The Secret War | Dramione

Chapter 21

Hermione's breath was ripped away from her.

She was staring at a woman—a woman wearing a long, blue cloak.

She had seen that cloak before, at Inverness.

A dark hood covered the woman's face.

"I've been waiting for you, Ms. Granger."

Her voice was soft...melodic....unfamiliar.

"Who are you?" Hermione asked.

The woman circled her slowly, then stopped. She stood lost for a moment...like she was reliving something, maybe an old memory.

Finally she said, "There was only meant to be one."

"I'm sorry?" Hermione asked.

"There was only meant to be one," the woman repeated. "It's what my mother said...the day I was born." She drew her wand.

"See for yourself, Ms. Granger."

With a flick of her wand a door behind them opened.

Hermione turned. She stood, entranced, as a silver-blue light filled the hall.

After a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward and followed the path of light.

She reached a room that was empty except for a large wooden desk.

Sitting in the middle of the desk was a stone basin.

Hermione approached it slowly.

There were five vials beside it, each containing a different memory.

"They will help you understand," the woman in the blue cloak said.

One of the vials had already been emptied. Its contents swirled in the shallow pensieve, casting a silver-blue light that danced across the room.

Hermione rested her hands on the desk and leaned forward. The memory swirled, then became transparent, like glass.

Her breath caught when she recognized the scene before her.

"We don't have much time," the woman in the blue cloak said.

She put her arm around Hermione's shoulder.

"Wait—" Hermione started, but before she could say more, the floor beneath them gave a terrible lurch and they were thrown forward, falling through an icy cold wind.

Hermione stifled a scream as they fell through the memory.

Moments later she landed in a small bedroom in Tom Riddle's flat.

Hermione looked around.

Catherine had just given birth to her son, Henry.

The midwife was leaning over her, trying to tell her something.

Hermione looked around for Tom, but he was gone. He must have already left for St. Mungos...

But last time she had followed him into the street...

Hermione's pulse quickened.

This must be the midwife's memory...

Henry was nestled in his blankets, lying at Catherine's side.

"You need to be strong," the midwife said. "There's another child coming."

Catherine gasped and struggled for breath. "No...you're mistaken..."

She was exhausted, her black hair was damp and sticking to her forehead, and her blue eyes were wide with panic. She gripped tightly to the sheets, and Hermione saw that they were soaked with blood.