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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Severus bade them entrance when he heard the soft knock on his door.

“Father,” Draco greeted cautiously.

“Come in. I will require assistance from both of you.”

Severus directed them to gather the ingredients needed from his personal stores. They quickly cracked his wards and collected everything. When they returned, he was glaring at the potion’s sickly green hue.

“Whoever modified this was not a potions master. I would be surprised if they didn’t blow themselves up in their creation attempts.”

“Why do you say that?” Hermione asked.

“Well, for a starter, one doesn’t place dragon’s blood and wolfsbane in the same potion without adding an anticoagulant.”

Draco’s mouth dropped open in shock. “How in the bloody hell did they keep it from clotting?”

“I don’t know how they did it except by sheer luck.” Severus grimaced and shook his head. “However, if you mix the dragon’s blood with fluxweek and the wolfsbane with exploding ginger eyelash, then you can stir the two together in one scruple increments until they are blended.”

“Why do you suppose they took out the citric acid?” Hermione asked.

Severus sighed. “The only thing that I can gather is that citric acid has antioxidants that refresh the skin. Since the potion is intended to be absorbed through the skin, it could hinder osmosis. The point of adding the citric acid, besides it being an anticoagulant, is that the potion could possibly cause unnecessary wounds from the breakdown of skin cells. However, it is clear that our enemy doesn’t give one whit about its test subjects. Therefore, creative blending is needed to invent the sealing potion. Since I can’t use it in the potion itself, I will create a secondary potion to restore the condition of the skin.”

Draco roughly pulled his hair back and secured it with a leather thong. “Let’s get past the technical aspects of brewing the potion for now, shall we? How good of a chance does Lily have of coming out of this unscathed?”

“None,” Severus whispered. “She will always have to live with this and I daresay whoever else is involved will become her lifeline.”

“Rhapsody said it was one of the boys from Diagon Alley,” Hermione offered. “He was apparently wrangled into the clan unwittingly.”

Severus nodded and added three drops of Horklump juice and gave the potion twelve vigorous anti-clockwise stirs. “That seems to be the calling card of our enemy, using clueless children to do their bidding.”

“They can’t all be innocent,” Draco said softly. “The leader most undoubtedly knows what is going on.”

“I’m sure he does,” Severus sniffed. “However, that doesn’t mean that all of them do. Still, if we are to truly understand the depths of the deception, we must question Lily’s new bond mate.”

“He’s going to be terrified,” Hermione said. “I’m not sure we’ll be able to get much from him.”

“We must try,” Severus said. “We must also get the rest of those necklaces and figure out which ones contain the magical souls. I believe that is our only hope in saving Miss Carter.”

“Did Cadence tell you?” Draco asked.

Severus sighed. “She did and loathe as I am to admit it, I agree that the girl would be perfect for him.”

“You know her?” Hermione asked.

“I know of her,” Severus corrected and then smirked. “Aiden wished to become proficient in occlumency and was unable to block me from his thoughts about a particular Hufflepuff who had impressed him with her grades.”

Draco chuckled. “Cadence said Aiden never gave her a second glance.”

“Well, he is a bit more discreet than the open leering your eldest son employs,” Severus scoffed.

“He’s your grandson you know,” Draco jabbed. “But it seems that Scorpius will soon be setting his sights on someone and he will be just as intense when that time comes as he will be in any other area of his life.”

“Scorpius will probably scare poor Lizzy Tottery to death,” Severus chuckled. He soon sobered though. “I dare say she needs someone as extremely protective as him though. Merlin knows the poor child has been through enough.”

Hermione shook her head. “What of Ara’s match, what was his name?”

“Colton Basil.” Severus pursed his lips in thought. “Unfortunately, we don’t know much about him. We can assume he is an orphan since he is her match. He was the one to bring Lizzy to be healed. I’m not sure how much that says about him but it is a start, I suppose.”

“Rhapsody said we’ll need them...we’ll need everyone.” Draco sighed. “Severus, we’ll probably be out for a while after this. What will we tell the hospital?”

“I’ll floo Albus later,” Severus answered. “I’m sure he can provide an alibi.”

“Thank you,” Draco said. “Now, let’s take a look at this charm.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Everyone ready?” Melody asked.

The class room contained the six students from Salem, Draco, Hermione, Severus, and Melody. Everyone else had made the trek outside to the clearing. Harry had been successful in grabbing the ill-fated boy without so much as a blink. The aurors didn’t expect one of them to escape from the holding cell a second time. They didn’t count on one of their own busting him out either.

The boy was Cecil Gregory, a coming fourth year Slytherin. His sandy brown hair and pale green eyes had garnered him many looks from females in the past. Judging from the mad ranting he’d done, he blamed his older half-brother, Thomas, for everything. Thomas had bullied him into going to with him to Diagon Alley, tripped him, poured something on him, and then gave him a set of the group’s robes to wear and a necklace. Harry had managed to swipe all of the necklaces as well but he didn’t dare let Cecil touch one.

“Alright,” Melody said as she took a steadying breath. “First, we’re going to take a blood oath so you six can’t say anything. Not,” she interrupted the student’s protests, “that we think you would, but, well… let’s just say it is better safe than sorry. This blood vow will cover everything you’ve seen, heard, etc. and will keep you from being able to tell anyone, including unknown people trying to eavesdrop.”

“Don’t you have to be seventeen to do this?” Lizzy asked quietly.

Melody smirked over at Draco and Hermione before she answered. “Absolutely not. Blood vows are tied to your magic, not your age. Anyone who is old enough to understand the oath can take one and I daresay you are old enough. Since there are six of you, a traditional ceremony would be time consuming and unnecessary. I will prick each of your fingers and place the drops in this tiny ceramic bowl. The Malfoys along with Professor Snape and myself will add our blood as well and we’ll take the vow over the bowl. Any questions?”

“Side effects?” Colton asked quietly.

“Smart lad,” Draco said softly. “The blood vow will choke the hell out of you if you try to willingly disobey it. If it is a case of eavesdropping, you’ll simply lose the ability to speak. The difference between a blood vow and an unbreakable vow is the absence of death if the vow does break. However, you’ll find that the blood vow offers protections you haven’t even heard of.”

“So why not use it instead of unbreakable vows all the time?” Deven asked.

“Blood vows are for life,” Melody answered. “A person can be released from an unbreakable vow. A blood vow offers no such respite. If one chooses to change the parameters of the vow, a new vow must be made as an addendum.”

“What happens if we don’t take the vow?” Anastasia asked softly.

“You will be obliviated and sent back to your dormitory none the wiser,” Severus answered in a low even tone.

“Why do you need us?” Matt asked.

Melody smiled. “There is safety in numbers. Take the oath, and I’ll tell you what I can.”

Violetta took a deep breath, stepped up and offered her finger. “I’ll take it.”

Her courage inspired the other five to do the same. The adults added their blood as well and Melody spoke the incantation over the bowl. “Do you six agree to keep all activities and information that has passed between the people in this classroom a secret?”

“We do,” the students chanted together.

“Do you agree to keep all activities that will happen throughout the day with the fated family a secret?”

“Who is that?” Matt asked.

“That would be myself, Professor Snape, and all of our extended family,” Melody answered.

“We do,” the students breathed.

Melody took a deep breath and looked over to Severus for confirmation of her next agreement. He nodded slightly and she relaxed. “In return, we agree to keep the secret of all of your heritages from anyone who is not in the fated family. We vow to protect you to the best of our abilities from here on out. Is this agreeable?”

“Yes!” The students cried in shock. They hadn’t expected a promise of safety.

Deven cleared his throat. “Would anyone mind if we extended you the same offer?”

The students all shook their heads, a statement that they didn’t mind tit for tat. Melody teared up for a moment before regaining her composure.

“Very well, we accept. One last thing. Whorple is not your friend, trust me when I say this. Please agree not to divulge anything to her that would raise suspicion of what has and will come to pass.”

“We do,” the students answered immediately. It seemed that they didn’t hold Whorple in any higher regards than the adults.

“Perfect,” Melody hissed when the vow flashed. “Now, we have to get you out of here and I don’t think Whorple will allow six permission slips, let alone altering the outside wards to let you out. So, what we’re going to do is cause a very large distraction.”

“How do we do that?” Deven asked.

“I’m so very glad you asked,” Melody grinned and pulled up her sleeve to expose her Dark Mark. She ignored the gasps of the students and motioned for Severus and Draco to reveal their arms as well. “After the attack yesterday, Whorple altered the wards to read the Mark. She couldn’t figure out why Severus and I didn’t trip the wards but chocked it up to our interest in the Dark Arts and figured we somehow knew how to thwart them. Why she figures that others wouldn’t know the same supposed techniques escapes me. What she doesn’t know is that I deactivated our Marks almost two decades ago.”

“You can do that?” Anastasia gasped.

Melody nodded. “I know how to remove them but sometimes things serve a purpose, no matter how horrible they are.”

Anastasia shook her head. “But no one but Voldemort knew how the Marks worked. Death Eaters have been trying for years to get them removed.”

Melody smiled. “The Dark Lord himself gave us the knowledge. He was sure he erased it but we we’re a bit better than he was. So now, all I have to do is make these three active.”

“No,” Hermione said weakly.

“Relax sweetheart. I can do it without the pain. The pain came from the application process, not this particular spell.”

“Thank Merlin,” Hermione breathed and relaxed minutely.

Melody waved her wand in intricate patterns over each of the Marks and then tapped them gently to seal the spell. “Now, this is going to hurt. I have to make sure I put the right one on.” She placed the tip of her wand on the mouth of the skull on her arm and hissed an incantation. Immediately, the three ex-Death Eaters plus Hermione hissed in pain. As soon as it came, it disappeared again and Melody relaxed with a nod.

“What the hell was that?” Draco grimaced and rubbed the Mark.

“The summoning spell obviously. I’d like to think everyone felt it but it’s just us three. I didn’t link them to the others. However, the link should be strong enough to trip the wards.”

“What now?” Hermione asked, trying not to rub her aching arm lest she give herself away.

Melody grinned evilly. “Now we play a little game I like to call Whorple-baiting. First, I’m going to see if the Mark will trip the classroom wards. Everyone out into the hall and get ready to make a mad dash for the main door.”

They all filed out of the class but nothing happened. All was quiet, no alarms, no bells, no running teachers.

“Damn,” Melody said in disappointment and then cocked her head as she stared at her door. “Is she really that stupid?” She scoffed and placed her wrist to the door jamb. “Of course she is.”

Lights flickered and a loud siren sounded. Melody clapped for joy and jumped around in a circle. Then she put both her hands in the air and moved them in a motion similar to conducting an orchestra. Loud techno music poured through the halls drowning out the sounds of the sirens. She motioned for everyone to follow her as she ran through the school cackling.

“She’s crazy,” Matt huffed.

“Best get used to it,” Draco chuckled and jogged along behind them, making sure to touch his wrist to the wall every now and then.

Teachers and students alike were scurrying back and forth in the halls, confusion evident. The children of Salem hadn’t ever heard an alarm ward in school before and that was a very unsettling thought. Someone with ill intentions could just waltz right in and kill half of the occupants before anyone even figured out what was going on. That was something that had to change immediately.

Melody skidded to a halt just in front of the white oak main door. No one had spotted them yet, still looking around for some dark creature in a hooded cloak. “I think it’s time we did something extremely reckless and stupid, don’t you?”

“How reckless?” Severus growled.

“Well,” Melody hedged and stared at Draco. “I was thinking that the Care of Magical Creatures class is sorely unbalanced.”

“I’ll knock down the school!” Draco yelled in outrage. He knew exactly what she was thinking and his dragon form was much too large for the hallway.

“Don’t change in the school. Disillusion yourself and run through the doors. Do me a favor and hit your arm on the way out though. Each tap will disrupt the wards long enough for a few of us to run through undetected. I figure a magical creature might draw enough attention to get them all undercover once we’re outside.”

“Can’t draw attention if I’m invisible,” Draco sniffed.

“I’ll fix that,” Hermione said as she took out her wand.

“Great, on three,” Melody said and counted down.

Melody placed a small obscuring spell to keep them from being spotted for a little while longer. Then she smacked the Mark against the door and pushed through, ushering three of the students to follow. Severus went next, making sure to touch the Mark to the door and waited for the other three students to join him. Draco, now safely invisible, touched his arm to the door and pulled Hermione out with him. He twisted in mid-stride when a crew of three teachers and half the seventh years came running after them.

“Now!” He yelled just before he transformed.

Hermione reversed his spell and used his body to shield her from view as she turned into a hummingbird. She admired Draco as she hovered in air for a moment. His dragon form was always magnificent. The silvery blue scales of the Swedish Short Snout glittered in the daylight and reflected the sun into their pursuer’s eyes keeping them from attacking. They didn’t need to worry though. Everyone was so dumbfounded by the sight of a dragon that they were paralyzed.

Draco took no chances that one of them would come to their senses. He scooped Hermione’s tiny form up in his claws and flew off towards the clearing in the forest. It only took a few minutes to find it. He let go of Hermione and touched down as far away from everyone else as he could so he wouldn’t accidentally hurt anyone. His dragon form was awe inspiring but the sheer size was inconvenient for most practical uses.

“Cool dad,” Jacob said softly when his parents walked up in their human forms. He always loved watching everyone’s animagus forms but was still too scared to find his own. His twin, Rose, had been trying to convince him to the better part of a year.

Draco grinned. “I bet your form is even better.”

“I’m not sure there is anything that tops a dragon.”

“Sure there is. You just have to find it,” Draco encouraged gently as he patted his youngest son on the shoulder. He knew better than to push. With the twins’ volatile powers, pushing was never a good idea. He’d learned that when they were two and the loo exploded when they’d started toilet training.

“We don’t have much longer,” Rhapsody said, her eyes glued to Lily and Cecil who were huddled together on the ground.

They’d sliced their hands open and performed a rudimentary bond that equated to the blood brothers vow that muggles took. It was weak so it wouldn’t bond them mentally or romantically but still strong enough to keep them from spiraling out of control before the spell could be said. It looked like it wasn’t going to hold for much longer if the tears tracking down the children’s faces as they held on to each other for dear life was anything to go by.

Hermione remembered that feeling, like the world was going to disintegrate if she didn’t touch Draco. She hated that Lily had to go through it as well. Being a phenom, or a pure for that matter, was a cruel twist of fate. A person should have the right to feel comfortable in their own skin without having to depend on another person. It made her wonder how her own children would cope. Their magic was almost uncontrollable now and there was no imbalance.

“We’re here!” Melody called as she and Severus came bursting through the brush.

The six students following them were a little ragged, but bright eyed with curiosity and adrenaline. It wasn’t every day that they snuck out of school…or saw a dragon for that matter. They stared in awe at Draco but noticed that his attention was on the two children who were now starting to moan in pain.

Deven frowned. “They feel different.”

Melody nodded. “Unfortunately, they’ll stay that way forever. We’ve got to move now or we’re going to lose them. Everyone line up except for the Malfoys, you know the order. Cadence, sort the seventh years please.”

Cadence nodded and ran over to the bewildered students. She ignored their protests as she pushed the girls towards the Zach and Nate and then yanked Deven over towards Rhapsody. Her sister stiffened, a look of mutiny in her eyes but her mouth remained firmly closed when Cadence shook her head. She didn’t much care for her match either. His size intimidated her but she ignored her feelings and dragged him over to stand on the opposite side of the clearing.

They’d discussed this formation at length for years, just in case they’d ever needed to contain a volatile Draco and Hermione, or their twins. It had happened a few times before, usually when one of their twins had lost control of their emotions. Melody had gone to great lengths to procure the items for the magic suppressing jewelry that they now wore.

“Alright Malfoys, time to cough them up,” Melody said, conjuring four bags, each with a coordinating design that matched the dampening bracelets. “I’m going to put these on the perimeter as a fail safe.”

“What about us?” Jacob asked in fear.

“You’ll be fine sweetheart,” Hermione said quietly. “You’ll have a focus so there won’t be any room for the unexpected bursts.”

“What is going on?” Colton asked as he watched the two sets of twins take off beautiful silver wrist cuffs.

Melody sighed. “I’d prefer to inform everyone at the same time so for now, take off the anklet and go with Ara.”

Colton turned as white as a sheet. “How did-“

“I know much more than you think I do,” Melody said gently. “But don’t worry. You’ll be fine. As you can see, this isn’t our first rodeo. Lizzy, the toe ring if you’d please.”

Lizzy started shaking. “I c-can’t.”

“Yes you can sweetheart,” Melody coaxed. “We won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

“No. I mean, I really can’t. My…um…father, he…um…glued it to my toe with muggle super glue.”

“WHAT?” Melody screamed then caught herself before she bared her fangs. “Your dear old dad and I are going to have a fucking talk. Sit. I’ll get it off.”

“He s-said…you c-couldn’t-”

Melody hissed. “I don’t care what that bastard told you. I married a doctor and I damn well know how to get super glue off. Merlin knows Zach and Nate had an unhealthy obsession with it.”

“Hey!” The twins yelled, their cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment.

“Well, you did!” Melody called back. “Besides, look how helpful it is now.”

She helped Lizzy to sit on the grass and gently took off her Mary Jane and stocking. The toe ring was hideous, black iron with thick spikes and sinister looking gargoyles. It had obviously been charmed to resize with her toe but the other toes looked horrible, ugly scars and fresh wounds marring the flesh.

“You’re not putting this back on,” Melody growled as she conjured the solvent to remove the ring. It took a few moments but finally, the torturous item slipped free. She yanked Colton’s anklet out of his hand and turned to Hermione and Draco “Heal that while I go distribute these things.”

They knelt obediently, casting simultaneously to heal the damaged flesh, cure the infection the ring had revealed, and reverse the horrible scarring. Lizzy’s eyes continuously leaked tears as she watched their tender ministrations. The pain was finally gone for the first time in what had to be at least ten years.

Hermione picked her foot up and inspected it, finally nodding when she was satisfied. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to walk on it until all those spells set. Scorp, carry her. She’ll stay with you during the casting.”

“Yes mum,” Scorpius said softly. His was trying very hard to put a cap on his emotions, knowing that letting them rule him was a very bad idea at this stage in the game. He’d never seen something so cruel that wasn’t in a memory. How could someone do that to their own daughter?

“Done,” Melody barked, breaking into his thoughts. “Now, instead of the four corners like we normally do, you’re going to do it in thirds as couples. Can you handle this?”

“What about us?” Rose asked. She had caught on immediately who the new children would be paired with.

Melody smiled. “You’ll get to cast with your brother, of course.”

Scorpius lifted Lizzy from the ground as gently as he could and carried her over to his spot. He set her down but insisted that she lean on him for balance and conjured a pillow to place her healing foot on. Hermione held back a sob at the sight of her normally brash and rambunctious teen being so gentle with the frail girl. It was a sign he was growing up and if she was honest, a slap in the face that made her realize just how fast time had flown.

Melody watched and cataloged everyone’s places. Lily and Cecil were in the center, still holding on for dear life but they were fading fast. Hermione and Draco were standing beside them, ready to conjure the strongest magic they ever had to date. Just a few feet from them, Alex waited for her. They would make up the first shield. A third of the way around the circle, Severus and Celeste looked on soberly. They would make up the second shield. A distraught Harry and Ginny stood in the distance left, horrified at what was fixing to happen but resolved to do whatever it took to save their precious baby girl.

There was always some debate about where to put the Malfoy twin sets. They were powerful and if you placed them together, they could easily overpower the phenoms. It was unlike anything anyone had seen before, save for Hermione and Draco themselves. Well, outstanding individuals would have outstanding offspring and the twins were no different. They stood now with their new partners, looking resolute to cast the next and probably the strongest shield since they would be weaving magic to form one. Behind them, one couple on each of the four corners was her and Harmony’s twins with their respective mates. Being phenoms, their magic would be as strong as the others. She only hoped that the new students’ lack of training wouldn’t throw a wrench in the casting. The final ring was made up of Aiden, Serena, James, and Albus. Being normal and without a partner, they would have to cast a combined shield to hold off the last influx of magic. They each stood at the four corners, wands at the ready and looking more than able to handle themselves.

Melody nodded and cast a sonorous so those without enhanced hearing would be able to understand her. “I’m sure some of you are wondering how this is going to work. In order to cast the spell to heal Lily and Cecil, a tremendous amount of magic will need to be conjured. I don’t think any of us have seen this amount before. Therefore, we have everyone here to dual cast protective shield layers. Now, I know that those of you who just joined us have no clue how to do this. For the seventh years, simply lay your hand upon your partner and will them to cast the strongest shield imaginable. You will start glowing a color. Do NOT freak out. That is supposed to happen. Your partner will help you if you don’t.

“For the sixth years, you won’t be able to do this. You will need to hold your partners hand and cast simultaneously. Hold your own shield and let your partner wrap theirs around yours. Don’t worry, they know how. You concentrate on holding it for as long as you can. I don’t expect all of us to come out of this conscious. Therefore, anyone who is still standing will revive the others EXCEPT for Hermione, Draco, Cecil, and Lily. The adults will do that. Any questions?”

“What are we doing?” Colton called out.

Melody sighed. “We are messing with magic that not even the Gods will touch. Now, everyone ready?”

With no other objections, she marched over to take her place beside her husband. Severus handed Draco and Hermione each a bottle of potion that was protected with a shatterproof charm. They set the potions down beside the children, unsure of whether or not they would be conscious to administer it.

With a knot in her stomach, Hermione reached up and took off Draco’s cloak. For the level of magic that they needed to reach, it was best if they connected as much skin as possible. She was thankful that it was still hot as she stripped down to a sports bra and a pair of gym shorts. Draco was dressed similarly sans shirt. Their gold and silver tattoos glittered in the clearing causing the newest members of their motley crew to gasp in awe. She stepped into his embrace, making sure than she pressed as much of her body against him as she could.

Draco couldn’t help but feel nauseous at this task. He didn’t want to think of the consequences of failing. He tightened his grip a little and breathed in the scent of Hermione, treacle tart with clotted cream, vanilla, and cinnamon. It never failed to drive him insane but on this occasion, it grounded him. It reminded him of why they did this, why they put their life on the line every day. He did it for his family and he’d do it a million times a day if he needed to. A craving for a deeper connection called to him as his fangs descended. Without preamble, he moved Hermione’s hair and sunk his fangs into her neck, pulling her life force into his mouth. She grabbed his arm and bit down to stifle her moans of ecstasy.

It was embarrassing to have to endure a mind bending orgasm in front of not only her friends, but her children as well. Hermione put it out of her mind as she savored the taste of lime cordial. She didn’t take much, just enough to start the flow of magic before she pulled out. Draco did as well and she pressed into him a bit further. The magic started coiling throughout her body as she summoned the long tamped down supply in her core. Being with Draco balanced it but it didn’t remove it, the raw energy that threatened to consume her some days if she didn’t expel it.

Draco felt the magic swirl as air whipped around them in reaction to the building forces within them. Still, he held on. Severus might have been able to summon the energy to switch the twins but this charm made that one look like a spell for toddlers. The more modified the ingredients in the potion were, the stronger the magic had to be to overcome it. Dragon’s blood alone made the potion resilient to any type of magic, as dragons themselves were.

Hermione started vibrating against Draco, the magical current whipping around her and leaving her with the sensation of thousands of fiery needles descending on her skin. She couldn’t give up though. They hadn’t reached high enough build up yet. Her eyes closed just as a bright light started to develop. They’d gone past the point of making their magic invisible now. Up and up they went until their feet lifted from the ground, first inches and then feet as it continued to increase. Her heart palpated with the sheer force and she thought her magic might have capped but she refused to let it. She remembered back to the time when she and Draco had first been unbound, the sheer influx of magic making them unstable. They’d dueled hard and fast for a long time before returning to the castle and then taking on the difficult task of healing Dumbledore’s arm.

“Shields now,” Melody called.

Draco felt the suppressing magic as many layers of shields strong enough to block the killing curse went up around them. He reached further inside himself and tapped the furthest hidden parts of his core he hadn’t dared to access before. It was his greatest fear that he would self-destruct if he agitated those places. In the here and now though, he knew they would be fine. Hermione was with him, matching him bit for bit and balancing out his dangerously dark magic with her own lightness. He finally came to a place where he felt as if his skin would burst from the sheer force of suppressing it. Blood started flowing from their cores, much like they had done when they fought the bond before they were married. Their cores were straining against the maximum.

“Now damn it!” Melody screamed. “You’re killing yourselves. It’s enough!”

Hermione opened her eyes and focused on the children who were now surprisingly quiet and so still. Her heart fluttered at the thought that they were too late but she relaxed minutely when she saw their chests rise and fall. She and Draco raised their hands at the same time and cast the spell that would switch their cores and replace them, forever linking the poor children. Magic pulsed in waves making it hard to breathe as they let it out and willed it to reach inside and tear at the center of their patients.

Lily and Cecil lifted in the air, the bandage that held their hands together dissolving and allowing them to spin separately. Bright white light encompassed each of them as blood poured from their torsos, fingertips, eyes, noses, and mouths. It was a horrifying sight but not unexpected. They were literally ripping a part of their life force away. Two pieces of a shining substance coated in blood appeared before the couple. The blood fell away to reveal two pieces of raw magic, one violet, and one goldenrod. The pieces floated to the opposite child and rammed themselves into their bloody centers. Screams rent the air as the cores knitted themselves together with their new host.

Draco felt the magic leach from his bones as the children slowly healed themselves, blood drying on their fair skin. Hermione was weakening as well; he could feel it. It wouldn’t be long before there was nothing left. Their cores had taken quite the beating, accessing parts of their selves that no sane wizard or witch would dare touch. They had to keep it together long enough to pour the potion to finish this though.

Hermione watched tiredly as the children lowered to the ground, their faces set in grimaces of pain. The spell needed to be held just a bit longer though. It seemed like it took forever but it finally happened, violet and goldenrod lighting up the area. She and Draco each levitated a bottle of potion over the children, magically pulled the stopper, and poured it on their heads, hands, anywhere they would touch. With a last push, they forced the children to embrace and then ended the spell.

Light brighter and more forceful than a muggle nuclear bomb swept through the clearing, blinding its inhabitants and rendering most of them unconscious. One by one, each of the shields failed, flickering before absorbing a good amount of magical backlash and crumbling. Their casters were thrown into the subsequent shield on impact. The last shield crumbled but the magic had greatly been contained up to that point, the excess energy merely knocking its casters on their backsides before hitting the ring of magic dampening jewelry and fizzing out with a sharp crack.

Aiden scrambled to his feet and blinked several times to clear his vision. He looked around in shock to see that only his sister and Lily’s brothers had survived in a conscious state. He held his ringing ears and stumbled to help Serena off the ground. After a quick check on Albus and James, he staggered off to find Melody.

“I’ll do it.” Harmony’s voice startled him. He was sure she had gone back to England for something. He was surprised to see Philippe walk over to the others and starting to heal any injuries sustained from impact.

“Where were you?” He asked in a hoarse voice.

Harmony smiled as she stepped into the circle. “Just beyond the jewelry border. I was keeping an obscuring spell up, which was not easy by the way.”

Aiden shook his head in wonder. “Well, how did they fare?”

“I think they’ll be fine. Let’s wake Melody up and make sure.”

Melody blinked and groaned as sunlight hit her eyes. She struggled to sit up, her bones feeling like they had been used as a drum. “Damn it. Who threw me through a building?”

Harmony chuckled and pointed to the center of the clearing. “That would be those two over there.”

“Fuck!” Melody breathed and fought to get to her feet. “They damn near killed themselves.”

“Will they be okay?” Aiden asked in concern.

“It’s going to take a while.” Melody shook her head. “I don’t think we’ll be going to get that last book this weekend. Their cores are shredded.”

“They will heal,” Harmony said serenely and walked over to Lily and Cecil who were lying in a crumpled heap. “These two will take longer to heal than they will. They’ll need to be taken without magic.”

“Great,” Melody said flatly. “Draco was the only one big enough to take them home together.”

“No he wasn’t,” Aiden said quietly.

Melody’s head snapped over to him. “You’ve found your second form?”

Aiden nodded. “It happened right after the aurors let us go home but before you got there. I was just…so angry. I wanted to be strong enough to take them all out in one fell swoop.”

Melody chuckled. “Well, a roc will certainly do that. Transform and take these two out of here before we wake the others. Seeing a dragon and a roc in one day will no doubt cause them to have heart failure.”

“If they haven’t already,” Aiden muttered. He stepped way over to the side of the clearing and spread his arms, concentrating on the feel of the wind on his face.

Melody clapped and let out a whoop when a white eagle-like bird twice as big as a hippogriff took Aiden’s place. His black eyes glittered, a look of fierce pride in them. He expanded his wings, careful not to knock into anyone and cautiously stepped into the center of the circle.

“You’re beautiful Aiden,” Melody cooed and stroked the feathers behind the side of his beak. “Just wait until your dad sees you.”

“Indeed,” Severus’s voice was hoarse as he walked over. “It is quite an impressive form.”

Aiden preened and then squawked softly, jabbing his beak in Lily’s direction. Taking the hint, Severus and Melody lifted the children onto his back and conjured soft ropes to tie them down so they wouldn’t slip during the flight. When they were secured, Aiden leapt into the air with a screech and disappeared.

“I’ll meet him there and get the children inside,” Harmony said and disappeared with a pop.

“Severus, hand us your dagger.” Melody held her hand out impatiently as Severus retrieved it for her. She shook her head and walked over to the couple. “I don’t know what they were thinking. They went too far.”

“It was just enough,” Severus interrupted her mutterings. “Any less and it wouldn’t have taken.”

Melody sighed and sliced both of their hands before tossing the dagger to Severus and conjuring bandages. “Any more and we would’ve lost him.”

“How long?” Alex asked as he groggily made his way to the circle.

Melody cocked her head and observed their auras for a few minutes. She studied the subtle flickers and reactions now that their blood was flowing freely into each other. “Two days for conscious, probably a week before they’ll be stabilized enough to be separated.”

“Where does that leave us?” Celeste asked softly.

Melody shook her head. “With more time to plan I suppose. How are we going to get these two home?”

“Cadence and I will take them to the nearest town,” Rhapsody called. “We’ll just walk very close together.”

“It’s fifty miles to the nearest town!” Melody cried.

“Take them to the road leading in,” Alex instructed. “By the time you get there, I’ll come and get you in a car.”

The twins nodded and turned into a pair of horses the same color as their hair. Everyone had a good laugh when they first found these forms. Apparently, horse animagi ran in the blood. They daintily stepped forward and accepted the weight of conjured saddles and the couple on their backs. They made sure to stay very still while the couple was being secured and moved off at a measured pace so they wouldn’t jar their precious cargo.

“I’d better go,” Alex said softly and kissed Melody gently on the forehead. “See you tonight sweetheart.”

Melody nodded and watched as he picked up the jewelry from the perimeter and returned it to the Malfoys and Colton. The ring he tossed in a bag and threw at Melody. One by one, their children disapparated from the clearing until only Albus, Jacob and Rose were left. He, Celeste, and Philippe each took a child and disappeared with a loud pop.

“That was…” Deven shook his head reverently. “Wow.”

“Wow indeed,” Severus said softly and looked each child over. “Are any of you injured?”

They children patted themselves down and then shook their heads in the negative. They were physically fine. Magically, they were drained but that would come back to them with rest. Mentally was another issue entirely. How could they process a scene like that?

“Then I suggest we get up to the castle before-“

“What is going on here?” Whorple’s voice screeched into clearing.

Too late.

AN: Uh Oh! Damn that Whorple. I'm glad I'm not scaring you guys away. I have to tell you that it gets darker though...but I'm sure you already knew that. Right? Let's see... a list of kids and mates ey? Well, how about the kids because we don't have all the mates lined up yet. Well, I do but I haven't told you guys yet. *evil grin.* So, after this note will be a list of the children, cool? As always, thank you every last one of you for your reviews. I haven't had to smoke once this week, just read my reviews and they made me feel aaaaalll better. Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing and if you find any errors. Until next time...later guys.

List of children:

Draco and Hermione:

Scorpius and Ara - 16 (twins)

Jacob and Rose - 14 (twins)

Harmony and Philippe:

Rhapsody and Cadence - 17 (twins)

Severus and Celeste:

Aiden - 17

Serena - 16

Harry and Ginny:

James - 16

Albus - 14

Lily - 13

Melody and Severus:

Zacharias (Zach) and Nathaniel (Nate) - 17 (twins)

and it will come up later...

Ron and Luna:

Hugo and Leif- 14 (twins)

Sable - 7
- 7
- 8
- 9
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Fooling Fate *sequel to Bound*

Fooling Fate sequel to Bound