herumtreiber

Title: Unusual ending - chapter 23
Chapter: The wand of destiny
Author:

herumtreiber
Genre: Slash, time travel, romance, adventure
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or related characters. Nor do I make any money from the writing of these stories.
Rating: PG-13 for the chapter
Warnings: Discussion of past non-con (not Harry or Draco)
Epilogue compliant? No way!
Chapter length: 3620 words
Beta: None.
Summary: Old meets new. Harry walks all over Draco's heart, and when he realizes his mistakes he does the unforgivable so Draco takes him back. Time travel. During HBP, disregards Deathly Hallows - that means everyone's alive, except Sirius, but...

Table of contents

The spider's web

Warning: Discussions of past non-con (not Harry or Draco)

Hermione was reading a heavy tome in the Malfoy library whilst Ron scrutinised the shelves, looking for another book. "Can't find that one, Mione!"

"Keep searching, Ron!" said Hermione distractedly, rubbing the fine vellum of the parchment. It crackled softly against her fingers, bespeaking its age.

Ron sat beside her and put a leather-bound thin book on the table, pushing it towards the witch. "Here, I found another book about Rome. Why are you so interested in that? Looking up ancient spells?"

Hermione brushed aside one of her curls before she replied, "No, it's something Malfoy said yesterday."

After a few seconds passed without Hermione elaborating further, Ron prodded her, "What did he say?"

Hermione lifted her gaze from the book and smiled tenderly. She reached across the table and wiped a dirt smudge off Ron's nose with the pad of her thumb. "He said Harry felt quite different after the ides of March."

Seeing Ron's puzzled look, she added, "That's the Roman way of saying the middle of March. That got me thinking-"

Hermione held up the ancient tome and cradled it carefully between her arms whilst Ron sighed impatiently.

"- about Rome. I remembered a myth from the Aeneid. It has to do with a Golden Bough."

Ron snickered. "What's that got to do with us?"

"The Aeneid links the fall of Troy with the foundation of Rome. It tells the tale of the Trojan prince Aeneas."

Ron crossed his arms, huffing. "That seems quite boring, like one of Binn's classes."

Hermione snorted angrily. "It's not, Ron. Myths are fascinating."

Hermione read from the book she was holding. "When Aeneas arrived in Italy, a prophetess, a sybil told him that-"

Ron snickered, reclining on the chair and holding up his hands. "Don't tell me! That was Trelawney's ancestor!"

Hermione glared at her boyfriend and continued reading. "That he would fight a war in Latium. But Aeneas wanted to visit his father in the underworld and the sybil said she would guide him through it only if he could find the Golden Bough."

Ron crossed his arms, obviously bored. "And?"

Hermione scowled at the redhead and put the book on the table with a loud thump. "Another name for the Bough is the wand of destiny!"

Ron sat up with a start. "A wand? And you think..."

The witch interrupted him. "Exactly. Virgil wrote that the Golden Bough can only be taken by the person destined to do so!"

Ron looked intently at Hermione, his eyes narrowed in thought. "Destined... that sounds like Harry. That wand of destiny, maybe it's his own?" Ron shivered.

Hermione crossed his arms, gazing at the wall of the library, full of books. Tomes that held information that remained uncovered unless one knew how to mine the knowledge.

Sighing tiredly, the witch continued, "When the sybil showed the Golden Bough to Charon, the guardian of the underworld, he granted access. Think about it, Ron! A wand that is used to safely visit the realm of the dead. A wand of myth, of destiny."

Hermione looked sharply at Ron, willing him to grasp her meaning. "A wand that could be used to raise the dead."

Draco was in the gardens of the Manor, pointing out the strange magical plants to Harry.

"Don't go near that one, Harry!" Draco pulled the Gryffindor by his sleeve just before the blood-red flowers creeping along the birch tree could close their deadly petals on his shoulder. "That's a dangerous one, just be careful, ok?"

Harry's gaze fixed on his lover, smiling adoringly at Draco.

The Slytherin stared at Harry's open face with a bit of trepidation. Harry's told me the truth, painful as it was. I have to do the same.

Draco's brow furrowed as he took Harry by the hand and led him to a nearby copse, free of carnivorous plants. A slight breeze began to blow from the west, causing a commotion amidst the seemingly beautiful but deadly flowers.

Harry followed his boyfriend with a heavy feeling in his stomach. Draco's serious face portended nothing good.

Draco bade Harry sit down on a wrought iron bench. Harry plopped down, biting his lip nervously, ignoring the albino peacocks that chose that moment to coo softly around them.

"Harry, there's something I have to tell you."

"What?"

"That time when Voldemort died?" Draco worried his lip, afraid of Harry's reaction. Finally he took a plunge and rushed his next words. "It was not the first time I met the old man."

Harry looked at the blond with incredulity. "It wasn't?"

Draco grabbed Harry's hand, but after a few seconds he let it go. It wasn't easy for him to open himself up for Harry. It required a mental space that the Slytherin found hard to master.

"The first time was on the train, after-" Draco stood up from the bench and shooed away the proud peacocks, looking for something to do.

Harry was growing more alarmed by the second. Draco's demeanour seemed quite ominous. Gone was the sarcastic Slytherin that quipped about everything.

"- After you and the others hexed me on the ride home, after Fifth Year," continued Draco.

Harry gulped, recalling distinctly the incident. At the time it seemed the right thing to do, because it was Draco, Crabbe and Goyle who ambushed him. But later, much later, Harry realised the DA had gone wild with the curses. He shivered, remembering Draco's tentacles. It all seemed quite funny then, now it appeared cruel.

"Draco, I'm sorry."

Draco waved away Harry's excuse and continued with his story. "After Cho helped me-"

Harry's guilt was surpassed by the exquisitely sharp feeling of jealousy that shot through his chest. He nearly growled, "Cho helped you?"

"Yes, she helped me get rid of the... things you riddled me with."

Harry lifted his gaze to the sky. He felt a mix of guilt, jealousy, and worry. Deciding to cut through the chase, he asked Draco, "And the old man?"

Draco sat down next to Harry, avoiding the brunet's gaze, instead choosing to stare fixedly at the gothic turrets of the manor. The breeze ruffled his blond hair as he rubbed his cheeks with the palms of his hands. "After Cho left, the old man entered the compartment. His name is Antares something or other."

"What did he do?"

"He told me I should befriend you to save my father."

When Draco tried to take Harry's hand, the brunet shied away. Harry stood up and started pacing furiously around the bench, furiously hitting the manicured lawn with his shoes and kicking up chunks of grass.

"So you became my lover only so your father could be free!" Harry turned to Draco with an accusing, betrayed look in his eyes.

Draco stood up and advanced towards Harry, his robes flapping in the wind that had picked up. "You don't understand, Harry!"

"I reckon I get it very well! You used me!" The brunet crossed his arms and bit his lips.

Draco sighed exasperatedly. "You know me, Harry. You know perfectly well how stubborn I am. Do you think I can be swayed by a stranger?"

"But you wanted Lucius out of Azkaban!"

"Indeed. But what the old man proposed, it was nothing I hadn't thought about." Draco continued earnestly, his pronunciation crisp and urgent, his usual drawl forgotten. "Remember the train during First Year? I wanted so much to be your friend, and that was years before the old man."

"But you became my enemy!" Harry started crying without noticing.

Draco yelled angrily, "Only because you ignored me!"

Then he added in a whisper, "When I provoked you, only then did you notice me!"

Draco grabbed Harry's hand. The Gryffindor tried to yank it away but Draco held on doggedly whilst he whispered, "Remember when you told me about chess?"

Harry nodded and Draco continued, his voice rising as he went on, wild and passionate. "You'll always find me opposite you, at the other side of the chess board: fighting, living, loving you."

Draco let go of Harry and spread his arms towards the cloudy sky. "You want infinite games? I'll give you that!"

Draco held Harry's chin as he gazed into the emerald eyes he loved so much. "Don't need anyone to tell me what I've always known - that we belong together."

Harry looked at Draco's earnest face; his eyes alight with passion, his blond hair ruffled by the strong breeze, his poise forgotten. It was this and Draco's sincere voice, bereft of any aristocratic composure that persuaded Harry of the truth of his words.

"So the old man didn't convince you-"

Draco held Harry's shoulders, pressing down his hands against his soft robes. He leaned his forehead so that it was almost touching Harry's. The strong wing whipped their hair so their strands touched. Draco whispered, "What we have can't be faked, Harry. It's what gave me hope in the days when you treated me so carelessly."

Harry looked up into Draco's eyes and he saw his own face reflected there. His tears made Harry's vision swim, and for a moment he fancied he could glimpse an infinity of Harrys trapped in the grey eyes he loved so much.

Draco took off his lover's glasses and kissed away his tears. Harry grabbed the back of Draco's neck and his lips sought the blond's. Their kiss was hot and fiery, desperate and soothing. Harry's teeth caught Draco's lower lip and he bit it.

Draco stopped the kiss and murmured, "Do you believe me now?"

Harry panted heavily, overwhelmed by the kiss. Grabbing hold of himself, he calmed down. "Yes, I do."

Harry sighed and holding Draco's biceps, took a step back. "Why did you tell me just now? Why not before?"

"Because yesterday, when you told us that you came from the future, you opened yourself. You were vulnerable." Draco sought to put into words his feelings. "It's what I wanted so much the first months we were together. That you would be open."

Harry essayed a smirk. "It was difficult, let me tell you."

"I know, and what you did requires me to be just as open."

A peacock chose that moment to step between the Seekers, pecking at Draco's trousers. Harry laughed. "Those birds really want attention, like their owner."

Draco lifted an eyebrow, smirking. "You are right, Harry. They are just like my father."

Harry swatted Draco's arm. "That's not what I meant and you know it! Come on. Let's see what Ron and Mione are doing."

Draco touched lightly Harry's elbow as the two students walked to the Manor. "Moody hasn't been around to teach us new spells. Guess he's with Lupin?"

Harry gingerly stepped out of reach of the deadly flowers, pointing vaguely to the east with his arm. "Don't know about Mad-Eye. Remus went to St. Mungo's; Tonks has not been feeling well."

"Hope it's nothing serious."

"Remus told me it had something to do with being a Metamorphmagus. At this stage of the pregnancy they go through some rough times."

"Did he tell Mother?"

Harry shrugged. "Don't know."

Draco opened the French window that led to the parlour. He motioned for Harry to go ahead, hearing a voice he knew well. "Draco, Harry, glad to see you aren't snogging."

"Blaise, nice you could join us!" Draco let go of Harry and grabbed Blaise's elbow. The black Slytherin smirked. "I couldn't let you alone amongst all the stubborn Gryffindorks." He winked at Harry. "Present company excepted, of course."

Blaise clapped Harry's shoulder, and the Gryffindor smiled as the trio walked out of the parlour.

In the library, Ron was busily devouring another cream scone whilst Hermione tutted disapprovingly. "Honestly, Ronald, I think you're abusing your privileges as a guest."

Ron said between bites. "No, Curly adores me."

He pushed a large dish filled with scones towards his girlfriend. "Have one."

"Thanks, I'll wait for lunch, Ron."

Hermione leaned towards him and lowered her voice. "Ron, I've been thinking about the memory we saw in the Pensieve."

"Yes?"

Hermione took out the napkin and wiped away some crumbs that were on his lips. "Do you remember how Crookshanks was quite friendly with the old man, Antares?"

"Can't say I do. But if you say so."

"And do you recall when we arrived here, how Crookshanks - the traitor - snuggled up to Malfoy?"

Ron took a swig from a goblet full of pumpkin juice. "So what?"

Hermione gingerly touched the topmost book that was on the mahogany table as if drawing strength from it. "The old man was very sarcastic. And that name, Antares. I think only a pureblood would use it."

Ron finished the scone and grabbed another one. "So you think the old man is Malfoy?"

"Yes." Hermione took the book and opened it randomly, fingering the soft parchment. "I think Draco came back from the future, to change the past and make it so he would have another chance with Harry."

Ron raised his eyebrow and shook his head. "Don't think so, Malfoy is rather cold."

Hermione took her goblet and sipped daintily. "But it all fits. The name, the sarcasm, and Crookshanks."

Ron pushed away the dish and stood up, looking at Hermione with a puzzled expression. "Harry said the man said something, a cat at night?"

Hermione shook her head. "I spoke with Malfoy before breakfast. The man's exact words were 'the curious incident of the cat in the night-time."

Ron shrugged. "Same thing."

"Not exactly. Those words are almost the same as a phrase in a Sherlock Holmes story."

Ron yawned. "Who's that bloke and why does it matter?"

"It's a muggle detective, like an Auror? It matters because in the story the key point is that the guarding dog didn't bark to alert them of the intruder. Therefore the dog knew that person very well."

Ron drummed his fingers against the table. "But if it's really Malfoy why would he give us that clue?"

Hermione gazed at the library ladder, a pensive look on her face. "I don't know, Ron. But the pieces fit very well. Perhaps Draco from the future is mocking us, knowing we would never arrive at the truth. After all, it would be a Malfoy thing to do."

The door to the library opened and Harry came in, followed by Draco and Blaise who were conversing animatedly. Hermione noticed that both Harry and Draco had their hair mussed and Harry's eyes were bright as if he'd been crying. For a moment she wondered if Malfoy had made him cry, but then she noticed that the Seekers were holding hands.

Blaise stopped in front of the table and bowed mockingly to Hermione. "Granger." Then he turned to Ron and bent down to slap his shoulder. "Long time no see, Ron!"

Ron smiled weakly and pushed the dish with scones towards the Slytherin. "Want some? The elves here bake them good."

Blaise sat down on the chair next to Ron with casual elegance and took one. "Haven't tasted them for a long time."

Blaise winked at Ron. "They're the reasons I come here. This-" He pointed to the dish. "And Narcissa."

Draco growled and Blaise hastened to add, "And the peacocks of course, mustn't forget the birds!"

Draco tried to swat Blaise's head but the black Slytherin evaded him easily. Blaise made tsking sounds and turned to the Gryffindors at the table. "Draco is so predictable!"

The Hogwarts students were conversing during dinner when Narcissa walked regally into the dining room.

She nodded affably to the Gryffindors and greeted Blaise. "How is your mother, Blaise?"

"She's fine, Narcissa. She just came back from her vacation in Italy."

Narcissa sat down at the head of the table and when Curly appeared next to her, she asked the elf to bring her only a salad.

"I already ate something at St. Mungo's" Narcissa explained when Draco looked inquiringly at her. "I'm pleased to say Nymphadora is doing all right and will be here tomorrow. Remus will stay with her tonight."

"And my aunt?" asked Draco penetratingly.

"Andromeda and I have a lot to discuss, my dragon," replied Narcissa.

When Ron snickered, Hermione nudged his elbow. Harry exchanged a wry smirk with Blaise as Draco fumed.

Pretending she didn't notice their rude behaviour, Narcissa continued, "I'm sure we'll eventually patch things up, but it will take time."

After Curly put a dish with crunched celery, crisp red tomatoes and onions in front of her Narcissa asked, "And how is Dobby, Harry?"

"Dobby is doing fine, Mrs Malfoy. He's at Hogwarts."

Narcissa looked reprovingly at the brunet. "Call me Narcissa, Harry."

"Sure, Mrs... Narcissa."

"And Kreacher? I trust the old elf recuperated fully from his injuries." Narcissa sipped her goblet filled with elf wine.

"Kreacher's fine, Narcissa. Still fights a lot with Dobby." Harry exchanged a smile with Draco. The two Seekers were often witnesses to the strange rivalry of the elves. In a way, it reminded Harry of his own fights with Draco.

Narcissa gazed at Harry and Draco. "Have you thought about how you are going to handle things when you return to Hogwarts?"

"Don't worry, mother," said Draco whilst he put down his goblet. "People are getting to accept Harry and me." The blond snorted angrily, "Of course, there are some thick-headed fools that reject us, like McLaggen, Smith and Marcus Flint."

Blaise put down his fork and leaned towards Draco. "Better watch out for Flint. He's going to be angry because his cousin was arrested and sent to Azkaban."

Ron stopped eating a particularly large sausage and blanched. He asked in a low voice, "What cousin?"

Without knowing the import of his words, Blaise continued, "The pervert, Avernius Flint. He preyed on young boys and girls. Mother told me he cast some sort of charm on his victims."

Blaise shrugged. "Don't know what it was. But he was found out and now he'll be in Azkaban for years."

Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione who put her hand on Ron's right shoulder, softly rubbing him.

Ron said weakly. "He also raped... girls?"

"Yes, the man's a criminal. But Marcus will surely be angry, he'll be looking for someone to bully."

Ron felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The criminal who'd hurt him badly was locked safely away. The man also hurt others. It wrenched his heart to think of the other victims of that predator, but it also lifted a weight from his shoulders. It wasn't that he was weak and let himself be taken advantage of, the man was pure evil.

When the students were strolling around the gardens in the afternoon, a sudden arrival caught them unawares.

The Headmaster walked up to them, nodding to each student in turn. Harry noticed that Dumbledore appeared more haggard, more worried than ever. His eyes didn't twinkle and he appeared to have lost weight.

The Headmaster crossed his hands and his expression softened when he saw his favourite pupil. "Harry, I have grave news to impart."

Draco put his hand on Harry's shoulder, standing beside his boyfriend.

"Alastor Moody has disappeared. He was last seen at Hogwarts, when I was away in urgent business."

Hermione asked concernedly, "Did you try to track his magical signature?"

"We thought of that, Miss Granger, but it proved unfruitful." Dumbledore fingered his beard whilst he walked with the students towards the Manor.

"I need your company for a little trip, Harry. I'll pick you up in the morning," said Dumbledore in a tired voice.

"Can I come, Headmaster?" said Draco. Ron asked the same question and Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid not, my boys. This is something that only Harry and I must attend to."

"Where are you taking him?" said Hermione.

"To a cave."

The dream and the talk