A/N So I am suffering with the flu at the moment so I apologise extra hard on grammar and spelling mistakes still trying to find a BETA for this story. Thank you to each and everyone of you for your encouraging words. :)


Draco watched disheartened as Severus escorted Hermione home, his heart immediatly ached with the loss of contact .
"Have you told her yet son?" His father breached the subject first in a hushed whisper.
"No" He slumped down into the sofa, his elbows resting in his knees and he's head resting in his hands.
"And why ever not? She is our last chance; do you want this curse to be passed onto Scorpious? You are not trying hard enough to grip onto her" His Mother whispered harshly.
"No of course I don't want this for him. I'm trying but she doesn't love me, kind of defeats the object don't you think mother?" His voice rose slightly.

"Calm you anger son" Lucius put enough authority into his voice for his son to take heed.
"Sorry Mother" Narcissa elegantly glided across the Malfoy parlour room to comfort her son.
"I know this is causing you stress, do you want to tell me what Mrs Weasley's investigator managed to scrap out?"

"She has been spending her money on baby things and hiding it in a muggle property somewhere in the south of Spain, which explains her absence from the Manor days at a time. He then followed her to a type of hospital in muggle London but he wasn't allowed entry, a cloth of god kept guard at the reception"

"Is she involved in any charity work?" Lucius asked knowing his Wife went to such hospitals.
"The only charity Astoria Greengrass knows of is herself" His Mother spat out in anger, Lady Narcissa Malfoy since gaining such a title had been heavily hands on within her charity work, not one afraid to get her hands and nails dirty she was always the first to pick up a microphone and ask for donations or organizing fun runs.

"Ok, but why else would she go to a hospital? She knows we have a private healer if she is ill"
"Unless she has caught a muggle disease and a healer cant heal her" Narcissa suggested.
"No, that doesn't explain why she would keep it so quiet" Draco allowed his head to roll over the back of the cream loveseat as he stared up at the ceiling thinking of various scenarios but with every one of them he came out blank in the end. Astoria was up to something he it didn't bode well with him.

"Ang thinks if we can find a crime against her the decree absolute is in our hands reach" It irritated Draco to no end, having something so close and not being able to touch it, he needed the divorce for himself and Scorp.
"You need to tell Hermione son, she has no clue and you, you clueless idiot has left her out in the cold thinking you want Astoria over her" His Mother scolded not too happy with how clueless her boys were being.

"Is it too late to go over now or would Sev kick me out on my behind?" Draco pulled his sleeve up to reveal it was only 7.30pm on his black Armani watch.
"I shouldn't think so Son" Lucius walked over to the fireplace and tapped his wand against the marble to set the floo going.
"Keep an eye on Scorp for me, I shouldn't be too long" With a parting nod he stepped into the fire and called out 'Spinners End' -praying for a miracle that Severus had it open-.


"Apparating always makes me feel so sick and dizzy" Hermione moaned as she placed her cold fingers to her forehead in hopes to lessen the pain as their feet touched solid ground
"You shouldn't let go of Draco so soon my dear" She turned on her heel, frowning at her protector.
"What am I missing Severus? Everyone is telling to keep my talons securely in his back but you all know I don't want to be known as his mistress, in or out of the papers. So I ask again what it that I am missing?."
Hermione's arms placed across her chest and her foot tapping silently on the brown carpet, not taking her eyes away from Severus's glare. She wanted answers and she wanted them now.

"I think I should let Draco explain that one my dear"
"Let Draco explain what?" A familiar voice behind her made her spin so fast on her feels she tripped over her own footing, she expected to come face to face with the brown carpet, not warm arms embracing her stomach that held her up.

"What are you doing here Draco?" She asked, righting herself onto the ground.
"I'll leave you two to talk alone" Severus left the room to presumably do his own thing.


"Can we sit down? I think you will need it" Frowning she showed Draco the sofa's although they were plainly in view, she knew it to be polite.
"Where to start" He nervously wringed his wrists.
"At the beginning is the usually best" Hermione quoted Lucius form earlier with a nervous chuckle.

"Right, the beginning. Many Malfoy's ago a curse was placed upon our family's name. I will cut this short. No Malfoy can give birth to a daughter unless bonded in heart and soul with his Wife. The two must match perfectly in every shape and form. We didn't know the bonded part until Grandfather Abraxas died. Now Mother and Father are bonded as the Witch wished but after having me it nearly killed Mother and I so they refrained from having any more children …"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but shouldn't you be telling this to Astoria?" Draco shook his head.
"You know when she is the one; a pull of your heart can be felt when she is near and an ache when she is far away. I feel this with another who is not Astoria"

Swallowing her dry tongue Hermione shakily asked who?
"You my dear, it has always been you" He raised his hand to stroke her cheek which in instinct she leant into.


"No, you can't your married Draco." Hermione refused to admit this could be happening and moved her head away from his warm touch, No he needed to be in love with Astoria with Scorpious hanging around their ankles it would do her no good to get her hopes up.
Draco recoiled; she was rejecting him of this he was sure. His heart crumpled slowly into tiny pieces, he needed her for his heart and soul like he needed oxygen to breathe.

"Yes that, Ang is helping us find a way out of it. You see Astoria has been doing something extremely fishy these last few days and we cannot find out what. She has been visiting buildings our spy has no excess to" Draco's body ached for some contact with the beauty in front of him.

"Can your spy not read? Surely he knows that most buildings do have a sign above the door" Draco smirked at his observant little witch.
"That he does, She has been going into a hospital. A muggle hospital in muggle London and our spy is a wizard he knows not of the building and we would need a muggleborn to help us. What muggle will willingly work with 2 ex-death eaters on such a private matter?"

Hermione nodded at his logic but she still didn't understand what it was he wanted, It's not like she could go and be their 'spy' she had way too much attachment to the Malfoy's as it was and now becoming Scorpious's Nanny sure wasn't going to help the situation. She will be looking after his child whilst he brings floozy after floozy in flaunting them around her.


"I hope you find what you need Draco" Draco sighed, she wasn't making this any easier for him.
"Hermione Granger it is you I need, You i love, Once my decree absolute comes through I promise to ask Severus for your hand, we can be bonded under the waterfall of Aphrodite's and then have lots of practice to make our little girl" Hermione allowed Draco to hold her hand loosely.

"What happens until then?" She carefully pressed letting a little hope rise in her chest.
"Until then I am afraid I burden you with our child" Hermione didn't understand, our child? She didn't have a child. Draco had Scorpious ... is that what he meant? Draco watched as realisation dawned on her.

"Scorpious loves and adores you and has asked over and over again for you to be his Mummy, you are his Mum to us love" A tear fell down her face, brushing it away with the back of her hand a few more fell down. This was really happening; her small dream was becoming brighter into the horizon. She could have her little family with Draco and Scorp, a dream come true in her eyes.

"I am only asking for you to be patient for a little longer, look after Scorp and ignore Astoria until the time comes my dear. Can you do that for me?" Tears streamed down her face as she nodded her head eagerly.
"Come here pumpkin" Draco pulled the witch into his lap, his heart soared -a thousand feet into the air- at the love for the girl he cradled.

Hermione snuggled into his chest, she felt like she was home with him holding her tightly.
After a while he kissed her temple and placed her on her feet.
"I must be going darling, Astoria will be expecting me" Anger bubbled up inside of Hermione.
"We don't share a bed my love, that is where you will lay very shortly" Smiling she wrapped her arms around his waist as his went around his shoulders.

"Until tomorrow my dear" Hermione stayed cemented into the ground. Silently watching him disappear in apparition away from her fingertips. If she opened her mouth she would have begged and pleaded for him to stay with her for the evening. Hermione knew –deep down- Draco would comply to any wish she may have, she kept shut he had Scorpious to look out for.


She didn't see Severus enter the room once more and pull her into his arms. It wasn't until the familiar scent of his aftershave entered her nose that she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him tighter.

"Why are you sad? I thought he was here to explain things"
"So you knew everything than?" she hadn't meant to sound bitter but it surely came out that way.
"Hermione don't be like that, I found out earlier today. If I pulled you away from Scorpious and told you, I do think you would have caused an unnecessary scene." Hermione nodded her head in agreement into his chest.

"Do you remember when you first held me when I cried?" She wiped a tear away as Severus led her back to the sofa and called for the tea tray.
"How can I not? The blood magic we are bonded with works in the same way as any other Father and Daughter relationship Hermione; I am your Father in all but the genetics –this you know-. It cut my heart into two to see what Weasley had done to you"


*** Flashback***

Hermione slammed the double black door shut and ran up into her room, how she wished Severus would key her into the apparition wards. It annoyed her every time she returned home she had to apparate outside the wards.
"Hermione, is that you?" Severus called from the bottom of the stairs.

Jumping to her feet she stood in front of her vanity mirror and looked at her bloodshot eyes. Severus needn't see her like this; he would only say something snide and 'I told you so' remark to follow shortly after. Casting a glamour spell on her face she slumped back onto her bed and pulled the nearest book off of her book shelf.

Severus entered the room quietly observing Hermione for a few minutes.
"Remove your poorly casted glamour spell Hermione" Placing her book on her duvet –spine down- she frowned at Severus and swung her legs off of her bed.
"Now Hermione" The authority in his voice rolled off in violent waves.

Obeying Hermione removed the glamour spell with her head cast down.
"Look at me Hermione" She couldn't disobey he's requests even if she wanted to. Stupid blood magic.
"Would you care to explain why you have been crying?" She shook her head childishly.

"Hermione don't make me use other forces" Sighing she twiddled with her fingers as Severus pulled her computer chair out from under her desk.
"I can sit here all night if I have to …" he lowered himself onto the black leather chair.
"I went other to visit Ron after my shopping trip with Ginny and he was in bed with another" Severus frowned, why would he want to choose anyone besides his Hermione. That Weasley git had it good with her, why stray?

"Did you know who with?" Hermione nodded her head.
"Lavender Brown, she was in my year and a fellow Gryffindor if you remember"
Of course Severus remembered, he made it his life work to know every one of the Gryffindor's he taught Potions to.

"Is she the girl with high pitched voice? Didn't they date back in 6th year?" Hermione, again only nodded her head.
"Well, I say good riddance to him then. If he can easily lower himself to a chit like that you're better off with someone who has more brains."

"But … but I don't want anyone else Severus, I only want him" Her lip quivered as a single tear fell from her face.
"Come here" Severus moved to sit with her on the single bed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You'll feel better soon, go have a crazy shopping day with your girlfriends, have a makeover and do something outrageous. Do you want me to sort him out? …. I can make it look like he tripped" Hermione giggled slightly but shook her head.
"No need. Harry has given him quite the beating ... and that was before Bill and Charlie allowed the twins at him" Severus never did like the Potter boy nor the Weasley's, but at least they looked out for Hermione.

*** End Flashback ***


"You still haven't keyed me into the apparition wards yet" Hermione -for the first time- saw a slight look of panic on Severus's face.
"Come, it is bedtime for you my dear. Tomorrow is a very big day for you" Hermione groaned and placed her empty cup on the tea tray. Severus helped her up from the sofa and kissed her forehead in good night, something he had done from day one of her living with him. He didn't care she had moved out a few years ago as Spinners End would always be their home.