Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Draco had been missing for eight months. The once empty Malfoy Manor had become much fuller with life since losing contact with him. Theo was required to be in Paris still most often, but had set up an undetectable floo network between the Zabini Château and Malfoy Manor to make his living arrangements within the manor more accessible. Blaise had moved his things and shut down his store in Paris almost immediately after contact had been lost; his house guests joining him within the manor as well. Bellatrix had been given orders to stay in Malfoy Manor to watch over everything. Hermione had been grateful for the company and the extra help when she'd given birth two months earlier than expected, but everything felt hallow without Draco. Somedays she would sit for hours staring at her wedding ring wondering what Draco might have said to her if they were sitting together. Living in his house meant everything brought her memories of him to the forefront. At night she'd stare at the glowing green bow tattoo wrapped around her pinky and let the small relief wash over her in knowing that at least he was still alive. It had been activated so long she could no longer feel the cold that spread through her hand when she'd first called for Draco to come to her.

Eight months felt like a lifetime.

Hermione looked up at the knock on the door frame to see Blaise standing there. He was covered feet to shoulders in soapy bubbles that seemed only to double the more he tried to wipe them off. “I could use a little help.” He said, wiping a chunk of bubbles from his chest only to have a larger chunk sprout in the opening.

Hermione chuckled in spite of her forlorn mood. “Sorry, I thought Theo was with you.” Hermione said, waving her wand at Blaise to vanish the bubbles.

“He was, but then he was called off and I thought I'd be fine because the twins don't move around yet.” Blaise began explaining.

“Until Alexia covered you in bubbles?” Hermione asked.

“Well, yes. I couldn't even find my wand through them because more just kept appearing. Oh, she thought that was really hilarious. More like Bellatrix every day.” Blaise grumbled.

Hermione gave him a look. “Better Bellatrix than the other one I think.” Hermione said before smacking Blaise upside the head and walking past him.

“Ow! What was that for?” He whined, following behind her.

Hermione turned and gave him a playful smile. “Well it's what Draco would have done if he heard you saying that.” She said as Blaise rubbed his head.

“So let him smack me when he gets back.”

“Don't worry, I'll make sure he knows exactly how many times he needs to smack you while he's been gone.”

“You know, on second thought, you hit harder than him so I think a running count would be unnecessary and not the best use of our time once he's back.”

Hermione laughed, pulling Blaise beside her to link her arm in his. “You're probably right.” She said. “Wait, if you came to get me and Theo had Death Eater business, who've you left the kids with?”

Hermione released Blaise's arm to dart into the much larger nursery. Bellatrix stood between two cribs pointing her wand at the curly black haired child spinning in the middle of the room nearly a foot off the ground. “Don't look at me like that, Granger, I'm not hurting her.” Bellatrix said as Hermione rushed to the cribs.

“Maybe best to release that one.” Blaise said softly, looking at the laughing one-year-old spinning above the ground.

“She tried to cover me in bubbles.” Bellatrix stated as if that was justification for her actions.

“Bellatrix!” Hermione shot.

“Believe me, I was punished much worse than this as a child.”

“Not sure that's really the point.” Blaise said, moving closer to Alexia.

“Doesn't do any good anyway, she's been laughing the entire time.” Bellatrix said and the eye roll behind her voice was palpable.

Bellatrix softly lowered Alexia back to the ground where she tried to take a step toward Blaise, but ended up doing more of a face plant into his hands from dizziness. “Mama! Mama!” Alexia cooed when Blaise had gotten a firm grip on her, reaching out and using Blaise's hold on her as support to jump erratically toward Hermione.

“Just a second, Alexia.” Hermione said to the jumping toddler, then added more firmly, “No more bubbles.”

Alexia made a frown and stopped jumping at this. Hermione peered into the first crib holding a small baby boy. His perfectly placed platinum blonde hair barely shifted as he slept. Even through the baby plumpness his features were undeniably sharp and though his eyes were closed at the moment, beneath his lids held the same grey eyes as his father. He was the exact replica of Draco; Tini and Bellatrix had confirmed as much from the moment he'd been born. Hermione brushed the blonde hair from his forehead before moving to check the second crib. A baby girl slept within this one. She had Draco's platinum hair and his nose, but her hair was already a mess of curls. She looked most like Hermione when she was awake and her matching brown eyes were visible along with Hermione's less pointed features.

Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy and Ariadne Eltanin Malfoy had been born in the early weeks of July opposed to the last week of September when they had been expected, due in much part to Hermione's inability to stop letting stress get the better of her. Their birth had been difficult and for the first two weeks of their lives a healer had to be present every moment not just to keep them alive, but Hermione as well. Hermione had fallen into a coma during which she envisioned completing the last months of her pregnancy with Draco beside her. Their births had been perfect and easy with Draco holding her hand and wrapping her curls around his finger like he always did when he couldn't bring himself to voice his feelings.

“A girl! She looks just like you.” Draco had said despite the white curls barely visible on her head.

“Don't be stupid.” Hermione had retorted back, but Draco had simply pressed his lips to hers before letting Hermione hold her and take a good look at their similar features.

“Ariadne seems fitting. A Greek name, just like her mummy. Ariadne Eltanin; so she can be a bit of mummy and daddy, I think.” Draco had said, taking her away from Hermione so that she could prepare for the birth of Ariadne’s twin.

“A boy.” Draco had been less excited to see his son.

“He's perfect, just like his daddy.” Hermione had cooed.

“I'm far from perfect; let's hope he's nothing like me and everything like you.” Draco had said as he passed his tiny replica into Hermione's arms.

“Scorpius Hypherion, so he can be a bit of daddy and a bit of mummy.” Hermione had said looking up into Draco's beautiful face above hers.

“It's perfect. They're perfect. You're perfect.” Their lips met again before everything faded away from her and she finally regained consciousness.

Hermione knew the time in her coma with Draco there hadn't been reality, but something about it felt too real to not give the twins the names that her unconscious version of Draco had approved of. They'd grown significantly since then, even more than was expected of premature twins. She twisted a curl of Ariadne's around her finger to move it from the center of her face and felt that all consuming ache in her chest that seemed to always be around her since she'd realized she wouldn't be able to contact Draco even by means of their love notes.

Hermione moved to retrieve the bouncing once more Alexia from Blaise, but Bellatrix caught her arm. “What?” Hermione asked, stopping to look at Bellatrix.

“The Dark Lord wants to see you.” Bellatrix stated.

Hermione saw Blaise rise with Alexia to his full height and stiffen protectively out of the corner of her eye. Hermione felt the blood rush from her face. “When?” She asked softly.

“Now, ideally. That's why I'm here.” Bellatrix stated.

“Oh.” Hermione said in a gasp.

“You couldn't have given any more warning?” Blaise asked, glaring across the room at Bellatrix.

“She's known he would want to see her. The pregnancy was the only thing keeping her from being carted off the Hogwarts the moment we lost contact with Draco. I've already pushed it out as far as I can. If we get any further into October I can't promise punishment won't be supplied.” Bellatrix said, dancing in circles around the room.

Unconsciously, Hermione gripped her left forearm. She'd neglected taking her potion the last few months and Bellatrix's carving of Mudblood was peaking out from under her hand. Bellatrix's eyes dropped to Hermione's forearm as well.

“Best get that covered up again before you get us both killed. I for one am not going to die because I was harboring a mudblood.” Bellatrix said coolly.

“Right.” Hermione was still a little in shock that she was going to be coming face to face with Voldemort. She was supposed to be Astoria Greengrass after all and frankly she'd not had the greatest experiences in public under her persona. Everyone around her knew she was Hermione, it was hard to pretend to be a dead girl she'd never met. Much harder than she originally planned on it being when she suggested the idea to Draco nearly two years ago now.

“Relax, your occlumency is fine. It's not like the Dark Lord is going to mark you.” Bellatrix said in what Hermione assumed was a comforting way for her.

“He's not?” Hermione asked as relief washed over her.

“Of course not! Why would he?”

“To replace Draco?” Hermione supplied; it had been the question weighing on her mind since she first heard she'd have to pay Voldemort a visit at some point.

“Just because you're married to Draco doesn't mean you're an adequate replacement for him. Remember, Granger, Draco was a weapon, all you've proved to be is highly fertile.” Bellatrix stated and Hermione narrowed her eyes at her.

“Draco is a person.”

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “Not to the Dark Lord, he isn’t.”

Hermione sighed. “Alright, I need to take my potion and then we can go. Will you be alright?” Hermione aimed the last part at Blaise.

“So long as I don't get covered in bubbles again.” He said, “Will you be alright?”

“Oh, she'll be fine. I haven't killed her yet, have I?” Bellatrix interrupted, but her response only made Blaise looked more concerned at Hermione.

“I'll be fine.” Hermione echoed.

Hermione had the good sense to at least change into a set of black robes before taking her potion and meeting back up with Bellatrix in the foyer. Bellatrix held her hand out for Hermione to take, but Hermione just stared at it reluctantly. “If you want to walk through a mob of Death Eaters to get into Hogwarts, by all means, apparate alone. I'm the only one who can apparate in through all the wards, though, so it might be a faster trip if you start acting like you're not afraid I'm going to skin you and let me apparate you in.”

Hermione didn't need much convincing after that. “You should probably get in the habit of calling me Astoria.” Hermione said as she grasped Bellatrix's hand.

“You should get in the habit of saying 'my Lord' and referring to Tom as the Dark Lord.” Bellatrix retorted.

“Yes, I suppose you're right, but still—”

“I'll be calling you Malfoy, as you are a Malfoy.” Bellatrix interrupted, looping her pinky under the chain around Hermione’s neck and lifting it slightly as if that was enough evidence for Hermione to understand she was being truthful; squeezing Hermione's hand tightly before disapparating them both.

Hermione had never been to the Chamber of Secrets when Harry had first found it to save Ginny; she'd heard stories about how bits of the tunnels leading to the pipes had collapsed, but what she approached with Bellatrix wasn't what she had imagined. Of course, back then Tom Riddle's diary wouldn't have had a throne like Voldemort chose to use. She had been there when the basilisk skeleton lingered behind in the chamber, but noticed it had since been removed. She quickly calmed her mind so she wouldn't shake at the sight of Voldemort before her.

Bellatrix swept into a bow, pulling Hermione with her. “The newest Malfoy, my Lord.” Bellatrix said from beside Hermione.

“Well, not quite the newest, but babies have never done me any good.” Voldemort's voice was more chilling than Hermione remembered it being.

Was that a joke? Was Voldemort attempting to make a joke? Something about that thought made Hermione's skin crawl more than it should have with her void pool in use. Bellatrix didn't seem to think it was funny if it was supposed to be some sort of ice breaking sarcasm. He could have taken some lessons from Draco in the humor department. Bellatrix nudged Hermione ever so slightly to hide the encouraging movement from Voldemort. Apparently Hermione was meant to address him as well.

“It is an honor to meet you, my Lord.” Hermione said, working harder than ever to keep that stoney composure she often saw Draco using.

She hoped her voice had been convincing enough as Bellatrix pulled her back into an upright position with her as well. Hermione felt the claws of Voldemort's mind pressing into hers before she was even standing fully. She winced slightly from the pain of it. Draco had always seemed to melt into her mind, like he was always supposed to be living there. Bellatrix had been more painful about it; intentionally painful. She had declared there was no reason for her to try to break into Hermione's mind if she wasn't going to be also teaching her a valuable lesson while doing so when Draco had fought with her afterwards. That lesson being how to keep her mind locked while in pain. At the time Hermione had thought Bellatrix was using it as a workaround so she could torture her once more, but now she felt differently. As Voldemort's legilimency claws scraped agonizingly through her mind, clawing with ferocity at her void pool, Hermione appreciated the pain Bellatrix had inflicted upon her.

Her pain tolerance wasn't nearly as high as Draco's after all, having spent years being tortured and having his mind ransacked typically in unison. Draco had built up a toughness Hermione thought some days was impenetrable. She wondered if he could even feel Voldemort entering his mind anymore, he'd grown so used to it. Hermione felt it though and the less information he received the more painful it became until finally it stopped. The headache that replaced it was almost as bad as the act itself, as Hermione panted to catch her breath without Voldemort's terrorizing claws inside her.

Bellatrix had left her side at some point during the mind invasion and now stood beside Voldemort on his elaborate snake throne. This was why Slytherins had a bad name. How could anyone expect better of them when this flamboyant asshole was the representation of the heir of Salazar Slytherin himself? Dark clouds blurred the sides of Hermione's vision as a migraine set in, but she remained standing motionless and as expressionless as she could muster before Voldemort.

“Draco has taught you well. What secrets is he keeping within you, I wonder?” Voldemort said in that cold hiss of a voice he had.

“Draco told me it was in case I fell into the wrong hands, any information on our Lord would remain classified. I assumed there were legilimens other than Dumbledore on the resistance side as well.” Hermione said calmly.

Voldemort narrowed his red cat like eyes at her. “Why did Draco take my prisoners with him to Romania?” Voldemort asked and Hermione felt that clawing pressure within her mind.

“Draco doesn't confide in me every detail of his assignments. I was told he was bringing them incase he ran into some hungry vampires. Better them than him given the lack of useful information they were providing.” Hermione replied, fighting to keep her voice as calm as possible despite the burrowing claws of Voldemort's presence.

Voldemort stared at Hermione for a long moment in what she took as an opportunity to try and break her. She simply returned the stare back at him. “Do you think Draco would betray his master?” Voldemort finally asked, withdrawing completely from Hermione's mind again.

“Of course not, my Lord.” Hermione said obediently. “I doubt any amount of torture could ever break Draco.” She added and Bellatrix narrowed her eyes slightly as she caught on to the dig Hermione was throwing toward Voldemort.

Voldemort thought about this for a moment. “Yes, I suppose that's true. Draco wouldn't work with Harry Potter to undermine me, would he?”

Merlin, for being the most powerful dark wizard he certainly was paranoid about Draco. “I daresay Draco would die before working with Harry Potter.” Hermione said honestly.

Truthfully she could think for anything Draco would rather do than join forces with Harry. She'd had to beg him for nearly weeks just to get him to agree to working with Ron and that had gone completely sideways from how she had expected it to go. There was no trusting them after that. Hermione no longer had a place with her old friends and family. She had no place with the Order of the Phoenix. She had no place with the resistance. The only place Hermione still fit was with Draco and he'd been stolen away from her. Kept hidden somewhere for all these months.

“Do you know where Draco is?” Voldemort asked, pulling Hermione from her thoughts.

“If I knew where he was, I'd have brought him back already.” Hermione said darkly then quickly added, “My Lord.” when she caught sight of Bellatrix's face.

“You might not be entirely useless then.” Voldemort stated before he turned to Bellatrix. “Give this one some training; she might very well be the only person who wants Draco's return more than I do.”

“Anything for you, my Lord.” Bellatrix said, bowing her head to Voldemort as he reached out for her hand, but stopped short when he seemed to remember they had company.

“I want that Helios group disbanded.” Voldemort said firmly.

“I want them dismembered.” Hermione muttered to herself and when Voldemort's attention shot back to her she did the best bow she could attempt and said, “Sorry, my Lord.”

To her shock, Voldemort laughed. “Oh yes, you'll do quite nicely.” He said vaguely before something unspoken flowed between him and Bellatrix and she was walking toward Hermione's side again.

Bellatrix bowed her head to Voldemort once more as she took hold of Hermione's wrist and disapparated them back to Malfoy Manor. “Congratulations.” Bellatrix said, releasing Hermione's arm.

“My occlumency worked?” Hermione asked, which seemed a little stupid, but she didn't know why else she'd have been being congratulated.

“You just became a Death Eater.” Bellatrix said with a smirk.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

“I can't be a Death Eater! I have children to take care of!” Hermione sounded just as shocked as she felt.

"Should have thought about that before you made that dismembering comment. Now he knows you'll do anything to bring back Draco alive.” Bellatrix stated.

“He didn't mark me.” Hermione said.

“Half of the Death Eaters within Hogwarts haven't been marked. He only marks those who he thinks he can trust or who will do anything for him. He doesn't trust you and you've proven more loyalty to Draco than him. That doesn't mean he won't make use of you.”

“You should have warned me!”

“How was I to know you'd make threats about ripping apart Draco's captors? That's much more Draco's line of thinking than yours. It's probably your friends who've got him.”

“The friends I have, live in this house.” Hermione said darkly.

Bellatrix surveyed her for a moment. “Just to be clear, Granger. We are not friends.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “I didn't mean you.”

“Good.” Bellatrix clipped. “I suggest you find yourself a uniform; the Dark Lord will not like you visiting him again in that attire.” She added before disappearing.

And here Hermione had thought she was being respectful by at least bothering to put on black robes. She wondered how much more black she should have been wearing to classify her attire as something more suitable as a Death Eater should she pay Voldemort any more visits.

What had just happened? Hermione couldn't be a Death Eater. For starters she was what they hated most. A muggle-born had no business parading around pretending to be a pureblood; it was basically asking to get herself killed. Hermione had managed well enough faking her identity at a party where the attention was all on Draco anyway, but Draco was no longer around to take the attention off of her. She could barely manage pretending to be something she wasn't around Theo and Blaise before Draco had told them who she really was. Truthfully, she probably only succeeded in her fake identity as much as she had with Theo and Blaise because neither of them wanted anything to do with Death Eaters, regardless of Theo being marked.

Secondly, Hermione didn't have the stomach for being a Death Eater. Watching people get tortured, killed, or worse yet having to do those things herself. Yes, Hermione had killed before, but she had been desperate. Desperate to get the resistance off their ass and fighting again to end this tyranny. Yes, she had also gotten herself intentionally brought back to Malfoy Manor to kill Draco, but that had obviously taken a severely different route. She didn't have the composure to kill blindly without cause. She'd certainly never tortured anyone before, not unless she counted trapping Rita Skeeter in a jar when she was in her beetle form and Hermione didn't. Torturing someone the way Bellatrix had done to her on more than one occasion; the way Voldemort had done to Draco so often he'd found a myriad of remedies to keep his body intact.

What had been said silently between Bellatrix and Voldemort that would make her think he'd accepted Hermione as an unmarked Death Eater? What use even was an unmarked Death Eater that didn't live at Hogwarts? Or one that had three very small children still? What kind of example was she about to set for them? That answer actually came to her much easier. The example she was going to set was that she loved their father so much she would do even the most despicable acts to bring him back them. It was true. She'd dream about finding Draco locked up somewhere and slicing down every Helios mask in her way to get him out. Maybe she did have what it takes to be a Death Eater; at least when it came to Draco.

She'd do anything for Draco. She'd risked her identity to interrogate Gabrielle Delacour when Blaise had moved her from his house to the manor. She hadn't seen Gabrielle in years, but their connection with the Weasley family was strong enough that Hermione knew she might easily recognize her when she stormed in there, wand pointed, demanding answers about everything she knew of the Helios masked rebels in Romania. She hadn't recognized Hermione and she hadn't been helpful either. Luna and Dean wouldn't have known any more than her either, but considering it was Hermione's fault they both had ended up captives at Malfoy Manor, then transferred to have Merlin only knows what done to them at the Lestrange Mudblood camp, just to have Gabrielle smuggle them out and get taken captive again under Draco's orders; she hadn't dared speak with them yet. They would recognize her. If Ron had, these two certainly would.

Theo stepped out of a fireplace just as Hermione was starting to let her mind spiral out of her control. “Oh, good, you're here.” Theo said when he saw Hermione in front of him.

“Should I be somewhere else?” Hermione questioned.

“I was hoping not. There's talk going around the Death Eaters that Malfoy's wife joined ranks.” Theo said, stepping closer to Hermione as if the scent of Death Eater might linger on her.

Hermione couldn't hide the horrified feeling in her stomach. The look was more telling to Theo than anything she could have said. “Hermione, you haven't? For fuck's sake, tell me you haven’t!” Theo had hold of her arms and shook her a little as if that would make everything in the last two minutes disappear.

“I didn't mean to.” Hermione said dumbly and Theo let out a groan.

“What do you mean you didn't mean to? What were you meaning to do?” Theo grabbed her left arm and examined it as if a dark mark was about to pop out at him.

Hermione yanked her arm away from him and fixed him with a glare. “Bellatrix said he wanted to speak with me. How was I to know that meant I was joining ranks?”

“Familial obligation?” Theo offered.

Hermione's glare darkened, but she made no response. “Join the club; you're not the only person forced into servitude because of obligatory reasons. At least you weren't marked.” Theo continued.

They let the silence settle between them as Hermione really processed the situation she found herself in. Theo didn't pressure her to speak, he just stood with her in the silence like he too was mourning the life she once had; mourning the future she thought she'd be experiencing with Draco. That chest cracking sadness started settling into her body again. “I have to find him, Theo.” Hermione croaked finally, tears threatening to escape her eyes as they so often did.

Theo slipped his arm around Hermione and rubbed her back consolingly. “We will find him.” Theo's face was set and determined.

Sometimes Hermione forgot how much Draco meant to anyone other than her. His absence was all consuming for her; not like when Fred had been killed and she felt the burn of heartbreak truly for the first time. This was something darker. Something that oozed over her like heavy tar and made it impossible for her to think of anything, but Draco. She'd wanted to kill Draco when he'd taken Fred from her, but the things she wanted to do to the people holding Draco captive was a feeling she'd never felt before. Suddenly Draco's expression of how he'd have killed the men who attacked her more slowly made sense. At the time it had made her uncomfortable envisioning him causing prolonged pain to someone that touched her because in actuality that is all the men had done. He'd answered her call before they could do anything worse. She had wanted to forget the whole thing, have it ended quickly. When she thought of the ways she would remove the Helios masked rebels keeping Draco from her from this world, she understood Draco's need for prolonging. She didn't care if they were resistance members thinking that keeping Draco was in some way helping their cause. They had stolen him from her. From their family. From his own plan to take down Voldemort. They didn't deserve to die quickly. She'd make them feel every minute of pain she'd suffered being away from him.

Blaise entered with, amazingly, all three of the Malfoy children attached to him. Alexia was hanging from around his neck like a child necklace, swaying and laughing as he walked, while the twins sat in the crooks of his arms. “I used to be respected.” He said sarcastically as he stopped before Hermione and Theo.

Theo laughed before moving to grab Alexia from his neck. “You're using that word fairly loosely. I certainly have never respected you.” Theo said playfully, grabbing Blaise's ass and pressing their lips together with more force than was needed to prove his point.

Hermione snickered as she removed Scorpius from one of Blaise's arms, giving him enough time to wrap his freshly freed arm around Theo. The mock disrespect Theo had been using faded as his hand moved to the small of Blaise's back and pulled their bodies closer in response to the way Blaise held onto him. Hermione cleared her throat to save the two girls from being further squished between the lovers. Blaise pulled away from Theo's lips, but he kept his arm wrapped around him as Theo adjusted his position to stand beside Blaise opposed to in front of him.

“Kiss! Kiss!” Alexia squealed, bouncing in Theo's arms.

Blaise threw Hermione a look. “I didn't teach her that.” He said innocently.

“How often are you two snogging and not watching my children?” Hermione asked, but her tone was light and teasing. She was glad Theo and Blaise could still find their love for one another despite her soul crushing numbness.

“In my defense, he starts it.” Theo said and Hermione saw Blaise pinch him on his ribs.

“You're alive, so that's a good thing.” Blaise stated, changing the subject.

“She unintentionally joined ranks.” Theo stated before Hermione could find the words.

Blaise gave Hermione a serious look. “I swear on everything I love, if you get yourself killed; I'll kill you!” He said sternly.

“I haven't been marked, so I doubt there will be much room for me getting myself killed.” Hermione stated.

Theo made a point to focus his attention on Alexia and Ariadne rather than Hermione as Blaise gave her a knowing look. “You've got that same look in your eyes that Draco gets. I mean it, Hermione.”

“I've got these three to think about; I've got no plans to get myself killed. I promise.”

“You're planning something though.” Blaise stated.

“I think maybe it's time I have a chat with Dean and Luna.” Hermione said and Theo gave a sigh.

“Is risking your false identity worth it?” Theo asked and Hermione shot him a look that seemed to make him immediately regret asking.

“Draco's worth it.”

“And here I thought that you had to be born a Malfoy to get that possessive.” Blaise said under his breath.

“So I take it you don't want to know the plan then?” Hermione's tone was hard, the way Draco used to make commands.

“What part of Draco made us promise to look out for you was unclear? Of course we want to know what the plan is!” Theo said exasperatedly.

Truthfully, Hermione hadn't thought her plan out nearly as much as she normally would have. It had just sort of come to her at the realization she'd unintentionally become a Death Eater. The pressing matter of Draco being gone for the last eight months also made her less inclined to think through every little detail. If anyone was going to be able to get information out of the Order, hell if anyone was going to be able to find anyone from the Order, it was going to be Hermione. She knew where safe houses were, she knew where camps were, she was basically riddled with information on the hiding resistance that Draco had never even bothered to touch. Information he could have used to push forward Voldemort's plans, but he instead taught her how to lock them away in her mind so no one, but her could access them. There were bound to be things that had changed, but Hermione showing her face alone back within the resistance was ample reason for people to start talking and giving her information. Information she needed to figure out who these Helios rebels were, where they had Draco, and what they were planning to do with him.

“I'm going to interrogate the resistance.” Hermione said boldly.

She thought she saw Blaise roll his eyes, but he recovered so quickly she couldn't be certain. “It's not a bad plan.” Theo said in a tone that suggested he had more than just that to say.

“But…?” Hermione pushed.

“The Dark Lord will want to know how you're getting this information if or when you find out where Draco is.” Theo said lamely.

“Can't I say from resistance members?” Hermione asked.

“You know, maybe I should take the kids and have Tini get them dinner. I'm not really a fan of Death Eater business chats.” Blaise said, letting Alexia link around his neck again before he grabbed Scorpius from Hermione and left the room.

When Blaise had left them alone again Theo put on a more serious face. “Without being on an assignment it's going to arise more questions with that answer. How did you know where to find them when marked Death Eaters have been looking for them? What information was given in exchange for the information you received? You having insider knowledge implicates Draco. It all, but shouts that he was working with the resistance and Helios rebels haven't taken him so much as he's joined them.”

“If he'd joined them, why would I want them dismembered?” Hermione asked.

“The Dark Lord won't care about that. He'll assume you were playing the game as well. We all want Draco back here, but I'd like him to come back and stay alive; not bring him home to a death sentence.”

“Then what do you suggest I do? Because I'm sick of waiting around for this tattoo to deactivate because one rogue member decided to kill him.”

“The interrogation is a good plan. You'd be the best person to get the information, but we also can't have resistance members knowing our plans either. If the groups are linked, which most of us are certain they are, the last thing we need is the resistance hijacking your plan to bring Draco home.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I'm saying that realistically your plan is only going to work if you're kidnapping or killing these resistance members so information doesn't get out about Hermione Granger, who Draco was supposed to have killed, walking around.”

“I guess I could see about keeping the people I speak to in a safe house?”

“Which brings us to our second problem. You're not going to be given an assignment that brings you close enough to the resistance without orders to kill them. Those assignments won't even reach you without a mark.”

“Draco's gone on raids with plenty of unmarked Death Eaters.”

“Grunt workers, yes. Those are pawns to be lost. You're Draco Malfoy's wife. Marked or unmarked that makes you a much greater benefit than some half-blood from the gutter looking for an easy way to not be killed.”

“Are you suggesting I ask Voldemort to mark me?” Hermione made no hint at hiding how insane she thought Theo was being.

“No! I'm simply saying that your plan looks good on paper, but the reality of it is you'd have to be marked and ready to make yourself a little less redeemable by resistance standards in order to carry it out.” Theo gave a shrug as if he wasn't any more thrilled to be relaying this information as Hermione was to be receiving it.

Hermione couldn't help letting her disappointment show as her heart sank, knowing Theo was probably right. He had more experience with Voldemort and his plans being a marked Death Eater than she had simply listening to Draco rant about Death Eater business. Theo grabbed Hermione's hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “We'll come up with something. We will get Draco back.” He said reassuringly.

Hermione offered him a small smile. “I suppose we should go help Blaise and Tini with the kids; they are mine after all.” Hermione said with a chuckle, slipping an arm around Theo as they left the study.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

There wasn't another plan. Nearly another month had passed and Hermione wasn't being utilized for anything from Voldemort as an unmarked member of his ranks. They hadn't come up with any other plan to get Draco back or information on the Helios rebels. Hermione was going to have to do the unthinkable.

She was going to ask Voldemort to mark her.

She hadn't discussed this choice in detail with anyone. She knew Theo wouldn't approve and Blaise would most certainly try to talk her out of it. Bellatrix wasn't in the business of pretending when she didn't have to and Hermione was certain she'd make some comment about her status as a mudblood sullying the Death Eaters as she'd sullied the Malfoy line. Her last hope was going to be somehow getting information from Luna and Dean to save her from having another modification done to her body to match Draco.

Hermione popped into the room where Dean was being kept first. He stood in surprise at the sound of her arrival and then Hermione watched a different type of shock wash over him. Before Hermione had time to say anything Dean was rushing to her, wrapping his arms around her tightly before releasing her to get a good look at her.

“Fuck, Hermione! I thought you were dead! How did you get in here? Has Malfoy been keeping you here this whole time? Fuck, I missed you!” Dean pulled Hermione into another hug.

“Might want to save the pleasantries until after I've explained some things.” Hermione stated, putting some space between herself and Dean again.

Dean gave her a skeptical look. “I'm listening.”

“Draco knows how to stop Voldemort. I agreed to help him.” Hermione said simply.

“You're joking!”

“I'm not.”

“Hermione, how did this happen? We came here originally so you could kill him.”

“I actually married him instead; and had children with him.”

Dean sat down on the bed of his room with a look of horror on his face. “Hermione, what the fuck? What about Fred?”

Hermione felt a guilt, she hadn't felt in a while, pull on her body. “Fred's been dead for two years now.”

“Hmm, and what caused that death, I wonder?” Dean shot back with a glare.

“Listen, I'm not here to convince you of anything. I don't need you to like Draco or any of my choices. I'm here for information.” Hermione said bluntly.

“Information?” Dean gave a hallow laugh. “Switched sides on us, have you?”

“The only side I'm on is my own. I will be finding my husband and I will do absolutely everything in my power to bring him back.” Hermione said darkly.

Dean surveyed her for a moment. “What would I know? I've been locked up basically nonstop the last two years. The camp I was at, your husband burned to the ground. I doubt I can help you.”

“Were there talks of a more aggressive resistance group while you were there? In Romania?”

“The only person stupid enough to stay in Romania with all those vamps has always been Charlie.”

“Charlie is leading the Helios rebels?”

“The what rebels?”

“Helios. The roman sun god. There's a rebel group running around changing their voices and hiding behind Helios masks in Romania. They have Draco.”

“That doesn't sound like Charlie.”

“Then someone else must have been stupid enough to be in Romania with him.”

Dean met Hermione with a blank stare. “I don't know what you want me to tell you, Hermione. It sounds like you have more information on all this than I do to me. Considering I didn't even know there was a Helios rebels group picking off Death Eaters.”

Hermione sighed. “I don't like feeling like I'm holding you prisoner, Dean.”

Dean gave a small shrug. “The bed's a lot more comfortable than the ones Harry supplied at least. And I'm not getting experimented on, so that's a bonus. As far as feeling like a prisoner goes at least.”

Hermione began pacing slowly. “This is all my fault.” She said sadly. “If I never tried to get anyone else to join me on my quest to kill Draco, none of this would have happened. Ginny and Fred would still be alive. You and Luna could have been living your lives together.”

“You're right. It is all your fault.” Dean said and Hermione stopped in her tracks to meet him with an appalled look. “If it wasn't for you, Malfoy would have killed Luna and I in that resistance camp.”

“Maybe not.”

Dean gave her a serious look. “You've obviously never seen him in a true battle. The man's terrifying.”

“So I've heard.”

A moment of silence passed between them and Hermione wondered if she should have left already. Overstayed her welcome despite it being, for all intents and purposes, her house. “Is Luna...how is she?” Dean asked finally a little sheepishly.

“I haven't actually seen her yet. She's been receiving the same care as you, though.” Hermione said meekly.

“Can you tell her something for me; if you see her?”

“It's the least I can do at this point.”

“Tell her I love her.” Dean said simply.

Hermione smiled sadly. “I'll tell her. I should go. I'm sorry, Dean.” She said, before popping from his room.

She took a moment to collect herself before apparating into Luna's room. Luna turned from the window to face her when she heard her enter the room. She wasn't rushed into a hug like she had been with Dean, Luna just stared at Hermione in that same knowing-more-than-she-should way Luna had about her. “Are you the real Hermione or are there more imposters floating around?” Luna asked in her airy voice.

“I'm the real Hermione. Just had to change my hair color is all.” Hermione stated.

“So, I was right about Draco, then?”

Hermione sat with this question for a moment. She raked her mind trying to think of all the conversations she'd had with Luna that included Draco as a subject before it dawned on her.

Draco can't help himself to give Hermione his attention, haven't you noticed?

Hermione had been taken aback when Luna had said the words about why Hermione was the viable choice of person to kill Draco. Had thought Luna was being weird again as she so often felt her abstract way of thinking was. Hermione supposed that Luna had been right. Had seen something that only Bellatrix teetering in madness had seen.

“I guess you were.” Hermione said softly.

Luna cocked her head to the side as if she was reading Hermione like one of her Quibbler Magazines. “What can I do for the real Hermione?” She asked in that ever dreamy voice.

“I don't suppose you'd know anything about any Helios rebels in Romania?” The longer Hermione stayed around Luna the more she remembered why she hadn't been trying to get information from her.

Luna's mind worked in a way that Hermione's couldn't fathom. She believed in things when others didn't. Things Hermione knew to be conspiratorial or downright made up. And Luna believed them. Loudly and proudly, in fact. Even as she asked about the rebels, worries of wild stories Luna might start rambling about began to fill her.

“Oh, maybe that's what Padma had meant. I thought she was going to Romania as a healer for the resistance getting attacked by dragons or vampires.” Luna said vaguely.

“Padma Patil?”

“Do you know many Padmas?”

Hermione didn't know if Luna was trying to make a dig at her or not. “No, I don't know many Padmas.”

“I've known a couple.” Luna said, that dreamy look clouding over her eyes. “But in this case, yes, I do mean Padma Patil.”

“You think she's a part of this rebel group?”

“What are they rebelling against, I wonder?”

Hermione went quiet. She'd been referring to them as rebels mostly because they had Draco and she needed him back with her, but hearing the question come from Luna made her blood run cold. Death Eaters. They were rebelling against Voldemort and his Death Eaters. People she hated. People she was horrified to have unintentionally joined a month ago. Losing Draco had forced her to align with herself with them. Being in love with Draco was a whirlwind. She could see what was in his heart and knew his suffering that led him to become the man he was. But did that mean she thought these people fighting against the other Death Eaters were wrong? Had they been doing anything that she hadn't thought of doing for so long before she came to be a permanent resident of Malfoy Manor?

Draco had become Hermione's entire world and had been stolen from her. That's what she faulted them for. Not fighting in a way they hadn't been allowed to do when it really would have made a more impactful difference after the Battle of Hogwarts. Two years ago Hermione would have probably been right there with them. Maybe not disguising her voice and hiding behind masks, that whole aspect was a little too much like the Death Eaters for her taste. But fighting for the cause? That had been what her whole falling out with Harry had been about.

“Sorry.” Luna interrupted Hermione's train derailment of thought.

“What?”

“You seemed troubled. Usually that means I've said something wrong.” Luna explained.

“You've done nothing wrong, Luna.” Hermione said softly and Luna met her with a dreamy smile.

“Oh good; I'd hate for Higglesby to stop feeding me.”

“Who?”

“The house-elf. Leave it to Draco Malfoy to have the famous Higglesby employed to his family.”

Hermione opened her mouth to inform Luna that her name was Tini, but decided against it. Starting an unimportant argument over the name of Draco's house-elf didn't seem like time well spent, and Hermione knew Luna well enough that certain things like this would indeed cause an argument. “Did Padma say anything else about Romania? When were you in contact with her?” Hermione asked instead.

“She was at the camp Gabrielle Delacour brought Dean and I to after smuggling us from that Death Eater encampment. She wanted Gabrielle to join her in Romania. It made Gabby furious. That was the night before the Death Eaters showed up.” Luna said.

“Why was Gabby furious about Padma asking her to join her in Romania?”

“I wasn't eavesdropping; I was tracking a family of Snacklefrumps past Gabby's tent and I heard her yelling.”

“What was she yelling?”

“Oh, now 'Arry Potter wants to fight.” Luna said in a french accent. She continued in her normal airy voice, “I knew it was a private conversation I'd intruded on and gave up my tracking to let the conversation remain private.”

“Harry?”

Luna surveyed Hermione for a very long time in the silence. Hermione was reeling at what this could mean. Most likely that Ron had in fact set Draco up to be captured after she'd been the one begging Draco to bring him along. Had Kingsley been in on the whole charade as well? Had the entire time Ron had been held captive been an elaborate stunt to get Draco into their possession? If it hadn't been Draco, the man she loved more deeply than she'd ever felt for anyone else, who'd been taken she would almost be impressed by her old friends.

“Do they have Draco?” Luna asked finally pulling Hermione from her thoughts once more.

“Yes.”

“Are you in love with him also?”

“Also?”

“Did you not know Draco was in love with you? I thought you did when you said I'd been right about him.”

“Oh, right. Yes, I do know; he's surprisingly quite vocal about it.” Hermione mused, losing herself slightly in the thought of Draco.

“You don't love him as well?” Luna asked, rephrasing her previous question minutely.

“I love him very much.” Hermione said in a choked voice.

Luna approached her for the first time since Hermione had entered her room and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. Hermione fought to not start sobbing as the grief of being without Draco for so long threatened to swallow her up. “I pity those holding him prisoner.” Luna said softly against Hermione's hair.

“Why?” Hermione asked, sniffling lightly.

“I'd imagine they now are going to be subjected to your wrath.” Luna said, releasing Hermione and going back to where she'd been sitting before.

“Dean wanted me to tell you that he loves you.” Hermione said, unable to deal with her own emotions anymore.

Luna smiled at her before looking back out the window. “Oh, yes. I know.” She said dreamily and Hermione left without saying goodbye.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

Bellatrix pressed her hot wand tip into Hermione's left forearm and she let out a groan in agony. Bellatrix glared at her and Hermione remembered Draco telling her about how Bellatrix was adamant about him never making a sound while pain was being inflicted upon him. Hermione wished she had that type of self control as well, especially now as the skin on her arm felt like it was melting off. “It’s going to hurt a lot more when the Dark Lord puts his mark on you.” Bellatrix warned.

“So this is supposed to be you thoroughly preparing me for that?” Hermione growled through the pain.

“No; this is to make sure your other scar doesn't decide to come to the forefront when the spot it lies hidden is inflicted.” Bellatrix said as if it should have been obvious.

“Extra precaution to cover your ass, then.” Hermione said, glaring back at Bellatrix as she pressed her wand harder into her hidden scarring.

“That and it's fun watching you squirm.” Bellatrix retorted with a smirk. “Going to tell Draco on me when you find him?”

“I doubt I'll have time even to discuss you, considering he has his own children to meet.” Hermione said coldly which only resulted in the tip of Bellatrix's wand heating further. Hermione bit back a whimper.

Bellatrix finally lifted her wand from Hermione's forearm and ran her hand over the red burns she'd left scattered along the length of it. Some had easily broken through her top layers of skin, but still the old scar remained hidden from the surface. “Hmm.” Bellatrix made a noise as if she thoroughly didn't want to admit she was impressed. “That's a fancy little potion you've made.” She said.

“Draco made it.” Hermione corrected and Bellatrix noticeably looked more impressed.

“Stupid boy; he should know the mark can't be hidden so easily.” Bellatrix said instead.

“He was only a teenager. Barely more than a child.” Hermione said in Draco's defense, but her tone made it clear what she thought about them forcing him into servitude at sixteen.

Bellatrix scowled at her. “Yours won't be hidden so easily either. Have you even thought about what you're asking?” Bellatrix had a warning tone in her voice as she spoke.

“If getting the dark mark is the only way I'll be allowed to find Draco, there's nothing to think about.” Hermione said firmly.

“Stupid girl.” Bellatrix muttered. “What of Draco's master plan? What of your lives after that? Do you think Harry Potter will really forgive his precious Mudblood after you've been branded with the mark of the Dark Lord?”

Bellatrix had that flickering look of madness about her that Hermione had grown to recognize from caring for her while she was pregnant. She couldn't sense it quite as well as Draco could, but she'd learned the familiar clues to it. “If I find out it's Harry that's been holding Draco prisoner, I couldn't give a fuck what he thinks about me. He's stupid to think I'd let my husband be tortured to death just because he let the same thing happen to his wife.” Hermione said hotly and Bellatrix smirked.

“More like a Malfoy every day, aren't you?”

“Yeah. I am.”

Bellatrix let out a manic laugh at this. “Remember, killing Harry Potter will win you no favors. Whatever you and Draco are plotting, unless it's to be on the run forever with three children, you'll need allies on both sides.”

“I'll have allies on both sides. Harry isn't the end all be all when it comes to having peace. We only ended up in the reality we live in because too many people on both sides believe that to be the truth. Voldemort would have died a long time ago if more people realized that. It's a lot less scary going to die when you know you won't truly be killed; Harry and Voldemort have that in common.” Hermione said with a trace of arrogance in her voice.

Bellatrix glared at her. “The Dark Lord. If you're going to be one of us, you need to start acting like one of us. Death Eaters using the Dark Lord's name sends a signal somehow to him. He'll kill you before you ever get someone interrogated.”

Hermione grimaced at that. She'd wondered why Draco had always referred to Voldemort as the Dark Lord when he seemed mostly unfazed whenever Hermione used his real name. Unlike Ron, who winced at the name for years and refused to use it. She understood now. Just another way Voldemort ruled his followers with fear. Making them empty promises, but the moment they speak his name death is all they are to ever receive for their sacrifice for him. Disgusting. No, it was something more disrespectful than that. She could almost hear Draco's voice saying the words as she thought them.

Bad form.

“The Dark Lord it is then.” Hermione said determinedly.

She had a feeling Bellatrix was wasting time with the burns and the chatting to give Hermione time to change her mind about asking Voldemort to brand her with the Dark Mark. She wondered if Bellatrix was in a way trying to protect her. It was odd, but not entirely out of character. Her options weren't entirely great; orders to keep watch on her from Voldemort so she could either go against her master and lover to ignore Hermione altogether or she could allow Hermione to get branded, joining the ranks, only to face Draco's wrath afterwards. Hermione tried not to think about the way Draco's grey eyes would turn to silver in his fury upon seeing a burn matching his over her Mudblood scar. The way he'd tell her she should have done anything other than that to find him. The way she should have let him die there if it meant not tainting her with the darkness that plagued him.

But Draco wasn't there to protect her. She'd called for him so many times and never could he come back to her. She kept trying though, just incase the Helios rebels chose to move him into an area without apparition blocking spells and wards and she could pull him back to her. Across countries back into her arms where he belonged. Sometimes she thought she felt him calling for her also. Her left hand lived in a state of almost constant numbness from the icy sensation of her activated tattoo, but there was always a fresh wave of chill whenever she pressed her thumb against the already active tattoo in hopes Draco would appear before her. Some nights she'd wake from her sleep in a start, staring at her pinky, wondering if she'd dreamt that wave of chill or if Draco had been activating his already active tattoo as well. Giving her some sign that he was thinking of her and still alive despite the glowing tattoo being a constant reminder he was indeed still out there alive somewhere.

“I'm not changing my mind.” Hermione said finally when Bellatrix only stared at her.

“Draco may very well never forgive me for letting you do this.” Bellatrix said in what seemed to be her last attempt to sway Hermione against it.

“Draco, above anyone, knows there's not a single person who ‘lets’ me do anything. My choices are my own and I don't need permission from you, him, or anyone else to make them.” Hermione said matter of factly.

“Oh yes, I forgot how Draco is so forgiving and understanding when it being his wife's choice gets brought up.” Bellatrix said sarcastically, adding an eye-roll for good measure.

“You owe me.” Bellatrix said as she traipsed up to Hermione, healed the burn marks on her arm, and took hold of her wrist.

Hermione didn't think she'd ever get used to apparating directly into the presence of Voldemort nor would she really ever enjoy being in the Chamber of Secrets. She wondered if a time would come where she ever felt safe at Hogwarts again. Bellatrix didn't have to force Hermione's bow this time, she came prepared to play her part. She fell to her knees and bent as low to the ground as she could before Voldemort; not exactly the response Bellatrix had given him nor what Voldemort seemed to be expecting.

“You may rise.” Voldemort hissed. “Was I supposed to be expecting this visit, Bella?”

“No, my Lord. Forgive our intrusion.” Bellatrix said, bowing her head to him in a form of apology.

“You are never an intrusion.” Hermione did not like the way Voldemort's hissing voice curled around those words. Was this his idea of being flirtatious? Hermione had to suppress her urge to gag.

“Malfoy, here, wishes to be marked. Vows she can be of greater service to you if allowed the opportunity to prove herself.” Bellatrix stated while Hermione tried to look confident in her abilities beside her.

“Is that so?” Voldemort asked and his red eyes fell on Hermione.

She felt those unnatural claws scratching through her mind. She pushed at them without realizing she was even doing it. Not like she had to concentrate to get Draco out, who fit so perfectly within her mind; this was reflexive. The way the smell of something awful triggers a gag reflex. He smirked slightly at the way her mind naturally revulsed at his invasion. “How, pray tell, do you think you can provide this great service as a marked Death Eater?”

Hermione stiffened slightly. “As you know, my family and I have been living under the radar for quite some time. Not dealing with the resistance, by any means.” Hermione made a point to scrunch her face up in disgust like the very thought of the resistance made her feel ill. “However, those who wish to remain hidden under the radar only have so many places they might be able to frequent without getting spotted. I wish to find these places in search of anyone remaining true to the Order of the Phoenix or resistance and get rid of them. Hopefully, shaking some information on where to find my husband out of them first.”

Voldemort stared at her for several scrutinizing minutes. “Interesting.” Voldemort finally hissed. He turned his gaze to Bellatrix now. “You support this, Bella?”

Bellatrix was quiet a moment and Hermione wondered if Voldemort was inside her mind now, sensing out all the lies about Hermione she'd been keeping from him. “I think if anyone is going to find Draco and bring him back to your side, it's going to be his wife.” Bellatrix finally said.

“Very well. You may have this assignment, Malfoy, and bear my mark as a reminder of how your Lord has granted your request from my overflowing generosity.” Voldemort said and Hermione used all her self restraint not to snort at him in disbelief.

“Bring her forward, Bella.” Voldemort motioned them forward, pulling the Elder wand from his robes and conjuring up a table for Hermione's arm to be rested on.

Voldemort paced in front of the table, robes swishing, as he waited for Bellatrix to bring Hermione to him. Bellatrix pushed up Hermione's sleeve and pulled her arm harshly toward the table, where she placed her forearm up-facing. Hermione expected Bellatrix to move back, but instead she moved to the side where she tightly gripped Hermione's wrist and just below her elbow, pinning her arm tightly in place on the table. Hermione's eyes widened slightly. She'd expected the pain from the burns Bellatrix so willingly had scattered her arm with earlier. How much pain was it actually going to be if Bellatrix had to hold her in place so she couldn't move?

Voldemort gave her a sickening smile. “Did Bella tell you how badly this would hurt?” Voldemort's snakelike voice almost cooed at Hermione.

Hermione only gulped in response and set her features in a look of resigned determination. Voldemort laughed. “Oh, I do hope you scream.” He said, readying his wand above Hermione's forearm. “I love when they scream.” The last bit seemed to be more for himself than for Hermione as the Elder wand lit within his hand and the process began.

She did scream. Despite everything in her not wanting to give him the satisfaction of it, Hermione's screams echoed through the Chamber of Secrets, bouncing on every surface, until her body was shaking from the reverberation of them. She'd never felt a pain like the pain of being branded by dark magic. It seared through her skin into her very bones and just when she thought she might pass out or her arm would go numb from the pain, a different sensation of agony would crush into her arm. The potion held, but Hermione felt the hidden word being ripped open again beneath its cover. Voldemort made sure the process would not end quickly as Hermione's stomach began to writhe from the anguish; vomit threateningly rising in the back of her throat the longer the pain dug in. Hermione could feel the dark magic snaking around her arm, coiling beneath her skin before Voldemort finally withdrew the Elder wand from above her forearm and a blaring black dark mark shone against her skin before it settled into her arm and a bright red, freshly burned mark took it's place.

Bellatrix let go of Hermione's arm and the pain still coursed through her. She used her other arm to wipe the tears from her face that had leaked out involuntarily from the pain. Voldemort smiled dangerously down at her before Hermione finally lifted her throbbing arm and stood up properly. “Let's see if you'll be just as efficient as your husband then.” Voldemort said before he sat back onto his throne and waved a hand that seemed to signal they were approved for departure.

Bellatrix took Hermione's right hand and began dragging her from the room. “You'll need a mask now.” Bellatrix said in a salty voice before she disapparated them from Hogwarts.

“I need a safe house.” Hermione said when she and Bellatrix appeared again within Malfoy Manor.

Bellatrix sighed. “Do I even want to know why?” She asked.

“Probably not.” Hermione said with a shrug, moving toward the direction of the nursery.

Tini looked at Hermione as she entered and her eyes flicked to the redness popping out on her arm from her recent branding. She gave a gasp, but said nothing about it while she ushered herself between the Malfoy children. “Mistress is needing something from Tini or Mistress is just checking on the small mistresses and master?” Tini squeaked.

“If you're offering, I could use some lunch.” Bellatrix said from behind Hermione and Tini fell into a low bow before she disappeared.

Hermione shot Bellatrix a dark look as she wandered between the sleeping children. She stroked the blonde hair of the babies before moving on to do the same with Alexia's black curls. “Fine.” Bellatrix finally sighed. "Why do you need a safe house?”

Hermione looked up at her. “Well you said it yourself didn't you? I'll need allies on both sides. I figure, Draco's got plenty on the Death Eater side. If not allies, definitely people who'd follow him, even though he'd hate hearing that. Who better to gain allies on the resistance side than me? Death Eater Hermione, charged with killing resistance members, but hiding them safely instead. It's practically fool proof.” Hermione stated softly, moving away from the sleeping kids so her voice wouldn't wake them.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “Until one of them blows your cover. What if it happens before you find Draco? Then you're dead; he probably won't elect to live without you after that. Then what? Blaise and Theo are left to raise the Malfoy heirs?” Bellatrix shot in a hushed growl, also moving farther from the sleeping Malfoy heirs to not disturb them.

“They won't blow my cover; I'm going to have Luna and Dean overseeing them.”

“More of Draco's presumed dead prisoners you risked his life to protect.”

“I didn't risk his life to protect them. I asked him to simply keep one person alive if the circumstances allowed it. And I didn’t even know they were still alive when Draco made the choice, himself, not to kill them. They were smuggled out of your late husband’s camp.”

Bellatrix scoffed. “Like he can say no to you?”

“He can and has.”

“Not when you might think less of him for doing his duty.”

It was Hermione's turn to scoff. “So needing allies on both sides only applies to me then? Draco's entirely unredeemable in your eyes if he's not tied to his perfect little Mudblood, is that it?”

They glared at one another for a moment before Hermione finally moved forward and pulled Bellatrix from the nursery when she caught sight of Scorpius squirming in his sleep. “I'm not the one who thinks Draco needs redemption. I think he's borderline perfect just the way he is.” Bellatrix stated once they were out in the hall.

“That's exactly it though. It's not how he is. It's how you made him. That's not Draco. Draco's entire talent, his entire life, has been wasted on taking lives rather than expanding that talent to its full potential.”

Bellatrix crossed her arms across her chest. “I'm not fighting with you about Draco's potential.” Bellatrix stated, stopping Hermione's rant in its tracks. “I wonder if Draco realized he married his father.” She added in an undertone and Hermione shot a glare at her.

“Tini should have your lunch ready by now. Unless you'd like to lecture me some more about my choices, or Draco's life, or how I'm currently the only person with a plan to find him, rather than letting me spend time with my children. Or as you like to call them, the Malfoy heirs.” Hermione said bluntly, folding her arms in an unmoving fashion across her chest also.

Bellatrix groaned before rolling her eyes at Hermione. “No, I'm quite finished with your company.” Bellatrix said turning and walking away toward the dining room. She stopped halfway down the hall and turned back to Hermione. “I have a house you can use if you can't manage to come up with a safe house on your own.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

The house in question was an understatement. Like when Draco called Malfoy Manor a house. The term never seemed fitting for the enormity of their living quarters. Hermione had idiotically assumed that only Draco was accustomed to a lavish way of life. The way Bellatrix seemed unbothered by money, other belongings, or really everything in general, Hermione had made the assumption that perhaps Bellatrix was raised in a more humble abode than Sirius had been. Grimmauld Place had been huge by all accounts and easily housed many Order members when it needed to. The place Bellatrix had taken her made Grimmauld Place look like a shack comparatively.

“What is this place?” Hermione asked incredulously.

“Black Manor.” Bellatrix said darkly. “This is where I grew up.”

Hermione turned a shocked look on Bellatrix, who simply continued glaring at the giant mansion before them. “Maybe somewhere less personal would be better?” Hermione suggested.

“If you think I'll have emotional qualms to your little resistance living in my childhood home, don't worry. I most certainly will not. I hate this place.” Bellatrix stated turning her glare from the manor to Hermione.

Hermione turned from Bellatrix to stare at the dark victorian manor beyond the dead looking grounds. “You're not going to find a place better protected or big enough for all of them than this.” Bellatrix said, her tone showing her annoyance.

“How many people do you think I'm going to be falsely killing?” Hermione questioned, turning back to Bellatrix.

They met each other's gaze. “How many people do you think it's going to take before you find someone privy to the knowledge about Draco's whereabouts?” Bellatrix countered.

Hermione let this question ruminate for a moment. She hated when Bellatrix had a point, she hated more admitting that Bellatrix was right. They were supposed to be mortal enemies. At the very least they weren't supposed to be in agreement. “The house won't try to attack any non pureblood that enters it, like Grimmauld Place, will it?” Hermione asked, changing the subject away from how many people she may have to interrogate just to find Draco.

Bellatrix actually laughed, but there was no enjoyment in it. “No; my parents were threat enough. They weren't nearly as paranoid as dear, old Aunt Walburga, either.”

Hermione wondered how far Bellatrix's generosity would go if she asked any of the questions swarming her mind at the sight of Black Manor. “Your sisters never come back here?”

Bellatrix spun on Hermione and for a moment she braced herself to be slapped. “You had nice muggle parents, didn't you?” Bellatrix asked coldly. Hermione only nodded. “Cygnus and Druella Black would have been better off not having children. They were still fucking children when I was born. Mean, vindictive, spoiled little children with a huge house and nothing, but free time to spend losing their temper on the smaller children they created and filled the house with. You'd have to understand hating your parents to understand why Andromeda would never come back here. Narcissa, for obvious reasons, can’t come back here. I’m the only one who ever came back to this fucking place, anyway.”

Hermione noticed Bellatrix's eyes flickering as she fought the madness from overtaking her. “Why did you come back?” Hermione asked, bringing Bellatrix back into clarity.

“To burn it down.”

They both turned back to look at Black Manor. “Something must have stopped you.” Hermione observed.

“Draco.” Bellatrix said absentmindedly.

“What?”

“When I came to burn this place down; I was stopped because Draco had just been born.”

Hermione paused for a moment, unable to meet Bellatrix's gaze she could feel on her. “I'll use it.”

“I'm not helping you clean it up.” Bellatrix stated.

“I figured as much.” Hermione said blankly.

“Good.” Bellatrix was quiet for a moment before she turned back to Hermione. “Don't bring the kids here.”

Hermione made to argue that while resistance members were living there it wouldn't be the same environment that Bellatrix had grown up in, but something in her eyes stopped Hermione from doing so. “I won’t.” Hermione said instead.

Bellatrix gave a curt nod before vanishing from Hermione's side, leaving her alone to explore Black Manor on her own. Hermione recalled Draco saying his grandfather, Cygnus, had died during second year leaving the manor presumably empty for the last sixteen years. It was surprisingly clean for being abandoned for such a long period of time. It was dusty, but overall the manor seemed to be kept in pristine condition. Hermione waved her wand as she ventured from room to room of the manor, clearing the dust in great poofs. Somehow, probably magical expansion, the Black Manor was even bigger inside than it looked from the outside. Hermione couldn't figure out why one family needed quite this much space and was even more surprised to find no traces of house-elves within the house at all. Hermione assumed this portion of the Black family had probably forced any house-elves they might have had to sleep in the basement and remain unseen. She wondered for a moment if their heads had made it to the wall in Grimmauld Place, but then quickly shook the disturbing thought of it from her mind.

Hermione found herself pressing open door after door, the manor had to have at least eight bedrooms per floor. By the time she'd gotten to the third floor Hermione had started questioning whether anyone had actually truly ever lived in this manor. Not a single trace of the Black sisters had been visible. Hermione opened the third bedroom door on the third floor and suddenly became very aware that this manor had been lived in. A huge mural of the Orion constellation was painted across one of the walls and onto the ceiling. Swirling cursive script spelled out Bellatrix above the bed and several posed silhouettes of painted ballet dancers were strewn everywhere along the walls as if Bellatrix simply painted one where ever she happened to be sitting at the time when inspiration struck her. The beds of the other rooms had been varying shades of grays and black, but Bellatrix's bed was a deep, dark purple; her walls dark blue as if the entire room was pulled from a distant nebula and contained to her four walls. The large desk in the corner had carvings into the wood and sketches scattered along the entire top surface.

Hermione suddenly felt like she was intruding into something very private. Seeing a part of Bellatrix that was forbidden to know. She slowly backed out of the room and placed a charm on the door, keeping Bellatrix's childhood room secured from further intrusion. Hermione was by no means on necessarily friendly terms with Bellatrix, they more had a mutual understanding of one another and, despite herself, Hermione respected Bellatrix for sacrificing as much as she had to protect Alexia and now Draco. Anyone else wouldn't understand just how invasive seeing this room would be to Bellatrix's privacy. Hermione wondered if Bellatrix's memory of her room had been lost in the madness void within her mind to allow it to be stumbled upon in general.

If the other Black sisters's rooms were on the third floor, they blended into the other rooms seamlessly. There were no names or colored walls and bedding. No murals, paintings, or drawings. Nothing at all that made any other room stand out as belonging to someone the way Bellatrix's had so clearly belonged to her. Once Hermione had the dust cleared and had checked to make sure there was nothing dark hidden in any rooms ready to attack intruders, she didn't feel inclined to spend any more time within Black Manor. She supplied a few more protective wards and made plans of another which would hold the resistance members in place once they arrived there, before she disapparated back to Malfoy Manor.

Hermione made her way into the wing of the manor she had inherited from Narcissa when Draco decided to make her a house guest rather than a prisoner. She hadn't been to this area of the manor since Draco had left for Romania. She stepped into her old bedroom and opened a drawer of the nightstand nearest the door, where she retrieved a photo that she had stored within it, what felt like forever ago.

Bellatrix was where Hermione had expected her to be; in the north wing, rocking Scorpius in the nursery while Tini tended to the girls. “Here.” Hermione said, passing Bellatrix the photo.

Bellatrix looked down at the photo only to find herself and Draco in a loop of looking up at her with annoyed expressions before flipping her off. “What's this?” Bellatrix asked, looking confusedly up at Hermione.

“I thought maybe you'd like to have a picture of you and Draco where you're both more characteristically accurate opposed to the ones of you both together at our wedding.” Hermione said.

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes at Hermione as she scooped up Scorpius and cradled him against herself. “I take it you saw my bedroom.” Bellatrix said, standing from the rocking chair now that her arms were relieved of Scorpius.

“What?”

“I'm not stupid, girl. Is this supposed to be some sort of peace offering for what you mistook as an invasion of my privacy?”

Hermione looked embarrassed. She'd thought Bellatrix would like having the photo after seeing her bedroom and seeing just how much personality was inside it. Not to mention that Draco's birth had kept her from destroying the Black Manor. She meant it more as a thank you of sorts than a peace offering. Though, admittedly, she'd hoped it would also double as an apology for what Hermione took to be an invasion into Bellatrix's world.

“I just thought you'd like it.” Hermione said dumbly.

“I haven't been the girl that room belonged to for a very long time.” Bellatrix stated. “I do like this photo though.”

Bellatrix left without waiting for a response from Hermione, a small smile pulling on Hermione's lips. “Tini is preparing the guests for Mistress to be taking.” Tini squeaked once Alexia and Ariadne were distracted blowing bubbles back and forth to each other.

“Thank you, Tini. Bellatrix has provided me with the Black Manor to move them into.” Hermione told the elf.

Tini made a small scared sounding squeak at the mention of the Black Manor. “Mistress is to be staying at the Black Manor?” Tini asked.

“No, I'll just be visiting there occasionally. Luna and Dean will be living there. I belong here with the rest of the Malfoys.” Hermione said softly, smiling down at Tini and offering the small elf her hand, while she bounced Scorpius in her other arm.

Tini took hold of Hermione's hand and squeezed it, noticeably relieved by this news. “Mistress is going to be finding Master and bringing Master home?” Tini squeaked.

“If it's the last thing I do.” Hermione said, taking her hand back from Tini and repositioning Scorpius in her arms.

Tini seemed satisfied by this answer and popped out of the nursery. Scorpius's small hands played with Hermione's long curls and Hermione was instantly reminded of the way Draco would twist her curls around his fingers. Like father, like son. Certain Malfoy traits baffled Hermione the way they presented so quickly in her children. The blonde hair she'd expected; the found comfort in her hair she had not. Hermione kissed his forehead and a wide gum filled smile spread across his small face. Hermione conjured up a large blanket on the floor and placed Scorpius down for some tummy time before doing the same with Ariadne, and then helping Alexia walk to the blanket and sit down as well. Hermione laid in the center of the blanket with them and was only there for a moment before all three children had scooted to her to lay against her. The twins curled into the nook of her arms while Alexia laid across her stomach. Hermione gave a wave of her wand and a slideshow of pictures of Draco illuminated the ceiling above them.

Alexia started clapping her hands. “Dada!” She squealed reaching out for the image of Draco above them. Slowly the four of them began drifting off to sleep together, Hermione's face wet with tears as her eyes finally closed.

Draco stroked Hermione's hair until her eyes fluttered open. He smirked down at her and Hermione felt her chest tighten. At the sight of Hermione's sadness, Draco's smirk melted away. “What's wrong, Granger?” He asked, wrapping one of her curls around his finger.

A choked sob escaped Hermione's chest. “I miss you so much.”

Draco smiled sadly at her. “I miss you more.” He teased and Hermione pushed on his chest lightly.

“Where are you?” Hermione asked, sitting up so she could pull herself closer to Draco.

“I wish I could tell you.” Draco responded, brushing his fingers across Hermione's cheek.

“Why can't you?" Hermione's voice was almost begging and Draco pressed his forehead into hers.

“I need you.” Hermione said when Draco didn't respond, tears streaming down her cheeks now.

Draco took Hermione's face in his hands and brushed away the tears with his thumbs before he pressed his lips into hers. Her chest felt like it might collapse from the pain of it. She melted into his lips hoping he might somehow bring her to him the longer she moved her mouth against his, breathing in that sweet smell of peppermint and eucalyptus still lingering on his skin. Too soon he pulled away from her. Hours of kissing would have been too soon.

“Come find me.” Draco whispered before he placed another small kiss on her lips.

She'd done all she could to keep herself from succumbing to the looming heartbreak that threatened to swallow her into darkness. She stayed for Draco, but in these moments it felt unbearable to go on without him. When the dreams felt so real she'd wake up thinking she could still smell Draco's skin in front of her. Still feel his hands softly brushing against her skin. Still taste his mouth on her lips. She felt sick when her eyes opened and Draco wasn't with her. It was always the same with these dreams of Draco. She couldn't quite figure out why she was having them aside from guilt of not standing by her wedding vow to him. The scenarios were different and sometimes even the conversations were different, but the ends were always the same.

Come find me.

Draco's words haunted Hermione every waking second until she was met with another of the dreams and he'd repeat them again. Soon. She'd come find him soon. The guilt would no longer consume her when she started ripping this world apart to find him. She hadn't been sure where to start with her interrogations, but now that she had the Black Manor to use as a safe house for her fake killings of the resistance it came down to who best would know something about Romania. If Padma Patil was part of the Helios group, Parvati Patil seemed like the best first place to start.

“Tini.” Hermione whispered into the nursery as the three Malfoy children slept soundly against Hermione's body, pinning her to the blanket on the floor.

Tini appeared without a sound and, without needing instruction, began lifting the babies and placing them into their own beds. “Thank you.” Hermione mouthed to Tini, who smiled at her, but her face looked sad as she watched Hermione dry the tears from her face.

Hermione kissed each of her sleeping children before leaving the nursery in Tini's care. She made her way up to Luna's room; it was later in the evening, but Hermione doubted that Luna was sleeping. Hermione had only drifted off to sleep because of the physical and emotional exhaustion from receiving her dark mark and taking no time for herself to process the event properly or let herself adequately rest. Hermione almost forgot Luna's room was sealed as she made to knock on the door before remembering and apparating into her room instead.

“Hello, Hermione.” Luna said softly.

“I need your help with something.” Hermione said vaguely.

“Is that why Higglesby has been supplying me with new clothes?” Luna asked in her dreamy voice.

Again, Hermione fought the urge to correct Luna about Tini's name. “Partially, yes. Partially because you've been wearing the same outfit now for Merlin knows how long.”

“I guess I have, haven't I?” Luna got that far away look in her eyes that made it so Hermione couldn't tell if she was still paying attention or not. “What exactly does this help entail?”

“I'm going to need you to watch over some people. Or more make them feel comfortable within a safe house until V--the Dark Lord is vanquished.” Hermione caught herself just in time; the last thing she needed was Voldemort killing her before she could even start on her mission to find Draco.

Luna narrowed her eyes at Hermione. “You've never called He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named that before.”

Hermione sighed and pulled up her left sleeve to reveal her dark mark which had thankfully settled into a duller red than the startling color it started out as. “Things have gotten complicated.”

Luna's eyes widened at the sight of it. “What have you done, Hermione?” Luna asked in astonishment.

“It was the only way I could get information to find Draco.” Hermione stated.

“You're not hoping I'll torture people for you, are you?” Luna's voice was more concerned than Hermione usually heard it being.

“Merlin no!” Hermione answered in an appalled tone. “I should hope I won't have to torture anyone, let alone have you do it. The Dark Lord is going to be presuming everyone I'm speaking to is dead. Instead, I'll be moving them into a safe house and I need someone to make sure they stay there and don't try anything that might blow my cover and get us all killed.”

Luna paused for a moment. “So you'd like me to be your prison guard?”

Hermione fought back the exasperated noise building in her throat. “If that's what you'd like to think of it as. I'd think of it less as a prison and more along the lines of my offering them a type of protection from the Dark Lord that no one else can provide so long as they don't try running off to tell everyone about me.”

“Would Dean be with me?” Luna asked finally.

“Yes, my intention was to have you and Dean be in charge of the safe house. Dean just seemed like he'd be easier to get to help if you were already on board with the plan.”

“The plan being you get information on finding Draco and then once he's been found another plan to vanquish He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named comes into play?” Luna clarified.

“Yes. Draco was about to end this war nearly a year ago now when he was taken prisoner in Romania and dropped out of communication with everyone.”

“You are certain Draco was taken prisoner and not just seizing an opportunity to get away from his Death Eater obligations. Or promises to you of ending You-Know-Who.”

“Of course I'm certain.”

“How can you be so sure? Two years ago you were certain killing Draco Malfoy was the only way to get ahead in this war.”

“Draco always comes when he's called.”

“You'd risk your life on that?”

“Yes. Draco always comes back to me. The fact he hasn't come back means he can't and needs my help. And I need your help to be able to help him, so will you help me or not, Luna?”

“Malfoy Manor was getting a little boring, I guess.” Luna said with a smile.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

Dean was a little harder to convince, but Hermione was right that Luna being on board made him much quicker to join the cause as well. Hermione had instilled her trust in them and supplied them both with new wands, though she kept several charms in place around the Black Manor that kept its inhabitants in place by including a bit of blood magic. She couldn't find the same type of tether Draco had put on her, but she'd found a similar spell with one drop of blood from each person that kept them compelled to staying within the boundaries of Black Manor. Hermione barely knew what the boundaries of the manor were considering the grounds looked to be doubled in size to what was at Malfoy Manor and given the high seclusion of the manor, the grounds could have went on for miles for all she knew. The magic would know. She found that out the hard way, even after Draco had warned her about the blood magic he'd used on her tethering her to Malfoy Manor and the grounds. She still had tried to leave only to have invisible ropes yank her painfully back into place.

Luna offered her finger more willingly than Dean as well. “It's just a precaution. I can't be too careful when all of our lives are on the line here.” Hermione had told him.

Dean glared at her before finally offering up his pointer finger for Hermione to prick. “There's only one room that's off limits, but I've already sealed it to anyone that isn't its owner. Otherwise take your pick, I suppose. The owner doesn't seem to have any concern about the house so you can probably even decorate how you want.” Hermione said as Luna stared around the huge foyer they had been standing in.

Luna looked back to Hermione with a delighted grin. “Does that mean I can paint in here?” She asked and Hermione simply shrugged back.

“I don't see why not.”

“Where exactly are we, Hermione?” Dean asked, the same suspicion he had before lingering in his voice and face.

“The Black Family Manor.” Hermione said.

“Another of Malfoy's inherited homes, then?” Dean didn't seem thrilled.

“No; well, I suppose maybe one day it might be left to him.” Hermione said vaguely, knowing they both would be less than thrilled hearing it was Bellatrix Lestrange's childhood home.

“If Sirius had this place, why did we keep going to that dodgy house in London that tried to attack everyone?” Dean asked incredulously.

“Well, it's not exactly Sirius's either. It's currently in possession of Bellatrix Lestrange as she's the eldest of the Black sisters. This is where they grew up.” Hermione said nonchalantly.

Dean turned to her with a look of horror on his face that she'd been expecting. Luna looked mildly surprised, but seemed to think it was best to try and hide that as a gesture of allegiance with Hermione. “Well I hope it's that mad woman's room you've sealed off. Merlin knows what sort of horrors she's been keeping in there.” Dean said snidely.

Hermione found herself unable to stop herself from glaring at Dean. Bellatrix didn't have horrors in her room, she had humanity. Hermione was protecting something much more valuable in her opinion. Luna seemed to suspect this from Hermione's glare and ran a hand down Dean's arm until he could wrap his fingers around her own. “Childhood home, Dean. What she became wasn't always what she was, just like the rest of us. Plus, it's not very polite to insult the person who offered up this house as a safe house for Hermione's resistance.”

“Hermione's resistance?” Hermione and Dean asked together in equally baffled tones.

“Well, I highly doubt Harry's resistance would be trying to save Draco. Who else would this resistance belong to?” Luna asked in that tone she got when she felt like she was pointing out something obvious.

“I don't think resistance is the right word now that our so called leader has been marked by You-Know-Who.” Dean muttered.

Luna shot him a dirty look. “I was thinking the same thing.” Hermione said in Dean's defense.

“The end result is still the same, so it seems to me this is your resistance whether you like it or not.” Luna said in a finalizing tone.

Hermione and Dean didn't bother arguing with her after that and Hermione left shortly afterwards to let them explore the mansion on their own. She had her own exploring to do, after all.

The last time she'd seen Parvati Patil had been shortly after a Death Eater raid in Diagon Alley leading to the ultimate closure of Fred and George's joke shop. She and Lavender Brown had shown up battered, but alive, to the safe house Hermione had once resided in with what was left of the Order members after the Battle of Hogwarts. They hadn't stayed long; long enough to properly heal and for Lavender to realize that Ron wasn't willing to rekindle anything with her before Parvati got word her twin had found a safe house they could share together.

Hermione slunk through Oxford in the all black ensemble Bellatrix had insisted she don while following through in her self-appointed Death Eater assignments. She'd done well enough to keep tabs on people even if they hadn't stayed in contact; mostly to keep a running total of the friends or acquaintances she needed to raise her wand for in a moment of silent tribute of their lives lost. Hermione kept the hood of her dark robe pulled low over her face and had elected for a simple black balaclava opposed to the Death Eater mask Bellatrix had bestowed her with for whenever she was to pay visits to Hogwarts and relay information to Voldemort. She scurried through Oxpen Meadows until she came to a halt where Castle Mill Stream connected with River Thames. After a few moments a small house started to become visible before her. Hermione pulled her balaclava down from her face, but kept her hood up to ensure anyone she didn't want seeing her or her identity wouldn't.

Parvati looked more bemused than shocked when Hermione began approaching her. She was leaning against the porch pillar with a cigarette held to her mouth. She took in a long drag as she stared at Hermione coming closer. “I always knew you would have been harder to kill than that.” Parvati said, exhaling a cloud of smoke around her.

The darkness of their home and the war had sunk into Parvati in ways very different than how Hermione remembered first seeing it on Ginny. Parvati's features were hard and her long hair had been pulled into a high top knot bun. She took another drag from her cigarette as if waiting for Hermione to finally say something, but Hermione was preoccupied taking in the new features of the girl she once knew. That love of life had left Parvati's dark eyes, probably years ago now, Hermione assumed. That fun smile that usually played on her lips and the openness of her mind that made Parvati so prevalent in Divination had also seemed to vanish. Replaced with a scar across her eyebrow and another in the opposite direction across her full lips. A lavender flower was tattooed across the arm keeping her cigarette placed to her mouth.

“I must say, Hermione, the goth look doesn't exactly suit you.” Parvati said when Hermione still hadn't spoken; flicking her cigarette butt to the ground before grinding the ashes beneath her foot. “Makes you look like a bitch.”

Hermione felt her face fall into an unamused look before she could stop it. “Can we talk inside? Where it's safe.” Hermione said and Parvati gave a hallow laugh.

“Safe. Good one.” Parvati said, turning to open the door where she held it open for Hermione to enter as well.

Hermione glanced around once she was inside the safe house. Apparently Draco wasn't the only one who took to bottles of firewhisky when everything felt like it had become too much. The house was clearly disheveled, but Parvati seemed to have lost all concern for pleasantries or pretending to be a good hostess. The lack of food around the house explained the much thinner frame than Hermione remembered Parvati having. There was no trace anyone had been staying with Parvati in quite some time.

“How long have you been living here alone?” Hermione asked.

Parvati's face darkened a little more and she uncorked her current bottle of firewhisky to pour herself a drink before answering. “Well, Lavender was killed four years ago and Padma left about a year ago, maybe two. Who can tell when everything's gone to shit?”

“Lavender was killed?”

Parvati took a sip from her drink and lit another cigarette. “Werewolves used to venture pretty far out this way back then. Haven't seen any recently; probably have killed, turned, or eaten everyone that used to reside here.”

“I'm so sorry, Parvati. I know how close you and Lavender were.” Hermione said in a sorrowful voice, but Parvati remained stone faced as she continued puffing her cigarette.

“No offense, but you don't know shit about me or Lavender or anyone else you left behind here when you ran off to Australia.” Parvati said in a tone that suggested she did intend to offend Hermione.

“I didn't run off to Australia! I went to recruit for the resistance. It's not my fault that Harry was set on doing nothing against the Death Eaters. I wanted to fight.”

“Then you should have come back and fought.” Parvati said simply, taking another long drag.

Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but then realized Parvati was right. She should have come back to fight rather than staying in the war free zone of Australia with Fred. She'd been selfish and now even more people were dead thanks to her. “I am curious how you managed to convince Malfoy to keep you alive, though? I told Ron you wouldn't have let Malfoy take you out without a fight, but you know how Ron gets.” Parvati squished out her cigarette in the ashtray on the kitchen table before sitting down and motioning for Hermione to do the same. “Sorry about Ron, by the way.” She added when Hermione joined her at the table.

“You've been in contact with Ron?” Hermione couldn't keep her voice quite as even as she had meant to.

“Not since the night he went to Hogwarts to try his hand at killing Malfoy. So, why are you alive?”

Hermione pulled up her left sleeve to show Parvati the dark mark burned into her forearm. Parvati's eyes widened for only a moment before she dropped back into her feature of unconcern. They were quiet for a moment before Parvati took out another cigarette and lit it. She took a drag and exhaled the smoke away from Hermione's direction. “This might be Malfoy's smartest plan to take out the resistance yet.”

“It's not Draco's plan. And I have no intention of taking anyone out so to speak.”

Parvati narrowed her eyes at Hermione. “Draco, huh? Have you managed to get yourself marked and kept alive by shagging the deadliest Death Eater to ever exist?”

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Parvati in return, unable to keep the distaste from her face at anyone talking badly about Draco. “I married him actually.” Hermione said sharply and once more Parvati's cool expression turned to surprise for a moment.

“But you haven't come to kill me?”

“No.”

“How very unlike a Malfoy of you.”

Hermione pressed her lips into a flat line to stop herself from saying something she'd regret. “Have you been in contact with your sister since she left you here?”

“No.” Parvati said in a growl, finishing off her drink before rising to pace the kitchen as she puffed at her cigarette.

“I heard she might be in Romania?”

“Why don't you ask your little boyfriend about it then?”

“Because my husband has been taken prisoner by the group your sister may have left you to join.”

Parvati smashed out her cigarette harder than was necessary and immediately lit another as her face darkened further in her frustration. “Fucking Ron.” She muttered to herself, shaking her head.

“I'm going to need you to tell me everything you know about where your sister went and why. And how exactly Ron is involved with this.”

“I don't have to tell you shit. What are you going to do, torture me if I don't? Kill me like your precious husband does to everyone he comes in contact with?”

Hermione also rose at this point and moved toward Parvati in a threatening manner. “Let me be very clear, Parvati. I have a safe house for you that is far better and well protected than this piece of shit. I have no desire to kill you, whatsoever, but I will hurt you if you do not give me the information I need to help me find Draco. I stopped following Harry's rules a long time ago; don't make me force it out of you.”

Parvati gulped as she nervously finished off her cigarette. She seemed to realize Hermione wasn't someone she wanted to cross. “Ron came here a few days after that article about your death was printed in the Prophet. He was raving about how he was going to kill Malfoy, wouldn't shut up about it actually. Padma was still here at that point. Told him not to believe anything the Prophet was writing because it was all a bunch of Death Eater advertising. I thought maybe I could get him drunk enough to forget that he wanted to go get himself killed in your honor. Instead, he gets drunk and starts going on about how his brother in Romania is in need of a healer and how everyone in his charge is being attacked by vampires.”

“Padma's a healer?”

“Someone had to be when we all kept getting attacked. It wasn't exactly convenient barging in on George and Angelina after they moved in together.”

“So Padma went off to Romania to be a healer for Charlie?”

“That's what she told me. Wanted to do something against the vampires. She always did want to make this place better. So did I for a while; before Lavender died I wanted a lot of things. Don't want much of anything anymore.” Parvati took another long drag from her cigarette as if the nicotine might erase her memories of being hopeful.

“When did she leave?”

“Before Ron could sober up enough to apparate to Hogwarts. Ron kept going on and on about how his brother was losing people left and right. Not even the dragons could keep them away.”

“Was that Ron's plan?”

“I don't think he had much of a plan other than trying to kill Malfoy. At least at that point. After he was taken captive instead of killed could be a whole different story. Your guess would be as good as mine there.”

Hermione was the one pacing now as Parvati sat back down to pour herself another drink and open a fresh pack of cigarettes. “Do you always smoke this much?” Hermione asked in her frustration at not immediately getting the answers she wanted.

“Yes.” Parvati answered, exhaling this puff of smoke purposely toward Hermione.

“Maybe that's why Padma left.” Hermione muttered and the pair glared at one another.

“That's all I know about that, so unless you'd like to torture me any more than this entire conversation has been, I believe you said I'd have a much better place to be residing. I'm not exactly dying to stay here.” Parvati said in an annoyed tone.

Hermione pulled her balaclava back in place covering everything below her eyes before she held her hand out to Parvati. Parvati paused only to finish her drink and smush out her cigarette before gripping onto Hermione's hand. Hermione tightened her grip around Parvati's and Hermione turned to see Parvati looking vaguely worried about her choice.

“Did I mention the small bit of blood magic would be involved? Just to make sure you can't run off and blow my cover. You'll need to stay put until the Dark Lord dies.” Hermione said with a slight smirk.

“What the fuck?” Parvati managed to get out before Hermione disapparated them both to Black Manor.

Hermione didn't release Parvati's hand when they had appeared within the large entrance hall of Black Manor. Instead, she gripped her hand even tighter to prick Parvati's finger without resistance. “Luna and Dean can fill you in on everything.” Hermione said once she'd finished the blood magic and released Parvati's hand.

Luna appeared as if on cue and Hermione vanished before she could even witness greetings being exchanged between the two women. She wasn't sure what exactly the protocol was for providing Voldemort with information, but had heard enough from Draco to know that the sooner the information was given to him the better the chances of not being tortured. Hermione placed her silver Death Eater mask, that looked like a more feminine version of Draco's mask thanks to Bellatrix, over her balaclava as soon as her feet connected with the Hogwarts grounds. She felt her stomach lurch in the same uncomfortable way it had when she first entered the Chamber of Secrets with Bellatrix. She fought off the nausea at seeing a place she once loved over run with Death Eaters and stinking of death. Pushed it through her mental void, just as Draco had wanted her to do. Just as Draco had done countless times before her.

She moved quickly through the castle to get to the Chamber of Secrets where she came to a halt and sank to her knees in a bow in front of Voldemort. “My Lord.” She said looking into the hard floor beneath her.

“Malfoy; I hadn't expected you to make any progress.” Voldemort hissed and Hermione took this as approval for her to stand again.

Once on her feet once more, she noticed Bellatrix standing beside Voldemort. Hermione wondered if she should have removed her mask after seeing Bellatrix without hers on. “I came to let my Lord know that I found a resistance safe house.” Hermione said.

“Go on.” Voldemort encouraged.

“Werewolves had originally thought to have killed off everyone within the area, but a single survivor had managed to escape them and stay present when I got there, my Lord.”

Voldemort made a noise of disgust. “See what I mean about the wolves?” Voldemort said to Bellatrix, who nodded.

“Before I took out the survivor, she informed me her sister had escaped as a healer to Romania, my Lord. The timeline aligns with the uptick in resistance attacks on Death Eater camps prior to Draco's disappearance.”

Voldemort smirked at her. “Interesting. You might just yet make a fine replacement for your husband, Malfoy. Maybe not quite as lethal or at least not as widely lethal; but effective if nothing else.”

Hermione was unsure what to say so she simply bowed again. “I will continue to keep you up to date on my progress, my Lord.” Hermione said stupidly before Voldemort waved her off in dismissal; Hermione caught sight of Voldemort's hand toying with the flowing skirt of Bellatrix's dress and pointedly hurried out of the Chamber of Secrets before she unintentionally witnessed something she never wanted to see.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7

Draco was tossing Ariadne into the air and catching her in his arms as high pitched, excited squeals resounded the playroom. She giggled every time she landed back in Draco's arms. Hermione was rocking Scorpius in her arms and Alexia was attempting walking between where Hermione and Draco stood. “I can't believe she's walking already.” Draco said when Alexia teetered into his leg and gripped him tightly.

“I know. And these two are already almost five months old.” Hermione responded with a sigh.

Draco's face turned sad as he sat Ariadne on his hip to scoop Alexia up into his other arm. “They don't even know me.” He said in a sad tone Hermione hadn't heard his voice take on before.

“Of course they know you.” Hermione said, moving to stand in front of Draco so she could stroke his face with her free hand.

Draco nuzzled into Hermione's hand on his face, like it had been years since he'd felt her touch. Hermione felt that chest tightening sensation she'd become so used to feeling. Draco moved his face down to Hermione's so he could place his lips on hers. “They've never even met me.” Draco said, looking between the twins when he managed to pulled his lips from Hermione's.

“They know you here.” Hermione motioned around them. “And they know you here.” Hermione placed her hand on Draco's chest directly above his heart.

“I think this must be my punishment for every life I've taken; to never be able to meet them. Never hold them. To never be able to hold Alexia again. Never hold you again.” Draco's voice cracked and it took everything in Hermione to not sink to the ground and curl into herself and sob.

“Don't say that.”

“You need to start preparing for that outcome, Hermione.”

“I won’t.”

“Now's not the time to be stubborn.”

“Yes it is, Draco. I will never stop trying to find you.”

“Maybe you should.” Draco stepped away from Hermione to place Ariadne and Alexia in a large playpen. “Maybe you're all better off without me.”

Hermione followed Draco and placed Scorpius into the playpen as well. “Nothing is better without you.” Hermione said firmly.

Draco sighed and took Hermione's hands in his own. “I'm sorry I haven't come back to you.”

“I'm sorry I haven't found you.” Hermione retorted, wrapping her arms around Draco's middle so she could press her face into his chest.

Hermione took a deep breath. “Candy canes.” She whispered.

Draco's arms squeezed tighter around her. “I don't smell like candy canes.” He whispered back and Hermione looked up to see him smirking down at her.

“I love you.” Hermione said.

“I love you more.” Draco responded.

“Not possible.”

Draco pressed his lips to Hermione's again and she got the feeling he could sense something she couldn't by the way he pulled her tighter into him. He pulled away from her just enough to look down into her eyes with that light purple iridescence flickering across the silver that she'd come to recognize as his love for her. “Come find me.” He whispered.

Hermione's eyes opened and she instinctively reached out to where Draco should have been asleep beside her. Nothing. Her heart dropped. Of course it was another dream; the only time she ever felt Draco now was in her dreams. Her hand raised to her lips as if on its own and her fingers lightly brushed her own lips like she might be able to trap the feeling of Draco's lips there. Maybe she was going crazy. Driving herself insane from her own heartache and that's why she was having these dreams of Draco. Part of her wondered if Draco was dreaming of her, where ever he was. If he was even granted the luxury of something to sleep on. She quickly buried those thoughts within her void pool along with most other thoughts that sprung to her mind of the condition Draco must be in. The thoughts that made her so sick with guilt and sorrow she found herself unable to move when breathing alone felt monumental.

She kissed the constant glowing green of her bow tattoo around her pinky, like Draco might be able to feel it. “Where are you?” She whispered sadly to herself.

Come find me.

That was all her dreams ever gave her. Not a location, just a task that seemed impossible for her to accomplish. She needed to know if Charlie Weasley was behind this Helios group and if Harry decided to join them. Finding information on Charlie was going to be difficult though. If Charlie was forming a resistance group it seemed impossible that his brothers wouldn't know about it. It seemed more impossible that George wouldn't have joined him; at the very least fully supported him. Charlie's brothers were all married men with children of their own now, save for Ron. A scowl formed on Hermione's face at just the thought of Ron. That bastard should still be locked in the dungeon at Malfoy Manor. If it weren't for her, he would be. Draco probably would have been home by now also. There were too many variables she didn't have details on about Romania and what had happened and was still happening there.

She made her way across the bedroom that was far too large without Draco to share the space with. She sat at his writing desk and opened the small journal that he had gifted her. She ran her fingers over his writing that still filled the first few pages until she found the last message she had received from Draco. The startling red of the words stuck out against the black ink all his other messages appeared in. Blood. Either his own or someone else's. He'd been desperate to get this message to her and destroy any way for anyone else to find her or know they were in contact.

Shacklebolt is dead. Weasley potentially set us up. The Helios rebels have me.

She must have read it a thousand times by now. Every time more questions arose within her mind. How did Kingsley die? Was it in protection of Draco as he'd initially been showing loyalty for? Was it because of his new loyalty to Draco? Was it vampires? She didn't have those answers, just like she didn't have the answers to the questions she had around information about Draco. She could easily guess at more answers involving Ron, however. There was no probably in her mind about Ron's betrayal. She knew with nearly every fiber of her being that Ron had managed to set Draco up to be captured. The thought of it made her so angry sometimes she felt that maybe she could kill one of her old best friends.

She flipped through the pages of her own handwriting until she found a blank page finally.

Draco,

Christmas is coming and all I can think about is how you've been gone for nearly a year now. I think I fell in love with you that first Christmas Eve we spent together, but everything was too fucked up for me to realize it. Certainly to admit it. I wish you were here to see how big our kids have gotten. I show them the pictures I have of you when it's not so blindingly painful for me to see them. Alexia is still a Daddy's Girl through and through.

Sometimes I think the way I've lost you is worse than how I lost Fred. It's morbid, I know, but at least if you'd died maybe there would a tiny grain of peace I could get from it. Instead of knowing you're alive out there, somewhere, unable to get back to us on your own. I feel so helpless. There's more I should be doing, but I don't know how to do it without losing myself completely. Maybe I should just give up who I am. The person you fell in love with and become the monster needed to free you. I want to do that for you, but I'm worried you'll think of me differently. I can't bear this much longer. And I never took you as the type to shy away from monsters.

I'll hold you again soon; that I promise. I will take back what the Helios group has robbed me of.

You are mine and I'll forever be yours.

I'll love you until the sun stops burning.

Hermione

Perhaps it was odd that she wrote these letters to Draco that no one other than she could read or had access to. When Draco was back, perhaps he would read them. Perhaps they'd break his heart to hear the way she had been broken losing him. It was therapeutic nonetheless, especially when the realness of her dreams lingered on so harshly that some times she couldn't tell if she was truly even awake aside from Draco not being beside her. The letters made it easier to be with her children when all she saw was Draco's features staring up from their little faces. So, she kept writing them as if Draco would finally answer her one of these times.

There was a knock on the bedroom door and it was opening before she had a chance to respond. Theo poked his head inside as if checking to make sure she was decent before pushing the door wide open and letting Alexia run into the room. She'd barely even walked before her favorite mode of transportation had become running. Theo had one twin strapped to his back while the other was strapped to his front and Hermione met his gaze to find a mischievous smile on his face.

“I know we should feel all bah humbug with D still gone, but as someone who had a horrendous childhood association with holidays thanks to a horrible father, I think we owe it to the children to be a little merry.” He said and Hermione now saw how bundled up her children were.

“Mummy!” Alexia squealed as she dove at Hermione, who quickly outstretched her arms to catch her.

“What exactly are you planning, Theo?”

“I thought we might start with a tree and see where we end up from there.” Theo said, an innocent smile spreading across his lips. “Besides,” he added in an afterthought, “we'll need something to put all the presents Blaise has been buying under.”

Hermione sighed. “I specifically said not to spoil them.”

“Oh, come off it. Their father is missing, we can spoil them!” Theo said and Hermione pursed her lips to keep from smiling.

Hermione released Alexia to continue her stampede through the bedroom before looking back to Theo. “Oh, alright. Give me twenty minutes to get ready.”

“Yes! Come on, Lex, the faster we go the faster Mummy will be ready. One, two, three!” And with that he and Alexia ran from the room, the twins giggling as they bounced along with Theo.

Hermione met Theo and Blaise on the grounds; Scorpius on Blaise's hip, Ariadne on Theo's hip, and Alexia being swung between them. All of them began squealing excitedly as Hermione approached and gave each of them a tickle. “So how exactly are we getting wherever we're going to get this tree?” Hermione asked when the kids had quieted slightly.

Blaise gave a loud whistle and a carriage pulled by four large unicorns quickly came to a halt before them. “How in the world did you get a unicorn drawn carriage?” Hermione asked in awe and all the of the Malfoy children stared in wonder at the unicorns before them.

“You'd be amazed the things Theo is good at.” Blaise cooed, placing a kiss on Theo's lips to stop him negating the comment.

Hermione pinched Theo's cheek to further extend his embarrassment when Blaise pulled away to start getting the kids situated in the carriage. “So what are we waiting for?” Hermione asked when the kids were settled, but her friends made no movements to enter the carriage as well.

“Just one more passenger.” Blaise said, pointing toward the manor.

Hermione turned to see Bellatrix grudgingly making her way across the grounds to join them. “How'd you manage that?” Hermione muttered under her breath before Bellatrix was close enough to overhear her.

“Told her we needed extra arms to carry the kids.” Theo said with a shrug.

“She was surprisingly easy to convince. Might be just as soft as Draco under all that funeral attire.” Blaise muttered just as Bellatrix joined them.

“I'm not carrying the tree.” Bellatrix said bluntly, entering the carriage before anyone else could say anything to her.

“Bella! Bella! Bella!” Alexia squealed, rocking the carriage in her excitement as Bellatrix sat down near where Alexia was strapped into her seat in the carriage.

Hermione saw Bellatrix smile softly as she leaned in toward Alexia and rubbed their noses against each other before reaching out to the twins across from her and letting them wrap their tiny fists around her fingers. Theo and Blaise fought one another in an attempt to sit across from Hermione and not directly beside Bellatrix. Blaise won, sitting firmly near the carriage window as Theo reluctantly sat near Bellatrix, who greeted him with a side-eyed glare. With the speed of the unicorns pulling their carriage, the group made it to their destination of Nuneaton in only an hour's time. They found themselves with a huge selection of trees to choose from as the carriage came to a stop in the middle of what appeared to be a well organized forest.

“This was my favorite Christmas tree farm to go to with my parents.” Hermione mused as she helped unstrap Scorpius from his traveling seat and pass him off to Blaise before moving on to Ariadne.

“Muggles.” Bellatrix grumbled, rolling her eyes before taking Alexia as Theo passed her out of the carriage.

Blaise had naturally picked out the biggest, most extravagant looking tree within the entire abandoned farm. Bellatrix took on all three of the small children just to prevent any involvement in cutting the tree down, wrapping it, or attaching it to their carriage. When Bellatrix was overrun with the children, Hermione always wished she had a camera to capture the moment, but vowed to let Draco relive those moments within her mind once they were reunited. When Bellatrix caught Hermione watching her, her face quickly slipped back into an unamused scowl.

“Can I leave now?” Bellatrix asked once the tree was secured and Blaise and Theo relieved her of twin duty.

Alexia was melting snow around her and turning the puddles of melted snow into glitter that she was trying to throw at Bellatrix, but Bellatrix kept shielding it. “Oh, come on, Bellatrix. Some family time wouldn't kill you.” Hermione said despite Blaise and Theo holding in groans.

“You clearly don't know my family.” Bellatrix said deadpan.

Hermione made an uncomfortable face. She didn't necessarily want to spend time with Bellatrix; most of the time she only did as much of it as she did because she thought it was a way of being polite. Or that she could somehow fill in the familial space left behind now that Draco wasn't around. Bellatrix had always seemed irritated by all of it and had clearly only been doing it because she knew Draco would have wanted her to be nice to Hermione even in his absence. Theo and Blaise shifted uncomfortably waiting for one of the women to say something else before moving to get the babies secured back into their traveling seats within the carriage. Bellatrix simply stared at Hermione with a look of non enjoyment on her features.

“Well, I'm certainly not going to force you to be here if you'd rather leave. I suppose we'll see you for Christmas at least?” Hermione finally said.

Bellatrix looked like she'd rather do anything else than spend Christmas with the three of them, but turned to Alexia throwing glitter at her before she answered. “See you for Christmas.” Bellatrix said blandly before disapparating.

“How ever are we going to replace her chipper attitude on our ride home?" Blaise asked sarcastically, moving to get Ariadne secured into the carriage while Hermione got a face full of glitter as she picked up Alexia from her spot on the ground.

“How did she even turn the water into glitter?” Hermione spluttered, spitting glitter from her lips and ignoring Blaise's comment altogether.

Theo laughed. “Not a clue, but maybe we should bring some of the snow home so she can decorate the tree when we get it set up in whatever sitting room we can find big enough to house Blaise's tree choice..”

“The glitter will clash with the crystal baubles I got specifically for this occasion.” Blaise whined.

Hermione laughed loudly making Theo and Blaise stare at her for a moment. “What? I thought it was funny.” Hermione said in defense of her laughter.

Blaise wrapped her up in a hug as Theo secured Alexia into the carriage seat. “I didn't realize how much I missed that laugh of yours, Granger. It's been a while.” Blaise said, squeezing her a little tighter before finally releasing her.

“She's allowed to lose some of her sense of humor. I doubt I'd find much funny if you'd been taken hostage and we had no idea where you were or how to get you back.” Theo said, wrapping his arm around Blaise's waist.

“Ha ha, you love me.” Blaise teased and Theo rolled his eyes.

"Yes, well, apparently I'm a very stupid person.” Theo countered and Blaise pinched him.

“Okay, children. Mummy's tired.” Hermione said and the couple turned on her, scooping her up into a Hermione sandwich so all three of them entered the carriage in a tangle of limbs before Blaise and Theo released her to properly sit down.

Chapter Text

Chapter 8

The presence of a tree had put Tini into decoration overdrive. By the time the eve of Christmas Eve had arrived, Malfoy Manor had become a completely different place than it had been the two weeks prior. Hermione was reminded of how she and Tini had decorated the expansive house around Draco last holiday season and she'd found out she was pregnant. If she knew then what she knew now, that they'd be forced to celebrate this holiday without Draco, she'd have let Tini do it all as she had wanted to do then. She'd have spent every waking moment in Draco's arms. She might have also decided against following through with her pregnancy so she could go with him to Romania. But on second thought she couldn't imagine a life without her blonde haired twins in it.

Alexia was successful in transfiguring more things into glitter and big puffs of glitter also scattered the house where she'd thrown it in an attempt to help decorate. Tini was just about covered from head to toe in glitter from Alexia trying to decorate her as well. Blaise had again gone over the top with gifts and they spilled almost to the entry way of the largest sitting room within the manor. Theo hadn't been much better. The two of them seemed to be trying to make up for what Scorpius and Ariadne would be missing had Draco been free to spoil them. Hermione couldn't bring herself to fill that void for them. She'd gotten her children gifts, but small quantities and practical items that they would need.

Draco's voice lingered in Hermione's mind; some things, she found, would not stay within the sea of mental void she created. She did her best to ignore it as Christmas came and she lost herself in photographing her strange happenstance of a family celebrating together. Theo and Blaise had to only show Alexia how to start ripping open presents once before she was tearing the paper off everyone's gifts like it was her life's mission. Scorpius and Ariadne were simply thrilled to sit in the mess of torn up wrappings, crinkling the paper in their hands. Less thrilled when Theo kept blocking them from putting the wrappings in their mouths.

Blaise pushed down Hermione's camera to place a small box within her hands. She gave him a stern look. “I told you not to get me anything.”

“Yes, I know.” Blaise said in a resigned tone. “But when I saw this I knew D would have bought it for you.”

Hermione gave him a sad smile as she began unwrapping the box and opened it up to find a delicate silver ankh with the eye of Horus sitting on top of the crossed portion of the ankh. In the center of the eye was a moonstone the same color as the earrings Draco had gotten her the first Christmas she spent within Malfoy Manor, as well as the moonstones within her wedding ring. He was right. Draco would have seen it and immediately bought it for her. One more way he could try to protect her. Her heart sank a little that she hadn't thought to try so hard to protect him as well. Draco Malfoy just didn't seem the type that needed protecting, nor would he probably have appreciated Hermione making such extreme efforts like those he went through to protect her, for him.

“It's beautiful. Thank you.” Hermione said, wrapping her arms around Blaise's neck.

“Now, if you wouldn't mind wrangling your children, I've got a little something I'd like to give my boyfriend.” Blaise said, as he pulled back from Hermione and began scooping Scorpius away from Theo.

“You know I hate gifts.” Theo grumbled as he narrowed his eyes at Blaise.

Hermione managed to scoop all three Malfoy heirs into her lap, where they sat rather calmly; as if they could sense something needed their full attention. “I think you might enjoy this one.” Blaise said with a smirk.

Theo's glare only deepened. Blaise interlocked his fingers with Theo's as he pulled Theo's hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. The darkness vanished from Theo's glare, but his eyes remained narrowed suspiciously as he continued watching Blaise for some hint about what was going on. “Relax. I swear it's a good one.” Blaise said when Theo's body continued to stay rigid.

“Well get on with it and I'll be able to confirm that myself.” Theo said.

Blaise sighed. “Theodore,” Theo's narrowed eyes went into a look of worry at the use of his full name. “We've been through a lot, you and I. Deaths, marriages, more deaths. Draco having children, which I think you'll agree was probably the biggest shock of them all. You and I have had this hidden romance over half our lives. We agreed to an open relationship to keep our romance hidden and despite that, you never wandered into someone else's bed yourself. You stood by and watched as I married three different women as if you knew I'd always come back to you. Helped me dispose of some of those wives as well, but we won't get into that in front of Granger and her Gryffindor sensibilities.”

Blaise and Theo both threw a look at Hermione, who couldn't help herself from having tears well in her eyes. Blaise pulled Theo's attention back toward him. “I don't say it much because I know how you hate when things get too mushy, but I love you more than words could ever describe. And I think for my next marriage, I should like to take a husband instead of a wife. If you can stomach the sentiment?”

Theo's face softened drastically as he pressed his lips into Blaise's. “We've talked about this.” Theo said in a whisper as he pulled away from Blaise.

“Don't say no, just because the present isn't where we'd hoped. I believe in ending the Dark Lord's reign. You know Draco's too stubborn to back down once he's set his mind on something. And Granger owes me. Lord knows she hasn't made up for it with Christmas presents like promised. Honestly, it's the least she can do at this point.” Blaise said, his tone was light and teasing, but Hermione saw a sad look in his eyes. She wondered how many times Blaise had tried to propose to Theo before this.

Theo took a deep breath as a smile started pulling at his lips. A grin spread across Blaise's face at the sight of it. “Yes, fine. Alright.” Theo said nonchalantly, pulling Blaise back into a kiss. Theo suddenly pushed Blaise back and his face was serious. “If you kill me, I will haunt you!” Theo said threateningly.

Blaise laughed. “I've always wanted to try sex with a ghost.” He said playfully, pulling Theo back towards him.

“Oi! Children are present.” Hermione scolded and Blaise threw her a look as if to say once she and Draco were reunited they would be a much worse influence than them.

A throat cleared from behind them and everyone turned to see Bellatrix in her standard black attire standing in the entrance of the sitting room. “Hate to interrupt the festivities.” She said coolly.

“You're interrupting nothing.” Theo said in what Hermione thought he was meaning to be a cheerful greeting.

“I've brought gifts for the children.” Bellatrix's eyes scanned the sitting room full of opened presents. “Not that it would appear they need anything else.”

“Bella!” Alexia screeched from Hermione's lap, when she'd grown bored of her uncles and began searching the room for other entertainment.

Hermione released Alexia and let her stand and run into Bellatrix's arms. “Hello, my sweet little Alexia.” Bellatrix almost whispered as if the interaction was only meant for them.

“I do believe your wives all got engagement rings.” Theo said, pulling some of the attention back to himself and Blaise to give Bellatrix a moment of privacy with Alexia.

Blaise pulled out a little box from his pocket and opened it to show Theo the contents. Blaise pulled out the platinum band with Celtic trinity knots engraved around the center most portion of the band. He slid it onto Theo's left middle finger opposed to the ring finger and Hermione gave him a quizzical look. “Well it would look too much like a wedding band and then Theo would be bombarded with questions. This way it looks just like a fine piece of Death Eater jewelry until you and your husband make good on your promises.” Blaise explained without needing Hermione to even ask.

Bellatrix cleared her throat again, leading Alexia over closer to Blaise and Theo. “These two seem about ready to excuse themselves and I'd like a word in private before they do.” Bellatrix said down to Hermione, who was still sitting on the floor.

Theo and Blaise promptly removed Scorpius and Ariadne from Hermione's lap to allow her to stand. A worrisome feeling crept over her as she let Bellatrix lead her farther and farther into Malfoy Manor. They finally reached a wing of the house Hermione rarely ever visited; it had been Lucius's wing and Draco had only ever taken Hermione with him there when it was absolutely necessary. Bellatrix pushed open a door and Hermione's eyes met the cold grey stare of Lucius's portrait hanging within the room. Lucius immediately became a portrait of disgust as he took in Hermione before him.

“Um, what's going on?” Hermione asked.

“I have a gift for you and I assumed it would also irritate Lucius to see you receive it. I had a feeling Draco would have kept his father’s portrait in this wing of the manor; it’s where Cissy’s was after all until it was moved into my bedroom.” Bellatrix stated.

“You have a gift for me?” Hermione found it hard to focus on anything else Bellatrix had said after proclaiming she had a gift for her.

“Don't get sentimental about it.”

“I think the Dark Lord would frown upon his favorite Death Eater giving a Mudblood gifts.” Lucius’s portrait drawled from the corner wall his portrait was hanging on and Hermione glared at him.

“I doubt he’d be thrilled about his second favorite Death Eater having married one also. Go back to sneering; no one here wants to talk to you.”

Hermione stayed quiet as Bellatrix moved to the other side of the room and began unwrapping a large item leaning against the wall. A different set of grey eyes met her this time, as Bellatrix unveiled a painting. “It was for Draco originally.” Bellatrix stated as she moved aside to give Hermione a full view of the painting.

It became very clear why it had originally been for Draco the moment Bellatrix stepped aside. While Hermione had instantly been drawn to Draco's grey eyes even in painting form, she'd completely skipped over herself also standing within the painting. It was fitting; Draco wouldn't have wanted to be immortalized on his own like Lucius and Narcissa had been. He'd have wanted to be with Hermione. Bellatrix knew him well enough to not even consider passing it off to him any other way. But now she was gifting it to Hermione, who didn't particularly care to see herself immortalized beside him. She’d have been happier with only Draco.

The painting of Draco wrapped one of Hermione's curls around his finger as he nuzzled into her neck. Lucius's portrait made a disapproving noise from the opposite corner he was wedged in, moving to try and hide the sight of it by squishing against the side of his frame that Bellatrix was blocking. “Did Draco know you were having this done?” Hermione asked as she examined the flawless painting of her husband as he smirked back at her.

“Do muggles not understand the concept of gifts or do you just like to wind me up?”

Hermione turned on Bellatrix and glared at her. “Just because my parents are muggles doesn't mean they are idiots. This just seems like an extravagant gift to spring on someone and knowing Draco, he'd want to have a say in how he was painted.”

“I think I know my nephew well enough to paint him accurately.” Bellatrix sniped back in response.

“Now, now, ladies.” Draco's cool drawl came from the painting and Hermione felt like her chest had just cracked open. It had been too long since she'd heard that voice outside of her dreams that she was unprepared for the way it affected her.

“You painted this?” Hermione asked when she could finally manage to process what Bellatrix had said.

“Well I certainly wasn't going to pay someone to do it and have your likeness blow your whole cover.” Bellatrix had a tone as if she thought Hermione was intentionally being daft to piss her off.

“You painted this?” Hermione asked again, this time sounding more astounded.

“Didn't I just fucking say that.” Bellatrix's temper was rising.

“Wow.” Hermione breathed, stepping closer to the painting.

Draco moved from the painted Hermione to get closer to where real Hermione stood before him. He gave a bemused sigh. “It's always the endless pining with you.” He teased, smirking down at Hermione from the painting he resided in.

Hermione fought to ignore him as she turned back to Bellatrix. “You're really talented.”

“Or you're just easily impressed.” Bellatrix said blandly.

Hermione gave her an unamused look, but Bellatrix had nothing else to say to Hermione's compliment. “When did you do this?”

“I started it after I left the manor after Alexia was born. I've been slowly working on it while Draco's been missing.”

“I'm missing?” Draco's painted self interjected and Hermione turned to see herself glaring harshly back at her.

“For now you are.” Hermione told the painting.

“I'm missing and you two are sitting around staring at me instead of trying to find me?” Draco sounded appalled by this.

“Oh, shut up, stupid boy. Your little wife can take a break for Christmas to entertain your children before going back to searching for you.” Bellatrix said sternly to the painting.

“We should be getting back to the kids.” Hermione said realizing Theo and Blaise were still waiting on their return to fully celebrate their engagement. Hopefully they were waiting to start celebrating at least. “Tini!” Hermione called into the room and instantly the elf appeared.

“Mistress is calling for Tini?” Tini squeaked when she arrived, then saw the painting and immediately ran to it, hugging the corner Draco was standing in tightly.

“She knows I'm a painting, right?” Draco asked and both Hermiones gave an exasperated sigh.

“Tini hasn't been seeing Master's face in so long!” Tini sobbed into the painting.

“There, there.” Draco said dumbly. “You're going to rinse me off the canvas if you keep crying on me.”

Tini instantly stepped away from the painting and wiped her eyes with the bottom of her pillowcase toga. “Tini, can you move this into the second floor library?” Hermione asked.

Draco smirked within his frame. “Good choice; the ground floor library is better for when I can actually touch you.” He said slyly and Hermione’s painted version of herself smacked him.

“He may be a little too like Draco.” Bellatrix muttered as Tini hovered the painting out of the room before them.

“He's perfect.” Hermione said softly, staring after the painting as Tini vanished from view.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9

The realization that Hermione was going to have to start disappearing families had unsettled her, but surprisingly not as much as she originally thought it would. She'd found some singular resistance members scattered around some of the Order's most frequented safe spots, but no one that could give her answers nor anyone that Voldemort seemed particularly overly excited about hearing had died. Susan Bones, Katie Bell, and Zacharias Smith had been easy enough to convince into Hermione's safe house, or strong arm into it in Zacharias's case; but they had little information that was useful to Hermione's cause.

She was left with really only two options to get the answers she needed in order to find Draco; Remus Lupin and the Weasleys. Weasley wise, Hermione knew it'd be harder to track down Percy as he stayed pretty off connection with the rest of his brothers. Bill would be damn near impossible to convince into another safe house, even having the leverage of potentially moving Gabrielle into the safe house with them as well. He was even more reluctant to fight after Arthur Weasley had moved in with him and Fleur, she assumed he'd only become more set in his ways now that he'd lost two siblings as well. To Hermione's knowledge, Ron hadn't come back from Romania either and was undoubtedly already with Charlie there, especially if Harry was also involved in this Helios group. Which left Hermione with one option of the Weasley brothers left and truthfully the hardest one for her to face.

“I'm not spending another wedding anniversary without my husband.” She had announced to the current residents of Malfoy Manor a few days after Christmas, and she had meant it.

Facing George had seemed just as daunting as facing Remus. Angelina at least might be able to help push George in the right direction of joining the others at Black Manor. Tonks was unlikely to do the same. In fact, just knowing Hermione was somewhat in league with Tonks's estranged aunt meant Hermione might very well have to take the Lupin family against their will. If she was being honest with herself, she'd have to take George and Angelina the same way. However, George had been pro fighting against the Death Eaters as long as she had been. He practically begged Fred to let him tag along when they attacked the Bristol camp and again when they let themselves be taken hostage by Lucius Malfoy on her mission to kill Draco. Fred had adamantly turned him down considering George had just become a new father. Fight like that doesn't just disappear. If Charlie was a leader of sorts of the Helios group in Romania, George would be privy to that information. He might very well be the only brother Charlie felt he could trust with that information.

Remus and Tonks on the other hand would have information about Harry's involvement. Remus had done well to stay out of sight and off the radar of the werewolves once he left attempting to spy on them within their pack mentality. He wouldn't risk that or the safety of his child by traipsing off to Romania to join a masked group of fighters. Tonks probably would have jumped at the chance, but motherhood had mellowed her a bit and after losing her father, the only well adjusted Black sister would undoubtedly still be keeping her daughter close. They'd all lived together; Harry needing that closeness Remus provided to his dead family and Remus needing that closeness to his lost friends that Harry provided. Remus was often there to provide wise words to Harry or, in the case of Hermione and Fred fighting Death Eaters, remind him that he couldn't control his friends and if he tried he was no better than Voldemort controlling his Death Eaters. Even if Remus also was against the choices they were making, he respected them enough to accept that those were sacrifices they were willing to make. If Harry was joining the Helios group in Romania or had started it, he'd have confided in Remus. Hermione was certain about that.

So the choice then became which family to visit first. Whether Hermione had just become avoidant from mere proximity to Draco and his avoidant habits, or she just wasn't interested in feeling overwhelming guilt on top of her heartache of being apart from Draco, was unclear. Whichever the case, she decided Remus was a better place to start. Even the thought of seeing George at this point made Hermione feel queasy.

The house was exactly as Hermione remembered it as it sprang into sight the closer she got to the perimeter. The second she crossed the wards she knew Remus or Tonks, hell maybe even Andromeda, would be on her. They were all that was left in this house after Dean and Luna left with her, Ginny had died, and Harry was allegedly in Romania. Hermione sat just beyond the wards in her Death Eater attire and let her mind wander for a moment as her formulated plan began to unfurl before her. She wondered how she might ever come back from the choices she was making now when Draco's life was in her hands to protect. How she might ever be able to just talk with these people she once considered her friends again. She wasn't too keen on rekindling any type of friendship with Ron, but Remus had almost been as close to a brother to her as Harry had been at one point. A mentor in the time they spent locked away within the safe house; he filled the space Sirius left behind that Hermione had needed within the resistance to feel like she was making a difference. Like they weren’t just sitting around waiting to die. That there was something actually worth fighting for. She’d confided in Remus more times than she could count knowing she’d never feel that same judgement she felt from Harry when her thoughts leaned more on the side of the bloodlust everyone kept telling her she had. In a way, Hermione had thought Remus mirrored her. They had both been lost in books in their youth; the level headed ones meant to keep their friends and partners grounded. It was a weight Hermione felt very few others could understand, but Remus knew that weight well. Wore it on him even more after he’d lost the people who’d been his whole world at one point. Becoming a Death Eater felt almost like a bigger betrayal to Remus than anyone else.

Hermione shook the thought from her head. Now wasn't the time to question her ability for redemption; not if anyone planned on fighting her when she finally tracked down Draco's location. She made certain her balaclava was securely in place on her face and pulled her hood on before drawing her wand. Hermione stepped through the front gate and prepared herself for impact. Remus appeared instantaneously, just as Hermione expected him to; wand drawn and an almost feral look in his eyes.

“We've been expecting you.” Remus said, advancing on Hermione so the tip of his wand was nearly touching her nose.

“I highly doubt that.” Hermione said through her balaclava.

Remus's wand wavered for only a moment as he lowered the tip to Hermione's chest. He narrowed his eyes at her. “Who've you been torturing to get our safe house locations?” Remus asked.

“Torturing? No one.” Hermione said, that smugness she'd also inherited from nearness to Draco trailing in her voice.

“Bullshit.” Remus growled. “Who do you have?”

Hermione came to the conclusion that Remus was only taking this time for questions because he believed Harry to be in her possession. It was the only logical explanation for why she'd know all the places to attack and leave a false trail of death behind her, just like her husband. “I know who you are.” Remus said threateningly when Hermione hadn't answered his question fast enough.

“You do?” Hermione was rarely caught off guard during these fake Death Eater assignments, but this comment had surprised her.

“Of course. You're all over the papers. Draco Malfoy's wife taking out previously unknown resistance safe houses in a sick attempt to cause as much death in her wake as her husband until he's back at Voldemort's side.”

Hermione sighed. She hadn't been reading the papers since they refused to print anything about Draco being missing in hopes the resistance would stay in hiding thinking Draco was being mysteriously assigned at an undisclosed location. For the most part it had been successful. She hadn't realized that without Draco, another Malfoy was needed to fill their tabloids. She'd halfway presumed they would start writing about Bellatrix instead. “Right.” Hermione said vaguely.

“If you've come to kill us, just know this will be the place you die.” Remus said, that threatening tone mixing menacingly with the feral look in his eyes.

“I'm not here to kill you.” Hermione said, lowering her balaclava so Remus could fully see her face and hear her voice without the muffling of her face covering. “I'm here to talk.”

Remus's eyes widened as the realization of who stood before him dawned on him. Then his wand was immediately back in Hermione's face. “When did Hermione Granger realize I was a werewolf?” Remus asked her without hesitation.

“After I completed the essay Snape assigned while filling in for your Defense Against the Dark Arts class third year. I didn't tell anyone because I trusted you and believed you to be harmless. For the most part.” Hermione said; Remus didn't lower his wand.

“How did you protect your parents from being slaughtered as muggles who produced a witch?” He moved on to their secondary identification question.

“I obliviated their memories of me and sent them to live in Australia.” Hermione said, pushing a different sorrowful feeling through her mental void to stay on track of what needed to be done.

Hermione and Remus stared at one another for a long moment before he finally lowered his wand from her face. “I also haven't left a trail of death everywhere I've gone either.” Hermione added, not that it seemed necessary, but more because she wanted to set the record straight for her own peace of mind.

“How are you here?” Remus asked and Hermione found it interesting that no one else she'd revealed herself to had asked that question.

“Well, it's kind of a long story.” Hermione stated.

“I'm not short on time.” Remus stated back.

“Can we maybe move indoors? I don't think I'm being spied on, but I don't trust anyone not to do it.”

Remus suddenly became very aware of their surroundings before quickly ushering Hermione inside. Again, nothing had changed. Sure, it was definitely quieter within the house now, but everything was exactly as she remembered it being. Once inside, she proceeded to explain to Remus all that had happened to her and the others, to the best of her knowledge, after they all left with Lucius that day two years ago. She explained Draco's plan and how he'd spent years searching for the Order to join them before becoming what they all knew him to be today. She explained how it had been her idea to take on a different identity to help Draco fulfill his plans of taking down Voldemort and that a Polyjuice'd Pansy Parkinson had died in her place in hopes no one from the Order would interfere with her cover or Draco's plan. She mentioned, but glossed over quite a bit, how Bellatrix had been helping to keep her true identity a secret. She even went as far as to inform Remus of how she'd developed feelings for Draco and they now had children together. When she finally felt Remus had been thoroughly caught up enough to trust her with any information he had about Harry they just sat there in silence for a while.

“How have you been able to keep all of this from Voldemort?” Remus asked finally.

“Draco taught me occlumency. Originally I think it was more to help protect his secrets that he'd entrusted me with, but when it became clear he might not come back and the Dark Lord might then pay me a visit it became necessary for my survival as much as his.” Hermione informed him.

“You must be very good.”

“Well, Draco is a very experienced occlumens and legilimens and I learned everything from him about how to keep the Dark Lord from penetrating my mind.”

“A feat not many have ever accomplished. But then again Draco always was extremely gifted, even if it was directionally misplaced during schooling.” Remus mused.

Hermione wasn't sure what to say, she had already been clear on her feelings for Draco; even if he wasn't there to benefit, his ego didn't need further stroking. “You've been marked then?” Remus asked when Hermione hadn't filled the silence.

Hermione lifted her sleeve to show Remus the confirmation he was asking for. “I have a safe house I've been keeping everyone at. It's well protected and huge, but mandatory everyone stays put until I can get Draco back and he can put an end to the Dark Lord.”

“Harry's already tried that.”

“There were more horcruxes we had been unaware of when we followed Harry into the Battle of Hogwarts.”

“So what's changed then?”

“Harry is no longer a horcrux, therefore the prophecy no longer pertains to him, as he technically already died.”

“And?”

“And Draco is the true master of the Elder wand in the Dark Lord's possession, and also has all of his remaining horcruxes ready to be destroyed.”

“Why hasn't he destroyed them then?”

“Because he's been taken prisoner. Barely got the last one sent to me before it happened.”

“He could have been destroying the others while still searching.”

“The Dark Lord put majority of them in Draco's possession as his most trusted servant. He can also feel or sense when a horcrux has been destroyed. Draco couldn't very well just start destroying them. He'd have been killed before ever getting them all in his possession.”

Remus thought this over for a moment. “That explains why he was getting so desperate the closer we got to the Battle of Hogwarts. He knew his soul was becoming more mortal again.”

“That's why he created another before the battle. As a fail safe. Unfortunately, it worked in his favor.”

“So if you have all this information why haven't you tried destroying them?”

“I don't exactly have a good way to do it. No sword of Gryffindor just lying around at Malfoy Manor to destroy them for certain. Nor do I have the amount of leeway Draco possesses to not be the cause of starting a different Dark Lord regime.”

“So you've genuinely been doing all this for Draco Malfoy; the man you were determined that killing would level out the odds between the Death Eaters and the resistance?”

“Am I not allowed to be wrong?”

“I didn't say that.”

“It seemed implied. And I wasn't wrong; clearly someone else still thinks I'm right or Draco would never have been taken in the first place.”

“So, I guess that's why you're here, then?”

“I know Harry confided in you, Remus. If he has Draco hidden somewhere, I need to find them.”

Remus was quiet for a moment. He left the living room and walked into the dining room with an attached kitchen. Hermione followed him, taking a seat at the dining room table as she watched Remus move about the kitchen to make tea. It dawned on Hermione just how quiet the safe house actually was. No clattering noises as Tonks clumsily knocked something over, no whisperings from another room, nothing. There was no background sound at all. Remus's son would have been nearly nine by now and while Hermione knew very little about children behaviors, especially those not the same age as her own children, she knew one thing for sure; children made noise.

“Where is everyone?” Hermione asked when Remus finally joined her at the table waiting for the water to boil for their tea.

“I moved Dora and Teddy into a safer safe house.” Remus said casually.

“You and Andromeda are staying here alone?”

“No. I am staying here alone. Andromeda was killed in a vampire attack about a year ago.”

Hermione's attention hyper-focused onto this portion of information. Sure vampires were found all over the world, but they were found in hoards in Romania. The ones doing the most attacking and killing were typically these vampires, at least since Voldemort had gained control. They had more power pushing back against the Death Eaters than the resistance was lead to believe they had, but the vampires also typically had their own agenda.

“A vampire attack?”

Remus didn't respond until he was placing two teacups on the table before them and had sat back down. “I'm not sure where you've gotten your information from or how accurate it is, but your sources claiming Harry is in Romania are correct. Andromeda was helping Harry safely travel there and was sadly lost in an attack.”

“He went to join the Helios masked group.” Hermione guessed.

“I'm not sure what they call themselves, but I vaguely recall something about them wearing Helios masks, yes. I believe they got the idea of hiding their identities from the Death Eaters and their masks.” Remus gave Hermione a pointed look.

“The group was already formed before Harry left for Romania?”

“To my knowledge, yes. Harry was not well after Ginny lost the baby. He was worse after losing Ginny; though I was able to spare him some of the details they had printed of her death in the Daily Prophet.” Another pointed look.

“Draco had nothing to do with that. He all, but begged me for information on whether Harry was going to come and save Ginny or not.”

“He had a little to do with it. He didn't stop her being killed.”

Hermione's face got dark. “So Draco's meant to sacrifice himself for everyone, who'd never do the same for him otherwise he will always be at fault for everything the Dark Lord did while he was under his servitude? Where's your lecture to Harry while he's holding Draco hostage, doing Merlin only knows to him? The Dark Lord would have killed Draco the very moment he disobeyed an order. He's been keeping him in line, so to speak, since Draco was sixteen with the same threats of death and constant torture. I think you would know better than the rest of us not to take the Dark Lord's promises of death as empty threats.” Hermione said fiercely.

“You must really love him.” Remus said, as if this explained Hermione's position on Draco's choices.

“I do, but that hasn't nothing to do with why I'm defending him. I offered to help him when I still was plotting ways I might be able to kill him for what he was and what he did to Fred. We all sat here planning attacks and battles all the while forgetting everything isn't black and white. Sirius knew that. Tried to explain it to us even as children. Should we hate you because of what you are? The things you've done when you weren't yourself?”

The sting of Hermione's words riddled Remus's face. She'd meant them to hurt. Meant for him to realize this misplaced hatred that fueled Harry and so many of the people closest to him. The way Harry spread his beliefs in that same toxic way Voldemort spread his almost made Hermione hate him. If she knew Harry a bit less, she probably would have hated him. But she knew Harry better than most; knew there was no malicious intent behind the beliefs he had. His outlook was fueled more by an overwhelming amount of grief than anything else; it might not have been correct, but it was also understandable. More so than blood supremacy in the very least.

“It's not lost on me, Hermione, that our kind is not so simply categorized between Death Eaters and those who are not.”

“It seems a little lost on you, Remus. So many Death Eaters are only in that position to keep themselves alive. Half of them don't even support the Dark Lord's beliefs, they're just filler for his numbers against the resistance. Draco has done terrible things, I'm not negating that. In war, no one is innocent. Who knows how many Death Eaters Fred and I killed that night in Bristol that were simply on the side of the Death Eaters because the resistance had basically disappeared? Draco wanted to join us, to help end the Dark Lord and found no hope to set him along a different course. Fred and I stayed in Australia to forget our problems here while you all blindly followed Harry into hiding; deaths were caused by Draco’s actions, but they were caused by mine as well. If Draco's at fault for Ginny's death for not actively stopping it then we are all at fault because if it weren't for the Order hiding, Draco never would have turned into that monster you all still think he is.”

Remus stared at Hermione as if he was finally seeing her again for the first time and a small smile pulled on his lips. “I can't tell you where Harry is because I'm not sure where he is. I know he is in Romania, I'd assume at the dragon reserve that Charlie has been overseeing for the last decade. The plan I knew of was that Harry and Charlie were going to try creating a more action forward resistance group and take out the Death Eaters in Romania under the guise of the vampiric uprising while also bulking up numbers for the resistance, potentially by converting Death Eaters. Charlie seemed willing to create the group whether Harry joined or not and had started establishing himself through it before Harry had made his decision to leave for Romania. I never knew of any plan to kill Draco or even take Draco prisoner, but communication pretty much stopped after we heard Ron had joined them in Romania.” Remus said after taking a long drink of his tea.

Fucking Ronald. Hermione thought to herself, glaring into her tea. “You know I can't let you stay here, right?” Hermione said after a long thought processing pause.

“What sort of rogue agent would you be if you didn't cover your tracks?” Remus asked in response.

“We could get Tonks and Teddy and have them join you in the other safe house I have established.” Hermione supplied.

Remus thought about this for a moment. “I suppose that probably is a better option than them thinking I'm dead only to find out otherwise after Voldemort's been killed. Especially when there's not exactly a set time frame for when that will even be happening.”

Hermione set down her tea and stood from the table as she held out her hand to Remus. “Shall we, then?”

Remus looked slightly uncomfortable. “It might be better if I talk to Dora alone and explain things then bring her and Teddy back here.”

Hermione could feel her face fall into a characteristically Draco expression. One he would use most often when he was attempting to be apologetic about his decision being the only option. Remus seemed to catch this difference in her expression as well as his face turned a little more resigned to his fate than it had been prior. “Forgive me, Remus, but after Ron set up my husband to be taken prisoner; I don't trust many people anymore.” Hermione said and even some of that drawl Draco used dripped in her voice as well.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10

Part of Hermione wished she'd trusted Remus to collect Tonks on his own and meet her back at Andromeda's safe house. Instead she wasted another two hours of her day repeating things to Tonks as Remus explained everything Hermione had been through and was doing. It naturally took a lot of convincing for Tonks to decide she still trusted Hermione and even more convincing when she found out she'd have to be moving her son again. Though, Hermione was fairly certain once she saw the Black Manor where they'd be staying she'd feel a lot better about it, than the small shack that had been Remus's bachelor home.

“I really hate to rush the process along, but I do have three very small children I need to get back to and meet with the Dark Lord so no one comes looking for you all. Can we save some of the explaining for when you’re settled in the new house?” Hermione interjected as Remus was repeating the safety of the house Hermione would be bringing them to.

Tonks looked Hermione up and down for a moment. “How old are these children?”

“Almost a year and a half, and six months old twins.” Hermione said dryly.

“You look good for having just had twins.” Tonks said, her voice seemed a little impressed.

Hermione didn't take it as a compliment. She practically never ate anymore, certainly never ate regularly. The stress, worry, and guilt of Draco being gone made her feel nauseous most of the time when she went to eat. If it wasn't that, then the heart wrenching pain of memories of them eating together, him cooking for her, just being at the dining room table without him made her so sick to her stomach she was lucky if she could even choke down a piece of toast.

“Glad the misery of my husband being taken prisoner and unable to be found has at least been beneficial.” Hermione said darkly.

They didn't exchange any more pleasantries after that. Tonks merely agreed that once they were at the new safe house she'd feel safer or at the very least would continue her string of questions to make her feel safer there. “Hold on tight.” Hermione said kindly down to Teddy, who'd been about to grip her left forearm nearest his mom, before remembering what Hermione was and moved to her right side to take hold of her forearm nearest his dad.

They appeared in the entrance hall of Black Manor only a few moments later. This was the standard place Hermione brought her so called captives. Upon arrival their eyes would widen just as Hermione's had when Bellatrix had first bestowed her with the manor to use. Tonks and Teddy were no different as they looked around the large manor they would now be calling home. Remus, however, had a look of almost knowing the place before on his face.

“If you could all ignore Luna's use of referring to everyone here as Hermione's resistance, I would greatly appreciate it.” Hermione muttered, taking hold of Remus's hand a little more firmly than he was expecting.

He turned a puzzled look on her as she made a prick in his finger and squeezed out a droplet of blood. “Just an added precaution.” She told him before preforming the blood magic to hold him within the boundaries of the manor.

“It's dangerous tying me here, Hermione.” Remus said.

“Not with a designated spot in the basement for transformation and my supplying you with Wolfsbane every month.” Hermione stated, as she grabbed Tonks's hand and did the same.

“That's dark magic, that is, Hermione.” Tonks warned as if Hermione had any concern to her actions.

“And necessary.” Hermione said back simply, turning on Teddy.

“He's just a boy! He can't apparate!” Tonks said in a shocked voice, pulling Teddy's arm away from Hermione with a look of horror on her face.

Hermione freed Teddy's arm from Tonks with a little more force than was probably needed. “He can't apparate, but he can run.” Hermione said.

“He wouldn't run off on his own.” Tonks demanded.

“I'm not worried about him running off on his own; I'm worried about him running off on someone else's orders.” Hermione stated in a finalizing tone as she pricked Teddy's finger and proceeded with the same blood magic she'd used on everyone else.

“Hermione, how exactly did you come to across having this place to use?” Remus asked.

“You could say it was a family favor.” Hermione said vaguely.

“This looks a great deal like the Black Manor.” Remus said and Hermione wondered how he would know what the Black Manor looked like. She doubted Sirius had ever brought friends to this place.

“It is.” Hermione said simply.

Tonks seemed to realize what they were talking about. The Black Manor had been her mother's childhood home as well as Narcissa's and Bellatrix's. “If Bellatrix knows we're here, you've trapped us in possibly the unsafest safe house imaginable.” Tonks said in a shrill tone Hermione hadn’t heard her voice take before.

“As I said, it was a family favor. Bellatrix has no desire to come to this house. She barely stayed long enough to offer it up for my service. Besides, I've warded it against her as well.” Hermione said in a bored tone.

“More like a Malfoy every day.” Dean said from behind her.

“Thank you.” Hermione said sarcastically.

“I don't think it was meant as a compliment.” Luna said as she too entered the entrance hall to welcome her new guests.

“If anyone here really knew him, you'd realize how much of a compliment it really is and would probably stop trying to insult me by saying it every time I see you.” Hermione pointed this comment to Dean, who at least had enough sense to look embarrassed.

“We've got it from here, Hermione.” Luna said softly. “We'll see you shortly for the Wolfsbane, Professor Lupin will be needing.”

“Luna, it's quite alright to call me Remus.”

“I know, but Professor Lupin feels better.”

Hermione gave Remus a sympathetic smile before she disapparated without any further explanations or goodbyes. She promptly secured her Death Eater mask over her pulled up balaclava before crossing into the grounds of Hogwarts. She wasn't exactly fearsome the way she imagine Draco probably was walking through the crowds of Death Eaters, but she had tallied up enough alleged kills that several unmarked Death Eaters parted for her as she walked through them. They weren't exactly jumping in line to see just how much like Draco, Mrs. Malfoy was willing to become. Overall, it made her journey to the Chamber of Secrets quick and free of Death Eater politics.

Hermione entered the Chamber of Secrets and fell into a low bow, pushing all other thoughts below the surface of her void. “Forgive my intrusion, my Lord.” Hermione offered obligingly.

“Ahhh, Mrs. Malfoy, back again. Or would you prefer Astoria? You may rise.” Voldemort said and Hermione immediately stopped her thoughts of preferring Hermione to rise within her mind as she rose to her full height again.

“I am both Astoria and Mrs. Malfoy. Whichever my Lord prefers to use makes no difference in my servitude.” Hermione stated.

“The whispers I hear about you through the Death Eaters seem to suggest Mrs. Malfoy strikes fear into others. Would you agree?” Voldemort was eying her in a way she couldn't place having not spent the same time with Voldemort as some of his other most prominent followers had.

“Fear enough, I suppose, that Order members seem to be on the look out for me to find them. At least that's what was suggested by my most recent victim, my Lord.” Hermione said in a cold tone.

Voldemort gave one of his sickening laughs; it made Hermione's skin crawl. “Oh, I see why Draco enjoys you.” Voldemort said, waving his hand to remove Hermione's mask from her face. She just barely caught it before it clamored onto the floor. “Tell me of your most recent achievement then, Mrs. Malfoy.” Voldemort urged when only Hermione's balaclava was blocking her face.

“The known werewolf and mentor of sorts to Harry Potter; Remus Lupin. Tried to put up a fight, but I can't say it was much of a good one. Never was the type to really let the wolf out from what I've heard about him.” Hermione stated and noticed Bellatrix emerging from what appeared to be a small chamber behind the back wall of the Chamber of Secrets.

“Oh, Bella, good. Your niece was just telling me of her conquests this evening.” Voldemort almost purred as Bellatrix joined his side, hair and eyes wild as if the madness was overpowering her more than usual today.

“Go on, then.” Bellatrix said to Hermione when the silence lingered a moment too long.

“The werewolf's wife, known auror Nymphadora Tonks; now Lupin, I suppose. As well as their nine-year-old son. I believe I heard them calling out for the boy as Teddy.” Hermione said keeping her perfect composure in a way she felt even Draco would have been impressed with.

Voldemort's smile twisted into an evil grin. “A whole family of blood traitors and some of Harry Potter's most trusted allies. Most thrilling indeed! Imagine what I could have accomplished if Draco hadn't been hiding you in that manor for so long.”

“I'm afraid I wouldn't have been much use to my Lord when I was pregnant.” Hermione said.

“Was there anyone else?” Voldemort asked, his hiss of a voice almost sounded excited.

“I thought I might have had to get rid of the blood traitor Andromeda Tonks as well, but from the information I received it appears that she'd already died in efforts to help Harry Potter set up the Helios rebel group in Romania.” Hermione said, giving a pointed look to Bellatrix as she announced she was the last remaining Black sister.

Bellatrix's face didn't so much as waver at the news, but her eyes locked with Hermione's. “How?” She almost growled from beside Voldemort.

“Vampire attack. Apparently the Helios rebels had planned to continue massacring Death Eaters under the guise of vampire attacks.” Hermione said before she pulled her eyes from Bellatrix's back toward Voldemort.

“And Harry Potter?” The desperation in Voldemort's voice was so palpable Hermione could feel her own body tense with eagerness.

“Still unclear on whether Potter is in Romania with the group or just controlling it from an outside location. It was confirmed that the group likely took Draco on a whim in order to help turn the war in their favor. Possible headquarters for the group is within the dragon sanctuary. This would also most likely be where Draco is being held.” Hermione said blankly as if she hadn't been lying about Harry's whereabouts.

“If Harry Potter is in Romania, I want him brought back to me alive.” Voldemort's eyes went wild the way Bellatrix looked lost to her madness. “I want to make sure he dies this time.”

“Of course, my Lord.” Hermione stated with another bow. “I have a little more researching to do before I can know for certain I won't be walking into a trap by fetching Draco from Romania.”

“Draco has taught you well to do your research fully before acting.” Voldemort said, but his voice seemed unimpressed by this.

“If Harry Potter is in Romania, you shall have him, my Lord.” Hermione said and something in her voice must have rung true as that sick smile pulled on Voldemort's lips again.

“Such a pity Draco was hiding you.” Voldemort mused, more to himself than anyone else.

“If there's nothing else my Lord needs, I should be getting back to my maternal duties.” Hermione said, making sure to bow slightly again.

“That is all, Mrs. Malfoy. Come to me the moment you've confirmed Draco's location in Romania.” Voldemort said, before waving his hand dismissively; something Hermione was unfortunately used to at this point.

Hermione stood from her bow and turned to leave the Chamber without another look back. As she walked back through Hogwarts she thought of Bellatrix. She had wanted to ask Bellatrix if she was alright. Bellatrix hadn't spoken to her sister in years, but Andromeda was still her sister and had died. Information she probably hadn't wanted to receive from Hermione. However, she and Bellatrix weren't on friendly terms exactly. Bellatrix had done too much for Hermione to fully feel comfortable with her and not assume that Bellatrix might double-cross her at any moment. The amount of trust she had in Bellatrix was simply from what she knew of her protectiveness over Draco and the fact that currently only Hermione was left to watch over Alexia; Bellatrix didn't consider the help Theo and Blaise provided as much of an asset as Hermione did.

Hermione reached the point in the grounds of Hogwarts where she was able to apparate and disappeared from. Theo greeted Hermione quicker than she'd expected him to, Ariadne on his hip. “I don't know how that portrait of you and Draco manages to be just as disgustingly in love as you are in real life, but it's bordering on unbearable to be around.” Theo said before Hermione could even say hello.

He passed Ariadne into Hermione's arms. “They don't seem that bad when I'm around.”

Theo rolled his eyes. “Probably because even in painted form, Draco can't take his eyes off of you. Painted Hermione isn't nearly as feisty as you are. Suppose Bellatrix had never gotten smacked by you.”

Hermione kicked him instead. “Sure you're not a Slytherin.” Theo mocked, rubbing his shin.

Hermione stuck her tongue out at Theo which Ariadne chose to mimic. “Oh real nice influence on your daughter there, Granger.”

“Is it still too late to smack you?” Hermione asked jokingly.

“Like I said, painted Hermione is less feisty. Probably boring painted Draco to tears when the real you is around. But any Hermione is better than his best friends apparently. They just sit there being sickeningly in love with one another all day; I can't be expected to teach the children anything when they're like that.” Theo said.

“They're babies, Theo, what could you possibly be teaching them?”

“Well, for starters, not to stick their tongues out at me.” Hermione rolled her eyes at him. “I like to read to them; all I remember of my mum is her reading to me. Certainly can't do that while kissing noises are echoing through the library.”

Hermione felt her face turn pink; even though it wasn't really herself being caught in the act, she still was modest enough to feel embarrassed. “I can't have him in our bedroom.” Hermione said softly and Theo seemed to know what the true meaning behind her words was.

“Well, maybe you could bring some of the more kid friendly books into the playroom. Or Blaise can, he loves watching you two snog in person well enough; probably would be just as thrilled to see it in painted form.” Theo said, taking Hermione's hand and giving it a squeeze.

“I'm not sure what I'd do without you, Theo.” Hermione said with a smile.

“One more thing you and Draco have in common, I'd say.” Theo said smugly. “We better make sure Alexia hasn’t done something to Blaise; he's not usually this good at minding his own business for this long.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 11

“Where are we?” Hermione asked as Draco lead her through a field of wildflowers.

“You don't know?” He said, turning back to look at her.

“If I knew, why would I ask?”

Draco laughed in response to Hermione's tone. “I guess you wouldn't know from here; I never had the chance to bring you here.” Draco said, coming to a stop just within the wooded perimeter of the wildflower clearing.

“Your cabin.” Hermione said breathing in the sweet perfumed scent from the flowers.

“Well, our cabin technically. Haven't you come here since I've been gone?” Draco looked curiously at her.

“I've barely been functional since you've been gone. I certainly wasn't going to go anywhere that I could only associate with you.”

Draco pulled her closer to him, twisting a curl around his finger as he pressed her body into his. “I'm sorry.” He said softly before brushing a kiss against her lips.

“I'm the one who should be sorry. It's my fault you were set up. I thought taking Ron would be beneficial. That maybe he would have finally heard me for once." Hermione sniffled as she pushed her face into Draco's chest to hide her tears.

“I never should have left you.” Draco said, resting his cheek on the top of Hermione's head as his arms tightened around her. “If I'd have stayed I never would have broken my promise to you.”

Hermione moved away just enough so she could look up into his face. His grey eyes were troubled and sad as he looked back down at her. “We can still have forever.” Hermione said softly.

“I promised to always come back to you. If you called I would come for you, always.” Draco rubbed his pinky tattoo that was glowing crimson despite their closeness. “You're alright aren't you?” He asked when he finally could pull his eyes back to her from his tattoo.

“I'm alright. I activated the tattoo to make sure you were still alive.” Hermione ran her hands up Draco's chest like she had forgotten what it felt like to touch him.

Draco gave her a playful smirk, unable to keep the melancholy mood that had swept over them. “I keep telling you, Granger, I'm not that easy to kill.”

“What are we doing here?” Hermione asked now that Draco had lightened the mood.

“I don't know.” He said with a chuckle. “You're the one that brought me here.”

"What do you mean, I brought you here? How can I bring you somewhere I didn't even recognize?” Hermione gave him a look as if she thought he was winding her up.

An amused smile pulled up Draco's lips as he twisted a curl around his finger. He merely shrugged at her, lost in some thought she knew she'd probably never hear as he gazed at her. “You always bring me to you. I wish it worked while I was awake.”

Hermione gave him a confused look. “I don't understand.”

“Neither do I.”

Draco gave her another kiss; longer and deeper this time. The way he'd often kiss her like he knew something she didn't was coming. Like this might be the very last time he'd ever get to taste her lips. He untwisted the curl from around his finger as they broke apart. He placed his hand on her cheek, stroking her cheekbone with his thumb. “I love you, Hermione.” His voice was sorrowful now and almost far away as he said it.

“I love you too, Draco.” She said, hoping the tears threatening to fall wouldn't ruin this moment with him.

He released his hold on her before a whisper that sounded even farther away escaped his lips. “Come find me.”

Hermione awoke gasping for air. She hadn't realized she'd been sobbing in her sleep until her eyes shot open and she felt the sting of tears in them as she gulped for air between sobs. She was having a hard time grasping the concept of pulling a sleeping Draco into her dreams. She'd thought the dreams were odd and too lifelike, but bringing Draco's unconscious mind into her own hadn't crossed her mind. In fact, even though the real feeling of the dreams lingered so often that she felt like there was more to them, she had a hard time believing what the dream version of Draco had said. To her those versions of Draco were just her guilt rising up to make her feel more guilty, not Draco. It almost seemed worse thinking that it was actually Draco. Made her heart ache that all those kisses had felt real because in a sense they had been real.

Hermione got dressed quicker than she usually did, determined to find all she could on dream magic if there was such a thing. She'd been spending a lot of time in the second floor library since the painting of Draco and herself had been placed there, but hadn't been doing much reading or researching. More often than not she'd find herself staring at Draco and his painted self would make comments about her pining. She'd even sit and talk with him and it was almost like having Draco back with her; she wondered if that was why Bellatrix had spent so much time whispering with Narcissa while she had been pregnant with Alexia.

Hermione scanned the bookshelves tirelessly like she hadn't looked through Draco’s wildly expansive collection of books a thousand times already. Nothing stood out in her memory as a book that would have anything to do with dream magic or magical dreams, so she scanned them once more, making sure her finger touched every book spine within her reach. “What are we looking for, sweetheart?” Draco's drawl came from the painting behind Hermione.

Hermione sighed as she spun to face the painting of herself and Draco. “Something that might have anything on magical dreams.”

“I've never heard of anything about magical dreams.” Hermione's own voice came back to her.

“Yes, obviously, that's why I'm looking for books on it.” Hermione said in an exasperated tone back to her painted self.

“You don't have to be rude about it.” Her portrait said before turning and walking off in the painting until she disappeared.

“Where did I just go?”

“You know, I'm not sure. Sometimes you just do that. Is there another painting I should be jealous of?” Draco said with a smirk as he leaned lazily against the frame.

“Unlikely.” Hermione said. “So, I don't suppose you recall anything in any of all these books you've read about magical dreams or dream magic?”

“It seems like a Divination topic. I was never really into Divination. Took it as a filler to bulk up my O.W.L.s then dropped it after fifth year.” Draco said, reaching toward Hermione like he could somehow touch her through his painting.

“So, chances of me finding any books on Divination would be none, then?” Hermione sighed.

“Actually, Bella was surprisingly very interested in Divination for a while. I think some of her old books are in the third floor library.” Draco said, pacing slightly in his frame.

“I could kiss you.” Hermione told the painting in her excitement at having a lead.

“Please do.” Draco's portrait was almost begging.

Hermione gave him an unamused look. “I love you, and I miss you, but I'm not about to start kissing paintings. That's what portrait Hermione is for.”

“Mean wife.” Draco pouted as Hermione turned and made her way out of the second floor library.

It took almost an hour of scouring the third floor library before Hermione found the books Draco had told her about. One seemed unlikely to have anything of use to her based on the title; she had a feeling figuring out what her dream meant was less important when she already had Draco telling her it meant she'd pulled his unconsciousness into her own mind. The second seemed more promising. Delving Into Dream Communication. Though that title could have also just been suggesting a book on dream interpretation rather than communicating through dreams. She took both books anyway and began hunting through the pages for anything that could explain her most recent dream encounter with Draco.

Blaise found her hunched over the books, reading them for the fourth time in hopes her eyes scanned too quickly over something the first three times reading them. He had Scorpius on his shoulders as he cleared his throat to sound his arrival into the library. “Bit early to be that deep into the books isn't it?” Blaise asked when Hermione didn't look up.

Hermione had barely realized that she'd started her hunt in the middle of the night. “Early?” She checked her watch. “Oh, I guess it is.”

Blaise was quiet for a moment and Hermione debated going back to her book in his silence, but the look on his face suggested there was something bothering him. “Theo and I are always here to help, but we can't take the place of their parents.” Blaise said finally.

“Something came up with Draco.”

“Something always comes up with Draco. I get it's hard; it's hard on all of us too. You think I don't see Draco in every one of these kids? But you're missing too much Hermione. When you said you wanted Draco home before your anniversary, I didn't think that would mean you wouldn't be spending any time with your children until then.”

“I do spend time with them!”

“At this point, Hermione, and I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, I'm just trying to be truthful. At this point, you're spending about as much time with them as Bellatrix does.”

Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but then stopped. She could feel the tears biting to escape her eyes. It was easy for her to pretend that she was being active with the kids when Blaise and Theo were also acting like it was the case; and by a lot of pureblood standards Hermione probably was more hands on than most. Tini at least seemed to think so. But everything had seemed easier with Draco. Even when he wasn't at the manor and Hermione was parenting alone it had been easier just knowing he was coming home. She had let Theo and Blaise shoulder the responsibility and the more they took on, the more Hermione let them, while she buried herself in plans to find Draco. Truthfully, she'd been doing it longer than Blaise was giving her credit for.

“I don't want to be a bad mum, I just don't know how to stop focusing on bringing Draco back.” Hermione finally said.

Blaise crossed to where Hermione was and pulled her into his chest with one arm while his other kept Scorpius in place on his shoulders. “You're a great mum, when you're around. You just haven't been around very much. Sometimes I just feel like you might be forgetting how much they need you too. Draco's not an easy man to get rid of; if the Dark Lord hasn't been able to take him out yet, it won't be the likes of Harry Potter that does it.”

Hermione gave a sad chuckle. “No, Draco's much too stubborn to let Harry remove him from this world. Sometimes I just feel like I'm going insane from the guilt and worry. Honestly, that painting of Draco hasn't been helping.”

“Yes, I know. We hear you speaking to it. You and Bellatrix are two sides of the same coin my friend; she'd probably kill me for saying it. Theo and I worry about you, Hermione. He won't admit it, but he's a lot more worried than I am; probably seen what grief can turn a person into better than I have. If you can get Draco back here in three weeks then we'll never have this conversation again. In fact, I'll pretend I have no idea what you're even talking about if you bring it up. But if it doesn't happen, I expect you to get your shit together for these kids.” Blaise's tone had taken on a finalizing tone Hermione had never heard from him before. Blaise was usually the ever-nonchalant one between him and Theo. Filling the halls with the same lazy drawls Draco spoke in.

Something about his tone made Hermione feel like he might jinx her if she didn't lessen the time spent away from her children. “You have my word.” Hermione said to him and Blaise smirked.

“More like a Malfoy every day.” Unlike Dean, these words had been meant as a compliment of sorts. Blaise said them to reassure Hermione just how well she fit in place with Draco.

“Is Bellatrix here?” Hermione asked as she and Blaise moved to exit the library.

“I think I heard whispering from her room when I was originally coming to ask if you'd be joining us for breakfast before I came up here to find you.”

“I need to ask her about something and then I'll make myself available the rest of the day.” Hermione said pointedly.

“You must be desperate if you're turning to Auntie Bella for answers.” Was all Blaise said as he bounced off down the hall, making Scorpius laugh at the now bouncing shoulder ride he was being given.

And desperate she was. But if Bellatrix had been as interested in Divination as portrait Draco had suggested, she might have some useful information about the dreams she'd been having of Draco. She might even be able to help Hermione understand how she'd apparently been pulling Draco into her dreams, if that even had been happening or could happen. Bellatrix was well versed in all types of magic, a lot of which Hermione knew very little about, if she was being honest. Most of the time it was just easier pretending that Bellatrix was riddled with madness and simply powerful where the dark arts were concerned. Hermione would have been stupid to truly believe that though. However, the facade did give Hermione a bit of sense of security without thinking about how prominently the threat of her death loomed around every corner and just how easily Bellatrix could make good on those threats should she choose to.

Hermione raised her hand to knock on Bellatrix's door when the whispering within stopped her. Not because of fear like when Bellatrix had been pregnant and lucidity wasn't present majority of the time with her. No, this time it was the conversation she'd walked into eavesdropping on that stopped her. “You're not even trying to get Draco back.” Narcissa was hissing.

“I've done all that I can do, Cissy! It's not my fault Draco can't tell the difference between love and lust.” Bellatrix whispered back.

“Don't you dare blame this on Draco. You're the one who let him marry that Mudblood to begin with.”

“I will blame Draco because I've done everything that needed to be done. I can't make the blood magic work on someone who isn't really in love.”

“You should have been able to tell.”

“Oh, yes, because I'm all knowing when it comes to being in love. For fuck's sake, Cissy, remember who you're talking to.”

“Lucius and I were in love, you should have known what to look for.”

“Malfoy men, your son included, have a way of making all women around them seem in love. I chalk it up to their disgustingly possessive habits.”

Hermione had a feeling Narcissa was glaring at Bellatrix after this comment. “You did the blood magic without being sure of anything then?”

“I did the blood magic to be sure. I can't force the girl to have the dreams; that's not how the magic works.”

“How do you know she's not having the dreams?”

“If she'd been dreaming about where Draco was I have a feeling we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.”

“It's not like she talks to you.”

“I can't say I want her to, but when Draco is concerned she's been vocal.”

Hermione felt her blood starting to boil as a temper set into her. She slammed opened Bellatrix's door without knocking and marched over to where she stood before Narcissa's portrait. “What the fuck haven't you been telling me?” Hermione growled.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes and sighed, before waving her wand to close the door to her bedroom to give them a sense of privacy. “I can't tell you how to use the magic. It just happens. Why do you think I did the spell at your wedding? Because I thought you were so in love with my nephew?” Bellatrix let out a hallow laugh.

“What does the blood magic do?” Hermione asked, trying to tone down the forcefulness of her voice.

“If the two people are truly in love, the blood magic gives them a means of communication of sorts. Also, it acts as a type of location spell.” Bellatrix said vaguely as if she didn't think she needed to explain more to Hermione because the magic wouldn't work anyway.

“Draco said I always bring him to me, but it didn't work when he was awake. What does that mean? Is that your blood magic?” The desperation that Hermione's voice came out in was almost as shocking to her as it appeared to be to Bellatrix and Narcissa's portrait.

“You've been dreaming of Draco? Communicating with him?” Bellatrix asked, that flicker of wild madness growing in her eyes.

“I didn't know I was communicating with him! I thought they were just dreams!” Hermione said angrily back.

“How long have you been dreaming of him?”

“I don't know, the entire time he's been fucking missing!”

“You stupid girl! Why haven't you said anything?”

“Why the fuck would I? I thought they were dreams! My own subconscious riddling me with more guilt than I already felt about it!”

Hermione and Bellatrix both gave exasperated yells. “Well, congratulations. Now we all know how useless being in love is.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? That's really been Draco in my dreams?”

“Yes, and you've been absolutely pointless about getting real information. What do you do in those dreams? Just kiss each other and profess how much you love each other? That's been really helpful getting Draco back.” Bellatrix's eyes darkened as her voice got harsher with every word.

“I thought they were just dreams!” Hermione yelled back in frustration.

“Enough!” Narcissa's voice pulled Hermione and Bellatrix into silence.

“How do I use the dreams to find Draco if I just keep unknowingly bringing him to me?” Hermione asked when she and Bellatrix both had calmed down a little more.

“You'll have to let him bring you to him I suppose.”

“You suppose?”

“Well, it's not like I've ever used the blood magic on me. It's all theoretical at this point. Why haven't you asked him where he is?”

“I've been asking him to tell me where he is, he just says he wishes he could.”

“So you're both unhelpful then.”

“I don't think he knows where he is. He seems aware of things that he can find out within my mind, but usually he's just asking me to come find him.”

“Well, I guess you better do just that then. Let him bring you into him.”

“I don't even know how I'm bringing him to me.”

“My guess would be it's because he's all you ever think about. I doubt Draco thinks of anything other than you as well, so just stop focusing so hard on him and maybe you'll join him instead.”

“You make it seem easy.”

“It should be.”

“You should have told me to expect these dreams.”

“I've already said, that's not how the magic works. You should have told me a long time ago about the dreams then maybe Scorpius and Ariadne could know their father.”

Hermione glared at Bellatrix before she turned and made her way to the bedroom door. “Thanks for the so called help.” Hermione said coolly before she left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Chapter Text

Chapter 12

Draco's POV

Draco's eyes opened as the feel of water splashed across his face and upper body. Charlie Weasley stood, unmasked, over him within the cell he'd been living in for almost a year now. “Must you fucking do that?” Draco asked in a snide tone from the area of the floor he was allowed to sleep on.

“Well I'm certainly not touching you to wake you up.” Charlie stated.

“I don't sleep so soundly that saying my name won't rouse me.”

“Well, consider this your wake up call and shower mixed together.”

Draco flipped him off and Charlie threw another bucket of water into his face. Draco found it amusing how predictable most of the Weasley clan was. He'd been reliving these starts to his day with Charlie for at least six months now, maybe more. Mostly during times when Padma wasn't needing to get him properly healed before Potter and Weasley took out their life long frustrations on his body. Charlie seemed unbothered by his brother's actions, but Padma had grown more and more uncomfortable by it. There were weeks sometimes that she would claim Draco needed more healing and she'd sit keeping watch that no one came to break any more of his bones despite her fully healing him in, even the worst cases, under two days.

Charlie bound Draco's wrists together in the same fashion he always did and magically attached him to the ceiling of his cell. It was one thing to use him as their personal punching bag, but Draco thought making him look the equivalent of a human punching bag was slight overkill. He did always enjoy the way it stretched his body out in a way he was unable to do himself, but that was where the benefits of this position ended for Draco.

“What will I be punished for today, I wonder?” Draco mused to Charlie in a sarcastic tone in an attempt to bate him.

Draco might have been their prisoner, but he still knew just what to say to make them all play into his hand. If he was going to be beaten, he was going to do it on his own terms. Charlie ignored him; he usually did to be fair. It was amazing how level headed this Weasley brother was, but perhaps he'd been around dragons long enough to know how to keep his cool.

“Perhaps Potter's family being killed. I was only a baby also when it happened, but he does love to blame things on me. Perhaps your brother will punish me for how poor your lot is like I somehow chose my parents.” Draco drawled on and Charlie rolled his eyes as he checked that the bindings holding Draco's wrists above his head weren't going to buckle under pressure.

“I'm rather tired of being punished for your brother not being able to bag my wife.” Charlie was close enough to Draco that he could see the redness starting to form on his neck.

“One of them already did.” Charlie said in a low voice.

“Ah, right. Almost forgot about that.” Draco said nonchalantly, like another day of beatings was an ideal vacation from his Death Eater duties. “He didn't put up much of a fight.”

“I'd imagine having your mind melted makes it hard to fight back.” Charlie snarled.

“Not any more than these bindings.” Draco said, matching Charlie's low tone. “Let's face it, one on one, none of you would stand a chance going against me.”

“Is that so?”

“It's a fact, actually.”

“You think you're really that tough without a wand? I've taken on dragons; I'm not afraid of a pureblood little brat like you.”

“I think we both know I could kill this whole camp with my bare hands and not even bat an eye. Why don't you let me outside and you and I can see just how well you do against dragons.”

Charlie's fists balled beside him and he almost moved back toward Draco when another voice stopped him. “He's enjoying getting a rise from you, Charlie.” Padma said, arms crossed as she leaned against the doorframe.

“Cocky bastard.” Charlie grumbled under his breath before he walked out of the dungeon area Draco was being kept in without another word.

Draco sighed. “That's some of the only entertainment I get in this hell hole; you have to take that from me as well?”

Padma rolled her eyes at him. “It is truly baffling how you got Hermione Granger to marry you.”

“It's not baffling at all; it's dark magic. The Hermione Granger we all knew is dead, replaced by some evil Malfoy version of her.” Weasley said in a dark voice as he joined Padma in the room.

“I have evidence that she seduced me.” Draco stated with a smirk and Weasley pushed past Padma in what Draco assumed was his was of threateningly getting closer to him.

“I can't wait till Harry lets me kill you.” Weasley said and Padma took that as her cue to leave.

“Good luck, Weasel. Stronger men than you have tried.” Draco taunted.

Weasley's fist drove into his ribs and the feel of it had almost become second nature to Draco at this point. He was still muscular, maybe even more so now that he wasn't being fed nearly as regularly as Draco had made sure his prisoners were fed. He had nothing better to do when he wasn't being beaten, interrogated, or healed, than to keep his body physically in shape. Plus, it took his mind off the constant worry that Hermione was in danger somewhere. That his kids were in danger with her, or she too had been separated from them. The dreams helped. Feeling Hermione near him, hearing her voice, seeing the way their kids were growing in her mind. It all helped. He wasn't sure how it was happening; how Hermione managed to pull him into her when they were both sleeping, but he went to sleep every night longing for it.

I'm alright.

Her voice still echoed in his mind after being pulled from the dream hours ago. He always felt his own body pulling him back far sooner than he wanted to leave her. She'd find him soon enough. He'd been asking it of her for long enough that she probably was only days away from figuring out where he was being hidden. At least that's what he told himself as the days continued to pass without her.

Any day now.

The feel of Weasley's fist slamming into his stomach pulled Draco from his thoughts and he almost let a groan escape him as the wind knocked out of him. “Is that the best you've got? Honestly after all this time I've been waiting for you to bulk up like big brother.” Draco said when his breath came back.

Another punch.

“That's it, Weasel. No need for words, let your pathetic fists speak for you. Honestly, I can't tell which is more useless.”

Weasley's fist slammed into Draco's jaw this time and Draco actually laughed. Not the laugh he shared with Hermione and his friends, nor the hallow laugh he used in sarcasm. This was a maniacal laugh worthy of Bellatrix or the Dark Lord himself. It perfectly portrayed just how crazy this group thought Draco to be. He spent most of his beatings taunting them to hit him harder or simply laughing like a madman until they went into a frenzy and Padma typically came to intervene. Slowly, but surely, Draco was making sure these two heroes were just as evil as they thought him to be. Sure, they hadn't killed people as Draco had, but simply beating the shit out of Draco because he was there and they could didn't make them much better in his book.

“Stop. Fucking. Laughing!” Weasley growled through gritted teeth between punches.

“Ron! I said I'd get the information out of him.” Potter interjected, stopping Weasley's fist from colliding into Draco's eye socket a second time.

Draco spit blood onto the floor. “Be a good little pet and run along now.” Draco said and Potter had to grab hold of Weasley to physically stop him striking Draco that time.

“You're a real dick, you know that?” Potter said after successfully pushing Weasley from the room.

“Are you under the impression I give a fuck about your opinion?”

“I'm getting really sick of your games and your attitude, Malfoy.”

“Maybe you should let me go get back to my wife, then?”

“You know, every minute you waste not telling us where Hermione is, you're putting her in danger. For someone who keeps claiming to love her, you certainly don't seem to want to keep her alive.”

Draco laughed again. “Am I to believe that you'll bring Hermione here to keep her safe?” Draco asked, laughing again before Potter could answer.

“I suppose you think she's safer with Death Eaters. She's muggle-born, did you forget that part when you forced her to marry you?”

“I didn't force her to do shit. She's safer anywhere away from you. You couldn't even be bothered saving your own wife, I'm not going to trust you with mine.”

Potter's fists balled up at the mention of Ginny. Draco made the same low blows every time he was forced to be around Weasley or Potter and still they both reacted with as much force as the first time he'd said them. He thought it was a little pathetic that Hermione could get called a slur on multiple occasions and she very rarely acted even the least bit bothered. Weasley and Potter couldn't handle being told the truth to their faces without acting like the spoiled child they liked to peg Draco as. They weren't wrong, but the truth could hardly be classified as the same category of simply being spoiled considering the emotional and verbal abuse that Draco was subjected to from Lucius.

“Where is Hermione?” Potter growled instead of falling into Draco's mind trap.

Draco rolled his eyes. “Are you really that stupid or do you actually think I'm lying when I give the same answer every time you ask this idiotic question?”

“Where do you consider home then?” Potter's voice grew in volume in his annoyance.

Draco sighed dramatically. “For fuck's sake.” He muttered.

Potter might have been above killing, but he wasn't above torture; at least where Draco was concerned. He pushed his hot wand tip into the tattoo free area of Draco's torso and Draco pressed his lips into a hard line as his skin seared beneath Potter's wand. “Where is she?” Potter asked and Draco glared at him. His wand burned into a new place on his torso. “Where is Hermione?” Potter asked again.

“Fuck you.” Draco answered as Potter burned another spot on his stomach.

“Tell me where she is.”

“I already have you fucking moron.”

Another burn into his stomach. Draco bit at his lip to keep himself silent from the growing pain of the tender skin from excessive burning. “At home is not an answer.”

“Seemed like an answer to me as you asked where Hermione is and my answer remains at home.” Draco said, still managing a snarky tone while Potter burned another circle into Draco's skin.

“It's not an answer because we've sent people to retrieve Hermione from Malfoy Manor and no one can find it anymore. So where the fuck is she?”

Draco smirked at him. “You think I'd leave my pregnant wife without personally protecting where she and our children would be? Sometimes I truly think you and Weasley are the stupidest people I've ever met.”

“So you'll protect her from her friends, but not from your murderous ones? Sounds more like you're the stupid one to me.”

“You obviously don't know who my friends are and last I checked Hermione was closer to them than you or Weasley these days.”

Potter placed several more burns across Draco's skin in his frustration at this comment. “Just tell us where Malfoy Manor is so we can get Hermione.”

“I would literally rather die.”

“I can arrange that.”

“Good because I'm not telling you shit.”

“I hope the Death Eaters don't decide to pay your little half-blood family a visit.”

“I don't take threats to my family lightly, Potter. I will rip your beating heart from your chest if I find out you've been dropping hints about my wife's whereabouts in attempt to cause my family harm. Also, no one can just pay Malfoy Manor a visit. It's unplottable, dipshit.”

“Ron and I have both already been there.”

“Yes, and my father was a lot more lenient on who could just drop in on his family than I am. Only the people I've allowed can find it, and funnily enough they're not even aware it's unplottable. Unless you're with one of them apparating in or myself, you'll never find Malfoy Manor. So long as Hermione is there, you'll never find her either.” Draco snarled at Potter, partially from the lingering pain of his burned skin, and partially from his annoyance. “Fucking hell, I never thought I'd miss being tortured by the Dark Lord.”

Potter burned his wand tip particularly forcefully into Draco's ribs at this comment as if to specify he wasn't like the Dark Lord. Draco couldn't help laughing at the irony. “Weasley's got you on this goose chase, for what? To make up for losing his sister and brother? Hermione's always wanted to fight and you've always stopped her. Now suddenly because you have me prisoner here, you need Hermione? It doesn't make sense, Potter. Hermione will just tell you to release me because I've already got plans to stop the Dark Lord. In fact, if you'd just kept your pathetic, useless, hero ass out of it; I'd have already accomplished it. Saint Potter, always needs the glory. You haven't changed a fucking bit, have you? Well, maybe you're more cowardly now. A little scarier facing death knowing you might actually die this time, is it?” Draco was going to end this torture session on his terms, as he always did; pushing just the right button to make Potter snap.

“What would you know about stopping Voldemort? I'm the Chosen One. The prophecy says—”

“You died. Had your nice little resurrection stone bring you back, but technically you already fulfilled that prophecy. I think I know more about stopping the Dark Lord than you, He-Who-Cannot-Do-Anything-Without-Hermione’s-Brain.”

“You don't know a fucking thing about what I can do.” Potter said darkly and Draco felt a dagger slide into his stomach like he was butter.

Draco only laughed again. “Don't I? It's been pretty clear within your mind what you can and will do. It's actually embarrassing how unprotected your mind is. No wonder Sirius ended up dead.”

Ding, ding, ding. That was the trigger button today. Potter didn't use the dagger again, simply wrapped his hand in a fist around the hilt of it and slammed his fists repeatedly into Draco's face and the wounds of his torso. It lasted longer than Padma usually allowed and when she came barging in Draco knew why; Weasley was smirking as she pushed him out of her way.

“Harry!” Padma yelled, swishing her wand and pulling Potter off Draco with an invisible force.

“He's been inside our heads!” Potter yelled and Padma rolled her eyes.

“Get out!” She yelled, shoving Potter from the room and locking herself inside with Draco.

Draco's hair was long now and hung into his bloodied face, but hidden behind it was a smirk. “Are you some kind of masochist?” Padma's tone was annoyed as she undid Draco's bindings and draped one of his arms over her shoulders to better assist holding his weight to move him.

“It's my fault now, that Potter's a man-child?” Draco asked snidely, letting Padma lead him to a cot she'd conjured.

“It's your fault for taunting him and trying to get him to lose control while taking it out on you.”

She pushed his hair out of his face and Draco moved slightly away from her touch. He hated being touched, especially in the nurturing way Padma's healer hands moved in. It made him nauseous to feel hands against him that weren't Hermione's. “Would you fucking relax?” Padma said irritably, holding Draco's face in place as she moved his hair again to give herself full visibility of what she was healing.

“No.” Draco answered, but he stopped pulling away from her once his eye began swelling closed.

Padma dropped her voice to a whisper. “The Daily Prophet has been writing about your wife.”

Draco's eyes met Padma's. She looked concerned. “The Daily Prophet is mostly lies.” Draco stated as the blurriness began to fade from his swollen eye as Padma moved to heal some of the cuts across his face.

“Yes, that's why Harry and the others don't read it.” Padma's voice stayed in a low whisper as she fully came into view and the swelling released, clearing Draco's vision.

“So why bring it up?” Draco asked, his curiosity at what Hermione was doing outside of their dreams together getting the better of him.

Padma sighed as she pushed Draco onto his back to heal his torso burns and stab wound more efficiently. “I don't know.” She said finally, her fingers almost caressing his burn marks.

Draco turned his face away from her, unable to hide the anguish on his face from the topic of Hermione being brought up when not being questioned about her whereabouts and what spells he had her under. “Hermione wouldn't kill anyone, would she?” Padma asked finally.

“Not if she didn't think she had to, but she's killed people before.” Draco said nonchalantly.

Padma was quiet for a moment. “Is the Prophet saying she's killing people?” Draco asked when Padma still hadn't spoken.

“You're going to have a scar.” Padma said, changing the subject back to the healing she was doing.

“Padma, what is the Prophet saying about Hermione?” Draco asked sitting up now to get a better look at her.

Padma pointedly kept her eyes away from him. “The Prophet is mostly lies.” She repeated, standing and leaving Draco's cell.

“If you and Charlie are fucking, you should tell him I plan on killing his brother.” Draco said harshly to Padma's back, making her turn to face him again.

“Unlike you, I don't have a death wish. You want Charlie to know your plans to kill Ron? Tell him your fucking self.” Padma said in a dark tone before she unsealed the dungeon door and left.

Chapter Text

Chapter 13

Draco's POV

Draco wanted to sleep. Wanted to let Hermione pull him back into her mind the way she so often did. Wanted to feel her again. Ask her what she was doing that had the Daily Prophet writing about her killing people; at least that's what he assumed they were writing based on the vagueness of his conversation with Padma. But sleep wouldn't come. His eyes refused to close as he lay on the cot still available to him while he healed. He hadn't been lying when he told Padma he was going to kill Weasley; though, admittedly, he had been saying it in hopes to get a clear definition of her relationship with Charlie. He'd already told Charlie he was going to kill his brother. It was to Draco's benefit that no one seemed to take his threats seriously. They all assumed he was useless without a wand because he'd let them believe it.

They wouldn't think he was quite so useless now that he'd admitted to doing legilimency on them for this long; something only a powerful legilimens could do without the incantation or a wand. It was all part of his plan. If Hermione couldn't come find him, he was getting out of this shit hole himself. He had no intention of missing another wedding anniversary. Nearly a year without seeing Hermione's face had been torture enough. Worse even than the burns, stabbings, broken bones, and everything else her alleged best friends had dealt him.

He wasn't going to leave without taking out that ginger asshole first, though. Potter was doing as Potter always did; sticking his nose in everyone's business to be the hero. Even if he had let the Dark Lord win this war. Weasley, on the other hand, made it personal when Draco trusted him enough to fight beside him and he'd robbed him of precious time with Hermione and their kids. No, just like Pansy had needed to die; Ron Weasley also needed to die. He'd worry about explaining it to Hermione when he saw her again. After being prisoner for so long he doubted that he'd really need much explanation for his actions; she might even be more upset that she wasn't the one to do him in. That was the beautiful, vengeful woman he loved.

It became easier to drift to sleep at the thought of Hermione taking revenge on Weasley for betraying him. Everything was easier when he thought of Hermione. He could withstand endless torture so long as he had her; so long as he could find his way back to her.

Fingers ran through Draco's long hair and he gripped the wrist of his assailant hard before he realized who it was. “Hermione?” Draco couldn't keep the shock from his voice.

“Don't hate me, but you really look like Lucius with your hair this long.” Hermione stated as Draco's grip on her wrist loosened enough that she could move it freely again, but not loose enough that he stopped feeling her pulse under his fingers.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You're lucky I love you, or I'd have to jinx you for that blasphemy.” Draco teased.

Hermione pulled at his hair slightly. “It's not my fault your Malfoy genes just replicate themselves like that. Scorpius still has baby fat and even that doesn't make him any less identical to you.”

Draco pulled his eyes from Hermione for only a moment to see where she'd brought him this time only to see the grimy walls of his dungeon cell around him. “How are we here?” He asked her.

Hermione brushed her lips against his and he almost forgot he had a question that needed answering. “I let you bring me to you this time.” That smirk that drove Draco wild pulled at Hermione's lips.

“I should have picked somewhere better.” Draco mused.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t.” Hermione said honestly.

“Can you save your captive kink fantasies until I get home, please?” Draco said; he gripped her hips longingly.

Hermione gave him an unamused look, but he could see the smile she tried to hide. “Not for that. Bellatrix seems to think I will be able to find you if I let you bring me to you instead of the way I always bring you to me.”

“You lost me at Bella. What does Bella have to do with any of this?”

“I'm not really sure to be honest. These dreams have something to do with the blood magic she preformed on us at our wedding.”

“That sneaky bitch.” Draco muttered, smiling to himself; impressed at his aunt's ability to astound him.

“She could have told me about it a lot sooner than she did also instead of wasting a year we could have spent together.” Hermione grumbled and Draco could tell this was a sensitive topic for her.

“So, I've brought you here. Now what?”

“Yeah, I'm not real clear on the details. Your aunt is frustratingly vague.”

“Sounds like Bella.” Draco gave a small chuckle before he pulled Hermione closer to him.

“How are you always so calm about everything?” Hermione asked as Draco pressed his lips into her neck.

“You're the only thing keeping me alive, Hermione. I wouldn't say I'm being calm. I just don't want to miss a moment with you thinking about anything else, but you.” Draco said, twisting her curls around his finger.

Hermione blushed like she'd forgotten the way Draco always knew exactly what to say to affect her. “I miss you.” She said, combing her fingers through his long hair again.

Draco got the feeling in the pit of his stomach that they were pulling apart. He knew the feeling, he got it every time their time together in these dreams was ending. Draco pressed his lips into Hermione's before he lost the chance at it. “See you soon.” Draco whispered as they pulled apart.

Draco awoke on his own this time. Padma must've bought Draco another day of healing. At least that meant he was able to keep the cot. It wasn't comfortable, but anything was better than the hard floor of the dungeon. He didn't know how, but Hermione was coming for him; that dream had confirmed as much. Bellatrix had found a way to protect him once again and he had a feeling she might still have plans to protect him in a way unique to her in the future. Now Draco only needed to wait it out. It was unclear how long it would take Hermione to get here, but surely it couldn't be as long as he'd already been waiting. He breathed a sigh of relief as he smiled to himself. He was going home. He was going to see his twins for the first time. He was going to feel Hermione against his body because after this he wasn't planning on ever letting her go again. He was going to kill the Dark Lord once and for all and if anyone had a problem with that, he'd kill them as well.

“What are you so happy about?” Charlie's voice pulled Draco from his thoughts.

“Just thinking of how I'm going to kill your brother.” Draco drawled; he certainly wasn't going to put anyone on the look out for Hermione coming to free him.

“Oh, we're back on that again, are we?” Charlie asked as Draco sat up on his cot.

“I never left it. I'm surprised Padma didn't tell you. I asked her to, but honestly I'm still baffled she's even still here with all of you. She hates the work you make her do.” Draco stated as if Charlie was simply there to make conversation with him.

“She hates being around you.” Charlie's tone hinted his annoyance.

“Is that right? Not what she told me.”

Charlie glared at him. “And what exactly did she tell you?”

Draco smirked. “She's mentioned several times that as a healer she is against torture, for starters. Won't confirm that the only reason she's sticking around is to fuck you though.”

“How would that be any of your business?”

“It wouldn't be. It just would explain a lot.”

“Padma's here because she supports the cause of the SunBreak.”

“You must be incredible in the sack.”

Charlie's glare darkened. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Well that's what everyone assumed about me when I got Hermione to stand by my side while also committing atrocities.” Draco gave a shrug as if this wasn't a comment to wind Charlie up, but merely an observation of their similarities; a compliment even at his high quality bedroom performance.

“Our so called atrocities are not the same. You were killing camps full of people without remorse.”

“Oh I understand now. Death Eaters aren't people, so we can be slaughtered without remorse, but when it's the resistance it's shameful. Too bad half the Death Eaters aren't even for the cause, they've just joined ranks to avoid the Dark Lord killing them mercilessly.”

Charlie's face shifted ever so slightly, like that fact had just dawned on him. “If they weren't for You-Know-Who's cause they should have joined the resistance.”

Draco laughed. It was sincere this time, not the crazed laugh everyone holding him prisoner was accustomed to hearing. “Like you guys were so easy to find.” Draco laughed again. “I was actively hunting for anyone from the resistance to offer myself as a double agent for years before I finally gave up. And I had Death Eater resources to track you down, how do you suppose a random half-blood off the street was supposed to do it?”

“They knew what they were signing up for, joining the Death Eaters.”

“The same could be said of your resistance. It will never stop amazing me the way you Gryffindors can't understand the concept of blurred lines in times of war.”

“Yet none of us wound up as Death Eaters.”

“Well, no one on Potter's radar at least. There were plenty of Gryffindors that were unmarked Death Eaters. Several in that camp Fred and Hermione took out.” Draco stood up and stood in the center of his cell. “Should we just get on with this then?”

“I'm not here to bind you. Padma sent me here to check on how you were healing, which seems perfectly fine to me.”

“Maybe ask her what's really keeping her here some time because it's not her loyalty to the resistance or your little SunBreak gang.” Draco stated as Charlie left him alone in the cell once more.

Draco was left alone with his cot for a long period of time after that. Something outside himself urged him to press his finger into his black dark mark. It felt hot to the touch, which he hadn't been expecting considering he couldn't feel the burning in his arm. His hand moved to rub the silver scar across his dark mark where he'd been bitten and later ended up with a vampire fang lodged inside his arm. Something about the euphoria mixed with the dark magic of his mark intermingled and made his forearm seemingly impervious to pain. He hadn't tested it more than not being able to feel his dark mark activation, but the lack of burning that was supposed to only increase in the length of time activated was all the proof he needed.

His silence was broken when Padma entered the dungeon some time later to check on him. “Charlie says you seem to be fully healed.”

“You'd know better than me; you're the healer.”

Padma rolled her eyes as she pulled up diagnostics around Draco. “The Prophet wrote that Hermione killed my sister.” Padma finally admitted.

Draco turned his gaze to her, but she refused to make eye contact. “I can do legilimency without eye contact; if I wanted in your mind you wouldn't be able to stop me; just for the record.” Padma looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “Would Hermione have a reason to kill your sister?”

“I don't know; you're the one that's turned Hermione into this Mrs. Malfoy character of terror.”

Draco laughed. “I'm sorry, what?”

“I dunno; that's just the only way they refer to her. 'Mrs. Malfoy Kills Order Members in Search of Missing Husband’.” Padma said in a reciting voice of what sounded like one of the Daily Prophet's lame headlines, though Draco highly doubted the Dark Lord would allow anyone to write about him being missing.

“Hermione's not a fan of killing her friends. She's more likely faking deaths and filling my house up with resistance members.” Draco gave a slight groan at the thought of the resistance within his house.

Padma's eyes got hopeful for a moment. “Parvati knows I'm here.”

“If you're worried Hermione's coming to kill you, she was probably more interested in finding out the location opposed to taking revenge on you. I can't say much about your boyfriend on the other hand.”

“Charlie is not my boyfriend.” Padma's cheeks flushed as she said it though.

“Right.”

“Do you go out of your way to always be aggravating or does it just come naturally to you?”

“I reckon it's a little of both.” Draco said smugly, like Padma's attempt at insulting him had only complemented him more.

“You're uncharacteristically chipper today.”

“Am I?”

“Yes. Why is that?”

“I'll answer yours if you answer one of mine.” Draco toyed.

Padma was quiet for a moment as if there was a lot to consider with what Draco was suggesting. “Fine. What's your question?”

“Who all has the Prophet claimed Hermione's killed?”

“My sister, Susan Bones, Katie Bell, Zacharias Smith, and most recently, Remus and Nymphadora Lupin, as well as their son.”

Draco scowled. “Hermione would never kill a child. If she did snuff out Zacharias Smith, however, that prick had it coming.”

“Everyone besides the Lupin family was believable, but then again the world doesn't think she's Hermione. The Order just knows her as Mrs. Malfoy, striking fear into their hearts and out to cut them down one by one to avenge her husband or something like that. The Prophet has yet to announce anything about you being missing; for all anyone knows Mrs. Malfoy is simply trying to prove she’s just as deadly as her husband. You must be so proud of your protege?”

“Was that your question?”

“No! My question remains why is it that you're in such a good mood today?”

“Well, don't tell your boyfriend, but…” Padma gave Draco an exasperated look and he lowered his voice to a menacing whisper before he continued, “Mrs. Malfoy is coming.”

Draco couldn't stop the devilish grin from cracking across his face as Padma's eyes widened in realization. “What do you mean? How do you know?”

There was a lot of things Draco considered menacing about himself; his wife was not one of them. Did he refer to Hermione as a menace as often as he could; absolutely! But more in the sense of the way she effortlessly turned him on and less in the sense of her being a spreader of chaos. The way he walked up to his cell bars and grinned through them at Padma, for instance, was one of those menacing habits of Draco's.

“I can feel her.” Draco said slyly and Padma shuddered before him.

Padma made to move away from Draco's cell, but he snatched his hand out and caught hold of her wrist before she could move farther away. He pulled her closer to the bars, not as forcefully as he would have done with one of the men, but hard enough that she jolted forward and fear flashed across her face. “If you tell anyone that she's coming here or get in my way of getting out of this fucking cell, I swear to you, there's not a person alive that will be able to save you. Keep your mouth shut and I promise you that you'll leave Romania alive.” Draco said in a low cruel voice.

Padma trembled as she tried to pull her arm from Draco's grasp and fearful tears started brimming her eyes. Draco held onto her more tightly. “Are you going to tell anyone about our little chat today?” Padma frantically shook her head and a small whimper escaped her lips at the maniacal tone Draco's voice had taken.

Draco's face turned hard and he gripped her wrist tighter still. “Give me your word.” He growled and Padma began frantically nodding this time.

“Say it.” Draco ordered.

“Y-y-you h-have my w-word.” Padma said in a shaky breath and instantly Draco released his grasp on her and moved away from his cell bars.

Draco sat back on his cot and looked mildly apologetic at Padma as she stood frozen to the spot he had pulled her to. “Sorry; old habits and all. I'd understand if you'd feel better binding me up again.” Draco said, that lazy drawl returning back to his voice.

Padma didn't say anything, but Draco felt the ropes wrap back around his wrists before he saw her hand wave toward the ceiling to hold his hands in place high above his head. So high, in fact, Padma had him almost dangling by his wrists in the bindings, pulling him from his seated position a little more forcefully than Draco had come to expect of Padma. Luckily, he managed to hold himself in place with his tip toes. There was another whoosh and Draco assumed his cot had vanished from behind him. He didn't bother asking Padma to push his hair out of his face after he'd just threatened her. Though in her state of terror she might have actually obliged him, unlike the other times he made the same request to her. Padma left quickly after Draco was securely bound and he waited a few moments before he grasped onto the ropes he dangled from.

He pulled down hard on the bindings; they held. He pulled harder, still the binding held strong. Draco pulled until his feet lifted from the ground and his face was level with his fists. He crossed his ankles and bent his knees slightly so that when he fully extended his arms again his feet weren't there to catch the weight of his body. He spent most of his time bound this way, it was one of the only ways he could keep up his strength and often once he'd been bound it wasn't immediately followed by Potter or Weasley's versions of interrogation. Sometimes he spent hours tied up before the beatings started. When his arms grew tired and shook as he pulled up his own weight, he let his feet hit the floor once more. After a short break, long enough that his arms stopped throbbing, he gripped the bindings again and lifted his legs straight out in front of him. From an outside vantage point he figured he looked like he was folding himself into a chair. In a sense he was; using this movement to strengthen his core muscles.

He refused to go back to the Dark Lord and have other Death Eaters thinking they could fuck with him because of his slimmer figure. He wasn't fed nearly as well as he had been anywhere else, despite his already irregular eating habits, and it showed in his lean figure growing far leaner. It also helped him when Weasley and Potter spent their time targeting his ribs rather than his face. When his body shook lifting his legs he again dropped his feet and stood roped up in silence. He closed his eyes as his head rested against his arm and could almost feel Hermione's hands brushing through his hair. He couldn't stop from smiling to himself.

“À bientôt ma chérie¹.” Draco whispered to himself.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14

“Bellatrix.” Hermione whispered using her wand to push a gust of wind at the sleeping Bellatrix before her in an attempt to coax her from sleep.

Bellatrix might have been playing the part of the helpful and concerned aunt when Draco was the topic at hand, but Hermione wasn't stupid enough to attempt waking her with her bare hands. “What do you want, Granger?” Bellatrix hissed through the dark.

“Draco brought me to him.” Hermione whispered back.

The lights of Bellatrix's bedroom suddenly all lit around them. Bellatrix was sitting in her bed and Hermione thought she'd never seen her look more casual. Or wearing a color other than black. Hermione was slightly taken aback by the purple nightgown Bellatrix was wearing and how it seemed to stand out in color even more under her mess of black curls.

“I know Draco and I have the same nose, but if you start pining I will have to kill you.” Bellatrix stated when Hermione only stared at her rather than explain further about her most recent dream.

Hermione fixed her with a glare. “Ha. Ha.”

“You sneak into my room, wake me up, and now you're actually going to make me ask you where the fuck Draco is?” Bellatrix looked as appalled as she sounded.

“He's in a dungeon.”

Bellatrix rolled her eyes so hard Hermione thought this had to have been where Draco got his attitude from. “Oh, you don't say?” Bellatrix's voice was riddled in sarcasm.

“Well you won't tell me how the dreams work. He brought me to his cell, how the fuck am I supposed to know where it is?” Hermione said exasperatedly.

“I've told you before, it's speculation how the magic works. You're the only people I've ever used it on and there isn't anyone alive still from when the spell was created that we can just go pay a visit to and ask for details. Once you've been brought to him, you should be able to locate him.” Bellatrix rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she got out of bed.

Hermione stayed put as Bellatrix walked from the bedroom into her conjoined bathroom. When she reemerged a few minutes later she was back in one of her classic black lace dresses. “Did I miss something?” Hermione asked when Bellatrix looked at her expectantly.

“I'm not going to stay sitting around in my pajamas while we need to figure out where your husband is. Even if it is the middle of the night.”

Hermione looked down at her own pajama clad body. “Alright, so how do we figure out where he is?”

“Give me that necklace.” Bellatrix stated stretching out her hand toward Hermione.

Hermione's hand instinctively wrapped around the large moonstone pendant she usually kept hidden beneath her clothes, but was currently on display above one of Draco's t-shirts that Hermione often slept in. “Draco told me not to take it off.” Hermione said actually moving her body away from Bellatrix like she might snatch it from her neck.

Bellatrix sighed. “Do you know how much harder it is to scry with something that doesn't have the deep stemmed familial tie that pendant does?”

“If the magic is supposed to make it possible for me to locate him, can't I just scry with anything?”

“You mean to tell me that you haven't been scrying for him the last six months?”

“I didn't know about the blood magic when I was scrying before.”

“You wouldn't have had to. You had the dreams without knowing about the blood magic.”

“I told him I wouldn't take it off.”

“Oh, so this is about you not wanting to get in trouble with my nephew.” Bellatrix rolled her eyes as if this was the stupidest reason she'd ever heard.

Hermione fixed her face into a dark resolute expression. “I'm not taking it off.”

Bellatrix groaned. “Oh, fucking hell.” She grumbled, waving her wand in a way Hermione often saw Draco do when he also was conjuring a table and chairs into a room.

“Sit.” Bellatrix instructed.

Hermione didn't move. She wasn't entirely certain that Bellatrix wasn't still after the Malfoy heirloom around her neck. Bellatrix sat in one of the conjured chairs while she kept her gaze on Hermione. “Sit down, Granger.” Bellatrix ordered again, her voice taking on a dangerous tone.

Hermione sat down still a little reluctantly, but the tone in Bellatrix's voice told her it wouldn't be a smart idea to keep her waiting. “For the love of Merlin, I'm not going to take your necklace. Would you please chill the fuck out?”

Hermione cleared her throat as her hands dropped into her lap and she made a face as if to say she didn't know what Bellatrix was talking about. “Alright, I'm sitting. Now what?”

“Close your eyes.”

“Unlikely.”

“You stupid girl. If I was going to kill you, trust me, I'd want you to see me doing it.”

“I feel like you meant that to be reassuring, but it just made me trust you less.” Hermione gave Bellatrix a slight apologetic look as Bellatrix groaned in annoyance.

“Would you just close your fucking eyes?”

Again, with some reluctance, Hermione did as she was told. “Clear your mind.” Bellatrix's voice was calm and the singsong quality of it that usually signified madness, now took on more of a lullaby quality. Before her occlumency training with Draco, clearing her mind was something bordering on impossible for Hermione to accomplish. Her mind was always thinking, always planning, always prepared to offer the knowledge held within it. Now she did it effortlessly. Sometimes without even realizing she was doing it; everything went deep into the mental void pool she'd created. She'd become like Draco in so many ways, sometimes she forgot how different they used to be.

No. Draco and I have always been alike. Her mind corrected.

“Call out to the magic. To that bond that always brings you back together.” Bellatrix's calm lullaby voice said softly.

Hermione wasn't sure how to call out to the magic, nor did she think there was some outside force that interlinked their destinies. It had been Hermione's drive to take Draco's life that had brought them together again eight years after the Battle of Hogwarts. Not fate. She thought back to other situations where their paths crossed. Most of them were from Hogwarts and most of them Draco was being a complete ass. Then something shifted. She remembered what Luna had said before they came to become willing captives of Malfoy Manor.

“Draco can't help himself to give Hermione his attention, haven't you noticed?”

Hermione found herself thinking about this comment quite often. She'd been taken aback by it when Luna had first said it, but as the memories of Draco started filing past her closed eyelids she began to notice something in the way Draco moved around her. Something she never cared to notice before because she was too busy considering him an insolent little ferret, but that stood out quite clearly to her now.

“Oi, Granger.” Draco towered over her like he always had, but he seemed a bit more threatening now that Harry and George had just pummeled him after their last Quidditch match.

“Sod off, Malfoy. I'm not in the mood.” Hermione muttered attempting to move around him.

Draco's arm pressed into the wall to further block her way. Hermione looked up at him. He was smirking down at her, like this was some fun little game for him. Hermione rolled her eyes at him and then saw something flicker in his eyes. “Going to tattle on me to your boyfriend if I don’t?” He said haughtily.

Hermione fixed him with an annoyed look. “I don't need someone else to fight my battles, thank you very much.” Hermione retorted just as haughtily. Then added, “And Ron isn't my boyfriend.”

Draco gave her a fake look of surprise. “I figured he'd die for a chance to roll around in the mud.”

Hermione glared at him. “Move or I'm jinxing you.”

Draco moved to the side, but kept his arm against the wall so Hermione had to duck beneath his arm to continue on her path down the hall.

Hermione hadn't registered the flash in Draco's eyes as anything other than his own amusement at being a prick when it had happened. As Hermione revisited the memory with more in depth knowledge of Draco it was blindingly clear. The sly bastard was flirting with her. Not outright in the way he did so often in her recent memories of him, but in his own I'm-not-supposed-to-like-you way that only teenage Draco knew how to. The sound of his voice; the way his body leaned toward Hermione's as he blocked her way. That fucking smirk.

Hermione tried to call out as Bellatrix had instructed again, but she wasn't sure how it was supposed to feel or what outcome to expect from it. Instead her mind became overrun with memories of Draco. She wasn't certain if that was what Bellatrix had meant by the bond that brings them back together, but when she reached for Draco with her mind that was all that seemed to happen.

“Bella.” Draco's voice was soft and broken sounding.

“Leave us, Cissy. It's time Draco learned a very important lesson.” Bellatrix hissed.

Hermione was lying helplessly in the center of the floor. Her body ached so badly she couldn't move. Couldn't even bear to run, despite every instinct in her body telling her that now was her chance. Go now, while Malfoy had her distracted. But how far would she get? She knew nothing of the layout of Malfoy Manor; Harry and Ron were still in some sort of dungeon below that she had no idea how to find. She was afraid to open her eyes and see that dark face of madness before her. There was a shuffling of feet and Hermione braced herself for another douse of torture.

“Lucius, get her out of here.” Bellatrix's harsh voice sounded again and Hermione realized the shuffle had been Narcissa rushing over to Draco.

“He's just a boy, Bella.” Narcissa's voice was almost pleading.

Hermione forced her eyes to open and play witness to the scene before her. Bellatrix had a grip on Draco's wrist and was pulling him toward where she stood nearest Hermione. Narcissa had his opposite hand within hers, trying to heave her son away from her sister's grasp. Lucius had Narcissa around the waist in an attempt to remove her from the room.

“He either learns it from me or he'll learn it from the Dark Lord; which would you prefer?” Bellatrix said darkly as she forced Narcissa's hand from Draco's.

Draco's eyes dropped to Hermione's as she watched him before she quickly darted them away. “It'll ruin him.” Narcissa practically sobbed, but nothing else was said as Lucius drug her from the room Hermione was being tortured in.

Bellatrix pulled Draco so he too was looking down on Hermione where she was left sprawled on the floor. Hermione looked up into those cold grey eyes and Draco winced ever so slightly as he turned his face away from her. Bellatrix took hold of his face and forced him to look back at Hermione.

“You will watch.” She said darkly.

“Bella, I get it. I understand. Please.” Draco tried to pull his face from his aunt's grip, but she only clung to him tighter.

“You should be thankful I'm not making you kill her yourself.” Bellatrix said in a crazed tone.

Hermione gave a squeak of fear despite herself at the words. “Kill her? What do you mean, kill her?” Draco's eyes fell back on Hermione and he stared at her for a long moment as if he was trying to memorize something.

Bellatrix's manic laugh rang through the room. “You thought I'd keep her alive?” More laughter.

“Surely, Potter's best friend, Mudblood or not, is more valuable alive.” Draco was trying to reason with her, Hermione realized.

“Crucio!” Bellatrix jabbed her wand at Hermione and the agony ripped through her body again.

All she could do was scream. Her blood felt as if it was on fire; burning her up as she writhed on the floor. Bellatrix was laughing. For a long while that was all Hermione could hear apart from her own screaming. But the laughter was almost better than the glare Draco cast upon her. She'd seen Draco look many things, but cold and truly evil had never been one of them. Not in the way his grey eyes darkened to charcoal in a transfixed glare at her face. Like somehow her being tortured for Bellatrix's amusement was in some way her fault. Bellatrix lifted the curse, but Draco's cold glare remained.

Hermione had never considered Draco to be capable of murder. Hadn't even believed it of him when he'd spent an entire school year making attempts on Dumbledore's life. Draco was a prat, but a killer? No. He never seemed like a killer. That was until Hermione stared up at him staring down at her with those dark hateful eyes. Whatever Bellatrix was trying to teach Draco, Hermione had the grave idea that she'd succeeded. As Draco glared at her on the floor, tears streaming across her face, Hermione wondered if Draco might actually kill her. Then Bellatrix climbed atop Hermione's body and pinned her to the floor, dagger drawn and Draco's eyes softened again.

“Bella!” His voice sounded far away; perhaps Hermione was losing her mind the way Neville's parents had.

The dagger found her arm and Hermione gasped as more tears were pulled from her with the pain of Bellatrix's blade piercing her skin. “Lest anyone forgets the abomination she is.” Bellatrix almost cooed the words at Draco.

He had a look of horror on his face when Hermione turned her face toward him, but he quickly composed himself. He had a resigned look on his face as Bellatrix steadily carved up her arm. “Just a filthy, little Mudblood.” Bellatrix said in an amused tone before she lifted her weight from Hermione. Draco's eyes sat on the bloody marks Bellatrix had left on Hermione's arm for longer than Hermione thought he would have allowed himself to focus his attention on them. She turned her gaze away from him to see what had been made of her arm.

Hermione wasn't used to reliving so many things without the feel of Draco's hand interlocked in her own. She opened her eyes, not wanting to keep experiencing the dark times she'd had with Draco. That wasn't the Draco she knew anymore. Hermione blinked her eyes several times as if the crazed smile of Bellatrix before her would vanish like the visions of Draco had. Then she remembered that Bellatrix had been sitting before her, coaxing Hermione into feeling out for whatever bond pulled Draco to her. Bellatrix wasn't about to torture her, or at least Hermione hoped that was the case. She was smiling at something else. Something Hermione had done without realizing it.

Hermione hadn't felt much in her left hand due to the constant cold of her activated pinky tattoo, but after a moment of staring into Bellatrix's smiling face she started to feel something. Something warm. Something like the feeling she got when she felt Draco's arms wrap around her while she slept. Draco. She felt Draco. She wasn't sure how to describe it, but she knew instantly it was him. She began smiling as well, though with less madness to hers than the one Bellatrix wore. She looked down to the warmness she felt in her left ring finger and noticed a light like a small laser beam was coming up through her finger and shining through her wedding ring across the room.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15

Hermione moved around Bellatrix's room and no matter where her hand was pointed the light continued shining from her finger into the same direction. She'd done it. She didn't know how, but she'd done it. She'd tapped into whatever blood magic Bellatrix had used on them and now had a direct line showing her exactly where to find Draco. Hermione was so pleased with this outcome she actually ran to Bellatrix and wrapped her arms around her in her giddiness. Bellatrix patted her shoulder slightly as if this was the best attempt she could make at showing Hermione affection.

“In the excitement of getting Draco back, I'll allow this for fifteen more seconds.” Bellatrix stated.

Hermione released her quickly. “Draco's still in the Carpathian Mountains.” Hermione stated.

“How do you know?” Bellatrix asked.

“Dunno, I can just feel it. I can feel him so clearly now.” Hermione said vaguely.

“You're welcome.” Bellatrix muttered under her breath.

Hermione rolled her eyes. “So what needs to happen before I can leave?” She asked instead of the comment that first came to mind about how she would have thanked Bellatrix if she had told her how to access this light leading to Draco sooner.

“Well now that you've gotten yourself marked, you're going to need to inform the Dark Lord. Though he doesn't know that I've preformed this particular type of blood magic on you, so he will be less thrilled than if you got the information by your alleged killings rather than from love. You might, instead get a small group together and head out to Romania and then I can tell the Dark Lord you've left. I'm better at distracting him from the things we want him distracted from.”

“A small group? The only people I genuinely trust need to be here to look after the kids.” Hermione said.

Bellatrix gave her a look as if to say it was surprising that Theo and Blaise made her list of trusted people. “What is it about you and my stupid nephew that makes you both think you'll be fine going off on your own?”

“Once I find Draco, I won't be on my own.”

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “And what about the dragons and vampires before you find him? Your precious friends running around in Helios masks finding you? And if you expect me to babysit your pet werewolf; you're absolutely mistaken.”

Hermione thought about this for a moment. She'd already given Remus the first of his Wolfsbane potion, but he needed it for the entire week before the full moon or the effects wouldn't hold through his transformation. Which meant she'd need to wait another week before going after Draco or see if either Theo or Blaise was good enough in potions to brew it and deliver it to Remus in her absence. The list of favors she asked of the couple was getting so long she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to repay them for all they'd done for her and her family. “Ideally I'd like my husband home sooner rather than later.” Hermione said as she narrowed her eyes at the floor in thought.

“I'm sure you'll be back to snogging endlessly and irritating us all with how sickeningly in love you two are in no time. But I have no intention of pet sitting; or setting foot back in Black Manor. You've already made me an accomplice enough by keeping so many of your resistance and Order friends alive.” Bellatrix said in an annoyed tone.

“What will you tell the Dark Lord?” Hermione asked.

“You've enough to worry about with finding Draco without trying to control my interactions with the Dark Lord as well. Leave Tom to me and worry about what actually needs your attention.” Bellatrix said, opening her bedroom door to indicate her being tired of Hermione's company and their current conversation.

Hermione crossed the room to the door and walked out as Bellatrix had been indicating her to do so. The light issuing from her finger winding its way to find Hermione the quickest path from where she stood in the direction to finding Draco. Hermione smiled at Bellatrix, who simply looked back at her with a look of forced compliance. “Draco's coming home.” Hermione said, unable to keep the giddiness from her voice.

Bellatrix fought back a smile, but a look of amusement flashed in her eyes. “It's about time.” She said lightly before Hermione practically skipped away down the hall and Bellatrix closed herself back into her room.

It had been so long since Hermione had felt this type of delirium she could barely wipe the smile off her face. Hermione made her way back to the bedroom she would soon again share with Draco, but Tini appeared in front of her before she could enter. “Hello, Tini.” Hermione said brightly before the small elf could speak.

“Tini has been seeing a strange beam of light.” Tini stated.

“It's leading me to Draco.” Hermione said smiling wider.

The words had barely left her mouth before Tini was wrapped around her leg sobbing into her thigh so hard her entire body was shaking enough to make Hermione's body feel like it was vibrating. “Master is coming home?” She squeaked through her sobbing.

“Yes, Draco is finally coming home.” Hermione said, that smile somehow growing even more.

Tini released Hermione's leg and wiped her face before brushing out her pillowcase toga. She suddenly looked official in her tiny frame. “When is Master to be getting here?” She asked.

“I just need to get everything in order and he'll be back as soon as I can go get him.” Hermione stated.

Tini's eyes got wide. “Mistress can't be leaving!”

“Tini, he's being held prisoner. I have to leave so that I can break him free.”

“Tini is promising Master Tini will be keeping Mistress safe! Mistress already has been marked, making Tini break her promise to Master. Tini's punishment will be most severe if Mistress if leaving to the place Master was taken.”

“I've never seen Draco punish you. Besides he's been asking me to come find him; he can't be mad at you for allowing me to do what he's been asking of me himself.”

Tears started rolling down Tini's cheeks again. “Tini will have to be punishing herself and then Tini won't be able you care for Master Scorpius or Mistresses Alexia and Ariadne. Tini will be useless and Master will give Tini clothes.”

“Tini, as the Mistress of this manor and of the Malfoy family, I hereby order you not to punish yourself.” Hermione took on a firm tone hoping to convey some of that regality Draco could speak in that made those around him follow his orders.

Tini's eyes got wide again. “But Mistress…” Tini began.

“I appreciate the thought behind Draco asking you to keep me safe, but I'm a lot stronger than he seems to think I am and I won't have you injuring yourself because I'm the only one who can bring him home.”

“Master is not thinking Mistress is not strong. Master is thinking Mistress is reckless.” Tini threw her small hands over her mouth and her eyes widened as if she’d just let something slip that Draco had told her in confidence.

“Excuse me? I am not reckless, when have I ever been…” Hermione trailed off as she thought about the reckless things she'd done in the last two years.

She came to kill Draco without any real plan on how to get out of that situation should Draco be able to take on all five of them at once. She'd let herself pass notes with Draco in an attempt to lower his guard without thinking about the consequences it might have on herself. She'd jumped into the role of Astoria Greengrass without any solid information on how to portray her aside from looking similar to her. She seduced Draco because of the crush she'd developed on him while trying to get his guard down. She married him without a real understanding of her feelings for him and how they might affect them both in the long run. She'd begged Draco to take Kingsley and Ron with him without even considering that Ron might double cross Draco the moment a wand was in his hand. She'd become a Death Eater without a single thought into how damaging this could be to her future once Voldemort was finally dead.

Draco had every right to consider Hermione reckless. In the time they'd been forced to be in each other's lives, she had been reckless and Draco didn't even know about the Death Eater bit. Though admittedly, he was reckless as well; he just had a more methodical way about being reckless. He might have thought out the entire sequence of his actions, but he rarely thought about their consequences. He'd killed those Death Eaters that Pansy had sent after Hermione without even a blink into the punishment he'd then be receiving for doing so.

“I don't plan on going after Draco without a plan. I have the light to guide me to him, but I can't risk anything going wrong that might end up in both of us not coming home. I may have been reckless before, but I won't be this time. I would never be reckless with Draco's life on the line. Nor with our children needing us both to come home to them.” Hermione said, patting Tini's head.

“What's this I hear about Draco's life on the line?” Blaise had just stepped into the hall Hermione and Tini had been talking in, without concern to those still sleeping.

Hermione turned to find him in only a pair of pajama bottoms despite the cold temperature. Theo casually strolled out in the same attire, though his hair was much messier than Blaise's as he slunk his arm around Blaise's bare torso. Blaise seemed to instinctively pull Theo's body closer into him as he wrapped an arm around him as well. “What about Draco?” Theo asked when nothing had been said.

“I'm going to get him.” Hermione said calmly before going into depth about the blood magic Bellatrix had used on them, their dreams together, and finally the string of light that would lead her to Draco.

“Brilliant! When do we leave?” Blaise asked excitedly and Hermione saw Theo's grip on him tighten.

“We,” Hermione motioned between them, “don't leave. I do.”

Tini must have sensed a similar argument to the one they'd been having arising and left for the nursery before anyone had responded to Hermione's comment. “That's my best friend out there, you can't expect me to just sit back and do nothing while you run off to save him?” Blaise had released Theo now in his frustration with Hermione.

“I have no one else I trust with the kids.” Hermione said softly. “It's not that I don't want the help or think you don’t have every right to join me, but Tini can't manage all three of them alone for potentially weeks.”

“This is dragon shit.” Blaise groaned.

“When are you leaving?” Theo asked, steering the subject away from Blaise's disappointment.

“I don't suppose either of you know how to brew Wolfsbane potion, do you?” Hermione asked and confusion spread across the men before her.

“How the fuck did we get here?” Blaise asked, but an understanding washed over Theo's features.

“The werewolf she's got with the others.” Theo muttered and understanding washed over Blaise as well.

“I'm decent at potion making, but complex shit like that I always left up to Draco.” Theo stated when Hermione only looked expectantly at them.

“I honestly can't even tell you the last time I brewed a potion after leaving Hogwarts, let alone something at a potions master level.” Blaise added.

“Well I guess that means I'll be having to administer Remus's potions before I can leave then.” Hermione said with slight disappointment in her tone.

“Can't you have one of your resistance people come help watch the kids so I can go with you?” Blaise asked.

Hermione turned to Theo. “I suppose you'll be begging me to come next?”

Theo shrugged. “Death Eater life is a little different than that. I'm in charge of keeping Paris under control, remember? The Dark Lord barely ever permits me to leave. I'm not even supposed to be staying here, as is. There's no way I could casually slip into Romania without facing probably death for doing it.”

Hermione turned back to Blaise. “You wouldn't rather stay with your fiancé with a house nearly all to yourselves?”

Blaise considered this for a moment. “No, I can do that all I want back at the château once we get Draco back.” Blaise stated and Theo pinched his thigh.

“Who exactly do you expect to take your place looking after the kids while we're gone? Theo, Tini, and Bellatrix? Theo and Bellatrix have Death Eater business that is always pulling them away, they can help, but you're the one I really count on to be here with the kids.” Hermione stated.

“I dunno, Lovegood's loyal enough. Have her take my place.” Blaise said blandly.

“No, the last thing we want is the Malfoy clan learning even more mischievous magic. I've seen Lovegood in action, there was a reason everyone called her 'Loony' at Hogwarts.” Theo interjected before Hermione could make her argument against it.

“Besides, Luna is the only one keeping everyone together at the safe house. They might start getting ideas to attempt leaving if she's gone. Parvati definitely will; she's not exactly stable.” Hermione continued.

Blaise groaned. “This sucks. You'll probably just bring the whole group back to live nice and happily in your safe house and won't even punish them for what they've done to Draco. Ruddy Gryffindor.” His tone got dark as he glared at the floor.

“I will not be bringing them back to the safe house.” Hermione said just as darkly.

“You going to kill Potter if he tries to stop you?” Blaise sniped, now meeting Hermione with his glare.

“If I have to.” Hermione glared back.

“Are we done measuring dicks, or do you two need a moment longer to fight about who loves Draco more?” Theo said in an agitated tone. When neither Hermione nor Blaise spoke after this, Theo continued, “Good. Hermione you need a definite plan of action and, thanks to our lower than par potion making, only a week to come up with it. I suggest we all stop arguing and focus on the outcome here; bringing Draco home. If you're going alone you need to be thoroughly prepared for anything you might face getting there as well as the fact that Draco might not be in fighting condition to get you both out.”

Blaise smiled at Theo in a way Hermione hadn't witnessed this close to them before. He pulled Theo against his body again, but there was a sensuality about the way he touched him that hadn't been there beforehand. “What?” Theo asked as Blaise closed the little space there had been between their bodies to kiss along Theo's neck.

“I love when you get all take action-y.” Blaise purred, letting his hands roam freely around Theo's body as if Hermione wasn't still in the hall with them.

Theo smirked as he took a tight hold on Blaise and began pushing him with his own body back into their bedroom. “Show me how much you love it then.” Theo said in that same sensual way Blaise had been touching him before their lips met and they became a tangle of body parts stumbling beyond the doorway and closing the door to leave Hermione once more alone in the hallway.

Hermione had barely gotten two paces away from where Theo and Blaise had left her when she heard the door open behind her. “For the love of Merlin, I get it. You're in love, it's all very beautiful.” Hermione said in the same sarcastic tone everyone got when she and Draco had been displaying too much public affection.

The look of horror that was on Blaise's face when she turned to face him had taken every bit of sarcasm out of her. “What? What's wrong?” She asked, rushing back to Blaise's side.

“The wards have been triggered at the château.” Blaise informed her.

“By who?”

“I'm going to go find out. Theo's coming incase it's our least favorite lord.”

“I'll come too.”

“Not a chance, honey. Could be a trap for you now that you've made a name for yourself, Mrs. Malfoy. Stay here. We'll be back soon.”

“Blaise!” Hermione said, but he was already back within the bedroom. “Blaise!” She called again as she reached the doorway, but the green flames in their fireplace indicated Theo and Blaise had already used the Floo channel between Malfoy Manor and Château Zabini to leave.

“Son of a bitch.” Hermione muttered, crossing to the nursery instead of heading toward the library like she originally planned to do.

Hermione walked up to stand between the cribs of her still sleeping twins. Tini was circling the room, putting clean laundry away and picking up toys that had been left scattered on the floor. Hermione stroked back the white blonde hair that had fallen into Scorpius's face as he slept before turning to Ariadne and tucking one of her matching blonde curls behind her tiny ear. “You're going to be meeting Daddy soon.” She whispered so softly there was more of a possibility the twins didn't even hear her rather than wake them up.

She watched them sleep for a good while, sometimes stroking their hair, sometimes moving on to watch Alexia sleep as well. She wondered how she'd be able to leave them as she watched over them all, but then remembered it would be worth it getting to see her family finally completed once more with Draco back in their lives. The nursery door opened and Hermione turned to face the door. Blaise stood in the doorway and motioned Hermione to join him when she met his gaze across the room. She walked to him and he lead her from the nursery.

“So, what's going on? Who triggered your wards?” Hermione asked when they were back in the hallway.

“Follow me.” Blaise said, taking hold of Hermione's hand and pulling her with him toward the playroom on the second floor.

“Seriously, Blaise, what's going on?” Hermione asked, feeling nervous the longer she walked with Blaise.

Theo was in the open playroom standing beside a woman a little taller than Hermione with long blonde hair that fell down her back. They turned at the sound of Blaise and Hermione entering the playroom. Blaise spoke again when they were all facing each other. “Hermione, I don't think you've been formally introduced. It's time you meet your sister. Well, according to your fake identity, at least. This is Daphne Greengrass.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 16

“Hi.” Daphne said lamely, offering Hermione a small wave.

Hermione tried not to let her mouth hang in shock. “The Daphne Greengrass?" Hermione asked looking between Theo and Blaise.

Daphne laughed. “Merlin, I hope not. I can't live up to expectations being referred to as 'the' anything. Hopefully, just Daphne will do.”

“Ok, what's going on?” Hermione asked, unable to put into words the long list of questions running through her mind.

“Sorry, before we get into all the explanations, which I will gladly give you; would it be too much trouble if Theo brought my family here? We thought it'd be better if I came alone rather than all of us just presumingly showing up in your house.” Daphne said.

“It's Draco's house.” Hermione said.

“Yes, well I think he'd agree that being his wife makes this your house as well.” Daphne stated calmly.

Hermione blushed slightly feeling a little embarrassed. “Yes, absolutely. It's no problem at all for your family to come here. What are sisters for, right?”

Daphne smiled genuinely as Theo passed Hermione to retrieve Daphne's family. “I like you better than the original already.” She said, moving forward and extending a hand out toward Hermione.

“I'm going to leave you two to catch up. We'll need to have Tini set up rooms and get breakfast prepared. I'll do baby and Bellatrix duty first today.” Blaise said, giving Hermione's hand a squeeze before releasing it and leaving the two women alone.

“So, you're Draco's first love?” Hermione said after a moment.

“And you're the love of his life?” Daphne replied.

“This isn't how I imagined meeting you.”

“Did you think you would meet me? I was fairly convinced we might never meet.”

“I thought you might be a little more upset that I was impersonating your sister.”

“Astoria stopped being my sister long before I killed her.” Daphne said coldly, tossing her long hair over her shoulder.

“I thought it was too dangerous for you to come back here.” Hermione mused as she and Daphne moved toward a low set couch within the playroom.

“Some things are worth risking everything for. You seem like the type of person to understand that better than most.”

“You came back here for Draco?”

“Last year, in his yearly birthday letter to me, he was being very cryptic. Draco only gets that cryptic when he thinks something bad is going to happen. I gave strict orders that his birthday letter was only to be delivered to him. About two weeks later my owl returned with his letter still attached. I had a feeling something was wrong, but the Daily Prophet hadn't reported about anything happening to Draco, so I thought maybe he was just on assignment and my owl couldn't find him where ever he was.

Then reports of Mrs. Malfoy taking out Order members started filling the papers. Still nothing of Draco being gone, but why would you have gone on a rampage if Draco was with you. I didn't know who exactly you were, but I know Draco well enough to know that he would never let his wife get marked.

I've been gone eight years and Draco's never missed a birthday until about a week ago when nothing showed up. I knew something was seriously wrong. So, I packed everyone up and came here. Only, for some reason when we got here Malfoy Manor was nowhere to be found. So I went to my next best option for getting information on Draco's wellbeing; Blaise.” Daphne finished, conjuring up a mug of tea for herself just as Tini sent a coffee to Hermione.

“What all did Blaise and Theo explain when they found you there?”

“Mostly they said it was going to be a lot to explain and I would be best to hear the details about Draco from you. They only really went into detail about how Hermione Granger was pretending to be my sister; which obviously I knew someone was pretending to be Astoria, but it was a bit of a shock to find out it was you. And not just because you used to drive Draco insane at Hogwarts. I just never thought one of the golden trio would align themselves with the likes of any of us Slytherins; least of all Draco.”

“He used to drive me insane at Hogwarts.” Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes slightly at hearing she'd been irksome to Draco as teenagers.

Daphne laughed again and Hermione understood easily how Draco had fallen in love with her. Hermione hadn't been lying when she suggested Draco marry Daphne because she was decent. Daphne had been easy going even at Hogwarts; never really caring to entertain the house politics, which is probably why Snape hadn't chosen her for prefect considering she would have been a much better choice than Pansy Parkinson. She laughed easily and seemed remarkably upbeat compared to the other Slytherins Hermione remembered. Not much seemed to have changed.

“Yes, but I think for different reasons probably. Unless you also had repressed feelings for Draco? I somehow doubt it because he was a real prick to you in order to combat being attracted to that big brain of yours.” Daphne said nonchalantly.

“Excuse me?” Hermione nearly spit out her coffee.

Another laugh. “Sorry, has he still not come to terms with that? We women tend to catch on more quickly. When all Draco could do was talk about how irritating you were, always knowing everything about everything; it didn't take me very long to realize just how much he noticed you. But when you're raised to hate instead of love it can really conflict the way you behave outwardly.”

“You must have known him really well.”

“I've always been observant. Theo and I were always much closer. Neither of us liked those gorillas Draco hung out with. Blaise was the middle man of sorts, always bringing the two groups together. Once we'd gotten a bit older, Draco became a lot more tolerable and the four of us would ditch Pansy somewhere to hang out on our own. Sometimes I wonder if anyone really ever knew Draco at all; you probably do. The real Draco. The one he had to keep hidden from everyone else. I used to see glimpses of him when we were together, but he was still so afraid of love then.” Daphne's eyes got far away like she was remembering something she hadn't bothered to think about in a long time.

“You still love him.” Hermione didn't exactly ask the question more as point it out as fact.

Daphne smiled at her. “I'll always love him. He saved my life. He risked everything to let me live. Without Draco I'd be dead somewhere. I wouldn't have met my husband or had my boys. For that, I owe everything to Draco.” Daphne said and Hermione understood the feelings she was trying to convey perfectly. “I don't miss his brooding, though.” Daphne added with a smirk.

It was Hermione's turn to laugh now. “I didn't think I would either, but after not seeing him for a year now I'll take anything.” Hermione said sadly.

“So, he is missing then?” Daphne's face fell slightly, like she hadn't wanted to believe it despite traveling an ocean at the idea of Draco being missing.

“It's complicated. Blaise was right about that. He'd gone on assignment in Romania and I stupidly urged him to bring Ron along because I thought he would help. He ended up setting Draco up to get captured by a resistance group there that had been hiding under the guise of the vampire uprising. Bellatrix,” Daphne made a face of disapproval at the mention of Bellatrix, but didn't say anything, “had put a trace on Draco, so even when we'd lost contact the first three weeks she'd known roughly where he was; not that she shared that knowledge with anyone.”

“That sounds like good old Aunt Bella.” Daphne said darkly.

“It didn't do much good anyway because the group that has him also has a pretty phenomenal healer that managed to get the trace out of him. Up until recently, I've only known he was still alive because of our linked tattoos.” Hermione held her hand up briefly to showcase her pinky tattoo as the beam of light issuing from her ring finger twisted around her.

Daphne smiled at seeing the tattoo as if this too had some hidden meaning that only Daphne seemed to know about Draco. Hermione tried her best to bury the jealousy bubbling up within her despite knowing it was pointless. “Draco really is just a big sap, don't you think? For being a murderous antihero he still manages to put his idea of romance into everything.”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked. “I mean, I agree, but I'm not sure how our tattoos pertain to that.”

“I'm assuming that yours is red when it's not activated?” Hermione nodded. “Aside from the swapping of Gryffindor and Slytherin colors, which I'm sure you already realized was his nod to you two there. There was an old story Draco used to love about the red thread of fate which says that the two people connected by a red thread are to be destined lovers. The thread might stretch or tangle, but it will never break.” Daphne stated.

Hermione looked at her for a moment as the memory of Draco giving her the tattoo replayed in her mind. I had something else in mind for you. He had told her. “He chose those tattoos because he thinks you're soulmates.” Daphne reiterated when Hermione still hadn't spoken.

Hermione bit back the tears always fighting to release themselves at the mention of Draco. “Just when I think I can't possibly love him more.” Hermione said more to herself than Daphne.

“His charm is undeniable, that is for sure. So, tell me about this little beam of light you seem to be producing.” Daphne said.

"That's the more complicated part. Bellatrix preformed some type of blood magic on us during our wedding ceremony. Now apparently I've tapped into it and this light will lead me to where Draco is. We were discussing when I'd be able to actually leave to go bring him back right before you showed up at the château.”

“You were planning on going alone?” Daphne sounded appalled by this.

“Not ideal, but I don't trust the Death Eaters to bring any of them with me. Theo and Bellatrix have their own assignments; and I need Blaise here to look after the kids.”

“Well, not anymore. Jonathan and I will watch the kids. You and Blaise can go bring our boy back.”

“I couldn't ask you to do that. The amount of responsibility alone along with your own boys; I couldn’t.”

“You're not. I'm telling you. You don't have to worry about anything funny with Jonathan because he's a muggle and Theo and Blaise can vouch for me if you're worried about that. Drake and Damien have been begging for a younger sibling so they'll be thrilled to help and show off how prepared they are to be big brothers. Between us and Tini and Theo when he's back for the nights or home from his days off duty, we’ll have everything handled. I can even tolerate Bellatrix if she plays a primary role in looking after the kids.”

Hermione looked uncertain. It wasn't that she didn't trust Daphne; if Draco trusted her than she knew Daphne was trustworthy. It was simply that she didn't know Daphne nor did her kids and leaving them in her care regardless made her uneasy. “Let's spend the day together. You can get to know me and my family and we can get to know you and yours and you'll see you have nothing to worry about. We all are here for the same thing. We love Draco and we want him back. Anything I can do to help, I will do for you.” Daphne offered when Hermione still hadn't given a definitive answer about accepting Daphne's help.

“We can start by meeting the kids.” Hermione said as her way of possibly agreeing to accept the help Daphne was offering.

A wide grin spread across Daphne's face. “I've been dying to meet them!” She practically squealed, rising and taking hold of Hermione's hand in her excitement.

Hermione lead Daphne down to the nursery where Blaise and Theo were entertaining Daphne's family while Tini prepared their rooms and the Malfoy children still slept. “You haven't gotten them up yet?” Hermione asked when they entered and she saw the cribs still inhabited. “We're trying to avoid them inheriting Draco's sleeping habits.”

Theo nudged his shoulder into Blaise. “Told you she wouldn't approve of letting them sleep in.”

“They've never met new people before; I thought it'd be best if they had the comfort of their mother and uncles around when doing so.” Blaise lied blatantly.

Hermione sighed. “You're a terrible liar.”

“Always has been.” Daphne said with a small tut.

Blaise sighed now. “Now I know how Draco felt when we ganged up on him.” He stated to Hermione.

Daphne made a point to introduce Hermione and Jonathan before Hermione could harass Blaise some more about waking the sleeping babies. In many ways Jonathan was almost the complete opposite of Draco. He had dark hair and eyes and an olive complexion to his skin. His features were softer and his presence was not nearly as demanding of the room's attention as Draco's was. He shook Hermione's hand with a soft grip that perfectly matched his easygoing demeanor. A muggle thrust into the magical world and he took it all in, entirely unfazed; Hermione was impressed by his nonchalance of it all.

Drake was well named. He inherited Daphne's blonde hair and blue eyes and had a presence about him unlike both his parents. Hermione wondered if this is how Draco would have been with loving, doting parents as well or if he was born to be a natural brooder. Drake promptly glommed onto Hermione telling her all the ways he was going to be the best help taking care of his cousins; as his uncle Draco would expect him to.

“It's going to give Draco an even bigger head when he meets this one.” Theo muttered after five minutes of Drake rattling off about Draco.

Damien, on the other hand, was the spitting image of his father with slightly lightened features. Olive skin, brown hair, and golden eyes. He was more reclusive than his brother, but when addressed, he was eager to not be overshadowed by his twin. He spoke less of Draco and was more concerned about earning Hermione's trust to hold one of the babies on his own.

Of the Malfoy clan, Alexia was the first awake. Her wild dark curls flying every which way as Theo lifted her from her crib. She gripped him tightly around the neck and pressed her small lips into his cheek. “Tee-tow!” Alexia said in her attempt at saying Theo's name.

“We've got some family for you to meet today, Lex.” Theo said and Alexia's face lit up.

“This is your auntie Daphne and uncle Jonathan.” Blaise stated as Theo swiveled to show Alexia who the names belonged to. “And these are your cousins, Drake and Damien.”

Luckily, Alexia hadn't inherited Bellatrix's standoffish demeanor and was quickly excited to befriend the newcomers in her home. She quickly scrambled from Theo's arms to show off her impressive walking skills to her newfound friends as well as her bubble making abilities. While Alexia was entertaining herself and the two older boys by covering Blaise in bubbles, Hermione made her way to wake her own twins. She lifted Ariadne above the threshold of her crib and she pressed her face into Hermione's neck to rub the sleep from her eyes, blonde curls obscuring her face. Daphne gave a small excited gasp at the sight of her.

“I thought for a moment you'd managed to overpower those Malfoy genes after seeing Alexia.” Daphne said, not seeming to notice the look Theo and Blaise exchanged with Hermione. “May I?” She added, reaching out to take Ariadne from Hermione.

“This is Ariadne.” Hermione stated, passing her daughter into Daphne's arms.

Ariadne scrunched her face into a quizzical look as Daphne held her before her, inspecting the baby. “She looks just like you.” Daphne stated.

“Don't get her started.” Blaise interjected, finally clearing himself of bubbles while Jonathan willingly took the three elder children to play with some toys in the corner of the room. “She's been adamantly denying these children look like her since birth; positively frustrating.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “I'm not denying it. Obviously the curls come from me.” Hermione said as she moved to lift Scorpius next.

“Not a trace of you in Scorpius though.” Theo said, tickling at Scorpius's stomach as he wiggled in Hermione's arms; his face a perfect match of Draco's brooding. “He's all Draco.”

Daphne chuckled. “How is it possible to be brooding at this young?”

“Scorp, isn't exactly a morning person, no matter what time in the morning it is.” Blaise stated.

“Your family is beautiful, Hermione.” Daphne said, bending closer to her to stroke Scorpius's hair.

“Thank you. So is yours.” Hermione said as Ariadne and Scorpius took each other's hands now that they were back within reach of one another.

They stood together in silence for a moment before Hermione finally looked away from her twins and met Daphne's gaze. “How good are you at brewing potions?” Hermione asked and she saw Blaise perk up in her peripheral vision.

Chapter Text

Chapter 17

Draco's POV

Draco hadn't managed to bring Hermione to him again in his dreams since the first and only time it had happened. It had only been a few days, but he could still feel the way Hermione's fingers brushed through his hair and the way her hips felt underneath his fingertips. He wondered if she had gotten the information she needed from the blood magic to find him from just that one dream together and that's why she hadn't returned to him. If she had, she might be closer to him than he thought. He felt the elation fill his body at just the idea of seeing Hermione again in such a short amount of time.

Padma had done her best to avoid Draco as much as was physically possible for her to do, which had been easy enough the day after his threat, but became harder and harder with each passing day. Mostly because Weasley was itching for something to take out his problems on and Draco was his favorite source. Draco avoided working out without his arms bound to the ceiling, unless it was the middle of the night and he couldn't sleep. He was pretty sure if anyone caught him physically training they would bind him a little more thoroughly than they currently did. It was nearing mid-afternoon and Draco still hadn't been given food, which normally his old habits of irregular times of eating wouldn't mind this, but this was Draco's second day without food and his stomach was gnawing.

So much so that when Charlie came in Draco perked up a little from the spot on the floor he was sitting; Padma had taken the cot away as part of his punishment for threatening her. When Charlie came further into view, Draco saw he wasn't there to supply a meal like he'd hoped. He was used to being underfed by now, but apparently they were going to start using starvation as an extra form of torture. Draco could see the benefits for them behind it; thinking the lack of nutrients would weaken him. Realistically, it was just making him grumpier than usual.

“Up you get.” Charlie said through the bars when Draco didn't take the formation to be bound as he usually did.

Draco stood slowly. If they weren't going to feed him he was going to be that much more annoying of a prisoner. “It's amazing to me that someone who bonds and cares for animals of all kind is perfectly fine with humans being abused around him.” Draco stated, moving at a snail speed to place himself in the center of the cell.

“It's amazing that you think others besides you are being tortured.” Charlie retorted and Draco's eyes darkened.

“I've seen Potter's cut up hands. I might be his favorite, but I'm not the only one.” Draco growled.

He wished he could turn into a dragon right there and devour the whole lot of them. “Maybe at the beginning, but the sad individuals you've managed to wrangle up into Death Eater ranks have been far more forthcoming knowing we have the monster Malfoy locked away, unable to kill them.”

Draco smirked. “I do love the way you sanctify me.”

Charlie glared at him as bindings wrapped around Draco's wrists and pulled them forcefully above his head, attaching him to the ceiling in his usual oncoming torture position. “Believe me, it's not meant to be a compliment.”

“You shouldn't say it so nicely then.” Draco smirked.

Charlie rolled his eyes. “You're a real pain in the ass, do you know that?”

“Even more so when I'm being starved.” Draco's voice got a warning tone to it.

“Oh come off it. No one here is starving you. Sorry we're not lavishly feeding you feasts everyday like your servants.”

Draco glared at him. “None of my prisoners ever missed a meal. I haven't seen so much as a scrap in two days.”

“Ron's been bringing you meals twice a day; that's all the rations we can afford to hand out.” Charlie grumbled as if this particular topic was offending him personally.

“They haven't been getting to me if he's been bringing them.” Draco said coldly and his stomached growled loudly as if to further prove his point.

Charlie got a stoney look on his face before he grunted something and left Draco alone with only his growling stomach as company. It wasn't much longer after his conversation with Charlie that the smell of food began wafting into the dungeon room his cell was kept in. Weasley walked in with a plate and a scowl. Draco felt his mouth fill with saliva from his hunger. Weasley threw the plate food first into the ground in front of the cell and kicked his feet through it as he approached Draco. Draco let out an audible growl that sounded more dragon than human. A smirk spread across Weasley's face in his pleasure of upsetting Draco.

“Tattling as an adult is pretty embarrassing. What's wrong? Ickle Malfoy can't stand an empty belly?” Weasley taunted, opening the cell doors and walking forward just enough to kick the food on the dirty floor into the cell.

“If I didn't think it'd kill me to transform, I'd eat you, right now.” Draco said darkly and something flashed in his features that made Weasley's smirk waver.

“Seems stupid that I should have to skimp on meals just so you can eat. Everyone seems to think there's so much good to be done in keeping you alive.” Weasley kicked more of the dirt covered food to Draco's feet. “Like your precious little Death Eaters will come willingly to Azkaban knowing we've kept you alive as a show of good faith. I think Hermione had it right the whole time. Killing you evens things out.”

“Hermione's long abandoned the killing me ship. You could kill me, but then the only other person with a way of killing the Dark Lord is Hermione and by now, who knows what type of darkness you all have awakened within her.” Draco said coolly, glaring at the bits of bread crumbling beside his feet.

“There is no darkness inside Hermione.”

“There's darkness in everyone if you push them hard enough.”

“So that's what you've been doing then? Turning Hermione into your own personal weapon for when you decide to overthrow You-Know-Who and take over as the new Dark Lord.”

“I'm already a Dark Lord. I don't need people worshipping me to prove that. I inherited it; just like I inherited Malfoy Manor. The only person who will be responsible for turning Hermione into a weapon is you. You and your pathetic obsession with her that left you with hatred for your own brother. That same hatred that boils you alive every time you're forced to recognize Hermione as my wife.”

“I never hated my brother.” Weasley growled, grinding some of the food bits further into the ground under his shoe.

“Why is it then, that Charlie is the only one willing to put up with you these days? Fallen out with the rest have you?”

“I was being kept prisoner by you; not exactly easy to keep up correspondences being held against your will. You should know a thing or two about that now.”

“I've kept up just fine.” Draco taunted. It was an empty threat, but the threat of all this just being part of some bigger plan of Draco's was enough to instill a little self-doubt if nothing else.

Weasley stomped another piece of food into the ground. “Harry reckons we ought to move you into the new prison we've been building. It's similar to this shit stain you've been in, but less welcoming. Seems you've been getting too chummy with some of your visitors. But I think if you wound up dead before the prison is finished it would be even better.”

“Come to make good on your promise, then, have you?”

Weasley's smirk was back. “I did tell you I was going to kill you, but I didn't think it would actually bring me this much joy to do it.”

“You haven't done anything, but talk out of your ass so far.”

“When you're finally dead and that spell that gives you a hold over Hermione is broken; she'll be so devastated by what you've done to her. She'll be flocking into my arms in no time for being the only one smart enough to see through your lies.”

“All this so you can fuck my wife? You're more pathetic than I thought you were.”

“She's not your wife.”

Draco rolled his eyes. He was beyond sick of hearing that comment from Weasley. Weasley stepped closer to Draco and that darkness Draco had warned him of was prominent in Weasley's features. “Let me be very clear, Weasley, you will never, in this lifetime or the next, ever have a chance with Hermione.”

“If she let you climb on top of her, she'll be begging me to take her just to rid her body of the feel of you.”

That dragon growl vibrated through Draco's entire body. Weasley stepped closer. “She'll probably be happy to dispose of those bastards you forced her to have for your precious master as well.”

Draco's hands gripped the bindings holding him to the ceiling and he swung his legs hard and high until they connected with Weasley's body. He pulled him closer, creating a headlock hold on Weasley with his thighs. “I did warn you about speaking about my wife, but did you honestly think you could threaten my children and live?”

Weasley's eyes were wide in shock at the predicament he'd found himself in. Draco squeezed tighter and Weasley began flailing between Draco’s leg lock around his throat. He punched into Draco's thighs and made to move himself farther from Draco's reach, all to no avail. Draco was a formidable opponent regardless of being starved, beaten, imprisoned, or bound. Nothing stood in his way when Draco decided he was taking someone's life, especially when there was no one else around to foil his plans. Weasley clawed at his leg trying to loosen Draco's hold, but he only squeezed tighter.

“Potter can beat me to death for all I care, but today, Weasley. Today you die.” Draco said in a harsh whisper as tears began to escape from Weasley's eyes.

The realization of what was about to happen to him written all over his face. Draco twisted sharply and there was a loud crack before the little life left in Weasley's eyes went out. Draco loosened his hold on his now broken neck and kicked his lifeless body hard in the chest so he was thrown backwards before crumpling into the scattered dirt soaked food at the edge of his cell. Draco sat his feet back sturdily on the ground and panted, slightly from his efforts to kill Weasley and slightly from his own untamable rage.

Draco wondered how long he'd have to hang there staring at Weasley's corpse before someone would come to check on them. He might have signed his own death warrant this time, but not one bit of regret washed over him. He'd threatened his children. Speculated that Hermione would want to kill them and he would happily oblige her. The thought made Draco feel sick to his stomach. He'd been ordered only once to kill a child while he was on assignment with Rodolphus and had only been a lowly ranked Death Eater at that point. He'd refused and was forced to watch as Rodolphus did it instead. Then he'd been tortured; heavily. First by his uncle, then again by Bellatrix, and finally once more from the Dark Lord. He had barely been seventeen at the time and even considering it now with more life experience under his belt seemed appalling.

Weasley could have been trying to wind him up, Draco realized, but the threat had been too tangible. Not that Hermione would ever hurt their children, he knew that. But Weasley's blind rage would. The way he spoke of having his way with Hermione, he'd convince himself of anything to condone raping her as far as Draco was concerned. He had no choice, but to kill another Weasley; only this time very intentionally. There wasn't a shot in the dark that Draco would let Weasley spend another moment on this planet after threats like that. The only twinge of guilt he felt was when Padma walked in to find Weasley's dead body while Draco stood bound to the ceiling nearly an hour later.

“What the fuck did you do?” Padma asked in a horrified whisper.

“He threatened to rape my wife and kill my children; surely even you wouldn't have let him live after that.”

“Why would he ever do that? No one is going to believe that! Malfoy, what the fuck have you done?”

“I have memories of proof; if I misinterpreted him, that's not my fault. He shouldn't have insinuated such atrocities to my family. Also, I've been telling all of you that I was going to kill him, you all just kept letting him come back in here.”

“Malfoy, you fucking idiot.”

“File them all in; I'm pissed enough, I'll take out the whole fucking place.” Draco's voice didn't need to be threatening to make Padma flinch.

“Do you have a death wish, Malfoy? I thought Hermione was coming to get you? If you're wrong about her keeping the resistance members alive and she finds you here, dead; she'll blow the entire place up. Not one person will be safe now.”

“No one was safe before.”

“We were when you were being just an annoying prisoner.” Padma said in annoyed grunt as she drug Weasley's body further away from Draco. “How the fuck did you even do this?”

Draco gripped his bindings once more and lifted his bodyweight with immense ease before showcasing his lower body mobility. Padma made a face like someone who'd just found out they'd been being played for a fool for months; rightfully so, Draco had been doing just that. “Just because I wasn't fighting back didn't mean I couldn’t.”

“All this time you've just been letting them beat the shit out of you?” Padma seemed more shocked by this than seeing Weasley dead on the floor.

“I fail to see where killing them would have gotten me.”

“You just killed Ron; where's that going to get you?”

“I give less of fuck now than I did then. Hermione was pregnant then and even if I killed every last one of you here, I'd starve to death dangling here like cured meat. I've too much pride to die that way.”

“I think you're confusing pride with a superiority complex.”

“Same thing.”

Padma rolled her eyes. She jabbed her wand at Draco before dragging Weasley's dead weight farther from the cell. Ropes wrapped around each of his ankles and pulled his legs slightly apart before hooking themselves onto the farthest walls of his cell. His shoulders popped as the new position he was forced into threatened to dislocate them. Draco groaned slightly and Padma looked back up at him from near the door where she'd managed to heave Weasley to.

“Well I can't just leave you bound the same way, can I? Not after this.” She said back to him.

“You might want to seem a bit more broken up about it; that's your boyfriend's brother after all.”

“Ron was an asshole. Honestly, I'm surprised someone hadn't done it sooner. You should worry more about what Charlie is going to do to you, than how he'll react to me not being broken up about his brother.”

“Not a fucking word about Hermione, Padma!” Draco warned.

“I know, I know.” She muttered, opening the door and sliding Weasley outside the dungeon room.

The commotion that ensued shortly after was more along the lines of what he'd been expecting from Padma. Shouting hidden behind the distortion of the Helios masks of the other members who didn't dare enter Draco's holding place echoed around the dungeon. Two of the masked strangers, Draco could see hugging one another and Draco wondered if Cho Chang had managed to follow the Boy Who Lived this far from home. Charlie's bulky frame came into view, pushing people aside so he could see what the fuss was about. Padma held him off from immediately entering Draco's holding room, but he distinctly heard a loud, “How the fuck did this happen?”

Potter joined the group next, rubbing a hand reassuringly on the backs of the hugging masked women before he too turned on Padma. Draco couldn't quite make out what Charlie and Potter were saying or asking Padma, but judging off their hand motions, Draco assumed it was something along the lines of what had happened to Weasley. Padma seemed to be doing her best to keep both men from losing their tempers. Suddenly, Weasley's dead body was floating and the group dispersed as Charlie floated his brother's corpse away from the window Draco was viewing everything out of. Potter said something to Padma while his back was to Draco and Draco read Padma's response on her lips. “Fuck you, Harry!” before she stormed off in the direction Charlie had left in.

Potter entered Draco's dungeon room with a wild mix of hatred and sadness on his features. “I should have let Ron kill you when he first asked.” Potter said, his voice cracking as he fought to keep his emotions in check.

“You're probably right.” Draco said evenly.

“Why now? You've had all this time, why kill Ron now? Just to show us how fucking stupid we've been by treating you decently?”

Draco let out a hallow laugh. “Yeah, getting the fuck beat out of me has been a true delight.”

“Why now?”

“My, my, Potter. Are you worried about something?” Draco jeered.

“Worried I might finally see why Voldemort enjoys killing so much after I'm done with you.” Potter said darkly.

Draco laughed. “Decided to cross over to the dark side, huh? I thought your moral superiority said no one could come back from that.”

Potter crossed the room and was inside Draco's cell so fast it was almost like he apparated the distance. His fist slammed into Draco's ribs and Draco bit his lip to stop himself groaning as his left shoulder left its socket with the way his body was forced to move from Potter's impact. Potter threw another punch and Draco's rib cracked as his body slackened further from his bound shoulder.

“Why now?” Potter asked again.

“He threatened my family.” Draco growled, using talking as an excuse to yell out his pain.

“You killed his brother! His sister!”

“I didn't kill Ginny; you did when you didn't come get her back!”

“I didn't kill Ginny!”

“If my hands are dirty of that crime, so are yours Potter!”

Potter paused a moment, panting in his anger. Draco was panting also, from the pain of his dislocated shoulder and cracked rib. “Ron wouldn't threaten Hermione. He was in love with her since Hogwarts.”

“So being in love with her gives him the right to think he can have sex with her just as soon as he's killed me? My mistake.” Draco said darkly, glaring hard at Potter.

Potter's anger softened a bit, like he was genuinely caught off guard by this revelation. “If you're suggesting Ron was planning on killing you and raping Hermione, I don't believe you.”

“I'm not suggesting it. The dead prick suggested it. Suggested, what was the phrase, disposing of the bastards I forced her to have, as well. Before I snapped his fucking neck.” Draco said through clenched teeth and Potter backed away from him slightly.

“Why should I believe anything you say?”

“At what point during any of this, Potter, have I fucking lied?”

“You're a killer.”

“I am; a damn good one too. And all you keep doing is preventing me from killing the one person we all want dead. If you're looking for an apology for your friend, you won't fucking get one. That weasel deserved worse than what I gave him. I'm sure you know the feeling.”

Draco could see Potter starting to spiral. He didn't know what to believe anymore. Was his best friend the vile person Draco described or was Draco the lying manipulative bastard Weasley had described? Was Hermione in danger from Weasley and Draco had defended her or was Weasley dead because he was the only one continuing to try to free Hermione? He'd lost too much, too many people, Draco saw it written all over his face. Potter drew his wand; it had been the first time in the near year Draco had seen him this on edge.

“Ron wouldn't say the things you're saying he did. You killed him because he knows too much about you and Hermione. I'm done taking the high road, Malfoy. Let's see how long Voldemort keeps his hold once he's lost his top dog.”

Draco flinched. Not because of the threat of death before him, because a hand he knew all too well pressed into his back. He tilted his head back just enough to see his hands still bound above his head. The glowing red tattoo around his pinky had returned to its original green. Draco pressed his lips into a hard line to stop himself smiling broadly as he looked back at Potter, wand still pointed at Draco's face.

“Don't be rash, Potter.” Draco said calmly.

He was too calm. It had unnerved Potter even more and he tightened his grip on his wand as he moved closer to where Draco was bound. “Why don't you shut the fuck up for once?”

Draco could see the curse forming on Potter's lips before he stumbled back in shock as Hermione quickly jumped in front of Draco. Her wand was pointed straight at Potter's face and he lowered his wand ever so slightly. “Don't make me kill you, Harry.” Hermione said harshly, pressing herself firmly into the front of Draco so it was impossible to get a clean shot at Draco without also cursing her.

Chapter Text

Chapter 18

Once Hermione was certain Daphne could brew Remus's Wolfsbane potion, she showed her to Black Manor. Blaise was in charge of the portkey creation since he had more experience making them than Hermione did. They'd bring extras with undisclosed locations that way Blaise could create more for quick travel following Hermione's beam of light leading to Draco once they arrived in Romania.

“You better come back alive or so help me, I'll turn your corpses into Inferi just to kill you myself.” Theo stated as Blaise and Hermione said their goodbyes.

Blaise pressed his lips into Theo's as he held him tightly to his body. “I love you.” Blaise said.

Theo's cheeks flushed a little at Blaise's public proclamation. “I love you too. Was the threatening to kill you not a good indication?”

Daphne laughed. “Merlin I've missed you guys.” She said, squeezing Blaise before she turned to Hermione. “Stay safe out there. We'll see you again soon.” Daphne placed a kiss on Hermione's cheek before she hugged her as well.

Bellatrix walked out holding Scorpius on her hip as Alexia teetered along beside her, holding on to Bellatrix's dress to stable herself. Tini appeared with Ariadne at Bellatrix's other side. Hermione made her way over to her children. “Mummy, bye?” Alexia said with a sad looking on her face.

Hermione picked her toddler up and wrapped her up into a tight hug. “Mummy's going to bring Daddy back home.” Hermione told Alexia. “You're going to be a good girl for Uncle Theo, Aunt Bella, and Aunt Daphne, right?” Alexia nodded her head.

Hermione kissed her plump cheek before setting her back down. “Love you, Lexi.” Hermione said to her.

“Luvoo.” Alexia responded, taking hold of Bellatrix's dress once more.

“I'd come if I could, Granger. Stop looking at me like that.” Bellatrix muttered.

“What does he have you doing?” Hermione asked.

“That's classified. Besides, unless you want the Dark Lord joining you on this mission it's best I stay behind. We want Draco back, he's certain Potter is the one holding him. We both go, then the Dark Lord will come as well. I know you don't want your precious Potter dead, even if it means bringing Draco home sooner.” Bellatrix stated.

Hermione didn't say anything because she hated admitting that Bellatrix was right. Instead she moved on to take Scorpius into her arms and squeeze him. He smiled widely at his mother's affectionate embrace. She kissed his cheeks until he giggled before she reluctantly handed him back over to Bellatrix. Hermione lowered herself to Tini's height where she repeated the process with Ariadne. Tini took hold of Hermione's hand and gazed at her with glassy eyes before she took Ariadne back.

“You keep them safe while we're gone, Tini.” Hermione stated.

“Yes, Mistress. Of course, Mistress.” Tini squeaked, heaving Ariadne tighter into her arms as the baby was nearing Tini's same size.

Hermione stood to her full height and crossed to where Blaise was standing, portkey in hand. Hermione sighed, trying not to cry as she made to leave her children for a long period of time for the first time in their lives. Blaise wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tapped his wand onto the portkey to set the departure time.

“Oi, Granger.” Bellatrix called before the portkey pulled them away. “Fuck them up for me.”

Hermione was barely able to smile at Bellatrix in response before she and Blaise were pulled into the portkey vortex and spat out in Romania. The sun was high and the snow was also high as the pair landed gracefully in the Transylvania region near the Retezat Mountains. Blaise released Hermione and wandered in a small perimeter around where they'd landed. He turned back to her.

“I expected it to be a bit more vampire-y.” He said.

“In the daylight?”

“Well maybe not seeing them everywhere. The vibe of it at the very least though.”

“It's beautiful here.”

“Too bad everyone wants to kill us or eat us here.”

“Those are the same things.”

“They are very different, Hermione.”

“Why did I agree to bringing you?”

“Because I'm fun and make better portkeys than you.”

“Right.”

Hermione moved around until her faint beam of light was pointed directly in front of her. “Is that pointing to the tallest mountain in the distance?” Blaise asked.

“It certainly looks like it. I read there was an underground tunnel system the vampires used to use to travel during the day through in this range. I'm betting the Helios group is using them now. Not exactly for quick, safe travel, it is a possibility, but for keeping their prisoners.” Hermione said, wrapping her arms around herself to block the chill of the wind some.

“I didn't take Potter as a big reader. You think he came up with that plan?”

“Charlie Weasley has lived here for a long time working with the dragon sanctuary; he might have found it. Either that or Padma Patil; Harry's not big on reading. Only ever obsessively read Quidditch books or one of Snape's old potions books.”

Blaise scowled. “Right. The one that taught him how to slice Draco open sixth year.”

Hermione looked away from Blaise and back to the mountain her light pointed to. “Exactly.”

“What are you going to do if it's Potter in there with Draco?”

Hermione was quiet a moment, breathing in deeply the fresh cold air. “I'm going to hope he doesn't make me kill him.” Hermione said coldly before she started walking where her beam of light directed her.

They walked along in silence for a long while, both too wrapped up in their own thoughts and worries to speak. After a few miles of walking, Hermione stopped, forcing Blaise to stop beside her. She rummaged in her purse until she found the book she was looking for and withdrew it. She flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for. She held the book out before her so Blaise could see the picture as well. They both stared a few times between the mountain still quite a ways before them and the picture of the mountain within Hermione's book.

“As far as mountains go, these two look damn near identical to me.” Blaise finally said.

“Mount Peleaga. There's vampire tunnels leading all the way into the mountain.” Hermione stated. She lifted her hand to see the beam pointing dead center of the mountain. “Can you get us here? It's Bucura Lake. There should be an area there we can camp and figure out how to get into those tunnels.”

“Let me see that book.” Blaise said, grabbing the book from Hermione's hands and pulling a long rusty candlestick from the pocket of his cloak.

Blaise waved his wand over the candlestick and began moving his hands like he was typing furiously on an invisible keyboard. After about a minute of this Hermione opened her mouth to ask if he was almost done, as their remaining daylight wouldn't last forever, but was immediately shushed. It took about five minutes before Blaise had finished and offered a portion of the candlestick to Hermione as if he was passing her a baton in a relay race.

“If our little golden friends are using portkeys, someone in their group is tracking them. It takes a little longer to make them undetectable.” Blaise explained, holding tightly to his half of the candlestick as Hermione wrapped her hand around the other.

Blaise gave the candlestick a tap and promptly secured his wand again before that similar sucking pull of the portkey vortex washed over them again. When they reappeared this time they stood practically at the base of the huge mountain where a large lake stretched across the valley between some of the surrounding foothills. Blaise gave a bit of a twirl to showcase the lake before them, as if it were of his own creation and not simply just a place he'd brought them to.

“Lake Bu—what did you call it again?” He said.

Hermione bit back a smile. “Bucura.”

“Yeah, that. Not too shabby a job, eh?”

“Are you looking to be complimented? Merlin, how did you and Draco ever fit in the same room with the size of those egos?” Hermione teased.

Blaise narrowed his eyes at her. “Good one; very funny. When you're through with all the Death Eater business, you should be a comedian.”

“And you should be a travel agent.” Hermione retorted with a large grin.

“You're just trying to wind me up now.” Blaise stated, looking around at their surroundings more thoroughly now.

“That cabin looks like it'll be our best bet at staying safe for the night.” Hermione said as both their eyes fell upon the rundown cabin.

They began the short walk toward the cabin door and paused to retrieve their wands before continuing inside. Hermione shone a powerful lumos solem inside the cabin; if vampires were hiding out in there, she planned to kill them before they could see her. Blaise took a more subtle approach; he'd never been to any of the Death Eater battles, but the lack of Draco's bloodlust seemed to awaken his own. Unfortunately for Blaise, there wasn't anything to cut down within the cabin. They began placing wards and enchantments around the cabin as the sun sank lower and lower within the sky.

“Vampires don't still venture out here, do you think? What with the Helios group taking over their turf and all?” Blaise questioned between protective spells.

“If anything, I'd think that would make them come here all the more. I've heard vampires are extremely territorial.” Hermione said, shooting another protection spell into the air and letting it fully cover the cabin.

Blaise looked only slightly disturbed by this information. “What do you suppose they're guarding that mountain with?” Blaise asked as he and Hermione moved indoors just as the sun was setting.

“I'd rather not find out.” Hermione stated, settling into a small table and conjuring them up some food.

There wasn't much guessing to be done, after nightfall, of what had been keeping the tunnels and mountain free of vampires. “Fucking hell.” Blaise breathed as a massive dragon hovered above the area.

“Fucking Charlie.” Hermione muttered, pressing her face against the window to get a better look at the large beast circling the sky.

“They've got a fucking dragon! Who just has a dragon in their back pocket for defense?” Blaise said incredulously and Hermione fought the urge to laugh.

Blaise wasn't aware that as soon as Draco was free from his prison, they too would have a dragon for their defense. Draco was a much bigger dragon than the one circling above them as well and given Draco's demeanor, he was probably a more ferocious dragon also. Hermione began wondering if Draco would be found in any condition to be able to even transform into his dragon form. The more she began thinking about finding Draco broken and mangled to more her anxiety began to rise. She moved away from the window to sit back at the table, pulling out several more books from her purse to take her mind off of it.

“So, what's the plan then?” Blaise asked after a few more minutes of watching the dragon circle the mountain.

“We've got to get into those tunnels. I'm not sure where an entrance might be though. Once we're in the tunnels I have a spell that I've been working on to get us through the walls of the tunnels more discreetly.”

“Walking through walls? My, my, that big brain of yours has been busy.” Blaise said with a smirk.

“I didn't create it. I've just been practicing. It's the same spell used at King's Cross station to get onto platform 9 3/4.” Hermione stated.

Blaise squinted at her. “I never entered the platform using the muggle entrance. They really had you all walking through walls with all those muggles around?” Blaise rolled his eyes. “As a whole, we really think we're superior to everyone, don't we? I mean that's not even discreet.”

Hermione laughed. “Statue of Secrecy be damned so long as the entrance is cool.”

Blaise laughed loudly. “Wow, wizard kind might be the worst.” They shared a laugh before Blaise continued. “Tell me about this spell?”

“It acts as a sort of invisible doorway. I've tried it around Malfoy Manor and it's gotten me through every wall I've tried it on. I can't imagine these tunnels will be too much harder; thicker walls, but the spell itself is the same.”

“I take it I'm going to need to portkey us into those tunnels then.”

“Can you do that?”

“I think so, worst case we end up stuck in a mound of dirt and you can pull that nifty spell for us to walk out of it.”

“I don't know how accessible my wand will be if we're stuck in the walls of the mountain.” Hermione said, her tone taking a serious note.

“Well, I guess I better start trying to figure out where these tunnels are. Did you bring those books on the tunnels? I might be able to get a good measurement of their widths so I can get the coordinates closer to being accurate.”

Hermione passed Blaise the book she had on the underground tunnel system of the mountain range. He took it and moved into the corner where he hunched over it with a bit of parchment and a quill. Hermione made her way back to the window and watched the dragon still circling the sky above them. She looked down at her glowing pinky tattoo and wedding ring, that beam of light, brighter now thanks to the darkness, pointing into the base of the mountain.

One more night. She thought to herself as she rubbed her hands together. One more night and then I'll be with you again, my love.

Chapter Text

Chapter 19

Hermione was awake as soon as the sun was peaking over the mountain. Blaise hadn't even made it to a bed; Hermione woke him up from the hunched position over the book he'd been reading long into the night. Blaise gripped his wand instinctively at Hermione's touch as he sat bolt upright before he relaxed slightly. He stretched his back out and cracked his neck before standing and stretching further.

“Fuck; how old am I?” Blaise groaned.

“Not so easy sleeping hunched over a table when you're not a teenager anymore, huh?” Hermione said jokingly.

“I never did much of it as a teenager; that was more Theo's thing trying to stay in the races with Draco and I. I definitely regret doing it now.” Blaise bent in an awkward angle and his back cracked.

Hermione flicked her wand at Blaise and a look of relief washed over his face. “It's a chiropractic spell I learned. Thought it might be useful considering how much the Dark Lord likes to torture Draco.”

“If any of my wives had been as thoughtful as you, maybe they wouldn't have wound up dead.” Blaise mused.

Hermione gave him a disapproving look. “Did you manage anything with the portkey before you fell asleep in a slump?” Hermione changed the subject.

“If my calculations are correct, and I'm not promising they are, I can get us into the tunnels. The question is going to be where exactly it will pertain to the set up they have in there now.”

They decided the fight they'd undoubtedly be facing ahead within Mount Peleaga needed them to be fully fueled before entering into it. They ate in silence; Hermione’s stomach was in so many knots she thought she might throw up the little amount of food she'd managed to choke down. Blaise only had two portkeys remaining after the one that would bring them into the tunnels of the mountain; one which would bring them back lakeside if a quick getaway was needed and the other to bring them straight to Malfoy Manor. Hermione changed the shape of her purse so that it rest comfortably strapped against her chest. The dagger she'd had on her when she originally showed up at Malfoy Manor to kill Draco with, was sheathed tightly against her thigh this time. She had a spare wand holstered to her left forearm while hers was held firmly in her right hand. Blaise, overall, looked less menacing than Hermione without weapons strapped around his body, but Hermione saw a hint of something in his face that she hadn't seen before. It was lethal. This was the Blaise that had killed his wives.

Their left hands both firmly gripped onto the old crusty wallet scheduled to take them into the tunnels. “Curse to kill only if absolutely necessary, right?” Hermione asked as they waited for the portkey departure time to arrive.

“I'm following your lead in there, sweetheart.” Blaise said reassuringly.

Hermione sucked in a deep breath and nodded before she exhaled. “Alright, let's do this.”

She'd managed to time her wording perfectly as the portkey sucked them into the vortex and pushed them into a dark dirt tunnel. Blaise's calculations had been accurate, but they had no sense of their bearings once they were within the mountain. They followed the tunnel in the direction the light was pointing from her finger; slowly creeping along the walls to stay as unseen as possible. The tunnels made an intersection and Hermione and Blaise slowed their pace even more. Hermione pressed a finger to her lips as they got closer to the intersecting tunnels and voices began traveling through them.

“Romilda Vane was in that camp.” Harry's voice came down the tunnel.

“You've been letting Malfoy get into your head again.” Ron's voice came this time and Hermione's fists balled up.

“She died because of an attack we permitted.” Harry stated.

“And that's worse than someone we love dying because we did nothing?” Hermione could also see the reddening of Ron's face from the anger in his voice.

“If you're so hell bent on blaming me for Ginny's death why the fuck are you even here?” Harry's anger was also rising.

Ron didn't get a chance to answer as another voice interrupted. “You stupid son of a bitch, Ron! Where's the food going you've been instructed to bring to Malfoy?” Charlie had joined the pair and sounded irritated.

“I've been bringing him his stupid food.” Ron retorted.

“He's just told me he hasn't had food the last two days. We don't starve our prisoners, Ron! You're lucky you get away with as much as I've been letting you! This is why George told me to not let you come here!” Charlie growled and Blaise moved against Hermione making her have to force him to stay put.

“You're going to believe that prick over your own brother?” Ron antagonized.

“Go!” Charlie yelled.

Hermione and Blaise held their breath listening to hear what direction the men had started walking in as they dispersed. They waited there until they could hear no more retreating footsteps before they dared to continue forward along the path the beam of light directed. They came to a huge opening and Hermione realized the entire mountain had been hallowed out. Tiny cells that barely looked big enough to hold one person were stacked on top of each other covering an entire chunk of the inside of the mountain. More were being added to the other sides so that only the two entrances would likely be cleared of cells once they had finished. Hermione stepped into the clearing and looked around semi horrified.

“Fucking hell.” Blaise breathed beside her.

“They're making the whole mountain a prison.” Hermione whispered, spinning in a slow circle to see the work being done to add cells more clearly.

“Seems like a good use of time. Won't fight the Dark Lord, but making a prison double the size of Azkaban to keep all his followers makes perfect sense.” Blaise said in a soft sarcastic voice.

“Bunch of fucking idiots.” Hermione groaned.

Blaise and Hermione moved closer to the cells to start walking along the perimeter of the giant opening of the hollowed mountain. They hadn't physically ran into anyone so far, but they were still playing it safe to not get caught out in the open as best they could. Blaise glared into the prison cells they passed, which were uninhabited, but the size of them alone seemed to piss him off. Hermione was doing her best to focus on her beam of light and nothing else.

“They can't even fucking stand up in these.” Blaise whispered harshly when they had crept about halfway across the opening.

Hermione turned to examine the cell beside them and noticed floor to ceiling of the cell was only about one inch taller than she was. Blaise could see into the cell above it just from his height alone and he wasn't even as tall as Draco was. “This is the punishment for being a Death Eater? Sitting in your own filth because you don't even have room to stand until you die? Punishment for choosing to stay alive when the resistance wasn't protecting them like they promised.” Blaise shook his head in disgust.

“Come on, let's walk faster.” Hermione said softly, wanting to be free of the still being built prison just as much as Blaise did.

They sped up slightly, but the width of the opening was so wide it still took them longer than they'd have liked to get to the other entrance. They finally crept into the tunnel across the mountain. Hermione's beam of light was pointing straight down the tunnel and she turned to Blaise. “We can't just walk in the front door of where he's being held unnoticed.”

Blaise pushed Hermione against the wall as a few Helios masked bodies began walking into the tunnel from an intersection farther in front of them. “Is that Padma Patil dragging a body?” Blaise asked quietly, squinting to try and see who she was dragging.

“Draco?” Hermione could feel the mounting anxiety as she too tried to see who the body was. Then she glanced back at her hand and saw her still glowing tattoo.

“It's not Draco." Blaise said softly.

“RON!” One of the distorted voices called out as the people before them started rushing to the end of the tunnel.

Screams and cries for help immediately started filling the tunnels. Hermione pointed her wand at the wall Blaise had pressed her into and muttered, “Intangilus.” They fell through the wall with as much grace as was possible for two people pressed against a wall that had just given way.

“Hey, you're Hermione Granger. How the fuck—”

Hermione didn't give the masked person time to finish before she dropped them to the floor, unconscious. “Fred taught me an invisibility spell he and George used on some of their pranks. It doesn't last long, so we'll either have to find our way into the back of where Draco's being held quickly or re-administer the spell.” Hermione said quickly.

She didn't wait for a response from Blaise before she tapped her wand against his forehead and he vanished from sight. “Take my hand.” She whispered and felt Blaise's hand wrap around hers before she tapped her own forehead and vanished from sight. She muttered the intangibility spell once more and pulled Blaise through the wall on the other side of the room they'd just entered. This room was empty, but they still quickly moved across the length of the room and slipped through the opposite wall as Hermione said the incantation again. This wall lead them into another tunnel almost dead center of the commotion. They rushed to skirt farther away from where Draco's holding room was located so they wouldn't become visible again in the middle of a crowd.

“How the fuck did this happen?!” Charlie's voice echoed behind Hermione and Blaise as they rushed to find a clearing across the tunnel to escape through.

“Intangilus.” Hermione whispered again when they were far enough from the crowd and Hermione pulled Blaise through yet another wall.

They could hear muffled voices from outside the room, but this room too was empty. Everyone apparently had left their quarters to gather around Ron's unconscious body. Hermione was thankful to find the room clear as she and Blaise came back into view. They risked going through the next wall visibly this time to find themselves within a room with a cell.

“We've got to be getting close.” Hermione stated. “If we go through the wall on the back of the cell and then back track we should end up where they're holding Draco.”

“Do you think we'll find more prisoners?” Blaise asked.

“None we probably want to risk saving.” Hermione grumbled, slipping through the cell to get to the wall within.

“Fair point.” Blaise stated, following Hermione past the cell’s bars and through the back wall of the room.

This room seemed to be a storage room. Draco's Death Eater uniform was laid out on a desk. Blaise immediately started rummaging through Draco's possessions throughout the storage room. “You go get Draco, meet me back here. I'll try to get all his things together, maybe I can find some other good stuff in here too.” Blaise instructed.

Hermione nodded and tapped her wand to her forehead again disappearing from sight before slipping through the side wall of the storage room. This room wasn't empty. Two women, by the looks of them sat across from one another at a table in the middle of the room. Hermione slid against the walls of the room in a silent attempt to get to the wall opposite the one she'd just walked through. They removed their masks and Hermione stopped for a moment as Cho Chang and Mandy Brocklehurst appeared.

“I don't get why Harry keeps that murderer here.” Mandy stated. “He should have just let the vampires finish him off like the rest of those Death Eater camps.”

“Charlie's the one that saved Malfoy.” Cho reminded her.

Hermione could feel her heart rate accelerating as she stood against the wall, frozen in her anger at the two women speaking about her husband in unflattering terms. “Harry let him stay here though and now Ron's dead.” Mandy responded snidely.

Hermione gasped at hearing Ron was dead and not simply unconscious. Her hand shot up to cover her mouth as Cho and Mandy looked in her direction. “Who's there?” Cho asked at the seemingly empty space Hermione stood in.

Hermione jabbed her wand forcefully at them and the table and both women flew into the wall with a loud crash. Hermione ran for the wall her beam of light was shining towards. “Intangilus.” She said and didn't slow her speed as she ran through the wall and quickly tried to silently skid to a stop to not collide violently into Draco, bound within the center of the cell she'd just entered.

“Let's see how long Voldemort keeps his hold once he's lost his top dog.” Harry was saying as she stood silently, still invisibly behind Draco.

She pressed her hand into his back, needing to feel him. Needing to make sure he really was the figure dangling before her. The feeling instantly came back to her hand; she'd almost forgotten what it felt like to have her hand be at body temperature. He flinched under her touch and then she felt his whole body relax. That overwhelming urge to sob began filling her body again, but she pushed it into her void and focused on what was important. Draco was alive right in front of her. She looked up the same time his body moved to do the same. His shoulder was dislocated; a fury rose within her. His hair was long and touching the top of his shoulders. Hermione could barely focus on anything now that she was touching him again.

“Don't be rash, Potter.” Draco said calmly.

“Why don't you shut the fuck up for once?” Harry's voice was harsh and threatening.

Hermione's hand reappeared before her on Draco's back. It was now or never. She quickly slipped out from behind Draco and pressed herself firmly against the front of Draco's body, fully blocking Harry from being able to curse Draco without shooting the curse through her first. She glared at Harry aiming her wand directly into his face as he stumbled backward slightly, lowering his wand a minuscule amount as a look of shock crossed his face.

“Don't make me kill you, Harry.” Hermione said in a harsh tone, wrapping her wand free arm around Draco's side to block him even further.

“Hermione?” Harry spluttered.

“Lower your wand, Harry.” Hermione said more forcefully, her glare darkening as Harry didn't move.

“What are you…?” He seemed unable to speak more than that as his eyes focused on the way Hermione gripped her free arm onto Draco.

“I came to get my husband back. Now lower your fucking wand before I take your hand off myself.” Hermione's voice was a growl.

Harry glared back at her. “He just killed Ron!” Harry protested.

“Ron's lucky I didn't kill him first.” Hermione said just as darkly.

Draco snorted behind her, but seemed to decide keeping his comments to himself was best. “Ron was right, he's done something to you.” Harry stated.

Hermione shook with anger as she tightened her grip on her wand and on Draco. “Decided to do things the hard way then, I guess.” Hermione said through gritted teeth.

Harry shot a disarming spell at her which she easily waved off. He shot off two more consecutively and Hermione again shielded them with ease. She shot a spell back and a burn appeared across Harry's forearm. He gasped at the pain. Hermione sent another one that hit Harry in the chest and he stumbled farther backwards. A look of almost terror crossed Harry's face as he caught his balance. He was too slow. Hermione hit him with another jinx and Harry hit the wall. She threw another one at him, then another, then another. She'd released her hold on Draco and advanced on where Harry lie unconscious on the floor stunning him again and again.

“Hermione!” Draco's voice pulled her from her rage.

She turned to him and couldn't stop herself from crying now. She waved her wand at him and his bindings vanished just in time for her to wrap her arms around him. He groaned as his dislocated arm slumped over her as she pressed her face into his chest. Draco sucked in a deep breath as his still located arm squeezed tightly around her.

“Why the hell did you come here alone?” Draco asked.

Hermione could tell he wanted to be scolding, but his relief at her being there overpowered any type of harshness in his voice. “I brought Blaise; he's making sure all your possessions find their way home.” Hermione said softly into his chest.

“We have to go. They're not going to leave Harry alone in here for long. Not after what I did to Weasley.” Draco said, his voice straining slightly from his pain.

“Your shoulder.” Hermione said, holding Draco tighter as he tried to move away from her.

“I'll be fine.” Draco said, finally fully looking down at Hermione and stroking his fingers across her cheek.

“We can't risk using a portkey while your arm is dislocated.” Hermione argued and Draco pressed his lips into hers.

“You can't just kiss me and make me forget your shoulder is out of socket.” Hermione said as they broke apart and Draco smirked down at her.

“Well, I thought maybe after a year you'd become more vulnerable to my charm.” Draco teased and Hermione pursed her lips to fight back her smile.

“I'm no healer, but I can set your arm.” Hermione stated.

“No need; we'll be taking a healer with us.” Draco said. “Now, do that thing you did that made you walk through this wall.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 20

Hermione took Draco's hand in her own and pulled him through the wall and Draco rose an eyebrow at her. Cho and Mandy were both still on the floor half under the table Hermione threw with them. “Nice work.” Draco stated.

“I didn't mean to throw them that hard.” Hermione said sheepishly.

“I meant the wall, but yes I suppose nice work on them too.” Draco said, stroking the length of Hermione's arm as she stood beside him.

“What did you mean about taking a healer with us?” Hermione asked turning back toward the wall they just moved from. “Tagilus.” She said and the wall hardened again.

“Seeing as how you managed to get in here and shock Potter, that means no one knew you were coming. I promised Padma she'd leave Romania alive so long as no one knew you were coming for me so quickly.” Draco said nonchalantly.

Hermione sighed. “You two are friends now?”

“I wouldn't go that far. She was worried you killed Parvati.” Draco gave her a pointed look.

“I didn't kill her.”

“Just kidnapped her?”

“She came willingly. She's just not allowed to leave.”

Draco chuckled and then groaned as he took hold of his side. “Potter cracked my rib.” Draco said darkly when Hermione moved toward him in her concern.

Hermione glared. “I should have used a darker spell on him.” She muttered.

“You kicked his ass in true Hermione fashion. Only one Malfoy needs to be adept in torture.” Draco said, twisting a curl around his finger.

“Blaise is going to say I should have killed him.”

“There's plenty we all should have or shouldn't have done. It's only our choices we're judged on. I chose to become a weapon, you chose to give grace to those who don't always deserve it. Myself included.”

Hermione looked up at Draco for a moment before she reached up and tucked his long hair behind his ear to properly see his face. She knew how much she had missed him, but seeing him, feeling him beside her made her whole body feel like it was being crushed under the weight of how much she'd missed him. Now wasn't the time for that though; they needed to get back to Blaise before someone realized Draco was no longer in his cell. “Let's go before these two wake up on us.” She said, interlocking her fingers with Draco's.

She led him through the wall she'd gone through to end up in Cho and Mandy's room. Blaise poked his head around the corner of a wardrobe when he heard footsteps in the storage room. “Fucking hell.” He said when he saw Draco slumping slightly onto Hermione to support his sagging arm and cracked rib the more they moved. “I thought Lucius came back from the dead to kill us all.”

Draco narrowed his eyes at him. “Is it too soon to tell you that you need a haircut?” Blaise added, enjoying having his friend to pick on again.

Draco turned to Hermione. “Why the hell did you bring him with you?”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Blaise, you know how Draco is about his hair.” Hermione stated like she was scolding one of her children.

Blaise chuckled and moved toward them and Draco extended his good arm to shake Blaise's hand in greeting opposed to removing himself from around Hermione. “We've missed you, brother.” Blaise stated.

“I'm going to go on a limb when I say I've missed you all more seeings as I was stuck in a cell alone majority of the time and you all were together.” Draco squeezed Blaise's hand and gave him a threatening look. “You were all together weren't you?”

“Yes, yes, we've all been together. Even Bella's been there.” Blaise said exasperatedly.

Draco released his hold on Blaise's hand. “Thank you.” He said softly.

“So, who did you sweet talk into saving all these dark artifacts?” Blaise teased as he turned the open wardrobe toward them to showcase all Draco's weapons.

Draco laughed, then groaned as the laugh made him remember his cracked rib. “Someone probably thought they could sell them for some extra money. Being in the resistance doesn't seem to pay much better than being a Death Eater.”

“Or, someone was told they were highly dangerous if destroyed so she hid them away in here.”

Hermione and Blaise spun quickly with wands raised at the sound of a different voice within the room. “Padma, what the fuck? How did you get in here?”

Padma moved to the side, Blaise and Hermione's wands followed her, to show the vanishing cabinet behind her. “Guess you shouldn't have fixed that vanishing cabinet at Hogwarts. Charlie stole them before Voldemort hunkered down at the castle. Can you call off your dogs please?”

“He promised to get you out of Romania alive, that doesn't mean I have to trust you.” Hermione stated before Draco could say anything.

Blaise lowered his wand when he decided that Padma wasn't an imminent threat while Padma and Hermione glared at one another. “Did you kill my sister?” Padma asked.

“No. I didn't kill Harry either, if that's your next question.” Hermione retorted.

Blaise signed, which Hermione ignored. “Well, hopefully you at least knocked him out otherwise you're all going to have a hell of a time getting out of here.”

“We all.” Draco corrected.

“If I leave with you they'll think I've been helping you this entire time.” Padma argued.

“If you don't leave with us they'll know you helped me get away. Charlie's not stupid, Padma. He's not going to believe you had any part in killing his brother or he'd have thrown you to his little dragon already. Potter, however, is stupid. This whole place will crumble with the two of them fighting, you don't need to physically be in the middle of that for it to be about you.” Draco said adamantly.

“Wait, that dragon is that bulky Weasley's pet?” Blaise's attention focused on the wrong part of the conversation.

“You're dating Charlie?” Hermione asked in somewhat of a shocked tone.

Padma rolled her eyes. “We don't have time for this conversation.”

“Do we have time for you to fix my arm?”

Padma's gaze moved to the arm limply hanging over Hermione's shoulder. “For fuck's sake.” She muttered. “What happened?”

“Someone decided I needed to be better bound and Potter took advantage of it.” Draco said coolly and Padma glared at him.

Hermione hadn't lowered her wand from Padma until she began coming forward to help lift Draco's arm off of Hermione to survey the damage and what it would take to reattach his shoulder into its socket. “Oh you just weren't going to mention the cracked ribs then?” Padma scolded when she saw Draco wince from movement not related to his arm.

“I knew you'd figure it out eventually.” Draco stated with a smirk and Padma rolled her eyes again.

“You can heal him right?” Hermione asked, but her voice had taken a softer tone.

Padma looked up from her healing work on Draco and smiled softly at her. “Who do you think has been keeping his annoying ass alive this whole time?”

Hermione gave a nod. “Thank you.” She said quietly.

“I resent that.” Draco stated. “I was an absolute fucking delight as a prisoner.”

Blaise laughed loudly. “I know that's a lie. You're barely a delight as a house guest.”

Draco narrowed his eyes at Blaise again. “I always did like Theo better; shame he couldn't join you instead.” Draco said pointedly to Hermione.

Hermione gave him an unamused look. “Don't drag me into your lover's quarrel.” She stated.

“He wishes.” Draco and Blaise said in unison.

“This is a strange group I've found myself in.” Padma stated as just enough of a distraction so she could jam Draco's shoulder back into place.

“Fuck!” He said as Padma began the healing magic to keep his shoulder in place now that it was back in its socket.

“Would have hurt more if you were focused on it while I did it.” Padma said in her defense. “All done.”

Draco rotated his shoulder a few times to feel if it seemed strained in any of his movements. He then turned and lifted Hermione off the ground, wrapping her legs around his waist as he pulled her body closer to him. For a moment he simply breathed her in and Hermione's face turned hot with embarrassment. Then their lips met and the entire room dissolved around them. It wasn't like how he'd kissed her before when he'd been pointedly trying to get her to shut up. He kissed her like he needed her lips to stay alive and she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck as if at any moment he might disappear again.

“Hate to be that guy, but if we barely had time for healing I doubt there's time for snogging.” Blaise's voice broke through and Hermione at least seemed to remember they were in the presence of others.

“Just making sure I was healed properly.” Draco said innocently when Hermione scrambled to be put back on the floor.

“Get your stuff and get out of here. Someone's bound to have noticed Harry's unconscious at this point.” Padma stated.

“Sorry, but you'll be coming as well.” Draco stated, firmly moving Padma so that Blaise could take hold of her.

“So, what? I'm your prisoner now?” Padma asked incredulously.

“Don't be stupid.” Draco stated.

“Malfoys don't take prisoners.” Hermione finished his thought for him.

“Charlie will only fight harder if he thinks I'm dead.” Padma said as Blaise tightly gripped her upper arms.

Draco smirked. “But I thought you weren't his girlfriend?” Padma glared at him.

“He's not going to fight me; he'd be stupid to think he even could knowing I killed his brother while tied up. He won't keep building this prison when Potter tries to convince him you've switched sides. He wouldn't be able to stand the thought of you locked up inside it.” Draco stated as he began taking off the dirty clothes he had been wearing the last year and pulling on one of his Death Eater uniforms Blaise had found fully intact.

Hermione noticed the new scars along his body; the vampire bite marks glowing silver through the tattoos on his neck and shoulder, and even more so through his still black dark mark. A pang of guilt churned her stomach at the sight of it, knowing her own mark sat hidden beneath her long sleeves. She'd have to tell him eventually, but maybe once they were back safely within Malfoy Manor he'd be less upset about it.

“Was this your master plan all along? Did you let them take you just for this?” Padma questioned.

“Fuck no. They only took me because I was half drained from those vampires, remember? How self righteous do you think I am? When I heard there was some sort of prison being built I absolutely started planning how to destroy it though.” Draco said honestly.

Padma sighed. “You realize this is now the third time you've ruined a relationship for me, Malfoy.”

Draco gave her a look of confusion. “Let's put a pin in that conversation, shall we?” Draco said, loading up his pockets with all his artifacts Blaise had found and occasionally brushing his fingers across any part of Hermione nearest to his hand movement, like she might not be real if he didn't keep touching her.

Hermione tried to stop herself smiling every time they touched, but it was with great difficulty she managed to be successful only half of the times. “I really only planned on us bringing one extra person back.” Blaise said, pulling out a dangerously small portkey barely suitable for three let alone four to be traveling with.

Draco cracked his neck and smirked. “I think I'd rather fly anyway.” He said and Blaise simply stared at him in confusion.

“Perfect, then we can take Padma straight to the safe house without the risk of Bellatrix seeing her.” Hermione stated and Blaise looked even more confused.

“I'm sorry, did I miss something?” Blaise asked in an annoyed tone.

“Apparently, your friend is an unregistered animagus. At least if Ron's to be believed.” Padma stated before Draco or Hermione could speak.

“You fucking twat.” Blaise said, but he sounded more impressed than offended that Draco had successfully kept it a secret from him. “Well go on, then. Give us a look.”

Draco fixed him with an unamused look. “I'm bigger than this room.”

“Lucky girl.” Blaise said to Hermione, who blushed furiously as she jabbed her elbow between Blaise's ribs. “Oi! Come on, we were all thinking it.”

“I wasn’t.” Padma interjected.

“Can we get out of here already?” Draco stated before anyone else could speak.

Hermione handed Draco a wand and for a moment a look of fear flashed in Padma's eyes. It dawned on Hermione how much easier it was for Padma to make nice with Draco, maybe even trust him, when he wasn't an immediate magical threat. Having a wand turned Draco back into the killing machine the rest of the world knew and saw him as. He twirled the wand lazily in his hand before giving it a light flick and a gust of wind blew Hermione's shirt up just enough to show a sliver of her stomach. Draco cocked his head to the side as he blatantly surveyed Hermione's body and bit at his lip.

“I take it the wand has taken to you just fine.” Hermione said, adjusting her shirt back over her stomach again.

Draco smiled slyly at her in that way that always made Hermione's stomach do somersaults. Had they been in a more private setting, she'd have probably ripped his clothes back off just from that smile alone, but she managed the little self control she had left to keep her hands to herself. There would be time for them to properly reunite once they got back home. Her body tingled slightly at just the thought of the way their bodies would be tangled around each other once they were back in the same bed.

Hermione then remembered the prison they were building within this mountain. She'd let herself only focus on Draco because it was the easiest thing for her mind to fall on. Those tiny cells she and Blaise had walked past came flooding back to her; so small Draco wouldn't have been able to even stand in a slouch within them. He'd have to kneel to whoever planned on guarding the prison and something about that thought made her even more furious than the inhumane nature of the cells in general.

Hermione shot a blast through the wall and Draco's smile turned into a smirk. “Oh I was hoping you were going to take the violent way out.” He stated as Blaise bound Padma to him so she couldn't run off in the mist of a fight.

They moved quickly taking out any and all walls that were in their path. Draco sliced his captors in half as they made to come after them, while Hermione continued to throw them into the remaining walls left around them. Blaise was more focused on helping Padma dodge the flying debris than actually attacking anyone and Padma only seemed concerned about whether or not the dying resistance members around her were Charlie.

“Don't worry,” Draco called over his shoulder to her, “I won't kill your boyfriend.”

Draco sent another slice through a Helios mask Hermione had sent flying into the air. “Really breeding confidence, Malfoys.” Padma retorted, diving into Blaise's chest to avoid a falling chunk of the ceiling.

Draco managed a laugh. They'd finally reached the prison area and a deep growl echoed through the hallowed mountain. “Oh fuck.” Padma said as Hermione and Draco came to a halt in front of her and Blaise.

“Please tell me that's not what I think it is.” Blaise said.

“Sounds like Padma's boyfriend decided to join the party.” Draco said with an excited amusement in his voice.

“Great, it is the fucking dragon.” Blaise muttered.

Draco turned to face Padma and Blaise; Hermione followed his lead. “You have a portkey to get out of this mountain?” Draco said to Blaise.

“Yeah, I'm not an idiot. Takes us back out to the lake.” Blaise stated.

“Good. Take them out of here and I'll meet you outside.” Draco said.

“I'm not leaving you!” Hermione interjected, grasping Draco's arm like he might vanish that very moment.

Draco ran his hand along her neck, stroking her jawline with his thumb before he gripped her and pulled her closer to him. He pressed his lips into hers. “Go. I'll meet you outside.” He said when they parted.

Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Draco covered it with his hand. “Don't argue. I'm not going to disappear on you. Go with Blaise so I don't have to worry about you dying and I will meet you outside.” Draco's voice was commanding this time and Hermione nodded her compliance.

“Malfoy?” Padma said, as Blaise pulled out his portkey and began trying to get the two women to take hold of it.

“I said I wouldn't kill your boyfriend, stop bugging me about it.” Draco said in an annoyed tone before he turned away from them.

The dragon form he'd had hidden within him for the last year burst into the opening of the hallowed mountain just as the other dragon came into view also. Blaise had a look of shock on his face at seeing his best friend in a form nearly twice the size of the dragon he and Hermione had seen flying around the mountain the night before. Padma looked terrified as she took hold of Blaise's portkey. He nudged Hermione to follow suit, but she was entranced by seeing Draco in his dragon form again. She reached out and slid her hand across his scales and a sound like a purr vibrated Draco's dragon body. Hermione pulled her hand back and took hold of the portkey.

The bulky figure of Charlie began running in the opposite direction at the mere sight of Draco in his dragon form, leaving his own dragon to fend for itself. Blaise let Padma see Charlie had made a clean exit from the large area before the portkey activated and sucked the three of them into the portkey vortex, dropping them alongside the lake outside. They could hear huge, loud roars coming from the mountain. Hermione rang her hands together as she began pacing beside Blaise and Padma.

“He'll be fine.” Blaise stated reflexively and both women seemed to find comfort in his words for different reasons.

A few minutes later the mountain burst open and Draco came flying into the open field around the lake. He circled them a moment before he landed, showcasing a mouth full of bloodied teeth. Hermione ran and wrapped her arms around the neck of the huge dragon and he nuzzled into her. Padma looked like she might faint at the sight of them.

“Show off.” Blaise muttered, kicking a small rock into one of Draco's massive clawed feet.

Chapter Text

Chapter 21

Draco's POV

Flying Padma and Hermione was a lot easier than the last duo he'd let catch a ride on his back. Though he might have been biased because any excuse to be between Hermione's legs made everything better in Draco's opinion. Even if she was just sitting between his wings. Padma was also more considerate of his scales than his last passengers had been. He flew with only the guidance of Hermione's memory of their destination. The smell of the fresh air and stretching out his wings was so exhilarating to him that he could have flown them around the world. Thought about it for a few moments before deciding that would probably be exhausting and then he'd have less energy to keep Hermione screaming his name for the next twenty-four hours.

After flying for a few hours, Draco finally descended and touched down in the large grounds of the safe house Hermione had set up for the resistance members she'd allegedly been killing. He let Hermione and Padma climb from his back before allowing his human form to take hold of his body again. He didn't recognize the grounds or the mansion from any of his own memories, but it didn't take long for him to know where he was. His mother had spoken of this place very little, even more so when Bellatrix became a more permanent fixture in their lives after her escape from Azkaban.

“Who in the hell are you friends with, Hermione Granger?” Padma said as she stared in wonder at the huge house.

“Friends might be a relatively loose term.” Hermione stated and Draco laughed as he pulled his long hair back out of his face.

He felt more like Lucius than ever now. “All this time and you and Bella still can't play nicely?” He said, slipping his arm around Hermione's waist to pull her into his body.

Hermione looked up at him with a surprised expression. “You've been here before?”

“Merlin, no.” Draco said as if at the very least Hermione should have known that from Bellatrix.

“Wait; what exactly is this place?” Padma inserted herself into the conversation and Draco met her concerned look with only a smirk.

“My grandparents house.”

“Malfoy grandparents?” Padma asked seeming all the more concerned about where she'd just let Draco and Hermione bring her.

“Oh no, a much worse set than them. This is Black Manor.” Padma had a look on her face as if she still needed more of an explanation after already hearing where they were. Draco supplied one for her. “This is where my mother and Bellatrix grew up.”

“My mother grew up here too, you know.” A voice came from behind them and Draco spun; pointing his wand into the face of Tonks, who looked unbothered by the entire ordeal.

Hermione wrapped her hand around Draco's forearm and forced his wand arm back down to his side. “What are you doing way out here?” Hermione asked.

“Seeing how far out the grounds of Black Manor go. Saw a giant dragon landing and hid behind those trees.” She motioned to the area she'd come from. “Take it Voldemort doesn't know his main assassin is an animagus.” She added in distaste to Draco.

“It'd be best for everyone if it stayed that way.” Draco said in a growl.

“Who'd I even tell? Can't leave the grounds, can I? I assume anyone that would care, aside from your master,” she gave a pointed look to Hermione before continuing, “already knows and has no intention of letting that information get used against them.”

Draco also looked at Hermione and her cheeks seemed to redden under his gaze. “Draco hasn't been informed of the details surrounding your stay here, yet.” Hermione said vaguely and Draco caught the subtle way Hermione pursed her lips at Tonks.

“Just came to add another house guest then?”

“Something like that. Padma, this is Tonks. I'm not sure you two ever officially met. Padma is a healer, which should come in handy with how graceful you are.” Hermione stated and Draco didn't like the edge he heard in Hermione's voice.

“Ah, the other Patil. Hopefully you smoke less than your sister.” Tonks stated, moving in front of the group and walking toward the house. “I can show you to where Parvati usually settles in since we won't let her smoke in the house anymore.” Tonks added when no one followed her.

Hermione and Padma began following Tonks before Draco moved. Just in that small portion of time he had about a dozen questions arise for his wife, but he preferred to discuss them with her in private. Hermione, however, seemed keen to keep avoiding them as she quickened her pace even more to walk in step with Tonks. Draco felt a little strange as he followed the cousin he'd never truly met before today toward their grandparents' house. Then the realization of everything began sinking in on him. How long would he be able to be back in the area before he'd have to see the Dark Lord? Would he get the chance to meet his twins before he too was tortured into insanity for letting the resistance capture him? He'd made plans to bury himself inside Hermione's body, but would he even be allowed the time to have a private conversation with his wife before Bellatrix would come to drag him back to Hogwarts and face the consequences of being taken prisoner for the last year?

His thoughts were interrupted as they began approaching a cloud of smoke that Draco assumed was Parvati Patil. “Padma?” Parvati said, dropping her half smoked cigarette to the ground and stepping toward her sister.

Padma wrapped her arms around Parvati and began crying. The sisters held each other tighter. “I thought you were dead.” Padma said softly squeezing her twin.

Tonks turned to Hermione as Draco came to a stop behind her, his hands finding their way onto her body again. “I best be heading back inside. Luna keeps teaching my son weird spells.” Tonks said, heading toward one of the many side entrances of the mansion. She stopped and turned back toward Hermione. “Thank your friend for the potions she's been leaving for Remus. This week would have been hell for him without them.” Then she disappeared through the door.

“Friend?” Draco asked.

Hermione looked up at him and a look of guilt shone through her golden brown eyes. “We have a lot of catching up to do and I'm afraid we might not get the time to do it.” Hermione said weakly.

Draco unconsciously rubbed his left forearm. He couldn't feel the mark still burning on his skin, but he assumed as much that Hermione had also realized they were short on time. The euphoria from the vampire fang that had been lodged inside his mark had mixed with the dark magic of it in a way that made Draco's mark basically pointless to the extent of being summoned. The mark would activate, but Draco felt nothing. He barely felt his own hand on his forearm as he was violently thrown back into thoughts of his duty to the Dark Lord. He'd done nothing in that cell except think about getting back to Hermione. He'd forgotten what getting back to Hermione would also entail. The Dark Lord would be expecting him.

Hermione turned from him and tapped Padma's shoulder to pull her attention from her twin. “Sorry, but as a precaution.” Hermione said, taking Padma's hand and pricking her finger to retrieve a drop of her blood as well.

Draco quirked an eyebrow at Hermione as she performed the blood magic to keep Padma in place at Black Manor as well. “Bella would be so proud.” Draco teased.

“I got the idea from you.” Hermione said giving Draco a pointed look.

“Where do you think I learned it from?” Draco said as he rubbed a hand along the small of Hermione's back.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him, but he could see her attempting to hide her smile. “We'll let you two catch up; Luna can explain anything that Parvati might not be able to. Meanwhile, I have a lot to go over with Draco, but I'd imagine we'll probably be seeing a lot more of each other here soon.” Hermione said to Padma as Parvati lit another cigarette and offered one to Draco. He declined it with a smile as Parvati surveyed him.

“Always a pleasure, Mrs. Malfoy.” Parvati said, nodding her head to Hermione.

Hermione took hold of Draco's hand and he felt himself smiling as her fingers intertwined with his. He pulled their hands up and kissed the back of her hand as they left the Patil twins to continue catching up. “Draco!” Padma called after them and he turned around to see her taking a few steps away from Parvati.

“Charlie…” She didn't seem to know what else to say.

“Definitely still alive when I left.” Draco said knowingly before releasing Hermione's hand to wrap his arm tightly around her as they carried on walking farther into the grounds.

“I'm going to have to go to Hogwarts before I can go home.” Draco stated as they kept walking.

“We both are.” Hermione said, stopping and holding Draco in place with her.

Draco looked down at her unable to hide his confusion and concern. Hermione pulled up her sleeve to reveal a dark mark burned perfectly into her left forearm. Draco glared at it as he took her arm in his hands and ran his hand across the dark mark burned there, like his touch might make it disappear.

“Fucking Bella.” Draco said through gritted teeth.

“I didn't know how else to find you.” Hermione said and he looked up to see her face looking pleading.

“She could have told you how if all that was needed was that fucking blood magic.” Draco said in frustration.

“She said the magic didn't work that way. She tried to dissuade me; I made her take me to see him so I could ask to be marked.” Hermione explained.

“For fuck's sake, Hermione. When will you learn you're worth so much more than I am?”

“Never! Because I'm not. I couldn't stand living without you. Every moment away from you felt like there was nothing left to exist for.” Hermione started looking visibly upset so Draco did what he did best; pressed his lips into hers.

They stayed that way for a long moment, pressing their bodies together as their kiss deepened. “I'm sorry.” Hermione said when they finally broke apart and her eyes fell back to the brand on her arm that now matched his own.

“You've nothing to be sorry for. Nothing could ever make me love you any less. I would have done much worse to find you if the tables were turned.” Draco said softly, stroking her cheek as he pushed her hair behind her ear.

“I should have done much worse to find you.” Hermione stated and Draco smiled at her.

“You can make it up to me in other ways.” He said in a velvety voice that made Hermione's face redden.

“Draco, be serious.” She said, throwing him an unamused look to hide her flush.

“Oh, I'm being very serious.” He said, rubbing his hands along the length of her body just incase he was being too subtle.

She smacked his chest playfully, but her face fell slightly. “So how mad is he?” Draco asked, his tone going serious as well.

Hermione seemed to know who the he in question was. “Bellatrix would know better than I would. He hasn't tried to torture me aside from his attempts to get within my mind.”

“And making your branding as excruciating as possible, I'm sure.”

Hermione looked up at him finally. "I just assumed it hurt that bad no matter what.”

Draco simply shrugged as he twisted a curl around his finger. He sighed after a moment, unable to bring himself to say the worries that were plaguing his mind. “I guess we should probably go then.” He said finally in a defeated voice.

Hermione squeezed his hand tightly, but there was a reassuringness to it. “I won't let you die when I've only just gotten you back. I don't care how powerful the Dark Lord thinks he is.” Hermione stated in that finalizing tone she got when Draco knew better than to argue with her.

He leaned his face close to hers so that their lips were almost touching. “I love you.” Draco said in a husky whisper.

Hermione smirked at him. “I love you more.” She said back teasingly.

Draco pulled her body so close to his he could feel her heartbeat quicken from his grip on her. He placed his lips on her neck and began placing slow kisses along the length of it. Hermione moaned softly in immediate approval. He squeezed her body against his even tighter, trying to feel as much of her as he could through their clothing before his hand found her neck and he forced her to stare back at him.

“Not possible.” He said before his lips crashed into hers with an almost primal need.

He wasn't entirely sure turning himself on before going to see the Dark Lord was one of his better ideas or not, but the need to feel Hermione's body had outweighed every other thought within his mind. He finally managed to pull himself away from her mouth and Hermione panted slightly from the intensity alone. He smiled smugly at her before interlocking their fingers once more and disapparating them both to the grounds of Hogwarts. There was something more sinister about being back in Hogwarts with Hermione at his side. Hermione pulled up the hidden balaclava she had looped around her neck and Draco was thankful she'd taken the precaution as every Death Eater's eyes fell on them upon entrance.

Whispers immediately surrounded them as people parted in waves creating a cleared pathway for the Malfoys to move through. Draco glared at them more out of habit than anything else, though part of him knew the more menacing he looked, the less chance anyone would feel confident enough to challenge either of them. He quickly found the glare was unnecessary as every person Hermione made eye contact with looked away squeamishly. He felt a different type of pride swell up in him. He knew Hermione was a force, but the fact her presence was intimidating on a scale that matched his own without having actually ever killed anyone she'd been claiming to have killed was impressive even for Hermione.

The stench of the Chamber of Secrets hadn't changed as Draco stepped through the threshold, keeping Hermione mostly behind himself as they strode to the middle of the room. Draco didn't fall to his knees in a low bow as he normally greeted the Dark Lord, but he bowed nevertheless. A stunned silence encompassed them as Hermione bowed with Draco before the Dark Lord.

“My, my, Mrs. Malfoy does know how to deliver.” Voldemort's hissing voice sent chills down Draco's spine from the lack of hearing it for so long.

Draco felt Hermione stand beside him and had to stop himself from holding her in place beside him. “I said I would get my husband back and I have, my Lord.” Hermione said confidently.

“Draco, my loyal servant. How loyal do you still remain?” Voldemort hissed, apparently choosing to ignore Hermione.

Draco didn't dare to move from his bow; in fact a large portion of his thoughts were on whether he should indeed bow even lower. “My loyalty remains to you and my family, my Lord. As it always has.” Draco said at the floor.

He could feel those claws of the Dark Lord's legilimency scratching against his void. The Dark Lord let out a frustrated hiss as Draco's void continued to hold strong. “Yet you come back after nearly a year of imprisonment without the prisoners of mine you elected to take with you.” Voldemort said, pressing harder into Draco's mind.

Draco stayed with his face toward the floor of the Chamber. “Shacklebolt was killed when we were caught within a vampire attack trying to find the Helios camp, my Lord.” Draco stated. His voice was harsh as he continued, “Weasley I killed this morning.”

He dared a look up at the Dark Lord after that to find him with a vile smile spread across his face. Bellatrix had appeared at his side and Draco wondered if he had summoned his aunt specifically for his homecoming. “What of Harry Potter?” Voldemort questioned and Draco finally rose back to his full height.

“Coward ran off before I could kill him.” Draco said summoning another hiss from the Dark Lord.

“You know Harry Potter's death belongs to me.” Voldemort said with a glare and Bellatrix gave Draco a pointed look from beside him.

“Of course, my Lord.” Draco bowed his head. “Still, the coward ran off.”

“Where were they holding you?”

“Within a hallowed out mountain. They were building a new prison. Now they barely have a mountain left, my Lord.”

Bellatrix's face darkened and Draco had a feeling her time spent in Azkaban was coming back to haunt her. The Dark Lord, however, had a look of mild amusement on his face at Draco claiming to befell a mountain. “What information did Harry Potter think he could retrieve from you?” Voldemort asked and Draco recognized the way his voice shifted slightly.

The Dark Lord was almost through with his interrogation of Draco which meant his punishment would be coming next. He wasn't going to get out scotch free being held captive, but he may have successfully gotten himself clear of being killed. “Mostly he kept trying to find my wife. An eye for an eye if you will, my Lord. Blamed me for his own wife's death and wanted mine in return. To be honest I didn't realize Potter had such a deep vengeance streak. If it was anyone else, I might have even been impressed.” Draco lied easily. “Also, seemed to think it would be easier to take down the Death Eaters and get a rise out of the resistance if I was incapacitated; they only managed to get their hands on me at all because I was nearly sucked dry by a small horde of vampires. Foolish mistake on my part, my Lord.”

The Dark Lord gave Bellatrix a look and Draco noticed something unspoken pass between them. Bellatrix gave him a nod before she began walking toward Hermione. Draco made a move toward her, but Bellatrix shot a warning glare at him. Bellatrix wasn't coming to hurt Hermione; she was coming to hold her in place. Keep her held back and force her to watch while he was tortured. After all, Mrs. Malfoy had been being a good asset since she'd been marked; the Dark Lord had no need to punish her. He did have every need to show Hermione exactly what would happen should she or any of the Malfoy family fall into the realm of being unhelpful.

Bellatrix gripped onto Hermione's arms and pulled her farther to the side. Draco met Hermione's eyes for only a moment before the crucio hit him. He fell to his knees harder and faster than anyone was accustomed to, but he simply pounded his fists into the flooring in his pain rather than let a noise of pain escape him. Somewhere far away from the searing pain rampaging through his body he heard Hermione pleading the Dark Lord to stop. The Dark Lord only laughed as the pain ripped through Draco more violently, forcing him fully onto the floor. Draco closed his eyes, unable to meet Hermione's eyes should the pain of the curse twist him into making eye contact with where Bellatrix held her. The pain kept sinking further and further into his body and Draco was glad he'd closed his eyes as his body began flailing out of his control the longer the Dark Lord held the curse on him.

Draco couldn't remember a time when he'd been under a crucio for so long when finally the curse was lifted. He didn't open his eyes, couldn't muster the strength for it. He just lie there panting on the floor, feeling his body melting into the ground beneath him as if a troll had just crushed all of his bones. “Next time you fail me, Draco, or go against my orders, I will kill you.” Voldemort said darkly.

Chapter Text

Chapter 22

Hermione pulled herself from Bellatrix's grip on her and ran to where Draco was sprawled on the floor. She could hear him panting, but he looked half dead as his body shook uncontrollably and he was wet from sweat. She sank onto the floor beside him and brushed her hand over his face. He flinched under her touch, causing more tears to run down her cheeks. It had been harder watching Draco be tortured than Hermione had ever imagined. Hermione lifted Draco's spasming body slightly into her lap and his eyes opened slightly. He closed his eyes again and turned his face away from her the best that he could, like having her see him this way was somehow worse than the torture.

“Get them out of my sight, Bella.” Voldemort hissed and Hermione fought the urge not to glare up at him. “You may have one week to get reacquainted with your family, Draco, then I expect you and Mrs. Malfoy to join forces eliminating the resistance. Your wife has been helpful, but I'm afraid she lacks your ravenous murdering techniques.”

Bellatrix took one of Draco's arms in her grip and heaved him out of Hermione's lap, fixing Hermione with a dark glare as she lifted Draco to his feet as convulsions still pulsed through his body. “Well, get up.” Bellatrix growled down at Hermione.

Hermione rose as well, wrapping Draco's other arm around her shoulders and helping Bellatrix to support Draco's weight as he attempted to steady himself between the two women. Bellatrix managed to pull off a perfectly timed apparition between the twitching of Draco's body and landed them back within Malfoy Manor without Draco falling victim of being splinched. Hermione immediately ripped Draco's spasming form from Bellatrix's support as she glared harshly at her.

“You bitch.” Hermione spat.

“Me? I'm not the one who kept screaming! His punishment could have been over within minutes if you had any self control whatsoever! Now look at him! Practically tortured into insanity; all because you can't keep your fucking mouth shut!” Bellatrix roared back.

Draco made to push himself off Hermione as Blaise and Theo came rushing into the entry way at the sound of the women fighting, but Hermione clung onto him. “You could have stopped him from being punished all together if you weren't so afraid of the person you're fucking!” Hermione yelled back.

Bellatrix's wand was pointed at Hermione faster than she realized Bellatrix could even move. “Alright, let's not do anything we'll regret.” Blaise said in a weary voice as he crept closer to where Hermione and Draco stood.

The madness was on full display in Bellatrix's eyes now. Hermione had pushed her too far and Bellatrix was fully prepared to make her pay for it. Draco, still spasming uncontrollably, managed to push himself in front of Hermione. “Don't you fucking dare.” Draco said in a winded growl.

“Tell your wife to stop blaming me for everything that goes wrong in your life. I don't control the Dark Lord or his actions, but I've told her repeatedly how to make them worse. As she just fucking saw.” Bellatrix said hotly, lowering her wand and clearly trying to pace the madness away.

There was a squeal from down the hall and a mop of black curls came hurtling toward Draco. Bellatrix caught Alexia around the middle and lifted her into the air as she reached out for Draco, squirming erratically against Bellatrix's hold on her. “Daddy! Daddy!” Alexia called out and Hermione heard Draco try to stifle a gasp at seeing her.

“Daddy's hurt right now.” Bellatrix said softly to Alexia. “You need to be gentle.” She commanded as she lowered Alexia back to the ground.

Draco sunk down to his knees as Bellatrix gave Alexia a stern look before releasing her. She walked slower than Hermione had ever seen her move since she'd gotten the correct balance for walking until she finally made it into Draco's held out arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and his body sagged slightly as he held onto her small body. She was so much bigger than when he'd last seen her; Hermione saw Draco’s eyes close tightly as if to suppress his urge to cry. “Hello, ma petite étoile¹.” Draco said in barely a whisper.

“Daddy!” Alexia squealed in return, unable to help herself from hopping in her enthusiasm at seeing Draco again.

Daphne came running into the hall where the group stood in a silent type of awe around Draco. “She ran out before I could…” Daphne stopped short when she saw Draco crouched with Alexia.

“Daph?” Draco said, twitching slightly as he managed to stand up with Alexia still tightly clasped around his neck.

Bellatrix moved toward Draco to ease his body of Alexia's excess weight while he was still having muscle spasms from the torture. Draco only gripped Alexia tighter and turned to keep her body away from Bellatrix, shooting her an offended look. Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “Hiya stranger.” Daphne said with a smile, moving forward when she seemed to notice Draco's inability to keep still.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Draco asked in a shocked tone.

“Someone had to help watch the kids.” Theo stated causing Draco to spin on him.

“You asked her to risk her life coming back here?” Draco asked in a scolding tone and Theo looked around for help from the others in the group.

“She came on her own when you didn't write for your yearly birthday letter.” Hermione said calmly, rubbing her hand along Draco's back as the muscles twitched beneath her touch.

Draco leaned his body into Hermione's touch and closed his eyes again. “Daddy. Owie?” Alexia said, softly rubbing her small hand on Draco's forehead.

Draco sighed and opened his eyes to look into the two colored eyes staring back at him intently. He took hold of her hand and kissed the back of it. “Yeah.” He said softly and Alexia nuzzled her face into his neck.

“Let me take her; you need to get some rest. We'll all still be here tomorrow morning.” Hermione said, unlatching Alexia's arms from around his neck.

“Don't!” Draco said in a cracking voice and Hermione quickly released Alexia's arms in surprise at his tone as she met his gaze, only to find glassy eyes looking back at her. “Not yet.”

“Alright, let's all sod off and give them a moment.” Daphne said, purposefully shoving Bellatrix back toward the north wing as Theo and Blaise moved along behind them leaving Draco, Alexia, and Hermione alone.

Draco looked away from Hermione as his body twitched more. “I'm sorry.” Draco said finally.

Hermione's hand found his face this time, brushing the long stray hairs out of his face. “For what?” She asked.

Draco pulled on Alexia and she reluctantly released her hold on him again and let him pass her into Hermione's arms. “I didn't think it'd be this hard to be back. I thought being home would be the easy part.” Draco's voice had more emotion in it than his face did. His body shook slightly as he twisted one of Hermione's curls around his finger.

Hermione took his hand and unwound her hair from his finger before placing a kiss on his hand. “This wasn't exactly how I expected to bring you home. It'll get easier. You should be soaking your muscles. I'm surprised you can even stand.” Hermione said, giving Draco a concerned look.

“Yeah.” Draco said, rubbing his temples with trembling hands as he turned on instinct and began walking toward the stairs.

Hermione caught hold of his hand and locked her fingers with his. Draco turned to look at her. “I'll drop Alexia off in the nursery; you can use our bathroom.” Hermione said softly, wondering if Draco had forgotten about the room they'd been sharing, but chose to ignore his memory lapse.

They walked slowly hand in hand together to the north wing. Alexia seemed to sense the troubled feelings of her parents and stayed quiet as she lay against Hermione's shoulder. Draco's hand trembled almost incessantly within Hermione's as they walked and she tried to bury that feeling of guilt Bellatrix had brought up in her yet again. Voldemort had tortured Draco longer and longer the more Hermione begged him to stop; she'd done this to him. Now she wasn't sure he'd ever be the same. How much damage had been caused being tortured for half an hour. Bellatrix would probably know, considering she'd already tortured two people until the breaking of their minds was considered a courtesy compared to the torture. How close had Draco gotten to that point. She'd never seen him tortured, but she'd seen the aftermath plenty of times and never had the trembling and spasms lasted this long.

They stopped in front of the nursery and Draco kissed Alexia's cheek, pulling a wide smile to her face and showing off her few scattered teeth she'd recently grown in. Draco's hand shook as he stroked Alexia's dark curls before he moved his hand to Hermione and softly brushed his fingers along her face until his hand came to a stop on her neck. His thumb grazed her jaw in a way that was almost painfully familiar and he tilted her face up to meet his. She found a smile waiting for her on his lips as her eyes scanned over his face before resting on his soft grey eyes.

“I'm fine.” He said down to her with that reassuring tone he was so good at. “Once I have a soak and the headache passes, I'll be good as new.”

Draco leaned closer to her until their lips met and Hermione's guilt and worry melted away. He was home. She had brought him home. There wasn't anything more damaged about him than had been damaged before she'd fallen in love with him. He kissed her with that same possessive need he always did as his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her body closer to him. Hermione almost forgot she was supposed to be putting Alexia to bed as she let the feel of Draco's lips on hers erase everything else from her mind. He took hold of her hips and, with a little more force than was needed, pushed her away from him. A smirk was curled on his lips.

“What?” Hermione asked innocently.

“You are a menace.” He said, lightly brushing his lips to hers again before pulling away once more.

Draco said nothing else as he turned away from Hermione and Alexia to enter the bedroom Hermione had worried he'd forgotten. When the door closed behind him, Hermione finally moved into the nursery with Alexia only to find the whole lot of the household crammed within the now small looking room; minus Bellatrix, who apparently opted to go to her own bedroom. Everyone looked at Hermione nervously.

“He says he's fine.” Hermione stated. “Or will be once he's soaked.”

The group seemed to release their breath collectively. “It's a lot for him to take in all at once.” Daphne said, understandingly, as Jonathan came to stand beside her.

“It would have been fine, probably, had he not been tortured for a half hour and then immediately side-along apparated.” Hermione stated, placing Alexia in her bed, where she instantly stood back up.

“Fucking prick.” Theo grumbled under his breath before laying Alexia back down.

“So we don't get to meet Uncle Draco tonight?” Drake pouted at Daphne's side.

“I told you, Uncle Draco was going to need time to rest when he got back. There's more than just you two he needs to meet.” Jonathan said softly, stroking his son's hair.

Drake and Damien frowned, but seemed to accept their father's words enough to not argue. “I take it he at least knows you're a Death Eater now?” Blaise asked.

“Yes, I couldn't really get around that. But that was all I had time to tell him about before we left the other manor and had to get to Hogwarts. He's been given a week off duty and then we'll both be having to track down the resistance.” Hermione explained.

“Oh sure, torture him to the brink of death and then barely allow him time to recover before forcing him back into murderous servitude. Real great man, our boss.” Theo said darkly.

Hermione nodded her agreement at Theo's disapproval of Voldemort. Daphne pulled Hermione into a hug. “You did it though. You brought him home.” She said appreciatively. “We should get the boys to bed, Jonathan, before they wake up the smaller twins.”

Daphne and Jonathan each picked up one of their boys and made their way out of the nursery. “Tini.” Hermione said softly and the small elf appeared by her side. “Draco's back, but he's been through a lot and I'm worried he'll be easily overwhelmed. However, he also needs a tonic for his headache. Can you bring one to him?”

Tini fought the urge to cry as she nodded her head frantically and vanished. Theo took hold of Hermione's hand and squeezed it. “Go.” He said softly. “The twins are already asleep, Blaise and I can get Alexia to bed. Go be with him. It'll be an early anniversary present for the both of you.”

Hermione kissed each of her children on the forehead before she turned to leave. She stopped at the nursery door and turned back to her friends. “Thank you.” She said weakly.

“What else is family for?” Blaise said with a sympathetic smile.

Chapter Text

Chapter 23

Hermione tapped slightly on the bathroom door before she stepped over the threshold to find Draco deep within the soaking tub of their bathroom. The overpowering smell of eucalyptus and peppermint filled the air as Hermione made her way to sit beside the tub. She leaned over and kissed Draco as he sat beneath the water and he put a wet hand into her hair to hold her mouth in place against his. He pulled her closer to him as he sat up taller within the soaking tub; opening his mouth in preparation that Hermione would do the same. She quickly obliged and felt Draco slide his tongue longingly against hers, tightening his grip in her hair. Hermione moaned into his mouth as she pushed her body forward and remembered there was a soaking tub still between them when her ribs crashed into it. Draco unwound his hand from Hermione's hair and let it wander down her body as much as he could comfortably move it from his position in the tub. When he finally let Hermione pull back from him, she had tears on her cheeks.

Draco sat up further in the tub and groaned slightly from the pain of the movement. He cupped one hand on her face so her attention was forced to him once more. “I'm never going to leave you again.” He said with that same grief in his voice that Hermione had in her eyes.

She knew it was impossible. They couldn't spend every single moment of the rest of their lives with each other. Voldemort would probably purposefully separate them as much as he could before they ruined his horcruxes and killed him. Something in his voice told Hermione that Draco knew it was impossible also, but hearing it still seemed to heal some of the cracks she still felt in her heart. She could have argued with him that once Voldemort was finished they'd probably need to be in different places just to get things back in order, but she couldn't seem to find the energy to negate him.

“Good.” She said instead and Draco smiled at her.

He leaned himself back into the hot water, but kept the arm closest to her out so he could hold her wrist and rub his thumb against her skin. “What did you say to Tini?” Draco asked as he rested his head back along the edge of the soaking tub.

“What do you mean?”

“I've never seen her more composed in my entire life. I thought she'd be in hysterics at the sight of me. Instead she gave me the tonic and patted my head like I was an obedient child.”

Hermione chuckled. “I may have suggested you might be overwhelmed being back.” Hermione said innocently.

Draco splashed her. “Now I'm to be treated like a skittish animal?” Draco teased.

“I hadn't thought she'd react that way.” Hermione said running her fingers through Draco's hair while he still held firmly onto her other wrist.

Normally she would have told him he was being overprotective; that she wasn't going to disappear just because he wasn't touching her. She made no such arguments this time. She found just as much relief in his grasp as he did in holding onto her. That lingering fear that this dream too might suddenly end wasn't just consuming her, she realized; it was eating away at Draco as well.

“Do you want me to cut it for you?” Hermione asked finally, trailing Draco's long hair outside of the soaking tub so it was dripping into a puddle on the floor.

“Merlin, yes!” Draco said hastily. She'd been almost expecting him to smirk and make some comment about looking like his father. Then it dawned on her that the last way he'd probably like to meet his children for the first time was looking like Lucius Malfoy's replica. He was that well enough without the lengthy hair.

Hermione smiled at him as he sat up more and released her wrist so she could set to work cutting the year's worth of hair off him. They sat in silence with each other while Hermione meticulously went through Draco's hair; taking inches off in every section she made until his hair was just slightly shorter than when he'd left her a year ago. Still a tad longer than Draco usually kept it, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to take it any shorter when the visions of her last intimate moments with Draco kept flashing in her mind as she ran her fingers through his hair.

“There.” Hermione said when she finally finished, running her fingers through his hair to slick his hair back out of his face. “Good as new.”

“My hero.” Draco said, jokingly repeating a similar sentiment Hermione had once made to him when he too had fixed her hair.

Hermione pressed her lips into the silver scar through the tattoo on his neck. “I've missed you.” Hermione whispered, wrapping her arms around Draco's shoulders that were still above the water.

Draco rubbed his hand along Hermione's arm as he turned his face toward where hers was resting on his shoulder. “I missed you the moment I left your sight that day and every second afterward.”

Hermione pursed her lips as she tried not to smile. “It's not a competition, you know.” She teased and Draco gave a small laugh.

“But if it was, I'm fairly certain I would win.” Draco teased back.

“I'm fairly certain you wouldn’t.”

“I spend a year being tortured and my wife won't even let me miss her more. Being rescued isn't what I imagined it to be.”

Hermione pulled his hair just enough to force his neck back and Draco bit his lip at her. “Becoming a Death Eater's hardened me, I guess.” She said with a sly grin.

“I think my muscles are feeling better.” Draco's voice had gotten that husky tone that made Hermione's very bones quiver from the sound of it.

Hermione released her hold on him and stood, moving away from the soaking tub slightly to give Draco room to step out of the tub himself. He still winced slightly as he moved to stand, but the trembling and spasms had stopped. Hermione grabbed a towel for him and began helping to dry him off as soon as she noticed him wincing at any movement. She hadn't gotten very far before Draco's arms were locked tightly around her, pressing their bodies together as she attempted to dry his back. One of his hands wrapped in her hair as he held the back of her neck and brought their lips together.

They'd kissed several times since they'd come back together, but the neediness this time was overwhelming with intensity. Draco pushed his body against Hermione's so that she moved with him as he began walking them from their adjoined bathroom toward their bed. When Hermione felt the bed against the back of her legs she held herself more firmly to not fall over, though she didn't think that was necessarily what Draco had wanted her to do. He slipped his hand from her neck and ran it down her body, refusing to let their lips part for even a moment as he lifted her shirt to feel her skin against his.

Draco broke their kiss long enough to slip Hermione's shirt over her head before he was moving for her mouth again. She turned her face away from him, panting, so his mouth moved to her neck; sucking and biting her soft skin as his hands continued removing her upper body clothing. Hermione had dropped the towel at some point when feeling Draco became the only thought within her mind and she pressed her fingers into his bare back. “We shouldn't do this yet. You need time to recover.” She panted, barely even able to think a coherent thought let alone speak one as she became more and more intoxicated from Draco's hands and lips on her body.

He'd always managed to do this to her. Even when she had been set on hating him and killing him, something about the way he touched her set her whole body on fire and nothing else mattered. The only thing that mattered was that Draco kept touching her. Kept putting his lips on her skin in a way that made her insides melt. Kept making her body scream out for him the same way her voice soon would as well. At first, it hadn't made sense to Hermione. There wasn't any logical reason that Draco should have caused her body to react in such a visceral way; even if she considered him to be one of the most beautiful creatures to walk the earth, Hermione had never been shallow. The flattery of him wanting her wasn't lost on her, but she knew the sight of him alone shouldn't have caused the reaction it did.

Draco was forceful and commanding. A man that knew exactly what he wanted and exactly how to get it, whether it be from other people or just getting it on his own. He'd always been that way; it was that attitude that had often made Hermione roll her eyes at him while they were at Hogwarts. She hadn't exactly imagined what it would be like to have sex with Draco before she'd decided she wanted to have sex with him, but she assumed it would be similar. Then he touched her. Softly. Like he was afraid he might break her. He kissed her like there was nothing he needed more in the world than her. He was commanding and knew what he wanted and how to get what he wanted from Hermione sexually, but in an entirely different way. A tender way.

Draco kissed along her collar bone as his fingers moved to the button of her jeans. “I can rest later.” Draco purred against her neck.

Hermione leaned her head back, fully exposing her neck to Draco as she arched her body into him and wrapped her arms tighter around him. He obligingly kissed her neck as she held onto him, steadying them both enough that he could slip her pants down enough that they fell the rest of the way down her legs. Draco hooked his arm around her waist and lifted her feet from the ground, moving his mouth to her breasts from the height he'd brought her to. Hermione gave a little wiggle and her jeans, and the underwear Draco so kindly pulled down with them, fully removed from her feet allowing her to pull her legs up and wrap them around Draco's waist.

This was all the foreplay either of them needed. Where they normally would take pleasure in slowly getting each other turned on to the point of desperation for the act to start; just seeing one another after so long had made them both desperate enough. Draco lowered Hermione onto the bed beneath him and her legs loosened on him only enough for him to adjust and slide inside her. Her whole body tightened around him at the familiar ease their bodies interlocked. Draco's hands slid down her body as though he was relearning every bone and muscle she had hidden beneath her skin. His mouth moved between her neck and breasts as he gave long, slow thrusts into her.

Hermione dug her nails into his back and bit her lip to hold back from screaming so early into them re-exploring one another. Draco buried himself deep inside her so his body was nearly crushing hers while she ground her hips against him. The spot that Draco typically let his thumb rub intently to make Hermione loose control now being rubbed against by his body and the angle he was sliding his dick in and out of her to match the timing of her grinding hips. Hermione could help herself no longer as Draco began to quicken his movements and she moaned his name loudly.

Draco's grip on her body tightened as he bit lightly at her exposed skin. “Say it again.” He said in barely more than a moan himself into her ear.

She didn't need to be told, she was already on the verge of screaming his name with how good it felt having him inside her again. “Draco." She moaned back to him as she wrapped her arms around his neck to tangle her fingers into his freshly cut hair easier.

“Fuck.” He breathed, moving his body faster and faster into hers.

She was screaming his name now as she pulled at his hair and dug her hips into him so he'd continue rubbing the spot driving her crazy with every reinsertion of his dick. She stopped screaming only because she could no longer catch her breath well enough to do so and pulled Draco's body tighter still onto hers as he moaned loudly into her ear until she finally came. Her whole body shook under Draco as she held him tightly and he quickly continued thrusting into her a few more times before he too began to shake in pleasure with her. He rested the full weight of his body on top of her while they both fought to catch their breath. Hermione stroked his much shorter hair until he mustered enough strength again to slide out of her and roll off so he was laying beside her. She curled up against him in almost the same movement.

Their legs tangled together as Draco conjured a blanket to fall over them. He wrapped his arm around her as Hermione placed kisses on his chest. She looked up at him so see the slightest tear sliding from the corner of his closed eyes. She moved so she was sitting more to look down into his face as she brushed the tear away with her thumb and Draco opened his eyes to see her. She was unsure how to comfort him, what he'd be comfortable with as someone who'd locked away his emotions for so long. She pressed her lips softly into his and he squeezed her body closer to him.

He didn't seem sad when she pulled away, but he seemed unable to stop the tears from falling regardless. “Sorry.” He said, in an almost embarrassed tone as he wiped his face with his free hand.

“Sorry for what? Feeling?” Hermione asked, trying to make her tone lighthearted rather than filled with worry like she now felt.

She'd never seen him cry before, certainly not after sex. He was usually even more smug than anything else. Proud of himself for how many times he could make her orgasm like it was all foreplay for him. He stroked her hair until his fingers found that familiar curl and wrapped it around his finger. “I thought I'd never see you again.” He said finally.

“I told you I'd find you.” She replied back, softly.

“I just still don't understand why you wanted to.” Draco turned his face away from her as if he didn't want to see the answer written on her face.

“I love you. I will always love you. I refuse to accept a life without you, and that's all there is to it.” Hermione said in a finalizing tone and Draco turned back to her with a sad smile on his face.

“It never crossed your mind that you'd have a better life without me?” His smile didn't hold up, but he had at least stopped crying as the conversation took a serious turn.

“Do you…” Hermione's voice broke so she tried starting again. “Do you not want to be with me?”

“Don't be ridiculous. You're the only thing I want in this entire world. I'd rather die than live without you and that should say a lot considering how hard I've tried to stay alive.”

Hermione brushed some of his hair out of his face before she kissed him again. “What did they do to you in there?” She asked softly as she held onto his face.

Draco was quiet a moment as they stared into each other's eyes. “I think they broke me.” He almost whispered to her.

Hermione's entire face darkened hearing that. Voldemort had spent the last decade trying to break Draco into being nothing more than a well trained dog and Draco had withstood. Played the part well enough, but he had remained himself. The Malfoy arrogance was possibly the hardest shell Draco kept around himself to break. It hadn't been on full display, but she'd seen glimmers of it even as his body was broken and she was leading him from a prison cell. The thought that whatever Harry and Ron had been physically doing to him and for whatever information they were trying to get out of him set her blood on fire. She should have killed Harry while she had the chance for what he'd done to Draco. It's what Draco would have done for her. It's what he had done for her; countless times before. Death Eaters died at his hand for her. Pansy Parkinson had died because of what she'd had done to her. Hermione had let her own feelings for Harry and their friendship keep him alive.

And he had broken her husband.

A feat the Dark Lord himself couldn't do. She'd make him beg for his life and her forgiveness the next time she saw him. Beg or she'd show him just how much of a Death Eater she really was. This was her resistance after all. Finding Draco and killing Voldemort were their only goals and anyone who got in the way of that was against them. Harry had gotten in the way of that. Had done something to Draco so immeasurable Hermione couldn't think of a punishment fitting enough aside from death for it.

Voldemort had tortured Draco harder and longer because it pained her to see him that way. She hadn't wanted to admit it to Bellatrix, but she knew it was the truth. She didn't want to think about how just loving him had put him in that sort of danger. Now she was forced to accept it. Loving him had gotten him taken prisoner. Loving him had gotten him tortured in ways Voldemort didn't think to do, that had twisted something inside Draco. She wondered how many times he'd be punished by Ron and Harry just for her being in love with him. How Ron had refused to believe she loved Draco and had probably passed those lies along. Made everyone think he had some spell on her and she needed saving while they beat him and mangled his body for telling the truth. She wasn't going to let anything else happen to her husband because of her.

Chapter Text

Chapter 24

Draco's POV

It was strange being back in his home after being gone for so long. Stranger still having it filled with people. Blaise and Theo hadn't seemed in too much of a rush to move out as soon as Draco had gotten back. Gabrielle Delacour was still being harbored in an upstairs bedroom; he supposed he'd have to deal with that eventually. Bellatrix, though not in the forefront of the houseguests, was still lingering the halls or could be caught in the nursery when everywhere else seemed a little too crowded. Daphne and her family had been the hardest part for Draco to get a grasp on. They'd holed themselves up in a corner together talking for hours before he'd finally stopped scolding her for coming back and accepted that now that she was back he couldn't very well have her leaving again. Then there was his children. Alexia, though much bigger than when he last saw her, he had welcomed with open arms. Missed her almost as much as he had Hermione.

He'd been absolutely terrified to meet his own flesh and blood children, however. He knew nothing of their personalities or if they would cry the moment he was around them. Shy away from him because they couldn't recognize their own father. He'd seen them within Hermione's mind in their shared dreams together, but they hadn't felt as real there as Alexia had. He'd never met them and they'd never met him; when he'd played with them in the dreams it had been things he'd done with Alexia before, but never had the opportunity to do with the twins.

“Stop being a coward.” Theo said bluntly as Draco tried to put off entering the nursery another day.

“I'm not a coward.” Draco said darkly.

“Could've fooled me. Scared of a couple of babies.” Theo retorted.

Blaise smacked him. “Maybe your tough love should go have a time out.” Blaise told Theo pointedly before turning to Draco. “You've been back two days now, it's not going to get any easier the longer you wait. Besides, if you're worried they won't know who you are, Hermione's been showing them pictures of you. Not to mention the portrait Bellatrix made of you. They might know you a lot better than you think they do, mate.”

Blaise pushed Theo away from them to further show he was being unhelpful. Draco sighed. “Wait, what portrait?”

“Don't change the subject. You can stare at yourself later.” Blaise said with an eye roll as he opened the nursery door.

Bellatrix was already in there, seemingly playing with the children. The smile left her face when they entered and she let her guard down just enough that Alexia pelted her with a pile of glitter. Alexia laughed so hard she fell onto the floor and began rolling around in her hysterics. “Now look what you've done.” Bellatrix said in an unamused tone as she glared at them.

Blaise and Draco both pressed their lips into hard lines to attempt falling into hysterics along with Alexia. “Bella sparkle! Bella sparkle!” Alexia was shouting through her laughter.

“She gets that from your wife, you know.” Bellatrix stated at Alexia's thorough enjoyment of Bellatrix's apparent torture.

Draco chuckled slightly. “I don't doubt it.”

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes just enough that Alexia stopped laughing as Bellatrix vanished the glitter from around Alexia and off of herself with one wand movement. “Decided you'd spend some time with the twins, then?” Bellatrix asked and something in her tone made Draco's insides jumble up with guilt.

He couldn't find his voice so Draco only nodded his confirmation. Bellatrix stooped down and lifted Alexia into her arms. “Let's find Uncle Theo and see if he wants to be glitter bombed, shall we?” Bellatrix said to Alexia, who clapped her hands in agreement.

Bellatrix leaned toward Draco so Alexia could grab his face and smush a kiss onto him. Bellatrix took hold of Draco's hand and squeezed it tightly; lovingly in a way that only Draco could decipher from it. “Good to have you back.” She said softly and Draco squeezed her hand back as he smiled at her before she let go of his hand and left with Alexia.

Blaise picked up Ariadne from her crib and cleared his throat to draw Draco's attention to him. “Ariadne, it's time to meet your daddy.” Blaise stated, holding her out toward Draco.

She turned her face toward Blaise in a shy movement as Blaise continued to move her closer to Draco. Draco lifted Ariadne from Blaise's arms and brushed some of her blonde curls out of her face the same way he did with Hermione's. “Hello, ma petite chérie¹.” Draco said to her softly and she instantly smiled at him as she began grabbing his face with her small hands.

“Merlin, she looks just like Hermione.” Draco said to Blaise.

“That's what everyone keeps telling her, but you know Hermione. Never admits to any of her children looking like her. Thinks the blonde hair and your nose negates the fact that the rest of the features identically match hers.” Blaise said with a laugh.

Draco stroked her hair as he examined her in silence for a long moment while Ariadne seemed to be memorizing him as well through touch. Her small hands rubbed along his face, feeling his cheek bones and nose. Passing over his lips and eyelashes. Rubbing with the growth of his pointed eyebrows until her little hands moved into his hair and she stroked that as well. Draco smiled a bit sadly at her as he let her small hand wrap into a fist around his finger and he pressed a kiss against her soft baby skin. Ariadne was about the size and age Alexia had been when Draco had left for Romania and he felt unsure if he should try speaking to the baby more than he had when he first took her in his arms. When she finished her touch inspection of him, Ariadne rested her head against his neck. He winced slightly. He had spent a year without any type of affection, or anyone getting remotely close to the scarring on his neck aside from Hermione.

“Well, I think she approves of you.” Blaise said as he watched Ariadne snuggle further into Draco.

Draco stroked his daughter's blonde curls. “As far as children go, I think I'm probably the most superior at making them.” Draco stated boldly.

Blaise laughed. “Oh, is that right?”

“I think it's pretty obvious. Just look at her.”

Blaise leaned into the second crib and pulled Scorpius out of it. “This one you can take credit for creating. I thought we already agreed Hermione gets full credit for Ari.”

“Would you stop nicknaming my children?”

“No.” Blaise moved toward Draco and reached out for Ariadne, but Draco pulled her away from him ever so slightly. “Draco, it's time to switch.” Blaise's voice turned scolding.

“I only just started holding her.” Draco whined.

“And now it's time to hold your son.” Blaise stated, grabbing hold of Draco's forearm to stop him from moving away again with his free hand.

Draco reluctantly gave Ariadne to Blaise as he passed Scorpius over to Draco. The sensation Draco had looking down into his son's matching grey eyes was strangely overwhelming to him. It was like looking back in time and holding himself. “I never wanted a son.” Draco mused as he ran a long finger softly across Scorpius's cheek.

Blaise didn't respond. He knew Draco well enough to know a partially started thought when he heard one. Draco pushed the little bit of blonde hair Scorpius had to the side as they stoically examined one another. “Malfoys always produce a male; I'm not sure whether that is supposed to be a curse or a gift. Certainly felt like a curse having Lucius as a father.”

“I don't think even Bellatrix could damage you enough to turn you into Lucius. Dare I say, you love too many people to turn that cold.” Draco fixed Blaise with a glare. “Don't worry, I won't spread it around.”

Draco looked back down at Scorpius in his arms, his features softening as his son looked up at him with the same expression mimicked back at him. “Don't worry, Scorpius. Je te protégerai mon petit garçon².” Draco almost whispered as he pet the side of his son's face.

“It's a little scary how much he looks like me, isn't it?” Draco said to Blaise after a long silence.

Blaise chuckled. “Like a tiny replica. I don't know how the Malfoy genes just take control like that. Wait till you see one of his sisters piss him off and he starts brooding. He looks even more like you then.”

Draco smiled at Scorpius with a look of pride, almost, in his features. “A good brooding is good for the soul.” Draco said kissing Scorpius on the cheek.

Scorpius smiled at the affection and wrapped his hand around as many of Draco's fingers that would fit in his fist. After a moment Draco wiggled his fingers free from Scorpius so he could reach out for Ariadne. “Two is a lot to manage, I can hold her for a while.” Blaise said reassuringly.

Draco narrowed his eyes at him. “I want them both.”

“Yes, I can see that, but I've held them both before and it's not as easy as it sounds.”

“Then I guess I'll learn that for myself the hard way.” Draco said, stepping closer as Ariadne started reaching out for his outstretched arm.

Blaise rolled his eyes, but leaned in toward Draco so he could scoop up Ariadne and place her on his other hip. Scorpius reached out and clasped his hand around his twin sister's the moment she was close enough for him to touch. They began wiggling as they held hands conveying some sort of information between one another almost telepathically despite not knowing how to speak. Draco struggled to keep hold of them and saw Blaise smirking at him as he stood leaning casually against one of the cribs with his arms folded triumphantly across his chest. The twins only wiggled more as Draco tried harder to keep his grip on them, laughing when they jolted before Draco caught them from slipping onto the floor.

“Should I get Alexia too, so you can see how hard it is when she decides to cover you in bubbles?” Blaise asked smugly, clearly proud of himself for knowing the difficulty the twins would be for Draco to handle alone.

Draco managed to flip him off. Ariadne seemed to sense the tension between Blaise and Draco and shot an almost reprimanding look at Blaise; if babies could be reprimanding. Blaise opened his mouth to comment on the look only to find his voice seemed to be lost. He got halfway through his sentence before he realized he wasn't hearing his voice; it took Draco even longer as his focus was on keeping his children each positioned on his hips. He looked up to see Blaise flapping his mouth around in a wild attempt to make any sounds, to no avail. Ariadne smiled proudly as she looked from Blaise back to Draco as if checking to see if he too was proud of her accomplishment.

“Did you turn off Uncle Blaise's voice?” Draco cooed at her and she giggled in response, which Draco took as confirmation.

Blaise mouthed something that looked like an explicative to Draco and he merely laughed. The sound of his laughter only fueled Ariadne as she looked back to Blaise and little daisies began to sprout from the top of his well trimmed head. Draco laughed harder and Ariadne joined him, clapping her hands. Scorpius, however, stayed rather stoic now that his twin was showing off her powers and had released his hand. Hermione came in just as Blaise was making threatening motions and mouthing angrily at Draco.

Everyone turned their attention to Hermione when she entered and Blaise began his silent rant in her direction instead. “I'm not giving you your voice back until you stop acting like you're going to be yelling at me.” Hermione said, twirling her wand between her fingers in a more taunting way than Blaise seemed to appreciate. “The daisies are cute though.” Hermione added and Blaise's hand shot to his hair.

Blaise pressed his lips into a hard line to show Hermione he wasn't going to yell. She waved her wand at him and the daisies vanished. “Oh, come on, Theo didn't even get to see those.” Draco whined.

“Lex likes glitter and bubbles; Ari likes daisies; Theo's already seen them.” Blaise said in an unamused tone now that Hermione had given him his voice back.

Draco tried to keep the disappointment from his face at hearing that. Of course Theo had seen them already; Theo had been around, looking after his family just like he'd promised Draco he would. Meanwhile, Draco had missed everything. He didn't even know his own children. Not the way his friends did; not the way Hermione did. Probably not even the way Bellatrix knew them. It filled him with both anguish and rage even thinking about it. Hermione walked up to Draco and ran her hand comfortingly along his back as if she could sense this.

“So then what does Scorpius like?” Draco asked, allowing Hermione to remove Ariadne from his arm in his attempt to not seem hurt by not knowing his children.

Now Blaise looked uncomfortable. Hermione cleared her throat. “Well, Scorpius isn't much of a showoff when it comes to magical talent.” Hermione said, beginning to pace slightly; a tell of her uncomfortableness.

Draco held Scorpius up in front of him to look him straight on into his face. “Is the uncomfortable tension because we're fearing he's a late bloomer or because we're fearing he's a squib?" Draco asked, cocking his head to the side to look at Blaise and Hermione from around Scorpius.

When they only looked at each other with slightly widened eyes Draco chose to speak again. “You know it's pretty advanced for children this young to even be exhibiting magical abilities, right?”

Blaise seemed to be relieved by this information, whereas the look on Hermione's face seemed more confused. “I've only got these children to go off of experience wise.” Blaise stated.

“You're not worried?” Hermione asked as Draco lowered Scorpius slightly and positioned him back on his hip.

“About what exactly did you think I'd be worried?” Draco asked, stroking Scorpius's hair, who offered his father a grin.

“Probably the fact that you have one offspring showcasing magical talent immediately and one that isn’t.” Blaise said bluntly.

Draco gave him an unamused look. “He's healthy and alive. I couldn't care less about anything else.” Draco stated, rocking Scorpius slightly as he swayed reassuringly with his son.

“Less like a Malfoy every day.” Bellatrix said from behind him.

Draco turned to face her as she walked with Alexia holding her hand farther into the nursery. “Thank you.” Draco said with a smirk.

“Stupid boy.” Bellatrix said in a hallow voice under her breath.

"I take it you're done watching Lex then?” Blaise said.

Bellatrix shot him a glare at the use of the nickname as well. She released Alexia's hand and raised the left sleeve of her dress. “Sorry, duty calls.” She said flashing the group her activated mark.

“Doesn't even care that your nephew only just got home from being prisoner.” Hermione said coldly and Bellatrix's glare moved from Blaise to rest on her.

“You should feel lucky he hasn't summoned you back yet.” Bellatrix said threateningly. “And someone should do something about the French being shouted from the third floor before I go and kill that Delacour girl that was supposed to already be dead.” She added before she vanished with a pop.

“Oh fuck. I forgot she was here.” Draco said.

“I wish I could.” Blaise grumbled, seemingly assuming that he was the one having to deal with the French problem.

“Maybe I should talk to her.” Draco said, looking back to Hermione. “You thought she'd be helpful before.”

“I thought Ron would be helpful also and that completely blew up in my face.” Hermione retorted, leading Alexia into the enclosed play area where she sat Ariadne down as well.

Draco made no attempts to put Scorpius down as Hermione looked at him expectantly. “Well, you can't very well be right every time, can you?” Draco said and Hermione looked offended. “I didn't mean it as an insult; I'm sure I've been wrong before as well. I can't remember a time, but I'm sure it's happened.”

Hermione's face turned unamused as Blaise laughed. “There's the cocky bastard we missed.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 25

Draco's POV

Gabrielle Delacour was less than thrilled to see Draco in her bedroom despite the room being bigger than the camp tent of hers that he originally had found her in. She was at least granted her own bathroom which was more than that Paris camp had going for it. She threw just about everything within her reach at Draco and each item bounced off of his protection shield without it so much as flickering.

“If you'd like I can have my house elf bring you more things to throw at me, or we can just simply have a conversation like adults.” Draco said when she failed to lift and heave a lamp and only knocked it over instead of throwing it in his direction.

“Va te faire foutre.¹” Gabrielle said with a glare.

“Joue bien.²” Draco responded and Gabrielle glared at Draco's perfect French spoken back to her.

“I 'ave nuzzing to say to you zat would be nice.” Gabrielle retorted.

“I left my son, who I've only just met two hours ago, to come talk to you. You can't humor me for five minutes?”

“Tu es venu me tuer à Paris.³ Forgive me for not wanting to play zee joke wiz you.”

Draco stared at her for a long moment as she glared back at him. Finally he lowered the protection shield around himself in a show of good faith. “I'm sorry I came to kill you.” He said when Gabrielle couldn't find anything to throw at him now that his protective bubble was lowered.

She never lifted her glare from him. “I do not believe you.” She stated, crossing her arms across her chest.

“Good, you shouldn't. I was just trying to see if saying sorry would change anything. I'm not sorry for keeping myself alive, but I never went to Paris to kill you. Hermione asked me to keep you alive, so my intent was never to kill you. Though, I have a little more respect for people being held against their will now. Would you have preferred dying?” Draco said truthfully.

“Je préfère mourir que de ne rien faire.⁴” Gabrielle said haughtily.

“We have that in common; I just wasn't granted the luxury of choosing which side I fought for.” Draco said, relaxing slightly and leaning against the wall behind him.

“Qu'est-ce que tu attends? Tue-moi déjà.⁵” Gabrielle stood more firmly in place as if Draco would strike her down immediately.

“I told you, I have no intentions to kill you. Je pensais que tu aimerais peut-être m’aider.⁶” Draco said calmly.

“Why would I ever 'elp you?” Gabrielle's tone echoed the offense also showing on her face.

“Because I'm going to kill the Dark Lord and abolish his regime from the inside and that seemed like something you would also enjoy doing.” Draco said in his usual drawl.

Gabrielle's glare turned to a look of suspicion. “Well, zat is somezing I would enjoy.”

“You don't believe I'm being truthful, though?” Draco guessed.

“Why should I?” Gabrielle countered.

Draco thought about this for a moment. “Would it help if I allowed you more freedom than this bedroom?” Draco asked.

“Je ne suis pas intéressé à explorer votre maison.⁷” Gabrielle said in a bored tone.

“I had a different house in mind. Where Luna and Dean were moved.”

“Zey got to leave, but I 'ad to stay 'ere. Pourquoi?⁸”

“It would appear my wife and friends weren't entirely certain you could be trusted either.”

“Tu ne peux pas me faire confiance? Ce n'est pas moi qui prétends tuer les gens et les cacher. Ce n'est pas moi qui ai la marque du seigneur des ténèbres gravée sur mon bras. Mais on ne peut pas me faire confiance? Connerie.⁹” Gabrielle said angrily.

“It's not bullshit. You've been openly volatile against the Death Eaters. I trusted someone else that was close to Hermione and he betrayed her; she was simply not willing to risk it again. Blaise and Theo were just doing what I asked them to do, which was keeping you out of sight because I told the Dark Lord you were dead.” Draco said in the same calm voice he'd been using.

“'Oo else is at zis ‘ouse?" Gabrielle finally asked moving closer to Draco so vaguely Draco almost didn't notice it.

“I haven't seen all of them, but to my knowledge it's a few people Hermione knew from Hogwarts that were still on the resistance side that I doubt you'd recognize by name. Luna and Dean. The Patil twins, newly reunited as of my prison break a few days ago. Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks, as well as their son. I haven't heard of any others being there, but then again Hermione and I haven't been exactly going out of our way to discuss it either." Draco stated, relaxing his position even more in hopes to further reassure Gabrielle of his stance on not killing her.

“You zink 'anging out wiz a group will make me trust you?”

“No, but I think you might enjoy your time more with others. Perhaps you can train some of the others that are less versed in killing Death Eaters than you.”

“I am not a puppet. I will not trust in you because I am around people 'oo do.”

“You'll be in good company because I think only Padma trusts me there. And even that is up for debate.”

Gabrielle gave him an annoyed look that he had interrupted her train of thought. “'Owever, I do trust Luna.” She said as if Draco hadn't spoken.

Draco raised his eyebrows. “Well, that's surprising.”

“You do not trust 'er, yet she leads your safe ‘ouse?”

“I don't need to trust her. Hermione trusts her.” Draco said plainly.

Gabrielle paced alongside her bed before she finally stopped by the foot of the bed; a good distance still between herself and Draco, but significantly closer to him than she had been. “Will I be given different cloze to wear?” Gabrielle asked.

“Can I take that as you agreeing to join forces?” Draco asked in return.

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at him before she walked up to him. Draco stood back up to his full height at Gabrielle in front of him. She outstretched her hand to him, which he shook somewhat reluctantly. “Je dirais que tu as un accord.¹⁰”

“Bienvenue du côté obscur.¹¹” Draco said with a smirk.

He stayed to arrange for Tini to come and take down her measurements for new clothes and a departure date before he had to go back to Death Eater business without interfering with his and Hermione's second wedding anniversary. When that plan was in motion he left Gabrielle to her room again and made his way back down to the nursery where he'd left his children. He found the nursery empty when he arrived there, however.

He wandered through his manor listening for sounds of Hermione or his friends or even his children. He found himself, literally, in the second floor library. Portrait Draco smirked down at him, but the painted version of Hermione beside him perked up enthusiastically.

“What the fuck is this?” He asked the painting.

“Ah, I see they finally decided to find me. About time.” His portrait drawled.

“Who did this?” Draco asked as he examined the quality of the painting more closely.

“Bellatrix.” Hermione's voice said and Draco spun around looking for her only to realize it had come from the painted version.

“Bella painted a portrait of myself and you? That doesn't seem like her.” Draco stated as he looked back at the painting.

Draco had his arms wrapped possessively around Hermione, as if he didn't like the real version of himself speaking to her. “She started it for you, that's why I'm here. Finished it because she knew I was missing you.” Hermione said looking longingly down at him.

“She painted you very well.” Draco said to Hermione's portrait.

“She painted you alright as well.” Hermione's real voice came from behind him.

Draco turned to face her as she walked up and slowly rubbed her hands along his torso before wrapping them around his middle. Draco felt a familiar heat fill his body at the feel of Hermione's touch on his body. “Mmm.” Draco said before he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips moved against his in a more longing way than she had been kissing him recently and he pulled her closer to him, opening his mouth to taste her more thoroughly.

The portrait of Draco behind them cleared his throat. Draco pulled his lips from Hermione's very reluctantly. “Eh; I think he needs some work.” Draco mused about his portrait.

“Because I don't want to watch you kiss my wife?” Portrait Draco asked in an offended tone, tightening his arms around the Hermione he could touch himself.

“Our wife. Technically we are the same person.” Draco said as his hands started moving along Hermione's body. “And if you didn't like that, I suggest you avert your gaze because you're not going to like what I do to her next.”

Draco lifted Hermione effortlessly into his arms as his lips found hers again. She wrapped her arms around his neck so their bodies were pressed tighter together. Draco walked her over to the large overstuffed couch slightly to the side of where they'd been standing, but still very much in display of the portrait on the wall, and he laid her softly onto the couch. Hermione's hands were pulling his shirt up before he even had time to start undressing her himself. Their lips parted so Hermione could remove Draco's shirt and he pulled at her shirt, popping the buttons across the room so he could start placing kisses along her chest. She arched her back into him and Draco smirked against her skin as his hand found her bra clasp and released her breasts from their prison.

“Wait. The doors.” Hermione panted, attempting to remove Draco's lips from her body.

Draco waved a hand over his shoulder and the sound of doors banging closed echoed through the library. Draco's lips were on her stomach as he unfastened her pants and slid them down her thighs, lifting his body just enough to remove the pants fully from her legs. “Did you lock them?” Hermione almost moaned as Draco's hands caressed her thighs.

“Does it seem like I care about that right now, Hermione?” Draco asked before he lowered his mouth to suck on her taut nipples before him.

Hermione did moan this time. “Someone could walk in.” She said, but her body clung to his as if she didn't seem to care either.

“Let them.” Draco growled around her nipple as his hand went up her inner thigh and two fingers slid inside her.

Hermione gasped pleasurably, arching further into Draco's body. He moved his fingers more diligently inside her, kissing her collarbone as she wrapped her hands into his hair. “I love you.” She moaned into his ear.

“I love you.” Draco said back as his fingers continued bringing Hermione closer to orgasm.

She ran her hands from his hair down his back trying to pull at his pants while also keeping herself from losing control. Draco shifted his body slightly to help her remove his pants easier. Hermione bit at his shoulder to stop herself screaming as Draco pulled an orgasm from her before she could even remove his pants fully. He kicked them off the rest of the way and was inside her before her body had even finished shaking from the first orgasm. “I love you.” He whispered again against her ear as he began thrusting into her slowly, letting her legs wrap around his waist.

“Je t’aime.¹²” Draco said with another agonizingly slow thrust and Hermione's legs tightened around him as her fingers wrapped up in his hair again.

“Te amo. Amo você. Te iubesc. Ti amo.¹²” Draco continued in every language he knew spaced between his thrusts and Hermione moaned throatily as she held onto him so tightly barely sweat could move between them.

Draco could feel Hermione's orgasm mounting further with every stroke. She kissed his chest before she threw her head back to expose her neck to Draco in a way she knew would pull his lips to it. “Wait for me.” Draco purred into her neck as he bit lightly at her exposed skin.

Hermione thrust her hips harder against him to quicken the pace he was stroking into her. “I can’t.” She panted, grinding against him in an almost feral way.

“You can.” Draco said, holding her hips still as he threatened to pull out of her. She was pinned below him and he lifted himself just enough to look down into her face. “And you will.” He said, this time more menacingly as he smirked down at her and pushed deep inside her once more.

Hermione screamed out loudly in pleasure and Draco took it as a sign of her agreement. Luckily for Hermione, this reaction only made Draco move into her body faster in a more mission driven way. Hermione began moaning his name the faster Draco stroked into her and he released her hips to let her grind faster against him as they fought to please each other more than the other. Draco moaned into Hermione's neck as she pulled his hair. She let out a a series of consecutive screams before Draco and Hermione gave into one another and came together.

Draco dropped his weight onto Hermione and they panted together on the couch. He kissed her neck softly as her fingers grazed lightly up and down his back. “I didn't know you spoke Romanian.” Hermione mused, brushing back Draco's sweat soaked hair.

“If you tell me after we've just had sex that Viktor Krum told you he loved you, I'll erase that man from your mind without a second thought.” Draco said and Hermione smacked his back.

“I have heard the language before, you know.” Hermione said crossly. “Besides, Viktor spoke Bulgarian.” She added teasingly.

Draco lifted himself out and off of her only to wedge himself between her and the back of the couch, pulling her mostly onto his chest. “You are a menace, Hermione Granger.” Draco said, wrapping his fingers into her curls.

She kissed his chest. “That's Mrs. Malfoy to you.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 26

Hermione wasn't sure how to make the first anniversary she was getting to celebrate with Draco exceptional, but she certainly wasn't about to let it pass without a big to-do. They'd been married two years and she spent a portion of the first year they were married simply using him for sex while debating whether or not she could truly trust him or if she'd still need to kill him. He spent the entirety of their second year married imprisoned minus the few days he'd been back home. It was cause for celebration.

“I don't like parties.” Bellatrix stated when Hermione brought the idea of an anniversary party to her attention.

“Well, it's not really about you.” Hermione stated.

“Yes, but you're bringing the idea to me which implies you want me to attend or worse, help plan. I'd rather not do either.”

“You came with us to get a Christmas tree.” Hermione stated as if this was proof enough that Bellatrix enjoyed family time.

“I knew I should have cursed Nott for setting that up.”

“It's not even a party. It's everyone you already see in this house just getting together.”

“Are you under the impression I would enjoy seeing the people in this house more than I already do?”

“You'll do it, or I'll ward you from this house also and you'll only see the kids on my terms, under my supervision.” Hermione said threateningly.

Bellatrix moved toward Hermione, but she held her ground. “Are you fucking threatening me? Because of a party?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a death wish?”

“I think we both know you're not going to kill me. For starters, you would have done it already if you really were going to. Secondly, neither Draco, nor those kids will ever forgive you if you do.”

Bellatrix glared at her. “What time should I be ready for your stupid fucking party?” She said darkly.

“Around dinner time will be fine.” Hermione said with a smirk.

“I'm not helping you decorate.” Bellatrix warned.

“I'm not asking you to.”

“Has anyone told you, you're more like a Malfoy every day?”

“Several people, actually.” Hermione said with an innocent smile.

Bellatrix glared at her. “By the way, I taught Alexia how to make paint. Have fun.” Bellatrix stated with a smile almost just as innocent looking as Hermione's before she twirled off to her bedroom, flipping her off as she went.

Blaise draped an arm over Hermione's shoulders. “Would it be weird to say that sometimes I really love that woman?” He asked, catching the end of Bellatrix's fuck off dance.

“Yes; it would be extremely weird.” Hermione said with a laugh.

“Oh, come on. Even you've got to admit; sometimes she's not horrible. Amusing even. Once you get past all the crazy.” Blaise said, turning Hermione away from Bellatrix's room down the hall and leading her toward the sitting room they had agreed to decorate for the party.

“All I really can focus on is the madness; you would too if she tried to kill you as many times as she's done me.” Hermione said.

“I need more coffee if you two are already bickering.” Theo said from the couch of the sitting room he was still lying on.

“We're not bickering.” Blaise said, leaning over the couch to kiss Theo in greeting.

“I still need more coffee.” Theo stated when he finally allowed Blaise to pull away from him.

“Shouldn't we do a different sitting room than this one so close to the nursery? It is meant to be a surprise after all; Draco could barge in at any moment.” Hermione said, conjuring Theo another cup of coffee.

“Draco has barely left the nursery or anywhere those children are since he finally caved and spent time with the twins.” Blaise stated, conjuring his own cup of coffee.

“He's spent plenty of time away from them.” Hermione argued.

“Yes, well, aside from having sex with you and sleeping he hasn't left them.” Theo stated, giving Hermione a pointed look.

She flushed profusely. “Alright, well, just to be safe we should start decorating then.”

Theo was there more as a look out and for moral support than the actual task of decorating. He made some attempts to offer insight, which Hermione pretended to take interest in and Blaise blatantly ignored. As far as decorating went, Blaise and Hermione mostly cleared space in the center of the sitting room for dancing. Hermione adorned the walls with oversized copies of her favorite photographs of their wedding. Blaise filled the tables around the walls with vases of roses from the garden they were married in, intermittent with belladonna and asphodel to incorporate Hermione's wedding flowers.

“So, did you get him a gift?” Blaise asked, hovering the couch Theo was still lying on until it was nearly in the hallway.

“What do you get the man who can get anything for himself and already has?” Hermione mused.

“So, you didn't get him a gift then?” Theo asked, walking back in from the hallway Blaise placed him in and vanishing the couch altogether.

“Probably for the best. D hates gifts.” Blaise mused, moving behind Theo to wrap his arms around his waist as Hermione examined the room they'd finished decorating.

“Has he been out to get something for me?” Hermione asked, turning on the couple.

“Not out.” Daphne interjected, as she entered the room and looked around.

“What do you know?” The three of them asked together.

Daphne smirked at them. “And betray the confidences of the man who saved my life?” She said jokingly.

“Oh come off it.” Theo said.

“This place is full of hidden Malfoy treasures. You truly think Draco won't bestow his wife with something on their anniversary? Especially having missed the first one?”

Hermione eyed Daphne suspiciously. “So, you do know something.”

“He's sworn me to secrecy. You know how Draco is.” Daphne said as she admired the photographs.

“A gathering of everyone living in his house isn't going to compare to whatever gift he's found for me.” Hermione complained.

Daphne sighed. “A little help here, boys?” She directed to Theo and Blaise.

“We're not going to be much help.” Blaise said resting his chin on Theo's shoulder.

“All these years haven't made us any less of the nosy sods we've always been.” Theo added.

“You'll like it, if it's any consolation.” Daphne offered, pulling Hermione from her thoughts of what else she could do for Draco.

“Make sure Draco doesn't come in here until Bellatrix makes an appearance again.” Hermione stated, explaining nothing else as she walked off toward the south wing.

Hermione disappeared into the potions room for a long time after that, concocting something secretly and specifically for Draco. She took the two small vials of turquoise liquid and placed them into the front pocket of her jeans before proceeding back to the north wing. She entered their bedroom to find Draco lying casually on their bed, reading a book. He looked up at the sound of the door shutting behind her and simply watched her as she crossed the room.

“What are you hiding?” Draco asked from the bed as Hermione purposefully kept her back to him while digging through her wardrobe.

“Nothing, nosy.” Hermione said, carefully and soundlessly removing the vials from her pocket and hiding them within her wardrobe.

“And I suppose Theo, Blaise, and Daph have all been keeping me quarantined to this area of the house for no reason?” Draco mused, slipping a book mark into his book and placing it on his bedside table.

“You can't just let me surprise you, can you?” Hermione asked turning to face him.

“Hey, I'm just in here reading and minding my own business when I could have been snooping around at what you were planning.” Draco said innocently.

Hermione made her way to where Draco was and leaned down to kiss him. She moved to break away from him, but Draco pulled her down on top of him letting his hands roam along her body. “Who's watching the kids if you've been in here reading?” Hermione asked when Draco moved to kiss her neck instead in an attempt to distract him.

“Daphne and Jonathan took over. Drake and Damien were getting a little too wild with my presence around so I was banished here to await further instructions.” Draco stated, cupping his hands on her ass as he kissed from her earlobe down her neck to her collarbone.

“How long before your little party starts?” Draco asked as he managed to unfasten Hermione's jeans and slide his hands against the bare skin of her butt.

“Not long enough for what you've got in mind.” Hermione said, but she let Draco fondle her a while longer as she kissed him a little more deeply.

Draco moved his face away from Hermione's as he removed his hands from her pants. He licked his lips before tapping her ass a few times to indicate his allowance for her to move off of him. “Alright, go get ready or I'm going to make you miss the party you've been planning.” Draco said huskily.

Hermione pressed her hands into his chest as she straddled him a moment longer. Letting her long hair fall over their faces as she kissed him once more. “Don't worry; there will be plenty of time after the party to see me naked.” Hermione said with a smirk before she got up.

Hermione had bought something of a more private nature for Draco as a gift as well. She hid the lingerie within her towel as she grabbed her other party attire and brought it with her into her's and Draco's bathroom. She took a quick shower before slipping into the lingerie, and pulling her party dress on top. The lingerie had a choker with beading that made it look like beaded straps coming up from her sequined strapless dress. Hermione had bought the dress for this occasion as well, which was why it was much shorter than she usually chose to wear. Where the sequin dress ended near her mid thigh, feathers were sewn into the hem to give the illusion of added length. The dress also had a floor length train that came from the right hip opposed to the back of the dress. Hermione slid her feet into a pair of matching black sequin stilettos while she was still in the bathroom and her curls were dripping on the tiles. She was pretty certain if she bent over or moved even slightly in the wrong direction more than just her ass would be on display for her partygoers.

Hermione returned back into the bedroom just as Draco was slipping into his button up shirt. He'd put back on some of the weight he'd lost being underfed while he was prisoner, but it had done nothing to decrease his muscle definition. Draco had always been muscular, even at Hogwarts. Then he'd had the same leaner muscles that Harry had which made them both some of the fastest seekers on any of the Quidditch teams. Before he'd been held captive he was broader than his sports playing teenage self, but he was still much leaner than Hermione thought he should be comparative to his actual strength. She'd been able to feel his muscles in his chest and stomach as her hands freely roamed over them, but now they protruded from his skin. She could run a finger between each of his abs and trace them if she'd wanted to, they were so defined.

“You were the one who said there wasn't enough time for that.” Draco said when he noticed Hermione's eyes ravaging over his body the same way he often looked at her.

“There's not.” Hermione stated, but her eyes still drifted over his body and her breathing had shallowed.

Draco walked up to her and her hands were instantly on the bare skin of his chest. He slid his hand up her dress and his eyebrows rose in surprise. The lower piece of her lingerie had a covering to seem as if it was a normal thong she was wearing, but, as Draco's hand had just found out, the center and back of the garment was entirely open; giving Draco's fingers free access to her already throbbing center.

“That was supposed to be a surprise.” Hermione said in a shallow voice as Draco's thumb slipped under the barely there fabric covering of the front and played with her while his fingers slid inside her hastily.

“Color me surprised.” Draco said as Hermione's arms wrapped around his neck to pull their bodies closer.

Hermione bent her knee so it brushed against Draco's leg, spreading her legs further apart for his hand to pleasure her more easily. Draco's other hand moved to push his own pants back down, but Hermione caught hold of his wrist before he could manage it. Draco moved his hand between her legs more fervently, as if Hermione needed an example of her desire to have him inside her.

“I'll be quick, I promise.” Draco whispered into her ear, pressing her hand holding his wrist into the large bulge she was stopping him from freeing.

“You don't know how to be quick.” Hermione panted back as Draco's other hand pleaded his case between her thighs.

“So we'll be late then.” Draco said, moving his lips to her neck in hopes she'd forget what she was stopping his wrist for.

“It's our anniversary.” She moaned, tightening her hold on his wiggling wrist as he brought her body closer to the edge with his fingers.

“Exactly, they'll expect us to be late because we were having sex.” Draco's voice had gone from his cocky drawl into an almost pleading tone.

“After.” Was all Hermione managed to get out as Draco freed his wrist to hold her more steadily as his fingers moved quickly in and out of her.

Her arms were back around him and she buried her face in his chest to cover the loud moans Draco was pulling from deep within her body. She could feel the buildup as her body prepared to explode against Draco's hand and forearm at this point. Then, without warning and without letting her orgasm, Draco removed his hand and turned away from her to continue buttoning his shirt in front of their mirror.

“What the fuck?” Hermione panted as she met Draco's eyes in the mirror.

“Sorry, my wife says I can’t.” Draco said, offering Hermione a fake apologetic smile.

Hermione glared at him, but it only made him smile more broadly back at her as he tucked in his shirt and fastened the pants of his suit. “That wasn't exactly what I meant?” Hermione said when the anger of being pulled away from her orgasm so quickly had subsided a little bit.

Draco slipped his tie around his neck and his fingers moved as if on autopilot to tie it in place as he turned to face Hermione head on again. “Oh, I'm sorry. I thought because I wasn't allowed to get off neither were you. My mistake.” Draco said teasingly as Hermione's cheeks began to darken.

Hermione was looking for something to say; some quick comeback to make, but all her mind kept going back to was Draco's fingers touching her and the quiver between her legs at just the thought erased any snide remarks she might make from her mind. “Shall we?” Draco said when Hermione still hadn't spoken, offering her his arm as he smirked down at her.

Chapter Text

Chapter 27

The so called party was simply the other two couples of the house standing in the decorated sitting room awkwardly and Bellatrix trying to blend into the darkness of the corner of the room nearest the bar Blaise had set up when Draco and Hermione joined them. A round table appeared in the center of the room that had originally been cleared out for dancing and more food than any of them could eat began filling the table. It only took everyone a few moments to smell the food before they began seating themselves around the table. Draco caught hold of Bellatrix's forearm as she made to sit as far from anyone else as possible and pulled her into the open seat on the side of him that Hermione wasn't filling. She groaned to show her annoyance at even being included, but surprisingly she looked almost pleased to sit down near her nephew.

“I haven't properly thanked you for all you've done.” Draco said as he poured Bellatrix a large glass of wine.

“Draco, don’t.” Bellatrix said, taking down half the glass of wine in one gulp as if that would make Draco stop talking.

“You didn't have to do all that; the blood magic.” Draco continued. “Thank you."

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “I promised your mother. Luckily for you, your wife actually loves you. Believe me, I had nothing to do with that.”

Draco's hand gently brushed along Hermione's hair. She moved her hand onto his thigh and smiled at him as his hand stroked her cheek. “No, I suppose you didn’t.” Draco said softly, giving Bellatrix's hand a squeeze before leaning in closer to Hermione.

“Will Tini be alright over seeing five children?” Daphne asked placing a hand over the glass her husband was trying to pour wine into.

“I've volunteered my house elf to help her.” Bellatrix stated blandly.

“Janper is here and you didn't even tell me?” Draco said in a false offended tone.

“Unlike you, I don't fawn over my servant.” Bellatrix said, finishing the rest of her wine and setting her glass back down; at which point her cup refilled itself.

Daphne moved her hand and let Jonathan fill her glass. Blaise did the same with his glass and Hermione's that was on the opposite side of Theo. Theo and Draco, however, had much shorter glasses filled with some of Draco's oldest, most expensive firewhisky. Draco noticed, but chose to ignore it, Hermione gathered, for celebratory reasons. The seven of them ate and made conversation amongst themselves, even Bellatrix occasionally. They filled up on food and liquor and laughter for a few hours before Draco drew everyone's attention to himself and Hermione.

“First of all, on behalf of my wife and I, I'd like to thank you all for being here. I know it's been absolutely torturous for Bella and life risking for Daph and Jon, but it's appreciated. Being prisoner for nearly a year made me realize how much I should have made a spectacle of our marriage.” Draco turned his attention down to Hermione from where he stood beside her.

“The first time, that is.” Draco said as he sank to his knees beside Hermione.

“What do you mean? The first time?” Hermione asked, taken aback by the way Draco had turned his attention onto her.

Draco pulled out a small box and Hermione caught Bellatrix rolling her eyes behind him. “I mean, I want to marry you every chance I can get for as long as I'm alive.” He opened the box to reveal a very old looking yellow gold navette shaped diamond clustered ring. One large diamond was in the center surrounded by twenty-four smaller diamonds set into the navette shape. One diamond on either side of the navette was inlayed into the band. Draco took hold of Hermione's right hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of her hand. He slid the ring onto her right ring finger.

“Hermione Granger-Malfoy, will you marry me forever?” Draco asked.

Hermione fought back her tears as she leaned forward and pressed her lips into Draco's. “Forever.” She said as she pulled away and examined the ring he'd just given her.

“To the Malfoys.” Blaise said, raising his glass to them as Draco sat back in his seat; the rest of the table followed suit.

“Another Malfoy heirloom?” Hermione guessed as she ran a finger over the diamonds of her newly gifted ring.

“It's a Black heirloom, actually.” Bellatrix stated and everyone besides Draco attempted to hide their shock.

“This ring was your mother’s?" Hermione asked Draco.

Again Bellatrix answered. “My father's actually. Passed down from Phineas Nigellus Black himself. The sons were to give it to their wives to pass on to their sons. It was supposed to end up in Sirius's family, however, our great-grandfather took possession of it instead; passing it on to my father's father, who in turn gave it to my father. Having only produced daughters, it's been in my possession until I gave it to Draco a few days ago.”

“Told you she was a softy.” Blaise whispered into Hermione's ear, in hopes Bellatrix wouldn't overhear him.

“Thank you.” Hermione said, meeting Bellatrix's dark eyes.

“Don't get mushy about it.” Bellatrix said, her eyes flashing to the ring on Hermione's finger. “I'm not officiating these weddings that you'll be having until the end of time, by the way.”

Draco laughed. The sound of it seemed to clear the tension that had been surrounding the room. “Of course not, Bella. Someone has to be the flower girl."

Daphne and Theo both clasped a hand over their mouths to stop from spitting their drinks across the table and stifle their laughter. Bellatrix glared hard at Draco as Blaise snickered softly beside Hermione. Jonathan, not having spent quality time with Bellatrix as he was a muggle and she considered him to be beneath her, didn't find it nearly as funny as the rest of the table. “You wish.” Bellatrix said tartly.

Theo waved his wand and music filled the room. “I believe I was promised a party.” He said pulling Blaise and Daphne both to their feet.

Jonathan followed his wife to his feet. Draco pulled Hermione and Bellatrix to their feet with him as well. The table and the food vanished and Bellatrix promptly returned to her corner by the bar. Hermione let Draco scoop her into his arms and sway softly with her to the music as his hands felt her up. As they spun Hermione noticed Blaise and Theo attempting to make conversation with Bellatrix at the bar. Daphne and Jonathan, however, had joined them in dancing to the slow tempo music Theo had conjured up.

Hermione felt Draco's lips beside her ear as he pulled their bodies closer together. “Bella asked me to give you that ring.” He said softly.

“Oh, stop teasing her.” Hermione retorted, smacking his shoulder softly.

Draco kissed her earlobe. “I'm not teasing her. I told her I needed something fit for the love of my life. She gave me the ring. Said you'd earned it.”

“If you're just trying to wind me up now, I'll be withholding sex for a very long time.” Hermione warned.

Draco chuckled against her as he kissed her neck. “I've got better ways to wind you up, my love.” He said, kissing her jawline.

Theo appeared over Draco's shoulder before Hermione could comment on the matter. “Hate to interrupt.” Theo said, gliding Hermione into his own arms and away from Draco. “But we may have upset Auntie Bella and now Blaise requires your assistance.”

Hermione caught sight of Blaise in Bellatrix's grip as Theo continued moving Hermione further from Draco. “What did you say to her?” Hermione asked Theo as Draco moved quickly across the room to save his friend.

“What makes you think it was me? Blaise is the one getting manhandled.” Theo said, spinning to check that his fiancé hadn't been murdered.

“Because you are slinky enough to evade her grasp.” Theo gave her an offended look and refrained from answering until Draco was coaxing Bellatrix onto the makeshift dance floor.

“Blaise may or may not have dared me to ask her if she would be our flower girl as well.”

Hermione laughed. “I'm honestly surprised the both of you are still alive.”

“So am I. Blaise only is because I sent D to save him, I think.” Theo said with a chuckle.

“Truly lucky to be taking you as his husband.” Hermione said sarcastically.

“Would you mind telling him that? He seems to have forgotten.”

“What with you leaving him for dead in Bellatrix's clutches; I can't see why he'd have forgotten.”

Theo gave Hermione a cross look. “Perhaps I'll go dance with Daphne instead.”

“Daphne is judging you just as much as Hermione is.” Daphne said as she and Jonathan danced past Theo and Hermione.

“Blaise is looking pretty good right about now, isn't he?” Hermione asked.

Theo didn't answer, instead he just stopped dancing and began leading Hermione toward the bar where Blaise had been left standing. Draco caught Hermione's hand as they passed him. “Where are you going?” He asked, stroking his thumb against her wrist.

“We're having a drink. Don't worry, you'll be able to stare at her just as easily when she's over there.” Theo said, tugging Hermione from Draco again.

“Oi! If Blaise drops anything, do not pick it up!” Draco called to her as she and Theo crossed the room.

Hermione laughed, but stopped when she saw the look on Theo's face. “Actually, I second that.” Theo said as he looked Hermione up and down.

“You little tosser.” Blaise said as Theo and Hermione joined him. “I can't believe you left me here to deal with the wrath of Bella. I might kill you yet.”

Theo pressed his lips into Blaise's and then his body into him. It took a moment, but Hermione saw Blaise's features soften the more of Theo was pushed against him. He ran his hands along Theo's back before he wrapped his arms around Theo the same way Draco often did with Hermione. Like they were meant to be in each other's arms. Hermione took the liberty to get herself a drink before she turned to lean against the bar to watch her new friends and husband dancing.

She'd almost forgotten to worry about what Voldemort might have them do once Draco's first week home was over. She'd almost forgotten they still needed a plan to destroy the horcruxes and Voldemort. That Harry and Charlie would probably be trying to find them soon, possibly to fight them or destroy them. That Draco still needed to move Gabby into Black Manor. That Draco would undoubtedly want to confirm that the people Hermione had kept alive wouldn't betray them the first chance they got the way Ron had. Ron, who was dead now; something she and Draco had also avoided speaking about along with so many other things. Hearing Draco admit that Harry and Ron had broken him had disturbed her so deeply she hadn't brought herself to bring it up again. Couldn't stomach the idea of hearing more about the pain Draco had suffered while he was gone, but in doing so it had kept an entire year unspoken between them.

Draco had started acting like his normal self again and Hermione allowed herself to believe she'd possibly just dreamt that whole interaction. It was easier on her that way. It seemed easier on Draco that way as well. But it hadn't been easier; not really. It had shown up in the way Draco barely wanted her out of his sight, the way he interacted with their children, the way he put his trust in Gabby just to have another killer to count on. It was in the way he grabbed her hand as Theo simply walked her across the room. It wasn't the Malfoy possessiveness; it was fear. An all consuming fear that he would lose her again. That maybe she would realize he was the person Harry and Ron believed him to be and she'd take their children and vanish before he could ruin them the same way he'd been ruined.

“I hope you two aren't planning to upstage our wedding.” Blaise's voice brought Hermione out of her thoughts and she realized Draco was no longer dancing with Bellatrix, but was standing beside her.

Hermione's eyes refocused as she looked up at Draco before pulling him against her. “Thought maybe you were lost in there.” Draco said softly, twisting a long curl around his finger in a way that seemed to calm her now just as much as it calmed him.

Hermione sighed a little sadly. “Not lost, just thinking.” She responded.

“Oh, it's fine, just completely ignore me. I wasn't even talking.” Blaise said sarcastically.

“No one's going to overshadow our wedding. Not like you haven't had enough of them already.” Theo said reassuringly so Hermione and Draco wouldn't have to take their attention off each other.

“The faster you two excuse yourselves the faster I can leave. Not that I want to think about my nephew having sex even more than I'm already forced to with the way you two insist on letting the whole house know when it's happening; but I do want to leave.” Bellatrix said in a bored tone.

Hermione hadn't realized she'd placed herself back into the corner nor that Daphne and Jonathan were making drinks behind the bar counter. Maybe she had gotten lost in her own mind for a moment. Bellatrix's comment took a moment for Hermione to fully process before her face started to turn pink.

She turned on Draco. “You haven't been using silencing charms?” She asked in an appalled tone.

Draco smirked down at her as he shrugged. “Oops.” Hermione's face turned a darker shade of red.

“Don't worry.” Daphne said, placing a hand comfortingly on Hermione's. “The rest of us put noise blocking spells on our rooms.”

"Yes, however, it would be nice to use a library you haven't fucked in.” Bellatrix said coolly.

“Third floor library still has its innocence.” Draco joked back at her. "I think."

“I suddenly would like to be anywhere else right now.” Hermione said.

“You heard her, party's over.” Bellatrix said moving from her dark corner and leaving the room before anyone had time to stop her.

“Well, that just feels a little anticlimactic, ending it that way.” Draco mused.

“Party might be over for Misery Queen, but I have a running bet with Daphne that I can drink more than her before passing out. So, the party's only just begun for us.” Blaise said, taking the shot Daphne had just poured him while she took the one in her hand as well.

“You've had that bet since we were fourteen.” Draco pointed out.

“You've been losing that bet since we were fourteen.” Theo added under his breath so that Blaise could easily ignore it.

Daphne smirked. “This time it's double or nothing.” Blaise said in a tone that suggested his honor was being questioned.

Draco rolled his eyes. “That's what you said fifth year and Daphne had to help me carry you back to the dorm.” Draco said, showing the little faith he had in Blaise to accomplish this task.

“Not this time.” Blaise said stubbornly.

Draco and Daphne shared a look and Hermione felt her cheeks reddening again, but less from embarrassment this time. “You want a cut?” Daphne finally asked.

“You know I'm not the betting type. However, that being said; yes.” Draco replied and Blaise flipped him off.

“No one here will judge you if you two run off to have sex. To be honest, I think I speak for most of us when I say we thought it'd be happening a lot more often than it has been.” Theo said as Blaise and Daphne took another shot.

Draco squatted to wrap his arms around Hermione's thighs, lifting her as he stood back up so her ass was pressed into his chest. Blaise tilted his head in an attempt to look up Hermione's dress now that her ass was more eye level. Theo and Daphne both smacked him, while Jonathan moved to block Hermione from Blaise's line of sight.

“You don't have to tell me twice.” Draco said as he started carrying Hermione out of the room.

“Wait.” Hermione said, but Draco didn't stop.

“Say 'goodnight' everybody.” Draco said loudly to the group he was walking them away from.

“Goodnight everybody!” Everyone called together, waving at Hermione as Draco got further into the hallway, chuckling to himself at the stupid joke his friends had made.

“Okay; goodnight, I guess.” Hermione said back, but everyone had turned back to their drinks.

She felt Draco's hand slide up the front of her dress and rest on her stomach. “I hope this dress wasn't expensive.” He said as they got closer to their bedroom.

“Not really. Why? Do you not like it?” Hermione suddenly felt self conscious about her choice in attire.

“No, I'd just hate to ruin it if you'd spent a lot of money on it.” Draco said simply.

“Ruin it?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are you ruining it if you like it?” Hermione asked as Draco set her down in front of their bedroom door.

He opened the door behind her and pushed her inside the room with his body, kicking the door closed behind them. “Because I've been picturing ripping it off you since I first saw it on you.” He said in that raspy voice that always indicated how turned on he truly was.

Chapter Text

Chapter 28

Draco's hands grabbed the bottom of Hermione's dress and he pulled slightly. The seams started popping immediately. “Wait! Your present!” Hermione said, practically shoving Draco away from her.

“If you stop me from having sex with you one more time, I'm not marrying you next year.” Draco said in a more serious tone than Hermione liked hearing when she assumed he was joking.

Hermione threw him a dirty look before opening her wardrobe and retrieving the two vials of turquoise liquid. Hermione uncorked one of the vials and pricked her finger with a small needle. She dropped one droplet of blood into the vial and swirled it as Draco now watched her very curiously. She brought it closer to him and waved it in front of Draco's face slowly so he could smell the scent wafting out of the vial. The bulge in his pants instantly grew more than it already had been.

Draco wet his lips. “Was it something about my trying to rip your dress off that made you think I'd need an aphrodisiac potion?” Draco asked with a smirk.

“I thought it would be fun if we both took these aphrodisiac potions I made customized for us to see how much more we could enjoy each other's company.” Hermione responded with a smirk as she took Draco's hand and pricked his finger as well; placing a droplet into the second vial.

“Mrs. Malfoy, did you create a party drug as my anniversary present?” Draco's voice sounded impressed.

“Yes; along with what's under this dress.” Hermione said saucily and Draco bit his lip as Hermione passed him the vial she'd placed her drop of blood inside.

Draco tipped the potion into his mouth and Hermione did the same. Draco's pupils dilated as Hermione moved closer to him. He took her dress in his hands again as he pressed closer to her body. “Can I rip it off now?” Draco asked as Hermione's body tensed up against him.

“Please.” She said eagerly as the effect of the potion took control of her body.

The sound of her voice caused a feral reaction to come from Draco as he ripped through her dress like it was made of paper. Sequins flew across the room. Draco's face scrunched up in pleasurable agony as he looked at the other gift Hermione had given him. He'd found the crotchless panties earlier, but he clearly had not been expecting the full display of her breasts. The beaded straps that had looked to be a halter for her dress, were attached from the choker around her neck to the band beneath her breasts. It formed a type of triangular looking harness and matched well with the diagonal straps across her butt to hold her underwear in place.

Hermione barely had time to do a little twirl for Draco to fully show off her body on display from the lingerie before she felt Draco's hands pulling her thighs closer to him. His mouth was covering one of her breasts within the same moment, flicking his tongue against her nipple as he sucked and his hands left her only to pull his own pants off. Draco gave a surprised gasp of a moan against her breast when Hermione's hand found him before his could find her. He'd been ready for her since before the party had even started, but as Hermione stroked her hand along his erection he seemed to stiffen and grow even more.

Not to be outdone, Draco slid his fingers inside her with ease from the lack of cloth in his way; trailing his mouth slowly up her neck. Everything about the way Draco touched her felt brand new under the aphrodisiac potion. She came quickly and unexpectedly against Draco's fingers and he gave a smug laugh. Hermione felt the urge to chastise him for laughing, but a new wave of ecstasy washed over her as Draco lifted her leg so her knee was hooked in the nook of his elbow and he lifted her slightly; carrying her away from the bed. She moved to grab hold of him again, but he was holding her at an awkward angle as he kept moving her; fingers teasing her the entire time.

He set her down on the reading nook, but did not release her leg from his arm as his other hand moved from inside her to spread her legs widely for him. Hermione moaned expectantly; the need to feel him deep within her piercing her very bones. However, it wasn't a cock she felt sliding easily into her; it was Draco's tongue. He'd buried his face between her legs, letting his nose flick against her as he sucked and wiggled his tongue inside her. Hermione gripped tightly onto his hair, pressing his face harder into her grinding hips. She met his eyes and saw the immeasurable heat of desire had practically liquified his grey eyes into a shiny platinum as he, too, pulled her hips harder into his mouth. Hermione's entire body arched up as she came again, but Draco didn't so much as move for air.

Instead he simply slid two of his fingers inside as he removed his tongue to suck more thoroughly on her. Hermione called out his name three, four, five times; louder and louder before she felt like all the air had left her lungs and there was nothing left but the feel of Draco effortlessly bringing her to completion time and time again. By the time Draco removed his mouth from between her legs they were shaking so hard she could barely control her own movements. She watched Draco slide the knot out of his tie before he pulled her hands to his shirt as a form of instruction to undress him. Even Hermione's hands shook as she clumsily undid his buttons and tried to catch her breath. She pushed his shirt off his shoulders and rubbed her fingers firmly into his skin.

The aphrodisiac potion might have been making it that much easier to orgasm, but there was nothing needed to turn her on when she could feel Draco's skin under her palms. She wondered if touching Draco would ever not make her stomach flip and heat swell up between her thighs; she hoped not. He half stood, leaning over Hermione so she could push his shirt further off his arms, their mouths finding each other. He kissed her and Hermione parted her lips for him, rubbing her tongue along his bottom lip before his lips parted for her as well. His tie was still in his hand as he rubbed the silk up her body as his hands roamed over her. He pulled away from her to sit back on the nook and pulled Hermione with him. He took hold of her wrists and wrapped his tie around them, binding them together and then slid them to rest around his neck as he smirked at her.

Hermione kissed him in response; her hands free enough that she could still wrap her fingers in his hair. He lifted her further onto his lap until she finally felt him sliding inside her as he lowered her slowly along the length of him. Hermione moaned loudly and Draco lifted and lowered her back down against him again. This time it was Draco moaning. Hermione clenched her thighs against Draco's hips so she was held in place with Draco deep inside her and he moaned again at the shifted power dynamic of her holding herself in place. Her hand wrapped tightly into his hair, pulling his head back slightly so they were eye to eye once more. He seemed adamant not to blink as Hermione stared into those pools of platinum, all the while slowly thrusting her hips so that she could feel Draco's dick on every place he loved to touch between her legs that drove her wild.

Draco's hands gripped her thighs, moving them slowly to her ass, then up her back where he pulled her closer to him. Hermione pressed her lips into the scarab tattoo on Draco's neck, kissing the silver scar that creased through the black ink there. Hermione felt Draco's finger tips press into her back in a show of his enjoyment, so she kissed his neck again; and then again, until Draco's hands were back on her hips moving her body hard along his cock.

“Don't leave me again.” Hermione whispered into his ear to stop herself from screaming it.

Draco sat up straighter so their chests were pressed against one another's and he kissed her neck. “You have my word.” He whispered back, moving his lips to her earlobe.

They moved together with more urgency now, Hermione's bound wrists around Draco's neck keeping their faces close together. Hermione pressed her forehead into Draco's and he moved his face upwards slightly to kiss her lips between his heavy breathing. They were getting close; Hermione could feel it in the way Draco thrust beneath her as she ground her hips against him.

“Don't leave me.” Hermione said again, in a louder moan this time.

The aphrodisiac potion made getting off easier, but it made it harder for her to bury her fears within her void. Feeling Draco's body against hers, moving inside her, kissing her; all of it just kept making her fear even more that he might disappear again. That at any second he could be gone and she'd be without him again. It was a depressing thought to keep invading her mind while they were having sex, but saying the words at least kept her from crying mid-act. If it was bothering Draco, he wasn't showing it. He only gripped her more tightly and put his lips on the places of her skin nearest his mouth when the words escaped her mouth again.

Hermione pulled at Draco's hair again as she too threw her head back in pleasure. Their bodies moved quickly together, needing to fill each other's every desire. He turned his head to the side and his lips met the burned mark of her left forearm. Hermione let out a gasp in the unexpected softness being given to the mark she only associated with pain. He kissed it again as they both inched closer to losing control.

“I will never leave you.” Another kiss against her dark mark. “You're mine.” Hermione moved more frantically atop him. “Mine. Forever.”

Hermione moaned loudly as she clung even tighter onto Draco's body and she vibrated with orgasm on his lap. Draco took hold of her hips and lifted her to more effectively stroke inside her four more times before he too was clutching onto Hermione's body as his own orgasm overcame him. Draco reached back and tugged at his tie, freeing Hermione's wrists from their silk binding. He waited only a moment before he was wrapping her legs around his waist and standing up from the reading nook. Hermione widened her eyes at Draco's movement, unable to believe it was possible for him to go another round quite that quickly after just finishing. Draco seemed to guess as much and chuckled.

“Just moving to the bed where I can hold you more comfortably.” Draco said, placing a kiss on her collar bone.

He sat Hermione onto the bed and she adjusted herself as Draco moved to slip off her harness-like lingerie until she was entirely naked and he slipped into bed beside her, pulling her body against his. Hermione curled around his body, legs tangling with Draco's under their blanket as she rested her head against his chest. She placed a kiss on his chest as he slowly stroked her hair.

“How long does that potion last, anyway?” Draco asked.

“Not sure.” Hermione said, stifling a yawn as her fingers traced the dragon head tattoo on his chest as she so often did while she laid against him. “Why? Is this turning you on?”

Draco pinched her on the butt. “Everything about you always turns me on.” His voice was a bored drawl despite his previously annoyed gesture.

“Liar.”

“I'd offer to prove it to you, but I was under the impression you were too tired to fuck again.”

Hermione pinched him this time. “If you had as many orgasms as I just had consecutively, you'd be tired too.”

“A simple thank you would suffice.” Draco teased.

Hermione pressed herself up so she could look down at Draco's face. She kissed him delicately. “Thank you.” She said as they pulled apart, before moving back down to lay on his chest.

Chapter Text

Chapter 29

Draco's POV

Draco had one day left before Death Eater responsibilities would be thrust back onto his shoulders. He wanted to spend it in bed with Hermione, but had plans to move Gabrielle to Black Manor. Hermione offered to join him, however, Draco wanted to see how her self-titled resistance would react to him without her presence. He assumed there would be backlash, but he was naturally curious to see if any of them would present a more prominent threat if Potter showed up to ruin yet another of his plans. Which Draco was fairly certain he would after Hermione broke him out of their prison and he ruined all the work they'd put into building a new prison in Romania. And if Potter didn't, surely at least Charlie would; if not to avenge his brother, at the very least to save his girlfriend

Gabrielle, surprisingly, didn't release Draco's hand as soon as their feet touched down in the oversized grounds of Black Manor. Unlike, most the guests here, Draco had forewarned Gabrielle that he would have to preform a small bit of blood magic on her; especially since she was a known escape artist, even from her family. He had assumed she might try to run the moment they got within the boundaries of Black Manor; perhaps she'd assert physical violence to get away from him. She was fairly lethal, after all. Even those worries couldn't keep Draco's grip tight on her, though, as he stared at his mother's childhood home. A place she hated so much she'd barely even spoken to him about and certainly had never brought him to. Gabrielle must have been shocked as well because she became almost frozen to the spot just as Draco had been. Their hands still clasped together from Draco apparating them there.

“Zis place is ‘uge.” Gabrielle said finally.

“I have a feeling it's even bigger once you get inside.” Draco said blandly; there was very little that impressed him about his familial bloodlines.

“Incroyable.¹” Gabrielle breathed.

“I suppose.” Draco's tone suggested the opposite of Gabrielle's amazement. “I'd rather get the magic bit done out here, where lingering eyes aren't going to jump down my throat about what a horrible person I am; if it's all the same to you.”

Gabrielle gave a curt nod, but said nothing. Draco pulled out a folded up corner of parchment that Hermione had scribbled on to it the blood magic spell she'd used on the others. He winced slightly knowing that the magic he trapped her in Malfoy Manor with had truly been her inspiration for it, though in true Hermione fashion this spell was a lot more gentle than the one he had used. Draco slid the dagger from the sheath he kept around his thigh whenever he dared leave Malfoy Manor now and turned Gabrielle's hand over in his own to prick her finger. The magic itself was easy enough considering how much experience Draco had in blood magic.

“What is zat?” Gabrielle asked as Draco finished the spell.

He looked back toward the manor where Gabrielle was pointing. A crowd had started forming outside the front door; even in the distance Draco could feel their eyes on him. “It’s a welcoming party.” Gabrielle said, but there was a hint of questioning in her voice as Draco released her hand from his own.

“Or an ambush.”

Gabrielle looked appalled that anyone would ambush her, then a realization set in. “Oh, right, for you. Zat makes sense.”

“Guess we should go find out which.” Draco stated as he began walking toward the group without checking to see if Gabrielle was following him.

It seemed the entire residence of Black Manor had come to witness Draco's arrival. Luna was waving exaggeratedly as Dean seemed to be hiding his face in embarrassment at Luna's welcome. Katie Bell focused a glare on him; he hadn't expected much else from her. Susan Bones looked as if someone had forced her to be amongst the crowd, most likely Zacharias Smith who stood beside her looking as pompous as ever. Padma smiled meekly at Draco from Parvati's side; Parvati didn't share her twin's enthusiasm at seeing Draco and only continued smoking the cigarette she'd taken a drag off of when Draco met her gaze. The Lupin family stood slightly disjointed from the rest of the group. Tonks, the cousin he'd never actually met prior to his first encounter with Black Manor, was waving away some of Parvati's cigarette smoke. Her hair was an annoying shade of pink, bordering on the color Alexia had accidentally changed Hermione's hair color to what felt like ages ago now. Remus Lupin stood with his arm around her, more for support than anything else it seemed at this moment. Draco was surprised his old teacher had managed the recovery speed to be within the crowd so soon after the full moon; the fresh cuts were healing quickly thanks to Padma, no doubt. A blue haired boy hid slightly behind them, occasionally peaking his head around one of his parent's legs to see what all the commotion was about.

Draco stopped a fair distance in front of the group; he was just as unsure of them as they were of him. Gabrielle, however, walked further in front of him. Straight up to Luna, in fact, and wrapped her arms around Luna's shorter frame. “Gabby! I've been wondering when you'd join us!” Luna said, ceasing her waving to hug Gabrielle as well.

“Apparently I am a flight risk.” Gabrielle said nonchalantly as she released Luna. “Can I choose my own room?” She asked, drawing everyone's attention back to Draco.

Draco made a face of unbotheredness. “La maison de ma tante est ta maison.²” He offered as his only response and Gabrielle flitted away into the house.

Apparently, she'd decided the group was for him. “Hello, Draco.” Luna's airy voice drifted across the grounds after a moment of silent staring.

“Don't just say hi to him, Luna! He might be here to kill us for all we know!” Zacharias scolded.

Luna laughed and Draco was thankful to have everyone's attention off of him for a moment. “Why would he have brought Gabby here then?” Luna chuckled.

“Yeah, Smith; why don't you can it for a change.” Dean said, but Draco could tell it was in solidarity with Luna rather than actual faith Draco wasn't here to take them all out.

“What do you have to say for yourself then?” Katie asked, moving forward slightly so Draco's eyes focused back on hers.

“Hello. As you can see I am Draco Malfoy. Those of you who've seen me fight should know if I wanted you dead, you'd be dead already.” Draco stated and Padma noticeably rolled her eyes.

“Not helping, Malfoy.” She muttered from the crowd.

“Minus the kid.” Draco added as if that was going to make this encounter any less uncomfortable. “Kid would always get a pass.”

“How honorable.” Tonks said in a low voice.

“I've been expecting you to show up, so I thought I'd gather everyone so we could know a little more about your plan. Maybe I shouldn't have sprung a crowd on you just yet.” Luna said, trying to ease some of the tension.

“Crowd's never made him skittish before.” Zacharias chimed in and Susan elbowed him in the ribs.

“He wasn't locked in a cramped cell getting the shit beat out of him most times he had human contact before.” Padma said harshly, moving toward Zacharias, but Parvati caught hold of her twin's arm and held her in place beside her.

The Lupins made a face of distaste, like Padma was mistaken about Draco's time as a prisoner. “I'm fine, Luna. I just wasn't expecting to see everyone all at once.” Draco stated.

“Do you really think you can stop You-Know-Who?” Susan asked quietly.

“Yes.”

“How?” Katie interjected.

“I can't really get into the details of that.” Draco said vaguely and several of the people before him scoffed.

“He's made an unbreakable vow. If he speaks about certain aspects of his plan he'll die and what good will all of this have been then?” Remus said, standing more firmly in place as the younger people around him quieted.

“How do you know that?” Zacharias spoke out.

Of course it was Zacharias. Merlin, that guy sucks. Draco found himself thinking. “Hermione informed me of the entire plan and then some. Frankly, I don't think that is necessarily relevant. You either trust Hermione or you don't. If you don’t, kindly stay in your room the next time we're meant to be building trust in her husband.” Remus said in that authoritative way of speaking he'd used as a professor.

It wasn't a tone that instilled fear like Snape’s had done to so many, nor one overly stern as McGonagall’s had been. It was a tone of someone who knew more than his years on earth should have allowed him to know. It was calm, but that wild edge of his werewolf form that always hid beneath the surface lingered on his words. Zacharias made a face as if he was going to argue, but caught the way the group was looking at him and crossed his arms in a huff instead.

“I'm not getting buddy, buddy with the murderer. Not even sure I do trust Hermione; I didn't exactly have a choice in coming here.” Zacharias stated, sticking his nose in the air.

Draco pressed his lips into a hard line to keep his temper from taking control. “Yes, Zacharias, we all think Hermione should have killed you too, but here we are.” Parvati said, flicking her cigarette directly at him as she pulled out another and glared at him.

Draco coughed to cover his chuckle. “That's enough, Parvati.” Remus said.

“Perhaps, you'd like to be locked to your bedroom then?” Dean chimed in, turning to face Zacharias. “Malfoy's got a superb talent for that.”

“Zat is true.” Gabrielle said as she rejoined the group wiggling between Padma and Parvati where she pulled a cigarette from Parvati's pack, placed it in her mouth, and leaned forward to light it with the cigarette Parvati was in mid drag on.

Parvati's eyes widened slightly in surprise and Draco saw a smirk on Gabrielle's lips before she inhaled deeply on her freshly lit stolen cigarette and turned her attention away from Parvati as if nothing had happened. “I didn't come here to lock anyone in their rooms. Though, admittedly, it does seem Zacharias needs it. I know the vast majority of you don't trust me. Believe it or not, but I don't trust you either. I thought perhaps if we spent some time together the trust might form on both ends; it would certainly make things a hell of a lot easier in the long run.”

“Let me get this straight, you just want to hang out with us? How desperate for friends is this guy?” Again Zacharias was unable to keep his mouth shut.

A second later Zacharias was hoisted into the air and being dangled by his ankle. Everyone turned to Draco, who didn't need to look hard after that to find the true caster. Gabrielle had taken well to the wand Draco had fit her with and had it pointed directly at Zacharias. “I do not like you.” She said casually and Parvati looked at her like she'd just fallen in love.

“Alright, that's enough, Gabby. I think a group setting has been overwhelming for all of us. Put Smith down and whoever would like to get to spend time with Malfoy building trust, can.” Tonks said and Gabrielle let Zacharias fall ungracefully to the cement.

He scrambled up, brushed himself off, and then turned on heel to storm off back into the manor. Draco stood there stupidly, not sure what to do with himself after Tonks gave a type of signal for the group to disband. Dean, Katie, and Susan all left pretty quickly behind Zacharias, uninterested in making nice with Draco. Tonks took hold of her son's hand and began pulling him toward the house, though he kept looking back curiously at Draco. Gabrielle took hold of Parvati's hand and started pulling her off into the grounds.

“We can finish zese over zere.” Gabrielle said and the pair wandered off together.

Remus, Padma, and Luna were the only ones left behind with Draco. “Well, I can't say I'm surprised it's you three.” Draco stated.

“Dora will come around.” Remus said. “Probably.”

“And the three of you already have, then?”

“I think I owe that, at least.” Padma stated, her face looking slightly guilty.

“I've never much been afraid of you.” Luna said airily. “So, trusting that you'll do the right thing with Hermione by your side isn't such a far leap.”

Draco was less than impressed with these answers. Padma's guilt was vaguely surprising, but he assumed being out of the environment of the prison he'd been in had helped her to gain a little clarity on just how vile Potter had been. He'd assumed Luna hadn't been afraid of him when she'd attempted to grow radishes out of his body on the battlefield the last time they'd met. These were his allies. A healer who was in love with the brother of two men he'd murdered, the outcast of Hogwarts with a weird obsession with radishes even into adulthood, and the werewolf.

“I wonder if I might have a word with Draco.” Remus finally broke the awkward silence that had fallen around them. “Alone.” He added when neither women left the area.

“I think I'll have some lunch.” Luna said and for a moment Draco wasn't certain she'd even heard Remus.

“Lunch would be nice.” Padma agreed, then turned to Draco. “Will you be staying to eat or is Hermione on pins and needles waiting for you to get home?”

“Still don't have much of an appetite, but thank you. Also, Hermione might send out a rescue squad if I don't come home in a few hours.” Draco said with a small smile.

Padma smiled knowingly back at him before linking arms with Luna and moving into the house. Remus extended his arm in an invitation for Draco to walk the grounds with him. Draco stepped forward uncomfortably. He hadn't been rude to Remus, exactly, while he'd been a professor at Hogwarts, but he hadn't necessarily been kind either. Remus limped slightly as he moved along the grounds slowly; Draco had to slow the pace of his walking considerably to match that of Remus's beside him. They walked the grounds for several minutes in silence; the tension Draco had felt within him started to fade as they moved toward a pond on the grounds and he began looking at the scenery around them. Part of him wondered if this was what Remus had intended; somehow knew Draco might need to just be away from people and even his own thoughts to really be able to display more of himself than just the Death Eater he was to this group.

“Have you been here before?” Remus asked and Draco tried to hide the startled expression from his face as he looked to him. “I mean, prior to when you dropped off Padma.”

Draco took a breath. “No, my mother swore she'd never come back here.”

They were quiet again for a moment as Remus and Draco took turns surveying one another. “I came here with Sirius once.” Remus said finally.

“You're joking.” Draco stopped in his tracks.

“Sirius hadn't officially ran away from home yet so the family hadn't entirely stopped speaking to him. Your mother was having a graduation party and he'd been tasked with bringing his younger brother. I wasn't exactly supposed to join, nor did we stay very long. That was the first time I saw Tom Riddle. Sirius and I were kicked out shortly after that.” Remus had stopped walking to as he stared out at the pond before them.

“Suppose Bella brought him.” Draco said darkly, kicking a rock into the pond and startling some of the giant koi circling beneath the water.

“I think he'd convinced her husband to bring him along. An easy way to gain younger impressionable minded followers quickly. She's the one that kicked Sirius and I out.” Remus said calmly, daring a glance at Draco.

Draco met Remus's gaze. “Her ways of being protective were always askew then, I see.”

“I hear she's done quite the number to protect you. She must care for you deeply to keep your secret about Hermione.” Remus said and his voice carried a sort of wisdom Draco hadn't heard before.

The type of wisdom he thought he'd never have enough life experience to know himself, but that his children one day might grow to know. A wisdom that came from love; knowing it, feeling it, expressing it, being surrounded by it from all different directions. Draco hadn't grown up feeling loved, even when the words were spoken to him. Caused him to recoil from the emotion entirely when Daphne had spoken the words to him. He hadn't known how to love, really, until Hermione. She changed his entire world.

“I suppose she does. In her own way.” Draco said nonchalantly, taking a few more steps to indicate they should continue their walk.

Remus followed and they fell into step with one another once more. Draco felt like maybe he should ask about Remus as Remus had asked about him. “Your son.”

“Teddy.”

“Yes, why exactly is his hair that color?” Draco asked, feeling stupid the moment the question escaped him.

Remus chuckled. “He's a metamorphagus. As far as parental traits go, I'm glad he didn't inherit many of mine.” Remus said truthfully.

“A commonality we seem to share.” Draco said, thinking back to the traits of Hermione's he found easily within his children.

“Daphne tells me your children are already quite powerful; I'm sure that's a trait you were happy to pass down.” Remus said and Draco thought he saw a hint of something in his face as they looked at one another again.

He was sizing him up, Draco realized. Why wouldn't he? Seemed like the next logical move to make. See just how interested Draco was in power and influence and whether or not the world would be safe from him claiming the Dark Lord's throne after his death.

“The girls certainly seem to make a show of it, at least. They're healthy; I can't say much else is important to me.” Draco said with a shrug.

“Your son hasn't showcased any power yet?” Remus asked and this time his tone seemed more intrigued.

“From what I've been told, he has not.” Draco said, a bitter tone unable to be hidden from his voice.

“You're worried he may not?” Remus mistook his bitterness about losing time with his children for bitterness of Scorpius not immediately causing mischief like his sisters.

“I thought maybe Hermione was; she certainly was worried I'd react negatively to it. They're all still so young, it's rare enough having the girls showing magical abilities under two years old let alone all three of them.” Draco said honestly as he stopped walking again when they began encroaching on a cemetery fenced into the grounds.

“And if the abilities never emerge?” Remus prodded, stopping beside Draco.

They turned together and began walking back up the grounds. “He's my son. I'd love him even if he was as dumb as a troll.” Draco's voice took on a classic Malfoy haughtiness as his guard naturally fell back into place.

“Can I be honest with you, Draco?” Remus asked and Draco gave him a sharp nod. “I wasn't expecting an answer like that from you. I'm impressed and, admittedly, a little ashamed of myself for assuming your answer would be something else.”

Draco looked away from Remus, feeling a little uncomfortable at the openness he was receiving from one of Potter's biggest mentors and supporters. “I don't want to be the man my father was. At least when it comes to how my children are raised and loved.”

Draco flinched as Remus put a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry.” Remus said, removing his hand gently and placing it back into his pocket as he kept walking. “Teddy was a metamorphagus from birth, but didn't start showing any other magical abilities until he was almost five. You should tell Hermione not to worry about your son.”

“Scorpius.”

“Hmm?”

“Our son's name is Scorpius. Poor kid looks just like me.”

Remus gave a laugh. “There are worse things he could resemble, surely.”

“Now you sound like Hermione.”

“We have known each other for a very long time; perhaps she's rubbed off on me a little.”

Draco glanced at his watch, again feeling uncomfortable with the acceptance Remus seemed to be offering him. “Speaking of Hermione, I should be getting back to her. I'm expected back on Death Eater duty tomorrow. It's imperative the Dark Lord still trusts me or he's bound to ransack Malfoy Manor taking his possessions back.”

“Well, if you feel like having a chat with an old werewolf; you know where to find me.” Remus said with a reassuring smile.

“Thank you, I think.” Draco said in a somewhat formal tone walking away as Remus turned back toward the pond they had found themselves standing in front of once more. Then he stopped and turned back to face Remus's back. “Lupin?” Remus turned to face Draco. “It's everyday for a week before the full moon that you need to have Wolfsbane, right?”

“It is, yes.” Remus responded.

“Hermione won't admit it, but I'm better at potion making than she is. Just making sure I had the date right.” Draco said and Remus bowed his head in gratitude to him before Draco turned back around and apparated.

Chapter Text

Chapter 30

Draco's POV

Falling back into position as a Death Eater came too quickly. There was also something that burned a particularly wild rage inside him reporting for duty with Hermione, activated dark mark burning her arm, beside him. He sighed loudly under his mask as they prepared to walk into Hogwarts grounds together. Hermione took hold of his hand and pulled him to a slightly slower pace.

“It's too late to be mad about it now.” Hermione muttered to him under her own mask.

“I didn't know there was a timeframe on when I was allowed to have emotions.” Draco said back tartly.

“Draco, please.”

“Come on, Astoria. The Dark Lord doesn't like to be kept waiting.” Draco said in an annoyed tone.

“Who are you mad at here, me or him?”

“I'm not mad. I'm thrilled to be back serving the Dark Lord.” Draco said pointedly as some unmarked Death Eaters passed them. “Would you keep your voice down before you get us killed, please? I'm not mad at you.” Draco added in a rushed whisper before he took a deep breath and pushed all prior emotion and thoughts beyond his mental void.

“Ah, the killing couple has arrived. Right on schedule.” Voldemort hissed before Draco and Hermione could even move into bows as they entered the Chamber of Secrets.

Draco and Hermione both fell into obligatory bows. “My lord.” They greeted in unison as they stood back up.

A foul smile was on the Dark Lord's face. He had something special particularly planned out for the two of them, Draco could tell by the look in his eyes alone. “Tell me, Draco; will these Helios rebels follow you home?” Voldemort's words dripped.

“What with the vampires claiming all of Romania and their mountain hiding place caved in, I can't imagine they'll have much choice to not follow me back here.” Draco said coolly.

“Which means Harry Potter would also be returning.” Voldemort said as if his plan should have been self-explanatory.

“Yes, I'd imagine so, my Lord.” Draco said, wishing he could side glance at Hermione through his mask to see if she'd caught on to something he hadn't yet.

“That means a war is coming.” Voldemort said, looking far beyond where Hermione and Draco were standing before him.

“Haven't we been at war, my Lord?” Hermione asked and Draco felt his body stiffen.

“I suppose some may consider this a war still; though most wars consist of more fighting and I've all, but won already. I just need to rid the world of Harry Potter to make it official.” Voldemort said thoughtfully.

“Of course, my Lord.” Hermione offered and Draco assumed it was more out of not knowing what to say rather than agreement.

“You will track down Harry Potter the same way you've found many others hidden within the resistance and you will bring him to me. You will bring him to me alive so that I might kill him once and for all. Kill anyone supporting him that you might find protecting or hiding The Boy Who Lived. Are these instructions clear enough, Malfoys?”

Draco fell into a bow and Hermione was only a beat behind him, following suit. “Yes, my Lord.” Draco said obediently.

“Whatever our Lord wishes, we shall grant him.” Hermione added for good effect.

“Very good. You will report back to me with any deaths and I shall summon you if I feel too much time has passed without some sort of an update.”

“Of course, my Lord.” Draco said, giving another bow for good measure. Hermione seemed to think it wise to follow his lead and did the same.

“I suggest you get started. I'm expecting Bella any moment; her assignment is quite private and has nothing to do with either of you.” Voldemort said and Draco had a strong suspicion that was code for his aunt was coming to have sex with the Dark Lord.

Draco took the dismissal for what is was as he interlocked his fingers with Hermione's and began to lead her from the Chamber. Once they were above ground again, Hermione seemed to feel it was safe to speak freely to Draco. “Is that all he summons her for?” Hermione asked and Draco thought he heard an offended tone she hoped to hide behind the comment. “Sex?” She clarified in an added whisper.

Draco apparently wasn't the only one taking coding from the Dark Lord's words. “There's not exactly resistance members running around to kill anymore, is there?” Draco said in a hushed tone.

“Well, it's no wonder she got—ouch!” Draco squeezed her hand dangerously with that forceful strength he didn't use on her, but it was always there lingering behind every graceful lift of her body.

He raised his mask to properly glare at her. “Watch it.” Draco snarled at her through gritted teeth before he lowered his mask back into place again.

Draco on Death Eater territory, back in rank, and now with a fresh assignment meant Hermione seeing a side of Draco he'd previously only told her about. He saw the realization in her eyes as it dawned on her that here they weren't partners. She might have thought herself his equal in his absence, but now that Draco was there it was very clear who was in charge. Could he have been slightly more relaxed with his wife? Probably; but being gone a year meant there was a lot of uncertainty around who might just take advantage of his softer demeanor. Or worse, target Hermione just to get to him. No; the more sinister Draco looked to everyone and the forceful way he treated everyone was the last line of defense Draco had to keep Hermione safe.

He pulled her along with him out to the grounds before apparating them into a snowy forest clearing. “No one can be trusted within Hogwarts. The Dark Lord has spies everywhere.” Draco explained when Hermione ripped her hand away from his and removed her mask and balaclava to properly glare at him this time.

“So you injure your wife to shut her up?” Hermione said incredulously, rubbing her hand.

“I couldn't risk—injure? Are you injured?” Draco's voice softened as he pulled his mask off and let it fall into the snow.

He moved toward her with a feeling of disappointment growing within him as he reached out for Hermione's hand. She let him take it and he ran his fingers delicately across her skin; feeling for out of place bones or breakage as he looked it over for bruising. “It's fine.” Hermione said tartly. “This time.” She added in a warning tone.

Draco pulled her hand to his lips and began placing soft kisses along each of her fingers. “I'm sorry. I panicked.” He said trailing the kisses onto her wrist.

Hermione sighed. “You're right. It was stupid of me to be speaking so openly with all those Death Eaters around. I forgot even as your wife that I don't get special treatment as your Death Eater subordinate.”

Draco gave her an unamused look, despite it being true. “Please, never say that again.”

“What are we going to do?” Hermione asked finally, leaning into Draco's chest as a cold wind rushed past them.

“I don't think Hermione's Resistance will take very kindly to me killing other resistance members not within Black Manor.” Draco said as he wrapped an arm around her and began leading her through the snowy field toward the forest.

Hermione stopped and began looking around. “Wait, is this the field? From the dream? By your cabin?”

Draco prodded her softly with his arm to get her moving again. “Our cabin.” He corrected. “What better place to come up with a plan than somewhere only we know?”

Hermione wrapped her arm around his waist to take in more of his warmth as their bodies touched more. “Does that mind of yours ever take a break?” She teased, pulling the arm draped around her shoulders closer to her so she could kiss his hand.

“Sadly, it does not.” Draco said, pulling her in front of him and pressing his lips into hers.

They parted and continued walking. Draco gave a flick of his wand after a moment and his mask flew up from the snow behind them and collided into his hand just before he opened the door of the Sherwood cabin and outstretched his arm for Hermione to enter before him. She let out a small gasp.

“Draco, this is spectacular.” Hermione breathed when Draco joined her inside and sat his mask down on the table, pulling off his cloak.

“Well I wasn't going to have my wife and children living in the shack it was before should anything have happened to me. Not when remnants of a drunken ass were strewn across the only room of it.” Draco stated, moving to sit down on the couch of the new living room of the cabin.

Hermione sat down beside him. “You were grieving.” Hermione comforted, rubbing his thigh.

Draco's arm slunk around her shoulders as if magnets were beneath their skin pulling them together. Her head rested against his chest. “Not every occasion I was drunk here was I grieving; some of them I was just being an ass.” Draco stated, pressing a kiss against her temple.

Hermione sighed. “We'll need Remus's help to contact Harry.”

Draco put some space between them so she could see the incredulous look he had on display for her. “Remus will not agree to help hand over Potter to the Dark Lord!”

“I wasn't actually thinking of handing Harry over to his death. Well, not entirely.”

“What were you thinking then?”

“That Remus could persuade him to see things our way.”

“And by our way you mean…?”

“I thought maybe Remus could convince Harry to help us.”

“Have you gone daft? I killed his best friend barely a week ago.”

Hermione stood suddenly and spun on Draco, fixing him with a glare. “And you married his other; should that count for nothing? Do I count for nothing?”

Draco sensed immediately that Hermione had taken offense of what he'd said and made sure his face properly showcased his regret to her. “Hermione, you count for everything. The hatred Potter carries for me runs deep and is well matched by my own for him. I meant only that I'd imagine it would take far more than Remus and Potter's friendship for you to change his mind on wishing to rid me from this world.” Draco explained, taking Hermione's hands in his own.

“Perhaps you're right. I did jinx him quite a lot, after all. He may very well detest me almost as much as you now.”

Draco pressed his lips onto the back of each her hands. “Anyone who detests you is a fool.” She gave him an unamused look in protest. “I know from experience.” He added, smirking playfully at her.

Hermione pursed her lips to hide her smile. “And what of those who love me?” She asked him in the same teasing tone.

“This feels like I'm being set up to compliment Potter. What a cruel wife I have, indeed.” Draco said, pulling on Hermione's hands until she found her way onto his lap.

“We're supposed to be on assignment, remember?” Hermione asked as Draco's mouth found her neck.

“Hermione, comoara mea¹, I say this with all the love in the world, but I outrank you. Don't tell me how to do my job.” Draco said, wrapping a hand within her curls while his other hand stroked the length of her thigh.

Hermione laughed. “We're supposed to be finding and killing resistance members.”

“Yes, and whose fault is that? Certainly isn't mine; I've been imprisoned the last year.” Draco said as his hand made its way through Hermione's Death Eater uniform to find the bare skin of her torso.

“You're seriously going to take on that many house guests?” Hermione asked trying to squirm out of Draco's grasp but he just tightened his hold on her and began kissing her neck again.

“They're not staying at my house.” He said nonchalantly as his lips met her jawline.

“The Dark Lord is expecting your previous death toll numbers.” Hermione said as if this was something that should have forced Draco to take his assignment more seriously.

“Oh you're going to allow me to start killing everyone now?” Draco still had that teasing tone in his voice as he made zero effort to stop kissing her.

“Draco, honestly.” Hermione's voice was stern, but her arm found its way around his neck.

“Honestly, yourself. Can't you just kiss me and stop talking about Death Eater business?”

Hermione smiled up at him. “If I kiss you will you start focusing on the plans of our assignment?”

Draco sighed. “You've given me a difficult choice. On the one hand I wish of nothing more than to kiss you every second of the day. On the other hand, I wish not to discuss Potter or anything involving him nearly as often. Whatever...am I...to do.” Draco said walking his fingers along the skin of her stomach until he could cup her breast beneath her shirt.

Hermione tightened her hold around his neck so Draco's lips were pulled dangerously closer to hers. “What if we avoid the Harry part of the planning? For now at least?” Hermione said looking up through her long lashes at him.

“That does sweeten the deal some. But I was hoping more for something along the lines of: damn the assignment plans, take me in whichever of these rooms most pleases you, oh great lover.” Draco smirked.

Hermione smacked the back of his head. “Don't be a prat.”

Draco's hand on her skin tightened around her ribs, holding her tightly in place within his arms. He gave her a menacing look as her breath began to quicken the more he hovered over her. “Don't act like it isn't true.” Draco teased with a threatening air in his voice, as if to dare Hermione to refute his comment.

“I thought you wanted me to kiss you?” Hermione's voice relayed her threat of not following through in letting their lips meet, but her breathing betrayed her.

“I thought you wanted my focus to be on plans of our assignment, yet here we are, Mrs. Malfoy.”

Hermione's hand ran up into his hair and pulled him the short distance there was between them to close the gap in their lips. Draco smirked against her mouth for only a moment before he was lost in the feel of her lips moving gently, but passionately against his own. He shifted their bodies slightly so that Hermione was no longer on his lap, but the couch beneath him as he let his body weight push her deeper into the cushions supporting them. Hermione pulled her lips from his for a moment, turning her face from Draco's so he couldn't immediately replace his lips onto them once more.

“You better not do this every time you're supposed to be on assignment.” Hermione warned and Draco laughed on top of her.

“Theo's going to be so upset you've banned me from snogging him.”

Hermione giggled beneath him, squirming slightly to get her arms more firmly wrapped around him. “Good; as he should be.” She smiled up at him.

He placed a peck on her lips. “I don't suppose we'll be able to put off planning our world domination just another day so that I might show my wife just how much I love her?” Draco said slyly, placing another kiss on her lips.

“She knows.” Hermione said back softly, releasing her hold around him to stroke her hands up his chest. She slipped her hands under his jacket and started pushing it off his shoulders. “But then again, who am I to tell someone of higher rank how to do his job.”

Hermione smirked up at him. “Good girl.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 31

Being back with Draco was a feeling Hermione had never imagined feeling in her entire life. Every touch was like the first time he'd ever touched her, sending sparks through her entire body. She felt like she'd caught a fever every time his body was near hers. Every kiss knotted up her stomach. When they weren't plotting or out faking their Death Eater assignments they were wrapped up in each other. They found any and every excuse imaginable to keep themselves touching one another, even if it was just interlocking their fingers while they walked from destinations. When Hermione would sit with him in the nursery as he played with their kids it made her want to have a thousand children with him.

Draco was the most attentive father and caught on quickly to the emotions of the Malfoy heirs so much so that he seemed to always know before it happened when any if them would cry or start getting upset about something one of their siblings did. He spent time with all of them, but knew when one of them was needing a little more attention than the others. Hermione often found herself thinking it had been much longer than barely the month that Draco had been home.

“I'll talk to Remus more about getting in contact with Potter when I bring him his potion.” Draco said from the nursery floor as he pretended to let Scorpius tackle him.

“Without some way of guaranteeing Harry won't be sacrificed, I can't imagine this time will fair any better than the last.” Hermione replied bleakly, rocking in the chair she was used to Blaise inhabiting.

“Yes, well perhaps Remus will have an idea for that also since he wants to keep Potter alive so badly.” Draco said in an even tone as he leaned Scorpius back into a sitting position only to have him purposely fall back on top of his chest.

Hermione giggled slightly at the game Scorpius had created with Draco while Alexia and Ariadne played with the paint Bellatrix had shown Alexia how to conjure. “He's not the only one who wants to keep Harry alive.” Hermione said after a moment.

Draco rolled onto his side on the floor to see Hermione more fully. “Don't tell me you've forgiven him already for what he's done to me?” Draco's voice sounded appalled, but Hermione could make out the twinge of hurt within it that matched the flicker in his eyes.

“Not even remotely. I just mean, resistance wise; there are a lot of people who want Harry alive. It's the whole reason so many people stopped fighting.”

Scorpius threw himself a lot more forcefully into Draco so that he didn't need to pretend to be knocked back onto his back this time. Scorpius seemed to gather as much and smiled proudly at the feat he had accomplished as Draco sighed beneath him. “So we keep Potter alive then. Is it my ideal future, not exactly; but I suppose it can't be that hard. I've already kept him alive before. Stopped you from killing him in Romania.” Draco seemed more to be trying to convince himself than anything else.

“I wasn't going to kill Harry.” Hermione stated with a slight incredulous tone that he would suggest that.

Draco held Scorpius above his face as he continued lying flat on his back. “Today, mon doux garçon¹, you get to learn that your mother is a liar.”

Hermione scoffed at him. “I resent that! I am not a liar.” Hermione said crossly, but Draco only made a face at her that Scorpius copied perfectly in solidarity with his father. “I wasn't going to kill him!”

Draco actually laughed this time, tossing Scorpius into the air slightly and catching him again before choosing to respond. “Hermione, the very breath in my lungs; you were jinxing him while he was already unconscious. That is, but only a step away from—” Draco made a noise resembling that of slicing flesh as he pantomimed slitting his throat with his thumb.

Hermione simply gave him an unamused look, but didn't try to argue with him any further. She couldn't really justify arguing the point because the fact was, in her rage, had Draco not stopped her, she would have jinxed Harry into oblivion as he lie there unconscious on the floor. He'd deserved it. She still thought so even though she felt less inclined to killing him herself; for what he'd done to Draco, for what had happened to Ginny. She blamed him just as much as Draco did for what this world had become when he had been meant to save it. Draco ran a finger down her cheek, pulling Hermione's attention from her thoughts.

Hermione smiled up at Draco now standing above her, holding Scorpius on his hip. “Don't worry, Granger, your secret is safe with me.” Draco said teasingly.

He only ever called her 'Granger' when he was teasing her these days. Only when his voice took on the most playful tone did the name escape his lips, so that she smiled even wider when she heard it. “You are very good at keeping secrets.” Hermione teased back as Scorpius began reaching out for her.

Draco passed him over when Hermione stretched her arms out to take him, but looked thoroughly displeased about it. Hermione smirked at him. “So, am I going to be included in any of this planning or have you two finally come to your senses about giving Potter to the Dark Lord?” Bellatrix's voice came from the nursery doorway.

Alexia instantly went into hysterics trying to get her attention, covering Ariadne in paint as she did so. “Bella! Bella! Bella!” She squealed as she ran around the playpen she'd been painting in with her sister.

Bellatrix smiled as her face softened, then she noticed both Draco and Hermione watching her and she pulled her face back into a mask of unemotional hardness. Hermione pressed her lips together in hopes Bellatrix wouldn't notice that she was amused by her brief show of emotion. Draco, on the other hand, smiled broadly at the sight. “My, my, Bella. Was that a smile? Like a genuine one? Alexia must have quite the hold on that cold heart of yours.” Draco said in a teasing tone.

“Don't make me teach you another lesson, Draco.” Bellatrix said threateningly.

Draco only laughed, but Hermione shot her a foul look as Alexia continued squealing for Bellatrix to come and give her the attention she required. She strode across the room and waved her wand to vanish the paint from Alexia and Ariadne, before reaching down to lift Alexia from the playpen to silence her screeching. Draco went to Bellatrix's side instantaneously to retrieve Ariadne from the area as well so she wouldn't be left sitting alone. Ariadne smiled widely as Draco lifted her and one tiny tooth poking through her gums was visible. Once Alexia had been sufficiently silenced by being held, Bellatrix turned expectantly toward where Draco now stood near Hermione, each with a blonde twin in their arms.

“I didn't think you'd want to hear any of the details.” Draco said honestly.

“And by that he means we haven't decided to offer Harry up for his death.” Hermione added.

“I don't particularly want to know, but if I'm going to have to keep you two alive for these children's sake it could be helpful to know what the fuck is going on.” Bellatrix said as Alexia tried to smush her face between her hands.

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.” Draco said blandly.

“I know how little of a resistance you two have built; it's not a lack of confidence, but a knowledge of your lack in numbers.” Bellatrix said honestly.

“I've taken out large groups on my own.” Draco seemed to be offended by his aunt's lack of confidence in his ability to mass murder people.

“Draco, I don't think she's trying to insult your ability to take lives.” Hermione said in an annoyed tone.

“Oh, I certainly am. He's gotten soft since you've been around.” Bellatrix said to Hermione.

“I've gotten soft?!” Draco's voice raised enough that all the Malfoy children turned wide eyes on him.

Bellatrix merely smirked at him as he glared at her. Hermione reached out and wrapped her hand around his wrist. “Draco.” Was all she could think to say.

“I have not gotten soft.” Draco said through gritted teeth.

“It's not a bad thing to consider not killing people.” Hermione said, still holding Draco's wrist. She could feel his pulse still beating rapidly in his wrist despite the calmer look on his face.

“She means it as an insult.” Draco stated to Hermione and Bellatrix simply shrugged at them.

Ariadne took hold of Draco's face in her hands and Hermione instantly felt his pulse calm within her grip. Ariadne wasn't the only of the Malfoy children to sense the discourse between the adults holding them; Alexia had fixed Bellatrix with a stern scowl as if to show her disapproval of the conversation. Bellatrix cleared her throat when Alexia made no efforts to fix her face into a different expression and Draco lifted his gaze away from Ariadne's to meet Bellatrix's.

“My point was that you haven't had to fight against those who've sworn to defend the Dark Lord with their life and genuinely meant that vow.” Bellatrix stated and those words alone seemed enough to soften Alexia's scowl.

“There aren't that many of you left.” Draco said, wiggling his face free of Ariadne's squeezing hands.

“There are enough to make your plans difficult.” Bellatrix countered.

Hermione released her hold on Draco's wrist to push back some of Scorpius's hair to replace the nervous way she spun her wedding ring. Draco focused his attention on her as her skin left his. “Perhaps we should keep her informed.” Hermione said reluctantly.

“I just am failing to see how you being informed on the plan will be of any use. You know the gist of the plan, so if you're so hellbent on keeping us safe that would be enough. Even you've got to admit that divulging information to anyone not helping would be foolish. Do you think me a fool, Bella?” Draco's tone said enough about how he felt on the subject than his words needed to.

Bellatrix sighed as she placed Alexia back onto the floor before conjuring up some scraps of parchment and coloring crayons for Alexia to entertain herself scribbling with. “Then let me help.” Bellatrix said finally as she turned back to Draco.

“You want to help?” Draco couldn't hide the shocked tone from his voice.

“Kill the Dark Lord?” Hermione couldn't hide her disbelief either.

“I'm not nearly as fond of the idea as you two are.” Bellatrix stated and Hermione and Draco simply stared at her. “However,” she continued, “I'm even less fond of the both of you dying and these children being subjected to being raised by myself and the Dark Lord.”

“Theo and Blaise would raise the kids if something were to happen to us.” Hermione stated and Draco and Bellatrix both fixed her with a look.

“It's truly sweet that you think the Dark Lord won't have me come collect these children and make them into the perfect little Death Eater children the moment the life leaves your bodies. Frankly, for the betrayal alone, we'd be lucky if he'd even let them be left alive.”

Hermione saw Draco tighten his grip on Ariadne as Bellatrix looked back to Alexia. “I killed the last person to threaten my children's safety.” Draco said darkly.

Bellatrix looked unamused as she turned back to Draco. “I wasn't threatening them, I'm being honest about what will happen should you fail. That's why I'm offering to help.”

Draco and Bellatrix glared at one another for a long moment, neither wanting to be the first to cave in apparently. “We don't have any set plans aside from potentially using Harry as a distraction to destroy the Dark Lord's possessions in Draco's charge.” Hermione finally spoke.

“You're going to need to plan faster. Spring is nearly here; the Dark Lord won't be evaded for long without results. You know that much first hand, Draco. Itching to be tortured some more, are you?” Bellatrix said.

“Lucky for all of us then, that my aunt taught me how to feed false information to the Dark Lord.” Draco said pointedly.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “Tom's trust in you falters since the Romania incident. Lucky for you, your aunt keeps reassuring him of your loyalty to our side.” Bellatrix retorted.

Hermione could sense both their tempers beginning to rise again and stood up from where she was seated. “This isn't the type of conversation I want to be having in front of the kids.” She said firmly, setting Scorpius down in his crib and conjuring up a bottle for him to take a nap. “Tini.” She called and the small elf appeared before them.

“Yes, Mistress?” Tini squeaked.

“Can you take Alexia to the playroom; the twins are going to go down for a nap.” Hermione directed the last part more firmly toward Draco, who seemed to be trying to ignore Hermione's cues for him to follow her lead with putting the twins down.

Tini nodded her head quickly before rushing to where Alexia was scribbling on the parchment. She gathered up all the things Alexia was playing with before taking hold of her hand. With a pop they both vanished. Hermione turned to Draco and nudged her head toward Ariadne's crib. “They need a nap, and you two need to have this discussion elsewhere anyway.” Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, but threw a glare at Bellatrix for good measure.

Draco sighed exaggeratedly, like it would take everything in him to do what Hermione was asking of him. “Oh for the love of Merlin, Draco! They won't disappear; just get on with it already!” Bellatrix said exasperatedly.

Draco glared at Bellatrix before he turned and placed Ariadne into her crib and conjured her a bottle the same way Hermione had done for Scorpius. Hermione took hold of his hand as Draco twirled one of Ariadne's tiny blonde curls between his fingers before sweeping it out of her face only for it to fall right back into place.

He squeezed Hermione's hand tighter and strode with her away from the twins' cribs. Bellatrix followed them from the nursery, but chose to continue past them once they were in the hallway. Hermione had to slightly pull on Draco's hand to get him to leave the area their children were in to follow after Bellatrix with her. This was the second time now that Hermione had followed Bellatrix unsuspectingly into Lucius's old wing of the manor, however, she seemed to have no intentions of forcing Lucius's portrait to witness this interaction.

“I hate this part of the house.” Draco muttered as they finally came to a stop.

“Yes, everyone does. That's why we won't be overheard here.” Bellatrix said in a dull tone.

“I trust the people living in my home.” Draco said, puffing up slightly as if Bellatrix had just greatly insulted him.

“Just not the woman who taught you everything you know about being a Death Eater, and occlumency, and legilimency, and how to survive torture.” Bellatrix listed with a glare.

Draco released Hermione's hand and walked over to Bellatrix and wrapped her small frame up in his arms. She squirmed for a moment, but Draco didn't release her. He could sense something Hermione couldn't about his aunt; the bond between them had always been much stronger and much deeper than either of them had let on. After a moment Hermione saw Bellatrix's arms wrap around Draco as well and her forehead rest against his chest. Bellatrix only succumbed to the affection for a minute before she successfully pushed Draco off of her and narrowed her eyes at him.

“I've kept your secrets.” She threw a pointed look at Hermione incase Draco was unsure of what secrets she was referring to. “Yet still you don't trust me to help you.”

“You're misunderstanding, Bella. It's not at all that I don't trust you. But I know what the outcome will do to you. The madness that lingers below your surface didn't come from Azkaban; it came from losing him.” Draco said softly; his voice was almost understanding, like a similar outcome would become of him should he ever lose Hermione.

Hermione suddenly felt like she was intruding in a very personal conversation just by standing in silence within the same area of the hall as them. Hermione could see that flickering madness within Bellatrix as her eyes shifted and her demeanor changed. She looked like she was about to start that dancing pace she often fell into when the madness of her mind was becoming too much for her to take. Draco held her in place though, wrapping his hands around her wrists.

“Nothing can happen to you.” She said finally.

“Nothing will.” Draco said flatly.

“Tom can't survive.” These words seemed to choke Bellatrix as she said them.

“I must say, I'm surprised that you'd even admit that.” Draco said, attempting to remove the look of shock from his face in what Hermione assumed was for Bellatrix's benefit.

“Alexia will never be safe if he's alive.” Bellatrix's voice had fallen to almost a whisper and Hermione found herself silently creeping forward so that she could hear their interaction properly.

“He doesn't care about the children now, while they're still babies; but the moment they turn eleven he has plan for them. Not to mention when they come of age. If he were to ever see her; ever even question her true parentage…” Bellatrix trailed off as she ripped her wrists from Draco's hold and began pacing the hallway, pirouetting on her turns.

“What do you mean, he has plans for them?” Hermione couldn't keep quiet any longer; not when her children were involved.

“Why do you think he's ordered me to stay in this house? To watch after you?” Bellatrix spat as if this should have been obvious to Hermione.

“He's been having you watch the children?” The idea was hard for Hermione to grasp, but Draco's face showed that it wasn't hard for him to grasp the way his eyes darkened.

“Keeping tabs on them to see who will make the best successor for their father.” Draco guessed in low tone.

Bellatrix gave a firm nod before her pacing continued. “At eleven!?” Hermione was now shocked and outraged by this revelation.

Bellatrix stopped pacing and moved on Hermione in a way that triggered Draco's defensive habits. He planted himself firmly in front of Hermione so that Bellatrix had to lean around him to look her fully in the face. It was at this point Hermione knew why Draco had moved. The wildness in Bellatrix's eyes was comparable to when she'd been lost to her madness during Alexia's pregnancy.

“My cousin was a child when Tom recruited him! Barely even thirteen!” Bellatrix was shouting more from her own madness than being putout with Hermione.

“Regulus, you mean?” Hermione asked and Draco cast her a bewildered glance.

The nice thing about spending so much time in Grimmauld Place was that Hermione had learned a fair share of information about the Black family. Bellatrix gripped onto Draco's forearms to get as close as he'd allow her to get to Hermione. “He was a child. My sister never let me forget it when Draco was marked next. 'He's just a boy.' I hear the words in my sleep she said them to me so frequently.”

Draco pushed on Bellatrix and she released her hold on him to start pacing again. “If you knew what he was planning you wouldn't be waiting to rid him from the world.” Bellatrix said in clear voice, then she did her pirouette and began muttering. “They can't know. The Dark Lord has entrusted me with the information as his most beloved follower. They can't know.”

Draco and Hermione looked at one another as Bellatrix began muttering more incoherently to herself. Draco's face softened at seeing his aunt spiraling farther into her own madness. Hermione rubbed her hand up Draco's back as she looked back to Bellatrix muttering as she paced wildly. “Bella.” Draco said firmly, pulling Bellatrix into a halt as her gaze fell upon them.

“Perhaps we could bring those who want to fight the most here a few days of the week and you could assist in training them. Maybe just not in quite as lethal ways as you trained Draco.” Hermione suggested.

Bellatrix looked a little put out by this, but nodded her agreement. “If training your pathetic resistance is the best help I can be, then so be it.” Bellatrix stated before she quickly apparated out of Lucius's wing of the manor.

Draco sighed. “Well, that went well.” Draco said sarcastically, draping his arm around Hermione's shoulders. “Let's get out of here. I really do hate this wing of the house.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 32

Draco's POV

Black Manor had a surprisingly large potions room, much bigger than the one he'd been using at Malfoy Manor since he was a child. The storage cupboard space alone was nearly the size of Draco's potion tables at Malfoy Manor. He'd welcomed the chance to explore the Black Manor more thoroughly while Hermione forced Bellatrix into setting up a training schedule for Luna, the Patils, and Gabrielle. Dean and Katie had opted to train with Tonks instead, given her experience as an auror. Susan wasn’t much of a fighter, and Zacharias was being shunned by majority of the house, from what Draco could tell. Draco hadn't expected Remus to join him within the potions room as he brewed the wolfsbane potion he'd promised to supply Remus with.

Remus appeared content to simply read his book while Draco brewed the lengthy potion. He was reminded of himself when he'd been adamantly not leaving Hermione's side after the Death Eaters attacked her in Diagon Alley. Draco, however, was less content with his former professor simply sitting in the room with him. “I have a feeling you don't often read in the potions room.” Draco's voice broke the silence.

Remus looked over the top of his book across the room to where Draco was brewing. “Perhaps we both needed the solitude.” Remus stated in that knowing way he always did, but he placed a bookmark within his book and closed it just the same.

“You're not here to make sure I brew your potion properly then?” Draco asked.

Remus gave a chuckle. “Trust is a hard thing to come by, but Potions was never my strongest subject. It was with great displeasure I was reliant on Severus for my potions while I was your professor.”

“A displeasure to us all.” Draco muttered.

“He thought highly of you; I thought you'd have been fonder of him.”

“He thought highly of me because my father was fond of blackmail. At one point, I was grateful he killed Dumbledore for me; but that gratitude long vanished when the Dark Lord wasn't defeated.” Draco stated, picking through his giant moonwort to find the biggest leaves for his potion.

“Ah.” Remus said. “Well, for what it's worth, I am in a position where I must put my trust in you. I can't brew the wolfsbane myself, therefore I am trusting you to do it correctly for the safety of all these people Hermione has worked so hard to keep alive.”

“Fair enough.” Draco sat the largest leaves to the side and began pulverizing his black quicksilver.

“I don't mean to seem untrusting of your intentions.” Draco stated when a silence lingered over them for a little longer than he expected it to. “It's hard to know who to trust.”

“I am not offended by not immediately gaining your trust.” Remus said casually.

“Did you know that the Dark Lord recruited Sirius's younger brother at that party?” Draco asked just as Remus was about to disappear behind his book again.

Remus sat his book down fully at this. “I had an inclination that he might have, yes.”

“Bella said he was barely a teenager.” Draco mused.

“It caused a large rift between Regulus and Sirius. He wasn't marked until after he left Hogwarts, but by that point Sirius and Regulus were no longer speaking.”

“My mother seemed shocked that I was to fill my father's place when he was in Azkaban.”

“It was always my understanding that the Black family, while ruthless when it came to their beliefs, was a close knit family. By the time I'd met Sirius, Bellatrix had already declared herself one of Voldemort's most loyal followers. Your mother, even in the small amount of time we were at school together was always fiercely protective of Regulus. Perhaps her shock came from seeing a similar fate unfolding for her son. Perhaps she felt Bellatrix should have been able to persuade Voldemort to punish your family differently for Lucius's imprisonment.”

“You probably think it's stupid of me to trust her.”

“I've never thought you to be stupid, Draco.” Remus said honestly and Draco looked up from the quicksilver he was pulverizing to see if there was something calculating in Remus's face. “That is not to say that I am not weary of your trust in your aunt.”

“She's never given me a reason not to trust her.”

“Have I?”

Draco contemplated this question for a moment. “No, I suppose you haven’t.”

“But that doesn't mean you trust me, yet.”

“Hermione trusts you.” Draco stated as if that should clear things up.

“Ah, but you and Hermione are not the same people.”

“Unfortunately for most people, we are indeed not the same people. I love that Hermione can still have faith in people while the world crumbles around her.” Draco stated.

“Would you love her less if this world had hardened her the way it has forced so many others to be? The way it’s hardened you?”

Draco looked up from his work once more to read Remus's intentions. The questioned seemed to be merely his own self interest in Draco than anything else. “I loved Hermione even as Bella held her down and made me watch while she carved mudblood into her arm. I loved her when I thought she might slit my throat at any moment. I would love Hermione in any walk of life, in any situation, for as long as I exist in a world that is shared with her.” Draco stated before his gaze dropped back to the potion ingredients in front of him.

“I wasn't aware you had witnessed Hermione's torture.” Remus mused.

Draco cleared his throat in an attempt to stop glaring at the pickled myrrh jar he'd just pulled in front of him. “One of Bella’s more diabolical ‘life as a Death Eater’ lessons.” Draco added the ingredients needed to his potion at the present moment of brewing and focused on counting his stirs before he removed his stirrer and looked back to Remus as the potion brewed on its own.

“We need Potter.” Draco said finally.

“Hermione's told me of how she found you; of what Harry's plans had been in Romania. Grief changes people, Draco. I can't help you get to Harry only to have you sacrifice him for your own gain.”

“My own gain? It's for the good of our whole kind and every country that's been overrun by the Dark Lord. And unless Hermione agrees to sacrifice him, Potter is meant merely to be a distraction.”

Remus rubbed the cover of his book as he contemplated this. “You'd have me ask Harry to sacrifice even more for this war?”

“Honestly, it's the least he can do in my opinion.”

Remus seemed to understand that Draco had also sacrificed an exponential amount for this war. “I have a way to contact Harry, but I can't promise he'll respond, nor be willing to meet with you or Hermione.”

“We were hoping instead you'd simply ask Potter to meet you somewhere. Somewhere he'd trust meeting you at, leaving out the part that Hermione and I would be with you. Hermione says you're one of the only people Potter listens to. You can tell him that he needs to, at the very least, hear us out. Certainly a year's worth of being beaten and burned has bought me at least a conversation.” Draco stirred the potion again.

“The house where I kept Dora and Teddy when Hermione came for us. Harry will know that is a safe meeting place. I'll send him my patronus with a date and time. It will have to be after the full moon; I'll need time to recover.” Remus said.

“Thank you.” Draco said simply, pulling out his pickled myrrh and adding it to the potion.

“How did you manage to convince Bellatrix to train anyone from the resistance to fight Death Eaters?” Remus asked after Draco seemed less focused on the way he was stirring the wolfsbane potion.

“She wanted to help; Hermione offered training as the solution.”

“Hermione suggested the training?”

“I think it was more of an attempt to relinquish the necessity of my having to kill off large amounts of Death Eaters.”

“Ah. And this is why Bellatrix wanted to help? She thought you might die in the process?”

“Bella wants to help because she's trying to protect…someone.” Draco caught himself before letting slip the truth about his eldest daughter.

“Must be someone important for her to switch sides.” Remus mused.

“Extremely important; and she hasn't switched sides. I have a feeling she is planning on dying fighting at the Dark Lord's side.”

Draco looked up again to see Remus scowling at his book cover as he undoubtedly tried to figure out the motives behind Bellatrix's decisions. “What does Hermione think about her motives?”

“Hermione doesn't know Bella nearly as well as I do. She understands Bella's need to protect the few people she loves; it's the conflicting interests that are harder for her to grasp. If she thought Bella had no intention of making it out of this war alive then she probably wouldn't have accepted her help so willingly. Hermione might not be Bella's biggest fan, but there are very few people that Hermione actually wants to see meet an untimely end.”

“Bellatrix is in love with Voldemort?” Remus questioned.

Draco cleared his throat and took out a small bag of a pale yellow powder. “Bella's business is her own.” Draco said evadingly as he tapped the bag so that small increments of the powder fell into the potion as he stirred it counterclockwise.

“Yes, of course.” Remus said. “What is that you're adding in?”

Draco smirked. “So you were making sure I wouldn't poison you?”

Remus smiled lightly. “It seemed like a better option at the time to pretend otherwise.”

Draco chuckled. “I respect you more for assuming I would poison you.”

Remus gave a small laugh as well. “Well, respect is something at least.” Remus said, but he was still eying the potion cautiously.

“It's powdered Norwegian Ridgeback venom.” Draco said vaguely when he still felt Remus's eyes on him as he counted his clockwise stirs.

“I don't recall that being an ingredient in wolfsbane potion.”

“Can this wait a minute; I'm trying to keep count.” Draco said and Remus fell silent.

After counting forty-five clockwise stirs the potion was finally the color it was supposed to be at this stage and was meant to simmer until the faint blue smoke began to emit from the cauldron. Draco looked up at Remus. “It's not an official ingredient in the potion.” Draco said to signify Remus could continue the conversation if he wished.

“You're certain the powdered venom won't contaminate the potion?” Remus asked, the worry plain on his face and in his voice.

“The potion will do what it is intended for. The worst that will happen is that the venom will have no effect at all.”

“What is the best case scenario if no effect is the worst?”

“I read an old Egyptian text about the effect of venoms on lycanthropy. In the Department of Mysteries, before the ministry crumbled, there were talks of a cure for lycanthropy in the works using runespoor venom.” Draco rolled his eyes at this. “Bunch of idiots. Had they even bothered to look at the Egyptian text they'd have known that runespoor venom has two outcomes, both are deadly. Either the werewolf dies or the werewolf takes to the venom and becomes nearly unstoppable.

“The best hope for a cure is through wolfsbane potion with powdered Norwegian Ridgeback venom. Of course it's not a complete cure all. If the potion isn't taken the werewolf will still transform. If it is administered properly, the werewolf should remain in their human form. Of course, it's a lot of speculation. The wolfsbane potion hadn't been invented when the Egyptian text was written, but the concept of administrating the potion was clear.” Draco had lit up a little explaining the process to Remus and he noticed that the way Remus looked at him had changed into something of gratitude.

“You mean to cure me?” He asked skeptically.

“Well, that's the best case scenario. I haven't been able to try it on anyone prior to this. Most werewolves I come in contact with aren't exactly begging me for wolfsbane.” Draco admitted.

Remus half chuckled. “You mean to cure me.” Remus crossed the room to stand beside Draco and held his hand out to him.

Draco looked suspiciously at Remus's outstretched hand before he slowly outstretched his own hand to take hold of Remus's hand before him. Remus pulled Draco into a tight hug before Draco had time to fully grasp what was happening. Draco cleared his throat as he pat Remus on the back while Remus thanked him in a sad, soft voice. Remus released Draco and backed away from him slightly.

“You don't know what this means to me.” Remus said with an emotional smile.

“Well, don't thank me yet. It might not even do anything.” Draco stated, but he felt a strange pride swell up inside him at Remus's thankfulness.

“The gesture alone speaks volumes.” Remus said. “What piqued your interest in lycanthropy?”

Draco looked slightly embarrassed and turned away from Remus to examine his potion more thoroughly. “You did.” Draco admitted.

“Me?” Remus seemed just as shocked by this as Draco was embarrassed admitting it.

“Third year; Snape set that essay. I'm honestly surprised more people didn't catch on to it. I was a bit obsessed with lycanthropy after that. I'd never met a werewolf who was more human than wolf. If anyone deserved a cure, it was you.”

“That whole time and you never said anything?”

“Well, I was preoccupied making Hermione's life miserable. Plus, Snape was a prick; I didn't want to give him the satisfaction.” Draco said with a shrug. “Also, my father was never too fond of werewolves in the sense of he thought they'd devour him on sight so I may have been slightly worried that you'd eat me. No offense.”

Remus laughed loudly. “So that's why your homework was always turned in on time.” Remus joked.

Draco laughed. “Something like that.”

“Would have been even better had you written your homework yourself.” Remus said with a smirk.

Draco flushed slightly. “What can I say, at thirteen I was a prat and learned just how far that Malfoy persuasion could get me.”

“I think most of us were at age thirteen.” Remus said and his eyes got a far away look.

Draco wondered if he was remembering a time when his friends were all still alive. They'd all been dead for quite some time now; Peter, the traitor, being the most recent death of his friend group. Remus cleared his throat and his eyes refocused on Draco. “What are your plans for after the fall of Voldemort?” Remus asked, giving Draco an inquisitive, yet knowing look.

“Barricading Hermione in our bedroom.” Draco said instantly without thinking about who he was speaking to. Draco's eyes widened as he met Remus's gaze. “Sorry, I didn't mean to tell you that.”

Remus laughed. “Honesty is one of your more charming qualities.”

“Thanks, I think.” Draco said, focusing more than was needed on the wolfsbane potion that had started just barely emitting a grey smoke.

“Would you rebuild the Ministry of Magic as the new Minister?” Remus asked, pushing the conversation past Draco's sexually charged outburst.

Draco made a disdained face. “That's more Hermione's motif.” Draco said, pondering for a moment. “I haven't really thought about what I'd make of myself. Perhaps I'll just be a proper father.”

Remus made a surprised face at this answer. “Not that I think you wouldn't be an excellent full time father; you seem the type that might get bored with stay-at-home life.”

Draco shrugged as the smoke of his potion turned a faint blue and he began putting goblet sized portions into seven bottles. He corked all, but one of them, which he handed to Remus. “After everything, a calm uneventful life might be a nice change.” Draco said.

Remus drank down the wolfsbane potion and made a face at the taste before shaking the unpleasantness of the aftertaste from his mind. “You might consider being a teacher. The next generation could use someone with your talent teaching them.” Remus said, filling his satchel with the six other potions Draco had portioned for him. “Thank you for the wolfsbane.” He added before he turned and left Draco alone with his thoughts.

Chapter Text

Chapter 33

Hermione and Draco were both present in the refurbished dungeon of Malfoy Manor the next day for Bellatrix's first training session. Draco had changed the space from a dungeon into a type of training room. It reminded Hermione somewhat of how the Room of Requirement had changed itself for them during their DA meetings. She had left him to make the changes while she adjusted the blood magic done on Luna, Padma, Parvati, and Gabrielle so that they could travel between Black Manor and Malfoy Manor. When Hermione returned back without the four women, Draco informed her he was going to have to change the wards he'd placed on Malfoy Manor so they'd even be able to find the manor.

Bellatrix glared at Hermione when the four showed up with wands. “What were you expecting to train them in? Hand to hand combat?” Hermione questioned in response to Bellatrix's glare.

“It's not a bad idea.” Draco said and Hermione elbowed him.

“Are we all going to be training?” Luna asked in that usual dreamy voice of hers.

“I didn't sign up for letting Malfoy kick my ass.” Parvati chimed in.

Gabrielle stroked Parvati's cheek slightly as she tucked her long hair behind her ear. Hermione noticed Parvati's hair was being worn down again a lot more often and by the interaction between the two of them, had assumed Gabrielle was the reason why. “I won't let 'im touch you.” Gabrielle said passionately.

“I'm going to be sick.” Bellatrix muttered.

“Stopped chain smoking, have you?” Draco asked Parvati with a smirk.

“Her girlfriend disapproves.” Padma said slyly and Parvati shot her a look.

Draco laughed. “I knew you two would end up fucking.” He said cockily and Hermione smacked him.

Parvati glared at him, but Gabrielle merely tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and smiled haughtily. “My girlfriend disapproves of the chain smoking, just to be clear; not smoking in general. If you'd like me to not smell this room up like tobacco and nicotine, I suggest you don't stress me out.” Parvati warned.

“Shut up.” Bellatrix said to the group as several people opened their mouths to retort, Draco included.

“Draco, come here.” Bellatrix instructed.

Draco looked at Hermione, who only shrugged at him in response, before he walked over to stand with Bellatrix. “I daresay my nephew has made each of you want to jinx him at some point in time.” Bellatrix said to the women before her.

“Hey!” Draco said in an offended tone.

“I have jinxed him before.” Luna spoke up and Draco shot her a dirty look.

Padma and Hermione both covered their mouths to hide their laughter. “You didn't hit me though.” Draco said in his defense.

“She never said the jinx had to hit you.” Luna said nonchalantly and Draco looked to Bellatrix to clearly take his side on this subject.

Bellatrix shrugged at him. “Bella.” Draco said incredulously.

“Well, she makes a point. Besides, I wasn't expecting any of them to land a jinx on you, I just need them to have target practice that will make them not want to miss. I'd offer myself, but it's easier to observe when I'm not shielding.” Bellatrix stated.

Draco turned to Hermione. “You're going to stand for this?” He asked her in his last line of defense.

Hermione gave him a sympathetic look. “Well, they need to be ready to fight don't they?” Hermione responded sheepishly. “I'll make it up to you.”

Draco sighed as he gave her a dirty look. “You most certainly will.” He told Hermione. Draco pointed at Luna as he turned to Bellatrix. “Don't let that one turn me into a radish garden.” He said threateningly.

“What does that even mean? Draco, stop stalling and just shut up and block the jinxes coming at you.” Bellatrix said firmly, rolling her eyes as she made her way toward the four newcomers, all of which backed away from her.

“Either you jinx him or I curse you.” Bellatrix warned when no one made any moves to start jinxing Draco.

Luna shot a stream of purple at Draco, which went straight through his protection shield and Draco had to jump out of the way to dodge it so that it wouldn’t blast into his face. Luna smiled at him, clearly proud of herself. “What the fuck was that?” Draco asked.

“Not radishes, if that makes you feel better.” Luna replied.

“You.” Bellatrix waved at Luna. “Go again.”

“Some people learn better in an environment where their teacher actually tries to learn their name.” Luna said calmly as Bellatrix narrowed her eyes at her. “But 'you' works fine too, I suppose.” Luna added when Bellatrix continued glaring at her.

Luna stepped forward again and shot another purple streak at Draco, which he dove to dodge. Luna spun in the same dancing way Bellatrix had a tendency to move in as she shot a pink flash at him. Again it broke his shield and he jumped to the side right before the light could graze him. Hermione saw a look of intrigue wash over Bellatrix's face as she watched Luna move with a twinge of a smile on her lips.

“Can someone else have a go?” Draco asked, panting as he ducked and dodged Luna's jinxes that penetrated his shield every time.

“Are any of these lethal?” Bellatrix asked Luna instead of acknowledging Draco.

“Not if the counter curse is preformed.”

“Stop moving, Draco; I want to see what these do.” Bellatrix instructed.

Luna shot that pink light at him again and Draco dove to the side rather than letting it hit him. “What did I say?” Bellatrix said angrily.

“I know what that one does and I specifically told you not to let her make a radish garden out of me!” Draco shot back.

Luna landed the purple streak of light in Draco's side as he was distracted with Bellatrix. “Fuck!” Draco groaned loudly and Hermione rose from her seat quickly to check that everything was alright as Draco sunk to his knees. A rancid smell immediately filled the room as blue ooze started leaking from Draco's side, down over his jeans. Padma and Gabrielle both lifted their shirts above their noses to try blocking the smell, while Parvati buried her face in her elbow.

The smell was so putrid, Hermione had to actively force herself not to gag. Bellatrix and Draco both seemed unbothered by the smell, which was beyond Hermione how that was even possible. Even Luna had taken measures to block the smell out as more of that blue ooze traveled down Draco's leg. “A little fucking help would be nice.” He said with a glare at Bellatrix.

“She said they weren't lethal.” Bellatrix stated as she gave Luna an impressed smile.

“Luna, do the counter curse!” Parvati groaned through her arm shield.

“Ze smell is dreadful!” Gabrielle added, as if the group wasn't aware of the scent surrounding them.

“I haven't actually had the counter curse for that one work before.” Luna said through the air bubble she'd conjured over her mouth and nose.

Draco gritted his teeth as he looked up at her. “So why did you hit me with it?” He asked and Bellatrix laughed in that manic way that still sent shivers down Hermione's spine.

“Well, I wasn't going to risk being cursed by Bellatrix Lestrange because I didn't hit you with a curse.” Luna responded as if it was obvious.

“What do you mean, the counter curse hasn't worked? What happens when you use it?” Hermione asked, speaking slowly in her attempt at not breathing through her nose.

“Sometimes it gets worse."

“Worse? Oh for fuck's sake!” Parvati groaned.

“And the other times?” Hermione prodded.

“Mostly it has no effect.”

Hermione looked to Padma, whose hand was now pressed tightly over her shirt still covering the bottom portion of her face. “Can you heal him?” Hermione asked trying to keep the franticness from her voice.

“I can hardly even breathe.” Padma responded.

This seemed to only amuse Bellatrix more as she started laughing harder. Draco flicked his wand at her and her ankles flew out from under her, causing Bellatrix to fall hard onto the ground beside where Draco was kneeling. The blue ooze was now creeping along the floor toward where Bellatrix had fallen and the smell slowly kept increasing. This stopped Bellatrix’s laughter pretty quickly.

“I’m gonna kick your ass.” Draco groaned as he made to move toward Bellatrix, but only made more blue ooze seep from his side.

“Luna! What does this spell even do?!” Hermione practically shouted as she rounded on Luna.

Parvati and Gabrielle had began backing away from the main area of the training room from the smell as the ooze seemed to slither on its own toward them once it had finally reached the ground from Draco’s side. “It puts a fungus into the blood which turns into a flesh eating fungus when it meets oxygen.”

“Fucking great.” Draco grumbled.

“No wonder the resistance has been hiding you.” Bellatrix said from the ground, moving further from the blue ooze that seemed to be moving in her direction looking to start eating away at her.

“Flesh eating fungus? You thought it would be a good idea to hit my husband with flesh eating fungus when you don’t have a counter curse that works?” Hermione took a threatening step toward Luna, but Padma stepped out in front of her.

“What do you know about flesh eating fungus? I might be able to correct the counter curse or at least slow whatever it is going on with him.” Padma paused to suppress a gag. “I don’t know much about flesh eating fungus, though.”

“I’m not participating in another one of these. You can get jinxed next time.” Draco said, leaning slightly so the ooze could fall more readily out of his body opposed to crawling down his stomach as he flipped off Bellatrix and moved his hand to also show it to Hermione.

“How was I supposed to know this was going to happen?” Hermione asked in an appalled tone at Draco flipping her off.

Bellatrix had started laughing again. “It’s fucking Luna Lovegood! That’s how!” Draco shouted.

“He has a point.” Parvati said from behind her elbow mask, now fully backed into the wall farthest from where Draco and his ooze was.

Hermione shot a glare at Parvati before she wracked her mind with everything she knew on flesh eating fungus. Gabrielle groaned from Parvati’s side, pressing her face into the side of Parvati’s arm. She muttered something in French that Hermione couldn’t quite make out as Parvati pressed Gabrielle’s face harder into her arm in attempt to block her from the smell.

“If I die because of a fucking fungus, I promise you; the whole lot of you will never be rid of me. I will haunt every single fucking person in this room.” Draco said angrily as Bellatrix had finally gotten back up and began moving away from him now that the ooze seemed determined to get onto her.

“You’re not going to die, just shut up for a minute so I can think.” Hermione said.

“You’re more than welcome to haunt me. I’ve always enjoyed the company of ghosts.” Luna said in what Hermione assumed was an attempt meant to make Draco feel better.

Padma laughed before groaning at the sharp intake of the smell that she’d been trying to block from her senses. Bellatrix had started attempting to vanish the ooze from the floor, which only seemed to make the stench that much worse even though the ooze did vanish.

“Ugh, I’m gonna be sick.” Parvati groaned.

“Luna, what is the counter curse you’ve been using?” Hermione asked as Draco’s face started turning a sickly grey color.

Padma moved in on him, doing her best not to breath as she was beside him. She motioned for him to lift his shirt up for her to see the gash that was clearly leaking the blue ooze so she could do something at all to try and heal him. Draco pulled his shirt up to show a fairly small wound across his side, but where the blue ooze was touching his skin had started turning his skin black from decay.

“Fuck, behan¹.” Parvati said as Padma had to move back for a moment to stop herself from puking onto Draco.

Luna raised her wand at Draco, whose eyes widened in shock at the realization that Luna was about to use the counter curse on him. “Not with your wand!” Hermione said, hopping in front of Draco and spreading her arms out to further block Draco. “Just tell me the incantation.”

“Right. What I’ve come up with is Funginus Abiit.” Luna said, putting her wand toward the floor.

Padma had turned back to Draco and was pulling the black skin from Draco’s side with her wand. Hermione began pacing slightly before she finally turned her wand on Draco. He gave her a weary look. “Try not to kill me, would you?” Draco said in the best nonchalant tone he could muster.

Hermione gave him an unamused look. “Funginum Remotionem.” Hermione said and a lighter purple light pushed out of her wand onto Draco.

The blue ooze stopped falling out of Draco’s wound and the putrid smell dissipated. “I never thought of using it with that wording.” Luna said in an intrigued voice.

Padma pulled her face out from her shirt and moved closer to Draco, casting several healing spells over this still blackish wound until the color became more skin toned and his face started looking less grey. Parvati released her face from her elbow prison and wiped the wetness from under her eyes where they had been watering from the smell. Gabrielle made no such efforts to remove her face from Parvati’s arm.

“So, what did we learn from that lesson?” Bellatrix asked and Hermione glared at her.

“That you’re a cunt and that Luna is a psychopath.” Draco said deadpan and Bellatrix fixed him with a glare.

Padma smacked Draco’s shoulder as she worked on healing the rest of his wound, while Hermione gave him a stern look. “Is it safe to breathe?” Gabrielle said in a muffled voice into Parvati’s arm.

Parvati pulled out her well hidden pack of cigarettes and immediately lit up. “Well, it was.” Padma said giving her twin a disapproving look.

“After that fucking smell, I deserve the cigarette.” Parvati defended as Gabrielle moved her face away from Parvati’s arm, but only to slip her arm around her waist.

Draco readjusted how he was sitting on the floor so that he could stretch his legs out from under him and then proceeded to lay down on the floor while the last of Padma’s healing set in to his side. Everyone fell into a silence as they watched Draco simply lie on the floor. Bellatrix had moved over to where Parvati and Gabrielle stood and bummed a cigarette off of Parvati, who nearly spat out the cigarette in her mouth when Bellatrix moved toward her. Hermione gave Bellatrix a confused look, but before she could make a comment on her sudden interest in smoking, Draco was also motioning Parvati and her box of cigarettes toward him. Parvati got a smug smile at this, having been persecuted endlessly for her own smoking habits, as she lit a cigarette on her own and passed it down to where Draco was still lying.

“I knew you seemed the type.” Parvati said teasingly.

Hermione looked down at him. “Picked up a new vice, have you?”

Draco took two drags from the cigarette Parvati had given him before he answered. “If she deserves one from just the smell, I certainly deserve one for almost being taken out by a fungus.”

“How do you get the spells to pierce his shield every time?” Bellatrix asked Luna before Hermione could further get into berating Draco for partaking in the smoke break the three of them deemed a necessity.

“It seems silly to create spells for battling that could be shielded, doesn’t it?” Luna responded.

Bellatrix and Luna stared at one another for a moment before Hermione cleared her throat and offered her hand down to help Draco back to his feet. Draco put out the cigarette in his hand on the stone floor before he took Hermione’s hand and let her help pull him up from the ground. Hermione conjured up a moving target dummy where Draco had previously been standing. Bellatrix and Parvati both put their cigarettes out as well, while Padma and Gabrielle seemed ready to create some damage of their own.

“Well, ladies. I’d say it’s been fun, but it’s been terrible. Enjoy your training. Don’t kill my wife or I will be forced to kill you.” Draco said, leaning over to place a kiss on Hermione’s lips before he apparated from the training room.

“We will not be jinxing living targets moving forward.” Hermione said in a finalized tone giving Bellatrix a pointed look.

Bellatrix raised her arms in a look of innocence. “How was I to know you’d have brought a strange little killer into our midsts?”

Luna turned to look at the other women around her as they all looked at her. Truthfully, of the group, Luna was the only one who hadn’t actually ever killed anyone. Even in the few battles she’d been in, most of her damage had been done to people who were either already dying and she simply got them to the end result faster, or they were already dead like when she sprouted radishes out of a body Draco had used to shield himself from Luna’s attacks. Luna seemed to notice that everyone was staring at her and it seemed to dawn on her what the meaning of Bellatrix’s words truly were.

“Am I meant to be the strange little killer?” Luna asked and Bellatrix rolled her eyes.

“Alright, everyone just attack the fucking target so I can see how much more work I’m going to have to put into this group.” Bellatrix said in an almost bored tone, but Hermione noticed that she watched with intrigue on her face as she overlooked the women as they started taking turns attacking the dummy Hermione had conjured up for them.

Chapter Text

Chapter 34

Draco’s POV

Draco vowed to not even be within Malfoy Manor while Bellatrix was having another training session after his last encounter with another of Luna’s created spells. Instead, he strolled through the grounds of Black Manor with Remus while Tonks trained with Dean and Katie, watched over by Teddy; Zacharias was all, but confined to his bedroom. Draco found solace in the silence he and Remus typically shared their time in. Nothing was expected of him with Remus; not even speaking if he didn't feel like it. Remus seemed to just enjoy his company, which Draco did find to be strange considering the man had been best friends with Potter's parents.

“Why do you entertain these walks?” Draco asked when the curiosity had started festering.

“Entertain? Are you under the impression that I'm acting out of character to appease you?” Remus asked in return.

“Are you not?”

Remus sighed. “I go on these walks quite often, regardless of your presence at the manor. Does it also make the inhabitants feel more comfortable when you're not lurking in the halls? Yes, I've been told it does. But, then again, it makes most of them more comfortable when I'm also not lurking around the halls.”

“Because of your condition?” Draco guessed.

“I'm quite used to it by now, but yes. Where my wife and son just see a man, albeit, an old man; others choose to focus on the monster.”

Draco turned and entered the cemetery their previous walks had always kept them out of. Draco wasn't necessarily interested in his ancestry, but he was interested in the orchard that lie just beyond the other side of the tombstones. Remus barely hesitated as he followed Draco into the graveyard. “I suppose you remind me a little of myself.” Remus said guiltily.

“That's surprising.” Draco stated, leading Remus in a maze through his dead bloodline.

“Is it? I thought you'd know all about a monster within.” Remus mused.

Draco sighed. “Perhaps if I too weren't in my right mind in the moments I'm considered to be a monster I could see the comparison.”

A moment passed between them as Draco stopped for beat before the grave markers of the grandparents he'd never met. Remus placed a reassuring hand on Draco's shoulder and they began moving through the cemetery again. “In war, especially one of this nature, often times it is kill or be killed. That doesn't mean we always enjoy the killing. I never was much of a leader; James and Sirius always handled that. I suppose in Harry's likeness to his father and blatant lack of planning before action like Sirius, I was wrong for expecting him to lead the way they would have done. I, also, am not quite fond of killing; the ones I've done as a wolf plague me a great deal. Better dead than infected though, I suppose.”

“Potter would lose his mind hearing his precious, saintly family took lives.” Draco muttered.

“Yes, you're probably right. Though, had I been less worried about protecting Harry's youth and told him the truth of what the first war was really like, maybe I could have saved some lives.”

Draco felt a knot tie up in his stomach. He swallowed hard. He had the vague inclination that Remus was talking about his life. Draco feared hearing the answer; it was honestly still baffling enough to him that Hermione loved him despite his actions let alone having someone else in Potter's inner circle not meeting him with utter disdain. “Your friends would have fought had they been alive?” Draco asked instead.

“No one would have been able to stop them.” Remus said and a smile curled up his lips.

They walked farther into the cemetery in silence. Draco let his mind wander to what it would have been like if Potter had actually followed in his father and godfather's footsteps. If Potter had wanted to fight, would they have become friends? Something about being friends with someone who'd spent a year tying him up before beating the shit out of him while trying to learn his wife's whereabouts made that dragonesque rage warm his blood. He fought the urge to scowl at the fresh blades of grass starting to grow throughout the grave plots.

“I'm surprised you didn't want to oversee Bellatrix's training.” Remus said when Draco could almost feel the anger fumigating off of him.

“She used me as target practice last time.” Draco said simply.

“Surely you weren't expecting different treatment. Granted, I've only heard stories of what she did to train you, but living targets seem fairly tame for her.”

“I thought maybe her age had watered her down a bit since I trained with her. Nevertheless, I wasn't expecting to nearly die from a flesh eating fungus thanks to Luna.” Draco said, his voice darkening at the memory of it.

Remus gave a groan. “See, and that's exactly why Dora and I won't let her be alone with Teddy anymore.” Remus said exasperatedly. “She means well, but he's not even school age. Imagine him losing control of something as dangerous as that.”

“Imagine her using it on me without having a proper counter curse.” Draco stated. “Which is why I will no longer be attending. They'll be less inclined to jinx Hermione even if Bella tells them to do it.”

Draco and Remus finally crossed to the opening at the other side of the cemetery and stepped into the sprawling orchard. They wandered through the trees as the small green buds of new leaves were just starting to sprout from the branches. “How’ve the potions been?” Draco asked after a minute.

“They still taste like shit, but that was to be expected.” Remus stated.

“Felt any other differences?” Draco asked and Remus seemed to realize that Draco was making his own attempt at getting information to make sure he in fact hadn’t tainted his wolfsbane potion.

“I haven’t felt nearly as fatigued as I normally do when the full moon is coming. As far as wolf tendencies go, I won’t know much about that until the full moon in two days.” Remus paused to examine Draco for a moment. “Are you worried you might have made my condition worse?”

“Not worsen. I’ve done the research well enough. I don’t exactly enjoy giving out false hope, though.” Draco said, brushing his hand along one of the larger trunks of the trees around him. “I don’t exactly like being wrong either.”

“I’ve been a werewolf for long enough that I don’t often get my hopes up for a cure. I do recall your disliking for being wrong from my days as your professor, though. You were the only other student, aside from Hermione, to ever argue with me about a grade I gave them.”

Draco laughed. “Took every class imaginable that year and still she found time to argue with her professors about the grades she was given. I saw her correcting Professor Vector more times than I can count almost every time she got a homework assignment back.” Draco smiled fondly at the memory.

Remus smiled as well. “Sounds like Hermione.”

“Have you sent Potter your patronus message, or whatever it is you do with those?” Draco said changing the subject before he got lost in a tangent about Hermione and it became even more clear just how very much in love with her he was.

“I haven’t sent it yet, no. What date should we plan for?”

“Assuming you’ll transform during the full moon, how long do you usually need to recover?”

Remus rubbed the stubble on his chin and cheek as he considered this. “Typically about five days.”

“That brings us into March. I’ll have to figure out something to tell the Dark Lord, which means I’ll probably need at least a day to recover as well.” Draco said more to himself than Remus.

“You expect to be punished for giving Voldemort information?” Remus asked.

Draco seemed to remember that he wasn’t on his own as he looked back to Remus. “I typically am. Not to mention I’ve been avoiding going back to give him any false information in a while, or actually killing anyone as he’s instructed me to do. If I’m not careful he’ll take back—“ Draco stopped short of mentioning the horcruxes in his possession per his unbreakable vow. “Bella’s already said his trust in my loyalty is fleeting at best after I was captured in Romania.”

“So your time frame for destroying the horcruxes is narrowing.”

“If they're hidden all over again, I'll be back at square one.” Draco rubbed his temples.

Remus conjured up his patronus and whispered to it a message for Potter giving him the place and date he wanted to meet with him. Remus then whispered a time frame within that date for Potter to show up during so that they wouldn't be wasting an entire day should Potter choose to not show up. “Give the message to Harry.” Remus told the wolf before the silvery animal vanished into the sky.

“That's it? You just whisper a little message to a light and it just finds the person you want it to?” Draco asked in a disbelieving voice.

“Something like that.”

“Isn't a glowing animal less than discreet?”

“I don't think it's any more obvious than owls. Typically I wouldn't use my corporeal patronus, but this way Harry will know that it's truly me asking him to meet me.”

“I suppose that's useful. Anyone could intercept an owl. I suppose it's harder to replicate a patronus.”

“Nearly impossible. Only the nature of the caster can change the appearance of their patronus.”

“Hence your wolf?”

“Sometimes magic is ironic. When I learned the spell I'd already been inflicted for quite some time, yet my patronus became the animal I hated the most just from the wolf within me.”

“If you hate it so much can't you just change it?”

“It doesn't work like that, unfortunately. Patronuses can change. Dora's changed to a wolf when she first admitted her feelings for me. Though it's not quite as easy to change when a beast constantly resides inside a person the way it does in me.”

“Does it bother your wife that you hate yourself when she clearly loves even the darkest parts of you?”

Remus seemed taken aback by the bluntness of this question and stared at Draco for a moment. “I suppose I could ask you the same question.” His voice slightly harsher than the tone he normally took with Draco.

Draco narrowed his eyes at Remus as he took a moment to contemplate this. “Yes, I'd assume it probably does bother her.” He said finally.

Remus was quiet a moment before he said, “It bothers Dora as well.”

Draco and Remus walked farther through the trees, each lost in their own thoughts. Remus had said that Draco reminded him of himself, but Draco had found it hard to believe. He doubted Remus had ever been cruel the way Draco had been. They were similar in their love of reading and having wives they both deemed themselves unworthy of, but Draco still considered himself more of a monster than Remus was despite Remus being a literal monster every full moon.

“Do all patronuses change based on who the person loves?” Draco asked one of the many questions circling his mind. He'd never been able to cast the patronus charm and he found the knowledge Remus had on them intriguing.

“Not always. Some couples have patronuses that complement one another similar to their personalities.”

“So being in love with you changed Tonks's nature?”

“I think it might be more complicated than that. I'm not an expert on it by any means. I was deep in a werewolf pack at the time; perhaps it was her worry for my wellbeing that changed her patronus.”

“What is Hermione’s?”

“Well, it used to be an otter. I have a feeling, though, that like Dora's changed; Hermione's has also changed.”

“I don't see why it would. I don't have a patronus for hers to shift into.”

“Ah, that's why you are so curious about patronuses.”

“I've never been able to produce one. Bit annoying really. I hate Potter being able to do something I can’t.” Draco admitted, without really thinking about it.

“I think you'd be able to now; if you really wanted to. Or needed to.” Remus mused.

Draco shrugged. “I suppose if it's based on happiness then I probably could. I've just tried and failed so many times prior that it's a little discouraging to keep trying.”

“I could help you, if you ever change your mind, but the vast majority of wizard kind can't produce a patronus. Though, someone who favors being exemplary in all he does, it probably drives you mad being considered average.”

“Not always my best quality.”

Remus seemed to want to argue that it was a good quality, but they were interrupted as a silver stag came sauntering from beyond the property line of Black Manor to stop in between them. “March the fifth; I'll meet you there, Remus.” Potter's voice came from the stag before it dissolved from a silvery figure into mist.

“I should go tell Hermione. She'll want to plan exactly what she wants to say to him, I'm sure. Good luck during the full moon.” Draco said, extending his hand out to Remus.

Remus shook his hand. “Until next time, Draco.” Remus said before Draco disapparated.

Chapter Text

Chapter 35

“We can't just show up at Hogwarts without anything to show for the assignment we were given.” Hermione said as Draco stood half clothed in his Death Eater uniform the day of the full moon.

“You want me to bring the heads of your friends in with us to prove we're not useless to the Dark Lord?” Draco asked exasperatedly.

They'd been having the same conversation for the last two days after Draco had come home from Black Manor with the date that Harry had agreed to meet up with Remus. She was quite certain Draco's plan of simply lying to Voldemort wasn't going to work, but Draco wasn't budging on his viewpoint. “Padma thinks if Charlie knew the circumstances he would join us.” Hermione stated and Draco audibly groaned as he turned away from her.

“Given the circumstances of me killing two of his brothers? That wasn't helping the cause. Fred might have been my poorly controlled temper, but Ron was vengeance. The two of us might as well just go and try to convince George to join up as well.” Draco slipped into the black shirt of his Death Eater uniform and began buttoning it as he turned back to face her.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. “You're being intentionally stubborn about this.”

“I'm not being stubborn, sweetheart; I'm being realistic.” Draco said.

Hermione pulled on her own makeshift Death Eater uniform and pursed to lips to show her irritation with Draco's answer, but chose to say nothing. Draco wrapped his arms around her waist before she could put on the black shirt she wore as part of her uniform and he pressed his lips into her neck as he nuzzled against her. She pointedly ignored him and turned her face away from his.

“Don't pout.” He said, kissing her neck again.

“I'm not pouting.” Hermione said crossly.

Draco laughed before he kissed her neck more closely to her jawline this time. “Oh, my mistake. It must only look like pouting then.” He teased.

Hermione turned in his arms to properly smack him. “You’re not worried in the slightest about being tortured? I can’t even stomach the thought of seeing that happen to you again. Or what he’d do to you after he’s finished with me.”

Draco pet her hair before tucking some of her curls behind her ear. “So that’s what this whole issue is really about?” He said, peering down into her face as she tightened her grip on him.

“Well, that and that he might be able to read from me that we’re lying.” Hermione said truthfully.

Draco pressed his lips into hers, but even that couldn't comfort her the way she wanted to be. “You've lied to the Dark Lord before.” Draco said as he pulled away from her.

“Not with you beside me.”

“But he didn't sense the lies when I told them beside you. This time won't be any different.”

“Yes, that's my point.”

“What would you have me do, then, my love? Go alone?” Draco's face was calm, but his tone had an edge to it as he spoke.

Hermione scrunched up her face to further show her irritation with him. Draco kissed the tip of her scrunched up nose. “That's what I thought.” He stated.

“He's going to torture you.” Hermione said as she tried to fight the devastating ache within her chest at the mere thought of it.

“The Dark Lord does enjoy doing that, yes.” Draco said in an even tone as Hermione wiggled from his grip to finish dressing herself.

“What would you do if he were to torture me instead?”

Draco glared at her, but she knew it wasn't her he was mad at, just the thought she'd made form within his mind. “Get myself killed, most likely, by preventing it.”

Hermione met his darkened gaze with a knowing look. “Yet, I'm meant to just watch it happen to you? You might not think anything of getting tortured, but the same doesn't apply to me.”

“Lună mea¹; I'm barely considered trustworthy anymore. The Dark Lord will torture me regardless of you watching or not. Going to him together shows our solidarity. We are stronger than him. Together we are stronger than this entire world.” Draco took Hermione's hands in his own and squeezed them reassuringly. “I need you with me and I need you to pretend like it doesn't bother you; whatever it is he does to me.”

Hermione pulled her hands out of his grasp and ran them up his arms until she reached his neck and could rub along his sharp jaw line with her thumbs as her fingers tangled into the hair on his nape. “How am I supposed to pretend anything that happens to you doesn't bother me?”

Hermione caught a flash in Draco's eyes as he undoubtedly bit back making a sexually driven comment about there being several things that have happened to him that didn’t bother her in response. “Just pretend it's fifteen year old Draco getting tortured to shit. I was a real prick at that age, I'm sure you'd have enjoyed it back then.” Draco said instead.

“Fifteen year old Draco was infatuated with me.” Draco made a face at her in astonishment at Hermione's comment.

“I beg your pardon.” Was all he could think of to defend himself.

“Now that I know you, truly, it's so easy to tell.” Hermione said and Draco let out a hallow laugh as his face flushed slightly. “Are you going to deny it?” She added when Draco opened his mouth several times, giving him the illusion of being a goldfish.

“How can I if it's so obvious?” Draco said incredulously.

“You could easily deny it if it wasn't true.” Hermione pointed out which only seemed to irritate Draco more.

“I think I'd rather hurry along to be tortured.” He stated locking his wand into place in his arm holster.

“Are you upset that I called you out on it or that you've liked me longer than I've liked you?” Hermione asked with a slight smirk on her lips.

“I'm upset because of how I treated you to try and negate said infatuation.” Draco admitted, grabbing his mask and turning back to face Hermione.

Hermione couldn't keep the smirk up with that answer and gave him a sympathetic look. “I think twelve year old Draco was probably the worst.” Hermione said, edging away from the topic.

Draco laughed. “Not one of my finer years, you're right about that.” He stated as Hermione came up to wrap her arms around him.

“I still don't think children deserve to be tortured, but you at that age does come pretty close to deserving it.”

“Are you trying to make me feel better?” Draco asked, wrapping his arms around her as well.

“Is it working?” She countered.

“A little.” He teased.

Hermione sighed. “Okay, let's just get this over with. The faster it's over the sooner I can stop being riddled with anxiety about the whole thing.” She said, pulling her balaclava up before placing her mask on.

Draco slid his mask into place as well before smacking her playfully on the butt. “You're the sexiest Death Eater.” He murmured and Hermione rolled her eyes beneath her mask.

“You're not going to convince me to have sex with you just to stall going to Hogwarts.” Hermione told him, slipping her hand into his and letting his large fingers wrap around her hand.

“Damn it.” Draco muttered before he disapparated them both.

Hogwarts was more alive than it had been in years when they arrived. The word of a war starting had spread and everyone was becoming anxious for Draco and Hermione to arrive with Harry. The sight of Harry would mean that they would soon have resistance members to fight once again. Hermione and Draco on their own caused a lot more groans of disappointment than Hermione was used to, but ignored them as Draco was doing and let him continue leading her through the masses toward the Chamber of Secrets.

They made their way to the center of the Chamber and fell into low bows in front of Voldemort. “Malfoys, you've returned and still you haven't brought Harry Potter with you.” Voldemort said.

“Forgive us, my Lord. Potter's whereabouts have been harder to locate than anticipated.” Draco said, not rising from his bow.

Voldemort hissed and Hermione dared a look up at him. Bellatrix was by his side, standing almost near enough that they were touching, but pointedly allowing space between them in the presence of company. Bellatrix met Hermione's gaze and she dropped her masked face back to the floor.

“Surely the resistance has at least been being exterminated while on this hunt.” Voldemort's voice was cold and Hermione was glad she wasn't looking at him now.

“The resistance seems to be congregating where ever Potter is also hiding, my Lord.” Draco said before Hermione could say anything.

Voldemort's legilimency claws reached into Hermione's mind and though it was more painful than she remembered it being, her void pool held strong. Voldemort let out a hiss. “Bella!” Voldemort shouted despite Bellatrix being at his side when Hermione had last seen them.

“Yes, my Lord.” Bellatrix said.

“You said Draco could be trusted!” He was still shouting.

“He can be, my Lord.” Bellatrix's voice remained calm despite Voldemort's anger.

“Then why have I still not been given Harry Potter to fucking kill?!” The room seemed to shake in Voldemort's fury.

Hermione dared another glance up only to find that Draco had risen at some point. She wondered if maybe she should as well, but decided she blended into the background easier in her bow. “My Lord.” Bellatrix said calmly. “Harry Potter has been hidden far longer than Draco has been charged with bringing him to you. Draco was the closest anyone had been to Harry Potter in years, but was a prisoner with no way of bringing him back to you when his wife went off on her own to break him free. He returned to you immediately, my Lord. Are you suggesting that Draco should somehow be able to accomplish a task that even you have not been able to achieve, my Lord?”

Hermione cringed just hearing the words Bellatrix had said. She looked up again to see Voldemort towering over Bellatrix, who simply looked up at him calmly. He pulled back his arm and struck Bellatrix hard across the face, drawing blood from her lip immediately. Draco moved barely forward before he managed to stop himself, fists clenched at his side. Voldemort was practically panting in his rage.

“You dare suggest that Draco is more powerful than me?! The most feared Dark Lord to ever live? Perhaps you've forgotten your place, Bella.” Voldemort growled, towering threateningly over Bellatrix.

Bellatrix's face remained unfazed despite the immediate purpling on her cheek and blood dripping along her chin. “I'm not suggesting that at all, my Lord. Quite the opposite, actually. I simply find it odd that you would be implying Draco was more powerful than you by assuming he should have found Harry Potter in barely a month of being assigned the task. My Lord.” There was venom in her last words, but she held her ground before Voldemort as if to show him that perhaps he had forgotten his place with her as well.

Voldemort let out a low long hiss and the snakes throughout the Chamber began slithering in a type of frenzy around the Chamber. He raised his hand again as if to strike her once more, but Draco had moved this time. Placed himself directly between Voldemort and Bellatrix. Hermione finally rose, herself, from her bow in a panic, but her feet were frozen to the floor. Draco lifted his mask to look fully into Voldemort's face, now nearly slits to nose with Draco. Draco's eyes flashed to Hermione for a split second and she knew he'd frozen her there. Locked her in place so she might not risk herself the way he couldn't stop himself from risking his own life for Bellatrix.

“It is bad form to hit a woman, my Lord.” Draco said calmly.

This seemed to set Voldemort over the edge. “Crucio!” He shouted, jabbing his wand into Draco's chest as he cast the spell.

Draco twisted in a way that made Hermione want to vomit just seeing it, but she kept her lips pressed tightly together. He fell onto the ground in front of Bellatrix, who didn't even look down at his writhing body bumping into her legs. Hermione thought she saw Bellatrix's jaw clench, but that was the most emotion she showed as she stood there with blood falling onto her dress from her now swollen lip. Draco shook so aggressively on the floor he began thudding away from where Bellatrix was standing and was now closer to the center of the Chamber where Hermione still was. She bit into her lips to hold them together as her eyes swelled up with tears. The taste of blood quickly filled her mouth as Draco made attempts to hold his body in place and Voldemort had a look of deranged power on his face as he watched with a sick pleasure the way Draco was unsuccessful at conquering the curse for even a moment.

Even in her silence Draco had been under too long. Too long. Too long. Hermione couldn't help repeating over and over within her mind as silent tears streamed down her face. Deep cuts formed in her lips from her teeth biting into them in order to hold her mouth closed. Her stomach was in knots as the urge to scream out in her rage of what was being done to her husband ate away at her.

“Scream or this will be the way you take your last breath, Draco.” Voldemort threatened.

Draco thrashed on the floor, but Hermione caught the way he twisted to meet Bellatrix's gaze that had fallen on him. She gave barely a nod before she closed her eyes and turned her face away from Draco. The scream that echoed through the Chamber was a noise that instantly seared itself into Hermione mind. The worst sound she'd ever heard. Bellatrix tightened her eyes closed and cringed away from the sound slightly. Hermione could barely stand it, she tried to move, but was still held in place with Draco's spell on her. She released the hold on her lips with her teeth and opened her mouth to scream at Voldemort to stop when finally Draco went still and quiet.

Voldemort strode up to where Draco was lying, taking quivering, shaking breaths. He gripped the collar of Draco's uniform and lifted him off the floor menacingly. Bellatrix had turned her attention back to the scene before them. “It would serve you well to remember the well trained dog you are, Draco. Bring me Harry Potter!” Voldemort said in a harsh voice before he tossed Draco back onto the floor.

Draco managed to reach a hand toward Hermione and suddenly she could move again. She rushed to Draco's side while Voldemort had his back to them, wrapping his arm around her shoulders to support his weight fully as she lifted him with her from the floor. “Get out of my sight, you insolent vermin.” Voldemort growled.

Bellatrix made her way toward Draco to help Hermione hold his weight, but Voldemort reached out and caught hold of her wrist. “Not. You.” He said darkly and Hermione saw Bellatrix inhale a deep breath before she stepped back into her place beside Voldemort's throne.

Hermione didn't wait to see anymore nor did she bow or say anything as she rushed out of the Chamber of Secrets. Draco seemed to be going in and out of consciousness the way his head lolled against hers as she drug him back above ground. To her surprise, Theo came rushing toward them the moment they walked out of the bathroom containing the entrance to the Chamber. He took the full weight of Draco onto him and Hermione couldn't stop herself from sobbing at the sight of him.

Theo tapped Draco's cheek. “Come on, D. Come back to us.” Theo said softly.

“How…how…?” Hermione couldn't manage anything else through her sobbing.

“I was here relieving some of the unmarked Death Eaters of their duties that I had taken to Paris.” Theo said shaking Draco slightly to try and get his eyes to open again while his body shook in Theo's grasp uncontrollably. “I could hear him fucking screaming from the grounds.” Theo continued in a dark voice as he glared at nothing in particular.

“Bella.” Draco muttered.

“Bella can handle herself.” Theo said, lightly tapping Draco's face again. “Hey! Stay here. You're freaking your wife out. Me too.”

Hermione moved to help hold Draco upright, wiping her face frantically. “He's gonna kill her.” Draco groaned and to both Hermione and Theo's shock, Draco acted as if he was trying to pull them with him back into the Chamber of Secrets.

“He's not going to kill Bella. No one else will fuck him.” Theo said, pulling Draco harder away from the entrance.

Draco closed his eyes again tightly, pointedly this time. His face screwed up with a different type of agony than that of the cruciatus curse he'd had on him. Tears started leaking from his tightly clenched eyes. “I saw it.” He said in a croak of sob. “I saw it.” He repeated.

Theo and Hermione looked at one another, both equally terrified about Draco's behavior. “What do you mean, you saw it?” Hermione asked him, stroking his face as his body shook from both the curse he'd had on him and his own sobbing he seemed to have just as little control over.

“In his mind. I saw it.” Draco took a sharp breath, but was unable to move himself into any position other than the way he was draped between Theo and Hermione. “He's going to kill her. I have to go back.”

“Don't be an idiot!” Theo said firmly. “You go back in there and you're dead too! You are leaving!”

Hermione couldn't hide the fear on her face as she looked at Theo. “Help me get him outside. If anyone comes up to us jinx them. They see him like this and they'll think they can take him out entirely.” Theo instructed and Hermione could only nod as Draco pressed his wet, tear and sweat soaked face into her neck.

Hermione put on the best glare she could manage, but had to admit that Theo looked much more intimidating than she did. Regardless, no one seemed to want to press their luck with any of them and Theo and Hermione were able to quickly pull Draco out to the grounds so they could apparate him out of there. “He's shaking too hard, he'll get splinched.” Hermione said as Theo made to tighten his grip on Draco.

“Then I guess you better take us some place with a fucking good healer.” Theo retorted, repositioning himself under Draco's arm as Draco continued shaking.

He had passed out again, Hermione had realized. There was only one place she could bring them with a healer and she hoped Padma could do more healing than just what would be needed for a splinching. Hermione hoped Padma could help speed along the healing of the curse as well so Draco wouldn't keep falling into unconsciousness every couple minutes. She brushed back some of Draco's hair from his face and wrapped her arms tightly around his torso and felt Theo's hand grip around her arm as he continued supporting majority of Draco's weight.

“What if—” Hermione started, but Theo cut her off.

“Just go!” And Hermione squeezed her eyes closed tightly before she apparated the three of them to Black Manor.

Chapter Text

Chapter 36

“What the fuck happened to him?” Parvati exclaimed, running up to meet Theo, Hermione, and Draco; forgetting her cigarette entirely.

Theo let Draco slide off his shoulders as Hermione positioned him on the grass, unbuttoning his shirt to check for splinching. Draco had regained consciousness enough to groan in pain from the ground. Hermione's hands shook and she couldn't stop crying again as she moved her hands over him. “I know. I know. I'm sorry.” She said to Draco through tears as the majority of the torn up right side of his chest came into view.

“Holy shit.” Parvati breathed.

“Get Padma!” Hermione said frantically.

Parvati ran off to the manor as Hermione ripped through more of Draco's uniform trying to find any other parts of his body that might have been splinched. Theo was pacing nervously as Hermione exposed more ripped flesh on his left thigh. Hermione's tears kept falling as Draco shook beneath her, groaning from his torn up skin more than anything else now. It hadn't felt like it was late enough to be as dark as it was outside, but Hermione had lost track of when she and Draco had actually gone to Hogwarts let alone how long Draco had been being tortured. The light of the full moon shone onto the grounds as Theo continued pacing and Hermione gripped Draco's hand and rubbed his head, unable to help him in any other way at the moment.

Padma and Parvati came running toward the three Death Eaters a few minutes later. Tonks and Remus followed shortly behind them. Hermione gave Remus a gaping look as he crouched in the moonlight beside Draco. Tonks stood with Parvati, who reached out to hold onto Theo's arm in order to stop his pacing. “He's been tortured. Badly by the looks of it.” Remus stated as Padma more thoroughly undressed Draco so that she had better access to his injuries.

“How?” Hermione breathed, caught off guard by Remus before her.

“Later.”

“You shouldn't have apparated him in this state.” Padma scolded.

“It's a little late for the fucking lecture, Padma.” Theo retorted.

“You're lucky he didn't lose anything more than skin and muscle in these splinchings.” Padma said fixing a glare on Theo.

“So you think leaving him at Hogwarts would have been a better choice?” Theo asked, glaring back at her.

“How long was he under the cruciatus?” Remus asked, meeting Hermione's gaze again.

She looked down at Draco and started crying again. “So long. Too long.” She sucked in a shaking breath. “Could have been an hour. Maybe longer.”

Padma pushed Hermione away from Draco's shaking body as his eyes started blinking back open. “He's still fucking alive after that?” Parvati asked incredulously.

Draco's hand moved slightly toward Hermione before twitching away from her again. Hermione made to cling to his side again, but Padma stopped her and pushed her away. “He needs me.” Hermione cried.

“He needs to have these splinchings healed quickly without interference. I'm sorry, Hermione. You need to stay out of the way until it's finished.” Padma stated. “Remus hold him steady.”

Remus pressed his hands down onto Draco to keep his body steady as Padma dropped essence of dittany onto Draco's chest before waving her wand over the gashes. “I can help.” Hermione said, moving toward Draco again, but Tonks caught hold of her this time.

“You're in no state to help right now, Hermione. Remus will make sure Padma can finish this part quickly and then you can be back beside him.” Tonks said and Hermione turned to Tonks and hugged her instead of arguing; sobbing into her shoulder.

Tonks rubbed her back and let Hermione cry into her shoulder until Draco's splinchings had vanished. She then guided Hermione back to Draco's side and helped her to kneel beside him. Parvati was chain smoking again from the stress of the scene she wasn't even involved in. Theo had wrangled the pack of cigarettes from her and was doing the same. Hermione took hold of Draco's spasming hand as his body twitched and shook out of his control. He'd lost consciousness again and Hermione tried her hardest to stop crying as the image of Draco being dead now had a more tangible example to build off of within her mind. Remus gripped tightly onto her arm pulling her attention to him.

“He's going to be fine.” Remus said calmly.

“He better fucking be.” Theo said hotly somewhere in the distance; Parvati had clearly let him start pacing again.

Hermione nodded sadly at Remus before she wedged herself in closer to Draco, pulling his hand to her lips and rubbing his forearm. “Once I get him stable, we'll need to move him inside.” Padma instructed and Theo was back beside Remus.

“I can lift him.” Theo said, seeming to know this was the only way he could help.

“We'll all have to carry him; he's in very fragile condition right now.” Padma stated.

Hermione looked up from Draco and was in awe to see Tonks and Parvati had also stepped closer to Draco's shaking body, ready to do their part. Padma waved her wand over Draco's face for another minute or so until he slackened and his body went still. Now Hermione was shaking uncontrollably. He couldn't die. She wouldn't let him. Everyone had lowered themselves to Hermione's eye level and they were slipping their hands beneath and around Draco to get the best support on him. Hermione shook as she did the same. As one, the group rose to their feet, Draco's limp body in their grasps. They moved quickly toward the door to the manor they had exited from to meet their Death Eater companions when they had arrived; Padma leading the way.

“Teddy! I know you're not sleeping! Come open the door!” Tonks yelled as they got closer to the closed door in front of them.

Sheepishly, Teddy's head, lime green hair today, peaked through a crack in the door as he opened it. At the sight of the group rushing toward him he flung the door open widely and stepped out of the way. The group shuffled slightly to get through without whacking Draco against the doorframe. Teddy's eyes widened at the sight of Draco and his hair faded to a darker green as a result.

“What's happened to him, Mum?” Teddy asked, trying to get a better look at Draco being held within the group.

“He's been badly injured. Go back to your bedroom.” Tonks responded.

“But,” Teddy began to argue.

“Listen to your mother, Teddy.” Remus said sternly and Teddy seemed to know better than to challenge him.

Teddy was scurrying away up the stairs as Padma was leading the group into a vacant ground floor bedroom. They lowered Draco onto the bed and his arms drooped off the sides of the bed. “What's happened to him? Why isn't he moving?” Theo got to the questioning before Hermione could.

All she could manage to do was stare in horror at his even more dead looking face now. “I put him in a coma.” Padma said. “He can sleep off some of the physical effects of the curse without feeling the pain this way. Then in a day or two I can heal up the rest of the physical damage. He wasn't showing signs of neurological damage, more exhaustion than anything else.”

Hermione clasped her hand over her mouth to stifle another sob and Padma made sure their eyes met. “Anyone else would have died, Hermione. I don't know how or what it is that keeps this man alive, but your husband is incredibly strong. He's going to be fine. I promise.” She said, taking hold of Hermione's hand.

Theo sighed. “Fuck. I gotta go.” He said moving toward the door.

“Go? What do you mean go?! This is your best friend lying here!” Hermione was quickly on her feet moving at Theo.

“I know! And I also know that if we can't confirm his aunt is alive the moment he regains consciousness, it won't be your ass that he's kicking.” Theo said firmly, catching Hermione by the wrists as she tried to grab on to him.

“You said she would be fine.” Hermione stated.

“What the fuck do I know? I was trying to get him to not get himself killed! The Dark Lord is a fucking lunatic. Exhibit A.” Theo motioned unnecessarily to Draco lying in the bed.

“Fucking damn it.” Hermione muttered moving away from Theo to sit down beside Draco.

Theo took that as sign enough for him to leave and disapparated without another word. “I don't think there's much else for us to do here.” Tonks said to Parvati, motioning her to the door with her.

Parvati rubbed Hermione's shoulder comfortingly before she followed Tonks out of the room. “He's stable, but I can stay if it would make you feel better.” Padma said as she stood hovering by the door.

“It's alright. Thank you.” Hermione said, brushing Draco's hair so it lay more pristinely on his head before stroking the side of his face.

“I'll check on him again in the morning. I'm not sure how long exactly the coma will last; it changes with every case. If his mind decides his pain level is tolerable he'll start waking up.” Padma explained.

“He'll probably be awake before morning then; his tolerance for pain is astronomical.” Hermione stated without taking her gaze off Draco's face.

“You're probably right.” Padma said, offering a reassuring smile to Hermione before she left the room.

Hermione turned her attention to Remus, who was the only other person left within the room and also the only other person who had chosen to sit down beside the bed. He didn't touch Draco the way Hermione was compelled into doing at all times; instead he just sat there with his hands folded in his lap. They sat quietly for a while, but Remus seemed to know that Hermione needed the companionship even if it was in silence. When Hermione had decided that Draco wasn't going to wake up in the next hour, she removed his ripped up clothing and shoes and covered him with a blanket before she looked back to Remus.

“How have you not transformed?” Hermione asked, as she rubbed soft circles with her fingertips into Draco's chest without really thinking about it.

“Draco made a modification to my wolfsbane potion.” Remus stated.

“He…what?” Hermione seemed at a loss.

“He made a modification to my wolfsbane potion. He wasn't sure it would do anything, but the idea was that it would keep me from transforming during the full moon.” Remus explained slightly more.

“He's cured you? He's fucking cured you?!” Hermione couldn't contain her enthusiasm about it as she felt herself welling up with pride at what Draco had done for their old professor.

“Well, I'd still need him to make me the potions every month, but he achieved what he was trying to. This was the first time I've enjoyed being in moonlight in forty-five years. At least I would have, had he not shown up in this condition.” Remus stated.

“Asshole. He didn't even tell me!”

“He was pretty clear on his disliking for spreading false hope. He barely wanted to tell me about it, probably wouldn't have if I wasn't there while he was brewing it.” Remus clarified.

Hermione smiled sadly, stroking Draco's hair a few times. “That sounds like him.”

“Why was he punished so severely?” Remus asked, looking at Draco now as well.

Hermione sucked in a sharp breath. “Bellatrix.” She choked out before her voice broke off and she covered her face with her hands.

“Bellatrix did this to him?” Remus's voice took on a dark, protective quality.

“No. No.” Hermione managed before taking a deep breath. “The Dark Lord was in some kind of temper about us not having brought Harry to him. Bellatrix pointed out that Draco finding Harry was something even the Dark Lord didn't seem to be capable of so it was pointless to be mad at him unless he felt Draco was more powerful than him.”

Remus winced. “I'm sure Voldemort took that well.” He muttered.

“I thought he was going to torture her, kill her even. I hadn't expected him to hit her.”

“I can't see Draco being the type to take that well.”

“The first time, he was able to hold himself back. When he went to do it again is where everything went extremely downhill.”

“Draco thought Bellatrix was going to be killed?”

“He said he saw it in the Dark Lord's mind. I didn't really know what to make of it. How would he have been within the Dark Lord's mind when he was under the cruciatus for that long? How could he get into the Dark Lord's mind at all?”

“I'm not sure. I've only ever known Harry to be able to penetrate Voldemort's mind. Most of that was on accident and because of the horcrux connection. Was that Theodore Nott that was with you guys?”

“Yeah, Theo isn't usually in the same place as us; well he's not supposed to be. He's supposed to be in Paris most of the time despite him still living at Malfoy Manor with us. He just happened to be at Hogwarts the same time as us and came to help when he heard Draco screaming in pain all the way from the grounds. Draco's going to be pissed if Theo went back to Hogwarts and finds Bellatrix dead after we forced him to leave her there.”

“I would probably agree with the sentiment that Bellatrix is most likely not dead. If Voldemort's trust in Draco is fleeting, getting rid of Bellatrix would basically be opening him up to being without a defense. He knows Draco and Bellatrix are his best fighters, his Death Eaters would fall apart without them.”

Hermione seemed to accept this and fell back into silence with Remus as she went back to stroking Draco's hair. “I'll stay with him if you need to check on things at Malfoy Manor.” Remus said after another few minutes of silence had passed.

“I don't want him to wake up and I'm not here. It's practically excruciating to even be away from him when he's in perfect health after Romania.” Hermione said truthfully, wrapping her hands tightly around Draco's hand that was closest to her.

“He's hinted at as much.” Remus said. “Would you like me to stay with you then?”

Hermione looked back to him and thought about it for a moment. “No; it's alright.” She said finally.

“You're sure? It's really no trouble.” Remus said, but he'd started to rise anyway as if he knew Hermione wasn't going to change her mind.

“I'm sure. I'll be alright once he's awake again.” Hermione said and Remus squeezed her shoulder comfortingly before he made his way to the door.

“Remus.” Hermione caught him before he could close her alone in the room with Draco. He looked at her expectantly. “Thank you. The moonlight suits you.” She said with a smile which Remus returned before clicking the door into place behind him as he left.

Chapter Text

Chapter 37

“It's always the endless pining with you.” Draco's raspy teasing voice pulled Hermione from her horrible sleep.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been sleeping leaning from her chair onto Draco's chest. She had pressed her ear into his bare chest to hear his heartbeat shortly after Remus had left her and at some point must have fallen asleep. She hadn't even realized that his hand had coiled its way into her curls spread across him. He brushed his fingers across her cheek as she looked up at him, like she was the one who had just been tortured to the brink of death, rather than himself.

“You're awake!” Hermione said in an excited whisper, ignoring his comment altogether.

She moved slowly to lift herself from him like she might break him, but he tightened his grip on her. “Where do you think you're going?” He asked her with a smirk.

She was used to Draco's nonchalance about everything by now, but she still had been expecting him to be a little less nonchalant having almost died. “I feel like I'm squishing you.” Hermione stated, pulling away from him a little harder than she had been before.

“I want to be squished by you.” Draco said simply and Hermione gave him an unamused look.

His voice was raw sounding, undoubtedly from the screaming he'd done at Hogwarts. His body wasn’t spasming the way Hermione had expected it to, but it was still very clear that Draco's range of motion was extremely limited. “You could have died.” Hermione said in a scolding tone, clearly seeing Draco wasn't going to acknowledge the situation.

It had apparently just dawned on Draco that they weren't in their bedroom and he hadn't just woken up from a regular night's rest. He relaxed his grip some so Hermione could sit up more fully as the last twelve hours seemed to come back to him. He looked around, his face growing anxious.

“Where are we? Where's Bella?” Draco asked trying to sit up and groaning when his body resisted.

“We're at Black Manor. I brought you here so Padma could heal you. Theo went back for Bellatrix, but she's warded from here. He hasn't been back since he left last night.” Hermione explained, pushing Draco back into the bed. “Stop trying to get up, you shouldn't be moving until Padma finishes healing you.”

“Then go get her. We need to get out of here.” Draco said harshly.

“Draco, you need to rest.” Hermione shot back.

“I need to make sure Bella is okay. Just because no one else cares if she lives or dies.” Draco made to move again to get up and groaned.

“What is going on in here?” Padma asked entering the bedroom.

“Talk some sense into him.” Hermione said, pushing Draco, softly, back into his pillows.

Padma laughed. “Oh, you were being serious? You're supposed to be the Malfoy whisperer, not me.”

“He wants to leave.” Hermione informed her.

“I wouldn't recommend it, but I certainly can't stop him.” Padma said and Draco had the nerve to stick his tongue out at Hermione.

“You are such a fucking child.” Hermione said with an eye roll.

Padma sighed before she began waving her wand over Draco. “If you're dead set on leaving this bed or moving in general, you'll have to be cautious with your movements. The muscles are stiffened from shock. You were spasming so bad I had no other choice, but to freeze your movements so that I could heal the splinchings without causing more damage.”

Draco sighed and Hermione stroked his head. “See, you should just stay here to recover.” Hermione said.

Draco turned his head to look at her. “Hermione, I'm not going to fight with you about this. I'll let Padma heal me and then I am leaving, preferably with my wife.”

Hermione could tell that Draco was obviously set on his choice so she stopped trying to persuade him differently. “What happened to my clothes?” Draco asked after a few minutes of silent healing.

Padma laughed. “Your wife shred them.”

Draco smirked at Hermione. “Merlin, I'd just been tortured; have you no self-control woman?” He teased, knowing she was still upset with him and trying to ease the tension.

“I was checking to see how badly you were splinched. I wasn't trying to give the entirety of Black Manor a sex show.” Hermione teased back, electing to flick him when she normally would have smacked him.

“A likely story.” Draco continued.

“Why didn't you tell me about Remus's potions?” Hermione asked, changing the subject for the benefit of Padma also in the room with them.

“I didn't know if they would work.” Draco said casually.

“Try to sit up for me.” Padma interrupted, testing Draco's movement.

He sat up with a pained expression on his face. “Did it work?” Draco asked when Hermione hadn't immediately supplied him with the answer beforehand.

“Shush.” Padma said as she ran her wand lengthwise over his back and the sound of his breathing amplified through the room.

“Really? I needed to shut up for this?” Draco grumbled.

“Shhhhhhhhhh!” Padma and Hermione both shushed this time and Draco rolled his eyes.

There was a crackle sound as he sat silently breathing. Padma moved her wand again and the crackle of his lungs slowly dissipated. “How's your arm motion?” Padma asked when she was certain Draco's lungs were healed fully.

Draco moved his arms slowly. “It hurts, but it's manageable.” He said as he made to swing his legs off the bed. He pointedly met Hermione's eyes. “Did the potion work or not?” He asked again in a more agitated tone this time as Hermione elected to conjure clothes on him rather than immediately answer.

Padma backed away to give Draco more space to test his movement. “It worked.” Hermione said, filling the space Padma had left empty beside him.

Hermione helped steady him as his left leg stuck straight out, making no effort to listen to the movement commands Draco was sending it. Padma made a face before waving her wand over his stiffened leg. His leg bent a small fraction before stopping in place again. “I was worried this might happen.” Padma said.

“What?” Draco and Hermione asked together.

“Where you were splinched on your thigh it cut fairly deep into the muscle. The essence of dittany works much slower on muscle regrowth that deep, but I had to heal the wound on the outside before fully healing the muscle to prevent scarring. Well, I didn't have to do it for that reason; I had to heal the outside wound so that we could move you into the house with risking more damage to the muscle. The quick healing of the skin does prevent scarring though.”

“So, you healed me improperly?” Draco asked.

Hermione did smack him this time. “I think she means the muscle itself is still healing.”

Padma narrowed her eyes at him as Hermione took Draco's arm around her shoulders and helped him stand next to the bed. Luckily his amount of movement from his hip was back to normal. He winced as he moved his stiff leg down to hold his weight between both legs instead of just one. Padma waved her wand and a splint fashioned itself around Draco's thigh and knee; holding his leg straight despite the stiffness of his leg already doing that. Draco narrowed his eyes at her this time.

“You're at risk of permanently damaging the muscle before it has had time to fully heal. Wear the splint or be in pain and need assistance walking the rest of your life, Mr. Know-It-All.” Padma said before whatever snide comment Draco was thinking could make it out of his mouth.

“So, I'm meant to just use Hermione as a crutch then? For however long it will take this to actually heal?” Draco groaned.

Padma rolled her eyes and conjured up both a crutch and a cane. “Use the crutch until the stiffness is almost entirely gone, then switch to the cane.” She said in a tone that suggested she thought Draco was her most annoying patient.

Hermione held majority of Draco's weight so he could get his crutch adjusted under his arm. “Well I certainly can't let the other Death Eaters see me like this.” Draco muttered and Hermione laughed slightly.

“That's what you're worried about.” Padma said in a tone suggesting that was a ridiculous statement.

“That's always what I'm worried about.” Draco stated, slipping his arm off of Hermione to test his balance and movement with the crutch.

He took a step forward with his crutch with a little less grace than he usually moved in, but adjusted easily to his new physical obstacle. “Great, now I'm hobbling around like fucking Mad-Eye.” He grumbled.

“Only for a week, assuming you don't trying to over exert yourself and re-injure the muscle.” Padma said. She turned to Hermione. “Please keep your husband in line.”

Draco managed to smack Hermione's butt with his crutch. “She wishes.” Draco teased.

“Alright, we can get out of here before you start getting too cocky for your own good with that crutch.” Hermione said, batting away Draco's crutch as he tried to keep prodding her with it.

Hermione and Padma lead the way from the bedroom with Draco hobbling out behind them. “You should really eat breakfast first.” Luna said at the sight of them.

“Breakfast you cooked?” Draco asked, eyeing Luna suspiciously.

“I'm a very good cook, thank you.” Luna said with a little attitude.

Draco didn't have time to respond though as Tonks had just run up and wrapped her arms around him. He swayed dangerously on his crutch as a look of confusion and uncomfortableness crept over his face. He looked to Hermione for help, but Hermione knew the true meaning behind Tonks's sporadic affection. Draco pat his cousin's back in an attempt to get her off of him, but it only made her squeeze onto him tighter.

“Thank you.” She said tearfully as she pulled away from Draco, but didn't fully release him.

“Er...you're welcome?” He said it more as a question than anything else.

“You might be a murdering bastard, but I will stand with you against all odds for what you did for Remus. You didn't have to do that. You didn't have to even give him the regular wolfsbane, but you did. Without asking for anything in return. Our family will forever be indebted to you.” Tonks said before she finally released her hold on Draco.

Draco fixed his composure and stood up as straight as he could with his crutch. “I appreciate it, but that's not why I did it.” Draco said lamely.

“I know it's not, but you have my loyalty regardless.” Tonks said, moving farther from Draco so that he might pass.

“Thank you.” He said as he limped passed her back to Hermione's side. “We'll have to take a raincheck on breakfast, Luna. I've gotta see about someone else who's out of their mind.”

“I'm not out of my mind.” Luna said in an offended tone

“He's still not over the fungus.” Hermione muttered, patting Luna's arm reassuringly.

“Maybe I should come with you. If something weird springs up it doesn't hurt to have a healer around. Plus, with Remus not transforming there's not a need for me to be here, whereas I don't trust you to not stop using the crutch as soon as you're out of my sight.” Padma said, but Hermione caught the worried note in her tone.

Seeing Draco as bad as he was last night had plagued more than just Hermione's mind. They were all counting on Draco now; maybe not Zacharias Smith, but the rest of the house took Hermione's word that Draco could end the suffering placed on them these last ten years. Seeing him on the edge of death had nearly expunged that tiny flicker of hope they'd started to get from him. Without Draco, they would all be dependent on Harry to end the war again, and that had worked out so well the first time. But that wasn't entirely true. If Voldemort would have killed Draco there would be nothing that could stop Hermione from killing him, even if she had to rip his horcruxes apart with her bare hands. Draco seemed to sense this worry as well and gave a heavy sigh.

“Yes, fine, come if you must.” Draco stated, swapping his crutch out for Hermione again. “I don't know how sturdy these things are; I'd hate for it to break while we're apparating.” He added when Padma made a face at him.

She jabbed her wand at the crutch and it shrank until it was pocket sized in Draco's palm. “For easier traveling.” She said smugly to him.

The three of them adjusted themselves around one another to prepare for their apparition. Hermione and Draco more glommed onto one another than was really necessary and when Draco offered his forearm to Padma she willingly took his hand instead. Hermione couldn't help smiling a little to herself; Draco really could make friends with anyone if he let himself.

Tonks and Hermione locked eyes briefly. “Tell Remus that it's imperative our meeting goes well.” Hermione told her and just barely caught a glimpse of Tonks nodding her head before Draco had disapparated them.

There was an eeriness lingering over Malfoy Manor when they appeared in the foyer. Blaise met up with them first with a grave expression on his face. Draco released Padma's hand and made to do the same with Hermione, but she gripped his waist tighter. He seemed to sense that something had happened and, just like Padma had assumed, immediately made to stop using his crutch.

“This one's the healer, right?” Blaise asked nudging toward Padma.

“Where is she?” Draco asked rather than answering, so Padma nodded in silence beside him.

“Listen, before you get mad—”

“Where is she?” Draco growled in that way that reminded everyone a dragon lived beneath his skin.

“She's in her room. We had to lock her in there. She’s…” Blaise trailed off like he wasn't sure how to explain. “She's real bad, D.”

Draco made to move again and again Hermione held onto him. “If you're going to rush off, you're going to use your crutch. The last thing we need is both of you injured.” Hermione said firmly, reaching into the pocket where he'd placed his tiny crutch and it instantly took back its normal size.

“What happened?” Blaise asked.

“It doesn't matter.” Draco retorted.

“It matters a lot. Theo's been in a right state since he's been back. Bella's so far lost to the madness I'm not sure she'll ever be out of it again. Lucky Daphne had the kids tucked away when they arrived because I can't get the sight of their arrival out of my mind from witnessing it.” Blaise said.

“That's why you've locked Bellatrix in her room?” Hermione interjected before Draco could wave the conversation off again.

“We had to. Merlin only knows what more she's done to herself while she's been in there. I was afraid to send Tini in there to try and knock her out because she nearly scratched my eyes out when I disarmed her.” Blaise stated.

Theo came from the dining room at the sound of their voices and it was clear Bellatrix had done quite a number on him as well. He had a rather large gash just above his collar bone that had bloodied his white shirt and he just hadn't bothered changing or was still actively bleeding beneath the cloth. His eye was swollen and purpling down onto his cheek. He was holding two coffees, one of which he passed to Blaise as he joined the group.

“Theo, what the fuck happened to you?” Draco asked in a bewildered tone as Padma immediately drew her wand to start healing him.

Theo had his wand in Padma's face before they realized Theo had registered this as a threat. Blaise pushed Theo's wand down and gave Padma an apologetic look. “He's a bit shaken still. Padma's a healer, Theo.” Blaise said calmly, stroking Theo's hair.

“Oh right, I remember you.” Theo said, fully putting his wand away now. “Sorry.” He added in an undertone as Padma pulled the neck of his shirt down to heal his still bleeding neck wound.

“What happened?” Draco asked again.

Theo took a deep breath. “I went back for her cause you were so fucking adamant that the Dark Lord was going to kill her. That would have been the kinder option, in my opinion. I found her laid out in one of the tunnels around the Chamber of Secrets. She…well, she looked to me like she was being left for dead or to become snake food. I got her out and she'd started coming to when I made it to the grounds to apparate. That's when all hell broke loose. She kept saying she had to stay and I didn't understand the meaning of loyalty. She was the only one who truly understood the Dark Lord. Real disturbing shit to be honest considering the condition I found her in.

“I wasn't sure if I'd be able to disapparate with her considering all the flailing she was doing, but I tried it anyway. Splinched her arm just a tad, nothing I couldn't easily fix up myself for her, but she wouldn't let me. Blaise heard the ruckus and came to help, but the best we could do was sort of herd her into her bedroom. She landed a few good blows on me. Tried to decapitate me; that's when Blaise got her wand. After that she just got worse. I've never seen her that lost to the madness before. It was like she wasn't even human anymore. I wasn't even able to check on how wounded she actually was.

“Not that you would have even thought she was wounded. She wasn't even acting like she was in pain, but with that much blood when I found her there's no way she couldn't be. She either finally fell asleep about an hour ago or knocked herself out; either from banging her head against the wall or just from the blood loss she was already losing when I found her. I guess worst case would be she killed herself in there, but I haven't wanted to confirm that. She just stopped screaming.”

Theo's eye had shrank back into its normal shape and size as Padma worked on the rest of his face as he stopped talking. Draco had a horrified look on his face that Hermione was sure hers matched. What had happened to Bellatrix after they left? What had Voldemort done to her and why would she ever want to stay near him after he'd done it? Hermione's head swam with questions.

“I guess it's a good thing we brought you.” Draco said to Padma as he steadied his crutch and limped through his group toward Bellatrix's bedroom.

Chapter Text

Chapter 38

Draco's POV

“Draco! You can't possibly be thinking about going in there.” Hermione called after Draco as he shuffled down the hall.

That was exactly what Draco intended on doing. There were very few people that could bring Bellatrix out of her madness; actually the more Draco thought about it, he might have been the only one able to accomplish the task. Bellatrix obviously needed healing; that much had been clear from Theo's recount of what had happened. There was no way she was going to let anyone heal her, though, if her sanity was still trapped within her madness.

“I'm the only one who can bring her back to reality, Hermione. If I don't go in there you're asking me to stand by and let my aunt die knowing I could have done something to stop it.” Draco said without even a glance back over his shoulder.

He didn't want to see the disapproval in Hermione's eyes. She might have been able to convince him otherwise if he looked back. So, he kept his face forward as he limped away. The flashes of the Dark Lord's desires to kill Bellatrix, while Draco was being crucio’d, now just kept filling Draco's mind whenever he closed his eyes. With every blink he saw his aunt bloodied and torn apart on the floor of the Chamber of Secrets. It was gruesome. It was exactly what the Dark Lord felt she deserved for betraying him in such a way. Not a quick death, but a long and agonizing one. A slow torturous death to show just how stung by her words he had been.

The insolent fucking twat. Draco thought to himself as he tried to push those visions as far behind the void as possible. He hadn't realized the group he'd left had been following him until he reached Bellatrix's door and a hand grabbed his shoulder to stop him. Truthfully, he'd been expecting it to be Hermione. Thought she'd be able to talk some sense into him about why he shouldn't be entering Bellatrix's room without knowing what he was truly facing within. Not to mention while he, himself, was also still healing from injury. However, when he turned to face the owner of the hand, he met Theo's gaze.

“You should just be prepared for what you might see in there, D. The woman I brought back here might have Bella's face, but she couldn't be farther from your aunt. And she's injured. Badly. Are you prepared to step in there and potentially find the last of your relatives dead?” Theo said softly, but the intent wasn't lost on Draco.

Grieving had never been Draco's strong suit. He'd thrown up several times, but never cried or even properly dealt with killing his own father. When his mother took her life, he wasn't any better. Disappeared from everyone and buried himself in firewhisky bottles rather than feel the despair of losing his mother. Theo understood that. Understood it more than most probably with his upbringing. He knew that should Draco step inside that room to find Bellatrix dead without the proper warning the effects would be chaotic. Draco and Bellatrix shared a very strange, but very deep bond after all. They confided in one another about things sometimes they never trusted to be told to anyone else. A lot of the time Bellatrix did this unintentionally, but Draco held her secrets within him just as she did for him.

Theo had given him this moment to pause, not in hopes that Draco wouldn't go into the bedroom, but in hopes that Draco would be able to rationally think about the situation they were in before reacting. After all, storming into Hogwarts to kill the Dark Lord without having destroyed his horcruxes first would be a stupid plan, but it would have been just the type of under thought reaction Draco would have had. Draco took a deep breath before Theo gave him a nod and pulled his hand back from his shoulder.

“I'll see what circumstance we're walking into. If she's alive and lost in the madness, I'll bring her back so she can be healed. If I can't bring her back then I'll try sedating her so she can be healed.” Draco turned pointedly to Hermione. “Do not come in this room if she's not pulled from the madness.”

Hermione stepped forward and pressed her lips into his in a show of her solidarity with his choice. “You have my word.” She barely even breathed to him as their lips broke apart.

Draco turned and left his friends on the other side of Bellatrix's door. He didn't unseal it, but apparated within just to stay on the side of caution. Narcissa's portrait in the corner was sobbing, but the only other noise was the faintest of breathing that was coming from Bellatrix. She was in a mangled heap on the floor.

Blood was everywhere.

Streaks of it splattered over the ceiling and windows. Bloody handprints smeared against the walls and the door. Her black dress appeared to be soaked in it from the way her pale skin beneath had a crimson glow to it now. The bedding, the floor, the desk, the books, even Narcissa's portrait had blood seeping into it.

Draco dared a peak within the bathroom and found just as much of a bloodbath in there. The mirror had been shattered and bloody footprints made twirling circles along the tiles. The bathtub and shower both smeared with more of those crimson handprints. For a moment, Draco felt his stomach turn and he was suddenly thankful he'd turned down Luna's breakfast offer. He made his way back to the pile on the floor that was Bellatrix and crouched, as best he could with his bum leg, beside her.

He pushed her hair to the side and blood smeared against his hand. Both her eyes were purpled and one of her cheekbones had clearly been shattered. The cut on her lip from where the Dark Lord had struck her now had several other gashes along side it. There must have been so much blood pouring from her mouth at one point that the streaking stain now left behind from it gave the illusion she'd been drinking blood. The image of the vampires he'd met in Romania crossed his mind with blood freely dribbling down their chins. He shook the image from his mind as he slowly re-angled Bellatrix's body. There was both a gash on the back of her head and across her forehead into her hairline. Draco picked a speck of glass from within the one on her forehead and he realized it had been self inflicted; most likely it was the cause of the shattered mirror in the bathroom.

Draco delicately straightened out her arms making note of any injuries. She had a fractured wrist and her collar bone on the opposite side appeared to be broken as well. The was a large rip in her dress that Draco almost hadn't noticed due to the dark bruising of Bellatrix's stomach beneath it. He ignored the little voice of Padma screaming in his head to not relinquish his crutch as he shoved his crutch aside and slid his arms under Bellatrix's body. They both groaned as Draco lifted her from the floor. It was his only indication aside from her barely breathing that she was alive. Draco staggered with Bellatrix to the already bloodied bed and rested her body there.

“Bella.” He whispered.

“Don’t!” Narcissa's voice said desperately from her portrait.

Draco turned to see his mother's deranged demeanor as she clung to the side of her portrait frame. “What do you mean don’t?” Draco questioned.

“You can't save her, Draco. Just put her out of her misery.” Narcissa said with a sob.

“This is your sister; most beloved sister if I recall properly, and you want me to kill her?” Draco sounded as appalled as he looked.

“You must, Draco! You can't save her! She's too far gone!”

“I'm not killing her. I have a healer that can help her.”

“Not her mind, Draco. You can heal her body, but she'll still be gone. She's been lost to the madness. You must end it. End her suffering, Draco.”

“If she's lost in her madness, I'll bring her back. I'm not killing her.”

“You had no problem killing your father!” Narcissa shot.

Draco's face softened a little. “I might have if I'd fallen in love with my wife sooner.” Draco said. “I'm not killing her, mother, and I'm not entertaining this conversation any longer.”

Draco grabbed his crutch from the floor, not that he would admit to the pain radiating up and down his leg, and steadied himself above Bellatrix again. “Bella.” He whispered again, gently stroking her hair.

“You'll have to find her within her mind. Might as well just sedate her and get her healed properly at this point before she dies on her own while you're stuck in her mind as well.” Narcissa said in a cold voice.

Draco thought about this for a moment before he decided that his mother was probably right about sedating her. He cast a sedation spell over Bellatrix as well as the same spell he'd used on Hermione to hold her in place before he was being tortured in the Chamber of Secrets. He stroked her bloody hair one more time before he made his way to the door and unsealed it. He cracked the door open to try and block majority of the scene of the room from view. Theo and Blaise had moved farther behind Padma and Hermione so it was easier for him to block the bloody room from view as the women were much shorter than him.

“Well?” Hermione prodded when Draco didn't immediately start speaking.

“I've sedated her and held her in place with the same body freezing charm I used on you. She really is badly injured and my mother's portrait says Bellatrix is lost within the madness of her mind.” Draco said and Padma started moving to enter.

Draco stepped closer to block her from entering. “You should be warned it is not a pretty sight in here. There is blood everywhere.” Draco warned and he saw Hermione's eyes scanning over his bloody clothes and landing on his red stained hands.

“Well, sounds like you've got everything handled. You know how my stomach responds to blood.” Theo said, scrunching his face up and backing further into Blaise.

Draco managed a chuckle. “You've done enough, Theo. Thank you for bringing her back here.” Draco said and Theo gave him a nod.

They waited until Blaise and Theo had wandered back to their own room before Draco stepped to the side and let Padma and Hermione enter Bellatrix's room. Padma gave a gasp as she entered and took in the scene before them. Hermione covered her mouth with her hand as a muffled, “Fucking hell.” escaped her mouth.

Padma diverted her eyes from the walls and made makeshift blinders with her hands as she made her way to Bellatrix on the bed. “Merlin! What happened to her?” Padma said in shock as she began furiously waving her wand over Bellatrix.

“I can only wager a guess. The forehead seems to be from her smacking it into the bathroom mirror. The rest I would assume the Dark Lord inflicted.” Draco said darkly.

Hermione on the other hand had gone straight into cleaning up the bedroom. She vanished the blood from Narcissa's portrait, which she sneered at in a way of thanks. Then she moved on to the windows and walls, stripping the blood splatters from wherever her wand brushed over. Draco knew it was all Hermione could do to keep from fully processing just what exactly Bellatrix had gone through. He saw the guilt on her face as she siphoned the blood up from the carpet and cleared it from the bedding and possessions.

“For fuck's sake; she has five broken ribs. This internal bleeding would have killed her if you hadn't let me in when you did. Crushed collar bone, fractured wrist, her cheekbone is completely shattered, concussion to go with the cracked skull.” Padma listed off in an outrage. “I knew he was a cruel piece of shit, but I thought he actually liked her. He saved her life more than once, why the fuck would he do this?”

“Don't ask me to make sense of the Dark Lord's reasoning for doing anything. All I can offer is that he doesn't like when his followers talk back.” Draco said.

“Such a fucking prick.” Padma groaned ripping through Bellatrix's dress similarly to how she'd ripped through Draco's clothes for healing purposes before.

They were quiet after that, Hermione finishing up cleaning until the room was entirely blood free and nothing was left to remind them of the scene Bellatrix had created within. Padma had quickly vanished the internal bleeding and healed the organs ruptured from her broken ribs as well as the movement she seemed to have exerted when arriving in her bedroom. The purpling of her bruised torso and face had slowly began fading back to the pale skin that was normal for Bellatrix as Padma moved on to the healing of her bones.

“I should have gone back for her.” Hermione said after a long moment.

Draco wrapped his arms around her. “There's nothing you could have done. You were right to stop me from going back after her. He would have killed anyone else in that room.” Draco said comfortingly.

“I never thought I'd see her look so…” Hermione trailed off.

“Broken?” Draco supplied.

Hermione sighed as she wrapped herself tighter around Draco. “Yeah.”

“What's the plan to get her back in her right mind?” Padma asked as Bellatrix's chest lifted back into place with her freshly healed collarbone.

“I'm going to have to use legilimency to go inside her mind and bring her sane consciousness back out.” Draco said and he hoped he didn't sound as anxious as he felt.

Bellatrix's mind was a death trap. He wasn't thrilled entering it the first time he'd done it and he wasn't exactly thrilled to be doing it again. But he wasn't going to let her rot away in there. He owed her that for everything she'd done for him to protect his family. She deserved to at least see Alexia again and die on her own terms if that's what she wanted. Draco was going to make sure of that.

“Isn't that dangerous? Couldn't you cause more damage doing legilimency on her than you will be doing good?” Padma asked as Bellatrix's face took on her sharp features once more, now that Padma had finished healing her face.

“Yeah, but it's probably more dangerous for me than anyone else. Her mind is a madness tarpit; the chances are greater of me getting trapped there as well rather than more damage being done to her.”

“So, how will I be able to make sure I can get you back out?” Hermione asked.

Draco squeezed her hand. “I'm not sure. You'll just have to be my anchor I guess.” He said, kissing her cheek.

“Well, the concussion I can't heal right away, but everything else is fully healed if that's what you were waiting on.” Padma said.

Draco took a deep breath before sinking down into a chair beside Bellatrix's bed. Hermione came to stand beside him and rubbed his shoulders before interlocking her fingers with his. “I'll be right here waiting for you.” Hermione said encouragingly before Draco focused his attention on Bellatrix and slid into her mind.

Chapter Text

Chapter 39

Draco's POV

Bellatrix's mind was the same black webbed trap of a forest it had been when Draco had last been inside there. The memories reached out and tried to coat his skin as he ducked through them, wandering deeper into the darkness. The pool of madness seemed to have become something of a giant cloud, raining the madness down onto everything; burning memories like it was acid. Thankfully, the acid rain of madness seemed to repel off Draco as he did near acrobatics to avoid the stringy webs of tarry black memories outstretching for him.

“Bella?’ Draco felt a little stupid calling out for her, but thought he might be able to find her easier if he did. She had answered him before within her mind; maybe not answered, but she had told him off at least.

There was no answer this time. Draco wandered deeper into the darkness of her mind and crouched under the thorns now sticking out of the webbed memories. There was nothing in these memory webs that indicated what Draco would be walking into should he decided to delve into any of her memories deeper. He was reluctant to touch any of them for fear he might stumble upon some of her private memories with the Dark Lord. Definitely not something he was torturing himself to see. He seemingly hit a dead end in the dark forest of memories; that acid rain pouring more profusely over the thorns wrapping around a particularly thick portion of memory webs.

Draco groaned. Why would she not cocoon herself within her own memories? That'll make it so fucking easy to bring her back into herself. Draco thought to himself as he stood so close to the thorns they threatened to spear him as the acid madness rain pooled around his feet. He was going to have to dig through more memories than he was hoping he'd have to just to get into where he assumed Bellatrix had barricaded herself.

Draco stood contemplating how he might easily pass through these memories with the least damage to himself in terms of seeing something traumatic. Finally he decided that should he see anything within Bellatrix's mind that was too much for him to hold space for, he'd simply remove his memories of seeing them from his own mind. Then he decided on a point of entry where the thorns and spider web like material of memories forming the cocoon seemed to be thinnest. Bellatrix's memories had only been shared with him in sporadic bursts the same way her madness and clarity fought for control of her body. He took another deep breath to prepare himself for the mental whiplash he was certain he'd be receiving as he broke off the thorns and pressed his hand through the webbing.

Typically the Black Manor was horribly boring. The monotone walls, the monotone rooms, the monotone parents; everything about the place made Bellatrix want to leave. She stayed because of her sisters. They were her entire world, which meant there was a lot that Bellatrix was able to withstand to stay with them. A lot she could withstand to keep them safe from their parents' all too eager torturous punishments for merely existing when it was mildly inconvenient for Cygnus or Druella. She told herself that seventeen years wasn't that long. Once she turned seventeen she could go out on her own and take her little sisters with her and Cygnus and Druella could live out the rest of their days cursing one another instead. And she had almost made it too.

The torture she could handle. After sixteen years of it, the torture was almost a sign of affection from her parents as far as Bellatrix was concerned. If the torture had befallen her sisters she'd have probably killed her parents then and there, but they always seemed content taking whatever grievances they had out on their eldest daughter alone. Bellatrix was built for it. What she wasn't built for was marriage or any sort of familial obligation to expand the Black family lineage.

An arranged marriage? It was the most ridiculous thing Bellatrix had ever heard. And she was meant to be happy about it? Happy about being sold like an overly pure, child wife to the highest blood purity bidder. Absolutely not. Cygnus and Druella had crossed a line this time. They couldn't marry her off if they couldn't find her.

A hand gripped her wrist as her foot dangled from her third floor bedroom window over the roof tiles. Bellatrix turned back with a slight fear pounding in her chest until she met the hazel eyes of her sister instead of the dark eyes she'd been expecting to find; the same dark eyes she'd inherited from her mother and father. Over her shoulder she could see the perfect blonde head of her baby sister bobbing nervously near her bedroom door.

“Drom, what are you doing? Cissy, go back to bed!” Bellatrix whispered harshly to her sisters.

“What am I doing? You're the one dangling out of the window!” Andromeda hissed back, pulling at Bellatrix's arm.

“Drom, they married me off like some sort of Victorian child. Surely, you didn't expect me to stay?” Bellatrix tried to wiggle her wrist free, but Andromeda refused to release it.

“Maybe it won't be that bad. At least you already know Rodolphus.” Andromeda was notorious for seeing the bright side in any situation; Bellatrix both loved it and hated it.

“The Lestrange brothers are trolls.” Bellatrix said with an eye roll.

“You shouldn't say that, Bella. It's rude.” Narcissa chimed in, having moved slightly closer to the window after deciding that Bellatrix hadn't planned on flinging herself from the window, and rather was attempting to escape through it.

“Didn't I tell you to go back to bed?” Bellatrix shot a glare at her youngest sister, who moved into a crouched hiding position on the side of Bellatrix's vibrantly purple bed.

“I mean, maybe marriage won't be so bad.” Andromeda took back the conversation.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “Easy for you to say; you're dating a mudblood. They'll never let you marry him.”

Now Andromeda was glaring. “I wish you would stop calling him that.” She said darkly.

“And I wish you'd stop dating him, but here we are. It's what he is, Drom. Your mother and father would do much worse to you if they knew you were dating him.” Bellatrix said nonchalantly.

“They're your parents too.” Narcissa chimed in again.

“That cow may have given birth to me, but Cygnus and Druella Black are not parents. They were children who happened to have children. Parents don't sell off their daughter into marriage because they can't control her any other way. I was meant for something great, not being some troll of a man's wife.” Bellatrix slid her other leg out of the window, but more to be in a position to better see her sisters than actually to escape this time.

“I think being a wife is something great.” Narcissa said in a dreamy tone and Andromeda rolled her eyes.

“That's why you're their perfect daughter, Cissy. You'll marry a respectable pureblood and love every moment of fulfilling your duties as his wife. Honestly, Cissy, you deserve to have that life you've dreamed of. It doesn't change the fact that that's never been the life I dreamed of.” Bellatrix said truthfully.

“Where will you go?” Andromeda finally asked.

Bellatrix sighed. “Anywhere. Everywhere. How long do you think I can hide at Grimmauld Place before Aunt Walburga finds me and sends me back?”

Andromeda laughed quietly. “Depends on how quickly Sirius spots you and what you can offer an eight-year-old to keep him quiet, I'd imagine.”

“Please don't leave us, Bella.” Narcissa had moved closer again and her eyes were pleading. Bellatrix looked to Andromeda, who hadn't said the words, but her eyes also held the same pleading that Narcissa's did.

Bellatrix sighed. “You know, I won't always be around to look out for you two.” She said.

Draco had to assume that Bellatrix ended up climbing back into her bedroom window, but the memory slipped away as Draco broke through a layer of Bellatrix's memory cocoon. He was disappointed to find another layer waiting for him, but so far the memories had been less troubling than he was expecting. He pushed his hand into the next layer of memory.

“You are a worm.” Bellatrix said angrily under her breath, smacking the dark haired figure of Rodolphus in the chest.

"I couldn't tell him no.” Rodolphus countered, catching Bellatrix's wrist when she went to smack him again.

“You can and you should have!” She hissed, kicking him instead.

“I'd like to see you do it.” Rodolphus challenged.

“You would have if I had been there when your stupid ass told him about this party.” Bellatrix said threateningly.

“I thought you'd have been thrilled to have him here.” Rodolphus said pointedly and Bellatrix wedged her wand under his chin.

“You've turned my baby sister's graduation party into a Death Eater meeting and now you're what? Accusing me of being unfaithful?” Bellatrix was much shorter than Rodolphus, but the wand in his throat and tone in her voice was threat enough.

Rodolphus swallowed hard. “I've seen the way you two look at each other.” He might have known Bellatrix could and would blow his head off, but he was cocky enough to stand his ground.

“Oh, so bringing Tom to recruit literal children was meant to be a gift for your wife? Most husbands being flowers when they're hoping their wives will want to fuck them.” Bellatrix growled.

“He's very persuasive.” Rodolphus said in his defense.

Bellatrix groaned. “I repeat, you are a worm.” But she lowered her wand as he released her other wrist.

There was a shuffle and Bellatrix turned on her heal, wand pointed toward the cracked door. Sirius's eyes widened and he backed away into Remus as Bellatrix advanced on him. “Haven't you learned not to eavesdrop yet?” Bellatrix growled at him as Rodolphus followed her toward the teenage boys.

“Something about curiosity killing a cat, I believe.” Sirius said with an infuriating grin; Remus elbowed him.

“He's not even supposed to be here! What were you thinking, Sirius?” Bellatrix, wand still in hand, pointed at Remus.

Sirius moved slightly in front of Remus. “Don't point that thing at him.”

“I'll point my wand at whoever I please, baby cousin. Remember who you are fucking speaking to.” Bellatrix warned.

“How could I forget? Only the cold hearted bitch before me would get her own sister wrapped up in dark arts.” Sirius said back darkly.

"Get the fuck out of here, Sirius! Take your little boyfriend and get the fuck out of here! Don't let me see you here again!” Bellatrix yelled, moving closer to her cousin.

Sirius didn't need to be told again, however. Bellatrix's advancing figure, wand drawn, was a threat Sirius wasn't willing to stand up to. He grabbed Remus's forearm and pulled him out of the side door leading into the grounds of the manor. “What a fucking psycho.” Sirius muttered to Remus as they scurried across the grounds back to the carriage that had brought them there.

Bellatrix turned on Rodolphus. “You better hope that Regulus doesn't leave this fucking house marked or I promise you I will laugh as I burn you alive.” She didn't wait for a response from her husband as she stormed off back toward the main portion of the party.

Draco shuddered as he broke through another layer of the cocoon. The webs of memories were starting to become more translucent the more layers Draco broke through. He figured there must be something about these memories in particular that made Bellatrix feel safe, but Draco wasn't prepared to dig deeper into that right now. He had a feeling Bellatrix would be pissed enough at him for invading her privacy in this way as it were. Draco pressed his hand through another layer of memory.

Bellatrix stroked Narcissa's hair. There was a wildness in her eyes, but her movements were delicate as she stood beside her sister. Lucius sat across from them, watching the sisters with a smug smile on his face.

“What are you looking so smug for? All you had to do was have sex; Cissy's the one who grew and pushed an entire human out of her body.” Bellatrix said and Lucius's face quickly shifted into a flat marble expression.

“I can't even be a proud father with you around.” Lucius said.

“You've had a son for barely eight hours, that hardly makes you a father.” Bellatrix countered and Lucius's eyes narrowed.

“Technically, the having a son part does make me a father. Unfortunately, there's nothing that will make you less of a bitch.” Lucius said tartly.

Bellatrix glared at him. “Don't start.” Narcissa interrupted before Bellatrix could get another jab in. “Can't you two get along for an hour? This is supposed to be a happy time.”

Bellatrix sighed before she stroked the blonde hair of the baby in Narcissa's arms. “So, what have you named my nephew?” Bellatrix said, choosing to ignore Lucius altogether at this point.

Narcissa stared down at her son with a look of complete adoration. “Draco.” She cooed and his eyes fluttered open as if on cue.

Bellatrix looked down into the grey eyes of her nephew as he seemed to stare back up at her. She felt her face softening slightly. “That's a strong name. Powerful. Bringing back the Black family tradition of naming from the stars.” Bellatrix lightly brushed her finger down Draco's small nose that perfectly resembled her youngest sister's. “You're going to do great things, petit dragon¹.”

Narcissa smiled up at her eldest sister. “Do you want to hold him?”

Bellatrix suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Babies are not really my thing.” She said pulling her hands away from Draco.

“Oh, come on.” Narcissa said, pulling her sister closer so that she could slip Draco into her arms. “Tell it to someone who didn't watch you tote Sirius and Regulus around long after they could walk on their own.”

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “Don't remind me.” She said, but naturally fell into an ease as she rocked slightly with Draco.

He blinked a few times as she stared down at him before he finally slipped back into a sleep. “He might be the only Malfoy to ever feel comfortable around you, Bella.” Lucius said and Narcissa shot him a look.

“Good.” Bellatrix stated.

“Lucius, can you bring me another rejuvenation potion?” Narcissa asked and Lucius stroked her arm lovingly before placing a kiss on her lips.

“Anything for you.” Lucius drawled before he left the room.

“Yuck.” Bellatrix muttered and Narcissa lightly hit her thigh.

“Being in love isn't so bad; I wish you would allow it for yourself. Look what love creates.” Narcissa said, stroking Draco's head as she looked lovingly down upon him. “Don't you want one?”

Bellatrix laughed. “Rodolphus is a troll. He's lucky I climb on top of him once a month to keep him from touching me in public.” Bellatrix sighed as she stared at Draco. “No, I'd never subject a child to his genes.”

“Tom's perhaps?” Narcissa questioned with a knowing smirk.

Bellatrix shot her a look. “Cissy! Don't imply such things! There's nothing going on between me and the Dark Lord. Don't make me tell you again.” Bellatrix said harshly.

“Right, my mistake.” Narcissa said, understanding how quickly her sister could switch from being her doting sister to the murdering Death Eater most men and women feared.

“You better not say shit like that to your husband. I'd hate for Draco to grow up without a father.” Bellatrix said warningly as she slipped Draco back into Narcissa's arms.

“No. I would never. It was my mistake, Bella. Lucius thinks nothing like that.” Narcissa said in a tone of panic.

“Keep it that way.” Bellatrix said darkly.

Draco actually gasped as he broke through that layer of memory, like he'd been holding his breath. The layer before him was so thin he could see the silhouette of Bellatrix sitting within it. “Bella.” He called out to her, but she didn't move. He might have been able to see her, but the memory surrounding her was potent enough to keep her blocked from anything happening outside of her cocoon. He could see that she was crying as she wiped her eyes and continued staring off away from him. This was the last layer he needed to get through and then he could bring her back. His aunt. The person who'd first spoken to him in French. A memory he couldn't even recall, but he knew it was always with him, driving him to bug his mother and father into teaching him the language when he was still much too young to be demanding such things. The woman, who claimed him as her nephew more than she let his own father claim him as his son. Bellatrix had been so much more than a madness filled woman and he was going to make sure he brought her back to tell her that she still was so much more than that. He slipped his hand into the nearly translucent black web one more time.

Bellatrix sat on a stoop in the dark. She was on her fourth cigarette and not one person had come looking for her. Not that she had expected them to. Well, she thought perhaps Rodolphus or Narcissa might; she had just vanished from her own wedding reception after all. It was the least her new husband or her maid of honor could have done. But no one came. She smoked each cigarette until the butt burned her lips and fingers before smashing it out on the cement bricks beneath her. She'd wait a few moments, trying to convince herself to go back inside before the dread would take her over once more and she'd find herself halfway through another cigarette.

“Not a very pleasant place to find the bride.” A voice drawled behind her.

Bellatrix turned and her breath caught in her chest. There had been men that Bellatrix had found attractive in her eighteen years on this planet, her husband not being one of them, but none had ever put a candle to this man. He had an unexplainable air about him and Bellatrix found herself having to remind herself not to gawk at him.

“May I?” He asked when Bellatrix hadn't responded, gesturing to the bricks beside her.

“I don't own the reception hall. Or the stoop outside of it.” Bellatrix said back and he smirked at her response.

He sat down beside her, close enough that his hand brushed the bare skin of her forearm. Bellatrix quickly steadied her breathing as a rush shot through her body. He was watching her most intently as if waiting for her to idly fall into his radiating charm. A beautiful smile sat on his lips, but his eyes stayed hard and dark. This intrigued Bellatrix the most. He was beautiful in an otherworldly sense, but there was a raw power that shone through his eyes. Bellatrix had never seen anything like it and wondered how many women he'd charmed with that smile he wore so casually. She wasn't interested in the clearly faked smile he seemed to wear for her benefit. The eyes she was extremely interested in; she was almost unable to look away.

“You're going to burn your fingers.” He said, pulling Bellatrix from the fantasies now circling her mind.

Bellatrix flicked off the ash before taking a long drag so that the cigarette did burn her fingers. “Takes a little more than pain to stop me.” She said, smushing the cigarette out in her pile. Something about this response made a little bit of that smile glimmer up into his eyes.

“Not enjoying the party?” Bellatrix asked when his smile turned into one of genuine bemusement, but he had said nothing.

“I'm not the party type, I suppose.” He said, surveying her curiously.

“That makes two of us.” Bellatrix grumbled.

“Yes, but I'm not one of the names on the sign out front announcing the celebration.” He said with a smirk.

Bellatrix turned to look at him again, he was still staring at her, and narrowed her eyes. “Who the hell are you, anyway?” She asked.

He chuckled. “You may call me Tom.” He stated.

“Do others call you something other than Tom?” Bellatrix asked in response and he laughed again.

It was a beautiful sound. The man was practically irresistible. Bellatrix wondered for a moment if he might be a vampire with how inescapably drawn to him she found herself. She'd heard stories of their ability to make themselves enchanting to anyone they came in contact with. She certainly was enchanted with him.

“You don't like the name Tom?” He seemed mildly offended, but his tone suggested that he didn’t like the name either.

“It just doesn't fit you.” Bellatrix stated.

She offered him a cigarette as she decided on another one. He declined, but watched her with curiosity as she lit her own and met his gaze once again. “What name would fit me then, Mrs. Lestrange?”

Bellatrix shuddered reflexively at being referred to that way. Tom noticed it and, for whatever reason, decided to backpedal. “Bellatrix, then?”

“Bella. Please, never call me Mrs. Lestrange again.” Bellatrix said, taking another drag before she continued. “Tom just doesn't feel regal enough for how your face looks.”

“I'm not sure I've ever met anyone like you before, Bella.” Tom said and his hand intentionally rested on her forearm this time.

Bellatrix couldn’t stop herself from gazing down at his hand against her skin. “Sorry.” Bellatrix said without thinking.

Tom laughed again. “You're apologizing for being intriguing?”

Bellatrix thought about this for a moment. “I more assumed that my personality was off putting. I tend to offend people.” Bellatrix pulled her eyes away from where Tom’s hand still sat against her forearm and tried to avoid staring back into his beautiful face as she took another long drag from her cigarette.

“Are you a friend of Rodolphus’s?” Bellatrix asked after a little too much silence had passed for her liking.

“A friend of his father's actually.” Tom said casually.

Bellatrix laughed. “The only person to ever find me intriguing and he's older than my father.”

Tom stood and reached out his hand to her. Bellatrix took his hand willingly and let him pull her to her feet. Bellatrix felt like her entire body was on fire as her hand sat in his. Bellatrix fought biting her lip as a slew of sexually graphic fantasies involving her and Tom’s hands flashed through her mind. Tom got a look in his eyes and Bellatrix flushed sightly as if he could see the way she was fantasizing about him so easily despite her recent marriage, his age, or the fact that they had just met.

“Is my being older than your father a problem?” Tom said slyly as his eyes bore into her in a knowing way she’d never experienced with another person before and Bellatrix couldn't help but smile at him.

“Not a problem at all.” She pushed on his chest and the movement caught him off guard. He couldn't hide the shock as he looked at her hand. There was a sudden realization that the hand she hadn’t used to push his chest with was still grasped in his own. “I've always wanted a friend who knew more than me. You’ll be a welcomed change, Tom.” She said with a smirk before removing her hands from him and moving toward the door to go back inside where everyone else was celebrating her wedding.

“Bella.” Tom said, but when she stopped he seemed unsure of what to say next.

“I hope to see you around, Tom.” Bellatrix said with a seductive smile as she watched his eyes roam over her body, before she turned once more and walked away from him.

Chapter Text

Chapter 40

Draco's POV

Draco nearly dropped to his knees as he came through the last memory. Bellatrix turned to face Draco, pushing tears from her cheeks. “Bella, you need to get out of here.” Draco said softly.

“That was the first time I ever met him.” Bellatrix said with a sniffle, ignoring Draco's statement altogether.

“At your wedding?” Draco asked.

She gave a sad laugh. “Pathetic right? What kind of woman falls in love with a man old enough to be her father within moments of meeting him at her wedding to another man?”

“Bella, you're not pathetic.” Draco said, stroking her hair the same way he'd witnessed her doing with his mother.

“You shouldn't have come here, Draco. I'm not afraid of death. You should have just left me to die. I’d already come to terms with it.”

“I couldn't just leave you in here. I've gotten your body healed.”

“What's the point? You can't heal my mind. I will be this deranged lunatic for the rest of my life.”

More tears were streaming down her face. “Bella, you're so much more than this.” Draco gestured around them. “You're not a deranged lunatic; you're a force of nature. In the best way possible.”

“You wouldn't be saying that if you saw the way I tried to get back to him.”

“Bella, how the fuck do you think I got in here? I did see the way you tried to get back to him.”

Bellatrix took a shaky breath. “No, not the way I wrecked myself further trying to get out of my bedroom; the way I fought Theo to go back to him.”

“The self-deprecation is really not becoming on you, Bella.”

“What would you have me do, Draco? Carry on as if nothing happened? Keep fucking him after he tried smashing my skull into the ceiling of the Chamber of Secrets?”

Draco's teeth clenched. “No.”

“Dying would have been much easier.”

“Why, because you still want to fuck him despite him almost killing you?”

Bellatrix rose and advanced on Draco. “I don’t know how to leave him, Draco. Don’t you fucking judge me. I told you already that I was a deranged lunatic; you are the one that refuses to accept that.”

“Bella, he tried to kill you.”

“And I'm helping you to try to kill him!”

Draco sighed. “Can we not do this while I'm within your mind and it can start actively trying to kill me when you hear something you dislike?” Draco crouched slightly as thorns began sticking out of the webbing Draco hadn’t broken through in an attempt at impaling him.

“If I wanted to fully inhabit my body, Draco, I wouldn't have cocooned myself all the way back here.”

Draco rolled his eyes. “Fine, Bella. If you want to feel sorry for yourself and end your life, then I'm not going to stop you. But the least you can do is say goodbye properly to your fucking daughter.”

Bellatrix met his gaze with a look of complete shock, but seemed to be stunned into silence. “What? Hadn't thought about that? Merlin, you Black sisters really are quick to end your lives without any thought to how it will affect your children. Doesn't matter if Alexia knows Hermione to be her mother; she's never loved you any less. She doesn't go into complete hysterics for anyone, but you Bella. You've done all this for her, but because you’re still in love with the monster of a man who beat you and left you for dead, now suddenly you can't bear to even live for her. Maybe you are pathetic.” Draco said coldly, turning away from where Bellatrix sat and attempting to crawl back through the layers of memories he'd broken through to get to her.

“Hey!”

A beam of light flew passed Draco's ear and he turned to see Bellatrix pointing her wand at him. “What the fuck? What are the rules? You can use magic in here?”

“I can do whatever I want, it's my mind. And who the fuck do you think you are talking to me like that?” She threw another streak of light at him, which he dodged.

“Your nephew! The one who, even on the edge of insanity, told everyone I needed to come back for you! The only reason Theo found you was because he knew how adamant I was that you were going to die. I saw what he wanted to do to you for standing up for me.”

“So it was your guilty conscience that brought you in here.” Another beam of light.

“No, you idiot! It was the fear of losing the last family member I have left outside of my own children.”

“You can always replace me with your little auror cousin.”

“No one can replace you.”

Bellatrix was panting having been flinging spells left and right at Draco, all of which he narrowly evaded. Draco was panting also, but stood perfectly still as Bellatrix lowered her wand. “You're not good at loving people. You push them away to try and protect them and you never say the right thing. You made me strong because you knew I would have to be. You knew there would never be anyone to look out for me the way you were able to do with my mother. Was it the right way to go about it? Maybe not. But you absolutely could never be replaced. The last thing I want to do is force you into another life you don't want. So, if you would rather I let you die in here, then I will. But don't do it under the guise that no one will care that you've died. He wins that way. You die and it cements his opinion that whatever he decides to do with someone's life becomes the law and not one person will think differently than him.”

They stood just staring at one another for a long while before Bellatrix sighed. “Fine, since clearly your life would be in absolute shambles without me. But I'm not letting you lead me out of here; my head hurts enough from the concussion without you rummaging through all my memories as well.” Bellatrix said haughtily, getting back some of her usual demeanor as she strode forward and took hold of Draco's hand.

“I could just push you out here, but it's safer to do it outside of the webs.” Bellatrix explained as she lead Draco easily back through her memory webbed mind.

The raining acid of madness had stopped and had pooled back up again at the edge of the forest of her memories. Once it was in sight, Bellatrix placed her finger into Draco's forehead and pushed until he felt himself slipping back into his own body. Hermione's hand clenched onto his own as his eyes refocused on Bellatrix lying on the bed in front of him. Hermione stroked his hair and he realized that it was wet from sweat. Draco groaned and rubbed at his temple. Hermione pressed a tonic into his hand and he turned a pained face toward her.

“For the headache.” Hermione whispered.

Draco poured the tonic down before placing a kiss on Hermione's lips. “Thank you.” He mumbled as they parted.

Draco turned back to Bellatrix as her eyes fluttered open. “You've brought me a welcoming party.” She said, her voice hoarse from the screaming she'd been doing prior to knocking herself out.

Padma stood over her. “You have a concussion; if you promise not to leave the bed for a day I'll take off the freezing charm Draco's placed on you so that your muscles can heal more regularly.”

Bellatrix turned to where Draco and Hermione sat nearly pressed into the side of her bed. “Is she fucking serious?” She rasped.

“I am. I'm more than happy to leave you under the charm so your brain will heal properly if you're a flight risk.” Padma said seriously.

“I'm not much in a moving mood. You might have healed my broken bones and whatever else, but my whole body still hurts.” Bellatrix stated and Padma eyed her suspiciously before waving her wand and releasing the charm Draco had cast on her.

Draco squeezed her hand. “We'll let you rest. I'll send Tini with food every few hours until tomorrow.” Draco said, gripping his crutch and stabling himself as he stood; Hermione following his lead.

“Don't be a mother hen, Draco.” Bellatrix stated.

“Don't tell me what to do.” Draco stated back, taking Hermione's hand and leading Padma out of the room as well.

“You were in her mind for a long time.” Hermione said as they walked with Padma further from Bellatrix's bedroom.

“Yeah, it felt like a fucking eternity. My head's still throbbing even after the tonic.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Hermione asked, rubbing her hand up Draco's arm.

Draco stopped and pointedly looked at Padma. “We should get you back to the other manor.” Draco said rather than answer Hermione, but she seemed to understand that if Draco were to discuss anything with her it wasn't going to be in front of Padma.

“I don't mind staying and helping.” Padma said.

“I appreciate your help more than I'd ever be able to tell you, Padma. I just already am sharing my house with too many people.” Draco said in a sympathetic tone.

“It's not like the place isn't big enough.” Padma muttered.

“Yes, but unlike your little boyfriend, I'm not used to having people in my house. Even if they are my friends.” Draco gave her a smile.

“Are we friends?” Padma asked and Hermione snickered as she pressed her face into Draco's chest.

Draco gave a short chuckle. “I daresay that we are. I don't think we can deny it any longer.”

“Well then, as your friend, it's stupid to have me leave when both you and Bellatrix are still healing from injuries.” Padma said crossly and Hermione pressed her face harder into Draco's chest to muffle her laughter.

“Why is it that people think the moment we are friends they can tell me what to do. I said we were friends; if you'd like a frame of reference on how often I take advice from my friends, go ask Blaise the last time I listened to him.” Padma gave him an unamused look. “If something comes up, we will immediately bring you back. You are the best healer I know.”

“I'm the only healer you know.” Padma said with an eye roll, but had seemed to accept her dismissal.

“Well, I hardly see how that makes you any less than the best.” Draco remarked.

“Anything comes up at all someone better come get me or notify me.” Padma said in that stern healer voice she often took on when her medical advice wasn't being strictly followed.

“Yes, yes, yes. Hermione can take you back to Black Manor.” Draco said with a dismissive hand wave.

Padma wiggled her wand at him. “I can take myself. Your wife's blood magic will only let me go two places. I'm not willing to test what will happen should I attempt apparating anywhere else.”

“It's for your own protection more than anything.” Hermione said, as if that somehow made it any better.

“I know; I'm not complaining. Simply stating fact. Could you do us a favor though, Draco?”

Draco narrowed his eyes at her. “Possibly; depends on the favor.”

“Don't ever fucking show up to Black Manor in that condition again.”

Draco gave her a small smile. “I'll do my best.”

Padma didn't respond, simply gave Hermione and Draco a knowing look before she disapparated. Draco turned his face to look down at Hermione's face still against his chest. “I don't want to talk about Bella.” He said softly and he hoped his voice wouldn't take on that quality that Hermione always seemed to read so easily as his anxiety around certain topics.

Hermione wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “We don't have to.” She said into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her as well.

They finally released one another and began walking slowly toward the dining room. “It's exhausting having friends.” Draco stated in a joking tone.

Hermione nudged her shoulder softly into him so she wouldn't knock him off balance with his crutch. “You're exhausting.” Hermione joked back.

Draco pulled Hermione tighter against himself. “I might have a bum leg, but I would be more than happy to exhaust you some more.” He said to her in a velvety tone and watched as Hermione's cheeks turned rosier.

“You need to eat something.” Hermione said, keeping her eyes off Draco.

He knew the moment their eyes met she wouldn't be able to think rationally about what he was offering. He rubbed his hand along her body as he pulled her to a near halt. “That's exactly what I had in mind.” He said in a sly tone.

“I meant food.”

“Sounds like the bed is going to get a little messy, but if you really want me to eat food off of you, who am I to deny you?”

“Draco…”

“Hermione…”

“Breakfast.”

“We can eat breakfast at any time.”

“Yes, well the same can be said of me.” Hermione said just as slyly as she wiggled away from Draco and swished her hips pointedly as she walked away from him toward the dining room.

“If you think I won't take you on the dining room table, you'd be wrong.” Draco called after her.

“I guess you'll just have to prove it to me, Mr. Malfoy.” Hermione threw back over her shoulder with a smirk and Draco nearly ran after her.

Chapter Text

Chapter 41

The days leading up to their meeting with Harry passed uneventfully. In fact, they had passed almost silently as well. Draco moved from the crutch to a cane and had nearly gotten his entire range of movement in his leg back. Bellatrix didn't leave her room. Sometimes Hermione would see Draco slip in and hours would pass before he'd come out again. She never asked what they were speaking about, if they were even speaking at all. Something in seeing his aunt in whatever state she had been in when Draco found her in that bedroom had haunted him. Hermione was used to Draco rarely sleeping, but it had become worse; when he did sleep he'd wake up thrashing and drenched in a cold sweat. It would take Hermione minutes, typically to fully wake him up from whatever images were plaguing his mind. He never spoke of them, he just held Hermione tightly in his arms until long after his breathing would steady, twisting that curl around his finger.

He had purple bags under his eyes as they made their way to Black Manor an hour prior to their meeting time with Harry. Hermione would be adjusting Remus's blood magic as she had done for the women in training. “You look like shit.” Parvati greeted as Draco and Hermione appeared on the grounds.

She swept her long hair back over her shoulder as she smushed out her cigarette. “Thanks.” Draco said dully.

“I told you, you should have taken that rejuvenation potion.” Hermione grumbled in Draco's direction.

“I'm fine.” He said blankly. “Can we just get this moving? I'm annoyed enough having to see Potter without the continuous critique of my looks.”

“Someone's grumpy.” Parvati teased and Draco glared at her.

“He hasn't been sleeping very well, if at all.” Hermione explained in a hushed tone as she pulled Parvati with her into the manor, leaving Draco to sulk on his own in the grounds.

“Is he going to be alright?” Remus asked as he held his hand out for Hermione to adjust the borders of the magic binding him.

Hermione followed his gaze out the window to where Draco was leaning against a pillar outside with his eyes closed against the wind and sun. “Yeah. Draco always ends up alright. Of course it would help if he could sleep.”

“Is it the lingering effects from the cruciatus or the state in which Bellatrix was in?” Remus asked, looking back to Hermione.

“When he got back to Malfoy Manor he had to do extensive legilimency on her. I'm not actually sure how he found her, he'd moved her onto the bed before he let Padma and I in.” Hermione trailed off as she went into adjusting her spell.

“Padma vaguely informed me of what you two walked into. Has he thought about memory extraction?”

Hermione sighed. “Honestly, we haven't really talked much about it.” She paused uncomfortably, giving Remus a pointed look.

“Hermione, I can't have that conversation with him, for you. First of all, it would be a complete overstep on my end. Secondly, I enjoy the conversations I've shared with Draco; I'd rather not have them come to a screeching end because I've brought something personal up on behalf of his wife.” Remus said sympathetically.

Hermione sighed. “I know. You're right. I need to talk to him.” Remus gave her a look. “And I will! Just after this whole Harry meeting is done with. Believe me, if I piss him off before hand we'll be breaking up a fist fight.”

Remus nodded. “Fair enough.”

Hermione looked down at her hand to find her pinky tattoo aglow. She looked passed Remus to where Draco was standing outside, he met her gaze with a gesture of impatience. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him and sighed. “Apparently, my husband is summoning us.” She said in an annoyed tone.

“What?” Remus looked confused.

Hermione held up her pinky and wiggled it at him. “Draco and I have matching tattoos so that we can call each other to one another.”

“Well, that's convenient in a very Death Eater way.”

“It's not a bad idea, if you ignore the connotations with the Dark Lord.”

Remus gave her a look to suggest he wasn't fully convinced of that before suggesting they should head out to where Draco was waiting for them. Draco greeted them with a wide yawn and a blank stare as he leaned more of his weight onto the cane he would probably be using for at least two more days. “You know the earlier we get there, the longer we'll be waiting on Harry. He never confirmed a time, so regardless we'll have a four hour window that he could show up at any time within.” Remus said as a result of the impatient way Draco was tapping his foot.

“Does your shack have a bed?” Draco asked rudely.

Hermione elbowed him hard in the ribs, but Remus ignored Draco's rudeness with ease. “Yes, are you planning on taking a nap?” Remus responded in the same deadpan expression that Draco wore.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Draco stood to his full height defensively.

“That you're being an asshole.” Hermione said through her gritted teeth, pinching the back of his arm.

“Whatever.” Draco's agitation was palpable.

“Shall we, then?” Remus said holding out his forearm to the couple.

Hermione elected to take hold of Remus's forearm rather than Draco, whose fingers she wrapped tightly around her own. Draco's mood softened in the slightest way at the feel of Hermione's skin against his, but his face still read something of annoyance. Remus didn't wait for Draco to be able to comment before he disapparated them all from Black Manor. The shack in question was more spacious than Draco's Sherwood cabin had originally been, but certainly still a shack. The three of them walked inside where Remus made his way directly for the joined kitchen and dining room area.

Remus pointed to the door across the living room Draco and Hermione were still standing in. “Bed's in there. Probably best for you two to stay in there anyway until Harry gets here; unless the plan is to just bombard him right away?”

“No, staying out of sight was more in line of what we were thinking.” Hermione said, pushing Draco into the bedroom before he had the option to make a snide comment.

Instead she closed the door of the bedroom and turned to see him smirking down at her. “I don't think I feel comfortable having sex while Remus is in the other room.”

Hermione smacked his chest. “Not why I pushed you in here.”

“Mummy's going to make me take a nap?” Draco teased, but there was a slight edge in his voice that hinted at his overall annoyance from his lack of sleep.

“You can't deny that you need one. You've barely slept the last four days.” Hermione rubbed his arms.

“Feels longer.” Draco muttered.

“Probably because you haven't been sleeping.” Hermione said with a smile.

Draco pulled his hoodie off and tossed it onto the dresser against the wall. “Not sleeping just sounds like a better option than my subconscious continually torturing me.”

Hermione rubbed his chest before she ran her hands down to his stomach and wrapped her arms around him. “I know you don't want to talk about it, but I really think you should. Or try extracting the memories if that's what's haunting you.”

Draco wrapped his arms around Hermione as well, stoking his hands along her back. “If I extract the memories then I'll forget why I want to kill that bastard so badly.” His voice was dark as he gripped onto Hermione's hips.

“Well, maybe that's alright. We were never planning to keep him alive, so I don't see why you need another reason to remind you that you want him dead.”

“Mostly so I can remember to make him suffer.”

Hermione squeezed him. “I don't think it's worth it, Draco. Whatever it is that's fueling your rage is eating you alive.”

“It's not eating me alive.” He denied.

Hermione propped her chin on his chest so she could look up at him as he stared down at her with his shadowed eyes. “Draco, it is. You haven't even spent time with the children. You might not see what it's doing to you, but I do and it's killing me to see you this way.”

Draco lifted his face toward the ceiling so he didn't have to meet Hermione's stare. His grip on her tightened and she knew he was contemplating how to respond. He took in a deep breath before he released it and looked back down at her. “I’m sorry. I know I should extract them, but every time I go to do it, I start thinking about how Bella admitted to still loving him after what he did to her and I can’t seem to make my rage let go of it because I know she won’t take vengeance on him the way she should, the way he deserves.”

Hermione sighed softly as she snaked her hands back from around him and moved them up to link her fingers together around his neck. She pulled his face down to hers so their lips could meet and she felt the tension in his body ease up slightly as she kissed him. “Let me help you. Please, just let me help you.” Hermione didn’t keep the pleading out of her voice as she combed her fingers up into his hair.

Draco rubbed a hand over his face, before he rested both his hands on her hips again. He swallowed hard, but didn’t seem to have the ability to respond more than nodding his agreement of accepting her help. “We’ll deal with our Harry problem first, though, I think.” Hermione said brushing another kiss across his lips.

“So, I don’t get to have a nap?” Draco teased.

Hermione laughed. “By all means.” She released him and motioned toward the bed. “I can hide myself in the kitchen somewhere.”

“I’m not even touching a bed without you.” Draco stated with a smirk.

Hermione giggled and Draco suddenly shushed her as he narrowed his eyes toward the door, listening intently. “Did you hear that?” He mouthed.

Hermione furrowed her brow, listening for whatever it was that Draco might have heard. Harry wasn’t expected for at least another thirty minutes minimum, so the very clear creaking coming from the other side of the door had confused Hermione considering they had left Remus sitting at the dining room table. Hermione opened the door and stepped back out into the living room, Draco following closely behind her, pulling the door closed again behind him. The click of the door closing summoned the source of the creaking noises that they’d been hearing as Harry stepped into the living room as well from the dining room.

“What the fuck is this?” Harry asked angrily, turning back to Remus, who had followed him into the other room also.

Hermione took a few slow steps toward Harry. “We just want to talk.” She said calmly, but as Harry faced her again he drew out his wand on her quickly.

Draco took a step forward, but Hermione pressed her hand into his chest to stop him from getting any closer to Harry. “Stay the fuck away from me!” Harry yelled at Hermione before turning back to Remus. “You’ve set me up?”

Remus kept his face calm as he came a little closer to Harry. “I haven’t set you up, Harry. We’re all on the same side here.” Remus said in a tone that only seemed to piss Harry off more.

“We are not on the same side. That bastard is Voldemort’s pocket murderer and that bitch tried to kill me.” Harry growled, pointing to Draco and Hermione incase Remus was unsure of who he was speaking about.

Draco’s body pressed into Hermione’s as he moved forward once more. “Watch how you talk about my wife.” Draco snarled towering over Hermione, who was still attempting to push him backwards.

“Harry, I wouldn’t have brought you both here if we were not all working toward the same outcome.” Remus said, again keeping his tone even as he spoke.

“He killed Ron in cold blood.” Harry seemed to think this statement was proof enough that Remus was believing some lie Draco and Hermione had told him.

“You and Ron used him as your own personal punching target for a year while building the most inhumane prison to ever exist.” Hermione countered before anyone else could say anything.

“He killed your husband.” Harry shot at her.

“I’m so fucking sick of hearing that. I am the person who had to mourn Fred on my own for weeks before even being allowed out of a dungeon cell or have my clothes cleaned that had his blood caked on them; I think I already fucking know that. I married this man; so how do you think telling me things you know nothing about is going to hurt my feelings? You did nothing while your wife was tortured to death. Should we go back before that? You let Ginny run off barely even three weeks after the death of the child you two were about to have, knowing she was dealing with suicidal ideation without so much as a fight. Or even farther back when I was actively trying to get you off your ass fighting and you told me I was wasting my time and only causing more people to die by trying to send you reinforcements to give the resistance a fighting chance at success. Yet all you and Ron both have to justify your actions is that he killed my husband. Yeah, he fucking did. He’s also the father of my children and the only reason I tried to kill you was because you kidnapped him and when I finally found him beaten and physically damaged, you were about to kill him yourself.”

Draco slipped his hand into Hermione’s holding her in place in front of him as she made efforts to move toward Harry as she told him off. Harry and Remus both just stared at her as her chest heaved with resentment and anger toward Harry. “So, by talk you meant you just wanted to tell me that I was a piece of shit?” Harry finally questioned when he regained some of his composure. Remus on the other hand still looked weary of the meeting he’d helped set up.

“You are a piece of shit, but no that’s not what she meant.” Draco said in a cool drawl.

“Harry, if you’d only let us explain.” Remus finally spoke again.

“Us? So that’s it then? You’ve abandoned me for the Death Eaters? What would the Marauders think of you now?”

Remus winced slightly and Draco moved against Hermione again. “You haven’t been abandoned, you self absorbed, overly entitled twat. If you could wrangle in those two brains cells within that insanely huge head of yours, maybe you’d realize that I’ve been telling you the truth repeatedly. I am going to kill the Dark Lord. You are actively making that task harder.” Draco said with a little more edge in his voice this time.

“Harry, you need to put your differences with Draco aside and listen to him. At the very least listen to Hermione.” Remus said, trying to offer him a reassuring half smile.

“Being a murderer isn't a difference, Remus.” Harry said coldly.

“Can we give him to the Dark Lord, now?” Draco asked Hermione in a bored tone.

“No.” Remus and Hermione said together.

Draco rolled his eyes and moved to lean against the wall, crossing his arms across his chest. Harry glared at him. Remus stepped up to Harry and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. Harry shook it off and Draco fixed him with a dark glare. “Let's just sit down.” Remus suggested.

“I'll pass.” Harry said taking another step away from Remus to further show his displeasure with him.

“So then what's your big plan, Harry?” Hermione shot at him.

“Going to convince Charlie to build you another prison?” Draco muttered and Harry's glare managed to darken.

“I'm not telling any of you what I'm planning. It's obvious none of you can be trusted.” Harry said with venom.

Draco laughed at this remark, drawing everyone's attention to him. “He doesn't have a plan. He's just being obstinate to try and prove he still has the upper hand and we all need him.”

“Get out of my head.” Harry growled at Draco.

“I don't need to be in your head to know that. It's written all over your stupid face.” Draco said, laughing again.

“What's so funny?” Harry spat at him.

“You want the world to need you so badly, but refuse to do what's needed to be done in order for the world to actually need you.” Draco said smugly.

“I died for this war!” Remus made a move as if to comfort Harry, but then decided against it and stayed in place.

“You didn't though; not really. Otherwise you'd be a bit more pearlescent talking to us right now.” Draco said in that same bored tone.

Harry was visibly offended by this remark, but was stunned into silence. “The part of you that was the Dark Lord died, multiple Weasley family members died, thousands of innocent people have died. Are you seeing the difference yet?” Draco continued and Hermione threw him a look as if to suggest he should stop antagonizing Harry.

“You think because I'm lucky to be alive I owe it to the people who've died to also die?” Harry questioned. “How does that help anyone?”

“How does it hurt anyone?” Draco questioned back and the two men glared at one another.

“This isn't the way I planned this conversation out, Draco.” Hermione said in a cross tone.

“He's not going to listen anyway, might as well say how I feel.” Draco drawled.

“People wouldn’t just not react to Harry dying, Draco. Many people would be hurt.” Remus interjected in defense of Harry.

“I never said they wouldn’t. They would cry and grieve and go through a whole slew of emotions I’m sure. But would people keep dying if he died? Would people continue being tortured and living in fear? I’m not saying he has to die; I’m just saying if he’s not going to help people while he is alive then he might as well be dead.” Draco gave a shrug as if he was entirely unbothered by this conversation.

“Draco, sweetheart, I don’t think you’re helping as much as you think you are.” Hermione said in a tone to suggest that Draco needed to shut up. He made a face at her, but pressed his lips into a hard line to show his compliance of shutting up.

“Sweetheart?” Harry said before making a loud noise of disgust.

Remus hit Harry upside the head on behalf of Hermione and Harry turned a glare on Remus as he rubbed his head. “You don’t have to get along with each other, but Hermione was your best friend for years, you don’t get to be a prick to her because you don’t like her husband.” Remus said in a stern voice and for the first time Harry looked slightly ashamed of his behavior.

“Draco has the Dark Lord's remaining horcruxes. If we can destroy them all together then we just might be able to have the element of surprise on our side enough to kill him.” Hermione began explaining while Harry and Draco had given up fighting.

“Then you don't need me, it would seem.” Harry said.

“Well, we've been charged with bringing you to the Dark Lord.” Hermione stated blankly.

“So, this is all just a ruse to take me captive and bring me to Voldemort to die because you're both too cowardly to do it yourselves.” Harry glared at Hermione.

“Believe me, neither of us is too cowardly to kill you nor anyone else. We're already murderers, remember?” Draco cut in and Hermione shot him another look making him slump even more into the wall behind him as he rolled his eyes.

“It would be more of a distraction. He's busy fighting you, we destroy the horcruxes, and hopefully he'd stay distracted enough trying to kill you that we could kill him.” Hermione said.

“We'd all just be showing up together and you assume Voldemort won't know what's being planned against him.” Harry's voice matched the incredulous look on his face.

“He hasn't known what's been being planned against him since I started planning it. Only the weak minded are susceptible to the Dark Lord's lie detector. It's not some great power, it's being a born legilimens. He's the muggle equivalent of heightened intuition. It's not a power, it's a hack.” Draco's bored voice came from where he still lounged against the wall with his arms crossed.

“I fought off the imperius curse.” Harry growled in his defense at being called weak minded.

“Right, like that's some great power as well. Anyone with a strong will can do that. You've basically just aligned yourself power wise with my father.” Draco muttered.

Harry glared at him, but Hermione spoke up again before they could keep bickering. “Everyone that would be lying in this situation is advanced in occlumency, so no the Dark Lord won't know what the plan is unless he decides to go within your mind, which I doubt he will considering the annoyance it caused him the past times.”

“You support this, Remus?” Harry looked to Remus, refusing to turn his back toward Hermione and Draco.

“I wouldn't have agreed to set up this meeting if I didn't support it, Harry.” Remus stated truthfully.

“What has Malfoy ever done to earn your trust?”

Draco scoffed, clearly implying that Harry had done nothing to earn Remus’s trust, but chose not to speak on the matter. “Well, for starters; he's kept Hermione alive and well for this long when anyone else in his position would have surely killed her. Then, when he could have let me suffer through the full moon without any wolfsbane potion, he elected to make them for me personally with an added ingredient that cures me for all intents and purposes. Draco has proven himself more than trustworthy to me and to everyone else he and Hermione have been keeping out of Voldemort's hands.” Remus replied in his soft voice; the one he often used that always reminded Hermione of how someone would speak to an overly upset child.

“Malfoy cured you?” Harry’s eyes were wide as if there was no way what Remus was saying could possibly be true.

“It’s not a cure.” Draco interjected and Hermione saw the small hint of uncomfortableness on Draco’s expressionless face at the way Remus so confidently answered Harry.

Remus fixed Draco with a pointed look. “Yes, I still need to take the modified potion same as I regularly took my wolfsbane potions every month, but as it was very clearly proven, so long as I take the potion I will not transform under the full moon. As far as cures go, that’s the best a werewolf will probably get.” Remus directed at Draco.

“You didn’t transform during the full moon?” Harry was rightfully shocked to hear this information.

“That’s correct.” Remus said.

Silence fell throughout Remus’s shack. Harry was clearly contemplating what his next move needed to be moving forward after hearing this information. Draco had fallen back into his compliant silence as he leaned gingerly against the wall with his eyes on Hermione. Hermione was shifting her gaze between the three men around her, but didn’t seem to know what to say to break through the silence or speed up this meeting so she could get straight into planning the next course of action after whatever outcome Harry decided on. Harry met Hermione’s gaze and she felt like she knew what was coming before he even opened his mouth.

“All I have to do is be a distraction?” Harry asked and Hermione couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she nodded at him. Harry gave a loud sigh to fully signify how disgruntled he was about working with Draco and possibly even Hermione as well. “Fine.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 42

The group disbanded pretty quickly after Harry's agreement to help as a distraction. They agreed that Remus would send his patronus to Harry when it would be time for them to meet again at his small cabin so that Draco and Hermione could then convincingly bring Harry to Voldemort. They weren't sure on an exact date as Draco had hoped to have Bellatrix sign off that the resistance women she was training would indeed be lethal enough to fight the Death Eaters they were going to meet at Hogwarts. Hermione and Draco traveled back to Black Manor with Remus more to guarantee that he wasn't followed and had returned safely before they both apparated back to Malfoy Manor.

“How'd it go?” Daphne asked as Hermione and Draco entered the nursery together, Hermione nearly dragging Draco with her to prove how avoidant he'd been behaving.

“Harry agreed to be a distraction.” Hermione answered.

“Daddy!” Alexia squealed from where she'd been playing with Drake and Damien.

Draco wiggled his hand free from Hermione's grip to meet Alexia half way as she ran across the room and jumped into his arms. As soon as he had hold of her she smushed his face between her tiny hands and furrowed her brow at him in the same scolding manner that Hermione's face often fell into. He sniggered lightly before booping her nose and her expression instantly softened back into a wide grin. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. Draco held her just as tightly and kissed her softly on the cheek as she clung to him. When he met Hermione’s gaze she had a small smile on her lips, but her eyes were screaming I told you so.

“What exactly does Harry being a distraction entail?” Daphne asked as she passed Ariadne over to Hermione.

“Hopefully just putting up a good duel for the Dark Lord so we can accomplish everything we need to to kill the bastard.” Hermione said before rubbing the tip of her nose against Ariadne’s.

Jonathan wrangled in the twin boys and walked them up to where Daphne was still sitting. “I’m going to try to get them to eat some lunch before they get too rambunctious.” He said, leaning down and placing a kiss on Daphne’s lips before leading their kids out of the nursery.

Tini bobbed around the nursery with Scorpius in her arms and his soft cooing was the only sound within the nursery for a moment. Daphne had been watching Draco diligently from the moment Hermione pulled him into the nursery, like she knew something was off with him. Hermione had a feeling Jonathan had also noticed the way Daphne was watching him and that's why he chose to remove himself and their children from the nursery.

“Feeling better, Drake?” Daphne asked as her eyes scanned over Draco's entire demeanor once more.

Draco didn't meet her gaze, but instead his eyes found Hermione's. She could almost hear the regretfulness and the apology within the way his grey eyes softened. The way Alexia clung to him was punishment enough for the way he'd been avoiding the children the last few days.

“He will be.” Hermione answered instead and Daphne let out a sigh.

“Wonderful, because I'd hate to have to kick your ass in front of your wife and children for acting a little too much like Lucius, if you know what I mean.” Daphne again directed her comment to Draco.

“Yes, I think any reference to my father, I would know what you mean.” Draco said blandly.

Daphne stood and moved toward the door. “Good. Shitty things will always happen in life, but that has nothing to do with them. Your children don't deserve to be forced into separation from the father they love because you can't figure out how to regulate your emotions properly to be around them. They had to be without you long enough without you pulling a Malfoy Brood Fest. I don't recall you liking it when your father would do it. Please don't make me compare you to Lucius again; you know I hate doing it when you already look so much like him.” Daphne said in a tone that suggested she'd been serious about kicking his ass.

Draco only sighed and rolled his eyes at her in response. Hermione's eyes were widened slightly as Daphne turned to address her. “Sorry, Hermione, I don't mean to overstep, but someone needed to tell him off and I get the feeling you’re more the supportive, loving, nurturing wife type, than the get your shit together best friend type.” She reached out a hand and squeezed Hermione's forearm reassuringly before smiling sweetly at her.

Draco, on the other hand, only got a pointed look before she left the room. “I prefer my nurturing wife, thanks.” Draco said to the closed door before joining Hermione's side and kissing her.

“Mistress Daphne is having a point, Master.” Tini squeaked as she placed Scorpius on the ground around some pillows so he could continue to practice sitting on his own, but not be injured if he lost his balance.

Draco pulled away from Hermione to look incredulously at Tini. “What is it, gang up on Draco day?” He asked the small elf.

Her eyes got wide and she looked as though she might start crying at any moment. “Tini is not meaning to be ganging up on Master. Tini is just noticing Master has not been to the nursery in four days and it is much unlike Master to be doing so.” Tini squeaked frantically.

“And you aren't the best at regulating your emotions.” Hermione added in and Draco shot her a look. “Well, you aren't. I don't love you any less for it; it's just a fact.”

“Master is upset with Tini.” Tini was able to croak out before her incessant sobbing started.

Draco sat Alexia down, where she immediately ran to join Scorpius's pillow fortress. “For fuck's sake.” Draco muttered as he moved toward Tini.

He seemed unable to reach Tini, however. Every step he made in her direction, Tini was pulled the same distance away from him. It was like they were opposite magnets and an invisible force was keeping them apart. “Tini, don't be so ridiculous; I'm trying to comfort you here.” Draco said in an annoyed tone as he lunged toward her and she was pulled back just as quickly.

A look of horror replaced Tini's sobbing. “Tini is not doing anything, Master. Tini is being moved without Tini's permission.” Tini squeaked.

Immediately Draco turned to Ariadne in Hermione's arms. She'd already showcased her magical abilities in a form of punishment when she felt someone was being rude. Ariadne, however, was watching the scene with a mystified look on her face, like she wished she could do something like that. Hermione merely shrugged when Draco looked at her. They both turned their attention to Alexia, the next likely culprit. While Alexia mostly enjoyed any type of magic that created a mess of sparkles and flamboyant colors, her darker lineage made her inclined to lose her temper and take away the bodily autonomy of others in the process. Alexia, unlike Ariadne, seemed more bored than anything else as she laid her head on one of the overly squishy pillows around Scorpius, who was refusing to give her attention.

Scorpius stared intently at Draco with that same brooding scowl the Malfoy men were superior at wearing. Draco stared back at his son this time as he made a pointed step toward Tini. Scorpius's grey eyes darkened the same way Draco's often did when he was upset and Tini again slid away from Draco moving toward her. Draco couldn't help himself to smile at the outcome. Tini still looked horrified.

“Why is Master doing this to Tini?” She squeaked.

“I'm not doing anything, Tini. He is.” Draco said, pointing down at Scorpius's perfect marbled look of irritation.

“Master Scorpius isn't having magical abilities yet.” Tini squeaked as she glared at Draco.

“What do you mean, he is?” Hermione interjected.

“I think I pissed him off when I accidentally made Tini start sobbing.” Draco said, grinning so broadly now it was nearly impossible for anyone else to not smile back at him.

“Tini is not liking being moved by Master Scorpius.” Tini squeaked as if Draco had told his son to do it.

“No, I'd imagine you wouldn’t.” Draco said with a chuckle.

“Master is thinking this is funny?!” Tini's outrage of this notion was palpable.

“No, I don't think it's funny, Tini. I'm just so proud that of all the things Scorpius could have shown magical ability in, he chose to do it when he felt he was protecting someone he cared about.” Draco wrapped his arms around Hermione and Ariadne, but placed a kiss on Hermione's neck that suggested he'd prefer to hug her in this moment without their children present. “So like his mother that way.” Draco murmured into Hermione's ear.

The tone in Draco's voice made Hermione also wish they didn't have their children as an audience, but she refrained from pressing her body more firmly into his. “Or maybe he's just fiercely protective like his father.” Hermione said as she rubbed Draco's back.

Draco released his hold on Hermione and Ariadne and shook his head as he gave a laugh. “One of these times your adamant refusal that these children got anything from you isn't going to work.” Draco stated as he made his way over to Scorpius with Alexia slowly encroaching onto his ring of pillows.

Draco sank down to his knees to crawl his way up to Scorpius, which made Alexia squeal with excitement. “I didn't mean to make Tini cry.” Draco said, taking Scorpius's tiny balled up fists into his hands.

Scorpius turned his face from Draco to look at Tini, who hadn't tried to move from the last spot Scorpius had moved her to. “Tini is not being upset with Master. Tini is being upset with Tini for speaking out of turn to Master. Master Scorpius isn't needing to protect Tini.” Tini squeaked as her huge eyes watched Scorpius closely.

Scorpius's grey eyes softened the longer he looked at Tini and slowly his fists loosened in Draco's hands as he turned back to face Draco. He furrowed his small blonde eyebrows together and chattered angry sounding gibberish in Draco's face and Hermione laughed from where she still stood holding Ariadne. Draco nodded his head solemnly. “Yes, I see your point.” Draco answered as if he had any clue as to what Scorpius was actually telling him off for.

Scorpius gave a firm nod before he leaned forward and pressed a kiss onto Draco's cheek in the most aggressive fashion an eight month old could muster. “Thank you for forgiving me.” Draco said, letting go of Scorpius's hands to tickle his stomach until a smile spread across his face.

Draco stood back up and turned to face Hermione, who was smiling at him. “What?” He asked, smiling back at her.

“I just really love you.” Hermione said, walking up to him and placing a kiss on his lips.

Draco wet his lips after Hermione pulled away from him and smiled down at her. “I really love you too.”

Ariadne reached out and smacked Draco's shoulder drawing his attention to her instead of it being on her mother. She wore a pout on her baby sized version of Hermione's face as she stared up at Draco. He chuckled as he squished her cheeks softly in his hand. “I love you too.” Draco said pouting his lips back at her as he said it.

Tini braved making movements again and strode up between Hermione and Draco, pulling Hermione's sleeve and reaching up for Ariadne to get passed down to her. Hermione handed her down to Tini and took Draco's hand in her own. “I think now would be a good time to extract those memories.” Hermione said now that all their children were out of their arms.

Draco sighed. “I suppose so.” He said in a defeated voice. “But I'm not doing it in the nursery.” He added in a firmer tone.

“No, of course not.” Hermione agreed.

Tini had made her way with Ariadne back to where Scorpius and Alexia were on the floor. Alexia was softly petting Scorpius's hair as she fully laid across half of his pillows of protection. Tini sat Ariadne down in the same way her twin brother was sitting before Tini turned back to Hermione and Draco watching her.

“Tini is having everything taken care of. Master and Mistress can be going to do whatever they need to do.” Tini squeaked and only Alexia looked to see their parents' response.

“We'll be back shortly.” Hermione said.

“Well, we'll definitely be back.” Draco corrected as he pushed his body into Hermione's to lead her from the room, his hand running up her thighs as they moved in tandem.

Hermione only turned away from Draco so that she could open the door of the nursery. Draco had immediately filled the gap between their bodies as he wrapped his arms around her waist. They moved as one out of the nursery and down the hall to their own bedroom. Hermione conjured up a table and two chairs and Draco moved her curls to the side to kiss her neck.

“Stop trying to distract me; you're extracting the memories.” Hermione said teasingly as she squeezed Draco's forearms wrapped across her stomach.

“I'm not trying to get out of anything; I promise. I just thought after I extracted the memories I could replace them with new ones of you screaming my name.” Draco purred against her neck, sliding his hands beneath her shirt.

Hermione spun within his arms to wrap her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips into his and for a moment they were lost in kissing one another until Hermione finally pulled back again. “I suppose that's allowed.” She said with a smirk, releasing her arms from his neck and pulling away from him slightly.

Draco loosened his grip on her so that she could easily move away from him to sit down at the table. Draco sat himself beside her and rubbed her thigh. Hermione smiled at him. “Well aren't we Mr. Affectionate today.” Hermione teased, leaning over to kiss Draco on the cheek.

“You started it, Mrs. I-Just-Really-Love-You. I'm defenseless to your charisma. I'm just a victim of your womanly charms.” Draco joked, squeezing Hermione's thigh.

“Oh, yes, you're such a victim in all this.” Hermione said with a laugh.

Draco conjured up some vials and went straight to work. He placed his wand on his temple and closed his eyes. The tip seemed to sink within his skin and he made a face of discomfort as his hand tightened on Hermione's thigh. She curled her fingers around his hand and the tension loosened. Then he pulled back his wand and a long silvery string of memories pulled out from his temple as well. When it finally broke off from his skin, he sunk the memory into one of the open vials before stoppering it and shoving it aside. Hermione had a feeling that memory had been whatever happened within Bellatrix's mind that lead to her coming back to consciousness.

Draco repeated the process, pulling from his mind the flashes he'd been given from Voldemort's mind, how he found Bellatrix within her room, and a fourth memory Hermione wasn't sure of. She assumed the fourth memory may have been his last experience under the cruciatus curse, but didn't ask him about it. With all four silvery memories stoppered into vials before him, Draco gave a soft swirl of his wand around them and watched as they vanished from the table. Hermione pulled his hand up from her thigh and rose it to her lips, kissing along each of his knuckles.

“Thank you.” She said when his eyes locked on hers.

Draco pulled her from her chair as he too rose from his. As she collided into his chest she could feel his accelerated heart beat. He held their bodies pressed together with one arm, but swooped some of the curls falling into her face behind her ear so that he might see her face more clearly. He stroked his thumb against her cheek bone as he held the upper portion of her neck in his hand. He lowered his face to hers and she arched into him, lifting her mouth to his instinctively, but he stopped just short of letting their lips meet.

“Didn't I tell you a long time ago to stop thinking I wouldn't do everything for you? What are some horrible memories to me when I've offered you the stars?” Draco whispered before his mouth was on hers.

Both his hands traveled along her body until he firmly took hold of her thighs and lifted her onto the table. She rose an eyebrow at him in mild curiosity as their lips parted. “On the table?”

“Well, you placed it so conveniently, it seemed a waste not to take advantage of it.” Draco smirked.

“Probably should have removed my jeans first.” She teased.

Draco flicked his wand and her jeans vanished from her legs. Hermione gave a gasp and widened her eyes in surprise at him. Draco kissed her softly. “It's sweet that my disgusting teenage boy hijinks can still surprise you.” Draco said with a chuckle as he slid his hands along her bare thighs.

Hermione wrapped her legs around his thighs as she gave him an incredulous look. “You were using that spell as a teenager?”

Draco laughed. “Of course I was. Why do you think the Slytherin Common Room parties were so popular?” Hermione smacked him and he laughed again. “Don't worry, I typically used it on the annoying boys to embarrass them, not unsuspecting girls.”

“And what about the suspecting girls?” Hermione questioned with a sly grin.

Draco smirked at her. “Yes, a few of them too. Not during the parties, though.” Draco's voice had taken a velvety tone again as he kissed Hermione's neck.

Her legs squeezed around him more tightly and the need for talking escaped both of them. Hermione slipped her hands up Draco's shirt to slide her hands against the firm muscles of his back while also pulling his shirt off. Draco's hands moved in a similar way against Hermione's stomach, slipping her shirt over her head so that he could press his lips into her breasts as he pushed her further back onto the table. Hermione tangled her hands into Draco's hair as their lips met again. Hermione undid Draco's jeans as their tongues roamed each other's mouths and she pushed both his jeans and boxers down his thighs. She used her feet to push them further down his legs and he stepped out from them; kicking them off to the side as his fingers slid beneath her underwear and shimmied them down and off her legs.

Hermione arched her hips toward him at the feel of his hands on her and his bare skin beneath her legs as she caressed his legs and waist with her legs. Draco's lips moved down Hermione's neck as he moved a hand up her back to unhook her bra while his other slid between her legs. Hermione reached out and stroked her hand along Draco while his thumb massaged her and two fingers slid welcomingly into her. Hermione wrapped her legs and free arm tighter around Draco as his lips left kisses trailing across her chest. He moaned lightly against her breast as her hand further caressed him. While Hermione touched Draco with a primal need for her body to melt into him; Draco met her with a softness that seemed uncharacteristic for having sex on a table.

His fingers glided into her slowly as his thumb slid against her in time with Hermione's strokes. She pulled him closer to her and he slid his fingers from within her so that she had access to guide his dick inside her instead. Normally, he'd have put up more of a fight, but Hermione knew there was only so much Draco was able to resist and her lying naked across a table with his dick in her hand wasn't one of the easier things. His movements were still slow and delicate as Hermione gripped her fingers into his back. Draco gripped her hips and positioned her body into a slightly more raised position so he could thrust into her more deeply. Draco's hands ran up and down Hermione's thighs as he moved within her. She gripped the edges of the table as her curls sprawled out around her and Draco looked down over her.

He smiled down at her as his hands moved up her stomach; his fingers pressing into her skin the further up her body his hands moved. Hermione released the table and moved as if to sit up, but Draco caught her wrists just in time and spread her arms back across the table with a smirk. “Don't move.” He said in a husky voice.

He leaned over her and pushed farther inside her making her gasp loudly as she gripped tightly back onto the table edges. He placed a kiss directly between her breasts. Then her collarbone. Then the base of her throat. Up her neck until his lips rested on her jawline directly below her earlobe.

“I want to see your whole body react when I make you start screaming my name.” He whispered against her ear before he nipped her lobe with his teeth and straightened back up.

He thrust into her harder making her hair sprawl out even wider across the table as her breasts bounced from the force. Hermione threw her head back to expose her neck in a way that Draco's lips typically found to be irresistible, but he resisted this time. He reached out and caressed her neck with his hand and Hermione moaned aggressively. He tightened his hold on her throat ever so slightly to see her response and was surprised when she moaned loudly. Draco was the only person Hermione let control her; he was the only person that it turned her on to be dominated over as well. She wasn't surprised when his hand left her throat, however, and ran down her arm to interlock their fingers together. Draco moved his other hand between them so that his thumb could rub against her magic spot that made her eyes roll back in ecstasy.

Hermione gripped Draco's hand so tightly her knuckles turned white as she intentionally held back from calling out. Draco moved against her more diligently, thrusting into and rubbing her in rhythm as he bit his lip watching her. “I can do this all day.” Draco teased, intentionally slowing his own speed so Hermione's entire body shuddered on the table. “How long do you think you can really stand not saying my name?”

Draco moved into Hermione in a way that made her gasp. He made the same move and Hermione almost forgot she was trying not to scream. He shifted his hips so Hermione's thighs were resting higher up his waist before moving into her again. “Draco…” Hermione moaned and he smiled down smugly at her.

“I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Did you say something?” Draco joked as he moved faster into her so that the table skidded slightly beneath them.

She wanted to make a snarky remark back, but could only moan his name louder. Again and again and again. Until finally Draco was thrusting so hard into her that it took all her concentration just to breathe properly as her legs loosened around him and she shook with pleasure under his hands now caressing every centimeter of her body. He finished almost instantaneously after her and lifted her from the table so she was pressed against his chest. He took three backwards steps with her before falling backwards onto their bed and allowing his arms to sprawl across the blankets as they both worked to catch their breath.

Hermione curled her body against his and he wrapped his arms around her as he always did when her face touched his chest. He kissed her forehead as she absentmindedly traced her finger along the scales of his dragon tattoo, more to just be touching him than because she liked tracing the tattoo. After a few minutes his chest stopped heaving and she wondered if he might have fallen asleep. Then he gave a long sigh and said, “I wonder what's for lunch?” as he squeezed her body more tightly to himself.

Chapter Text

Chapter 43

Blaise and Theo stood on either side of Hermione within the training room. Blaise looked around at the four women gathered against the other side of the room while Bellatrix paced in the center. “Are we waiting for Draco?” Theo asked in a low tone, leaning in toward Hermione.

“Draco doesn't come to these anymore.” Bellatrix answered, shooting Theo a look and he cowered slightly behind Hermione.

“What exactly did I get signed up for?” Blaise asked with a skeptical look on his face.

“Training.” Bellatrix answered as she paced her way closer to Blaise.

Blaise cleared his throat. “Training to fight…you?” Blaise asked.

Bellatrix glared at him. “Do you want me to fight you?” She asked.

“No!” Blaise said quickly. “I was forced to be here, I'm just trying to figure out why.”

“Apparently, Draco felt you would enjoy kicking some Death Eater ass.” Bellatrix said.

“He's not wrong, but I didn't think I was joining in on any battles.” Blaise turned to Hermione. “You just signed me up for your resistance against my will?”

“We can argue about it or you can just shut up and learn some new fighting techniques.” Hermione said and Theo had to move around Hermione to physically block Blaise from responding by covering his mouth with his hand.

“Are you two done talking?” Bellatrix asked and Theo forced Blaise's head into a nod as he nodded as well. Bellatrix turned to the group that was standing farther away from her and motioned them forward. Padma moved first, having seen the damage Bellatrix was willing to inflict on herself and handle from someone else made her all the more terrified of the person she'd agreed to train with. Luna followed next, while Parvati and Gabrielle were the last to move forward and still stood farther back than the rest of the group.

“Theo,” Bellatrix turned to where Theo was still holding his hand over Blaise's mouth. “Would you mind telling the group what Death Eaters enjoy doing?”

Theo pulled his hand away from Blaise's mouth and looked uncomfortable. “They enjoy torturing people.” For a moment Theo pointedly met Bellatrix's gaze, but when he saw her already watching him, he looked away.

“Fuck.” Blaise said under his breath. “She's gonna torture us.”

“I'm not going to torture you, though I should so you can know what to expect when it happens.” Bellatrix said firmly.

“You already have tortured some of us.” Luna spoke up as her big dreamy eyes landed on Hermione.

Bellatrix had the smallest inkling of guilt cross her face as she too looked toward Hermione, but it vanished instantly. “The torture is a game for most of us. Some get enjoyment from the screaming, some get off on the power dynamic of it, and some will be unable to kill you any other way.”

“Disgusting.” Gabrielle muttered from the back.

“Yes, but all habits are hard to break. Most people would consider Draco to be a merciless killer, but the truth is he's killing more mercifully often times just by doing the killing alone.” Bellatrix continued.

“I don't think the people hit with his acid curse would agree.” Luna countered.

“Yes, well he is still a Malfoy and a Death Eater; I never said he wasn't sometimes a flamboyant prick. Those people still probably died faster than someone under the cruciatus curse.” Bellatrix stated and Hermione swallowed hard.

“So, the point is, we should expect to be tortured going into this fight?” Parvati guessed and Gabrielle tucked her arm more tightly around Parvati's waist.

“The point is, you will be tortured and you should be focused on making it as un-enjoyable for the person torturing you as possible.”

A chill crept up Hermione's spine as a vision of Voldemort ordering Draco to scream or face death filled her mind. She winced slightly and Blaise and Theo both put a hand on her back supportively. Blaise hadn't been there to hear the screaming, but Theo had told him about it and they both knew how much Voldemort liked to hear screaming to keep himself from getting bored with the torture he was issuing. Hermione let her mind wander as she thought about that fact. She wondered how many of Bellatrix's bones had been broken in silence by her lover before she finally called out in pain. She wondered if she'd been so badly injured because Bellatrix had refused to make a noise even once while Voldemort broke her until there was nothing left for him to take from her.

Bellatrix's voice brought Hermione out of her thoughts. “Everyone take a partner.” She said and Luna stepped forward first.

“Don't look over here, Lovegood. I've heard stories about your spells and there's no way I'm dueling you or letting you near my fiancé.” Blaise said immediately, taking Theo's hand and pulling him closer to his body.

“Perfect; Blaise and Theo will finally be able to separate those two.” Bellatrix said pointing at Parvati and Gabrielle. “If you're worried about your fiancé, I suggest you take the blonde.” Bellatrix added as Blaise groaned.

Gabrielle and Parvati looked just as displeased to be being separated as Theo and Blaise did, but they stood across from the couple just the same. Blaise had elected to take Gabrielle as his dueling partner and left Theo with Parvati considering neither of them knew her fighting techniques. Padma almost ran to take Hermione's hand; whether from fear of having to take on Bellatrix or fear of having done to her what Luna had done to Draco, Hermione couldn't be sure. Luna sighed and turned a nervous look to Bellatrix, who rolled her eyes, but stood in a similar paired fashion as the rest of the group had across from Luna.

“Now who remembers which spells are acceptable for use in battle?” Bellatrix asked and then immediately shot a glare at Hermione, who lowered her arm out of the air with red cheeks.

“Stunning.” Parvati said quietly.

Bellatrix flipped her hair over her shoulder in a way similar to Gabrielle. “Thank you, it's a new dress.” Bellatrix said and Theo snorted.

“What? I can't make a joke because I'm the head Death Eater?” Bellatrix said when everyone remained silent. “Yes, stunning is an acceptable option. Disarming is stupid and useless, most Death Eaters carry several wands on them into battle that they know will respond to their magic. Anyone else?”

“Maiming spells.” Luna said confidently, offering Bellatrix a smile.

“Yes, since some of you may be against immediately killing your opponent, you should be maiming them. They won't show you the same curtesy; will they Theo?” Bellatrix seemed to have only wanted Theo here so that another Death Eater's opinion could be recounted to the group and she obviously did not consider Hermione to be a Death Eater.

“I would.” Theo said and Bellatrix glared at him. “But I hate being a Death Eater so I'm not a good example. The rest won't bother trying not to kill you. They might just have to do it differently as not many people can use the killing curse effectively.”

“All of your shields need work.” Bellatrix went on.

“You haven't seen my shields.” Blaise argued and Bellatrix shot him a look.

“It needs work.” She said adamantly. “For curses and jinxes that can't be shielded,” she took a moment to motion toward Luna, “you'll need to work on the timing of your diversion spells.” Bellatrix took a few steps back and got into a readied position in front of Luna. “Let's see if you can land one of those nifty curses on me.”

Luna's eyes widened as the entire group stared at them. “Erm, aren't you still healing?” Luna asked softly.

Bellatrix shot a jinx at Luna so quickly the entire group jumped back as one as Luna fell backwards. Bellatrix stood over her as she revived Luna from her stun. “You were saying?” Bellatrix said down to Luna as she blinked wildly up at her.

Bellatrix strolled back to where she'd been standing before, allowing Luna to stand up on her own. Luna shot a bright yellow beam of light at Bellatrix which she waved off easily. Luna tried her fungus spell; again Bellatrix waved it away with minimal effort. Now, they were in a type of Quadrille with one another, moving to music unheard by the rest as their dancelike dueling style intensified. Luna threw her self into her spells moving her entire body as if to will them onto Bellatrix. Bellatrix waved each one off, seemingly, with more ease than the last as she pirouetted across the room. Colors of spells Hermione hadn't seen Luna use before were flying throughout the room as the other partners watched with a type of wonder at the way Bellatrix moved.

Luna finally lowered her wand, panting from the exertion, while Bellatrix only lowered herself from her near tiptoed stance to place her heels back on the floor. “If you can't divert a spell with this same amount of ease, you will die.” Bellatrix said harshly, waving her hand at them to signify they should start practicing.

Stunning was easier on the rest of the group to consciously aim at one another than the spells Luna had in her arsenal. Theo was admittedly the best at diverting spells, but was no where close to the ease at which Bellatrix was at. Even Theo had the occasional stun slip through and needed to be given a hand getting off the floor. Padma and Hermione had both diverted several stuns as well as landing them also. Gabrielle seemed almost to Theo's level which Hermione assumed was from the amount of fighting they'd both already done in life. Blaise hadn't managed to get stunned yet, but only because he was quick to dodge when his diversion was unsuccessful. Parvati was in a similar place, skill wise, as Blaise and also dodged many stuns she hadn't diverted; however, her dodging was much less successful than Blaise's. Luna was by far the worst at diverting the spells, either because Bellatrix was sending them or because spell creation was more Luna's forte than blocking and diverting.

After what felt like hours of this to Hermione, everyone finally stopped on their own. Bellatrix had long since given up on Luna and had let her get shuffled between each pair, unable to divert a single stun from them as well. Bellatrix stood with her arms crossed, leaning against a wall, watching with a blatantly disappointed expression on her face. Blaise actually opted to lay on the floor, chest heaving, as he tried to catch his breath. Theo prodded him lightly with the toe of his boot to further tease him. Blaise barely had the energy to smack his foot away. Parvati sank to the floor as well to sit with her back against the wall closest to where the other pupils were. Bellatrix pointed a finger at Luna and she groaned.

“Create yourself an impenetrable shield or don't bother coming.” Bellatrix said in a dark, but truthful tone.

“All this lesson taught me was that we're all going to die. Even the most seasoned fighters among us weren't diverting spells with that type of ease. I think it's impossible. She's the only person that can do it.” Parvati said in a defeated tone.

“I know one other person that can do it.” Luna said, patting Parvati on the head as if that would make her feel better.

Parvati pushed Luna's hand off her head and glared up at her. “And who's that, Luna?” She asked in an annoyed tone.

As if on cue, Draco appeared within the center of the training room. Luna didn't speak, as if the mentioning of it alone had summoned Draco into their midst, but pointed her finger prominently at Draco. “Ah, Draco, come to show the group how to properly fight, have you?”

“No.” Draco said blandly, then gazed around the room at the tired looking group before turning back to Bellatrix. “I'm here because—”

Bellatrix shot a spell at him to cut him off and Hermione saw the instant annoyance flood Draco's body as he shielded the spell without hesitation. Bellatrix moved along the perimeter of the room and Draco moved with her, keeping her within his line of sight, so that the group now had a clear view of them both. “Do you mind?” He said in an annoyed tone.

“Not at all.” Bellatrix stated, but her position suggested she was ready to duel him at any moment.

“I came because—”

Again Bellatrix shot a spell at him and again Draco shielded it without a thought. “We're actually working on diverting spells today, Draco.” Bellatrix said, flinging another jinx at him.

Draco waved it off with even more nonchalance than Bellatrix had been doing with Luna's spells. “Better?” He asked with a glare in his aunt's direction.

The tension had made the group huddle together to better watch the two highest ranking Death Eaters go head to head. “Eh.” Bellatrix said to further agitate Draco as she shrugged her shoulders at him.

Draco took the bait. He threw a jinx at her which she too waved off like nothing before sending one on him. Back and forth curses flew never hitting their target as Draco and Bellatrix diverted them so quickly and so easily they might have been waving off an annoying gnat. Bellatrix threw a curse at him mid pirouette and Draco nearly missed the diversion. Bellatrix laughed.

“You've gotten slow.” She taunted.

Draco threw curse after curse at Bellatrix all the while advancing on her. She diverted each one just as easily, but with her focus on diversion she'd allowed Draco to back her up against a wall. By the time she lowered her wand from diverting his last spell, Draco's hand was around her throat, pinning her to the wall. Hermione tried to hide her smile; there was something in the way Draco moved that even as a weapon of destruction, he managed to turn her on. She didn't necessarily want the entire group to catch on to that though. Everyone else watched in a type of mesmerization. There was very little time with battles to focus on the way Draco moved; even less time when he was encroaching on them rather than someone else. His show of annoyance more than training with Bellatrix had been the first time anyone could really examine and even admire, a little bit, the graceful and deadly way Draco moved. The ease he wielded magic as well as repelling it. It was both awe inspiring and terrifying.

“There's a good boy.” Bellatrix teased as she smirked at Draco still holding her to the wall.

Draco pulled his hand away from her neck and took a step back. “Someone is triggering the wards.” Draco said and his annoyance at Bellatrix's stunt became apparent to the rest of the training group.

Bellatrix's eyes widened slightly as a brief panic washed over her expression. “Who is it?” Bellatrix asked, taking a step closer to Draco.

“Not him or I'd have been summoned already for warding him from the manor.” Draco stated and the panic instantly left Bellatrix's face.

“Wait, someone's trying to get in here?” Parvati asked as she rose to her feet again and gripped her wand more tightly.

“Yes, but you don't have to worry about fighting anyone. They won't be able to get through. I came here just to make sure no one left for Black Manor until I've had the chance to clear the area. There's plenty of food if this training session has finished, but you all need to stay inside the house. No exceptions.” Draco directed his last comment to Bellatrix.

Draco turned to leave the training room and Hermione and Theo both followed after him. He rolled his eyes at them. “What did I just say?”

“I'm not letting you go handle some unknown threat alone.” Hermione said stubbornly.

“Yeah, what she said.” Theo chimed in.

“I handle most unknown threats to this house on my own, you do realize that, don't you?” Draco said in an exasperated tone.

“Well, tough shit. We're coming.” Theo said firmly.

Draco sighed. “Fine. You two can come; everyone else keep your asses in this house.” Draco said threateningly as he scanned a glare across the training room.

Chapter Text

Chapter 44

Draco's POV

Draco, Theo, and Hermione all apparated just outside the property line of the Malfoy Manor grounds. Once they were outside of the wards they could see anyone that was trying to find Malfoy Manor. To them it would look like someone trying and failing to walk into the grounds, to the person triggering the wards it would look like a big empty plot of land that an invisible barrier knocked them back out of every time they tried to step through it. Draco had been at Black Manor helping Tonks train Katie and Dean rather than taking his usual walks with Remus when he first felt it. He paused for a moment to watch his dark mark as the feeling had still never come back to that portion of his arm to see if it would activate. When neither his mark nor his tattoo with Hermione activated and the wards hadn't been triggered again, he shrugged it off as a fluke.

Then it happened again. And again. And again. Once almost every minute. Someone was trying to get into his house or was trying to get his attention and he was now bordering on kicking their ass for doing so. On his own he would have been more reckless in his approach, apparated exactly where the wards kept triggering and put his wand to the throat of whoever the threat happened to be. With Theo and Hermione with him, he aired on the side of caution. He had them apparate with him farther back so that they were in a small clump of trees and could easily be hidden from sight around the area where the wards were being triggered. When Draco caught sight of the black haired mop throwing himself into the invisible barrier he rolled his eyes. He almost was hoping for a threat; instead he had Harry Potter, again trying to invade the grounds of his home, but this time there were two red heads behind him to replace the one Draco had killed in Romania.

“Fuck.” Hermione said under her breath from behind him.

“I'm sorry, was Potter unclear on the plan?” Theo asked in a whisper as a glare set into his face at the sight of Potter throwing himself into the shields.

“This feels pointless, Harry.” Charlie's voice said from beside where Potter kept colliding with Draco's wards.

“He'll come.” Potter stated, throwing himself into the barrier once more, as if the force of it this time would allow him to break through.

“And then what, Harry? We fight the bastard that's already killed three of our siblings while you, do what? Chat up Hermione?” The second Weasley brother spoke this time and Draco turned to face Hermione as she gave a sharp intake of breath.

She was staring at George as if she'd seen a ghost, and rightfully so. Even his voice sounded the same as Fred's. The only difference was the small nub where George was missing majority of one of his ears. “Stay here.” Draco said softly, but he gave a pointed look to Theo that suggested he wanted him to make sure Hermione stayed out of sight.

“I don't want to chat up Hermione.” Potter threw himself against the wards again. “We're here for Charlie.” Again the wards held. “To get Padma back.” Potter was nearly panting now from his near constant effort to break through the barrier.

“You rang?” Draco drawled as he sauntered out into the clearing to meet the three men intruding on his house.

Charlie and George both whipped around, wands out, in surprise that they hadn't heard Draco approaching. “Potter, I thought my instructions had been clear. Why are you here with, what are they supposed to be? Backup?” Draco said nonchalantly taking a step closer and watching as both Weasleys took a step back.

“I have some conditions.” Potter said and Draco laughed that hallow laugh of his before Potter could finish his thought.

“You're in no place to give me conditions and frankly I'm not in the mood.” Draco said dryly, all traces of his fake laughter gone from his expression and voice.

“What have you done with Padma?” Charlie said in a gruff tone.

“I sent her to be with her sister.” Draco said vaguely.

“The Prophet reported that your wife killed her sister.” George interjected and for a moment Draco was caught off guard in the same way Hermione had been.

He recovered quickly. “The Prophet reports a lot of things.” Draco said, waving his hand as if to shoo the comment away.

“If you killed her I’ll—”

“You'll what? Sick another dragon on me? Oh right, I ate the last one you set loose on me.” Draco gave a sly grin.

“I'll kill you.” Charlie said instead.

“Well, that will be fun. You'll need more than Potter to protect you from the hoard that will be coming after you next if you manage to succeed.” Draco said in a bored tone before he turned back to Potter. “Do you find people are easier to control when you give them absolutely no context or do you just hate confiding in anyone?”

George and Charlie now both turned to look at Potter, who fixed Draco with a dark glare. “Shut up, Malfoy.” Potter said and Draco laughed again.

“So, you've been trying to break through the wards of my house for what, the last hour now; just so you could tell me to shut up? I must say, I'm flattered, but as it has already been established; I am married. Happily.” Draco said in a taunting tone and he noticed George had to actively make sure his face hadn't pulled up into a smile.

“I'm not fucking hitting on you.” Potter growled.

“My mistake. Most people this obsessed with me typically are.” Draco took on that bored tone again.

“We're here for Padma.” Potter stated and Draco rolled his eyes.

“Do you think this war is a fucking game?” Draco's temper was getting the better of him. “You agreed to help us and now you risk not only the safety of your apparent friends with you, but my entire family, as well as your supporters that I've been keeping alive. You come to my house, which on its own is stupid because neither of us can be certain that I'm not being watched at all times after your stupid ass took me prisoner. If I am being watched then you've blown everything I've worked for and sentenced not just me to death, but your so-called best friend to death as well as the five children I have living in my house. Do you ever fucking think before you do anything? Or you just feel so sorry for the Weasleys that the moment one of them says they love someone you think it's acceptable to risk every other life to prove I'm a monster?”

Potter took a step forward. “Five children? Wow, Hermione's been busy.” George said in a dark tone.

Draco focused his rage onto George and he seemed to feel it in the glare alone as he took a step backward when Draco turned on him. “I happen to have a friend living in secret here who has two children. I don't think I have to tell you that it will not end well for you if you make another comment about my wife.”

“Alright, everyone just calm down.” Hermione said, wrapping her hand around Draco's bicep and pulling his attention onto where she'd just strode out beside him.

“What part of stay there was unclear to you?” Draco asked her in an annoyed tone before his focus found Theo so he could glare at him.

“I tried to stop her.” Theo said in his defense.

“I don't take orders, thank you.” Hermione said as she squeezed Draco's arm more tightly to convey her annoyance.

“Yes, but just once I wish you fucking would.” Draco said in an exasperated tone.

“Good luck with that.” George muttered.

“If this whole show is all about Padma, I'll save us all some time. She's busy. Meet us for the battle if you desperately need to see her so badly.” Theo said blandly, attempting to pull Hermione and Draco back towards the trees they came from.

“Padma is planning on fighting with you?” Charlie directed this question to Draco.

“Yes, several people are planning on fighting; more with Theo than me. I have bigger problems to deal with before the Death Eaters. I don't think anyone will stand by you trying to arrest everyone though, if that's still what you're thinking.” Draco spoke to Charlie, but he was watching the way George and Hermione were focused on one another.

“Are you hiding Gabby with the others also?” George asked, bringing attention from the group back to Hermione as well. “Bill asked me to confirm whether or not she was dead.”

“Gabby is with the others.” Hermione said.

Draco had expected a much different attitude from George. The same ridicule that Potter and his brothers had given Hermione, but instead he was calm and seemed to not want to discuss his twin at all. He more watched Hermione with curiosity and Draco wondered if the only Weasley to ever know her as well as Fred had was George, while the rest just pretended to know her true nature.

“I'll let him know.” George said before turning back to Potter and his brother. “I left my son and daughter to come here under false pretenses. You keep the whole truth from us again, Harry, and I will kick your ass. Let's get out of here before we end up even more surrounded by Death Eaters than we already are.”

“I didn’t keep the truth from anyone.” Potter tried to argue.

“Don’t start with me, Harry. You specifically left out that you had knowledge of a plan from these two to start some battle. You made it seem like you’d convinced Malfoy to help you with some master plan of yours to waltz into Hogwarts. Honestly, it’s getting embarrassing, mate. I only agreed to come along because you’d played up how much danger everyone was in and I couldn’t bare losing another brother because he followed someone he loved to Malfoy Manor. Yet here we are, Malfoy not even bothering to raise a wand at us. Hermione obviously in love. This Death Eater bloke isn’t even registering us as a threat. For fuck’s sake he told us to join the fight. I don’t like feeling like an idiot and you keep making me feel more stupid with every time I stand behind you.” George groaned.

Potter crossed his arms across his chest as he glared at George. “The invitation to fight still stands; we’re currently a little outnumbered.” Theo said in an attempt to break the growing tension.

Draco shot him a glare. “Don’t tell them we’re outnumber, you idiot.”

Hermione smacked Draco’s chest. “Don’t call him an idiot; he’s trying to help you recruit more people.”

“I don’t need more people, I’m the mass murderer, darling. Haven’t you been listening to what everyone keeps trying to remind you of?” Draco said sarcastically as he rubbed his chest.

George rolled his eyes. “I’m not staying to watch these two squabble while you two bicker about whether or not Padma is fine.” George turned to Hermione. “Fred would be happy knowing you’re still alive.”

George turned and made to walk further away from the boundaries of Malfoy Manor as if someone other than Potter or Charlie might attempt to hold on to him as he disapparated. “George.” Hermione called after him, moving toward him with Draco moving alongside her like a shadow.

The movement of the couple made Charlie and Potter both move further away from them, whereas Theo seemed to ignore it for the most part and stayed put as Charlie and Potter got closer to where he was standing. George turned back to face Hermione and in turn Draco because he was hovering over her, not from lack of trust in her, but because he had to make a conscious decision to not move with her when she moved and had not done it in that moment. George seemed to be the only person outside of Draco’s inner circle that didn’t need Draco’s actions to be explained. He seemed to recognize those movements as something familiar. Seeing George looking at her again, though, seemed to make Hermione’s words catch in her throat.

“I’m sorry about your brother.” Draco spoke for her instead and George raised his eyebrows in brief surprise. Hermione’s hand moved backwards until it touched Draco’s thigh and his arm slipped around her waist as he sensed that she needed further comfort.

“Fred, not Ron.” Draco clarified and George pressed his lips into a line in what looked like him trying not to smile at Draco’s need to clarify which brother he was talking about.

Hermione smacked him, but George only gave a nod before he turned his back to them again and disapparated. Draco squeezed his arm tighter around Hermione as she began to spin within his grip to face him. Potter cleared his throat, disrupting them and pulling Draco’s attention back to the unwanted visitors still lingering outside the property line of his house. “Anyone else you’d like to turn against me?” Potter asked in a tone that suggested Draco was intentionally making his life more irritating.

Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. “I’m not turning anyone against you. Why do we keep having the same conversations? How dumb are you?”

Theo snickered. Potter opened his mouth to say something back, but Charlie held up his had to stop him. “Can I just see Padma?”

“Absolutely. At the Battle of Hogwarts part two.” Draco stated.

“And I’m just supposed to trust that she’ll be there?” Charlie countered.

“Have I lied to you yet?” Draco countered right back.

Charlie made a face like he wanted to argue, but couldn’t come up with an example of a time that Draco had lied to him so was forced to stay silent instead. Potter groaned, seeming to know that whatever plan he had to undermine Draco by this ploy wasn’t going to be successful. “Exactly.” Draco said after a moment of silence.

“Now, you both need to get off my property and back to wherever you’re hiding out at. Remus will be in contact with you, Potter. If you come back to my house again I will be forced to hurt you.” Draco stated, moving Hermione with him back to where Theo was still standing off on his own.

“I believe he said now.” Theo said when neither Charlie nor Potter made to move.

“You swear Padma will be there.” Charlie said for added confirmation.

Draco groaned and Theo smacked his palm into his forehead. “Charlie, Padma will be there. Kicking as much ass as she always has and also probably healing as much ass as she always does as well. She’s committed to this battle and the success of it. You’re not going to get a different answer no matter how many times you ask.” Hermione replied exasperatedly.

“You should know that Draco’s not going to let any of us leave until you two disapparate and I’ve just been being stunned for the last hour at least and am hungry. So, if you don’t mind fucking off now; that would be great. And appreciated.” Theo stated when Charlie and Potter still didn’t move.

“I guess I’ll just wait for Remus to send me his patronus then.” Potter said in a disgruntled tone.

“Good. Bye.” Draco said shortly, waving the two men away from the manor grounds.

Potter reached out and grabbed Charlie’s arm and disapparated them both without another word. “About fucking time.” Theo groaned, disapparating himself before Draco or Hermione could say anything to him.

Draco gave Hermione a slight squeeze as he pet his hand softly over her hair. “Are you okay?” He asked as his fingers found their way to brush against her cheek.

She was quiet for a moment as she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his chest. “I thought if I ever saw George again he’d be screaming at me.” Hermione admitted.

“So did I if we’re being honest. Not just at you. I thought I was going to have to let him kick my ass.”

“Let him?” Hermione smirked.

“Yes, let him. I’m not the same fifteen year old he pummeled after Quidditch, thank you very much.” Draco said in mock offense.

“Right, of course.” Hermione teased, but then her face shifted into something more serious. “He has the most right out of anyone to hate me for being with you. Do you think he was being that calm to throw me off? Should I worry about George coming to kill me?”

Draco laughed despite himself, hugging Hermione more tightly to himself. “I think if George was interested in killing you he would have tried to do it outright the moment he saw you. I also don’t think he would have mentioned Fred being happy that you were alive because I have an inkling that he made you promise him you’d stay alive more than just in that last moment he had with you.”

Hermione sighed, burying her face into Draco’s chest. He disapparated them back into the manor grounds within the wards to the large open field Draco often used to transform into his dragon form. Hermione didn’t say anything; she barely even moved as she held onto him. Draco lowered his face to hers so his mouth was almost touching the side of her ear. “It’s okay if you want to cry. It won’t hurt my feelings.” He whispered and Hermione released a shuddering breath.

He knew she didn’t need his permission, but he had assumed she was immediately feeling guilty about seeing her dead first husband’s face and having an intense emotional reaction despite how she felt for Draco. The guilt would have been what was keeping her from reacting the way her body needed to and wanted to. She held on to him tighter and he responded the same way. Draco held her as her body shook within his arms and her tears soaked into his shirt while he rubbed her back and stroked her long curls. He didn’t rush her through her emotions; he waited patiently for her to feel them and release them in a space where there was no shame in her feelings of sorrow that she allowed herself to be consumed with.

Chapter Text

Chapter 45

Draco's POV

The atmosphere of Hogwarts changed drastically the moment Draco and Bellatrix could be seen walking up the grounds to the castle together. Neither had been back to Hogwarts since the full moon two weeks ago. They hadn't been summoned either. For all Draco knew, the Dark Lord had assumed the both of them to have died. The Death Eaters had been more riled up recently with hopes of a looming battle, but the jovial laughter and chatter turned to stunned silence with every step they took toward the Chamber of Secrets.

Draco stopped short of the entrance, his heart hammering in his chest as he took a steadying breath and fought to push his emotions past his mental void. Bellatrix looked almost relieved that he'd stopped to better ready himself as she made efforts to do the same. Soon, her expression was fixed into that hard cold look she had when she was meant to look more like the Dark Lord's deadly prop than an actual person. Draco took slightly longer to work his features back into marble, but succeeded as his lips hardened into a tight line.

Hermione had practically begged them not to go in, especially without her, but they had obviously not listened. Draco had been in no rush to allow Hermione anywhere near the Dark Lord after what had happened to Bellatrix no matter how many times she'd asked him and pleaded with him to let her come along. He knew she was probably pacing incessantly from the moment they left Malfoy Manor, but that was a price he was willing to pay to insure that Hermione would never be harmed the way he or Bellatrix had been.

Draco and Bellatrix met each other's gaze and took a deep breath in unison. Bellatrix slid her hand into Draco's for a sense of comfort as they made their way into the tunnels leading to the Chamber. Bellatrix stopped short and Draco turned to face her when her hand had slid from his grip. Her breathing had gotten heavy as she stared at the floor where the staining of what appeared to be pooled blood was still coating the cement of the tunnel. Her chest heaved the longer she stared at the spot and Draco felt compelled to return to her side. He pulled her past the spot where she had been left to bleed out so that her eyes could focus on something other than her old blood.

“Do you want to go back?” He asked softly, knowing they were close enough to the Chamber that they might be overheard if normal speaking voices were used.

Bellatrix cleared her throat before she stuck her chin out and glared at the Chamber before them. “No.” She said darkly, pushing out of Draco's grasp to move ahead on her own.

Draco entered the Chamber of Secrets only a moment after Bellatrix had. They strolled directly to the center of the Chamber where Draco was often greeting the Dark Lord or being tortured, but an area Bellatrix rarely was in. The Dark Lord rose from his throne at the sight of her. He had a look in his eyes that Draco couldn't quite place. Not love, but something he found annoyingly manipulative as the Dark Lord glided down to meet Bellatrix in the center of the Chamber. For a moment the Dark Lord seemed to forget or just not realize that Draco was there. He gazed at Bellatrix with a mystified look like he was enamored to find her alive and well after the way he'd left her.

“Bella.” Voldemort's voice was soft, softer than Draco had ever heard him speak before. “You're alive.”

No thanks to you. Draco thought before he hastily quieted his mind again and watched as the Dark Lord reached out one of his spider-like hands toward Bellatrix's unblemished face. She winced noticeably and took a step away from him as she fell into a low curtsy. Draco noticed the visible offense wash over the Dark Lord's face and he sunk into a bow to continue blending into the background behind Bellatrix.

“My Lord.” Bellatrix said, rising and moving back into place closer to the Dark Lord.

Draco lifted his head to keep Bellatrix in his sight, but not so much that attention was drawn to him. Those spider fingers stroked across Bellatrix's cheek; she didn't move this time. Just stared back into the Dark Lord's face as he bore into her. It was almost intimate and sent chills down Draco's spine as he stayed in his deep bow.

“You truly are my most faithful servant.” Voldemort hissed as he moved his face closer to Bellatrix's.

“Draco has an update.” Bellatrix said in a neutral tone.

The Dark Lord seemed to realize that Draco was still bowing behind Bellatrix and lowered his hand back to his side as he strode back to his throne and sat down. “Well, rise and pass along your information, then, Draco.” Voldemort said.

Draco stood at his full height as he was told and took a step forward so that Bellatrix was back beside him. “I believe I've found Potter, my Lord.” Draco stated in the same neutral tone Bellatrix had been using.

“You've found him?” Voldemort’s voice hit a shrill note in his excitement.

“Possibly, my Lord. I think I might know where he’s been hiding. I’ll be taking H—Astoria with me in two days time to the location I think Potter’s hiding with his friends from Romania. Should we actually find him, we’ll bring him straight back here for you to finish off once and for all, my Lord.” Draco stated.

“You can’t leave sooner?” Voldemort asked.

“I’m afraid not. Not with having to organize to have three children watched over while we’re gone, my Lord.” Draco regret saying it as soon as the words left his mouth, but fortunately the Dark Lord didn’t make any suggestions for overseeing his children.

“Very well; two days time.” Voldemort agreed.

“If all goes according to the plan, Potter will be dead in two days and there will no longer be anyone left to try and thwart your rule over the wizarding world, my Lord.” Draco said, testing the waters of how much the Dark Lord really knew about Draco’s true plan.

The Dark Lord gave an evil smile at these words. “This is why I apply the pressure I do onto you, Draco. Where others would have crumbled, you flourish. A trait you've inherited from your aunt, no doubt.” Voldemort said in a cold praising tone and Draco had to fight back the way his body wanted to physically react by simply clenching his fists instead.

“Thank you, my Lord.” Draco managed to get out without clenching his teeth as he fell back into another half bow.

“If there's nothing else, I'd like some time alone with Bella.” Voldemort said and Draco couldn't hide the way he sought Bellatrix's approval.

Draco didn't just try to make eye contact, he turned his whole body to face Bellatrix. He didn't speak the question aloud that was running through his mind, but the way he took one of her hands in his own and stared down at her spoke it for him. She didn't offer him a verbal answer either. She looked up into his concerned face and gave the faintest of smiles before she squeezed his hand and pulled away from him. She gave him a firm nod to signify she would be fine before she left his side and walked in her same casual way to where she normally could be found standing beside the Dark Lord. Draco turned back to see the smile was no longer on the Dark Lord's lips, but he did not seem angered by Draco's reaction.

To keep on the side of not being punished, Draco fell into yet another bow. “Of course, my Lord.” He said before rising and meeting Bellatrix's eyes once more.

Begrudgingly, he turned and left his aunt alone as he walked out of the Chamber of Secrets. For a moment he contemplated just standing outside the threshold waiting for Bellatrix to reemerge, but as soon as he stepped out of the Chamber he heard the doors lock in a tell that he would probably rather be tortured than play witness to whatever might happen within the Chamber once it had been locked. He strode away from the door and up the same tunnel they had taken to reach the Chamber. When he reached the spot again where Bellatrix's dried blood caked the floor he made a point to vanish it.

The blood had been left for only two reasons, to further torture Bellatrix and to invoke fear to anyone who crossed it. Bellatrix didn't need more torture, in Draco's opinion, and rarely anyone with a squeamish stomach didn't dare come down there anyway. The sight of blood was unnecessary to add onslaught fear; coming down into the Chamber of Secrets and the stench of death that surrounded them once down there was enough.

Once the blood was fully gone from the area and Draco had tamed his temper once more, he continued all the way out of the Chamber. Many masked faces watched him as he strolled through the castle, now alone, and out to the grounds. The Death Eaters made no attempts to take on Draco now that he was alone; they seemed to think that he was indestructible and instead whispered to one another when they thought he was far enough away to not hear them. Draco ignited a different type of fear into the Death Eaters than the Dark Lord did. To them, Draco was still very much human. They saw him bleed, saw him break, saw him get back up every single time. They saw the force he attacked people with, or at least heard stories about it. It also helped that Draco was notorious for killing not just resistance members, but Death Eaters as well.

He didn't mind that people were afraid of him; if anything he hoped it would make ending the blood purity reign of terror that much easier to end. Once the Dark Lord had been killed, he could publicize his marriage to Hermione and that would surely impact the obsession the Death Eaters had with blood status. Either that or he would unintentionally be starting a different blood status war and making himself and his family the main target. He learned to have enough hope from Hermione to expect the former outcome, but that didn't mean he wasn't preparing for the latter. If there was one thing this long war had taught him, it was to always be prepared for any and every situation. He believed that more so after he'd be taken prisoner in Romania when he'd only been expecting a kill or be killed scenario.

Nevertheless, Draco ignored the whispers as he reached the area of the grounds where he could disapparate freely again. He appeared with a pop within Malfoy Manor only to alert Hermione of his arrival home. She came running into the foyer moments later, brushing her hands over him to check for any signs of injury. When she was satisfied that there were none and that he hadn't been tortured she threw her arms around his neck, pulling his lips into hers. He eased the distance between them by lifting her slightly in his arms. They kissed for a moment before he sat her back down and Hermione unhooked her arms from around his neck to rest on his chest. She looked around before her confused faced turned back to meet his gaze.

“Where's Bellatrix?” She asked.

“The Dark Lord wanted a moment alone with her.” Draco said semi-sheepishly.

Hermione smacked him, but he'd been expecting it. “You left her alone with him?” She was a bit more outraged by this than Draco had thought she would be.

“What was I to do? Tell the Dark Lord: no, sorry, you need supervision to be with my aunt after nearly killing her? I'm sure he'd have taken that just swimmingly.” Draco's sarcasm only seemed to irritate Hermione more.

“He can't just keep her to do whatever he wants with her against her will!”

“She was the one that rejoined his side when I wanted to know if she was going to be okay being left.”

“She—wait, she what?”

“Please don't ask me to delve any further into their relationship. I wanted to make sure she'd be okay, but obviously I couldn't ask her outright. She conveyed that she was okay with it. Believe me I would have put up a fight if it wasn't consensual.”

Hermione groaned. “You don't think he'll doing anything to her, do you?”

“He locked the Chamber after I left; I think he plans to do several things to her that I don't want to remotely think about.”

Hermione gave him an unamused look. “I didn't mean that type of stuff.”

“Well, I’m not sure where the line gets drawn between them, honestly. And I'd like to stop having to speak about it or think about it, thank you.”

“Alright, so aside from leaving Bellatrix alone with that prick, any other news?”

“Two days.”

“You only gave us two days to prepare for a battle of this caliber?”

“Bella said the girls were ready, I’ve been training with Tonks, Katie, and Dean and they’re all well prepared. I assumed earlier would have been better. Two days felt like a time frame that wouldn’t get me tortured over.”

“Well, I guess that is something, but still not really thinking ahead on the planning bit were you?”

“What’s there to plan. Bring Potter to the Dark Lord, destroy the possessions, kill him. It’s pretty straight forward.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Sometimes you're the most infuriating man I've ever met.”

Draco smirked and pulled Hermione closer to him again. “I love when you sweet talk me.”

She smacked his chest playfully and let him pull her closer into him. “One of these days your sarcasm is going to get you in trouble.”

Draco kissed her. “Yes, that thought has occurred to me before.” He gave her an innocent smile.

“Glad to see it hasn't stopped you in the least.” She chuckled.

“What can I say? I like to live my life on the edge I guess.” Draco let his hands roam along Hermione’s body as he still held her close to him.

“We should probably tell Remus that he needs to contact Harry.” Hermione said, trying to pull Draco’s attention back to the subject at hand instead of where his mind so easily roamed off to when he was touching her.

“Why is it you always try to distract me?” Draco said before he brushed her hair back so that his lips had easier access to her neck.

“I’m trying to keep you on track, you’ve chosen to distract yourself just by my being here.” Hermione countered.

“I meant, why are you always trying to distract me from worshiping your body the way it should be at every second.” Draco said in a thick tone as he pressed her a little harder into himself so that her chin pressed sharply into his chest as she looked up at him.

Hermione flushed and bit her lip to keep the broad smile from spreading across her face in what Draco assumed was a further attempt to get him to focus on going to convey his progression of their bringing the Dark Lord down plan to Remus rather than picking her up and carrying her off to their bedroom like he wanted to be doing. “Draco.”

Draco smiled slyly down at her. “You know how I feel about my name on your lips.”

Hermione sighed, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face this time. “My, my, how insufferable you’ve become, Malfoy.”

Draco made a face to convey that the way she pointedly reverted back to using his surname only made him want to ignore communicating anything to anyone for the next twenty-four hours. “You’re doing it intentionally now.”

Hermione squirmed away from him, much to Draco’s dismay. “Go tell Remus and then I’ll let you worship me as much as you like.” She smirked at him before sauntering a few paces away from him.

“Menace.” Draco called after her.

“Avoider.” Hermione called back.

Chapter Text

Chapter 46

Bellatrix's POV

Bellatrix had spent more of her years living expecting to die than she had spent really soaking up being alive. When she'd started to pick up on signs that Draco might make an attempt on the Dark Lord's life, Bellatrix let it seep in further that her time on this earth wouldn't be lived much longer. In a way, Bellatrix had always romanticized death. That was probably from the madness within her, but she had never feared death. She pictured it, often; fighting with the Dark Lord beside her. Perhaps their hands would graze one another's as they met their end together.

She'd never wanted to spend her life with Rodolphus; it had been her parents' choice that was forced upon her. But the moment she met Tom, Bellatrix knew she wanted to die with him. She'd debated making horcruxes herself to sustain her existence along with his, but as they were almost entirely destroyed, Bellatrix realized how easy it would be for someone to make sure the Dark Lord could be vanquished once and for all and there were less people who'd make it their life's mission hunting down her horcruxes to end her life for her to join him. Deep down she assumed Draco knew this and had mentally prepared himself for her not coming out of his battle with the Dark Lord alive.

The shock that filled both her and Draco that the Dark Lord had attempted to kill her in a temper tantrum had skewed things. Bellatrix was used to the torture; she'd been receiving doses of torture long before Tom entered her life. Sometimes it even made the sex more exciting. It was hard to romanticize death when her body was being lifted and thrown by the Dark Lord's magic into every surface in sight. When she could hear her own bones crunching. Taste the blood readily filling her mouth. Then cast aside like a broken toy a toddler was mad at for playing with it to roughly causing it to break in the first place.

There was a part of her that thought she deserved what had been done to her. She'd been too overzealous in her protection of Draco and offended the Dark Lord greatly. Worse was that it was in front of not one, but two subordinates. She would have encouraged death to anyone else that would have spoken to him that way. Yet he didn't kill her outright, which had only fueled Bellatrix's delusion about the Dark Lord's feelings for her. He could have killed her, should have killed her, easily. But he let her live. He was testing her. Seeing how deep her loyalty and love for him actually went. The madness clung to that thought. She must prove herself to him. That she was the only one as loyal to him that he would ever find and that she loved him enough to avoid death when it came from her, so she could come back to him.

The saner part of her mind had wanted to give up and die. Let herself cry in a ball at what had been done to her. It was the sane part that stuck around for Draco, but the madness portion felt triumphant within her. How could the Dark Lord ever resist her now that she had come back to him from the edge of death itself? Bellatrix hadn't expected the coming back portion to be quite as difficult on her psyche as it had been. Seeing the spot where her blood had pooled around her on the floor as her vision went black and she knew death would be coming for her soon had made her stomach jolt. She felt like she might throw up and found herself frozen in fear because of it. Worse was the way Draco looked at her.

The love her nephew shared with his mudblood wife had softened him in the best ways possible. True, when she told him this aloud she had been trying to insult him, but the genuine sting of insult was never there. She had this annoying lightness quality about her that illuminated the darkest parts of Draco; of everyone really. The things he kept hidden from the world; the insecurity he felt to being his true self in the Death Eater world he found himself in. Her light pulled out things others wished to keep hidden as well. For Bellatrix it had been her madness. Something about Hermione Granger made Bellatrix react viscerally; in a way it was similar to Draco's reactions to Hermione. The difference being Draco's inward feelings were that he was a lover; he'd been made into a fighter, Bellatrix had made sure of that, but it had never been his true nature. Bellatrix's inward feelings were wrought with madness; it sunk into her very blood and pushed its way back out within her magic.

Hermione reminded Bellatrix a lot of Andromeda in that way. The older they got the wilder Bellatrix became while Andromeda seemed to never feel that clench of madness residing in their shared blood. Bellatrix supposed that was yet another curse of being the eldest Black sister; all that pureblood inbreeding showed up in ways like the Lestrange brothers being complete trolls and her fits of madness that left painted pictures all around her bedroom walls when she felt her mind slipping away from her and the incessant voice in her head became overpowering.

The whole lot of it made her feel weak. Loving Tom, her looming madness, the way Draco hovered over her with concern etched on his face. She knew it shouldn't make her feel weak, at least Draco's concern shouldn't; but it did nevertheless. Her pride made her push forward when she probably should have turned back. Left before she had a chance to see the Dark Lord again. Took her hurt pride and retreated before she visibly flinched at his attempt to touch her. Bellatrix had always been defiant by nature. It made her stand up to the Dark Lord and look him directly in the eye where others, like Lucius, would grovel for forgiveness. It's why Bellatrix, out of everyone else, was most considered the Dark Lord's equal. She wasn't afraid of punishment. Even when she had been, she'd learned at a young age not to show it. She felt betrayed by her body when it reacted to him involuntarily. She made certain it wouldn't happen again.

Draco was fiercely protective, one of the more cherished Malfoy traits he'd inherited from his father, but Bellatrix knew what she must do. She knew where her place was. She had always known. From the moment she met Tom on that stoop at her wedding she knew she was meant to be beside him. The only way Draco would be successful was if she remained in that place because not just anyone was going to be able to kill Lord Voldemort. But Bellatrix was ready to die trying.

Two weeks ago, if someone had told her that she was going to be deeply, secretively plotting how to end the life of the man she'd loved longer than years she'd spent not loving him, Bellatrix probably would have killed them. However, it seemed only fair after leaving her for dead, expecting her to be dead, that Bellatrix be the one to kill Tom. She'd be the only one who could ever get close enough to do it without facing a fight. She'd be the last person the Dark Lord would ever expect to turn on him, just as he had been the last person she expected to turn on her. She hadn't told Draco, had barely even thought about it herself for fear she might chicken out when that part of her that loved him with every drop of blood in her body began screaming. The surprise of it would be her upper hand both with the Dark Lord and with Draco.

So, she took her place obediently beside the Dark Lord and watched as her nephew left the Chamber of Secrets. The Dark Lord waved his hand at the Chamber door and it sealed itself into place and Bellatrix felt her body react at the noise of the locks falling into place. Her breathing quickened, not from fear, but because a locked Chamber meant she could touch Tom freely. Kiss him. Feel his hands on her body. Part of her felt disgusted she even wanted it, but the other part, the much louder part, craved it. He stood once more so that he might properly tower over her. His hand wrapped around her throat tightly, pulling her closer to him and holding her in place as his mouth crushed into hers.

His hand tightened around her neck as he pulled away from her. “Are you afraid of me now?” Voldemort asked in a tone Bellatrix knew to be sultry.

“It takes more than pain to scare me.” Bellatrix responded in a raspy tone due to the tightness around her airway.

A sly smile curled up the Dark Lord's lips. “Yes, I do recall you mentioning something like that before.” Voldemort said, but his grip never loosened. “You've always been very receptive to the pain I've inflicted.”

“Worried I stopped finding pleasure in the pain, my Lord.” She flirted back as if it was second nature to her because in reality it was.

The Dark Lord's wand slid up her dress to move against her thigh. “Have you?” He hissed back, slicing a small cut along her thigh. She gave a gasp of pleasure he knew all too well. “Apparently not.” He smirked.

He pressed his mouth hard into hers again, leaving a trail of small cuts up her thigh as she opened her mouth for his tongue to explore. Bellatrix wrapped her arms around him and for a moment forgot entirely that she was going to kill him in two days. She dug her hands into his robes pushing their bodies harder against one another. For a long moment they stayed this way, until the Dark Lord finally pulled away from her.

“I've missed you.” He said in an angry whisper.

Bellatrix knew how much the Dark Lord hated the feelings he had for her. He didn't love her, not even close; which had never been a problem for Bellatrix. But he was obsessed with her. Deeply, smotheringly so. It infuriated him that he wanted her body and to be around her in such a way that he saw as weakness in others, but he couldn't keep himself from her.

“I'll kill you for what you've done to me!”

“And what have I done to you, Tom?”

The memory flashed through Bellatrix's mind as if the Dark Lord was remembering it also. The first time they'd slept together. The first of many times she would entertain the affair she had with him under her husband's nose. Power. It's what they both craved more than anything, but something magnetic and toxic pulled them together. He'd accused her of giving him some sort of potion and that's why he was so obsessive over her. Bellatrix had laughed which only pissed him off more before suggesting maybe she'd imperio'd him and that's why he wanted to undress her so badly. It had been volatile and almost vicious the first time they'd had sex and nothing between them had ever gotten gentler as the years passed.

“Prove it.” Bellatrix whispered back, rolling her body against his.

The Dark Lord moved his hand from her throat and gripped her wrists tightly in his hands. There was no softness; just a primal need to not just have her, but gain total control over her body. And Bellatrix let him. At first it had boosted her ego that someone as powerful as the Dark Lord would want her in such a way; then it became the only way she wanted to be had. Pinned, scratched, bitten, choked; just so long as she could look into Tom's eyes while he was doing it and see that fury and passion fighting for control. The fury that wanted to rip her to shreds for making him feel anything whatsoever and the passion that stopped it. The sane part of her knew it was something she should have been afraid of especially when she first witnessed it at nineteen, but that defiant madness found it intoxicating.

Even with plans to kill him, even having almost been killed by him; she couldn't help herself. She wanted him just as badly as he wanted her in that moment, if not more. He slammed her against the back wall of the Chamber near a mostly hidden door containing another small room within the chamber they used as a makeshift sex chamber when the Dark Lord was feeling exceptionally private. As her wrists hit the wall above her head it was clear they wouldn't be using that room today. Again the Dark Lord's lips crushed into hers as he pressed her so tightly to the wall with his body it tightened her breath. She ran her thigh up his, opening herself more for him.

A snake coiled up her other leg, spreading her legs further apart while also holding her into place. Bellatrix felt as the Dark Lord's hand moved under her dress and removed the dagger she kept sheathed around her thigh as the snake coiled more tightly around her calf and ankle. He ran the cold blade down the length of her thigh and her body arched against him in response. He took the dagger and slid it into the fabric of her dress between her breasts so it was held in place, but also threatening to rip through with every breath she took. He twirled his wand around her wrists so that they were bound tightly in a twine that nearly cut into her skin, before removing the knife and driving it hard through her bindings into the wall. He then twisted up her curls with his wand and pinned them into place toward the top back of her head, just incase her head was jolted into the wall his wand wouldn't be damaged.

Now that his hands were free he used those rather than his body to pin her against the wall. He bit on her lip until blood droplets began to form on her lower lip. Only then did his mouth move against hers; his tongue licking the blood off her lip before plunging the metallic taste of it into her own. His hands released their pressure on her body so that he could shrug his cloak and robes off before ripping her dress down the center and simply pushing the fabric to the side. In all honesty, Bellatrix found little about the Dark Lord's new body swoon worthy. The strength he had came more from his power and use of dark magic than being muscular. It's why he'd used magic to nearly beat her to death, whereas Rodolphus would have used his fists. Neither was an appealing trait, but at least Rodolphus made it easier for her to fight him back. Tom's body had been lean and muscular; the type of body needed to trek through all those adventures of his, finding his relics. He had truly been the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. That's how she pictured him still. Not those red eyes and slits where Tom's perfect nose should have sat. She'd fucked him enough in his real body that it was easy to see the Dark Lord that way; it was sometimes a necessity if she wanted to get off at all.

The Dark Lord left bites along her skin, each one pulling a small gasp from Bellatrix as he dug his nails into her skin. He hissed something against her body and the snake holding her leg in place began slithering farther up her leg, coiling around her thigh to bring its body farther up her leg. The Dark Lord dug into her thigh so hard that it started purpling in the shape of his hand almost instantly. The snake transferred from Bellatrix onto the Dark Lord and draped itself around his shoulders as if waiting for further instruction. There was no foreplay other than biting and binding. He pulled both her legs up into his grip and pushed into her whether she was ready for him or not. The sharpness of it made Bellatrix call out. He slammed into her again, harder if possible. Again Bellatrix called out. She couldn't help it; the rough sex was one of the things she knew she shouldn't love about Tom, but it only made her love him more. He bit her lip again as he hissed and the snake around his shoulders moved until it was now holding her legs held up in place, wrapped around the Dark Lord's waist and he was free to move his hands again.

Another hard slam. Bellatrix thought the wall might crack behind her from the force, but the more scream like her calling out got the harder he rammed into her. They were staring fixatedly into each other's eyes. It was the only intimacy their sex had to offer. One of his free hands gripped around her throat, cutting her off mid scream as he pounded aggressively into her.

“You lived just to spite me, didn't you?” He growled, tightening his grip on her throat.

“I told you I wouldn't die without you.” She rasped out and she thought she felt him harden even more within her.

He drove into her more fervently, his hand clawing into her throat harder with every gasp of pleasure she could get out. Black spots threatened her vision, but she only squeezed her thighs tighter around him. The snake keeping her legs in place responded accordingly, tightening so its scales were nearly digging into her skin. The Dark Lord slid his other arm behind Bellatrix as she arched into him, holding her more firmly in place against his body. His fingers curled into her side as he lowered his forehead to rest on her own. She could tell he was about to finish by how tightly he had hold of her. Just as she was gasps away from passing out, the Dark Lord slammed against her in a finalizing thrust. His hand releasing her throat at the same time so she was able to gulp in a full intake of air and regain her vision. He gave a hiss against her lips and the snake coiled around her loosened and dropped to the floor before slithering off. He pulled the dagger up harshly to cut through the binds around her wrists and she rested her arms casually around his neck, pulling him closer so she could press her lips into his once more.

“Sometimes I really hate you.” Voldemort said as he pulled his lips away from Bellatrix's.

She offered him only a smirk in return. “I know.” She said.

Chapter Text

Chapter 47

Malfoy Manor, which had been full of life the last few months, had fallen into a dismal atmosphere. Bellatrix had returned back to the manor a few hours prior and had taken up with Draco and Hermione in the nursery with the children. She hadn't spoken much in her return; she hadn't spoken much in the last two weeks, if Hermione was being honest. They had less than a day left before they were supposed to meet Harry and bring him to Voldemort. She'd grown quiet in the loom of it.

They all had.

Draco was lying on the floor of the nursery with a twin snuggled against him in each arm. Bellatrix was sitting crisscrossed on the floor near him, cradling Alexia in her lap while Alexia changed the colors of the walls. It was a new trick she'd just learned and she was thrilled to show it off for as long as Bellatrix would feign excitement for every color that spread across the walls. Hermione hovered around the nursery taking secret silent photos of them.

Draco hadn't made even the slightest comment that their plan to end the war would be unsuccessful, but Hermione could tell the worry was lingering in the background of his mind. With every curl he wrapped around his finger Hermione wondered if he was imagining that being their last moment together. It was even more obvious when he was with their children. The Malfoy children had inherited their father's uncanny ability to read a room. They had made themselves absolutely unbearable to anyone other than Draco if he dared leave their sight, like they somehow knew no matter what Draco would make sure that Hermione would come back to them. But he had already disappeared once and that overpowering knowing feeling that it might happen for good this time made them cling to their father, regardless of them having a true understanding of what that feeling was within them.

Draco had piled all three children into their bed the night before and Hermione sensed it was as much for him as it was for them. He was soaking in as much as of them as he could, should he not make it out of Hogwarts alive this time. Hermione couldn't bear letting her mind settle on the thought of being without him again for even a moment, but keeping her mind from wandering into those thoughts became harder with each passing hour.

Bellatrix squeezed her arms tighter around Alexia. “I'm going to have to leave, Alexia.” Bellatrix said softly and more than just Alexia's attention fell onto Bellatrix.

“No!” Alexia said firmly, gripping tightly onto Bellatrix's arms around her middle.

Bellatrix lifted her gaze to see Draco and his matching blonde twins were also watching her. “I said I'd come back before you were leaving to fetch Potter. I'm surprised he hasn't summoned me back already.” Bellatrix said to Draco's silent question.

“No! Bella, no go!” Alexia shouted again, spinning this time to grip tightly around Bellatrix's neck.

Bellatrix swallowed hard, but she didn't let her eyes well up as they looked like they wanted to. “You get that from your father.” Bellatrix said crossly as she pried Alexia's arms off of her. “You'll both be perfectly fine without me.” She placed a kiss on the tip of Alexia's nose before pointedly making eye contact with Hermione.

Hermione stepped forward, abandoning her camera on an empty chair, and scooped Alexia into her arms as Bellatrix lifted her up before standing herself. Draco somehow managed to get himself up with a twin in either arm in the same amount of time it took Bellatrix to stand. Bellatrix moved closer to him, but only so she could stroke the hair of the twins in his arms rather than pay any attention to the concerned look still on Draco's face. Scorpius took hold of her finger and held it tightly, refusing to release her until she placed a kiss on his tiny fist. Ariadne, however, simply stroked Bellatrix's hair and face back in response.

“Bella.” Draco said softly, his voice echoing some unspoken concern he dared not bring forth.

Bellatrix finally looked up at him. She reached up and held his face in her hand and Hermione felt uncomfortable, as she always did when she was left standing witness to their intimate familial moments. “Stop worrying. Everything is going to be fine.” Bellatrix told him softly.

He leaned forward to kiss her cheek before she pulled her hand back from his face and made to move. She stopped pointedly in front of Hermione. “Do I need to convince you as well?” Bellatrix asked.

Hermione shook her head and, for the first time in months, Bellatrix reached out to touch Hermione. She pat her arm not keeping Alexia in place on her hip and for a moment Hermione felt like there was something mournful in her eyes. Whatever it was quickly vanished before Hermione could get a grasp on what Bellatrix might be planning herself for this battle. “Good girl.” She simply told Hermione as she pulled her hand back and put on a wild smile. Hermione realized that the smile wasn't for them as she vanished from the spot; it was her preparation for appearing before Voldemort.

Draco made his way to the cribs and sat Scorpius and Ariadne into their respective beds. It was the first time in the last twenty-four hours that Draco was without one of his children in his arms. He began pacing the nursery and Hermione moved to place Alexia in her crib as well, which was almost pointless now that Alexia had figured out how to climb out of it. Miraculously, she stayed put as Hermione made her way to where Draco still paced.

“She's planning something.” Draco said when Hermione reached out and stopped him from pacing further.

“What do you mean?”

“Couldn't you tell by how she was acting?”

“You forget that Bellatrix and I aren't exactly best friends. I can't just tell things by how she's acting.” Hermione said, hoping Draco would further explain.

He didn't. Instead he went back to pacing in silence. Hermione caught hold of him again and he stopped beside her. “Talk to me, Draco.”

Draco rubbed his face and sighed. “I would if I knew what was bothering me.”

“Clearly something about Bellatrix.”

“Wan' Bella!” Alexia shouted from her crib, throwing her hands down to her sides, colliding them into her mattress in a huff.

Draco moved for Alexia before Hermione could. He made an attempt to smooth out some of her wild black curls, but it only seemed to make them spring out more. “I know you want Bella, but Bella has work to do. Just like Mummy and Daddy will have to do tomorrow morning.” Draco said softly.

Alexia immediately stuck her lip out in a pout. Draco turned back to Hermione. “Maybe we should put them down for bed early tonight.” Hermione suggested as the twins began pulling themselves up to see what the commotion was about above the sides of their cribs.

“I meant well having them sleep with us last night.” Draco said.

“I know. I think it's what we all needed; none of us are used to sharing a bed with quite so many people though.” Hermione said with a smile.

Draco nodded as he reached down and shifted Alexia to be lying down. He snuggled a small snake plushie that he had from when he was a child into her arms. Alexia rubbed her cheek against its soft head as her small arms squeezed it more tightly. He stroked her hair softly out of her face. The twins were much easier to put to bed than Alexia, even when they'd recently began pulling themselves up to stand on their own. Hermione moved to Scorpius first and lifted him slightly off his feet so she could lay him down. She conjured him up a bottle and Tini appeared at the same time. The tiny elf made no efforts to help the parents get their children to sleep, she merely seemed to be there to watch over them as they slept. She hopped up into the rocking chair and waited for Draco and Hermione to be done.

Hermione tucked Scorpius's blanket around his body until he was snugly wrapped within it and passed him his bottle. Draco didn't leave Alexia's side until her eyes had fluttered closed from the way he pet her head. He slowly pulled his arm back so that he wouldn't reawaken Alexia and moved to where Ariadne still stood in her crib with a huge grin across her face. Her smile was lopsided as she'd grown in several teeth and then her other teeth decided to take a little more time before they grew in. He lifted her in the same way Hermione had done with Scorpius and laid her down. He conjured her a bottle as well, but didn't make the same efforts as Hermione had to wedge her into her blanket. Instead, he handed her the bottle and a soft plush dragon that used to decorate his own nursery. He snuggled the dragon in her arms the same way he'd snuggled the snake plush with Alexia before pulling the blanket up to cover both the toy and his daughter. Hermione joined his side as Ariadne closed her eyes as she drank from her bottle.

They silently moved back from the cribs of their children and Draco gave Tini a thankful nod. Tini did more of a bow than a nod back and Hermione and Draco slipped out of the nursery. Draco slung his arm around Hermione's shoulders and she wrapped an arm around his waist in response. He pressed a kiss into her temple as she squeezed him closer to her. “We should get everything ready for leaving in the morning.” Draco said finally.

Hermione spun so that she was facing him and both her arms could wrap along his body. “Do you know how you're going to destroy them?” Hermione asked as Draco moved her legs with his own so that she was walking backwards to his lead.

“I'm hoping dragon fire will do the trick.” Draco said lifting Hermione onto his feet so it was easier to walk with her gripping onto him.

“Well, if Fiendfyre can, I think dragon fire is a safe bet.” Hermione said, holding tighter onto Draco as he walked with her toward the Malfoy Manor chamber of secrets.

“Worst case, I can do a mean Fiendfyre.” Draco stated with a shrug.

He stopped and drew the symbol into the wall that made the chamber door appear. He slipped Hermione off his feet. “I don't want to be the reason you fall down these stairs.” He said as Hermione moved to stand beside him, linking her fingers with his.

“Bringing anything else from down here?” Hermione asked as they traveled lower into the chamber.

Draco rubbed his thumb over the back of Hermione's hand. “I hadn't planned on it, no.” He smirked down at her. “Why, is there something you want use down here?”

“No!” She said quickly. “I just thought; you've used dark artifacts before.”

Draco laughed. “Not rare ones. I might not have always liked my father, but this collection is unlike any other. You know I can’t resist being the only one having something extraordinary.” He said in a teasing tone.

Hermione rolled her eyes, but smiled at him. She moved in closer to him the deeper into the chamber they walked. The dark magic of the objects called out to be used or touched so that they might kill whomever answered their whispers. Hermione had forgotten that sound from the last time she'd come down there with Draco. She mostly remembered just clinging onto him in fear Bellatrix might come after her again. She didn't recall them calling out quite as much the one time she went on her own to hide Voldemort's final horcrux. It was like the objects themselves knew how tempted Draco could be for the dark arts and were determined to tempt him that much further. Hermione stole a glance up at him. He had that same bored expression as he continued leading her into the farthest corner of the chamber. He seemed to be completely unfazed by the whispering darkness. For a moment she wondered if he even heard them at all.

“Do you hear them?” Hermione couldn't help asking as they neared the wardrobe hiding Voldemort's horcruxes and Draco still made no hint at hearing the objects calling to him.

“The Dark Lord's possessions? Not really.”

“No; not those. Everything else. The incomprehensible whispering from all these artifacts. Do you even hear them?”

The whispering seemed to increase as Hermione pointed it out. “Oh, that. I've gotten used to it. Some of these artifacts have been whispering to me since I was a child. I think it concerned my father a bit the first time, but he waved it off well enough that I just began ignoring it also. Though, now that you mention it, it does sound like everything wants to be used today. They'll start hissing in a moment once they feel threatened by the soul fragments.” Draco was the epitome of nonchalance.

“Dark magic has been calling out to you since you were a child?” Hermione asked.

“I don't answer it. Well, as far as these items go, at least.” Draco said with a shrug.

Hermione chuckled. “You say that stuff and then wonder why everyone thinks you ending the Dark Lord is going to be more of an elaborate plan leading to you overthrowing him.”

“Well, I don't go around bragging about it. It's not my fault I exude power.” Draco said sarcastically.

“It's amazing you can fit anywhere with that fat head of yours.” Hermione teased, bumping her hip into him.

“Let me grab these and I'll show you how well I can fit anywhere.” Draco said, pulling Hermione in front of him to press her more firmly against his body.

“Is that all you think about?” Hermione smirked.

“When you're in the room it's hard to think about anything else.” Draco smirked back.

“You're terrible.” Hermione said, squeezing her arms tighter around Draco's center, before moving back to standing beside him.

“I know.” He joked back.

Draco moved away from Hermione to open the wardrobe before them. He conjured up a satchel and proceeded with caution as he grabbed the dagger and slipped it inside the bag. He moved in the same fashion as he grabbed the necklace Bellatrix had been bestowed with and the pearl Lady of the Lake necklace. He dug around a little more, but equally careful, looking for where Hermione had placed the banded hat of Vlad Tepes. He found it a little further down in the wardrobe and handled it just as delicately as he lifted it and slid it inside the satchel with the rest of the horcruxes. He closed the wardrobe doors quickly and took Hermione's hand as he slung the satchel over his shoulder and began leading Hermione back out of the chamber.

“How are you going to carry all those on you unnoticed?” Hermione asked as they got closer to the stairs leading from the chamber.

“The same way I carry all that other shit in my Death Eater uniform. You're not the only one who knows how to use an undetectable extension charm, you know.” Draco said in a teasing tone.

“You don't think having them all on you will tip the Dark Lord off?”

“I don't think he has a horcrux detection for proximity, only for them being destroyed.”

“It's not going to feel like torture for you to have them all on you?” Hermione sounded more concerned this time.

Draco held the chamber door open for Hermione to pass through before he sealed it behind them. He didn't answer her until they had started walking toward their bedroom from the chamber. “Probably, but I'm not risking you just so I won't feel burdened by them. If I thought you would listen, I would tell you not to come for the battle at all.”

“You can't ask me to stay back while everyone I love fights to end this tyranny.” Hermione pulled her hand from within Draco's and faced him fully to glare at him.

Draco opened the bedroom door and motioned for her to move inside. She glared harder at him as she passed through and stood firmly near the edge of their bed. Draco followed her inside and closed the door before heading for his wardrobe. “I'm not asking you to stay back.” He said finally, setting the satchel within the wardrobe.

“Good, because I won’t.” Hermione said firmly.

He took off his shirt and tossed it into their hamper before he turned back to face her. “I don't want to talk about if things go badly, but I think it might be better if we did.” He said walking up to where Hermione stood and rubbing his hands down her arms.

“I can't hear you talk about dying.” Hermione said pressing her face into his bare chest to stop from crying.

He wrapped his arms around her. “Fine, I won't say it. But you have to promise me something.”

She knew what it was already. She'd managed to find two husbands that were so similar in the way they loved her that she didn't need to hear Draco say it. He wanted her to stay alive, the same way Fred had always made her promise him to stay alive. She didn't speak, she simply nodded her head against him. The truth was, if Draco had asked her to stay back, she would have. She would have done anything for him. If there was some chance her staying home meant he would survive and he knew that in that knowing way he had about himself; she'd have done it. But she knew he'd never ask it of her. He'd never even suggest it even if he knew he would die while she was there because he knew how much ending the war meant to her. He loved her too much to try and cage her the way others had.

“If something happens to me, you promise me you'll get out of there. Don't stay a moment longer. Just leave and get back here. Keep yourself and the kids somewhere safe. Cause as impossible as it would be to live in a world where you don't exist; it would be even worse dying in a world where you don't get to keep living. Please, promise me, Hermione. I need to know that if I'm gone you'll still be here.” Draco's voice was soft, but he held onto her tightly, like she might disappear then and there.

The thought of living without Draco was unbearable, but she'd survived it once. Even if only barely. She'd manage to do it again if she had to. “I promise.” She said, pressing a kiss into his chest.

His body moved differently around her. He no longer wanted to think about being apart, she could tell by the way his arms moved against her body. If this was going to be their last night together, he wanted to spend it together. His hand found her neck and his thumb caressed circles into it as he slowly tilted her face up to meet his. He pressed his lips into hers and Hermione met him with the same urgent need for him. He backed her body into the bed and let her break away from him only so she could scramble to get her clothes off. She watched as he slid out of his pants while she sat waiting for him on the bed. He wore only a smirk as he leaned over where she'd placed herself on the bed and kissed her again. Softly this time.

Hermione slid her hands up his back, taking her time to feel the muscles tense beneath his skin wherever her hands moved. He moved his hands along her body in a similar fashion as he rested his full weight onto her while they kissed. There was no need for teasing or rushing or even foreplay. They just kissed and felt one another for a long moment. That was all they needed for a while, until Draco's hand found its way up Hermione's thigh and he was no longer satisfied with just touching outside of her. He rubbed her for the short moment it took her to get wet before his fingers were slipping inside her.

Hermione arched into him, gliding his fingers deeper as his thumb played with her. He moved his mouth to her neck as her hands found his hair. She curved her legs up around him while combing through his hair, giving the occasional tug when his fingers sent jolts of pleasure through her body. She pressed her lips into the curve of his neck where his jaw and neck met and Draco stopped fighting any and all desires as he adjusted his position above her and slid inside her; his hands gripping into her hip and thigh. Hermione tightened her arms around him, not only pulling him deeper inside her, but also nearly flattening herself beneath him as she did so. Draco let a soft moan slide through his lips into Hermione's ear.

He made to reposition his body so it was easier for Hermione to breathe but she only pulled him more aggressively back flat onto her, wrapping her arms and legs more tightly around him. She wanted to melt into his body. She couldn't seem to get close enough to him. She held him so tightly that as he thrust into her their bodies moved together like waves rolling off the ocean together. “Fuck.” Draco whispered after Hermione let out a loud moan.

Draco's usual noises during sex were typically telling Hermione how much he loved her, what he wanted from her body in that moment, or whispering sweet nothings in whichever language he felt like slipping into. The moaning was usually left for Hermione. Encouraged, actually. The way Hermione held their bodies together and forced them into these rolling strokes, however, seemed to be making it impossible for Draco to do anything, but moan. The more Draco moaned the louder Hermione got. The sound of that raspy pleasure ripping through Draco's throat only made him feel more euphoric inside her. They were pinned too close for kissing, but occasionally Draco's lips would brush Hermione's ear as his own moans got closer together and deeper. Hermione's lips did something similar against Draco's shoulder.

They rolled against each other harder until Draco was almost screaming out to match Hermione's echoes of pleasure bouncing through their bedroom. Hermione couldn't contain herself any longer as Draco pushed more forcefully against her in his own need to meet the euphoria waiting for them. Hermione dug her nails into his back as she screamed out and let her orgasm explode around them. Draco moaned even louder at this and took his chance in Hermione's distraction to start pulling out only to slam long, needy strokes into Hermione. She finished moaning only a moment before she felt Draco pulling yet another completion from her. Her nails dug into him harder and it only made his strokes that much more of a frenzy until they both were shouting again in ecstasy.

Draco collapsed onto her body as they panted together. Hermione hadn't released her hold on his body with her legs, she'd only loosened them enough so Draco could move a little more freely. The sweat in his hair made it easy for Hermione to slick it back and for it to hold in place. After a moment Draco slid out of her and made to move so that they could lie beside one another, but Hermione tightened around him again.

“I'm crushing you.” Draco whispered, trying to move again.

Hermione held firmly onto him. “You moving will crush me.” She breathed back and Draco stopped fighting her to move; letting his body relax so their bodies seemed to melt together from the gravity, and Hermione, keeping their skin pressed together.

Chapter Text

Chapter 48

Hermione woke up the next morning breathing easier than when she'd fallen asleep. She wasn't sure when Draco had moved off of her to the space on their bed his body normally filled, but it had been some time after she'd fallen asleep. She reached out to feel Draco beside her, but instead found the bed empty near her. It was early, Hermione had always been an early riser, which meant Draco had barely slept if he was already up. The bathroom door opened and Draco made his way to stand above her, dripping water from his wet hair into her face when he saw she was awake. He brushed his lips against hers and smoothed the water droplets from his hair into her cheeks.

“Ready to kill some people today?” Draco asked when he finally pulled his lips away from hers.

Hermione sighed. “Is anyone ever ready for that?” She asked and Draco grimaced.

“Those of us that aren't as good natured as you are.”

“You're ready to kill people?”

“I'm one of the highest ranking Death Eaters. I'm always ready to kill people, babes.”

Draco stood back up to his full height and moved away from Hermione. She watched as he made his way to his wardrobe and began pulling out pieces of his Death Eater uniform. “Should I shower as well? Seems a bit pointless considering…” Hermione trailed off as Draco's attention focused back on her.

“I'll be honest, mon amour¹; I only took a shower because I couldn't sleep and didn't want to wake you.” Draco said, stepping into his pants.

Hermione chuckled slightly. “Well, I appreciate you letting me sleep.” Hermione stood from the bed and moved to her own wardrobe.

Draco caught her around the waist and kissed her neck as he pulled her into him. “You're going to distract me all day, aren't you?” Draco teased.

Hermione pressed into him so the skin they still had bared could touch more thoroughly. “Hopefully not! I need you to be the farthest thing from distracted today.” Hermione said, pressing a kiss into his chest before pushing off of him to grab out her own dark clothing.

“Right.” Draco said in an attempt to collect himself as he moved back into his own dressing routine. “I'll try to stay on my best behavior.”

“You better.” Hermione warned. “If you die because you were checking me out, I'll kick your ass.”

“Mrs. Malfoy,” Draco's voice took on a tone of mock offense, “I would never simply check you out. Grope you, maybe. Undress you, most likely.”

“Draco! Be serious!” Hermione said, throwing him a stern look.

“I am being serious.” Draco said with a smirk.

“I hate when you make light of stuff like this.” Hermione said in a slightly annoyed tone keeping her back to Draco.

She felt his hands on her wrists before he spun her to face him. “If I don't make light of it I don't know what will happen. Just the thought of being apart from you for a minute makes me want to force you to run with me as far away from here as we can possibly get. It's not that I'm not taking this seriously; it's very much I can't do what needs to be done if I do.”

Hermione pressed her lips into his, wrapping her arms around his center so he in turn would blanket her with his arms. “You'll never lose me. Not again. Not ever. I don't care who I have to kill to make sure of that.” Hermione said firmly, holding Draco's grey eyes on hers.

He kissed her again and offered her a smile before releasing her once more. They finished dressing in silence after that. Draco sheathed his dagger around his thigh and another at his ribcage where it would be hidden from sight beneath his Death Eater cloak. He attached his wand holster to his left forearm directly above his dark mark before moving several dark artifacts into his cloak pockets, more for a precaution Hermione assumed than anything else. Then he moved on her, sheathing a dagger around her thigh as well. He then cast a flame repellent spell along everything she was wearing, mask and balaclava included.

“You can't be too sure with fire; it has a habit of breaking off on its own.” Draco said as the icy sensation seeped into everything on Hermione's body.

“Is it going to stay this cold the whole time?” She asked as her teeth began to chatter slightly.

“You know, I'm not sure.” He swished his wand at her and the cold vanished. “This should counteract the cold without it losing its affect.”

Hermione sighed. “I can't wait to see the miraculous things you do when not tied down to Death Eater life. Merlin, how you've been wasted on this world.”

Draco laughed. “Flattery will get you everywhere, ma chérie.²”

“All I have to do is look at you the right way to get me everywhere with you.” Hermione teased.

Draco scoffed. “Please do not read me like one of our many books; I have a mysterious reputation to protect over here.” Draco ran his hands over her body and Hermione gave him a look. “Just making sure everything's properly secured.” He said with an innocent smile.

“I'm sure.” She said with a smirk.

Draco moved back to his wardrobe as Hermione slid her balaclava around her neck and put her mask into her cloak pocket. Draco moved the horcruxes from his satchel into a pocket of his cloak, but pointedly didn't put his cloak on to keep the horcruxes at a distance. Unlike Hermione, however, he placed his mask firmly atop his head so he could easily slide it into position over his face. He draped his cloak over his arm and took Hermione's hand in his other. Together they left their bedroom and walked to the dining room. Theo, Blaise, Daphne, and Johnathan were already all sitting there around the table.

They weren't eating, more just sitting around somberly. Daphne hopped up when Draco and Hermione walked in. She ran up and wrapped her arms around Hermione. Hermione let go of Draco's hand to wrap her arms around Daphne as well; she squeezed her tightly before letting her go. Daphne flung her arms around Draco next and he wrapped one of his arms around her while holding his cloak as far from her as possible.

“Alright, Daph, not really helping all the prepping I've been doing about how everyone's making it out of this battle alive.” Draco said, rubbing her back.

Daphne sniffled slightly before she released Draco. “Sorry.” She said meekly, moving to sit back down with Johnathan.

Draco and Hermione sat down as well, Hermione’s hand sliding back into Draco’s hand on top of the table while Draco draped his cloak over the back of the chair beside him. “Shall we actually eat then?” Jonathan asked.

Blaise was stroking a hand through Theo’s hair while his other stirred his tea absently. Theo reached out and grabbed food first; eggs and toast to go with his coffee. Draco took a similar breakfast for himself and placed the same in front of Hermione. Blaise, Daphne, and Jonathan followed suit.

“We’re just going to sit here and eat, then?” Blaise finally said when the silence had surrounded them longer than anticipated.

“We’re going to need all the strength we can get; eating helps that.” Draco stated, chewing on a piece of bacon.

“We could die today.” Blaise stated.

“No one’s dying today, except the Dark Lord.” Hermione interjected in a finalizing tone. “Not on my watch.”

She turned and met Draco’s gaze where a small smile rested on his lips. “There you have it.” Draco said, turning back to Blaise.

“Yeah, well, I sure hope so.” Blaise said, but his face showed he wasn’t convinced.

Theo suddenly stood and Blaise moved to his feet with him. “What?” Daphne asked.

“I’ve been summoned.” Theo muttered in a dark tone.

Draco and Hermione both instinctively checked their forearms; nothing. “He wants to have everyone back at Hogwarts to pay witness to the fall of Harry Potter once and for all.” Theo said as Blaise took both Theo’s hands in his own.

“Already?” Blaise pulled Theo in closer.

“I’m just glad I wasn’t summoned last night when Bellatrix left.” Theo said softly, holding Blaise’s face in his hands for a moment before pulling him closer until their lips met.

Blaise sighed when Theo pulled their lips apart. “See you on the battle field.” Blaise said, brushing back some of Theo’s hair.

Theo smiled before pressing another kiss into his lips. “Make sure Luna knows what my mask looks like; I don’t want her throwing that fungus spell at me.”

Blaise gave a nod before he let go of Theo. Theo turned to the rest of the group. “Well, this is it, I guess.” He turned a smile to Daphne. “See you later.”

Daphne reached out and squeezed his hand for a moment before relinquishing him. “See you then.” She said and Theo took a deep breath before vanishing with a small pop.

“I can’t possibly eat now.” Blaise groaned.

“We should probably get going also. We’ve still got a lot to do before picking up Potter.” Draco agreed.

“I’ll go get the kids.” Daphne said, standing up quickly and walking off.

“She’ll be alright.” Jonathan said when he noticed the concerned looks on the group’s faces. “She’s worried, but she’s the best parent I’ve ever seen. Your kids are in the best hands possible.”

“I’m not worried about that; I trust Daphne. I’m worried about what it’ll do to her if we don’t come back.” Draco said, standing up also.

“I guess you better come back then.” Jonathan said simply.

Hermione finished her coffee before she stood as well. Alexia was the first of the Malfoy children to be seen, running at full speed into the dining room and leaping onto Blaise. “Blay!” She yelled at him as he caught her mid jump.

“Oof! More warning next time Lex.” Blaise said, but he squeezed onto her tightly.

Daphne and Tini, each with a twin, came in shortly after. Blaise moved over to where Draco stood and sat Alexia on his shoulders. She squeezed onto Draco’s head and began putting kisses all over the top of the Death Eater mask covering his blonde hair. Tini passed Scorpius up to Hermione and Daphne handed Ariadne to Draco. Draco pat Alexia’s leg draping onto his chest as he pulled Ariadne closer to his chest. He gave Hermione a look and she sighed before passing him Scorpius as well. He squeezed his children close to him and Hermione wrapped her arms around him as well in a family hug.

“We have to go to work now with Uncle Blaise, so you all need to be on your best behavior for Aunt Daphne.” Hermione said as she broke away from the hug.

She stroked each child’s face with her hand before giving them all a kiss. Alexia squeezed Draco’s head more tightly as he placed a kiss on either twin’s cheek and passed them off to Hermione and Daphne. He pulled Alexia down from his shoulders and held her for a moment just looking into her small face that looked more and more like Bellatrix the older she got.

“You make sure you take care of everyone, alright, Alexia. Just like Aunt Bella has.” Draco said to her quietly.

Her small face got determined as she gave a firm nod. Draco smiled at her and her face lit up as she smiled back. Daphne and Hermione moved the twins into high chairs and were setting up their trays with easy things for them to eat with mostly no teeth. Draco sat Alexia in a slightly larger version and put a variety of her favorite foods in front of her while Hermione secured her into place. Blaise put a hand on Draco's shoulder as he took a step back from Alexia and waited for Hermione to join them. Hermione pet the hair of each of the children once more before she moved back to Draco’s side.

“You gonna put this cloak on or just keep carrying it around like it might bite you?” Blaise asked, offering Draco his cloak.

“It’s full of the Dark Lord’s soul pieces, are you going to jump at the opportunity to put it on?” Draco said with a smirk as he caught the cloak before it could fall to the ground.

Blaise shook his hand out like bits of Voldemort’s soul might have gotten on him from simply touching the cloak after quickly tossing it away from himself. “You could have warned me before I touched it.” Blaise said with a sneer.

“I thought the way I was carrying it was warning enough.” Draco said with a chuckle, but he slipped his arms into the cloak and let it fully rest on his body anyway.

“You’re sure you’ll be okay in that?” Hermione asked.

“It’s easier to travel with it on than carrying it. I’ll take it off when I don’t need to be wearing it, but considering you’ve got quite a lot of blood magic to reverse; we do really need to get going.” Draco stated.

“Right.” Hermione took a deep breath as she slipped her hand into Draco’s. “I’m not sure how long battles usually last, but I’d assume if we’re not back some time tomorrow then it’s bad news.” Hermione said to Daphne to prepare her for the worst case scenario.

“You know where to find us.” Daphne said in a voice that was cheerful for the children’s sake. Her wide grin was for them as well. Babies didn’t need to be burdened with such things, even if they wouldn’t fully understand the severity of it anyway.

Blaise looped around Draco and stood on the other side of Hermione, taking her other hand in his. Draco threw him a look. “Sorry, mate, I don’t want the pieces touching me. It gives me the creeps.” Blaise said truthfully, offering Draco an apologetic shrug.

Draco rolled his eyes. His hand tightened around Hermione’s. “See you after work.” Draco said, scanning his eyes across his children one last time as Hermione watched him. Then he disapparated them.

Chapter Text

Chapter 49

Draco's POV

Aside from bringing Gabrielle to Black Manor, Draco hadn't been met with the whole group waiting for him. It wasn't the same case this time. Parvati was chain smoking by the edge of the group, one of the only times Gabrielle wasn't found at her side. Katie and Dean stood beside Tonks with determination on their faces; while Remus held Teddy's hand off to the side slightly. Luna had fallen into the same waltzing pace that Bellatrix so often did, but stopped at the sight of the three newcomers. Padma was sitting on the stoop and didn't bother standing as the trio got closer. Susan and Zacharias were also out there, but neither looked too thrilled about it.

Hermione wiggled free of both Draco and Blaise and moved more quickly ahead of them toward the group. Padma rose when Hermione was in front of them and even Parvati put out her cigarette to come closer. “This is it.” She said. “I've done my best to protect you all and I could never thank you enough for what you've chosen to do in order to help me in return.” She turned and moved to where Remus stood before kneeling in front of Teddy. “I'm going to reverse the magic I've placed on you, Teddy. May I see your finger to do that?”

Teddy, whose hair was a vivid purple today in solidarity with his mother apparently, looked up at Remus for confirmation. Remus smiled down at his son. “Go on, Teddy. Just a prick on the finger like the last time.”

Teddy nodded more to himself than anyone else. “Okay.” He said shyly, but released Remus's hand to offer his finger to Hermione.

Hermione smiled at him. “You've been very brave. I hope one day you can meet my children and teach them to be as brave as you.” Hermione said gently.

Teddy puffed out his chest proudly as Hermione pricked his finger. “You Malfoys and your blood magic.” Blaise said with a shudder.

“It's not very good for morale to show you've got a weak stomach before a battle.” Luna said and Blaise jumped slightly at how silently Luna had appeared between himself and Draco.

“For fuck's sake, Lovegood! Just sneak up on the Death Eaters and then it won't matter that you're shit at diverting spells.” Blaise said and Hermione turned her gaze back on them.

“Sorry; carry on, Hermione.” Luna said in the same dreamy tone.

Draco watched as Hermione made her way through the group; reversing her blood magic as she went. Some people she thanked individually, some she merely offered a kind word to. Luna and Gabrielle both got encouragement to take out as many Death Eaters as possible. Lastly, Hermione made her way over to where Zachsarias stood glaring at everyone.

“Hurry up and give me back the power to get out of here already.” Zacharias impatiently waved his hand out at Hermione.

Draco moved forward and caught her arm. “Not you.” Draco said firmly making Hermione turn to look up at him.

“What?” Zacharias asked dumbly.

“I'm not giving you the chance to ruin everything because you apparated into the wrong place at the wrong time.” Draco said with more edge this time.

“You can't keep me here!” Zacharias shouted.

“Actually I can. As soon as the war is over, you'll be free to leave.” Draco put on his bored tone again as he slipped off his cloak in response to Hermione's glare.

“Not if you all die!” Zacharias blurted out, his face reddening in anger.

A jinx shot passed Draco's head and flung Zacharias backwards. Draco turned to see Blaise's wand drawn and a glare on his face as he moved slightly closer. Teddy had a worried look as he clung tighter onto Remus. Zacharias scrambled back up to his feet.

“You bastard.” Zacharias growled.

“If you ever want to leave this place, I suggest you watch how you wish luck onto those of us fighting to keep your ugly ass alive.” Blaise growled back.

Zacharias looked offended, but only pressed his lips into a hard line. “Alright; believe me, Blaise; Smith isn't worth the fight.” Draco made a shooing motion at Zacharias. “Run along back inside, there's nothing for you outside.”

Zacharias turned on his heel and stormed back into Black Manor. Draco turned to face the group that had started gathering closer around him. He turned to Tonks. “I can bring Teddy to Malfoy Manor; there are people who will keep him safe there.”

“And I'll keep him safe here.” Susan said assertively, but some of that assertiveness faltered as Draco's attention fell on her.

“I didn't realize you'd be staying to look over him.” Draco said apologetically.

“I'm not entirely useless. Just because I don’t like fighting doesn’t mean I can’t protect him.” Susan said.

Draco gave her a smile. “You're anything, but useless, Susan.” He moved closer to her and lowered his voice. “I've adjusted the wards of Malfoy Manor. If anything happens and it gets brought back here, you make sure to take Teddy there.”

Susan looked to Tonks and Remus. “Draco wouldn't have you bring my son anywhere that's a trap. Besides, his own children are there. It never hurts to have a backup plan.” Remus said confidently.

“Alright. For now, I think I'll just take Teddy inside.” Susan said, moving to take hold of Teddy's hand.

Remus and Tonks took turns hugging their son before he and Susan disappeared into Black Manor behind Zacharias. “There's a spot everyone can apparate to within the forbidden forest to remain unseen. Remus, Hermione, and I will all go to meet Potter then we'll meet everyone there as well. Hermione and I will escort Potter onto Hogwarts grounds. The Dark Lord is preparing for a battle. He'll be expecting reinforcements to come for Potter after our alleged abduction of him. He's also expecting to make a spectacle so he'll want to duel him in the grounds. Once you can see the Dark Lord dueling Potter it'll be safer to come out and join the crowd in grounds.” Draco explained.

The group around him nodded their understanding. “To get some things straight.” Blaise chimed in, pulling out a parchment with a drawing on it. “This is what Theo's Death Eater mask looks like; no one better attack him or I will disembowel you. Memorize how this mask looks, it's very similar to the other Death Eater masks you'll be seeing, but I’ve had it engraved with a Celtic knot to signify it is Theo’s, just here.” Blaise pointed at a spot on the drawing of Theo's mask.

The group leaned in to get a better look at it. “Well, I hope it's more noticeable in person than in this.” Parvati stated.

“It is!” Blaise said snatching the drawing back up to his face to examine it himself.

“Theo will be easy to recognize as he’ll be one of the only Death Eaters also fighting Death Eaters.” Draco said, pushing Blaise's drawing back toward his pocket. “Most of you will probably already know Hermione's mask, but just incase.” He motioned for Hermione to take her mask out of her own cloak pocket and show the group. He slid his own mask into place over his face; the two perfectly matched dragons. “And some of you will also remember this is mine.”

“What about Bellatrix's mask?” Luna asked and the whole group turned their eyes on her.

Hermione put her mask back into her pocket and Draco lifted his own mask to sit on top of his hair once more. “Bella prefers not wearing a mask. Even if she did, she'd be easy to recognize as well.” Draco said in an even tone.

“Because of her spells?” Parvati guessed.

"Because of ze way she moves?” Gabrielle offered.

“Because of her hair?” Luna added, not wanting to feel left out from the guessing game of how to spot Bellatrix in a sea of Death Eater masks.

Draco's face turned almost sympathetic at their guesses. “She'll be the one laughing.”

Padma winced. Katie looked thoroughly displeased and Dean shared a look with Tonks in what Draco assumed to be gratitude for training him instead. “What else should we know?” Parvati asked when everyone fell silent again.

Draco contemplated this for a moment. “My hope is that we will all make it out of this battle alive. The unfortunate truth is some of us may not. I don't know how to prepare anyone for that outcome. I trained for years and it was only through a lot of self-loathing that I could accept the outcome of death for myself. Should death come for any of us, know that we will not die in vain because I will not be taken from this world without ripping the Dark Lord out of it as well.”

Hermione took his hand in her own and pressed a kiss into the back of it. “We'd still be facing life in hiding without you; now we'll have the chance to live again. That's worth all the risk in my opinion.” Remus said and Hermione looked up at Draco with a satisfied smile.

Draco, however, noticed everyone, himself and Blaise included, was looking at Hermione. “He wasn't talking about me, sweetheart.” Draco smirked.

“What?” Hermione looked around to see what he'd meant only to find what Draco had already seen; everyone staring at her. “Me?”

Tonks took a step toward Hermione to take up one of her hands. “We are Hermione's Resistance after all.” Tonks said with a smile.

Hermione's eyes welled, but she quickly recovered. “I just did what I felt was right.” Hermione said, blushing slightly as Draco's arms slipped around her waist.

“I think it's safe to say at this point we'd all follow you into the dark if it meant getting out of this reality.” Katie said.

“It's not just me who'd be lost without you, mon amour.¹” Draco whispered into Hermione's ear as his arms squeezed around her more tightly.

“I just…I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” Hermione said, squeezing onto Draco's arms around her.

“I'm going to need to implant the location within the forbidden forest into your minds so you'll all be able to apparate there safely. I want to forewarn you, the process is sometimes alarming.” Draco said, taking a more poised position as he spoke.

He closed his eyes for a moment, perfectly envisioning the location, before putting the image directly into the minds around him. “How the fuck did you do that?” Dean asked, but the group all seemed to be wondering the same thing.

“The shortest explanation is that it's a fun legilimens trick. It comes in handy when I need people to go somewhere they've never been or seen.” Draco vaguely explained.

“Can you put anything into anyone's mind?” Luna asked in a fascinated tone.

Draco made a face of disapproval, less at the curiosity and more of the comparison that was unintentionally drawn between himself and the Dark Lord. “I suppose so. I've never tried. It's pretty invasive just sharing true images without adding in fiction. I have some boundaries, you know.”

Hermione elbowed him and Blaise snickered softly at his other side. “I know. I wasn't comparing you to You-Know-Who; I was just curious if any legilimens could learn to do that. It makes him far less frightening when you consider him to not be the only person who can do something.” Luna explained.

“I think Draco's much scarier anyway. Bastard, refuses to die from his sheer stubbornness. He doesn't need some dark magic to do it.” Parvati said, slapping Draco harder on the back than was needed and grinning widely at him.

He assumed she meant it as a compliment or at the very least a teasing gesture between friends. Is that what these people were? His…friends? Not just Hermione's Resistance? He didn't give himself more time to consider that option. If he did it would make losing them that much harder. Instead he put a bored smirk across his stony expression and said, “Lucky for you, most Death Eaters think I'm scarier also.”

“Clearly, they've never seen you pout.” Blaise said in an undertone and Hermione and Remus both laughed.

“On that note,” Draco glared at Blaise, “we should be leaving. The Death Eaters don't venture into the forest much, but make sure you stay hidden. No running in trying to be a hero before it's time; I'm talking to you Gryffindors.” Draco pointedly made eye contact with Katie, Dean, and Parvati.

“What are we, idiots?” Katie responded.

“Most of the time, yes.” Draco said casually, earning another elbow to the ribs from Hermione. “I didn't say you.”

Remus took this moment to squeeze Tonks's hands and kiss her briefly while Draco slung his cloak back over his shoulders. “In case we don't have time before the battle. The love you've given me is incomparable. Whatever happens, I'll see you on the other side.” Remus told her softly before stepping up to where Draco and Hermione stood together, taking the place Blaise had left open as he joined the other group.

“See you at Hogwarts.” Draco said with what he hoped was an encouraging smile. He didn't wait for a response before he disapparated from the Black Manor.

Remus's small house in the woods looked exactly as he had last seen it. They all moved inside to keep on the side of caution. Draco was apparently the only one relaxed enough to sit down as he placed himself on a tattered couch within the living room. Hermione stood behind him, arms draped over his shoulders and onto his chest. He wrapped one of his hands around both of hers and felt her body ease up slightly. Remus crouched near the edge of the living room as he spoke his message for Potter into his patronus. Once the light had vanished he stood again and moved toward the kitchen. Draco heard the clanking of making tea and chose to leave Remus to his own stress relieving habit. He had a feeling Remus was making tea only to stay busy, similarly to how Draco cooked when his hands needed busy work to keep him calm.

Remus appeared a few minutes later with tea for them all as he sat in an old wicker chair near the couch Draco was on. Hermione too was pulled into being seated at the offer of tea and scooted in close to Draco on the couch so his arm could hold protectively onto her body. They were all quiet for a while as they sipped their tea, but Hermione had relaxed enough that her hand had made its way to Draco's thigh.

“He should be here soon. I'd suspect he's just saying his final goodbyes in case something bad happens to him.” Remus said anxiously.

Draco shrugged as he slumped more into Hermione. “I can't say I'm in a rush to start things myself.”

Remus chuckled, but there was no humor there. “I don't suppose any of us are. It'll be nice to have it over with though.”

“Do you think Harry's been staying with the Weasleys?” Hermione asked no one in particular.

“Probably a good guess since he showed up with two of them already.” Draco said in a bored tone.

“Where did Harry show up?” Remus questioned.

“Malfoy Manor.” Hermione supplied.

“Didn't I tell you it was Potter triggering the wards that day I left training with Tonks early?” Draco asked casually.

“It must have slipped your mind. I'm surprised Harry would make such a stupid effort to contact you.” Remus mused.

“I'm not.” Draco muttered and Hermione squeezed his thigh.

“What was his reasoning?” Remus looked between Draco and Hermione.

“He had some excuse about helping Charlie to find Padma.” Hermione said before Draco could make a snarky response.

“Padma?” Remus looked confused.

“They were fu—” Hermione's elbow pressed into Draco's ribs. “Shagging. They were shagging.”

Draco saw the way Remus's mouth curled into a small smile at the smallest interaction between himself and Hermione. “It would have been easier if Harry had just told Charlie to join the battle.” Remus groaned.

“Yes, well it would have been easier had Potter done a lot of things.” Draco said with a yawn.

There was a pop from the kitchen and Hermione's hand instinctually gripped Draco's leg more tightly. Draco's arm removed from around her shoulders so he could wrap his hand around hers as he moved to stand with Remus, pulling Hermione with him. Draco pushed Hermione’s body slightly behind his despite having a goo idea of who that pop belonged to; his body moved off of instinct to protect her. Potter appeared from the kitchen moments later, but he wasn't alone as they had expected him to be. Charlie Weasley came around the corner of the kitchen behind him. Draco let a smirk cross his lips at the sigh of him.

“What, no dragon?” Draco joked and both men narrowed their eyes at him.

Chapter Text

Chapter 50

Draco's POV

Draco wasn't surprised to see Charlie. Hermione and Remus didn't seem to be very surprised to see him show up with Potter either. Padma, however, was extremely surprised. When the five of them appeared within the forest before the rest of the group, Parvati had to nearly tackle her twin to keep her quiet. Once the desire to scream had diminished, Parvati released Padma and she ran into Charlie's arms. Their lips met and looks of surprise passed over a few of the faces within the group.

“Oh sure, they'll make out in front of me, but won't admit they're dating.” Draco said under his breath.

“What are you doing here?” Padma asked quietly as she released Charlie.

“I came to fight.” Charlie said softly, keeping hold of Padma's hand. “And to make sure you were alright.”

Padma's lips pulled up at the corner. “I feel much better with you fighting at my side.” Padma said, curling around Charlie's arm and he beamed at her in response.

Potter looked glumly around at the group as Draco wrapped a hand around his wrist. “I'm going to need that wand of yours, Potter.” Draco said and Potter aimed a glare at him.

Potter reluctantly pulled out his wand and passed it to Draco, who slid it into one of the inside pockets of his cloak. Draco could feel the horcruxes aching to sink their vemon into anything around him. He had to actively push back his rage at Potter even being beside him so he didn't do something he'd regret surrounded by the group that was counting on him. Hermione's hand slid up his arm, like she could tell they were eating away at him. Draco pulled his mask down over his face so he could be spared from his facial expressions giving him away at the very least. Hermione seemed to feel it was only appropriate that she too put on her full Death Eater attire and lifted her balaclava up above her nose before securing her mask into place as well.

“I'll need to bind your hands.” Draco said, trying to move Potter's other hand into his grasp as well.

“The hell you do.” Potter shot back.

“Don't be an idiot.” Draco growled as Potter attempted to wriggle free of him.

“You're just trying to get some kind of revenge on me before offering me up as bait.” Potter argued, pulling harder against Draco.

“Harry, it needs to look believable. There's nothing nefarious going on about Draco binding your hands.” Hermione said in a desperate whisper.

Potter pulled hard against Draco's grip on his wrist again, but Draco only pulled Potter harder back forcing him to face Draco. Draco's fist slammed into Potter's cheekbone with a crack. He pulled back and slammed another punch into Potter's jaw. The purple bruising was almost immediate as Draco pulled his fist back again and cracked it into Potter's ribs. When Potter stopped resisting, Draco retrieved his wand and bound his wrists together behind his back before pulling Potter fully to his feet. The group around them somehow became even more quiet than they already were in the before the outburst.

“Draco…” Hermione hissed.

Draco shrugged. “It's supposed to look believable remember. What's more believable than this?” Draco said nonchalantly and Blaise snickered from the back of the group.

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed. “Alright, let's go.”

Draco curled his fingers with Hermione's as his other gripped tighter onto Potter's bound wrists. “Wait for the signs of battle before appearing. I mean it.” Draco said commandingly to the group before he disapparated himself, Hermione and Potter from the forbidden forest to the place within Hogwarts grounds, closer to the castle.

Draco tightened his grip on Hermione and Potter as the castle inhabitants grew silent in their wake. Heads turned as Draco sauntered with Hermione across the grounds dragging a bruised Harry Potter behind him. The more whispers that broke out behind them the more the horcruxes in Draco's pocket tried to sink their poison hooks into him, dragging him to a level Draco now considered beneath him. He pulled Potter along through the castle down into the tunnels until the Chamber of Secrets door was within their sight.

This was it. The beginning of the end. The day the Dark Lord would finally die.

Draco pushed the thought behind his void and hoped Hermione had done the same as he lead her inside the Chamber with Potter. Draco threw Potter across the room so that he skidded and fell to the floor before the Dark Lord. Draco and Hermione both sank into low bows, but were quick to rise from the act. Bellatrix jumped up to her feet from what had briefly looked to Draco like the Dark Lord's lap at the sight of Potter's body colliding with the open space of the Chamber. She let out an evil cackle as that lingering madness overtook her in that moment.

“My Lord, it is my pleasure to bring you,” Draco gestured to Potter wiggling slightly before them as he tried to get back off the ground, “Harry Potter.”

The Dark Lord let out a pleased hiss before he rose and swooped down on Potter. His robes billowed out behind him as he circled Potter the an animal circling its prey. Finally he stopped and crouched down over Potter, now making attempts to scoot away from him. Unfortunately for Potter, he only managed to scoot directly into Bellatrix, who took his hair in her hand and yanked his face up to stare into the Dark Lord's. The Dark Lord examined him, adjusting his glasses even, so that Potter could better see him. The Dark Lord stood again and locked his sight onto Draco's mask.

“I see you've had some fun with him already, Draco.” Voldemort said with a cold grin.

“He made an attempt to put up a fight. I simply taught him that he doesn't even compare to me if I'm not bound against my will.” Draco's lie was seamless.

The Dark Lord closed the gap between them and Draco felt his cold fingers wrap around his throat. The horcruxes in his cloak practically vibrated against him from their original body's closeness to them. Draco watched the Dark Lord closely to see if he could sense his soul pieces squirming to get back within his body, but if he did he wasn't showing it. “The next time I have you bring me this important of a guest, I expect you not to play with them first.” Voldemort said in a growl as his face nearly touched Draco's mask.

“Of course, My Lord.” Draco said and the fingers slid away from his neck.

The horcruxes calmed slightly within his pocket. “Stand him up, Bella.” Voldemort ordered and Bellatrix wasted no time to pull Potter to his feet by his hair, albeit he was slightly hunched due to Bellatrix's shorter height.

Potter tried to shake off Bellatrix's hand, but she only curled her fist tighter around his hair. A shrill laugh echoed the Chamber as the Dark Lord watched Potter. “Are you ready to die today, Harry Potter? I've promised my loyal followers a proper fight.” Voldemort said drawing his face closer to Harry's. “Have you promised your resistance a fight as well? What is this? You think you'll actually defeat me this time?” Another laugh. “Your boyish thinking is charming. We'll see how powerful you think your resistance is when the light begins to leave those eyes and you've sentenced them all to death.”

Draco felt the horcruxes buzz excitedly deep within his cloak as the Dark Lord also seemed to quiver with excitement. Hermione's hand gripped tighter around Draco's and he realized he'd taken a step closer to them. He pulled back into place beside Hermione and even behind the mask he could tell the look she gave him was a concerned one. No one else seemed to notice Draco's movement at all. Bellatrix's madness filled eyes danced between Potter and the Dark Lord; only Hermione kept her focus on Draco.

“You'll never win against me.” Harry said in a cocky tone.

“Won't I? Without my soul fragment unintentionally keeping you alive, how will you ever be able to stop me? I am Lord Voldemort, the most feared dark wizard of all time. You're merely a product of good luck and I daresay your good luck has run out.” Voldemort said triumphantly.

Potter shrugged. “I'd be embarrassed to have tried and failed to kill the same person as much times as you have done me; but suit yourself I guess.”

Bellatrix tugged harder at his hair, exposing his neck more to the Dark Lord. “I would have succeeded the last time, had you not run off like a coward!” Voldemort declared.

Draco saw a smirk spread across Potter's lips. “I suppose we'll never really know, will we?” Potter antagonized.

“We'll know when your dead body is strung up above the grounds just like I did with your wife.” Voldemort hissed and Potter winced.

“Snake faced bastard.” Potter spat.

“Take him to the grounds, Bella. This useless little speck is obviously ready to learn what it means to take on the Dark Lord." Voldemort said smacking his cloak against Potter's face as he strode passed him.

Bellatrix drug Potter out of the Chamber by his hair after the Dark Lord. Draco pulled Hermione along with him behind Bellatrix in time to see Bellatrix crash Potter's head into the wall of the tunnel they were exiting from. Potter let out a loud groan, but the Dark Lord paid it no attention as he moved ever faster from the Chamber of Secrets. Bellatrix paused for a moment so Draco and Hermione nearly trampled Potter. She bent low over him, the madness flickering across her dark eyes.

“That's for taking my nephew, you worthless sack of shit.” Bellatrix said through grit teeth; smacking his head into the wall again for good measure.

Draco tried to hide his smirk at Bellatrix's abuse on his behalf despite his mask. He felt like Hermione would still be able to sense his enjoyment from Potter's pain despite the mask. The horcruxes only made him enjoy it more; he felt himself longing to see Potter bleed more as he stood over him before Bellatrix drug him closer to the exit. The few Death Eaters that remained inside the castle moved behind Draco and Hermione so a black trail followed after Potter. Bellatrix pulled Potter right up to where the Dark Lord stood on the grounds; Draco and Hermione stood behind them while the other Death Eaters formed a circle around the five of them.

This was the exact spot Draco had found the Death Eaters at when Weasley had come to avenge Hermione's fake death. Bellatrix shoved Potter forward so he was even more centered within the circle. The Dark Lord waved his wand and Potter's bindings vanished. Draco caught sight of Theo creeping along the edge of the circle until the edge of the forest, where the others waited hidden in the shadows, came into his view. Draco simply turned his mask toward the Death Eaters behind him and Hermione and they cleared the area so a semi circle for viewing now formed and Draco had space to fall back from where the Dark Lord stood.

“Harry Potter needs his wand, Draco. If I'm going to kill this self proclaiming magical protege, I intend to kill him properly.” Voldemort said loudly as he began making his show for the Death Eaters and Potter looked dumbly around.

Draco moved forward only so Potter's attention would focus on him before he threw his wand to him. Draco tossed it short so the wand fell to the ground before Potter and he flailed a bit before bending to retrieve it. The Death Eaters in the semicircle snickered. Once Potter's wand was in hand Bellatrix fell back in line with Draco. The Dark Lord bent into a bow, the way he started any traditional duel; probably the only honorable thing about him. Potter bowed as well this time. Draco heard stories about how the first time they dueled this way Potter refused to bow; naturally the Dark Lord imperio'd him into doing it. It had only convinced Draco how stupidly prideful Potter was. Of course when the choices were death or bow, Draco had always chosen to bow. It was his own pride that kept him alive. A pride in feeling too good to be killed at the hands of the Dark Lord.

Potter's screams pulled Draco from his thoughts. The Dark Lord had sent a crucio and Potter's unhoned dueling skills caused him to get hit. He sank quickly to the ground, writhing and screaming loudly. That sick smile twisted up the Dark Lord's lips. Laughter spread throughout the circle and Draco's eyes flashed to the spot his newfound friends stood within the forest.

Not yet. He thought to himself. Don't come rushing in yet.

“The screams are so much more satisfying when you've lost everything you love.” Voldemort said, lifting the curse from Potter.

He lie panting on the ground for a moment as the Dark Lord paced beside him. “Finish him, my Lord.” A Death Eater called from the circle.

“Harry Potter will have his chance at a fair fight. If only to prove just how weak the resistance's savior is.” Voldemort said, clearly pleased with himself.

Potter got back to his feet and wobbled slightly. Potter had gotten slightly better at nonverbal spells than Draco remembered, but the red light of his expelliarmus still gave him away and the Dark Lord sent the beam ricocheting into the castle. Draco rolled his eyes as Potter narrowly dove away from a stun sent at him. The Dark Lord was playing with him the same way a cat plays with a mouse before devouring it. He was making a fool of Potter and Potter was letting him because he'd been too blind to see that he needed the training. He wasn't some special magic user that had power no one had ever seen before; he was average. At best. Just a poor boy who had something horrible, yet special happen to him. There was nothing spectacular about Harry Potter and the Dark Lord was going to make sure everyone knew that before he killed him. Something Draco feared was actually going to be much easier than he'd originally anticipated.

The Dark Lord was shooting off practically child level spells just to keep Potter bouncing around so he couldn't get a good spell cast at him. The circle of Death Eaters jeered and clapped as another crucio struck Potter. Bellatrix turned to Draco while the crowd was now fully engaged on Potter and the Dark Lord and began pulling his cloak off with a glare. She crumpled it into a pile behind them and smacked his arm, glaring hard at him again. “Stupid boy, why would you leave that thing on you?” She hissed under Potter's screaming.

“Where are your precious friends now, Harry Potter?” Voldemort taunted as he lifted the crucio and Potter fumbled to stand up properly again.

A silvery stag began dripping from the tip of his wand and pranced around him in a circle before shooting into the sky. “Closer than you think.” Potter said gruffly, letting his signal roam free as he shot a jinx at the Dark Lord.

Remus was the first to arrive, followed shortly by Tonks, Charlie, and Padma. The Dark Lord hissed at the sight of them, but the Death Eaters fell into battle stances in protection of their master. Dean and Katie appeared next, running to block anyone from retreating back inside the castle. The squelching noise of a throat being sliced announced Gabrielle's arrival, while Parvati and Blaise both went to reside next to Theo. The hot pink flashes of light signified Luna had joined the battle as well, but her whereabouts were still unbeknownst to Draco. Hermione moved to join the battle, but Draco held her beside him.

“Be discreet. If the Dark Lord sees you fighting against him he will kill you. Potter can only distract him for so long.” Draco murmured, releasing his hold on Hermione's hand.

She barely even nodded before she slunk into the shadows where a flip of blonde hair greeted her for a moment before it had disappeared again; a flash of purple shooting into the Death Eater crowd as Hermione disappeared with Luna. Potter's laugh drew Draco's attention back to where he needed to be focused. Potter had been holding back, only slightly. His skill was still nothing impressive, but he was striking blows and evading them much better now. The Dark Lord still wore a twisted smile on his face, clearly amused by Potter's resilience. Draco took a step toward his cloak, but Bellatrix grabbed his arm. She shook her head when Draco's gaze fell on her.

The battle went on around them. Draco and Bellatrix were the only two not fighting; the only two still watching the Dark Lord and Potter dueling in the midst of Death Eaters falling at the hands of Hermione's Resistance. There were some who did run and either dropped dead from the Dark Lord's brand on them sensing their betrayal or they were met with Dean and Katie at the castle doing some kind of persuasion to turn them against the Dark Lord until a wall of black stood behind them. Potter narrowly dodged another crucio causing the Dark Lord to laugh shrilly. Bellatrix tensed beside Draco before she moved slowly closer to where the Dark Lord stood; it was as if she could sense the Dark Lord's moves before he made them.

The familiar green flash of light shot into the crowd and found its target. Potter gave a small gasp of surprise and a twinkle shone in Bellatrix's eyes. There was a scream from the crowd. Gabrielle had just seen Potter's head collide with the ground. For a moment everything stopped. Wands were drawn, but their holders froze; turning their attention back to the center of the circle they had once formed around the Dark Lord and Potter. Draco found himself staring in the same position everyone else was looking now. The menacing cackle of the Dark Lord echoed around them.

Harry Potter was dead.

Chapter Text

Chapter 51

Draco's POV

His laughter continued, growing stronger and louder the longer it went. Several of the resistance dropped to their knees, overcome with emotion at their once fallen hero's lifeless body strewn across the ground. Draco caught sight of Padma and Hermione holding Luna back as she made to charge into the crowd. Remus had turned his face away from the scene, unable to look upon the face of his dead best friends echoed in their child's dead face as well.

“Your great hero is dead!” Voldemort yelled in triumph, lifting Potter's limp body high above their heads for everyone to see.

The Death Eaters laughed and cheered as Potter's body continued to float above them. “Take the resistance.” Voldemort said, waving his hand at the Death Eaters.

Theo gripped onto Blaise and Gabrielle, the two closest to him, to keep his cover. They both pretended to struggle in his defense. The group behind Dean and Katie took no time before they swarmed on them, several pairs of arms and hands wrapping around each of them. Hermione gripped Luna more tightly and pointed her wand into Padma's face, keeping up her Death Eater charade as well. Tonks, Remus, Charlie, and Parvati were grabbed by stronger marked Death Eaters, wands jabbed into their throats.

Bellatrix gave Draco a look. He needed to destroy the horcruxes now or he might not have the chance again. Draco stepped forward and the Dark Lord's eyes fell on him. Draco fell into a bow and he heard the whispers start amongst the Death Eaters behind him.

“My Lord, I have the perfect way to rid Potter's scum from this world entirely.” Draco said in his casual drawl, standing back to his full height.

The Dark Lord smirked. “I would trust no one else to slaughter these traitors than you, Draco.” Voldemort said.

“You might want to stand back.” Draco stated to the Death Eaters, but only Hermione and Theo moved.

“You heard the man. Back up!” Voldemort commanded and everyone formed a larger clearing around him.

Bellatrix stayed near to the Dark Lord, their bodies were nearly touching as they too gave Draco a wider perimeter. Draco met Bellatrix's eyes for a moment before he let himself transform. Shouts echoed across the Death Eaters as they scrambled even further back. The Death Eater holding Remus shoved him forward as if that would stop the giant dragon before them from eating him instead. The Dark Lord tsk'd from beside Bellatrix as Draco shook out his massive wings and roared above the heads of the band of fighters surrounding him.

“You've been keeping secrets, Draco. You will be punished for this once you've fed on and burned the resistance into extinction.” Voldemort stated as Draco's dragon head turned toward him. “You do breathe fire don't you, or have you chosen to become a useless dragon for me?”

Draco turned toward his cloak and opened his mouth. Hot and powerful fire shot from his mouth, the taste of the heat on his tongue was almost as satisfying as the look of realization dawning on the Dark Lord's face. More fire shot from the back of his throat, burning and burning the spot where his cloak had quickly ashed and now only four horcruxes sat in the light of the fire. They melted the more the fire struck them so Draco pushed his fire more forcefully at them. His throat burned from the heat, but Draco only threw himself more into melting the horcruxes before him. He thought he heard the Dark Lord shout out, but he ignored it as the fire lapped in his mouth.

“Draco! You traitorous bastard! How dare you disobey your master!” Voldemort screamed above the screeching now issuing from the puddle of horcruxes until they too finally became ash and silenced.

Draco turned his enormous face to where the Dark Lord stood. “Avada Kedavra!” Voldemort shouted and the green light bounced off Draco's scales like it was nothing. Another green light connected and rocketed off in the opposite direction. Then another. Then another. Each one bounced off Draco's scales and weakened the Dark Lord further.

“He's going to kill the Dark Lord!” One of the Death Eaters shouted from the crowd and suddenly the ruckus of fighting tore through the grounds again as most the resistance members broke free from their Death Eaters holding onto them.

Draco roared loudly into the Dark Lord's face, blowing him back until he fell onto the ground behind him. Draco felt a few more curses hit against his tough hide, but none of them broke through. He was too big of a target this way even if he was basically indestructible and there were still too many Death Eaters trying to stop death coming for the Dark Lord. Draco seamlessly slipped back into his human body and was hidden from the Dark Lord by the swarm of Death Eaters around him. He shot out a blast from his wand and the ten masks around him collapsed onto the ground. He saw a group over take Dean and he slice his wand across them.

Luna ran toward the castle as Dean fell across the steps, but Draco couldn't stay focused there as another Death Eater realized Hermione wasn't on their side as well. An arm wrapped around her and Draco moved toward her. “Don’t!” Hermione shouted, but it wasn't at her attacker; it was for Draco. She slammed her head back and the mask cracked into the nose of her attacker causing him to release her. “Draco, go!” She yelled when she noticed he was still watching her.

He turned away from her, unable to focus on anything else if she was in his line of sight. He moved back through the crowd toward where he'd knocked the Dark Lord down and Remus backed into him. “You should have eaten him.” Remus said while they fell the Death Eaters advancing on them.

“You only say that because you don't have to deal with the aftertaste.” Draco responded, slicing the mask off the Death Eater that was advancing on Remus while his back was turned.

Remus turned to see half a face slide onto the ground before the Death Eater also fell to the ground. “Thanks.” Remus said, stunning a Death Eater sneaking up on Tonks. “And you're right about the aftertaste.”

Draco laughed and narrowly missed a curse coming at him, which he combatted by sending his acid curse into the stomach of his attacker. The Dark Lord had returned to his feet and locked eyes with Draco. Draco smiled broadly at him as he flipped him off causing those red eyes to narrow into slits. He shot a curse at Draco which he waved off easily as he moved closer to the opening.

“I hope you're ready to die, Draco.” Voldemort called out to him, throwing another spell in his direction.

Draco rolled up his sleeves so his dark mark was clearly visible on his skin. “I've been ready to die since you gave me this mark. Don't flatter yourself, though. I don't plan on dying from the likes of you.” Draco called back, evading the curses the Dark Lord aimed at him with such grace he almost thought the curses were flying in slow motion.

Not so quick without life eternal on his side I guess. Draco thought confidently to himself hoping the Dark Lord would try listening in.

“What about your wife? Is she prepared to die because of your stupid choices?” Voldemort said, moving to take aim at Hermione successfully knocking out the Death Eaters around her.

Draco turned to move toward Hermione. He glanced over his shoulder back at the Dark Lord before he began running to Hermione, tossing his mask to the side to see his destination better. Her mask had come off at some point and Draco could see her eyes widen when she saw Draco running for her.

“Draco!” Bellatrix's voice called out as Draco swerved into the curse’s path between the Dark Lord and Hermione.

Hermione reached out for him as the curse connected with his back and his knees gave out. “Draco!” Hermione was sobbing as his fingers slid through her curls and he sunk further to the ground. “Draco, what have you done?” She gripped harder onto him trying to lift him, but his body wouldn't let him stand.

“Cover them! Draco's been hit!” Remus called out and Padma and Charlie moved in front of where Hermione was holding Draco slumped into her body.

“Hit with what?” Charlie looked down at Draco in Hermione's arms.

“Ze killing curse it looked like.” Gabrielle answered, falling into place at Charlie's other side.

“So he's dead? Now who's going to kill that asshole?” Parvati asked placing herself beside Padma, who elbowed her.

“He's not dead!” Hermione practically screamed through her tears.

Blaise's hand curled around Hermione's shoulder as she tried to lift Draco higher onto her body. “Hermione…” Blaise said softly.

“He's not dead!” She heaved him higher against her chest. “He can't be dead! I won't let him!”

Theo came and slipped his arms under Draco's to lift him more onto Hermione as she was clearly trying to hold him. “Hermione, I know what I heard. The Dark Lord sent the killing curse. You have to go.” Theo said almost more softly than Blaise had been speaking.

“He's not dead.” She repeated, tears splashing into Draco's face as she held him against her body. “He's not dead.”

A yell rang out as Luna shot as many purple streaks as she could into the surrounding Death Eaters while running to join the ranks around Draco and Hermione. “Hermione get out of here!” Tonks said trying to shove Hermione and Draco's body further into the grounds.

Draco had made them each promise to get her out of the battle if something happened to him. Of course he had. Draco always found every way possible to protect Hermione. The promise she made to Draco rang in her ears as she gripped him and for a moment she considered leaving. Dragging his body with her through the grounds and disapparating back to Malfoy Manor. Something held her in place though. “He's not dead.” She whispered sadly.

Several of her friends cast her a sad look; sympathetic of her being a widow for the second time. Then, Draco gasped loudly, gripping onto Hermione's body. His legs found their strength and he stood more sturdily against her. Her whole body shook as she cried harder onto him, holding him tightly.

“Merlin, can anything kill him?” Parvati said absently shooting a stun into an advancing Death Eater.

“I'm crushing you.” Draco whispered into Hermione's ear.

He felt her laugh within his grip. “You're so stupid, do you know that?”

“Actually, my wife tells me I'm wasted on being a Death Eater because I'm so wildly smart. Maybe even smarter than she is.” Draco teased and she smacked him.

“Not to interrupt, but Voldemort is still alive over there.” Remus said casually.

Draco's body shuddered as he made to move. Hermione tried to hold onto him as he groaned while preparing himself to move, but he stood his ground on his own; holding her in place behind the line of defense of their friends. Draco moved through the line himself despite every movement feeling like his body was searing. He wasn't entirely sure how he was even walking around or breathing right now having jumped in front of the killing curse coming for Hermione. The Death Eaters saw Draco emerge and immediately stopped fighting with looks of horror on the unmasked faces throughout the crowd as they watched while Draco walked closer to the Dark Lord.

“Not even powerful enough to cast a proper killing curse anymore, old man?” Draco taunted across the grounds, shooting consecutive jinxes at the Dark Lord until one connected and he fell backwards once more.

“I'll send as many as it takes to kill you!” Voldemort growled pointing his wand at Draco once more.

Bellatrix jumped on top of him, pushing his arm to the side making the killing curse dart off to the side. Draco moved more quickly toward them when he saw the silver glint of her dagger move into her hand. She bent low over him and her lips crushed into the Dark Lord’s. Several people made noises of aghast while others simply looked horrorstruck. She pulled her lips away from the Dark Lord’s just as Draco had almost reached them, then Bellatrix plunged the dagger deep into the Dark Lord's chest. The Dark Lord pushed back at Bellatrix and moved his wand toward her as Draco reached Bellatrix and pulled her off from where she sat atop the Dark Lord. Draco saw the smile spread across the Dark Lord's face as blood droplets scattered his skin, dripping along his lips. He choked out a laugh and his own blood spurt from his lips.

Bellatrix's hand clasped her throat as Draco pulled her back to look at her. Blood leaked through her fingers and down her throat. “Together then, Bella.” Voldemort groaned, stretching the fingers of his wandless hand out toward where Bellatrix’s free hand sagged beside her body.

“Fuck you, Tom.” Bellatrix gurgled, pulling her hand away from his as a tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

The Dark Lord moved to aim his wand at Bellatrix once more, but Draco's foot slammed into his wrist. “Padma!” Draco called out as he tried to lie Bellatrix softly onto the ground while keeping the Dark Lord's wand hand pinned.

Padma ran from the line still formed around Hermione despite the Death Eaters having ultimately stopped trying to attack anyone after seeing Draco seemingly rise from the dead. “Draco…” Bellatrix coughed, more blood leaking across her face and throat.

“Bella, don't speak. Padma's coming. She'll heal you.” Draco said, his voice coming out more frantic than he intended it to.

Bellatrix coughed as she slowly shook her head. “Don’t.” She gurgled.

The Dark Lord managed another laugh and Draco pressed his full weight into his wrist. “She has always wanted to die with me, Draco. You can't stop her now.” Voldemort said in an almost proud croak of a voice.

“Draco, I can’t.” Padma said from Bellatrix's side. “There's nothing I can do to heal her. By the time I get the wounds healed, she’ll have lost too much blood and I don’t have any blood replenishment potions on me. I’m sorry.”

Bellatrix made a gurgle of a swallowing noise. “Draco.” She whispered from the ground as the light had nearly left her eyes. “You've always been better than this life you've been given, mon petit dragon.”

Draco swallowed hard. “Bella.” Draco's voice cracked as his aunt's head fell to the side and her hand slid from the large slit across her throat.

“Draco, I'm so sorry.” Padma said, placing a hand on his forearm as he stared down into Bellatrix's blank eyes.

There was a gasping sob from somewhere behind him; he knew it was Hermione. That's who Hermione was, crying for the woman who'd tortured her; scarred her; trained her; protected her. A rage filled Draco and he pulled his arm harshly from Padma's hand and threw his fist furiously into the Dark Lord's face. Draco crouched low over him and wrapped his hand tightly around the Elder Wand still in the Dark Lord's grasp.

“You've been using something that belongs to me.” Draco growled yanking the wand from his grasp as he crushed his fragile old wrist beneath his foot.

“Do it then.” Voldemort groaned.

Draco laughed. “You think I would honor you with death by magic? Oh no, my Lord. You're going to die like the muggle blood that runs through your decrepit veins.” The Dark Lord’s eyes widened slightly from the insult Draco had intended him to take.

Draco pulled the dagger from where it was lodged in the Dark Lord's chest and drove it back in.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Four times.

Five times.

Until Draco's hand was pounding into the bloody hole he'd carved into Voldemort's chest. He wrapped a bloody hand around Voldemort's throat and lifted his limp shell of a body into the air. “Anyone who would like to follow this master, you're more than welcome to come meet his fate for yourself.” Draco called out across the grounds.

Most of the loyal Death Eaters had already been killed, majority by one of the Malfoys within their ranks. The ones left seemed to have no desire to die the way Draco was promising and looked around at one another, looking for a cue from someone else. Theo was happy to give it to them. He strode forward and threw his Death Eater uniform into a pile on the ground, tossing his mask on top. Hermione wiped her eyes as she stepped forward as well, ripping the uniform pieces from her body and removing her balaclava to throw them onto Theo's pile. One by one the other Death Eaters began stepping forward and following Theo's lead until a huge pile of black cloth and silver metal rested under Potter's still floating body.

Draco had forgotten about that. For Remus's sake, and Remus's sake alone, Draco lowered Potter's body softly to the ground. When Remus and Tonks had removed Potter's body, Draco threw Voldemort onto the pile of his shed following. He reached out for Hermione and she linked her fingers around his and he pulled her closer, kissing the back of her hand despite the blood coating their skin.

Draco lit the pile on fire and pulled Hermione closer to himself. Blaise hung an arm over Draco's shoulders as he stepped up to watch the remains of Voldemort's reign burn. Theo linked his hand in Blaise's. The smell was atrocious and made many of the former Death Eaters retreat; disapparating now that Voldemort's spells were no longer in place keeping people in and out of Hogwarts. Padma wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist.

“Who's all left?” Draco asked calmly, but his eyes never left the bonfire before them.

“We lost Dean and Katie.” Tonks said heavily as her head appeared between Hermione and Padma, her arms draped around their shoulders.

“How's Luna?” Draco asked still unable to look away from the flames.

“She'll survive.” Remus said gently, joining the group around the fire.

Charlie slipped his arm around Padma's waist and she rested her head against his chest. “Gabrielle will need some healing, but nothing extreme. She and Parvati are with Luna now. They're moving Dean and Katie's bodies over with Harry’s.”

Draco's eyes left the fire as he looked back over his shoulder to Bellatrix's mess of black hair fanned out around her now greying skin making the blood stand out that much more. Hermione pressed a kiss into his shoulder and squeezed his hand. Draco turned his face back to the fire before his emotions got the better of him.

“Now what?” Theo asked looking around at the grounds still strewn with Death Eater bodies.

“Now we rebuild. We make a better place so the generations to come can have better lives.” Remus said.

“Sounds like a pipe dream.” Blaise stated.

“Not when we have someone so profoundly believing in equality for all leading us.” Remus said and Draco lifted his eyes from the fire to make sure he wasn't meant to be the one leading them all.

Remus's eyes were on Hermione and Draco found himself smiling. “It's got a ring to it.” Draco stated, smirking down at Hermione.

“What does?” Hermione asked, sensing Draco's eyes on her so she looked up at him.

“Hermione Granger-Malfoy, Minister for Magic.” Draco said, pressing a kiss onto her lips.

“You can't just kiss me and make me forget what we're talking about. What do you mean Minister for Magic?” Hermione said, pulling away from Draco.

“You keep saying that as if I won't keep trying.” Draco said pushing his lips into hers again and pulling her body closer to his own.

Blaise had the decency to remove his arm from Draco's shoulders while his friends snogged beside him. “Sorry about them.” Theo said to the group forced to watch the Malfoy make-out session. “You said rebuild and Draco heard repopulate.”

Draco flipped him off, but didn't move his lips from Hermione's. Something about their lips touching reminded him that this war was finally over. If Hermione didn't want to be Minister, though he knew she did, he wouldn't care. He found it hard to care about anything when he was kissing Hermione. They had time to figure the rest out. Time to recreate the wizarding world around them. Time to rebuild. Time to decide what to make of the world now that the cloud of darkness wasn't looming over them. Draco had made sure of that.

Bellatrix had given that to them. She gave her last breath so Draco could have the life he'd dreamt of having with Hermione for longer than the war had even been raging on. The last thing Draco was going to do was let Bellatrix's death be in vain. He'd turn this world into whatever Hermione wanted so long as he never had to worry about being without her again.