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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?

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Chapter Ten

Hermione was lounging in the bath, trying to soothe the baby, when she heard his voice.'Hello, Love.' She scowled as if he could see her facial expression, 'Malfoy, where are you?'

'Aww, I didn't know you cared,' was his sarcastic answer.

'This baby is not happy that you chose to leave for such a long period of time, and the pain is not making me a happy mum,' she informed him.

'Well, I will be able to visit tomorrow, Love, so don't miss me too much.'

'Ha. Ha.' She rolled her eyes, 'How long can you stay?'

'Six to seven hours, maybe a bit more if things don't change.'

'Be here early, Malfoy,' she instructed as she stood up in the water and began to towel dry.

She slipped into an oversized tee shirt and climbed into bed. Tomorrow she could torture Malfoy with a trip to her pregnancy exercise class, but first, she'd have to relieve this pain. As she thought of what would, doubtlessly, be the first thing they'd do, she couldn't help but feel a stirring in her lower abdomen. And even as she tried to push the thoughts from her mind, she knew what she was feeling wasn't the baby.

!H!D!

"Granger," Hermione thought she was hallucinating the first three times but as she blinked her eyes she could make out the form of a person standing over her bed.

"I thought when you asked me to be here early, you meant you'd be awake," he sighed dramatically as he sat next to her on the bed. She pulled herself into a sitting position, looking as if she didn't actually believe he was there.

"I mean, really, Granger, a guy takes three portkeys set up secretly to get here for less than a day and you don't even have breakfast on the tab…" His rant was cut off as Hermione crushed her lips to his and pulled him further on the bed.

"You can complain later, Malfoy," she said as she broke the heated kiss, only to have it reinitiated by her counterpart.

!H!D!

"Is this all I'm good for now, Granger?" he asked, feigning a hurt face as he stepped out of the shower stall, "Are you using me for my body?"

"Of course, Malfoy," she rolled her eyes. "Wow, Granger, I would've never pegged you as shallow," he looked astonished as they dressed before exiting the bathroom.

"Well, if not for that party I doubt you would've ever 'pegged' me at all," she shot back, a smirk playing on her lips. She was internally amazed at how forward she was being.

"Someone's a bit happier than they were yesterday." Hermione glared at this comment, "I was in pain." To that he just shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I'm sorry you don't care more, Daniel, because since you are back in town today, you get to accompany me to my class," the look in her eyes told Draco he should not be excited about this.

"Class for what?" He asked as she led him to the front door.

"Don't worry,Daniel. Just act like an excited father-to-be."

!H!D!

"What was with all those squats and crawling on the floor and good lord, Granger, you can't be doing that stuff daily?!!" Draco complained as they arrived back at the house.

Hermione had introduced 'Daniel' to the class and he wasn't happy about it. Tabitha, the teacher, hadn't taken pity on him just because it was his first class. They did many exercises that were safe for the baby, yet helped the mother prepare for labor and delivery. The fathers were put through it for effect. And what an effect it was.

"It helps the baby, Malfoy," she giggled a bit, "I'm already twenty weeks along, just twenty more to go."

"That woman should train quidditch players!"

"Ahh, yes, your favorite work-out," she rolled her eyes as he followed her up the stairs to her room.

"No, Love, sex is my favorite workout," he corrected, "And it would seem that it's your's too." Hermione blushed and tried to look incredulous.

"What now?" he asked as she pulled him to the bed. His eyes widened a bit, "Again? I mean I know I'm sexy, but all this exercise can't be too good for the…"

"No, you git!" she interrupted, still blushing, "Just lie here with me. I'm tired, you have to leave soon, but I want to know what's happening at Hogwarts," she confessed as he lay on the bed and she rested on his chest.

"Nothing is going on," he sighed, "Voldemort hasn't had any major attacks. The war officially began on October 31st, two days after you'd left. Both armies have, so far, silently agreed to abstain from attacking hospitals, so Dumbledore left first through third years at the castle with Pomfrey and Pince and changed the building into a hospital. Classes continued at an alternative location, off of Voldemort's radar, and aurors have been slipping in and out training fourth years and up. Dumbledore's not happy about the fourth years, but they demand to be allowed to stay."

"Couldn't I return to Hogwarts then, I mean, if it's safe, then I'm safe," she proposed as she yawned.

"No, not yet, maybe before Christmas holidays, though. I have to handle some things," he responded. She nodded lightly on his chest and he could tell she was drifting off. He stared at the wall for some time. When did he grow attached to her? This wasn't part of the arrangement, but now it was unavoidable. He sighed for the millionth time that day as he turned his gaze toward the dozing witch.

He was about to drift off himself, when he felt a tingle on his wrist. 'Stupid communication devices,' he thought angrily as he lifted the pseudo-watch to his eye level. The one thing he was happy about was the fact that, unless the wearer wanted his surroundings seen by the other person, they were blurred.

"Mister Malfoy," it was McGonagall, "We are trying to set up your safe return, though it is beyond me why you had to leave," the last part was barely audible, but Draco heard it and his trademark smirk made an appearance, "But we are having a few minor difficulties. Remain safe, and in disguise until I contact you with your transport home." She didn't wait for a reply before she ended the connection.

Draco was indifferent. Staying a few more hours was fine with him. He leaned back into the pillows and let his eyes close.

!H!D!

"Malfoy," Hermione nudged him in the ribs and he grunted but didn't open his eyes, "Malfoy, since you are still here and it is five o'clock, you have to come down and have dinner with Joseph and Barbara."

"Leave me alone, Hermione," he mumbled as he rolled over. She tried to brush off the shock of hearing her first name from his lips as she tapped him again.

"Malfoy, if you stay in this bed you won't get to eat dinner," she tempted. His stomach chose to make itself known at that moment and he rolled over and looked up at her.

"What's for dinner, Love?"

"My new friends." "I know you think I'm cruel, Granger, but, contrary to popular belief, I do not eat people."

"Ha. Ha, Malfoy. They'll be here in about twenty minutes, so get presentable."

!H!D!

"So, Daniel, Faith told us you work for the government," Barbara brought up when dinner was just about through. Draco glanced at his lovely 'wife' and smiled at their guest, "Yes, actually. I hope she didn't make it out to be more than it is. I know it's secretive, but sometimes she makes it seem like the 'I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you' kind of profession."

They all laughed at this. "I'm out of town a lot, too, Daniel, and I know how wives can get with the exaggerations," Joseph added and the men shared a knowing look as Barbara hit her husband playfully on the arm.

Draco could feel the tingle of the 'watch' but didn't answer it.

"We had better be leaving now," Joseph smiled as Hermione led the way to the front door.

"Yes, Joe has to leave early tomorrow," Barbara informed them with a sad look in her eyes.

"So does Dr-Daniel," Hermione barely caught herself, but covered it up with a depressed look.

"Well, you two will just have to keep each other company," Draco had come up behind Hermione and wrapped a hand around her waist letting it rest on the swell of her stomach.

Barbara smiled, "We will." With that, the two couples said their goodbyes and Hermione and Draco retreated back into their house. Hermione headed for the dinning room and Draco remained in the hall.

"I have to leave in ten minutes," he informed her as he reentered the dinning room to find her clearing the table.

Hermione just nodded and mumbled something to herself.

"What was that?" Draco asked as he picked up the plates.

"I said 'She drank it all'," Hermione repeated before heading to the kitchen.

"Drank all of what?"

"The potion," Hermione said with a sly smile, "Barbara and Joseph had been trying to get pregnant so I slipped her a fertility potion." Draco rolled his eyes.

"I better get going now, I have a few things I need to check up on," he leaned down and kissed her stomach affectionately, "I'll be back in about a week or two." She nodded and he was gone in a second.

A/N: Wow, I didn't think this would be up so soon, but you guys just make me sooo happy with the reviews I can't help but post again. I'm writing as fast as I can with two stories going at once, so please have patience. Hope you enjoyed it!! Yours Truly

THANK YOUS to: Uber-l33t Rabid Ninja Squirrel, Lizzy009, waffenmac, Isiss2868, Cal8907, sherriithewriter, NINA SOCCER GIRL, CookiMonstr08, spikeecat, magdalena2122, lunar kitsune terror, and princess fifi!! You all don't know how happy it makes me to see that you felt that my fic was worth taking the time to write a review, whether it be praise, criticism or questions, it is all greatly appreciated! I love you guys!!! Yours Truly!