Disclaimer: I own the plot and a few original characters, but everything else belongs to J.K Rowling.

Chapter Six

Draco arrived at the Three Broomsticks to find Harry waiting for him at a table in the corner. As he passed the bar, he ordered himself a drink, removing his warm cloak. As it was late February, there was still a cold chill outside and Draco welcomed the warm fires alight in the pub.

"Potter," Draco greeted with a slight nod, outstretching his hand.

Harry took the hand and shook it, also giving a nod. Hanging his coat on the wall, Draco took a seat opposite him and thanked the woman who brought him his drink. Taking a long gulp, he stared across at the man opposite.

"So, you're going to be a dad?"

"Thanks for the news flash, Potter."

Unlike when they were young, there was no malice in Draco's voice, merely friendly sarcasm.

"God, I couldn't imagine a worst father."

"I could. You."

The two men chuckled after a few moments, breaking any tension that had been there before.

"Look, I don't know what to do."

"What's there to know? As long as you're around, you're being a good dad. As long as you love this child, look after and provide for this child, you'll be fine."

"How do I do all that when I despise its mother?"

"Well you should probably start by not calling him or her an it."

Draco smirked. Though they hadn't discussed it, Draco was determined not to find out the sex of the baby until it was born. He saw the surprise as something to get him through the next seven months with Granger.

"Look, I don't have kids. But as far as I know, as soon as you have your son or daughter in your arms, nothing else will matter. It won't matter that you and Hermione don't quite see eye to eye, it won't matter that your own father was a horrible man. All that will matter is the baby you're holding."

Draco sighed. He hoped Harry was right. It didn't, however, solve the problem of his necessary involvement with Granger.

"Why don't you two just put your differences aside? You and I did."

"Yeah, well you're not quite as insufferable and stubborn as Granger. Besides," Draco said, looking down at the table, "she killed my mother."

"No she didn't."

"Yes she did. Potter, she told me."

"Well, yes, technically she did. But it was an accident. And besides, it was a war, Malfoy! What did you think would happen?"

"You don't understand."

"I don't understand? My mother was murdered, remember?"

"Yeah and you hated the bloke that did it, so why should this be any different?"

"Everyone hated Voldemort! And like I said, it was an accident. Hermione tried to disarm your mother. They were dueling; one of them was bound to die in the end."

"Well, forgive me but I would have much preferred it to be Granger."

"Look," Harry said, sighing deeply. "I know you two will probably never get along and truth be told, you don't have to. But you're going to have to learn to stand her, at the very least be in the same room as her."

Draco knew he was right, but it didn't make it any easier or enjoyable.

"What else has been going on with you anyway?"

Glad for the change in subject, Draco began to tell Harry about the letter he'd received from Dumbledore that day.

"That's great. I've always thought about it, still do sometimes."

"Why don't you tell Dumbledore that?"

"I dunno, I'm not really ready," Harry replied. "I haven't finished being an Auror yet."

The two continued chatting amicably, mainly about their jobs. As they neared midnight, the two men rose and bade each other goodbye. Harry left by Floo but Draco exited the pub into the cool night air. As he walked along, he could see the enormous castle in the distance.

When Draco finally climbed into bed, all his thoughts were on his meeting the following day.


"Serena."

"Ginny!"

"Harmony. It kind of sounds like your name then!"

"Honestly, Ginny, give it a rest."

Hermione and Ginny were separately preparing their breakfasts in the kitchen the following morning. Since they'd awoken, Ginny had been suggesting baby names to Hermione. Not wanting to think about such things just yet, it was beginning to irritate Hermione immensely.

"Dalia, Connie, Morgan?"

"Ginny!"

"Fine. I was only trying to help," the red head snapped haughtily.

"What makes you so sure it's a girl anyway?" asked Hermione, trying to lighten the mood. "Wait! Ginny! Did you see the sex when you examined me?"

Hermione had decided she didn't want to find out the sex of the baby. She didn't care if Malfoy felt differently; she would make Ginny promise not to tell.

"No, Hermione. It's far too early to tell that sort of thing. Besides, I wouldn't tell you without you giving me permission."

"Well, I don't want to know. And I want you to promise not to tell Malfoy either."

Ginny assured her that she wouldn't and, after saying goodbye to Harry who was still in bed, the two women made their separate ways to work.


"Good Morning, Dennis."

"Good morning, Ms Granger," Dennis replied chirpily. "There's no mail this morning. But here's your coffee."

"Thank you, Dennis."

Hermione entered her office to find it empty. Though Luna had her own office across the hall, she spent most of her time in Hermione's as most of the research material could be found on her bookshelves.

"Dennis is Luna in yet?" called Hermione.

"No, Ms Granger. She Flooed me earlier and said she would be a little late. It seems Emmett was giving her some trouble this morning."

The only person, besides Hagrid, Hermione had ever known to have a Hippogriff as a pet, was Luna. Emmett, her pet, would often escape or destroy some of Luna's property, almost on a weekly basis.

"Dennis, am I particularly busy today? I need some time to go into London to visit my parents."

"You have two meetings this morning, Ms Granger. But you're free until three o'clock this afternoon and then you have a meeting with Minerva McGonagall."

Hermione's former Head of House would visit Hermione about once a month to catch her up on all the goings on of Hogwarts. Though Hermione now considered Minerva a friend, she continued to call her Professor McGonagall, much to her displeasure.

"Alright, leave me two hours free this afternoon."

In her despair and disgust about mothering Draco Malfoy's child, Hermione had completely forgotten to inform her Muggle parents. Retired dentists, the two were only in England for a short time as they were heading to Australia to spend a year travelling in a caravan.

"Ms Granger," interrupted Dennis, knocking on her door. "Your first appointment, a Mr. Lionel Hoggleton is here."

"Send him in, Dennis," replied Hermione, taking an enormous gulp of her coffee.

She was ready to start her day.