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The Paths We Take	By : Luckycharms Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 18436 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That right goes to the AMAZING JK Rowling. No profit is made off this story. Shout out to Scorpia11 for being my awesome Beta!!

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Okay sooooooooo…I have exciting news for you all! First, I want to update you all on a recent change I have made to this fic. Originally, the third era was planned out as The America Wild West, somewhere in, well the West, haha. In any case, that era has been completely scrapped and replaced with a new, better, and even more interesting time period that is NOT in the United States. I obviously can’t reveal it yet, so you’ll have to wait for the clue. But I guarantee you will all love it…a lot…hopefully!
I am also doing a new story interaction, which is the other exciting news! Information will be posted at the end of this chapter so that this A/N doesn’t take up too much room, along with the Shout Outs I promised. So, don’t worry, my loves, I have not forgotten you!
Song inspiration: Angels Fall- Breaking Benjamin, along with the song quoted below. Never would have thought of the main scene in this chapter without these songs!
Also, to be nice: TRIGGER WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER! I know I said I wouldn’t in the Content Warning, but I feel it’s necessary.
“I can feel you falling away, No longer the lost, No longer the same
And I can see you starting to break, I'll keep you alive, If you show me the way
Forever, and ever, The scars will remain”
-Give me A Sign- Breaking Benjamin
Chapter 15- The Price of a Prayer
Salem, August 3^rd, 1692
“Why is it in America, again?” Ginny inquired while throwing her hands in the air after Hermione had told them all half of the answer to the clue. “I said I wanted to visit this country in our time, when things are good! Not during the fucking Civil War! I thought Julia and Joseph went back to England? I don’t understand why another ancestor would return to this bloody country that has such a horrid past!”
“How the hell do we even know it’s the Civil War?” Blaise questioned while cradling the redhead in his arms. “All it mentions is ‘war’ three times.”
“Each clue so far has a subtle hint within it” Hermione answered as she glanced at the history book Draco had handed her. It didn’t take her long to find the passage she was searching for, and once she found it, she relaxed her shoulders in desolation. “Salem was easy as it mentioned witches, but if you’re not familiar with the famous speech given by President Abraham Lincoln, he said, and I quote, ‘Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war…’ The beginning of the clue was ‘A fourscore war…’ It’s without a doubt that war and it lasted…” she scanned the page for the dates, “almost four years, but…it was in multiple states.”
“Fuck me!” the Italian cursed aloud in anger as the brunette closed the tome and handed it back to Draco. "So, we're going to be randomly dropped somewhere in a four-year time period? A period that has had Salazar, too many battles to count. No clue as to exactly what year? Are you sure?” he inquired, hoping the Golden Girl might be wrong because he had a strong feeling the next era was meant for him.
After he had put two and two together, when he realized Draco had learned to walk in those he had once abused shoes, Blaise was highly considering that each one of them was supposed to experience something as they all still had their fair share of flaws. Except for Gryffindors’ Golden Princess, who seemed exceptionally flawless. He honestly couldn’t think of a single lesson she could learn from any time period, besides more history. But he knew about the American Civil War as his mothers’ sixth husband, was adamant that he studied it in case he ever strayed into muggle territory. Luckily for him, he not only knew each battle well, but he was very familiar with the background of the era.
“As much as we all wish she wasn’t, honestly, anywhere is better than here” the blonde stated with a shrug; pulling the dark-haired wizard from his drifting thoughts.
“You say that until we actually get there…” Ginny despondently claimed as she backed away from Blaise and sighed heavily. “But once again, we don’t have a choice” she continued as she turned around to see the five-minute clock on the glowing green square, now reading four-minutes. “Who do we have to find?”
“Umm…’the one of knowledge, who does what they’re told’…” Draco answered as he flipped the parchment over to read the riddle.
“Fourscore and seven fucks to give!” Blaise shouted as he threw his hands in the air in contempt. “That means a fucking soldier, doesn’t it! They had to follow orders all the time! We’re going to be dropped in the middle of a bloody military base and I hate to break it to you all, but I’m fucking black!”
“Would you calm down!” Ginny requested as she looked to her wizard sullenly. “You’ll be fine. It could very well be anyone, Blaise. Like a teacher or something, at any given location. We were dropped in Salem away from the town, so for all we know the same could happen in this next place” she calmly stated as she caressed the Italians’ cheek tenderly with her thumb. “But we’re running out of time…We have to go…Do we have everything?”
“I just need my-” the bookworm began to state when the blonde handed her her bag. “Oh, thanks” she smiled warmly before tying it tightly around her wrist and then taking Draco’s hand in hers. “Wait! We have to change clothes!” Quickly pulling out her history book again, she rummaged through the pages as quickly as possible to search for Civil War civilian attire. Once she found it, in less than thirty seconds, she quickly charmed everyone’s clothing to fit the time period.
Putting herself in a maroon braided trimmed skirt, opting to not wear the large hoop to expand the garment, or the undergarments as they were itchy, she complimented the half dress with a simple white Garibaldi blouse and then placed Ginny in similar clothes but with a grey skirt instead, and laced boots. For the guys, she decided to place them in white button shirts with a band collar, though both boys kept the four buttons undone when they started complaining that it was choking them. She then put Draco in brown trousers and a black vest while Blaise sported black trouser with a charcoal grey vest. Once she had finished transfiguring their shoes to men’s laced boots, the timer in the center of the parallelogram told them they now had only one-minute remaining.
The group of four Hogwarts students took in a deep breath while mentally preparing themselves to be placed at any point during the four years of the American Civil War, and slowly stepped into the square. Unaware that one of their members would be mentally changed…forever.
Sunday, May 9^th, 1999
“Alight!” Narcissa sighed with a weary smile as she stood in the middle of the library with her hands clasped together and six sets of eyes focused on her. “Hagrid will be here in about an hour to take you back to Hogwarts, so please make sure you all have your things packed and ready for the house elves to send on ahead. Professor McGonagall will meet you in her office when you arrive and has explained to the other students to not bother you once you return. All they know is that an emergency occurred and to not question any of you about it.” She paused for a moment as she glanced at Harry, while trying to control her emotions and not think about the visions he’ll ensue or the dangers her son could be in, when he left.
“Mrs. Malfoy? Are you alright?” Luna questioned sweetly, drawing the witch from her sullen stare that was making Harry slightly uncomfortable.
“Ehem, yes, Ms. Lovegood. Thank you” she inhaled quickly as she removed her eyes from the raven-haired boy and cleared her throat once more. “If-if the map changes, I will send an Owl to let you all know and Ms. Parkinson will do the same if Mr. Potter has another vision.”
“No disrespect, Mrs. Malfoy…” Ron interrupted with a raised finger, “but I think we’ve all grown close enough that you can call us by our first names. You don’t need to be so proper just because we’re leaving and it’s hard to say goodbye.”
“Ronald Weasley!’ Molly scolded in a half whisper. “You do not talk like that to an elder! I raised you better than that!”
“It’s quite alright, Molly” the Slytherin Queen smiled warmly. “He’s right…I do apologize, Ronald.”
“Yeeaahh…” he grinned with a half shrug. “We’ll miss you too.”
“You are always welcome in my home, Ronald…all of you are” she claimed with a twinkle in her eye.
As the students dispersed and talked among themselves while waiting for Hagrid to arrive by Floo, Thorfinn, Elizabeth and Molly, who were staying behind to keep Narcissa company, talked about where the children could possibly end up next, when the map on the wall unexpectedly began to flip forward through the decades. Everyone’s attention turned to the stage as the blood pool flowed around the United States before coming to an abrupt halt and the numbers ceased to move. Stepping up to see the map better, Harry gazed at the location before his sights turned to the year.
“Pennsylvania…? 1863” he claimed before slowly turning around. “What happened in Pennsylvania eigh-teen-si-” Unfortunately the Gryffindor Prince never finished his question as he suddenly froze in place and his eyes went white before rolling backwards. He almost fell off the stage as his body collapsed forward, but Thorfinn saw the vision coming as Harry’s words began to slur and rushed to the front of the Library as quickly as he could; catching the young wizard before he face planted hard against the tile.
July 2^nd, 1863
Hermione blinked a few times to adjust to the darkness surrounding her before slowly standing up and looking around. Noticing no one had landed with her, she began to panic, and was about to call out for her friends when the faint sound of gunfire resonated louder in the air. Whipping her body around as she tried to pinpoint where the shots were coming from in the darkened woods, her breath grew heavy and her heart began to race fast within her chest.
Taking a few steps forward when she spotted flickers of light, hoping it was a town where someone could tell her where the hell she was, she began to race in that direction. However, she abruptly stopped when male voices could be heard laughing a few meters to her right. Peeking around a tree while keeping her body hidden, she saw two grimy and unkempt Caucasian men, sitting by a small stone fort with tin cups in their hands. She couldn’t see them very well, but at least she knew she dressed the guys somewhat properly. Unfortunately, for the Golden Girl, simply searching for her group, she never noticed the full details of the outfits the soldiers were wearing and thought that maybe one of them was the ancestor they were supposed to find. Taking a chance that they could possibly help her, she exhaled sharply before stepping out into the open.
“Pardon me?” she began nervously, startling the two men and causing them to hastily stand. One had light brown hair and was slightly shorter than the other, whose dirty blonde curls were loose and darkened by what appeared to be a black powder of sorts.
“Who are you?” the dirty blonde questioned sternly as the second man flicked his gaze up and down Hermione’s body.
“I-I think I may be lost…” the Gryffindor Princess claimed tensely.
“I should say” the blonde man chuckled as the second whispered in his ear. But the atmosphere began to change, and Hermione no longer thought the idea of asking where she was, was a good idea. “What you doin lost out in the middle of a war, little Miss? One of your stature shouldn’t be wanderin ‘bout the woods all by their lonesome. Ain’t safe out ‘ere.”
“War?” she whispered aloud to herself as her mind ran a thousand miles per minute trying to decipher exactly which battle, she had arrived close to. “I must have strayed too far…If-if you could just assist me with the best path, I should take to get away from here. I would be forever in your debt…”
“Sure, little lady…” he smirked mischievously while taking a step forward. “You be wantin ter head thadda way.” He pointed North behind him with his thumb as he licked his lips disgustingly.
“Th-Thank you…” she uttered as she slowly made her way around the two soldiers eyeing her like she was the last meal any of them would have.
When she heard them laugh while going back to what they were originally doing before she had interrupted them, Hermione began to open her bag and fumble for her wand. She didn’t trust the situation and wanted to make sure she had protection in case she encountered any more creepy individuals. But as she pulled out the Vinewood, a sharp pain engulfed her right bicep as one of the men gripped her arm hard and threw her to the ground.
“I think I may have given ya the wrong directions, Miss” the solider grinned cruelly; showing his horrific yellow teeth as the brunette witch scrambled backwards. “Where ya think you goin?
Realizing she had dropped her wand when she fell, Hermione began to search through the leaves and twigs for it. But as the second solider walked up to his partner, stepping on the magical stick and forcing it into the ground, she abandoned her mission and continued to scoot backwards until her spine pressed firmly against a tree. The taller of the two, stalking over her, quickly grabbed her ankle and dragged her towards him before she could even utter a wandless spell. She twisted her body and scratched at the dirt in an effort to crawl away while kicking as hard as she could. Unfortunately, during the tug-o-war, she ended up scrapping her palms, elbows, stomach, and right knee painfully against the debris riddling the forest floor and cried out as blood began to seep from the wounds. However, the brown-haired man swiftly gripped her up by the hair before backhanding her across the face hard enough to stun her still for a moment.
“We’ll be collecting on that debt now” he whispered malevolently into her ear as tears began to stream down her face.
“Please!” she begged while holding both her hands against his to prevent him from tugging harder on her hair. “I-I have money! I’ll give you all my money a-and I won’t say anything, I promise! Please let me go!”
“We don’t want no money…” the blonde soldier sneered. “It’s been awhile since we’ve seen such a…beautiful…delectable girl in such tight duds” he proclaimed while gripping at his hardened crotch and causing bile to rise in the witch’s’ throat as she tried to focus on any spell, she could perform to remove herself from the situation. But her head was pounding, making it hard to concentrate on anything except the men speaking before her, and she didn’t want to risk apparating due to revealing her magic to muggles or possibly splinching herself. “But I do enjoy a woman who begs…”
“Not ‘ere, Edward!” the brown-haired man argued as Edward began to undo his belt. “You want ter be caught by the Lieutenant Colonel! We’ll be beaten and taken to the Briggs if they find us with a woman!”
“Better the Briggs than out there!” he countered venomously while pointing towards where the sounds of gunfire, screams of dying men, and cannons blasting into the air still reigned.
“I ain’t riskin it!”
“Fine, Thomas! We will take ‘er elsewhere!” the tall man retorted as he grabbed Hermione by the left bicep and hauled her to her feet.
They began to walk the witch towards the flickering lights she had seen earlier as panic settled in the pit of her stomach and she quickly whispered a tripping jinx Draco had prided himself in using on Harry fifth year. The man holding her suddenly fell to ground, releasing his hold, and allowing her to dart towards the campground while screaming for anyone to help her. However, Thomas hastily tackled her into dirt and clamped a hand over her mouth to shut her up before turning her over and backhanding her again, causing a bright red contusion to form across her right cheek. He then promptly yanked her to her feet and pressed her hard against a tree, forcing a gasp to escape her cut up lips.
Bringing his face close to hers, he sniffed her hair before beginning to lick her neck, making the Golden Girl wince in disgust as his erection pushed hard against her navel. Regardless, the man was apparently dumb enough to not pin her legs against the rough bark scratching at her back as he eyed her beaded bag before tearing it from her wrist. In one swift motion, Hermione lifted her left leg and kneed the brunette as hard as she could, forcing him to cry out in pain as he dropped the bag and fell to the ground while holding his dick in both hands. Once more she began to scream as she stumbled and ran towards the camp, but Edward had already regained his footing from his previous fall and quickly caught up to the Gryffindor Princess.
Gripping her hair tightly in his hand, he began to drag her through the muddied terrain behind him as he walked closer to the edge of the woods, before throwing her forward and pulling out a few of her locks in the process. Hermione cried significantly as she rolled on to her belly and tried to crawl on her hands and knees, away from the man, however, it did nothing to aid her in her attempt to escape again. Edward slowly walked up to her and laughed at her struggling to free herself from the situation she had found herself in, before gripping her up again and forcing her to stand with her back pressed firmly against his chest.
She could feel the strong breaths he took as he ran his nose over her left ear while he gently caressed the skin of her neck with his calloused fingers. He reeked of smoke from a burning fire, almost as if he had laid on charred wood for hours. And the scent of whiskey mixed with a foul body odor, caused the Gryffindor to gag as the stench burned her nostrils; a clear sign the man hadn’t bathed in weeks, possibly even months.
As she struggled to break free from his grasp, he put her into a painful choke hold, resulting in her lashing out with her feet as she tried to breathe through the pressure against her throat. However, before she could slip from his arms, he promptly removed his belt from the loops of his trousers and secured it around her mouth. He then clasped a hand over her lips as he leered at her.
“Row with me and I will kill ya…” he whispered threateningly into her ears as she whimpered in agony and he cupped her left breast with his vile hand. “Scream, and I shall slice this pretty little neck of yours ‘fore even a sound can emerge…Understood?”
Hermione nodded her head as tears continued to stream down her cheeks and through the leather that bound her mouth, while Thomas regained his composer, stormed over to the duo, and uppercut her directly in the stomach, before binding her hands with his own belt.
“I haven’t seen a woman fight back this ‘ard since that copper-headed dame we picked up before we shipped out ‘ere” Thomas boasted as Hermione fought to breathe through the aching discomfort below her solar plexus. “I changed my mind. I have a hanker ter bed ‘er right now!”
“No!” Edward whispered so the men talking in the campground wouldn’t overhear. “We need privacy…” He quickly glanced around at a few tents, made to sleep up to at least six people, stationed near the forest line before picking one out to the right that appeared to have no one surrounding it. “There!”
Dragging the muddied bookworm to the tent a few meters away, woefully by her bicep, the curly blonde muggle threw her inside as a dark-haired man sitting on a cot, minding his own business in the shelter, raised his dark eyes in surprise while slowly lowering the spoon in his hand.
However, no one noticed a brunette soldier, a few tents down, watching in disgust as he debated on whether or not tell the Captain of his squadron, what he had just witnessed. He wasn’t known for being a snitch and he normally kept to himself as others went about their business, seeing as he didn’t even want to fight in the damn war in the first place. But after witnessing two of his fellow infantrymen drag an unknown woman, who he was also questioning on where the hell she’d even came from, out from the woods, he strongly considered speaking up. Although, the idea of not interfering when he could just stay silent and live to see another day to continue his mission in life, played heavily on his mind.
“Ahh fuck, Marshall! What you doin in ‘ere?” Thomas inquired in irritation as he stepped into the tent after Edward.
“I’m eaten! What the hell does it look like I be doin? What you got ‘ere?” Marshall questioned while titling his chin at Hermione cowering in tears on the ground.
“A fighter lost in the woods, believe it or not. She be a sweet little thing. Smell sweet too.”
“After the beatin ya gave ‘er, she don’t look to be smellin too sweet no more. But I’d be willin to pay a fair price…How much?”
“We ain’t sellin ter ya! She ours!”
Marshall set his bowl down and slowly stood before walking over to the witch and crouched down.
“Well if ya ain’t sellin, then I want in. Less you like the General to be findin out you brought a woman into camp…Mans got needs too” he claimed while rubbing his hardened length pushing against the fabric of his trousers.
“You may have a turn once we be done with ‘er” Edward declared with his arms crossed. “We found ‘er so we get first rights.”
“Fine…I don’t mind waitin. I like ‘em betta when they broken in anyway.” With that, Marshall gripped Hermione up by the hair as she let out a distressing yelp and threw her onto the cot to the left of the entrance. He then quickly sniffed her neck and closed his eyes as he took in her savory aroma while his hand steadily lifted her dress; running his finger across her bare skin. “She missin a few undergarments, like she be wantin it…” he smirked callously. Trembling as he lowered his head down to her leg, she felt him lick up her thigh before biting hard enough to cause blood to drip from the fresh wound as she groaned in agony through the belt in her mouth. “She taste sweet too” he claimed as his fingers lightly trailed closer to her center and he licked his lips in satisfaction. But the Gryffindor Princess was not having it and began to hit the man with the sides of her fists, as her hands were still bound, until the two men ripped Marshall off her and growled in anger.
“We told you! She ours first!” Thomas roared.
“You gone fuck ‘er in my tent, then I needed at least a taste!”he argued as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“Ya got your taste, Marshall!” Edward claimed as he began to undo the buttons on his trousers. “Now it be my turn…”
Sunday, May 9^th, 1999
Rowle quickly laid Harry down on the floor and began to check his vitals as Ron hastily summoned a book to search for the time and place his best friend had mentioned. Skimming through the pages as fast as he could while Theo also did the same, the rest of the group began to surround the Gryffindor Savoir as Elizabeth stood frozen in place.
“Mrs. Granger…?” Pansy began to question when she noticed the mother had not moved. “Are-are you alright?” Elizabeth slowly raised her watery eyes to the Slytherin girl as her breath caught in her throat. “You know…don’t you? You know what happens in that year…” Everyone stopped what they were doing and gazed at the muggle, whose bottom lip was trembling violently while Pansy slowly walked up to the woman and placed a soft hand upon the side of her shoulder. “Mrs. Granger…?”
“Penn…Pennsylvania…1863…” the brunette began as her chest rose and fell haltingly and a single tear fell from her lashes. “The bloodiest battle of the American Civil War…They’re in The Battle of Gettysburg…”
“What do you mean ‘in’ the battle?” Neville inquired adamantly yet gently at the same time. “You’re s-saying they landed directly into an ongoing war? A battle you’re claiming is the bloodiest?”
But Elizabeth never got the chance to answer as Harry’s chest rose into the air while he inhaled a large breath and his vision…was suddenly thrown through time.
Slowly standing up as his ears rang and the noise around him was muffled due to something exploding next to him, Draco wobbled as he stood like he was in a daze after taking hit to the face. Shaking his head as his vision cleared of the blurriness, and the ringing in his eardrums subsided, he took in the sight surrounding him as panic filled every inch of his body and the sounds of screaming deafened the air. Every direction he glanced in there was bloodshed, death, horses stampeding the earth, and violence as men of all ages and in different military attire, attacked one other in the night while gunfire rang throughout the atmosphere. He ducked a few times as he stumbled while trying to escape the all-out war, before someone tackled him into the ground just as a cannon shattered into the soil near him. He began to fight the person on top of him before realizing it was Blaise and ceased his punch just inches from his best friends’ face.
“Oh, thank Merlin!” he breathed out; not that anyone could hear him over the conflict and warfare consuming the land.
“WHERE’S HERMIONE?” Blaise shouted over the chaos and noise of the battle as he helped Draco to his feet and Ginny dodged to the left to avoid being hit by a crashing projectile ball as she raced towards them in a panic.
“SHE’S NOT WITH YOU?” Draco replied before twisting his body to search for the brunette in the faces of the thousands of wounded and bloodied soldiers.
“NO!” Ginny yelled over the drowning noise. “WE THOUGHT SHE WAS WITH YOU!”
“DRACO!” Blaise screamed while grabbing a hold of his friends’ arm. “THIS IS THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG! THE BLOODIEST BATTLE OF A-” the three ducked before the Italian could finish as another cannon exploded near them and bullets blew past them; just barely missing their target as they ran for cover. Dragging both Draco and Ginny behind a low stone fort, propped up in the center of the battle, the trio pressed their backs up against the rocks as the redhead covered her ears and the Slytherin Prince brought out his wand. “This battle has the largest number of casualties in the entire war! It was considered the turning point in the conflict!” the dark-skinned wizard continued to shout as he moved his position to face both his friends. “If she’s out there, then we need to figure out a way to find her and fast! Right now, we’re on the Union side! Which is considered the good side!”
“How the fuck do you know that?” Draco bellowed as he covered both ears with his hands; his wand pointing upward as it pressed hard against his skin.
“My mother’s sixth husband, remember? Now focus!” he snapped his fingers and exhaled a sharp breath. “The Union, North, is fighting the Confederates, South; the evil racist, slave owning, bigots! Like Death Eaters-no offense, mate!” he quickly added when Draco began to scowl at him. “Anyone not in navy blue is on the opposing side-”
“Okay, so where’s Mione?” Ginny shouted above the noise before yelping loudly as a bullet flew over her head.
Having had enough of the history lesson in the middle of a muggle war, the blonde quickly stood up and was about to run and search for their missing member when Blaise instantly pulled him back down. But Harry could feel the resentment brewing in the Malfoy heirs’ blood and he felt the strong urge to punch the Italian in the face, radiating through his body.
“Don’t be bloody stupid!” the dark-skinned wizard scolded.
“I have to fucking find her, Blaise! I don’t care who I have to go through to fucking do it! I will find her, and I will make damn sure she’s alright!”
“I’m not letting you go it alone nor am I going to let you just run out there with no protection! We have no idea where she is, so why don’t we come up with a plan fir-”
“You tried that with me, remember?” the Malfoy heir snapped venomously. “Didn’t really work out now did it!” he yelled, though more as a statement than a question and Harry silently agreed. However, the threesome was quickly caught off guard as a man on a horse galloped past them and reared his steed when he suddenly caught a glimpse of the trio hiding. He opened his mouth to tell them to get out of there when he caught a bullet to the head and immediately fell from the animal.
“You have a better fucking idea?” Blaise shouted as he slowly turned his eyes away from the deceased Union serviceman, bleeding out into the dirt.
Draco stopped for a moment as the memory of Hermione using her wand to find Blaise in the woods of Salem, raced to the forefront of his mind. “Actually…” Raising his right hand, he laid his wand flat across his palm and whispered the Locator spell. As his friends watched the wood spin radically in a circle, he held his breath as gunfire continued to surround them. But it only took a few seconds for the wand to halt and point crookedly behind him.
“Fuck…” Blaise breathed out when he realized the wand was pointing in the direction of the Confederates’ side. However, he and Ginny never had the chance to say another word as the blonde hastily scrambled to his feet and began running at full speed through the pandemonium that was inevitably Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Ginny quickly rushed after the blonde as Blaise had a look of sheer frustration embedded in his features as he growled and held his hands up as if to strangle the life from the pair. Shaking away the aggravation of Draco not listening to him, he began running after the duo racing through the bloodshed with their wands held firmly in their grips, without thinking to protect themselves in any way beforehand.
Draco had jumped over more dead bodies then he could count as he dashed through disorder and madness, but the sorrow he felt for a few men that looked much younger than himself, was pushed from his mind as the thought of Hermione in turmoil engulfed his senses. He was determined to find her even if that meant almost dying in the process as bullets shot passed him and agonized sounds of tattered men and horses blasted apart by cannon shrapnel, radiated the air. He didn’t even know that both Blaise and Ginny were following steadfast behind him as he avoided being hit by multiple crashing iron balls; thankful his Seeker skills were intact as his aching muscles screamed at him to stop.
Multiple Confederates rushed at the trio, on foot and on horses alike, as the group made their way through their territory, and each one of the soldiers were met with fists to the face or a swift kick to the groin from Ginny, as a hoard of infantryman in all grey, blocked their path into the woods where the Prince’s wand had guided them. The men had no idea who the three people were, but they knew they didn’t belong as they had a woman among their small cluster in a full-scale war zone. And the fact that they were effortlessly pushing through the front line, deeper into the Rebels’ region, had them convinced that the Union had sent their best to try and take them down.
But Draco wasn’t about to let inferior males prevent him from finding his girl and threw a Bombarda charm directly at the Confederates’ feet; denting the earth while allowing dirt and debris to fly into the air as if a bomb had just gone off; throwing them backwards as he cleared a path and jumped over the gaping hole he had created. Unfortunately, in the process, his exploding enchantment stunned both Blaise and Ginny, who had halted rather quickly and lost track of the blonde racing into the woods.
As the soldiers lay on the ground groaning in pain while trying to figure out what the hell had just occurred, Ginny preformed a Locator charm on Draco as gunfire continued to surge around her. Once she had figured out the direction he was headed, she and Blaise continued their pursuit. But just up ahead the Slytherin Prince stopped running when he caught a glimpse of the famous beaded bag resting by a tree, with no signs of Hermione in the vicinity. Calling out for her as he scrambled in his search, a female cry cut through the sounds of the war happening behind him, like a knife slicing through butter, causing both Harry and Draco’s hearts to drop as he looked in the direction the noise echoed from.
He picked up the bag before racing as fast as his body would allow, towards flickering lights, that appeared to be a camp of some sort. During that time, Ginny and Blaise had finally made it into the woods after having to find an alternate path thanks to the blondes’ explosive charm taking out a good portion of the land and had to stop once more as the Malfoy heir was nowhere in sight. But as Blaise took a step forward and felt an abnormally hard and awkwardly shaped object under his shoes, he looked down out of instinct and titled his head before parting his lips in shock.
“Red…” he called out as he picked up the stick half buried in mud. “Please tell me this isn’t Hermione’s wand…?”
“Oh, Gods!” the redhead panicked as her eyes began to water and she spun around in an effort to figure out where her best friend had gone, when shouting could be heard reverberating off the trees. “Draco…” she whispered with wide eyes as she gazed at Blaise, who was breathing heavily as a sense of utter fear washed over him.
“Oh, come on!” the Italian exclaimed while throwing his head back. “Please have not killed someone already!” he groaned before taking off towards the Confederates’ campground with the redhead following swiftly behind him.
All the while, the brunette soldier doing his best to mind his own business as he tried to read his book by a small flaming torch, glanced at the tent he had witnessed his fellow infantrymen enter with a woman not long ago. He expected to see others trying to take a peek at the arduous sounds emitting from the shelter, but instead saw a strange blonde in civilian attire, stop just outside the entrance with a stick gripped tightly in his left hand. Raising a curious brow, he watched as the young man stormed into the shelter and could have sworn, he saw sparks emitting from his hair. However, when a dark liquid splattered against the fabric of the encampment, he quickly stood in surprise, dropping the tome in his hand, as shouting began to fill the bivouac.
Draco’s’ chest rose and fell quickly as he stood just outside the tents’ entryway; ignoring the soldiers who might have seen him as he tried to figure out where Hermione was. But when a loud struggling whimper could be heard directly next to him, he turned his attention to his right as a mixture of worry and anger engulfed him. Having had dealt with Death Eaters taking woman against their will, in his own home, in the past, the Slytherin Prince knew all too well what was happening inside the shelter as a darkness began rise to the surface within him. Gripping his wand tightly at his side, Draco’s eyes darkened to an unnatural charcoal color, while his magic began to spark, and an immense hatred filled both his and Harry’s soul.
With narrowed brows of animosity and a scowl so terrifying it would make even the bravest of villains cower in horror, the blonde slowly stepped into the tent as Harry feared for the lives of whomever was inside. Hermione sobbed as she struggled against the men that had painfully bound her hands and spread her legs, bruising her thighs and wrists as Edward knelt in front of her on top of the cot, half naked. His trousers and undergarments splayed across the floor as he lifted her dress and ripped the modern underwear from off her body while preparing himself to enter her. He stroked his length as the men around her savagely laughed, and Thomas ripped at her blouse to expose her bra. She bucked her entire body as she fought to get them off her, but it was sadly not enough. Unbeknownst to any of them, a tall malice shadow emerged from fabric flaps, forcing the soldiers to regret ever laying a finger on the Gryffindor Princess.
Slashing his wrist effortlessly through the air, Draco watched as the man on top of Hermione froze, just as he was about to perforate the exposed core of the witch, with widened eyes. Thomas glanced up at Edward with a smile plastered on his face as he waited for his comrade to penetrate the fighting brunette, however, his grin slowly began to fall as the curly-haired blonde refused to move.
“Edward…?” he questioned in confusion as a thin red line appeared across the front of the mans’ neck. “Edward?” he tried again, but the dirty blonde never uttered a word before his head slowly slid off his neck and down to the floor beside them, allowing blood to pulse from his gaping arteries and splatter on the side of the tent and those surrounding him before falling off the Golden Girl with a hard thud.
Thomas scrambled backwards in absolute horror before turning his head to the entrance as Marshall began shouting at the intruder and searching for his gun. Though Draco never let the brunette man release even a whimper before slicing his throat with his wand mercilessly. Thomas gurgled as he gripped his trachea and blood pooled down his chest as the Slytherin spotted the gun Marshall was searching for, propped up against the wall of the closed canopy, directly next to where the light-haired brunette was trying to cling to life. Picking the weapon up as the dark-haired man scowled in anger at him, Draco studied the edges of the sharp bayonet attached to the barrel, before slowly turning his black eyes back to the soldier.
Marshall began to charge at the invader of his sleeping quarters, who was smiling ruthlessly, in an effort to tackle him, but as soon as he reached the Malfoy heir, he halted in place with his arms outstretched. Staring directly into Draco’s’ dark eyes, which were scrutinizing him up and down in disgust, Marshall lowered his gaze to the lance sinking deep into his abdomen. The blonde pushed the bayonet in further, causing a grunt to escape the Confederates lips’, before removing the blade and watching as the man sunk helplessly to the floor. Tossing the gun to the side, he looked back at the muggle holding his stomach as blood spilled from both his lips and the wound, before reaching out with both hands and snapping his neck in one quick, fluent, motion.
Hermione’s whimpers brought the Slytherin back down to reality and he immediately raced over to her after shaking away the darkness that had enveloped him. However, when he reached out to touch her, after kicking the deceased Rebel out of view, she scooched closer to the edge of the cot away from him, the best she could, as blood covered her skin and dress. Draco quickly pointed his wand at her to repair her underwear, fix her dress, and remove the belts covering her body before trying to reach out for the witch again. But the bookworm didn’t go to him like he had thought she would, and instead began attacking him while thinking he was just another soldier wanting to rape her.
“Hermione…” he yelled while trying to block her surprisingly powerful blows. “Hermione, stop! It’s me-it’s Draco! I’m not going to hurt you!” The curly-haired witch, however, didn’t hear him through her desperate attempts to escape and continued to punch and kick him the best she could. Though having had enough of being hit repeatedly, and painfully as well, the blonde quickly pulled the bookworm into his strong arms and held her as she struggled against him while screaming in his ear. “Hermione, I’m right here! You’re alright! I’ve got you!” But no matter what he said, she ignored him as she relentlessly tried to free herself from his grasp.
“Princess…” he stated calmly; his last saving grace in an effort to remove her from her panic driven condition, shattering Harry’s soul in the process. It seemed however, that the sound of his voice saying the nickname that only he had ever called her, was enough to pull her back to him. Hermione suddenly halted her strife as she breathed heavily into his ear, breaking the blondes’ heart as she lowered her head and began crying onto his neck. “I’m not going to hurt you, love…No one is ever going to hurt again…” he softly spoke while stroking her hair and holding her close. Picking her up bridal style as she fastened her arms tightly around his neck, the blonde turned around to see Blaise and Ginny standing in the entrance of the tent, staring at the two bodies he had brutally slain, with slumped shoulders of disappointment.
“You just had to kill them, didn’t you?” Blaise inquired while pinching his lips inward.
“They tried to fucking rape her!” Draco retorted as the brunette witch clung harder to him, making both of his friends’ eyes widened in a mixture of shock and confusion.
“What?” Ginny gasped in utter surprise before the Prince stepped off to the side to show the headless half naked man slumped over behind him.
“Please tell me you’re lying…” the Italian stated dejectedly. “Tell me you’re fucking lying!” he shouted in absolute anger before kicking the corps next to him in a fit of rage.
But as he kept kicking the body of Thomas in sheer animosity, Ginny began to cross the tent to check on Hermione, who had her bruised and bloodied face buried deep into Draco’s collar bone, when the sound of foreign voices, just outside of the tent, stopped her cold in her tracks.
“You said a scuffle?” one man, who sounded rather authoritative, questioned.
“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, sir. I heard shouting coming from that tent there. Sounded like a row was happening, sir.”
“And you are certain you saw a negro man enter with a woman?”
“Yes, sir! Saw with my own eyes, sir. Should I notify General Lee?”
“No. I will let him know after inspecting the situation for myself. You are dismissed.”
“Shite!” Ginny exclaimed as she quickly looked around, knowing they didn’t have enough time to exit the tent, before flicking her wand, silencing Hermione cries, and disillusioning herself and her group.
The blonde slowly stepped back while praying he didn’t trip over the body behind him as Walter H. Taylor, the key aide to General Robert E. Lee, walked into the tent with two high ranked men at his side, and stared in consternation at the bodies of the three soldiers bleeding out onto the ground.
“Find them!” he ordered sternly as he glanced around at the blood-soaked grisly mess before him. “FIND THEM NOW!” he demanded with clenched fists before storming out of the tent as Harry Potter unexpectedly was pulled from Draco’s body and back into the present.
The Gryffindor Savoir quickly sat up as a rush of emotions shook his entire body. His hands hovered in front of him as he tried to wrap his mind around everything before placing his palms firmly against his temples in sickness.
“Harry?” Pansy softly spoke while his breathing grew heavy and tears filled his eyes.
“Is-is it Draco?” Narcissa questioned in utter fear that something had once again happened to her son.
“Blaise?” Thorfinn inquired when Harry didn’t answer, knowing that the Civil War was mainly fought over slavery. Although the rest only found out thanks to Theo and Ron researching it as quickly as possible during the vision.
But Elizabeth slowly walked around the group knelt on the floor, examining the raven-haired boy, and looked down at Harry with a trembling jaw. It was a mothers’ instinct that caused her to have an agonizing feeling that her daughter was the next one to be tried.
“Harry…” she spoke low, causing everyone to glance at her, including The-Boy-Who-Lived. Dread was all that was readable on Harry’s face as he gazed up reluctantly at the muggle standing before him and a single tear fell from his black lashes. “…What happened?” she pressed while a wave of fear and anxiety made her body quiver as she awaited an answer.
“Con-Confederates…” he began with a shaky voice. He didn’t want to answer but he knew he had to. Elizabeth Granger deserved the same amount of respect he had given the elder Malfoy, even though he felt sick to his stomach at repeating what he saw. “She…she arrived alone…They…” he lowered his head in shame while trying to contain his emotions, but all he wanted to do was fall apart at what he had witnessed.
“Harry…” Elizabeth pressed harder, forcing everyone in the room to gaze at her in sorrow.
“He killed them!” he admitted while never lifting his head; refusing to look at the woman who had raised his wonderful best friend. “He killed them all! They t-tried to rape-rape her, so Draco slaughtered them!”
Elizabeth’s mouth fell open as she silently began to sob in shock that her daughter was almost raped, as Narcissa quickly crossed the room, and caught the mother who began to collapse to the floor in anguish. Knowing the heartache she was feeling as Ron began punching the desk near him in a rage he couldn’t control, she comforted Liz the best she could while Pansy and Luna helped Harry to his feet and guided him out of the room.
July 2^nd, 1863
“Hermione!” Blaise stated firmly as he tried to take charge and examine the frightened girl clinging to Draco as if her life depended on it. They had managed to slip out of the tent once the Confederates disbursed in order to search for the people/person responsible for heartlessly murdering three of their men. Though they had to remove the charm hiding themselves in order to stay together as the blonde Slytherin could only go so fast while carrying Hermione in his weakened arms. None of which noticed that the brunette soldier had seen them and began following their group as they wandered into the tree line before stopping to catch their breaths. “Buttercup, look at me, walk me through the damage, darlin!” he continued while removing his shirt so he could wipe the blood from her face as Draco tried to set her down.
But when he reached out to touch the bookworm, she began to scream and scramble back into Draco’s grasp, shocking the Italian enough that he backed up and raise his hands while the Malfoy heir glanced at his friends in confusion.
“Mione?” Ginny tried while taking the shirt from Blaise, who seemed not only taken aback at the Gryffindor witch being afraid of him, but hurt that she saw him as a threat. “Mione…i-it’s alright, shhh…” The redhead reached out to brush a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her best friends’ face, but once again, Hermione panicked in fear, startling her Gryffindor friend.
She looked to Draco, who shrugged in bewilderment as he hugged the witch tightly in his warm embrace, before Blaise suddenly realized that the Golden Girl had formed an Attachment Bond to the Slytherin Prince. It wasn’t really a Rescue Romance, as Hermione had already grown feelings for the blonde before she’d ended up in the situation she had found herself in, but he figured that she only trusted Draco because he had saved her. Almost like a Hero Worship in a way, but at the same time it made her fearful of her friends and could have easily still happened if he or the redhead had rescued her instead.
Though he had only read about the behavioral trait in a few books, while studying to become a Healer, he had never seen it occur firsthand or knew that it could end up being such a serious case. What was happening to the bookworm, who had basically adhered herself to the Slytherin, was deeply physiological and he had no idea how to pull her out of it.
“Red…” he uttered as he reached out a hand and slowly pulled the witch back while shaking his head. “This is beyond my expertise, but…Draco…I’m sorry, mate but-”
“She bonded to me, didn’t she?” he cut in as he continued to hold Hermione close to his chest, knowing he was now fully responsible for her. However, it was a responsibility he was willing to take on as he would do anything for the girl as long as he knew she was okay.
“I-I’m afraid so…But I’ve never heard of it getting this bad-where she quite literally sees everyone, except you, as an enemy. I mean I can understand myself as she was attacked by males, but to be afraid of another woman…? I-I didn’t think it was possible.”
“You need to leave!” a man interrupted with an English accent underlined with a Southern tone, as he slowly walked up to the group. Ginny and Blaise quickly drew their wands and pointed them at the Confederate, who halted in place with his hands raised. “I am not here to harm you. I want no quarrel” he claimed, though he didn’t seem phased by the wands being pointed at him, almost as if he knew what they were. He had also seemed well education in his speech, causing Draco to think that the man might be the ancestor they were supposed to find. “They be coming for you. You need to leave…I-I can assist you.”
“How are we supposed to trust you!” Blaise spat with venom dripping in his voice. “Your bloody mates tried to assault my friend! What makes you any different? What’s to stop me from killing you right now?” he bellowed as a tear slipped from his lashes and his wand shook in his hand as he tried to control himself.
“You have nothing except my word, friend” the solider claimed softly. “That is all I have to give. But we need to leave now.”
“The one of knowledge, who does what there told…” Draco whispered loud enough for the pair shielding him and Hermione, to hear.
Blaise continued to glare at the Confederate standing before him as men could be heard shouting over the gunfire in their search for the group. But the Italian turned his attention to the blonde behind him while slowly lowering his wand, though his hateful features still lingered.
“You better be fucking right. Otherwise, I will kill him.”
“No more blood needs to be spilled, friend. I only wish to aid you…Like I have aided the ones before you…” Ginny, Blaise, and Draco each raised a brow in confusion, but the man refused to explain further until he escorted them all to safety. “We must go. Follow me!”
The group of five raced through the woods as fast as they could, only stopping a few times so Draco could adjust Hermione in his arms as she fell into a catatonic state and to hide when a few soldiers scoured the trees in an effort to find them. Once the coast was clear, the man leading them halted their stride with a raised hand and lowered himself behind a fallen timber as he scouted the small camp holding around a dozen or so horses.
“Are you kidding me?” Draco whispered loudly. “I’ve never ridden a horse before, let alone with another person!”
“It’s easy!” Ginny quietly retorted. “Put Mione on first, then you can mount the steed. Keep the balls of your feet in the stirrups and your hands on the reigns. I’ll tether you to me, alright, so you won’t have to worry about leading. Just keep your balance, tighten your legs on either side when needed, and whatever you do, don’t panic when we run and don’t let the horse know you’re scared. They can sense fear.”
“You want me run on that thing?”
“It’s like riding a broom, Blondie! The walk is actually a lot harder than a run. Just let your hips flow to the movements of the horse. You’re a fast learner, Draco, I know you can do this…Our lives literally depend on it.”
“Right, no pressure what’s so ever, Red!”
“Exactly!” she beamed sarcastically, causing the blonde to roll his eyes in frustration as he tried to remember the steps the redhead had just given him.
“Now’s our opening!” the soldier stated as he snuck around the massive log and ran towards four horses, tied to hitching posts.
The Slytherin Prince attempted to set the Gryffindor down in order to lift her onto the brown steed, but she gripped onto him tighter, making it difficult for any of them to leave. Ginny desperately wanted to help and apparently so did the Confederate, but the redhead stopped him because she knew if anyone, except the Malfoy heir, tried to touch her, the bookworm would scream and give away their position.
“Draco” Blaise muttered as he glanced around to make sure no one had seen them yet. “You have to get her on the horse!”
“She won’t bloody let go!” he rebutted while looking to his friend in irritation, who was holding back an annoyed groan while trying to think of something to help his mate without touching the Golden Girl.
“Let her know you’re not going anywhere! Tell her…it’ll only be for a second! Hurry! We don’t have a lot of time!”
Draco internally grunted while throwing his head back in frustration before lowering his lips to Hermione’s ear.
“Princess…Love, I need you to let go. It’s only for a moment so I can put you on the horse and get you away from here, alright? But we need to hurry. I promise I’ll be right here the whole time. I’m not leaving you. I just need to get you on the saddle before joining you, alright? You’ll be back in my arms in seconds…”
Hermione didn’t say anything, as the group impatiently waited while standing by their own horses, but she did lower her arms and Draco didn’t hesitate to quickly set her down and lift her by the waist to place her upon the stallion side-saddle. He made sure to keep a hand on her at all times as he mounted the horse behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as Ginny handed him the reigns. The redhead then tied a rope from his horse to hers’ before mounting the mare and guided them away from the war; completely unaware that two Confederates…had seen them.
XX
An hour after escaping the horrid Battle of Gettysburg, the group silently followed the solider who had helped them, as they walked down a dirt road with absolutely no idea as to where they were headed. However, after another half-hour of complete silence passed, Blaise had had enough of only hearing the clicking of hooves and decided to speak up in order to the receive the answers they were all wanting to know.
“Where’re we going?”
“To Chambersburg” the man replied without looking back. “I know a few people who can take you in, get you cleaned up, and into fresh duds. It is not too far a journey. A little less than half a day’s trot.”
“And these people…? Are…are they…”
“They are good people. Native Americans who have integrated with society. Of course, on the lower end of greenbacks, though good people nonetheless.”
“I’m sorry, did you say Native Americans? As in Indians?” Ginny inquired with a hint of fear in her voice. Hermione still wasn’t speaking and couldn’t tell the group that Indians were not to be feared, and even if she could, it still wouldn’t stop her friends from being hesitant to stay with them. Not after what they had seen occur in Jamestown.
“Their village was cast out by the White Man in the seventeen hundreds’. They are all that is left of their tribe. I promise you they are not like the wicked men of my camp…My apologies by the way. I have not properly introduced myself. Names Caleb-Caleb Rosenburt. Great Grand mum changed the last name after the scandal that our family had encountered almost two hundred years ago.”
Draco quickly sat up straight in his saddle when a thought came to mind, before clearing his throat as Hermione’s head rested against his pecs.
“What year is this?” he questioned while glancing back and forth between Ginny and Blaise who turned to look at him with curious expressions.
“That is right! You must not be aware of the year. 1863, my friend. In the good ol' state of Pennsylvania. When was the last place you were at?”
“Wait what?” Blaise inquired in utter confusion. “What do you mean the last place? And what did you mean when you said 'aid us like the ones before'?”
“Ahh, my apologies again, my good man. You are not the first ones I have encountered with magic.” He slowed his horse and steered it down a small hill before dismounting near a river. All the while, the three students stared at him in absolute shock. “Let the horses drink and I shall explain. But it is a long journey and these fine animals deserve a moments rest” he continued as his black horse lowered its head to graze and drink from the cool water while the stars twinkled brightly above them.
The Slytherin Prince slowly removed himself from atop his steed and groaned when he realized how sore the insides of his legs were from riding. He then helped the bookworm dismount after stretching his adductor muscles to obtain a somewhat normal feeling in them and allowed her to hug him as her legs quivered and he guided her towards the trio, patiently waiting for them a few meters away.
“Explain…” Blaise demanded with his arms crossed once Draco and Hermione had reached them and sat down in the grass as the blondes’ body was feeling every muscle in him cursing his name.
Caleb brought out a burlap canteen and began to fill it in the river before turning back to the group staring at him in restlessness. Handing Draco the canister and a rag from his pocket to clean the blood from the Golden Girls’ face, he sighed heavily before crossing his arms.
“I shall never forget their names. They were strange names but good men all the same; with magic they tried for a few days to contain from me. They taught me to read and write better than I was, after I had healed their wounds durin a row with few white men when they tried to help a negro being beatin on the streets in 1859. I was unfortunately drafted to the Confederates side not long after they told me their story and then stepped into a glowing green shape. A side I shall mention, I wanted nothing to do with. I have though passed their teachings on to the people of Chambersburg as a way to spread knowledge. I believe everyone should have the chance to read and write. There is even a small child whom I believe will one day be an amazin storyteller when he is grown.”
“So, others have gone through what we are going through now?” Draco questioned while rocking the brunette witch on his lap as she trembled in his arms and pushed away the rag when he accidentally grazed the large bruise upon her cheek.
“I cannot say the exact same places as those men who showed up a few years ago, but I am to assume the answer is yes. By the way, and please pardon my intrusion, but I have introduced myself to you all. Would you mind allowing me to know your names. I only need to hear them once as I have a very good memory.”
“I-I’m Ginny…uh Ginny Weasley. This is Draco Malfoy and our friend Hermione Granger…”
“My name is Blaise…” the Italian added before reluctantly continuing. “Zabini…” he was sort of hesitant to give out their full names, but the man had saved them from being caught by the side of pro-slavery. A side he may not have wanted to fight on but a side he was serving, nonetheless.
“What were their names? The men who taught you to read and…other things…” the blonde cut in, sensing his friends’ adverse feelings towards the soldier.
“Thorfinn Rowle and Regulus Black.” Everyone’s eyes widened in absolute shock as their mouths fell open and the blonde instantly stopped rocking Hermione. “Strange names, I know” Caleb chuckled.
“No, it’s not that…” Draco muttered as he looked to his two friends in worry. “We know them and-and one of them was not known for being a good man.”
“Well I am to guess the past did him well then and changed the darkness in his heart. They were both nothing but benevolent men durin their stay.”
Draco didn’t want to say that it was impossible as he really didn’t want to dive into the history of the Death Eater that once served under Voldemort, but it did make him internally question certain actions the man had done while under the reign of the Dark Lord.
“So, you’re the descendant of Julia Hamman then?” Ginny chimed in as her curiosity got the better of her; pulling the Prince from digging further into the memories of Thorfinn Rowle.
“You-you met her?” Caleb inquired completely stunned. “I have heard tales but…I never knew if the rumors where fully true or if it was just my mother overstating the stories to scare myself and siblings from ever returning to America.”
“How long have you lived in England?” the Italian asked curiously.
“My family never returned to the states after the events of Salem, Massachusetts. At least not until I decided to achieve answers. I could never find any information in any book I have ever read since I learned to read anything. I was headed North when I was drafted, and I figured that if I survived the war, I could continue making my way up to Boston as the army was already plannin on headin that way.”
“So, Salem did erase the timeline…” Draco uttered as he stared at the ground unseeingly. “They really pretended that we didn’t even exist.”
“What happened to Julia and Joseph once they left?” Blaise quickly questioned.
“Uhhh…From the stories my Grand mum told, Joseph passed away from a sickness once Julia was in her twenties. He remarried not long after returnin to England to a very nice woman with beautiful red hair. Though he never had more children…” Ginny bit her bottom lip and smiled at knowing that the man had found someone like she had told him he would, while her eyes began to water at the memory of the family she would never see again.
“And Julia?” the dark-haired wizard inquired.
“Um, she…she was ridiculed by most of the country after trying to marry a negro slave she had had a secret love affair with. I have only seen a single picture of him hidden in my Great grand mums’ things, but he looked a lot like you, actually…” he pointed to Blaise with his hand as the wizard huffed in surprise.
“Of course, she would…” he smiled proudly.
“Well…” Caleb continued sullenly. “The marriage did not bode well with the people of England as they thought she was tryin to free the slave from the family who owned him. The man, may his soul rest in peace, was murdered in front of her by a group of teen boys who were never convicted. She married again in her early thirties to a white gentleman willin to put up with her ‘taintin’ the family name and had two children. One would assume that taking her husband’s name would stop the terrible rumors spread about her, but…” he inhaled a deep breath while putting his hands in his pockets. “But my family has had to put up with the abuse ever since. My Grand mum changed our last name once more after moving us to Northern Ireland, which was not easy as that country was going through hardships of their own when we arrived in 1846. Luckily the following years the crops were good, however, we moved back in 1851 when I was eleven and when I turned seventeen, I moved to America.
“Anyway,” he sighed as he began walking back to his horse, “apparently since then, my family has not married or had children until they are at least in their mid-twenties to early thirties and always to someone of English descent. Being only twenty-three myself I feel I shall be ready soon to marry and break the wretched tradition as I have a beautiful woman waiting for me in Chambersburg. And seeing as I am now in hiding with you as I will be considered A.W.O.L…”
“How did you find this place you’re taking us too?” Ginny gently asked as Draco stood up to follow them.
“A woman by the name of Harriet Tubman. She was once a negro slave in Maryland that freed herself and worked with the Union Army as a scout and spy. She knows of my struggles with the war and we have aided each other many a times. After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, the Native Americans and others in Chambersburg have been used as an Underground Railroad to help transport free and enslaved negros, white abolitionists, and other activists, further North. Last I heard though, she had purchased property in New York and planned to care for her aging parents. I have not heard from her for some time, but I have done my best to keep the network alive over the last two years.”
“I learned about her!” Ginny pipped. “She was a fascinating and an amazing woman. I didn’t know she used that town as one of her Railroads.”
“You wouldn’t” Caleb explained as he mounted his steed. “Because she didn’t actually use it. She met with a man named Frederick Douglass in New York during her journeys, who told her about a man named John Brown that was staying in Chambersburg and wanted to plan a raid on Harpers Ferry in Virginia. Mr. Douglass advised him against it but did provide ten dollars from a supporter and helped another future raider locate Mr. Brown. Long story short, she told me about the town before departin North. Since then, I have found ways to slip off and guide a few slaves captured by Confederates to the town before returnin. Like a ghost in the night. No one has ever known that I was a missing…at least until now, seeing as I was supposed to be on the front lines in the morning.”
“So, why help us? And how did you even know we were trapped in the past?” Blaise questioned as everyone else mounted their horses and began walking away from the river to continue their long journey.
“I saw those soldiers take your friend into their tent. Ms. Hermione Granger. But I knew if I spoke up, I would be considered a no-account rat, making it difficult for me to continue helpin those in need. But then I saw your blonde mate with his wand in his hand and his hair sparking, and I knew he did not belong. Cannot say I was not utterly terrified however, of knowin he could murder like he did. But those bastards deserved everything they got.” He clicked his reigns, causing his steed to trot before continuing. “Once Lieutenant Colonel Taylor left the tent fit to be tied, I figured you all left out the back somehow. Though when you emerged from the front, I knew you had to have used magic to hide yourselves…so I followed you out into the woods and here we be.”
“Well…thank you” Blaise stated in embarrassment. “And I’m sorry for almost killing you-or really wanting to kill you.”
“Not to worry, friend. I understand that you had to do what you could to protect your mates. No harm no foul…Is she going to be alright?”
“We don’t know” Draco muttered as he trotted next to Ginny and glanced down at the brunette huddled against him. “But I do know she’s the strongest of us all. If anyone can make it through this…it’s her.”
“Good…good…Now best to stay in the shadows during this trek. We should be arriving in Chambersburg come morning light. You can rest once we arrive and I shall make sure Mrs. Pidgeon serves her famous rabbit stew. I still have no idea how she gets the meat so tender, but she is a queen of cooking and a true Saint if I do say so myself. So, get as comfortable as you can. We may only stop once or twice to water the horses, but we can continue talking along the way as long as we stay quiet so not to be overheard by slave catchers…”
Draco did his best to adjust Hermione in front him. He wanted her to at least be content, hoping the many hours they had left in their travel would eventually pull her out of the traumatizing state, and he wished with all his heart that she would be alright. He didn’t lie when he said she was the strongest person he knew, but he had seen how women, just as tough, crumble into a shell of a person after being raped by high ranking Death Eaters. He just had to believe that the Hermione he knew, would be okay, and promised to do his best to comfort her in any way she needed. Their relationship had barely started, he wasn’t ready to give her up now.
Gently kissing the top of her dirt strewn hair, close to where that pathetic imbecile had pulled out a chunk of her beautiful brown curls, Draco tightly wrapped his arms around the Gryffindor Princess and began whispering a prayer to her muggle God, to protect her with everything he had.
Before I go any further, I want to give you a heads up that I have no idea if 16 will be on time. I just had to put 1of my 3 cats down Thursday night after she went into kidney failure and it was by far the hardest thing I ever had to do. I will still try my best to get 16 to you on time but with two deaths for me this year…My heart is just a broken mess. So, I apologize now if chapters seem overly depressing or not up to my original standards. I will say they have already been planned out, so the depressing parts are not because of my grief. They are just amplified because of it. And I do apologize if I make you cry in this story. It is and isn’t my intention lol.
Anyway! You made it through the chapter!! Yay!! Okay so for the new interaction, I am going to do something similar to what I have done in my Repeat After me story just without the poll. I realized you guy love to have some sort of interaction as the fic progresses and I absolutely love including you. So…for the next 3 eras/clues (as they are relatively easy to guess and each era gets longer and longer), I am going to play what I am calling the “I believe…” game, where the top five winners will get to create a Character the group will meet in the past (not an ancestor) OR create a student in the present that goes to Hogwarts. There are rules, just like every game, so let’s dive right in.
Rules are as followed:
1- Everyone will get a chance to guess! ONE GUESS PER PERSON! When a clue appears at the end of a chapter, guiding the group into the next location, PM me your guess (if you are on a site that does not have PM, please put your guess in an email. If it is in a review, I feel like that’s cheating and gives your answer away so unfortunately, review answers will not be accepted. My email is on my profile. Not yet on AO3 so PM me if you are on that site.) Those without an account, are required to email me your guess. Do not put it in a review. I am TRUSTING all people emailing to not cheat and use multiple emails to send multiple guesses. If I find out you have, that is grounds for immediate disqualification. You will only receive a response that I have gotten your guess marked down, but nothing else unless you have won. Reason being that I feel a lot of you will message me and I don’t want to overwhelm myself by trying to reply to everyone like I do with reviews.
2- The answers I am searching for is NOT what you have done with Gettysburg and you will receive more than just a shout out. (Guests must provide a name of some sort for credit) If you know the era and want to play, the answer I am looking for from you, is a date. Month and Year, you believe the period will start in. Each location and timestamp have already been created so there is no cheating. As an example: (we’ll use Gettysburg for this) “I believe July 1863”, is how the answer should be displayed. BOTH ARE NEEDED TO WIN AND BOTH NEED TO BE CORRECT. I am not looking for a full date, again JUST the month and the year. It will all make sense when the next era comes into play. Also please DO NOT post your review in the message with your answer. Reviews should be kept separate and on the story itself.
3- The Top Five on point, or closest to when I am starting the era, guesses, will get to create a Characters’ name, age, the way they look, their year at Hogwarts/career/job/reason for being alive basically, and possibly their personality if I think it will work in the fic. My beta and I will judge all guesses and chose the closest answers. You will be notified by PM, or email, before the next chapter is posted. Your Character will then be placed somewhere throughout the era/present timeline and you will also be given a shout out when the person is going to appear. You will have only 2 days from being contacted as a winner, to provide your Character description. If you do not respond, another will be chosen in your place.
4- Winners, I am asking you to please give serious Characters that will fit the timeline. In other words, no blue hair with purple eyes for a man named Bobthena unless the year is like 2019 (which it won’t be). If I receive anything crazy like that, you will be disqualified, and a new winner will be chosen in your place.
5- Last rule and this is important as I have to have time to plan and place the Character into the story. Guesses will only be accepted up to 3 days from day the clue is given, including the Sunday the chapter is posted. So, you have until 11:59pm Tuesday, Eastern Time in the US and Canada, to submit your guesses. Winners will then be chosen the following Wednesday, possibly into Thursday, depending on my work schedule. The Character can appear at any given time during the era and in any given chapter for as long as I feel they can work, so don’t be discouraged thinking I have forgotten you because I haven’t. I am doing this to make it easier on myself as I have to find a way to insert the person and have the story still make sense/flow without falling behind.
**Also please note that even though you are given a choice, if you choose to place someone in the present, that does not mean the person will forever be in the fic from then on out. They can easily be a student I choose to hide in the shadows once their scenes are done or…for all we know, I may fall in love with the character and continue to write for them. We just don’t know.
***This game starts once the current era is done and the new eras’ clue is revealed!! So, you have at least 5-6 chapters to think of a person you want to put in the story if you win! Good Luck!
Now the SHOUT OUTS on FF-Fanfiction, AFF-Adult-Fanfiction, and AO3- Archive Of Our Own (sorry Wattpad) If you don’t see your name and you have proof that you answered correctly, then please let me know. I might have just accidentally missed you when writing down the names.
Those who guessed the Civil War- LiteraryG (FF) KaitNac (FF) Baigemaster (FF) LLyvers6 (FF) Jacpin2002 (FF) Ddraig_Fach (AO3) DistinctlyME (AO3) IndefiniteArrrow (AO3)
Those who guessed the specific battle I was looking for, The Battle of Gettysburg- Calimocho (FF), Gizzy’s Mama (FF) HarryPGinnyW4eva (FF) Baigelmaster (FF) SlytherinQueen420 (AFF) 1_Luv215 (AFF) HoneySweetCutie (AO3) To_Anyone316 (AO3) AlyssaParson (AO3)
Love you all and thank you to everyone that placed a guess but unfortunately was not correct! However, the wars you chose have given me some good ideas if I plan to do a sequel or another time travel story in the future! Until next Sunday! XOXO
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The Paths We Take