HI Everyone, so glad you're enjoying this story,

Sirius xoxo

Chapter 10.

The following day Hermione was sitting at work having lunch when Luna walked in.

"Hi Mione, how was your night?" Hermione smiled at her nickname and responded, "Well when I got home Harry was gone and he wasn't there this morning either. Either way it doesn't matter, I have made my decision." Luna's eye widened sort of figuring out what her friend was about to say.

"Mione, think about this carefully ok?"

"I have Luna, for all I know he took off with some bimbo last night and besides that I decided I have to do what's right for Charlotte and Draco seems to be far more settled than Harry is."

"Harry is Charlotte's father. Hermione listen to me Draco doesn't even know about her yet and he may not be too thrilled to find out you are guardian to his enemy's daughter." Hermione's eyes widened, "What?"

Luna then explained to Hermione that after she left her yesterday she mentioned to Neville about the conversation and when Neville laughed she asked why.

"Nev told me that back in school Harry and Draco were the worst enemies ever. They hated each other so much and when any thing happened to one, the other was automatically pulled into the headmasters office because as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, that person had something to do with it. So my dear friend it looks like your dilemma just got a lot worse." Hermione couldn't believe it and because she never attended school here all that history is news to her. This definitely changes things.

"I don't know Luna, maybe I will just leave both of them, it just seems too damn hard." Luna looked at her watch and stood up.

"Well lunch is over mate so we had better get back to our rounds then you can get your head around this little drama of yours." Hermione stood up, cleared her sandwich plate and followed Luna out. They chatted most of the way about the upcoming ball and Hermione was getting a little bit excited. Luna's enthusiasm was catching and when they decided to go dress shopping together Hermione was pleased.

"When is a good time for you Luna?"

"Probably tomorrow at lunch because we both don't have rounds and we can put our lunch and afternoon tea breaks together and get at least an hour and a half of shopping done." It was all agreed and the two ladies went to their respective patients and then back to their offices to write reports. Hermione was engrossed in one patient when she felt someone was standing behind her. Without even looking she knew it was Draco. She continued working just to see what he would do and then she felt a light touch on her neck, and then she felt his lips touch her neck. She turned around and saw the desire and lust in his eyes and even though she wanted to feel it too she just couldn't. She stood up and Draco didn't move back to give her room so as she stood she was pressed against his body and he took the opportunity to embrace her and kiss her again. She put her hands up on his chest and returned the kiss. She needed to give him a chance, she had to see if things would work out between them. He deserved that at least.

"Good afternoon," Draco smiled a beautiful smile and Hermione returned it although she looked away.

"Hi to you Mr Malfoy, just wondering if you greet all your staff that way?" Hermione was being cheeky and Draco loved it. He leant in and kissed her again.

"No only the beautiful ones." Hermione strained a laugh, probably more at the embarrassment of being called beautiful as she did not believe such rubbish.

"Well I have work to do Mr, I have this boss who could just turn up whenever so I better get back to it." Draco laughed again and stepped out of his clutch on her and sat on her desk.

"Hermione we should have lunch tomorrow? I have to go away on Wednesday for a meeting with the bosses and probably won't be back till Thursday night late and then Friday I will be organising the ball so 1pm ok?" Hermione smiled and shook her head and Draco asked why.

"Draco you always do that to me, you ask but then you demand, in a nice way, but what if I can't make it tomorrow?" Hermione put her hand on her hip and waited.

Draco stood up and stepped in closer to her and pulled her into him, and then he whispered, "because I ALWAYS get what I want Healer Granger, ALWAYS." He kissed her again and walked out leaving her breathless and bewildered. It was only seconds before Luna walked in and took in the sight in front of her.

"Holy gnomes Hermione what happened to you? And does it have anything to do with Draco walking out looking like the cat who just ate the canary?" Hermione sat down and put her head on the table and Luna walked over and rubbed her back.

"Hermione what happened, did you tell him about Charlotte?"

"Oh Merlin NO not even close to that Luna, he just is so frustrating but not at the same time, I just can't explain it. Anyway I need to change our plans for tomorrow, Mr Malfoy has requested my presence for lunch and Merlin knows he can't and won't take no for an answer." Luna laughed and told her that was fine, they could go Thursday as Wednesday was her rostered day off. Luna hugged her from the back as she was still sitting with her head on the table and started to walk out.

"Hermione I have an idea, and please just hear me out." Hermione sat up and turned around to look at her friend.

"What is it?"

"Why don't you all come to dinner tonight?" Hermione smiled and was about to decline when Luna continued.

"I mean Harry too, you, Charlotte AND Harry?"

"Luna are you out of your damn mind, I have enough to worry about without leading Harry on anymore. No its better if I just forget about Harry and concentrate on Draco. I have the ball with him this week and that's when I will tell him about Charlotte and hope to Merlin it doesn't end badly."

"Umm question my friend, how do you forget about Harry when, number 1 you live with him and number 2 you're in love with him?" Hermione stared at Luna and the realisation dawned in her eyes. She did love Harry but she couldn't let herself, there was way too much at stake. If things ended badly with Draco it would mean finding a new job but Harry was a different problem altogether. Charlotte was the most important person here and she could not lose her, ever. It made her resolution stronger, she had to set things straight with Harry even if it meant life at home would be hard its not like she wasn't used to that anyway.

That night Hermione arrived home to find some beautiful flowers on the dining room table.

"Oh they're lovely Dobby." Hermione said in passing as she walked through the room.

"Oh Miss, they is for you, they came today jut now before Miss gets home from work." Hermione stopped and stared at him then she looked at the flowers again and saw a small card sticking out. She opened the card and read it.

Hope you were thinking of me today

Love Harry xo

Hermione nearly died. This was becoming a mess. She went upstairs to play with Charlotte for a while and when she heard footsteps on the landing she knew Harry was home. She looked at the door and saw him approach. She had to remember her decision was Draco, her decision was Draco, her decision was Draco. It wasn't helping but Hermione had to be strong.

Harry walked in and kissed Charlotte on the head and gave her a hug, Hermione stood up to leave but Harry turned and blocked her exit. He leant forward to kiss her but she moved out of his way. Harry's eyebrows knitted together and he asked whether she received the flowers. She nodded without speaking to him and then she wiggled out of the room and walked into her room. Hermione walked over to the window and leant against it. This was going to be harder than she thought but it was necessary. She knew he was in the room before he turned to close the door. She turned around and stood her ground.

"Harry if I wasn't clear before then I am going to be crystal clear now. I am not interested in you, I am only here for Charlotte and that's it. I am sorry if I have given you the wrong idea but I am interested in someone else. I am dating him and I will not betray him. So you need to stop sending flowers and you need to realise that I am a house guest and nothing more." You could plainly see the pain on Harry's face and Hermione almost gave in to him but she had to be strong.

"Hermione look me in the eye and tell me you feel nothing." She answered quickly, "I don't feel anything Harry."

Harry looked at her and walked over to stand in front of her and she stepped back away from him but she hit the wall behind her. Harry continued walking and as he reached her he put his hand behind her neck and took her hair out. He let it fall down her shoulders and breathed in heavily the strawberry scent it was releasing. Hermione tried not to sigh and when it was clear Harry wasn't going to kiss her she tried to step away but he grabbed both her arms and held her in place.

"You lied to me."

"What are you talking about I have never lied Harry,?" Harry leant forward and pressed his lips to hers and as much as Hermione's entire soul was begging for Harry to deepen the kiss she knew she had to do the final clincher to make Harry stop.

She pushed him away and went to slap him. He caught her hand and turned her palm into his face and kissed it.

"Kiss me Hermione and tell me you feel nothing." Harry demanded. Hermione knew she couldn't do that so it was better that she didn't set herself up for failure.

"No I won't kiss you, I have a boyfriend to kiss me thank you and I would appreciate you staying away from me from now on. Go find one of your stupid bimbo dates to kiss Harry and leave me be." Hermione turned around to face the window and watched Harry, waiting for him to leave. Harry looked her and leant forward and kissed the back of her head.

"OK Hermione you win." Harry turned and walked away while the tears ran down Hermione's face and choked at her heart.

After Harry left Hermione let the tears take over and she cried and cried. She walked over to her bed and sat down and at the minute Charlotte walked in.

"Minnie, Daddy is really sad." Hermione looked at her and patted the seat next to her on the bed.

"What's wrong Charlotte?"

"I said Daddy is sad he is crying, I saw him. Can't you make him feel better like you make me feel better with a cuddle and a kiss Minnie please?" Hermione looked at the beautiful innocent child in front of her and wished life could have been better for her, if her mum was still here and Ginny and Harry would be married then …

Hermione stopped dead in her thoughts and Charlotte noticed the change.

"Minnie what's wrong?" Hermione teared up and then hugged Charlotte tightly. Hermione didn't see Harry walk back upstairs and as he was just about to enter her room he heard the two girls talking so he waited and listened. He came up there to argue his point but was stopped when he heard Hermione crying.

"I was just thinking about your mum sweetheart that's all. You know she would know what to do." Hermione hugged her again and cried a bit more.

"I don't know Charlotte, I wonder whether if mummy was still here and now with your daddy here life would have been much better for you my little precious. They might have gotten married and you would have a normal life." Hermione couldn't hold in the sob that escaped and Charlotte tightened her grip around Hermione's tummy.

"But then Minnie I wouldn't have you." Hermione sobbed a bit louder and Charlotte hugged her again.

"Charlotte I love you so much my love, more than you will ever know."

"I love you too minnie and I love my daddy too, is that a bad thing?" Hermione pulled her away to look her in the eye. Harry's hand flew to his mouth to cover his shock.

"Charlotte Weasley you listen to me, your father is the most wonderful man in the world and he loves you so much that he changed everything in his life to have you here with him. He cares for you so much and you never, ever, ever need to worry about loving him ok?" Hermione spoke true to heart and Charlotte knew this. Harry's tears were streaming down his face and he slid down the wall to sit on the floor with his hands around his head.

"Minnie do you like daddy too?" Hermione looked at her and had to ask the one question that had been on her mind for quite some time now and hopefully to avoid the question she just asked..

"Charlotte honey, can I ask you why you call me Minnie?" Charlotte sat silently for a minute then she looked at Hermione and after she reassured her that it was ok Charlotte continued.

"It sounds like mummy." Charlotte whispered and Hermione's hand flew to her mouth again to cover her sob. They hugged tightly and Hermione kissed her head.

"Charlotte I can never replace your mummy but if you love me that much that you feel that you want to call me mummy then I am more than happy for you to do that. I love you so much." Hermione hugged her tightly.

"My mummy would want me to call you mummy, but I want to know if you like daddy?" Hermione took in a big breath and took her time to answer. Harry waited with baited breath.

"Charlotte honey it's complicated my love." Harry grunted.

"But mummy you know my friend Zac, Luna's his mum?" Hermione nodded then Charlotte continued, "...the other day Jenny from childcare said that Zac liked me and then I told her I didn't like him but then Zac looked so sad and I thought maybe he was sort of ok, so I said he was ok and now he is my new boyfriend. Last week it was Nicholas but he ate dirt and thats gross so now I told him he's not my boyfriend anymore. Its really not hard mummy, do you love daddy like he loves you?" Hermione was amused at her conversation and then shocked at her final statement while Harry stood up.

"Yes Hermione, do you love her daddy like he loves you?" Hermione's head shot up and her eyes were opened wide. Charlotte looked at her dad and then patted the seat next to her so she could be seated in between the two people she loved the most. Harry smiled and sat down his eyes still trained on Hermione.

"Charlotte asked you a question Hermione and I for one am very interested in the answer." Hermione looked at him and ached to tell him she did have strong feelings for him but then she looked at Charlotte and saw the picture her, Harry and Charlotte were making and she knew what she had to do. Hermione stood up and brushed Charlotte's hair out of her face and knelt down in front of her.

"Charlotte baby sometimes we have to do what is right for other people in our life and not what people want us to do. Now I think that's enough chatting for tonight and its bed time. Let's go." Charlotte jumped off the bed and hugged Harry saying goodnight to him and then Hermione followed her out. A few minutes later Hermione went back to her room to find Harry still sitting in the same place she had left him.

"How long were you outside the room?" Harry looked at her and she could see his red eyes and the lost look in them.

"Long enough Hermione, just tell me something please?" Harry stood up and walked over and stood in front of her. He reached forward to tuck a piece of her hair away but she leant away from him so he dropped his hand.

"Do you love him, this man you're with?"

"No, not yet." Harry nodded and then continued.

"Is there a chance you could love him in the future?"

"Yes probably." again Harry nodded.

"Is there a chance you could of loved me?" Hermione looked at him and carefully controlled her voice.

"No Harry..." she whispered, because I already love you she thought.

Harry nodded, leant down and kissed her on the cheek. Hermione could feel wet tear drops but she refused to look at his face because she knew she would break.

Poor Harry, she is breaking his heart.

Hope you enjoyed it

Sirius xoxox