Hermione was walking in and out of every room of her flat when Draco appeared in her living room. Ginny was watching her, a worried expression on her face. Hermione passed the two of them muttering something under her breath about not having enough space for a play room and library.

"Hermione!" Ginny said. "Snap out of it!"

But Hermione could do no such thing. She was convinced that she had entirely too much to do to prepare for Leo, and she was afraid that she would never get it done. Besides, her flat really was too small for her and Leo to live in comfortably. She needed to buy a bed, toys, food, and of course she had to child-proof the house. There was so much to do that Hermione's head began hurting. She stopped walking in and out of rooms and instead began pacing.

"Hermione," Draco said smoothly. "Relax."

Hermione instantly froze. She still wasn't used to him calling by her first name, and it always made her stop. She didn't know what it was, but she instantly felt calm.

"This is crazy," she muttered, shaking her head. "I have a son."

"At least he knows who you are," Draco told her. "You made it seem like I abandoned him." He sat down on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair in a frustrated manner. "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?" he asked her angrily, though he knew she didn't know the answer.

"Would you have stayed if she did?" Ginny asked him. It was the question Hermione had wondered as well. Draco dropped his gaze to the floor.

"I…" he said, "Don't know." He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe."

"What a predicament we got ourselves into," Hermione said, failing miserably to lighten the mood. Draco put his head in his hands.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked. Draco looked up at Ginny who nodded, urging him to answer her truthfully.

"There's something I haven't been telling you," he said. Hermione looked at him fearfully. She wasn't so sure she wanted to hear what he was about to say. She could imagine numerous things he could be keeping from her, and none of them were good.

"Seven months after I left, my father told me he had visited a seer who told him of a prophecy," Draco began. "The prophecy said that within the next year a Muggle-born would give birth to a boy whose father was pure-blood. It said that the boy would become the most powerful wizard the world had ever seen—even more powerful than the Dark Lord. However, he would be born on the side of good and would banish the prejudice against Muggles, Muggle-borns, and half-bloods—including the remaining Death Eaters—from the world. Forever." Draco paused. "It became my father and his followers' mission to find the boy and kill him."

Hermione's eyes widened.

"Leo…?" she questioned breathlessly. Draco didn't reply. Instead, he continued his story.

"They must have killed at least eight boys that fit the description before my father discovered a record of Leo's birth."

Hermione looked fearfully at Ginny.

"I knew I shouldn't have taken you to a Muggle hospital," Ginny whispered. "I just thought no one would think to look for you there."

Hermione shook her head.

"It's not your fault," she told Ginny. "You did what was best at the time."

Hermione turned back to Draco whose eyes had become dark and distant.

"Go on," she urged. Draco leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. He stared straight ahead at the wall and clenched his fist.

"My father came here once, and saw you with the weasel. He assumed the boy was his—as did I when he told me of how…" Draco took a deep breath, "Comfortable the two of you looked." Draco unclenched his fist.

"At that moment, I wanted the boy dead. So much, I almost asked my father to be given the task."

Hermione swallowed hard.

"But I didn't," Draco said. "Then the night came, and he picked up his wand in preparation of his search for your son."

Hermione could picture Lucius's face, determined to kill her son. She shivered at the image.

"I don't know what happened," Draco said. "One moment I was perfectly fine with the boy being dead, and the next, I just kept thinking that he was yours. And I couldn't do that to you—anyone but you," Draco paused and a silence came over the room. Hermione knew there was more, but didn't want to rush him. "I—" Draco said, and then sighed. "Killed him. I killed my own father to protect a boy that wasn't even mine."

"Except he is," Hermione whispered. Draco continued staring straight ahead.

"The remaining Death Eaters have been following me—tracking me—since that day. I think I lost them, but I can't be sure," he said. "I'm sure their top priority is still to kill Leo. Killing me would just be a bonus—something to celebrate."

"Do you think they followed you to Theresa's?" Hermione asked. Draco shook his head.

"No," he told her. "But that doesn't mean that they still won't track me there."

Hermione stood up.

"We have to get Leo," she said. Draco shook his head.

"We can't take them on our own," he said.

"But he's my son!" Hermione protested. Draco stood up beside her.

"He's mine too, dammit!" he told her, clenching his fist. He effortlessly towered over her. "Don't you think I want to protect him?" Hermione dropped her gaze. "But I lived with these men for over a year, and if we face them, we'll all die—including Leo."

Hermione bit her lip, knowing that Draco would not like what she was planning to say next.

"Then we'll ask Harry and Ron for their help," she whispered. As suspected, Draco looked disgusted.

"I do not want Potter or the weasel's help," he snapped.

"No," Hermione agreed. "But I do." Draco looked absolutely livid. "They're the best Aurors at the ministry," Hermione explained. "We need them."

Draco scoffed.

"We all know how much you need the weasel," he muttered darkly. Hermione contemplated smacking him, but opted for the ignore tactic instead.

"I'm going to Ron's," she said, turning to Ginny. "Go get Harry and meet us there," Ginny nodded and disapparated with a sharp crack.

"Us?" Draco asked, scoffing. "You're mad."

"They can help," Hermione said, trying to reason with him.

"And what makes you think they want to help protect the son of a Death Eater?" Draco asked, raising the left sleeve of his shirt to reveal a faded Dark Mark. Hermione stared at it. Normally, the sight would bring her fear, but she only felt pity. She reached over and pulled his sleeve back down.

"Because he's my son too," Hermione explained softly. "And they are my best friend and boyfriend." Draco cringed slightly at the word she used to describe Ron.

"You have a lot of faith in them," he told her darkly. Hermione nodded as her eyes pleaded with him to trust her.

"Fine," Draco said shortly, grabbing Hermione's wrist. "Let's go."

Hermione bit her lip, raised her wand, and then the two of them disappeared from Hermione's flat. What would happen next was unclear to her. She just hoped Ron and Harry would understand.

the next chapter should be interesting...

review :)