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Fooling Fate sequel to Bound	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 44179 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That lucky duck JK Rowling does. I don't make any money from this fanfic. I just play with her toys and put them back in relatively good condition.

Chapter List
- 4
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- 6
Hermione plopped down at the Ranch dinner table with a groan. “What a day.”

“It isn’t over yet,” Melody said and tossed her a muggle energy drink. They’d discovered them when going to muggle medical school and healer school back to back. Energy drinks were the quick solution to making coffee or addictive pepper ups.

“Don’t remind me.”

“Sorry.” Melody smiled sheepishly and then popped the top on her own can. “Can’t be helped though. We’ve got to talk to Nemesis tonight.”

Draco sat down and snatched another can off the table. “Do you honestly think we can summon her?

“We’ve got to try,” Harmony said, her voice quivering. “I got the worst visions today.”

“About?” Severus sat down gingerly. He had taken a few hexes in his battle. They weren’t bad but the adrenaline had worn off and now he was achy.

“I’d say the trip to Voldemort’s castle times twenty.”

“Fuck.” Harry had barely managed to make it through the door but he’d heard every word. He sat and pulled Ginny down beside him before taking one of the drinks.

“It’s an appropriate word.” Celeste looked tired as she sat down in her husband’s lap, careful to avoid his wrapped knee.

“The children are all sleeping,” Alex said as he slipped in. He picked Melody up and then sat her back down on his lap.

“They are hardly children anymore,” Philippe said wistfully. “Still, are you sure we should do this?”

“I think you should.” Rhapsody stood in the doorway, Cadence looking at them shyly from behind her shoulder.

Melody smothered her snicker into Alex’s shoulder. “You’re losing your touch sweetheart.”

Alex snorted. “Well, they’re sneaky. What can I say?”

“How about the truth?” Rhapsody offered and plopped down in a chair. She grabbed one drink and threw another to Cadence. “I’ve kept it secret for a long time but it looks like it’s time to let the cat out of the bag.”

“Cadence?” Harmony turned to her shy daughter who was trying to hide behind her honey blonde hair.

“I don’t have to know, although I do. I can see it just fine.”

“So you can.” Melody struggled to her feet. “Well, no sense in wasting time. Let’s go.”

“You think they’ll come?” Rhapsody’s blue eyes were wide with wonder and excitement.

“They’d better,” Melody hissed. “I didn’t fight Death Eaters today for my health.”

The crew all got up from their chairs and headed out to the back of the ranch where the old blood circle used to be. This was their best chance to summon the Goddess Nemesis. This place was always a painful one to visit. Even without the enchantment they’d broken years ago, images fluttered through their minds unbidden. The twins lay there in their mind’s eye, broken and bleeding while one vampire and two daywalkers made quick work out of the vengeful muggles who’d caused their suffering.

“NEMESIS!” Harmony and Melody called out in unison, willing the Goddess to come down and speak with them.

“Fated twins,” a feminine voice called. The green eyed beauty walked gracefully into the circle. “Why have you called upon the Gods?”

“Someone’s fucking with the fates.” Melody didn’t mince words at all. She was beyond livid.

“We were afraid of this,” Nemesis sighed. “We were blind to this situation.”

“Were…as in past tense?” Draco asked, no longer fearing the wrath of the Gods. He’d spoken with them too often in the previous years for that. They wouldn’t destroy their strongest creation, at least not for being snippy with them.

“We have the ability to see when we have been summoned by those who serve us,” Nemesis said softly.

Severus snorted. “And here I thought I was free of a master.”

“You know we are not like your last two masters dark one.” Nemesis frowned at him. “You truly are working for the greater good and we require no more than a mission every now and then to keep the forces balanced, no wars.”

“Well there’s going to be a war now, isn’t there?” Alex was clenching and unclenching his fists, trying to fight down his anger.

“I am afraid there will be if you are unable to find the source.”

“Care to tell us who the source is?” Melody spat.

“They are shielded from the fates by powerful dark magic.” Nemesis shook her head in frustration. “We are unable to see them. I am afraid that you will only have your gifts to guide you.”

“If you can’t see them,” Rhapsody broke in. “Then how in the hell are we going to see them?”

Nemesis looked perplexed. “Harmony, explain to the young fated twins.”

Harmony nodded and stepped up to her girls. “Instead of seeing everything in large chunks when you are around the family, you’ll have to search. Rhapsody, that means brushing up against people. The fates can’t give you the future, but you can glimpse their past and present. Cadence can tell if someone is deceitful or hiding something. You have to work together to uncover it. Melody and I will have to teach you how to dreamshare.”

“Wait!” Hermione cried. “They’re going to join us?”

“They all will,” Nemesis said softly. “I am afraid that even with all your resources, you will need backup. It is unheard of to have two fated sets of twins alive in their prime at the same time and yet, there is. We have been preparing for this day since the beginning.”

“This is worse than Voldemort.” Celeste’s heart sank even as she said it aloud.

“I am afraid so. He was the starting point but someone else has taken up his work.” Nemesis shook her head. “This is why the children are so powerful, some with phenom powers, some stronger than any balanced individual alive.”

“That’s not true,” Melody said suddenly. “I saw a pair today, every bit as powerful as both sets of pure twins.”

“So it has begun.” Nemesis bowed her head. “There are matches for every child of the phenoms and the pure. Each combination brings something different to the table, sharing abilities, bonding to create a better force.”

Melody let out a strangled gasp. “You’re rewriting the laws of magic.”

Nemesis shook her head. “Only for a trusted few. There is a setback.”

“You have no idea how it’s going to work out,” Rhapsody yelled in outrage. “You were so desperate to create a stronger weapon without risking their balances like Draco and Hermione that you created…a…BLIND MAGIC!”

“It is not blind. We have an idea of what they were meant to do.”

“It makes sense now.” Melody grabbed her hair and plopped down on the ground. “Why both sets of the Malfoy twins are so powerful they have to wear dampeners, why those children I saw in class today matched beautifully, just like a phenom half. What are they supposed to do?”

“The phenoms will pair like you all have.” Nemesis was speaking barely above a whisper but her voice seemed to rattle around inside their heads. “The children of the pure couple, they are different.”

“Different how?” Hermione croaked. She felt sick to her stomach. What had they done to her babies?

“With pure parents, their balance is perfect. The ones the oldest twins are paired with, they are orphans from the same pairing.”

“The other pure couples,” Draco breathed. “You didn’t let them live.”

“We could not.” Nemesis appeared sad. “They were found to be flawed, craving power over the greater good.”

“Did you even give them a chance?” Draco growled. “Before I met Hermione, I would have gladly taken the power and ran with it.”

“Use your head Draco,” Melody sniffed. “Those kids were orphans from the same pairing type, meaning they brought the couples together.”

“And they abused their powers,” Nemesis said. “You, pure couple, do not have any idea how rare you are and that rarity was passed to your children. They wish only to suppress their power and crave to help you with them.”

“These others,” Severus broke in. “Can you guarantee the same?”

“You’re sick,” Melody growled at the Goddess. “You tempered them like Draco and Severus.”

“It worked.” Nemesis’s eyes were cold, unrepentant. “Those children only need the kindness the pure couple twins have to turn to the light.”

“You put them in abusive homes so they would what, be beaten into submission?” Celeste’s eyes were indigo with anger.

“Draco,” Nemesis said softly. “What was the one thing you wanted when you were little?”

Draco choked back a roar of outrage. He knew exactly where she was going with this. Was that the reason Lucius had appeared to suddenly change? Did the fates influence him? “I wanted justice.”

“Exactly.” Nemesis nodded in approval. “To calm your inner turmoil, no, we did not influence your father in any way. Your raising was a surprising accident. In fact, the fates were sure they would need to cut your thread before you reached majority.”

“So you thought you’d try it again,” Harry growled. “Do you realize that being an orphan was what put Tom Riddle over the edge?”

“We were,” Nemesis said. “We have watched very closely, tried not to influence their destinies too much. They each have a loving parent, one to nurture and watch over them.”

“Love.” Harmony laughed humorlessly. “Love changes everything.”

“It does,” Nemesis said. “This is the greatest battle you will ever embark in, I promise you this. The Gods do not interfere so much without purpose.”

“What happens if we don’t stop them?” Ginny asked.

“Armageddon.”

“How long?” Alex asked.

“It is unknown. As I said, we can only see when you have discovered it for yourselves. Bring the pairs together. Learn their powers. Use them to the best of your abilities. Once again, protection will come down to the pure couple.”

“Who has to die this time?” Harry spat.

“It hasn’t been prophesied.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Ginny asked.

Harmony answered. “It means that since no one has been announced to take the threat on, it doesn’t fall to one person like Harry did.”

“We wish you luck,” Nemesis said softly. “This time you have the powers of the Gods behind you should you find yourselves unable to continue. Call to them when you have lost all hope.”

A loud crack sounded out and the Goddess disappeared.

“Well that’s just fucking great,” Melody screamed and kicked at an imaginary foe.

“Let’s get into the house,” Rhapsody said suddenly. “We need to start now.”

“What do you feel?” Harmony asked.

“I’m not sure.” Rhapsody’s brows were furrowed in confusion. “I…you are all going to Khrone’s castle this weekend…I think. Everyone needs to be informed and ready by then but I don’t know why.”

“Let’s see if we can figure it out,” Harmony said softly and clutched her daughter to her. The pair walked inside in silence.

“What can I do?” Cadence asked softly.

“We,” Melody said, walking over and placing her arm around Cadence in a comforting gesture. “Have the best job. We get to look around. You’d be surprised at what we see that Harmony and Rhapsody won’t.”

“Really?” Cadence’s eyes filled with hope.

Hermione’s heart went out to her. Cadence was often left behind when everyone got together, preferring to sit in the corner and observe everyone. She decided to lift the girl’s spirits a bit. “You know, Melody’s saved our lives more than once with her gift. I’m sure you will too.”

“I’m scared,” Cadence whimpered.

Harry shook his head. “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”*

“Well Potter, I’m impressed,” Severus drawled.

Harry shrugged. “It’s true. Being scared doesn’t make you a coward. A coward is someone who doesn’t stand up for their beliefs. Walking to my death was terrifying. I was scared out of my mind but I still did it. We all did and I believe you are much stronger than you give yourself credit for Cadence.”

“Really Uncle Harry?”

“Of course sweetheart. I’ve always thought so. We all have faith in you.” Harry gave her a heartwarming smile.

Cadence’s face lit up with the praise. She thanked him and took off for the house like a shot.

“Thank you Harry,” Philippe said softly. “She’s always needed just an extra little bit of encouragement.”

“I think we’ll all need it soon,” Harry breathed. “Severus, I really hope you have some pepper up handy because I don’t think we’ll be getting any sleep in the next few days.”

“Truer words were never spoken,” Melody snorted. “Well, come on. Let’s go yank the rose colored glasses off our children, shall we?”

“I’m not sure how well the twins will take to knowing they need to find their match,” Hermione said softly.

“Which pair?” Alex asked drolly.

“Everyone except the girls,” Draco answered.

“Let’s save that part for later,” Melody cut in. “The boys are going to have a hard enough time wrapping their heads around their conception. I think they might explode if we drop it all on them at once.”

“Do you think we should just let them find their matches on their own?” Ginny asked. “I know James would be furious if he didn’t have a choice…or at least an illusion of one.”

“Well, let’s ask the experts,” Melody smirked and looked at Hermione and Draco. “How about it you two? How bad was it when you found out your fate wasn’t your own anymore?”

“We almost died,” Draco said flatly. “I say we break it to them over a few days, let them wrap their heads around it. If we’d learned everything in one day, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Over time it is,” Melody announced. “We just can’t wait too long. There’s no telling how far the Master has gotten in his quest.”

“I think,” Hermione piped up, “that we need to sit down and make a list of everything we know about him...or her. The more we know, the better of a chance we have at guessing the next move.”

“That’s a good idea,” Melody said. “We can make a flow chart. Even irrelevant information could be important to the plot. Just look at Moldy. One pair of twins thrown into the mix proved to be his downfall. I just hope several sets will do the same to this Master, whoever they are.”

“I think someone should go through those books you got from Voldemort’s place,” Harry added. “We’ve got to know what we’re up against.”

“I’ll do it,” Celeste said softly. “The Vampire liaison office practically runs itself anyway. It’ll be easy to take time off and search through the books.”

“Take Harmony with you,” Melody ordered. “She will feel if something bad will happen from opening the books.”

“I’ll help too,” Ginny said. “I’m sure Luna can run the Quibbler without me for a while. Three heads are better than two.”

“It’s settled then,” Melody said curtly. “Hermione, Draco, keep an eye on Bracken. With those four showing up this afternoon and him being a former Death Eater, we’ll need to track him. They’ll need a healer on board for this and he could be just the guy they’re looking for. Harry, question those boys using whatever you need to. You know what’s at stake now. Sev and I will keep our eyes peeled for any activity at the school. Can someone talk to Remus and see if he can sense anything going on at Hogwarts? He’ll be the most sensitive to it.”

“I’ll floo Demitri when we get home,” Draco said softly. “He and Remus have become friends since he now teaches Magical History. I still can’t believe Binns crossed over. Anyway, I think between the two of them, they can sniff anything out.”

Melody laughed. “I never thought I’d see the day when a vampire and a werewolf got along but then again, I never thought I’d see another day since I was sixteen. I really should just quit being surprised. It’s getting pretty old.”

“Each surprise comes with knowledge that you are still alive,” Severus said softly.

“That’s true.” Melody shook her head in sorrow. “I have a feeling that you and I will be sharing a couple of cases of fire whiskey over the next few days.”

Celeste sighed. “Alex, you have enough sober up potion made?”

“I brewed an entire crate last time,” Alex laughed. “Who knows, maybe we’ll join them.”

“The more the merrier.” Melody gave a slow grin. “Maybe one of you will stay sober enough to hex the wart off the end of Whorple’s nose when she comes to disapprove.”

“I didn’t see a wart on her nose.” Hermione’s head was cocked in thought.

“She keeps in glamoured,” Severus snickered. “I didn’t notice it either until Melody hit her with a finite during a meeting one day.”

“Who’s side is Whorple on anyway?” Harry asked, frowning in memory of the screeching woman who immediately pegged Melody and Severus for the attack.

“Whorple has always been and will always be on Whorple’s side,” Melody said with a bit of venom in her voice. “The woman is a rat of Pettigrew proportion. She’d sell her own mother if it got her up the ladder.”

“So how did she let you two teach there?” Ginny asked curiously.

Severus gave her a wicked smirk. “I called in a favor.”

“Dumbledore,” Ginny and Harry said at the same time.

Melody laughed darkly. “Whorple isn’t stupid enough to go against the word of the great Albus Dumbledore. When he endorsed us, she practically tripped over herself to let us in.”

“We’ll have to watch her,” Harry said softly. “We all know how Pettigrew ended up.”

“Dinner,” Melody sniffed.

“He tasted terrible.” Alex shuddered.

“Whorple smells like boiled cabbages.” Severus cringed visibly.

“Well,” Celeste said thoughtfully. “Let’s hope we don’t have to eat her.”

The couples laughed as they walked up stairs to the ranch. They were feeling anything but happy though. For their children, the world was about to tilt on its axis.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Malfoy! Get in my office now!” Bracken’s voice carried through the halls of St. Mungo’s.

“Which one of us did you want to see?” Hermione asked as she dragged her tired body through the door.

“You’ll do,” Bracken growled and slammed a folder down on his desk. “Sit!”

‘You okay sweetheart?’ Draco asked through their mind connection. He’d felt her dread and of course, he’d heard Bracken screaming. He was on the level below and still heard him.

Hermione mentally sighed. ‘I’ll let you know. He looks livid.’

‘He looks at you cross eyed and I’ll rip his bloody limbs off.’

Hermione had to stop a giggle from coming out. ‘I’m sure he was already cross eyed.’

Draco mentally chuckled. ‘Well, you have a point. Let me know if I need to step in.’

‘I can take care of myself you know.’

‘Actually, I was thinking I’d have to stop you from killing him.’

‘Nice save darling. Ever the slippery Slytherin.’

‘Always.’

“Healer Malfoy, are you even paying attention?” Bracken was practically purple with outrage at her audacity to ignore him.

“I’m sorry Healer Bracken,” Hermione said as sugary sweet as she possibly could. “I’m afraid the healing from yesterday has left me a bit drained.”

Bracken looked momentarily mollified by her excuse. After all, the healing yesterday normally took a dozen team members to complete and it had been just her and Draco. He slid the folder over to her roughly, a smug smirk on his face when she just barely managed to catch it before it hit the floor.

“What’s this?” She asked as politely as she could.

“Why don’t you tell me?” Bracken sneered.

Hermione squelched the desire to hex him and opened the folder gingerly, just in case it was jinxed. It had happened before, someone trying to have a go at the newbies. What she found there made her wish that she’d never opened the file. She’d seen victims very similar to the one in the folder, only there was no way she’d ever be able to tell Bracken that. She mentally called for Draco, unsure if she could continue this without his comforting presence.

The girl couldn’t have been much older than Ara. Her crystal blue eyes were glazed with pain, tears cascading down her drawn cheeks and into her ash blonde hair. She was nude, as patients usually were for these kinds of photos, no decency for the mortally injured. Her wrists and ankles bore faint burn marks. The rest of her body was littered in the same scratches and bruises she’d seen on the victims in the dungeon of Voldemort’s castle. Her chest had an angry red scar indicative of a badly healed wound. Faint burn marks were around that as well. Her mouth was closed but Hermione would bet that her teeth were elongated and sharp. Surprisingly, there was no fine hair all over her body like the others.

“W-why,” she strangled out and then cleared her throat again. “Why would you think I would know about this?”

“Because Healer Malfoy,” Bracken drawled, sitting back and steepling his fingers. His face had a blank expression but his eyes looked like a predator stalking their prey. “That patient has only said two words since she arrived here moments ago. Before yesterday, they would have no meaning to me but things have changed.”

“What words?”

“Melody Bach.”

Hermione’s heart stopped. A million different scenarios played about in her head and each one was worse than the last. There was no doubt in her mind that if Melody were to take a look at her, she’d inform them that this poor girl had only half a soul left. Why was she at the hospital though? The other victims had been carelessly cast aside, no thought spared for them at all. Why this girl? Had she survived longer than the others? What if it was something more sinister? What if she was bait? Could the Master be tempting Melody out into the open? She couldn’t just let it go. Half a soul or not, the girl was obviously strong enough to be healed.

‘We need Cadence,’ Draco broke into her thoughts. ‘I’m almost there sweetheart. I’ll call Melody and explain everything but I agree, she can’t come, not until we know more.’

“I see you’re having a hard time coming to terms with this,” Bracken scoffed and got up from his desk. “Would you care to see the patient that your best friend almost killed?”

“She did not!” Hermione shrieked before she could get a hold of herself. She had just made it into the hallway. Her outburst turned every head.

“Then why did the victim know her name?”

“I don’t know…but I know she didn’t do it.”

“How do you know that? Bach could have easily tortured the victim and then left,” Bracken said, his face set in a smile similar to a shark.

“She’s been at Salem for the last two weeks, preparing for her job.”

Bracken’s smile widened. “And what about after she left here?”

“She was attacked by Death Eaters while in her classroom,” Draco said loudly as he strolled up. “If you’d like to double check, I’m sure Aurors Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley would be more than happy to give you the reports.”

Bracken paled as the smile slid right off his face. “I…attack…Death Eaters?”

“Four of them,” Draco said coldly. “I’m sure you’d remember their names, Rookwood, Yaxley, Mulciber, and Nott Sr.

“W-why would I k-know them?” Bracken’s eyes were wild with fear.

Draco quirked an eyebrow and gave the man a cold smile. He ran his fingers over his covered left forearm. “I’m sure we have more things in common than just healing, wouldn’t you say so?”

Bracken turned a sickly grey color at that. His eyes were locked to Draco’s arm where he was stroking it almost lovingly. His head started shaking involuntarily as if he were trying to shake the image out of his brain.

“I’m sure you’d like to put certain…events…behind you, wouldn’t you?” Draco purred.

Bracken choked for a moment before nodding vehemently.

“Wonderful. So let’s decide where to go from here, shall we?”

“I-I, she, I,” Bracken stammered and then opened and closed his mouth several times like a gaping fish.

Draco sneered. “My, my, I imagine He didn’t care for your oh so eloquent soliloquy, did he?”

Draco mentally told Hermione to back away and run for the first floor where Cadence would meet her. He would take care of Bracken’s mouth before she got back. Hermione was terrified but kept her face completely blank as she did what she was told. She knew his goal, to scare Bracken so badly that he would keep quiet, at least until they could figure out what was going on with him. Visions of veritiserum and Severus viciously invading his mind came floating through her conscious and after all she’d seen in the past few weeks, she couldn’t find it within her to protest.

Bracken was shaking so hard that Draco was certain the man would either have a heart attack, soil himself, or possibly both. He kept shaking his head, his eyes roving around wildly as if looking for some unseen enemy. Voldemort had apparently done a number on the healer but what remained to be seen was if he’d joined willingly or under duress.

“What do you what?” Bracken managed to whisper.

“Me? World Peace,” Draco deadpanned. Bracken didn’t seem to find it very funny. “Very well. I want your silence because you damn well know that Melody had nothing to do with it. You will not leave my sight until my wife and I have examined the patient. After that…we’ll see. However, I suggest you not get any brilliant ideas. After all, how many people know why you wear a thick leather cuff over your arm?”

Bracken seemed to regain a bit of his lost courage. “You bare the same mark,” he hissed. “If I go down, you’ll go with me.”

Draco gave him a wolfish smile. “Yes, but do you have the endorsement of the Savoir of the Wizarding World?”

“What?” Bracken was looking very peaked again.

“It’s funny how quickly everyone seems to forget. You see, Harry Potter will be more than willing to give an accurate account of what really happened, how I was paramount in bringing down the Dark Lord.”

“All the interviews, he says he won’t relinquish names.”

“He will if I ask.” Draco allowed a smug smile to cross his face. “After all, it was I who asked him to leave me out of it. Of course, if I find an article in the paper about this tomorrow, I‘ll know right where to go won’t I?”

“You’re worse than your father,” Bracken gasped.

Draco quirked an eyebrow. “Knew him did you?”

“I-I, no I,” Bracken threw his hands up. “Fine. Fine. Whatever you want.”

“That’s what I thought. Ah, here comes my wife now. Shall we examine the patient?”

“W-who’s that with her?”

“None of your business,” Draco snapped.

Cadence looked so tired. It had to be three in the morning in America. Of course, she was probably trying to get back on Hogwarts time before they had to leave but no one knew more about how hard it was then Draco and Hermione. They’d lived it for the better part of twenty years.

“Hello sweetheart,” Draco greeted her warmly and kissed her cheek. “Glad you could make it. How are things at home?”

“Not good,” Cadence said softly. “When I left, they were getting to Nate and Zach’s conception.”

“Do you need to return?” Hermione asked in concern.

“I’d rather not be there for that.” Cadence shuddered. “I know they’ll be fine. Rhap, well, you know, but I don’t want to see that.”

“Well, we might have to call Severus away for a bit. Probably a good time to do so,” Draco half-laughed. He knew that Nate and Zach would probably hex first and ask questions later. He wondered when they’d go after him for brutally beating their mother. It wasn’t like he’d had a choice in the matter but it would only be natural to want to punish him for the injustice to Melody.

“Don’t worry,” Cadence said softly. “They’ll understand that part.”

Draco smiled. “Always so in tune.”

Cadence’s eyes softened. “Let’s see her.”

When the walked into the room, Cadence immediately spun around and buried her head in Draco’s shoulder. It had been much worse than she’d prepared herself for.

“It’s okay sweetheart,” Draco whispered in her ear. “Take your time. It takes a bit of getting used to from what I’m told. Do you need a stomach calmer?”

“No,” Cadence croaked. “I just wasn’t quite as ready as I thought I was. I’m okay now.” She turned around and steeled herself to look at the poor girl. “Oh Gods. Aiden.”

“What?” Draco asked.

“It’s Aiden.” Cadence gave him a pointed look.

Draco’s heart sank. He knew what she meant. This poor girl was Aiden’s match, his perfect mate. “Is it…gone?”

“Half.”

Draco nodded, his stomach churning. They had to help this poor girl but how could she function properly with only half a soul?

‘Oh Gods,’ Hermione thought frantically. ‘Do you remember what they put in place of the other half of the soul?’

‘Wolf. Fuck, she’s a half werewolf. How is that going to work with the child of two daywalkers?’ Draco cleared his throat and whispered as much to Cadence.

“Blind magic,” Cadence muttered so softly that only they could have possibly heard it. “Even they don’t know.”

“Is there a tracking charm?” Hermione whispered in Cadence’s ear.

“Yes, and more. If Melody so much as sets foot in here, a dozen people will be alerted and come for her.”

“How do we fix it?” Draco asked. He had one eye trained on Bracken who had backed himself into a corner. Deciding that he was too much of a liability to let loose at this point in the game, he cast a charm to cause the portly man to become deaf. Then he stuck him to the wall and put a containment charm around him. If he so much as twitched, he’d get the shock of his life.

“Nice spell work,” Cadence giggled but it was short lived. “It’s an old Death Eater charm, one Melody told me about. It will only respond to the Mark but this one is…the Mark, it’s different.”

“Different how?” Draco asked.

“Can I see your Mark please?”

Draco brought a shaking hand up to roll back his shirtsleeve. The ugly skull and snake tattoo had faded to a dull grey but its outline was still visible. If he could honestly be remorseful for getting it, Melody could take it away but he wasn’t. His entry secured his mother’s life. His spying saved countless muggles that were captured and stopped others from being attacked. He couldn’t be sorry for that.

“There,” Cadence said, pointing to the skull. “This part is different. There are…horns, like the muggle depictions of Satan. It’s a small change but still noticeable.”

“Could we break it with enough power?” Hermione asked.

Cadence nodded. “Yes but she’s not strong enough yet to face that kind of magic. Besides… it gets worse. There’s a magic level detection charm on her. If you use more than the normal amount of magic on her, they’ll come anyway.”

“Does she know about any of this?” Hermione asked. The girl was unconscious and for that she was thankful.

“No. Her aura is shredded but what’s left shows that she’s not deceitful. She’s being used as bait.”

“Can she be saved?” Hermione asked.

Cadence could only shrug. “She needs her soul back.”

“Is there a way to repair a ripped soul?” Draco asked.

“I don’t know,” Cadence said softly. “But if we could at least find the necklace her soul has been bound to, we could buy her some time until we knew more.”

“How do you know about the necklaces?” Draco asked.

Cadence grinned. “Rhapsody is crap at keeping secrets…at least from me.”

“Thank you for coming Cadence,” Draco said softly. “I’m going ask you to go home now. Draw out all the enchantments she has when you get there. See if you and Melody can crack them since she knows the secrets of the original Mark. Send Severus as well, okay? Tell him to bring some veritiserum.”

“Alright,” Cadence nodded. “Her name is Zandra Carter. I recognize her from school, muggle-born, Hufflepuff, didn’t seem to fit in. I would have bet money on Ravenclaw. Aiden never even gave her a second glance.”

“I guess we should contact her parents,” Hermione said softly.

“No need,” Cadence sighed sadly. “They’re both dead, car crash. I remember Rhapsody talking about her. She was staying with her uncle until she turned seventeen and Rhap was worried about her, said it wouldn’t end well. I hate it that she’s always right.”

“She does too,” Draco said knowingly.

Cadence nodded in agreement. “I’ll get Uncle Sev for you. He’ll probably be glad to get out of the line of fire for a few moments.”

Hermione walked down to the first floor to see Cadence home. Draco took the opportunity to examine Zandra. The girl’s wounds were identical to the many victims down in the dungeons of Voldemort’s castle. Judging from the healing rate and taking into an account she was part werewolf, she’d only escaped this morning. He imagined they had dumped her outside the hospital to use as bait. There was only one reason they could have known Melody would find her there though. Bracken was the only other person besides Henrietta’s parents who saw her.

He spent the next few minutes examining the poor girl’s wounds, many of which he recognized the source. The curses used left distinct patterns in her skin. At least those could be healed using potions instead of magic. Deciding to forgo waiting for Hermione to arrive, he summoned two dozen different potions and set to work. Using a magical funnel designed to help the unconscious swallow, he began pouring potion after potion down her. Some had nasty side effects but they were far better than what she was already experiencing. He’d just poured the last one down her when he heard his wife re-enter.

“Can you set her bones?” He asked as he went to find some bruise paste and dittany.

Hermione didn’t say a word, just went to work setting the bones with as little magical force as possible. After half an hour worth of work and painstaking applications to sensitive skin, they’d managed to heal most of the visible damage that Zandra had sustained. In that time Bracken hadn’t so much as inhaled too deeply, terrified of what Draco had in store for him should he disobey.

“You sent for me?” Severus’s deep baritone filled the room.

Draco simply turned around and nodded, letting Hermione take over the monitoring for a bit. He wasn’t surprised by the potion master’s sudden entry. As silent as Severus could move, he could still hear him. Bracken was whimpering pathetically now, having caught a glimpse of the dour man’s face from under his cloak. It was rare that Severus traveled without it. He was still somewhat of an outcast in the UK. Most didn’t know what to think about him, especially since he didn’t actually murder Albus Dumbledore.

“Good morning Severus,” Draco said cheerfully. “I do hope you brought the potion I asked for.”

“Of course.” Severus took out a tiny crystal vial. The contents inside were as clear as water but decidedly more sinister. This veritiserum was designed to not only make the imbiber spill his darkest secrets, but also made sure they didn’t remember talking afterwards. Then again, an obliviate helped that along as well. Still, it was quite useful, usually used to question their latest marks and then set them loose thinking that they hadn’t given away anything.

“Wonderful,” Draco said. He canceled the spells he’d used to keep the Healer put. “Let’s go to Bracken’s office. I’m sure he’ll be happy to speak with us there.” Draco glared at Bracken who looked as though he were about to wet himself. The pathetic man nodded frantically but didn’t say a word. “Lead the way then, Healer Bracken.”

Once inside the office, Draco locked and warded the doors for silence and privacy. The last thing they needed was for someone to come in and figure out what they were doing. Not that they couldn’t get away with it, but it was nicer to not have to clean up a mess in the first place. Slytherins always preferred a mess free affair.

“Now,” Severus purred as he gave Bracken a glare that could freeze blood. “Care to tell me what this is all about? I was in the middle of the most riveting conversation.”

“Riveting?” Draco almost laughed.

“Well, let’s just say that I’ve never seen the twins quite that…animated.”

“I’ll bet,” Draco said dryly. He launched into an explanation a Gryffindor would have been proud of. There were no minced words, simply a blow by blow of everything he thought Bracken had been and might still be.

“I see.” Severus’s eyes glittered with barely suppressed rage. “Those are some very serious accusations. Let’s see what Bracken has to say for himself.”

“What are you going to do to me?” Bracken whimpered.

“Garner the truth, of course.” Severus gave him a wolfish grin. “Now, be a good lad and drink up.”

“Poison!”

Severus pursed his lips in annoyance. “It would hardly be prudent to poison you when you have information that I need. Now, we can do this one of two ways. Either you drink this of your own free will, or I will have Draco cast the Imperious and you will drink because he tells you to.”

“You can’t make me!” Bracken snarled. “I can resist the imperious.”

“Oh can you now?” Draco grinned and held his wand in between Bracken’s eyes which the portly man promptly crossed. “Imperio!”

Bracken’s beady brown eyes looked murderous for a moment before they took on a glazed look that indicated he had succumbed. Draco knew he would. It took a large amount of confidence to cast the Unforgivable and Draco was utterly confident that he was the most powerful wizard in the world. It was a heady thought but one that made him feel cursed all the same.

He remembered a muggle cartoon that Melody had made them watch one time. It was about a genie who just wanted to be free. There was one line that always popped into his head at times like this. Phenomenal cosmic powers, itty bitty living space.** It had cracked him up at the time but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a metaphor for his life. There was nowhere to turn, really. The world wasn’t quite big enough because sooner or later, the fates would catch up with him and give him an order he couldn’t refuse, less they snap his life line. He valued his life, or more specifically, his family’s lives than he did world domination. All the power in the world wasn’t worth it if you were utterly alone. It was a hard lesson to learn but he’d picked it up in the nick of time.

“Now Bracken, drink the vial,” he spat. He’d had enough of these games. It was time for some real answers.

They gave the potion about five minutes to work after he removed the curse. He would let Severus lead the questioning. Having developed the modified potion himself, Severus knew exactly how to word a question to get the best answers.

“First, a test to check to see if it’s working,” Severus said with an evil smirk. “Do you like to imagine yourself having sexual relations with small boys?”

“N-n-YES!” Bracken’s face was red with the effort to try and keep that tidbit of information secret. Draco was utterly disgusted.

“Have you ever acted upon that desire?”

“Yes,” the healer whispered.

“When?” Snape hissed with barely contained anger.

“At my first revel.”

“What were the conditions?”

Bracken twitched a bit but settled down. “The Dark Lord offered me a boy to do whatever I wished with in exchange for my services and my loyalty.”

“How charming. You enjoyed it?”

“At first,” Bracken sighed.

“What happened to make you quit enjoying it?”

“They made me hurt him.”

Snape scoffed. “You showed no concerns for the boy when you were offered the chance to rape him.”

“I wanted to be gentle, take my time, convince him he wanted it.”

“You were planning on seducing him.”

“Yes. I don’t like to cause harm.”

Draco snorted. “Fucking a little boy causes harm whether you want it to or not.”

“I know now.” Bracken’s voice sounded hollow, dead.

“What else happened at the revel?” Severus asked calmly though the anger was visible in his onyx eyes.

“They showed me my purpose.” Bracken’s face started to grow bright red. Sweat was gathering around his brow.

“What was your purpose?” Severus asked with narrowed eyes. He wondered if there wasn’t some sort of unbreakable vow in place. The Dark Lord wasn’t known for them. He preferred to rule through fear but if he thought it was important enough, it was entirely possible.

“T-t-to assist.”

“To insist in what?”

“A greater purpose.”

Severus slammed his hands down on the desk, causing the healer to jump about a foot off his chair. “You will tell me the exact purpose you served and how you served it or I will take it forcibly from you.”

“C-c-can’t,” Bracken squeaked. “Bind.”

“They bound your tongue,” Draco said softly.

Bracken nodded, pain evident in his eyes. It hurt to break through a binding like that. It didn’t kill the person, but it certainly wasn’t at all comfortable. Still, they had to know what had happened. The Dark Lord didn’t just invite healers to his domain on a whim and offer them their wildest dreams. He had a reason, a specific one that required a healer’s knowledge. Draco felt a hard knot form in his belly. He was almost certain what that knowledge entailed.

Severus didn’t wait another moment. He already had his wand pointed between Bracken’s eyes and entered his mind in mere seconds. His face went deathly pale after about half an hour of poking around. He pulled out and gagged while shaking like a leaf.

“He did it.” Draco’s voice was hollow. He wasn’t expecting anything else.

“No,” Severus croaked hoarsely. “He was consulted about how to keep them alive longer but he watched….watched for all of them.”

“Can you pull the memories from his head?”

“I can,” Severus said and then hesitated. “But you must know something first.”

“What?”

“It wasn’t the book that inspired the Dark Lord to begin experimenting.”

“What was it?”

“Your mother.”

Draco couldn’t stop his knees from giving out on him. Luckily, Severus was still just as fast as he’d ever been and managed to catch him before he hit the ground and place him in a chair. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for Hermione who somehow managed to brace herself against a wall before falling into a heap in the floor of Zandra’s room. Severus disappeared for a few minutes and returned with her, carefully placing her in Draco’s lap.

Draco clutched his wife to his chest, his whole body shaking with the influx of news. His mother! What had they done to her? He knew she’d never agree to testing willingly. Why hadn’t she told him? Did she even remember? How did they even know she was a phenom? Draco himself hadn’t known until it had come up in a casual conversation after the war. His mother mentioned that she was pleased she wouldn’t have to lend him her magic anymore and it clicked. She’d done it hundreds of times and he’d always just taken it in stride. He hadn’t even realized that you couldn’t lend magic if you were balanced. Severus had known, having taught her to control it himself. It was one secret that they held together, which is why he caved so quickly when Narcissa begged him to take the unbreakable vow Draco’s sixth year. He couldn’t bear to see either one of them in pain.

Hermione remained silent through his turmoil. She had been just as shocked as he was. How could he not be? Any why would Voldemort want to kill his mother if he knew what she was? If he’d experimented on her, learned her secrets, then why try to destroy her…unless… Oh Merlin. Had he known about Draco’s power the entire time? If he did though, he would have utilized it. Did Lucius know? Was that why he bound Draco’s powers?

“How?” Draco managed to whisper.

Severus closed his eyes a moment, centering himself for what he had to say. “Lucius and Bellatrix knew of the Dark Lord’s plans to create stronger magical beings. Bellatrix, being the mad cow she was, sold your mother out. She was always jealous of how powerful Narcissa was. Your mother hid it well. I made sure of it, but Bellatrix saw her explode more than once. She told the Dark Lord and he insisted Lucius bring her in for testing.”

“Sold out by Bellatrix. Why doesn’t that surprise me?” There was no heat in Draco’s voice, only resignation. He didn’t have any more strength to be indignant, not after that blow.

“Possibly because she was always insane,” Severus sneered. It wasn’t like him to answer a rhetorical question but he felt like he needed Draco to know it wasn’t his fault. “It would surprise you to know that Lucius did resist. I won’t pretend to know his mind, but I do believe that is why he kept you bound so tightly, afraid that the Dark Lord would ask for you next. I believe that is also why he caused your mother to abort your sibling. He wanted a pureblood child, a female one, to experiment on. I saw it in Bracken’s mind, how he made several references in passing. By the end, Lucius was just as twisted as Bellatrix, but he didn’t start out that way.”

“The Dark Lord twisted him,” Draco whispered. “I always wondered. They said he loved my mother.”

“He did…at first,” Severus said cautiously. “I believe he still did at the end, in his own way.”

“Yes, like one would love a pet,” Draco said bitterly.

“You could have ended up just as twisted, just as broken.”

Draco nodded. Severus was right. If it weren’t for the woman sitting on his lap, not only would he not have lived to see eighteen, he would have been a twisted servant of the despot. He hugged her just a bit tighter, aware of all the questions rolling around in her head. In truth, they were in his mind as well. A few had already been answered as best as they ever would. Lucius had protected him with the binding. It made sense, justifying almost killing him being better than the Dark Lord’s servant and personal lab rat. At least that much power wouldn’t have gotten into the despot’s hands. He had no doubts his father intended to use him for his own means but it was something. That other thing though, that bothered him greatly.

“The Dark Lord treated her no better than a stray animal at the end,” Draco whispered. “Why destroy your test subject?”

“He found the book and learned everything he needed to know. What use was there to keep her alive, especially if her powers matched those of his new creations?”

“Why didn’t she say anything?”

Severus sighed. “Between the Imperious, veritiserum, and several obliviates, I doubt she remembers anything at all.”

“Veritiserum!” Draco cried. “How did he not know about you then?”

Severus smirked. “The same reason he had no idea about your blood bond with me. Blood is a strong protection, stronger than the likes of the Dark Lord. It’s why Potter was immune. Narcissa and I made a blood pact when I agreed to train her. It protected me… and her to an extent. She never told him about her powers. Everything he learned was from tests.”

“Bellatrix and Lucius are dead,” Hermione whispered from Draco’s chest. “Who else knew about the testing?”

“Bracken,” Severus answered. “But I searched and searched. He has not been contacted since those muggle-borns were brought in. He hates himself for it.”

“Good. Let him live with the guilt,” Draco spat. He was livid that the man had just given in to temptation.

Severus pulled out his wand again and conjured several dozen glass vials. “I’m going to copy his memories and store them so we may look at them one at a time. We need to know every detail we can. When I’m done, I’ll take them to the Ranch and organize them. Obliviate our meeting from his mind.”

The couple watched in silence as Severus removed strand after silvery strand of incriminating memories from healer Bracken’s mind. When he was done, he flicked his wand and miniaturized the vials for transport. He wished them luck and left.

Draco let Hermione obliviate Bracken. She replaced his memories with ones of him falling asleep over paperwork. They left to try and start the day. There would be no peace though. The first order of business was to have a heart to heart with Narcissa and neither one was looking forward to that meeting. Hadn’t the poor woman been through enough?

AN: Out of the frying pan and into the fire, eh? Things are going to get pretty heated next time. If I get enough interest, I'll try to post twice a week. Would that be nice? As always, thanks for the wonderful reviews. They're the only pay I get...at all...cause I certainly am not getting it from my internship! Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing and if you find any errors. I found a few last chapter but if you noticed when it suddenly jumped to the top, I had to delete and reinsert because the edit thing didn't work right. Anyway...until next time....Love you guys!

*This quote is attributed to a dozen different people. I can't pinpoint which one is right either. Sorry.

**This is from Aladdin, my favorite movie as a kid.
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Fooling Fate *sequel to Bound*

Fooling Fate sequel to Bound