As I always do, I want to thank everyone again. All your reviews, alerts, messages and favorites mean a lot to me. I feel like this story could be finished in one massively long chapter but I can't do that! So I apologize for splitting it into sections – this one ends on a cliffie. Enjoy!
LCailan
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
It has to be a dream.
Hermione heard Leo's joyful laughter. She saw Draco smiling down at their son. And with each glorious, passing second she was fully realizing that she was awake and that this was really happening – Draco was finally meeting his own son after so long!
The wind ruffled Leo's hair as he discussed with the greatest of seriousness something Hermione couldn't hear. The image of father and son together at last warmed her heart and made it impossible to think of anything else. She wasn't even fully aware of Ginny squeezing her hand until the other woman spoke.
"You ought to go visit with them."
Her voice was soft and Hermione only half understood the meaning behind the words.
You ought to go visit with them.
What did she mean?
You don't have much time with them.
Her heart thumped heavily within her.
Your family is in danger.
She swallowed, blinking hot, furious tears away.
You ought to go visit with them.
Yes, yes…Hermione forced her legs to support her as she got to her feet shakily. Ginny nudged her.
"His name is Etamin Black and he's a business partner of Neville's. Don't be long, Hermione. I know…I know this won't be…but if we need to get Pansy and the others out of England we need to do it soon. And then we need to get Neville home so we can tell him what's happened."
Hermione, who had been staring out at her family, turned to gaze at Ginny. Her cheeks flushed crimson.
"I…after everything that's happened you think Neville's strong enough-?"
Ginny cut into Hermione's faltering words.
"What choice do we have? We can't keep him in the dark. Haven't you kept him in the dark long enough? People want to hurt him; people want to destroy your family – the very thing that's most important. We don't have time to waste."
Hermione and Ginny stared at one another and finally the brunette sighed with resignation.
"You're right. I want to protect them both…my family and Draco."
How she wished that both meant the same thing! She pulled Ginny into a torrid hug.
"Thank you," Hermione whispered against the other woman's ear. "For everything."
When they pulled apart, Ginny was smiling tremulously.
"You're welcome."
She turned and both women watched the scene before them. The older children had run off to play and Seamus stood alongside Draco and Leo, mindless of the emotional reunion of father and son. In fact, no one knew the truth except Ginny, Hermione and Draco.
"Now, go be with your family. There's not much time. Luna has come to London to be with Neville and it won't be long before she starts asking questions. The less people know the better."
Hermione took a steely breath and nodded.
"You're right," she agreed, knowing Luna's fierce protectiveness over Neville.
Hermione didn't even want to think of what Luna might feel if she knew the whole truth! She offered Ginny an uncertain smile.
"I won't be long," she promised painfully.
"Bring him to the cottage. It's closest to where the rest are staying."
Ginny's eyes flickered toward Draco once more and Hermione pressed her lips together.
"I will."
A silence pregnant with expectation fell over them before Ginny spoke again.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I know…this might mean you'll have to give him up."
Hermione did not move and finally Ginny gave up trying to offer her comfort.
"Just enjoy the time you have."
Without another word, Hermione hurried towards her family.
Leo met her halfway when he noticed Hermione hurrying towards him.
"Mama! Mama!"
He pointed towards Draco, who had stood and stretched.
"Dat man has my name!"
The little boy seemed entranced with such a thing and he pulled her arm enthusiastically, thus bringing his parents to stand together. Hermione could barely look Draco in the eye so overwhelmed she was over the joining of their family at last.
Draco, too, looked as if he would weep.
"What's wrong?"
The innocent question seemed to bring focus on the reality. They were together; this was real. Hermione and Draco's eyes met but she looked away, afraid she would weep with joy. She didn't want to startle Leo who already knew something wasn't quite right.
"Mama, what?"
Hermione reached to take her son's hand but she couldn't find the words to express her heart. Draco knelt before his son but she could see him sniffing back tears.
"Here," said Leo, rummaging in one of the pockets of his trousers before pulling out a wrinkled handkerchief. "You use this if you got da sniffles."
Draco took it and pressed it to his chest.
"Thank you, Leo."
"You welcome."
The little boy was blissfully unaware of his parents' emotional turmoil and only reached to pull on his mother's blouse.
"I'm hungry. Say-mouse said there was food, Mama!"
Hermione giggled.
"It's Seamus, my darling. Not Say-mouse."
Leo blinked and then made a face.
"Is what I said," he pointed out with a world-weary sigh. "Say-mouse."
She burst into laughter and the next moment found Draco and Hermione on the grass laughing until tears glimmered in their eyes while their son looked on in confusion.
"What's funny, Mama?" he demanded, hating that he didn't understand the way grown-ups thought. Hermione reached to pull him into a hug from which he struggled determinedly.
"Mama!"
"It's nothing, Leo."
She motioned towards the basket Seamus had left on a small picnic table nearby. The others had wandered off at Ginny's insistence so the little family could be alone.
"I thought you were hungry?"
Leo let out a yell of excitement, forgetting his previous irritation with his mother.
"Come, Etamin! There's food!" he encouraged.
Hermione found her heart melting at the ease with which Leo had accepted Draco and watched joyfully as little boy pulled enamored father towards the table.
"There's bread and cheese!" he exclaimed. "And apples! Dey's my favorite!"
He picked out a particularly delicious looking fruit and offered it to Draco.
"I like apples buttah than any other fruit, even buttah than the grapes and razenberries Mama likes," he said in a confidential tone which made Draco smirk.
"That's amazing."
"What?" Leo inquired.
"Apples are my favorite, too!"
"Dat's 'cause we have da same name!"
Draco began to laugh and Leo joined in. Hermione wasn't sure if she had ever felt such unadulterated joy in the entirety of her life. As Leo ate, he kept up a steady stream of chatter and Hermione was fascinated with the expression of complete adoration on Draco's face.
There was no doubt about it; Draco was already in love with Leo. Not that there had ever been any doubt. It made it that much more difficult to know that she would have to separate them and so soon, too.
"Where are you from?" Leo was asking Draco then.
"I'm from a little village in France."
"Is that far?"
"Quite far indeed."
"What do you do? Are you Mister?"
Draco's silvery brows furrowed as he tried to outthink his son.
"Mister?"
Leo sighed with deep resignation as if he were trying to explain something impossible to someone who could not understand.
"Mister of Magic," he elaborated. "You Mister of Magic in France? My Daddy is Mister of Magic here!"
Only Hermione was obviously aware that Draco's face flinched in pain at the pride that Leo obviously had for Neville.
"No," Draco replied, good at hiding his pain. "I work for a wizarding bank."
"Ohhh! Like Gin-gots?"
"Yes, nearly exactly like Gringotts."
"Do you have lots of money? I do."
Hermione's mouth dropped open even though it was clear that Draco did not mind and was shaking his head in amusement.
"Leo!" she chastised. "You can't say such things! And you must not ask such questions!"
Leo looked at his mother and replied in a matter of fact way that only a child could possess.
"Mama, how am I gonna know things if I don't axe?"
Draco and Hermione's eyes met and time stopped for a moment. She saw joy shining in the gray depths of his eyes and relented, falling silent once more. It wasn't like she was truly angry with her son anyhow; she much rather enjoyed his banter.
Draco was gazing down at Leo.
"You know…money doesn't always make you rich."
"Really?"
"Really," replied Draco. "I grew up with money and my Mama wasn't warm or loving. I know she loved me but…you have to remember, Leo, that you were very rich even without money because you have the best Mama in the world."
Leo curled up to Hermione, clearly happy with Draco's words.
"I like Mama eben though she's a girl."
Draco smiled tolerantly, leaning against the trunk of a large tree.
"Not fond of girls, are you?"
Leo made a face.
"Girls are gross."
"I think someday you'll change your mind."
"Girls cry all the time! And dey tell me what to do like they're all my Mama!"
Leo managed to look righteously angry and Draco stifled a grin as Leo turned to look at Hermione.
"But you're a good Mama," he finished happily as he leaned into Hermione's embrace.
For a moment there was nothing but silence and the completeness of what Draco and Hermione both felt. They were a family. Perhaps it wasn't ideal but right then it was all Draco could have hoped for. His eyes watered as he smiled at Leo again, reaching for the handkerchief the little boy had offered him earlier. Leo watched him for a few seconds and then broke the silence.
"Do you do magics? I can fly a broom and Mama says I'm gonna be a great whiz!"
Hermione laughed and Draco's eyes danced with merriment.
"I'm sure you will be a great wizard," he agreed. "And yes, I can do magic."
Leo grinned.
"Where's your wand?"
Draco thought quickly, his face falling just a fraction.
"I don't always take it with me when I'm traveling on business."
Leo looked perturbed.
"Mama says a good whiz always has to have his wand. I can't wait! Dere's a place called Olive-unders that's gonna make mine when I get big! I only wish it was now."
"You'll grow older before you know it," Draco replied patiently.
"What's yours made of? Mama has one made with vines."
Draco nodded thoughtfully.
"Ah, well those make excellent wands, you know. Mine is made of Hawthorn."
"What's dat?"
"It's a flowering tree that comes from the rose family."
"Roses are for girls! You have a girly wand!"
Draco smiled tolerantly.
"It might just be that," he teased. "But it's still quite powerful and has done great magic."
Leo sighed.
"I want a wand."
"The best things come to those with patience, Leo."
The little boy considered this and shrugged before scrambling to his feet.
"Come, Etamin. Come see me fly!"
He reached to put his tiny hand into Draco's large and calloused one. It brought tears to Hermione's eyes and for a split second she forgot all her troubles and basked in the joy of having her family around her.
"We can fly while I wait to get big and get my wand!"
Draco laughed at the simplicity with which his son saw life. He only wished that life would always stay that simple even though it was futile to hope so.
"I'll come if it's all right with your mother?"
Leo grinned up at Hermione.
"Can we, Mama?"
Hermione nodded.
"Give me and Mr. Black just a moment, darling. I have to talk to him about Ministry business and then he's all yours."
Leo made a face.
"Boooring!"
He grinned at Draco.
"You meet me there!" he said and dashed towards the hillside where the other children were, leaving Hermione and Draco alone.
The silence was shattering and neither knew what to say.
Luna carefully folded Neville's extra blankets and moved them to the foot of his hospital bed. He had said nothing more since he had awoken and she could read the bitterness and heartbreak that was painted across the planes of his face.
She had taken a long while to rearrange his room even though Neville was being released that evening. She had swept the floor and brought in several potted plants and flowers to decorate the parapet of his hospital window. In spite of her efforts the room was still blanketed heavily with sadness.
Neville had recovered rather quickly after awakening from his stupor and within an hour was sitting up in bed and taking liquids. Luna had offered him dinner, which he refused and after failed attempts at engaging him in conversation, Luna had fallen into her current state of silence.
It was only after she had taken her own dinner that Neville finally spoke.
"What exactly happened to Malfoy?"
Startled, Luna had dropped the Quibbler which she had been reading. She looked up at him quizzically. He wore a forlorn expression.
"W-what do you mean?"
"How did he die? Did he die in the war? Or did he die after Hermione left London the first time?"
His fingers fisted the coverlet that lay over his legs.
"I hate feeling this way but I don't trust her."
Luna set aside the magazine and scooted her chair closer watching him with solemn eyes.
"She never meant to hurt you this way," she whispered. "But no one would blame you for your feelings."
Neville let out a strained, frustrated snort and looked away. Luna lay her hand atop his trembling one.
"I don't know what happened to him; Hermione never…she never knew."
Neville's voice was bitter when he replied.
"That or she never told you the truth either."
He would not look at her, no matter how hard Luna wished he would. Instead he focused on the view outside of his window, the way the hazy sunlight played on the emerald leaves of the trees just beyond the windowsill.
"You can't…oh, Neville! You can't be this way. Not when there are so many in the world that you can't trust! Hermione is your wife!"
His jaw stiffened.
"She lied to me. How is she better than…?"
"She's your wife," Luna reminded softly.
Neville worried his lower lip, nearly biting into it to draw blood.
"My wife and a Death Eater's willing whore."
Luna gasped at Neville's bitter words.
"You can't say such things!" she exclaimed.
"How can I trust her when she's kept this much from me?"
The silence was heavy and Luna sensed finality it that she feared not even her reassurances would assuage. Her mind moved with lighting speed touching upon as many of her limited options as possible.
Finally, she spoke.
"If you want, I can talk to her for you."
Neville finally looked away from the window to glare at Luna.
"And what would you ask her?"
The silence was interrupted by the distant sound of voices in the hallway. This was nothing out of the ordinary for reporters and higher Ministry officials had been coming nearly constantly since Neville's arrival at St. Mungo's. Luna ignored the racket.
"What do you want me to ask?"
She could see his entire body stiffen with hostility.
"Look, you don't have to do anything, Luna. I'll be just fine."
"Neville-"
There was more commotion from the hallway and then the commanding voice of a nurse or some sort of Healer. Then the voice grew more muted.
Luna took a faltering breath and squeezed his fingers tightly.
"I'll talk to her," she decided.
Her declaration was met with silence and Luna's heart plummeted at this. The muted sound of voice beyond the room continued. Finally, she stood.
"I'll go now."
"She won't tell you anything."
Luna reached down to smooth a wayward lock of brown hair from his clammy forehead.
"I'll try anyway. I want to believe she's told you everything you need to know but just in case she can't…just in case it's something she can only tell someone else-"
Neville's eyes flared with anger and resentment.
"That's just the rub, isn't it though? I'm her bloody husband and she can't talk to me?"
Luna wordlessly tried to shush him, reaching out in hopes that he would try and be calm but Neville flung off her hands in disgust.
"Just don't. Just…just go, Luna. Just go."
"Neville-"
Once again he pushed her away but this time Luna was able to glimpse the pain that flared in his eyes.
"I told you, don't."
Luna stopped at the harshness in his words and dropped her hand as he continued.
"For years you've had this incessant need to shove your sodding friendship on me. For years I was in love with you and you did everything but love me back! I don't want your friendship; I don't want you here! Just go…go."
He clenched his lips together.
"Leave me be miserable, please. I don't want you."
Luna felt hot tears flood her vision and she blinked rapidly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered raggedly. "It's not that I didn't love you it's just…"
Neville was pink-faced and her words had driven him to greater irritation.
"It's just what, Luna? I haven't been good enough all our lives, have I? So why now?"
She grew indignant.
"When has it been a crime to be a friend?"
Neville waved her off with vehemence.
"Since I decided I was over you and whatever it is that's been between us. Merlin's balls! It only took me half my life, didn't it?"
He pointed towards the door.
"That's where I want you to go. My life since the war isn't your business, Luna. I've moved on and, to be frank, my marital issues will be private from now on. Please don't butt in."
Luna exhaled a rattled sigh, holding back the sobs that threatened to escape. She couldn't believe that Neville could cause her such pain; he had never done so in all their years as friends.
But the iciness and indifference in his voice told the story that his words would not.
Our friendship is over, isn't it?
She reached for the door handle with trembling fingers opening it to the outside world – a hospital corridor filled with wizards and witches, both personal friends and acquaintances of the Longbottom family and those who were just looking for a news story for the Prophet or a wizarding magazine. Luna heard their questions but wordlessly pushed her way through the unyielding throng wishing she could hex them out of her way.
Apparition away from the hospital and to her hotel room seemed the greatest of blessings and only when she found herself standing upon the plush carpeting of the bedroom did she allow herself tears. That way, no one would see her cry over what she had lost.
And when the tears ceased, Luna determined to fix things between Neville and Hermione, no matter what he happened to want. It was the least thing she could do for him, wasn't it? If they weren't to be friends at least she would know he was happy.
With that thought in mind, Luna Apparated once again, this time in search of Hermione.
The breeze picked up gently as Leo bounded away from his parents and towards the sunny clearing where he had left Albus' broom.
Hermione and Draco looked after him with tense yet awed silence.
"Oh, God, Hermione…"
His words were roughened with emotion and when Hermione turned to look at Draco she could see his gray eyes shining with unshed tears of joy. Instinctually she covered his large hand with her own smaller one.
"I know," she whispered.
"I love him!" he replied. "Oh, God, how I adore him! Hermione, he's bloody perfect, isn't he? So, so perfect!"
Hermione watched as the dam that had been holding his emotions back finally burst.
"He's just like you, so beautiful and smart! And he's…he's got the Malfoy pride and determination. He's going to be amazing! Oh, God…"
He was shaking and Hermione could do nothing but wrap her arms around him, resting her head upon his shoulder and pulling as close as she dared.
She felt both amazingly alive and deeply anxious. She knew that if someone – anyone – recognized her and found her in the arms of another man-
Oh, Merlin!
But in spite of that and perhaps because of the fear it caused, Hermione could not let him go. World be damned, he was her love, the only reason she had existed for so long and she couldn't let him go!
"Draco," she whispered against the roughness of his crisp linen shirt and the softness of his beard. "You must listen. I have to tell you something..."
But Draco either couldn't wrap his mind around anything but Leo or he simply had chosen to ignore her. As she whispered his name once more he was staring out at Leo's wobbly attempts at flying.
"Perfect," he murmured and when he gazed down into Hermione's eyes she could see only endless joy.
"I had wondered what a child of ours would look like, Hermione," he sighed and one roughened finger traced the outline of her face, making Hermione shiver delightfully. For a few moments she forgot the fact that Draco would need to run soon, that their family would be broken up once again as quickly as it had come together.
"I had dreamed, imagined, created…I had prayed."
For a moment there was only Draco and the perfection she found in his arms.
"I never knew I could love someone so much again!" he rasped. "When…when I lost Scorpius I…that part of me died and I didn't believe…"
He sighed, tears shimmering in his eyes now.
"But the moment I saw Leo that…it all changed. I thought I couldn't love you more but now there's my son - our son."
Yes. Yes, of course she understood! Of course she knew the feeling of both overwhelming awe and love – yes she knew!
Hermione's felt the unsteady racing of her heart as she pressed herself closer to Draco's warmth and felt him melting against her easily.
"So many months," she murmured against his jacket. "So many months of darkness, Draco, when I wondered how I could raise him alone and how he would never know his father."
She looked up at him.
"You don't know the agony I felt when we met again," she continued brokenly. "The shame and guilt at feeling what I did and wishing Neville weren't in the picture so you could claim your son."
She felt her eyes watering.
"I'm a horrid mother, I know. I'm horrid for wanting what I shouldn't and for doing what I oughtn't but in the end he's still your flesh and blood."
Draco pressed his lips to Hermione's unruly curls.
"I love him, Hermione. So there is that and where there is love all cannot be wrong, can it?"
Hermione didn't know the answer to that but she did know that precious seconds were slipping by and she would have to force Draco to listen – soon. He had pulled away and was gently tugging on her arm.
"I want to fly with him for a few moments. I want to be a father to him even if I can't use that word. I want these moments and I won't waste another minute!"
"Draco!"
Hermione got to her feet but he had already begun to jog across the emerald grass towards their son and she could do nothing but follow. Leo was laughing and waving to Draco from his precarious position on the wobbly broomstick.
"Please," she managed breathlessly when she caught up to him.
Draco clasped his hand over her fingers and held them tightly.
"Hush," he ordered and there was nothing to do but comply.
They watched Leo trying to master the art of flying as he had been taught by James and Albus. He worked with obvious excitement and careful determination and there had been nothing as beautiful to Hermione as watching her son learning something while standing by the side of the man she loved.
The man I love.
This love she couldn't deny; this love meant more to her than the world and because the world hated him she would give him up to protect him.
"Now will you listen?"
Her plea was thin and trembling. Draco turned to gaze down upon Hermione, his gray eyes somber – the joy had gone from him in that moment.
"I know."
She stared.
"I know that I must go and that Ginny and Seamus have found a place for me. She told me that it would happen soon."
Hermione stared, dumbfounded and Draco leaned in to press his mouth against hers in a soft kiss – the first kiss that had not been in secret.
"I only wanted a few moments with you and Leo; I wanted to remember what it felt like to have a family again. I know you are Longbottom's wife and no matter how I try I can't forget that you aren't mine any longer."
Hermione swallowed back her bitterness and disappointment.
"Draco, that's what I must tell you. There's danger and we can't be seen here together. I've become some sort of target and anyone who is involved with me…"
She choked on her words, not seeing Draco's growing concern.
"Neville's been-"
The moments that followed her faltering words slowed down – it was as if some spell had been cast on the entire world. Hermione would never know if she had been so distracted by Draco that she had forgotten where they were or if they had been snuck up upon – at any rate they jumped apart at the sudden sound of a new arrival.
"It's too late."
Her voice wasn't cold or menacing; it was simply sad.
Hermione gasped, whirling away from Draco as her eyes widened.
"Luna!"
The woman with the wispy blonde hair appeared calm on the outside but her pale gray eyes were wide with horror.
"Hermione, this whole time with another man?" she whispered in disbelief. "While Neville's in the hospital dealing with…with whatever truths you've told him you're here…with…"
Luna's eyes moved to Draco who was watching her intently. Suddenly the glamour and disillusionment charms Ginny had used seemed quite a thin, frail cover. Hermione wondered if Luna could see right through the enchantments.
It made her stomach twist so that she felt her lunch threatening her.
No, no, no, no, no…no…she didn't want to be found out this way! Her heart hammered within her chest wildly.
"Luna, it's not…it's not what you think. I can…I can explain…I-"
Luna pulled out her wand in one, swift movement that silenced Hermione. She approached Draco carefully, wand outstretched and eyes narrowed.
"I thought I heard you call him Draco. But that can't be, can it?"
She lifted her wand and then the air around them shimmered, grew hazy, sharpened and wavered so that Hermione grew dizzy. Against her own will she felt her eyes fluttering closed to keep the dizziness at bay. For a moment there was nothing but then she felt a coolness fall over her; it felt like bathing in a waterfall. She was struck by a faint memory of being in the vaults at Gringott's-
No! Thief's Downfall!
Her eyes jerked open and she had just enough time to gasp for air before she realized that Draco now stood before them, all magic, charms and concealments having been washed away by Luna's spell.
"You are alive," she breathed.
Hermione saw Draco jerk in response to Luna's work and she reacted similarly.
"How…how did you…?"
"It's not what you think," replied the blonde witch. "Technically it's a modification of Thief's Downfall but…well, it serves its purpose."
Then she took a step towards Draco who had frozen with indecision and peered up at him. What could be done now? Hermione knew she had been caught; the last part of the secret she had harbored in her heart had been blown apart.
"I can't believe this," Luna murmured.
Her wand trembled a bit as she lowered it and looked accusingly at Hermione.
"All this time?"
Hermione shook her head.
"No, no…you don't…you don't understand! I thought he was…I thought he had died too! When I came to Cardiff! I didn't have any reason to believe…"
She faltered in her words.
"But then he was back and I just…I didn't know how to tell Neville-"
Luna's wand swung around to point in Hermione's direction.
"How long?"
Hermione couldn't answer and Luna's jaw trembled.
"How long, Hermione? Your husband is in the hospital, broken about what's happened between you. And you're still keeping secrets from him! How long?" she demanded.
Hermione dropped her head in defeat.
"Please just let me explain," she begged.
Neville wasn't certain how long it had been since Luna had left the room. No one had come in since and the voices in the hallway had died off as well, leaving behind a stark, lonely silence.
Try as he might, however, Neville wasn't able to silence his thoughts and they raged within him like a violent storm.
A Death Eater's whore.
He hated thinking of Hermione in such light after so many years of adoration.
Didn't I know the truth though? She never kept that from me; I knew that Malfoy had been...with her.
Sighing, Neville opened his weary eyes.
But not like that. Not willingly. I hadn't thought she would actually…as a desperate choice, yes. If he had forced her, yes. But surely Hermione couldn't have loved him!
He turned his head towards the windows. Except that she had.
It explains everything, doesn't it? Her need to help Parkinson…the reason she had turned to him because she had been abused at every other turn and he was the only one that had offered solace?
Still, it didn't quell the jealousy and indignation Neville felt.
It's bad enough that Leo will have this stain to deal with forever! What if the Ministry finds out about Hermione's past? They'll crucify her!
He shuddered a bit and pulled the comforter higher up on his body thought it did nothing to warm him.
What if they already do? What if that's why I'm in this bed? Who did this to me? Zabini? His wife? Someone else?
Hermione hadn't known; she had been worried but she hadn't known. He knew his position was in jeopardy and he believed the same for his marriage. Unless…
Suddenly the door opened.
"Minister?"
Neville didn't recognize her but she wasn't the usual Healer that made rounds on his particular floor.
"Yes," he said, clearing his throat and looking away.
My life is a sodding mess and I don't even know what to do to begin to fix it!
"I've come to bring you supper."
"I'm not hungry, actually."
Neville heard the sound of her soft-soled shoes against the floor and looked up. She had hair like Luna's; it looked like corn silk and framed a face that was much too ruddy and large, too-bright eyes.
Her eyes gazed into his for a silent moment and Neville was suddenly reminded of… They were blue eyes, hungry and attentive – a wolf's eyes. Yes, that was it. She had eyes that were animalistic.
Neville took a breath.
Then everything and nothing changed all at once. She reached for him, her fingers clamping down hard on his forearm and she was smiling but the smile never reached those cold, animal-like eyes. And her smile was no longer the smile of a woman.
She had changed.
"Well, then, Minister, I suppose you'll have to come with me," she growled.
Neville struggled against her sudden strength while at the same time he was riveted in horror as she changed before his eyes. Gone was the wispy, blonde hair and the ruddy cheeks. Gone was the shapely figure and soft-soled shoes.
She was gone.
And in her place stood a wolf-like man that Neville had hoped never to see again for memories of the first battle at Hogwarts had always been enough for his nightmares. A few seconds was all the man needed.
"Stupefy!"
The last thing that Neville would recall was the hungry look and rabid smile of Fenrir Greyback.