Wow, thank you all so much for the kind reviews. I don't think I ever got as much feedback on a first chapter in such a short time. You guys are amazing. Which is why I finished Chapter 2 for you. It's a little longer but I don't think you'll mind.

Enjoy.

np

The two muggles were struggling against the hold the two Snatchers had on them as if they actually had a chance to overpower their captors and flee. Narcissa could easily see why their daughter had ended up being a Gryffindor: Brave, often to a point of stupidity. Careful not to rise suspicions, she studied the middle-aged couple, a cold, distant look in her eyes. She'd known who they were the instant she'd laid eyes on the woman. The resemblance to Hermione was striking…

"Ah, so nice of you to join us," Lord Voldemort hissed as his red eyes focused on the muggles, successfully interrupting her trail of thought. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, it is an honor to have you here in the humble walls of Malfoy Manor. But you do have forgotten your good manners I believe," he flicked his wand and the couple went down on their knees with pained cries. They never let go of the other's hand though and Narcissa highly respected them for it.

"Much better." Voldemort smiled cruelly. "Now, I believe introductions are in order." He motioned for Bellatrix and Narcissa to come to his side.

"This is Bellatrix Lestrange. I am sure even you have heard of her. She is rather famous in both worlds, one might say."

The crazy eyed woman gave a theatrical bow and cackled, always eager to hear her Lord's praise. Narcissa thought her sister practically lived for the man's attention…

"And this – this is Narcissa Malfoy, your gracious host as well as the mother of my unborn child."

Both Bellatrix and Narcissa looked shocked by the announcement, the latter more than the first. Narcissa was on the fast way to hyperventilating and it took all of her willpower to not fall to pieces right there in front of him and her deranged sibling. Could it be? Her blue eyes fell onto her stomach. Could it really be? She had always wanted another child after Draco but had eventually given up on it… and now… No! She didn't want to carry his heir…

"You heard right, my dear Narcissa," Voldemort reached out one of his thin pale arms and ran his fingers over her cheek. Narcissa flinched and felt her stomach coil but forced herself to stay rooted to the spot, indifference the only emotion on her aristocratic face. "Narcissa here is four months pregnant with my son, my heir." He withdrew his spindly fingers and Narcissa could finally breathe again.

"However, telling you the good news is not what you came here for... Narcissa, be a dear and show the Grangers to their new living accommodations. Don't fret," he said to the Muggles. "You won't be staying for long. As soon as your precious mudblood daughter learns of your capture, well, let's just say I'll be looking forward to meeting her…"

"No! Don't you dare lay a finger on her!" Mr. Granger's face was red with fury, his eyes shooting daggers at the dark wizard. He struggled against the hold the Snatchers had on him until one of the finally had enough and knocked him out with a blow to the side of his head.

"William!" Mrs. Granger cried out as her husband hit the floor, desperate tears flowing freely from her cerulean eyes.

Inside, Narcissa's blood was boiling, both at Hermione being called a mudblood and her father being hurt in front of her. On the outside though, she stayed calm and cold; there wasn't anything she could do for them, at least not right now.

She nodded at the Snatchers, motioning for two of them to pick up the unconscious William Granger. The third and last of the men roughly wrapped his hand around Mrs. Granger's wrist, pulling her after him.

Lead by the lady of the Manor, they reached the dungeons. She watched as they pushed the Grangers into the cell, his wife immediately rushing to Mr. Granger's side, cradling his head in her lap.

Narcissa retrieved her key and locked the door to the cell before she turned to the three despicable wizards waiting behind her.

"You may leave," she motioned to the stairs leading upstairs with a fake smile. "Go and retrieve your reward from our Lord. I am sure he will be very generous."

The men eagerly nodded and left the cold cellar, not seeing how the witch's features changed into a frown as she approached the bars.

"I am sorry, but for now I'll have to lock you up," Narcissa looked at Hermione's frightened mother with sincerity.

"Why would we believe you? YOU are sorry?" Mrs. Granger spat at her, her voice venomous. "You're spreading your legs for… for that abomination! You are nothing but his whore! You carry his child, a monster!"

Narcissa flinched back at the woman's harsh words. Automatically, her hands came to rest on her still flat stomach. She'd known the truth of his words as soon as he'd said them. She was way too young to be in her menopause – especially for witches who could easily become 180 and older – but she'd thought that this had to be it, the cause of her missing period. Maybe, maybe she just couldn't, wouldn't believe for a minute, that she, Narcissa Malfoy, 37, was carrying the Dark Lord's child. But now she did. And against all odds, Narcissa already loved the child. She hadn't wanted it but now, ultimately, it was hers. And she would protect it, no matter the cost.

"Do not talk about my child like this," Narcissa seethed, channeling her inner Black for the first time that evening. "She is not responsible for her father's sins. She is not him and she will never be." The blonde forced herself to calm back down and eventually added in a softer voice: "I know how it must look like but I assure you my words are true. I am sorry for your situation and I will do my best to end it." Narcissa looked back at the Grangers. Hermione looked so much like her mother, locking the woman up almost physically hurt. "I shall come back at nightfall." She turned to leave the dungeon behind but after a second thought transformed two old barrels into blankets. Wordlessly she pushed them through the bars and left.

Hermione was a sobbing mess. In the time span of just a couple hours, she had lost both Narcissa, her parents and her home.

She'd known that something bad had happened when Prof. McGonagall had burst into their potions class, ordering for Hermione to come with her as well as her two best friends. Still, the reality had proven to be worse.

Apparently deatheaters had attacked their house late yesterday evening, burning it almost to the ground. Her parents hadn't been found so it was safe to assume that they'd been taken away, captured.

Dumbledore had said that it was likely that they would use her parents to lure her out. And Hermione wholeheartedly agreed. She felt as if she was sitting on hot coals. She wanted to storm out and find them. But as of now, she didn't even know where to look. They'd probably have to wait for Voldemort to contact them…

Then, a letter arrived, carried by a beautiful tawny owl.

Prof. Dumbledore approached the elegant bird but was met with a threatening hiss. Together with Prof. McGonagall, Harry and Ron, he watched as the owl hopped towards Hermione, holding out one of its claws where a letter was fastened.

"Go ahead," the headmaster gestured to Hermione who cautiously reached out her hand. The owl didn't move once.

She extracted the letter and unfolded it, surprised to see a very familiar handwriting.

"Your parents are at the Manor. They are relatively unhurt and I will make sure that it stays that way. Do not worry. I promise I will keep them safe until an opportunity arises. Please stay put, do not place yourself in harm's way. The owl is new – couldn't risk anyone recognizing Bartholomew. IKYSAYKM."

A hesitant smile lit up Hermione's teary eyes as she traced her fingers over the acronym. It had been her idea to add it to the end of their letters to each other, seeing as they had to be careful. They couldn't very well write their names but they could do this. It meant 'I know your soul as you know mine' and was a line of one of the witch Morgana's poems. Narcissa had laughed at the idea at first, especially considering the words and their meaning, but finally she'd agreed. She read the letter once more before she handed it to Dumbledore and started stroking the owl's soft feathers instead.

"Ms. Granger, I assume you know who sent this letter?" The headmaster was twirling his long beard around his fingers as four pairs of curious eyes stared at Hermione.

The girl nodded.

"Well, who is it from?" Minerva McGonagall wanted to know.

"I uh, I'm not sure I should…"

"Tell us, Ms. Granger. The person who wrote this could be in danger as well."

"Narcissa Malfoy," Hermione said the two words with a gentle voice. It was close to never that she got to speak her name out loud. She liked the sound of it.

"Why would-"

"Minerva," Dumbledore interrupted the old witch, looking at Hermione with an unreadable expression on his wrinkled face. She was sure the professor knew more than he let on. Or at least suspected something. "Ms. Granger has told us enough. For now. The important part of this is that we now know that Ms. Granger's parents are alive and that they are at Malfoy Manor."

"But can we trust a Malfoy of all people? Maybe the note is a trick!" Harry voiced his worries, concern for his friend visible in his green eyes.

"It sounds like the Ice bitch all right," Ron added with contempt.

"We can," Hermione said with emphasis. She had to defend her, wouldn't let anyone taint her name. Not after what she'd done for her, not after what she was still doing. It was time to tell the truth. "It was her who struck the Killing Curse at Rendall Ark to save my life almost three years ago."

"But you said you didn't see who did it!" Ron spoke up, looking hurt at his friend's betrayal.

"I did," Hermione agreed. "And I am sorry for lying to all of you. But she asked me to keep it a secret."

"Well, this is indeed an interesting turn of events, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore studied her through his glasses. "Send the owl back to its owner but do not attach a note. We will have to trust for Mrs. Malfoy to reach out to us once more if anything changes."

Narcissa was changing into light traveling clothing when the new owl returned. She took a deep breath and felt relief wash over her at the thought that Hermione knew that she'd do everything in her power to get her parents to safety. The girl was probably worried sick and – as the Gryffindor she undoubtedly was – ready to rush out and face the Dark Lord herself. If she'd put a stop to that it was worth every risk she'd taken. Hermione needed to stay safe.

"Narcissa," the Dark Lord walked into her bedroom, followed by Nagini. His eyes widened as he took in the woman's state of undress. He looked inhuman but he wasn't immune to human needs and desires.

"My Lord," Narcissa obediently said, stopping in her tracks and placing the pair of trousers on her bed. It wouldn't do to raise his suspicions now. So she stood there, quietly, feeling his red eyes rake over her form. She'd only gotten to fastening the clasp of her bra when he'd come into the room. She was glad she at least wore her bra and panties. Not that it stopped him from mentally undressing her…

Lord Voldemort circled the pale woman and stopped behind her, breathing down on her neck. "You look… delicious, Narcissa." His right hand came around her back and made its way to her stomach. "I assume that you are taking good care of my son?"

"I am."

"Good." His hand moved up to her breast and roughly grabbed it. "I'll await you in my own rooms tonight."

Then he was gone as quickly as he'd come.

Narcissa felt like a stranger in her own skin. Being touched against her will had been part of most of her life and only recently with Hermione had she learned that things could be different, that intimacy could be a good, a pleasurable thing. And those stolen moments with the student had softened her. These days she seemed to feel unwanted attention more intensively than she used to. Everything felt more intense. Not only the bad things though…

Smiling to herself at remembering the amazed look in Hermione's eyes when she made her come for the first time, she slipped into her chosen attire, dark slacks and a long sleeved black shirt. Not drawing too much attention but still classy.

The Dark Lord would be furious tonight, when she didn't come to his rooms. Too bad she wouldn't be there to witness it.

She protectively cradled her belly. She didn't know how but she knew it was a girl, not a son as the Dark Lord seemed to believe. It was a good thing, really. He wouldn't be as interested in a girl as he would be in a boy. Not that she'd let him near her child anyway. He would never even get to look upon her face if she got her way.

About two and a half years ago

"Dear Mrs. Malfoy,

I know you want me to keep the events of the night of the World Cup a secret – and I promise I have and will keep it to myself – but I just can not forget about it.

I decided to write you this letter.

That night, I didn't even get to thank you. So. Thank you. For saving my life.

I wish I knew why you did it but I suppose this is your secret to keep? …"

Hermione sighed with frustration as she ripped up the sheet of parchment and threw it into the trash. Why was this so difficult? And why couldn't she just forget?

The night Narcissa Malfoy had saved her life was already several months ago. Currently, Hermione was at her parents' home for the Christmas holidays. On Christmas Eve, all three of the Grangers would join the Weasleys at the Burrow. There was still so much to do – gifts to be bought and wrapped as well as books to be read until the start of next year – but Hermione couldn't stop her mind from circling around that night. She couldn't forget, didn't want to actually, and she kept wondering why the pureblood had saved her. She'd become obsessed with the blonde and had even purchased a copy of 'The Sacred 28' at Flourish & Blotts, a chronicle of the Wizarding World's most influential pureblood families. She'd read up on both the Blacks and the Malfoys. Instead of quenching her thirst though, the book had only raised her interest further. She practically yearned to see her again, to get to know her, almost to the point where it became a physical need.

Sighing, she picked up another sheet and set her fountain pen down on its surface.

"Dear Ms. Black," she wrote, thinking that the woman definitely didn't have much of a Malfoy except for her light coloring. "Please meet me at the Three Broomsticks the evening after Christmas Eve. I would very much like to speak with you.

Hermione Granger."

Hermione hesitated before she fastened the finished letter on the owl she'd gotten for her parents to contact her while she was at Hogwarts. With an uneasy but giddy feeling in the pit of her stomach, she watched Ignatius take off into the night. Now there was no going back.

End of flashback

Diane and William Granger flinched as they heard steps coming down into the cellar. Mr. Granger had come to a few hours ago with a pounding headache but otherwise unharmed. His wife had told him all about the 'conversation' she'd had with the Malfoy matriarch and William had agreed that it sounded rather strange. Why would she be helping them? But if that wasn't the case, why would she lie? What was her hidden agenda?

During the last eight hours no one had come to see or even retrieve them and they felt that it was probably better that way. They hadn't heard too much about this Dark Lord and his followers from their daughter but they found the wizard to make the blood freeze in their veins with his red eyes and grey skin. It didn't take a witch or wizard to see that he was the evil incarnate…

The steps stopped and they found themselves looking into the face of the blonde who'd brought them down here and locked them up, Narcissa Malfoy.

"We don't have much time," the woman hurried towards their cell and opened the lock. "I overheard them talking about you earlier and- Well, it doesn't matter. You won't be here when they come to get you."

The Grangers were staring at the open door with fear and hesitation. Everything told them to either stay put or to run but they knew their only real chance laid in trusting this woman. A woman who obviously shared her bed with this dark wizard and was expecting his child…

"I wrote Hermione that I would get you out of here and I will, if it's the last thing I do. So either you come willingly, or…" the blonde said impatiently, her eyes nervously flickering from the prisoners to the staircase behind her.

"You know our daughter? And… and you sent her a letter?" William Granger asked, slowly approaching the open door, pulling his wife with him.

The blonde witch merely nodded. There was no time to explain her 'relationship' with Hermione. Nor did she want to.

"I am getting you to safety but you will have to trust me."

The Grangers exchanged a look and finally left their cell, expectantly looking at their would-be-savior. They had heard the way their daughter's name sounded coming from her lips. It left them… uneasy but at the same time with a new perspective on the woman.

"We… we do trust you," Diane Granger said, her voice confident even if her heart and mind were not.

"All right." Narcissa pointed her wand at the pair and seeing them flinch in apparent fear, huffed and started to explain. 'Trust, my ass…' "I can't apparate with you at my side, the wards don't allow for it. But I have a broom upstairs in my bedroom. I'll have to change your appearance for us to get there though. It'll only be an illusion for others and it'll dissolve after merely three minutes but it should be enough as long as no one gives you a second look."

The Grangers nodded and watched as the woman flicked her wand through the air, moving it around in difficult loops and forms, muttering silently under her breath. "There, all done. You look like my sister and her husband to others now. But, as I said, not for long. Don't meet anyone's eyes. Follow me."

Through sheer luck they managed to get to Narcissa's bedroom without running into anyone.

"Accio broom," she whispered and a broom pushed against her hand a second later. "We'll leave from the balcony," Narcissa informed the two muggles, already opening the glass door and walking out into the late afternoon air. "Did you ever fly on a broom before?" She was answered by silence. It told her enough. "Great. This'll be fun…" she said sarcastically.

The muggles were still staring at her as if she'd lost her marbles.

"Well, hop on. We don't have all day."

Hesitantly, Mrs. Granger swung her leg over the hovering broom, her husband following her lead.

"Hold on tightly," Narcissa said, catching the woman's arms and bringing them around her waist. Mr. Granger did the same, holding securely onto his wife's body. "They might see us take off," Narcissa informed the pair. "If they do, just close your eyes and leave things to me until I tell you to open them."

Then, Narcissa pushed off the tiles, feeling Diane Granger's nails dig into her abdomen as they gained height. She flew as fast as she was able to with the added weight of two people, cursing their still rather slow speed. Her hopes of getting away undetected were shattered as the first spell hit her side. She hissed out a quick "protego", covering the muggles with a magic repelling shield. She knew that they would try to get all of them, especially herself as she was pregnant with the Dark Lord's heir, back alive but she couldn't be too sure about the Grangers.

Hexes were flying between the three brooms – Findabair was on her left, McNair on her right – as they flew as fast as they could towards a small forest. Narcissa shot a last stupefy at McNair before she made a dive for the tree crowns. As soon as she'd reached them, she apparated them to the gates of Hogwarts.

She knew that something had gone incredibly wrong as a piercing pain flashed through her left side, rendering her momentarily unmoving. Together with the Grangers, the broom crashed into the ground, Narcissa dropping off of it. Luckily, they'd been close to the ground when they'd apparated.

She groaned, slowly coming back to her senses. In the corner of her eye she saw a heavily bleeding Findabair corner Mr. and Mrs. Granger. With her last ounce of strength, Narcissa raised her wand and croaked out a weak "Avada Kedavra", only the second of her life. She contentedly witnessed how the man dropped to the ground before she felt the darkness engulf her.

The Grangers had been holding onto each other, frightened at the dangerous glint in the wizard's eyes, when suddenly a jet of green light hit his back and he fell to the ground, unmoving. They'd watched how the blonde witch's wand clattered to the floor, rolling a few inches away from her. They'd watched how her eyes flew shut and her body relaxed. Seeing the woman's bloody side and the deep cuts – how had she gotten them? – they rushed to her side, moving her to a stabilizing position and pushing down on the worst gash, trying to stem the blood flow.

It was then that Hagrid had found them, immediately opening the gates at recognizing the two muggles. They'd informed him of what had happened and the half-giant had picked up the dying woman with his large arms, telling them to follow him.

They hadn't even reached the castle's main entrance when they saw their daughter sprinting towards them, followed by her friends as well as Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore.

"Mom, dad!" Hermione threw herself into her parents' arms, sobs shaking her entire body. As far as she had seen, her parents were tired but unhurt.

The Grangers tightly held their trembling daughter, never wanting to let go of her again. However, it was Hermione who suddenly pulled back, a strangled cry on her lips as she first noticed the woman Hagrid had now gently placed on the lawn. The professors were bent over her bloody body but Hermione easily recognized the blonde witch.

"Narcissa!" Hermione fell to her knees next to the unconscious woman, clutching her still hand in her own.

"Hagrid, go and get Severus and Poppy," Albus Dumbledore instructed the keeper of the castle grounds, magic flowing from his wand into the pale woman to keep her alive.

"What happened?" Minerva McGonagall asked the two muggles, nodding at the still figure bleeding onto the grass.

"I uh, we don't know," Diane said, clenching her husband's arm. "We escaped on her broom. Two of them were following us, shooting spells at us and trying to take us back. We flew into the crown of a tree when one of them managed to take a hold of her arm. Then, suddenly we were here and she was bleeding…"

"She killed the guy with a strange green light just as he was closing in on us," William added, looking concerned. "Is she going to make it?"

"She's pregnant, four months if I remember correctly."

Hermione's head shot up at her mother's last words. "Pregnant? How…"

"Apparently she slept with that Dark Lord," Diane furrowed her brows in silent confusion. "That's what he told us at least. I don't know, I can't believe that she'd do so willingl-" Diane broke off, feeling a wave of guilt hit her as it finally dawned on her. "She- she was forced to, that's how it has to be… and I insulted her for it! Oh god!"

"Shhh, Diane, we didn't know. You didn't know," William tried to calm his wife, feeling rather guilty himself.

Minerva seemed to store away the new information calmly; Hermione however clenched her hand into a fist and pounded the floor, not even realizing the pain she was inflicting on herself. She hated herself for not noticing what the blonde had gone through. Narcissa had been somewhat different during the last months but when the woman had reassured her it was "merely the stress of housing a horde of deatheaters", Hermione had readily believed her. And now, the woman who had saved her, had saved her parents, was close to death and pregnant with the child of a monster.

AN: Anyone see this coming? What do you think will happen next? And what about the baby?