A/N: Attack on a pregnant woman.
Luna and Hermione were giggling as they looked at a couple of shops in Godric's Hallow. The two were looking at little things here and there. Luna thought that it would be good to get Hermione out of the house for the weekend. Neville watched the two as Luna held up a small bear. Luna was trying to get Hermione comfortable with the idea that even though the circumstances weren't the best, she still deserved to have a happy pregnancy. Every woman deserves to be happy. Hermione laughed at her as she made little voices. They stood in a small section with little hand-me-down items. Clothing, a few cribs that had been broken down, a bassinet, and some toys.
The shop was old, much older than most of the newer buildings that had been rebuilt over 19 years ago. Even when they stepped the floorboards creaked and when others walked around on the second floor, dust would gently fall. The small shop smelled musty and of old books. The items in the shop were very basic for a thrift store. At least for a muggle one. "I think, maybe we should wait on a few things before we get ahead of ourselves."
"Yes, but I don't think getting a few basic things would hurt." Luna held up the brown bear and waved his little paw.
Hermione couldn't help, but smile again. She was still getting used to the idea that she was pregnant now, only a couple of weeks had passed since she took the test. Even Malfoy appeared gentler towards her and always ensured she ate enough at breakfast before they left. But it was another weekend and Malfoy was gone. Luna had convinced Neville that the three of them deserved a day trip to get out of their homes for a little bit. "A bear?" She chuckled.
Neville smiled as he walked over and took the bear. "I guess Luna and I will be the fun aunt and uncle."
Hermione couldn't help, but smile. All three of them had gotten closer, Luna was over the moon for the baby she could only imagine how Luna would be if she was expecting. Neville was supportive and always seemed to be close by when Malfoy had left.
Nevile took the bear to the counter and pulled out his wallet to pay the older balding shopkeeper. Hermione and Luna were still talking as Luna held up a colorful light and dark green onesie. "I bet these are the colors Malfoy would want the child wearing, he was always so proud of being in Slytherin."
Hermione chuckled again. "Wouldn't it be a shock if the child turns out to be a Hufflepuff when they get sorted into Hogwarts?"
Neville walked back over with the small bear and gave it back to Hermione. It felt reassuring to him that she was okay after everything she went through with the attack, knowing full well that the child might not be Malfoy's. He was more reassured that Malfoy took such a high claim to the child regardless if it was really his or not. He never said if, he always said my child.
"Should we perhaps go…" The ground shook as Hermione grabbed hold of a table and Luna took hold of Neville's arm. "What was that," Luna spoke as Neville took a step forward. He carefully took hold of his wand and kept it out of sight of the shopkeeper who ran past him to the door. Hermione quickly put the bear away in her black bag. Screaming could be heard outside. The shopkeeper locked his door. Neville motioned for the girls to move and hide. Luna took hold of Hermione's hand.
The shopkeeper ushered them behind the counter where he hurried to. "Something isn't right." The two followed him as he pushed an old tattered dirty rug and pulled a latch to open the trap door. "Boy, come on." He spoke barely above a whisper.
Neville was hesitant before he stepped back. The screaming and the shouts only grew louder. Luna helped Hermione down and followed her. Neville followed and then the shopkeeper, who carefully let the door closed with the rug falling back into place. The shouting continued above as Luna took Hermione's hand, and both girls readied themselves. Hermione's heart was racing.
Everyone was quiet no one said a single thing, as the building shook above. Dust flared up from the floorboards and onto them below. Everything fell silent for a few minutes before stepping could be heard above them. Everyone froze as the light from the wood floorboards above turned to shadows as people walked above. The steps stopped just above them. Luna held tightly to Hermione's hand.
"Someone was here, check upstairs." An unfamiliar voice could be heard from above as the steps echoed below.
"Probably just the shopkeeper." Another spoke as something could be heard being knocked over. "Look this old junk, I never understood why muggles find old things so fascinating why not have new things." Footsteps could be heard going upstairs and screams could be heard above as it sounded like a struggle. Hermione watched as the shopkeeper's face grew pale. A thump could be heard as silence fell. "I think that's the only one upstairs."
"No, I don't think it was just one person here." The first male spoke. "Burn it, will smoke them out." The two could be heard leaving.
"… Neville," Luna whispered out as she looked at the shopkeeper.
"Is there anywhere we can go from here?" Neville asked, trying to get the shopkeeper's attention. The sounds of breaking glass could be heard above, smoke started to drop from the cracks in the floorboards.
"… There is another basement, but it's separated by a brick wall we won't be able to get through in time the only way out is to go up." He spoke as he went back to the steps only to have Neville stop him.
"No, we can get through," Neville spoke. "What wall, we can get through I promise, but you need to trust us."
The shopkeeper pointed to the East side of the basement. Neville lifted his wand. "Bombarda Maxima!" The bricks exploded as a small hole formed big enough for them to start moving through. Neville went through first as he helped Hermione and Luna through then the shopkeeper. The room was dark that they moved into. "Luna, do you have enough floo powder on you?" Neville could faintly make out an old fireplace.
"Yes." She spoke as she started to dig into her brown bookbag.
The shopkeeper watched as the smoke started to fill this dimly lit room. "Wouldn't it be better to wait until they leave?"
Neville shook his head. "No, they know we're here and even if waited and went up they would be waiting for us like a pack of wild dogs."
"Got it." Luna spoke as she moved to the fireplace.
"You aren't any stranger to magic, are you?" Hermione looked to the older shopkeeper. "You didn't bat an eye when he casted that spell."
The shopkeeper shook his head. "My mum was a witch, but I didn't have any magical attributes as she would say."
"Do you trust us enough to leave this place?" Hermione asked.
"I would rather take my chances with you than whoever those people were. This was just like the attacks years ago." The shopkeeper spoke.
Luna moved getting ready to toss the floo powder in. "Well, well look what we have here." The first voice from above spoke as he walked through the rubble. She couldn't make out the figure who hid behind a silver mask.
"Go now!" Neville shouted as Luna tossed the floo powder into the fireplace.
"Not so fast." As Luna was pulling Hermione through the fireplace yelling for home. "Crucio!" He screamed as the spell hit both girls as they vanished into the green flames. They heard Neville scream out, "Petrificus Totalus." Both girls landed on the other side of the fireplace in the study followed by Neville and the shopkeeper.
Hermione and Luna both cried out in pain as they landed on the floor. Hermione held tightly to her stomach as her body surged in pain. Luna laid out flat as she cried. Neville went towards Luna first. "Y-you have to… The baby…" Luna was breathing hard as tears rolled down her cheeks. The shopkeeper went to Luna as Neville moved to Hermione.
Neville pulled Hermione up off the hardwood floor and took her upstairs. He could feel her body spasming from the pain as she bit down on her bottom lip enough to draw blood. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. Neville set her on her bed and tried to rub her arms and legs trying to lessen the pain that rippled through her body. "… Hermione, focus.." Neville whispered out. He was trying his best, she kept her stomach covered protectively.
Heavy footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. Neville turned quickly and pulled his wand out ready for an attack. As the figure walked in, he lowered his wand when he pulled his mask off. "Why would you attack a village like that!"
Hermione opened her eyes just enough to see Malfoy standing in the doorway. He was dressed in dark pants and a tight black shirt. She had only seen him in that outfit once when the castle was stormed during the second war, the mask was new. "I-I needed to attack; I didn't know you three would be there. Why didn't you tell me you were planning on going someplace away from the dorms!?"
"I don't need your permission to take Luna or Hermione out of town." Neville moved and stood in front of Hermione. "We wanted to do something nice for her, we wanted to take her out to look for things, we wanted her to be happy about the baby."
Malfoy froze as he moved past Neville quickly and moved to the bed where Hermione was still crying from the pain. Malfoy moved his wand over her and whispered something low enough that Neville couldn't hear. Hermione's body relaxed and her crying stopped. This wasn't the first time that she had dealt with the spell and the effects. The first was from Malfoy's aunt in the Malfoy Manor. "Wait here with her," Malfoy spoke as he walked out of the room and headed downstairs.
Hermione looked at Neville sadly as he brushed her messy brown locks from her face. She could see the pain in his eyes. He knew this was the spell that drove his parents insane, the reason why he wouldn't be able to have a conversation with them fully. Now, he watched the woman he loved and his friend he cared deeply for suffer. The footsteps returned, but went in the opposite direction. Malfoy returned to the room shortly. "I put Lovegood in my bed, the spells stopped you should check on her, but it's best everyone stays here for now."
Neville bit his tongue he couldn't even look at him right now. He left Malfoy alone with Hermione. Hermione looked at him sadly. "….We tried to hide, Neville really tried to keep us safe and get us away…. Neville made sure to get us home, the attack was an accident we were going through…. when the spell hit Luna and I…" She was still covering her stomach protectively. "… Why would you attack Godric's Hallow?"
Malfoy sat on the bed and placed his hand on her hand. "It was a strategy to see if we could lure any wizards or witches out that could try to stop us. If we attacked now, we wouldn't have to fight them later if we took care of them."
Hermione paused for a moment. ".. Take care of them as in killing them?"
Malfoy nodded. "Yes. In order for us to take control we need to start killing those that aren't with the main Order, if we start now, we can eliminate the Order quickly."
"You nearly got us all killed…" Hermione swallowed. "How did you even know we were attacked?"
"One of my followers came back bragging about hitting you and Lovegood. I taught you to duel you should have fought back." Malfoy spoke as he looked at her. "I told you to be careful."
"We were careful, Luna, Neville, and I went shopping for baby items. They wanted to help." She shifted on the bed trying to sit up.
"Don't," Malfoy spoke as he made her lay back down. "If you need things tell me and I will get them."
"That's not fair to me." She laid on her back as he tried to get her comfortable. Even though he had stopped the spell from continuing to rip through her body, she was still in pain.
"It's not fair to me that you are like this, I had to leave just to come home to make sure you and the baby weren't killed. I have to go back, Neville and everyone will stay put here until I come home. Oh, and make sure that Neville gets that Squib out of the house." Malfoy leaned down and kissed the top of her head and placed his left hand on her stomach, before he turned and walked down the hall to his room where Luna and Nevile were. She could hear Malfoy and Neville talking, but she couldn't make out a single word they were saying. She heard Malfoy hurry down the stairs. There was silence. She couldn't even hear Luna or Neville or even the poor shopkeeper they pulled through the network with them.