A/N: Hi All! A thank you to viola1701e, decadenceofmysoul, Royan Granger-Nott, takingflight4, jacpin2002, renowned-warrior, and the guest that commented on my last chapter. Thank you so much!
For those of who are wondering, Draco will be present in the next few chapters (promise!)
Also, I estimate that this fic will be around 30 chapters, and lucky, I have the next 10 planned out!
Disclaimer, I dont own Harry Potter.
As always, enjoy!
Chapter 11
Hermione had payed no mind to those around her after Harry, Ron, and Bill left a fortnight before. She often try and probe for information regarding Draco's mission, but Narcissa was not speaking to her, Lucius never looked in her direction, and asking Riddle would arouse too much suspicion so she got no where. So with no answers she distracted herself, licensing in on conversations in hopes to overhear any information.
Apparently Riddle had been tight lipped on where he sent Draco.
Which brought another problem. The first years had yet to arrive. Riddle had become agitated and took his anger out on some expensive vases in the tea room, and the parents of the first years had taken to staying at the manor, making the already tense home more suffocating. Hermione ensured him that they would delay bringing the children unless there was a problem. She kept up hope but she knew that the delay brought no good news, which further isolated the witch.
It seemed that her only two friends in the days since the alliance were Nott Sr., a still unconscious Theodore, who's condition was looking grimmer with every passing day, and Professor Snape. Oddly enough, Snape never spoke to her, only hovering at the edge of her vision, supplying potions and snarky comments when the opportunity presented itself. Hermione found the bat of the dungeons odd, but she never turned away his medicines, not when she was still underweight.
Nott Sr., who insisted Hermione call him Thoros, would sit by her and read aloud to Theo, glancing up at the young boy hoping his favorite texts would stir something in him. But it had been two weeks since he had been brought here with no change, so their vigil continued.
It was halfway through the third week when Mossy begged Hermione and Thoros to head down for dinner, convinced that all the time in the single room was not good for their health. Hermione waved that thought away but was guilted into walking down the gilded stairs to join her grandfather and his Death Eaters for dinner. There were several sniffs thought the room, mostly from the pureblood women when she walked in wearing muggle clothing.
Hermione begrudgingly sat next to Riddle, knowing that she would rather be sitting next to Thoros.
"Hermione," Riddle said breaking the silence.
Deciding to pile up her plate instead of responding, Hermione simply gave the older wizard a curt bow if the head.
"Have you heard from Mr. Potter?" Riddle said, again breaking the silence.
Hermione opened her mouth to respond in the negative when a snort down the table interrupted her. All heads turned to Lucius Malfoy who was wearing his usual mask of arrogance. Nagini, who had been next to Riddle coiled to strike, an odd sound coming from the snake.
"I doubt they even have the children," Lucius said, his eyes boring into Hermione's.
"Speak when you're spoken to, Lucius!" Riddle demanded, standing up as he glowered at the blond, "Let me remind you what got you and your family into this situation you sniveling coward."
Magic crackled in the air, Riddle's lip pulled back in disgust. Hermione jumped back at the power behind the wizard's words, she put a protective hand over her stomach, feeling something flutter within her. Lucius fell silent, paling dramatically, even looking a little green. Riddle took a calming breath, seating himself back down and taking a long drink of wine.
Hermione was sure she going to be sick.
"Speak against her again, Lucius, I promise you that your son will pay for it." Riddle said, his anger lessening, "and we both know that I will show no mercy to a Malfoy." He finished, spitting the last word harshly.
Hermione swallowed thickly in an attempt to moisten her dry mouth. "If they haven't sent the children yet," Hermione said, "then they dont think it's safe to do so, yet."
Riddle nodded, taking another drink of this time water, "they would be right to do so."
Hermione lifted her hand from her stomach and started to cut into the green beans on her plate. Her hands were unsteady, shaking until the angry magic had dissipated in the room.
A small pop interrupted the whispers of some of the death Eaters who divided to talk amongst themselves after Riddle's outburst. Mossy stood by the doorway in a deep bow.
"My lord," she said in her sweet, squeaky, voice, "the Young Master Nott has awoken."
Oh, Hermione was definitely going to be sick.
Without another word, Thoros bolted from the room, throwing his cutlery onto the table, his chair slamming against the floor. Hermione muttered an 'excuse me' before she followed behind Thoros closely. It was a breath of fresh air to see Theo looking up from the bed with large ocean blue eyes, Hermione was sure she could sob with relief.
Thoros had already began to do so, stroking his son's hair tenderly.
"Granger?" the younger Nott rasped, his voice raw from misuse.
"Hullo, Theo," Hermione said with a watery smile.
Theo struggled to sit up, hissing at the strain on his muscles, his eyes wide with fear fro his friends. "What are you doing here?"
A dark voice came from behind her, "She's my granddaughter, Mr. Nott," Riddle said, his calculating gaze on the ill boy.
Riddle walked into the room completely, giving Nagini the space to slither in.
"Oh," Theo said looking at Riddle, his eyes drifting to Hermione's, "Oh… Wait, since when?"
Hermione gave Theo an incredulous look, "Since I was born, Theo."
Theo snorted, crossing his arms in a huff, "Since when did you know?"
"A little after I found out I was pregnant," Hermione whispered, taking Theo's hand and gripping it lightly.
Theo flushed, his mouth popping open, "Pre—pregnant? Like a litter person growing inside you?"
Hermione laughed but nodded, "Yeah, I'm 4 months gone now…" Hermione dropped Theo's hand and bunched up her jumper from the back, exposing her stomach.
"Oh wow, Hermione," Theo said in awe.
Riddle gave Hermione a calculating look and then something looked to click into place for him, his eyes brightening.
"So the mystery is solved." Riddle said smugly, a cat like grin stretching across his face, "I was worried that the father of your child was an… unacceptable… candidate, but young Nott here is a proper choice."
"A wha—" Hermione began, wide eyed, but was interrupted.
"Miss. Granger will make an excellent addition to the Nott Family," Thoros said diplomatically, something shining in his eyes.
Riddle laughed, clapping Thoros on the back, "We will speak of this more later. If you'll excuse me."
Tom Riddle exited the room with a smile on his face, the air around him significantly better than it was just minutes before. Thoros quickly closed the door, turning to the teenagers with a frown.
"You two have a lot of explaining to do." He said.
"He's not the father!" Hermione rushed out, Theo too busy gaping at the situation to say anything.
Thoros approached the two, "I know Theo isn't the father. Let say I understand that you're not… his preference."
Theo made a noise in the back of his throat, "Father, I—"
Thoros waved Theo off. The older wizard sat on one of two chairs b Theo's bed, gesturing for Hermione to sit as well. "I want to know how you two know each other."
Hermione turned to Theo, she softened when she saw his eyes cloud over. She remembers the night she and Theo were requested in fourth year. Hermione had been walking back to the Gryffindor Tower when she heard someone crying. She followed the sound to the Astronomy Tower where she found Theo in distress, his shoulders heaving in effort to stay in control. Hermione approached him, speaking as softly as she could, asking if he was injured. Instead of replying, Theo had flung himself at her, much like Thoros had done Bill, and sobbed into her robes. When he calmed he explained that his mother had passed, and that he didnt get a chance to say goodbye.
He and Hermione had been odd little friends since, giving the other a shoulder when they needed it.
But in the present Theo fidgeted in the bed, fiddling with the loose threads of the blanket that laid over his legs.
"She was there for me when mother died… she became my friend," Theo whispered.
Thoros looked at the pair in silence, and he seemed to decide not to push any further. Instead, Thoros took a calming breathe, leaning back in his chair.
"It seems that the Dark Lord is pleased with your apparent— relationship—" Thoros said. He turned to Hermione, "and since the Dark Lord doesn't know who the father is, I assume you dont want him to know."
Hermione nodded, but did not respond, so the wizard continued.
"Who does know?"
Hermione darted out her tongue to wet her lips, "Harry, Ron, Molly Weasley, Luna Lovegood, and maybe Narcissa… I suspect Theo knows too."
Hermione turned her head towards the brunette in bed who nodded in the affirmative.
Of course Theo knew, she never his it from him.
"Then let me give you an offer," Thoros said, "you'll pretend to be with Theodore, and we use our house name to protect you."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, her eyebrow ticking. "What's in it for you?"
"The Dark Lord is obviously happy for Theodore to be at your side, which means that he'll keep Theo out of harms way. That is… if you want Theodore to not be killed once The Dark Lord finds out you lied," Thoros said casually though his eyes conveyed something completely different.
Hermione pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing into a glare, this gave Theo the opportunity to speak up, "Can we think about it?" He asked in a whisper.
Thoros gave a curt nod. Theo relaxed back against the headboard of his bed, giving Hermione an apologetic look.
Leave it to a Slytherin to guilt her into lying to the world.
Hermione glared harder, "Slytherin." She said.
Thoros simply shrugged.
The witch looked out the window, the forest suffocated by the darkness of the night. From somewhere deep in the trees, she spied a soft white glow. Then another. Then another.
Hermione stood abruptly, swaying slightly.
" , whats wrong?" Thoros asked, concerned. He turned to the window and his eyes widened in understanding.
Lumos. Hermione stared on as the lights got closer.
"Father?" Theo whispered.
They were here.
"I'll explain later, son."
Hermione went to the door and ripped it open. She walked as fast as she could, not wanting to frighten those she passed. Alas, her excitement was too much for her and she broke out into a run, stumbling when she stopped in front the intimating doors of Riddle's office. She pushed it open with shaky hands to find her grandfather in the middle of a meeting with Bellatrix, the Lestrange brothers, Dolovo, and a woman Hermione couldn't quite place.
"There're here," Hermione rushed out when Riddle's eyes met hers.
"Now?" Riddle asked, already advancing to the door.
Hermione nodded, almost lost in a daze. Riddle pulled on his robes, motioning for the Death Eaters to follow. Hermione watched them from her spot trying desperately to catch her breathe. Once she was capable of inhaling normal again she made her way to the front gates of the manor.
There, she found chaos of the best kind. Parents reuniting with their children, there cries of joy echoing in the night. A smile was brought to the witch's face when all the first years were wearing handmade Weasley sweaters.
A total of 30 children escorted by seven Aurors. It certainly was not an easy task.
In the distance she spotted Kingsley, his deep purple robes making him a beacon amongst the black of the Death Eaters. He was over looking the madness, his watchful eye ensuring that they were safe where they were.
Constant vigilance, afterall.
"Kingsley!" Hermione called, cupping her hands to her mouth.
The wizard looked in her direction, a friendly smile tugging at his lips. Hermione ran over to him not caring about how the leaves and twigs beneath her feet dug into her soles.
"Hermione," Kingsley laughed when the witch pulled him into a hug, "it's been a long time."
Hermione nodded wordlessly, her eyes shining. "I was so worried," she said, "you didn't come." The black wizards eyes darkened and Hermione's smile fell. "Who?" she choked out.
"Xenophilus Lovegood," Kingsley whispered, "Luna disappeared right after… we cant find her."
Hermione shook her head, "Oh Luna."
The older wizard reached into his robes, his eyes darting to find no one around. "She left something for you…" He said, pulling out a small stack of letters bound together by a red string. "She left us a note saying that these are yours but… I recognize the hand writing…"
Hermione was only partially listening, her focus on the letters. She itched to rip them out of his hands. Did he know what he was holding?
"Hermione, what are you doing communicating with the Minister of Bolivia? Minster of the MACUSA?" Kingsley's words came in a whisper, "These are powerful people."
Hermione reached for the letters, pulling them from the Auror's grip. She hid the stack in her dress, here heart pounding in her ears.
"Do you think I dont know that Kingsley?" Hermione asked, "Need I remind you who I am?"
Kingsley swallowed thickly. He backed away, straightening himself.
Riddle approached them then, explaining that they had put together care packages for the Weasley Matriarch to help her support the rest of the children slowly moving into her care.
The Auror accepted the packages eagerly with no hesitation and Hermione knew then that everything was worse off than she had anticipated.
She was going to skin Harry and Ron for lying to her.
Hermione watched the Aurors leave, and before Kingsley vanished into the night, he gave her a slow curt nod. He trusted her.
But then again, did he truly have another choice?
The letters burned against her skin and Hermione smiled.