Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my ideas. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Fourteen: Past Meets the Present
August 29th, 2002
"Hermione, I can't believe this!" Harry exclaimed, his arms raised in surprise.
Hermione sighed and took a sip of the hot coffee she had just poured herself. The night before when she'd arrived home after a long, silent walk with Draco, she had refused to discuss anything with Harry. She'd found Meredith asleep on the couch with her head in Harry's lap and quickly put her daughter to bed, refusing to speak until morning.
She had been surprised when Draco took her hand, but had felt encouraged by it all the same. While it had only been a tiny action, it had meant something. It had given her hope.
"Yeah, well, sometimes I can't either." she sighed, plopping herself down on a kitchen chair.
"He's her father. Draco Malfoy is actually Meredith's father." he said.
Hermione nodded at him. "Yeah. Yeah, he is."
"HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?" he screamed.
Hermione jumped to her feet, placing her arms on his shoulders and shaking him gently.
"Don't wake up Meredith, you git!" she whispered.
Hermione glanced down the hall, making sure that the door to Meredith's room was still shut. When she deemed her daughter still asleep, she grabbed Harry's hand and tugged him into his own living room, sitting down on the couch and placing him next to her.
"Now. Can you please explain this to me, Hermione?" he said, his voice strained.
Hermione took a shaky breath and nodded, realizing that for once, she was going to tell someone about her and Draco. Someone was actually about to know.
"Sixth year, Harry." she started with an audible sigh.
"Sixth year? What about sixth year?" he demanded.
"Sixth year was when me and Draco got together. We were in love. It just happened. We were... we were so in love. And then after the night at the Astronomy Tower, I didn't see him until we were at Malfoy Manor. And then after that, I didn't see him until the Last Battle." she explained quietly.
"Which was when..."
"Yes, which was when Meredith was conceived."
Hermione watched as Harry took a moment to process this all. She decided to keep talking.
"After that night, when I found out I was pregnant, I sent him so many owls, but he never returned any of them, and... and I don't know why. I hadn't seen him until the day of my... wedding that wasn't." she continued.
Harry shook his head. "This is insane. You and Draco were together?"
"Yes."
"He's... he's the reason you couldn't marry Ron."
Hermione bit her lip as a memory of Ron slapping her hard across her face resurfaced at the mention of his name.
"Yes." she replied
She hid behind her coffee cup, taking a sideways glance at Harry's face which was deep in thought.
"There you go, sweetheart. There you go." Hermione cooed, placing baby Meredith into her crib.
As she stared down at her happily gurgling daughter, she felt a hand on the small of her back. She didn't even have to turn around to know that it was Harry. She felt her body tense at his touch. Meredith had been home for a month now, and things were still a tad awkward between Hermione and Harry.
Neither one of them had discussed it and Hermione didn't think either one of them wanted to.
She had written Draco just once more, asking him if they could meet.
Again, there was no response.
"How's your little girl?" Harry asked.
Hermione could hear the smile in his voice. Harry had been up with the baby almost as much as Hermione had. She honestly didn't know if she would have made it through the last month without him.
"Hopefully she's tired." Hermione sighed.
Harry came into her line of vision, standing just closer to the crib and gazing down at Meredith.
"Her... Hermione?" Harry said tentatively, turning around to face Hermione.
Judging by the tone and the expression on his face, Hermione instantly knew that this was about the kiss.
"Please don't bring it up, Harry. I don't think we need to talk about it." Hermione begged.
"Hermione, we can't pretend like it just didn't happen!" Harry sighed.
Hermione nodded quickly. "Yes! Yes we can! Meredith had just been born, it was midnight on New Year's and our emotions were all over the place."
Harry looked down and sighed at the floor.
"Harry. You're with Ginny."
"I know that, Hermione! I know that. I've felt horrible every single day because I know what I did was wrong." Harry explained.
Hermione shook her head, approaching Harry a little more. "Don't you dare beat yourself up over this, Harry Potter."
"Hermione, I -"
"Shut up."
They looked at each other and Hermione couldn't help but smile slightly at him. He did the same, his grin growing broader and broader until the both of them were giggling. He leaned forward, pushing a strand of hair behind Hermione's ear and she suddenly knew where things were headed.
She knew it was wrong. She knew that she shouldn't allow it.
But... she was so lonely.
Here she was, a single mother at the age of 19, still in love with a boy who had abandoned her.
Harry leaned down and pressed his lips to Hermione's. Gently, she felt his hands place themselves on her waist and she moved into him, slowly placing her arms around his neck. Suddenly, knowing it was all wrong, she pulled away, the tears streaming down her cheeks.
She heard Harry's sigh as she tried to back away, but he wouldn't let her. He pulled her close to him and she rested her head against his chest, crying her heart out.
"Whoever this bloke is, Hermione, he sure did a number on your heart."
"Do you remember what you said to me Harry? That day in Meredith's nursery?" Hermione whispered.
After a moment, a look of recognition washed over Harry's face as well as a blush that crept upon his cheeks.
"Uh... well... what did I say?" Harry mumbled, looking obviously embarrassed about the moment.
They didn't speak of that, or anything pertaining to them in that time period of their lives unless it was absolutely necessary.
"You said that whoever the bloke was, he sure did a number on my heart. And you're right. He did. My heart may never be the same because of him and..." she paused to take a breath. She was sick of the tears, sick of them. "And now he knows about Meredith and he's coming by to meet her this morning."
Harry was quiet, and Hermione leaned back against the couch. It was only 9:30 and she was already exhausted. She knew this day was going to be difficult, but she would get through it. She had to get through it. For Meredith.
"My little Meredith is a Malfoy." Harry said bitterly.
"Yes she is. And that better not mean you love her any less!" Hermione scolded.
Harry glared at her. "Hermione, I love that little girl as if she were my own. Nothing will ever change that, no matter what."
"Thank you." Hermione whispered.
"It all makes so much sense now. She looks a lot like him. She is a lot like him." Harry sighed, leaning back with Hermione.
"Tell me about it." Hermione said, with a bitter laugh.
"So wait, he's coming to meet her today?" Harry confirmed.
Hermione nodded. "Yes. But no one is to tell her that he's her father. We're just going to see how it goes."
"I have a question." he asked, a look of slight disgust on his face.
"What is it, Harry?" Hermione sighed.
"How the hell did you and Malfoy have time to... to... make Meredith the night of the Battle? I mean, I was basically with you the whole night." Harry said, shuddering at the thought.
Hermione felt a blush rise to her cheeks and she bit her lip. "Do you remember when we went into the Room of Requirement and you couldn't find me for a bit?"
Harry nodded instantly. "Yeah, yeah. You said that you were looking for the Hor... oh."
"Yeah."
"Gross."
Hermione laughed again, shoving Harry's shoulder, causing a slight laugh to erupt out of his mouth too. "Shut up, Harry!"
He smiled at her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her close to him. She leaned into him and closed her eyes.
"Hermione, why couldn't you tell me this before?" he whispered.
"I was scared. I was so scared. And, you hate Malfoy. I was scared of how you would react. I was scared. And I was angry with him. He... he didn't even try to save me at Malfoy Manor! He... he left me." Hermione explained.
Harry pulled her closer and Hermione felt his lips brush the top of her head.
"Hermione, if he's our little girl's father, I hate him a little less." Harry said quietly.
Hermione turned, moving out of his grip slightly. She smiled at him, pulling him in for a hug.
"Thank you, Harry." she whispered.
Harry just gripped her tighter, holding onto the hug.
"Mummy?" Meredith's quiet voice called, thick with the remnants of sleep.
Hermione and Harry let go of one another as Meredith walked to them, instantly climbing onto Hermione's lap and curling herself up.
"Good morning, sweetheart." Hermione said, kissing her daughter's forehead.
"Good morning, Meredith." Harry cooed, a smile on his face.
Meredith was dressed in her pajamas, the ones with Hogwarts crest in the center that Harry had given her. She was holding her favourite stuffed animal tight: a lion that she couldn't sleep without.
"Meredith, I need to tell you something." Hermione said, trying to keep her voice level.
"Yes?" Meredith said with a yawn, looking up at her mother with wide eyes.
"The old friend I was talking to last night? He's going to come by this morning, and I think he'd love to meet you." explained Hermione.
Meredith seemed to consider that for a moment before nodding. "Okay, Mummy. What's his name?"
"His name is Draco, love. Draco Malfoy." Hermione whispered.
"Will I like him?" asked Meredith.
"Yes, I think so. I hope you do."
Meredith smiled and moved herself into Harry's lap. He kissed her forehead as well and she hugged him tightly.
"Uncle Harry, is Mr. Draco a nice man?" Meredith asked, looking up at her Godfather.
There had been no choice for Hermione as to who her Godfather should be. Hermione had asked Harry a few months into her pregnancy and he'd been ecstatic. Harry caught eyes with Hermione and she instantly looked away.
"Yes, Meredith. He's a nice man." Harry said, reluctantly.
Hermione stifled a laugh at Harry's obvious disdain.
"Good. But, Mummy, can you tells me the whole truth now?" Meredith whispered, staring at her mother.
Hermione pressed her lips together and nodded. She moved closer to Harry and Meredith and took a deep breath.
"Okay, Meredith. Uncle Ron loves you very, very much. But... we won't be seeing him anymore." Hermione started.
"Why dids Uncle Ron hurt you, Mummy? Doesn't he love you?" Meredith said, her little voice shaking.
Hermione caught eyes with Harry who instantly grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"I don't know, love. He was very mad at Mummy because I didn't marry him."
"But why didn't you marry him, Mummy? He was supposeds to be my Daddy."
Hermione looked at Meredith who was snug in Harry's arms. Tears were leaking out of Meredith's eyes and Hermione's heart hurt for her little girl. She couldn't stand to see her so heart.
"I know. But... you have a Daddy already. He's just not here. Not now. Uncle Ron can't be your Daddy." Hermione said, her voice thick.
"Uncle Harry, can you be my Daddy?" Meredith asked, her gaze traveling up to Harry.
Harry looked at Hermione with widened eyes and Hermione just shook her head, not knowing what to say.
"Meredith, like your Mummy said... you have a Daddy. But you know that I'm always here for you. I'm your Godfather, I'm your Uncle, and I love you more than life itself." Harry explained slowly.
Meredith just nodded, nuzzling herself closer to Harry. Hermione stood up, not able to take it anymore. She quickly exited from the room, heading to Meredith's bedroom. Once inside, she closed the door. She looked at the place Meredith's crib had once been, which was now replaced with a little bed, just perfect for her. The walls were green and silver, her little girl's favourite colours. It looked just like a Slytherin bedroom which only made Hermione think of Draco more.
Even though Hermione and Meredith had moved out ages ago, Harry and Ginny had kept Meredith's bedroom for her whenever she decided to come back for a visit. Hermione was grateful for this, especially now.
Hermione sat down on the little bed, placing her head in her hands and letting the tears fall. Her head hurt almost as much as her heart.
"Hermione?" a voice whispered from the door.
Hermione looked up, seeing Harry slowly walking towards her.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I just need a minute." she explained, her breathing shaky.
Harry shook his head and closed the space between them. He crouched down in front of her and looked up with expectant eyes.
"I just... I wish everything was different! I wish that my baby had had a father all these years! Why didn't Draco answer my letters? Why couldn't I just let him go and marry Ron? Why couldn't my life have just worked out? No, not even my life. Meredith's life. She deserves the best. I want to give her the world, and I can't... I can't even... I can't even give her a Father!" Hermione sobbed.
Harry was quiet, pulling her to her feet. She looked up at him as she cried. He pulled her to him, softly stroking her hair as she cried into his chest.
"Meredith is in the kitchen, eating some cereal. Draco will be by in an hour. So, me and you are going to stay here for a little bit while she eats and you are going to cry as much as you need to, okay?" Harry said, his voice calm.
Hermione nodded into his chest as his arms tightened around her.
"Meredith's just a little girl. She's confused. When she's older, she'll understand all this father business, I promise. I didn't understand why I didn't have any parents when I was younger either. It just takes time."
In that moment, Hermione become even more grateful for Harry. He had been her rock, no matter what had they had been through.
"And who knows. Malfoy's coming by today, and maybe it will go great. He's an idiot for letting you go, Hermione. He's an idiot. And Ron..."
Hermione sobbed louder as Ron's name was mentioned, causing Harry's arms to tighten even more around her.
"Ron... I can't. He's supposed to be our best friend, and I can't even look at him now. When I first saw you, lying on that floor, with him... I won't ever forgive him, Hermione. I can't."
"Mummy!" Meredith called out from the other room.
Hermione looked up at Harry, still crying freely.
"Your Mummy will be along in a minute, Meredith!" Harry called out for her.
Hermione nodded gratefully. Harry leaned to her, pressing his lips against her forehead, kissing it three times.
"Now, you're Hermione. You can make it through anything. I've seen you do it all. You can do this." Harry whispered, gazing down at her.
"Th-th-thank you, Harry." she whispered, stepping onto her toes and kissing Harry's cheek.
She wiped her eyes, stepping out of Harry's embrace and heading out the door of her daughter's bedroom.
. . .
Draco was shaking as he walked to Potter's flat.
He needed to get rid of some nerves, something he often liked to do with a walk. He knew that Hermione would have had Potter's Apparition wards changed so he could Apparate there, but he had decided last minute to walk.
He was going to meet his daughter.
He had tossed and turned all night after parting with Granger, barely getting a wink of sleep. He just kept picturing Meredith crying in Granger's arms.
Now, he was standing outside the door to Potter's flat and he was trying to bring himself to knock.
You can do this, you can do this, Draco thought as he raised a fist and knocked three times.
After a few moments, the door opened, revealing a very frazzled looking Harry Potter.
"Potter." he said.
"Malfoy." Potter responded.
Potter stepped outside of his flat and shut the door. Draco backed up, wondering what Potter was going to do.
"Before you go in there, we need to have a little conversation." Potter explained, furrowing his eyebrows together.
"Alright, Scarface. Let's get on with it." Draco sighed.
"You do anything to hurt Meredith or Hermione, and I will make sure that you don't make it past tomorrow. They both have had enough hurt in their lives, most of it already caused by you, in fact. They can't take anymore." Potter growled.
Draco just nodded. "I know, Potter. I know."
"Why didn't you answer any of Hermione's letters?" Potter demanded.
Draco groaned loudly. "Potter! I never got any of the letters! Why won't you or Granger believe that? If I had gotten them, I would have responded! It's Hermione, for Godsakes!"
Potter just shook his head and Draco could feel his own rage building up inside. He took a few deep breaths so he wouldn't hex the living daylights out of the man in front of him.
"Can I please just go in and see Hermione and... and... Meredith now?" he asked.
Potter took a moment, but then he finally nodded. He opened the door and led Draco inside. He immediately left Draco standing by the door alone, not sure what to do next. A moment later and a red-eyed Hermione appeared in front of him.
She had been crying.
His heart thumped loudly at the sight of her. She was every bit as beautiful as she ever had been.
"Granger." he said.
She just nodded at him. "Well, come on in. Meredith's in the other room."
He followed her as she walked deeper into Potter's flat.
"Meredith, love! My friend is here." Hermione called out as they rounded a corner.
As they entered Potter's living room, Draco stopped at the sight of Meredith. She was beautiful, just like her mother. She sat on the ground, a whole array of paper and crayons in front of her. She had a silver ribbon tied in her hair, her blonde curls cascading down her shoulders. She had a green and silver dress on, equipped with black tights and tiny white socks. She looked like a true Slytherin.
She was so completely his daughter.
She looked up at Draco with a smile on her pale face. Draco felt a strange feeling occur inside him. His heart was thumping and his stomach was twisted as he stared at her. She stood up, walking towards him and Hermione.
"Meredith, this is Mr. Draco." Hermione explained.
Meredith smiled. "Hi, Mr. Draco!"
Draco was silent. Hermione elbowed him hard in the ribs, reminding him to speak.
"Hello, Miss. Meredith. How are you?" he said, his voice coming out soft and in awe.
"I is good! Me and Mummy was colouring. Do you wants to colour, too?" Meredith asked.
Before Draco could open his mouth, Meredith grabbed his hand and tugged him forward. He looked back at Hermione who had a strange expression on her face. As the little girl led him forward, he decided to just go with it. She sat down on the ground where she had been before, and he sat next to her.
"Wants to see my pictures?" she asked
Draco nodded. She pulled up a drawing. It was a stick figure drawing of three people standing outside with a brilliant sun above them.
"Who's this?" Draco asked.
"This is me, my Mummy, and my Uncle Harry. This is my family." she explained.
Suddenly, Draco had the urge to punch the daylights out of Potter. It wasn't his family. It was supposed to be Draco's family. Meredith was the start of the life that Draco and Hermione had always dreamed of. She was the start of their five kids.
"That's a very nice picture, Meredith. May I show you something?" he asked.
Meredith nodded. He took the paper from her hands and laid it upon the floor. He pulled out his wand, pointing at the picture and mumbled a quick spell that he had forgotten about. The colours in the picture started shimmering and changing and Meredith squealed with glee.
"Mummy! Mummy! Look what Mr. Draco dids to my picture!" Meredith yelled with obvious delight.
Hermione approached them and looked down at the picture. "Well, isn't that something. What do you say, Meredith?"
"Thanks you, Mr. Draco!" Meredith squealed.
Draco beamed at Meredith, a genuine smile radiating off of his face. He caught eyes with Hermione who still had the strange expression on her face, this time mixed with a feeble smile.
. . .
Even after three and a half hours, Hermione couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Draco was still here, sitting on the floor with Meredith, colouring. They had eaten lunch, the three of them, after Harry had left for work, and now Draco was back to colouring with Meredith. Hermione had joined them for a bit, but was now back to observing. Meredith liked Draco, Hermione could tell.
As she sat from the couch with a book on her lap, Hermione watched them. Watched the father and daughter spend their first day together.
Hermione just prayed that it wasn't the last.
"Mr. Draco, dids you notice that we has the same hair?" Meredith asked.
Hermione's eyes widened and she took a deep breath. She heard Draco awkwardly clear his throat as he glanced back at Hermione. She shrugged back at him as he turned to Meredith again.
"Yes, I did." he said quietly.
"Not a lot of people has my hair. Their hair is always more darker blonde than mine is." Meredith explained happily.
Draco cleared his throat again and Hermione felt a bubble of anxiety creep into her chest. It was true. The colour of Meredith's hair - the colour of a Malfoy's hair - was much lighter blonde than the usual blonde. And Meredith had noticed.
"How dids you meet my Mummy?" Meredith asked.
Draco looked at Hermione once more and she felt pulled to join them on the floor, to act as a buffer if Draco got too nervous. Hermione moved and sat on the other side of Meredith, giving her daughter a quick kiss on the forehead.
"Well... we met at school." Draco said slowly.
"At Hogwarts?"
"Yes, at Hogwarts."
Hermione took a deep breath, not saying anything. She wanted Draco to speak with Meredith. To get to know Meredith.
"My Mummy was a Gryffindor. So was Uncle Harry and Auntie Ginny. What house was you in?" Meredith asked.
Hermione was painfully aware that Meredith left Ron out of her statement.
"I was in Slytherin." Draco explained.
"Slytherin has the best colours. They're my favourites. See my clothes?" Meredith asked, a smile on her face.
Hermione watched as a huge smile radiated off of Draco's face. "Yes, I see. I like them."
"Thanks you, Mr. Draco." Meredith replied happily. "One day, I is gonna get my magic and then I is gonna go to Hogwarts!"
"Yes you are, Meredith. What house do you want to be in?" Draco asked.
Meredith got her usual look of deep thought, one that Hermione had become very familiar with. It often appeared when Meredith was deciding what story she wanted to hear, or what she wanted to have for breakfast.
"I don't know yet." she replied.
"Well, you have plenty of time. Besides, whatever house you're put into, you'll be wonderful. Unless it's Hufflepuff." Draco said, a sly grin on his face.
"Draco! There's nothing wrong with Hufflepuff!" Hermione explained, laughing and leaning over to playfully hit his arm.
"Granger. We're not having this fight again." he laughed.
"Git." Hermione grinned.
Draco grinned back and Hermione realized what they were doing. She stared into his eyes as both of their smiles faded. There was a strong attraction between them, even after all this time. It was undeniable. Hermione could feel it.
"Meredith, why don't you go get a book and I'll read you a story. Would you like that?" Draco said suddenly, never breaking his eye contact with Hermione.
"Okay!" Meredith squealed, standing up and leaving the room.
The two of them stared at one another, familiar butterflies fluttering about in Hermione's stomach. She finally broke her eyes away, staring down at the ground for a moment before looking back up.
"So... what do you think?" she asked quietly, keeping her voice down in case Meredith heard their discussion.
Draco's eyes got a dreamy like quality and Hermione knew it was a good sign.
"I think... she's amazing. She's so amazing, Hermione." he whispered, moving closer to her.
Hermione nodded, as she already knew.
"I know I just met her, but... I love her. I love her so much." Draco explained, pointing off in the direction Meredith had traveled.
Hermione felt her eyes well up in tears and she blinked rapidly to hold them back.
"What? What is it?" he asked.
"I've waited so long to hear you say that." she explained.
He leaned forward and brushed a fallen tear from Hermione's cheek gently with his thumb. She tried to ignore the shivers that she felt, but it was useless.
"So? What do you want to do then?" Hermione asked.
Draco kept his hand cupping Hermione's cheek and she just stared at him with wide eyes.
"I want to be her Dad. I have to be her Dad. Hell, Granger, I am her Dad." Draco whispered.
"You want to be there for her? Are you sure?" Hermione asked.
He nodded instantly at her. "Yes. Yes I do. I'm 103% sure."
Hermione laughed quietly at him before becoming serious. She was very aware of the presence of his hand and she moved away from his touch. He got the hint and pulled his hand away.
"I don't want to tell her just yet, okay?" Hermione whispered.
"Granger, I -"
"Shut up. We will tell her. Let's just... let's just give it a go for a few days. See how she likes you. And then we'll see what she thinks. It's gonna be a lot for her to take in." Hermione explained.
Draco finally nodded, and Hermione knew he understood.
. . .
Draco had made up his mind.
He was never letting that little girl out of his life ever again.
Or her mother.
He was determined to get to the bottom of the letter mystery, and why he hadn't received Hermione's letters. He was determined to win Hermione, the love of his life, back. He was determined for Hermione, Meredith and him to become a family.
A real family.
He had decided it the instant he had seen her sitting on the ground, colouring. Now, as he sat on the same ground with Hermione, he knew that he could never let her go. Losing her had been the worst thing that had ever happened to him and he wasn't about to go through it again.
"Could I take you and Meredith out for breakfast tomorrow?" he asked bravely.
He wanted to spend as much time with them as he could.
Hermione nodded tentatively and he smiled at her. "I'll come by 'round 9, unless that's too early." he said.
"That sounds good to me." Hermione sighed.
Suddenly, Meredith came running back into the room, a book in hand. He smiled at the sight of her running towards him.
"Meredith, love. How would you like to go out for breakfast tomorrow morning with me and Mr. Draco?" Hermione asked.
"Okay!" Meredith squealed.
Draco smiled at his daughter and watched as she looked around. He followed her gaze to a clock at which she was staring curiously.
"Mummy, dids you take your potions yet?" Meredith asked.
Hermione sighed and shook her head. Meredith suddenly had a scowl on her little face. A scowl that Draco had often seen in the mirror.
"Mummy! Take your potions! You is hurting without them!" Meredith yelled, throwing her book on the ground.
Hermione nodded, standing up.
"Mr. Draco. Go with my Mummy, please. Help her take her potions." Meredith ordered.
Draco was shocked by her ordering and determination. Shocked because it was so like him.
"Oh, Meredith, I can do it by myself, love." Hermione sighed.
"Notsense!" Meredith yelled.
Draco chuckled. "Notsense?" he asked. "Do you mean nonsense?"
Meredith nodded, scowling now at Draco. "That's what I saids! Mr. Draco, go help my Mummy."
"Okay." Draco said, standing up and following Hermione into Potter's kitchen. He watched as Hermione reached into a cupboard, pulling out four vials, each with a different coloured potion.
Hermione sighed, pulling the stopper out of one and pouring some into a glass with measurements along the side.
"Do you need help?" Draco asked awkwardly.
Hermione shook her head as she swung back the first potion. Her mouth made a bitter expression before she shook her head again. She placed the glass back down and poured the second potion - this one a bright purple - into the glass.
"No. Harry's just always with me when I take them. She just worries about me." Hermione explained.
"Ah." he said. "What are they all for?"
Hermione sighed as she drank the second. "First one is for the internal damage that I've suffered. Second one is for the bruising and scarring to fade away, though some of the scars may never fade completely. Third is for my head. It hurts a lot, I had a concussion or something. And fourth is just for the overall pain."
Draco took a deep breath, taking in all of the information. He wanted to kill Weasley for hurting his Hermione. He watched her finish taking the potions and continued to stare long after.
She smiled feebly at him and headed back to Meredith. He quickly followed suit to find Meredith sitting on the couch, a book on her lap.
"Did you pick a story?" he asked, sitting down next to her.
Meredith nodded, shoving a book into his hands. He looked down at the title, instantly confused.
"Cinderella?" he asked, scrunching up his nose. "What's this?"
"It's a story, Mr. Draco! It's a Muggle story!" Meredith explained.
Draco nodded in understanding. Of course it was a Muggle story. Hermione would have any book she could get her hands on.
"Alright, well, let's give it a go then, shall we?" Draco said, opening it to the first page.
Suddenly, Meredith climbed onto his lap, snuggling herself against him. Draco froze. He wasn't sure what to do. He looked up at Hermione who was standing across the room from the pair. She just nodded encouragingly at him. He cautiously wrapped his arms around the little girl, holding the book in front of the two of them.
. . .
Hermione was struck by emotion once more as she watched Meredith climb into Draco's lap. Draco looked terrified, yet content at the exact same time. She observed them for a minute as he started the story before deciding to leave them be.
"Mummy, where is you going?" Meredith asked suddenly.
"I was going to go lie down for a bit. Is that okay?" she asked, looking at Draco.
Draco looked back at Meredith, then to Hermione, and nodded, a smile creeping across his face. Hermione's heart swelled up with longing at the look on his face.
"Yes, Mummy." Meredith said.
"Okay. I'll be in my room if you need anything. Draco, don't leave before I get up, please." she instructed.
"Don't worry. I won't." Draco promised.
She smiled and left the room, heading to Harry and Ginny's guest room. Her old room, in fact. She laid down on her bed, instantly getting under the covers and closing her eyes. She thought of Draco, sitting out there and reading with Meredith.
His daughter.
Their daughter.
Hermione was torn. She was so torn. Ever since she had seen Draco again, she wanted him. She craved him. She needed him, in more sense than one. But she was terrified that he would leave her again. She knew that circumstances were different this time, as there was no Voldemort. She just wasn't sure if she could open up her heart again, especially to him.
When she'd been with Ron, she had never fully given him her heart. And now it seemed like it was for good reason due to the way things had ended up. With Harry...
Well, she just couldn't. She never could.
It was just... wrong.
"Harry, if you have to tell her... you can. I know she's suspected something." Hermione sighed.
Harry shook his head. The two of them were sitting on the couch with one another while Meredith was sleeping in her nursery. Hermione had a baby monitor next to her on the couch, just in case her baby awoke.
"No. I am not telling Ginny. Wait, why do you think she expects something?" Harry asked, his eyes becoming frantic.
"Because she's a woman. And a woman always knows." Hermione sighed.
Harry looked away from her and nodded. Hermione was worried for him. Since their kiss in Meredith's nursery last month, Harry had been beating himself up about it. As had Hermione. It was a horrible thing for Hermione to allow happen.
Ginny was her friend! How could she do such a thing to her?
Yes, Harry had kissed her, but Hermione certainly hadn't stopped it.
"Look, if you don't want to tell her, that's okay. Just stop beating yourself up about it." Hermione sighed.
Harry placed his head in his hands and sighed. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm really sorry."
Hermione blushed. It was weird talking about what had happened between them, but yet, not weird at all.
"Harry, stop. It's fine." Hermione insisted, moving closer to him.
"No! No it's not!" he yelled, raising his head and looking at Hermione. "If Ginny found out... if Ron found out!"
Hermione looked down at the ground, her face turning red.
"You know how Ron feels about you, Hermione." Harry said.
"I know, I know. I just... I'm not ready for what he wants yet. I think I could be... but... just not yet." sighed Hermione.
Harry was quiet and Hermione looked back at him.
"Harry... are things... okay with you and Ginny?" she asked.
Harry instantly shook his head no. "No. Not they're not."
"What's happening?" she asked, moving even closer to her friend.
"She's so distant, and she's always working and... we've fought about you." Harry explained, suddenly becoming embarrassed.
Hermione was shocked. "Me? What about?"
"Well... when you were pregnant, she was worried about how close we were becoming. She kept reminding me that I wasn't Meredith's father. But obviously I know that!" Harry explained, anger influencing his voice.
"Harry... if I'm causing problems, I can always move out." Hermione said simply, raising her eyebrows.
"No. No. Don't." he said sternly.
"Harry, really. I mean, if -"
"No, Hermione! You aren't leaving!"
Hermione looked at him, her expression confused. His looked like she felt. Suddenly, he leaned forward, grabbing Hermione and pulling her towards him. His lips were on hers, urgent and wanting. Harry pushed Hermione backwards, so she was lying down with him on top of her. She felt Harry's hands fumble with the bottom of her blouse. He broke away from her, for only a moment, to pull her pale blue shirt over her head. She threw her arms tightly around him, pulling his shirt off as well.
She couldn't believe what was happening.
She really couldn't.
She knew that she should stop it all. She knew that was the right thing to do. But for some reason... she couldn't. It wasn't that she even wanted Harry. It was just that she wanted... someone.
She needed someone to take the loneliness away.
Harry's lips came traveling down her neck, leading across her collarbone and down her chest, creating a path all the way down her stomach. His hands were on her bra covered breasts, and as if on cue with her thoughts, he undid it quickly and slipped it off of her.
She made an uncontrollable sound of pleasure as his hands returned with his mouth quickly following. She reached down, trying to find the button and zipper of his jeans. As she shimmied them down his hips, there came a sound.
The baby monitor.
They both froze at the sound of Meredith's cries.
Harry pulled himself off of Hermione, pulling his pants back up and staring at her. She quickly pulled her shirt on, leaving her bra and ran to check on her daughter.
As she held Meredith close to her, she thought.
Harry wasn't a cheater, and Hermione didn't want to be a home wrecker.
But... she was so lonely.
She missed Draco with all of her heart. She needed someone. Someone to fill the ache in her heart for even a second. Someone to distract her.
Meredith fell back asleep quickly, and Hermione placed her back in her crib. She placed a kiss on her forehead and stepped out of the room.
As she walked back into the living room, she stopped. She looked at Harry, who was sitting in the same position, shirt off and hair askew. He looked torn, just as she felt. She took a deep breath and walked towards him. He looked up at her with widened eyes.
"You're my best friend, Hermione. I don't want to mess that up." Harry whispered.
Hermione stared down at him, rubbing her fingers along the hem of her shirt. "You're mine, too."
Hermione lifted her shirt off, dropping it on the floor beside her. She watched Harry's eyes widen as they traveled down her exposed body. He reached out, pulling her back down on the couch.
"Make sure you use the protection spell. I can't have another Meredith right now." Hermione whispered.
Harry grinned at her and she couldn't help but return it. He kissed her deeply, and she was glad.
Finally glad that someone was filling a part of the void.
Hermione shook her head. It was weird to be back living with him and Ginny. Living where all the memories of those months could haunt her when she walked into a room. Hermione regretted it all to this day.
Her and Harry had simply been a product of loneliness.
Hermione blinked her eyes and closed them once more, waiting for rest to consume her.
Author's Note: so! I'm back from vacation and I thought I should post a chapter! this chapter turned out to be a lot longer than expected, so I sincerely hope you enjoy it, and I hope that you all don't hate me for this little Hermione and Harry backstory that is developing. I'd LOVE reviews please! tell me what you think, and thanks as always to all of you for reading! 33