A/N: Blimey! I'm blown away by all your amazing reviews! I love all your thoughts and suspicions, and I hope that I will bring some of those to light in the coming chapters.

So I am really excited about this chapter! Honestly, I think it may be my favorite one thus far! I would have continued writing but I thought it'd be a perfect place to stop, even though it will leave you wanting more! I hope I didn't disappoint with this chapter! Enjoy my lovely readers!

Edited: 1/20/15

Chapter 9

Hermione woke the next day feeling refreshed even though she had a minor headache. She thought it wasn't hurting her too bad so she wouldn't take the pain relief potion just yet. She turned her head and saw her daughter sleeping peacefully beside her. She looked so content while she slept; she even slept with a slight smile on her face. With the way the sunlight coming in through the window was hitting her wavy, platinum blonde hair, she looked like an angel. She couldn't help but remember that he looked so content and peaceful while he slept also.

Hermione snapped her head up. Why was she suddenly thinking of him? Regardless of how he suddenly appeared in her life, and how he has taken good care of her and Adalyn, she did not need to go back to that night.

"Mum," Adalyn mumbled followed by a yawn.

"Yes sweetie?"

"When do we get to go home?"

Hermione almost felt her heart break. "Sweetie, we can't go home. At least not yet," she said as she ran her hand softly through Adalyn's hair. Merlin, her hair even felt like his! She shook her head again. What a thought!

"Why not? Because he might be there?" Adalyn asked.

Now her heart did break. What she must think of her father. "Adalyn, sit up here sweetheart." Adalyn crawled over to sit on her mum's lap. Hermione looked her in the eye. "Do you remember what I told you the other day? About protecting you from harm?" Adalyn sat there with her face scrunched as if she were trying to remember. When she finally nodded, Hermione continued. "Well, I meant it, you know that. I made you a promise. Staying here for a while will help me keep that promise. Do you understand?"

Adalyn sat there thinking about it. "I think so mum. But, will we get to see daddy?"

Hermione didn't know how she was to tell her child that he was the reason they couldn't go back. Was she so traumatized that she thought her daddy and the man who hurt them were two different people? Perhaps, and she had no idea how to help her realize they were one in the same. Perhaps she should tell Draco and Harry, and they could help her tell Adalyn. No, Adalyn was her child, and she was her responsibility. "We can't see him right now sweetie, alright?"

Adalyn simply nodded.

"Why don't you go get showered and dressed. I'll do the same, and then we can go explore, hm?"

Adalyn perked up at the idea and skipped off to her room to get ready, humming the lullaby Hermione had sung to her since her birth.

Hermione sighed and entered the bathroom. Was she doing the right thing for Adalyn? She knew she loved her daddy, but was keeping her from him the wisest choice? Yes. He had hit her for the first time, and Hermione had an idea of how much he lost his temper. What if she wasn't around to stop him next time? No, she was doing the right thing. So why couldn't she tell Draco and Harry that it was Toby who had abused them? Because you still have hope that Toby won't do it again, to either of you.

She sighed again before looking in the mirror. She gasped at what she saw. The right side of her jaw was bruised, as well as her head. She gently touched the bruise on her head and winced at the sharp pain. She felt tears threaten to spill when she heard a knocking on her door.

"Hermione? Are you alright?" Came Draco's concerned, but muffled voice.

"Y-yes I'm fine. I'm just going to freshen up for the day," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"If you need anything, let me know." After a moment of silence she heard his fading footsteps.

He cares so much for me, but why? She scoffed to herself. If he really cared for her, why had he left her in the first place? She would have been with him for the last eight years instead of Toby. But then she wouldn't have had Adalyn. She shook away her thoughts before climbing in the shower, ignoring her reflection in the mirror, and brushing away all thoughts of a life with the man she truly loved.

oOo~oOo~oOo

"What do you mean you couldn't find him?" Draco said furiously to Harry.

"As soon as I left Pansy, I went to his department thinking he'd be working. He wasn't there but his secretary told me he had called in sick. So I went to his house. He wasn't there either, but the entire place was trashed as if someone had been looking for something. I even went to downtown London where he said he had gotten into a fight in a bar. I searched every single bar there but no one had ever seen him." Harry plopped down into a chair and ran his hands through his hair. "I have absolutely no idea where he could be right now."

Draco growled and banged his fist against his desk. What were they supposed to do now? They had no idea where Toby was, and until he was arrested, Hermione and Adalyn would have to stay here. Not that Draco minded, but he felt like Hermione wouldn't like it at all. "At least Hermione and Adalyn are safe here. The manor is heavily warded I don't think even Hermione Granger would be able to break through them," he said, sitting down at his desk.

"Yeah, that's one of the reasons I suggested they stay here," Harry said casually, with his head lying back.

Draco raised an eyebrow at him, even though he couldn't see it. "What do you mean, 'one of the reasons.'?"

Harry grinned and lifted his head to look at Draco. "Don't play coy with me, you know exactly why."

"Potter, I really don't need your matchmaking on top of everything else going on," Draco said, rubbing his forehead. After this entire ordeal was over, he planned to take an extended vacation to his beach house in Greece.

"Draco, this is the perfect opportunity for you to smooth things over with her and get her back."

"There's one problem with that; she doesn't want to get back with me. She loves her bloody husband so much she won't even tell us it was him who beat her and Adalyn."

"There might be another reason for her not telling us," Harry suggested.

Draco looked at him as if he had sprouted wings and a tail. "What the bloody hell are you talking about? What other reason would there be for her to keep quiet?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe Hermione thinks that by telling us, she's admitting she's weak or weak minded. Maybe it's because she thinks he's Adalyn's father and she needs a father." He looked slyly at Draco as he said this.

"Sweet Merlin, will you get off that notion?" Draco said exasperatedly.

"How can you deny it? She has your eyes, she has your hair aside from it being wavy, her skin tone is the same as yours, and I'm sure if you ever smiled, she'd have your smile as well. Why do you choose not to see that there is a very, very high chance she's your daughter?"

"Because it would kill me!" He shouted, rounding on Harry. "Because I barely survived when Hermione left me and chose that bastard over me! It'd tear me up if she was my daughter, and she had been calling someone else daddy for eight years! It'd kill me knowing she's my daughter, and Hermione takes her away from me!" He was breathing heavily and was trying to ignore the wetness in his eyes. He looked away from Harry, not wanting to see his pity for him. "I love that little girl, but she couldn't see me as her father. The poor girl is confused enough as it is. I just-I just wish-"He said softly. Merlin what was he to do? Even if he was her father, Hermione had made her choice. She didn't want to be with him. Why would she want him to see Adalyn?

"Draco, I'm sorry. I know you're having a tough time. But if she is your daughter, you have a right to her. I've seen how good you are with her, and I can tell how attached she is to you already." Draco didn't say anything. Harry sighed. "Why don't you have Pansy do a DNA test? Then you-"

"No," Draco said firmly. "Like I said, she's been through enough."

Harry sighed again and clapped Draco on the shoulder. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"So do I Harry. So do I."

oOo~oOo~oOo

"Adalyn Rose, stop your squirming!" Hermione said strictly. She was currently sitting behind Adalyn on her bed trying to fix her hair for dinner. Hermione had to thank God that Adalyn did not get her mother's wild, unmanageable hair.

"But mum! I want to meet Mr. Draco's mum!" she complained.

"Well you won't if you don't sit still so I can finish brushing your hair out," she said while running the brush through Adalyn's hair. Hermione couldn't help but think of how her hair compared to Draco's. She shook her head. She really needed to stop comparing Adalyn to Draco.

After a few moments of silence, and after Adalyn had calmed down, she asked, "Mum, will Mr. Draco's mum like me?"

Hermione was taken aback by the question. "I see no reason why she wouldn't like you sweetheart. Everyone loves you, and she will be no different," she replied, tapping her on the nose.

"But daddy doesn't love me," she said quietly. Hermione looked at her and saw she was close to tears. What on earth could she say to her? She was sure Toby loved her. She was his daughter!

"Sweetheart, listen to me. Daddy loves you in his own way. You're his little girl, and even though he hasn't shown you that he loves you, don't mean that he doesn't. Do you understand?"

"I think so."

She still looked sad and she had good reason to be sad. "Come on, let's go meet Mr. Draco's mum!" Hermione said grabbing Adalyn's hand.

Adalyn giggled and jumped off the bed, when a knock came from the door.

Hermione walked to the door with Adalyn trailing behind her. When she opened the door, she saw Draco standing there. "Hello Draco," Hermione said sweetly.

"Good evening ladies," he said giving a small bow, causing Adalyn to giggle behind her hands. He winked at her and said, "Shall I escort you to dinner?" He held out his hand to Hermione.

"Please," she replied placing her hand in his.

"Me too Mr. Draco!" Adalyn exclaimed.

"Why of course! How could I ever forget someone as precious as you?" He said before extending his other hand to her. She gave him a bright smile and grabbed his hand. "You ladies look lovely this evening," he said as he led them down the stairs.

"Thank you. I wasn't sure how formal dinner was here," Hermione said looking down at her simple but elegant baby blue dress robes.

"You look absolutely perfect," he replied earnestly. He couldn't help but think back to that night. She had also been wearing a bright blue dress, and he had been absolutely captivated by her.

"My dress is pretty, too?" Adalyn asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

He looked down at her and saw her holding her purple dress out with her free hand. "It's very pretty, and it looks prettier on you," he said, causing her to smile even bigger.

They entered the dining room and saw that Narcissa was already seated. "Welcome Mrs. Lennox, and Miss Adalyn!" She said politely, while standing up and walking towards them.

Hermione knew she felt no ill will towards the beautiful woman, but she still felt inferior to her. Aside from the smile on her face and her dress robes, she looked exactly as she had the last time she had seen her; when she was almost tortured to death. Hermione shivered a bit.

Narcissa noticed and gave her a warm smile. "Mrs. Lennox, I hope you bear me no ill will, and I deeply apologize for what happened to you. You never deserved what happened to you."

"Please, call me Hermione," she replied. "And Mrs. Malfoy I don't blame you at all, just like I don't blame Draco. I would also like to thank you, for allowing my daughter and me to stay here."

Narcissa smiled at her. "Please Hermione, call me Narcissa. You and your daughter are most welcome here."

"Are you Mr. Draco's mum?" Adalyn piped in.

"Adalyn Rose, mind your manners," Hermione said sternly.

"Why yes I am," Narcissa said. "And you are Adalyn? My, you're just as pretty as your mum!"

Adalyn grinned. "My mum is very pretty! Like you!" She said pointing at her.

"Adalyn Rose, it's not polite to point," Hermione admonished her again. Merlin, what happened to her good manners? Hermione had raised her right, and it had been years since she'd seen Adalyn point at anyone.

"Sorry mum," she said, looking down.

"Well, I don't know about you all, but I am hungry," Draco said, trying to get everyone to sit. He had actually been dreading this dinner. What if his mother noticed the similarities between him and Adalyn? Then she would be on the band wagon as Potter was, and he really didn't want her asking him all kinds of questions. For as far as he knew, she had no idea what transpired between him and Hermione eight years ago, or that he had been harboring feelings for her.

After sitting at the table, Narcissa called for Tillie.

"Mistress ready for dinner?" Tillie asked.

"Yes Tillie. Thank you," she said politely.

Draco looked at Hermione and saw her confusion and distaste. "Tillie has been with my family since I was born," he informed her, turning her attention to him. "After the war, we tried to set her free, but she went ballistic, so she stayed. We treat her fairly, give her clothes to wear, and time off when she needs or wants it. She just won't allow us to pay her."

"Oh. Well she seems lovely, and Adalyn is taken with her," Hermione said.

"I really like Tillie! She's my friend!" Adalyn said excitedly.

Tillie appeared with a crack, placing their dinner plates in front of them. Hermione thought she had never seen so much delicious food in one setting, except perhaps at Hogwarts. There was roast beef in a sauce, potatoes, fresh corn, watermelon, and a side of salad.

"Will there be anything else, Master?" Tillie asked Draco.

"Could-"

"Tillie, bring me some pumpkin juice please," Adalyn said.

Tillie disappeared and reappeared with a crack. Narcissa dropped her fork on her plate, Draco sat there with his eyes and mouth open wide in shock, and Hermione was stopped from disciplining Adalyn for being so rude by Narcissa's fork dropping. Tillie handed Adalyn her juice, but she looked frightened. "M-master, I-I don't…" She started to shake and pull at her ears.

"Tillie, it's alright. Go back to the kitchen until you calm down. I'll-I'll explain later," Draco said, still watching Adalyn with wide eyes.

Tillie disappeared and there was complete silence, except for Adalyn sipping her pumpkin juice.

"Oh my-" Narcissa said slowly.

"Sweet Merlin, it's true," Draco said under his breath. Potter was right. Adalyn was his daughter!