Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

The Horcrux Scheme	By : Ezriela Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Hermione Views: 67027 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All names, locations, rights, quotes, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., and many other people who are not me. No profit is to be made from this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 27
- 28
Chapter 28: Recouping Losses

The following morning was Easter Sunday. Normally, children savor the long weekend off from school. Throughout the country, people delight in decorating eggs and participating in scavenger hunts with friends and family. However, the temporary inhabitants of the small, seaside cottage awoke feeling depressed; flooded with the memories of the previous day’s events.

Bill and Fleur were the first downstairs; preparing a large breakfast for everyone quietly as Draco had still been fast asleep on the spacious sofa nearby.

Upstairs, sunlight streamed in through the sheer, beige curtains in Harry and Hermione’s bedroom. Harry’s eyes opened slowly, focusing on a somewhat blurry Hermione, still asleep in his arms; their faces mere inches apart.

Feeling Harry stir beside her, she awoke to meet his crystal blue eyes.

“Morning, beautiful,” smiled Harry, snuggling closer.

Blushing slightly, she brought a hand up to caress his cheek, “Morning, baby.”

However, the loving moment seemed fleeting as the guilt and sadness from the night before washed over him in an instant.

“‘Mione, I’m--”

Hermione gently placed a finger to his lips. “Harry, don’t. It’s not your fault. If not for you, we’d probably be dead.”

Similarly, Hermione felt a wave of guilt course through her as well. “I’m just sorry I couldn’t keep them safe, like I promised-”

Harry shushed her this time. “It’s not your fault either,” he sighed. “But I still want to make sure that James and Lily are alright. I know it's not like we can visit Madam Pomfrey—”

Hermione’s face lit up with an idea; Harry almost thought he saw a glint in her eye. “We might not be able to visit her, but maybe she could visit us? We could ask Bill and Fleur if they have a secure Floo network...”

“That’s brilliant!” replied Harry, pulling his fiancée in for a tender kiss.

As they got out of bed, Harry put on his glasses and finally caught a glimpse of Hermione’s injured arm. The blood he had seen before had been from a message carved into her inner forearm. The wound had already begun to scar. A word, now appearing in a violent crimson color, displayed 'Mudblood' clearly.

Moving by her side, he gingerly held her arm, his fingers lightly brushing the skin near the injury. His stomach churned at the thought of what she had to endure, “‘Mione...” he gasped with a furrowed brow.

“Bellatrix’s way of ensuring that I ‘know my place’,” grimaced Hermione as she leaned in to his gentle touch.

Sensing Harry’s surging anger, she quickly attempted to calm him down. “Harry, I know what you’re thinking. But you can’t go looking for her. Not when we have so many other more important things to worry about.”

Harry appeared stone faced, clearly still wanting to seek revenge for harming his family.

Hermione rubbed her hand over his bicep soothingly, causing Harry to relinquish the remaining intense, immediate urge to rid them of Bellatrix permanently.

Taking her hand from its place on his arm, he let out a deep sigh. “‘Mione, there’s something you should know. Last night—” he stammered. “Bill told us— Ginny’s dead.”

Hermione sighed and lowered her gaze. “I know.”

Harry didn’t have to ask how she already knew. Understanding her meaning, he seethed through clenched teeth, “Let me guess, Bellatrix?”

Avoiding his gaze, she simply nodded.

Not wanting to worry her further, he did his best to hide his heightened anger. “Alright,” he sighed. “Let’s just...get dressed and head downstairs,” replied Harry sullenly, planting a light kiss on her forehead.

Hermione hesitated, causing Harry to lift an eyebrow of confusion in response.

“I-I…don’t have any other clothing here. Bellatrix kidnapped me in the middle of the night, remember?” Glancing downward in embarrassment, Hermione gestured at her tattered and dirty pink pajamas. "No clothes. Not even my wand."

Contemplating this for a moment, Harry suddenly crossed the room to pick up the small beaded bag that he left in the corner on the floor, the night before.

Smiling confidently, he held up the drawstring bag. “No problem, I’m sure you still have some clothes packed in here.” Nodding towards her protruding baby bump, “Already enchanted ones, too. If not, maybe Fleur can lend you some.”

Hermione smiled brightly and moved to pull him in for a passionate kiss. Feeling his soft lips against hers made her heart begin to race. “Oh, Harry,” she whispered, resting her forehead against his, “I love you.”

Harry smiled coyly, “I love you, too.” Leaning in for one last kiss, he reached into the tiny bag and pulled out a set of clothes for each of them.

~♥~

After everyone finished breakfast, Harry pulled Bill aside to ask about the Floo network.

“Yeah...that could still work. Thankfully it’s Easter Sunday, so the school will be quiet. As long as she can travel unnoticed by Snape,” reasoned Bill.

As Bill set to readying the fireplace, Harry rejoined the group in the kitchen, noticing Ron staring awkwardly at Luna across the table.

“Luna, about last night—At Malfoy Manor—” Ron bashfully began.

“It’s okay, Ron. I rather enjoyed it,” Luna replied dreamily.

Ron’s cheeks flushed to match the color of his hair.

Timidly approaching his next idea lightly, “W-well, maybe sometime...we could—”

“Oh, it definitely seems likely,” she grinned, adding a wink.

“So, Weaslebee and Looney-Tunes are an item now, eh? Well, I'm glad my aunt could sort out this love connection,” Draco sarcastically replied while rolling his eyes; reluctantly standing to bring his plate to the sink.

“Shut it, Malfoy,” snarled Harry.

“Yeah, Bill and Fleur were generous enough to let you to stay here, so watch it,” Ron chimed in.

Malfoy held his tongue; rolling his eyes once more in annoyance, he let out a disgruntled sigh of disgust.

Just then, a light crackle was overheard in the next room.

Harry entered in time to see Madam Pomfrey dusting off the remaining Floo powder from her shoulder.

“Good to see you, William!” replied the older nurse from Hogwarts, embracing Bill in a cordial hug.

As she took in her surroundings, she spotted Harry in the doorway.

“Mr. Potter,” she smiled warmly; her face quickly becoming serious again, “Where is she?”

Overhearing the commotion, Hermione appeared by his side.

“Ah, Miss Granger, let’s head upstairs and we’ll begin,” directed Poppy, picking up her distressed, black leather medicine bag from where she set it down.

“Is it alright if Harry joins us?” inquired Hermione softly.

Madam Pomfrey paused a moment, eyeing Harry briefly. “Yes, alright.”

After giving Hermione various potions and performing multiple charms, Madam Pomfrey concluded that everything was fine.

“Well, it certainly is a miracle that your twins are alright after what you endured, Miss Granger,” turning to face Harry, “they must take after you, Mr. Potter.”

Harry returned a sheepish smile. He moved to join Hermione on the bed; taking her in his arms he kissed her gently, overjoyed from the good news.

Poppy Pomfrey stood, silently beginning to pack her things.

“Madam Pomfrey, before you go...you should check Luna as well,” suggested Hermione.

Poppy turned a questioning glance towards Hermione, “Miss Lovegood? Why? What's happened?”

Hermione took a moment to find the best way to articulate the reasons behind Luna’s new possible condition.

“While we were at Malfoy Manor...Luna and Ron...” Hermione trailed off, hoping she didn’t have to explain further.

Madam Pomfrey considered this a moment, casting a speculative glance at Harry, who lowered his gaze timidly in response, “...I see.”

~♥~

Everyone was seated downstairs, talking amongst themselves.

Noticing Harry coming down the stairs, Ron stood in eager anticipation, “Well? How is she?”

“Everything’s fine. The twins are fine,” beamed Harry, clearly still relieved.

“Oh zank goodness,” Fleur sighed in relief.

“Yeah. But Luna, Madam Pomfrey would like to see you upstairs as well,” instructed Harry.

Ron appeared confused, while Luna simply headed up the staircase calmly. Ron and Harry followed. Harry paused by the room he shared with Hermione, clapping Ron on the back in luck, before rejoining his fiancée.

Ron silently entered the bedroom he now shared with Luna, closing the door behind him.

♦♥♦

***Author's Note: I am *SO* sorry guys!! As the story gets closer towards the end...it's proving a bit more difficult. That and part of the reason for the late upload, is I got to MEET JK Rowling! I've since had time to pinch/slap myself and have returned to normal...whatever that is. I love reading your comments! And I am definitely trying to make the chapters longer. Let me know what you guys think so far. And good news is, the next update shouldn't be too long now. ;)
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The Horcrux Scheme