Chapter 11

Hermione's POV

I finished up the dishes while Draco sat in the chair, sulking. Again. I sighed. It had been a week, and so far, all he had done to make himself productive was going out to find a job. At which, he had failed.

Not fair, I told myself. He had never had to work before; he had no experience in anything, much less anything muggle-related. Still…he could be trying a little harder to make this place habitable.

"Draco, will you please stoke the fire?" I asked politely.

I saw him open his mouth to say something, and then shut it. He stalked over to the fire and bent over to take care of it. I couldn't help but admire the view. Then I shook myself.

I was pregnant. And it was starting to show. I was in no place to be admiring a man. He is the one who got me pregnant. No. It was his father, the scum-sucking low-life piece of shit. And that's why it's okay to look at him. Because he's not really the one that put you through all that horrible pain. I stopped the conversation with myself. I had bigger things to worry about than my feelings about Draco.

"Thank you." He only nodded, walking to sit back in his chair and stare at the floor. "So…" I said, trying to make small talk.

"What?" he asked, voice surly.

"What have you been doing while I'm at work?" I asked, trying not to let his temper get to mine.

"Looking for a job." Came the short reply.

"Oh. And..err…have you found one?"

"No."

"Maybe you're not looking hard enough." Okay, maybe that was a little over the line, but I really was tired of doing everything around here.

Draco stood up suddenly, his eyes blazing. "What do you want me to do, Hermione? I am totally helpless in your world. I know nothing. How do you think that makes me feel? How do you think it makes me feel to have to depend on you for everything? It's not been exactly a picnic for me here!"

"You are not helpless! There is stuff you could do, even if you can't find a job. Like trying to make this place fit to live in, for one. But no, I have to come home every night, from my eight, nine and sometimes ten hour shifts, and then make you dinner, and wash the dishes, and make sure the fire is going to be okay through the night. You know what would really help me out, Draco? If you would take some initiative, and help out around the house!"

Draco was silent for a minute. Then, he sat back down, and rubbed his face. "I'm sorry," He said in a low voice. "I'm really not angry at you. It's the whole situation that has got me so mad. Neither of us asked for it, but here we are. And I'm not doing anything to make it better."

Damn it. Now I felt bad for yelling at him. "I understand. And, it's okay. Why don't we just go to bed. It's been a long day."

"I think I'm going to stay here for awhile, if you don't mind. Don't worry, I'll watch the fire tonight." He said, looking into the flames.

"Oh…okay. 'Night, then."

"Good night, Hermione."

The next morning when I woke up for work, he was asleep on the couch. I stood there for a minute, just looking at him. Asleep, he looked so…good. Like someone who was doing the best he could in a world almost foreign to him. I resolved to be nicer. I was sure the words I had said last night had an effect on him.

Another day, another dollar was the only way I could describe waitressing. The people were rude, hardly tipped or didn't tip at all, and I could hear them whispering under their breath how bad the food was. Which isn't even my fault – I don't cook it. And, in any case, what's the point in complaining to each other and then saying, 'Fine, thank you' with a face like a wet weekend when I ask if everything is okay. I can't pass on customer comments if you won't make any!

I got home, and my feet were killing me. My belly seemed like it was growing every day, and it was becoming a conversation starter at work. "Oh, you're pregnant! When is it due? What are you hoping for? I bet you're so excited." What I wanted to tell them was "How did you figure that out? July. I want a girl, and, no, I'm not in the least excited, unless terrified counts as excited. Thanks for assuming, though." I was getting to be really irritable these days.

As I was putting my things away in my room, I noticed something sitting on my chest of drawers. A packet of Ginger Nuts. Tears welled up in my eyes at the thoughtfulness, and I hurriedly wiped them away. Stupid hormones. But all the same, the thought was really sweet.

"Thanks for the Ginger Nuts," I said, coming out of my room. "I'll make a pot of tea tonight and have them with that." I smiled.

"Actually, I had something I wanted to ask you." Draco said, coming to stand in front of me.

"Oh. Okay."

But he didn't say anything, just stood there, wringing his hands. It was almost comical.

"You had something to say…?" I said, prompting him.

"Umm..Well what you said last night really…I mean, it really got me to thinking…So, what I did…Did you want to go out to dinner tonight, for a change?" he blurted out.

"Oh…that sounds nice, but I really don't think we have the money…"

"I got a job loading logs," he said, and my eyes automatically went to his hands. They were scratched. "So, it'd be my treat for a change."

Trying to lighten the mood, I joked with him. "What, are you asking me out on a date?"

"No! Of course not. Just…I thought you might like a night off…it's not a big deal…you can say no…" I cut off his rambling.

"I would love a night off. Let's go."

I changed, and then we headed out into a cold night. One thing was for sure, this would be interesting.