Don't own it! Don't make money off it! It's all J.K.'s!
AN: Sooo…either I shocked you all into silence with that last chapter, or you didn't really think it was that good and so decided to hold off on sending me bad reviews that would make me feel awful.
Or you all hate me now. That's a possibility too.
Moving on.
It was the dead of night, those early morning hours when dawn hasn't yet begun its race across the Eastern sky and nothing moves or breathes for fear of disturbing the peace of the nocturnal life. Hermione, however, was wide awake and staring at the ceiling above her. She was still as can be, just concentrating on breathing and not really seeing what was before her eyes. No, she was stuck in her head, in a world where she didn't still feel the pain of her labor, or the terror of that curse flooding her limbs. Or the awful knowledge that her baby, the one she'd done everything to protect and make safe, and had finally learned to love and embrace…was dead.
Her baby was dead.
And it changed nothing, and everything. She would still have to stand by Harry's side and help him defeat Voldemort, she would still have to put her future on hold for the sake of having a future at all. She would still have to leave Draco and the fantasy they'd created this last year, even if some of those feelings were real. Even if…she shook her head some. No, no point in going over that anymore.
Still, her little girl…her baby…had she even named her? Hermione couldn't honestly remember, with her mind clouded this way, from the pain and excitement. She moved restlessly in her bed finally, disturbing the dark silence and there was a movement next to her, a hand reaching out for hers, a figure coming to stand next to her.
"Hermione?" Ginny whispered and Hermione turned her head.
"Ginny," she mumbled. "Did I- did I name her? I can't remember. Did I even think that far ahead? Or was I…was I too busy with everything else? I can't-"
"Shh," Ginny calmed her, pushed her hair from her face. She glanced back over her shoulder, then looked down at Hermione again. "I'm not even supposed to be here," she admitted. "But with how everyone is feeling right now…they didn't notice I never left. Mum is right over there. Want me to get her?"
"No," Hermione said. "No. I just want-"
"Patricia," Ginny suggested suddenly, settling into a chair by the bed. "Or Eloise. I always liked that name."
"What are you-"
"You're exhausted, Hermione. And still feverish, I think. Come on, talk to me. Drink some water and talk to me. Make a little sense."
"The baby-"
"Let's name her now."
Hermione felt her eyes fill with more tears and she squeezed Ginny's hand tightly. Then she took a deep breath and drank some of the water Ginny held to her lips. She settled back again, closed her eyes, and tried to think, to focus herself and to come back to reality, despite the pain and the grief that waited for her there.
"Jemima," she finally whispered.
"Olivia," Ginny countered readily.
"I like that one," Hermione said softly and Ginny squeezed her hand in reply, then murmured another name to the shadows.
And so the dead of night passed, as the two girls held wake for a tiny, loved, but nameless soul.
Back at the Manor, Draco had been forced to wait again in that dark little room- one he recognized now as a closet he'd once hid in when he was much younger. It was just off the main hall, far from the dining room, but close to one of the parlors, and he was certain he could hear voices- female voices- beyond that wall.
One was his mother, and he was gripped by an intense desire to run to her, to wrap his arms around her and let her assuage some of his grief. But the other voice…it was Bellatrix, and he knew that soon enough his mother might not want to hold him at all, because not only was he bound still by that ridiculous vow he'd taken, but he was also bound by honor to make her pay. And if he could afford himself nothing else in this dismal existence, he could at least be honorable about the girl he was still convinced he loved.
And even if that changed, Hermione still deserved justice for what had been done, and Bellatrix had to die.
An eye for a bloody eye, and all that rot. He blinked back more tears and wiped his cheeks hurriedly as the door cracked open and Snape appeared once more.
"Well?" he asked and Severus gave him a good once over.
"She'll kill you, boy," he said and Draco swallowed hard.
"I have to do this. Why else would I have to come back?"
"He might kill you first."
"Is there a point to this?" Draco asked, jutting his chin forward and staring at the other man. Severus shook his head.
"There never is," he murmured, then went on. "He's rather angry with both of us right now, although he'll get over it because Dumbledore is at least-" Here he stopped, as if choking on the words, and Draco was sure he'd seen the first real emotion from the older wizard all night. But Snape recovered quickly and went on before he could say a word. "Your mother has been forced to be present."
"I was afraid of that," Draco breathed.
"And you may ask for a second, if you feel unable to face her."
"As if anyone would stand up for me," Draco muttered angrily and Severus cleared his throat delicately.
"Have I not stood by you already?" he said quietly and Draco looked up at him.
"I- Professor…"
"No matter. Make your decision now, later. He may yet change his mind. Now, are you ready?"
Draco swallowed again, took a deep breath.
"No," he said honestly and smirk flashed at the corner of Snape's lips.
"One never is," he concurred, then opened the door and led Draco out.
Narcissa started across the room to Draco the minute she saw him, but immediately someone- one of the Carrows, she could never tell the brother and sister apart- was holding her back, keeping her from her own son.
"Let go of-" she began, but stopped short as the final presence entered the room. Her room. Her own damn dining room, and they'd shoved the long table to one side, although they'd certainly used it enough earlier, and the monster himself, that had torn her family apart this way, had set up like he was the bloody king. Like this was his house, and his throne room, and damn it all if she didn't want to claw his eyes out.
Thank Merlin he couldn't read her mind. He'd tried once already to question her about Draco and Hermione, but she'd held fast against him. She always did. She'd had to teach herself years ago how to hold her own, because heaven only knew that Lucius was no help there, but at least the madman had been defeated quickly enough back then. She only hoped to god that the siege this time around was even shorter. She couldn't take living like this any longer.
Jerking her arm from Amycus' grip, she merely sniffed when he in turn leered at her.
"Shove off," she said, distinctly enough for anyone to overhear…not caring anymore who knew how pissed off she was.
"Don't mind her," Bellatrix said, waltzing in beside her. "She's just got her knickers in a bunch over what's happened to her poor baby boy."
"What's happened is he's done what was asked of him," Narcissa shot back.
"No. He. Hasn't!" Bellatrix screamed, turning on her suddenly and Narcissa fell back from her insane sister, seeing her fully for the first time.
"My god, Bella," she whispered.
"Bellatrix," came the hiss of the madman himself, cutting her off, turning her head and everyone else's until all eyes were on him. Bellatrix moved forward, falling over herself in a show of slavish devotion and Narcissa wondered how she'd ever tolerated it before.
Because she's your sister, she thought. Because you love her and grew up with her, and played dolls…but she's not that girl anymore. She's gone. The sister I loved is gone and would see me and my son dead if it meant pleasing this monster before us. And I must face that. Must accept it.
There was a small movement beside her and she realized Severus had moved up next to her and had placed a hand at her elbow- just that small, reassuring touch. She took a deep breath and began to hope.
"So, we are all here. To witness both triumph and defeat. Young Malfoy."
Draco may have flinched, it was impossible to tell, it flickered across his face so quickly. He stepped up and bowed low.
"My lord," he said, proud of himself that at least his voice hadn't cracked.
"You succeeded in bringing my loyal Death Eaters into Hogwarts. You cornered and faced down a powerful…wizard." He sneered. "But you did not deliver the killing blow."
There was silence and Draco stayed where he was, on one knee, staring at the floor.
"My lord?" he finally said when it became clear Voldemort was waiting for him to respond.
"You are fortunate that at least one loyal servant was there to finish the job you started with such promise. Alas-"
"He's just a boy!" Narcissa shouted, knowing it was a mistake even as the words left her lips, and felt Severus' grip tighten.
Bellatrix spun about.
"Do not speak to him that way!" she shrieked. "Cru-"
"If my lord will allow me to speak?" Severus cut in, stepping forward, leaving Narcissa's side. Bellatrix kept her wand trained on her sister and Narcissa felt her heart breaking.
There was a tense moment as Snape bowed before Voldemort, then locked eyes with his hated master. Voldemort finally sat back and waved a hand.
"Stand down, Bellatrix. Lucius has long been faithful to me. And his wife's hospitality at welcoming us here tonight is to be…awarded. Besides, her desire to protect her own pureblood line is an admirable trait. Severus. What is it?" He glanced down at Draco and said, almost as an after thought, "You may rise, Draco."
Draco took the opportunity to scramble to both feet and straightened up as best he could. He wondered if his cheeks were still damp, wondered how bad he looked, if the strain showed. He couldn't show any weakness of that sort now, not when his and likely his mother's lives depended on it.
Severus ignored him and addressed Voldemort.
"My lord, there is the small matter…"
"Yes?"
"Bellatrix, it seems, has violated the unspoken vow."
Voldemort's red eyes narrowed to slits and he sucked in a deep breath.
"And whom was she…overexcited…with?"
Snape looked to Draco then and Voldemort turned his head. Draco met his eyes briefly before turning his hatred upon his aunt.
"Hermione Granger, my lord," he ground out.
It grew very quiet and then Voldemort uttered a small, "Indeed?"
He turned his eyes to her and Bellatrix held out her hands. "My lord, my only master, you know she is but a mudblood, a filthy mudblood! The child she bore would have been a half-bred bastard, the result only of his attempts to complete his mission-"
"A child of filth on one side, it's true, but I would have raised her to value the will and pleasures of my lord. She would have been faithful to us, my lord. To you," Draco said, hoping it wasn't too obvious how saying such things while thinking of that beautiful, innocent baby girl made him sick. As if he'd ever have raised her in a home with anything but love in it.
Horrified, he felt tears come to his eyes and dared to hastily wipe them away. There was a quick intake of breath from Voldemort and he looked up again to see the man standing now, looking down at him.
"Draco…you are so moved by this loss you cry for it? That you could not bring another into our fold?"
There was something akin to wonder in his voice and Draco hid his revulsion as best he could. He only nodded and bowed his head.
"Yes, my lord," he said quietly, then lifted his head again. "And I demand the blood price. Retribution."
Another hiss from Voldemort and he was floating above his seat now, clearly torn between his own manic laws and the desire to put an end to this fuss. Slowly, he came back to his seat and turned his head towards his most trusted lieutenant. The look on his face was so far from his usual expression of hatred and cold dominance that Bellatrix actually shrank back from him momentarily, groveling in her desire to appease that new curiosity.
His face shifted, became cold once more.
"Very well," Voldemort declared. "I will allow this duel. But you will surely lose, young Malfoy."
Bellatrix gave a shriek of joy and despair, though she was silenced by one quick look from her master. She shrank back further.
"My lord, if I may-" Severus began and Voldemort sighed, but waved his hand. Snape stepped forward again, to stand at Draco's side. "He is allowed a second. Those are your-"
"Have you not meddled enough for one night, Severus?" Voldemort howled and Snape fell silent, though he stood tall.
From the hall there came a sudden noise, the sound of voices and weary footfalls and Voldemort rose from his seat again. He spoke as if everything was forgotten, as if he hadn't just ordered Draco's death.
"Ah, our new arrivals…but old friends. Finally! You have come back to me!"
And into the ancestral home of the Malfoys tottered over a dozen Death Eaters previously incarcerated at Azkaban. Among them, of course, was Lucius, and Draco's eyes met his father's even before Narcissa realized what had happened, who had arrived. She managed to stay where she was on her own this time, however, though her heart had leapt into her throat. Voldemort made his way down the line of escapees, congratulating some, ignoring others., and always talking.
"Let us welcome you all back…ah, Lucius. You would have preferred to stay, no doubt?"
Lucius cringed, and overall his appearance was so changed that Narcissa thought she and Draco were lucky to recognize him. Azkaban had been unkind, as they'd known it would. And yet she hoped…
"No, my lord. My place is out here, to serve you-"
"Enough of your sniveling. Though perhaps it is good the Dementors did not take your manners from you. Come, all of you, you are about to witness a duel. Young Draco here thirsts for revenge!"
"Revenge?" came the small gasp from Lucius' lips and Voldemort settled his mad, evil smile upon him.
"I am sorry to follow good news with bad, Lucius, but it seems Bellatrix has…accidentally killed your grandchild."
"Oops," Bellatrix murmured, giggling from across the room.
"That was no accident!" Draco spoke up, forcing the attention back to himself, tired of the charade going on, and on. It was time to end this all. "She did it on purpose and with malice and she must pay!"
"My lord," Snape tried again, "perhaps we should-"
"No, no more, Severus," Voldemort said, cutting him off. "Let it begin, then. Let the boy show us what he is made of."
Narcissa saw Bellatrix raise her wand gleefully, saw Draco change his stance, and she knew she was going to faint or scream at any moment. This couldn't be true, couldn't be happening, oh, the immeasurably heartbreak-
"No!" Lucius barked, stepping forward.
"You dare speak, Lucius, unfaithful dog?" Voldemort hissed and Lucius' face paled further, but he did not stand down.
"He is a minor and my only progeny. I will stand for him. The child was my family as well, the right falls to me."
"You…dare…"
"You have only to lose myself instead, my lord," Lucius murmured. "Tell me which is the more desirable death."
Voldemort was quiet for what felt like a long time and Narcissa trembled where she stood. She saw Severus grip Draco's arm as he had hers just a short while ago and felt some small shred of hope. This was insane, it was beyond anything she'd imagined her life coming to, but she knew without a doubt that her husband was maybe, just maybe, strong enough to defeat Bellatrix.
After all, he'd agreed to stand in after just escaping Azkaban and besides, he'd had no idea of Draco's doings this year. He'd taken his son's place on faith alone.
That had to count for something.
After several more heartbeats, Voldemort finally pronounced judgment.
"Very well. Proceed."
AN: Oh yeah! Bet none of you saw that coming! *soft spot for Lucius, the crazy bastard*