Contemplations of Birth - REVISED

Author: Saavik

Disclaimer: I don't own it, I don't need to. I have more fun playing with it this way.

Summary: Hermione is in trouble and goes to the one place she thinks will hold her salvation. Is the solution worse than the problem or is it in fact better?

Chapter Thirteen

"God damn you, Lucius!" Severus swore and pushed his friend's hand away.

"Severus, we have to do something!" Lucius didn't notice the potion master's glare. "He's going…ouch. What is wrong?" Severus had finally expressed his displeasure in a manner Lucius understood. He'd punched him.

"Draco is taking Hermione to the guest room and Voldemort intends to have him impregnate her and pass the child off as mine. Hermione killed Soren and now Draco is going to take his place in the plan!" Severus growled out and angrily shoved his hair behind his ear.

"How do you know this?" Lucius rubbed his jaw.

"We don't have time for me to go over everything again! What are we going to do?"

"Calm down. Draco won't hurt her. The boy is far more intelligent than I care to contemplate. He'll get her out. Now as for you." Lucius tried to pull/push Severus out of the cell door. Instead of following, Severus rotated on his heel and began to pace.

"I'm safe. Didn't you hear what He said? They have to keep me alive. If I die, Albus' scrying spells will show it. As long as I'm living, Voldemort can legitimately claim any of Hermione's children as mine. He wants control of all three Houses."

"What, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin?" Lucius was still rubbing his jaw and had given up on getting his friend out of the cell. Instead, he had conjured a chair and was casually lounging.

"NO! The three founding Houses of Slytherin. Snape, Malfoy, and Penwrath. He thinks Draco is His to control. So the Malfoy House is His. Then all He needs is the Penwrath and Snape Houses. If Draco sires a child on Hermione, then passes it off as mine, the child can be raised to follow, not only the Dark Arts, but the Dark Lord Himself. Then Hermione has a second child, the Penwrath heir. After that, Voldemort plans on killing her and taking both children to be trained alongside Draco's heir, which should be born by then. All three children will inherit their respective Houses. After spending their entire childhood under the watchful eye of the bastard himself, they will be totally loyal to him."

Lucius sat up straight. "But that could take years."

Severus glared at the wall. "Evidently, He's willing to wait."

"Draco won't do it. The boy has more sense than that. He didn't want the Mark. He would never let his own children...wait a minute. He's only sixteen. What is Voldemort doing breeding my sixteen year old son like a horse!" Now the blond took up pacing as well.

"The same thing He's doing breeding my wife like one. Damn git. Even muggles have given up on eugenics."

Lucius slid down the cell wall and onto the floor. "First He pawns that Parkinson chit off on us and now this."

"Yes, well, who ever said being a Death Eater would be fun." Severus muttered.

"I did." The blond stared off into space.

Severus glanced down at his friend and joined him on the floor after eyeing the chair longingly. "Obviously you were mistaken." Severus prayed to whatever deity might not hate him that Lucius didn't break down again. Now was not the time.

"Obviously." Lucius gave a halfhearted smile.

"You seem more collected." Severus observed wearily.

"I apologize for my momentary lapse. I have...some deep-seated issues I need to work out. Now, however, is not the time. We need a plan. The Malfoys are the planning elite and you are the Head of Slytherin. The two of us should be able to work a way out of this." Lucius unconsciously echoed his friend's thoughts.

"If you hadn't distracted me I'd know what was happening to the Child." Snape muttered and tried to tuck the bothersome strand of hair behind his right ear again.

"I'll tell you what is happening." Draco's voice came from outside the cell. The younger blond sneered at the older men crouched on the floor. "You two really need to cast wards before holding this type of conversation. Had I been Wormtail you'd be dead." He opened the cell door and leaned against the frame, smirking.

"Wormtail can't get into the dungeons. After I...emptied them...I set up a blood ward. It is invisible, but only those whose blood is recognized can enter or leave. I set it to the Malfoy and Snape families only. Even if Voldemort himself tried to get down here, He couldn't. The wards are part of the manor's main defenses, only extended. A thousand generations of Malfoys have added their power. It should be enough to counter even the Dark Lord." Lucius shuttered. "He wasn't too happy when He found out."

"Great. That means I can't hide Gran...Hermione down here." Draco lost his confident stance. "You mean to say even you can't bring a prisoner in here? What use are dungeons if only the FAMILY can enter them?" Draco raised an eyebrow and Lucius simply ignored him. Severus, however, had other things on his mind than the validity of warding a dungeon so heavily it was useless.

"What, exactly, did you do with my wife, Mr. Malfoy?" The cold, hard tone of the potion master snapped both blondes back to the task at hand.

"She's back in the guestroom, Professor. I have Soren's body stashed in the icehouse till morning. I'm to take Hermione to Ravenshire and change the wards so she can't leave or send messages. Then the plan is I go to Dumbledore with Wale's body..."

Severus cut him off. "I heard. Don't ask how. Doesn't He realize you can't alter Ravenshire's wards? Only a Penwrath of magical blood can do that. All the Houses of old blood are that way. Only a member of the House can tamper with the wards. Not only that, if you don't have permission to enter, you won't make it past the gates."

"The damn half-blood doesn't get a lot. He thinks His little plan of having me impregnate the know-it...Hermione, will work. There is no way illusions strong enough to make a Malfoy look like a Snape would go undetected. Not to mention the kid would have to go to Hogwarts if he wanted to have any respect in Britain. At the present rate, Dumbledore will still be alive and Headmaster. If for some unfathomable reason the deception hadn't been discovered by then, the old man would see right through it. And as wonderful as it would be to have the three Slytherin Houses united under Him, there are easier ways to gain their support. He seems to have become obsessed with BREEDING His way to power."

"We've established the unfeasibility of His plan. Now we need one." Lucius looked back and forth between his son and friend. "One that gets all of us out of here alive."

Severus paced back and forth. "Draco, take Hermione back to Ravenshire. Once inside the grounds it shouldn't be too difficult for her to 'overpower' you. That way you have a viable excuse for the Dark Lord. Go back to Hogwarts after she has time to get there. Report to Dumbledore and go with the whole repentant Death Eater/Imperius angle. Hermione will back you up. Then when you answer the summons from Voldemort, tell Him what happened, but be sure to play up how you saved the situation by getting Hermione on your side and helping to convince Albus of your loyalty."

"But Severus, that leaves you down here. Once Hermione is safely back at Hogwarts Voldemort will realize His plan is not going to work. You're as good as dead." Lucius looked aghast at the suggestion.

"Hermione will be safe, and so will Draco. That is all that matters."

"I won't do it, and neither will Hermione. She will not leave without you." Draco glared at the potion master. "You are too important to rot down here. And besides, Granger doesn't trust me. She would never back me to Dumbledore and Voldemort knows it."

"She will if you force her. Tell the Dark Lord you have blackmail on her or something."

"I can't force that she-demon! She cursed the Dark Lord and almost succeeded. The damn thing's dangerous." Draco started then shivered.

Severus glared and assumed his most intimidating classroom tone. "Watch it Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius sneered with irritation. "Stop it, you two. Severus, you are getting out of here if I have to stun you and owl you to Dumbledore myself. Draco, you go back to Hermione. Simplest plans first, gentlemen." He turned to look at Severus. "I take it you are the one who taught Hermione wandless magic?" Severus nodded and Lucius suddenly grinned. "I've been thinking ever since you did that wandless spell on my robes earlier. All you have to do is incapacitate me sufficiently to make it look like I fought to keep you here. Once you get past me, run for the upstairs. You remember the secret passage out of the kitchen to the third floor guest wing?" Severus narrowed his eyes but nodded. "Good. Once there I trust you can overpower Draco without killing him."

Lucius turned to Draco. "Fight him off, but don't work to hard at it. I want both of you out of this in one piece." He turned back to Severus. "Once you get past Draco, grab the girl and head for the back staircase out through Narcissa's chambers. She should be sedated and I doubt you'd have a problem even if she were awake. Parkinson might raise an alarm so steer clear of her rooms - second floor, west wing."

Draco's jaw dropped. "Wait a minute. That can't work. It is too simple."

Severus glared at his student. "The simplest plans often work the best."

"Classic, Draco. The plan is classic." Lucius robbed his eyes. He was getting a headache.

"And predictable. Is the Dark Lord really going to believe Prof. Snape got past both of us?"

"I will just have to make it convincing. I hope you have a high pain tolerance." Severus glanced at his student who paled.

Draco rolled his eyes. "I'll need one. I highly doubt I'll get any sympathy from the crazy bastard, most likely a round or two of Cruciatus for failing. But how exactly am I to get back into Hogwarts? If you and Hermione make it back and tell Dumbledore the plan my cover will be blown before I even establish it. The Dark Lord will not let me leave only to be sent to Azkaban. He'll try and find another use for me. One, I'm sure, that will prove difficult for me to carry out."

Silence.

"Damn." Lucius and Severus both swore at the same time. They began pacing again.

"Look, I can't stay down here long. Wormtail is most likely going to be checking on me soon to make sure I'm...following orders with Hermione. I have to go fake some noise or something." Draco shivered with distaste.

"You had better be faking it." Severus growled out.

"Yes, Professor." Severus' confidence wasn't increased by the Malfoy heir's smirk.

"Did they leave you with the Macnair 's orb?" Lucius asked distracted by a trace of dust on his robes.

"Yes. It's mounted on the wall behind a security ward. If I tamper with it, an alarm goes off."

"The best course of action may be to take her to Ravenshire for now. We'll come up with something." Lucius responded, after removing the offending piece of rubbish.

Draco looked doubtful. "I hope so, father."

"Get out of here, Draco. Look after her for me?" Severus placed a hand on his prized student's shoulder.

"Of course, Professor. She'll be fine." The two nodded at each other in silent accord and Draco left the dungeons, on the lookout for any of Voldemort's other servants.

"What are we going to do?" Lucius asked again as Severus turned back into the cell.

"I'm going to try seeing what your randy little heir is doing with my wife, for one. And you are going to leave me alone. I need to concentrate."

"But what am I supposed to do?" Lucius almost whined.

Severus raised his eyes heavenward in a plea for patience. "You are an adult. Entertain yourself."

Lucius stood and simply stared.

Severus sighed. "Oh, fine. Go bother Parkinson. She was watching from the staircase earlier. It might be a good idea to find out how much she saw and contain the information. During her time at Hogwarts she was a bit of a gossip."

Lucius paled and ran for the door. He turned and remembered to lock the cell door just before leaving. "Not that it would matter."

"Go. Away."

Lucius grinned and waved as he walked out.

"Crazy, insane, bloody lost it he has." Severus mumbled and began trying to reestablish his link to Hermione. He had just managed to gain enough concentration to attempt opening the link when suddenly the bracelet flared hot and he knew, just knew he had to get to his wife.

The cell door was open before he even thought about it. Lucius had had just enough time to exit the dungeons and make it to the second floor, west wing. Severus hoped the man had heeded his suggestion. Even without a plan, Severus couldn't leave Hermione in whatever danger she was in. He headed quickly for the passage from the kitchens to the guest quarters.

As he neared the rooms he saw something that completely unnerved him. Narcissa Malfoy had her son at wand point in the hall with Hermione standing behind him in the doorway. She looked like she had just fought off heavy sedation, her clothes were wrinkled, and her hair uncombed. The potion master was distinctly reminded of the description of Bertha from that muggle novel Jane Eyre.

"Mother...mother, put the wand down." Draco was trying to calm the woman and seemed to be failing miserably.

"I don't know you anymore, Draco. My SON would never do..." The Lady Malfoy was shaking violently and her eyes couldn't or wouldn't focus on any one thing for long. She kept her wand trailed on her son and was oblivious to Severus' presence.

Hermione however saw him and immediately pulled herself together. Her tear- streaked cheeks and torn robes made her look like an abused angel, but somehow when she spoke her voice belayed the image. "Lady Malfoy, Draco wasn't doing anything."

"Pansy told me what they planed. She heard it all." Tears were streaming down the once proud woman's face. It was hard to believe the creature standing before him was once the happy bright little girl who had married his friend. The two seemed complete opposites. Another victim of the Dark Lord, only this one still breathed, but was no more capable of living than the Longbottoms in St. Mungos. "I didn't raise a monster. My son will not hurt..."

Hermione slowly inched forward. "Draco didn't do anything, Lady Malfoy. He was going to take me home. Home to Ravenshire, my ancestral house."

Severus came into line of sight and Narcissa turned her wand on him. "Severus!" She cried out and sank to the floor. "You have to get her out of here! They plan on..." A shiver wracked the small frame.

"I know, Narcissa. It's alright." Severus moved to grab the wand but Narcissa dodged him. He motioned for Draco to get behind Hermione. "I'll get her out of here. You need to come with us, Narcissa. You can't be found here. They'll know you let her out."

"I can't leave. Lucius needs me." Narcissa shook her head and clutched the staircase railing.

"Mother, go with them. Father will be fine." Draco tried to reason with her.

The sound of her son's voice made her raise her wand again and back further into the stair rail. "Liar! You work for Him now. You don't care. I saw the Mark. I SAW IT! You're His...my little boy is His. I failed you Draco. I'm sorry. The best I can...Avad..."

Severus lunged for the wand and made the curse go wide hitting a potted plant killing it instantly. Narcissa shrieked as he pried the willow wood out of her stiff fingers. "Severus, the least I could do was end it for him. Why didn't you let me end it?" She clung to her one-time classmate's robes.

Severus gave a sad smile and whispered in her ear. "Draco is not one of us, Narcissa. He will not fall to the darkness. I promise you." As he backed away, a smile touched her features. "Go back to your room and pretend you didn't leave. If they ask..."

"Pretend I was talking to the flowers again. You know they make lovely conversation in the afternoon." A dreamy expression replaced the troubled one from moments before. With six words Severus had made the world all right again.

"Yes, mother, they do." Draco hesitantly helped his mother to her feet. The woman unexpectedly hugged her child.

"I'm sorry, Draco. I thought..."

"Go, mother. And I know." Draco reluctantly pulled out of the embrace and watched the woman start down the corridor almost catatonic again, as was normal now.

"I thought you were going to stay downstairs." Draco said as he pulled Snape, who still held Narcissa's wand, into to the bedroom.

"I was. The bracelets informed me Hermione was in danger."

"That's all well and good, but what are we going to do now? Mother will not last long should the Dark Lord question her and I won't let you return to the dungeons." Draco ran a hand through his normally neat hair. "This is a complete mess. How are we going to get out of this?"

Severus ignored the mumbling blond and crossed the room to touch his wife's shoulder. She jumped and spun away from him. After Narcissa had tried to kill her son, Hermione had not said a word and was unnaturally still.

"Hermione?" She shook her head violently and refused to allow him near. "Hermione, what is it?" Severus was concerned. Had something happened to the child he wasn't aware of?

"I..."

Draco stopped his frantic conversation with himself and came over. "She's been out of it since I brought her back up here. I didn't want to worry you by telling you in the dungeons. The first time she's spoken since the meeting with the Dark Lord was to mother a few moments ago."

The potion master turned back to his wife. "Child, what is it?" Severus edged closer.

"I killed him." Hermione's voice was weak.

"You had no choice." Severus crept nearer.

"I killed my uncle...I killed..." Hermione dissolved into tears but finally allowed Severus to hold her this time. The potion master was getting tired of the girl soaking his robes every few hours, but he suppressed his natural urge to hex her and instead patted her hair. He was surprised by how mild his hexing inclination really was.

"You did what you had to. Now we have to get out of here. Can you hold it together for a little while longer?" Severus asked while he lamented the loss of sanity in his life. His best friend was a rambling crazy one minute and a pillar of strength the next. The man's son was talking to himself. His employer and mentor was rapidly developing an addiction to lemon drops that rivaled those found with exclusive and highly illegal potions. And now his wife, the epitome of logic, was breaking apart. For a moment, the wizard wondered why he bothered.

The girl in his arms nodded and hesitantly wiped at her tears. "I'm sorry, Severus. I just never...I knew I might. I thought I was prepared to do it, but..."

"No one is ever prepared to kill, child." He gently touched her cheek. "We need to leave quickly. Draco, you will come with us." Severus stood and brought his wife up with him.

"I can't leave Father and Mother." The blond shook his head and remained firmly in place.

"You can't stay here. Lucius will think of something to get out punishment. And your mother would not want you to sacrifice yourself for her sake."

Draco looked skeptical until Hermione took his hand. "Draco, you can't stay here. Once we are gone, you will have to pick between Voldemort and us. You can't return to Hogwarts unless you come with us now. If you wait, Voldemort will not give you the opportunity to defect. Furthermore, we will have to issue a warrant for your arrest. If we don't, He'll know that something is wrong. Both Severus and I can testify under Veritaserum that you are a Death Eater. No matter what, your cover is gone, whether it be inside Hogwarts, or inside the Death Eaters. You are going to have to pick where you want to hide, here with Voldemort or at Hogwarts with us."

"I don't want to hide at all." Draco's voice was lacking his usual whine and sounded tired instead.

Severus gave a sad sigh. "That is no longer an option."

Draco nodded and his shoulders dropped. "Then I choose Hogwarts. I can't stand Wormtail and that is all the company I'd have if I stayed with the Dark Lord. Besides, I already made myself pretty clear on where my allegiances lie. And I have a reason to return." Draco gave a half- hearted grin.

Hermione good-naturedly slapped him. "Will you leave that poor man alone?" Hermione latched onto the distraction just provided. "What makes you think he's interested in you at all? He might prefer someone else. Perhaps you should just drop it and let Prof. Lupin be."

"That, Granger, is not possible. I see what I want and I go for it. Family trait." Malfoy smirked. "Besides, where would the fun be in giving up?"

"Alright, you two, let's get out of here." Snape interrupted. It was good Hermione was able to joke, but they were in a rush. "Lucius said to use the exit through your mother's rooms, but with her awake and somewhat cognizant for once, I'd suggest an alternate route."

Draco grinned. "Let's go out the front."

Hermione gasped in shock. "Right through the new throne room?"

"Why not? We know Voldemort's not there. He never stays there after his meetings are over with. We should be able to walk right out the door. Not to mention the anti-apparition barrier is closer to the front door for convenience than the back. We won't have as far to run before we can disapparate to Hogsmeade."

Hermione looked skeptical, but Severus okayed the plan. The irony alone would be worth the risk. He ignored the voice that told him he was starting to sound like a Gryffindor.

The three quickly exited the rooms with Draco leading the way. If Wormtail or another Death Eater was around a corner, Draco would be able to make a proper excuse to get past and immobilize them before the others were seen. They made it to the staircase without trouble. Severus motioned for Draco to check the room and then crouched down beside Hermione in about the same spot Parkinson had been concealed in earlier.

Draco straightened himself and walked confidently and with a slight swagger into the center of the large entryway. When no one challenged him, he opened the front door and peered outside. Voldemort had not been able to post additional guards on the estate for fear of the Ministry taking an interest. The front path and gardens were empty.

Severus and Hermione made a hasty descent and started for the door. They caught up with Draco and were just about to leave when a curse hit the wall by the potion master's head. The three ducked and turned to see Pettigrew entering from a side corridor.

"Wh...wh...where do you think you're g...g...going?" His wand was trembling.

"Home." Severus answered simply and drew Narcissa's wand. Hermione held out her left hand and gathered her concentration to cast wandlessly if need be. Severus hoped it would not come to that. The girl was still shaken from the ordeal with her uncle. He doubted she would be capable of much. As is her hand was trembling more than the rat.

Wormtail looked to Draco, and the blond glared at his professor and fellow student. "I told you you'd never make it out alive. A lot of good taking my wand and my mother's will do you. Different cores, professor." The sneer was picture perfect.

Hermione spared a moment for contemplation as the men held each other at a stand still. Draco gave a start as her eyes flashed and she gave him a slight wink. "Don't worry, Draco. We'll get you back to Hogwart's and break whatever spell they put on you."

Now Wormtail looked confused. "Spell? Malfoy's not under a spell."

Severus caught on and decided to play along. He gave a hard look to the rat and watched as he shook harder. "Of course he is. Draco would never betray us of his own free will. I'd surmise Lucius has him under the Imperius, just like Narcissa. To think the man was once my friend." Severus was slowly backing up and pushing the others out behind him. Hermione had turned her hand on Draco and pretended to be guarding him during the retreat. They were almost out the door when the Dark Lord arrived, pushing Pansy down the stairs in front him and trailed by Lucius. The cry the girl gave as her head split open on the last marble step echoed in the cavernous room.

"What! Stop them!" Voldemort ordered and reached for his wand.

Wormtail squeaked and almost dropped his wand. Lucius silently closed his eyes and threw a dark curse at his friend. The dark red light barely missed Severus as he pivoted to the right. Pettigrew had recovered himself and was sending out lesser, but still nasty, hexes at the potion master. Draco and Hermione were already running for the barrier, the blond doing a good job of looking reluctant yet moving quickly.

The Dark Lord drew his wand and aimed right at the retreating form of Hermione. A ball of green tinged with orange connected with her back. Severus reached her side just as she collapsed and casted a shield charm. Another curse from Wormtail had hit Draco at the same time. The blond had blocked most of it by jumping behind a bush. In an acting job worthy of an award he cautiously peeked over the top and started spouting off apologies for his actions.

"Professor, I'm sorry. They made me do it...that last curse broke Voldemort's Imperius..."

Hermione was in agony and had started coughing up blood. Severus nodded to his student paying him barely any attention. Severus' shielding spell wasn't going to last much longer with the strength of curses coming at him from the Dark Lord. "I knew it all along, Draco. Help me with her."

Draco nodded casting his own shielding spells and helped Hermione to stand. She almost fell over as Severus was hit with a fire curse that managed to worm its way through his shields. He shrugged off his outer robe, leaving it smoldering on the grass, and hastily ushered the others across the wards. Just the second before the group started to disapparate, Lucius managed to connect a hex. The look on the man's face as his son fell and disappeared would have made the Dark Lord kill him had the snake been paying attention. Regret, fear, self-loathing, and more than a little concern flashed across the aristocratic features. Lucius ignored the ranting Dark Wizard and turned back into the house stepping over the dead body of his son's would-be wife just as the other two escapees vanished as well.

The three landed on the grass directly before the main gates. Hermione tried to stay standing but fell to the ground unconscious in a matter of seconds. Draco, for his part, was picking himself off the ground despite his injuries. He grimaced in pain and clutched his left arm tightly to his body as he wavered on his feet. Every bone was broken and the nerves kept active by the dark magic. But he still managed to help Severus carry Hermione inside. They did not want to risk using magic when they had no idea of the curse's effects. Severus fought with himself as he ran for the infirmary. This was all his fault.

As they neared the front doors Remus Lupin stepped out, accidentally blocking the way, his eyes fixed on Draco. Severus snarled at him. "Hurry up and get out of the way, Lupin. Draco and Hermione were hit." Severus bit out angrily and shuffled the werewolf out of the way.

"I know, Harry saw it all. Come on, Madame Pomfrey is waiting." Lupin quickly opened the doors as the three hurried inside. Harry rushed forward and took Draco's arm as the blond started to teeter. Remus took the boy's place helping Snape carry Hermione. The small blush that covered the two boy's faces as Draco leaned on his classmate went unnoticed by the others as they rushed up the staircases and into the infirmary.

"Severus! Thank Merlin." Madame Pomfrey assaulted the group as soon as they made it inside. "What happened? Dumbledore said to get ready, but wouldn't say what was wrong..." She trailed off as the Headmaster came out of her office and they both got a good look at the group.

Albus frowned deeply at the group. "I felt it best to let the Snapes tell you what they felt comfortable with, Poppy. Much of what transpired they might wish to keep to themselves. Now please, see to the children." The elderly wizard locked eyes with Harry. "All three of them please."

"I'm fine Headmaster, really." Potter's words were underscored as he swayed on his feet. Draco and Hermione were already lying down, Hermione was breathing erratically and Draco was trying not to jar his arm. Remus helped Harry to a bed in-between them. The Boy-Who-Lived sighed in resignation. "I knew I'd end up here at the end of the year."

Severus raised an eyebrow and sat down next to his wife. His injures were minimal to say the least. Somehow he had managed to escape with barely a scratch. The pained expression and near panic on his young spouse's face made it abundantly clear she, however, had not. Draco was still silent and only the absence of sarcastic comments gave away his plight. Remus for his part took up station between the two boys. The werewolf was torn on whom to comfort first. Twinkling the entire time, Dumbledore sat down on the side of Harry's bed leaving Draco to the DADA professor.

Accessing the state of her various patents quickly, the nurse flew into her storeroom and returned with arms full of various potions and herbs. She went first to Hermione's side. Muttering under her breath she waved her wand and took stock of the injuries. Hermione had once again passed into unconsciousness during the scan and Severus was grateful. Whatever curse Voldemort had used was harsh. The tears and gasps that his courageous wife could not help but utter made the potion master realize how much pain she really must be in. She has stopped coughing up blood, but that did little to ease his fears. As she completed the scan Madame Pomfrey grew pale.

"What is it?" The question sounded despondent even to his own ears.

Pomfrey looked at the assembled group and back at Severus. "I'm not sure she'd want everyone to hear."

Severus blinked then scowled. "Potter and Lupin are her friends. The Headmaster will need to know anyway. As for Draco, he helped to save us, and if this is as dark as I believe it must be, perhaps he can help find a counter." Pomfrey looked at him pointedly. "You're questioning MY being here? She's my wife woman." Snape glared daggers and clutched the girl's hand.

The nurse simply looked skeptical. The Headmaster ordered her to tell them after a silent glaring contest between the nurse and professor ended in a stale mate. The witch stood up straight and defiantly huffed at the wizard but relented as Severus returned her look but with more venom. "She was hit with Sterilitas Perpetuo. There is nothing I can do but try and ease the pain and compensate for blood loss. The curse slowly pulls apart the victim's reproductive organs. She's bleeding internally and if I don't replenish the blood she won't make it. As is I don't understand why she isn't dead. The spell is classified as a sterility curse, but in reality it is deadly. There has only been one recorded case of a human female surviving it. Males have a fifty/fifty chance." The nurse trailed off and watched in astonishment as Snape fought back tears still holding onto Hermione's hand. "I'm sorry Severus. I didn't realize that you actually cared for her – or that this would matter."

"We did not want children, woman. But she deserves the CHOICE! And this is killing her. What can I do to help you? I won't lose her like this." Severus gently brushed hair off his wife's forehead and kept her hand held even tighter in his. Something was tickling the back of his mind, something important but he couldn't quite grasp it. Something that could save or end her life.

"NO! Don't give her that!" Severus grabbed the potion bottle away. Out of the corner of his eye he had seen Pomfrey reaching for a vial of blood restorative drought, and it clicked. He knew, knew the secret the Grangers had been keeping, the thing Soren had feared. He knew what made the Grangers go along so easily with the plans. They had been frightened of her potential threat.

"Severus Snape! If you want to save her let me work." The witch backpedaled and bent to retrieve the bottle.

"Severus," The Headmaster left Harry's side and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Severus, Poppy know what she is doing."

Snape glared up. "No she doesn't. Hermione can't take that potion. It would kill her. She is too weak to handle the silver." The potion master looked directly at the DADA professor. "With her body under such trauma what would normally only cause her pain and turn her will kill her."

A silence than, "Silver? But Hermione isn't...I swear by Merlin, Severus, I didn't.I would never. Goddess help me, I wouldn't." Remus was quivering and had lost his composure. The man's eyes were darting around the room to land on the Headmaster. "You have to believe me!" He had begun to hyperventilate. The penalty for infecting another living being with lycanthropy was death. Remus who was normally so very calm was not handling the mere thought of his greatest fear coming true, the fear that he would one day infect another person with the curse he must bare.

"Lupin, calm yourself." Severus kept eye contact and stated in a blank voice. "I know you never bit Hermione. I would have seen the marks. And we would have noticed her changing if she was a full werewolf."

"Severus, what are you implying?" Albus inquired, minus twinkle.

"Think about it, Albus. Her mood swings. You can chart them and they correlate to the full moon. Her eyes flash when she gets angry, agitated, or excited." Severus looked back at Remus. "They flash amber, Lupin. They go from brown to amber." The werewolf had stopped hyperventilating, but the room could clearly see that his eyes were almost glowing, and the they were indeed amber. "Her strength is far beyond normal for a 16 year old girl. She starts out situations nervous and with trepidation, but all of a sudden she'll take control."

"Example?" The headmaster asked as he contemplated the idea.

Severus drew himself up. "Our wedding night." He glared around daring anyone to inquire further. No one did, but Potter looked half-sick, half- curious and Draco was hiding a smirk.

"Are...are you saying that Hermione is part werewolf? That one of her parents was?" Remus was still slightly shaking and Draco had come up behind him and had his good arm wrapped around the older man.

Severus tried not to show he'd noticed the action or the look of concern etched on the boy's face. Such a display was unusual enough for either son or father. He wasn't willing to compromise it.

"Her father I do believe. Her mother was obviously not a werewolf. That would not have gone undetected. But if the man Soren drugged 17 years ago was, and Soren didn't notice at the time, then that could explain more than what I just mentioned."

"What else, Professor?" Harry asked standing shakily, one hand rubbing his scar. The visions of what had happened at the Manor still causing him pain.

Snape turned toward Potter. "When Hermione and I visited her parents they seemed concerned about making sure she kept her emotions in check. At the time I gave it little thought. Most Slytherin's train their children to suppress outward signs of distress or elation. But the Grangers did nothing else truly in keeping with Slytherin training. From Soren I would have expected such teaching, but not from the Grangers. Certainly not Allen Granger. Without such control her parentage would have come to the Ministry's attention or at the least the Headmaster's. There is only one condition that causes the eyes to flash that shade of amber. Not to mention her behavioral changes of late. Luckily for her, the mood swings start up in part-wolf children around the same time as puberty in the rest of the population. That little coincidence aided the Grangers and Soren in hiding her condition from everyone, including her."

"But the ministry sterilizes adult werewolves. Who could have..." Remus stopped. "You don't think…" Severus nodded. "I'm gay! Very VERY gay." Remus shuttered. "I don't think I COULD with a ..."

Severus softened his tone and glare. "Soren used a very powerful aphrodisiac, Remus. You wouldn't have had a choice, and you would not remember it." Severus looked down at his wife. "She does bare a resemblance to you. Perhaps it is just the werewolf, but something tells me...I don't think she knows consciously, but the way she ran to you after the notice about her parents. She latched onto you like a lifeline."

Albus cleared his throat. "There is only one way to find out and we have little time. If she is part werewolf that would explain her still being with us after the curse. The wolf would give her increased stamina and make it harder to kill her. But she will still need medication to recover. If the blood restorative draft can't be used we will have to come up with something else."

"If she is Remus' daughter I can give her a dose of liquid starlight. It should throw her into a transformation without damaging her further." Poppy paused, "The problem is that once a half werewolf transforms, they continue to do so at every full moon. The starlight will fully turn her allowing the werewolf form to complete the healing process. While dormant, the lycanthropy does not affect her except for slight a variation in mood around the full moon, but if I bring the wolf out of hibernation she will be in essence the same as a full blooded werewolf. I'll have saved her life but..."

"But condemn her to life as a werewolf, with all the same complications." Severus finished and shuttered.

Lupin looked horrified. "You can't do that to her, Poppy! I know what it is like. You can't."

"Would you rather her die, Remus?" Harry cut in angrily. "Hermione would rather live I can assure you." He turned to face the nurse and the potion master. "Do whatever test you need to and confirm Prof. Snape's theory. Than HELP her one way or another. While all of you have been arguing she's gotten paler." Now green eyes flashed. "She's my best friend and I need her."

Everyone paused for a moment than flew into to action simultaneously. Remus slumped even further into Draco. Draco winced in pain and then hid his reaction in favor of basking in the nearness of his would be lover. Severus sat back down next to his wife and did a poor job of hiding his fear and worry. For a man with a phobia of wolves he was taking the situation rather calmly. Harry had moved from his bed to the other side of his friend and had taken her hand. Albus watched the scene and stayed out of the flustered medi- witch's way. The old man looked at his students. Everyone in the room had been or still was under his tutelage. He was so tired of seeing pain on all of their faces. He wanted so much to make it all go away.

Pomfrey came bustling back up with what looked like a strip of paper. "Remus, give me your hand." The man absentmindedly held it out. The nurse pricked his finger and let a single drop fall onto one side of the parchment. She then went and did the same to Hermione and placed the drop on the opposite corner. Going back to a bottle she'd left on a side table, she let a single drop of navy blue liquid slide onto the parchment. The pool of liquid merged with the two smaller red dots. The blue started changing colors rapidly where it touched the blood until the entire parchment was flashing different shades and colors. It finally settled at a violent shade of pink.

"Congratulations Remus. It's a girl." The nurse ignored the choking noise from the professor and grabbed a bottle full of silver liquid. "Remus, take her into a private room then give this to her. She'll transform even though the full moon was last week and regardless of the time of day." The medi-witch picked up a second bottle that was murkier gray then silver. "I hate to give this to you, but I don't want her alone during her first transformation. Hers doesn't have Wolfsbane in it. Her system is to damaged to handle a transformation and the potion. This bottle has a full dose of Wolfsbane in it. It should be enough to let you kept the wolf in check, but starlight transformations are not always the same as the normal monthly ones. I have no idea what to expect. Hermione will be unable to control the wolf and without the Wolfsbane it will be up to you to keep her from harming herself as she heals. The starlight will were off in about 10 hours and you both will transform back."

Remus hesitantly took the bottles. "Do I have to?"

"REMUS!" Everyone looked at Harry. "You are not going to let your DAUGHTER suffer through a transformation by herself! She won't know what is happening. And without Wolfsbane none of us can stay in here with her." Harry took a deep breath and continued calmer. "She trusts you, Remus. And unless Snape is an Animagus…" Severus shook his head. He had never completed that training, but now it looked like he would have a reason to.

The werewolf looked more frightened than anything else as he gathered his daughter into his arms and walked to a private room. Pomfrey locked the door behind them. A moment latter the sound of two screams caused the group left behind to shutter. Severus almost bolted as the screams turned to howls.

Albus noticed and forced the man outside of the infirmary and caste a silencing spell on the hospital wing so no one could hear and so he could calm the man. "She will survive this, Severus."

The dark man nodded. "But will she be the same? She will wake up a WEREWOLF!"

Albus chuckled. "She's been waking up a half-werewolf her entire life."

"There is a big difference. Before she had the strength and stamina without the drawbacks."

Albus sighed. "I'm surprised she made it this far without transforming, Severus. Normally a half-werewolf will come in contact with one of the MANY substances that will cause a transformation early in life. If she had ever spilled Wolfsbane on herself while you were making it, or if Remus had bleed on her. Or if she'd picked nightshade in herbology. There are many things that could have brought this out. Better we find out this way than having her turn in full view of the school. If she had succumbed to the wolf it might have been in daylight without warning. She could have bitten someone."

Severus scowled. "The MOM will kill her. They do not allow half-breeds to live."

"They are dangerous before the transformation, true. Their abilities with the lack of a werewolf's drawbacks make them strong warriors. But after the first changing they are the same creature as the parent. And since Voldemort has in essence carried out the Ministry's policy in sterilizing her I doubt they will cause a fuss."

"They will arrest Remus. He procreated. You know Fudge is looking of any reason to declare open season on Dark Creatures."

Albus twinkled. "I never knew you cared about him. And since I have no plans to announce this to the public, and something tells me they will not want to make this public yet either." Albus smiled brighter as Severus scowled. "Look my friend, I know you love Hermione and that she feels the same about you. Will this really change anything? Can it change anything?"

Snape sat down on a bench and stared out across the hall. "I don't want it to, Albus. I am...use to her now. But I caused this. She married me to save her parents. They are dead. She married me to escape Soren. He's dead. She married me for protection from Voldemort. Now she is a larger target then before." Severus shuddered.

Albus placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "None of which is your fault. Harry and I devised a way to transmit his visions into a sort of real-time image. He said it was like a muggle bideo projectionator or something like that. I saw Voldemort outline His plans, my boy. There is nothing you could have done differently. The Chronicles could not have gone to the Dark Lord. We are lucky the fool did not check them before he started the plan."

Severus scowled. "He most likely knew that his magical signature would leave an impression on them. If I sensed it I would have had no reason not to turn them over. He must have assumed they contained the same information as the potion recipes Wales gave him."

Dumbledore nodded. "Now, let us return. I believe young Harry should be asleep and Mr. Malfoy tended to." They returned to the infirmary and were promptly pounced on by an irate medi-witch with a headache.

Severus spent the next 10 hours on a hospital bed glaring at said medi- witch. As soon as he had reentered Pomfrey had magically chained him to the feathery prison. 'For his own good'. Just as he felt the magical bindings giving way a very weary Remus and confused Hermione came out of the private room. Snape leapt to his feet and had his wife in his arms before he even thought to move.

"You are all right. I was so worried. Do you feel any different?"

"I…I'm not sure. Remus told me what happened when I…when I..." Hermione helplessly shrugged as she was let go. The information was still processing in her mind. She was a werewolf. Remus Lupin was her father. And she would spend every full moon for the rest of her life guzzling that atrocious concoction. "When I...I'm not sure what to call it."

"Detransformed?" Harry offered in a muffled voice as he rolled over and reached for his glasses.

Lupin gave a small smile. "That is one thing you could call it." He looked over towards his students. "Did you two survive the night?"

"Relatively. Prof. Snape kept us awake trying to wandlessly curse Madame Pomfrey but eventually I learned to ignore him." Draco smirked and experimentally moved his arm. "I've had better experiences but I'm still whole."

"Thank Merlin!" The voice of Lucius Malfoy came from the door. "Oh Goddess Draco, I thought I'd killed you! I came as soon as I could get away from that thing!" Noticing the audience for the first time the blond stopped, his expression going blank. "Well Draco, now that I know you are well I will return and inform you mother."

"Drop the act, Lucius. Everyone here can be trusted. Just ward the doors and windows before going on." Snape snapped and went to try and find his spare wand on the nightstand. Hermione was still weak from her ordeal and Remus helped her to the now emptied bed.

Just as the door was being warded Albus strolled in. "Ah Lucius. I was hopping to see you."

Lucius sneered. "My I inquire as to why?"

Twinkle going full force the headmaster replied. "Your son is in a difficult position. Either he stays here in safety but unable to leave, or he returns to Voldemort and plays the same game Severus was caught at. I assume since my potion master is relatively un-harmed you have also rejected the Dark Arts."

There was about a full 30 seconds of silence before Hermione and Harry made eye contact. And burst out laughing. They kept pointing at the Slytherins and giggling for what seemed like an hour. Everyone in the room minus the Headmaster and Lupin were actively learning/using the Dark Arts. To think someone could just up and STOP using such a tool was preposterous.

"If you two are quite finished?" Lucius glared at the Gryffindors. "My son will remain here. I will do whatever spying you need, just keep him out of it."

Draco wasn't about to let that happen. "No father. Voldemort suspects you of disloyalty already. You won't survive the attempt. Your best chance for survival is to keep withdrawing from the activities and doing as Prof. Snape has done for years, devote yourself to 'research'. The Dark Lord already thinks you have lost your appetite for death. Let Him think that is the problem and leave it be. As long as He thinks Malfoy House is under His control you will be fine. As for me, I have another year before I'll have to worry too much about my 'duties.' That is one year of spying time."

"Draco, I can not ask you to do this. You are only 16." Dumbledore looked from father to son, neither of which had broken eye contact with each other. "As Headmaster it is my duty to protect you."

"It is your duty to protect the wizarding world as the head of the Order. We all do what we must." Draco walked up to his father. "I know you don't want me to do this, Father. But I have no choice. I joined Him, but I will not serve Him. Let me do this."

"I can not stop you, and you are right, Voldemort no longer trusts me. But will He trust you any more after this?"

Hermione cut in from her seat on the bed. "Did Wormtail report my 'conversation' with Draco?"

Lucius turned to her. "Something about you and Severus thinking I had Draco under the Imperius." The blond slowly smiled. The sight sent shivers down Harry's back. "I believe I see. Draco will 'pretend' to have been under my control. He'll tell the Headmaster 'everything' so to speak. Then when Dumbledore tries to use him to spy against us..."

Draco interrupted his father. "Voldemort will try and use me to spy against the Order in turn. It really will work out the same as it did with Prof. Snape." Draco's look turned smug. "Only I won't get caught."

"I managed for over twenty years, boy." Severus glared, then he smirked. "Of course if you do better it will only be because of the wonderful example and private tutelage I have given you."

Draco smirked back. "Of course."

Harry was still staring at Lucius. "You'd let your only son spy on the most evil wizard in existence?"

Lucius moved to return the look. "No. The most evil wizard is Albus Dumbledore. He just hides it better than the Dark Lord." Harry looked doubtful. "That is of course considering my definition of evil involves the forced consumption of sweets."

Severus nodded solemnly. "Yes, the Headmaster is a vile, vile, creature."

The others in the room stood stunned for a moment. Lucius than broke the silence by laughing. "How unusual. Gryffindors incapable of understanding a joke."

"I believe they are wondering how we can joke about this sort of thing." Severus quipped.

"They have never had cause to find out." Lucius frowned. "Let them pray they never do." With that the blond man turned to go but paused a few steps from the threshold.

"One last thing my son. I regret to inform you that Parkinson was killed. She fell down the stairs. Of course I believe she had some assistance from our house quest. I hope this will not be to distressing for you."

"If I start jumping for joy I believe Professor Snape will have me committed and the Headmaster will question my loyalty. I'll have to settle for grinning like an idiot." Draco cheekily replied.

Lucius chuckled. "Never cared for her myself. Good day Headmaster."

"Good day Lucius."

Lucius walked forward and took Hermione's hand. "I am most distressed that your stay at the Manor was so uncomfortable, my lady. When this is resolved you must come back and enjoy the true wonders of Malfoy hospitality." The wizard smirked.

Hermione returned the smirk. "And you will have to visit Ravenshire. I believe my Grandfather's guest rooms could use airing out." The threat rang clear. Lucius raised an eyebrow.

"Still loyal to your husband than. Pity. Draco, see that you learn something. And Severus, care for her. If you don't, one of us will." In a swirl of robes the Deatheater glided out of the infirmary.

Albus took a lemon drop out and sucked on it contemplatively. "The man is not as stable as he once was."

"No Headmaster," Draco shuddered. "Father is having some troubles."

"That Draco, is an understatement." Albus turned to the others. "Now I must decide what to do with young Harry. Our cover of your studying the Dark Arts no longer works. You will once again be a target."

Harry nodded solemnly and was about to reply when Hermione cut him off. "I have an idea."

Harry turned and looked at her. He started at the expression on her face. "Oh no! Whatever it is I'm not doing it. I know that look... I'm not taking Polyjuice. No way."

"This doesn't involve Polyjuice." Hermione twinkled as violently as the headmaster and grinned wider.

"What DOES it involve then?" The Potter curiosity got the better of the Boy-Who-Lived.

"How would you like to spend the summer staring at two blondes and sunning yourself?"

Harry blinked at her in confusion. "I love blondes but the beach...you are not talking about the beach are you?"

"I've heard that Malfoy Manor is lovely this time of year." Hermione smirked as Harry's jaw hit the ground.

"You have officially lost your mind." Harry turned to his professor. "Remus, you never told me insanity was a side effect of lycanthropy."

"Last I checked it wasn't. Hermione, the DARK LORD is at Malfoy Manor." Lupin shrieked.

"For now He is. Draco will go home and report that the plan worked. He has Dumbledore fooled into thinking BOTH of the Malfoy's are renouncing their allegiance to the Dark Lord. But Lucius will stay at home so as not to arouse suspicion. Then Draco will tell of his 'wonderful' scheme. You see Severus was really teaching Harry the Dark Arts, he had to. Draco was in on the secessions. But the Headmaster was only using the training to keep Voldemort thinking there was a way to convert Harry to His cause. With Severus' cover blown it would be useless to continue. But if Dumbledore can be convinced to try the same cover up again with his NEW spies, the Malfoys..." Hermione grinned, her eyes predatory.

"You mean you want me to get Father to agree to train Potter? You want me to spend all summer with that...that...with Potter?" Draco asked incredulously.

"Yes." Hermione smirked.

"It couldn't work again." Draco looked shocked.

Hermione shrugged. "Why not? Voldemort believes Lucius is still loyal to some degree and if our plan works for you to spy, He'll think you are to. But He'll also think that Dumbledore trusts you. He'll agree to leave the Manor so that Harry will be willing to go. It will look like Lucius is trying to convert him for real like Severus was supposedly doing before. And it will appear that Dumbledore is fully fooled by the Imperius story."

Harry thought for a moment. "Voldemort seems to be as obsessed with turning me as he was with killing me. This could work."

Severus agreed. "I think it just might. The Dark Lord has taken a liking to Draco. It seems the boy is trusted above all of us because of his youth and supposed malleability. This very well might mean the children will be safe for a time."

"I don't like it." Remus voiced. "I trust Draco, but I'm not convinced about his father." The blond stiffened. "I know you believe in him, Draco, but we can't afford risks."

"Father would never do anything to harm me. If he informs Voldemort of any of this I am as good as dead."

Albus held a hand up. "The plan could use some fine tuning, but I think it could work. But I want Remus to accompany you. Draco, tell your father the plan and have him inform Voldemort that Harry and a guardian will be coming for the summer. Remus' presence will insure that Riddle will not expect immediate results. But the potential gains from having the hero of the wizarding world at His side will be enough to have Tom jump for the bate."

"Sirius isn't going to like this." Harry, Hermione, and Remus voiced at once.

"I'll notify him myself." The headmaster smiled benignly. "Draco, I trust you have a way to communicate privately with your father?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Than I must be going. End of the year feast to plan." The headmaster left the hospital wing with Draco not far behind him.

Hermione looked at her newly found father. "This is going to take some time."

Remus sighed. "Yes it is. I had no idea."

"I know. Only Soren could have know, or mother. But she never saw you after that night." Hermione ran a hand over her hair. "This morning was the most frightening thing I've ever..."

Severus shuttered. "I am sorry, Hermione. We couldn't let you die."

Hermione turned to her husband. "I don't blame you. I'd rather put up with this," She waved a hand around to encompass everything, "Than not be alive. I just need some time."

Severus nodded. "I understand." He turned to go.

"Severus!" Hermione called after him. "You will be okay right? I know you don't like werewolves."

Snape turned around. "It is not a matter of dislike." He looked toward Lupin. "In my youth I had a bad experience. My fear is irrational."

"Fear is never irrational." Remus spoke with conviction. "Only not understood. I can't blame you for fearing me...us."

"You may not blame me, Remus, but it is something I will have to get over. I will not shirk from my own wife."

Hermione's eyes were tearing over. "You mean you won't leave me? I thought after all this...there really isn't a reason to stay together...and your feeling toward..." The tears fell full force.

Severus rushed over and embraced her silencing her with a finger over her lips. "No child. I am selfish. The only way you will get rid of me is to order me away."

"Never Severus. Never."

Remus watched as Severus helped the girl into the dungeons. He turned and looked back into the infirmary. What had he done? And what would the summer bring?

Story is continued in the sequal: Complications of Birth.

Also, Check out missing scenes from both stories in Convergence of Birth