Need Chapter 14, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 14 – Hogwarts

Dumbledore was running his eyes through the first paragraphs that filled the ancient book he had on his hands as if trying to solve a very difficult riddle hidden behind the lines.

"... A long, long time ago; before Merlin and Circe, in a land of constant wars; muggles and wizards cohabited together in peace. Differences were set by territory and family rather than kind.

It is said that during those times of war. The villagers would choose a sorcerer and sacrifice three of their most brave warriors, to bestow upon him the power of their lives combined; in exchange, the sorcerer would be forced to protect the king of the village, for whom the warriors had been sacrificed. During times of war and danger, the sorcerer senses were heightened and it was his duty to protect the king and his people with his last breath, or be punished with unbearable pain.

This was the Telum Curse; those who were bestowed with it..."

A sudden spark that appeared on the fire signalling the arrival of a newcomer, a familiar platinum head appearing through the flames made him close his book and leave it on top of the table; the young Malfoy had finally arrived.

Draco's father had made sure he received the best care after he returned home, his recovery took two weeks, in which he barely talked with his father; his mother never stopped asking questions about how his injuries had come to pass but neither his father nor he ever gave her an answer.

Draco had found out in his torturing cell that it had all been a set up; when his father said that there was only one existing copy of the curse, he meant that the book had been created as part of the scheme. The details of the curse were true, but were all the consequence of the Telum Curse delivered incompletely; the so called antidote had only sealed the curse and triggered her transformation.

The worst piece of information that cell had brought to him was that if there had been a way of ridding her of the curse or the twins, he wouldn't have ended up being tortured in the first place, the Dark Lord had tried the knowledge of all his followers, including his father, before he decided to punish him.

It was, to this point, his task, to rid "the weapon" of her spawns, and it was common knowledge among the deatheaters that his failure on this task would result in his imprisonment and imminent death – by means of torture.

He knew he didn't have to prod his father for the information or means he needed for this task, but he also knew, that if his father had any of the knowledge or means, he would already have given them to him. Draco was, after all, his only son and heir, and he'd witnessed how he had thanked the Dark Lord for freeing him, and later be crucioed because of it too.

So there wasn't much to talk about between father and son, though it didn't stop his father from visiting him daily, and it didn't stop Draco from seeing his father's silent visits as a confirmation of his failure.

On his last day at home Draco asked for a detailed description of the Telum Curse; history and consequences; only to find out they had already been packed in his trunk and were waiting for him in front of the floo.

At his arrival to Hogwarts Dumbledore asked for a pensieve of everything that had transpired; to which Draco obliged before leaving his office. Dumbledore didn't send for him after that.

Hermione had used this time to learn about magical twin pregnancies, she'd submerged herself in the library and hadn't come out until she had a large stack of books which she levitated to her dorm, and placed in her trunk, she made sure to put a disorienting charm on them in case anyone came too close.

She had learned that during these pregnancies magical foetuses would fight for space inside the womb, and emit small bursts of magic caused by the two new beings developing together; these magical spurts could hurt some of the organs inside the mother, it could cause anything from very low fevers to broken ribs and internal bleeding that ended up causing the mother's death, or have premature births. At least the last one was not so different from the muggle pregnancy for twins.

She had learned that in the eighteenth century Kaida Van Hurtendrag, a very well known alchemist, discovered that taking regular calming potions (exactly the kind that had never worked on her) during pregnancy would stop the spurts of magic from the foetuses from hurting her body. Before Kaida, almost all multiple pregnancies in the wizarding world ended in the death of the mother and sometimes of the babies when it occurred before delivery, which lead to lots of miscarriages and the ingrained believe that twins were a death omen.

Even after learning about the details of her pregnancy, Hermione's love for her unborn babies never wavered, for the first time since her accident in Hogsmeade, she was grateful that her body had become practically unbreakable since it meant that her babies were safe inside of her, even from their father, who she hadn't seen in more than two weeks.

Draco had never had a problem with nothing being able to hurt her. It took him a while to surrender to their fate after his return to Hogwarts.

He knew it was impossible, especially after finishing the books his father had given him, but that didn't stop him from trying; he just had to, he couldn't bear to see the sight of her suffering, he learned the hard way when each time he tried something, she not only grew multiple blades along her legs and arms, she inadvertently threw splinters his way each time he got too close to her with harmful intent. It all left him a bleeding mess.

She would then break down in tears, which more often than not caused another painful spurt of magic from her womb. It broke his heart each time it happened, so he stopped altogether.

Their first exchange of words after his arrival to Hogwarts happened with both of them lying in the infirmary; he would always have the curtains drawn around him, since he didn't want her to see the little presents the Dark Lord had left on him as reminder. Incredibly enough it was usually Hermione who broke the silence with a quiet "Sorry" that escaped her mouth along with a struggling sob that she would try to conceal.

After their first few meetings Draco would remind her that it was him who started it and that she shouldn't apologize, but that would usually cause her to burst into tears and ended up with Draco rising from his bed and walking to her to try to sooth her. During these times he would never say that he would stop trying but simply hug her until she fell asleep.

It took him five of these encounters to finally give up; the twins were indeed indestructible while they were inside her, and he didn't like being the cause of her entering the infirmary more than she already did.

He hated more than anything having to see her go through the pain and to not be able to do something. So he would lie with her in the infirmary each time it happened, no human force was able to make him depart and it was obvious that Hermione enjoyed seeing him every time she woke up next to him in bed.

So it was, that he would ask her to forgive him in a million ways and promise that he would never touch her again which only ended up making her even sadder, so he stopped that too.

During their talks she'd go into explanations of how their babies were growing and how in the muggle world they had the technology to take photos and how she dreamed about going when they finished school and that the muggle Doctor that took care of her had promised her he would try to take her do it before that. She ranted about how she tried to watch her temper now harder than ever because she believed that the babies could feel everything she was feeling.

It was all torture for Draco, he would give anything to change places with her if that's what it took. If only he could at least take away the pain she was going through…

After a while Draco became resigned to the existence of the twins, and started talking to them while their mother was asleep. Trying, hoping, praying; begging for them to understand that what they did was hurting her.

One night in the middle of another grieving monologue, while he was caressing her tummy he felt a little spark of electricity go through his hand that filled him with an immense feeling of calm. It startled him and when he tried to raise his hand the green ray of energy followed through making a visible shining streak of light. Then another golden beam of light that came from inside her womb and sparked causing a circular glow in her body that made her sleepy form moan in satisfaction.

He couldn't believe his eyes so he uncovered the piece of cloth that covered her tummy and saw a rainbow of colours flowing all over her stomach some of them shinning through. He placed his hand on top of her, and touched her with a finger, trying to follow the movement when suddenly another bright light came through and touched him again, filling him with a feeling he knew all too well; one he'd had a lot of trouble voicing.

He heard Hermione sigh again and couldn't resist the urge to drop down and kiss her tummy; suddenly another ray flew through her making him jump back.

"Can you feel them?" the sound of her groggy voice surprised him but she continued "they do that from time to time, they are the only calming draught that goes through me, I guess it's because it comes from inside, I like to think I can calm them too, that's why I've taken so much care in guarding my emotions; they like to reciprocate, I guess. I read in a muggle book that the first emotions that a human can produce are anger, sadness, happiness, fear and love; but the only thing I can feel from them is happiness and love. It's soothing, can you feel it" she said taking his hand and pressing it against her skin "Yes, I can" Draco answered smiling, even though he soon realised it was all too good to be true; "you're lying" he said, adapting a serious demeanour to look at her "I've seen you writhe in pain and cry out in sorrow Hermione", the look in her eyes changed but she kept his stare as she answered "that was only because you made me sad and angry, Draco, not them" she saw him cringe before another yellow ray flew through her and made her laugh.

"They tickle!" she explained, before another ray flew from her and touched him "I felt it too" he answered and raised himself to start showering her tummy with kisses, making her get into a fit of giggles.

"Draco, stop! You're killing me" he stopped only to look at her and kiss her; when she asked what had happened he answered again through his kisses "I don't think– ...I want– ...to be– ... the one who– ... makes you sad– ...or angry anymore, Hermione"

"Thank you, Draco" she said with a meaningful look in her eyes.

"That, and I'm not willing to be beaten by couple of babies in the way to your heart" he said before he started tickling her again.

When he had finished tickling her she was panting for breath; before she could catch it, he leant over her and kissed her thoroughly and passionately.

Draco came out of the showers and looked up in the mirror, he traced the lines the needles made along his body as they ran beneath his skin; he'd grown used to the pain by now, and the calming draughts Madam Pomfrey gave him seemed to alleviate most of it, although lately they were reaching further down his arms and soon they would probably reach his hands, at least, he thought; they no longer explode inside and they no longer move as frequently. His mother hadn't been able to get them out and the school nurse hadn't been any more successful either, he didn't wonder why.

It was one of the gifts the Dark Lord had bestowed upon him, and honestly, he didn't mind all that much. That small part of him still thought he deserved worse...

A couple of days later Hermione convinced Draco to go to the shack one more time; they were walking along the passages when Hermione popped a very inconvenient question.

"Why are you wearing gloves lately?" she asked while she pulled his hand as they walked together.

"Don't you think they suit me" Draco answered following her through the passages that took them to their shack.

"Draco, there are hundreds of things that suit you and I've never seen you wear them more than once"

"It's not like I'm wearing the same ones every day!" Draco faked to be affronted.

"I don't like them"

"I thought you said they suited me"

"They do"

"So there's nothing not to like about them." He stated.

"I can never touch you, don't you miss it too?"

"I can touch you" Draco said pulling her back for a fervent kiss.

"That's not what I meant" she said, laughing through his lips.

"What else would you mean?" he said tickling her and carrying her towards the entrance of the Shack.

"Draco- No- Wait! Stop! There's something I want you to see" But Draco had already stopped exactly because he had seen it.

There, lying in the far corner of the entrance room; right next to the door of the room they used, were two cribs and as he looked throughout the room he saw it painted with a blue sky on top of a landscape with trees and birds flying and jumping around, it was all carpeted and he could see different baby toys perfectly ordered in shelves that were placed around the walls. As he got closer he realised the cribs were more like baby gyms, and when he entered the room they used, he saw the real cribs laying each next to an enlarged version of the bed they shared, it didn't look anything like the room they had once used to sleep, it was all painted with a similar landscape to the room outside but with a bright moon and shining stars. The bed they shared was enlarged and had two cribs next to each side and close to the wall.

"When did you do it?" He asked as he turned to look at her trying very hard to hide the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat, since he was used by now to see her shining and hopeful eyes whenever there was something concerning the twins. He wasn't mistaken; she was excited, but she was also; not fooled. She laughed and pulled him inside sitting him on the bed next to her.

"Right after I left the infirmary" she said smiling; "Draco, look; I know how you feel about all of this, but I'm going to be fine, and even if I'm not I'm not going to leave you alone"

"Don't you even dare say it, you don't know what you are talking about; you don't know what you mean to me"

"I do know, Draco, but they are your children too, and it's not their fault all this has happened, I'm actually very happy it did. Draco, even my parents are excited, they are not too happy about me making their same mistakes but they know how I feel and they'll support me"

"Do they know that they could kill you?" he retorted.

"They know it's a dangerous pregnancy, but they are all for it, they sent all of this and promised to take care of them if something happens, but Draco; I'd like them to have a father at least, if they are not going to have me"

"Don't-"

"I know it's a possibility, I started a diary I can leave for them if something happens, I hope I can read it to them when they are old enough to understand but if I'm not; I want them to know that I loved them"

"Stop it!"

"Draco, please you have to understand, they are going to need you, and I know you are going to need them too"

"Silencio!" he casted but as usual it shined through her. But at least the message got through to her and she stopped, looking sad and crestfallen

"Draco, you have to understand"

Draco was looking defeated, he knelt in front of her and took hold of her hands; he was not looking at her as he spoke; "I do understand, Hermione, I understand better than you think. I know it's not their fault, you don't know how aware I am of that fact – he tightened his hold on her and brought her hands to his lips before he continued – Gosh, it's incredible how effective you can be, way more effective than the Dark Lord; I can't guarantee much but I promise that I'll do all I can to keep them safe, as long; as long as you try to do the same to stay alive" he said the last thing looking straight into her eyes.

She nodded, bringing a smile to her face and hugging him tight. Draco knew he wouldn't be able to do much if she died and he knew the Dark Lord would probably try to go for the twins when he was through with him, but maybe he could try to fake their deaths too, before that happened. Maybe, if there was a god out there that heard his prayers, she would live too; and he would be able to fake her death as well.

She was still hugging him as she whispered in his ear; "would I have done all of this if I were not willing to do my best?"

He crawled up to the bed and cuddled her in his arms until she fell asleep; it took Draco almost all night to do the same.

**//**//**//**//**

A/N: Sorry to all those that might have felt Draco go a little more soft than usual on this chapter, you'll see more of the real him in the future.

Also one of the reviewers mentioned how this chapter reminded her of Edward and Bella from Twilight, it probably was because it was inspired on them, I won't say more in case I end up spoiling it for some of the readers, but I thought I should mention it; the last book of the saga inspired some of the scenes on this chapter. Although I feel I should also clarify in case you get your hopes up, that Draco and Edward are characters too different however similar some of the details of the situation are and so are their reactions.

Please review.

A/N: this is the cookie I wanted to give you after chapter 14; here you have it while chapter 15 is being revised by my beta, I hope you read it; it will help you understand lot's of what's said in the next chapter; it's the continuation of the book Dumbledore was reading at the beginning of chapter 14.

Here's a reminding:

Dumbledore was running his eyes through the first paragraphs that filled the ancient book he had on his hands as if trying to solve a very difficult riddle hidden behind the lines.

"... A long, long time ago; before Merlin and Circe, in a land of constant wars; muggles and wizards cohabited together in peace. Differences were set by territory and family rather than kind.

This was the Telum Curse; those who were bestowed with it..."

And this is what follows...

"...had the ability to hunt their king's enemies the way an animal hunts their prey; they could scent them from kilometres away, hunt them, torture them, destroy them or do with them what their king wished. It is said that some sorcerers would feed on the life of the enemies and leave nothing but bones; some of them would relish on their antics while others were haunted by their memories of losing control.

In the village of Willencrown it was tradition that the sorcerers were chosen by heritage and that the burden or honour of carrying such a distinguished position was passed from father to son when the elder passed away; it is so that Marckentar, came to power as the Tenth Telum Sorcerer of Willencrown and married Gherith, daughter of Rotterthal, the leader of a tribe who had once tried to take control over the village.

A year after marrying Marckenthar, Gherith gave birth to a baby girl, with hair as black as night and with eyes the colour of the moon; she was named Geezah and was raised by her loving mother and the few members of family Gherith had left. Her innocent charisma earned her the love of the court and even her father, who she rarely saw, due to the time he spent running different errands for the king himself.

No one would ever tell her what it was exactly that her father did, and why he was so respected by the whole town. When she asked her mother, she would get very sad, refuse to answer her questions so she simply stopped asking.

When Geezah was ten years old and her father was on one of his rare visits home, she heard her parents having an argument about her; her mother was begging her father to spare her, she was begging him to break a tradition and telling him that Geezah would never be able to do the horrors her father did and that she would never allow it.

It was then that it happened, a loud crashing sound was heard from the room in which her parents were fighting and when she ran towards it, Geezah saw her father kneeling on the floor in the centre of the room holding a piece of garment that she recognized as part of the dress her mother wore. Geezah never saw her mother again after that night; and her father refused to talk about it.

Geezah never forgot the way her father held her that night or the grim look on his face.

Her mother wasn't buried since her body was never found but the few members of her family; Geezah's grandma and her aunt, made a ceremony for her under a new moon a month after she passed away, her father wasn't present; and it was that same night that Geezah's Grandma and aunt took her from the village; the next day her grandma started giving her classes about meditation and self control.

No one ever told her the truth until her 16th birthday, when they were finally found. It was Geezah who opened the door and upon seeing her father she threw her arms around him in welcome and after a few seconds her father hugged her back with trembling hands. "Are you ok?" she asked, and her father's firm response was that they had to leave. Geezah, being the impetuous girl she was, ran back to the garden to call her grandma and aunt, she never heard her father's plea to stop or saw the strange way in which he followed her; as if he really didn't want to.

"Geezah!" her aunt gasped as she dropped the plates she had been holding when she saw her.

Geezah was running towards her aunt to tell her the great news when she saw the green jet of light that rendered her aunt unconscious, when she arrived she tried to shake her up and cried for help before she realized she wasn't just unconscious. She turned to her father with a look of horror, he then grabbed her and apparated them away before he could continue.

As they landed, Geezah saw her father fall to the ground, shaking as if in pain, she didn't care, she needed an explanation, she yelled at him and cursed him, she realized then, he had taken not one but two of the people she loved the most. She was hitting him and thrashing against him asking him why, ironically enough it seemed to be not her punches but something else which caused him the most pain.

Marckenthar, tried to hug his daughter while the tremors passed but it took a long time before Geezah calmed down and he could finally answer "because their actions threatened the crown, Geezah, they tried to take the future protector of our people"

"Mom, never threatened anyone! They never harmed a soul!" Geeza yelled back

"No, Geezah, they didn't" his father answered.

"Then Why?! Why, father why?!"

"Because it was my duty; because that's what I do, Geezah. No one mourned the death of your mother more than me, love. But I couldn't help it"

"How can you say that, if you didn't want to kill her, you wouldn't have done it! She was my mother!"

"It's not that easy, Geezah, we've carried the Telum Curse for generations; I can't just run away from my obligations to the crown"

"To hell with the crown, it was my family you killed!"

"I didn't mean to, Geezah, I didn't want to do it, you have to believe me..."

"So that's why she called you a monster, she was right; I'll never be like you!"

"I'm sorry, love, I'm so sorry, but you don't have a choice, we never do."

Geezah walked back and started to run towards the door, but it was locked

"We don't have much time, Geezah, you have to listen to me"

"I don't want to hear another word from you; I'm going back to grandma. Let me leave!"

"You don't understand, Geezah, it will soon be your turn, honey, I'm dying"

"What are you talking about?"

"The Telum Curse, it's passed from generation to generation, they are just waiting for me to die"

"You are not going to die!"

"I didn't kill your grandmother, Geezah, I would have spared your aunt too but you ran to her and I couldn't avoid it; the king found out about your kidnap and ordered me to get you, the fact I was hiding how weak i was made them dubious, they know I'm dying that's why they sent me for you, Geezah"

"You're not dying!"

"Defying an order or going against our obligations, Geezah, renders us helpless; we are bound to our duties by the curse, Geezah, you have to understand"

"I understand, I'm never following your footsteps, I'm never becoming one of you, do you hear me? Now stop your nonsense and let me out!"

Marckenthar fell to the ground and rested his head against the wall.

"I'm sorry, Geezah, but maybe it's for the best, I left you a diary with them, they'll look for you when the time comes" he said before letting the door open on its own, letting Geezah get out of there and slamming the door in his face.

It was for the best, Marckenthar thought, he didn't want her to see what awaited him before he too perished, and he knew it wouldn't be long until they found her and she wouldn't have to go through the death of her grandmother at least. He hoped his theory was right, and that his daughter, unlike him would learn to restrain herself from the start. Maybe it wouldn't be as hard for her as it was for him. And maybe it wouldn't lead her to an imminent death, the way it did with him. He hoped she had a chance to read his diary and forgive him, someday..."