The Rose Draws Blood
By: Brittglamorra

Chapter 1: Trying To Move On

Hermione sat in her dark room mournfully, clutching the small dragon doll to her chest and allowing tears to pour down her face. She had been this way all summer. It was her last day of grieving alone though…She would not get the chance to cry again for a long time.

Perhaps you ought to know why Hermione is in such a state. In July a bad case of Black Dragon Pox had spread throughout the Wizarding world. Dragon Pox was a disease that targeted those with magical blood and was hardly fatal. But this sickness had spread rapidly. It had consumed not only Wizards' but Muggles' as well. Angry red blotches would break out on the skin, itchy and painful as hell. Then came the vomiting, and the internal bleeding…so many things happened to the body and right now there was still a mad scramble for the cure. The worst of the sickness had gone for now, but there were still many cases. And there was strict testing for it before any student or adult alike went into Hogwarts.

And so Hermione sat, soul broken, clutching the Childs stuffed dragon doll. Ron, her Ron had died of Dragon Pox. Her daughter, her sweet daughter Rose had died of Dragon Pox, and her ever curious son Hugo had perished as well. And the result was unbearable pain, worse than any in the world. Hugo had been eight, and Rose eleven. It would have been her first year…

Hermione let out a sob. Her children were gone…Her Ron was gone… And tomorrow she would return to the school which held so many memories of the latter. She had previously worked in the Ministry but when Rose had reached eleven she had finally taken the open job of Charms Professor, head of Gryffindor House, and also Deputy Head Mistress. She could not just up and abandon her post so she was still going. She needed to be around children, and keep them safe…So with an agonized shudder she rose from her bed for the first time in days and walked to her window. She pulled open the curtains and winced as bright sunlight shone in, contrast to her dreary mood. For some reason an image of a stormy grey sky, with tiny bits of blue sky peeking through flashed before her eyes. She shook her head, dismissing the odd image as she would a student and blinked, noting that the sky was clear and cloudless blue.

Hermione quickly went about packing and peeked out the window every time she passed, wondering what had gone one while she'd been lost to the world. She would not crumble as she had over the summer. Over the summer she had stayed in her house, refusing to leave. Ginny would often come over and help her to the shower, or feed her or clean. Ginny had not lost any children or her husband…but she still came, despite finding her friend in this terrifying state. Hermione may have died if Ginny had not tended to her…it was true friendship and dedication considering she had lost a niece and nephew, as well as brother to the sickness. Neville had lost his grandmother and Luna had left him. George whom seemed to lose more than most had lost his three year old daughter, and nearly lost his eleven year old son. Teddy was still sick and it did not appear as though he would make it. Seamus and Dean had both died along with Cho. And Hermione had heard that Krum had died as well….So many…Slughorn had nearly died but made a remarkable recovery at the last moment. Hermione couldn't help think that this was something like the nasty outbreak of Muggle Swine Flew many years back.

Anyway. She prepared her things that she would need. Her Gryffindor robes, which she was proud to once again be adorning, and her normal clothes. A pair of shoes.

And the weirdest thing this year by far, above all other years, was that the healthy parents of the students would be staying in one of the towers in the castle, so they were protected from further sickness. Hogwarts was to be like a rescue center, and Hermione had heard that a separate Isolation building had been built to house any more sick victims until they could be moved to one of the major Wizard Medical Hospitals. And school was starting two weeks early to avoid anymore students being exposed to the virus unnecessarily.

Ginny arrived half an hour later. Hermione had packed and showered and now lay on her bed, clutching the stuffed dragon that had been both her children's favourite toy in their youth, while tears streamed down her pale cheeks. She looked very skinny, and malnourished. Ginny held out her hand, a bag of food in her grip. Hermione took it and halfheartedly picked at the food. Ginny waited till Hermione had downed all the food before she even spoke.

"Hogwarts tomorrow Mione." She murmured.

"Don't remind me." Hermione rasped. She blinked back tears and stared out the window.

"Come spend your last night at the Burrows." Ginny said. "Harry, George and all the children will be going there." She murmured. Ginny was clearly trying and was not failing at holding herself together, though Hermione knew that she was very uncomfortable and only reminded of her brother and niece and nephew in the eerie stillness and silence of the once loud and alive house.

"Fine." Hermione muttered quietly, in no mood to argue. A tear plopped onto the stuffed dragon and Ginny wrapped her arm around Hermione, face contorted with sadness. Hermione rose to her feet and grabbed her bag. She lifted it, clutched the dragon to her chest and clutched Ginny's arm. Instantly they vanished and the sharp twisting, forced through a tube feeling made Hermione sick as soon as they landed.

Ginny rubbed her back as her lunch came back up in Molly's petunias. Then Hermione walked into the house that smelled of roasted chicken, potatoes with gravy, warm rolls, and spices. She sighed contentedly. Ginny closed the door behind her as there was a high pitched shriek of joy.

The whole house shook as the five pairs of feet pounded down the stairs.

"Aunty Hermione!" They all chorused. Albus flung himself into her arms first. Then Fred, then Lily, then Serena, and then James. Serena was Ginny's youngest. She was only two. Anyways her four nieces and nephews flung themselves into her arms and she let some tears shed at the feeling of holding children again. The feeling that she was very loved, and there were young ones to carry out the legacy. Hermione sprang away from the children after a moment and wrapped her arms around Harry who had appeared after them. Then she hugged George. Molly appeared from the kitchen complaining about the house collapsing when she saw Hermione. She ran forwards and wrapped her arms around her honorary daughter.

"Hello dear." She said, voice choked with tears. Hermione simply held her until Molly pulled her to arms length and examined her.

"Oh dear your so thin and pale…" And so Molly led Hermione into the kitchen, tsking over the state of her, and how she would put a few pounds on her.

"I have to leave tonight Molly, remember. I am a teacher now." She pointed out with a chuckle. Molly nodded, eyes sad, and understanding. She had lost Arthur to the sickness. She had lost two sons in the battle, and a son to the sickness. And so many grand children. Hermione knew she was hurting badly. Yet she kept her same bouncing happy, motherly personality. She inspired Hermione.

Hermione ate and caught up with them all. It was eight before she could get away from the insane hustle of the house. Then when she had but a moment to herself she appirated with her things, dragon clutched to her chest, to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

YAY! Re-upload of an old HP fic I'd been working on. Yes. Very sad. But it'll get better. I promise. The writing will be better and the chapters longer as the story goes on too. Hope you guys enjoy! Please review if you want. :3