Thanks for the reviews, glad I'm on the right track! =D Don't forget that lyrics and quotes that are meaningful to me are in BOLD and italics – they don't belong to these characters, or myself they are just something that inspired a passage or are meant to invoke a feeling/emotion!

Found

Months went by, and Hermione's belly was growing. Though she did begin to miss her family and friends…especially Cedric, she still maintained her cloaking charm. Hermione knew they would be tracking her, and she knew they would be searching for her – but Hermione was using the oldest trick in the book, she was hiding in plain sight.

The day that she left Hogwarts, she first went to her mother's grave and wept. Though the Weasley's were her family now, she still missed her first mother badly. Her mother loved Hermione unconditionally – and showed her that love on a constant basis. Hermione knelt in front of the tombstone and conjured a beautiful bouquet of irises, her mother's favorite. She truly did love Molly Weasley as a mother, but still…

"Mother is God in the eyes of a child"

…none of this should ever have happened in the first place.

Hermione stayed by the grave until dawn. She apparated to Diagon Alley and hurried into Gringott's, where she closed her account completely. She didn't want to risk the chance of someone locating her there making a withdrawal when she needed money, so she just took it all. She ended up renting a flat under a false name which overlooked the entire alley. This gave her a perfect view of the comings and goings of people. She heavily warded the flat, and reapplied the cloaking charm several times a day. She didn't know if they had a way to penetrate through it, and didn't want to take any chances on it being weak.

Hermione dared not venture out, though. Instead, she had groceries delivered and left at the back door. As the weeks turned to months, Hermione watched her belly grow with sadness. She was in a centrifuge of emotions. She was still furious for being thrust back into this world, angry for what happened to her in the dungeons – and sad. She was scared for the child growing within her – and sad, once more. She was ashamed for the way she spoke to her family in the infirmary – especially Minerva, and that made her sad again. Only after her initial emotions and reactions subsided, did she come to understand that they thought they had her best intentions in mind - it wasn't just about them – they were just trying to get her to see how loved she was – for Hermione's sake.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The road back, what is that paved with?...humility."

Hermione spent most of her days alternating from sadness to anger. One moment she was sobbing, the next she was destroying the flat – only to repair it later. Hermione became lonelier than she ever thought possible, and wondered if she should return to Hogwarts. She knew that the baby's due date was approaching in a couple of months, how did she expect to deliver? Did she really think she could take care of this baby on her own – with the state she has been in? Hermione wasn't worried about her own welfare – she stopped caring about that long ago, but there was an innocent growing inside of her – depending on her. Maybe it was time to go home. How could she though? After the way she spoke to everyone?...With humility, she decided. If they turned her away, that would be one thing – but she knew in her heart that they just wanted her home. Mistakes were made by everyone. They should now be handled with humility and love. Hermione cried once more, wishing that Molly was there to hold and comfort her.

"Mother isn't here now, who knows what she'd say? Nothing's quite so clear now – feel you've lost your way. But you are not alone. Remember that people make mistakes, fathers - mothers. People make mistakes – holding to their own. Just remember – someone is on your side, someone else is not. While we're seeing our side, maybe we forgot – they may feel alone. It's hard to see the light now, just don't let it go - things will come out right now, we can make it so."

Hermione wanted her mother, now more than ever. She was tired of being frightened and alone – tired of feeling like a raging psychotic. She estimated her due date to be December 23rd. It was now November 17th. Hermione felt anxious, she knew she had to go home. She had to make it right. It wasn't about her anymore - it was about her child, and her family. Hermione packed her things and shrunk them into a bag – making them weightless. Before she headed home, she wanted to visit the grave of her mother once more. As it was night time, and snowing outside, Hermione bundled up and apparated from her flat to the cemetary.

She walked up to it and knelt down – with great difficulty. Hermione traced each letter of her mother's name on the tombstone with her fingers, before conjuring poinsettias and laying them in front of her. "I love you, mama." Hermione whispered.

"I love you too beautiful." Hermione heard a female voice behind her. An all too familiar voice. Hermione dared not turn around, she was frozen in fear. The sound of a loud cackle is what brought Hermione back. She grabbed her wand and stood to face Bellatrix Lestrange with a look of pure, unadulterated anger. Hermione hissed through her teeth at the woman.

"Sounding more like a snake every day, aren't you?" Lucious Malfoy said as he approached.

"You think you know…what you are…what's to come. You haven't even begun…find it. The darkness. Find your true nature."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, heart pumping fast with fury, not fear. Lucious walked right up to Hermione – she did not flinch, did not falter. "Hello, gorgeous." He said, before bending down and whispering – "Do you remember what I told you at our last meeting?" Hermione knew all too well. She recalled him whispering – after he spilled his seed into her, that now he will be able to find her wherever she goes. "Yes, my dear. We weren't able to track you, most regrettable – but I am always able to track what is mine." He said, placing his hand over her large belly.

Hermione jerked away and pointed her wand at him. "This child is not yours, it is mine."

Lucious backed away a little, laughing. "You don't stand a chance, mud-blood."

"Hate to disappoint you, Malfoy." Hermione said as she pulled down the collar of her sweater, revealing the scar that read "pure-blood", with a sly grin on her face.

Bellatrix screamed and raged at the sight, whipping her wand around – about to strike, but Hermione was faster – bearing speed fueled by the instinct and desire to protect her child. She sent Bellatrix flying backwards into the snow.

"You don't fight back! You're not supposed to fight back!" Lucious cried as he disarmed Hermione.

A look of curiosity came over his face as he saw Hermione, now wandless, still bearing her grin. "Things change, Malfoy." She said. His face turned to stone as he advanced upon her. With a swift pushing motion into the air with both hands, she sent Lucious flying backwards farther than Bellatrix.

"What the hell? You're not supposed to be able to do that!" he cried.

"Well it's too bad for you that I can, isn't it?" Hermione smirked, feeling her rage grow.

"Into the fire, she swallowed their hate."

With another wave of her arm, she sent a jet of fire towards the two Death Eaters – both scrambling to get out of range, both shocked by her power. Hermione strode up to them, bent down and whispered, "I have become more powerful than you can possibly imagine…and I have you to thank for it." Hermione grabbed her wand, took a step back – about to apparate, when she heard Bellatrix cackle once again.

Hermione felt someone grab her from behind, restraining her arms. The two Death Eaters were not alone, they brought Goyle's father (also a Death-Eater) with them. Hermione felt her heart sink. Lucious strode back up to her once more. "Tut, tut. Such a foolish girl. You may knock us down, but we're never down for long." Lucious grabbed Hermione's face, turned it to the side and licked her, the way he did in the dungeons. A tear slid down Hermione's cheek as she thought of her family. Images flashed before her eyes: Cedric, Molly, Arthur, Minerva, her brothers and sisters, Harry, Albus, Remus and Tonks. She closed her eyes and regretted ever leaving Hogwarts – regretted pushing them away, regretted the way she spoke to them. A surge of warmth surged through her heart as she whispered, "I love you." To her family who was not there – as she waited for the inevitable.

Lucious knocked her down onto her back, kicking her wand away and chaining her hands together behind her back. Hermione knew this was going to be it. She and her baby were going to die alone. It was at this moment that Hermione realized that she didn't want to die. She wanted to fight back, not for herself, but for the innocent who grew in her womb – but she didn't see how, as the three Death Eaters approached her slowly. Hermione laid her head back in the snow, realizing what a fool she was. She looked up at the sky, feeling the snow land lightly on her face. "I'm so sorry." She said out loud, wishing that she would have been able to say it to her family in person before she was to be killed.

Back at Hogwarts, Minerva was sleeping in her bed when she felt a powerful surge of warmth and anxiety flow through her heart, and deep into her soul. She shot up in bed and cried out "Hermione!" Minerva, not bothering to throw on her robe, ran out of her bedroom and straight to Albus's private quarters.

At the same time that Minerva bolted out of her sleep - back at the burrow, Molly Weasley felt a strong surge of warmth and anxiety flow rush through her womb, to her heart – and very soul. She shot up in bed and cried out "Hermione!"

Arthur was jolted out of his sleep and looked to his wife, who was staring straight ahead as images flashed through her mind. "What? What?" he cried.

"I know where she is." Molly whispered.

"What? How?" Arthur asked.

"I don't know how I know – I just know….and she's in trouble." Molly replied. "Come on, we've got to go." Molly and Arthur dressed quickly and ran downstairs. As they hit the bottom step, Minerva and Albus came through their floo in a flash of green light.

"Hermione!" Minerva said.

"We know." Replied Molly.

"She didn't bring her cloak down voluntarily. We wouldn't have known that until scrying for her. It had to have been brought down by fear or remorse. She's scared and in trouble, Albus, she needs our help – she is wishing for our help." Minerva said.

"How do you know where she is?" Albus asked.

Molly and Minerva looked at each other and shook their heads. "I don't know, we just do…as though she called for us…no – as though she screamed for us…take my hand." Minerva instructed Albus. He obeyed and they apparated to an unknown cemetery. Seconds later, Molly and Arthur appeared at their side. The four looked around at their surroundings, not seeing Hermione.

"Where is she?" Arthur asked.

"She should be here!" Molly cried, "This is where I saw her!"

Four heads shot up and looked to the distance upon hearing a scream…Hermione's scream.

With wands drawn, Minerva, Albus, Molly, and Arthur began running towards the scream – hearts beating fast in fear and anticipation. They began to close their distance and saw Hermione in the snow, backing away like a little crab – with three Death Eaters slowly walking towards her. They weren't yet in striking distance when they saw Hermione pull her legs back and ram them directly into one of the Death Eaters – who, upon falling back – threw a stunner at her.

They were finally close enough, and Molly called out, "Hermione!"

Hermione glanced up in relief as she saw her parents with Albus and Minerva running at full speed to fight for her. Tears welled up and she laid her head back in the snow. Though she was bound, she was able to wiggle her wrists – now that the focus was off of her, and muttered "Finite Incantatum". She was no longer bound, but she rolled onto her side – in pain from the stunner…with a strange pain coming from her abdomen.

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!" Arthur screamed, as he raised his wand.

Though she was a little further back from the others, Minerva was actually the first one to cast. With the wand in her right hand, she made a sharp diagonal slash into the air which sent Bellatrix Lestrange flying so far back that they thought she would never land. Albus and Arthur took on Malfoy and Goyle, as Molly ran up to Hermione.

"My daughter, my daughter! Where have you been?"

Molly scooped Hermione up in her arms, amazed at how her belly had grown. Hermione just wept into her mother's arms – a catharsis, building up since she left Hogwarts. Everything she thought, every emotion she felt – came tumbling out.

"Oh, Mother! I've had such sadness!"

She continued to sob while her father, Albus and Minerva fought off the Death Eaters.

Albus and Arthur fought hard against Malfoy and Goyle, until they finally apparated away. Bellatrix did not have their defeatist attitude – she kept fighting the old woman. Minerva kept in step, as though she were 20 years old again – throwing curse after curse. She finally had Bellatrix disarmed and on the ground – staring back up at her. Minerva stood directly over her – Bellatrix whimpering slightly. Minerva pointed her wand with a steady hand, fury flowing through her veins.

"Now is the end of days, and I am the Reaper!"

Minerva flashed back to when Hermione was raped. She raised her wand, saying "Avada…" but Albus grabbed her arm before she had a chance to unleash her fury upon Bellatrix for hurting her cub.

"You are not a killer, Minerva. She will be taken to Azkaban – her fate will be worse, there." Albus said, binding Bellatrix from head to toe – then apparating quickly away with her.

Minerva rushed over to Hermione who was being held by her parents. Hermione was sobbing, grateful to be surrounded by her family. Minerva took Hermione's face in her hands and said, "Open your eyes, lamb."

Hermione looked into the eyes of her mentor and said in a tiny voice what she said once before. "You found me. You came for me."

Minerva embraced Hermione, tears streaming down her face, "I told you that my heart will always find you – I will always come for you." Minerva replied.

Hermione sobbed and sobbed, thinking that she was in a dream – that at any moment, she was going to wake up, alone, in her flat – depressed and angry. "I am so sorry. I am so, so sorry. I've been such a fool."

Hermione was expecting a scolding which never came, instead she heard Minerva whisper "what have we told you about apologizing?"

Hermione sat up and looked at her family. "I have been self-destructing. I can't do it anymore. I can't. I don't have it in me. I think I've lost my mind."

"Come on, love, let us take you home." Arthur went to help Hermione stand up, when she gripped her stomach – feeling the same pain she felt only a few moments before. She cried out, clutching herself. Her face paled three shades as she said, "Something's wrong."

Looks of fear passed between Molly, Minerva and Arthur. Minerva lifted Hermione's skirt slightly, and put her hand against one of Hermione's thighs – to see if her water broke, when she withdrew her hand, it was covered in blood. Hermione shrieked, "No!"

"Hermione, we have to take you to St. Mungo's." Molly said.

Hermione panicked, grabbing at her mother's robes. "No. NO!"

"Darling, we need to get you help." Minerva said.

"We can't go there, he can get me there! That's how he found me – I was unable to be traced, but he was able to track the baby because it is part of him! Don't take me there – please!" Hermione looked at Minerva with pleading eyes as she grabbed her stomach once again, pain shooting through – all the way to her back. "Take me home!" she cried, before passing out.

Molly, Arthur and Minerva exchanged a fearful glance.

"We have to go. Now." Arthur said, scooping his child into his arms. They apparated back to the Burrow then used the floo to enter the infirmary at Hogwarts.

Poppy was surprised when her floo glowed green and Arthur came running out with Hermione in his arms. "You found her!" she cried.

Arthur laid his child on one of the beds and said, "Poppy, there was a fight – and now she is bleeding, I don't know if she is in labor – or losing the child!"

Hermione's eyes opened as Poppy cast a diagnostic spell over Hermione. A page flew into Poppy's hands and she read over it.

"Well?" Hermione asked, fearfully.

"You're going to have this baby tonight, Hermione." Poppy said.

Hermione flopped her head against the pillow and wailed – "No! It's too early!"

"I don't know what happened out there, but it says that you are in active labor." Poppy said.

"What about the blood, Poppy?" Molly asked in panic.

"The bleeding is from a small part of the placenta being detached from the uterine wall. As long as it is only a small part, then we may be safe – but any more than that, we run the risk of the baby losing oxygen. From what the diagnostic shows, the baby's heart rate and oxygen level are right down the line – perfect – but Hermione is most definitely in labor. This baby will be coming tonight." Poppy said.

"It's too early…" Hermione said again, crying. "I have 5 weeks to go…"

"Listen to me, dear heart, Bill was six weeks early and turned out perfectly fine! Yes, it is a little early, but there are babies who have come much sooner than yours and turned out well! Trust Poppy, she knows what to do." Molly said, stroking Hermione's hair.

Hermione nodded, and said – "Cedric? Where is he? I want him here, I need him here!"

Molly nodded to her child and looked at Arthur, who nodded as well. He conjured his patronus and ordered it to find Cedric, Tonks and Remus.

Hermione looked at Poppy and said, "How long?"

"It says that you are 5 centimeters dilated, so we still have a ways to go." Poppy said, I am going to continue to monitor your progress, but we still have several hours – I dare say. Right now the most important thing is for you to save your strength – we will try to keep you comfortable in between contractions."

Hermione nodded and lied back on the mountain of pillows that Molly placed on the bed in order to keep Hermione propped up. Molly sat on the chair next to Hermione and took her hand, rubbing it in between hers. Hermione stared at the ceiling, tears flowing freely – afraid for her child…afraid for herself. Everything was about to change – she was going to have someone else to be responsible for…and she wasn't even able to be responsible for herself. Hermione looked over to her mother, communicating between their eyes.

"I wish none of this had ever happened…so do all who live to such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

Molly stroked Hermione's hair while Minerva spread a quilt over her young cub. "I know you're scared, dear – but you are not alone in this." Molly said.

Hermione smiled at her mother, but her heart was terrified. She was back home – the one place she really wanted to be, but she still felt completely and utterly lost. Just then, Hermione doubled over, clutching her abdomen, and squeezing her eyes shut.

"Shh, shh. You're having a contraction, Hermione. Lay back, try to breathe through it – you have to focus." Molly said.

"I can't!" cried Hermione. Minerva rushed to the other side of Hermione's bed and grabbed her other hand.

"Look at us, Hermione – focus, you need to breathe – do it for your baby." Minerva said.

Hermione straightened back up, holding onto Molly and Minerva. She looked straight ahead, fixed on a single crack in the wall – taking deep breaths. Albus went to the other side of the curtain to give Hermione some privacy, and almost ran directly into Cedric – who looked a little worse for the wear. Tonks and Remus were coming out of the floo behind him. Cedric didn't have to ask where Hermione was, he heard her shriek and ran to her bedside. Arthur led Remus and Tonks to the infirmary's hospitality room, where the three of them discussed what occurred in the graveyard.

"Cedric!" Hermione cried – sweat running down her face. She dropped Minerva and Molly's hands and reached out for him. Molly moved out of the way so they could be together. Cedric enlarged the bed with his wand and sat next to Hermione on it.

"She's having a contraction, Cedric. We need her to breathe through it." Molly explained.

"Breathe, petite bebe." Cedric said – causing Hermione to smile and cry tears of joy. She knew that she missed Cedric, but she didn't realize how complete he made her feel – how complete he had always made her feel. Her other half had returned. When her contraction was over, he helped her lay back on the pillows before kissing her all over her face and head. Hermione held onto him for dear life, sobbing. "Rest, bebe." Cedric told her.

They held each other for a few minutes as Hermione calmed down. They looked deep into each other's eyes. "I have been so lost without you." He said, holding her face in his hands. "It was like I had been torn right down the middle. I love you so much – I've been telling you that every day since you left…I've been looking for you for so long."

"So I see." Hermione said as she ran her hand through his shaggy hair.

Cedric rested his hand on Hermione's large belly, but still staring into his lover's eyes. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there. Maybe if I was I could have…" Cedric began.

Hermione put her finger to his lips, silencing him, "No. Don't. We can't know what may or may not have happened had you been there. This isn't your fault anymore than it is mine. It doesn't help things…God how I know it doesn't help things…"

"Where did you go?" Cedric asked quietly.

Hermione shook her head, "I can't. I can't right now." She was getting visibly upset.

Cedric hugged her, "It's ok, we don't have to talk about it. I'm just glad you're home and safe. I was so scared that I lost you."

"You did lose me, Cedric." Hermione said quietly, looking up into his eyes. "I'm not here anymore – I'm not who I used to be."

"None of us are, bebe. We all change from day to day, hour by hour – but we adapt." Cedric said.

"No. You don't get it. I am broken now…not just cracked." Hermione began to cry. Suddenly another contraction came on. Molly held her hands while Cedric rubbed Hermione's lower back until it passed. When it was over, Molly went for ice chips – Minerva went for a second blanket.

After she caught her breath, Cedric responded to Hermione's last remark – "Then we'll just have to pick up the pieces and put them back together, now won't we?"

Hermione looked lovingly into Cedric's eyes – "Why? Why are you so good to me? Why do you choose to be surrounding by all of this sadness and strife when you could so easily walk away from it all?"

"Do I need to tell you again what a 'relationship' means? I told you I would remind you every day how important you are – how much you matter, so I will. Would you run out on me – if I were the one in trouble?" Cedric asked.

"You know I wouldn't." Hermione said.

"Then stop questioning me about why I stick around, just be happy that we are here together. I lean on you, you lean on me – remember? For better or worse, right?" Cedric said.

"That's marriage, Cedric – you aren't tied down to me, you can go any time you want without breaking any vows – in fact, I wouldn't blame you." Hermione said, sadly.

"I'm not asking you for anything. When I say I love you, it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are. What you do. How you try. I've seen your kindness, and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you, and I understand, with perfect clarity, exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. You're the One."

Cedric pulled something out of his pocket –"I made my vows to you a long time ago, Hermione. You know that because you gave yours to me as well. I told you that we were put on this earth to be with each other – to go through the highs and lows together. To raise each other up until the only times that we can remember are the good ones." Cedric paused and held Hermione's hand. "I left this at the school when I went to look for you – but I came back for it in June."

Cedric opened his hand and revealed an emerald ring of white gold with two diamonds on either side of it. Hermione's eyes widened as she looked into Cedric's.

"This was my grandmother's, I was always very close to her and she left it do me when she died. I came back for it because I knew that I was going to find you…and when I did I was going to put it on your finger so I would never lose you again." Cedric continued. "You said something to me last Christmas that I have never forgotten. You said that I had you the first moment you saw me, and you knew things would never be the same. I told you that I have waited my whole life for you, and that you give the rest of your life to me. You thanked me for being your soul-mate, your other half, your lover and best friend…" Cedric looked deep into Hermione's wide eyes, and held up the ring.

"I want you to now thank me for being your husband…"