Chapter Four: Braydon…… my son.

HG- It started last year when I was dating Harry. We had a great relationship at first. We did everything together, homework, prefect duties. Then around November, we had been dating around 9 months, he started to act weird. We hardly spent anytime together, he always had something 'important' to do. At first, I believed him. Then one night I followed him. He went in to the Room of Requirement and was cheating on me with Ginny. He soon found out I knew and was furious. On November 18, I was patrolling down by the dungeons around 11:00. Angelina had asked me to take her place because she had a lot of homework. Someone came up behind me and pulled me into an empty classroom. He ummm. He ummm…..

Hermione stopped, and was trying desperately to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. But they were like a dam and broke through. Draco wiped them away.

DM- It's okay. You don't have to finish if you don't want to.

HG- No I'll finish, just give me a second.

She sat there for a minute, then continued.

HG- He raped me. Even though it was dark, the moon cast a light on his face. He had black hair, green eyes and a lightning bolt scar.

DM- Potter?

HG- Yes, Harry raped me and that night Braydon was conceived unwillingly. Harry beat me up too but I put concealing charms on myself so no one would know. Please, don't tell anyone especially Dumbledore. If Harry finds out that I told you he will be mad and might try to hurt me and Braydon. I wouldn't be able to live if Braydon died. Please promise me you won't tell anyone? (She was crying hard now.)

Draco took her into his arms.

DM- (whispering in her ear) It's okay 'Mione. I won't tell anyone. But why did you say he was your brother?

HG- When I came home my parents found out I was pregnant. They kicked me out. They wouldn't listen and I tried telling them I was raped. I rented a very small apartment with the little money I had. I took care of myself and worked a little until Brady was born. He was two months premature and was in the hospital until a week ago. I have spent all my money on diapers and food for him and still owe thousands of dollars to the hospital. I was scared that when I came here if I told people he was my son that I wouldn't be allowed to be Head Girl or I would be kicked out.

DM- oh.

HG- It's getting close to dinner I'll get Brady and we can go.

She got up and changed and feed Braydon. She then headed to her bathroom and tried to make it look like she hadn't been crying but she was very unsuccessful. She then walked out to the common room to go to the Great Hall with Draco who was holding Braydon. They headed toward the Great Hall. They got there and walked in. Lots of people were looking at Draco holding Brady. They walked past the wonder boys, but Harry grabbed Hermione's arm pulling her back.

HP- What's he doing?

HG- He's holding Braydon.

HP- Oh so holding the bastard child I see.

HG- What?

HP- You heard me. I know that thing isn't your brother, he's your son.

DM- How do you know?

HP- I know. I'm not stupid. That's Hermione's kid and she can't deny it.

HG- Whatever.

DM- I think I know whose it is. (Looking straight at Harry)

HG- Let's just go, their not worth our time.

They continue walking up to the Heads table. They sit down. Draco starts to put food on his plate but Hermione doesn't, she is just sitting there holding Braydon.

DM- Aren't you going to eat?

HG No I'm not hungry.

DM You haven't eaten today though.

Then Braydon started to cough. He just kept coughing and coughing.

Hermione gently pats his back, but it doesn't help, he keeps on coughing.

DM Is he okay?

HG I really don't know. I hope so.

DM Let's take him to the Hospital Wing.

Hermione and Draco got up and headed toward to Hospital Wing. He stopped coughing. When they got there Madame Pomphrey was in her office so Draco ran to get her. She rushed out and took Braydon from Hermione. She transfigured a bed into a baby one and then laid Braydon on it. She closed the curtain as she walked out.

MP How old is he?

HG Two months

MP Was he premature?

HG Yes 2 months premature. I wasn't supposed to have him until now. He got out of the hospital about a week ago.

MP Okay. I'll try to figure out what's wrong with him.

HG Thank you so much!

Madame Pomphrey went to her cupboard and pulled out various potions, then headed back to Braydon's bed. Once again she pulled the curtain leaving Draco and Hermione alone. Draco pulled to chairs up and sat Hermione in one of them, then sat down himself.

HG I hope he's alright.

DM Madame Pomphrey will take care of him.

HG I hope so.

About an hour later Madame Pomphrey came out. Hermione and Draco stood up and walked to her.

MP Did the hospital ask you to keep Braydon there?

HG Yes, but they said he would be okay out of the hospital too. I told them I went to a private school and I could take care of him there. They said fine but insisted I leave him there for 2 more weeks. What does this have to do with anything?

MP Well you should of left him there and came back to school a little later than everyone else.

HG Why?

MP Well it seems Braydon has caught pneumonia.

HG Will he be okay?

MP I don't know right now. He can't breathe well by himself so I have him on a respirator. He's sleeping right now. You can see him but only for a few minutes.

HG Isn't that a muggle breathing machine?

MP Yes it is. I am using muggle things because it's hard to treat babies with magic because it might backfire.

Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and they walk to Braydon's bed.

He was sleeping peacefully. Hermione started to cry as she seen him laying there. She quietly walked up to his bed and carefully gave him a kiss on the forehead. She then stepped back and started crying. Draco turned her around and hugged her while she sobbed.

HG I don't know what I would do with out Braydon. This is my fault I should have listened to his doctors. I can't believe I was this stupid!

DM What you did was what you did, you can't change that. But you can change what happens to him. Madame Pomphrey will take as good of care of him as she can. You have to be strong, be strong for Braydon.

HG I'll try. I seriously will try Draco, but it's hard when your baby is lying there sick and not breathing on their own, and you know that it's your fault. Even if I can't change that fact, I can't do much to make him well again.

DM I know but you have to be strong. Did you want to stay here; I'll go do the patrolling.

HG No I should go too. It's my job too and I shouldn't put all this pressure and responsibility on you.

DM No it's okay, if you want to stay here go right on ahead. I can handle patrolling.

HG No I'll come just let me go change.

DM Alright let's go.

They get up and head out of the hospital wing. Hermione hurriedly changes and comes out wearing bright turquoise terry cloth pants and a white tee shirt and turquoise flip flops. Her hair was up in a sloppy bun.

HG I'm ready.

DM Alright.

They head out of the common room and do the same route they did the night before. Draco walked a little slower to keep up with Hermione's pace. They had been quiet the whole time and Draco was starting to worry about the usually talkative Hermione. So Draco decided to break the ice.

DM Hermione it'll be okay. I promise.

HG But what if it's not. It's my fault.

DM You didn't know that this would happen. It's not your fault.

Hermione stopped as did Draco and Draco looked her in the eyes. He saw beautiful brown eyes that were sparkling with tears that were threatening to fall. Draco pulled her into his chest and she just started bawling.

HG I'm so scared. If something happens to him I don't know what I'll do. I love him so much. How can you love something so much, but you just met him 2 months ago, and then when you did meet him, I met him through a thick layer of glass and I touched him with rubber gloves that were built into the glass. He started crying the first time I held him. That crushed me, but now I love him so much. I can't lose him Draco. I can't.

DM You won't 'Mione. Let keep walking though because we might get into trouble for not patrolling.

HG Okay

DM Hermione you shouldn't think that anything bad is going to happen to him. Think that tomorrow he'll be out of the hospital wing. And you'll be taking care of him.

HG But I know that that's not what's going to happen. He won't be out tomorrow. I won't be able to take care of him.

DM Yes, probably not but you need to stay strong and don't think of the bad things.

HG It's hard not too.

They continued walking. Harry and Ron are standing outside of the Gryffindor Common Room.

DM What are you doing out here? It's after curfew.

HP So what.

DM Twenty points off and two detentions for both of you. Now get inside.

RW What's wrong Malfoy, Granger won't give you the pleasure that you need?

DM Another month of detentions with Snape and Filch, any more?

They didn't answer.

DM That's what I thought now get in you common room and go to bed.

Before going in they took a look at Hermione wiping her face as the tears were rolling down them.

HP Where's the bastard child? Is he dead? I hope so.

DM POTTER! In your common room now, that's another month of detentions.

Hermione started crying.

HG You know Harry, he's your son too.

With that she ran away leaving Harry standing there with his mouth hanging open. Draco grabbed his shirt and pushed him against the wall.

DM You leave them alone, or I'll kill you. If I find out you even talked to her, you'll have me to deal with. If you come near Brady I won't hesitate to curse you. Do you understand?

Harry nodded. Draco shoved him away and turned around to follow Hermione.

DM Get in your common room now before I take more points away from Gryffindor.

Harry and Ron hurried into the Gryffindor common room. Draco once again went in search of Hermione. He checked the common room, then the library, then the hospital wing. He found her there she had her hands in the plastic gloves that were made into the glass container that Braydon was now in. She was stoking his hair, while he was sleeping. Draco came up behind her and put his arms around her. She finally realized she was there and pulled her hands out of the gloves.

HG The first time I seen him or felt him, he was in a container like this. I felt him through the gloves, I seen him through the glass. And now I feel the same, all alone, like he was never born. I hope he gets better Draco. I hope he gets better.

DM If Madame Pomphrey has any say in it he'll be better in a few days. You should go to bed. You need some sleep.

HG I have some homework to do, we can go to the common room though.

DM Alright.

Hermione kissed the glass where Braydon's head was and then turned around. They walked silently to the common room. When they got there Hermione went to her room and grabbed her homework, she then walked to the common room to sit down and do her homework. It was a little after 1:30 in the morning, Draco could be heard in the bathroom taking a shower and Hermione sat there scribbling notes onto a piece of parchment. Draco came out and went to sit by Hermione.

DM You know, you can do that tomorrow. Today's been a long day, you should get some sleep.

HG I have to finish this, so I won't have to do it tomorrow along with the work I'll get tomorrow.

DM Well I'm going to go to bed, don't stay up to late.

Draco got up and went to his room, shutting the door behind him. Hermione was still scribbling down notes and rereading the book. She finally finished with that assignment and then moved on to the next thing. She was still working and it was now nearing 3:30, and she still wasn't done. Draco got up to go the bathroom and found Hermione out there. He dragged Hermione away from her work and to her bedroom.

HG Draco! I've got to finish!

DM yes, but you also need sleep. So go to bed.

Draco left her there and went back to sleep. Hermione contemplated getting up again and doing her homework, but she knew she was exhausted so she fell into a fitful night's sleep.

Hermione was crying and clutching to Draco's arm. In front of her sat a coffin, she walked up to it and inside laid Braydon in a tuxedo made for a little baby boy. Draco was trying so hard not to cry. They watched as they closed the coffin and carried his casket out into a car. Hermione and Draco got into a limo and followed them to the graveyard. Once there they slowly began lowering Braydon's casket into the ground, then started shoveling dirt onto his grave. As the last shovel of dirt hit the ground, Hermione screamed and fell to the ground trying to dig her son out. Draco pulled her off the ground and held her, he was crying now too. She screamed as they put the dirt back on it and walked away. The grave stone said Braydon Matthew Granger July 7, 2004 - September 2, 2004. You are among the angels now.

She woke up and suddenly Draco's in her room. She was crying just like in her dream.

DM What's wrong?

HG In my dream Braydon died, I seen him in his coffin. He died Draco! I have to go see if he's okay.

DM Hermione its 5:30 in the morning at least wait until breakfast.

HG Okay.

Hermione went into the bathroom and showered. She came out in black pants, her white button up shirt and a red blazer.

Her hair was a little longer than shoulder length, with blonde highlights and a side part. She went into the common room and sat down waiting for Draco, so continued her homework while she waited. Draco finally came out dressed in khaki pants, a white button up shirt, and a green blazer with a green and black tie. Hermione gathered her stuff and put them in her bag. Draco also grabbed his bag and they walked out of the Common Room into the halls, they finally got to the Great Hall.

HG You go ahead I'll meet you in a few I'm just going to check on Braydon.

DM Are you sure? I can come too.

HG No I'll be back.

Hermione left and headed to the Hospital Wing. When she got there she found Madame Pomphrey tending to Braydon, Hermione walked over to see what she was doing.

HG Is he going to be okay?

MP I really don't know right now. He's not doing very well, potions aren't going to work well because he's a baby, or I could give him a potion but it might be too strong.

HG But he'll live right?

MP Right now yes. But I can't tell you what may happen because I don't even know that myself.

HG So he could die?