Chapter Six
Hermione concentrated on the gate at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, and in a moment, they were standing just outside the wards.
"Draco?" Hermione asked, glancing over her shoulder.
"Yes, love?" he said, pulling Rose closer to him.
"Do you remember the message I told you?"
"Yeah," he replied, turning to face where he knew the gate was. "I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, husband of Hermione Malfoy and father of Rose Malfoy do not wish any harm to the occupants of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. I simply wish protection for myself and my family."
As soon as the word "family" escaped his lips, Number 12 appeared in front of him.
"Let's go, I have a feeling we're being watched," Hermione whispered.
As Hermione opened the door, the charm that Mad-Eye had placed on the entryway began. She waited until the psuedo-Dumbledore was fully formed before she said, "Draco and I didn't kill you, Professor Dumbledore." Draco was shocked.
"How can you be so calm when your dead Headmaster is coming at you?" he asked.
"I've seen it before," she said, nonchalant. "And please be quiet, Mrs. Black's portrait is still up."
"Mrs. Black? Great Aunt Walburga?" Draco asked.
"Yes, Sirius' mum," she calmly said. "She spouts profanity if she's disturbed. Her portait's just there."
He looked to where she pointed, and walked over to the portrait.
"Erm...Great Aunt Walburga? It is Draco, Narcissa's son," he said.
"Hmph, I'll believe that when I see you," the portrait replied. "You're pureblood, I hope?"
"Yes, Aunt. May I move your tapestry?"
"Yes, but if I catch sight of that filty Mudblood that was here a few years ago with that Pureblooded Blood Traitor Weasley boy, I'll never shut up!" she threatened.
Hermione inched her way slowly to the stairs to find Harry and Ginny. "You okay with Rose?" she whispered.
"Yeah, let the old bat think she's Pureblood for a while," Draco whispered back.
"Meet me upstairs when you're ready."
He nodded and returned to the portrait. "I'm moving the tapestry, Dear Aunt."
When her portrait was fully exposed, Walburga Black did something she had never done...she was speechless.
"You...you...look nothing like a Black!" she stuttered. "Who...who's your...father?"
"Lucius Malfoy," Draco replied. "Although he's in Azkaban for crimes against the Wizarding World."
"What crimes, my dear nephew?"
"Crimes against Muggleborns and Half-Bloods," Draco replied, holding his breath.
"Hmph. Serves them right," she said. "Tell me nephew, why aren't you beside him, then?"
"I am not a Pureblood extremist," he said. "The worst I have done is call a witch a Mudblood. That witch is now my wife. This child in my arms is our daughter."
"BLOOD TRAITOR! MUDBLOOD LOVER! YOU DESERVE TO BE DISOWNED!" Walburga screamed.
"I am not a Bloodtraitor. Your own niece, my MOTHER arranged this. I LOVE that Muggleborn and this Half-Blood," he said calmly. "Also, the charm keeping your portrait up is a Black family secret, dear Aunt. I know how to get your down, since my Mum's a Black. You will be removed shortly. I sincerely hope you have another portrait to retire to, this one will be destroyed."
"Wha...you...you CAN'T! I have no other portrait!" she wailed.
"Then nice meeting you, and goodbye, Walburga," Draco sneered. "Now, I must return to my lovely wife."
As Draco made his way upstairs, Walburga screamed "BETRAYED! BETRAYED BY MY OWN GREAT-NEPHEW! OH HOW I WISH I HADN'T INSISTED ON THIS BLASTED PORTRAIT! I SHALL NEVER SEE MY OWN HOME AGAIN, THANKS TO THAT FILTY, BLOOD TRAITOR MUDBLOOD LOVING NEPHEW OF MINE!"
Hermione stood just outside a bedroom, smiling to herself as she put her wand away. "What in Merlin did you tell her?" she said when she noticed Draco standing there, babbling to Rose.
"I told her I know the charm to get her off the wall, and destroy her portrait," he said. "It's true, by the way."
"You are my hero," Ginny said to Draco. "I'm quite tired of her spouting off about me 'tainting' her home with my 'Blood Traitor hands."
"Gin, you're a friend of mine, and I don't think you're 'tainting' my mother's family home," Draco said warmly. "And besides, Cousin Sirius willed the house to Harry. It's his decision who comes into the house."
Ginny smiled and said, "Look what Hermione did with Regulus's old room, it's Rose's nursery now."
Draco stepped into his late cousin's room and was genuinely surprised. Gone were the Slytherin banners and news articles pertaining to Voldemort. In their place was soft green paint with a rose border near the ceiling. Above the crib was Rose's name in wooden letters, painted baby pink. There was also a rocking chair, a changing table, and a play area for when Rose got a little older. In the corner was a Muggle contraption Hermione called a "bouncer".
"Merlin, Mione. It's better then the nursery we threw together at my old place," Draco said, in awe.
Hermione smiled and kissed her husband.
Suddenly, Harry came bursting into the room.
"Hullo Draco, Mione. Sorry to interrupt, but we have an issue," he panted.
"What?" Hermione said, wary.
"Place a disillusionment charm on yourself to be safe and look outside."
Hermione did, and what she saw frightened her.
Ronald Weasley, her ex-husband, standing smugly outside the gate. Standing near him were Blaise Zabini, Astoria Greengrass, Theodore Nott, and...Hermione almost cried out, Arthur Weasley. They all had murderous looks on their faces.
"Harry, we need to silence the house so they can't hear us, and connect the floo to McGonagall's office at Hogwarts or Aberforth's or something in case we need to leave fast!" Hermione said. "What if they can get past the wards?"
"I'm almost positive they can't, but I'll connect the floo to McGonagall's office and see if she'll allow us to connect to her home as well."
Suddenly, they all jumped, and Rose started crying when a voice rang out.
"Harry James Potter, Ginevra Molly Potter, James Sirius Potter, Draco Lucius Malfoy, Hermione Jean Malfoy, and Rose Jane Malfoy, surrender now or prepare to die!"
It was Arthur who made the threat. Ginny ran to the window and yelled at her father, "We will do no such thing, Death Eater! And mention our children again and you will suffer a fate worse then death!" For good measure, she hit each and every one of them with her trademark Bat Bogey Hex.
Harry scooped James up, who woke from his nap to hear his family's life endangered, and ran to find his family.
"Aunt Mi, Uncle Drake, are we gonna be otay?" he asked like the child he was.
"We'll be fine, lad. Your dad's got us good and protected," Draco said.
"Daddy? Can we go to Aunt Minnie's now? It's super quiet there," James said sleepily.
"Yeah, let's go."
The six of them flooed to McGonagall's office at Hogwarts. As soon as she saw the frazzled adults and two very sleepy kids, she led them to her private quarters and transfigured the two beds that were in her guest room into a toddler bed for James, and a crib for Rose.
When the kids were asleep again, she led the Potters and the Malfoys into the living room.
"Minerva, my dad and brother are Death Eaters," Ginny said, seemingly calm. Minerva knew, by the fire in the young Mrs. Potter's eyes, that she wasn't going down without a fight.
"Ginny, I know," Minerva sighed. "There's nothing you can do until they physically harm you."
"Oh, so threatening to kill my husband, son, sister, brother-in-law, neice, as well as myself isn't enough?" Ginny said, her voice raising.
"Firstly, explain to me...sister?" Minerva said, confused.
"When Draco Blood Adopted Rose, Ginny and I decided to do kind of a Blood Adoption of our own. Ginny's now my sister," Hermione explained.
As Minerva opened her mouth to speak, Kingsley's Patronus slinked into the room and settled amongst the adults. "All Floo Networks except for the Hogwarts and McGonagall networks are being watched. The Potters and Malfoys are urged to stay at Hogwarts or retire to McGonagall Manor. Do not reply," Kingsley's voice rang out. "Molly Weasley has been arrested, charged with crimes against Muggles, the Durselys to be exact. Memories of the Durselys were not altered. They are waiting at McGonagall Manor for Harry."
"We're going," Harry said. "I didn't get the chance to tell you all yet, but Vernon and Petunia got in touch with me. They want to right their wrongs. Better late then never."
Harry held James as he flooed to McGonagall Manor, Draco did the same for Rose. When Ginny and Hermione were alone with their former professor, Minerva said, "Take care of them, the men and the kids. Use your brains before you attack. Protect your families before you worry about defeating another Dark Lord."
"We will, Min," Hermione said. "And thank you."
"Hurry on to the Manor. My Sneakoscope tells me that two unhappy and unfriendly Weasleys are coming up my staircase now."
"Thank you again, Min," Ginny said. "Please come see us when you're through."
As soon as the flames died down in the Floo, Ron and Arthur Weasley walked in.
"I demand you withhold the Hogwarts letters for James Sirius Potter and Rose Jane Malfoy until further notice!" Arthur boomed.
"Why would I withhold the letters of a 2 year old and a 2 week old?"
"JUST DO IT!" Ron screamed. "OR WE WILL HUNT THEM DOWN AND KILL THE LOT OF THEM, DO YOU GOT ME, YOU OLD BITCH?"
Minerva stood tall, her back stiff. "I will not have you, or anyone else talk to me in that manner. Now leave before I summon Aurors to come retrieve you and reunite you with your wife and mother!"
The Weasleys left immediately, and Minerva Flooed to her Manor.
A/N Another chap! CLIFFHANGER! I'm so evil. :) Please read and review, and tell me what you think! I'll update again soon! xoxoxo