Wow. I am so sorry for making you wait so long for this chapter. To be honest, I had to re-think my entire plot line, and because of that I edited my other four chapters as well. So it would make sense to re-read those before reading the rest of the story, otherwise it won't make sense. I also decided to change the name of the ff to A Thin Line because it better describes the story than the original title did.
Warning: In this chapter, mature themes are implied. Also, this chapter is slightly... darker than my other "happier" chapters.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters. It all belongs to JK Rowling. Ginny's wedding dress description is inspired by StarshakesxX .
Dedications: Lyfeee, convinced me to continue to write and to be honest, without her encouragement (and annoying messages on msn), I probably wouldn't have continued. Thank you for being an awesome friend :)
StarshakesxX, Thank you for listening to my annoying banter every time I was stuck with a detail. You're amazing, thanks again.
P.S.H. and V.V. , were my faithful editors for this chapter. :) Without you guys.. this chapter would've completely sucked. Thanks for all your advice!
Enjoy, R&R!
(A/N: Don't forget to re-read the other 4 chapters before continuing to this one)
"Mrs Weasley, Miss. Granger is ready to see you," the receptionist announced.
"I hate when they call me that. I feel like I'm 50 or something," Lavender muttered as her husband shook his head in amusement.
With some help from Ron, Lavender stood up, trying to support herself with all the extra weight from her pregnancy. The couple followed the pudgy receptionist into a small pastel-purple colored room. All around the room, posters were hung up describing the development of babies throughout its nine months in the mother's womb.
"What do you think it'll be?" Lavender asked Ron as she sat down on the cot.
"I'm hoping for a boy. He'll be excruciatingly handsome, just like his father," Ron replied with a grin and a flex of his muscles.
Lavender laughed. "Excruciatingly handsome, huh? More like a maniacal ego head."
"I completely agree," Hermione said, walking into the room, amused.
"Hermione! You're supposed to be on my side!" Ron exclaimed, grinning.
Hermione returned the grin and hugged Ron and Lavender.
"My, my. Getting bigger, are we?" Hermione noted as she helped Lavender lie down on the cot.
"Four more months," Ron said proudly, giving Lavender's hand a light squeeze.
"I haven't seen you since Christmas. What was the emergency you had to go in for, anyway?" Lavender asked.
She still hadn't organized her thoughts from that night's events. There was something blocking her from figuring it out. It was as if her mind was keeping secrets from her.
"Oh, Pansy was in labour," Hermione said, deciding not to say too much... just in case her gut feelings were simply nothing.
Ron's face scrunched up in disgust. "Pansy Parkinson? One of Malfoy's followers? Who's kid was it?"
Lavender hit Ron's arm, "Ron! Can you be any more insensitive?"
Ron mumbled a 'sorry', rubbing his sore arm.
"It was... Draco's," Hermione said. Ron nodded as if saying 'I knew that all along'.
Lavender smiled. "Pansy and Draco... wow. How's Pansy doing now? Did she have a boy or girl?" Lavender questioned, her imbalance of hormones making her seem more interested than ever.
"Girl," Hermione replied wearily. Stay calm, Hermione. Calm. Relax. "Pansy... died giving birth."
An awkward silence settled between the trio. Lavender could literally feel the tension building in the room. There was something about Hermione's pained expression that told her to drop the subject. It was something that she'd need to discuss with her alone.
Clearing her throat, Lavender changed the subject, "You're coming dress shopping tomorrow, right?"
Hermione nodded, sending a grateful look in Lavender's direction.
"Well...let's find out the gender of the next Weasley baby, shall we?" Hermione cast a spell and rubbed a cold cream on Lavender's baby bump.
A few moments later, Hermione was grinning broadly.
"Congratulations, mummy and daddy! It's a boy!"
Ron yelled in delight, "Yeees!"
Hermione excused herself and left the excited couple in the room as she went to print out a sonogram of the unborn Weasley.
She did this for so many couples - she told them whether they would be joined by a little boy or a little girl, she met with them every few months, she delivered their kid(s) - for Merlin's sake.. so why was there a sting in her heart. Why on Earth did she feel like there was a puzzle piece that was missing? Why was she almost... jealous? These were questions that were best left alone until she was completely alone.
Hermione walked back into the room, plastering a smile on her face.
"I'll see you for another appointment next month, then? When are you announcing your big news?"
"Probably New Year's," Lavender said, beaming.
"I'll keep it on the down low then," Hermione winked.
After a few more hugs, goodbyes and promises to write, the happy, chattering couple left.
Hermione locked the door behind them with a quick Colloportus and slumped down to the floor burying her face into her arms. Her exhausted mind put her to sleep before she could begin to analyze.
Her dreams were unnerving. There weren't any clouds or bunnies or rainbows... there was only a dark room and him...
"Have you ever considered joining the Dark Lord's side?" a familiar voice asked.
"Of course not!" Hermione snapped, her eyes widening at the thought. "How can you even suggest such a thing? Harry is my best friend and I will do everything in my power to make sure he defeats the... the.. thing that destroyed his parents."
She saw a glimpse of anger pass through his eyes.
"Hermione. The Lord can use your powers. He would treat you better than those ignorant boys. You'd have a life full of pleasure if you switched sides."
"What are you saying? That you want me to betray Harry? Are you out of your bloody mind? Why are we even talking about th-"
She was interrupted by his hand covering her mouth. "Listen here, Princess," he breathed in her ear. "We can do this the hard way or the easy way. You scream, I'll kill you. So here's an idea. Don't scream and enjoy the pain."
Hermione's eyes watered with fear. She had trusted him! What was he doing? This couldn't possibly be him... he was possessed.
"H-honey? W-what are you doing?" she asked, terrified as she felt his hands creeping lower than she would ever allow.
"I didn't give you permission to ask questions, Princess," his rough voice replied, biting down on her ear as she whimpered.
"Good. Following instructions for once. Say, did your library books ever teach you how to bring pleasure to a man?"
She stared at him in disbelief. "P-please don't do this. I-I t-trusted you."
"Dark Lord's orders, sweetheart. Just enjoy it, hm?" She felt his lips caress the side of her neck as his nails pierced deeper into her thigh.
Hermione screamed as she felt him inside her.
"You'll pay for that, Princess," he smirked.
Hermione jolted awake, sweat trickling down her forehead. It had seemed so real... it was terrifying. She couldn't figure out who the man in the dream was... his voice was so familiar... like it had been lost in the past, somewhere.
She had another flash of that photograph.
She's eleven years, two months, three days, and 12 hours old.
"Does this dress make me look fat?" asked a worried Ginny, trying on her millionth wedding dress of the day.
The three other women chuckled.
"No, seriously," Ginny said, nervously.
"It looks gorgeous, Ginny!" Lavender raved as Hermione and nodded in agreement.
Ginny looked doubtful as she scrutinized every inch of the dress in the mirror.
"I don't know... it's lovely... but... it's not the one," she decided finally as she changed into, yet another, gown that Molly had chosen.
Hermione suppressed a yawn. She had been here for over three hours and they hadn't even started looking for the bridesmaid dresses. She was tired, she was cranky, and Lavender kept glancing at her worriedly whenever she thought Hermione wasn't looking. All in all, it was hell.
Her eyes threatened to close... but she was afraid of having anymore nightmares. Her train of though was interrupted by a squeal of delight. Ah, at last. Ginny found the perfect dress.
To be honest, the three hours that it had taken to find the dress had been well spent. Ginny had tried on a strapless, satin gown that was a traditional ivory shade. It was floor-length with a short trail lingering behind. The dress was tightly-fitted on the top with an innocent "V" neckline as it flowed down from the waist with light netting over top of the satin material. The back of the dress was tied with zigzag patterns of lace as small rhinestone designs were scattered around the front and back.
The gown paired with Ginny's slim body was overall - stunning.
"Hermione, you look like a zombie who has just been given the gift of life," Lavender giggled.
"I feel like a zombie too," Hermione replied. "You look beautiful in that gown, Gin," she said without too much excitement. "But seriously, can we please go eat?"
chuckled. "I have a few more errands to run, dear. Why don't you girls head off to The Three Broomsticks?"
"Sounds like a good plan, Mum," Ginny replied with a wide smile, completely oblivious to Hermione's pained expression. "Let me get changed, and we'll go."
Meanwhile, Mrs. Weasley paid for the wedding dress and left the shop with an enormous bag in her hand.
Lavender turned to Hermione. "Is everything all right? The other day... you seemed distracted during the appointment. Heck, you look like crap right now too."
"Gee, thanks, Lav. I'm fine, really. I've just been having... nightmares lately. They seem so real to me... like they've happened before... but they haven't... at least I don't think they have."
"Does it have anything to do with Malfoy's daughter? You looked really stiff when I mentioned it earlier."
"Not really. There was just some-" Hermione's words were cut short as a cheery Ginny came out of the fitting room and motioned the two witches to follow her out of the front door.
"So what did I miss?" Ginny asked as they walked towards The Three Broomsticks.
"Well, Hermione has been having nightmares that feel like they're real..." Lavender began, motioning Hermione to continue.
"Guys, what happened to Neville Longbottom?" Hermione wondered aloud instead.
Draco stared at the blank white wall in front of him. A wall that once was full of memories and pictures galore, memories that made it hard for him to swallow without a couple tears streaming down his face. Father would've been disappointed in him, he was turning into an emotional blob... He just couldn't hide himself behind his wall of indifference and pretend that he wasn't severely affected by Pansy's death.
He couldn't believe it. They hadn't even left their relationship on a positive note. She and him had been bloody furious with each other... and now he couldn't apologize. He couldn't do anything. Draco blamed himself. He had heard from several doctors that stress sometimes caused a premature labour... even if she had been cursed... there might have been a way to stop it... there might have been a warning; it could've bought more time.
If he had just taken her to a healer the second she had complained about her stomach pains... maybe she would've been here, with him.
His blood-shot eyes looked down at his feet. The sudden contrast of his black shoes snapped him out of his blame fest.
Barely two feet away lay broken shards of glass and pieces of wood, the result of him slamming each photo frame on the marble floor. Mother would definitely be pissed but he'd deal with that later.
Outside, sat dozens of guests dressed in black for the funeral service and he was sitting here in the endless hallway leading to their room. He just wasn't able to face it. He didn't care that people would talk about him not being at his late wife's funeral. He didn't give a damn about anything.
He'd miss the days when he would wake up and find his wallet a lot lighter than he had left it. But there would be things that he wouldn't miss either... like her snarky attitude in the mornings until she had a cup of coffee. She definitely hadn't been a morning person.
He knew that needed to let go of those thoughts... but how?
He'd put off being a dad long enough. Maybe his daughter could provide a distraction. Wasn't it worth a try at least?
As he sat on the bench listening to the words of the Clergy, there was a sly smirk on his face. The Dark Lord would be proud of him. He had destroyed Draco's family. That's what he deserved for being infidel to his Lord. Too bad the curse hadn't destroyed the bitch that they had spawned - of course he hadn't realized that there even was one inside the Pug-face when he had cast it on her.
He would destroy Draco, no matter what it took. He had taken the spotlight away from him, so his life was merely payback.
Not that he wanted Draco dead. No. Neveeer. His inner voice sneered. Where was the fun in pointing his wand at him and yelling 'Avada Kedavra' ? He might as well amuse himself.
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~.dust