Hell is Empty and All the Devils Are Here
Summary: In their fifth year at Hogwarts, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy had a baby girl. Now, dark secrets will be brought to the surface- Lord Voldemort has a task that Draco must complete- if he fails, his daughter and girlfriend will be killed.
Chapter Three: An Excess of Guilt
Standing by the window, Hermione watched as Dumbledore walked Harry to the front door of the Burrow. Despite being exhausted, she was happy to see her best friend safe. She switched Mira to her other arm and bounced her lightly. She walked over to the stairs and went down a flight as Mrs. Weasley let Harry in. She heard voices and the splash of soup- Molly always tended to overfeed Harry as soon as he arrived from the Dursleys.
She wanted to go downstairs and say hello but she was sleep-deprived and Mira had finally fallen back asleep.
Hermione felt bad that the Ginny had to be woken up in the middle of the night. It was very unfair to her but Ginny had said that she was fine with it.
Hermione put Mira back into the crib and settled down onto her camp bed. Draco was in Percy's old room. Hermione sighed and wondered how he was doing. She rolled over on her side and closed her eyes. But no matter how tired she was, no matter how much she wanted it, she just couldn't bring herself to fall asleep. Her mind was racing too fast as it often did in the middle of the night. Punching her pillow so that it was more comfortable, she willed herself to think of her favourite things to calm herself down…Heavy raindrops on a tin roof…hot chocolate by the fire…that lovely lavender scent from Mira's soap…the smell of Draco's shampoo…freshly cut grass and spearmint toothpaste.
It didn't work.
She checked the time and saw that it was 3:30. At this rate, she would never fall asleep. 'Might as well kill some time'.
Creeping quietly across the carpeted floorboards, she opened the door back up and walked upstairs to Percy's room. She walked past Fred and George's room and pressed her ear against it. She figured that Harry would be asleep so she continued on.
Percy's bedroom door was slightly ajar and Hermione silently let herself in. Draco was lying on top of the covers, breathing heavily.
"Draco?"
With a huge jump, he leapt up, grabbed his wand and pointed it at Hermione.
"It's just me."
"You seriously almost gave me a heart attack. What are you still doing up?"
"Couldn't sleep." Hermione sat on the edge of the bed. Draco returned the wand to his bedside table and leaned against the headboard. "Mind if I join you?"
Draco wanted to say no but the truth was, he missed spending alone time with Hermione so he pulled back the covers, inviting her to crawl in next to him. She obliged and laid her head on his chest.
"I've really missed you Draco. I know I see you every day but we haven't had any time together without Mira."
"Just what I was thinking," he replied, stroking Hermione's soft hair. He pulled the left sleeve of the long-sleeved black shirt he was wearing over his hand to give it more protection. After lying awake staring at the low ceiling for hours, he had come to the conclusion that he had to tell Hermione. Just not at that moment. He wasn't ready yet. If he never told Hermione and he went through with killing Dumbledore, she would never talk to him again and she would take Mira away from him. 'But they would be safe,' he argued with himself but it was no good. As safe as they would be, he couldn't allow them to be away from him. He loved them both too much and he didn't want to lose either one of them. But there was a very good chance that he could, no matter what path he chose.
"Draco?"
"Hm?"
"What are you thinking about?"
Draco frowned. He loathed it when she asked him that because often he had to lie to her. "Nothing, just that you're so beautiful."
She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Love you. Now let's try to get some rest."
Hermione managed to fall asleep but Draco continued to stare up at the ceiling, thinking…
The sun rose through the windows and the distant wail of a baby was heard. Draco made no move when he recognized the sound- his mind had finally slowed down and his eyes were drooping. Hermione fidgeted but didn't wake up.
Downstairs, Ginny Weasley groaned as the loud cry of the baby ripped her out of her dreams. She opened her eyes and saw that Hermione wasn't in bed.
"Great," she mumbled as she stumbled, bleary-eyed over to Mira. "Hey there," she cooed as she picked her up. "What's wrong? Do you want your mumma? I don't know where she is, Aunt Ginny will have to do for now."
Up on the fifth floor, Ron was reading a comic book. Harry would be coming later today and he couldn't wait. It was awkward having Malfoy around in his house. He never thought that he would see the day when Draco Malfoy would step foot inside his house. At dinner last night, Draco didn't speak unless he was spoken to. He ate politely and thanked Mrs. Weasley for letting him stay. Ron still didn't believe that a person could change so quickly but even he had to admit, it was rather nice. But there had been something odd about Draco's attitude. He was formal, too formal. He seemed almost robotic. Ron knew that he was tired, what with the baby keeping him up all night but even Hermione managed to keep a cheery face on. Was there something else? He didn't dwell on it as the thought of food came into mind.
Downstairs in the kitchen, he found Molly cooking bacon, egg and sausages. Ginny was eating a piece of toast. Ron took the copy of the Daily Prophet and scanned the front page. No deaths. He reached for the jug of pumpkin juice as his mother laid out a plate of fried tomatoes on the table.
"What's all this food for?" Ginny asked, taking the newspaper when Ron had finished looking at it.
"It's for Harry. He looks dreadfully peaky as usual."
"He always looks like that," Ron commented as casually as he could with his mouth full. As soon as he swallowed he realized something. "Wait, what do you mean 'as usual'? Have you seen him? Is he here?"
"Harry arrived late last night, but don't you dare go up there, he needs his rest-" But Ron was already halfway up stairs by the time she had finished her sentence.
Hermione was walking out of Percy's room just as Ron flew past. "Ron?"
"Harry's here!" He yelled over his shoulder as he burst through Fred and George's door. Hermione's maternal instincts took over and she quickly followed him.
"Ron, don't wake him!"
But as she stepped through the threshold, she saw that Harry was sitting up groggily in his bed, searching for his glasses. She smiled fondly at him. He had finally grown into his looks and despite what Mrs. Weasley insisted, he didn't look underfed in the slightest. He looked as though he had grown several inches since she last saw him but his black hair was just as messy as it had always been.
Harry greeted Hermione with a smile and he and Ron lapsed into talk. Hermione watched the exchange with a small smile. It was good to have the 'Golden Trio' together again. While Harry explained that he had went to help Professor Dumbledore persuade an old friend to come back to Hogwarts to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts and after a rather large excess of 'Phlegm', Hermione wondered around Fred and George's room, looking at the boxes they had left behind. She picked up what looked like a small telescope and examined it curiously.
"What's this?"
"Dunno, but if Fred and George've left it here, it's probably not ready for the joke shop yet, so be careful."
Hermione knew how dangerous the twin's products could be so she noted his advice. As Harry confirmed that Dumbledore was going to give Harry private lessons, Hermione accidentally gave the telescope a little squeeze and-
KA-POW!
She let out a cry of pain as she disappeared behind a thick, black cloud of smoke. Coughing, she emerged, her eye throbbing painfully.
"Don't worry. Mum'll fix that. She's good at healing minor injuries," Ron assured her, though Hermione could tell them he was trying to hold in his laughter. The conversation turned back to the lessons.
"I wonder what'll he teach you, Harry? Hermione put in excitedly. "Really advanced defensive magic, probably...powerful countercurses...anti-jinxes...perhaps even Animagus procedures, that could be a useful skill to have...or maybe you'll learn Apparation early and evasive enchantments generally. Well, at least you know one lesson you'll be having this year, that's one more than Ron and me. I wonder when our O.W.L. results will come?"
She nearly had a heart attack when Harry informed her that they were coming today. Her future would be determined in a matter of hours. What felt like a panic attack was coming on as she bolted downstairs into the kitchen- owls tended to arrive in the morning- they could be flying in through the window with their results right now.
Ginny and Fleur started when they saw her black eye. Ginny started to question her but Hermione was already in front of Mrs. Weasley. "Mrs. Weasley, have any owls arrived for us?"
She sounded absolutely frantic and Molly was too busy trying to find a cure for her eye to be focused on the exam results. Hermione anxiously scanned the skies as Harry and Ron appeared. "Hermione, you'll be fine. It's you." Ron said as Harry nodded in agreement.
"You don't know that- do you have any idea what a serious mistranslation I made in Ancient Runes? I'll be lucky to scrape an A on that exam!" Hermione reminded him fiercely. "And I stuffed up in Defence Against the Dark Arts with my Boggart and-"
"Dear, if you expect me to fix that eye, you're going to have to sit still," Mrs. Weasley said exasperatedly. Hermione had been shaking her legs anxiously, clutching the edge of her seat, swaying nervously from side to side. She didn't care about a black eye, not when her future at Hogwarts was at stake.
There was a loud cry from the upstairs level. Mira was up. Hermione was torn between wanting to comfort her daughter, wanting to get her results and wanting to get rid of the pain in her eye.
"It's ok, Draco will get her," Hermione said to Ginny who was about to retreat upstairs to get the baby. After a while, the crying stopped. Draco must be tending to Mira. Mrs. Weasley muttered an incantation and directed her wand at Hermione's arm.
Ginny stared bemusedly at her. "It's still there."
"What?
Mrs. Weasley tried again but the bruise wouldn't budge. Hermione sighed in annoyance. Exactly what she needed, to go around sporting a purple eye.
Upstairs, Draco was in Ginny's room holding Mira in his arms.
"Hey sweetie, you're up late. It's not the crack of dawn. You must've been tired with all that adorable screaming you did last night, huh?"
Draco was slightly afraid to retreat downstairs where he could hear the Weasley's bustling around. Maybe he would just stay up in his room for the rest of the summer so he wouldn't have to face them. He was just about to go into Percy's room with Mira when a loud shriek surrounded throughout the house. His breathing stopped and his insides froze. It couldn't be…Not here, not now.
He put Mira back into her crib, picked up his wand and slipped quietly downstairs, waiting. He poked his head around the corner, seeing if he would have to curse anyone. He found Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, that French girl and Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen, Hermione with a black eye staring at four owls who had just landed in the kitchen with letters. Draco let out a whoosh of breath. It was just their O.W.L results- that must have been why Hermione had shouted out like that.
"Everything alright?" He asked quietly as Hermione took her envelope with trembling fingers. "What happened to your eye?"
She shook her head, looking so pale Draco thought she might faint. He helped her get the letter out of the envelope as he took his own one. He didn't even care about the results but he was glad to see that he got ten OWLs, nine of them Outstanding except for History of Magic and Divination but that was to be expected. He was surprised to see that he passed Care of Magical Creatures with an 'E'.
"Only failed Divination and History of Magic, and who cares about them?" Ron was saying enthusiastically. "Knew you'd be top at Defence Against the Dark Arts, Harry."
"Well done! Seven OWLs, that's more than Fred and George got together!" Mrs. Weasley ruffled Ron's hair.
"Hermione? How did you do?"
"I-not bad," Hermione said in a small voice.
"Oh, come off it!" Ron snarled, snatching the results out of her hand. "Yep. Ten 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations. You're actually disappointed aren't you?"
Hermione shook her head and leant back into Draco.
"You did good, I'm proud of you," he whispered.
"Thanks. How did you go?"
He showed her te results.
"Draco, that's so good! You did really well!"
"Not as good as the Queen of Homework of course."
Hermione punched his shoulder but he smiled. "I was just kidding."
The rest of the summer passed by pleasantly enough. Harry and Ron convinced Hermione and Ginny to play Quidditch with them out in the orchard- Draco never wanted to play, but he often took Mira outside to watch them. He often grimaced at how bad Hermione was. She was absolutely terrible. He sincerely hoped that Mira would be much, much better. He could see the days where he would take her out for her first broom ride- she would be scared at first but once she was in the air she would have the time of her life.
"C'mon Hermione, that's the sixth time you've dropped the ball!" Ron roared. Hermione was playing Chaser but she didn't have enough skill to actually catch the ball when it was thrown at her because she refused to hold the broomstick with only one hand.
"Mira, you're mother is useless when it comes to sports," Draco murmured to her as they sat on the grass. Mira was staring at the gnomes that often ran about, enthralled. She was situated between Draco's legs wearing a little yellow dress with a white trim. Draco thought she looked absolutely gorgeous, along with the little yellow bow that Hermione had carefully placed in her fine hair. It looked as though she was getting her mother's caramel-coloured hair. Draco thought that that was excellent- hopefully she would inherit more Granger traits than Malfoy traits.
Hermione landed on the ground with a flump. Groaning, she got up, limping slightly. She sat down heavily next to Draco.
"How you people can see that as fun is beyond me."
"How you can see homework is fun is beyond everyone."
Hermione rolled her eyes and then turned to Mira. "Hey, little girl, we're you watching Mumma up there? You're never getting on a broomstick in your life, not if I can help it?"
"She'll be a natural by the time she's five."
"Draco, my daughter is not getting on a broomstick. It's dangerous, she could fall off!"
"Love, not everyone is as un-coordinated as you when it comes to athletics."
Hermione pouted and crossed her arms. "That's mean, Draco. I'm not bad at anything."
Draco snorted. "Well, you're certainly not good at this."
Harry's sixteenth birthday was marred by the news that Florean Fortescue and Mr. Ollivander the wandmaker had both disappeared. Draco had a deep hollow feeling in his stomach for the rest of the evening. Two very well-known people had been taken. He knew that this was Voldemort's doing. As September first drew nearer, Draco's nerves were getting the better of him. He couldn't stop his hands from shaking in agitation and he still couldn't bring himself to eat. Eating made him feel even more dreadful than he already felt.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco and Mira into Diagon Alley to buy their supplies for the new school year at Hogwarts, along with Hagrid for extra protection. Draco's heart was thumping painfully in his chest. Death Eaters could be lurking about and he didn't want Mira to be anywhere near one. But she was safely strapped to Hermione's chest, sleeping peacefully.
Diagon Alley was not it's usual cheery self. Gloom settled everywhere and there was barely anyone about. Shop windows were broken, beggars crawled the streets and wanted Death Eater posters loomed out at them everywhere they turned their heads. Draco swallowed hard at the sight of them. Maybe one day his own face would be plastered onto the walls of the most famous wizarding district in all of Britain. He could just picture it: Draco Malfoy, wanted for the murder of Albus Dumbledore, 5,000 galleon reward. Well, that wasn't going to happen. Not if he could help it.
As they made their way past Knockturn Alley, Draco heard a little hissing noise. He fell back slightly to check it out. Fenir Greyback was standing in the shadows, beckoning him to follow him.
"Not now," Draco mouthed but Fenir was persistent. "In a minute."
Knowing he had no choice, Draco rushed to get back to the rest, who were heading for Fred and George's shop. He grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her out of earshot.
"Hey Hermione, I just need to go down to Madam Malkins for a minute, my mother's there and wants to see me."
"Oh!" Hermione's face brightened considerably. "Do you want me to come with you? Does she want to meet Mira?"
"Um, no. She's not ready for that now, but maybe one day soon. Why don't you go with the others, I'll meet you back here."
Five minutes later, Draco was standing outside of the dark arts shop Borgin and Burkes. Sighing heavily and clutching his tattooed arm, he opened the door. A bell sounded, informing the occupants that someone had just arrived.
"Draco!"
His mother was standing in front of him, beaming. She held her arms wide open and gestured him to come forward. He did so, hesitating slightly before letting her encircle her arms around him. But after his few seconds of discomfort, he embraced her right back. It felt good to be in his mother's comforting arms again.
"I didn't know you would be here."
"I had to." She clutched his arm tightly as she led him forwards to face the small gang of Death Eaters.
"This the one that knocked up a Mudblood?"
Fenir Greyback gave a harsh laugh. "Thought you had more pride than that, Malfoy."
Draco didn't reply but he stared defiantly back. "Are we ready to get started?" He said in a fierce tone that made clear that the subject of him 'knocking up a Mudblood' wouldn't be discussed any further.
"Mr. Borgin has got it right here."
Draco had written a letter to Mr. Borgin saying that he wanted to repair the Vanishing Cabinet at Hogwarts with its twin, right here in the shop. It was the only way he could think of to bring Death Eaters into the school. Draco looked determined, but on the inside, he knew that it would be lucky if he managed to get it fixed at all. He wanted to succeed for his family but he was afraid that his guilty conscience would get the best of him.
Draco examined the black and gold Vanishing Cabinet carefully whilst Greyback stood beside the window, glaring for intruders. Narcissa watched, fretting. He was only a boy. How would he manage to kill the greatest wizard of all time? Severus Snape had sworn to do whatever he could to protect him this year but would it be enough?
xox
"What's that you got there, Draco?"
Draco had just slipped inside Fred and George's joke shop holding a package wrapped in brown paper. He couldn't exactly tell her what it was, a cursed opal necklace designed to kill anyone who touched it. He also had with him the Hand of Glory. He had just purchased it at the shop to the delight of his fellow Death Eaters. He figured it would be the easiest way to complete his task- that way, he wouldn't have to use the Killing Curse on Dumbledore and know one would ever knew that he was behind it. He felt sick with just the thought of sending this to Dumbledore but what other choice did he have? Between Mira and Hermione staying safe or Voldemort taking over the entire wizarding world, he'd choose the latter.
"Just a present from my mother." He hid it behind his back, hoping Hermione would forget about it. "Buy anything?"
"Oh no, these aren't for me. Ron's stocking up though." She pointed in the direction of the red-headed boy, who was gleefully examining an Anti-Gravity hat- 'Ruin a gentleman's day by making his hat fly away!'
When they returned back to the Burrow, dinner was served and Mira was put to bed, everyone hung out in the living room for hot chocolate. Draco wanted to join them but he had to hide the necklace and the Hand of Glory away from prying eyes. Anyone could find it and if they opened the package and touched the necklace…well, Draco would have a lot of explaining to do. He hid it carefully in his rucksack made from moleskin- designed to store items that no one but the owner could get out. That would be safe enough.
He heard the general rumble from downstairs of laughter and talk as he lay on the bed. The Burrow was a happy household and it was exactly the kind of household that he wanted Mira to grow up in. Eating as much as you wanted, relaxing, hanging out with family and being safe. That's all he wanted her to be. Safe and happy.
If only he could figure out a way to get himself out of this whole mess.
A/N: Well I expected this to be a long hiatus but I was on my computer, studying my ass off, figured I deserved a break, didn't know what to do so I just decided to write the damn chapter. You'll be pleased to know that I'm feeling much better about everything. But there'll be times when I'll relapse back into feeling depressed about everything and won't have the motivation to write. I did the Borgin and Burkes scene based on the movie. Idk why the Death Eaters where with Draco but let's just go off my interpretation alright?
Um, I'd just like to dedicate this entire story to my best friend Aaron! He was always there for me and knew how much I love to write. Anyways, reviews would be appreciated I'm a little stuck on ideas for the next chapter so if anyone has any, tell me! That would be great, I'm hoping to get the next chapter out quicker than this one.
Love y'all xoxo
Kiora: yea I'm pretty sure i know who you are, your in my house at school ? umm i don't have Facebook atm anymore because of exams but when i get it back ill add you. and thank you :) your too kind. yea daniel's my boyfriend and he sure is aye ahaha. and yea that was me haha. what can i say, i wanted a duck as a pet! Mr. Tate is an asshole ,i hate him so much. anyone would've taken it out on him. He's just so rude about everything. Yea Aaron was great, he was friends with everyone. Thanks for checking out the story, glad you like it :) xo