A/N. Just so you all know, I cried writing this chapter. Fair warning.
If any of you guys want a playlist of the songs I listen to when I write, well you're in for a treat because I've decided to let you know :D I listen to a LOT of Florence + the Machine, which will be obvious.
1. Shake it Out - Florence + the Machine
2. Howl - Florence + the Machine (WILL be mentioned in a later A/N for a Remus/Hermione chapter, hehe)
3. Breath of Life - Florence + the Machine (great battle-fighting song and definitely Hermione's song b/c of the line "Which side am I on?")
4. Open Your Eyes - Snow Patrol (this is TOTALLY Remus's song)
5. Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
6. Emergency - Paramore
7. Bird and the Worm - The Used
8. Never Let Me Go - Florence + the Machine (will be mentioned in the A/N. before Lily and James's wedding)
9. Running Up That Hill - Placebo
THERE WILL BE MORE :D
...~oOo~...
Chapter Thirty-Eight: You Were Mine, I Was Yours
The Dark Lord was pacing, his fists clenching and unclenching. Hermione sat in the chair primly, back straight until he had something to say. Something with him was...off. The circles under his eyes were more pronounced and his lips were the color of parchment. His hair, which was usually pushed back in a business-like manner was falling forward and tousled.
"Do you know...what it is like...not trusting your own men?" he said lowly as he paced. "There is a breach...I know it."
"My lord," Hermione said. She swallowed. "Perhaps...there isn't a breach at all. Every incident that your suspicious of...well, the evidence is circumstantial. After all, I haven't heard anything amongst the Order about a spy."
"I can feel it, though... There's someone untrustworthy," he murmured, his dark brows pulling together. "The soldiers I thought had proven themselves...one of them is lying to me. To me."
"Should we conduct a few...interrogations, perhaps?" Hermione offered. "Severus could supply some Veritaserum."
"Maybe..." he said, one of his long pale hands raking through his hair and grunt in frustration. "You are right, actually. Just to reaffirm their loyalty. I'll leave you and Severus in charge of the arrangements for the interrogations."
Voldemort stopped walking and intoned gravely, "But if their is a spy...they will rue the day they dared turn their back on me."
Hermione didn't say anything, only waited for him to calm again.
The Dark Lord turned to face her and said, "I apologize for my behavior. After all, we haven't seen one another in a week. I should be kinder."
"No need for apologies," Hermione said with a reassuring smile. "I understand your frustration."
"Still...it isn't very gentlemanly of me," he said, walking forward. He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek. "You are very beautiful."
"Thank you, my lord. And you are very handsome."
He leaned down and touched his lips lightly to hers. Voldemort said quietly, "You are the only person in this world whom I know I can trust."
And Hermione had to fight off the urge to smile.
...~oOo~...
Severus and Hermione waited in the living area at Spinner's End for their guest. The day was grey and dull, the curtains were drawn, but the sound of rain falling was clear. The rug under her feet was worn and singed in one place - Hermione wondered if fire or a curse had burnt the spot.
"Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" Hermione asked nervously when she couldn't disttract herself with her surroundings any longer.
"Regulus is the worst Occlumens I've ever met," said Severus bluntly. "If he has no way of protecting his mind with the Dark Lord becoming so suspicious, he may as well be signing your death warrant. His as well. From the beginning we should have Obliviated him."
Hermione sighed and tapped her foot.
Finally the Floo flared and from the emerald fire emerged Regulus. He was wearing a button-up shirt, trousers, and had the chain of a pocket watch dangling from his pocket and belt. He looked annoyed about being summoned.
When the teenage boy was about to open his mouth to probably snappishly tell them he wasn't a child to call as needed, Severus whipped out his wand and uttered, "Obliviate!"
Hermione glared at Severus as he stole the proper memories from Regulus's mind and hissed, "You could have given him some warning!"
"That would have been troublesome," was all Severus said as he tucked his wand away.
Standing dazed in front of the fireplace, Regulus look dizzy and confused. His hand was pressed to his head like he had a hangover and he looked around at everything in bemusement.
"What...what am I doing here?" he inquired.
"Having tea," Severus replied without hesitation. "Don't you remember?"
"No."
"Typical fool," Severus snipped with a scoff before striding out of the room to put on the kettle.
Regulus turned to his sister and said, "But...why would Severus invite me over for tea?"
Hermione had to admit that he had an excellent point. "It was my idea," she smoothly lied. "I wanted to see how you..." Her voice trailed off as she caught a glimpse of his cheek at a better angle.
Regulus watched, perplexed, as Hermione stood and walked towards him and suddenly fixated on his face. Her hand flashed out and caught his chin, tilting it roughly and using the other hand to brush aside his long hair.
Lying there on his cheek was the imprint of slightly smudged, ruby lips.
Hermione knew that shade of scarlet very well from her childhood. There was many a time where she'd struggled to rub it from her forehead herself.
"Regulus..." Hermione said, still stunned by the discovery. "You know where Walburga is."
Regulus tore his head away from her hands and grumbled, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me, Regulus," Hermione said severely.
"I'm not -"
And then Hermione ripped her wand from her pocket and hissed, "Legilimens!"
And because of Regulus's lock of Occlumens skills, she was right in.
"Darling, where are you going?"
"To a friend's, Mother. I'll be back soon."
"You're not going to see the blood traitors, are you? You know they're the reason your father is dead."
"Yes, Mother. I'm just visiting a friend."
"Good. I love you, my baby boy." And the raven haired woman stretched up to press her crimson lips to her son's cheek. "Be safe. I can't lose the last of my family."
Then Hermione felt a pressing. An uncomfortable pressure. Regulus was attempting the shove her from his mind and wasn't doing a very good job of it. Still, Hermione retracted.
"Where was that?" she demanded. "It wasn't decorated strangely...is she staying at an inn? The lamps were bolted to the tables."
"Leave our mother be," he hissed. "She's just keeping herself safe until they catch Father's killer."
"Regulus," she said, half-hysterical, taking him by the collar. "Don't you see? She could be the killer!"
"Mother would never -"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence! Would you really put it past her?"
"She didn't kill him!"
"Then who did?" She shook him and looked him straight in the eyes. "If Walburga didn't kill him, then tell me who did! If the Aurors ever re-open the case and they realize it's her, you are helping hide a murderer! You're an accomplice! How could you be so stupid, Regulus?"
"She's my mother! Just because you hate her - even when she took you in - she is still my flesh and blood! And we protect our family, something you obviously don't understand because you're a selfish bitch!"
Before Hermione realized she was doing it, she slapped her younger brother across the face. The clap of flesh against flesh rang through the room and they were both frozen for a spell.
With a shaky stillness, Hermione spoke slowly with a quiet hurt and fury. "Everything...everything I've ever done... was to protect my family. So don't you dare claim I'm selfish or don't understand sacrifice."
Regulus was still stunned from the smack and remained silent.
Hermione stepped away and murmured, "Tell Severus something's come up." And she ducked into the Floo and disappeared.
...
Hermione had barely stepped through the door when Sirius blew towards her, pulling on his shirt hurriedly. He hadn't heard her come in and pulled up. Hermione could tell something wasn't right - Sirius looked...frantic.
"Sirius, what's -"
"Dorea and Charlus...They're at St. Mungo's. It doesn't look good," was all he could work out. "James and Lily are already there and Remus is on his way. Come on." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the Floo.
...~oOo~...
Dragon Pox, extremely contagious, was especially deadly to older people. They were just more susceptible and the virus attacked more viciously.
St. Mungo's was busy. It always was, especially with the constant attacks and battles going on. The Healers were in a constant state of hustle, transporting patients on cots and delivering potions and salves. It didn't smell like antiseptic the way Muggle hospitals did, but like a potent herb garden.
Sirius and Hermione were practically jogging towards the Potters' room, number 483, and as they got closer they saw the frame of a man sitting in a chair in the hall, hunched over with his elbows braced on his knees and his face in his hands. Despair just radiated from James Potter as he sat motionless, trying to keep her hands from shaking over his face.
Sirius started to speak with panic. "Where are they? Are they -
Slowly James lifted his head and pointed at the door across the hall from them. "The Healers are saying...they waited too long to come in." He swallowed the thickness in his throat and dug the heels of his hands into his eyes. "They're just...so damned stubborn..."
Lily walked out of the room, wearing her junior Healer robes, and closed the door carefully behind her. She looked as distraught as James. "We've just given them the cure for the pox...but the illness has spread so rapidly the Healers aren't sure if it took. There was no immediate change, so...it doesn't look good. They're saying in a few days...chances are..."
Sirius dragged his hand down his face, his skin so pale it looked grey. Hermione wasn't in much better shape. There was a cumbersome weight pressing on her chest.
No, no. They can't die, her thoughts kept pleading. They need to be here...they need to meet their grandson...they need to live!
"You can go in to see them, if you like," Lily told Hermione and Sirius quietly. "They aren't contagious anymore."
They both looked to one another and nodded before opening the door and carefully stepping through.
The room was dimly lit, for the Potters' comfort, and it felt like a sick room. Coughing and heavy breathing, the sounds of chests rattling. In the beds lined up beside one another was Dorea and Charlus. Dorea looked significantly worse than her husband, her skin a pale green and her eyes blood shot, her arms, neck, and face covered with pox.
Charlus wasn't too far behind, but he seemed to be in less pain.
"Look, darling..." Charlus said weakly with a soft smile, his mustache twitching up with his lip. "Our...other two kids...are here..."
Sirius was stoic as he sauntered over to Dorea's said and Hermione went to Charlus's, both sitting between the beds so that they were also side-by-side.
"Why did you wait so long?" Sirius whispered hoarsely.
Dorea said raspily, "Thought it was just a pesky cold, love."
Sirius was shaking his head. "So...stupid..."
The older woman reached out her wrinkled, pox-covered hand and took Sirius's. "Everything... will be okay, Sirius."
Charlus lifted his hand and gave Hermione's hair a plaful tug. "How are you, 'Mione?"
"I should be asking you that," Hermione laughed waveringly. "But I'm alright, Charlus."
"You have to look out for my boys...you hear?" Charlus said and then coughed. "They've been known to...cause some trouble."
Hermione chuckled, but it didn't sound very convincing. "They get that from you, you know."
"No," Charlus said with a heavy shake of his head. "They got it from Dorea...It's one of the many reasons I love her."
Hermione heard Dorea's voice begin shushing Sirius gently. Hermione turned to see Sirius burrying hhis face into the woman's lap. Hermione saw the tell-tale shake of his shoulders. Hermione had seen Sirius cry once before in her life and it had been when he escaped from Azkaban and saw Remus for the first time in twelve years.
"It's okay, Sirius..." Dorea was chanting quietly, like a raspy lullaby. "It's alright...Shh, darling."
While Sirius cried into Dorea's lap, Hermione turned to Charlus with tears in her own eyes and took one of his hands between both of hers and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "You know..." he whispered. "I always wanted a little girl. The day you walked through the door with Sirius reminded me of the day we had James. There was not a single doubt that you both were mine and we were yours... Thank you for becoming my daughter, Hermione and for protecting my sons."
The tears streamed down Hermione's face without a sound as she stared down at Charlus Potter. He'd always been the gentlest, most loving man she'd known and she didn't know if she could live without Sunday dinners and dessert with him, his pipe, and his record player.
In the quiet of the room, Hermione heard Sirius rasp, "I love you, Mum."
Hermione broke. She sobbed and practically fell into Charlus, clutching him around the shoulders and crying into his shoulder.
The real mother and father of Sirius and Hermione Black, the Potters, stroked their children's hair and back and whispered their goodbyes. Because if one thing was absolutely clear in that room at that moment, it was that Charlus and Dorea were going to die.
...
Dorea Potter died the next day and her husband followed two days after. The day Dorea died was an absolute mess in St. Mungo's.
"NO! Mum!" James had screamed when it was time to move her body. Lily, crying, did her best to hold her fiancee back from running after the cot where his mother's face was shrouded by a sheet. "MUM!"
When his father's eyes shut for the final time, James had just pressed his face to Charlus's still chest and sat there for a very long time. Sirius hadn't spoken at all, just went to his sister and wrapped her up in his arms and buried his face into her hair. She didn't feel any tear or hear any sobs - he just needed to hold her and she needed to be held.
A lot of the time, Remus stood in the bad, watching on with a deep frown. He would be the one to bring them all food when they forgot to eat or brought them a change of clothes when they couldn't bring themselves to go home for even a shower. Remus and Lily were the Potters' children's pillars that week when the hospital became home.
James had left the moment his father's body was taken away. Lily followed after him and Sirius had stared at empty room #483 until leaving himself, without a word.
"I need fresh air," Hermione whispered when it was just her and Remus.
"Mind if I follow?" he asked quietly, looking miserable.
"Not at all," she told him with a small smile.
The day was beautiful, which was horrid. With something so terrible happening in the world, the death of two brilliant, loving people, there should have been a storm raging. It was...unfair.
The Hermione watched the cobblestone under her feet as they strolled.
"When I was sixteen," Hermione said, "Sirius and I ran away. Of course, you know that, but...there was no question where we'd go. We knew right away. We ran with our trunks all the way to the Potters' like a couple of..." - she wryly laughed - "like a couple of prison escapees." Hermione knew he wouldn't see the dry humor in that phrase, but she continued. "They took us in without question. They loved us and fed us and nursed us better when we were sick. Dorea would trim our hair and Charlus would tell us stories about when he was young and falling in love with her. We were family...no doubt." She took a deep breath and recited, "There was not a doubt...that they were mine and we were theirs. I haven't felt like that in a very long time, just an overwhelming sense of...belonging."
Remus didn't respond, just listened.
"And... I'm so angry!" Hermione said with a sudden surge of aggravation. "Do you know how bloody annoying it is knowing that if they'd just gone to a Healer two days - two days! - earlier and drank one potion that they'd be alive right now? Two days would have been all it took! I could just...ugh! Punch something! Or hex someone!" A harsh sob escaped her and she shouted, "Or just throw myself off a bridge! My mum and dad are gone!"
Without a word, Remus reached out and took one of her fists and manipulated it around his waist so he could reel her in and hold her.
"They aren't gone," Remus told her. "They're here. They'll be here...always."
...~oOo~...
Challenge: 1. Where do you think Walburga is hiding? 2. Favorite part and line? 3. Did you cry like I did? :( 4. Predictions?
~ So Long And Thanks For All The Fish ~