A/N : Well it is has been far to long, but I have had so much going on, Plus an awful spell of writer's block that even when I have a small amount of time to write I haven't been able to write anything that is worth posting, It is worth hitting the delete button..LOL On the bright side I bought a puppy, His name is Loki and he is a Shih Tzu...He is the most adorable little thing ever, Just my other dog ( a husky) isn't to fond of him...LOL So, it seems that my story is at the climax, and should be done in about the next 5 maybe 6 chapter's, but it could be longer. It is always hard to tell with these kinds of things...:) Also, Thanks to everyone who read my story, and an even bigger thanks to the one who also review...I wouldn't be writing if it wasn't for you guys. So thanks so so so much :) Anyway, I hope you like this chapter, Things take a bit of a better turn since all the angst and drama...well, Happy Reading Everyone:)
Hermione lay in a deep dark basement, with only a small window for light. Her body ached everywhere, even her bones ached from the cold of sleeping on a cement floor. She could hear footsteps above her,She figured they were the footsteps of Blaise and Italus. Hermione lay there in silence, worried. More worried than she had ever been. However, not for her safety, but for her unborn child's safety. That at this very moment resided in her belly. She hadn't even had a chance to tell Draco yet, the almost miracle of a child. She had only found out mere days before she had collapsed.
"Hello Marina, How are you today?" Hermione asked one of her co-workers as she came into work.
"I am good, Long day, Lot's of magical mishaps today." Marina replied, giving Hermione a motherly smile.
"Well, If it wasn't for Magical mishaps, We would all be out of work." Hermione said.
"I guess your right dear. My, Hermione, Are you feeling alright? You look a bit pale." Marina asked, giving her a look of deep concern, that a mother would give.
"Ohh, I am fine, Just here for my appointment with Ernie. Make sure, Everything is good. You know since...Since..Well you know.." Hermione still couldn't bring herself to say baby. It till broke her heart into a million pieces to think the fact she had lost her unborn child.
"Yes dear, I know. Ernie is waiting for you in his office. Go on up. Also, Hermione, it won't always be this hard." Marina said, a loving smile on her face.
Fifteen minutes later, Hermione sat in Ernie's Office, Waiting for him to return. She wasn't to pleased about this, but she knew after this final check-up she could truly start to move on from losing the baby. She sat reading a copy is Witch Weekly. That she had found laying on Ernie's desk. She flipped through the pages, somewhat bored. Finally the creek of the door opening alerted Hermione, She turned and faced him. He had a strange look on his face, almost gleeful. Hermione sat expectantly waiting for him to talk to her.
"Hermione, I have news, Very VERY strange news." Ernie said. Sitting down at his desk.
"Okay?" Hermione replied, a look of sheer confusion on her face.
"Well, It seems, That...Well, I am not exactly sure how to put this." Ernie then placed his hands on the desk and folded them neatly, almost stalling for time as he tried to find the right way to tell Hermione.
"Go on Ernie, What do you have to tell me?" Hermione asked, leaning forward a bit.
"Well, It seems that you are...Well, you see, When you lost the baby, It seems, Well, You are pregnant." Ernie said, still fumbling with words to explain all this to her.
Hermione sat wide eyed at Ernie, This was one awful joke. She thought, How could be play with her emotions like this.
"You see, It turns out, that you are still pregnant, i guess would be the more appropriate way of putting it." Ernie, Then pulled out his wand, Conjuring two glasses and a pitcher of water. He began to pour a glass for him and Hermione.
"Ernie, I lost the baby. It isn't possible I could still be pregnant." Hermione said, Her emotions beginning to run a bit wild.
"Yes you did lose one baby. It seems that you were pregnant with twin's. There is still one inside you, Growing. We of course will have to run some test's to make sure the baby is healthy, but from what I have seen so far it looks to be very promising. Congratulations Hermione." Ernie stated, a huge smile plastered on his face.
"That can't be possible, I mean How? If it was twin's I should have lost them both. Also, How could you have not seen this before. Ernie, please don't get my hopes up. You must have me confused with another patient." Hermione said, a look of hope gracing her features.
"Well, It is very very rare, that we miss something like twins, However It does happen. Hermione, It can happen, It happens all the time. The child you are carrying must be from carrying fraternal twins. Meaning, They wouldn't share the same placenta or the same amniotic sac. So as one was lost, the other very Well could have been fine." Ernie, stated matter of factly.
Hermione sat their wide eyed and shocked for a few minutes, not sipping her water, not doing anything. Her mind was racing with thought's with questions. With thanks, that her prayers had been answered. Finally, She looked Ernie in the eyes and spoke. "Ernie, I just can't seem to grasp this, You are telling me that I am still pregnant?? That, Even though I lost one baby, I am still going to be a mother??"
"That is correct Mione, You are in face still going to be a mother." Ernie said, the same goofy smile plastered on his face. "I am just so happy for you Mione, I just wish things were better with Draco. You don't want to end up having to raise this child alone." Ernie said, a smug look on his face.
Hermione in her own little world, didn't even hear the comment about Draco. So, she didn't bother to tell him that things were better. "Ernie, How come you didn't catch this before? I have already been throughly checked with magic when I lost the other baby, how could this have been missed??" Hermione said, She needed to know everything, In case there was any chance her file had been mixed up and this was nothing more than a mistake, She couldn't take the loss of another child.
"Well, Simply being that we didn't know you were having twins. We never thought to check for another child. All we did with magic when you loss the other baby was remove the placenta, and seeing as they don't share the same placenta, The other baby remained fine in your belly. I will admit this is extremely rare, I don't think anyone around here has ever even seen this, but it has happened. I am sure of that. So Hermione, It is more than okay to get excited and jump for joy." he said.
"I just can't believe this..." Hermione said softly, a huge smile spreading across her face, and tears of joy now running freely down her face. "this is amazing, Do you know if it is a girl or a boy??? Wait! I don't want to know..." She smiled even wider.
Hermione, breathed in. It was a miracle that she was still pregnant and going to be a mother. There was no way to asshole's were taking that away from her!! She pushed her weak body up from the stone floor, and made her way into a dark corner. She needed to think. Without her wand, getting out of this would be a miracle, but as she had recently learned miracles can happen.
Draco was just arriving at Harry's, He was just finally grasping everything. He knocked loudly on the door. Not breaking the pattern of knocks until the door opened and a groggy sleepy eyed Harry answered the door.
"Draco.." Harry said, stifling a yawn.
"Harry, I am so glad you answered there isn't much time." Draco said, pushing Harry aside and letting himself into Harry's flat. Harry's flat barely looked lived in. There was a couple chair's in the sitting room, with a small coffee table in the center, The kitchen was off to the right and only had a fridge and oven. Draco assumed the rest of his place looked just the same.
"What are you talking about Draco?? and why aren't you in the hospital. What is going on??" Harry asked, a small look of panic on his face. This couldn't be good, if Draco was here in the middle of the night instead of at the hospital where he should be.
Harry, It is Hermione, Also...You know the mission about Blaise, Well know what Dumbledore wanted me to find out..." Draco said.
"I will Owl Dumbledore." Harry said, racing to the coffee table to pick up a spare piece of parchment, and a quill.
"Hurry, We don't have much time, Hermione is in grave danger..."Draco said, his voice cracking a bit at the thought. It was everything he could do to not just leave and rush off to her aid, but they needed Dumbledore for this, and Draco knew that. "If am I to explain everything, I need to know, that you will let me explain this to Hermione. You can't tell her you know." Draco stated.
Harry gave him a look of utter confusion, but simply nodded. "I give you my word." He didn't have time to not make a promise like that. Hermione's life was at risk, and he knew that every minute counted.
Dumbledore arrived within minutes of receiving the Owl. He entered Harry's flat and sat down on the nearest chair. "Is it true Draco? Is it Italus?" He asked. This time no twinkle in his eye.
"Yes, I am afraid it is. I know why they keep going after Hermione too..You remember why I switched sides?" Draco asked, The elderly man. Dumbledore simply nodded so Draco went on. " Well, It seems they think it is cause of Hermione and not, Well Ginny..." At that statement Harry's mouth fell open, Draco didn't have time to explain so he simply ignored Harry and went on. "also, I know why Blaise was so eager to join him. It seems Blaise is my cousin. It seems Itlaus is his father." Draco finished.
"What does Ginny have to do with this?" Harry asked. He couldn't help but ask.
"Potter, We don't have time right now." Draco said, before turning back to Dumbledore, who seemed as if he was deep in thought.
"I suspected as much, but I couldn't say anything until I was sure..."Dumbledore was cut off however by Harry.
"Don't have time?? Malfoy, Why would Ginny have anything to do this??"
"Harry, Please time is of the essence, They are going to kill Hermione. We need to act fast. Leave your questions till later." Dumbledore stated.
At the mention of Hermione being killed, Harry's heart sank,and he dropped the subject at once. Dumbledore then went on as if no one had interrupted him in the first place. "Alright, do you know where they are Draco?"
"I believe they are at the house I was injured in when I was snooping around. If you both take an arm, I can apparate us there now." Draco said, standing up.
"Alright, Let's go then." Dumbledore stood too.
Back at the house, Hermione lay in the dark basement. She was weak and scared. She didn't see how she could possibly get out of this situation. It seemed hopeless. All she could think about was Draco, and her unborn child. It seemed hopeless, Suddenly, someone coughed from the far side of the room. Hermione squinted her eye's to see who it was. She could only make out a small shadowy figure. "Hello" She called out, scared it might be Blaise or Italus.
"The began to walk over to her, Hermione trembled in fear backing further into the corner. She was scared someone had come to kill her. " Hermione?" The person called out.
"Who is there?" Hermione said back, Her voice showing her fear.
"It is Bersies, I have come to talk to you. Tell you I am sorry." Bersies said, now standing right in front of Hermione.
"You had a hand in this? I should have known." Hermione said, through gritted teeth.
"No!! I didn't, Well, Not that I was aware of anyway. Hermione please, I was under the imperious curse." Bersies replied, a tone of utter remorse in her words.
"Why should I believe you!?" Hermione spat out. " How do I know your not just lying, That the whole reason I am here and going to be killed, cause you want to be with Draco."
"Hermione, honest. I want to help you, Blaise and Italus are gone. I can't get you out, but I think I might be able to hide you." Bersies said, extending her hand to help Hermione up.
Hermione still wasn't convinced, but didn't see a better option at the moment. So she took the extended hand and stood up. "Where?" Hermione asked.
"Follow me, I am not even sure they know about this, Waiting for them to bring you back. I took a look around. Thinking maybe, just maybe I could help you out and try to repay all the damage I have done. I am sorry Hermione, I never meant to hurt you guys." Bersies said, "Also, Now that I can tell you. I should. Kirsten...Well, She is...Remember I was under the imperious curse..."
"I know Bersies, she isn't Draco's daughter..She is Blaise's." Hermione finished for her, She had realized it right before she collapsed in the hospital. It was actually the reason she had.
"You knew?" Bersies asked, now making her way to the second floor, Hermione following her. "but how come you didn't tell anyone?"
"I only found out the other day, when I saw Blaise. I collapsed before I had a chance to tell anyone." Hermione stated in a flat tone. "you know, We still are her parents Bersies. Draco and I love that little girl, No matter what.
"I know Hermione. You and Draco will take good care of her. I know you both will."
"Well, Bersies, After this is all over we would like you to be a parent to your daughter too, Let her get to know the real you and not the one who has spent the last couple years under the imperious curse."
Bersies simply smiled. For she knew there would be no after this for her. She knew once Blaise and Italus got back, They would surely kill her. She had killed the house elf, and helped Hermione "escape" at least they would think that. They would assume she broke the charm and helped Hermione escape, only to remain to tell Blaise she loved him and wanted to be a family with their daughter, at least that is what she would tell them, She had to make them think the charm had been broken, and so, she had to have a reason for why she stayed behind.
"Alright, in here. See that closet over there, Pull back the wall, It opens into a small little room, After your in, I will put some things in front of it and close the closet. I have to get back though, They are going to get back soon." The girl replied, watching Hermione make her way to the closet.
"Thanks Bersies, You may have very Well saved my life. Now I just have to think of a way to get out of here."
"Your Welcome. I wish I could have been more help." Bersies, Then watched Hermione go into the room and shut the hidden door. Bersies knew that was the last time she would see Hermione, but she smiled anyway. She knew that her little Kirsten would be Well taken care of, She found peace in that. She knew that Hermione and Draco would love that child deeply. She let out a sigh and made her way back down the stairs. She was scared, but also knew she was making the right choice, for once in her life.
Draco and Dumbledore and Harry arrived on a deserted street, The weather was cold, and all three men pulled their cloaks in tighter. "This way." Draco said, walking down the road. Making his way to the house he just knew Hermione was in. Dumbledore and Harry followed in silence.
A/N: Alright, I hope you all liked it. I am again sorry for the wait. I honestly didn't mean to, Just so much going on...Anyway. I will have the next chapter up as soon as I can, I have already started working on it...It was actually part of this chapter for a while, but felt I wanted to do the rescue Chapter all on it's own...So anyway, Please don't forget to review. It actually makes me more motivated to write, and that means smaller breaks in between chapters...Even though the next one shouldn't take long at all seeing as how it is mostly done already...also once again input for names for Hermione' and Draco's Child is welcome, If use it. I will give credit to you... :)