Disclaimer: OK just for the record, no...(sniff) they are not mine...but isn't it nice of Ms Rowling to lend them to us?

A/N: Wow! I am soooo happy that my fanfic is being read. I think I jinxed myself when I mentioned updating on a daily basis. To those I've managed to disappoint, sorry. I also jinxed myself about worked... we're slammed now w/ work. not fun! N-E-ways, on w/ the story.

Chapter nine: Malfoy Manor

Men of his station do not get drunk. However, if a Malfoy were ever to be intoxicated, then Lucius would fit the description. He sniffed his brandy (the only decent thing that muggles have been able to produce, well, except for the occasional muggle to fuck or torture during a good Dark Revel) and gazed into the fire that was very alive in the hearth of his study. The Aurors had left just a couple of hours ago for the hundredth time in the last couple of months. For the hundredth time, Lucius had to tell them that Draco was not at the manor. And for the hundredth fucking time, the bloody Aurors searched his manor only to find nothing.

Malfoy was not lying. His son was not at the manor nor was he at that ridiculously obvious hiding place. No, Malfoy Sr. thought bitterly. He was with the Dark Lord having a grand time together planning Potter's downfall. Since his return, the Dark Lord has always favored Draco. True, he did surpass anyone else in his generation. The closest behind Draco was Zaibini's heir and he could not even begin to compare to his son. That was no reason to indulge such a pathetic desire. Centuries of a pure bloodline demolished by a child throwing a fit over someone else's toy. Lucius could have easily, maybe not too easily, acquired the whore for his son to play with then dispose of her when he tired of her and well before any conception.

Lucius had ignored Potter's words that day in the Department of Mysteries but perhaps it was true. Could the Dark Lord be part muggle as well? Interesting if it so. When Lucius was last summoned to Voldemort's presence, Draco was casually whispering into his new "master's" ear, who would chuckle occasionally. This did not disturb him. It was where his brat was that caught his attention...Voldemort's left side, his side to stand by. Maybe Voldemort was thinking that Lucius' time had come. Maybe he was just indulging Draco, as he always does.

Sulking further into his chair, Lucius tried to remember what the whore looked like. Try as he may, all he could remember was large, brown hair. Surely, Lucius has presented his heir several times with much more delectable choices than this simple mudblood bitch. What was it about her that had stolen his son away from him? How could she seduce him from his destiny? Why had she existed at all?

He sniffed loudly, surprised to find tears running down his face. Then again, Lucius did love his son. The pride that he felt was immeasurable. When did he lose control of one that he held so dear? Now beyond any level of intoxication that may be excused, Malfoy felt his thoughts center on one target...Hermione Granger.

Lucius had to see her, had to meet her and solve the complex riddle that she had to have been. Either that or his son had become a complete imbecile, which may be possible...Yes, the mudblood whore of Harry Potter...The girl carrying his bastard grandchild, the bastard that could not be destroyed... until its birth...

Of course! The potion only protects the thing until its birth then it is just as vulnerable as any other creature that exists. His bloodline could still be salvaged. Feeling victorious already, Malfoy threw his half full glass into the fire, sheer joy illuminating his face as the fire roared in response to its new fuel. It would be too easy...

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"Oi! Hermione! Ron!" Fred Weasley called to his brother and his friend, jogging to catch up with them. Hermione smiled politely and peered over his shoulder. "Oh, George is across the way talking to your fiance." He elbowed her side with a smile. "Poor bloke. He was so young...too young to be taken so soon."The Weasley twin hung his head as if speaking at a eulogy. "He will be missed."

"Oh, stop!" Hermione tapped him. "Why are you in Hogsmeade?"

"Well to be perfectly honest, you." Fred continued when he saw the look of confusion on Hermione's face. "Mum was furious when she heard that Dumbledore thought it okay for you to leave Hogwarts-"

"And even though we told her that she was batty and that Dumbledore knew what he was doing." George continued for his twin as he pulled Hermione into a hug. "She insisted on sending our arses down here to make sure that you get back to school in at least two pieces."

"Didn't find that last bit funny, our mother," Fred said wincing and rubbing the back of his head in memory.

"Who's minding the shop? You didn't close it while you're here, did you...OW!" Ron yelped as George slapped him against his head.

"How dare you say such things!" Fred chastised then pulled his youngest brother into a headlock. "Angelina's minding the shop for us. Says hi to all." With Ron's head still in the crook of his arm, he began to walk towards the Three Broomsticks but not before Hermione caught a quick blush.

"And pray tell, Fred Weasley, how Angelina happens to be working there?"

"She's not," George answered quickly. His twin flashed him a warning glare and tightened his grip on Ron, who had started to turn a lovely shade of magenta.

"Oh!" Harry spoke up. "and what was that about?"

""Aw, bugger it! Angelina and I are..are.."

"Well, Fred, just imagine the look on Angelina's face as you struggle to say it now."

Fred's eyes widened. "Too right, George! We're engaged!"

Ron stopped struggling and looked up to his brother as if he were a stranger. "Uhn!" followed by a "what the shit!" as he was released to the ground. "Does Mum know?"

"Not yet... Angelina hasn't told anyone yet either. We were gonna say something at the next Order meeting."

Hermione laughed and threw her arms around Fred. "That's fantastic! Oh, some good news!" Entering the Three Broomsticks the group sat the "Golden Trio's table" as it was now referred to and ordered butterbeers and lunch.

It was nice to be sitting amongst friends, Hermione thought. No pitiful glances or careful conversation. Especially with the twins around, who never lost their ability to have fun. At least twice they had to bring up their now legendary "escape" from Hogwarts as if the students had not heard it enough. Yet when the twins told the story as well as the rest of their beyond belief antics throughout their final year, Hermione found herself in tears from laughing within a half hour. Harry smiled, first time in the last ten weeks.

At one point, George leaned into her ear and whispered. "Mum's excited about the baby. Regardless of how the baby was conceived, it's all yours." Surprised at the sudden change in conversation, Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that right, Fred?" George looked across the table just as his twin was about to drop an ice cube down the back of Ron's shirt. "Mum's already crocheting an entire wardrobe and said that she would be personally insulted if she wasn't asked to look after her first 'grandchild.' " Harry smiled, knowing that Molly had never stopped thinking of him as a surrogate son.

The expectant mother smiled and placed an affectionate kiss on George's cheek. "Tell Mrs. Weasley thank you. Well it's time for us to head back." A series of complaints rose to meet her as she stood to leave. "Oh, come on everyone. Do you think anyone would let me out again if I don't return on time."

Accepting the truth, the remaining wizards followed Hermione towards the door.

It happened fast. The closest to Hermione was Fred and he was just a few steps behind. As the witch reached for the door, it opened to allow in a batch of new customers. Smiling sweetly she stood aside to allow them to pass. Fred saw him before Hermione did. Wand drawn, he rushed forward just as the gloved hand grasped Hermione's forearm.

George saw the smirk at the same time that his brother realized that the pub was too crowded to attack. "NO!" The chaos seemed to erupt in slow motion. Hermione felt herself pulled towards the wizard's chest, just as the curse was bellowed. She was paralyzed when she saw George throw Fred aside and take the blast on the side of his abdomen, knocking both to the floor. Harry rushed forward but it seemed so painstakingly slow. Ron was frozen at first, almost gawking at his brothers. Anger fueled his ability to move again as he drew his wand towards the man who held Hermione as a shield.

Harry stepped into Ron's line of fire. "Wait! Hermione." Ron kept his wand trained on her kidnapper as she was pulled out of the door. The two Gryffindors followed closely behind.

He was searching for something in his robes. A portkey, Hermione realized, knowing that pregnancy prevents apparation. Only a few moments remained, seconds at best until she would be ported away to God knows where. She looked to her friends, who could only point their wands in false threat. They wouldn't risk hitting Hermione with a curse...

Just as her captor reached his portkey, Hermione drew her wand from the pocket beside her hand. Knowing that she would not be able to raise her wand as her arms were pinned to her sides, the witch turned the wand in her fingers towards the most unlikely of targets.

Harry tried to rush forward as the portkey was about to be activated, sensing his fiancee's course of action. "Hermione, no!" he yelled just as she stated, "stupefy!"

Hermione felt a sharp blast as she was propelled into darkness.