Daimons

Chapter 26

“Thissss,” Voldemort hissed, “was a simple assignment. How did this go so terrible wrong?” The Dark Lord’s anger was filled with a quiet rage. This wasn’t like a rattlesnake that would warn you before it struck, but like a viper that would strike with deadly silence. “My consort isss dead, my child isss lost. How shall I deal with theses lossses? Should I take revenge on my loyal servants, who failed me miserably, or should I crush my enemies with my bare hands?” He paced slowly around the room, circling his retinues, watching for the slightest sign of deceit. One or more of his most trusted had betrayed him, this he knew. Now he must figure out, which of those who knew of his plans betrayed that trust. Another time, when his numbers were much greater, he would have kissed them all, just to be… cautious. Now, the Aurors had imprisoned many of his servants. It didn’t matter that the charges were trumped up, they still were unable to serve him from prison. No he needed now, more that ever, every one of them, except the one that betrayed him.

“My Lord,” either Gavin was very brave or very foolish when he spoke, “I am sure that it did not elude you that one of us must be a spy for the Order of the Phoenix.”

Voldemort stepped in front of Gavin, his lizard like fingers tightened tightly around the Daimon’s neck. “Was it you?” The Dark Lord looked deep into his mind, searching for deceit. Disappointed, he forcefully shoved Gavin, sending him flying across the room. Most of the Death Eaters cringed when his head hit the wall, cracking open like a coconut.

“Which one… which one…” His slow movement steadily went faster until he was a dervish, swirling around the room. As if he hit a stone wall he stopped, his eyes glowing red, he reached out for the two nearest Death Eaters. Blood flowed from where the Dark Lord’s fingers pressed into their necks. With strength that belied his stature, he lifted his servants into the air. The followers hands went to their necks trying desperately to pry the fingers away. With a laugh that could only be called maniacal, Voldemort snapped their necks. He held them until all movement stopped and they hung loosely in his grip. After dropping the lifeless bodies to the floor, he stepped over them to address his servants.

“Let this be a warning to anyone who betrays my trust. I shall search you out and crush you with my bare hands. Clean this mess up. I shall be in my chamber mourning the loss of Lucius and my child. Do not disturb me. Is that understood?”

His minions bowed and touched their foreheads to the floor as he sauntered from the room.

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Hermione felt the slight tingling sensation that let her know that the wards of her gilded cage had fallen. Wrapping the sheet about her body as she had done previously, she slowly turned the knob of the door. Relief filled her when the door gave to her touch. Her bare feet slapped on the stone floor as she ran down the hall. Malfoy’s mansion seemed deserted. There was not even a house elf to stop her.

Her only hope was to get to the garden where all of the wards would be down and she could apparate back to Hogwarts. Unconsciously, her delicate fingers brushed the half-moon necklace that Gavin had given her what seemed a lifetime ago.

Even with all the twists and turns of the manor she thought she remembered where the ballroom was and from there the garden beyond. As she got closer to what she thought was the ballroom she slowed her action to a crawl. Listening, she took one step at a time.

Silently moving down the hall, she heard voices coming towards her. She ducked into an alcove and hid behind the tapestry that hung from the ceiling. Peering around the edge she watched in horror as the Death Eaters were floating two lifeless bodies down the hall. Hermione covered her mouth to stifle any sounds when she heard them talk.

“What about Gavin?”

“We’ll come back for his body, once we get rid of these two.”

“As long as we get rid of the body before the Dark Lord reappears, I don’t care how long it takes.”

Her Gavin was dead. All that she lived through was for nothing. Not caring if she was caught or not she walked mindlessly into the room where her beloved lay. She wasn’t even aware of the tears that flowed down her face as she walked to Gavin’s remains. Sitting on the floor she rested his bloody head on her lap and stroked his blood soaked hair.

“No matter what you did I never stopped loving you.” She leaned down and kissed his bluish lips. Her heart stopped beating when she heard a soft moan come from her lover.

“Oh Merlin, you’re alive.” She panicked for a moment before she knew what had to be done. She grabbed him under the armpits and started to drag the large Daimon across the floor to the garden. She heard voices coming down the hall. The Death Eaters were coming back for Gavin. She pulled with all of her strength as the voices came closer. The heels of the Daimon’s feet were still in the doorway when Voldemort’s servants entered the room. As they drew their wands Hermione gave one last surge and pulled him clear of the door. She saw the flash of green lights when she grabbed her charm. Closing her eyes she spoke the word that sent her and Gavin to the middle of the Quidditch field.

She protectively curled her body around Gavin. She stayed that way until strong hands pulled her away from him. She hesitantly turned her head and opened her eyes, to her relief, to see Armstrong. He gently pulled her away from Gavin to let Del get a closer look at how bad the Daimon was.

“Hermione?” Harry came running up, closely followed by Ron.

“Harry.” She broke loose of Armstrong’s hold and ran into the arms of one of her best friends.

“Oh thank you God,” Harry whispered as he held her close.

“Hope you’re not to angry with me.” She grinned as she clung onto Harry. She turned to the Healer. “Del?” She didn’t have to finish the sentence.

“Don’t know,” was his simple reply.

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Severus was back into bed. Armstrong lifted his husband up and placed him in the bed next to Ron. The Daimon placed a charm on the bed to prevent Severus from doing something that he may regret at a later date.

Draco pulled out a chess board to keep his godfather’s mind busy until Del and Armstrong returned. When Hogwarts’ wards sounded the two men rushed off leaving Severus fuming.

“I plan to carry your father’s daughter,” Severus said as a matter of fact.

“I believe you,” Draco said as he moved his pawn forward. “But I have to wonder why this is so important to you.”

Severus snickered. “I too wonder why it’s so important… All I know is, I have to. Haven’t you ever felt that you had to do something… that it was the most significant decision of your life.”

“Yes, I guess I do. When I adopted Tyler I felt that way.”

Severus was so proud how his godson had grown in the few months he was gone. “When do I get to meet my new godson?”

“Well, about that… Ron sort of wanted Fred and George to be Tyler’s godfathers.” He quickly tried to explain his choice. “Tyler so impish that we thought that the twins might be able to handle him a little better than you.” He hoped he didn’t hurt his godfather’s feelings.

“You can make whoever you want as the boy’s godfather. It will not change the fact that I will keep an eye on him as I have you for all these years.”

Draco needed to tell Severus about Tyler’s parentage. “There is something I need to tell you… a secret.” There was a long uncomfortable pause.

“Draco, I’m waiting.” Severus was never known for his patience.

“His mother was a muggle.”

“As my father was, go on.”

“She was raped by a group of Death Eaters. One of the men was my father.”

“Are you trying to tell me that Lucius is the father of Tyler?” Severus turned to look at Lucius. He looked so beautiful in sleep, a sleep that Severus knew he would never awake from. Only magic kept him alive, soon even that would fail the Death Eater. A pang went through him when he thought how perfect it was to be in his arms.

“He has the Malfoy’s birthmark and,” Draco turned to his dying father, “Tyler looks just like him. I know I should be heartbroken but I can’t seem to muster any feeling for him.”

“He hadn’t been a real father to you for years… if ever.”

“Severus?”

“Yes?”

“Were you planning of keeping the baby once it was born?”

“Huh…” It was a breath of surprise. “I never thought any farther than to giving birth to her.”

“I… I want to adopt her after she is born. I want my family as near to me as possible. How would you feel about that?” Draco wouldn’t look at his godfather.

“Yes, for some reason I feel that would be the right thing to do. But only if I can be her godfather,” he added.

Draco laughed. “Yes… yes no one but you.” He was almost bubbling with joy.

“Now, all I have to do is convince my stubborn husband that seeing that child to term is the only choice I have.”

The door flew open. Del was bringing Gavin in on a stretcher. Severus could see his head heavily bandaged, his eyes were open but unfocused.

“We’re going to have to move everyone to the infirmary at Hogwarts, my little home can’t handle anymore patients.”

Armstrong moved to his husband to sit next to him only to be glared at. “I’m still mad at you and unless you let me carry Lucius’ unborn child you shall never get within five meters from me again.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Ron started to stir. Draco immediately was by his side. Ron hadn’t woken since the battle and had no idea that he had lost his leg. He wanted to reassure his lover that nothing had changed, he still loved him madly.

They all turned their head when they heard a woman’s scream. Rose Marie was leaning on Remus. She was squeezing Remus’ hand so hard that the sound of bones cracking could be heard.

“Rose has gone into labor. Her contractions are less than two minutes apart,” Remus said between clenched teeth.

Del looked about his crowded living room. “Anyone who does not need medical attention… out, that includes Armstrong, Hermione, Draco, and Remus. One of you please, kindly, floo call St. Mungo’s and request some help. Now get going.”

They all began to protest until they heard Rose Marie scream in pain again. On second thought they all thought it was a good idea to leave.

Feeling he had no other choice, Del put everyone into a mild, magically induced sleep. After getting Rose on the table, Del saw that she had not dilated enough to give birth.

“Shit,” he swore. “It’s going to be a long night.”