HERMINONE

When my feet landed and the room came into focus in front of me, I dropped my bags and fell to my knees. I let my tears fall. I let the pain engulf me. I felt like I needed to hit something. I balled my fists and punched the floor repeatedly. Each punch made me feel a little bit better.

"Hermione!" A shouting voice filtered through my haze. I looked up to see Ron looking down at me, worry clouding his face. From the way he was shouting I think he might have been calling me for a while. "What's wrong? What's happened?"

"Draco." It was all I could get out before I started crying again. I couldn't get my head to work out what was happening, only that it hurt.

"What's he done?" Ron was on the floor and by my side in an instant.

I just shook my head, unable to voice what happened. His arms wrapped around me tightly and I'm grateful for the comfort.

I don't know how long we stay on the floor for but my tears have dried and the overwhelming shock has started to shrink as numbness fills me. Ron helped me up and we moved to his couch. There was more silence. I hadn't even realized Ron had left me, until he pushed a cup of coffee into my hands.

"I'm sorry there's nothing stronger." He sighed. Of course there wasn't. The one time I wished there was.

"It's ok." I smile weakly. "It's probably best."

"You ready to tell me what's happened?"

I took a deep breath. I had already told Ron about Draco and Padma. Ron had become a great friend recently and the person I confided in most. Ginny was great but she always leaned in Draco's favour. Sometimes I just needed an impartial view.

"Padma is… pregnant." I stuttered. There I said it. It was real. "It's Draco's." I answered his unasked question.

"Wow." Ron said. "I'm not sure what I was expecting."

We sit in silence for a minute. Neither of us knowing what to say. I'm still not sure this has all sunk in properly yet. I'm starting to feel like I over reacted. That I should have stayed. Should have talked this out.

"You shouldn't beat yourself up." Ron put his empty cup down. "This isn't your fault."

But maybe it was. If I had just given us a chance earlier, none of this would have happened. We could have had longer, been happy.

"Come here." Ron said taking my cup from me and opening his arms.

I don't hesitate I let him wrap me up. It still feels familiar even after all this time. His smell, the feel of his arms. I sigh and relax with my head on his chest. I feel so tired emotionally and physically. I pull back slightly and look up at him.

"Is it ok if I stay here awhile?" I ask.

"Of course." He moves a loose hair behind my ear. "Stay as long as you like."

I know I should move. There's something about Ron which is telling me I should move, stop this now. But I don't. I rake my eyes over his face. At one point I would have loved to have spent my life with him.

Ron moves closer to me and I know what he wants. Should I tell him to stop? Should I let him carry on? He stops an inch from my lips, waiting for me to say no, but I don't. A second later his lips touch mine. I kiss him back. I remember the feel of his lips. They remind me of a simpler time.

Ron's kiss deepens and I let him take control. I don't want to think about anything right now. He pushes me gently backwards so I'm lying on the couch. Our lips don't part for a second.

My fingers pull on his overly long hair, and that's when I start to feel wrong. I pull away and he moves his kisses along my neck.

"'Mione." Ron whispers against my neck. That's when it really hits me. That's not the voice I want to hear, these aren't the lips I want to feel.

I push him away and start to get up. "Stop." I scramble to my feet. "Stop. I can't do this." What was I thinking?

"'Mione. I'm sorry." I look at him and he does seem genuinely sorry.

"I can't stay here. I need to go." I want to go back to Draco, but how can I face him after what just happened?

"No. Stay." Ron stands up too. "I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."

I can't trust that it won't right now. I wanted a place to clear my head and think things through now its worse. Now I have to think about what just happened here too. I grab my bag and head to the door. I need to find a hotel.

DRACO

After I watched Hermione go I finished what was left of my fire whiskey. This morning I regret it. I've never felt so bad in my life. Sitting at my desk in my office wondering how my life could be worse right now. A child on the way whose mother I'm not entirely sure I like that much, Hermione's left me and I have no idea where she is, she didn't turn in to work not that I expected her to and I have the hangover from hell.

Just to top it off I have lunch with my mother soon. I have to tell her about the baby. She'll find out soon enough anyway. The gossip mills will be turning soon. I have no idea how she's going to react.

I can't concentrate on what I'm meant to be doing. My head is full of Hermione and if she is ok. I put my head in my arms on my desk and I think I might have dozed off because suddenly there's an owl at my window. I recognize it as Ginny's and run to let it in. I owled her this morning asking if she had seen Hermione.

My heart sank as I read the first line. Hermione wasn't there and she hadn't been. Ginny suggested I try Ron. Of course that's where she would go. I know they have gotten closer recently. The thing is I'm not sure he would tell me she was there even if she was. I didn't want to just turn up at his flat either. I wanted to give her the space she wanted, but I need to know she's ok. I carried on reading, and sure enough she wants an explanation as to why Hermione's not home. I quickly scribble her a note saying she can come round after I finish work. I don't want to leave the house in case Hermione decides comes home, I only came in to work with the vague hope I might see her.

I check my watch. I have to meet my mother in an hour. I run through the possible outcomes in my head trying to prepare. Anger, sadness and worst disappointment. I'd only just restarted the relationship with my mother, now I had to rock the boat. I'm not sure my mother is ready to be a grandmother.

An hour later I walk into the small restaurant my mother picked out. I spot her immediately at one of the tables near the back. I make my way slowly to her table. I greet her my kissing her cheek. I sit down not really listening to how she had met with the Greengrasses a few days ago.

"Draco, dear are you quite alright?" She brought me back to her putting her hand on mine.

This was my opening. "Mother I have some news." She stiffened and nodded for me to continue. "You are going to be a grandmother."

"You knocked up the mudblood."

"Mother!" I shouted at her comment. "You will not speak about Hermione that way."

"I'm sorry Draco." I could tell she wasn't but there was no arguing with her.

"And no it's not Hermione." Her gaze suddenly back to me. "Padma Patil." I said answering the questioning look in her eyes.

"Oh yes I know her. Her family is quite close to the Parkinsons." Hermione face lit up. "Oh a grandchild. How wonderful."

I was gobsmacked. "You didn't seem this pleased when you thought Hermione was the mother." I said still put back slightly by the grin that was on her face. Yet I think I know what her answer was going to be.

"Yes well, now we know that he will be a pureblood." I shook my head in disbelief.

"How can you still talk like that mother? You basically helped Harry defeat the dark lord. Yet here you are spouting pureblood nonsense."

She had the decency to look rather uncomfortable for a moment. "There is nothing wrong with wanting the best for my family."

"And who says that the best is a pure blood witch?" My temper was rising slightly now. "Hermione Granger happens to be the best witch of our age."

"Well now that you are expecting a child with Miss Patil I expect that will all end now." The look in her eyes asked me to defy her.

"And why would you say that?"

"Surely you will be with the mother of your child." Her anger rose. This was the reaction I had prepared for.

"No I won't. I'll be with Hermione." If she'll have me, I add to myself.

"All of this will dishonour your father's will." She gave a huff. "Not being with the pure blood mother of your child."

"I couldn't give a trolls shit about her blood status." My voice rose and I'm almost shouting. My mother looks around trying to see if I'd brought any attention to our table. "The only thing that matters to me is that I fucked up and this child isn't Hermione's."

"If you don't marry her you won't get any of your father's will." She said clearly not listening to a word I was saying.

"I don't care about my father's money. Give it away for all I care." I'd shocked her there. "I was worried how you would take this but I never thought you'd be happy just because of the mothers' blood status. I thought you would be disappointed that I had got some girl pregnant."

She shifted in her seat people were starting to look now. "I've got to go." I said standing. "I've got better things to be getting on with."

"Draco wait." She called but I carried on walking. I didn't need this right now.

I decided not to go back to work this afternoon. What was the point I couldn't concentrate this morning and after lunch I had no hope. I found a wizard pub and paid to use his owl letting my secretary know to cancel my appointments.

I stayed there for a couple hours drowning my sorrows. I just wished Hermione was by my side through all this. Selfish I know, but it's what I wanted. I'm sure we could work this out if only she would come home.

I'm home all of ten minutes when the fire glows green and Ginny's voice comes out. "Are you home yet? Can we come over?"

"Yes." I mutter and let the wards down.

Ginny comes striding out followed closely by Luna. I sag down into the couch and put my head in my hands.

"Ok. Tell us what happened." Ginny says sitting herself next to me.

I tell them the story. They already know about what happened in Bulgaria. So I run through the rest.

"She didn't say where she was going?" Ginny asks and I shake my head. "Wait here I'll go check at Ron's."

I watch her go and think where would I be going really?

"Have you tried a tracking spell yet?" Luna asks I'd almost forgotten she was here.

"Um...no." I shake my head the fire whiskey I had drunk in the pub is not helping me right now. "I wanted to give her the space she wanted."

"That's decent of you Draco but don't you want to know she's safe?" I nod my head. "Shall we try the spell?"

"I doubt it will work." I shrug. "This is Hermione, if she doesn't want to be found she'll have put protections up."

"Maybe she wants to be found." Luna said. I looked up at her for a second and realised I hadn't spoke to her as much as I probably should have. In that moment I was grateful for her though.

Just then Ginny arrived back, shaking her head. "She hasn't been there according to Ron. I had a little snoop round, couldn't see anything of hers."

They spent the next hour trying to track Hermione, but just as Draco had feared, she didn't want to be found.