A/N: Hey all… well thanks for the reviews and enough dilly dally! Onto the story!
DISCLAIMER: Only the plot.
Chapter NineHermione entered the Great Hall the next morning making sure to avoid Draco's longing look. She sat next to Ginny who gave her a quizzical look. Hermione shook her head plainly saying not now, but one look at the food sent Hermione standing and running out of the Great Hall for the nearest bathroom.
She ran into the first girl's bathroom and slammed the cubicle door shut behind her before kneeling to the ground and vomiting into the bowl.
"I hate morning sickness," muttered Hermione kneeling back and grabbing some toilet paper to wipe her mouth.
"It passes, vell I hope it does for you," came a familiar French mingling with the English accent voice.
Hermione flushed the toilet throwing the toilet paper in and exited to see Fleur examining her self in the mirror. Fleur's stomach was rounded slightly and it seemed pregnancy suited her perfectly.
"How far along are you now?" asked Hermione before washing her face in the sink.
"Four months now. I am due in October. What about you?"
Hermione wiped her face dry with paper hand towel and sighed, "Only one month and a few days. I am just hoping I get past the three months."
"So do I," said Fleur warmly, "Be positive and anything can and vill happen."
Hermione smiled and allowed Fleur to give her a reassuring hug.
"Just think about it like this," said Fleur as they walked out of the bathroom, "Our children can grow up together. I already know I am having a little girl."
Hermione grinned at Fleur, "That's wonderful! Have you decided on a name?"
Fleur nodded, "Elizabeth Molly Weasley. I let Bill choose zee name. I think it is beautiful and am sure Molly vill have liked it."
"It is a lovely name," smiled Hermione, "I want to name my children after my parents. If I have a girl I'd like the name to be Kathleen and a boy it would have to be Matthew."
Fleur smiled, "I like them. Oh, hello Ginny."
Ginny gave Fleur a tight smile and looked at Hermione, "Can I have a word with you… please?"
Hermione nodded and said goodbye to Fleur before taking a walk outside the castle with Ginny.
"So, do you care to explain what is up with you and Draco?" asked Ginny giving Hermione a curious look.
"He kept a really important secret from me and I found out from Lucius. I found out exactly why he is the key to defeating Lucius in the war," said Hermione a tone of anger in her voice.
"What is it?"
Hermione stopped walking with Ginny and looked around for any people who could be listening. Finding no one she looked at Ginny, "Draco has dark magic running through his veins. Look before you say so did He-Who-Must-Never-Be-Named, this is different. This magic passes through the blood of the father. And with every generation it grows stronger. That is why Draco's whole being changes some times. It's him trying to control this dark force within him. If I am pregnant with his child, my baby will have this dark magic and it will be a powerful child, possibly an evil child."
Ginny looked at Hermione with her mouth open in shock before closing it and shaking her head in surprise, "And he didn't tell you? No wonder you refuse to talk to him."
Hermione nodded and looked at the castle, "I don't even know if I want this child to be his. I love him Ginny… Merlin I do, but I don't know if I am strong enough to handle him dealing with his dark magic."
"Is there a way to get rid of it?" asked Ginny.
Hermione shrugged, "I have no idea… maybe I should see what I can find in the library. But Narcissa might know something."
"Let's go find out."
HD
Narcissa let out a sigh as Draco finished telling his mother about his and Hermione's confrontation the night before. Narcissa stood from her seat and walked over to the window seeing Hermione talking with Ginny.
"You should have said something to her before now, Draco," said Narcissa softly; "I wouldn't blame Hermione if she began hoping the baby wasn't yours."
Draco looked at his mother in surprise, "Hermione would never think that. Why would she want Oliver Wood's baby?"
"Why would she want your baby knowing what is going to happen?"
Draco fell silent then let out an angry breath, "It's not like I can help being who I am! Does she honestly believe I want to be cursed with dark magic?"
"Draco, quit being obsessed with yourself and think about Hermione!" snapped Narcissa, "Twice you have teamed up with your father before coming to your senses, even I have doubted your loyalty this time around and that is something I shouldn't have to do."
"Than don't because I am loyal to the Order, to you and Hermione… and the baby, even if it isn't mine."
Narcissa glanced out the window seeing Hermione and Ginny walking across the grounds to the castle.
"She does love you. I see the looks she gives you. But right now I think she is deciding on what is best for her and the baby."
"But I want to be with her."
"I know darling, I know. But Hermione has been through a lot in her life."
Draco sat down on Narcissa's bed and looked down at his hands, "Can I make it go away?"
Narcissa nodded biting her lip, "You… you have to kill the source that started the dark magic."
"Lucius."
"Yes, but spells won't work. He needs to be mortally killed."
Draco frowned, "With one of those weird muggle contraptions that make a banging noise?"
"One of those or a sword."
Draco fell silent, "A sword sounds better. Least I know how to use it."
Narcissa nodded and fell silent also before a knock came at the door. Narcissa stood and walked across the room. She opened the door and smiled at who it was, "Come in Hermione, Ginny."
Draco looked up at Hermione as she walked in. Ginny came in behind her and shut the door ignoring Draco's presence.
"I need to know something," said Hermione glancing at Draco before looking at Narcissa, "I need to know if there is a way to make the dark magic go away."
Narcissa looked at Draco proving that Hermione was thinking for her self and the baby. Draco stood and left not wanting to listen to any more. He was angry and frustrated. Angry at his father, angry with Hermione along with being frustrated at her.
He walked down the corridor and up a flight of stairs to the astronomy tower. He leant against the windowsill and stared out at the lake in silence.
"So, Lucius can only be killed the mortal way."
Draco ignored the voice and brown haired woman to sat on the windowsill beside him.
"Look, I don't see why I have to apologize to you," she said in a snappish manner, "I had every right to be angry with you. How would you feel if I kept a secret like that from you and you found out from someone else about it? You would be angry, hurt and feel like you were betrayed!"
"What did you expect me to do? Walk up to you and be like, 'Oh hey Hermione did you know I have dark magic in me?' I only found out last night that it could affect the child if it is mine!"
"You still should have told me, Draco!" screamed Hermione standing up and looking at him with crossed arms, "You really have hurt me."
"I never intended to do that," he said softly finally looking at her to see tears falling down her red cheeks, "I'm sorry."
Hermione nodded and turned to leave but Draco's next question stopped her from moving.
"Do you still want the child to be mine?"
Hermione turned around and looked at him calmly, "At the moment… I don't know."
"But I can end the dark magic. I have to kill Lucius."
"And what if you don't Draco? What if he kills you instead?"
"He won't."
"You can't be sure of that. No one can. Merlin damn it! I lost you once, you can't expect me to go through it all again, can you?"
Draco stood and walked over to Hermione grabbing her by the shoulders, "I am not going anywhere. I swear it on… on Dumbledore's grave. You won't loose me at all."
Hermione looked down from Draco and at her feet. Finally she hugged him tightly with him doing the same. Hermione stepped back and looked at Draco seriously.
"Can you use a sword?" she asked.
"I trained in sword fighting from seven years right up till I was sixteen."
Hermione nodded, "Right well, you should go practice in the room of requirements. You might be a bit rusty."
Draco nodded but before leaving he kissed Hermione passionately, leaving her breathless and a bit lightheaded with a wave of happiness.
HD
"Are you sure coming back here is safe?" asked Pansy as Lucius placed the viewing glass on the mantel above the fireplace.
"It is the only place we have that will tell us of an intruder. Your Grandmother obviously enjoyed having night visitors and escapees," snapped Lucius in anger before looking at Pansy angrily, "I on the other hand, don't."
Pansy shrugged and sat down on one of the lounges with her long legs hanging over the side, "My Grandmother slept around. How else was she meant to have visitors coming in unnoticed?"
Lucius grunted and sat at his desk flicking through his calendar, "Hmm… Miss Granger is due around January if I am correct. Gives me plenty of time to organize things. The baby's room. No doubt Granger will need a room."
"Why?"
"Well she will want to be with the child, that is why," snapped Lucius.
"Well baby might not even be Draco's," snapped Pansy standing to walk out of the room.
"What is that meant to mean?"
Pansy stopped at the door way and turned to Lucius with a smirk on her face, "Well around that time, as you should know she was dating Oliver Wood and I know for a fact that she had sex with him… no need to ponder if she shagged Draco or not as soon as they got back together… so for all you know that child might not be your grandchild."
Pansy turned and left a stumped Lucius Malfoy behind to digest the new information that could put a complete stop to his plans.
HD
A week passed with Hermione getting used to her annoying morning sickness and Draco training hard in his sword fighting. By nightfall Draco would be exhausted and ready for bed. He did try to spend time with Hermione but wound up falling asleep.
Hermione sighed as she stood and placed a blanket over him. She slipped on her shoes and grabbed her purse. The past two nights an idea had been formulating in her mind. She slipped out of the room and walked along the corridor, her footsteps echoing around the silent corridor.
"Hermione, where are you going?"
Hermione froze on the spot and turned around smiling sweetly at Harry, "For a walk."
Harry frowned, "With your purse?"
"I… well… I'm going to muggle London."
Harry walked over to Hermione looking confused, "Why?"
"I need to get something from my parent's place."
"At this time of night?"
"I don't want to discuss it now. Can you just come with me? Please?"
"What's going on?" came a hoarse voice.
Harry and Hermione looked up at Ron who jogged over to them with his wand lit up. It seemed like old times, whenever one went to do something dangerous the other's wound up catching them in the act or finding out. Naturally in the end the three wound up going as a trio.
"Hermione needs to go to her parent's place for something," said Harry softly.
"Why?" asked Ron frowning at Hermione.
"Can we just go now?" replied Hermione urgently, "I'll explain when I get back."
Harry and Ron nodded and walked with Hermione through the castle. The trio broke into a run as they raced for the school gates. Harry opened the gate and the three slipped out. After he locked it they apperated to Hermione's parents place.
Hermione flicked the entrance hall light on and walked past the staircase to the door hidden behind it.
"You know I looked at that door so many times," said Ron, "But I never asked what was behind it."
"My father's office," said Hermione opened it and walked in.
She switched the light on and everything looked the way it did the last time she was in the room, the day before she headed off for her final year at Hogwarts. Her father's paper work was in neat piles with photo's donning the wall, including pictures of Hermione dressed in her uniform without her cloak on. That way he could tell people she went to a very exclusive private school.
Hermione walked over to a filing cabinet. She knelt down to the bottom one and tapped her wand on the drawer unlocking it. She slid it open and moved aside a folder to reveal the black case with a box of bullets beside it.
Hermione pulled the case out and slid the lid off it and pulled out the nine-millimeter handgun. She heard Harry take in a sharp breath.
"What's that?" whispered Ron in awe.
Hermione placed the gun in its case and slid the lid shut. She grabbed the box of bullets and shut the filing cabinet draw. Standing up she avoided Harry's eye and walked out of the office. Once Ron and Harry walked out she locked the door shut.
"Let's get back," she said.
HD
"So," said Harry as they walked into the entrance hall of the castle, "Do you care to tell us why you have your father's gun?"
"A gun?" cried Ron in alarm, "That's one of those things that muggle's shoot each other with for fun?"
"They don't do it for fun, Ronald. What you saw on television was a paintball skirmish," replied Hermione with a sigh, "Draco… he has been cursed with dark magic. That's why he has those little… dark moments. Only his power is getting stronger. Lucius is cursed with it as well, only he obviously enjoys it. He is the source and if he isn't killed, Draco will not doubt live to have very dark days… and it might consume him. But if my baby is his… it will be cursed as well and I don't want that. To stop it Lucius has to be killed – a mortal way, spells are pointless against him. Even the death curse."
"So, you are going to shoot him?" asked Harry frowning.
"Draco is practicing sword fighting. He is very skilled at it but… if he doesn't kill him, I'm going to be there," said Hermione her eyes narrowing in determination, "And I'll shoot the bastard myself."
"Okay… here is a question though," said Harry, "Can you use the gun and does Draco have to be the one to kill Lucius?"
"Well, I went to gun handling lessons one summer holidays with my parents. Dad brought it for protection. So yes, I can shoot. And Narcissa only said he had to be killed a mortal way."
Harry nodded and Ron gave a shrug.
"Don't tell Draco though," said Hermione clutching the gun case and box of bullets tightly, "He'll only argue with me in disagreement."
"Well you are pregnant," pointed out Ron gently.
"That doesn't make me incapable of ensuring Draco lives," said Hermione before turning and heading up the entrance hall stairs.
"Real smooth Ron," sighed Harry walking up them with Ron.
"What?" he cried, "She is pregnant!"
HD
June arrived bringing the warmth of summer arriving. Students began their exams all excited about the school year coming to an end. Draco continued practicing his sword fighting and never found the hidden gun or bullets in Hermione's suitcase, although Hermione was constantly on guard about the weapon. Harry and Ron kept the gun a secret but once or twice questioned her about it.
As Hermione was heading to the Hospital Wing for a check up she ran into Harry and Ron.
"Morning," she said linking arms with them both in a sisterly manner, "How are you both?"
"Good," said Harry.
"Fine," replied Ron, "You?"
"Brilliant. Two months mark today. One more month and I can stop worrying so much."
"Where is Draco?"
"Sleeping in," said Hermione, "He is working himself hard to be ready for the battle. Has Lupin spoken about when that will be?"
Harry shook his head; "He is in planning a lot more often lately with Narcissa, Sirius, McGonagall and Arthur though. Moody and Kingsley are here more often as well."
"Say Hermione," spoke up Ron curiously, "I was wondering, if the child is Oliver's and not Draco's, do you still plan on shooting Lucius if Draco can't kill him?"
"Shoot Lucius?"
Hermione came to a halt with Harry and Ron. The trio turned around to see Draco looking at them curiously. Hermione's mouth opened and closed as Draco looked at her frowning.
Harry and Ron excused themselves and walked down the corridor till they were still in viewing distance but not hearing distance.
"What does Ron mean by shoot Lucius?" asked Draco.
"Umm… it's hard to explain," said Hermione fiddling with her hands.
"Than just explain it."
Hermione took a deep breath and looked out the window, not game to look Draco in the face, "A few weeks back when you fell asleep, I slipped out of the room to go back to my parents place to get something. Harry and Ron caught me and came with me. We got there and back."
"What did you get?"
"My father's gun and bullets."
Draco frowned in confusion.
"I got it just in case you don't kill Lucius… I'll shoot him."
"Wait… you got your father's killing firing thing?"
Hermione nodded and looked at Draco to see he was shaking his head – at her.
"So you don't think I can kill Lucius?"
"Yes I do think you can kill him! This is just a precautionary thing," explained Hermione grabbing Draco by the hands, "Believe me, I know you can kill him, but I am just being precautious because I want that bastard dead as much as you do."
Draco sighed and ran a hand over Hermione's cheek before leaning in and kissing her, "I know there is no point in arguing with you about not coming to the battle. You'll go anyway."
Hermione smiled softly, "You know me too well."
Draco kissed her again and stepped back, "Let's get to this appointment."
HD
Narcissa and Sirius laughed as they looked at the family album from when they were children. Sirius pointed to the one of him dressed in their grandmother's dress and bonnet while Narcissa was bounding around in a fairy costume.
"What on earth were you thinking?" cried Narcissa.
"I was dressing as a hag I think," replied Sirius thoughtfully, "You were trying to do a spell that would make you not related to me."
"Oh I remember… little cousins with crushes," nodded Narcissa, "Quite wrong indeed."
"Eh, we were young. Seven years later I was in Gryffindor and you were in Slytherin. We became people who acted like they didn't know each other."
"I will admit, I missed your company," said Narcissa, "But I was too stubborn to admit it aloud."
"Same," said Sirius looking at his cousin, "So… you and Arthur Weasley?"
"We are just friends Sirius. Unlike you and your fling with a certain red haired and green eyes lady."
"Which, I add was before James and Lily got together. I think someone spiked the punch that night."
Narcissa smiled, "James went looking everywhere for you that night. Him and Lupin grew quite worried until you turned up looking disheveled."
Sirius shrugged, "Teenagers do wild things."
Narcissa sighed, "I think I was scared to stand against our family. Only my grandmother knew of my secret ambitions. She told me to keep quiet until the time came. But you were out there and didn't care about the consequences."
"The past is the past, Narcissa," said Sirius softly, "The future is what counts."
Narcissa nodded and watched Sirius leave. He was right. The past was the past and the future is what counted. Narcissa flipped through the family album and looked at a picture of her and Bellatrix. The two were completely opposite. Narcissa was extremely different to all in her family, with her blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes. Her sister had tanned skin, dark hair and eyes, as did her mother and father. Narcissa bit her lip finding it odd, even after looking through the album a lot, the difference only just occurred to her.
She pulled the photo out and turned it over.
Bellatrix – four years, Narcissa – 1.5 years, two days after adoption.
Narcissa nearly dropped the photo in surprise but she forced herself to hold onto it as she walked to her bedroom door. She opened it and walked out nearly colliding with Sirius coming back to collect his forgotten cloak.
"Cousin!" he cried steadying her, "Narcissa, you look pale – more so than normal. What is it?"
"Sirius, I'm adopted," said Narcissa handing him the photo.
Sirius read the back and frowned, "This could be a joke. But we can write to the Ministry for your birth certificate and adoption certificate."
Narcissa nodded, "Yes do that. I'll sign the letter if you can write it for me."
HD
"All seems to be going well," said Pompfrey with a smile at Hermione, "I'll see you in one month. Than we can find out who the father is once and for all."
Hermione smiled, "Thanks," she hopped down from the bed and hugged Draco happily, "Stay positive."
Draco smiled, "So you want it to be mine?"
Hermione nodded at him and then gave him a small kiss, "Come on. Lunch is soon and I am starved. I feel like pancakes with tomato sauce. That sounds delish!"
Draco gave Hermione an odd look, "If you say so."
"I can't control the cravings. They just happen. My mum said when she was with me she always ate salt and vinegar chips with chocolate sauce and pickles."
"That is worse then pancakes and tomato sauce."
Hermione nodded as they entered the hall. The two sat down together as the food appeared. Hermione sighed in not seeing any pancakes but settled for hot chips with tomato sauce with a side of salad and some chicken.
"How are you going Hermione?" asked Fleur one hand on her rounding stomach.
"Good," nodded Hermione, "Two months along!"
Fleur grinned as she squirted salad dressing on her noodles. Hermione gave Draco a look as he turned away shaking his head.
"Get used to it," said Hermione, "You have seven months to go."
A/N: There you go. Another chapter with plot development and shock horror! Narcissa is adopted! I threw that in unexpectedly myself. Anyway, please review like good readers!
Until next time…
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