DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter, copyright JKR
DOUBLE TROUBLE
CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
The sweet smell of honeysuckle floated gently on the lingering breeze, wrapping itself about the brunette as she sunned herself on the beach. The placid surface of the lake was disrupted only by the tentacle of the playful squid as it scooted about underwater.
Reaching up, she rubbed her shoulder, her cinnamon eyes clouding slightly. Nearly five months had passed since that fateful night at the Parkinson Manor, and Hermione was still troubled by the memories. A slight twinge of pain was all she had to remind her of the death of Lucius Malfoy.
Enraged at the loss of his Lord, he had attacked Melody as the poor girl stood, hitting her viciously with the Cruciatus curse, pumping all the Void magick he could into her tiny, frail body.
Hermione hadn't had to think twice. She wrapped herself in the purity of her magick, thrusting it in quick succession at the errant Malfoy, knocking him back onto the ground. She then dove, landing softly near him, and proceeded to beat the hell out of the man.
And a Death Eater had lunged behind her, striking her with the Poncini curse, a thousand blades striking her body at the same time. Most of them were deflected by her own magick, but one had managed to make it's way through her barrier, piercing the soft flesh of her shoulder, and then through the throat of the elder Malfoy.
She was connected to him, the blade pinning both their bodies together, and she had watched him writhe and wither beneath her, blood gurgling out the wound in his throat, his eyes becoming listless and his breathing harsh. She had tried to help him, tried her hardest to stem the blood flow, but to no avail.
His last words had been a breathy taunt. Even now they rang in her ears, as they rang in her dreams. I own you, because you have killed me. I taint your soul. I weigh on your mind.
Shivering in the warm June wind, she turned her attention back on the raw beauty of the Hogwarts grounds, trying to rid herself of the memory.
XXX
"Ow." Elizabeth growled, leaning back in her chair as another pain passed through her swollen abdomen. "Damned infant."
"What's wrong love?" Charlie grinned faintly at the girl, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Don't talk to me." Elizabeth replied harshly, as another pain rippled through her, causing her to gasp.
"Another Braxton-Hicks?"
Elizabeth only nodded.
XXX
"So." Raya smiled at Remus, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "What are your plans for next year?"
"Well, I've accepted the full-time position as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." Remus smiled shyly.
"Good!"
"Good?"
"Yes!" Raya jumped up, pulling Remus to his feet. "Because I've accepted the position as Charms Professor."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
Remus leaned forward, wrapping his arms about Raya. "Oh, is a good thing."
"Ooh, I can see your point."
A knock at the door caused both occupants to groan. "What now?"
"Come in." Raya called, laying her head on Remus' chest.
"Raya, Infirmary, now!" Danielle poked her head in, her eyes wide and glassy. "I think we're about to welcome another Weasley into the world."
XXX
"Ooh." Elizabeth gasped, arching her back as another pain rippled through her. "Ow, ow, ow!"
"Calm down, sweetheart." Charlie glanced worriedly at her. "It's okay."
"To who?!" Elizabeth moaned, both hands on her stomach as the skin fairly bunched beneath her hands with the power of the contraction. "OW! Gods! If I had known this was going to hurt so much, I'd have demanded you carry the child!"
"Beth?!" Danielle entered the infirmary, a frantic look of concern on her face. "Shh, Raya and Skylar are both on their way. Is there anything I can do to help?" She directed the question at Madame Pomfrey, who only shook her head.
"She isn't dilated enough yet, we still have about an hour."
"AN HOUR!" Elizabeth screamed, panting suddenly. "This baby wants out NOW!"
Pomfrey arched a brow. "You are not dilated enough yet, Miss Trenton. I would suggest you calm yourself, the real pain has yet to happen."
"What?" Elizabeth asked in a weak voice.
XXX
"Mione!" Ginny fairly sprinted along the grounds, searching for her friend. "Mione! Where are you, damn it, you're about to miss one of the most important things in your cousin's life!"
Hermione lifted her head, shaking it slightly. "Gin! What?"
Ginny smiled, seeing Hermione, and stopped a moment to catch her breath. "Elizabeth—birth—now. . ."
XXX
Draco cradled Melody in his arms, smiling at the sleeping girl as she cuddled deeper into his embrace. "Poor baby."
Pansy smiled from across the room, her quill scratching softly across the parchment as she accepted the fortune left to her by her parents. Perhaps, when everything was said and done, she would invite Draco and Melody to come and stay with her in their house in Verona.
XXX
"OH MY GOD!"
"Elizabeth. . ."
"CHARLES WEASLEY, GET OUT OF MY SIGHT THIS INSTANT!" Arching again, Elizabeth cried out. Charlie turned to leave, only to be hauled back into place by Madame Pomfrey.
"Hold her hand, give her some encouragement boy!"
"Um. . .Beth, darling, it's okay, you know I love you."
"AT THE MOMENT, I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T LOVE ME. .."
"Rather conversational isn't she?" Sirius snickered from in the hall.
"Shut up, Padfoot."
"Elizabeth, hush, it's okay. . .I'm right here." He grabbed her hand, holding it softly. "Squeeze when it hurts." His voice was soft, soothing, and it worked miracles on her nerves as she moaned softly.
"It hurts, it hurts." She lolled her head listlessly from side to side. "Make it stop."
"The only way it's going to stop is when you give birth." Madame Pomfrey smirked from the side.
"Whatever happened to a good bedside manner?" Elizabeth joked for a moment, before crying out again. "This baby is coming whether I'm ready or NOT!"
XXX
Hermione took the stairs three at a time, running up them as she rushed toward the infirmary, her leg muscles protesting every movement, but she had to get there, quickly.
XXX
Harry leaned against the wall, biting his lip as Elizabeth's cries filled the hallway. Remus, Sirius, and Bill were laying odds on the baby's sex and name. He shook his head softly. So much had changed in so little time.
XXX
"There now, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
Elizabeth groaned. "How can you be so sarcastic at a time like this?" She reached a shaking hand up to push a lock of damp, auburn hair off her forehead.
Pomfrey just smiled, leaning down to brush a kiss across the infants head. "Here, daddy."
Charlie held the child in his arms for a moment, staring down into her icy blue eyes as she looked up at him. A shock of red hair matted against her round head and she gurgled softly.
"Can I?" Elizabeth's voice was plaintive as she held out her arms for her daughter.
Charlie nodded, almost not wanting to let the girl go. He settled her in her mother's arms, smiling at the picturesque picture they made.
"I think. . .I think I'll call you. . .Hope."
And so, Hope Carina Weasley made her way into the world. With a happy gurgle, the baby turned her eyes to look directly at her mother, her tiny face full of curiosity at the world she would now call home.
