Chapter 11

Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

Thanks to my betas, ladyinthecloak and charmed_nay.

Harry sighed as Ginny walked with her mother to the grate. It had been a trying two hours. He'd never seen Mrs. Weasley so hurt and angry before, and the whole thing had been emotionally draining. There was a light pop beside him as Kreacher appeared.

"Master, young Master Malfoy is waking," the elf said eagerly.

"Thank you, Kreacher. Tell Ginny to find me in his room once her mother has Flooed off."

"Yes, master."

Taking the stairs two at a time, Harry quickly made his way to the room they'd put Draco in. Upon entering, however, he could see that the man was getting worse. "Poor sod," he muttered. "Draco? Draco? Can you hear me?"

"P-Potter."

"Yes, it's me. You've spoke against your vow or whatever you're under... What should I do? What can I do?"

"Father..."

"All right?" Ginny asked from the doorway, startling Harry.

"No. Malfoy Manor it is, I think. Look at him. It's worse."

"Bloody potion for pain has worn off, that's for sure." Ginny touched a hand to his brow. "He's freezing... yet sweating."

"I'll have to Side-Along him outside the grounds there." He held up his hand when she tried to speak. "You'll be staying here."

"What? That's crazy. What if something goes wrong?"

"What could possibly go wrong?"

"You are angry and might attack Lucius Malfoy, that's what!"

"Oh, I'll talk to him, all right, but I will keep my cool in his home. I'm not that daft, Ginny."

"If you aren't here in thirty minutes, I'm going to follow you there," she said firmly.

"Thirty minutes, right." He turned to the again sleeping Draco and said, "Mobilicorpus!"

Minutes later, he was outside the gates of Malfoy Manor. As luck would have it, Narcissa Malfoy was visible within the private grounds, seemingly feeding white peacocks. Harry narrowed his eyes slightly, but he then remembered that Draco's health was more important at the moment.

"Oi!" he called out, waving his free hand at her.

She looked up and was completely shocked. When she saw that he clutched her son closely to his body, she sprang into action, running for the gates and calling for some elf named Bozzy to get her husband.

"Potter! What's happened to Draco?" she asked breathlessly, flicking her wand at the gates so that they granted him entrance.

"I figure you or your husband could tell me," he said with a touch of impatience. "Someone made him take a vow to keep things to himself, and he tried to tell me anyway. This is what happened."

"Who would do such a thing?" she asked, clearly horrified. "Oh, my poor son! Potter, do something!"

"What's all this?" Lucius asked as he joined them. "Draco!"

"You might want to remove your curse from him," Harry said evenly.

"I don't know what you're..."

"Do you know how much pain he's in?" This time, Harry's voice lowered coldly, and his eyes glinted with ire. "Might as well ease his pain, you won't get rid of me until I get some answers anyway."

Malfoy looked to his wife for a moment and then back at his son, as if thinking things through. At that moment, Draco's eyes cracked open slightly, and he moaned, long and loud.

"Lucius! Do something!" Narcissa cried, slapping Lucius soundly on the face and then trying to cradle Draco in her arms, even while Harry held onto him tightly.

One cheek flushed with embarrassment and the other from the sting of her hand. "Oh, all right!" he said, stepping forward to place his wand over Draco's abdomen.

Harry couldn't understand the softly murmured words, but he was certain he heard Finite at some point. He felt Draco's body tense for a moment and then go limp. Instead of looking as though he were fighting a painful death, he appeared to be resting peacefully.

"Come along, Potter," Lucius said as he used his wand to levitate his son and led the way to their home.

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Hermione's eyes fluttered open, and she noticed immediately that her headache had diminished. Gingerly, she sat up and breathed a sigh of relief that whatever potion Severus had given her had worked. She wasn't in pain at all. And she remembered everything.

"Lucius Malfoy... you've had a bad day, arsehole," she said aloud as she placed her feet over the side of the bed. The first thing she needed was the loo. After that, she and Severus had much to discuss, as he also had explaining to do.

The floor felt cold and grimy beneath her bare feet. She doubted that the wood had been scrubbed in decades, much less the time since Snape had last been there. The entire room was drab and dismal, and she knew she'd never be able to stand a single day in his home.

Opening the first door, she found a dark, walk-in wardrobe, its contents reeking of must and mold. The second door opened into a hallway, dimly lit by a single candle in a sconce someway from the bedroom.

"Great," she grumbled, slowly walking forward, noting that she now tread on damp carpeting. Before she could get to the candle and the door next to it, Severus came into view further down the hall, having come up a stairwell.

"You're up," he said by way of greeting.

"I need to use the toilet," she said, squirming slightly.

"It's just there," he said, pointing to the doorway. "Do you need... assistance?"

"No, I can have a pee on my own, thanks," she said curtly.

He nodded and replied in the same tone. "Fine, I shall be downstairs awaiting you. I've taken the liberty of making breakfast. I thought you might be hungry."

"I am that," she admitted, feeling her stomach quivering. "Just down the stairs there?"

"Yes. Instead of using the first doorway, which leads into our sitting room, carry on to the next door. That's the kitchen."

"Right then."

She watched as he turned on his heel and left before going into the room. As expected, it wasn't very posh, but it was a great deal cleaner than all she'd seen before then. He must have done a bit of foolish wandwork, she mused, noting that the old mirror even shined. Hermione could see where the shower walls were still wet and how someone...Severus of course...had thrown a used towel onto the floor after drying off with it.

How many times had she seen Ron or Harry do the same thing? What was with men and not being able to place used towels into the hamper? What would it cost them? Two extra steps, maybe three at the most? Sighing, she went about her business, sniggering to herself when she thought that it felt as if she hadn't relieved herself in days and then realizing that she hadn't.

"I've gone mad," she quipped as she washed her hands. There were no flannels set out to dry her hands with so she shook them off and patted them down the sides of her thick nightgown...obviously snatched from the Malfoys.

What's this? she thought as she felt something in the left pocket. She pulled out a roughly shaped stone of some sort, green in color. She'd seen it before, but where?

"Oh!" she gasped. "The dream." Severus had given her the same stone in the dream she'd had of him at the beach. So... it had been real, hadn't it? But how? "Now, he's really got some explaining to do." Wanting answers, she hurried down to talk to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry paced back and forth while the Malfoys hovered over Draco, anxious to address the situation. He'd seen them huddled together in the same manner before...after he'd defeated Voldemort in the Great Hall. He couldn't deny that the family was close and truly cared for each other, but what sort of father would force his own son to take a vow? Why get him involved in the first place?

"Look, if you don't mind," he finally said, "I'd like a word."

Narcissa waved Lucius away, not leaving Draco's side. Lucius asked, "What is it you want, Potter?"

"Where is Hermione?"

"Sorry?"

"Come off it. I know she's been here working with you." Harry looked around suspiciously. "And where's Snape?"

Both Malfoys began to chuckle in apparent disbelief before Lucius replied. "You can't be serious! Severus was killed, as you well know. You saw it for yourself."

"I'm not stupid! Draco told me..."

"Draco is recovering from being hexed, Potter! Nothing more. He's delusional and can't be trusted alone." Lucius lowered his voice. "That's why he and Cissy went away to France...to seek help. There are only a few spells that can help him at the moment...and a potion he must take to keep his mind clear."

"Clear of the truth, you mean," Harry said, not believing him. "I'll ask one more time. Where's Hermione?"

"Gone," he said with a sigh. "And she'll be angry to know I've told you."

"Told me?"

"The Weasley boy, he's been seeing another woman."

"I know that already!"

"Yes, then you can imagine how she might feel," he said softly. "She's gone off to take some time to herself."

"And not see her parents?"

"Perhaps she is with them, I cannot be sure. She never said."

"I don't believe you."

"Shall I show you around the house?" Narcissa asked from behind them.

"Yes," Harry said with a nod. "That's exactly what I want."

"Now, Narcissa, give Draco his potion, I expect he needs it. I'll show him around."

"Wait," Harry said. "Don't give him a potion until I talk to him."

"You'll find that giving me orders in my own home will not work, Potter. You see, I am a free man and have rights. This is my home, and I will gladly show you around, but you'll not make demands where my boy's health is concerned."

Harry knew he couldn't force the issue, but he ached to question Lucius about everything Draco had said. However, that wouldn't be prudent...until he could learn more. He was sure he would help Draco. He'd use his Pensieve to go over the memory of the spell that Lucius had chanted. He had faith that he and Ginny could figure it out...maybe even Hermione would be back soon enough to help.

"Fine. Show me your house then. I want to see it all, too, and I do know you've got dungeons. Had a little stay there myself once."

Lucius wisely said nothing while he led the way out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione sat at the table just as Severus placed the frying pan back on the cooker. There was a plate with eggs, one with bacon, and another with toast placed on the table already. He'd even poured each of them a glass of orange juice.

"Smells and looks good," she said quietly.

He sat across from her. "And now we shall see if it tastes as it looks and smells."

Unable to help herself, she opened her hand and revealed the green gem on her palm. "Would you care to explain this to me?"

"What of it?"

"I know you gave this to me in a dream I had last night, and today, I find it in my pocket. The dream, was it real? All of the others? Were they real as well? Even the horrid ones?"

He set his fork back on the table and looked at her in resignation. "I don't suppose you'll cease your nattering while we eat?"

"No, I'll not shut up, and you will answer my questions."

A long and loud growl emitted from his stomach, causing him to smirk. "Do you mind if I eat while I explain then?"

"That's a good idea," she said as her stomach emitted a response to his. "Mmmm," she hummed in approval. "Good."

He nodded and chewed his food, head down, eyes watching her covertly from the curtain of his hair. She wondered if he was prolonging the inevitable and was about to ask him when he spoke.

"It's a Dream Stone."

Her eyes lowered and found the rock next to her plate. "This? But I thought those were precious gems. While this is quite lovely, it's not... exactly what I had in mind. I've seen pictures of one that was stolen from its owner, and it looked nothing like this."

"I expect each stone looks different."

"Tell me about it," she said curiously. "I came across this when looking for information on the Philosopher's Stone back in our first year at Hogwarts. It's all very interesting. When I left Divination, I sort of pushed knowledge of it out of my mind...anything to do with scrying, see."

He nodded. "I've never been much for that art myself, but it does have its moments." He took a drink from his glass, wiped his mouth, and spoke again. "This is actually Beryl...green Beryl in fact."

"Emerald... a bit rough and not like those in my mum's earrings. I didn't recognize it."

"Stones of power, that's how it's known to old Scots, as they used to make the old crystal balls with it." He popped a torn off piece of toast into his mouth and chewed slowly.

"And whom does this belong to?"

"My mother's family. It was found by an ancestor of mine in Ireland near his home. He saw it for what it was right away, being a wizard."

She nodded. "How does it...?"

"Work?"

"Yes."

"This stone has been spelled for healing and rejuvenation when needed, among other things. You see, it works with a person's Chakra...was actually forged into a more powerful stone with the Chakra of my ancestor."

"Chakra? Fascinating. I've always wanted to learn more," she said honestly, forgetting about her food, about Malfoy, and about their situation.

"Anhata."

"The chest... more importantly, the heart! So, Severus, is this how... how you remained alive, for lack of a better word?"

He smiled then, a tight uplifting of lips. "I wouldn't say alive. The Otherworld is..." He shook his head. "Best we save that part for later, all right?" When she nodded her assent, he continued, "This Chakra, as you know, physically affects our hearts, our lungs, and even the thymus."

"Which staves off infections in wizards... This protected your body all this time."

"This and a bit of fancy wandwork by Lucius, of course."

Her gaze darkened for a moment. "And what else?"

"There was a potion I made to go along with it." He shrugged at her look of amazement. "I wasn't certain it would work, but it was worth a try."

"But your soul, where was it?"

"In the Otherworld." He seemed to shudder. "This stone, however, kept me in contact with this world...with Lucius." Again, he paused and gave his food attention, during which she remained silent. "Where was I...? Oh, yes. It wasn't as though I were here. He would use it to speak with me." There was a small snort. "I say speak with me, but the conversations were usually one sided. It was as though we couldn't convey full sentences. I expect it's because the stone was in his possession and not on my body."

"You're the owner of the stone, so it works best for you and not someone else."

Her eyes grew wide. "Severus... the spirituality effects...your love for Lily!"

At this, he sneered and sat back in his chair. "Yes, undying love and devotion. However, I don't put much faith in other things...forgiveness and compassion. Those, I lack."

She bit her lip but didn't let him know that she disagreed with his assessment of himself. Whether he knew it or not, there was compassion inside of him and probably forgiveness as well. However, she doubted it was aimed at himself, where it needed to be.

"You look as though you want to say something," he said softly.

"The color... I... er... remember something about the meaning behind the color," she blurted, not wanting to tell him what she'd truly been thinking.

"It will always be a shade of green, this stone, depending on who has possession of it and what they are feeling." He nodded. "See its color now? It's in your possession."

"The color is very faint, isn't it? Green, but quite light."

"What does that mean?"

"Fear of rejection and failure. Also, you've allowed yourself to become taken advantage of... to the point of an emotional breakdown." He reached across and turned the stone over. "Sickness."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "And whose fault is that?"

"Whose indeed?"

Hermione knew he was right. "My own. I shouldn't have allowed myself to get so caught up in things. I should have asked more questions, revised better... something!" Severus said nothing while she mulled over her thoughts. She then asked a question that sprung to mind. "What color is the stone in your possession?"

"For many years, it was of the darkest green...jealousy, anger, greed, ambition, the lot!" He chuckled darkly and shook his head. "The Dark Lord never knew I had this upon his return thankfully. By then I'd locked it away in my vault at Gringotts." He gazed into her eyes then. "Didn't come to me as mine until my mother died, which was three years after Lily was killed."

"H-how did she die?"

"By her own wand," he said in a curt voice. "But that is a story for another time."

Sliding the stone towards him across the table, she said, "Pick it up. Hold it."

He did so without hesitation, and they both watched as it slowly turned an aqua color. This time, it was Hermione who spoke.

"The color of healing itself!"

"And protection."

For reasons unknown, she reached across the table and placed her hand on his arm. "I don't regret helping you live. If I said something that made you think otherwise, I..."

"It's understandable, and for what it's worth, Hermione, I do apologize for all of this."

"I accept your apology," she said shakily, withdrawing her hand and taking the stone from him once again. "I can't understand why I'm being so calm about this. I should be furious. I should be ranting mad."

He leaned closer and placed his hand on her arm this time. "It's because you are approaching this in a logical, rational manner, as you are wont to do. It's what I like about you most, I think." His eyes averted hers for a moment before he added, "Besides a few other things."

Hermione's cheeks heated at this admission, and she felt pleased, oddly enough. "The dream I had last night... Well, one of the dreams anyway, it was of you and me at the beach. Did you project that into my mind?"

"I did, yes. I asked the stone to find a place where we would both feel at ease."

"I've seen you on a beach before."

"I remember."

"But how? Lucius had the stone then."

"At that point, he'd placed it beneath my pillow on the bed where my body lay, knowing I'd need it with me for our magic to work completely."

"There's so much I still don't understand."

"I happen to have many books on the subject," he said with a small smile. "When I inherited the stone, I wanted to know everything about it. There is so much more that you will find fascinating."

Hermione nodded and said nothing as she finished her meal, her thoughts straying to Lucius and to revenge. Once she was done, she noticed that Severus had finished his food as well. She knew it was time to ask a question that had been bothering her since she'd started remembering.

"If my... hymen's blood was unnecessary," she began tentatively, watching him tense visibly, "why did he... do that to me?"

"His reasons are his own, but I do plan to find out."

She shook her head. "I think I know why."

"Indeed?"

"Last night, I remembered his trial...the one where I'd given testimony about his deeds. Only this time, I saw it from a different perspective. I saw it in his expression, his eyes. He loathed me for my part in the war and for telling the truth against him that day. And he gazed at Ron, formulating a plan even then I'm sure."

When she stopped talking, Severus gestured to her with his hand. "Go on."

"I think he put a spell on me, one that would keep me from having sex with Ron."

"There are such spells. Fathers place them on their daughters sometimes," he said with a nod. "It's frowned upon now, but it's still done, I'm certain."

"So, you see then...? That was his revenge on me, taking what was mine to give to whomever I chose? Manipulating me with knowledge and false information? Tricking me into marriage with someone other than the person I'd been involved with after doing all that?" She brought her hands up to cover her face and leaned forward on her elbows, which were propped on the edge of the table.

After a moment, she said, "And what of Ron? Were those pictures faked? Thinking on it now, I honestly don't think he would have done that to me. There has to be something more to it, and I'll have to find out soon. I'll have to face him with what I've done."

She heard the scrape of his chair, footsteps, and then felt an awkward pat on her back.

"If it's any consolation, I am not taking this lightly, and I don't approve of what he's done."

"I believe you," she whispered, not moving, and was rewarded with his other hand being placed on her other side. His hold was firmer this time, enticing her to lean back against him, which she did. "But he's hoodwinked us both, hasn't he? You can't touch him, not now that he wears that anointment."

"We will find a way around that."

Her hands fell away from her face, and she looked up into his earnest eyes. "I hope so."

"Come. It's time I tell you everything, Hermione: how this plan came about, how Lucius got drawn into it, why I trusted him, and why I knew you could help."

Hermione stood and offered her hand to him and was pleased when he took it and led her to the sitting room, leaving the dirty dishes on the table behind them. There will be time to tidy up after, she thought. And as she looked at the dingy floor and walls, she added, Much tidying up later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Satisfied, Potter? I would be happy to let you patrol the grounds," Lucius said over an hour later.

Something wasn't right, and Harry knew that, but he couldn't prove anything without any evidence that Hermione had even been there...much less Snape. He nodded and said, "I don't get why she didn't contact me."

Looking unconcerned, Lucius said, "Go round to her parents' home. They may know...she may be there."

"Possible."

"I'd like to check on my son now, if you don't mind."

"Good idea. Let's do that."

Harry knew that Malfoy was trying to dismiss him, but he wanted to see Draco as well and see what he had to say about all he'd told him. Smirking, he followed the man back through the corridor that led to the room they'd last seen Draco in.

To his surprise, Draco was sitting up and drinking from a teacup that his mother held in front of him. "Draco?"

"What are you doing here?" he asked, brow furrowing.

"I brought you here. Remember coming to my place? You and Ginny and I had a chat."

He shook his head. "I did want to talk to you. I know that."

"Do you remember why?" he asked, perplexed. What had they done to him?

"I went down the pub and got a bit pissed. Last I remember was downing mead with some big bloke. Must have saw you after that."

"Yes, that must be it," Harry said with a fake smile. "Guess you were right pissed."

Lucius arched an eyebrow and in a low voice said, "See? He's suffering from a hex, and it will take some time, but we will have him fixed. Once our research is done."

"Research? What, with Hermione? Is that what she's been working on?" His heart dropped. Maybe Lucius Malfoy was telling the truth after all. Hermione didn't exactly say what they'd been getting up to, only that it was top secret and that he'd made her take a vow about it. He hoped his disappointment didn't show. He'd thought all of his questions could be answered here. He'd hoped that it was true about Snape.

An elf entered the room. "Master, someone is requesting entrance at the gates."

"Indeed?"

"She's looking for Harry Potter, she is."

"Shite, Ginny." Harry looked over at Draco and noted his perplexed expression. "I'll see you soon, Draco. Owl me if you want to talk. All right?"

"I'll see you out," Lucius offered.

"I can see myself out, thanks."

As quickly as he could, he went to her, smirking at her angry, yet worried, expression. Sometimes she reminded him very much of her mother...so much it was scary.

"I've been waiting for you!" she said angrily before he even reached the gate.

"Sorry, was searching the manor."

"What for?"

"Hermione. Snape."

"And?" she asked anxiously, taking his hand to Side-Apparate.

"Nothing." He allowed her to do the Apparating and groaned when he noticed she'd brought them to the Burrow.

"Nothing? How's Draco?"

"You won't believe this." He quickly filled her in on everything as they walked towards the house, glad she seemed to agree with him that something wasn't quite right.

"But it is confusing, isn't it? What if Draco really was hit with something and..." She shrugged. "We really need to talk to Hermione, don't we?"

"Yeah." Harry stopped walking and balled up his fists when he noticed the redhead walking their way.

"George Flooed over and said that Ron and his... wife were here. I thought you'd want to talk to him."

"Oh, yeah, I want to talk to him all right," he said sarcastically, sprinting forward, allowing all the anger, confusion, disappointment, and frustration he felt to pump through him in the form of adrenaline. "Bastard!" he yelled. "How could you do that to Hermione?"

Harry's first swing was too short and missed Ron completely. Both of them were shocked for a moment before Harry swung again, hitting his friend squarely in the stomach. Ron doubled over for a moment, but then he lunged at Harry, knocking them both to the ground. As they rolled around and fought, neither realized the entire Weasley family had come out to try to part them.

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AN: And so we have a little more light shed on the subject. More up soon!