Legacy

I of course do not own Harry Potter or any of the related characters. I’m just using them to sate my twisted imagination.

Warning: This chapter may contain disturbing content, although nothing too severe, yet. Beware.



Legacy




Chapter 4



“Do you think she’s had enough time to cool off?”

“I don’t know Ron. Hopefully. It has been almost five hours since she left. It would only take her less than twenty minutes to make it home, so by now she should be curled on the couch in front of the fireplace, asleep with a good book in hand.” Harry said tiredly as they approached their muggle apartment complex. It was 3 am and he was beat.

They trudged up the three flights of stairs and stopped in front of their door. Ron dug in his trouser pockets for the key, when Harry stopped him, his voice trembling.

“Ron, look.”

Water was slowly seeping out from the bottom of the door. Panicking, Harry whipped out his wand practically shouting the unlocking spell in his haste.

The door flew open and the two wizards, entered wands drawn. Their shoes made a squelching sound on the wet carpet as they carefully made their way through the apartment, checking thoroughly for signs of intruders.

Ron entered the flooded bathroom, and quickly turned off the tap. Thank Merlin that the apartment below them was vacant. He was reaching for the stopper to let the water out, when he heard an agonized cry. He rushed out into the now lit hall, and found Harry on his knees, oblivious to the water seeping through his jeans. In his hand he cradled Hermione’s wand. Ron immediately activated his mark, tapping it twice rapidly. This would alert the council of Eredita that something major has happened and to hold for further instructions. It would also summon Draco to his side. He knew that if Draco were capable, he would bring Severus and hopefully Lucius.

He didn’t have to wait long, because three sharp cracks sounded in the apartment, followed by cursing.

“Draco’s here.” Ron said quietly as he heard his partner complaining about his now ruined shoes. Apparently, water was not good for Italian leather.

“What the hell happened?” Severus said coming into view. His sharp eyes took in the scene, and knelt next to Harry.

“Show me.”

Harry opened his mind to his partner, revealing all of the events that had transpired that evening. Draco watched with a comforting hand on Ron’s shoulder. His father had made a sweep of the apartment, his face devoid of emotion. He saw Lucius bend and pick up a strange looking object, examining it closely.

“Her blood is on this.” He announced suddenly.

“What is it?” Draco asked, curious.

“A dart. Muggles use them to tranquilize their intended victim. It injects a chemical that renders the target unconscious.” Harry said hoarsely.

Severus laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. He stood and approached Draco and Lucius. Harry knew that his partner was going to share what he had uncovered in his mind. He turned his attention to the open window and approached it. Ron seeing what Harry was doing joined him at the window. The looked down to the fire escape below them that led down to the alley.

“Where are you Hermione?” Harry whispered.

“We’ll find her mate.”

Harry smiled grimly at Ron’s optimistic tone. They both knew that the odds of getting her back safe and sound diminished with every hour that passed. If the muggles had her, which so far the evidence seemed to suggest, they would have to work fast.

“Severus and my father are leaving to call a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix.” Draco said tiredly, running a hand through his hair.

Ron looked at him closely. “You alright?”

Draco sighed and smiled bitterly. “Yes and no. Nothing happened at the Death Eater meeting tonight, well nothing abnormal. Just the torture and rape of some random muggles.”

Ron shook his head. The blond man walked a fine line, and sometimes it got to an exhausting point.

“Here.”

Draco took the proffered potion vial from Harry, with a raised brow. The emerald-eyed man shrugged.

“We need you.”

“I’ll floo Remus and let him know what’s going on.” Ron said walking over to the hearth.

“What about the council?” Draco asked making a face as he downed the potion.

“They’ll have to wait. We need to find out what the Order of the Phoenix plans to do first. Then we can make our own plans.”

Draco nodded his assent. This was the usual procedure. Hopefully, the Order could come up with a good enough plan that would satisfy everyone. Considering it was Granger who was taken, he could only hope that they might take things a little more seriously.

“Remus was on his way to 12 Grimmauld Place, when I caught him. He said that a meeting had been called and we were not to attend.” Ron said angrily.

“WHAT?” Harry’s eyes glowed with anger.

“Apparently, due to our closeness with Mione, we would not think objectively or be level headed, or so that’s what my mum and Moody said.”

Draco whistled in disbelief. “Oh, the set of balls on them!”

“I can tell you that Remus is not pleased with that either. He also said that my mum excluded Draco as well.”

“Why me? What did I do?”

Ron shifted uncomfortably, his ears turning red. “Um, my mum thinks that you and Hermione are, well, you know, together.”

Draco blinked owlishly.

“Me and Granger? Together?” He started to laugh. “Oh, that’s rich! I sure hope your mum isn’t stupid enough to make that remark in front of my father!”

“If she does, she better be more tactful with her wording.” Ron muttered.

Harry looked at his long-time friend sharply. “What did Mrs. Weasley say exactly?”

Ron sighed. “According to Remus she said, and I quote “Those boys have no business attending this meeting. We are more than capable of planning a rescue for their little friend. Tell Draco, not to worry. His scarlet woman always seems to land on her feet. His main concern should be whether or not she stays by his side or seeks other fish in the sea.”

“Ouch.” Draco muttered. “Why does your mum hate Granger so much? I’ve noticed the disgusted look on her face all too often when Hermione’s name is mentioned.”

Harry seeing Ron’s embarrassment answered. “Remember those ridiculous stories Rita Skeeter wrote about Hermione back in fourth year? Well, Mrs. Weasley got it into her head that Mione was a “scarlet woman”.

Draco shook his head in confusion. “Didn’t you explain it to her though? Skeeter was just trying to make a name for herself.”

Ron took over the explanation as he walked about the room swishing his wand to clean up the water.

“Yes we did. And for a while mum seemed fine with Mione, until we tried our hand at dating after sixth year. She went on for weeks about how it is not normal for a girl to have two boys as best friends, and did I know what I was getting myself into. She even stressed the fact that Hermione was muggle born and could never understand a true wizarding family. Luckily, after a few weeks, Hermione and I realized that there was nothing between us besides friendship. I thought that would appease my mum and it did for a year or two.”

Draco had a thoughtful look on his face. “Then you three started to spend an enormous amount of time together planning the start of Eredita.”

“Correct. We would work ourselves to the bone between our regular employment, Order of the Phoenix meetings, and planning our future endeavors. Many nights we fell asleep right there in the living room, too tired to drag our arses to bed.”

Harry’s face darkened as he continued. “Then came the night of the muggle attack on Hermione’s parents. For weeks after their deaths and Dean’s, Hermione would have horrific nightmares. Ron and I were woken constantly with the sound of her screams. Dreamless Sleep only helped so much. Finally, we started to sleep with her in the same bed; sometimes just one of us and at other times both of us. That seemed to help stop most of her nightmares.”

He trailed off, his thoughts turning to that stressful time. He shook himself slightly before continuing on.

“One night she had a really rough time with her night terrors. It was the night we performed the blood bonding rituals. We think the trauma of finding that her destined partner was none other than Lucius Malfoy triggered it. I remember it took Ron and I two hours to get her calmed down. Exhausted, we fell asleep with her.”

His lips tightened in remembrance. Ron who had silently cleaned up all of the water came to stand next to Harry and Draco.

“Early the next morning my mum flooed over, wanting to invite us to the Burrow for a party in celebration of Bill’s promotion to Master Curse-Breaker. She saw the three of us curled up together in Hermione’s bed and jumped to her own conclusions. She did not wake us, she just left.”

A tic started in Ron’s jaw. “Not long after mum left, at least according to Fred and George, Ginny flooed in. She was screaming in rage and attacked Hermione while she was asleep. Obviously, that woke all of us up. My sister was hollering all sorts of accusations and character slurs Hermione’s way. Poor Mione was overwhelmed and confused with Ginny’s attack.”

Draco did not need to ask what the Weaslette had accused Hermione of. The images Severus had shared with his father and him earlier pretty much said it all. He turned to look at Harry.

“I thought you and Ginny had called it quits long before we did the bonding ritual.”

Harry sighed deeply. “We did, or rather I did. She never was convinced that we were through, and she always blamed Hermione. Even now with me dating Luna, Ginny holds Hermione responsible.”

“So your mum’s stupid beliefs twisted your sister’s mind against one of her best friends? Am I getting that right?” Draco summarized.

Ron nodded. “Basically. It only got worse after McGonagall fell into a coma. My mum along with Moody became the driving force behind the Order of the Phoenix, as you know.”

“Why are you still a part of the Order anyway? Eredita is more important in the long run.”

Harry shrugged. “The day has not yet come for us to sever our ties.”

“Today just might be that day.” Ron muttered, vocalizing the thoughts of all three wizards.

Silence engulfed the threesome as their thoughts turned to the Order meeting in progress and to their missing friend. Draco, seeing the worry on his partner’s face breathed deeply four words escaping him almost inaudibly.

“Please be safe Hermione.”






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“Uggghhh!”

Hermione moaned as a bright light seeped through her eyelids. She squeezed her eyes shut to escape the pain that radiated throughout her head. She fought down the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. A whimper escaped her.

“So, our sleeping beauty has decided to awaken.”

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of the disembodied voice. She winced as a searing pain shot through her eyes. She blinked rapidly trying to accustom herself to the light.

“In pain? Well I wish we could help you with that but it would defeat the entire purpose of having you here.”

Hermione’s eyes shifted to the left taking in the white room she was in. It very much resembled a muggle surgical room. She could see a security camera on the wall opposite her and a strange object in the middle of the room that seemed to be pulsing with energy. Wanting a better look, she attempted to sit up, only to discover she was hindered from the restraints holding her in place. Most of her disorientation disappeared with the realization she was trapped. Her eyes narrowed as she concentrated deep inside herself on her magical core.

She felt the magic course through her veins as she readied herself for the drain that wandless magic would cause. The words of the spell echoed in her mind, before breaking off as sharp pain sliced through her head. She cried out at the intensity and feebly thrashed her body side to side in an effort to escape the all-encompassing pain. Tears leaked out from eyes squeezed tightly shut.

Slowly the pain subsided, leaving her gasping for breath. Merlin’s balls! What the hell was that?

“Most interesting. I must say, you are the strongest we have encountered so far. Most of your kind cannot even attempt magic without their little sticks of wood.”

“Who are you?” Hermione croaked.

A chuckle echoed around the room causing her to shiver involuntarily.

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much about that my dear. You have much more pressing concerns.”

With that cryptic statement, she was left in silence. Fighting down the panic that threatened to consume her, she pulled at the bonds. Both her wrist and ankle restraints held fast. She closed her eyes and willed herself to remain calm. She breathed deeply and cleared her mind. She reached out mentally, searching for her bonded partner. While she could not wield her magic, her bond with Lucius was based on the magic of blood. Hopefully, she could establish a mental link with him through that alone. It was a long shot, but she had to try.

She focused all of her energy, and with a rush of power she sent out her mental call. She felt her magic thrum through her and cried out in agony at the backlash from her repressed magic. She writhed in pain, not feeling her metal restraints bite into her flesh or the blood that dripped from her cuts.

“Please.” She whimpered.

Lucius help me!


So entrenched in her agony, she never heard the door slide open or the sting of the needle that was forcefully jabbed in her arm. Her eyesight dimmed before blessed darkness overtook her senses.




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“I just don’t see how you can stand there and justify not going after a young woman. An Order member and a friend of your son’s!” Tonks shouted in frustration.

Murmurs of assent went up around the other members gathered in the kitchen of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Lucius exchanged a glance with Severus whose face was dark with anger.

“We will not risk an attempt at a rescue without more information. I will not have members of the Order’s lives put in jeopardy over something that may or may not be harmless.”

“Molly, I would not say that Hermione’s capture was harmless.” Remus said calmly.

“He’s right dear. What if we had volunteers? I’m sure that there are members who would gladly attempt a search and recover mission.” Arthur Weasley suggested.

“No Arthur! I will not have it!”

Fred and George exchanged dark looks at their mother’s outburst.

“Mum, what is the big deal? So a few of us will take some time to locate a lost friend. What is so wrong with that?”

“The problem with that George, is that it will waste our resources!”

Moody stood and cleared his throat. “What I think Molly is trying to say is that we already have members stretched thin and this would only add to the burden.”

“What burden is there in searching for one of our own?” Severus questioned, tamping down his ire.

“The burden lays in the fact that we do not have much information to go on and it may be a lost cause.”

“Alastor, what would Dumbledore or Minerva have us do? I cannot envision that they would give up hope so easily.” Remus said.

“They are not here, and Molly and I are. And by your vote, I might add.” The former Auror said pointedly.

The werewolf was quiet for a moment. “Well, if that is how you truly feel, then we are done here.”

Lucius observed the proceedings with an air of indifference, while inside white-hot rage flared. How dare they refuse to even attempt to rescue such a valuable asset as Hermione? He was not alone in his thoughts. He saw shock and anger on many of the faces gathered. A sudden thought came to him and he voiced it.

“Why are Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley not present? This does concern their best friend.”

Remus shifted in his seat uncomfortably, and both Severus and Lucius zeroed in on him.

“Remus?” Severus questioned.

“It was requested by Molly that they not attend.” Remus said heavily.

Heads snapped in the Weasley matriarch’s direction. She sniffed.

“There was no need to include those two considering the outcome of this meeting had already been decided.”

“You mean you decided.” Fred said boldly.

Molly looked shocked at her own son’s vehement tone but did not have a chance to berate him.

“Why don’t you tell them what you told me Molly?” Remus said mildly effectively hiding his inner turmoil. The wolf wanted blood and he was half tempted to appease the animal inside.

“I don’t see how that is relevant. The decision has been made, we will not waste manpower on a search for that… for Hermione.”

Lucius’s ears perked up at her hastily changed statement. “Oh, I think we are all curious to hear your reasoning Molly.” He said lazily.

He caught Remus out of the corner of his eyes shaking his head slightly at Severus. He watched as his old friend made eye contact with the werewolf. He noted how Severus became tense after a moment and turned his gaze towards him.

“I do not have to answer you Lucius Malfoy. This meeting is adjourned.” The red headed woman said.

“Wait a minute, what is it you aren’t telling us?” Tonks said astutely.

“N..Nothing.”

Severus sneered. “Just how little she thinks of Ms. Granger.”

“You don’t know what you are talking about.” Molly snapped.

“Oh, really? Well let me enlighten you and the other members gathered here. You think that Hermione is a “loose” woman and that you couldn’t care two knuts about what happens to her.”

Lucius felt the wild magic in him fight for release at that statement. He turned burning eyes to his friend. Severus was waiting for just a chance and shared the image of the conversation between Remus and Molly to him. The other voices raised in disapproval were lost in the sensation of his anger taking a hold of him.

The air crackled faintly around him, as the blond haired man fought for control. He breathed in deeply slowly reigning in his anger. He registered the arguing of the Order of the Phoenix members. Their voices seemed far away and he felt the world rush by him.

Suddenly he found himself in a white room. He could make out a form strapped to a bed. She had a tear streaked face. He heard her cry out in pain.

“Please.”

Lucius, help me!



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A/N: Yes, we will eventually get to the bottom of what is going on with the Weasley women. This chapter was not so dark, but the next one will be. You are forewarned.
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In lieu of that, questions have been asked that I cannot answer for the sole reason of giving away much of my story and the chapters I have already written but not yet posted. I appreciate the reviews and your interest so please keep it up!


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F.L.