Separation
Chapter 35: Separation
Eight months after the Battle of Hogwarts…
July 7th
The thrum of magic and life within the Witch Tree was evident. The small beating of two hearts echoed within the depths of Draco’s mind as he poured his very being into the Tree. With closed eyes, he could feel them reach out to him, the warmth they provide him as he to them. It was a comfort he could never ever dare to replace.
Soon enough, he felt something stirring in the Tree. He opened his eyes to see that the bark of the Tree where his children grow was suddenly glowing. He covered his eyes from the onslaught of brightness, his heart thrumming with worry. After it passed, he could hear twin cries and as he opened his eyes, he saw two baby boys, crying for him, wanting him, needing him.
Without any thought, he rushed to them and slowly but surely picked them both with a blanket he conjured. He lulled them both into a melody he used to hear during his childhood. The babies settled and Draco looked at them with their platinum curly hair, chubby cheeks. When their eyes opened, he slumped into the ground. Heterochromatic, one mercurial like his own and the other green like his very eyes. He choked a sob. The children stared up at him with brimming eyes filled with innocence and his heart grew.
He kissed each of their foreheads. “My dear children, my lovely Regulus and Corvus.”
He could not stop the tears that fell from his eyes to the cheeks of his twin children. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I could not bring you up in a better world. But never doubt that as long as I live, I will protect you and never ever forget that I will always always love you both, no matter what.”
Two tiny hands reached up to hold his cheeks, two pairs of eyes stared up at him wide. He could not help but to hug them closer to him as he felt as if he was being forgiven. He held onto them tight as he knew they would soon be taken away from him. He was sure by now Bellatrix know about them. She would come for them. Draco could no longer play as the puppet. He held those two bundles in his arms and swore that he would fight anyone just to assure that they get out of this place safely.
He closed his eyes and whispered in Latin successively a protective spell, but before he could finish, the doors of the room were opened with a blast and he casted a shield to protect them. He turned his head to see that Bellatrix was not alone. He pointed his wand at the intruders and casted consecutive spells, only to find them deflected by Bellatrix.
The spells rebounded off of each other and before he knew it, chains appeared at his wrists, pulling his arms away from his children. The wails of the twins echoed and it was the only noise that Draco could hear as he watched them fall from his arms. He forced his magic to create a cushion for their fall but the children were caught by Orion, who stared at Draco, his eyes filled with nothing. Draco however whispered to him in the middle of the chaos.
‘Protect them, please.’
Orion blinked and Draco knew that he would.
The chains pulled him to the ground into a kneeling position in front of Bellatrix. A few of the witches that helped her cast the spell on Draco circled them as they continue to weave the binding spell to bind Draco in place.
“When?” Bellatrix demanded.
Draco paid her no mind as he watched his twins being carried by Orion and Severus, their cries the only thing he could focus on. Bellatrix then tilted his chin forcefully and the rage and fury within his eyes made Bellatrix smile.
As she looked into Draco’s eyes, she knew that he would not answer her. She just grinned and released him, seeing the chains settle and assuring that the binding spell was complete. She looked back at the Witch Tree now burning and her gaze fell to Draco as she voiced out. “So that was your aim.”
“Shame. You were still supposed to give life to a few more children using the Tree for spares, but no matter. I guess the twins will be enough, for now.”
The chains rattled and Draco snarled at her. “Don’t you dare touch them!”
“You really are not in a place to neither argue nor make demands, nephew, seeing your current situation. I am still amazed at how strong you magic still is.”
She flicked her wrist and the fire behind Draco dissipated. She turned her back at him to take on one of the crying baby in her arms.
“So which is which?” Her eyebrow rose towards Severus who rise his eyebrow back in return. She rolled her eyes. “Well not like it will matter. Our Lord will possess either child anyway. No need to give vessels names.”
“I will destroy you, Bellatrix, even if it’s the last thing I will do!” Draco shouted, but was ignored as Orion voiced out.
“What about him?”
Bellatrix then replied without looking up from the child in her arms. “Draco would now be locked up in here. Those chains would hold him in place until I find a way to extract his magic for our cause. Oh my, what beautiful heterochromatic eyes. Look, they bear the green eyes of our Lord, how delightful.”
Orion glanced at Draco for a while. “What if he escapes?”
Bellatrix waved her hand and Draco slumped to the ground, fighting the spell to not lose consciousness. “He had gotten rather noisy as of late, hasn’t he? Anyway, his magic is drained from daily giving life to the Tree. He won’t be able to do as he pleases for now. He could try to. But, really, my darling Orion. Do you think he would be able to leave this place without his children?”
Bellatrix’s eyes glanced at his son and Orion shook his head. “Now, come along, my darling. We have to present these children for our Lord.” She began to walk away, followed by Severus who remained quiet and Orion after giving Draco a final glance, as he was now unconscious. The door was closed and locked by several witches to prevent Draco form ever attempting to escape.
--
Cries filled the darkened halls of the Malfoy Manor as two babies were being carried within one of the deepest part of the Manor. Bellatrix held onto half of the twins while Severus held another in his arms. The two adults seemingly uncaring of the cries of the children soon after they were taken away from their Mother or Father in this case. Her nephew wasn’t very happy about it. She realized her hold on him had slowly dissipated as he fed the tree with his magic.
Draco was supposed to die after the children were born, even while he was feeding the tree, but he never did. That was when she realized the only living person who could escape Death other than her would be the one holding onto the power of Life itself: her very own nephew.
Bellatrix laughed as she clasped her head at the irony of fate. To think that Draco was truly that special. She finally understood why Narcissa was so keen in protecting him.
Draco Black was a Malfoy, the last thing that stand in their way, and now everything had come full circle for all of them. Once the Dark Lord possesses either one of the children, even all those unmarked Vampires would fall to their knees and follow them without question.
The echoes of the cries of the children could not hinder the joy and chipper mood she was in.
Once they arrived, the grand door opened for her without any hitch. She stepped inside the Chamber where their Lord was trapped. She kneeled down, placing the baby on the ground. She watched from her peripheral vision as Severus did the same.
“My, what beautiful creatures, Bella,” the Dark Lord voiced out as he saw the babies on the ground, still crying. His eyes then stared at her. “You did well.”
“Thank you, My Lord.”
“Prepare them both, but it looks like one is weaker than the other. What shall we do?”
Severus remained quiet as he merely watched the exchange of Bellatrix and the Dark Lord about the twins.
“Well it would never hurt to have a spare, my Lord.”
The Dark Lord agreed to this and his eyes seem to scan around them. “Dear Draco isn’t here? Whatever happened, Bella?”
Bella bowed slightly as she explained. “Draco awakened from my hold upon him. It seems I wasn’t thorough enough.” The Dark Lord’s eyebrow rose at this and Bellatrix began to explain. “Draco bears Life in his veins. With its power, he was able to counter mine.”
“Then—” The gleam in the Dark Lord’s eyes was something that could make up for being unable to take control of Draco fully.
“Yes, my Lord. Draco is not just a Black, but a Malfoy as well. These children bear his blood. Now no one can ever dare deny your claim nor would they ever challenge it.”
The Dark Lord grinned at this. His red eyes shining with mirth. “I leave them in your care Severus.”
Severus bowed. “It will be done, my Lord. I will make sure they grow to be how you hope them to be.”
Bellatrix frowned at this, then an idea came upon her as her smile grew.
“Since the other one will be a spare, may I, my Lord raise him?” The Dark Lord’s eyebrow rose at this and so she explained. “I wish to train the spare to be my heir. Children born from Witch Trees are rare and I wouldn’t want to pass up on an opportunity such as this.”
“How about Nympadora? Isn’t she you heir?” The Dark Lord remained sceptical at what she is asking.
“She may be proficient, my Lord, but right now she is still hung up on the concept of mates.”
The Dark Lord’s eyes grew dark at this and so he nodded. “Fine. Train the weaker one as you desire, but he will remain my spare.”
“Of course, my Lord. Thank you.” She bowed deeply.
--
With the Aging Potion that Severus brewed himself, the children were able to grow faster than they expected and with their special circumstance, they were able to endure their training and the fast changing of their bodies. They both grew strong and wise, while Severus taught the child he was assigned to about the meaning of this war, about his Father, about his role to play, about the truth of everything.
While the child raised by Bellatrix was raised in full darkness, in fear, in blood, in lies. The two children were never allowed to meet, raised separately. The only person the child ever found comfort in was Orion, as he told him things about Draco, at times the war in secret. But even Orion could not protect him with the onslaught of Bellatrix’s madness.
--
“Shit,” Orion cursed as he entered the room where Bellatrix usually conducted her experiments on. He rushed towards the nine year old kid who was holding a wand towards an animal and casting the spell Crucio to no avail.
“Hey, hey.” He held onto the cheeks of the boy whose eyes were glazed, nose bleeding and muttering words as he pointed his hand at the now dead animal. “You have to stop. Please, look at me.”
The boy’s head slowly tilted to look up at Orion who was looking at him filled with worry. He blinked once, twice. When he fully registered what was happening, he looked around and began to scream in agony. Orion could do nothing but to hug him.
“I’m here,” Orion whispered continuously as he rocked them both, drawing circles on his back. The boy’s cries stopped as he seemed to have slept, the exhaustion seeping into him.
“My Orion, I didn’t know you have arrived from your mission.” A voice suddenly echoed from behind him. Then there was a sigh. “Dear God, stop spoiling the spare.”
Orion glared at his Mother and she merely huffed as if she was used to her son disobeying her now for that child. “He is still a child, Mother.”
“Well, he doesn’t seem so when I ordered him to Crucio that animal to death until he perfected it.”
Orion’s eyes widened and he gritted his teeth. “He wouldn’t do that, he doesn’t have the heart to.”
“Yes, yes. I know I got the short end of the stick when I’m stuck with the spare. To think he has Draco’s weakness, but I finally fixed it.” She laughed gleefully and Orion’s blood ran cold.
“Mother, what did you do?”
“Oh nothing, dear.” Her smirk grew as she continued, “I just bound him to me. Now, he will do everything I please without a hitch. Anyway, take care of him, Darling. I have a meeting with the others. I will see you soon.” She disapparated on the spot.
“Shit.” Orion closed his hand like a fist. He felt his powerlessness overwhelming him as blood dripped from his hand. He felt the child stir. While making sure he wouldn’t wake, Orion carried the boy to his quarters.
He cleaned off his injuries and scrapes, changed his clothes and lay awake as he watched over the boy sleep. After a few hours, the boy began to stir. Orion stood up and sat by his bed and wait for him to sit up. “Come on, I have someplace I need you to see.”
The boy looked up at him with empty eyes, but followed him without question. He asked him to disillusion himself as they both trudged into Severus’ private quarters.
Orion knocked on the door. Severus looked around them before he allowed them in. On a couch by the fireplace, sat another boy. The disillusionment charm fell away as he looked at a boy who looked just like him. The only difference was that the colors of his eyes were each on the opposite eye.
The twins stared at each other. For the first time since they were separated, they met face to face. No one bothered to give them names, thus they were often called vessel and spare. The boy under Severus’ care smiled warmly, his tears about to fall as he then jumped to his twin and gave him a hug.
“Brother.”
The spare could do nothing during the shock, but to hold on tightly back as his tears began to fall. He felt warm within, as if a spark he had long lost had been returned to him.
Orion and Severus watched the twins as they held each other, laughed together, and spoke to each other.
“Is it about time?”
Severus nodded. They called both children to follow them and the twins held hands as if never wanting to ever let go again. They hid under a disillusionment charm as they headed into the room that they both have no idea what lay in. The guards did not mind them much as they passed.
The four of them entered the room.
“How are they, Severus, Orion?” Draco asked. His back was facing the door, his magic dancing in the air as he tried to undo the binding spell they casted on him. The magic cancelled itself out. He cursed under his breath as his attempt was again a failure. “I’m getting close to breaking this. I even found a way to—“ He stopped when he noticed that there were a few more people to visit him than usual. Then he felt it, the warmth that he cradled and grew within this very room sung to him.
He turned around and waved his hand to release any casted spell around him. The spell fell away and he saw two children whose eyes staring up at him disbelieving. Draco felt frozen but at the same time he willed his body to move. He took one step, then two steps. Before he knew it, the twins were also beginning to run toward him. He opened his arms wide as he hugged them both. To hold them both again like this, those months he spent not knowing about them, only hearing from Severus and Orion, wasn’t enough.
Now, now… He had them back in his arms. His boys, his children. He looked up at Severus and Orion, silently mouthing his thanks to them. He could feel the bond between the three of them, thrumming, but he felt something slightly cutting him off from one of them. He released both of them to stare at them, memorizing their features and committing them to memory since he didn’t know when he would be able to see them again. Draco held their cheeks and both of them held his hand. All he felt was warmth.
He turned to his right, staring at Regulus. And then to his left, to Corvus, whose bond with him seemingly weak. “What did Bellatrix do to you?”
Corvus’ eyes looked away from him. His eyes clearly panicked and he seemed to be easing away from Draco.
Draco stopped him and held his small hands in both of his own. “I won’t get mad, Corvus.”
The boy snapped his head back at him so fast Draco was afraid he hurt himself by doing it, but the boy just stared at him with wide eyes, unbelieving. “Corvus?” His voice was small and trembling that Draco was afraid, afraid of knowing what Bellatrix did to him. But he was sure as hell he would burn that witch to nothing but ashes if she ever dared to hurt him. He would pay her back for all of it tenfold. “I-is that my name?”
Draco looked up to Severus, not understanding, but before he could explain, Regulus spoke up to answer the puzzled expression on his face. “We never had any names. I was called Vessel and—“ He looked warily toward his brother and he answered for Regulus.
“I was called the Spare.”
Their heads were bowed.
Draco glared at Severus and Orion for not telling him, but during their time that they could meet, it was always limited and they couldn’t act out of character.
“Before you two were taken away from me, while you two were still inside of the Witch Tree, I already knew what names to give you two.” He tipped both of their chins to make them look at him.
His eyes looked to his right where the warm eyes of Regulus sparkled and he widely smiled at him. “Your name is Regulus.” The smile that his son gave him was wider than the rest he had seen and he turned towards Corvus. “And you, my dear Corvus.”
“My twin boys… Finally, I am able to see you. I am sorry. I am so sorry. Right now I am incapable of protecting you. But I swear that I will break free from this cage and take you both away from here.”
“I understand Mother.” Regulus went on to hug him once again. Draco’s heart warmed as he could not help but be reminded of Harry through him.
He held out his hand to Corvus and the boy, with trembling lips, joined them. He could hear their sobs.
He knew that he had to hasten himself for what was about to come. He had to figure out what Bellatrix did to his Corvus. But, God, he prayed—he prayed for time to stand still to just give him this moment to just be with them, to hold them.
He kissed their forehead and continued to whisper the broken protection spell he wasn’t able to cast on them when they took them away from him. The magic settled to them and he whispered to them both as many times as he can to remind them, to assure them, to make them never forget just how much he loved them.
“I love you.”
--
Orion looked up at Severus who looked at the scene grimly. They both knew what is about to come. “When should we inform Draco?”
“Not now, Orion.”
Orion huffed. “Of course I know that, but you know what will happen if he does find out. Draco will tear this place to shreds and he will die before he would get to them.”
Their eyes found the three still hunched together, making sure every moment and second count.
“That is why, Orion, we have to find a way to assure that they will get out of here safely.”
Orion shook his head. “You don’t understand. Mother… She did something to Corvus. He would never be able to leave her side. You and I both know Draco would not be able to bear to leave one of his children here.”
Severus’ eyes widened at this and he questioned Orion. “When?”
“I don’t know, but my Mother was pleased with the results a while ago.”
Severus seemed to be thinking ways over that and his eyes snapped to Orion as he clamped his hand to his shoulder. “You know that if the Dark Lord finds out that those children will not be able to function as his vessels, he would kill them.”
Orion shook his head. “My mother wouldn’t allow him to kill Corvus. His magic is too precious for Mother to waste, but Regulus…”
The sharp eyes of Severus bore into Orion’s. “You do what you can to protect, Corvus. I would have to do my part to assure that Regulus will be safe.”
“What about Draco?” Orion asked.
Severus turned to them, huffing out a tired breath. “Why don’t we ask him on what he intends after learning all this?”
Orion scoffed. “I’m sure it will be one hell of a plan.”