Notes: Okay, this chapter skips ahead to age two of Alyssa Jayne and we find out how Alynna Marie is doing...and Hermione kinda accepts Blaise's help. And I did manage without my inspiration. But, if you want to help with this story, email me at the email provided in my profile and in my FF account!

Freedom's Liberty, Slavery's Blood

Chapter 4: Alynna Marie

Begin Chapter

Blaise was shocked to the core. He had been thinking about other things all day, well, trying to, but her words stuck to his mind."Thanks so much, Blaise! I love you!" Even though he knew she hadn't meant it, that she had said it out of pure bliss and happiness over getting what she wanted, he knew that the quick sentiment had slipped out of her mouth before she could regulate it, because she had ignored the fact that he existed afterwards. The memories of this moment were brought back from watching Hermione chase little Alyssa Jayne around the garden. The girl had shiny, copper brown curls, which sprung and twisted like Hermione's. He knew, he often watched he walked around and the curls would bounce on their own accord. Her eyes were perfectly almond shaped, with long lashes, and a small ring of brown around the black pupils and blue eyes set in place. Oh, how he constantly wished that he had given Alyssa Jayne those eyes. If he had, they would be noticeably darker. He wanted her to be his own, but that wasn't possible.

Hermione and Alyssa returned into the manor, Alyssa set in her mother's arms, hugging her around the neck. Hermione's head was laying on top of Alyssa's brown curled one, and Alyssa's hands were curled on Hermione's shirt. She gave Blaise a slight smile, before taking Alyssa upstairs. Slowly walking up the stairs, knowing that Alyssa had been tired from running around in the garden, she pushed the door to the nursery open. The room was painted a pastel green, with white dressers and tables and chairs. Alyssa's bed was white as well, the canopy around it green. Hermione pushed the canopy back and gently, unhooked Alyssa's hands from around her neck and lay the small girl on the bed, pulling the covers over her body and kissing her forehead. Closing the canopies, Hermione closed the blinds and turned off the light so Alyssa could have a nap.

Returning downstairs, she walked over to the floo and contacted Ginny and Draco. A few moments later, the redhead, the blonde, and the small boy appeared from the fireplace. Ginny smiled at Hermione. Surprisingly to the brunette, Ginny hadn't left when Draco had allowed her, wanting to stay with him after him treating her well. Sure, Hermione had heard Blaise talk about how much Draco loved Ginny, but to say that Draco was overexcited about her staying was an understatement. To Hermione's knowledge, little James was soon to become a Malfoy. The boy in question was two and a half, according to Ginny, standing tall with black locks that had straightened over the time span and his glowing brown eyes had grown to emphasize a slight ring around the pupil of green like Alyssa's had been. Draco smiled at Hermione and she grinned back.

"Pity." She said, crossing her arms. "I just put Alyssa Jayne to sleep, Ginny." The witch shook her head.

"Oh, no it's okay. James prefers to be alone most of the time. He's quite conservative." The redhead replied with a smile. Hermione grinned. "How is Alyssa?"

"Oh, Alyssa's quite wonderful. Acts just like me. She runs around a lot, likes to read sometimes, and she's got my hair, except I think she'll be better off. It's actually quite tame. Well, as tame as corkscrew curls can get." Hermione laughed lightly. Ginny smiled at her brunette friend.

"Has Harry even heard about James?" Hermione asked the woman. She looked at her with a faraway look, before answering.

"Yeah. He's seen me plenty of times, of course he knows. He wants James, but I told him that I can't just give him away. Besides, he's already got a steady life and a father figure," She said with a smile, "James doesn't need anymore confusion in his life. I don't think I could stand living without him. Sometimes, I wonder how you did it, Hermione. With Alynna and all." Hermione smiled tentatively.

"Yeah. Well, they were twins. I guess sometime or another Alyssa's gonna have to find out about her." She sighed and crossed her arms. "I'm still getting used to the idea. It's been years, Ginny, years, and I still can't come to terms with it." The brunette sighed again and shook her head to try and clear her thoughts, before there was a knock on the door. It was Draco. He had a grim look on his face, holding a bundle. It looks childlike, wrapped in a blanket.

"I ran into Weasley--yes, Ginny, your brother--in Diagon Alley with Blaise just now, and he's resorted to giving me this. I swear, I hate him. He's such a cruel bastard. I don't know why you were going to marry him." Draco lay the bundle down on the couch and left the room. It was silent for a few seconds, before Hermione unwrapped the blanket and gasped as tears came to her eyes quickly.

Laying there, was Alynna Marie. She looked in perfect condition, neatly braided copper hair, which was probably just some brushed curls, and fair complexion. Hermione reached to pick up the sleeping girl and felt her groan when she hit a spot on her back. Turning her around, there was a series of large, purple and blue welts on the girl's back. She pulled Alynna Marie into her lap and rocked her softly, before finding a scrap of parchment in the folds of the blanket.

Hermione,

I'm sorry. I can't stay waiting for you like I promised. I guess you can have Alynna and start your life with Zabini perfectly. (If she could see him right now, he'd be scowling.) I've decided that since Ginny's already left Harry, that I don't need to wait around until you realize you love that Death Eater and ask for Alynna back. I must say, for her two years of life, Lavender didn't like her being yours and mines at all, resulting in bruises that I couldn't prevent. I'm really sorry about everything and hope one day you can forgive me for this horrible thing that I felt compelled to do.

Ron.

She just let the tears fall into Alynna's hair. She could hear small footsteps and hear her daughter gasp from behind her as she watched her mother rocking a child who looked exactly like her. She turned, teary eyed to Ginny, who nodded and summoned Alyssa to her side.

"Alyssa, dear. You remember when two people look a like that they're twins? Well, Mommy had twins. Except she gave one of you to Daddy so he wouldn't forget Mommy. But now Mommy wants her back because she loves you a whole lot and wanted someone else just like you. You have a older sister. Her name is Alynna." Alyssa clung to her aunt's leg, tears in her eyes. She looked fearfully at the child in Hermione's arms. Hermione's eyes were watching the little girl in her arms carefully and jumped slightly when her blue eyes opened. They were exactly like Alyssa's, blue with a ring of brown on the inside. She gave her a frightened look, before attempting to scramble from her lap. The blankets tangled around her legs and she fell to the floor, upset. Hermione carefully lifted her.

"Where's my daddy? And Lavender?" The girl looked sideways. Hermione shook her head.

"Your daddy isn't here. I'm you rmommy. You can stay with me and your sister." Alynna gave Alyssa a unfamiliar look, the girls watching each other. Then, Alyssa smiled slightly.

"I didn't know I had a sister.' She said softly. Alynna shook her head.

"Neither did I." The girls neared each other, before Alyssa spoke up.

"Do you wanna come see our new room, then?" Alynna nodded, and followed her sister upstairs to her room. Hermione turned to Ginny angrily, her eyes still filled with tears.

"How could he do something like that?" She asked increduously.

"I told you he cared nothing for you." Hermione's eyes drifted to the door to see Blaise. She stood up ragefully and walked over to him.

"Shutup!" She exclaimed maliciously, tears running down her face now. "You don't know--you couldn't possibly know--"

"He threw the child into my arms, Hermione! I know!" She looked at him with a baleful glance, before dropping her head onto his shoulder and sobbing into it. He wrapped his arms around her.

"I told you, Hermione. You didn't listen to me. He doesn't love you--not ever like I do. Not nearly enough to find you or to keep Alynna. I love you and he doesn't--you think he doesn't, he's just confused." He said softly to her. Ginny stood and left the room, intent on letting the two have their time together. They surely needed it.

Freedom's Liberty, Slavery's Blood

Chapter 4: Alynna Marie

End Chapter