Chapter 57
After careful consideration, he held onto Harry, who was properly disguised again, and apparated right off of the property so he'd be close to the carriage house. He knew that there were people in there, knew that they had to get them out for Harry's sake because he didn't know what Draco or Hermione were planning. And there were less people at the manor at the moment. For whatever they were decoding in those research notes. He had a few of them in his head that he'd share with Harry later, and apparently he had something that he wanted to leave in one of Hermione's books, but that was a concern for later.
Easing open the door to the carriage house, the former Hogwarts students Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott were kept in a state of stasis. Hannah looked startled with wide eyes, clutching at her wand as if it would protect her. Neville looked hurt and betrayed, which made it clear to Theo who had stunned and preserved who in these fights.
"It might be best to get them out of here rather than out of stasis here...If we want that head start and not have either Draco or Hermione on our tail immediately, it'd be best to leave the manor alone. Not sure Longbottom would with that expression," he gestured with a grimace.
Harry looked at the two as Theo spoke. Even his presence wouldn't help with his current disguise. It was new, something Theo had helped him work on. He was inclined to agree that Neville would be an issue, especially if he weren't aware of his current situation.
"We'd still have to deal with rousing them before taking them back with us. I'm not sure they can enter our location without actively seeing its address," Harry reminded. "And we still need to get into the house for those notes and..." He didn't say the rest. They'd already had that chat. "They could help."
A groan left his lips, and he ran his fingers through his hair. "But how do you suggest getting them on board? They aren't going to trust me of all people. I've been Draco's left hand since Hogwarts. Rousing them somewhere else would be possible. Somewhere private and away from the manor...because I don't think I could talk down either of them. Plus, Abbot looks like she'll scream."
Which would make him feel terrible. He remembered her from school. Quiet. Docile. Gentle. He had no clue how to deal with that, in the least, outside of the man he was here with. "I can get you into the house, but I can't get all four of us in. If they came in with us, then I'd likely have to fight Blaise, and you'd likely have to fight Lovegood...."
Harry hated it when Theo was right. He didn't want to leave his friends there but he also needed to get information. "Then we go in, get what we need, and come back for them." It would be easier to go through the manor, being only two.
"You think we can manage that?" he asked. "Better while avoiding Luna and Blaise." Luna was unhinged, and he wasn't looking forward to a showdown.
Running a hand through his hair again, he relaxed a little as he was listened to. "We go in, copy what we need, you leave what you need to, and we should be fine. I have the deadline of until they get back to have made my choice...means Blaise and Lovegood won't do anything if they do see us till Draco says something," he offered. But if they saw Longbottom and Abbott? All bets were off.
Opening the door to the carriage house, he gestured for him to step out, and he closed the door behind him, leading the way to the manor. "We can. If we're quick..." He'd grab maybe one or two things from his room, including all of the galleons that were currently there. He had a feeling that he wouldn't be able to go to his vault as soon as his defection was made clear.
After everything, he could leave his friends behind, only for a little while. "We'll be back," he sighed towards them. It was too important not to try.
Fingers lacing in Theo's, he nodded. "Lead the way," he told his lover. How many times had they entered the manor this way? Most wouldn't question it unless Draco had made a statement. He had to trust that nothing of the like was said.
As he pushed open the door, he lightly squeezed Harry's hand and led him towards his rooms first. They needed to get what they would need to properly do this first. His lover's note to Hermione was secondary if he was honest. The halls were quiet, barely any conversation happening. Most of the Death Eaters that operated out of the manor were out on other jobs, limiting who got to see those notes that were in Draco's study or in the library.
"If we run into Lauren...you don't say anything...." he said quietly, quickly moving past the door to Blaise's quarters.
Harry nodded, recognizing his lover's quarters. He helped gather everything they had agreed on. Anything he could get his hands on. He was grateful Hermione had taught him to expand storage in bags. It wasn't uncommon for him to bring a bag when he visited Theo. He was used to being considered a booty call.
"Okay." He could avoid talking to the muggle they had. He knew Blaise's quarters were near if only to avoid Luna. This time, he doubted even she would recognize his disguise.
Theo tucked all of the money he had around his room into one of the bags and a few changes of clothes, parchment, quills, and a few enchanted items and books. Not a lot. Even if the impulse was there to take as much as he could physically carry, he threw that bag over his shoulder and paused to kiss Harry's jaw, trying not to start rambling—something he did when happy as well as nervous. The ink on his arm would end up being something that could be used to track him...which meant they'd have to move around a lot. Or he would.
He rubbed at his arm, glad that his robes covered it for the time being, before he took in a deep breath and led him from his own quarters and then back towards Draco and Hermione's. He had to hope that Blaise and Luna weren't busy working in that study and that he could quickly copy some of the notes. If only to mull over them and either help to have some sort of intel to give back to the power couple if he was caught or to try and figure out what it was they were up to.
Harry tried not to overthink the kiss, which tingled long after his lips disappeared against his flesh. He readjusted his bag and nodded, ready for their next raid. Draco's quarters. It was something he wasn't looking forward to. Knowing he lived in the manor was enough to piss him off. Seeing where the man slept and fucked his best friend? He wasn't sure he would manage without wanting to set it on fire.
Once they made it in, he wasn't sure what he expected, but to walk in wasn't exactly it. "Anything I should avoid?" Surely, Malfoy had some curses on the place. Protective layers that would trigger something nasty.
Walking into Draco's wing of the manor, he moved down the hall and toward the study, avoiding his room. "Room on the left is Draco's. Don't go in. Room on the right is Hermione's. The study has some notes and books, but I think all the books she brought with her are in her room."
Best not to comment on how she rarely slept there anymore. He moved over to the table, casting a simple copying spell on some of the notes that Hermione had written. He wouldn't dare copy Draco's. He had a feeling he might have been more cautious than the lady of the manor.
Harry nodded, entering the nearby room that Theo stated to be hers. He knew his friend or a version of her. In the end, if anyone could find anything hidden, he'd be able to. He walked into the closet and started looking behind the clothes. It took a while to find her bag and go through it. Vestiges of a life that starkly contrasted her current position.
He slipped a note into one of her books and pulled away, pausing as he saw one of her dresses. The pattern to it was one he recognized all too well. The same sort of curls and dots that lined their masks. The same kind Bellatrix wore. He backed away, keeping his wand out of his reach. The point was not to be caught.
Before Harry could leave the room, a soft disgruntled mreow came from the closet as a ball of orange bounded out of it. He slowly stretched then mreowed again as he strode over and started winding between Harry's legs with that stuttering purr of his.
Harry sighed, reaching down to let his fingers brush against the feline’s massive head. “Always the clever one,” he praised with a sigh. The ginger always seemed to know things. He’d known about Scabbers long before they ever knew. “Haven’t got anything for you,” he said apologetically. He should have remembered the cat. Honestly, he’d feared the worst for him, not expecting a plump, pampered feline.
Crookshanks gave more of those stuttering purrs before nudging into Harry's hand with another loud meow, lightly bapping at his hand before he shook himself off and went slinking towards the study. Clearly, the cat either wanted something or knew there was another person around who could give him some sort of affection. It was unclear which one was the motivator.
Harry watched the cat, and for a moment he felt back at Hogwarts, watching a fierce mini lion on the prowl for affection. As quickly as the feeling came, it was gone and Harry was rushing towards the study to ask Theo is Hermione still made it a point to bring her cat everywhere, like a weekend at another property.
Crookshanks strode into the study and jumped up onto his favorite chair with a huff, his tail swishing back and forth behind him as he looked over at Theo with rather alert eyes.
"Not now, Crookshanks," Theo grumbled as he copied a few more pieces of information that made no sense to him as it was, but he shoved that into a bag. Something he could do to try and slow down the tracking would be to try and burn part of the mark off. It wouldn't work for long, and he'd likely have to keep doing it, but he could. It had him eying his arm as Harry came in. "Do what you needed to?"
Harry nodded. "Does she normally leave Crookshanks here?" he asked cautiously. He hoped so, hoped she felt the cat was safe enough here, and yet didn't his presence prove the opposite? He adjusted himself and tried not to feel the pressure of their tasks. Another stop in this house, and then they could release Neville and Hannah.
Theo paused and glanced over at Crookshanks, studying him a moment. "...Normally, she seems fine leaving him here. But this is the first time other than her bachelorette weekend that she's left him here...." He reached over, starting to pet the cat.
The witch in question had just apparated into the foyer, sending her things with a flick of her wand to the room she shared with Draco as she strode up the stairs. Ruffling out her hair a little, she took in a deep breath, trying to get herself to relax and brace for what was likely to happen once Draco returned. Because she saw no sign of Theo and didn't hear anything from Blaise. Was that a good or a bad thing?
At that, he felt the slightest relief. So Crookshanks wasn't an omen. It was all that mattered. "Need any help? We should start moving to the library," he added. It had to just be being inside the inner sanctum of Draco Malfoy's home—the place he likely felt safest—safe enough to allow Theo in and, by proxy, a known enemy.
Crookshanks cocked his head to the side and stared at the door, his tail flicking back and forth before he looked back at Harry and Theo and chirped.
"Got everything I could need here...not sure what we can copy or take from the library..." he murmured, not even paying attention to the cat.
Hearing the orange ball of fluff, she smiled a little bit more as she closed the door to their wing behind her. "What are you doing, Crookshanks?" She almost crooned as she pushed open the door to the study and froze. They were here. And still disguises. Which meant....fuck.
Holding up her hands in front of herself, her gaze jumped between them both. "Don't jinx, hex, or curse me. It's just me. Draco was summoned."
Shit Harry thought when he heard her voice—this complicated things. He knew it did. Even if she was on their side, could they truly take the risk? The way she held her hands. Her husband was summoned, and she caught intruders in the house. Wouldn't it be best if they did? He hated that he even thought that way.
"Just you." The echo of her words was almost robotic, he was trying to process it.
Theo had his wand drawn and kept his eyes on the lady of the house, glancing between them. "And what are you planning to do?" He drawled, clearly about to take Harry's lead here if necesary.
The witch glanced over her shoulder and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "...If I help you, one of you has to obliviate me before you leave...Can't risk the information being tortured out of me....Just however long it takes to get you in and out...and to get Neville and Hannah out..."
Harry liked to think that he knew the brunette and could trust his gut when it came to her. She had let him go when she'd found him running out of the manor to get back to the safe house. She'd known, and yet she hadn't stopped him. She hadn't spoken to her husband; if she had, he'd have been hunted.
"Theo has to get a few things in his room, but I can go with you to the carriage house and get the pair ready for transport." He wasn't sure telling her they were going to look into the translation was necessary. Over the years, he'd grown good at keeping his mind under wraps, at lying to keep everyone safe. She didn't need to know everything, just like he didn't need to know everything. "Then we'll make it look good."
Theo glanced between the pair of them before he gave a nod of his head. "Yeah. My room," he echoed before crossing over to Harry and lightly squeezed his shoulder before he strode past them both so he could get the hell out of there before they left and headed towards the library. AT least no one would question him being there as long as Blaise wasn't in the room.
The witch offered a small smile and let out a slow breath. "....I'd tell you if I could, Harry...I really would. I promise I'm trying something though. Trying to....fix all this still...." she murmured, looking down at her feet, smiling a little as Crookshanks wandered over to wind between her legs before darting off. Likely to go demand affection elsewhere. "...Don't let Neville and Hannah hat me too much, alright?"
With his lover off, he remained at Hermione's side. He had to hope they wouldn't cross anyone. It would only complicate things. At least now they had some chance of getting everything and more. He looked at their feet, where the ginger cat continued to follow them. He wasn't sure what to say at her admittance. If anyone could fix all of this, he had no doubt she could. There was a drive to his best friend that even he couldn't deny. "I can't decide their feelings," he said in earnest. "I believe you when you say you're planning something. I'd be disappointed if you weren't." He offered a half smile, hoping it maintained the complicity they had once held more easily.
Walking through the halls, she kept her head held high and her posture straight. The last thing she needed was any of the lingering Death Eaters to try and stop her. They weren't that stupid now, usually. But there was always someone...."I know....just...make sure they know that I'm not trying to save my own skin," she murmured quietly. That half smile offered her some reassurance, but she could feel her heart ache as she walked out the front door with him and towards the carriage house. After making sure Crookshanks stayed inside.
"...Keep moving when you leave. Theo's mark can be tracked. There might be ways to muddle it but I'm not sure how. Make sure that Neville and Hannah stay out of sight or disguised....He thinks they fled," she offered, trying to give him what information she could. There was so much she couldn't say due to the vow of secrecy, but she wished she could tell him absolutely everything.
Harry accepted the compacted information, stowing it away and hoping that after everything, he’d remember it all. He had a feeling that there would be a lot of drama once he got Hannah and Neville back to Grimmauld Place. He had a feeling they wouldn’t like the cost of their freedom or the ally he’d chosen to make.
“Can they see through the paralysis?” He asked her. If they did he could just show them the paper now and transport them. It would be simpler. If not then they had the alternative…
Looking over at the pair, she grimaced slightly and tried not to think about it too much. "...They can see but I'm not sure if it completely registers....I could attempt to just release their heads from the enchantment so they aren't likely to fight till you take them wherever you're going..." she mused.
Hopefully, they would get out and wouldn't come back trying to kill her for what she did. Not that she'd blame them, really.
"I suppose I can silence them while you do," Harry offered at her suggestion. Isolating the spell to their bodies might be in everyone's interest. As much as he hated the idea of doing so, he had to make sure they didn't draw unwanted attention—nothing a small charm couldn't prevent.
Hermione let out a slow breath as she drew her wand and gave a nod of her head. Looking between Neville and Hannah. She supposed it was better to do them both at the same time. Taking in a slow breath, she focused her magic to undo the stasis spell on both of their heads.
As she released them, Harry cast a silencing charm. It seemed to be just in time to prevent Hannah from screaming out. She kept her mouth open a while longer before resigning herself to aggravation.
"I don't have much time to explain," he told the pair. "It's me, Harry. I'm getting you both out of here, but I need to show you where we're going to avoid us all splinching." He continues to explain. "Once we're settled, I'll release you, and we can discuss everything."
The witch took a few steps back as Hannah looked at her with a look that she could only explain as betrayal and Neville glared at her. She tried not to grimace as she tucked her wand away. "You'll be safe...This is all that I could do and hopefully, eventually, both of you can forgive me," she offered with a faint smile before she heard the door opening behind her and spun around, her wand already out.
Theo held up one hand as he pulled his bag over his shoulder with the other. "Just me, Hermione. We're set it seems..." he reassured before looking over at Longbottom and Abbott and grimaced. "...I am not looking forward to the conversation to come...."
Trying not to snort, she smiled faintly. "...You'll have to make it look good...and get all of this out of my head..."
Harry made sure both of them got their eyes on the piece of parchment he scribbled on before burning it. He'd barely finished when Theo appeared. "How could are you at memory charms?" he asked his lover. He was good at a number of charms, but after Gilderoy, memory ones were the likes he tried not to mess with if he could avoid it.
Theo looked at his boyfriend and then back at the witch as he drew his wand. "Decent at them...we'll have to do more than just a memory charm, though," he cautioned.
"Been through worse for all of this," she shrugged, keeping her expression blank.
"Wipe her mind. I'll be ready to make it look good," he nods. He could disarm her, perhaps a well-placed jinx. He didn't want to hurt his friend, even if he knew he couldn't leave her unharmed. The best he could do was go for simplicity.
He didn't like how she shrugged and made her statement. They had all suffered way too much in te last few years.
Theo nodded his head, not paying attention to his partner and the two people who stared on in their stasis. "Obliviate," he intoned evenly, just making an effort to erase the last two hours of her memory.
With the spell done, Harry turned his wand on the brunette. "Expelliarmus!" he called, sending her flying with his signature spell.
He didn't want her fighting back. He needed to get Hannah and Neville out.
"Stupefy!"
As her wand was shot out of her hand while dazed, she blinked a few times. Looking back at him, her eyes widened a little bit further, and as she was stunned still, she gasped.
Theo looked over at Harry, arching a brow. They needed to make it look really good. A stunning spell might not be enough.
That look didn’t help Harry in the least. Of course, he wanted to save all his friends, but he didn’t want to hurt Hermione. Not in the way he would have a few weeks or months before.
“Confringo,” he cast above her head. A spell Dolohov had once used against them. One he had mastered to help destroy entire buildings to rubble by striking just the right place. Finnigan had taught him well.
Taking hold of Neville, he looked at Theo, ready to leave before the entire building collapsed.
Theo grabbed Hannah and gave a nod of his head, apparating with the pair as he heard the pained gasp and yelp of Hermione as the stunning spell wore off as the rubble started to falls.
He didn't want to be anyone who was in the house when Draco realized that his wife was injured. Just like he dreaded being him when Harry released the spell on both of his old school friends. Things were getting much messier than he would have hoped they'd be.
Harry had to hope his friend would be okay. That the damage would be enough to leave her in a manageable condition.
At least they only needed to do the one apparition with everyone knowledgeable about the end destination. Apparating just outside the nearby alley, he used a few silent spells to make Neville transparent and levitate him towards their new home. He had to hope they would be compliant enough.
Theo could see the fear in Hannah Abbott's eyes, and it made him cautious even as he made her transparent and levitated her after Harry and Longbottom. His heart was roaring in his years. No matter what, there was no looking back now.
Once they were all inside the former Black family home, Harry settled Neville on the couch and took a moment to drop his disguise.
Since he could afford to worry about Hermione, he fretted over everyone else. “Set her on the couch. I probably should have asked Hermione which spell she used.” It wasn’t like there wasn’t a cover-all spell to end spells, but every so often, those backfired.
Stepping into the house, he put his bag down as he lowered the former Hufflepuff down onto the other couch and tried not to grimace as he took the transparency spell off of her as well. "...Probably...but should have been asked before I Obliviated her. At least it'll make the few memories left of us taking these two more foggy as well..."
He had to hope that he did a good enough job that the Dark Lord wouldn't see much of what happened.
“Lots to cover so little time,” he reached to lace his fingers through his. “Right then,” he looked to the pair and severed the silencing charm.
“Hello, Neville. Hannah,” he greeted them in turn. “We’ll free you as soon as we have your word that you won’t attack. I didn’t have time for much back at the Manor. You’re safe here, and though Theo and I aren’t exactly affiliated anywhere right now, you’re safe here.”
The first thing that Hannah Abbott did, was whimper and attempt to move in that binding spell. "H-Harry? What....what is going on?"
"Complicated story, Ms. Abbott," Theo murmured, squeezing his boyfriend's hand and rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't intend to do anything that will upset my boyfriend or harm his friends if that's reassuring at all...."
Neville looked between the pair, the only movement he could achieve. “Haven’t heard that one before,” he managed with grit teeth.
Harry appreciated that squeeze, responding to it in kind. This was messier than anticipated, and yet, there’d been no bloodshed. He looked at Hannah. “You were being kept at Malfoy Manor. Theo and I got you out. As I said, it’s a complicated situation. I’ll happily release you if you promise to stick around a bit while we figure things out and not try to kill us.” Years of being tucked away from much interaction hadn’t left him overly charismatic.
He looked fondly at Theo, bringing his hand to his lips. “You can set your bag in our room,” he offered his boyfriend an out for when he released the pair.
Hannah let her gaze jump over to Neville before looking between Nott and Harry. Her brow furrowed a little bit more. "....Who...who brought us to Malfoy Manor?" Her voice quivered like she ws about to cry.
Squeezing his boyfriend's hand again, he sighed softly. "Hermione did. It's....complicated. I promise to tell you what I know. Might make you understand a bit more..." he offered before going to pick up his bag and coming back to press a kiss on Harry's cheek. "I'll let you talk to them...They'll trust you more than me," he sighed as he went for the stairs.
"Hermione...but she...she left..." she murmured, looking at Neville for a long moment before looking back at Harry.
Neville looked at Hannah. “And married the Dark Lord’s right hand,” he reminded her pointedly. “She showed up for the fight…”
Harry winced. “About that…” he scratched his head, hating that he’d sent Theo away but knowing this was way more than he’d signed up for. “That was a good while back, so I’d imagine you’re both famished and thirsty. I could use some help in the kitchen…”
Hannah frowned more at that. "...But why keep us for...for however long she kept us without handing us over to the Dark Lord or her husband?" She asked Neville, her voice quivering as she took in a deep breath and looked over at Harry.
"I..." she started and grimaced at just how hungry she felt. How dry her throat felt now that attention was brought to it. "...I promise not to attack unless threatened," she murmured quietly, looking imploringly at Neville.
Neville clenched his jaw. Hannah made a good point. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like any of it. Hermione had kept them for however long she had. “I’ll listen,” he said gruffly.
Harry had to hope that was for the best. “Finite,” he said gently. “Can’t say I knew her plan, just that she had you. Theo might know more on that front.” He added. “Everything is complicated, but Theo helped me get out of the Manor at great personal risk, so I would appreciate it if you kept that part out if you decide to leave after we’ve discussed everything.”
A sigh of relief left Hannah as she slowly sat up, only to wince at how stiff her body felt. She rubbed her arms lightly and then her legs before her stomach growled. Oh, that wasn't good. The stasis spell likely kept them from starving but now her body demanded food. It didn't help that they didn't eat that well before they were frozen.
"...And you trust Nott, Harry? He's....he's one of them," she almost shuddered as she moved to stand, wanting to be closer to Neville. At least she felt safer around him.
Neville fought the pull of gravity as the spell released. His entire body wanted to meld into the couch cushions as soft as they felt. They reminded him of his grandmother’s house.
“Nott killed a lot of our mates,” he reminded.
“And we killed a lot of theirs,” Harry reminded. “Does justifying it make it better?”
“Morals are a start,” he added. “You said something about helping with food.” There was no point in talking without some sustenance provided. Having a chance to control the food felt like a good plan. One that would lose potential if he didn’t eat soon.
“Yes, we can go to the kitchen. Kreacher fetched groceries.”
Hannah stumbled, feeling like a fawn, as she got close to Neville and looked at Harry with wide eyes. Despite everything she'd seen, she wasn't sure what to think. Normally, she simply patched people up and tried to help provide for others.
"There's been a lot of killing the last few years..." she breathed, shaking her head as she glanced up at Harry, gesturing. "....Lead the way. Don't think either of us knows where anything is here..."
Harry nodded and began walking towards the kitchen with the pair. There’d been a lot of crimes from either side. He hoped they weren’t completely biased after everything. At least Neville.
“How do you know he’s not still one of them?” Neville demanded. As much as they had been friends, he wasn’t about to trust his judgment without information.
“Malfoy discovered I was alive, Theo could have turned me in. Instead, he helped me escape the Manor and then helped me break into it to save you,” he offered them a small smile.
Following after Harry, she stayed close to Neville and kept one hand tucked close to her wand in case she needed it. Her gaze darted around, taking in every detail that she could as she listened to him. But that same furrowed brow remained in place as she looked at him, frowning a little bit more.
"And you're certain that this isn't some sort of long game? We've been fighting them for years now, Harry...Malfoy could have some sort of plan...or You-Know-Who could...."
Harry could understand her questioning and part of him was uncertain that he could share the whole story. “He could have turned me in,” he said simply. “Hell, Malfoy could have taken me,” he shook his head. “Things are complicated, but I’m not sure they’re are simple as we’ve made it out to be.”
Harry looked through the pantry and fridge. Pulling out a number of items to make a stew.
Neville perked a brow. “You’re going to make me believe that Draco Malfoy saw you and let you go?”
"Complicated has been an understatement since school," she half smiled as she spoke. As she moved into the kitchen, though, she heard her stomach growl again and flushed.
Looking over at Neville, she arched a brow back at him. "What other way could he have gotten out?"
“There’s a loaf of bread if you want a bite while we food prep,” he offered gently before turning to Neville. “He did. I want to say it was Hermione, but I think there’s more going on there than we know.” He shrugged.
Neville scoffed. “Hermione and Luna abandoned us. What more is there to know?”
Harry watched his childhood friend. “Lots I’d imagine.”
The witch didn't need telling twice as she found the loaf of bread and cut a few pieces of it. She took one to Neville before taking a bite of her own. She didn't even need butter or jam. Just bread tasted amazing.
"...Hermione could have killed us rather than keep us, Neville. Or give us over to You-Know-Who. But she didn't...there's something more," she almost whispered.
“What I do know,” Harry offered the pair, peeling carrots over a cutting board. “Is that the insurgency and the Dark Lord think you’ve defected and run away.” It wasn’t the worse scenario really.
Neville ate his bread to keep himself from reacting. It was a lot to take in. For now, food had to suffice.
"How long have we been gone?" If both sides thought they had defected and ran, that was something they could potentially do.
Harry felt like he should know. “Theo would be better suited to know the date. It’s not like I was told much during my stay in the safe houses…”
Neville’s expression softened the slightest bit. How many years had he been complacent to Harry’s situation? “Do you…need help?” He asked, looking at the ingredients with a sigh.
Finishing her slice of bread, she picked up another and nodded her head. Talking to Nott might be necessary to get a better understanding of what all happened.
"We can both help...if you need it, Harry," she agreed. There had been a few times she had been taken to the safe houses to make sure that he was alright. Especially if an appearance left him getting hexed when he did surface from the safe houses.
“Potatoes could use peeling. Then we need to dice everything,” Harry offered the pair, grateful for the assistance. He wasn’t exactly Mrs Weasley when it came to cooking, but he’d learned a thing or two.
Neville nodded and set to work on a potato. “So what’s your plan?” He asked.
"Is there a plan?" She echoed as she drew closer, and once Neville peeled a potato, she started to dice them.
“For now? Trying to figure out what’s actually going on. Then adjusting in consequence,” he admitted. As much as Harry Potter wished for a quiet life away from it all, he knew he would always support his friends. “Hermione might need allies,” he said, vanishing the peels away before chopping his carrots into even pieces.
Neville peeled potatoes steadily as he listened. “What do you mean what’s actually going on? What more is there to know?”
“If Draco married Hermione, he wants more than purity,” he reminded Neville. “Which means he has something bigger in mind.”
"And the fact You-Know-Who approved it means he's either rewarding Draco, not minding that she isn't a pure blood, or he also wants something and they're somehow battling wits." As soft spoken as Hannah was, she paid attention. And she wasn't sure if she liked either of those options as she continued to chop the potatoes.
Harry smiled at Hannah, he couldn’t disagree with her on that. “The Dark Lord is looking into old magic. Something he wouldn’t have managed without destroying the statute or so I gather,” he said. He had never been the researcher in the trio. More the attacker moved to use force as needed.
Neville listened mostly, taking in the information and trying to sort it. “What is he looking into?”
Clearing her throat, she blushed a little. "If it's anything from what Hermione had been looking into before she...defected? It had something to do with Stone Henge and some sort of artifact based magic..." It was all that she knew.
At that, Harry gave a nod of his head, sliding his cut root vegetables into a pot he magically filled with water. He threw in a few herbs dried on the window sill. Apparently, Kreacher hadn't been the most diligent of gardeners since they'd last been here. "I believe it does have to do with base magic, which I can't imagine is a good thing."
Neville worked on the potatoes until he used his wand to chop them and carry them over to the pot. "I suppose you could use some help around here," he said, his gaze lingering on the plants. That was something he could fix. At least until he decided his next move. While the other two worked on food, he carried the tray of six pots to the island and began his work.
Finishing up her cutting of the potatoes, she added them to the pot and added a little bit more of the dried herbs. She ate another piece of bread, watching as Neville worked with a small smile before pouring them both a glass of water.
"Probably not...Do you know if Hermione made it to her Muggle mailbox? There might be information there that we can use..." She had paid attention to what the brunette muttered about while working by herself.
Harry felt both useless and relieved he didn’t have an answer to every question being asked. Truth be told, the less he knew the better given the target that was likely painted on his back.
“We could take a trip to it,” he offered. “Find out for ourselves.”
Neville collected the dried-out leaves that could be used, along with the stems. Then he cleared the roots from the dirt and flicked his wand about. “Probably best if Hannah goes in disguise,” he said honestly. She’d be the least likely to be tracked.
He found a few seeds from the plant parts and set them into freshly dug holes. Once watered, he set them back on the windowsill.
Hannah's eyes widened a little at that statement from Neville, but she couldn't argue with him. How often did she ever disguise herself compared to the others? Normally she was with the Healers.
"I can go...I just need help figuring out where exactly it is...I should be able to get in without too much trouble..." She stated quietly before getting more water and moving to stand closer to Neville, feeling a little more grounded with him there.
Harry nodded. He wasn't fond of leaving anyone to fend for themselves, but Theo couldn't move without remaining on the move; his own disguises were burned, and he had a feeling Neville wouldn't be much different, especially with Hermione in her current position. Hannah made sense to use, and yet, it didn't sit right.
"We'll help you figure it out," he nodded. "Maybe join you with polyjuice if we can make it," he added. There had to be some way to make it less dangerous.
Neville took a seat on one of the bar stools and leaned against the counter. "We can figure out how to find it and the logistics," he supplied. "Maybe talk to your...friend," he still wasn't ready to use Nott's name on his tongue. He wasn't sure how to feel about any of this, but either way, it was in his best interest to listen.
The witch took a seat at the table, sipping at her water as the smell of the stew slowly cooking had her relax even as she felt like her stomach was a yawning pit. She'd eat her fill and sleep, restful actual sleep, and then figure out what they were going to do. They could run, but that hadn't ever really seemed like an option before. Maybe they could figure out what the young Malfoy couple was doing.
Tugging at a strand of her hair, she started to twine it around her finger. "Might be a good idea...You've always known Hermione best, and I'm sure he knows Malfoy best...between the two of you, maybe you can figure out what they'd be up to?"
"That's the plan," Harry sighed. He hoped he and Theo knew enough to get something functional going. "I have a feeling Hermione's planning something. That whatever is going on, she's got something in motion." He wasn't ready to share. She had said as much. There was still so much up in the air. It was something he'd discuss with Theo first.
Neville silently paid attention. "Hopefully, whatever she has planned won't get us all killed."