"She looks happy," McNair remarked indicting the silver snake engraved frame on the mantle, his discolored chubby finger grazing the photo. It was a photograph of Hermione standing next to a seated Dark Lord on his lap their daughter. Lucius regarded the photo for a moment before rolling his eyes. To the untrained eye of course the mudblood looked happy her life depended on keeping up appearances but to a master of deception such as himself Lucius could easily spot the loathing just behind her eyes. It was subtle but always present some days more than others.
"Why do you think he keeps her around?"
Lucius rolled his eyes once again, "about whom are you referring?"
It was McNair's turn to roll his eyes, "the mudblood Malfoy", he hissed, "you would have thought he would have gotten rid of her by now, you know."
The slender blond sighed, "maybe McNair," he hissed, "it has to do with the fact that she is the mother of his children, now keep your voice down!"
McNair waved him off returning his attention back to the photo. "I mean how do they…" he trailed off looking over at Lucius with raised eyebrows.
"How do they what?" Lucius asked. He didn't bother hiding his annoyance.
"You know, Lucius, fuck? I figured you know no nose no …" he gestured to the front of his trousers eyes wide.
Lucius interrupted him his lip snarled upwards, "obviously he has something because the girl is pregnant with their second child, now, be quite before the Dark Lord hears you and have us both strung up from the west gate."
McNair rolled on the balls of his feet before turning his back to Lucius and taking in the rest of the room. The eldest Malfoy had gripped the head of his can so tight the fangs of the snake had left small pin pricks on his finger. The urge to curse the dark haired man was strong but McNair after having brought in one of the key members of the Resistance, Dean, was the new golden boy and relished in the security of currently being the Dark Lord's flavor of the month.
Hermione paced the nursery attempting to ward off another panic attack while waiting for the potion's effects to manifest.
She had been on the verge of a break down for two weeks. With Dean captured and executed, her resolve had started crumbling ever since. She was attempting a breathing exercise when a sharp pain in her abdomen nearly brought her to her knees and she made her way over to the rocking chair just in time as her legs gave way causing her to fall on her side into the chair.
She felt something warm pooling between her legs; she began to panic she was only four months along it was nowhere near time for her to deliver. Slowly, she lifted the hem of her robe and placed her hand between her thighs gathering the warm liquid on her finger tips. She brought her hand to face, it was covered with blood.
Her ire rose and she screamed.
Another sharp pained hit her and she doubled over sliding to the floor. 'Oh my God, it's working!' Ella, the small elf appeared head bowed low before the creature looked upon her mistress on the floor curled into the fetal position with her hands between her legs.
"Mistress," the elf began to panic before disappearing.
The Dark Lord was in the middle of issuing orders to his two servants standing before him when a small pop halted his dismissal of Lucius and McNair.
The Dark Lord was outraged and pointed his wand at the small elf. Ella cowered in fright.
"You dare interrupt me!" he roared. Ella began quickly.
"It's Mistress, Master; the baby," was all Ella could get out too afraid to speak in complete sentences. He rushed the small elf and grabbed her by the scruff of the dingy sundress she was wearing.
"What?! Speak elf before I have you ripped to pieces!" Voldemort roared.
"It's Mistress, Master she iss ins a lots of pain and on the floor in the nursery. Iss came straight away to get Master; she iss bleeding Master," the elf held up her arms bracing for a hit her small brown legs quivering.
He threw the elf to the floor.
"McNair get a healer; Lucius bring Severus and his wife here, NOW!"
Voldemort did not watch his followers leave to do his bidding but ran from the room in the direction of the new nursery. As he got nearer he heard screaming; he entered to find the young woman sitting in a small pool of blood tears running down her face.
He kneeled beside her taking her in his arms as he stroked her hair. "It will be okay Hermione; don't worry everything will be alright."
Severus followed the healer out of the room leaving Ginny alone to comfort Hermione.
Rochester remained silent and allowed Severus to relay the news to the Dark Lord.
"My Lord," Severus began, Voldemort turned from the window to face him his wand clutched tightly between his slender fingers, "she did not miscarry. Rochester," Severus inclined his head toward the small hunched back man and continued, "examined her and ruled out any complications as it was only break through bleeding. Rochester has assured me you can expect a healthy son in March, my lord."
Severus could have sworn his usually expressionless and cold lord looked relived.
"What do you think could have caused this, this breakthrough bleeding as you say?"
"The conclusion was reached that stress was the culprit."
"Stress!?" the Dark Lord his, he sounded repulsed.
"Yes my lord; my we speak privately, my Lord?"
"Yes."
Severus nodded to the healer; Rochester bowed before backing away and turning on his heels and heading for the floo. The look in the Dark Lord's eyes had been dismissal enough.
"Speak, Severus," Voldemort hissed; he was annoyed.
"The recent activities could have her worried; not only for her safety but for that of Michela's, and now with another child on the way and in particular a son it could have her afraid."
"Afraid?" he chuckled but there was no mirth in his eyes. "What does she have to be afraid of, Severus?" Realization must have donned on him because his eyes narrowed, "she doesn't know, does she?"
"No, my lord."
"Are you sure Severus? You didn't speak of it to Ginerva?"
"No, my lord. I do not discuss sensitive matters concerning the regime with my wife."
The Dark Lord closed the gap between them, "I have to be sure Severus a woman's touch," he hissed, "can cause a man to develop loose lips and," he paused for emphasis, "wavering loyalties."
Severus maintained eye contact, "my lord, I value my allegiance to you above all. My loyalty to you and the regime have always been steadfast and unshakeable."
The Dark Lord seemed pleased, "you may go Severus."
"Yes, my lord; allow me to gather Ginvera…" he was interrupted.
"No, let her stay with Hermione, you may go."
Severus bowed, "yes my lord," before he turned on his heel and left his master standing in the hall.
Forty-five minutes prior, Ginny had walked into the room to find Hermione sitting on the side of the bed. She looked up and Ginny could tell she was relieved by the way her shoulders dropped and she sighed. Ginny ran over to her and kneeled before her.
"Did it work?" Hermione whispered looking around nervously her eyes landing on the door.
"Yes, it did," Ginny reassured her, "is the baby okay? I had been worried for two days hoping I had brewed it correctly; I didn't want to hurt the baby in anyway. I was afraid Severus wouldn't buy it but I think he did and…"
"Ginny I know," she gripped the sides of Ginny's face, "we don't have much time." Hermione got up and ran over to the stone wall and kneeled at its base. Ginny couldn't see what she was doing but she heard stone scrapping.
Hermione came back holding a square piece of parchment folded in half. She handed it to Ginny and sat on the bed. Ginny looked at the bit of parchment and to the causal observer it looked like an old grocery list but the right enchantments revealed its secrets.
"You didn't have to hide it Hermione with the enchantments it undetectable—it's fool proof." She stated tucking the list into a hidden compartment insider her bra.
"You know what happened last time we thought something was fool proof," she stated turning the silver snake band on her left ring finger. The statement stung but she didn't take offense to it. With Dean's capture, torture and execution nothing could be left to chance she reprimanded herself for thinking otherwise.
Hermione mentally shook herself the calming draught was beginning to take effect and she quickly climbed into bed burrowing underneath the covers.
She yawned, "you know the rest of the plan. The Dark Lord has to be convinced that I no longer feel safe here. That is the key to myself and subsequently you and the kids getting away. Do you understand, Ginny? I've done my part now it's time to do yours, okay?" she whispered the question as her eyelids became heavy.
"Yes, I know, you did so well."
Hermione chuckled lightly, "I didn't have to do too much acting Ginny. Truth is I am afraid; they want to kill us."
Ginny leaned in closer Hermione's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Who wants to kill you—us?"
"The Resistance; Tom doesn't think I know but there was a plot to kill us, me and Michela. They want us dead. I…" Ginny shushed her.
"Sleep now Hermione." Ginny rubbed the young woman's head. She could tell the draught had taken its full effect by the heavy breathing she heard.
"She's more at ease when you're around," Ginny rose and turned she didn't hear the Dark Lord enter and quickly bowed.
"I apologize my lord, I didn't hear you come in," she rose, "I can leave if you like."
"No, stay," he came and stood within inches of her towering over her slender frame, "Hermione needs you." He walked around the red head and took a seat next to Hermione and began stoking her face. Ginny stood shocked at the amount of tenderness on display by a man she had known her whole life as a monster.
He looked at Ginny noting her expression. He chuckled lightly before turning his attention back to his wife, "despite what you think Mrs. Snape, I do care about her and her well-being. She means…" he paused not familiar with showing emotion with anyone other than Michela and that had its limits. No, he, the darkest wizard of all time, could not finish nor carry on in such a manner. It had only donned on him in the last hour that she had come to mean everything to him. This side of him stroked his fear and what caused him to lash out at her.
Ginny decided now was the perfect time; she only hoped she was as convincing as her friend had been.
"May I speak freely, my lord?"
He stood and turned, "continue Mrs. Snape," he hissed; there was no menace behind the command.
"She's afraid my lord."
He looked puzzled, "of me, I presume?" his ire was beginning to build Ginny needed to get a handle on the situation and fast.
"No, my lord please, listen," she grabbed his wrist, she hadn't meant to but it was instinct, "the Resistance," she whispered and gently pulled him into the hall she released him once the door was closed.
"I didn't want Hermione to hear nor do I want her to know I told you this, "she paused dramatically and took extra effort to look torn, "she knows about the plot on her and Michela's life."
The Dark Lord looked furious, "she knows that they got inside the castle walls."
"How?" he hissed. She took a deep breath, "she overheard McNair talking to one of the junior death eaters. She doesn't feel safe inside the castle anymore. She wants to leave go somewhere safe with the baby on the way especially since it's a boy she feels there will be an even greater target on her back. There will be those in the Resistance would will be adamant to destroy your legacy by killing your son."
"As chauvinistic as it may be, a son poses a greater threat for many more so than a daughter I am ashamed to say, my lord."
She could see the wheels spinning inside his head.
"You have in no way broken Hermione's trust you did the right thing by telling me. I will deal with McNair and his loose tongue. You stay with Hermione tonight; your husband already knows you will be here this evening."
"Thank you my lord," she curtseyed. The Dark Lord started down the hall but turned just at Ginny had reached for the door knob.
"Mrs. Snape I will forgive your transgression from earlier this time; you will not be shown clemency a second time."
Ginny knew he was referring to when she grabbed his wrist; no one touched the Dark Lord aside from Hermione, which, willingly, was rare and his daughter Michela.
"I understand, good evening my lord."
"Good evening, Ginerva."
Ginny closed the door behind her with a soft click; the plan was in motion.