Disclaimer: I'm doing this once. All credits go to Miss Rowling.
STRICTLY RATED M. This Chapter HAS NOT BEEN BETA'D YET. Clear? Though I proofread it once and made sure that there are no wrong spellings whatsoever, so this should do. The beta'd version of this chapter will be posted when I will post the next chapter. You should know the difference. I might change my writing style in this story. We'll see. Btw maybe you should read the first story first, so to understand everything. Where I got the title? Adele's song. And I have nothing to do with Adele. But I'm a bit unsure of the title. I'll change it if I don't feel it, so whatever. I'm a bit worried about how I made Draco. I made him a bit vulnerable here. But he should come around in the next chapters. I hope you'll understand his state. Base it from the Prequel, not from the book. We've gone past the arsehole version of Draco, so I made him decent this time. Anyhow, The next chapter is ready. Thank you for the kind reviews you'll be giving. Have fun reading.
Prologue: A Rough Start
No one should let themselves get used to anything. Give your heart a room for accepting that in this life, nothing really stays constant.
oOo
"How long have you been keeping this?" Theodore asked grimly with his hand gripped firmly on Hermione's arm.
"Theodore, please, don't do this to me," Hermione begged, feeling the scathing pain on her arm. "Just please, let me explain," she continued to say through her sobs. Hermione breathed haggardly and reached fro her stomach and caressed it carefully.
"How long Hermione? Answer me," Theodore griped. Hermione shook her head in despair, more tears flowing down her cheeks. "How long?" Theo grabbed Hermione's chin roughly forcing her to look at him.
That gentle, heart melting face was no longer there.
"I'm eight months pregnant. I take in a potion to keep my stomach from growing. But the baby is healthy. I wanted to tell you," Hermione paused for a moment. She sighed heavily and then continued. "But I can't. We were just so happy being with each other that I did not want to ruin those moments. But seriously, I love you and we're having a baby. Can't you be just happy with that?"
Theodore dropped his hand from Hermione's chin but did not let go of his grip on her arm. He scrutinized for a second, and when his realizations struck him, he suddenly grabbed Hermione's other arm and gripped it just the same. "I never had sex with you until we got out of Hogwarts. Eight months ago… that month, when we had our first date. That month when—" Memories flashed on his head.
"I—I guess I'd better get going." Theodore said, breaking the goose-bumping eye contact. He turned around, ready to leave.
"Wait." Hermione caught his hand, and so he faced her once again. "I uh, I've got my answer for you know…" She stated, awkwardly looking at him.
"Yeah?"
"I think you know it already." She smirked. Theodore bent his head down and Hermione raised her toes, so her heels were elevated now. The stilettos weren't helping. Damn. Theodore caught her lips and pulled Hermione closer to him, her arms around her small waist. The kiss was passionate. Very careful, but at the same time, aggressive, in a way. Hermione placed her arms around Theodore's neck and played with his hair at the same time. The kiss was growing more and more, until...
"Snogging with some mudblood, huh Nott? Very shocking." A dark voice from the lounge. The two pulled apart. "Payback time?" Draco smirked, looking at Hermione.
"Bugger off!" She hissed. Theodore stood in front of Hermione, protecting her.
"If I were you, I wouldn't do that. I'm the bait here, not her.
"See she's doing this as revenge because of what I've done."
"No! Don't believe him Theodore. I like you, really!" Hermione interrupted, holding his shoulders.
"If I were in her place, I'd say that too." Draco leered. Theodore looked confused, and then, finally getting the situation.
"I'll go." He said quickly, not looking at Hermione, and hurried to the door, his face furious. Draco stood up, and walked towards Hermione.
Theodore's eyes flew wide open and his now darkened eyes glared on Hermione's wet ones. Suddenly, he pushed her hard on the wall, pinning her body on it. "Who's the father," he knew the answer to it. Or at least he did? Hermione flinched in pain when Theo's hard body pressed against her stomach.
She looked at those piercing green eyes with penitence and regret. She felt scared. No, horrified, of what Theodore might do to her.
"Who," he repeated himself.
"I love you. It doesn't matter what happened back then, what is important is now, Theo, please."
"Who." Theodore pushed himself harder on Hermione's defenseless body. He did it over and over again while Hermione cried in wrath and pain.
"Stop!" She begged. "Please," was her final plea, and then, she dropped on her knees, and stopped crying. Theodore let go of his hands on her arms.
"Who, Hermione. Tell me who the father is," Theodore demanded. Hermione did not respond, instead, she stared on the wooden floor.
"Is it me." She looked up at Theo's face once more with demented eyes. She burst into tears in a matter of seconds.
"Don't you get it? Even though Draco is the father of this child, I chose to be with you. Does that make me such a bad person?"
Theo knelt and looked deeply into Hermione's eyes.
Taut moment of silence. Suddenly, he spoke. "You're right. (Hermione smiled tentatively) That does make you a bad person. (Hermione's smile faded instantly) In fact, a bitch. A conniving little whore who would have sex with anyone just to satisfy that body of yours. Mudblood." In a second, Theodore slapped Hermione—hard on the face, and started to push her on the floor, kicked her, and called her names such as bitch, whore, slut, mudblood. He once grabbed her collar and dragged her injured body to the bed post.
Hermione pleaded how many times for him to stop, but he gave no mercy. Theo ripped off Hermione's shirt and started to bite her neck.
"Please, stop. I'll let this pass, Theo. I'll forgive you. Just please, stop," Hermione said breathlessly, unable to fight the strong man straddling her legs. Theo cocked his head and looked at Hermione incredulously.
"You forgive me? Did I hear that right? Listen, pup. I'm not sorry for anything." He purred and then parted Hermione's legs acridly. He crawled on Hermione's body and stipped his jumper off from his body.
"Please don't, I'm begging you. Stop."
"I've always wanted to fuck you, bitch. But guess what? Little miss conservative wants everything to happen at the fucking right time. Now tell me, when you and Malfoy fucked, was it the perfect time? You're just like the other whores out there, 'Mione. Just like them. Sleeping with a Malfoy?? That's one god damned plan! I never knew you could be such a hariot, dear love," Theo whispered as he trailed small, yet sharp kisses on Hermione's chesty. Finally, he unlocked her bra.
"Stop," Hermione begged. Theodore ignored her and started to rub his fingers on her right bosom, as he nibbled and sucked on her other nipple.
I chose the wrong ,man. I should have stayed and waited for Draco's answer. I love him, and he loves me. But if he did love me, he should be the one here with me, not this bastard.
That's right. Hermione felt nothing but regret, for choosing the man she never knew would hurt her. Sure, Draco hurt her before, but not like this. Somehow, she felt physically and emotionally tired and wasted. She should have known the right thing to do at that moment was to stay, right there, in front of Draco. She never knew what his answer would be; because she gave him no chance to talk. Instead, she walked away from him and chose this fucking bloke over Draco.
Heated tears escaped Hermione's closed eyes as her memories with Draco flashed in her mind.
"Draco," she whispered. She suddenly flinched the moment she felt Theo's body move away from hers. He did not just hear that.
"Do you still love him??" Hermione opened her eyes and stared at the man before her. She smiled weakly at what she saw on Theo's eyes—compassion. Taking it as a good sign, she said, "yes," unnervingly.
In a swift movement, Theo thrusted his fist and landed on Hermione's swollen cheeks. He punched and slapped her face repeatedly, until eventually, she started to loose her senses.
Theodore then unbuttoned his jeans, and pulled out Hermione's skirt. Without caution, he injected his manhood aggressively into her opening.
The last thing Hermione remembered before passing out was a man and a woman calling out her name.
"You always say she's going to be okay, but is she now??? It's almost a month and there is no progress on her condition. And now you tell me she's going to be okay??" Harry raved raucously at the mediwitch.
Carmen Lunar simply stared at the ranting man. Once he was done, she raised her hand and motioned him to stop, and listen. "Mr. Potter, we're doing our best to…save your friend."
Harry's eyes grew wild open. "What do you mean save?? Is she going to die? She's in coma for Merlin's sake!"
"Exactly my point, Mr. Potter. She's going to be okay." Harry restrained the growing anger he was feeling. Instead of bursting out his fury, he took a heavy sigh, closed his eyes, breathed out, and then opened his eyes.
"Now, listen to me. What's your name, dear one?"
"Carmen Lunar," the mediwitch responded.
"Right, Carmen. Hear me out. Okay? My friend Hermione Granger, who happens to be inside that room has been unconscious for almost a month," Harry paused and inhaled sharply, and then continued. "And I brought her here in St. Mungo's because I know that you people here can cure her because it's the magic world! And in her world, the muggle world, no one can cure her because it is, the muggle world!!! You got me?" The 35 year old mediwitch stared dully at Harry. Harry was definitely in the mood for respecting the older woman.
"Are you done yet?" She waited for Harry's response, but all she got was a death glare. "Right, you are. Listen to me, Harry Potter. Hermione is going to be okay. But honestly, right now, she is in a critical state. See, she's taking in a strong potion that contradicts to the cure we're using on her. We don't know what the potion is and what is it for. She will be okay once you tell us what that potion is, so at least we could find some solution to her complication. Now, Mr. Potter, tell me, what is that potion for, exactly?" Harry cocked his eyebrow and looked at her stupidly.
"How should I know?"
Carmen drew back from the close proximity of their faces and said, "Then you'll just have to wait for further results. Until then, she will stay in that condition until we find out what that potion is for. I'll see you around, Mr. Potter." She walked away and left a red faced Harry Potter stoned.
Harry was proposing to Ginny that night.
Oddly though, no one ever knew it'd be Harry Potter that Ginny Weasley would end up with. Those two acted like cat and dog back in school, that no one would ever predict them as being together— as a couple. Before the school year ended. Harry was dating Cho Chang exclusively, until one time, she told him she had to visit some people at a certain place, but to Harry's dismay, Cho never came back.
On the other hand, the Neville-Ginny tandem just did not work out. So, being both single at the moment, Harry and Ginny knew each other, and so, fell in love, nonetheless.
Since Ginny still had one more year to finish her wizard studies, she pardoned Harry's proposal. But because of Hogwarts' recent lockdown, Harry offered Ginny some kind of private tutor—and this she liked. So, they both decided to spill the good news to Hermione first (since it was fully understood and accepted that Ron would go ballistic about this).
On their way to Hermione's room, they heard crying and shouting. They rushed to the room, only to see a raped Hermione and a son of a bitch named Theodore.
Harry felt an arm on his shoulder and turned around abruptly. "Oh, it's you. I thought it was the mediwitch," said Harry, smiling at his girl.
"Oh my, what did they say?" Ginny asked frantically. Harry gave her a frustrated and disappointed look.
"They can't cure her yet. She's still in danger." Ginny covered her mouth (using her hand) in a shocking awe, as Harry pulled her into a hug. She pulled away,
"Wh—why? I thought they said she will be fine?" she asked, completely gob smacked.
"They said she has been taking this potion recently, and they suspected that it might have complicated her situation…" Ginny was at lost for words. The potion, the potion to hide her pregnancy. She did not expect her to take that in until recently. It could have been the potion she used to take in back at Hogwarts.
Shit. This is bad. This is so bad. Hermione… She has not told Theo and Harry, and Ron about her and Draco' child. Oh, shit. This is so bad.
"Ginny? Did you hear me? I said, do you know what that potion is and what is it for?" Harry asked with a bothered face.
"I—"
"Mr. Potter," Carmen acknowledged, as she stood by Harry. Harry turned to face her. "We know what the problem is, now." Carmen looked both at the 18 year old and 16 year old. "Ms. Granger is pregnant. Now nine months pregnant. The potions we have given her affected her body system, causing it to deteriorate from its original condition. The potions we have given her reacted on the potion she has been taking in. Since that potion is too strong, the effect that was supposed to be for her body's resistance and wellness reacted on her system, causing it to weaken, instead of strengthening it. It's a quite a serious situation, Mr. Potter. She may die in this. It would either be her or the child."
Draco just finished packing all his things from the castle. He ran through the hallways, searching for Dumbledore, only to run into Snape. The stern man held both of Draco's shoulders to stop him from moving.
"Where do you think you're going, Draco?" he asked dryly.
"I'm leaving. There was no magical marriage bonds what so ever in my supposed marriage with Pansy, so all we had to do was to sigh some stupid muggle agreement papers and now I'm free." Draco wiped Snape's hands from his shoulders and started walking away. Snape caught his right shoulder from behind and spun him around to let Draco face him.
"What the hell?" Draco complained.
"Not so fast, Draco."
"What the fuck is your fucking problem??" Draco asked heatedly.
"You can't go."
"What?? Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do and what not to do? Bugger off, old man!" Snape threw a punch at Draco's cheek.
"Listen to me. I won't tolerate your spoiled attitude, Mr. Malfoy. Professor Dumbledore asked me to do this. You are unable to leave this tower until we say so."
"What? So I'm going to rot in here? No way."
"Shut up and listen. The death eaters back from the Great War haven't been caught yet. It was only Mr. Zabini that has submitted himself in Azkaban. Your life is in danger, Draco. We can't risk another life. So whatever plans you have right now, kiss them goodbye. Because until the death eaters are caught, you're staying here in Hogwarts. Plus that's an order form the Ministry," said Snape ruefully, and left afterwards.
"Fuck fuck fuck!"Draco threw his things on the floor until his clothes were scattered. "Fuck. Hermione."
Ginny walked back and forth the lobby, her arms boxed under her chest, with a worried look on her face. It was already midnight, and still, there were no news on Hermione's condition. Ginny wanted to tell Harry about Hermione's pregnancy way back at Hogwarts, but she promised her friend she would never tell it to anyone. A light tap on her shoulder interrupted her thoughts. She turned around swiftly to see who it was.
"Ms. Weasley?" Ginny nodded curtly and looked at Harry. "Harry, over here," she called and motioned him to stand beside her. Harry followed.
"Despite the potions Miss Granger has taken, the baby grew healthy and normal," the two nodded, able to follow. And then, Carmen continued, "however, since she is just seventeen years old, and her petite body could not withstand the pain during her child's birth (which was supposed to be Cesarean Operation; since she was unconscious, muggle way of bearing a child was used; hence, C.O). We did everything, but nothing happened. We had to choose Hermione. It was a baby boy. Miss Granger should be back to her consciousness tomorrow," by then, Ginny's face fell and tears ran through her cheeks. The mediwitch then walked away.
Harry pulled Ginny into a hug. She buried her face on Harry's chest. "It's okay," Harry cooed as he stroke Ginny's hair.
Ever since she knew about her pregnancy, Hermione swore that whatever happens, she would bear the child, alive and healthy. Ginny knew she always wanted and loved this child despite of Draco being the father.
She knew, it would take a long time for Hermione to heal completely.
Fuck! How am I supposed to see Hermione? What could have happened to her and the baby? Fuck. This is so screwed up! Draco did not know how the hell she was doing, or the baby. It's as if his imprisonment in Hogwarts was his ultimate punishment for all the screwed up things he has done. Fucking wrong timing. Draco plunked on his chair and leaned on the table. This is so screwed up! He thought once again. Everything was already planned, actually: Coming back to Hermione, and becoming an Auror. It's everything. Was that too much to ask for?
He grabbed a parchment of paper and a quill.
November 17
Hermione
I know this might seem weird to you, plus I don't even know how the hell to start. So here.
I love you, always have, and always will. When you walked away from me, and chose to be with that…that bloke, I almost killed my self. I wanted to tell you I love you, and I would do anything to take me back again, or even, I would beg, if it would be the only way for us to be together. But I don't blame you for leaving me. I deserved it, for being an ass to you, and for that, I'm sorry.
There has been some kind of complication back here in Hogwarts, and they wanted me to stay until everything's fine. I want you to know that my marriage with Pansy never happened. I hope you're doing fine. I had this crazy dream about you… never mind. Please give me another chance. Please write back.
Always,
Draco