A/N: Hello all! A thank you to crankypants16, Royan Granger-Nott, jacpin2002, Love the Original Family, and the Guest who commented on the last chapter. Thank you, your words make my day brighter!
I have also reached 200 followers on Granddaughter of the Dark and I want to thank all of you for following me on this journey! Thank you!
Any errors or typos are my own, I havent rally had a chance to proof read this chapter yet but I'll be getting back to it as soon as I have the chance!
See you next week and as always, enjoy!
Chapter 9
Harry stabbed the last of their collected Horcruxes.
Suddenly, the room was lighter than it had ever been. Hermione looked up to Riddle who was panting, his hair damp with sweat, his skin pale and his eyes drooping.
He looked awful, but Hermione was sure that she didn't look much better than her Grandfather.
Neither did anyone else in the room.
Hermine shifted in he place, hissing as her muscles protested the moment. She took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly to ground herself further. Her eyes met Harry and Ron's
Granted, Hermione did know that when Harry, Ron, and she had destroyed Horcruxes in the past, the pure darkness of the objects would drain them of their energy, but this was something worse. Hermione was sure that she had never been so exhausted, her muscles and all she wanted was to sink into the couch underneath her and sleep.
"That's that then," Riddle said wiping his brow and attempting to straighten his clothes.
Harry nodded, dropping the basilisk fang onto the ground, falling back into the cushions.
Ron cleared his throat and blinked, "Im starving."
Hermione couldn't help but bark out a laugh, "when aren't you hungry?"
Ron's head snapped towards Hermione, "plenty of times!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. Her silence spoke volumes.
Narcissa chuckled, shaking her head, "Dinner should be ready soon," she said, using Riddle's arm chair for support, "go freshen up and we'll meet in the dining room for supper. I'll be sure to have plenty of meats."
Ron's ryes lit up at the sound of a meal, "That's bloody fantastic!" He cheered. He nudged Harry who gripped Ron's shoulder, "Come on, Harry, let's go see Theo, Bill must be driving him insane with all the fussing."
Harry smiled, and Hermione felt the black-haired boy's hand slip into hers, squeezing it softly.
"Well," Hermione said, "let's get going!"
Hermione pulled Harry out of the room, Ron already well on his way out. Ron paused for a moment, scratching his head in contemplation.
"I don't know where I'm going," Ron said.
Hermione was about to answer when Narcissa's voice rang out, "Theodore should be in a room a few doors down from your's, Hermione."
Hermione looked back and whispered a thank you before she led the boys up the steps. "How have you two really been?" She asked.
Ron shrugged, "I'm missing an eye but worse could have happened. Mum is battening down the hatches and she's become a sort of leader when it comes to Dumbledore… She's been taking care of any Slytherins we sneak out of Hogwarts."
Hermione nodded, "Maybe we can move them here… I'm sure it's been getting crowded."
"They're just kids," Ron said, "who cares if its crowded as long as they're safe. We're focusing mostly on the first and second years and eventually we'll get the third years."
Hermione's shoulders sagged, the Burrow must be more than just a little more than crowded now.
"It's not too bad, 'Mione," Harry said, "we'll be okay, we have been so far."
Hermione sighed, "The war should be over, we shouldn't have to be still fighting."
Hermione's hand wandered down to her stomach, stroking it softly as she thought of what the future would bring now that Riddle was on their side. After a turn in the hallway, Hermione paused at the sound of soft muttering and sobbing.
Hermione walked towards the open door ignoring Harry and Ron completely. When she peered into the room, Nott Sr. was clutching his son's hand, he was bent over kidding the back of the young man's hand. Bill was whispering kind words to the older man while rubbing soothing circles on his back.
She felt like she was intruding on a private moment. And she was.
The eldest Weasly was the first to see Hermione, he motioned her to come in. The brunette walked around the bed, followed by Harry and Ron, she sat on the stool by the bedside and squeezed the unconscious boy's hand. Hermione hadn't even noticed that the boy was wearing a green Weasley sweater, a silver T adorning the front. The green made Theo look more pale that Hermione suspected he really was but that wasn't much of a comfort.
"We're glad you're here," she whispered.
Theo stirred, his eyes fluttering open for a moment before closing again.
Harry sighed, "He's been doing that for a few days… Molly's hopeful but there's a chance there could be damage from the Curcio."
This only made the older Nott sob harder.
Bill sent Harry a stern look, "He'll be just fine," he hissed, barring his teeth slightly.
Harry held up his hands in surrender. It seemed that Bill's wolf was particularly protective of the young man.
Ron walked back over to stand beside Bill, kneeling at Nott Sr.'s feet.
In the same moment, Riddle walked into the room quietly, standing next to the door to observe. Bill gave the leader a nod of acknowledgment but not much else.
"If it makes any difference," Ron whispered to the grieving man, ignoring Riddle completely, "Theo is probably one of the bravest men I know… He protected everyone in the dungeons without hesitation… He even tried to save Cormac."
Nott Sr. turned to Ron, his tears enhancing the blue in the man's eyes, "Truly?"
Ron took Nott Sr.'s hand, no words had the power to comfort the man but he could be here for him no matter what happened.
Bill leaned back in his chair and brushed hair out of Theo's face tenderly. It was clear that the Weasley's loved the Nott Heir dearly.
Hermione wondered if all the Slytherin's had the Weasley's love, though she suspected they did. The Weasley's didn't have much, but they never lacked love.
Nott Sr. cleared his throat, "Many of the other parents have gotten notifications from the Ministry of their children's deaths in the past two weeks… will they have the opportunity to burry those poor children?" he rasped.
Ron shook his head which caused a broken wail to come from the man. Bill spoke up.
"No children have died at Hogwarts. My younger brother Percy is working to ensure that any children we smuggle out of Hogwarts is classified as diseased as to not raise suspicion… They're all safe."
Riddle physically relaxed at the new information and the elder Nott flung himself at Bill, wrapping his arms around the curse breaker.
Hermione's eyes met her Grandfather's, worried that watching Bill comfort Nott would cause her to cry. Riddle's jaw was set and without a moment spared, he gave a firm nod to Harry.
Riddle would actively fight beside them. He would stay neutral.
Hermione was elated.
An elf popped into the room with a bow, quietly announcing dinner. The Golden Trio looked to each other, a quiet decision being made.
They would have dinner with the Notts tonight.
There was no protest from the elf. Instead the little creature left and returned with an array of food. Bill ensured that the older Nott ate while picking at his own plate. Hermione watched Harry and Ron pile food onto their own plates, and when they noticed she didn't move to fix herself a plate, they took initiative to pick for her. Riddle didn't move from his place, instead watching the group partake before picking a slice of bread from a basket and eating it quietly.
"We will be leaving tomorrow," Bill said, his eyes on Theodore, "I would say but I cant."
Hermione nodded sympathetically, "Theo would understand, and he'll see you again."
Bill exhaled sharply, but said nothing else.
When dinner was done, two elves arrived, one to take the empty plates and the second to escort everyone to their rooms.
This is where there was a slight commotion. Harry and Ron demanded to stay with Hermione and Bill refused to leave Theo's side. The elf only stared up at Hermione with pleading eyes, startled by the sudden loud noise.
Hermione convinced Bill to stay in the next room over, telling him that Theo would be safe and that his father would be there with him. Ron and Harry were not as easily persuaded and Hermione agreed to let them share her room with them tonight. Not that she minded, they had shared a tent for a year and she missed their company.
Everyone one was off to their rooms to sleep, and when Hermione finally closed the doors to her chambers, she let the exhaustion of the day get to her.
"Merlin," Ron said with a yawn, "I'm bloody tiered."
Harry had already stripped down to his pants, pulling random drawers open to find pajamas. He found a pair for himself and another for Ron, throwing the delicate silk nightwear to the redhead.
Both boys changed, turning their backs to give Hermione some privacy so she could to the same.
It took her back to the tent.
Hermione sighed as the soft nightdress touched her skin, cooling her instantly.
It had been a tiering day.
Ron crawled into the bed first, and Harry motioned Hermione to get in next. They sandwiched her between them. It had been a common occurrence in Hogwarts when they found out she was pregnant, though she had only been there a week after she found out. She assumed it was their way of protecting her further, not that they didn't think she couldn't protect herself, but because they didn't want to risk anything.
The lights dimmed in the room, the three friends staring up at the canopy and Harry was the first to break the silence.
"Do they know it's Malfoy's?" Harry asked.
"No," Hermione said, "I don't want to risk anyone knowing yet… I don't even know if Riddle would kill Draco if he knew… you know better than anyone that the Malfoy's aren't liked by Riddle— hell— Narcissa is basically my handmaid. "
Harry and Ron hummed. Ron was the next to break the silence .
"So, 'Mione, are you going to tell us what you're planning?" He asked her.
"I'm not planning anything," Hermione said, "you're the strategic one, Ron, not me."
Harry chuckled, "You never do anything without a plan, 'Mione."
Hermione sighed, "I don't have a plan," she lied.
Hermione pretended to be convincing and the boys pretended to believe her. With that, they closed their eyes and drifted to sleep, scared of tomorrow but feeling secure today.