"Hurry, darling. The train will arrive at the station soon. I would like to see the children safely to the Burrow before we have to meet him," Hermione called to Harry. He was still rummaging through the potpourri of trinkets and talismans he'd collected, searching for one item that he'd nearly forgotten with time.
"I'm just going to be a moment. I can't leave without it. You know perfectly well it's important," Harry called back.
"Just hurry! We have so much to do," Hermione called back. She had packed her rucksack for a brief adventure. All the clues they'd gathered in the past weeks had led them on a circular path, but there was still a ray of hope.
"Abraham's note seemed urgent, but why would he want to meet in Diagon Alley?" Hermione asked when Harry returned from his study.
"I agree. As careful and cryptic as he had been, to meet in the open implies he's discovered something huge. There, I think I have everything," Harry replied while walking into the lounge.
Hermione stepped to the large fireplace and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder. She pulled her arm back slightly to toss the powder into the Floo, when an untimely interruption in the form of a pounding on the door stopped her action.
Harry opened the door and stood face-to-face with a man he had nearly forgotten.
"Malfoy," Harry said coolly. And because of the wizard's painful actions to his own family, Harry blocked his entrance.
"Please, there's little time. I may have been followed," Draco said as he quickly pushed by Harry and entered the Potter home.
"Why are you here?" Harry asked bluntly. Hermione left the lounge for the hall and joined the growing conversation.
"I came to warn you and because I need your help," Draco said, nervously rubbing his hands together. "They forced my compliance. I never wanted to help."
"Who forced you? A name, give us a name," Harry insisted.
"It was Severus Snape and my own father," Draco whispered hoarsely. "I thought it impossible. They both died more than twenty-five years ago. I watched Severus bleed to death, and I… after what my 'father' did... At first I believed it to be an inhumane prank, but they appeared a couple months after you both vanished the summer before Annie was born."
"So this is why you abandoned your family?" Harry demanded.
"T hey threatened my wife and the children if I didn't help. I wouldn't take the chance, so I had to find a way to leave them and make it appear as if I didn't care. I regret having to deceive them and having my daughter despise me. I kept telling myself as long as she hates me, I know she's safe," Draco answered.
Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and caught her breath. "Harry, you don't suppose he followed us…"
Harry thought for a moment. "Your father - was there anything unusual?"
"He had a metal arm, quite articulated, and he had a look in his eyes I couldn't recognize," Draco said.
"What about Snape? Did you see anything unusual?" Harry asked quickly.
"He was as insane as my father. They both seemed intent on killing the lot of you." Draco paused to peer out the window. "They both seemed different - angry, obsessed. I never saw either like this."
"I have a fair idea about where Lucius may have come from, but not Snape," Harry said.
"You have to stop them; they have a plan to resurrect Voldemort. It's some scheme with a number of artifacts."
"Yes, we know. We discovered the artifacts recently and have most of them. They can't do any harm," Harry said.
"No, they found eight, and another was hidden when Dumbledore was murdered. I don't know of that one," Draco said.
"Eight? There should have been six and Tom Riddle," Hermione replied startled.
"No, they have eight items from the founders and from you, Harry. They were identified by the Mirror of Erised. Please, there's little time before they find the last items they need," Draco pleaded.
"The Mirror of Erised shows neither the truth nor the future," Harry muttered to himself. "How did they know to use the Mirror?" Harry asked.
"Snape seemed to know far more about it then my father. I made certain it was accidentally destroyed a few days ago," Draco replied.
"Draco, stay here until I send for you. We have a meeting with someone that hopefully can shed some light on this," Harry insisted.
"No, I have to find Ginny and make sure they haven't gotten to her. She and my children are all that's important now," Draco said, shaking his head.
"They are safe. Your little conference with Annie saw to that," Hermione said with a wink.
"She told you? How did she manage that? She was under a blood oath. I didn't want her to risk anyone knowing," Draco asked.
"She as clever as her mum. Your little oath had a loophole. She couldn't tell anyone outside your office. She maneuvered us there to tell us without ramification," Harry answered.
"So, Draco, stay here. Don't let anyone in, and for Merlin's sake stay out of sight," Hermione added to Harry's instruction.
She and Harry then turned and left the cottage, leaving Draco to ponder his future.
"Ginny, you need to stay here with Luna. We'll get the kids at the station," Ron ordered.
"Ron, you can't order me around like one of your henchmen. I need to get Arty; I need to tell her…" Ginny began.
"She's been told. McGonagall told her and the others to travel together," Ron interrupted. "I've sent one of my men to watch for them and keep them safe until we get there."
"Ronald Bilius Weasley, I will not just sit here and wait. I intend to meet my daughter at the train. Radulphus and Lucia both vanished without a word six months ago. I won't lose my youngest daughter, too," Ginny scolded in a tone reminiscent of her mother.
"Ginerva Malfoy, I can't allow it. You're safe as long as you remain in the confines of the Burrow," Ron commanded. His air of authority never intimidated his younger sister. But this time, she knew he was right and conceded the point.
"I'm beginning to know how Harry felt when he was forced to stay with that uncle of his," she mumbled.
"Harry and Hermione should be arriving at the Ministry in a moment, so we need to leave. We'll be back before you know it," Ron said, apologizing for this action.
"Hey, red, be careful," he heard from behind his sister, and simply grinned at his wife.
"Caterina, Chiara we'll meet up with additional security at the Ministry. I have several agents waiting. You both will be responsible for securing their trunks. I know it's a servant's task, but Harry and I both feel only someone we trust should handle this," Ron said as he walked to the door. Apparition would be faster then the Floo.
He opened the door and spotted two figures on the steps, one being carried.
"Sirius? Who…" Ron began until he saw the long blond locks of hair.
"Don't just stand there, Weasley, lend a hand," Sirius commanded.
"Dying… poison... no antidote…" Draco said with a grimace of pain.
"I don't believe that. There's always…" Caterina said, offering hope.
"Just stand aside. It's not good," Luna commanded.
Ginny watched from a distance as her brother helped Sirius carry her husband's limp body to the sofa in the lounge. She gasped at the sight of bloody froth oozing from his mouth.
"Two bezoars… just enough to slow the effect… pain intense... caught me leaving Godric's Hollow. I must warn Harry. They know…" Draco said, stopping to cough hard.
"Who did this to you?" Luna asked as she pulled her bag of potions. "I must have something here that can help."
"No, the pain keeps me focused," Draco said. This time his cough was wet and harsh.
"I stopped by Harry's home and found him just outside the gate. I thought he was already dead, but he's managed to hold on this long," Sirius added.
Luna busied herself trying to determine what happened to Draco. She passed her wand over him several times and shook her head with each pass.
"No, that just isn't correct," she mumbled. She passed her wand over his stomach and paused.
"Irukandji Tentacles," he wheezed. "They used the toxin from Irukandji Tentacles."
"What are Irukandji Tentacles?" Ron asked.
"Irukandji, or Carukia barnesi, are tiny box jellyfish found in Australia. Each tentacle contains many millions of nematocysts, and each is filled with venom. The venom causes Irukandji syndrome when applied externally, but internally the effects are far worse," Luna recited from her toxin training.
"What's 'Irukandji syndrome'," Ron asked.
"It is a set of symptoms that includes lower back pain, muscle cramps, vomiting, fluid in the lungs, hypertension, and heart failure. You say you've used two bezoars?" Luna asked.
Draco managed a single nod. "It's a fatal toxin."
"How long ago?" Luna asked.
"This morning, two hours," he replied with a cough. "I've not long… must see Ginny..."
Luna opened her satchel of potions and held a bottle of silvery-green fluid to his lips. "Here, this might help for a little while."
"No, the pain keeps me focused," he said.
"You won't be able to manage the pain long. Ginny's here," she said.
Draco reluctantly drank the potion. The anguish and pain eased, but he remained aware of his situation.
"It's a concentrate of bezoar and Muggle antibiotic. It will help ease the pain, but I can't eliminate the toxin, the infections are too great," she said. A tear streaked down her cheek; he was still family.
Ginny stood motionless out of view and listened while tears began to fall from her chin; the long lonely years without Draco flooded her thoughts. She hoped and prayed one day he would return to her, and she could find a way to forgive him. She slowly entered the room and looked at Draco.
"Gin, he's been poisoned," Ron said.
"P-Poisoned?" she stammered. "Will he be…"
Luna held her sister-in-law by the shoulders and stared into Ginny's eyes. In that brief moment, she understood.
"Noo…" she screamed, pushing Luna away and falling to Draco's side; her hand wiped away the residue of sorrow as she took her husband's hand.
"Draco? It's Gin. I'm here," she cooed in his ear. As if she'd uttered a secret charm, his eyes opened. The spark of love she first saw from behind a mask still shown, but was fading.
"Ginny?" he said. He took a laboured breath and continued. "Ginny, I'm sorry. I never stopped loving you. They said you would die if I refused."
Ginny looked to Ron, "They? Please, Draco, what happened?"
"They threatened you and the children if I didn't help. I did it all to keep you and the children safe. Tell me, was it was worth it?"
"Artimesia is on the train. I haven't heard from the twins in six months," she said.
"Good. They are still safe. If you haven't heard from them, they are still safe and hidden. But Artimesia is in danger," he said, stopping to cough. His pain eased, but his condition worsened.
"Do you know where they are?" she asked.
"No, but… haven't heard from them, then they are safe. Hagrid knows where to find them. Ginny… love you, never stopped. Missed you…" he said between gasps.
"Shh, save your strength. I'm certain Hermione and Luna can help," she said, looking to Luna. Ginny saw the sorrow in her face, and the finality of the moment truly hit.
"I'm dying. No one can help," he said. He struggled to pull a worn picture from his pocket and managed a smile, "Artimesia is beautiful like her mum. I'm glad I had a couple years to know her. I know she hates me for what I had to do. Please try to explain. I tried to tell you that last night we were together."
"You can't die, not now, not once you finally returned to me," Ginny said. She gave up the resistance of crying, and her tears moistened his robe.
"I was forced to help. They murdered Dumbledore, and I couldn't risk your life," he said.
Ron's ears burned red when he heard. He turned to Draco on the sofa, but Luna stopped him and whispered a message in his ear. The Senior Auror looked at his wife and nodded.
"The came to me and threatened you. They wanted my help. I made it appear you threw me out, made it appear as if you hated me so they would leave you alone. It worked," he said with a grin.
"Not well enough. I would have had you back in a moment," she said.
"They didn't know that, but I did. That was enough."
"Who was it? Who did this to you?"
"Snape gave me the poison, and my father stood and assisted. Snape said he had a source close to Potter that knew everything," Draco said, turning his head to the others. "You," he leaned forward and pointed weakly to Caterina, "had an affair with a stranger."
Caterina's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped, " Sì, a distinguished gentleman, he seemed sad. He said... he was... Principe . He was Principe Severo."
"Prince Severo?" Chiara asked.
"Sì, prince Severo. He was good and kind and gentle when he spent the night with me. He made me," she paused with a deep blush. "He loved me. We had a beautiful year together, but after that, I never saw him again."
Draco looked her, and his eyes began to dull. "Prince is his mother's name, Eileen Prince. His name is Severus Snape. It was Snape that murdered the Minister ," he said, falling back. His breathing slowed, and he coughed hard.
"Severus Snape? He murdered Dumbeldore?" Ron ranted, while Luna held him back.
"Draco, please hold on. Don't leave me again!" Ginny shouted.
He looked into her moist eyes and smiled one last time. "I love you, Ginerva."
Ginny placed her lips to his, and tears fell from her cheeks as she kissed him. His last breath left his lips into hers. His arm fell limp to the floor. Ginny let herself fall onto his still chest and collapsed sobbing.
Harry and Hermione Apparated directly to a small waiting room inside King's Cross Station. This was a brief but planned detour before their scheduled meeting.
"The train should have arrived, darling. We need to hurry," Hermione insisted.
"We can only spare a few moments to let them know to stay with Ron and Luna," Harry replied as they crossed the room to the double doors. "The train is scheduled to arrive at 4:45, and Abraham insisted we meet him at 5 sharp."
"Darling, it's ten minutes to five now. The train's surely arrived. We'd best hurry," Hermione said.
He nodded and opened the door for her, but found the way blocked. The tiny mass before him was barely recognizable.
"Dobby!" Harry yelled.
"Master Harry Potter, Dobby has failed," he managed to say. The thin body was scooped up by the wizard before the elf collapsed to the floor.
"Harry," Hermione called from behind. "Over there, it looks like Malfoy."
"I told that git to stay put. Take care of Dobby, and I'll get Draco," Harry said, carefully laying the elf down.
"No, not Draco, but Lucius Malfoy," she corrected.
A tall, cloaked man stared at them from a distance, his hood pulled over his eyes, and the glint of a sliver arm revealed his identity.
"So he was telling the truth," Harry muttered as he took chase.
A demented grin spread on his prey's face as Harry drew closer. The Auror raised his wandless hand and thought the spell he needed. A blue bolt of pure energy danced from his fingers. Harry watched the grin vanish as Lucius Malfoy Apparated from the platform before Harry's spell hit.
The extra heart beet it took to cover the distance seemed to be an eternity for Harry, knowing he was too slow on the attack. The crowd largely ignored him; their attention thankfully seemed to be drawn away. Harry looked at the ground where Malfoy had last appeared, hoping to find some clue.
"Harry, come back," Hermione called. "Dobby's not responding."
Harry returned to the visitor's lounge to find Hermione bent over the ever-faithful house elf. Green blood pooled under the small creature, and Hermione seemed powerless.
"I can't stop the bleeding," she said to Dobby, more apologizing then informing. "Did Malfoy do this?"
"Please Missus Potter," the elf wheezed, "don't worry for Dobby. I have been happy to serve the great Potter family." He stopped to gulp a breath. "It is time for Dobby to end his service. But Dobby did a bad thing."
"No, Dobby, you haven't done anything bad," she said to comfort the elf.
"Dobby stole, Missus Potter," he said.
"Missus Potter, Dobby took this," he said. His eyes stared at Hermione, his green blood stained fingers opened to reveal a button. A final sigh from the small body was his last.
"Harry," Hermione said without looking up. "He's dead, and I couldn't save him."
"I know, it was Malfoy. he must have used a severing spell, one that he knew you wouldn't be able to reverse," Harry consoled, holding her shoulder.
"He said he stole this," she held the button, "but from whom?"
Harry took the button from his wife and looked carefully. "It's a silver button, with the initials LM. He took this from Malfoy," Harry exclaimed. "Do you have your wand?" he asked.
"Yes, of course," she replied and handed her wand over.
He held the button in his hand and placed the wand over it. "Point me," he ordered. The wand began to move, slowly rotating in his palm.
"It's pointing North by east," Hermione said, also pointing out a window. The London skyline loomed in the distance.
"Damn it, he's trying to escape. We must hurry," Harry said, running to the window.
"What about the kids and our meeting with Abraham?" she reminded.
"Ron and Luna should have the kids safely at the Burrow by now, and I'm certain Abraham will understand. We have to stop Malfoy before he attacks others or realizes the power hidden in the Horcruxes," Harry insisted.
She stood, took her place at his side, held his hand, and they both vanished with a loud pop.
Ron gave his newly widowed sister a loving kiss on her head before he managed to state his decision. "I've got to warn Harry, and tell him what we know."
"No, Ron. Bring my daughter home - bring them all home," Ginny managed to say, her voice broken with grief.
"Ron, fetch the children. That's more important. Harry must already know about Snape and Malfoy. Bring them all home," Luna pleaded.
Desperate to grasp the moment, he conceded, "The children do need us right now. Caterina, are you able to come with me?" Ron asked.
She nodded and looked at her sister, who also nodded. The three left the ancient Weasley home and vanished once they left the gate.
They Apparated directly into an isolated corner of Kings Cross station. Caterina and Chiara quickly ran toward Platform 9 ¾, vanishing into the stone wall. Ron noticed a commotion in the distance, and something seemed quite out of place. He swiftly drew his wand and rushed into the gathering crowd.
"Avada Ked…"
A red bolt struck the girl from behind, and her wand slipped from her fingers. The young boy stared in horror as she fell to her knees, and he noticed her eyes had an eerie red glow. Her body was struck again, and she fell completely limp to the ground. The man on the ground quivered in fear.
"No, not them. They promised never to return," the rotund man cried.
"Daddy? What are these people?" the boy asked.
A tall man with long, flowing red hair ran to the girl and gently lifted her. He looked at the man and a hint of recognition sparked a single word.
"Dursley?"
"D-Dudley D-Dursley," he managed to say.
"Bugger, of all the people, you'd best forget you saw any of this. I have to bring Harry's daughter home," he said and scooped her in his arms. With a loud pop, the man and girl vanished.
"Annie? Are you awake," Jerry asked gently.
Her eyes finally opened, "Tom?" she called.
"Who's this 'Tom'? This is the second time you've mentioned him," Jerry asked with a tinge of hurt in his voce.
"I-I don't know, I-I… she stammered.
"You've been calling for 'Tom' ever since we got you home," Jerry replied.
"Home? Are Mum and Dad are here?" she asked from her daze.
"No, we're at the Burrow; Mum's been tending to you since we got here. You were…" He hesitated and tried to choose his words carefully. "You had a relapse."
"H-How long?"
"Two days. The others have gone to the fu-service, someone needed to stay with you. I couldn't leave you with that goon Dad stationed here to 'guard' you," Jerry said.
"Goon? Service? What happened?" she insisted.
Jerry took her hand and contemplated his reply. "There was a murder, and you… attacked a Muggle."
Her eyes widened, a sickly knot twisted in her stomach. "I thought it was a dream," she muttered softly.
"It was real. It was some bloke Dad seemed to know. You were in a trance when we left the train, and we couldn't keep up. You used the torture spell and almost used… Annie, Dad seems to think you were under someone's control, that's how he managed to convince the Ministry to leave you here instead of Azkaban," Jerry managed to say.
"Who was… you said the service was for someone who died, who?" she asked tentatively.
"Uncle Draco," Jerry said as softly as he could. "They won't tell us what happened, but Aunt Ginny was devastated. He died in her arms the same time the train incident occurred, which delayed Dad from arriving. She's been in St. Mungo's since then."
She gasped at that news, and her hands began to tremble. Jerry sat on the edge of her bed and stoked her hair. "I have to leave. I need to find Mum and Dad," she said. She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
"No, Mum said you need to stay here. Something happened to you on the train. The Healer-experts on trance and possessions weren't able to determine what caused your incident."
"Possession?" she asked.
"You couldn't have been in control. You used the unforgivable curse, something none of us have been taught. Dad knew it straight away and stopped you. He had to stun you twice, and that was enough for him to convince the Ministry someone else was controlling you."
"I need to find my Dad," she insisted and pulled her hand away from him.
"Not until the healers clear you. They won't be back until after the funeral," Jerry said, trying to pull her close.
She pushed him off. "Stop it. I'm fine," she screamed as she tried to get up from the bed. Her sudden move left her too weak to fight him. Her knees buckled under her when she set foot on the floor. She steadied herself and tried to gather her clothes.
"You're not fine. You've been found lying in a pool of your own blood twice and have no recollection of nearly killing an innocent man," he yelled back. Jerry grabbed her arm. "You've been avoiding me since you and Arty had your row. If you want me to leave you alone, I will. But you owe me an explanation why."
"Leave it alone, Weasley. It's of no concern to you," she snapped back and pulled her arm free.
"So, you're going to act like your dad, then? My father told me how close they were until your father did exactly what you're doing. They mended their friendship, but my dad never really forgave yours for not being a good enough friend to accept his help," Jerry blurted out. His words cut into Annie deeply, freezing her in her tracks.
She spun on her heals to face him. "And what do you know of them? From what I understand, it was a simple misunderstanding," Annie hissed back.
"No," Jerry said shaking his head. "No, Dad told me how much he regretted losing your father's trust. Even after he broke Aunt Ginny's heart, my dad still tried to keep the friendship alive."
Annie stood and let his comments sink in. "You're having a go at me."
Jerry stared at her; his anger at her stubbornness began to fade with his revelation. "They never told you any of it, did they?"
Annie stood stone still; a dozen answers ran through her head, and she tried to calculate the results of each possible choice. She final picked the one that had the best possible outcome.
"No," she said in an almost whisper.
Jerry nodded and walked to her, standing face to face. "Nothing?" he asked.
She shook her head ever so lightly, but just enough for her hair to spill over her shoulder. Jerry raised his hand to her cheek and brushed the strands from her face. "Annie, I always thought they were honest with you about what happened to them. Mum and Dad used to tell me stories of their adventures when they were in school, and even the time Dad almost died. He would have if your mum wasn't there."
"I… they never talked about it. All Ben and I know is they had difficulties and Dad loves Uncle Ron as much as he loves Mum. But even the books we have barely mention them," she replied. Jerry's hand lingered at her cheek, and she turned her head slightly to feel is touch.
"Annie, please don't try and push me away. I do love you. I guess I have ever since we were kids."
Annie felt her eyes fill with tears, and she nodded. Jerry's other arm found her waist, and she felt his tightening embrace support her. Her knees were on the verge of abandoning their duty.
She opened her mouth to reply but discovered a pleasant obstacle to continuing the conversation. She returned his kiss with more enthusiasm then she expected. Even at fifteen, he knew how to kiss her and hold her like she was an extension of his own body. She enjoyed this sensation more then the queasiness of a few minutes ago.
"Annie Potter, I do love you," he whispered.
"Then tell me what they won't. Tell me who I am," she whispered back.