Lovers Forever

It had been four months, two days and fifteen hours since she last saw him. Since he last told her that he was engaged to be married, since he last broke her heart, since he last made her feel like her world was breaking apart and shattering around her, since he stole her heart and her soul and crushed it.

It had been seven months, eleven days and four hours since she discovered she loved him. Since she discovered what it meant to get a second chance, since she discovered just how long she had waited for him, since she discovered how in love with him she had always been, since she discovered what it meant to be free.

It had been sixteen years since she met him, one year since she let him back into her life, seven months to find out that she was irrevocably, unchangeably, unwaveringly, unalterably, in love with him and four months since she had managed to breathe without the pain of his loss.

Every breath she took, every thought of hers was centered on him.

She finally believed she was free of him; she had done everything to be, left London, immersed herself in the running of her tiny shop, met her neighbor's, been on dates but it all came crashing down when she saw his name in the Daily Prophet.

'Draco Malfoy; Tycoon and leading industrialist of the wizerding community announces his engagement to Astoria Greengrass, model and actress from the wealthy Greengrass legacy.'

She felt like she couldn't breathe, like her world had come crashing down around her all over again.

Hermione had always ridiculed stupid terms like, 'star crossed lovers', 'made for each other', 'soul –mates' and now it seemed that the universe was playing a cruel joke on her, like karma was choking the life out of her for mocking it.

She found her soul-mate, her star crossed lover only to have him ripped away from her and placed into the arms of another woman. A woman more 'suitable' for him.

Her breathing was shallow, like she had to consciously remember to drag the air into her lungs.

Ecstasy had turned into agony.

Hermione remembered how they first met after the war, a year ago.

She had been working as a psychologist for the wizerding community and Draco had come to her. He had been having nightmares about his stint in Azkaban and he needed someone to talk to, someone who wouldn't judge him. Hermione knew it was unethical… falling in love with a patient but she was drawn to him.

Attraction between them had been explosive and all consuming. Like a forest fire that had blazed out of control and she had fallen hard and fast and he had too or so she thought….

That's the thing about love or more specifically about their love; when it burned it blazed… and when it hurt it ripped apart mercilessly. She had been deluded to think that love was always white and peaceful and beautiful.

No… her fairy tale was dark and her prince cruel and cold, he had meticulously shredded her defense's and then reached in and entrenched himself so deeply in her heart that she couldn't let go.

Their dark love story followed the pattern of a hurricane, what she perceived to be peace and intimacy was truly just the eye of the storm and then without warning came the treacherous winds and knocked her down and ripped her apart like she was nothing more than a rag doll. Love was not always sweet and kind, it was jealous and furious, breathtaking, heart stealing pain that had become Hermione's closest companion.

Slowly she put out down the treacherous piece of paper that had thrown of her equilibrium and forced herself to eat the now cold oatmeal in front of her.

At least she had someone to love or she would in another five months she thought happily soothing her hand over her swollen belly. It was still just a small bump but everyone knew she was pregnant; that was the disadvantage of relocating to this tiny little village in the northern end of Ireland. Draco would never know; she thought to herself fiercely, he would never know that he had a beautiful little daughter.

They would sneer at her; call her half-blood and Hermione would never let that happen to her baby.

Her baby… she thought with an ecstatic smile, her own little angel to love forever! She felt the first little flutters of new life inside her and smiled; she had already picked out a name for her…

Aurora Cassiopeia Granger

The day Draco broke her heart so callously she had gone to tell him about her pregnancy but as she had walked in she remembered what she had seen.

The tall blonde Astoria atop Draco kissing him fervently as Draco's hands unbuttoned her expensive gown. Hermione had just stood, so dazed was she by the scene, so horrified that she hadn't been able to move away and finally when he had looked up at her, his eyes had been guarded, no expression on his face.

"Astoria, I'll see you tomorrow. Miss. Granger and I have some business to discuss now. Goodnight." His husky, sultry voice dripping with desire had overridden the protests of the beautiful blonde and he had sent her home.

Hermione had been so shocked that she couldn't even speak when he finally sat down across his desk facing her. No tears came; frankly she couldn't even hear her heart beating any more.

"Well that saves me a lot of explanation, Hermione it's been fun but I cannot marry outside my circle. You understand correct?" he said succinctly, his voice cold and his eyes devoid of all emotion, "Astoria and I have a good match; we belong to the same circle, we have the same friends and we are good together. We are going to get married, I truly hope you didn't read too much into this affair because that's all it was…. An affair. I wish you well and hope we can be friends sometime in the future…" he said emotionlessly, cordially like what they had shared was not explosive, mind numbing passion but just a couple of callow kisses.

Hermione didn't stay, she didn't bother to speak and she didn't bother to look at him she just walked away with her head held high… silent and the next day she was gone.

Now it was just her and her baby and she was content until she had seen the Prophet and it had destroyed her lie. Finally when she had managed to convince both her brain and her heart that she was happy.

She had to go to London today; she had an appointment with her OB/GYN and she had to get together with Ginny and shop for her baby things, the best thing for her was to put that article out of her mind but clearly she was a masochist because all she thought about for the next hour was the article, once she was done obsessing over that she began to get bitchy; her hormones were out of control and all Hermione could think about was if Draco enjoyed making love with Astoria, her snarky inner voice was a real arse because it kept sending her mean little reminders of how good sex had been between her and Draco.

Not good… good was too tame a word for what they shared; as she toyed with the steamy memories of them doing it in the bed, on the roof, in a park, inside his pool, in Bermuda, in Paris, on a boat, in handcuffs, in silk, in leather, in green, in red, tied up, against a wall, on his bed again, at a charity benefit, in the broom closet, in his old Quidditch uniform, in her old Hogwarts uniform…. The only way to describe them was wild, passionate, explosive and she was pretty sure she had seen God a few times during their escapades… but it was more than that; they shared this kind of explosive chemistry and intimacy that was so rare to find that Hermione had believed it obsolete.

Suck on that Astoria thought Hermione smugly and a tad snarky.

Feeling better about herself as she always did when she convinced herself that it was his loss for letting her go she got dressed.

Her burgeoning stomach had limited her wardrobe and now she dressed more for comfort then style but there was no harm in trying to be stylish while still being comfortable so Hermione chose one of her favorite dresses; luckily it was an empire waist so it still fit her, its soft silk was in an a gentle sky-blue with printed yellow poppies and a soft pastel yellow bow under her bust.

If fell gently over her bump; not concealing but flattering it. Next she slipped into a nude pantyhose and elegant flats that matched her dress.

The best thing about pregnancy was that she didn't need makeup, taking down her hair from its functional pony-tail she brushed it out; pleased to see that in the last four months it had grown all the way down to her hips. The county air suited her; her full cheeks were pink and her skin clear.

Hurriedly checking the time and cursing because she was ten minutes late she headed to her fireplace and threw in the Floo powder.

…..

"Oh heavens Ginny! Would you look at her…. She's perfect!" sighed Hermione as she looked at the ultrasound of her baby and heard her softly beating heart.

Ginny's own eyes were filled with tears as she held her best-friends hand and nodded, "She really is Hermione, truly, truly magical…"

"Alright Miss. Granger, you can get dressed and then we'll talk more." Said Hermione doctor as she wiped off the cold gel from Hermione's belly.

Ginny was the only one who knew who Aurora's father was and she had promised not to tell Harry or Ron both of whom she knew would make a big deal out of it.

Hermione got dressed again and went into the doctor's office, for the birth of her baby she had decided to go the muggle route because she knew if she gave birth in Saint. Mungo's then the entire wizerding world would get to know. And she was not prepared to answer the hard questions that the scrutiny would bring.

"So Hermione everything looks good and she's healthy but what I wanted to discuss with you was that usually during the fifth month most mothers take different types of tests to have the child and themselves checked for any abnormality or illness. Now I want you to think over it." Said the kind doctor interpreting Hermione worried glance towards Ginny correctly, "I'm not saying that anything will be wrong but just as a precaution. We'll just take some amniotic fluid and give you the test. It won't be painful and it won't bother the baby. So there is no need for you to be worried okay?"

Hermione just nodded and indicated that the doctor continue; "And you blood pressure is a little high for that I'm going to prescribe some pre-natal vitamins that I want you to take with the ones you already are. Other than that both mummy and baby are in good shape. So I'll see you in a few weeks okay Hermione and don't stress so much, everything will be fine." She said soothingly handing Hermione the prescription and giving her a gentle smile.

"Thank you Doctor, Lahiri." Said Hermione walking out of the clinic.

"You saw the Daily Prophet today didn't you? That's why your blood pressure's high right?" said Ginny knowingly, "Merlin Hermione you have to stop this…. For Aurora's sake if nothing else..."

"You don't think I know that Gin! You don't think I've tried!? I don't want to… I wish… I wish a thousand times every day, no a million times that I was not in love with him. Because I see his love destructing me from the inside and it kills me to know that this pain, this torture I feel… he doesn't share it. He doesn't suffer like I do; he isn't tormented by images and sounds, dreams and nightmare of me like I am of him. You know every time I hear water running I feel my heart start to palpitate, every time I smell wood smoke or mint my heart skips a beat, every time I see white satin all I can think about is him and me… making love after I confessed to him in my office that day that I was attracted to him. It torments me! And I can't do anything! Nothing… I'm helpless." She said almost sobbing "And today when I saw him in the paper looking so casual and happy and free it was like a knife was stabbing me in my belly; over and over again…"

"Come on sweetie." Consoled Ginny, rubbing Hermione's back soothingly and hugging her, "Come one let's go baby shopping shall we!" she said brightly.

Hermione gave her a watery smile, loving Ginny for trying to make her feel better. She nodded and Ginny hailed a cab that took them to the Leaky Cauldron.

Diagon Ally always made Hermione feel better; with its bright displays and flashy shops attracting customers it was the best place to get lost in the world and soon Hermione's troubles were on the back seat as she enjoyed browsing through the shops with Ginny, trying on maternity clothes and looking at sweet stuffed toys.

First they went to Gladrags Juniors but Hermione was unimpressed by the generic, boring styles of their clothes so instead they went to a tiny boutique just opposite that Ginny told her was run by an American Witch called Jessica Wellminhine who had come from Salem.

Wittle Wizard's and Witch's Wish Wear was tiny, trendy and exactly what Hermione was looking for. Instead of same old boring pinks and pastels shown to her when she announced she was having a girl, Jessica gave her lovely colorful onsies and little skirt, shirt and hat sets in bright orange, sage green, sunny yellow, baby pink, navy blue.

Hermione loved them all!

"Children need a lot of color in their lives!" said the animated young owner, "It helps in their overall growth and development. I took a year of Child Psychology in University before I decided to become a designer."

Hermione liked her instantly, she was bright, vivacious and she genuinely cared about what Hermione wanted for her child. Though one would never imagine a girl with multiple piercings and green hair and a moving tattoo would ever become a children's designer; Jessica was clearly the best and Hermione daughter deserved the best.

After selecting about twenty sets of clothing, a baby blanket made from the softest angora wool and Hungarian fleece, little hats, gloves and a dozen other little people things Hermione and Ginny left, happy and feeling at the top of the world.

"Before we go buy the crib and stuff let's go eat something because I'm starving…" moaned Hermione, "God I am going to be so fat after I give birth to this little miss you won't be able to tell me from a whale!" she giggled.

"Shut- up!" chuckled Ginny, "You look beautiful and if you weren't getting fatter, carrying my niece or weren't my best-friend, I'd be jealous and I'd want to kill you!" teased Ginny.

"Oh so you're only friends with me because of my baby…. I see how it is…" said Hermione in a mock hurt tone. Both the women collapsed into hysterical giggles as they walked down Diagon Ally.

"Look there's Viva; it's new and I heard it's amazing. Why not get lunch there?" pointed out Ginny, gesturing to the tiny, rustic looking restaurant nestled cozily in between Bwitch! And Honeydukes.

"Oh look its alfresco! The weather is so nice, it'll be fun to eat outside." Said Hermione happily, her earlier troubles nearly forgotten after spending time with her best –friend.

They were seated immediately; the owner; a sweet old Spanish man came over himself to congratulate Hermione on her pregnancy.

She had never felt better…

The waiter stood taking their order so Hermione didn't notice Draco enter the café with his fiancé.

"I've heard the tomato and basil pasta and the sea food stew here is to die for." Said Ginny , "So I'll have a pasta and some white wine please. You Hermione?"

"The prawn and mussels in creamy garlic sauce and egg pasta and a glass of apple juice please." Hermione told the waiter.

Draco heard her sweet melodious voice before he saw her; he was seated behind her so she couldn't see him. He stiffened; he hadn't even grasped how much he had missed her until he heard her voice again.

"You'll be okay? I'll just go to the bathroom and get back really fast." He heard the She- Weasel say anxiously, okay! Okay!? What was wrong with her!? For a second Draco felt blind, raw panic cloud his mind and fill it with all sorts of scenarios before he heard her giggle.

"I'll be fine Gin! I'm pregnant not dying! Go!"

Pregnant…. The word echoed of the corners of his mind like a bullet, she was pregnant…. She was having a baby….

Some other man had touched her! He felt a haze of fury surround him…. She had jumped into bed so soon after he ended it with her, he nearly snarled out loud savagely.

He wasn't thinking straight, all he wanted to do was storm over there and demand she come back to him! Damn it! He missed her all the time, he missed her smile, her laugh, her crazy antics, making love to her, having her tell him she loved him, telling her he loved her, her hair, her voice, her singing in the shower, her breathless moans, her surrender, her on white satin, her in red panties, her in green panties, her in Paris, Bermuda, on a boat, on land, in water…. He missed her period but now she was pregnant.

Could it be….

No! No! It was not possible; they were always safe but maybe… just maybe…

But before that thought could go any further he was dragged out of his mind by Astoria's inane chatter that had always annoyed him no end.

"Oh Drakie look I got us some planners to decide what to do for the reception while we eat! Am I not clever!" she practiced her well used pout and leaned in for a kiss.

"Very clever…" he said hollowly, just touching his lips to her highly glossed ones.

Dragging his gaze away from Granger's scrumptious backside he tried to focus on Astoria but it was getting harder and harder with each passing second as she blabbered on.

He couldn't look away.

Weasley… Potter… he amended in his mind was back and had said something funny by the looks of it because Granger threw her head back and laughed. God… it had been so long since he had seen her dimples; he could envision them now, peaking out of her smile mischievously, wickedly.

She had the most amazing laugh, so full and earthy not like Astoria's fake twitter that drove him out of his tree… and not in a good way. Hermione's laugh was natural and sultry and it made him want to drag her to him and kiss her until she couldn't breathe anymore let alone laugh.

While Astoria talked Draco nodded and hum-hummed at the right places all the while looking at Hermione.

"Draco… Draco! Dracooo!" shrieked Astoria in her whiney voice, "Are you listening to me!?" she pouted childishly, "I asked you if you want roses or peonies for the center pieces on the tables?"

"Of-course my love…" he said smoothly, his voice placating, "Roses, whatever color you want."

"So peonies it is." Astoria said continuing to browse through the catalogs.

Draco sighed, he didn't even know why he bothered to try or why she insisted on dragging him into these things when clearly she didn't want or need his help.

Oh yeah…. Because she was 'suitable' for him. Merlin what a mess this had become…

Dropping his head in his hands he muffled his groan of frustration before looking up to see Granger leaving. This was his last chance! He had no idea where she lived, she had moved after that fiasco in his office and he had never seen her again not that he hadn't looked, he had she was not at the Ministry or in London and he had been too much of a coward to ask anyone where she was.

"I'll be right back Tori, I just saw an old business associate. I'm going to say hello, stay here." He ordered, springing up and heading to the door. Astoria didn't notice, she just waved a careless hand in his direction; to absorbed in the marital magazines in front of her.

Draco pushed past all the other patrons and rushed out the door, just in time to see her and Ginny head towards another boutique.

"Hermione!" he called out, "Granger wait!" and ran after her.

Hermione stopped short, her breathing began to come in short gasping bursts and her heart began to pound. It couldn't be! She never thought she would hear this voice again… his voice!

But before anything could happen Ginny was in front of Hermione blocking Draco from getting anywhere near her.

"Get lost Malfoy! Haven't you done enough damage… go back to your bimbo…" she said coldly, her hand protectively on Hermione.

"Hermione, wait… look I've been looking for you. I… I… I need to talk to you." He said desperately, ignoring Ginny.

"Back of Malfoy..." warned Ginny in a voice filled with fury.

"You back of Weasley! This is between me and Granger!" Draco said but without the same heat behind his threat, "Let her decide what to do."

"Hermione…?" asked Ginny hesitantly looking at her best-friends white face.

"I'll talk to him… don't worry Gin; I won't do anything stupid but I want to hear what he has to say." Said Hermione tiredly, moving out from behind Ginny.

Sweet merciful Merlin…. Draco nearly fell on his knees in front of her then and there. She looked… luscious… even though her face was white, pale like a sheet and her soft lips wobbled uncertainly. He wanted to plunder her mouth then and there; take away that scared look from her eyes. She glowed from her pregnancy, her elfin face had become rounder, and the edges had softened.

She looked so sweet…. Her full cheeks were pink and creamy, her round eyes still sparkled like the brightest jewels he had ever seen and her mouth was still warm and wide with the softest pink lips in the universe.

But her body had changed, gentle curves and full hips down to her tiny little, petite feet.

But rue him… he still felt the surge of blind desire when he looked at her.

He refused to think it was anyone else's child, it had to be his! He knew his Hermione; his sweet, virgin princess who he had taken on white satin sheets and hadn't cared if her virgin blood stained them.

Since then she had belong to him and though he had behaved like an utter cad and arse he knew, down to his very bones he knew that the child she carried was his.

Hermione sometimes wished she was blind, like now…. One look at his mercurial, ice-burg melting gray eyes and she knew she was just mocking her heart when she told it that it could find love once again. There had never been a bigger lie told…

His voice had made goose flesh rise up on her body and she had felt the little hairs on the back of her neck stand up in awareness. It was like she was so in- tuned with his aura that she knew when he was close.

He was the same; tall, muscular, handsome as the very devil but she saw the signs of stress and unhappiness on him.

Curious the way her heart skipped like that when she discovered he wasn't happy with her . The snarky voice inside popped up its bitchy head again, you're not just happy you're bloody ecstatic you mean bitch! It said nastily, prodding her with its pitchfork, you can't lie to me… I'm you! Pushing it back into the corner of her mind she followed Draco, now considerably lighter but no more inclined to forgive than before.

In a secluded side street he stopped and turned towards her, "How are you?" he said, his voice nonchalant.

"Good… happy…" she breathed, her lie sounding convincing. "You? How are you and Astoria, how are the wedding arrangements going?" she asked sincerely, pleased that her voice came out interested yet detached.

Good said her snarky voice, let him suffer and this time Hermione was inclined to agree with it.

Draco sighed frustrated, "Good I guess." He said running his hand over his face as he drank in the sight of her.

"Why don't you just ask me the question you are dying to ask Draco?" she said amused.

"I was trying to be tactful and gently bring up the topic." He said wryly, grinning at her no-nonsense approach, "So tell me how many months are you along?"

She had to lie, she had to lie, she had to lie! Otherwise he would take her baby away and raise her with blondie brainless bimbo as his sidekick.

"Four months along…" she blurted out without thinking. Shit! She cursed inside her head, what the hell did she just do! Idiot hissed her snarky voice, just go mess it all up why don't you?!

"Four months you say?" said Draco trying to control his happiness, he knew it was his child! He knew it!

Damage control stupid! Shrieked her snarky voice, say something to discredit him now!

"It was after we broke up, my baby is a result of some random one-night-stand." She was forced to say casually.

Draco's heart dropped down so low, he was sure it was crushed somewhere under her petit feet. Hermione didn't look at him because she knew if she did then she would blurt out the truth. Both she and her snarky voice were hoping, finger crossed that he believed her lie.

"So whose baby is it?" he asked hollowly, "Anyone I know?"

"Yes as a matter yes! You pompous, bastard. She's mine! And she has a name, Aurora and she is my baby so don't you call her an it. Understood!." Hermione nearly yelled at him, furious and oh-so-close to choking him for the tone he took with her, you go girl her snarky voice encouraged and cheering her on.

But before she could say anymore he gently said:

"Aurora…" he tested the name on his lips, gently rolling the sounds around his lips making it sound so exotic, "What's her middle name?" he asked suddenly, catching her of guard.

"Cassiopeia…" she blurted out by mistake and then pressed her fingers on her lips in horror.

"Aurora Cassiopeia…." He repeated, "She's mine isn't she?"

No! Tell him no! Said her snarky self. Oh shut up! Hermione thought, feeling ridiculous talking to herself, I wasn't going to keep him away from his child anyway! I'm not that cruel and jaded…. Yet.

"Draco… let me make one thing very clear. She is mine! Do you understand M.I.N.E. I have suffered through the morning sickness, through cramps and mood swings alone! Without you! You cheated on me when I was coming to tell you I was pregnant; only the thought of her prevented me from committing suicide…. You cannot take her away from me! You cannot!" she said hysterically, pounding her small fists on his chest, "You do not get to waltz back into our lives and demand answers because you DON'T deserve them! And we are fine without you. So go back to your suitable fiancé and live your suitable life! And LEAVE US ALONE!" she shrieked.

She turned and stalked away furiously and left him gaping at her. Draco had missed her fire; grinning to himself he let her leave.

She wanted him to grovel…. Hell he'd grovel, she wanted him to make a grand gesture…. He's make one so grand it'd make Casanova blush but leaving her alone…. That he wasn't going to do! Not in this life time…

…

Happy Birthday Dear Bella! Happy Birthday to you! The next part will be up by your birthday!

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