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Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Grimmauld Place

Screams clawed their way up from the basement, sharp and jarring. the sound of curses breaking bone echoed throughout the dining room. Grimmauld Place devoured the screams the way it swallowed everything else.. dust, blood, and oaths made in secret. Silence could not be found here, only the waiting for the next howl to split the air. Sirius Black had captured two Death Eaters three nights ago, and the walls of Grimmauld Place had not stopped shaking since. Upstairs, life went on in whispers and forced laughter. But the house knew the truth….this was slowly turning into a prison of interrogation. 
Sirius stomped his foot with a force that vibrated the floorboards, the reverberation made Sebastian jolt as the screams melted into silence.
Harry’s frustration boiled over as he leaned past the basement door, gritting his teeth, “SHUT UP!”  he roared, his shoulders slamming against the wall as he dragged  a weary hand down his face. “If they refuse, they die. I’m tired of waiting  for answers”.
 Sebastian’s lips curled into a wicked smile, “Oh I do love hearing them scream”.
 Raven rolled her eyes with  an exaggerated sigh, “Careful Sebastian, keep talking like that, I’ll throw you down there to babysit”. with a flick of her wand, half of Sebastian’s Butterbeer spilled down the front of his shirt. 
The color of Sebastian’s face turned to a crimson red,“Oi!! Wicked you are Potter!! If it weren’t for…” 
 Cutting  him off with a teasing grin, Raven’s voice was taunting, “Oh please Sebastian, we’ve been best friends since second year…I’ve done far worse and you know it”. 
A cloud of smoke spiraled from Sirius’s pipe, he marched to the basement door gripping his wand tight. “I’m going down, I’ll drag it out of their mouths if I have to. They will speak or they will bleed until silence is all that is left”. Making his way down the stairs with a single candle, the pitch black clung to him like secrets in the dark.
 Upstairs they could hear Sirius’s voice bellow, “WHERE IS HE?!….tell me now WHERE IS HE?! You will tell me or you will be without a tongue”. Guttural screams rose again as the door slammed behind him. This time, they didn’t sound human. Sirius’s roar from the basement rattled the halls. 
Without notice, the front door swung open, a figure with thick blond hair, briskly walked through the doorway. His bruised face, purple and mottled with welts dripped with sweat. The trunk hit the floor with a loud thud. Catching his breath, he sagged against the wall, wiping the sweat off of his face. Dudley Dursley. His voice came out raspy between breaths,  “I’m NOT going back”. 
“Dudley?!” Harry couldn’t believe his eyes, the very cousin he ignored at Hogwarts standing right in front of him. 
The color faded from Dudley’s face, his eyes widen as he steadied himself against the wall . “What’s going on down there?”                                                                                  
 Raven’s boots made a loud thud as she jumps off the table, “ Death Eaters…Sirius caught them and dragged them here the other day.”
 Dudley blinked once, then twice, trying to process what he just heard. “Blimey, they’re going to wake the whole neighborhood!!” 
 Chuckling at his  reaction, Raven moves a strand of hair out of her face. “No actually, Sirius put a silencing charm on the house. Nobody from the outside can hear anything from inside…brilliant actually”. 
Sebastian, leaning against the wall, laughs with a wicked grin displayed on his face.
 “ Welcome to the prison of interrogation Dudley. Slytherins are taking over. Three Slytherins now and two Griffindors .” 
Sirius strode through the threshold of the basement door, blood coated his hands. “Dudley! I was wondering when you’d get here. Sallow take his trunk up to Harry’s room….and nobody is going down there but me. You’re still students”.
Raven rolls her eyes, her shoulders slumping as she plumps onto a chair at the table for once, “But yet we defeat Voldemort every year when he returns”.
 Sirius smiles at her sideways, “You’ll get your chance”. 

A few gruesome days passed after Dudley’s arrival. Summer had settled heavy and suffocating over Malfoy Manor. The drawing room should have been warm - but an unsettling blanket of cold lingered in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor. Standing rigid before the mantle was Lucius Malfoy, cane in hand fuming. “You will do as you’re told boy!” He said through clenched teeth, tiny droplets of spit spewing onto Draco’s face. “The Dark Lord has plans for this family, and you will not shame us by refusing him!!” Draco sat staring down with his hands shaking under the table. His hands curled to fists as he tried to control his breathing. He could still hear the voice of Voldemort in his mind, mocking and threatening anyone who dared betray him. Images he couldn’t get out of his head. Draco had not received the mark yet, but his father promised him to Voldemort and was willing to do whatever it took to uphold his promise. 
“Draco, this will set up your future and you will be protected.” Narcissa Malfoy said, trying to coerce him into agreeing as if she were trying to coerce a cat to eat. 
“I’m not his pawn”, Draco snapped out loud, his voice sharper than he intended. His mother flinched. Her lips parting as if to hush him, but Lucius silenced her with a scalding look. He slammed his cane onto the table beside Draco, as he hovers closer to his face. “You are a Malfoy. That means loyalty, that means OBEDIENCE!!” 
 His fist slams hard on the table directly in front of Draco making him jump. Standing slightly behind him, one hand on the back of Draco’s chair and one hand on the table, Lucius snarls “ You WILL serve him, Draco. Or I will personally put your head at his FEET!!” 
Draco slightly turns to meet his gaze. His pulse feeling like his heart would beat out of his chest and  his throat burning, he spat the words that had been building for months. “Then tell him YOURSELF, tell your master that your son won’t kneel. Not to him, not ever.” Something inside Draco snapped. All summer, he’d been smothered by his parent’s expectations. Overwhelmed by the knowledge that Voldemort wanted to mark him as his own. Draco didn’t wait for the reply. He turned, rage and terror coiled tight in his chest, and stormed out of Malfoy Manor with nothing but his wand and the trunk he’d packed days ago waiting for this moment. 
Lucius’s knuckles turn white on his cane, in a fit of rage he yells out slamming his cane into the mirror on the wall shattering it to pieces causing Narcissa to jump. Though she doesn’t say a word. Sitting there with her elbows propped on the table, one hand covering her mouth, tears begin to fall. 
Lucius’s voice thundered throughout the drawing room in a mix of rage and panic “ I promised him!” Lucius snarled between heavy breaths, “ I gave him my word that Draco would take the mark and bow! Voldemort will come for us Narcissa…he doesn’t take promises lightly!!” Narcissa sat paralyzed, how had it come to this?. She was overcome with guilt and a rage that she has never felt before. “We have to go into hiding Lucius. Draco isn’t going to back down, and Voldemort will…” she tries to steady her shaking breath but fails, “Voldemort will stop at nothing to kill us”. The silence that followed was deafening. She was right, once Voldemort gets word that Draco Malfoy refuses to take the mark their deaths would be inevitable. 

Everything was falling apart at the seams for the Malfoys. For Draco, he finally felt freedom, though he didn’t know how long it would last. The door to Grimmauld Place slammed open once again, The house groaning in protest. Raven shot a look to Sebastian and Dudley as if saying what now? 
Sirius was putting some tools together to take to the basement, Without looking up his voice echoed through the dining room. “Now is not a good time, learn to knock!!”A pale faced figure briskly strode into the hall, trunk dragging hard against the very uneven floorboards. His platinum blond hair looked like the wind didn’t even like him, his eyes burned with fury and panic. Draco Malfoy. “I think not, no, absolutely not!”, Sirius protested. Sirius stormed across the room, placing his wand to Draco’s throat snarling. “You dare come into MY house Malfoy?! Unannounced, no knock!! Speak or you’ll end up downstairs with your other friends!”
Harry finishing the food on his plate glared up at Draco, “You have some nerve showing up here Malfoy!!”
Draco takes a frightened step back, raising both hands to his sides in surrender. His voice breaks as he blurts out “I had nowhere else to go. I refused the mark, father wants my head. Please… you have to believe me”. Draco’s voice catches, his body shaking as tears fall down his face. “Please, if you make me leave, they’ll find me. They’ll kill me! Tell me how to prove myself to you and I’ll do it, just don’t make me leave…please!”
Sirius lowered his wand slowly, looking Draco over. “You…refused the mark? You openly defied your parents, knowing it meant death?” Sirius rubs the back of his neck, exhaling raising an eyebrow. 
“Yes, father said he would personally put my head at Voldemort’s feet. I have information that can help you find Death Eaters. Father had been making me go to their meetings. I will help you find them and I’ll torture them myself”. Guttural screams roared from the basement, Draco curled his lips ominously waiting for the approval to prove himself.
Sebastian huffs with amusement as he stands up from his seat at the table. “This is starting to get good, you might just be who we’ve been needing after all…huh”. 
Shadows reflected in Sirius’s eyes, his lips pressed tight in thought until he clears his throat. “Everyone at the table, now”. His voice was more of a growl, but not angry. As everyone joined at the table, Butterbeer appeared in front of each one of them. Sirius continued, “This cannot go outside of these walls, nobody is to know until the right time. Raven and Harry, you mentioned forming an army….that will start here.” He inhales sharply, as he refills his tobacco pipe and lighting it up. With a weary sigh, Sebastian slouched deeper into his seat.   
Sirius continued, across the table opposite of Sebastian.“Harry, Raven and I will be the founders. Sebastian, Dudley, and Draco you will be the first members”. Dudley looked wide eyed at everyone with pride, nobody’s ever wanted him to be apart of anything before. 
Smoke flowed out of Sirius’s lips in spirals as he continued, “We will all take oaths by blood, sealing it with our wands. If anyone betrays the oath, your flesh will be branded for life. A permanent mark as a traitor”.
After swallowing a sip of her Butterbeer, Raven’s voice came steady but confident. “We need a name, something to call ourselves. What about Renegade? I’ve been thinking on that since the other day”.
A smile curled across Harry’s lips, something between wicked, and determined. Bouncing his knee under the table, Harry’s voice came loud, drowning out the screams from downstairs. “Renegade will be a name that goes down in history, and nobody would ever forget the name.” Harry’s eyes meets Raven’s gleaming with pride that she alone came up with that name. 

It had been hours since their discussion at the table, everyone went up to bed except Harry and Raven. Harry found the longest couch, lowering himself into it he sprawled his legs out onto the floor with a heavy sigh. Raven’s back leaned against him, her legs stretched out on the couch. Raven’s eyes followed the shadows lingering on the wall by the snoring portraits; with a flick of her wand, two glasses of pumpkin juice appeared on the side table beside Harry. Handing Raven her drink, Harry sighed before whispering, “We thought last year was bad, I have a feeling this is just the beginning. A lot of people are going to die…good people”. 
“I wanted to believe that it was just going to always be the same, year after year fighting Voldemort. But I can feel it too. Something worse is coming and neither of us are prepared”. Raven’s eyes glanced over to Harry who was staring at the uneven floor without blinking as if staring harder would even the floor out. 
Without notice, translucent green flames roared from within the chimney; large flames reaching upward. Hands gripping their wands before the figure stepped out of the chimney. Harry belted out the spell before his feet hit the ground, “Flipendo!”. The figure toppled out of the chimney, his breath caught as his hand slammed into a vase on the side table beside a small chair. Albus Dumbledore.
Inhaling sharply, Harry released his wand, making a thud on the floor as it landed. “Dumbledore!! A heads up would of been nice!!”
Holding his ribs, Dumbledore lowered himself onto the small chair, “I couldn’t send word, nobody is to know I’m here” He inhaled sharply his breath shaking from the pain of the fall. “What I’m about to tell you, cannot go outside these walls”. Dumbledore grimaced, his upper lip curled into disgust, “What is that ghastly smell?” he asked, Pulling out a handkerchief and covering his nose. 
“Don’t worry about it, just tell us why you’re here”. Raven’s words left her lips before Harry could even respond. 
Dumbledore’s hands fell into his lap as he scoots back in his chair. “I have important information to tell you both, it won’t be easy to hear”. 
Nobody heard the small creak of footsteps stop outside the cracked door. Draco only meant to slip downstairs for water, but he could hear the whispers of people talking low and urgent. He paused, his ear leaning into the crack of the door, being careful not to get caught. Firelight spilled into the hall casting shadows that moved across his face. Draco froze. His hand still on the banister and steading his breath. He knew he should have moved on, but he couldn’t, there was a heaviness in Dumbledore’s tone that rooted Draco in his steps. 
“A fragment of his soul lives deep inside both of you”, Dumbledore said, his voice resentful. Draco felt his voice catch, there was a silence that filled the room. After a moment, Raven’s voice sharp with disbelief echoed loudly. “So, you’re telling us that Voldemort has been living in our heads all these years? That a piece of him literally lives inside of us?”.
 Harry was to his feet in an instant, rage building up. The tip of Harry’s wand jabbed into Dumbledore’s throat, Harry speaking through gritted teeth, “What exactly does this mean for us? How do we get his soul out of our bodies and kill it Dubmledore?!”
“There is only one way my boy, only one….Voldemort cannot die while you both still live”. Dumbledore’s gaze met the floor, he knew full well they both caught the meaning of what he just stated. 
Raven’s voice came first, “So in order to…kill Voldemort…”
“We have to die”, Harry finished her sentence fuming, before she could utter it out. 
“Yes, that is the only way, and to make matters worse, a second dark lord is rising. Worse than Voldemort. His eyes will undoubtedly be on you both”.
Harry lowers his wand, cupping his hand around Dumbledore’s throat; just enough to feel his pulse. “Curse you Dumbledore…CURSE YOU for not telling us sooner”. 
Harry’s words hit him like a ton of bricks as he calmly removed Harry’s hand, “I’m very sorry, but it appears I have overstayed my welcome”. In an instant Dumbledore vanishes leaving both Harry and Raven to ponder on what they’ve just been told. Draco’s pulse thundered in his ears. He stumbled back a step, every instinct screaming to run, but his feet refused to move. The words echoed inside him like a curse: The Potter twins  marked for death, a new dark lord rises. Draco closed his eyes and just barely above a whisper muttered, “I will end you Voldemort, even if it costs me my last breath, I will end you”. 
Sirius cautiously walks up beside Draco, awakened by Raven and Harry’s loud voices. The color drained from Draco’s face.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost ….what did you hear?” Sirius’s voice low but sharp. Draco told Sirius everything without hesitation. 
Sirius’s eyes hardened as he exhaled through his nostrils forcefully, “Looks like I will be paying someone a very unpleasant visit. Don’t dare say a word to anybody Draco….if you do, I’ll put you in the basement with our little pets downstairs. You don’t want to know what happens down there boy”. Sirius had been capturing Death Eaters, torturing them in the basement to get information. 
“I wouldn’t think of it Sirius”. Draco turned and walked back up to his bedroom, though he knew he wasn’t going to be able to sleep at all. What was Sirius going to say to Dumbledore? What was he going to do to him?

Chapter Text

CH 2: The birth of the RENEGADE Army

The night air was thick, humid as if Sirius’s rage clung tightly into the night, but the full moon didn’t hide. Dumbledore had received Sirius’s letter to meet him in an isolated location so that no ears could hear what was about to be discussed. As Dumbledore stood a little ways away from the street lamp, he could feel his stomach tighten. He could feel the presence of Sirius closing in.
“Dumbledore!” Sirius hissed as he picked up his pace, rocks sliding down the hill.
Dumbledore’s gaze turned to Sirius who was a few feet away by now. “Sirius, you made…”
In a moment’s notice Sirius had the tip of his wand harshly against Dumbledore’s throat, “Silence! You came into MY HOUSE, sneaking in like an unwanted vulture, telling my Godchildren their fate?!” Dumbledore’s chest jerked forward as he felt Sirius’s free hand yank a fistful of his robes, bringing him close enough to feel his breath.
Dumbledore didn’t fight him off, but he didn’t back down either. “Sirius, Harry and Raven deserved to know. I was onl…”
Spit was spraying from Sirius’s lips with every word, “They deserved to know YEARS ago! And you’re just now telling them..if I had the chance I would have told them a long time ago. But I didn’t have that chance.” Sirius released Dumbledore’s robes that were wrinkled where he tightly had them balled up in his fist. Lowering his wand but keeping it aimed, rocks scraped as he slowly walked circles around Dumbledore.
An exaggerated sigh let out of Dumbledore’s mouth, “I waited until the right time Sirius, if I told them too early…”
Sirius’s voice explodes, “THE RIGHT TIME….THE RIGHT TIME?! They are children!! That was for ME to decide when the right time is, and you took that decision away from me! You didn’t even help me in my trial….I SAW you sitting there Dumbledore, and you didn’t say a bloody word!”
Dumbledore’s hands clasped behind his back, a few beard hairs flowing in the summer night wind as he softly spoke. “There was nothing that I could have said Sirius, but you are not wrong in your anger. I was under the impression that you knew I hadn’t told the twins of their fate all of these years. There was no way for either of us to know what the other did or did not know Sirius.”
Sirius couldn’t argue with that logic, he hated when Dumbledore was right. He hated even more that his Godchildren learned of their fates, in the way that they did. This made Sirius greatly lose trust in Dumbledore. “And to top it all off, you told them of a new dark lord rising up. One that’s supposed to be even worse than Voldemort himself! I’m just now finding out about this, but yet you have the audacity to tell Harry and Raven behind my back! They are in MY care Dumbledore, not yours”. Sirius’s body heat could be felt as his face was almost touching Dumbledore’s. “Utter another word to them behind my back, and the next meeting we have, Hogwarts will need a new Headmaster Dumbledore!”
A loud pop filled the air as Sirius disappears. Dumbledore didn’t leave immediately; he let the breeze flow through his long silver hair as he contemplated the altercation that just occurred.

The sun rose high the next morning, rays shining like they were breaking free from a haunted night. There was an unnatural silence at the table while everyone scarfed their breakfast down, forks clanking against plates could be heard like a pin drop. For once, no bloodcurdling screams could be heard coming from the basement, no drops of blood crossing the threshold.
Draco kept stealing glances at Raven across the table, his eyes lingering longer than what they used to; his mind was haunted with the words he overheard the night prior. A few beats of his pulse skipped in his chest, feeling like rose thorns gripping his heart. He has secretly been in love with Raven since fourth year, a love that was forced to be kept silent within himself. Forbidden to bloom.
Swallowing his last bite, Sirius’s voice broke the silence, “We will be swearing our oaths today. I have already sent a letter to several that I know will without doubt want to join. They should be arriving by noon”.
Drya, a house elf that came to service to Sirius Black and the Potter twins a couple of years prior, groaned in annoyance at the mention of even more company. “Masters Harry and Raven have too many friends”, Throwing her cleaning rag down, she storms off towards the stairs.
Dudley looked at Harry and Raven, a loud laugh escaping his mouth. “Blimey, someone is in a mood, how dare you have friends”.
“She doesn’t like a large amount of company, it’s more people to clean after”, Raven said in between laughs. With a flick of her wand, all of the dishes made their way to the sink and started cleaning themselves.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Harry rubs his forehead chuckling, “I’ll go talk to her, maybe give her a pastry to calm her down….she’s the reason they keep disappearing. She eats them like they’re going extinct”. He glances over at Sirius and Dudley who have started a game of chess in the far corner before making his way to the stairs.
Tucking her wand into her pocket, Raven grabs her satchel, strapping it securely around her body. “I’m off to the Leaky Cauldron, I need to get some air. I’ll keep my ears open for any news”.
“Not alone your not, take someone with you”.
“Sirius I’ll be…”
“I said not alone Raven. Take someone with you or you’re not going”. Sirius’s eyes met Raven’s with a daring look.
“I’ll go with her, I need some air too” Draco interceded, his heart thudding at the fact he can be alone with her for once.
Crossing her arms in defiance, Raven chuckled mockingly, “Have you gone mad Draco? You’ve just recently left your parents. They along with every Death Eater will be looking for you!”
“And Voldemort and his whole entire army is out looking for you, yet you are still going out. Not much of a difference if you ask me”. A curl spread across his lips, knowing she couldn’t argue with that.
“I…it’s just…fine let’s go”, Raven swung the door open with such a force that a few small rocks blew into the hall. Draco couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath, shaking his head, his voice came with tease “I always knew you were temperamental, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it. It sets you apart, you’re not afraid to speak your mind”.
“ I said you could come with me, but I didn’t say I wanted to talk….sorry, that was rude. It’s just I hate being cooped up. This is the first time I’ve been out of the house in…..weeks”. Looping her arm around his, Raven stopped in her tracks. “Thank you, for coming with me, really”. Raven held onto his arm as they continued walking, she never told anyone that she secretly liked him, but she also didn’t trust him until now.
“We’re all going through something, and I think everyone is going mad staying cooped up in the house…honestly I think Sirius is the only one who gets out….that’s about to change. I think He’s going to start letting us help him find….Death Eaters”. He dropped the last two words to a whisper so only she could hear him. “There it is, we’re here. I figured we could find a table near the back”.
They both made their way to the back of the pub and found a seat near a window, they could see the bustle of people walking around and laughing in conversation. “So strange, going from a home that acts like it wants to eat you alive along with all your secrets, to a building where you can see happiness outside of the windows”. Raven exhaled deeply plopping herself down beside Draco.
“Ya..it’s almost foreign now, all we see and hear are screams and blood inside the house, I almost forgot what laughter even sounded like….but they laugh because they’re ignorant to what’s going on…..I would rather know”. Draco’s gaze didn’t leave the window, it was as if watching other’s laughter was the only way he could remember what happiness is.
“What can I get for you?...perhaps a cup of Butterbeer to share?” She said taking notice of their closeness. Draco and Raven chuckled at the idea, but Raven couldn’t stop the warmth flooding her face.
Draco noticing Raven’s red face, answered quickly, “Two Butterbeers please”. He waited for the server to leave before continuing. “There’s something I want to talk to you about, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. I heard everything Dumbledore told you and Harry a few nights ago Raven….I also heard him tell you that “
“That we have to die…that we’re pretty much a ticking time bomb waiting to go off as a sacrifice?” Raven’s eyes burned as tears forced themselves down her face. Up till now she hasn’t had the time to process the emotions raging inside her. “We’re 16 Draco, and yet my whole life has been a lie. I thought I could trust Dumbledore, but he has known this whole time, and nobody is allowed to even know. So I have to carry this secret around giving our friends false hope”.
Draco softly wiped her tears away with his thumb, “You won’t be fighting alone Raven, I will be there every step of the way with you. I would give my last breath fighting Voldemort with you, As long as that means I die by your side… Truth is Raven,” Draco’s breath caught as he fought for courage. “I have loved you since we were 14, I ignored it because of my parents, but not anymore. With everything going on, I will not have you dying without knowing how I feel. I will fight by your side, I will fight for you, and if I have to I will crawl to shield your body with mine”.
Cupping the side of his face with the palm of her hand, her voice was a broken whisper, “Draco”, without hesitation her lips found his for a moment before pulling away. “Then never hide it. From now on, everyone will know we belong to each other, not even my death from Voldemort can keep me from you now. I am yours and you are mine”.
With a shaking hand, Draco’s fingers clasped around hers, “Forever, beyond death”.
Raven’s voice trembled but with certainty “Beyond death”, it was more of a vow than a mere agreement. For awhile they sat drinking their Butterbeers leaning against each other. They were together now, and nobody could take that away from them. Draco nudged Raven, pointing to two people a couple feet away whispering but loud enough they could still hear.
“So what you’re telling me Draxly, is this new dark lord that is rising ….Svartadoden….is more powerful than Voldemort?”
“Yes, exactly Ohmnius. He has thousands of followers from Scandinavia, and his following is growing beyond there. He wants to work with Voldemort to kill the Potter twins. After that He’s going to Kill Voldemort”.
Ohmnius leans in looking Draxly in the eyes “And how do you know that Draxly? How is it that you came across such powerful information? Are you a sworn follower of this….Svartadoden?”
Draco and Raven exchange glances at each other, there was a thick feeling in the air and it was growing thicker by the minute.
Draxly finishes his cup of fire whiskey slamming his cup on the table, “Yes, and I thought you might be interested”. Ohmnius was immediately to his feet, standing directly behind Draxly. Grabbing a fist full of his hair, he jerks his head back, “You see Draxly, that’s where you’re wrong. My allegiances are elsewhere, and that is your fate. You don’t know how to keep your mouth shut”. With a quick motion, Ohmnius sliced through Draxly’s throat, from ear to ear. Blood gushed out onto the table and into the cups, and spilled out onto the floor. With a loud pop Ohmnius disappeared. Loud screams sounded throughout the pub, people running over each other trying to get through the exit faster than the other. Grabbing Raven’s hand Draco pulled her out of the seat “We have to go NOW”. They rush out of their area, once to the table where Draxly’s dead body sits, Raven’s boot slips on the blood puddled on the floor. Trying to brace herself while slipping, her hand knocks the cup filled with his blood on top of her while she falls onto Draxly’s body. Blood coating her hair, face and clothes. In a rush, Draco jerks her up “We have to keep moving!” Finally, after minutes of fighting through the exit, where Draco had to forcefully kick a person out of the way that was trying to trample over Raven, they made it out.

They walked into Grimmald Place hand in hand, preparing for the smart remarks from the others. They barely made it on time before some of Sirius’s contacts arrived. Ron, Ginny and Hermione were already present.
Dropping his pastry, Ron’s face went pale, “Bloody hell, what happened?!
“Where’s Sirius?!” Draco demanded.
Footsteps could be heard running as Hermione, Harry and Sirius flew across the floor. “What happened?! Tell me everything!” Sirius instantly pulled up chairs for both Draco and Raven. They told them everything about the two men, their names and the murder that took place and Raven tripping on the blood as they were fighting through the crowd to get to the door. Sirius didn’t say a word until they were finished. “Raven, go get cleaned up, when you get done we will swear our oaths. We will start dueling practice shortly afterward. For there to be a murder like this in the Leaky Cauldron, this is worse than I thought”.
Luna Lovegood had arrived by the time Raven came down from her shower. Everyone that was to swear the oath was present. Sirius stood with great precision, his voice blaring over the table but steady. “We begin now, once we do this there’s no turning back. If you hesitate, your wand will reject your oath. As I’ve mentioned before, if you betray the oath, then your flesh will be marked as a traitor”. “we will use the knife to draw blood on the palm of our hand and drip the blood into the bowl. Once the blood is given, we will place the tip of our wand into the bowl. The wand will magically bind our vows to the blood we’ve shed. We must speak the vows clearly, for the wand will carry them into the oath.” Sirius sliced the knife across his palm, dripping a few drops of blood into the bowl. The bowl passed around the table as everyone else followed the instructions he gave. Sirius nodded approvingly, in unison they lowered their wands into the crimson pool of blood. Then, as one, they spoke the oath “I am a member of the RENEGADE Army, I will never accept defeat, I will stand ready to destroy and kill any enemy that is against the good of the wizarding world. I will never betray the RENEGADE Army or those who are members”. The blood began to boil, the tips of everyone’s wand lit up signaling their oaths had been accepted. “Good now we train, but this won’t be typical dueling. You will learn, unforgiving curses. To defeat Voldemort and those associated with him and Svartadoden we must be willing to go just as dark….only not for power, but for survival of the wizarding world”. With a flick of his wand the knife and bowl landed in the sink, the table and chairs flew to the back wall. Wooden dummies lined up in rows, “Forget everything you learned in dueling at Hogwarts. Your Professors, the Ministry they soften you. Out there in this war, hesitation will get you killed”. “Wands at the ready!”, With a flick of his wand the dummies jerked forward with great speed, spells slammed into them but not near strong enough.
“Unforgivable curses, must be spoken with intention, you have to mean them or they’ll never land. Show me you have what it takes to be in the RENEGADE Army….again go!”
This time spells landed with weight, the dummies knocked back and splintered onto the floor.
“YES, that’s better. Now we will duel each other, don’t hold back. Everyone pair up”.
Everyone paired up, Harry with Dudley, Raven with Hermione, Ginny with Lunna, Draco with Sebastian, Ron and Sirius.
Harry’s hand tightened on his wand, eyes glaring at Dudley. The years of being bullied played in his mind. Dudley stood across from him, his wand at the ready,surprisingly calm. The room fell into silence waiting for Sirius’s command. “Begin!” Without hesitation Dudley’s wand shot up with surprising speed, “Sectumsempra!” A blade of silver light ripped across, slashing Harry’s arm open before he could shield. Blood splattering onto the floor. Harry stumbled back, clutching his arm in agony, his body fuming with rage. He didn’t think twice or hesitate. Harry raised his wand and snarled “Crucio!”. The red lightening slammed into Dudley, his body twisting in agonizing pain, his screams echoed through the room as others stepped back uneasily. Sirius didn’t stop them, he waited to see how the others responded. Dudley dropped to the floor, sweat dripping down his face.
Sirius’s voice bellowed over Dudley’s screams “Enough! that is what it takes to be in this Army, no hesitation, no second thoughts. You can’t pause while someone is getting hurt, that would be immediate death. You continue fighting, help each other just don’t pause in panic while doing so. That is how we survive”. Hermione, ran over to Harry, tracing over his deep gashes on his arm while chanting the Vulnera Sanentur spell repeatedly. Luna ran over to Dudley who was still screaming, “You have to resist the pain Dudley, it’s the only way to counteract it”. Looking into his tearful eyes, she grabbed his hand. “I’m here, breathe through it, resist it Dudley, I know you can do it”. Her voice was as soothe as water gliding over rocks to him. He listened to her voice instead of focusing on the pain. Soon the spell subsided, breathing heavy his voice was raspy, “Tha..thank you Luna, thank you”. His eyes met hers as he lightly squeezed her hand. Harry walked over offering his hand to Dudley to help him up, “I didn’t know you could Duel Duds, very well done”.
Sirius interrupted with one final notation, “This is just the beginning, study these curses and how to counteract them….do this and we just might survive this war. But it’s going to be a long dreadful road”.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: The hunt for the Malfoys

Glancing at the front page of the Daily Prophet, Arthur Weasley sunk into his chair while sipping his fresh cup of tea, “There’s been a murder at The Leaky Cauldron, Merlin’s beard of all places! Oh, um I forgot to mention, I got word at the Ministry that Lucius and Narcissa are missing”.
Molly’s face was stern as she opened the windows so the fresh autumn air could flow through, “Ronald mentioned the murder, he said Raven and Malfoy’s kid was there when it happened, said she came back covered in blood”. Her eyes glanced at the first page of the Daily Prophet, in bold letters across the top it read:

DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF MAGICAL COOPERATION: LUCIUS MALFOY AND WIFE MISSING: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

LEAKY CAULDRON MURDER: INQUIRIES FROM WITHIN THE
MINISTRY

“There’s only 1 week left until school starts and I have half a mind to pull Ronald and Ginny from Hogwarts this year…. that’s if it doesn’t get shut down. With two dark lords rising it’s bound to”, Molly paused as she took a seat beside Arther, “Is it true that the ministry released the ban on all underage magic due to the coming war?”.
Laying down the newspaper, but not without a heavy sigh, Arthur responded with compassion. “Yes, as well as any and all unlawful magic of any kind…. this war is going to be the most brutal bloody war in history Molly. We are going to have to use whatever magic necessary to win, and soon everybody is going to have to pick a side”. Scooting his chair closer to hers, he gently laced his fingers through hers, “Molly, danger will find them regardless. Whether they’re here, or at Hogwarts, nowhere is safe anymore. If they want to go to school, let them, it might be the last time they see their friends”. Arthur looks up as footsteps could be heard running down the stairs. Letting out a small breath he inclines his head to Ron who paused the moment he reaches the table. “Your mother wants to pull you and Ginny out of Hogwarts this year with…”
“No!” Ron yelled out, pacing back and forth “I’m not staying back, I’m going!”
Silently Arthur raised his hand up to pause Ron, “I told her if you wanted to go, that you should be able to. It might be the last time you see your friends”.
Slamming her cup on the table, Molly turned to Ron with haste, “Ronald Weasley, you will not be going to that school while the whole wizarding world is fighting for survival!”
“I’m not leaving my friends to fight this war alone!” He yelled, “Harry and Raven aren’t just fighting Voldemort anymore. The second dark lord is coming after them as well….and they’re family too..or have you forgot?!”. Before Arthur or Molly could say another word, Ron ran back up the stairs. After a while, he storms into the kitchen with his trunk and broomstick, “I’m leaving, I’d rather die by their side than desert them when they need me most!” Taking a few steps, Ron placed his trunk below the table, “Oh, and I sent word to Dumbledore, he’ll be coming by to get the rest of my things”.
Rising from his chair with urgency, Arthur made way to Ron, resting his hand on his shoulder. “Wait, I can take you. I don’t want to pull you away from your friends Ron, but I wish you gave your mother a chance to talk. Although, it seems you’ve more than made up your mind and that I can respect”.
“No! Ron please, if something happened to yo…” Molly’s body was shaking, tears falling down her face like rain falling on glass. Her eyes resembled storms, torn between chaos and desperation. “Ronald, they all can stay HERE…. I can’t lose you in this war”.
Ron wanted to hug her, but his anger and his loyalty to his friends overpowered his empathy. His heart played tug of war, if he stayed another moment, he knew he’d give in.
With a nod towards Molly, he turned away and walked out as Arthur shut the door behind them.

The courtroom on level 10 in the Ministry Of Magic was especially crowded. As the case of The Leaky Cauldron murder was introduced, jeers leaped out from the outraged crowd. Ohmnius, who worked for the ministry, was sat in a large chair surrounded by the Wizengamot. As the jeers broke out, Ohmnius’s fists slammed onto his armchair.
“You don’t understand, I was trying to protect you!”
“Lies!”
“ORDER….ORDER!” Placing the tip of his wand to his throat, the Minister’s voice thundered throughout the room. “Ohmnius, you are charged with the gruesome murder carried out in the eye of the public at The Leaky Cauldron! Explain yourself at once, or the next breath you draw WILL BE IN AZKABAN!”
“I was only trying to keep everyone safe…. I swear it! That’s why I met up with Draxly, so I could get information. It turns out he’s a devout follower of the new dark lord!”.
Gasps echoed throughout the room, whispers soon followed. He masked himself very well, to get everyone, especially the Ministry on his side meant freedom…. It also meant he could secretly continue to serve Voldemort and help carry out his plans. As he was glancing around the balcony in front of him, he spotted Dumbledore, who’s eyes glared through him knowingly.
“You say you murdered Draxly because he was a follower of this new dark lord. If that is the truth, then you will tell us all you know.” The minister sat back in his chair, clasping his hands together while staring straight into Ohmnius’s eyes.
“He..he comes from Scandinavia. He was a student of Durmstrang, from 1960 to 1968. He was in the Atticus House. He then went to Egypt to study dark magic there for a few years”. Inhaling sharply, his eyes looking down, he continued, “He has thousands of followers from Scandinavia and it’s spreading. He wants to help Voldemort kill the Potter twins and then plans to kill him afterwards”.
At the mention of the Potter twins, Dumbledore vanishes. Gasps and screams could be heard along with sniffling cries.
“This is getting worse than I thought, I will pardon you… But only on the condition that you keep getting information about this Svarta”.
Ohmnius’s hands clasped together, his breath coming in repeated fast bursts. “Thank you! I will get as much information as I can”.
As soon as Ohmnius was released, he hurried through the threshold of the door like he couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Dumbledore was waiting right outside the door for him. The momet his goot crossed the threshold, Ohmnius felt a jerk on his sleeve, yanking him forward. Breath catching as his eyes slowly raised upwards, Dumbledore was looking at him over his half moon spectacles.
“You’re lucky I don’t expose you..imagine if they found out that a notable man working for the Ministry Of Magic is in league with Voldemort…. how scandalous indeed”.
“And you’re lucky that I don’t expose you to your two little pets..imagine if they heard that the man who’s supposed to protect them actually has a truce with Vo…” Ohmnius’s voice cut in half as Dumbledore shoved him against the wall.
“I promise you, that is the LAST move you want to make Ohmnius…. you don’t know how many things I have ties to!”.
Ohmnius smirked, his lips curling wide across his face. “Oh, I know Dumbledore..but do the Potter twins know the truth of why their parents died, and what you have to do with it?”. Breathing heavy, he lets out a wicked chuckle, his eyes looking daringly into Dumbledore’s without breaking hold. “Oh, they don’t know do they? You think you have leverage on me Dumbledore, but as it seems..it is I who have even more crippling leverage on you. Are you sure you want to keep playing me?” his thumb presses into Dumbledore’s wrist as he tears free out of his hold. “I have half a mind to see who can tell on who the fastest”. With a loud pop he disappears, leaving Dumbledore alone adjusting his sleeve. This wasn’t a game of tit for tat, but Dumbledore was playing at a dangerous game….one that would expose everything he kept secret.

Lightening cracked the sky as cold hard rain beat against Malfoy Manor, black clouds rumbling with deafening thunder that shook the windows. A large chair sat against the back wall in the over sized entryway that had been destroyed. A pale tall man, with slits where his nose should have been, sat calculating as a partially shattered chandelier slightly swayed from the vibration of the thunder. Voldemort.
The sound of shattering vases could be heard as Bellatrix Lestrange hopped around casting her wand at them with maniacal laughter, shouting “Malfoys are dead, Malfoys are dead!”
“Silence you imbecile! It is not known if the Malfoys are dead or alive you fool” Voldemort snarled, with a flick of his wand she fell off the top of a chair she had just landed on. As her body landed, a broken piece of glass sliced a gaping large laceration from the top of her eyebrow to her cheek. Blood began gushing down her face, down her neck, soaking the collar of the dress she was wearing. Guttural screams cried out of her as she slams her fist onto the floor before rising up. As she approaches the chair, she gathers a healthy amount of blood onto her fingers. As she smeared them across Voldemort’s face, she leans in, hands on both armrests, Her voice growls “Shall this blood always remind you who has ALWAYS been the most loyal to you Voldemort. If I’m not here then who will stay loyal to you then?”
Voldemort is immediately to his feet, hand tightening around Bellatrix’s throat, blood trickling over his fingers. “You DARE threaten me with your loyalty? If it weren’t for me giving you a place at my side..where would you be then you insufferable witch?!” He lets go of her with such a force she stumbles back into the wall, glaring at him as another Death Eater approaches cautiously.
“My lord, I hate to interrupt but I was able to find the Malfoy’s location..” Grytha, gifted and one of the most powerful at remote viewing, had spent hours in trance trying to locate the location of Lucius and Narcissa. “They are dwelling in a cave on the Island of Staffa in Scotland”.
A crooked, wicked smile curls across Voldemort’s face, placing his fingertips together in scheme. “Not for long Grytha, for tomorrow, we will find them and bring them back here. You may just be the most useful to have around yet”. His eyes dart to Bellatrix giving her a taunting look. “Bellatrix, Grytha, do what you need to prepare tonight. Tomorrow is victory”.

“No, no, NO” Sirius slammed his hand on the counter loud enough to make everyone jump. “You’re not even putting effort into it! Look how loose you’re holding your wands….”
Sebastian huffed as he through his wand on the floor “We’ve been going over this for hours Sirius, we’re tired”. Rolling his eyes, he bent to pick his wand up from the floor and sat beside it instead.
“Oh you’re tired? You’re dead…in battle you don’t have the luxury of doing things half ass just because you’re tired. That will get you, your friends and everyone around you killed in a heartbeat!” Puffing a ring of smoke out of his pipe, he continued with a softer but firm tone. “Endurance is just as imperative as intention and form. If you can’t last in battle, then you die. This is why I train you for such long periods of time. We will take a break then get back to it”.
A long exaggerated breath could be heard from Hermione across the room, “I’m going to the library, maybe nap….maybe read I don’t bloody know”.
They all decide to follow her, though not for reading, mostly just to get away from Sirius before he gave them something else to do. Harry leaned back into the far corner of the couch, hands behind his head, with Hermione stretched out comfortabley, her head pillowed in his lap. On the opposite end sat Draco, angled toward them, his long legs braced against the cushions. Raven was nestled between his knees, her back resting against his chest as he wrapped one arm around her waist and caressing her arm with the other.
Running his fingers through Hermione’s hair, Harry half yawned, half chuckled. “ He has a point, if we’re going to survive this thing, we have to keep going….although I have half a mind to lock myself in the room to get away from training for a day”.
“Bloody hell, we’ve trained so long today, I forgot everything we did…. On auto pilot I was, I swear”. Ron took a swig of his tea, sitting in a chair at the table, forcing his eyes to stay open.
Raven, looking at Dudley and Luna sitting together at the table, smiles warmly while she sends an audible thought to Harry: Harry, look at Dudley gawking over Luna..he can’t take his eyes off of her.
Harry lifts his eyes towards Dudley, smiling with a faint chuckle,
blimey, he’s going to turn her into stone if he doesn’t stop staring so hard. I’ve never seen him in such a state.
Draco, noticing what’s going on between Harry and Raven, whispers into Raven’s ear “Care to share what you two are chuckling at darling? Or do I have to learn telepathy myself and join in the fun?”.
Smiling, Raven nods her head toward Dudley and Luna who are too caught up in their own conversation to notice.
Draco, slightly pinching Raven’s side, smirks. “You’re going to have to teach me how you both talk to each other like that”
“I can teach you”, Raven replies. “although it’s available through reading in one of these books. Not that you like to read anyway”.
“Careful, Raven”. Draco murmurs quietly, “ I just might take on that challenge, just to prove you wrong”. Kissing the side of her head, he gives her waist a squeeze as she shifts deeper into his chest, closing her eyes.

The storm freshly passed, leaving tides forcefully crashing against the cliffs below. As the tides raged, water splashed into the mouth of the cave engulfing two forms huddled together against the wall. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy clung to each other, pale and weak. Their eyes empty like they’ve been awake for days. The only sound that could be heard was the raging waters and their heavy breathing. An unnatural presence could be felt in the air despite them being the only two inside the cave. It meant only one thing, Voldemort had caught up with them.
“D..d..do you feel that Lucius? In the a..a..air?” Narcissa stuttered, the coldness of the cave and her clothes biting through to her bones.
“Yes, th..the air feels unnaturally heavy”. Lucius fought just as hard to get his words out. Not just from the cold, but because he knew what happens next and what that meant. A drip of water echoed as it hit the small pool of water by their feet louder than it should have, loud enough to echo over their breathing. Then they heard it, footsteps directly outside the cave, mixed with maniacal laughter.
“We’re gonna getcha!…come out, come out!” Stepping through the mouth of the cave, Bellatrix didn’t waste time. Grabbing Narcissa by the hair, she pinned her to the wall with the Impediment Jinx. “I’ve got one!” Bellatrix taunted, baring her teeth directly in front of Narcissa’s face.
With a wave of Voldemort’s wand, iron collars snapped around Lucius and Narcissa’s throats, chains slithering down to lock on the iron braces around their wrists. As Bellatrix lowered her wand, Narcissa’s body dropped to the hard ground. Lucius strained in his chains, a sound of helplessness coming out of his throat.
“You promised me the allegiance of your son Lucius, you gave me your word that he would take the mark..but where is he now? Not with you, and without the mark”. Voldemort’s words came slow and dreadful.
“That is most unfortunate for you Malfoy, can’t even keep your little brat under control. So now, I have you..and your filthy excuse of a wife”.
“Just wait until you see what we’ve done with your place, a slight improvement I think”. Snarled Grytha.
“Yes, we should be getting back, I have no intentions staying in this wretched cave longer than I have to….Grytha, the portkey!” Voldemort demanded
Taking out a large shattered piece of glass from her pocket, Grytha held it out in front of her. Jerking both Lucius and Narcissa forward, forcing their hands onto the glass, Voldemort and Bellatrix placed held onto the glass before they all disappeared.
Spiraling into the entryway inside Malfoy Manor, Lucius and Narcissa plummeted to the floor. Voldemort, Bellatrix and Grytha had a much more softer landing. Taking a seat in the large chair, Voldemort flicked his wand towards Lucius and Narcissa, their bodies flying to him, until dropping at his feet.
“This is no longer Malfoy Manor, here you will serve me, or the iron around your throats will burn your flesh. Any hesitation, the iron will detect it”. Voldemort had enchanted the collars with dark magic; there was no room for deceit.
Narcissa’s eyes widened as she glanced at the figure walking to Voldemort, rolling in
a metal tray, filled with a variety of different torturous objects.
“Are you ready my Lord?”. The figure asked ominously.
Sitting back into his chair, Voldemort’s voice came sharp, “Yes, let’s begin”.

Chapter Text

The letter of notice officially came to Grimmauld Place, Hogwarts is shutting down until further notice. Most people suspected that it would, but to be receiving the official news made everything too real. Everyone was gathered in the kitchen, where they’d placed a large table months ago. A letter from the Ministry Of Magic laid in the middle of it.
Even the house elf Drya felt the tension, the fireplace refused to stay lit, and each time kept going out. In a surge of irritation, she yelled a curse at the wood covered in soot. Jabbing the log with a prong with such force, flames erupted spilling out covering her head to toe in black powder.
Drumming his fingers on the table, the sound echoing throughout the room, Harry shifted in his chair irritably, “We all move into Hogwarts”, his voice interrupting Drya’s outburst. “But we need to plan this out, in order for it to work”.
“No, we can’t, it’s far too dangerous Harry”. Hermione snapped, rubbing her temples as if that would bring the answer to their solution.
“Hermione, we would have more than enough space for literally everyone. Not to mention, we could grow food in the greenhouses. Along with the plants for the potions we’ll need to brew.” Reaching out, Harry softly caressed Hermione’s cheek, smiling at her with a wink.
Sighing with more annoyance for the fact that Harry had a good point, Hermione ran her fingers down her face while groaning. “I can’t argue with that, but who would cook all the food? How would we even get there?”, she asked pacing the floor, parchment and quill in hand, although she hadn’t written anything down yet.
Raven chuckling, running her fingers through her hair, glanced at Hermione. “We can bring Drya of course, you didn’t think we’d just leave her here, did you? She can do the cooking. Plus, I’m certain there’s bound to be at least a couple of the others that stayed”.
Harry stopped drumming his fingers and looked up at Hermione. “Good idea Raven, there Hermione you finally have something to write down”, he smiled at her mischievously, “And we can use the room of requirement for training, and different things”.
Draco had been sitting back, one arm stretched across the back of Raven’s chair, bouncing his leg under the table. “We would have the whole castle to ourselves; we wouldn’t lack for anything. And we would put protective enchantments around the property. This could actually work in our favor”.
Smacking Draco with every word, Raven snapped, “Would..you..stop..bouncing..your..blasted leg?!”
Draco immediately stopped, snickering at Raven’s frustration.
“The possibilities are endless if we go there. Dad can pay someone to take all of our trunks to Hogwarts, unless anyone has a better idea of how we’re going to get our things there”. Leaning forward Ron met eyes with Harry, who seemed to be going over the idea in his mind.
“Honestly Ron, that would bring a lot of unwanted attention, if someone noticed the Hogwarts express rolling along after Hogwarts got shut down….if it wasn’t such a risk, it’d be a brilliant idea”.
Sirius’s footsteps echoed as he paced back and forth, his index finger between his teeth. He’d been listening, but an idea finally struck him, “I know someone who owes me a few favors. I can have him take all of our things there safely. He’s one of the best smugglers known around here”.
Sebastian, mindlessly washing his cup for the third consecutive time in a row, opened then closed his mouth without speaking. Finally, after a chuckle of amusement he looks up at Sirius. “Now that’s bloody brilliant….a bit sketchy but brilliant!”.
Luna’s voice came in her usual dreamy cadence, as she looked up from fidgeting with her fingers, “ I can help tend the gardens, I’ve always had a good relationship with herbs. I help keep the streelers away”.
Dudley looked at Luna as if she just stated that Slytherin won the house cup.
Bursting into laughter and smiling ear to ear Harry shook his head. “Only you Luna, only you would come up with something like that”.
“I think it’s brilliant, she’s brilliant!”. Dudley was over the moon and infatuated with Luna’s very existence. Taking Luna’s hand in his, and a little too zealous, “I’ll help, although I don’t know much about gardening. But if I were to learn from anyone, I’d want it to be you”.
Luna’s cheeks burned red against her pale face, leaning into Dudley she hummed a little tune before answering, “I would enjoy teaching you, nobody ever wants to listen when I talk about herbs”.
Finally taking a break from his pacing, Sirius leans against the counter, striking up his pipe. “So, it’s settled then, I’ll make the arrangements. We must all pack what we can”.
The scraping of chairs could be heard echoing off the floor as everyone got up and left the table. Each of them wanting to get everything packed as soon as they possibly could. Sirius stayed back, leaning against the counter his eyes held a distant glare as he watched the quill he enchanted writing the letters to the rest of the members of the RENEGADE Army. Small ringlets of smoke from his pipe floated upwards dispersing before vanishing completely.

Draco had already had most of his clothes folded and packed when Raven came in unannounced. Looking up to meet her soft gaze, a warm smile curled across his face.
“Ah, hello my darling bird”, he takes a few steps towards her, sweeping her up in a tight hug, kissing the side of her head. “I have most of my clothes packed, I haven’t checked the closet for anything else, although I didn’t put much in there”.
Pulling away slightly so she could see his face, she could see warmth in his eyes. “I’ll check the closet while you finish with your clothes, I already have everything packed”.
As she rummages through the things in the closet, she noticed a silver chain hanging from the wooden plank at the top part of the closet. Reaching up on her tiptoes, she pulls the chain down. While looking it over, she noticed the strange item at the end of the chain, several thin loops intertwining with each other with strange writing etched on each loop, a language she wasn’t familiar with, numbers lined the backs of each loop. “I’ve never seen anything of this sort have you?”.
Looking up, Draco takes the necklace into his hands as he studies it. Gasping in awe, he lets out a long exhale, “I can’t believe it, I’ve read about these, but I’ve never seen one in person. They’re rare, it’s called an age turner. But they can be dangerous if not used properly”.
“An age turner? You mean this thing will change your age? I’ve heard of time turners, but I’ve never heard of this”.
He takes a seat back onto the bed, resting his elbows on his knees, while turning it over in his fingers “Yes, it can make you younger or older. It doesn’t change the date or take you to a different time, if you use it, it changes you to a different age, but you’ll still be in the same day and time that you were when you used it”.
“Do you know how to use it?” Raven asked inquisitively, softly shaking his shoulder.
“Actually yes, like I said I’ve read a lot about them in an ancient book my parents had in the manor library. It gave details on how to use it” Draco could see the desperation in Raven’s eyes, “I know what you’re thinking Raven and I do..”
“Draco please, I don’t want to be 16 fighting 2 of the darkest lords in wizard history. I don’t think the others would either, especially Harry. Let’s try it out and if it works we can get the others. I’m thinking something along the lines of at least 20”.
Letting out a sigh of defeat, he ran a hand over his face, “Very well, you know I can’t ever say no to you, we will try. 20 years old is good enough”. Putting the silver chain around them both, Draco started twisting the thin silver loops until the numbers lined up correctly, locking it in place. Within one breath, their bodies started changing, slightly taller, the forms of their bodies becoming more filled out, stronger and their features more defined. A rush of adrenaline coursing through their veins.
“It worked! It bloody worked!” Raven’s voice was stronger and the pitch had only changed a bit deeper, it wasn’t the same higher pitched voice she had as an adolescent.
“I..I’m surprised, I was expecting it to stall, or not work at all, but it did….right, we need to get the others..not Sirius though, he’s old enough”. Draco’s voice was deeper, much deeper than the pitch his voice previously had. Raven called the others into the room, explaining what happened, persuading the others to take part and do the same. For several minutes nobody said a word,
Harry chuckled in disbelief, “Right, I’m not about to be 4 years younger than my twin, that’s just….awkward. Plus I think it’s a brilliant idea”. The others followed suit in agreement, huddling together in the large group, the chain was barely large enough to fit around them all, but it fit just enough. After meddling with the loops, locking into the correct numbers the way Draco taught them, they all began to change, gasping in surprise at how each and everyone looked.
“Imagine the look on Sirius’s face when we all come downstairs 4 years older than when we came up”, Ron couldn’t stop laughing, “This is the best I’ve felt in ages”, not taking his eyes off his hands in disbelief.
“How long does this last? Is there a time limit?” Dudley asked still looking around in awe.
“It’s a permanent change, our next birthdays we’ll be 21. We would have to use the age turner to go back to 16”, Draco explained as he packed the last bit of his things.
Sirius’s voice could be heard hollering from downstairs, “It’s time to go, is everyone ready?!”
As everyone made their way downstairs, taller, their cheeks and jaws more defined, Sirius’s face froze, a loud breath escaped his lips as he opened and shut his mouth. “What in the bloody hell? Oh for fuck sakes you all used that blasted age turner didn’t you?….I”. Sirius paused looking at everyone, you could almost see his mind spinning. “I’m not even mad..honestly it’s a damn good idea. Now that we’re all adults….I can’t believe I’m even saying that….lets get a move on. We’re on a tight schedule. Jeevs will come get all of our things we packed so leave it all here. I’ve got three portkeys that are to go to Hogwarts”. A vase, a picture frame and an old dusty broom laid upon the table. “Everyone grab hold onto one of the three and hold on tight”.

All three portkeys came spiraling in. As they dropped to the floor, the sound of their bodies crashing to the ground echoed through the hall. Raven’s body crashed on top of Harry, who had landed on his back. Her face smashed into Harry’s mouth. his front tooth slicing her cheek and making a small gash causing blood to trickle down her face.
The sound of their cries carried throughout the hall as Draco’s cursing could be heard on the other side. Draco had been hurled across, his ribs colliding into one of the pillars.
Lifting himself off the floor while muttering under his breath in anguish, he headed toward Harry and Raven, holding his ribs.
“So much for a soft landing! I think I broke a rib”
“You’re fine”, Harry groaned, “Your rib didn’t just collide with my face”.
Holding onto her cheek, Raven glanced at Draco, “Be grateful we’re still breathing”.
“Oh honestly, do stop whining the lot of you! It could’ve been much worse”. Hermione said, crossing her arms, “You sound like first years during flying lessons”.
“Welcome back to Hogwarts” Harry mumbled, straightening his shirt.
Hermione and Luna made rounds healing everyone’s cuts and setting bones. Dudley had broken a finger in the landing, Draco 2 broken ribs, but everyone was intact.
After taking personnel count, and all of them finding their trunks and personal things, they dispersed taking their luggage to designated rooms they wanted to board in.
Draco and Raven took Professor Snape’s personal quarters in the dungeon. They liked that it was mostly secluded from everyone, and it offered personal space and at least some kind of peace.
Setting their things against the far wall, Raven collapsed onto the four poster bed, Silk green sheets draped with a large cashmere midnight black blanket. Silver snakes coiled up the poles of the four poster bed against the black wood. Draco sat beside her, wincing from his sore ribs, “I told you I had broken ribs”,
“And yet here you are, still breathing”, Raven straddles his lap, kissing the top of his forehead, Draco wraps his arms around her rubbing her back under her shirt.
“You make sarcasm out of everything”
“It keeps me out of Azkaban” Raven said, resting her chin on his shoulder.
Draco chuckles looking up into her eyes “AND you always joke about everything”.
“You love it, and you know it”
For awhile they didn’t say anything, sitting in the silence, the only thing they could hear was the crackle of a torch across the room.
Draco slightly pulled back, moving a string of hair out of her face, his eyes finding hers “What I love my darling bird, is you”, he said, brushing her bottom lip with his thumb, not breaking eye contact. “Your laugh, your stubbornness….you’re fire etched in starlight” he says softly.
Cupping his face with her hand, she leans in, her lips finding his. Catching his breath, he pushes the kiss deeper, running his fingers down her side. She moaned into the kiss, her fingers tightening in his hair before pulling back. She didn’t know where her heartbeat began or where it ended.
“If everyday with you is like this, then it makes all of this chaos worth fighting through”. She whispered, resting her cheek against the side of his face. “I suppose we should meet up with everyone.”
Letting out a sigh, he murmurs lowly, “You’re right, can’t be away too long yet, we still have much to do”.

A couple of days passed by, as everyone unpacked. Luna refreshed the gardens and planted more seeds, teaching Dudley gardening skills as she promised. Draco, Hermione, Raven, Harry and Sirius put protection charms around the castle grounds, as well as inside. Hogwarts was a protective sanctuary, filled with members of the RENEGADE Army, answering Sirius’s call.
A book of ancient magic was open in the restricted section of the library, Hermione sat with her legs crossed, her head lowered into her hands, scratching her head. She huffed for what seemed like the fourth time, “I’m telling you Harry, there has to be something in here that can give a clue about the new dark lord. If he’s more powerful than Voldemort, he’s not going to get that way with ordinary magic”.
Rolling his eyes, Harry slammed the book he hadn’t opened yet on the floor “You’re not going to find it by staring at the same pages for an hour”
“Says the one who hasn’t even cracked his book open yet, maybe you should try giving a hand to the people who are trying to help you and Raven….after all it’s because of you two we’re all in danger. Hogwarts would still be open if it weren’t for you both always carrying death everywhere you go!”
Harry stares at her for a moment, not saying anything. Curling his fists into a ball, he starts to get up as he sees Raven coming around the corner.
“Harry…I..I’m sor…” Hermione stuttered, getting interrupted by Raven.
“What did you say to him? What did the perfect know it all just say to my brother?” Raven closed the space between her and Hermione, pulling her up by the collar of her shirt.
“I..I didn’t mean it, I’m just..”
Raven cut her off again, pulling her so close their noses touch, “Oh, you didn’t mean it? You mean, because your life has always been fucking perfect….you think YOU’RE the one who has a right to be irritated?! Nobody forced you to come with us you daft bitch!! You could have stayed your ass at home….and you’re right death follows us everywhere, we’re constantly having to fight for our lives….you couldn’t imagine what it feels like not being able to go anywhere without risk”.
Hermione pressed her thumb into Raven’s wrist, “Let me go! Harry tell her..she’s overreacting again”
Raven released her from her hold, immediately punching her in her face over and over. Harry froze, he’s used to Raven’s temper but this is the first time she’s ever fist fought anyone over him before. Hermione’s screams brought Harry back to reality, “Raven, enough!!” Raven didn’t listen she had Hermione on the ground, her hands squeezing her throat, “You want to throw the death of our parents in his face?! Like we interrupted your life!! Then maybe you should have found different friends you blithering cunt!”
“Raven! That’s enough!!” Sirius’s voice thundered so loud it made Harry jump.
Raven stood up, pointing her wand in Hermione’s face, “If I ever hear you say something like that to my brother again….I’ll torture you with every Death Eater that I find!” Lowering her wand, her hands shook beside her as she stepped back.
“So, this is what we’ve come to?” Sirius demanded
“Why don’t you ask the teacher’s pet what she just said to Harry!” Raven glared at Sirius.
“Harry, I’m sorry”, Hermione sobbed
“Don’t, don’t dare say another word to me!” Harry glanced at her before storming off, slamming the door behind him.
Hermione, sobbing loudly, blood dripping off her lip and eye, stormed off leaving Raven and Sirius behind.
“She through the death of our parents in Harry’s face, and blamed us for the whole wizarding war, and Hogwarts being shut down….and if you think I’m apologizing you’….”
“No Raven, I wasn’t aware of why you were fighting her. I just walked in and you were punching her relentlessly….I can’t say I would’ve done any different” he said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
“Nobody talks to my brother that way….except for me of course…but her audacity….I wanted to kill her right then Sirius. She wasn’t just saying it to Harry, she spoke it about me too. Some girlfriend she is”.
Sirius lets out a light chuckle, “You really are the female version of your father. I always thought Harry’s temper was worse, but after seeing this, I’m not so certain”. “Before you do anything, you need to mend your hand….remind me to never piss you off. Get some rest Raven, tomorrow, we start hunting Death Eaters”, Sirius chuckled, winking at her as he left.
Raven sighed as she walked off, heading towards her and Draco's quarters to soak in the claw tub and relax. She knew the next day was going to prove exhausting, and after the altercation with Hermione, she wanted to be left alone.