A/N: As always I don't own any of the characters except Tab and Cliff
The lyrics are from 'You First Believed' by Hoku
Well ppl, believe it or not I think this may be the end, yes I don't think there's much more I can do with this so I shall leave it at that. The good news if u like my writing is that I'm planning on writing another DG fic straight away woot!
So R&R plz ppl, enjoy =) cheers babes xx
Chapter Twelve – An Old Weasley Returns And
A New One Arrives
How many times did I pray
You'd find me
How many wishes on a star
Gazing off into the dark
Dreaming I'd see your face
Safe at home unafraid
Captured in your embrace
"Wait a minute, I think I have something."
Hermione cried excitedly, placing the book on her knee at the relevant page and leaning forward, pointing at a small black dot in the centre so everyone could see.
"What's that meant to be?"
Ron asked, looking down at his feet sheepishly when Hermione sighed impatiently and charmed the page so it grew to twice its size.
"That, Ronald, is a castle."
She flicked her wand at the page again and it zoomed into the area around the castle. She prodded the castle with her wand and a commentary began, sounding very like Professor Binns' History of Magic class.
"... This castle was victim of an angry mob back in the late 1500's when the owner of the castle's young bride was taken captive by the mob..."
An outburst of excited conversations drowned the rest out as people discussed the possibility that this was the castle they were looking for.
"Hermione, I think you found it."
Harry said slowly, his eyes fixed on the castle.
"Are there any pictures?"
Charlie asked, scrabbling around the pile of books nearby in the feeble hope of finding some.
"Yes, here they are."
Hermione pulled out an A4 ring binder folder and flicked through the large black and white pictures of various buildings until she came to some with the same title as the map they were looking at. She charmed these so they were floating before them all and Tab shuddered, she recognised that courtyard all too well, flashes of bodies and blood crossed her mind and she turned away.
"So what are we doing?"
"Where is it?"
"Can we Apparate there?"
Questions fell over one another as people leapt to their feet and began making plans.
"Now wait one minute you can't just go marching into the enemy's territory."
Moody barked making Angelina jump and Ron fall out of his chair.
"Well what should we do then?"
Draco's voice was politely questioning but there was a cold undertone that made Harry shiver.
"We need to work on a plan of action, find out how many he's got on his side and then we'll go in."
Draco was about to retort when Dumbledore Apparated right by his side with a small red leather book in his hands.
"I found the journal, now what have we uncovered so far?'
Hermione showed him the pictures of the castle and the caption under the map they had found and he nodded approvingly.
"Yes this certainly is the castle we are looking for. Now, this journal was in William's possession for a lot longer than the rose so we may be able to gather some more information from it..."
He trailed off when Tab approached him, her face set and her mind obviously made up.
"Are you sure, Tabitha?"
The room fell silent as Tab once more lay down on the mattress, this time with the journal on her chest. Without saying a word they all resumed their seats around Tab, linking hands and keeping their gaze fixed intently on her as Dumbledore began the chant.
Tab opened her eyes and found herself staring through the legs of several chairs. She looked up to see the same long table as last time above had and she crawled out from under it, her eyes sweeping the room taking in the huge black cauldron bubbling over the fire in the fireplace and the crouching minions bustling backwards and forwards from around it.
Tab crept over, waved her wand and produced a replica of the potion they were making from the open book on the low table besides the cauldron. She shoved it into her pocket and quickly left the room, her job was to find out where Ginny was being kept and how many followers William had.
Hearing raised voices she sped up and halted outside a heavy wooden door, peering in through the barred window she saw William climb to his feet before her and lift his bloodied shirt. Ginny backed away, whatever she had seen had obviously spooked her and she dropped the knife she was holding with a loud clatter.
"What the hell are you?"
She whimpered, backing away from him.
"I am life beyond death, love beyond hate. I am more than you could ever imagine."
William clicked his fingers and a crouched minion shot out of the room Tab had just left with something white and lacy thrown over its shoulder. Tab let out a gasp no one heard when she saw it was an exact replica of the dress Jocelyn had worn in her first vision.
The dress was left carefully on the mattress in the corner of the room and Ginny eyed it curiously before speaking.
"Are you serious?"
Tab swallowed nervously, recognising the signs that led to a coming explosion. She didn't have long to wait before Ginny lost her temper and started shouting. Tab shook her head fondly and stepped into the room, almost screaming when William walked right through her. She surveyed the room before quickly running to the window to get an idea of her surroundings; the vision was becoming blurred and she knew she didn't have long. The familiar view from the window made her shudder and she moved away quickly, walking right past the still arguing forms of Ginny and William.
She wandered all over the castle, making a note of each of William's followers she passed for Moody. Finally she reached the ground floor and she crossed the courtyard nervously, looking up she realised that anyone trying to get in from here would be noticeable only from Ginny's room as it was the only window facing that way whereas the main gate on the other side was in plain sight of the room the potion was being brewed in.
"Tab? What did you see?"
Cliff's concerned voice penetrated the vision and she snapped her eyes shut, only opening them again when the lingering smell of the castle had disappeared. The occupants of Sparrow House were staring at her eagerly and she quickly relayed her story, pulling out the crumpled copy of the potion that had luckily taken on all of William's notes around the edges.
"And how many did you see there?"
Moody demanded, a plan of action already half formed in his mind as he took in all the details.
"Not many, between a dozen and twenty I'd say."
Tab replied, looking down at the scribbled tally chart on her hand.
"Well they should be easy enough to overcome."
Moody muttered, more to himself than anyone else as he went back to figuring out his plan.
"You saw Ginny?"
Draco asked quietly, his hand once more fiddling with the chain around his neck, Tab turned to look at him slowly before nodding her head.
"Yes."
A slight smile lit up her face.
"She was fighting with him."
The Weasley's exchanged proud looks but Tab had something that was playing on her mind.
"Pro... Albus."
She said hesitantly in an undertone to Professor Dumbledore, he turned to study her, nodding for her to speak.
"Well, Ginny stabbed William, but he healed himself."
Although she was speaking in just above a whisper the room fell silent and turned to look at her as she spoke.
"Did it leave any marks?"
Snape asked urgently, exchanging a glance with McGonagall.
"Yes, a little white scar where she stabbed him, why?"
Tab asked, confused as to why this would be relevant.
"There is another dark potion that can be made that upon consumption will heal any wound inflicted."
Snape replied, not looking up as he studied the copy of the potion Tab had brought back.
"You seem to know an awful lot about these powerful dark potions."
Sirius said loudly, making everyone jump, Harry put a restraining hand on his Godfather's arm when Snape glared at him challengingly.
"We do not have time for this."
Dumbledore said firmly, shooting them both warning glances before turning to Snape.
"Severus, is there any way to stop this potion?"
Snape didn't take his eyes of Sirius as he nodded.
"Yes, there is a potion that must be made which only needs to come in contact with the subject."
Ron interrupted him here earning himself a poisonous glance in reply.
"So he won't have to drink it?"
Snape shook his head, his upper lip curling into an all too familiar sneer.
"No. As I was saying, once the potion has touched the subject, in this case William, a counter curse must be uttered."
He waved his wand lightly in the air and a piece of parchment appeared with a few scribbled shapes across it, Hermione took the page and studied it carefully. Being the only one who had taken Ancient Runes at Hogwarts she was the only one there besides Dumbledore and Snape able to read it.
"So that's it? Was there no other protection around the castle?"
Moody growled incredulously, his magical eye swirling around to look at Tab through the back of his head. She shook her head and pointed over to Hermione who was gazing at the photos eagerly.
"Sir, Alastor..."
She stammered as both his eyes turned to look at her.
"It says in the book that there was a very ancient spell cast on the castle years before William's family lived there that prevented any other spells being put on the castle no matter what."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement, turning to Moody and speaking up.
"Which is probably why the angry mob that invaded weren't detected long before they got close enough to do any damage. No I think we're safe on that front Alastor."
He grunted and waved the moving diagrams he had created before the group.
"Now, here's our plan of attack."
Ron and Hermione were still busy arguing an hour later while the group were preparing themselves for the ordeal ahead.
"You... are... pregnant."
Ron snarled at Hermione who was defiantly shrinking the piece of parchment with the counter curse written on it and tucking it into her jacket pocket.
"I don't care Ron, I can do this honestly."
Ron was not the only one who was against Hermione coming along on such a dangerous task but in the end they compromised; Hermione would stay with one of the larger groups rather than staying in a pair as the rest were.
Mrs Weasley was still trying to talk her into remaining behind with Angelina and herself preparing themselves for any injuries the others might return with when the time had come to set off.
"I'll be alright Mrs Weasley, I promise."
Hermione gave her future mother-in-law one last comforting hug goodbye before Apparating along with the others to the blustery moors outside the castle.
The group ducked behind the old walls of the castle and hurriedly whispered last minute instructions, checking everyone knew where to be at exactly the right time before they bade each other farewell and split up into their assigned pairs. Harry, Ron, Draco and Hermione's task was to get Ginny out of her prison while the others took care of William's followers. Dumbledore, Snape, Sirius and Lupin were going to find William and stop him.
Ron clutched Hermione's free hand in his own as the crept up staircase after staircase looking for Ginny's room. They finally found her after about ten minutes of silent cursing and fruitless searching.
"Draco!"
Ginny gasped, flinging herself on him and kissing his lips frantically while the others sent a set of sparks flying down the stairs to tell the others they had Ginny.
Hermione screamed when William came barging into the room, frothing at the mouth with blood all over his clothes and his eyes rolling crazily.
"Get away from her!"
He screamed at the four intruders, lunging at them and only just being pulled back in time when Sirius dove at him and rugby tackled him onto the floor. The pair of them were rolling over and over while the others stared on in horror when the rest of Sirius' group came racing into the room panting. Snape tossed the potion at William and it smashed all over his back, burning a through his shirt and seeping into his back.
Hermione regained her senses and quickly yanked the counter curse out of her jacket pocket, sprinting over to Dumbledore and Snape who both began to read over her shoulder, their powerful voices joining her lower breathless one.
Draco grabbed Ginny by the arm and yanked her out of the way when William rolled across the floor towards them, his wand pointing at Draco.
"I'll kill you!"
He hollered opening his mouth to bellow the killing curse but instead falling face down on the floor with a nasty sounding crack. Looking up they all saw Ron had slammed a heavy rock into his face before he could kill Draco, knocking William out.
"You saved me?'
Draco mumbled in amazement at Ron who flushed, still glaring down at William.
"Yeah well don't get used to it."
He muttered shrugging, refusing to look up at Draco who was grinning broadly now.
"Can we just get out of here?"
Ginny pleaded, her face buried in Draco's shoulder as she clung to him. They all nodded in silent agreement and trailed outside to where the rest of the group were sat panting in the courtyard, McGonagall's glasses dangling off her face, only hanging on by one ear and the others with various cuts and bruises.
Ginny turned to Draco and smiled shyly, he pulled her into his embrace and sighed contentedly into her hair, turning her face away from the sight of William being levitated out of the castle doors, bound and still unconscious by Moody and Lupin.
"I thought I'd lost you."
He said softly into her cloud of matted ref hair, his hand trembling as he stroked her neck.
"For a while there you almost did."
She replied, leaning out of his arms so she could look up at his face.
"Do you want to know how you kept me alive in there?"
He nodded and smiled gently down at her;
"Some other time."
He pulled her towards him and buried his lips in hers; losing himself in a kiss he never thought he'd have again. Ginny pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning into him.
"Err... guys?"
The pair of them ignored whoever was trying to speak to them.
"GUYS!"
They broke away angrily but didn't look around; Draco rested his forehead against Ginny's who was licking her lips, her eyes on his lips once more.
"Look guys, I hate to interrupt 'Gone With The Wind' but we have a serious problem here and Ron is about to explode."
They both turned to look at Tab who was bouncing up and down waving her arms trying to get their attention.
"What problem?"
Ginny sighed, looking incredulously at her best friend with a vivid red eyebrow raised. Tab shrugged her shoulders sarcastically and replied coolly;
"Oh nothing much, Hermione's just in labour that's all."
Draco and Ginny exchanged a blank look before turning got stare at Ron who was running backwards and forwards like a headless chicken with Hermione in his arms. Everyone immediately sprang into action, Apparating in a large group back to Sparrow House with the exception of Moody who had taken William to the Ministry of Magic.
"Ginny!"
Mrs Weasley and Angelina screamed, throwing themselves on Ginny who hugged them both quickly before shoving them off and pointing at Hermione.
Mrs Weasley sized the situation up immediately and ordered Bill and Charlie to fetch hot water and plenty of towels.
"Mum? St Mungo's..."
Ron trailed off weakly at the look on his mothers face and went back to stroking Hermione's hair from where she was lying on the large hospital bed Dumbledore had conjured. She was panting heavily and had almost broken his hand squeezing it at each contraction.
"I think we'll just..."
Fred and George said in unison, giving up on an excuse and bolting for the door.
"Yeah us too."
Every other male in the room ran towards the door and collapsed on to the stairs with Fred and George who were looking very white. Seconds later Dumbledore, Bill and Charlie joined them without saying a word. They sat there for what seemed like hours and probably was but as none of them were wearing watches they couldn't tell until Hermione's screams of pain got louder and Tonks, Tab, Ginny, McGonagall and Angelina's trips outside to report excitedly were getting more frequent.
"We can see the head."
Ginny cried, jumping up and down as he dashed towards the men sat on the stairs. Another scream of agony from Hermione made her turn pale and race back into the room.
A little while later they all froze when a baby's cries rang throughout the house and a thoroughly over-emotional Ron walked shakily over to them, pushing his hair out of his face with a trembling hand and collapsing onto the bottom stair in front of Harry and Sirius.
"I'm a father."
He repeated over and over, staring down at the floor with a foolish sort of grin on his face. Harry clapped him on the back and rose to his feet, cautiously poking his head into the drawing room.
"It's safe."
He reported to the others before wandering into the room and kneeling down next to an exhausted Hermione.
"Well done."
He said softly, kissing her damp forehead and stroking the little baby's head. She already had a slight mop of smooth dark red hair and when Ron knelt besides Harry and placed one arm around Hermione, and a large hand on the baby's little stomach, she opened her mother's huge hazel eyes and stared inquisitively around at them all.
Ginny and Angelina were sobbing on each others shoulders while Draco patted Ginny's shoulder, unaware what all the tears were for; shouldn't they have been happy?
"Uh-oh."
George snorted, nudging Fred in the ribs when Angelina shot him a suggestive look.
Bill and Charlie stifled their laughter at the stunned look on their brother's face before looking round warily at Mrs Weasley and McGonagall who were sniffling on each others shoulders.
"Wow."
Was all Sirius would say when he took in the amount of blood stained towels and the sate of Mrs Weasley's bloodied clothes.
"Alicks, this is your Godparent's; Harry Potter and Nymphadora Tonks."
Hermione said gently, shifting the baby slightly so she could look at a furiously flushing yet strangely proud Harry and Tonks who was willing to let the mention of her real name slip as she beamed with pride at Hermione.
Draco looked shiftily at Ginny who was wiping away the last of her tears now and leaning against him as Angelina and Fred had disappeared.
"You're not ready for a family are you?'
He asked uncertainly, watching her with a little relief when she shook her head.
"Not yet anyway."
She said softly, leaning back against him as he wrapped his arms around her waist and joined the rest of the room in watching the happy new family proudly.
"Well we must be going, but it was a pleasure to meet this new addition to such an extraordinary family as the Weasley's."
Dumbledore said, making no attempt to hide his own tears as he removed all the books and maps they had used and all the extra furniture besides Hermione's bed with a flick of his wand and beckoning to his two professors. They bade their farewells and Disapparated with a loud crack that made baby Alicks jump.
"Well we have a lot of planning to do; I want Alicks christened before the wedding."
Hermione made them all jump when she spoke suddenly from her bed.
"Hermione, aren't you exhausted after all that?"
Ron asked in a curious voice that made him sound like he was being strangled.
"Not at all. In fact I'm already planning the next one."
Hermione replied cheerfully. Ron ignored the nudge Harry gave him in the robs and looked uncertainly down at his numb hand where Hermione's nail marks were still flashing red and he gulped.
The lyrics are from 'You First Believed' by Hoku
Well ppl, believe it or not I think this may be the end, yes I don't think there's much more I can do with this so I shall leave it at that. The good news if u like my writing is that I'm planning on writing another DG fic straight away woot!
So R&R plz ppl, enjoy =) cheers babes xx
Chapter Twelve – An Old Weasley Returns And
A New One Arrives
How many times did I pray
You'd find me
How many wishes on a star
Gazing off into the dark
Dreaming I'd see your face
Safe at home unafraid
Captured in your embrace
"Wait a minute, I think I have something."
Hermione cried excitedly, placing the book on her knee at the relevant page and leaning forward, pointing at a small black dot in the centre so everyone could see.
"What's that meant to be?"
Ron asked, looking down at his feet sheepishly when Hermione sighed impatiently and charmed the page so it grew to twice its size.
"That, Ronald, is a castle."
She flicked her wand at the page again and it zoomed into the area around the castle. She prodded the castle with her wand and a commentary began, sounding very like Professor Binns' History of Magic class.
"... This castle was victim of an angry mob back in the late 1500's when the owner of the castle's young bride was taken captive by the mob..."
An outburst of excited conversations drowned the rest out as people discussed the possibility that this was the castle they were looking for.
"Hermione, I think you found it."
Harry said slowly, his eyes fixed on the castle.
"Are there any pictures?"
Charlie asked, scrabbling around the pile of books nearby in the feeble hope of finding some.
"Yes, here they are."
Hermione pulled out an A4 ring binder folder and flicked through the large black and white pictures of various buildings until she came to some with the same title as the map they were looking at. She charmed these so they were floating before them all and Tab shuddered, she recognised that courtyard all too well, flashes of bodies and blood crossed her mind and she turned away.
"So what are we doing?"
"Where is it?"
"Can we Apparate there?"
Questions fell over one another as people leapt to their feet and began making plans.
"Now wait one minute you can't just go marching into the enemy's territory."
Moody barked making Angelina jump and Ron fall out of his chair.
"Well what should we do then?"
Draco's voice was politely questioning but there was a cold undertone that made Harry shiver.
"We need to work on a plan of action, find out how many he's got on his side and then we'll go in."
Draco was about to retort when Dumbledore Apparated right by his side with a small red leather book in his hands.
"I found the journal, now what have we uncovered so far?'
Hermione showed him the pictures of the castle and the caption under the map they had found and he nodded approvingly.
"Yes this certainly is the castle we are looking for. Now, this journal was in William's possession for a lot longer than the rose so we may be able to gather some more information from it..."
He trailed off when Tab approached him, her face set and her mind obviously made up.
"Are you sure, Tabitha?"
The room fell silent as Tab once more lay down on the mattress, this time with the journal on her chest. Without saying a word they all resumed their seats around Tab, linking hands and keeping their gaze fixed intently on her as Dumbledore began the chant.
Tab opened her eyes and found herself staring through the legs of several chairs. She looked up to see the same long table as last time above had and she crawled out from under it, her eyes sweeping the room taking in the huge black cauldron bubbling over the fire in the fireplace and the crouching minions bustling backwards and forwards from around it.
Tab crept over, waved her wand and produced a replica of the potion they were making from the open book on the low table besides the cauldron. She shoved it into her pocket and quickly left the room, her job was to find out where Ginny was being kept and how many followers William had.
Hearing raised voices she sped up and halted outside a heavy wooden door, peering in through the barred window she saw William climb to his feet before her and lift his bloodied shirt. Ginny backed away, whatever she had seen had obviously spooked her and she dropped the knife she was holding with a loud clatter.
"What the hell are you?"
She whimpered, backing away from him.
"I am life beyond death, love beyond hate. I am more than you could ever imagine."
William clicked his fingers and a crouched minion shot out of the room Tab had just left with something white and lacy thrown over its shoulder. Tab let out a gasp no one heard when she saw it was an exact replica of the dress Jocelyn had worn in her first vision.
The dress was left carefully on the mattress in the corner of the room and Ginny eyed it curiously before speaking.
"Are you serious?"
Tab swallowed nervously, recognising the signs that led to a coming explosion. She didn't have long to wait before Ginny lost her temper and started shouting. Tab shook her head fondly and stepped into the room, almost screaming when William walked right through her. She surveyed the room before quickly running to the window to get an idea of her surroundings; the vision was becoming blurred and she knew she didn't have long. The familiar view from the window made her shudder and she moved away quickly, walking right past the still arguing forms of Ginny and William.
She wandered all over the castle, making a note of each of William's followers she passed for Moody. Finally she reached the ground floor and she crossed the courtyard nervously, looking up she realised that anyone trying to get in from here would be noticeable only from Ginny's room as it was the only window facing that way whereas the main gate on the other side was in plain sight of the room the potion was being brewed in.
"Tab? What did you see?"
Cliff's concerned voice penetrated the vision and she snapped her eyes shut, only opening them again when the lingering smell of the castle had disappeared. The occupants of Sparrow House were staring at her eagerly and she quickly relayed her story, pulling out the crumpled copy of the potion that had luckily taken on all of William's notes around the edges.
"And how many did you see there?"
Moody demanded, a plan of action already half formed in his mind as he took in all the details.
"Not many, between a dozen and twenty I'd say."
Tab replied, looking down at the scribbled tally chart on her hand.
"Well they should be easy enough to overcome."
Moody muttered, more to himself than anyone else as he went back to figuring out his plan.
"You saw Ginny?"
Draco asked quietly, his hand once more fiddling with the chain around his neck, Tab turned to look at him slowly before nodding her head.
"Yes."
A slight smile lit up her face.
"She was fighting with him."
The Weasley's exchanged proud looks but Tab had something that was playing on her mind.
"Pro... Albus."
She said hesitantly in an undertone to Professor Dumbledore, he turned to study her, nodding for her to speak.
"Well, Ginny stabbed William, but he healed himself."
Although she was speaking in just above a whisper the room fell silent and turned to look at her as she spoke.
"Did it leave any marks?"
Snape asked urgently, exchanging a glance with McGonagall.
"Yes, a little white scar where she stabbed him, why?"
Tab asked, confused as to why this would be relevant.
"There is another dark potion that can be made that upon consumption will heal any wound inflicted."
Snape replied, not looking up as he studied the copy of the potion Tab had brought back.
"You seem to know an awful lot about these powerful dark potions."
Sirius said loudly, making everyone jump, Harry put a restraining hand on his Godfather's arm when Snape glared at him challengingly.
"We do not have time for this."
Dumbledore said firmly, shooting them both warning glances before turning to Snape.
"Severus, is there any way to stop this potion?"
Snape didn't take his eyes of Sirius as he nodded.
"Yes, there is a potion that must be made which only needs to come in contact with the subject."
Ron interrupted him here earning himself a poisonous glance in reply.
"So he won't have to drink it?"
Snape shook his head, his upper lip curling into an all too familiar sneer.
"No. As I was saying, once the potion has touched the subject, in this case William, a counter curse must be uttered."
He waved his wand lightly in the air and a piece of parchment appeared with a few scribbled shapes across it, Hermione took the page and studied it carefully. Being the only one who had taken Ancient Runes at Hogwarts she was the only one there besides Dumbledore and Snape able to read it.
"So that's it? Was there no other protection around the castle?"
Moody growled incredulously, his magical eye swirling around to look at Tab through the back of his head. She shook her head and pointed over to Hermione who was gazing at the photos eagerly.
"Sir, Alastor..."
She stammered as both his eyes turned to look at her.
"It says in the book that there was a very ancient spell cast on the castle years before William's family lived there that prevented any other spells being put on the castle no matter what."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement, turning to Moody and speaking up.
"Which is probably why the angry mob that invaded weren't detected long before they got close enough to do any damage. No I think we're safe on that front Alastor."
He grunted and waved the moving diagrams he had created before the group.
"Now, here's our plan of attack."
Ron and Hermione were still busy arguing an hour later while the group were preparing themselves for the ordeal ahead.
"You... are... pregnant."
Ron snarled at Hermione who was defiantly shrinking the piece of parchment with the counter curse written on it and tucking it into her jacket pocket.
"I don't care Ron, I can do this honestly."
Ron was not the only one who was against Hermione coming along on such a dangerous task but in the end they compromised; Hermione would stay with one of the larger groups rather than staying in a pair as the rest were.
Mrs Weasley was still trying to talk her into remaining behind with Angelina and herself preparing themselves for any injuries the others might return with when the time had come to set off.
"I'll be alright Mrs Weasley, I promise."
Hermione gave her future mother-in-law one last comforting hug goodbye before Apparating along with the others to the blustery moors outside the castle.
The group ducked behind the old walls of the castle and hurriedly whispered last minute instructions, checking everyone knew where to be at exactly the right time before they bade each other farewell and split up into their assigned pairs. Harry, Ron, Draco and Hermione's task was to get Ginny out of her prison while the others took care of William's followers. Dumbledore, Snape, Sirius and Lupin were going to find William and stop him.
Ron clutched Hermione's free hand in his own as the crept up staircase after staircase looking for Ginny's room. They finally found her after about ten minutes of silent cursing and fruitless searching.
"Draco!"
Ginny gasped, flinging herself on him and kissing his lips frantically while the others sent a set of sparks flying down the stairs to tell the others they had Ginny.
Hermione screamed when William came barging into the room, frothing at the mouth with blood all over his clothes and his eyes rolling crazily.
"Get away from her!"
He screamed at the four intruders, lunging at them and only just being pulled back in time when Sirius dove at him and rugby tackled him onto the floor. The pair of them were rolling over and over while the others stared on in horror when the rest of Sirius' group came racing into the room panting. Snape tossed the potion at William and it smashed all over his back, burning a through his shirt and seeping into his back.
Hermione regained her senses and quickly yanked the counter curse out of her jacket pocket, sprinting over to Dumbledore and Snape who both began to read over her shoulder, their powerful voices joining her lower breathless one.
Draco grabbed Ginny by the arm and yanked her out of the way when William rolled across the floor towards them, his wand pointing at Draco.
"I'll kill you!"
He hollered opening his mouth to bellow the killing curse but instead falling face down on the floor with a nasty sounding crack. Looking up they all saw Ron had slammed a heavy rock into his face before he could kill Draco, knocking William out.
"You saved me?'
Draco mumbled in amazement at Ron who flushed, still glaring down at William.
"Yeah well don't get used to it."
He muttered shrugging, refusing to look up at Draco who was grinning broadly now.
"Can we just get out of here?"
Ginny pleaded, her face buried in Draco's shoulder as she clung to him. They all nodded in silent agreement and trailed outside to where the rest of the group were sat panting in the courtyard, McGonagall's glasses dangling off her face, only hanging on by one ear and the others with various cuts and bruises.
Ginny turned to Draco and smiled shyly, he pulled her into his embrace and sighed contentedly into her hair, turning her face away from the sight of William being levitated out of the castle doors, bound and still unconscious by Moody and Lupin.
"I thought I'd lost you."
He said softly into her cloud of matted ref hair, his hand trembling as he stroked her neck.
"For a while there you almost did."
She replied, leaning out of his arms so she could look up at his face.
"Do you want to know how you kept me alive in there?"
He nodded and smiled gently down at her;
"Some other time."
He pulled her towards him and buried his lips in hers; losing himself in a kiss he never thought he'd have again. Ginny pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning into him.
"Err... guys?"
The pair of them ignored whoever was trying to speak to them.
"GUYS!"
They broke away angrily but didn't look around; Draco rested his forehead against Ginny's who was licking her lips, her eyes on his lips once more.
"Look guys, I hate to interrupt 'Gone With The Wind' but we have a serious problem here and Ron is about to explode."
They both turned to look at Tab who was bouncing up and down waving her arms trying to get their attention.
"What problem?"
Ginny sighed, looking incredulously at her best friend with a vivid red eyebrow raised. Tab shrugged her shoulders sarcastically and replied coolly;
"Oh nothing much, Hermione's just in labour that's all."
Draco and Ginny exchanged a blank look before turning got stare at Ron who was running backwards and forwards like a headless chicken with Hermione in his arms. Everyone immediately sprang into action, Apparating in a large group back to Sparrow House with the exception of Moody who had taken William to the Ministry of Magic.
"Ginny!"
Mrs Weasley and Angelina screamed, throwing themselves on Ginny who hugged them both quickly before shoving them off and pointing at Hermione.
Mrs Weasley sized the situation up immediately and ordered Bill and Charlie to fetch hot water and plenty of towels.
"Mum? St Mungo's..."
Ron trailed off weakly at the look on his mothers face and went back to stroking Hermione's hair from where she was lying on the large hospital bed Dumbledore had conjured. She was panting heavily and had almost broken his hand squeezing it at each contraction.
"I think we'll just..."
Fred and George said in unison, giving up on an excuse and bolting for the door.
"Yeah us too."
Every other male in the room ran towards the door and collapsed on to the stairs with Fred and George who were looking very white. Seconds later Dumbledore, Bill and Charlie joined them without saying a word. They sat there for what seemed like hours and probably was but as none of them were wearing watches they couldn't tell until Hermione's screams of pain got louder and Tonks, Tab, Ginny, McGonagall and Angelina's trips outside to report excitedly were getting more frequent.
"We can see the head."
Ginny cried, jumping up and down as he dashed towards the men sat on the stairs. Another scream of agony from Hermione made her turn pale and race back into the room.
A little while later they all froze when a baby's cries rang throughout the house and a thoroughly over-emotional Ron walked shakily over to them, pushing his hair out of his face with a trembling hand and collapsing onto the bottom stair in front of Harry and Sirius.
"I'm a father."
He repeated over and over, staring down at the floor with a foolish sort of grin on his face. Harry clapped him on the back and rose to his feet, cautiously poking his head into the drawing room.
"It's safe."
He reported to the others before wandering into the room and kneeling down next to an exhausted Hermione.
"Well done."
He said softly, kissing her damp forehead and stroking the little baby's head. She already had a slight mop of smooth dark red hair and when Ron knelt besides Harry and placed one arm around Hermione, and a large hand on the baby's little stomach, she opened her mother's huge hazel eyes and stared inquisitively around at them all.
Ginny and Angelina were sobbing on each others shoulders while Draco patted Ginny's shoulder, unaware what all the tears were for; shouldn't they have been happy?
"Uh-oh."
George snorted, nudging Fred in the ribs when Angelina shot him a suggestive look.
Bill and Charlie stifled their laughter at the stunned look on their brother's face before looking round warily at Mrs Weasley and McGonagall who were sniffling on each others shoulders.
"Wow."
Was all Sirius would say when he took in the amount of blood stained towels and the sate of Mrs Weasley's bloodied clothes.
"Alicks, this is your Godparent's; Harry Potter and Nymphadora Tonks."
Hermione said gently, shifting the baby slightly so she could look at a furiously flushing yet strangely proud Harry and Tonks who was willing to let the mention of her real name slip as she beamed with pride at Hermione.
Draco looked shiftily at Ginny who was wiping away the last of her tears now and leaning against him as Angelina and Fred had disappeared.
"You're not ready for a family are you?'
He asked uncertainly, watching her with a little relief when she shook her head.
"Not yet anyway."
She said softly, leaning back against him as he wrapped his arms around her waist and joined the rest of the room in watching the happy new family proudly.
"Well we must be going, but it was a pleasure to meet this new addition to such an extraordinary family as the Weasley's."
Dumbledore said, making no attempt to hide his own tears as he removed all the books and maps they had used and all the extra furniture besides Hermione's bed with a flick of his wand and beckoning to his two professors. They bade their farewells and Disapparated with a loud crack that made baby Alicks jump.
"Well we have a lot of planning to do; I want Alicks christened before the wedding."
Hermione made them all jump when she spoke suddenly from her bed.
"Hermione, aren't you exhausted after all that?"
Ron asked in a curious voice that made him sound like he was being strangled.
"Not at all. In fact I'm already planning the next one."
Hermione replied cheerfully. Ron ignored the nudge Harry gave him in the robs and looked uncertainly down at his numb hand where Hermione's nail marks were still flashing red and he gulped.