"Child of Darkness"
A/N: Okay I'll try to make this short! So this is a collaboration project by me and John Thatcher. Check him out. He is freaking awesome. This chapter is written by me and I really hope you enjoy it! Please let us know how we are doing. Messages, comments. Any kind of reviews are welcome! Thanks guys! :)
Disclaimer: If you know it, we don't own it.
Chapter 1:
It was a dark night for Voldemort's Death Eaters, the night he fell. Narissa Malfoy stood in front of a once elegant, but now mangled crib, trying to comfort the tiny child who was screaming shrilly. Lucius Malfoy roughly tried to pull her away from the ruins. "Get away from that devil child!" he growled, hate glaring in his eyes.
"That devil child is my nephew!" she screamed, tears brimming on her eyes. Bellatrix, who though unfortunately was her sister, was still her family, and this being her child still deserved to be treated as such. Lucius had other plans however, and quickly grabbed his wife and son's arms and apparated them to somewhere far, far away from the manor of which terrible events had happened. He had hoped the baby would die after being abandoned in the ruins. In fact, he didn't give a second thought, thinking the child had no other choice but to pass, with no one to take care of him. Little did he know, that the child would be fighting the dark within himself for many years to come.
8 Years Later...
Hermione's POV:
"I want to adopt a child," I firmly told Harry.
The war ended eight years ago and my life had practically put on hold since then. Ronald and I had tried to settle down, tried to start a family; and when he couldn't get what he wanted from me, he went elsewhere. In fact, he got no other than Lavender Brown pregnant. The night he told me had been the last straw and I had packed my things and left straightaway.
Here I am now, living in my own small flat, by myself, enjoying the quiet time and being able to focus on work. And somewhere in the back of my mind, I had decided I wanted a child. Not being in a relationship or married, it didn't seem very possible. But I had been sitting at my desk, staring at the paperwork I was supposed to be filling out, when it dawned on me. Adopting a child was really my only option unless I wanted to have a sperm donor, which to me wasn't really an option.
So here I was, looking at Harry with determined eyes, as he stared at me like I was a loon. "I'm serious!" I insisted. "I'm not with anyone, which takes out my option of having one with someone. The only logical option is to adopt!" I practically plead.
He sighed and rubbed his eyes, clearly exhausted. I know he had been working a lot lately and was tired as hell and there was nothing I could do, but I could slowly see him starting to cave in. He sighed once more and looked me straight in the eyes. "Okay," he finally caved. "I'll put in a good word for you over in the adoption office. I don't think you'll need it being a war hero, but I'll do it anyways." He gave me a smile. "I know you will be an amazing mother Hermione," he congratulated me, patting me on the back.
I sighed in relief, thankful he had gave in. "Thank you Harry!" I exclaimed. "You won't regret it, I promise!" I swore. He turned and began walking out of my office. "And Harry," I began. He turned to look back at me. "I want you and Ginny to be the god parents to my child," I smiled.
He gave me a grin that reminded me of the happy Harry I saw once upon a time at Hogwarts and a twinkle in his eye that would have put the stars in the sky to shame. "You won't regret it," he promised, before flashing a wonderful smile at me again before walking out of my office and going back to work.
I turned back to the stack of papers on my desk and sighed. It was going to be a long day.
Harry had finally come through! I was standing at the wizarding orphanage, waiting in an office to be helped. Today was finally the day. I had spent the last week setting up the guest bedroom in my flat to be child ready. I couldn't do too much, but I did clean out all the extra papers and random books I had laying everywhere.
I was off in my own world of thinking, as per usual, when a young woman, just a little older than me, walks into the office and slams the door, snapping me out of my daze. I had all sorts of thoughts going through my head. Was I going to find a little girl or a little boy? Were they going to be younger or a teen? Am I about to have a problem child or a shy child? I couldn't answer any of these questions and it was making me nervous just at the thought.
"Miss Granger," the woman smiled at me sweetly. "Are you ready to meet your child?" she asked in a voice that was almost monotone.
I nodded; I have never been so nervous in my life. Today was the day that the rest of my life would change, whether for better or worse I wouldn't know. I followed the woman, Mrs. Bentley I was informed her name was, into a large room. There were children everywhere! Girls, boys, some were flying on toy brooms, some were playing wizard's chess, I saw a couple of little girls playing with an enchanted doll house and it made me smile. I stood at the front of the room, just looking around the room, before I saw him. It was a little boy, around 8 years old, who was sitting in the corner of the room, reading Hogwarts, A History.
And that was the moment that I knew it was him. That was my favorite book. If that wasn't a sign from the unknown forces of the world, then I seriously don't know what is. I slowly walked over to the boy, hoping to not scare him. I draw closer to him and crouch down next to him. He suddenly looked up from his book, looking slightly startled. He looked from side to side before cocking his head and saying, "Ma'am you look a little lost."
It was my turn to cock my head to the side, for I was very confused. Why would he say that? "What makes you say that sweetie?" I asked, trying to hide my confusion.
"No one has interest in a kid like me," he begins, before I cut him off.
"You remind me of myself," I firmly tell him. "That book," I say, taking the book out of his hands and rolling it in my hands, "is my favorite book." I paused for a moment before looking at him curiously and cautiously asking, "What is your name?"
He grabbed the book out of my hand and buried his face in it again before hesitantly replying, "Almadeus," is a short but quiet tone. I nodded silently and walked over the woman who had led me here to begin with.
"He's the one," I said with a grin, pointing to Almadeus' location. I glanced over at him, still reading my favorite childhood book.
The woman gave me a look of confusion. "Are you sure?" she asked nervously. "Almadeus doesn't get along well with the other children. He's very quiet and..." before I silently cut her off.
"He's perfect," I said firmly.
She gulped and hesitantly replied, "Well if you insist."
I smiled. Today was the day that would change my life. Just maybe not in the way I would have hoped.