After dinner, Hermione found a bedroom where she could have time to herself. She lay on the bed with her stomach exposed and she had her finger trailing up and down and all around her stomach. She just sat there staring at her stomach in awe. She never knew how her mother had felt when she was pregnant because her mother had never discussed it with her. She knew that her mother never felt alone because her father was obviously with her when she was pregnant.
"I think if your Daddy knew about you, he'd love you very much, baby," Hermione said stroking her stomach lightly, "Mommy can't tell Daddy about you because there's a very, very bad man after Mommy, Uncle Ron, and Uncle Harry. When we're all safe, Mommy will definitely introduce you to your Daddy," Hermione said and let out a deep breath. She picked up one of the books and began reading about potions that are safe and are not safe for her to take.
"Why would Polyjuice Potion be safe?" Hermione asked herself as she read over the book. She sat up a bit and propped the book on her belly. She turned the page and looked over all the words reading them carefully and learned a lot about herself in the process.
"Hermione, come on out, I found something," Ron said knocking on her door. Hermione pulled her shirt over her belly and rolled off the bed placing the books in her purple bag and walking out of the room.
"What is it?" Harry asked walking up to Ron at the same time Hermione was.
"Look," Ron said pointing to a plate that was hanging sturdily on the door. Hermione looked at the sign and read that it said: Regulus Argulus Black, "R.A.B. It all fits. Most of the Black's were in Slytherin except for Sirius. Besides, I was in the library where I found Hermione and most of their books all had something to do with Dark Magic… well, most of it anyway," He said and Hermione nodded.
"Ron's right, Harry," Hermione said and they agreed, "Kreacher might have it," Hermione said and walked downstairs and found Kreacher in the kitchens washing the dishes.
"Mudblood, if Mistress Black knew what filth was lurking about the noble house of black," Kreacher said once he had noticed Hermione in the room. Hermione crossed her arms as he continued, "Blood traitors and mudbloods alike lurk this house, Kreacher's mistress would be very displeased," Kreacher said and Harry's eyes narrowed.
"Kreacher! You are not to say anything bad about Hermione or Ron or their families, is that understood?" Harry snapped looking at the old house elf.
"Yes, Master," Kreacher said giving a slight bow to Harry just out of orders not courtesy, "What does master need of Kreacher?"
"I need you to tell me what you know about this locket," Harry said holding up the locket and letting the gold chain of the locket hang from his fingers. Kreacher stared at the locket and took in a sharp intake of breath.
"That was Master Regulus's locket," Kreacher said and Hermione saw the look in Kreacher's eyes and went to press him for more information.
"Kreacher, I know that is not all that you know. Did Regulus ever destroy it?" Hermione asked it. She hated ordering these house elves around, but sometimes, she let herself make an exception to how she hated how they were treated by wizards. She also hated how Harry had an elf of his own.
"Master Regulus had asked Kreacher to destroy the locket," Kreacher said and then continued on, "Kreacher tried to destroy it, but it was a nasty locket. It didn't wish to be destroyed. When Master Sirius died, someone came and took the locket among many other things," Kreacher said looking down at the floor.
"Who took the locket, Kreacher?" Harry asked the house elf.
"Mundungus Fletcher," He said simply. They all looked at each other and knew what had to be done.
"Kreacher, I want you to look for Mundungus and bring him back to us, is that clear?" Harry asked the house elf. The house elf nodded and with a snap of his fingers he disappeared as he apparated.
"Hermione," Harry said. Hermione looked at Harry with a questioning look, "Are you alright? You're not acting like yourself," Harry said and Hermione let out a shrug lightly.
"I'm fine, Harry, I have a lot on my mind, though," Hermione said sitting down at the table and resting her head in her hands realizing that she was alone during her pregnancy. Ron noticed the look on Harry's face that was asking for some time alone. Ron had wandered back upstairs to have a look around. Harry got up and stood at the doorways.
"Muffilato," He said to each of the entrances to the kitchen. He didn't want anything reaching Ron's ears because he wanted to have a discussion with Hermione about what's going on.
"Hermione, you're not being on top of everything as you usually are, what's up?" Harry asked her, "Come on, I'm your best mate, Hermione, you can tell me," Harry noted taking her hand in his and giving Hermione a sincere look.
"It's just some stuff that had happened last year, Harry, it's all coming back," Hermione said quietly not wanting it to go further than that. Harry looked at her and let out a sigh and let go of Hermione's hand and sat back on the chair.
"It's Malfoy isn't it?" Harry asked. Hermione's head snapped up at the mention of Draco's last name, "One day you were sitting next to me during dinner and you were looking at Malfoy. He wasn't looking disgusted, but it looked as if there was something more, `Mione," Harry said and Hermione looked down at the table, "Tell me, what's going on?"
"I-I- I can't, Harry, I'm sorry," Hermione said and buried her head in her hands. Harry rubbed Hermione's back lightly, "But yes, I do have feelings for Draco."
"Hermione, you need to tell me the full truth," Harry said looking at her. Hermione shook her head and left the room.
At the manor, Draco Malfoy sat in his bedroom hiding from his life that had become an ongoing nightmare. He sat at his desk with a roll of parchment and an envelope on the desk. He had his beautiful black owl, Cecilia, sitting on her perch at the edge of the desk. Draco was keeping himself busy by writing a letter to someone dear to his heart.
Love,
I am sorry for not being able to contact you recently. I am being closely watched by everyone in my own home. Believe it or not, I feel like a prisoner in my own home, Love. I miss you, you were the best thing that has ever happened me despite the fact that you are in Gryffindor. I miss you so much, my love. I wish it was so much more simpler for you and me. I wish we were able to confess our love in public instead of in private. I wish there was no rivalry between Gryffindors and Slytherins.
My love, I wish I could see you soon, but I never know what will happen. I don't know what would happen if my family and my family's friends would do if they found out who you were. I want to know what is going on with you, love. Send me back a letter with Cecilia. Only send her by night skies. That way she's not seen by the Death Eaters and my family.
I love you,
Draco
Draco folded up the letter and placed it inside of an envelope. On the front of the letter, he didn't write Hermione's name like he had intended. Instead, he wrote My Love on the letter to protect her. He licked the envelope closed and kissed it lightly hoping it would make it to her safely.
"Cecilia," Draco said quietly to his black owl. The owl flew towards him and landed on the desk. He gave the letter to the bird, "I want you to take this to Hermione Granger. You remember her, don't you?" He asked petting the bird's feathers, "Find her and give her the letter. Go," He said and opened the window letting his black bird fly away into the night skies. He left the window open to make it look like he was letting the bird out to stretch her wings. He quickly stuffed the paper, quill, and ink into his desk drawer.
"Draco," Bellatrix's voice said as she knocked on his door, "Come to Auntie, she wants to have some words with you," She said and Draco rolled his eyes to himself before opening the door and walking out to his aunt.
"What do you want?" He asked crossing his arms and looking at his aunt. She let out a few high pitched chuckles and circled around Draco.
"I need your assistance, Draco," She said putting her lips near his ear, "To kill the mudblood," She said and looked at him eye to eye, "Tell me, Draco, where is she hiding?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," He told his aunt, "and I most definitely don't want to help you kill the mudblood. Shouldn't we be finding Potter?"
"You really are that daft aren't you Draco?" She asked her nephew, "If we find the mudblood, we find Potter," She said and Draco's hands clenched tightly. It made him sick to his stomach the name "mudblood." He hadn't called her a mudblood since their fourth year. He hadn't dared to. He even used it scarcely his fourth year, he didn't want to be punched again.
"I am not daft," Draco said glaring at his aunt, "I just do not want to hunt her down, okay? If you don't mind, I'd like to be left alone," He said and turned on his heel and headed back into his room while clutching his wand.
"Fine then," Bellatrix said and he heard her clear her throat and felt movement behind him, "Cruc-" She started but was cut off by Draco yelling another spell.
"Rictumsempra!" He yelled sending her flying back towards the wall. She glared at Draco, "You know, take some advice from my mother, stay out of what I do," He said and walked directly back into his room and locked it. He almost wished his room was the room of requirement. That way, he would never be found, even on Potter's map.
A/N: First off, I want to thank you all so much for the 10 reviews I recieved for the last chapter. I was so blown away when I saw all of those! Second, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I worked super hard on it and was super excited to get it out. I wanted to show how much Draco loves Hermione and is risking his life by sending those letters to her. Third, I'm excited because I'm going to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 for the second time in less than a month! I saw it opening night at midnight! It's been fifteen days since I've seen it, but it's sooo worth the second trip!
Keep on review, lovelies!
~Amanda