Disclaimer: I don't own the recognizable characters.

Draco had planned on telling Hermione the extent of Voldemort's plan that night. But he almost changed his mind when his wife stomped into their common room.

"How'd that go?" Draco asked, looking up from his extremely poorly written Potions essay. He'd ask Hermione to check it later. That is, if she was still talking to him by that point.

"Why am I even friends with Ronald? He's such a... boy." Hermione stated, as if that said it all. Draco wondered what that comment meant, but pushed the thought aside. He had more important things to discuss with the witch.

"Hermione, we have to talk." Draco stated, nervously watching her. He felt a pang of guilt as Hermione's expression changed to one of worry, and her skin seemed suddenly white.

Draco's words hit Hermione like a ton of bricks. Hermione stared at him, wondering what kind of bomb he was going to drop. She sat on the couch for support; otherwise she was about to hit the ground.

Draco got up from his desk. He sat on the edge of the coffee table, which was placed in front of the couch. His eyes were level with hers.

"Hermione, I wasn't completely honest with you about Voldemort's plans."

Hermione felt instant hatred for Voldemort.

"Tell me, Draco. Tell me right now. Don't try and sugar coat it." Hermione said, staring at her husband. She wanted to know what the Dark Lord had cooked up to ruin her life.

"He demands that we conceive."

The word threw Hermione off. Voldemort wanted her to have a baby? Why? Hermione waited for Draco to continue.

"Draco, I refuse to have a baby to serve as some monster for the Dark Lord." Hermione stated, tilting her chin up a little higher. She feared her Gryffindor courage would fail her.

"Monsters," Draco corrected, looking at the floor.

"TWINS?" Hermione screamed, angry. Not even Ron could make Hermione this angry.

"Yes, Hermione, twins." Draco's silver eyes now stared into hers.

Hermione was scared to even have children, let alone twins. Not to mention the whole Voldemort thing. Hermione had no desire to be a mother.

"I don't want to have twins, Draco. I don't even have to have one baby!" Hermione exclaimed, unable to remain seated on the couch. So she started pacing instead.

"Hermione, we don't have a choice! It's babies or we're murdered by Voldermort." Draco stated, the words harsh to Hermione's ears.

"Why us, Draco?" Hermione asked, glaring at her husband. She hoped he had a suitable answer.

"Because I'm the best young wizard in the eyes of Voldemort. I'd argue with him to say that Harry is the best wizard of our generation, but we know how that would go. You're the best witch, Hermione."

Hermione fought the urge to smile at his statement.

"Hermione, listen. I don't like the idea of using babies to serve as Voldemort's pawns, either. Especially our babies. But if we don't conceive, we'll die. There's one flaw in this plan of Voldemort's, Hermione." The wheels in Hermione's head turned as she thought about Draco's statement.

"Time," Hermione whispered, realizing what Draco was getting at. Harry would defeat Voldemort before the Dark Lord had a chance to manipulate the babies.

Draco nodded, and Hermione could see pride in his eyes. She could also see a tinge of regret and sorrow.

"We can't tell Dumbledore, Hermione. Snape knows, and I heard him trying to blow holes in Voldemort's logic. Hermione, we don't have a choice."

A horrible thought occurred to Hermione.

"Did you fuck me because Voldemort asked you to?" Hermione asked, thinking that sex crossed several lines. Marrying was different, because the pair could remain distant. But sex changed everything.

Draco's eyes widened. His answer was immediate.

"No!"

Hermione narrowed her eyes, not fully trusting her husband. He certainly hadn't suggested that the sex meant something more to him. Fucking was rough and meaningless, which was not what their experience had been. At least from Hermione's perspective.

Draco walked towards her, where she'd been pacing. He grabbed Hermione's shoulders and turned her so she was facing him.

"Listen to me, Hermione Malfoy. I had sex with you because I'd been dreaming about it for days. I wanted to have sex with you because you're clever, smart, beautiful inside and out. You're so far out of my league it isn't even funny. And call me selfish, but I'm so glad you're mine." Draco said, and Hermione could hear the honesty in his voice.

Uncomfortable with his answer, Hermione changed the subject. Well, sort of.

"We can't guarantee that we'll have twins, Draco. " Hermione said, refusing to bring more children into this world for Voldemort's use.

"Maybe not in the Muggle world, Hermione. But Snape can make a fertility potion to promise we'd conceive twins. Its accuracy rate is unbelievably high."

"I don't want to do this, Draco. It isn't fair to the children. Or to us." Hermione whispered, returning to her spot on the couch.

"I know, sweetheart, but we don't have other options." Draco replied, sitting beside Hermione and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Hermione couldn't resist resting her head on his strong shoulder.

Hermione woke up with a horrible kink in her neck. She'd spent the night on the couch, using Draco's shoulder as her pillow.

Classes! They had classes today. Hermione looked up at the clock on the fireplace, groaning as it said Potions started five minutes ago.

Snape was going to have their heads.

"Draco! Draco wake up!" Hermione screamed, shaking him. He groggily opened his eyes, staring at her as if she had lost her mind.

"Potions started five minutes ago!" She ran into the bedroom to pull on her school robes and her hair in a ponytail. Draco was behind her, reaching for his robes.

They gathered their books and ran down the hallways to the Potions classroom. When they got there, Hermione forced Draco to enter the classroom first.

"Gryffindor," Draco muttered, shaking his head in disgust.

Professor Snape sent them a glare that could've killed. The classroom was dead silent, and every pair of eyes was on them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, do not think that the rules have changed simply because you're married. You still have to attend every class on time." Several Slytherins snickered at the statement, but one look from Draco shut them up.

"I'm terribly sorry, Professor. It won't happen again," Draco said, staring at Snape. Snape's eyes were on Hermione, though.

Snape's cold, dark eyes stared into hers. Hermione fought the urge to hide behind Draco.

"That's what you said last week, Draco. Ten points from Slytherin." Snape said, and every Slytherin in the classroom groaned.

Was he not going to take points from Gryffindor?

"I am fairly certain Mrs. Malfoy would be on time, without your influence. No points will be deducted from Gryffindor." Snape's statement surprised Hermione. Draco looked at her, his eyes wide.

"Professor, are you okay?" Draco asked, instantly wishing he could take it back.

"Take your seats, Malfoys." Snape ordered, walking behind his desk.

Hermione rushed to her seat next to Harry. Ron nearly sat on the edge of the bench, clearly uncomfortable.

Harry smiled at her sympathetically.

"Hey, Hermione?" Harry whispered, trying to avoid Snape's attention. Hermione looked at him, opening her textbook to the proper page, which was written on the blackboard.

She hadn't studied ahead in her classes since her marriage, Hermione hated to admit. Hermione groaned in annoyance when she read the chapter's title.

They were starting to focus on Fertility Potions.

"Hermione?" Harry whispered, gently kicking her leg to get her attention. Hermione looked at him, wondering what was so important.

"What, Harry?" Hermione kept looking in Snape's direction, hoping he wasn't near their table.

"Why are you wearing Slytherin robes?"

AN: so... sorry if this chapter seems a little short. The lack of reviews is starting to annoy me. TWO reviews for the last chapter, guys. If you've added this story to your favorites, PLEASE review! Tell me why you like it so much! It's hard to create new chapters with such little feedback.