A low growl made its way up Draco's throat as he anxiously paced back and forth across his bedroom. He wasn't entirely sure what it was that was making him so anxious, but he just couldn't sit still. He had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach; some instinct that told him something wasn't right, but he couldn't put his finger on what. Something in his gut told him it had to do with Harry.

Draco pounded his fist against the wall in frustration. He knew that even if he figured out what the problem was, he wouldn't be able to go down to the Hamlet to see Harry until the sun had set. He needed to know that Harry was alright, but he was trapped within the fortress walls until dark. Again he threw his fist into the wall, hoping desperately that his wife was alright.
"Ron? What's wrong?" John asked as they rode through the wood, searching for something to kill for food.

"I . . .I don't know what's wrong." Ron replied, looking around. "I think . . .I think there's something wrong with Harry."

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron. Harry is fine. He's at home, safe and sound. The baby can't possibly be ready yet, and all the Hamleters are with him." John said.

"I know . . .but I can't shake this feeling that something's wrong." Ron said.

"Try not to think about it. We haven't caught a thing all day, and now we're falling behind." John stated, pointing ahead to where the rest of the hunters had ridden.

Ron nodded, not entirely convinced, "OK . . .then let's keep moving."

They rushed forward to catch up with the group, and continued through the wood. They searched the area, almost catching a few rabbits and a boar, but each animal got away. Ron found that he wasn't concentrating on the hunt at all; he couldn't get Harry out of his head. Something just wasn't right, but he couldn't figure out what.

"Ron! Kill it!" Someone shouted.

He looked around, spotting what they were talking about. A sow had been cornered within his range. Snapping back to his senses, Ron quickly grabbed an arrow and set his bow. His hands were shaking terribly, and he found himself unable to aim. He fired, just barely grazing the sow's back.
"Damnit, Ron, get it!" John yelled.
Ron leapt off his mare and yanked his hunting knife out of its case as he approached the sow. He raised it up, prepared to strike the terrified animal. From the corner of his eye, he spotted her piglets curled up in fear against a tree and froze. Suddenly he put his knife away, and got back onto his mare.

"Ron! Where are you going?" Someone else called after him as he began to ride away.

"Harry needs me!" He called back.

He ignored everyone else as they tried to stop him; he wasn't going to stop until he knew Harry was safe. He rushed back to the Hamlet and jumped off his mare as soon as he reached his cottage, running inside.

"Harry! Harry, where are you?" He shouted.

He ran into the bedroom, and froze in utter shock. Harry was sobbing, bound to the bed, his trousers torn off and wearing nothing but his shirt, surrounded by half of the Hamlets men.

"W-what . . .what the hell is going on here?" He stuttered.

"Ron! They're going to kill the baby!" Harry cried, struggling against his restraints.

"Keep him quiet!" Blaize yelled. Someone stepped forward and wrapped a cloth around Harry's mouth, muffling his cries.

"What do you think you're doing? Get away from him!" Ron shouted, rushing over to the bound man.

They grabbed him by his arms, preventing him from getting to Harry.

"Ron, don't you understand? That child will destroy us all. This is for the good of the Hamlet!" Dolores exclaimed.

"You think murder is good for this Hamlet? What's wrong with you people!" Ron shouted, trying to break free.
"It's not murder, Ron. We're only killing the demon's child. We're not going to kill Harry, just the baby." Blaize said. "We're saving ourselves, and you as well."

"You're not saving anybody! You fucking cowards are just scared of any change!" Ron yelled, finally breaking they're grip on him and reaching Harry.

"It's OK, Harry. It's going to be alright." He said, trying to untie him.

He was pulled away and thrown to the floor before he could get a single knot undone. Ron got back to his feet, immediately trying to get back to Harry. Unfortunately the other Hamleters were intent on keeping him back, and were able to easily overpower him. The struggle was ended when Blaize grabbed his knife and stabbed Ron in the stomach. They dragged him outside and slammed the door shut, leaving him there to bleed.

"Are we just going to let him die?" Dolores asked.

"It's not too deep; we'll be able to take care of him once we finish up here. He'll be fine." Blaize replied. "Now hurry, we have work to do."

Ron got up off of the ground and pounded on the door, trying to get back into his cottage. After a few minutes, he began to realize that it was useless; there was no way for him to get back in. He clutched the wound in his stomach, trying to figure out a way to save Harry. It was then he noticed Maia, neighing frantically and pulling on her rope, trying to move towards the fortress.

"Draco . . ." Ron whispered.

He untied Maia and climbed onto her back. She immediately rushed off in the direction of the fortress, moving as fast as her legs could carry her. Ron held onto her reigns tightly, fighting to stay conscious long enough to reach the fortress. Draco was Harry's only hope, and he knew it.

Harry cried helplessly, trying desperately to free himself. His screams were slightly muffled by the cloth around his mouth, and powerless to prevent Dolores from removing it and forcing a bowl full of fowl tasting green soup down his throat and holding Harry's nose and mouth closed until he swallowed it all.
Harry's crying and gagging grew louder, as Dolores forced another bowl full into his mouth.

"Should start working soon, it was quite a high dose" said Dolores

"What was it?" asked Blaize

"Raspberry leaf and Penny Royal, it will start premature labor, the farmer uses a similar concoction on his cows."

Harry's Eyes went wide and he began to sob again, it was too early and they would kill the child as soon as it was born.

He could feel the baby moving frantically, almost as if knowing what was happening outside the safety of Harry's womb.

After about half an hour the movements became more severe and painful and Harry started using the gag to bite down on as pain relief.

Without warning Harry felt a strange pressure before a pool of fluid flowed out of him soaking the sheets beneath him.

It hurt. It really hurt like nothing else he had ever experienced. It felt like someone tearing him apart from the inside out. It continued to get more and more severe, coming in waves and giving Harry little rest-bite in between.

Harry didn't know how long he was in pain now, but it seemed like eternity. Harry suppressed a groan, making him ache even more.

This went on for hours.

"Very very good, Harry. You are totally dilated now and you can start to push with the next contraction. It shouldn't take too long now until that filthy demon is born," she announced.

"Did you hear that, Harry? It's almost over now," Blaize soothed, brushing some sweaty strands of hair from Harry's forehead before placing a cool cloth to his heated skin.

Harry wished it would just be over. He wanted to be done with it; he had had enough pain for a lifetime.

Then, the next contraction hit him and Dolores advised him, "Harry, put your chin on your chest and push downward."

"Please don't hurt my child" he panted between contractions.

Taking a deep breath, Harry did as he had been told for fear of the Hamleters.

He cried out when the pain increased tenfold, ripping a burning trail through his abdomen. "I can't!" he sobbed, tears running down his cheeks. "It hurts too much".

"The Demon must be purged and then destroyed, I promise, as soon as the child is born you will be free of its evil, I will take away all that the monster in the fortress has burdened you with.

You have done so well during the last eight hours.

Just a little bit longer, dear, don't worry you can conceive a new human child soon, with Ron" he tried to encourage Harry.

Harry froze.

Turning away from Dolores, Harry begged and shouted, "Draco, Ron, where are you! Help me! Do something, do something, please!"

"I don't want to be pregnant any more, I want it to stop hurting. Please!"

Dolores sighed. She hated to see Harry in pain, but she knew the risks of letting the child live, it was good that Harry was denying the parasite he was soon to be rid of.

Blaize placed the gag back in Harry's mouth.

He winced inwardly when he saw the look of betrayal and anger that entered Harry's eyes, but then vanished again as quickly as it had appeared.

"Die you bastards!" Harry finally murmured, then gasping in pain when the next contraction gripped him.

"Take a deep breathe, Harry, put your chin to your chest and push." Dolores instructed once again and Harry could have strangled him. Die you Evil bastards! You wait till Draco gets here! He will rip you to shreds. He thought angrily.

When the pain subsided, Blaize once again wiped Harry's forehead with a soft cool cloth. Harry stared at him with pure hatred in his eyes; Harry looked like he wanted to kill.

"Nearly there" Smiled Dolores

"Mmphff mfrrdre" Harry sobbed,

"Remove the gag a second Blaize I didn't here that"

"I hope you burn in hell you murderer." Harry said, sinking back into the pillows and taking a deep breath to steel himself for yet another wave of pain.