Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter that all belongs to J.K. Rowling herself. The only things I do own is the plot and as well as the characters that I bring into the story.
Warning: This story has spoilers from the sixth book I will not use the seventh book at all maybe just a little I dunno yet since I am rewriting this story again.
Also I go by the books so there you go if something seems off. Rarely will I use references from the movies. Believe me the movies are great, but they do not go at all with the books especially the last one Order of the Phoenix.
Anyways this story is rated 'M' for later scenes right now not so much not until way later maybe even sooner I dunno yet.
Enjoy the revision of chapter four; this chapter is very different from its original written versions.
Thanks:To the wonderful people that are reading this story and hopefully I will finally bring an end to this since well I've already started working on what is supposed to be the continuation of this story. Yes that means that I already have the workings of the ending to this story.
Chapter Four: Long killed innocence
She felt a light shake to her body as she slept, but she ignored it and continued with her much needed rest and sleep. She was not ready to wake up nor did she feel she was allowed to move her body just yet. She continued sleeping the only thing she could recognize of herself was her patterned breathing. She knew she did not want to wake up, because she wanted to see through what she had been seeing in her dreams even if it meant for her to run away from it later on.
It all started with her running through the empty underground tunnels of London even though she was running as fast as she could it felt as though time was slowing down and whatever it was that was chasing after her was soon going to get to her. Not once did she dared to turn her head around and look behind her, but as her breathing hallowed she had no other choice, but to look behind her so she could see. She could hear the figure's menacing laughter echo through her inner ears and it began to drive her insane. Finally she tripped over a small pebble and when she tried to stand herself up she could not, her body had once again fallen under the spell of no movement just like in all her other bad dreams that soon she began to feel her own breath drained out of her.
The panic she had worked hard on hiding and avoiding was resurfacing once more, exposing all of her vulnerabilities. Even though it took her many years to hide them, within seconds they had flooded out like the water placed inside a balloon when it was made to burst out under pressure. Her breathing was now suffocating the energy out of her and the figure that stood right before her had decided to remove the mask and the hood that they hid under. Her eyes could have bled out of her sockets when she looked at the figure that had been chasing her all along. It was as though she was looking at her very own reflection with the exception that the reflection reflected a much darker form of herself. She tried to shake the effect off but it was of no avail her darker self still stood there before her taunting her, the laughter still echoing through her pained inner ears.
She so wished as much as to have the ability to move her hands just so that she could cover her outer ears hoping that that would ease some of the pain being caused in her inner ears, but she did not know if it would make any difference. Her desires to be able to do something in order to protect herself disappeared as the time passed. She wanted to yell at her darker figure to get away from her current weak and fragile figure she did not want to become that at what she looked before her. Her darker self rolled up her sleeves to reveal the mark she dreaded so much tattooed on her forearm. She realized she had regained some of her movement when she shook her head she did not want to believe that such mark would go on her. Tears sprang from her eyes, but she felt out of breath once more when another figure popped in standing beside her darker form. She figured the figure was male since the figure had many male qualities about itself. She shook her head still she did not want to see what was about to happen.
Even though she told herself to wake up she could not and the two figures grabbed at each other in a seductive matter making her weakened figure watch as they caressed each other lovingly and lustfully. The second figure's hood fell off to reveal short hair proving her conclusion right, but his hair color is what shocked her the most.
"Stop," she began to shout tears still springing from her eyes. "You mustn't you must stop," she pleaded. "Please, just stop," she cried helplessly. She would never ever picture herself with him, but she realized that the scene before her had occurred more than once before she just did not know if she should believe it was him that went through the trouble of it all.
Her world turned more and more upside down than she had expected. She could still not believe what she had seen she did not want to believe that she had seen it. That she called a true nightmare.
Still the shake to her body would not seize she tossed and turned a little making sure she did not wake up. She was on her stomach when she felt slight pressure on her back. The pain made her arch her body and yelp somewhat in pain and the pain did not stop there it only continued when her messy bun came undone and her frizzy locks were pulled. "Ow ow," she shouted drifting in and out of consciousness. She figured it was best to wake up. "Okay I'm up I'm up," she reassured whoever was attempting to wake her up. She flipped over to her side making the body that was on top of her slide. Her reflexes moved fast and she caught the body before it would fall and injure itself.
Her eyes widened in surprise as the tears began to well up at her eyes sockets she felt ashamed that she had not recognized the patterns being used on her to get her to wake up. She caressed the face of the little girl before her apologizing that she had almost hurt her. The little girl wrapped her slender arms around Hermione's neck and Hermione did the same in hugging the little girl just not around her neck since she was still too small. "When did you get here?" she asked the little girl before her wiping away at her tears since there was no need for those anymore. She couldn't help it the smile on her lips would not stop playing.
The little girl with soft green eyes looked into the pool of Hermione's brown eyes and hugged her once more her golden brown soft locks following behind her. "Grandpa and grandma dropped me off hours ago," she said putting a small finger on Hermione's lips. "You've been screaming in your dreams again," she added softly. "Have I now?" teased Hermione even though she was well aware that she had been having dreams, bad dreams yet again. "Mummy, are you scared?" asked Lunette looking into her mother's troubled eyes not buying into what she had said. Hermione hugged her six year old daughter tightly saying what she wanted to say without speaking the undesirable words. Lunette pulled away from the embrace playing with her mother's hair. She did not understand why her mother disliked her own hair very much, but she loved it. Lunette pinched her mum's cheeks and Hermione did the same to Lunette's face. "Stop I give up," shouted Lunette hugging her mother once more.
The two did not stop admiring each other even when the door to Hermione's current bedroom opened. Hermione looked up when her ears perked up upon hearing a knock on her door. She held Lunette tight thinking that danger was approaching but her touch lessened when it was only Fleur standing at the door. "Morning sleepy head," said Fleur smiling at Hermione. Lunette untangled herself from her mother's embrace and pulled Fleur closer. "Mummy this lady is so nice she made me a great big breakfast just for me and I ate everything except for the fried onions," said Lunette proudly, but disgusted at her last spoken words.
Hermione sent a smile towards Fleur who only returned the smile. Hermione placed her legs on the floor and it was cold. "Lunette will you go and fetch my slippers please they are in the bathroom," she explained pointing towards the door that lay opposite of her bed. Lunette nodded in obedience and skipped towards the bathroom. Hermione's eyes travelled towards Fleur's blue eyes. She was not feeling like being silly even though it was Fleur's and Bill's big day. "Who else knows that she is here?" she whispered harshly since she did not want Lunette to hear. Her question was only for Fleur.
Fleur sat next to Hermione and patted her bare thigh. Fleur smiled and that relaxed Hermione a little. "Relax no one knows that she is here, well Ginny almost found her, but she did not question her presence. I think that she thinks she is a cousin of mine. Hermione she looks nothing like you well maybe if you study the shape of her eyes and the shape your hair would take if you dared to care for it," said Fleur ruffling Hermione's wild frizzy hair. Hermione smiled being treated like a child by the most unlikely person made her feel good and the knot that had formed in her stomach became lose little by little. Her eyes looked up at Lunette's small figure she was quite small for her age, but there was a reason to that so she thought.
"Oops," said Lunette handing her mother's slippers over. "I didn't mean it, it just happened," she said biting at her lower lip. Hermione smiled a reassuring smile that she would not get mad at her own daughter. "It's okay Lunette accidents happen," she reassured turning her slippers back to their normal color and putting them on.
Fleur cleared her throat and that grabbed both Hermione's and Lunette's attention. "Hermione I've got bad news for you," she said and Hermione wondered what was going on. Lunette hugged her mother knowing what was coming since she had had a little accident while she was looking around. Fleur looked worriedly towards Lunette she did not at all desire for Lunette to get in trouble so she went for a lie. "Hermione none of the bridesmaids like the dresses that we bought yesterday so I allowed Lunette here to burn them up since I did not think about returning them at all. I thought of it once the dresses had been long burnt down," said Fleur smiling at Lunette who only looked relieved that she was not going to get in trouble.
Hermione was disappointed she did not know what she would wear now. "Will there be any bridesmaids at all now that the dresses are gone?" she asked curiously since she did not know if she should buy the story that Fleur gave to her. Fleur shook her head in shame. "Bill and I changed our minds at the last minute and decided not to have any. We thought it would be best. After so many preparations so many things went down the drain that we decided to keep things very simple. Instead of having a very grand ball for our reception and so forth we decided to keep things simple and hold everything at the Burrow. The Weasleys were very happy and have decided to modify Harry in fear that he might stand out a little too much," Fleur laughed after a small pause. "You should look at him now he looks very much like a Weasley. The idea was to hide him in case the Death Eaters somehow broke through the barriers that the Order has placed around the Burrow."
Hermione's eyes expressed worry she did not know if she liked the plan at all. If Harry would be in great danger because of a ceremony she did not want Lunette to attend at all. "Is the Order positive that the Death Eaters might unleash an attack on us?" she worried so she hugged Lunette close to her. Lunette hugged her mother back since she knew that her mother was living through hard times. Lunette rested her head on her mother's neck. "Hermione we are approaching dark times you should know better than us that these Death Eaters attacks are happening every day. I think it is best that the three of you run away while you can if an attack happens during the wedding. Hermione we never know who might disguise themselves as one of us," said Fleur caressing both Hermione and Lunette. She then wiped away at the tears she had let go unnoticed. She sniffed, "It's a horrible time to be alive, but my love is so strong that I am willing to risk it no matter how dangerous it may be."
Hermione sighed how could she not see the troubled times ahead of them, she worried maybe it was not time to tell her friends about Lunette just yet. Plans began to form through her mind she needed to protect her family even if it meant that she would not get to see them until he was defeated. Fleur studied Hermione intently who would not let go of Lunette even when she squirmed to get away from her mother. Fleur touched Hermione's face to see if she would get some kind of reaction from her. She received none so she worried. "Hermione what are you thinking? Do you not notice how uncomfortable you have made Lunette?"
Hermione left her thoughts and allowed Lunette to get away for some time. "Sorry," she said as she shook her head out of her thoughts. "I'm just thinking, I need to get my family to safety," she added. She slumped her back followed by her shoulders and then hugged her knees to her chest. "I hope things go well today," she said unconsciously.
Fleur smiled rubbing Hermione's back. "Hermione do not take my words to heart, I am simply making predictions without even seeing them in my unconscious form," said Fleur. "Now come on I think you have something to tell the others. Believe me I did not gather them. I was surprised to see them here since I was sure they would stick around the Burrow until the wedding started," she said while standing up and asking for Lunette's hand. Lunette placed her hand on Fleur's opened hand. Fleur smiled, "Don't worry I will take care of her while you tell them the story that you told me. I have all sorts of confidence in you Hermione. Come now Lunette I will introduce you to my sister Gabrielle she will even teach you some French," explained Fleur as she walked out of the room with Lunette. Hermione heard from a distance Lunette say a soft and yet scared, "okay."
Hermione sighed she did not realize that the day she was to confess was already there. She sniffed she did not at all feel comfortable. She put on her bathrobe she did not want to walk out of her bedroom with short shorts and an almost see through shirt. It was not noticeable that it was see through when Fleur was there since the bedroom was still dark, but once she would step into the light it will definitely be noticeable.
She dragged herself to the kitchen where she knew she would find her friends. As she entered she recognized just about everyone, but not Harry. She surpassed a laugh she did not want to make him uncomfortable.
"Morning," she said and then looked at her wristwatch and scrunched her nose.
So much for morning it is way past morning.
"Scratch that," she said nervously once she had gotten her undivided attention.
"Hermione," said Ginny coming towards her to give her a great big hug. "Thank you again for yesterday," she whispered to Hermione's ear before letting go of the embrace she had produced, Hermione only nodded.
"Oi Hermione, have you seen Fleur's cousin she's quite adorable ain't she?" he asked looking at Hermione wildly. Ron was then hit on his side by Harry. "Go on Ron just shut up about the little Lunette girl she does not need any more attention," said Harry. Hermione smiled despite how ridiculous he looked he still sounded like himself. Hermione sighed, "Yes she's quite adorable, but hate to break it to you Ron, she is not Fleur's cousin," said Hermione. "Say Harry how are you holding up in that ridiculous looking get up?" Hermione asked curiously.
Harry laughed and went to hug Hermione tightly it had felt to him since forever since he had last seen her even though it had only been days. Hermione hugged him back tightly not wanting to let go of him ever. She breathed in the scent produced by Harry's body as to re-familiarize herself with Harry. She would have done the same with Ron, but he was not acting like himself. It seemed to her that he had fallen in love with her own daughter since he would not stop boasting about Lunette. That made her tense up as she continued her long embrace with Harry. Harry noticed and he wondered what was wrong with his long term friend. He had the urge to let go of her and scream at Ron, but decided against it. "Hermione, why are you so tense at Ron talking about Lunette?" he asked her through a whisper since he did not want to allow the others to hear his question.
Hermione pressed her head against Harry's forehead she knew that such affection would make Ginny jealous, but Ginny had to realize that she did not care for Harry in that way. She loved him, but she only loved him as a brother. "That's because Lunette she's not anything of Fleur's and it makes me jealous to have him think such things," she whispered. "Lunette she belongs to me," she said softly and slowly. "She's my child and none of you knew of her only a few did. Please don't be mad at me," she nearly cried looking him in the eyes and holding onto him closer.
He hugged her even closer to his body she felt strange hugging him, because he was under his disguise so she made sure to dispel all of the spells used on him to conceal his true identity. She now felt more comfortable hugging him how her body fit in his. She sighed she had not realized how much she had missed the boy who lived; the boy who she thought would always be her younger brother. She did not want to let go, but she could feel the tension coming from both Weasleys.
She sighed only a miracle would break it. Her ears perked up she could hear light footsteps running towards the kitchen. She did not know whose footsteps they were, but she knew she would be glad as long as the tension was broken. Her body arched towards Harry's when a small pair of arms hugged her leg. She let go of Harry to look where the little arms had wrapped around her. She smiled and wiped away at the tears. "I don't want to learn French anymore mummy," cried Lunette.
Hermione picked up Lunette and carried her. The Weasleys looked at her surprised she ignored them she was glad she had at least managed to tell Harry that Lunette was her daughter. Hermione planted a kiss on Lunette's forehead to calm her down. "You don't have to learn French if you don't want to Lunette," Hermione reassured Lunette and Lunette wiped away at her own tears and hugged Hermione even tighter. "Sweetie I still have things to discuss with my friends. Is there anything you want before I dismiss you?" she asked sweetly before putting her back down on the floor so that she could stand on her two feet.
Lunette's eyes brightened she knew that when she was with her mother she could get anything she wanted especially since her mother had mastered a good level of alchemy. She placed her hands behind her while looking at her mother thoughtfully. "Um," she said thoughtfully. She then jumped when an idea sparked. "I want peaches covered in whip cream and a hint of strawberry please," she said. Hermione nodded and got to work quickly since she felt as though she was running out of time. Lucky for her, her magic skills had improved since she had to help Fleur adjust all of the bridesmaid dresses until they were burnt down. "Okay, here you go," said Hermione handing her daughter what she had requested. Lunette kissed her mother's cheek before she walked out of the kitchen and began eating her request.
"Bloody hell Hermione, what was that all about?" he asked her his face red; she just did not know why it was red.
"Shut up Ron, and let her explain," said Ginny, who Hermione knew was a lot more understanding perhaps just as understanding as Harry. She wondered if the two would get back together in the coming future.
"Hermione, are you really ready to explain about Lunette?" asked Harry worried since he knew how reckless Ron could be.
Hermione nodded lightly, even though she was not ready she knew she would have to get it over with sooner or later and the sooner she did was better, because she did not have all her life.
She gulped. "My family when I was a child we were very close to the Bretz family. Since before my birth the Bretz had met my parents and they wanted my parents to promise them that I was to marry their second oldest son whom at the time was three years older than me," she gulped. "Well I grew up and I was ten and like my mother I had become a 'woman' at age eight so it meant I could get pregnant if I had sex," she said explaining carefully for Ron whom looked a little confused. "I of course knew better since well you three know how I am. At the time my parents and I did not know that the Bretz were powerful wizards. Somehow they knew that I carried the hidden gene that would allow me to practice magic. Though it did explain a lot of things when I was younger," she laughed. "When I would get frustrated and be somewhat of a rebel I would set things on fire, but that's a different story. Anyways it all happened before Noah and I knew we were betrothed. He was a rebellious teenager he only wanted to try things that he was being taunted about so he took advantage of me. I had grown up around him so I trusted him with my life. I liked him better than his brothers Logan and Roxas. Logan was older and Roxas he's the same age as me," she said feeling Ginny's arms wrap around Hermione; the tears were beginning to well up. "He knew magic since he already went to school. He also knew how to use magic without the ministry ever catching his underage misuse of magic. He had taken me into a room where he had put up all sorts of charms. He told me we were playing hide and seek, but then he began stripping. He had used the Imperius Curse on me and I began to do the same. I tried to resist, but I couldn't. He never did break my wall so I am still a virgin, but enough of his sperm had escaped him to get inside me and well I am positive you all know what happens. Lunette was formed, our family broke off the promise and we ran away. I stopped going to school and I was homeschooled until Lunette was born. Everyone was made to believe that she was my younger sister. We kept it that way for a long time at least until I learned to love Lunette as my daughter," she finished off.
They stood quiet for a good amount of time, they had not realized it, but they were being watched and that being watching them kept herself hidden since she was so good at it. She now knew how she would trap her prey without a struggle. She only wished she knew how to break in, but she dared and not try it now since she would most likely need help. She left them be for now.
Hermione sighed breaking the estranged silence she did not at all enjoy.
"So now all you know my secret. I promise I have no stranger secrets. Lunette is basically my one and only secret well not for you three anymore."
"Have you told the other Weasleys'?" Harry asked.
She shook her head, "No my mum and dad said they would take care of the adults for me. I volunteered to speak, but they said it was best that they did it their way."
"I wonder why?" asked Ginny.
"Simple the Bretz are wizards just like we are and powerful at that so obviously her parents figured that the Order can take good care of Hermione and Lunette."
Hermione, Harry, and Ginny stared at Ron it was rare that he said something smart. They all blinked wondering how he had concluded so much in such short period of time. The starring made his ears turn red; he crossed his arms to control himself. "Will ya stop starring I can be smart too just not all the time," he said blushing.
"Okay," said Ginny trying to get the attention to herself so her brother could relax. "We know they are powerful."
"But they are also Death Eaters," continued Hermione for Ginny.
"That means they have other intentions besides getting to me."
Hermione nodded. "Three of us can be in danger and we wouldn't even realize it. We just don't know who would be picked first. It is vital that we keep Lunette being my daughter secret, because Bretz blood runs through her streams."
They all nodded in agreement and were going to continue discussing more of their conclusions when Fleur burst their thoughts away with her screaming. She looked flustered and the four did not understand why, until Hermione looked at her wristwatch. Her eyes widened in realization. "The wedding is in a few hours," both Fleur and Hermione shouted at the same time.