CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Summary: Hermione's secret is discovered by The Order of the Phoenix. Before Harry is rescued, she needs to be first. But from who? With the help of Sirius she learns to put the past behind her, and with the help of two Weasleys, they show her a happy future. But Hermione isn't who she thinks she is, what she discovers will change her life for good. Rated M for a reason.
Disclaimer: All original characters and canon events belong to J.K. Rowling. Non-canon events are my own ideas. I am not making any profit from posting this fanfic.
Page count: 14
The Cottage - Tuesday 9th December 1997
Hermione sat on a comfy chair looking out of the window at the falling snow coating every blade of grass on the grounds of the cottage. She was rubbing her stomach which was bigger than ever, seeing as she was almost a week over her due date. It seemed that although the baby had developed at a rate never before seen, it didn't want to leave the comfort of Hermione's womb, even after a week of it being completely developed. Regulus was continuously casting diagnostic spells to ensure that the baby was healthy and it was, it just didn't want to come out yet.
Hermione tilted her head to the side, she slowed down the movements of the falling snow until she could see every individual snow flake, each one as unique as the next and she smiled, appreciating the beauty of nature.
It hadn't even been two months since they had discovered the identity of another Horcrux and the hiding place. It had taken Orion and Regulus almost two weeks to actually find the diadem and it had taken Hermione all but five minutes to destroy it, leaving them with the locket, Nagini and Voldemort himself. Upon that realisation the locket was promptly destroyed seeing as no one wanted to be around it more than necessary and they didn't want the dark magic to have an opportunity to harm Hermione or the baby. This left them with two, and when the locket was destroyed, they all felt a weight lift of their shoulders since they were one step closer to ending the war and defeating Voldemort.
Regulus and Orion had been trying to get close to Nagini since the day the locket was destroyed, but it was difficult. Nagini was never alone and always by the side of Voldemort meaning they had to be careful with their actions, not only could they not be caught by anyone, Nagini was a highly venomous snake that was very capable of defending herself, making the task all the harder, though Hermione had determined that since Nagini was a living creature, if the host of the Horcrux died, then the Horcrux itself would have nothing to cling to, meaning an Avada could be used to destroy the Horcrux, which meant the mission wasn't a complete loss.
Hermione sighed and she looked around the empty living room, the fire blaring hotly and dancing in fireplace, the flames becoming more active when Hermione looked at it, as if it was trying to get her approval and she giggled before turning her attention back to the darkening sky.
For the first time in as long as she could remember, Hermione was alone. Sirius was once again off on Order business, Regulus and Orion had been summoned before lunch and had yet to return, Kreacher was gathering supplies for Hermione to ready for Harry and Ron's supply drop and Fred had to go into work seeing as there was an accident at the shop, as a customer had set off several of their newly developed fireworks.
Hermione simply sat in her chair looking out of the window until someone returned. She needed a backrub, she didn't care who returned first, whoever it was Hermione would make them give her a back rub, her back had been killing her for a little while now. Hermione felt a sudden push on her bladder and with the need to pee being unbearable she got out of her chair and waddled towards the bathroom. She barely made it halfway through the living room when she felt warm liquid running down her leg and she stopped and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply.
She couldn't believe that she had peed herself!
A pain like she had never felt shot through her and she let out a shout, her hands coming up to her stomach as she doubled over on herself, almost falling over. Her eyes caught the puddle on the floor and that's when she realised that her waters had broken.
Well, Alex had bloody good timing!
She gave a gasp and only managed to catch herself on the couch before she collapsed.
Bloody hell it hurt!
"Kreacher!" she yelled.
"Mistress!" Kreacher squeaked.
"Get Regulus and the twins!" she gasped, she was barely alone for a minute when several pops were heard and she looked up.
"Someone had better be dying," Regulus said as he strolled through the front door. "He's already suspicious of us."
"My water's broke," she growled through her pain and his eyes widened.
"Fuck him," he muttered and then he rushed to her side, his wand waving over her frame faster than she could take notice of and she noticed that Orion was there to, sat on the arm chair looking pale.
"Hermione? What's going on?" her eyes caught onto Fred's as he stepped out of the floo, followed by George.
"Alex has decided we've waited long enough," she gripped her stomach and their eyes widened, they stood rooted to the spot.
"Well, your timing is as ever, impeccable," Regulus muttered and he grimaced, looking as though her was about to do something that he absolutely didn't want to do under any circumstances.
"What? Why? Why do you have that look on your face?" she sped out.
"The healer I had planned to deliver the baby was unfortunately executed a few hours ago."
"WHAT?" Hermione shrieked breaking the twins out of their shocked states and they rushed to her side.
"The healer that was going to deliver the baby was executed a few hours ago," he repeated still looking like he was going to be sick. "It was discovered that they were secretly healing members from The Order."
"Where the hell does that leave me?" she demanded, gripping the twins' hands as another contraction hit her and they both winced.
"I'm going to have to deliver the baby."
"There is not a chance in hell you're getting anywhere near there," she hissed.
"Like I want to be anywhere near there," he shot back.
"No, Fred or George can do it."
He snorted at her. "Neither of them are qualified to deliver a baby and with the way your pregnancy has developed, I can't risk anyone delivering the baby who doesn't know what they're doing. If there were to be any complications it could risk the lives of not only you, but the baby, I'm the only option that we have available."
"No!"
"I don't know what you're complaining for, I'm one of the best healers to have trained at St. Mungos. You'll be in safe hands, I'm the one that's going to be traumatised for life."
She glared at him and then a scream tore from her throat.
"Hermione, Love, we know that this situation isn't ideal, but we have to do what's best for Alex," George spoke softly, pushing hair away from her sweaty forehead.
"He's right, Regulus is the only person that can deliver Alex to us safely," Fred spoke, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles and rubbing circles on her back.
"Fine!" she growled through the pain. "Just get it over with, it bloody hurts."
Regulus waved his wand over her body and he frowned.
"When did your first contraction hit?" he asked her.
"I don't know, maybe twenty minutes ago," she breathed heavily and leaned into Fred. "Why?"
"According to the results you're already seven centimetres dilated. From what I can tell this is going to be a very quick delivery."
"I guess Alex has decided we've waited long enough," George chuckled and he winced when Hermione's hand squeezed his tightly as another contraction hit her.
"If my calculations are correct the baby will be delivered within fifteen minutes," Regulus said, and if he looked concerned no one mentioned it. "We need to get you comfortable." He transfigured the couch into a hospital bed and Hermione was shifted until she felt comfortable, the twins sat beside her holding her hand and whispering her comforts, as Regulus summoned potions and blankets and deposited them on the coffee table.
He had Fred and George remove Hermione's robes and her hair was pulled into a mess onto of her head to keep it out of her face.
"Okay, we're almost there, you're nine centimetres dilated."
Everyone was on edge and silent as they listened to Hermione's heavy breathing, her gasps and her shouts of profanities, whilst Regulus prepared to deliver the baby.
He removed his robes and rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows, he placed his wand on the bed and got into position. He felt nausea swarm through him as he shifted Hermione's dress and everyone noticed him pale.
"You're not going to pass out are you?" Fred asked him, amusement in his eyes, which was replaced with a wince.
"Hopefully not," he mumbled and he took a deep breath and reminded himself that it had to be done, whilst also trying to convince himself that he was not delivering his niece's baby.
"Alright, you're ten centimetres, when I tell you to push do so... now!"
Hermione collapsed against the bed, Fred and George surrounding her as tears leaked down her red face, as fallen curls stuck to her forehead and neck and as her breathing was heavy and uneven.
The lit flames in the fireplace suddenly flared up, reaching out of fireplace and towards Hermione, surrounding the bed before retreating and dancing uncontrollably in the fireplace.
A cry was heard as Regulus cast spells over the baby and he wrapped it in a white blanket. Fred and George both had tears leaking out of their eyes whilst Orion still sat on the arm chair, looking pale and traumatised, but a smile on his face.
"I would like to introduce you to Alexander," Regulus beamed, looking to be holding back tears himself as he handed the baby to Hermione.
She took him and gave a laugh cry as Fred and George beamed on either side of her, looking down at their son in absolute adoration.
"Told you," they both mumbled with smiles adorning their faces.
Hermione didn't think it was possible to love someone as much as she loved the twins, but then their son was placed into her arms.
Alex had a thick head of fiery red hair and bright turquoise eyes, his skin pale and soft and his nose was small and button like.
"He's beautiful," she whispered softly, and she felt Fred and George placing kisses to her cheeks and she smiled.
"Yes, he is, just like his mother," Fred said.
"He's a spitting double of you," she spoke.
"He's going to be a handsome bloke, break a few hearts too." George said proudly.
"No, he will respect women," Hermione scowled at him and he chuckled.
"Of course he will, but he'll break a few hearts, he'll have a fan club."
"Just like his fathers," she rolled her eyes and smiled down at the wriggling tiny newborn in her arms.
The door burst open and Sirius rushed in, panting and breathing heavily.
"What's wrong, Kreacher said Hermione was hurt?" A look of panic and worry in his eyes.
"I'm fine," she said, her back was to him so he hadn't yet seen Alex in her arms. She could hear him walking forward. "I'd like to introduce you to Alexander Sirius Weasley-Black," she smiled at him when he now stood at the side of her.
He looked down at Alex in her arms, then back to Hermione with wide eyes and he fainted, hitting the floor like a sack of potatoes.
"Wonderful," she muttered and they all laughed.
Hermione smiled down at Alex and placed a kiss to his forehead, she leaned her head back with a smile on her face and her eyes started drooping.
Alarms started going off and Regulus' happy smile turned to a worried and frantic look as he picked up his wand. Regulus removed Alex from Hermione's arms and gave him to Fred and then pushed both Fred and George out of the way so he could have better access to Hermione, who was now unconscious.
"What's happening?" they both yelled panicked, watching as he waved his wand over Hermione faster than they could keep up with and their eyes caught the large blood stain that covered the sheet on the bed.
"She's haemorrhaging," he answered, but other than that he didn't speak.
Orion was now stood up and standing behind Fred and George, a hand on each other their shoulders in a show of support as tears fell down their face, seeing that their wife and mother of their child was bleeding uncontrollably, pale and unconscious. She was lifeless.
The alarms going off in the room grew louder and Regulus cursed, he doubled his efforts into stopping the bleeding and when he finally managed to stem the flow, he pointed his wand at Hermione's chest and they all stared as her body gave a lurch, but she didn't wake. He did it once more with the same results.
He looked at the devastated twins, Fred cradling Alex, George staring at Hermione like he was is unimaginable pain and his father stood behind them, offering them support, but looking like was going to collapse himself.
He had to save her, he couldn't let her die.
He focused his magic and put everything he had into the spell, for the final time Hermione's body lurched and although she didn't move, the alarms quieted and Regulus sighed, waving his wand over her to stabilise her condition. He wiped the sweat away from his forehead and poured several potions down her throat.
"She should be fine now, I've stopped the bleeding and stabilised her. As far as I can tell she was haemorrhaging due to a hematoma which is a large blood clot. I've removed the clot and given her something to prevent it from occurring again. We just have to wait for her to wake up."
Relief filled everyone in the room, Fred and George all but collapsed onto the overly large arm chair, their eyes darting between Hermione and their son.
Hermione's eyes fluttered open and her eyesight was blurry until she blinked several times. Her eyes took in her surroundings realising that she was in her bedroom. She sat up in bed feeling better than she had in a long time. Her eyes fell on that of Fred and George, George was sprawled out on the couch asleep, whilst Fred was in the arm chair, his head resting at an odd angle that would surely hurt when he woke up. She heard a noise and her eyes landed on Sirius, he was sat in another chair beside the bed, though he had Alex in his arms.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" he said sitting up, being careful not to jostle the sleeping baby, currently wearing a little blue hat and sleep suit, whilst wrapped in a blue blanket.
"Better, a lot better, what happened? I don't remember much after you burst in and fainted."
He chuckled at her. "There were some complications and you suffered haemorrhaging. Regulus was able to heal you and you'll be completely fine, though you've been out for the past four hours. I have to say, Kitten, he's a handsome little guy." He looked down at the baby in his arms with a smile on his face and Hermione could practically feel the love and happiness rolling off him in waves.
"Spitting double of his fathers, don't you think?"
"I was hoping the baby would look more like you, there's no denying that the minute he's seen he'd be identified as a Weasley." She chuckled at him.
"Yeah, but he's a Black too."
"I'm so proud of you," he said, looking up at her and she smiled at him.
"Not as proud as I am of you, you deserve to be a grandfather more than anyone else I know."
"And you gave me that experience, we now have another member to add to the House of Black, a Little Lord Black in training." She giggled at him.
He shifted off the armchair and sat beside her on the bed, passing Alex into her arms and her heart melted when he snuggled into her, letting out a little yawn in his sleep.
"He really is perfect," Sirius commented, smiling when Alex latched onto his finger in his sleep.
"Yes, he is, and now that he's here, in this world, it's time to stop messing around and deal with Him once and for all. I will not raise my son in a world of war."
"Are we any closer to winning?"
"Closer than we've ever been, not long now," she promised him and she looked down at her son. "Welcome to the world, Alex."
Aunt Muriel's Cottage - Wednesday 10th December 1997
"Fred, George, what are you doing here?" Mr Weasley said, walking into the living room of Aunt Muriel's cottage to greet them as they stepped out of the floo, Mrs Weasley wasn't far behind him.
"You shouldn't be here, you can't leave Hermione alone in her state!" Mrs Weasley raged, her face turning red.
"What state would that be, Molly?" Hermione said lightly and the twins beamed as they stepped apart, to reveal Hermione standing behind them with Alex in her arms.
Mrs Weasley gasped loudly and Mr Weasley's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh My Goodness," she whispered, her eyes staring at the blue bundle in Hermione's arms.
"Molly, Arthur, I would like to introduce you to your Grandson, Alexander Sirius Weasley-Black," she said looking down at him with a smile and the twins put their arms around Hermione, beaming widely.
"We're fathers," they grinned.
Mrs Weasley burst into tears and stepped forward, Hermione placed Alex into her arms and Mrs Weasley sat down on the couch, Mr Weasley sat beside her as they both cooed over their Grandson.
"I have a Grandson," she cried, cradling him to her as Alex latched onto Mr Weasley's finger.
"How? When?" she asked amazed, looking up at them.
"Yesterday, he was born at half past nine on the dot," Hermione replied, leaning into her husbands.
"He's beautiful, Dear, absolutely beautiful."
"Just like his mother," the twins both injected and they kissed Hermione's cheek, she smiled at them both.
Malfoy Safe house
"What did I say about coming by unannounced?" Draco scowled, as Fred and George entered the cottage, they beamed at him in response.
"We know you love us, Malfoy, everyone needs a redhead in their lives," George grinned.
"Maybe, but I have six," he scowled in reply.
"Seven actually," Hermione piped up, stepping out from behind the twins, with Alex in her arms and his eyes widened, he looked like he was going to faint.
"Draco, this is your cousin, Alexander," she beamed at him and he stumbled back until his legs hit the couch.
Fred and George laughed at him as he looked completely surprised when Hermione walked over to him and placed Alex in his arms, whilst Fred and George found seats elsewhere.
"Relax, Draco, you're not going to hurt him," she said chuckling when she saw how uncomfortable he looked at having the baby in his arms. She showed him how to hold him correctly and she smiled. "See, you're a natural." She noticed the soft look that appeared on his face when Alex latched onto his finger.
"Draco, I thought I heard..." Mrs Malfoy entered the room, looking as regal as ever with her dark and fitted robes and blonde hair pinned back elegantly. She stopped when she saw Hermione, the twins and the baby boy being held by Draco.
"Narcissa, would you like to meet your new cousin?" Hermione beamed, Mrs Malfoy burst into tears and all but wrestled Alex from Draco.
Lupin Cottage
"Remus, are you here?" Hermione called, as she stepped out of the floo, followed by the twins.
"Hermione, is that you?" his voice called and she followed it into the kitchen, seeing him, Tonks and Andromeda sat at the table eating lunch.
Remus promptly dropped his fork when she entered carrying Alex.
"So, I had the baby," she said.
"So I see," he said quietly, looking like he wanted to faint.
"You want to hold him?" she asked, but she didn't give him a choice as she deposited Alex in his arms.
"I see you had a boy then," he spoke, looking down at the blue bundle adoringly.
"Yes, this is Alexander."
"A lovely name, Dear," Andromeda smiled, looking at the child with a smile and cooing at him over the table.
"Thank you," Hermione responded.
"I owe Sirius fifty galleons," Tonks grumbled, but she too was cooing over Alex.
"Sorry?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"We had a pool going on the gender of the baby. I thought it'd be a girl," she said.
"Me too," Andromeda spoke.
"And me," Remus said, looking up at Hermione sheepishly when she scowled at them. She couldn't believe they had been betting on the baby.
"And who the hell started this baby pool?" she asked them, crossing her arms.
Fred and George promptly disappeared from view.
Drop point
"Where the bloody hell are they?" George grouched, "It's bloody cold," he said, shifting on his feet. Hermione giggled at the pout on his face and Fred rolled his eyes, pulling the blanket snug around Alex, who he was currently cradling and cooing at.
Hermione pulled her wand and cast Warming Charm over them all, the falling snow was already falling around them since she had manipulated the elements to do so, as a result they stayed dry and warm and they had a nice view too.
"Hermione?" she spun around and smiled widely when she saw both Harry and Ron stepping into the clearing, Ron looking far better than the last time she had seen him.
"Harry, Ron," she greeted with a smile and she walked over to them, hugging them both tightly.
"Hermione, can't breathe," Harry gasped.
"Sorry," she pulled back sheepishly.
"Not that we're not grateful for the provisions, but we're not due for another drop point for a week," he said, looking at her confused.
"We have some news," she said, gesturing to Fred and George and they only just noticed they were there too. "We had some news to share with you," she said and Fred stepped forward. "You're officially uncles," she grinned.
Ron fainted, Fred and George snorted whilst Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry was in a state of disbelief but he was in better condition than Ron; he was still conscious and standing on two feet.
"Well, Harry, seeing as you're still standing, you get to hold your nephew first," Fred said stepping closer and depositing Alex into an unwilling Harry's arms.
Hermione chuckled when she saw the panic on his face.
"Relax, Harry, you're not going to hurt him," she soothed, adjusting his arms to better hold Alex and then she stepped back. "Harry meet Alexander."
"He's so tiny," he mumbled, looking at the baby in awe.
"It didn't feel that way," she grumbled, the twins chuckled and put their arms around her.
"Yeah, my hand still hurts," George said.
"When you push another human being out of your vagina, then you can complain about the pain you felt during my labour," she glared at him. Fred chuckled and soothed her with a kiss to the cheek as George looked sheepish.
"Remember, Love, foot in mouth syndrome," he smirked in George's direction.
Hermione turned her attention back to Harry.
"There's another reason I'm here actually," he looked up at her. "The locket has been destroyed, so has the diadem of Ravenclaw."
"You estimated that he had seven, that just leaves Nagini and himself, we can come home." Harry looked relieved.
"I'm afraid not Harry," she said softly. "My informants have told me this morning that there may be another Horcrux and like the others, we don't know where it is or what it is."
His face dropped and he looked down at Alex in his arms.
"I'm doing everything in power to end this war Harry. We all want you to come home and to be safe, the war will be over soon, that I promise."
"How do you know?" he asked her, in that moment he looked like a young child, and not a seventeen year old.
"I can feel it in the elements, they are on our side, they will do anything I ask them to," she said softly. "I will not let this war go on for much longer."
"Hermione, you have to stay neutral, we don't know the consequences of you actively choosing a side."
"There are ways for me to stay neutral but still be active in this war," she smirked at him and he looked confused.
"What happened?" they looked down as Ron slowly sat up, looking around confused.
They snorted at him.
"Well, Ronniekins, we introduced you to your nephew and you passed out," George smirked at him.
Hermione took Alex from Harry and knelt down, placing Alex careful in Ron's arms, he looked like he was going to faint again.
"Ronald, meet your nephew, Alexander."
The Cottage - Saturday 7th March 1998
Months later and the war was raging more than ever. The number of deaths, injuries and attacks had almost doubled since Christmas. They had yet to discover the identity of the last Horcrux and Regulus and Orion hadn't yet been able to get close enough to Nagini to destroy her.
Due to the circumstances, Fred and George had closed Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and they spent all of their time in their lab working on new products or with Hermione and Alex.
Given that Alex was barely three months old, he was already laughing, smiling and lifting his head up by himself and Fred swore that he saw Alex roll over onto him stomach. He was a distraction that everyone needed, Remus had been right; Alex kept everyone motivated and he reminded everyone what they were fighting for.
He was the most spoilt little boy in the world and she knew it. He was spoilt by his parents, by Orion and Sirius, by Mrs Weasley, by Draco and Mrs Malfoy, by Remus and Tonks, by Kreacher and the most amusing was Regulus. Most of the time Hermione had to threaten to set him on fire just to get her son back from him. He would pout childishly and be in a foul mood for the rest of the day until Alex somehow found his way back into his arms.
They had all noticed that whenever Alex was close to the fireplace or an open flame, the flames would flare up and make their way over to him. They weren't sure if it was Hermione's doing or Alex's, but the older Alex got, the more frequently happened. At first they were horrified, but the flames had never hurt Alex, it was as if they were protecting him. If Alex was placed on the floor surrounded by blankets and cushions, the flames would swarm around him until someone went to pick him up and then they would retreat to the fireplace.
Hermione swore that it wasn't her doing, but they couldn't be sure since Hermione's magic had a tendency to do as it wished.
Despite the awful on goings in the world, Hermione was on cloud nine, she was always surrounded by her mates and her child, and although a fertility potion was used, Alex was a product of her love with her mates and that's the way she looked at things. She had long since forgiven Snape for betraying her, she understood that he was doing what he could to protect her, though she was still going to set him on fire when she next saw him.
"Morning, Kitten, boys" Sirius said, taking a seat at the kitchen table beside her, whilst the twins sat opposite them.
"Morning," they replied smiling.
"Right, pleasantries are over, give me my Grandson," he said, holding his arms out to Fred.
Fred chuckled and handed Alex over to Sirius, who forgot about the breakfast on the table and proceeded to coo over him.
Hermione smiled and shook her head before going back to eating her breakfast.
"Where's Orion and Reggie?" Sirius asked, his attention still on Alex.
"Still asleep, they didn't get back until a couple of hours ago, He kept them most of the day and all night, they're exhausted and need their sleep, so don't be interrupting them," Hermione warned, pointing her fork in his direction.
"I would never," he exclaimed.
"You would too and you know it," she said and they chuckled.
The coin in her pocket heated up and she stood and removed it.
'Help! Malfoy Manor!'
Hermione dropped her fork and paled.
"I have to go, Ron and Harry are in trouble, I'll be back as soon as I can," she told them. Before anyone could protest or even try to go with her, she disappeared from view.
Malfoy Manor
Hermione landed in the ballroom that she was familiar with and seeing that it was empty, she turned to the doors, casting a Disillusionment Charm on herself and she left out the door, she could hear screams and she followed them.
She came to some double doors and without though she summoned the air around her and used it to push the doors open. They went flying off the hinges and they flew across the room, only to hit several Death Eaters and they crushed them to the floor.
Harry was being restrained by two burly looking Death Eaters, he had several cuts on his face and arms and his face was swollen as if he had been sting by a thousand bees. Ron was on the floor, a pool of blood surrounding him as Bellatrix leaned over him.
She looked around confused, a deranged look in her eyes.
Hermione cancelled the Disillusionment Charm and she appeared in view. A look of anger was on her face, her kind and soft features were set hard and cold.
Hermione could feel the tension in her body, she could feel her magic building up inside of her and before anyone could react to her appearance, a bolt of lightning came out of nowhere and slammed into Bellatrix, she was thrown away from Ron and the direction she was being carried in took her out of the window. The glass shattering and Hermione heard a 'thud' as she hit the floor.
The other Death Eaters took one look at Hermione and fled, apparating out of the room with a 'crack'.
Hermione rushed over to Ron and Harry followed, she took a hold of both of them and disappeared from view.
The Cottage
They landed in the centre of the living room and everyone jumped up from the table when they saw Harry and Ron. Sirius handed Alex to George and rushed over to Harry, helping him onto an arm chair whilst Fred and George made their way over to them. Ron had passed out during the journey.
"REGULUS!" Hermione yelled. The air around her helping to carry the sound through the cottage, she heard a 'thud' from upstairs before footsteps came barrelling down the stairs.
Orion and Regulus both appeared with their hair sticking out at odd angles, their pyjamas ruffled and their wands in their hands, looking wide awake and ready for battle.
"What is it?" They asked quickly, a wild look in their eyes.
"Ron needs healing, he's been tortured by Bellatrix," she said quickly, Regulus rushed forward and tended to Ron, whilst Harry gawked as his face slowly began to return to normal.
"But.. But... That's... It can't be..." he stutted.
"It is, Harry meet Regulus and Orion Black," Hermione said moving away from Ron knowing that he was in good hands and sitting down on the couch.
"But.. But... They're dead." He looked at her with utter horror, disbelief and confusion.
"No, they faked their deaths, you may know them as Agents Comet and Jugulae." His eyes widened further. "They are our spies and they have been since the first war. I told you that I trusted them with my life, they defected from Him as quickly as they could and they offered themselves up as spies to The Order, though no one but Snape knew their true identities."
"But..."
"Harry," Sirius spoke, gaining his attention. "Just accept that they're alive and that they're here. They are trustworthy and they have been helping Hermione with the secret mission that was given to you by Dumbledore."
"R.A.B, Harry," Hermione spoke. "Regulus Arcturus Black." Harry fell silent, looking between Regulus and Orion.
"He'll be fine, he just needs a few days rest," Regulus spoke, coming into the living room. Ron had been moved into Alex's nursery for now, until he was better. Another bed would be set up for Harry and Alex would stay with Hermione and the twins.
"Thank you, Reggie," Hermione said, handing Alex over to him and a smile appeared on his face as he looked down at Alex.
Hermione sighed and rubbed her temples.
"I'm tired of this," she said, exhausted. "I'm tired of all the suffering people are being forced to endure. I'm tired of all the murder, torture and attacks. We can't let this go on any longer."
"What do you suggest?" Orion spoke, raising and eyebrow and taking a sip of tea, Harry had been staring at him for the last ten minutes.
"We end this war. No more defence, it's time that we go on the offence. We take the fight to Him, we will be the ones to enforce the final battle."
"We're not ready," Regulus spoke up.
"We're as ready as we'll ever be. If we destroy Him now, that'll leave Nagini vulnerable as well as giving us more time to find the final Horcrux, if there even is one. It was just a rumour you heard, it doesn't mean it's true."
"And how do you plan to force Him out of hiding and instigate the final battle?" Sirius asked her.
"I know exactly how to do it, Hogwarts is overrun with Death Eaters, we force them out and take control of Hogwarts once more. He will have no choice to come out into the open, especially if both Harry Potter and The Blue Mage are present. A week, we'll end this was in a week's time. Sirius, inform the rest of The Order of the plans, we need to prepare for battle."