There was a lightness in her gait as she retraced her steps back to where she'd left her mother waiting. There was a small smile on her face that she didn't feel like it had ever truly belonged there before that day.

The reason for it, though? Of that, she had no clue.

It wasn't only her mother that she found pacing there, however.

"Daphne!" cried the brunette missile that was hugging her. Tracy looked her over anxiously. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Her mother was beside her in an instant too, asking about her whereabouts for the past half an hour. She tried to contain her surprise, realizing that she must've been away for longer than she thought.

"You're smiling."

Like always, Tracy spent no time in quaffling.

She kept quiet for a moment. It was enough to rile her mother up. "Daphne, where were you?"

"I have good news," she said softly, taking a seat and then waiting until they were both seated on her either side.

She took a moment to calm her heart. "Father will be okay. The Potters will not be pressing charges."

Her mother looked too shocked to do anything but embrace her. Daphne returned her affection but couldn't reciprocate the warmth.

"How did this happen?" Tracy asked. Daphne pulled back and her mother joined her best friend in inquiring the same.

She was careful in choosing her words. "Potter-Harry Potter is in my year in Slytherin. He agreed to make our House a vassal to his, in exchange for acquitting father."

Her mother looked shocked but she didn't miss the look that Tracy gave her, knowing that she was due for a grilling whenever next they were by themselves.

"Thank Merlin!" her mother was saying while Daphne began to reflect on what could be the longest and most tiresome day of her life. "We are saved! Thank you-thank you!"

Daphne found herself returning another embrace from her mother. "I did what was best for the family," she said softly, not wanting to take credit beyond what she thought she had a duty to do anyway.

Her mother kissed her on the forehead. "My darling girl," she whispered with pride. "You've saved your father not only from prison but also from the Dark Lord."

Just a day ago, Daphne would've almost preened upon hearing those words from her stricter parent. She loved her father but she'd always, for as long as she could remember, sought her mother's praise. While her father gave out his commendations as freely as chocolate frogs, her mother had always been more sparse with bestowing her good opinion, and that had always made it more valuable for her.

But now, after the cruel truth that had been forced upon her, her mother's words meant next to nothing.

Tracy met her eyes. "Potter really agreed to it? For an alliance?"

Daphne wasn't fooled by the words, she knew what the half-blood witch was really asking. "He proposed it himself, not as equals though."

Her mother was nodding. "That's good. Vassalage is an acceptable form of alliance. It doesn't really lower the status of our House as we've been given the privilege by a higher ranked member of the Wizengamot."

Daphne's incredulous gaze turned to her then. "It's not going to be seen as a privilege now, will it, mother? The Daily Prophet will be having a blast tomorrow. The entire country will know what father did."

"I suppose that is inevitable," the Lady Greengrass sniffed sadly. "but it will pass over in a day or few at most."

"At least Malfoy doesn't have the ear of the Minister anymore," Daphne had to keep herself from sneering at her mother who flinched at the venom in her voice, "Regardless, it cannot blow over soon enough."

The door creaked open, and Daphne's eyes shot up. The figure that entered the room was both familiar and entirely unexpected. She stood gracefully, smoothing her skirt, and dipped into a practiced curtsey.

"Lady Potter," Daphne greeted, her tone as measured and respectful as she could manage.

Lily Potter stepped into the room with an air of effortless authority. Her deep auburn hair shimmered in the enchanted light, and her green eyes—so like Pot-Harry's, yet so much sharper—scanned the room with a detached curiosity.

She was dressed impeccably with a dark, elegant cloak draped over her shoulders, and though her expression was calm, there was something in her demeanour that set Daphne on edge. It wasn't anger, exactly, but something much more... calculated.

~~ .

The houses on Chesterfield Lane in Crawley were modest but well-kept, lined with hedges and flowerbeds that added a sense of quiet charm to the suburban street. The air was warm, the summer heat clinging stubbornly in the winds that broke through the dense shrubberies. It was a peaceful afternoon—or at least, it had been.

Inside Number 14, Hermione's eyes shot open as when the tranquility was shattered—literally.

A loud crash erupted as what felt like every window in the house simultaneously shattered inward, the sound of breaking glass echoing through the quiet street. Hermione screamed, instinctively ducking and covering her head as shards of glass rained down all around her.

The front door burst open with a deafening crack, and dark figures in hooded robes stormed into the house.

"Find her!" someone barked, the voice cold and commanding.

Hermione's heart raced as she scrambled to her feet, clutching her wand tightly. Her dream, so vivid and expansive and oh so beautiful still swam in front of her eyes, and the reality felt like a nightmare. Her heart thudding in her ribcage, fear boiling through her not just for herself but for her parents, she didn't know what to do.

The robed figures moved with purpose, their wands drawn and eyes scanning every corner. One of them spotted her and sneered.

"There she is!"

Hermione raised her wand, some unknown reflex making her stare at the danger without flinching, her voice steady despite the terror coursing through her veins.

The beam of blasting curse hit the Death Eater square in the chest, sending him crashing into the wall, a shower of blood was all that remained in the place that he'd been standing.

But before she could react further, a flurry of multicoloured spells zipped past her, some narrowly missing her head and striking the bookshelf behind her. Books exploded into the air as she darted out of the room, her feet slipping on the polished wooden floors.

In the chaos, she didn't notice the faint pop of Apparition just outside the house.

~~ .

Sirius Black was having a chaotic day.

First, his best friend and brother had been almost cursed in what was supposed to be one of the most secure places in Britain and now, he was intent on aligning the Greengrass House with his own as Gerald Greengrass confessed to acting on his own accord for his poor attempt at suicide earlier in the Wizengamot.

James joined him in his reverie then, getting straight to the point.

"You need to ask Bella to calm down."

Sirius' head whipped to him in surprise. "I don't know what gave you the idea but let me squash it right now. Bella doesn't listen to anyone."

James shook his head. "We've already decided on a solution, there's no need to escalate." Sirius chuckled.

"Tell that to the witch in there," the padfooted one gestured to the Head of the DMLE still grilling the Lord Greengrass on the other side of the room, only a thin soundproof glass separating them. "I'm pretty sure she would've cursed him by now," he admitted.

James snorted. "He's gonna suffer enough, believe me," Sirius quirked an eyebrow at that, prompting him to explain, "Lily has some plans."

Sirius laughed. "If Bella lets him live."

James glared at him. "That's not funny. We don't need another cold war between Lily and Bella."

Sirius sobered immediately. "Right you are," he began but then paused, thinking. "What did Harry say?"

"It was Harry who orchestrated everything," revealed James, staring into space, "I still don't know when he grew up so much, Padfoot. It's almost as if one moment, he was in the crib playing with his toy broom and in the next, he's an adult."

"I gifted it to him," Sirius mused.

James smiled. "I was convinced he was going to be the youngest Chaser in a century."

"Just like us," Sirius shook his head. "I'm glad I don't have children," he joked but saw that his friend wasn't reacting so he elbowed him, "I hope his plans didn't affect Lily's."

"I don't think Harry could do anything that will make Lily angry," he said seriously. "Lily seemed...delighted at the turn of events."

Sirius gulped. "I wake up each day gladder that I don't have a wife."

James laughed. Sirius silently congratulated himself on making him cheer up again. "Right, you're only interested in defiling others'."

Sirius winked at him. "If they're so willing, what's the harm?"

"You're even better at it than Malfoy."

Sirius sniffed as if offended. "Better than Malfoy? Please. I was born better than that scum."

James only laughed harder.

"At least Greengrass was being cucked in exchange for some imaginary safety from the Pretender. You just seduce them for the fun of it."

Sirius shrugged unapologetically. "I love it, you know? It exposes the hypocrisy of all those who put on a sneer to look down on others. When I was sorted into Gryffindor or when I supported your family, I always wondered if all these people who tried to shame me for betraying myfamily were so perfect with their own. Turns out, they aren't."

"I know, Pads. I know. I would've turned out exactly like you had I not found Lily," James said.

Sirius grinned, but before he could retort, the door to the observation room opened and Lily swept in.

"And here's my favourite band of troublemakers," she said, a sly smile playing on her lips, "planning world domination or reminiscing about the glory days?"

"We're still in the same glory days, Lady Potter," Sirius gave a mock bow towards the glass, "as you can see."

Lily hummed, coming to stand beside James, put an arm around his waist. "He deserves all of it," she said, "and more."

"We were just discussing how well Harry brought our family a loyal vassal."

Lily leaned on her husband. "I'm only glad that you're okay," she said softly. "everything else is a bonus."

James kissed the top of her head. Sirius focused his gaze on the Greengrass Lord, knowing that these two needed a moment. It had always been like this, ever since fifth year at Hogwarts. Even in the busiest of times, they always had time for each other. Hell, Lily had even started accepting that being a little late to classes wasn't that big of a deal, especially when her time with James was being cut short.

"How was the meeting with the Lady Greengrass?" Sirius asked mockingly.

Lily clucked her tongue. "Lavinia is as cheerful as ever," she snarked. "But she knows her place now."

"What about the daughter?"

"She has potential." Lily began and then paused. "She obviously loves her father very much. I didn't see much affection for her mother though."

Sirius whistled. "Hilarious. Maybe she knows about her mother's extended sordid liaison?"

"That will do it," Lily laughed. "What did Gerald say he wanted to do by attacking you?"

James scowled. "He knew about his daughter's failed attempt at manipulating Harry. He was already been pressured by the Pretender to do his bidding and sort of had a mental breakdown today."

"Learned about his wife's lover I reckon," Sirius supplied, chuckling at their private nickname for Voldemort. That'll never cease being funny. "I'll never understand how he didn't know about it for years."

Lily shook her head. "Unbelievable."

James continued. "So he wanted to force us into accepting his wife and daughters into the Light faction."

"What about himself?" Lily asked.

"He didn't expect to survive today," Sirius admitted, though couldn't help with the sarcastic tone, "The story is quite something. The man sacrificing himself so his wife and daughters could live happily ever after."

"I wish I could see into his mind," Lily said thoughtfully. "He looks like he has many secrets."

"Bella would happily break him for you should you ask for it," Sirius offered.

James guffawed. Lily gave him a glare. "I don't want to torture him. Besides, he may have protections that we do not know of. What do we know about the Greengrass family magic?"

Sirius shrugged. James shook his head. "Next to nothing."

"Probably a good starting point for me then?" Harry asked, walking into the room. "I'm sure I could learn a few things from that princess sitting in the waiting room."

Lily embraced him. "You were phenomenal."

Harry looked bashful. "I didn't plananything. Greengrass was desperate for us to spare her father."

"Regardless, it was a great decision," Lily praised. James clapped him on the back.

Sirius grinned at seeing his godson uncomfortable under praise. "Take the bloody compliment, pup."

Lily whacked him on the back of the head. "Language!"

Harry laughed.

James smirked, "You know you're very much like yo-"

He was interrupted when a tattered house-elf popped beside him. Sirius almost cursed the creature in surprise, his wand still trained on it. His wide tennis-ball eyes and big flappy ears made him look almost comical.

"Mr. Harry Potter sir!" the elf bawled and immediately threw itself at Harry's feet. "Yous Miss Hermy is in danger. You have to come!"

"Dobby?" Harry looked shocked while James and Lily were alarmed.

"Mr. Harry Potter sir knows Dobby!" the elf wailed in a high-pitched voice, "Dobby is so honoured!"

"Hermione?" Harry exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Bad wizards at her home, Harry Potter sir!" the elf bawled. "You have to hurry!"

"We're coming too, son," James said but Lily held him back saying he was injured and not going anywhere.

"I'll come with you Harry," Sirius said firmly, looking at his friends as if to say that he'll take care of Harry.

Lily turned to her son. "Be careful, please!" while James looked afraid but nodded.

Sirius took the elf's hand with Harry and in the next moment, they disappeared from the Ministry of Magic.

Lily had a tear in her eye as James hugged her tightly. "They'll be okay, honey," he cajoled her. "I'm sure of it."

"Harry is quite capable, isn't he?" she asked.

James nodded resolutely. "We can ask Bella to help too," he said. "Do you know Hermione's address?"

Lily nodded. James went to relay the information to Bella.

"Nothing will happen to any of them," he said upon returning. Then he turned to her in an inquisitive manner. "Will you tell me what did you talk with the Lady Greengrass?"

Lily turned to him, biting her lip. She realized that he was just trying to take her mind off of things. She nodded.

"Well, when I arrived there..."

~~ .

Lavinia saw her daughter greeting the Lady whose House was going to be dictating most of her and her family's life and future and scowled and then straightened. Daphne was already doing a graceful curtsey as her best friend tried and failed to replicate her movements and stood to basically hide behind Daphne from the intimidating Lily Potter.

Lavinia's movements were slower than her daughter but no less deliberate. "Lady Potter," she said, her voice cool but polite. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Lily's lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Pleasure might be overstating it, Lavinia," she said, her voice soft yet laced with steel. "I thought it courteous to stop by, given the... circumstances."

The Lady Greengrass' lips pressed into a thin line, but she inclined her head. She hadn't missed the manner in which her greeting was returned, as expected from her new Patron.

"That's very thoughtful of you."

Lily's gaze shifted to Daphne, and her smile grew slightly, though it still held that unsettling edge. "Daphne," she said, her tone almost gentle. "I hear you've been rather busy."

Daphne swallowed but met her gaze steadily. "I did what I thought was right, Lady Potter."

Lily's eyes lingered on her for a moment before she nodded, as if satisfied with the answer. "And necessary for your own survival. Yes, I imagine you did." She turned slightly, taking a step closer, her presence commanding the room. "It's a brave thing, to act decisively in the face of danger and chaos. Not everyone has the courage for it."

Lavinia's gaze flicked to Daphne, a trace of something like approval in her eyes, but Daphne never saw it. She then returned to Lily.

"We are, of course, grateful that Lord Potter saw reason. Gerald's actions were... regrettable, but I hope this alliance will demonstrate our family's commitment to stability and the greater good."

Lily's smile didn't waver, but there was a subtle shift in her posture, a barely perceptible tilt of her head that made Daphne's stomach twist. Her mother had no idea that Daphne was fervently hoping that she spoke as less as possible to the witch who now held their future in her hands. Considering what she knew of the history between them.

"Stability," Lily echoed, her tone light but carrying an undertone that made the word feel heavy. "The greater good. Such noble ideals."

When she said it like that, it felt anything but noble.

There was a pause, and in that moment, Daphne felt the weight of Lily's scrutiny. It wasn't hostile, exactly, but it was piercing, as though Lily were peeling back the layers of their carefully constructed facade to examine what lay beneath.

"I wonder," Lily continued, her voice still soft, "if you truly understand what it means to align yourselves with us."

Lavinia stiffened slightly, her composure faltering for just a moment. "We are prepared to uphold our end of the alliance, of course."

"Of course," Lily murmured. She turned her gaze back to Daphne, her green eyes locking onto hers. "And you, Daphne? Are you prepared to uphold this alliance? To prove yourself useful to my son and our house?"

Daphne's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm. She's been prepared to do much more than that not more than fifty minutes ago.

"Yes, Lady Potter. I understand what's at stake, and I am ready to do whatever is necessary."

Lily's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Good. Because this isn't just about aligning with the Light, as I'm sure you've convinced yourselves. The Potters have never been as simple as that." Her gaze flicked to Lavinia, and her voice dropped slightly, carrying an almost dangerous edge. "Surely you of all people, Lavinia, should understand that."

Lavinia's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, a flicker of something like discomfort crossing her face. "I—of course."

Daphne's mind raced. The tension in the room was palpable, and though Lily's words were veiled, their meaning was clear: the Potters were not bound by the constraints of the so-called Light faction. They operated on their own terms, and any alliance with them would be on their terms as well.

Lily turned back to Daphne, her expression softening slightly. "You've made a bold choice, Daphne. It's not an easy thing, to set aside pride for the sake of something greater. That speaks to your strength."

Daphne blinked, startled by the unexpected compliment. "Thank you, Lady Potter." She wished that in that moment, her brain hadn't evaded her will to be more willing to compose a better response.

"But," Lily continued, her tone turning sharp, "strength alone isn't enough. You'll need to prove your worth, not just to my son, but to me as well."

Daphne nodded, her resolve hardening. "I will."

Lily studied her for a moment longer, then nodded, as if satisfied. "Good. I'll hold you to that."

The silence that followed was thick, and Daphne felt Tracy shift uncomfortably beside her. Lavinia, for once, seemed at a loss for words, her usual composure shaken by Lily's presence.

Finally, Lily stepped back, her gaze sweeping over the room one last time. "I trust you'll use this time wisely," she said, her voice calm once more. "Consider what your house stands for, and what you're willing to sacrifice for it."

With that, she turned and made her way to the door, her dark cloak billowing behind her. It was fairly reminiscent of what Professor Snape did but somehow, Daphne felt that the effect suited her much better.

But just before she left, she paused, her hand resting on the doorframe. "Oh, and Lavinia?" she said, her voice light but carrying an unmistakable undertone. "Do try to keep your husband out of trouble. It would be such a shame if this alliance were to... unravel."

And with that, she was gone, leaving the Greengrass ladies in stunned silence.

Daphne sank back into her chair, her mind racing. She had known that aligning with the Potters would be complicated, but Lily's visit had made one thing abundantly clear: they were playing a dangerous game, and the stakes were higher than she'd ever imagined.

She didn't even want to take a look at her mother to know how humiliated she might be feeling.

Although, she realized, it wasn't as if she didn't deserve all the humiliation in the world, and if just her baby sister Tori was spared from it all, Daphne was prepared to not blink an eye on any of it.

"Merlin... and I thought your Mumwas scary!" Tracy suddenly whispered in her ear.

Daphne smiled slightly.

~~ .

Harry's senses were alert, his heart thumping hard in his chest as he took in the shattered wood and glass all around him. The afternoon sun was warm as Sirius began to wave his wand in the general direction of the two-storey home.

"Fuck," Sirius muttered, his grey eyes narrowing. "Looks like they're already in."

Harry didn't hesitate, looking up and down the Granger drive. "We'll split up, I'll take the front door."

"I detect anti-apparition wards," Sirius gave him a look as if to say if he was sure about this. Thankfully, Dobby had somehow deposited them just outside the boundary of the wards.

Harry nodded firmly. This was not the time to think. Sirius' face hardened. "No limits, Harry. We don't know how many there are. In and out as fast as you can."

Sirius silenced his feet and then the man became the Grim as he took off towards the back just as Harry repeated the spell on his own and climbed into the house through the low broken windows in the front.

His mind hyper alert for reacting even to the tiniest movement, Harry tried to calm the dread he felt coursing through his veins as he tried his best to find Hermione or her parents.

Bent low, Harry padded into what appeared to the living room, a quick reveliogiving him the necessary information, though undesirable, that the room was empty. On a hunch, he decided to climb up the stairs.

A spell came rocketing towards him and he ducked, his arm pointing towards the landing. A wide area banishing charm and an almighty groan later, the wizard was falling over the railing down to the ground floor.

Fucking Death Eaters.

Harry didn't want to climb down the stairs to finish the job so instead, he simply summoned a half a dozen king cobras instead.

"Kill the wizard in the black hood."

The hooded serpents hissed and obeyed and Harry gave one last glance to their slithering forms before he resumed climbing.

He'd almost reached the first landing when three pale and brown coloured curses impacted a wall just behind him and he muttered a shield. The splinters rained down on him, heavy chunks of wall almost wounding him as the curses seemed to continue, hindering his movement.

"Shit."

He counted three doors on the first floor, at least on this side of the house and just as he looked around for a distraction. And then a feminine scream blew the lights out of his concentration.

"Hermione!"

He didn't waste time as he conjured a marble wall in front of himself that held him just as two malicious red beams struck it, and wasting no time, he crouched low and started casting.

His favourite spell chains came bursting forth from his wand in a ferocious intensity, all meant to explode, rupture or slice upon impact with any living or non-living object. His senses registered another scream but this time it was followed by another lower pitched one. Chunks of debris seemed to begin to fall from the general direction of his attackers and although that meant well, he didn't stay idle.

Continuing his steps in the direction of the door from which the screams seemed to have originated, he waited just a second before blasting it open.

"Stand back!" Three robed figures wearing a white mask stood before him. His heart sank as he took in the wand on Hermione's neck.

"Harry?" she cried, her voice thick with fear. "My Mum-she's downstairs!"

The second Death Eater seemed to hold his wand over an unconscious form of a man with brown hair. His face seemed to have been bashed in and was bleeding profusely.

Harry swallowed the bile that rose in his throat as he realized the predicament he was in. He couldn't use his usual destructive curses to pummel the Death Eaters if he wanted to share with Hermione and her critical father the brunt of the impact too.

Sounds of crashes and spellfire continued from downstairs, a part of him praying to any higher power that was willing to listen for Sirius to be alright.

"You will let us pass, Harry Potter," said the wizard nearest to him. The other two simply stared back balefully, their masks moving cruelly as their faces morphed into twisted sneers.

Just as he was figuring a way out of this deadly stalemate, he felt his wand thrum, as if asking him for something he wasn't willing to risk.

Tackling one or even two of them was going to leave Hermione and her father open to be cursed by the third and there was no way to cast an area-wide spell here.

"No chance," he hissed angrily. "You're not getting out of his alive."

"Throw down your wand!" one of the others growled.

Harry simply glared. "You're all gonna die. How you do is up to you."

The unspoken leader of the group seemed to take it in jest. "If your wand is not in my hands in the next twenty seconds, Harry Potter, your mudblood's father will die."

Harry glared murderously at him.

The Holly-Phoenix extension of himself thrummed in his palm again and he frowned, looking down at his trusted wand.

"That's it, Potter, now keep your hands down to the sides," the unnamed wizard said, pointing his own wand at him. "No tricks!"

Harry felt an intense rush of anticipation, his magic practically singing as goosebumps rose on his arms, his spine tingling.

"Harry don't do it, please!" Hermione cried but he didn't listen because for some insane and inexplicable reason, he felt in complete control.

The masked wizard cast a quick Expelliarmusat him and Harry's wand flew out of his hands into his attacker's.

And then Harry felt his mind split open as his surroundings inverted and he suddenly saw himself, standing there with empty hands and a smirk on his face.

"Wha-"

And then he was turning towards one of his comrades and casting. "Reducto!"

The head of the man holding Hermione exploded in a shower of blood and muscle. Hermione screamed but was quick to grasp the wand that had been holding her hostage and before the wizard holding her father at wandpoint could realize what was happening, he was being cursed into a bookshelf together by Hermione and his own comrade.

Hermione rushed to her father just as Harry felt a gigantic headache threatening to burst his head open as his wand landed back into his open palm.

The wizard who had foolishly disarmed him stood no chance, his head sliced away from the rest of his body with a quick wave of his wand.

Harry stumbled, blinking to minimize the sharp pain in my head but to no avail.

"Harry!"

~~ .

If someone had told her even twelve hours ago that she'll get to reunite with Harry, her Harry, in a deadly standoff with the Death Eaters, she would've laughed them out of the room. But now, as she was helping him sit beside her bleeding father, Hermione couldn't help but bitterly wonder if she was forever fated to witness him suffering in some way.

She summoned some water in a glass from a nearby table. "Love, are you okay?"

Harry sipped his water and swayed. Hermione was suddenly there with an arm around him, holding him upright.

"Please hold on, Harry, I'll bring help," she urged with worry in her eyes. Harry tried to smile but all exerting his facial muscles did was exacerbate the pain in his head.

She rose to go but he pulled at her hand. "Don't. Danger. Sirius' helping," he bit out somehow.

She looked conflicted but ultimately chose to kneel beside him, wand at the ready. "What happened, Harry? How can I help?" she whispered.

Harry shook his head.

"Headache," he mumbled, putting his head in his hands. "I'll be okay. Sirius?"

His godfather entered the room. At a glance, he looked unharmed.

"Two dead and two alive downstairs, ready for transport." he said without preamble, looking at Harry worriedly. "Your mother is unharmed, Miss Granger. We should go before the police arrive."

Harry tried to stand and swayed on his feet. She was there to support him. "Easy, love."

Sirius barely reacted to her endearment, all of his attention in helping them get to the stairs.

"I'll bring your father," he told her and left them to check on her father.

His head pounding heavily, Harry looked like he could barely open his eyes for longer than a few seconds as she helped him climb the stairs down safely. Her mother was sitting on a chair, looking around, she realized it was one of the only unbroken furniture in the kitchen.

"Hermione!" she cried in relief and Hermione shot her a smile. She let Harry take the seat instead and hugged her mother.

"Are you okay?" her mother was nodding frantically.

"Your father?" she asked with trepidation. Hermione told her that he was injured but Sirius was bringing him down as they spoke.

She went back to Harry who was leaning with his eyes closed, his back and head supported by the wall behind him. She rubbed at his temples then, using her thumb to make some circular motions that she herself used when she had one of those nasty migraines before exams.

"What happened to him?" her mother whispered.

Hermione shook her head. "I don't exactly know," she replied. "He'll be alright, though. I know it."

She didn't realize that her mother was staring at her. "Hermione?"

"Mum?" she asked without taking her eyes off of Harry.

"Who is this boy?"

Hermione shot her a quick smile. "This is Harry," on seeing her mother confused, she elaborated, "John Potter's twin brother." She gave her a quick summary of what had happened in the library upstairs.

Her mother was nodding though the frown on her face was strange. Hermione didn't know what to make of it. "You don't talk about him often."

Hermione gave her look as if to say, 'Really, mum? Now?'

Her Mum was unfazed. "What a brave young man you have there, pumpkin."

She was about to retort when Sirius arrived, levitating her father behind him.

"He's stable for now," Sirius assured her mother, "I did some..er...first aid."

Hermione nodded thankfully. "Harry, can you stand?" she asked worriedly and he groaned. Sirius peered at him, waving his wand in a few circles. "Don't see anything wrong. He needs a healer."

Suddenly, her Mum screamed. Hermione whipped her wand in the direction fearfully. Sirius began to laugh.

"What happened?"

"Just Harry being Harry," he waved his wand at the floor. Hermione saw that there were some snakes scattered around her mother. Not just any snakes, they were-

"They're gone," Sirius consoled her mother. "Harry deployed them to help with your attackers probably."

"What are we gonna do?" her mother whispered, looking around her broken home. "Those people..."

"Death Eaters," Sirius explained patiently. "As for what you're gonna do, Harry will kill me after he wakes if I don't have you all come with us to safety," he turned to her then, "He was very worried about you."

Her eyes welled up with tears.

Sirius removed a locket he'd been wearing. Tapping his wand, he enlarged it. "Hold on to this."

Hermione made sure her mother and Harry's hand was secure on the chain just as Sirius grabbed hold of her father. "Ready?"

Hermione nodded resolutely.

"Mischief managed."

~~ .

Hermione felt that tug behind her navel before they were all deposited in a parlour of what looked like the grim old Grimmauld Place.

Beside herself with worry, she didn't even want to wait to get settled as she turned to Sirius. "Where is the Healer?"

"Right," Sirius beckoned for them to sit.

"Kreacher!"

The elf didn't appear.

Sirius frowned.

"Kre-"

There was a loud CRACKand the old elf appeared, wailing. "MASTER! YOU ARE HERE!"

Her mother screamed and tried to get away.

Sirius frowned at what looked like to be a loyal servant. "Where else will I be?"

"SIRIUS!" someone's shriek came from outside. Hermione shivered.

"Mistress Bella be worried! Kreacher couldn't follow Master to the Muggles."

"SIRIUS WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN YOU LOUSY IDIOT?"

Sirius winced, hoping against hope that his old mother hadn't heard that. Hermione palmed her wand, not having a clue as to what was happening.

"SIRIUS I SWEAR TO ME-"

"TRAITORS, FILTH IN THE HOUSE OF BLACK! KREACHER REMOVE THESE ANIMALS!"

Hermione flinched at the familiar rant.

"MOTHER WILL YOU PLEASE SH-"

"SIRIUS!" an enraged Bellatrix burst into the room. "WHERE WERE YOU? WHERE IS HARRY?"

Hermione spoke despite herself. "Harry is injured, can you call a healer please?"

"WHO ARE YOU?" Bellatrix was vibrating with anger. "HOW DARE YO-"

Sirius held her by the arm. "Bella not now-"

"KREACHER THROW THESE MUGGLE FILTH FROM THE HOUSE! THE HOME OF THE BLACKS WILL NOT BE SULLIED WIT-"

"MOTHER SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Sirius turned to the wide-eyed elf. "KREACHER GO AND FETCH HEALER ALEX RIGHT NOW!"

"WHAT HAPPENED TO HARRY?"

"BELLA STOP SHOUTING WILL YOU?" Sirius looked angry too. "You're not helping!"

Hermione felt a tug on her arm and saw that Harry was bleeding from his nose. "Harry!"

"What is it? What happened to Harry?" Bellatrix waved her wand over him. Hermione tried hard to not flinch away from a witch who she'd always known was one of the most deranged Death Eaters in a previous life.

While all of this was happening, Hermione gasped as an ethereal looking woman swept into the room.

Before Hermione could know what was happening, Bella had sent a curse sailing towards the witch.

"BELLA NO CURSING IN THE MIDDLE OF-"

"Who are you?" Hermione demanded, pointing her own wand at the vaguely familiar witch, although she couldn't remember her name right now.

"WHO'S SHOUTING NOW?" Bella shrieked without taking her eyes off the unfamiliar witch. "I know you."

"Indeed," the greyish-blonde haired witch was still smiling despite being met with hostility. "My name is Vivienne Gauthier. I have come to treat Harry," she said serenely, "I hear he's injured. I'm a certified Healer."

Hermione sagged in a mixture of exhaustion and relief.

~~ .

AN: Chapter 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 are already up for reading. The link is my profile.