Unofficial Portkey Archive

Harry Potter and the Mark of Ingravesco

Ship: Harry Potter/Hermione Granger | Chapter Words: 5114 | Last Update: 6 Jan 06 | Rating: PG-13
Hermione Granger is the next target of Lord Voldemort what ends will he go to in order to get to Harry Potter, and is this latest attempt going to have the effect he wanted?

Chapter 1: How Did This Happen?

It seemed like a very long walk back to Gryffindor Common Room, Harry's mind was back in the hospital wing wondering what tests the Healer was doing on Hermione.

It didn't seem to bother Cornelius Fudge walking behind Harry, who out of no where would say, 'Oh I didn't know about this passage when I was at school,' after Harry would turn suddenly and disappear though a tapestry or behind a statue.

Outside the Common Room, the Fat Lady accepted his password, which he mumbled the first time making her ask for it again, and Harry had almost shouted it at her. She gave him a disapproving look and swung forward to admit them.

Inside, Ron and Ginny where involved in a game of Exploding Snap, which seemed to be going nowhere, with only the two of them playing it seemed like winning was far too easy. Ron had most of the cards in his hands when they entered and he didn't take his eyes away from the game, he just started talking.

'Hey Harry, wanna play?' Harry muttered an incoherent 'no' and disappeared up the stairs while Fudge pulled a chair over to the table and made himself comfortable.

Harry dragged each foot up the stairs, the sound of Exploding Snap going on behind them. Fudge had obviously just had the cards explode on him as he let out a loud 'ahhhh' followed by a lot of laughter.

Stepping into the dormitory, Harry took a good look around. He'd stayed in this same room every year since joining Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry over 6 years ago. It had always looked the same, not that he had bothered in the last 5 and a half years to take a good look. Today though, it looked completely different. It didn't feel right that he was up here, in the middle of summer, while Hermione was suffering with the unknown back in the Hospital Wing. That at this very moment, she could be finding out what Voldemort had done to her and here he was back in his dormitory listening to a game of Exploding Snap going on in the Common Room below.

Harry walked over to his bed and as he had done before, he dropped down onto it, face buried in his pillow and screamed. He needed to let his frustration out somehow. Below him he heard voices and a halt in the game, Fudge had obviously asked what the noise was and Ron and Ginny had told him because the game continued.

Harry wanted to do so many things at that moment in time, his head was buzzing. He wanted to move, just walk anywhere as fast as he could; he wanted to hit something or someone (Voldemort came to mind); also sitting with someone who could answer questions, so many questions making the buzzing in his head even worse; and at the same time be back in the Hospital Wing with Hermione. But most of all, Harry wanted for the first time in his life to be back at the Dursleys and have none of this happen.

Harry turned over onto his back and stared up one of the posts to his four-poster bed, and listened as someone else entered the Common Room; from where he was though, he couldn't tell who. Footsteps started up the stairs and the door creaked open.

'Harry,' Ron's voice came from the open doorway. 'Professor Dumbledore wants you down in the Common Room,' he said and turned to leave. His mind disconnected from the rest of his body, Harry got up and made his way down to the Common Room. He'd done this twice now; been up in the dormitory for a scream then called back down, he wondered if he'd ever be left alone.

Back in the Common Room, Harry saw the back of Ginny climbing though the portrait hole and vanishing. Looking around quickly, he noticed that Ron had gone too. Dumbledore was now sitting where Ginny once had and Ron's seat was left empty; Fudge was still there though.

Looking over at him, Dumbledore beckoned Harry to sit in the vacated chair opposite him. Harry stood for a moment; he didn't know what to make of this situation. He definitely didn't want to talk about it right now either, and especially not with Dumbledore and Fudge. Moving slowly, Harry took the seat opposite and waited in silence for what was coming.

'Harry, we need to have a very serious talk about the situation that has arisen,' Fudge said and Harry let himself flop back into his seat. 'Harry, under a normal situation, the Ministry would advise Professor Dumbledore to expel both yourself and Miss Granger, and I have no doubt in my mind that if this situation were different, he would have done so.' Harry looked horrified and opened his mouth several times to speak, Fudge opened his mouth to speak again and it was at this time that Harry found his voice.

'You're gonna expel us for something Voldemort did?' Harry said, spitting Voldemort's name out as if it was breaking out of his mouth.

'Harry, you misunderstand,' Dumbledore said; Fudge had been taken aback by Harry's outbreak. 'This situation is unlike any that has ever happened. It is extremely dangerous for anyone to practice and learn magic while they carry a child. If a spell backfired on the carrier, it could be dangerous. But...' Dumbledore said quickly, seeing Harry open his mouth. 'But, if I were to expel you both at this time, then I may as well hand you to Voldemort myself.' Harry looked completely confused; was he being expelled, would he and Hermione be forced out into the real world without their final qualification? Or was Dumbledore going to suggest something else?

'Yes. Well,' Fudge said, a little lost in what he had intended to say. 'Anyway, that is under normal situations. In this case, I think it's wiser and safer for you both to remain here. With a few well placed rules Miss Granger will be safe sitting in class practicing spells and such.' he finished with a wave of his hand.

'The thing is,' Dumbledore added, 'in order for us to protect Hermione, you have to decide if you are willing to become a parent and protect her and the child.' Harry opened his mouth at once to say he would, but Dumbledore stopped him by putting up his hand. 'Before you speak so quickly, Miss Granger has to agree to keep the child too. This needs to be joint decision or it will not work.' Dumbledore finished, punching his finger on the table in time with the last three words. 'And not only that Harry, it is a very big responsibility becoming a parent, you need to think about this carefully.' Dumbledore smiled at him. 'Miss and Mr Weasley are returning home with their mother for a few days. This should give you ample thinking time, but don't forget that Hermione needs to have the same result as you.' Dumbledore said and stood from his chair. 'Hermione will be in the Hospital wing until Healer Moon is convinced she is healthy enough to leave, you have free rein to visit her whenever you wish,' he added and then made his way out of the Common Room with Fudge behind him.

Harry found he didn't know what to do with himself after that. Being alone, not having to make conversation or answer questions was a great thing. However, he found himself wishing there was someone he could ask for advice.

He had sat in the chair in the common room for what seemed like hours after Dumbledore and Fudge had left, his mind was in overdrive and he kept going between decisions, he wanted it, he didn't want it, it wasn't his choice. Either way, he couldn't make up his mind.

Giving up on staring at the wall above the fire, Harry made his way once more up to his dormitory, but up there he was restless. Unable to sit still or lie on his bed, he found himself over by the window looking out over the open grounds, where he could watch the forest or out the gates and into Hogsmeade, and on occasion, watch the activities of a teacher or Hagrid as they sorted out the grounds for the new school year.

Whenever this didn't provide enough entertainment to take Harry's mind away from the problem, he would wander around the room and common room, looking at all the things he'd never noticed before.

By lunchtime the next day, Harry became annoyed with his surroundings, having explored everything from under the beds in his room to the fire and the behind a tapestry in the common room. He made one more sweep of the rooms before pushing the portrait open, climbing out and wandering down the corridor. With his mind working again, Harry didn't really pay attention to where he was going, and he didn't hear Professor McGonagall as she told him that he'd missed lunch and if he was hungry he should go to the kitchens, or even pay attention to Peeves who took to following Harry along on his back singing a very rude song. Peeves gave up after turning a corner to find the Bloody Barron in their path.

After a few hours of idle wandering, Harry became frustrated with himself when he found he was standing, once again, at the door to the Hospital Wing. He turned and walked a few paces away before stopping and going back, standing there for a few more minutes and wandering away again. Was Hermione having as much trouble thinking as he was, or had she already decided what she was doing regardless to what he thought? He stopped and looked back, thinking about the pain he watched Hermione in yesterday morning. The image or her face drifted back into his mind and at that moment, his scar gave an uncomfortable twinge. He turned to walk away again, but was stopped by someone calling his name.

'Harry.' Remus Lupin had just emerged from the Hospital Wing, obviously shocked to find Harry here. 'I was just coming to look for you,' he added, taking a careful step towards Harry, unsure how he'd been taking the information. 'Hermione's worried about you, and angry with you.' He smiled and moved closer. 'She said you haven't been to see her all day, she thinks your avoiding her.'

'I'm not,' Harry spat, and then changed his mind. 'I am, I think.' Harry leaned against the wall and slid down to the ground. 'I don't know what I'm doing,' he added as Lupin joined him on the floor. 'Living for 17 years at the Dursleys was easier than today. I don't know what I should do.'

'Well you could start by changing the 'I' to a 'We',' Lupin suggested, giving Harry a sideways glance, then looking at the Hospital Wing door. 'Hermione's as much a part of this as you are, and she doesn't want to make any choices without you.'

'If only I could make a choice to help her out,' Harry said, staring up at the suit of armour opposite him.

'How do you feel about Hermione? Not about things that have happened today, Harry, how do you feel about Hermione?' Lupin asked, planning his conversation. Harry sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly before answering.

'I love her!' he looked away before adding, 'Not as a friend, I REALLY love her, I have since 3rd year.'

'Why have you never told her?' Lupin asked.

'I was afraid she'd laugh at me, or tell me she liked me as friend but loved someone else!' Harry said pulling off his glasses, cleaning them on the hem of his t-shirt and then putting them back on.

'Then how do you feel about starting a family with her?' Lupin moved on, not wanting to push Harry for more information.

'I thought about it, once, but I always thought it wouldn't be until after we finished school, assuming I ever got the nerve to tell her my feelings.' Harry shrugged making Lupin chuckle.

'So what's stopping you now? Harry, she's angry with you for not talking to her as a friend, but she's worried because she thinks you don't want to be with her, to help her with the baby. She feels the same about you as you do about her, but now you know that, and she doesn't.' He'd done it. Harry had suddenly gotten to his feet, and started towards the hospital wing. 'Harry,' Lupin called, causing Harry to stop. 'Could you help me up before you go?!' Harry laughed, pulled Lupin to his feet and made his way back to the Hospital wing.

Harry pushed the door to the Hospital Wing open and stepped inside. It was unusual seeing it in the summer, with sun floating in though the open windows and beds empty, even Hermione's bed was empty and Harry had a fleeting thought that she had left and gone for a walk or something, but then he remembered that he and Lupin had been sitting outside and would have seen her pass them.

Harry took the seat beside her bed and waited. He didn't need to wait for long; a few minutes after sitting down, Hermione emerged from a door beside Madam Pomfrey's office at the end of the room. She didn't pay attention to where she was going on her way back to bed and got a shock when she finally looked up and saw Harry sitting there waiting for her.

'Hi,' Harry said and without waiting for her to speak he said, 'I, erm, I've been wandering around the castle. Did you know there was an empty cupboard behind the portrait of Lycia Mecconstaff on the fourth floor?' Hermione gave a little laugh and dropped her head to look at the ground, then decided she would be better off in bed and climbed in. 'I'm sorry Hermione, I should have come back, but, I was afraid you'd hate me.'

'For what? You haven't done anything wrong,' she said, still keeping her eyes on anything but him.

'For loving you enough to want the baby,' Hermione looked up suddenly; she had been rearranging the covers on her bed. Her head was buzzing so much with his last comment that she didn't know where to start. She sat silently for a few minutes before deciding on asking.

'You... you love me?' Harry gave a nod, now being the one to avoid her eyes.

'Since about third year, about the end of third year, actually it was when we were...' Harry broke off; he had just taken a glance at Hermione and noticed she was in tears again. Moving quickly off the chair to reach her, Harry pulled a muscle in his leg, but ignored it and scrambled onto the bed to face her, then quickly wrapped his arms around her pulling her into a hug. 'Hermione,' Harry whispered into her left ear, 'I should have told you ages ago, but I was scared that you didn't feel the same. What happens to this baby is your choice, and I'll love you whatever you do.' Hermione pushed him away looking into his eye.

'We can keep it, can't we?'

'Yeah,' Harry said smiling at her and adjusting his position slightly, his leg was beginning to annoy him by now. 'Dumbledore will have the teachers help us out with homework and NEWTs when the baby's born, I doubt he'd let us fail. Did you know we should be expelled by now, if this was our fault, that is,' Harry smiled. 'Fudge and Dumbledore told me that as this isn't a normal situation, expelling us wasn't an option, especially since chucking us out would only put us in harms way.'

Harry could tell Hermione hadn't even considered that it was against school rules to carry an infant because of the dangers of some charms and potions. 'Hey, don't worry,' he said seeing her expression change into fear. 'I wont let anyone or anything hurt you,' he said and leaned forward to kiss her lightly on the lips before moving to sit behind her so she could lean against him. It didn't take long before Hermione was asleep against him, trapping his arm under her back. Harry didn't want to move Hermione, he figured she'd had a worse day than he had, and let her sleep. After a short time however, he was forced to move; his arm had fallen asleep underneath her and his back was beginning to sting. He was just moving when the door to opened and Tonks' head appeared around it.

Seeing Harry, she moved over to him and just in time spotted that Hermione was asleep before saying 'Hello'. Harry replied with a rather more hurried 'hello' then added:

'Could you move Hermione for a minute, my back hurts and I'm getting pins and needles in my arm.' Tonks, usually clumsy, managed to move Hermione with only a near miss of Hermione's head banging on her shoulder, let Harry move until he was comfortable, then eased her back down against him. She was there for a while chatting with Harry, and to his surprise left without asking if they were keeping the baby or not.

Shortly after Tonks had left, Harry was visited by Fudge, Lupin, Moody and eventually Dumbledore, before a house-elf appeared to inform the Professor that dinner was ready to be served. Dumbledore sought Madam Pomfrey's approval for Hermione to join them, and then left Harry to help her change.

Harry woke Hermione carefully, then offered to help her change, but was pushed out of the cubicle and told to wait there. She changed quickly and they made their way down to the Great Hall.

Down in the Great Hall, Dumbledore had set up a single table and was perched at one end of it waiting. Harry and Hermione made their way past the teachers when he beckoned them to their seats to his right, before looking down at the teachers waiting there. Harry was sat immediately next to Dumbledore, with Hermione next to him, beside her Lupin sat looking avidly between the two of them then leaned in to whisper to Hermione. Then there was Tonks and Professor Sprout, who were arguing over the best way to look after a biting plant and finally, Healer Moon, who was sat leaning in across the table to Madam Pomfrey. Coming back down the other side of the table was Professor Snape, who looked very annoyed at the company's conversations, then Mad-Eye Moody and Hagrid sat in a whispered conversation which Harry found amazing since there was a few feet in height difference between them, and finally Professor McGonagall who sat with a smile on her face as she looked at them.

Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat, and as the students would have done when he was ready to make a speech, the teachers and visitors at the table fell silent.

'Before we eat, I believe that everyone here, is interested to know if you have made you decision.' Harry turned suddenly, he hadn't expect that at all, but looking around was a bad idea, every face along the table was staring at them waiting. To Harry's surprise, even Snape was awaiting the answer with a curious expression.

'Get on with it,' Tonks burst from beside Lupin, causing most of the table to laugh, including Hermione, who took a deep breath before answering their question.

'We're going to keep the baby.' Anyone outside the hall would have though a riot had started amongst the teachers from the outburst of congratulations that were being shouted, but the only one that Harry really heard was Hagrid who had shouted 'I knew it, I ruddy knew it!' at the top of his lungs.

Dinner past in a cheerful mood after that and as the plates slowly emptied the teachers and visitors slowly bid everyone goodnight and left the table. Hermione had wanted to go long ago, but Dumbledore had asked that they both stay.

When the hall was cleared of everyone but them, Dumbledore and McGonagall, Harry turned to look at them. Hermione was leaning heavily against Harry, her body tired from the day's shock and lack of sleep.

'I have a gift for you both,' Dumbledore said at last and Hermione moved from Harry's shoulder to look at him. 'I believe there has never been any two students more deserving of this gift than you two.'

Harry glanced at Professor McGonagall who looked close to tears then turned back to Dumbledore who was now holding out two pale red envelopes to them. Harry took his and waited for Hermione to retrieve hers before opening it. Tipping it upside down, Harry felt two long metal objects hit the palm of his hand. Looking at them he saw they were keys; one silver, one gold.

'If you'll come with me, I'll explain them to you,' Professor McGonagall said, standing from the table and leading them from the room, with Professor Dumbledore behind them at a distance.

They followed her out into the Entrance Hall and up the stairs, turning left and heading down the corridor. Harry followed silently, waiting patiently for what this all meant and where they were going. After a few minutes they followed Professor McGonagall past her office and towards Dumbledore's. Before reaching the statue that held his password she stopped. Standing halfway between their offices she turned to them.

'The silver keys will open this door. But before you use them, lets make sure that the spell worked correctly, if you would chuck your key's away please.' Harry and Hermione exchanged looked, and then complied by chucking all four keys out the nearest open window. 'Now open your hands palm up and request a key.' Harry was confused, 'request a key', what did she mean?

'Silver Key,' Hermione said to his left and he glanced in her direction quick enough to see a silver object appear in Hermione's hand. 'Gold Key,' she said and the gold key returned to her hand as well. Harry was shocked, if he had known that was possible he would have asked how to do it long ago, then maybe he wouldn't keep losing quills and books.

'Silver Key,' Harry said. Sticking out his right hand, it returned, and he examined it to make sure it was the same one before holding out his hand again and saying 'Gold Key,' which appeared just as suddenly.

'Each of these keys will be invisible when out of your possession, and will return to you on demand. Now if one of you would open the door.' Hermione stepped forwards and unlocked the door, but before she could open it McGonagall added, 'No other person can use these keys, not even with your permission, and this door will not open to an unlocking charm.' She nodded at Hermione who pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Following her closely, Harry stepped inside and found himself suddenly bathed in light. Lamps and candles around the room had suddenly burst into life and Harry had a clear view of the room. It was a round room, decorated in the Gryffindor colours, with similar poufs and chairs as there were in the Common Room. The fireplace to Harry's right was empty, the sun from the day left the room warm and without need of a fire. He took a quick count of the doors leading out, all of which were marked with the Gryffindor Lion.

'Four rooms in total.' Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall had followed them in; it was Dumbledore who had spoken. 'We will wait here, while you see what's in the other three rooms,' he added and took a seat next to the fire.

Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and led him to the door directly opposite. She pushed it open and stepped inside. The door closed behind them and they found themselves in a bedroom; a single large bed in the middle of the opposite wall, directly under the window, a dressing table to the left and a set of rather large cupboards to the right.

'Harry, this is our room.' Harry looked at her in complete confusion. 'We've moved out of Gryffindor Tower, and into here!' she added, letting him go and moving over to a door Harry hadn't spotted beside the dressing table. Harry stood bewildered as Hermione disappeared though it. 'Harry, Harry, you have to come see this.'

It seemed to take great effort to move, but he followed Hermione into the other room and found it was prepared for a newborn baby. The walls were brightly lit and the furniture placed perfectly for the parents ease. Harry caught sight of Hermione sitting relaxed in the corner, her chair rocking back and forth and Harry suddenly realised why; it was a rocking chair. 'It's perfect,' she whispered and moved over to him and wrapped her arms around him.

Harry did a quick count wrapping his arms around her back. The room outside was 'One'. Their bedroom was 'Two'. The baby room was 'Three'. 'So what's in the other room?' Harry asked out loud.

Hermione moved away from him, smiled then said, 'Let's go look.' They stepped out though the baby room door, crossed the room past Dumbledore and McGonagall, who both pretended they hadn't noticed them passing by keeping up their conversation, and disappeared though the last door.

Harry's jaw dropped; there were no walls or windows. Harry made his way to the edge of the floor and before he was able to look down, he hit his head on what felt like a wall. They were clearly still inside, the walls and ceiling invisible to sight, but definitely not touch. Harry rubbed his head looked back at Hermione who was trying her best not to laugh and said:

'There's a wall here.' Hermione couldn't hold back anymore, she just laughed at him then moved to sit in one of the swinging chairs that you would only expect to see outside a Muggle house. Harry moved towards her, taking in the bookshelves that lined the wall behind her and the three tables that scattered the room with wooden chairs around them.

'We better go back out,' he said, holding his hand out to her. She took it and climbed out of the chair, and followed him though the door.

'Back so soon, I could have lived in that room,' Dumbledore said, pointing to the door they had just come from. 'I take it these quarters are to your liking?' he smiled at them, and seeming happy to see them speechless, moved towards the door.

'Professor,' Harry said suddenly and waited for them both to stop and turn. 'Thank you, but why are you giving us this?' The question had been buzzing around Harry's head since stepping into their bedroom.

'I believe it will be hard for you both to get to know each other better in a common room full of students and in separate beds.' He smiled at them and Harry saw and twinkle of joy flash in his eyes.

'And the gold keys?' Hermione asked from his side.

'You will find out about them tomorrow, Miss Granger,' Professor McGonagall said, before smiling and adding, 'Good night,' and following Dumbledore out of the room, which Harry heard lock itself as it closed.

They sat in what they named 'The Open Room' for most of the night, watching the stars and talking about the events of the day. It didn't take long before Hermione started planning how things would work when they had a baby to look after as well as their exams to get though. By midnight, she had planned for four possible outcomes, none of which Harry had really listened to as he kept insisting they had plenty of time before they needed to worry about that.

Sitting staring at the sky above him, Harry began to wonder about his gold key. Did it open another secret room in Hogwarts, if so what else could they possible need? This amused him for a while as he thought about secret passages from here to the Great Hall so they wouldn't have to take the long walk back, or a way to Hogsmeade in case they needed to get supplies quickly for the baby when it was born. It was only when Harry heard a soft thud from beside him that he broke from this train of thought.

Hermione had fallen asleep on the table, the tired feeling that had been lost when they where shown to this room had obviously returned.

Harry climbed to his feet, made his way around the table and carefully picked Hermione up. He hadn't even realised he would be able to pick her up until he actually did so. He moved through the door, which he had thankfully left open when they came back in, crossed their version of a common room and, struggling with the door handle a bit, managed to open the door and carry Hermione in to place her gently on the left side of the bed.

He looked around quickly, and noticed that their things had arrived and been placed there already, and for a fleeting moment he wondered if Dumbledore had known they would make this choice. He shook this from his head and moved to Hermione's trunk and pushed it open. It was very neatly packed, but Harry didn't stop to study the content, of which mostly was books and clothing. He located her nightdress and returned to her side. Harry had to take a deep breath before starting to undress her. She's asleep and pregnant, he told himself over and over as he removed her top and bra then placed her night dress over her head, needing to pull her into a sitting position before he could pull it down her back and then lay her back down before removing her jeans. Harry gave a quick pull to drag the dress down over her legs before covering her with the blanket that was folded neatly at the end of the bed.

Moving away from the bed extremely proud of himself, Harry moved to his own trunk and pulled out his nightclothes and changed. It was only when he climbed into the bed beside Hermione that he thought, 'This has to be one of the longest days of my life,' before falling asleep.

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