A/N: Don't own. Tried my best to revise my story, but hey, I admit that I'm not really that good. I'm just glad that you guys continued on reading. You know I love it when you guys review so keep those reviews coming. Hope you can stick with me till the end.
Really thankful that I found a really great Beta in the name of Zoey aka. Hater-of-Heartless-Critics..
Since I'm really happy with the end result of a good editing, I'll post this as early as now
Please ENJOY and don't forget to REVIEW.
-Paw
Chapter IX: The Marriage Problem
"Today class, we are going to brew a very difficult potion therefore I want you all to pay very close attention to the following procedures."
Draco had his first period of the day with Gryffindor and Slytherin second years.
He didn't feel like playing around and being his usual fun self today, all he really wanted was to get this lesson over with. All of the students looked at each other; he thought they were all going to protest and he couldn't really afford that now, then a Gryffindor raised her right hand.
"Yes, Miss Marsters… what is it?" He rubbed his temple, frustrated.
Christiana Louis Marsters, "Chloe" for short was a short, blonde, half-blood Gryffindor and the bravest of her class.
"Professor Malfoy, I… umm." she bit her lip.
"We don't have much time Miss Marsters; just tell me what's bothering you." Draco said with a sigh.
Chloe looked at her twin and whispered, 'should I?' Her brother nodded and she looked back at her curious teacher.
"We think you should take a break Professor… because you look so worn out." She added shyly.
Draco looked at her bemused; and started to say something, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Please come in." Draco said and all of the students immediately turned their gaze from the professor to the door.
The door slowly opened revealing another Professor.
"Good morning class." She smiled but then her gaze paused on the potion's master, "I was wondering if I could have a word with you, Professor Malfoy?"
She was so calm; she acted like the situation that happened last night had no affect on her whatsoever. Draco nodded and followed her out.
"Please excuse us." Hermione said closing the door behind her.
"What is it?" Draco inquired.
"There'll be a meeting after dinner at the teacher's conference room, Professor McGonagall asked me to inform you." She was avoiding looking directly at him. Draco nodded again, a bit disappointed.
"I'll be on my way, sorry for bothering you." She said quietly.
She started to walk but felt someone take hold of her arm hindering her from walking away.
"Wait, I need to talk to you" Draco cried.
"Draco, I can't … not now…I need to go" she pulled her hand away from his grip and started walking again but then slowly paused. "I'm sorry about last night" She bit her lower lip and broke into a run, leaving him alone in the cold dark corridor, confusion started taking over him.
-----
Draco arrived late at the conference room and sat in between Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick.
"Thank you for joining us Professor Malfoy." Dumbledore said, cocking an amused eyebrow in Draco's direction, Draco just shrugged.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, "I would like to remind you all about the upcoming Christmas Party, I'd also like to thank Madam Hooch and Madam Pomfrey for volunteering to take over." He smiled at both ladies just beside Draco.
"I also have some news about Hagrid that I felt important to share with you," He smiled at their bewildered looks, "He shall be staying a bit longer at Beauxbatons." He winked at Minerva.
"Goodness! Is Hagrid planning on proposing?!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed. Albus smirked at her and gave a nod. Chatter immediately broke out amongst the Professors, except for three. Then Harry abruptly stood up. "May I have you're attention please?"
Everyone glanced at the bespectacled man in a bewildered manner but Draco kept his gaze on Hermione.
"Er, Hermione and I… are also planning on getting married," Draco glared at Harry hoping to burn a hole in his face. "Just after she delivers her baby… our baby, I mean." Those last few words seemed to be directed at a certain bitter Potion's master. That was just too much for Draco, he banged his fists on the table angrily.
Everyone looked taken aback at his behavior except for Dumbledore who merely inserted a sherbet lemon in his chops and calmly stared at the scene unfolding before him.
"You have no right to say that!" Draco hissed.
"What do you mean by that Malfoy?" Harry retorted fuming.
"The child is MINE! I cannot allow you to just snatch it away from me!" Draco hollered his temper raising.
"You have NO substantial evidence whatsoever that the child is yours! Even if that child has your blood, it's as good as mine!" Harry shouted angrily. "AND SO IS HERMIONE!" He added.
"Harry, please stop" Hermione whispered, her eyes full of tears threatening to fall down.
"SHE ISN'T A PIECE OF PROPERTY TO CALL YOUR OWN NOR SHOULD SHE BE TREATED LIKE SOME TROPHEY FOR YOU TO SHOW OFF!" Draco shouted back, "You're not worthy of her." He concluded and walked out slamming the door behind him so hard that the glass broke.
"JUST STAY AWAY FROM HER." Harry shouted back at the door.
"Alas, young love." Albus said so dreamily that it would give Luna Lovegood a run for her money.
Hermione stood up, she wanted to go follow Draco but Harry grabbed her arm. She slowly sat down and tried to control her overwhelming emotions.
"I believe that will do," Dumbledore said in a firm tone "this meeting is over." with that the Professors left leaving Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione, and McGonagall behind.
'Minerva, would you be so kind to assist Miss Granger in departing to her dorm," he then directed his attention at Harry. "Harry, would you please accompany me to my office? I wish to speak to you."
Harry slowly nodded.
Dumbledore walked towards a certain wall and flicked his wand muttering a few words, "A shortcut to my office" Dumbledore said and went through it.
"We should be on our way dear." McGonagall suggested and Hermione followed McGonagall silently.
-----
"I'm so confused." Hermione whispered.
"Come now Miss Granger, all this stress is bad for the child."
They finally reached Viela's portrait, she was peacefully resting but McGonagall put an end to that by tapping her wand on the painting to wake her up.
"Password?" She yawned.
"Goblet of Fire" McGonagall said then the painting swung open.
They reached Hermione's door.
"Honestly Professor, I believe I can manage on my own now." Hermione gave her a convincing smile but inside she felt like dying.
"Are you sure dear?" McGonagall wanted to make sure that she was really alright before leaving her all alone.
"Yes Professor." She said. "Honestly, all this fuss over me is unnecessary, I'll be fine."
"If you feel that you are no longer in need of my assistance Miss Granger then I shall leave." McGonagall raised an eyebrow and left.
She waited until Professor McGonagall's figure left the hall entirely before taking any action.
She wanted to enter someone else's room.
Draco's.
-----
Dumbledore and Harry seated themselves in the office.
"Sherbet Lemon?" Dumbledore offered.
Harry shook his head.
"Harry, I believe you know why I have brought you here."
Harry nodded.
"Forgive me, but I wish to hear your say on the matter."
"I have nothing to say Professor because as you can see, these problems seem to happen whenever Malfoy is around." Harry said a bit irritated.
"Are you suggesting that all your problems would be solved if I were to dispose of him?" He cocked his left eyebrow incredulously. "Because I for one do not believe it would solve anything."
"And are you suggesting that he has the answers to our dilemma?!" He let out a sigh then burst out, "Professor, it's MALFOY."
"I believe that Professor Malfoy deserves another chance, because I know how deeply he feels for Miss Granger." He inserted another sherbet lemon in his chops, "Harry, the old Malfoy we knew had a strong prejudice against Muggleborns and just look at how he changed."
"What if Professor Dumbledore was wrong?" He thought, but he knew that Dumbledore was never wrong. What if he may be telling the truth? Did Malfoy really harbor feelings for Hermione? Had he really changed?
As he raised his head to look at the elder professor, he saw that twinkle in the Professor's eyes behind those half moon spectacles. He knew that look. There was no need to wait for his reply. The answer was already there even though he tried so hard not to accept it. He still didn't want to accept it.
He was telling the truth.
-----
The door was locked.
"Alohamora" She whispered pointing her wand at the knob. The door opened revealing a dark and quiet room.
"Draco?" she entered his room and looked around. "There's no one there." She thought.
She started to look around for a switch but couldn't find any.
She was about to say 'Lumos', but then her stomach started to brutally pain her and she began to panic. She ran out the room and almost slammed the door behind her. Beads of cold sweat started to form on her forehead then trickled down her face.
She felt something inside her struggle; it felt like the baby was about to burst out.
Clutching her belly with her left hand and wiping the sweat on her face with her other hand. Her feet slowly moved, leading her to the way where the Viela was.
Towards someone she really needed to see right now.
-----
Broken glass, scattered liquids across the room, Draco couldn't take it anymore, he wanted a sleeping potion. But all he had been able to create was a disgusting purple goo, something the Weasley twins would have enjoyed.
He then put the last ingredient in the new mixture and it suddenly burst into a thick smoke. He carefully raised the transparent goblet and watched the potion.
Purple goo, again.
He threw the goblet across the room and banged his head on his desk. Some glasses fell down, but he didn't care…he didn't really care about anything, not anymore.
He began caressing his throbbing forehead.
"Why did I have to get involved in this?" He thought.
"Silly me, she's got Potter now after all." He spit out the name Potter like it was venom.
He pointed his wand in the direction of the door; the door swung open revealing a figure.
"I wasn't expecting you here" he said running a hand through his hair.
She rushed towards Draco, immediately throwing her arms around him, crying silent tears.
"I thought I could find you here" she managed to say through her sobs.
Draco slowly moved his arm around her waist and the other found its way in her chestnut hair.
"I was so scared… so scared… please don't do this to me again."
He could smell her sweet perfume, it relaxed him.
But he felt her grip growing tighter, making him realize he should say something to her.
"What's wrong?" he whispered in her ear.
She paused and took a deep breath "I don't want to lose you."
Draco felt like he was struck painfully in the heart.
Hermione slowly pushed Draco away from her. She felt something like a shock passing through her.
She gasped, "It's like it already happened before."
Draco was shocked on what she had said; her memory may have started to come back to her.
"It may have… "Draco mumbled.
Hermione took a step back from him. She suddenly realized that strange things happen to her every time she touches him.
"I'm not ready to know what happened in the past…I.. I'm not yet ready for anything.. not yet."
Draco understood what she meant.
"Did you ever consider getting an abortion?" He didn't know why he said that, it was a very random though, yet he felt he needed to hear her answer.
Hermione looked back at him, her face emotionless.
"I did."
Draco looked flabbergasted.
"I almost did but I realized that I was going to kill my first born, a motherly instinct stopped me." She smiled at his expression, "I only thought of myself, I was so self-centered, depriving another from life for my own benefit, so then another thought occurred to me, if this child came into the world then all my questions would be answered" She paused and looked at the man standing before her
Draco slowly approached her.
As he was going to open his mouth, she placed a finger on his lips stopping him.
"I have chosen to continue this challenge by avoiding the abortion spell. I also want to stop myself from loving two men at the same time but I can't"
Draco took her hand, the one she used to stop him from talking, and pressed it to his lips.
She looked into his silver orbs, they really were mesmerizing, but then her gaze slowly fell upon his lips.
Her lips slowly touched his. He leaned closer and made their kiss more passionate. He held her closer to him but then realized her growing belly got in the way.
They started laughing and hugging each other, wishing they could never let go.
"And I wish we could overcome this together" Draco said.
Hermione looked at him with shock, her smile disappeared.
"What about Harry?" She gasped just realizing what she did, placing a hand on her mouth. "I… I can't do this to him! What have I done?"
"Hermione, I…" he began.
"I can't do this." Hermione whispered. She looked at him letting tears roll down her face. "I love you… but I can't hurt him"
-----
End of chapter nine. So sad but true, she loved Harry at first but she learn to love her past enemy. What will she do? Does she has to stop her new feeling and continue loving Harry or will she fight her love for Draco? But her pregnancy problem hasn't resolved! I just want to point out that I'm not making Hermione a two timer or something like that; it's just that she's really confused and really REALLY confused. Especially with her situation, her longing for someone and her emotions towards the two men. I don't want to spoil anything for now but anything that will happen on the later chapters and if you're kind of confused with it, I'll be happy to explain it for you guys.
Hope you like it and continue on reading and don't forget to REVIEW!
Also hoping that I didn't made any much mistakes compared before. I did my best and hoping not to confuse you or anything like that.
Thanks for those who reviewed. Love you guys. You guys made me happy and almost cry with tears of joy.
PLEASE REVIEW and all comments or suggestions will be gladly entertained and appreciated.
-Paw
"When I was a li'l kid,
I fell from a tree but managed to hold on to a branch,
I was up there for a long time & waited the silence,
The pain n my arms,
The blood jumping in my ears,
Then I fell…
I couldn't remember what happened when I hit the ground,
All I could remember was the agony of holding on & the wonderful feeling of letting go…
I got hurt cause I let go & fell,
But it's much better to let go than trying to hold on,
Knowing that it's going to hurt even more,
& knowing that I'll eventually fall..."
