What happened after...
Two months after the incident in Hogwarts…
Gryffindor Lands
A huge map was laid just in front of Hermione as she surveyed it. Waving her hand, she summoned the Grimoire of Narcissa. It opened with a flick of her finger to a certain page that she had been studying for a few months now. Angling her wand toward her open palm, she sliced her own skin with a wordless spell. She clasped her hands and allowed her blood to drip into the old paper.
A whispered spell healed her hand. Raising both of her hands, she began to chant a series of Latin words and her blood slowly moved into three different directions. A sigh of relief filled her when some of her blood stained the parchment, meaning that what she sought was on that location. The second location followed, but the third became difficult for her to pinpoint. She could feel the strong rejection of a magic that protected its location.
She could feel her muscles tensing. Hermione panted when she felt blood trickling from her nose. Her shoulders slumped and her hands leaned into the wooden table. A handkerchief was handed to her.
She looked up to see Sirius looking at her sceptically. “What did I tell you about pushing your limits?”
Hermione took the handkerchief with a murmured thanks, as she wiped her nose. “I had to try.” She cracked a small smile as she tilted her head toward the map, the two location of the Horcruxes that they had been trying to hunt clear.
“You did well then,” Sirius commended her.
He was about to leave when Hermione began to ask something that she had always been asking Sirius lately. “Tell me about the Four Forbidden Grimoires again.”
Sirius turned his head back to her exasperated. “I have told you the same thing I told everyone at the conference ages ago.” He scratched his nape and took a seat at the chair just across her.
She looked at him with a look that he couldn’t refuse. He sighed then began to tell her what he knew about it. “The Forbidden Grimoires are a collection of books with each specific powers imbedded upon them. They were each given to the Heads of each race to be protected and used to defeat the Demons that once roamed this land. It is necessary that these books must not be held by just a single person because doing so will bring about our end. These books not only allowed us to defeat those demons, but together it can also be used to open up the portal to the Demon realm.”
No matter how many times Hermione hear about the Grimoires, she still could never accept the fact that once demons roamed their lands.
Sirius’ face cracked up into a smile. “I remember Ron calling the names of the Grimoires rubbish, but it truly is rubbish. Rowena Ravenclaw thought that if these powerful items were disguised as something rubbish then only fools would never understand their value. So she masked these Grimoires of power into Story books with rubbish titles that most people would never read.”
Hermione smiled as well as she remembered the first time she had heard of the titles of the books. Heck, even her Grimoire didn’t look like one, but it maintained its appearance as nothing but just a simple book that contained a story that at times made no sense.
But the way that they were masked was something so intricately made that Hermione would not believe she was holding something of great power in her hands. She clutched the book in her hands and read the title written on its faded cover. The Inseparable Three.
“Do you remember those ghastly names?” Sirius chuckled.
Hermione looked down at her Grimoire as she recited the names of the Forbidden Grimoires. “The Inseparable Thee or the Trinity, The Infinite Door, The Twins and The Non-existent.”
Sirius smiled at her he expected nothing less. “What you hold in your hands is the Grimoire that bears the Power of Time. That Grimoire has always been guarded by the Blacks. Some say that you can even travel to the Past, anywhere in the Present, but merely view the Future as it is ever changing.”
“Are you telling me that it is possible to change the past, bringing someone back to life?”
Her eyes found Sirius’ sad ones and he shook his head. “It is never advised, Hermione. I know that your intention to do it may be pure, but if you change the fate of someone’s death, another might have to die in their place. Time will eat you alive if you use its powers recklessly and without thought or practice.”
Hermione’s lips are now pursed, but she knew that the Werewolf had a point. “Tell me about the others,” she voiced out to clear away the tension in the room.
She heard the heavy sigh of the werewolf as he continued. “The Infinite Door, represented Power and was given to the Humans to protect themselves from the demons. I suspected that the Dark Lord hold this Grimoire as he could have never risen to his position right now without it. The Twins was said to have been torn in two, thus for the first time Life and Death was separated. It is said that the Elder of the Vampires ages ago split it in half and used the power of Life to cure his dying Heir and that Life has been known to flow within the Blood of the Malfoys. Death was seemingly stolen and is lost. While nothing was known about the last book, just like the name it is called, it is Non-existent and no one within the Werewolves has been able to call upon it ever since the last sightings of Demons. There were no records of its power nor rumours about it. Just nothing.”
“You never mentioned about the familiars.”
Sirius’ curious gaze landed heavy on Hermione. He shook his head, forgetting for a while who he was currently talking to. He took a swig from one of the cups in the table and wrinkled his nose when it was just nothing but water. “The Familiars of the Four Houses are loyal to their Masters of blood. Their power and capabilities were gifts given upon them by their Masters. Not much is known about them since the last people who had ever gazed upon them had been long dead.”
“Until they were lately awakened—“ Hermione then abruptly stood up and began to take out a few parchments with notes in them and opened up books about the Familiars.
Sirius was about to leave her to it, but was stopped. “The Familiars of Slytherin and Ravenclaw, both were hidden within Hogwarts. Right?” she asked Sirius who nodded at her. “Then what about the Familiars of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff? Were they hidden there as well?”
Sirius’ eyes glinted with understanding and he nodded his head at her. “I will make sure to head there myself and search for any hidden Chambers of the Founders. You are doing well Hermione.” Sirius approached her and gave her a brief hug as he rushed out to report to James about Hermione’s suggestion.
--
Malfoy Manor
Draco Black was exhausted. Every day ever since he broke out of his Aunt’s hold, he had been keeping up with the façade that he is now a loyal dog. He clutched at his chest as he remembered the lessons Bellatrix gave him, most of it consisted of torture, murder, and sacrifice.
He had to keep up the smile, the laugh, the mirth in his mercurial eyes as he killed, his hands soaked in blood each day. He would carry this weight all of his life. He knew the pleas of the people he killed, he tortured. They would forever haunt his dreams and memories for as long as he would live. The moment he regained his faculties, he was about to kill someone, he was about to rip her heart out. His whole being rejected the idea but he felt her, Bellatrix’s presence always there, ever present. He knew one wrong move from him would result in death.
With steeled eyes and a heavy heart, he pierced his hand onto the woman’s heart and ripped it from her body. He could feel the warmth of her heart, the tearing of the flesh, and the slight beating of it before he ripped it clean from her. He watched as the light in the woman’s eyes faded into nothing. He acted perfectly as the onslaught of memories of who he had been while he wasn’t in control came over him like a tidal wave.
He needed to get away from this place. Each and every day he was killing himself, torn, from doing the right thing and thinking about the greater good. Bullshit. His mind supplied he knew he was just making reasons for himself right now, to run away from the horror of what he had done.
But what can he do? Even if he truly wanted to just kill all of the evil within this place, he knew his attempt to do it would only result in vain. The whole Manor was rigged to prevent anyone not given permission to Apparate would end dead. And despite it all, he so desperately wanted to live. He wanted to live and go back to Harry.
He held onto that thought as he walked briskly to a hall he had never been into. He only realized it when he stopped in front of a bare brick wall. He was about to walk away when he heard a click from behind him. He looked around to see if anyone was with him, but only to find the place abandoned. He stared at the brick wall once again when suddenly a huge door slowly materialized. He watched as the crest of the Malfoy family sculpted on the huge doors.
Mesmerized with the intricately sculpted crest, he leaned in his hand to touch it only for the doors to open up for him. A long winding hallway met him. He felt a slight sense of apprehension, but it was all seemingly washed away by something that seemed to call onto him within. Swallowing his fear, he entered the hallway and torches were lit from each of his side, a guiding light to the path. He took slow tentative steps. He was slightly startled when the door began to close behind him and disappeared.
He faced the path in front of him and began to walk where the torches led him. As soon as he got close to what seem to be a huge chamber in the room, he closed his eyes to feel the welcoming presence and comfort the room gave him. It felt like coming home, and this made him slightly tear up, unbelievingly, because the horror that had occurred within the House were all horrific. He opened his eyes to see a huge tree teeming with life. He could not stop the urge to touch it and when he does, he fully understood.
“I see you have found the Heart of the House.”
Draco did not have to turn his head to the voice, since he knew that voice too well.
“Did you know?” he asked as he slumped into the ground, finally understanding what Albus Dumbledore asked of him. Why he needed to personally enter the Malfoy Manor, why he needed to be here.
“I had my suspicions,” Severus Snape watched Draco as he took in the memories of the Heart. “Welcome home, Draco Black-Malfoy.”
The piercing mercurial eyes of Draco did nothing to faze the old Vampire as he merely stood where he is. “Home?” Draco scoffed at this as he stood with his full regal. At that moment, Severus was able to see the silhouette of a brother he loved and lost. “They desecrated this place with blood and gore and darkness, do you really think this is even a home?”
“Every Malfoy returns to this place no matter what. This is your legacy. Your blood is tied here and with you, it can rise again.”
Draco looked away and up at the tree with leaves that shine lighting up the room, seemingly happy with his presence. “You’re asking me the impossible, Severus.”
His eyes found the Vampire’s and Draco could no longer hide the deep rooted sadness that was within them. He could feel the tears prickling on his eyes and he couldn’t stop the quiver of his lips as he bit on it to stop himself from crying.
“Please, Draco. Take your place as your Father’s heir and free us all.”
It was heavy again. Draco almost felt like he wanted to be back as his Aunt’s puppet and just move as she directdd him. He felt numb at the responsibility, the horror of what he had to do. In order to become the Sire and Elder of the Vampires, he would have to give up his magic and for that to happen, he would have to be Bitten by a Vampire and survive. The proof that he would be the Elder would present itself when he awakened as a Vampire.
He looked up and closed his eyes remembering his mother, her smile, the feel of her magic, the feel of his own magic, the life thrumming within him like a heartbeat very much like his own. Then he remembered the sacrifice of his mother, and from his father, with the Heart’s memories he could finally see the soft smile of his father, his face, his eyes and his warmth.
When he was young, he always pictured what he looked like, and now finally he knew. Finally, he knew what he was meant to do. Sacrifices had to be made and if his magic is the cost to end this war, then so be it.
He opened his eyes. He could see the pained expression of Severus. He saw the mixed emotions run though his eyes before it was blinked away. “Shall we begin plotting for it then?”
Severus’ demeanor began to change as he bowed and Draco could see just how much this meant to him. “As you wish, my Sire.”
--
It had been a few weeks since Severus and he had begun to plot and to find a way to awaken his Vampire blood. But since he hold Magic in his veins, it would be like injecting poison in his bloodstream. The Magic within him would fight the awakening blood and could possibly kill him. He and Severus had been so focused with their own plans that they were almost caught off-guard when Bellatrix voiced out their plan—the Plan that derailed upon Draco and Severus’ plans. The Dark Lord requested for Draco to immediately produce a progeny. Draco almost lost his composure and revealed that he was no longer under Bella’s control, if not for Severus’ interjection.
“Why the rush?”
Bellatrix merely raised her eyebrow as she sat up at her chair, waving her wand around lazily to conjure up a fire. “Our Lord needs a new host. His body won’t hold for much longer. You and I both know that he could not just latch onto a new body that is not his own flesh and blood.”
“Then why not just ask one of your fanatical witches or vampires to do that, why does it have to be Draco?”
Bellatrix’s lips quirked into a smile as her eyes landed to Draco who is seemingly like a doll to her right now, sitting quietly on one of the couches.
“The Dark Lord needs a Host that is sturdy and Draco is the first to have ever presented with magic on his blood despite being male. That is unprecedented and we both know unprecedented things are imbued with special power passed only through blood.”
“You are telling me the Dark Lord wishes to cross over the boundary and become a hybrid?”
Bellatrix’s smile blossomed and her eyes sparkled with something akin to awe, not at Severus but at the Dark Lord, of course.
“There is a reason why those boundaries were never meant to be crossed Bellatrix.”
Bella hummed and poured tea on her cup, sipped on it and replied. “Yes, but our Lord is not as ordinary as you think and you know that. With both the Black blood and our Lord’s blood combined in their progeny ,all our Lord has to do is possess the child’s body and awaken the blood with his Power and he will finally attain a body fit for him to be in.”
Severus was speechless and struck, then he remembered the previous experiments of Bellatrix that she had been conducting. She was researching on how to create a Hybrid. It seemed the bloody witch finally found a way around it. He was about to interject once again, but Bellatrix waved him away. “Now run along Sevy and prepare the potion needed. I would supply you with what you need.”
“But Draco cannot give birth. He is a male. You are not intending on making him a female are you?”
Bellatrix snorted. “No, Severus. The whole purpose of his existence would be of no use had a precious species as him be turned into something as ordinary, oh no. I have different plans for that.”
Severus’ eyebrow rose and he hid his relief well. Draco remained as obedient as ever, but Severus noticed his shoulders lightly slumping in relief to not be subjected in any of Bellatrix’ experimentations.
“Have you heard of the Witch Tree?”
The Vampire’s eyes widened and he uncrossed his hands. “That is preposterous, Bellatrix! All of the Witch Trees were all burned into ashes long before by the humans. And even if you do have a seedling of it, there is no one in this world who is capable of growing them.”
Bellatrix’s lips widened into a smile so sinister and gleeful that the Vampire felt a chill down his spine as he then took a seat. Draco who remained silent began to ask his curiosity peaked. “What is the Witch Tree?”
Bellatrix didn’t seem to find his question odd as he just leaned back into the chair and began to explain. “Long before Witches mingled with humans, we Witches were born out of the pure and concentrated magic of the world. My dear Draco, we were born out of Witch Trees. Because of this, we have no need of wands or spells or incantations or runes. But you see, the Humans, they feared us. Of our power, of our capabilities. They burned all of the trees that ever existed.”
She turned to Severus with her eerie smile. “The last seeds of the Witch Tree was kept and protected within the Black Ancestral House for decades. The method on how to grow it was lost to us forever. However, with my ability, I awakened one of our ancestors and asked on how it would once more be grown.” She approached Draco and she tilted his chin for him to look up at her. “When you pour your magic, your life, your soul with the seed drenched in our Dark Lord’s blood, you will be giving birth to the first pure Witches in decades. Rejoice, Draco. Your children will become the Dark Lord’s vessels.”
“Life?” Cold dread filled Severus as he stared at Draco, looking so flippant at the idea, but he knew better that they young child was about to burst from everything.
“I will make the final touches for Draco to prepare for the ritual. No need to concern yourself with anything anymore.” She waved her hand and shooed him.
His eyes glanced towards Draco’s direction where he sat still, his perfectly crafted mask in place as he quirked his lips eerily the same as Bella’s. They needed to talk, but after that day Draco was no longer able to contact Sev. Bella kept a very close eye on him, handling him with extra care than ever, not allowing him to waste any more of his magic.
--
Draco was dreading this day. He could almost pace. But with eyes all around him, he couldn’t afford to panic. He even thought of killing himself to prevent this from ever occurring. With his current audience, he was sure as hell they would revive him no matter what the cost and still do the deed.
The door opened and Bellatrix and Severus entered the room, Bella has a huge smile on her lips, seemingly proud. She then held both of his hands with one hand while the other cradled his cheek.
“You don’t know how huge this honour is Nephew. I am so proud of you,” she said with a smile and Draco could almost puke.
The thought of just killing this woman right here and right now crossed his mind, but Nymphadora came in with a chipper mood as well. She too held his hand and he tried to remain stoic. Bellatrix then kissed his forehead as she and Nymphadora released him to reveal Severus who held a silver platter. How ironic, his mind supplied. On top of it is a vial with a red potion and beside it is a box where the Witch Tree seed laid.
He wanted to explode, to just screw this situation and escape this place but he could not risk the lives that is on the line if he were to do so. Severus looked at him with unreadable eyes as he served him the vial. But his expression spoke volumes, and Draco was easily able to read him. He was asking him a question. Do you trust me? And by the Gods he did, so he answered by walking through the corridor upon where he would grow the Witch Tree.
--
Five days prior to Draco growing the Witch Tree..
Orion Lestrange waited, hid in the darkness of the shadows in the empty alley ways of the deepest part of Knockturn Alley. He felt no presence approach him as he leaned at one of the brick walls, his head spinning with thoughts he could not voice out to anyone. A crack of Apparition startled him a few feet away from him, his eyes flew open and it glowed red. He sniffed the air and found his target. He moved in the shadows and soon enough, he tugged onto the creature and pulled them both into a hidden alcove nearby.
“Drop your wand, Granger.”
His eyes suddenly flashed when a spell hit him. He was slightly taken aback and he growl unconsciously.
Hermione raised both of her hands up. “I had to make sure it was you and not someone else,” she defended.
Orion just rolled his eyes expressively.
She waved her hand and a cloaking and silencing spell enveloped them both.
“So where is it?” he asked.
Her eyes stared at him pointedly, suspicious and slightly untrusting. “You do know how dangerous this would be if it fell into enemy’s hands, do you?”
Orion’s jaw almost dropped but he clenched it. “Don’t take me for a fool, Granger. I know a hundred different ways on how to kill Potter better than cursing him using his blood.”
Hermione looked taken aback at this, not even minding that Orion just threatened to kill Potter. But knowing their history, she was used to it. “I know. It’s just, I wish you could tell me what Draco is going to use this for.”
Orion almost looked sheepish for lying to her about this. But if he had told her the truth that it wasn’t Draco that asked for the blood but Severus, he was sure they would not be able to obtain what they needed. And for what was about to happen to Draco, they had to do this. “No one can know about this Granger, not even Potter. Not yet.”
Her eyes were sad and conflicted at the idea of lying to her friends, but she nodded her head. She handed Orion a vial in red, spelled to stay fresh and to be unbreakable. Orion pocketed it. He nodded his farewell to the witch and disappeared in the darkness once again.
Orion arrived at Severus’ laboratory swiftly and handing the vial to him. Before he released it, his eyes found the old vampire’s. “Are we really doing the right thing?”
“Perhaps not, but I would rather do this than have him give birth to that monster’s child.”
Orion closed his eyes and released the potion. He knew the situation they were in. Draco may be out of his mother’s control, but that does not mean that they are safe already. It pained him to do this, but Severus was right and so he watched as Severus concocted the potion and mixed Potter’s blood instead of the Dark Lord’s in the cauldron.
--
Severus walked briskly and quietly as he then opened the door to the Witch Tree’s Chamber. The bright lush green leaves of the tree shone in the dim light. At the bark of the tree, was a seemingly clear cocoon where two children slumbers. Draco was standing still in front of it, watching them for a longer time than necessary.
Bellatrix explained that Draco’s instincts were currently focused on his children, so they merely left him alone. The Death that was supposed to come for Draco as he gave his magic and life to the Tree daily to enrich and give life to his children never came, which had been a great mystery upon them. But when this happened, Bellatrix had looked so happy like she had just won.
“Sev, did you know?” Draco began as he then touched the cocoon with his hands, his face filled with something that Severus could not explain. “When I poured my magic out into the seed and the Tree grew, whenever I was here, I wanted to burn this Tree. Not because I didn’t want a child, but because I feared for their future.”
He turned to Severus with tears on his eyes and the old Vampire could not help but place his hand on Draco’s shoulder. “I don’t want them to be born to be nothing but that monster’s vessels. But when I felt the life thrum within this Tree, I knew I would do everything to protect them. Even if I have to kill the Dark Lord here and now to do it, I will.”
“The Dark Lord wouldn’t be able to possess them even if he were to try.” Draco’s eyes snapped from the Tree’s bark to Severus in an instant. “You have every right to be furious at me, for what I have done. But I changed the properties of the Potion used to grow the tree.”
Draco’s eyes widened in disbelief as his hands fell away. “Are you telling me that the other parent of these children is not—“ Severus shook his head. “Then whose?”
Severus huffed and his lips quirked slightly. “The least Potter could give them is the protection of his blood, when he is not even here to protect you.”
Draco slumped into the ground. He huffed a laugh as Severus kneeled in front of him. He clutched onto Severus’ cloak and met his eyes.
“I should be mad at you,” said Draco weakly.
“I know.” Severus held Draco’s hand and he gave him a small smile. “I apologize, but I had no other choice.”
Draco closed his eyes and his mind whirred with the possibilities, the responsibility and the decisions he would have to make from now on. When he opened his eyes, they were steel grey. He looked toward his twin children within the bark of the tree, growing fast. He would have to regain his magic fast, plan an escape for his children and make sure that the Dark Lord stay the hell away from them.