Chapter 34
Narcissa didn't know if she should rejoice or cry. She decided to try not to show any feeling. She knew better than to let her emotions take over. She'd learned that much from being married to Lucius. Oh, but how she wanted to gather her up in her arms and told her she loved her and hope that one day she would understand what she'd done.
Her painful and joyful reverie was broken by Draco's voice.
"Are you all right mother?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just a little surprise that they are your friends."
"We tolerate each other," joked Draco with a smile on his face as to let his friends know he was joking.
"That's not a very nice thing to say, Draco."
"We've learned to accept his twisted humor Mrs. Malfoy," Harry answered with a smirk.
"Oh, please call me Narcissa."
"All right. I just figured out where we could hold camp while we wait and the safest place to keep Draco's mom."
"We're near the mansion aren't we?" Hermione asked. Harry kissed her forehead.
"You are so perceptive my love." Narcissa was a bit surprised at the affection they were showing with each other.
"It's okay mom, they've been handfasted."
"Oh, was all she could say." She looked at Ginny then and smiled. "You must be Draco's girl, Ginny Weasley right?"
Ginny and Draco stared at her wide eyed. Then they looked at each other as if to ask each other if they should deny it. They say Harry shaking his head from side to side to let them know what he thought.
"How did you know?" Draco asked.
"Oh, please Draco. Give me some credit. I may be your mother but I still know what people who are in love look like. Like Harry and his wife there." She pointed. "And the other Weasley boy and his lovely girlfriend. Young man," she told Neville, "it looks as though you will be my partner for the time being." She didn't know if she wanted to jump up with joy. Her children are in love. She was giddy if at all possible on the darkest night that will befall the world. She couldn't help it. She was however torn in whether she should tell her daughter before the battle or after. She had to watch her first and see what would happen.
Lavender stared at Narcissa as if something else was familiar about her. She knew of her and that she was Draco's mother, but there was something else quite familiar about her. She decided to let it go for the time being. She had other things to worry about after all like the solving the last song for instance. But for some reason something deep inside her heart was pulling her towards Narcissa.
Hermione was also studying Narcissa. She didn't know what it was, but something almost looked familiar about her. She could ask Harry, but it would be unfair to have her mind probed when she was vulnerable at the moment. She knew it wasn't because she'd seen her before at the World Cup before their fourth year. She was more worried about Harry at that time to give Narcissa any mind, until today. Something in her gut was trying to tell her something.
Harry looked at his wife and smiled. He knew what she was thinking even without probing her mind. She just had the natural curiosity of a child. He hoped she never outgrew it.
"Okay, let's all hold hands. It's really just walking distance from here, but since time is of the essence, I'd rather we be there right away."
"Where exactly are we going Harry?" asked Lavender.
"You'll remember when we get there. Shall we?" At everyone's nod and Narcissa's confused look on their way of travel. Harry leapt them to Avalon.
At first glance inside the parlor, Narcissa was astounded. She never thought anything would compare to the Malfoy Manor, but she was wrong. Not only was the house beautiful, she could tell that it had the warmth of a hope, something that Malfoy Manor would never have with Lucius as the head.
"Oh my." She placed her hand to her heart. "This place is absolutely beautiful."
Everyone looked at her. They'd never thought she would find any other place besides Malfoy Manor beautiful - it was quite an elaborate and richly dressed manor after all. Even Draco was surprised to hear his mother speak of Avalon in such a way. He wondered if all those time she pretended to look down on others because of the presence of his father. He knew that she was a different person when his father was not around, but he'd also been so caught up with acting the way Lucius had wanted that maybe that was why he hadn't really noticed it until now.
The others recognized the place they'd called hope for a couple of months. They found it as awesome as ever. They made their way upstairs and found that a room had been added for Narcissa. Harry had figured out that the house seemed to have a mind of its own after talking to it. He smiled to himself but couldn't help but ask if there was a place in the Isle of Avalon where Arbassa still stood. The house however told him that he wasn't built that far behind and would not know the location of any trees unless they were planted after it was completely built. Harry thanked it anyway and decided to try a different approach in helping Lavender find the meaning of the last song.
"Please make yourself feel at home, Narcissa. We will need to go outside and secure the premises." He looked at the seven to give them an unvoiced request. They all knew they didn't want to involve Narcissa anymore that she already was. She was after all an innocent bystander in the war, but they all knew that she would have to take a side between good and evil eventually.
"So what was all that bollocks about needing to secure the premises?" Ron asked.
"Malfoy's mother need not be involved in finding the meaning to the last song, Ron. Besides the less she knows about our mission the safer she will be in the long run. Draco, you should go and make sure she finds her room comfortable and let her get some rest. It looked as if she hadn't been resting much lately."
"I'll do it," Lavender and Hermione volunteered at the same time. Harry looked at them through narrowed eyes. He knew they had their reasons, but he didn't want to probe further than the natural curiosity apparent in their eyes. Besides Harry knew he could not really deny his wife anything, well almost anything. There was the sore spot about her sacrificing herself to let him live. He wouldn't hear anything of it. Good thing their unborn children are protecting her otherwise he'd be worried about her constantly because she could very well try to do something stupid like pushing herself in front of a curse for him. He'd do the same thing of course, but that wasn't the point and that had been what some of their arguments were about until Harry would finally give in because he didn't want to stress her out in her condition. But he would be foolish to tell her that in any case. The make up session was far more rewarding anyway for the both of them.
"Well, if you don't mind, Draco?" asked Hermione sweetly. Hermione looked at her intently he made the suspicion apparent in his face. All she did was smile at him and gave him a kiss on the lips and whispered. "Thank you."
"Er, I don't mind."
"Okay, we'll see you later." Lavender shouted back as they were already half way to the house.
"What do you think those two are up to?" Ron asked to no one in particular.
"Maybe, I should go keep an eye on them?" Ginny asked but it sounded more like a statement. She started walking towards the house before anyone could protest.
"Girls," Ron let out apparently very confused.
Harry smiled at him. He had a feeling that Lavender would soon find the answer to the puzzle even without his help. But he didn't want to say it out loud just in case.
"I guess it's just us men," Ron said proudly. "What do you say we make a plan of our own to try to keep our girls safe?" Harry and Draco looked at Ron at the same time. "Right, well thought I'd give it a go. I'm worried about Lavender. She doesn't show it, but she's really stressed out about being the last to find the meaning to the song and if she would ever find it before we face Voldemort."
"Don't worry Ron. She'll find it," Harry reassured him.
"I know we've gone through all the plans, Harry, but do you have a back up plan just in case Lav doesn't find the meaning on time?" Neville asked almost quietly. He knew about Ron's temper and he was saying something negative about his fiancé.
"Yeah, Harry. Do you have a back up plan?" asked Ron surprising Neville. Ron patted his back. "Don't worry mate. As much as I love Lavender and have faith in her, I also want to know that we have all the grounds covered. Why do you think I kick your arses in chess all the time?"
Ron noticed Draco staring at Harry intently. He looked at Harry too and saw pain and sorrow in his eyes. It was as if he was lost for a minute. "Harry?" asked Draco.
Harry pulled out of the emotions he'd been experiencing. "All right, mate?" asked Ron.
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"You looked a bit lost and lonely for a little while." Draco answered him. He could see the old warmed and worry in Harry's emerald eyes. He knew he wasn't seeing things and Ron would vouch for him. He'd seen Harry's demeanor change if only for a few moments.
"I might as well tell you. There are times when my empath powers pick up on a feeling that I can't quite place. The person is lonely and very lost. I wasn't even quite sure if the person is male or female, but strangely enough I could almost say he's male after the little invasion. The man, I'm pretty sure he's not a child or a teenager, longs to be home but can't seem to find his way. He misses his family, a child, but I can't tell what the age of the child is. All I can tell is that he loves his child very much. He also misses his friends terribly, but he knows that some of them he will never see again. He feels trapped, helpless and hopeless. If no one finds him soon, I'm afraid he's doomed. This is about the third time I'd picked up on this person's emotion and I know it's the same person because that much I can feel and the feeling is consistent each time."
"Bloody hell Harry, do you think this person is connected to Voldermort somehow?" Ask Ron being anxious again.
"No, that much I know. He's a good wizard. Lots of anger, but anger towards himself and maybe the circumstances that brought him to where he is now, but I don't sense any evil at all."
"Well, have told Hermione?" Draco asked with a smirk.
"Not yet. I didn't want to worry her."
"She's going to hex you if she finds out you're keeping something from her," Neville warned. They're all aware of Hermione's temper as well as her skills for hexing and casting spells.
"Well, I guess it would be good for the three of you to keep your mouths shut then or I'll hex you," Harry joked. He remembered telling her something about it, but not to the extent he'd just shared with the guys. He knew that Hermione wouldn't push even if she were dying to know what it was that was making Harry so sad. He remembered he'd just agreed with her when she tried to guess that it was Sirius who'd brought the sadness in his eyes. He didn't disagree or agree with what she said, but he did say something about feeling a great case of loneliness somewhere that he couldn't actually pin point. She left it at that and hadn't asked since that conversation.
"I won't Harry, but if she catches me lying to her I will tell her the truth," Ron added.
"Let's try to get a plan B formulated okay?"
So they put their heads together and brainstormed a plan B and a plan C just in case according to Ron.
Back at the mansion the girls walked inside looked for Narcissa first on the third floor, the library, the living room, everywhere and finally found Narcissa actually preparing a meal for all of them.
She had rarely had control of her own kitchen, so being in a kitchen where she had full range felt great. She missed being able to cook. Ever since she married Malfoy, he just wanted her to look beautiful and snotty. She felt as if she were just a trophy for him to show around. She was a beautiful young woman in her younger days especially and a lot of young men vied for her attention and affection. She was seduced by Malfoy's charms; little did she know he'd had a darker side he'd kept well hidden until it was too late. She'd fallen in love with him and was already married to him with her family's approval. It was quite difficult to please the Black family, but Lucius had done wonders to impress them all.
"Excuse me, Narcissa?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, hi girls. I thought you lot would be hungry so I was going to fix us some lunch. Want to help?"
"Er, well. Actually we were supposed to make sure you're upstairs resting," Ginny said.
"Well, I'm a bit tired, but I'm even hungrier than tired, so since I was going to fix something for me to eat, I thought I'd fix something for you too." She couldn't help but let her eyes linger on her daughter. She had the look of her when she was her age. She hoped that she too felt a sense of connection as she was feeling with her. She wanted to touch her and hold her in her arms. Her womb almost ached with the feeling of losing her at such a young age, but she couldn't very well let her stay when Lucius had shown his true colors and constantly reminded her that she had better give him a son to carry out his name and his dreams. What else could she do?
The girls stared at her while she looked as if she were remembering something painful but at the same time joyful.
"Well, then I guess we eat first?" Harry called out from the door way. They'd finished their strategizing and thought to join the girls up at the house.
The girls were all startled out of their reverie. Narcissa recovered first and smiled at the boys. She looked at her son and wondered how he would feel when he found out he had a twin sister. She could only hope that they both forgive her and learn to accept each other, eventually.
Harry felt the constant battle inside Narcissa and though he'd wanted to pry further, he wouldn't want to betray the trust that she'd actually placed on him when she accepted his hospitality and his protection.
The food was served and they all gathered to eat their sandwiches and drink the tea Narcissa had managed to prepare for them all. They'd complimented her on the tasty sandwiches; even Draco was surprised to find his mother so domestic. There were a lot of things he was learning and he loved her even more that he already had.
A teacup hit the saucer suddenly and broke. All eyes turned on Harry who'd dropped the cup. They saw him bite his bottom lip and clench his fist. They knew he was fighting the pain from his scar, but only Narcissa stood to go by his side. Her maternal instinct seemed to be on overdrive.
"NO! It's okay." Draco stopped her. He knew that Harry could handle the pain and he hadn't really seen Harry struck out at anyone while he was in pain, but he wouldn't leave anything to chance.
"Draco, he's hurting."
"It's okay, Narcissa," Hermione calmly told her. "Just give him a few minutes." When she noticed that Harry had complete control of his pain, she turned to him. "All right, love?"
"It's time," he told them. "Narcissa, please stay inside the house. You'll be safe. You may go outside but do not go pass the boundaries of the land."
"I don't understand, what do you mean it's time?"
"It's time for us to face Voldemort and his death eaters, mother." Draco answered her solemnly.
"NO! You can't. You have to let the adults take care of it!" she was panicking. She couldn't lose her children. Not now when she finally had a chance to reunite with her daughter.
"I'm sorry, Narcissa, but we were all destined to face Voldemort. IT was prophesied."
"What? You can't believe some prophesies are actually true, can you?"
"This one is true, mother. I'm sorry but we have to go. Be safe. I love you."
"No, Draco. Please. Harry, you can't mean to believe that prophesy about you!"
"It is what I've been prepared to do all my life, it is my fate."
"Oh, sweet Merlin. This can't be happening. Ginny, Hermione, Lavender, you three can't mean to go to battle as well, do you?"
"We must if we want Harry to succeed," Hermione answered her.
Draco gave his mother a quick hug and joined the others already linked by their hands. Before Narcissa could react and run after her daughter and give her a hug, they'd leapt to the rendezvous place.
"Okay, from this point on, we only use the lockets to communicate if we have to, or send me your thoughts. Is that understood?" Harry asked. They all nodded in acquiescence.
They'd met up with Dumbledore and Harry gave them a full rundown on the death eaters' positions. He accounted for all them so that none of them would escape the Order. He'd given them the location of the dementors and the giants as well. He saw Hagrid on top of Grawp and smiled at the both of them. Madame Maxime was seated on Grawp's left shoulder. He wished them all luck and told them that they would take care of the inner circle and Voldermort.
Harry saw Firenze and the rest of the centaurs. He knew that it took a lot of courage and self sacrifice for them to show up. But he knew that it was because they believed in him to beat Voldermort. They knew what was written in the stars and though they couldn't really see the outcome; they were willing to put their neutrality aside and choose a side. They chose Harry's side.
The creatures of the forbidden forest had joined the battle and Harry felt overjoyed at their support. He knew better than anyone that all of them had joined the battle because they believed in him. He wouldn't let anyone down.
Dumbledore couldn't help but feel guilty about putting his grandson in the frontline, but even he could not change fate. "I will see you again," he whispered almost to himself, but Harry heard and turned around to acknowledge him.
The seven left on foot this time to take their positions. They have to let the Order go first in order to clear a path for them. They couldn't risk leaping into the lion's den, not with everything on the line.
They were to follow the path that was cleared by one of the Order team. They only knew him as Scott, but they knew that he was the most inconspicuous person and less likely to be monitored by Voldemort if there were any sneakoscopes or foe glasses lying about. If they saw Scott and his team they would not be easily recognizable as part of the Order since they were new recruits. If it were Dumbledore or Lupin they followed, their surprise attack would no longer be a surprise.
They were nearing the cottage where they were sure Voldermort is hiding with no incident. The seven were in the process of placing themselves in the proper areas where they would form a circle around the house.
Harry felt other presence and knew that Scott and his team had been discovered. There were curses and hexes in full force by the time they reached the place where Scott and his team were discovered.
The seven quickly joined the Order in disabling the death eaters before someone rings the alarm.
Lavender was so nervous. For the life of her she couldn't make herself solve the song. She kept getting pulled back by a thought and a feeling in her heart. She couldn't ignore it any longer and let herself feel for the first time that day. When she did she was struck by a new realization. She touched her locket to tell the rest of them.
"The heart can see things that are invisible to the eyes. Oh Merlin."
At that time about twenty Death Eaters poured out in front of them. As Lavender lifted her hands as a very natural way to take cover the Death eaters, all twenty of them, were knocked down on their arses. Harry wasn't surprised, but the others were and turned to look at Lavender who was still knocking things down - branches, shrubs, etc. that were blocking her way.
A/N: Thanks for your reviews. Almost done. Lavender finally solved her song.
-->