Chapter 36: The final Battle
Hermione sat drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair, shifting her position every once in a while because her back would start to hurt, they had after all been sitting there for an hour.
"Hermione, I am sorry."
"About what?"
"About you having to be part of this, you are pregnant and should have anything to do with this."
She reached over and took his hand, "this is completely my choice, my husband can be angry at me later, but I chose this, and I will stand by you until the end." Suddenly her necklace began to glow and heat up. "It's time to go Harry, are you ready for this?"
"I was born ready, kinda." The two laughed at the little joke and made their way down to the great hall. Hermione stunned random deatheaters to put on her 'front' that she was protecting Harry, they entered the hall to see many mini duels going on she lead him up through the groups up to him and just before they arrived she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
She nodded slightly at the dark lord and then she pulled away from Harry and drew her wand, pointing it at the base of his skull, "Oops sorry Potter."
"Hermione… I thought we were friends."
"Oh we were, I just found a different way to get what I want out of the world."
"And what's that?"
"Power, fame, and to clear my family name, we are not after all in sane."
"Could have fooled me."
"Well looks like I did, ha-ha"
"You see Potter, Hermione is a smart girl and knew what side would win and chose her loyalties wisely."
Hermione smirked and withdrew her wand, taking five or six steps back, her eyes never leaving Harry's dark head. She prayed that he was really ready for this.
"So Potter are you ready to die?"
"Haven't we been here before, I am not going to give into you so easily, because unlike you, I have something worth living for."
"Oh potter, tsk tisk, you should know better by now then to say such rubbish, you best friend just betrayed you."
"She isn't important, I am ready to duel you Voldemort, so bring it on."
"Crucio," Harry easily deflected it and they started throwing curses at each other, the group stopped throwing curses and they stopped to watch. Harry had phenomenal dueling skills and held his ground as the murderer took no mercy. Voldemort paused smirking, "Very well Potter, you don't want to give into destiny, then let us continue."
"For another hour? No thank you," Harry said his voice dripping with hate, "This ends now."
"Very well, Avada K…"
"NOW!" Every Dumbledore's Army member drew their wands and knocked out thirty death eaters before half turned their wand inward and forming a circle around Harry and Voldemort. The circle had Voldemort in the middle and five people standing two steps out from the others forming a pentagram; Severus stood directly behind Voldemort as the point of the pentagram, Albus stood to his left, Minerva stood to his right, Hermione stood behind Harry's left side and Ron stood to his right. A round of Aurors came in to help the rest of Dumbledore's army remaining take care of the remaining death eaters.
The circle started chanting an old Latin text "Spes increbresco in Obscurum, Diligo servo amicitia quod prosapia, obscurum mos non take nos, obscurum mos non take nos." Over and over again, until the Dark Lord fell to his knees.
"Congratulations Madam Snape, you managed to fool me, too bad that you baby won't live to see it, he lifted his wand pointing at her directly into the chest, the circle pause what they were doing staring in fear of what he would do.
"Keep Chanting Dammit, he is full of empty threats." She said continuing her chanting.
"Cruci…."
"No Voldemort, they are right, enough, you are full of nothing but empty threats and I feel sorry that your followers follow you out of fear and not loyalty." Voldemort looked up at the little boy that he had tried to kill, "Good bye darkness, Avada Kadavra!" there was a bright green flash and when it dissipated, there lay a crumple body. The circle broke just as Hermione went down screaming, Severus and the others ran over to her.
"Hermione what is it." Severus asked.
"I'm in labor!"
"NOW?"
"No in two weeks you idiot, yes now, my water broke during the battle!"
"Dammit Hermione..."
"Severus no is not the time," Albus said.
"Come on we need to get her to the hospital." Minerva said. Severus scooped up his young wife with the entire group and Malfoy family in tow. He laid her on a bed and one of Poppy's assistance came over to check on her. The young girl left and sent Poppy over, Poppy got her ready for delivery.
"Those of you who are not part of the married couple are to go wait outside." No one dared argue with the mediwitch and all left the hospital wing.
"Where's my mother?"
"Hermione you should focus on the baby."
"NO Severus, where is she?" Severus looked away grabbing her hand. "She died didn't she?"
"Hermione…"
"Never mind just get Minerva in here dammit!" Severus quickly stood and got his mother.
"Hermione you have to push."
"Wait for Minerva and Severus," as soon as she spoke the words, they entered.
"Ok," she sighed as Minerva and Severus grabbed hands.
"Push Hermione," Poppy said.
The party had been waiting for four hours without word of Hermione's condition.
"There is something wrong," Harry said.
"Oh nonsense, I was in labor with all of my children for at least six hours each," Molly said knitting.
"No I think Harry's right, she is a month early." Albus said.
"I am sure everything…" Molly started.
"AAAAHHHHH, Severus I am going to kill you!"
"No I think Molly's right, she's fine." Remus chuckled.
Another hour went by before Minerva came out sweating; smiling larger than any had seen her except Albus.
"What news Love?"
"Oh Albus, she gave birth to a beautiful healthy Baby girl, 51.2 centimeters and 3462 grams." The group cheered and gave each other rounds of hugs and smiles, "She wishes to see all of you, now, she gave Poppy quite an earful about her family being here."
The group quietly filed in to the wing as Poppy bustled about healing those that she could and sending the more serious injuries to St. Margos. They all rounded Hermione's bed and aww'd at the sight of the little pink bundle, the baby had dark hair and light brown eyes with an olive tone which was a tad pink from the birth.
"She is beautiful," Ginny said looking at the baby's face over Hermione's shoulder.
"Just like her mother," Severus said kissing Hermione's hair.
"So what are you going to name her?" Narcissa asked.
"Actually I was thinking of naming her Elaine Minerva-Belle After her grandmothers." She looked at Severus.
"Welcome to the world Elaine Minerva-Belle Snape, Minerva would you like to hold your granddaughter?" Minerva nodded as everyone gave their welcome to the little bundle of joy.
"Potter, and Miss Weasley, we would like you two to be her godparents," Severus said.
"Really?" Ginny asked.
"Yes Gin, who else would I ask?" Hermione said tiredly
"I would be honored sir," Harry said.
"Me too."
"Would you like to hold your god daughter Miss. Weasley?" Minerva asked.
"Yes ma'am." Harry took the bundle from Minerva and as Ginny on a nearby chair as Harry handed the baby off and stood over her watching the little one sleep.
Hermione watched with a small smile on her lips, "I'm sorry that Mother won't be here to watch her first grandbaby grow up." She brushed a few stray tears that leaked from her eyes.
"Oh baby," Narcissa walked over to Hermione and took her hand, "Your mother fought for what she believed in and as long as you are safe and happy, I know that she will be smiling upon this little girl."
"You really think so Aunt Cissy?"
"I know so," She kissed the girls forehead and moved to take her great niece. For another hour, the baby was passed around her family as everyone fawned over her. Afterward Poppy came over and shooed out everyone but her god parents and grandparents, Lucius and Narcissa claimed to have arrangements to make and they left with Draco in tow.
"It seems like this little one knew when she was ready," Ginny said glancing over at the basinet now next to Hermione's bed.
"It seems that way; she will now be a symbol of light for us all." Harry said, "I don't think I could have asked for a better first day of freedom."
"Me too," Hermione leaned into her husband and fell asleep; the family stayed a while longer and then left the family in peace. The world was finally happy and they all had something to be proud of.
A/N: Latin translation: Hope prevails in the Darkness, Love protects friends and family, darkness will not take us, darkness will not take us.