Harry and Hermione walked out through the hallway of the kitchen, and scooped up Ron on the way. They continued to walk up the old, rickety steps of Headquarters towards the study, and eventually to the fireplace to floo back to the castle.
During their travels, Ron, ever the inquisitive, asked Hermione what had made her so angry that evening, where she went, how she was feeling, and other similar questions along those lines. Hermione tried her best to answer Ron, but she was in fact, very tired and emotionally drained. When Ron was satisfied with Hermione's responses, he then continued to tell Harry how everyone reacted after his exit speech.
'Everyone sat there for a moment, and then Snape…well he just got up and went out the door, didn't speak to anyone on his way out…and McGonagle, I could have swore she was going to have a stroke…she went back to Hogwarts and went looking for you two there…and Lupin and Tonks, well they took off right away…' and as Ron continued divulging his gossip, Harry's mind wondered off in a completely different direction. He thought of Hermione, of what he said to her in the park, of how she told him that she yearned for her parents, and how he told her that they were going to be a family. He had told her that everything was going to turn out alright in the end. He wished he didn't have to lie to her. For Harry knew perfectly, that things rarely turned out the way you expected them to.
They flooed back to Professor Flitwick's office, and made their way silently through the castle, up towards Gryffindor tower. The three bade each other good night, and submerged themselves in the peaceful slumber that soon consumed them.
The next morning, Hermione awoke to the bright wintery sky, ever so clear as crystal. She smiled to herself, and nestled just a bit more under her blankets. She was cozy, comfortable, and clearly was not eager at all to jump out of bed and begin her day. But none-the-less, at the sound of her alarm clock, Hermione did gather up just enough strength to pull herself out of her warm cocoon, and she showered, dressed, and prepared to meet the boys in the common room for breakfast.
The first sight she saw that morning, was Ron Weasley: leaning against the back of the giant plush red couch in front of the fireplace, shirt untucked, tie haphazardly placed around his neck, and one shoelace that was begging to become undone at any moment. Harry didn't look any better either: his hair appeared uncombed, the cloak on his right arm had definitely seen better days…and for this, Hermione was grateful. For some things, never changed.
She smiled at Ron and Harry.
'Morning,' she said with a cheerful tone, a smile across her lips.
'Morning 'Mione…' Ron yawned, managing to drop his Potions book in mid-yawn.
She approached Harry and gave him a peck on the cheek. He smiled at her, and was grateful to see her in higher spirits.
'Well, let's be off to breakfast…I am rather hungry,' and she added looking at Harry, '..and I never did get that spot of tea last night that Ron's mom promised me,' she said with a pseudo-sarcastic tone, smiling at Harry. He chuckled at her, adjusted his glasses, and the three continued their way through the portrait of the fat lady, down the stairs, and into the Great Hall.
They sat at the large Gryffindor table, and immediately tucked into some breakfast. Harry chose oatmeal, a slice of toast with raspberry jam, and some pumpkin juice. Hermione had the same, except she chose strawberry jam to go with her toast. And Ron…well, Ron had two eggs, two slices of toast, four sausage links, and some pumpkin juice as well, which he successfully managed to spill on his Charms homework.
'Oh great…this is just great…' Ron muttered, at the sight of the juice on his parchment.
Without a word, Hermione took hold of her wand and muttered a simple cleansing spell. The juice evaporated, leaving the parchment intact and without damage.
'Honestly, Hermione…I don't know what I would do without you…' Ron said, ever grateful, glancing at his homework. And funny enough, Harry had thought the exact same thing. He didn't know what he would do without the woman he had grown to love. She was an angel. She was smart, beautiful, funny…and she was perfect, absolutely perfect.
In the midst of his thoughts, Harry turned to the open window above the head table. The morning mail had arrived. Dots of white, black, brown, and gray soared above their heads. The owls swooped down, bringing mail and other packages to the staff and students of Hogwarts Castle. Neville had gotten a rather large, odd looking package. And unfortunately, it was moving around quite a bit, growling and shaking the package. With a look of concern, Ron advised the fellow Gryffindor to take the package and open it where there would be less people around (translated into less casualties). Neville nodded his head in agreement and rushed the beastly package out of the Great Hall. Harry chuckled at this. Poor Neville. Some things never change. And for this, Harry was grateful.
As the owls soared throughout the Great Hall, a Daily Prophet was dropped to the left of Harry's empty plate. A set of quills was haphazardly dropped directly onto Ron's pumpkin juice, and spilled on his cloak. Cursing the winged creature, Hermione gave a laugh and with wand in hand, cast another drying spell on his clothing.
A black owl, black as night with eyes the color of honey, flew in the direction of Hermione Granger. The owl was carrying a small, delicately wrapped package. It was the color of ivory, with a deep maroon colored bow. It was rather beautiful, and when it arrived in front of Hermione, she immediately turned to Harry with a smile.
'Oh Harry…is this from you?' she asked, eyes full of glee.
Harry, on the other hand, had the complete opposite look on his face. His was one of concern, with a touch of skepticism.
'No, 'Mione. It's not from me…I don't know who it's from, is there a tag or something?' he said, as he picked up the box to inspect the package.
'No, no note. Do you think I should open it?' she asked Harry.
'Give it a go, 'Mione. It does look really nice…' Ron said, finishing up a stray bit of toast.
Hermione smiled, and grasped the package with both hands and peered at it. It really was beautiful. Simple, but beautiful. With her left hand holding the box steady, she began to unwrap the bow with her right hand. She unfolded the flaps of the box and looked inside. And what she found surprised her.
It was a silver rattle. A silver rattle, with a silver snake as the handle of the rattle, a snake so ugly and sinister looking, that it was truly frightening, especially for a baby's toy.
Hermione held it up, and stared at it most perplexed. No one, apart from Harry, Ron, and the rest of the Order, knew that she was pregnant.
Her eyes then focused on a small piece of parchment that was at the bottom of the box.
She placed the rattle carefully on the wooden table, and took hold of the note. And after reading the note, she began to shake slightly, eyes wide and heart beating faster than one could imagine. For the note read the following:
'He is watching you. Always. Do not try to do anything stupid, for you will suffer the utmost consequences. And in the end, he will have you. You and the child.'
Hermione stared straight ahead, her breathing rapid, skin as white and as pale as a sheet of ice. Harry stared at her panic-stricken face, and took hold of the note, and read it as well. He too felt his pulse increase, and his mouth went dry. Ron took the note from Harry, and read it, and re-read it, trying in his mind to decipher who might have sent the awful letter.
The members of the head table, specifically Minerva McGonagle and Severus Snape, were also watching the trio, and likewise Hermione's reaction. Hermione rarely received mail, and no one would have sent her a gift such as this in the midst of all the students. It was truly a cause for concern.
But no one had noticed the boy standing just outside the doors of the Great Hall, watching the event unfold. It would have been wise to remember the words Severus Snape uttered to Harry and Hermione that one fateful January evening, when he had returned from one of his Death Eater Meetings:
'He knows about you two. He knows that you have become involved. But above all, and perhaps this is what matters most at this point, he knows that you, Ms. Granger, are carrying a most important treasure that has now become a…priority of sorts to the Dark Lord.'
If Voldemort knew about Harry and Hermione, who had leaked the information? Who had told him? Who had sent the package and note to Hermione?
It was the boy, the same boy now standing outside the Great Hall with a smirk across his face, watching Harry and Hermione, watching silently as she received her gift. The same boy who's features had grown sallow and gaunt ever since he joined the Death Eaters. The same boy who's silvery blond hair was an unmistakable trademark of his family line.
For you see, Harry and Hermione were betrayed by none other than Draco Malfoy.