NOTE: IF YOU HAVE A SENSITIVE NATURE PLEASE HAVE TISSUE READY BEFORE YOU GET TO THE END OF THE CHAPTER-THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.
Chapter 11...
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That night a momentous alliance was made and a deadly pact was formed against the boy wonder. It took all of both girls' strength to keep the blonde Slytherin from going out to pound the, in his words, 'scar-head who lived to be a pain in the ass'.
The three decided to keep the information of Harry's impending parentage and prison time to themselves for the moment, so that there would be no interference with Ginny's custody hearing. However, they did make sure to document, in both muggle and wizarding photographs, all the bruises and cuts on Ginny's body and then she took pictures of the entries in her diaries which told the exact dates of almost each and every beating.
Hermione knew that should the council insist upon knowing the father's identity, they would not just take Ginny's word against the illustrious boy-who-lived, they would draw it out until there was absolutely no other possibility. So the three of them had to make sure that all their bases were covered so that there was no way that Harry could ever have access to Ginny or the baby.
Midnight came around and the three of them were still sitting around the living room each absorbed in a book. Ginny was laying down on one of the overstuffed couches with a pillow propped up under her feet to help the swelling go down while reading a book on baby names. Occasionally she would place a mark beside a name with her quill before flipping the page. Hermione sat cross-legged on the floor with at least four wizarding-law books in front of her spread out on the coffee table. She was scribbling down notes from all four as fast as she could while trying to keep them all neat and organized. Pausing she flipped the last page of one of the smaller books and smiled with grim satisfaction as she wrote something down at the bottom of the sheet of parchment and then closed the book with a thud. A few yards away from the two girls, over at the dining table, Draco was filling out all the official paperwork that needed to be completed as soon as possible so Ginny could file her case before the child's birth. He was writing painstakingly slow so that no one could misinterpret any of the words he was writing. He wanted it to look precise and most importantly, legible, and since he didn't have very good handwriting to begin with he was being extra careful.
The loud chime from the clock above the dining table jarred Draco from his precision and he hastily blotted up the spot of ink that had fallen when he was startled before he looked up to glare at the clock for interrupting him. Midnight? We've been at this that long? Well it is time to call in the towel for a break. Draco stood up, and leaving his project right where it was, went over to the couch and plucked the baby names book out of the younger red-head's hands.
"Time to go to bed ladies. I am sure you need some sleep before class in a little less than eight hours."
Ginny slowly nodded and then reached for her book, "I promise to go to bed. I just want to mark my page."
Draco shook his head. "Now why don't I believe you? I'll mark your page and put it over here on the table and just so you know, it would not be wise to attempt to make a grab for it in the middle of the night, I am going to put a spell on it so that if anyone touches this book before 7am they will be instantly petrified until I take the spell off. Understand?" he asked Ginny as she paused at her door with a defeated look on her face.
"Fine." she mumbled as she slipped into her room and fell down on her bed exhausted and defeated.
Draco set the book down near where he had been working and completed the spell he had mentioned and turned to go into his room when he noticed that Hermione still hadn't moved. "Hey, Snape. When I said it was time to go to bed-I meant everyone. Even you."
She didn't move or even acknowledge he had said anything. She just continued to read a long paragraph in the thickest book on her table while sucking on the end of her quill with an intent look on her face. "Yes." she mumbled. "That will do nicely. Even they can't ignore their own rules."
Draco moved forward and glanced over her shoulder at the notes the brunette had taken down. Past Precedent. Examples: Lestrange vs. McNott; Snape vs. McGonagall; Black vs. Godfrey; Lineaus vs. Ocianea; McCloud vs. Johnson. Ahhh, she found cases pertaining to this type of situation. Wait a minute...Snape vs. McGonagall? When have those two bloodlines ever mixed? Never mind that right now, his body told him, go to bed.
Draco tapped Hermione on the shoulder.
"What!"
"Time to go to bed. We've got Transfiguration in eight hours."
"I know. I just need to finish this chapter."
Draco stared in shock as she turned the page to take more notes. "No." he said grabbing her by the arm. "Bed. Now." Roughly he shoved her in the direction of her bedroom and opened the door for her. Shoving her into the room towards her bed he stared into her now angry eyes.
"You are not my father Draco Malfoy!" she yelled at him. "You can't tell me what to do!"
"Fine. I'm not your dad." Draco spit out. "But I do know him." He turned towards the mirror. "Would you like me to go get him and have him tell you to go to bed?"
Hermione practically seethed with her impatience with the blonde Slytherin who had taken her away from her studying and then had the nerve to try to involve her rather absent father. "I should have known you wouldn't have changed that much Malfoy. You are still a git."
He smiled. "Yes I am. And you are still an insufferable know-it-all. And I need my beauty sleep and that means I need to know you are asleep so that in the morning you can attempt to outwit me in class. Because this year Hermione I am giving you a run for your money. I've read all the class books and extra credit nonsense. This year my grades will beat yours."
Draco slammed the door in her face laughing at her astonished expression. Priceless. Now I really better get to bed or I will look like hell in the morning. Draco extinguished the candles that had been lighting up the common room and headed off to bed. Tomorrow was going to be interesting indeed.
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Draco's alarm went off at 7am sharp and after he went ahead and dressed for the day he walked into the living room to find Hermione standing in shock at the petrified form of one pregnant red-head. Draco laughed slightly and walked over reversing the spell. She just couldn't stay away. It's just a name. I mean, come on, she's still got two months to choose one. Plenty of time and yet she just couldn't stay away for one night. One single night.
"Why in bloody hell would you do that Malfoy?" Hermione shouted at him as he spread some strawberry jelly on his toast. "She could have been hurt. You have no idea what that spell could have done to the baby! Are you insane!"
"Don't yell at him Hermione." Ginny said as she walked over to the cupboard looking sheepish. "It's my own fault. Draco put the spell on the book to get me to go to bed and I did...but when I got up about thirty minutes ago to pee I just couldn't resist. And therefore I became like statue. And," she continued as she stole a bite of one of Draco's pieces of toast, "you of all people should know that that charm wouldn't hurt the baby in any possible way."
Draco who had been about to respond to the irate tantrum the head girl had been throwing instead just nodded along with what the younger girl was saying. It seemed that Miss Hermione Snape was not a morning person.
"Well seeing as how I have just had to forfeit the rest of my breakfast to a hungry pregnant woman who will most likely eat anything else I decide to make I will take my leave of you both and go eat in the Great Hall with the rest of my kind."
Gathering up his books for his first two classes he smiled and made a gallant exit out the mirror with another parting bit of news.
"I will be back during lunch in order to finish the papers and then they will be ready to be sent in order to be processed. Farewell my fare ladies."
"You know Mione, he's kinda nice." Ginny said as she pulled on her concealing robes over her head. "I mean he is helping us with the case and I don't know. I get this feeling that he's not exactly what he always seemed to be, you know? I mean, Harry and Ron aren't how they seem to be to everyone else."
Hermione's lips set in a thin line as she buttoned up the back of her friend's robes for her. Maybe...but maybe not. Even Harry and Ron didn't change over night. It built up over the years until it blossomed into this stunning bit of shite. Losing everything you love and believing it was all your fault can change a person. But into a rapist? another part of her mind argued. That trait doesn't just show up. It's planned. Methodical. Don't go around excusing Harry for what he's done. After all, that's disloyal to Ginny and Ginny is the victim here or do I need to remind you of what he's done to her. The image of Ginny's bruised and cut body from the night before appeared in Hermione's mind and the softer side of her gave in and allowed the darker, edgier side to take over. Okay. Harry and Ron deserve a fate worse than death. But not now, it's too soon. Wait for the birth. Save the baby and Ginny first. Revenge second. Remember that. But Draco...he just didn't turn over a new leaf overnight. It doesn't work that way.
Hermione's brow furrowed while her mind raced with a single thought that threw her for a loop. Maybe he didn't change at all, maybe it's us. Maybe we are the ones that changed overnight.
"Yea...nice. Maybe too nice." she said biting her lip as her thoughts continued to fly around in her head unchecked by her usually reasonable mind.
Ginny looked over her shoulder at her friend. "What do you mean?"
"Ginny when have you ever known a Slytherin, or any male for that matter, to do something without getting something else in return?"
"Never." Ginny replied quietly.
"He's got something up his sleeve." Hermione said as she picked up her books and walked over to the mirror. "And I am going to find out what."
"Hey Mione. Do you believe in dreams?" Ginny asked right before her friend disappeared through the mirror.
"No why?" the brunette asked as she turned back around to look at her friend slightly confused.
"Nothing. No reason," Ginny said quickly. "Just wondering."
"Ginny if you had a bad dream I wouldn't really worry about it. No one is going to die at Hogwarts no matter what that old bat Trelawney keeps on predicting. You would think she'd give it up." Hermione said before she exited the mirror.
Ginny bit her lip, "But I didn't die in Hogwarts." she whispered to herself. "I died under it."
Turning to the coffee table where Hermione had left her quill and parchment from the night before Ginny selected a clean piece of parchment and began to write. Just in case, she told herself. 'Last Will and Testament of Virginia Weasley'. Merlin I hope it doesn't come to this. Please forgive me Mione. But I think this is right.
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The moment she walked into the Great Hall all eyes turned toward her in curiosity. Everyone had heard Dumbledore's speech the night before and finally that morning the change in Hermione's last name had registered in their dim witted minds. Hermione, the book-worm know-it-all, was a Snape. Now that meant she either was born a Snape or she married a Snape. As she walked past the long Gryffindor table to where Ron and Harry were sitting several people glanced down at her hand. No ring. That means the first rumor had to be true. But the only living person of the Snape family line was their Professor. Several Ravenclaws, who were smart enough to realize this, turned their heads back and forth between the two. No resemblance what-so-ever.
Hermione sat down next to the two boys who used to be her friends and attempted to act like nothing was wrong. Like Ron wasn't such an ass for not realizing what was happening around him and being such a jealous git when he has no right to be one. Like Harry wasn't beating her best friend and raping her over the summer. Like he didn't think the world revolved around him. It wasn't easy at all in the least to start up a conversation about something boring so she really wouldn't have to talk to them at all when for the first time in their history together they wanted to talk about her. I'm lucky I woke up early enough to get in a bit of a high. She rubbed the inside of her elbow unconsciously. I'll need it to deal with them.
Harry leaned forward conspiratorially from across the table. "Look, Mione we know about Dumbledore's idea."
"Bloody brilliant if you ask me." Ron interrupted. A stern look from Harry shut him up.
Hermione leaned into the conversation as well, making it appear to the rest of the school as if the Golden Trio was back to its old tricks of making mischief, "What idea are you talking about?" Oh gods I hate them.
Harry smiled back at her. "You being Snape's daughter. It's brilliant. This way during the war you are a half-blood and not a walking target as a mudblood."
"You've become a decent wizard." Ron added in a hushed voice as if it were all very secret.
Hermione leaned forward and stood up at the same time. "Let me set you straight on something Potter! This is no idea of Dumbledore's. My father is Severus Snape. And you! Ronald! Now I am a decent wizard! Because of my blood? I was a better witch in first year than you could ever hope of becoming!" How stupid can they be? Thinking that Dumbledore would lie. When would that old coot actually utter something other than the truth. And besides why would he need to protect me? He knows I can take care of myself. I always have.
By now every pair of eyes in the entire Hall including the teachers up on the dais and Ginny who had just walked through the mirror were directed on the young brunette who was yelling at the two boys at the Gryffindor table. They watched as she stepped over the bench and stood in the aisle while the two boys immediately tried to make amends. When they realized it wasn't going to work Ron blew up. He began a tirade against her and her father calling them vassals of You-Know-Who.
The entire hall so was so intent on watching what was happening on the right side of the Hall that no one noticed the blonde Slytherin stand up in anger on the left. They watched as Hermione whipped out her wand, so fast that it almost just seemed to appear in her hand, and then mumble a spell that none of them had heard of. They watched as Ginny reached Hermione just as her brother flew against the wall and was being shackled there, hanging over twelve feet above the ground. Everyone expected Ginny to do something but no one expected what she did.
Smiling she mimicked Hermione's spell and wand movements and soon Harry, who had been attempting to rescue his friend, was hanging right alongside him. They watched as Hermione whispered something to the delicate red-head beside her who nodded and then turned towards the teachers where Snape was smiling proudly and Professor McGonagall was just starting to stand up sputtering in shock and anger.
"Professor Dumbledore. Ginny and I would like to be resorted. Gryffindor doesn't suit us anymore."
The entire hall fell quiet and not a single breath was taken while Dumbledore nodded his normally twinkling blue eyes appearing empty and dank.
"It will be done."
He motioned off to his side and Professor Flitwick scurried out of the Hall as Professor McGonagall strode to the spot where the girls were standing and gathered her wits. After all she was a Professor and the Deputy Headmistress, it would not do for her to look flustered or ignorant in front of the student body.
"Reverse your spell now and let them down." she whispered furiously to the two girls. They glared back at her and Hermione even dared to laugh.
"Reverse it yourself." she said to her in a voice that wasn't really considered loud but in the absence of noise in the Great Hall it reverberated all throughout the room and everyone, of course, heard it.
Draco decided now was the opportune moment to get involved so that the two girls didn't get expelled. He pointed his wand and whispered the counter to the dark spell the two girls had performed and watched as the two boys' shackles opened and they fell to the floor with a thud. Where did she learn that spell. It's not in any book that you can get here at Hogwarts and I doubt that she has ever been to Knockturn Alley.
Professor McGonagall looked at the Slytherin with surprise written all over her face before she could school her expression into one a bit more acceptable. Why is Draco Malfoy standing up for two Gryffindors? Especially two that he has expressed his hatred towards more than once.
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy. Fifty points to Slytherin. And you two," she said staring pointedly at the two girls in front of her. "Fifty points from Gryffindor. Each." Her favorite student's eyes bored into hers and she felt a definitive sadness envelop her. She had such potential. What could Potter and Weasley do that would turn her against them like this? This is not the way it is supposed to be. They need each other to defeat the Dark Lord in the end. What will happen now?
The entire Gryffindor table groaned and then shouted as outrage as Professor Flitwick ran back into the Hall with the Sorting Hat. Even if Hermione and Ginny were sorted into another House the Gryffindor's would still have to pay the price for an act against two of their own. Professor McGonagall realized her mistake but Dumbledore raised his hand before she could speak.
"The points stand as they are. The act was committed before they were resorted, therefore, Gryffindor House must pay the price for the actions of two of its members. Miss Snape, Miss Weasley, please come forward and be resorted."
The clock chimed its warning of only ten minutes for everyone to get to their next class but no one moved a muscle. Even the ever-so-studious Ravenclaws sat watching the proceedings with deadly intent. No one knew exactly what was going on but one thing did unite all the Houses. No one wanted a pair of girls to be sorted into their House with that type of attitude towards the boy who would lead them out of the war and into peace. Well, maybe not all the Houses.
If anyone had bothered to look over at the Slytherin table they would have seen the smug expressions and proud faces the students wore. They wanted the girls. It was beyond a shadow of a doubt that they would get them too. At least in their minds.
Gryffindor House was united in the hatred being directed towards the two girls, and having picked up their favorite classmates from up off the floor, they could only sit and glare at the two girls while the teachers watched over the process.
At the table next to them the Hufflepuffs trembled at the thought of such apparently evil girls being sorted into their House. Secretly however, several of them wondered at the thought of what they could learn from the two girls who had just flouted authority so easily. But then again they had always been followers so they continued to tremble along with the rest of their House.
Next to them the Ravenclaw table was torn. Such brilliant minds would make a great asset to their House. But the violence that they could see simmering beneath the girls' surfaces was not exactly something they were prepared to deal with. In the end they wanted them, though they would never admit it, the girls were powerful and that was what Ravenclaws were all about. Power. But deep down they feared the power the two girls could wield and so they fought with themselves on the subject as the two stepped up next to the raggedy old hat on the stool.
Professor Flitwick stood on top of another stool he had pulled up and motioned for Hermione to sit down. The old hat had barely touched her silky brown hair when it screamed out what everyone had been waiting for, "SLYTHERIN!"
Smiling she stood up and held out her hand to Ginny. Everyone watched as the new Slytherin helped her friend up onto the stool and no one noticed the blonde Slytherin again as he got up from the table and walked forward to the end waiting to escort the two girls to their new home. The hat rested on Ginny's head a moment arguing with her over the fact that it felt the presence of two minds, one Slytherin and one Ravenclaw, finally Ginny mentally screamed at the stupid hat that she was pregnant and to go with the stronger mind presence. Giving up the hat shouted out the final choice, "SLYTHERIN!"
Ecstatic shouts of joy and pride rang out from the Slytherin table as Draco stepped forward to lead the two girls over to their new table.
Up at the table on the dais Dumbledore closed his eyes as if in pain even as Snape's face broke out into something no one had ever seen, a smile. Professor Flitwick looked confused and glanced over at McGonagall who had just reached the table and now looked as if someone had died. Firenze, the centaur who taught one of the divination classes, nodded as if he had been expecting this to happen. The entire school sat in shock and none of the teachers were in any position to lead them.
The three students were about to sit down when they glanced at the clock and changed their minds and instead walked out the doors to their class which had started exactly five minutes before.
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Draco and Hermione were a mere three doors away from the Transfiguration classroom when they realized Ginny wasn't with them. Hermione smacked herself on the forehead, much to the amusement of Draco, and turned back around in the direction they had just come from.
"Ginny probably needed to throw up. I'll go get her. You go on ahead. We don't need McGonagall taking off points for all of us." Besides, she thought, Ginny doesn't need to be going anywhere alone until this situation with the baby is taken care of. Harry could hurt her...hell what am I saying, after that stunt in the Hall he will definitely try to hurt her.
Draco nodded and headed towards the classroom with a parted piece of advice, "Hey, be careful. If you aren't here in seven minutes I am coming after the two of you. And don't think I won't go in a 'girls' bathroom."
He disappeared through the empty doorway and Hermione turned around racking her brain to figure out which bathroom was closest. Moaning Myrtle's bathroom was only one corridor over. Making up her mind Hermione started to walk in that direction when something about how quiet the corridor was instinctively told her to hurry up. Oh Merlin, please Ginny. Why didn't I listen to you this morning? I promise to listen to every single detail of your dream later as long as you are okay. Ginny be okay. Frowning in confusion she began to pick up speed until she was running down the hall to the open door. Dear Merlin let me be wrong. Let Ginny just be throwing up the toast she stole from Draco. Draco. When did he become Draco? Bloody hell Hermione, stay focused on Ginny. She's more important. She practically slid to a halt as she entered the bathroom and found everything as it should be except the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was opened and there was the hole that led to the catacombs beneath the castle. I was right. Why do I always have to be right? I hate this. Don't worry Ginny I'm coming.
Making up her mind she recited a spell she had learned over the summer and sent Professor Snape, her father she reminded herself, a mental message of the open chamber and her going down after Ginny and Harry. Then as an afterthought she sent him an image of Ginny standing before her and Draco with all the bruises and cuts showing and repeating the same words over and over again. "Harry. Harry did this to me." Then taking a deep breath she jumped into the black hole after her friend. Praying that she wasn't too late. Oh gods don't let me be too late.
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Professor Snape stood in the middle of his classroom breathing down the neck of a first-year who looked ready to cry when a mental message shot through his mind accompanied by an image of a battered Ginny Weasley.Instinctively he knew it was from his daughter. He stood still waiting for the rest of the message and then, there it was, the bathroom haunted by the student from fifty years ago. The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. But, his mind told him, that entrance was sealed. By Dumbledore himself. Over three years ago. How could it be open? Instinctively he shut that part of his mind down and stormed out of the classroom leaving over twenty students confused and relieved at the pardon they had been given somehow.
He strode angrily and anxiously to the Deputy Headmistresses' room where she was in the middle of a lecture on how to turn one living creature into another. Most of the Gryffindors he noted looked a little uncomfortable with the snakes coiled up in front of them while the Slytherins on the other hand, well just take Draco for instance. His green mambo was snaking its way up his arm and draping itself over the boy's shoulders. Snape caught himself just before he smiled. That would make it twice in one day. Not good. Must keep face straight. He told himself as he cleared his throat so the other teacher would notice him.
"What can I do for you Severus?" she asked with an exasperated tone.
He overlooked her tone and glanced around the room to confirm his suspicions as he spoke. "I have just received a telepathic message that one of our students is in danger from another and I came to confirm it." Just as he suspected three empty desks. Two of them on either side of Draco Malfoy and the other beside the walking disaster that was the youngest male of the Weasley family.
"And now I have." he said as he walked back towards the entrance. "Malfoy come with me. I'll need your help."
McGonagall hurried after him and told him rather loudly and rudely. "None of my students are in any harm Severus you can see that for yourself."
"Yes." He said turning around hissing at her. "None of the students in your classroom are in danger but what about the three that are conveniently missing. The three who were involved in a very public altercation this morning in the Hall are now not in your class. Strange how you don't think that any of them, especially Miss Weasley with her delicate situation, would not be in any harm." He said scathingly before he turned and led Draco running down the hall to the bathroom where Hermione had sent him the message.
Professor McGonagall stood there shocked in her emerald robes. She had been so distraught over what might happen to the future now that Hermione and Ginny had left Harry and Ron to themselves that she hadn't bothered to pay attention to the present. If anything happens to them I will never forgive myself. She turned to the nearest student and told them to go to the Headmaster's office and tell him that three students were missing and that Professor Snape felt they were in danger.
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Hermione slid down the tunnel and fell rather unladylike into the pile of crunched bones that cushioned the fall into the catacombs.
"Lumos" she whispered lighting the area up so that she could at least see where she was going. She slowly turned in a circle. There were thirteen tunnels. Nothing differentiated any one from the others. Except. She crept forward to the tunnel that was directly to her left. A small serpent was cut into the rock above the tunnel.
He wouldn't be stupid enough to take her back to the basilisk's lair would he? Yes he would. Hermione thought as she noticed the ribbon, with which Ginny tied her hair back with that morning, lying on the rock floor a few feet into the tunnel. Using a spell that Tonks had taught her, the summer that she had stayed at the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix, she marked the tunnel with a red glowing X.
Quickly she jogged down the dark crevice careful to avoid the holes in the ground and the jagged edges of jutting rocks from the sides of the tunnel. Finally after what felt like an hour she came out of the tunnel into a cavernous room with a deep pool on either side of the stone walkway in front of her that led her gaze up to the two figures at the far end of the room.
One figure was lying on the ground struggling to move away from the one who was standing with their wand pointed at the figure on the floor. Whoever it was standing up was definitely enjoying whatever spell it was they had the other under. Hermione cast an invisibility charm on herself an ran down the stone path until she reached the two figures and did her best to control her anger but to no avail.
"Expelliarmus!" she screamed at the figure standing watching with pride as Harry's wand flew out of his hand and over to the edge of the pool where it conveniently fell in. She slowly circled the black-haired boy until she was next to her red-headed friend who was gasping for air on the ground gripping her stomach.
"Ginny are you okay?" she whispered as she kept her gaze on the boy who was standing thirty feet from her looking pretty smug. Ginny answered her with another hacking cough, which when Hermione glanced down at her friend, she could see was full of blood. Oh no...no...no...oh Ginny...I'm so sorry. I didn't get here soon enough.
"Ginny don't worry. I sent for help. They'll be here soon." she said as she stroked her friend's hair back from her clammy skin. "It'll be okay."
"No, Mione it won't." Ginny whispered as she gripped her friend's hand. "I love you Mione. Remember that. Please." her voice became fainter as she struggled for breath.
"Oh gods Ginny I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."
"Not your fault." Ginny panted as she grew weaker. "You helped me stand up to him. You helped me be strong." she bit her lip in pain. "You'll teach her to be strong now." Ginny closed her eyes after she whispered those last few words to her best friend. I love you Mione. Take care of my baby.
Hermione watched, her heart ripping in two, as her best friend closed her eyes and didn't take another breath. Oh gods...Ginny. Tears flowed down her face unchecked as she clutched her friend's body to her and sobbed.
Harry watched his two former friends mockingly. "Aww...did poor Ginny die?" He laughed, "Such a waste of a good body."
Hermione raised her tear streaked face and looked at him feeling the anger and hate swell up inside her. "You bloody prat! You murdered her. And guess what! Not even your precious Dumbledore can save you now! You performed an Unforgivable...Yes I can recognize the after effects of a Cruciatious Curse. You will be condemned."
"You forget Mione," the boy sneered. "I'm the boy-who-lived. No one will believe you."
Hermione shook her head angrily. "What are you talking about? You are down here, not in class, and are discovered with a dying student with the spell still on your wand which is at the bottom of that pool!"
"Wanna bet." he said silkily. Mere seconds later a strange hissing sound came from his lips and Hermione watched as a ripple began in what had once been the still water of the pool. She watched dread growing in her entire body as the snake slithered over to the boy with his wand in his mouth. Reaching down he plucked his wand from the snake's hold and laughing directly to her face he performed the invisibility charm and made his way out of the cavern directly past Professor Snape who had just arrived with Draco along with Dumbledore and Filch directly on their heels.
Hermione cradled Ginny's head in her lap as they all rushed over and let the numbness take over her. She allowed them to levitate Ginny's body away from her and back through the jungle of tunnels to the school and Madam Pomfrey. She allowed her father to pick her up and carry her to the infirmary. She didn't even notice as Draco held her hand while they waited for Madam Pomfrey to try to save the baby.
Finally Madam Pomfrey came back in the room her expression grim. "I'm sorry to announce that Miss Weasley is dead. I could not help her. She had too many wounds...both old and new to be able to heal her. The baby is fine. I have her in one of the incubaters that we had in storage. She weights five pounds nine ounces is fifteen inches long and has her mother's hair and eyes. I will be keeping her here until I am notified by the Ministry who is the legal gaurdian of the child. I assume no one knows who the father is?" Her eyes alighted on Hermione who managed to come out of her stupor long enough to shake her head.
Draco decided to play along, it was in the best interests of the child after all, and gave the nurse the answer she was looking for, "We asked her but she wouldn't tell."
Biting her bottom lip Hermione asked the nurse a favor, "Can I see the baby please?" Her voice trembled with her being on the verge of tears again.
Madam Pomfrey nodded, "Of course Miss Snape. Go right on in." The nurse held Draco back as Hermione slipped into the room. "One at a time Mister Malfoy. One at a time."
Draco went back to his seat and looked at Professor Snape. "Do you think she'll be okay?"
Snape opened his mouth but no sound came out. Collecting his thoughts he tried again. "I believe so, after all, if she wasn't it would be like failing wouldn't it? Letting the person who did this to Ginny win. And Hermione has never failed. She doesn't know how."
Draco nodded repeating to himself over and over in his mind. 'She won't fail.'
Professor Dumbledore sat down heavily in one of the chairs and sighed. It is beginning.
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Hermione walked across the room biting back tears as she passed the figure lying prone on one of the beds covered by a white linen sheet. She let out a sigh of relief as she reached the other end of the room and gazed at the tiny baby wrapped in all the blankets. She looks nothing like Harry. She's a minature of Ginny.
Hermione smiled softly and conjured up a rocking chair. Placing it next to the bed the baby was laying in she sat down and picked up the swaddled infant. Holding her close to her chest she gently rocked back and forth in the chair and sang a tune she remembered from her childhood. One that her mother swore she had never sung to her.
'Beautiful Dreamer
Wake unto me
Starlight and dewdrops
Are awaiting thee
Sounds of the rude world
Heard in the day
Led by the moonlight
Have all passed away
Beautiful dreamer
Queen of my song
List' while I woo thee
With soft melody
Gone are the cares of
Life's busy throng
Beautiful dreamer
Awake unto me
Beautiful dreamer
Awake unto me.'
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The strands of a lullaby reached the ears of those waiting in the other room. Reaching over and pulling aside the curtain that separated the two rooms Madam Pomfrey and the others watched as the burnette gently rocked they infant back and forth singing the lullaby to her in a gentle voice.
The door to the infirmary opened and Arthur Weasley strode in along with his wife Molly and four members of the Ministry including Cornelius Fudge. The newcomers stared at the suspended curtain and the body covered in white just past it to the young girl rocking a bundle of blankets back and forth with a haunting melody coming forth from her lips. Molly Weasley burst into sobs and Dumbldore comforted her with a hug and motioned for them all to go into the office and not disturb the young girl with the baby.
Once in the office everyone began talking. After a few minutes Dumbldore finally managed to achieve some kind of order by sending Draco with two of the members of the ministry to search through Ginny's things for anything that might have mentioned who the father was or who she had wanted to take care of her child should she be unable. Then he tried to counsel the Weasleys who were asking how this had happened while she was at school and how come he didn't prevent it. Countering their arguement against him he asked them how it was that they didn't know that their daughter was in her third trimester of pregnancy.
Molly Weasley had just begun to cry again when the door opened once more and Draco came back inside with the two ministry officials whose faces were pure white as they handed a long piece of parchment to the Minister along with two sealed letters and a red journal.
Fudge looked at them unconcerned, "What did you find out?"
One of the men sat down and slumped putting his head in his hands while the other spoke up. "That piece of parchment you hold is her last will and testament. The ink is barely dry so she must have wrote it this morning. In it she leaves her daughter and all of her belongings to one Hermione Snape, formerly Hermione Granger, and if Hermione should choose not to take care of her child or not be able to then Draco Malfoy is named gaurdian, then Severus Snape. Her diary explains who the father is and exactly how he came to be that and all the things he did to her. I think that should remain up to your discrepency sir on whether you want that information released. I marked the most important page."
Molly Weasley grabbed the journal out of Fudge's hands and opened it to the marked page. Reading quickly she began to sob again and dropping the journal she wept in sorrow for her daughter. Oh merlin, I never knew. I never noticed. She must have tried to tell me so many times. I never listened. Arthur picked up the journal, read a few lines and then handed the book back to Fudge while he closed his eyes and comforted his wife.
"If possible I would like to read the entire journal at a later date." he asked in a pained tone as he rubbed his wife's back.
Fudge read the page and nodded. "That's fine Arthur. Madam Pomfrey." he called. When the nurse arrived in the room he continued, "It is the decision of the Ministry that Ginny Weasely's last will and testament stands and the guardian of the afore-mentioned child is Hermione Snape. She will decide who, if anyone, is allowed to see the child and how often. This journal may be read in its entirety by both Dumbldore and Miss Weasley's parents and Miss Snape, however outside of those persons no one is to know its contents. Now if you'll excuse me I must take my leave."
He walked out of the office accompanied by the two officials who still looked sick to their stomachs at what they had read leaving behind the others to grieve.
Dumbledore stood and addressed the parents of the student who lay dead just beyond the curtain. "Arthur, Molly. Come with me now, you may stay here for a few nights while Ginny is made ready for burial and I am sure you would like to notify her brothers as soon as possible. They also will have a place here for as long as they need." Nodding the two stood up and followed Dumbledore out of the infirmary.
At the door he paused however and turned back to the three remaining people in the office. "Mr. Malfoy you and Miss Snape are hereby excused from classes for the next two weeks, however, any assignments will be due the same as always. Severus, you will teach them any at-hand lessons that they would learn during this time and you are excused from your teaching duties. I myself will substitute. And Poppy. Do not let anyone in to see the child without Miss Snape's explicit permission. Even a member of the Weasley family."
Professor Snape and Draco went back out to the waiting room and sat down on one of the benches watching quietly through the gossamer curtains as the young woman rocked the sleeping infant back and forth in her arms. Madam Pomfrey went over to where Ginny's body was lying and began to prepare her for burial while listening to the song that Hermione was now singing to the child.
'When the sun goes down,
And the moon comes up,
And the stars twinkle in the skies.
Then, my little one,
It's time for bed,
And time to close your eyes;
For the fairies wait
Till you're fast asleep,
To bring sweet dreams to you.
And the moon and stars
Through the windows peep
To see what the fairies will do...'
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Continued in Chapter 12...
Author's Note:
Alright now everyone should be happy with this chapter's length. It's over 12 pages in word. I'll update as soon as possible but I give fair warning that a LOT is going on right now and it might be a few weeks.
Next, I realize some people will be mad at the fact that Ginny died. Yes it is sad but necessary to the plotline. Besides could you really see that going any other way?
Oh and a small disclaimer.
The first lullaby is entitled Beautiful dreamer by Stephan C. Foster and the second lullaby is entitled Fairies Wait by Irmengarde C. Horn.