We were the first students to be pregnant. It was safe to say I was walking on air. Despite the circumstances, this was proof that the Malfoy name would not die with me. No one can imagine how much of pain it is to be the last of a family. Then there was the fear that inbreeding was the cause for our near extinction, but my dear muggleborn Hermione wasn't related to me.
Mother said she feared I'd have three eyes, but with my dear muggleborn...I didn't have any of those same silly worries. God was this girl worth it. She was poking her stomach. It seemed as if the wonders of magic had amazed her yet again. Muggles waited an entire two months to start showing symptoms of pregnancy. Crazy.
Unfortunately, my good mood was too good to last. Blaise and his father were staring off.
"That Weasley is too good for you." Marcus made my father look like a kitten. He was 1.93 meters tall and built like a muggle quarterback.
"I'm aware father."
"Does she know your dirty little secret? You know it's been awhile since I've purified you, you're probably reverting back to your old ways." That defiance that had been built up around my friend fell to nothing in seconds. His brown eyes widened and he took a step back. Hermione squeezed around me, marched straight up to Blaise, and gave him one of the most dramatic hugs ever.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Malfoy. You must be Blaise's father." She extended her hand to him, "do you know when you'll be finished with him? He promised to teach me to fly later on."
"Surely you can do without him for a day, Mrs. Malfoy. He took her hand and kissed the diamond upon her finger. Disrespectful swine, "it isn't often that his father visits from Italy now is it?"
"Well I suppose it isn't, maybe we can meet up for dinner then? Surely there's somewhere we can meet in Hogsmeade?"
"I'd be delighted, it'll be my treat." He declared.
"Brilliant, we'll see you two at seven is it alright if we meet outside by the carriages?" She asked, her eyes were wide and her words seemed to hold no meaning aside from the obvious ones, but I had no doubt she would do something if Blaise was returned to us worse for wear.
"Sounds about right." He turned to leave, beginning to lead Blaise behind him, but she stopped him one last time.
"Great and you can tell me all about it at dinner." She emphasized all, before taking my hand and leading me to our hall.
Ginny was furious with us for letting him go. She'd lifted a chair, ready to fling it with all she was worth when Hermione stopped her with our news. The chair crashed to the ground and the enraged ginger darted across the room to hug her friend. She whispered something to Ginny, something that end in a much louder and giggled 'don't tell Draco.'
"Don't tell me what?" She make a locking motion with her lips, "no don't lock your lips, answer me." They ignored me, naturally.
"Is it socially acceptable to go back to being angry yet?" She asked. Hermione shrugged.
"Sure, I know you aren't hitting me with the chair now."
With Hermione's permission the girl began to rant and rave.
"How could you! You know what his father's done and you still let him go! I should box you both about the ears for this!" She raged, "what if he hurts him? Then what?"
"Don't worry, Ginny." Hermione said gently, "if he hurts him we'll be right there and we'll hex the balls off of the guy, we'll be there with Dumbledore and Snape and that blasted Skeeter and expose this guy. They'll have no choice but to convict him."
"Merlin Hermione, that's still his father." I said scandalized, "if something like that got out imagine how the people would react. The Zabini's are huge in this country and in Italy, there would be no way to cover that up. They'd dig into their background and find a long line of child molesters and then what? They'd lose their respect, they'd have to pay out a large portion of their fortune just to shut the prophet up. They'll run the story for weeks!"
"Who cares, he'll get what he deserves!" She snapped, "why are you protecting him?"
"I'm not protecting him. What he's done is wrong, but the family name means more than any one member of the family. Why do you think Blaise hasn't said anything about it?"
"It doesn't make sense-," she insisted.
"Well of course it doesn't make sense to you! You don't know the first thing about family honor, because they stop stressing that in the muggle world ages ago. It's all about you with Muggles, but here it's all about the family."
"My family taught me fine-," she began, but I cut her off again.
"See, there you go. You're acting like a muggle again, making it all about you. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about."
When her glare deepened I turned to Ginny for back up, "you know it's true, Ginny. Your family does it to." She sighed and turned to Hermione.
"It's true."
"But that doesn't make it right." Hermione pushed.
"No, it's not right." Ginny allowed gently, "but Draco is right. Things are different in the muggle world. Family is important, because there are so few of us." Hermione looked between the two of us in frustration.
"So you expect me to drop it? Is that what you're asking?"
"Yes." She glared up at me, nearly crying.
"If Blaise gets hurt because of you, then it's your fault." She turned on her heels and stomped into our room.
"Should I..."
The ginger shook her head no, "she'll hex you cold if you go near her. Let her calm down."
*******Hermione******
Ginny was straightening my hair as we got ready to meet Mr. Zabini.
"Can I ask you a question?" She asked me, breaking the silence that settled two hours ago.
"Sure."
She mulled over it for a little bit, before speaking, "Blaise and I had sex today." I waited for the point, "is it wrong of me to hope I don't get pregnant so that it can happen again?"
"No. Not really, it's nature to want to do the deed. I'm sure he's got a similar need. If he doesn't take the loophole in pretty sure he'll find a way to work it out with you. Talk to him about it." I suggested, "that is...if he hasn't been ...you know." She nodded and fell back into silence. I wasn't exactly speaking to Draco at the moment, but he insisted that -for the sake of appearances- I not act like a 'menstruating child'.
He offered his arm to me as we approached the forest. The carriage was waiting for us. Blaise and his father were already seated. There was no immediate change in his behavior. I'd come to expect Blaise to avoid eye contact and irritable, so his lack of a greeting wasn't evidence. It was normal. I nearly relaxed...nearly, until Blaise asked Draco so switch seats with me. It didn't make sense for him not to want his best friend beside him.
"Are you alright?" I mouthed to him. He looked away quickly and nodded. Ginny sat on his other side and motioned discreetly for me to take his hand. So I did.
Biggest mistake of my life. His grip on my hand nearly broke it.
We rode to the town in silence, my hand was numb now, but I was itching to hex the turd opposite me into oblivion.
"Now, now, Blaise...you might want to let go. Who knows how you'll be punished for harming the new Mrs. Malfoy." The comment was meant to be light hearted. The next thing he knew there were three wands, drawn and aimed at his throat.
"I'd hate to have to report this." He said evenly, "you're all so young, but Azkaban does imprison the young."
"I'm sure they do and they've also got a special place in Azkaban for your kind."
"Mrs. Malfoy I was cleared of all death eater charges." He started up once more, "Blaise, tell them to back down."
"Draco...you know what you're doing." The wand beside me wavered, before falling away.
"Wand down, Hermione." He ordered. I snorted, "now." He forced my wand arm down and pulled me back.
"Ginny, let my father go." Blaise's voice was even, "he isn't worth the publicity." She didn't budge, her grip on her wand never faltered.
"He hurt you."
"Why does it matter?" He insisted, "if you're so worried about me you'll back down. I don't want the press digging around." Draco gave me a haughty look, "they'll ruin my life. Ginny, back down."
"He isn't worth your magic, Ginny. Leave him be." I told her gently. Slowly her wand was lowering, but then a camera flashed. That was all I saw, before Draco apparated away with me in his arms.