Requital by Msscribe
Rating: R- (edited version). Full NC17 version on www.portkey.org.
Ships: H/Hr
Type: Angst\ Romance\ Action Adventure
Summary: A story of Hermione Granger coming to terms with her greatest loss, finding her own voice and strength, and coming of age in a world battered by a never-ending war.
Disclaimer: No profits are being made off the fiction on these pages. Harry Potter, associated characters and the associated Harry Potter universe is © J. K. Rowling and respective publishers. Fanfiction is fiction-it's not meant to be taken seriously in the least.
Chapter 12 - Uneasy Alliances
Arthur Weasley was right about the Muggle house. Although it was only two miles away from Hogsmeade, the neighborhood it stood in looked to be an empty, forsaken place. It was their first night in hiding, and the Diagon Diatribe newspaper was already reporting that Arthur Weasley, along with Harry Potter weren't among the dead and had apparently fled the scene. Arthur had scoffed at the article.
Hermione could feel fear inching up her spine like a parade of ants. Her tongue was blistered and dry. Harry stood up, and without asking, poured two big glasses of pumpkin juice. Hermione took the cup he offered without hesitation.
He said, "I know what you're thinking."
Hermione's eyes automatically flickered down to the floor. "You couldn't possibly."
"No, maybe not," Harry said uncertainly, "but I wouldn't mind knowing."
Hermione became rigid in her chair, an intense expression on her face.
"It's only a matter of time before we have to come face to face with all this…and a big part of me is sick and tired of risking everything. "
Harry waited for her to continue, but she didn't.
"Risking everything sounds less crazy to me then living a life with no higher goal than to just simply stay alive," he said, "And I could give you the same speech you gave me one year ago…but I think I'll spare you that and just say that whatever it is you have to do, it won't be alone."
Hermione was a little startled when Draco walked in. She was still getting used to him being in their midst.
"Potter. Granger. I think you'll find the upstairs accommodations quite suitable…considering this place was a rat hole before. It's a pity we have to leave it the same on the outside," he said grabbing a cup of juice for himself.
"I didn't know you were into interior decorating," Harry said.
Draco scowled, and without another word walked out.
"Well…he didn't insult me. That's a plus," Hermione said, "Harry?"
Harry sat down; testing out the recliner he had just tranfigured from what used to be a milk carton.
"Yes?"
"Did Ron ever find out that there was something going on…between Malfoy and Ginny?" Hermione asked, desperately needing to discuss something other than the latest battle for their lives.
Harry shrugged. "I've never had the guts to ask, but I'm guessing not, since Malfoy's still breathing."
They sat in comfortable silence a minute or two, absorbed in their own thoughts.
"So what if we win Harry? What is there now? I know the other Ministries are sending help, but even if we survive this…we've lost so many people…I've lost all of my family now," Hermione said.
Harry could hear the dull pitch of sorrow in her voice. She had accepted that her Aunt Lois most likely didn't survive the attack.
"I think this thing is connected to you somehow, and not me for once. And I think you'll survive it. I think that we will."
She sighed deeply, and then she spoke again. She talked about her parents, her aunt, their friendship with Ron. She talked about her hair, and wanting to let the color fade and her curl return.
Her face was pensive, and her hand clasped with his. And they sat there, listening to the others bustle around the run down house, not yet ready to move.
#
"C'mon Ron, stop acting like such a prat!" Cho said growing increasingly frustrated at his rants about Draco Malfoy. "He's been helping Harry all along, not to mention that he and Ginny seem to be hitting it off."
"What? That's stupid! Ginny wouldn't stoop to his level!" he replied hotly.
Cho raised her face to his, daring him to move closer. Then her eyes narrowed into angry slits.
"Malfoy is here, and for once he's on your side. God knows how many people died today at the hands of his father, the same father coincidentally that Arthur suspects murdered his mother and attempted to murder Draco," she snapped.
Cho threw back her head and watched as Ron's heated flush began to slowly subside. Something in her voice had stayed him.
"Alright, I'll lay off but don't expect me to be nice to him. And don't even kid about him and Ginny."
Ron shook his head, leaning in to kiss her, "At least I don't have to share a room with Malfoy. Neville and I have decided to let Harry put up with the lousy git."
#
Sirius had a murderous, pounding headache. It made every word that came out of Arthur Weasley's mouth seem ten times louder. Molly wasn't talking, but worked in the kitchen preparing dinner for all nine of them, hardly a great feat for someone who had raised seven children. She hummed to herself as she worked, her song a subtle background to the serious tone of their conversation. Her eyes however were distant, and Sirius could tell she was still recovering from what they had witnessed that morning.
"If Shara is right, then they cannot go much farther until they obtain the object currently in our possession," Arthur said pointedly.
"Yes, but according to Shara, we can't destroy them without the other matching objects. When I recovered the one, it was joined with two more. I only managed to free the one before I was attacked. Before we…we were attacked," Sirius responded, his voice faltering.
"I head about Remus Lupin. I'm sorry Sirius. Does Harry know?"
"I'm sure he does, although I hope he is trying not to think about all we've lost so far."
There was a moment of dutiful silence.
"So once we have the other two objects, we can banish the creatures?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"There's a piece we're missing. It involves Hermione."
"You mean the book they were looking for and the connection to a distant relative of Hermione's…. Nora Mills?" Arthur asked.
"Yes. We're pretty sure we know it was Nora Mills who banished these beings the first time, but what we don't know is how. It was probably described in the missing book."
Arthur thought back to the meetings with his team of Aurors after their visits to Club Mistress. "Harry had said two of the men at the club spoke parseltounge. They had ordered him to feed the body of a Muggle to a creature they were hiding in the back, perhaps the same thing that attacked Draco?"
"I doubt it. These beings seem to be only soldiers. The Death Eaters who were with them in Cairo seemed unconcerned when we were able to eliminate some of them. It must be something else they are hiding." Sirius responded, laying his head down onto the cool of the counter.
The Weasley's owl interrupted them, fluttering into the kitchen. Molly Weasley smiled, pleased that Pigwidgeon had heard her summoning spell and had found them so quickly. She was anxious to send word of their safety to her other children.
Pig dropped a letter in front of Arthur Weasley. It was from Lois Mills.
#
Neville didn't think his ill and battered body, whose suffering was equal to that of his spirit at the moment, would be willing to acquiesce to any sort of epic adventure that evening and hoped that whatever Sirius and Arthur were planning, it would be after a couple of nights of much needed rest. His only consolation was that he had gotten through to Danielle to leave the flat, and that he would contact her when he could. Surprisingly, she didn't argue with him, and sensing the anxiety in his voice, had promised to flee that night.
He was almost certain that at least a few Death Eaters had been at the attack. The receptionist Sarah looked like she had been executed with the killing curse. He also doubted they would forget that the Ministry kept records of where their Aurors resided.
Predators were probably out now, in search of survivors, he thought.
So he found himself here, in a run down Muggle house, using his transfiguration skills to make candles and other supplies out of dead rodents and empty bottles of malt liquor. Draco Malfoy stood next to him, changing the color of his comforter for the third time.
"Who cares what color it is Malfoy?" Neville said.
Draco waved his hand dismissively. "I suppose I can't expect you to have any knowledge of these sort of things Longbottom, but considering we don't know how long we'll have to reside here, I should at least have some comfort before I march in to be slaughtered alongside of you bumbling idiots."
Neville sighed, waving his right arm in a dramatic flourish and bowing to Draco. "Whatever you desire your highness."
Ginny Weasley laughed, watching the scene from the doorway.
"Draco Malfoy has impeccable taste," she said.
Draco looked over at her then, taking her by surprise with the seriousness of his voice.
"That my lady, I do", he said lowering his mouth to hers for a quick kiss.
Arthur Weasley stood nearby watching the exchange, and Ginny only saw him as he walked away.
#
Lucius Malfoy rummaged through the stores of his memory, seeking what he knew of Sirius Black. He knew the man was a formidable enemy, having been the only one to ever escape from Azkaban. He also knew that Black was Harry Potter's godfather, and would most likely be with him now, especially after the attacks on the Ministry.
He didn't want to disappoint her. Lucius knew too well the terrible power she possessed. He had seen her feed upon an unfortunate Muggle earlier that morning, and she was quick and efficient in her kill.
Lucius was indecisive about where to begin, and because of that, his mood was less than amiable. He was not one to be bothered by blood and death, but he had to admit that his encounter with the hollowed out corpse she had asked him to dispose of had left his stomach queasy.
He knew that she wanted the third key that Saturday evening. He had three days. When he had asked why she had chosen that particular day, she had replied that it was when human emotions ran the highest. Saturday night was the easiest night to feed off the sins of humanity, and use the power of it. Saturday was always the most successful night down at the defunct Club Mistress. With the third key, she could lock the Gateway behind her, never having to fear being cast down again.
Lucius had decided that Black and his team would come to him sooner then he could ever seek him out. He had pacified her with his dutiful reply, but she didn't understand these particular humans like he did. They, unlike him, were bound by loyalty and responsibility. It was their greatest weakness.
But they were arriving now, the darkest wizards and witches the world had known. McNair, Parkinson, Bulstrode... Lucius was pleased by their promptness. They would free the prisoners in Azkaban soon, adding to their ranks.
They were bowing to him. Recognizing the role he played.
From the luxurious rooms of the upper level, they descended down the staircase towards the nether regions of Malfoy Manor. They were guided by torchlight that fell onto the gray brick wall casting ominous shadows behind them.
Lucius could hear the slow breathing of the ringmaster, and the undignified stomping sounds Locust made as he moved around the meeting room. It was quite the crowd.
This would be a night of victorious celebration.
#
Arthur Weasley walked outside onto the back porch. Ginny had followed him downstairs after seeing the glance he had given her earlier after she had shared a kiss with Draco.
"Dad?"
Sullenly, he looked towards the back gate. He turned then, to stare at her for a minute.
"You're in love with him aren't you?" he asked.
Ginny didn't answer.
Arthur slammed his fist onto the back door. "You don't understand their history……he may not be as bad as his father but he is still a Malfoy!"
"That's right, he isn't his father! You said so yourself that you thought Lucius had tried to have him killed. He's also been Harry's informant for the past year, doesn't that prove anything…Draco and I are more than just lovers…" she said going too far.
Arthur slapped her face. He had never done that before. Ginny was more stunned than hurt. She wouldn't actually feel the hurt until much later.
"We've sacrificed everything to raise you and your brothers to be loyal to the side of good. Percy and Charlie lost their lives fighting men like Malfoy and my only daughter decides to become one of their whores!"
Her cheek still burned. Angrily she looked away from him. She couldn't quite bring herself to move as the hot tears ran down her face.
"When Voldemort came to power, " her father said, "people like the Malfoy's were the first to sign up. They are lazy, self-indulgent people who don't know how to love. Lucius murdered Narcissa without regret."
"Draco isn't Lucius, and I'll make my own decisions about him," she spat.
Arthur Weasley acted as if he hadn't heard her. Ginny could feel her anger giving way to more grief, and she'd had her share that day.
"I'll be upstairs," she said quickly brushing by her mother on the way to her room.
#
With the pistol heavy in his hand, Sirius Black left the house that night after they had all met in the downstairs sitting room. Arthur and he had laid out their plans carefully. They would strike in two days. He hoped they could get the other two mysterious objects taken from Cairo without a direct confrontation, but he knew it was unlikely. Harry, Ron and Neville would go into the Muggle town to get some weapons. Draco would draw a map of the estate.
It was ironic how magic had no effect on the ravenous beasts they'd have to fight, but how simple Muggle devices could handicap or wound them to the point of making them harmless.
Everyone else had gone up to bed, but Sirius was not quite ready to rest. His breath tasted sour from licking the cut on his lower lip, a souvenir from the building collapse. Otherwise, he was okay. Besides, he had an appointment he needed to keep. It could very well give them the last piece to their puzzle.
This man, as Sirius had at first glance suspected and through conversation confirmed, was a bit of a rogue - more than devious but less than merciless - and he was the best in the business.
"I'm sure you are aware of how important your role is now Mr. Moody," Sirius said taking a quick glance around the public Muggle pub.
Mad-Eye Moody lifted the saltcellar to season the chicken the waitress had just served. He let some time pass before choosing to respond.
"I find it ironic how the Ministry comes to me now, after writing my theory off as crazy seven years ago, when I first discovered this information."
"Even so, you can certainly understand our reasoning. And here is a chance to revel in the glory of having been right," Sirius said appealing to the man's vanity.
Mad-Eye was now looking in the back of his head, a useful skill if you were one of the most hunted wizards on the planet, having put more people in Azkaban than anyone else.
"Well, I managed to hunt down who Nora Mills was. She was Hermione Granger's great, great, great, great, great, great…great grandmother. That's seven greats…"
"All right…and," Sirius said cutting him short.
"And…that's pretty much it. Apparently she was non-magical; there are only Muggle records, and those are sketchy since they didn't keep many back then. Hermione's first magical relative was Emma Mills-Benton, and she didn't accomplish anything but write a children's book. I couldn't even manage to find that."
Sirius thought back to the note Lois Mills had sent, and the rhyme that accompanied it.
"Thanks Moody," he said seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, "I'll be in contact."
"For the good of all I say!" Moody said, raising his glass to Sirius.
#
Things were going smoothly for now, but the third key and the Mills descendent were still out there somewhere. The ringmaster hoped they were not together.
But of course, even if they were, it wouldn't mean she'd have any idea of how to use it. Nora had been clever, but perhaps this one was not as wise. They had defeated the one called Emma after all.
Maedon had begun to change. The collection of two of the keys had increased her power so much that light no longer burned her skin. He despised the way she looked in human form, but she had grown fairly comfortable in her childlike body and insisted on using it.
He hated Lucius Malfoy, like he had hated her Tom. Perhaps when she was on the earth permanently, she would find Lucius useless. But he had often suggested killing Tom, and much to his dismay she always refused claiming that they needed his humanity in order to rule over it.
The humans were gathering now to pledge their allegiance, and the scent was burning his nostrils.
The Muggle man that was being offered as a sacrifice to her greatness hung cold, damp and motionless.
"We will have our revolution, " Lucius said, "and true wizardry will become the standard. We have aligned ourselves with the truly powerful and be will be successful where we have failed before."
The ringmaster listened patiently to their pep rally. They were nothing but useful pawns. Foot soldiers. He'd let them believe they were more if it served their purpose. He'd let them believe that for now.
#
It was late, and Harry Potter needed sleep. He climbed into his bed, acknowledging the blonde lying on the other bunk in the corner.
"Malfoy."
"Potter."
"Surprised you didn't room with Weasel."
"Nope, I had the honor of being put here."
"How wonderful for you," Draco said, missing the sarcasm.
"Let's just get some sleep," Harry said taking off his shirt and lying back onto his bed. He carefully flicked off the lamp that still had the Coca Cola label on it, from the soda can it was in a prior life.
"I don't know exactly how I'll confront Lucius…but I'll do it," Draco said, tossing under his covers.
"That's a tall order," Harry said, his thoughts drifting to Narcissa.
"Not as tall as the one Granger has, according to Black," he added.
It was the second time that day he hadn't bothered to call Hermione a mudblood, Draco's favorite nickname for her.
"I only wish we knew exactly what she had to do. A lock of a maidens hair is so generic…and it might not even be the right rhyme," Harry said, thinking out loud.
Draco answered. "It is."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because one thing you three have always had going for you is luck," Draco said.
Despite himself, Harry laughed at the resentment in Draco's voice. Then they lay there, listening to the sound of the girls stirring in the room next to theirs. Draco said something then, but Harry had missed it.
"What did you say?" Harry asked.
"I asked if you had told Weasel about Ginny and I," he muttered under his breath.
Harry thought of telling him yes, but don't ever bring it up. But he couldn't bring himself to tell that sort of boldface lie, not even to Draco Malfoy.
"No, I thought I'd leave that to you," Harry said, "besides, what exactly are you and Ginny anyway?"
Draco looked up at the ceiling.
"I'm not sure. We're close, more than friends, but not just shagging partners," he said in a mellow tone not normally heard from him.
"Do you love her?" Harry asked.
Draco took a deep breath. "The meaning of that word still eludes me."
And they ended their conversation saying the things that you say when you spoke with people you didn't exactly feel close to.