Our Saviour

Our Saviour

Chapter 1

The wizarding world was quite…ignorant at first, of the virus spreading throughout the muggle world. Whether it was the high up officials keeping it a secret from the general public, or the lack of communication between the British Prime Minister and the Minister for magic, nobody knew. Then astonishingly, there was a flood of magical families making their way into Hogwarts grounds or all across Hogsmeade (with intents to sleep in tents) Diagon Alley, and the Leaky Cauldron filled with families all couped up in a single room, for anything was better than remaining in the Muggle world. Even then it was classed as a Muggle problem, and a Muggle Flu as the entire world's infrastructure begun to feel the strain of it.

Then tunes began to change, as they acknowledged this Muggle virus was dangerous. Forbidding any wizard or witch to venture into the Muggle world. Not wishing to risk the virus being unleashed upon their world. Merlin only knows how it might mutate, no, it was far too dangerous. It was for the good of them all. Unfortunately, Wizards were no better than Muggles at doing as they were told. Venturing between both worlds, and it was a grim Shacklebolt that stated it had to stop. There was only one real way to ensure it was so.

"Harry! Teddy!" Hermione called out, as she noticed them, waving them over to join them. Standing up, she was on the corner booth right next to the door. A door that everyone was giving a wide berth just in case it opened. Putting her hand down when the duo approached, "I ordered for both of you, the usual, that alright?"

"Perfect, I'm starving," Harry confessed, sitting down sighing in relief, oh, he ached something fierce. He was exhausted, if not for the prior agreement to meet today, he'd definitely already be at home sleeping. Well, after picking up Teddy of course.

"Another all-nighter?" Luna asked, giving Harry a look of concern, "You look exhausted, you should be at home sleeping." He hadn't even gone home to take off his uniform, he did look absolutely handsome in it. Even while sleep deprived.

"They needed everyone working," Harry said, smiling in gratitude when Tom came with their plates and goblets of food. "Thank you, Tom." Picking up the butterbeer and drank half the contents in one go as he leaned back sighing softly. A rueful grin appeared on his face when his son copied him, fondness suffusing him especially given Teddy's current appearance.

"Why? What's going on?" Hermione asked, perking up in curiosity, wondering what on earth had the Aurors all abuzz. She'd been completely immersed in her latest project, if she hadn't set an alarm for when she was to meet Harry? She wouldn't have remembered at all. Fortunately, she was very meticulous about appointments and such.

"Just more speculation, guarding all entrances and exits," Harry shook his head, rubbing his temples, oh, he couldn't wait to sleep. "People are trying to bring in their non-magical relatives, it's not going well at all." He felt like shit enforcing it, but he had a job to do and orders. At least wizard kind had stopped venturing outside, so there was that.

"Understandable," Hermione said, eyes softening as she thought on them and how tough this was for them all.

"What are all these people in the queue for?" Teddy asked, craning his neck between chips trying to figure it out.

Harry glanced around, and saw what held his son's attention, glancing at Hermione and Luna in silent query. "Last time I saw a queue that big Lockhart's new book was out." Chortling in amusement.

Hermione rolled her eyes dramatically, seeing the look she got when he mentioned Lockhart, was he ever going to let her live her first crush down? Smothering her amusement, ah, to be young again, what she wouldn't give.

"They're in the queue for the bank," Luna commented, "It's died down a bit, this place was packed, they refuse to step outside." Gesturing towards Muggle London, which was pretty much deserted. At least it was but more and more people were joining, including Draco Malfoy who heard her statement as he emerged from the Floo network.

"It was what?" Draco squawked out in indignation, huffing quietly. "Just brilliant," he grumbled, wishing he'd sent his House-elf instead. He moved just slightly passed them and stood in the line waiting to get into Gringotts. The end of the line just happened to be right next to the Potters, Granger and the Weasley's.

Then on the Wizarding Wireless the Minister Shacklebolt grimly informed everyone that the magical would was closing its doors for a lockdown. That a decision that hadn't been made since World War One had been made again. The wards would be raised preventing anyone from actually leaving the magical areas or entering into it. There were too many people taking advantage of the muggles and doing unspeakable things. Also, too many people coming in full stop, they had no idea how this virus was transmitted, thus each person that came in was a danger to them all.

This was broadcasted everywhere, including to those in Diagon Alley.

They failed to take in one fundamental problem, which they were about to experience.

Neville emerged from the Floo, listening to the announcement that everyone in the magical world could hear regardless of where they were. Once it was over, and the Minister ceased speaking, Neville ventured closer to the group, all previous members of the D.A and the people who had made him the confident wizard he was today. It made everyone who had suffered through the war grimace. The last time such a thing happened, the Dark Lord Voldemort had invaded Hogwarts. It didn't bring forth good memories, but it was suffused with fresh worries, everything they'd been told thus far contradicted the sudden need to lock down the magical world. It was merely a muggle virus, nothing to be concerned with or so they'd been told.

"How do you feel about all this?" Neville asked Harry, eyes shadowed with worry and fears. His wife and children safe within Hogwarts walls. He would be joining them shortly, he just wanted to get some rapid growth for his plants and for all the vegetables. "It's not right leaving the Muggles to defend themselves when we could help." stepping behind Draco for the bank, which was just beside Hermione, Luna, Harry and Teddy.

"Neville, if one of us gets bitten or scratched…our magic might mutate the virus," Harry said, a shudder wracking his frame, "Some of the things the Unspeakables said…believe me, it's for the best, we cannot afford for it to mutate with magic…it might make the Inferi we know look like baby Niffers." It already had the possibility of mutating in the Muggles as it was.

Neville's jaw dropped, "You're joking?" practically sputtering, eyes wide in shock. They think the virus could mutate to be worse than Inferi? He was a Hogwarts professor, a junior one at that, but he didn't know anything that was going on in the government. "Are you sure?" shuddering in disgust. Glancing at the door that was a gateway to the muggle world, suddenly not quite so confident in his desire to help muggles.

"I'm surprised you know what Inferi are, Potter." Draco said, his tone slightly teasing but also slightly abrasive. Unsurprisingly, all for leaving the Muggles to their diseases, and keeping magical people safe. He had no softer stance on Muggles despite the stance his family took during the last war. Which was neutrality, his parents had sought him out in order to walk away but things had gotten hectic.

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes; they weren't arch enemies but they'd never be friends. "You do realize I've been an Auror for a decade, right?" nobody actually knew he'd seen Inferi, not even his best friends, he hadn't explained every detail of that time in the cave.

"The robes do give that away," Draco drawled, inclining his head at Neville, who had gained a healthy respect from Draco during their last year at Hogwarts. Neville Longbottom had been easy to tease, and he realized Neville hadn't cared enough to stand up for himself for everyone else. He had during that terrible year – yes even for him – and yes, new respect. "I should be able to go in their sooner, I am Lord Malfoy, there should be a line for us Very Important clients." He grumbled.

He'd never seen the like in all his life. Well, his grandfather said it had been like this when the goblin rebellions had gone on. Humans had been allowed to get their money, but the queues had been massive. Although, nobody could understand why everyone was trying to take money out today.

"They think Gringotts will be closing down and they won't be able to buy food," Harry said, sympathetically. As if suspecting Draco's thoughts. "Although, they might not be wrong, the goblins don't want to risk themselves any more than anyone else."

"It's not that," Fred commented, joining Harry, Neville and Draco, his twin speaking next, "All of them are Muggle Born or Muggle raised." George continued from where his twin stopped, arms wrapped around Teddy, laughing lines on all their faces. Happy to see the youngster, who had just left their shop when Harry collected him.

"They're joining their families?" Harry asked, naturally alarmed but not at all surprised. He hadn't known the love of a family until he'd made his own. He'd follow Hermione, Luna the Weasley's to the end of the earth, to hell in back in fact.

"It seems like it," George said, shaking his head, "The lines going to be quite long for a bit, fancy getting something to eat?" his stomach grumbling, staring at his twin, waiting for an answer.

"Truth be told, it's calmed considerably," Hermione reassured them, "So, food?" moving so the twins could sit with them, making the spot impossibly tighter.

Draco grumbled, rubbing his temples, he was doing his utmost to find someone who could help his wife. The Greengrass blood curse was just elusive today as it was a century ago. It wasn't just him either, Daphne's husband was just as anxious as he was over this whole thing. Each year they aged just terrified them all the more. Draco loved Astoria, genuinely, would do anything for her, even die for her. Unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as taking her place. For if he could, he would do it in a heartbeat. Which spoke volumes for she and his son were the only people he would die for.

Harry arched a brow, "You doing alright?" noticing that Draco was far grouchier than usual. "Is Astoria feeling badly again?" he wasn't aware of the blood curse; they weren't that close and it was a family secret. He was aware that Astoria was sick frequently, it was well known in high society. Daphne could conceal her sickness easier, but Astoria found it far more difficult, or perhaps she had a harsher strain than Daphne.

"She's doing well," Draco stated, well enough at any rate, he was just asking yet another spell crafter and Potions Master to help his wife. He was using the best of the best, wanting her to live past her fortieth birthday. Her mother and grandmother hadn't, it was a curse that primarily affected the female Greengrass'. Just the thought of losing her had him sobbing in the dead of the night. He was strong for her, for his wife, and most importantly for their son, Scorpio. Their pride and joy.

What happened next, happened swift and fast. Not even all the years in the Aurors or the war could prepare them for it. As Harry, Draco, Fred, George, Neville, Hermione who was in the Leaky Cauldron and Teddy, were physically barrelled into and propelled with human shields out of the Leaky Cauldron. By magically propelled Muggles, being evicted by the magical world during the lockdown procedure.

The screaming and shouting of 'Mum!' 'Dad!' and various names of relatives called out in sheer distress.

"Hold on!" they cried, grabbing a hold of Teddy and one of the Muggles, Hermione gripped the doorway tightly. Food and drink had been strewn everywhere, in the eviction, tables overturned, as the owner could only gape in disbelief from behind the bar.

Wands were moving, spells and summons were attempted, but nothing seemed to work.

Hermione cried out, and let go, "Let go!" she called out, as she was repelled towards the curb.

Then the door slammed shut, and the sound cut of entirely except the blood curling scream from the Muggle who hadn't let go soon enough. Their hand slammed in the door by an unapologetic magical surge.

"What the hell happened?" Draco shrieked, shoving the bodies that were strewn across him off him as he stood up. Moving to get back in, irritated that he'd need to line up, again! He found that it was locked. Perplexed now, "It's locked." More baffled than worried at the moment.

"It can't be," Fred moved, his brother in sync, as they tried to open it, Fred with physical means, but George tried spells, and found Draco was right. They couldn't get in through the Leaky Cauldron, they were locked out.

Draco tried to Apparate into the Leaky Cauldron, wincing at the headache and muscle strain that it caused, "I can't Apparate into the Leaky Cauldron."

"That's just not possible," Hermione declared, before attempting to do so herself, but her attempt led her to crumbling through the strain. "Maybe somewhere else?" she muttered to herself, and cried out when she attempted to get into Diagon Alley itself. She may not have gone anywhere physically but she'd nonetheless bounced off the wards preventing Apparation into Diagon Alley.

The Muggles who had caused Harry, Fred, George, Hermione, Teddy and Draco to be propelled from the wards by their bodies being ejected from the magical world continued to smack against the door. Demanding entrance, pleading with people who likely couldn't hear them. The one whom had her hand crushed was rocking back and forth sobbing loudly.

"Dad? What's happening?" Teddy asked, reacting to the worry and fear everyone exuded. He trusted his dad though; knew he was safe if they were together.

"Hermione, stop, we won't get in," Harry said, his face drawn and stressed, wand out, Teddy as close to him as he could possibly get.

Hermione didn't listen, desperation clawing at her, as she attempted to Apparate once more. Only to be met with further failure. She couldn't get into Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley or even just inside the Leaky Cauldron.

"It's the lockdown, it's happened." Harry said grimly.

Hermione's further attempts to get into the magical world were once more met with failure.

"Granger, stop it, everywhere is on lockdown," Draco spat, glaring at the Muggles with seething fury, for the first time truly hating them. "This is all your fault!" snarling like a wounded beast, which was exactly what he felt like right now.

"Then we Apparate near the Burrow and walk there, use the Floo to get to work, home or the Ministry." She said, "And don't blame them, they were just trying to get to safety." Standing in front of the Muggles ready to protect them. Her guilt for what she'd done to her parents still going strong. She'd Obliviated them, sold their dentist, send them to Australia under fake names. Even she hadn't known where they'd end up. All in an effort to keep them safe, which regretfully worked all too well. She hadn't been able to find them, neither had the Australian magical government or police department.

"Something she doesn't know?" Draco said, rather amused despite the situation. The amusement faded fast, leaving Draco reeling. "The term Lockdown wasn't used for fun, Granger, and the UK likely isn't the only place to have just went on Lockdown."

Hermione ceased her useless struggle of trying to get anywhere. "What? No, there has to be someway…" her heart pounding erratically.

Harry and Draco shook their heads grimly, sombre and worried, "No, it was up for two years during World War One, they contemplated putting it back up during World War Two but didn't, the second that went up, Floo ceased to work, nobody can walk, fly or Apparate into any magical areas."

"How do you know this?" Hermione asked, it wasn't often Harry was the one to know more about this sort of thing than her.

"Because the Ministry has been planning to put the wards up for weeks, the danger of magic being bitten and the virus being mutated into something worse, that works faster and more dangerous." Harry said seriously, "It was in the newspaper a week ago, owls went out to every single magical person with the time and date of when lockdown was occurring. They sent out a leaflet with basic information…didn't you read it?" admittedly it didn't tell you a lot, just reiterates that you won't be able to get in by any means if you weren't within the wards when they activated. He just hadn't expected him and his son to end up on the other side!

"I read the letter," Hermione admitted, but not the leaflet that had come with it. "I was too busy to give it much attention." Her most recent project had been very fascinating, plus she was on a deadline and honestly? She'd thought it was all just worry mongering. Honestly, a pandemic hits the Muggle world and everyone panics. They underestimated the Muggle world, there would be a cure for whatever was causing such fatal fevers. Like they did for smallpox, mumps, measles and rubella. She hadn't expected this to happen for Merlin's sake.

"Harry," Fred said cautiously, standing at Harry's back, wand out.

"In coming," George said, back to Teddy, keeping him safe between him and Harry.

"We need to get out of here, make a plan of some sort…" Harry stated, seeing the lumbering undead making their way towards the group. The group that included his son, Teddy. Bloody hell, what were they meant to do?

"Where?" Hermione asked, already at attention, everyone waiting patiently for Harry to plan everything out for them. "Quiet! All of you! We need time to think!" quite calm but firm when speaking to the Muggles who were still shouting, albeit hoarsely as they sought entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. They didn't seem to realize that no matter what they did…they wouldn't gain entrance, even if the building itself was destroyed. It was a no-go area, and regardless of whom they were…Shacklebolt would never lower them. Not even for Harry.

Draco however, looked to be going into shock, a vacant expression on his face as he stared at the door of the Leaky Cauldron. This was quite frankly the closest Draco had ever been to the Muggle world. In fact, this was the first time he'd stepped foot in the Muggle world. First time he'd actually seen Muggles if he was honest.

"Dad?" Teddy called to his dad, glancing up at him, before peering behind them and in front. The Inferi were getting closer, and the amount of them was horrendously terrifying.

"Step onto the pavement!" Harry called out, and automatically everyone did as bid, Fred did grab a hold of Draco and got him to move. Then within seconds, Harry waved his wand, and before they knew it a purple double decker bus was standing in front of them. "Get on!"

"Welcome to…" three went past, "The Knight…" three went past "Bus." Neville stepped on last, after ushering the Muggles on board, as the bus shut itself.

"I thought you were the conductor, Stan?" Harry asked, although, the last he'd heard about Stan or the driver had been during the war. "Where will we go?" eyeing everyone cautiously.

"Take me to Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire!" Draco demanded, but his gaze was broken, he knew, he knew that the bus wouldn't get them through Malfoy wards, never mind the lockdown wards. However, he couldn't help but hope it would work. He didn't want to be here, amongst the Muggles.

"Malfoy Manor it is," Stan said, "Hold on," almost opening his mouth to talk to the heads, but they were gone now, Ernie had wanted them burnt with him and his ashes scattered in one of his favourite places leaving him on his own.

"Ernie passed away he did, nuffink anyone could do," Stan spoke, "Ministry didn't want to pay for another conductor."

His speech was moderately different from what Harry remembered a few years ago. A few words were the same, but the rest of it was well spoken now. "No, I suppose not, not with the way things are going. Is your family safe, Stan?" he'd never asked the wizard.

"Stan?" Harry asked again in confusion when the wizard didn't say anything.

"I was disowned," Stan admitted, his bitterness still evident. "I go by Stanley Shunpike now."

"He's part of the Scrimgeour line," Fred whispered, "Rufus was his uncle."

"Didn't have enough magic to be accepted into Hogwarts,"

"But he does have magic,"

Harry gritted his teeth, shaking his head in disgust, as the twins patted him commiserating on each shoulder. Their usual cheer wasn't quite up to normal standards, it was quite clear they were worried.

Everyone had at one point, not done so, unaware of the speed in which the Knight bus operated. It was something they very much regretted, as they face planted on windows, rails, the bed or into someone else. All of it very painful, leaving them with more bruises than they wished or would admit to. There was a reason the Knight Bus was considered 'emergency transport' for stranded witches and wizards.

"Easy Stan, we've got no way of healing anyone!" Harry warned, luckily, he had known it was coming and ensured he and Teddy weren't jolted too much.

The Muggles cried out, falling everywhere at the abrupt movement. Neville, bless his heart, helped them up, and onto the bed. Instructing them to hold on tightly, that the starting and stopping was the worst of it. He kept a firm grip on the teenager, Merlin, she couldn't be any older than fourteen.

Draco swallowed thickly, hanging tightly as he sat on the bed. His eyes watching the passing scenery praying to Merlin that this journey wouldn't be a wasted one. He didn't seem to hear anyone, see anyone, he was just staring listlessly out the blur that was the English landscape.

"Dad? Is it true?" Teddy asked, staring up at his father, clutching him tightly. "Are we stuck here?" to be fair he had plenty of experience in the Muggle world, unlike Draco, he had a father that took him everywhere so he was confident in both worlds.

Harry stared down at his son, "It's true," he revealed, he wasn't about to lie to him. Barely refraining from gritting his teeth and glaring at the Muggles. It was their fault his son was out here in the midst of all this. His anger deflated just as quickly as it came, if Teddy had been a squib (hell even a Muggle) he would have done the same as they had. Brought them into the magical world to protect them. "I'll keep you safe," he vowed, wrapping his arm around Teddy, he would keep Teddy safe no matter what.

They approached Wiltshire, passing it's sign, all of them held their breathe. It was the moment of truth, whether they truly were completely struck off from all magical areas or not. Everyone, even those holding on, were suddenly and violently propelled to the other side of the bus as he crashed into an invisible barrier.

How the bus remained upright, nobody knew.

"What the hell was that?"

"I can't move!"

"Please help!"

"Open the doors," Draco said, holding his side, as he rushed off the bus when the doors opened. Thrumming in agony, he'd been propelled onto the metal support pole. Each step was so painful that Draco thought he'd be rendered unconscious. Naturally, nothing compared to the agony of the spell Potter had used on him. His own godfather's spell at that. All pain was factored in on that unescapable agony.

Harry stepped off the bus with Draco everyone else remained on it. From what he could hear, Hermione was explaining everything that had happened or was happening right now to the Muggles and presumably Stan. He watched Malfoy become more frantic as he's unable to get through the wards, Lord of the Manor, and he couldn't get through. Harry just watched everything feeling detached sitting on the steps into the bus.

Four hours after disappearing around the side of his home, Draco reappeared. Shaking his head, he couldn't get through, there was nothing he could do. Feel so incredibly vulnerable and cut off from his world, yet so close. He'd gone around the entire circumference of his home, and he could not get through.

"Expecto Patronum Message: Astoria Draco and I, Harry Potter are at the other side of your wards. End message." With that, Prongs shot away, making its way towards Malfoy Manor. He wasn't sure Astoria would recognize his voice, perhaps his Patronus, but he wasn't hundred percent sure.

"Dad, I'm hungry," Teddy told his dad, his stomach grumbling.

"Here, kiddo," Harry said, bringing his meal box out of his pocket and handing it over. It was a good thing he'd been too busy to eat yesterday, otherwise he wouldn't know what to do.

"Everyone else is going to get hungry, there's a young teenager here as well," Neville pointed out, his face marred with worry as he stepped off the bus. "The wards aren't coming down anytime soon, are they?"

Harry shook his head wordlessly, swallowing thickly, "No," he confessed, they weren't. Rubbing his head exhaling, "We'll get some food soon." Glancing at the Muggles still huddled in the bus, plucking one of the sandwiches and a cookie he handed it to Neville. "Give that to her, we'll figure something out." He reassured Neville.

Everyone watched in sombre silence as they came to the realization that Astoria and Scorpio couldn't see or speak to Draco. The wards were acting like the Muggle repelling wards Harry and Hermione had put up during the war. They didn't understand what on earth was going on.

"Does that mean owls won't get through?" Teddy ventured to ask.

"It's a very good question, something we're going to find out, I'm sure Hannah is already writing a missive." Neville said, shivering a little, "It's starting to get cold, we need to find food, and start a plan."

"And hopefully an owl…" Fred commented.

"Wait, there's always someone magical in normal post offices, to catch any letters for the magical world. I know my aunt actually sent a letter to Dumbledore through that, right? So, it stands to reason we might find a few in a post office?"

"It's possible," Hermione agreed, a hopeful look on her face. A professor had come to visit her, and taken her agreement to attend Hogwarts with her. She'd been twelve when they came, so it was a little different from normal apparently.

"And what about the Inferi?" Draco commented, standing outside the bus, face blank and shuttered, looking like the soldier he used to be. "How do we get by them? We know nothing about how to take care of them and only two of us can cast Fiendfyre."

"Three," Hermione automatically corrected him, "But he's right, Harry, I mean we know nothing about them…and we can't go around casting magic in front of muggles."

Harry stared at her blankly, "What are they going to do? Arrest us?" his tone dry, if she thought for a second, he wasn't going to do whatever it took to protect his son she had another thing coming.

Draco couldn't help but snort, finding it funny almost hysterically so.

"But Harry, we can't just go breaking the law…" Hermione pointed out, looking around as if seeking everyone's support. Especially Neville, who was the calmest of them all.

"Oh, Mione, look around you, millions of Muggles are dead in no time at all…our magic is the least of their worries." Harry stated, "I am an Auror, I will continue to protect and defend when I'm able. Now come on, let's get on the bus, and get the doors closed, it's freezing cold and getting dark. We need to plan."

"And food," Fred commented.

"And something to drink, I'm thirsty," George added, rubbing the back of his neck, it was one of those ticks that told Harry who George was before the whole ear thing during the war.

Everyone all nodded their agreement; they were happy the youngsters had something to eat. However, they did need something to eat and drink themselves.

"It will have to be Muggle supplies," Harry said, "Right Stan, close the doors and join us." Patting Stan's shoulder, he looked stunned. Whether it was at the inclusion or friendliness Harry had shown in that moment, he didn't know. Unaware of the stigma that attached itself to disowned wizards and witches. To which left Stan friendless and alone in the only world he'd ever known. Except Ernie who had been a father figure to a lost and lonely boy and ensured he had a career in a world that was his, even if it didn't bring in a lot.

Harry transfigured the first bed into a table with a bench around it, Draco set it against the bus floor so it couldn't move even if the bus was. Hermione added softness to the seats, she had a feeling they'd be there for a while.

"First things first, what run's the bus, Stan?" Harry queried, wondering if they'd need to worry about petrol for the bus.

Stan blinked, "Magic," bewildered by the question, what else could it be?

"Regular busses and cars run on petrol," Harry explained for Stan, and likely Draco and Neville too, "I'm glad to hear it does run on magic, it's one less thing to worry about."

"How long will lockdown last?" Hermione asked, "And when will they let people back in?" slightly indignant that she hadn't realized the importance of it. Or the fact she was actually closed off from the magical world entirely. She didn't like it. "I have a job…"

"It doesn't matter, Hermione, you'll be replaced when it becomes obvious, you're not there anymore." Harry said tiredly, he didn't think Hermione really understood what was going on. "As long as there are Muggles infected…the wards remain. Until this is all over…we're stuck with the walking dead."