In sickness and in health

Any character or place you recognize belongs to J K Rowling


Within a few hours Hermione and Draco were able to return to their rooms with the children who they put to sleep in a hastily erected nursery. Hermione locked herself in her room telling Draco it was nothing to worry about.
She set about making a battle suit for herself. It was time that everyone know. She wasn't going to conceal the wilting rose on her shoulder anymore.

The next day order members arrived at Hogwarts and still Hermione worked. Several people attempted to visit her but she refused them all. The final big event came when an owl flew through Hermione's window.

They're gone
We're on our way

HP RW

Hermione was anxious to see them and at the same time worried. That night was when everything would be resolved for better or worse. Hermione finished her battle suit and took the babies down to the common room where Draco was pacing. He eagerly greeted her and took James in his arms. There was a look of wonder on his face. This was the first time he had ever held a baby. He held the little boy as if he were about to break at any moment.

Hermione left the children in Draco's care and began excersising her Morphi powers.
By eight o'clock all the children below the age of fifteen were locked away in the room of requirement and all the order members were prepared for battle. Hermione was frantic.

What was she going to do with her children? After much thought she decided to leave them in the care of professor Sprout with all the other children.

"Take good care of them." was all that she said to the professor when she handed over the newborns. The woman was shocked but Hermione gave her no chance to respond as she rushed back to her rooms and to Draco. Together they went down to the entrance hall where everyone was milling about. Draco took her to a corner where it was quieter.

"Hermione, I love you more than I can express," He knelt down, "Will you marry me?" Hermione burst into tears and took the ring he offered her. It was set with emeralds and rubies that formed the shape of a dragon breathing fire. She put it on her finger and lifted him to his feet.

"Yes." She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a passionate kiss. They were kissing for a whole minute before-

"HERMIONE!" Hermione pulled away from Draco with great reluctance and turned to face her two best friends who were glaring at her.

"Hello boys I believe you've met my fiancee." She said and took Draco's hand.

"You can't marry him!" Ron yelled. Hermione's temper flared.

"Yes I can! I am old enough to make my own choices and you certainly can't make them for me. After this," She waved her hand and her robes changed into the battle suit she had made. She jabbed a finger at her shoulder where the wilting rose was. "I think I am entitled to make my own descisions." Harry and Ron's eyes filled with tears when they saw the mark.

"Hermione why didn't you tell us?" Harry asked tearfully. Hermione had never seen Harry cry.

"Would you tell anyone if you had been tortured and raped by twelve death eaters? I still won't let anyone other than Draco touch me because it scares me too much. Lucius Malfoy, Avery, Nott, Crabbe and Goyle and many others do you think I would want to tell anyone about that?" Harry and Ron were openly crying by now.

"Hermione I'm so sorry. But how can you know that he's different than his father?" Ron asked

"Because of the look in his eyes when he held the children that were born of my rape three days ago." Harry and Ron backed away from the sight of her eyes which danced with an angry fire and then-

"Hermione your hair." Draco said calmly and placed his hands in the dancing flames that were Hermione's hair and they calmed and resolved into her ordinary silver and blue.

"Crap." The glamore had worn off and Harry and Ron now saw her as she now looked. They turned tail and ran. Draco took her in his arms as she started to cry. "Oh Draco. I never meant to blow up at them like that it's just that they weren't there for me. I know they had an important mission to do but still it was important to me." She clung to his robes. "And I'm scared Draco. Tonight everyone will find out what has happened to me and find out about my gift."

"Hermione they would have found out anyway. Now they know and now you can fight without the guilt of their not knowing." Hermione nodded and they followed the stream of Order members and students that were filing out of the doors to meet the mass of torches that shimmered ominously in the night.