It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn

A/N: Hey guys!  Thanks for the reviews!  Here’s the second chapter!  I think there will be one more chapter after this.  (It’s just how I divided the old one up)  Please enjoy and please review!!

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            The next few months happened the same way: Harry would come home for one or two nights, then back to the battle. He said they were making a lot of progress, but it was still a tedious process.

            As much as Hermione hated having a bodyguard, it was nice to have Sirius there. He was at least someone to have a conversation with at dinner that didn’t constantly ask about Harry and the war.

            Every night, Sirius would tell Hermione stories about Harry’s parents and the fun the Marauder’s had at Hogwarts. He also told her about baby Harry (at least as much as he knew).

            One night, at the beginning of Hermione’s final month of pregnancy, she spent longer in the shower than usual. Her thoughts just kept going back to Harry. She was very worried, but she remembered the lecture he gave her about worrying so she tried to drop it. However, as Hermione was getting out of the shower, an unbelievable feeling of dread came over her. She hurriedly put on her robe, wrapped a towel around her hair and rushed to her bedroom.

            “Sirius!” she cried as she opened the door. The big black dog was lying on the bed. His head snapped up when she came into the room. “Sirius, I--” She screamed as she dropped to the floor, clutching her forehead.

            Sirius instantly turned human again and rushed to her. “Hermione! What’s wrong?”

            “Aaahhh! It’s my forehead. It burns!” she replied.

            Just then, Sirius noticed where she was rubbing. It was the exact location of Harry’s scar.

            “Ok, Hermione, listen to me.” She whimpered in pain. “Hermione, focus on my voice.” She looked up into Sirius’s eyes, tears in her own. “I need to get to Harry,” he said. “Something must be terribly wrong if you are feeling the scar.”

            She realized that Harry was in real danger. His scar only burned like this when he was in trouble - specifically with Voldemort. “Sirius? What can we do?”

            “We are not doing anything. I need you to go to Dumbledore. Stay with him and do not leave his side.”

            “But I--” she began.

            “No buts!” he interrupted. “I cannot let you endanger that baby you’re carrying. Harry would never forgive me.”

            “And I can’t let this baby grow up without a father.”

            “Better without a father than with no parents at all! Besides, I am not going to let Harry die. But we need to get moving on this. Please, Hermione! Find Dumbledore. He will protect you while I find Harry. I will bring him to you as soon as I find him. And I promise . . . I will bring him home safe and sound.” And with that, Sirius Black turned back into a dog and ran out of the room.

            Hermione could only blankly stare at where her Godfather-in-law stood while she attempted to pull herself together. She wanted to follow him so desperately, but she knew better. Voldemort was probably expecting her at some point and he would want to kill her and the unborn Potter as well. So, she ran out to find the Headmaster.

            Meanwhile, deep in the forest where the dark marks were spotted, Harry was tied to a tree, almost unconscious.

            “What’s the matter, Potter?” a ghostlike voice said from behind me. “Is that Gryffindor courage failing you? Can’t even keep awake at a time like this?”

            Harry knew the voice; it would be impossible for him not to. It was Voldemort.

‘I guess he was too much for me in the end. I’m so sorry, Hermione. I never meant for it to turn out like this. Please forgive me and please take good care of our baby. I love you,’ Harry thought to himself.

            “Oh come on, Harry! You can’t possibly think that this is the end! Far from it! No, we’re waiting for everyone to arrive at this party before the real fun begins. And I think another guest has arrived! Why look, Mr. Sirius Black has decided to grace us with his presence!”

            Harry saw a large black dog surrounded by a strange green glow being tied to another tree. He instantly recognized the dog as his godfather and figured that he was enchanted to stay in his Animagus form.

            “Well, well, well. Two down and one to go … or should I say two?” Voldemort said with an evil laugh. “Yes, Harry, the little missus is next on the list and she’ll be bringing the newest member to the Potter family as well. You’ll all be together soon! Crucio!” he yelled as he pointed his wand at Harry. The pain roared through his body for the second time since he was captured. The pain seemed 10 times worse than it was during his fourth year. His scar burned like a branding iron was pressed to his forehead.

In the distance, Harry heard Sirius barking and howling. Padfoot was pulling at the chain that kept him tethered to the tree. He wanted desperately to help his godson, but to no avail. Sirius was helpless to do anything but watch Harry being tortured.

            Finally, Harry gave into the pain and passed out again.

            Back at Hogwarts, Hermione was running through the halls. “Professor Dumbledore! Professor Dumbledore!” she cried.

            “Hermione! What is the matter?” a voice said from behind her.

            “Minerva!” Hermione replied. “I need to find Professor Dumbledore!”

            “He’s in his office, dear. What on earth is wrong?”

            “Oh, Professor! It’s Harry! We think Voldemort has him! Sirius sent me here. He’s afraid for the baby’s safety.”

            “And yours, too, I would imagine,” Professor McGonagall said quietly as she her to Dumbledore’s office.

            “I don’t care about me. I just want to keep my baby safe and find my Harry,” Hermione said on the verge of tears.

            “We’ll find him, dear. Don’t worry. He’s a strong man and his Godfather will be with him. Not to mention he has a family to come home to,” Minerva said, hoping to lift her spirits. “Chocolate Frog!” she called, opening the secret door to Dumbledore’s office.

            Hermione burst up the stairs on the way up to the study. “Professor Dumbledore!” she screamed as she reached the door.

            “Why Professor Potter, I was wondering when you would be arriving,” Professor Dumbledore said, looking up from his papers.

            “You know?” Hermione asked, knowing that was a stupid question. Dumbledore always knew everything that was going on.

            “Yes, though I had hoped that I would be incorrect this time. Harry has been sending me owls and keeping me updated on the current fight. When I didn’t get one at the exact time as usual, I began to get worried.”

            “When do they usually arrive?” Hermione asked.

            “About an hour ago. But one could set their watch by the times the owls would come in. So I knew something must have gone wrong. Now, Hermione,” Dumbledore began, “We must make arrangements for you. We will have all staff on alert and we will keep you posted.”

            Hermione knew it was pointless to protest. “Ok, professor.”

            “I have already conjured a protection spell for your room. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call for me,” the Headmaster told her. “Please follow me. Minerva, please alert the staff that we have some important tasks ahead of us.”

            Just as they were leaving, Hagrid burst into the room.

            “’Ermione! I just ‘eard! Any news on ‘im yet?”

            “No, Hagrid. Nothing yet.” It never ceased to amaze her how quickly word spread around Hogwarts.

            “Hagrid, would you kindly walk with us to Mrs. Potter’s room and then stay with her for a while?” Dumbledore asked.

            “’Course I will, Professor!” Hagrid said proudly.

            So, Hermione and her two bodyguards walked to her room where she and her unborn baby would be safe.

            Once inside, Dumbledore left Hermione and Hagrid, but both knew he wouldn’t be far.

            “Oh, Hagrid!” she cried as she fell into an embrace. “I don’t know what to do without him!”

            “Calm down there, sweetie,” he said, patting her back reassuringly. “Our Harry is strong. He’s beat you-know-who, what, 9 or 10 times now?”

            “And Voldemort has always come back, worse than before. What if Harry can’t handle it this time?” she sobbed.

            “He will handle it because he has even more incentive to come back. He’s always come back to you, but now he has a wee baby too,” Hagrid said, putting a protective hand on her growing belly. “What do you think it is? A boy or a girl?” he asked, hoping to divert her attention.

            “I think it’s a girl. I don’t know why. I just have a feeling.”

            “What will you name her?” he questioned.

            “I don’t know yet. If I can have my Harry back, I’ll let him name her whatever he wants,” she began to cry again.

            “Shh, ‘Ermione. Don’t you worry. He’ll be ok.”

            “I just need him here. What if he doesn’t come back?” she said between sobs.

            “Now, you listen ‘ere. He is coming back and he will help you raise this baby. He loves the two of you more than anything. And that will bring ‘im home!”

            Hermione wanted to believe Hagrid, but she was still so scared.

            “Look, just get some rest and I’ll see ya at breakfast tomorrow?”

            “Of course,” Hermione said, standing on tiptoes to reach Hagrid’s cheek.

            And with that, Hagrid left and Hermione climbed into the bed.

            She knew she wasn’t going to sleep well, but she never imagined the nightmares that would plague her. So often she found herself in a forest, finding Harry tied to a tree. His scar was glowing a deep shade of red and she thought she saw blood trickling from it. Horror struck, she would always wake to find herself back in the room at Hogwarts. Once she went back to sleep, the same dream would start again. In the last one however, she was forced to watch Voldemort kill her beloved husband.

            She sat up screaming and found herself completely alone . . . except for Dumbledore.

            “Professor? Why are you here? Is something wrong? Is it Harry?”

            “No, do not worry. It was actually you I was concerned with. I heard your screams and wanted to know what was wrong,” he replied.

            Hermione figured he was with her all night guarding her. He probably never left her side.

            “Oh, it was horrible. Harry was tied to a tree and his scar was bleeding and I saw him die!” she said, forgetting that the elderly man was once her teacher and hugging him tightly.

            He returned the embrace, attempting to comfort her. “We have sent a task-force out to find him. He will return to you safely. I can assure you of this.”

            “How can you be sure?” she softly asked.

            “Now, Professor Potter, why do you ask this question after all these years?”

            Hermione chuckled because he was right.  It really was pointless to ask.

            “I just know things will turn out all right. Now, when you are ready, please join us in the Great Hall for breakfast.” With that, he rose and left.

            Hermione quickly dressed and hurried down to the Great Hall. It hadn’t changed in the years since her graduation. Her mind began to wander back to those times. Those fun times with Harry. Her Harry.

            “’Allo, ‘Ermione!” Hagrid yelled as he pulled out a chair for her. She sat in silence with the other professors. They didn’t know what to say to her and she didn’t know what to say either. Hagrid tried to make things seem ok, but nothing was really working. Finally, Hermione excused herself to go take a walk.

            She wandered the grounds of Hogwarts aimlessly. She wanted to be alone, but her thoughts always went back to Harry and the dreams. It was like Voldemort was walking with her. Suddenly, she had an eerie feeling. She didn’t think Harry was in trouble, but herself. She turned to the school and ran as quickly as she could.  Hermione needed to get back into her safe room.  Nothing was going to hurt her baby.

            Nothing.

            However, that night (Halloween), things took a terrible turn. Hermione was walking down to dinner when she felt an awful tenseness in the air. Suddenly, she felt someone put a cloth over her mouth from behind. Someone murmured the “Petrificus Totalus” spell and Hermione could no longer move her limbs or scream for help.

            She was blindfolded, so she couldn’t even use her eyes to explain what was going on. Once they reached their final destination, her blindfold was removed and her hands were tied. The spell was reversed and she was able to see what was happening.

            Hermione looked to her left and saw the thing she had been dreading for days: Harry was tied to a tree and his scar was an ugly shade of red.

            “Harry!” she screamed. “Harry, please wake up!”

            She saw him move, so she knew he wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t waking up. Then she looked slightly beyond Harry and saw a black dog tied to another tree. It was Sirius. He was glowing a strange greenish color and Hermione figured Voldemort cast a spell on him to keep him as a dog. So, great. The rescue party was captured, she and her unborn baby were captured and there was no way out. Her only hope right now was Dumbledore and the Hogwarts army, but would they make it in time?

            “So, Mrs. Potter, the gang’s all here right now,” a voice said from behind her. It was an evil voice, one that made her shiver with fear. She knew it must have been Voldemort. “Now I can finally get my revenge on all the Potters. I thank you for making more; I would be so bored with just Harry. Now, who to go first? Yes, I think mummy, then dear old dad!”
            Hermione screamed as Voldemort shot a spark at Harry that awoke him violently. “Come on, Harry. Wake up and join us! You’re going to miss all the fun if you stay asleep,” Voldemort said as he shot at Harry again.

            “Harry!” Hermione called.

            “Hermione!” he replied when he noticed that she was also there. He heard a dog barking as well. “No! Leave them alone! It’s me you want!” Harry yelled to his enemy. “Let them go!”

            “You really think that I only want you? How terribly narcissistic of you. This goes far beyond just you. I want revenge on all of those who oppose me. I got your parents and I almost got you. But waiting really turned out in my favor because now I have you, your wife and a new little Potter as well. Plus an unexpected bonus of Sirius Black. How lucky for me!”

            “Just leave them! I’m willing to sacrifice myself for them, just let them go!”

            Harry shouted, hoping to stall for time. He needed a plan and he needed it quick.

            “No! Harry!” Hermione cried. He hated to hear her in pain like that, knowing that he couldn’t help her.

            “Hermione, it’ll be ok,” he called to her.

            “Oh, do you really think that? Please!” Voldemort sneered. Just then, Peter Pettigrew ran over.

            “Master! We think Dumbledore is coming. What should we do?” he whimpered.

            “Dumbledore?! No! he’ll ruin everything!” Voldemort angrily yelled as he took off after Pettigrew.

            “Hermione? Are you ok?” Harry asked.

            “I’m fine. Are you ok?” she replied.

            “I think so. My head is killing me, though. Don’t worry. We’re going to get out of this. Hermione, what are the chances you actually still have your wand?”

            “I think I do. The goons that kidnapped me never bothered to check.”

            “Ok, Hermione, this is so important. Can you reach it?”

            “No, my hands are tied too tight. I can’t reach my pocket,” she cried.

            Harry sighed. There had so be something he could do. If only he had his wand! “Wingardium Leviosa” kept running though his mind.

            Suddenly, Hermione’s wand flew into her hand. “I’ve got it!” she yelled. She said an untying spell and everyone’s ropes came undone. She then took the hex off of Sirius and he returned to human form. Everyone ran together, but were split apart by a bolt of energy sent by Voldemort.

            “So, you got loose, huh? Doesn’t mean you’re going to leave here alive!” he shouted. “Black! Do you think you’re actually going to protect them?” Voldemort screeched. “You have no power against me! I’m finally going to finish what I started decades ago! I am going to kill the Potters - all of them!”

            “Never . . . threaten . . . my family . . . again!” Harry said, his rage rising. “Expelliarmus!”

            It never even occurred to Harry that he wasn’t holding his wand. But light shot from the palm of his hand and knocked the dark lord back, sending his wand flying.

            Hermione didn’t have time to be surprised at what her husband just did. She just ran to him.

            “Harry! What do we do?”

            “I don’t know,” he replied. They both ran to Sirius, but by then Voldemort had recovered. “This is not over!” he screamed, he summoned his wand and began to charge at them.

            “This ends tonight!” Harry said as his eyes flashed with anger.

            “Harry!” Hermione screamed when she saw Harry walking toward Voldemort.

            He had only taken three or four steps when he found himself surrounded by a beautiful golden light. “Hmm? Did I die already?” he thought.

            Suddenly, he realized what it was. He was surrounded by a force field. Hermione finally knew what was going on.

            “Harry! It’s love! Love is the counter-curse!” she yelled.

            He stepped back to her and grabbed her hand. They both stood protectively with Sirius hoping that love would still protect them.

            Voldemort hadn’t noticed the force field. The evil wizard yelled “Avada Kedavra!” He had hoped to kill them all with one spell, but what he wasn’t counting on was love. The death curse bounced off of the force field and killed Voldemort forever. The blast traveled for over a mile and killed all of the death-eaters nearby as well.

            “Harry! Do you know what just happened here?” Sirius asked quickly.

            “He’s finally gone?” Harry replied softly.

            “Yes, but that’s not all. It was you. It was your love for Hermione and the baby and the rest of us. You created the force field and you defeated him . . . again.”

            “It was my mother,” Harry whispered. “Whatever my mother saved me with is in my blood. It’s all because of my mum.”

            Hermione was so happy she was laughing and crying at the same time. “Oh, Harry! It’s finally over.” She tried to look into his eyes for the warmth she needed, but she couldn’t since his glasses were broken in several places. “But you still can’t keep those glasses fixed!” she laughed as she said, “Oculus reparo. There. Maybe we should put an anti-breaking charm on them.”

            “Whatever you want, sweetheart,” Harry said as he kissed her. “I am so sorry that I had to leave you guys, but I’m back and we’re going to go home right now!”

            “Um, not yet,” Hermione mumbled.

            “Why not?” Harry asked.

            “My water just broke!” she cried.