Stormy Weather

Hermione stared up at the robed wizards circling her slowly. The ropes that held her down had to have been enchanted somehow, but she couldn't think of anything that would break the spell. Where was her wand? She needed it, but it wasn't there. It had always been here.

She had to stop babbling mentally. Had they used the Confundus Charm? It had to have been something like that; it made the most sense of any of this. Where was Draco? Had they done something worse to him?

Hermione did her best to catch the eye of the one of the wizards she thought was their leader. Whoever they were, they weren't Death Eaters, since she'd never seen one of them without the identifying robes and masks. "What do you want?" She fought to keep fear out of her voice, but it wasn't an easy task.

"Shut up." Two flat words, that was all that he said. Hermione stared at him, then shook her head as violently as she could.

"No! Let me go!" Her tirade was interrupted by a harsh smack across her face. She glared at the stranger, yanking at the restraints that held her down with what strength she had left. She could escape from this; she'd gotten out of much worse situations than this! She took several deep breaths, doing her best to get herself under control. The only way to get out of this was to be calm. She had to be able to think, to see what was around here that she could use.

There wasn't much, once she was able to get a quick glimpse. She and her captors were the only living creatures she could see. There weren't even any spiders or spiderwebs here. There was a thick wooden door, with an iron bar holding it closed, and a few flickering torches places in brackets around the room. She caught a glimpse of the leader moving his arm, then saw the torchlight reflecting off of metal for a moment.

A knife? No, it's not big enough. Then she saw what it was: a viciously made whip, the business end of it divided into several tips that had been coated in some metal. She had no doubts it would be painful when it bit into her, either.

She was proven very violently right as the leader began to whip her, a cold echoing laughter filling her ears as he did so. The young witch squirmed and screamed in pain, unable to get away no matter how hard she tried. Tears forced themselves from her eyes, hot and heavy and painful as she whispered, "What do you want?" He had to want some kind of price for stopping, and she couldn't think of one that she wouldn't pay right now.

"Revenge!" The single word hissed across the room. "Revenge, Mudblood. That's all I want. That's all I'm getting." The whip ripped into her again, his arm working tirelessly as he beat her. All sense of time faded, replaced by pain.

Another voice slowly crept into her awareness, saying something. It took her a few moments to realize just what he'd said, and if it were possible, she would have went pale at the very thought of Draco seeing her like this.

A meaty hand took a firm grip on her shoulder and yanked her forward. Her head swam, the room dancing and twirling around her for a few heartbeats, then another voice rang in her ears. "Listen to me, Mudblood. If you even try to leave, your boyfriend will pay the price...slowly." Hermione wasn't in the best of shape, but she would have had to be dead to miss the sheer sick pleasure in the leader's tone at the thought of killing Draco. "And if you don't do what we say," the wizard continued, "it will be ten times worse than that for him.

The trip back to the cell wasn't one she would have cared to repeated, since they took absolutely no precautions against aggravating her injuries. A strong metallic scent in the air told her that she was bleeding again, and as they turned a corner, she caught sight of a long smear of red that could only be her own blood. There wasn't enough time to be certain with more than a passing glance, however, as they flung her through the open cell door roughly.

She slammed into the far wall, managing to hit it with her shoulder instead of her head, and lay there as the door was slammed behind her. Have to...get up... As strong as her determination was, her legs weren't quite up to the challenge so soon. She could just see a glimpse of Draco's white hair in the nearly pitch black room, but that was enough to encourage her.

There had to be a way to get up. Her legs still shook and trembled like rubber, and if she even tried to stand alone, she knew she'd be back on the floor in seconds. She leaned against the chilly stone wall, gulping in huge lungfuls of the fetid dungeon air. Her lungs and stomach both protested at this, but she needed to breathe more than anything.

As more oxygen flowed into her and her mind began to clear from the miasma of pain, Hermione's brain started to work again. She glanced down to the hand resting against the wall, something clicking deep inside of her. She started to lever herself up against the wall, balancing as carefully as she could until she was on her feet once more.

One cautious step, then another, and another, and she was too far from the wall for it to support her even with her hands held out. Her legs trembled, and she found herself pitching forward. Luck seemed to be with her, and she landed right on the cot Draco was on.

"You have to get out of here," she whispered, finding his ear conveniently close. "They have plans..." She could see the restraints binding him near her, and she started to carefully work them open. "You have to go."

"No." Draco's answer was just like him, curt and crisp, and just what she didn't want to hear.

She did her best to ignore it, picking at the bonds until they finally came undone. It took much longer than it should have, since her bleeding wounds had crusted over by now, but had taken a lot of her strength with them. I won't let them hurt him. I won't.

As the last of the restraints fell away, he tugged her a bit closer, whispering her nickname under his breath as he did. She wanted to scream in agony at his touch, but the strength required was just something she didn't have. That hurts... was the best she could think to herself. She barely grasped that he wanted her to get out, and shook her head firmly in denial. I won't let them hurt him. I can't leave, no matter what. I can't...can't...can't...

Hermione sat up, sweat dripping from her forehead as she tried to figure out just where she was. A dream? It was a dream? I wasn't there again. A quick look around showed her that she was in her familiar quarters at Hogwarts, not in that prison. That's been over with for months. Why should I be dreaming about it now?

The answer came quickly and simply: the last spell had struck. Every night, until I deal with it. She wiped off her brow, noting the thick coating of sweat both on it and the way it had drenched her pillow already. I am not looking forward to that.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, turning her pillow over by feel and laying back down. No time like the present to get started on that.

Narcissa Malfoy entered the bedroom to a sight she hadn't seen in years: Lucius sitting straight up, pale and wan, hands clutching at the bedclothes, and sweat sparkling in the candlelight. "Lucius? Are you all right?"

"Just a nightmare." She could hear a quiver in his voice that spelled out the untruth as easily as an Honesty Hex could, but didn't press. His pride wouldn't let him admit that he was bothered by it more than he already had. "It was rather vivid."

She nodded a bit. "Was it the one about being in front of the Ministry of Magic and all you have on are Muggle underclothes?"

Lucius shuddered violently. "This was worse." That was unusual. He'd always said that the underclothing dream could never be unseated from its position as his worst nightmare. But as he began to describe what had happened, she grew just as pale and shaking as he was.

"That's horrible." The description seemed familiar somehow, then she knew what it was. "Isn't this was Draco said the last time release spell was? For Hermione to relive those events until she recovered from them?"

Lucius nodded slightly. "I believe so."

"I had thought it was only supposed to affect her," Narcissa ran through what she knew of magic, and couldn't think of anything at the moment that would account for it. "Perhaps the baby caused it to bounce to you for some reason?"

"I can't imagine why." Lucius looked into the flickering flames of the fireplace near them. "Nor can I imagine a less savoury fate than having to relive the Mudblood's session until she somehow manages to deal with it. Even for a full grown witch or wizard, that could take years, and she's just a Mudblood."

Narcissa smacked him on the shoulder sharply. "I thought I told you not to use language like that." He didn't respond and she shook her head. "We'll have to discuss this with Dumbledore tomorrow. Now, let's try to get some sleep." She had a few ways that should keep all kinds of dreams away from him, and it was interesting to play with them all.

Hermione sat back up, her heart racing swifter than the latest racing broom. Again. Again. She wiped off the fear-sweat and slowly slid out of her bed, heading for the window. Twice in one night, and it gets worse every time.

She stared out of the window, preternaturally aware of just how quiet it really was. I think I have to do this. We have to spend some time apart. I need my space for this. There's nothing else I can do.

"Miss Granger?" She turned to see Professor McGonnagal standing there, a faintly worried look in her eyes, which seemed kinder than usual. The Transfiguration teacher definitely seemed to have a soft spot for what they were going through. "It's rather late. What are you doing awake?"

"I just had a bad dream." Hermione slid back to bed and closed her eyes. Twice over. And twice the nightmare because it was true. She wanted to tell the professor that the final time release spell had hit, but the words seemed to seal themselves behind her lips. She closed her eyes, feeling McGonnagal tucking in the blankets around her before heading out the door. I don't want to go to sleep. I don't want to deal with this anymore.

Unfortunately, that sort of decision wasn't hers to make. She fell into a fitful doze, the dream-memories dancing around in her head over and over and over, and none of it got any better no matter how long it went on.

Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions meant robes for all occasions. Hermione could hardly believe her eyes as she saw the vast array of things for sale. The inventory went far beyond the usual school robes she was used to seeing. I should be able to find something to cover up this pregnancy once it gets far enough along. If it gets far enough along.

She glanced briefly over to where her mother and Sam were looking through various rainbow colored robes and shook her head. Her mother looked so completely out of her depth, while Sam was looking through everything with a practiced eye. She might turn out to be a wizarding fashion designer. They could use something new in the way of robes, anyway.

She brushed through a few more piles of fabric, trying to look as if she were really as concerned as she wanted to be. Mom was saying some really strange things earlier. If I didn't know any better I'd say she was talking about my dreams. But there's no way she could know. Her mother was a Muggle, sad as it was. If she'd been a witch, Hermione might have believed they could have some sort of connection that would've enabled her to see what had been going on in her own head the previous night, but since that wasn't so...

A flash of silver caught her eye, and she looked to see the Malfoys across the street. I wonder if Draco's seen anything in his dreams.

"Hermione?" At her mother's voice she pulled her gaze away from her boyfriend and smiled a bit, hoping it looked more reassuring than it felt. "Are you certain you're all right?"

"I'm fine." She glanced over to Sam, who was still pulling her way through a half-tonne of robes, and grinned slightly. "Is she planning on buying out the store?"

Sam glanced back at her and rolled her eyes, then tugged a rather attractive pale violet set of dress robes out to examine against herself. As her cousin headed over to pay for them, Hermione looked back towards where Draco and his parents had been, only to see they were gone now. Great. Just when I need to talk to him.

"All right, I'm done," Sam came over with the wrapped up robes under one arm. "Let's get out of here."

Hermione nodded. "Where would you like to see now?"

"Surprise me." Sam suggested, a mischievous gleam to her eyes. Hermione shook her head; this was amusing.

"Mom? Dad? What do you think?"

Her mother considered for a few moments, looking at the strange shops in every direction. "I'm not sure. I don't know about all these magical places...but why not that place where you bought your cat?"

"I bought Crookshanks at Diagon Alley," Hermione corrected absently. Her mother had never been that much of a cat person, but she'd accepted the squash-faced orange creature her daughter loved so very much. "But there's a pet store here. Pretty nice one, too, and I could get some things for Crookshanks." He'd been such a good cat lately, bringing in all kinds of things she could use for various potions and things. She wondered just how intelligent he really was all over again, then started down towards the store.

Familiar Enchantments looked just as it always had, those few times she'd come in here. Cats, owls, toads, rats, rabbits, and several other things were everywhere, in luxurious accommodations that dwarfed most of what Hogwarts' students provided their animal companions.

"Oh, cool!" Sam raced over to a wall of animal treats and started poking around. "I hope they have something for ferrets! Ramas needs a treat!"

Hermione stared at her cousin in disbelief. "A treat? For what? Not poking his head into everything in sight?"

"He's not that bad!" Sam protested. "Just because he decided he wanted to eat with the teachers last week..."

The Head Girl shook her head slowly. "Sam, he wound up getting the whole school's attention when he poked his head out of the Headmaster's beard! That is not a sane ferret!"

"There are no such things." Sam told her solemnly. Hermione thought of Draco's Animagus form and decided it would probably be wiser to be quiet for right now. Sam snickered before turning back to the row of treats and searching for something that would fit her not very finicky pet.

Hermione's parents kept themselves busy with looking at the more normal pets, and once both seventh years had the treats they wanted for their pets, Hermione suggested, "Why don't we head over to the Three Broomsticks?" Her choice had nothing to do with having just seen the Malfoys enter it, of course.

The group settled in quickly, and Hermione tried hard not to notice her boyfriend, who looked fairly bored about whatever it was his parents were talking about, to the point he had to cover a yawn. She smiled just a little; he looked so cute like that. Not that she'd tell him about that, though.

Madame Rosmerta took their orders quickly and as she bustled away, Hermione felt the world spinning around her. She put her head down in her hands, trembling somewhat. This isn't good. I should let Madame Pomfrey know.

"Hermione?" Hermione didn't bother looking, but she knew it was Sam. "What's wrong with you?" Hermione looked up just a little bit, a small smile making it's way onto her lips.

"I'm just a little dizzy, that's all." She put her head right back down. Moving it had been a very nasty mistake. Darkness closed in around her as she shut her eyes and did her best to remain quiet and still.

The world outside of her closed eyes wasn't done with her yet, however. "'mione?" Draco's familiar voice asked. "Would you like to go for a walk? It might help you feel better."

"We're getting ready for lunch." She reminded him, able to easily imagine the look of disappointment in his gray eyes.

"Later, then?"

"Maybe." She could hear him walking away, and kept her eyes closed. She needed to rest. Maybe coming out hadn't been such a good idea after all.

Robes rustled briskly, and the strong scent of all the things that they'd ordered touched her nostrils. Madame Rosmerta had returned with the food. Hermione opened her eyes, and as the sight of it sank in, her stomach started to bounce and churn nauseously. This was really a bad idea.

"You're supposed to eat it all," Sam reminded her as she pushed her half-full plate away. Hermione shook her head, refusing to stare at the remains any longer.

"I can't. I really can't." Without waiting for a response, she got up and headed outside. She could hear Sam wondering if it was something she'd said, and her mother reassuring her that it was just a side effect of pregnancy, emotional upheavals. I wish that's all it was.

Hermione found a bench not that far from the Three Broomsticks and sat down, her head in her hands. I want to go back to Hogwarts, but I'm not going to ruin this trip for Mum and Dad. It's not like they can get into my world that often. They can't really buy that much they can take home, Ministry of Magic law prevents it, but I just won't ruin this.

"Hermione?" It was Sam again. Hermione gave up inside; she had to go back no matter what. She could also hear another set of footsteps, ones that were almost as familiar as Sam's: Draco's.

"I'm getting really dizzy." She murmured softly. "I can't stay out here, Sam. I'm sorry. I know Mum and Dad wanted to see a lot more..."

Her cousin touched her shoulder lightly, and she could feel Ramas scrambling onto her, working his way under her hair and nuzzling her chin a little. "It's all right, Hermione. You need to get back to Hogwarts."

"We'll take her back there," Draco came to a stop by them. "You let her parents know, and I'll keep an eye on her until you get back here."

Sam eyed the Slytherin briefly, then nodded and hurried back to the Grangers. Hermione made her way to her feet, steadying Ramas carefully as she did so, and felt Draco's arm slip around her as she did. "Is it the baby?" He asked quietly. "Is that why you're so dizzy?"

She nodded lightly. It was at least part of the reason. The rest of it being that I need some sleep. She wanted to talk to him about breaking up for a while, but the words lay locked behind her lips, unable to be said right now. She took a few more steps, then simply collapsed in a small heap at his feet, out like the proverbial light.

Draco quickly gathered her up into his arms, checking her pulse out of reflex. This has to be more than just the pregnancy. I don't know what, but I'm going to find out. He heard the crunch of wheels on gravel, and looked over to see one of the carriages that would take them back to Hogwarts there. Perfect timing.

His parents were already in it, and said nothing at all as he carried Hermione into it. Draco eyed his father nervously, but Lucius said nothing as the door closed and they started through the streets. Father's been acting a bit oddly as well. As if there were something on his mind he didn't expect to have on it. With Lucius' well ordered mind and life, that really was something that didn't happen too often.

Narcissa leaned over to tuck a blanket around Hermione as they travelled, and smiled reassuringly at her son. "She'll be all right, Draco, I know she will be. I was, after all."

He just nodded, stroking Hermione's hair a little as they journeyed. He glanced up for a moment, feeling eyes on him, and saw Lucius staring down at them. In those pale eyes, the mirror of his own, he saw something he never had before when they were directed at his girlfriend: surprise. I wonder what's wrong.

"Father, is something wrong? You look a little distracted." That was a complete lie, but there was just no other way to ask what he needed to.

Lucius just shook his head. "No, son. It's nothing." He paused briefly, once more looking at Hermione, and almost seemed ready to ask something of his own. Whatever it was remained unsaid as they pulled to a stop outside of Hogwarts itself, however, and Draco carried Hermione out of the carriage.

Professor Snape was there as he stepped out, and motioned him along brusquely. "Madam Pomfrey is waiting for us." Snape never wasted words, unless he was pointing out to Potter and other moronic Gryffindors just how horrible they were at everything. The group hurried up there, Snape's robes billowing along in their familiar hurried way. Something about that comforted Draco. With the Potions Master there, could anything really go wrong?

As soon as she was deposited in the usual bed, Snape placed a small curving bottle by the bed, then pulled back, his eyes impassive and watching. Hermione started stirring almost as soon as she was laid down there, her eyes opening to reveal a slightly confused look.

Draco showed the intelligence that had made him Head Boy just then. "You're awake!"

"Obviously." Hermione rolled her eyes ever so slightly and started to look around. Her look was interrupted by Snape's clipped tones.

"We have the potion ready." He told her, motioning to where it was beside her. "Drink it down, and it should keep you both alive. Or kill you."

Hermione stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out if he were serious, then picked up the potion. Dumbledore wouldn't let him give her something that was potentially fatal, and she trusted the Headmaster. And I trust him, too. "How did you come up with it so fast?"

"I didn't." Snape stared down his hooked nose at her. "Though it's truly not your concern, I have been working on that for nearly twenty years. It just so happens I finished it when you needed it, silly girl."

She wanted to say something to him about that, but as her stomach and the room both chose to dance around in a duet of nausea and dizziness, she decided it would be better just to shut up and drink. Besides, it'll be more impressive if I can snap back at him without throwing up what I have in my stomach. Once she unstoppered the potion, a rank odor invaded her nostrils, and she could almost feel herself turning the most unattractive shade of green possible. There was only one way to deal with this. She closed her eyes and drank the mixture down in one gulp.

Once it was inside of her, Hermione felt something shifting and changing, as if she'd been out of balance somehow, and now was being put back in balance. A heavy yawn caught her in mid-thought and she realized just how completely exhausted she really was. And hungry. Very hungry.

"Feeling better?" Draco wondered, peering more closely at her. She nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. He was so cute when he was concerned about her. And once again, she wouldn't tell anyone about it.

"Yeah. I just need to rest. And I want to eat when I wake up." She closed her eyes, curling up on the very comfortable bed, and was sound asleep in five heartbeats, not hearing any of the arguments that ensued as Pomfrey tried to get everyone out so she could sleep in the peace she already had.