A/N: Thanks for the awesome reviews!

DISCLAIMER: Only the plot!

Chapter Ten

Harry looked from his best friend to her husband and let out a low sigh. He turned away and walked over to Maria, Ashton and Ron – who glanced at a worried Hermione with a slight frown.

"Lucius was here. We need to research this silent apperation thing he has the ability to do. I am sure he has also taught this to Morris," said Harry, "Ashton, have you made any progress in finding Hermione's cousins?"

"We think we may have caught their trail in Dublin. I've contacted the Auror office there and a Seamus Finnigin is tracking them with assistance from the Muggle Police."

"Excellent. Maria and Ron, I want you both researching the silent apperation. I suggest starting with the Department in control of apperation… maybe even speak with experts. Do what you can, alright?"

"What about Hermione and Malfoy?" asked Ron, "How will you keep them safe?"

"I'll be setting wards around their property and organizing a patrol to come by every hour."

"Harry-" started Ron angrily.

"It's all I can do at the moment, Ron! I will be coming by myself throughout the day."

Frustrated, Ron left with a crack and Maria left after giving Harry a confused look.

"I'll head over to Dublin and see where Seamus is at."

"Thanks Ash," said Harry before turning back and walking over to Hermione and Draco, "I have Maria and Ron researching the apperation. Ashton just told me they may have tracked down your cousins, Hermione."

"Finally," said Draco in an irritated tone, "It's only taken four months."

"I know," replied Harry with a sigh, "Now, I will be setting wards around your property that will only allow those you wish to come into your property. I need you both to write down the full names of the people… please keep it short. I will also have a patrol of two aurors come by every hour and I will come by as well."

Hermione nodded and gave Harry a strained smile, "Thanks Harry. I know you are doing the best you can."

"Legally," replied Harry, "If I could I would have a permanent team here at all times."

"Have you tried talking to my mother? She is bound to know more then she lets on," said Draco.

"She's resisting the shock charm. We can't get anymore out of her."

"Let me try."

Harry frowned, "What?"

"You heard me, Potter."

"Draco. Please… be reasonable," begged Hermione.

Draco looked at his pleading wife and looked back at Harry. His eyes were full of determination, "Let me try. I am her son and I have ways of making her talk."

"I'll have her brought in."

Letting out a huff of anger, Hermione turned and stormed back into her house.

Draco pushed open the door to his wife's office. She was just sitting down from sending away an owl and barely spared Draco a glance.

"I just sent a letter informing my boss I am working from home for the rest of the week. I also wrote down the names of those who have permission to come to our property."

"Hermione," sighed Draco leaning against the door frame.

"Don't Hermione, me!" snapped Hermione looking over at him, "You don't know what she could say or do when you see her! There could be a simple word that could trigger your memory loss again!"

"I was given the all clear by the best healer in the field! Nothing will happen to me!"

"You don't know that! You don't! There is no such thing as being perfectly safe anymore – at least not while your father skulks about with Morris!"

Draco walked over to Hermione, circling around her desk before he knelt beside her and placed a hand on her red flushed cheek, "To make everything perfectly safe, I need to walk in the pit of snakes again. Our babies depend on this."

"I don't want to lose you," whispered Hermione, "I keep on waking up, terrified that you aren't going to be in our bed with me."

Draco leaned forward and gently kissed Hermione on the lips, "I'm never letting anyone keep us apart."

"She's all yours," said Harry looking through the mirrored glass as Narcissa Malfoy sat primly in her seat despite looking haggard in her appearance.

Draco gave a nod to Harry and walked into the room. His mother looked at him in surprise, before smiling warmly.

"Draco, my sweet boy," she said tenderly, holding out a hand for him to hold.

Draco looked at his mother's hand, taking in her dirty nails and grime stained hands. With a scowl he ignored it and sat opposite her. His grey eyes glared at her coldly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out two ultrasound images.

"Your grandchildren," he said, "Twin Malfoy's."

"Half-bloods!" spat Narcissa in disgust, "How can you breed with that waste of magic?"

"Say what you want but either way they are your grandchildren - your blood."

Narcissa glared coldly at Draco, "What do you want?"

"You need to do what is right. You need to tell the truth or the family line will die. You know father will kill Hermione if he is able to. I won't let that happen. I will die to protect her."

Narcissa looked at Draco in silence but the cold look was no longer in her eyes. It had been replaced with something Draco hadn't seen cross them in many years – not since the final battle against Voldemort – fear.

"You can't die."

"I will," stated Draco firmly, "If it means my wife and children get to live. I refuse to let any harm come to them."

Narcissa shook her head as tears filled her eyes, "I lied to Voldemort to keep you alive! I refuse to let you put your life on the line for – for – for-"

"For love, Mother. Love."

Narcissa sucked in a cold breath and looked at Draco coldly, "Your father has a hidden cottage… I know not of its exact location. Only that it lies within thirty-five miles of Hogsmeade. I believe he is hiding there with Morris."

Draco nodded, "What else?"

"He does love you, Draco. Your father has nothing but love for you."

Draco snorted coldly, "If father really loved me he would accept my choices – as would you."

"You could have been happy with Pansy!"

"It wasn't meant to be."

Narcissa gave a huff and crossed her arms in front of her in annoyance.

"Look… I know I was never the most loving son… that I acted like a spoilt prat – not entirely my fault either – but I am here, before you right now, begging you to do what a mother would do for any child of theirs and help me."

Draco stared at Narcissa, not breaking the eye contact with her. Narcissa looked back at her son with her slightly sunken eyes. Her finger's twitched a fraction before she uncrossed her arms and leaned forward. Her eyes seemed to spark with life and determination in them.

"You think coming here, acting liked a loving son who is so desperate to protect his filthy wife and beg me with your heartfelt speech is going to make me give up any information I may have?"

"A person can hope, but clearly redemption is off the cards for you," snarled Draco.

Draco stood and slammed the chair into the table before walking over to the door. He came to a halt as the door pushed open with Hermione stepping in.

"Hermione-" started Draco worriedly.

Hermione held a hand up and walked over to the table and looked at Narcissa before speaking quietly, "You can hate me all you want – even though you don't know me… but you cannot hate your own son enough to wish such ill well on his own children. If you have any decency as a human, as a witch… as a mother you will just do the right thing."

"Your family wants you isolated and alone," stated Narcissa in a monotone, "Taking Draco away will devastate you and make us happy. Once you are broken and alone… you will be easy prey for them."

Draco stepped closer to his wife and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Good luck to them with making that happen."

Draco turned Hermione away from his mother and led her out the door. Reaching behind him to grab the door handle, Draco looked at his mother one last time, ensuring his face showed nothing but anger and disgust.

"Oh Harry that is wonderful!" beamed Hermione as she spoke into the telephone, "Well congratulations… tell Ginny we will come see her tomorrow… will do. Don't worry about us, you just focus on Ginny and your son… bye."

Hermione put the phone down and turned to her husband who was quietly reading Which Broomstick?

"A boy! James Sirius Potter. Seven and a half pounds."

"Wow. Soon enough that will be you having our two," replied Draco not taking his eyes off the magazine.

"Yes well these two won't be that big. The Healer said they would roughly be between five to five and a half pounds."

"Yeah. It is great for Potter and his wife."

Hermione frowned and looked at Draco to see he wasn't even focusing on the conversation and more so on whatever was written on the pages before him. With a smirk, Hermione continued talking, "You know I was thinking we could name them Gillyweed and… oh I don't know, Dobby."

"I completely agree."

"Yeah and we could dress them in potato sacks and send them to a muggle school – ignore the fact that they would need training in magic."

"I'm sure that will be fine."

"Great. Just so you know," continued Hermione as Draco finally looked at her, "I will hold you to those two names."

Hermione walked out to the hall and staircase with her husband looking at her in complete confusion.

"What did I agree to?" he muttered to himself.

With a groan Hermione stood up and slid out of bed. If there was one thing she truly detested about being pregnant, it was the constant need to go to the bathroom.

"If you two would just get off my bladder for once, everything would be fantastic," muttered Hermione as she headed down the hallway, only to pause as a smell wafted from the staircase leading to the kitchen.

Curiously, Hermione headed down the stairs before coming to a halt at the cloud of smoke slowly moving up the stairs towards her.

"Shit!" cried Hermione as she turned and hurried up the steps, "Draco! Draco! DRACO WAKE UP!"

Hermione hurried over to the bedroom door and shoved it open. The door swung back hard and slammed into the wall, startling Draco awake.

"Hermione, what the hell?"

"The house is on fire! We have to get out and we can't freaking apperate!"

"My broom is in the kitchen."

"Oh brilliant, kindling for the fire," cried Hermione as panic engulfed her.

Draco grabbed his wand and threw Hermione hers before he took hold of her hand, "Calm down. I don't need you to lose your head now. I'm guessing the kitchen is on fire?"

Hermione nodded and Draco pulled her along behind him to the staircase. In those few minutes Hermione had gone back into the bedroom the smoke had begun to flood up into the hallway.
"Bubble head charm!" shouted Draco as he clenched Hermione's hand tighter.

Hermione quickly cast the charm as Draco did and followed him towards the staircase. He pulled her down the stairs towards the entry hall which welcomed them to a thick, smoke filled hallway. As Draco scanned the barely visible room, the kitchen door burst into wooden splinters as the heat from the flames became too much for it to bear. Quickly, Draco pushed Hermione back towards the stairs, shielding her body with his as the wood flew along the hall.

"We need to run for the front door," said Draco loudly over the roar of the flames.

Hermione nodded and gripped onto Draco's hands as they both ran as quickly as Hermione could go towards the door. Holding his wand out, Draco blasted the front door to splinters of wood and shards of glass as he and Hermione ran out into the cool night's air. Both headed down the front pathway to the street in time to hear the echoes of apparition as Harry arrived with a team of aurors.

Draco removed the bubble charm as he turned to look at his home burning to the ground. The sight shot a wave of fury through him as he turned to Harry, his grey eyes ice cold as he spoke, "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?"

"Draco-" said Hermione trying to calm him despite feeling furious and upset, amongst a million other emotions.

"YOU SAID NO ONE COULD GET THROUGH THE BARRIERS! CLEARLY THAT WAS A LOAD OF COMPLETE HIPPOGRIFF SHIT!"

"I don't know how it happened!" shouted Harry before looking at the burning home, "The barriers are checked daily! Fuck! Maria!"

Everyone looked around them for the feisty Auror and began murmuring when she didn't seem to make her way over to Harry, Draco and Hermione.

"MARIA!" yelled Harry in frustration as he looked around him, "Shit – Collins, go to Maria's. She may have slept through the signal. Report back to me in five minutes."

The auror nodded and left with a crack.

"Hopkins, when are the fire squad arriving?"

"Any minute now, boss," replied a male Auror.

"What's the point?" said Hermione as tears filled her eyes, "Everything is lost now. May as well let it burn down and be done with."

"Babe," sighed Draco reaching out to Hermione.

Hermione shoved away his hands and shook her head, "It doesn't matter what we do. Lucius won't stop until we are dead! Or at least I am at any rate."

"I won't let him hurt you."

"There is only so much you can do Draco! The mans a nutcase in every worst possible way!"

Draco looked helplessly at Hermione as tears fell down her face. Just as Harry was about to speak the auror, Collins arrived looking pale and shaken.

"Boss… it's… it's not good."

Harry looked at Collins and closed his eyes briefly before speaking, "She's dead?"

Silently, Collins nodded as Hermione sobbed even harder.

Draco opened the door to his and Hermione's hotel room and let Harry in. Hermione was sitting by the window looking out at the lightening sky, her hair still damp from a shower.

Harry sat in the seat opposite Hermione as Draco sat beside his wife, still not game to hold her hand or touch her in any way since she rejected his comfort.

"So it looks like the work of Lucius and Morris in murdering Maria," said Harry softly, "I think it was a warning to you both… that he is getting closer."

"He burnt our home down, Potter. I take that as more than a sign."

"That fire… was started by Ashton and Ron."

"What?" gasped Hermione, turning away from the window.

"They were under the Imperious curse. I dare say your cousins knew they were close and contacted Lucius and Morris... I'm sure the rest is pretty clear."

"So no one is safe," whispered Hermione looking completely devastated.

"We have one final option at protecting you both and your children."

Hermione and Draco looked at Harry expectantly.

"Only myself and the aurors at the scene tonight know you both survived the fire – as well as Kingsley… we believe the best course of action is to send you guys into hiding on the pretence to the rest of the world that you both died."

Hermione gasped and Draco became as still as a statue.

"B-but that means I-I won't get to see any of you… meet James… o-our children won't know who they r-really are… Harry. Harry are you sure there is no other way?"

"We tried everything Hermione… Lucius won't stop."

Hermione looked at Draco helplessly and he finally reached out and placed his hand over hers.

"Hermione… we need to protect our children," said Draco softly.

Hermione slowly nodded in agreement, one hand touching her stomach, "I know," she whispered, "I just wish there was another way."

"If I could vanish from this life I would – especially if it meant it would keep you three safe."

Hermione shook her head furiously and moved closer to Draco, "Don't be stupid! I won't go anywhere without you! I refuse to let him come between us!"

Draco looked at Hermione seeing nothing but determination in her eyes.

"We will do it, Harry," said Hermione, "From… from this moment on Draco and Hermione Malfoy are dead."

Harry nodded and let out a deep breath, "I'll get everything organised."

Hermione nodded and Harry left quietly. Once the door shut behind him, Hermione looked over at her husband who was watching her quietly.

"You are amazing," whispered Draco, "You are leaving everyone behind – your parents, your oldest friends… for me."

"For us," corrected Hermione, "I would go to hell and back to keep us together. I'm never losing you again, Draco Malfoy. If that means leaving England behind then so be it. I love you and I vowed to stay with you until we die."

Draco leaned forward and kissed Hermione tenderly on the lips, "I love you."

Hermione smiled, "I love you too."

"Derek Castle," read Draco, "Half-blood, home schooled and now a sports journalist."

"Hayley Castle," said Hermione calmly, "Half-blood, graduated Hogwarts and I am a… receptionist."

Harry nodded awkwardly, "We tried to keep you in similar fields but Hermione… Kingsley felt it best to keep you away from the temptation of spotlight cases. You like to take the big ones on for the challenge."

Hermione nodded with a sigh, "I'll be home with these two for a bit anyway. That will be challenging enough."

"So where are we moving to? Germany? Bulgaria? Hungary?" asked Draco.

"Australia."

"What?"

Harry nodded, "It's far away from here and you have no chance of apperation that far without raising alarm. Lucius would be forced to stop as an apperation ban will automatically occur if he travels out of the country without Ministry permission."

Hermione sucked in a deep breath and looked at Harry with watery eyes, "When do we leave?"

"In ten minutes."

Hermione gasped and stood up from her seat and engulfed Harry in a tight hug as she sobbed into his shoulder. Harry held onto Hermione tightly, his eyes watering up also.

Draco stood and with one glance at his wife left the room to allow her and Harry to have a moment alone.

"I-I just got you and Ginny back… I was working on being friends with Ron… a-and now… oh Harry."

"I know… trust me, I know Mione," whispered Harry as he stepped back and looked at her sadly, "But just know that this is for a good reason. At least I know you are safe."

"Can we ever come back?"

"I will not stop until Lucius Malfoy is locked away for good."

Hermione nodded and wiped her face clean from tears.

"Here," said Harry handing Hermione a photo, "Meet James Sirius Potter."

Hermione looked at the little baby with a shock of red, messy hair and brown eyes. He had Harry's facial features, except he had Ginny's button like nose. In the photo he was squirming about until Ginny's hand appeared and soothed him with a gentle caress at the top of his head.

"Oh Harry… he is just beautiful."

Harry smiled proudly, "Yeah he is. Hagrid reckons he will live up to the name of my father and Sirius for sure."

Hermione chuckled, "I bet he will."

A knock at the door happened and Draco appeared from the bathroom and opened it to Ashton walking in.

"It's time," he said grimly.

Hermione gasped again and looked at Harry.

"The floo network is set up to the fireplace here. It's pre-set to take you both straight to the Australian Ministry of Magic branch in Brisbane," explained Harry in a sombre tone, "From there the Auror department will take you to your new home… and life."

Draco nodded and held his hand out to Harry to shake, "Thankyou Potter."

Harry nodded and shook Draco's hand firmly before looking at Hermione, who was silently crying again. He stepped forward and embraced his dearest friend in a hug as she gripped onto him tightly.

"I'm going to miss you so much," whispered Hermione.

"Nonsense. In time you will be too busy to think of me."

Hermione shook her head and looked at Harry, "You, Ginny, Ron, Jenna, Seb, Trey and Taylor will be in my every thought, every day."

Harry hugged Hermione once more and then gently pushed her towards the fireplace which had roared to life.

"This isn't goodbye," said Hermione determinedly as she looked at Harry, "This is: see you later."

With that, Hermione stepped into the fireplace with Draco and was gone with a flash of green flames.

"See you later," whispered Harry.

A/N: Gah! I was nearly crying as I wrote the last part! Review…