Polyjuice, Declarations and Unsettling Images
They pieced together the story, the details each of them were missing when they awoke briefly the next morning. The boys had to move because Nott Manor was going to be searched for by Death Eaters. They wound up being captured and brought to Malfoy Manor–Theo being smart enough to misconfigured Harry’s face with a stinging hex when they arrived where they were then brought to the dungeons after Bellatrix had attempted to perform Legilimency on them. She never was the best at it, but Ron was weak and an easy target and it brought forth the memory of when Hermione and him were trying to get out of the Ministry, and he had briefly landed in Malfoy Manor. She latched onto that–psychotic bitch but not stupid–and proceeded to torture Draco in an attempt to figure out where she was. She couldn’t get into Draco’s room when she tried, and had proceeded to torture Draco some more before Hermione had appeared. He squeezed her tighter when she relayed everything he did under the Imperius, his lips falling to her shoulder as he pressed soft kisses along her bare skin, apologies falling from his lips.
“I don’t blame you, I don’t–”
“Hermione.” He whispered her name, clutching her tighter against his chest. “I love you. I’m so sorry. You know that I would never have…”
She pulled back, catching his eyes. “Draco I know you would never hurt me, I know that you love me. I know that you would’ve killed yourself before ever hurting me. I don’t blame you, I promise.” She licked her lips, taking a steadying breath.
When they realized that they couldn’t stay holed up in the room, they decided to get dressed. Just as they were about to head towards the door, a soft knock sounded. They opened the door to find Narcissa. She immediately stepped into the room, her hands finding Draco’s face, cupping his cheeks. “How are you feeling, darling? Are you alright?”
He nods, his hand covering hers. “I’m alright.”
Her eyes flit to Hermione, and she reaches out a hand that she grabs, squeezing it. The door shuts behind her as she leads them both towards the armchairs. “We need to talk.” All of them were silent for a moment, staring at one another. “Greyback is dead, as well as Bellatrix. The only ones who know what happened here tonight are Mip–who is free, then the rest of us. The Dark Lord wasn’t here, he wasn’t summoned ... .but at some point he is going to wonder what happened to Bella and where she is.” She swallowed. “We cannot let him find out, it will be the death of us all. Your father is away…and he doesn't know either.”
Draco paused, tilting his head to look at her. “You’re not telling father?”
“No. Not yet.” Narcissa tucked her hair behind her ears. “The boys…they..they are at shell cottage. I have a Port Key that will take you there, go now and come back tonight. It won’t raise suspicions. Just try not to be seen, Hermione. By anybody other than the people at the cottage.”
Hermione nodded, swallowing, before glancing at Draco. “Alright.”
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They landed on a soft shore, waves lapping against the sand soothingly. It was a harsh contrast to the normal terror and atmosphere that they were always subjected to and she found herself admiring the tranquility for a moment before the weight of Draco’s hand on her waist pulled her from her thoughts. She tilted her head towards him, the sea brightening his eyes and her breath caught in her throat. “Come on, love.” She nodded, letting him guide her to the edge of where she could feel the wards. She felt the resistance of wards as they got closer, having to stop as figures appeared suddenly. Harry appeared first, his wand drawn before his arm dropped. Then he was being shoved aside by a mass of curls that darted across the sand towards her. A smile broke across her face before Theo had even collided into her. His arms wrapped around her and enveloping her in the familiar scent of oranges and cinnamon.
“Hi Theo.” Her arms wrapped around him, and she tucked her head against his chest. He was trembling, his hand coming up to cup the back of her head. Then all of a sudden she was wobbling as another body crashed into them. Draco’s voice growled from behind her.
“Careful, Zabini.”
“Oh bugger off Malfoy.” Hermione laughed, reaching her arms more to squeeze Blaise’s arm. When they finally released her she was surprised to see Pansy smacking Draco on the arm. She raised a brow.
“You. Aresehole. Almost dying on me. Disappearing.” Hermione laughed before Pansy was whirling around on her. “And YOU! You maniac, I thought that you were dead!” Hermione’s eyes widened as Pansy stepped towards her before arms snaked around her waist, pulling her back.
“Calm down Pans.” Harry’s voice whispered from behind Pansy and she relaxed for a moment. Draco stepped closer to Hermione, his arm snaking around her waist as he pulled her towards him. She took a moment to take everybody in. Harry’s hair was shaggy, hanging over his glasses, dark and rough like he had just rolled out of bed. Theo was..well Theo; unruly curls that always managed to stay looking like they were styled that way. Blaise had shot up a few inches, his shoulders filling out and hair a bit longer. Pansy was the most startling. Her usually put together appearance was slightly rough–her hair that was usually cut to her jaw was now shoulder length, and she was wearing relatively fancy Muggle clothes. Her eyes settled on a figure behind the group though, the one that thought that she was dead because of him. Ronald was standing behind the group, by the edge of the wards his eyes fixed on her. She took a step forward and Draco tightened his grip on her. She glanced at him, a silent plea in her eyes as she nodded. Slowly, she made her way towards the edge of the wards, staring up at Ron, who was standing with his hands tucked into his pockets.
“Ron.” They stared at each other for a moment before he stepped forward, pulling her into a hug. She stilled, not used to that kind of affection to him before patting him awkwardly on the back. He released her before offering an awkward smile and stepping back.
“I’m glad that you’re okay.” He responded, his blue eyes burning into her. The wind was whipping her hair around, almost cutting into her cheeks that then stung with the salt in the ocean breeze. She licked her chapped lips, wondering when they had gotten here, to this point.
“Yeah…me too Ron, me too.”
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They were gathered around the small table in the shell cottage, Draco’s arms wrapped around her waist as he stood behind her, his thumb rubbing circles on the small exposed flesh of her stomach. Theo stood right next to her, holding her hand as his thumb brushed across her knuckles as Blaise stood just behind him. Harry and Pansy were sitting down at the table, their chairs close but only their ankles hooked underneath the table. Ron stood leaning against the wall on the opposite side with Luna Lovegood. “So what is the plan?”
“We have to somehow get into Bellatrix’s safe at Gringotts. She was mental when she saw that Harry had the sword of Gryffindor. We couldn’t hide it. She started screaming something about her vault and Theo realized that there must be something she didn’t want us to have in there.”
Harry nodded as Ron spoke. “Probably a Horcrux.”
“Do we even know what it is? The Horcrux I mean. We can’t possibly be going into the vault searching for nothing. She’s a Lestrange and a Black, if it’s anything to go off of like the Malfoy family vaults there is a lot in there.” Draco’s drawl came from behind her and she nodded.
“I’ve thought a lot about that actually. He has made all of the Horcruxes into things that were important to the founders or himself so far. The ring that Dumbledore had was Tom’s fathers, and then of course the diary. But, I thought about the locket. Wasn’t there other things that were important or mattered to the founders? Like a goblet or something?” Hermione felt Draco’s fingers twitch against her skin as she talked.
“Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup.” Luna’s dreamy voice came from the corner and every head whipped around in her direction. “It’s a founder's item.” Draco stilled behind her.
“There is a cup that The Dark Lord made us drink from during…initiation. It contained his blood. Bella had it.” Draco nodded, his fingers digging into her hip and she instinctively leaned back into him, pressing her back against his chest to calm him. He took a steadying breath before his entire body tensed behind her.
“Granger.” Her name came as a hiss from behind gritted teeth. His head dropped to her neck and fingers twitched against her skin, his lips pressing against her skin before he whispered in her ear. “I’m being summoned.”
“Shit. I–”
“No. Stay here. It’s safer at the moment, he’ll be coming to the Manor. You’re safer here..in case something happens. Don’t do anything stupid, for once in your life.” She nodded, brushing her hand over his as he pulled back, sweeping from the room before the crack of apparition sounded from outside of the cottage. She swallowed thickly, tucking the curls behind her ears as she sniffed facing the table. Theo grabbed her hand, pulling her into his side before slinging his arm across her shoulders. She studied the group for a moment, chewing her lip nervously.
“I might have a plan…but I can assure you that it’s absolutely mental.” Hermione met Harry’s eyes across the table, his green eyes flickering with something as he stared back at her.
“Honestly, Mione. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.” He smirked at her, pushing the glasses back up the bridge of his nose and she smiled, leaning towards the table.
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“Absolutely not.” Draco’s low growl sounded in the dark room, his lean form leaning against the wall of the cottage’s small kitchen. The flame flickering softly against the hard features of his face. Hermione swallows, taking a step towards him, and his jaw clenches. Steel gray lifts to meet Theo’s gaze across the kitchen. “You couldn’t have possibly agreed to this.”
Theo swallowed, his Adam's Apple bobbing. “I didn’t really get much choice in the matter, not like I do any time if we’re being honest–”
“--Theo, that’s a little dramatic–”
“--bloody sister is going to drive me to an early grave. Dramatic!?--”
“Yes, dramatic. The plan makes sense–”
“--just because it makes sense doesn’t make it any less dangerous, or reckless. Merlin. With how bloody brilliant you are sometimes it baffles me how your own safety is something that you can be so flippantly daft about, Hermione.”
Her mouth snaps shut, and she narrows her eyes at Theo who was now standing right in front of her glaring back. The sentient mass of curls that live around her head seemed to be electrified, moving with crackling power around them. Narcissa raised a brow, clearing her throat.
“I think that the idea is wonderful, except for one thing.” Hermione’s gaze snaps up, along with Draco's, who was staring at his mother with a strange sense of betrayal lingering in the depths of his gray eyes. “I will accompany you.”
Draco was positive that he had been murdered and reincarnated in some sort of perverse dream. He was almost fairly certain that he was staring at his mother like she was a three headed bowtruckle. “Pardon me mother, but what the fuck.”
“Language, Draco.” Narcissa’s blue eyes slid over to where Draco was standing, the picture of poised elegance perched on the edge of her chair. “As you have explained it to me, and after the events of tonight..” Narcissa shivered and Draco grit his teeth together. “I think that it would be wise if we made our move as soon as possible. From my understanding, you are now in the possession of the Sword of Gryffindor. After my correspondence with Severus, that is your tool for destroying Horcruxes. That is probably why my sister was so irate to see it in your possession.” She sniffed, lifting her eyes to Hermione’s. “You have destroyed one already, correct?”
“Two.” Hermione stepped closer to Draco, who didn’t want to admit that the simple gesture of her presence alone seemed to calm the swirling chaos of emotions that were bubbling up inside of him. “The diary was destroyed by Harry when the Chamber of Secrets was opened, we weren’t aware at the time that it was a Horcrux. Then, there was the ring that Dumbledore found that he destroyed himself.” She swallowed. “We are in possession of the locket–”
“--that is also destroyed.” Theo shifted uncomfortably, leaning against the counter. His arms crossed across his chest and Hermione realized with a start just how grown up he looked. He had gotten taller, growing into his lean frame and the lines of his face looked far older than she was comfortable with. She swallowed.
“Okay, so three of them are destroyed.” Narcissa nodded softly. “And we believe that what is located in my sister's vaults?”
“The Cup.” Draco lifted his head, gray meeting blue as he met his mothers gaze. “The one that the Dark Lord had us drink from during initiation. It would make sense of it being something that was important to him. And it would make even more sense if Bella was the one holding onto it.”
The room was silent for a moment before Narcissa nodded softly. “How long until we have Polyjuice Potion brewed?” Hermione risked a side glance at Draco and he narrowed his eyes at her.
“About that..I actually have some reserves in the mini Apothecary that I have been stocking at the Manor.” Narcissa raised her brow.
“Well, darling.” She stood, smoothing down the front of her robes. “Let’s go raid your reserves, shall we?”
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Narcissa and Hermione were standing outside Shell Cottage, listening to the waves lap at the shore. She took a breath, staring down at the black tattered robes that she was dressed in. Narcissa reached a small hand out, settling it on the goosebumps flesh of her bare arm. The wind unsettles the normally regal witch’s hair off of her shoulders. Hermione turned toward her, clearing her throat. “Shall we?”
Narcissa nodded, squeezing her arm before turning and glancing towards the doors. “He isn’t going to be too happy about this…” She flitted her eyes over towards the Cottage, where Draco was leaning over the sink, his head tilted slightly. Gray eyes piercing in the light of the rising sun. The look he was giving her was intense, his knuckles white as he gripped the counter tightly. Hermione met his gaze without a hint of fear, an unspoken rippling connection of magic settling into the air between them. “Hermione?”
The faint tremor in her voice had Hermione pulling her gaze from Draco and staring at Narcissa. “Yes, Cissy?”
“I don’t think I have ever told you how thankful I am that you have become one of our own. You were everything that we were missing, all of the things that I had ever hoped for in a daughter.” She tenderly tucked an errant curl behind her ear. “I couldn’t ask for anybody else to fall in love with my son. You are everything that I could’ve ever hoped for him to have.” She smiled softly, her hand resting lightly against her cheek. “I wish that your mother could’ve been here to see the woman that you wound up becoming. She would be so proud of you, and of Theo.”
Hermione swallowed, tears burning the corners of her eyes as she struggled to fight the onslaught of sudden emotions that welled up inside of her. “I love you, Cissy.” She stepped forwards, wrapping her arms around the older, slender witch. Narcissa stilled slightly, before wrapping her arms around Hermione, her hand resting on the back of her head tucked into the wild curls.
“I love you too, darling.” It was a soft shaky whisper, as if the words weren’t something that she had uttered out loud before. Settling around them both like a warm cocoon battling off the cold that brushed against their skin from the sea.
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Hermione glared at the Polyjuice Potion, and Bellatrix’s wand that were sitting on the table in front of her. The liquid was a dark black, almost a sludge sitting heavily in the small bottle. Her upper lip curled and a shudder escaped her as she uncorked the liquid and brought it to her lips. It smelt vile, like death; and if she was being honest with herself, exactly what she would expect everything encompassing Bellatrix to be if she were a potion. Narcissa grimaced alongside her as she swallowed the sludgy potion, gagging as it settled in her stomach. With a heaving gag she leaned over, clutching the table, the familiar ripple settling across her skin as the proportions changed. Chestnut curls turned into black waves tumbling wildly down her back, olive skin paled.
Draco swallowed, watching the entire transformation, a slight tremor rippling through him at the resemblance. When her head lifted he had to fight the urge to cringe slightly. His aunt Bella, (ne: Hermione), was standing before him. Her eyes darted around the room and landed on Narcissa who was standing beside her. She gave a slight tremble, squeezing her shoulder momentarily before sweeping from the room quickly. Draco followed after her, concern bubbling in his chest at his mother’s shattered composure. She never faltered. As they swept from the room, he caught his mother stepping outside, brushing tears from her eyes quickly, blue eyes cast towards the shoreline.
“Mother?” His hand rested gently against her elbow, turning her small frame towards him. “Are you alright?”
She took a shaky breath, tears sliding down her cheeks and for a moment he realized this was one of the first times that he had ever seen his mother cry in front of him. She was usually the epitome of class and Pureblood grace, never showing emotions like this in public. Now, he was reminded that she was simply human like the rest of them, unable to shelter away the barrage of emotions that generally in their society were kept behind closed doors. “I wasn’t…I wasn’t expecting to feel this way about seeing her. So soon, after everything. She-” Narcissa took a steadying breath and Draco nodded, before doing something that he hadn’t ever done. He drew his mother into his arms. She was still for a moment, in surprise. Then suddenly her small frame relaxed into his chest, calming instantly in his presence, her small frame shivering as she cried against his chest.
After a moment she pulled away, swiping at her eyes. “Come now darling, we don’t have time to waste.” And with a flourish she was striding back into the house. Draco stared after her for a moment, before striding quickly into the house, following after his mothers retreating form. Wrapping slender fingers around the Polyjuice on the table, he downed it quickly, scowling at the flavor. The disgusting ripple of Polyjuice transferred across his skin as he morphed into Rodolphus Lestrange. Bellatrix’s eyes widened as she stared across the table at him.
“Gods, that’s disturbing.”
“Granger, you’re Polyjuiced as my dead aunt, trust me. The feeling is mutual.”
Harry and Theo enter the room, staring at them. “Ready?”
Bellatrix and Rodolphus turn towards Narcissa who suppresses a shiver. “Let’s get this over with, shall we?”