Shadow - Sequel To Light

Chapter One: Breaking The News

Ron rushed into the room, his cloak like a cape behind him. He looked at my tear-stricken face and took James out of my arms so I could go sit by the bed. I heard Harry and him chatting while I sat there, my eyes focused on the frail girl on the cot, her black hair splayed out over the pillow. She had always told me she hated how long her hair was, it annoyed her. A hysterical cross between a laugh and sob came out of my mouth and I pressed my hand over my mouth. I looked back at Harry and noticed Ron and the twins were gone. I was grateful for them not having to see me like this, even though they were babies there would be an understanding that their mum was crying.

Harry pulled me away from the bed, holding me as I cried. The girl wasn't even more than a fourth year. She had so much life left in her and now she was gone. Whoever had killed her had even stabbed her, as if torturing her was some kind of sick add-on to her death. I remembered having her in my class, she was always shy and sat in the back. Kimber, that was her name. She was always so full of wonder and eager to learn in my classes, she had only been a little scared of opening her mouth but I had been convincing her to come out of that. I had had meetings with her in my office and she had always been easy humored and amazingly intelligent. I looked back at the bed at her soft face, devoid of any emotion now that she was dead. Her skin, which had always seemed to glow, was now pale and dead.

"She was such a good person, Harry." I whimpered against his chest.

"I know, love. She came while you were in the hospital before the babies were born. She talked to me all the time about how much she loved you, you were her favorite teacher." He spoke softly, kissing my forehead.

"We've got stop this before that monster does this again." I sniffed, pulling back and looking up at him.

"We will. First, though, we have to contact her family and let them know what's happened. This is going to be a pretty shitty week." He sighed. "You ready to go, love?"

"Yeah." I sighed, staring back at Kimber. "Yeah, let's go. I need to get ready to feed the twins and the sooner we let her family know what's happened, the better. They need to come here and see her, prepare to have her burial ceremony." My breath was shaky as I spoke but I straightened my spine and raised my chin. I'm the Headmistress and I need to be strong, I thought, letting Harry take my hand and lead me out of the room.

We made our way to our chambers and Harry rubbed reassuring circles into my hand. Ron sat on the floor inside our common area, blowing raspberries onto Lily's tummy. James was laying right next to her, laughing because his sister was and Ron made some strange faces down at them. I giggled from the door and he looked up.

"Bugger, mate, I thought your face was funny looking enough." Harry joked and Ron hid his finger from the children and flipping him off. Harry laughed in good fun and moved over to the babies with me. I sat on the floor, pulling Lily and James into my arms and Harry wrapped an arm around me. The babies cooed against my chest where they rested and I kissed the top of their heads.

"You know, Hermione, you might have found your calling. You seem to be great with them." Ron poked fun. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"It's only been a short time, the test of time will tell." I grinned then Kimber's lifeless face popped in my head and I was gutted all over again. "I'm going to take the babies to their room really quick. We need to get the letter off for Kimber's family and I want to write it. I need to get this done." I murmured, carefully standing and going to their open door.

I sat them in their beds and they kicked and began fussing a little. I flicked my wand, sending soft music and little flurries of light and different animals above their beds. Closing their door for privacy, I pumped some milk without Ron and Harry having to watch. Once I had the bottles done, I set them in their little fridge and moved back out to the other room, stopping to find the crystal baby monitor I needed and taking it with me.

"Alright, love?" Harry inquired as I sat on the couch next time him, he and Ron had moved to a more comfortable seating area.

"Yeah, I'm just trying not to lose the plot right now. I'm so gutted over this but I need to stay in control." I answered, pulling out some parchment from one of the books I had on the table and getting my quill ready to write.

I will never remember what all I wrote on that parchment but I just tried to give whatever information I could without putting my own feelings into it. Admittedly, it was probably a rather cold letter but I couldn't put anything emotional in it without losing the plot and having the letter go all to pot. Harry read over it once I was done, asking if I was sure I didn't want to add anything more personal to the letter but I shook my head and set my quill aside.

"I need to stay rational and if I do, I'll lose the plot." My voice cracked as I spoke.

"Alright, I'll take this to be sent off on my way to my office. Send for me if you need me, mate." Ron grunted, getting up and stretching. Harry put it into a package and wrote the name on the front then handed it to him.

"I will, mate. Thanks." Harry softly replied, getting up to give Ron a guy hug before he walked out. "Alright, love?" He inquired yet again.

"Yeah... I'm just knackered right now. I'm going to retire for a few hours. The babies bottles are in the fridge. If you need me I'll be in our chambers." I blandly replied, making my way to our bed chamber and taking off my dress.

I crawled into our bed and pulled the covers high over my head, I needed to escape for a while. I just couldn't deal right then, I needed time to get over this. I thought we had won our war against evil but apparently things weren't that easy and evil was back again.