A/N: WHOA, there friends! OK, I don't know if ya'll haven't picked up on it from my other author's notes...but...:drumroll: I am sarcastic. When I refered to the "train wreck" review I was making fun of myself. Which is easy. Cuz theres alot to make fun of. Cuz I'm the fat kid. HAR HAR HAR! I really wasn't offended, lol. So for those of that went to bat for me: I love you. Thank you. And those of you who point out my faults: you're right. Thanks. xoxox
Harry's head was swimming. He was almost proud of himself for not walking into a wall when he exited Hermione's room. The hallway, however, presented another mental hurdle for him to clear. It had been magiked longer than his eye could focus and there were many people hurrying up and down the mammoth length. He caught sight of Draco in the doorway across from him watching the activity with a frown. Harry crossed the hall, dodging the steady stream of bodies, and met Draco's eyes.
"Ridiculous, ain't it?" Draco sneered. "The whole damn Order is moving in and we're going under ground. Apparently, nobody is safe anymore. So for now, we're going to live together like one big happy family." he paused and took in Harry's pale face and unfocused eyes. "Potter, you alright?" Harry nodded absently and began to make his way towards the front of the flat. He noticed, quite suddenly, that there were children everywhere. They were running around wildly, pausing to look up at him in awe every now and then. Molly came bustling through the crowd, past Harry with an armload of neatly folded sheets and towels. She handed her burden off to a tall man that Harry recognized as Bart Buggins - a senior Order member.
"Room fourteen," Molly puffed with a grin. "I just charmed it myself, and it's gorgeous if I do say so myself."
Bart laughed warmly as he departed down the hall with a woman Harry assumed to be his wife, and three small children. Harry met Molly's eyes and she gave him a wide smile. "Hi, Harry, crazy in here, eh?" When Harry didn't respond, she went on, unfazed. "We've decided that it's just too dangerous for Order members and their families out there. So, we're bringing them all here for safe keeping until we can evacuate each family to a safe house in another part of the world." Harry nodded again, and smiled at her, while scanning the crowd for Sirius. He sighted him in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, and speaking to Lupin. Harry left Molly without a word and began to make his way toward Sirius; skirting the crowds by staying to the wall in the dining area. Without warning, as he passed the sliding glass door to the gardens, a hand clamped down on his arm and yanked him through the open door. He heard the door slam shut as he whirled around to confront his abductor. Ginny stood, hands on her hips, smirking in amusement. Harry relaxed and immediately came forward to take her into his arms. He brought his lips to hers, and they kissed passionately for a long moment before Harry pulled back and dropped to his knees in front of her. He pushed the fabric of her t-shirt up and took in the milky flesh of her exposed abdomen. "We did this," Harry said softly, his fingers dancing across her belly and Ginny laughed.
"We did it well." she added smugly. Harry smirked and looked up at her, shaking his head. Ginny's smile faltered and she lowered her eyes. "I, ah, I've been to bed with Snape."
Harry fought the urge to shudder. "I know," he said softly. Hermione had filled him in on the details, including Voldemort's personal invasion, and he knew it was imperative to Ginny that he appear unaffected. Although, inside he was torn between nausea and rage at Voldemort and the Ministry. Oddly, Harry felt no malice toward Snape. "It's isn't you fault, love. I know you wanted nothing to do with it, and there was nothing you could do. Don't blame yourself; I know I don't."
Ginny sighed and wiped away a tear that slid down her freckled cheek. Harry dropped his hands from her belly and gathered her slender hands into his. "Darling," he began. "I love you, and I love that baby in your belly. You did what you had to do to survive, and to protect me, yourself, and our child. I am proud that you held your head up and took the high road. You are, as Sirius pointed out, a woman among women." Harry paused and slipped a small velvet box from his pocket and, smiling up at Ginny, flipped it open. On a bed of white satin within lay the prettiest ring Ginny had ever seen. It was an eternity band that was of alternating diamonds and emeralds, cut in large brilliant rounds that glittered like stars. She laughed through her tears and fell to her knees in front of Harry to kiss him sweetly. He slid the ring onto her right ring finger with a laugh. "Just until I can get it back on the left," he chuckled glancing at the plain silver band she shared with Snape. "I know you said you wanted a big diamond, so we'll go shopping for that when this shit is over and you can come back to me." Ginny laughed and nodded, kissing his lips again. They embraced, Harry petting her hair longingly, savoring the moment. Regrettably, Harry pulled back and brushed a whisp of her red hair out of her face. "Head in to see Hermione," he said softly. "and take Ron with you. There's some stuff we have to talk about. I'll be there soon, I just have to find Sirius and beat the snot out of the old sod for knocking up my friend." They stood and Ginny laid her hand on his arm softly.
"Go easy on him, Harry. He's a good man. A good man to her." Harry paused and cocked his head to the side in thought. Ginny knew something he didn't.
"Something you want to tell me, Gin?" Harry ventured. She shook her head with a grin. "Something you should tell me?" he tried again and Ginny smirked.
"Maybe." Harry gave a smirk of his own and drew her back into his arms; he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck and nipped at her earlobe - the place that made her melt. She let a sigh escape her throat. Harry ran his tongue down the side of her neck. "Tell me," he whispered huskily.
"They, they, ohhhhhhhh," Ginny sighed. "they're giving the marriage a real shot."
Harry whipped back from her neck and she gave a grumble of protest. "Go sit with Hermione," he said as he turned. "I'll be in."
Harry slammed through the crowds and found Sirius sitting on the kitchen counter, alone, and staring off into space. He grabbed him by his sleeve and dragged a thoroughly confused Sirius out onto the gardens, slammed and warded the door, before releasing his grip. "One question, and only one, so answer it correctly," Harry snarled. "Why was Hermione pregnant?"
Sirius tilted his head to the side and met Harry's eyes. "Are you looking for an explanation as to the mechanics of pregnancy?"
"I'm not looking for your half-assed cocky answers, Sirius. Are you fucking my best friend, who I may remind you is more than twenty years your junior, or did you just have a lucky shot on your wedding night?" Harry spat.
Sirius narrowed his eyes. "What I do with my wife behind closed doors is none of your concern, Harry. And furthermore do not stand there and act like you own her. She is her own person and capable of her own decisions. And as I recall, fucking - as you so eloquently put it - is a two way street and requires consent on BOTH sides."
"Not always." Harry said dangerously. Sirius stepped back as if Harry had slapped him.
"Are you insinuating that I raped her?" he whispered.
"She wasn't too happy about marrying you to begin with," Harry said snidely. "I can't imagine she was to keen on handing her virginity to you."
Sirius took another step backwards and forced himself to take a deep breath. "Because you are my god son," he said quietly. "and because you are James' son I am going to end this conversation here before I end up hexing you into next week."
Harry laughed and stepped forward. "Do you love her?"
Sirius looked at Harry for a long moment before forcing himself to answer truthfully. "No." Harry's eyes darkened. "But I care about her and respect her very much. We were thrown into a situation that we never expected to be in and we are doing the best we can with what we have been given."
Harry pondered this statement for a moment before speaking. "Do not fuck my friend again, Sirius. If the day ever comes when you love her and she returns your feelings then I will rescind my words, until then do not touch her again. And If I find out that you are acting like some randy teenager and taking advantage of her trust in you again, your stint as my god father will come to an abrupt end as will your marriage - by any means necessary." Sirius gaped at the man before him that had looked up to him for years before it had come down to this. Harry continued, "I do not threaten idly especially to a man that is as close to a father as I will ever have. I mean what I said, Sirius. And from this day forward, I will never discuss it with you again, but I want your word."
"You already have it, of course." Sirius said without hesitation. No matter how much he was attracted to Hermione, Harry would always come first. He could put aside his lust for her without a problem, especially during this difficult time. He would be kept busy, she would be healing, and the Order would be demanding their time. Yes, he thought, it would be easy to keep his word to Harry. He hoped. Hermione had been carrying his child, though, and that elicited a certain bond. But is was a bond he intended to keep at bay from this day forward. Harry stuck his hand out and Sirius shook it slowly. Harry gave him a half smile, took down the wards, and left Sirius.
Ginny shifted uneasily in the chair, chancing a glance at Ron who was staring dumbfounded at Harry and Hermione who sat together on the bed. "But," he stammered and left it at that. Hermione looked over at Ginny who was obviously uncomfortable with all the information she had received.
"Ginny," Hermione started slowly. "you have to stop thinking of soulmates in the terms of lovers."
"Oh," Ginny said softly. "that's not what bothers me. I get that. What I don't understand is how we're going to get Voldemort out of Harry without killing him." Harry stiffened and Hermione's shoulders fell slightly while Ron looked further horrified.
"I don't know yet," Hermione said simply as Harry squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I do think it's important that we find that diadem in the meantime so we can tie up our loose ends here before facing the devil head on." Ginny nodded and stood, stretching her lower back slowly. She approached the bed, leaned in, and kissed Hermione's cheek. She turned and kissed Harry's lips lingeringly, before pulling from his embrace and turning to leave. "I'll find that damn tiara if I have pull out every last brick of Hogwarts." she laughed over her shoulder. The room remained silent for a long time after Ginny left. Hermione broke the silence every so often with a soft grunt as she shifted in the bed painfully.
"Can we just destroy the diadem, kill Voldemort and his snake, and let Harry alone?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Hermione admitted. "I don't think so, though. I mean what if leaving Harry as the last horcrux activated it in some way and it took Harry over so that Voldemort could return?"
"Yeah," Ron mumbled. "that would be no good,"
"Oh," Hermione sighed, grimacing as she shifted her weight. "what are we going to do?"
"What we always do;" Harry laughed. "figure it out." Hermione searched his face.
"Aren't you scared?"
"Nah," Harry said without hesitation. "if I have to die to save the world, well then I have to die to save the world."
"Don't say that!" Ron snapped irritably. "You've got a baby on the way."
"Hey," Harry said slowly, a frown creasing his features. "if my being dead is going to guarantee my child a safe world to grow up then that is something I'm not afraid of."
"Don't let Ginny hear you say that," Ron grumbled. "she'll cross her legs and keep that kid up there until you give up on that idea." Hermione laughed, then moaned with pain from the effort. Both Harry and Ron snickered.
"I'm glad my pain amuses you." Hermione said with a shake of her head.
Ron shrugged. "You win some; you lose some."
They sat together, brainstorming, until Hermione finally nodded of. Harry tucked her in, then followed Ron out to help situate the Order into Château Black.
The weeks flew by quickly and between evacuating the Order members families to safe houses, brainstorming with other members, plotting with Harry and Ron, and wondering why Sirius was avoiding her like the plague, Hermione was exhausted. She was able to hobble around with crutches a few days after she had been healed and was now only using objects within her reach to help her along with her sore muscles faltered. Draco had pestered Snape nonstop every time he had come to a meeting until Snape gave in and grudgingly healed Draco's arms wandlessly. Lupin had given him enough blood to re-grow his last teeth without some much as a word of protest. Hermione laughed lightly as Draco stomped passed her now, looking murderous.
"What's the matter, Malfoy?" she asked, setting her notebook aside.
"Oh, nothing, Snape's just using me as a servant that's all." he snapped. Hermione raised an eyebrow in question. "The greasy git thinks that just because he fixed my arms he owns me. He has me doing bloody errands all the bloody time. Draco do this, Draco do that, Draco fetch me this, Draco take this to Potter - I'm just a bloody errand boy." Draco spit, heading toward the floo. "If you'll excuse me, my master summons." He threw some floo powder and the green flames took him, presumably, to Snape's chambers. Hermione smiled and picked her notebook back up, thinking over the last few weeks with some happiness. She loved being busy, and with well over a hundred men, women, and children sharing her flat there was no lack of things to do. Although, she had to admit, she was feeling the loss of her own child in her very soul. It was a loss she kept very private, brushing off any concern over it that anyone showed her. She would have gladly shared her grief with her husband, but she saw very little of him these days. He'd even taken to sleeping elsewhere in the flat, claiming that he wanted her to have space to recuperate fully. That was a load of bullshit, if she'd ever heard one. Hermione figured someone had railed him out for impregnating his pretend wife, but with so many possibilities she couldn't pinpoint who. She planned on cornering Sirius soon enough, though, so she pushed the irritating thoughts out of her mind for the time being. Just as she returned to re-reading her notes on the last meeting, Draco returned accompanied by a young woman Hermione didn't recognize. She met Draco's gray eyes, the question written in her hazel ones, and he laughed. "Oh, Granger," he chuckled. "you're going to love this one." Hermione let her eyes travel quickly over the girl. She was absolutely stunning. Long black hair fell nearly to her behind and curled becomingly at the ends. She was tall and lean with voluptuous curves, deeply tanned, and possessed - most strikingly - violet eyes. Hermione stood politely, glanced at Draco quickly, then smiled at the nervous looking girl.
"Hermione, may I introduce you to Valerie Rowan- Weasley. Ron's wife." Draco said slowly.
Hermione let out a little gasp; she had been waiting for this moment to come.