Chapter 14

A month later – Severus's POV

I took out my wand when Potter appeared and said 'Expecto Patronum.' A doe appeared before me and looked at me waiting for her orders. 'Show him the sword.' I said softly and watched as it glided towards Potter and circled him for a moment before gliding towards the frozen lake where the sword had landed after I'd stolen it from Bellatrix's vault.

I followed at a distance to make sure the snatchers wouldn't get wind of Potter being in the vicinity. I watched him approach the lake and kick the snow from the surface. Then I watched as the idiot boy punched a hole in the ice and then began stripping down to his boxers.

'You dunderheaded, pompous brat! Are you not a wizard?' I thought as he plunged into the subfreezing water. I was going to give him exactly 3 minutes and then go in after him if he didn't surface. I watched as a red headed young man in the form of Weasley suddenly appeared out of nowhere and dove into the lake after Potter.

I watched both of them surface and Weasley pulled Potter out of the lake, reached for his wand to dry Potter off, and hopefully reverse any signs of hypothermia. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief as Weasley threw his coat over Potter and started to drag him back to where Hermione had set wards around their campsite.

I watched as she met them and stood in awe at how beautiful she looked. Her belly was only slightly curved now. Her hair was longer and lighter now, having spent a month searching for the Dark Lord's horcruxes, her face was a mask of concern as she held her wand tightly in her right hand and looked Potter over before ushering the boys through the wards where there was a tent waiting, for that I was sure.

I watched her look around for a moment and held my breath as her eyes landed on the tree I was hiding behind. She shook her head and disappeared behind the wards and I allowed myself to breathe again. I slowly eased myself from behind the tree and then turned on the spot and disappeared with an inaudible pop.

Hermione's POV – a week later

I stood shivering near the Hog's head, a black cloak draped upon my shoulders; my hood was drawn up over my head, hiding my face from view. 'Come on Ginny.' I said as I watched students pass by me without a second glance. I ducked my head a little bit more when Lavender Brown passed by with the Patil twins in tow.

I spun in a circle with my wand at the ready when someone grabbed my shoulder. I relaxed my posture when I saw it was Ginny smiling back at me. 'You can still back out of this.' I said. 'If this means protecting you and your baby, I'll do this.' She said hugging me. I handed her a vial and a bag with hair from my last haircut in it. 'I was able to modify the potion to last more than an hour. It lasts about 12 hours now.' I said as she took the items from me.

I hugged her. 'Be careful and look after the boys. I'd never forgive myself if anything happens to them or you.' I said hugging her tightly. 'Hermione, you're getting emotional. I promise I'll look after them.' She said before downing the potion. I watched, as she became my body double and drew her hood over her head. 'Here's the last place I left the boys.' I said giving her a piece of paper. 'Be careful.' She said before turning on the spot and disappearing with a soft pop.

I looked at the spot for a moment before turning on the spot myself and disappearing.

I appeared outside a small manor seconds later and looked around before crossing the street and opening the door and entering the dwelling. I jumped and spun around with my wand at the ready as I heard footsteps. 'Cissy, it's only you.' I said as I lowered my wand. She nodded. I took off my cloak and hung it up on the peg near the door.

'What is this place?' I asked as I looked around. 'This is Spinner's End. It belongs to a very dear friend of mine who has no use of it at present time. Make yourself at home 'Mione and I'll make us some tea.' She said as I sank into a chair near the roaring fire and held my hands out to try to defrost them. I looked up when she came back and handed me a cup of tea. I took it gratefully and sipped it slowly. 'I take it everything went well?' She asked as she blew on her tea.

I nodded. 'She took the potion and caught up with Harry and Ron.' I said quietly as I placed a hand on my belly. 'I know you wanted to stay with the boys Hermione, but you have your child to think about now. It wasn't safe for it. Plus it would be hard to explain all that weight gain.' She said. 'It is logical but I can't help be feel helpless.' I said sadly thinking about Ron, Harry and Ginny out there hunting for Horcruxes.

'Stop worrying about it Hermione. There's nothing we can do about it now. What's done is done and all you can do is drop hints here and there and hope they understand.' She said putting her tea cup on the silver tray and sitting back.

'Has the Dark Lord said anything about my absence? Surely word has gotten back to him that I took off with Harry and Ron.' I said suddenly fearful of what might happen if I decided to risk my child's and my life to go back to the Dark Lord. 'He was understandably upset when he found out. Even more so, when Alecto told him about the baby but Severus was able to pacify him with some of Lucius' help. The Dark Lord does not know you are here and will not know until you are about to give birth. I said I will protect you Hermione and I am.' Cissy said.

'I'm scared Cissy. What if the baby looks exactly like Severus and the Dark Lord finds out? I could be killed along with my baby and Severus.' I said. 'Bella and I would never let that happen Hermione. We made a promise. We'll keep you and the baby safe even if it means death for Bella and me.' She said getting up and taking the tea set back to the kitchen. I stood and followed her. 'Everything will be alright, my dear. You'll see. Now lets get you settled in your rooms.' She said taking my hand and leading me up the stairs.

She stopped in front of the second to last door at the end of the hall and pushed the door open. I took in the deep cherry wood of the dresser and bed. Heavy green velvet drapes hung from the sides of the bed and the windows. I took in the king size bed and sighed before going to lay down on it. 'Rest Hermione.' Cissy said as she flicked her wand towards the curtains and they closed.

2 weeks later

I fell to my knees around mid-morning and screamed. My left arm felt like someone was cutting into it. I lifted my hand to see that someone had carved 'Mud' into Ginny's arm which in turn carved into mine. Cissy kneeled beside me and held me as 'blood' was carved into my arm.

'Why did I add that incantation to the potion?' I thought as I pressed a wet rag to my arm. I could imagine the pain that Ginny was in seeing as I was experiencing it myself. I breathed deeply as I felt tremors run throughout my body.

Cissy looked at me with worried eyes as I laid on my side on the floor. 'Are you okay?' She asked. I shook my head. 'She's been captured and is being tortured. That's why 'Mudblood' carved into my arm.' I said quietly. She nodded. 'I know.' She said. I looked up at her. 'Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you give me time to prepare myself?' I asked.

'I only just found out moments before you did.' She said defensively. I sighed as more tremors went through my body. There was nothing to do but wait. It wasn't as if I could march in to Malfoy Manor and demand my own release.

Ginny's POV

I screamed as another cruciatus hit me in the chest. 'I didn't steal it! I swear I don't know what you are talking about!' I screamed. Hermione's brown hair was in my face and I could feel my arm bleeding. I had heard Bellatrix apologize repeatedly under her breath when she'd dragged her knife through my skin and carved 'mudblood' into my forearm.

'The sword of Gryffindor is missing from my vault mudblood and it was in your possession when they found you. Would you care to explain?' She said. 'I don't know!' I spat. I heard a sharp crack and saw Dobby the house elf standing near me with Harry and Ron.

He snapped his fingers and a knife appeared and flew straight at Bellatrix. She dodged it just barely and snarled at Dobby. 'You stupid elf! You could have killed me!' She cried as she pulled out her own knife and held it in her left hand and her wand in her right. 'Dobby never meant to kill! Dobby only meant to maim, or seriously injure!' Dobby cried as Harry, Luna, Ron and I grabbed hold on him as she flung her knife at Dobby as he disapparated us.

We appeared at Bill and Fleur's beach side cottage and I smiled for the first time since the Snatchers had gotten ahold of us. 'Dobby?' Harry said worriedly. I turned to see Dobby clutching his chest where Bellatrix's knife was protruding. 'Dobby, please don't die.' Harry said as he attempted to heal Dobby. 'What a beautiful place to be….with friends.' Dobby said with a smile before taking his last breath.

I turned into Ron's chest and sobbed. I didn't see Luna shut Dobby's eyes or Harry's face as he lifted Dobby's body. 'I want to bury him. Properly, without magic.' He said as he carried Dobby to the hill and kneeled. Ron, Luna and I helped him dig a hole for Dobby to burying him. I watched as Harry carved 'Here lies Dobby, a free house elf' into a rock and placed it over the turned earth.

I wiped my tears away and looked to the sea. My arm stung and my body shook with slight tremors. Ron wrapped his arm around me and led me down to the cottage where we could hide out for a few days. I could only wonder how Hermione would take the news when she found out that Bellatrix had killed Dobby.