Trapping the Parents
Chapter 1: It Only Gets Better From Here
Hogwarts Corridor
"I don't love you, I never did and I never will." She whispered through time clenched teeth, all the while tears came pouring down her cheeks. Her sobs racked her entire body, but there was nothing she could do to prevent them from coming.
"You don't sound very convincing Granger, you couldn't lie to save your life." He replied a smirk on his face, but on the inside as well he too was breaking. This would be the last time. They couldn't meet anymore, it was too dangerous for them booth. So instead, it was decided that they would forget each other.
Forget the moments sneaking around the backs of their friends and families to meet up with one another. The hours spent in the library 'researching' on a project, the days spent roaming in the Forbidden Forest for a project for one of the teachers. The days sneaking kisses in the dark corridors. Disappearing for hours on end, only reappearing at random times. No one knew that the bantering between them was just showing the other that they cared.
It would all come to an end, in a mere matter of minutes.
"It's true, I don't love you." Her voice waivered as she tried to speak through her sobbing.
"Then why don't you tell me that to my face." He pulled her shaking chin up so that she could look at him, but her eyes strayed down to the floor in defiance. So he kissed her, and that simple touch was all that it took. The moments their lips touched was all that it took for her to lose control. Fire ignited them, pushing them against each other. It had her gasping for air, but she never wanted to release him. Once more did his arms surround her pulling her even closer to his chest, and the lulling sound of his heartbeat. She never wanted to leave the safety of his embrace.
It had seemed as if hours later was she able to finally gasp for air. Slowly she pushed his chest away from her, it was time. They didn't want to let go, but circumstances were that they would have to. No one wanted to risk the others life.
This was to be their last moment of passion.
"I'm sorry..." she whispered as her voice cracked with emotion.
"I am not, for without it I wouldn't have fallen in love with you." He replied with a sad smile on his lips as he turned to look back at her eyes. His clouded stare bore deep into her very own tear filled one. With a soft tug, she came back into his arms.
"I love you." She gave up, it would be much simpler if he had believed in her lie, but she couldn't go against her own conscience. She didn't want to do this, but chaos would happen if this liaison was to be found out. She wouldn't be able live with herself if she lost him.
"As do I." He placed his hand over her heart, the heart that he hopefully made the biggest impression on. For it would always belong to him. "I love you so damn, much." His harsh whisper was sad, angry as well as desperate. He pulled her even closer to him, as if he never wanted to let her go out of his grasp ever again. Her sweet chocolate scent filled his nose, breathing deeply he sighed; he was going to miss this. He was going to miss her. But she would be safe this way, if even it destroyed him on the inside in the process.
Both of them shook as they released the other for what would be the last time, their hands were white as they clenched the wands in them. Neither knew how they were able to stand and do this to one another. But it had to be done.
Seconds later to spells were spoken, and the couple left without a memory of the time they had with the other. Once more were the two now strangers as they left in two very distinct directions.
~W~
Five Years After the Battle of Hogwarts...
New Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
An infant's wail broke him out of his reverie. A cold and dark memory that made him want to Obliviate himself. If only he could. He could still remember the feeling of his wife's, his wife that was soon-to-be ex-wife's, dead body in his hands. After spending years of proper courtship, thousands nay millions of Galleons on her and her needs all he had to show for it was his son and a grave. He knew that she was cheating on him, she would always disappear on him for hours (sometimes days even) and show up some time now or later without so much of as an excuse.
She was in most senses the 'perfect' Pureblood bride, or so foreseen by his and her own parents. Immediately a predetermined marriage was put together within months of the final battle occurring. Her parents only had her 'best' interests in mind and decreed that the best she would get would be the royal Malfoy family. Malfoy's were of the highest stock and aristocracy. When they first met, he felt nothing, such as the time when they first kissed, and even had sex. It was boring, it was bland. It wasn't exciting, it wasn't lusty, it wasn't even passionate. Above all she wasn't the one he really and truly wanted.
It was a miracle that she was even able to conceive so quickly, they only had sex twice within all their years spent together. When he found out that she was cheating on him, he didn't even feel a thing. Though he did worry if she cheated on him and that the child growing within her womb was truly a Malfoy heir or not. But spells done by a private Mediwitch was able to put down those suspicions, so when his son was born with the Malfoy hair he knew that this was from his blood.
Then he walked in on her with her lover, barely two weeks since their son had been born and already she was going back to her lover. He didn't mean to find them, in his marriage bed so suddenly either. The Malfoy Inc. Company meeting had been cut shorter than was expected so he decided to return home to the Manor. Only he was surprised to have been flooed into his bedroom only to find his wife and her lover in the throes of passion. The moaning couple were so far gone in the moment, they barely even noticed him or the loud screaming that came from the connecting room. The same room where their son slept.
Only then when he opened the door did the couple notice him, as did they notice the increasing volume of the cries of one very unsatisfied infant. She was unfit to be a wife as well as a mother. The atmosphere intensified. Nasty words were said to each other. He didn't want to do this, but at least the woman could be a mother to their son instead of traipsing throughout the world looking for new lovers. When he told her thus, she became enraged. Angry at him, as if he would have a say on how she wanted to live her life. Before anyone realized it wands were drawn, preparing for a fight. Spells were thrown around the room, bouncing off of one another. It was hard to tell who had said what. But before anyone knew what was happening, one of them hit her straight on the chest. Killing her instantly.
He caught her body before she fell to the floor, their son's wailing increased tenfold but he tried to turn an blind eye or in this case a deaf ear to it as he checked his wife. Whatever she was, she truly didn't deserve to die like this. By the time he was able to recuperate, it had been too late. His wife's, his now dead wife's, lover had seemingly disappeared. Leaving him without a wife and leaving his son without a mother. Astoria Greengrass Malfoy was an evil woman.
This was only a few short weeks ago. Already Draco Malfoy was a widower, burying his wife six feet in the ground. The only thing he had to live for was his son.
Another cry shook through his office. Draco got off of his seat at his desk to look into the cradle that sat before the hearth in his own private office at the Manor. At barely two months old, young Scorpius Draconis Malfoy looked into the eyes of his sire. Mirror-like grey eyes stared at each other for a few seconds; the only difference between the two different set of eyes were the storminess. One set was clouded while another was bleak.
Draco cradled his son to his chest; his own heartbeat seemed to have pacified the previously wailing infant. Now the child was slowly being lulled into slumber once again. Sighing deeply Draco caressed the child's forehead. Already blonde locks could be seen coming from his forehead. It would seem as though the Malfoy traits would live on indeed.
Looking back into the crackling hearth Draco stared at the burning embers. Every so often a log would pop as the water evaporated out. The colour blurred in front of his eyes, as he stared off into another memory. Another fantasy, the very one that haunted him day in and day out. It was her, the one and only Hermione Granger.
His son's content sleeping sigh, moved him. Now he would have to be both mother and father to his only child. The next few years were going to be difficult.
~W~
Granger-Weasley Family Flat, Diagon Alley, England
Once they married a year and a half ago she thought that things would get better. Instead things only got worse. The Honeymoon stage slowly faded away and the young married couple got readjusted to their new lives. It was a new world since the end of the Wizarding War. Things were supposed to get better.
They had graduated from Hogwarts years ago, all the Deatheaters were rounded up and sent Azkaban, all over people were in the process of rebuilding and healing. During the war, she and Ron and realized their feelings for each other. For months on after, they would seek the other out for comfort and for sex. Eventually they found themselves falling in love, or what had felt like love at the time. It wasn't a surprise that a year after Ginny's own graduation that she and Harry had married, now they were expecting their first child. Everyone else seemed to have their own happy ending, everyone except for her.
Ron not only sought out comfort from her, but found release in strong alcoholic drinks as well as in the women that roamed Knockturn Alley looking for a little 'fun.' This new discovery became apparent to her one day after returning from her job at the Ministry of Magic. He came home at two in the morning smelling of booze, smoke and of sex. In his incoherent drunken state he openly admitted to sleeping with one of the witches of the dark alley, who happened to give him a 'bloody' good time. At least was a good time until her husband came home and she had to kick him out of her bed.
She was broken, she wanted out of this. This wasn't the life she wanted, she needed to get out. She couldn't imagine raising a child in such a dangerous environment. When she told him so, he became enraged. It was only that she was too late to realize that he had been drinking before he came home that night. She didn't even have time to reach for her wand before he jumped her, muttering a body-binding spell. Her eyes grew frantic as she realized that his brain was boggled by the alcohol.
"You are not leaving me, so easily you bitch." Ronald growled pulling her wrists together in one of his hands as he spelled a rope around them, tying them together. The body-binding curse would only last so long, and it had seemed as though an intoxicated Ron was much smarter than a clear-headed one. His alcohol scented breath burned her eyes, as he continued to touch her body. Her whimpers went unheard as her body was still stuck in the unmoving position, all except for her mind as well as her eyes.
His eyes were not the same as that of the Ron she loved; this was a much different man. Slowly, he began to peel of her clothing; ripping and shredding things that go in his way. His fingers stopped every so often to caress her body, touching her in various places. She strained under the spell, willing for him to stop and realize what he was doing. That wish went unanswered, as Ron continued to touch her.
Before she even realized it, Ron had stripped down and was entering her. She couldn't do anything as the man she had loved continued to pound into her, again and again. He didn't stop even after he found his release inside of her; still he continued to use her body as he wished. She watched as her body was used for his liking, her screams of mercy never left her mouth. Then everything got dark...
~W~
That was only the first time, afterwards things only escalated. Ron became jealous, possessive. No longer was she allowed to even so much a look or speak to other guys. He made her resign from her job, forcing her to stay at home in the flat. During the day Ron, would even take her wand with him to prevent her from using magic. He drank more, he smoked more, he began to gamble, and even slept around more. Sometimes when he came home entirely sloshed, he would take her just like that no warning at all. No longer was she able to truly live.
Especially since she found out that she was pregnant. She wanted children, but after the last few months of living like she was nothing she wasn't so sure if she wanted this with Ron. A child was supposed to be made out of love, not like this. She had to leave this relationship immediately. She couldn't hide the bruises and scars anymore, disillusion spells didn't exactly cover them as much as they used. Enough was enough.
So she had planned a scheme to escape, once he passed out due to his alcohol consumption. She would take her wand back, take her things and leave. But where was she to go? She couldn't exactly go to Ginny and Harry; they wouldn't believe her as much nor was the stress good for Ginny and the baby on the way. Her parents were still in Australia, though they were there for a vacation right now; after the war she had went back to find them and return their memories. Their relationship had been strained at first but after a couple of years things were back to normal, though it may have explained her parents' tanned skin as well as fondness for sheep. Maybe it was safer for her to return to the muggle world, away from prying eyes. With her grades she could try to get into a community college and earn a degree in order to get a job.
But Ron never returned home that night, nor did he return the next day. This had her worried, for things weren't going good at his work either. With him the only one with a job, it was important that he could at least pay for the bills. She was surprised that they were able to afford to pay for the last couple of months, especially for the flat that they were currently living in. Living in London was terribly expensive in both the muggle world as well as the wizarding world. If he lost his job, they would both be on their backs.
Either way, it was certainly a surprise when Aurors showed up at her door; she didn't even have time to drink a Replenishing Potion to hide the bags under her eyes as well as the bruises. Then Harry showed up behind them, his face pale as he came upon her. She was on the couch, a book clenched in her hand, Crookshanks in her lap.
"Harry, what are you doing here, what's going on?" she asked her voice weak. She looked up at him with questioning eyes.
Nodding towards the two Aurors flanking him, Harry came forward to sit on the couch with her. There was something that he knew and he wasn't telling her, she could see it in his expression. He gave her a weak smile, then turned around taking the book out of her hands replacing it with his own much larger hands.
"Merlin, Hermione what has happened to you?" He asked bluntly, looking at her face taking in the dark bags under her eyes.
"I haven't been sleeping right, lately." She lied, not meeting him in the eyes.
"Don't lie, we both know that it is more than that." His hand grasped her chin, turning her face to face him. "You quit your job three months ago without so much of as a word of why, Kingsley hasn't been more distraught over losing a valuable worker since you turned down being an Auror, you haven't even shown up for the weekly Weasley dinners for two months now, and now you don't even answer your owls; something is definitely going on." Harry said with a sad smile.
He turned her hand over only to see the deep purpling bruises on her arm, he gasped immediately. "I fell?" she answered with a shrug, Harry could easily see through her rouse. His once saddened faced, only reddened with anger. No, he wasn't just angry, he was furious.
"Since when?" He asked harshly, looking at her with pleading eyes.
"Tell me why the Aurors are here, first." She replied changing the subject, the other elephant of the room that desperately needed to be answered as well. He didn't need to know what happened in her personal life.
"Stop trying to distract me, from the obvious Hermione, tell me how long this has been going on." Harry answered still angry; his hand gripped her wrist even tighter.
"If I tell you, will you tell me why you are here?" Hermione whispered harshly, tears started to form in her eyes. Inwardly she cursed her hormones for making her this way.
"Deal, now tell me truthfully Hermione, how long ago did this begin?" Harry asked again, holding her gaze.
She wasn't even sure that she even whispered her answer to him. "Four months ago."
"Merlin, Hermione, why no, I mean how did you let this happen?" Harry shook his head, realizing that his grip on her wrist was tightening. Instantly he let go of her wrist, pulling her to him. The two best friends hugged each other tightly, Hermione broke out in tears. She really shouldn't have let this happen for as long as it did.
Just as she was able to catch her breath from sobbing into Harry's robes, an Auror came into the room. "Auror Potter, a recent owl just came for you, it seems to as though there is more evidence that just came out." Harry quickly took the parchment from the Auror, scanned it briefly then turned back to Hermione.
"Hermione, it is a good thing that you are sitting down right now for this, but this isn't easy but I have something to tell you." Harry explained once again turn solemn, as he looked at her face.
"Spit it out Harry, I am braver than you think, remember I am a Gryffindor, am I not?" Hermione tried to wipe away her tears, giving Harry a watery smile.
"Ron was found dead, in Knockturn Alley late last night." Harry said bluntly.
She had never been more shocked and in other ways she was also relieved. "What?" She couldn't help but gasp out.
"His body had more than four times the legal limit of alcohol in it, though the cause of death is still entirely unsure until we get the results back from the autopsy. No sign of magic foul play was found in the area around his body, but we found your wand on his as well. Though you can't have it back just yet, as it is evidence for now."
"Harry, what I am supposed to do now?" The words trembled from her lips.
"You mean about-" Harry started before she abruptly cut him off.
"No, Harry, I'm pregnant with his child." Hermione replied her voice weakening with every word she spoke.
This certainly changed things quite a bit.
I know, I know, but this chapter is only the very beginning of a new idea of mine. For the first time ever I will complete a story (hopefully).
I am taking a break off my other stories for a while and will continue them, once I finish reviewing/rewriting them. Let me know what you think so far, thank you. ~aprettyfacevampire
I own nothing, all rights belong to the proper owners.
