You Raise Me Up

Wow! A few hours late, but here nonetheless! I was just tweaking this chapter. I'm sure you'll all love it. A bunch of stuff happens in this chappie, which has jumped ahead about a week. Enjoy the story, and I do believe I might put some smut in the next chapter. But who will be acting so very lascivious will be totally up to how many reviews I get......I know....I'm wicked...
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Hermione knelt in front of the toilet, retching violently. Draco was holding her unruly curls out of her face, and gently rubbing her back to help ease the nausea. Once she had succeeded in emptying the contents of her stomach, she leaned back against her fiancé, allowing him to wipe her face with the cool rag he had prepared.

Draco helped her to her feet, and she walked shakily to the sink to brush the disgusting taste from her mouth, and gargle with minty mouthwash. Once she was clean, she trudged weakly back into the room she and Draco had been sharing for the past few days. He refused to let her out of his sight during her morning sickness, and she felt he was being annoyingly helpful, but she didn’t have the heart to tell him to go away. He was eager and excited about fatherhood, and Hermione felt that it wasn’t her right to tell him to calm down.

She picked up her thick terrycloth robe, and wrapped herself in it before trudging out of the room, and down the ‘classroom.’ She had a lesson today, and not even a little pregnancy was going to stop her. Draco followed behind her, making sure she was all right.

She passed out a few papers for her ‘students’ to read, and then plopped herself into a squishy chair in the corner.

“If you have a question, don’t hesitate to ask…” she said, and curled herself into a ball before promptly falling asleep.

Snape had almost decided to ask her something, but the glare and growl he’d received from Draco when he stood was enough to make him resort to stealing Bellatrix’s notes to see what he had missed. The tiny ‘pop’ of a house elf appearing broke their silent work.

“Master Malfoy, sir!” the tiny creature squeaked, and bowed before Lucius.

“What is it, Daisy? We are busy…” he said, impatient.

“There is being visitors, sir. They ask for Lady Bellatrix…” the elf replied. Bellatrix stood.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“It is being Harry Potter and the Minister of Magic! They is wanting to see you, madam!” the house elf squeaked, clearly excited that such people were in the house. Bellatrix nervously followed the elf. The little creature led her out to the foyer, where Harry and Percy both waited. Harry nodded at her.

“Miss Lestrange…” he said, trying to be polite. She shook her head slowly. “No? No what?” he asked.

“Black. I don’t go by Lestrange any more…” she said.

“Well, Miss Black, then.” He said. Percy stepped forward, standing right in front of her, a dark scowl on his face. She shrank under his glare.

“You are pregnant, Miss Black…” he spat, her name causing him great anguish. Harry noticed as she swallowed hard, and nodded.

“Yes, Minister. Just shy of seven months…” she said softly.

“And who would the father be?” Percy asked, his none too gentle.

“I…I don’t know, sir.” She said honestly.

“Was it one of your comrades?” he asked, tilting his head.

“I don’t think so, sir…” she said.

“And why not, Miss Black?”

“Because…my comrades were nothing if not methodical. Every kill was accompanied by the Dark Mark. Every rape was accompanied by a different Mark. Even if the murder or rape touched home within the circles, the marks were still there. It showed all that the Master wouldn’t tolerate failure…even within his own ranks. Each of the Death Eaters had his own mark…I never participated in the sexual escapades…and I have thoroughly checked my being for marks, of which there are none…” she explained, trying to keep her voice calm. Of course that was hard to do when she was afraid that the next word she uttered would have her Kissed.

“So who are you suggesting had the very unfortunate experience of knocking you up?” he asked, his voice dripping with pure loathing.

“The only other…men who had contact with me….were…the two Aurorsthatescortedmefromazkaban…” she said, running the last bit of her sentence together with nervous energy.

“Speak like someone can hear you, you worthless whore…” Percy hissed. This time Harry intervened.

“Minister! That’s quite enough. She’s visibly scared of you, and she’s afraid to even tell who raped her. I don’t care who it was…rape is a terrible crime, and the person who did this should be punished to the full extent of the law…” Harry said.

Percy turned on the junior Auror. “One would think that murder, torture, and treason would be punishable by law….but I must be mistaken…” he said darkly. Harry looked at Bellatrix.

“Slow down your words. Who did it?” he said, his voice much softer than Percy’s.

“The Aurors who escorted me to the trial from Azkaban were the last two males to have contact with my person. And seeing as they beat me senseless, I have no idea what they did…” she said softly. Harry almost felt sorry for her in that instance. She presented a pitiful picture…She was trembling visibly from having to deal with Percy, and a few dark curls had fallen in her face, making her look almost child-like and frail. Harry turned to Percy.

“What do you plan to do, Minister? She’s right about the Death Eaters. Crazy as they were, they always marked their prey.” He said. Percy nodded, however, begrudgingly agreeing with the young wizard. That meant he was going to have to question two of his Aurors for the rape of a deranged and murderous woman, who happened to turn up pregnant. If the two hadn’t been so careless, they could have done what they wanted and not been caught…

“Very well. I shall question the two Aurors personally. I assume you will want to know should either of them confess to being the father?” he said, looking down his nose at Bellatrix.

“No.” she said, startling Harry and Percy.

“What?” they said together.

“I don’t want to know, because I don’t want him in mine or the child’s life. Matter of fact, don’t even tell him I’m pregnant. I just want to know if either or both of them raped me. Deal with them accordingly.” She said, speaking with much more bravery than she felt. Percy nodded mutely, stunned. “Oh, and I would like to file for divorce from my husband. Seeing as he is a soulless hull, he does me no good. I do believe that falls under the header for proper terms of divorce, yes?” she said. Percy nodded again, still silent. “Now, if you don’t mind, I was in the middle of studying about television.” She said, and turned on her heels, walking out of the foyer.

She paused just as she started to turn a corner, and turned back to the two men. “Potter…Granger misses you, and wants you to visit more often, but she hasn’t the guts to write you. You should visit her more often, you know. I’m sure the little lioness gets lonely all by herself in the snake pit…” she said, and winked at Harry. She then rounded the corner, leaving both men stunned.

~~

Severus paced in front of the fire nervously, his hands linked behind his back. Lucius watched him over the brim of his glass of firewhiskey. His old friend was starting to get on his nerves.

“Sit down, Severus. You’re making me dizzy…” he said, quite annoyed.

“I’m nervous, Lucius. Dammit! I’ve been planning this for weeks…” he said, standing in front of the fire and peering down into the flames.

“Yes, and I’ve had to deal with Narcissa planning Draco and Hermione’s wedding. You think your nerves are bad…” he said, and shuddered. The wedding had been announced to the public only the week before, and was planned for a week from tomorrow. But tonight was very special for his dark friend.

“I’ve never done this before, Lucius. What if I make a fool of myself?” he asked. Lucius almost laughed at the childish apprehension in the grown man’s voice.

“Then it will be just like your school days, friend. Relax…have a bit of firewhiskey…” he said. Snape shook his head, politely declining the drink. He could have sworn his heart plummeted to the floor when a small house elf appeared, announcing dinner was ready. Severus patted his pocket reassuringly, and then Apparated to the dining room.

Hermione and Draco were already seated, both talking animatedly with Harry Potter, who had gotten himself the invite to dinner from Hermione. Harry laughed at something Draco said, and Hermione blushed feverishly. Narcissa appeared, flanked seconds later by Bellatrix. They all sat, and Lucius took his place at the head of the table. Only Severus was left standing. His dark eyes rested on Bellatrix, who was talking with Harry and smiling. She became aware of his stares, and turned her gaze to him.

“What is it, moufette?” she asked. He smiled nervously.

“Nothing, blaireau….” He said, and gingerly sat next to her.

Dinner went over quite dully, much to the joy of Snape. He ate quietly, sneaking nervous glances at Bellatrix during the entire meal. When the house-elves began to bring out the dessert trays, Severus looked up at Lucius, and gave a small nod of his head.

“So, Bella, did Percy finally decide to grant you the divorce you asked for?” he asked smoothly, picking up his dessert spoon. Bellatrix looked up, and smile on her lips.

“Yes. He had them sent over yesterday, as a matter of fact…” she said, smiling to herself. “Now I’m finally free of that blasted Rodolphus…” she said, and thanked the house elf that put her ice cream down in front of her. Lucius watched in amusement as Severus fumbled in his pockets, trying to be inconspicuous.

“That’s good.” Lucius said, and took a small bite of his own ice cream. Severus shifted in his chair slightly.

“Bellatrix, what is that?” he asked, and pointed off into a corner. Her head and eyes looked towards where he had pointed, and he quickly placed a small velvet box in front of her.

“I don’t see- what is this?” she asked, looking at the box as she turned back to her food.

“Open it.” Severus nudged softly. Bellatrix put down her spoon, and gently lifted the box. She looked at Severus, and he nodded gently. She opened the box, and gasped softly. Severus gently took the box from her, and plucked its contents into his hand. He stood, pushed his chair away, and knelt down on one knee. The entire room fell quiet, except for the hushed gasps of delight from both Narcissa and Hermione.

Severus held up the ring to the flabbergasted Bellatrix.

“Bellatrix Black…will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
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Aww....Sevviekins was being all nervous and subdued because he's in love....awww....everybody at once now.....awwwwwwwwwwwww.....

Yes...I know...I do good. Go ahead and tell me how good...I promise I won't bite....unless you ask me to....