A/N: It's been so nice to have an increase in favorites and followers - definitely gives me motivation to keep writing. I'm glad people are enjoying this story.

Someone asked some really great questions in one of the reviews. I promise all will be revealed in the coming chapters. I hope everyone continues to enjoy.

Chapter Thirty

It took them longer than Hermione hoped to disable the protection charms that encircled Malfoy Manor. It pained her to think that each moment they spent outside was another moment Rose spent helpless and in danger. Terrible thoughts plagued her while she frantically swished her wand, desperate to break the spells.

When the last barrier fell, Harry, Ron, and Hermione wasted no time disapparating from the outskirts of the gothic home and into an eerily familiar room that still haunted their dreams. With three loud cracks, they appeared in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor, memories from over twenty years ago whooshing to their minds. Their wands were drawn, but both Hermione and Ron froze at the horrific sight unfolding in front them.

There on the ground, bound to a knocked over chair and twisting in agony, was their daughter. Crimson blood leaked from her ears and nose, and slowly flowed down the side of her sickly pallor cheeks.

Lestrange stood over her with a sinister smirk as he fired another curse from his wand. Rose let out a piercing scream from her white lips and then momentarily stiffened before entering a fit of violent convulsions.

Adrenaline surging through him, Harry was first to take action, and he immediately pointed his wand at Rose's attacker.

"Expelliarmus!" He shouted, and Aetes quickly turned his attention towards him, deflecting the spell.

Rose's body went limp, and Hermione cried out to her in overwhelming despair, her heart aching. She wanted nothing more than to hold her daughter, but the sound of spells and curses reverberating throughout the room reminded her that they were not safe yet.

Hermione quickly looked around, seeing that Harry was locked in an intense battle with Aetes, while Ron had taken on Hestia. She spun and made eye contact with the remaining old greying wizard, who had just drawn his wand.

"You can end this now," Hermione said, pointing her own wand on the eldest Malfoy, her eyes narrowing as she tried to control the intense rage mounting inside her. "It won't be long until this place is crawling with Aurors."

"And then I'll be tossed in Azkaban?" Lucius snarled, his pointy nose flaring. "No, I think not."

He moved to swish his wand and began to utter a curse, but Hermione was faster.

"Diffindo!"

Lucius was quick enough to cast a shielding spell, protecting himself before countering with his own attack.

"Confrigo!" He shouted, and the duel began.

Curses, jinxes, and spells shots all around the drawing room, sending blue, red and green bolts of light throughout the air.

It had been a long time since Hermione had dueled, but the hatred she had for Lucius seemed to spur her on, and she could sense him wearing. She was winning, but that didn't ease her worry. Rose was unconscious and in dire need of a healer, and it didn't look as though the fighting would let up. Harry seemed to be keeping Aetes at bay, but Ron, who was significantly out of practice, was having a tough time with Hestia. Looking worn and falling short of breath, Hermione knew he needed help.

After sending a particularly damaging curse towards Lucius, Hermione took her chance to assist Ron, sending a quick jinx at Hestia. Her plan backfired when Lucius recovered faster than she'd anticipated, and she was knocked backwards, her wand thrown several feet into the air.

"Hermione!" Harry shouted after her, still engaged in grueling battle with Aetes. "Accio, wand!" He yelled, hoping he would get to it before one of their opponents.

Hermione's wand flew into Harry's hand, and Lucius took his opportunity.

"Bombarda!" The elder Malfoy shouted, pointing his wand at the ceiling, causing an explosive diversion. With one last sneer, he hastily disapparated.

The spell created a thunderous boom, causing dust and crumbles of plaster and stone to fall to the floor.

"No!" Hermione cried, watching the chandelier, the very same one that Dobby had smashed in his final moment, come crashing down over Rose's frail body.

"Immobulus!" Harry cried with all his might, pointing Hermione's wand at the chandelier while he fought Aetes with his.

The chandelier stopped a mere few inches above Rose, and with Lucius gone, Hermione wasted no time rushing towards her daughter.

As Hermione reached Rose's limp body, she could hear several loud cracks, signaling to her that their backup had finally arrived. Two Aurors joined Harry and Ron, then one more after that, and then three more moments later.

Hermione quickly knelt beside Rose, scooping her tiny frame into her arms and holding her tightly. Her breath was shallow and her pale skin was cold, her slightly parted mouth moaning unconsciously.

"I need a healer!" Hermione cried, looking around frantically for help. "She needs to get to a healer!"

Hestia and Aetes were now restrained by several wizards, one of them being Harry, and it looked as thought Ron was struggling to bear weight on his right leg in his feeble attempts to get across the room to his wife and daughter. Adam Wilkes swiftly approached Hermione and he was the first her searching eyes found.

"Adam," she said quickly, her voice fraught with worry. "I need to get her to St. Mungo's, but I don't think I can carry her alone."

"I'll take this side," Wilkes said, wasting no time as he crouched down on Rose's left and draped her tiny arm around his neck. "On the count of three?"

Hermione nodded weakly, knowing far too well the hell her daughter had in store. She slung Rose's right side under her arm and clutched her tightly.

"One, two, three!"

A loud bang rang throughout the room, and the three were gone, leaving behind a tiny pool of Rose's blood near the bright stain that was made many years ago.