Chapter 25 - Love, Lies, and Nightmares
A/N: Sorry it took so long, been really busy with school. N E Wayz here is the next chapter and oh...Thank you to my Beta Jacy, I couldn't have done it without you...Enjoy
"Hermione, do you know him?" Harry asked.
"I'm sorry but I don't remember you," Hermione said in a sorry tone.
"Oh.... Raul Aspen. You are even prettier then the last time I saw
you," Raul said taking Hermione's hand and kissing the top of it.
"We should get going," Hermione said quickly. Hermione went first then
Jacqui, followed by Blaise and Clayton. Harry and Raul were the last to
go through.
"Okay guys I'll show you to your rooms," Raul said politely, "Harry you
still have the same room. You and Hermione can go unpack while I show
the rest to their rooms."
"Harry, you've been here before?" Hermione asked as they went up the
stairs.
"Do you remember when I wasn't in school for first half of last year?"
Harry asked.
"Yes," Hermione said.
"I was here," Harry said. "Raul was the one who took care of me when I
returned from my defeat of Voldemort."
~**~
Raul, Jacqui, Blaise and Clayton came to the first room on the first
floor.
"This is Draco's room. There's a loo and another door connecting to
another room. Blaise that's your room so you will be able to be close to
Draco. It's big enough - there is a king size bed and enough closet space for
your clothes and wide screen TV so you won't get bored." Raul paused,
"We'll let you unpack," Raul said and stepped out of the room.
"Clayton and Jacqui will you be staying in the same room or separate?"
Raul asked.
"Together," they both said quickly.
"Okay, follow me," Raul chuckled and led them up to the second floor
and led them down the hall.
"This is your room. It's the same as Draco and Blaise: king size bed
closet space, desk, balcony, loo with a Jacuzzi tub and separate
shower, but your room connects to a entertainment room with a wide screen
TV, pool table, air hockey and couches for you to relax in. Umm..
Dumbledore has a thing for Muggle entertainment," Raul said paused. "If you two
decide to get intimate there are some pregnancy prevention roots in drawer
of the night stand on the left side of the bed."
Clayton began to blush furiously, but Jacqui on the other hand had both hands
on her hips.
"I don't think our sexual relationship is any of your business," Jacqui
snapped.
"I was just informing you, you don't have to bite my head off," Raul
snapped back. "I'm going to check on Draco. Breakfast is at 8:00 and
there's a indoor pool if you want to go for a dip."
"Thanks Raul." Clayton said as he left the room. "He didn't mean
anything by it, Jacqui."
"I know I just like messing with people's heads," Jacqui said with a sly
smile.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I should've I know the room would be decorated in Gryffindor colors,"
Hermione said sitting down on the bed watching Harry unpack his and her
clothes.
"Honey, I've never seen you wear this before" Harry said holding up a
pink silk night grown.
"Yes I have, it's just that you took it off so fast you didn't have
time to look closely."
"Well I'll pay attention tonight," Harry said with a mischievous smile
coming upon his face.
"What makes you think you're getting any tonight?" Hermione said slyly.
"Let's just say I have my own ways of seducing you," Harry said
sitting next to her on the bed.
"Show me one," Hermione said.
"Okay," Harry said and started nibbling on her ear. He moved to her
neck and laid butterfly kisses all over her shoulders.
"Is the door closed?" Hermione asked taking sharp breaths. Harry stood up
and grabbed his wand from the nightstand and did a locking and silent charm
on the room.
"Yep," Harry said, "Hermione where are you?"
Right here," she said. She was standing in the doorway wearing the pink
silk grown that went up to her mid thigh with her wavy curls loose.
Harry mouth was hanging open with his cheeks beginning to blush. She
looked gorgeous not to mention down right sexy. Hermione came closer to
him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "Care to join me?" she whispered
into his ear.
He picked her up and gently placed her on the bed. "Don't mind if I do," he
said and kissed her passionately.
*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~
"I always knew that you and Draco would end up with each other," Raul
said to Blaise.
"Umm...you did?" Blaise said in a confused tone.
"Yes - even when you were little kids you would fight like a married
couple," Raul said putting a potion into a vile.
"Not to be rude, but have we met before?" Blaise asked
"You guys honestly don't remember me? Raul said with a frown. Blaise
shook her head.
"My parents were Death Eaters and like you and Jacqui, Kristle, Hermione
and Draco, I went to their missions with them. We saw each other every
summer and Christmas break. I was the boy you, Hermione, Jacqui, and
Kristle and even Jacy would call conceited and that I would end up just like
my parents, and occasionally an asshole because I wouldn't answer back
when one of you guys would ask a question or not flirt with one of you
guys like all the other boys. I was always at the corner of the room at
the parties or at one of ours parent's functions."
"Junior," Blaise said suddenly remembering who the young man was. "I
haven't seen you in two years - you really grew into your looks."
"Umm...Thanks."
"So what are you doing here?" Blaise asked.
"It's a long story." Raul said, "I'll explain tomorrow at breakfast. I
have to go to St. Mungo's and pick up a few potions. Want to come?"
"No, I'm going to take a shower and then stay with Draco," Blaise said.
"Hey Junior could I ask you a question?"
"Sure?"
"Are you gay?"
"No, why would you think that."
"Really, we all thought you were, even your parents would say that you
were."
"Well I'm not - even if I was it's none of your business."
"Just a question."
"I won't be long," he said as he left the room.
~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~
30 minutes later…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raul came back into the room and saw Blaise sitting down with her head
at the edge of the bed fast asleep. Raul just smiled and went to
Blaise; he picked her up and placed her into her bed. She looked so small on
the King sized bed. He tucked her in and went back to Draco.
Raul was the youngest certified Medical Wizard, thanks to his Uncle
Dumbledore's' teaching skills and connections to the Medical Wizard Association.
He didn't know where he would be if it wasn't for Uncle Dumbledore -
probably still in his parent's house alone, following in their footsteps.
Raul got a needle and filled it with some healing potions. He squirted some
out, just for testing, and injected it into Draco arm. The potion would
wake Draco in a few hours and Raul wanted to be there when he awakened to
explain what happened. He went down to the kitchen to get a few
supplies to keep him up all night. When he walked in, he was startled to see
Hermione looking down at her coffee.
"It's 2:30am, why are you still up?" Raul asked.
"I couldn't sleep," Hermione said looking up.
"Have a bad dream?" Raul asked while opening a container full of
homemade brownies. "Want one?" Hermione grabbed two and placed them on the
counter.
"I don't understand how he could've escaped," Hermione said in a
confused tone.
"Well I guess we'll never know," Raul said, "Dumbledore told me what
happened."
"He always threatened that he would us the Cruciatus curse on us, but I
didn't know he actually would," Hermione said, "And he was
going to put the killing curse on me - me, his own flesh and blood."
"Well we were the unlucky ones - we had evil parents, parents that would
kill their family if it was for their job."
"I'm so sorry Paul but I don't remember you," Hermione said.
"It's Raul and I could understand why not. We only saw each other
during our parents' missions and occasionally at parties. That's something a lot
of Death Eater children want to forget, you know, going on missions with
their parents."
"Wait, you were with us on HIS missions?" Hermione said surprised.
"I didn't go by Raul at the time but by Junior."
"Now I remember you. You were the one who Draco always talked to and
never took your hood down but you didn't have brown hair; it was more of
a dirty blonde."
"I had it dyed."
"Hey could I ask you a question?"
"I'm not gay."
"Really, I could have sworn you were."
"Do I have to carry a sign around my neck? I'M NOT GAY."
"Sorry!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~~*
Harry turned to his other side expecting to hold Hermione but instead
he felt arm full of sheets. He turned on the lamp and found that
Hermione wasn't there. He got up and checked the loo, but she wasn't there.
He got his bathrobe and went to look for her. He checked every
room on the fourth floor, the library, the theater, the indoor pool,
the smoking room.
"Maybe she went down to get a snack." He ran down the stairs and he
heard voices coming from the kitchen. He recognized both of the voices
Raul and Hermione. He figured a little eavesdropping wouldn't hurt.
"Wow, you really have changed," Hermione said taking a bite out her
third brownie.
"You haven't. You're still as I remember, still beautiful in every way."
"If I didn't know any better, I say you had a crush on me," Hermione
chuckled taking a sip from her hot cocoa.
"It's more than a crush, I'm in love with you."
Hermione spit out her hot cocoa all over the counter.
"What did you say?" Hermione said clearing her throat.
"I'm in love with you, I've always have been. I just never had the chance to
tell you."
"Raul, I'm sorry to say this but I don't feel the same way. I'm in love
with someone else."
"Who? You can't possibly mean Harry?"
"As a matter of fact I am. I'm madly in love with the man, and I'm
going to marrying him as soon as I leave Hogwarts," Hermione said and
showed him the ring, "And what did you mean it can't possibly be Harry?"
"I mean it's Harry bloody Potter, the most eligible bachelor under 21.
You'd think he be having the time of his life with all those women
throwing themselves at him."
"So he's well known. That doesn't bother me because I'm the only girl
in his life."
"Hermione, both you and me know that you're only marrying the guy to clear
the Malfoy name, to show to everyone that even Saint Potter could find
the good part of the Malfoys. You and I are a perfect match - we both
come from the same background. It would only make sense that you and I end
up with each other," Raul said getting closer to Hermione and putting
both arms around her waist
"Get your filthy hands off me."
"Let's shag right here, right now. Harry doesn't have to know."
"No, now let go of me!"
"Get you pervert hands off my fiancée." Harry slammed the door
open.
"Harry, thank God."
"Harry mate, we were just having a little bit of fun," Raul said holding
Hermione tighter.
"I said to let her go," Harry said in a furious tone.
"Fine," Raul said and Hermione rushed over to Harry and hugged him
tight.
"I want you out of this house now!" Harry yelled.
"Hey look, I didn't mean to scare Hermione. Look, I was practicing for
my audition for this movie."
"Audition?" Hermione said.
"Yeah, was I convincing enough?"
"Well that's bunch of bull," Harry said, disbelieving.
"It's the truth," Raul said. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
Raul apologized. "I better go back with Draco." He grabbed a few snacks
and 6 bottles of butterbeer and left the kitchen.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked .
"Is every American an actor or actress?" Hermione asked. "But I'm okay,
lets go to bed."
Harry nodded and they wanted up the four flights of stairs to their room
and fell asleep in each other's arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*`~~*~*~
Hermione tossed and turned. Images of her father kept coming into her
Mind - him laughing when people would get hurt, him in his hooded cloaks,
and when he would come out of a house smiling when Draco's face was pale
and straight. She woke up and was drenched in sweat and turned over to
find Harry missing.
"Oh good you're up," Harry said coming back into the room.
"Where were you?" Hermione asked shoving the bed sheets off of her and
jumping on to Harry, wrapping her arms and legs tightly around him.
"My, you're happy this morning," Harry said holding Hermione.
"Just really happy to see you that's all," Hermione said. Harry set her
down and gave a small kiss on her lips.
"Draco woke up just a few minutes ago. I came too see if you were awake."
"How is he?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. When he woke up, I ran out of the room to get you,"
Harry explained, "I'm going go see him once I take a quick shower."
"Can I join you?" Hermione asked innocently.
"I don't mind."
*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~
Draco opened his eyes and saw two faces looking down at him. He
automatically knew one - his fiancée Blaise, and the other he didn't know. He
took a sharp breath and felt a pain in his stomach and his head. He felt like
it was about to explode. He tried to sit up but found it very painful
"Don't make any sudden moves sweetheart," Blaise said touching his face
gently with her finger.
"Where am I?" Draco asked.
"Dumbledore's manor, and this Raul Aspen," Blaise explained, "He's going
to be looking after you until you get better."
"I'll leave you two alone," Raul said and left Blaise and Draco.
"Where is Hermione, is she okay, what about Harry?" Draco asked.
"They're fine," Blaise said softly.
"Blaise sweetie, why are we in Dumbledore's manor? Why aren't we in St.
Mungo's?" Blaise looked at Raul and then back down at Draco. She
explained how his Lucius used the Cruciatus curse and how he was going to use
the killing curse on Hermione, until Harry reacted quickly by saying it
to him and how Harry has to go to a hearing for the Ministry. Draco
just laid their saying nothing and looked like he was about to cry.
"So Harry saved Hermione," Draco said softly.
"Yes and probably all of us too. Who knows what would have happened if
Harry didn't deal with him."
"So HE'S dead," Draco asked, "He'll never come back, never again."
"Never again," Blaise said softly.
There were two short knocks at the door.
"Come in," Blaise said. Harry and Hermione opened the door gently and
saw Blaise on the side of Draco's bed. Hermione saw Draco looking at
her with a smile, she ran to the bed and hugged him tight, until he winced
and she let go.
"Draco, oh thank Merlin," she said wiping her tears away, "I thought
I lost you."
"Well if it wasn't for Harry, I might have lost you too," Draco said with a smile.
"Yeah, I already gave him my thank you last night," Hermione said with
the Malfoy smirk.
"Well I'm just happy to see you alright," Harry said, "Though in pain I bet."
"Yeah, especially my head; it feels like it's going to explode."
"Oh I know the feeling, but Raul will make you feel like a thousand
galleons in no time."
"I was going ask Blaise that," Draco said, "What is last name?"
"Aspen."
"Oh bloody hell, I haven't seen him in like two years," Draco said.
"You remember him?" Blaise asked.
"Yeah, I practically grew up with that kid, all I remember of him is
that he never took his hood down and was always quiet," Draco explained,
"Come to think of it he was pretty weird and had a huge crush on you."
He pointed to Hermione.
"I knew that audition shit was a bunch of bull."
"A little lost here," Blaise said.
"Last night, he was made a move on Hermione and said that he was
practicing for an audition."
"He did what!" Draco yelled.
"Oh don't worry, I'll take care of him," Harry said. "Hey, I'm going to
grab breakfast for the four of us so we'll be able to eat together.
Harry ran out of the room and into the kitchen to find Jacqui and
Clayton about on to get it on at the table.
"Get a room," Harry said playfully.
"Harry as much as I love you, sod off. Clayton and I were in the middle
of something."
"Well what ever you were doing, do it somewhere else. People eat at that
table you guys are on top of," Harry said. "Hey, what did you guys eat
for breakfast?"
"Oh, Raul made waffles, eggs, bacon and toast," Clayton explained, "I
think he's already upstairs with your plate."
"Great, err.... you could continue what you were doing," Harry said and
ran out of the room.
"Hey you want to go for swim?" Clayton asked.
"Maybe later - lets continue what we were doing," Jacqui said and pulled
Clayton by the collar.
~~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~
Harry ran up the stairs and heard a girl crying coming from the second
Floor. Thinking it was Hermione, he ran through the hallway and found not
Hermione but Blaise crying on a couch that was sitting in the middle
of the hallway.
Harry went up to her. Her eyes were puffy and he reached to comfort
her. She cried on his shoulders and he held her tight.
"What's the matter Blaise?" Harry asked.
"It's Raul," Blaise said wiping her tears.
"What about him? He didn't make a move on you like he did to Hermione
did he?" Harry asked his anger beginning to rise. Blaise nodded.
"What he do?" Harry asked.
"He kissed me, I was going to go get Jacqui and Clayton and out of
nowhere he appeared, pushed me to the wall and kissed me and - well felt me
up. I tried to get away but he was too strong. Then before he left, he
told me that if I told Draco, Clayton or you he'd kill me."
"WHAT?" he yelled at the top of his lungs. This was the last straw.
He needed to deal with him once and for all. First touching his fiancée
and telling her all this horrible stuff, now he was feeling up on Blaise
and threatened to kill her. Hermione poked her head out of Draco's room.
She walked to the end of the hallway and she saw furious Harry and Blaise
with her eyes still puffy.
"Bloody Hell, what happened?" Hermione asked.
"Watch her," Harry said storming away from the girls.
"Harry wait," Hermione said but he already left.
He walked into the room, and spotted Raul standing there laughing at
one of Draco's jokes. Harry placed his wand on the chair near the door and
walked over to Raul.
WHAM.
Harry punched Raul in the face which made him fall down to the floor.
Harry picked him up by the shirt and punched him repeatedly in the gut and
face, reciting every curse word you could think of. Clayton pulled him
off of Raul and went to check if Raul was alright.
"Great Gods Harry, what's gotten into you?" Draco asked.
"That asshole, felt up on your fiancée and kissed at that too and
threatened to kill her if she squealed and I might add he made a move on
Hermione," Harry yelled.
"GET ME OUT OF THIS BED, SO I COULD BEAT THAT BASTARD!" Draco yelled,
but Clayton was already taking his hits at Raul. Harry pulled Clayton
off and was about to take another swing.
"Harry get off of him now!" Hermione demanded. Harry got off and stepped
away from Raul.
"You bastard! Didn't your parents ever teach you to respect women?"
Clayton added.
"Wow, I've never seen you get so violet before, it's real turn on,"
Jacqui said hanging on to his arm.
"Really." Clayton turned over to Jacqui
"Jacqui, Clayton you could shag later. First I want to know what in
Gods name is going on."
"That bastard kissed Blaise and felt her up and also threatened to kill
her if she told anybody," Harry explained for the fourth time. "I don't care if
he's Dumbledore's nephew, I want him out of this house."
"Wait Raul is Dumbledore's' nephew?" Clayton said.
"Yes, he is," a voice said from the door.
"Dumbledore what are you doing here?" Harry asked.
"I have wards around my house and one of those wards is a fighting ward
and whenever there is a physical or magical fight it will notify me,"
Dumbledore explained in a calm tone. "If I understand things correctly, my troubled
nephew is causing quiet a stir around here."
"Yes sir he is," Harry said politely, "Dumbledore is it possible that
he stays somewhere else for a while?"
"I'm sorry Harry but that can't be possible. You see, he has nowhere
else to go. This is what I will do for you. I will talk to him and deal
with him but you have to promise me that there will be no more fighting
in this house. That goes for all of you," Dumbledore said, "Do I make
myself clear?"
"Yes sir," they all said in unison.
"Come with me Raul. You have a lot of explaining to do."
Dumbledore said. He didn't look too pleased with his nephew. Raul limped over to
Dumbledore, his left hand he holding his left side. When he went up to his uncle, he
began to cry like a little boy about to be punished.
When he left the room, the boys began to laugh hysterically. The girls
just looked at them with their hands on their hips and one eyebrow arched.
"What is so funny?" Hermione asked.
"Didn't you just see? He's really in for it!" Draco said holding his
side, wincing at the same time.
"We beat him up pretty bad didn't we," Clayton said, very proud of
his accomplishment.
"Yeah, we did," Harry said, "That prat deserved it too."
"I don't care what he did. I agree he did something very horrible but
that doesn't give you the right to beat up the guy until he only has one
tooth left in his mouth."
"Oh come on Hermione, how else would we teach him a lesson? Certainly not
by talking to him. He would just keep continuing to harass you."
"You could have told Dumbledore and he could've talked to Raul."
"I'm not going to run to Dumbledore for everything. I mean we're all
obviously able to hand our own problems by ourselves," Harry explained.
"But you promised me that you wouldn't fight again," Hermione said.
"I know but I was so mad at him. I couldn't control it. I'm sorry."
"You're forgiven but you're not going to get away with it next time,"
Hermione said. Harry went over to her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you," Harry said, "Hey Draco I'll play you a game of poker. I
mean only if you're up to it."
"I think I could survive a little game," Draco said. "Anybody want to
join?"
"I will," Clayton said.
"Hang on a minute. Before we do anything, I need to eat breakfast,"
Harry said picking his plate from the coffee table.
"Yeah, I'm starved," Hermione said rubbing her stomach.
"When are you not?" Blaise said, "I think I know who the baby's stomach
comes from."
"Who?" Hermione asked.
"Him," Blaise said pointing at Harry as he stuffed his face with food. He took
a sip of his juice and looked back at everyone.
"What?" Harry said and everyone just laughed. They were finally having
a good time.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
30 minutes later…
~~***~*~*~***~*
The girls were taking the newest quiz in Witch Weekly, while the boys
played another round of poker. Dumbledore and Raul came back into the
room. Raul looked like he had been crying and put his head down.
Dumbledore just looked at him. He didn't look like his jolly old self but mad
and shamed.
"Hermione, Blaise. Raul has something to say to you." He nudged him
slightly and Raul looked up at Hermione and Blaise.
"Sorry." Dumbledore nudged him again
"Sorry for saying those horrible things to you Hermione, and I'm sorry
I touched and threatened you Blaise. It won't happen again. Harry, Draco
I hope you could forgive me. You probably won't and I understand."
"My nephew has been through a lot for the past two years but that still
doesn't give him the right to act the way he did, right Raul?"
"Yes sir."
"My nephew has also informed me that he will never do it again, right
Raul?"
"Yes sir, never again."
"Since everything is figured out, I need to get back to my school,"
Dumbledore said. He bent over to Raul's ear and whispered something.
"Remember what I said." Raul nodded and Dumbledore looked back up at
the rest of them.
"I'll inform you when the date of the hearing is."
"Thanks Professor," Harry said. Dumbledore said his goodbyes and left
the room. They were left alone once again. Raul looked back up and saw
every eye in the room looking at him. He contemplated if he should leave
or stay.
"How you feeling Draco?" Raul asked, but he didn't answer - he just
stared at him
"Um, I think it's time for your medication," Raul said and went to the
cabinet to grab some.
"Now that you're up, I don't have to give you a shot," Raul said
bringing over a cup and a potion bottle. "Here, it might have a nasty after
taste," and handed over the cup full of medication but Draco didn't take
it.
"Okay, look I'm sorry. What do I have to do to make you forgive me?"
"Why didn't you ever tell us that you were Dumbledore's nephew?"
"You never asked."
"Well now I'm asking, so tell."
"Well Dumbledore's brother Amos is my mother's father, which makes
her Dumbledore's niece and then that makes me his second nephew."
"So why aren't you staying with your grandparents instead? Why are you
staying with Dumbledore?."
"My dad killed my grandparents, and when my parents were sent to
Azkaban, I didn't have anywhere to go. My grandfather was my legal guardian
but he was gone so Dumbledore insisted that I go and live with him. I
wasn't proud of what my parents did and neither was Dumbledore or my
grandparents."
"Why did your dad kill you grandparents?"
"Money. We were already wealthy before but not like my grandparents.
They were loaded, I mean really loaded, like buy a few small countries and
still have loads left. In their Will they left everything to my mother
and I. My parents didn't want to wait until they died of natural causes
so they thought they could play grim reapers and killed them. We got
the money as the will intended. I wasn't to mention to anyone how they
died. My parents story to Dumbledore and the rest of the family was that
I went to go visit my granddad and grad-mum for the summer and found
them on their beds dead. Everyone assumed they died in there sleep but
Dumbledore never bought it the story," Raul explained.
"Do you like it here?"
"I love it here. Dumbledore treats me like a son and I couldn't be
any more grateful."
"So how did you become a mediwizard so fast? I mean you're only two years
older than us," Hermione asked.
"Dumbledore. Even when I was in school, the teachers would tell me
that the Healing power was strong in me, so Dumbledore gave me private
lessons and he has some connections with the Medical Wizard Association
and they allowed me to take a test and get my license," Raul said. "I
work normally in St. Mungo's and specialize in dangerous curses and
charms but Dumbledore asked me if I could take care of one of his students
for a while."
"I feel for you Raul but I don't think I could trust you just yet,"
Draco said taking the glass out of his hands. Draco gagged at first but
swallowed the rest.
"That goes for me too," Harry said.
"I think that goes for all of us," Hermione said.
"I understand."
"So when am I going to get out of this bed? I want to make love to my
fiancée already. I never got the chance last night."
"Well if you keep taking the potion three times a day for two weeks, you'll
be able to return to your normal activities in about five days but just
don't go overboard."
"Five days - I don't think I could last that long," Blaise blurted out.
"Look, I know a potion that will be able to get you out of the bed in three
days but let me tell you, it really doesn't taste that great, it might
be the worst potion that you ever tasted, and has some terrible side effects,
but it will do the trick."
"He'll take it," Blaise blurted out again.
"Hey I'm the one taking the potion. Look sweetie we could wait five days,
we still have what a week or two left in this place. Trust me, five days
isn't anything."
"Fine," Blaise said but she didn't look so pleased.
~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*
Two weeks after arriving at the manor, Hermione still tossed
and turned in her bed dreaming about him…
Hermione, Blaise, Draco, Jacqui, Kristle, Raul, Crabbe and Goyle waited
behind their fathers and mothers.
"Alohamora," Mrs. Zabini said.
They went into the small blue house and they all stood near the
children. As usua,l the children would wait in a room and waited until the
mission was completed. At least one child from every family would have to go
up with their parents. Lucius came up to his children and looked at
them both.
"Hermione, you are coming with me this time."
"But father shouldn't I go instead?" Draco asked.
"Did I ask you?"
"No sir."
"Draco has already learned the ropes. Now it's your turn Hermione. Come
on. Besides, it's time for Hermione to see how a Malfoy really
act. Draco you'll be expecting a punishment when you get
home."
"Why?"
"You tried to be little Mr. Super Wizard just right now, when you
tried to take you sisters turn."
"Sorry father, it won't happen again."
Hermione just nodded and took a huge gulp of air. She followed the rest
of the Death Eaters and the children who were picked to go and
watch.. They walked up the stairs and went to the first room;
it looked like a little girl's room. Hermione would never forget that room -
it was painted pink and had ballerina's wallpaper, she had huge dollhouse
and dolls and teddy bears around the room and hanging on the wall
was a ballerina suit and her ballerina shoes. Lucius and Hermione
walked up to her be. She was no older than five and had blonde curls
and little freckles on her face.
"Wake her up," Lucius ordered Hermione. She nodded and shook the little
girl. Her eyes opened and looked at the hooded figures around her room.
Hermione took off her hood and looked at the little girl.
"What's your name?" Hermione said in a soft voice.
"Jamie-Lynn," the little girl said.
"Do you have a brother or a sister?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, my baby brother Patrick," she said, "What are you doing in my
room?"
"You'll see," Lucius said. "Hermione get her out of her bed and go get
her brother."
Hermione nodded and helped the little girl out of the room.
"Don't be scared. Just show me where your brother's room is."
The little girl led Hermione to the room. It had blue wallpaper with
sailboats. A few toys were on the floor and a rocking chair was at the
corner of the room. Hermione went over to the crib and found a baby. He
had brown hair and didn't look older than a year. Hermione bent
over and picked up the baby. Jamie-Lynn tugged her cloak.
"Where are you taking my brother and me?" Jamie-Lynn asked. Hermione
didn't answer because she didn't want to tell the little girl that she
was going to die tonight. Hermione smiled at he.r
"Are you a ballerina?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, my teacher says I'm very good. When I grow up, I want to be a
ballerina," Jamie said. Hermione smiled and led her out of the room. She
rejoined her father. He just smiled.
"Now you are going to see why no one disobeys the Dark Lord." Hermione
just nodded and they walked into the parent's room. Lucius put
Hermione in front and placed one hand on her shoulder.
"Mummy," Jamie said loudly. The mother woke up and screamed at the
hooded figures in her room with her children. The father woke up and got out
of bed.
"Let them go, please let them go," the mother cried.
"Your husband has something I want," Lucius said calmly.
"I don't have anything," the man shouted back.
"Yes you do, now give me the book."
"Over my dead body," the man yelled.
"Fine have it your way. Hermione, step aside from the girl." Hermione
backed away and left Jamie alone. Lucius pointed the wand at her.
"Fine, I'll give it to you, just don't hurt my family," the man begged.
"Agreed."
The man went over to his briefcase. Kristle retrieved the book and went
back to the group.
"You have your book, now leave us in peace."
"If only it was that simple," Lucius said and pointed his wand at the man,
yelling the killing curse on him. Another Death Eater shouted the killing
curse at the mother. Hermione turned her head and just heard the screams
of pain and both children crying. Jamie-Lynn covered her eyes with
Hermione's cloak and cried.
"Hermione place the baby on the bed." Hermione did so and laid the baby
gently on the bed and stepped at away. Lucius went up to the baby,
pointed his wand to the baby's head and recited the killing curse.
"Okay now the girls turn," Lucius said. Hermione led the little girl
to the corner of the room and bent down to her.
"What's happening Herminy?" the little girl asked.
"Just shut your eyes and pretend you're dancing the nutcracker in front
of you family," Hermione said. She couldn't say anymore; a knot in her
throat was slowly forming. Jamie shut her eyes. Hermione stepped away
and went next to her father.
"And don't you dare turn your head. I want you to see this," Lucius
demanded. "Avada Kedavra." Hermione saw the little girl scream and her eyes
were shut tightly. A tear came down her face. Jamie would never set
foot again in ballet lessons or ever be a ballerina but what hurt the most
was that the little girl trusted that she wouldn't let her get hurt. The little
girl's body fell down to the ground. Hermione wiped her tears away and
walked out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the small blue
house…
"Hermione wake up. Hermione wake up," Harry said. She had been tossing
and turning all night but that didn't wake Harry. What woke Harry was
when she began to cry. He shook her lightly. Hermione opened her eyes
and saw a concerned look staring back at her. Harry turned on the night lamp and
looked at her face. She was pale and drenched with sweat. Harry also noticed
that she was shaking frantically.
"Oh Harry," Hermione said and hugged Harry like her life depended on
it. This was beginning to scare Harry. He pushed her away and wiped her
tears from her cheeks. Harry knew for a fact that whenever she had
nightmare, it involved him.
"Hermione can I ask you a question?" Harry asked. She nodded. "Why are
you so scared of him? I mean I saw yours and Draco's face when you saw
him again. It was like seeing the devil face to face, you looked so
frightened."
"That's because he is the devil, Harry, he's evil, I mean pure evil.
There was this one time when I actually thought there was some good in him.
I was nine years old. I was really sick; I was sent to St. Mungo's
and he stayed by my side all four days. He read me books and bought
me get well gifts and tried to make me laugh. He acted like an ordinary father
but the day I left the hospital, he took Draco on one of his missions.
Draco had it even worse. I would only go on some missions but Draco went
to all of them and HE made him watch every moment of it. He wasn't allowed
to wait downstairs or in a room like the rest of us. He stayed there and watched
these innocent people getting murdered. On the way home Draco would be pale and
he'd lock himself in his room for hours. Everyone left him alone but if you
leaned you head next to the door you could hear him cry." Hermione paused,
"The only good that came out of the man was giving us all we wanted -
whatever we wanted, we got. Other than that, he would always criticize
every little thing we did, and he would always pick on Draco. He would tell
him that he wasn't smart enough or would call him a pussy because he
would cry when he got home from missions. He picked on me too, telling me
that I dress like a floozy and that I have probably gone around the
block more than once and if we didn't do something right, he would
threaten us with the Cruciatus Curse. On the missions, whenever we went to
people's houses and they had kids, he would make me befriend them and tell
them that they weren't going to get hurt and use them as bait for their
parents so we could get what we wanted. He would kill the parents in front
of them and then kill them afterwards. It was horrible Harry. Sometimes
he would use the Cruciatus Curse then use the killing curse, or go over
to them and break their necks or beat them until they died. It was like
living with Hitler for Merlin's sake. When my mother told the Aurors
that my father was a Death Eater, they promised us that he would never
come back. That was the most happiest day of our lives. I think that goes
for every Death Eater kid, but he did come back."
"Well at least well never see him again, because he's gone for good. I
mean it this time. He'll never come back."
"Thank Merlin for that," Hermione said.
"Hey Hermione, I was thinking, since we're in Dumbledore's house and all,
maybe you don't have to use the covering charm. I mean, no one here is
going to tell."
"I was thinking the same thing. I was curious as to how big I got."
"I don't think you're that big. We're on our second or third month - you'll
show, but not a lot."
"When did you become a pregnancy expert?"
"I read it in a book." Harry yawed. "Let's go back to bed."