They pulled her from the wreckage, Andromeda's hands on her face, her lips touching begging her to wake up. "Please, please wake up. Please Bella." Andy said, her fingers wrapping into Bella's robes. "Do not leave me alone." Bella moved slightly, a moan escaped her lips. The medi-wizards checked her pulse and apparated with her.
"Hermione." Andy said helping to pull back the debris. "She has to be here." They found her, curled into the fetal position, her arms over her stomach, eyes closed. She looked as though she was sleeping. Andy moved down towards her, "Hermione. Baby." She said checking her next. "She's alive." Andy moved her carefully and felt against Hermione's stomach, she searched for anything a flutter, a kick. "No-no no. Andy said desperately feeling until finally, under her thumb a tiny little flutter. Andromeda apparated with Hermione to the busy trauma unit of St. Mungos.
"Hi," The healer said, Andromeda's hand on Hermione's stomach. "Is she coming in from the Ministry."
"Yes." Andromeda said, her hands moving to Hermione's face now.
"Her name?"
"Hermione Black." Andromeda said putting her hands back to Hermione's stomach searching again for the tiny flutter.
"Date of conception?" the healer asked moving her wand over Hermione's stomach.
"Beltane. Nearly- nearly four months." Andromeda said moving her hand for the healer and then placing it back when she was done. "Hermione, baby." Andromeda said, "Can you hear me?"
"Your name?" The healer asked, a quill and scroll floating.
"Andromdea Black."
"Was she responsive when you found her?" The quill scribbled furious as the healer asked questions.
"No, no, is Bellatrix here? My sister, she came in a few minutes ago."
"She is; the healers are with her now. Someone will be out soon to speak with you." The healer said gently. "If you'll just have a seat I'll come tell you how your wife is as soon as I know but I need to take her back."
Andromeda opened her mouth to correct the healer but she was gone with Hermione.
Andromeda sat in the waiting room, she was soon joined by Vance's daughter and Birch-Lock's wife. The trio sat together waiting for news. Cissy arrived a while later with Draco. Tonks was already at St. Mungo's with Teddy for observation. They couldn't go into the observation gallery in case Teddy had any residual effects that may cause harm. He had been with Mordred for nearly twenty-four hours before he was recovered and brought to Draco by Vance.
Three hours went by, Harry joined them bringing food from the Leaky Cauldron. The wizard press was pushing to try and enter the waiting room as the story broke. Thankfully the Magical Law Enforcement department had sent over several officers to keep the waiting room clear of the stress inducing cameras and reporters.
"Mrs. Black?" A healer called, Andromeda stood. "Hi, I'm healer Pavol I'm working on your wife."
"Sister." Andromeda corrected him.
He checked his scroll and frowned, "Hermione Black, your wife."
"Oh no, she's my sister." Andromeda corrected him again. He nodded and changed the information.
"My apologies, the healer who brought her in said she was your wife."
Andromeda waved it off, she would be Hermione's pet poodle if it meant she would get some information.
"Come with me please." He said walking away from the waiting room. Andromeda glanced over at the growing group which now included Luna and Neville Longbottom.
Andromeda's heart raced as he led her away from the group and into a room with a table and chairs.
He sat down, Andromeda stood. "Is she dead?" Andy asked barely above a whisper.
"No, no she's stable. Please have a seat."
Andromeda sank into the chair. Her hands resting on the highly polished table.
"Your wife has sustained severe injuries to her internal organs."
Andromeda didn't bother to correct him and nodded. "We've manged to repair the damage done to her lungs and her heart, though it is still touch and go and could require more treatment potions tomorrow morning."
Andromeda nodded again, "The baby?"
"Your wife went into labour, we managed to stop it in time and we're fairly certain she will be able to carry to term. There was a small rupture to her womb but it was easily repaired, the baby did not sustain any injuries."
Andromeda leaned back in the chair and let out a long breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. "When can I bring her home?"
"Oh not for another week at least, we have to make sure the potions have replenished and the stiches need to come out before she leaves. If all goes well I'd say ten days, maybe a little less."
"Is she awake."
"No, we've given her something to sleep to let the magic do its work. Sleep is the best healer."
"And my sister, Bellatrix?"
The healer pulled out another scroll and read it over. "Severe injuries to her hands, arms and legs. Several large injuries to her back. Your sister was very lucky, the shield charm she cast over herself and the others saved their lives. She's in shock at the moment, doesn't remember what happened, it's possible she may never remember."
Andromeda nodded, "So she's stable?"
"Stable, yes, some additional bruising to her lungs and dust inhalation but other than that we've been able to stich her up."
"When can I bring her home?" Andy asked relieved that both were ultimately alright.
"She needs some time to recovered, she should be home in a few days provided her skin regrows properly."
"Can I see her?"
"I'll have a healer take you down."
She woke with a start breathlessly looking around room. She took a shuttering breath, her wand flying to her hand. It was early morning the light in the room a soft bluish white. She looked over at the sleeping witch next to her, undisturbed by the nightmare. She envied the sleep that came free of bad dreams. She hadn't had a full night's sleep in weeks. Always the crashing sound around her, glass falling and searching, searching in the mist trying to find- she could never remember what she was trying to find. For a while she hadn't remembered what had happened, she preferred it that way. It came back to her in a roar when Tonks broke a plate in the kitchen. The sound of the glass shattering on the floor had sent her right back to the Ministry.
She stood slowly and walked to the window, the ground covered by an autumn mist, it felt like an eternity since that day in August. The image of Vance laying over Birch-Lock's body, the energy that ripped through the building over their heads. She felt warm arms close around her, she smiled at the touch, the window pane reflected the two women looking down at the garden.
"Come walk with me?" She asked leaving the warmth of the arms and retrieving a cloak.
"It's very cold."
"Only just. It's going to freeze later though. Maybe we'll have snow." She replied fastening the cloak, her wand tucked safely in her pocket.
She made it to the door, the fingers that were entwined with hers let go. "I can't."
She turned in the doorway, "Come Pet. Nothing will hurt you." Bella said gently.
Hermione trembled slightly peering past Bella into the garden and took a step back, her throat felt tight, "Tomorrow. Please. I'll do it tomorrow."
Bella nodded and then smiled, "Tomorrow." Her heart ached, her nightmares came at night, Hermione's came during the day. She unfastened the cloak and came back into the house and retreated back with Hermione to the bedroom. She knew better than to push it, she had walked out once and Hermione was nearly catatonic for three days.
"How long has it been since Hermione's left the house?" Andromeda asked Bella as they sat on the rocks on the beach. The sky was blue, the leaves were changing colour, it was just the kind of day that Hermione loved. The kind of day that would have them swimming in the hot springs and making love with the cold air on their exposed skin.
"She went to her folks last week but that was it. She goes into the muggle world but she refuses to go with me to Diagon Alley. She won't even go to St. Mungo's for her check-ups, she insists that the healer can come to the cottage."
Andromeda frowned, she had moved in to help and was saddened to see little improvement in Hermione's overall well-being. "Maybe she'll come with me." Andy said thoughtfully. "Maybe she worries that something will happen to you if she goes with you or it reminds her of what happens if she goes with you."
Bella shrugged, "I can't reach her Andy, she's- she's somewhere else, she's still in that room. Still with Mordred."
Snow was thick on the ground now, the Christmas tree was up and decorated. Andromeda was wrapping a present by the fire. She was laughing telling Bella about her foray into the muggle world's shopping centre to retrieve a toy for Teddy.
"What's an action hero?" Bella asked laughing at Andromeda's description of people pulling things away from each other in a frenzy of madness.
"It's like a wizard only they don't use wands." Andy explained. "You're going to have to brush up on all this muggle stuff Bella before that sweet baby gets here."
Bella smiled at this, "I've heard all about it. Apparently there is a thing called Winnie the Pooh…"
"I know Winnie the Pooh." Andy said remembering Dora's little bear.
"Why would they name the bear that, it sounds disgusting." Bella said shaking her head, "Is it to toilet train a child?"
Andromeda shook her head, her eyes glanced at the shiny scars that wove up Bella's arms and over her hands. "Does it still hurt?"
Bella nodded, "Some days more than others." She said touching the scars for a moment.
"How is she?" Andy asked finishing taping the gift and placing it under the tree.
"Scared." Bella said looking at the variety of wrapping paper Andromeda had brought. "We go out in the garden but- well every noise scares her. Whatever happened when he- when that spell hit her."
Andromeda worked in silence on the next gift, both of them wondered what Hermione had seen.
Hermione lifted into the air, her body felt as if it were being ripped in two. She couldn't scream, she couldn't move. She could feel Teddy in her arms, she had to keep him there. She had to hold him tight.
"Who did you steal your magic from!" The voice boomed around her, Mordred's voice. Hermione couldn't answer, her voice didn't work.
"I'll find your magic and rip it out you, you filthy whore." Hermione felt him move through her body, her mind screamed begging him to stop. Her body felt as though it were on fire, her mind tried to focus on Teddy to keep him safe. "I'll find it even if I have to rip your child from your body."
Hermione cried out in her sleep, Andromeda put her arms around her, "Shhhh baby it's ok." She said rocking Hermione gently. Bella had gone Christmas shopping with Tonks and had left Andromeda with Hermione.
"He took it." Hermione whispered pulling herself closer into Andromeda's arms. Andromeda pulled the blankets up around them. "He took it." She whispered again.
"What did he take Pet?" Andy asked brushing back her hair.
"It burns." Hermione whispered holding her hands up. "It burns my hands."
Andromeda pressed a kiss to her fingers. "They're not burning Pet. See?" She said kissing Hermione's fingers again. "They're all here nice and cold." Hermione watched her kiss them and closed her eyes falling back to sleep.
Andy rested her chin on Hermione's head, this was not the first time she'd had to tell Hermione her hands were not burning.
Hermione stood in the nursery, her fingers touched over the toys. She avoided the magical ones. Bella watched her for several minutes before entering the room.
"Did you see this?" She said making small talk and held up a tiny little fairy. "Watch what it does." She said running her wand over it, the little fairy woke from her hand and looked at both of them and the flitted up into the air for a moment and then came back down to Bella's hand. "It goes longer when children play with it and it doesn't need a wand but you get the idea." She said holding it out to Hermione.
She nodded but didn't take it.
"Did you want Andy to charm those? I know you don't have a wand yet. She can charm them so they're able to move around."
"No." Hermione said quickly and stepped back from the toys, her hands clasped together tightly, her eyes fearfully looking at Bella. "My hands are burning." She mumbled looking at the floor.
"Where are you?" Bella asked in frustration. "Where are you? I can't get to you Hermione. I can't-" She threw the toy down. "Is it this? Is it magic? She said as Hermione took a step back. "Answer me!"
Andy stood in the doorway, "Bella-" She said gently.
"No Andy, I've been kind, I've waited but no, no more." She growled. "Where are you!" She took her wand out and held it towards Hermione. "Is it this?"
Hermione's chest heaved slightly, her hands covering her stomach. Tears came to her eyes. "Please-" She whispered. "Please no my hands are burning."
Andy entered the room and Bella held up her hand towards her. "Please what Hermione? We're magical, you're magical. Please what stop it? Stop being who we are?"
Hermione sobbed looking helplessly at Andy, "My hands burn. Make it stop please."
Andromeda walked passed Bella and knelt pressing Hermione's fingers to her lips. "They're all here Kitten nice and cold." She said holding them to her lips again. "Do they burn now?"
Hermione shook her head. "Magic isn't safe." She shuddered, Andy stood and kept Hermione's hand in hers.
Bella stepped towards her still holding the wand out. "It's safe Hermione. Whatever happened, whatever Mordred said is a lie. Whatever you saw- whatever he showed you- he lied Pet."
"This," Bella said resting her hand on Hermione's stomach, "This is magical Pet. This is safe." She said as Andy let go of Hermione's hand and walked to the door of the nursery. "Look at our baby's world, it's safe and warm. She's safe inside you, she always has been. Hmm?" Bella said nodding at her, "Where have you gone Pet." Bella whispered, her fingers tracing their tattoo that laced up Hermione's arm. "Come back to me."
Hermione's fingers moved along Bella's scars and the tattoo and looked up at her frowning. "Does it hurt?" She said, her fingers touching the delicate skin.
"Sometimes." Bella answered.
Hermione nodded, the tattoo glowed slightly as she touched it. She held her breath for only a second as she traced it over Bella's neck watching it shimmer. Andy left the room quietly.