Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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
- 5
- 6
- 7
“Decided to come back, rapist?” Zack spat as Severus walked through the door to the Ranch. Severus’s eyes flickered with remorse before he silently turned and zipped down to the basement where Melody kept her pensieve.

“Zach,” Melody hissed. “You will not speak to your father that way.”

“He fucking raped you!” Zach screeched.

Melody snorted. “Hardly. He saved my life. Not all damsels can ride away on a white horse with a knight in shining armor. Had he not marked me himself, I would have been offered over to the Death Eaters…all of them…to do with as they pleased until Voldemort decided I was worthy.”

Zach paled. “You’re lying.”

“Would you like to see it for yourself?” Melody rubbed her eyes in tired frustration. They’d been going in circles since Severus had left for St. Mungo’s. She understood, really she did. It wasn’t easy to learn that they’d been a side effect of her service to the Dark Lord but she made sure they knew she loved them no matter what and they were very much wanted. Still, they had to know, if only to know what they could be facing. Judging from the haunted look on their father’s face when he walked in, what lay ahead was worse.

“I would,” Nate said.

He was a lot quieter than Zach, preferring to watch and listen first. Melody was surprised that neither had ended up in Slytherin but both were Ravenclaws. She’d teased Severus for weeks about that one, Aiden’s acceptance into Slytherin aside. The twins were animated at home, preferring tricks and good natured jokes as their main outlet. In school though, they were stoic, every bit the reserved and academically driven individuals that Severus himself was.

“I’ll get the pensive,” Melody said and jogged down into the basement. It was the perfect reason to find out what was wrong with her friend. “Sev, you in here?”

Severus was leaning over the heavy wooden table that held the pensive. In front of him were dozens of glass vials filled to the brim with memories. His hair hung in a curtain around his face, a classic defense mechanism. His whole body was shaking and Melody was certain that if he looked up, tears would be slowly running down his cheeks. He hated for anyone to see him cry, even her and his wife. It was still hard for him to let his walls down completely but Melody was going to push through them this time, even if it took an entire case of fire whiskey to get there.

“Something’s wrong,” she started out cautiously and began rubbing his back.

“Besides my being a rapist, you mean?” Severus asked quietly.

“They’re angry Sev. You can hardly blame them, but you are no rapist. It hasn’t sunk in that I consented.”

Severus growled in frustration. “Consent or not, it was inexcusable.”

“How many times are we going to hash this out? I blame Moldy for absolutely everything. Sev, I still remember the night before. Do you?”

Severus gave a jerky nod.

“You were tender, gentle in your punishments. I looked like hell afterward and I’ll admit it hurt but it was a good hurt. I’m in to pain, in case you forgot.”

Severus snorted. “I remember. It was…a good memory.”

Melody couldn’t help but give a small laugh. “I’m pretty sure that was the purpose of it in the first place, one last pleasurable moment. It was pretty fucking hot, watching Alex bugger you.”

Severus shook his head slowly and looked back at her through his hair. “Not the other way around?”

“Oh, that was hot too.” Melody grinned. “I’m sure if you weren’t bound to Celeste as tightly as you were, he would gladly indulge you again.”

That made him laugh, which was what she was going for. “I never thought my vows would protect my virtue.”

Melody cackled and clapped her hands in glee. “Severus Snape, there has never been a virtuous bone in your body. But now that you aren’t shutting me out, I’ll say this. Give them time. They’ll come around. They…they want to see what happened. They don’t believe it was life or death and I was hoping… well, I was hoping you’d show them a memory of yours of what happened to other female Death Eater inductees.”

Severus looked horrified. “Absolutely not! I will not have my children tainted by that despot, even in memory.”

“Afraid or ashamed of your actions?” Zach said from the top of the stairs. Nate was right behind him, both with sober looks.

“Not afraid,” Severus snapped, deftly leaving out the ashamed part. “No one should have to see that, no one.”

“Then why participate in it?” Nate asked quietly.

“Penance,” Severus said softly. “I never participated in the breaking in of new Death Eater recruits, nor have I ever taken a woman against her will. It was a boon granted to me long ago for services rendered. I asked to merely kill them and dispose of them afterwards, stating that it gave me more…more pleasure.”

“How many have you killed?” Nate asked.

Severus’s eyes snapped shut in shame. “I’m not sure. I didn’t make a habit of killing them or counting for that matter. I tried to save as many as I could, casting spells to make the ones in better shape look dead. Then I’d heal them as best I could and obliviate them before taking them to a muggle hospital. Others, they begged for death. It was the only kindness I could offer them.”

“Why?” Zach demanded. “Why join in the first place.”

“I was…foolish, blinded by hate,” Severus said tightly. He loathed talking about his mistakes but if anyone deserved to know the truth, it was his children. “My father was a muggle, an abusive drunk, and quite possibly the most unpleasant person on the planet. I wanted him dead for what he put mother and me through. You’ll never know how persuasive the Dark Lord was in his prime. He seemed to know his recruits deepest desires and he promised them, delivering as many as he could. Then…he’d rip the veil away and show them exactly what they’d gotten themselves into. My father had been taken care of before I realized the truth. It was too late by then. The only way out was death.”

“Why not just die?” Zach asked angrily.

“I thought about it,” Severus admitted. “Then someone turned my attention to how I could use my new standing to bring about the Dark Lord’s demise.”

“Who did that?” Nate asked.

“I did,” Melody said softly. “It would have been a terrible waste had he ended his life like he wanted to.”

“But he… what he did to you…” Zach said in frustration.

“Was necessary,” Melody insisted. “Zach, I don’t know any other way to say it. It had to be done and if I had to go back and do it all over again knowing what I do now, I would. I would every time.”

“Why?” The twins asked as the same time.

Melody smiled. “Voldemort is dead and I have two handsome and intelligent boys to show for it. I regret nothing, nothing at all. Trust me; it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been.” Her smile faded then, dark memories of her life when Severus removed himself from it came crashing in.

“Mom, you okay?” Nate asked and ran to her.

Melody looked up in a daze. “What? Oh, no honey, I’m fine. Just…old memories.”

“Of?” Zach asked, his eyes boring holes in his father’s head.

“It’s nothing to concern yourself with,” Melody said quickly. “And it doesn’t have anything to do with your father so you stop that line of thinking right now.”

“But it does,” Severus whispered.

Melody pinched the bridge of her nose. “Sev, how many times do we have to go through this? It would have happened regardless of whether you had stayed or not. It was fate and you know I can’t thwart my fate.”

Severus growled. “It could have ended sooner.”

Melody patted his shoulder. “You just keep thinking that dear. Now, care to tell me why there’s a head full of memories on this table?”

Severus looked over to the table, back at her, to the twins, and then back to her, his face contorting in horror. “We were too late. Someone already knows all about us, or rather our magical status.”

“What?” Melody snapped to attention.

Severus waved his hand over the vials. “These are the memories of Healer Bracken, memories of everything that happened in the Dark Lord’s castle, more specifically under it. They…they used Narcissa.” His voice broke and had to breathe deeply to compose himself.

“Oh Gods,” Melody squeaked and swayed on the spot.

Severus scooped her up and sat her on the table by the pensive, careful not to knock anything over. He rubbed her cheek as he looked at her in concern. The boys were frozen in place, not knowing exactly what was happening. Just as Melody was getting her bearings back, Rhapsody flew through the door and grabbed Severus’s hand.

“You have to show them Uncle Sev,” she croaked. “Show them what we’re up against.”

“I don’t want-“

“It’s not about what you want anymore,” Rhapsody interrupted. “This…this is worse than anything you’ve ever seen. Ever.”

“What did you see sweetheart?” Melody asked.

Tears were cascading down Rhapsody’s cheeks. “The fates were right. It’ll be Armageddon. Sparing them a gruesome sight from your past won’t do anything to help them. We’re going to see so much worse. They have to know. They’ll figure it out Uncle Sev. You really didn’t have a choice. I can see it, you know. They would have broken her before… He would have found out who they both were. Thank you.”

“Whatever for?” Severus asked in alarm. This was the first time Rhapsody had ever said anything about this, let alone touched him willingly. She hated the visions she got when she touched him.

“For saving my mother and Aunt Melody. You… you gave them a chance. You kept the truth from Voldemort. You…you have no idea what would have happened if you weren’t there.”

“You’re saying he’s a hero?” Zach scoffed.

Rhapsody spun on him so fast he almost fell backwards. “You are a blind asshole! Here, LOOK!” She shouted and placed both of her hands on his temples.

Visions forcefully flew through his mind. His mother at sixteen, bleeding out because her magic was trying to killing her. His father at the bar trying to drink himself to death. The bleeding stopping from his father’s presence. The ritual to switch cores between his mother and her twin. His father returning to unknowingly keep his mother from destroying herself. His father not returning. His mother and aunt getting attacked for their gifts repeatedly. His mother going blind. His aunt too frail to even take the stairs by herself. His father’s return and his help healing them. His father helping his dad and Celeste rip his mother’s attackers limb from limb. His mother dying.

Zach fell backwards, breaking the connection. He was wild eyed and panting, unbelieving what he’d seen. “She…she…she died.”

“Twice,” Severus said softly and tucked a shaking Melody under his chin while enveloping her in his arms.

“That’s impossible.”

“Harry did it,” Rhapsody said softly.

“But…I saw, she was…she died! What happened?”

“What happened, Zach?” Nate’s eyes were worried. Rhapsody did the same to him, separating after the same vision.

“How?” The twins asked at the same time.

“Let’s go back upstairs,” Melody sighed, peeling herself away from Severus. “I guess we need to resume story time.”

“We need to go outside first,” Severus said softly. “We need a blood pact.”

Melody nodded. “Call the Potters and the Malfoys. We’ll do it now.”

“Narcissa,” Rhapsody said suddenly. “Someone needs to watch her. She’s next.”

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“Dad!”

Draco spun around to see Scorpius running full out down the hallway of the Janis Thickey unit.

“Whoa!” Draco held his hand up to stop his exuberant son. “Easy Scorp. Nothing’s that important.”

“It is!” Scorpius hissed and leaned closer. “Grandmother, she’s in horrible danger.”

“What?” Draco snapped, his head swiveling around to make sure they were alone.

“Rhap said she’s next. She’s got to be protected.”

“From?”

“Whoever is trying to get Melody and Grandfather.”

“Alright,” Draco said, his mind running a hundred miles a minute. “Your mother is one floor up. She already knows but make a big scene. We’ll all leave through the floo in a moment.”

Scorpius nodded and took off like a shot. His son was fast and in minutes, they were tumbling out of the drawing room floo of Malfoy Manor. It was as dark as night, which was how most of the Manor was since Demitri came to live there. The wind whipped around before a candle lit itself. In the corner, a flash of white was visible.

“Demitri?” Draco asked cautiously.

The vampire stepped into the light, his black eyes flashing with concern. Draco never came calling unannounced, let alone with his wife and eldest son. Still, Demitri could smell them clearly. Polyjuice couldn’t fool a vampire.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Very,” Draco said softly. “Mother, where is she?”

“In the garden. What’s happened?”

“She’s being targeted by a faction of zealots worse than Voldemort was,” Hermione said distractedly as Draco ran from the room, terrified that they would grab her in the open area.

“What would they want with her?” Demitri’s eyes flashed indigo.

“She’s special,” Hermione said slowly. “But I’m sure you already knew that.”

Demitri nodded. “She is quite powerful, nothing like your group, but formidable none the less. I take it they want her?”

Hermione nodded. “They want to use her as a lab rat.”

Demitri hissed angrily. “Over my undead body.”

“That’s what we were hoping for,” Draco said, dragging his mother along as gently as he could.

“Draco,” Narcissa said as she shuffled behind him. “You know I love for you to visit but what’s wrong?”

“Mother…you’d better sit down.”

Draco sent Scorpius to check the rest of the house with Demitri while he and Hermione explained what had happened to her. He knew they heard him loud and clear though when they got to the part about her being a test subject. A loud crash that sounded out from somewhere upstairs. Narcissa was visibly upset, thinking she’d betrayed her friend and her son.

“What have I done?”

“Nothing mother,” Draco said, grabbing her and letting her sob into his chest. “There was nothing you could have done. You didn’t even know what was happening. Severus said the blood pact held. You didn’t betray us. We’ll be fine. I just…I want you to be safe. There is no guarantee you’ll come out unscathed this time.”

“What did they do to me?” Narcissa asked softly.

“I don’t know,” Draco answered truthfully. “I’ll view the memories later and let you know though. I want you to keep your wand on you at all times.”

Narcissa laughed. “I always do.”

“I insist,” Demitri said as he walked back into the room, an angry Scorpius in tow. “I think it’s sexy.”

“Ugh.” Draco wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Save it, please. Just…keep her safe.”

Demitri nodded. “I will be leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow. Cissy, come with me.”

“Oh I couldn’t!” Narcissa protested.

“Why not?” Demitri cocked his head. “I have been given chambers in which to stay. I have no need to sleep. You will be safer within the walls of Hogwarts and I can keep my eyes on you all the time.”

They argued for several minutes before Narcissa finally relented. Draco breathed a sigh of relief. Hogwarts wasn’t exactly the most secret place in the wizarding world, but he felt a lot better now that he knew his mother would be behind its wards. They had friends there, friends who would protect his mother and children with their very lives. He bid his mother goodbye and ushered his family back through the floo to the hospital.

Scorpius turned to Draco when they’d landed in his office. “Dad, Melody said to tell you that after we got grandmother sorted, it was story time. Grandfather won’t let her tell the story without a blood pact though so you have to come through and do that. What’s she talking about?”

Draco sighed. “She’s going to tell you exactly how everything happened during the war, including the secrets that we’ve not divulged.”

Scorpius looked to the silver wrist band that he wore at all times. It was a simple design, a scorpion with emerald eyes. However, the little trinket is what kept his magic under control. He could wield it just fine; it was emotions that set him off. Too many and he’d blow half of Hogwarts up in a temper. For being such a simple piece, it really was complicated, requiring rare potions and materials to complete it. It had made his life much easier when Melody finally finished it. Everyone knew that his emotions were tied to his magic, but not that his parents would die if they were separated.

“Just like that,” Draco said, his eyes locked to the scorpion’s gemstone eyes. “The blood pact is to keep it secret. We’ll go now but your mother and I have to get back soon. If you have any questions after our initial story, we’ll be home at the end of work and you can ask to your heart’s content.

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“Morning class,” Melody croaked as she walked through the door.

It was pure torture to keep herself upright after she plopped down behind her desk. She felt like utter shit. No sleep and two bottles of fire whiskey could do that to a person. The night before had been horrible. First, the boys went berserk when she’d told them how they had been conceived. Then, Rhapsody showed them the first part of her life, which only made them ask a million more questions. After that, the Malfoys and the Potters showed up to complete the blood pact. Then they all sat down and hashed out every gory detail of the war from its beginning, thus the reason for the two bottles of fire whiskey….a piece…that the adults consumed while struggling through their stories. Hell, even the kids each had a couple of shots. She didn’t have the heart to turn them down after what they had to hear.

Draco ended up having to leave the house at one point, his magic too volatile to stay during part of the tale that involved what he suffered at the hands of Lucius. Hermione had to relay it for him but she didn’t fare much better. Her anger at his treatment was a sight to behold. Melody wondered how they were. Both had insisted on a sober up potion and returning to work, figuring they’d skived off long enough. Narcissa was safe and their story was told. They practically ran after that.

Melody didn’t blame them at all. They’d gone through a couple of agonizing tortures together, not to mention having to relive each other’s painful memories. The nightmares from the horcruxes still plagued them. There wasn’t a cure for it either and she had been trying ever since the end of the war to ease their suffering.

“You look tired Ms. Bach,” a timid voice spoke from the class.

Melody looked up blearily and almost fell out of her chair. These were her seventh years and the voice had come from a meek girl in the front row. It wasn’t her corn silk colored hair or her almost violet eyes that startled Melody, it was her aura. She was a phenom and subsequently a perfect match for Zach, whom Melody reminded herself she was angry with. He’d antagonized Severus most of the night until she’d had enough and threatened to forcibly take Severus’s memories if he didn’t show them.

Afterwards, every single child had been as silent as the grave. It wasn’t easy speaking of torture, rape, or murder, let alone seeing it. It had been a relatively mild scene too, the female recruit passing out a mere half hour into her initiation. She’d been killed in the end, found unworthy and unfit to become a Death Eater. Severus’s hand stilled her heart. What the other Death Eaters hadn’t seen was that he’d brought her to and had her make the choice. She begged for death, a way out before others did it for her. Best not think on it now though. There was a class in progress.

“You know Miss…”

“Parkerton,” the girl whispered.

“Miss Parkerton,” Melody sighed. “Telling someone they look tired is just a polite way of saying they look like shit. I’d prefer you just say the latter. It saves us all time when you cut through the bullshit.”

The class gasped at her frank retort. If she’d been in a more chipper mood, she would have chuckled at their surprise. As it was, she’d forgotten to grab a hangover potion before she and Severus had snuck back to school. Any movement made her head pound. Apparently, even daywalkers were prone to hangovers. How in the hell had Severus held his liquor so well? There was a thought. That damn bat was a potion master after all.

“Miss Parkerton, would you do me a favor?” Melody asked sweetly.

Leery but unwilling to anger her teacher any further, the girl nodded. Melody almost snorted. Typical fae, scared of their own shadow until someone threatened them. Wait a tic, fae? Oh good Merlin in a toga, her son was matched to a fae. How in the hell was that going to work? First, a daywalker and a half werewolf, and now, a fae and a fangwalker phenom. What was next, a troll? Oh merciful Goddess, please let it not be a troll.

“Please go down to Professor Snape’s classroom and give him a message for me.” Melody rummaged around in her drawer until she found a broken quill, a half dried pot of ink, and a scrap of parchment that had been crumpled beyond repair. She scrawled her request for a hangover potion as well as a mild threat should he not comply. To make sure no one else read it, she wrote it in Latin and added a revealing spell tied to his Celtic knot. His phrase wasn’t quite as embarrassing as Draco and Hermione’s. It was simply the formula for blood replenisher, quite fitting for a daywalker.

The girl stood up and Melody almost grinned. She probably wasn’t over five feet tall. She and Zach would make quite the couple. The twins had very much taken after Severus in the height department, already reaching six feet at seventeen. They also preferred to wear their jet black hair like him, shoulder length as opposed to Alex’s mid-back style, although they did tie theirs back. Their hair also had a white streak from Alex, a side effect of the blood adoption. After the previous night, she wasn’t sure they wouldn’t shear it all off. Ah well. She watched the fae, no, quarter fae walk out and down the hall. Severus snapped at her quite vehemently until she stammered what she’d needed.

“Well, while Miss Parkerton acquaints herself with the potions master, why don’t you turn your books to page 89 and we’ll get started.”

A hand timidly crept into the air and Melody’s stomach bottomed out. She just knew what was going to happen, questions, dozens of them regarding yesterday. Harmony had promised her that it was merely curiosity and not malice but it didn’t make it any less annoying, or terrifying for that matter. She’d effectively managed to bury her past but it had come to bite her in the ass. She wondered if it was too late to get Hermione and Draco to turn Whorple into a stink bug. Hermione had kept her in tears as she regaled her tales of besting Rita Skeeter. It was definitely a bright story that kept Melody from killing the bitch when she’d crashed Sev and Celeste’s wedding. Knowing the hand wasn’t going away any time soon, she pointed and nodded.

“Um, is it true?”

A rather burly boy in the back had asked the question. Melody cocked her head and studied him a moment while she tried to formulate an answer. Oh for fucks sakes, a quarter giant? Cadence would die, quite literally. She was terrified of large people. They intimidated her something fierce and this boy was to be her intended. He wasn’t a bad looking guy though, sandy brown hair and what looked to be a host of muscles. Owlish blinks let her know she’d taken too long.

“Yes Mr.?”

“Thompson,” the quarter giant answered.

“Yes Mr. Thompson, vampires really are able to turn into mist.”

“What?” He asked in shock.

Melody almost giggled, almost. There would be no idiotic giggling in front of students if she could help it. “Page 89, Vampires and Their Talents…yes, they can turn into mist as well as several other animals. These abilities do vary from vampire to vampire though. The most common forms are the wolf and the bat. There have been reports of them turning into other beasts as well, mostly those associated with the dark such as serpents and arachnids.”

“Um, cool but, um, that wasn’t what I meant.”

“Then you’ll have to clarify Mr. Thompson. Our lesson today is on vampires which is a subject that I absolutely love so you’ll have to tell me what it is that is so important that it must interrupt our lesson.”

“Were you and Mr. Snape really Death Eaters?”

Melody was saved from answering by Severus entering the room with a loud bang. Poor Miss Parkerton slunk back to her chair, her eyes slightly wet with fear. Melody knew he’d heard every word but he acted like it was the most normal thing in the world to barge in her classroom. She couldn’t help but wince at the noise he made, bastard. He knew her head hurt.

“Drink,” he said imperiously as he thrust a vial into her hands.

“Yes master,” Melody said in jest and then froze when she realized what she’d said. She hadn’t called him that since Voldemort had died. Her breathing sped up, scared that he would react badly to her slip. She’d never tested that word with him, knowing it was a particularly sensitive spot.

Severus surprised her, merely crossing his arms and raising one imperious eyebrow. Breathing out a sigh of relief, she knocked back the vile potion and gagged. It didn’t taste good on the best day. Mixed with a hangover and the taste of fear, it was downright revolting. She coughed a moment and then bit back a moan of relief when the warmth of the potion washed over her.

“I swear you make it taste bad on purpose.” She scraped her tongue with her teeth, accidentally cutting it and having to suck the blood down.

Severus smirked. “I believe the taste is intended to discourage its use in the first place.”

“Yes well, it hasn’t deterred me yet,” Melody sniffed.

“Nor I,” Severus said softly, tipping his head in acknowledgement. He stepped a bit closer and started murmuring under his breath, knowing that the students wouldn’t be able to hear him. “What do you intend to tell them?”

“What can I say Sev?” Melody replied in a voice softer than a whisper. “It’s an easy enough fact to look up. Hell, they can just raise my sleeve and see for themselves. We were all over the papers for a while too. We’ll just have to embrace it.”

“That should go over well.”

“They’re already terrified of you. What’s a bit more fear? Besides, if we don’t say anything, you know Whorple will. That old goat is just looking for a way to discredit us. If we make sure to reiterate that we were spies, then she can’t sway them. Remember, the first to break the news will be the most influencing.”

“Fine,” Severus snapped and then remembered himself. “I’m sorry, I…forgot myself.”

Melody did laugh then. “Oh Sev, I’m used to you by now.”

Severus’s lip twitched for a moment before they were interrupted by a cough. That quarter giant was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.

“Um, Ms. Bach? The question?”

Melody pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration and sighed. “Yes Mr. Thompson. Professor Snape and I were both Death Eaters. However-“ she said loudly, cutting off the gasps of the students. “We both served as spies for the Light, Professor Snape for much longer than myself. He was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix.”

Every hand in the room shot up, save one. In the back, a rather thin girl with baby blue eyes and curly chestnut colored hair was staring at them. Her aura matched Nate’s. It was her eyes that drew Melody to her, unbelievably sad eyes as if she’d seen all the evil in the world and knew what was truly lurking in the shadows. She’d seen those eyes before. They were in the face of every fighter in the Second Wizarding War. Melody uncharacteristically ignored everyone else in the room and went over to talk to her.

She crouched down by her desk. “What is your name?”

“Anastasia.”

“Anastasia what?”

The girls eyes filled with tears as she looked Melody square in the eye. “Anastasia LeStrange.”

Melody felt her ass hit the floor in shock. It took a moment before she found her voice and when she did, she realized that Severus was behind her, his arm on her shoulder for support. “Who was your father sweetheart?”

“Rastaban LeStrange. My…my mother was a…, um, not married to him.” The tears fell from the girl’s eyes as she tried to hide her shame. Her accent was British.

Melody didn’t need words to know what the girl had almost slipped out. She leaned over and whispered in the girl’s ear. “Your mother was a rarity, a half merperson, so different from mermaids. Being half, she could walk upon the land without pain.”

The girl looked horrified that Melody had figured out her secret. Melody simply patted her on the arm. “You’re secret is safe with me sweetheart. I take it Rastaban didn’t exactly strike up a friendship with your mother first.”

The girl shook her head, pain and anger in her watery eyes. “He…he found her walking along the beach. She loved the beach. He…he took her and…and…he-“

Melody shushed her and rubbed her back soothingly. “You don’t have to say anything. We know the rest. You were born nine months later.”

“No, one year. We have a longer gestation…or she did.”

Melody nodded. “I want to speak with you after class, okay sweetheart?”

The girl nodded and Melody found herself being pulled up by her best friend. In a rare show of emotion, Severus gently laid a hand on the girl’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze before turning and billowing to the front of the room. He demanded attention.

“Everyone will listen to me now. There will be no more questions regarding mine or Professor Bach’s involvement in the war or our actions as Death Eaters. The exact details will never be divulged so I encourage you now to stop trying, lest you find out just how serious a foe a Death Eater can be. The only other thing that will be said on the matter is this. Despite appearances, we were always on the side of the light.”

“But the others said you two blocked the killing curse!” One overexcited ginger boy hollered out.

“Optical illusion,” Severus said tightly. “No person can block the killing curse.”

Melody smirked. It was a brilliant bit of redirection. No one person could block the killing curse. It took two. She looked over at her sons’ and Cadence’s mates. Their auras suggested that they were phenoms and their magic would blend beautifully. She’d have to get a closer look at Colton and Lizzy. There didn’t seem to be a way to combine their magic.

“Now then, back to our books!” Melody called. “Page 89, Vampires.”

Severus smirked, nodded, and showed himself out the door. Vampires were a subject near and dear to his heart as well.

“Now, who can tell me how to identify a vampire?”

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“Bonjour ma chérie.” Draco dropped a kiss on Hermione’s head as he walked into the break room.

“Hey,” she mumbled tiredly. Her elbows were propped on the table, head cradled in her hands. Without them, her face would slam into the desk.

“One of these days, we’ll get some sleep,” Draco chuckled.

“Apparently, we can sleep when we’re dead.” Hermione laid her head down on the cool steel table.

“It’s a good thing we’re slow today. Did you get a chance to call Scorpius?”

Hermione snorted. “You know I didn’t. He isn’t answering his mirror, not that I blame him. It was a lot to take in.”

Draco nodded in contemplation. He didn’t agree with showing the children some of Severus’s memories but he understood why it had to happen. There was nothing like seeing it for yourself to drive home how serious the situation was. The question was, if Voldemort was dead, who were they up against now? They needed to get to the Ranch and go through all of Bracken’s memories. They held the key.

“I’m going to check on Bracken,” Hermione said softly. “I want to make sure that spell held.”

Draco nodded again. “Call if you need me but I’m pretty sure you didn’t botch it.”

“Better safe than sorry. Besides, I’ve got to keep busy or I’ll crash right here in the break room.”

“Goodbye love.” Draco smiled and gave his wife a peck on the lips. She’d increased her stamina over the years but the weeks of sleepless nights since they’d visited Voldemort’s castle combined with being up for the past 36 hours were coming down on her hard. He could probably go another eighteen before he cracked. It seemed that once you got into the habit of not sleeping, it stuck with you no matter how many years later it was.

Hermione’s feet felt like lead as she walked up to Bracken’s office. Her head was filled with visions of Severus’s memories from the previous night…or um, that day. Her hours were getting all mixed up which happened quite a lot since they were continent hopping again. She’d recognized the girl in the pensieve, the one who was trying to become a Death Eater. Tralara Penton, Ravenclaw, in her seventh year when Hermione was in her first. She remembered the girl well, having had a run in with her in the library her second day at Hogwarts. The girl always thought she was better than everyone else, both in brains and blood purity.

Severus had chosen carefully. The memory he had given was one of the mildest inductions she’d seen - through Draco’s eyes of course. Most were viciously brutalized for the better part of two hours before they were deemed worthy as they lie bleeding and broken on the floor. Then they were subjected the Mark. Hermione remembered the pain of getting the Mark all too well. Since Voldemort had transferred Melody’s pain to Draco, she’d felt it as well. Tralara hadn’t stood a chance. She was too weak, too pampered. The first cruciatis has broken her. The rest was just proving a point. She knew when she looked into the girl’s eyes in the memory; Tralara would have killed herself regardless.

The children were shocked into silence. She felt the worst for Lily, the youngest. Harry had insisted on shielding her from the most brutal parts but she could still hear the horrified screams and disgusting comments. When they’d gotten out of the pensieve, the children had all gone upstairs, all except for Melody’s twins. They looked at Severus in horror, finally understanding what kind of chance their mother had in the den of the Dark Lord. They said nothing, just nodded to him and left. It was enough though; they understood.

Hermione realized that she’d almost walked past Bracken’s office while she was lost in her memories. She knocked and then called his name, no answer. He should have been in there. She pushed open the door and bit back a scream. Bracken was lying on the desk, nude and splayed open like a gutted fish. He reminded her of those poor muggle girls Draco had killed. Her hand over her mouth to stifle her whimpers, she crept into the room, careful to close the door and looked around. It was a move she’d perfected over the years, unfortunately. There was no trace of any foul play but Bracken couldn’t have done this to himself. There had to be something here that she’d missed.

‘We need Melody,’ Draco thought. He’d seen the horrific scene through her eyes.

‘She can’t set foot in the hospital Draco. Those tracking charms on Zandra will call them.’

‘Do you have your mirror on you?’

‘No. I left it in my locker.’

‘Damn. You can’t leave and go back or they’ll suspect you. I’ll…I’ll have to go to her and see if she can see through your eyes.’

‘Draco, that’s really risky. We haven’t been that far apart in a long time.’

‘I know sweetheart but we’ve got to have her take a look.’

‘Alright but hurry. I’m not sure how long I can stay in here with him.’

Hermione crouched down in a far corner, her eyes averted from the gruesome scene in front of her. She felt the moment that Draco left for America, a sharp pain in the base of her skull announcing his departure. It had been a very, very long time since she’d felt this type of pain, the pain that meant her mate wasn’t close to her any longer. She prayed he hurried.

Draco swayed on the spot when he hit the grounds of Salem Academy. The familiar pain of being separated from his wife was not welcome. If he had it his way, they’d never be more than a room’s length apart but they had to do this. The wards in the castle sang when he entered them. Stupid Whorple in her paranoia had erected them after yesterday. She wanted to know when anyone entered or left. Oh well, she’d figure it out soon enough.

He ran through the halls to the room he knew Melody was in. The throbbing in his head threatened to pull him under. Gosh, how long had it been since he’d felt this type of pain? It had been the day that he’d returned to the Manor to grab books on bonding while Hermione remained in the classroom with Severus. His mother had needed to lend him her magic so he could function. Not any longer, he was strong enough to do it without her now. He barged into the room, almost falling on his face when the door swung open.

“Holy shit Draco!” Melody cried and lugged him over to her desk to sit down. “Where’s Hermione?”

“Hospital,” he managed to grid out. “You need to look.”

“Mirrors are easier,” Melody murmured frantically, checking her desk for a pain potion to clear his head for a few moments.

“No time. Look.”

Melody rounded the corner and shoved a bottle of Severus’s specialized pain potion down his throat. Ignoring the shocked whispers of the class, she jumped in his lap, pressed her fingers to his temple, and mentally climbed inside his head. This wasn’t the first time they’d used this technique. It had come about out of sheer curiosity. If she was careful, Melody could follow the mind to the eyes and look out of them while still seeing auras. Now it was going to come in handy.

Melody peered through Draco’s mind until she found the connection to Hermione. It was her eyes she needed to see through. When she finally reached her target, it was all she could do not to gag. Bracken looked like an autopsy gone horribly wrong. She urged Hermione to get up and look around the room to look for trace magic. Normally she didn’t bother since the magical world was full of hundreds of different spells both old and new in the air at any time but she had to try. Bracken’s office was no different; the magic of a thousand healers saturated the air. There was one thread of magic though, one much stronger and newer than any other, and it scared the shit out of her.

“Hermione, get out of there!” Melody cried and backed out of Draco’s mind, promptly falling into the floor from the speed she departed.

He looked down, wild eyed at the apparent fear in Melody’s face. “What is it?”

“Is she out?” Melody snapped as she ran behind her desk again.

Draco closed his eyes. “Yes, she’s alerting others now.”

“Good. Here,” she said as she thrust a hand held mirror in her hand. “Go to my office and call Harry. Tell him absolutely no muggle-borns in that room. None. I’ll call Celeste to take you back. You’re in no shape to go it alone. She’ll balance you out until you can get there.”

Draco nodded and hauled himself out of the chair she’d flopped him down in. A quick call to Harry later, he stumbled back into the room. “Done.”

“Good. Celeste will be about ten minutes out. Can you last that long?”

“Lasted longer before,” Draco mumbled. “What’s going on?”

“Do you remember the trip to Carrow’s house?”

“How can I forget?” Draco shuddered.

“The spell against muggles, the one I ended, remember it?”

“I do.”

“It was there.”

“Shite,” Draco hissed. “Who?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Melody shook her head, her eyes haunted.

“Try me.”

“Your father.”

“He was here,” Draco said softly.

“No not THAT one,” Melody snapped.

Draco paled. “Impossible. I saw him die.”

“I did too,” Melody said. “But you are overlooking a very real possibility, one that might have escaped my notice.”

“You would have seen it,” Draco said vehemently.

“You would think so but…I didn’t see other things…like your mother.”

Draco would have hit the floor if Melody hadn’t caught him. “Her soul.”

“It’s intact,” Melody whispered in his ear. “But those experiments leave a lasting scar on an aura. I see it in yours, Severus’s, Hermione’s. It’s not something I look for because almost everyone has had a traumatic event that embeds itself into their aura. It’s a common occurrence.”

“But you would have seen it if he had made a…a horcrux.” Draco made sure to mutter the last bit under his breath.

“Maybe we’re dealing with a different type of abomination but on the same lines as that. I don’t know but I do remember Lucius’s magical signature…and his handiwork.”

Draco nodded and then realized something with horrifying clarity. “Hermione! The spell, will she be okay?”

Melody nodded. “She’s strong enough to have resisted it, especially with your blood flowing through her veins. Actually, she’s probably got enough of you in her to make her a half blood by now.”

Draco smirked. They did exchange blood quite often, not including their blood vow and their marriage binding. He couldn’t help but be relieved. At least it was some sort of protection he could afford her all the time. If it would help her survive, he’d gladly give her every last drop of blood he possessed.

“Sorry for the interruption,” Melody said loudly as she addressed the class. “For some reason, I can never teach a class without some sort of excitement happening.”

Draco chuckled. He remembered her first class, the one she taught after she’d come back from the dead. Severus had practically imploded at seeing her again. He remembered her smile, her beautiful jade eyes that she hid behind sunglasses, and her taunting. ‘Riddle me this and riddle me that, who’s afraid of the big, black bat?’

“Stop laughing. You caused enough distractions your sixth year to make up for the last ten!”

Draco smirked at her. “I can’t help it. I just seem to attract attention.”

“Um hum.” Melody was fighting down a smile. “Well, you can listen in on my vampire speech again. We’ve just come to the part about mesmerizing their victims. I recall this is your favorite part.”

Draco burst out laughing again. “Ah yes, that was truly brilliant. Too bad there isn’t a demonstration this time.”

“Whorple would kill me if I invited a vampire here,” Melody said sourly. “Which, by the way, is another myth. A vampire can go anywhere they choose regardless of whether you want them in your abode or not.”

“How do you keep them out then?” The outspoken ginger in the back called.

Melody snorted. “You don’t. You either learn to fight them off or strike a bargain with them. Most of you won’t have to worry about it. Vampires do not have the least inclination to commit petty crimes such as sneaking into houses. They prefer easy prey: homeless persons, criminals on the run, ladies of the night, and the occasional willing victim.”

“Why would anyone willingly be a victim?” Miss Parkerton asked.

Melody smiled at the girl, whom she’d learned her first name was Violetta but went by Vi. “A vampire bite is quite pleasurable Miss Parkerton. If you trust the vampire enough not to lose control, then you’d probably become quite addicted to it.”

The girl turned about ten shades of red.

“You seem to know an awful lot about vampires,” Mr. Thompson said suspiciously.

Melody bit back a wicked grin. “Yes Mr. Thompson, I have seen my fair share of them. You learn a lot more from hanging out with them than you will in any book.”

“Aren’t you scared they’ll kill you?” Anastasia’s eyes were huge.

Melody glanced over at Draco, whom she was fixing to upset. “No Miss LeStrange, I’m not.”

Sure enough, Draco jumped about a foot out of the chair at the name. She spun around and quickly entered his mind, telling him exactly who the sad girl was. She felt his sympathy immediately. After all, the name Malfoy didn’t do him any favors. It wasn’t the poor girl’s fault that it was law in the wizarding world for a child to have their father’s name, regardless of whether it was consensual or not. That was another reason that Melody had insisted on a blood adoption for Alex. The twins’ last name was Lee, even if hers wasn’t. Damn government wouldn’t accept a marriage to a vampire but twins adopted by one were another story.

“Why not?” Anastasia asked softly.

Melody shrugged. “Believe it or not, vampires are people too. Appeal to their better nature and you have nothing to fear.”

“Better nature,” a burly looking boy in the back spat. “Their soulless creatures, little more than animals. They have no better nature.”

“Best not let one of them hear you talk like that,” Melody said quietly. She was seething but understood that vampires weren’t exactly held in the highest regards. News of the vampire defection in the war had done nothing but cause the governments, both American and European alike, to crack down on their monitoring. Units were set up to tag and track each individual one, Alex included since he had to register after he turned. It wasn’t like they could just waltz up to the monitoring office and say oops. Fearing for vampires’ treatment, Alex included, Celeste had immediately applied for a position in America. It was a comfort to know that she would look out for those not seeking world domination.

“Too late,” Alex drawled as he walked in. Celeste was right behind him.

Melody spun in surprise. “Alex! What are you doing here?”

“Had to check in with my parole officer,” he groused. “I arrived moments after you called so I thought I’d tag along. Looks like I’m just in time.”

Melody grinned. “I would say so.”

Celeste’s evil chuckle could be heard behind them. She helped Draco to his feet and marched him towards the door. “If I were you, I’d go with the idiot in the back.”

“What’s this?” Alex asked in mock surprise. “You’re giving me permission to eat someone?”

“Why not?” Celeste said with sugary sweetness. “It’s views like that one that make my job difficult.”

“Touché,” Alex breathed and stared down the now sick looking boy.

“Easy Alex. Perhaps Mr. Jordan would care to retract his previous statement.” Melody glanced at the boy who had gone white as a sheet. He nodded fiercely and sunk down in his chair. “There, see? New opinions are formed every day.”

“Then why can I smell the lie from here?” A man called from the door.

Melody spun around again and almost fell down. Alex quickly caught her and righted her. “Demitri, you’re supposed to be watching over Narcissa.”

Demitri nodded and walked in carrying a large bundle. It was Hermione. She was in bad shape, her skin pale as tremors wracked her body. Celeste dragged Draco over to the desk where Demitri placed Hermione gently in his lap. “I was. However, Mr. Potter found it necessary to remove her due to…what did he say…emotional distress. I was the only one he trusted so I came as quickly as I could. Narcissa is with Remus and Tonks.”

“Damn it. This class is turning into a circus!” Melody pinched the bridge of her nose. “Well then, since you are here Demitri, would you care for a snack?”

“No thanks. I am not fond of bigots.”

Melody laughed. “You need to eat Demitri. Your face is pale.”

“It is always pale.”

Melody shook her head in exasperation. “Geez, you know what I mean.”

Demitri grinned. “Yes but there is not a suitable meal here and I promised I would deliver Mrs. Malfoy and keep her safe.”

“Promise to Narcissa?”

“Always.”

Melody nodded. “Alex, show him the stash please.”

Alex grinned. “Of course. Be back in a sec.”

The two men flew through the door in a brilliant burst of speed that made the entire class gasp in awe.

Melody waited for the hubbub to die down. “There, you see? Vampires are not the soulless creatures bent on destruction that everyone makes them out to be.”

“They can’t be vampires,” Vi said softly. “They’re out in the daylight.”

“Ah! An excellent point Miss Parkerton. There is a potion in existence that will protect a vampire from exposure to sunlight. It is not recommended as it increases a vampire’s metabolism. You noticed that Demitri is very pale, paler than usual. The potion causes him to need to feed more frequently. However, he will not burn to a crisp. Many vampires choose to use it to go out into the world and conduct business.”

“What business would a vampire have?” Jordan again.

Melody sighed. “Well, it might surprise you to know that many vampires are productive citizens in the wizarding world. Demitri is the history professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Scotland. Since he’s lived through the last few centuries, he has quite a unique take on the subject.”

“So they’re all history teachers?” Peters, the ginger called out.

“No,” Melody said slowly. She wanted to smack him. “Alex is a Healer and a muggle doctor. It’s an odd profession for a vampire, but with his keen sense of smell and hearing, he can diagnose what others miss. Before you ask, he was in the profession before he turned. He simply chose to carry on with it.”

“So…they can be anything they want?”

“Of course Miss LeStrange,” Melody grinned. “After all, you can be anything you want to be, can’t you? There is no difference for vampires. Most do choose a vocation that allows them to practice at night though. For example, there is one coven that runs a nightclub for muggles, magical people, and vampires alike, although they do frown on werewolves for obvious reasons.”

“Why don’t vampires like werewolves?” Thompson called from the back.

“Predators do not enjoy their hunting territory being encroached upon,” Demitri answered as he walked back into the room. “That being said, one of my best friends is a werewolf so it is not impossible to get along.”

“I thought the werewolves were gone,” a small boy in the back called.

Demitri nodded. “Many were destroyed in the second wizarding war by floods of silver spells. However, those remaining have chosen to live life peacefully, integrate themselves into society as vampires have done, and isolate themselves when the full moon rises.”

The class remained silent after that, soaking up the new knowledge. Melody took the chance to glance back at Hermione and Draco who were both very pale, close to passing out. They had been apart too long. Sighing, she walked over and yanked out the dagger than Draco kept in his boot. She conjured a piece of gauze and brought their hands together. She was thankful that Demitri, Alex, and Celeste shielded them with their bodies as she cut through their palms and bound their hands together. She doubted either one was conscious enough to care about the wounds. They were too weak from their separation and the spell that Hermione had walked in on, a nasty little thing that would kill a muggle and send a muggle-born to the Janus Thickey unit.

The bell rang and Melody realized that she would have the other seventh years in her class, the ones from Severus’s potions class. Seizing the opportunity, she called out. “If anyone would like a demonstration of a vampire’s powers, please stay seated and wait for the next class to join us. I’ll only ask them to do it once.”

The class sat down together, eagerness in every eye. Melody smirked and turned around, eyeing Alex. He didn’t have quite the command of his powers that he once did but he had enough of them that they would still believe he was a full vampire. Daywalkers were myths after all and she wasn’t about to debunk that theory. She didn’t want to ask Demitri to perform like a circus freak but he shocked her by grinning and nodding. Well, it would be quite the show then.

“Celeste, can you get Sev? I think he’ll be irked if his entire class doesn’t show up.”

Celeste nodded and walked out the door, making her way to her husband’s class.

“They switch like that here?” Alex asked.

“Yes, each teacher has a, a buddy,” Melody sneered at the term. “They each teach half the grade year and then switch. Today is second, fourth, fifth, and seventh. First, third and sixth year were yesterday, although the first years won’t have potions until next week. Whorple seems to think Severus incapable of teaching those fresh to magic.”

Alex snorted. “That man ran an entire damned school one year.”

“Yes well,” Melody grimaced. She hated that Whorple was treating Severus like an incapable idiot. The old goat had cut her some slack since she’d gone to school here but it still burned her. Her friend was a hero and a damn fine potions master and teacher.

Draco opened his eyes to find a room packed with twice the amount of students as before. He groaned, the ache in his head now down to a dull throb. He was delighted to find Hermione in his lap but wondered how she got there.

“Oh good, you’re awake,” Melody said softly. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Celeste trying to get me out of here,” Draco answered in a whisper. He tried to raise his arm to rub his eyes but found that it was tightly bound to his wife. “That’s not good.”

“Too long,” Melody simply said and flicked her fingers to unbind their hand. “You weren’t conscious enough to exchange any other way.”

“Thanks,” Hermione breathed out.

“Morning sweetie. You two are just in time.”

“Time for what?” They asked in unison.

Melody cackled. “Well, it seems like I will have a demonstration for my vampire lecture after all.”

AN: Alright, so this is the first mid-week chapter. We'll see how long I can keep this up.

I couldn't help myself in this chapter. I loooove educating poor ignorant students about vampires (and the stuff I make up about them). Now that we've squared Narcissa away and let everyone in on the past, we're good to go right? Right? *evil chuckle* Poor Bracken, but the guy was a bastard and I had to kill him. Sowwy. As always, thank you guys so much for your reviews. They make the day a bit brighter when I read them. Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing and if you find any errors. Until next time....Love you guys!
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Fooling Fate *sequel to Bound*

Fooling Fate sequel to Bound