Learn to love

Adapt

Time jump:

I woke up an hour before 6 am. Showering and changing, I got my trunks set and sat on the bed. Snape came to retrieve me 6 on the dot, simply ordering me to follow him. He didn't say anything after that. He wouldn't even glance my way. Although I was glad he didn't.

In the months I have been at the manor, I have spent it with Eva and Aaron. Snape was never around. And when he was, he went the extra mile to avoid me. Hell, Voldemort has shown me more attention. I have seen him show up on a few of my training sessions. Speaking with my instructor and then going on his way.

My training was nothing like that I have had before. Eva had upped the sessions to more dangerous potions and remedies. So to the point of being able to kill someone with a single drop. Aaron had moved my training from beyond the wand. He began teaching me how to use the bow and arrow and knives. His hand-to-hand combat had gotten much more physical, to the point of blood spilling. I still had bruises on my abdomen from the kicks and punches.

No one knew of my child. And I honestly wasn't thinking of letting anyone know. Hogwarts nurse had shown me a spell that keeps my belly hidden as it grows. With the expansion of my potion knowledge, I had been able to come up with one that helped protect my child during training. But that didn't stop the side effects. I haven't had a single morning without sickness. By now I suppose I was about three months in. It got me thinking about the moment when he or she would be born. I hope I was long gone from here and back with my husband, but if things don't pan out I needed a plan B. I needed to be sure I was safe when the time came. Wrapping my arms around my stomach, I sighed. 'No matter what I have to do.'

Hermione:

Hermione held a letter in her hand. She had been debating in to sending it or not. Harry and Ron didn't know as to her reason for leaving. In fact, no one did, with the exception of Sirius, Remus, the order, and her. Whenever she brought up the subject that was Athena, Harry was quick to shut it down. She understood, but it was frustrating, not able to say or do anything.

Crunching up the letter, she held it over the candle and watched it burn. Every letter she wrote, she burned. Never sending any of them out, just like all the other letters. Grabbing her toothbrush, she walked into the restroom, Frowning at hearing a familiar owl chirp.

Walking out of the room, she leaned over the banister. "Is that an owl I heard?"

"You haven't seen him have you?" Ginny asked. "Apparently he's wandering about the house."

"Really?"

"Really." Ron repeated.

"Harry!" Molly called at seeing Harry walking in.

"Harry!" Hermione bolted down the stairs, pulling him into a tight hug. "Hello!"

"What a lovely surprise!" Molly chuckled, pulling him into another hug. "Why didn't you let us know you were coming?" She pulled back, cupping his face.

"I didn't know. Dumbledore." Harry stuttered.

"Oh, that man." Molly laughed. "But then, what would we do without him?" Seeing the tired look on Harry's face, she ushered them back up to their room. "Go settle in, tomorrow is an early wake-up."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat on the floor around a small table. Harry used his wand to slowly burn a ball of newspaper.

"So, when did you get here?" Harry asked.

"A few days ago." Hermione answered. "Though for a while, I wasn't sure I was coming."

"Mum sort of lost it last week." Ron said. "Said Ginny and I had no business going back to Hogwarts. That it's too dangerous."