Fated

Finally, Answers!

No one really knew what to do with Harry Potter. His mood swings varied on a daily basis since the revelations of his heritage came to light. One minute he was bursting at the seams to talk to his biological father, and then by lunch time he would be sulking and staring out the window of Weasley House, looking lost and forlorn and would not talk to anyone. The Weasleys decided it was a good thing to let him be, to sort out his emotions before anyone dared to talk to him. It was Christmas time after all and they would give him this gift.

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Somewhere in Wiltshire however, a pair of lovers were in their obscenely luxurious bed.

"Have I told you recently what a beautiful, cunning witch you are darling?" The man all but whispered as he grazed his wife's bare shoulders with his lips.

The woman smiled, a serene but sinister lift of her plump lips, "You might have mentioned it" she purred as she tilted her neck, giving her lover more access.

The man took to nipping at the conjunction of her neck and shoulders, "Goddess." He breathed, "It will be over soon, with the item you took from under your sister's very unhinged nose. Gods I love you."

Narcissa Malfoy sighed a contented breath and looked at her husband. "Show me." She silently commanded.

And they were the last words they spoke until morning.

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It was the 24th of December. Christmas eve, and still there were no signs that Hermione was waking up. Severus Snape sat at his daughter's side, despite not having slept much for the past weeks.

Draco Malfoy sat on the opposite side of the bed, posture erect, despite having sat there for hours.

"Shouldn't you be going home today, Draco?" Severus drawled in his deep baritone. "It is Christmas"

Draco only shook his head once. "Mother and Father understand. I should be here, with her." He dragged his fingers thru his short platinum locks as his shoulders sagged a little. "Hasn't she suffered enough!? I mean, I know I'm one to talk, I've made her life hell for years, but Uncle Sev, she doesn't deserve this." You'd think he'd shout his words, but they were barely above a whisper, his tiredness and melancholy evident.

Before Severus could reply however, there was a noise from the infirmary doors. Both men straightened and looked warily as three witches came inside, one of them known to them. Healer McTavish from St. Mungo's who was assigned to Hermione. She was a tall, buxom woman with a no nonsense attitude. They liked that about her.

Severus stood up, he looked calm but inside he was agitated. They have not heard from St. Mungo's for weeks and now the Head Healer was here, with two other unknowns. Dread settled at the pit of his stomach as he looked back at Draco, who slightly positioned himself closer to Hermione and took her hands in his.

"Mr. Snape." Healer McTavish greeted as she neared the bed. "Mr. Malfoy."

Both men only nodded their heads in return. The healer cast several spells around them, clearly for privacy.

"I'm here with my colleagues from the Ministry. We may have found the answers you seek." Severus only arched a brow in her direction, urging her to continue.

McTavish turned to the other witches with her, both almost a head shorter than her. "This is Unspeakable Danvers," she said gesturing towards the skinny blonde to her left. "And this is Ms. Roberts, from the Ministry archives". Miss Roberts was a mousy woman who looked like your typical librarian, thought Severus.

The healer conjured several chairs in a semi circle at the foot of Hermione's bed and urged Draco to come closer. All three witches sat, Severus remained standing by his daughter and Draco remained where he was, clearly unwilling to let go of Hermione's hands.