Chapter 13

Impeccable Timing

George stood firmly in between Hermione and Rachel. "I'm not going to ask again, where is my baby?"

Rachel's smile grew wider. "Don't you mean our baby?" she gleamed.

"You bitch," Ron muttered just loud enough for George to hear. He shot Ron a warning look. Ron fell silent but continued to glare at the woman before them.

"George, honey, don't you mean our baby?" Rachel repeated again. Furious and tired of her game George raised his wand. "Oh no, I'm shaking with fear. What are you going to do to me George? Kill me?" Rachel sneered.

George began to say a spell when a beam of light shot past his head and right into Rachel's chest. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped in shock. "What?" she managed to stammer before she collapsed to the ground unconscious. George spun around to see Fred, Ron and Hermione's wands raised.

Fred shrugged. "She was getting on my nerves."

George broke out in a wide smile. "What did you do?"

"I just stunned her. I really didn't see fit to waste my breath on killing her," Fred stuck his wand back in his pocket.

"You beat me to the punch," Ron laughed following suit.

"Next time, I get to hit her with something," Hermione said as she put her wand away.

"Right, well, let's hurry up and find Arianna before she wakes up," George pointed to Rachel's lifeless body. Within seconds George activated the disillusionment ball and dropped it to the ground. It made several consecutive beeping noises and then the cottage began to fade around them. The four soon found themselves standing in an old dungeon.

"Where do you think she's got Arianna?" Ron questioned.

"I…" George began but then quickly silenced himself when he heard the sound of a bay crying.

Hermione shot George a hopeful look and he nodded. Hermione dashed off towards the sound and George turned to his brothers. "Ron, stand guard, if McGonagal sends anyone down here we want then to find Rachel," Ron nodded. "Fred, watch her. Make sure she doesn't get up," Fred saluted his twin and then George quickly took off after Hermione.

"Mione!" he called into the darkness.

"George," Hermione's voice echoed somewhere ahead of him. He could sense the joy in her voice. She had Arianna. Not exactly sure where he was going George let his feet carry him. Finally, trough the darkness George saw a doorway lit with light. He could hear Hermione.

He reached the door and almost fainted out of sheer happiness. Hermione stood over a crib rocking Arianna gently back and forth. Hermione looked over at him, her eyes shining as she was on the brink of crying. "We got her back. You got her back for me."

George was instantly at his wife's side. Arianna's cheeks were tearstained but in her mother's arms smiled up at her parents and cooed softly. George gently touched her head. "Hey sweetheart," he kissed her forehead. Hermione hugged the baby closer to her.

"You can't imagine how much I love you. We're all together again," Hermione nuzzled her head into George's neck. George placed a strong arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to them.

"I love you both so much," George found Hermione's lips and kissed her.

"Aw, isn't this is pretty picture?"

George's heart dropped. When he looked to the doorway his fear was confirmed. "Rachel."

"That was a funny little stunt out there dear. Well, right now your brothers are paying for their mistakes so it's just you, me and this slut."

"What did you do to Fred and Ron?" George took a step forward gripping his wand tightly.

"Now, now, don't worry, they've been punished accordingly. Now, as for you," Rachel raised a wand and pointed it toward Hermione and the baby. "The lesson I'm about to teach you won't leave you as lucky as the others."

Hermione stood horror stricken in place. George quickly regretted stepping away from her. Shit.

"You know. I loved George. We were going to have a good life and then you had to steal him from me. He loves you. How come he can love you but he can't love me? You aren't anybody special," Rachel's voice raised with anger. George took the opportunity to move back in front of Hermione. "You think you will be able to protect her George?" Rachel spoke as she noticed George block her target.

"You will not hurt her," George's voice sounded foreign even to himself. He had never felt so much hate before. He never knew so much hate could exist.

"Oh, I know. I will do so much more than that. I'm going to crush her. I'm going to let her watch the ones she loves die, one by one."

George looked at Rachel with a confused expression on his face. "Take Arianna and go," Hermione nudged him from behind. George stood firmly with his back to her and shook his head. "George, love, you've got to save her. Take her."

"No," George reached a hand behind his back and found Hermione's. He held on to it tightly. "Promise me that you'll run when I say. Whatever happens don't kill her. You'll be put in Azkaban and then Arianna will grow up with no one."

"Damn it George don't say that. Don't say that," Hermione replied angrily. "They can't put us in Azkaban for killing her," Hermione sneered. "This is self defense."

"Promise me," George dropped her hand.

Hermione leaned into him and rested her head on his back. Baby Arianna snuggled in between Hermione's arms and George's back. "I'll never leave you."

"As touching as this all is getting I think your time as come to an end. You had your chance to save yourself George. Now I'm sorry to say that you're going to have to die. Say goodbye to your wife and daughter. But don't worry, they'll probably be joining you shortly," Rachel's eyes lit up in triumph as she raised her wand and opened her mouth to recite a spell.

"I love you Hermione. I love you Arianna," George shouted as he raised his wand as well. "Avada……" he began.

Suddenly he heard Hermione scream, a ripping sensation shot through his chest. His eyes began to water and tears began to fall. He was dying. He turned to look at Hermione and watched her horrified face as she sobbed. Arianna had begun crying as well, and her shrill cries haunted George's ears.

Dropping to his knees George looked over at Rachel. What he saw wasn't what he expected. Rachel's face was even paler and her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. Every vain in her face seemed to stand out and she had a look of surprise on her face. George watched her body crumble and drop to the ground.

As she fell McGonagal came into view. George's breath caught. The ripping sensation in his chest subsided. From behind McGonagal a team or wizards, wands raised, rushed into the room. Hermione dropped to her knees beside George and threw her empty arms around his neck. Arianna resided in the arms of a relieved looking McGonagal.

"Impeccable timing Headmistress," George smiled as he spoke just over a whisper. His arms reached up and snaked their way around Hermione's back.

"She's dead. It's over, it's over," Hermione continued to repeat.

George hugged Hermione as if he's never let go. He raised his hands and brought her face before him. He didn't care that everyone stood around him and that people were watching. He crashed his lips into Hermione's and kissed her like no tomorrow.

Finally an elderly looking witch cleared her throat nervously and George and Hermione pulled apart. With all her strength Hermione helped George to his feet and supported him for a minute until he could regain his footing. McGonagal smiled and brought the baby to the couple.

"You did it George," McGonagal smiled handing Arianna over to her father's waiting arms. George stayed quiet and looked down at his baby's delicate face. She yawned, making a tiny squeaky sound and then closed her eyes. George couldn't believe how lucky he was.

He looked back up at McGonagal. The other witches and wizards were now exiting the room, four of them carrying out the body of the witch that had destroyed his life over and over. "We all did it," George inquired about her previous statement.

George and Hermione followed McGonagal out back to the main part of the dungeon. Ron sat leaning against a wall. A big cut ran down his forehead and he held onto his shoulder. Someone who looked to be a Healer bustled around him tapping his shoulder making his wince.

Fred sat propped up beside his brother. He looked to be in much worse shape. One of his eyes was black and bruised. His face sported a cut down from his ear to his jaw. His leg was twisted on a weird angle and his arm was slung up in a piece of fabric.

"Alright?" George asked, concerned and feeling guilty.

"Did you kill the bitch?" Ron called as he winced from shouting.

"No," George shook his head. "That honour belongs to the Headmistress."

McGonagal's stern face lightened up a bit. "She's dead but it's not because of me," she replied modestly.

"What do you mean?" George questioned.

"I may have killed her with a spell but you and Hermione and that daughter of yours killed her with your love."

Fred smiled. "As long as she's dead, I'm happy."

"How about we get out of here?" George tilted his head to the exit.

"I'd say," Ron said rising unsteadily. "That sounds like a great idea."

Fred nodded although he didn't stand. "Count me in."

Hermione touched Arianna's nose lightly. "It's time we go home and be happy."

George couldn't agree more.


Author's Note - Sorry this took a while to get up. I've been more busy than i thought recently. On the plus side, this chapter is another long one. I'm striving to make thse long for youguys and i'm so proud i'm actually doing it. haha. hope you like teh chapter. don't worry this isn't the end, although i think this story is coming to a close. :( tear anywas, dont' worry about that. don't forget to review :):):)