Chapter Eleven: Nobody's Hero
"Do you know what the definition of a hero is? Someone who gets other people killed. You can look it up later." Zoe Warren, "Serenity" (2005)
It had taken quite a bit of time. And a lot of magic on Harry's behalf, but her hospital wing was set up in what she hoped was a warm environment. She had worked so hard are trying to make something seem welcoming in the cold walls of Hogwarts.
Everyone had been doing the same. Trying to prepare the castle for the other children that would live in it. What children they did have in living in the dorms seemed to be growing more and more excited with each day. It was the light in their eyes that made the magic in the castle glow. Hogwarts was beginning to become what it was when she attended nearly five years ago.
Five years.... It seemed like a lifetime away now. It was a lifetime ago when she had first met little Harry Potter, the boy that she had only read about, only dreamed about, but never planned on befriending. But here she was, more than a decade later, and she found herself in love with that same boy. Only he wasn't a little boy anymore. It frightened her when she thought about how much he had grown up.
He had set up the wards around the castle, expanding them with the help of McGonagall and Mad-Eye. They both said that Harry did most of work, but he still accredited all of them. Much like how he said everyone else was doing all the work, when really, they could not have done any of what they had done without him.
Harry was the one who had made sure they rebuilt the castle. He was the one that had put this idea of expanding the wards and defense of the castle in everyone's heads. He did something to make the orphans smile again, to make them laugh again. He made them all laugh again.
The sigh that escaped could not be helped. She felt too happy for words, and too content for just a smile. She would settle for a sigh.
"You ready for the meeting?" His voice asked. She turned around to see him walking toward her, a large smile on his face.
"I've done what I could for the day," she said. "I hope to practice some more spells when I get back today."
"Any type in particular?" Harry said, motioning for them to walk toward their meeting room, conveniently the room where he would be teaching.
"I'm thinking about conjuring spirits or a small elemental," Hermione said. Harry looked at her for a moment before chuckling.
"Just be careful, I don't want to have to fix the hospital wing like I did last time," Harry said. She glared at him, remembering when she had summoned the gusts of wind while practicing her other magic. The wind had tossed her into the wall. Taking the breath she held with it, the fury of the wind did not diminish, rather it grew. The elemental could have killed her but Harry had popped it and simply dispelled the wind then healed her. He never said anything about her not practicing or being careful. He just smiled and held her close. That made her feel better then if he had said anything at all. Especially since he seemed to now know if she needed his help or if she could handle it on her own.
She didn't say anything but took his hand as they walked. She began to talk about how she had been practicing her healing abilities with mana. There had been a few children who had been hurt over while playing outside, something that they would have never been able to do had Harry not cleaned it up. She had managed to fix the scrapes and cuts rather easy, easier than it would have been using her wand. Now all she had to do was place her hand over the small wound, and concentrate on the purity of her plains. A flash of light, and the child was healed. She had worked her way up to major burns and broken bones. While it took more energy to do those, almost all of it, she felt it was worth it as an alternative to other magical healing.
"Ah, looks like everyone is here," Harry said, holding the door open for Hermione. Everyone was here, or at least the ones that Harry wanted. Despite her best efforts, Hermione was unable to persuade Harry to let her parents in. He seemed to think he was in for another argument, but she let it go. If Harry thought it was to keep then safe, then she had to trust his judgment. He had kept them safe long enough, he could keep them safe a little longer.
Harry had revamped the Order greatly. He had separated people according to their talents and their contributions to the Order. The Weasleys now sat separated, with Mrs Weasley by her husband, and some of the other professors. The twins were sitting with Mad-Eye, talking over some plan of their. Neville had returned to working with Hogsmeade after a few weeks, helping what people that lived their adjust to the changes in the wards and rebuilding. Charlie was talking with Mr. Weasley about something. Hermione didn't know what, and Harry wouldn't tell her too much.
McGonagall and Flitwick were talking about one thing or another, it had to be about the school reopening. Hagrid had been out and about, attending to the garden that he and Harry had managed to make cover almost an acre. How the giant took such gentle care of the vegetables still amazed her. Tonks and Lupin were talking in hushed tones. Lupin had yet to forgive Harry, but for what, she did not know. All she knew was that Harry had taken to ignoring the older man until the apology came. She'd get the answer out of Harry eventually.
Only three people were missing, Bill, Fleur and Snape. Snape for obvious reasons; the man was still not well like or even trusted. Which seemed to work fine for both Snape and the Order. Harry let him work on restoring their potions stores while the Order got down to more important things. Like rebuilding the school. Harry and Bill had spoken once before the meeting, and had come to an agreement. Bill and Fleur were in the Order still, but he had them protecting what he believed to be "the most important thing of all." Harry had gotten a long makeout session out of that one.
Hermione gave Harry a smile as he helped her into her seat, next to Luna. Luna and Ron were talking about something she had never heard of, and from the look on Ron's face, neither had he. But he was smiling. That was more than he had really done in the last five years. She spotted Ginny, sitting behind her mother, keeping her head low and trying not to make any eye contact. The two of them began to talk through everything, and Hermione felt ready to accept the younger girls apology. Ginny finally seemed to grow up, but still, Hermione did not know if Ginny felt sorry over her loss of Harry or if it wasn't something deeper that pushed Ginny to do what her did.
"Thank you for all coming," Harry said. He waved his wand, making a table appear in front of them. It was a large round table, and those that did not have seats found themselves with small platform to write on, like from a classroom auditorium. "I'd like to begin with a quick overview of what we've got done so far. We're all on different parts of projects we've been working on and I figured it would a good thing for us to all get on the same page.
"The wards are almost completed," Harry said, giving Mad-eye and the twins a nod. "We will be expanding the final hundred meters within the next week. By then I hope we will have at least three kilometers into the Forbidden Forest, and nearly a kilometer past Hogsmeade." Neville nodded at this. He no longer was the clumsy slightly chubby boy that Hermione remembered from their school years. He had grown into a stronger frame of a man, yet there still was doubt in his eyes when he acted. "Once that is done we will need owls to send out word to as many people as we can, offering them sanctuary here, at Hogwarts.
"We've been cut off from the rest of the world for too long," Harry said. "I'll be contacting what is left of the Ministry shortly myself. They will know me as Fawkes, you will address me as Fawkes." His eyes moved around the room, glaring at them with a fire of knowledge.
"But why? Why not Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked. He looked at her, surprised at the question. Mrs. Weasley had grown to expect answers from everyone. Harry never gave direct ones unless he felt otherwise. Not anymore at least.
"Because I said so, is that enough of an answer for you?" Harry said. "If I felt like you needed to know I would tell you. But you don't, so you don't need to know." He looked at them again. "Now, as I was saying, you will address me as Fawkes or Professor Fawkes. But that will be done within the next month.
"The castle is almost completely refurnished and rebuilt." Hermione could not help but look over at McGonagall and Flitwick. Both wore smiles, however, the cost was evident in their eyes. "I'm hoping to get owls out to any and everyone we can to let them know we're opening up. I think the Headmistress should handle this." The smile grew on McGonagall's face. Hermione knew that McGonagall had thought Harry was out to take over Hogwarts, the home that she must have know for over forty years. But Hermione knew her Harry well enough that he needed to learn how to teach, and to lean on others from time to time. While he probably could handle the Order, she knew he was not ready to tackle the chores of handling the school.
"Now we have more important things to go over." He waved his hand, a three dimensional map appearing over the table. "We will be attacking here, here and here." Three places lit up right on the green map. Hermione had to smile as she watched everyone around her explode. Harry had a certain way of getting his point across, and she could not help but marvel at how well he control the chaos around him. With another wave of his hand, the torches surrounding them burst into flames.
He gave her a smirk, and then had the gall to send a wave, as they had gotten to calling it, through her. She shivered as she rode the wave, only glaring at him when it was over. He had gotten really good at that.
"Are you all going to sit down and act like adults, or am I going to have to put you in time out?" Harry asked. Hermione would have laughed at any other time. She could feel his laughter through their bond, but knew that everyone else thought he was serious. "We will attack all three of these place simultaneously. Mad-eye, will be leading a army regiment with the twins, Neville and Charlie, to attack here." One of the marks flared blue on the map. "General Jacobson will lead the rest of the army here." A spot flared yellow. "The remaining area, will be taken down by myself, Ron, Hermione, and Lupin. That is it. Any questions?" Hermione felt too stunned to ask any. He had kept all this hidden from her? How? She had been practicing, touching his mind, melding with it. How did he keep this from her?
"Why are we doing this?" Charlie managed to get out first.
"Why else?" Mad-eye said. "Hit them hard and hit them fast. Bout time we struck back at them."
"By hitting them at separate locations, we will confuse their tactical responses," Ron said. Hermione was finally beginning to wrap her mind around the situation and had to agree with him. "With any luck we can deal some massive blows before they can do much damage to us."
"Which is why the remainder of you will be staying," Harry said. Hermione held in her sigh of relief, he knew better now then to just leave her on the side. "I need you here to ensure the safety of our injured."
"Why isn't Hermione staying then? Isn't she our Healer?" Mrs. Weasley asked. While she did not like the tone of the voice the Weasley matriarch used, Hermione did agree with the woman on that point. But she was not going to complain about being placed on the field. Harry had taught her enough to handle just about any thing, and she thought he was working with Ron in the same aspects.
"I chose the team to accompany because I trusted them," Harry said, pointing to Hermione and then Ron. "And Lupin needs to learn to trust me." Hermione looked at Harry for a moment before looking at Lupin. Harry wasn't comfortable with saying that last part, she could feel his discomfort and embarrassment, but she knew he had to say it. Lupin had to know that he had lost Harry's trust. Lupin however did not look to happy at this.
"Harry is the leader of the Order, and as the leader, you should respect his commands." Hermione said She looked at everyone at table. While they may not respond to Harry's glare, she knew they would respond to hers. The joy she felt knowing her "mad/angry" look still worked, even after five years on the shelf.
"Thank you Hermione," Harry said. "As I was saying." He waved his hand again, the map focusing in on red flare this time. She had to guess the area was on the continent, probably near the Mediterranean Sea, judging by the sea near the edge of the map. Or at least, it looked like a sea on the large map. "Here is where the most important attack will be initiated. I am leading a group here for a specific reason."
"A Horocrux?" Tonks asked. Harry had filled everyone in on the Horocruxes privately. He had taken the aside, one by one, telling them that if anyone outside the Order learned it from that person, they would find no mercy from him.
"No," Harry said. He waved his hand again, the map focusing in on what looked like Egyptian buildings, with the pyramids in the background. "In my travels abroad, I watched as a man that looked like Riddle enter this place, only to leave rather soon after. Not enough time to place a Horocrux or to do much damage. But he did leave something there. A message on the wall. I don't know, I couldn't get in."
"What makes you think we can?" Lupin said. Hermione, while wanting to glare at him, did agree with Lupin. What made Harry think that they could get through wards, if those were what stopped him?
"Between the four of us, I bet we can get in," Harry said. "I didn't know at the time what I know now, and now I bet we know enough to get through it."
"When are we going to attack?" Mad-Eye asked.
"All Hallow's Eve," Harry said. He waved his hand again, making the map disappear. He really needed to tell her how he kept doing these wandless acts of magic. "Its time that Riddle learns to hate that date as much as I do." With that Harry left them, Hermione watched as the little boy walked away from them. The same little boy that she knew who refused to grow up, yet had to anyway. Way too fast.
I0I
Harry sat in his office, idly flipping through a journal he had kept. He could remember everything, but it was a mediation process the monastery had taught him. He might let Hermione read them before he burned them. The less people knew about his past, the less pity he could get from them. Hermione however seemed to make it a goal of hers to know everything and anything he did in the past. He thought himself lucky to get away with telling her what really had happened to his daughter. The thought still made him shudder.
Setting down his book, he felt a rush of magic pass through him. With a smile, he popped over to the Hospital wing. It was time. He had heard the call several hours earlier, and had popped over to see Hermione prepare Fleur. He had told Hermione to call him when the contractions started to get closer and more painful. Such was the reason for his call.
"We ready?" He said with a smile. The three other people in the room jumped. Hermione had already set Fleur up on the bed, Bill by her side. He felt magic in the air, again, much like the magic that he had felt the first time he had met the child. Where did this evil come from?
"Everything alright?" Harry asked, moving around to the front of the bed. Pushing the sheets over her knee's he ignored the looks of both Bill and Hermione. He had done this both, he had already told them that. "Bill, was Fleur hit with a curse during the first attack?" Bill and Fleur shared a look before he nodded. "Hermione, I need you to get me a large base of cool water and a rag. Do you remember what the curse was?"
"No, but the field medic said it would have no lasting effect," Bill said, looking confused. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing I can't fix it," Harry said, letting his eyes slip out of focus so he could try and see the magic. He hadn't done that since he was looking for Hermione, and although he knew he could, his coordination failed him at times in this state. I hope. "Hermione, I'm going to need you to cancel all of the spells."
"What? Why? What about-?"
"Hermione! Just do it!" He snapped. He could see the tentacle of black wrapping around Fleur's stomach. Fleur's panting increased and he vaguely heard Bill moan as she must have tightened up her grip. She relaxed, the contraction passing. The tentacle tightened its grip around her stomach, but she did not notice. "Fleur, I'm going to need you to tell me when contraction hits."
"Harry what's going on?" Hermione said. The rest of the spells were gone. That only made the problem easier to spot, but no worse to fight.
"I don't know, but I'm going to try and fix this," Harry said. He placed his right hand on her stomach, watching as his were wrapped in black.
Taking a deep breath, he let the fire inside flood the room. It touched not a soul, but he let it surround Fleur. Let it surround her stomach and her child. He heard them yelling at him, Hermione? He pushed himself further. He felt the fire becoming one with the black tentacles. Any moment, now...any moment.
Fleur's breath picked up and he felt the tentacles loosen. He couldn't move, not yet. "'arry?" There, that time it was Fleur's voice.
With a primal roar, he tried to tear his arms away from Fleur's stomach. He felt the burning finally hit his arms, his chest, his heart. He was not going to let this child die. Pulling against her stomach once again, Harry felt the sudden resistance of the black. He had to stop as the tentacles tightened. Letting his eyes go back in focus, he knew they could not see what he had.
"How we doing Fleur?" Harry asked. The sweat running down his face stung as it entered his eyes. He felt a cloth placed against his forehead, wiping away the sweat. "I meant to use that on Fleur."
"Well, what you mean, and what happens are two different things," Hermione said, wringing out the cloth in another bowl. "Now, you going to tell us what's going on, or am I going to have to beat it out of you?" Harry tried to smile, but cringed as the tentacles tightened against his hands.
"The curse, it did something to your soul Fleur, I'm going to remove it," Harry said, cringing once again.
"Will it 'urt?" Fleur asked. Harry looked at her for a moment, before smiling at her.
"It won't hurt you at all," Harry said. "We've got a few minutes, so I'm going to try and explain what happened." He really was just talking to himself to make sure they could not see the pain that was going through him. He needed them to see him as a strong man. He had never been anything but. Even to his daughter, and granddaughter, rest their souls.
"You better explain Potter," Hermione said, gathering some more materials. She was preparing for the birth. He hadn't the heart to tell then yet that it needed to be done without magic, otherwise it might kill the baby. He'd take control again.
"My pleasure love," Harry said. "The curse is designed to slowly siphon off the energy from the host into itself. Its a parasite. The kind that I've only seen cast by other mages." Harry gave Hermione a pointed look at this. I mean us. She nodded after a moment of surprise. She obviously wasn't expecting to hear thoughts yet. "On pregnancy, the effect of the curse only magnifies. Because now it can effect not one life, but two. As the contractions hit though, the infant fights back, natural with his or her own will. Marvelous thing it is the survival reflex. The child will fight right to the death, taking the curse with it, just to save his or her mother." He stopped at this, pausing to think over everything that had happened. "It should have been gone, your son. It should have been gone." Before he could tell them what he had wanted to say, he felt the current of pain ripple through Fleur and into him. He let his eyes slid out of focus to see his work.
"ARRGH!" He screamed. It was unlike anything he had every felt before. The fire burned down his back, down his arms and onto his hands. Gripping tightly to the black wraps, he pulled. With another scream, he felt the fire flood from his hands onto Fleur's stomach. He felt Fleur's scream; he knew he was causing her no pain, but the curse was fighting back. He was thankful for the reprieve as the tentacles tightened once more.
"Is this going to work?" Bill asked. Harry looked up, his breathing heavy.
"It will," Harry said. Fleur's eyes were pained, not of the physical world. "Hermione. Next time a contraction hits, collect me tears."
"What?" He turned toward her, trying to take Fleur's pain into his body. "Harry?" Her concern rippled through him, and all he wanted to do was hold her close. Nodding once, he turned back to Fleur.
"I swear, on everything I have, on every fiber of my body, your child will live," Harry said. He didn't know how long he stared at her, but when the moment passed he knew he had one last chance. "Fleur, I want you to place your hands above mine. Don't touch them, but like we did back in your room, remember that?" She nodded, the fear growing to the surface. He stood his ground, he was the mountain, unmoving, unwilling to let go of those he protected. "Bill, place your hands over hers, but do not touch mine. Whatever you do, do not touch mine." He vaguely saw him do as he asked. He barely heard Bill asking Hermione what was going on. He never heard Hermione reply, or felt her wrap her arms around Harry's waist.
His eyes saw the magic, now as colors. The green of Fleur and white of Bill were outside his own fiery hands wrapped in black. The child held a brighter color all together, much like a green and white paint before it completely mixed together. He felt his fires grow, burning brighter as he stared into Fleur's magic. He could see her Veela blood flowing through her, in the green flashes here and there.
Time had stopped for him. It did not matter anymore what time was what. It didn't matter how long the contraction was or if it passed. What matter was what he could do.
The squirming of the tentacles were beginning to worm into his hands. His fire could not stop them. It never could stop the darkness on its own. He let the fires go deeper in Fleur, touching the baby's magic much like he had before.
The baby had so much potential. Harry wanted to turn his eyes away, he wanted to avert them from magic he knew that could grow from within that child. But he couldn't. He couldn't quit.
I believe in you Harry. He felt the tightening around his stomach grow and move around to his shoulders. You can do this. Believe in yourself. He could feel the magic Hermione had seep into his body, as the blues and pearly whites she had stretched down his arms. He wanted to look back at her, to kiss her. But he couldn't. He couldn't quit.
Guiding Hermione's magic into Fleur's unborn child, he stretched his out, past the black curse. He felt the pain rush through him, but he pushed on, he had to push on.
The mountains came back to him. He could see them again. He could see them growing into the clouds, stealing the sky away from the blues and the birds. The glory of the mountains wasn't in how much destruction they held within their depths, but within the bursts of passion that each fire, every goblin and dragon held. It was the same passion he had found on the plains. But there, where the plains stretched to beyond and then farther, he could see the passion with the community and within their swift need for self-respect. Closing his eyes, he no longer just saw the plains and the mountains of his mind. He became them.
He would not quit.
He had the strength of the mountains, and the life of the plains at his hands. His fires of passion would not lose this child. But he had to let them go. He knew he could not save them all.
So, Harry let go of his control.
He let go of control over the fires that were held in the mountains. He let go of the strength and solidarity of the plains. He let go of the passion he held. He let go of his fear. And as the tears fell down his face, he gave one final push. Not to rip the curse off of the baby, off of Fleur. But to get through the blackened walls the curse had built.
Harry felt his magic flare, he felt his magic grow. It had been a long time since he had a chance to practice, and to let his magic grow. It did naturally over time, but rarely did he ever stretch his magic like he had now. Rarely, did he burn with a sun's fury. As it did though, his fire burned beyond just flame. It joined the light of the plains. He became the light of passion and righteousness.
With a final burst of energy, he pushed through the tentacles. He reached the magic both Fleur and Bill had. Wrapping his own magic within theirs, Harry drew his magic back into his body. He felt Hermione draw her magic back, taking the child's with hers. He felt her draw his magic back through him. He felt many things that mattered, and many things that didn't. As the baby's magic touched the parents, there was too much good for the curse to take.
With a final tug, he withdrew his hands. He felt Hermione bring something up to beneath his eyes. He watched the parents hold their child, tears free falling down their cheeks.
"We have another hour," Harry said after he found his found. "To be safe, we're not going to be using any magical means during the birthing process beyond checking on your vitals and that of the child." Hermione removed herself from around him, holding a vial of his tears.
"What do you want me to do with these?" She asked, holding them reverently. He smiled at her for a moment, holding onto the end of the bed to stay standing. He needed to sit, for a while, at least a bit before the baby came.
"Fleur, Bill, I need you to remove your hands for a moment," Harry said. He motioned with his head to Hermione. Closing his eyes, he could not stop the flinch that hit him as they gasped. They could see the burns now along the side of her stomach. The burns had formed vaguely where his hands had been. As Hermione poured half of the vial, steam flowed off her sides. By the time she had poured the other half on, the first side was healed.
"You feeling better now Fleur?" Harry asked.
"Yes, zank you 'Arry," she said. He held back his smile as her eyes never left Bill's, or Bill's hers.
"We'll leave you two along for a bit, we have some things we still need to prepare," Hermione said. He let her drag him to the other side of the room before nearly throwing him into a chair. Sitting down in his lap, he barely registered her wrapping her arms around his neck. The feeling rolling off her was something completely different. "You're going to tell me exactly what we did. Right now, you have more important things to do."
"Like what?" Harry asked. It was his last conscious thought for a while as she stole his breath. He felt his calm center returning, like how he felt when Hermione pushed her magic into him.
"Harry, what's going on?" Hermione pulled away, and he let out a groan. Why did the good things have to get interrupted?
Ron and what looked like to be the rest of the Weasleys were standing just inside the doorway of the Hospital wing. Apparently Hermione had dragged him in that direction. Who knew?
"What's going on in here?" Molly asked again.
"Before you interrupted? I was making out with my girlfriend," Harry said, standing up from the chair. He chanced a glance over at the awaiting parents. There were no more feelings of distress, relief if anything. He glared back at the matriarch. "If you were needed you would have been told. For now, leave us be."
"We have a right to be here," Molly said. "That's our son."
"And that's his wife on that hospital bed," Harry said, looking back at the two of them. "Now that we've established that, why did you come down here?" Hermione kissed his check before glaring at Molly and heading toward Fleur and Bill.
"We're here to seem Bill," Molly said again.
"And there is nothing wrong with him, so have a nice day," Harry said. He turned away, walking toward Fleur.
"We're just about ready?" Harry said, stepping beside Hermione. She had finished her diagnostics, nothing seemed to be wrong. Any more. "The birth is going to be natural." He knew that many mothers insisted on the pain medication, but in this scenario he just could not risk giving her anything.
"I wouldn't 'ave it any other way." Fleur said, smiling as she began to pant. "'Ow much longer?"
"A few minutes, then we'll start having you push," Harry said. He moved Fleur's legs apart, pulling the bed sheet up to make a tent. "The crowning will begin shortly."
"What? What's going on here?" Molly had dragged her family with her, clearly disregarding his order.
"Molly, we are under a strict time line here, I need you to leave." He walked around the bed to the nightstand, washing his hands in a basin Hermione had left there.
"Not until you tell me what's going on," she said.
"Mother, I want you to leave now," Bill said, looking up from Fleur. "You caused too many problems last time, and I'm not letting that happen again." Molly looked taken back by his statement, but Harry knew she was gearing for a fight. He was just surprised who stepped in to stop her.
"Molly, your children 'ave grown up," Fleur said. Bill and Hermione took her hands, letting her squeeze them as she panted her way through her words. "Its time to let zem go." Molly stumbled backward into the arms of her sons. She looked like she had been slapped, which Harry through might not have been that bad of an idea right about now. "Zey need to live zeir own lives, not 'ave you live it for zem." Fleur let out a scream her face contorting as a contraction hit her.
"I'm going to tell you to leave. Now," Harry said, he quickly put on the gloves and moved around in front of Fleur. The head was beginning to come out of her. The child had come down the right way, he didn't have to worry about that at least. "Fleur, don't push, not yet. Bill, help her with her breathing." The infant was coming out slowly, and the scream from Fleur told him that he needed to hurry it along. He would not risk the magic yet. He did not know if the child had any traces the curse left. He'd only be able to tell after checking the infant. "You're doing great Fleur."
Looking up from her, he could still see the Weasleys standing, looking dumbstruck as Fleur gave birth. "Ron, Arthur, someone, get your family out of here." That appeared to do the trick as both Arthur and Ron took to moving their family out of the wing. He couldn't have the distractions that Molly kept causing.
Once back on the task at hand, Harry could see more of the head coming out. Placing his hand underneath the infant's head, Harry looked up at Hermione. She had been casting diagnostic spells for quite some time, checking on both Fleur and her child. He felt a slight concern over their bond. He caught her eye and motioned for her to let him see the results. As she floated them over to him, he could see that the heart rate of the child had decreased at little. Not too much, but he needed to keep an eye on it.
A few more minutes passed, and now the head was almost clear, and one shoulder. "Don't push yet, Fleur, I know you want to but the head is too soft. Just keep panting, and I'll let you know when you can push." Then he saw the umbilical cord, tight around the baby's neck like a blue-gray serpent, choking the life away. His fingers were too thick and clumsy to dislodge it. He did not want the parents to worry, and Hermione could sense it over their bond. He shook his head, letting her know that there was nothing that she could do. How he wished that they could speak to each other through the bond by now?
Fear touched him then. While he had delivered babies before, only twice he had seen this happen, and then he wasn't the acting doctor on duty. He only watched. The first time the surgeon had cut the cord. The child had lived but the woman had died, for the afterbirth had not come away cleanly, remaining inside to rot and poison the blood. That was not an option for him. The second time the cord had effectively strangled the infant. "Don't push Fleur. Not yet."
"It 'urts," she said through tears. Harry could hear Bill comforting her, but fear was in his voice as well. Taking a deep breath, Harry supported the head of the infant with his left hand, then, as gently as he could, eased the little finger of his right hand under the cord. Twice it slipped back into place, but the third time he hooked it, drawing it carefully over the head.
He let out a breath, and smiled up at Fleur. "You may push now, everything is okay." As if letting the dam fell, Fleur grunted and the baby slid into Harry's hands. The babe's face and body were covered in grease and blood. Swiftly, Harry tied the umbilical cord off, then cut it. He could not see any damage to the child as his eyes shifted for him to see magic. The curse did not hurt him, thankfully. "This will just take a moment." Harry said, motioning for Hermione to follow him. She was getting rid of the placenta and the rest of the fluid, quickly cleaning Fleur up to ensure no infections would occur. "We're going to clean him up for you."
"'Im?" Fleur said a glow of joy covering her face. Harry nodded, before walking over to a small cart that Hermione had set up.
With a blanket, he began to wipe away all of the blood and amniotic fluid, then cleared the air passage way with a simple flick of his wrist, vanishing the fluid in there. Child's cries slowly began to fill the air. He then began to check the arms and legs. While they looked a little blue, he wasn't making assumptions until the one minute mark. "Apgar test?" Hermione asked as she came up beside him holding a blue blanket. He smiled at her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before checking the child once more.
"1 on appearance, a little blue. Heart rate seems fine now, 2. Grimace and Activity ,one." As the cries punctured the air, he could not help but stare at Hermione's smile. "Two for respiratory effort."
"7, not great, but not too bad," Harry said. He continued to move the baby's feet and arms, and began to feel some resistance. As the little boy began to move slightly, and Harry knew he was cold, but it was only a few more minutes. As Harry continued to move the boy's little legs and arms, watching as the circulation improved to a healthy pink state. The child gripped his fingers, crying out as he moved around on the table.
"Everything okay?" Harry turned toward Bill. Looking at Hermione, and checking his watch, he mouthed 9. She nodded, giving him a smile. With a quick flourish, Harry had wrapped the little boy with a blond tuft of hair into a blanket. Handing him to the father, Harry directed Bill back to his wife.
"Everything is perfect," Harry said, as Bill sat next to Fleur. She took the crying child into her arms, rocking him gently. Harry was still amazed as bond between a mother and her child. Or the father and his child. This was now his twenty third birth, and how the child could just stare at his mother, so calm and feel the love rolling off of his parents was amazing.
"You'll have your chance one day," Hermione said, wrapping her arm around his waist. Harry had raised a child, but he had never been apart of the birth of his own. He wanted nothing more than to be normal, and that to him signified a normal family. Bill, Fleur and their son were a normal family. He smiled at her as she reached up to wipe the tears off his cheeks. "I'll make sure of it." Her blush was evident on her face as she leaned up to kiss him.
"Harry, Hermione, come over here for a moment," Bill said. Harry looked up from Hermione over to the family and felt a little uncomfortable invading on a private moment. Hermione wasn't going to let him though; she pulled him toward the bed and sat next to Fleur so she could look at the baby. "Met Jonathon Arthur Weasley." Harry stepped beside Hermione, his arm around her shoulder.
"He's so cute," Hermione said as Fleur rocked her son. Fleur had yet to take her eyes off of him, and Harry honestly did not blame her. The child had gone through a lot to be born. So did Fleur. Now that it was over, it must be a little slice of heaven for Fleur and Bill.
"We wanted to ask you a question," Bill said. Fleur finally looked up at Bill first then turned to look at Harry and Hermione.
"We want you to be ze godparents," Fleur said. Hermione squealed and nodded, a smile plastered across her face. Harry however, didn't know how to feel.
"Are you sure? I mean, wouldn't you rather want one of your brothers?" Harry asked. Bill shook his head, his eyes turning back down to Fleur.
"We talked about it, and we know that we'd rather have no one else teach our son how to live if we should..." His voice trailed off here.
"Bill, nothing will take you away from your son," Harry started.
"Even you can't guarantee that," Bill said with a chuckle. "Besides, you have been more of a family member to me than some of my brothers. I trust you Harry, we trust you." Looking down at the child, had he wanted to cry, he would have. Now more than ever did the pain of his daughter's death hit him. And now more than ever, did he knew what he was fighting for.
I0I
Hermione didn't know which surprised her more: Harry curing Jonathon like he had or him crying at the end. Between his strengths and his emotions, Harry truly was the man of her dreams. He wasn't afraid to stand up to her, but he never forced her to do something she didn't want to do. While she wasn't ready to take her relationship to the next level and getting into bed with him, she did know that it would be him that she let take her virginity.
It was only an hour ago that she had cleared out the Hospital wing of all of the Weasleys. Harry had let them in after the new family had a few minutes to themselves. Harry had stood off to the side, watching the interactions of the Weasleys. Hermione would have put money on him not even speaking, even as Mrs. Weasley walked up to him.
The woman had tried to apologize. She kept saying that she had only done what was right for her family. Hermione truly believed that if she was not there, then Harry would have done something he would have regretted. Instead, Harry said the one thing that probably hurt Mrs. Weasley the most. "My family is dead." He turned and walked out of the hospital wing, and she really hadn't seen him since.
Harry's words didn't settle well with Hermione. Did he not consider her a part of his family? The international man of mystery was what Harry was. He brought so many questions onto himself, yet he refused to answer any of them. Except on his terms. Not anymore though.
She had finished cleaning up the hospital wing now, and had sent Bill and Fleur on their way with what supplies that she could. All that was left for her to do was find Harry. Know him, he was holed up in either his office or on top of the Astronomy tower. But with the way he left, she knew he probably didn't want company.
Love? She tried to send. All she got was silence. She could feel him through their bond, but that was it. Wrapping her arms around her chest, she headed back toward her office. Grim had decided to follow her there, instead of staying with Harry. The mutt had decided to really take care of her, much like Harry had told him to. Sitting down on her bed, she took the moment to relax. She tried again. Love, please, let me in. Leaning back against the bed, she let out a breath. That had been a lot harder than she had thought. Hermione would have to practice quite a bit to get to the leave where they could speak easily without this draining her.
I'm sorry. Harry sent back to her. She shuddered as her emotions caught the wave of his. I'm at the kitchen if you want to find me.
Hermione shook her head before getting up. Her want to rest was outweighed at the moment by her want to work through this problem with Harry. Heading toward the kitchen, she grew curious as to why he was done there. After the attack on Hogwarts, the kitchen's closed up. The house elves disappeared and it was up to them to take care of the castle. People finally began to appreciate the work that the house elves did.
"Harry, we need to talk," Hermione said, coming up to his side. He nodded, staring at the picture of fruit.
"So, the kitchen just closed?" He asked, looking back at her.
"Yeah, why did you leave so suddenly after the birth," Hermione asked. He shrugged his shoulders, but she felt the answer he was hiding.
"You never tried to get in?" Harry asked.
"We did, it just never worked." Hermione moved in front of him. He wasn't looking at her, still the damn picture. "HARRY JAMES POTTER!" His eyes snapped down toward her and she could see the little fear in them. "Now, what's wrong?" She reached up, touching his cheek.
"Do I deserve a family?" Harry asked. He didn't wait for the answer before reaching over and tickling the pear. The portrait creaked open, dust falling onto the ground and onto them. "Why didn't anyone try that?" He didn't want for an answer and pushed the portrait out further and stepped inside. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Hermione stomped her way in after him.
"Harry Potter, you will stop this instant," she said as she entered. He did as she asked, whether because he was afraid of her or what he saw, she didn't know. She knew she stopped because of what she saw.
All the lights were off, dust covered every inch of the once impressive kitchen. The only light came from a iron belly stove, its front open to let a great deal of heat into the room. The small shape of something moving was in front of the fire startled her slightly. She had thought the house elves had all disappeared after the attack.
"Hey Dobby," Harry said as he crunched next to the figure.
"Is that you, Harry Potter sir?" The figure sat up and Hermione finally gathered the courage to take a step closer.
Dobby sat in a rocking chair, moving slowly. Hermione bit down on her tongue as she stared at the shell of the former exuberant elf. His eyes were closed and there looked like there was a scar running along his face. But his movements were even slower, as if he had aged a hundred years or so.
"You can back for Dobby?" Harry lifted the small elf off of the chair and into his lap. Harry nodded; he was not going to cry, that was not his way, unless he let his walls down. But the pain on Harry's face told Hermione all she needed to know. Something had gone wrong, and Harry blamed himself for it.
"Of course Dobby, I'm sorry it took so long," Harry said,. "I thought I'd be able to come back after the summer was over." Dobby's eyelids opened, and Hermione held back a gasp. His eyes were white, blank. Who had done this to him?
"Its okay, Harry Potter sir," Dobby said in a staggered breath. He coughed once, and it seemed to pain Harry even more. "Dobby forgive you." Harry nodded and if anything, pull Dobby closer to his chest. Hermione knelt next to them. Wrapping her arms around both of them, she did nothing to stop her tears. "Will Harry Potter sir honor Dobby's wish?"
"Dobby, it would be my honor," Harry said. Hermione looked up from Dobby's sad eyes to Harry's before back down at Dobby again. "I, Lord Harry Potter-Black, do take Dobby into my service." Had the rush of magic not surround them, Hermione would have slapped Harry. Magic that Dobby seemed to draw upon took away the aged look, took away the sadness in his blank eyes, bringing back the color to Dobby's as well. She watched as the magic stole the scar from Dobby's face, and the tired smile grew into the high-spirited one that Dobby used to wear.
"Thank you, thank you, Harry Potter sir, Dobby will do his best to make Harry Potter sir proud of Dobby," Dobby said, jumping up and out of Harry's arms. Wrapping her arms around his waist, Hermione smiled onto his shoulder as she nuzzled against it.
"You already made me proud," Harry said. Dobby stopped moving at this, tears welling in his eyes. "You saved my life Dobby. That makes you my hero."
"Dobby Harry Potter sir's hero?" He asked, still slightly shaken by Harry's words.
"If you saved my Harry's life, that makes you my hero too," Hermione said. Harry smiled at her before pulling her around so she could sit next to him instead of behind him. She felt a warmth spread through her as Harry's feelings spread over their bond.
"Dobby is Harry's Minnie's hero too?" Dobby asked. She felt her cheeks warming at the name Dobby had given her, but nodded nonetheless. "Dobby will do anything Harry's Minnie asks Dobby." He was now bouncing on the balls of his feet. Hermione leaned over to kiss on his on the head, causing a bright blush to spread across Dobby's face. It did also stop him from bouncing up and down.
"If you wanted to, you could start by gathering what elves you can to work at Hogwarts again," Harry said. Dobby nodded excitedly, his body bouncing up and down with his movement. With a 'pop" the elf had disappeared, heading off to start on Harry's order. Hermione frown at the thought. She didn't like slavery, even if the person wanted to be a slave. "Its not slavery unless the "master" makes it so. I have no intention of ruling over Dobby. He works for me, and he's still being paid, just now, we are bonded, in a way at least." Hermione looked at him for a moment before shaking her head.
"Every time I've got a question for you, you make me want to ask another hundred," Hermione said. "Now, are you going to tell me why you don't deserve a family? Or should I tell you why you do deserve a family. A loving family at that." He looked at her for a moment, confused. "Oh, Harry. Every fiber of you says you're a father. The protective looks you send over the children, the fervor that you fight for us. The love that smiles in your eyes as you watch us or someone you know achieve something new. Grace is proud of you. I'm only disappointed that I didn't get to meet the girl you raised." Harry nodded, pulling her closer to his chest.
"I just don't want to lose anyone else," Harry murmured into her hair. "I'll tell you one day, Hermione, when I can, but right now, just let me be."
"We'll wait to talk about this, but I'm telling you now, you are not going to be alone, ever again." She sent a wave to him I'll make sure of that.
Thank you love. Harry pulled back and kissed her gently on her lips. As she broke to breath, he leaned against her forehead, a smile stuck on his face. I think we've reached the next level in our bond.
It leaves me tired though. Hermione leaned against his body even more. The day had been a long one, and ever since she had pushed her magic through Harry, she felt the grip of sleep even stronger than before. Talking through the bond only pushed her further toward exhaustion. "Will you take me back to my room?"
"I'll take you to mine," Harry said, lifting her up off the ground. She shifted slightly, not used to this change in equilibrium. His body was warm, and it felt good against hers. She wanted to protest about being in his room, that they needed to be practical, but she felt too tired to say anything Rest love, I'll be there for you when you wake. Had she the strength she would have responded. With a smile on her face, she fell into her dreams, content and protected.
A/N: If anyone knows how I can get color up onto this site within the text, I'd be much obliged, thank you for the help. Hope you're enjoying everything so far. Chapters happen when I can find time to write between the periods of tests I have. I might get one out again by the middle of March. Fingers crossed. Thanks again and hope you are enjoying this so far. Ciao!
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