Sleep was not easily had, unfortunately, and she felt like death when she finally forced herself to get up the next morning. As she went about her (quite boring, truth be told) daily routine, she just couldn't seem to shake the feeling that something was desperately wrong. But instead of dissipating throughout the day like she thought it would, the feeling only seemed to get worse. It was as if the air itself had grown heavy and dense, like the oppressive feeling that was felt right before a thunderstorm hit. She chose to attempt to ignore it for the time being.
By the time it was time for lunch, she had worked herself into a frenzied state. She was making her way to the Floo to contact Draco, thinking that perhaps something was wrong with the baby, when the chime for the front door sounded. Deciding to ignore it, she continued on her way. But before she could reach her destination, the chime sounded again, this time three short bells in a row. Ron, she thought. He was the only one that ever did that. She abandoned her course, ignoring the small voice in her head that was telling her to contact Draco first, and instead went to the door. She flung open the door with a frustrated sigh, hoping that whatever Ron wanted would not take long.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Ronald?"
He merely scowled at her as he pushed passed her and entered her home. Seconds later, he stopped and turned to face her when he realized she had not followed him.
"We need to talk, Hermione."
"As far as I'm concerned, we have absolutely nothing to talk about. I made my feelings quite clear in my last letter."
"Just tell me, is it true? Are you really pregnant with the spawn of that... that disgusting Death Eater?"
Hermione mentally cursed Ginny for running to Ron with the news of her pregnancy, although she supposed she shouldn't be surprised.
"It is true, although it is also none of your business."
"None of my business? Of course it is. You're mine, Hermione. You've always been and always will be mine. You belong with me; why can't you just see that? But I refuse to raise that abomination. We'll get married right away, and I've tracked down a Healer that can take care of your problem."
She was speechless as she stood there, looking at the man that used to be one of her best friends in horror. This man, this man was not her best friend. She had no idea who this man was.
"Ron, have you gone spare? Not only am I certainly not marrying you – as I've told you multiple times – I can't believe you just suggested I get rid of my baby! What is wrong with you?"
He didn't answer her right away, instead he began to pace back and forth in front of her. Increasingly concerned by his odd behavior, she started to inch her way away from him and towards the closest Floo. Unfortunately for her, he noticed her movement right away and reached out to grab her wrist. As she struggled to break free from his grasp, his hold just got tighter until she cried out in pain. He did not let go at her cry and instead backed her up against the wall, blocking any escape with his body.
"Ron... please. Don't do this. I'm not worth it; you'll find someone else easily enough."
"Why do you have to make things so hard, Hermione? Why? Everything was perfectly planned, but you just couldn't go along with it, could you?"
"Perfectly planned? What... what did you do, Ron? Oh gods, what did you do?"
His mouth twisted in a sneer. The look in his eyes scared her even further. She could barely recognize him: this was not the Ron that used to be her best friend. She didn't know who this person was.
"What did I do? Not much, actually. I was just the assistant. I assisted in trying to get some hair from that Death Eater husband of yours and got my hands on some Polyjuice potion. He was too clever though, your husband. I tried to follow him for weeks and never could get near enough to get any hair. So we had to change the plan a bit. We really wanted to get Lucius, but we figured Draco would do just as well. Luckily – for us, not him of course – he wasn't nearly as vigilant as his father."
Hermione listened in increasing horror as Ron monologued the whole plan. It wasn't even his plan, he told her. He just helped here and there, because he knew that once the Malfoys were brought down she would coming running right back in his arms. She felt ill as he described his partner taking the potion to look like Draco and going to Knockturn Alley to pick up prostitutes. Ron would follow, hidden with a Disillusionment charm and carrying a camera. He would watch while capturing the crime with the camera. They did the whole routine three times before they decided they had more than enough to ruin the Malfoys.
"We confronted Lucius with the pictures and gave him a simple choice. Either we would submit the pictures as evidence against Draco, or he goes down to the Ministry to turn himself in. He hesitated briefly, making us worry he was going to let Draco go to Azkaban, but he agreed to our terms."
"Anything for family," she whispered.
Ron heard her and laughed.
"You mean, anything for his son. After all, he did leave behind his new wife," Ron said, derision dripping from each word.
"I would have done the same for my son," she said, defending her husband. Ron's face twisted in rage at hearing her defend Lucius, and he pushed her harder into the wall. She cried out in pain and, for the first time, was truly afraid of Ron. She struggled against him in vain as his hold on her was just too tight.
"Where do you think you're going? You haven't even heard the best part! Don't you want to know who was really behind all of this? The plan was quite genius, really."
"Ron, please. This whole thing is absolutely insane. Just... just let me go and maybe they'll go easy on you. Please."
He continued on speaking as though he didn't even hear her.
"I admit, I didn't think she had it in her when she first approached me about it. I laughed at her and sent her on her way. But she kept coming back and I finally realized she was actually serious. I agreed to help her because she was really starting to scare me. I think that diary messed with her head, or something."
The diary? How could a diary mess with someone's h –
Oh.
OH.
NO. That was impossible! She wouldn't... she wouldn't!
Hermione didn't even realize that she was saying those words out loud until Ron responded.
"Oh, it is possible. My little sister has quite the twisted mind."
She thought that perhaps Ginny wasn't the only Weasley whose mind was affected by a horcrux.
"Now, enough talking. Ginny and I have a place we've been using for planning, and I'm going to take you there. I've found a spell to take care of the baby and then you'll be free for me."
She screamed as he suddenly released her, only to throw her over his shoulder and make his way to the front door. Realizing her wand was still in her bedroom, she began to panic as she knew she had no means of escape. But then she remembered something Lucius had told her when he placed the Malfoy ring on her finger.
She gasped as she took in the ring Lucius just slipped on her finger. It was gorgeous! The center stone was a very large square cut emerald (no surprise there), and it was flanked by two diamonds. Set in platinum and obviously Goblin made, it was probably worth more than the house she grew up in.
"I love it, Lucius. It is absolutely stunning."
"A stunning ring for a stunning witch. That's the best ring in the whole collection, and it comes with a few protections. I've also added a few myself. For instance, if you are ever in danger, press your finger to the emerald and repeat 'help' over and over in your head. Both Draco and I will be alerted to your distress."
Grateful that her hands were finally free, she pressed a finger to the emerald and started shouting 'help' in her head.
She could only hope that Draco got the message in time.
A/N: Thanks to erbkaiser for betaing. I apologize for not responding to reviews from last chapter, things have been crazy. Thanks for all the reviews as I greatly appreciate them! Please review!
