The Poison Garden

It was dark. All that lead her was the light of the moon. She was running, barefoot through the heather. Rocks, dirt, and grass poked the bottom of her feet painfully — but she had to continue on. Her swollen belly ached with every gallop she took; her back ready to give out.

In a short distance away she could see glowing lights through tall windows of a… castle? For some reason, it felt familiar, but she knew she'd never been here before. Her bleary eyes couldn't make the building out and it was just too far away for her to make.

She fell to her knees, scraping them on bits of gravel. She whimpered, wanting to rest, but she couldn't stop here. Pushing down on her palms, she made it back to her feet and continued.

A large greenhouse stood about a hundred yards away from the castle-like structure. She could feel herself slowing down, her stomach painfully contracted; the baby was coming. Arriving at the door of the structure and grabbing the handle, she found it to be locked — with the depletion of her physical strength, she could not bring forth any magic. Not that she was trained in much wandless magic aside from cleaning charms, anyway. She didn't own a wand, never had. She knew she could not punch through the glass to unlock it. Tears were streaming down her face; she wanted to give up. This was not how she was supposed to be giving birth; not here, now, in the middle of nowhere. Not being chased by them — the ones in black robes and silver masks; the ones that were known in their secret society as Death Eaters.

The weight of a large ball overwhelmed her thighs. She let out a squeal and mouthed a "help," even though no one was around. Kneeling, the woman took a few deep breaths and blinked away the tears from her eyes. She couldn't give up now. She couldn't let this happen to her baby.

The castle was still a fair distance away. Perhaps there was another door — with luck it'd be unlocked. As she crawled around the greenhouse, she found a tall wrought iron fence, with the opening gate left ajar. Her heart thumped rapidly with relief. Pulling herself up, she held onto the wall and walked slowly toward the entrance. Her breathing was raspy and sweat poured down her body.

Pushing through the gate, never taking notice to the sign planted into the ground: Caution, Poison Garden — Enter at Own Risk! Tripping over the ivy that laced the entrance, she fell into a shrub of Oleander; inhaling the sweet nectar, she instantly began to feel nauseated and weaker. Realizing her mistake, she pushed herself just enough away from the plant, but fell onto another beneath it and rolled onto her back with the best of her ability. She cried out from the stingers that punctured her skin, "P-please, he-help me!" Her heart raced, she could barely lift her head.

Standing at the bottom of the hill from the castle, a tall woman with square spectacles was speaking with a young man, whose graduation from Hogwarts she had just presided over. "Sirius, there just aren't any jo—" she stopped speaking mid-sentence and looked to the man, "did you, did you hear that?"

They both turned to the cries and began rushing toward it with their wands at the ready. The pair arrived at The Poison Garden within moments.

Minerva, the one with the square spectacles, pushed open the gate cautiously, giving Sirius an unnerving glance. They stepped over the vines that crawled across the threshold; stopping dead in their tracks. They stared down at a young woman of maybe twenty. She was lying on the leaves of a very poisonous plant, with a baby on the ground between her legs in a pool of blood — crying out for its mother.

"Sirius!" Minerva commanded, as she charmed gloves onto their hands, "tend to the woman. Careful not to touch the Oleander. Oh… there, there..." She gathered the child, who was just inches from the stinging leaves. Taking her wand, she cut the cord that linked it to the woman, conjuring a bit of twine to tie around the end.

Sirius removed the young woman from the plant and placed her on the dirt. He and Minerva kneeled beside her, Sirius lifting her head so she could speak. Her hair was dark in color, frizzy and all over the place and by the light of the moon, her eyes were a light brown. And her lips were losing their natural shade of red to white.

"P-Parker?" She asked, lifting her weak hand to Sirius' face. He looked over to Minerva and she nodded in silent agreement. This young woman was not going to make it — and she needed any comfort that she could be granted.

"Yes, love?" Sirius answered at just above a whisper. He felt an overwhelming sadness begin to take him over. This poor woman. He gulped, That poor baby. He held her head in the crook of his arm, pushing her hair away from her sweaty face.

"M-make sure the b-baby," she swallowed hard, her breath weakening with each she took. She traced her thumb over Sirius' cheek, "Don't let it go back there. Don't let it go back there, okay?"

Sirius nodded, wishing he knew where this woman was talking about. He could sense the pain and suffering from her. "Please… find it a home with M-muggles. Away from this world… don't, don't let it get caught up in the ways of hor-horrible, d-dark magic, Park. The Death… " She swallowed again. She was unable to finish the sentence. She had been charmed into not telling of the society she escaped from. "If things get better with time, then allow her the gift of m-magic."

Sirius looked back to Minerva with pleading in his eyes. "Okay." He whispered back to the dying woman, then to the other, "should I ask her name?"

Minerva shook her head, "she thinks of you as her Parker."

"What's your name, Dear?" Minerva asked, "what should I tell your little girl when she's older?"

"Oh… it's a girl?" She attempted a smile, another hard swallow, with a deep breath that followed. "Tell her Morganna was her mo-mother's n-name."

Both Sirius and Minerva paused, looking upon her. Morganna?

Sirius noticed a change in Minerva's face when he glanced back up.

"Tell her I tried so hard… Tell her… her name is Her-Hermione." Morganna drew in a deep breath. "Park, I'm… I'm so tired…"

Sirius leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers, "It's alright, love. Rest now."

She nodded, "Keep her safe, they are coming… " Morganna touched his face once more. A warm golden glow surrounded her body. She closed her eyes for just a brief moment, and when she re-opened them, a white film covered her irises. Speaking more clearly than before and astute: "I am Morganna le Fay and here is my final resting place. I transfer all my abilities, magic, and power to my child, for when the time is ready — Hermione. Hermione le Fay shall be the Greatest Sorceress to ever walk this Earth. Protect her! Protect her until she is ready." She placed her other hand on the baby's head, a white string of light escaped her fingertips and encapsulated over Hermione's tiny body. The ground beneath the four of them shook; Plants, flowers, and vines curled away. Her dark hair suddenly turned grey and her skin began to etch with wrinkles. And with that, she shut her eyes once more, never to open them again.

There was an eerie silence. Breaths were held. It took them a minute to formulate exactly what had just been said to them.

"There is no way," Sirius stated bluntly, still staring. "There is absolutely no... freaking way."

Minerva shuddered, cradling Hermione more closely. "I— I don't… We need Headmaster Dumbledore. And— and Madame Pomfrey and for this ba—Hermione to eat…" She said frantically as she handed the baby over to Sirius.

Minerva removed her cloak and laid it upon Morganna. Sirius held Hermione close to his chest. She had fallen asleep, her little body glowed golden like her mother's did. What a life this little one would lead one day — but what could be so bad about this baby living in the magical world— her rightful place? The Greatest Sorceress to ever live had a child in the present day — Who Morganna claimed to be the NEXT Greatest Sorceress?

This little girl would be worshiped. She's a Princess — and Morganna'd had no idea of her true identity until Death met her. Which, if the woman had known… none of this would have even taken place. How did she end up here? This timeline? Why had she not known who she was? So many questions… And how would they be answered?

Before the three could leave the garden and make their way up to the castle, they turned to find Headmaster Dumbledore standing there, his hands interlocked, with his index fingers pointed toward the sky. "The events that have taken place here tonight, may never be spoken of to anyone, unless asked of by the young Hermione. Is this understood?"

"And how, pray tell," Minerva began, "will she ask, if she never knows to…" she shrugged her shoulders presumptuously, "ask?"

Sirius held the back of Hermione's head to his chest. He looked down at her, she was awake again, blinking her eyes.

"Exactly," was all that Dumbledore said.

—

A/N: Updated periodically.
All chapters will be beta'd with time.
Forever Beta: ravenclawmidwife
Hope you enjoy the story. If things don't make sense, they will IN time.
Also PLEASE remember that Hermione is older than Harry.
Unfortunately, I do NOT have a pairing yet. Nor do I know if there will be just ONE. Hermione may have multiple relations. Not everyone has just one bf/gf through school - or even after school. Or even one at all! We shall see. I haven't gotten that far. I really SUCK at responding to reviews. But know, I see them! I love them! I thank you for taking the time out of your day to read a silly fanfic story by me; It means more than you know. Happy reading!
Love, Blue.