Wow, guys, I'm overwhelmed to see so many people reading my story in such a short amount of time! Going back over it now I realised chapter 1 was a bit short, I promise to make them lengthlier from now on; it was 1 in the morning when I threw that together, after all.

Draco

"Draco, get down here."

Great.

"Yes?" I said, as I sat down at the long, black dining table, facing my father. After 18 years I had learned to interpret his voice when he called upon me. I could tell when it would be good news, when I would be getting a scolding, or when he was about to 'ask' me to do something that I had no choice in the majority of the time. But today, I couldn't tell.

"Don't use that tone of voice with me, Draco," he said calmly. I waited, not bothering to reply. After a long pause, he continued. "Pansy Parkinson."

"What about her?"

"Her father and I have struck up quite the friendship."

"That's nice, Father."

"What do you think of Pansy, Draco?"

I sighed. I knew this conversation was due to be coming and I had dreaded the day.

Families within my parents' circle often would scope out each other, then they would decide who they would like to see their own respective son or daughter become 'friends' with, each hoping for a marriage at the end. It was much like an arranged marriage that you see in eastern countries and religions, only, I'm pretty sure those people had a lot more choice in the matter. They all thought they were sly in pointing us in the direction of one another, but we all knew that every bit of it was planned. They wanted to carry on their perfect family name, by picking the perfect son or daughter-in-law to join their family. Some parents even decided before they were born who they would choose. The lucky ones really did fall in love, but the unlucky, well...

Currently Pansy, who was in Slytherin with me at school, and I were the only children of our families circle of friends who weren't 'betrothed' as such, and it was not surprising that our fathers would make this decision.

"She's alright. Not really my type." I replied, trying to nip my father's idea in the bud. Sadly, to no avail.

"Oh?" He smiled, amused. "And what is your type, son?"

"I don't know." I said, shrugging. "Not Pansy."

"I think Pansy is a lovely girl, Draco," he stood. "And I think you would do well to become... better acquainted with her."

This was not a suggestion, it was an order.

Back in my room, I slumped down on my massive black four-poster bed and stared towards the ceiling. Just one week left, I told myself. One week, away from him and back with your friends. Back with her.

Hermione

Thank God Harry had offered for me to stay with him for the remaining week of the summer, because I had to tell my parents the news and I couldn't possibly stay in this house with their disappointed looks for very long after I broke the news.

"Mum," I said meekly, entering the kitchen where she was cooking dinner. Dad was sitting at the dining table reading the muggle newspaper. "Dad,"

"What is it, sweetheart?" Mum said, looking up as she stirred something in the pot.

I took a deep breath. "I have something to tell you, and you're going to hate me."

She stopped stirring, and Dad put down his newspaper, peering up at me over his glasses. "Honey," he said, reaching out for my hand. "Whatever it is, we could absolutely never hate you. You know that."

That's when the tears started. "But you will." I sobbed. Mum hurried over and pulled me into a hug. "Sshhh," she whispered, kissing my forehead. "Stop crying and sit down."

"I can't," I said. I couldn't sit down, because I was so nauseous from being so worked up and nervous that I needed to be standing in order to rush to the bathroom if I had to. "I'm pregnant."

You could almost hear the earth move during the silence that followed my outburst, but my parents quickly recovered themselves.

"You're what?" Dad asked, shocked.

"I'm pregnant." I repeated, wiping the tears from under my eyes.

"By who?" Mum had dropped her arm now; she was no longer hugging me.

I hesitated.

"By who?" She repeated, louder. Before I could even respond, she continued. "How could you do this, Hermione? That damn school! I knew sending you there was the biggest mistake we would ever make!"

"Jane-" Dad started, but Mum cut him off.

"Don't Jane me, Daniel. Your daughter is pregnant, for God's sake!" She turned on me. "Get out. Leave. Don't come back."

I backed away, more tears spilling from my eyes. I hadn't expected her to react that way, but I couldn't blame her. I made my way clumsily up the stairs, hearing my parents arguing back in the kitchen. I had already packed everything, planning on leaving to Harry's anyway; all I had to do was grab my trunk and my wand. Ping was already at Harry's; I had told him to go there and stay there so I wouldn't need to worry about him. Just as I opened my bedroom door to go back downstairs and leave, I came face to face with my father, who had a pained expression on his face.

"Hermione," he started.

"I'm so sorry, Dad." I cried. He pulled me into the tightest hug my awkward father had ever hugged anyone.

"Your mother is very upset right now, but she will calm down." He promised. "You have somewhere to go that's safe?"

I nodded.

"Good girl. It's just best for now. I love you, remember that. I will write to you and we will sort this out, okay?"

I nodded again, unable to find words. We hugged again, and I made my way down the stairs and out the front door of what used to be my childhood home. As I closed it behind me, all I could think was I will never be the kind of mother who turns on her daughter when she needs her most.