AN: A quick clarification - Pettigrew is not the father. In the first chapters, Voldemort uses a spell in order for her to conceive. In actuality, Hermione was never really "violated." Obtaining some hair/skin/nail/DNA off the father, and putting that into a potion then using an incantation is simpler than kidnapping someone and making them…violate her! So, Wormtail was only feeling up an already impregnated Hermione ………anybody still with me? > >- denotes a dream since this site hates my italics
Reviews: /cookies – dubtheeunforgiven (Well…if you don't want to piratey… :P), MaisjetadoreSiriusNoir/Anna (Tsk tsk…no reviews? ;) But your back so…I'll let it slide. Lucius is too arrogant for his own good.), CapnSilver (I love writing Snape to pieces…he's so nasty…), Aelimir (WB and enjoy the update!) , Carpetfibers (/tissue I'm sure we've all given a good cry over HG/RL), Ruby Malfoy (I hope my AN cleared up the thing w/ Wormtail. Culprit? Revealed in this chapter!), ponyboyluver, AlyceJL, LadyNorskstar (Your rooting for Malfoy? This is a 'drama' so he's going to pop back up.), just deej, venusrose, Smiles28, Aljinon (Welcome to my other fic! Hope you like as much as B&B) and gingitsune878.
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Last Chapter: "Remus, you think too much." With that, she pulled him closer and closed her eyes. Remus did not need to think as he met her lips.
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>Come. Come away with me, she beckoned. Again, she held out her hand to Hermione. A pale, bruised hand reached out and grasped hers. It felt cold, much colder than the air surrounding them. They stood in a maze of corridors and doors. None of the torches of the walls was lit and a dampness clung to the stone. Hermione turned to look back at Hogwart's Great Hall, slowly becoming fainter. She had been led away from that nightmare to a new one. The small hand tugged on hers.
"No," said Hermione, trying to pull away. "I don't want to go."
The woman's hair still fell in front her face, but as she turned half the curtain moved to reveal a face that looked like the hand. Pale, bruised with a livid design carved on her cheek. A snake protruding from a skull's mouth. Her one eye watched as Hermione stared, an eye like a single inkblot on parchment. She turned her head away and grasped Hermione's hand tighter.
"We can't go there yet," she said echolike, "but we have to start now so we can find it or else it will then be too late. My name is Megan and I'll be your liaison for the evening." Then she laughed softly, abruptly, which left the brown-haired girl staring uneasily. "Are you ready?" she asked then began pulling Hermione deeper into the dark hall.
A strange knocking sound resounded around them. Megan had turned back toward Hermione and her busted lips moved, asking, "Are you ready?" but no sound came from her. Instead, a distant, familiar voice was saying it. The scene around started to dissolve as she was pulled out by the continually speaking voice. When only darkness pervaded Hermione's vision, a whisper came close to her ear, a feminine voice. "I'll be waiting," she said. "I have all the time in the world.">
Sucking in a breath, Hermione jumped awake, nearly snapping the quill that she was holding. She leaned her elbows on her vanity and put her face in her hands, looking down at the letter she had started to her parents. The baby and I are doing fine; we haven't had any problems yet. He's moving now, a lot more than he used to. It seems he enjoys kicking and rolling around. I wish you both were here, but you really don't need to worry; I'm in good hands. Dumbledore said after the search for me starts to slow down that we might get to set up a meeting. I miss you so much. Ask Daddy what he thinks of the names at the end; I included his. I just don't know… Another knock on her door caused her to jerk around in the chair. Remus called from the other side, "Hermione, are you ready yet?"
"Just a minute," she answered. Quickly, she folded the letter and put her supplies in the vanity's top drawer. Hermione resisted the urge to wipe off the hand that had been touched in the dream. Rushing to her closet, she pulled out the first jeans and shirt she saw along with a jacket and scarf. As graceful as a pregnant woman could, she quickly pulled her ensemble on then burst through the door, surprising Remus who had been leaning on the frame.
Hermione looked over the sight in front of her. A strange one at that. Remus wore an inconspicuous Muggle outfit of fading black slacks and the navy blue sweater she had knit him which brought out the blue in his eyes which was odd considering Remus typically had gray eyes. Visibly, he had already decided to change his appearance including his hair color (now black with still some gray) and skin tone (darker with what looked to be freckles or at least an attempt at them.) Odd, she thought, I thought there was more gray than that and the lines around his eyes…where'd they go…
"Do I look that bad?" asked Remus in response to Hermione's expression.
"No," she broke off her concentrated stare, "just different. Nice nose though." His once straight nose curved some to the right as if someone had decided to smash his face into a table and no one had bothered with trying to fix the damage.
He smiled faintly. "At least you didn't curse me this time."
"Count your blessings," she mumbled affably. "Give me another minute or two so I can change my looks and then I will be ready."
Turning back around, she left him at the door and bent down to look in the vanity's mirror. Her hair straightened, shortened up to touch her shoulders and turned a strawberry blonde hue. At first, her eyes were a fierce violet then she decided they were creepily bright and changed them to a greenish hazel. Satisfied with the results, she marched back into the hall, past Remus, and down the stairs. "Are you coming?" she called as she went down. She thought she heard an exasperated sigh from above and smiled to herself.
They stood next to the front door, each in full outdoor gear, ready to face the elements. Hermione turned the doorknob, eager for a chance to get out from her house arrest for however brief which did not just consist of a walk in the backyard. Remus had promised to take her shopping with him at the village if Dumbledore allowed and he had. Nevertheless, Remus pushed the door closed as she started to open it. She looked at him incredulously.
"Hold your horses, we still need to Disillusion you before we go. Can't risk having somebody even becoming slightly suspicious about your identity," he said.
"Oh yeah. I completely forgot; I just really wanted to get out of here for a bit." She popped her wand out from her sleeve, held it over her stomach, and hesitated. "What's the Disillusionment charm that does the chameleon effect?"
Remus pulled out his own wand. "I'm not quite sure. Let me see if this'll work." He moved closer and furrowed his brow. Hermione noticed he did this when he was thinking, especially when he was trying to answer one of her more difficult questions when they held a lesson. He had been doing it a great deal more since…well…since it had happened. Then Hermione had to use some more its in order for him to stop and reassure the part of him that kept saying 'no.'
Looking down from her thoughts, she was astonished to see straight to the floor. Remus stood back criticizing his handiwork. "I think that will do for the time, but I do need to study up on Disillusions. Now that's done, we can go," he opened the door, ushering her out and magically locking the door behind them.
The ground squished beneath their shoes as they made their way down the road. A momentary warm period had melted off the ice and a good deal of the snow, leaving a slushy muddy mixture behind. Thus far, the journey had been in silence, broken only by a sucking sound as a shoe freed itself or a bird cawing overhead. Trees towered over their heads, blocking out the weak sun.
Hermione found it disconcerting to look down and see nothing then place her hand on apparent thin air and feel a fluttering motion. Just like in her previous dream. Remus argued he would only be a danger to her, but Hermione silently disagreed about who was the most dangerous. She still had not divulged the reason for everyone becoming disfigured zombies. Her. Heaving a sigh, she stopped to wrestle her boot (borrowed from Remus) out of the mud.
"Need any help?" he asked from beside her.
"No…I think I've got it." With a mighty lurch, it came unstuck and the force caused her to topple over into Remus. His unearthly senses enabled him to be ready and easily kept them both from ending up on the ground.
"Sorry about that," she said, righting herself and brushing the light-colored strands of hair out of her face.
"Maybe I should have found another form of transportation. I didn't know it was this bad out here. Are you sure you're up to the walk?" His deep blue eyes glanced at her as he continued walking.
"I'm pregnant not crippled, Remus. I'm pretty sure I'll make it. Besides, I'm supposed to be getting exercise and I don't think sitting on the couch counts."
Once again, he looked down at her and Hermione found trying to read his eyes was hard. The color threw her off. "You're sure of a lot of things, aren't you?" he said offhandedly.
"No," she answered truthfully, keeping stride with him. "Not everything, but I'm sure about a few." Reaching over, she took his hand in hers, glad it was warm and that he did not release her hand.
"I still don't think you understand what you're getting into," he began.
"Remus, don't start. We've already been through this." She gave him an pleading look. "I don't care. I know exactly what -"
He shook his head and stopped to look at her. They were near the end of the road. "You won't care when I snap your arm off one full moon? On the other hand, if you actually survive me, you won't mind people's remarks about being with that dangerous half-breed? I'll only end up hurting you somehow. You deserve much better."
No matter what she continually told him, he came full circle back to his doubts. The past had not been kind to him and neither had previous romances once they found out his condition. She had been too scared to confess her own fears…until now…she needed to get her point across.
"Remus Jwhatever Lupin!" She poked him hard in the chest. "You're not the only one scared here. I'm not scared by you; instead, it's me you should be terrified of. I'm carrying a damn bloody time bomb! Who knows when I'm going to take the down the entire wizard world? How'd you like to be connected to the Mudblood who bore what helped Voldemort take over the world? Huh?" Her moment of hysterics died down and more faintly, she said, "Remus, I'm going to end up killing you before this is over."
She did not realize she had been crying until a blurry hand started gently wiping at her cheeks. Then arms enveloped her and they simply stood there in the middle of the road. He pulled back her hat some and kissed her on the forehead. "If you promise not to kill me, I promise to stop carrying on," he said to her.
Her head was on his chest and she made a sound that indicated her annoyance. "That's not funny. In my dream, you were covered in silver and it was all my fault."
"It was only a dream, Hermione." He pulled back again in order to look her in the face. "Not to mention, it would take a lot more than silver to kill me off. Besides, that'll never happened since you're never falling back into Voldemort's hands. Do you know what that means?"
"What?" she answered. She was resisting the urge to tear up again. How she hated hormones. Really, really hated them.
"You're going to have a baby, not a bomb and he's going to have the brightest, most wonderful woman for a mother. Oh and by the way, it's Jonathon, not Jwhatever." With each word, he moved in closer until they were breathing the same air. This time he did not wait for Hermione. Disregarding the blonde hair and out of place eyes, his lips captured hers that were all too familiar to him now. They only parted when a car honk from the main road startled them and the driver whistled his approval. Nervously, both laughed and put their quickly retrieved wands back before continuing the walk into town.
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Wax beans? What in the world are wax beans? Hermione studied over the items on the shelf. She was just now getting to the canned vegetable aisle. Remus was not far behind pushing a cart that she guessed had been around since, well, forever. Kind of like the woman they had greeted upon entering the store. She had not given a reply, only a scathing look that clearly snarled out how dare they disturb her. Hermione placed the can back and pondered on down the row.
The sound of squeaky wheels followed slowly behind her. He paused at a bakery sales rack that Hermione knew he would soon pass up since she knew what it had to offer. Some very out of date rolls. She reached for a can of lentils, which was odd since she did not even like lentils. Then again, a little thing called pregnancy can make a person crave strange things. Ooh, sauerkraut. I could go for some of that with a hot dog…considering I couldn't even stomach that stuff a few months ago.
Unfortunately, the wanted can sat on the topmost shelf. Remus however stood at the end, glancing up occasionally to see if she was still there. Not a single Death Eater had popped up, but that did not mean he was going to let her out of his sight for one second. Who knew what that old cashier lady's ulterior motive was? Deciding to just do it herself and save her the trouble of calling him over, Hermione tiptoed to as high as she could and reached. She reached as best she could considering her 'nonexistent' stomach kept getting in the way which caused her to look odd, having a few inches of space from the shelf and not getting closer.
She got one finger on the can's top and expertly leaned it forward before realizing what was about to happen. The entire stack of cans wobbled dangerously and Hermione could only stand transfixed as the began their tumble. Instinctively flinching, she threw her arms over her head and waited for the inevitable. Then waited…and…waited. She could hear the sound of the metal as they hit the floor and rolled away, but she had felt none of them. Cautiously, she opened an eye to see a can roll to a stop at their buggy and a foot soon came into view.
With a bewildered expression, she uncovered her head to see Remus giving her a disbelieving, though somewhat troubled look. He took her arm and pulled her away from the shelf, glancing up and down the aisle. "What was that?" he asked, barely above a whisper. "I thought we agreed no magic was to be done outside of the barrier."
"I didn't," she said, rubbing her invisible abdomen. "I swear I didn't. I don't know what happened. I was trying to get a can, then they all started falling, and nothing happened. They just fell around me…I don't know…"
"You didn't put up some kind of shield or protection around you?" Again, he looked around as if searching for someone to pop out and attack.
"No. I thought maybe you did or something." The pain in her belly was worsening. She clenched her teeth against it. "By the way your talking, it doesn't sound like it though. Are you sure I didn't get lucky?"
"We need to get out of here," he said suddenly. The woman from the register glared down the aisle at them and the mess. Remus pulled Hermione around the corner along with their cart. "Luck had nothing to do with it," he continued. "I saw a shield form above you and no amount of luck could have made those cans just go rolling off of it. How did they…" He broke off. "…what's wrong?"
She stood bent over in aisle 8, clutching her waist. Her eyes were shut tight and her breathing was uneven. "I don't know," she muttered. "Ever since the accident, I've had a pain. He's really moving right now, but that's not it. At least…I don't think…" She inhaled sharply then opened her eyes to try to focus. Remus crouched down worriedly in front of her. He whirled in her vision; nevertheless, slowly her line of sight began to level.
"Is it getting any better? Can you make it out of here?" he asked.
Nodding, she straightened up. "Yeah, it's going away. Let's go." Moving quickly, they made their way to the front to pay. Hermione leaned against the shopping cart the entire time, gradually regaining the color in her face. This earned a concerned gaze from Remus, but she could tell his analytical side had clicked on. He was thinking, his forehead wrinkled in thought. The woman cashier just looked angrily at the two and mumbled about how no one respected the grocery store business anymore. Her grumbling followed them outside and down the road.
The bags were safely shrunk in Remus' pockets. He could feel them weighing them down. Hermione stood next to him, waiting on him to unlock the front door. She was staring off in no general direction and absentmindedly placed a hand on her stomach, which was now visible again along with her natural looks. He had a thought, a crazy one, about what had happened. Taking off the locking spell, he opened his mouth then closed it. She would think him mental.
"What is it?" she asked, seeing his expression.
"I've had a thought about what happened at the store," he began.
She nodded. "So have I, but it doesn't make any sense."
"Well," he resumed, feeling a little more confident after her statement, "if it wasn't you or me and I couldn't detect anyone else with magical abilities in there, then that leaves only one possibility…" Trailing off, he hoped she would voice what he was thinking.
"It was him." She looked down where her hand rested. "I told you I'm carrying something that's just ticking away…"
He shut the door behind them, losing her briefly in the darkness of the room before lighting his wand. "He was protecting you. What happened wasn't malicious…" He stopped talking because he finally had noticed what she had. Someone was sitting in the wingback chair in the farthest corner.
Dumbledore rose from his position and ushered them to sit down. "I have urgent news. We have been able to obtain it just recently. I had hoped to come by sooner with it, but it had to analyzed so I'd have no confusion when I brought it. Please sit. It will take a bit to go through it."
They did as instructed. Remus asked, "What is Albus? Has something happened?"
Becoming pale again, Hermione added, "Is everyone alright?"
Pulling papers from his robes, Dumbledore said, "No one is in grave danger. Severus procured some injuries from his mission to get this." He held up the papers. "He was able to infiltrate Voldemort's stronghold, but his Disappearing Dust didn't act fast enough to transport him out before he was hit by some curses."
"But he'll be okay, right?"
"Yes, he's recovering at Hogwarts right now."
Remus pointed to what Dumbledore held in his hand. "And what was he able to get out with?"
"The prophecy. He was able to write down the entire prophecy." He unfolded the papers and handed a copy to both. "This is only the first part. I want to go through it piece by piece and not get ahead."
"Do you know who the father is?" asked Hermione breathlessly.
"We have an idea," said Dumbledore heavily, "but nothing more until we can positively identify him through a potion test. Severus, once he is well, will brew that for us. Right now, you have the part about you, Miss Granger. I'm going to read it and tell you Severus' and mine interpretations then I'd like you to tell me if it applies to you."
Slowly in a steady voice he read off,
"The Virgin born of the splitting septem
Comes of age during times of strife
No longer a lioness in the shadow
Though percipient she may be
Her blood is still mudded
From her tainted womb
It shall come"
"When is your birthday, Hermione?" he asked softly.
Her eyes continued to scan over the words. "It's September 15."
"Although the part about the virgin can refer to your virtue, you are under the sign of Virgo. The splitting septem also refers to your birthday. Septem refers to seven and in the old calendar September was the seventh month. It also has thirty days and it would therefore split on the fifteenth. And this was your eighteenth birthday wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"Therefore, during these time of strife or of Voldemort, you came of age, the age of eighteen. I hadn't seen the connection until I saw this but you were kidnapped on September 13 and by no mistake. They had to only wait out two days then could perform the spell. The next line is straightforward. Lioness referring to your House and the shadow would be Harry's. You've come into your own power right."
"He can keep it. I don't want any power," she said. Remus saw she was holding the paper so tautly she might soon rip it in two. He moved a hand over and took hers to help calm her down, not caring if Dumbledore saw.
"I know, Miss Granger, I know. The last bit refers to your intelligence or percipience. Mudded blood and tainted womb point to a Muggle-born and not a Pureblood or even Halfblood. Severus and I tried to think of anyone else who could fit this profile, but no one else does. I'm afraid there is no mistaken identity."
"Can…can I see the second part?" she asked, timorously.
Dumbledore nodded and passed out a second slip of paper. "I'll read this one also and explain what we believe it says, but we could be wrong."
Hermione tensed as he read aloud and followed along on her own copy,
"Balancing the Scales is he who shall seed
Seemingly senescent and forsaken
Mere mentor no more
An inner darkness
Heeding the pale one's call
Cycle of hate forced upon him
By him, it shall come"
Breathlessly, she waited for him to start explaining; telling her if this man was an unsuspecting victim like her or if he knew…
"This date of birth reference is vaguer than yours. Balancing the scales appears to reference to the sign of Libra whose symbol are scales. Um…he seems old, worn down, and lonely." Dumbledore paused and looked the two over, taking in the hand holding but not saying anything. "I want to remind you none of this is certain until we can test."
"I know, but still…just tell me…" she begged.
"Alright. Now, he was once a mentor or guide to you, but no more. For some reason, something dark in him must go to the pale one. The mean of that was not clear until the next line. Cycle of hate forced upon him. He has to hate against his will for the 'pale one.' He goes to Voldemort, the pale one, but doesn't believe in what he does. He goes due to an inner darkness, inner demons, trying to rectify them." Dumbledore looked up tiredly at them.
Hermione's mouth hung open as she put it together. A mentor…a teacher who seemed alone…that went to Voldemort, but did not… "But that means," she said, "that means…"
Remus looked stricken at her then to Dumbledore who offered nothing to go against what Hermione was getting at. "It's Snape," he burst out. "That bastard did this to her!"
"He was as clueless as Hermione here. He had no idea. Do you think he's taking this any better, Remus? Merlin knows since we pieced it together, he's been tearing himself apart." Dumbledore's stare silenced whatever else Remus wanted to shout. "But still it's only a theory. Once we can test him against the child, we'll know for sure."
"But your pretty sure, aren't you?" Remus said angrily. "No one else fits in that profile."
"I think," broke in Hermione, "I need to be alone." She rose, still clutching the papers, and slightly wild-eyed turned to go toward the stairs.
Remus stood also and started to go after her. "Hermione," he said to her retreating back. She paused on the stairs before continuing up until she disappeared. He moved toward the staircase, but a hand on his shoulder held him back.
"Let her go," Dumbledore said. "She needs time to herself, to think."
"But," argued Remus.
The older wizard shook his head. "Give her time, she'll come out and then you can talk to her. Keep your eye on after she does and report back to me. I've got to go back and check on our Potions Master, growing back a finger is never pleasant."
Dumbledore spun out of sight, leaving Remus to sit on the couch alone. As aged wizard materialized at Hogwarts, a faint popping sound alerted him to a pocket in his robes. Pulling out a plain manila folder, a new sheet of parchment sat in it. The shaky cursive handwriting said, "Tell him it's a boy and I'm going to name him Jonathon."