A/N at bottom.

Chapter Nine

Home Away From Home

"I can't believe we did that," Hermione muttered as she rolled over again. Draco had brought her back to his bed and began cleaning up. First the mess from deceiving his father, and then the one they'd made in the bathroom.

"You're going to have to leave in two days, Granger," Draco called from the bathroom, half of him wanted to say nothing, but he felt the need to distract her from his inexcusably cheesy post-coital statement, "I'll take you to where you're going to stay and tell you the story that I made up. I'll go talk to Dumbledore during breakfast tomorrow."

"Why so soon? I mean, what happens if she starts to want you again or something?" she asked, already feeling the anxiety of not knowing what would be happening in the wizarding world.

"You shouldn't feel that for a while," Draco announced as he exited the bathroom and climbed back into the bed, "We were close enough today to last for some time."

Hermione just nodded. She couldn't believe the final battle would be here so soon. She'd always known it was coming, but now that it was here it seemed like it came out of no where. She struggled to push those thoughts from her mind and closed her eyes.

!H!D!

"Did you pack, Granger?" Draco was pacing her room as she gathered last minute things. It was October 29th and he was having a hard time keeping his mind on track. First of all he had to protect Granger, secondly he had to prepare for the battle, everything else would have to be put on hold.

"Ready." Hermione looked over her bags once again, confident that she'd have everything she'd need for at least a month and a half, maybe longer. Draco just nodded before shrinking her things and stuffing them in his pocket as he grabbed her hand. He muttered something she didn't catch and then everything was a swirling mass of black and blue. She closed her eyes, and when she felt Malfoy release her hand she opened them.

"I'm not going into detail, Granger, because I need to leave as soon as possible," he began as he unlatched the fence and headed to the house. Hermione followed in awe. It was a small cottage-looking house with a white picket fence and everything.

"Your name is now Faith Carrington. Your husband, Daniel, is off helping the government with things you don't know of, but he comes back periodically when he can. You're obviously pregnant, and you and Daniel are delighted. Your doctor's name is Jill Aldrich and your first appointment is in a months time," Draco explained, "Now, I've got to go, but I'll be back as soon as I get time to sneak away." With that said, Draco apparated out of the house.

Hermione sighed as she glanced around. It really was a lovely house. 'This is our new home for now,' she thought as she rubbed her stomach affectionately.

!H!D!

Hermione was seriously growing tired of staying indoors. Technically, Malfoy hadn't told her to stay inside, and if she was supposed to play her part well then she should be out socializing. Yet, when she thought of it she got nervous.

"Two weeks, and no sign of him. I think it's past time we left this house," she spoke to her protruding stomach, her only companion over the last fourteen days. Putting her fear behind her, Hermione dressed in a maternity shirt much similar to her uniform shirt, and a pair of jeans. She put a headband in her now wavy hair and set out down the street.

"It's a wonder you aren't demanding your father by now," Hermione spoke to the baby again, "Just a few minor pains, but he should be here soon. You're almost twenty weeks old now." She smiled as she came to the grocery store. She wasn't in dire need of more food, but catering to her cravings made life more bearable.

She walked through the automatic doors and grabbed a cart before starting down an isle.

"Are you Mrs. Carrington?" a feminine voice asked from behind her. Hermione turned and smiled, giving the woman a nod. "Oh, well it's very nice to meet you; I'm Barbara Stemson, your neighbor." Hermione shook the woman's hand.

"I haven't seen you much, but maybe you'd like to come over for lunch today," Barbara asked with a warm smile.

"Of course, Mrs. Stemson," Hermione consented. Barbara shook her head, "Call me Barbara."

"Okay, Barbara, then you can call me Her-Faith," she hoped she caught herself in time as she scanned Barbara's face. It didn't look like she was suspicious of Hermione's slip up.

"So, I'll see you around one then, Faith?" "One it is," she agreed before they went their separate ways. 'Way to go me! Making new friends already!' she mentally cheered herself.

!H!D!

Hermione was back at home at a quarter to one and was more nervous than she was for OWLs. To make matters worse, the baby had decided it wanted its father to return sooner than planned. She rubbed her hand on her stomach as she walked to the Stemson household and rang the doorbell.

"Hello, Faith, please come in," Barbara answered with a smile.

"Thank you for inviting me. I haven't really gotten the chance to meet anyone around here." Barbara nodded and led Hermione to the patio where a tray a sandwiches was set, along with two glasses of lemonade.

"It isn't often that new people move around here. And you are the youngest in a long while," Barbara confessed as she took a sandwich. Hermione blushed as she too, took a sandwich.

"Well, my husband wanted to move to a nice, quiet neighborhood before the baby arrives," Hermione explained. She was beginning to enjoy making up the story as she went along.

"If you don't mind me asking, where is your husband?"

"He's working for the government on some things he isn't allowed to describe to me, but from what I do get to hear, it's about national security," Hermione finished her speech with a bite of the sandwich and Barbara just nodded.

"My husband leaves town for work occasionally, too," Barbara put in, "We have been trying for a baby, but no luck so far." Hermione's blush deepened. Here was this nice, sweet woman, who was truly married to a man she loved and they couldn't get pregnant. But Hermione, who had sex once, well twice now, with a boy she could barely carry on a conversation with had gotten pregnant the first time.

"Joseph and I have been married for five years. We were high school sweethearts and then we got married seven years after we graduated. A baby would complete our family at this point." Barbara looked wishful before turning back to Hermione, "How old were you when you were married, Faith?"

Hermione swallowed and thought for a moment, "Daniel and I have known each other since we were eleven. We went to Prep School together and then when we were in our final year, he proposed. It was very romantic actually, he asked for my father's permission and everything," Hermione was actually smiling. She hadn't told a serious lie that time. "Then when I turned twenty-two, we were married," she had to speak carefully now, Malfoy hadn't mentioned ages before. "We found out we were pregnant just after we returned from our honeymoon, and here we are." Hermione rubbed her stomach and smiled happily.

"That's sweet, Faith," Barbara smiled, "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl." Hermione shook her head, "I believe it's a girl, but Daniel is rather indecisive when that question comes up." Barbara laughed a bit and the two continued to talk.

!H!D!

It was almost five by the time Hermione returned home. She and Barbara got along great and had many of the same interests. She would have stayed a bit longer but the baby was really starting to miss Malfoy.

"Stupid Malfoy," Hermione muttered as she got ready for bed. That was one thing she didn't enjoy about the lovely new house. She had a huge bed, yet she had to sleep in it all alone. But she couldn't be missing Malfoy. Could she?

A/N: Sorry for the long delay. School's killing me and I just couldn't find the motivation to update. Also, I had no time to get my beautiful beta to read this, yeah I'm a slacker, but I tried to edit out the mistakes! My sincere apologies. But once again, I'd like to shout out to my reviewers, b/c you guys take the time to give me the feedback I crave!!

THANK YOU: Aloralynn, perfectlyfakereality, Emmah-belle, Emma-Louise 1993, Hollybaby390, MaskofComedy, Pyroangel8605, DracosPunkbabe, mysticpammy, sherrithewriter, waffenmac, ginnyginny, and Cal8907!!! I love you all!!!

Again, I'll try to answer any questions I can... but I won't give away the plot!! Review!! It makes me smile!!! Yours Truly