Nevra stayed seated when Dumbledore came in. "Have a seat, Headmaster."
Dumbledore looked at her carefully. "You wished to tell me more about the attack?"
"Yes…several things. First, Rose Abington's students are to be used as Healers…I will have to fight on the other side, you know."
"Yes…we will miss your expertise."
"I'm sure Granger will be ecstatic to fill in." Nevra said tartly. "Anyway, I wanted to make sure that you knew who I will be fighting for in the Battle. Oh, and to ask you how exactly Potter is going to manage to get inside Voldemort's head. And where you will be during all this chaos?
"You will be fighting for the Light, I am sure…wearing a mask will never change that, I hope. Harry…no one knows that but him. And I…why I will be wherever I am needed most at the time."
"Harry wouldn't have been able to cope without you. But…you shouldn't be on the front line in two days."
"Just because I was brought back from the Afterworld doesn't mean I am any weaker than before."
Nevra reached over her desk to pull back his robe, exposing a well-scarred hand. "But it doesn't mean that you are any younger or any faster…or any better. Plus, you do have added weaknesses…if someone were to hurt Fawkes in any way during this battle…you would - well, I don't really know what would happen…but something would - something definitely not good."
"Fawkes will be kept safe during the battle. He is very intelligent. I do not trust just anyone to carry my soul within them."
"What I don't understand is how he managed it…first finding your soul in the Afterworld…swallowing it….carrying it back to the Living World…and then keeping it within him until we used the Rejuvenation Spell to bring back your body."
"As I said, he is an amazing animal. Phoenixes have remarkable powers over someone they love. What I could never understand is why the Rejuvenation Spell works on the physical body…but can't bring back the soul."
"Once long ago, certain wizards could go to the Afterworld traveling in their minds and bring back a soul through the Rejuvenation Spell. The skill was lost to us before Gryffindor died. He was the last of the Soul-Searchers. But why Fawkes couldn't feed all of your soul into your body…why he had to keep the essence of it within him…that is a mystery." Nevra looked at him searchingly.
"No…it isn't. Part of me wanted to stay within him - where only noble thoughts were thought - where I was safe and loved. Try as he might, he couldn't force all of me to leave him…so part of me stays within him, where it is happiest. Simple, really." Dumbledore smiled wistfully at her.
"All right. Well, that's all I needed to say. Right now, I have obligations to fulfill. Death Eaters will begin to be suspicious."
"Yes…Ginny, do you know anything about the attack?"
She smiled at him. "No…Dumbledore, I'm sorry. But Voldemort never reveals his plan until hours before the attack. And if I were to go missing then, to tell you, upon return I would be killed. He doesn't take the possibility of spies lightly after Snape's great Deception…that's another thing that would have been worthless had you not come back to prove his innocence."
Dumbledore smiled. "Voldemort fears betrayal because he is a traitor himself. He betrayed the Light long ago when a plan of ours failed. But…but Snape…I believe he would have found a way to give the Light his crucial information even without my help. I always told you I had a piece of proof that bound him to us forever."
"To think that Voldemort raped his mother…that just that incident was enough to turn him against the Dark…none of us would have guessed. But without him, we would have never known that the Dark Lord possesses the leaders of any of his attacks because he does not trust them to do well. We would not have known that he is his most vulnerable during battle when his concentration and mental power are focused within the commanders of his forces. We just would have killed the commanders thinking to cut the head off the snake, only strengthening Voldemort to his full mental capacity even as he continued to order his forces in attack."
"Yes. A bond between a parent and child can be one of the strongest ever made between two people even husband and wife. In fact there is only one stronger…Felis Semper…True Love."
Nevra laughed. "True Love? Do you really believe there is such a thing?"
"Magic has proved it. In times of great trouble, those bound by this bond can combine their hearts, spirits, magics, and minds to save their love…save what they believe in…to do a task they both want desperately to do. They can save each other from death, feel each other's presence…even half of the powers that result from this bonding have not been discovered. Only one thing is known…that they are bound from birth and their lives will always, always, eventually meet. And from that point on, they cannot walk away. Whether they know it or not, deny it or embrace it, they will never completely leave their partner's side…they can't, it would kill them. Much more powerful than love created…this is love destined…thousands of times more powerful than any other bond in the universe."
"How many pairs have there been?"
"In the past 3,000 years…one. Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw… they used their power to combine together to create magic to protect Hogwarts for the rest of time. Although the Four together created it…the pair alone created the shields and barriers that would protect the students that walk through these hallways for the rest of their lifetime…and many more."
"It's scary."
"What?"
"That you could leave the world behind for that partner if you were Bound like that. That you couldn't walk away."
"Who would want to? Love is a wonderful thing."
"Reality doesn't always accommodate love."
Dumbledore smiled at her. "Ah, but Ginny, destiny and reality don't often clash…when they do, destiny tends to win. Because reality is just what happens, while destiny is meant to be."
Dumbledore walked out the door. Nevra Apparated as soon as he left. Blaise should have broken the two Malfoys up by now. She had a sinking feeling that this was about her. If it was…well…she should be there.
Unexpected Visitor
Nevra appeared in front of Blaise and Draco. They both had grim looks on their faces. "What's wrong, you two? Where's Lucius?...I wanted to have a talk with him anyways."
Draco actually laughed. "You won't have to. He's scared of me." Nevra's eyes widened.
"That's funny?"
"It's hilarious." Draco said cryptically.
Nevra looked at Blaise for an answer. He shrugged at her. "It's Draco's business, not mine."
"But you know." Nevra wasn't asking.
Blaise's tan cheeks turned pinkish. "Yeah." Nevra sighed.
"Boys will be boys." They both glared at her. She grinned.
Draco changed the subject. "What took you so long?"
"Ran into my brother. Had a talk." Blaise and Draco looked at each other quickly.
Draco smirked. "I think it was probably similar to the conversation we had with my father."
"I agree." Nevra smirked right back at him.
The fireplace suddenly turned green and the three turned to greet the person spinning in the flames.
Nevra was the first to speak. "Elenia Parkinson?" The lady, regal in her lavender silk robes smiled nervously.
"Yes…you must be Nevra. I corresponded with you, I recall?"
The three looked at each other and Nevra nodded firmly. Draco spoke. "When you correspond with her, you correspond with the Trio." Elenia looked shaken, but quickly regained her composure.
"I see. Well, I'm afraid that my husband has guessed about my doubts. He threatened to kill my - well, someone close to me - if I left the house."
Blaise gave a bored sigh. "Draco, Nevra, she isn't telling the whole truth. She's guilty about something. I can't be sure…but maybe it's something she's hiding." Elenia looked shocked.
Nevra smiled at her. "Everyone has tricks up their sleeves, Madam Parkinson. Does your husband know where you are at?"
Elenia looked relieved to hear a friendlier voice. "No. I placed an illusion on him."
Draco interjected. "One that will deceive touch."
Elenia smiled. "Yes. It's the one art I have perfected…I do not have much interest in magic, but this was necessary, otherwise I would get nothing done at all. My husband tends to be…a little jealous." Nevra, who noticed the bruises on Elenia's wrist when she arrived, looked at Draco sharply. He took the hint to move on. Nevra would talk to Elenia later about that.
Draco smiled superficially and made a wide sweeping gesture with his arm. "Well then, do sit down, Madam. We have much to talk about."
The Secret Narcissa Knew
They all sat down. Blaise began, "There's no need to feel tense or insecure, Mrs. Parkinson. You trusted Nevra enough to tell her your doubts. Trust her to pick the right people to trust as well."
Draco smirked. "We read the whole letter. Including the part about you saying that we two had too much of our own agenda to follow to help you. That would be true if your doubts didn't fit in with our agenda." He stopped talking abruptly. He was revealing too much. Blaise was glaring at him, and Mrs. Parkinson was looking at him in shock. Nevra was tight-lipped, her eyes full of worry.
Nevra said quietly. "But since you approached us, we have the advantage. You have to trust us fully for us to even consider helping you. Again, Blaise said you were hiding something. What is it?"
Elenia hesitated. Nevra merely sat back and waited. The ball was in her court now. "My husband threatened to kill my son."
Blaise leaned in and looked hard at Draco. "She's telling the truth, Draco, I can feel it."
Draco's eyes sharpened. "I wasn't aware the Parkinsons had a son."
Elenia said miserably, "They don't. He isn't Edward's…only mine."
Nevra's eyes widened. "A bastard heir? Not to be harsh, but why hasn't Mr. Parkinson killed him before now…as soon as he found out?"
Elenia's eyes hardened. "Because I have ways to protect him. Marcus is my son. "
Draco's eyes had softened. He remembered his sister, killed at birth. "It is your right to protect him. But why didn't Edward kill you? Infidelity is a crime on the Dark Side. And why isn't that protection enough anymore?"
Elenia smiled bitterly. "Yes, I remember your sister well. Ophelia was a beautiful baby. Narcissa loved her to death." Draco flinched. Elenia continued hurriedly. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize your feelings were so strong…after all you didn't know her at all."
Draco growled, "You didn't answer my questions."
"Edward didn't kill me because I was the perfect wife. I didn't ask any questions. He could do whatever he wanted. Half the time, he forgot I was there. I was suitable for his needs…and besides…I got pregnant because of rape. The only reason I was allowed to have the baby is because it got Edward favors with the rapist."
Nevra looked at her and said bluntly, "Why didn't you mention your son in your letter."
"Because I guessed you would tell someone…and I didn't want to reveal it to anyone other than people I knew I could trust."
Draco interrupted. "Who was it?"
Elenia feigned confusion. "What do you mean?"
Draco snapped, "Your rapist…who was it?"
Elenia looked away. "You don't want to know, Draco. Please don't ask."
Draco moved to kneel in front of her. "Who was it, Elenia?" His voice was low and hard.
Sobs caught in Madam Parkinson's throat. Blaise's eyes widened then filled with sadness. "Trust me, Draco, you do not want to know." Nevra looked at the three, her eyes confused.
Finally a whisper broke the silence. "Lucius Malfoy." Draco stiffened, then strode to the opposite corner of the room, his back towards them.
"I have a brother." It wasn't a question.
"A half-brother," Elenia amended. Then, as if on an impulse she added, "I'm sorry, Draco…Your mother knew about Marcus. She was - my best friend. I couldn't keep it from her. Lucius thought he was the only one besides me and Edward who knew, but Narcissa knew."
Draco broke down at last, leaning against the wall with his face in his hands as he fought the emotions raging. Nevra walked up behind him and guided him by his shoulders to his bedroom. She pushed him in and shut the door behind him. Then she walked back to the sitting room.
"Blaise, go talk to him. You will handle this the best. Besides, Elenia and I have things to talk about." Blaise nodded briskly.
Talking Woman to Woman
Nevra turned to Elenia as Blaise turned away. She decided it was best to act like she already knew, rather than guessed. "Edward will kill you someday if you don't get out."
Elenia stiffened. "What? What do you mean? Edward would never hurt me."
Nevra frowned. "Do not lie to me, Elenia…even if you lie to yourself." She pulled back the lavender sleeve revealing five small bruises like fingerprints. "It'll get worse. Trust me I know."
Elenia looked at her strangely. "You…know?"
Nevra scrutinized Elenia's face. "Well, since I could kill you and no one would care, I guess I can tell you." Elenia flinched.
"You need to face the truth…your husband doesn't love you if he does this." Elenia shook her head quickly.
Nevra sighed. "Before I came to the Dark, I was involved with Harry Potter." Elenia gasped.
"The Boy Who Lived?" She said incredulously.
Nevra smiled tightly. "Yes. Please don't interrupt, or I'll never get through this. He used to be an alcoholic…he was trying to dull his pain…he lost so many people he loved. At first it was just light pushes, as if jokingly. Then it went to grabbing my wrists hard enough to bruise." She gestured at Elenia's wrist as the lady recoiled.
"One day, he slammed me into the wall so hard I had a concussion when my head hit the wall. It was then that I realized that, even if this wasn't really him…that the sober him could be sweet, caring, kind…loving…that these drunken rages were real. I could be killed next time he did this. So I walked out…and my family and friends took his side. So I came to the Dark, where I could start over."
Elenia shook her head. "Edward isn't a drunk."
Nevra laughed. "That's even worse. He hurts you to make himself feel powerful. He is in control of his thoughts…he does it purposefully. It doesn't matter why…just that it can and will eventually intensify to a point where he will kill you. You need to leave…there are places that can help you."
Elenia looked away. "Not on the Dark Side."
Nevra looked at her hard. "Maybe not. But if you leave, I will lend you my protection. I stand above your husband in the Dark Lord's favor, I believe."
"And if you fall out of favor, what will become of me?"
"Trust me. I will take care of you. Believe me…you'll be safe with or without me. I'll make sure of that. In memory of your daughter…in memory of my mistakes…I will make sure that you can live free. But you have to take the first step."
"Well, I'll take it now. If I wait, I'll start to hesitate."
Nevra smiled at the older woman. "Great. I'll talk to the Dark Lord about this."
At this, Draco and Blaise walked into the room.