The Curse of Love

Summary: Sequel to Destined to Love. Draco is back, but there's a problem. The curse of Love is about to take place, will Hermione and Draco be safe? Will their love win out? Or will they lose everything, including their unborn child?

Starring: Draco/Hermione (well…yea…), Harry/Ginny, Ron/Luna, Blaise/Lavender (eventual)

A/N: Thank you Jane! My lovely beta!

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Chapter 12:

Where is Home?

Happiness. Something that doesn't come often and when it does come, it doesn't stay for too long. So cherish every moment of happiness you get.

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Right now, Hermione was enjoying herself and was…well happy.

"Double cheeseburger and chips," Draco ordered and then looked at Hermione.

"Same," Hermione smiled at the waitress.

"Okey Dokey," the perky red head grinned.

Alex was sitting in Hermione's lap, trying to grab the flowers off the tablecloth.

"I wonder if he knows there fake," Draco said.

Hermione giggled, "Of course not, he's a baby, he probably likes the colours."

"Pink?" Draco chuckled, "Pass him here."

Hermione passed Alex to Draco.

"Right kid, you're a boy, as in you cannot like pink," Draco told Alex, who actually laughed at him.

"Draco! Of course he can like pink!" Hermione grinned.

"No he can't," Draco warned. "Not if he wants to hang out with me."

"Since when do you like muggles?" Hermione blurted out. "Damn, I'm sorry, I didn't…I wasn't-"

"It's fine," Draco smirked. "Let's leave it as hormones speaking, right Alex?"

Alex seemed to be enjoying Draco's company, he was laughing and kicking his legs.

"Nice set of legs," Draco chuckled.

Hermione smiled, "You're a natural."

"I guess I better get used to babies huh?"

Hermione looked at him confused.

Draco grinned, "You are having a baby Granger. You are also living with me. Understand now?"

Hermione nodded, "Oh yeah."

"What did you think I mean?"

"I thought you meant you knocked up Astoria," Hermione joked.

"In her dreams and in my nightmares," Draco replied making a sick face. "That will only happen if my body gets taken over by…I don't know, the imperius."

Hermione smiled.

"So you will continue to stay with us right?"

"Why would I leave Draco?"

"If your parents decide to come back to the UK."

"I never thought about that."

Draco looked at her, "Miss Know It All not thinking ahead, that's a first."

"Funny," Hermione rolled her eyes. "I guess I should move back in with my parents if they come back."

"Oh…yeah well yeah…but as cute as this kid is, he will be crying, he will make a mess and you in your hormonal and pregnant state might not be able to hack it."

Hermione stared at him with an amused look on her face, "Is that your way of asking me to stay at the Manor."

"No, I'm just…what's best for the kid. Your kid."

Hermione nodded, "I'll think about it. Right now I'm happy where I am, if that changes, I'll let you know."

Draco smiled as they began to eat, "I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that I would be in a muggle shop, with a muggle baby in my lap and with Hermione Granger."

Hermione smiled, "Weirder stuff can happen."

Draco smirked, "Give me an example."

Like you and me married in a parallel futuristic kind of world! "Oh I don't know," Hermione lied. "I can't think of something right now."

"I'm sorry but it's not a good day for you."

"What, why?"

"First not thinking about your future and then not knowing an answer to a question. That is so unHermione like."

Hermione laughed, "People change Draco!"

"I'm the living example of that. But I don't want you to change."

"Excuse me?"

"What don't you understand about that?"

"You want me to be a know it all, bossy, annoying…"

"Boffin? Yes, well no minus the bossy part but leave in the smart and having the answers to everything."

Hermione blushed.

"Tomato," Draco chuckled playing with Alex.

"Well I'm sorry but I am not used to compliments from you," Hermione replied. Technically it wasn't a lie, she was used to compliments from the Draco who had been in the future with her, and this Draco didn't remember that –yet.

"And don't get used to it," Draco joked.

"We should be getting back," Hermione said after a while. "Here pass Alex, you grab the bag."

Draco nodded passing the baby to Hermione.

"Hey baby," Hermione kissed Alex's nose and he giggled.

"Guess I'm not the only natural," Draco smirked.

Hermione paid the bill as Draco did not have muggle money. They walked up to the car and Hermione wanted this moment to last a lot longer. Maybe one day they could be like this with their own child.

"Earth to Granger!" Draco stared at her. Hermione had been standing by the driver's door with Alex in her hand, just dazed. "Stop daydreaming, give me the baby and drive this contraption."

"Car," Hermione replied handing Alex over and getting behind the wheel.

"What were you thinking?" Draco asked sitting in the back with Alex.

"I was just, you know, just…away with the fairies so to speak."

Draco nodded, "Sure you were."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Listen don't mention my pregnancy to my parents."

"Why not?"

"Because they won't approve. I'm just eighteen, the father…well he isn't around. They'll just worry and nag me and I don't need that."

"So are they really traditional. Like husband than child?"

"Sort of yeah but then again my dad had moved in with some slapper when we arrived."

"You could always use that against them if they found out."

Hermione grinned, "I could but let's not get to that point where I have to use blackmail or something."

Draco nodded. Within ten minutes they had arrived back at Hermione's parents house. They had left them for a few hours, and Hermione prayed everything had gone right between them.

Draco knocked on the door. He held the baby in his arms and Hermione could not help but smile.

"What?" Draco asked her.

"Nothing," Hermione blushed.

Draco smirked, "Tomato."

"Ferret," Hermione replied.

Draco was about to respond when the door opened.

"Is there a ferret here?" Louise asked looking around the front lawn.

"A big blonde ferret," Hermione grinned entering the house.

"Oh Hermione!" Louise scolded. "Don't be rude to Draco! He's a lovely boy who wouldn't call you a ferret now would he?"

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"It's ok Mrs Granger, I'm used to Hermione's name calling," Draco replied.

"Louise dear," Louise smiled. "I'll sort my daughter out don't you worry."

Hermione entered the living room, "So, what happened dad?" she looked at her father.

"Your mother has given me another chance, we want to move to London," Max smiled and hugged his daughter as Louise took care of Alex putting him to sleep.

"That's brilliant," Hermione grinned.

"This means we'll be closer to you and you can move in with us," Max grinned.

Hermione paled.

Draco looked at her, "You can think about it and then if you want you can move out, if you don't want to, you don't have to."

Hermione smiled at him, "Yeah…I'll think about it…yeah."

"Think about what?" Louise asked entering the room again.

"Hermione moving in with us," Max replied.

Louise smiled, "That would be great but if she wants to stay where she is with Draco."

"And Narcissa," Hermione added quickly.

Louise grinned, "Yeah."

"You have your own room right?" Max demanded to know.

"DAD!" Hermione turned red again.

"It was a question," Max repeated.

Hermione mumbled something.

Draco grinned, "She has her own room sir, she can have more than one if she wishes."

"Why? How many rooms are there?" Max asked.

"Last time I checked, about fifty, give or take ten," Draco replied watching Max's face change expressions.

"W…hat……" Max choked out.

"It's getting late," Hermione interrupted. "Draco and I should get back."

"It's only 5pm," Max said.

"I'm a little tired," Hermione replied honestly.

"How about you rest upstairs and we'll get dinner ready?" Louise asked her daughter.

"I…" Hermione looked at Draco who nodded. "Okay."

"Great," Louise smiled. "Max you can go to the store and pick me up a few ingredients and Draco you can help me in the kitchen."

Hermione laughed, "Be careful Draco doesn't burn the house down."

"I'm a great cook!" Draco argued.

Hermione smiled, "I know you are but with muggle appliances…without a wand. Understand now why I'm giving mum a warning?"

With a roll of his eyes, Draco replied. "I'll be just fine."

"Especially with me looking after him," Louise smiled. "Now Hermione, off upstairs please. You must be coming down with a bug."

"Yes mum," Hermione replied.

She headed upstairs and lay down. She was so exhausted that she knocked out straight away.

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Draco would hate to admit it but he did enjoy himself when cooking with Louise. The only 'problem' he had was trying to cook the chicken in the microwave. Louise had given him the chicken in the tray to put in the oven. The microwave still had the sticker saying 'microwave oven'. Draco placed it in there without pressing anything and left in there for atleast half an hour before Louise came back from dealing with Alex. She found it hilarious. Draco couldn't help but be amused at himself.

He liked Hermione's family. They were normal. Completely normal. Cooking, cleaning, laughing…all of it. His family…well his mum did the laughing but his dad…no. He could not remember the last time his father had laughed. His mother had always pushed him to have fun, lighten up a bit but it was hopeless. He sighed.

"I'll just wake Herm-" Louise started as Alex began to cry again. "He's hungry."

"I'll go wake Hermione up and you can sort Alex out," Draco smiled.

"Thank you, Max should be back with the cake soon so we can have dinner," Louise smiled. She had not been easy on Max. She had sent him out three more times after sending him to get the ingredients to start with. She smiled at her own cunningness. She loved Max but he wasn't going to get off too lightly.

Draco meanwhile, headed upstairs. Hermione was sleeping soundly with a smile on her face. Draco grinned as he sat on the bed beside her.

"Mia," he said gently.

"Hmm," came Hermione's reply.

"Time to wake up, dinner's ready," he continued.

"Two more minutes," Hermione whispered.

"Fine, if you want your mother to come up and-" Draco started.

"I'm awake!" Hermione sighed opening her eyes.

Draco smiled, "Nice sleep?"

"It was! Until you woke me up!" Hermione huffed.

"At least I was gentle."

"A first."

Draco laughed, "Come on, let's get downstairs before your dad gets back and thinks we're up to no good."

Hermione blushed, "Shut up. Where did my dad go?"

"Your mum has been sending him on errands. Amusing actually."

She smiled at him softly as she sat up. He smirked at her and gently his finger stroked her cheek. He didn't know what had possessed him, he moved back quickly and coughed, "Um, see you downstairs." He smiled again, and left quickly.

Hermione felt herself sigh. She loved being near him especially right now. She needed someone and he surprised her. Even when he couldn't remember her – well his feelings for her – he was still a friend. The way his finger felt on her cheek, his gentle touch…

She got up slowly and freshened up before heading downstairs. Alex was playing in his little gym and Draco was placing the plates on the table while her mother entered the dining room with the meal. Her dad was setting the cutlery. Hermione felt butterflies in her stomach. She would love if this could happen all the time, if Draco could be part of the family.

"Feeling better honey?" Louise asked.

"Much better thanks," Hermione sat down beside Draco and opposite her mother on the table for four.

"Let me serve then," Louise smiled as she filled everyone's plates.

"Smells good hun," Max smiled.

"Draco and I did a good job," Louise laughed.

"Draco actually helped?" Hermione asked.

"Don't act so shocked," Draco chuckled. His uncomfortable feeling disappearing.

Hermione smiled as she looked down at the food.

"De ja Vu," Draco muttered.

Hermione looked at him, "You made a meal once a while ago, and I was hesitant to eat it thinking you'd poisoned it."

Draco smirked, "I remember that, sort of."

Louise and Max looked confused but neither uttered a word.

"Well your mum made most of this so there is nothing wrong with it," Draco regained his composure.

Hermione smiled, "Time to eat." She took a bit and smiled. "Mum you are the best cook."

They ate making small chit chat and by the end of the night Hermione and Draco were both feeling happier than they had over the last few days. It was a night of normality for both of them.

The evening drew nearer then both of them wanted.

"So what will you do know?" Hermione asked. "Draco and I will be leaving tomorrow or even tonight, so will you let us apparate you?"

"We can't, we have to pack!" Louise laughed.

"We can magically pack," Draco offered.

"I think maybe we should do this move the…non magical way," Max replied.

"Don't worry we'll be back in London before your birthday!" Louise smiled to Hermione.

"Birthday?" Draco muttered turning to Hermione.

"It's Saturday tomorrow, so two weeks from tomorrow," Hermione answered.

"Right," Draco noted.

"So what?" Hermione looked at her parents, "This is goodbye, until London?"

Louise nodded, "Hermione, it's two weeks, we'll be back within two weeks. I promise."

Hermione hugged her mother then her father. She gave Alex a little kiss before her and Draco left.

"I want to go back to the Manor," Hermione said as she drove them to the hotel.

"Tonight?" Draco asked.

Hermione nodded, "Yes. Tired of not being…"

"Home," Draco finished.

Hermione laughed, "Malfoy Manor home? Now that's something!"

Draco smiled at her. When they returned to the hotel, they packed up and checked out. They headed to the corner before apparating back home.

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A/N:

Hey, I'm a day late but hey I was busy hehe! Thnks for all the reviews! :D I hope you enjoy.

The fluff is returning from the next part! :D hehe! :D

xxxx

Xxx

Coming Up: Part 3: Hermione's Birthday. What surprises wait for Hermione?