11.

The woman screamed. Nothing hurt like this. Sweat matted to her forehead as her body tore itself apart. If she had been tortured under the crucio it wouldn't have hurt this much. Despite herself, the woman smiled, before another agonizing wave of pain rolled through her. Her sweaty hands grabbed her swollen belly as she rode out the spasm originating beneath her palms.

"Ja-James."

She grabbed for his shirt. His hand. Anything.

"We need to- to go to St. Mung-"

Her sentence devolved into another bout of screams. Her husband was almost as pale as she was as his patronus galloped off into the night sky. I'm not gonna make it.

"You'll make it, Lily. They have the best healers at St. Mungos."

Lily realized she must have said it out loud. Or James is reading my thoughts again, pesky boy. James continued speaking to his wife, rambling from nerves.

"We will have you back in tip top shape. Nothing bad will happen to you-"

Lily once again reached for James, a calm settling over herself. Her forest green eyes were sharp as flint boring into his own.

"Save Harry, James. Choose him. That is all I wish."

The witch collapsed back onto the couch, her body trembling as it fought to protect itself from the pain radiating from within. James scooped up the slight woman, praying he didn't splinch them both as he apparated the pair into the lobby.

"Help! Doctor! We need a doctor. Lily she's- she's dying. Please someone."

Medics rushed around the pair, a silent spell relieving the sobbing man from his burden as Lily's still seizing body was secured to a gurney. A younger witch with wild, dark curls wearing the lime green mediwizard robes quickly dosed the unconscious woman with a vial. She summoned a second potion before her dark eyes met James' hazel ones. James could read determination in the set of her face, her jaw clenching as she returned her focus to the heavily pregnant woman in her care. James knew they were going to take her to the Accident & Emergency ward soon, so in a desperate bid he grabbed the mediwitch's arm.

"Please save her."

James had fallen to his knees at this point, watching his wife be magicked away, further into the hospital. Further from me. Exhausted by terror and with his adrenaline wearing off, the young auror climbed shakily into a nearby chair. His dark, tousled hair fell into his eyes as he chewed his fingernails. He shook the bangs from his face to focus harder on the door Lily had been brought through. Please save her.

Bella roused herself from sleep. Always before… Why do I always wake up before I know? The witch rubbed her eyes, pushing into her skull until she saw fluorescent blurs passing behind her eyelids. Narcissa was a fine hostess, but Bella was unhappy at Malfoy Manor, feeling like a teenager under a mum's watchful gaze. I can't stay here forever. As if on cue, Narcissa shouted for her eldest sister through her bedroom door.

"Bella!"

Bellatrix sighed before stretching out, summoning a robe to hold about herself as she greeted the blonde.

"Yes, Cissy? It better be good, I was sleep-"

"Hush, Bella, you were not. I know you enough to know you are up with the sun. Besides! Draco sent a letter! It's been an excruciating week not having him around. You never realize how much life children bring until they're- Bella, wait!"

The dark haired witch all but slammed the door on her sister. Of course I know the silence of the absence of children! Who does she think she is? She can't keep me here and insult me! She stewed as her crooked wand found its way between her teeth, using both hands to wrap her hair into a messy updo. A bit of charmed paper slipped under the door before fluttering near her ears. She angrily batted at it, a half-hearted attempt to maintain the hurt her sister caused instead of letting it settle into sorrow.

The paper once again rustled by her ears, causing the witch to grab it. Every instinct told her to burn the paper, a wandless 'incendio' forming on her lips, but her curiosity won out. She unfolded the paper and saw her sister's elegant cursive.

"Just read what Draco sent, Bell."

Bella skimmed over the letter from her nephew to his mother, until she came upon the part about Hermione.

"Mum (and Auntie Bella) you won't believe how cool Hermione is. Pansy was talking about how it seemed she had never held a wand before the first night in the dungeon but she's brilliant. She's already won Slytherin almost 40 house points. And not even all from Uncle Sev! Actually he seems to dislike her but he won't take points from her no matter how much he calls her a swot. Professor McGonagall gives her a lot of attention though. Thought you should know. We take all our meals together and she has even been holding her own with all the gossip about her bloodline. How can we find out if she really is Hermione?"

Bella perused the rest of the letter, tittering at his recounting of spelling one of the Weasley litter's books out a window while Flitwick had been in the hall. Deciding to face her sister, she stepped out into the hall, immediately coming upon a sheepish looking Narcissa.

"I'm so sorry, Bella. I know you know how hard it is. More so, even. I just have never sent Draco away before. Even when he's had sleepovers the children have always come here."

Bella wrapped her sister in a hug. Enjoying the comfort, she sighed.

"We have to get her blood."

"Minerva you can't give this girl any special attention! She is not one of your lions. We need her to fail! Have you not heard the prophecy? Do you want the dark side to rise?"

The stoic woman glared at the wizard.

"I cannot help it, Albus, if Hermione is the only student in the Gryffindor-Slytherin block who gives a sheep's behind about transfiguration! And why must we even worry about light and dark? There hasn't been a peep about dark magic in nearly two decades. Perhaps there was a shift and her prophecy isn't even accurate anymore-"

"Are you mad? Fate doesn't change! I'll make us all sit down with Sybil if that's what you want. The prophecy is right. And two decades is nothing in the lifespan of a wizard; and furthermore, that 'dark magic' was performed by this girl's mother! Have you forgotten that?"

Albus blustered at his long time companion, wrinkled face becoming red and splotchy as he sucked in air to continue his tirade.

"That's enough, Albus. You believe so much in prophecy that you can't see the witch for the trees that make her. I will continue to teach my class as I see fit."

The animagus stalked out of the room, her tight bun pulled uncomfortably at her scalp as magic sparked along her hair. I'm too old for emotional flyaways.

The witch had nothing else to do that evening and decided it would best be spent enjoying a nice scotch with Rolanda. At least there's one professor who can't sing Hermione praises. She chuckled to herself, recalling her friend's despair at having such an untrainable witch in her beginner's class. Thank heavens the weekend is nigh.

AN: Here are two slightly shorter chapters : ) About time y'all get a little more backstory. Next chapter will prob contain some highlights from week 1, then we will prob plod a bit quicker thru the rest of first year. 2 and 3 years will get covered, though not as detailed as year one (which grants a lot of background) and year four (when our prophetic child turns 14!) Hope y'all have enjoyed these back to back updates. Love you ❤️