I apologize for the length of this chapter. Alot of things had to happen, and it didn't feel right to divide it up.

Chapter 8:

Marietta hummed as she flitted around her cottage, spelling the dust rag to give the furniture in the little bedroom one more polish. She wanted it to be perfect. Today was the day. Today she would deliver her final revenge to her hated enemy. And gain a handsome son in the process. In spite of his unfortunate parentage, James Potter was a striking lad. And from what she could tell when she'd seen him about town, he was a sweet little boy. She gave the ring in her pocket a pat. She was quite proud of the enchantments she'd placed on it. It hadn't been easy, but she'd done it. As soon as James had that ring on his finger, the compulsion charms on it would draw him to her. He would be overcome with the need and desire to please her; he would adore her. He would forget all about Mummy. Marietta's scars wouldn't bother him, because added to the compulsion charm was an illusionment spell. To his eyes, she would look like Venus herself, the epitome of grace and beauty.

Marietta giggled. So what if she never had a husband?

She would have a son instead.

Unlike Hermione.


000

"Hermione! Are you ready?" called out Draco as he reached for his shoes. He, Hermione and James were meeting with Neville and Pansy for brunch. Then he and Hermione planned to go to the shop to finish up on some orders they'd received for Halloween. He looked forward to teasing Pansy. His childhood friend had begun to show and was already wearing maternity tops that looked like miniature tents to Draco's eyes. He didn't recall Hermione wearing things like that when she'd been pregnant with James. In fact, he distinctly remembered the form fitting outfits that had hugged her growing curves. Slipping a loafer on, he thought back to those days; it made Draco impatient to see his wife bloom again; this time with their child. They'd not been using any kind of protection; hopefully, it wouldn't be long until she became pregnant. To see her grow and to know the life within her was the result of their intimacy….it was getting to be all he could think about.

"Well?"

Draco looked up, still holding his other shoe in his hand.

Hermione laughed at his expression. "You called me. I came. And then I find you zoned out. What's going on in that mind of yours?"

Draco shrugged and gave her a sheepish smile. "Just the usual. Can't keep my mind off of you, love."

Hermione gave her husband a tender smile. Running her fingers through his hair, she softly said, "What did I ever do to deserve you, Draco Malfoy? You're too good to me."

"Is that so?" he said as he stood up. Taking her into his arms, he gave her a warm hug. "I think it's rather the other way around."

She shook her head. "I beg the difference. But let's not argue. Especially since Pansy will kill us if we're late. Those pregnancy hormones are no laughing matter."

"That baby of hers has become a convenient excuse, hasn't it?"

Hermione agreed. "Poor Neville."

Draco huffed. "Poor us. I think she's rather enjoying it."

Hermione chuckled. 'Isn't that the truth? But don't worry, darling. When it's my turn, I promise to be good."


000

Ginny Weasley absently played with her food as she looked around inside Diagon Alley's newest restaurant. Slowly, her gaze made its way back to her companion as he finished up his full English breakfast. Thane Mackabee may have been a pureblood from a well-connected family, but the tall, young wizard did nothing for her. She heard no bells, she felt no shivers…...nothing. Ginny knew it wasn't his fault. It was hers. It had been that way for her ever since…..well, ever since the love of her life had been extinguished.

She never liked to think of that horrible day when she'd heard the news of Harry's death. She'd felt the walls caving in; she couldn't breathe. The worst mental suffering she'd ever experienced tormented her for weeks. What stung the most was that she couldn't publicly mourn him. She couldn't show that her own heart had been ripped in two. That honor, if one could call it that, had gone to Hermione. His wife and mother of his child.

Ginny played with her napkin. She could no longer remember what had started her downward spiral into this half-life she now endured; why she'd acted the way she did. All she remembered was the cruel pain she'd felt at Fred's passing. She'd needed an outlet for her agony; a target, a victim and Harry had been the safest choice. He would forgive her. He always had. But somehow, it had gotten out of hand. She'd let go of not just her pain but also her hold on him, her right to call him hers. She had banished him from her life. But not her heart. She'd had no power over him there. He'd stayed and festered as time went by.

Oh, she could see it all now. She'd been so blind. She'd twisted her family's attitude toward Harry. She'd made them hate him, and by extension, Hermione.

And for what? She'd cursed herself. She would always miss him. That was her future now. Ron's, too. He'd confessed to her the night of Harry's funeral. He'd crawled up to her bedroom, reeking of firewhiskey, and told her he'd gone to the funeral. Ron told her what Harry's magic had done. Then he'd wept, his hurt coming out like the horrible wails of a dying animal. They'd both sobbed for hours that night. She'd desperately tried to purge her soul of the blackness that had infested it. Of the dark that had found easy root. Cried out to the Powers to forgive her for sinning against love. It hadn't changed the awful truth. Harry was still dead.

Ever since then, Ginny had been a hollow shell. Life was a series of blah events. Joy had ceased to exist.

"You gonna eat that bacon?" Thane asked, his question bringing Ginny's thoughts back to the present.

Shaking her head, she said, "You can have it. I'm not that hungry."

He took it from her plate and stuffed it in his mouth. It was all she could do not to scowl. His eating habits were as bad as her brother's.

Swallowing the meat, he gulped down some tea, then wiped his face with his sleeve.

Hello? Ever heard of a napkin, big boy?

Ginny knew Thane had gone to Durmstrang; maybe that was why he was so….unrefined. She couldn't imagine manners being given any kind of priority there.

"Thanks," he said. Then he grinned. "I don't normally eat this much for breakfast, but I doubt I'll get any time for lunch today. Got a big job in front of me."

"Oh?" Ginny tried not to let her boredom show. She didn't even know what he did. Not that she cared.

"Can you keep a secret?" he asked. Ginny tried not to grimace. A sliver of bacon was stuck between his teeth. "We got a whack job scheduled for today."

"A…..what?" Ginny frowned. What did whack mean?

He winked conspiratorially. "Aw, come on….you know. The ol' one-two. One being avada. Two being kadavra."

Ginny froze in her chair. Did Thane just say what she thought he did? "You're…..you're going to kill someone?" she squeaked.

"Shh…..someone will hear you!" he hissed. Then he shrugged his shoulders. "Life ain't all crumpets and cream. People die everyday. But this time, it will be better. She'll be getting her comeuppance. Thinks she's so great and fine. Bossing us around like she's a queen." He snorted. "Bloody ogress is what she is." He looked at Ginny's shocked face. "She wants him to die slowly. Cruelly. But the trick's on her. Little does she know we'll be killing the other."

Ginny was about to come unglued. "Thane Mackabee, you can't be killing anyone! It's murder!"

He gave her a hard look. "Grow up, doll. It's life. Thought you'd understand that, having been through a war. Besides, why should you care? She told us you'd already been helping her."

"I…...I haven't been helping anyone!"

Had the wizard before her been smoking doxy droppings? Ginny was beginning to think he was seriously unhinged. And who was this nameless she he kept mentioning?

"That's not what I heard," he said smugly. "Marietta told us you'd helped her with our first job. Taking out Potter. By the way…..thanks for that. Talk about an easy kill. Just like fishing out of a barrel."

Marietta? Marietta Edgecombe? And…...oh, dear God. Harry. Ginny began to see spots before her. She couldn't have spoken if she'd wanted to.

Mackabee went on, not noticing the paleness of her features. "Yeah…...you giving the boss the inside intel on him made that one of the easiest assignments we'd ever had. But this other has been trickier. We had to learn their habits, their patterns. Funny thing is, Draco Malfoy doesn't have many. Must have been something his father taught him. Keep mixing it up, don't be predictable. Basic defense, you know. Now his wife….there are no surprises with her. She's as constant as the North Star. She'll be just as easy to off as her first husband." He then looked down at his pocketwatch. "Say…..we should be through by teatime. Want to meet up afterwards?"

Ginny looked at him, tears glimmering in her eyes. In a small voice, she asked, "Thane…..you…..you're saying your target today is…...Hermione?"

He cocked his head funnily. "You got a problem with that? Better her than him. She's nothing but mudblood trash." He stroked her cheek with his finger. "I know you hate her, so this shouldn't bother you. Just think of it as a present from me. All right, doll?" Then he leaned down to kiss the same cheek. Giving her a wave, he said, "Later." Then he apparated away.

Ginny stayed glued to her chair, her heart beating a mile a minute. She couldn't think. All she could feel was this enormous pressure on her chest while hearing a weird ringing in her ears. Before she knew what was happening, she'd fainted, her body slipping down to the floor.

She stayed blissfully unaware of her pain for the next couple of hours.


000

By the time Draco and his family had met up with Pansy and Neville, the little restaurant they had planned to eat at was awash with medics from St. Mungo's. They stood outside the door to the cafe as a levitation lift was directed inside.

"I wonder what happened?" asked Pansy.

"Someone must have fallen ill," said Hermione.

"I hope this isn't an indication of the food here," joked Neville. His wife gave him a punch in the ribs.

"Nev…..that isn't funny."

Neville looked shamefaced until Draco shook his head and said, "Don't listen to Tubby. It was funny ."

Fortunately, Pansy was talking to Hermione and didn't hear him.

Neville laughed. "You like living dangerously, don't you, mate?"

The girls shushed them when the medics came back out with the patient. Hermione took one look at the long red hair hanging down from the stretcher.

"Ginny?" she whispered. What had happened to her one-time friend?

Pansy scrunched up her nose, her face showing disgust. "Maybe she was poisoned. We could only be so lucky."

"Pansy," Neville chided.

Hermione noticed that no one followed her out. "Was she alone?" she wondered aloud.

Pansy snorted. "Probably. Most people don't relish eating with a bitc…."

"Pansy," Neville interrupted. "That's unkind."

"So? Doesn't mean it's not true."

"I hope she'll be okay," said Hermione. In spite of the grief the Weasleys had put her and Harry through, she couldn't help but feel pity for the witch.

Pansy rolled her eyes, but Neville said, "That's what I love about you, 'Mione. You're a good soul."

"And what am I?" huffed Pansy as she put her hands on her hips. "Chopped liver?"

Draco laughed. "More like a stuffed she-devil."

Pansy swatted her old friend. "You better be glad your wife is here, or I would show you just how she-devilly I can be."

Draco ignored Pansy and pulled Hermione into his arms. "Thank goodness you're with me," he murmured against her ear. "You're my lucky charm."


000

When Ginny came to, she opened her eyes to see her youngest brother sitting on the edge of her bed.

"You okay?"

She blinked, trying to get her bearings. She looked at the sterile white walls. Hospital walls. She was at St. Mungo's.

"What happened?" she whispered.

Ron took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "You were eating at the Colt & Centaur. They said you passed out. The people at the restaurant freaked. They couldn't rouse you. So they called St. Mungo's. That's where you are. Mum and Dad were here while the healers did some diagnostic spells. They told me to stay with you once they found out you were okay. The healers said you were just suffering from a shock, is all."

As she listened to Ron, her conversation with Thane rushed back with a vengeance. Ginny took a shuddering breath.

He looked at her oddly. "What is it, Gin?"

"Mione….." she whimpered.

Ron's brow rose. "Hermione? What about her?"

Ginny grabbed Ron's arm. "I've got to get out of here. You've got to help me, Ron. There's going to be an attempt on Hermione's life today. We've got to tell her…...got to protect her and Draco." She bowed her head and began to cry. "It's all my fault."

Ron's expression was a mixture of bewilderment and worry. But all he said was, "They said you could leave as soon as you came to. Let's go."


000

James was the first to notice the veiled customer when she walked into their store. His mummy and daddy were in the back making a batch of liquid leviosa for Halloween. George Weasley had requested a supply of it for his joke shop. Hermione hummed as she stirred the orangey brew. The first years at Hogwarts had a tradition of dressing as bats for the holiday. And bats needed to fly. Two tablespoons of the concoction would enable them to rise a few feet off the ground and the extra amount of hippogriff feathers in it would promise flight for at least a minute. Long enough to feel the thrill of flying yet short enough to keep from getting into any real trouble. She was glad George sent in the order. He'd come around after Harry's death and apologized. Hermione knew what it cost him to say it. Losing Fred had warped the surviving twin; but life had a way of renewing everything, even broken hearts. Hermione had discovered that for herself. She looked over at Draco. He was standing at the counter, patiently picking the leaves off a shrivelfig. She watched his fingers as they grabbed each leaf. Draco had such beautiful hands. She sighed. She felt like a silly schoolgirl with a massive crush, but she couldn't help it. She was completely besotted with her husband.

Hearing Hermione's sigh, Draco looked up. "Anything the matter, love?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Nothing but your wife realizing what a lucky witch she is to have you. Draco….I….I love you. So, so much."

He grinned at her. "Feeling a bit sentimental, are we?"

Hermione laughed. "I know; I'm being completely barmy. But you always have that effect on me."

He put down his shrivelfig and walked over to the cauldron where Hermione stood. Cupping her face in his hands, he bent down and gave her a sweet kiss. His lips still touching hers, he murmured, "The same here, Mrs. Malfoy. You've bewitched me, body and soul."

Draco had just decided to give Hermione a full on snog when they heard James talking to someone in the store.

"Guess I better go see who that is," he sighed before he gave her a playful swat on her bum.

Hermione chuckled. "Watch it. Or I'll pay you back tonight.."

Draco winked at her. "I'm counting on that."

He walked out to see a veiled figure crouching down in front of James. She held a small golden ring between her two fingers. The light coming in through the windows reflected off the polished metal. He heard her ask James if he would like to have the shiny ring. A feeling of alarm came over him. Although the witch had said nothing outwardly threatening, Draco knew the exchanging of jewelry in the magical world could have many serious consequences.

"Can I help you?" he asked in a hardened voice while subtly pulling James away from the woman.

Her eyes were all he could see. They stared at him coldly. Unblinking. Like a shark's.

"Yes," she said as she slowly rose to stand. "As you see, I have an affliction that forces me to remain covered. A friend of mine recommended you and your lovely wife to me. Told me you were master potioneers."

That explanation wasn't enough to make Draco feel better. His internal hackles stayed raised. It was an instinct that had been honed by the war. It had saved his life several times. He wasn't going to discount it now.

"You want us to make a potion for you?" Everything about this felt false to Draco. Why was the witch seeking them out? Why not go to St. Mungo's? He asked her as much.

Blasted Slytherin, thought Marietta. Too clever for her comfort. Aloud, she said, "I need something that will give me relief from the constant pain I suffer. Their potions no longer affect me." There. Maybe he'll believe that.

Draco stared at her. "I'm not sure if….."

"Why don't you call you wife out here to discuss it with us?" the veiled figure suggested. "Being a witch herself, she may better understand my needs."

"Just a moment," he said.

Draco wasn't going to take any chances; he leaned down and whispered in James' ear. "Jamie…..I need you to grab some floo powder, and I want you to go to Uncle Theo's. Do you understand? I need you to go now."

The little boy looked up into Draco's eyes. James could tell his new daddy meant business. He knew he needed to obey. Good thing he knew how to floo by himself.

Aloud he heard Draco say, "Would you ask Mummy to come out?"

James somehow understood that Draco was protecting him from the strange lady. A quiet seriousness enveloped the little boy. He nodded once, then scampered off.

A minute later, Hermione stepped out. She took one look at veiled woman and said, "Marietta."

The woman nodded. "Hermione. It's been a long time."

Draco sucked in a breath. Marietta Edgecombe. He remembered her now. He recalled the story Harry told him about her. How she'd ratted them out and the consequences that had come from it. But Draco didn't understand why she was stilled veiled. Wasn't remorse supposed to cause the snitch scar to fade? Perhaps Marietta had never regretted her actions. Somehow, that made him feel justified in keeping his guard up.

"Marietta…..why are you here?" he heard Hermione ask. Trust his wife not to beat around the bush.

Instead of answering, Marietta waved her hand in the air. "Homenum Revelio."

Draco stiffened. All around them were shadowy forms. He immediately stepped in front of Hermione to act as a shield.

Marietta snorted. "Do you think that will help? That won't do any good. Besides, I don't want her."

That stymied Draco. "You want…..me?"

Marietta smirked. "Actually, I had a younger wizard in mind."

A sudden shiver ran down Draco's spine. Now he understood why she'd tried to give James that ring. He silently let out a breath of relief. James should be at Theo's by now.

Unfortunately, Hermione didn't know he had sent James away. Behind him, he heard her gasp. "James? Oh, dear God, no…."

Marietta laughed then. Flicking her hand again, the shadowy forms gained substance. Draco swallowed. Before them stood twenty wizards. Most of them he could name.

"Hello, young Malfoy," said a familiar voice. Draco turned to look into the face of Vincent's father.

"Mr. Crabbe," he forced the words out of his mouth. "Established some new friendships, I see."

The older man smiled but it did not reach his dead-looking eyes. "Yes, so it would seem." Then his eyes shifted to Hermione. "I could say the same of you."

Behind him, Hermione brazenly demanded, "State your business and get out of here."

Draco could feel her knees shaking, but her voice sounded strong. Bold. God, how he loved his lioness.

"Ballsy," the elder Crabbe chuckled. "I do admire spirit. But that won't help you this time."

"Can we get on with it?" huffed one of the men. "There are other matters I need to attend to today."

Marietta scowled at the impatient wizard. "I've paid you well enough. You can wait on me."

She turned her eyes to Hermione. "I wanted to be here today so you would see who had bested you, Granger," she spit out. "These fine gentlemen have worked for me before. They were the last faces your precious Potter saw." She let that sink it and watched as Hermione put two and two together.

Marietta felt a deep satisfaction when Hermione's face wrinkled in dismay. "You? But why? What had he done to you?"

"Oh…..nothing. Absolutely nothing," she said casually. "Harry just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time while married to the wrong witch. Same as Draco here."

Hot tears dashed against Hermione's cheeks. She felt her heart pounding with impending doom.

Think, Hermione! she said to herself. There's got to be something you can do!

Then she saw it. Draco's wand was sticking out of his back pocket. Wrapping her hand around the wood, she tried to pull it out.

"Oh, no you don't," said Marietta as soon as she saw what Hermione was doing. She quickly accio'd the wand from her hand. "Not this time."

Hermione screamed in frustration.

Marietta laughed.

"Please," Hermione begged. "It's me you're after. I'll…..I'll go with you. Kill me. But leave my family alone!"

"No, Hermione!" Draco cried out.

"You're in no position to dictate terms, Granger," said Marietta cooly. "I'll do what I want. And what I want is to do far worse than kill you. I plan to hurt you. And I wish to go on... hurting you. Your husband and son will help me do that."

Hermione felt Draco tense at Marietta's words. A sudden, fiery rage came over her. She had been unable to help Harry. But Merlin help her, she was not going to let harm come to Draco. She felt her magic rising in spite of her shock and grief at learning whom Harry's killer had been. She let the churn of righteous anger bubble underneath the surface. She let it fuel her. For just a second, she closed her eyes.

Help me, she spoke to the power just under the surface of her skin. The same power that resided in Draco. Protect us both.

Then she opened her eyes. If anyone had looked closely, they would have seen her brown irises crackling with a golden light.

No one was going to take what was hers.


000

"James?" Theo said, surprised when he saw the little boy in his fireplace. He put down the newspaper he'd been reading. "What are you doing here?"

James looked up at his mischievous uncle, but there was no corresponding playfulness this time in the little boy's face. "Daddy told me to come. Dayuhs a bad lady at da shop. I could feels it. Daddy says fuh me to comes heeyah…..but I's wu-weed, Unca Theo."

Theo stared at James. He didn't doubt anything the lad said. Theo knew children saw things simply. More often than not, accurately. Moving over into the fireplace with him, he said, "Hold on to me, Jamie. Let's go get Uncle Blaise."


000

"Were you told anything else?" Ron said as he and his sister hurried from the hospital.

"No. Only that it would be today."

"Where?"

Ginny paused. She didn't know. "Let's try their shop first."


000

"Marietta…..it's time," said Crabbe. "Let's be done with it."

She smirked at Hermione. "Very well."

Draco heard Hermione behind him growl, sounding like a cornered animal. He felt her magic swirling around them both, becoming dangerous. Wild. He tried to touch her, but Marietta had a few of the men pull the two of them apart.

"Better say your good-byes now," she snickered, "before the screaming starts."

Draco looked one last time at the love of his life. At that moment, he didn't feel fear. Just a deep sadness and regret that his time with Hermione had been cut so short. Gently entering her mind, he said, If you see a chance….I want you to apparate out of here. Do you hear me? Don't try to save me. Leave. Promise me.

Hermione wasn't having it.

You're bloody crazy if you think I'm going to leave you, Draco Malfoy, she thought furiously, her power making her hair start to frizz with static electricity. We're smarter than them. We still have our wandless magic. Don't you dare give up. Then she added more softly, Please. I can't…..I just can't…..live without you.

Watching them, Marietta sneered. "Aw…...isn't that precious? All those longing looks…..how sweet. But I've made my boys wait long enough, so let's get started." She nodded to Crabbe. "Now don't forget to give Mrs. Malfoy a show."

Clearing his throat, he said, "Men. You have your orders. You know what to do." At that moment twenty wands rose in the air. Draco turned his face to Crabbe. His eyes burned, but he refused to blink. He knew Hermione wanted him to fight, but what could he do that wouldn't get her killed, too? As he stared at the older man who had at one time been a close friend of his father's, he saw a sudden shifting in his eyes. They had moved from him…...to Hermione.

Draco suddenly realized what was going to happen. Marietta was about to be double-crossed. She had never been privy to a death eater's fidelity, but Draco had. Crabbe had not broken faith with his father; he was still loyal to Lucius, to the cause they'd shared. He wasn't going to kill the pureblood son of a former comrade; instead, he would kill…...the mudblood.

With the reflexes and speed of a seeker, he pushed Hermione to the ground, while at the same time crying out, "Protego!"

He watched as multiple points of light hit the shield he'd wandlessly raised. All of them directed to where Hermione had been standing..

Marietta shrieked. "Not her, you imbeciles! Him!"

"Relashio!" Crabbe yelled. The bubble of protection around Hermione immediately released, popping as it disappeared.

Hermione wasted no time. Throwing all her strength and magic into it, she sent a non-verbal hex Marietta's way. She didn't even know what curse she'd sent. All she knew was that it had used up the buildup of power within her. She fell to the ground, exhausted, just as the other witch started screaming. Vicious boils began to erupt over Marietta's body. She scrabbled to throw her veil off, the wool of it causing agony everywhere it touched her flesh. The hardened group of men now saw their mistress for the first time. They winced at the sight. Marietta's face was a macabre mask of scarred flesh.

Hermione, panting from exertion of casting the spell, blanched in horror. That was not the result of the charm she'd put on that parchment so long ago. Something terrible had happened to Marietta. She looked like she'd been torn apart and put back together by someone who didn't know how a human should look.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Crabbe cried out to his men, "The mudblood! Kill her!"

Then everything became chaos.

Before the assassins could cast their curses, multiple pops came from different areas of the room.

Blaise, along with a team of Aurors, had apparated in, their wands at the ready. They immediately began blasting the group of assassins with everything from expelliarmus to sectumsempra. Potions arranged on the shelves exploded from the melee. The freed liquids dripping down the walls perfumed the air with a mixture of exotic aromas. At the same time, Ron and Ginny appeared. Seeing the bedlam around them, they acted quickly. Ron raced over to Draco, throwing a shield over his old enemy. Ginny stood in front of Hermione, meeting hexes with hexes of her own. Behind her, Hermione was using her magic as best she could, but Ginny could tell something was wrong with her former friend. Her spells packed no punch.

So intent on the men, neither witch noticed when Marietta shakily rose on one elbow to send a diffindo curse Hermione's way. Ginny saw the flash of light right before it struck her friend. She instinctively stepped in its path to block it with a protego. But she was a millisecond too late.

Both she and Hermione were hit.


000

When Hermione finally woke up, the first thing she saw was a worried-looking Pansy. Neville was standing by his wife. Draco hovered nearby.

"Uhhh…" she groaned.

Draco was the first one to hear her. Bending low, he kissed her forehead. "Sweetheart…..I'm here."

"Whe….where….am I?" She managed to get out. Everything still looked hazy to her.

"You're at St. Mungo's love," he said. Hesitating, he asked, "Do you…...do you remember….."

Remember? Was there something to remember? Then it hit her. The fight. Being struck with a curse. "Draco…...James….is James alright?" She moaned, panic beginning to fill her.

Draco gently gave her her shoulder a squeeze. "Shh, no need to worry. James is fine. He's with Mother. Theo is over at the house, keeping them both entertained. Well…..at least James is being entertained. I doubt Mother is."

Hearing that, Hermione quieted. Then she said, "What happened? Was anyone besides me hurt?"

The three surrounding her bed gave each other a guilty look. Hermione tried to sit up, but an incredible pain made her sag back against the mattress.

"For heaven's sake, don't do that," fussed Pansy. "You'll open it up."

Hermione blinked at her friend. Grunting, she asked, "Open what up?"

Draco laid his hand on the crown of her head. He couldn't stop touching her now that she was awake. "Marietta tried to curse you with a diffindo. You and Ginny were both hit."

"Oh." Hermione stilled. She knew that was the severing curse. How bad had she been hurt? "Where….?"

Draco knew what she was thinking. Quickly trying to put her mind at ease, he said, "You didn't get hit with the full strength of the spell. It sliced you in the ribcage. Made quite a nasty gash. Thankfully, one of the Aurors who came with Blaise had also been trained as a medi-witch. They got you stabilized before you were taken to St. Mungo's. You may end up with a bit of a scar, but that's all."

Hermione gingerly touched her side. All she could feel at the moment were the bandages that covered most of her torso. "What about Ginny? How is she?"

No one responded.

"Draco?" she looked up at her husband. "Is Ginny okay? Where did the spell hit her?"

Swallowing hard, he took her hand and said, "Her neck."

That was answer enough.

Hermione's chin began to quiver. "She…..she didn't make it?"

"No, love. I'm sorry."

Hermione began to cry. Pansy and Neville murmured to Draco that they would be back in a little bit. They knew he alone could best comfort his wife.

As soon as they left, Draco enlarged the bed and carefully laid down beside Hermione so as not to jostle her. Stroking her hair, he let her cry as he consoled her with kisses and whispers of love.

"Did….did Ginny suffer? Oh, God…...I can't stand to think she might have. And because of me…..."

That thought turned Hermione's tears to loud sobbing.

"Shhhh, love….don't do this to yourself," Draco said, troubled at Hermione's grief. "I promise you on my wand…..she passed quickly. Ron was beside her. She died in his arms. At least she had that."

"Where was I?" It hurt Hermione to think she hadn't been able to say goodbye to her one-time friend who'd saved her life.

"They were busy working on you," Draco whispered. "They knew there was no hope for Ginny, but they thought you still had a chance….."

"Because she saved me." Hermione's bottom lip began to quiver. A new batch of tears flooded her eyes.

"I was so scared I was going to lose you," Draco admitted, his heart squeezing painfully at the memory. He wiggled closer to her, rubbing her neck with his nose, breathing in her comforting scent. "The bleeding…...it…..it was awful." He lifted his head to look at her. Hermione saw his eyes were shining suspiciously. "You're not allowed to ever scare me like that again. Is that clear?"

She just nodded, too overwhelmed with emotion to kick up a fuss about his bossy tone. Besides, she knew if the tables had been turned, she would have been saying the same thing to him.

After a few minutes passed, Hermione's tears turned to sniffles.

"I…..I don't understand," she hiccuped. "Why was Ginny there? How did she know we needed help? Why would she even care? She hated me. Why would she sacrifice herself like that?"

Draco had wondered that, too. "I don't know."

It was a puzzle piece that didn't seem to fit.


000

A few days later, Hermione received the surprise of her life. Draco was helping her sit up in bed, propping pillows behind her back when the door opened and in walked Ron Weasley.

"Hi," he said uncertainly.

"Ron…..," she choked out. She could see the red rims of his eyes, the dark circles underneath them. Ron had been grieving for his sister. She'd heard her funeral had been the day before.

First Fred…..now Ginny, Hermione thought sadly.

These are for you," he said as he gave her a bouquet of daisies. "Er, I….I thought I remembered them being your favorite flower."

Ron gave them to Draco who in turn, handed them to his wife.

'I see mine is not the first offering," he tried to say lightly. Red roses banked the left side of Hermione's bed, pink tulips graced the window sill and some strange little flower that Hermione had never seen before was on the counter by the sink. She knew it was a magical hybrid of Neville's, but that was all she knew.

"No…..not the first….but, yes, you remembered correctly. I love daisies." Then she couldn't stand it any longer. Reaching out with her arms, she said, "Ron….please."

Her former friend needed no further prompting. He immediately went over and sat on the side of her bed, wrapping his long arms around her. The two remaining members of the Golden Trio cried over their their many losses; their friendship…..Harry…..Ginny. But for Hermione,, they were healing tears. She and Ron would never be as close again as they had been as children, but at least now they wouldn't be enemies anymore.

"I'm so sorry, Ron. Truly sorry."

He brushed her apologies away. "It's not you who should be sorry, 'Mione. It's me. What I did…..what my family did….it was wrong…...despicable. Can you ever forgive me?" He peeked out from under his thick thatch of red hair.

He desperately needs a haircut, thought Hermione. Then with a small pang, she recalled all the times in the past when she would chide him to get one.

"If you say no, I won't be mad. I know I deserve it."

But of course, she didn't say that. She told Ron she forgave him, had forgiven him a long time ago. She told him she had moved on, and she encouraged him to do the same.

"Yeah…...I suppose I should," he said as he gave Draco a quick look out of the side of his eye. "Listen…...one last thing and I won't bother you anymore…."

He gave them the final piece of the puzzle. Ron told Hermione and Draco everything Ginny had told him before they'd apparated into their shop. "She hated herself, 'Mione. Couldn't make peace with what had happened. She'd become a shadow of her former self. Then when she found out how Marietta had used her to get to Harry, well….." his voice dropped. Clearing his throat, he said, "I'll miss Ginny. But I reckon she's happier now than she would have been had she lived."

After Ron left, and while Draco was busy finding a vase for her daisies, Hermione thought back to her dream of the library when Harry had showed up to help her with her doubts in marrying Draco. Maybe wherever he and Ginny were now, he was helping her learn how to forgive herself.

After all, eternity was a long time to carry guilt.


000

The papers were full of Marietta's trial on the day Hermione was discharged from St. Mungo's. It had come out through the use of veritaserum that Marietta had been kidnaped during the war. She had been tortured. Her torturer? Bellatrix LeStrange. Bellatrix had never ceased in her hatred for the only mudblood who had escaped her wrath. After Marietta's capture, Bellatrix transferred her hatred of Hermione to her prisoner. Draco's mad aunt showed no mercy. The abuse Marietta suffered broke her. Something snapped in the mind of the poor girl. The last thing Marietta's mind processed before she cracked was the one thing her mind held onto. Which was Bellatrix's hatred for Hermione. It became her own. She pushed down the memories of her own torture; in their place new memories were created. Ones where Hermione's sneak hex had caused her condition. Healers thought her mind may have been trying to protect itself from the unrelenting trauma she'd had to endure. But whatever had caused it, the damage was apparently permanent. Instead of being sentenced to Azkaban or to the Kiss, she'd been given indefinite confinement within the Janus Thickey Ward at St. Mungo's, there to receive treatment and care.

As for Crabbe Senior, there was no hesitancy in giving him a one-way ticket to Azkaban, along with Mackabee and the other thugs Marietta had hired.

On the day that she was to leave the hospital, Narcissa and James had shown up with Draco to welcome Hermione back to the manor. Narcissa had worried greatly about her daughter-in-law and wanted to make the day a celebratory one. She kept the conversation going by telling Hermione of all the changes she'd made to her and Draco's suite while she'd been recovering. "And you know that pretty blush comforter you admired in Braywick's a few weeks ago? I was able to special order you one. It came in yesterday. Of course, those old green window treatments looked positively ghoulish next to it, so Skippy and I spelled them into plantation blinds. I really think you'll love the effect. The room's so much lighter and brighter and….."

Hermione leaned over and whispered to Draco, "I only need you to make a room bright for me. But don't tell your mum that."

Draco winked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

At that moment, Hermione's healer came into the room to discharge her. "Alright. Here are your instructions. I will want to see you again in two weeks. And here are your supplemental potions…...take this one in the morning and that one at night. They'll accelerate your healing and will build back your core strength."

"And this one?" Hermione asked as she held up a bottle with a bluish liquid in it. It looked somehow familiar, but she couldn't place it.

The healer said, "Well now…..that's only if you need it. But so far, you've shown no indication of developing morning sickness."

Both Draco and Hermione paused in what they were doing. Together, they said, "Morning sickness?"

Their twin expressions were comical to the healer.

He said, "Yes…...oh. Didn't you know? Most witches do early on the second time around."

Draco swallowed. "You're saying…...we're….that is, Hermione is…..pregnant?"

The healer nodded. "Yes, she is. That's why she suffered magical depletion. A witch's body pulls what it needs in growing new life. In your wife's case, her body needed more."

"Why would she need more?" Was something wrong with Hermione's pregnancy?

The healer grinned at the two worried parents-to-be. "Because she's carrying twins. A boy and a girl. And from what I can determine at this point in time, they are both going to be very powerful magically. Just like their mother and father."

It was hard to know who squealed louder after that.

But James thought it was his Daddy.


000

AN: Sometimes villains have the saddest story.

The dialogue where Marietta says she wishes to go on hurting Hermione came from the movie, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

And the phrase Draco uses when he tells Hermione that she has bewitched him body and soul came from the 2005 movie, Pride & Prejudice.