Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Behind the Fog (Backup Upload) ❯ Behind the Fog (Backup Upload) 7th Chapter ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Anything you recognize is property of JK Rowling. Additionally this is not my story. I am uploading this to my own account in support of the author the story belongs to who has been struggling with hackers.

The thing I've most been dreading as a fan is that the story would be removed from the site by the hackers and the author wouldn't have access to their old chapters when the situation was eventually brought under control in the event the site moderators wouldn't be able to give the author their account back.

For anyone interested the author goes by Hancock23 on Fanfiction -dot- net. I will remove the story from my account when Hancock23 has gotten the story safely uploaded elsewhere or has been safely given their account back on Fanfiction -dot- net. Without further ado I give you a backup upload of: Behind the Fog by Hancock23.

PS: This Backup Upload contains minor edits for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Plus some rewording/restructuring of sentences so they make better sense and flow better. Hope you don't mind me becoming something of a Beta Reader for this Backup Upload Hancock23.

Chapter Seven - Approach

Bill Weasley confidently walked towards the proud manor that the Longbottoms had lived in for generations. They were not obscenely wealthy by pureblood standards, but they were a respectable family all the same. Frank and Alice Longbottom were two of the finest Aurors the Ministry has ever seen, and it made Bill happy that he could be of some help to the couple now.

Augusta Longbottom opened the door herself and invited him to a lounge that had seen better days where tea was served. "You said you want to discuss Frank and Alice?" She asked when they were both seated and having their tea. It was still a sore topic with her and it grieved her greatly that her grandson was not very much alike to either of his parents.

"Yes." Bill said, and put down his cup of tea. "Have you heard of Arwin of the Arwin institute?"

"Of course, anyone who is anybody has heard of him." Augusta answered, wondering what this had to do with Frank and Alice.

Arwin was famous and if he wasn't so reclusive, his prestige would equal that of Dumbledore. The man, however, was a humble genius that ran a school for geniuses with a general population of less than ten. His students were known to be highly wanted by the Ministry for their Unspeakables; and their inventions revolutionised many a wizarding way.

"You may not have heard this, but I have left Gringotts, and I am now working with a genius that is working with Arwin. That person has come up with a potion that can cure the effects of the Cruciatus Curse and Headmaster Arwin has given approval for his research to be put to the test." Bill said, and handed Augusta a sheaf of parchments which she took with slightly shaking hands and a pounding heart.

"The maker of this potion plans to patent and put the potion on the market within the next few days. He asked me to request your approval in administering the potion to Frank and Alice free of charge. He didn't tell me why, but he seems to care for them a great deal."

Augusta did not say a word as she silently read, and Bill did not press for an answer, this was something that could not be rushed. In that moment, Augusta was remembering a conversation she'd had with one of the healers at St Mungos who was in charge of the permanent resident ward when she had gone to see them with Neville before he returned to school for his sixth year. Neville was speaking to his parents and Augusta was inquiring on their progress.

"They are the same. It's a pity that that boy hasn't come to see them this summer, they are a bit more responsive whenever he comes around." The healer had said. Augusta had been surprised that someone besides Neville and herself had been coming to see her son and daughter in law.

"What boy?" Augusta had asked.

"You don't know him?" The healer had inquired in surprise. "I was sure he was family since he has been coming here to see them so often; Several times a year, for almost ten years in fact."

Augusta had not had the chance to ask more since Neville had come to her ready to head to King's Cross, but now, Augusta thought about it. She had a feeling that none of this was a coincidence. Living in the small wizarding community, Augusta had known Bill Weasley since he was a boy, and he had grown up to be an honest young man, she could trust him. She could also trust the reputation of Arwin.

Really, there was nothing more she could do than trust and have a little faith. It had been sixteen years and Frank and Alice had not made any improvement; They could die from this supposed cure, but they could also finally get better. She wanted to take a chance on the later happening instead of the former.

"You will have my full cooperation." She said with determination. "However, I must insist that we keep this between us for the time being. I do not want Neville to get his hopes up only to face disappointment." Bill understood and he agreed.

"All we need to do is consult with the healer in charge of the Longbottoms and then administer the potion at the earliest convenience." Augusta agreed again, and they decided to go see the healer in charge of her son and daughter in law the following afternoon since Bill still had a lot to do.

Marina was working to patent the potion, and Bill had already managed to get a building to turn into the shop in Diagon Alley. There was staff to interview since he wouldn't be the one running the general store and renovations to be made a plenty. Bill had sent Draco a letter to inform him that Augusta had agreed and Draco could not be happier.

When he was five years old, Draco had accompanied his father to St Mungos to speak to a healer about something; and when left on his own, he had stumbled upon the Longbottoms. They sat together, staring unseeingly into the distance.

Alice was pulling on her hair and trying to put it in her mouth and Draco had pulled it away, remembering the many lessons on etiquette and hygiene he'd had. Even at that age, his mind was unlike that of a child his age, and he had recognised the signs of a mental breakdown. His father had found him then, and he proceeded to sneer at the Longbottoms.

"Draco, this is what happens to people who do not listen to warnings and choose to oppose us. Your aunt Bellatrix used the Cruciatus on them until they broke." Draco already knew what the Cruciatus was, having been subjected to it more times than he could remember.

"Be a good Malfoy and you won't have to end up like this." Lucius had said, to his then five-year-old son.

"Yes father." Draco had dutifully said. Before he had left though, Draco had looked back at the Longbottoms, and noticed how Frank was randomly throwing his hand in the air in a fast motion, as if he was trying to catch something; Draco felt deep chilling terror for the first time. He didn't want to be like that.

Every year after that, he went there to speak to them. To reassure himself that he was still sane despite all that was happening to him, and to harden his resolve to save them. He wanted to save them because he felt like he would be saving himself by saving them. Now, that moment had arrived and he was glad he was able to do it.

Draco called Biddy and handed her the package that contained the potion and the instructions for administering it. He wanted Biddy to deliver it personally to Bill. Maybe it was paranoia, but Draco wanted everything to be perfect and he had this suspicion that his mail was being scrutinised.

It was a good thing that he had taught Marina and Bill a spell that would change the contents of a letter if someone other than the intended recipient opened it, but he did not want to risk a negative reaction by putting any likewise foreign spells on the potion. When Biddy was gone, Draco stretched lazily and left his room to head to his secret base.

Marina had sent the stash of potions ingredients and he had two cauldrons of the Cruciatus Cure potion that would not be ready for another four days since the potion took exactly seven days to brew. Right now, he needed to concentrate on the everyday potions; and hair and skin care products that would be needed for the store's opening in a just a matter of days. Everything would be ready in time. Pansy and Blaise spent every spare moment helping him brew, package, and come up with more ideas.

Harry was getting really annoyed with the way everyone was looking at him. It was a combination of pity and accusation; as if he hadn't given up the future he had planned for himself in order to save them all from Voldemort. It was annoying, and it became doubly so when the look came from some of his oldest friends.

"I can't believe he did this." Ginny said angrily, pacing furiously in the Gryffindor common room.

Harry had taken to coming there after dinner and leaving just before curfew. This way, he never had to see Malfoy and much to his delight, Malfoy was never even in the room when he got there. He wondered if the blonde also spent time in his common room, but he did not care enough to ask.

"I can't believe you went to Rita Skeeter about this Ginny." Harry expressed, and immediately regretted his words when furious hazel eyes were directed at him.

"Are you taking his side, Harry?" She barked. "You have been bonded for all of five minutes and you are already changing?"

Harry could not believe his ears. Changing? He had been through hell and back because of the press, so he did not think his dislike for them was a hidden fact. After all, wasn't it common decency not to knowingly reveal false facts to someone like Skeeter? He knew saying that would lead to an argument though, and he was simply in no mood for it.

"You only need to formally apologise and this suit will go away." He said, attracting more death glares, this time from almost everyone in the room.

"Have you gone mental mate?" Ron asked, his face flushed plum red. "Malfoy should be the one apologising; and facing expulsion. We both know who his father is, and being You-Know-Who's lover has surely exposed him to dark magic even Bill and Professor Lupin don't know about. Ginny had the right idea."

"It's true Harry." Hermione added. "He cannot be trusted, and I am surprised that Professor Dumbledore has left you alone with him. We should have been given quarters in the East tower to make sure that he doesn't do anything to you."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I am surprised Hermione, anybody who has read Hogwarts A History should know that the wards of Hogwarts do not allow students to perform dark magic." Everyone froze, Hermione blushed, and Harry wondered forlornly why he was defending Malfoy.

Remus had told him about the Hogwarts wards when Harry had gone to him wanting confirmation that Malfoy had not used dark magic; but there is no reason he should have used that to defend him. He hated Malfoy, he truly did, but even he was not so malicious as to encourage false rumours when he knew they were false. Furthermore, Malfoy had not been his usual pain in the arse for the last few days, and Harry wanted to keep it that way.

"Maybe you should go." Ginny said, pointing at the door, and with a sigh, Harry left.

The prospect of apologising to Malfoy was horrendous even to him, but Ginny was clearly in the wrong this time, and there was nothing that could change that fact. He went back to his room and once again, Malfoy was not present. Curious, he opened the Marauders Map and proceeded to search for the dot labeled Draco Malfoy.

It was nowhere in Hogwarts. He searched again, paying more attention and even checking the secret passages, but Malfoy was nowhere to be found. He was either in the Room of Requirement, or he was really not in Hogwarts, and either scenario caused deep suspicion in Harry. Suddenly, he felt this overwhelming need, to find out where his newly bonded husband went all those hours spent away from their room.

Uploader's Note: This Has Been A Backup Upload of Chapter 7 of Behind the Fog by Hancock23.