Chapter 15
Hermione stumbled but found her footing as she followed Ginny out of a long tunnel towards the dungeons. She gasped audibly at the sight of the them. She still wasn't used to her small belly yet, and she kept a hand resting on it as she squinted to focus on the scene in front of her. She forgot how ghastly the dungeons looked. Sure they had never been very welcoming, but she only knew them as potions classes, not the look of a tomb.
Bones were scattered everywhere, whose, she was not sure. Reminders of a time when nightmares became real; dried blood spatter patterns covered the stone walls. Ginny looked over her shoulder. "Did you bring the book?"
Hermione frowned. "Of course not, but I did rip out the page."
Ginny rolled her eyes and they walked over to an old potions table and laid the page out. Hermione examined it closely, looking at the intricate drawing of the dungeon. "'The Amulet of Aenorta, known for being a talisman to powerful entities, was kept hidden in the bowels of Hogwarts. It was cast out of the mixed blood of virgin princesses-"
"Ew…" Ginny winced as Hermione continued to read.
"-and the purest of gold, it was considered one of the most powerful and dangerous magical items to exist. The darkest of potions and mixtures can be held inside the amulet, not destroying the amulet itself, but giving its keeper complete control over its contents. During the unfortunate explosion during a Potions class in Hogwarts circa 1889, the amulet was lost in the rumble, amongst the dead students-"
"Wait…people died in Potions? Why the hell didn't Snape never mention that?!" Ginny gasped.
Hermione shook her head. "-and despite searches has yet to be recovered.' So either it's down here somewhere or Draco already recovered it during his raids."
Ginny sighed and waved a hand. "Draco didn't necessarily do it. There are other head Aurors you know."
"He gave him the ashes, why wouldn't he give him the amulet as well."
"I doubt he even knows there is an amulet," Ginny replied.
"Maybe you don't know your boyfriend too well." Hermione said flippantly.
To that, Ginny bit back a nasty response, instead saying, "Where do we begin?"
Before Hermione could answer, a gruff voice came from no where. "You won't…it just ended."
They turned to see Draco and Ron standing there, their clothes filthy and cut up. Ron stormed towards them. "We're leaving now!"
Ginny went to snap back at Ron but Draco approached her quickly, his face full of anger. "How could you do this? We told you not to leave the house. Do you NOT understand there are Deatheaters out there? They almost demolished Knockturn Alley today without warning! And yet you two scurry down here like it's a holiday to Hogsmeade!"
Hermione looked past a very pissed off Ron and scowled at Draco. "We found the amulet that could be used to hold the ashes. Who ever has that amulet is dangerous! Know anything about that Malfoy?"
"What amulet?" Draco replied indignantly as he looked away from Ginny towards Hermione.
The bushy haired witch shoved the ripped page at him. He scanned over it and shook his head. He remembered. Right before he was assigned raids, Dweedle came up with the amulet from one of his raid. It was a useless artifact as far as Draco was concerned, Dweedle sucked at research and found nothing on it, and Coogle even dismissed it as a waste. So to read that the amulet was in fact something that could control those ashes Draco found left a lump in his throat.
"Look familiar?" Hermione asked.
Draco grunted and shoved the page back at her. "Dweedle recovered this right after the war. It's inside the Ministry. It's safe."
Ginny stepped in front of Draco. "Safe from whom?"
Before he could answer her question, the ceiling of the dungeons shook and Draco watched small debris fall upon them. He automatically went to cover Ginny as Ron went to protect Hermione.
"Wha-what was that?!" Ron yelped.
"It is a ruin!" Ginny quipped but she felt Draco grab her arm.
"We can have this discussion later!" With that Draco shoved Ginny back out towards the tunnels. She stumbled slightly as he pushed her forward.
"Hey!" she protested but he pushed her further.
"Go! The Minister is here! Don't you get it?!" Draco hissed. Ginny shut up and complied. She had no desire to be at the end of the Minister's wand.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked as she looked around. She knew Harry would be the first one to charge at her for leaving. Ron grabbed her arm and began to pull her out of the dungeon.
They ran down the corridor, with Hermione's wand as their only light.
"Ron, where's Harry?!" Hermione asked again, as Ron guided her out of the tunnels and onto soft wet ground.
"Get outside first and I'll tell you."
They climbed up some rocks, Ron helped Hermione steady herself. Out of breath, they reached an open patch of grass, the castle ruins behind them.
Ron pulled out the portkey and ripped it in haste. They had to get out of there. Merlin, he hoped Harry would be back at Grimmauld when they arrived. "Grab it, now!"
Hermione shook her head as Draco and Ginny reached for the portkey. "Where is Harry?"
"He's waiting for back at Number 12. Grab the key!" Ron lied, but getting her to touch the portkey and get out of there was more important. He knew if she became aware Harry was there alone with the Minister, she would never leave.
Hermione seemed to believe him as she grabbed hold. It activated and Ron quickly held onto her to cushion her subsequent fall as they spun into oblivion.
All he could feel was his body being dragged across the stone floor, his palms scraping it painfully. Harry still had a good grip on his wand and he bucked and twisted enough to focus.
Pointing the wand at the mouth of the giant carnivorous plant, he screamed, "Diffindo!"
The vine severed and the plant screamed again. Harry jumped up and dodged another vine. He heard another Auror scream as the plant smacked him into the stone wall and there was a sickening thud. Harry was about to point his wand again when the Minister tackled Harry and they slid unceremoniously across the floor. The crunch of Harry's glasses breaking filled his ears.
Harry slammed hard into an over turned table and he grimaced.
"Sorry Mr. Potter, one of those vines were coming after you!" The Minister muttered and shifted off of Harry.
Just then a vine grabbed the Minister's foot and yanked him so fast; Harry had no time to register it. He heard the Minister yelp but he couldn't focus, he couldn't see. He patted around the floor frantically for any sign of his glasses, the glass cutting into his hand.
"Immobilus!" he heard the Minister shout, and Harry whirled around to see a blurry vision of the frozen plant.
"Incendio!" A spark came out of his wand, hit the vine, and the Minister dropped unceremoniously to the ground. He muttered something, and brushed himself off. Harry stopped suddenly as watched a blur of the Minster walk towards the plant, and it wasn't hurting him.
"Of course, he's a damn Druid." Harry grumbled and reached to touch his broken frames. He put them sloppily on his face so he could at least see out of one eye. He heard the Minister whispering something to the plant.
Harry strained to hear as he saw the plant start to become mobile again and the Minister backed away from it slowly. It was peculiar, the way the Minister backed away, still whispering as the plant swayed lightly. There was no way he could make out what he was saying.
Harry wished he could focus, as the Minister pulled his wand out and muttered. "Evanesco!"
The he could hear footsteps approach him. "Ah…are you alright Harry?"
A hand reached out in front of him and Harry squinted and took it. The Minister yanked him to his feet and frowned. "Oh dear…your glasses. Here…Oculus Reparo!"
Harry's glasses came back flawlessly together and he slipped them correctly on his face. "Thank you. What…what did you do…to make it stop?"
Coogle just frowned. "I'm from a line of Druids, Harry. We deal with plants. That one was particularly nasty." He stopped and looked at the scene around him, blood splattered and the moaning of hurt Aurors. "Excuse me, I have to go check my Aurors!"
"Where did it come from?" Harry asked as he stumbled behind the Minister.
"Someone left it here. Probably knew you here." Coogle threw back, crouching next to a dead Auror to check his pulse. Of course there was no pulse. Some Aurors were dead, some were badly hurt. "Mr. Potter…at the risk of sounding like a broken record…you need to see the dangers you are in. Where ever you are staying isn't safe. We can keep you safe."
Harry shook his head and hoped Ron had gotten Hermione and Ginny out of there. "Don't worry about me. That…just was unexpected. Surely you didn't anticipate a giant man eating plant from the look of it."
"I knew there were Deatheaters here. We got word they were here. What if they attacked you while you were here alone Mr. Potter?"
"I've had my fair share of run in with a Deatheater. Not to sound confident or anything. I'm better off on my own. I trust no one."
The Minister looked perplexed. "Did you not see the giant plant attacking you? Things could get much worse!"
"I can take care of myself."
"Can your wife? What about your baby?" Coogle wielded that information like a sword. If anything should bring Potter to his sensibilities it would be his wife and child.
Harry's head shot up. He narrowed his eyes, and felt his rage began to boil. He never mentioned anything about Hermione being pregnant. "What are you talking about?"
"Your friend, Luna Lovegood and Ron Weasley, were attacked. They have been missing too, but she had a written file on Hermione's condition…" Coogle replied shortly. "Can you tell me anything about that? I want to help you Harry. Why are you fighting me so hard?"
Harry began to walk away, towards the open hole in the Great Hall. He wanted to leave. Coogle knew about Hermione…who else could know?
"That was confidential information! And I have no idea where Ron and Luna are. I haven't heard anything of it."
"Oh you haven't?" The Minister quirked an eyebrow. "You didn't know Mr. Weasley took a leave from the Cannons? He hasn't been to the Burrow and there is no sign of Ms. Lovegood."
"So?" Harry spat.
"So…Mr. Potter. They are your friends. Are they not?"
"Ron will call me if he needs me."
Coogle shifted uncomfortably. "I want to help. All these things are happening to you and-"
"And?"
"The fire at the bookstore. Amy. Losing your home? I tried to help you each time and you always turn me down."
"Yeah, fourth times a charm. And about that…how is it you are always there?"
"Mr. Potter! What are you accusing me of?" Coogle gasped.
"For the last time Coogle…stay away from me." And with that Harry left out the Great Hall through the hole, leaving the Minister standing there defeated.
He jogged out of sight to Hagrid's hut, before checking to make sure no one was watching and then ripped out his portkey.
"I can't believe you lied to me Ron! You said Harry was home knowing full well he's out there for some Deatheater to get! " Hermione shouted at Ron, as Luna looked over his wounds. Ron tilted his head angrily at Hermione.
"Well, you would know all about lying wouldn't you?" he said coldly.
Hermione's mouth dropped and snapped shut as her eyes widened. She couldn't have this conversation here. Not in front of Draco and Ginny. When they got here from the portkey, Hermione fell back on Ron so that he cushioned her fall. Quickly he pulled her towards the house, reprimanding her for leaving in the first place. She expected Harry to waiting there, livid of course, and even though she wasn't excited about rowing with him, when she saw he wasn't there…
Ron winced as Luna poured a potion on it, and Neville walked in the room with fresh bandages, noting the tension between everyone. Neville worked on Draco, whilst Ginny sat in the chair, with a shamed look on her face.
Ron hissed through his teeth, "You know all about lying, don't you, Hermione? You're the one who left out this house, when Harry specifically told you not to! You're the one who didn't tell him about Coogle visiting the shop right away! You didn't even tell him you were pregnant right off-"
"Ron-" Luna stuttered as he laid into Hermione, but he kept going, the tips of his ears red with rage. Luna drew back as he launched out of his seat and stood close to Hermione.
"You're the one who's lying to Harry right now! Why? Why do you keep lying?"
"I'm not! I-I'm not! I'm trying to help! You don't understand!" Hermione stammered as she cut her eyes over to a very amused Ginny. Hermione couldn't believe Ron was doing this right now, in front of her, giving her ammunition to use against them.
Draco looked over to Ginny as well, seeing her fruitlessly trying to act like what Ron said didn't make her happy. He snorted and swatted at Neville's attempt to clean one of his wounds. Then he got up and stomped past Ginny, her smirk disappearing as she saw him stand in front of her.
"Does it make you that happy? To see her suffer? Does it?" He snapped and then walked towards the steps.
Ginny frowned and furrowed her brow at Draco's comment, as Hermione and Ron still shouted at each other. She watched Draco's retreating form as he ran up the steps. Guilt went through her. Guilt and pain. She felt so confused that when she looked over to see Neville staring at her, she too left the room.
Hermione stepped away from Ron's menacing stance. "You know what Ronald, fuck you! I was trying to help. Why aren't you in Ginny's arse about leaving? Why only me?!"
He got frightfully close again, and in a low angry voice said, "Ginny's a big girl. It's her choice to get herself in trouble. And I love my sister and would protect her if need be but it is still her choice. That baby… and Harry don't have a choice. You need to think of them first. How can you run around and not see the danger you are absently putting yourself in? You think that helps Harry? Do you? He just watched people die today only to turn around, come home and find you gone…"
"I-I-" Hermione stammered again, and Ron relinquished his stance a bit, hoping he hadn't hurt her too much with his words. He was angry but he didn't want to push her in such a sensitive condition.
Hermione's eyes welled up with tears as she considered the weight of his words. She backed away slowly and bumped into someone behind her. Quickly she turned and there stood a disheveled Harry. He looked down at her, his face hard and scratched and saw her tears. His hand was bleeding from what she saw, but he didn't say anything, he just looked at her.
He assumed Ron and she had just had a row, probably about her leaving the house and he could see it had affected her. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. She could sense him burying his nose in her hair and she cried into his shirt at Ron's words. Maybe she was overreacting but she didn't care. Harry took a deep breath and drew back, taking hold of her hand with his uninjured one as she wiped her face. Ron looked up at Harry sheepishly knowing he had caused that, but Harry gave him a small smile, Ron only did it out of concern. And with that, he walked towards the stairs with Hermione leaning into him sobbing.
They entered their room moments later, Harry releasing his hold on her to shut the door behind him. Hermione wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand.
"Harry…I-"
He threw up a hand at her to silence her, and Hermione was taken aback by his actions. He sighed heavily and padded over to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
"Harry?" she said softly. She knew he was pissed. She knew he was upset she had left but she had to explain about the amulet…and the baby. She had lied. She had kept things from him, but only out of concern and only so he wouldn't have the stress. But still she knew she was wrong.
The door opened and he walked out, shuffling past her without a word. He had cast cleaning and healing charms.
"Harry?"
Her eyes followed him as he walked to the side of the bed and sat. He removed his glasses to inspect them, before slipping them back on and looking at her. She assumed he would go about the night ignoring her. It wasn't until he spoke softly did she realize how angry he was. "We haven't had many rows since we've been married, have we?"
"No…" She shook her head, wondering where he was going with this.
He sighed heavily, and calmly stated, "Well we're about to have a big one now. Please cast a silencing charm."
Hermione sucked in a pained breath and looked hard at her beaten husband. She wanted to explain, to make him understand, yes they needed to talk…but it was so much to talk about. But she didn't argue. She pulled out her wand and muttered a silencing charm.
"You aren't to leave here again."
"What!" she said shocked. No one had forbidden her to do anything since she was a child, especially him.
"I don't care how harsh that sounds. If I have to, I will send you away. To the Borrow or your parents, hell… the Dursleys, if you ever do anything like that again!"
Hermione heard the seriousness in his voice as he spoke. And while she was honestly hurt by his indignant manner, she said nothing. She couldn't speak, her throat felt tight.
Harry's face grew red as he went on, indicating his rage. "I can't believe you would in danger our baby like that. Yourself like that! The Minister had just arrived and he could have caught you, and since you were with Ginny, that's aiding and abetting! And not only that, a giant carnivorous plant was upstairs trying to kill us, what if it got you? You didn't think of that Hermione? That's not like you! Do you even care about the risks?"
Hermione felt tears splash on her cheeks. She shook her head in confusion. "A giant carniverous plant? There was no plant when we went in!"
"Who cares? Plants, Ministers, DEATHEATERS! All dangerous Hermione!"
"It wasn't like that! Ginny found something on an amulet that can hold powerful magic…like I don't know…ASHES…" She said flippantly, causing Harry to grow furious.
"SO?!"
"So you had gone on your secret mission! I didn't want to wait and leave it to chance. Now we know how those ashes can be used!"
"I don't give a damn about the fucking ashes Hermione! You could have been hurt!"
"I wanted to help you! That's all!"
"You want to help me? Stay safe! Listen to me! My god, Hermione, have you given any thought to if anything happens to you or James, what I would do? I would die! Got that?! I won't give a shit about anything and I will die!" Harry shouted his voice cracking.
Hermione opened her mouth to say anything but she felt her stomach flutter, and she felt weak suddenly. Before she could catch herself, she wobbled, almost falling on the floor. Harry saw her, and immediately came to her side, his seeker reflexes grabbing her to steady her.
Steadying her against him, he fussed over her, smoothing his hand over her pale face. "Hermione? The baby? Should I get Luna?"
Hermione shook her head, she knew why she was weak. She's been using magic all day, first she dropped pressure in the library, and had just cast a silencing charm and just as she thought, the baby was draining her magic.
He helped her to the bed, his hands on her face, a concerned look piercing her. "Merlin, I shouldn't have yelled. I'm so sorry!"
"No…" Hermione waved off. She slouched onto the side of the bed and wiped at the tears forming in her eyes. "I have something important to tell you."
Harry looked at his wife as she began to sob softly. He forced down the large lump in his throat. "About what?"
"About James…"
"Longbottom, can I speak to you for a moment?"
Neville looked up from his book, and gave an odd face. "Me?"
"No, the ugly miscreant behind you." Draco huffed before turning away and storming down the hall.
Neville scrambled from his perch in the study and reluctantly followed Draco down towards the gardens. Tension in the house was worse now, with Hermione and Ginny causing such a ruckus and the rest of the gang trying to figure out what occurred at Knockturn. Draco had barely been speaking to anyone…as usual. So it perplexed Neville that the pale wizard wanted to converse with him at this moment.
Draco pushed the door open and stepped into the garden, his eyes squinting from the light. Obviously an effect of staying trapped inside his room most of the time. They walked deeper into the hibernating botanicals, Draco pushing dead overgrown vines out of way until they were far from the looming walls of the house. Neville felt like he swallowed his tongue. He didn't know why Draco wanted to talk to him, they barely ever spoke and when they did, it wasn't very gentlemanly. Draco's face was healed now, but his eyes were a little sunken in and he was a shade paler if that were all possible.
Neville shifted his stance nervously as Draco said nothing.
"Uh…so?"
"You're wondering why I brought you out here."
"Basically."
Draco nodded and his face contorted to something Neville really never saw before. A bit of vulnerability. "Look, I really don't want to ask you, because I'm pretty sure you will fuck it up. But I can't ask Potter, and I definitely can't go to Weasel."
"Go on…" Neville stated as Draco inhaled deeply.
Draco looked at him intensely. "I'm going to find my father."
"You can't! Harry said stay here!" Neville squeaked. "Didn't you see what happened when the others did it?"
"I'm not them. I have Auror training and I can pull it off. It has to be done. I can't sit here and wait
for Potter."
"No! I'll tell!! I will! You can't just leave-!"
Draco clenched his jaw and then grabbed Neville's shirt slamming him up against the stone wall. "Shut up! It's supposed to be a secret! That's why I told you out here!"
"You can't!"
"I need to. I'm beginning to believe its more to this than meets the eye."
"What?"
"They attacked their own for goodness sakes. And for what? My father's got balls but not that big. This thing is bigger than a bunch of Deatheaters just running around. This has reasons."
"Well he is a murderous psychopath. No...no offense."
Draco released Neville's shirt and backed away slowly. "None taken. He's up to something. And I have a pretty good idea what it is. I just need you to cover me. Potter's sodding nosey, no doubt he will figure this out before I can come back."
Neville shook his head. "This is a suicide mission. And Harry will figure it out, so why are you involving me? I can't lie to him. He's Harry Potter!"
Draco shot Neville a disgusted look. "You act as if he's god. Well, he's not Witless, and he's not going to keep me useless up in here."
"You're going to get yourself killed."
Draco frowned. "I don't care. I stopped caring a long time ago. I had to tell you because I can't apparate back here. I need access to leave and come back without Potter noticing I'm gone. One problem… I don't even know where this place is. And I need cover if Potter goes looking for me."
"What makes you think I know anything about this place? What makes you think I would cover for you?"
"I'm not dumb Longbottom. You were in the Order."
Neville held in his gasp. He dropped his eyes from Draco.
Satisfied Draco smiled. "You need to make me a portkey. Several actually. You know how to get me back to this place."
"I won't do it." Neville hissed.
"Yes you will." Draco replied simply, pulling his wand on Neville.
Neville eyes widened at the end of the wand hovering between his eyes. His body shook a bit. "What are you going to do, hex me? You know you can't use magic here. And the others will get you."
"You act as if I care. I'm not giving you options Longbottom. I will just consider you collateral damage. My father needs to be stopped and staying here isn't doing anything but making me anxious."
"What about Ginny? Don't you care that she'll be worried about you?"
At that Draco wavered a bit before regaining his focus. "No. Hasn't crossed my mind since she's stuck up Potter's ass. Besides, she's a big girl. And I don't plan on telling her my plans. She'll go run to Potter."
"You don't trust Ginny?"
Draco narrowed his eyes. Did he? He honestly didn't know anymore. "I trust no one."
Neville pushed further. "So why would you think you could trust me? I hate you and I'm pretty damn sure you feel the same way."
Draco was sneering at his remark. Obviously he thought of this. "Because Neville, I know how to control that big mouth of yours. You will help me and you won't tell Potter. And I have the perfect blood bond to ensure that."
Ron looked down at his feet instead of his best friend who sat in the drawing room, his eyes red, no doubt hurting. "I'm sorry mate. I should have told you."
"Yeah. Maybe. Doesn't matter." Harry simply replied. He didn't turn to look at Ron. The news was still unbearable to him, but he was trying to process it. Hermione was upstairs resting, on bed rest the last few days after Luna examined her. Luna apologized to Harry also for not telling, but honestly he couldn't even see why that was necessary. His mind was too preoccupied with his son.
Normally, one would be thinking of the color they wanted to paint their new arrival's room, pink or blue…maybe yellow. He didn't mind yellow. Keep it neutral. A room that was airy with plenty of sunshine and the trim painted a nice soft white. Stuffed plush animals are tucked into every corner and nook. A nice room that a baby would thrive in, feel loved in. And while neither had ever really expressed any preference in gender, he had to say he was thrilled it was a boy. Thoughts of his own parents picking out his layette, picking out the very crib that he would be found in later, next to his mother's dead body. A child shouldn't think of his room as a death chamber. It should be a peaceful place.
It's just too sodding bad that our flat burned to the ground, he thought bitterly. Maybe the baby will have his sarcasm too. Harry sat in the drawing room, clenching the bridge of his nose, willing an intense headache to go away. He was painfully aware of Ron still standing there watching him but he didn't even care.
Hermione and his baby were upstairs, still under a dreamless sleep draught Luna had given her every night for the last week. He wondered would they ever have time between dodging death and destruction to talk about the aspects of James's nursery.
He was quite sure he didn't want to set up a nursery at Grimmauld Place. In fact he was pretty sure Hermione wouldn't either. Though, she's been acting oddly while pregnant. She was no longer his rational logical better half. She was emotional, irrational, and completely defiant. When Harry finally got back from Hogwarts, he decided to confront her about her irrational behavior. How ironic was that? He was usually the one who needed the logic, and Hermione was usually the one that provided it for him. But now, roles were reverse, Hermione was unpredictable. He didn't know what he could say to convince her that her actions might cause James harm. Then again…he didn't have to.
"What are you talking about?"
His voice came out cracked, his tongue thick. Hearing her say those words struck pain in his chest, and he could feel his heart pounding in his head. He struggled to choke out those words, all the while, fear, terror, shock, sadness, and disappointment sketched across his face.
Hermione's eyes welled with tears and shifted herself on the bed, still weak from her spell.
"Harry, I wanted to tell you. Luna and Ron begged me to-"
At that moment, she looked so tiny, so fragile to him, even though he knew Hermione was neither things. Before she could finish, Harry's eyes grew wide like saucers. "Luna and Ron?! Bloody hell, you told them and not me?! It's our baby and you told others before you told me?!"
Hermione bit back and she steadied herself on the bed. "Harry please-!"
He jumped to his feet and began pacing in front of her. He couldn't process that something could be happening to his child. Wait, yes he could. In his mind he had always believe his life would start falling apart. It had been too calm and peaceful for two years, and that was two too many. Of course DeathEaters would attack him. And now his child was in danger….and obviously from something he had no control over either.
His son hadn't even been born yet and already he carried such a huge burden. Was it a deformity? Perhaps he had a
twin? That wouldn't be bad news, and from the way Hermione said it, it surely wasn't good news. Her face was
red, she looked beaten and lost, but he didn't reach out. He couldn't right now, almost as if he was afraid she
would burn him. His son, what was wrong with him?
Harry stilled himself in front of Hermione, and he looked at her. "What's wrong with the baby?"
Tears strode down her face, and she swiped at them with the back of her hand. "The day the bookstore got attacked, I had gone to see Luna. She apparently saw something on her scan…"
She abruptly stopped talking and inhaled a deep breath. Harry pursed his lips and stared at her oddly.
"And?"
"And Luna said she saw a magical signature while the baby is in utero-"
"That's bloody impossible!" Harry countered.
"It takes a very strong magical presence to register in the womb Harry. It's a rare occurrence, the last being-"
"Merlin himself." Harry whispered.
Hermione nodded. "I don't know what this means for James. Apparently he's very powerful. And I'm afraid for him Harry. I'm afraid about what that can do to him."
Harry looked at his wife, his heart splitting in two. "Well…what…what about you? You just nearly fainted!"
She took a deep breath. "I get easily drained every time I use magic. Like someone hit me with a violent Experiamus spell. He's draining me Harry."
"Draining you?"
"The baby. It's sucking my magical signature basically."
Harry looked horrified. "Is there anything we-Luna can-someone-?"
Hermione shook her head. "No…I can carry to term, I'll be okay, just very weak. I can't do much magic. I was afraid to tell you. I didn't want you…to worry."
Harry couldn't believe his ears. "He's our child! How could I not?"
"I'm scared Harry." Hermione began to cry and Harry pulled her to him, stroking her back gently. He didn't know if he could fix this.
"Are you alright?" Ron asked timidly, pulling Harry out of his deep thoughts.
"No, Ron. No, I'm not. I could do a right spot better than I'm doing right now."
Ron shifted uncomfortably but he dared not approach Harry. "I can't imagine… how you deal with all of this."
"Who says I do?" Harry replied painfully.
"He'll be okay Harry."
"Will he?"
"Yes. He'll be born strong, smart, and cursed with your blasted hair."
Harry didn't even crack a smile at Ron's joke. He seemed close to crying. The redhead cleared his throat nervously.
"I-I never knew I could love someone this much who I never even met." Harry almost whispered that out.
"We'll figure it out Harry." Ron replied. "There has to be some way-"
"Some way to what? My son has powers that I've never heard of, and he isn't even born."
"Harry…maybe I can call Mum. She might know something, a spell, something. We can try to bind him."
Harry sighed and leaned forward, "Bind him? I don't know. You're talking like I should bind his magic as soon as he's born. Take it from him."
Ron's face stayed serious. "That's exactly what I mean."
Harry turned to him. "You can't be serious."
His ginger haired friend didn't break eye contact and Harry sucked in a breath. Ron continued. "It's the only way. What he is could be used against him. Being magical is great, but it's a sight less important than him being alive."
Harry didn't respond as he thought about what Ron suggested. Binding the baby's magic as soon as it was born. That was old magic. Magic Harry wasn't sure about the repercussions of. But it was a plausible answer. To protect his son from whatever the world tried to exploit from him, Harry had to make the sacrifice. His son would be normal. In terms of a squib, Harry could care less if his son was one. He just wanted James safe.