Into Hiding

A/N: Sorry for the delay and the shortness of the chapter. The next chapter will be up sooner and longer. Please review! As always, thanks to my beta, karelia, and to my cheerleader, Braye.

***

The days passed on at a snail’s pace. By the end of July, Hermione was purely miserable. She was getting sick from no exercise and being cooped in the house. So, Augusta Disillusioned Hermione, and she was able to go outside after dark for a walk in the country.

“I’m glad we are able to do this, Hermione,” Luna said as she wore her “pregnancy pillow,” just in case someone should see her.

“It’s Harry’s birthday tomorrow; you’re sure you want to go ahead with this?” she asked nervously.

“Sure,” Luna said as she looked about her with a wide smile. “These walks make me really feel comfortable with this fake pillow on. I have to do it anyway, so it’s a good a time as any. Besides, I’d rather get the first visit behind me.”

“Seven months, Luna. In two months, you will be having a baby. Ready to be a mum?” Hermione whispered.

“Hermione,” Luna whispered. “Neville and I talked about it, and we know Alice won’t be ours forever.”

Hermione jerked her head towards the blonde-haired witch. “What?” she nearly screeched. “What are you talking about?”

“Hermione,” Luna said calmly. “When you’ve finally found your security and the wonderful career that I’m positive you will have, you will start thinking about Alice, and then she’ll go to Hogwarts. She’ll do something, say something, and Professor Snape will know. He can’t be fooled forever.”

“Then there shall be the devil to pay!” Hermione raged. “Don’t let her go to Hogwarts—when the time comes, I’ll pay for her to go study in America, France! Luna, why are we doing all of this if it will all come apart in a decade?”

“To give you and Professor Snape time,” she whispered.

“This is insane!” Hermione snarled. “Does Augusta know about this?”

“Of course not, silly!” she said as she laughed. “She would kill us all with just her rage.

“No, Hermione, you will see when she’s ready to leave our home. She’ll find her father first and then you. That’s when it will really be hard.”

Hermione was aghast. She had been given a ten-year reprieve. What was she going to do once Alice went to Hogwarts?”

***

“Harry and Ron are coming!” yelled Neville. Hermione got up as quickly as she could with Neville’s help and waddled up the stairs. Augusta came into the kitchen to greet the two young wizards and give Neville and Luna time to get arranged.

She opened the door, and said, “Well, Messrs. Potter and Weasley! Do come in.”

The two wizards bowed slightly and gave their thanks. “Are Neville and Luna here, Mrs. Longbottom?” Harry asked.

Augusta smiled. He looked so afraid of her. How precious! she thought.

“You both come inside and make yourselves comfortable. Neville and Luna are both in the sitting room.”

They sauntered in and greeted Neville warmly.

“Happy birthday, Harry!” Neville said as he extended his hand out to Ron’s as well.

Neville scratched the back of his neck and leaned in to speak, “Luna won’t be able to come with us, and she’s not feeling all that great.”

Harry and Ron both looked at Luna who was sitting with a blanket snug up under her bosom, smiling serenely.

“Hello, Harry, Ron!” she called out.

“Hey, Luna,” said Harry, “Sorry you’re out of sorts.”

Ron looked at Harry as if he had just sprouted a horn on his head. “Is that all the better you can say?” he barked. “Bloody hell, Harry—look at her!”

Augusta felt it was the right time to intervene. “Mr. Weasley, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from cursing in my home,” she said coolly.

“Sorry, Mrs. Longbottom,” Ron mumbled as his face turned red.

“Is that true?” Harry asked.

Neville put on his best sheepish face and said, “Yeah, it was around the time everyone was scared in January about people missing from the Order. Luna and I just got all caught up in it. Hermione was a real peach, trying to cover for us, taking us to Australia with her, but Gran just wouldn’t have it.”

“I should say so!” she thundered. “My son’s only child, my only grandchild is having my great-grandchild! I won’t hear of any such thing!”

“So, you’re here until the birth?” asked Harry.

“Actually, we’ll be married just before the baby arrives. Then we’ll live here while Neville works on his apprenticeship with Madam Sprout. Once I get a foot in the door, so to speak, you know, earn my stripes, then I will be able to get rooms of my own, and we’ll move in there.”

“So, Hermione is all alone?” asked Ron with worry written all over his face.

“Oh, no,” said Luna. “She gave Neville a cell phone, and we get an owl the day before and she writes the time and date. Neville goes out into the field a ways and we talk. She says to wish you a ‘Happy Birthday.’”

“I just don’t understand why she didn’t owl herself!” Harry retorted.

“Mr. Potter,” Augusta interrupted. “You need to consider Miss Granger’s feelings. She’s had quite the time with her parents. It’s been difficult. It will take time for them to work things out. Just give her time to sort things out with her parents.”

“Oh. I guess I didn’t think about it that way.”

Augusta smiled as she stood up straight and tall. “That’s all right. Neville will be more than happy to have a night out with you. Have a Happy Birthday, Mr. Potter.”

“What is it?” asked Ron staring at Luna curiously.

“A girl,” she replied dreamily as she patted her bulge. “We are naming her Alice, after Neville’s mum.”

“Oh,” was all that came out.

Augusta could see the sentimentality was getting to the young wizards, and they left quickly.

***

Hermione heard the door close as she rubbed her hands in circles over her bulging middle. “Alice Hermione,” she said aloud. “I hope you come out looking more like me than your father. “Never forget that I love you. I love you too much to keep you and have you look down upon me. It would destroy your father and ruin all our lives. This way, you will have the family of a pure-blood name to shield you. Being the child of a half-blood Death Eater wizard and a Muggle-born witch isn’t really the best start for you. But I love you, nevertheless.”

***

Augusta had stopped on the stairs as she peered into the upper room where Hermione lived. She watched the young woman pat and stroke her large belly delicately. She heard the tender words Hermione muttered to herself and brushed away a tear. She sighed and returned downstairs to get Hermione’s dinner. It wouldn’t last forever. Severus Snape would sniff his progeny out of the child and demand his rights. But until then, she was safe. At eleven she could understand more the circumstances of her parentage. But until that day, they would love little Alice Hermione as their own, and if she could help it, keep it that way.