Hogwarts Maelstrom. Completed!

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The dining table was beautifully made up with an opulent design in the form of food. Gold platters heaped with honeyed fruit and glazed meats of many persuasions were scattered about the long tables. Steamed fresh vegetables and freshly baked treacle tarts sat to either side of the plates. Goblets with ruby red wine glistened under the menacing candlelight. Voldemort sat at the head of the table with Lestrange to the side of him.

Lestrange looked vaguely unhappy but he still nodded when Hermione walked into the Dining Room. The enchanted ceiling had been transformed into a lighting storm and the rain fell to just above their heads. Hermione walked determinedly towards the chair that Draco pulled out for her, and had a seat across from Voldemort. Draco walked to the side, pulled out another empty chair, and seated himself.

“Wormtail, please serve out guests.” Voldemort hissed.

Wormtail moved forward towards Hermione and she fought the urge to shudder in revulsion.
“What can I get for you Miss?” He chattered and Hermione waved a hand towards the buttered trout with almond and some vegetables.

Hermione stared back at the plate and she picked up her napkin, folding it in her lap. WHAT the heck was going on here? She was starting to feel a bit like Alice.

“A yes, the Muggle tale… Alice who fell down the rabbit hole. Alice was also forced to do things that she considered reprehensible at the time. The Tea Party, what a charming thought. Wormtail, does make a bit of a mouse, doesn’t he? Would you be sad, should the mouse die in our story, Hermione?”

Hermione took a very big sip of the wine, it tasted like smooth berry-infused fire. She licked her lips, watching Voldemort. “It’s not very polite to read minds without permission.”

Voldemort arched a brow. “It’s not very healthy to take the world’s most dangerous wizard to task for such a small infraction.”

Hermione took another sip of the wine. “I’m living on borrowed time anyway.” She smirks slightly, pleased that she can be so snarky at this moment. Professor Snape would have been proud.

Draco gave her a warning look, which she ignored. Hermione suddenly felt ravenous. Her minor rebellion had gone unchallenged and she felt a burgeoning hope. She began to cut the trout and forked a bit into her mouth, chewing slowly.

Voldemort simply drank his own wine watching her. “I will find Harry Potter and Nagini. It is only a matter of time. That is not why I am keeping you here.”

Hermione should have recognized the mild tone but she plunged ahead anyway. “Oh, am I that entertaining?” Her words held the bite of sarcasm.

Voldemort laughed, and it sounded like a demented hiss. “In many ways. Some, you don’t even realize.”

Hermione dropped her fork with a clatter. “Then let’s dispense with the pleasantries, shall we?”

Voldemort looked coldly amused. “Very well.”

Hermione smiled but it did not reach her eyes. “What do you need me to figure out for you?”

Voldemort said nothing.

“What clue? What clever little cure, or what not do you need me for?” Hermione forked another bit of trout into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.

Draco could feel his heart speeding up as Voldemort narrowed his eyes at her.

“Nothing so mundane I assure you. What I want from you is something that only you can provide me with. You’re blood.” Voldemort made a steeple out of his fingertips.

“I’m to be a bloody sacrifice? How cliché! You never struck me as particularly unimaginative.” Hermione felt something akin to fear coursing through her bloodstream at Voldemort’s words despite her bravado.

Draco stared hard to Voldemort wondering if that was the case. Lestrange just continued eating as thought the conversation had veered towards the weather.

Voldemort smiles slowly and his features twist slightly in menace. “The only sacrifice you will have to make is playing brood mare.”

“What! You are arranging marriages to rub out filthy Mudbloods like me. Why would you bother trying to get me pregnant?” Hermione whispered faintly.

Hermione felt panic reaching into her throat and it began to close. Hermione struggled to breathe as anxiety rushed over her. He cannot be telling the truth. Voldemort... It was Voldemort. She lifted her eyes to Draco and she saw horror reflected there as well.

Hermione quickly turned back to Voldemort, her eyes wide.

“I’m already pregnant.” She choked.

Voldemort smirked. “Liar…”

“No, it’s true. It’s Draco’s.” Hermione whispered her face filling with shame.

Voldemort hissed. “You have been given a contraceptive for your time with Malfoy. It was in your food and drink. Impossible!”

“I knew I was being drugged. I pretending to drink it, but instead I drank from the sink during that time.” Hermione felt a rush of joy at the thought of thwarting Voldemort’s plans.

At least it was not Draco’s plan. He had nothing to do with this, except for one small but important thing.

Lestrange watched her with a hooded look. She had not told Voldemort about the antidote he had given her. Why not?

Lestrange looked at Voldemort. “It’s a small matter of her simply being held until she is ready to conceive again.”

Hermione stared down at her plate. She felt sick to her stomach. Lately she always seemed on the urge of hurling.

Draco felt gobsmacked.. Draco felt something small and good unfurl inside him at the thought of Hermione carrying his child. He quickly suppressed the feeling and grimly looked back at the table.

Voldemort looked speculatively at Hermione. “Correction Lestrange. It is a small matter of killing the child to make way for my own.”

Hermione felt something cold shift inside her when Voldemort said that. She did not want to be pregnant, but she refused let Voldemort kill her baby. Hermione’s face froze in anguish.

Draco swallowed hard at Voldemort’s words. Everything came into a sudden focus. Hermione was not going to leave him here. She was too stubborn. Draco had to be the one to force her hand.

“Yes, My Lord. It would be a good idea. I would hate to have a filthy Mudblood ruining the Malfoy family history.” Draco frowned at Hermione and something close to revulsion crawled behind his icy silver eyes.

Hermione stared at him in disgust. He wanted her to get rid of it. He was a bloody monster. She had always thought it but she knew it now. More then ever. Hermione tried to hold back the tears but they fell regardless of her wishes.

Voldemort frowned slightly. This was not going as he had planned. Malfoy was supposed to convince her to their side. How can he do that if she hates him?

“On the contrary Malfoy, this so-called Mudblood is the last heir of Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw. She is of the purest bloodline possible. That is why she is so important to our plans.” replied Voldemort.

Draco’s jaw dropped open. “Impossible.” breathed Draco, and Hermione stilled at Voldemort’s words.

“My parents…” whispered Hermione.

“….were purposefully mislead about the birth of their child. Bathilda Bagshot was holding the secret of your birth. It is how we discovered this. Stupid woman told us everything before her death.” Voldemort cut her off smugly.

“No…. I can’t be…” but suddenly Hermione knew that she was. That was why Voldemort was so patient with her. She would be the way to pump new pureblood lines into the Wizarding World. Draco was helping him. She was an utter fool. Hermione’s vision began to blur slightly and she felt nauseous. Hermione suddenly leaned over the chair and vomited onto the floor, helplessly as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Voldemort looked at her with distaste and he sighed. “This is hardly constructive.”

“You’re a fool Voldemort. An utter fool.” seethed Hermione. “I would rather die then give you what you want. You telling me just added fuel to the fire.”

Voldemort smirked. “You are being drugged into complacently.”

“We have already established how effective that was.” Hermione sneered, as she felt slightly woozy from throwing up.

“It is only ineffective if you don’t take the drug. Nevertheless, you just did.” Voldemort waved towards the wine glass and her plate.

“Welcome to your home for the next hundred years. Be assured that your sacrifice will not be in vain. The Wizarding world will be grateful to its future Mother.”

Hermione gasped and tried to pull on her last vestige of strength. Watching Hermione as she stumbled to her feet, Voldemort laughed. “Come now child, this is an honor, really.”

Hermione flung back the chair and rushed to the door. Wormtail was guarding it and she gripped the dinner fork tighter in her hand.

“MOVE, Wormtail.” whispered Hermione.

Wormtail chittered and brought up his wand. However, Hermione was running on adrenaline and desperation and she was too quick for him.

Hermione reached up with unexpected force and she stabbed the fork in the side of Wormtail’s neck as she shoved past him, grabbing his wand in the other hand. Her feet were carrying her as fast as she could go.

Voldemort stood up, no longer amused.

Voldemort stared at Lestrange and Draco who seemed frozen by what happened.

“GO after her. Bring her to me, NOW.” Voldemort whispered coldly.

Draco and Lestrange got to their feet and ran out the door after Hermione. Voldemort stared down at Wormtail.

“You disgust me! Crucio!” hissed Voldemort.

Wormtail began to scream and weep from the agony and he twisted on the floor, begging.


Draco ran towards the tunnels that led above ground. “She must have gone this way.” Lestrange nodded and followed him.

Draco exchanged a look with Lestrange. He did not know what the wizard’s intentions were towards Hermione but he sensed that this was not part of his plan.

Draco considered hexing him, and just running with Hermione for the nearest exit. All pretenses would be finished. He would be hunted for the rest of his life. On the upside, Potter was still alive and they may be able to defeat Voldemort.

If what Voldemort said was true, Hermione would be back in his clutches soon enough. Nothing would stop Voldemort from getting his hands on the true heir of Salazar Slytherin.Draco did not have much time and he began to panic as he ran through the tunnels.

Hermione could hear them coming and she cast a Disillusionment Charm on herself. Draco passed her in the tunnel and she could hear him breathing heavily from running. Lestrange soon followed and she wordlessly stared at the pipes overhead in the tunnels.

Pointing the wand Hermione thought, ‘Descendo!’ and the pipe loosened and dropped on Lestrange’s head.

Draco turned around at the sudden thump, as the pipe dropped onto Lestrange, knocking him to the ground unconscious.

“Granger?” Draco sounded panicked in the darkened tunnel.

Draco illuminated the end of his wand. His beautiful face shone under the bluish white light. He looked cold and unforgiving.

Hermione felt a sob come up that she had not realized that she was holding back.

“Yes, MALFOY.” Hermione appeared suddenly, dropping the Charm. Her anger had been causing it to flicker anyway.

Hermione pointed the wand at Draco.

“You disgust me. You really were working for Voldemort that whole time. Every time you said, you loved me, or pretended to care about me. It was all a lie.” Her voice was raw from the pain she was feeling.

“Yes. Which is even more reason you should do yourself the favor of getting rid of that mistake in your belly.” Draco’s words were flat, but it was why they hurt even more. His face was frozen in cold blankness. “You don’t want reminders of our time together, this is the only way.”

Hermione held her stomach with one white-knuckled hand, while pointing the other gripping the wand at Draco’s face. “You…bastard.” She panted and walked backwards, her eyes filled with despair.

Draco felt like he was dying inside. He knew that Voldemort would demand to know why Hermione got away. The pensieve would reveal all of this and he had to be convincing

“No, bastard is the wrong word, luv. I am far from fatherless. What you have inside you will be a bastard, unless you CUT it out.” He could feel the pain tearing him apart, as Hermione began to sob with every new word uttered.

“Come back to here, be a good girl and let me get rid of that small mistake of ours. Besides, you cant run. Your little friends took the entire aging potion. I have the vial on me for proof. Care to see? ” Draco advanced.

Hermione gasped as he stepped forward, and recoiled. Draco stared at her for a split second, almost daring her to strike him. His eyes flickered with muted pain and Hermione sent a Stunning Hex at him. Draco took the hex full blast and fell to the ground, unconscious at her feet.

Hermione knew he could have dodged, but he had not. Hermione felt fresh grief along with uncertainty.

Thinking about his words, she searched the pockets of his robe. Finding a vial that was near empty, she pocketed it. Draco had lied. There was enough for her. A sudden rush of doubt for him flooded through her and she almost reached out to touch him.

Hermione cursed as she pulled back her hand. Thoughts of more henchmen coming galvanized her into motion, and Hermione ran the length of the tunnels and headed for the Whomping Willow.

Tossing back the anti-aging potion, Hermione crawled through the opening at the base of the tree and into the small room that eventually lead to the Shrieking Shack. The drug was becoming debilitating and once she reached the top floor of the Shack, she stumbled towards the stairs.

If she could make it to Hogsmeade, she could make it out alive. Stumbling while she ran, she made it towards the door and upon opening, she closed her eyes. Now, she would know if she took enough of the potion. If she Apparated back then she was screwed.

Hermione held onto the banister and slowly made her way down to the bottom of the stairs inside the Shrieking Shack. Draco had helped her escape. She had hoped for it. She had prayed for it.

She began to stumble towards the last step of the stairs.

Moving more slowly as she crouched near the bottom, and she suddenly felt nothingness, as everything began to fade to blackness. Hermione fell the last few steps to the bottom of the stairs with a sickening thud as she struck the banister with her stomach.


......




Draco could feel a huge headache coming on and blinked his eyes. The hex had not been too bad. Draco saw Lestrange was gone, the piping sat alone on the ground. Bugger.

Draco dragged himself to his feet. If Lestrange got to her first then she was as good as caught. Draco began to run for the Whomping Willow and through the Shrieking Shack. Coming down the stairs, Draco felt his heart stop. Hermione was on the ground, covered in blood. Lestrange was over her.

“You bloody bastard. What did you do to her?” Draco rasped and raised his wand to Lestrange behind his back.. His hand was shaking and he was close to killing him, right there.

“Nothing. I found her like this. She fell, the drug overtook her and she must have passed out, falling down the stairs in the process. The fall probably injured the baby.” Lestrange sounded oddly choked up.

Draco screamed. “Petrificate Totalus!” Lestrange fell to the ground stupefied.

DAMN Voldemort, damn playing both sides, He could not do it anymore. Draco could have ripped out his hair. Draco stumbled down the last parts of the stairs to fall to his knees at Hermione’s feet.

“Oh gods... Hermione. What did he do to you?” Draco felt like he was suffocating.

Draco felt tears rolling down his face but he did not care. He gently lifted her face up and whispered.
“Episkey.” Draco felt his wand glow as he ran it over her stomach. The bleeding seemed to stop, and he picked up Hermione in his arms.

Draco moved out of the Shrieking Shack, casting a Disillusionment Charm over them. The abandoned shops called out to him. The joke shop probably had something for injury.

Draco headed for it grimly, holding the pasty-faced Hermione against him. At that moment, Draco welcomed Voldemort. Something, anything to end the pain of seeing Hermione like this.


.....


Harry was in heaven. He was buried inside of Nagini and he felt at peace. He slowly stirred, before looking into her dark golden eyes.

Harry studied the tear tracks that ran rampant down her cheeks. Harry felt unbearable sadness weigh down on him as he pushed away from her with reluctance. Harry adjusted his robes and he stared down intently at her.

“I have never felt that before with anyone.” The words seemed to be tough for him to say and she tilted her head at his apparent reluctance.

“Me either.” She pushed up from the table and folded her arms around her chest. Harry offered her the robes she wore before.

A noise froze both of them, as they heard something upstairs.

Nagini put up a hand and motioned that she would go up to the surface. Nagini shifted and slide into her snake form, curling as she moved along the floor, heading for the pipes.

Harry watched Nagini shift and he felt a pang as he realized once again, how tenuous their future really was. She was Voldemort’s snake, for Merlin’s sake.

Harry shook his head and concentrated on the sounds coming from upstairs. His wand at the ready as he waited. Suddenly Nagini hissed down to him from the pipe.

“It’s the Malfoy boy…He is searching through the abandoned stuff. Harry... He has Hermione. She looks …dead.,” hissed Nagini from above.

Harry exploded from where he was and he ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.


Pushing the hatch open. Harry cursed Malfoy off his feet, slamming him back against the wall full of boxes.

Harry’s eyes darted to the figure lying on her side at Malfoy’s feet. “Your bloody dead, Malfoy!”

Malfoy slowly climbed out of the rubble of destroyed boxes he had been thrown into. His hair was the messiest Harry had ever seen it, and his expression was of raw anger and grief.

“I move surprisingly well for the dead, Potter. But I am sure you know all about that.” Malfoy bit out sarcastically, his wand gripped in his hand.

“Do you mind? I am trying to keep her alive.” Malfoy tensed and walked towards the register and began to rummage through the stores underneath the counter.

Harry was so surprised that he temporarily lowered his wand. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She might be miscarrying.” Draco gritted out and he seized a box that looked like a small potions store.

Draco flipped through the bottles, coming on a blood-replenisher. He plucked it out and fell to his knees next to Hermione. He gently lifted her head with a worried look; he opened the dropper and gently squeezed two drops in her mouth.

“Swallow now, that’s a girl.” Draco murmured as Hermione convulsively swallowed from the strange angle of her neck.

Draco stared down at her with a cold expression, but his silver eyes were bloodshot.

“Voldemort would do anything to get her back. She was drugged and during her escape, she fell down the stairs.”

Harry felt Nagini walk up behind him as he held the wand on Draco.

Nagini whispered to Harry “He’s telling the truth about Voldemort. He needed Hermione for his own ends. If the Malfoy is here, it is because he defected. Voldemort will want him dead. I promised to protect him. He must stay here. We need to move this underground.” Nagini turned to Harry.

Harry shook his head.“No, the bastard should pay for everything he has done! Look at Hermione.” Harry seethed gripping the wand.

Nagini gave him a stubborn reproachful look. Harry stared at Hermione’s face for a long moment.

“Potter, we need to hide from Voldemort’s thugs. Unless of course you want Hermione becoming a brood mare for the Dark Lord.” Draco stared anxiously down at Hermione, squeezing her cold hand with his own.

“Guess your just going to have to trust me.” Draco smirked but it did not reach his eyes.

Harry sighed recognizing he was right. “No sudden moves Draco or I will kill you. Nia, help him carry Hermione.”

Draco rolled his eyes. “Very threatening to someone who has no reason to live. Moreover, I’m carrying her, Potter. No one else touches Hermione.”

Draco gently cradled her up into his arms and followed Harry down the hatch. Nagini flicked her tongue out thoughtfully before closing it behind them.

Once inside the kitchen, Harry cast a locking spell on the hatch. “Colloportus.”

“We have a spare cot in the pantry.” Harry opened the door to a pantry that was deserted of food stores. The random can of food was seen, but mostly the cot took up all the room.

Draco gently laid her onto of the blanket and he bent over her. Everyone seemed to freeze as Hermione moaned suddenly. Her eyes fluttered open and Draco tensed.

Hermione’s eyes were pain-filled as she met his own silver pair. “Draco…” she whispered weakly before wetting her lips.

Draco felt his heart collapse at the weakness in her voice. “Yes, Hermione.”

“Please don’t kill it.” Hermione’s eyes became glassy with sudden tears. “I’m sorry that you hate it so much but please…”

Draco felt his knees buckle at her sobbed words. He fell to his knees next to the cot and he pressed his face into her neck.

“I won’t. I promise nothing will happen to the baby.” His words seemed to relax her and she turned her face towards his chest.

Draco shuddered as Hermione fell back to sleep. Tears had snaked their way down his cheeks much to Harry’s interest. He closed the door of pantry, leaving Draco alone with her. If Malfoy wanted to kill her, he could have already.

Harry turned to see Nagini standing next to the table in the kitchen.

“Did we wake the others? Malfoy will be a hard sell for them.”

Nagini shook her head. “No. They are exhausted.”

Harry walked to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You must be tired too.”

Nagini flushed at the reaction she had to Harry’s hand. Harry saw the blush staining her golden skin and he smiled slightly. “Come, sit with me.”

Harry led her to the wall, and he pushed his back up against it, so he was facing the hatch drop. He spread his legs apart and Nagini crawled to lean up against him. Harry wrapped his arms around her belly and Nagini rested her head against his chest.

Harry gripped the wand in his hand, as his other hand stroked Nagini’s belly. He felt her heartbeat slow as she drifted to sleep.

Harry closed his eyes hesitantly before also succumbing to a uncomfortable sleep.







TBC – Read and Review as always!!!

Love Rei.