A/N: Hey guys here's another chapter. I'm trying to update faster I reall am! Thanks for sticking with me.
REVIEW WHEN YOU'RE DONE!
Happy Reads!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Chapter 8
Untitled (couldn't think of one lol)
Ginny stared at Hermione still as stone with a shocked gaze.
"He what?" Ginny spluttered with wide eyes.
Hermione nodded her head softly looking away from Ginny.
"He cheated on me." She was suddenly fighting back tears that she hadn't been aware were surfacing.
"C'mon lets sit down." Ginny said quickly leading Hermione to a table and sitting her down in a chair.
Ginny took her seat across from Hermione and fell silent. It was an awkward silence and neither one of them knew exactly how to break it.
"But... you're pregnant too?" Ginny finally asked.
Hermione nodded miserably.
"Have you spoken to him?"
"No."
"Oh Hermione..." she broke off looking at Hermione sadly.
Then she leaned towards Hermione, who was still trying to fight back tears.
"It's all right Hermione. You're with me, you can say anything."
Ginny fell silent again. Hermione's chest began to heave and rack with sobs.
"What can I do for you?" Ginny asked earnestly putting her hand on top of Hermione's and gripping it.
Hermione miraculously contained a wave of a sob and looked up into Ginny's sparkling blue eyes.
"Oh there isn't anything you can do Gin what's done is done... except maybe..." She said thinking.
"Perhaps you could promise to never betray or leave me?" She asked quietly.
"Of course I won't! I mean of course I will! I mean... oh bother you know what I meant."
Hermione laughed feebly.
"Are you going to divorce him?" Ginny asked seriously.
"I know that I should. But he is sincerely sorry about it and I... don't think that I can go on in life living without him." She said miserably.
"It just hurts me so much Ginny... I was betrayed by the one person that I loved more than anything and trusted more than anyone."
Ginny nodded.
"But you will have to tell him about the baby."
Hermione sighed.
"It's just horrible timing." Hermione scratched her chin sighing again.
A tall black haired witch appeare at their table smiling. Hermione wished she was as happy as this waitress appeared to be.
"Can I get you anything?" She asked them kindly.
"Yes two coffees," Ginny answered then looked back to Hermione.
"If you did get a divorce it couldn't go over well. With all the press for Draco and what not."
Hermione had not considered this. But Ginny was very right. A quiet clean divorce from a world renowned Quidditch player would be impossible. And Dante and Ava did not need that kind of publicity at their age.
Divorce would only be suitable if Hermione was given no other choice. The witch returned to their table with two steaming coffee mugs and placed them on the table.
Hermione pulled hers to her and traced the outline of the brim of the cup with her index finger. Ginny watched her every move then reached out to Hermione's hand once again.
"You're very upset about this, I would think you a nutter if you weren't. How are you managing? Is Olga helping... where is he staying?"
Hermione sighed and Ginny quickly shook her head.
"Too many questions I'm sorry. I just want to make sure that you're doing and feeling as best as possible in this situation."
Hermione looked at her gratefully.
"Thanks Ginny and I don't mind answering your questions. I've got to talk and let it all out."
Ginny nodded her head in agreement.
"Start at the beginning," Ginny said.
Hermione recited the entire story to Ginny and when she had finished Ginny was left with a piercing glance.
"What is he? A seventeen year old with raging hormones that he can't control?" Ginny demanded.
"He was drunk like I said." Hermione replied.
Ginny nodded but rolled her eyes.
"I think that he is a down right stupid bloke to do that. Such a stupid way to jeopardize your love and trust for him. You should not let him off of the hook easily if you don't divorce his ass."
Hermione's face tensed.
"I certainly will not let him off easy. But I have to think of the children. They are too young to be disturbed by this and I honestly just don't want them to suspect that anything is amiss."
Ginny nodded.
"Yes, but make sure that you don't hurt yourself by protecting them."
"I'm their mother. It's my duty that they come before myself."
"Hermione," Ginny said leaning in close to her.
"I know that Draco has betrayed you and is quite frankly the scum of the earth for what he did. But you and I both know that you cannot manage three children and another one coming all on your own. Even with the Manor and Olga you couldn't do it. And Draco loves you very much, everyone can tell and knows it. It will be a painful healing process, but you and Draco are strong enough to rise above this and come out all right. It might take a while though."
Hermione was quite stunned. She sounded exactly like Draco had the other night in the drawing room and garden. But every word of it was true. She still loved Draco desperately no matter how damaged she felt and she knew that she could not raise four children, four Malfoy children without Draco.
She nodded peering up to Ginny.
"You are absoluetly right Ginny..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Draco hovered some fifty or sixty feet in the air, his eyes avidly searching the Quidditch stadium for the golden snitch. Quidditch Practice today had drug on well past the usual four hours of practice. They were pushing six hours.
Draco had already caught the snitch eleven times and just wanted to go to his room in the Leaky Cauldron and collapse on the moth eaten bed and sleep.
"Alright team!" Flint suddenly shouted catching all the players attention.
"Huddle up!"
All seven players flew from their positions to Flint in the center of the field.
"Good practice lads, the Cannons don't stand a chance!" Flint said.
The team all exchanged nods and grunts of agreement.
"Practice tomorrow and we play Saturday. See you lot in the morning."
With that the team all flew down to the earth and dismounted their broomsicks. Draco followed the team across the pitch towards the changing rooms to shower.
After he had showered and dressed Flint walked up behind him and clapped a hand on the back of his shoulder. Draco jerked around to face him.
"That was some excellent flying tonight Malfoy." He said staring into Draco's eyes intently.
"Thanks Flint."
"Lets go and have a firewhisky!" Flint suggested eagerly.
Draco shrugged.
"Nah I don't think I should."
"What? Got to get home to the Mrs. and the kids?"
Draco wished that was his reason.
"Well I won't keep you out late, just one at the Leaky Cauldron eh?"
Draco growled gruffly and nodded. He and Flint then disapparated. Then landed firmly on the stone floor of the Leaky Cauldron. There were several people in the pub, but they were all separated leaving plenty of room to move around.
Flint walked up to the bar, Draco right behind him and ordered two firewhiskies from Tom the bartender. Tom nodded and pulled out two dusty glasses and filled them to the brim with whisky.
"Cheers," Flint said handing Draco's glass to him.
Draco nodded a little then swung his head back pouring the drink down his throat. Flint downed his in one long unbeliable chug. Draco was amazed, he hadn't been able to do that since he was seventeen or eighteen.
"How is your family Malfoy?" Flint asked ordering another drink.
Draco's heart sank. He would've told him his delima, but Flint was not the kind of person one would tell personal things to. And it had been at Flint's own house that Draco had cheated on Hermione. So he merely shrugged and nodded.
"We're fine."
"Really?" Flint asked with a glimer in his eyes.
Draco looked at him curiously.
"Yes. And what do you mean by 'really'?" He asked dangerously.
A wide grin spread across Flint's thin lips.
"It just seemed that at my party last week that you and Hermione had some sort of... argument?"
Draco tried to remain calm. Did Flint know?
"No we didn't." Draco insisted downing his whisky and ordering another one quickly.
"Well did you have fun at my party then?" Flint asked his eyes still holding a knowing glint.
"Yes it was great fun Flint." Draco bit out.
Flint continued to watch Draco carefully.
"How come you've never invited me over for supper at your house?" He suddenly asked Draco.
This caught Draco off guard.
"What?" He asked increduously.
"Well I mean I am a single lad and your teammate. It would be appropriate for you and your wife to invite me over one night for dinner."
"I uhh-"
"When would be a good time for you and Hermione?"
"Flint you're being-"
"Tomorrow after Quidditch practice?" Flint said quickly ignoring Draco's splutterings.
"Flint-"
"Right then mate I'll see you at practice tomorrow and go home with you afterwards." He smiled at Draco broadly then disapparted leaving Draco utterly dumbstruck.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hermione had just tucked Dante and Ava to bed when Draco's eagle owl flew into the room with a rolled up piece of parchment tied to one of its legs. Hermione unravelled and read it.
Hermione,
We need to talk as soon as you get this or first thing in the morning. Send me an owl back.
Love,
Draco
Hermione's eyebrows rose. What had happened that made him have to talk to her so urgently. He hasn't found out that I'm pregnant has he? The thought fearfully and her stomache dropped.
Hermione wrote down a reply quickly:
Floo to the drawing room. I'll be there waiting.
Hermione.
Several minutes later Draco emerged from the fireplace and emerald flames. Hermione was standing by the side of the mantel and looked up at Draco questionably.
"What is it?" She asked quickly.
He dusted off his robes and looked down at her.
"Uhh well... like I said it could've waited until morning, but-"
"Just tell me!" She shouted.
Draco looked at her a little taken aback.
"Well I was just having a drink with Flint after practice and he's sort of... invited himself over for dinner here tomorrow evening." He said.
Hermione's looked at him unhappily.
"What?"
"Yes, I tried to say no, but he... wouldn't shut up and I didn't get to say it in the end. So he's planning on coming tomorrow."
"You haven't told him about our... complications have you?" She asked.
He shook his head and she released a sigh of relief.
"Well... ok... I suppose we have no choice, that's fine then."
Draco looked at her horrified.
"Hermione that bloody well is not fine!"
"Well what should I do? Send and owl saying no, I doubt it would stop him."
"Point taken," he said moodily.
"I just think... bad timing." He said slowly.
She nodded in agreement.
"I don't like the idea of pretending we're together in front of others." Hermione admitted.
"But Hermione... we have to... until we are... divorced."
Silence thickened around the room.
"Draco..."
"Yes?"
"I don't think that I want a divorce." She said quietly.
His eyes widened.
"What? Really?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean that you're forgiven or aloud to come back home yet." She said stiffly and quickly.
"Yet?" He asked with a gleeful grin.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Sorry."
"Right, well I suppose that we'll just have to deal with Flint tomorrow. The two of you be here by six o'clock." She said briskly.
He nodded then turned his back on her walking back to the fireplace to floo back to the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione remained in the room standing stiffly after he had gone. Suddenly a sharp pain pinched her insides and she hobbled over to the couch desperately.
She groaned as she felt another searing ache spread throughout her. Her eyes were clenched closed tightly and she gripped the sofa so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Then just as suddenly as the pain had come it vanished.
Hermione released an enormous breath and opened her eyes. Her vision was fuzzy and bright spots lay in her line of vision. She shook her head and stood up from the couch limply.
Perhaps she should see a Healer tomorrow? She climbed the staircase up to her bedroom slowly and fell asleep the instant that her face hit the soft pillow.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next day Hermione was a bit on edge. She had decided to see a Healer and she had Flint and Draco coming over for dinner tonight. Presently she was riding the Muggle subway to London on her way to St. Mungos.
Half a hour later Hermione was sitting patiently in the ward waiting for the plump witch to call her back.
"MALFOY, HERMIONE!" The woman shouted appearing from behind a door.
Hermione rose from her seat and followed the plump witch back to a room. She didn't need to wait long at all, Healer Felix strode into the room almost the at the exact instant that the witch had closed to door.
"Hermione! I remember you! In here yesterday with Weasley!"
Hermione smiled shyly.
"Yes sir."
"Why the devil didn't you tell me that you were pregnant?" He asked with a genuine smile gracing his lips.
"Well I uhh... I only just found out and I only came because I had some serious internal pains this morning." She said.
The smile on Healer Felix's face vanished.
"Oh dear... well you can't be far along then can you?" He asked turning serious.
"About two or three weeks." She said.
He nodded.
"Well let me have a look and have you undergo my examination then?"
Hermione nodded and laid flat on her back. Healer Felix took his wand and ran it up pelvis. He nodded and grunted a few times then looked at her sternly.
"Are you sure that you are even pregnant?" He asked her.
Hermione's eyes widened.
"Well I... I mean I'm pretty sure," she said breathlessly.
"Did you take a test by using your wand?" He asked her.
"No a Muggle pregnancy test."
"Ah," he said.
"Those things prove to be inacurate several times over, let me preform a test with my wand. It is one hundred percent acurate."
Hermione nodded and leaned back onto her back. He used his wand and muttered:
"Incoxigo!"
A variety of pastel colors glowed from within Hermione's womb.
"Well you certainly are," he said.
"But then your exam I am having a difficult time with. You said you had severe pains last night?"
"Yes searing aches... I couldn't stand up."
He raised his eyebrows and bit the inside of his cheek.
"Are you any good at potion brewing Hermione?"
She nodded.
"Farily well."
"I am going to give you a recipe and I want you to brew it each morning and take it every day for two weeks."
"Well what exactly is wrong with me?" She asked slightly frightened.
"Well... unfortunately I believe that you are at a high risk of miscarring."
She paled.
"What?"
"Don't be too worried. It is just more likely for you to then say Ginny. It's not terribly serious, but the potion will just help to insure that you and the baby grow stronger. If you taket he potion for two weeks then you'll have no problems after that. Have you had any other children?"
"Three."
He nodded.
"It is more common with women who have had two or more children."
"Do you remember if Molly Weasley ever have any problems like this when she had all her kids?" Hermione asked.
He nodded.
"Her last two. Ginny and..."
"Ron."
"Right." He said grinning.
"Friendly with him are you?"
"My other best friend." She said smiling.
"Right then after two weeks of taking the potion I want you to come back in and I'll give you a proper examination. And to let you know that while taking the potion you may suffer more aches and pains. Don't be alarmed it's normal and will be at its worst the last week. You should clear your plans for the next two weeks."
"With the potion have that serious of an affect on me?" Hermione asked shocked.
He nodded.
"But in the end it will be worth it, you'll have a healthy child."
She smiled and stood up from the hospital bed.
"Well thank you."
"My pleasure. Now let me get the recipe for you, you ought to go shopping in Diagon Alley soon as you leave here to buy two weeks worth of the ingredients for it."
Hermione nodded and he swept out the door only to return in less than a minute with a piece of parchment.
"Take it easy and floo or owl me if you have any problems."
"Thank you," she said nodding then left the ward.
Hermione boarded the Muggle subway once again and came up to the Leaky Cauldron. She entered the pub and went straight to the back of it where the brick wall magically transfigured to lead her into Diagon Alley.
Hermione stopped at two shops to buy ingredients for her potion, bought three new books in Flourish and Blotts, then paid a visit to Fred and George at their store Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
"Alright Hermione?" Fred or George (she wasn't sure) asked her when she entered the shop.
"Fine, you?" Hermione asnwered grinning.
"Come to buy something for Draco then have you?"
"No I just came in to say hello, but I might as well buy something for Dante."
"What'll it be?" Fred or George asked enthusiastically.
"Just get me the newest thing on the market that a little boy would adore."
"Righto!" He said and disappeared behind a curtain to the back of the store.
He reappeared several minutes later with a small forest green package.
"Here you are Hermione. No it's on me." He said as she went to pay for it.
"Thanks. Which one are you?" She asked embarrassed.
He laughed.
"I'm George."
She smiled.
"Sorry I still can't be too sure. How's Cho?" She asked.
"She's alright, visiting her mum in Italy at the moment, but she'll be back end of this week."
"She go to tell her mum that she got engaged to you?" Hermione asked him smiling.
"Nah, she owled her the evening that I did, her mum's just apparently taken ill and Cho wanted to make sure all was ok."
"Well that was lovely of her." Hermione said.
"Would of gone meself but I had to stay behind to watch after the shop. What you got in the other bags?" He asked eyeing them.
"Oh just some ingrediants for a potion and some books."
"Did I need to ask?" He said smiling shrewdly.
It was true Hermione had not changed much since Hogwarts. She was still an avid bookworm and was always buying any new books that she had never heard of.
"What is this thing?" She asked him holding up the green package.
He grinned at her a cunningly as a fox.
"A lovely toy for your dear son." He answered.
"You fraud." She said.
"I'll just look at it once I get home then shall I?"
"Probably safer there I reckon," he said shrugging.
"Right it was good seeing you. I'll be seeing you later."
"Bye!" George called after her as she walked out the store.
Hermione flooed home from the Leaky Cauldron to find that it was nearly five o'clock. She shrieked. She had only about an hour to make dinner for Flint and Draco.
She ran up to her bedroom, deposited her shopping bags on the bed and rushed back downstairs. Olga was sitting on a couch in the drawing room with Dante and Ava playing on the carpet by her heals as she lulled Adrian to sleep.
"Evening Mizzuz," she said.
"Thank you for watching the children today," she said walking over to pick up Adrian.
"It iz my job... and I enjoy it," she added smiling warmly.
Hermione returned a warm smile.
"Well I'm terribly sorry that I forgot to mention, but Draco and Flint will be here at six o'clock for supper."
"I alweady know. Meester sent me an owl zis morning after yoo left."
Hermione sighed relieved.
"I have beef stu cooking in zee kitchen," she said.
"I'll help you with it," Hermione said.
"I need to talk to you anyway."
Dante and Ava played in hallway outside the kitchen and Hermione transfigured a plate into a crib and settled a fast asleep Adrian in it. Then she went to help Olga finish dinner.
"What iz it you 'anted to tell me?" Olga asked throwing some herbs into the beef stu.
"Well I know that I told you that I only went to run some errands today, well I actually went to go see a Healer at St. Mungos."
Olga raised an eyebrow.
"Iz everyzing alright?" She asked Hermione.
"Well I had a sharp pain last nigh and I was worried, that's why I went, and the Healer informed me that I am at high risk of having a miscarrige."
Olga dropped the spoon into the pot that she had been stirring the beef stu with.
"Whaa?"
"Yes, but the Healer prescribed a potion to me that I have to take for the next two weeks starting tomorrow and then he says that I will be perfectly fine and continue on with a normal pregnancy."
"Oh my." Olg a said.
"Is he sure?" She asked.
"He's a professional," Hermione answered.
"But he says that I'll be in a lot of pain, that it's perfectely normal affect of the potion, but I will be in pain particularly the last week of taking the potion. I hate to ask, but I think that the children might need to go to France to see Narcissa the last week."
"Or go with Draco." Olga said.
"No." Said Hermione.
"They would know that something is going on between us. They would speculate why we're living separately. Besides he's staying at the Leaky Cauldron."
"Ah... well I will make zis potion for you every morning."
"Thank you Olga."
"Just spend as much time with zee childreen as you can thiz first week, they mizz you very much."
Hermione felt a pang of guilt. She had been ignoring the children for almost two weeks, ever since the morning Draco told her that he cheated on her. Olga was right, she needed to spend as much time with them as possible so as not to worry them.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Ok so what do you think?
Review REVIEW! :D
