A/N: Wow, ok. I think I've played very nicely with my updates, lol. I run a lab, and it's been slow lately - I write at work. Yeah :buffs nails: I guess you could say I'm getting paid to write. Anyway, I'm off tomorrow so no update. And I have some plans of sloppy drunkenness this weekend, so I venture to say - no weekend update either. But you never know. Now, I need YOUR help. I read all these summaries about stories and they have things like A/U, cannon, lemon, etc…what the hell? I do not speak fanfic…can someone give me a hand? Is there like…a translation list somewhere? Well, this is a cliffhanger chapter. Like, pee your pants, write me angry reviews kind of cliff hanger. wicked smile Enjoy! Happy 4th!!

An afterthought - I know that I have strayed away a bit from Sirius and Hermione...but believe you me - their times draws ever nearer.

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Hermione sat on the edge of Draco's bed spoon feeding him soup. He had annoyed Remus so much that he had threatened to throw him out on his behind and Hermione had taken him in. Draco smirked, "I never thought I'd get you in bed, Granger." Hermione rolled her eyes and purposely let some hot soup dribble into his lap. "YEOW!" he roared. "Alright, you win, no more sexual innuendos." Hermione smiled sweetly and continued to feed him. Draco had sent his wife away as soon as Voldemort had arrived at Malfoy Manor and she remained in hiding unknowing of the injuries Draco had received at the hands of Voldemort. The Dark Lord had some how broken his arms in a way that skele-grow couldn't re-grow. Hermione had taken him to a muggle hospital and had his arms reset in casts after she had healed as much of the rest of him as she could. His cast was ridiculous. Both arms were set in plaster up to the shoulders, bent at the elbow, then positioned as if he were trying to fly away by flapping his arms, held aloft by rods running from his elbows to a circle of plaster wrapped around his chest. Hermione had laughed for hours, much to Draco's chagrin. His eyes had faded into a sickly green-yellow tinge and his facial lacerations were now just angry red welts. Hermione had managed to repair most of the teeth that Voldemort had knocked out and there were only two holes left that Hermione couldn't fill. She had promised Draco a positively painful visit to the dentist in a couple of weeks. She had reset his broken nose, but couldn't help but notice it just a bit off kilter. Draco sported an almost completely black and blue torso, crisscrossed with a generous amount of deep cuts. Hermione had closed the cuts, but the bruises weren't fading no matter how many time she rubbed him down with salves. It looked as if he had taken a few good wallops to his legs, lumps and bruises were peppered over the fair skin.

Hermione was thankful he was a wizard because there was no way she'd be wiping his arse if he wasn't. Hermione had been forced to bathe Draco twice now as Sirius had flat out refused until he was blue in the face, and suggested Hermione just let him stink. The first time he'd needed a bath, Hermione had tried the scorgify spell, but it had left his skin rubbed raw. She had finally consented to wiping him down with a cool sponge much to his relief. Today, however, she was determined to dump his stinking behind in the bath tub.

"So," she began setting the empty bowl aside, and clapping her hands together comically. "today is bath day!"

Draco smirked. "Yay."

"In a real bloody bath tub." Hermione added. "You smell. Bad. Real bad."

Draco shrugged. "My junk had not been attended to since my wife left."

Hermione held up her hand and turned her head away, willing the vomit back down her throat. "No, no, none of that." She took a deep breath, and laughed. "Get up, we're going to bathe in the big tub in my room."

Slowly, with a lot of grunting and cursing, Draco rose and padded slowly across the hall behind Hermione. Sirius had spread the bed out with various parchments detailing the death eaters movements, and he looked up when they entered the room. He raised a curious eyebrow,

"Whatcha doin'?"

Hermione flicked her wand and two fluffy white towels appeared in her arms. "It's bath day."

"Oh," Sirius said absently, watching her. "How is he going to take a real bath?"

"I'm going to get in the bath with him." Hermione said nonchalantly disappearing into the bathroom with Draco sniggering on her heels.

Sirius thought for a moment, jumped up and followed them. Hermione was already filling the tub with strong masculine scented bubbles. She turned to Draco and muttered an impervius spell on his cast. She flicked her wand and Draco was left standing only in his boxers. Sirius flipped the lid down on the toilet and sat down, crossing his arms. Hermione ignored him.

"Can you climb in Draco, or do you want me to levitate you?" she asked.

Draco considered the two steps up to the tub, and the deep plunge on the other side. "Levitate."

Hermione whisked him up and plopped him down into bubbles up to his chin. She flicked her wand again and Draco laughed.

"What?" Sirius asked, leaning forward.

"You're wife just stole my knickers." he snickered.

Hermione rolled her already short shorts a few times at the waist band until the curve of her bottom just peeked out at the hem. She ascended the steps, hopped into the water and stood at the opposite end of the tub. "So, ah, go ahead and wiggle your junk around cause I'm not washing that."

Draco laughed but scooted his bottom around wildly for a few minutes, laughing the entire time. When he settled down, Hermione picked up a sponge and approached him. She flicked her wand once more and Draco felt a set of shorts encase his legs. Hermione squatted down and dipped her hand underneath the water, gently washing his stomach and chest. She gave up her quest to stay dry and knelt in the water, lifting each of his legs in turn and washing them thoroughly. She ran the sponge over his neck, washed his face, then straddled his lap, and sat down. His balance in the cast was horrible, and he had propped himself against the back of the tub. She leaned him gently forward against herself and washed his back.

"Ohhhh, Granger," he moaned laughing. "Go ahead and wiggle your junk around now."

Hermione rolled her eyes, pinched his arm, and stood up. She slide around behind him, and settled her dripping behind on the ledge surrounding the tub. Filling a cup with water she doused his head, shampooed it, conditioned it, then rinsed it out. She pulled the drain from the tub and levitated him, clad in his new swim shorts, out of the tub and onto a rug. She scampered over to him and began to dry him off with a warm towel. He looked near euphoria.

"Better?" she teased.

"I like bath time." he murmured enjoying the warm massage.

"Now," she said finishing the rub down and tossing the towel aside. "go scamper off to your room, I'll be in in a minute after I change to get you back into bed."

"Aye, aye captain." Draco laughed, tottering off toward his room. Hermione peeled off her wet tank top and flung it into the tub, followed by her shorts. She stood before Sirius in her knickers toweling herself off.

"You are too kind to that boy." Sirius laughed, rising and crossing toward her. He took the towel from her hands and began to dry her off slowly. He reached behind her, unclasped her bra, slid it down her arms, and tossed it in the tub. He rubbed the towel slowly over her chest. Hermione leaned her head back and sighed. He moved down her stomach, slid her panties down her legs, and went to work drying her thighs. He kissed her thigh softly. Hermione laughed and pushed his head away.

"I have to go put Draco to bed, and then I will be right back. Clear off the bed, Mr. Black." she said as she hurried into the bedroom to pull on another set of underwear, a tank top, and shorts. Sirius was busy throwing his papers to the floor in a frenzy. Hermione shook her head and walked across to Draco's room. He was standing looking longingly at his bed, shivering, his swim shorts dripping.

"Shit!" Hermione laughed, flicking her wand to magic a fresh set of sleeveless pajamas onto his form. He gave her a grateful smile, as Hermione changed his sheets with another flick of her wand. She helped him to settle as comfortably as possible into bed with the aid of a dose of pain potion. His eyes took on a glazed look almost immediately. She leaned down to kiss his cheek as he turned to say something. Their lips met and a jolt of electricity shot through Hermione as she pulled back away to stand. His eyes focused.

"Granger, are you hitting on me? Because if you are I must remind you that I am married, although, one roll in the sheets couldn't hurt," he laughed.

"Don't flatter yourself, Malfoy," Hermione laughed. "I'm just not that into you."

Draco laughed. "Well if you change your mind, I'll be right here. In bed."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "Boys!" she called over her shoulder as she strode out of the room.

Hermione burst out laughing when she walked back into her room. Sirius had lit hundreds of candles, the muggle singer Marvin Gaye was crooning "Let's Get It On", and Sirius was in his boxers, writhing on the bed like a school girl, biting his finger suggestively and winking. "Oh dear sweet Merlin," she laughed. With a shrug she stripped down to her knickers and bra and joined him on the bed. He stop writhing immediately and kissed her deeply. They rolled until she was straddling his lap and was busily nipping at his neck. Sirius reached behind her, unhooked her bra, tossed it aside, and brought his hands to her soft breasts. She moaned against his shoulder, then bit down. He groaned. There was a brilliant flash of green, a loud whoosh, and Remus Lupin was standing in their bedroom.

"AH! OH GOD!" he cried flailing his arms around as if he were being attacked. Hermione squealed and pulled Sirius flush against her, covering her nudity. Sirius was roaring with laughter as he locked his arms around Hermione and she buried her face in his shoulder. Her entire body was blushing.

"Hi Remus." she mumbled against his shoulder.

Lupin shielded his eyes and lowered his gaze. "Ah, wow, so um, I, ah, take it that, er, this is no longer just, ah, a marriage of convenience."

"Oh," Sirius chuckled. "I'd call having a willing beauty like this is my room convenient." Hermione pinched his ribs hard, and he grimaced. "I mean, we're giving it a shot."

"I see," Lupin said, clearing his throat. "Hermione would you mind putting some clothes on? I came to talk to you." Hermione squeaked and slinked off the edge of the bed, completely mortified. She used her wand to dress herself quickly and conservatively, stood up, and cleared her throat. Sirius had slapped a pillow over his lap and was looking between the two of them, smiling benignly.

"It's about Ginny," Lupin started. "she's pregnant with Harry's child."

"That's wonderful!" Hermione cried and Sirius beamed.

Lupin shook his head and the smiles slid off their faces. "There's been an incident," Hermione and Sirius listened with mounting horror as Lupin told them everything that had happened including Voldemort's lewd visit. Hermione looked like she was going to be sick. "They've restored her memories, differentiating between those that are real and those that were created. Ginny is a mess, Hermione. She won't eat, she won't drink, she won't get out of bed. She's on the way to losing the baby. I've set up a floo to Snape's chambers, I need you to come with me. You too Sirius."

Hermione nodded, Sirius was dressed within seconds, and they stepped into the hearth with Lupin. A blast of green obscured her vision as many hearth's whizzed by, until she arrived in a dark marble hearth and stumbled forward, falling at the feet of Snape. He leaned down and helped her to her feet gently, then motioned toward the bedroom door. She hurried through it without a second glance. Ginny was lying on her back, staring blankly at the ceiling. She looked smaller and paler, lacking the robust glow of a pregnant woman. Hermione fell to her knees beside her and took her small hand. "Oh Ginny," she nearly wept. "please come back to us. I need you. Harry needs you. Your baby needs you." Ginny turned her head slightly to look at Hermione.

"Harry won't want me anymore." she whispered. "I've been to bed with Snape, and, and…" she was weeping. "near…nearly, Voldemort."

"Shh," Hermione cooed, petting her hair. "it's alright. None of that was your fault and Harry will understand. He loves you more than anything." Ginny turned on her side, groping for Hermione. Hermione laid out next to her, holding her tightly, and whispering reassurances. Within the hour, Ginny was sitting up, nibbling on toast, and talking quietly with Hermione.

"You're shagging?" Ginny said quietly. "I'd never have thought it."

Hermione smiled, and leaned in close. "How's Snape the snarky treating you?"

Ginny thought a moment. "You know he's been nothing but kind and accommodating. He really isn't all that bad." Hermione sat back impressed. They fell into a comfortable silence as Ginny chewed her toast thoughtfully. Suddenly Hermione felt a sharp contracting pain in her chest nearly knocking her over. It came again more intense. Hermione excused herself quickly to the sitting room where Lupin and Sirius were gazing with dread at Snape's forearm where the dark mark had activated. Another contraction caused her to grip the couch for support. Hermione knew then what it was - Harry's magic. Harry was in trouble. She gasped and righted herself, meeting three sets of worried eyes.

"Harry," she gasped. "is in trouble. Come on!" Hermione took off at a run out of Snape's chambers. She knew the death eaters would have all answered the call and she encountered no one as the three of them burst into the entrance hall and through the front doors. She ran at breakneck speed toward the gates that she could apparate on the other side of. She trusted her body - her magic - to take her where she needed to be. As they rounded on the gate, Hermione shot both her hands out catching Sirius' and Lupin's in her own. As she pulled them through the gates she apparated them at full speed - a dangerous thing to say the least.

They arrived at the edge of a battle, well more of an ambush actually. It was Ron and Harry against twenty of so deatheaters who swarmed around Voldemort in the center. Ron was holding a shield in front of them, his wand arm shaking violently, sweat dripping down his face. Harry was bleeding heavily from his chest, but was aiming curses and hexes at the deatheaters. There were several lying motionless on the forest floor. Hermione never broke pace as they appeared, releasing Sirius' and Lupin's hand and charging toward Harry and Ron.

"Reducto!" she bellowed knocking over three deatheaters in mid-run. "ALPHA PROTEGO OMEGA!" she screamed reaching her friends. A shield erupted from her wand with such force that the nearest ten deatheaters fell.

"Hermione!" Ron cried dropping his smaller shield as hers ebbed and shimmered in front of them.

"What is this?" Harry gasped.

"A very old protective spell. Harry push your tattoo, call the Order." Harry quickly did so as he and Ron aimed more curses. Most of the deatheaters lay unmoving on the ground at this point. Hermione's arm was shaking. "I can't hold it much longer," she said through gritted teeth. "Oh," she added panting with effort. "Lupin and Sirius are here, and Ginny's pregnant."

Harry looked up at her and she managed a cross between a smile and grimace. He smiled. "I'm going to let this shield down. Dive for cover. I'll disillusion you." Hermione dropped her arm and the three of them sprang behind the nearest trees. She was able to disillusion Ron fairly easily as he was close, but Harry had rolled the other way and it was a difficult shot. She heard pops to her right and turned to see several Order members appearing and joining the battle. She looked forward to see Voldemort standing inside a swirling orb of protection screaming silent directives. When she looked back to Harry Lucius Malfoy was standing above him aiming his wand at his back. Fear taking over, Hermione stood. "AVADA KADAVRA!" she screamed with everything in her. A jet of green light slammed into Lucius' back and he was no more. Harry turned and met her eyes with shock. She started to hyperventilate. There was a low rumble and before she knew what had happened she was lying on her back. Voldemort had sent some sort of wave of energy, knocking every living thing around him over. Hermione turned her throbbing head to see Lupin and Sirius beside Harry pointing their wands creating a bubble of protection around him. Hermione flipped over and crawled towards them. A tug at her back startled her and she felt herself flying through the air toward Voldemort. She squirmed to no avail and soon found herself standing beside the Dark Lord his hand twisted deeply in her hair. She yanked and twisted, but he held firm.

"Sirius Black!" Voldemort called. "Your wife, for Potter perhaps? Your wife and," he muttered an incantation and pointed his wand at Hermione's stomach which flared into a bright golden glow. "your unborn child, perhaps?" She saw Sirius stand and look incredulously.

"NO!" she screamed. "Sirius, GO! TAKE HARRY BACK! HE'S HURT, TAKE HARRY, IT'S OK, I'M OK!" She could see Sirius struggling and Lupin trying to drag him back toward Harry. "NO!" she screamed again. "DO WHAT IS RIGHT, SAVE HARRY!" Sirius looked near tears, but he turned with Lupin, and gathered Harry in his arms.

"YOU DARE DEFY THE DARK LORD?" Voldemort screamed. He pointed his wand to Hermione's abdomen again. The golden light flashed blood red and Hermione felt a severe cramp seize her belly. It passed quickly, but she was aware of a wetness between her legs. Looking down she saw blood soaking through her jeans, and as her abdomen faded to blue, she knew she was pregnant no more. Sirius screamed something unintelligible. "CRUCIO!" Voldemort roared and Hermione was lifted into the air and felt as if her body was being turned inside out. She writhed in the air, twisting into impossible shapes. "GO! NOW!" she screamed through clenched teeth. Sirius turned away and just as he apparated with Harry in his arms he heard the snap of Hermione's bones and heard an unearthly scream tear from her throat.