I do all my healing and manage all my feelings, I don't ask for help, no cause I don't need it. - Lennon Stella Older Than I Am.
May 3rd 1998
Hermione had just taken a first bite of her hot buttered toast when Molly Weasley bustled into the room.
The Weasley matriarch scowled at her before tutting loudly, "You should have shouted for me if you were hungry dear, I'm going to make breakfast for all of us anyway.."
"Sorry, I'm ok Mrs…" Hermione began.
"It's Molly dear…" Molly interrupted as she charmed the pans and several packets of sausages and bacon to start cooking.
"Molly, sorry… I'm fine, I like toast."
Ron had given an apologetic smile and shook his head. But for once it was nice to be on the receiving end of overzealous and often misdirected love. It meant they were back. She gave a small sigh embracing the slight overwhelm that the new world was already giving her.
The door clicked open and Hermione's heart jumped as she saw the smiling faces of her mother and father. It was still odd to see them after all this time. She launched herself from the table, embracing them as though it had been years.
"Well that's a welcome and a half…" Her dad whispered in her ear. He waited until she had let go before releasing his grip.
He patted Ron's shoulder on his way past, before turning his attention to little Rose who lay on his arm smiling in his direction "Well good morning to you little Petal" She smiled widely kicking her little legs.
"Do you want a cuddle with Grandad?" Ron asked before handing her to Henry.
Seeing her parents being so integrated into the Weasley's home, her mother bustling over to Molly offering her services with breakfast was very strange. They were so different to how she remembered them, behind the straight-laced demeanour they had previously had there was something so relaxed about them and the last few months had done them some good.
"Mum and I were thinking about visiting the house tomorrow." He said as he sat down at the table.
As plates began flying onto the table, Molly turned
We don't have to go back permanently just yet. I know it's only been a day and we don't know how safe it would be but it would be nice to see the place again. Assess the damage, if you both fancied a little holiday post-war it would be lovely to have the three of you join us for a few days."
Hermione looked to Ron for his reaction, he appeared to be doing the same to her.
"Would be nice to experience the muggle world for a while." Hermione broached.
"I've never really been in the muggle world before…" Ron was nervous. His ears flushed lightly "I'm not sure now is the right time to leave…"
Hermione felt her chest deflate slightly, "I would like to show you where I grew up."
A bustle of people filtered into the room joining the table, Fred and George, Harry and Ginny, and Arthur Weasley greeted each other adding to the noise and hum of the room.
She leaned into Ron. "I just want a little normality," she whispered the look on her face pleading with him.
Ron furrowed his brow before mouthing, "Ok, tomorrow then."
A flurry of owls flew into the room from all angles. Tiny Pigwidgeon fluttered into the room carrying a letter the same size as himself, landing on her father's shoulder. After receiving a scratch on the chin, he gave a fleeting look around the room. He looked in Ron's direction before opening his wings to take off. It took a moment to process who he was looking at, but after whipping his head around again, he launched himself towards his seemingly forgotten owner.
With a stream of twittering and flapping the tiny bird eventually came to a rest on Ron's head peaking and nibbling at his hair. Hermione smiled as she saw water appear in Ron's eyes, with one hand Ron grabbed him bringing him to his face "Missed you too buddy."
There was a sudden crash as a ball of feathers launched itself across the kitchen.
"Errol is still alive?" Ron said bluntly.
"Ronald!" Molly chastised.
"He's older than Dumbledore, mum… it's a valid point…" mocked Fred before taking a bite of sausage.
An unfamiliar owl joined the chaos, swooping in through the door carrying a series of Black envelopes. It stood on the counter waiting with its head aloft and a leg stuck out waiting for them to be removed. Mrs Weasley removed them from the bird's leg, Rose entered the room quietly and took a seat at the table. She smiled sheepishly towards Ron and Hermione. She had been mortified when she realised she had fallen asleep on Ron and taken off quickly. "These are for you dear." Rose took them from her grandmother.
"For fuck sake, have you read this? Lucius Malfoy has been released… what in the name of Merlin's beard is going on with this world…" George exclaimed, looking over the morning's copy of the Daily Prophet "He was caught red-handed!"
"More lives than a cat that one!" Fred shouted from the other end of the table. He received a tea towel to the back of the head as his mother passed him on her mission to overfeed everyone.
Hermione felt her heart dropping as silence fell over the table. Nervous glances were shared between the parties as they waited for Rose's reaction. She looked up suddenly aware all eyes were on her. Shrugged, "Oh I know…" She held the envelopes in her hands. "Me and granny saw him at St. Mungo's yesterday… looked like someone had given him a bit of a doing though so every cloud has a silver lining, I'll need to find out who it is to shake their ha…." She trailed off as she turned the envelope in her hand. She stared at the wax seal on the back. Hermione opened her mouth to ask if she was ok but the sound of a pop from outside distracted her.
"Ah there's Kingsley…" Ron's Dad said with a cheery wave to the new minister out of the window.
The door clicked open as Kingsley entered. His face immediately fell. "Ah," He said glancing at the paper "I had hoped to get here before that arrived."
A hissing sound filled the air, the envelope Rose had just opened floated before her like a howler. Silver smoke danced around the paper and floated towards her. In the new silence of the room whispers of. "Be a good girl." echoed before the smoke engulfed her. Her pupils widened and they watched horrified as her eyes rolled back and the smoke filtered into Rose's nose, she slipped from the chair. Hermione jumped up instinctively.
It was chaotic as panic ensued. "A seizure?" Hermione heard her dad's question.
"Jean… stay back from the smoke," Arthur demanded.
Hermione watched as her mother's medical training took hold of her, before anyone could find answers to the questions she had placed her jumper under Rose's head manoeuvring her into the recovery position and with great care not to touch her skin rubbed her arm as she began screaming, clawing at an invisible force. "It's ok darling, you aren't alone… you are safe, we are here."
"What's happening?" Ron handed Rose the Ginny and moved to crouch next to Rose.
Kingsley inspected the second envelope, "Keep the child back…" His tone was dark as he commanded Ginny. "Take her out of the room… she should not be subjected to this…" Harry pulled the two of them outside.
"What do you mean?" Ron demanded.
"This was meant for Rose… there are two versions of her, the child does not need to witness this"
"What is "this"?" Hermione asked.
"It's similar to a howler, the death eaters used to send them as untraceable threats or reminders. It contains memories…"
As the screaming subsided and the smoke dissipated Rose came crashing back to reality, she blinked repeatedly gasping for air as though she was drowning.
"It's ok sweetie, you aren't on your own." Jean pulled the sleeve of her shirt over her hand stroking sweat from her forehead. Rose grabbed her arm pulling herself into a seated position. Jean wrapped her arms around her.
The remaining two envelopes began to smoke. Hermione knew that a howler became louder when ignored, but she would have given anything to have loud now.
"Never forget who you are little thorn… never forget who you belong to"
Smoke filled the room clearing to reveal a much younger version of Rose dressed only in underwear kneeling on the floor she waited obediently on the floor. Her hands crossed behind her back. Perfect makeup hid large bags under her eyes, the dark tattoo snaked it's way up her arm and coiled around her neck.
Several cries echoed in the room and Hermione watched as most of the people present attempted to leave the room or when faced with blocked doorways covered their eyes, Ron included.
The looming form of Lucius Malfoy stood before her. He fumbled with his belt, removing it from the loops of his trousers. "I heard through the grape vine that you have been a very bad girl."
Rose said nothing, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Is that a yes or a no?" There was a loud snap as Lucius cracked the two sides of his belt together.
"Yes…" Rose flinched.
"And what did you do wrong?"
"He was going to break my..."
Another crack echoed and followed by a loud sob "I didn't ask you what he did, I asked you what you did wrong?"
A small sob came before Rose answered "I said no…"
"Why would that be…" There was another loud crack as the belt hit flesh once more. "Why do you think after all the hours I have spent training you that you still use that word."
"Because I'm stupid."
"That's right, you don't get your brains from your mother do you little thorn and really thats a shame, you could have gone so far…"
"You don't remember your mother do you, little Thorn?"
"I do remember her…" Rose interrupted wistfully flinching as Lucius raised his hand slightly, "I remember her eyes, and I think I remember the way she smelled."
Hermione felt her breath falter
Lucius laughed. "Well little thorn would you like to know a secret, I remember her eyes too. You see the good thing about death is you can do whatever you like, whenever you like. It makes for very good girls. I must give your father credit where credit is due, he had good taste in mudbloods… I'll admit I was rather sad when Rigor Mortis set in and she had to be disposed of."
Hermione's heart raced, she dared a glance at Ron who slumped to the ground and had his hands over his ears.
Now I know of your desire to go beyond the veil and see your family's little thorn. Take this as a warning if you wish to end up like your filthy mother and father and see your family again you will be compliant and at 17 I will let you run like all the other girls. If you don't comply I assure you I will take you home at 17 and ensure you live a long life in my own personal collection. You will take what would have been your mother's place serving Malfoy men for as long as you are desirable..." Lucius smirked down at her before grabbing Rose's face. "And a few long years after that." He kissed her in a way that made Hermione's stomach churn. "Good girl."
A wind whipped around the occupants of the room before coming to a rest. Hermione opened her eyes cautiously. She had hoped she would find the room clear but instead she was in the tree house at night.
"And finally, never forget what you did… the innocents you killed."
A dark green light filled the room.
"No…." Rose choked struggling for breath before covering her head. Hermione knew this memory all too well. A turn of her head and she saw the small congregation of bodies in the corner.
An omnious chorus of "You are my sunshine" was sung like a whisper on the breeze before the older two children shared a look. Green butterflies sprang from her hands and Hermione watched as one by one life left the two smallest Potter children once again.
Molly Weasley stared at the tiny bodies in Rose's arms before moving to see the remaining boy clearer. He was Harry's double. She clutched her chest and let out a sob.
"I'm sorry Granny" Rose shook watching her grandmother. "I couldn't let them take them, they deserved better…"
"You deserved better." Jean pulled Rose closer. "You deserved better sweetheart."
"You know me Jamesyboy… I'll be ok … I'm a Weasley after all we are tough as nails'' The memory of Rose laughed through tears. Her smile was brave but faltering, praying for the end quickly. "Hey, just think one day when this is all over we will be at Hogwarts together, I'll spend most of my time shouting at you for losing Gryffindor points because of your stupid pranks…"
"You will always be my best friend" Lingered on the air as the smoke dissipated.
There was a never-ending silence as the room gathered their feelings, even Fred and George who would have in any other circumstances have come back with a joke remained silent avoiding the looks of everyone else in the room.
Kingsley was the one to break the silence. "I'll send a cease and desist order to Lucius Malfoy and have my team issue a restraining order effective immediately."
Kingsley had returned a little while later, Ron, Harry and Hermione sat on the sofa in front of him. Rose had sat in the large backed chair, she stared ahead unseeing.
"The reason I came today was to inform you that it was decided by unanimous vote that you three are to receive Order of Merlin awards First Class for services to the country during the war."
Ron immediately broke into a beaming smile. "Really?" He had never felt pride like it.
Kingsley nodded, "Yes, it carries a significant cash grant of 50,000 Galleons which equates to approximately £245,000 muggle currency. If you are agreeable there will be an award ceremony once the dust has settled after the war and accounts at Gringotts will be set up for you should you not have one for the money to be deposited into."
"You said three, what about Rose…" Hermione asked. "She has one more for the Wizarding world than any of us."
There was something uncomfortable about the change in his demeanour. "We should maybe speak in private, Rose."
Rose folded her arms and shook her head "I don't mind people hearing, I already know what's coming…" Kingsley smiled a small sad smile before sucking his teeth and nodding.
"Well as you know you are currently under arrest," Kingsley acknowledged the bracelets on her wrists. "You were being charged with 1479 individual charges," Kingsley began, taking a pile of paperwork from a small briefcase.
"Fuck me…" It slipped out before Ron could stop it. "No thank you…" Kingsley raised his eyebrows to Ron. Hermione hit him on the arm. "What! That's a lot of charges."
Rose smiled for the first time that morning catching Ron's eye out of the corner of hers.
"... you have been formally acquitted of a number of those given that we were able to locate all the muggles, muggle-borns and for want of a better word traitors you were accused of torturing and killing. You know I have to give credit where credit is due Rose, you never fail to stop amazing me. Keeping them in a vivarium was a stroke of genius."
"What's a vivarium," Ron asked
"It's a home for small lizards" Hermione answered before questioning further. "How did you manage to keep… how many…"
Rose interrupted "Three hundred innocent people."
Hermione's face dropped, "How… What did you do?"
"I used a shrinking charm to shrink them to the size of hamsters, put them in a box with an undetectable extension charm and established a rule that everyone looks out for each other."
"I had to keep them safe, people were going missing every day and by going missing I mean ending up in Lucius's little project. I couldn't let them go through that so I took them and their families one by one and pretended to kill them,"
"And how may I ask did you get away with that…" Kingsley asked.
She picked at her thumb, her ears turning bright red."After I found out I was pregnant, I pretended I had a craving and they didn't call me the executioner for nothing." Rose avoided their eyes, staring at the floor. "When people were arrested I would go and collect the members of their family that I could find and get them to safety before the death eaters or snatchers found them. I thought about bringing them here but there wasn't space for everyone so I thought hard and remembered my dad telling me a story about someone who imprisoned someone in a jar for a month …"
Hermione turned a shade of red. "You kept people in a vivarium Rose… that's… that's…"
"Ingenius… yes I know." She smiled slyly. "I helped the people who couldn't help themselves, it was quite fun actually, right under their noses…"
"What did you tell them when they were looking for bodies…"
Rose sniggered, "I forgot about that…" She looked up at Kingsley. "In Malfoy Manor, the east wing kitchens has a freezer, when you go in it will look like there are body bags double stacked on shelves, The first two contain the bodies of Finneius Yaxley and Antonius Carrow, the rest of the bags contain bags of flour and potatoes…"
"Did you kill Yaxley and Carrow?" Kingsley asked sternly.
"Yes,"
"Why?"
"Officially, I exercised my power as the dark lord's wife and asked them to travel through Europe to find supporters willing to join our cause. Unofficially, I heard what they planned to do to a muggleborn prisoner and I lost my temper…" There was a coy smile on her face as she continued, "Hormones are pretty bad in the first few months, using their blood and body parts as props during my episodes, made my life easy and stopped questions from being asked. What I'm trying to say is just warn the aurors that they aren't all bodies you need to worry about."
"How did you possibly feed them all…"
"Granny made extra meals each night and put them in these pots that multiplied the food and made enough for everyone. Then I employed a few healers who were pro-resistance and a couple of the sacked professors from Hogwarts to make sure the children got an education… there were muggle teachers, doctors and when there were dental issues, I had Granny and Grandpa send Jean and Henry in to help."
"That's the size of a large town though." Ron added, "three hundred people I mean…"
"It's a fraction of the people that were hurt and killed though," Rose said sadly. "I should have done more…"
"We have obviously thrown out the war crimes." Kingsley continued.
"Obviously…" Rose breathed.
"Unfortunately, we have only managed to reduce some of the charges and you are still looking at 45 charges based on altering the timelines and grievous bodily harm to Lucius Malfoy. They will need to be considered by the Wizengamot at present, though be assured I am trying to get those thrown out too. I'm just coming up against some resistance…"
"But you are the Minister for Magic! Surely you must have more say in the law." Hermione gasped.
"I do not have ultimate power, Hermione. A lot has changed since you have been away."
"Is it Themis?" Rose asked, silencing them. "The one who is giving most resistance, I mean"
Kingsley appeared confused by her statement. "Yes, but how do you know?"
Rose chuckled, she pulled her legs up under herself, wrapping her long cardigan around her legs. "He's got it in for me, he's heavily involved in the compound. He was the one who gave me these after the battle of Hogwarts. He's going to have a full on vendetta against me. I knew I recognised his face but I couldn't put my finger on it and then he touched my arm and well, lets just say he was memorable."
Kingsley brought out a small notepad. "Was your interaction with him in this timeline or the previous?"
"The previous timeline but he touched me so he knows in this timeline too."
"How do you know he wasn't just a visitor." Kingsley scribbled in his book frantically.
Rose looked uncomfortable, "He got special treatment…" She reached her hand inside her sleeve and began scratching at the flesh.
"What kind of special treatment?"
"I don't really want to talk about that." Rose said quietly. "Not in front of everyone."
"I'm not following" Kingsley leaned forward. "You were more than willing to share the rest of the information…"
"Should we go?" Harry asked standing to leave.
"No, I need witnesses to this conversation," Kingsley stated, and Harry sat back down reluctantly. "You will need to give this information to the Auror's when they come to interview you. Rose without this information I am going into this blind, Thewlis is a very powerful man who unfortunately has friends in places higher than I am. If you won't give me all the information then I can't proceed further, doubt could be put on your story."
"I gave a full run down to the healer at St Mungo's when I was examined and that kit thing was done, I don't want to have to keep reliving this stuff…"
Kingsley shook his head. "Without all the information, I am up against Thewlis…"
Rose huffed, "Lucius had 3 days a week where I was his for personal use only. He didn't always come but most of the time he spent the whole three days with me. The other four days I was available for purchase by anyone who could afford to pay for my time and they did whatever they wanted. There were hundreds of girls who had similar treatment. Only Lucius tended to spend the whole time he visited with me. Themis was different, he was like royalty. Bigger than royalty even… I'm pretty sure I was gifted to a Prince or Sheik and they got less of a fanfare than Thewlis did. He was the only one who Lucius would give up his days with me for. He was a horrible man… and if you don't keep him happy the consequences were bad."
There was a silence, broken by Kingsley and his scribbling. "What were the consequences?"
Ron didn't want to hear. He knew he didn't want to hear but he couldn't get up and walk away. Harry and Hermione both looked uncomfortable, they had been forgotten in the conversation.
"It depends who it was who was doling out the punishment, they all had different fetishes, Themis liked to put me in a body bind, then break bones…"
"Bones…" Kingsley scribbled away on his page.
"Yeah, my wrist, my ankle, my leg, broke my jaw a few times, healed them pretty quickly after of course, but if I didn't do as he wanted it would break things, cause pain, repair me… repeat over and over until I got the message… and start behaving. He likes to see people suffering. Lucius was more derogatory, anything to humiliate you… doing…" her eyes fell to the ground, clearly thinking better of discussing it further "Stuff… to make you feel embarrassed, then they would torment you until you believed it was your fault."
Kingsley continued scribbling on the parchment. Rose had entered one of her absent moments. Ron had seen them often enough to identify them now, they consumed her suddenly and any shred of happiness that may have been disappeared.
"They would take me to the brink of death… so close I could hear Lily's laugh, James shouting my name and smell my mum's perfume… and I remember thinking if I can just stretch a little further, maybe I can just grab their hand and they can pull me through. But then they drag me back to that room again…" She blinked, looking around the room as though suddenly realising that other people were present. She shrugged her shoulders, "I suppose if I'd gone through I wouldn't be here today…" raising her eyebrows with a chuckle she added "...none of us would be here today so every cloud and all that."
"And you say "they all had different fetishes…" what do you mean were there more than Themis and Lucius…"
Rose tilted her head, questioning Kingsley with her eyes. "You do know what happens at the Compound don't you?"
"We have intelligence, but every story differs, most of them appear to be downplayed by those involved. We were considering sending some agents in to do undercover work, but this war got in the way. Any information you have would help our investigations."
"Oh boy, you are in for a treat," Rose chuckled nervously, bags appeared under her eyes, "Look I want to help, I have memories," Rose hesitated, "I have memories that show what happens, the layout of both sides…"
"Both sides." Kingsley questioned.
"There are two sides, one is the location. If they will help you can take copies, but I can't give you the originals in case something happens to without proof of the compound he will just get off with it all. The corruption runs too deep for us to let it carry on…but we need to be careful not to let ourselves be known."
"Surely it can't be that deep." Harry nervously offered. "The Ministry would have done something before now…"
"If you believe that then you haven't been paying enough attention." Rose stood walking away from them suddenly before turning back. "Don't send anyone in Kingsley, I can guarantee, they won't come back."
Kingsley questioned her with his eyes. "How can you be so sure?"
She held out her hand. Kingsley hesitated for a moment before taking it in a firm grip. He returned gasping, "I was five the first time I went there, a test subject for their little fun run. That's 5 years from now, it has been in the Malfoy family for centuries, no one gets out unless they pay to use the services and the people paying to use the services aren't going to tell the truth."
A flash of ginger flew by their feet as Ron and Hermione shared nervous glances as Smudge jumped into Rose's arms, she had stood quickly, taking the break in the conversation as an oppurtunity to leave. "Sorry, I don't mean to be rude but I don't feel very well I'm going to lie down."
May 4th 1998
The Burrow
The following morning, Ron sat at the breakfast took a bite of his toast when a frustrated rustle came from the side of him. He had seen that look on Hermione's face before and after previous experience he thought better of asking if she was ok in the middle of breakfast. Jean had noticed it, her eyebrows furrowed before she met Ron's concerned look.
Rose stared into the distance her absent moments becoming more and more frequent, her hands scratching Smudge's fluffy fur. Ginny and Harry sat together deep in conversation and baby Rose slept in Ginny's arms.
After a moment, a frustrated growl came from Hermione, the fright causing him to spill his tea on his lap. Hermione pushed her chair back from the table, scrunching the newspaper as she left, opening the window she flung it across the garden. "When will that bitch ever fucking stop."
"Good morning to you too Hermione…" Chortled Fred as he and George opened the front door to join the family for breakfast.
"Should you go after her?" Ginny leaned over to Ron. Ron shook his head wiping the hot tea from his jeans.
Ron's dad pointed his wand at the open window. "Accio paper,"
The paper flew back to him readjusting itself to allow him to read . He chuckled. "Well Hermione I don't often swear but I have to agree with your sentiment."
She stormed back in with angry tears in her eyes. "She's done it again… how is it possible she has done it again." Her hair appeared to expand with her humid anger her face bright red. Grabbing the the paper from his father she growled, "Harry Potter the boy who lived now in underage teen pregnancy scandal."
Harry choked on his tea. "What?"
Harry grabbed the paper from her. Ron leaned over Ginny to read.
The paper bore a photograph of Harry holding Rose, standing in the front garden he rocked her gently before being joined by Ginny who stroked Rose's head. They shared a smile and a kiss before spending a moment talking to the baby between them.
"Read it…" Hermione hissed.
"Harry Potter, a mere boy of 16 ... wait who wrote this… " he chuckled. "Of course it was Skeeter… I've been 16 for a while now… blah blah blah pictured above with his secret love child and …" he stopped before darting a glance over to Ginny "... older lover Ginerva Weasley (17). The child is thought to have been conceived during a night of passion whilst Potter was on the run from the Dark Lord ."
"Oh and what a night of passion that would be, snuck into your tent in the middle of nowhere having a good fu…" Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Enough Ginerva." Molly chastised the redhead who quietly finished her sentence to the sleeping baby on her lap.
Ron kicked her under the table, "Don't teach my daughter to swear…"
Ginny grinned a mischievous grin, and never taking her eyes off Ron, lowered her face to the sleeping girls ear and whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear. "Fuck, bloody, bugger, twat."
"Right give her back." Ron huffed.
"Bloody fucking twat cunt" Ginny chuckled standing and walking to the far end of the table.
"You are loosing your auntie privileges, give her back now."
"Nope, even the paper says shes mine."
Ron's ears burned as he pushed back from the table, "Give me my daughter," as he reached Ginny she smiled once more, apparating to the opposite end of the table. Fred and George were cheering Ginny on and the majority of the people around the table were sharing a laugh.
"Mum will you fucking tell her.." Ron found himself moaning before apparating to the spot Ginny was formerly stood in. To his anger she had had the same idea and apparated to the spot Ron had just left. There was a flurry of voices, cheers and laughter.
"Ronald you cannot chastise your sister for swearing and then swear yourself,"
"I want her back right now," Ron demanded.
"Is it safe to do that with the baby?" Jean asked cautiously.
"I've told you she's mine, can you stop raising your voice she's sleeping." Ginny laughed.
Hermione lost her temper shouting "Can you stop apparating with my daughter! If you don't stop, I will bang both of your heads together, sit back down the both of you and shut up."
Ron reluctantly took his seat at the table, Ginny stuck her tongue out at him across the table.
"Well, I wouldn't worry too much about the article, Hermione dear… we can set them straight that Rose is yours..." Molly Weasley walked around the table offering a pan of sausages and bacon to the occupants of the table.
Harry sucked air through his teeth, apparently having reached the part that Hermione was unhappy about. "...The boy who lived can be seen doting over the child said to be named Lily after his late mother, this reporter can only imagine how welcomed a child would be after a lifetime without a loving family or friends… why do people always make me out to be a poor friendless orphaned child…"
"Wrong thing to be pissed off about mate" Ron nudged his shoulder.
"... trauma sells… the sadder they can make you look, the more papers they sell" Rose said while taking a drink of orange juice. The giant orange cat on her lap sniffed the orange substance as it passed.
"However joy may be fleeting for the happy new family as pictured in the window behind them is Miss Hermione Granger. The …" Harry looked up to Hermione for guidance.
"They crossed out the word Mudblood… but left it in the article…" She confirmed for the group. Shocked gasps echoed on the table and Ron felt his blood boiling. He grabbed the paper from Harry skimming the page and landing on the offending word.
"How can they get away with that. It's disgusting"
"What is a mudblood?" asked Jean.
"It's a derogatory term for someone who is a muggleborn Mum, someone who has muggle parents, like me."
Molly placed another sausage on Jean's plate "Not a term that is generally heard in civilised society, but they seem to be clinging on to the freedoms they had during the war."
"Freedom?! Since when has it been a freedom to use that word." Ron slammed his fist on the table.
"Things have been different since you left," George said gravely.
"I think that word has been the most pleasant of the changes that happened while you were on the run." Fred speared a sausage and pointed it towards Ron.
Ron skimmed the rest of the article "... muggleborn witch who looks on longingly has been reported to have been on the run with Mr Potter during his quest to defeat the Dark Lord, Miss Granger is former lover and current friend of Mr Potter who many readers will remember was involved in a messy love triangle with Potter and tri wizard tournament champion Viktor Krum. How Miss Granger has taken the birth of the child is yet to be determined, how rumour has it that she has already set her sights on notorious blood traitor and current war hero Ronald Weasley."
"It's just drivel,"
"Nice picture though." Rose offered airily, taking a peek at the page across the table.
"What other changes should we know about then?" Ron put the paper down.
His father cleared his throat. "Well, there's the blood status amendments to the marriage laws that mean no person can marry a person of lower status. You know, pure blood and pure blood. Half blood and half blood. Muggleborns are considered to be an illegal entity and imprisoned for stealing magic so they aren't considered. What else? The trace was used to take muggle-borns from their parents from age 11. They were petitioning to lower the age to 5 but that was overturned thank Merlin."
"All non-compliant marriages were immediately annulled. Bill and Fleur included." Ron's mother offered.
"Then there is the population enhancement act that was a fucker of a one to get through but Malfoy was mostly behind the suggestion of it," Rose added.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"It's essentially a breeding law. Each pure-blood couple was required to produce 4 children, and each half-blood family was required to produce a minimum of 3 children with magical abilities. If they were found to be squibs they were to consider the child null and void."
"They are children… how can you consider them null and void."
"It's better than "dead". That was Lucius Malfoys input into the conversation." Rose said using her fingers to accentuate the "dead".
"He wanted to kill children" Hermione gasped in horror.
Rose widened her eyes, looking in her way, surprised as though her next statement was entirely obvious, "They would say they were killed, they would have death certificates and all the other parts but they would find themselves in Lucius Malfoys little project, with no one to protect them and no one to come looking for them."
"Does Kingsley know that?" Arthur asked with an air of concern.
Rose shrugged. "Doubt it. That conversation was had about two weeks ago in one of their private meetings with Pius. It never passed in time to be put into law I suppose some Death eaters have some morals. Anyway, enough depression, your trip will be good today won't it… and a holiday without having to camp" Rose retreated into herself trying to put on a brave face but Hermione couldn't help but feel she was hiding something.
The Burrow, Ottery St Catchpole.
4th May 1998
As the world stopped spinning and Draco came to his feet, he breathed an uneasy breath as he stood taking in his surroundings, he was sure this was the place. Looking around he saw the tall crooked house Rose had shown him from another life. It was quaint and not like his father had described to him, a one-roomed pig pen.
Situated on a vast expanse of lush farmland the house towered upwards clearly held together with magic it was rather an impressive sight to behold. Each Weasley appeared to have their own floor in the structure. He approached the garden opening the gate slowly. The area buzzed with life, chickens clucked happily at the grass, the smell of biscuits and cakes filled the air and he felt the warmth Rose always spoke about when she spoke of her home.
A pang of guilt appeared in his stomach as he remembered what he said about the place. It might not have been a mansion but it was a home, not one that he would want his daughter to be raised in but that was a different story. Swallowing his pride he knocked on the door.
It was the Weasley matriarch who answered the door, she had a bright friendly smile until she registered who was standing at the door. She reached for her wand which had been hanging in her apron pocket and pointed it directly at his chest.
Before she could open her mouth to refuse him entry. "I'm sorry to intrude, I know I shouldn't be here."
The plump woman scowled "That's right, I think it's highly inappropriate for you to be here, I don't know who you think you are…"
The woman loudly berated him as he searched for the right words. She was cut off by a shout of "Are you ok Granny?" Rose appeared behind the older redhead. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Draco, what are you doing here?"
She wore a pair of oversized sweatpants, her favourite grotesque orange t-shirt and a long knitted cardigan. Her face was pale white, her hair shoved up in a hideous bun uncombed and slightly greasy. It may have been the most hideous he had seen her looking but nothing money couldn't solve.
Draco cleared his throat and tried to push past the older woman to reach Rose but was stopped as Rose's hand touched his shirt. She had thick bands over her wrists, and hostility in her voice "You do not step foot over that threshold, I do not want your kind tainting this place for me any more than you already have."
Draco took a step back, "My kind, Rose, I'm not like them. I didn't have a choice in what I did in case you forgot."
Rose manoeuvred the older woman out of the way before pushing Draco from the step.
"Rose, remember stress isn't good for the baby." They shared a look before the red-haired woman said "I'll leave the door open, shout if you need me." She shot a look at Draco. "I'll be watching you."
He said nothing as she walked him further into the garden.
"What do you want." Her arms folded over her stomach defensively.
"You" It was cheesy, as soon as he said it he regretted it but he tried to embrace her before she pushed him away.
"I'm not available…" She said coldly looking around the garden. A large ginger cat sauntered over to them, he surveyed Draco in a way that made him uncomfortable. The large beast was the size of a small dog and had the bluest eyes Draco had ever seen on a cat.
"I needed to see you, you said we would talk after it all blew over," Draco said after he was able to divert his attention from the strange animal.
"There is nothing to talk about anymore you and your family have gotten away with your part in this and I'm sure you will live happily ever after."
"I didn't want any of this." Frustration was building in him now, he hadn't done anything wrong.
"Then fucking admit to your part in the war, tell the Aurors what your family did, they kidnapped my family, they tortured my mother. They held Ollivander for months in that cell and nearly killed him. You know the truth, you could put it right."
Rose was blatantly unaware that the conversations had already been had, and clever play of words meant that the blame no longer rested on his shoulders but now was not the time to have that conversation. She wasn't in a rational mind.
"How is she?" Draco changed the subject swiftly.
Rose stared at him for a moment, she had heard the question but proceeded to ask. "What?"
"Our daughter, how is she?"
She seemed shocked that he would change the conversation so quickly "My water broke a few days ago…"
Draco felt a twist in his chest, "That's bad?"
"Yeah."
"... and what are they doing about it."
"Theres nothing they can do."
Draco scoffed, there was always something that could be done.
"Nonsense, maybe I could get Mother's healers to speak to you? Mother always said the public healers are ridiculous"
"No thanks. I don't want anything from you."
"You aren't going to let pride get in the way of our daughter's health."
"Can you stop referring to her as our daughter?"
Draco felt his heckles rising, he smoothed the front of his shirt and took a few steps towards her. "She is our daughter, without me you wouldn't have her, we made her together…" Rose folded her arms, once more. "I don't understand why you are being such a bitch about this, a few days back here and it's like I don't exist. Through everything, the only thing getting me through was you two."
A familiar pop echoed the area and Draco watched in horror as his mother appeared to the left of the long dirt path.
"Shit…"
"What…" Rose asked.
"I'm not supposed to be here."
"Too fucking right you aren't…."
"No, I mean I'm not meant to be here, legally, I'm supposed to stay 10 miles from you at all times … Mother will be furious if I am here."
He ducked behind the hedge moving towards the little house and rounding the open door just in time to watch as his mother pulled the cloak from her head.
"Excuse me. Why are you…" The red-haired woman began.
"I'm sorry but please shush." Draco placed his finger to her lips and pointed to the two women outside the doorway. With a look that could have killed the dark lord himself, Draco quickly removed his finger from her mouth.
"You left my granddaughter alone out there." The look of horror on the woman's face grew as she watched the figure approaching Rose. Draco's stomach sank as he realised what he had done. "You are a bloody coward."
He watched as Rose broke the silence between the two women. "What do you want Narcissa?"
Narcissa Malfoy gripped the fur trim of her black Dior coat. "How dare you take that tone with me." Both women stood equidistance apart, they had their heckles up, puffing their chests out.
Rose took the two sides of her cardigan, pulling it tightly around her and crossing her arms again. "No, I know who I'm talking to. What I want to know is why you are here when neither of us has anything to say to one another."
"I have come to offer an olive branch."
"Oh really," Rose questioned.
"Yes, I have a solution to both of our problems."
"That's not really the meaning of offering an olive branch but feel free to enlighten me." Rose taunted and he watched as his mother's nose wrinkled.
"How long do you think this little charade will play out? Playing happy families here… in this hovel, the Aurors have a list of charges as long as your arm waiting for you. That child will never know her mother. Not that I can say that is a bad thing."
"Well that's my problem isn't it." Rose smiled pulling her cardigan around her stomach tighter.
"It disgusts me that my son is the father of that little beast. You truly have him wrapped around your filthy half-breed fingers don't you." Mother watched Rose's stomach before continuing with a smirk. "My son has told me of his intention to marry you before the little beast is born, I'm assuming it is your idea, now your husband is dead and gone do you think that you will get to move on to my son."
Rose burst into a laugh, "Well I can assure you that if Draco has made that suggestion it is fully of his own doing, I would rather stick pins in my eyes than marry him." She raised the accent of her voice ensuring he heard the statement. Rose centred her attention on the doorway causing his mother to glance his way. He ducked again before peering over the windowsill his heart racing.
"Is this true?" Mrs Weasley hissed at him. The woman was around a foot smaller than him but she was terrifying. He swallowed hard, before pulling a small box from his pocket. He thought the statement would mean something, he wanted to own up to his mistakes to support her and their daughter.
Instead, her face flushed red, "You have a lot of nerve."
"But I'm just…" he began before being cut off.
"My granddaughter has been through enough in her life because of you, and make no mistake it is solely because of you, and your decisions." Draco pushed her finger from his chest. "I know things about your family that would curdle your stomach boy, if you think I would ever in a million lifetimes allow my granddaughter to marry into your family you have another thing coming."
The conversation outside had escalated, silencing the tirade, his mother shrieked loudly. Her finger pressed firmly into Rose's chest. "Enough, I'm giving you two options: Abort the child now and I will give you whatever price you name…"
Rose pushed her finger from her. "I don't need or want your money, so if you think for one minute you can buy me off you are sadly mistaken and secondly it's far too late, I'm 6 months pregnant"
"There are ways…" His mother hissed. Draco felt his stomach drop, she was talking about killing his child.
"I know there are ways but they are barbaric at this stage and I won't do that to her." Rose placed a hand on her stomach.
His mother wrinkled her nose. "So you have considered it then? Ever the merry murderess aren't you, does my son know you intended to kill his child"
"I should hope so, he was the one to brew the potion in the beginning" Rose sniped cutly.
The redhead stood next to him whipping her head around her face demanding an explanation. He had offered to procure the potion for Rose and brewed it even. But following reassurances from Lord Voldemort that the cycle would continue if the pregnancy was not successful and changes in the law that rendered abortion punishable by death in all circumstances he had opted to continue with plan A, it had not been a pretty sight watching Rose collapse to the floor sobbing as he flushed the contents of the vial. "Then why is she still pregnant if you offered to do that for her…"
The answer came too quickly for Draco to adjust it to suit himself "I didn't want to be killed…"
"I" The redhead repeated raising her eyebrows, A glaze appeared in the witch's brown eyes, "You … didn't want … to be killed…" she faltered as though in disbelief. "We wouldn't want something like that to affect you. Would we?"
"You will ruin his life…" the statement cut through their conversation. "... a half-blood bastard will sully two lines of noble pureblood."
Rose threw her hands in the air, "You think my life is not already ruined…"
"I don't care about you, you are not relevant to me."
"I never have been… you only intervened when your husband started to pay more attention to me than you" It was meant to cut, but his mother remained entirely unphased.
"Oh here we go with the pity party…it was another life, it hasn't happened, our lawyer has informed us of our positioning and I am assured it will be thrown out of court."
"I'm sure your lawyer will tell you whatever they are paid to."
Draco felt the pit reappearing in his stomach, Rose had no idea what Tabitha was capable of. His father had often remarked over the years that for a woman she was surprisingly inept with the workings of the law. Yesterday he had watched as the memories of his father's interactions with Rose had been manipulated, intertwined with Draco's memories ensuring that "no's" became "yes's" as evidence against her was gathered.
"It doesn't change the damage you have caused though does it, my family is publicly shamed, my husband disfigured and you are here playing happy families, you have gotten your way like the spoiled little bitch that you are…" His mother's face had a tinge of pink in her cheeks.
"And what is your second option for me as I'm not killing my child," Rose interrupted.
"If you refuse to abort the child. You sign a statement confirming you lied about your time in… my husband's little project, you deny its existence or we will take the child when it is born."
It blindsided Draco, the brazenness of it. His mother was a powerful woman but she was never one to be blunt, she kept her cards close to her chest, never revealing her hand.
"You won't be taking her…" Draco sensed the change of tone immediately, Rose's guard had gone up but there was a pure panic in her voice.
"The law is on our side, if she is Draco's daughter we will contest your ability to provide for her, your stability mentally, and your impending imprisonment. Pureblood parentage always wins in the court system."
"You don't want her though, she is an illegitimate bastard child, she's a girl, she's not an heir she wouldn't even be considered a spare. Why would you take her if she is nothing but inconvenient to you?"
Draco watched his mother smile for the first time in the interaction. "You forgot the third and most important aspect of that little pureblood triangle, the merchandise…" Rose stood silently, her arms falling to her sides and her mouth hanging open slightly. The Merchandise. "... and I will not hesitate to sell that piece of scrap to the highest bidder who comes along."
Draco felt his blood boiling, he knew the outcome his mother was looking for but this wasn't some stranger on the street, this was his child. She had overstepped the mark, and while he was sure it was just a threat the stress it was causing Rose was clear to see.
"Besides" his mother continued "you have taken everything from me so I will take everything you love from you."
Rose's voice broke, "I didn't want to hurt him, I just wanted him to stop hurting me." She hastly wiped her cheek.
"In all your years in that place you never learned, did you? You think this is about the disfigurement of my husband…" his mother laughed viciously "He hasn't touched me with that thing for years so you have merely ensured he will no longer be able to sleep with half of the upper class and his whores in the compound…"
Rose didn't hide her emotions now "They are not whores, they are human beings, not one of them wants to be there."
"They should be grateful they are being housed and fed..."
"... and fucking raped every single day by disgusting men who hurt them more than you could ever know."
"You think I don't know what hurt feels like? Do you think I was so protected as a child… you delude yourself with your righteousness." Mother spat her venom and Rose softened to it.
"Narcissa if someone has hurt you you have to speak out too… It will never stop if you don't."
"It is the way of the world and something you must learn to accept with dignity."
"How will you feel when it's Draco running that place when he has his pick of the whores as you call them. How will you feel when your precious dragon is the one doing what your husband has done for years, deciding to injure and pimp them as he feels…"
His mother remained silent for a moment. "It… it is his duty… as a Malfoy man.
"You used to hide behind that all the time, in the other timeline, you were the closest thing to a mother I knew, I used to think that you cared for me… that you took me to my family for my safety… The more I look at it, the more I see you were jealous that your husband found me desirable instead of you.
"Lies" her nostrils always flared when she had been caught out in a fib. Draco had seen it enough times when she had purchased expensive items that had not been properly declared. A war of words erupted between the two.
"I was a child, Narcissa! Death would have been an easier fate than what he did to me…"
"Are you so spineless that you won't stand up for her?" The oldest Weasley woman jabbed her wand into Draco's arm.
"You were a thorn in my side from the second you were born, a horrible little creature who wanted more and more each day."
"I was a baby…"
"She is strong enough to stand up for herself." Draco hissed trying to hear the words being said.
"Is she…" The woman hissed. "Look at her, she is in tears, she is breaking in front of you and you stand there like a spare wand doing nothing, she is carrying your child… is that not enough for you to man up and stand up for her? She has been through enough… if you want to make a statement now is the time and if you don't I will and I will not hold back "
"The way you screamed and cried. So pathetic always wanting more than the life the dark lord gave you"
"He didn't give me a life, he taught me to kill and hate and wound and maim and he destroyed everything…"
"Ungrateful little…"
"I wanted my mother."
"You were manipulative…"
"How can a baby be manipulative? You stupid stuck-up cunt."
"Sign the statement, abort the child or we will take her and on Hecate's name I promise I will make sure that little brat is shipped off to my husband's project the moment she is born."
Bile rose once more in Draco's throat, the spark that set him off, he darted towards the pair. "You aren't sending my daughter anywhere."
Mother turned to see him approaching from the doorway. Her face morphed once again from the unknown monster to the doting mother."Draco darling what are you doing here…"
"Don't Draco darling me… you lost all your privileges when you stood by Father" Draco placed his arm around Rose's shoulders only to be batted away immediately.
"We are family Draco, we stand together regardless of what…" Mother said taking a step forward.
"Did you know about the Compound…" He asked directly.
Mother's face paled "Well of course I did… it's been in the Malfoy family for …"
"Generations… " Draco accused.
" yes … but you have to understand…"
"Do you know what happens there?" He interrupted.
"Well, of course, I do.."
"So, you think it's acceptable for people to be held against their will, killed or worse."
"Well, that doesn't happen…" Mother floundered.
"You think it's acceptable that women are sold or gifted to men to be raped, bred and tortured before being ripped to shreds at the end of their life."
"Draco, you know I already know this, you know that this happens and you know the extent to which it is necessary. Please do not play the innocent party because you wish to mount this tramp. They are nothing…"
"They are either nothing or it doesn't happen. Which is it because you used to pride yourself on never lying to me."
She stuttered floundering over the web of deceit.
"Answer me" He commanded.
"They are half breeds, my little Dragon or worse… Muggles… " She attempted to step forward. He batted her away.
"... my daughter will be a half-breed…" Draco hissed "It does not make her less significant."
"That thing is not your daughter" she spat before a look of shock appeared on her face, once again floundering to return her composure "It is not alive yet…"
"She can hear this conversation…" Draco's blood boiled. "She kicks right now because I speak… am I right?"
Rose stared blankly ahead, "Leave…"
"Yes, Mother leave…" Draco hissed.
"No you leave Draco, I don't need this… I don't want this. You need to go away."
Molly appeared in the doorway. "That's enough now, she has asked you to leave, so do so or I will contact the Aurors and have you removed."
Mother grabbed his hand as she had when he was a child and suddenly the world was spinning. They returned to the Manor with a crash.
"You have no right to make decisions for me, I'm an adult and she is my flesh and blood mother! I created her. Whether by choice or by circumstance I am the one who fathered her. She is my child, and I will not allow you to speak ill of her or her mother."
"Her mother is a filthy whore who has stolen everything we held dear. An enchantress who wanted to take your father from me."
"You think him or any of this is something worth holding?" Draco paced in the parlour. Racking his hands through his hair he felt the adrenaline rushing in his veins. "She showed me everything from the other time Mother. In another life, you overheard that cretin you call a husband…"
"Don't call your father that..." She stood quaking with anger. Draco shook himself, he had never stood up to her, not like this. "She's shown you too hasn't she…" Mother refused to answer. "You saw it that night at the ball when you assaulted her. You saw what he did…"
"Answer me!" He screamed, his face now inches from her. "Did you know what he did?"
"It didn't happen, it was a place and a time that so very much was different."Mother rationalised.
"Stop changing the subject, Yes or no! Did you know?"
"Yes, I knew… of course I knew how could I not…" She spat back.
"Then understand the consequences of your actions. Everything up to this point, from the moment you allowed him to do what he did, to the horrors he inflicted on her when he found her again, it is your fault."
"Draco, you are not a woman, you will never understand that that is a part of life… a woman should learn her place…"
"She was a child," Draco shouted.
"She was 13, she would have blossomed at that point and was practically a woman…"
"...she was held down and raped in front of her father while his throat was slit Your husband did that… your husband!"
"Your father bought her, whether I like it or not he had the right to do what he wanted…"
Draco felt the air leaving his lungs. How could anyone rationalise that?
"He is no father to me, that scumbag you call a husband brought her back to the manor… to your home and fucked her repeatedly in your house on your furniture in your dungeon. While you slept in your bed. Do you not care?"
Narcissa stood speechless as Draco's accusations stung the air "Draco … I don't need to hear this".
"You need to hear this; you must understand that you are the reason these things happened. You might not have done it but you were complicit, you never spoke up you never stopped it so part of the blame lies with you."
"Draco please …"
"Stop mother… my mind is made up. If you continue to stand by him you lose me."
His ultimate had the desired effect, her pale face fell and she became silent. Her hand shaking she barely whispered, "… Draco you don't mean that…"
"Romi is my family."
"What is Romi?" Mother asked softly.
"My daughter"
"That thing is not your daughter." She repeated once more with conviction, there was no faltering this time
"Just because you say something is true doesn't make it real. I won't abandon her." Draco said
"She was already pregnant the night you … consummated her marriage," Mother said softly as though breaking bad news.
"Why are you lying to me?"
Mother pulls a vial from her pocket, "Why are you so sure I'm wrong, my dragon?" Pouring the vial into the large basin beside her she gestured to him, "See for yourself."
Draco watched his mother with a venomous rage, "When you are proved wrong I want an apology for her."
Mother raised an eyebrow. "Anything for you my dragon?"
watched Rose writhing on top of another man, a look of ecstasy on her face that he had never seen before as the moans quietened and faint grunting could be heard. the dark-haired man stilled holding her close, a white light filled the air around them. Patronus danced and swirled around them as she leaned to kiss the man underneath her, a smile spreading over her face and her heart filled with love and joy.
He recognised the man, Sirius Black. He reciprocated the look, staring at her as though in complete awe of her. Draco has seen that look, in the moments her eyes were closed, when she was in her own mind and it was like a jagger to his heart. She had been thinking of him.
"Oh my star," She had moaned over and over… only she was not talking about him.
"You want her so desperately, but has she ever looked at you like she looks at him my little Dragon."
"This is one memory mother. Black died 2 years ago."
The memory morphed as her smile became a smirk. "You think so."
Rose worked tirelessly for Dumbledore, but as sickness took her strength, her face became gaunt with exhaustion until the memory stopped spinning. The day before the wedding, he remembered the clothes she had worn. In the clinical room, Snape stood before her, casting the diagnostic charm, the same charm Rose had done.
A speck appeared before them, Rose stared at it as though it was something otherworldly. The words writing "Sirius Black II" on the line should have been filled with his name.
"She's the only part of him I have left." Rose had begged before receiving a stunning charm to the head. The words were manipulated changing ages and names. He had loved another man's child for all these months.
"She's not mine?" He half sobbed as he witnessed a future disappearing in front of him.
Draco felt his mother's hand on his back. "She had you fooled my little dragon…"
As Rose's memory was wiped, and the spell modified Draco watched as his name appeared in place of Black's and when she opened her eyes Rose did not know of the child within her.
That night Rose had lay unresponsive as he undressed her, explored and touched what he wanted. Draco had thought he had made her his, only he was watching with new eyes. Their eyes rolled back in their heads as she merged the times, repeatedly. The Dark Lord watched ominously from the sidelines, catching her eye, with a threatening raise of his eyebrows, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She recoiled as he pressed his face to her shoulder his fingers touching the sensitive mound between her legs. His memory had deceived him, as the reality was shown as him fumbling his way into her warmth not expertly sheathing her as he had in the former timeline, the moans he had thought were the noises of passion were grunting grimaces and faked motions made from an expressionless face.
It had been less than a minute, almost embarrassing to witness, he had choked her name with a kiss on her cheek and her eyes brimmed with tears as she recognised what had happened.
It felt like a knife to his chest, a part of him that never was, ripped out. A future, a child, a woman he had truly wanted gone leaving him with what? Nothing but a sour taste in his mouth.
"We must uphold our family name when everything we hold dear is gone. It is the only thing we have left except each other" He felt her hands running through his hair once again. "She is the one who can destroy us. If we remove the thorns then she cannot sting us anymore, you will do that for me won't you?"
The pain that swelled in Draco's mind exploded. Malfoy men always get what they want, this wasn't going to change now.
4th May 1998
Ministry holding cells
It was the same as last time. No matter how Sirius tried to convince himself otherwise. It had been 48 hours, but he was still locked in a cell with no hope of being released. This was it, he was going to die trapped in this cell.
There had been no lawyer visiting to read his rights same as last time, no owls confirming the order knew he was alive, and the guards who walked passed his cell failed to acknowledge his presence no matter how much and what he shouted and balled.
Food appeared on a tray in front of the door, the same as last time and it went uneaten. The feeling of sickness grew only bigger as the minutes turned to hours and the hours felt like days. The same as last time Sirius grieved only this time it wasn't for his best friend and chosen brother. It was Harry's death that haunted him now. He grieved in solitude, the hollow pit in his stomach aching with questions. Harry had won, he saved them all once again but at such a cost, Sirius had failed. He had failed to protect Harry in every aspect of his life. He had failed to protect his best friend. Sirius had failed.
When he wasn't led on the floor staring at the ceiling Sirius paced like a caged dog. His anger and grief ebbed and flowed in waves. He fluctuated between screaming, punching the walls hammering the door and curling in a ball on the hard bed wishing for some ending to come.
It was worse than the white room. At least there he could see his daughter's face. Hear Rose's voice.
"I have rights!" He had shouted as he hammered his fist against the door.
At some point unknown when Sirius had all but given up and resorted instead to trying to kill himself by holding his breath, the door creaked open, "If you have quite finished. We are ready to see you now,"
Sirius lept up and was escorted down the long hallways, into another small room. Kingsley Shacklebolt sat in the chair opposite him.
"Well, well if it isn't Sirius Black in the flesh". Kingsley gave a jovial chuckle before taking his hand in a firm shake. "It's good to see you, my friend."
Sirius took a seat opposite Kingsley."When did you become minister for magic."
"After the battle, it's only temporary at the moment…" Kingsley rustled his colourful robes. "There will be an election at some point in the future but right now we have too many other priorities in our queue."
"Someone has to lead the shit show, eh?" Sirius said sadly.
Kingsley smiled a small smile, nodding his head.
"They said you wanted to see me," Sirius said.
"I had intended to come sooner, have you been given any news as to what happened?" Kingsley asked.
"I know he's dead," Sirius said bluntly
Kingsley looked downcast. "Yes, I know you and Remus were extremely close, I am so very sorry for your loss."
The air left Sirius's chest. "Remus…"
The realisation dawned on Kingsley that they were not discussing the same person. "I'm sorry Sirius, Remus passed during the battle of Hogwarts."
Numb. That was all Sirius felt, numb. "Did Harry suffer?" He managed to choke out.
"He did very well but ultimately You Know Who's hatred killed himself at the end," Kingsley affirmed.
"At least he's not going to go through anymore now, I just wish he could have had a chance to experience some happiness." Sirius's throat burned as he spoke.
"Well give him a chance to let the dust settle and I'm sure he will find a way to move on. He's a resilient bloke."
It was an odd statement to make. "He's dead Kingsley, how do you propose he moves on from death."
"Who is dead?"
"Harry"
"Harry isn't dead," Kingsley looked at him as though he had two heads.
"But Malfoy said…"
"Why would you ever listen to anything Lucius Malfoy has to say?"
It was too much, Sirius didn't know who to believe. "I want to see him. I want to see Harry, right now."
"You can't not yet,"
He slammed his fist onto the table. "They can't just keep me here with no news, no and no contact with the outside world. When will they charge me with something or let me go?" Sirius asked.
"Well, I came to tell you you have been acquitted of the murder of the thirteen muggles and Peter Pettigrew, but you haven't given me a chance to get a word in edgeways."
"So I can go?"
"Given that Pettigrew was found alive and well and admitted he committed the crimes you were tried for you should be able to go free today" His heart soared, and before the two locked eyes, there was a but, "...but you assaulted Lucius Malfoy."
Sirius slammed his fist into the desk. "He deserved it,"
"You need to learn to keep your temper in check Sirius…"
"You try keeping your temper in check when the man who raped the woman you love is gauding you…"
Kingsley held up a silencing finger. "I was with Rose today, she has reported the accusation and now we await evidence and the trial."
"I witnessed it, Kingsley, him…" Sirius felt the anger building, "...violating her body. A trial isn't enough, a jail sentence is not enough, I want to break every damn bone in his body. One at a time, to make him feel every ounce of pain she has. I don't regret my actions because it was a fraction of what I wanted to do."
Kingsley shook his head. "I know, but he has pressed charges, now regardless of what he has done we have to hold you until a trial can be held."
"I have to see her, she's having my baby." Sirius pleaded. The minister furrowed his brows.
"You have been dead for two years Sirius," Kingsley whispered. "I know you love her, I saw your bond before your passing but…"
"Rose had a time turner, I don't know how it's possible but you should see her Kingsley, Romi is my daughter. I watched her grow from being the size of a pin, she is going to be born soon and I need to be there for them both."
"Where have you been all this time Sirius," Taking his quill in hand once more Kingsley pulled out his notepad, "Watched her grow from where?"