"God, this is a sinful angel returning to you again."

— Anton Chekhov

"Morning!"

Draco startled, almost dropping his wooden mug as Senia hobbled out of the vine and branch structure of her home. He tore his eyes away from where Hermione and Scorpius were playing by the creek and returned the old woman's greeting.

"Enjoyed your wedding night?"

Draco almost choked on his tea and Senia cackled at his reaction.

"Erm yes — we — it was — " he stammered at her knowing look.

"No need to be shy, boy," she chuckled, using wandless magic to make herself a cup of tea before Draco could offer. "The soul bond is a wonderful, beautiful thing."

A comfortable silence settled between them, Senia taking on a distant look while she sipped from her cup.

"Does it get lonely? Out here in the woods?"

Senia cocked her head, carefully considering his question.

"Not as much as it seems," she replied with a kind smile. "I've lived a long time and spent almost my entire life in this forest surrounded solely by nature. As these cities are built, we sometimes forget what it's like to enjoy the simplicity of life around us — in the way little birds crack from their shells and take their first flight, in streams full of silver fish forging their way against the current, the beautiful decay of leaves in the autumn. No — I suppose I don't feel lonely. Solitude perhaps but when one isn't afraid of themselves, they are able to find peace with or without the company of others."

Draco nodded in understanding. Growing up, his life was made up of pureblood politics, society events, and ploys to secure power. His father had sought to elevate their family's status and even he had to admit his mother was not immune to the luxury, reputation, and power that came with their family's legacy. But during war, being stripped of who he was and what he had — being forced to confront himself as nothing more than a mortal man — he realized all that status and power meant nothing. It was in Scorpius and Hermione, in the simple everyday life with them that he felt a different kind of power. He felt a groundedness to his existence in being able to experience life in the most mundane of moments and being able to share those moments with the two people who held his heart in their hands.

"May I?" Breaking him from his thoughts, Senia gestured to his now empty cup. Draco nodded and silently handed it to her. Taking it with both hands, Senia peered into the cup.

Vaguely, he realized she was reading his tea leaves. He and Hermione shared the same skepticism towards divination thanks to Professor Trelawney. But he kept his thoughts to himself.

When she was done, the old woman grinned at him through the gaps in her teeth.

"Look," she said, showing him the bottom of his cup. Draco looked but all he saw was a clutter of clumped leaves. He really needed his spectacles, he thought begrudgingly.

"It's a phoenix," Senia supplied when his face remained blank. Draco remained quiet, not remembering enough of Trawlaney's classes to know its meaning. "It's the symbol of new beginnings, of being reborn from the ashes."

"I see..." Draco nodded so as not to hint at his opinions of the entire ordeal.

"A curious symbol, indeed." Draco felt a sense of unease under her piercing stare. "Magic works in curious ways, Draco Malfoy. Us magical beings think we can control it, but it has a life of its own. In truth, magic works in its own ways, it chooses its wielder and always follows nature's balance — it cannot be taken or forced for magic always finds a way. You'll do well to remember that."

Her words were laced with a hidden intention that he tried to unravel.

"I will," he responded. "Thank you."

Senia smiled warmly. "You're welcome."

Even as he turned back to his son and wife, the words turned over in his mind.

***

"Bye-bye fae-ries!" Scorpius yelled from his perch in Draco's arms as they exited the cave.

"Are you sure you don't want protection from the Order?" Hermione asked Senia in concern.

"Oh, don't worry about me. I'll be safely hidden and I can handle myself," she winked.

They had asked Senia the same question earlier after laying out the risks she was under. The old woman assured them that she would be safer where she was. They agreed to leave her and relaxed when she revealed that the venom could only be freely given so even if she was captured, Voldemort would not get possession of the missing ingredient.

Senia followed them to the puddle and, together, they all placed their hands on the surface. The world inverted and they found themselves in the clearing they had first arrived at. It seemed the same as they left it but Hermione's magic flared in warning. On instinct, she conjured a shield — just as Draco did — and blocked an onslaught of spells that suddenly came their way.

"Watson!" Draco yelled. The elf instantly took the crying Scorpius from Draco's arms and disapparated as Draco shielded Senia. He cursed — there were over a dozen Death Eaters surrounding them, making it impossible to disapparate without getting hit.

"Give us the serpent," Mulciber's familiar voice sounded from one of the masked Death Eaters.

Hermione smiled coldly. "It's gone."

"Lies."

The Death Eaters attacked all at once.

In tandem, Draco and Hermione circled each other, back to back with Senia in the middle. The Death Eaters didn't know she was the serpent and they were going to keep it that way.

Together they blocked, dodged, and fired curse after curse. Each spell held true, hitting each target with a honed precision. But more of them arrived.

With a cold fury, Draco's magic was unrelenting and exacting. Hermione wove around him, leaving the Death Eaters paralyzed in her wake as their magic moved in harmony.

"Thanks," he grunted when she blocked a spell aimed at his blindside.

"Anytime." Hermione sent out a rapid succession of blinding curses when another set of Death Eaters arrived. "Cover me — I need to signal for backup."

Draco did as he was told and released a dark cloud of shadows that obscured their attacker's vision, giving her a chance to activate her coin. The odds were clear. They would not be able to protect themselves along with Senia so vastly outnumbered.

Returning to the fray, her adrenaline fueled her despite a few stray curses catching her off guard. In her periphery, she also noticed that Draco was using his right hand instead of his left and deduced he was likely injured.

Suddenly, multiple cracks sounded through the space and Hermione braced herself. To their relief, it was the Order. True enough, in the clearing stood Pansy, Blaise, Theo, Luna, and several other Order members.

"Need a little help?" Blaise smirked at Draco when they found themselves dueling side by side. "Watson and Scorpius are safe," Blaise spoke, answering the silent question in his friend's eyes.

Draco and Blaise moved together, sending curses that effectively took down each Death Eater. Despite his concentration, Draco kept tabs on Hermione. It had become a habit — he knew she didn't need his help, but she was his partner in both missions and life. It settled him knowing where she was.

Swiping his arm in an arc, Draco conjured a wall of flames to buy them some time.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked Senia. Thankfully, the Death Eaters didn't seem to register her presence. She had stayed close behind him, deflecting rogue spells with wandless magic.

"All fine, all fine," she answered, but there was an evident sorrow in her eyes as she observed the scorched earth, blood, bodies, and chaos around her.

"Now, Theo!" Pansy shouted. Draco turned just in time to see Theo perk up from where he had stunned a Death Eater and reach into his bag.

"On the ground!" Blaise's voice boomed.

Just as Draco pushed Senia to the ground, Theo threw a silver disk into the air before also taking cover. The disk spun, shooting an array of tiny darts that embedded themselves into anyone left standing. Heart pounding in his chest, Draco searched for Hermione. He relaxed when he saw her pinned down by Pansy. Pansy caught his eye and smirked, nodding that she had her.

Like flies, Death Eaters dropped to the ground. Theo stood, grinning as the others followed. He froze, however, and went pale as his eyes latched on to something coming out of the woods.

"Have we missed the fun?" a familiar voice crooned beyond the trees. Out of the forest, flanked by another set of Death Eaters, was Bellatrix.

Beside her was the dark form of Harry Potter. Voldemort.

"Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger," he intoned in curious amusement. Voldemort's crimson eyes gleamed like fresh blood, stark against his graying features. The dark webbed veins stemming from his scar were more prominent, highlighting the cruel cut of his face. "And the True Order."

The Death Eaters behind him shifted. Bellatrix cackled in anticipation, flexing her hands around her wand.

The edge of Harry's lips lifted.

"Hand over the serpent and we'll be merciful," the Dark Lord spoke, his tone deceptively calm. When none of the Order members moved, his smile widened. He raised the Elder Wand, cool bone and ivory in his grip. "Very well."

"Expulso!"

"Aveda —"

The clearing burst into chaos and Hermione found herself somewhere at the heart of the battle.

"Hello little mudblood," a voice cooed. Hermione turned, her jaw clenching. "Scared, girl?"

Hermione smiled sharply. "No."

Bellatrix snarled, slashing her wand abruptly but Hermione blocked the spell, maintaining her ground. Then Hermione went on offense.

A brief flicker of confusion passed over Bellatrix's expression as Hermione dueled her with a ruthlessness that surprised her. Their magic flared, Bellatrix's a dark looming beast that sought to overpower her. But what she didn't know was that Hermione had been observing her, studying her and the nature of her power for years. She had been waiting since the mudblood slur was carved into her flesh, biding her time for the right moment. Hermione had learned that Bellatrix was fueled by intent and the potency of her own innate power — but also by pride and arrogance, the desire to let her magic overpower and unleash itself even if it manifested into something uncontrolled. Reckless. And it would be her undoing.

A dark spell shot at her, too quick for her to dodge completely. Hermione hissed as the cure grazed her wrist, causing her to lose her grip on her wand.

"Lost your wand, mudblood?"

Her wand was out of reach, leaving her defenseless. Still, Hermione stood her ground, watching Bellatrix with a quiet calm.

Breathing deeply, Hermione focused, focused on the strings of magic connecting her with everything around her. She felt a current of electricity, building and looming before her like a tempest. The world slowed as she reached out and latched on to the chords that vibrated violently, warning her of what was to come.

"Crucio!"

The spell came directly for her, but she remained steady. Like a conduit, she opened herself to the electrifying current that crashed into her and used her own magic — not to tame it, but guide it. For a brief moment, the spell coursed through her body but she redirected the energy outside of her, releasing it back through the threads connecting her with everything around her.

All at once, Bellatrix arched and spasmed violently, the shock of her own spell sending her to her knees.

Recognition lit her eyes and anger crackled around her. "Where did you learn that?" she snapped, recovering from the aftershocks of the cruciatus.

"Didn't you hear?" Hermione raised a brow. "I'm part of the family now. Well... Draco taught me Black family magic before we soul bonded but I suppose that doesn't matter."

During their training, Draco had revealed to her the possibility of redirecting spells. Immediately, the cruciatus came to her mind. No longer did she want to be afraid of the pain nor haunted by the woman in her nightmares. She was ready to be brave.

"Are you sure?" Draco asked, hesitant.

"I am. I'm ready."

Draco nodded, raising his wand and pointing it towards her. They had practiced redirection using other spells but never this. But she insisted despite Draco's hesitance.

"Remember to not contain the spell, but instead let it flow through you. Pull on the strings and release it back," he said carefully. She nodded, bracing herself once more. "Crucio."

Palpable rage flashed over Bellatrix's features before she hurled spell after spell at her, anger a driving force for her attacks. But Hermione took the opportunity of her blind rage to inch towards her wand.

"Debilito!" she hissed, slashing her wand and causing Bellatrix to freeze and fall to the ground, leaving her mentally paralyzed. Standing over her, Hermione smiled and ran back to help the others.

***

Voldemort cut down all in his path as Draco continued to shield Senia, hoping to get her away from the chaos. He was not quick enough.

"What's this?" The Dark Lord asked, eyeing the women. Suddenly, a harsh hissing sound came from his lips and Draco went rigid as Senia began to shape shift. Her old leathery skin melted off her body until white scales gleamed through. Her body expanded and grew until she was in her full form.

"Come," the Dark Lord hissed. But despite his commands, Senia resisted.

At Voldemort's distraction, Draco caught him off guard with a spell that wound around him like a snake made of shadows, encasing his movement. The Dark Lord growled, wordlessly dissolving the shadows into flames that he shot back at Draco. But Draco was prepared, countering the spell with a wall of ice. Draco's power surged inside of him, untamed as he faced the man who had caused him and those around him so much suffering.

The two wizards battled each other. And in the moment of crescendo, their wands met, their magic pushing at each other in a violent torrent of power. Voldemort's eyes widened at Draco's unwavering hold, the inky veins on his face spreading like sprawling webs.

"No!" Bellatrix's scream pierced the clearing.

Concentration broken, Draco and Voldemort's contact exploded, sending them flying apart. Voldemort staggered to his feet and turned to where Bellatrix was attempting to stop the serpent — Senia — from crumbling into white ashes and drifting away. Draco thought he saw her purple eye wink at him before she disappeared.

"What have you done!" Bellatrix was hysterical as she pointed her wand at Hermione and levitated her, sending her into a tree.

Hermione groaned, gritting her teeth. Bitch.

On instinct she rolled, dodging another hit. Hunched over her fractured ribs, Hermione tried to protect herself with a shield but Bellatrix broke it effortlessly. There was a different kind of desperation in Bellatrix's manic eyes that Hermione had not seen before — an underlying terror that fueled her attacks. Hermione grunted, ignoring the piercing sensation in her gut.

"Bellatrix," his voice — Harry's voice — commanded. With an angry snarl, Bellatrix twisted, swallowed by darkness as Voldermort and his followers disappeared.

***

"How do you feel?"

Hermione looked up from where she sat on the edge of her cot in the infirmary as Draco came over and assessed her.

"I'm alright."

Once satisfied, Draco offered his hand and helped her up. Instantly, she wrapped her arms around him.

Laying her head on his chest, she inhaled his scent as his arms wrapped around her. His chin grazed the top of her head before she felt the soft press of his lips moments later.

"Senia, she — she just dissolved. Bellatrix was after her and I held her back but the next thing I knew, she was just gone," Hermione said helplessly, remembering the kind old woman.

Draco stroked her hair, pulling her more tightly against him.

"I think she knew what she was doing. She knew how desperately the Dark Lord wanted her," he murmured. Hermione sighed, bone tired.

"I want to discuss something with you," Draco murmured.

Hermione pulled back, looking at him curiously.

His brows pinched. "I'm not quite certain about it... and it may be far-fetched but it could be something."

Hermione listened, lacing their hands together. "Go on."

"Not here though. I need Kingsley's pensieve."

***

" — the time to act is now!"

Kingsley sighed as Ginny Weasley slammed her palms on the meeting table, her face almost as red as her hair.

"He's weak and we've taken away the missing ingredient. All that's left is Nagini, then we can end this war, once and for all."

There was a murmur of assent around the room. Hermione looked over at Draco seated across from her, his passive face giving no hint of his underlying thoughts. But in the tightness of his jaw and slow tap of his finger on the arm of his chair, Hermione could tell he was not impressed by Ginny's speech.

"We have a plan." Kingsley's voice quieted the room. Ginny inhaled deeply before settling down. "Moody if you would do the honor."

Moody grunted and stood. "We will set up a diversion. The allies and support we received from the American and European ministries along with our members will be focused on addressing the mass of Death Eaters and their experiments. From our scouts and informants, we have learned that most of their fighters are new recruits despite their large numbers."

"And how exactly are we going to address the werewolves and humanoid snake creatures under their control without wasting lives?" an older Order member asked.

Kingsley spoke this time. "They will be dealt with accordingly. Theo and Luna have been working on auditory devices that emit a sound at a pitch only werewolves can hear, enough to break them out of the control that holds them — at least momentarily so they can be stunned. They can still be saved." Hermione exhaled, glad that after hours of advocating for the victimized wolves, Moody and Kingsley had finally agreed that they would attempt to keep the wolves alive. "As for the snake humanoid creatures, we've also developed a spray to keep them subdued. Our healers are also equipped to handle any infections, thanks to Ms. Granger's antidote."

The members murmured and Moody nodded at her. Hermione smiled at him in return.

"While this is happening and their forces are distracted, we will be sending in a smaller team led by Ginny Weasley to go after Nagini and, if possible, the Dark Lord himself." Moody's magical eye bobbed in its socket, scrutinizing each member.

"And how can we be sure the snake is the last horcrux? What if he made another?" a Ravenclaw Hermione couldn't put a name to asked.

Many eyes turned towards the leader of the mission, Ginny.

Ginny cleared her throat. "I think it would be a reasonable assumption. He's weak and surely... Hermione, what do you think?"

"I think it's a valid assumption that Nagini is the last horcrux," Hermione said carefully. "If his growing desperation to find a new vessel is also an indicator, we can reasonably assume his soul is too unstable to rip apart again. According to the texts, ripping it in half just once does irreversible damage. If we are right, that would leave just Nagini."