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One thing Hermione Granger hated about living at the Burrow with the Weasleys was the lack of personal space. It was something that, at first she had missed, but now that she was closer to her due date, she was slowly starting to loathe the idea of not being do things on her own without the accompaniment of the other inhabitants at the Burrow.
Hermione sighed in irritation from where she sat on her bed as she listened to Lavender Brown have her third emotional breakdown that morning.
"For Merlins sake Ginerva! You had one job! I asked you to tell Madam Malkins French Rose not Rose Bon Bon. How could you get those two colors mixed up?!" Lavender shouted pacing floor of Hermione and Ginny's shared room.
Hermione glanced nervously at Ginny who stood in front of Lavender with her arms crossed and lips thinned in anger. She knew she had to say something before her friend throttled the pregnant blonde.
"Brown, it is much too late to be crying over spilled milk. Besides the color of the dresses look similar to the French Rose that you wanted, I'm sure we'll be the only ones to know the difference," Hermione tried to reason with Lavender.
Lavender scoffed and turned to face Hermione.
"Of course, YOU of all people would say something like that! You haven't even had a proper wedding so why are you even here trying to assist?! You're trying to get closer to Ron, aren't you?!" Lavender screeched in Hermione's ear.
Hermione gawked astounded for a moment before glaring coldy at what the worked up pregnant blonde in front of her just said.
"What did you just say?" There was a shift in the air that caused both Ginny and Lavender to shiver in discomfort. Lavender still worked up, placed both hand on her hips and glared back at Hermione ready to give the curly haired brunette a piece of her mind, finally.
"Alright ladies let's just try to get through the rest of this afternoon without—" Ginny's attempt to intervene was interrupted by Lavenders shouts.
"—I saw you the past few days, always trying to talk to Ron in private or trying to hug or trying to touch him. Just because your filthy snatching rapist of husband isn't here to fuck you doesn't mean you should try to steal mine!"
Hermione's face pulled into a scowl and Ginny's mouth dropped open as they both listened to Lavender attempt to put Hermione into her place.
Lavender!" Ginny exclaimed in disbelief that she would say something so rude.
Lavender glanced at Ginny before turning back her attention to Hermione.
"Yeah, I know all about your false marriage and the little bastard you are carrying."
She pulled her wand the was hidden in the sleeve of her sweater out, pointing the tip towards the blonde idiot in front of her before casting a quick 'Silencio'.
"You have some nerve to speak to me like that you dirty slag!" Hermione moved closer to Lavender, her index finger pointing accusingly at the blonde, "Have you really convinced yourself that Ronald is in love you? That he wants to marry you?"
Hermione watched as tears began to glisten in Lavenders eyes from her words, but she couldn't stop the truth from tumbling out of her mouth. She needed to put the bitch in her place.
Get it through your thick skull Brown, Ronald and I are just friends! Yes, there was a time where we tried to establish a romantic relationship but it obviously didn't work out and it will never happen because of this baby who will be entering this world in a few weeks." Hermione paused for a moment to think of a proper explanation for what she was going to say next.
"As much as I may hate being bonded to him, at least the snatcher willingly wanted to be with me. Ron doesn't love you and probably never will. Everyone knows he is only with you because he has no choice but to take responsibility for that baby you are carrying. So, if you so much as mention my marriage bond, my son, or any of my personal business again Merlin so help me I will hex you into oblivion!"
. If he hadn't gotten you pregnant that night you wouldn't even be standing here in front of me in fact you wouldn't have any bridesmaid dresses to be crying over. With that being said, I don't want to hear anything negative about me or my baby or even the snatcher who knocked me up. Understood?" Lavenders glare faltered by the time Hermione finished ranting. She took a step back when Hermione stepped towards her menacingly and nodded stiffly in understanding.
Brown watched as the heavily pregnant Hermione Granger stalked out of her shared bedroom not caring when the door slammed loudly behind her.
Lavender let out a relieved sigh only to realize the curly haired witch didn't release the silencing spell on her.
She looked to Ginny for help, but Ginny simply shook her head as she moved towards the bedroom door Hermione walked out of a moment before.
"You set yourself up for that one brown. See you in an hour?" Ginny ignored the girls' frantic antics to get her attention and walked out of her room with a smirk before shutting the door close.
Scabior was five when he'd made his first kill.
His father had shoved a bow and arrow into his small trembling hands and forced him to kill the doe that had been foraging with her young near the encampment they lived in.
His father had been making him practice his archery on carefully placed apples, Scabior would often miss his target thus resulting in beatings that left bruises all over his body. His father would tell him that when the time came, he'd better not miss his target or he would end up on the wrong side of the arrow.
After all the practices, the time finally came for him to kill a doe. Scabior made the mistake of looking into the animals innocent eyes. He couldn't kill the doe not in front of its child in fact he couldn't kill it at all.
He remembered dropping his weapon onto the forest ground startling the doe and the fawn. Before the Doe and fawn could run away, Scabior's father quickly shot two arrows from his bow, each landing in the doe and the fawn.
Scabior could remember bawling as his father had beat him black and blue that day but it wasn't only because of the pain from his father's large fists.
He cried for the innocent deer who had their lives taken away from them because a cruel and lowly human being. He cried even harder when he realized it was his own fault they had died. At five years old he understood that weakness can cause pain to not just one person but to others who didn't deserve an ounce of it.
There were many things that could annoy Alexandru Orion "Scabior" Dimitriu. Overly talkative people, loud music, and drunkards to name a few.
Things that could actually piss Scabior off to the point where he wanted to Crucio or Avada someone were: liars, threats, and ignorance.
That is why he was currently sitting at the bar of a shabby Irish pub called The Basilisks Dungeon, sipping warm firewhiskey, pretending he was uninterested in a very much interesting conversation between two ex-deatheaters.
Scabior had heard about old followers of the fallen Dark Lord banding together, growing stronger each day, to form a revolution that will overthrow the Ministry once more.
Normally Scabior wouldn't give a rat's arse about Ex-Death Eaters who were trying to revive a lost cause. In fact, he was going to remain in hiding from the Aurors until the Ministry fell back into the shambles it was after the Battle at Hogwarts. He changed his mind almost immediately when word had gotten to him that this group of Death Eater scum was going to revolt and attack the Wedding of the war hero's Ronald Weasley and his skanky fiance, Lavender Brown whom Scabior had bargained with at one point in time.
He'd heard that Ministry officials, as well as those who helped bring down Voldemort, were all going to be in attendance. This meant, his pregnant witch would be attending and would thus be in grave danger.
Scabior couldn't, he wouldn't, let anything happen to Hermione Granger and his unborn son. He needed to see her so he could warn her of what was happening.
That is why he downed the last of his Firewhiskey and maneuvered himself to the two ex-Death Eaters speaking softly among themselves in the far corner of the pub.
A plan formulating in his head to get as close to his witch as possible and safely get her far away from the Burrow.
Hermione made her way down to the bustling kitchen, muttering foul words to decribe Lavender Brown under her breath along the way. She took a deep breathe to calm herself knowing that stress could effect the baby. Deciding to make some chamomile tea she reached into the cupboard and grabbed a small mug. She had just put the kettle on the stove to boil when she gasped suddenly the warm rush of the bond. She could see the familiar interior of the leaky cauldron probably in a more secluded area of the inn. ,
Hermione blinked as she realized she was still standing in the Weasley's kitchen before she understood what had just occurred. Scabior was finally responding through the bond and he wanted to meet.
She quickly grabbed her winter jacket from the coat stand near the kitchen door, rushed towards the fireplace in the living room and floo'd to the Leaky Cauldron before anyone could stop and question her.
She dusted the soot off her coat as she stepped out of the fireplace and was immediately greeted warmly by Tom, the leaky Cauldron's landlord and barkeep.
Tom glanced down at her large baby bump before smiling up at her, "Ah! Ms. Granger, what a lovely surprise. I assume you will not be sitting at the bar today?" Tom laughed at his own sense of humor.
Hermione felt her anger from earlier melt away at the warmth from Tom's demeanor.
She gave him a small, polite smile and shook her head.
"No, Tom. I am however meeting an…old aquaintance. He mentioned meeting me in a less crowded part of the pub," Hermione mentioned as she glanced around the crowded pub warily hoping that no one she knew would notice her there. She didn't need word getting back to her friends knowing that she was meeting the man who not only worked for Voldermort but also forced himself into her life in more ways than one.
Tom wasn't surprised by her request or the familiar wary expression on her face and simply nodded his head in understanding.
"Ah! Indeed, follow me this way Ms. Granger." As she followed Tom to the back to the Inn, Hermione noticed how it transitioned of light and boisterous atmosphere to slightly dull and quiet.
The noise level gradually lowered as Tom lead her to a small, private table at the back of the pub. Hermione spotted Scabior nursing a mug full of tea
"Here you are Ms. Granger. Would you like something to drink or eat?" Tom asked as he helped Hermione out of her coat and pulled her chair out for her.
Hermione nodded and thanked Tom as she sat down and was scooted the chair closer the table.
"Chamomile tea with two teaspoons of sugar would suffice Tom, thank you." She sent him a small smile that he returned.
Tom nodded and magically sent her coat to hang up on a nearby coat rack as he went to fetch her a cup of chamomile tea.
Hermione watched him walk away until he was far enough. She shifted in her seat until she was comfortable, placing a hand on her large baby bump. Her breath hitched slightly when she finally looked across the table to find Scabiors' blue eyes already watching her intensely.
She wondered how long he'd been watching her. Ignoring the unnerved feeling as he quietly glanced over her, she chose to observe him as well.
He didn't look that different from the last time she saw him. He still wore the same leather jacket and plaid pants. A red streak in his matter long hair. The stag ring that she always wondered about glinted in the few rays of sunshine when he moved to cross his arms over his chest.
She moved her eyes up to his face to find that him smirking lightly at her.
"Loving the view beau'iful? Cause I know I love mine," Scabior flirted giving her body a once over, holding his gaze longer at her midsection, before returning her gaze.
Hermione gave him a pressed look and opened her mouth to respond when Tom walked up and placed steaming cup of chamomile tea on the table in front of her.
"Here you are Ms. Granger! Let me know if you would like anything else," Tom gave her a warm smile.
"This will do just fine Tom. Thank you," Hermione gave him another warm smile that was reciprocated by the barkeep. Tom turned to Scabior and gave him a polite nod, who nodded back, before leaving them alone to talk.
Scabior waited until Tom pushed his way out of the swinging doors to speak again.
"You've been trying to contact me for quite a while lovely. Sorry Ive been busy keeping a low profile from a few mutual friends of ours." Scabior informed her, as if she hadn't known that tidbit of information.
Hermione rolled her eyes and scoffed before grabbing the steaming cup of tea and taking a small, tentative sip. She hummed softly, relishing the taste of one of her favorite floral teas for a moment before placing the tea cup onto the table.
"As though hiding from Harry would ever stop you from contacting me. There has to be more that you are not telling me? Why exactly did you want to meet me so suddenly and here of all places" Hermione watched Scabior as she spoke so she wouldn't miss a single reaction. There it was even if it was a second, the look of worry and stress before he covered it up again with his normal mask of indifference.
That look had Hermione slightly worried herself because the ex-snatcher was hardly ever worried about anything with all the trick up his sleeve.
" I needed a place that was in plain sight but good enough for us to meet without too many prying eyes."
Scabior uncrossed his arms and leaned forwards bracing his forearms on the table.
He looked away from her for a moment, debating on what he should tell her before turning to look her directly in her eyes.
"After the Dark Lord died, many of his followers have been captured, killed, or are in hiding like me. Being a Snatcher an' all tha' I heard word that there were some Death Eaters gathering in somewhere in Ireland, building an army to create a revolution. So, I found my way into a pub where they held their meetings and went undercover. I needed to figure out what their motives are and whether or not they are harmful."
It was shocking news to say the least. She had heard nothing of a Death Eater uprising currently in the works. Harry would've have at least mentioned it to her and the Weasley's if there were such a thing happening. Even if it really were true, why would Scabior risk getting caught by Aurors just to find out some information?
Hermione frowned," If this Revolt is going to happen, why would you place yourself in that situation? What if the Aurors had caught wind of this and captured you?"
Scabior gave her a mirthless smile
"Because beau'iful, I care too much about you and the baby," Scabior caught her confused gaze and sighed," That friend of yours, the one that makes poor decisions. He still marrying that blonde twit Christmas Eve?"
Hermione glared at him for insulting her friend despite there being some truth to his words.
"Why do you ask?" She questioned him, suspicion lacing through her words.
Scabior rolled his eyes at this.
"Because, love, I'm only concerned about two things: you and our son. They plan to attack you lot that day at the wedding, possibly at the reception. They know how close you all are with each other. They know that you had plenty to do the downfall of the Dark Lord. They know if they want to get to Harry Potter that will be the best place and time, you and everyone else who had a hand in the demise of the Dark lord will be there. I had to see you in person so they wouldn't be able to see who I am married to. The last thing I need is to lead them right to my family.
Hermione froze at his words. Family? He considered her as his family? The baby she could understandseeing as they were flesh and blood but her? Had he cared about her that much? He barely knew her, just as she barely knew anything about him other than his family history.
She let out a shaky breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and met Scabiors curious but knowing gaze.
"W-what makes you think that I want to be any part of your family? Sure, we may have mutual blood relative," She gestured to her large baby bump," but no we are not a family. For Merlins sake Scabior, you raped me, impregnated me, kidnapped me, abused me, forced a bond that lasts for the rest of our lives unto me, and now you just expect me to just have a family with you. I wanted to be the one to decide when I wanted to get married and have children and with whom.
Scabior's face had darkened with anger, something Hermione hadn't seen in a long time.
He spoke through gritted teeth," D'ya want to know the truth 'ermione? I am a selfish bastard. When I first saw you the forest that night I was just going to turn you into the ministry for a couple of Galleons. But you had so much fire in your eyes, so much life, so much hope, I just- I couldn't help myself. I was intrigued by you and how much you were ready to fight me just to protect what was yours.
Hermione turned away from his intense gaze, a blush crept up onto her cheeks as she understood what he meant.
He continued as though he hadn't noticed her.
" I wanted to be the one to put that fire out, to suck the life from you, to take away the last dregs of hope you held in your heart. So, I fucked you against a tree that night and watched as the flames in your eyes died down. Anyway, knew I would be able to find you again after that night. I couldn't get you out of my head even during the battle at Hogwarts, I knew you would be there fighting to protect those you love. Remember when I told you about me being able to get all sort of information?"
Hermione nodded stiffly. She had a feeling she wouldn't like what he was going to say next and boy, was she right.
"Right, well, I figured out what you lot were hunting while you were camping in those woods. I did a bit of research and tested it for myself.
Hermione's felt her eyes widened in shock. He couldn't possibly mean—
Scabior gave her a dark smile," Indeed, beau'iful. Anyone who worked close enough with the dark lord could see that even he had doubts about our side winning the war. Just before the battle began I managed to create a Horcrux for myself, just in case things didn't go quite as planned with the Dark Lord and I was correct. After tha' Longbottom kid destroyed the bridge, my comrades and I fell to our death at the bottom of the Chasm. I was the only one to make it out of there alive. Albeit, very broken and battered but very much alive."
Hermione stared at him I both horror and disbelief. In order to make a horcrux he would've had to willingly kill someone. After all he had done to her she shouldn't be surprised he had killed someone but albeit, here she was shocked that he would do such a horrendous thing just to create a horcrux.
"Aw, don't look at me like tha' beau'iful. I did it to preserve myself," He told her staring down into the glass of water on the table all while fingering the Stag ring on his hand.
Hermione's eyes dropped down to where the stag ring resided on is left hand. It took her a few moment to realize it but when she did she gasped in shock.
" No," she breathed out,"Thats where you put it? In the ring? What is its significance to you?"
Scabior paused his movements not glancing up at Hermione. Flashbacks to the past the made him the person he is flit through his mind. Scabior was not always this mad man who made impulsive decisions based on his emotions.
The abuse, the poverty, the struggle to fit into society, everything that happened with his mother, Askaban, and all the murders and assaults he commited.
They were the reasons he shielded himself emotionally from that of the cruel world.
" It's a reminder of the wizard I once was. Of what I had to go through to become the wizard I am today."
He hated himself.
Hey everyone! Sorry for this super late chapter update. I ended up getting a job like right after i posted the previous Author Note. I admit, I had many chances to post but I've been so tired I haven't really felt like writing or typing. So forgive me. Anywho, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, though it is quite short. No promises on the next update but hang in there with me. The story only has a few more chapters before it is finished. For those of you who also like my other story "The Beast Within" I will def update soon. Love you guys!
-Dani