Disclaimer:I own nothing, sadly.
Author's Note: It's been forever, I'm sorry! I'll explain at the end! Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-One
Hermione couldn't breathe. She felt light headed.
What was Narcissa Malfoy doing here?
How had she found them?
How did she know that she was Hermione?
"Hermione? Who the hell is Hermione? Who are you?" Sophie asked.
Hermione wanted to tell her to be quiet, but she couldn't seem to find her voice just yet.
"Miss. Granger, I'd like to see my son." she said, her voice becoming more forceful.
Should Hermione play dumb and pretend she didn't know who Hermione was? Would that work?
"Rhiannon, what's going on?" Sophie asked.
"My name is Rhiannon, not Hermione." Hermione lied, her voice coming out in a strangled tone.
"There isn't any point in lying to me." Narcissa sighed, walking into Hermione's flat, moving past Hermione and Sophie.
She peered around, scoffing at the simple, Muggle surroundings. She pointed her wand at the shattered and forgotten teacup on the ground, and it instantly repaired itself and flew back up into Hermione's hands.
"What the fuck?" Sophie whispered.
Hermione closed her eyes in frustration. There was no point in trying to pretend. Sophie had just witnessed magic, and there was no way to get around that.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione said.
"I told you. I'm here to see my son."
Hermione tried to bend down awkwardly to retrieve her wand from her sock, but it was no use. Her pregnant belly was too big. She called it out in her mind and it zoomed into her hand. She cast the teacup away from her, sending it over to the coffee table.
"Wh-wh-wh-what?" Sophie stuttered.
"Soph, I'll explain in a moment, I promise." Hermione whispered.
Hermione took a few shaky steps over to Narcissa Malfoy, her wand pointing out. Narcissa, however, was lazily twisting her wand between her fingers.
"Hermione, please. No need to be defensive, I just want to see my son. Where is he?"
"No need to be defensive? Please." Hermione scoffed. "Your sister attacked me. For no bloody good reason. You ignored Draco for a whole year! You're a Death Eater!"
Narcissa suddenly had a bemused expression on her face, her lips upturned in an obscure smile.
"Yes, yes. Bella is a bit temperamental, and I can't tell you she means well. She was just trying to protect Draco in her own way. Keep you away from him."
"Protect him? Then why didn't she kill me?"
"I'm not my sister, Hermione. I am not my sister."
"Rhiannon!" Sophie suddenly yelled.
Hermione turned to face her. Her face was white, and she looked beyond confused.
"Sophie, I'm sorry. Just, I promise that I'll explain in a minute!" Hermione pleaded.
"Rhiannon, you just made a teacup bloody fly across the room after this woman repaired it! What is going on?"
"Please, girl. Like she just said, she'll explain in a minute. We have more important things to discuss than explain something to a Muggle." Narcissa sighed.
Hermione shook her head, still holding out her wand. This was too much. Too much to handle. She wanted Draco to come back.
"You are far more pregnant than I realized, Hermione."
Hermione was silent, not knowing what to do. She wanted Draco to come back.
Draco, Draco, Draco, come home.
"I'll say it again. I need to see my son."
Hermione shook her head. "No. You need to leave."
Hermione held her wand up further and placed a protective hand on her stomach. She needed to be strong. She needed to be strong for her little girl.
"I'm not here to harm you. I'd just like to talk. I... I know things." Narcissa said calmly.
"RHIANNON! WHAT IS GOING ON?" Sophie screamed.
I turned to look at Sophie as Narcissa chuckled slightly, a strange sound coming from her mouth.
"I know you want to see Draco, but... why? Why now?" Hermione asked, her wand shaking in her hand.
"He's my son. Look, if I found you here, then it's only a matter of time before the Dark Lord does."
"How did you find us here?" Hermione whispered.
"It was difficult. Dumbledore has you two well protected, for good reason, I might add. I had a trace put on the communication book that I have with Draco, and it tells me where the message is sent from. I wasn't giving me a proper reading. There was some sort of protection charm placed upon it, and it took me ages to break through. But, then... when I did, it told me you were in this apartment building. I didn't know where, but I sensed magic coming from here."
Hermione didn't know what to say. She couldn't believe that they had been found.
"I've followed you both around for the last few days. I've been using a Disillusionment Charm. I noticed a few of Draco's mannerisms on the boy you all call Thomas. I knew it had to be him, and by power of elimination, you had to be Hermione."
Hermione closed her eyes and took it all in. She kept her wand raised at Narcissa.
"Are you here to harm us?" Hermione whispered, opening her eyes.
Narcissa shook her head instantly. "No. I'm here to help you."
. . .
"Come on, Ella." Draco said, pulling the toddler along with him.
They had finished their ice cream, and now were walking briskly back to their apartment. Draco needed to take more Polyjuice Potion soon, or else he'd change back. He'd completely blanked on it, having such fun with Ella as they had been out. He'd been distracted.
"I coming!" she squealed, running along beside him.
Draco laughed down at the little girl and scooped her up into his arms just to hurry their walk along.
As they reached the building, he set Ella down. She ran to the elevator, jumping up and pressing the button as he knew she liked to do. As they took the ride up to their floor, Draco felt that something was wrong.
He didn't know how or why, but he suddenly had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He grabbed Ella's little hand protectively and lifted her up once again as they walked out onto their floor. He pushed the door of his flat open and almost fell over at the sight before him.
His mother.
His mother was there, twirling her wand in her pale hands.
Hermione was slowly changing into herself, 'her' auburn hair was changing to it's real brown colour, and she was sprouting upwards a few centimeters. Sophie was standing in the corner of the room, a terrified and pale expression on her face. Hermione had her wand outstretched, pointed at his Mother.
"Mama!" Ella squealed.
Hermione turned around and looked at Draco with terrified eyes.
Brown eyes.
Her eyes.
Draco knew it was only a matter of moments before he changed back into himself as well.
It was all over.
"Hello, Draco, dear." his mother said, smiling coldly at him.
Draco walked over to a quivering Sophie who looked at him with the widest eyes he had ever seen. He placed Ella into her arms. Sweet Ella, who was oblivious to everything happening around her.
"Th-Th-Thomas, what's happening?" Sophie whimpered.
"We'll explain, I promise." he vowed.
He turned and walked to Hermione who still had her wand pointed at his mother.
"Help us? Help us how?" Hermione asked, her voice shaky.
"I'm on the inside. I know what the Dark Lord is planning. I want to help you." Mother said.
"M-Mother." he stammered.
He looked down at his skin for a moment, and saw that it was returning to it's normal paleness. He was changing back.
"Draco. As I've told Hermione, I'm here to help you." she said with a slight smile.
"But why?" Hermione demanded.
"That's my grandchild in there. I wouldn't let anything harm... him or her?" Mother asked, trailing off and asking a question.
"Her." Draco and Hermione answered in unison.
"Her. I wouldn't let anything harm my granddaughter. I knew of the prophecy long ago. Long before you had met. That's why Bella came to you this summer, Hermione. She wanted to scare you. Scare you out of ever associating with Draco. Scare you out of ever creating this child, this girl, who will become so so gifted."
It all made sense now. That was why Bellatrix had hurt Hermione. She didn't kill her because it would have been too suspicious. The Dark Lord obviously wanted Draco's daughter for his own personal gain.
"I swear. I swear I mean you no harm. Draco... you're my son." Mother whispered.
Draco was torn. He didn't know what to do.
. . .
Hermione didn't know why, but she wanted to believe Narcissa Malfoy. She seemed truthful. Ever since Hermione had gotten pregnant, she couldn't understand how anyone could harm their child. Why would Narcissa be an exception and want to harm Draco?
She slowly lowered her wand, much to Narcissa's obvious delight. She looked at Draco, who now looked like Draco again. She had felt the changes come over her as well, and she knew that she must look like herself again.
"Why should we believe anything you're saying? You didn't contact me for a year, Mother. An entire year. I shouldn't believe a word you're saying." Draco snarled.
"Your Father wouldn't let me. He... well, you know how he is. Hungry for power and eager to be at the Dark Lord's side. He's trying to do anything to get the Dark Lord's forgiveness for the Ministry fiasco with the Prophecy of the Potter boy. He found my communication book with you and hid it from me."
"Why wouldn't he just destroy it?" Hermione asked.
"Because..." Narcissa started, looking from Hermione to Draco. "Because in his own twisted way, Draco, he cares for you. He loves you. He's your father."
"Some father he is." Draco spat.
"Please... just trust me, Draco. Please." Narcissa said, practically begging.
Draco, looking extremely wary, eventually nodded slowly. Hermione didn't expect them to have a huge embrace, and she was right as Narcissa only nodded back.
"Thank you, Draco." Narcissa whispered. "Now, we have lots to discuss. But... I think we should speak to the poor Muggle in the corner over there."
Hermione had momentarily forgotten about Sophie and Ella. She whirled around to them. Sophie was quivering and Ella had a very troubled and concerned expression upon her face.
"Sophie..." Hermione said cautiously, approaching her friend slowly.
Sophie shook her head, looking terrified. "I'm going insane, right? I'm going 'round the twist. None of this is really real. I'm just sleep deprived."
Hermione shook her head and attempted a sad smile at the girl in front of her. "No, Soph. This is really happening."
"Who... who are you?" Sophie stammered.
"My name is Hermione Granger. I'm 18 years old. I'm a witch." she explained slowly.
Sophie laughed bitterly and shook her head. "I'm losing my mind. One minute, my friend Rhiannon McCarthy was standing there, talking to this crazy woman, and then... it looked as though you morphed into her... but... that's impossible. Where's Rhiannon?"
"I'm Rhiannon McCarthy. I took a Potion to become someone else. Someone you know as Rhiannon. But, this is me. This is the real me. And... and Thomas?" Hermione explained, gesturing at her boyfriend. "Thomas' real name is Draco Malfoy. He's 18, like me, and he's a wizard."
Sophie shook her head rapidly. "No, no, no, no. This is a dream. I'm just dreaming."
Hermione looked at Draco who was staring at Sophie and Ella with concern. Ella was wriggling in Sophie's arms to be put down, but Sophie held on tightly. Draco moved next to Hermione and she grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly. She could only imagine what he must be feeling with his Mother being here right now.
"Thomas? Why are you diffwent?" Ella asked.
"Because, this is really me. I was in a disguise before, Ella. My name is Draco." he explained slowly.
"Draco." she repeated. "Why are you not Thomas?"
"I am Thomas. I just look different. Do you believe me?"
Hermione watched as Draco's face looked desperate. He really loved this little girl, and Hermione knew that he would be a brilliant father to his own.
Ella was quiet, seeming to be thinking as Sophie stood quivering, holding on to Ella for dear life. Finally, Ella nodded.
"Okay!" Ella squealed, a smile radiating off of her face.
"I need to go." Sophie said, her voice far away.
"No! Please, Sophie. Please believe me. Just understand. There's... there's a whole world full of people like me." Hermione started.
Narcissa cleared her throat loudly and Hermione turned around and sighed, staring at the witch with her arms crossed over her chest.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"As lovely as trying to explain us to a Muggle is, I believe we have some very important things to discuss, such as the safety of your baby." Narcissa said, her voice cold.
"I've got to get out of here!" Sophie yelled, holding Ella and moving for the door.
"Please, Sophie! Just..." Hermione said, as Sophie ran out the door with her daughter.
Hermione felt her heart break a little for her friend, but then remembered that she had to deal with the arrival of Narcissa. She could deal with her friend later.
"Mother... I don't know how to trust you." Draco suddenly said.
Hermione turned back to face them, watching as Draco's face broke into an expression full of pain.
"I know, Draco. But, I promise that I'll win your trust. Please, just allow me to help you. We need a plan. No one will harm my son, my granddaughter or... or her mother." Narcissa said.
And suddenly, Hermione felt as though she had to trust Narcissa. Not completely, of course, but at least enough until Draco could. Hermione turned to Draco, looking into his eyes and touching his cheek gently.
"Love, we've really got no other option, do we?" Hermione whispered.
Draco gazed down at her and all Hermione could see was love.
"Okay." he said softly, leaning closer to kiss her forehead.
As Draco placed a hand on the small of her back, Hermione turned around to face Narcissa.
"Okay, Mother. I'll try to trust you." Draco sighed.
Narcissa smiled a cool smile and nodded. "Excellent. Now, let's get to talking, shall we?"
Author's Note: I think it's been a while since I've posted and I'm really sorry about that! I've been really busy and haven't been able to find the time to finish up this chapter, as much as that saddens me :( Thank you for the reviews and PLEASE review this if you can! they always mean the world to me! I hope you enjoy! xx