"Severus, my old friend," greeted Lucius Malfoy as he opened the front door to Severus Snape.
"Hello Lucius," replied Snape, shaking Malfoy's offered hand. "I came as soon as I could. What's the big news."
Malfoy led Snape into his study and busied himself pouring champagne into long crystal flutes. "Tonight is a night for celebrations," he announced.
Snape took the offered Champagne flute. "What are we celebrating?" he asked without drinking.
"Victory," said Malfoy triumphantly.
"To Victory," said Snape wryly, holding up his glass. This wasn't the first time Malfoy had celebrated impending victory. Fortunately, his plans never seemed to pan out.
"I can see from your face that you think this is like the last time," smirked Malfoy.
"How is it different?" asked Snape.
"This time victory is a certainty. Tonight the Dark Lord will destroy his enemies once and for all. By tomorrow we will be running the wizarding world. After that, it will be a short time before the muggles fall at our feet."
Snape paused. "You sound different," he observed quietly. "Why are you so certain?"
"Forgive me for having kept you out of the secret, my friend," said Malfoy. "But once you know everything, you will understand."
Snape sat in a leather armchair, trying to appear comfortable and nonchalant, when he was anything but. "What are you on about?"
"For many months now, the Dark Lord has had a spy among Dumbledore's little band of followers and she has finally come to us with the information that will destroy the Order of the Phoenix. And once they are destroyed, the Ministry will fall quickly."
"I'm intrigued," said Snape. "Continue, please."
"Almost a year and a half ago," began Malfoy, relishing his role as keeper of the secret. "The Dark Lord learned of a prophecy. You must understand that the prophecy was of such a sensitive nature that only his most trusted advisors could be entrusted with the secret."
Snape waved his hand, trying to appease Malfoy's obvious need to be thought important. "Of course," he murmured, sipping his drink.
"The prophecy told of the birth of a child, a boy who would be the instrument of our defeat. When our Lord discovered that three boys born in July fit the description of this prophecy, he became determined to rid himself of any potential enemies."
"I don't understand," interrupted Snape. "How could a child, an infant, be the instrument of our defeat?"
"This child is supposed to be able to kill our Lord," said Malfoy.
"I thought that was impossible," said Snape, sitting up straighter in his seat. "The Dark Lord has taken…" He paused, not certain how to finish the sentence. "Precautions?" he finished with a shrug.
"Yes," said Malfoy. "And now he is taking another one. Many months ago we were given a gift. A stupid mudblood wandered into our paths and gave us the perfect opportunity to place a spy among Dumbledore's ranks." Malfoy was nearly gleeful telling the story and Snape was doing everything he could not to leap out of his chair and force Malfoy to finish the tale.
"We kidnapped Lupin's wife and replaced her with Bellatrix," finished Malfoy, his face shining with exhilaration.
"Hermione?" questioned Snape, standing up. "You've been holding Hermione here? For how long?"
"Months," smiled Malfoy.
"Where is she?" asked Snape.
"In the dungeon," said Malfoy.
"And what's the Dark Lord planning?" asked Snape.
Malfoy smiled. "I knew you'd want to be in the thick of things. And it's your right. You've been a faithful Death Eater and my best friend. It's only right that you should be here at the moment of our triumph."
"Malfoy, what is he planning?" repeated Snape, growing tired of Malfoy's grandstanding.
"Dumbledore placed the cowardly traitors into hiding, probably for the protection of their children."
"Do you mean that Hermione's child is the one who fulfills the prophecy?" asked Snape.
Malfoy shrugged. "It might be Lupin's or it might be the Potter boy. They were born on the same day. Both fit the description given in the prophecy. When Dumbledore placed them into hiding he used the Fidelius charm. It required a secret keeper."
"He made Bellatrix the secret keeper," said Snape quietly.
"Thinking she was Granger," laughed Malfoy. "Tonight the Dark Lord will not only get rid of the two brats, but he'll also be rid of Potter, Black, and Lupin. They're all cohabitating in Godric's Hollow. Think of it, my friend, all your old tormenters finally destroyed."
"And what happens to Hermione?" asked Snape.
Malfoy smiled. "That's the reason I asked you to come over. We no longer have need of her. I thought you might like to be the one to take care of her, since her husband and his friends were so kind to you back at Hogwarts."
Snape took a deep breath, then returned Malfoy's smile. "Thank you," he said simply. "Where is she?"
"Downstairs." Malfoy crossed the room and poured himself another drink. "I'll be waiting up here for you."
Snape nodded once before turning and leaving the room.
Hermione Granger-Lupin sat very still on the ground with her eyes closed. She was breathing in deeply through her nose and exhaling through her mouth and she was concentrating. When she opened her eyes she concentrated with all her power on a shiny silver sickle about ten feet in front of her. Lucius Malfoy had dropped it from his pocket a few days before and she had been practicing with it ever since.
Slowly she lifted one hand and in a strong clear voice said, "Wingardium Leviosa. Wingardium Leviosa." From across the room, the coin seemed to shake ever so slightly before slowly rising from the ground. Hermione grinned triumphantly as the coin floated closer to her. She didn't reach for it until it was right in front of her face. Then she snatched it out of the air and clasped it tight in her fist, triumphant.
She'd been getting better at wandless magic every day. She still wasn't good enough to break down the wards imprisoning her, but she still practiced daily. It was the only way to keep her mind sharp.
She was about to toss the coin into the middle of the room again when she heard the sound of someone approaching. She assumed it was Malfoy coming to bring her food. She assumed a defeated, listless position, staring out into space.
"My God, it's true," whispered a familiar voice.
Hermione immediately sat up. "Severus," she whispered frantically.
"I just heard," he whispered back.
"I never hoped," she began, but he cut her off.
"There isn't time," he said. "Your family is in grave danger. We may be too late."
"What do you mean?" she asked. "What's happening."
"The Dark Lord is preparing to kill your son and James and Lily's son tonight."
"Nathaniel," breathed Hermione, feeling the air leave her chest. "And Harry?"
Snape nodded grimly.
"What day is it?" she asked.
"I don't see how that's important," said Snape irritably.
"What day is it?" she demanded, grabbing a handful of his robes through the bars.
"Halloween," he supplied, pulling out of her grasp with a grunt.
She froze and stared at him. "No," she whispered. Then suddenly something changed in her. Snape saw it, but was never fully able to describe it. It was like fire going off in her eyes. He stepped back, afraid of the raw power that he saw. He knew this was not someone to be messed with.
"Get me out of here," she demanded.
"How will you get past Malfoy?" said Snape, hesitating. "He's just upstairs and there's no telling who else is too."
"You don't need to worry about that," said Hermione. "Just open the door and give me your wand."
Snape aimed his wand at the lock and with a well aimed spell, opened the door. Hermione reached for his wand, but he held back. "Maybe I should come with you.
"Accio wand," she said, and immediately the wand flew from Snape's hand into her own. "You get to Dumbledore. I'm going to save my family."
"You're no match for the Dark Lord," said Snape, grabbing her arm. "He'll kill you."
"If I don't stop him it'll be like the last four years didn't happen. I'll have failed my mission. Don't you see?" But he didn't see. He didn't know, so he couldn't understand. Only Hermione understood and she didn't have time to explain herself. "Just go," she shouted. "Go get help." Then she turned and ran up the stairs.
It wasn't long before she met Malfoy. His face was such a mixture of surprise and fury that it was almost funny. To Hermione he looked just like Draco and when she aimed the Conjunctivitis Curse at him, she felt more than a little pleasure. As Malfoy covered his eyes and howled, Hermione yelled, "Petrificus Totalus," and then just to make certain he wouldn't somehow get up and come after her, she added a binding curse.
As soon as Malfoy was dealt with she ran like mad to the front door. When she burst outside, tasting her first bit of freedom in over six months, all she could think was how cold the night air felt.
"Dada," shrieked Harry. James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus, all burst into happy laughter.
"Say Dada, Harry," instructed James. "Say Dada again."
"Dada," Harry happily obliged and again all the adults were full of happy laughter. They had been playing this game for the last half hour at least.
"Now say Mama," said Lily.
"Mama," shouted Harry.
"Did you hear him?" Lily squealed with joy. She lifted Harry up into her arms and cuddled him close. "You're such a good boy. Mama loves you."
"Mama," said Harry again, just to hear his mother's laugh, which of course, she eagerly supplied.
"Say Sirius," instructed Sirius.
"No," replied Harry and everyone laughed again.
"He sure told you," joked Remus.
"Ask him to say your name then," replied Sirius.
"No, I don't think I could handle the rejection," laughed Remus. "Besides I have my own little bundle of joy to play this game with."
"Did Hermione take him up already?" asked Sirius.
Remus nodded. Then he glanced at his watch. "That was a little while ago though. I hope he isn't giving her any trouble."
"I'll go check on her," offered Sirius.
"No, that's okay," said Remus, beginning to stand. "I'll do it."
"Sit," said Sirius. He had already stood and was bounding toward the stairs. "I'll bring her down."
Remus sat back in his seat, watching James and Lily take turns making Harry say Mama and Dada.
"Hermione," Sirius called out softly, once he was upstairs. He didn't want to talk too loudly in case Nathaniel was already asleep.
She didn't answer, so he went from room to room searching for her. He checked the nursery first, but all he saw in the darkened room was Nathaniel, sleeping soundly. Then he went to her room, but it was empty. Finally, he checked out the room Remus was currently occupying.
They all were aware of the problems between Remus and Hermione. They hadn't shared a room since her return and anyone could see the strain between them. James and Lily had wanted to interfere, but Sirius wouldn't let them. He knew that Hermione would deal with their problems when she was ready to and not a minute before. It was how she had been since he first met her. She needed to work things out for herself, before she could fix things for anyone else.
"That's odd," Sirius thought to himself when she wasn't in that room either. He went slowly downstairs and caught Remus's eye. He waved him over quietly.
"What is it?" asked Remus.
"Shh," whispered Sirius softly and he pulled him into another room. "She's not here," he said simply when they were alone.
"What?"
"I can't find Hermione," he repeated.
Remus just stared. There was a sinking feeling deep in the pit of his stomach. "She's gone?" he questioned.
Sirius shrugged. "I can't find her anywhere. Why would she leave without saying something?"
Remus wasn't looking at Sirius. He was lost in thought. "What's today?" he asked.
"What?"
"It's Halloween, right?"
Sirius shrugged. "Yeah."
"October 31st, 1981."
Sirius nodded slowly.
"Oh my God," breathed Remus, all the pieces finally falling into place for him. "We've got to find her."
"Why?" asked Sirius. "What's so important about today?"
"Don't you remember?" asked Remus frantically. "October 31st was the day Hermione says James and Lily died. It's today."
Realization flooded through Sirius. "How could we have forgotten?"
"No," said Remus. "That's not the question. The question should be why did she let us forget?"
"I don't understand what you're saying," said Sirius.
"Don't you?" asked Remus.
Sirius shook his head. "No," he said. "She wouldn't. She wouldn't," he emphasized.
"She's been different," said Remus. "I don't recognize her anymore. And we never did find out where she was."
"This is your wife we're talking about," growled Sirius angrily. "She would never betray James and Lily."
"I don't want to believe that," said Remus. "But where is she?"
Sirius couldn't answer.
Remus looked Sirius directly in the eye. "We have to find her."
"Should we say anything to James and Lily?" asked Sirius.
"Maybe we shouldn't panic them," said Remus. "We don't know anything for sure. We'll just tell them we're going to patrol the area."
"We can't be gone for long," said Sirius. "I'll take my motorbike and search the area around here. You go to Hogwarts. Maybe she went to see Dumbledore."
Remus nodded once. "We have to hurry."
"We will," Sirius reassured him.
Lord Voldemort saw the two men leave Godric's Hollow and knew his time to strike was at hand. Hemoved slowly toward the house and lifted his wand to open the door.
Hermione ran through the woods towards Godric's Hollow. She had apparated as closely to the house as she could, but the wards had been extended since the last time she had been there. Her lungs were burning and her heart was pounding in her ears, but she couldn't stop. She had to make it in time, there was no other choice.
With a burst of joy and horror, Hermione saw the house at the same time she saw Voldemort enter.
She took off at a sprint, holding Snape's wand high. As she reached the door and wrenched it open she could hear James inside.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!"
"James," she screamed, running into the room. Her shout startled both men, giving her just enough time to send a stunning spell at Voldemort. "Stupefy," she roared.
Voldemort deflected the spell easily. He turned to the source of the spell, all at once realizing the woman in front of him was the real Hermione Granger-Lupin. "You," he hissed.
"Me," answered Hermione defiantly.
From behind, James threw another stunner at Voldemort, but he deflected that one as easily as the first. Then, quick as lightning, Hermione felt a powerful burning sensation through her hand and her wand burst into flames. She dropped it and stared at Voldemort in horror, but his attention was already on James. Without thinking, she launched herself at Voldemort, but he seemed to feel her approach and deflected her with a shield.
She was thrown to the ground, but got back to her feet in less than a second. James was using his body to block Voldemort's access to the stairs and Hermione could see Voldemort's intentions in his eyes. Instead of trying to go at Voldemort again, she changed tactics. As Voldemort threw the killing curse, Hermione charged James and knocked him off his feet. The spell missed, but the house reverberated with the echo of the powerful spell.
Hermione realized her mistake almost immediately. When she knocked them both to the ground she had inadvertentlyknockedJamesswand out of his hand. They were both vulnerable. James saw it too and tried to cover Hermione's body with his own.
"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered turning her face into James' neck.
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A/N: It's all cliffhangers from here on out. Two maybe three chapters left.
Let me take this space to express my deepest sympathies to our friends in England for the cowardly attack on London this morning. All of America is praying for our cousins across the pond.