Runaway

RUNAWAY II

"Good morning everyone! What a bright morning it is today," Ron greeted as Draco and Harry sat in the two leather seats in front of his desk. "I trust you had a good night's sleep knowing that the villain you've been on the hunt for is safely behind bars." Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair, feeling as if Ron had betrayed Hermione for something.

"Hermione's not a villain. She just got mixed up into-"

"The Dark Arts," Draco concluded for Harry with a snap of his finger. "I wonder why. She didn't have any motives at all for killing Madeline Danquell. It was a poor Hufflepuff for Christ's sake. She was Head Girl and dating Mr. Potter here." Draco gestured to Harry, who was grateful that he'd taken sides on Hermione's behalf. "It was winter and the shield's weakened in the winter. You know that, Weasley. Someone could have used the Imperius Curse without our knowing. It's quite obvious. Either that or someone in the castle was controlling them."

Harry closed his eyes in pain as he remembered the day that it'd all happened. It was engraved in his heart; the day his love was vanquished from the Wizarding World all together. He was walking behind Hermione talking to Ron about the upcoming Quidditch Season . To put things more specifically, the upcoming match between Gryffindor and Slytherin later in the spring. There was a blinding flash of green as his scar had begun to pain him. When the green sparks faded, there was Hermione - wand in her hand, standing over Madeline Danquell's dead body.

Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Magic took Hermione into custody. Her wand was placed in suspension as they investigated. "Prior Incantato," whispered Harry - he was already training for The Agency. A gleam of green light flashed, and that was all the Ministry of Magic needed to see. Somehow, Harry felt responsible for sealing Hermione's fate. It was because of him she'd been vanquished.

"True Malfoy, but Dumbledore would have known if someone apparated into Hogwarts. You know how your father, the late Lucius Malfoy, apparated inside Hogwarts in our fifth year? Well, Dumbledore knew about it and was able to greet him before he disturbed anyone. You see - Hogwarts is a very well protected place. If you are bringing up the suggestion that someone used the Imperius Curse on Hermione, which may be justified. Although we have no evidence as it occurred three years prior to now, and no doubt that whoever cast the Imperius Curse has used there wand again. Furthermore, if anything you would know about the Dark Arts is that right, Malfoy?" Ron arched an eyebrow and waited for Draco's response.

"Weasel, I was just pointing out that it might not have been a vicious will. There's no need to freak out," Draco replied coldly. He'd grown to be an inch shorter than Ron, who'd always been taller. However, Draco had twice more spunk than Ron would ever have. Harry was the tallest of the three, and it often came in handy when Ron and Draco decided to have a fight.

"Mr. Potter, you've got a link call on line two. It's from Azkaban, a request from the jail-keeper who tends to Miss Granger." Ron shivered - whether from cold or the dislike of having Hermione referred to Miss, even though he had told the press that she was no longer an acquaintance and even more unlikely, a friend.

"Potter," Harry spoke solemnly into the link. "Can you repeat that again?"

"Yes sir. You see Granger wants her child delivered from her residence where she was captured. She only trusts you, sir. She doesn't want you to tell Weasel either," the jail keeper repeated.

"Put her on," Harry ordered. Harry figured that the jail keeper was part of the Slytherin House.

"I'm sorry sir. That's against Azkaban's rules. If I did, I'd loose my job and my source of income. Moreover, I'd lose my home." Harry sighed. Azkaban had a policy about link calls. If a letter could not be written in time to prevent a death, links were available for usage. However, the jail keeper would have to repeat the words that the prisoner told him to dictate. If there were any suspicious, the connection would be disconnected.

"Tell her I gave my word." There was a muffled grunt and then the click of the telephone. "I've got to go," Harry announced as he grabbed his coat and left Ron's office in a hurry.

"I wonder what that was all about," Draco muttered. Ron shrugged and continued reading the reports that had been delivered on his desk.

Harry found the cottage in disarray as soon as he had apparated just outside of the Forbidden Forest. The wooden window frame lay just inside the house, and it was a terrible sight. A child wailed once again, and Harry moved closer to the rocker where it lay. "What the devil," Harry questioned himself. Picking the child up, he wrapped the blanket around her. Sewn into the black cloth was the word - or rather name, Monique. Looking at the child curiously, Harry examined the condition of the cottage. There were two cabinets lining the walls. A bed that stood next to the cradle. There was an antique writing desk, a table, and two chairs. One chair was obviously for Hermione, the other for her daughter when she fed her.

Still holding the baby, Harry walked over to the cabinet and pulled it open. "I'll just take you back to your mother. Perhaps she'll know what to do." Harry chuckled as the baby gurgled and he saw the color of her eyes, an emerald green for a brief second. Already the chestnut brown hair was sprouting. However, Harry knew that it'd been three years. This child was an infant.

Apparating to the gates of Azkaban, he held the child asleep in his arms, feeling very much like Rubeus Hagrid bringing the child to the doors of hell.

--

"Here you are, Hermione." Hermione looked grateful as she stroked Monique's cheeks. "Do you have enough food for the two of you?" Hermione nodded as she continued to stroke her cheek and, the tiny hand found its way to Hermione's finger - gripping it and cooing.

"Thank you Harry. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Whose child is she?" Harry asked. His gaze never left the infant.

"Well she's mine."

"And," Harry prompted.

"Well, she's your child Harry," Hermione whispered softly. "I should have told you. You wouldn't have been proud to say that you had sex with a runaway. Think of the scandal Rita Skeeter would have had. I just couldn't ruin your life, so I used the delayment charm which would allow me to build the cottage so she wouldn't have to think that I was so poor and desperate that I couldn't afford to provide her with appropriate living conditions."

"You see the Delayment Charm works up to whenever it holds. I had no idea when she would come. No idea if it was a he or she. The fairies of the Forbidden Forest, despite the contrary belief - there are fairies in the Forbidden Forest, aided me through the time. When they said the time had come to depart from my life, they blessed Monique - with what gifts, I don't know."

Harry sat there silently, reflecting how it'd been three years. "Gee, Hermione. I don't know what to say. I find out now that I'm a father - especially because it also is your child. I didn't plan to work for the Agency, and I didn't expect this to happen. We've got to get you out of here... Monique needs-"

"Wait a second. How'd you know her name?"

"It's written on the blanket," Harry pointed.

"Silly me."

"I'll link Ron. I'm going to ask if I can take responsibility with you... He'll understand - hopefully - due to your circumstances," Harry took out his cell phone and called line seven - the only line that he'd use to call Ron in emergencies or incidents dealing with The Agency. Dialing * 23, he bypassed Glenda at the front desk.

"Weasley," he heard Ron say into the link communicator.

"Yes Ron. This is Harry, I'm calling from Azkaban and there's a situation that you ought to hear about." Hermione pleaded with Harry, but he took a risk - not to mention a deep breath. "Hermione has an infant, and Azkaban doesn't have the living conditions for the child. I would like to take responsibility for her and her child."

"Repeat?"

"Hermione has a child, and I want to take full responsibility for the two." Harry shortened tapping his fingers on the stone wall in anxiousness.

"Tell me, Harry. Isn't this a little weird?"

"Not at all. I'm sure she'd be willing to speak if-"

"I reject your request. It's not that I don't trust your responsibility, but it's Granger we're dealing with. Not some ordinary criminal. Most criminals kill their first victim at the age of twenty-five. She killed hers at a young eighteen. We can't afford a law suit from the parents, and most of all, she can't escape Azkaban with you. It'd make the Agency look like a mockery!"

"I understand, but-"

"You heard me, Harry. The answer is no. Put the child up for adoption or something. I don't want a legal situation put at our hands. It's too risky. Especially concerning Hermione." Harry was stunned, this was the first time in three years that Ron had said her name instead of Granger.

"I can't put the child up for adoption, Ron."

"Why not, Harry?"

Pause.

"Because she's mine."

"You can't be serious? After all this time, you find out now? Fishy isn't it..."

"Why are you so suspicious all of a sudden? Monique cannot be put up for adoption, and you know it. Why separate her from her mother, the only person she's known for three months? Please! Let me take care of the two. They won't get away, I swear it on my life!"

"Fine - if you must be so insistent. I will send a crew to monitor-"

"I don't need any damn crews," Harry said stubbornly. "I'm fine by myself. I'm the head of my division of espionage at The Agency and can handle myself very well frankly. Good day, sir." Harry pressed the disconnect button and smiled wearily. "Come on, Herm. Ron said it was all right. It was quite an argument, but he's agreed to let you go to my house."

He led her out of Azkaban and signed her out. "The Minister of Magic has allowed me to take care of her for a while," he said to the woman behind the counter. Behind her, two Dementors hung around - incase any of the prisoners decided to try and escape. 'Azkaban was a foul place for a child to be,' Harry thought to himself. 'Full of death, drear, and it's quite dangerous.'

"Name?"

"Harry Potter. I'm here to release Hermione Granger." At that moment a fax came in with the stationary from the Ministry of Magic Building. Ron's signature scrawl was at the bottom.

"You're free to leave."

The Dementors watched the three leave, and if it were possible - were quite unhappy that another meal had slipped out the door and back into the free world.

--

They apparated to Harry's penthouse at the top of 1500 Sun view Street. "I'm afraid it's sort of messy. Haven't gotten around to cleaning it ... You know with all the reports, incidents, and the sort. You know what I mean. We've got to get some thing for you to wear, but first I have to head to Ron and report. He's very suspicious of whatever it is, and he's blaming it on you - particularly." Harry vanished as quickly as he had come.

Exploring the penthouse, Hermione discovered that it was in disarray. She had enjoyed cleaning up her room at home as a little girl. For some strange reason, it made her feel much like Cinderella and her evil stepmothers. There was a large master bedroom, dining room or living room, an office, two bathrooms, and an extra room - which was where Hermione lay Monique, who began to suck her thumb.

Looking around at the mess, Hermione longed for her wand. "Let's do it smuggle way," she said as she began to tidy up the master bedroom. Harry's scent of pepper and lemon filled the room, and Hermione couldn't resist wishing that she was with him. She pulled the sheets and comforter into place and patted the pillows satisfactorily.

Clothes were strewn on the floor, as if Harry was in haste to taking them off. Hermione didn't worry about the bathroom. 'Harry can do that by himself,' she thought amused. The sound of wailing disrupted her from her reverie, and Hermione cradled the infant in her arms - searching the kitchen for baby food. "I've got to tell Harry to go baby shopping."

--

"Sit down Harry and explain what you said on the link," Ron ordered as he pointed to a chair. He was rather disturbed at the fact that his best friend had a child and hadn't told him. "How'd it happen? When did she say it happened?"

"I didn't know until now, Ron." Harry started quietly as he propped his right foot on his left knee. "Anyway, my daughter's name is Monique Granger. Since she's young and having her mother a prisoner of Azkaban, I'll probably adopt her as my own. Hermione used the Delayment Charm for two years - long enough for her to make the cottage. It happened several weeks ago, and she didn't tell me because she was afraid."

"From seventh year?"

"Yeah. She never affirmed it, but I could see it in her eyes. I still love her. You know that. She loves me. If it weren't for the murder, we'd probably be married by now. You have a great time with Lavender Brown." Harry looked at Ron. "Its either I marry Hermione - since I feel responsible for what she's been through, or I adopt her. What is it to a child without a mother to talk about? You know the older girl stuff," Harry concluded awkwardly. "I'll pay what you want."

"We can't have a criminal around. You know that, Harry."

"What if Hermione's really changed, Ron? Don't people have the right to second chances? Hermione makes one mistake and people curse her for it. Give her a chance, Ron. If, God forbid she did do something, I will bring her back... Please."

"It's not that easy, Harry."

"Try it. I've saved your life enough times for a second chance from Hermione," Harry said stubbornly crossing his arms across his chest. "Give her a chance. I know you're still regretting not having a chance with her in seventh year, but it's Hermione. She helped you with your homework, not getting frustrated - well she still helped. You've got to repay your debts and-"

"Fine," Ron said quietly. "I, as Minister of Magic, give you the responsibility of Hermione Granger and her child, and hereby place Hermione Granger under legal responsibility of Harry James Potter from henceforth. She's free... for now."