A/N: So there will be two more chapters after this one. For some reason, I just can't seem to end on an even 40 :-P

"AHHH!" Hermione screamed out in agony. She immediately started to vomit. "FUCK! It hurts!" she shouted, trying to clutch her stomach but nearly collapsing as she did so. Draco held her tighter.

"Don't worry. It isn't hurting the baby." Rita smiled. "Only you."

"You fucking bitch!" shouted Draco, trying to raise his wand at her but immediately falling back to Hermione's side when she cried out in pain.

Astoria leaned in and whispered, "Draco, we need to get her out of here. I have everything we need."

Draco nodded. Eyes once again fixed on Rita, he told everyone on his side with their wands aimed, "Take care of them."

And with that, a new duel commenced. A few more witches and wizards from both sides joined in, the Fellowship of the Dragon side trying to distract the purebloods, and the purebloods trying to clear a path for Rita to follow as Draco picked Hermione up and carried her into the forest. Astoria ran after them with Ron just behind her.

"I assume you can use one more," he said, grabbing her hand.

"Of course." She smiled.

"Draco, put me down! Put me down!"

Draco did as he was ordered. Hermione started vomiting into a bush the moment her feet touched the ground.

When it passed, she said, "It's coming too frequently. You can't carry me."

"Well, then how the hell are we supposed to move you? You can barely stand up, let alone run your arse out of here!"

"I know! Just … let me think! Ugh …"

She vomited again.

The others all began looking around in a panic, trying to find some solution. Then a light went off in Astoria's head.

"When I was a child, I used to explore every inch of this forest. I once found a small cave that isn't far from here. We can hide in there until the baby is born, and then get the hell out of here."

"That sounds like as good of a plan as we're going to get," said Draco, putting an arm around Hermione. "Please, love, let's just try to move. Just hold onto me and if you need to stop, we'll stop."

Hermione nodded. She had tears in her eyes as she draped one arm securely around his shoulders. He wrapped both of his around her waist and held on tight, half-carrying her as they followed Astoria towards the cave.

Only having gone a few feet further, Hermione began panting. She and Draco paused, her face cringing as the baby jerked inside of her.

"Maybe we just need to take her mind off of the pain," suggested Ron. "Like, we should all talk about something that will ignite that Hermione fire."

"Good idea!" said Astoria. "Umm … let's see … Have you two discussed baby names yet?"

"Ooh, good one!" shouted Ron. "They'll never agree on that!"

Both Draco and Hermione looked at him and sneered.

"Prove me wrong, then. Draco, what do you want to name your baby?"

Hermione stood back up straight and let Draco help her walk further.

"Well … I always planned on naming my first son Scorpius."

Hermione glanced sideways at him. "What?"

"Ooooh! I like that!" said Astoria, looking over her should and beaming at them.

"You know, like the constellation. Draco is a constellation, so why shouldn't my son be named after one, as well?"

"So out of all of the constellations in the sky, you picked 'Scorpius'?"

Draco blinked.

"Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. What's wrong with it?"

"Uhh, it's horrible! Why don't we just name our child Camelopardalis while we're at it!"

"Because that's stupid, Mione. No one wants their child named after a giraffe."

"Scorpius is stupid, Draco! We are not, not naming our child that!"

"Well, do you have any better suggestions?"

Hermione paused for a second, vomited, clutched onto him tighter and said, "I have always been a fan of the name Hugo."

"Oh, I like Hugo," said Ron, looking back.

Draco cocked an eyebrow. "Hugo? Now, are you serious?"

"Yes, why?"

"Oh, nothing. I suppose we could always use a Permanent-Sticking Charm right at birth to put a sign on his forehead that says, 'By all means, please, beat my arse'."

"What does that mean?"

"It's a nerd's name, Mione."

"It most certainly is not!"

"Is too!"

Suddenly, Hermione collapsed to her knees and then to her side, all the while clutching her stomach. "Ah!"

Draco knelt down beside her and stroked her wet cheek. He kissed it before scooping her back into his arms. "Move fast, Astoria!"

She began running through the trees with Ron, Draco holding Hermione at their heels.

"Okay … so maybe I can get onboard with the whole 'constellation' thing. But, please, Draco, something less Slytherin sounding than Scorpius."

He smiled down at her. "Not even in the middle?"

She shook her head and tried to smile back.

"Fine." He frowned. "But not Hugo, either."

"That's fair."

"So since the name Scorpius is free, Ron, do you think maybe our first child -?"

"Absolutely not."

"Ugh … Draco, put me down."

Draco did as he was ordered.

Hermione stood on shaky legs, panting for a second before her eyes widened. "Oh no."

"Hermione, what …" Draco then looked down at Hermione's trousers and saw that they were soaked. "Did your …" He gulped. "Did your water just break?"

"I … I think so."

"Shit!" said Astoria, running over. "Draco, pick her up again! We need to move since I have a pretty good feeling labor is going to be as quick as the last six weeks of pregnancy."

"Well, at least that's a perk!" said Ron, beaming. No one beamed back.

Hermione tried to keep herself together as Draco lifted her back into his arms, but it was just so hard when she felt this frightened. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Why hadn't she listened to him and stayed behind?

Hermione gripped her arms around Draco's neck and cried into his chest as he ran swiftly through the forest. Before long, they arrived at a small cave that they all had to crawl into. Hermione lay down on her back in the center of the small space while Astoria sat near her legs, throwing Ron's jumper over her middle, pulling down her trousers and knickers, and preparing everything needed for childbirth. Ron put up a Silencing Charm around the cave and assisted Astoria while Draco sat near Hermione's head, holding her hand.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Not my best," she said honestly. "Draco … I'm scared."

"I know," he said, leaning down and kissing the top of her head. "So am I."

"I know I shouldn't have fought today. I do. But the thought of you being out there on the battlefield and me having no idea what was happening to you … I just couldn't bear it. I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"I love you more than I ever thought I was capable of loving anyone."

"Uhh … Hermione, ex-boyfriend right here," said Ron.

"Do not interrupt our moment, Weasel!" snapped Draco.

Ron quickly shut his mouth.

Draco turned back to Hermione and leaned close. He stroked the hair off of her sweaty forehead and whispered, "I feel the same way about you. I understand why you fought today. I hate it, but I understand. I would have done the same thing because, after everything that has happened, I never want to be away from you again."

Hermione smiled. She sniffled as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I'm going to be okay, right? We're both going to make it out of this and we're going to raise our constellation child together?"

He smiled back. "Of course we are. Nothing can stop us when we're together. I learned that a long time ago."

Hermione nodded. Just then, she felt a very large and powerful pain that could only be a contraction.

"It looks like it's happening, Hermione!" said Astoria from her feet. "No time to ease into it. Just push."

"I guess it works out that you never took Lamaze," said Ron.

Draco and Hermione both glared at him until she started to scream.

"Oh, shit!" shouted Draco as she squeezed the life out of his hand.

"Push, Hermione!" ordered Astoria.

Hermione looked at Draco. As soon as he nodded and kissed her forehead, she began to push.

XXX

Back on the battlefield, Narcissa and Lucius were looking around for Draco and Hermione. They had gotten held up on their way back by a very persistent wizard who was presently no more, but they had sent Ethan ahead of them to make sure their son and his wife were all right. Only, currently, Ethan was busy trying to keep people out of the shadows and safe from the vampires that had finally decided to strike. There were only three now since the giants took out two, but their dwindling numbers only made them angrier.

With everyone else momentarily occupied in a very intense duel, Lucius and Narcissa were starting to get a bit panicky. Then they caught sight of Arthur Weasley blasting the wizard he was dueling to oblivion. He would be able to speak now, at least for a moment.

Lucius still did not like the wizard, but he swallowed his pride and ran up to him, anyway. "Weasley!"

Arthur looked up.

"Where are my son and Hermione?"

"Were you not here for that?" asked Arthur.

Lucius stared at him questioningly.

"Guess not. That Skeeter woman hit Hermione with a spell, speeding up her pregnancy. She's due to give birth at any moment."

"What?" shouted Narcissa, running over. "Where are they?"

Arthur shook his head. "They went into the forest about ten minutes ago. Ron and Astoria are with them. She's a Healer. She should be able to help but Hermione looked pretty sick."

Now Narcissa looked sick. "Where is that bitch?" she asked - swearing for maybe the third time in her life - while looking all around the battlefield.

"She was dueling with Harry, last I saw her."

Arthur's eyes scanned the area. When he located Harry, he and Ginny were battling with Quinn. Rita was nowhere to be seen.

Lucius quickly stepped in and sent Harry off to his wife and Arthur.

"Where is the Skeeter woman?" demanded Narcissa the moment he got there.

"I … don't know," said Harry, taking his turn to look all around. "Quinn cut in so she could try to follow Hermione and Draco, but Professor Sprout started dueling her right after."

"Well, where is Professor Sprout?" asked Arthur, also starting to look panicked.

Having had enough of this, Narcissa began to run around the battlefield, looking everywhere for any signs of Rita or the professor. Arthur and Harry did the same. A wizard tried to duel her, but Ethan jumped in and took care of him quickly before returning to the vampires.

"Where did Draco and Hermione go in?" she asked, when running across Harry again.

He pointed and she followed his finger, gasping as she came across the entrance to the forest. There, just inside of the trees, was Professor Sprout's body. Dead as a doornail.

"Draco!" shouted Narcissa, trying to run into the trees. Someone blasted a tree that fell in front of her. She turned to see Quinn and Wiley both aiming their wands at her. Lucius was a few feet behind them, removing a Stunning Charm from Ginny. Narcissa aimed her wand.

"Expelliarmus!" shouted Wiley.

It went flying.

"I do not want to hurt you, Narcissa. I have known you and Lucius a long time, and it seems my number of old friends is declining. But, I'm afraid, if you take one more step -"

"How dare you threaten my wife!" shouted Lucius, leaving a now conscious Ginny - who ran over to help her father in a new duel - to raise his wand at Wiley. "Avada Kedavra!"

Wiley dodged behind a tree. "So that's how it's going to be!"

Quinn cast the Cruciatus Curse at Narcissa as she dove for her wand, just missing her. Harry tried to disarm him, but Wiley ran back into the open and sent him speeding backwards.

With the Disarming Charm on the brain, Lucius shouted, "Expelliarmus!" at Wiley, just as Wiley shouted, "Expelliarmus!" at him. Both of their wands went flying.

"Shit!" shouted Wiley, darting in the direction of his wand.

Quinn now aimed his wand at Lucius but, before he could cast anything, Harry was back on his feet and shouting, "Expelliarmus!"

Narcissa searched the bushes for her wand but, just when she located it, Wiley pulled her back and used her as a shield while looking for his.

"Fuck this!" shouted Quinn, tearing a branch off of the fallen tree and whacking Lucius across the head.

Lucius fell to the ground and Quinn whacked him again on the back. Knowing no little spell would do, Harry tried to cast the Cruciatus Curse on him but Quinn used the branch to block it. The spell now giving it a sharp and pointed tip, Quinn lifted the branch as Lucius turned onto his back and aimed it at his heart.

"No! Please, stop!" Narcissa cried as Wiley continued to hold her. She shut her eyes tight as Quinn brought the branch down hard towards her husband's heart. Only, the groan she heard was not Lucius's. When Narcissa opened her eyes again, Lucius was pressed against a tree with Ethan using his body to shield him from harm. He had moved him out of the way of Quinn's attack, but not quick enough since the branch was now sticking out of his stomach. While a wound like this would not kill a vampire, he still looked very much in pain.

"What are you doing?" asked Lucius, jaw slightly fallen.

"I think … that should be … err … pretty obvious," said Ethan through clenched teeth.

"Bloody fucking vampire!" shouted Quinn, jamming the branch in further.

Ethan grabbed hold of the branch as it came out the other side of him, making sure it did not poke into Lucius at all. Then he pushed it back and out of him, sending Quinn flying. He moved Lucius to the side and then set his sights on Narcissa.

In one quick movement - though not as swift as usual - he had her out of Wiley's clutches and next to Lucius. He then tried to attack Wiley but the pain from the hole in his stomach halted him. Harry aimed his wand at Wiley, now that he didn't have his human shield anymore, but he dodged behind a tree again before Harry could even cast a spell.

Quinn ran forward and tried to jam his branch into Ethan's heart but he dashed out of the way just in time.

"Always getting in my way, you fucking abomination!"

Lucius began running around the area, looking for his wand. "Accio wand!" One flew into his hands. Well, that wasn't his. He tossed it aside.

Narcissa eyed the bush her wand was in again and made a run for it.

Wiley, who had somehow found his own wand, poked his head out of the tree he was hiding behind and pointed his wand at Harry. "Avada Kedavra!"

Ethan grabbed Harry just in time and moved him out of the way. When he turned back around, Quinn had Narcissa's arm and was throwing her back against a tree. He raised his branch and hurled it towards her chest.

Lucius just found his wand as his wife screamed. Without looking, he flipped around and shouted, "Crucio!" in the direction the screams had come from. Quinn fell back in pain, but not before he rammed his weapon right into Ethan's heart as he shielded Narcissa from the blow.

"Ethan!" Narcissa screamed as she wrapped her arms around his waist. The two of them collapsed to the ground.

Wiley grabbed a writhing Quinn and pulled him into the shelter of the trees.

"Ethan, what have you done?"

"W-what … I had to do," he choked. "I-I died a long …" His face clenched. "… time ago, Cissa."

"But you shouldn't have saved me," she cried. "It's my fault you are like this. My father is the one who told them to get rid of you. If you had never gotten involved with me -"

Ethan put a shaky finger to her lips and smiled, showing her those dimples she loved so much. "W-worth it. It was … all worth it."

He leaned forward and kissed her one last time. "After all of these years … you're s-still the most beautiful woman I h-have ever seen …"

Lucius walked up behind them while Harry ran into the forest to look for Wiley and Quinn.

Ethan glanced back at him. "Pull it out, will you? It will … err … be quicker that way."

Lucius looked at his sobbing wife, who gave him the shallowest of nods. He put his hands on the branch -

"G-go get your son."

- and pulled.

Ethan's face twisted in agony. He clutched at the hole where his heart should be and looked at Narcissa with his emerald-green eyes one final time before turning to dust in her arms.

While Narcissa took a moment to mourn the loss, Lucius went over to the bush her wand was in and grabbed it. When her eyes began to focus again, he handed it to her. She took it and stood up slowly, looking down at her dress and calmly wiping the ashes off of it - but not before slipping a few into an empty phial she had in her pocket.

Just then, Harry flew by them and then went skidding across the ground. Quinn leapt out of the trees and aimed his wand at them.

"Avada -"

There was a flash and then, suddenly, three pale figures were standing in front of them. Quinn froze.

"You have killed one of our own," said the most authoritative looking of them.

"So?" spat Quinn. "He was on the other side!"

"No matter which side he fought on, vampires are always united."

"The bastard nearly killed me a few months back! He deserved it!"

Lucius and Narcissa took several steps back. Quinn's boldness was either really brave or really idiotic. But, no matter which one it was, this could not end well for him.

"Out of my way! This is a war and these people need to be taken care of!"

The head vampire shook his head.

"Our murdered brother has claimed this woman as his own," said a vampire that Narcissa recognized from earlier. Ethan had saved her from him. It was good to know that stuck. "She will not die today."

"But you will." The head vampire grinned.

Quinn tried to turn and run, but there was no outrunning a vampire, especially three of them. They were on him almost instantly, teeth sinking into his flesh as they tore him apart, limb by limb. Quinn screamed out in pain as they made sure to keep him alive through it all.

Narcissa put a hand up to her mouth to keep herself from vomiting. Lucius pulled her into his chest and turned them both around.

Harry was back on his feet and ran over to them. He was trying really hard not to look at the scene going on behind them, but it wasn't easy.

"I think Wiley went to find Rita. The number of people on the other side definitely seems to be decreasing," he said, looking out at the battlefield. "Go after them. We'll follow as soon as we can."

Narcissa and Lucius nodded. "It looks like it is time to go and meet our grandson," said Lucius, taking Narcissa's hand and running into the forest.

XXX

"Draco, take the baby!" shouted Astoria, wrapping the crying baby in her jumper and pushing him into Draco's arms. "There's a lot of blood. Ron, feed her the Cruor Mora Potion."

"The what?"

"Purple liquid, pear-shaped bottle! In my bag!" She pointed.

Ron grabbed her bag and dug through it until he found the right potion. He slowly fed it to Hermione, who was barely conscious. As soon as the entire bottle was down, Astoria waved her wand over Hermione's waist. Her body began to convulse.

"Astoria, what's happening?" asked Draco in a panic.

"That fucking spell! It really screwed up her insides. A woman's body is not designed to go through six weeks of a baby's development in a matter of minutes and then give birth so quickly. I've stopped the bleeding but she's lost so much blood already."

"But is she going to be all right?" he cried.

"I hope so," she said, casting another spell.

Draco was unsure of what he was supposed to do or how he was supposed to feel at the moment. Here he was, holding his newborn son in his arm but, at the same time, holding onto his wife's hand while she fought for her life.

He looked down at Hermione. Her breathing was shallow and her entire body was covered with a thick sheen of sweat. Her face and lips were sickly pale as she struggled to stay awake.

"Ron, grab the long, thin phial with the yellow liquid in it and feed it to her," ordered Astoria while waving her wand over Hermione and chanting several more spells.

Ron went into her bag and came out with the correct phial. He poured it down Hermione's throat. She was barely conscious but still tried to open her mouth for him.

Draco squeezed tightly onto her hand. "Keep fighting, Mione. Can't you hear your son? He wants to meet you."

"Draco …" she said weakly as Astoria continued to work on her. "De …describe him to me."

Draco looked down at the baby and smiled. "Well, he's only a few minutes old and already has a head full of your bushy brown hair. When he gets older, we'll have to make sure to always cut it short."

The corners of Hermione's lips curved slightly upwards. "And … his eyes?"

Suddenly, the baby stopped crying and looked right at Draco.

"They are shaped more like yours but are the same color as mine."

"But … but I thought all babies had blue eyes," she said, sounding a little stronger.

"No. They're definitely mine."

The curves of her lips moved higher. "Is he as handsome as you?"

"Probably not."

Her eyes began to flutter open as she tried to scowl.

The baby cooed and reached out for her. Draco lowered him so he could touch his and Hermione's clasped hands with his own small one.

Hermione smiled as she cried. "My baby." She turned her head slightly and, for the first time, stared at the happy face of her son. "He definitely looks like a Malfoy."

"Hermione, how are you feeling?" asked Astoria from her feet.

"I'm all right," she answered, still smiling. "Thank you, Astoria."

"Good, but don't move too much. You're hardly healed. I need the green liquid now, Ron. Rectangular bottle. Don't feed it to her. I need it here."

Ron located the bottle and handed it to her. Hermione tried to distract herself by looking at the baby while Astoria rubbed the liquid all along her stomach and thighs, stinging every inch of bare skin it touched. He just seemed so aware as he looked back at her, reaching out his tiny hand to grab her finger. She didn't know much about newborns, but it just didn't seem usual. Still, he was the most beautiful baby she had ever seen and not just because he looked remarkably like the man she loved, only with softer and rounder features. He just was.

"So handsome."

"I always knew we would make good looking babies." Draco smirked.

All of a sudden, they could hear someone outside of their hideaway.

"Where, oh where are you, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy!" shouted the voice of Rita Skeeter. "It's time to hand over your baby and finish this!"

Draco gulped as he looked back down at Hermione. "She's right. We need to finish this," he said.

Letting go of her hand, Draco lifted the baby up and kissed his soft cheek before putting him in the groove of Hermione's arm.

"Draco… what are you doing?" asked Hermione, reaching back out for him.

He took her hand back in his own and gave it a squeeze. "Protecting my family," he said, leaning down and kissing her.

"Draco, no."

"I have to do this, Mione." He clonked his forehead against hers. "I love you."

The baby cooed.

"Both of you." He smiled. "Stay here and rest. When I get back, we will leave this place forever and take our son home."

"No! Draco, please, wait for Astoria to heal me a little more and we'll go together. We have to fight together."

"No. Stay here with our son," he ordered. "I will be back, Hermione. No matter what, I will be back. After all of this, you and I deserve our happy ending."

Draco kissed her and the baby again, then reluctantly let go of her hand.

"Draco …"

He crawled towards the exit.

"Please, don't go."

Ron followed him. "I'm coming too!"

Draco didn't object. He turned back one last time and looked at his family, the baby staring back at him with more awareness than he ever thought possible in a newborn. "I love you, Mione. There will be no cutting corners. You will heal properly."

Hermione sniffled and nodded.

"Now, tell me you love me too."

"I love you too," Hermione cried. "Please … be careful."

"I will," he said before crawling out of the cave and heading off to find and fight Rita Skeeter.

XXX

"Ah!" Theo fell back as his father hit him with a powerful spell that left one of his arms numb.

"I do not want to kill you, Theo," said Quincy. "As much as it pains me to say it, you are the only son I have, and the Nott name needs to live on."

"Is that all I am to you? Just a bloody way to carry on your family name?"

"Isn't that what we all are?" he asked. "I know that that is all my father saw me as, and I never tried to kill him for it. I respected him. Where did I go wrong with you?"

"I could name a few things," said Theo, getting back on his feet and using his wand to bring feeling back into his arm.

"Like killing your mother?"

"That's barely a small part of why I hate you."

"A hate so strong that you became a blood traitor? On second thought, why is it that I am so willingly sparing filth like you? Avada -"

"Stupefy!"

Quincy barely blocked the spell. He looked to see a fairly young witch with brown hair pointing her wand at him.

"May I help you?" he asked.

The girl did not answer but kept aiming her wand at him, a look of hatred spread across her face that he did not quite understand.

"If you haven't noticed, my son and I are sort of in the middle of something here, so if you could just scurry along -"

"Crucio!"

Quincy was a bit taken aback by the suddenness of the spell and barely managed to dodge it. "Do you know this girl, Theo?"

"No," said Theo, almost convincingly. "Of course not."

Quincy raised his eyebrows. "Really? Because your eyes say otherwise." He glanced at the girl, and then back at his son, and then again at the girl, and one final time at Theo. "Is this the infamous girlfriend? The one you were so eager to get an owl to? And here I was, thinking that was just a ruse to get a letter to the Minister."

"It was. You're wrong."

"No, I don't think I am," said Quincy. "What is your name, pet?" he asked, looking back at the girl.

She did not answer.

"All right, then. Have it your way. Crucio!"

The girl barely dodged. Theo tried hard not to react.

"What is her name, Theo?"

"I … I don't -"

"Crucio!"

She dodged it again and shot another Stunning Spell in Quincy's direction.

"A name!"

"I -"

"Avada -"

"Katie! It's Katie!" shouted Theo, holding his hands up pleadingly. "Please, Father! Your fight is with me! Leave her out of this!"

Quincy looked back at his son and smiled. "It seems like she would rather this fight was with both of you. Avada Kedavra!"

Katie barely got out of the way in time.

XXX

Draco and Ron moved through the forest with caution, one looking left while the other looked right. It had gotten disconcertingly quiet and Rita was nowhere to be found.

"Do you think maybe she went back to the battlefield?" whispered Ron.

"Not a chance," answered Draco. "I am sure she is watching us."

"Maybe she's gone beetle."

There was a thought. Draco's eyes immediately starting scanning around for the bug, but it would be next to impossible to find a specific beetle in a forest.

"You can stop looking around, Mr. Malfoy. I am not a beetle."

Draco and Ron both turned to see Rita Skeeter leaning casually against a tree.

"I haven't had any desire to take that form since I got stuck in it." She took a step forward. "Has the baby been born yet?"

Draco didn't answer.

Rita rolled her eyes. "Oh, never mind. I already know it has. And my guess, by your lack of tears, is that your wife made it, as well. What a pity."

Draco stared daggers at her as he raised his wand.

"All I want is the baby, Mr. Malfoy. Then you and your wife can be on your merry way."

He raised his wand higher.

"I don't see what the big deal is. You two can always have more children."

"Are you serious?" asked Draco, pursing his eyebrows. "You're fucking mental if you actually think I will ever let you touch my son!"

"Oh, a boy!" said Rita, her face lighting up. "I had rather been hoping for one." She lifted her wand so it was pointed at him. "So, shall we finish this, then?"

Draco was just about to say yes when she slyly moved her wand to Ron and shouted, "Crucio!"

He fell back, screaming in agonizing pain.

"Just you and me, Mr. Malfoy. One on one."

Draco glowered at her and pointed his wand more forcefully. "For my wife!" he shouted. "Crucio!"

XXX

Hermione struggled to sit up with her baby in her arms. She nearly passed out when she saw all of the blood drenching the ground and her clothes. And this was after Astoria cleaned the bulk of it up.

"Hermione, you shouldn't strain yourself. Stay down."

"No. I can't sit still right now," she said, cradling her son on her lap and smiling down at him.

Astoria finished cleaning the blood off of her trousers and helped her slip them back on, trying hard to be careful of Hermione's fragile body.

"These will be uncomfortable but it's all we have. I wish I'd thought to pack a skirt or something." At least they were more like loungewear and not jeans. Those would be absolutely awful.

"It's fine, Astoria. I'm just happy that I'm here. I owe you … so much."

"It was nothing," she said with a smile. "I was glad to help. I didn't want Draco to know, but you really scared me there for a moment."

"I had complete faith in you." Hermione brought her son's little head up to her lips and kissed it. "Have you had a chance to look at him yet?" she asked, glancing back at Astoria.

She shook her head. Hermione held the baby out to her and Astoria took him. She smiled and tickled his belly. He grabbed her finger.

"He isn't really acting like a newborn. I think that spell might have developed him a bit further."

"I don't care how he acts as long as he's healthy," said Hermione, trying to get another look at him.

"Normally, I would have you nurse him right about now but, with all of the Potions I had you take, I don't really think it's a good idea."

Hermione frowned.

"Don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to nurse him in the future. In a couple of months, you'll be absolutely sick of it."

"I doubt it," she said, looking down at him and sighing. Astoria started handing him back to her but she shook her head. "Give me a moment."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small phial.

Astoria looked at it curiously. "Is that Pansy's potion?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

"It is," said Hermione, drinking it down. "I stole it from her pocket earlier. Just in case."

"Why are you numbing yourself, Hermione? Draco told you to rest."

"Yes, I know. But we can't stay here, Astoria. It's not safe for my baby." She tossed the empty phial aside and took her son back into her arms. "We need to move. I will rest once I know he's out of harm's way."

Hermione tied the jumper so her baby was wrapped securely in a bundle then headed for the exit. Astoria grabbed her bag and followed.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait a little longer?"

"I'm fine," she said, struggling to get to her feet once they were outside.

Astoria hurried to help her. "Please, don't strain yourself."

"Which way is out?" asked Hermione, looking around.

Reluctantly pointing to the left, Astoria said, "That way."

Hermione started walking 'that way'.

Astoria had to run to keep up with her. "Could you please, at least, take one more Healing Potion?" asked Astoria, shuffling through her bag.

"No more," said Hermione. "I want to nurse my son later."

"This one won't affect that," she said, coming out with a small bottle. "It was the one I used to stop the bleeding that he shouldn't get a taste of."

Hermione paused to take the potion, just to satisfy her friend. Once it was down, she heard some leaves crunching. She immediately whipped in the direction of the sound, pointed her wand and shouted, "Stupefy!"

Lucius raised his wand and blocked it just in time.

"Look at you all in Protective Mommy mode," said Astoria, smiling.

"Hermione, thank Merlin we found you!" said Narcissa, stepping out from behind her husband. Her eyes lit up when they landed on the bundle in Hermione's arms. "Is that my grandson?" She ran over to get a better look.

Hermione pulled the baby away and took several steps back. "What did my parents serve for lunch the first time you met them?" she asked.

Lucius smiled. "Good girl."

"Oh, it was that dreadfully dry meat," said Narcissa, standing on tiptoe and trying to catch a glimpse of her grandson. "What was it called again, Lucius? Roasted beef?"

"Yes, I believe so," he said. "It was an entire roasted meal. Sunday Roasted, right?"

They both looked at Hermione expectantly.

She smiled, "Close enough," and moved the baby back so they could see him.

"You have been through labor and birth already?" asked Lucius, stepping closer.

"Yes. It was all the spell," she answered. "I was just lucky Astoria was with me. She saved my life."

"May I?" asked Narcissa, eagerly wiggling her fingers. Hermione handed her the baby. "Oh look, Lucius! He has yours and Draco's eye color. And that is definitely a Malfoy nose."

Lucius looked down at the baby and grinned. "Well, there is certainly no mistaking whose hair he got." He chuckled as he ruffled his grandson's head. The baby smiled. "He is very present for a newborn."

"Yes, that is the general consensus," said Hermione.

Suddenly, there was a loud blast from nearby. They all jumped and the baby immediately started crying. Narcissa began rocking him.

"I promise, this is the only time in your life I am ever going to do this to you," said Lucius to his grandson before casting a Silencing Charm on him.

Hermione looked in the direction of the sound in a panic. "I … I don't think I can do this," she said in a shaky voice.

"Do what?" asked Astoria.

"Run." She wiped at her wet cheeks. "I can't run away knowing my husband is out there fighting. I have to find him! I have to help him!"

Hermione started to move towards the blast but Astoria grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Hermione, no! You have a son to think about!"

"A son who needs to know his father!" she screamed, trying to pull away from her. "He'll be as safe with Lucius and Narcissa as he will with me! I have to go, Astoria! The prophecy says everyone must fight! We need to fight together! We're strongest that way! Please, let me go!"

Astoria's hand eased slightly.

"Please," Hermione begged. "I cannot lose him now. I need him. Our son needs him."

She released her.

"Hermione, surely you are in no condition to fight," sad Lucius, looking concerned.

"Probably not, but I need to be with Draco right now." Hermione walked over to where Narcissa was holding her son and gave him a kiss. She cried as she stroked his fuzzy head. "You two will take care of him, won't you?"
"For five minutes while you go and kill that hideous bug? Sure." Narcissa smirked.

"Thank you," said Hermione. She kissed him one more time before turning quickly and running in the direction of the blast. There could be no looking back.

"Hermione, wait!" shouted Astoria, running after her. "I'm coming too! If you get to fight with Draco then I get to fight with Ron!"

Hermione nodded, not slowing down as she ran towards Draco, eager to finish this once and for all.