Going Under

Going Under

Chapter Three: The Dark Child

"Thy soul shall find itself alone

'Mid dark thoughts of the grey tomb-stone -"

~ 'Spirits of the Dead' Edgar Allan Poe

"Draco..."

He woke, startled at hearing his name, unconsciously letting his arms wrap more tightly around his love's thin shoulders. He gazed down at her form, tranquil with sleep in his embrace. He sighed then and looked up into ebony, hard and shining with suppressed anger. He peered for a long time into the man's eyes and finally, he moved his eyes to once more land on her. He leaned his head down to rest on top her hair as he buried his fingers into her mused curls. Upon feeling the movement, she snuggled into him, smiling dreamily.

"What do you need, Professor?" he whispered, gaining eye contact again with Snape as the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey quietly pushed past the curtains.

He could feel the Transfiguration teacher's eyes roam over Hermione, taking in her condition and the peaceful appearance on her face as he held her. He could imagine all the gears working in the Mediwitch's head as she discovered who the father of that baby was, that she had discovered their secret. He knew deep down in his heart that his child would pay for his mistakes; he knew that the child would most likely be born with the Dark Mark.

"Wake her up, Draco. We have much to discuss with you both," spoke Dumbledore, silently conjuring up four chairs, acting as if they we only there for tea and biscuits. Yet his blue eyes were grave as he seated himself in the one chair closest to the boy.

It took all of his strength to wake her up, knowing that it would only make her upset. He whispered his pet name for her in her ear, softly brushing his fingertips against her cheek. She sighed and opened her eyes, smiling at him. He gave her his own weak one as his nerves where presently making war with his insides. He kissed her forehead gently before turning his attention back to the others.

"How are you feeling, Ms. Granger," asked McGonagall, allowing some concern to flash upon her personage.

The girl sighed, feeling somewhat relieved. Yet at the same time she felt queasy knowing that her peers knew who she loved. She loved Draco with all of her heart, much more than she ever imagined loving anyone, especially at the age she was. Then again, she had heard all those stories of typical teens, which get pregnant young, and gave away their babies. She would never give up her baby but she hated becoming a statistic in the eyes of those she admired. The thing, though, that her heart could not handle was being a disappointment.

"Fine, I suppose given the circumstances."

Liar

"Are you sure?" McGonagall, for her part, did not seem convinced. "I can send Mr. Malfoy to his dormitory if you would like to rest?" The Animagus hinted, sending the boy a wary look.

"She was resting just fine with me. Now get the hell on with it," Draco growled, fists clenching.

Just as the woman opened her mouth to retort, Dumbledore looked at him solemnly, speaking, "Is the baby, that Ms. Granger is carrying, your child?"

"Yes," he hissed, eyes flashing with hidden storm.

"Do you have the Dark Mark?"

They know! They know! You're baby will be condemned to death while her father will be sentenced to a lifetime imprisonment in Azkaban. You'll be alone. No one will love you knowing who you have touched, who has touched you. They will leave you. Not even the Order will help you. Face it, Granger. The game isn't over but you've already lost.

"No!" she screamed backing away from them, heart pounding hard. Angry tears poured from her wide, defiant eyes. She clenched her fingers into her lover's robes as a dizzy, nauseating sensation rose from her head. Her breathing changed to short, quick gasps, while she stared frightened.

"You cannot have her...!"

***

"...I will not let her die!"

He woke as a cold sweat perspired on his forehead. He took a deep breath, trying to control is heartbeat. His hands shook as brought them up to his chest, as if to manually have power over his pulse. He sighed and moved to wipe his hair from where it was matted to his skin, while looking through a crack in the curtains to stare at the bed beside his.

"Ron," he choked out, voice raspy. He swallowed. "Ron, wake up."

"Ron's not here, Harry."

"Where is he," he whispered to the darkness, accompanied by Seamus' loud snores.

"He went to see Hermione..."

***

"No!"

The silence of the corridors was shattered by her scream. His heart dropped to his feet as he willed his feet to run. All he could feel was her. All he could see was her, first her smiling and then her falling. Her face as she stuck out her hand, the despair welled deep in her eyes. He could feel the pain that had erupted in him as he saw Draco Malfoy catch her and lower her gently to the ground.

"You cannot have her...!"

Hermione was having a baby girl. His mind swam with the thought making him feel sick. He had had dreams of a little girl with curly brown hair and his eyes. Only this child would not have his eyes. She would not know him as 'Daddy' but as 'Uncle Ron'. He felt like he could cry because he thought that she was the one he would always love. He still loved her even though he knew about her unborn child. He knew then that he would never stop loving her, despite anything.

"...I will not let her die!"

He stopped. They were going to kill her child. The Headmaster was going to kill Hermione's baby!

And then he felt it, saw it rise up into his mind, the Dark Mark. He felt unseen hands clasping around his throat, suffocating him. He struggled and fell, succumbing to unconsciousness.