Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to J K Rowling and Warner Bros and other various companies that are making money off of this fantastic ride. I on the other hand have just borrowed then to play for a while, no money is being made by me.
Thanks go to Strega Brava for the beta and to Amy for all the input. Amy wasn't allowed to beta cause she had to study. And I am sure that Amy did well on all her tests. Thanks to both of you.
Also, thanks to all of you that read this story and more thanks to those that reviewed. You guys rock.
OK, there should be only one more chapter after this one then an epilogue. I hope you enjoy… let me know.
Tempest's Fury
Chapter Eight: His Just Rewards
As Kyleigh left the dungeon, she threw the cloak over herself and ran from the cold dampness. Blinded by tears, she collided with something quite solid, causing her to fall to the floor in a heap, sobbing.
"Kyleigh, are you all right?" exclaimed Jamie as he pulled the cloak the rest of the way off.
Kyleigh sat there, tears streaming down her face. All she could do was shake her head no.
Jamie sat down next to her on the floor, pulling her into his embrace, trying to comfort the hysterical teen.
"He… is so evil! How can I live knowing that… that man fathered me," Kyleigh sobbed into Jamie's shoulder.
"Kyleigh, why did you come down here?" he asked, holding her tightly, wanting to bring her nothing but comfort.
"I… I wanted to know… why he hates me so," she cried, tears soaking his robes.
Tilting her chin up so he could look her in the face, Jamie asked quietly. "Kyleigh, why do you care? You have so many people that love you and think you are special. We could never live without you," he finished in almost a whisper as a single tear dripped from his eye.
"We?" she asked breathlessly.
"You really don't know the answer to that after six years? Kyleigh, I would die if I lost you," he confessed as he slowly lowered his mouth to hers.
Kyleigh's breath caught right before their lips touched. She didn't pull away this time but sighed heavily as he softly deepened the kiss. When he broke the kiss, both were stunned and blushing profusely.
"WOW!" was all Jamie could manage to say.
"Yeah," mumbled Kyleigh, sighing as a smile lit up her face. They sat there for what seemed like forever just holding each other until they heard the old familiar mewling coming down the hall. Throwing the cloak over them, they sped away as quickly as they could back to the hospital wing and safety.
~~*~~
The next morning, Kyleigh and Neona were deemed fit and released from the hospital wing by Madam Pomfrey who told them to try and stay out of trouble and that they, along with Jamie and Tad, were to report to Professor McGonagall's office immediately.
"I wonder what she wants to see us for," asked a bewildered Neona.
"It probably has something to do with the fact that Lucius' trial was held first thing this morning," Tad retorted as he placed an arm around Neona's waist, pulling her close.
"The trial was this morning? I wonder why Daddy didn't tell us?" pondered Kyleigh as she sweetly took Jamie's hand, causing Tad's eyes to widen as Neona smiled.
"They more than likely didn't want us stressed further," Neona quipped and then stopped in her tracks. "When did you two become a couple?"
Kyleigh blushed as Jamie answered for her. "I came to see Kyleigh last night and well… we just are," he said blushing himself.
"Well it's about bloody time," laughed Tad. "We didn't think you were ever gonna notice each other."
Smiling, Jamie responded by kissing Kyleigh gently on the cheek. "We noticed!"
They all laughed as they reached the gargoyle in front of Professor McGonagall's office where Draco was waiting for them.
"Good morning, everyone," he said, noticing how Kyleigh and Jamie were still holding hands.
"Good morning, Daddy," Kyleigh answered as he released Jamie's hand and hugged Draco.
"Morning," came a chorus of voices from the remaining three students.
"Ready?" he asked, a little apprehensively.
"Yes, let's get this nastiness over with so we can move on," affirmed Kyleigh as Draco said the password and they all ascended the stairs to Professor McGonagall's office. Upon entering, they found the room already contained Hermione, Narcissa, Katarina, Luna and Ginny, seated in front of a cozy fire. Remus, Sirius, Severus and Harry were standing, waiting quietly for Minerva to start the meeting.
Hermione and Luna were immediately on their feet, hugging their daughters.
"We are just waiting for Albus with news… Oh good, here he is. Good morning Albus," Professor McGonagall beamed, happy that the entire Lucius mess was soon to be over.
Albus walked into the room, looking rather tired but the spark was back in his blue eyes.
"Please, everyone sit so we can put this unpleasant or should I say, pleasant business to rest," he cleared his throat and began once everyone was seated.
"Now, before I start, I want you to know that I am extremely happy with the outcome. As you know, Azkaban has been closed for many years now so that wasn't an option for Lucius' punishment. St. Mungo's is also impossible, since he has escaped from there before," he continued as he noticed that Kyleigh was starting to get restless. "However, the Order of the Phoenix has had a plan for him for a long time and I hope that you deem it appropriate punishment. If not, there may be other options. Now, as for the charges… Lucius was found guilty on every count except the charges filed by Ginny."
The room exploded with angry shouts coming from Harry and Draco, venting their displeasure at this news.
"Please, let me finish," demanded Albus, holding his hand up to squelch their tirade. "We can't prove that he was responsible in Ginny's case. Besides, he received a sentence of lifetime imprisonment. That is what is most important." Upon hearing this, everyone calmed down, nodding their heads.
"Now, since there is no wizard prison, we thought it would be appropriate to inflict on him the same kind of punishment that he forced on you, Katarina. Lucius has been exiled to an island in the South Pacific, where he will spend the remainder of his days living as a muggle, alone, with nothing more than supplies and books on how to survive in the wilderness. The island will be warded and there will be no way off the island and supplies will be delivered by magic every three months. He will be under magical surveillance and he will not be aware that it is there. So, are there any questions, suggestions, rantings or comments on the punishment?" he asked, looking even more exhausted now that all of it had been explained.
Everyone was quiet except Kyleigh. "Do you honestly think that he won't find a way off the island and come after us again?" she asked in a forthright manner.
"Yes, it is of my opinion that this is the last we will see of Lucius Malfoy. Vincent has already moved Lucius to his 'new home' as we speak. He was placed under a sleeping spell that will wear off in twelve hours and he will wake up alone with a document stating his punishment," Albus replied, feeling drained of all energy.
"Well then, that is good enough for me. Mum and Daddy, what do you think?" Kyleigh asked.
"I think it is a good plan. I am satisfied," agreed Hermione, looking to Draco.
"Let him rot there. We are done."
"Excellent. My suggestion now, is for everyone to go down and have part of the breakfast feast that has been prepared. Let's put this all behind us.
~~*~~
For the first time in a very long time, Christmas at Malfoy Manor wasn't plagued with the foreboding presence of Lucius Malfoy. Lucius was gone and the celebration was the best ever.
On Christmas Eve, the smaller children were allowed to open one present to help occupy their time and to lessen the excitement for what was going to happen the following morning. As the children played, the adults and older children sat playing chess, talking and enjoying Katarina playing the piano and singing.
Ginny, who was now quite large, was talking to Kyleigh and Neona about the babies.
"So Ginny, how are you and the babies?" Kyleigh asked sincerely.
"We are doing just fine other than the fact that I am finding it difficult to sleep sometimes," Ginny offered as she gently placed her hand on her large tummy, rubbing in circles as one of the babies kicked. "And they are very active too."
"Right now?" Kyleigh asked excitedly.
"Would you like to feel?" Ginny asked, touched that Kyleigh was showing such an interest.
"Sure," the younger girl replied eagerly.
"Here, give me your hand," she instructed as she tenderly placed it on her tummy, the babies kicking as if on cue. Kyleigh felt the familiar pull as a vision started to take shape. Kyleigh closed her eyes, seeing small flashes of different pictures. Before she knew it… it was gone.
"They are beautiful Ginny," Kyleigh sighed as she removed her hand from Ginny's tummy.
"You know what they are then?" Ginny asked excitedly.
"Both girls. One with strawberry blonde curls, the other with jet-black hair all over the place. Both of them very pretty," Kyleigh responded distractedly as she noticed her mother exit the room in a rush, followed by her Daddy.
~~*~~
Draco was standing talking to his mother and Sirius when he noticed Kyleigh talking to Ginny. When she placed her hand on Ginny's tummy, he scanned the room to find Hermione. She was standing near the window also looking about the room as she laughed at some of the children playing. When her eyes fell on Ginny, her face turned serious. She politely excused herself and quickly left the room.
"Go to her, Draco," whispered Narcissa. "This is very hard on her whether any of us realizes it or not."
Draco took his leave, and went in search of his wife.
He found her in their chambers, sitting by the fire. He wasn't sure she knew he was there until she started to speak.
"Sorry I left. I just couldn't take anymore," she said, not looking up.
"Hermione, I know this is very hard on you and I am truly sorry," Draco said as he came and sat next to her.
Hermione looked into his eyes, tears pooling in her own. "I know and I don't mean to be so silly. It's just… I…" Hermione had to stop as the tears fell, finding it hard to speak. "It's just that every time I see Ginny lately, it's like a knife being plunged into my heart. I am trying so hard to deal with the fact that she is carrying your child… I just keep thinking about how you made love to another woman and it just eats me up. I hate Lucius so much, for what he did."
"Oh sweet. I want you to understand something. I never made love to Ginny. We had sex, nothing more. There was no love whatsoever involved in our union. I do not now and never will love her. The child is mine so I will love it. I hope you can understand that and I wish there were something I could do to take the pain away. I can't even imagine what you are going through. All I can offer is my love and my promise that I love you and only you," he comforted, as he pulled her into his arms.
"Just don't let me go," she pleaded as she buried her face in the side of his neck.
Draco held her, stroking her hair as he talked quietly, trying to reassure her.
He felt her relax as sleep overtook her exhausted body. Smiling, Draco gently picked her up and laid her on their bed, lying down beside her as she curled up to him, her head and hand resting on his chest.
"I love you, Draco," she said almost inaudibly.
Draco looked at her, his eyes boring into hers as he lowered his mouth gently to hers. As the kiss deepened, Draco held her tighter, wanting her to understand just how much he truly loved her.
When they pulled apart, it was Hermione that took the initiative and started to slowly remove Draco's robes. When her warm hands made contact with his bare skin, Draco moaned in pleasure, wanting her totally as he started to remove her robes.
They never made it back downstairs that night… they never even made it out of the bed.
~~*~~
The next few months were a little strained for Hermione. She had been okay with the situation at first but now, that the Ginny was showing, it was a constant reminder of what had taken place. Hermione tried her best to not let the situation get to her, however she seemed to be failing miserably, feeling very depressed. So Hermione did the only thing she knew how to do, she stayed to herself other than when she was teaching a class. Ginny, noticing the stress that Hermione was under, tried stay out of her way. The tension in the house was mounting as Harry and Draco worked on keeping the peace. It was a big house and, thankfully, this meant that they wouldn't see each other every day unless they shared meals.
One afternoon in January, Hermione was sitting in the library reading when Ginny came in.
"Hermione? Can you spare a moment? I need to talk to you," Ginny asked apprehensively.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Hermione replied, "Sure," extending her hand and inviting the younger woman to sit in the chair opposite her as she closed her book to give her undivided attention.
Ginny squirmed a bit, trying to find the right way to say the things she longed to say.
"Are you all right?" Hermione asked, now becoming concerned that something was terribly wrong.
"Yes… No!" Ginny burst out. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak.
"I know why you have been avoiding me since Christmas and I am really sorry that you are upset. I realize how hard it has to be on you, this whole situation, and I regret that it has torn our friendship apart. That is the last thing in this world I ever wanted to happen," Ginny said, looking down at her hands as she wrung them nervously.
"I will never be able to make up to you the pain that I have caused. I would never intentionally hurt you. I hope you know that," Ginny continued as tears glistened in her big brown eyes.
"How can I say this without it coming out wrong? I have never loved Draco as more than a friend. He is a wonderful man and I am sure he will make my baby a wonderful father. It's just that I can't…"
"Ginny. Please!" said Hermione, as she too blinked back scalding tears that were threatening to spill.
"No wait, Hermione… please let me finish," Ginny asked beseechingly. Hermione nodded.
"I just want you to know how much I hate what has happened. I need you back as my best friend," Ginny said as tears fell faster from her now red eyes.
"I need you to be part of the baby's life. You have been there for me with all my other children and I just cannot fathom you not being there now. Please, Hermione, my babies need their Godmother's love and guidance. Please," Ginny cried, desperation apparent in her voice.
"Ginny," Hermione said as she got up and sat down next to her on the sofa.
"I love you as the sister I never had. I am so sorry for being such a git about the whole situation but you must agree that it is a difficult place to be." Ginny nodded in agreement.
"In the last few weeks, I have stayed to myself mostly so I could try and heal my feelings so I could be there when you needed me. I will always be there for you and Harry, no matter what. Now as to the question of being the baby's Godmother… I will do it only on one condition," Hermione said, as she took Ginny's trembling hands, holding them tight.
"You have to forgive my short sightedness on the whole ordeal. I am sorry for not understanding," Hermione said a smile slowly forming on her tear streaked face.
"Let me get this straight. All I have to do is forgive you for being totally human? I think that maybe I can handle that. I love you, Hermione," Ginny declared, hugging Hermione tightly. "I have missed you so much."
"I have missed you too," Hermione replied, pausing to listen to a strange noise coming from somewhere in the room. "What is that noise?"
Turning five different shades of red, Ginny confessed. "It's my stomach. The babies want their afternoon snack."
"Well, let's not keep them waiting then. Off to the kitchen we go," Hermione laughed as she helped Ginny rise from the sofa.
"And what do the little darlings want?"
"Pickles and ice-cream… what else?" Ginny said giggling.
"Oh sweet heavens. I remember those kinds of cravings. It used to gross Draco out… Poor thing," Hermione smiled as they walked down the hall.
"Oh, I know. Harry has been having a hard time of late with some of the concoctions I have been coming up with."
As they walked down the hall, Draco and Harry came upon them.
"Well don't you two look happy. What's up?" Harry asked, glad that they had appeared to have tackled their difficulties.
Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and burst into a fit of giggles.
"We are headed to the kitchen… the twins want a little snack. Care to join us?" Ginny asked trying to keep from going into complete hysteria.
"NO!" Harry and Draco said together.
This sent Ginny over the edge and she burst into gales of laugher. "Right then," she said through her tears… "We will see you later."
Hermione and Ginny then continued on their way, laughing and talking until they reached the kitchen where their voices became muffled as they entered.
"Well, I am sure glad those two made up. I don't think I could have taken much more," Draco said as he turned to Harry. "Now what were we going to do?"
~~*~~
In early February, Draco and Harry were called into the ministry of magic to do some special work for Dumbledore. Albus knew that the babies were due soon so he reckoned that if they did the assignment now, they would be done way before the twins were born.
They had been gone for about two of the seven days when Ginny woke up with her back hurting badly. As she made her way down to breakfast, the cramps started. By the time she got to the table, she knew she was in labor.
"Ginny, are you okay?" asked Hermione, noticing the pain etched on Ginny's face.
"Oh Hermione, I am in labor. It's too early. I'm not due for three more weeks. What are we going to do?" Ginny said in a panic as she sat at the table.
"Well, you are going to go back to your chambers while I go to Draco's office to contact Anna and Albus. The guys have to get back here now," instructed Hermione as she helped Ginny up and walked her back to her chambers.
By the time Anna got there, Ginny was having pains 10 minutes apart.
"How is she?" Anna asked Hermione while Ginny was in the bathroom.
"She isn't doing very well. She wants the guys here and she is freaking because the babies are early," Hemione explained, worry apparent on her face.
"The babies are fine. Twins sometimes come early. She knows that. She is just stressed about the whole business," replied Anna as Ginny came back to bed.
"Are Harry and Draco here yet?" she asked as another pain went through her body.
As if on cue, they came running in the door.
"Ginny, love, I'm here… we're here," said Harry breathlessly as he grabbed her hand and kissed her tenderly on the forehead.
"Well, it's about friggin time. I have been in labor for hours now. What took you so….aahhh," she gasped as another pain tore through her.
"Okay guys, it's time. How are you going to do this?" Anna asked impatiently.
"I want Harry down at my feet and I want Draco on one side by my head and Hermione, I want you here too. I need you here," Ginny demanded in between contractions.
Everyone got into position and not a moment too soon. In a matter of minutes, Harry helped deliver his daughter… a screaming black-haired girl named Margaret Virginia Potter or Maggie. Three minutes later, a strawberry blonde came into the world calm and pink. They named her Stella Malfoy Potter. Both were small but healthy and Ginny was exhausted.
~~*~~
In late August, Kyleigh, Jamie, Neona and Tad went to Diagon Alley to gather their supplies for school…
"So, Neona, when do you go to London for school?" Jamie asked as he held Kyleigh's hand.
"I start September 1 just like you guys," she said as they reached Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, taking seats near the back so they could talk without being interrupted, not noticing as a young woman sat close by with her back to them. Close enough to hear their conversation.
"You are excited then?" asked Kyleigh, laughing at the look on Neona's face.
"Goodness yes and I am extremely relieved that I don't have to worry about Lucius coming after any of us. I am so thankful that he was captured after he attacked me," said Neona, looking relieved.
"I think he got what he deserved, banished to a secluded island to live as a muggle for the rest of his miserable life… alone. What a great punishment, don't you think, Kyleigh?" Tad asked.
"I don't know… personally, I would have loved to see him die a slow and painful death. He caused so much pain, I think he deserved to experience some pain himself. Look what he tried to do to Neona and what he did to Narcissa and Katarina. What about what he did to my Mum? Crikey, he needed to die," Kyleigh exclaimed bitterly as she took a bite of her ice cream.
There was silence for a few minutes, then Jamie started up the conversation again.
"I don't understand how Lucius could possibly get away. Albus Dumbledore has him on that island… and the wards are unbreachable.
"Well, I don't know where, how or when but I do know for certain, Lucius will surface again and he will try and kill me. My mum, Narcissa and Katarina will be there too," Kyleigh said as she stared at nothing, deep in thought.
"Okay, I have the creeps now. Can we please talk about something pleasant? Something un-Lucius related?" Neona suggested adamantly as they all got up to leave.
The rest of the day was uneventful, until they got to Flourish and Blotts when Kyleigh whipped out a very large list of books for her and her mother. They were all good sports and decided if they were going to get home in the near future, they would help Kyleigh with the list. If they knew what was going on in a wizard house close by, they wouldn't have been having any fun.
The young woman that had been sitting at the Ice Cream parlor ran into her room, sat at her desk and started penning a letter.
My dearest Lucius,
I have just his moment found out that you have been imprisoned. How can I help? You but need to ask.
Your faithful servant always…
