9 months

Hermione didn't know how long she ran. She wasn't even sure why she was running. She was scared. She was scared of what was going to happen. She ran for as long as she could before she finally collapsed on a bench.

She lungs were burning as she lay down on the hard wooden surface. She took long gasp of air waiting for her body to calm down.

Voldemort was back and he was after her and her babies. Her daughter. Voldemort had said that he was after her daughter. It must be her daughter who was the Parselmouth. Maybe that was why Crookshanks didn't want anything to do with her. Maybe he could sense something wasn't right with one of the babies growing inside of her.

Tears were burning at Hermione's eyes but she wouldn't let them fall. She wouldn't let herself break down. She couldn't. She had to stay strong. She had to pull through this for her children.

It was only after a few minutes of crying that Hermione realized how cold she was. It was the middle of the night after all and the summer was coming to an end. She pulled her robes tightly around herself and kept on crying.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that she just couldn't have a normal life. She thought she had the life after the war. She had a great job and was married to a good man. Then after years of trying she had finally gotten pregnant. Why did the bad things have to keep coming?

"Well," she said out loud trying to get a hold of herself. "Sitting in the dark crying isn't going to fix anything."

Hermione decided to go back to Harry's house. Worrying Severus and her friends wasn't going to do any good. She stood up and started to head back to the house.

Normally she would have traveled there by magic but she decided not to. She had so much to think about and she wanted to do it while she walked.

Since her legs hurt from walking she decided to take a nice and slow pace. She had only gone a few steps when she got the feeling someone was watching her. She stopped walking and turned to face the empty street.

There was no one in sight.

Hermione turned her attention back to the road in front of her and kept walking.

Clank!

The noise caused Hermione to jump. She quickly looked behind her and drew her wand.

A silent and empty street greeted her. She couldn't see what had caused the noise. She was about ready to turn and keep walking when she heard a voice shout.

"Stupefy!"

---

Severus pacing the a hole in the floor of the Potter's house. Dawn had came an hour ago and Hermione still hadn't returned. Harry had headed to work even though he hadn't wanted to.

Ginny was there to keep him from going out of his mind.

"What if he already has her?" Severus asked. "It isn't like Hermione to run off and not come back."

"I'm sure she is alright," Ginny said as she fed James. "You two said that she was pretty upset when she left. Give her some time."

"What if she doesn't have time?" he questioned. "I heard what that snake said. Voldemort is after one of my babies. At the most he'll keep her alive until the babies are born."

At that statement Severus collapsed into one of the chairs. He couldn't stand the thought of something happening to his Hermione. He couldn't stand the thought of something happening to his children.

"We tried so long for these children," Severus said looking at his hands. "Now they have such a terrible fate. From the way Hermione talked about her dreams one is going to be a tool for Voldemort and the other is going to die."

"Don't say that," Ginny said in a soft voice. "You're going to find her. There must be someway for you to find her."

"If Voldemort hides something and he doesn't want it found then you are not going to find it," he explained. "You don't know him like I do."

Ginny couldn't argue with that and there was no way she was going to try. She just frowned and bit her lip. Severus fell silent as well. He didn't know what else to say or do. He was actually at a lose for words and actions. To be truthful he felt like crying. He felt like just letting lose and crying. Of course he knew that wouldn't do any good.

"I have to sleep," he said suddenly. "I'm so tired I can't keep my eyes open."

"You're welcome to a bed upstairs," Ginny said. "You do need to sleep. Abusing yourself isn't going to bring her back any faster."

Severus didn't say anything. He simply nodded. He needed to keep himself strong. He didn't know when he would end up in a fight for his family. Without another he drifted off up stairs.

---

Severus tried to go to sleep for the longest time. When sleep finally took him it was suddenly as if he knocked out with magic.

Normally he didn't dream or at least he didn't remember his dreams. This dream was very vivid. He was in a forest. At a quick glance it looked like the forest Hermione had descried to him.

It was dark. Unusually dark. When he looked up he didn't see any stars. He could see the sky though the trees but it was solid black. The trees were thick around him and there was a tight path in front of him.

The silence of the wood was broken by the sound of a child giggling.

Severus' head jerked around looking for the source of the noise. It seemed to be coming from somewhere in front of him. He took a few steps in the direction of the noise.

After a short time he came to a clearing. A little child was sitting on the ground with their back to him. Long wavy black hair was flowing down her back and the child was dressed in purple robes.

"Hello," Severus said.

"Hi," the child said standing up.

The child turned to look at him. She looked like she was about five years old. She had dark eyes. They weren't quite black but they were dark. She had a little round face and full lips. She was very cute.

"Who are you?" he asked kneeling down.

"Serenity," she said. "My friends call me Seren."

"Are you..." he started but was unable to finish his sentence.

"Your daughter?" she asked. "Yes."

"How is this possible?" Severus questioned.

"How is anything possible?" she asked.

Severus was a little taken back by her question. She seemed like a very bright little girl.

"You've got to help Mummy," she said getting his attention. "You're the only one who can."

"How?" he asked. "Can you tell me where she is?"

"The Forbidden Forest," she explained. "Go there and you'll find her."

"Why are you so special?" Severus asked. "Why does Voldemort want you so badly?"

"Why was Harry so special?" Serenity asked. "As a great man said 'Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them' I guess I fit in there somewhere."

Severus was taken back by the little girl in front of him. She was amazing.

"You are amazing," he said putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'm feel privileged to have girl like you."

Serenity smiled and pulled her father into a hug.

"I have to go now," she said. "And you have to go help Mummy, Sam, and me."

"Sam?" Severus asked.

"I don't have anymore time," she said. "I have to keep an eye on Mummy. Hurry Papa."

AT her words Severus felt himself being yanked awake. Severus jumped out of bed. He knew where to find his wife and he was going to save her.