Out of Time
She ran as though she instinctively knew where she was going…and in a way – she did. All she knew was the feeling in her gut – the feeling that she knew where her child was. She ran. Through corridor after corridor – through every secret passage-way that she knew…until she ended up in the infirmary. She paused before the large, wooden closed doors – attempting to catch her breath before stepping…or running inside – unaware of what she would find – she wanted to prepare herself physically for any situation that could possibly occur. The moment she found her focus, she waved her arm and the doors to the infirmary blasted open, as though someone had kicked them in. What she saw before her broke her heart, it was her mother, Molly, holding Morgaine – looking at Hermione with the most shocked, yet sinister expression. Hermione lost her focus. All she thought of was her child – and the vision that she saw. She was about to advance upon Molly when Minerva, who finally caught up to Hermione, slammed against her – in a most brutal way.
"Ahh!" Screamed Hermione, as she attempted to fight off Minerva.
Minerva held her ground, pinning Hermione to the floor, whispering into her ear, "No, lamb. This isn't what is supposed to happen. Listen to your child, and your heart. Look…see."
Hermione, still pinned under Minerva, turned her head towards Molly, Poppy, and Morgaine. She saw her beautiful baby, squirming in the arms of what appeared to be her loving grandmother, and when she turned her head – she saw Poppy, with a black aura around her – and a distant expression upon her face.
"Oh God." Hermione whispered.
"We need to move quickly.." Minerva whispered back. "And safely, so that we do not harm the others. It is polyjuice potion, Hermione – and nothing more. What is happening to Poppy, though – I do not know. Our loved ones are not our enemies…they are victims in their own right…we need to save them. We protect the ones we love. We protect our family."
Hermione heard Minerva's words, and understood them as working for the "greater good" by saving as many of them as possible…but all Hermione could think of was her child – in the arms of the enemy. She was taken once before – so easily it seemed…what was to keep her from being taken once more? Where were the God's and Goddesses that were supposed to protect them all – to protect good magic?...Hermione wondered in desperation…and where were they keeping the real Molly?
Minerva and Hermione clutched one another – as they helped each other to stand. Hermione, unblinking, gritted her teeth. She wondered which Death Eater was her mother's imposter…but she already had some idea – as she pictured the long, blonde hair of Lucius Malfoy in her mind. Minerva had a look of resolve upon her face. She saw 3 members of her family in trouble, and quickly racked her brain for where to begin. If they rushed in, all three of them could be harmed – especially since they didn't know what type of spell Poppy was under the influence of.
"Well, you figured me out faster than I thought you would." The fake Molly said.
"I will give you three seconds to hand over my child." Snarled Minerva.
"Or what?" the imposter asked in a sly tone, "You'll try to fight me?" She held the child up in front of her, "Do you really want to risk harming her by your own hand?"
Minerva felt ill as she saw her child being used as a shield.
"How dare you!" cried Hermione, who was clutching onto Minerva's robes. "If you harm her, I swear I will end you!"
"I think we both know that there will be no coming back from that one if you do, Hermione. But do not worry. I am not here to harm either of you…or her" the imposter said, stroking Morgaine's hair.
"Who are you?" Minerva asked, shaking her head in confusion.
The imposter waved her wand over her face, saying "Revealo." What drained the air out of Minerva and Hermione's lungs. This was someone they had not expected to see. They were now face-to-face with not Lucius Malfoy, but his wife…Narcissa.
"I mean you no harm." She told the couple.
"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Minerva replied in a scathing tone. "What have you done with Molly…and what have you done to Poppy?"
"Molly is safe…believe me. As is Poppy, she is merely frozen."
"Where is my mother?" Hermione demanded.
Narcissa waved her wand at the door to Poppy's office. They heard a loud clicking noise of the locks, and Molly burst through the door, consumed by fury. She did not even notice Hermione and Minerva standing in the doorway. "What have you done?!" Molly screamed. She saw her wand, which Narcissa took earlier, on the bed next to Morgaine's basinet. She made to rush forward when she heard Hermione yell, "Mother, don't!" Molly skidded to a halt and turned her attention towards the door. She then looked back and forth between her child, and the Death Eater who was holding her grandchild.
"Back off now, and I will show you a sign of good faith." Narcissa said in a cool tone.
"You have given us no reason to believe you, or any Death Eater." Minerva called out.
Narcissa waved her wand once more, and very slowly, Poppy began to reanimate.
Instinctively, Molly ran towards Poppy – and supported her as she slowly fell to the floor. Narcissa did not move. She merely looked towards them both with a curious expression on her face. For some reason unknown to her, Hermione felt a twinge of trust.
"What do you want? Why have you done this?" Hermione asked quietly, her eyes completely focused on the eyes of what she believed to be the enemy's.
"We need to right a wrong. We need to work together…and we need to have a discussion." Narcissa replied.
Hermione looked into the emerald green eyes of Minerva, questioning what the next move should be.
Minerva looked towards Narcissa and said, "We will agree to a discussion, if you hand Morgaine over to Molly." Hermione did not react. She trusted her mentor, her lover…her wife. She had years of experience that Hermione could not match, and had a much more level head on her shoulders for the moment – reacting on logic, rather than the fevered emotions that have been fueling Hermione.
Without hesitation, Narcissa handed Morgaine over to Molly.
Narcissa then sat on the bed and crossed her legs. She didn't say a word, but her body language indicated that she expected the others to sit as well. Without taking her eyes off the supposed enemy before her, Hermione slid a rocking chair over so that she was face to face with the wife of her rapist.
"Why are you here?" Hermione asked. "More than that, how did you get in?"
Narcissa looked deep into Hermione's eyes, and Hermione felt naked – as though the woman could see directly through her, into her mind.
"I know what it is you saw." She said to Hermione – and no one else. "For it has also been in my mind."
"And what exactly is that?" Hermione asked – her gaze never faltering, as though they were magnetically drawn towards each other.
"That there is a storm coming. And it intends to destroy everything we hold dear." Narcissa replied.
"And what, pray tell – should we care about the things that you hold dear?" Minerva snarled.
Narcissa acted as though Minerva wasn't even there – she was speaking to Hermione only.
Hermione squinted, as though she was finally figuring something out. "What happened to you?" Hermione asked in a slow whisper.
A sad look crossed Narcissa's face as she glanced at Morgaine, then back to Hermione. "You are not the only one to have borne a child out of great sadness."
It took a moment for Hermione to realize the full implication of what Narcissa said – and then it clicked…
"Oh my goddess…" Hermione said – putting her hand up to her mouth.
"This is not the life I wanted for myself," Narcissa began sadly, "And it is not the life I ever wanted for Draco. I blame him for nothing – he is not at fault for his beginnings – any more than Morgaine is…"
The room was completely silent, as they waited for Narcissa to continue on, in her own time. She looked down at her hands for a moment, and sniffed. She contained herself though, and regained the poise that she typically carried herself with. "I cannot afford the luxury of emotions the way that you can." Narcissa finally stated, "It is punishable – a sign of weakness." She stood up then, brushing the feelings off, and addressed the entire room. "We all know that something is coming, something big. But there are several off us here who have been granted the gift of foresight as of late. I never had visions before – my mother was the only witch I ever knew to have had them, and the one thing I learned was to never ignore what is 'seen'." She turned to look out the window before continuing.
"All I know is that there is a way for me and my son to escape this hell on earth that we have been living in – and that way is through you…and your child…children…" Narcissa said. While the others looked confused, Hermione and Minerva knew what she was talking about.
Hermione bore a disgusted expression at the selfishness of her statement. Narcissa smiled out of the corner of her mouth before stating, "I may not want to live like this anymore, but I'm not perfect, dear. I want out, you want out, and the only way that we can vanquish this evil is by working together. I think you know that I speak the truth."
Hermione glanced at Minerva and they communicated through their eyes that they knew she was right. There was no lie – this was their opportunity, their catalyst, to bring the confusing visions and dreams to fruition. There was no time to question what they knew to be true in their hearts – this was the moment they were waiting for – the defining moment which would turn the tides. Hermione looked to her grandmother, and her healer before saying "I don't ask you to understand, all I ask is that you trust me." Their eyes were wide in disbelief. Hermione returned her gaze once more and asked, "What do we need to do?"
Narcissa smiled – not slyly, but in a relieved way. "We need to control your magic. You are useless until you do."
Hermione typically would feel defensive about this, but she knew there was truth in what was spoken. "I don't know how." She whispered.
Narcissa smiled again. "I will help you. I know what it is like to feel out of control – to allow your tragedies to overrule. I also know how to bring you back."
Hermione felt a lightness in her heart that she had not felt for many, many years.
"What do I need to do?" she asked.
"We need to train." Narcissa replied. "Every day."
Hermione nodded feverishly, a twinge of excitement filling the heart she thought had turned to stone. She realized that this may actually happen – she may be able to climb out of the grave she has lived in for the past few months.
"It isn't going to be easy," Narcissa continued, "It's going to be the second most difficult thing you will ever go through in your life…we both know what the first thing was." Hermione knew she was referring to the rape – but that gave her hope…she survived that, so what would keep her from surviving this?
"You're going to need to stay out of your own way in order for us to succeed…" Only Hermione knew what she meant by this…"And you are going to have to be prepared to go to war – every day – remember why we are doing this." Narcissa said. "Also," she continued – looking at both Hermione and Minerva, "it is not too late for our greatest asset to be brought into play…" She looked deep into their eyes – communicating that which only they could understand…"but it needs to be brought about tonight."
Narcissa crossed the room, saying "I need to get back, my absence must go unnoticed." She looked at them over her shoulder on her way out of the room before saying "You will need to grant me access to the castle – but the Vanishing cabinet is not the way…you may want to think about destroying it…"
So that was how she got in…
"We will personalize the enchantments to allow you entrance." Minerva stated.
Narcissa nodded and continued to exit the room. Just as she hit the door, Hermione spoke out, "You're here to save us, then…"
Narcissa halted, but did not turn to them when she replied, "I am not the hero of this story, dear. You are." She left the room, but they heard her call back…"And you don't need to be saved."