Author's Note: Oh, look, hello Readers! It's a new chapter for the forgotten story! As promised, it's not been abandoned and guess what?! I have more chapters after this to upload once they've been betaed. So there should be no more 5 month waits for more of this story... if any of you even care about it to read any more!

And speaking of betas, a big thank you to pagan, from Hawthorn & Vine, who has kindly agreed to take over this fiction for me. She deserves much love.

Conversations

Ginny observed her usually rational friend who was currently pacing around her living room. Hermione had decided that she needed to tell her parents about her predicament, and that today would be that day. It was obvious to Ginny that Hermione really didn't want to do this and her bushy-haired friend really didn't need the added stress.

"Hermione, you don't have to do this right now. It's still really early on in your pregnancy," she said, trying to reason with her.

"But if I don't get it out of the way, then it will be hanging over me like the sword of Damocles."

"You're being a bit melodramatic, aren't you?" Luna suggested softy.

"You don't know my parents. They won't understand."

Ginny grasped Hermione's hands. "You've got to calm down. All this stress is not good for you."

Hermione sat down on the sofa and started the deep breathing exercises Ginny was currently teaching her. "I'm sorry I'm freaking out so much. I'm just really scared by this whole situation."

"Of course you are! This isn't normal at all."

Hermione smiled gratefully at Ginny, who was trying her hardest to be a calming influence on her. She was also attempting to quell any fears Hermione had over pregnancy and childbirth. It wasn't easy, as the uptight woman was an emotional mess at the moment. Ginny had never seen Hermione so extreme in her feelings, but then again, pregnancy had the nasty habit of doing that.

The one good thing about quitting professional Quidditch was that Ginny was able to spend a lot more time with her friend. She was no longer called away for long training camps and games all over the country and now worked for the Daily Prophet as their Quidditch correspondent. Apart from attending games and press conferences, she could pretty much work from home.

Luna, too, had come through for her friend. As a researcher for Newt Scamander, she had large chunks of time where she worked from home, hitting the books, trying to track down historical mentions of some of the weird and wonderful fauna and flora she studied. She was currently in the middle of one of these projects and popped over to Hermione's house every day, looking to distract her from her current woes by asking for her advice about this and that. Luna didn't usually do this, as Hermione wasn't the most open-minded person, but she recognised that her pregnant and stressed friend could do with the distraction.

Looking a lot more tranquil now, Hermione jumped up and grabbed her bag. She marched over to the fireplace. "Well, there's never going to a good moment to do this," she said to her friends. "So, I might as well get this over and done with now. I only wish I hadn't told my parents quite so much about Malfoy whilst I was at Hogwarts. Wish me luck!"

Ginny and Luna both watched as their bushy-haired friend disappeared through the Floo Network.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Luna asked. "Should one of us have gone with her?"

"Nah, she's freaking out because her mum will think she's been hasty, but they'll be fine. They love her and they recognise the sacrifice she made for them during the war. They aren't the kind to disown their child over something like this."

Luna bowed to Ginny's superior knowledge of the Granger family as she had only met them occasionally.

Ginny flopped onto the sofa. "I'm more worried about Harry. He's taking this news really hard."

Luna pursed her lips. "Ron's ranting about it but he won't take any action."

"I wish I could say the same for Harry. He's brought the Malfoy files home and is going through them with a fine toothcomb. He assures me that he's not looking to arrest them on any trumped up charges, but he's researching their modus operandi. He doesn't want Hermione to know, but he's really worried they might try and do something to her."

Luna shook her head. "At least they are not stressing Hermione out with their theories and rants. As for Malfoy, I think he actually wants a child, hence why he isn't too worried about it being a half-blood."

Ginny's expression darkened. Luna was sticking to this theory of hers that Malfoy actually wanted the child for legitimate reasons but she wasn't so sure. Her sister-in-law could be naïve and liked to believe the best in people. "Maybe that's the case for Malfoy, but Lucius is devious and nasty enough to do some harm to Hermione."

Luna shrugged. "Perhaps. However, I think you are all judging them a little too harshly. They have been law-abiding citizens since Voldemort's fall. Why should that change now?"

"Lucius pulled off the innocent act previously. I don't trust that man as far as I can throw him."

Luna wisely remained silent. The redhead had every reason to dislike and mistrust Lucius Malfoy. However, Luna was taking what Draco Malfoy said at face value. She felt things weren't as straightforward as her Gryffindor friends thought. The last few times she had seen Malfoy, he hadn't looked happy. It was more than possible that he had personal problems, which was why he was at the fertility clinic in the first place. She knew not to suggest this, though. Her husband and his friends would always be suspicious about Malfoy's intentions. It was a hang-up after the war.

Looking at how worried Ginny was, Luna patted her knee. "I doubt Harry will do anything rash."

Ginny rubbed her eyes. "I really hope not. I don't see how that would help Hermione."

However, Ginny's fears were proven correct. Two days later, Harry bumped into Malfoy at the Ministry. The blond was conversing with several high-ranking members of the Wizengamot and looking as smug as usual. Harry narrowed his eyes and stalked him down the corridor. He waited until Malfoy parted from the group.

"Hey, Malfoy," he called.

The former Slytherin stopped and his shoulders appeared to tense as he recognised the voice.

"Potter," he said, turning. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I'd like to have a word with you."

Malfoy sighed. "I take it you want this to happen in your office?"

"It would be best, yes."

"Lead on, then."

They walked in silence until they reached Harry's office. He shut the door, moved around his desk to take his seat and offered the one opposite to Malfoy. His former school nemesis languidly sat down.

"I want to talk to you about Hermione."

"How did I guess?" Malfoy replied sarcastically.

"Why are you doing this to her?"

"Doing what?"

"Threatening her with legal action and stressing her out until she's struggling to sleep?"

"Look, I want this to be as amicable as possible, but I don't understand why you Gryffindors cannot fathom why I want to be a part of this child's life."

Harry scoffed. "Malfoy, at no stage of our acquaintance have you ever given any hint that having a child with a Muggle-born would be welcome."

"What I thought in that respect is academic now. The baby exists. There is nothing I can do to change that."

"Why can't you just pretend it doesn't exist?"

"Put yourself in my shoes for a small moment, Potter. I know that's difficult for someone as narrow-minded as you. Would you do the same? Just walk away from a child because of such an accident?"

Harry didn't want to acknowledge that Malfoy had a point. If it was someone else, say Terry Boot or Justin Finch-Fletchley, he would be more than willing to consider this point. But it was Malfoy. He didn't think the dig about being narrow-minded was worth replying to, coming from the blond. "I want you to leave Hermione alone."

"I haven't been near her since Switzerland."

He was stumped at that. "I don't trust you or your father where this child is concerned."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me, we're meant to arrange for some awful accident to befall Granger that ends up with the baby dead."

"I wouldn't put it past you."

"I think you are rather spectacularly missing the point."

"What point?"

"A point that you of all people should know."

Harry was confused. This conversation was beginning to go around in circles. "Just spit it out."

"This child that Granger is carrying is a Malfoy, therefore, it doesn't matter if it is a half-blood or not."

"Why is that important?"

"How you became an Auror, I'll never know. I thought they were meant to be smart. You have first hand experience of what a Malfoy will do for another Malfoy."

Harry flushed as he realised what Malfoy was referring to. Narcissa Malfoy's love for her son overcame any desire she had to see Voldemort and pureblood supremacy to triumph. Malfoy slowly clapped. "Well done, Potter. I see you've managed to put two and two together."

"Be warned that I'll be watching you all."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you. However, you might like to remember that you've been wrong at least once before regarding Slytherins and their motives."

It didn't take Harry more than a moment to figure out what Malfoy was referring to. He still felt guilty over how he had completely misjudged Snape.

He watched as the blond stood.

"I would say it's been nice talking to you, but we both know that would be a lie," Malfoy said, as he walked to the door.

Draco ran his hand through his hair as he left Potter's office. Damn the Chosen One and his inability not to meddle in everyone's business. He refused to explain to Potter exactly why he wanted a role in this child's life. Anyway, everything he had said to him was correct. Malfoys looked out for each other before anything else.

He walked through the atrium to the bank of fireplaces. He threw some Floo powder in an empty grate and returned home to Malfoy Manor. The first thing he heard as he arrived was the whiny tones of his wife. He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as Astoria appeared in travel room.

"Draco, where have you been? We were meant to attend lunch with Theo and Andrea."

"I told you last week that I had some meetings at the Ministry today and wouldn't be able to come."

"I thought we had agreed that would you postpone them. Andrea was going to show me around her new garden and I wanted to make sure it wasn't landscaped better than the Manor."

He could feel his irritation rising. "No, Astoria, you decided that. I told you that this meeting was far more important than a couple of plants."

She pouted. "I was very embarrassed having to turn up without you there."

"Maybe next time you'll actually listen to me when I tell you something."

"It would be nice if you took into consideration your wife's feelings," she sniped at him before flouncing out of the room.

Draco closed his eyes. "Salazar save me from any more witches," he muttered.

"Now, Draco, we're not all like Astoria," his mother said, amused, as she walked into the room.

"It's hard to remember that at times," Draco grouched.

"Come and have some tea with me," Narcissa suggested.

Draco knew that was code for 'we need to talk', so he followed his mother through to her private sitting room. She had all the elegance and poise that Astoria wanted to have but was never going to be able to re-create. For some reason, this made him happy. In his view, Astoria wasn't good enough to lick his mother's shoes.

He settled down in one his mother's overstuffed armchairs. Whilst the public rooms downstairs were stylised and formal, which, in turn, made them uncomfortable, the private rooms in the Manor were a lot more homely. A house-elf popped into the room carrying a tea tray, placing it carefully on the table in between mother and son. Narcissa proceeded to pour them both a cup and offered him one of the dainty cakes she liked.

"Now, are you going to tell me what's going on?" she asked, dropping her 'Lady of the Manor' façade and jumping straight to the point.

"I'm not sure what you mean, Mother."

"You can drop that act right now, Draco. It might work on your peers, but you'll never be as good as your father at feigning ignorance and I can see straight through it."

"I take it Father hasn't spoken to you?"

"You know Lucius, he never tells me these things unless he has to. He says he wants to shelter me. Silly man," Narcissa said fondly.

Draco groaned internally. He wished his father would stop treating his mother as if she was made of porcelain. All it resulted in was his mother pumping him for information instead, and she was altogether too skilled at doing that. "What do you want to know?"

"When are you getting rid of that irritating girl downstairs? I wanted you to do it years ago when you first breached the topic with us, but you let your father convince you to try and conceive an heir first."

"I wish I had listened to you."

"So do I, Draco. You've been unhappy with her almost from the beginning. You could have been married to someone you actually like if you had gone through with divorcing her back then."

"To be honest, Mum, I don't think I'll ever get married again."

Narcissa watched her son sadly. He only called her 'Mum' when he was really depressed. This whole marriage with Astoria was aging him prematurely. He looked stressed all the time. It wasn't something the average person could see, but to her eyes, she could see the pressure he was under.

"Don't say that, darling. You'll find someone who will make you happy."

"I'm beginning to think I should have married Pansy. At least she doesn't irritate me."

She snorted. "No, the pair of you would have killed each other instead. Besides, she and Adrian are so very happy."

He sighed. His mother was right. No matter how much he loved and admired Pansy, they didn't work as a couple. She had been his first girlfriend, and the only one of his romantic attachments he remained friends with. She was now happily married to Adrian Pucey and they had two delightful little children whom Draco spoiled rotten.

"You're right as always, Mother."

"But that's not what has got you so stressed."

He debated for a brief moment whether he should say anything to his mother. The less people who were dragged into this mess the better — but then again, it was his mother. She hated having secrets kept from her, and if she couldn't weasel it out of him, then, when she did find out, she was going to be impossible.

"You remember that Astoria and I went for fertility treatment last month in Switzerland?"

"Yes," Narcissa replied. "Don't tell me she's pregnant?" The distaste in her voice as she said this would have amused him on any other day, but not in these circumstances.

"You'll be relieved to know that she isn't."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Then what has you so tense?"

"There was a mix-up at the laboratory. My sperm sample didn't end up going to Astoria but to someone else, and she is pregnant."

He paused to allow his mother sometime to digest that news. It wasn't an easy thing to do.

Admirably, Narcissa didn't take that long to start questioning him again. "Who is the woman now carrying your baby?"

Draco grimaced. This wasn't getting any easier the more he told it. His mother wasn't too fond of Hermione Granger either. "Granger," he said simply.

"Granger? As in Potter's friend? The one with the frightful hair?"

"The one and only."

Narcissa slumped back in her chair. "Oh!" she remarked.

"That's a little bit of an understatement."

"Well, what do you want me to say? I think I'm being fairly restrained in the circumstances. Granger! That awful girl who stomps around Diagon Alley looking a mess and now you tell me that's she's the mother of my only grandchild."

He grimaced. This was the reaction he'd expected from his mother. He watched as she took some uncharacteristic deep breaths.

"Have you spoken to her about it?" she asked, once more in control.

"I gate crashed her appointment with De Braun."

"How is she taking it?"

"Not very well. For a start, she thought I would try and pressure her into an abortion. She doesn't want me to have any rights to the child."

"She can't do that, can she?"

He shrugged. "We've got Horatio working on the case. It's complicated. She was going there for the sperm donation programme, so her contract states that the biological father would have no right to try and see any ensuing baby."

"Will she be able to stop you seeing the baby?"

"I don't know. Father is hoping we can keep this out of court, but I don't see how. He's got some idea of my being able to charm her into giving up the baby."

Narcissa snorted. "Your father has always underestimated Potter and his blasted friends. She doesn't seem the type to just hand her child over to be raised by someone else."

"She's not."

"Are you going to go ahead with your father's foolhardy plan?"

"It's worth a go. It's not going to benefit any of us to see this go before a judge. Besides, it'll buy us some time," he replied.

One of the first changes made to the way the Ministry was run after the fall of Voldemort was the implementation of a proper justice system, one based on Muggle courts. There had been too many instances where individuals abused their power to the detriment of the whole community: from Barty Crouch Senior's authoritarian courts to the kangaroo court presided over by Cornelius Fudge that tried to expel Harry Potter from Hogwarts for underage magic.

This got Draco thinking about his conversation with Potter once more. "It's probably best if we are on our guard for a while," he suggested.

Narcissa raised a delicate eyebrow in query.

"Potter grabbed me at the Ministry earlier and warned me off Granger."

"Does he think we'll hurt her?" she asked indignantly.

"I believe that's exactly what he thinks." Draco sneered in contempt.

Narcissa tutted irately before her mind moved on to other concerns. "What about Astoria?"

He groaned. "I try not to think of her. It's best if she doesn't have an inkling of what is going on. She'll only try to use it to manipulate us and I think we can do without that."

His mother shuddered. "What you were thinking with that girl, I'll never know."

"I wasn't," he replied dryly.

Hermione was immersed in going over new legislation regarding the misuse of Muggle artefacts. The Ministry was clamping down on such behaviour. Some witches and wizards might view it as a harmful prank on unsuspecting Muggles but there were many who still held to old ideals and enjoyed a spot of Muggle-baiting. She had been tasked with heading a team that was to bring in stronger sanctions against such behaviour.

There was a brief knock on her door and Harry poked his head around. "Have you got a spare five minutes?" he asked.

"For my favourite Auror? Of course I have."

He walked into her office and closed the door and sat down on the chair opposite, proceeding to fidget.

She viewed this behaviour with amusement. "Harry, whatever is bothering you, just spit it out."

He looked up and smiled at her. "It's that obvious there is something wrong, huh?"

"When you insist on squirming around like that, then yes."

"I bumped into Malfoy," he blurted out.

Her heart stopped for a moment before beginning to beat erratically. Judging by Harry's unease, it seemed the meeting hadn't gone well. What if Malfoy had told him that he was preparing a case to put before the courts?

Hermione was using as much of her spare time as possible to read more into the state of family law in the wizarding world. But what she had read so far wasn't encouraging. Being more conservative than its Muggle counterpart, the wizard father had many more automatic rights, regardless of circumstance. The one thing in her favour was the fact that this would be a unique case. Nothing like this had happened before in the UK's magical community and she was clinging to the hope that this would work out in her favour.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Don't get angry at me, okay? But I sort of confronted him about the situation."

"Harry," she said and groaned.

"I know, Hermione, but I couldn't help it. You know how I get," he said in defence.

She nodded. She couldn't, in all reality, get mad at him. Rushing off and confronting things threatening either him or his friends was a very Harry thing to do, and he'd been doing it since she'd met him, so she couldn't really complain about it now.

"How it did it go?"

He wrinkled his nose. "In all honesty, I don't know. He wasn't how I expected him to be."

She was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Well, he was his usual obnoxious self, sneering and generally being irritating, but I expected him to react differently to the whole situation."

Her palms started to sweat. Harry was scaring her. "Like how?"

"He seems as if he really wants this child," he said.

Her heart sank. She really didn't want to hear that. She wanted to hear that he was indifferent to the baby and that he had only insisted in being a part of its life because he wanted to punish the medical centre for messing up and her for being… well, her.

"He started going on about how the fact that it was a Malfoy trumped the baby's half-blood," Harry continued.

She buried her head in her hands. "Really, Harry, I don't want to hear this. I want to pretend that he's just messing with me because that's what he does."

Her friend made a sympathetic noise. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that's the reason at all. He seems pretty sad about the whole thing."

"Don't start feeling sorry for him!" she exclaimed, lifting her head up to glare at him.

"I'm not!" he objected. "But he did ask me to put myself in his shoes. If I was in his position and got, say Parkinson, pregnant, it wouldn't mean I would walk away."

"He didn't get me pregnant in any traditional sense of the word! There was a mix-up with sperm in a laboratory. Don't you dare start 'daddy bonding' with him over this, or I'll hex you so Ginny doesn't even recognise you."

"Okay, okay! Relax a little."

"I can't. This situation is all I think about. I'm meant to be concentrating on readying this draft legislation to present before the Wizengamot, and all I can think about is what Malfoy's next move is going to be. And now you're telling me that you sympathise with him."

"I meant what I said last week, Hermione. I've got your back in this, and I always will."

Hermione smiled at her green-eyed best friend. "Thanks, Harry. I really needed to know that my friends are standing with me in this. I'm scared and I feel alone."

"Hey," he said, coming around to kneel down next to her. "You'll never be alone."

He looped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her fiercely.

"What if he takes my baby away?" She sniffled.

AN: I hope that chapter was worth the wait. And we got to see some more of the Malfoys. And I know I don't deserve it but maybe a review to tell me that I still have some readers for this story...