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Summary: HBP spoilers When Hermione finds a half dead Draco in a dark muggle alleyway, she brings him to the new Order Headquarters to be treated. With no place to turn, and nothing to lose, Draco befriends the Gryffindors and aids them in the upcoming war. But when Hermione's dark past is revealed, it turns attention to the strange voices in Draco and Hermione's heads. Mild M for language, violence, dark themes, and possible mild adult themes.
A/N: So this chapter is much longer than the last chapter, from here on out, the chapters will be getting longer! I hope you enjoy the length.
“So the plan is to find and save Mrs. Zabini and her son from Voldemort who's been after them because they haven't picked a side in the war?” Ron asked for clarification. After having Draco around, he didn’t so much mind the thought of having another Slytherin around. Sure, it would take some getting used to, but he was much more open minded than he had ever been about accepting Slytherins into his home.
“Yeah thats the basic idea. So Draco, you should come with me, I’m sure you could get them to come to are side. And Hermione, too. You have a good connection with people, I'm sure the two of you can get them to at least accept protection.” Lupin added and got the nodded confirmation from both teens. They had been planing this for the past week and both Draco and Hermione had known that they would have been the ones to go.
“So when do we head out?” Hermione asked, eager to at least leave the house. In the past week, since she had gotten back from her last mission, no one would let her go out on another one because they were afraid for her safety.
“Tomorrow morning, so that gives you the day to relax.” Lupin said with a hint of a smile gracing his features. He knew how Hermione felt, being trapped and being held back from doing something she wanted to because of circumstance that she couldn't control. Part of the reason he had wanted to ask Hermione to help him was to get her out before she went crazy. With that final note the meeting ended leaving the order members to scatter in every which way.
Hermione mentally thanked Lupin for asking her to accompany him. She had a feeling that he had known that she was going crazy being all cooped up. With a sigh, Hermione left the meeting room. Now she had a whole day to kill. What was she going to do? Go to the library and research, of course!
She headed off to the study, after letting everyone else know that she wanted to do some personal research. Hermione was always hungry for more knowledge and always seemed to look up the most random things on her free time, so no one questioned her. In reality, she was looking for the spell that she had used on the day she rescued Draco. It had been bugging her to figure out what it was she did. As she headed to the study, she bumped into Draco who was going in the same direction.
“Hey, watch where you're walking,” Draco catching Hermione by the waist. She let out a small giggle. She wouldn't have nearly fallen over if Draco hadn't "tired to catch her". Draco gave Hermione a teasing smile before kissing her on the forehead.
She loved his smile it always seemed to light up the room. It was hard for her to think of the time when Draco never smiled. His past, their past, it all seemed like a dream. It was so surreal that at times Hermione really did forget about the pain in both of their lives.
“Going to the study?” He asked, his question stirring Hermione from her thoughts.
“Yeah, I thought it would be the best way to pass the time.” Hermione smiled.
"And you didn't think of spending time with me to pass the day?" Draco joked giving Hermione a fake hurt look.
"That's a great idea," Hermione smiled teasing. "I hadn't thought of that, why don't we both go to the library!"
"I was just on my way, myself." Draco smiled and held her closer to him for a moment.
Hermione loved it when Draco held her. She always felt so protected. Like her past never happened, and all that mattered was the man who held to her like his own life depended on it.
“Well then, shall we head off together?" Hermione asked as she pulled away from his embrace, only to link arms with his.
"Lead the way, my lady."
The two walked the halls of head quarters together, arms linked, in a peaceful silence. It was moments like those that they cherished because, with the hectic war, they hardly had anytime to just relax, the two of them.
When they reached the study, they separated and took to different sides of the room. Hermione went straight for the history section, and Draco left for the section designated to spell books. Neither questioned what it was that the other was looking for, both were too wrapped up in their own thoughts to really notice.
Hermione's sharp eye scanned the ceiling to floor bookshelf. She had the intent on learning more about the spells she had used on the day she saved Draco. It had been annoying her, not knowing what spells she had used. If she could figure out what they were and where they had come from, then maybe she could tell the order and use them for the war. Maybe she could even find more spells that would help them.
Hermione was nearing the bottom of the bookshelf and getting rather frustrated. She was about to give up when a book caught her eye. Hermione reached for the book titled The Origin of Magic: the Story of Merlin. It sounded promising, so she took it off the shelf and moved to sit in a comfortable chair. With the flick of her wand, she summoned a bottle of ink, a feather quill, and parchment, in case she found anything worthwhile to write down.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Draco was trying to find a spell book that could shed some light onto what spells Hermione had used when she saved him. He hadn't want to ask her because he didn't want her to know that he had been able to hear her. He also didn't want to ask her because that would be admitting weakness. Draco had dropped many of his old habits, like hating muggleborns, but he was still a bit prideful. He hated admitting that he didn't know something. After finding three promising spell books, Draco also took a seat in a comfortable chair and began to read.
As Draco shifted through his books, Hermione was moving her way slowly through her one book. It was hard to read the book, it was written in runes, which Hermione was quite good at reading, but the runes that the book was using were runes made and used thousands of years ago. Luckily, Hermione had read ahead in her runes book and knew of the old runes, she just had to think rather hard to remember them. From what she could understand, the first chapter read:
In the time of the great wizard, Merlin, magic was just starting to be formed into the entity that we know and use today. Merlin, the strongest wizard of his time, was one of the few wizards who helped form the structure of magic that we use now such as spells, potions, and enchanted objects. Merlin was the original creator of many of the spells. He also made thousands of predictions of which hundreds have become so and hundreds more have yet to come to pass.
Merlin was born in...
Of the thousands of spells that Merlin created, few of the more complicated spells are still in use. Many spells no longer used because they seem to unconventional.
There are many spells known to wizarding kind in our time. But there are also many that are no longer in use. In the case of most of these forgotten spells, they were discarded as unconventional. If used in our times now, they would seem barbaric and thus were forgotten. The only known place that the spells still exist are in the scrolls of Merlin.
The purpose of this chapter is to talk about why these spells were put away and never used again. If you are looking for a list of these spells you may find the complete list in a copy of Merlin’s Scrolls Abridged
Draco wasn't having any luck, either as he combed the three spells books he had chosen. The first book he had picked was a book on commonly forgot spells, but he couldn't find dormiturus or amatus among the many pointless spells that taught you how to clothe yourself and other such nonsense.
The second book wasn't much help either. The book of advanced spells and charms filled Draco with the knowledge of how to alter a person's memories to make them think they were a pirate who's name was Captain Fishfeet and who owned a ship called the Hydra and then how to make all that come true.
With a sigh, Draco picked up the last book. It was a book on advanced Dark Magic. He really hoped that he didn't find the spells in there. He'd hate to think that Hermione had used Dark Magic, even if it had been to save in. So, when fifteen minutes later he had come up with nothing, Draco was both relieved and disappointed.
Both Draco and Hermione stood to replace the books they had taken on their respective shelves. They were both about to start looking again for more books when they heard Mrs. Weasley call them down for lunch.
“Didn’t find what you were looking for?” Hermione asked as they walked together, from the study to the kitchen.
“No, did you?” Draco asked still slightly annoyed at his lack of information, maybe he would have to ask Hermione.
“No, I think I might do some more research after the mission tomorrow, I don't know about you, but I find it better to prepare for the task ahead first."
"I was thinking the same thing." Draco said with a gracing his lips. "Great minds think a like."
"You're so corny." Hermione said laughing at Draco, kissing his fake frown away.
"But you know you love it." Draco said, hoping for a joking response back.
"No, but I do love you." Hermione said . They stopped walking, they were just in front of the door to the kitchen, but neither seemed to notice. Instead they found their arms wrapped around each other, their lips found the other's and held them in a passionate kiss.
"I love you, too." Draco whispered before break the embrace and opening the kitchen door.
The two sat at lunch that day with large goofy grins on their faces.
“Yeah, Draco and I'll cover the front, you'll check out the back. When we know the coast is clear, Draco and I'll try the front door, if that doesn’t work, I’ll call you with my mirror and you'll try the back. If no one comes to either the front or the back door, we call for back up and storm the house.” Hermione said in whispered voice.
“Good,” Lupin said and they started walking in the direction of the Zabini Manor. It took mere minutes for the grand Manor to come into view. Quietly they separated, Lupin fell into the early morning shadows to the back of the house. Draco and Hermione walked boldly in the light, up the walk way, and found themselves at the front door.
“Do you see or hear anything?" Hermione asked, she had made sure to keep her eyes open and her ears attentive, but the grounds of Zabini Manor were silent. Draco shook is head no and started to reached for the magical door bell. He glanced once to Hermione as if to ask her if he could should press it or not. When Hermione gave him a quick, but firm nod 'yes', he pressed the button. At once, both stood back and on guard. They needed to be ready, just incase they were attacked. But after ten minutes of utter silence, Hermione called Lupin via mirror.
"There was no answer." Hermione said, her back turned from Draco, staying alter to any movement in the surrounding garden.
"Okay, let me try the back door, then I'll call you back." Lupin said. The connection was cut and the two teens were left to stand, still looking for anything that might alter them to an attack.
After five minutes, Lupin and Hermione were back in contact, via mirror.
"No luck, we're going to have to all the others." Lupin said, a grim look crossing his face.
“Okay, I'll call Harry, wait for my signal before entering the Manor.” Hermione said and cut the connection. "Harry Potter" She tapped the mirror with her wand. Instantly the face of a worried Harry Potter appeared on the mirror's glass.
“Hermione are you guys okay?” Harry asked, not even waiting for Hermione to speak.
“Yeah, no one came to the door, I have a tracing spell on my cloak, find me, and get your butts over here.” Hermione said, the place gave her an uneasy feeling. With a curt nod, Harry cut the connection. With in minutes, the order was surrounding Hermione and Draco.
"Spread out, some of you cover the back entrance with Lupin. We also need some people outside, keeping an eye on other entrances, like windows." Hermione said while Draco shot red sparks into the sky. The signal was sent and the mission was in action.
Quickly the order dispersed to their stations, Draco and Hermione both shot powerful unlocking charms at the door and hardly flinched when they heard the wood splinter. Together, they ran in, followed by Ron, Harry, Fred, and George.
“Mrs. Zabini, Blaise, every thing is okay.” Draco’s loud voice echoing through the bare house. “It’s me, Draco, I'm with the order, we're here to help you.” The face of an older woman was visible from behind a door on the second floor.
“Oh Draco dear!” She said, her face lighting up. She ran down the steps and took Draco into a big hug.
“Mother,” A male voice said from the same room. “You must be careful, you never know if Voldemort would use polyjuce or not.” He to came down the steps, and nodded to Draco and the crowed gathered around him. "Though why he would want to steal the ugly mugs of you lot, I wouldn't know." Blaise said with a smirk. He descended the stairs and pulled Draco into a brotherly hug. "I'm glad you're okay." He whispered, but the other's could still hear him. The look on his face had gone from smug to a mixture of worry and relief.
"And you, you must be the children who go to school with Blaise, thank you so much for coming for us." Mrs. Zabini said, turning to Hermione, Harry, and the three Weasleys.
Now that Hermione could get a better look at Mrs. Zabini, she was socked. It was clear that old age wasn’t the reason for her silver hair. The veela part of her blood made her a hair silver in a way that made her look all the more youthful. She was pale, but still looked healthy. At the sight of Draco, her face simply lit up with joy.
After pulling away from Draco, Blaise stood back from the others. Hermione noticed how his dark hair and indigo eyes seemed to pull him into the shadows of the house. He didn’t look dangerous, though and Hermione was one to believe in instinct. Despite his aura of casual passiveness, Hermione was certain she would never want to be at the other end of his wand when he was mad.
“Oh dear, if I had only known it was you. We have been keeping quiet and holed up for quite some time. What with the Death Eaters after as and-”
“Mother, I think it would be wise not to speak further.” Blaise’s gaze fell on his mother, looking almost stern. It was then obvious that the children of the Order should not have let the reunion become longer than necessary. Quickly, Hermione cast her patronus, a swan, and sent it after Lupin, with the message that they had Blaise and Mrs Zabini.
"We have to go, now." Harry said speaking for the first time. He swept around to face the door, taking long strides until he was in the frame. The others moved to follow, but the Zabini's stayed put.
"But if we leave, we would be forfeiting our house to the Death Eaters.
"It's the house," Fred said with a grim expression which did nothing to compliment his features.
"Or your lives." George added, looking just as grim as his brother.
“Come with us,” Draco said pleadingly. “You don’t have to chose sides, just stay where we can keep you safe. We want this war over, and the less deaths the better.”
“Then I shall pack. Mother, would you help me? We also must set the house elves free.” Blaise said, turning to leave. His sharp movements showing that the decision had been made, by him, to leave. It left no room for question on his mother's part. In the think, somber, silence, everyone was surprised when Hermione spoke up.
“If it’s not too much to ask, we could really use the extra help at headquarters. What with all the people to feed, clothes to wash, and rooms to clean. If you don't mind, we could really use the house elves.”
“Oh of course dear! Let me go fetch them. I’m afraid that we only have two, though. They are both rather old, but they love their work.” Mrs. Zabini smiled and gracefully glided off to find them. Or so it seem she glided. Her movements where like a dancers.
"Asking for house elves?" Ron asked looking at Hermione funnily. "Who are you and where did Hermione go?"
"Oh shove off, Ron." Hermione said tartly. "I was thinking in our best interest, you don't want to do the dishes any more than I do. Plus, like she said, they like their work." Hermione said, as if talking to a small child. The way she spoke, you would have thought Ron was the one who had created S.P.E.W. The group laughed at Ron's confused face and wait for Blaise and his mother to return. They were only gone a few minutes when Harry hissed and his hand went right to his scar.
“They’re coming.” There was panic in his voice as he, and the others, ran after Blaise and Mrs. Zabini.
Hermione separated long enough from the group to shot off purple sparks to warn the others, Hermione stopped in front of the kitchen and saw Mrs. Zabini. Quickly, Hermione rushed into the kitchen to warn the Lady of the Manor.
“Ma’am, we have to get out of here! They’re on their way!” Hermione shouted as she threw open the kitchen door. She screamed. There lay Mrs. Zabini, on the cold floor, twitching from a few dozen crucios.
“It’s too late little girl.” A tall man hissed. He stood in the corner with a mask covering his face, but Hermione would recognize his voice anywhere.
"Lucius Malfoy." Hermione screamed. "Let her go." She whipped out her wand, but he was too quick for her. He lunged for her, arms outstretched, want forgotten. Hermione screamed again, her mind black, she couldn't remember any spells to repel him.
They fell with a crash, Hermione's head smashed into the floor. She felt and heard a crack. She was surrounded by blood in no time. Lucius stood, cleaning himself of blood (with his newly remembered wand) and sneered down at Hermione "Crucio." He cursed her over and over again. The combination of the lack of blood and torture curse was pulling Hermione farther into the dark. He screams were dying and her throat was horse and dry.
“My lord will be happy to know I killed one of Potter’s friend. She heard him hiss above her, but she couldn't get her mind to wrap around the words. She was in too much pain, she hardly understood what he was saying. In her final moments of consciousness, her only thought was, "I can't die, I can't. Draco, be strong without me."
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