I own nothing you recognize. This plunny comes from a post in a Dramione group. It will be slow burn because that's my talent.

THIS IS TO CELEBRATE THE COMING 19 YEARS LATER DAY NEXT WEEK. But I figured you all deserved to see why my muse has been a jerk since I can't really share my other project until after the Tomione fest goes live. So, yeah. Here's one of the things my muse bugged me about an incredible amount.

This is (obviously) an EWE story... This scene starts about three years post-war. The bulk of the story will be starting 4.5 years post war.

When Hermione woke up she felt an arm around her, cupping her and a distinct lack of clothing between that arm and her skin. That ruled out her normal situation after a rare night of drinking and passing out at the Burrow. Normally that involved much more clothing and Molly at the door tutting about decency. The post-hen-night cuddle puddle was quite the shock to Molly when she came down the stairs to find all of Lavender's attendants curled up together under all the blankets they could find, and Charlie- who was supposed to be the designated apparater and pseudo bodyguard for all the girls.

The last thing she remembered clearly was switching to firewhiskey after the third round of tinkling glasses signalled Ron and Lavender to kiss. It was not what she wanted to watch her brother do, especially with the enthusiasm Lavender tended to have about the kissing. Not that she could help it much, possessiveness was one of the traits she had picked up from her werewolf attack in the final battle.

Now Hermione was trying to get any flash of a memory of who she'd be turning around to see. She could immediately tell it was going to be a man by the part of him currently pressing against her bum. As she shifted away from him, he groaned and pulled her closer muttering something she couldn't understand.

It took a little flexibility and a few small moves to be able to see past her hair to find the very obvious white sand hair that could only mean one man. Draco Malfoy.

"Fuck."

"No, too early."

"Draco."

"Granger?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck."

They had been getting along for a couple years now, working together and a few rather drunken blowouts at Harry's house had gotten them past some of their biggest issues. Once that had been sorted they realized that they had a lot in common, both were very intelligent and used sarcasm at every possible moment. She was actually as close to him as she was to Ginny, but waking up naked in bed together was definitely not part of their normal friendship.

Draco had looked at her and blinked a few times really slowly before he fell back asleep. She grabbed the bridesmaids dress from the floor and shimmied it back on, grabbing her heels and purse and hoping to sneak back to her room and get out before anyone was around to notice her coming out of Draco's room.

She was gently closing the door, no need for Draco to wake back up. They'd deal with it all later.

"Hermione?"

She froze.

"Isn't that- Oh my Merlin. you two finally-"

"Ginny, stop, please."

"Oh right, I was coming to drop these off for everyone." Ginny held up a bag of what looked like hangover potions from George's shop.

"Just give me the potion and go away."

"But, you and-"

"Potion, and go Ginny."

"Fine." Ginny handed her two potions and started walking down the hall hanging the little vials off of each handle as she went.

"Hey Hermione?"

"Oh, um, hi."

"Listen, I..."

"Is this about the wedding?"

"Yeah, I-"

"Can we just- forget that? I don't want to lose our friendship."

She really, really didn't want to forget it, but she also didn't want to hear him let her down easy. Nothing like having a crush turn you down. She was fixed on the paper in front of her to avoid the look of relief on his face. If she had been looking she might have seen the briefest flicker of disappointment on his face.

"Yeah, whatever. If that's what you want."

He walked out before anything else could be said. Over the next few weeks, they returned to their normal banter. He was just as snarky as ever, and she gave as good as she got. She was happy that their mistake hadn't ruined everything. She may not have his heart but he was still there.

Then she started to feel sluggish all day, catching herself waking up from a nap randomly. After a week of the constant fatigue, she went to St Mungo's for a check up. Originally she had tried to write it off as nothing, but something in the back of her mind wouldn't let up, and Ginny walking in on one of her impromptu naps sealed the deal.

"Hermione?"

"Huh? Gin?"

"Are you sick?"

"No, I've just been exhausted lately. I can't explain it."

Ginny pursed her lips, "Maybe we should go see a healer."

"Yeah, let me just tell my secretary."

"I'll do that, you grab your stuff. We'll head out to dinner after."

"That sounds good! I'm starving."

Luckily when they got to St Mungo's, there wasn't much of a wait. Ginny waited while Hermione was being seen, reading a Witch's Weekly.

"Ma'am, did you come in with Miss Granger?"

"Yes, is she okay? Was she contagious?"

"Please, just come back... she's... well, just come see."

When Ginny got into the room, Hermione was just staring at the wall, completely unaware of the Medi-Witch trying to talk with her.

"She's been like this since we told her the good news."

"And what, exactly, was that news?"

"She's pregnant. About a month."

"A month... Oh, Merlin. I... if she's all done, I'll get her home."

"Just a few more checks. She'll need a few potions, you can probably go get those now."

"Okay, is there a less public-"

"Of course, just go get the potions, we should be done when you get back and I'll bring you there."

"I- thanks."

When they got back to Hermione's flat, Ginny set to work on making her tea with a touch of the calming draught the nurse gave her.

"Hey, Hermione I need you to drink this, please."

"Okay."

She slowly drank the entire cup, her body relaxing a little at a time until she was curled into a ball next to Ginny. Ginny was gently rubbing her back.

"It's his."

"I figured that from your reaction."

"He's going to think I did it to trap him."

"No, he won't honey."

"I can't tell him."

"You have to."

"Gin, I'm not telling him. I'll go visit my parents for a bit."

"And then what?"

"I don't know, but you can't tell him. No one can."

"I think it will be a bit obvious Hermione. Every Malfoy has blonde hair."

"Just promise."

"Fine. I won't tell him but I'm not going to stop trying to get you to tell him."

"Thanks, Gin. And Harry-"

"I'll break it to him easy. Ron might flip though."

"He was Ron's groomsman."

"Doesn't mean he thinks Draco is good enough for either of his sisters."

"Yeah. Sure."

"Just get some sleep. We can figure this out as we go."

Hermione headed back into her room, waiting for Ginny to leave. Once she was gone, Hermione quickly packed everything up except a note. As she looked over the flat she spent all the years since the war in, she let herself cry. With a flick of the wand, it was warded to only let Ginny or Harry in- Ron and Daphne wouldn't take the note as well.

Ginny had broken the news to Harry after a couple days. He predictably got mad first, but quickly started laughing because it was fairly obvious to everyone that it was bound to happen sooner or later anyway.

At the week mark, Ginny sat Ron down.

"Ron, I need to tell you something, but you can not tell Daphne."

"Why?"

"After you promise."

Ron looked over at Harry who pressed his lips together and nodded. Hermione had asked Ginny to keep the secret and Ginny had extracted the same promise from Harry, even though he didn't agree.

"Fine. I promise."

"On your magic Ronald."

His eyes went wide and he once again looked to Harry, but this time Harry couldn't make eye contact.

"Is it really that big?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I swear on my magic to keep the secret."

"Hermione is pregnant."

Ron turned bright red. "Who?"

"Remember, you can't tell anyone who doesn't know Ron."

"Who?"

"And it's better if you don't annoy her."

"Harry, why isn't she telling me?"

Harry still wouldn't look up.

"Ron, it's Draco's."

Before either could stop him Ron had rushed out the front door and disapparated. While they were trying to figure out the best way to handle it Ron came back, redder than when he had left.

"She warded me out."

"What?"

"I'll go check on her."

Harry and Ron waited for Ginny to return, neither wanting to talk about the news. When Ginny returned she was clutching a note and crying. Harry took the note from her hand, read it and let out a string of swear words that Sirius would have been proud of.

Harry and Ginny,

I can't stay here. I'll keep in touch but you won't see me until after my child is born. Ginny was right, the hair would give it away and I can't risk that. I'll figure something out when the baby gets here. Just please, don't look for me. Tell everyone I am exploring the libraries of the world, or whatever you want. Let everyone know I love them and will see them again.

Goodbye for now,
Hermione.