Chapter 9

As Draco and Hermione were dealing with their predicament, havoc was being wreaked inside the Great Hall. The remaining students were attempting to figure out what exactly was going on and when exactly it had happened. Most of Slytherin were outraged at the proclamation. How dare they suggest that one of their own would reduce himself to consort with the likes of a muddy mudblood. The majority of them were sure that it was just a rumor and that the third year this had allegedly come from was completely off her rocker.

Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were discussing within themselves the ludicrousness of the declaration while at the Gryffindor table Ron was standing, yelling and gesticulating widely with his arms whilst Ginny and Harry attempted, to no avail, to calm him.

"Ginny, you better explain this to me now!" His face was red and shaking as he pointed a finger at his younger sister.

Harry was standing next to Ron with his hands resting on his shoulders, indicating for him to sit and listen.

Ginny just rolled her eyes. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, if you do not sit your overgrown, exaggerated, melodramatic arse down then I won't explain a damn thing."

Ron growled at the way that Ginny had spoken to him, he was aware and all too familiar with her sharp tongue, none-the-less he resigned and sat himself in front of her.

Ginny smiled. "I want you to remember that Hermione is a very rational and clever girl. You should be familiar by now with the way she overanalyzes every single little thing. Now that that's established I want you to know that Hermione would definitely not even think about stepping into a relationship with Draco Malfoy unless she was absolutely positively sure that he's changed or for whatever reason she has decided to become his girlfriend. Be confident that she knows what she's doing and she's old enough to take care of herself and make her own choices. So stop being overprotective and be happy for her you git."

As Ginny finished with her small speech she could tell that it had gone through one ear and right out the other. She dreaded that red-headed temper, despite nursing her own. Soon after, the bell signaling their first class rang.

While still gossiping everyone rose and began to file out of the hall to their first class.


The first couple of students that noticed Hermione and Draco walking together immediately nudged their neighbor, and pointed. It was an automatic response for them…they didn't know how else to deal with something like this.

It was unprecedented; a Gryffindor with a Slytherin…well, a willing Gryffindor with a Slytherin. It was unheard of.

Hermione tried not to let the whispers and stares bother her. By now she thought that she would be accustomed to this type of attention, especially considering who one of her best friends were and what they had all been through in their past six years.

She felt uneasy and desperately wanted to escape to her room and hide under the covers of her bed, but she wasn't going to. She refused to run away from this and take the easy way out. She tightened her hold on Draco's hand and was comforted slightly when he squeezed hers back.

Together they walked to their first class of the day amidst all of the stares and whispers. They were both lucky enough to have Arithmancy first that day so they had a little break from all the ruckus, considering that hardly anyone was enrolled in the class.

When Draco and Hermione did enter the classroom it was to find their peers already sitting at their respective seats with their arms folded in front of them, looking, anticipating, like a pack of rabid wolves, at the door. Had they purposefully gotten there before the two so they could witness it first hand and be able to gossip to all their friends that it was indeed the truth, that Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy truly were a couple? The aforementioned couple paused and looked at each other before taking up seats in the back. Hermione had no problem giving up her front row seat,whatwiththe currentcircumstances, and happily sat next to Draco. He turned out to be a great distraction for the brief period of time they were together. Now all she had to fret about was her coping abilities without her Slytherin counterpart.


Draco stood outside the entrance of Hermione's Ancient Runes classroom leaning on the wall across from the door. Today his free period coincided with her last class of the day and, after thinking about it for a tick, he decided to wait for her. He figured that she must have had a rough day and that she would need some company. Yes, she may be hesitant to show any reinforcement to what everyone was saying about them but he decided what was the point in hiding it any longer when everyone was already aware of the change instate of their relationship.

For the entire day everywhere he went there were whispers and points. The gossip didn't bother him, he used to thrive on being the center of attention. But despite the eagerness tocatch of glimpse of them together,none of them dared go up to him for fear of what he could do, and most likely do, if they dare bother him when he wasn't in the brightest of moods, not even the Slytherins, but that didn't stop them from talking. And talking. And talking.

He hadn't seen Hermione since going their own separate ways after their first class together. He'd been concerned for her, she looked very frightened and he hadn't wanted to leave her alone and he had been very ready to skiv all of his classes to look after her but she obviously didn't let him. So, now here he was leaning against the wall waiting for her to emerge from within the classroom.

The sound of the bell brought him out of his musings. Hermione was the first person out the door but started when she saw him. He smiled at her and she moved into his arms at once. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head when she tightened her arms around his waist.

He heard some giggling in front of him and noticed a group of Ravenclaw girls.

"Ooooh, look how adorable they look together." The girls sighed all at once.

"How sweet." They noticed him looking and they all gave him excited smiles.

He shot them a small smile before turning his attention back to Hermione. He chuckled at her when he realized that she didn't seem quite ready to let go of him yet.

"How was class?" He set his chin on top of her head and watched as the corridor emptied.

"It was horrible." Hermione moved her head into his neck. "You weren't with me."

Draco chuckled. "I offered but a certain someone was very adamant about me going to class."

Hermione smiled. "I know…I'm just- I'm being childish." She finally let him go and took a step back.

He pushed "We should get going." She nodded slowly before giving him a bleak smile.

Draco grabbed her hand and began leading them to the Great Hall. When Hermione finally realized where they were going she stopped Draco. "I'd rather not go down there to eat. How about we just go to my room and relax."

He smiled at her. "I dont mean to bring you down any further but don't you think that we might as well face the crowd now since everyone already knows that we're together."

Hermione fiddled with the hem of her skirt.

"You make a good point but you must understand that this is my first official relationship and I would have really appreciated if everyone wasn't so critical of my every move, at first at least,so that we could ease into the whole public aspect but no-"

"Therein lies the problem, you care about what people think about us and that's the last thing that you should be caring about," Draco interrupted. "I mean, you're Harry sodding Potter's best friend, you stuck by him fourth year during the Triwizard Tournament and especially fifth year when everyone thought that he was a maniac and on top of that, you didnt care. So, why should our situation be any different?"

Hermione closed her mouth, which had remained open during his interruption, and put her head in her hands. He was completely right...again. It was ironic. He was the one that spent the better half of their years at Hogwarts insulting her and her friends, yet she was the one that kept on having to apologize.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to argue, and you're right." Hermione looked up at him and gave him a wide, forced smile.

Draco laughed as soon as he saw her dismal attempt. "That's the fakest and weakest smile I've ever seen. I think Crabbe and Goyle have flashed me better smiles than that."

Hermione snorted. "Probably imagining that you were some meat on a stick."

Draco laughed even harder and Hermione smiled at his jovial face. Never would she have imagined that she would ever see Draco like this. She was enjoying it immensely.

Upon seeing the goofy smile gracing his girlfriends face Draco stopped laughing. "What? What's wrong?"

Hermione smiled wider. "Nothing, I just love it when you laugh like that."

"Oh really?" Draco crossed his arms. "So what was I before? Some bloke that never smiled? Did I have some permanent scowl on my face?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Hush up, you know exactly what I meant but while on the subject you really did describe your 11 year old snotty self divinely." She smiled devilishly.

"I see, I see." Draco grabbed her by the waist and brought her up against him. "Now that the snotty 11 year old is covered how 'bout you tackle the devilishly handsome and charming 17 year old."

Hermione placed her arms on his shoulders. "I think you did just fine right then."

She pecked his lips and pulled back but Draco held her in place. All of a sudden his face got serious and he cupped her face.

"I really am lucky to have you." Hermione blushed and looked away but Draco brought her face back to his.

"Just for me, could you take a compliment? I wouldn't say it if I absolutely positively didn't want to or didn't mean it but I want you to know that I'm not taking you for granted. Everyday I thank the Gods for you and think how I possibly could have ever deserved you."

Hermione got misty eyed. "But Draco, we just started dating. I mean, the animosity has just recently ended. We just got on pleasant terms. We hardly know each other. Anything can happen. Your feelings can change in less than 24 hours. What happens then?"

Draco shook his head adamantly. "Nothing would happen because my mind isn't going to change. I don't think you're aware of just how much time I've been feeling like this. It's always been there. Everyone knows that little foolish boys treat their crush the worst."

Hermione didn't smile at the familiar theory. Her parents had always thrown that at her as an excuse for all the teasing she got at school when younger.

"This is different, more complex. Behind this teasing is lifetimes of blood prejudice. It's how you were raised. Your upbringing is not something one can just change overnight."

Draco shrugged. "I'm aware of that but that upbringing was only from Lucius; onesided. My mum may love her husband but that doesn't mean that she always agreed with him. She never fully let me be wrapped in my fathers beliefs."

Hermione bit at her lip, mulling this surprising information over in her head before responding. "Be that as it may-"

Draco finally erupted. "Hermione just let it go. Can't you just accept the fact that I love you and just drop it?" He released her and began pacing in front of her.

"No we can't. Things just aren't that simple in this world."

Draco opened his mouth to retort but was interrupted by the loud and unbearable screeching of his name.

"Draco!"

"Damn you, boy. Where the bloody hell are you?"

Someone spoke softly secondslater.

Draco looked at Hermione before turning to where the voice was coming from. Whoever it was was just now turning the corridor.

"Draco! I swear if those stupid little runts lied to me.. Oh there you are. Finally."

"Pans?"

Pansy rolled her eyes as she came to a stop in front of Draco. "Of course it's me. I have a problem."

Now that they were getting a good look at her, she did look considerably distressed. It was evident that she had been crying by her runny make-up and red eyes.

Draco was concerned as he stepped forward and asked Pansy what was wrong. All she seemed capable of doing was sputter words and mumble.

"Spit it out, Pans." Draco was quickly losing his patience. He kept on having to remind himself that she was pregnant.

With a loud wail she finally told him. "I'm showing," and she pointed to her stomach.

Draco looked to where she was pointing but didn't notice anything different. He did hear a quiet 'oh' behind him though.

"You're completely daft." Pansy said exasperatedly. It was when she turned to her side did Draco finally notice the difference. Her baby was showing. And then Pansy did the unthinkable. She turned to Hermione.

"Granger, I know we've never been the greatest of friends,"

Draco laughed. "Understatement of the year," he muttered under his breath.

Pansy glared at him. "Prat." She turned back to the Gryffindor.

"Could you please help me with this baby?"


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnndddddddddddddddddd BAM..Chapters out. So sorry for the wait I didnt have a computer at my disposal for a long while. Also, in honor of my Miami Heat (woohoo) winning the Championship, I thought I would post. And I know they won almost a week ago but, despite living in Tx, I've been celebrating and FF wouldn't let me upload my chapter, which made the wait even longer, of course. So, I hope the chapter was satisfactory for everyone, I like the end a lot.GO HEAT! Oh and sorry for any grammatical errors, I'm pretty sure that there are many. I just briefly read over it to see of I could catch any and to change some of the dialogue, nothing too drastic. Anyways, I may have missed some of the errors so my apologies. Feedback appreciated greatly!