Chapter 3

(Home of Ron and Hermione Weasley)

Hermione sat in front of the fire in her living room. The heat from the fire caressed her face, Draco's face flashed through her mind. He smirked at her. She smiled helplessly back at him. Harry's voice snapped her out of her daydream. "Mione, did you hear me?"

"Sorry. What did you say?"

Harry stuttered, "Draco, he wants his son."

"He wants what?" Hermione screeched.

"He wants Regen."

Hermione stood up and started to pace the room, "Why? Why now?"

"Mione, listen to me. I know it sounds bad, but it's not like that."

Those were the wrong words. They set her on fire, "It's not like what? Not like he wants to take my son away from me?"

"Mione, you know that Regan is his son too."

"How do I know that? I'm blind, remember?" She spewed out.

"Mione! This is serious."

"I am being serious. I can't even see him. How do I know that he is Draco's? I'm supposed to just believe what you tell me? No one else has even mentioned that he doesn't look like Ron."

"That's because they all feel sorry for you….that and the fear that Ron would kill them if they would even dare say a word." Harry began to get frustrated. "Mione, I don't know what to do. My hands are tied."

"Untie them!" She screeched.

Harry huffed, "How the hell do I do that?"

"I don't care! Just do it! Harry, why are you telling me this?"

Harry nervously asked, "What do you mean?"

"You didn't have to tell me. You could have just ignored him, but it doesn't feel like you are telling me everything. Do you want me to give Regen to him?"

"It's not that Mione."

"Then, what is it?"

"I just think that he deserves to get to know his son."

"His son? No Harry. Regen is my son. Ron's and mine. Draco disappeared for three years, three fucking years and now, all of a sudden, he wants his son.What the fuck does he expect me to say, okay sure take him?"

Harry played the only card he had left, "Mione, I never knew my parents. They were taken away from me, but you, you have a choice. How could you take Draco away from his son or his son away from him?"

Hermione sat down and wiped her tears, "I didn't do this. I didn't make him go away. He left on his own. He chose to leave."

"Did he know you were pregnant?"

She shook her head, sobbing relentlessly. "How could he? I didn't even know." She put her fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp, "Ron took care of me for nine months. Ron was the one who took me to the hospital. Ron was the one who cut Regen's umbilical cord. Ron is the only father he has ever known. Ron is Regen's father."

"Is that your final word?"

Hermione thought about it for awhile before answering, "I want to meet him. I want him to tell me, to my face."

Harry looked over to Ron, who had, up to this point, been quiet. Ron only nodded. "Mione knows how I feel." Ron tuned to face his wife. "I trust you completely. If you think you need to hear it from him, then, do it."

Hermione reached out for Ron's hand. He took it. "Thanks," she whispered.

(Malfoy Manor)

Draco sat in his favorite chair, flipping through this morning's copy of The Daily Prophet. The moving picture showed a smiling Pansy Parkinson, arm in arm, with a handsome, dark haired man:

Pansy Parkinson rumored to be getting married.

Draco shook his head, Pansy, his Pansy; his first love and best friend. Why did he ever let her go? She would have stood by him through thick and thin. If he had married her, she would be here now, with him. She would be eating toast and sipping on coffee, while the two of them joked about this pathetic town and all its occupants.

He loved her sense of humor. He was happy with her. They were two peas in a pod. They would spend their days running around causing trouble and their nights tangled up in each other. Pansy's body was like a temple. She was gorgeous and she knew it. She worked hard to keep herself in shape. Every inch of her was tone and tight. He knew her body like the back of his hand. He spent a lot of time exploring it, making her scream and wiggle beneath him. Why did they break up?

Oh yes, she cheated on him. Well, he cheated on her too, but it was only sex. She had his heart, but was not enough to stop his wandering eyes. What was he suppose to do? At least he had done it secretly, saving her 'face', but she just went around with any guy who crossed her path. She was intentionally trying to hurt him and damage his reputation. He would have forgiven the cheating part of it, it was the doing it in public part that he couldn't forgive. His pride would never let him.

His thoughts were interrupted by a light tapping on the window. An owl was perched on the window ledge. Draco opened the window and took a piece of parchment from the bird. He shooed it away and returned to his chair. Draco read the letter, smiling to himself, as his plan began to come together. Potter had gone running to Hermione, as Draco predicted he would and now Hermione wanted to meet him.

His heart fluttered. What would he say? It had been too long. What could he say? He would try to make her understand. He had never meant to hurt her. He hadn't really abandoned her. He loved her. He loves her still. Then she would leave that Weasel and they could start over. They could be a happy family, just Hermione and him and their son. Sure, he felt bad for Pica, but he had a father and he was sure Potter and Ginny would take them in.

Draco reread the letter. Tomorrow. She would apparated to his house tomorrow. His heart fluttered again. He would be ready. Draco began to make arrangements for the "reunion".