A/N: Sorry it took so long. Classes and work and stuff keep me busy! Your reviews have been awesome! Still looking for a beta though!
To answer some questions, I will reveal Coogle's intentions soon, very soon.
Chapter 11
Ron sucked in a breath and Neville smoothed potion over his left side, resetting two of his cracked ribs. It bubbled and burned by Ron let that slide, considering this pain was better than the other.
"The bruising will still be there, maybe a little sore, but you're alright." Neville replied simply. Ron nodded and looked at his bare side, purple and blue probably from landing hard against the ground, though he didn't remember being thrown far. He slid cautiously off the bed, and Neville gave him another potion to drink.
"This will help with the aches. It sucks we can't really use our wands in here," Neville replied.
"Did Harry say how long we have to stay here?" Ron asked, allowing the bitter potion to go down his throat.
Neville shook his head. "No. I haven't seen him since you showed up carrying Luna this morning. Do you know who did this?"
"It was obviously a Death Eater. The black cloaks and such…" Ron hissed as a sharp pain went through his side.
He remembered waking up outside of Luna's cabin, his mouth full of grass and his side hurt like hell. He must have been out for an hour or so; it was still dark. He pushed up despite the pain and stumbled to the cabin to find Luna. The cold air seemed to make his pain worse, and his eyes widened at the door left ajar, the darkness inside of the cabin evident.
Ron wanted to shout out Luna's name, but he didn't know if his attackers were still inside waiting to ambush him. He pulled his wand and limped in the doorway. He squinted his eyes and pointed his wand inside, then stepped into the darkness. He couldn't see anything, it was pitch black.
Ron closed his eyes and sucked in a weak breath then whispered, "Luna?"
No one answered and couldn't see it was so fucking dark. "LUMOS MAXIMA!"
The whole cabin filled with bright light and Ron looked around quickly, resting his eyes on Luna's unconscious body lying across her desk. Ron rushed to her, lifting her head gently. She had a gash over her eye, and dried blood was on her forehead.
Ron gently shook her. "Luna? Luna, baby…wake up!"
Luna moaned and slowly opened her eyes. "Ron?"
"Yea honey, we have to get out of here, okay?"
Luna nodded weakly. Ron tried to get her to sit up but she was too weak. He had to get out of here, Death Eaters could be anywhere. Ron dug in his pocket and pulled out the envelop portkey. He scanned the room again, and ripped it open with his teeth and the other arm held on tightly to Luna.
He grabbed onto the inside parchment and the portkey activated, sucking him and Luna in a mystical whirlwind. They landed hard outside of Grimmauld Place, and Ron let himself be used as a cushion for Luna. He slammed his hurt side into the ground and winced, gritting his teeth to growl out the pain. Luna moaned, and he simply laid where he was with her head resting on his stomach, in too much pain to move.
As he was fading back into unconsciousness, he heard several sets of feet run towards him calling his name, and weightlessness as the dark over took him.
Now he sat in a room in Grimmauld Place, his face slightly bruised, his side extremely sore, and no clue as to who or what attacked them. He was surprised to wake up to Neville, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Draco. His first question was "What the hell is going on?", but Harry told him that could wait until after Neville had a look at him.
Neville put the potion on the nightstand and watched Ron struggle to put on his shirt. "You gave us quite a scare."
"Yeah well, I wasn't expecting to be ambushed and then knocked unconscious by a portkey." Ron muttered. "By the way, why did you use yours?"
Neville turned beet red. "Oh that's right, you weren't aware they had escaped."
"Who?" Ron frowned.
"Er…well, no one knew. Bellatrix LeStrange and Lucius Malfoy-"
"WHAT?! They escaped?!"
"Yes, and no one knew for a week until the Prophet broke the story. The Ministry was keeping it a secret, probably embarrassed about the breech. Draco was being held because they thought he released his father-"
"And he's here in this house?" Ron blasted. He grabbed his side and cursed. "Why would you guys let him in here?"
"I helped him escape the Ministry, he had nothing to do with-" Neville stammered as Ron's face grew red.
"Are you mental?! Well, obviously the fucker has something to do with it."
"No, he doesn't." Harry's voice came into the room, and Ron and Neville looked up to see Harry in the doorway.
Ron tugged his shirt down, his face sullen. "How can you be so sure?"
"He just didn't, okay?" Harry replied, matching Ron's glare. "Someone else is responsible for releasing the Death Eaters. Ginny got here by portkey when the Ministry burst into the Manor looking for Malfoy. It's some sort of setup. We don't know who's responsible. It could be Coogle, it could be anyone, and we're not sure."
"It could be Malfoy." Ron countered.
Neville decided to interject. "If I thought he did it Ron, I wouldn't have helped him escape the Ministry and become a fugitive myself. We have to trust Harry."
Ron just glared at Neville. "Of course I trust him. I just wouldn't put anything past the ferret."
The three men took in an uncomfortable silence until Harry asked Neville to give him a minute with Ron. Neville walked out the room and Harry shut the door behind him.
"Do you trust me Ron?"
"How dare you even ask me that?" Ron gasped. "I'm your best mate! Have been since Hogwarts!"
"Because we have three fugitives, one which is your little sister here. Understand if they find Malfoy, they find Ginny and Neville. We have to make sure they can't find us here. We have to keep wards up and use as little magic here as possible."
The red head ran a hand through his hair. "They as in who exactly?"
"The Ministry and the Death Eaters and who ever is orchestrating this big mess."
Ron nodded. "Is Ginny alright? Luna?"
"She's fine. She was a bit shaken at first, but she's fine. Luna's alright too, Hermione's looking after her. She's awake when you want to go see her. You guys can stay in here."
Harry watched his friend bite on his lip. Ron was thinking hard.
"It's starting again, isn't it?"
Harry didn't have to answer him. "I'm sorry Ron. What are you going to do about the Cannons? It's obvious-"
"That I'm also a target and Luna is as well? I have leave time. I'll take it. Is it okay to owl?"
"Yeah, but send one anonymously." Harry said quietly.
Ron leaned back. "We have to get these bastards. They almost killed you and us."
The two men sat quietly in the room, knowing that once again, their lives were immersed in a danger they could not comprehend.
Fire and smoke filled the sky as people screamed and sirens blazed in the air. Bellatrix sat atop a gargoyle on the church steeple and sneered at the scene before her, twirling her wand. Her black robes whipped around her and she looked almost as gothic as the statue she was mounted on.
"Beautiful," she muttered as she sniffed the air. "I love the smell of death and destruction."
Above her, Lucius Malfoy snorted. He leaned over the edge. "You bring a whole new meaning to the saying 'fire and brimstone', Bella."
"It was a nice house. Stupid people, nice house." She twirled her wand.
"Yes, it was. As was my manor. I did hope to live there again one day. Pity we had to burn it down."
Bellatrix shrugged and with a flick of her wand levitated back atop the roof. "Now you can have a new one. But the Longbottom Manor was so much fun to set aflame. Like a full circle of all the torture I gave to that family. Too bad the son wasn't there so I could burn him alive."
Lucius looked at the dark sky lit with three distinct red glows in 3 different locations. The Longbottom Manor, his own Manor, and the flat of Harry Potter. He wasn't sure if anyone died, but he didn't care either. Two pops were heard behind him, and he twirled around to see Crabbe and Goyle.
"Finished?"
They nodded, and Crabbe cleared his throat. "What exactly is the plan?"
"Ah…yes. 'The plan'. Seek and destroy. Basically, we have free reign. But…it will be strategical attacks."
"I sense the Dark Lord." Goyle whispered. "My mark stings."
Lucius shrugged. "As does mine. Better not disappoint him."
Crabbe and Goyle looked wearily at each other. "So it calls to you too? Is he…is he alive?"
Before Lucius could answer, a green flash made them dodge out the way.
"Bella…do be careful just throwing out Unforgivables," he frowned. But it got them off the subject of Voldemort as Crabbe and Goyle frowned at the evil witch in front of them.
"I'll try. Do we get to destroy anything else tonight?" Bella asked excitedly.
Lucius shook his head. "No. we're done for now. I wonder though…where are theyhiding?"
"That stupid Burrow maybe. Shall we go attack that?"
Lucius shook his head at her suggestion. "Let's save that. That's too obvious."
"Oh come on, it'll be fun!"
"Later. We have to stick to the program. We have a secret weapon now!"
"What weapon?"
"Something with swirls Lucius keeps going on and on about." Bella snorted.
"Potter has a baby on the way." Malfoy rolled his eyes. "But it won't be born for awhile. We might have to take the mother…if we can find where Potter has hidden her."
"Are we going to kill it?" Crabbe wondered aloud as Goyle ducked another spell of Bellatrix. She cackled evilly.
Lucius shook his head. "No…surprisingly, this baby seems to be…well…let's just say, this unborn baby, despite its disgusting incubation inside a mudblood, has some possibilities."
"Like what?" Goyle scratched his head. He shot an evil look at Bella as she nearly missed him with a purple flash from her wand. A gaping hole was now in the steeple.
"Let's go talk about this elsewhere. Bella…do control yourself. If you kill Goyle, we won't have reinforcements if need be."
"Ugh! I hate regulations and rules!" she snapped, watching as Lucius and the others disappeared with a pop. Before she left, she flicked her wand and the gargoyle exploded. Then she disappeared, grinning wickedly.
"Sir?"
Coogle turned and gave Dweedle an appraising look. He said nothing andd turned back around to watch the smoke rise above the city's skyline.
"Sir? I apologize for bothering you it's just that-"
"Don't ask me anything about Malfoy. He's out there and I must say I'm quite impressed by his escape."
Dweedle gave a glowered and crossed his eyes to see the bridge of his nose hadn't been healed completely from Malfoy breaking it, and it was nothing Healers could do. "Well yes, although I wouldn't say impressed-wait…which Malfoy are we speaking of?"
Coogle just snorted. "Any reports?"
"They are burning down homes sir. Auror Neville Longbottom, his file is on your desk. He worked in the Herbology Labs. He had a bright future with the Ministry, before he helped Malfoy escape. Well mysteriously, his home has been destroyed. As well as the Potters flat, and Draco's manor."
"Draco's manor you say? Interesting. I think it odd he would burn down his own home."
"Which Malfoy are you referring to, sir?"
Coogle didn't respond again and turned to his mahogany desk. "Any sightings of the Potters, Malfoy, Miss Weasley, or the Longbottom fellow?"
"No sir. And I sent Aurors to question Ron Weasley, Potter's mate and Miss Weasley's estranged brother. No sign of him. The Cannons said he took an undisclosed leave."
"Anonymous owl no doubt."
"Correct sir. His girlfriend Luna Lovegood hasn't been heard from either. I sent a few Aurors to her Healer office, they found it ransacked with blood on some files by the desk."
"Do you think she's been hurt?"
"Hurt? I mean, they drew blood."
"And what else did you find?"
"Well sir…" Dweedle paused, the tickling in his ear started to come again and he shot the old Auror a look. However Coogle was rummaging through papers on his desk absentmindedly. Dweedle frowned, he had seen the Potter file, the wife was pregnant but it had no bearing on the case at hand. However, he felt the tickling increase and couldn't find the nerve not blurt it out.
"She's expecting. Harry Potter's wife I mean."
Coogle just nodded. "I know."
Dweedle's jaw dropped. "How-?"
Coogle just shrugged and smiled. "Let's say I can read minds."
For a minute he looked serious and then he chuckled lightly and Dweedle gave a nervous one. "I had a feeling she was from her last visit to Miss Lovegood's office."
"You are intuitive sir." Dweedle brown nosed.
But his superior became frightenly serious and stared back out the window. "You have them all on the fugitive list?"
"Yes sir. I think I put priority on Malfoy. He's dangerous sir with his training and experience."
"Yes yes….but he's not my concern. Mrs. Potter. I want her to be found. She has an innocent life at stake. We bring her in first, get her safe…"
"But sir, Malfoy-"
"Malfoy won't be an issue." Coogle said simply.
Dweedle looked confused. "He's dangerous-wait…which one are you talking about?"
Coogle began writing on a piece of parchment as if he was barely listening to Dweedle. "Take your leave now. Come back to me when you've found more info on Mrs. Potter."
And hesitantly, the confused Auror left his superior's presence.
The next week was tense. As it turned out, having Draco, Ginny, Ron and Hermione all in the same house, with nowhere to go, was a hard situation. Neville seemed to get along with everyone,well almost everyone. There were a few charged words directed at Draco. Draco of course remained the outcast. However he did come out to talk to them about defenses. They couldn't stay hidden in Grimmauld Place forever, and there were Death Eaters that certainly needed to be captured out there. He suggested the some wards to warn off any investigation by the Ministry. Ron begrudgingly agreed and help them set it.
The priority now was finding the Deatheaters. And by that they would find out who was orchestrating all of this. Then they would clear Draco, Ginny, and Neville. It all seemed so simple. But it wasn't. While Ron was allowed to come and go as he pleased, he did not because of the wards. The three fugitives weren't allowed past the gardens. Hermione wasn't to go anywhere where Harry couldn't have his eye on her. That made her fume of course.
But times were dangerous. They must be ever vigilante. Harry most definitely wanted Bellatrix put back in her dark hole. He hadn't forgotten the sadistic wench killed Sirius. He wanted her to be kissed more than even Lucius, but they contended she spend her life in Azkaban.
Now she was free and she was after him and his family. He had to put her down. Draco obviously felt the same way, as he was adamant about them searching for his father's hide out.
"He's after you, Potter. He's after your wife. And he broke in Looney's office and stole her wand. He surely knows about the kid."
Harry felt his heart sink. The baby. He had to protect their baby. What was supposed to be a joyous event in his life was being turned into a nightmare. "There's been another attack."
"Where?" Ron asked, laying on a settee, his side still hurting.
"Our flat. It's been burned to the ground. Like the bookstore. That put our landlord Mr. Winston in a coma. They've attacked your home too Neville."
Neville gasped as he stood in the corner of the study. "Merlin. Was anyone hurt?"
"I think a few of your servants. But as for now, your parents are still safe at St. Mungo's. Ron, I hoping your family is safe at the Burrow. They still have that protection right?"
Ron winced as he sat up. "Course, plus Fred and George are there. I need to send an owl, anonymous of course, making sure they put up extra wards. This makes no sense. What the hell are they after?"
"Those ashes, Draco…" Harry thought for a moment, Draco had hold of Voldemort's ashes. "Why do you think the Minister knew to get them and keep them safe?"
"I'm not sure. I never asked. I told you, he spoke very little about the reasoning."
"You think your father knows of the ashes?"
Draco didn't answer, he didn't know. If Coogle was aware, surely his father must have known. His father was the Dark Lord's right hand man, next to Wormtail.
Hermione had been livid the day Ginny arrived, but that was short lived after she saw the condition Ron and Luna were in. She had spent a better part of her time attending to Luna's wounds.
"They have my wand."
"It's okay. We'll get you a new one." Hermione assured her as she wiped her cut and dressed it. Luna had been in and out of consciousness, and Neville had administered a sleeping draught to help her sleep through the healing process. Whatever spell she was hit with, sprained her wrist and gave her a concussion.
"No…y-y-you don't understand," Luna stuttered quietly." My wand had my files in there. Your files. The baby's ultrasound."
Hermione sat back slowly as Luna sat up and stared at her. "What are you saying Luna?"
"If they can tap into the wand…they will know about the baby. And if it falls into the wrong hands, they will know what your baby is. They can see."
Hermione absently touched her belly. The place where her child was growing. She had no idea why any of this was happening. But whatever it was, it was bad. Her mind reeled from the revelation. Luna began to sob and Hermione wrapped her arms around her.
"I'm sorry." Luna cried.
"Shhhh…it's not your fault Luna>"
"You need to let Harry know…so he can protect you both."
Hermione gave a solemn nod. "Yes….shhhh. Rest Luna."
"You have to tell-"
"I will Luna. I'll go to him. And tell him everything." Hermione replied softly, holding Luna until she went to sleep from the potion Neville gave her. She had to tell Harry about the baby. But surely that would make things worse. Harry was already insane with worry, not to mention, extremely overprotective. This would push him over the edge. But Hermione had to do something to protect her baby. She couldn't tell him. Not right now. Not…until she figured out how this affected everything. She couldn't let anything happen to Harry or their child.
She left Luna to seek him out but he was having an intense moment with Ron, Draco, and Neville.
"Harry?" she stood in the doorway and everyone looked over to her.
Harry who was in deep thought, looked up as well. He sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he walked towards her. "I'm sorry, I'm just knackered. Are you okay?"
She noted his defeated stance, his hunched shoulders, and dark circles under his eyes. She steeled inside, knowing she had to tell him. "Um yes, well...I...you see..."
"Is it about Luna?"
She shook her head trying to find the words. "No...you look tired."
He nodded and pulled her to him as she struggled with how to tell him about the baby. "I am. All this is just...crazy. I can't take one more bleeding crisis."
With that she swallowed her thick tongue and leaned into him. She didn't say anything. Not right now. Another time would be best.
Dinner forks clicked on the plates as everyone consumed the dinner Dobby had prepared. They had been there for a few days…everyone confused, knackered, and angry. No one talked, no one knew what to say. Harry assumed everyone was either thinking of the situation or afraid that the first to say something would result in a fight. Every now and again, Harry noticed longing glances at him from Ginny, who was being scowled at by Draco, who was being menacingly watched by Ron. Luna was oblivious to it all and focused her eyes on the unique china pattern on the plates. Harry looked at Hermione who was rolling her eyes at Ginny's futile attempt to stare at Harry.
"What? You don't like it? It's your favorite." Harry said quietly to Hermione. She had been a nervous wreck lately, and he was worried about her. Not just because she was pregnant, but because he didn't want her to deal with any of this.
She was playing with her watercress soup, and she looked up at her husband. She had lost her appetite lately, which scared her a bit, but Luna swore the baby was still getting its nourishment and to just take the potion for vitamins that Neville made from the garden out back. She knew Harry was worried about her, she knew he had so much to be worried with, yet, and his constant watch over her was annoying. Or maybe she was annoyed because she felt useless in this whole thing. He was treating her like a porcelain doll, trying to hide her to protect her. This Death Eaters were relentless and Harry was aware of that. They would find them eventually. The group might as well take a stand now. But she had to understand, she was his wife, and this was his child too, of course he would be protective. She just felt so tired, very tired lately.
"I'm just not hungry."
"Hermione, you need to eat." Harry replied, and Hermione shot him a nasty look.
"I'm not a child Harry, honestly."
Luna watched carefully before inserting her opinion. "Hermione, you haven't eaten much in the past few days."
"I know that! You think I'm trying to starve my baby?!" Hermione yelled at Luna. Everyone at the table watched Hermione go off.
Draco, put his fork down and frowned. "No one's saying you're starving the sprog. Looney-"
"Sprog?!" Hermione shouted.
"Her name is Luna, asshole." Ron interrupted.
Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother. She didn't know why she felt the intense need to defend Draco after the way he abandoned her lately, but she did. "Don't call him names!"
Ron retorted angrily, slamming his fist on the table. "Mind your business, Ginny."
"-Whatever her name is, didn't say you were starving the kid. She just wants you to eat." Draco finished as Ginny and Ron exchanged heated stares.
"Draco stay out of this." Harry replied simply, as Hermione threw her spoon down.
"I know how to take care of my 'sprog', Draco. Worry about your girlfriend over here making eyes at my husband!" Hermione shouted as she stomped out the dining room. Harry rushed up after her as everyone else sat at the table, quiet.
Draco turned to watch and then looked back over to his plate. "The soup's too salty anyway."
Neville pushed his plate to the middle of the table. "I've lost my appetite."
Ron looked over at Luna who was eating her dinner roll. She seemed to be tucking in quite nicely despite the scene just now. "She didn't mean it you know. She's just emotional and scared."
"I know, childbearing can make you somewhat psychotic. This is why I want to be locked in a padded cell for the first few months." Luna replied wistfully.
Everyone gawked at her as she continued to eat her bread. Ron cleared his throat and finished his soup. That was a Luna moment, and he would still love her, even if she said such things. He was worried about his friends.
Ginny and Draco were staring bitterly at each other from across the table before Draco spoke up. "And you can quit the staring. It obviously makes her upset."
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Ginny huffed, reaching for her goblet.
"I'm talking about the eye sex you're trying to give Harry."
Ginny choked on her wine. "You crude vile son of a bitch."
They continued to glare at each other before Draco tossed down his own fork. He had to leave before he either strangled her or did her right on this table. "I'm going to my room."
A week passed without incident after the huge dinner argument. Luna was up and about, and insisted on checking Hermione's condition. She was approaching her 4th month, and Luna wanted to make sure she was alright. Hermione looked in the mirror, her reflection pale. Maybe Luna was right. She needed to eat. But she couldn't, not with her life falling apart. She knew her behavior lately had been off putting. Harry was trying so hard to understand, as was Luna, and Ron. Hell even Draco was acting…well semi-human towards her. But she couldn't shake this bad feeling.
She wasn't yet over her morning sickness, her stomach was more pronounced now, a soft roundness to her body. She was getting bigger and this was the first time she got a good look at herself. She put her hands on her belly and smiled, a flutter inside her. Whatever her child was, it was alive. It was growing. It was a part of her…and Harry of course.
She ran her hand over the lump and she felt another flutter. A boy…she was having a boy. Her mind traveled back to earlier that morning, as Luna, under the strictest of her abilities to limit her magic, smiled at Hermione and a nervous Harry. He gripped her hand as he stared at a smirking Luna Lovegood.
"What? What's wrong?"
Luna looked at Hermione, her eyes asking the most noted question, and Hermione could only stare back intensely, hoping Luna got the gist, Harry didn't know yet.
"You want to know what it is?" Luna replied simply, as Hermione let out a held breath.
"It is human, right?" Harry asked, his face serious.
"Harry, don't be silly." Hermione tooted.
"You never know," was all he said, grinning at her. She saw how scared and yet how happy he was all at once. She felt guilt for still holding it in, yet she felt a contrasting sense of contentment in knowing he was just enjoying the simple side of impending fatherhood.
Luna watched them both, and slipped her wand into her blonde bun of hair. "So, what's the decision?"
Harry glanced down at Hermione. "Well…I mean, I do want to kind of know. Not that it matters, I'll love it any bloody way. Girl, Boy, Grawp look alike…"
"HEY! I did not conceive this baby with Grawp!" Hermione gasped, squeezing Harry's hand.
He pulled back grinning. "You two did have a thing…"
She slapped his arm and smiled. "I think…I think we should know. We must pick out names and colors for the nursery."
"Yeah," Harry smiled at her. "Yes, Luna. Go ahead."
Luna's smile widened. "A boy. A healthy little boy."
"A boy!" Hermione smiled.
"Wow…" was all Harry could say. He looked stunned and he dropped a lingering soft kiss atop Hermione's forehead. "I love him already."
"James." A voice said, bring her out of her reverie. She turned to see Harry looking at her from the door. "James is a nice name. I just…wanted to check on you. Dinner didn't go well obviously. Dobby will be happy to make you anything you want, even if its pickle and ice cream or something equally disturbing."
Hermione smiled brightly at Harry's attempt to make her happy. He walked over slowly and stood beside her in the mirror.
"Is he okay?"
"Yes. And I think James is a lovely name." She smiled as he placed an open palm on her warm belly.
"James Sirius Potter, trouble written all over that name."
"Well then it's perfect. Because he's kicking around in there."
"I can feel it." Harry barely whispered.
"You can?"
"Sort of, a little bit. I think." Harry had an amused look on his face.
Hermione looked at her bewildered husband. "Even if you can't now, you will soon."
"Yeah, I can't wait. It's so much…I hope to show him so many things."
"You will Harry. You will. He's…" She wanted to tell him about how strong the baby was, how even though he was draining her energy, he was so strong already.
"Are you alright?" Harry's green eyes were filled with so much concern. "I know a lot has happened and I just want you…to enjoy this. Regardless of the chaos."
"I am Harry. I want the same for you." She placed a small hand over his.
Together they looked in the mirror and Harry looked a bit upset.
"What's wrong?" Hermione turned to him.
"The Mirror of Erised. At Hogwarts. For a second, I saw my parents looking back at me. I hope James never has to deal with that."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears and she pulled her husband into a warm embrace. She closed her eyes and held onto the secret for a little while longer, not wanting to upset him. "Never. I'll make sure of that."