Upside Down

distinctlyME - *hums innocently* We'l just have to wait and see, won't we?

nitesfool - yay! Review! And what a lovely one it was! I will keep all of your suggestions it mind, but I have a pretty clear idea of how the Final Battle's going to go/end. It will be well worth the wait.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Ron had left Hermione in the library, the curly-headed witch went back to her tome. But she really couldn’t concentrate on the words before her. She was worried. She was so worried about the Battle it wasn’t funny. She couldn’t think of anyone who wasn’t…

The battle had been a long time coming….but there was going to be so much death. The Order was going to sacrifice so much for the wizarding world. No one was even going to know about this. By the time they found out, it would be all over…nothing they could do.

She almost missed the extra pressure on the sofa due to her mind wandering, but she looked up to see her handsome blonde boyfriend smiling at her.

“Thinking hard?” he asked. She gave a brief smile, before her face went somber again.

“Yeah. I’m thinking about next week…” she replied. She stretched out her legs in front of her, and patted her lap gently. He stretched himself out, laying his head on her legs. She began to stroke his soft blonde hair, something they had discovered he enjoyed quite a bit.

“What about it?” he asked softly, his eyes closing as she gingerly scratched at his scalp.

“I was just thinking about how much destruction there’s going to be. How much death…” her voice broke on the last word, and he opened his eyes to look up at her. She was crying. He quickly sat up, and drew her into his arms, holding her close against him. “Oh Draco…” she sobbed, and buried her face against him.

“Shh…it’s all right, Hermione.” He said softly, running his hand over the back of her head. “We’ll get through it….” He added, and kissed the top of her head. She gave another broken sob.

“But what if we don’t? What if we don’t make it?” she asked.

“Then we died fighting for something we believed in….we died for a worthy cause…” he said.

“What if one of us doesn’t make it?” she asked again, this time pulling back a little to look into his eyes.
Draco’s own silver eyes locked with her amber ones, and he stared at her for several moments.

“If I don’t make it…I don’t want you to mourn for too long. I want you to find someone to love….” He said softly. Hermione frowned.

“I don’t. If I die I want you to mourn me forever.” She pouted. At first Draco thought she was serious, but when her pout broke into a smile he snorted.

“Not bloody likely…I’ll probably be at the bar the next weekend….” He teased. She smiled fully, but then laid her head back against his strong chest, inhaling deeply as if to try and memorize his smell. He always smelled so good. She was certain it was the cologne he wore. It was a spicy scent that went so well with his natural male musk.

Draco buried his nose into the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. She smelled like apples. Draco loved apples. He also loved Hermione.

And above all, he loved the idea of everyone living happily ever after.

~~

Rodolphus entered the bedroom, intent on finding his wife for a bit of one-on-one time. He found her, all right, but she was curled up on the bed asleep with Kyra. He frowned sharply. Already the child was stealing his thunder. And he didn’t like that at all.

Kyra whimpered, and began to wiggle in her covers. Rodolphus approached the bed, and looked down at the fussing infant. She was cute enough, he supposed, as far as baby girls went. If he ever had children with Bella, he wanted a strapping son to carry on his name. Kyra had a tiny button nose, and doll-like eyes, surrounded with thick eyelashes. And her eyes were a beautiful deep blue.

She waved her little baby fists at Rodolphus, and whimpered softly. He cocked his head.

“And what is it that you want, eh?” he asked. “I’m afraid I don’t speak baby. I speak latin…and on occasions I speak French….and I’ve even been known to speak English and German….but not baby.” He said softly. Kyra whimpered again, and her chin began to wobble. Rodolphus’ eyes widened. “But I do know what that means….do not cry….crying is bad….” He said. He reached forward, and picked Kyra up from her blanket. And suddenly he had no idea what to do….

“Support her head…”

He looked down to see Bellatrix staring up at him, an amused look on her face. Rodolphus shifted Kyra so that she was nestled into the crook of his arm. There now…that was a lot more natural.

“She’s hungry.” Bella said softly. Rodolphus lifted one brown eyebrow.

“Well I’m not equipped to feed her.” He said. Bellatrix rolled her eyes.

“Neither am I, arse…she’s on formula since her biological mum isn’t here to feed her.” She said, and climbed off of the bed. She stretched languidly, and then walked to a miniature refrigerator that had been set up to store pre-made bottles for Kyra. She withdrew one of the bottles, and used her wand to warm it. She tested the warm milk on the soft skin on the underside of her forearm, and then went to Rodolphus.

“Sit down and it will be easier.” She said. Rodolphus still looked unsure about the whole situation, but he headed for a chair nonetheless. He held the infant with one arm, and took the bottle from Bellatrix with his free hand. Then, he gently pressed the nipple of the bottle against Kyra’s lips. Kyra took the nipple almost immediately, and began to drink, her little cheeks moving steadily with her sucking.

“That’s….that’s adorable.” Rodolphus admitted begrudgingly. Bellatrix nodded, and then reached down to plant a kiss on Rodolphus’ forehead. He looked up, a little surprised. “What was that for?” he asked.

“For being so damned cute with that baby.” She said. Rodolphus sniffed, and held his head up.

“I’m cute without the baby.” He said. Bellatrix smiled at him.

“Of course you are…” she teased.

When the milk was half gone, Kyra spit out the nipple.

“She has to burp.” Bellatrix said. She retrieved a small cloth, and draped it over Rodolphus’ shoulder. “Hold her up to your shoulder, and pat her back.” She said. Rodolphus handed off the bottle, and followed the request. After a few pats, he was rewarded with a great baby burp in his ear.

“Dear gods….did that come out of this child?” he asked. Bellatrix laughed.

“I’m still amazed at some of the noises that can come out of something so small.” She said. “Now finish off the milk.” She said. Rodolphus returned Kyra to her feeding position, and put the bottle back to her mouth. She resumed her feeding, and drank until the bottle was empty. Rodolphus repeated the burping ritual, and then handed the bottle and baby off to Bella, who cleaned up what little milk had made its way down her chin and onto her little clothes.

She smiled as Kyra gave a little yawn.

Rodolphus watched Bella, and watched how she interacted with Kyra. She truly did care about that child. He didn’t think he could ask her to give her up now. But if something were to happen to her during the Battle…
“Have you made provisions for the child in the event that one or both of us do not return?” he asked suddenly. Bellatrix silently went to her chest of drawers, and opened one of te drawers, pulling out a piece of paper. She held it up.

“In the event that I do not return to claim her, if there is no one that comes forward from her family, I leave Kyra with the Weasleys, along with a monthly allowance to be used in her upbringing.” She said. Rodolphus nodded, impressed, and Bellatrix put the paper away. “But I hope that I won’t need it.” She said. “I’ve been praying every night that we all come home safely. I’ve just found you, Roddy…I don’t want to lose you.” Rodolphus stood, and went to Bellatrix, and wrapped his arms around her and Kyra, holding them close.

“I care for you more than life itself, and if I lose you, I fear I cannot go on. You are my sun and moon, and my very breath. You are the reason my heart beats now. I…I love you, Bella.” He whispered.

“I love you too, Roddy.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aww....he waxed poetic for a bit there....but I thought this last scene was necessary. I do believe we've covered all the main peeps. Next....the Final Battle. I think the Battle may be in several parts....you know....just to piss everyone off...

Anyway....you've read, now rate/review....better yet....do BOTH.