Chapter 1
(December 30th)
Hermione Granger sighed heavily as she sat down in the waiting room. Her boyfriend Mike Burbank sat down next to her with the same sigh on his lips. This was the fourth bank they had been to that week. They wanted to get married, buy a house and start their own business together. The only problem was they had no money to do any of it with. Oh sure they both had jobs, but as much as they loved their jobs there was hardly enough money between them to pay bills. Hermione, of course, could have gotten a better paying job anywhere she liked, it was just she loved her job and didn't want to give it up if she didn't have to.
Once she and Mike had the money they needed all their dreams would come true. She would quit her job only because she would be doing the same thing, she would just be her own boss. At the moment, however those dreams were very far off. She hoped this bank would be different, but she knew it wouldn't. It seemed no one wanted to lend money to people that didn't have money or promise of money in the close future.
Mike had been bold enough to suggest the unthinkable, asking one of her rich friends for the loan. Hermione had put her foot down on that. She had learned at a very young age never, ever brow money from friends. It was like a death sentence to the friendship. Back in 5th grade she had borrowed a single pound from her best friend. Within a week they where no longer friends and Hermione was out 3 pounds. To this very day if she ran into the other girl they would glare at each other, but acted as if they didn't know one another.
"Mr. Burbank? Miss. Granger?" A fat ugly man called to them beckoning them into his office. Hermione followed her sweetie pie into the next room and played the part of the silent partner. She loved Mike very much and he loved her in return, they just had several small problems. What couple didn't? One of their small problems was Mike need to be the man with the plan. He would listen to Hermione behind closed doors, but put someone else in the room and he would get upset with her if she showed him up. He said it was embarrassing to have his little woman make him look like an idiot. So to make him happy Hermione pretended she was a silly little house wife in waiting, who know nothing more than how to make a happy home.
The meeting went by quickly: Mike hardily got a word in before they where turned down and sent on their way. They got into Mike's little blue car to sit there for a few minutes. "Hermione, honey this is getting old, why don't you just ask Harry for the money?" She groaned as she thought 'not this again.'
"Mike-y I told you I wouldn't do that, it's a mistake to borrow money from friends…Don't worry honey bear we'll find away to get the money" He started the car without another word and they drove back to their little apartment. It got like this every time she told him she wouldn't ask Harry for money. As they got inside she saw the newspaper had come. She was about to read it when Mike snatched it out of her hands.
He had a big smile on his face as he held up the paper to show her a photo of someone. "What about borrowing money from him? He not your friend, you hate him and he hates you." Hermione looked at the photo of Draco with some ditzy witch on his arm. "He is the richest man in the wizarding world."
"Mike… Malfoy is rich because he doesn't lend money to poor people like us; the man is a fucking ass-hole." She said flatly without even thinking it over. "Besides he'd say no without even hearing us out. Like you said he hates me and crushing my dreams would make is bloody day…And I wouldn't stoop so low to ask such a low life scum bag for a penny! Let alone half a million." Mike glared at her, tossing down the paper.
"Come off your high horse Hermione, the man is fucking rich. He has been known to give out loans to people here and there. YOU said we'd find another way." He took her arm a big roughly "How are we going to find it if you kept shooting down every idea I have?" she bit her lip a little as Mike held onto her a bit to tight. She know he didn't mean to he was just upset with her for being so headstrong.
"Alright Mikey I'll owl him and see what I can do…But don't get your hopes up; Draco Malfoy is a jerk" Smiling again Mike let her go and hugged her lovingly to him.
"Maybe so, but he's a jerk with a lot of money."
(January 3)
Hermione sat in the entrance hall to Malfoy's main office. He worked mostly out of his home, so he could be close to his sick mother. Which in a way was kind of sweet, but as she sat there alone Hermione felt nasty all over. Something about seeing Malfoy again after six years made her uneasy. The man had been a spy for Harry and helped win the war, but he was still a jerk and she still hated being in the same place as he was. The worst part was Mike had to work and couldn't get off, meaning she had to see the git alone!
One of his house elves was handing out tea and cookies to the people waiting to see Malfoy. Each one had turned the elf down, asking nervously how much longer they would have to wait. The poor little thing acted as if they would jump up and beat the snot out of her if she didn't know. Hermione smiled at it as it came to her holding out the tray and asking if she'd like any. "Sure," She said, softly smiling at it. She decided she would brighten up the elf's day and chat for awhile.
As she talked to it as the people dwindled down until it was just her and the house elf. She watched as the elf look around making sure no one saw her as she slipped over to Hermione and whispered. "I knows how you can get Master Malfoy to give you da money you need." Hermione's eyes got a bit wide as she asked how. "The Mistress of da house wants grandchild, Master Malfoy says he no have time for love and marriage. He been looking for a surrogate mother have child for him, to's make Mistress happy with him again… Master also want be father…He say he pay lots money to woman who agree to have child for hims."
Hermione couldn't believe her ears, Draco Malfoy wanted a child! It appeared he wanted one so bad he was willing to pay for it. "Well that would be great, but I am not a pure blood." Hermione said kind of kicking her muggle blood for the first time ever.
"No matter, Master want child he no care if pure or no, he just want child." Hermione couldn't believe she was considering this. After all, it was Malfoy. To have his seed in her was kind of creepy. The thing was if she did this, not only would she get a lot of money, but she would solve another one of the small problems she and Mike had. Mike didn't want kids at all; before they had met he went and got snipped so he couldn't have kids. Hermione wanted to have at lest one child, she asked Mike if they could adopt, but he said no. 'If I did this I could be a mother and Mike wouldn't have to be a father!' "If you want do, ask Master bout child contract, he have on hand, he show and you see."
"Granger?" A tall thin woman called form the doorway of Malfoy's offices.
"Coming," She said tapping the house elf on the head "Thanks for the tip, I think I just might ask to see that contract." She walked into the office, which turned out to be the office before his office. The tall, thin red head turned to her with a sneer on her face saying 'he will see you now' as she pushed open a small black door and stepped aside. Hermione said a small 'thank you' as she entered his office. Malfoy had his head down, writing away at some such thing.
The man looked pale as always, his long white blond hair was pushed behind his ears and his pointed nose wore a pair of reading glass at the tip. "Please sit down Miss Granger" He said in a low tone, looking up at her as he removed his glasses. His whole face looked sharp and pointed as if never smoothed. His eyes even looked sharp and gray. They were filled with that forever seen cold blank stare. "What can I do for you?" He asked in such a manner she thought about running for the hills.
"The truth is this was not my idea," She found herself saying it without thinking it over. "My boyfriend or should I say 'husband to be' sent me here, to ask for a loan." Malfoy made a face that she wasn't sure she cared much for. She had seen it over the years and knew it well. It was his 'how am I going to fuck you over, let me count the ways' face. "I came here under protest, but we need money for the wedding, down payment on a home and small business…Just tell me no so I can get the hell out of here and tell him I told him so already."
"Now that wouldn't be very polite of me," Malfoy said in that same voice. "Granger, you're talking about a lot of money and I'd like to know how you and this boyfriend plan to pay me back. Would it be with this small business?" He asked raising a brow. Hermione knew better then to put her small business or home on the line. Malfoy was known for taking them over if you didn't pay him back fast enough. "Or is there some other way you planned to pay me?"
Again her mouth just started moving of its own accorded "Actually, I heard a rumor you were looking for a woman to be a surrogate mother. Rumor said you had a contract and was offering a lot of money to the person willing to do it." If there had been a time in her life she wished she could take a photo of his face it was right then and there. "There wouldn't be any truth in that would there?"
He shook his head before reaching for a file on the side of his desk "I'd like to know were you heard that, but otherwise yes, what you heard is true." He then handed her the file "It will take you awhile to read it all…If you're really interested in doing this, I mean it's a lot to think about…after all…" Hermione took the file from him, giving a weak smile as she put it in her lap.
"It's an option to solving my problems, Mike and I will look this over." She said as he gave this disbelief nodded.
"Ah…well all of its negotiable, except the part of you living here while carrying the child. I will want to have you close by incase anything should happen or you need something." He seemed kind of in a daze as he spoke to her.
"That's fine, I can live with that…Well, I'll take this home and get back to you as soon as Mike and I look it over." She stood up, putting out her hand. Malfoy took it, wishing her a good day and walking her to the door. Once home, Hermione opened the file and began to read. She made little notes here and there, but for the most part Malfoy's deal didn't seem so bad.
It said he would prefer making the child the old fashion way, but he was willing to do anything that she felt most comfortable with. At the end of the contract she felt a bit uneasy; he wanted to keep the child and wished she have no farther part in its life. Hermione put the file down, thinking it over. She found Malfoy's contract more then alright. The money he was offering would pay for everything she and Mike dreamed of and then some. It was just, if she was going to be a mother to a monster's child, she wanted to be a part of the poor kids' life.
As Mike came home he wasted no time getting in her face and asking about her meeting with Malfoy. She told Mike that they could have everything they wanted, and it won't cost them a penny. He was overjoyed saying 'see, I told you it was worth asking'. Hermione held up her hand to show him the contract. She watched as the joy washed away from his face and was replaced with horror.
"Look honey, it says I can choose the method of conception." She said, thinking that was the problem.
"Oh who cares, Hermione I told you I don't want to be no father OR step-father. I hate kids!" He whined at her, tossing the file down.
"You won't be, part of the deal is I have the kid and I never see it again." His face lit up again. "I just have to live in his home for awhile until the man gets his baby and then we can get married." She smiled even though she hated the idea of never seeing her baby again.
"Good, there's nothing in there that say's I have to be around when you're carrying the kid right?" He looked kind of annoyed. "It's not that I don't love you or anything, I just don't want to be any part of this…Pregnant woman are so annoying." Hermione couldn't believe her ears; she glared at him from across the table.
"You carry around a 10 pound baby plus about 10-20 pounds of extra weight for 9 months and see how pleasant you are!" She snapped at him, slamming her hands down on the table. "Gods Mike you make it sound like it is a disease or something. And…AND you're not even considering my feelings here." She took a deep breath "All you care about is getting the money, you don't seem to care I'd be stuck in the Malfoy house hold ALONE for 9 fucking months OR…Even how I might feel about not being able to see my own baby!"
Mike made a sort of sour face "Sorry," He said, but he didn't sound so sorry. He looked down at the file "I just saw our dreams coming true and didn't think it all over." He grumbled looking through the pages "I guess I could come and visit you and stuff…And if it's really important to you, I wouldn't object to you trying to see your kid on weekends…As long as I don't have to see it."
Hermione sat back in her set, letting out a breath "Well it's a start…And it's a lot to think about"
"Not really, looks to me like you've got it all planned out, let's send him this and tell him if he agrees, it's a deal." Mike was handing her a pen as if they hadn't just fought about this.
"Mike I really think I shou…" He cut her off.
"Come on honey, this is our dreams coming true for free! Just sign it already!" He shoved the pen in her hand, holding her hand tightly around the pen as he forced her to sign it, before giggling and sending the contract to Malfoy. He didn't even give her a chance to add that she wanted the right to see her baby. Hermione swallowed as it sunk in, she was going to carry Malfoy baby! 'Oh my gods what have I done?'