Chapter 6: Father Time Had Other Plans
Hermione sat with her head on her desk. She was shaking and a visible wreck. Her assistant, a young brunette with a rather tomboyish appearance, walked in and placed a mug on the desk.
"It'll help you relax, Miss Granger." Hermione looked at the steaming brown liquid in front of her then up to Korea.
"Thanks. I need it." Hermione sat back up and offered a half assed appreciative smile. There was one week left until Draco's birthday. One week left before she would be miserable for the rest of her life. Draco hadn't shown his face around her, other than the passing glance in the hall way, since that day his mother came to visit. She was used to the quiet, undisturbed sound of her papers russling in her office. Neat and orderly, the way she loved her office. She had everything in its place and all the sounds were right. This was a place she could relax and yet work at the same time.
The annoying calls had died down in the few months that had passed. People were beginning to accept the law, Hermione almost hoped they would have rioted. However, no one did. A few attempts were made but no one showed up to them so the few who did were easily arrested for plotting a conspiracy. It wasn't fully legal, arresting them for no reason. They had the right to meet and show their displeasure as long as they remained tactful about what they said and how they went about it. However, Hermione was certain that the government would find a way to twist things to make the poor people look terrible. Hermione almost pitied them, if she wasn't too busy pitying herself.
"Mudblood."
"Attourney Granger." She corrected almost immediately.
"Whatever. Look, I got my letter."
"Congrats. I can only hope you'll marry some other poor girl."
"Granger, why are you so against this?!"
"Why are you so for it?!"
"I'm not! But at least I have enough maturity to not show you how completely disgusted I am at the thought of having to touch you! I at least keep my disgust to myself."
"Well I'm not you! And you willingly touched me that night. You were more than willing to touch me several times, despite my protests. Despite my pleads."
"You know as well as I do that those acts saved your life. It saved both of us." His voice was a hushed whisper at this point, though he was beyond furious and his voice showed it. Hermione only just now realized her office door was left wide open and Korea was watching with a confused look. Hermione shoved Draco back to an appropriate distance and used her wand to close the door and put a silencing charm on her room.
"Don't act like you did me any favors. You may have saved your ass, but I died that night."
"Stop being so melodramatic! You're acting like I ruined your life."
"Don't you see that you did? I lost my virginity to someone that has a mutual hate for me. I got knocked up by said ass, my fiancee at the time got wind of what happened."
"Granger, spare me the details. If you really don't want to marry me, this is your last chance. Introduce me to some of your friends."
Hermione stood to her full height, which wasn't much when you compared her short 5'3'' to his towering 6'1''. She looked to the window as she contemplated.
"I don't want to marry you either mudblood so make your decision fast. And make sure she's pretty."
Hermione gave him a loot that told him he'd get what he got and he'll be damn grateful for it too.
0~0~0~0
"Bye Bye Daddy Malfoy, Mummy Malfoy! It was a lovely dinner. Thank you very much." The bouncy blonde giggled and gave a bubbly wave and her blue eyes sparkled. Draco rolled his eyes as he walked down the path with the girl clinging onto his arm. He knew his parents were very angry with the girl. She was cute by all means, but she was dumber than a box of rocks. She couldn't stimulate his intelligence nearly enough to make him consider passing her tainted blood. And she had called them Mummy and Daddy. He could almost feel the death in their eyes. Of course, this bubbly bitch was way to fucking stupid to sense their displeasure. She hasn't shut up once this whole night. He was beginning to hate her more and more.
The next 5 nights were the same thing with a different girl. He'd bring her home to meet his parents and he'd walk her off sensing death in the goodbyes. Draco returned from walking the last skank of the week home.
"Son, your birthday is tomorrow."
"And?"
"Your paperwork for marriage to Miss Granger has been accepted."
"MOTHER! You filed the paperwork?! WHEN?"
"Two days ago. These girls are not suitable for the Malfoy name."
"No mudblood is."
"Hermione is smart, she's whitty and I quite like her."
"Mother, you can't be serious."
"Oh I am very serious."
"I can't marry Granger. She's a prude, a control freak, anal retentive, pompous, arrogant." Draco continued to tick off points as he talked but his mother had tuned him out. "How can you be so for this marriage?"
"She's a smart, friendly girl."
"Friendly is the last word I'd use to describe her, and only if I were in a really damn good mood."
"You'll do as you're told."Her voice was matter of fact and stone cold. He would not win. "Besides," She hopped up in a bouncy school girl manner,"you're out of time. Excuse me while I run to get bridal magazines and other wedding planning necessities."
Great. Just fucking great. We're stuck. Draco did his best to pull himself in his room before he allowed himself to wallow in his hurt pride and ego. He was going to marry his most loathed enemy and his mother was bouncing around like a school girl.
Draco groaned and rolled onto his back, placing his arm over his eyes. This was not a good thing.
0~0~0~0
Hermione's restless, horrifying dreams were interrupted by the large black owl pecking at her window. It was not the owl Draco used; however, it was letter with the Malfoy seal on it. She sighed. Just as she was about to break the seal, a knock at the door caught her attention. She opened it to see Harry standing there.
"Harry! We weren't supposed to meet until twelve-thirty! Oh gosh I look like a train wreck. She stepped aside to let the smiling wizard into her house. "I feel so awful and just woke up. I must look as bad as I feel." Harry gave a hearty chuckle before nodding and turning around so she could transfigure her clothes to something more appropriate.
They may have been friends for years but there was still something awkward about seeing Hermione bounce around braless in just a loose-fitting t-shirt and panties. When he turned around she was wearing pajama pants and a hooded sweater zipped up halfway.
"I'm so sorry you came out here, Harry. It must be early, did you need something?"
Harry gave a light chuckle once more before he spoke. "Hermione... it's two o'clock in the afternoon. I was worried so I came by."
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I had no idea! OH my! It's been so hectic lately! I feel so awful now. I'm really very sorry, Harry."
"I can understand. What with the Social Living and Community News sections of the prophet. You're all in them, 'Mione."
"What can you mean?"
"I didn't think..." Harry's voice faultered as he tried to think of how to address the topic. "I never thought it would be him." Hermione gave him a puzzeled look. "Malfoy?"
Hermione darted for the papers as her eyes grew wide. They filed the marriage papers. They announced to the entire world that Draco and Hermione were to be married. And dammit! Rita Skeeter, of course, had to misquote the article. She made it sound like the couple were in love.
"Damn."
"When did you and Malfoy have the time to fall for each other."
"Harry, you know good and well that I will NEVER fall for that ass. Not after what happened."
"Can you really blame Malfoy?"
"I can blame whomever I so choose to."
"Well that's all fine and dandy, but can you at least blame them for the right things?"
Things probably would have turned out better between her and Harry if the third wheel didn't show up.
"Mione, I want to apologize."
"No! Get out! You're horrible!"
"I'm sorry."
"No, you would never have done something like that!"
"Hermione! I was 17 and stupid. I was afraid. It was a baby we were talking about. Not only that, but Malfoy's baby. How was I supposed to react? You slept with Malfoy!"
"Ron! You know damn well why that happened!" Harry interjected here. Ron had crossed the line.
No one was happy with how he handled the news of Hermione's condition. But now, he was going too far. It was one thing to ask for forgiveness -- which he will never receive. But then to sit here and try and place the blame on her! How dare he.
Hermione looked at him and without another word, she gave him three swift, powerful falcon punches to his gut. Ron fell to the ground, winded.
"You fucking bitch! I came here to APOLOGIZE and you PUNCH ME?!"
"Take your apology and shove it up your ass, Ronald! You never deserved forgiveness! You never will." Harry was now wrapping his arms around the girl. He was trying to calm her but it was useless. She was furious, shaking with anger. Her eyes were spiteful and narrowed in Ron's direction.
"You're the one who got knocked up by another guy! And now you're marrying him! Some fucking rape! You fall in love with your rapist? I bet it wasn't rape at all!!" Ron spat on Hermione's face and apparated away, leaving her to slump to her knees. Harry wrapped his arms around her, now in a comforting manner.
"Don't let him get to you, Mione. It had to happen. He's an ass."
"Harry! It's not fair! Why do I have to be treated like this?" Hermione had tears streaming down her face.
"I don't know, love. But I'm sure it has to do with you being such a good person. They say the good die young."
0~0~0~0
Flashback
Hermione paced her room quietly, rubbing her large baby bump. She could here the Death eaters plotting at night, their evil cackling loud and annoying. Draco had checked up on her a few times though no words were exchanged except the mere, "do you need anything?" To which, she would always reply, "I need to go home." To which, he would always ignore and sit at the window quietly. She found it odd, his presence made her uncomfortable to no end; but it comforted her in a weird twisted way that not even she could wrap her brain around.
Perhaps it was hormones from her pregnancy. Perhaps it was an emotional bond to the man who took her virginity. Perhaps it was that they shared a common imprisonment. Perhaps she was barking mad. Her madness may even extend to Stockhom Syndrome. Whatever the case was, she was relieved when he came in twice a day, and grew worrisome when he left. Yes, she enjoyed his company; regardless of the fact he didn't speak with her.
He eyed her though. She could see the pity in his eyes. What would they do when they got out of here. Would they go their separate ways? Would he be a part of the baby's life? Or would they all die?
It was only a month before her due date. She had spent nearly her entire pregnancy in captivity. She knew her end was coming. Deep down she could feel the growing of her baby. She could sense the danger it possesed to her. That night when Draco came in, she turned to him.
"What will happen to me? What is Voldemort's plan"
"They will kill you." He wasn't one to sugar coat news. He always believed the best policy was to let someone know fully what they're up against. "The baby is the only thing keeping you alive."
"What about Harry?"
"He's on his way in to rescue you. Weasel too."
"If I don't make it, somehow, can you get my body back to them?"
"I'll do my best." Draco had a finality in his voice. He wasn't going to say anymore.
Ron burst through the wall from the outside. He had Ginny pull a very pregnant Hermione onto a broom and whisk away into the crisp night air, leaving the other members of the Order to fight against Voldemort. Harry did win; but that night, Hermione had wished she would have died in captivity.
Ron and Harry flew back to the burrow with the other Order members. Hermione saw him burst in with the others, victorious cheer spread out amongst them as they all whooped and hollered their joy. Ron's fae was beaming with pride while everyone was patting Harry on the back. It was then Ron got quiet. He had finally taken notice to Hermione's condition.
"How are you pregnant?" He looked taken aback, shocked and a little betrayed.
"Voldemort required me to be with child."
"You mean that sick freak touched you?!"
"Well, he did do some gross things, but he isn't the one who conceived."
Ron's eyes got big. If Voldemort didn't do it himself, that means one of his followers did it. And that, for some reason, disgusted him more. "Who?"
Hermione was silent for a good while before she looked him in the eyes. "Draco Malfoy."
Ron turned away muttering things about infedelity and ferret and child. He turned on her again in a flash. "You will not have Malfoy's child!"
"I will have this child. It is already inside me. She is already growing. She will be here in one month, whether you like it or not." Hermione knew it wasn't logical, but this was her baby. She'd come to terms with it a long time ago. Ron would have to adjust to it to. Everyone else was silent in the room, Hermione had almost forgotten they were there.
"I will not be father to the ferret's kid!"
"No one said you had to be a father to her! I can raise her on my own if that's how you're going to go about it!" Ron reacted then.
One. She was on the floor.
Two. Feet were kicking at her furiously.
Three. Her screams deafened the room.
Four. The kicking stopped.
Five. The pain went on.
Six. She felt a warm, sticky liquid on her legs.
Seven. The screams of the others were coming back to her ears.
Eight. Ginny's face leaning over Hermione. She was mouthing something, but Hermione couldn't hear.
Nine. Everything went black and silent.
Ten. Sounds of beeping came to her ears. The sounds of feet briskly padding the floor. The lights were bright and the smell of healing potions wafted to her nose.
Hermione woke in St. Mungo's. Harry immediately stood at her side.
"How do you feel?"
"Numb. What happened?" Hermione could barely croak the words out through her dried throat.
"Hermione... Ron... the baby..." Ginny didn't know how to say it, she didn't want to say it.
Mrs. Weasley stood up and placed a kiss to Hermione's forehead. "Darling... Ron gave you a punch and several kicks. Are you hurting anywhere."
"Nowhere. What of my baby?" Hermione wasn't fully registering what everyone was saying. Perhaps she wasn't wanting to register what they were saying.
"Herminone..." Harry decided he would tell her, the women in the room couldn't do it. "They couldn't save the baby."
Hermione's eyes grew wide as she sucked in a huge breath of air, letting it out shakily. She remembered doing this three times before everything went black again.
0~0~0~0
Present Day
Hermione went to bed early after rescheduling her day with Harry for next week. Unfortunately, her plans for a happy slumber were disturbed just as she was dozing off.
Knock, knock, knock.
Three swift, curteous knocks at her front door woke her. She silently tiptoed to the door and peeked through her peep hole. She gasped and quickly opened the door an inch to peep her eye through.
"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy?"
"I was wondering if I may come in? I need to discuss some wedding details."
"Uuuhhh... sure. Come on in." Hermione stepped aside to let the older witch into the tiny flat. "Please make yourself comfortable. I need to go change into something more appropriate."
Hermione excused herself as Narcissa settled in on the couch, looking around happily at the light decorations. Hermione came back in about two minutes wearing a pair of blue jeans and a light, mint green tank top. Narcissa smiled warmly at the girl.
"I understand this isn't your ideal wedding, Miss Granger. However, we are wanting to make this into your dream wedding. A lady only gets one wedding, tentatively." Narcissa had a loving smile and Hermione, for just a second, asked herself how such a pleasant woman could spawn the scum of the earth. Hermione gave a sigh. "I know it's not what you wanted. But please note we will do everything in our power to make you comfortable."
"Mrs. Malfoy, I'm just not comfortable with the idea of marrying your son. I've been through a lot."
"I understand. But we want to help. I want to help." Hermione was grateful for the ammendment. She was sure that there was no such desire in Lucious or Draco. Selfish bastards.
"Ehh... o... kay." Hermione was really up for accepting the blonde witch's help, but it was better to have one on her side than none at all.
A/N::
Yaaay chapter 6. Oh I do love Narcissa as a nice lady
Yeah, Ron's an ass. I hate him so he will never be portrayed well in my fics. Just expect it lol. Ginny. I usually portray her to the best of my ability, as Hermione's best friend. But forgive me if that's off. I hate her too. Just not as much as I hate Ron. LOL
So yeah! Enjoy =)
Reviews are loved!! Flames are ignored.