Chapter 6: Before Detention

Hermione awoke late one night a few days later to the cries of Sofia. Dragging herself out of bed Hermione made her way to the nursery. In the common room she glanced at Dylan's bedroom door and felt a pang at her heart. Dylan was still in the Hospital Wing and they were considering sending him to 's for physical therapy on his legs. Hermione did not want him to go because she wouldn't see him at all anymore.

In the nursery Hermione picked up Sofia and held her, cooing softly to cease her crying. Hermione sat down in the rocking chair. She looked up when she heard the door open and in walked Malfoy in a white t-shirt and silky green boxers. He walked over and stood next them, leaning on the chair. Since Malfoy had apologized that one night he and Hermione had been getting along fine. Sofia had quieted down and was staring up at them with big, sleepy eyes. She made a huge, very cute yawn making Hermione smile and Malfoy made a little laugh.

When Sofia was almost asleep Hermione stood up and carefully placed her back into the crib. Malfoy had followed them and was standing next to Hermione. Hermione could feel his breath on her ear and it tickled. She giggled a little.

"What"Malfoy asked, confused as to why she was laughing.

"Nothing"Hermione told him and headed towards the door. She stopped at the door and turned around almost colliding with Malfoy. She took no notice.

"Do you think she'll be alright?"Hermione asked, receiving an odd look from Malfoy "Alone in here I mean"she added noticing his confused look.

Malfoy turned to look at her, too. After a moment he said "Yeah I reckon she'll be okay"

Hermione nodded and they went back into their bedroom. Hermione climbed into her bed, while Malfoy into his. Hermione tossed and turned in her bed for a while. In the past couple days she had learned a lot about Malfoy. Surprisingly they had a lot in common. They both loved to read and got good grades in class. She was startled to learn that he was right behind her in everything except Potions. She thought about how nice Malfoy had been lately and wondered if it he really meant anything. Finally deciding she would never be able to sleep she got out of the bed and was going to the common room.

"Where you going"Malfoy sat up when she was at the door.
"I'm just going to go sit in the common room for while"she told him. He nodded and laid back down again.

Hermione walked out into the common room and sat on a couch in front of the slowly diminishing fire, hoping that sleep would come to her. A small tear escaped her eyes. She was scared. Scared for Dylan who may never walk again. Scared that Harry might not make it out of the Final Battle alive. She was scared the Light Side would lose the battle and that her life could be taken away from her. Hermione let the tear roll slowly down her cheek. She wasn't going to brush it away but somebody else did. Looking up Malfoy was sitting down next to her on the couch.

~*~*~

Draco couldn't sleep and kept tossing and turning. A letter he received from his father claimed his thoughts. It had been telling him that he was to become a Death Eater soon, very soon. Draco didn't want to become a Death Eater. He was his own person and would never be able to follow Voldemort without hating himself. He heard Hermione tossing and turning in her own bed. He wanted to go over and hold her and ask what was wrong. He had already acknowledged and accepted that he thought she was a very exceptional woman, but that didn't mean he liked that.

Soft padding came from somewhere and the room and he sat up to see Hermione at the door.

"Where you going"he asked her.

"I'm just going to go sit in the common room for while"she told him. He nodded and laid back down again.

He too couldn't sleep and decided to go join her out in the common room. Standing at the door he watched her for a moment, transfixed by her beauty. To his surprise he saw a tear roll slowly down her cheek. Not being able to stop himself he crossed the room over to her and brushed it away. He sat down and watched her look startled and amazed at him. He smiled softly. She smiled back and pulled her legs up to her chest. He watched her carefully.

"You couldn't sleep either"she whispered.

"No"he shook his head "Too much on my mind"

"Oh"she said "Me too"she but her lower lip as if she were trying to stop her.

"You okay"he asked.

Hermione nodded her head but burst into tears anyway. Draco pulled her into a tender hug and held her there, soothingly.

"What if Dylan doesn't get better?"she asked after she had calmed down.

"He will,"Draco assured "I know he will"

"But he might not,"she retorted still crying softly "There is 60% chance he won't"Hermione's tears came again.

Draco didn't answer. He felt bad about what happened, he really did. He pulled Hermione close and they sat there for a while silently comforting each other.

"What are we going to do after school?"Hermione spoke up.

"What do you mean by we"Draco smirked down at her, and saw her cheeks turn a bit pink.

"I mean with Dylan and Sofia,"she told him "On the train McGonagall said we had the choice to adopt them right away, without competition with other families. Or they would just be put up for adoption"

"Oh,"Draco thought about to for a moment and still wasn't sure which one he liked "I don't know if I'll be ready to raise a kid when I first get out of school"

"Oh, well I was thinking of adopting them"Hermione sounded a bit disappointed at his answer.

~*~*~

Hermione wasn't sure why she was saying anything about the topic. It had just sort of came to her mind and she had blurted it out before she had been able to stop herself. Did she really want to raise Dylan and Sofia with Malfoy after school? Wouldn't that mean they were sort of married? No of course you don't want to she told herself. You were just curious.

Hermione yawned "I'm ready to go to bed"she looked up at Malfoy to see he had already fallen asleep with his arms firmly around her waist. Not wanting to disturb him Hermione laid back down, leaning on Malfoy's chest to fall asleep.

~*~*~

Draco awoke to the sound of a small scream. He sat bolt right with much difficulty. Looking around to see what had prevented him from sitting up so fast, he saw Hermione laying with him, leaning on his chest. Standing in front of them was Ginny Weasley who had a shocked, yet amused expression on her face. Hermione stirred and looked up at him and Ginny. With a small yelp she jumped out of Draco's lap and was standing next to Ginny.

"Ginny, I swear this isn't what you think"she panicked a bit.

Ginny however burst into laughter and fell down on the couch where Draco's legs had been a moment before. She was laughing so hard tears were beginning to stream down her face.

"You and you"she pointed at both of them in turn. Hermione and Draco exchanged bewildered glances "It's too, too funny"she straightened up a bit the smile gone but laughter was still evident in her bright brown eyes.
"Ginny..."Hermione said a little unsurely.

"Oh, don't' worry I won't tell anybody"she was obviously holding in her laugher "Your just lucky it was me who found you and not Harry or Ron"

Hermione smiled, relieved and plopped down between them on the couch. Draco became unconsciously aware that he was wearing nothing but his silky green boxers.

"Ginny"a voice called from outside of the portrait "Are you okay, we heard you scream"Hermione recognized the voice as Ron's.

Ginny paled and didn't answer "Ginny "It was more urgent this time "That's it we're coming in"

"Draco, hurry up get in the bedroom"Hermione hissed noticing he was in nothing but boxers.

Draco jumped off the couch and darted into the bedroom.

~*~*~

"Hermione, Ginny, where are you guys?"Ron roared as he entered the portrait with Harry.

"Hey guys"they said turning around on the couch.

"Ginny, did you tell her yet?"Harry asked, not sitting down.

"Tell me what?"Hermione asked sharply.

"Dylan has more feeling in his legs "Ron exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

Hermione jumped up gleefully. She was so happy that Dylan had more of a chance of walking now.

"Don't forget, we have to bring Malfoy"Ginny pointed out.

"Don't remind me"Ron growled, as Harry scowled.

"I'll go get him"Hermione offered getting off the couch and walked into her room.

Malfoy now had on pants and was searching through his drawers for a shirt. Grabbing one he pulled it over his head. Hermione watched him for a moment with a huge smile on her face.

"What's up with you?"he took note of Hermione's satisfied and gratified look.

"Dylan has feeling in his legs"she was practically bursting with jubilance.

Malfoy cracked a wide smile "Well let's go see him"

"Yes, I know"she told him walking to the door "That is why Harry, Ron, and Ginny are here"Hermione uttered uneasily.

Malfoy scowled "Oh, well I'm going anyway, Dylan is my responsibility, too"he made his way into the common room.

Hermione stood back for a bit admiring his maturity and his previous statement. She scurried after him into the common room.

~*~*~

Draco exchanged glares with Potter and Weasely when he strutted into the common room.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy"Weasley snarled.

"I live here, Weasley"Draco sneered "If you don't like it, tough"

Weasley never answered but glared, leaning against the fire. Potter and Ginny were sitting together on the couch. A bit too closely for just friends. Draco plopped down on an armchair and watched Hermione look nervously between them all.

"Well, um, shall we go then"Ginny too seemed a bit nervous.

"Yes let's"Hermione said "I just have to get Sofia"

Draco got off of his armchair and strode over to the portrait to wait for her.

Hermione and Ginny both followed right away but Potter and Weasley hung back a little, unmistakably wanting to hang back a bit from Draco. Draco strutted all the way to the Hospital Wing where he entered to see Dylan laying on the bed, a cheerful look plastered on his face. Draco sat down in a chair next to him and Hermione swooped down and gave him a soft kiss on his forehead. Ginny sat on the other side of him and gave him a small hug. Potter and Weasley sat on the end of the bed.

"How are you sweetie?"Hermione asked Dylan.

"Good mummy"he told her.

"Did you have a good sleep?"Draco asked beaming ever so slightly.

Dylan nodded "Daddy pass me the 'duice"

Draco handed him his sippy cup that was on the bedside table. He also saw Potter and Weasley wince when Dylan called him daddy. After a while everybody began to do their own thing. Ginny was playing with Dylan, Potter and Weasley were playing with Sofia and Hermione was watching them along. Draco too was watching what everybody was doing. All of a sudden Sofia was crying her eyes out. Hermione quickly jumped off the bed and took her from Potter and Weasley. Unfortunately, the baby didn't quiet down. Hermione shot Draco a desperate glance and Draco stood up taking Sofia from her. The baby's crying ceased and the tears stopped. She was completely content in her 'dad's' arms.

Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered "Daddy's girl"Potter and Weasley were glaring at him stonily.

Weasley looked at the clock and got an alarmed look on his face "Er, we have to go"

"Go where?"Ginny asked.

"We're, uh, meeting some people"Potter gave Draco an apprehensive look.

"Oh okay"Ginny seemed to understand what they were saying.

"Have a good time"Hermione added.

Potter and Weasley nodded before exiting the room hastily. Hermione was sitting on the bed again with Dylan and Ginny was still playing with him. They all sat there for an hour or so before Ginny said she had to go meet somebody. Draco moved over to the other side of Dylan who had curled back up next to Hermione. Dylan was telling some story about the living in the Hospital Wing to Hermione until Madame Promfrey bustled into the ward and ushered then out.

In the common room Hermione took over Sofia and went to get some toys. Setting out a blanket with lots of toys on the floor Hermione sat her down before sitting herself down on the couch next to Draco. Taking a book she curled up on the couch reading. Draco sat and watched her before noticing that lunch was starting a few minutes.

"Hey, Hermione, wanna go down to lunch today"Draco stood up stretching.

Hermione looked up at him and said "yeah okay"They had been avoiding going to the Great Hall for meals as they were always being bombarded by people with questions.

Hermione got up and helped Draco who had begun cleaning up the baby's toys. After they had put all the toys away, Hermione, Draco and Sofia hurried to lunch so they wouldn't be late.

"Here you watch the baby for lunch today"Hermione handed Draco the baby "See you later"

Draco walked over to the Slytherin table, eyes followed him as he walked. Slipping into a seat next Blaise, who looked grateful at his appearance.

"So the Great Draco Malfoy, has decided to come down for a meal"Blaise taunted.

Draco smirked "Shut up Blaise"

The rest of lunch was uneventful until a disturbance echoed the hall from the Gryffindor table.

"That's not true, Ronald Weasley and you know it"Hermione was standing up, yelling at Weasley.

~*~*~

Hermione was elated to see Harry, Ron, and Ginny all sitting at the Gryffindor table. Ron and Harry still seemed to be in a bad mood from spending that little bit of time with Malfoy.

Hermione sat down next to Ginny and across from Ron "Hey guys"

"Hey Hermione"they greeted.

"He acted like, she was all his, and nobody else could have anything to do with her"Ron and Harry returned to their conversation.

"What are they talking about?"Hermione whispered to Ginny.

Ginny looked up from her food "Malfoy"she whispered back.

"Oh"Hermione responded.

"Honestly he doesn't own her of Dylan,"Ron was ranting "He is such a stuck-u[, good for nothing, jack..."Ron was interrupted.

"Don't you think you are being a little harsh?"Hermione frowned.

"No and why are you sticking up for him"Ron retorted angrily.

"I am not sticking up for him, I just think you guys are a little over-zealous over nothing,"Hermione rolled her eyes "Besides Sofia is half his responsibility, too"

"Oh yes and I suppose that so changes everything"Ron snarled sarcastically.

"It only changes the fact that he has every right to spend time with both Sofia and Dylan"Hermione glared.

"Oh yeah and I'm sure he is just the best father ever,"Ron growled dangerously "What did he tell you all his fatherly secrets one while you got all cozy in bed?"

Something inside Hermione snapped "That's not true Ronald Weasley, and you know it"she screamed standing up. The whole Great Hall had gone quiet and was looking at him.

"Your just jealous for no real reason"Hermione yelled not letting him get a word in. Before anybody could stop her she was out of the Great Hall with Ginny at her heels.

Hermione stormed down the hall to her common room. Her and Ginny both went into her room and sat down on her bed. Hermione was positively fuming.

"I can't believe him,"Hermione shrieked "how dare he say something like that"

Ginny too was quite angry "But your right you know he is only jealous of Malfoy because Malfoy gets to spend time with you and he's Head Boy"

"Yes in know,"Hermione sighed, then remembering something she asked Ginny "Can you baby-sit tonight?"

"Yeah sure but why?"

"I have detention with Malfoy in the Forbidden Forest with Malfoy"Hermione groaned flopping down on the bed.

"Yeah sure,"Ginny grinned "Don't worry I'm positive, Draco will take very good care of you"Hermione grabbed a pillow and hit Ginny with it.

"That's not funny"Hermione was grinning though "I'm gonna take a nap though, so I can stay awake in the Forbidden Forest tonight"

"Yeah okay"Ginny got off the bed "You don't mind if I sleep in Dylan's room, do you? I don't really want to go back near Harry and Ron"

Hermione laughed a little at the thought of Ginny sleeping in Dylan's bed "Yeah sure go ahead"

Ginny left the room and Hermione slowly drifted off to sleep thinking about what would happen that night in the Forbidden Forest.