I don't own the magical world of Harry Potter...


"Alright, Hermione. Fess up." Ginny said, watching Hermione from across the table.

"What?" Hermione asked, surprised. Harry and Ginny were staring at her, and even Ron had a funny look on his face.

Hermione and Ron hadn't spoken since their fight. They both just pretended like the other wasn't around.

"You aren't talking to Malfoy." Ginny stated, as if it was quite obvious. Hermione hadn't realized she'd been ignoring her husband, too.

"Really? I haven't noticed. It is completely unintentional, I promise."

"Hermione, look at Draco." Harry said, fear written in his expression. Hermione turned towards the Slytherin table.

Blaise was supporting Draco, who was keeled over. Draco's eyes met Hermione's, and she could see the pain and fear in his eyes.

The Dark Lord was calling.

Blaise was looking at Hermione, questions in his eyes. Hermione didn't move to get up from the table.

Hermione looked at Professor Snape, seated at the High Table. Minerva had her hand over her mouth, but she wasn't moving, either. Snape's eyes narrowed into slits as he watched the situation unfold.

Hermione remained seated, refusing to move. She'd been thinking about Draco's news bomb all day yesterday. He'd known about this part of the 'plan' since before she married him. And yet he had kept it secret from her.

She did honestly believe he wanted to have sex with her, regardless of the Dark Lord's orders. The way he had touched her had been far too passionate for someone who wasn't interested at all.

It was that thought that made her get up. She walked across the Great Hall at a normal pace, reaching Draco's side soon enough.

Draco tried to smile at her, and Blaise looked relived that she was there.

"Hermione, we have to get him to the infirmary." Blaise said, and Hermione understood that infirmary was code for Voldemort.

Hermione wrapped an arm around Draco's waist, and he was almost dead weight. Between Hermione and Blaise, they managed to essentially carry Draco into the hallway, where he immediately Apparated.


Draco hated Voldemort. He was only Marked because his idiot father had marked him when he was three. It was a miracle Draco wasn't entirely corrupt and evil-minded.

Draco heard Voldemort say they were waiting for another man, and Draco assumed it was Blaise. Blaise was usually at these kinds of meetings.

They were gathered in a forest, but that was all Draco knew. Everything else was too dark to distinguish, and nobody dared to use a wand.

Blase appeared with a loud pop, and he immediately made his way towards the empty spot in the circle. Draco was in the middle, facing Voldemort.

"Malfoy, how are relations progressing with your wife?" Voldemort asked, his cold eyes staring at Draco.

"They're much better, sir." Draco stated, wondering if he was mistaken. He'd think about that later, when Voldemort couldn't use Occlumency against him.

"You've fucked?" Voldemort hissed, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

Draco nodded, raising his chin triumphantly. "Yes, my Lord."

There were moments of silence, which Voldemort used to think about Draco's statement.

"Is the girl pregnant?" Voldemort's question made Draco's heart stop. He thought back to their lovemaking, picturing Hermione lying beneath him. Voldemort laughed, the noise sounding evil, and then his expression lifted into a smile.


Hermione had been studying in the library with Ginny, Ron and Harry all evening. Much to her surprise, worry hadn't entirely consumed her thoughts. But Draco was always on the back of her mind.

When Hermione returned to her common room, she found Draco asleep on the couch. He didn't look injured, and his face was free of pain or tension.

Hermione's gaze traveled to the Green Vase. Draco had Apparated instead of using the portkey. The thought was somewhat troubling.

She decided to let her husband sleep, and she walked to the bedroom. After changing into more pjs and brushing her teeth, Hermione crawled into bed.

Hermione smiled in her sleep. She was having the most wonderful dream. She and Draco were beginning to make love, and he was straddling her. Hermione felt the pressure of his lips on hers, and his tongue slid into her mouth.

Draco focused on her neck, sucking and kissing the soft skin.

Hermione felt his hand slide under her shirt, and her eyes flew open.

This wasn't a dream!

Draco was laughing at her, his silver eyes full of happiness and light. Hermione groaned, embarrassed. Something like this would have never happened with Ron!

Draco was laughing at her, a sound that was strange to Hermione's ears. She thought Draco never laughed.

"I was wondering when you were gonna wake up, sweetheart."


Hermione was having trouble focusing during Muggle Studies. Sure, she knew everything about what her Professor was teaching. Hermione would ace the test on computers, no problem.

The past two times she and Draco had made love, she hadn't used any form of protection.

Hermione thought about children and motherhood on her way to dinner. She wasn't ready to be a mother. It was never one of Hermione's goals. She knew Draco would be a wonderful father, having grown up with such a terrible father.

Hermione wondered what their child would look like, let alone how the child would turn out. Would he or she be sorted into Gryffindor? Or Slytherin? Would the child come to know Ron as an Uncle?

By the end of the day, Hermione's unanswered questions were starting to aggravate her. Harry was cautious around her, Ginny observed with curiosity. Wisely, Ron hadn't said anything at all.

Hermione sat on the couch, reading Hogwarts: A History. She re-read the novel whenever she was in a bad mood.

Draco wasn't in their dormitory. She hasn't seen him since he woke her up last night. He was gone before she woke up this morning.

Eventually, Hemrione gave up. Draco wasn't coming home tonight.


Draco Malfoy laughed at the Slytherin antics. They were playing a warped version of pin the tale on the donkey. Instead of a donkey, they had a huge poster sized picture of Scarhead.

Draco cheered as Pansy stabbed the knife through Harry's forehead. He felt like a traitor. He knew Hermione would be upset with what he was witnessing. But in his defense, Draco turned down every offer to take a stab at the game.

Pansy sat next to him on the couch, laughing.

"Congrats, Panse." Draco drawled, slapping her knee.

"Thanks, Drake. Too bad we can't go have sex." Pansy slurred, smiling at him and batting her eyelashes.

"I'm a married man, Parkinson. We don't want to tarnish your reputation." Draco stated, trying not to panic.

There was no possible way his situation would turn out to his advantage.

Draco noticed Blaise was playing a game of Wizards Chess. He excused himself of Pansy's presence, and wandered over towards Blaise.

"Isn't your wife waiting for you?" Blaise asked, raising an eyebrow once he saw Draco. Draco looked at the clock and nearly dropped his bottle of Butterbeer.

Classes started in nearly ten minutes. How had he not noticed the time? He hadn't gone home all night. He'd lost track of time in the Dungeon.

There was no way he could make it to Potions on time. Professor Snape was actually going to kill him this time.


Hermione was furious. Draco clearly hadn't bothered to come home last night. His side of the bed remained untouched.

Harry's green eyes were filled with concern the moment he saw her expression. She sat next to him and opened to the section of Fertility potions.

Hermione did notice that Draco wasn't in the classroom. She assumed he wasn't with Voldemort, since he'd just recently been summoned.

Pansy was also not in the classroom. Hermione tried to shove that thought out of her mind.

Just as Professor Snape silences the class, Draco opens the door. Hermione can see Professor Snape's expression of absolute outrage. Professor Snape looked at Hermione with one raised eyebrow.

Draco's gaze met Hermione's, and he stared at her. She saw the apology in his silver eyes.

"Mr. Malfoy, you are late once again. You will be in my office every night this week to serve detention. Twenty points will be removed from Slytherin." Snape scolded, narrowing his eyes at Draco.

Draco nodded, moving to take his seat on the Slytherin side of the classroom.

Hermione groaned when Spane announced they would be working on a project with a member from the opposite house.

Hermione hated the Slytherins.

Pansy burst into the classroom before Professor Snape could assign partners. He simply deducted more points from the Slytherins.

"Harry Potter, Blaise Zambini." Hermione smiled at Harry, thinking he was lucky to have been paired with Blaise. Blaise would treat him fairly, and do his fair share of work. Which was probably more than what Harry was going to contribute, Hermione thought.

"Ronald Weasley, Draco Malfoy."

Hermione groaned, feeling sorry for both parties involved. They would drive each other crazy. She was curious to see who would be victorious, though. She'd place bets on her husband.

Hermione held her breath, knowing Snape would announce her name next.

"Hermione Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson."

Hermione heard Pansy's gasp from across the room. Draco had a worried expression on his face, but she wondered what partnership he was worried about.

Hermione braced herself for the complaints from Pansy. Pansy wisely kept her mouth shut.

Hermione cursed her favorite Professor for paring the enemy houses together.

Her life would be much simpler without Potions class with the Slytherins.


an: MUCH better job reviewing, keep it up! Sorry this chapter took a while. I was suddenly really busy. I dunno how I feel about this chapter, though. Wizards probably don't play pin the tale on the donkey. ;)