DisclaimerI do not own Harry Potter, or it's characters. This is merely a work of fanfiction.

A/N:It's a busy summer for our babies, as everyone starts to grow up. There's so much in this chapter. I hope y'all love it as much as I do.

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Holly slept clear through the night. She woke at the first light of dawn, and pulled on a simple black dress, and the first pair of gloves she could find. She grabbed her wands, stowed one in her pocket, and rushed to the Floo room.

She wanted to get back to Draco as soon as possible. Lucius, Ginny, and Marcus were standing by the Floo, waiting for her. Lucius gave her a quick hug before he took control of the situation.

"Marcus, you go through with Holly. We will come directly after you."

Draco's screams tore through Holly as soon as she stepped out of the Floo at St. Mungo's. She didn't bother to wait for Lucius or Ginny. She and Marcus took off running towards Draco's room.

Holly entered to find Draco half dressed, brandishing a wand at a group of Healer's who were trying to speak to him in soothing tones. Cissa was leaning against the wall, one hand rubbing the crease in between her eyes exasperatedly.

"Draco?" Holly asked, pushing past the Healer's. She erected a shield with a lazy flick of her wand. She hated that these strangers had upset Draco.

He sank back onto the bed at the sight of her, his wand arm sank back to his side. Holly rushed over to him, and hugged him close to her. She glared at the Healer's as Cissa talked to them. At last they left the room, and Holly lowered her shield.

"What happened?" Holly whispered to Draco.

He pulled back from her embrace, and looked up at her as he held onto her hands.

"I panicked when I woke up. I just had to get to you."

"You were going to duel all of them at once?" Holly asked with an amused smile. Draco shrugged.

"You need to rest."

"You're more important," he insisted.

Holly shook her head tearily as she ran her hands through Draco's hair. Healer Tonks entered the room. Holly moved to sit beside Draco so the Healer could look at his wounds.

"I heard you've been giving the other Healer's a hard time," Healer Tonks noted with amusement.

"I needed to see Holly," he grumbled.

"Well here she is," he replied, looking at the petite witch. "Speaking of, let me run some tests on you."

She crossed her arms and pouted, but sat still. She knew it would only drag it out if she protested. Vince and Greg smiled approvingly while Ginny hid her laugh behind her hand.

"Much better, but still not full strength. I would recommend the guard families stay close to you, until you're fully recovered. Even a small duel would set you back."

Marcus crossed his arms as a remarkably smug look took up residence on his face. Holly glared at him, but it did no good. He was impossible.

"Can I go home?" Draco asked impatiently, taking hold of Holly's hand once again. Ted looked closer at his chest, inspecting the stitches. The skin was already beginning to heal, knitting itself back together.

"If I tell you to stay here, will you?" Healer Tonks asked.

"No," Draco admitted.

Healer Tonks stood back, and looked between the young couple. They were nearly impossible to treat, as stubborn as they were.

"If I send you home will you rest?"

Draco shrugged. Holly squeezed his hand and gave him a sharp look.

"He'll rest. I'll make sure of it."

"Well then, I suppose you can go home. I'll be by to check on you in a few hours, but make sure to send for me if you start to feel worse."

Draco smiled triumphantly as Holly helped him into a shirt. All he wanted was to be back in the comfort of his family wards, in his bed, with his soulmate beside him.

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In a short amount of time they had Draco back in the comfort of his bedroom.

"Can we be alone?" Draco asked softly once he was sitting on the edge of his bed.

Cissa and Lucius nodded and made their way out of the room. The others also left after making sure that Draco didn't need anything they could help with.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Dracos posture sagged, and held out his arms to Holly. He was just like Lucius, trying to be strong for everyone else.

She walked towards him slowly, and placed herself in his arms. He buried his face in her neck, kissing her collarbone gently. He sighed tiredly.

"What do you need?" She asked.

"I want both of us to get out of these clothes, and lay down. I'm so tired, but I need you with me."

"Give me a sec."

Holly ran to her room using the adjoining door, and pulled on the first pajama set she found- a black satin tank and shorts. She grabbed her wands and returned to Draco's room, retrieving a set of his pajama pants from his closet on the way.

He shrugged out of his shirt. Holly marveled at the pattern of scars, how they swirled and crossed over each other. They were an angry red still, though she hoped they would soon fade. Draco tossed his shirt on the floor behind Holly. He looked sheepish.

Holly's face scrunched up in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"I don't think I can change my pants by myself. It hurts too much to bend over."

Holly swallowed thickly.

"I'll do it," she whispered.

"Hols you don't have to, we can get a house elf. They can do it with a snap of their fingers."

Holly fiddled at the buckle of his belt as she shook her head. Tears gathered in her eyes. He was so precious to her. Infinitely more precious than she knew how to express. This was a small, simple thing she could do for him.

"No. I'm your soulmate. Let me do this."

She kept her eyes on his, on those pools of stormy gray that she loved so much. She pulled the belt free of it's loops, and tossed it onto the floor with his shirt. It hit the ground with a thud of metal against the carpet.

Draco's Adams Apple bobbed as he swallowed against the feelings coursing through him.

Holly knelt down and pulled his shoes and socks off him, tossing them with the other clothes. She looked up at him, and Draco's heart almost stopped. Her green eyes pierced him. This was not exactly how he imagined seeing Holly on her knees in front of him for the first time. He pushed that thought away. Now wasn't the time for such things.

She turned her eyes back to his pants. She unzipped them, and pulled them down his legs until he stepped out of them. She couldn't help but let her eyes roam over Draco. His legs were strong and muscular from Quidditch. She brushed her fingertips over Draco's soulmark. His eyes rolled back in his head in response.

"Hols," Draco groaned.

Holly smiled smally, and pulled the pajama pants from the edge of the bed. There would be plenty of time for this in the future. She helped Draco step into them, and pulled them up, standing to her feet as she did so. She pressed a kiss to the skin of Draco's chest that wasn't carved up, careful not to irritate his stitches. She helped him into bed, and he held out an arm for her.

"Draco, won't my weight hurt you?"

He shook his head, "Please, love. I need you near me."

Holly gave in and laid down next to him. She kept her hands to herself, instead of laying a hand on his chest like she usually did.

With Holly laid next to him, his skin pressed against hers, his magic caressing along hers, Draco was home.

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Healer Tonks came and administered pain potions, and removed Draco's stitches. The scars on his chest had turned from an angry red to a bright pink in mere hours.

"You're healing well, much faster than when you were at St.Mungos. Lady Slytherin's presence may be helping to speed the process. Continue to rest. You should be strong enough for visitors tomorrow, if you wish."

Draco nodded, and leaned back against his pillows.

"Shall I have Mipsy bring you some food?" Cissa asked.

"Please," he answered. "I'm starving."

Cissa went off to speak to the elves, as Lucius looked at Holly and Draco. His aristocratic features were marred by concern.

"Never again. Your mother wouldn't survive losing either of you, despite how well she hides it. Neither would I."

His voice was deep, and absolute. It was an order.

"I promise," Holly whispered.

He nodded his head, and left them alone. Mispy brought in a cart after a while, with trays for Holly and Draco. They ate quickly, Draco practically inhaling his first solid food in days.

When they were done Draco picked up a Snitch that sat on his bedside table and set it flying around the room. They watched it fly as they laid on Draco's bed. Draco carded a hand over Holly's shoulder gently to get her attention.

"Can I brush your hair?"

Butterflies took flight in Holly's stomach, as a smile lit her face.

"Of course."

She hurried to her room and grabbed her silver hair brush, bringing it back to Draco's bed. He had pushed himself up to sit with his back against the headboard, his legs spread wide so she could sit between them.

She handed the brush to him, and he took it reverently. He removed each pin from her hair carefully, as to not pull her hair. He never wanted to harm her, even by accident.

When the last pin came free and her hair spilled onto his lap, he let out a deep breath. Her magic washed over him, comforting and strong. He kissed the ends of her hair once before he began to work the brush through it.

"What happened after I got hit?" Draco asked.

"I won."

Draco paused in his brushing, and Holly whined in protest. It felt so nice and soothing. She looked over her shoulder at him, and he gave her reproachful look. She turned back around and watched the Snitch as it flew. She couldn't watch his face as she told him what she had done.

"He got distracted by my taunting. I took the shot, and killed him."

She waited for Draco to condemn her, to hate her, but he didn't. He merely squeezed her shoulders, and pressed a kiss to her skin. Then he picked up the brush and began to pull it through her black hair again.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly.

She shrugged, "They say murder tears the soul, but I felt nothing. Perhaps because it was in self defense, or perhaps Mother Magic just had mercy on me."

Draco hummed his acknowledgment as he continued to brush Holly's hair, entranced by the feel of her magic.

"Were you scared?" Holly asked. "When they took you to St. Mungo's?"

Draco thought about his answer as he brushed, and finally spoke after a few seconds.

"I thought I was dying at first. I kept coming in and out of consciousness. I wasn't scared to die, per say, but I didn't want to leave you behind."

Holly turned around, tears streaming down her face. Draco pulled her into his arms, not caring about his scars. She buried her face in his neck as sobs shook her small form. She kissed up the length of his neck, cherishing his presence. She cradled his face in her hands.

"I don't think I can live without you. I was so scared you were going to die. I don't even remember going to Hogwarts. I was talking to the Healer, and then I was just at Hogwarts, throwing glasses at a portrait of Dumbledore. It's like I blacked out. My mind couldn't handle it."

Draco smiled at the mental image of Holly terrorizing a portrait version of Dumbledore. He'd pay a good amount of galleons to see that. He wiped her tears away with his thumbs, and kissed her gently.

"I'm here Holly. I won't leave you."

Holly nuzzled into the small of his neck again. After a few moments she slid off Draco's lap, and he continued to brush her hair.

"Do you think that's what broke Dumbledore in the end? That Grindelwald died in prison after all those years apart?" Holly asked.

"That or the guilt of betraying him drove him insane. Or a combination of both. It certainly played a role. It's one thing to be without your soulmate if they die, like Lord Black. It's another to willingly betray them, and see them locked away forever."

Holly held out her hand, and summoned her wand. It flew into her hand, and she held it up beside her so Draco could see it.

"Dumbledore's wand?"

"Mine now," she replied. "It works perfectly for me."

"Is it really the Elder Wand?" Draco asked.

"I suppose so. It feels the same as any other wand to me."

"It's your birthright," Draco asserted. "You are descended from the Peverell's, not him. It belongs to your family."

"To our family," Holly corrected. "To our children one day. To which end, I plan to remove all mention of the Deathly Hallows in Remus' findings before I turn them over to Lord Shacklebolt. His actions are damning enough without the Hallows being included. I don't want people coming after them, and by extension our family."

Draco nodded, easily accepting her words. He loved power as much as the next man, but he already had an incredibly large amount. If Holly wanted the Deathly Hallows as family heirlooms, he would help her, but he didn't care much for them himself.

"I've been thinking we should go through the Slytherin vaults ourselves," Draco noted. "If they were all three created by Peverell's, then there might be one within the family vaults that no one had recognized as a Hallow. Perhaps they just think it's another innocuous family heirloom."

"After Luna's wedding," Holly agreed.

Draco finished brushing her hair, and laid the brush on his bedside table. He laid down and tugged her hand until she laid down beside him. Her head was on his shoulder, her long hair spread out across his sheets. He took her hand and kissed it once before he laid it on his chest.

"Draco, doesn't that hurt?"

He sighed, "It hurts worse when you don't touch me."

Holly smiled against his neck, and allowed sleep to take her.

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All the Heirs, plus Theo and Blaise descended upon them the next day. Holly knew the time for obfuscation had come to an end. Theo was glaring at her.

"So?" Theo asked.

Holly took a deep breath and looked down at Draco. He had his eyes half closed as she ran her hands through his hair. He opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"Tell them," he said sleepily.

"Grindelwald and Dumbledore were soulmates," she whispered softly.

Ginny gasped, and Neville took her hand in his. Theo merely waited for Holly to continue.

"Albus helped him make his evil plans. They were going to conquer the world together, for the 'greater good'. That's what they called it. The plans were little more than genocidal plots."

Hermione shivered, and cuddled closer to Zach.

"What changed?" Theo asked.

"Albus did. His mother died. He and Grindelwald were supposed to go on a world tour together, but Albus had to stay home with his sister Ariana. Grindelwald went alone. When he returned they got into a terrible fight, in which Ariana was killed by a stray spell."

"What happened next?" Blaise asked, on the edge of his seat.

"The record is unclear for many years. They split, that's for certain. Grindelwald goes out and begins his crusade as Dumbledore focuses on research and teaching. Then Albus defeats him in 1945, sending him to Nurmengard for the rest of his life. He died a year before I was born."

Holly had a theory that Grindelwald's death had caused Albus to go even further off the deep end, hyper fixating on her and her parents. She kept that to herself though. She wanted to see what Lord Shacklebolt found in his investigations.

Everyone sat uneasily in their chairs. The idea of not only not being with their soulmate, but betraying them in such a way, did not sit well with them.

"There's more," Theo observed, looking at Holly's face.

"Remus thinks Albus used Grindelwald. In Grindelwald's absence he realized that he could gain power more easily by being the savior of the magical world. Instead of trying to talk Grindelwald down or change his mind, he let him go too far, so he could defeat him."

"And Tom?" Theo pressed.

It bothered him more than it should. He knew his father felt more than friendly affection for the Dark Lord when they were young. He didn't have to say it, it was clear. He loved him.

His father hadn't met his soulmate, Theo's mother, until several years after Hogwarts. Theo wanted to believe his father couldn't fall in love with a man that was purely evil. Holly blinked back tears.

"Tom was always going to be a powerful Dark wizard. He couldn't help it, much like me. But Remus believes that Dumbledore's mistrust and alienation pushed him over the edge into becoming truly evil. He told Tom hbe was incapable of love, and he believed it, until he met Bella. He wanted Tom to become unhinged, so he could defeat him, and be the hero once again."

Theo sat back as the new information washed over him. He was filled with profound sadness for both his father, and the young man he had once loved.

"There's more," Luna observed airily.

"What else could there be?!" Zach asked exasperatedly. He had one arm around Hermione, comforting her.

"It will all come out eventually," Holly sighed. "But perhaps this is enough for now. I have given Remus' pertinent findings to Lord Shackelbolt. Much of what he wrote is speculation. It will take more investigation to discern if his hunches were right or not."

Draco looked over at their friends from his position on Holly's lap. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, and leaned forward with his elbows on his legs.

"We may never fully know what his motivations were. This makes the most sense. It is likely that his betrayal of his soulmate started some kind of mental instability. His magic would have revolted against it. My personal theory is that he was an evil, manipulative man, driven insane by his own wrongdoing. Until the findings of the investigation come out, we should all focus on our duties. The wizarding world is watching us."

Holly raised her eyes. Luna's gray eyes looked back at her, not saying what they both knew, what she wasn't sure she would ever tell the other Heirs. The Elder Wand resided on her arm holster, the Invisibility Cloak in her bedroom. She was in possession of two of the Deathly Hallows.

To her they were simple Peverell family heirlooms, but she knew there were many that would kill for them.

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Healer Tonks looked at Draco measuredly. His scars looked much better. More than could be expected in such a short period of time. He looked at Holly at his side. Lucius and Cissa were helping Luna and Lord Black prepare for her upcoming reception.

"Did you do something to him?" Healer Tonks asked.

Holly shook her head, "Not that I know of."

He was almost certain this had to do with her magic, and the fact that they were soulmates. If familiar magic could soothe someone, perhaps it could also heal them. Especially with magic as strong as Holly's.

"Are you certain?"