Unofficial Portkey Archive

Harry took a deep breath, everyone was watching him, especially Hermione, and it was starting to scare him. She hadn't said a thing, nothing at all, but he had watched her expression change from shock to what he could only hope was happiness as a tear escaped down her left cheek.

'Harry... I...' Hermione didn't know what to say. She just looked at him in disbelief, not knowing what to do or say to him. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as they watched, expecting her to say "yes", but she didn't know if she wanted to. Taking a deep breath, Hermione quickly thought of a good reason to say "no", but could only come up with single reasons to say "yes". She loved him.

'Yes.' She smiled trying to hold back the tears. 'I will.' A sudden eruption of applause and cheering came from the crowd around them and Hermione suddenly realised that everyone was still there; she had completely forgotten they were there to begin with.

Harry couldn't believe it, he couldn't believe it all night or for the next few months that passed, but she had said yes to him.

Harry was pleased that the next few months at least had gone without incident. Hermione continued to grow with the baby and Harry's worry intensified the closer it came to the due date, but that worry was only added to with the arrival of another article in the Daily Prophet towards the end of April about Harry and his use of an Unforgivable Curse.

'MINISTRY ATTEMPTS TO REDEEM HARRY POTTER.' Parvati had this version of the paper and was reading it out to Seamus and Neville when Harry, Hermione and Ron sat down. 'Response from a previous article on this matter was greatly received, in particular the response from the Ministry of Magic officials.

'Ministry members state that, "the incident involving Mr Potter and the Unforgivable Curse mentioned is strictly under wraps." Mr Potter was face to face with a Death Eater and used the curse in an attempt to protect himself and his friends. No damage was done by the use of this curse, and as you are all aware, efficient use of an Unforgivable requires the wand to cause damage, and Mr Potter was clearly not wanting to kill the Death Eater at all.'

'Wonderful,' Harry spat, slopping scrambled eggs onto his plate and grabbing a piece of toast. 'Just what I needed, another Ministry inquiry.'

'Don't worry mate, I doubt the Ministry will do anything just because the Daily Prophet thinks you did wrong ... again.'

'Ron!' Hermione said, shocked at the tone in Ron's voice at his last word.

'What? I'm only pointing out that the Prophet has said he was a trouble-maker before and the Ministry didn't do anything.'

'Yes, and that really helps make him feel better about them doing it again. You have...'

'Could you two stop arguing for 10 minutes?' Harry interrupted, not wanting this conversation to end how all the others did, with neither of them talking to the other and Harry in the middle as a mediator.

'Sorry,' Hermione said, and began helping herself to the breakfast on the table in front of her.

'Yah so'wey mat'!' Ron spat, spraying poached egg on everyone in range and receiving a disgusted look from Hermione.

'What are you guys doing today?' Neville asked, attempting to cut carefully through his toast and only managing to add scrambled egg to the mess on the table.

'I need to do the Potions homework that's due tomorrow, and the Transfiguration stuff!' Harry said dully, watching Hermione pick up a second slice of toast and refill her goblet with fresh pumpkin juice.

'Can I join you? I haven't done it either, and I haven't got a clue how to make mould cleaner anyway.'

'Neville, how is it you managed to stay in Potions this long? I thought you of all people would have opted out of it when we had the chance to last year!' Parvati pointed out, attempting to spoon the egg mess onto a spare plate.

'Gran wanted me to take it, said it would be useful for later life. I think I'm just going to stay clear of any jobs that involve me making potions, I don't care how easy they are!'

Everyone finished breakfast in a jolly mood after Neville's comment and then made their way back up the stairs in the Entrance Hall. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville headed for the private room, leaving everyone else on their way to the library or back to the common room to do their own things.

Studying for a potion on mould turned out to be harder than they had expected. No one noticed that lunch time had come and gone until Dobby knocked gingerly on the door and presented Hermione with food and drink before bowing his way out, the tip of his long nose brushing on the carpet as he went.

They finished in time for dinner, and made their way down to the Great Hall together to enjoy the variety of things on offer. Afterwards, making their way back up to their room, Harry and Hermione bid farewell to Ron and Neville and stepped into the comfort and quiet of their open room.

'Can we just sit here and relax for a bit?' Harry asked hesitantly, taking a seat on the couch. He didn't know what Hermione was planning for the evening, but this was the first time they had been able to sit alone together for quite some time.

'I was hoping you'd say that.' She smiled at him, and joined him, resting her head on his shoulder. Silence fell for a moment. 'We should go to Hogsmeade alone this weekend, do some shopping for baby things, and a few things for our home,' Hermione said as an after thought. Her mind was far from Hogsmeade, but very close to herself right now as the baby had taken to kicking her. She shifted; the position she was currently in wasn't helping to ease the feeling each tiny kick gave her. Sensing that Hermione was uncomfortable, Harry moved to look at her.

'Are you okay?' he asked, watching her face. Seeing no sign of discomfort there, Harry naturally placed his hand on her stomach. He had done this every day for the last three months at least. 'Hmmm. Maybe this one's restless, needs some sleep, just like mum,' Harry said, moving slowly to his feet and pulling Hermione up as he went. 'Come on, bed time. Lots of classes to go to tomorrow.' He smiled, leading her to their room.

The week passed quickly. Harry found his homework load kept his mind from horrible possibilities that could happen any day. Hermione was nearing the end of her pregnancy and was suffering from discomfort in her back and legs, and visiting Madam Pomfrey only got: 'Well, this is what pregnancy does to under-aged people.' and the suggestion of lying on her back and resting wherever possible.

'Lying on my back is impossible!' Hermione complained to Harry late Friday night. She had been lying on her back for the last few minutes but found the baby would kick down towards the bed. 'I'm in more pain lying like that.' she breathed, pushing herself onto her side.

'Here,' Harry said, moving to sit behind her and starting to rub her back and shoulders. 'Does this help?' he asked, moving down to her hips and onto her legs.

'Oh, that's much better.' Hermione sighed into his massaging before completely relaxing.

'Are you sure you want to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?' He asked, shifting down to her ankles and pulling her socks off.

'Hmmm... I'm sure,' Hermione breathed, as she drifted off to sleep.

Joining the queue heading out of the castle the next morning, Harry and Hermione discussed what shops they would go to first, including lunch at the Three Broomsticks.

'I want to go to the house first, check out how many rooms we have. We never did get a really good look. I can do that while you go to Honeydukes and Zonko's, then I'll meet you outside that baby shop in the next street,' Hermione reeled off, as they passed Mr Filch and stepped into the bright sunlight. Harry simply agreed and carried on deciding what sort of clothes wizard babies wore. Neither of them saw a shadow pulling away from the castle behind them.

They passed through the gate and followed the path to Hogsmeade, separating only when they needed to. Harry took the main street to the shops, disappearing into Honeydukes with the intention of buying more sweets that he needed, while Hermione headed up the path to their new home.

She approached the door, digging into her pocket for the gold key before inserting it into the lock. One turn. She could have sworn they had locked the door properly when they had last visited. It should have turned twice. She pushed the door open slowly, wondering if they had forgotten about a second turn to lock the door.

Stepping in, she looked around carefully before deciding she was being silly and started mentally planning out the house, with the kitchen, living room, study, and bathroom on the ground floor. Upstairs, three bedrooms, one with an en-suite, as well as a separate bathroom for guests or children. Another small room gave Hermione the idea of playroom or nursery. Keeping all this information in mind, she headed back down the stairs and stepped out into the bright sunlight again.

The shadow pushed away from a wall nearby and followed Hermione to the end of the street and around the corner before it made its move.

Lunging forward, it shouted a Binding Curse. Upon reaching Hermione, it grabbed the bound girl, muttered a few well-chosen words and vanished, taking her.

At the other end of the street, Harry had witnessed the whole thing, watching as the shadow had approached, pulled out a wand and vanished along with Hermione and his unborn child. Harry stood shocked, staring at the spot where they had last been, before he realised that someone was calling his name. He turned around and found himself face to face with Professor Dumbledore.

'Harry, come with us,' he said, and led the way back to the castle. Harry barely realised that with Professor Dumbledore there had been six other people: Professor McGonagall, Madam Hooch, Professor Flitwick, Remus Lupin, Author Weasley and Professor Snape.

*Not again* Hermione sat in the same empty room as she had nine months previous, feeling as though her every thought was echoing around the walls. She sat in the same chair, in the middle of the room, tied tightly by the ropes that bound her in Hogsmeade, wondering why she had been brought back here. But she didn't need to be told the answer to that; she already knew the answer.

The door behind her creaked open slowly and she heard the slow footsteps of someone entering but in no hurry to reach her.

'I see you managed to keep my gift safe and well.' Hermione closed her eyes; the dark voice of the darkest wizard alive sent a shiver up her spine.

'Voldemort.' she whispered.

'Brave witch, you showed no fear before and I have no doubt you will show none now, but utter my name in front of a Death Eater and you will not be so brave.' he breathed, leaning close to her so that she could feel his cold breath on her neck. 'Speaking of Death Eaters, there seems to be a lack of them, don't you agree?' He chuckled, knowing Hermione would't answer, and stood up straight. Within minutes, Death Eaters were entering the room and surrounding her, and the room suddenly became dark with the black robes of those who followed Lord Voldemort.

'You knew?' Harry was quickly losing his temper. He sat in the Headmaster's office with all those who had pulled him from Hogsmeade and had just been told of the plans made by Voldemort to take Hermione that weekend. The only thing that had stopped Harry from jumping up and killing Snape on the spot was that he was called away just in time. 'You knew he was going to take her, and you didn't stop us going; you didn't even bother to warn us!' Harry said loudly, his face growing red with anger.

'I am sorry Harry, but we could not tell you or Voldemort would have known there was a spy in his ranks and could very possibly have worked out who it was.' Dumbledore explained. It didn't comfort Harry at all. He would rather Voldemort was aware that Snape was a spy than let him take Hermione.

'So what now? We let him kill her?'

'I don't think he will harm her, he wants her and the baby to get to you.' Lupin said in an attempt to calm Harry down.

'We wait,' Mr Weasley said, moving to sit next to Harry. 'we just need to wait for Severus to tell us what the next move is, and then we can act on it.' As he said 'we', he indicated the people in the office around Harry.

'And what do I do? Wait for everyone else to get killed trying to get Hermione back? I don't think so, I'm going to get her back and get rid of him. I'm sick of being told to sit and wait. I've waited for eight and a half months for him to make a move and he's not going to get what he wants!' Harry pushed himself roughly out of the chair, knocking it over as he went and made a quick beeline for the door.

Hermione was looking intently around the room. Most of the Death Eaters had spoken, but Hermione was looking for one in particular. If she knew he was there she would feel at little relieved. She counted three in her view that could be him, but she had no idea how many stood out of her sight.

So far, all Voldemort had done was circle her and make comments on how well she had done with carrying her baby, and how he had given her the opportunity of a lifetime. She found he always added 'even if it is going to end soon' at which the Death Eaters would laugh. He was waiting for something, wasting the time in anticipation of something happening. Waiting for labour to start.

Hermione sucked in a sharp breath; pain, shooting pain, ran through her stomach. This was the worst possible time for her to have a baby. She held the breath, hoping this was another false labour that she'd experienced a few times over the last three months. The pain subsided, she relaxed and realised that Voldemort and the Death Eaters had watched her the entire time.

Harry sat in the starry room, staring up at the glowing stars of the ceiling. His attempt to get out of Dumbledore's office had failed due to the fact that Dumbledore had locked it before Harry could get close enough, so instead he had turned and stormed up the stairs, out of sight, into the corridor.

His mind wasn't focusing on the ceiling or even on what Dumbledore and the others were talking about, but instead he wondered how he could get out to find Voldemort and Hermione.

He could very easily get out of the castle. There were many passages that he could use to escape, but the real challenge was getting out of Dumbledore's office without being seen. He took a deep breath and concentrated on getting out.

Harry pulled himself out of his seat quickly and marched to the door, yanked it open and stepped out into the corridor and towards Dumbledore's study. He paused at the door and could hear the voices of those he had left behind, only this time, one other voice was present.

'Snape.' Harry hissed through gritted teeth, before pushing the door open roughly. 'Where is she?' he demanded, staring Snape down, daring him to say 'still with Voldemort.' But Snape didn't say anything. Turning instead to Dumbledore, he continued with his report.

'...The death-eaters are constantly with her, it's almost impossible to get clo...' Snape stopped mid sentence as Harry repeated his question.

'Where... IS... Hermione!' he asked, making sure Snape didn't miss a word.

'I will do my best, Headmaster.' Snape said, and turned, heading to the door. Harry seized the opportunity and followed closely behind Snape.

'Tell me where Hermione is. I want to know where he's keeping her. Is he hurting her? What does he plan to do with her? When will you get your act together and bring her back here?'

'Would you mind shutting your mouth for five minutes, Potter? It's not enough that I have to listen to your insufferable whining in my class, but when I'm trying to do my job I don't have to listen.' Snape snapped, and continued to make his way out of the castle. Harry followed.

'I don't whine in class. I do my work, you pick on me, and well, now I'm picking on you and I'm not going to let up until you tell me where Voldemort is keeping Hermione.'

'DON'T SAY HIS NAME!' Snape shot roughly at Harry.

'VOLD-E-MORT!' Harry stretched the name as much as possible, then stared at Snape. 'Take me to him. Now.' Snape looked up over Harry's shoulder, but Harry didn't move. He knew this was a trick, and turning to look would lose him the chance to get to Hermione.

Over Harry's shoulder, Dumbledore stood at the front of a very large group of students and teachers all watching the exchange. Dumbledore gave Snape a tiny nod and turned to go back into the school. Looking back at Harry, Snape made the fastest possible move he could make. He grabbed Harry by the scruff of his robes and vanished, taking Harry with him.

*Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe, in and out* Hermione repeated these instructions in her head over and over, but she had no idea what she was doing. The pain was getting unbearable and the contractions closer together. *Just stay calm, you'll be okay* she added, as the contraction subsided.

'Right, Potter,' Snape said, standing in the midst of a dense forest. Over his shoulder, Harry could see a small building in a clearing, lights shinning through the windows. 'That house is where the Dark Lord is right now,' he said, pointing over his shoulder, 'and where he's keeping Hermione.' He paused and poked Harry in the shoulder as he carried on. 'You are not to move from this point until I have taken Hermione out of that house. If you do, she'll be the first to die.' Snape pushed on the last few words, making sure Harry understood and heard what he said.

'Why can't you just Apparate her out of the room?' Harry asked, wanting to get this over and done with.

'Because that house is like Hogwarts, no Apparating or Disapparating, so you had better wait.' Snape said, and disappeared with a snap. Harry crouched down and shifted closer to the house and waited.

'Untie her Wormtail, she should be comfortable for this.' Voldemort's cold breath was close to Hermione neck again. It caused her to shudder, and as Wormtail moved forward to untie her, she struggled, only to find Voldemort's cold hands on her shoulders. 'Now, now, would't want to hurt your child would you?' He let out a long cold laugh.

Behind her, the door opened, and the Death Eaters who had previously vacated the room re-entered, obviously having been told the time had come. Taking a deep breath, Hermione closed her eyes and focused on being somewhere else.

'My Lord.' Hermione's eyes flew open. That was a familiar voice, the one she had looked for previously. 'He is not letting the Potter boy leave.' Hermione's head relaxed back on her shoulders and she let out an exasperated sigh. 'I am unaware of any plans to retrieve her.' Snape's cold, slick voice echoed through the room and right through Hermione's ears. Was he lying? Was he telling the truth?

'Then you are a useless spy to me, Severus.' Voldemort's voice dripped with anger and Hermione could almost guess which direction this conversation was heading. 'So what am I supposed to do with a useless spy?'

'My Lord,' Snape begged, and out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw the Death Eater drop to his knees. 'He is purposely keeping me out of the loop. I believe he suspects I am your spy.' Hermione watched him furtively; his right hand was inching its way down through his jet-black robes and into his pocket.

In one swift movement that Hermione anticipated, Snape pulled his wand from his pocket and shouted a single word that she didn't catch. As he said it, Hermione slid quickly from the chair to the floor, another contraction pushing through her body. The need to push was evident for the first time, but panic forced her to hold back.

Snape grabbed her by the waist, pulled her sharply to her feet and guided her to the doorway. She couldn't see anything; the room had suddenly been filled with a thick black smoke. Out in the fresh air, Hermione collapsed to the ground, clutching her stomach, and looked up at him.

'Take this,' Snape said, holding out a long, thin object that he had produced from another pocket in his robes. She grabbed it and felt an all too familiar pulling behind her navel that could only mean the item was a Portkey. She was safe at last.

Harry had been waiting impatiently in the forest right where Snape had left him. He watched as a flash of light erupted behind the closed curtain in one room of the house. Snape appeared out in the open clutching a very pregnant woman that could only be Hermione. He was almost there when he caught Snape's eye and watched as he and Hermione vanished from view.

He stopped watching the spot where they had been, suddenly realising that if he stood there any longer, he would be dead!

He moved quickly to the door of the house and yanked it open. He was ready, he didn't know what for or what he was going to do, but he was ready anyway. Stepping in he could hear shouts of confusion from inside the room and saw thick black smoke sliding out from underneath the door. Hesitating only for a moment, Harry pulled the door open and was engulfed in the smoke. He felt a hand on his shoulder and heard the whispered words in his ear.

'Give no indication that I took Granger.' Snape had returned. After whispering these words he vanished into the thick of the room and whispered a Clearing Charm that none of the Death Eaters had been able to do properly.

With the smoke cleared, Harry could see the content of the room. Many Death Eaters were looking dazed and perplexed at what had just occurred. Snape stood a few feet from Voldemort, who stood by a single wooden chair in the centre of the room.

'WHERE IS SHE?' he bellowed, looking around at his followers. Harry saw this as an opportunity to make himself known. He took a deep breath and answered.

'I TOOK HER BACK!' Voldemort spun around so fast it made Harry dizzy to watch.

'Seize him!' Voldemort ordered, and every Death Eater in the room pulled out their wand and attempted to catch Harry with ropes. None of them were particularly smart, or quick. Harry had made his move across the room passing each Death Eater, stunning several, and vanished through the open door at the other end. He pulled it shut behind him and locked it.

*Think Harry, what do you need to do?* Truth was, Harry didn't have a clue what he was doing or going to do to end this. He only knew that he wasn't leaving here alive if Voldemort was still at large.

'HARRY!' Hermione was calling at the top of her voice. The pain of contractions was pushing through her body, demanding that this moment in time be over with, but Hermione didn't want it. She would wait for him.

Harry moved quickly through the house. He ducked into rooms, avoiding the Death Eaters as they searched for him. He was making his way back to the room he had started in. He knew that Voldemort hadn't left it and he intended to get there and kill him before anyone had the chance to kill him, first.

Pushing the door of the room open, he watched as a few followers disappeared hurriedly up the stairs and out of sight. Harry darted across the hallway and into the first room, just in time to see Wormtail hit the ground dead.

'Voldemort!' Harry growled, holding his wand firmly in his hand, pointed directly at the Dark Lord.

'Harry, what a pleasure to see you,' Voldemort said, pushing a grin onto his face as he turned to see the boy who was to be his end. 'And how is that girl of yours holding up, hmm? The loss of the baby not to hard on her?' he asked, chuckling as Harry's face slipped from determination to shock. 'You didn't take her from here did you, Harry?' Voldemort chuckled again, taking a step forward towards Harry. 'No, I didn't think so. Like you will end, your girlfriend will die from shame, torture and pure weakness, just... as... your parents did.' He stretched the last word out watching Harry's face carefully.

'My parents weren't weak. And neither is Hermione.' Harry said, pulling his head up high. 'And I won't be the one dying tonight,' he added through gritted teeth.

'Of course not,' Voldemort almost laugh aloud at Harry's boldness. 'but what do you plan to do to kill me? Poke me in the eye with a sausage?' He let out a loud booming laugh.

'I don't have a sausage.' Harry replied, moving slowly around the edge of the room so that his back was no longer to an open door. Voldemort chuckled.

'Accio wand.' Harry suddenly felt his hand empty and he spun around to see a hooded figure standing in the doorway he had previously vacated. Harry made a quick move, thinking fast. He moved back towards the door and out of the room, sliding between the Death Eater's legs to escape as Voldemort called out again.

'Give up Harry, you'll never leave here alive.' Harry darted through an open door, crossed the room and climbed unceremoniously into an open hatch. 'Your parents were easy targets.' Voldemort shouted, following Harry into the hallway. 'Waited in their house patiently for me, your father even unlocked the door for me.' Harry's anger was building; he could feel his face redden as he made his way backwards around the same tracks he had followed previously. 'Your mother was in your bedroom, Harry, she begged me to let you live, begged that she would do anything for me if I left you alone. HA, what a pointless exercise that was! She stood still and allowed me to end her life, one simple flick of the wand and she was one big ugly lump on your bedroom floor.'

Harry moved into a vacated room and thumped the wall, denting it slightly. He was stuck, trapped wandering around a house in the middle of nowhere, wand-less. He turned around, crossed the room and dented the wall there. He had to think of something quick before someone found him. *Click* The door of the room had closed. A hooded figure moved across the room, holding out its wand. He paused pushed his wand into Harry's chest and then lowered his hood.

'Take it,' Snape said. 'You have as much power as he does,' he added, giving Harry an encouraging smile. He then turned and moved back towards the door.

'Thanks,' Harry blurted out quickly.

'As for your girlfriend,' Voldemort had changed from his parents and now focused on Hermione, 'she was even easier. A fake letter to the guards at her place left her wide open. She was going to write you a letter - "Dear Harry,"' Voldemort put on a false high voice in mock of Hermione, '"oh how I love you, wish to be with you. I can't get you out of my mind."' He let out a cold laugh. 'I would have been interested to see what she would have written, but the opportunity to scare her was too much! She almost had a heart attack on the spot when she realised I was in her room. Now that was fun, wasn't it Severus?'

Harry heard Snape laugh and then continued on his journey around the house.

'She was so afraid of what I would do. She practically choked on the potion I fed her. And then she couldn't even keep awake long enough for one of my men to drop her in Hogsmeade! How weak she was then? She hasn't changed a bit, sitting in that chair, squirming in agony.' Harry paused. He had entered the room with the chair. He stood staring at it. 'And then I killed it, still inside her. I killed it, just like I was going to do to her and like I will to you.' He let out another cold, long laugh. It was at this point that Harry seized his chance, stepping into the doorway, pointing Snape's wand at Voldemort and shouting, without thinking,

'AVADA KEDAVARA!'

A bright, green light momentarily filled the room, followed by a deadening silence. Harry stood stunned. Had he done that? He looked at Snape, who looked just as shocked as he was, staring down at Voldemort, limp and dead on the floor. He had been facing the room with the chair when Harry had appeared in the doorway, but he hadn't been fast enough to react. Slowly, and with growing realisation the Death Eaters filled the hallway, muttering words of disbelief and anger that Harry had the ability to do such a thing.

Harry moved forward as the main door to the house opened. He pushed Voldemort's form with his foot: no movement. He jabbed him again. Nothing.

'Harry.' Harry turned slowly and looked up at Dumbledore. 'It's over Harry.' Harry looked back at Voldemort, expecting him to get up and fight back.

'I killed him!' Harry said in shock. 'I took him by surprise and killed him!' Looking back at Dumbledore, his face torn between shock, happiness and a little regret that he hadn't allowed his enemy the chance of a fair fight.

Harry looked around. Tonks, Remus, Moody and other members of the Order had arrived, including Fred and George Weasley, who stood shocked, looking at Voldemort while holding a Death Eater up by a cord attached to his ankle. He was dangling upside down, attempting to hold his robes up to cover his modesty.

'Come Potter, I think Granger will be waiting for you,' Snape said, guiding Harry from the house and handing him another Portkey before vanishing with him from the grounds.

'Push, Hermione, push.... That's it, one last big push.'

Hermione's head dropped back on the bed. It was over. She closed her eyes and lay still for just a moment. The pain in her stomach throbbed, her breathing was still ragged from the experience and she listened to the sounds around her, the small cry of a new born baby, the words of a nurse soothing the child, those still caring for the exhausted Hermione and two voices talking to her, her mother and Molly Weasley, both doing as they had done for the last nine months, telling her everything would be fine, and how beautiful her child was.

'It's a girl,' the Healer announced handing the bundle of blankets to its mother. 'She's beautiful.' She smiled. 'What are you going to call her?' she asked.

'Lily.' Hermione breathed. She didn't feel right, the pain in her stomach deepened and she felt drowsy and dizzy. Her arms dropped and someone made a grab for the newborn baby. Hermione didn't know whom, because at that point she passed out. The only thought on her mind was how she'd ended up in this situation. How did this happen?

Hermione opened her eyes warily; she could hear something, the cooing of a small baby, her baby. She moved to get up, but a sharp pain in her stomach made her stop and lie roughly back down, letting out a moan of pain as she did so.

'Hey.' Harry moved quickly from his seat to her side. He was cradling the baby in his arms, a look of pure delight on his face. Hermione reached out and pushed the cloth from her baby's face and Harry leaned the child down slightly so Hermione could see her. 'She's beautiful. She's got your eyes,' Harry said, smiling at Hermione. Their eyes met and Harry reached down and gave her a kiss on the lips. 'It's all over, Hermione. We're safe to bring her up without fear. He won't be back this time.' Harry said, and kissed her again.

'Aw, get a room!' Ron said, watching them. Harry and Hermione turned to see him and Ren standing in the doorway with a group of people that looked a lot like the whole of the student body, all the teachers and every member of the Order of the Phoenix, as well as several members of the Ministry. Everyone had come to congratulate them.

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