I do not own Harry Potter.

Thank you to my beta, blueskyshymoon08. Without her, my writing would be considered a disaster.


(Draco's POV)

I was acutely aware that I was holding her hand, but I didn't know how that happened. One moment we were walking side by side, and the next thing I knew, there was tension in the air. I could not explain the sudden urge to feel her skin against mine. Her good-humored punch was the perfect reason to touch her, but it had meant to be playful as well. However, my reaction was not in any way, humorous. I'm sure she could hear the way my heart was beating, but that might have been a figment of my imagination.

We were only standing, yet I could hear our breaths, coming out as if we had run miles. Her wide eyes showed surprise and panic, but there was also something hidden behind those eyes, something that made me want to smirk. She tried to remove her hand struggling against my hold, but I couldn't bring myself to break the only contact that I had with her. If I was being truthful to myself, the urge to hold her had been there, long hidden. But it had somehow resurfaced, and I wasn't going to let go. No, there was no way that I was going to let go now.

I was sure my eyes showed exactly how I felt, but I couldn't bother to hide it. I wanted her to see just what she evoked in me, a hunger that sometimes had me up a night. I would now and then pace around in my room, trying to will her out of my train of thought. There was no explanation for it; it had just…happened.

I did not know when, but my mind had come to terms with it. Just thinking about her made me feel…alive. Somehow, she had wormed herself into my brain, and her hold wasn't letting go. Not that she had any clue; she was probably oblivious to how she made me feel. But with the way that she reacted to my hold, I felt a smidgen of hope.

I wanted to bring her body against mine, perhaps close my mouth over hers. I wasn't sure if she felt the same way, but I wanted her to, I needed her to. I stepped closer, tightening my grip on her hand. I heard the gasp that came from her mouth, and I looked deep into her eyes. I opened my mouth to tell her something, anything that came into my head.

"Daddy!"

The moment was broken by Adrian's voice, his small form running towards us. I dropped her hand, watching from the corner of my eye as she brought it close to her chest, a dazed expression on her features. I hid my smirk, turning my body away from hers.

"Dad, can we go inside? I'm hungry." Adrian looked at both of us, and I hoped he didn't notice the tension that was hanging on the air.

"Sure," I said. Out of instinct, I grabbed his small hand. "Are you coming, Granger?"

She looked at us, her dazed gaze turning to something else, something akin to tenderness. "I better go. But, I guess I'll see you around."

She hugged Adrian and then walked hurriedly inside, her hips swinging.


(Hermione's POV)

I sat at the doctor's table, looking at the blank white walls that surrounded me. The only color came from the ceiling, where posters were placed to distract the patient when lying down. There was one of a lioness and her cub; the cub sleeping while the mother laid a paw on either side of his body, as if to protect it. Then there was one of puppies in a basket; a cocker spaniel was yawning, a golden retriever was asleep, and two Dalmatians were looking forward with their tongues out.

The door opening caused me to look down from the ceiling, the kind face of my doctor coming into view. I wiped the smile off of my face when she walked in with a slightly somber expression, her mouth in a thin line. I instinctively sat with a wary expression, my back ramrod straight.

She smiled at me, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "How are you this morning, Miss Granger?"

"I'm fine," I said, my hands clasped together.

She looked down at the floor before grabbing the chart from behind the door. She put the glasses that hung from her neck on her nose, her eyes darting back and forth as she read from the papers in front of her.

"Miss Granger, after the tests that we ran, it seems to be that your body has undergone some internal damage. Were you under some very painful spells as of recently?"

With the way she said the last sentence, it appeared as if she knew the answer, but for some reason, wanted me to confirm her train of thought. I frowned, not understanding her question. But then, it dawned on me. Of course.

I had been trying to repress that memory, had put it in the back of my mind all these years. After being tortured, I had shut down. The pain was not something that I wanted to experience again, anytime soon: the face of Bellatrix Lestrange looming over my body used to bring me nightmares. For months, I would wake up in a cold sweat, my body convulsing as I tried not to vomit. I used to feel it in my bones, the raw power of the curse still clawing its way into my body at night, when I was vulnerable.

I cleared my throat, swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed. "I was, but it was years ago."

"How long ago, may I ask?"

"Six years." I watched as she wrote down some notes.

"Well, Miss Granger, there is no easy way to say this, but after the biopsy that we ran, it appears that your uterus has been damaged."

"What does that mean?"

"For a woman to become pregnant, the lining of the uterus has to be ready in order for the ovaries to release an egg. The egg travels down the fallopian tube where it waits for possible fertilization. If the woman becomes pregnant, the fertilized egg travels to the uterus where it attaches to the lining of the uterus. However, if the egg is not fertilized, you get your menstrual cycle."

I looked at her, urging her to tell me more. I already knew all this, but it seemed as if she wasn't telling me everything.

"Miss Granger, it appears that due to the damage, your organ is not able to form the lining against the walls of the uterus. Even if you did manage to fertilize the egg, the egg will not stick to the walls of your uterus, causing you to continue with your period."

I gasped, putting my hands against my lower stomach. "You mean to say, that I will not be able to get pregnant?"

"There are quite a few cases just like yours, where women cannot conceive. Some have no reason for conception not to work, and doctors can't find a cause. But in your case, we were able to. You have been experiencing some pelvic pain, haven't you?"

"I thought they were just cramps," I said numbly.

"Yes, many mistake them for menstrual cramps." I couldn't take the pity I her eyes.

"Is that all that is wrong with me?"

"Yes, it appears so. Feeling faint or dizzy may occur, as you already know. If your menstrual flow is extremely heavy, don't think twice, and contact me."

I nodded my head, wringing my hands.

"Thank you for your time, Miss Granger. I hope you feel better." She placed her hand on my shoulder and then walked out. I sighed, all of a sudden feeling extremely tired. I looked up at the poster with the lioness and her cub, feeling pain in my chest.

I would never be able to have children. Having a child had never even registered in my mind before, there was no need. Children were the last thing I desired. But now, now I couldn't have any. Even if I wanted to later on in life, that was not something that I could plan. I would never hold my own child in my arms, and that made my stomach turn.

After checking out of the office, I did the only thing that came to mind: find Ginny.


There was knocking, and I knew who it was. It could only be him. It was in his nature to want to comfort.

I slipped out of the covers, careful not to trip over them, as I was prone to. The light from the window hurt my eyes, so I kept them half closed, squinting as I made my way downstairs. With haste, I opened the door, wanting to get this over and done with so I could get back to bed.

Harry's form entered, bringing in the stale chilly air of a late February morning. In a week it would be March, and I was glad. With March came spring: flowers blooming, a soft breeze blowing, the clouds opening up to let in the rays of the sun. I was ready for March, craved it with the greatest urgency.

He looked at me with sadness in his eyes, and I couldn't take it. I knew that Ginny would have told him, but I still wished that she hadn't.

This was supposed to be my pain. I didn't want to share it with others, especially with someone who was waiting for a child of his own in only months. He wouldn't know how I felt. At least Ginny would understand after all, she was a woman. Women had it programmed in their bodies to be nurturers. She would know what I was going through, but Harry, he wouldn't experience the thought of a child until after the baby was born. Sure, he would have an idea, but that was it. Only an idea.

"How are you, Hermione?"

"I'm fine, Harry." I tried to leave the curt tone out, but there still an undercurrent that made me wince. His expression stayed the same: it was as if he didn't seem to mind; there was no sudden frown or slight flinch.

I walked further into the house until I reached the kitchen, knowing that I would need tea to calm my nerves. Harry followed behind me, and I felt as his hand touched my shoulder with the utmost care, as if afraid that he would scare me with his touch. I turned around, pasting a small smile on my face, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"You know you can tell me anything, right, Hermione? Anything at all. I will always be there for you," he said, pulling me into a tight hug.

"You don't have to hold everything inside. There is no shame in letting things out of your system, Hermione." He rubbed my back, just like he used to.

I sighed, bringing my arms around his waist. I hadn't hugged him in months, but I still felt the same warmth, the same comfort that his embraces always provided. I buried my head in his chest, letting my façade crumble. The tears that sprung from my eyes made my cheeks itch and my throat hurt, but he still held me. And for once, I wasn't embarrassed to be held while I let my emotions take over.


A/N: Thank you for reading and thank you to all those who reviewed last chapter.

So, I had to do some research, but I'm sure the information is not as accurate as it could be. The doctor's room came from my own doctor: I have been there a lot for the past month. To say the least, I am currently taking, no joke, ten different pills throughout the day.

However, if you liked the chapter, please review. It will take away from my stomach pain. And, if you didn't like it, please tell me too.

Thanks.