A Secret Worth Keeping

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.


A Secret Worth Keeping


Chapter Forty-One: Not So Everyday Encounters


A lonesome chirp echoed from beneath a nearby bush. A solitary sound from a lonely insect, its sad trill of a mating call echoed with no answering call from a prospective mate. In the forbidden forest, no other sounds arose but that one sad calling. No other beast would vocalize its presence in the atmosphere of danger. No other beast, save for a poor dumb cricket, would dare raise its head as the brilliant flashes of immense power danced in the air. Suddenly a voice screamed out in pain, bringing a startled stillness and a hush to the surrounding forest.

Lucius stood unsteadily under the full moon with the stars shining down on his sweat dampened head. He swayed on his right leg, barely keeping his balance. His left knee cap was broken, shattered by a Bone crushing spell, his bloody right hand crushed beyond all recognition. As blood dripped from his fingertips he kept his eyes glued firmly to the ground, not daring to bring them to meet the anger in the eyes of the one standing before him. Mentally he counted the blood drops that fell to the ground, trying to tune out the pain.

"I am disssappointed in you Luciusss," a hissing, yet gravely voice spoke, breaking the silence of the woods. "I do not like my loyalty misplaced."

"I am sorry, my Lord. I didn’t mean…"

"Crucio!" the dark voice spoke. The painful curse hit Lucius square in the chest, causing him to fall over backwards onto the ground, squirming with pain. His voice rose, hoarse from so much screaming already. Voldemort watched impassively as the curse did its job. "I have not given you permission to speak."

After what seemed a lifetime, Voldemort released the spell and watched as Lucius managed to slowly get back to his knees, barely holding back the groan brought on by the pain in his shattered knee. Though to kneel before the Dark Lord was agonizing, the pain to defy him would be a hundred times worse. So Lucius kneeled, eyes downward, waiting.

The Dark Lord stepped forward and placed his wand at Lucius‘s throat, forcing the blond man‘s eyes upward. He hissed. "I want to know why you took it upon yourself to tell Severus of my plan."

"But I didn’t, my Lord. I don’t know of any plan," Lucius pleaded.

"You told him enough, Lucius. Now he will inform Dumbledore about the upcoming attempt to grab the Mudblood’s infant." Voldemort lowered his wand and took three steps back to glare down at his servant. He was not pleased with the outcome of this meeting so far. He did not like his plots spilled, especially to those that could defeat him.

"Tell Dumbledore?"

Voldemort aimed his wand back at Lucius’ chest threateningly until the blond lowered his gaze once more, not wanting to risk another curse for insubordination. "Yes, tell him. You see, Lucius, I know of our associate’s inclination to lean towards the Light. However, I have plans to bring him back over to our side."

Lucius’s brow furrowed. "But my Lord, if he is for the Light, then he could be telling our enemies everything that we say."

Voldemort’s red eyes squinted in their anger. "Indeed, my friend. Which is why we need that child. We need something to break the Order. Something that will be damaging to them."

Lucius looked up and shivered at the look in Voldemort’s eyes. "I can get the child, my Lord. Or rather, Draco can get him."

Voldemort shook his head. "No, I have someone else in mind for this task. You will not inform anyone of my plans, Lucius. No one. Do I make myself clear?"

Lucius’s blond head ducked, cowed. "Yes, my Lord."

~0~

Draco dragged himself into the door of his dormitory. He was tired. Bone tired. It always happened when he spoke to his mother and this time, it was worse than normal. Yes, he loved his mother, but she could be tiring with her demands. In Hermione Granger’s form she was worse than usual, completely distracting improving only when she finally turned back into the familiar image that he knew as his mother. Of course, coming up with a ‘personal’ reason for him to draw her away from his father and Professor Snape hadn’t been an easy task. He slipped off his sneakers and flopped down onto his bed before he even noticed anyone was in his room.

"Draco?"

Startled, he leapt up, pulling his wand from his pants pocket. He took aim towards the shadows where a slight figure sat in an easy chair. A curse fell from his lips as he sheathed his wand and sat back onto the bed.

"What are you doing here? I thought Pomfrey told you to stay in bed."

Pansy shook her head and settled her gaze on him. "I tried. I really did, but I couldn’t stay there another minute."

Draco stood from the bed and approached her, kneeling at her feet. "How do you feel?"

Pansy’s smile was sad and she shrugged one shoulder. "I guess I feel okay. I’m not really sure how I feel right now."

"That’s understandable. I wouldn’t know what to do if I were in your shoes either." His hand reached out to cover hers in an attempt to be supportive. In all of this time, he had done everything possible to lend her that support that she needed. "Why are you here, Pansy?"

"Do you think…" Her words faltered off as her eyes darted towards the floor. A blush rose to her cheeks as she twisted her hands beneath his. Her eyes seemed haunted. She wanted to ask him a favor but was afraid to do so.

"What is it, Pansy?" She started to pull away but his hands held her tightly within their grasp. "What is it? What do I think?"

Pansy’s breath took a sudden hitch as she belted out her question. "Do you think you can get Ron Weasley down here to talk to me?"

Draco’s brows shot up to his blond fringe. "Weasel?"

Pansy’s face darkened momentarily at his familiar twist of Ron’s name. "Yes, Weasley. I really really need to talk to him. Can you?" Her blue eyes seemed to plead with him.

"Why do you need to talk to him?" Damned if he wasn’t confused by that question.

"It’s…personal. Please, Draco…for me." Pansy’s eyes filled with tears and Draco sighed deeply. Man, he was turning into such a sucker.

"Fine, Pansy. I’ll get Hermione to give him a message and we’ll take it from there."

Pansy’s face lit up and she leaned forward to hug him. "Oh, thank you, Draco. Thank you so much."

"Don’t thank me yet, Pansy. I don’t like you having anything to do with him, especially now that things are so tentative between the DaRats."

"It’s especially now that I need to talk to him. I can’t explain it, Draco. Not even to myself…but I need to see him. To hear him…to…talk to him. He…" She paused, trying to say what she couldn’t explain to herself. "He…listens to me…and talks to me…and…and he…cares."

"We all care, Pansy." Draco cocked his head to study her more closely.

"I know you do, Draco. But you have Susan to worry about now. I can’t take your worries from her. Ron…I mean, Weasley…well, he’s made it clear that…that he wants to help me."

"How?"

"I don’t know. I don’t know if he knows really, but I know he wants to help."

Draco shook his head and sat back on his heals, studying her. "Just be careful, Pans. That’s all I ask for."

Pansy leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I will, Drake…I promise. I have a lot to think about over the next few days. I will do what I can, when I can…and hopefully I won’t fuck things up more than I have so far."

"You didn’t fuck up this time, Pansy." Draco returned.

"Not intentionally, but I did forget the pregnancy potion."

"You were taken to that revel unexpectedly. How could’ve you known you would need the potion that time?"

"Still…"

"Still nothing. None of this was your fault, Pansy. None of it." Pansy cast her eyes downward, but Draco moved closer and, using his fingers, forced her to look him in the eyes. "None of this is your fault."

"I know," she whispered softly.

"Then don’t let them beat you."

"But the baby…"

"Not yet…you have a little while longer to think of that. Take that time to consider all possibilities. A baby is a blessing, Pansy, not a curse. But you are young so there is that to consider." He paused as his eyes swept over her still slender body. "You have time to think it all over and I’m sure you will make the right decision for you."

"Thanks, Draco," she whispered quietly.

"No problem. Now please go back to the infirmary before Pomfrey comes looking for you."

Pansy huffed and stood to her feet. "I don’t want to go back there. All she does is hem and haw over me."

"Then let her. You need a bit of pampering right now."

"I’m not crippled, Draco. I’m pregnant."

"Even more reason to enjoy the pampering. Now go. I don’t want her wandering in here later. I have plans with Susan."

Pansy smiled then and shook her head. "Ah…I see." She chuckled as she made towards the door. "Well, have fun and…Draco…be careful, don’t put her in my shoes."

Draco laughed and shook his head. "Don’t you worry about us…we’re safe."

"Better be," Pansy warned before wishing him goodbye.

~0~

"Are you feeling better?"

"Much." Severus groaned and moved off of her smaller body to lie next to her. Although it was only their second time to make love, it already felt comfortable, natural.

Hermione turned and laid her head on his chest. "Good. I hate it when you worry."

"I hate having to worry too, love. But in this day and time I can’t NOT worry. I have to much too lose this time around."

"You won’t lose, Severus. Everything around us is providing for this last fight. You know, love is what protected Harry in his infancy. It could very well help Sebastian, as well."

"True. No child could be more loved than him."

"Exactly. He has enough people to love him to help protect him from Voldyshorts."

Severus chuckled lightly at her slight name calling. "Careful, my love…I wouldn’t like him to catch that little name calling."

"Bah…If I can call him Voldemort and not shrivel with fear, I can call him Voldyshorts with equal ease."

He laughed louder at her words and pulled her closer into his embrace. "You, my dear, are incorrigible. And I love you all the more for it."

"Good.

~0~

"Hey, Granger!"

Hermione stopped in her tracks and swung around at the sound of her name being called. She allowed a small smile at the man running towards her. After a quick glance cast around the empty hallway, she indicated a door to her right and disappeared inside, followed by the other figure. Once inside, he closed the door with a quiet snap and turned to her.

"Not wise to call my name in a hallway that echoes, Draco. What’s that important?"

Draco leaned against the door and shook his head slightly. "It’s Pansy."

Immediately Hermione went into work mode. "Does she need to talk to me? Is it the baby?"

Draco’s hand moved up, palm outward, to stave off the questions. "It’s not like that, Yes, she wants to talk, but not to you. For some odd reason, she wants to talk to Weasley."

"Ron?"

"Yeah. Last night she came to me asking if I could get Ron to come and talk to her. I don’t know why. For some reason she thinks that Weasley…cares."

"That’s because he does, Draco. He does care. That’s his nature."

"Being a pain in the ass is his nature," Draco teased with an impish grin.

"Well, that’s his second nature." Hermione grinned back. "I’ll talk to him during next class. I’m sure he would love to go talk to her. Is she still in the infirmary?"

"Yeah, Pomfrey won’t allow her out for a few days yet. She’s worried that the baby could still miscarry if Pansy tries to do too much right now."

"Well, better safe than sorry," Hermione agreed as she glanced at her wrist for the time. "We should get to class. I’ll talk to Ron. I’m sure he will go and talk to Pansy before the day is over."

"Thanks, Granger." Draco reached out a hand, which Hermione promptly shook.

"Don’t mention it. We are all in this together."

Draco nodded and turned to open the door. After a quick scan of the hallway, he stepped out before turning back to her. "I think there is an old saying that goes…One for all, and all for one?"

"The Three Musketeers and D’Artagnan. Works for me. Just don’t call me Porthos."

Draco shook his head. "Not if I want to live. I know how women are with their weight."

"Draco…" Hermione warned good-humoredly as she pulled her wand.

"Oops…gotta go." Draco laughed as he sprinted up the hallway towards their next class.

"Jerk,” she chuckled as she followed behind.

~0~

Ron opened the door of the hospital wing and stepped inside. Immediately he grimaced at the ammonia smell that assaulted his nose. He hated this place, hated the smell, hated the reason any one would be lying in the beds that lined the walls. He hated the fact that a hurt person would have to stay in such a strictly sterile atmosphere. In his opinion, such a place would be more alarming to the sick than a nice, comfortable bed in a nice, healthy atmosphere like a normal bedroom with normal furnishings. A hospital should be more hospitable…not more…

"Ron?"

His eyes turned to the one bed that was occupied. A smile formed on his lips as he made his way over.

"Hey, I heard you wanted to talk to me." He reached out and covered her hand with his. "How are you feeling?"

"I did. I just…" Pansy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I just…wanted to see you."

Ron pulled up a chair and took a seat. "Well, here I am, in the flesh." His grin reflected in his eyes, causing her to smile back.

"I don’t know why…" She started to say but stopped to clear her voice. "That’s not true, I do know why I wanted to see you. But…It’s hard to say."

Ron’s hand squeezed hers. "It’s only words, Pansy. Nothing should be hard to say between friends."

She opened her eyes and looked into his eyes, seeing the kindness there. "Are we friends, Ron?"

"I’d like to think so."

Pansy nodded and seemed to cast about for her thoughts. "I have never had a real…friend…before."

"I’m sure that’s not true."

"Do you know, that…since I’ve been up here, I’ve only had three visitors? Draco, Millicent and now you." Her eyes showed her sadness and Ron leaned over to brush away a stray strand of her hair from her forehead.

"I would have come sooner…but."

"I know. It would have looked suspicious if you did. You really shouldn’t be here now, but…I just wanted to see you."

Ron’s eyes sobered slightly as he stared down at the pale woman. "How’s the baby?"

"Surviving so far. Pomfrey won’t let me go for a few more days. She wants to be sure that my uterus lining is completely repaired before she releases me. I hate being in here." Her hand drifted down to cover her stomach. To her amazement, she felt Ron’s hand join her there. Without thinking, she entwined her fingers with his.

"You just do whatever Pomfrey asks. I don’t want anything happening to you or the baby."

"I promise…only…Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you come back to see me again?"

"Just try and keep me away." He lifted her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles. "I had better go. Don’t want Pomfrey to catch me in here." He grinned as he gently lowered her hand. "She would probably want to give me a potion to stop the next flu that’s going around or something."

"What flu?" Pansy’s eyes clouded over slightly.

"Exactly!" Ron exclaimed and threw his hands in the air comically. "There is none, so I had best go before she gets here and forces it down me anyway."

"You are nuts. You make no sense." Pansy grinned.

"Maybe. But I don’t want to take any chances." Without further thought, he leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. "I’ll be back tomorrow morning to see you."

"Okay," she replied, raising her fingertip to her lips in pleasant surprise. Ron watched the play of her finger across her mouth and realized what he had just done. A gentle smile lit his eyes as he bent down once more and captured her lips with his, kissing her more convincingly. When he pulled away, he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Don’t cry."

"I’m not." She sniffed.

"It wasn’t that bad, was it?" he jested.

"No…it was that good," she replied with a teary smile. "I’ve just never been kissed like that before."

Ron stood up once more and sighed. "I’ll just have to make sure that you are…more often."

"I’ll hold you to that, Ron Weasley." She sighed and looked towards the door where she knew Pomfrey was. "You had better go. I think I hear her coming."

Ron cast a quick glance to the door before leaning down to kiss her one last time. "I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Okay." She sighed happily and leaned back into her pillow. "Tomorrow."

The rustle from the outer hallway prompted Ron to hustle. At the door, he paused and turned to wave one more time and mouthed, "Bye," before he was gone.

The other door opened and Pomfrey charged in, looking around. "I thought I heard voices."

Pansy closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. The only tell tale sign was the smile of contentment that lay on her rose kissed lips.

Things were falling into place for her. Finally.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

AN: Utopia: It is all right. I dont mind the questions. A true Wiccan wont be offended if you took a slight interest. a question or two doesnt offend us.

Blessed Be!

RWH