Dragonseed I - The Serpent's Head

DRAGON SEED I - The Serpent's Head

Prologue

For once in her life Hermione Granger did not have the answers. So she sat in silence while a small assembly of some of the most powerful witches and wizards she knew sat in her dining room and planned her future for her.

Ron Weasley, her best friend in the entire world, was by her side. When she had collapsed during training it had been he and their Auror trainer, Tonks, who between them had insisted that she contact Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who had been her mentor and guardian since her parents died.

Minerva had decided, given the delicate and complex nature of Hermione's problem, to call on the assistance and advice of some of the other remaining senior members of the Order of the Phoenix. The Order had been disbanded once their primary task, the destruction of Lord Voldemort, had been completed and Minerva was very selective in her choice of advisors for this new and slightly related matter.

Also present for these secret and critical discussions were Molly Weasley, Ron's mother and matriarch not just of the Weasley family, but also the Order; Remus Lupin, the last remaining friend of James and Lily Potter; Kingsley Shacklebolt, New Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and hence Hermione's boss, and Bill Weasley, Ron's oldest brother.

Emotionally this was a difficult time for Hermione. She was only nineteen years old and pregnant. Her future and the future of her two unborn babies were at stake. The problem was the paternity of these babies. Molly had confirmed that, due to an unfortunate scenario of timing and the highly magic charged environment at Hogwarts, the babies each had a different father.

One child was the son of her friend and lover Harry Potter, who had left before she even knew she was pregnant. He said he could not stay in Britain with her as he wished to find a more anonymous life for himself.

The second child, however, was the son of Draco Malfoy, convicted Death Eater, who had seduced Hermione using Polyjuice Potion, which convinced her he was Harry. Draco was not in Azkaban with the other Death Eaters. He had been given a suspended sentence due to his youth and was on probation and living back at Malfoy Manor.

The political implications were even more dangerous than the emotional issues. There were many people, ex-Death Eaters, other dark wizards and even Draco Malfoy himself, who would be very interested in the existence of a son of Harry Potter and another Malfoy.

There were several options. Ron was willing to marry Hermione, but they were both so young and it would be obvious that the children were not Ron's so their identity could not be concealed that way. For the same reason no-one, including Hermione, considered it a good idea for her to keep the babies.

A Muggle orphanage or adoption by Muggles was quickly ruled out. Given the magical potential of these babies, there was no way anyone wanted to set up the circumstances to create another Tom Riddle. The remaining option was adoption within the wizard community and for that the new parents would need to be in on the secret.

***

Breakfast time at Hogwarts was always mail time. The noise of the students was drowned out for a few minutes by the rustling wings of a hundred birds bringing news and parcels from home.

The tall red-haired girl sitting halfway down the Gryffindor table smiled as she saw a familiar grey bird heading her way this Monday morning. She pulled a couple of owl treats out of her pocket and gave them to the bird as she took the fat envelope out of its talons.

"Ginny Weasley, HEAD GIRL, Hogwarts." She grinned as she read the envelope. Ron never got tired of emphasising her position. To everyone else in her family it was a bit of a non-event as both Bill and Percy had been Head Boy. But Ron, who was closest to her in age and friendship, knew that to her it was a big deal.

Before opening the envelope she glanced up to the teachers' table where her sister-in-law, Fleur, was intently reading a letter she had just received. A slight frown, which no-one else but Ginny would have even noticed, creased her ever so perfect face. Even Ginny wasn't sure she had seen it when Fleur looked up again, her face totally impassive.

Even eight months pregnant the quarter-Veela was beautiful. Ginny had noticed that Fleur was using some appearance charms. She assumed that this was why she still looked so good.

A few moments later an expression of pain came over Fleur's face. Professor Lupin turned to her sharply and they spoke in earnest tones, but about what Ginny could not tell. There was too much noise in the hall to catch the quietly whispered conversation. Fleur then rose and moved carefully across to speak to Headmistress McGonagall before leaving the Hall through the side door into the antechamber.

"Excuse me, boys and girls." Minerva McGonagall spoke in a loud clear voice that cut through the morning din. "Professor Delacour will unfortunately have to start her maternity leave a few days early. Today's Charms classes will do revision which will be supervised and a replacement teacher should be here tomorrow."

Ginny was concerned. She knew that Fleur had planned to go to the Burrow where Molly was waiting ready to deliver her first grandchild. Was it possible to Floo when in labour? Ginny did not know.

It was lunch time before Ginny finally remembered to open the envelope from Ron. As always there were two letters inside, one each from Ron and Hermione. Shortly after finishing her basic Auror training Hermione had received news that her aunt in Canada was seriously ill and she had taken leave of absence to go and help her only relatives until the crisis passed. Ginny had thought at the time that this was so typically Hermione.

While she was gone Ron had moved into Hermione's house to look after things. That had been five months ago, and it was only in the last couple of letters that Hermione had started to indicate that she might be free to come home soon.

***

Nothing had prepared her for the pain. Even the Cruciatus curse was no worse than this driving, torturing agony that threatened to tear her apart. It crashed through her body like a wave and then it eased for a moment and she felt a gentle pressure on her hand. She looked up through a veil of sweat and tears into the clear blue eyes of her best friend. In his eyes she could clearly see anxiety, concern and love.

"Hey, Ron. You're still here?" she whispered.

"Absolutely. I won't desert you now," he said in a grim determined voice, "you know I never will."

For a moment it was just the two of them alone together on a small calm island in a raging sea of pain. He leant over and whispered soothingly, "You can do this Hermione. Very ordinary women and witches have babies every day and you are extraordinary."

She managed a weak smile but her eyes filled with tears. "I don't feel extraordinary right now."

"But you are. Trust me."

It had been a long twelve hours. Ron knew that Bill and Tonks would be out in the waiting room by now, but he did not dare leave her. She would not let him. With each contraction she tightened her grip on his hand. He was starting to think that his fingers would never recover. Ron knew there were good reasons why they were here in a Muggle hospital, but it made him feel uneasy. Surely it would have been safer the traditional way?

"Hermione," the midwife said, "I need you to really push for me now. The first baby is nearly here."

As the woman spoke Hermione could feel the next contraction start to sweep through her body and as the pain hit her she started to cry out, "Harry! You bastard! Where are you when I need you? Harry!" The last word morphed into a sheer scream of pain.

It was all Ron could do not to flinch and withdraw, but he stood his ground beside her holding her hand, thankful that she could not see his face.

"Here he is." One of the other nurses who had recently entered the room came over and took a red squealing bundle from the midwife who immediately turned her attention back to Hermione. Fifteen minutes and another series of curses later the second baby arrived.

Hermione looked up at Ron. She was exhausted, but there was also a look of triumph on her face. "We did it!"

"No, Hermione, you did it. You were magnificent."

"I could not have managed without you, Ron. You must know that."

She took hold of his other hand and Ron just stood there with both her hands held in his. Even as she was at this moment, tired, sweaty and pale he still thought her the most beautiful girl in the world and she could see it in his eyes.

"Would you like to hold your babies now?"

Hermione nodded and the nurses brought two blue blanket-wrapped bundles over to the bed. She took one on each arm. Ron looked at each baby for just the briefest of moments. "I'll go and get Bill and Tonks." Without waiting for an answer he turned and moved swiftly out the door.

As soon as Ron entered the brightly lit waiting room two people jumped instantly up from their seats. Even dressed in Muggle clothes they stood out in the sombre environment of the maternity hospital. Bill Weasley was not quite as tall as his baby brother, but he was impossible to ignore with his long ponytail of red hair and bright green jacket. His companion was a short bird-like young woman dressed in tight blue jeans and a bright purple shirt with matching purple hair.

Ron stood wearily in the doorway and as they reached him he put his hand on Bill's shoulder for support. "The babies are here, both safe and well and exactly as expected."

"And Hermione?" asked Bill.

"She's fine." He grinned ruefully at his brother. "I reckon Mum must be a bloody saint. To go through that six times!"

***

Molly Weasley and her daughter-in-law Fleur Delacour-Weasley, Hogwarts Charms teacher, sat companionably together in front of the large fireplace at the Burrow. They appreciated the warmth of the roaring fire as it was a very cold day, but that was not the only reason the fire was lit.

Suddenly the flames in the fire turned green and Bill Weasley stepped out holding a small blue bundle close to his chest. The two women moved towards him as one.

"Here he is, Mum." Bill handed the bundle gently to Molly. "You might like to do a quick check on him. The Muggles checked him before we left the hospital, but that was only Muggle checks." He then stepped back and took hold of Fleur in a short, loving embrace. Then they stood there side by side with their arms around each other while Molly laid the bundle down on the sofa and quickly but carefully unwrapped the small baby within.

The child was a thin, fair skinned little boy, with none of the chubbiness one tends to associate with babies. His head - which at first appeared bald - was actually covered with a soft filmy layer of silvery blonde hair. He was awake and alert but just lay there kicking gently at the air as Molly ran her wand up and down, over and around until she was satisfied. "He's in good health." The baby reached up one little fist and grabbed for her wand. "No, you don't. Not yet, my boy." She picked him back up and put him in Fleur's arms.

Molly turned to them with the broadest of smiles. "Congratulations, both of you. Now I shall give you a little time alone to get acquainted with your son and I shall go into the kitchen to tell the rest of the family the baby has arrived."

They both stood there looking at the child in Fleur's arms. "He is so beautiful. But I am scared, Bill. Will he turn out like his father?"

"I am his father now, Fleur, and he will be brought up as a Weasley. We can overcome bad blood by a loving upbringing. I am sure of it. "

***

"Are you all organised, Tonks?"

"Yes, I think so. Are you sure little babies need this much gear?"

"I didn't want you to forget anything."

Ron was leaning in the doorway watching this exchange. His eyes were twinkling with ill disguised amusement. "Really, Hermione! If there is something Tonks forgets I am sure she can get it later."

"Yes, you are right of course." Hermione sighed, and stood up from the open trunk into which she had been stuffing things. "I'm just concerned because you will be a single mother, coping with a baby all alone."

Tonks grinned. "All alone with my mother who can't wait to get her hands on her grandson." She rolled her eyes. "Not to mention Uncle Remus, and the rest of you."

"Just remember," said Ron, "babies don't always bounce, so easy does it and extra large nappies!"

"Don't you have a job to go to?" said Hermione rather snappishly.

Ron took the hint and disappeared. Tonks closed the trunk and levitated it into the fireplace. She then walked over to where Hermione was standing next to a small cradle. Looking up at them with a definite air of interest was a cute chubby baby with a shock of black hair. "Do you think he will have green eyes?" asked Hermione anxiously.

"Hard to tell at this stage," Tonks shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. Even my own mother is not sure what my original hair and eye colour were any more. If someone does question it, I'll just blame his Muggle father."

"This is very brave of you, Tonks." Hermione gently lifted the baby from the crib, kissed him on the forehead and placed him in her arms.

"Not at all. I consider it a privilege to be able to care for this very special child." She leant forward and kissed Hermione on the cheek. Then turning to the fireplace, threw a pinch of Floo powder on the fire and took her adopted son home to meet his grandparents.