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
- 8
- 9
- 10
“It’s been over two bloody days! When are they going to wake up?”

“Scorp, calm down,” Ara said softly. She placed her hand on his shoulder to keep him sitting down in the chair beside their parents’ bed.

He shrugged it off and shot up. “Why should I?”

Draco’s head felt like it was cracking in half. Why in the devil were his children yelling so loudly? “Shut it,” he hissed.

“DAD!” The oldest set of Malfoy twins yelled and almost jumped on him.

“Gah! Shush you two. My head feels like it’s going to explode.”

“Sorry Dad,” Ara whispered. “We’ll go get Alex.” Pounding footsteps marked their exit.

“Two days,” Hermione rasped in a rough voice.

Draco sighed. “They said it was possible.”

“I feel like Bellatrix’s play toy.”

“It’s not surprising,” Alex said as he breezed through the door. “You two thrashed your cores pretty good.”

Hermione risked opening her eyes to take a look around. Thankfully, the room that they were in was pretty dark and she wasn’t assaulted by painful lighting. They were at the Ranch occupying the room they’d used as teenagers. A quick glance around confirmed that Draco was next to her, their hands tightly bound. Alex was hovering over them and casting dozens of diagnostics. She gazed at them curiously, realizing that both she and Draco were still very weak.

Alex smiled when she wrinkled her nose. “Saw that, did you?” He’d just finished casting one for overall hygiene.

“I want a bath now,” Hermione said sourly.

Alex chuckled. “Only after your potions AND your word that you will let me carry you in there.”

“Not sure we can move much at this point,” Draco groaned. “How’s it look doc?”

Alex grinned at the muggle term. “Well, I’d say a nutrition potion, a strengthening potion, and a nice scrub and you’ll be well on your way. However, you’ll be bed bound for the next few days.”

“That bad?” Hermione asked in shock.

Alex’s face fell, a look of serious concern taking over. “You guys didn’t see yourselves. You probably lost a third of your blood just from your cores. They didn’t stop oozing until yesterday. We’ve been pouring replenishers down your throats every six hours just to keep up.”

“How’s Lily and her mate?” Draco asked, ignoring the implications of his own troubles.

Alex frowned and shook his head. “It’s still sketchy. They were so close to death when the spell was cast that it was almost too much for them. Right now they’re very low on blood. Philippe and I have been pouring blood replinisher down them every few hours and I’ve even given them both a transfusion just to speed things along. Their cores are still damaged, still leaking, but it is slowing significantly. We fear that only one thing can repair them and none of us are prepared to let that happen yet. Harmony and Rhapsody have taken to reading her and Cecil about three times a day. Melody and Cadence say that their auras are very weak but they haven’t flickered, a good sign I’m told.”

A tear slid down Hermione’s cheek at the bleak words. “How are Harry and Ginny taking it?”

Alex grimaced. “Better than I would. Harry has thrown himself into his work, refusing to stop and rest. I’m sure it’s the only thing that has kept him from shattering. Ginny keeps a vigil along with James and Albus. When she does leave Lily’s side, she alternates between helping Harmony and Celeste scour the books we retrieved from Voldemort’s castle and planning the recovery mission for the last book.”

“When will we be ready to move on that?” Draco asked. He tried to sit up but failed miserably and fell back to the mattress with a thud.

Alex shook his head and zipped out of the room only to return in moments with four vials of potions. He handed them each their doses and continued on with his report. “We’ll move as soon as you two are back to full health and not a moment before then. With Rhapsody and Cadence in on the mission, they’ve gotten a clearer image of what we’re up against. Voldemort’s castle has nothing on this. Nothing. They believe that while the full contingent of whoever this Master person is will not be occupying Khrone’s castle, what does live there is almost as bad. The legends are apparently true which is why you two need to be at your best.”

“The legends are true,” Hermione said flatly and then snorted. “Honestly, these things should not surprise me anymore.”

Alex chuckled. “Too true. However, there is a glimmer of hope.”

“Oh?” Draco asked. “Lily and her mate are balancing on a thread, Harry and Ginny are about to have a meltdown, Khrone’s castle’s stories are real, how much hope is there in that?”

Alex’s eyes twinkled in joy. “We found Zandra’s necklace.”

“Really?” Hermione squeaked in excitement and sat up too fast, earning her a dizzying trip back down to the pillows.

“Easy,” Alex chided. “Still weak, remember? Anyway, yes. You remember Harry managed to snatch all those necklaces, which he got away with, in case you were wondering.”

“Saint Potter,” Draco muttered without any of his normal heat. He was immensely glad for it this time.

Alex nodded. “One of them contained Zandra’s lost soul fragment. Melody identified those of the muggleborns that were in that cell and we destroyed those. The others were decoys or those belonging to the muggles that we saw in the second cell. They were very weak, ready to give in. Simply cracking the necklaces open allowed them to cross over.”

A peculiar look washed over Alex’s face before he controlled himself but he couldn’t fool them. “Spill,” Draco said with some authority.

Alex sighed. “There were two that neither belonged to muggles nor the poor girls we saw in the cell. Their…induction…into the jewelry was recent.”

“How recent?” Hermione’s voice wavered.

Alex shut his eyes in pain. “The same time as Zandra’s…and they indicate that their other halves are alive.”

“Fuck,” Draco spat. “Who do they belong to?”

Alex turned around and placed his head on the wall, his hands balling into fists. “One is a little boy, no older than five. He is muggleborn, probably not even old enough to realize what his bursts of magic are yet.”

Hermione couldn’t help but give a little sob at that. How could they do that to that poor baby? She felt her stomach churn at the thought. Where was he?

“Who is the other one?” Draco asked hoarsely.

Alex sighed again, a deep bone weary sigh. “It seems that the Snapes are cursed.”

Hermione viciously swiped a tear from her eye. “Serena’s mate.”

Alex nodded. “We don’t know his name, only that he’s a half-blood, almost the same age, and he’s powerful…so much so that he has two animagus forms that he will have the capability to master. Ironically enough, one of those was a wolf.”

Draco gave a humorless laugh. “Probably why he survived the process. Do we know where these two are?”

Alex nodded. “Khrone’s castle.”

“Not a coincidence,” Hermione muttered to herself.

Alex shook his head. “They are bait, just as Zandra is. However, Cadence and Melody have finally figured out how to crack the wards around Zandra. Melody has spoken with Albus at length about her. Since she has no family and her uncle’s body was discovered yesterday, she is now a ward of Hogwarts. Albus has agreed to release her to us. Ron will crack the wards for us since he can pull rank in the Auror’s office so suspicion doesn’t fall to Harry. We will move her here tomorrow.”

Hermione’s mind was working overtime at all the information. “Does Aiden know?”

Alex shook his head. “We thought it best if he saw her for himself the day she comes home with us. He’s apparently already half in love with her anyway.”

Draco snickered. “That’ll make it easier I’d imagine.”

“Yup!” Alex said happily. “The children with the exception of your oldest two are all at Hogwarts by the way. Narcissa and Demitri are keeping watch over them.”

Hermione took a few calming breaths. “I think I want that bath now.”

Alex grinned. “I want you to have that bath too!”

If she hadn’t been so weak, Alex would have ended up with a black eye.

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“They’re awake!” Scorpius bellowed as he burst into Melody’s class. He and Ara had been given strict instructions to contact Melody as soon as any changes happened. Unfortunately, in person was the only way they could deliver the message. Whorple had blown a torch when she saw that Melody and Severus had taken six of her students on an unauthorized outing, not to mention that they’d let vampires in the castle and deliberately tripped the wards with their Marks. Not only did she ban their floo privileges, monitor their owls, and forbid mirrors, but now they were on strict probation. One toe out of line and they’d be out on their asses.

Melody allowed a wide grin to grace her face, something that the students hadn’t seen since the day the vampires had come. “That is very good news. Thanks Scorpius. Where’s Ara?”

“Telling grandfather,” Scorpius panted. He’d run the whole way.

Melody nodded. “Why don’t you wait here a moment?”

Scorpius’s expression was immediately guarded. “Why?”

Melody cut her eyes over to two dolls that lay on her desk.

“No bloody way!” Scorpius protested.

“Language,” Melody reprimanded. “And why not? You’re very good.”

Scorpius shrugged and ducked his head. He hated those dolls. He’d almost blown them up more than once, and not every time was an accident. They were embarrassing, especially since his partner was generally his sister. Really, he loved Ara with his whole heart. They were thick as thieves, closer than most siblings. Still, dancing with his sister was a bit…awkward, especially the kind of dancing that challenged him enough to make the work with the dolls count.

“Come on, for me?” Melody pouted and blinked with big sad eyes.

Scorpius burst out laughing. “You look positively horrifying when you do that.”

Melody stuck her tongue out at him. “Well, at least I can still scare someone.”

Scorpius snorted. “Oh, you’re scary alright. You rival mum sometimes…and not in a good way.”

Melody grinned. “Taught her everything she knows. Now, seriously Scorpius, would you please do this? Most of these guys don’t think it’s possible, even after they saw your parents have a go.”

“No bloody way,” Scorpius said in shock as he scanned the room of curious students. His parents rarely danced anymore, too busy trying to save the world one runny nose at a time. Well, that wasn’t entirely true now. He thought it had been…until a few nights ago. Then he’d learned that they really were charged with saving the ruddy world, a world that didn’t give two knuts about them and would never even know.

“Earth to Scorp,” Melody said softly, breaking him out of his thought. “Will you do it? Show up your dear old dad?”

Scorpius shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s possible but I’ll give it a shot. I don’t have my partner though.”

Melody grinned like a Cheshire cat. “You get a new partner today. Miss Tottery, would you be so kind as to be Scorpius’s partner for this?”

The timid blonde jerked her head in a stiff nod and made her way to the front. Scorpius tried to keep the shocked expression off his face. This was the same girl that had cast with him in the clearing, the one whose father was a foul git and tortured her with a toe ring devised to keep her magic dampened. He’d thought about her constantly the past few days. When she stopped next to him, he couldn’t help but bend down and whisper the question he was dying to know.

“Are you alright? Everything healed?”

Lizzy blushed horribly but gave another jerk of her head in the affirmative. In fact, this was the most pain free week she’d ever experienced, a months’ worth of detention with the groundskeeper aside. She really hated Whorple after she doled out her punishments.

“Your ring?”

Lizzy gave a questioning glance toward Melody who gave a slight nod. The girl smiled briefly and looked down, lifting her foot ever so slightly and tilting her ankle toward Scorpius. He was amazed to find a delicate silver chain around her ankle. The iron spikes from the toe ring dangled from the tiny links. The gargoyle had been latched over the clip. It was almost beautiful.

“Right then,” Melody called. “Miss Tottery, Scorpius, please take control of your dolls.” The two dolls jumped to attention, morphing into replicas of their controllers. Scorpius mimicked himself, his doll wearing a pair of ripped Levis and a tight white tank top, heavily stained with dirt from having spent the last several hours working with the new colts at the Ranch. The energetic blond had a gift, breaking the new horses to ride. He thought it was a match for the rush of Quidditch.

“Wonderful!” Melody clapped in joy and jerked her head around to watch as Ara walked in. She motioned for the curious girl to have a seat and continued on. “Now, I think a slow waltz would be a good start.”

The couple danced a bit stiltedly to Unchained Melody, a favorite of the quirky professor. She remembered when Draco and Hermione had danced to the very same song years before. She could tell that Scorpius was totally enthralled with Lizzy. Who wouldn’t be? The girl was positively the embodiment of an angel. Judging from Lizzy’s bright pink cheeks, she was pretty enamored with the elegant blond holding her as well. The dolls only wavered slightly. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

“Absolutely stunning!” Melody praised and bade the teens to return. Scorpius almost looked surprised to find his sister smirking up at him from Melody’s chair. “Now Ara, care to show them how it’s done?”

Ara nodded and stood up, not about to back down from a challenge. She was a Gryffindor through and through. She waited patiently as Melody called Colton Basil to the front. The roguish looking boy’s sky blue eyes locked to the gold ones of his partner and never wavered as they twirled around the room. Melody wondered if she were to cast a temperature detection spell if it would increase by about ten degrees. Those two would have no problem getting along.

She praised her class for their valiant efforts that day when the demonstrations were over and sent them away to their potions class. Then she sat down and penned a note to Alex explaining that she’d try to see him that night. The eldest set of Malfoy twins took it back with them, luckily avoiding the Headmistress on their way out. Melody hadn’t provoked Whorple since their debacle, wanting to lay low for a while but that time was over. Now all she had to do was get out of the blasted castle so she could see Draco and Hermione.

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“Hey guys,” Melody said softly as she tiptoed into the couple’s room. She was more than aware that their heads were still aching.

“Hey,” Draco said tiredly and shifted to where he could see the relieved red head. He was careful not to wake his wife. They’d spent most of the day in bed. Scrubbing up had taken all their energy and they were utterly exhausted despite sleeping for the past two days.

“You look much better now,” Melody whispered, dragging up a chair and plopping down beside them. “I think we can even take the binding cloth off.”

“The truth,” Draco said firmly. “How bad was it?”

Melody took a shaky breath and started undoing their bindings. “I thought we’d lost you two. It reminded me of…well, me.”

“Back when your core tried to destroy you,” Draco said knowingly.

Melody nodded. “It wasn’t your first rodeo either, was it?”

Draco gave a sad laugh and shook his head. He remembered that day all too well, the day of his wedding. Hermione had thought he didn’t love her and couldn’t bring herself to enter into a loveless marriage. Little did she know that he was already head over heels and decided for once to just stop fighting and let her have her way. Even back then he would have done anything to make her happy.

Melody watched the emotions play across Draco’s face as he lost himself to the memories, memories of a much more confusing time, a harder one in some aspects. She couldn’t help but smile as her own memories assaulted her, memories of a couple of scared teenagers who were struggling to stay afloat. They’d grown so fast that Christmas, both in maturity and magic. It still warmed her heart. Maybe if they could make it, then their children could as well.

“Since when did you two become sentimental old fools?” Hermione croaked and struggled to sit up, puffing at the effort it took her to right herself.

Melody chuckled. “Well, dying people get maudlin, old people get sentimental. It’s the way things work.”

Hermione snorted. “We’re not old.”

Melody shook her head in amusement. “According to the first years, I’m ancient!”

“They should see McGonagall,” Draco said dryly.

Melody giggled. “That crotchety harridan could give us all a run for our money. Tough old bird, that one.”

“She had to be,” Hermione said with a smile. “Slytherins might be sneaky but Gryffindors were just outright blatant with their rule breaking.”

Draco smacked his hand over his chest. “Dost mine ears deceive me? A Gryffindor admitting to breaking the rules?”

Hermione gave him a wicked smirk. “Well, this one’s had a bit of Slytherin in her.”

Melody cracked up at the shocked look on Draco’s face, laughing until tears streamed down her cheeks. “Me too sweetheart, me too. Oh me.” She wiped her eyes and calmed down. “I needed that. It’s been far too serious around here. We should go on vacation. How about a muggle water park?”

“Sounds fun,” Hermione said wistfully. “But I’m afraid that duty calls.”

Melody groaned. “You just had to bring up the real world, didn’t you?”

Hermione merely laid her head on her husband’s chest and relished his embrace.

“You’re right, of course,” Melody mumbled. “Well, I suppose Alex has given you the rundown. Zandra will arrive tomorrow. She’s healed from her ordeal, physically at least. She’ll probably be mentally scarred for much longer. Hopefully Aiden can get past whatever walls she built to protect herself.”

“If Aiden is the least bit like his mother,” Hermione began, “then he’ll do just fine. I’ve never seen anyone crack Severus the way Celeste did.”

Melody smiled. “Yes, she is rather amazing. It took me eleven years to do what she did in a matter of a few months. Still, until we get Zandra here and comfortable enough to talk, we have no idea what we’re up against.”

Draco cleared his throat uncomfortably. “She might be a bit weary of speaking with a man, but I wonder if I might try first. I… well, I…fuck.” He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

Melody placed a comforting hand on his arm. “It’s alright sweetheart. I agree. You’ve endured the same type of things she has, well…mostly. You probably know exactly how she’s feeling. I’ll sit in the room with you if you wish, monitor her aura while you talk.”

Draco nodded, thankful that he didn’t have to speak on it further. Life under the tyranny of Lucius was one long stint of torture, quite literally. The less he had to talk about it, the better. However, he knew that Zandra was probably hanging on to sanity by a thread and talking about it would help, if nothing more than to know that she wasn’t alone in her suffering.

“Oh,” Melody said quickly, trying her best to move the conversation along. “By the way, Albus has taken you under his wing, so to speak. You two are said to be training the new assistant mediwitch, a clever woman by the name of Lavender Zabini. Have you met her before?” She just barely suppressed a smirk.

Draco chuckled. “I might have come across her once in passing.”

In truth, it was a shock when Blaise started dating Lavender after she had healed from the war. The girl had changed her attitude when she had to contend with her horrible scars, compliments of Fenrir. She went from sleeping with anyone with a pulse to not wanting to be seen at all. Blaise had seen her true colors when she protected Hermione from Pansy while she was in agony from her attack during the Final Battle. Lavender, for all her faults, was a true Gryffindor. Blaise had fallen hard, especially seeing the once confident girl turn into a wall flower. He’d brought her out of her shell and convinced her to go on with her life. She’d become a very talented mediwitch and Dumbledore was happy to hire her on. Draco was happy for her and he knew Hermione was too.

“You know, her son Jordan seems to have taken a shine to Rose,” Melody said innocently.

Draco’s face darkened immediately. “Over my dead body.”

Melody chortled. “Rose would rather hex him than look at him and you know it. Besides, if she didn’t, Jacob sure as hell would…followed by Ara and Scorpius, if Aiden didn’t beat them to it.”

Hermione couldn’t help but be amused. For all of their bickering, their children got along fabulously. They would all take a hex for each other and they would defend their family to the death. That included protecting Rose Malfoy from the playboy ways of Jordan Zabini. She was always thankful for it.

“I take it that Jordan isn’t her match?” Hemione asked.

Melody shook her head and then turned around to hide her amusement. She could tell that both of them were dying to know who their children were fated to be with. It had long since flown their minds that they had any kind of free will anymore.

“Is it that bad?” Draco asked.

Melody’s shoulders shook as she tried to hold in her laughter. Failing miserably, she gave a great snort and nodded.

“Who?” Hermione asked warily.

“Well, your twins will meet twins, not the same set but two different ones.” Melody’s eyes were watering at this point.

Draco’s heart sank. There were only one other set of twins he knew about, the Weasleys. “Hugo or Leif?” He asked flatly.

Melody grinned. “Rose has a thing for blonds.”

“Hugo,” the couple said together.

“Wait, they’re cousins!” Hermione gasped.

Melody shook her head. “Not technically. You two are so used to sharing a familial bond with Ginny that you’ve forgotten Ron doesn’t.”

Draco let his head fall back against the headboard and groaned. “My daughter is going to be a Weasley.”

Melody cackled. “You know, Hugo is an empath, too. His magical signature is normal though, can’t quite figure that one out since Colton and Lizzy are so strong but it must have something to do with his gift.”

“So what of Jacob?” Hermione asked. She wasn’t nearly as upset as Draco was, having had a crush on Hugo’s father herself when she was younger. She could see the appeal.

Melody’s eyes were alight with mischief, making the couple nervous. “You remember a scandal at Hogwarts about fifteen years ago involving one of the Creevey boys and the potion’s apprentice?”

Hermione’s mouth dropped open in shock. She remembered the scandal well. A seventh year by the name of Candra Finley was an apprentice under Slughorn and slated to take over his position. Colin was doing a story on the war, sort of a ‘where are they now’ piece. Enamored with the war hero, Candra agreed to take candid photos of some of the staff. She and Colin were both caught and fined. She was subsequently expelled and he fired from the Daily Prophet.

“They didn’t just disappear,” Melody charged on. “They moved to America. Little Emily Creevey is a beauty, curly ash blonde hair and chocolate colored eyes. I’m sure Jacob will be thrilled. She has a twin, Martin, who is a carbon copy of Colin.”

“Brilliant,” Draco said dryly. “She can take our picture.”

Melody snorted. “She’s actually night and day from Colin and Martin for that matter. She’s quiet, shy, and more than a little…erm…different.”

“Different how?” Hermione asked.

“She’s a telepath, a natural legilimens I guess you’d say. She accidentally broke into my head the other day. I was able to push her out easily but it was a shock. She apologized profusely after class and believe me, it was sincere. She can’t help it sometimes. Sev’s quite susceptible as well. He was thinking about the boys during her potions class, their reactions to their conception, and tears started streaming down the poor girl’s face. She asked to be excused and then caught up with me later. We had a nice long chat. Severus has agreed to give her extra lessons to control it. I’m sure finding yourself in someone else’s head is a bit jarring.”

“Jarring,” Draco said in mild amusement. “I guess that’s one word for it.”

Melody grinned. “Yes well, instead of being just in Hermione’s head, try to imagine being in anyone’s head at any given time, mostly against your wishes.”

“That has to be nerve wracking,” Hermione said.

Melody nodded. “It’s why she tries to keep to herself…and why I think Jacob is perfect for her. He is a natural occlumens after all, and a trained one at that. He could at least put up a fight if she lost control.”

“Makes sense,” Draco sighed.

“So all that’s left is James and Albus,” Hermione said thoughtfully. “Any insights?”

“None actually.” Melody frowned. “I’m sure we’ll come across them though. Albus’s mate is probably in that group Harry arrested. It would be about right.”

“Wait,” Draco said slowly. “Is Albus gay?”

Melody smiled. “Bi-sexual actually. He hasn’t quite accepted it yet but he will. Just don’t push him. He’s confused enough as it is.”

“I can imagine,” Draco said. He remembered when Crabbe and Goyle finally came out of the closet, both three sheets to the wind when they did so. It was an agonizing time for them both, one he didn’t envy. Poor Al.

“He’ll be fine. It’s James I’m worried about. I can’t actually see his mate…like…at all. The slot for one, it’s blank. Usually, if a person doesn’t have a soul mate, the space for one blends into the aura. His is literally a blank card.”

“What does that mean?” Hermione asked.

Melody shrugged. “Maybe he’ll get to choose his own, lucky bastard.”

“Oh come now,” Draco sniffed. “You’re more than happy with your destined mate.”

“Naturally,” Melody said haughtily. “He’s perfect.”

“I am, am I?” Alex asked as he strolled in the room.

“You didn’t let me finish,” Melody said, crossing her arms petulantly while leaning up for a kiss. “You’re perfect…for me.”

“Ah,” Alex said. “That makes more sense. I hate to break up the reunion, but these two need some rest and I’d like a bit of time with my wife. I haven’t seen her much in the past few days.”

Melody snorted in disgust. “I swear I’ll hex Whorple into a handbag, stupid nosy old hag.”

“Yes well as entertaining as that sounds, I’d like to take you to bed now,” Alex said, effectively shutting the now angry twin up. They left in a hurry, hastily bidding the tired couple goodnight.

“I feel useless,” Draco sighed as he sunk back down onto the bed.

“Me too,” Hermione sighed.

Silence enveloped the couple as thoughts swam through their head. A vacation was starting to sound pretty good.

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A knock sounded at the door. Severus sighed and put his quill down before bidding the caller entrance.

“Um, Mr. Snape?” Emily’s voice wavered.

“Yes Miss Creevey?” Severus asked tiredly. The past few days had been sheer hell for him, thinking that his children might not recover and still not knowing the fate of Lily.

“I, um, I’m sorry to bother you,” Emily said softly. “It’s just, I…I can’t stand it anymore. I can’t sleep.”

Severus quirked an eyebrow but said nothing, choosing to let her sort through her thoughts first.

“I-I can hear them, even when I close my eyes and concentrate. They think so loudly. It’s nerve wracking…and…and they, well they don’t exactly like me.” She kept her eyes downcast.

Severus sighed when he heard two tear drops splash against the stone floor. He knew all too well how it was to be disliked in school. “Have a seat Miss Creevey,” he said gently. He had decided that while he would still most likely be the scary bastard Potions Master, he would try to have a bit more empathy teaching this time around. He no longer had to wear the unfeeling mask of a Death Eater. He didn’t want to admit it, but having a wife and children of his own had softened him immensely.

“Th-thank you,” Emily hiccupped and sat down quickly, her gaze falling to her hands as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.

Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. Where to start? This girl would one day be his grandson’s wife, as Melody had told him. He had no wish to alienate her. “Miss Creevey, which part bothers you more at the moment, the fact that you can hear your classmate’s thoughts or the fact that they aren’t fond of you?”

Emily’s breath hitched a moment. “I think that if I couldn’t hear them, then it wouldn’t hurt so badly. At least I wouldn’t have to listen to them make fun of me in their minds.”

Severus nodded. “There is a potion that I can give you for tonight. It is an experimental one but I can assure you it is quite safe. It is a combination of an occlumency potion and a dreamless sleep. It should safely block out other’s thoughts while letting you get some rest. Do you wish to try it?”

Emily nodded her head frantically. Anything to keep the thoughts from stampeding in her brain would be a blessing. She watched as her potions master grabbed a vial out of seemingly midair before strolling back in front of her. She made a grab for the bottle before he stopped her.

“Now, Miss Creevey, I must warn you. This is merely a temporary solution until we can begin with your lessons. It is too easy to depend upon potions to solve your problems. Do you understand?”

Emilly nodded. “I understand. I just…I just need a break, just for tonight.”

Severus nodded and watched her tip back the bottle in one go. She didn’t even grimace at the ghastly taste, her desperation so great. He knew how she felt in a sense. There was many a night that he spent desperately wishing that his nightmares wouldn’t consume him once again and leave him sleepless and distraught. A thought occurred to him just then.

“Miss Creevey, might I ask you a personal question?”

“Of course sir. I am in your debt.”

“You have been this way, able to hear the thoughts of others that is, for your entire life, have you not?”

Emily shook her head. “No sir. My…talents…didn’t manifest until I was nearly eleven.”

“But you have had three years to come to terms with it,” Severus pushed.

“Yes sir. It wasn’t easy at first but I managed to at least tolerate it.”

“So what about tonight’s thoughts has you so upset that you would come seeking solace with the scariest teacher at Salem?”

Emily chuckled. “You’re hardly scary sir, a bit intimidating and strict, but not frightening…at least not to me.”

Severus pursed his lips in annoyance. Perhaps he was losing his touch after all.

“You aren’t losing your touch,” Emily snapped and then blushed bright red. “Oh I’m so sorry! It was just so loud; I couldn’t help it.”

Severus merely quirked an eyebrow. He could hardly condemn the girl for not mastering herself at such an early age.

“Thank you,” Emily said shyly. “Anyway, everyone’s always been…well…leery of me I guess. But tonight they were vicious. The girls I’m bunking with, they all have older brothers. Apparently they joined a gang in England and were arrested for disturbing the peace. Anyway, this one girl, Mary Alice Gregory, she started going on and on in her mind about how her older brother should have never been caught because he was so powerful now. Then she started staring at me and…and,” she cut off, a tear falling down her cheek.

Severus felt his pulse speed up and carefully shielded his thoughts from Emily. These girls had older brothers in a gang in England who were arrested. There couldn’t possibly be enough coincidence for that in the world, could there? He decided to prod carefully. “And what Miss Creevey?”

“She started saying that I was the daughter of two m-m-mudbloods and that I would be a g-good,” she broke into a sob before she regained her composure. “A good offer to get her brother out so he could continue his work.”

Severus felt his breath whoosh out of his lungs. The girls were going to try and get Emily to the Master?

Emily’s head shot up. “That’s what she called him, the Master. Who is he?”

Severus placed his hands flat on the desk to keep them from shaking. He didn’t want to scare her any worse than she already was. “I’m not sure who the Master is. Suffice it to say that they are not a person you would ever want to meet. I feel that you are not safe with Mary Alice any longer. Although it is highly inappropriate, I insist that you stay in my quarters tonight. You may take the bed. I will sleep in my study.”

Emily’s face paled. “Is it really that bad?”

Severus closed his eyes in pain, a flash of mutilated bodies in Voldemort’s dungeon whizzing past his eyelids. He heard Emily gasp and then start sniffling. Feeling a pang in his chest at her distress, he walked around his desk and scooped the now terribly frightened girl up in his arms. He carried her to his rooms and laid her gently on the bed, removing her shoes and drawing the covers over her. The potion should kick in soon enough and then he had people to contact.

“My brother,” she rasped out just before sleep took her.

“He’ll be safe,” Severus said softly and watched as she dropped off.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Jez? What in the bloody-“

“Scorpius Malfoy, if you utter than next word I will hex you into next week,” Hermione threatened. She’d had just about enough of his foul mouth.

“Sorry mum,” Scorpius mumbled as he took the missive from the vampire owl’s leg and offered her his finger for a nip. “It’s just, I thought Jezebel never came round.”

“Well, obviously she has,” Draco growled. He was feeling quite irritable now. The other children had returned home and loudly exclaimed their happiness. He was glad to be back but too weak to deal with all the raucous. “Who’s the letter to?”

Scorpius’s eyebrows lifted to his hairline. “It’s for you.”

“Well, let’s see it then,” Draco said and held out his hand. He opened the paper and began reading the familiar scrawl of his father. Soon, his face paled and he started shaking. Numb with fear and shock, he handed Hermione the letter. “Scorp, get Melody. Bang on the door as long as you have to. This is urgent.”

Scorpius’s face grew dark. “They’re going to try and kidnap someone, aren’t they?”

Draco couldn’t wipe the shock off his face. “How?”

Scorpius shrugged. “Good hearing and simple deduction. We have all their necklaces. We have Zandra. We know where two more are. It makes sense that they’d try to snatch someone else. Who is it?”

“A girl,” Draco whispered. “A very special one and her twin brother.”

Scorpius nodded and ran from the room.

What now, Draco?” Hermione asked quietly.

“We hope that Severus can keep them safe until we can find a better solution.”

AN: It's never easy, is it? I bet you were all wondering if I'd get this chapter up since I posted that other story. Well, I'm not giving up...on this one or that one, so hold on to your hats guys. Maybe I won't get confused. I'm glad you liked the list. As soon as the other two puzzle pieces fall into place, I'll put up a list of kids and their mates for you guys. I know it is a lot to take in. (and if i were telling the truth, I have three pages of notes so I can keep them all straight!) As always, thank you guys for your amazing reviews. You have no idea how nervous I am until I get 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