Disclaimer: All of the original Harry Potter characters belong to the wonderful J K Rowling. I have given birth to quite a few new ones. If you don't recognize them, they are mine. No money is being made, just a lot of fun being had. Ms Rowling, Thanks for the wonderful books.
A/N: I want to take the time to THANK Amy (w&m_law) for all of her fabulous help. If it hadn't been for her constant encouragement, this chapter would not be anywhere as good as we believe it to be. (OR AS LONG) You can find her stories at…
And her Yahoo group at…
She is phenomenal!!!!!!
THANKS AMY!!
I also started a yahoo group for
Welcome back Tanasia Maleficarum. We missed you! Her new story is wonderful, it can be found at…
OK…with all that done…. And I hope I made all the corrections I was supposed to…..
Anna's Gift
Using a portkey, Charlie and Anna arrived in the woods not far from the cottage. As they started walking, a light but very cold rain began to fall, leaving them soaked and chilled to the bone by the time they reached their destination. Entering the cottage, they were surprised at their surroundings. A large four-poster bed with royal blue hangings, satin sheets, and dozens of feather pillows was majestically sitting off to the right of the door. Lying across the bed were two silk bathrobes that were a lighter shade of blue than the bedclothes. Off to the left was a large table laden with cheeses, breads, fruits, a container of roasted chicken, two bottles of fine wine and a container of whipped cream for the fruit.
"Oh my," exclaimed Anna. "This is wonderful. Leave it to Narcissa to think of everything."
Charlie looked at Anna and noticed that she was shivering from the cold. As he pulled her into his embrace he whispered, "Why don't you go and take a nice hot shower while I start a fire?"
"I think I will," she said melting to him for a kiss.
His lips touched hers with such tenderness that it made her swoon. She tasted sweet, of the rain as it dripped from her wet hair and mingled with his lips as he kissed her. Charlie Weasley was still in awe of this beautiful woman that he had made his wife. Anna and Charlie Weasley had been married now for thirteen years; the passion that they found when they were first married had only increased as the years went on. It was a pure and good love. They were always considerate of each other, passing this tenderness on to their children. Their love was almost painful because Charlie knew that Anna would die before him since she was a Muggle. This tore him apart so he enjoyed her every chance he got because their life together was destined to be short.
While Anna was in the shower, Charlie lit a fire, set the table, and opened the wine. When she came out, Charlie had dried off and put on the other robe that had been lying on the bed. Anna walked up to him putting her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly.
As Charlie kissed her, he ran his hands tenderly down her back to cup her butt, drawing her as close as he possible could. Anna clung to him as he deepened the kiss. When it finally broke Anna whispered breathlessly, "Let's eat first, you are going to need all of your strength tonight."
"Ooohhh, that sounds promising," Charlie whispered back.
"Trust me love, I am going to make love to you like never before. You will need rehabilitation by the time I get done with you," she stated mischievously as she sat down at the table.
"Shit Anna, if you keep making comments like that you won't be eating dinner first," he said as he sat uncomfortably due to the fact that his body wanted to play now.
They ate making small talk, saying nothing about Hunter or the serum. When they got to desert, Anna dished out strawberries and whipped cream for Charlie, this being his favorite. As she sat there, watching him eat she slowly pealed a banana, dipping it into the whipped cream. Charlie watched her through lowered eyes as she brought the fruit to her mouth, licking the confection off with long slow licks. Charlie nearly choked when her toes brushed his leg, moving upward.
"Dragon's breath woman," he croaked as he stared at his wife longingly.
"What?" she asked smirking.
"Come here and I'll show you what," he challenged her. Anna stood, walking to him taking his hand in hers, bring him to his feet. Charlie trembled as Anna removed his robe, amazed at the effect this woman had on him.
When they reached the bed, Charlie turned to face Anna, placing his hands tenderly on her face, loving the feel of her delicate skin under his fingertips. As his lips met hers in a tender assault, Anna moaned, reveling from the intensity of the action. While they kissed, he moved his fingers softly from her face, to the sash that tied her robe, slowly untying. When his hands made contact with her skin under her robe there was a crackle in the air, like electricity gathering waiting to strike. He had often felt magic pulsate through the room when they made love, but for some reason tonight it was like it was alive, moving through the room and them. When he moved his hands up her body to her shoulders, he slipped the robe from her letting it fall into a silk pool on the floor at her feet, never breaking the kiss. As his hands moved over her body, she too felt the electrical charge that roamed through the room, keeping her senses tingling. Charlie gently broke their kiss, picking her up and placing her on the magnificent bed. Once comfortable on the bed he started a new assault of kisses along her throat and collarbone.
"My God Charlie, what is this magic you do to me?" she asked in breathless anticipation of what he would do next.
"It's you, my love. You are the one. You are my magic," he concluded lovingly.
The love they made that night was all consuming. As they climaxed together, the room was filled with a bright light and aura of electricity that sent their bodies into a sweet oblivion. When Charlie woke from the intensity of the orgasm, he gently touched Anna face, making sure she was all right. She sighed deeply, snuggling up to her husband, loving the feel of his naked body next to her. She doubted that she would ever get tired of the feel of him. He kissed her tenderly and whispered, "I love you, my wife. Forever."
Tears glistened in her eyes as she spoke to him. "Charlie, you are my everything, and I love you, always."
They fell into a tender sleep, holding one another close only to wake a few hours later with the same feeling of passion. They made love all night, as the magic continued to flow through the room, making it hot like a dragon's breath, crackling heat as the magic flowed.
When they returned home from their two-day excursion, Anna went back into heavy research for something to help Hunter. As the week passed, there was nothing.
Very late one night in the week before the full moon, Anna was sitting in her lab getting totally frustrated about the whole thing. With her head in her hands, she wept. Why can't I find it? she thought as her tears flowed. She didn't hear him when he entered the room or when he walked up to her.
"Anna?" spoke the sweet voice of Hunter Black.
Wiping her face she turned to him and tried to smile.
When Hunter saw her face, he became very worried. Anna was pale and looked sick.
"Anna, are you feeling all right?" he asked, frowning with concern.
Swallowing hard, she replied "Yes, just tired," as tears pooled into her eyes once more.
"Anna, please don't cry. I can't bear it," he said as anguish filled his voice.
Gently taking his face in her hands she responded, "No, what is unbearable is that you are going to have to transform again and that is the last thing on earth that I ever wanted," she explained as her tears started to flow again. "It breaks my heart… that you…. have to go though all of that pain again."
Hunter, although he was only eleven, was Sirius' son and knew how to make a woman feel better. Hunter tenderly brushed away Anna's tears, placing his hands on her face and stated reassuringly, "Anna, I will be fine. Remus has done this hundreds of times and I will be all right. All I ask is that I be alone." Hunter's eyes started to glisten with his own tears as he continued, trying to sound stronger than he felt. "I want no one there, inside the cell or out. I will not hurt anyone again and I want no one to see me, please. Can you promise me that?"
As Anna stared at this amazing child, no, young man, she whispered to him, "Yes, I promise. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Yes," he replied gently. "I want you to come for me when it's over," he requested softly as the tears ran down his face. "I don't want Mum and Dad to see me like that. I hope they understand."
"I'm sure they will," Anna sobbed as she comforted him, hugging him to her as if he was one of her own children in pain, whispering into his ear. "I will come for you when it's over. Hunter, I am so proud of you. You are one of the most special people of the world and I love you. I don't know when, but I will find something to help you, just mark my words, I will," she vowed.
"I know," he whispered in response, hugging her tightly.
Over the next week, Hunter talked to Sirius and Narcissa, explaining what he wanted and reluctantly they agreed.
One afternoon a few days before the full moon, Hunter and his twin sister Dierdra were sitting in the drawing room doing some reading when Melina, Anna and Charlie's eight year old daughter came walking in.
"Hello," she said sweetly, "What are you guys up to?"
"Just doing a little reading," replied Dierdra. "What about you?"
"Oh not much. I just came from the lab, Mum wanted me to get Hunter," Melina announced as she walked over and sat down on the sofa next to Hunter.
"Anna wants to see me?" he asked, looking at Melina thinking how much she looked like Anna and what a beauty she was going to be someday.
"Yes, she needs to get some more blood. Not much, just a sample from your finger," she explained.
"Oh I hate those," he complained as he scrunched up his face.
"I know, she is always practicing with us one way or the other," laughed Melina.
"Well, I guess I should go then," Hunter muttered reluctantly as he got up from the couch.
"I'll come with you if that's okay. She wanted me to stop by her room and get her reading glasses," added Melina as she too got up, holding the glasses in her hand to show him.
"Oh, okay. Well Deirdra, I guess I will see you in a while," Hunter informed his sister.
"Hmmm," she said raising her hand waving at them, "Have fun.
Hunter shook his head and laughed, "I don't know who is worse about keeping their nose in a book, her or Kyleigh."
"My money is on Kyleigh, she reads all the time," giggled Melina as they made their way to the lab.
When they were about half way there, Melina got up the courage to finally ask Hunter a question that had been plaguing her.
"Hunter, what's it like?" she asked nervously. "I mean, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, it's just that wanted to know."
Turning to her, he asked sadly and in a stronger voice than he intended, "Why? Do I frighten you, Melina? Are you repulsed by what I am?"
She shrank back from his harsh question, "No Hunter, you don't frighten or repulse me. In truth I feel bad for you," Melina admitted this as tears started to form in her eyes.
"Then why ask?" he questioned somewhat hotly.
"I just wanted to understand that's all," Melina responded, tears now running down her face. Thrusting her Mother's glasses into his hand, she murmured dejectedly, "Here, please take these to my Mum, suddenly I don't fell like going."
Hunter stood there feeling like a jerk as Melina ran down the hall in tears, nearly colliding with Draco.
"What's wrong with Melina?" he asked Hunter curiously.
"Oh, me being an insensitive git," he stated, angry with himself.
"What happened?" inquired Draco.
"I was rude to her," he confessed, raking his fingers through his black hair. "All she asked is what it was like to transform and I nearly bit her head off," Hunter finished sadly.
"Well maybe you should apologize," Draco offered thoughtfully.
"Yeah, I feel really bad that I snapped at her. It's just so hard. I hate this and I hate Lucius. Why hasn't someone been able to kill him? Why is he being allowed to keep hurting people? " Hunter stated angrily, not really asking a question.
Draco stiffened as he started to feel guilty. Seeing the look of displeasure on Draco's face, Hunter realized what he had just said.
"Oh Draco, I am so sorry. It is just hard for me to comprehend that Lucius is your father. You are so totally different from him. I didn't mean to be disrespectful," he pleaded forgiveness.
"You weren't being disrespectful," Draco replied dryly. "I hate him too." Draco declared walking away.
"Oh great," Hunter thought to himself, "I sure know how to upset people."
When Hunter reached the lab, Anna was sitting at her microscope looking at some slides. As she saw Hunter walk in, she noticed the frown on his face.
"Good afternoon, Hunter, why the long face?" she asked tenderly.
Sighing heavily, he told her what had happened.
"I didn't mean to upset Draco or make Melina cry. I was just being a jerk," he said exasperatedly.
"Well, you know how to fix it. Melina is a very sensitive child. She picks up on emotions and just wants to help people," Anna explained.
"Oh, she is like you then?" Hunter observed.
This made Anna laugh. "You are just like your father, Hunter Black. You sure know how to make the ladies smile," she laughed, ruffling his hair. "As for Draco, well you may want to talk to your Mum about him. He had a rough time of it with his father. Go to Narcissa, she will help. Now give me your hand so I can play vampire."
After she took the blood and Hunter was ready to leave she asked, "So where are you off to now?"
"I thought I would go beg Melina's forgiveness and see if she wanted to raid the kitchens for ice cream," Hunter planned, smiling at Anna.
Shaking her head, she smiled. "Like I said before, you are just like your father. Off you go and Hunter, tell her. Help her to understand."
"What if she won't listen? What do I do then?" he inquired quietly.
"Just turn on that Black charm of yours and she will melt. Can you do that for me?"
"Anything for you," he sniggered, running out the door.
"I hope that boy realizes how special he is," thought Anna as she went back to work.
When Hunter arrived at Melina's bedroom, he saw her on the bed crying. Knocking softly, he called out her name, "Melina?"
"Go away," she cried as she covered her face so he wouldn't see her tears.
"Melina, I am so sorry for being such a prat. Can you please forgive me?" he asked sincerely, sitting down next to her on the bed.
"No," was her reply as she buried her face farther into her pillow.
"Please," he said as his voice started to change to anguish. "I really am sorry. It's just really hard talking about being a monster," he choked as his own eyes started to glisten.
She looked up at him as she heard his voice catch. Sitting up next to him, she whispered softly. "Hunter, you are not a monster."
"Yes I am," he replied sadly, "You didn't see what I did to my Dad and to Remus. You just don't understand," he continued as a tear escaped his eye.
"Then help me to understand," she encouraged. "What happened? Do you remember everything?"
Hunter cleared his throat, hoping that he would be able to speak. Looking at Melina he began in a flat tone.
"The change was like no pain I had ever experienced in my life. My bones started breaking and stretching, skin started to tear and this feeling of pure hatred and evil started to cloud my mind. After my first howl, I don't remember everything, just the strong urge to rip and maim and kill. I think I attacked my Dad first and when Remus pulled me off him, I tried to kill him. As dawn came, I saw all the blood and realized what I had done. It made me ill. That is when I limped to my corner, curled up in a ball and passed out." By the time Hunter had finished telling her this, tears were running unchecked down his cheeks.
Melina was in shock, tears also running down her pale cheeks. "Oh Hunter," she said as she moved closer to him, hugging him tenderly. "I am so sorry. I had no clue how bad it was," she whispered into his ear as he laid his head on her shoulder, reveling in the comfort that she was giving.
They held each other for a very long time, just staying close. Melina noticed his breathing had slowed and knew that he had fallen asleep. She moved from his embrace and gently laid him back onto her bed. Giving a big sigh, Hunter fell into a deeper sleep. Melina, lay down next to him, eyes scanning the lines of his handsome young face. There were tear streaks still visible, as stray tears continued to run down his cheeks. Melina reached out cautiously, wiping them gently away with her fingers. Hunter didn't move. "I am not going to let you go through this alone," she whispered laying her head on his shoulder as she too drifted to sleep.
When Anna went up to Melina's room to get her for dinner, she never thought she would see what she did. There lying on the bed was her daughter, fast asleep with her head resting sweetly on Hunter's shoulder. Anna knew that Hunter had not been sleeping well as of late so she decided that she would let them sleep. They could eat later.
By the time everyone gathered for dinner, Draco was in a very nasty mood. He was feeling very sorry for himself and it showed when he entered the room. Since his run in with Hunter earlier in the day, Draco was in a very sour disposition. Sitting down near him, Narcissa made the mistake of asking him why he looked so mad.
"Can't I have a bad day? Do I always have to be good, cheery Draco? Can't I just be in a bad mood?" he snarled.
Due to all the stress Narcissa had been under lately with Hunter, she burst into tears, running from the room.
Hermione stood, turning to her husband, "Draco…. Our room NOW!" she demanded as she sweeping angrily from the room.
Draco got up, stalking behind her.
When they were safely inside their bedchambers, Hermione turned on him, slamming the door.
"What the hell do you think you are doing talking to your mother like that?" she yelled looking at him in disgust.
"Stay out of it Hermione and just leave me alone," he countered back angrily.
"I most certainly will not. You have no right to talk to her like that. I don't know what happened but you are acting like a complete ass and it needs to stop," she screeched as she stepped closer to him, almost nose to nose.
"Back the fuck off Hermione," he growled, "Just stay out of it and leave."
As tears formed in Hermione's eyes, "Is that what you really want Draco? For me to leave," she whispered as the devastation showed clearly on her face, making Draco sick at what he had said.
"Oh gods Hermione," he whimpered as all the stress from everything finally came to the surface, bubbling over like a potion gone bad. Draco fell to his knees, sobbing at what was happening between Hermione and him, not wanting to let the hate he felt for Lucius to come between them.
As she kneeled in front of him, Hermione lovingly took his face in her hands, inquiring again, "Draco, please, tell what is wrong. I want to help you but I can't unless you tell me what happened," she begged.
Hanging his head in shame, he whispered sadly, "I am a coward. Everything that has happened to my little brother is all my fault. If I had the courage, if I would have killed that bastard Lucius, none of this would be happening to Hunter. He is suffering because I am too weak to protect my own family," Draco sobbed into his hands, letting anguish flow through him like a sickness.
"Draco," soothed Hermione as she put her hand tenderly under his chin, bringing his face up, looking in his self-loathing filled eyes. "It is NOT your fault. You had nothing to do with Hunter getting bitten. And you do protect your family."
"If I had killed Lucius……" he trailed off as his voice caught.
"If anyone is to blame for that, it would be me. I had more of an opportunity than you did. However, I chose to remain human and not take another life," she said sternly. That is what sets us aside from him. Had I killed him, then I would be no better than him. The same goes for you. You made the right choice Draco, it is not your fault."
Draco broke down then, hugging his beloved wife to him. They stayed there for a while, hugging each other, trying to gain strength from their pain.
After a few minutes, Hermione looked into his clouded gray eyes, declaring, "I love you Draco and I don't want to see you feel like this."
Draco stared at Hermione, looking for truth. The truth was she really believed that it wasn't his fault. When he was satisfied, Draco took her face in his hands, "I love you, sweet," he whispered, capturing her lips with his, kissing her with all the tenderness that he had.
Draco could not believe that he had married such a wonderful woman, a woman that now was three months pregnant with his twins, and although he treated her like dirt tonight, she loved him still.
As their kiss faded, Draco scooped Hermione up, carrying her to their bed. That night they made up like never before.
* * * * * *
The next morning, Hunter found Narcissa in the sitting room off her bedchambers. "Mum, do you have a moment?" he quizzed quietly.
"Oh course dear," she replied as she put down her book, marking her page, patting the seat next to her, indicating that he was to sit next to her. "What is troubling you this morning?"
"Well, I was wondering if you knew what was wrong with Draco? I believed that I upset him yesterday afternoon and I didn't mean to," he finished sadly.
"I don't know that I can explain this because I don't really know myself. You see Draco….." but she was cut off by a voice from the doorway.
"Draco is was being a git and hurt two of his most favorite people and humbly begs for forgiveness," stated Draco as he walked into the room, sitting on the ottoman than was placed in front of Narcissa and Hunter. As he continued, tears formed in his eyes. "I was feeling sorry for myself when I should have been stronger for my family."
"What happened Draco to make you feel this way?" asked Narcissa as she stroked his hair from his eyes like she did when he was little.
"I should have killed Lucius and didn't. I was blaming myself for my little brother's being hurt," he replied as he turned looking at Hunter.
"But it wasn't your fault," affirmed Narcissa's youngest son, "I am so sorry because I didn't mean to imply that it was."
"Oh I realize that now, after my lovely wife so….. quietly pointed that out last night," he said looking embarrassed over the way he had acted.
"We all handle stress differently Draco, and yes we all had the opportunity to kill that bastard but we chose not to. We are not killers. He will die by the hands of someone he has pushed to the absolute limit, and I am sure that he will suffer," Narcissa explained to her oldest son.
"I think that we should thank him," pronounced Hunter unexpectedly.
Both looked at him in total shock. "Well, look at it this way…. If I had never been bitten, Anna wouldn't be trying to find something to cure me, and in turn Remus. He has suffered from this for so long and if my receiving the bite, helps him in any way, I would do it again," Hunter smiled gallantly.
Narcissa was amazed at her son and his courage and Draco was equally impressed as she hugged Hunter to her, offering an arm out for Draco to join in the hug.
"I have such wonderful sons," she bragged," and I love you so much."
Both Hunter and Draco stated their love to their Mother as a strange sound radiated from the three of them, their stomachs growling loudly. They all burst into gales of laughter as Narcissa laughed, wiping her eyes, "I think we all need to eat some breakfast."
"I'm all for that," sniggered Hunter as they all got up leaving the room, feeling that they could conquer the world.
* * * * *
On the day of the full moon, Hunter was restless. The anticipation of what the night would bring made him ill and distant from his friends and family. He refused to talk to anyone other than Anna. By early afternoon, he had worked himself up so much he was vomiting continuously. Anna called in Ginny with Hunter's permission to see if there were something, she could give to him to calm him down. Ginny made a draught that helped him to relax somewhat. He even managed to sleep for a short time.
At around four o'clock, Hunter said goodbye to Anna, kissing her on the cheek, and with the help of Sirius and Narcissa, made his way to the cell in the dungeon. It was almost like a convicted murderer walking to be executed, a dead man walking. When they reached the cell, Narcissa looked at her son and asked tenderly, "Are you sure you don't want us to come for you in the morning?"
"No Mother please. I need to do this my way. I don't want you to see me like that," he stated flatly. "Please."
"All right; if you are sure," she replied, tears threatening to spill once again as she kissed him on the cheek. "I love you Hunter, remember that."
"I will and I love you too, Mum," he replied, making his way into the cell.
As Sirius locked the cell door, he himself had to wipe a stray tear from his eye.
Taking Hunter's hand through the bars, he whispered, "I am so proud of you son, I love you."
Hunter choked back tears as he squeezed his father's hand, "I love you too, Dad. See you in the morning. Take care of Mum okay?"
Sirius couldn't speak any longer so he just nodded, turned and walked away.
* * * * *
Anna didn't sleep much that night. It was about three in the morning when Charlie woke finding the bed next to him empty. The room was quiet except for the distant sound of someone retching in the bathroom. Charlie made his way to the bathroom door, knocking lightly. "Anna love, are you all right?" he asked, concerned that she had worked herself up so much that she had become ill.
"No," she cried pitifully as she vomited again.
Charlie opened the door to find her kneeling in front of the commode with her head in the bowl.
"Oh Anna," he whispered sadly as he wet a wash cloth in the sink bringing it to her and lovingly wiping her face when she had finished that round.
"Thanks," she moaned as she sat back against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest, hugging them.
"Why didn't you tell me you were sick, love?" he asked as he pulled her hair back from her face, wiping it again.
"I didn't want to wake you," she said as a few tears crept out of her eyes down her face.
"Hunter is going to be fine, love. You can't keep working yourself up like this. You don't sleep or eat and now you are ill. Anna, you will find a way to help him, but you can't let yourself get run down over it. Love, our children need you, I need you, and I don't want to see you make yourself sick like this. Hunter is a strong young man and he will be all right. Please," he begged as he gently rubbed circles on her tired back.
"I know and I'm sorry for making you worry," was her reply as she sighed deeply, resting her head on her knees.
"It's just that I love you so much and I really hate to see you putting yourself under so much pressure. You will find the answer, I have faith in you," he said lovingly and then continued, "Would you like some tea? Maybe that would help settle your stomach."
"Yes, I think that may help," she said as Charlie helped her to stand. "Go make the tea and I will be right there, I want to brush my teeth."
"Okay, if you need me I will be in the other room," he stated worriedly.
A few minutes later, Anna emerged from the bathroom with a new nightgown on, hair brushed and tears dry. Charlie had made tea and conjured up some crackers in hopes that it would help ease her stomach.
They drank their tea in silence, sitting in the bay window in their room, watching as the sky turned from inky black to gray and then for the streaks of morning shone through in shades of pink, blue and orange.
As morning dawned, Anna dressed and made her way to the library where she was to meet Ginny. When they descended the stairs, an eerie silence greeted them. Upon reaching the cell, they were shocked at what they saw.
There, lying on the floor next to the bars, hand inside, stroking Hunter's hair, was none other than Melina Weasley. Anna nearly fainted as she rushed to her daughter's side, "Melina, what are you doing? Are you all right? Why did you come down here? Oh God, Melina, were you bitten?" she inquired frantically as she looked her daughter over for any sign of a bite mark.
Melina stood, taking her mother's hand, saying calmly, "Mum, I am fine. Hunter needed me. I couldn't let him do this alone. He was so frightened. I didn't go near the cell until he transformed back." As tears gathered in Melina's eyes, she finished, "I need to understand what he goes through since I am going to marry him one day."
Anna stared at her daughter for a moment and then burst into laughter. "You are going to marry Hunter," she repeated slowly as her daughter stood there watching Ginny who was checking Hunter's condition.
"Yes, I love him," Melina said seriously as her eyes finally released the tears that were pooled there. "Oh Mum it was so bad. He screamed….. so … loud." Melina started to panic remembering the ordeal. "And the sound of his bones breaking. I will never, as long as I live, forget that. Please, You have to find a way to help him. Please," she pleaded, throwing herself into her Mother's arms.
Anna held her, letting her sob. "I know Melina, I saw it the first time he transformed. I will never forget it either. I promise, I will find something to help him," vowed Anna as she herself felt like crying. When Melina's sobs subsided, Anna turned to Ginny with concern, "How is he?"
"He is still unconscious but his breathing strong," relayed Ginny as Anna moved aside the robes that Melina had reached through the bars and covered him with, looking at the claw and bite marks that adorned his body. Ginny conjured a stretcher and moved Hunter to the hospital wing of the mansion.
When Hunter came to, he scanned the room. There in a chair by his bed was Melina, curled up and fast asleep. Anna and Ginny were finishing up, cleaning, and healing his wounds.
"How are you feeling?" asked Anna as she ran her fingers through his dark tresses, noting the tired features, the dark circles under his eyes.
"I don't feel very well. I have a very bad headache," he said in pain throbbed in his head.
"I will get you something for that as soon as your Mum and Dad come; they are on their way now," stated Ginny as she healed another bite mark to his arm.
She no sooner got the words out then Narcissa and Sirius came in. Narcissa rushed to his side, happy to see he was sitting up in bed looking tired but healthy. His injuries had consisted of a few deep claw marks and a broken arm. The scaring was minimal, confined to his right forearm where he had bit himself. There was also a claw mark from temple to cheek on the left side of his face that wouldn't mar his good looks only add character.
Anna woke Melina and they left the room so Hunter could spend some time with his parents, while Ginny made him something to take for his headache and to help him sleep.
As they reached Melina's bedchambers, she turned to her daughter. "I think I need to speak to your Daddy first. You know he isn't going to be happy," she informed Melina.
"I know, but I had to be with Hunter and I am not sorry I did what I did," Melina replied, standing firm in her beliefs.
Smiling, Anna told her to go in and take a nap, she would send Charlie to her later, and she kissed her on the cheek.
Taking a deep breath after she saw Melina walk away, Anna gently opened her door and walked into the dragon's lair.
* * * *
Charlie watched his only daughter sleeping, as a flood of different emotions flowed through him.
When Anna had told him what Melina did, Charlie was angry, mad at himself for not checking to see if she was safely tucked in bed the night before. He had stood in the doorway of her room, seeing what he thought was his eight-year-old daughter's sleeping form, but was in fact pillows and blankets arranged to give the allusion of her body. Then his emotions were replaced with fear of what could have happened down in the dungeon. Charlie had never felt so sick, if anything had happened to her…….
Melina woke up screaming, tears streaming down her face. Charlie was immediately out of his chair, enveloping his daughter's small frame into his arms. "Melina, honey, it's okay, Daddy has you," he reassured her as she trembled in his arms.
"Oh… Daddy… it was…terrible," she cried. "The things that…happen to him…" she couldn't continue.
"Melina, I know," was all he could say, letting her cry. When the tears finally stopped, Charlie sat back from her, still holding her hands as he asked rather sternly, "What made you do something like that? How could you put yourself in that kind of danger? Melina, he could have killed you," Charlie's voiced cracked as he finished, "Just tell my why."
Melina knew this was coming and knew she deserved whatever punishment she got. She cleared her throat, looked Charlie in the eyes and said softly," Because he has suffered so much and I couldn't bear for him to be alone, so I snuck down there before he changed and watched from the shadows. After he transformed I heard what he was thinking and I talked to him. He was so afraid, Daddy."
"What do you mean you heard his thoughts? And how did you talk to him?" Charlie asked, looking at his daughter's strained face.
"I don't know, but I could hear in my mind what he was thinking. It was strange at first but when he calmed down and started to talk back to me he seemed more at peace and wasn't violent at all," Melina explained.
"If he wasn't violent, how did he get those bite marks and the broken arm?" he queried.
"His arm broke when he transformed and the bites came before he saw me, before he heard me talking to him. I didn't get close to the cell, Daddy. Hunter told me not to, he didn't want me hurt either. After he transformed back, that is when I went up to the cell. By then he was asleep so I took off my robes, reaching through the bars and placng them over him because he was naked." This caused Melina to blush, making Charlie try to hide a small smile.
"After he was covered, I laid down in the floor, outside the cell. When he woke up, I talked to him through the bars, touching his hair. There was blood all in it. I just wanted to take care of him, like Mum takes care of you. Daddy I love Hunter and I am going to marry him some day."
Charlie nearly died." And does he know of your plans for his matrimony?" Charlie inquired.
"Oh of course not! Daddy don't be silly! He is eleven and I am only eight. However, it will happen one day. Trust me," she stated with confidence.
Charlie laughed, "Well, if you are anything at all like your mother, and since you have made me forget about what you have done, then I would say that Mr. Hunter Black need not look for a wife. He already has one. Just do me a one little favor," Charlie encouraged. "If he has to transform again, let someone know your plans. What you did was very dangerous, anything could have happened and gone wrong. You were extremely lucky and it makes me ill to think that you put yourself in that kind of peril. I do understand how you feel and I will help any way I can. Deal?" he finished, feeling that making this bargain was the hardest thing he had ever had t do.
Melina threw herself in her Daddy's arms hugging him tightly, "I love you Daddy, so much, and I promise to let you know what I am doing."
"I love you too pumpkin, now lets go get some lunch, I'm hungry."
Charlie held his daughter's hand as they made their way to the kitchens.
* * * * *
In the weeks that followed Hunter's transformation, Melina had become very quiet. She wasn't sleeping well because of the nightly terrifying dreams that haunted her. She woke at least once a night, drenched in sweat after she remembered the suffering that Hunter went through. Late one night, Hunter found her sitting in the great room by the fire after she had experienced one of her worst nightmares. As she sat there staring at the dying fire, Hunter came into the room.
"Melina? Are you okay?" he asked as he made is way over to the sofa.
Sighing heavily, she responded shakily, "No. I keep having bad dreams."
Looking down sadly Hunter asked, "All because of me? You are having these dreams because of me, aren't you?"
"It's not your fault, Hunter, I was the one that snuck down to the dungeon. You had no control over my actions," she said as she started to shiver from the lack of warmth the fire was no longer giving.
Hunter, noticing her shivers, removed his bathrobe and gently placed them over Melina's shoulders, offering her warmth.
"Thanks," she mumbled, noticing that his robe smelled like him.
Hunter smiled and then reaching into the rather large pocket of the robe he had placed around her, pulling out a package.
"When I went to Longbottom's Apothecary today with my Mum, I got this for you," he said as he handed it to her.
"You didn't have to do that," she smiled, blushing as she took the package from his hand. When she opened it she looked at him puzzled. "What is it? I have seen one in Kyleigh's room but I don't know what it is."
"It's called a dream catcher. Kyleigh told me about them. You see when you hang it over your bed, it catches all of your dreams. All the bad dreams are caught in the web while all the good dreams float down the feathers into your head. When day breaks, all of the bad dreams that are caught, vanish," he explained.
"And it really works?" she asked, looking excited as she turned it over in her hands examining it.
"Well, Kyleigh swears by hers," he replied, smiling as he saw the happiness on her face.
"Kyleigh's has yellow feathers, these are such a beautiful blue. Do different color feathers help with different kinds of dreams?" she asked intrigued.
"No, I just thought they matched your eyes," he answered, blushing crimson.
Smiling, she blushed too. "Well, I think I am going to go and try it out. I am exhausted," she said as she got up. "Thanks for the use of your robe and for the wonderful gift, Hunter."
"Oh you're welcome, I just hope it works as well as Kyleigh says," he smiled.
"I am sure it will. Well goodnight," she said as she removed his robe from her shoulders and handed it to him. "Thanks again," she added as she reached over, kissing him on the cheek before running from the room.
* * * * * *
As the next couple of weeks wore on, Anna worked diligently trying to find something, anything that would help Hunter. On a few occasions there had been hope, only to be squelched.
Anna's health didn't get any better and she asked Ginny to put a silencing charm on the bathroom in her bedchamber, vowing her to secrecy, so Charlie wouldn't hear her retching everyday. She was afraid he would make her stop for a while and she just couldn't do that to Hunter. He needed her.
Early one morning about a week from the rise of the full moon, Anna was working in her lab, oblivious that Luna had just came into the room. Luna stood there watching Anna, admiring her devotion to a child that wasn't even hers. Anna was putting a fresh blood slide into her microscope when Luna gently called her name.
"Anna," she exclaimed softly, causing Anna's fingers to slip, cutting her finger on one of the slides.
"Ouch," she cried out as she saw the blood drip unto the slide containing Hunter's blood, contaminating it.
"Oh Anna, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Are you all right?" Luna said apologetically as she pulled out her wand, healing the cut on Anna's finger.
"Yes I'm fine, thanks," replied Anna as she turned on her stool to talk to Luna. "How is Remus' hip? Is everything all right? I thought you went back to Beauxbaton."
"Oh yes thank you, Remus is fine and I did go back but I was worried about you so I came back here for a few days. Are you feeling any better?" she asked as she placed a hand on Anna's shoulder.
Tears filled Anna's eyes as the pressure from everything hit her like a flood. "Oh Luna," she sobbed, "What am I to do?"
Luna moved her hand to Anna's back, rubbing swirls, comforting her as she spoke low and calm.
"I take it Ginny knows about your sickness?" she inquired, as Anna nodded her head. "Have you told Charlie about the baby?" This caused Anna to look at Luna with terror.
"I don't know how," exclaimed Anna as her tears fell. "He will be so upset."
"Doesn't Charlie want any more children?" Luna pushed.
"He would love more. We wanted a house full. It's just…….." she broke off as placed her face in her hands, weeping uncontrollably.
Luna removed Anna's hands from her face, gently replacing them with her own. As she looked her in the eyes she conveyed tenderly, "Don't believe everything that a Muggle doctor tells you."
Anna looked at her with shock and then rambled, "But he said that I could die if I had any more children. Charlie and I have been so careful. I just don't know how this happened."
"Anna, everyone dies," Luna informed her as panic creased Anna's face. "But I know for a fact that you and Charlie live for a very long time. You die together, both of you over 200," she explained.
"Luna that is not possible," Anna stated flatly, "Muggles don't live that long."
"Well, my crystal ball has never been wrong and I know what I saw," Luna declared triumphantly.
"How is that possible? Muggles just don't live that long. Charlie and I knew this going into our marriage. We knew that he would outlive me. That's just reality," Anna assumed trying to comprehend the information that Luna was giving her.
"No, that is Muggle reality. The wizarding world you live in is where amazing and unbelievable things are possible. This is our reality," she avowed firmly.
"I just don't understand how it can be," Anna reflected, wanting it to be true.
"Okay, let me ask you a question. Recently, was there a time when you felt a tremendous surge of magic in the air? I know Muggles sometimes do feel it, they just can't explain it," Luna quizzed.
Scrunching her brow, Anna thought hard. After a few seconds, her face lit up with recognition and amazement. Swallowing hard, she affirmed quietly, "The night we went to the cottage, when we made love there was this…… I can't explain it."
"Power," Luna smiled excitedly.
"Yes….a feeling of awesome power that radiated through the room, almost alive. When Charlie and I climaxed it was so powerful we both passed out," explained Anna. "It was the best sex I have ever had," she added blushing.
Luna gave a low chuckle. "And since then, when you and Charlie make love, do you still feel the power?" she asked knowingly.
"Yes. I mean sex with Charlie has always been a magnificent experience but since that night, it has been incredible," Anna replied turning even redder.
"Welcome to the wizarding world," uttered Luna smugly as she tried to stifle a laugh.
"Are you saying that I am a witch?" she asked unbelieving.
"Yes," she exclaimed happily.
"But how is that possible?" Anna stared at Luna, waiting for her to tell her she was just joking.
"Sometimes when a wizard loves someone so much, they are able to channel their powers to a non magical person. A wizard can give this ultimate gift; however, the love must be unconditional and experienced equally by both parties. To have this kind of love for someone is amazing," Luna explained, Anna sitting and looking at her completely dumbfounded. "Because of this love, your body has been healed and there is a child from this union. The child you carry is a very special child. It will have powers unlike any other because he was conceived during the transfer. He is a very powerful wizard."
"He?" Anna whispered as her eyes filled with joy.
"Yes, you are going to have a healthy son, sometime in September. And I will let you in on a little secret," Luna said smiling broadly. "Remus and I will have a daughter around the same time."
"Oh Luna, you are gonna have a baby? Does Remus know?" she questioned excitedly.
"No, yet another reason that I am here. I told him what I saw and he is coming back to the manor for the full moon," she revealed, beaming at her news. "Oh and another thing, you may want to take a look at that slide your blood spilled on."
"That sample is contaminated now. I will be throwing it away," responded Anna, starting to remove it from the microscope.
Luna gently placed a hand on Anna's sleeve. "Humor me and take a look at that slide." Something in Luna's eyes made Anna look immediately.
"Oh dear God," Anna exclaimed as her heart beat rapidly in her chest, "How?"
"I don't know of blood and things, but my ball said hormones," explained Luna happily.
Anna looked at the slide again in disbelief. "Luna, we did it," she whispered and then she yelled, "We did it!"
Charlie had just came into Ginny's office to claim his wife for lunch when they heard the yelling. When they entered the lab, Anna and Luna were hugging each other laughing and crying at the same time.
"Anna," Charlie voiced as he walked in, "What has happened?"
Anna ran to her husband, throwing herself into his arms, locking her legs around his waist and cheered tears of sheer joy streaming down her beautifully glowing face, "We did it! We found something that changes the blood. We have found a cure," Anna spout excitedly.
"Oh Anna," Charlie exclaimed happily as he spun his wife around and around.
After a few revolutions, Anna whispered into her husband's ear, "Please stop spinning, the baby doesn't like it."
Charlie stopped abruptly, placing Anna back on her feet, looking at her with fear.
"Anna love, you aren't supposed to have anymore," he muttered flatly, tears springing to his eyes and threatening to fall.
Anna tenderly took his face in her hands and explained, "Luna saw it in her crystal ball, your son is to be born in September."
"But Anna," Charlie replied as the tears rolled down his face, "I can't lose you, I would die. Please say it isn't so."
Luna touched Ginny's arm and they left the room quietly, closing the door behind them.
Anna gently took the hand of her traumatized husband and led him to the sofa that was in the room near the fire. As they sat there, Anna explained what Luna had told her. Watching his face turn from fear to disbelief to joy, feeling his love as she talked.
When she was finished, she pulled Charlie into her arms, hugging him close as his body was racked by trembling sobs. He had never felt so much love in his entire life. It was most overwhelming. As the trembling subsided, Charlie pulled back from her, looking at her lovely face.
"Anna love, I love you," he vowed quietly as he brushed his lips tenderly against hers. As Anna kissed her husband, the power could again been felt, growing stronger as their kiss deepened.
When Anna broke the kiss, she insisted seductively, "I love you too and I want you, here, now!"
Charlie didn't need to be told twice. After a few quick spells, one for silencing and one for locking the door, Charlie and Anna made love with wild abandon, reveling in their love for each other.
When they emerged form the lab a while later, looking thoroughly shagged, Remus had joined Ginny and Luna in Ginny's office.
"I hear you have some news," Remus laughed.
"Yes, I have found a few very interesting things" smiled Anna as she came to stand next to Remus. "First of all, I know who bit you. Your blood has the same properties as Rupert's, thus leading me to believe that he was the wolf. In addition, your lovely wife saw in her crystal ball that I contaminated one of Hunter's slides with my blood. When I looked at it, with a little insistence from Luna, we discovered that the virus in Hunter's blood was dead," she continued, her smile getting bigger.
Remus stood there staring at Anna in disbelief. "You mean you found a cure for Hunter?"
Anna touched Remus' arm gently, looking deep into his eyes, saying, "Not just for Hunter. Remus, I believe we have one for you too," she concluded as tears spilled from her eyes.
Remus started to get dizzy and sat down as Luna lovingly placed an arm around his shoulder.
"When….will.. you ….know?" he asked brokenly as his voice caught in his throat.
"We can test it right now," Anna said as she turned to Charlie. "I need you draw some of my blood, please."
Charlie looked at Anna unsure.
"You have done it a hundred times with the dragons, it's the same thing," she reassured him.
When Charlie had finished drawing Anna's blood, she set to work on Remus' sample. In a matter of minutes, Remus' blood had re-acted the same as Hunter's, showing no sign of the virus.
Remus sat there not believing what he was seeing. "You mean to tell me," he paused, "that you have a cure for us?"
Anna walked back over to him, taking his face in her hands, whispering to him. "By the end of the week, I will have made enough serum to give to you, Hunter and Rupert," she smiled with tears glistening and continued. "When the next full moon comes, you will not transform."
Remus sat there in shock, looking at Anna as tears streamed from his eyes. "Have you told Hunter yet?" he asked, wiping away his tears with a shaky hand.
"No. I thought that you would like that honor," Anna replied as she went back to stand with Charlie.
"Yes, I would," he relayed still in shock. "Thank you Anna."
Anna gestured that no thanks were necessary, because she could no longer find her voice.
Remus turned to Luna and whispered. "Can you live without your werewolf?"
Luna chuckled as her eyes turned an I want you Remus shade of blue, "You will always be mon la loup-garou, my werewolf, besides my ball has told me that a new animagus will be making an appearance in the form of a wolf. Therefore, I will never lose my wolf, as you will never lose yours."
Remus hadn't been this happy in a long time. Anna had found a cure and his beautiful wife of fifteen years had just informed him that he was going to be a father again. He was in awe. As he entered the private sitting room that adjoined the Black's bedchambers, Narcissa, Sirius, and Hunter were patiently waiting, wondering why they had been summoned.
Remus sat on the ottoman that was positioned in front of the sofa, gently taking Hunter's hands.
"I have news," he started, looking at the faces of his best friend's family. "I don't know how to say this so I will just blurt it out. Anna has found a cure."
The look on their faces was priceless. Narcissa grabbed Hunter hugging him tightly as Sirius hugged Remus. After a few minutes of tears and laughter, Sirius finally sat back down, demanding details.
"Well, it seems that it has something to do with the new hormone levels in Anna's blood. By accident, a drop of her blood mixed with that of Hunter's and when Luna insisted that she not throw that slide away but look at it, they discovered that the virus was dead. I hope that I am explaining it right," he laughed.
Narcissa's eyes lit up with excitement. "Anna's new hormone levels? Remus, are you telling us that Anna is pregnant?"
"Yes, and she isn't the only one. Luna just told me we are also expecting," he replied proudly.
Now it was Remus' turn to be hugged by Narcissa. "Oh Remus. I am so happy for you and Luna. Congratulations."
"Thank you. Well I am off to have a nice quiet lunch with my wife and then it is back to Hogwarts for me. I have classes in the morning. I will be coming back on the eve of the full moon," Remus informed them.
"Yes, I think I will be heading back to school also, Minerva has been teaching my transfiguration classes and she needs to get back to being head mistress. Come and get me before you leave Remus and I will go back with you," Sirius interjected.
"Excellent. I will see you in a while," responded Remus before he left.
Over the next few days, Anna worked hard to get the serum made, Ginny at her side, learning more about Muggle medicine. The serum was finished with a week to spare and it was administered to Hunter, Remus and Rupert. With daily blood tests, their blood showed no sign of the virus. Although the results kept coming back negative, it was Remus' idea for them to be outside when the moon rose that night. While Hunter, Remus and Rupert, sat on the benches by the now dormant garden, the rest of the house stood, looking out the large window, watching in anticipation of the rise of the moon. As a light snow fell, the moon rose bright and clear.
Suddenly, Hunter grew rigid, running behind a snowdrift. Anna turned her face into Charlie's chest crying. She couldn't believe it didn't work; she was devastated.
Then she heard a low rumbling in Charlie's chest as he laughed. Anna raised her head to see with amazement that Hunter had not ran behind the drift to transform, but to start a large frontal assault snowball attack. Remus and Rupert were covered in snow, laughing so hard they could barely throw snowballs in retaliation.
"Well, it looks like Remus and Rupert need our help," laughed Sirius as he grabbed his cloak heading for the door.
"I'm on Hunter's side," squealed Melina as she ran out the door, gloves already on, picking up snow on her way over to Hunter.
Within a few minutes, anyone in the house over the age of five was picking sides and engaging in the largest snowball fight in Malfoy Manor history. After about an hour, everyone came back in wet and exhausted. The adults had put up a valiant fight but were trounced by all the children. Laughter was abundant that night with a New Hope for the future.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed Anna's Gift. If you want to read an NC-17 version of Charlie and Anna's little trip to the cottage, it is located at…
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