Hurt

A/N: Okay, I'm responding to some of the reviews that I've gotten in the last few days.

hamie: Yes, I know 'baby' is spelled with a 'y' not an 'e'. They were saying 'babe' on purpose. It's another way to say 'baby' or 'infant'. I use the term 'babe' when talking about my son.

LuxMcGhee: The reason all Dumbledore wants is child support from Lucius is because he doesn't want Lucius to hurt her again by being around. Draco was told because Severus didn't want to face Lucius' wrath when told the news. And because I like making Draco angry.

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Remus blinks awake as Hermione stretches against him a week later. She adjusts her head on his shoulder so he smiles into her hair. He runs his fingers through her hair then presses a tender kiss to her hairline.

A sudden, urgent knock on the door causes her to jerk and awaken. The door swings open as she sits up and leans over Remus when he groans in pain. “Remus, there’s been another attack,” Minerva gasps. The pained man squeaks in response and curls up more.

“Where?” he groans into the pillows. Hermione shifts away from him so he sits up to look at Minerva. “What happened?” he asks. The older woman looks to Hermione.

“I need to borrow Remus from you for a while. We’re heading to Bristol. Harry will stay with you until we return,” she says. Hermione looks at Remus then nods slightly. Minerva leaves the room as Remus stands from the bed.

He pulls a pair of jeans on over his boxers then looks to Hermione. “What time is it?” he asks softly. She looks to the watch on his bedside table then tosses it to him. He smiles at her then pulls a t-shirt on. “I’ll try to hurry, okay? They just need me to find survivors, that’s all. You behave for Harry, all right?” he teases.

Hermione blushes and nods slightly so he kisses her cheek. The door opens again and Harry enters, grinning sleepily. Remus pats his shoulder as he passes by him. “Take care of her,” he murmurs. Harry nods in response.

~~~~~~~~~~

Harry watches as Hermione sips on the cup of tea he made for her. “Are you still tired?” he asks and settles on the couch next to her. She watches him warily then nods.

He takes the empty cup from her hands and sets it on the table. “You go on back to bed. Remus will be here shortly,” he murmurs and nods to the bedroom door. Harry stands and opens the door for her so she moves over to him.

“Mione?” he inquires then blinks when she presses a kiss to his cheek before slipping into the bedroom. She shuts the door then pads over to the window when she hears a soft tapping. The same owl as before flies into the room then perches on the arm of a nearby chair.

Hermione studies the owl then takes the parchment and pouch from it. She looks the pouch over then returns her gaze to the bird. The door opens again so she lifts her head. Remus sighs as he moves over to her.

“We need to talk,” he mumbles and sits on the bed. Hermione frowns as he cradles something in his arms. “The attack tonight…” he starts then shakes his head.

“What happened?” she asks and tries to identify the bundle. Her eyes widen when the blankets shift with the movement of the thing inside. Remus pulls the blanket away so Hermione gasps.

“He was the only survivor,” he states as the tiny boy shifts again then lets out a wail. Hermione automatically scoops the baby into her arms and rocks the poor thing. Remus glances at the owl still perched on the chair then stands. The crumple of parchment under his boot makes him look down.

Hermione coos to the baby as she cuddles him. Remus picks up the fallen letter and frowns at it. “Hermione? What’s this?” he asks and waves the parchment at her. She shrugs slightly without taking her gaze off the infant. He sighs and opens the scroll.

“It’s addressed to you, Hermione. ‘Granger, I advise you keep yourself out of the spotlight for the next few years. Otherwise, we may have a rather more unpleasant meeting. L.M.’ Lucius Malfoy. How nice of him to send a threatening letter to a girl he just raped,” he growls, causing Hermione to look up from the baby.

The owl hoots from its perch so he glares at it then snatches the letter and pouch from the seat of the chair. He opens the parchment and scans it then pulls a vial out of the pouch. “What’s that?” she asks and moves over to him. He looks at her.

“Hermione, do you want to keep these babies?” he asks. She nods and holds the baby closer while resting her hand on her belly.

“They are mine. They deserve a chance,” she mumbles. Remus nods then holds the newest letter for her to read. “’Get rid of the brats. L.M.’ That horrid man!” she seethes. Remus blinks when she rips the vial out of his fingers and smashes it on the bedroom floor.

~~~~~~~~~~

Poppy looks up when Hermione pads into the infirmary with the baby in her arms the next morning. The older woman smiles. “I was just coming to see you dear. Where’s Remus?” she asks. Hermione bites her lip and glances down at the baby boy. Poppy nods in response. “Come sit here, I’ll prepare a bottle for him,” she murmurs.

Hermione settles in the chair indicated so Poppy moves to the other side of the room. The baby whimpers so Hermione strokes his soft black hair as the doors open again. Remus enters with Albus and Severus in his wake. Poppy returns to Hermione’s side and holds a bottle out for her. “Here you go dear,” she says.

Remus presses a kiss to Hermione’s forehead and crouches next to her as she feeds the baby. Severus watches her interact with the baby. “Are you two bonding?” Albus inquires and looks at her over the top of his glasses. “Do we know his name?”

“No, he hasn’t been named yet. I spoke with the neighbors today… he was born at home just a few hours before the attack. What shall we do with him?” Remus asks and looks to Albus. The older man shakes his head slightly.

“There’s nothing we can do aside from place him in an orphanage,” he says.

“NO!” Hermione cries and holds the boy closer. The three men blink at her in shock then Remus moves to touch her cheek.

“Hermione, we can’t care for him,” he says then yelps when she bites him.

She stands from the chair and glares at the three then storms from the infirmary.

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A/N: All right, another chapter up! If any questions arise, just leave a review. Think Remus and Hermione should put that baby into an orphanage or not? We now know what was in that letter... not much but it still made Remus angry. I wonder what was going through Severus' head when he saw her with the baby. I'm still taking votes for names and sex of the one Hermione's carrying. Onward!