AN: I hope you have enjoyed the story so far. While the previous chapters have been graphic, I have to warn you that this one is especially so. This chapter is specifically why I moved the rating to mature. Again, thank you to those who have read the story so far and those of you that have put the story on alerts.

"Congratulations, Harry. He's so handsome," Hermione said as she held the sleeping baby in her arms. Little James Sirius had been born five hours previously.

Harry smiled. "Thanks, Hermione. Gin and I wanted to know if you wanted to be his godmother? We wouldn't want anyone else for the job."

"Oh, Harry. Of course I will. I would be honored to be his godmother."

"That means so much to me, Hermione. You know you are like a sister to me, right?"

Hermione laughed. They had been each other's family when everyone else was gone during their time on the run.

"Yes, little brother," Hermione teased. "And I couldn't ask for a better brother than you." She hesitated a little before she went on. "I don't want to talk about this here, since this is James' day, but we need to talk about Draco Malfoy at some point."

Harry sighed. He knew he'd have to tell her why he'd left out the detail of Draco missing his right ring finger at some point to her.

"I can come over to your parents' house tomorrow. Molly is planning on fussing over James tomorrow and while I love the woman like my own mother, she has been a bit overbearing lately with Gin so close to delivering."

"Thanks, Harry. I should get back home before Mum starts to worry. Auror Jones is waiting downstairs for me. I'll see you tomorrow."

Hermione handed the tiny babe back to his father, gave a peck on Harry's cheek, and walked towards the stairs.

"It was like straight out of the movie Seven, Harry. Instead of a head in a box, though, I received a finger. I cannot for the life of me figure out why he would think I'd want a severed finger for Christmas. Poor Auror Thicke threw up when he saw it," Hermione said as she poured Harry a cuppa.

"I should have warned you but I never thought he'd send the finger to you. We kept it to ourselves to rule out a copycat. It's a typical Muggle police tactic," Harry said as he sipped his tea.

Hermione sat down the teapot. "I'm not blaming you, Harry. I was positive you had your reasons. I... the entire thing was surreal. It was almost as if I were in a movie. I don't know how much more of this I can handle, Harry."

"We've narrowed the pool down a bit more. Given that his mother passed away, we were able to cross reference students who were a year below us with those who had two living parents or a dead father to rule them out. With the war, however, people lost lives so it only went so far. We have about fifteen people it could be and we've been keeping a close eye on them."

"I haven't been sleeping well, Harry. I keep having nightmares about seeing Ron's body and Malfoy's finger. Mum is begging me to take leave from my job until this lunatic is found. She's worried that I'm going to end up in St. Mungo's due to the stress of my work and the stress of this stalker."

"Hermione, no one would think less of you if you took leave. Shacklebolt authorized it. To be honest, I think it might be for the best. No offense, but you are looking like the walking dead. I haven't seen you like this since the Forest of Dean."

Hermione shivered at the memory of camping. She remembered the fear and the hunger that went along with that experience. She couldn't go near a thick patch of trees without having a flashback of that year.

"I'll consider it, Harry. I won't promise anything though."

Harry grinned. "I wouldn't expect anything less of you."

My Dearest Heart,

It will be soon, my love. You will be here, in my arms. My fantasies are fueled by thinking of you lying next to me. Oh love, if only we could be together tonight! Alas, I still have a few more wedding gifts to give you before we can be together. My body longs for you, my sweet. I will not tell you when we shall be together for I want to surprise you.

I read today that Harry Potter's son was born. We will make a wonderful aunt and uncle for the boy. He shall be a playmate for our children. Oh the memories we will make, my heart. The balls we will attend together will show us off as the perfect couple! The war heroine who fell in love with the man who has loved her since they were children. Oh what a romantic story we will make.

I hope you enjoy your first wedding gift, my love. I will dream of you tonight, as always.

Until Our Wedding,

Your Eternal Love

Hermione couldn't hold it in this time. She ran to the bathroom and vomited the contents of her stomach. She could only imagine what her wedding gifts would be after the finger she received from this madman. Standing over the sink, Hermione splashed cold water on her face. She needed to get it together. This wasn't the time to start falling apart.

Walking out the bathroom, Hermione headed to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. Her stomach still churned, but the initial fear the letter put in her had mostly faded. He was becoming bolder. It would only be a matter of time before he took her.

"No, Harry wouldn't let that happen. Auror Jones is one of the best and keeps a hawk eye on me," she told herself.

She groaned when she realized she was talking to herself. This situation was making her go as crazy as her stalker.

Cuddling with his wife in bed, Harry hurt the start of soft cries coming from the nursery. Seeing that his wife was still sleeping, he leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. Harry climbed out of bed and made his way to the nursery.

"Shh James, Daddy is here. What's wrong, little guy?" Harry asked as he picked up his son from his cot. James continued to wail in his father's arms.

Harry laid the infant on the changing table and began to undress his newborn son.

"Ah, there seems to be the problem. You need a clean nappy." Harry quickly changed the child and walked him downstairs.

He walked over to the rocking chair that sat next to a window that overlooked the street in front of their house. He sat down in the chair and began to rock his son back to sleep when he noticed something outside. Harry placed James into the bassinet they kept in the room and grabbed his wand. He made his way out the door to investigate.

The image kept flickering. Like a spell was either not cast right or was trying to wear off. Harry would catch glimpses of a body, but could not make out who it was or what they were doing. Fingering his wand, Harry cast a spell to end the incantation on the object.

Before him was Auror Thicke, disemboweled. Whoever had killed his colleague had fashioned the small intestine into a noose and hanged the body from a tree in the park across the street from Harry's house. Strengthening his resolve, Harry knew he needed to catch this man before he killed again.

My Sweetest Love,

After your next gift, we will meet and be together forever, finally. My body trembles with excitement. Does yours? The anticipation feels like it might overwhelm me. I have so many questions to ask you, but I will not badger you at this time.

Until Our Love is United,

Your Eternal Love