A/N: As promised! Sorry for any errors, I couldn't reach my beta in time!! Hope you enjoy! Please remember to feed a poor writer's ego and review!! Yours Truly!!

Chapter Four

We Are So Not in Kansas Anymore

Hermione hid her insecurity as the silent train ride seemed to drag on. She was startled when a witch appeared at the door with a cart of snacks.

"Anything for you two?" her rough voice called out as Draco dug in his pocket.

"None for me," Hermione gave her a small smile only to turn and receive a glare from Draco.

"When was the last time you ate, Granger?" he questioned.

"Not that it's your business Malfoy, but around one o'clock I had lunch," she glared right back.

"It is my business, seeing as…" his eyes darted to the witch in the doorway and his lips tightened, "I'm Head Boy and I'd rather my Head Girl wasn't malnourished." It sounded lame to her but the witch didn't say anything. Draco paid for a few Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, and Licorice Wands before the woman pushed her cart away.

"It's not healthy, but I'm not going to let you starve my kid," he announced as he tossed her some of each. Hermione struggled to catch it all and shot Draco a look of contempt.

"I'm not starving my baby."

"Your baby this, and your baby that. Get over it, Granger, it's our baby, no matter how much it pains me to say it," he stuck the tip of a Licorice Wand in his mouth and turned his eyes to the window again.

"Fine then, Malfoy, what are we going to do about our baby after the war is over?" she began nibbling on a Pumpkin Pasty though her stomach was telling her that vanilla ice cream on pepperoni pizza would be much more enjoyable.

"I haven't really had the time to think that far ahead, Granger, seeing as I just found out about the kid an hour ago," Draco bit out.

Hermione glanced at her watch. Sure enough it was six thirty one.

"Why do you think Dumbledore has called us to school early?" she questioned, not really meaning to say it aloud.

"Because with the war in the immediate future he wants us to encourage more inter-House unity, and all that crap," he answered.

"It isn't crap, but how in the world are we going to pull it off? No one thinks highly of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw thinks that Gryffindors are all brawn and no brain, and Slytherin, well they just hate everyone," she sighed loudly and ripped open the package to a Cauldron Cake.

"We do not hate everyone," Draco amended, "We are just very cautious about who we take for friends, and who we take for enemies. Almost my whole house would follow me blindly if I could provide sufficient argument to my cause. Slytherin is a clash between a hierarchy and a dictatorship."

"Nice, it sounds so welcoming," her cynical tone was not lost on him, "If Slytherins weren't so shady then Gryffindors would be more inclined to trust them."

"If we weren't shady then we wouldn't be Slytherins," he countered.

"You're shady and unpredictable; we never know what's going to happen."

"That's a good thing, Granger," he was speaking to her as if she was incompetent and it was getting to her.

"No, it is not," she tried to keep her voice even as she spoke, "We never know about you lot! Are you Death Eaters? Following in your parents' footsteps? Or are you undecided? Or…"

"You think just because of our birth we'd become Death Eaters?! We are far from mindless, Granger! My father is an imbecile for following that Dark Lord of his and you think I'd feel the obligation to 'follow in his footsteps'?" Instead of raising his voice it was an icy whisper and Hermione resisted the urge to shiver.

"I…I don't know," she replied lamely. His smirk didn't have its usual emotion behind it as he rolled up this sleeve. Hermione stared at the pale unmarred flesh of his forearm for a moment before he righted his robes.

"Not as intuitive as you'd thought, are you Granger?"

"I'm sorry," she mumbled glancing up to meet his eyes.

"What, is the all-knowing Gryffindor apologizing to the scum that is a Death Eater's son? Couldn't be!" he feigned shock as his words dripped with malice.

"No, Hermione Granger is apologizing to Draco Malfoy. The father of her child, and a person she's never gotten to know," she corrected in a soft tone. Malfoy's anger was dying down now.

"Well, I guess I could try that whole 'being civil' bit now. What with this unity thing hanging over our heads," he ran a hand through his product-free platinum tresses and Hermione shot him a smile when he wasn't looking. She'd make it her mission to get to know the real Draco Malfoy.

!H!D!

"Come now, I haven't got all day," Madam Hooch had greeted them at the platform and was rushing then up to the castle, "Can't be too careful. The Headmaster doesn't want either of you wandering around on the grounds alone while you're here early. Oh, but feel free to use the pitch, Malfoy," her tone brightened when she mentioned the quidditch pitch.

She rambled a bit as she led them to the gargoyles in front of Dumbledore's office before she hurried off.

"What was that password…?" Hermione mumbled as she reached into her pocket for her letter. She had changed into her Hogwarts robes just before the train arrived.

"Sour Gumdrops," Draco muttered and the gargoyles sprang to life. Hermione looked up just in time to have Draco grab her arm and pull her onto the moving steps.

Hermione hadn't the time to say a word before she and Draco were being ushered into the Headmaster's office.

"I've been looking forward to this conversation for sometime, Miss. Granger, Mr. Malfoy," he nodded politely to them both in turn, "Please, sit."

The pair immediately sat in the offered armchairs as Dumbledore returned to his seat behind his desk.

"I suppose, seeing as it is of utmost importance that we speak, I will skip formalities," Dumbledore's smile faded a bit as he continued, "We are expecting the attack and, hopefully, a complete end to hostility before the winter holidays and I'd like to keep my Head students posted, knowing that both of you are to be trusted."

"Of course, Professor," Hermione responded with a nod, "You know we are both willing to do anything to put an end to all this." She received a sharp kick in her shin for that comment and she turned an icy glare to her counterpart before remembering their earlier agreement. She flushed as she realized what she'd have to confess to her Headmaster.

"What I mean, Professor, is that we will help out with extra duties and things. I am sorry to say I will not be participating in any actual battle or duel," her eyes were downcast as she prayed Dumbledore wouldn't pry.

"I wouldn't expect you to, Miss. Granger, seeing as you're expecting." She gasped and shot her gaze back up to match his.

Draco couldn't say he was surprised that the old coot knew she was pregnant. He seemed to know just about everything before it'd been told to him.

"But…how?" Hermione mumbled as she stared.

"You cast a charm this summer, Miss. Granger, the name of the spell as well as the results were sent to me," he explained, "All spells performed by wands belonging to current Hogwarts students are recorded by a Spell Tab so we can monitor them outside of school."

"Oh," for once Hermione didn't have a comeback and she settled for the first thing that came to mind.

"I received a letter from your mother earlier today stating that she'd like you to return home this weekend, Friday to be exact, something about a meeting," Dumbledore tapped his chin in thought as Draco tried to keep his face from betraying his emotions.

"I think it'd be best if we sent someone with you, Voldemort has got people everywhere nowadays and I don't want you in the crossfire," he conceded, "Ah, Mr. Malfoy, would you be so kind as to escort Miss. Granger to her home on Friday?"

Draco fixed the Headmaster with a withering glare. Did he know? Or was he as in the dark as the couple hoped? Either way, Draco wasn't about to volunteer any information.

"I guess I could clear some time to take Granger to her house for an hour," his drawl filled the silence.

"Are you sure, Professor? I think I'll be perfectly fine all by…" she tried to act as she would normally before the Headmaster interrupted her rant.

"I don't want to risk it, Miss. Granger, and I'm sure you'd like to be positive about your baby's safety. Speaking of which, I've told Poppy for you and set up an appointment for Friday night. I hope you'll be back in time. Well, I'm betting you two would like to get along to your quarters by now. The password is 'Unity', but feel free to change it, and I believe you have the map, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco nodded as Dumbledore stood to see them out.

"I left a bit of floo powder in your common room, Miss. Granger!" he called just before the gargoyles closed behind them.

They walked silently to their dorms and Draco didn't even ask her opinion before he came up with a new password, Dirty Little Secret. She entered the common room right behind him and was amazed at the beautiful surroundings. It was all done in neutral colors, from the leather sofas to the flowing curtains.

"I'm off to my room, Granger," Draco called as he headed up the staircase leading away from their shared common room. Hermione stayed for a moment longer before following his lead. The stairs led to a single door. She didn't hesitate before entering. It was the prefect's conference room. On either side of the room where portraits, to the left was Salazar Slytherin and opposite him was Godric Gryffindor. She approached the portrait on the right and mumbled her password. The portrait opened and she went straight to her bed and collapsed.

!H!D!

"An hour tops, Granger, and even that's pushing it," Draco declared as Hermione took some floo powder in her hand, "I'm betting it'll take a total of twenty minutes."

"Just pretend you actually like me and aren't repulsed by the idea of me having your child," she instructed as she threw the powder onto the flames before stepping into the hearth and stating firmly, "316 Shinestone Way."

She was disoriented for a moment before her vision cleared and she took in the oh-so-familiar living room, and then the nice carpet as Draco appeared behind her and they both fell forward.

"Ugh, Mal-Draco, would you mind getting off of me?" Hermione tried not to sound as peeved as she was as Draco tried to untangle the mass of limbs. He had made it to his feet and was helping Hermione up when her parents entered.

"Hermione, I wasn't expecting you until later," Carol forced a smile.

"Sorry, but Draco and I have some business later," Hermione informed as Draco took a step forward and extended his hand.

"Draco Malfoy, pleased to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Granger," he greeted politely. Polite, something Hermione never thought a Malfoy could pull off without a sneer. Then again, he was probably very cultured.

"Likewise, I'm sure," Carol replied as she and her husband shook Draco's hand, "Did our Hermione tell you why we asked you here, Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione cringed at her mother's words. She wasn't 'their' Hermione anymore.

"Yes, and please, call me Draco," His tone made him want to gag, but he was going to go through with this.

"Hermione told us that you were the father of her child," it was Frank's turn to speak up as the group took seats in the living room.

"Yes," Draco shot a glance at her before returning his gaze to her parents, "She told me that you were thinking about forcing her to undergo some procedure to kill her-our baby," Draco kept the malice from showing in his eyes and his voice as he covered his slip up.

Malfoys lived by a code. A lot of nonsense filled the code, and yet a lot of sensible rules were recorded there, too. One being that a Malfoy always takes responsibility for their actions and never makes mistakes. Another important one was to always protect what was yours. Draco briefly remembered these two rules as he addressed Hermione's parents. Hermione had become his responsibility when he impregnated her. It couldn't be considered a mistake, and she'd come under his protection inadvertently. The Granger's had forced him to take up the second rule when they'd threatened his child and frightened Granger enough to come to him for help.

"We had come to the conclusion that that was the last option for Hermione. She isn't ready for a child and we don't have the money for a newborn. Not to mention we have a seven year old daughter also," Carol defended.

"Did you take into account that Hermione is also your daughter? That she might need your support? Did it cross you mind that Hermione is resourceful and intelligent and would find a way to care for herself and the baby? Or did your daughter's feelings did not matter? Did you not care how she would cope with the forced death of her child, not to mention it being forced by you, her own parents?" Draco was coming down hard, and yet it seemed innocent enough. Hermione would've applauded him had her parents not been there.

"You dare imply that I don't care for my daughter?!" Carol screeched, "Do you have any idea how hard I worked to bring Hermione into this world? How hard it was, at first, to make a living with a newborn? I'm trying to save Hermione from devoting her life to another at such a young age! She's still a minor and we have control over her medical decisions! If I think it is best for my daughter to have this procedure I will do so! You cannot guilt trip me into changing my mind!"

"Mrs. Granger, I mean you no disrespect," by Hermione's cough he could tell she could see straight through him, "I am from a very old fashioned family. Though my parent's do not approve of Hermione I am held to my word by a code of honor. I will protect your daughter and our child, even if that protection is from you."

Hermione held in a smile. Draco's dramatics were distressing and pleasing her parents at the same time. This man, if you could consider him that at an age just shy of eighteen, came into their house and reprimanded them for their treatment of their daughter, but this display also proved that he was capable, and willing, of caring for their little girl.

"This brings me to my next point. Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I have plenty of money to care for Hermione for the rest of her life and then some and I'd like to ask you for your daughter's hand in marriage." Carol's hand came up to cover her open mouth and Frank stared with wide eyes as Draco got off the couch and went down on one knee in front of Hermione.

"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?" Hermione had the deer caught in the headlights look as she stared down at Draco in disbelief.

!!DISCLAIMER!!: This applies to all chapters of A Marriage of Equals. I do not own Harry Potter or any aspect found in this fiction that is also found in the published/copywrited books by Ms. J K Rowling or in the movies based on said books.