Broken

Lily's Legacy
Chapter 11

Draco was sitting next to Hermione's bed, speaking in soothing tones. Hermione was staring at the ceiling, seeming not to realize that Draco was even there. Ginny walked into the room and sighed. "Any change?"

Without taking his eyes off of Hermione's tear-stained faced, he answered, "No."

"Draco," Ginny started. "You need to eat something. And I know you haven't slept properly in the last couple of days. Hermione needs you to be strong for her."

Draco got up from his seat and walked over to Ginny. "I've checked her vitals, Gin. She's not eating or sleeping, either. It's almost like she's trying to make herself sick."

Ginny gave Draco a sad look. "Draco, she's slowly killing the baby and herself. We have to get her to St. Mungo's. I know that we are both healers, but we don't have the resources here. She needs nutrition. I don't have the potions or the ingredients."

"But Gin, we aren't supposed to leave. You know Lucius is still out there."

"Draco, this is her life we're talking about. Her life and the baby's."

Draco gritted his teeth. "And why, exactly, do you think we are in hiding in the first place?" Seeing Ginny's scorned expression, Draco softened. "Listen, Gin. Just give me some more time with her. If I can't get her to come 'round, we can take her to St. Mungo's as a last resort."

Ginny smiled sadly. "Okay, Draco. But you need to eat something as well. You are no good to her if you make yourself sick."

Draco's next words were halted by the sound of Ron's voice. He was running up the stairs, calling to Ginny.

Ginny rushed toward the door, "Ron!"

Catching his breath, Ron grabbed Ginny by the shoulders. "Gin, it's over. It's really over."

"What's over? Ron! Calm down. Where's Harry."

"Snape took him to St. Mungo's. Voldemort's dead. Harry did it."

Draco breathed a sigh of relief. "How did he do it, Weasley?"

"I don't know for sure. I was with Dumbledore, holding the remaining Death Eaters."

Draco jumped. "Remaining Death Eaters? Weasley, was Lucius..."

Ron closed his eyes. "I didn't see him. He wasn't with the Death Eaters that we had captured. I didn't see his body, either."

Ginny was busy gathering the baby's things. Ron looked at her, puzzled. "What are you doing, Gin?"

"I'm going to St. Mungo's, Ron. What do you think I'm doing?"

Draco looked into the crib at his sleeping goddaughter. "Leave her here, Ginny. I'll look after her. I'm not going anywhere without Hermione."

It was that moment that Ron looked toward the bed in the corner of the room and noticed his catatonic best friend. "What's the matter with Hermione?"

Draco sighed. "She's pregnant, Weasley. She hasn't eaten, spoken, or slept properly since she found out a couple of days ago. I keep trying to get her to come 'round, but she won't respond to me or Ginny. You've known her longer. Maybe you can try."

Ron furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "She's pregnant? Who's the father?"

Draco looked at the ground and whispered, "Lucius." The full force of what Draco told him nearly knocked the air out of Ron. He schooled his features. Now was not the time to be angry. Hermione needed him.

Ron moved swiftly to Hermione's bed. Taking her hand, he whispered, "Hermione, we did it. It's over. What we've been working for since we were eleven years old is finally over with. We can live our lives now, Hermione. Malfoy told me about the baby, Hermione. Don't worry about it. You'll be alright. I'll help you take care of the baby. I'd even marry you if it was possible. But you need to eat something, Hermione. You can't starve yourself, or this baby."

Hesitantly, Ron put his hand on Hermione's stomach. She didn't even flinch. "Hermione, it's not this baby's fault what Lucius did to you. He or she is innocent. You can't kill it, or yourself."

Ron's words seemed to hit Hermione. She squeezed her eyes shut and began to sob. Ron stood and grabbed her. Hermione held on to Ron as if he were her lifeline. Draco and Ginny stood to Ron's side, not wanting to move out of fear of Hermione withdrawing back into herself.

When her sobs started to subside, she looked up at Ron. "You're right, Ron. It's not the baby's fault. I have to get up and take care of myself."

Ron moved back when Hermione tried to stand. The moment she stood, she fainted away into Ron's arms.

Draco rushed to her side. "She doesn't have any strength left. We need to get her some help. Ron, we can't take her to St. Mungo's."

Ron looked frantic. "Right, what do I need to do?"

Ginny grabbed her wand. "I'm going to St. Mungo's to see Harry. I'll send someone here to take care of her. I'll only be a few moments."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Once Ginny reached the floor Harry was on, she saw Snape sitting in a chair in the waiting room.

He had his head in his hands, and Ginny thought the worst. Tentatively, she approached him. "Professor Snape?"

He jerked his head up at the sound of her voice. "Your husband is right through those doors, Mrs. Potter. He's alive, but barely."

Horror stricken, Ginny went toward the door. Before she walked in, she remembered Hermione. "Professor Snape, Hermione needs someone. She's sick. She's slowly dying." Knowing he would find out sooner or later she added, "And so is the baby."

Professor Snape stood quickly. "Baby - what baby?"

"Her baby, Professor. She's pregnant."

Without another word, Professor Snape walked quickly out of the ward robes billowing in his wake.

Steeling herself for what she might see, Ginny opened the door to Harry's room. There was a Healer pulling Harry's sheet up to his neck when Ginny entered. When she saw Ginny, she said to Harry, "Your wife is here, Mr. Potter." But Harry didn't hear her because he was still unconscious.

Ginny recognized her colleague as Healer Adams. "Hello, Gwen. How is my husband?"

"To be honest with you, Ginny, he's not well. His wounds are healed, but he's lost a lot of blood."

"So give him a blood replenisher." Ginny moved to Harry's bed and took his hand in hers, using her other hand to brush the hair out of his gray face."

"Ginny, the potions aren't helping like they should. Your husband needs blood."

"So get him some blood," Ginny said impatiently.

"Unfortunately, we can't. We don't have his blood type." Gwen Adams put her hand on Ginny's shoulder to get her full attention. "Ginny, Mr. Potter has a rare blood type. We don't have anything in our stores for him. I'm afraid if we don't get him what he needs soon, he could..."

Ginny raised her hand to stop her. "Don't even say it. Harry Potter is the bravest man I know. After everything he's done for the Wizarding World, there is no way in hell I'm going to allow him to die because of this. I'll take care of it, Gwen. How long does he have?"

"We've got him in stasis for the time being. He can't stay like this, of course, but we can keep him like this for about forty-eight hours. But, Ginny, that's cutting it close. He'll need blood soon."

Ginny closed her eyes and nodded, knowing what she would have to do. She stood up and brushed a kiss on Harry's forehead. "I'm going to do whatever's necessary to make sure you come back to us, Harry Potter. I'm going to make sure you keep your promise to our daughter."

Without another word, Ginny left the hospital. Stepping outside of St. Mungo's, Ginny moved quickly to the Apparation point. She closed her eyes and concentrated on number twelve. Ginny ran up to her room where she saw Professor Snape trying to get a newly revived Hermione to drink a potion. She knew Hermione would be all right now.

Ron saw her come in. "Ginny, what are you doing?"

"No time, Ron. I came to get the baby.

"But why?" Ron asked, incredulous.

"Because, her father needs her." Ginny grabbed the sleeping baby and wrapped her up in a small blanket. Putting the baby's bag over her shoulder, she left without another word.

Once outside, Ginny held tightly to the small bundle in her arms and concentrated again, however, this time it was on a place that she'd only seen in a Pensieve full of Harry's memories.

Landing at the end of the street called Privet Drive, Ginny knew she was in the right place. She pocketed her wand and strode down the street until she saw number four. She saw the car parked in the drive and knew there was someone home. Gathering her baby and her strength, Ginny made her way up the walk. Heart pounding, she raised her hand to knock, but the door opened before she could.

Standing in the doorway was a thin woman with a scowl that would make Professor Snape proud. Ginny had never seen Harry's aunt, but the way she looked at Ginny, she knew this had to be Petunia Dursley.

Petunia noticed the cloak and right away knew she was dealing with Wizarding folk. She narrowed her eyes and asked irritably, "What do you want?" She couldn't see Ginny's face, but she knew by the size of this person, it wasn't her nephew.

Ginny lowered her hood, and Petunia was taken aback. "Who are you?" Petunia asked breathlessly.

Confused by the woman's noticeable change of manner, she said proudly, "My name is Ginevra Potter. I am your nephew's wife." Then revealing the baby beneath the blankets, she added, "And this is our daughter. Mrs. Dursley, I need to speak with you. May I please come in?"

Petunia hesitated for a moment and then stepped aside to let Ginny enter. Before closing the door, she looked outside to make sure nobody saw Ginny enter. She turned on her heel the moment she let the door close. "I don't know what you're doing here, Mrs. Potter, but you can state your business and leave at once. I don't want anything to do with your kind." Although the words were cruel, they lacked the necessary venom to intimidate Ginny.

"You may call me Ginny, Madam. I will gladly state my business. Is it alright if we sit down? My baby's not heavy, but my arm is starting to cramp."

"Very well, you may follow me." Ginny followed Petunia into a small sitting room and sat on the sofa where Petunia had indicated.

Ginny didn't waste any time. "Mrs. Dursley, I know you don't want anything to do with us, and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't an emergency." Ginny fought to keep the tears at bay. "The thing is, Harry needs you. You are his only living relative besides our baby, here. He is at St. Mungo's, and he's dying."

This news didn't have the desired effect on Petunia Dursley. "What's St. Mungo's?"

"It's a Wizard's hospital. Mrs. Dursley, Harry needs blood. He has a rare blood type that we don't have within our reach."

Without meeting her gaze, Petunia asked, "And what makes you think I can help him?"

Ginny narrowed her eyes at Harry's aunt. "Because you're Harry's aunt, and you're a Muggle. Mrs. Dursley, you know this because you share the same blood type, don't you?"

Petunia's head was spinning. All this talk about Wizards and Muggles right in the middle of a normal society. The whole time Ginny was talking, Petunia was playing with the hem of her blouse, but she couldn't ignore what the young witch was saying.

"Mrs. Potter, I don't know exactly what you want me to do." Then Petunia indicated the baby. "What about her? She's Harry's child. What kind of blood does she have?"

Ginny was starting to get angry, but she knew this was her only chance to save Harry, therefore, she had to control her Weasley temper. "Mrs. Dursley, my baby is only a month old. Even if she did have the right blood, which she doesn't, it would be too dangerous for her to extract it." Ginny stood and walked over to Mrs. Dursley, who was now standing next to the window. She hesitated to lay a hand on the older woman's shoulder, but thought better of it.

"Mrs. Dursley, you are Harry's only chance of survival. The blood that runs through your veins protected him for most of his life. Please, I'm begging you; your blood is all that can save him now."

Petunia didn't turn from the window, nor did she respond to Ginny's pleading. Instead, she took a deep breath and spoke resolutely. "When my sister got the letter to go to that school, I was crushed."

Ginny swallowed the irritation in her voice. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Dursley. Harry doesn't talk much about his mum. He doesn't have any memories of her, of course."

At the sound of the baby fussing, Petunia looked down at her. "Does - she have a name?"

Ginny blushed. "Not yet. We wanted to name her when Harry finished off You-Know-Who. If Harry lives." Ginny's voice cracked, but she continued. "If Harry lives, we'll name her together."

Petunia furrowed her brows. "That's absurd. The child needs a name."

Ginny knew that Petunia was aching to hold the baby, but would never ask to. So Ginny, taking the initiative, asked instead. "Mrs. Dursley, would you like to hold her?"

Petunia flinched as if she'd been burned. Ginny rolled her eyes. "She's won't be able to hex you for a few years yet."

Ginny could see Petunia's battle going on in her head. Finally sat down in the rocking chair and held out her arms, still looking a bit frightened. Ginny felt herself bursting with joy, but wouldn't demonstrate that feeling in front of Petunia. She gently handed her the baby, who squirmed from being removed from her mother's warmth.

Petunia looked down at the infant in her arms. Without realizing it, she slowly started rocking. When the baby opened her eyes, she looked up at Petunia with mild interest. Petunia felt her heart skip a beat. "Lily's eyes," she whispered softly, but Ginny heard her. Ginny finally felt she was getting somewhere with this woman, so she didn't comment.

As if there had been no interruption, Petunia continued to recount days long forgotten. "I loved her, you know - Lily. She was my baby sister. I took care of her like she was my little doll." Petunia paused in remembrance. Ginny didn't dare interrupt her. She had a feeling that Petunia had wanted to get this out of her system, but never had anyone to talk to about it. Petunia continued.

"I used to play with her out in the garden. The garden always held a special place for us. When my mother would ask about us, my father would tell her that his little flowers were out in the garden. Our lives were made of playing and giggling and telling secrets. I noticed that strange things would happen sometimes, but not believing in magic, I never suspected what it was. I assumed my eyes were always playing tricks on me. Then the letter came."

Petunia took a breath. "When my parents showed so much joy at Lily's gift, I became angry. Lily went off to that school, and I was left alone. I was sad at first, and then my sadness turned into anger. That anger got worse when she'd come for the holidays or summer. She had this exciting life that I was cut out of. My parents were so proud of her. I felt empty."

"Then I met Vernon. He helped turn my anger into disgust. He kept telling me what a freak my sister was. I was so besotted and happy that there was someone else who saw her for what I wanted to see her as."

"She would send me letters, and I would send them back. In her last year, she came home from school with that James. He had asked my father for her hand. She was so happy, and I was so angry at her happiness. She tried to embrace me before she went back to school. I turned from her, and told her I hated her. Imagine hating one's own sister." Petunia stopped long enough to wipe away a traitorous tear.

"I went on with my life, and she went on with hers. Then one day I opened my front door to find a baby boy in a basket, accompanied by a letter. Every time I looked at him, I saw Lily's accusing eyes. I felt as if she was punishing me. So the only way to get back at her was to punish her only son. I will never forget the way he looked at me the last day he stood in our foyer. Those eyes, so like hers, weren't accusing me of anything. When I looked at him, all I could see was sadness and regret. But it wasn't his sadness or his regret - it was hers."

"You look like her, you know. When I opened my door and saw you standing there, I almost fainted. Then I saw your lovely brown eyes, and I righted myself."

Petunia became quiet now. She gave everything she had to hold in her emotions. She looked up at Ginny, who seemed engrossed by Petunia's revelation. Ginny still didn't speak, for fear of breaking this connection. Petunia took another deep breath and looked again at the baby, who was staring back at her.

"When I look into the eyes of this child, I don't see accusations, nor sadness, nor regret. I only see a beautiful baby with the eyes of her grandmother. I've always wanted a little girl. Vernon didn't want anymore children after Dudley was born."

Ginny cleared her throat. "Perhaps Dudley can give you a granddaughter, Mrs. Dursley."

Petunia sighed. "No. Dudley is unable to have children. Unfortunately, he became sterile due to an illness a year ago. I've often wondered if that was also a punishment. When Vernon died of a heart attack a few weeks after Dudley's recovery, Dudley moved to America, and we don't keep in touch very often as I'd like."

"I'm sorry you lost your husband, Mrs. Dursley."

Petunia brushed her fingertip down the baby's cheek and looked up at Ginny. After regarding her for what seemed like a lifetime, she finally stood and handed the baby back to Ginny. Only then did she finally let the tears fall silently. "Yes, I lost my husband. But he had a long life, Mrs. Pot--Ginny. Your husband, on the other hand, is barely an adult. I can't imagine this poor little girl going too much longer without a name. She will be her father's greatest joy; a joy which he never had while in my home. I have spent my life loathing magic and what I let it do to my family. My sister left a legacy, which she died to protect. If I can help her son, perhaps she'll finally forgive me."

Ginny shifted the baby in her arms and stood. She took Petunia's hand in her own and spoke softly. "Perhaps you can finally forgive yourself."