It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn

Disclaimer: You know the drill. None of this belongs to me (Well, a character at the end is mine, but that’s all, folks) and no money is being made from it. I thank JKRowling for the inspiration.

A/N: I wrote this a while ago and it’s been posted.  But since it was my first story, I wanted to tweak it.  It was obviously written before OotP, but there were things that I just couldn’t change. 

Please enjoy!

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            The Potter’s were having a pleasant evening at home. They were finally both back from their classes and they were more than happy to be there. 

            Their life probably seemed too ideal to those outside of their circle, but neither could care.  Both of them had received their teaching positions right out of school and had married a year later.  Now, three years later, they were comfortable in their lives.  They had routines and they had a connection that no one could ever break. 

            Even still, it wasn’t perfect.  It was just as hard to be Harry Potter and, at times, even harder to be his wife.  The press was always after a story for something.  An anniversary, a night on the town, what they had for breakfast, when they would be expecting children.  It never mattered what it was, the media just wanted anything they could get.  Harry would get furious, but it was always Hermione’s cool head that brought him back to reality.

            But even with all of this, the Potters had a life they had always dreamed of.  Ever since their sixth year at Hogwarts, this was what they wanted.

            Harry practically raced back home that day.  He couldn’t explain why, but he just couldn’t focus on any of his lessons.  He just kept thinking of how much he missed Hermione and how much he wanted to see her.

            Hermione had the same problem that day.  It was odd for her not to be able to concentrate on anything academic, but there she was, just wondering what Harry was doing at that moment.  She just had to get home.  There was something that she had to talk to him about.

            That evening, she was supposed to be making dinner, but Harry kept pulling her back on to his lap, threatening to tickle her.

            “We can eat later. Can’t I just hold my wife for now?” he asked.

            “Sure you can. But if you want to eat at all tonight, then you should let me go,” Hermione giggled.

            “Nah, food is overrated. Especially when there’s a gorgeous gal on your lap.”

            Hermione blushed and smiled. “I love you, Harry.”

            “And I love you, Hermione.”

            “Harry?”

            “Yes, sweetie?”

            Hermione took a deep breath.  She’d been thinking of ways to tell him this.  She wanted it to be perfect, but it seemed that none of the ways she had practiced were coming out.

            ‘Oh well, there’s nothing like the basics,’ she thought.

            “I want to have a baby,” she told him.

            Harry had to resist the urge to leap to his feet since Hermione was on his lap.

            “What?”

            “You heard me. I want to have a baby,” she said as calmly as possible, even though she thought she was going to burst with anticipation.

            “Hermione! That’s wonderful! I can’t wait to have a child with you,” he said as he scooped her up and swung her around. He sat back down with her still in his lap and began to kiss her.

            Suddenly, Hedwig flew in and landed in Hermione’s lap. A note was attached to her leg.

            “Hedwig? I didn’t even know you left,” Harry said as he untied the note and began to read it:

            Harry,

            Something terrible has happened! We’re beginning to suspect that Voldemort is gaining power and supporters. Meet me at the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow at 6 so we can discuss things.

            All my love to you and Hermione,

            Sirius

            “Voldemort in power!” Hermione screeched as she read the letter. She knew what that meant, danger to her husband. Voldemort vowed to kill all the Potters and she knew that Harry was definitely still at the top of the list. “Harry, what are we going to do?”

            “Calm down, Mione. I’m sure that it’s just Sirius over-reacting. We’ll meet him tomorrow and we’ll find out what’s going on,” Harry said, hoping to conceal the worry in his voice.

            Sirius had become one of the greatest Aurors in years after his name was cleared.  He wanted to make sure that all the Death-Eaters were finally put to justice.  It was a lofty goal, but it was for his dead best friends.

            And it was because of Sirius’ drive that made Harry believe that maybe it wasn’t just over-reacting.

            “That’s a good idea,” Hermione mumbled, uncomfortable with the whole idea.

            The rest of the night was quiet.

            Dinner was awkward from all the forced conversations. 

            Harry tried to seem composed and not worried about what he would hear tomorrow, but Hermione was sure she saw him cover his scar every now and then and wince. The scar only hurt when Voldemort was near or when he had a surge of evil energy. Harry always hated the scar, not only for the stares it invited but mostly because it acted as a connection between him and the madman that killed his parents and countless others.

            “Harry. Is your scar hurting?” she finally asked him as they got dressed for bed.

            “A little,” he admitted. “It might just be all the worrying.”

            “Or it might be that Sirius is right. Oh, Harry, what are we going to do?” Hermione questioned as they both climbed into bed.

            “We’re going to get all the information before we jump to conclusions, ok?”

            Hermione nodded weakly and ran her finger along the scar on her husband’s forehead. He beat the evil before, why couldn’t he do it again? She tried to convince herself that everything would work out again, but she couldn’t quite believe that it was 100% guaranteed. She looked down at Harry’s deep green eyes now. The love of his mother was there, along with whatever she protected him with. Finally, she found Harry’s smile. That smile made her melt. She loved this man more than she ever thought possible. How could she lose him?

            “Hermione,” Harry began. “You’re not going to lose me. Ok?” he said, almost reading her thoughts.

            “That transparent, huh?”

            “You could say that. I just know how that beautiful head of yours works, that’s all. Don’t worry about things until they need worried about, ok?”

            “Fair enough. I love you so much, Harry.”

            “I love you, too, Hermione.”

            “Show me,” she whispered.

            Harry nodded knowingly and pulled her into a passionate kiss that gradually led to more. If Hermione needed to know that their love would get them through this, then Harry would tell her every way he knew how.

            Harry held her close after they made love, but neither slept well that night.

            The next morning, Harry and Hermione practically had to force breakfast down. They barely spoke. Once it was time to go, they looked deep into each other’s eyes and kissed with all the love they felt.  Words weren’t needed; their devotion spoke for itself.  And with that, the Potters went to teach their classes (Harry, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Hermione, Charms), but neither of them was focused on teaching that day.

            After classes, they went to the Leaky Cauldron. They waited for Sirius and ordered some butterbeers to pass the time. Once he finally showed up, the look on his face said everything.

            “Ok, Sirius, what is the problem?” Harry asked.

            “Harry, I have to tell you, I’m very concerned. We’ve never seen anything like it. There were huge dark marks appearing all over a local forest one night. We were able to capture one death-eater there and made him talk. They were talking about you guys at a meeting. Harry, Hermione, I hate to say it, but they’re after you,” Sirius said.

            Hermione only gasped in horror.

            “Ok, well, what are we going to do about this?” Harry asked, obviously on a mission now.

            “Well, we’re organizing armies to take on the death-eaters,” Sirius replied.

            “It’s going to take more than that,” Harry sighed.

            “What do you mean?” Hermione asked.

            “What do you think I mean? It’s time. It’s finally time. We’re going for him. We’re going after Voldemort!” Harry replied.

            “Harry! Are you mad? You can not do that,” she cried.

            “Hermione, I can’t keep living in fear! Voldemort has been trying to kill me for over 20 years and it needs to end now. I will not let him get to you. I’m going to get him and I’m going to do it soon,” Harry said with that Snitch-finding determination she had learned she couldn’t defeat.

            “Fine. When would this be starting?” she asked, resigned to what was happening.

            “Well, we’d need him as soon as possible,” Sirius sadly said.

            “How soon is that?” Hermione asked, scared of the answer.

            “Well . . . tomorrow,” Sirius replied.

            “Tomorrow?!” Harry and Hermione said at the same time.

            “Yes, tomorrow,” Sirius repeated. “Look, we cannot waste any time with this. We need to get in there and attack hard and fast. Harry is the most powerful wizard I know, perhaps even more than Dumbledore, and we need him there.”

            “But . . . I . . . all right,” Hermione sighed sadly. “I guess we have to do what we have to do.”

            “All right, then. Harry, meet me here, tomorrow morning at 8. We’ll start working on our game plans,” Sirius said. “Hermione, you know I hate taking him away from you, but the sooner we start, the sooner we can finally have Voldemort dead.”

            “I know, I know. Just promise me that you’ll both be careful!” she said, holding back the tears.

            “We promise,” Harry and Sirius said together in true Marauder style.

            The three laughed a little and then returned to their seriousness. They silently ate dinner and then went their separate ways, unsure of what the future held for any of them.

            After their meeting with Sirius, Harry and Hermione had a serious feeling of worry. Could this be a trap? Would it be possible for Harry to finally take Voldemort down?

            Hermione joined Harry in their bed.

            “I’m so worried, Harry. What are we going to do?” she asked.

            “We’re going to do what we always do. We’re going to persevere. We’re finally going to defeat him.”

            “How can you be sure? What if he’s ready for you?”

            “Hermione, don’t worry about things until they need worried about. Didn’t I tell you that last night?” he asked.

            “Yeah, but-”

            “No buts,” he interrupted, putting a finger to her lips. “We’re finally going to be rid of him.”

            “Oh, Harry. Just be careful, please. Be careful.”

            “Of course, my love. I have to come back to my girl, don’t I?”

            Hermione weakly nodded.

            “And we still have babies to discuss,” he added.

            Hermione had to hold in the tears. “Harry, make the world go away. Make love to me,” she whispered.

            He knew she needed reassurance, so he cast a silencing spell on the bed and both gave each other the comfort they needed.

            The next morning, Harry left before Hermione woke up. He knew another goodbye would be too painful for her. He wanted the last moments they spent together to be wonderful.

            Harry sat at the desk by their bed and wrote Hermione a note.

            My dearest Hermione,

            You know how much I hate leaving you like this, but please understand why I’m doing it.  I need to be rid of this nagging piece of my bloody life.  I just want to know that it’s safe for us … for our babies.  I love you more than anything in this world and that is why I must go.  I will kill him, Mione.  I will end this nightmare so that you and I can continue on with our lives.

            Please keep yourself safe while I am gone.  And please don’t take your frustrations out on your students.  This isn’t their fault. :-)

            I will return to you as soon as I can.

            All my love forever and always,

            Harry

            Harry placed the note on the pillow next to her and sighed.  He kissed her forehead gently and left to see Sirius.

            Hermione woke to an empty bed and cried. She found the note from Harry and cried even harder.  Finally, she got up and went to breakfast. She made the announcement that the Defense Against The Dark Arts classes would be taught mainly by Professor Snape until Professor Potter returned. She then Apparated over to Ron’s to tell him what was going on.

            Once Ron heard about the recent uprising, he instantly agreed to help. Hermione explained that she didn’t come to ask him to fight; she just wanted him to be careful.

            “Hermione! How could I not go out there and help?” he asked, incredulously.

            “All right, all right. Just be careful!” she said as she kissed him on the cheek and Apparated out, leaving him to discuss this with his girlfriend. Lavender wasn’t going to be pleased, but Hermione figured that, like herself with Harry, she’d let Ron go.

           

            Much to Hermione’s delight, Harry came home a week later.

            “Harry!  You’re home! Is it over?” she asked excitedly as she pulled him into a huge hug.

            Harry sighed.  “No, love.  It’s not over by any means, but Sirius and Remus have decided that I need a break.”

            “They decided?”

            “Yes.  I wanted to keep fighting, but they insisted that I come home.  And after a second of thought, I realized what a wonderful idea that was after all.  I mean, my beautiful wife is at home.”

            “All that matters is my wonderful husband is at home.  How long can you stay?”

            “Only till tomorrow evening.  So, we’ll have to make the most of our time,” he said.

            “Absolutely,” Hermione said just before Harry began kissing her.  It was her last coherent thought until the two were satiated.

            It was very painful to watch Harry leave again the next day, but he told her that he would return as often as he could to see her.

            Harry was only able to come back to Hermione about once a week to assure her that he was ok. After a few weeks of this, Hermione began to notice a severe bout of nausea. She knew what it was; she wasn’t the smartest girl at Hogwarts for nothing. The question was, how would she tell Harry? This wasn’t exactly the right time for this. How was she going to tell him that while battling one of the greatest evils ever known … he’d also have to deal with a pregnant wife?

            Harry actually came home the morning she took the pregnancy test that confirmed her suspicions.

            ‘How does he always know when I need him?’ she thought to herself as he called to her.

            “Hermione?!”

            “In the bedroom, Harry!” she replied.

            As the door opened, Hermione suddenly became terribly anxious about telling him.

            “Mione? Are you ok?” he asked as he saw the worried look on her face.

            “Me? Yeah, I’m fine,” she mumbled, glancing back down at the book on her lap.

            “Fine, huh? Then why,” he began, taking the book from her, “are you reading the book upside down?”

            “Busted,” she admitted. “Well, I’ve been thinking about some things.”

            “Ok, shoot.”

            “I was just thinking about children.”

            “Children?” Harry asked.

            “Yeah. I mean, I’d love to have them -”

            “You know I’d love to have children one day,” Harry interrupted.

            “One day?”

            “Well, anytime with you, my love.”

            “How would you feel if ‘one day’ was sooner rather than later?” Hermione tentatively asked.

            “Hermione? What are you getting at?”

            “Well, I just wanted to get your opinion … Daddy,” Hermione said, placing Harry’s hand on her tummy.

            “Hermione? Are you saying what I think you are?”

            “Yes, Harry. We’re going to have a baby.”

            “That’s so wonderful!” he said, picking her up and swinging her around.

            “Oh, I’m so happy! I was afraid you would be upset,” she admitted.

            “Upset? Why on earth would I be upset?”

            “Well, there’s a lot going on right now. I mean, this really isn’t the greatest time for us to have a baby.”

            “Mione, please stop worrying so much,” he said placing a finger on her lips. “When would this baby have been conceived?”

            “Well, according to Madam Pomfrey, I’m about a month along, so . . .”

            Harry quickly did the math in his head.  “So, that would be right around … the night before I left. Just think about it.  Maybe this baby is a sign. A proof of our strong love. This baby will be another reason for me to come home - not that you weren’t enough.”

            “Oh, Harry. I was so worried. I feel so much better now,” she said with a sigh.

            “But this does mean that you’ll be a little more vulnerable. Maybe I should have Sirius stay with you.”

            “But you’ll need him!”

            “Not necessarily. I’ll just have him stay with you during the night. Dumbledore and the other professors can keep an eye on you during the day. Besides, I’ll have Moony there, too. Plus, Ron and everyone else. If I need him, I’ll send for him. For now, let’s go get Hedwig. I’ll send her straight to Padfoot. I want him here to protect you and the little one here,” he said as he patted her stomach, kissed her forehead and walked her to Hedwig’s perch.

            Normally, Hermione would have resented needing someone to “keep an eye on her,” but under the circumstances, she consented it.

            Hedwig accepted a treat and a petting from Hermione while Harry attached the note to Sirius to her leg.

            “Ok, Hedwig, I need you to take this to Sirius. It’s very important, so be careful!” he said.

            She hooted softly in reply and took off.

            “Well, Mrs. Potter, how to you suppose we spend my day off?” he asked coyly.

            “Hmmm, Mr. Potter, I believe I could think of a few ways,” she replied as she grabbed him by the collar of his robe and dragged him towards the bedroom, carefully putting the silencing charm on the bed again.