn't hold my arm up anymore.
"Are you alright?" I inquired, but I was using my Occlumency to hide my concern for him in front of the Centaurs. He opened his eyes and cast his gaze upon me, appearing pale and exhausted. His hands were trembling on the forest floor.
"I'm fine, Draco," Dan said, forcing a smile. "Just a bit dizzy, that's all. It's not every day that I get to perform magic, you know." I would have let out a sigh of relief if I wasn't maintaining my Occlumency shields. His attempt at humour was a good sign, so I straightened back up. From his position on the ground, Dan tilted his head to cast his gaze upon the Centaurs and then recoiled in fright.
"It's alright. They're merely Centaurs. I believe they've come seeking our assistance," I reassured him, yet I cast a glance back at Vasanos for confirmation.
"Certainly," the Centaur leader agreed. I couldn't help but notice that one of his companions, Ronan, didn't appear too thrilled with the idea or possibly my words, but I didn't care either way what his opinion was. Dan was still struggling to sit up, clearly not entirely convinced of his safety as of yet.
"What is it you need from us?" I inquired of the leader.
"We wish to build on the spell you have just performed. We have our own version, but wizards have long since learnt how to see past our enchantments when we only have a small herd to share magic. Our kin are near, but there are only so many places those of my kind can hide. The stars, in their infinite wisdom, have foretold that by sharing this magic with you and using your companion's spell as an anchor, more can be saved than lost. All those deemed half or inferior," he explained, his voice echoing the ancient wisdom of his kind.
"And how might we accomplish that?" I questioned him.
"We three," he declared, gesturing towards himself and his two companions, "shall form a link with you and your companion as you recast the spell," he began, but I was already shaking my head in disagreement.
"Not possible. My father-in-law is a squib. Doing the spell a second time will kill him," I informed him, my voice firm with conviction.
"Young wizard, you misunderstand," he said. "Your father-in-law will not bear the burden of being the secret keeper for the larger spell. Instead, that responsibility will be shared equally among us three," he clarified, gesturing to himself and his two companions.
"Then why do you need me to recast the spell with Dan?" I demanded.
"Our magic works by anchoring to a single point and fanning out to an area that the magic of our herd can protect. We three alone are strong in this protective magic, but we also have a link to our wives and offspring. As the leader of my herd, I can access all our combined magic to ensure the strength of the shield. However, as I mentioned earlier, we are but a small herd, and wizards can penetrate our magic when it stands alone. With the addition of your magic, it will possess sufficient strength to conceal all those in need," he explained.
"Doesn't that make Dan your ward stone, for lack of a better term? That would mean he'd have to take on more runes," I pointed out, my tone nonchalant thanks to my Occlumency. I noticed Dan's frown, clearly not as at ease with the situation as I appeared to be.
"May I touch you, human?" He said directly to Dan. "I seek to sense your magic." Dan glanced at me, his eyes wide with surprise, but he nodded his agreement and pushed himself to his feet with an unsteady determination. The Centaur, moving with the grace and caution of a seasoned leader and warrior, approached us. He extended his hand towards Dan, making an offer of connection. Dan, with a hint of trepidation, raised his hand as if preparing for a handshake. The Centaur adapted to the gesture with a warm smile. "Well met, human," he greeted as he shook Dan's hand.
"You too," Dan responded, his voice filled with awe as he took in the sight of the majestic horseman before him.
"You are indeed close to being depleted of your magic, yet you are a powerful one for what the wizards label a squib," the Centaur leader addressed Dan, his voice echoing with the weight of his words. "In days of yore, you would have lived among them easily, but those times are long past. The future is unclear to all but the heavens, and they tell of a possibility that one day your kind will be welcomed back among those who persecute us all now," he shared with Dan.
"I don't know anything about the future, just that I want my family safe. If you say you can help with that, I will gladly help you save yours too," he told the Centaur bravely, taking his hand back and reminding me a lot of Hermione in that moment. It's no surprise the witch everyone thought should have been a Ravenclaw ended up a Gryffindor, with a father like this in her life.
"Thank you," the Centaur said, offering Dan a bow that was noticeably deeper than the one he had given me upon our introduction. Not that I took any offence. In fact, I had eased my Occlumency shield enough to admit that I was rather impressed with my father-in-law myself. "And fear not; we Centaurs have long lived in harmony with the forces of magic and nature. We will ensure no harm comes to you." His words, although firm, carried an undercurrent of reassurance.
"What do you need me to do?" he inquired of the Centaur.
"Would you entrust your secret to all of us assembled here?" The Centaur leader queried. "We propose to add a single rune to your existing secret. This rune will serve as a bridge between your secret and ours and will not deplete any of your magic. You may feel more virile or even enhance your personal magic, albeit the increase would be barely perceptible."
"However, your son by marriage will need to expend more of his magic to bind us all together with the charm you employed. Once bound, we will disperse in three equal directions. One will venture towards the lake, while the other two will stake claim over more of the forest. We will sense when we have reached our limit, but we aspire to cover a few kilometres," he elucidated.
"Draco?" Dan queried, turning his attention to me. I responded with a curt nod.
"Anything that aids in concealing Aiden is worth the attempt," I told him.
"We too have offspring to safeguard, young wizard, and we do not share our magic any more readily than you do. Trust has become a rare commodity in the magical realm over the centuries. It is my aspiration that by establishing this haven, we are taking the initial strides towards returning to the unity our peoples once, long ago, shared."
"The day is getting away from us. If we are going to do this, we should begin," I told him with a nod of agreement. He nodded in return and then turned and beckoned his two companions to join us.
Dan and I headed into the cabin when the spell was cast, grateful that the additional rune hadn't rendered him unconscious once again. I, on the other hand, was utterly drained after the day's activities. I hoped we could all get a relatively peaceful night's sleep in our safe haven.