You Raise Me Up

Oh the reviews! They are so lovely! I want more!

Sorry guys...no sex in this chapter. But if you'll bear with me on this little interesting tidbit I promise I'll let the one-eyed trouser snake out for a visit in the next chapter....
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Bellatrix opened her eyes blearily. She wiped her eyes, and stretched out with a long yawn. She rolled out of bed with a grunt, and headed to the bathroom to perform her morning routine.

After a hot shower, she trudged naked back into her room and into her closet to look for an outfit.

Twenty minutes later, she gave up on her last pair of pants. “Dammit! I’m a fucking cow!” she screeched. She heard a lazy chuckle from the vicinity of her bed. “When did you get here, you sneaky old bat?” she asked, finally picking back up the pair of pants that fit the best.

“About the same time you decided that it would be a good idea to empty your wardrobe on the floor.” He teased.

She buttoned the pants just below her ballooning waist, and slipped on an extra long shirt to cover the distance. “I have to get new clothes….” She said sadly.

“It was bound to happen, my dear. You’ve been skirting around it for four months…there’s no more material to let out in any of your clothes…and the house elves are tired of trying…” Severus said softly.

“I know…would you like to come with me?” she asked hopefully.

“Umm…as fun as that sounds…I will have to pass it up. I have to brew up some Wolfsbane potion for that little flea-magnet, Lupin.” He said.

“Fuck Lupin!”

“I’d rather not. Besides, it would hardly be appropriate to take advantage of a poor dumb animal…” he said.

“Hmm…I don’t have any regrets when I bang you…” she said, slipping on some tasteful flats.

The two walked down the stairs together to the family room, Bellatrix complaining the entire way down.
“Damn baby…damn clothes…looking like a cow…still four months to go…” she groused, and plunked herself down at the breakfast table. Narcissa looked up from her hot cereal.

“Anything wrong, sister dear?” she asked.

“I need maternity clothes….” Bellatrix murmured. She tried to ignore the joyful squeal that came from her sister. This was the exact reason she had been threatening the house elves with their lives to keep the clothes she had wearable for her…she hated shopping with Narcissa. The woman could shop the Master to death…it was infuriating sometimes.

“We’ll go today, there’s not a moment to waste!” she said, and quickly finished her food, watching her sister with impatience. Hermione perked up a little. She hadn’t been out of the house in months, and this was a great excuse to go.

“May I come?” she asked.

“Of course!” Narcissa exclaimed. Draco wanted to go anywhere Hermione did. Their relationship had grown over the past few months, and now would be a great time to make a public appearance with his new girlfriend.

“I want to go.” He said. The women looked at him strangely. “What? Maybe I just want out of the house…” he said, and gently nibbled at his toast.

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Narcissa led the expedition into the small maternity shop in Diagon Alley. She quickly dragged Bellatrix to the manager to help choose clothes that were best for her. Hermione and Draco just wandered around, with Draco poking fun at the pregnant women behind their backs.

“My god…that one looks like she could pop any second…” he said, and received a punch from Hermione for his impertinence.

They spent a good hour at that shop, and by the time they were ready to pay, Bellatrix was also ready to strangle her sister. “If you need me…I’ll be right outside waiting…” she said, adjusting the new pants Narcissa had insisted she put on immediately. She couldn’t deny they weren’t comfortable. Hideous…yes…but comfortable.

She stood outside the store, pacing in front of the door. Narcissa took way to long too wrap up transactions, and she was starting to get antsy. She looked into the shop window, and her eyes were drawn to the back were a tall blonde wizard was at present snogging a very petit brunette. She rolled her eyes. Those two were insatiable…

She chuckled as Narcissa spotted them, and went stomping off towards the back of the store to pull them apart.

She gave a sudden lurch forward as someone smacked into her from behind. “Oh! Bloody…” but she trailed off as she turned around, her dark eyes widening.

The wizard that had bumped into her dropped a parcel, and bent to pick it up, missing her face. “Sorry, ma’am, I wasn’t looking. I’m very-” but he paused when he straightened back up. Bellatrix swallowed hard when she realized that she was staring into the face of Neville Longbottom. The young man’s face quickly twisted from remorse from bumping into the witch to pure fury. Bellatrix took a step backwards.

“Longbottom…what a surprise…nice seeing you here…looking sharp, lad….” She backed up slowly, only to realize in horror she had backed right against the store window.

“You…it’s you…you!” Neville cried, and finally sprang into action. He dropped his parcel and grabbed her by the front of her new robes, surprising her as he completely lifted her off of her feet and slammed her into the shop window. The customers in the store all turned and looked. “I heard you got out…” he hissed.

The door to the store was flung open as Draco, Hermione, and Narcissa rushed out. Narcissa screeched.

“Neville Longbottom! You put her down this instance!” she cried. Neville shook his head slowly. Hermione stepped forward, trying to reason with him.

“Neville…It’s me…Hermione….put her down, Neville. She’s-” but Hermione was cut off by a shout of rage from Neville.

“You helped her!” he cried, and shook Bellatrix roughly. Her hands were resting on his, and were shaking slightly. She didn’t want to fight back. If she did, then the great prat Percy would probably lock her up for public rowdiness… “You knew what she had done to all those people…my parents, even, and you helped her anyway…” he said. Draco had maneuvered himself around the back of Hermione, using her as a distraction to get behind Neville. He drew his wand, and pressed it against Neville’s back.

“Drop my Aunt, Longbottom, before you damage her.” Draco hissed. Neville pulled her off of the shop window, and roughly tossed her aside. Both arms wrapped around her stomach to shield the blow, and her head cracked sharply against the pavement when she struck the ground. She saw stars, but was able to sit up, gingerly rubbing at her forehead, which was now bleeding.

Draco spun Neville around and punched him square in the face. Neville stepped back, and clutched his nose. “Careful, Longbottom. Even you wouldn’t want the blood of an unborn infant on your hands…” he warned. The crowd that had gathered began to whisper softly. Neville looked at Draco, his eyes darkening with anger.

“She do’ deserb ta be a buther…” Neville said, his speech impaired by his injured nose. Hermione stepped forward.

“Stop it, Neville. I know you want revenge for your parents…but this isn’t the way. You can’t just beat up on people that have done you wrong. Whether you like it or not, Neville, she’s a free witch right now. And you have no right to attack her. As for helping her…you know…Dumbledore himself said that help would always be offered for those who asked for it…and she asked for it. She knew who I was. She had met me…and she asked me personally…a filthy muggleborn…to help her when her own comrades had turned against her…I couldn’t…no…I wouldn’t ignore that, Neville. And if you don’t like that…then you’re no friend of mine…” she said, walking over to Bellatrix and offering her hand to the fallen witch. Bellatrix took Hermione’s hand, and the young witch helped her to her feet. She swayed slightly, but placed her hand on the wall of the building for support. Neville could see her stomach clearly for the first time, and noticed she was clearly pregnant…she could be no further than five or six months…but she was pregnant nonetheless.

Neville looked at Hermione. “You’re a traitor to the cause, Granger. I guess we’re not friends…” he said, and picked up his parcel. He stormed through the crowd angrily, leaving the motley group behind.

Hermione looked behind him, her eyes becoming bright with tears. She had known him for so long…and now he was just blowing her off. Draco stepped close to Hermione, and put his arms around her as she let out a soft sob.

Narcissa took her sister’s hand, and put a hand on Draco’s shoulder. “Bring her home, darling. We’ll be waiting.” She said, and she and Bellatrix disappeared. Draco’s eyes darted up to the crowd. They were watching them intently. He leaned his head down and kissed her gently on the top of the head before disappearing back to Malfoy Manor as well.
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Weeeeellllll? WHat do you think? If you don't want to review, you could always rate the story. Or...you could review. Draco says he'll give out free pictures of his 'basilisk' if everyone will review. Hermione isn't too happy about that, though...she says that that is her property...we'll see...

REVIEW!!