Authors Note: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I can only take claim to the plot. Warning, rated M for mature for a reason. This may contain scenes of non consensual sex and torture.
CHAPTER THREE
12 July 2001
0200
Hermione lied in the dark cold cell. The clean robes warmed her and cushioned her from the hard stone. Her earlier conversation replayed over and over. No matter the obstacles she was about to face it would be well worth it.
As sleep overtook her she allowed herself to remember. She began remembering she sweet smile from a small boy. Light brown curls silky soft to the touch. Six months to keep her promise.
31 October 2000
"Hermione, it's almost time for us to choose our envelopes." The unruly black hair of her best friend popped into the room. Harry looked tired, his green eyes unusually dark.
"How long will I be gone again?" She couldn't look away from the sweet angelic face. She was studying the way his small fingers curled in her palm. The way he would scrunch his nose before releasing a heavy breath. She twirled his light brown curls through her fingers.
"Hopefully no more than six months, could be a year though depending on which destination you end up with." Harry came in to sit next to his friend wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Hermione leaned into him trying to hold in a sob that threatened to spring lose.
"What if William forgets me? He's only three." The thought made her stomach sick.
"Now you know that won't happen. Everyone will make sure to show him pictures daily and tell him stories of all the times you saved our hides. Hermione, your son will always remember you." Harry promised with a fiery look in his eyes.
Standing up to put the sleeping form in a bed Hermione placed him down in bed. Brushing hair from his forehead she softly kissed the middle before promising, "my sweet William, I will see you by this time next year. Be good for everyone and remember mommy loves you very much. You are what will keep me alive. Happy birthday my love."
She then stood and walked out of the door. Harry followed her closely as the went into the kitchen. Number 12 Grimmauld was compromised, they now used Shell Cottage as headquarters. Upon entering a room full of red heads she could feel the tension building in the room.
Hermione sat in between Ginny and Fred while they waited for Kingsley Shackelbolt to get there. Quiet whispers were all she could hear over the pounding of her heart. Harry finished setting four identical envelopes in the center of the table before sitting on the other side of Ginny, Ron on his left.
The back door opened and in came Kingsley with a familiar face in tow. Blaise Zabini, hair slightly below his ears and a mess, stood nervously in the doorway. Kingsley motioned for him to take a seat.
"What the bloody hell is this?" Ron bellowed with a slam of his fist. "Why would you allow a bloody death eater to come here of all places?" His face reddening with anger.
"I'm not a death eater weasel!" Blaise exclaimed, fire in his eyes. He shook with fury as he revealed both arms showing no mark.
"Enough, we don't have time do deal with acting like children. Now Blaise will be kept here until I say. I may need him in the future for a mission. Until then, I need him safe and under our care." Kingsley was very straight forward. Hermione knew this was important.
"Can we just get this over with? Time is of the essence." Hermione was irritable, Ginny reached under the table to give her hand a squeeze. Her way of letting Hermione know she was not alone.
"Yes, let's get to it then. Harry if you will please?" Kingsley sat and waited patiently as Harry stood.
"Okay, there are four horcruxes left. Two missions need teams of two while the other two are solo. Hermione, you will be solo as well as Charlie. Fred, George you will be one team and the other is Ron and Lavender." Harry took two envelopes in each hand.
"You decide how to choose your envelopes. Myself and Kingsley are the only ones who know all four locations and items. You will find the information you need within. They are not to be opened until you are leaving. Read and memorize them, then destroy them." Harry finished as he lied two envelopes by the twins and two by Charlie.
"Go ahead Hermione, you choose first." Charlie offered. His hair had grown back since his last haircut. Hermione could see the sadness in his brown eyes.
Nodding Hermione picked one of the letters. "Ginny, can I talk to you while I finish my packing?" Hermione asked as she began retreating.
"What's wrong?" Ginny broke the silence as the door closed. Hermione knew she had to let someone know the truth, just in case.
"Ginny, if anything happens to me I need you to promise me something." Hermione began before she was cut off.
"Hermione, nothing will happen. You will be gone a few months and back in time to throw the party of the century." Tears gleamed in her eyes. Hermione knew choosing her to be her sons godmother was the best decision.
"I know, but if it does I need a favor. I want you to give him this package when his Hogwarts letter arrives." Hermione handed her a rather large parcel with envelope attached. It was addressed 'Corvus William'.
"Hermione, shouldn't his father know of his existence in case anything happens to you?" Ginny questioned not sure of the upcoming reaction.
"Well yes he should know, but until this war is over he can't find out." Hermione was getting frustrated with the red head. "Now really isn't the time to have this conversation, the sooner I leave, the sooner I come back."
"I'm sorry, it's just hard. I'm the only one who knows the truth, and I don't want to be the one to have to tell everyone you know. They will all flip." Ginny argued. She was right of course, but she didn't realize that Hermione was ready for this fight.
"You know what, fine should I tell them now? Right before Ron goes off on his mission. There is a reason no one knows. The less who knows, the safer William will be. We can't keep having this conversation. Ginny please, just take care of my son. There are letters in here explaining everything to them. If anything happens, give them to the boys. They won't blame you once they read them." Hermione was begging for the argument to stop.
"I promise. Just promise me you will never give up and you will come back to us. We all need you Hermione, you are the glue that holds us together." Ginny let her tears fall again as she embraced her best friend.
Hermione only nodded before turning on the spot and apparating away so she could open her envelope alone.
Thank you again for all the kind words and all that have either added my story to their favorites or have started following it. I can't believe I have already had this type of turnout.
Now responses to my reviewers
Green Eyed Lana Lee: I know she is truly pure evil. I feel that no one really ever describes her as psycho as I found her in the books so here she is. Crazy and not all the way there. For the Malfoys' I am glad you liked their part on being double agents. I find that in war there are always more than one for each side. I just hope this story keeps your interest as it goes on.
Rezakeene: I know the baby is going to be my favorite part to reveal in this story, oh hey just did. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the others.
cares 1970: I am so happy to read your lovely comments. War really is horrible and even though my story obviously doesn't follow cannon I am ecstatic that readers are responding well. I felt that the books didn't show how horrible war truly was except for death. I hope you continue to enjoy reading future chapters.
