The long awaited sequel to Hermione's True Love!
Chapter One - Move
Voldemort awoke in St. Mungo's to find Hermione still fast asleep, her head resting on his chest, her bushy hair brushing his face. She was eight months along now, having spent the past three months of it in a coma. 4 am. The healers will be in soon to check on her, no doubt. He apparated them to his bed in Riddle Manor and she awoke with a start.
"Where are we? Where did you take me?" she asked, looking around wildly at the faded canopy, the moth-eaten curtains on the window, the dying embers in the dusty fireplace.
"My home," Voldemort said. "I thought you might be tired of the hospital… you've been there for months now."
"Months!?" she screeched. "What happened? Last thing I remember was the battle… you and Harry were dueling again after shooting each other. I blacked out after that…. Is he still alive? You didn't kill him did you?" she said, her eyes narrowed.
"Yes, he's still alive," he said patiently. "The war's over. I decided to end the war, call it draw. We decided to leave each other alone, as you asked."
She exhaled with relief. "Thank you," she said heavily.
He grunted.
"Why was I in the hospital for that long…?" she asked.
He sighed. "Harry's Sectumsempra curse and my Killing curse ricocheted off each other…" He looked away. "His curse sped off into the woods, mine hit you. I didn't mean for it to happen…."
She swallowed. Her face paled and she looked down at her belly. "Is the baby…?"
"Baby's fine," he said.
"But how…?" she asked, rubbing her belly. To her relief, she felt baby push back on her hand, as if to say, "I'm here!"
"Sirius and Tonks carried you to St. Mungo's. The way they tell it, baby was fighting off the curse, and eventually they saw the curse exit your abdomen, shoot up toward the sky… he said the healers didn't believe them until they saw how severely magically drained the baby was. Worst case they've ever seen. They were giving you a potion to restore baby's magic for awhile. You were still in a coma, however. Your friends were talking about…letting you die after gestation ended if you didn't wake up."
"Wow," she said, lying back in bed. "A 5-month-old fetus fought off the Killing curse… I'm scared what he'll be like as an adult. Hope he doesn't turn out like…" she trailed off.
"Like me?" Voldemort said with a smirk. "And it's a girl. A baby girl."
His arms wrapped possessively around her, she fell back asleep.
She awoke a couple hours later to find baby squishing her bladder. She lifted Voldemort's arm and stumbled out the door, using the wall for support. A few months and I think my muscles have atrophied already…. She found the loo, but noticed the mirror was missing… just some screw-holes and a blank space on the wall above the sink marking where it was. Curious.
Using the wall for support, she stumbled into the hallway. Just empty bedrooms. She grabbed the banister by the stairs. Clutching the banister, she crept sideways down the stairs, one foot at a time. She waved aside a cobweb and reached the landing. There was another bathroom in the foyer, but the mirror had a spiderweb of cracks, as if someone had threw something at it or punched it. Curious. I wonder what he has against mirrors. She crept along the wall and found the outdated kitchen; it was like going back in time to the 1930's. The fridge is probably empty… what does he eat? Where does he eat? He must not spend a lot of time here… everything is covered in dust or cobwebs or faded. Where does he normally stay? She found the dining room, living room, and another blank space on the wall, just a shard of mirror remaining. I should really ask him when he wakes up…
"Going on a tour of the house?" he said behind her and she jumped. I didn't even hear him! She almost fell, but he caught her and steadied her.
"What happened to all the mirrors?" she asked.
"I broke most of them, removed the rest," he said.
"I see that, but why...?" she asked.
He looked off in the distance. "I used to be handsome, good-looking…I delved into the Dark Arts seeking immortality, made some of my own inventions to prolong life, and eventually my hair fell out in clumps, my eyes reddened, my skin paled…. I thought it was temporary, and just avoided mirrors. Right around when I realized it was permanent, the tip of my nose melted off when I got too close to one of the nastier potions I brewed…. Never did like my reflection after all that."
"Oh." she said, not knowing what else to say. Her stomach growled.
"Hungry?" he said, quirking an eyebrow. "I don't have much here but there's a muggle diner down the street…." He waved his hand and transfigured the black robe he was wearing into jeans, boots, and a slim-fitting dark turtleneck.
She stared, eyeing his shoulders, his slim waist, his manly physique in the jeans. He would be handsome, except for the snake-like face. "That's a good look for you," she said finally.
He smirked and summoned a hospital bag of her things. "Here's your hospital bag - your shoes, clothing, wand, and whatever else you had on you at the battle. You should change your clothing too to blend in. It's almost May but still a bit cool in the mornings…"
"Lord Voldemort going to a muggle diner?" she said, puzzled. I thought he despised muggles?
"He's a wanted wizard internationally….last time he went to a wizarding restaurant he had to fight off a hoard of Aurors just to leave." She giggled. "Never did get my tortellini either," he said. "I'm welcome in the shadier parts of Knockturn Alley and that's about it. Usually I cook something myself. The muggles stare at me like a freak but at least they won't turn me in. By the way, if anyone asks, I'm an albino who was in a bad accident."
She waved her wand and transfigured her hospital gown into jeans, trainers, and a blue scoopneck long sleeve shirt. Once they stepped outside, she froze. She held a hand over her mouth. Off to the left was the graveyard. The same graveyard from Harry's pensieve. Am I making a mistake being with him? He's not paralyzed anymore, he can use his magic now… should I go back to the Order? Should I give him a chance…? What am I doing, this is Voldemort! He's changed, though, hasn't he…? Or is he just acting…? Manipulating me, like Ginny?
"You recognize the graveyard," he stated. It wasn't a question. "My father's grave, the place of my rebirth. I was barely alive after my Killing curse rebounded on me. Just held in place on Earth by my horcruxes… everything was pulling me to the netherworld, I had to fight constantly just to survive. Felt like constant suffocating, starving for air, for food or water, but being unable to even move a speck of dust. I couldn't even possess my old body again – a soul can't inhabit the dead. I possessed other animals, just to have a body to cling to and my basic needs met. Never did live long after I possessed them though. I preferred snakes just so I could have something to talk to." He paused. Hermione was listening intently. They walked into the graveyard.
"I wanted a human form to possess, to rejoin society, use a wand to heal myself, talk to people... I found Quirrell while I was in hiding in Albania. It was a relief at first, but eventually I wanted my own body, being able to control my own limbs, not being forced on the back of a head, which was inconvenient at best… even sleeping or bathing was problematic. I thought the stone would help, but failed to attain it. When Quirrell died, I was forced to possess animals again, until Wormtail found me. Through the Rudimentary Body potion I developed containing unicorn blood and Nagini's venom, I finally had a body that could hold a wand and perform magic. But the body of a helpless infant."
I remember Harry's memory in the Penseive of that night in the graveyard… he looked like a crouched human child, but hairless and scaly, a raw, reddish black, with feeble thin arms and legs, a flat snake-like face with red eyes…
"A weak body that needed the potion every few hours just to survive… I had constant migraines from an adult mind trapped in an infant's brain. I was helpless, competely dependent on Wormtail. The height was wrong, the strength, the abilities… it felt just as foreign as possessing an animal or another person. Trapped in a body that didn't feel like my own. I wanted my old body and strength again."
He paused and saw realization dawning on Hermione's face. "So I researched healing magic, the dark arts, old magic, ran some Arithmancy tests, and found the potion that ultimately restored me to myself. The potion that unfortunately needed a servant's flesh, the bone of my father, and my enemy's blood. I had hoped that it would restore me to my original Tom Riddle appearance, but no matter." He ran his hand along the edge of his father's gravestone. The grass never did grow back after that night...
"But why kill Cedric? Why try to kill Harry then? They were boys, children!" Hermione said, raising her voice.
"I didn't want any witnesses going back and reporting to Dumbledore, the Ministry, or anyone else and ruining my plans. I could accomplish much more in secrecy," he said.
"You could have oblivated them! And Frank the old gardener… you could've oblivated him too!" she yelled.
"How do you know about Frank?" Voldemort said, furrowing his brow.
"Er, Harry saw it in a vision," she said.
"Of course he did. And yes, I suppose I could have obliviated Frank or Cedric. I admit it didn't occur to me. Now, Harry was my enemy as mentioned in the prophecy… there was no question back then but to eliminate the threat. An obliviate would only borrow time. Sometimes killing is necessary, Hermione. Bellatrix was trying to kill you and the baby. If I didn't kill her then, she would only come back again. You'd be going throughout life constantly watching your back…." he said.
"She could've gone to Azkaban," Hermione argued.
"It'd be pointless – she already knows how to escape from there," he pointed out.
"Shall we go?" Voldemort said, and put an arm around her shoulders to support her. He led her down the cracked sidewalk and into the town. "Interesting," he muttered, barely audible, watching a couple women pass by them without a second thought.
"Sorry?" Hermione said, jerked out of her thoughts.
"Usually people cross the street to avoid me or give me a wide berth," Voldemort said.
"Well, you have a reputation…" Hermione said. He smirked.
"Muggles, I meant. Used to stare at me like a freak and avoid me. Now that you're with me they treat me like anyone else, a few women even smiled," he said.
"Before they felt unsafe or creeped out around you. Now you look like a father-to-be, in a relationship… it's assumed you must be a good person if I'm with you," Hermione explained.
"Interesting." He turned down another street, and they approached an old local diner with peeling letters.
"Well, look who showed up! I haven't seen ye in years!" the matronly waitress exclaimed. She looked to be in her 60s, and reminded Hermione of a cross between Molly and Madam Rosmerta. She led them to a table in the back and gave them their menus, napkins, and silverware. She glanced at Hermione's bare left hand. "Can't believe you've been gone all these years, get yerself a girlfriend and got a baby on the way! What can I get you to drink, miss?"
Hermione and Voldemort stared at each other. Girlfriend?
"Um, orange juice," Hermione said, realizing she was waiting for answer.
"And the usual for you, son? Toast and a black coffee?" she asked.
"You remembered," Voldemort murmured.
"Course I did – I never forget a face! I'll be back with your drinks," she said, and left to bring another table their check.
"Girlfriend…?" he muttered, once the waitress left. "That would make me your…"
"The Order's been calling you my boyfriend or in Sirius's case, 'baby daddy.' Although both sound ridiculous, especially to describe you," Hermione said.
"Indeed," he said. She perused the menu.
A few moments later, the waitress returned and set down their drinks. She pulled out a pencil from behind her ear and a pad of paper in her apron. "What can I get you?" she asked.
"Eggs, bangers, toast, oatmeal, and pancakes please," Hermione said.
"That baby's making you hungry!" she laughed. "I remember how it is, got four kids of my own and three grandchildren! I'll put that order right in for you." She scurried off to alert the kitchen.
Voldemort leaned forward. "I meant to ask, where are your parents? Am I to be taken home to Mommy and Daddy soon?" He smirked.
"I wiped their memories of me. Vanished all my belongings, my presence in the photographs, any trace of me," she said glumly.
"Why would you do such a thing?" he said.
"I thought you or the Death Eaters might come calling, seeking my whereabouts since I was always with Harry."
He nodded and sipped his coffee.
"Did you ever…?" Hermione asked, eyebrows knitted together.
"Never crossed my mind."
"Oh," she said. I never had to wipe their memories…I miss them, I want to see them, but I'm just a stranger to them now. All for nothing.
He leaned in close. "Obliviate isn't always permanent. If something triggers the memory, it can come back… all those witches and wizards Lockhart ripped off, back in the day? Some of them got ahold of his books and it brought back their memories… Lockhart's in lawsuits up to his arse now. A victim of his own success. Still in the curse damage ward though, unable to remember even his own name."
"You're saying my parents could remember me…?" she asked.
"Possibly. Unless you wiped the memories of you from neighbors, primary schoolteachers, family friends, and relatives, I'm sure one of them would've asked about you at some point… or if you were to give them an old photo or relic of yourself…" he said, looking at her intently.
"I want to see them again, talk to them, but so much has happened, I wouldn't even know what to say," Hermione said. "For starters, how would I explain you? Us? I even remember describing you as some sort of magical Hitler…"
Voldemort winced. "Bit harsh, don't you think? He's responsible for orders of magnitude more deaths than me…"
"I was referring to your views on social classes in society and this grand vision of yours to make wizarding society great again and taking control of the Ministry and distributing anti-muggleborn propaganada and forcing muggleborns identify themselves... you even started a war," Hermione clarified.
"I see your point. Although even back then I had no desire to off all muggleborns. Or muggles. Threats to me or to my vision, yes. But never some sort of mass 'Final Solution' – the wizarding population in Britain is 3,000 at most," he said.
"Why did you let me live then when you heard the prophecy about us?" Hermione asked. "I was on the opposite side of the war, killing me would make sure the prophecy never happened…."
"The mind is a terrible thing to waste. So many idiots, and so few brilliant witches and wizards out there. Periodicially I check Hogwart's records – OWL scores, NEWT scores, and such. Your scores have always been off the charts – in everything. Leaps ahead of your classmates. The only others with scores like yours are Albus, Severus, and myself. I knew you were destined for great things."
"I spent just about all my free time studying, reading, researching…" Hermione said. Ron always made fun of me for going to the library, called me a bookworm or a know-it-all… Severus even called me an insufferable know-it-all, although that was after I kept raising my hand in class…
"So did I. Doesn't matter how you got there. Just the fact that you had that ambition, that motivation for success and capacity for intelligence that led you to brilliance…" He was staring intently into her eyes. That's why I fell in love with you. "So many just do the minimal effort at anything, don't care about failure."
The waitress came back a little while later to drop off their food. "So how long have you two been together?"
Hermione and Voldemort glanced at each other.
"Since last May," Hermione offered.
"You knocked her up after only a few months? Son, don't they have condoms where you come from?" she scolded.
"Guess I forgot," Voldemort murmured.
"You're what, in your fifties? You're too old to forget that kind of thing!" she scolded.
She went to greet some customers that walked in. Hermione turned back to Voldemort. He had a toothy grin. "Fifties," she snorted. He was born in 1926, which makes him 86 years old! I guess he could pass for fifties…Must be all those immortality experiments he did, or having to build a new body… Gods, he's old enough to be my grandfather!
Towards the end of the meal she paused and put her silverware down, frowning. "I'm not living in that house," she said flatly.
"I know it's a bit dusty and outdated, but it just needs a few cleaning charms and charms to fix up the paint and appliances…" he admitted.
"It's the location I don't like," she said.
"Fine. A few charms on the windows then," he said.
"I don't want to see that graveyard every time I enter and leave the house!" she said. A few diners turned and stared. She lowered her voice and hissed, "My friend almost died there because of you!"
"Your friend was a threat and the enemy. Kill or be killed. Nonetheless, he and I agreed to leave each other in peace, on your account. We made a truce, ended the war. Just as you asked. All of this was in the past; almost twenty years ago," he said in a low voice.
"And I am grateful for that. Thank you. But I still don't want to be reminded of the past every time I use the front door! All I ask is, can we move somewhere else?" she asked.
He sipped the rest of his coffee, flagged down the waitress, and paid the bill.
"I suppose that would be amenable. We can fix it up and sell it. The Riddles own it outright, and with some of my investments I can purchase a new home upfront… maybe move to a wizarding neighborhood. Did you rent or own your home in Guatemala?"
"Rented. I knew I'd go back home to England eventually, just wasn't sure when. Which reminds me, I have to pay my taxes for last year and rescind my citizenship. Why a wizarding neighborhood? What's wrong with living near muggles?" she said, accusatory.
"Our child fought off a killing curse before she was even born. The prophecy says she's supposed to rival Merlin himself. Try explaining her accidental magic outbursts to the muggles," Voldemort pointed out.
"I still think it's just your bias against muggles, but that is a fair point. Spinner's End is a bit dodgy… what about Ottery St. Catchpole? I've heard that's a safe neighborhood, great for families…" Hermione said.
"Course it is, it's mostly Ministry members and Aurors that live there. Who would turn me in before the ink was dry on the title. No. Puddlemere?" Voldemort offered.
"The town revolves around the Puddlemere United team! What about Tinsworth? Right near the coast…?" Hermione suggested.
"Possibly. We should look at Barnton and Ilkley too."
As they left, they overheard the waitress talking to another. "You remember that albino I was telling you about? He found himself a girlfriend! If he can find someone so you can you!"
They looked at each other and started laughing.
...
"New place?" Lucius said, as Voldemort and Hermione greeted him and Narcissa at the front door. He hid it well, but Hermione could see Lucius glance curiously between them and at her stomach. Baby was due in a week or two; her belly was round and full.
"There was a complaint about the location of Riddle Manor," Voldemort said.
"The location? Oh…." Lucius said as it dawned on him. "Well being next to a graveyard is bad luck, anyway. Place is probably haunted. I like this new place; much more airy and modern."
"And you're neighbors with us and the Snapes now," Narcissa added. "Shall we sit down?" she asked, seeing Hermione rubbing her lower back.
"Can I get you anything? Tea?" Hermione asked. Feels odd serving tea to the Malfoys but Mum always offered tea and crumpets to guests…
"Don't worry, dear," Narcissa said and snapped her fingers. A house elf appeared with a silver tray of tea, a creamer, sugar, and biscuits and started pouring the tea. Hermione frowned in disapproval but said nothing. Somehow the elf must've known Voldemort was there, as there was a teacup of black coffee on the tray.
"We brought some things for the baby," Narcissa said, after daintly taking a bite of her biscuit. She pulled out of her pocket a designer purse. She pulled something out and whispered the engorgio spell. It was a designer crib, white hardwood with champagne detail and accents on the edges. It had soft and plush bedding, and she had arranged some baby toys in there such as a toy wand, a toy broomstick, and baby books. "Draco's old crib… we were saving it for a grandchild but he doesn't want it. It has enchantments to keep baby warm, lull baby to sleep, play music, protect baby, warn you if something's wrong…"
Hermione ran her hand over the edge, mouth agape. "Thank you," she murmured. She looked over at Voldemort who was admiring it as well, but had a guarded expression.
"Thanks," he grunted. "But why…?" he said, with a raised eyebrow.
"It was just taking up space in our attic and we figured the next Heir of Slytherin could use it," Lucius drawled. Voldemort looked suspicious but said nothing.
Lucius spooned heapfuls of sugar into his tea. "I should tell you," he said, leaning in and changing to a more serious tone. "Rodolphus is not happy." Voldemort frowned. Hermione turned towards Lucius. "Avery let slip that Bella was cheating on him with you. He's out for revenge…I'm not sure if he's more upset by Bella's death or that she wasn't faithful."
Voldemort brushed it aside. "Let him try. I can take him on in my sleep."
"He knows that. He's thinking more of 'eye-for-an-eye' revenge… he's planning to come after Hermione. And next to him, she's not much of a fighter. You remember his style...? Playing with his prey before he eats it?"
Hermione's face paled and she set her cup down with a clatter. Voldemort grasped her hand. His red eyes narrowed. "He knows if he does anything to her, I'll hunt him down."
"That wouldn't take back what he does to her. I don't think he cares much about his own life right now. Bella was everything to him and he lost her. And then Avery let it slip about her affair… I think he was trying to make him feel better about losing Bella. Rodolphus is humiliated about the fact that everyone else knew, feels emasculated and angry that Bella was cheating on him under his nose, and is depressed about her passing. He's not thinking clearly… Severus and I have been trying to talk him out of it but he seems pretty determined…"
Voldemort rubbed his bald temples. "Normally I'd take preventative action but I've given my word to Hermione not to harm anyone else. It'd be so easy though. Just one more. Permanent. Done." He turned towards her expectantly.
"No," she said flatly.
"Your own life is at stake. Have some self-preservation. Sometimes threats must be eliminated," he said firmly.
"No. I can go into hiding, wait until he calms down," she argued. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the Malfoys watching them curiously.
"Fine," Voldemort said. "But I doubt he will. Don't go in public."
"I suppose this is a bad time to tell you that my friends wanted to meet me for lunch Wednesday?" Hermione said with a sheepish smile.
"Go to a muggle establishment and don't go alone. Which friends?" he said, his eyes narrowed.
"Er, Harry, Ginny, and Ron," she said, and steeled herself for his reaction.
Oddly enough, Voldemort's face relaxed. "Stay by Harry's side. I've fought him enough times to know he could fend off Rodolphus."
Hermione picked up the toy boomstick and toy wand out of the crib. The wand's tip emitted sparks at her touch, and the broomstick hovered a couple feet off the ground. "Wish I had these when I was little and playing witches. Had to use a stick for a wand and ran with a broom between our legs pretending we were flying…"
Lucius and Narcissa started laughing. Lucius almost spat out his tea.
Voldemort had a nostalgic, knowing smile. "I remember that," he murmured. "And wizards looked like Dumbledore, witches were green-skinned with warts and talons and ate children…"
"Merlin," said Lucius. "Sounds more like a hag. I can't imagine you running around with a broom like that…"
"I grew up in a muggle orphanage," Voldemort admitted. "My dad left my mum when she got pregnant, and she died in childbirth."
"Always assumed you were pureblooded until I bothered to research the Tom Riddle name when you gave me the diary for safekeeping," Lucius drawled. "I was, what's the word? A bit gobsmacked when I found out. Kept that bit to myself."
"As I'm sure you found out, a direct descendant of Slytherin through my mum's side. But yes, my dad was a muggle, unfortunately."
Hermione's lips thinned. "Why does blood even matter?" she burst out. "Sure, Dumbledore was pureblooded and brilliant and fairly powerful, as are you two, but Vincent Crabbe or Gregory Goyle? Neville Longbottom? Never struck me as that intelligent. Or magical. Argus Filch is pureblooded and he's a bloody squib. I just don't see any connection."
"Flattery will get you nowhere," Lucius said, amused. "And it has nothing to do with brains or magic. We're just better than everyone else."
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but Voldemort put a hand on her thigh to stop her. "Drop it," he hissed.
"But…" Hermione protested.
"Drop it," Voldemort hissed. "You won't change his mind, he won't change yours."
Hermione froze as a thought occurred to her. "Muggle children would say 'abracadabra' pretending to cast a spell… That's a bastardization of 'Avada Kedavra,' isn't it?"
Lucius and Voldemort stared at her a long moment. "It probably is," Voldemort conceded.
"That's the one spell muggles have heard so much that a corruption of it is a household term?" Hermione said angrily.
"It would certainly be memorable to any muggle who witnessed it. There's been a lot of violent clashes between magicfolk and muggles over history…" Narcissa said gently. "So what's baby's name going to be?"
"Er, we haven't discussed that yet," Hermione said.
"All I can say is, go out on dates now while you can, and get your sleep now," Narcissa said. "You won't be doing much of either once the baby comes."
"When did Draco start sleeping through the night?" Hermione asked. "I've seen all kinds of age ranges in my baby books."
"When he was almost a year old… but if it's not one thing, it's another. 'Mum, I can't sleep, there's a troll under my bed.' 'Mum, I had a nightmare there was a Death Eater in our house!'"
Lucius, Voldemort, and Hermione started laughing.
"I don't remember that," Lucius said.
"You were sleeping, dear. He was about five, ran into our room... Had to reassure him with a straight face that no, there weren't any Death Eaters in the house. Didn't want to get into all that just yet. And even if he's sleeping fine, then it's the husband snoring or three am Death Eater meetings… just can't leave quietly. It's 'Bloody hell, he's calling now?! It's three in the bloody morning! Where's my mask? Have you seen my mask?' Just summon it, dear… why meetings have to be at 3 am, I don't know."
"I liked seeing who could get there the quickest," Voldemort said, nonchalant.
"Snore? I don't snore," Lucius said.
Narcissa nodded. "Usually after you go out drinking. Or in pollen season."
...
That night, while they lay in bed reading, Voldemort set aside his book (Ancient and Forgotten Magic of the Polynesians) and turned to her. "We should think of a name for the child… you're due in a few days."
She put down A Healer's Magic: A Companion Work to the Ultimate Guide for the Master Healer. "I was thinking of Rose for a girl… it was my mum's name," Hermione said. "Haven't thought of a middle name though."
"Rose is fine," Voldemort said. "My mum's name was Merope, that could be a middle name."
"Rose Merope Granger… I like it," Hermione said.
"Granger?" he said.
"What did you have in mind, Rose Merope Voldemort? We can't name our child that…think of when she applies for jobs and has to put Voldemort on her resume!" Hermione said.
"I was thinking Riddle," he said.
"We're not married, I'm the one carrying the child and giving birth to it…" Hermione said. "And what if you decide to leave the family and I end up raising her myself?"
"I'm not leaving," he said, and rested a hand on her belly. Rose pushed against his hand.
"Going back to your old name?" she asked, with a glint in her eye.
"Thinking about it," he said. Rose kicked him.
"No, I have to leave… they'll be waiting for me," Hermione said, half-heartedly pushing him away. They were on the bed, and he had lifted her robe above her waist, and pulled her knickers aside.
"They can wait," he whispered in her ear, and heard her gasp as he licked and nibbled the shell of her ear. He licked her folds, fingering her nub. She arched her back, seeking release; she was aching with need. He inserted a finger; she was gushing wet. Fingering her, he felt her clenching and arching towards his him.
"Fuck me!" she said. She was aching so much it was almost painful. He thrust deep inside her, filling her and relieving the ache with every probing thrust. His hands were in her hair, he crushed her lips in a searing kiss, his tongue entangled with hers. He reached down and fingered her nub, building up the tension until she felt an explosive orgasm, waves of pleasure wracking her body and sweet release.
"Stick your arse in the air," he grunted, and grabbed her arse as he impaled himself deep inside her womanhood, pulled at her hair, slapped her arse, fingered her nub and brought her to yet another orgasm. He flipped her over to her back and brought her to release yet again before he came himself. Thoroughly satiated, she felt thoroughly relaxed and high, even. They lay on the bed a few minutes before she realized she should get going. She hurriedly got dressed and apparated to a hidden corner by the muggle tavern.
"Sorry I'm late," she said, beaming. Ginny, Harry, and Ron stopped their conversation mid-sentence and stared.
"Wow," Ginny said.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione said. Ginny looked around to make sure no muggles were looking and conjured a mirror. Her hair was a bushy mess, her lips were swollen and bruised, her cheeks were flushed, and she couldn't seem to wipe off the grin from her face. She braided her hair. "He could've told me before he let me leave the house…" she muttered under her breath. "I can't tell if he didn't notice or was trying to mess with you lot."
"Probably the second but if you'd ask him, plead the former," Ginny said. "So other than some hot shagging, how are things between you two? Last I saw you, you were in a coma."
"We're fine… been moving into our new home, getting the nursery ready. Reading and chatting in the evenings," Hermione said.
"New home? I thought he lived at Riddle Manor in Little Hangleton," Harry said, after the waiter dropped off their plates.
"He did. I didn't like seeing the graveyard from my house though…didn't want to be reminded of the past everyday. He sold it and bought our new home. It's nicer – much more modern, more light and space," Hermione said. She cut into her steak and kidney pie and took a bite.
"Where do you live now?" Ginny asked, dumping ketchup on her fish and chips.
"Ilkley – nice wizarding neighborhood in West Yorkshire. Nice modern stone house with big windows…Severus and Tonks live down the street and Lucius and Narcissa are in their mansion a few blocks down. They stopped by to visit the other day, brought some things for the baby," Hermione said.
Ron made a face. "Ugh. She's getting all cozy with Snape and the Malfoys."
"They're nice to me," Hermione said. "Well not Draco, but his parents at least. And Severus and I have been friends for awhile now. They're… they're really not that bad."
Harry guffawed.
"Not that bad?" Ron said thickly, through a mouthful of doorstep sandwich. You're good mates with all the Death Eaters now, are you?"
"Not all of them. Rodolphus is out for revenge and is after me, apparently," Hermione said into her glass.
"Now you tell us?!" Harry said, looking around wildly.
"We should be fine here… it's a muggle establishment," Ginny said. She frowned at her chips and sprinkled salt on them.
Just as they were finishing lunch, one of the windows shattered. The lights went dark. One of the waitresses screamed. Rodolphus hobbled out from the kitchen, throwing spells everywhere. The cook shouted and tried to knock him out with a frying pan, but Rodolphus hit him with a curse and sent him flying off his feet. He hit the back wall and fell to the floor unconscious. Patrons and waiters ran screaming out of the diner. Rodolphus threw curses and hexes at their backs, hitting a few who screamed or fell to the ground.
He staggered towards the four of them. He had a shark-like grin on his gaunt face when he spotted Hermione. Harry had already drawn his wand and deflected Rodolphus's curses. Ginny was not far behind. She threw up a shield charm. Harry threw Sectumsempra at him but Rodolphus dodged it. Ron cast the Stupefy hex. Rodolphus deflected it and Ron had to dodge his own spell. Ginny sent her Bat Bogey Hex towards him, just as Hermione conjured her bluebell fire and threw it in Rodolphus's direction. "Get her out of here! Take her home!" Harry growled and Ron disapparated with her. Harry raised his wand to continue dueling Rodolphus, but he disapparated as well. "Damnit," Harry said under his breath.
Ginny left some pounds on the table to pay the bill. "Oh, she left her handbag," Ginny said, and grabbed it off the table. "Guess we should return it..." her voice faltered.
"Ikley it is then, near the Snapes. Great," Harry said, grabbed her arm. They apparated into a quiet, grassy neighborhood with big homes. "So Snape and Tonks just moved a couple months ago into that one over there with the addition…probably for his lab. Let's see, down the street, modern stone house with big windows…. These are older…"
"Look! That one's for sale!" Ginny said excitedly, pointing at a house on the corner.
"I don't want the Malfoys, Snape, and Voldemort for neighbors," Harry said flatly.
"Do you think it's that one?" she asked, pointing at a stone-facade house with the aforementioned big windows and nice landscaping. Even if it's not, we could ask them..."
They looked at each other, walked up the sidewalk, and Harry knocked.
"Let's just leave it here," Ginny said. Her heart was racing. I hope she answers the door. Harry squeezed her hand.
"If Rodolphus is out for her, I want to make sure she got home safe," Harry said.
Voldemort answered the door, scowling down at them.
Ginny squeaked. Drat. She cleared her throat. "Is…is Hermione here? She left this…" She gave the handbag to Voldemort, who raised an eyebrow and placed it on a table in the foyer.
"I thought she was with you," he said, frowning.
"She was. Rodolphus found us and I told Ron to take her home. Ron disapparated with her," Harry said.
"I wonder if he took her back to his home – to the Burrow?" Ginny said. He still likes her… oh no...
"Damn it," Harry said, and clapped a hand to his forehead. "Bloody prat probably thinks he's rescuing her."
Voldemort sneered and disapparated.
"Mum's going to freak out when he shows up," Ginny said. She took Harry's hand and apparated to the Burrow.