Title: Hermione's Helping Hand

Draco's Helpers

Neville was taken to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey healed him and made him feel comfortable. The Herbology class wasn't thrilled that Neville had been attacked, since most that were still at Hogwarts knew him when he had been a student. Remus confronted Malfoy about what he had done and he denied that he had done it. He blamed Neville for what happened to Neville.

" He's always been a klutz!" he told him. " I don't know why you made him Herbology teacher."

However Remus didn't believe him, but didn't dare go up against him. He watched him leave, hoping for the first time that the curse was still in place.

Meanwhile Hermione was busy working on taking care of the golden Phoenix egg that seem to have developed an attachment to her. Dumbledore gave her the instructions, but it was still hard work. She placed it inside one of the old cauldrons that had managed to survive that scourge of the Ministry. She then placed it into the fire and let it heat up.

" I can't understand how Hagrid like doing this," she told Severus.

" Don't look at me!" Severus commented. " So how long does this egg heat up?"

Hermione picked up the book and looked through it.

" Two months!" Hermione answered.

That night while the students were in the Great Hall having dinner Malfoy was cooking up trouble. He added several ingredients to a potion that he was working on, glad that no one could bother him, especially Severus Snape. As it brewed he thought of all those scared faces, the screaming, and the absolute horror when his helpers came forth and rid the school of those that he considered below him. The potion let out a black light, then Malfoy raised his hands up and four small balls appeared.

" Soon my helpers will hatch and the Snape's will die!" Malfoy threatened, then he laughed a high cold laugh, one that reminded anyone that had ever heard it, of Voldemort.

" Ron so has to grow up!" Ginny commented the next morning.

" So true," Hermione said. " I can't believe that he just jumped out of that window."

" So are you planning on visiting him?"

Hermione shook her head.

" I've got a husband to watch over, one that doesn't do something stupid as jumping out of a window."

Ginny laughed.

" Yep, you married a sensible wizard!"

" To right!"

On the Monday that Hermione had her appointment she dragged herself out of bed and got showered and dressed. She had been looking forward to seeing the Matron, but now, she felt dragged down, like someone was pulling all her energy out of her. Once she arrived she almost fell on the bed. This worried the Matron, who asked her if she was all right.

" I don't know!" Hermione said, covering her eyes with her hands. " I felt okay last night, but now, I feel horrible."

" Doing anything that I wouldn't do?"

Hermione removed her hands and glared at her.

" All right," Madam Pomfrey laughed. " Lets see what's going on."

She took her wand out and started to wave it over her stomach. It was the first time that Hermione had really noticed that she was thick around the waist. As Madam Pomfrey worked she muttered something that Hermione couldn't hear. Finally she put her wand away.

" Have you been eating right?" she asked.

" Yes, is there a problem?" Hermione asked, fear creeping in.

" Oh no, just that their levels are a little low, but nothing that a potion can't cure. I'll be right back."

While she was gone Hermione went over what the Matron had said. How could her babies' levels be low? She had done everything that she was suppose to do, so there shouldn't be any problems. The noise that signaled the Matron's return snapped her out of her thought. She put a small bottle on the table, and then taking a cup, she poured the potion into it. She handed it to her.

" So what gender are they and how many?"

" Your going to have three, two girls and a boy now drink it up and then you'll be allowed to leave."

Hermione drank it in one gulp, and then left.