Oh dear... it has been awhile since my last update.
I am terribly sorry about the wait... School and several personal problems have really caught up with me.
I am doing my best, and I want to apoligize for keeping you waiting. :
-Emma-

Chapter 25- A Relunctant Agreement, but an Agreement at Last

Mum,

I apologize for not sending you a letter earlier, but I have had hardly anytime to myself. I wish I could have come to see you during Christmas, as you must be terribly lonely without Father, but I was very busy keeping up with my studies. I have someone I would like you to meet, as soon as possible. I will request a short leave from school, perhaps then I could come home.

Draco

My dearest Draco,

I was so pleased to hear from you at last. It does get rather lonely in the house, with you at school and your father gone. I am almost sure that your request for a leave will be granted, and I have no doubt in my mind about who it is you want to introduce me to. Word does travel, Draco, and word of something as rare as your current relationship travels even faster.

Do not think you will not hear from me further on this matter, as you are aware of how your family feels about such people. I wish to speak with you in person, but bring the girl if you must.

Narcissa Malfoy

Draco crumpled up the letter as he finished it. His mother had signed it as she always did, her full name in her full, loopy handwriting. He didn't bother writing a reply yet, he would need to get permission to leave before he had anything else to say to his mother.

Instead, he left the window he was facing, and returned to his own bed. Hermione was curled up inside his green sheets, still fast asleep.

Draco looked down at his girlfriend. He had returned from his shower the previous night to find her fast asleep in his bed. As startled as he was, he was pleased that she had forgiven him.

Hermione stirred. Draco raised an eyebrow and sat down on the corner of the bed. Hermione propped herself up on her elbows, staring at him through the mess of hair that covered her face. "Morning," she said, yawning.

"You look a right mess," Draco commented, reaching over to brush the hair away from her face. "Better," he said, as her face was visible at last.

"Aren't you just the sweetest," Hermione replied bitterly, rolling out of bed. She stretched and rubbed at her eyes. "I'm getting dressed, I'll be back."

Draco nodded at her and she left, returning only a few minutes later. She had dressed in a warm grey sweater, and a pair of blue jeans. Her robes were in her hand. Draco had managed to find a pair of slacks, but was still shirtless. "How is it that I've gotten dressed entirely, and you are still without a shirt?" she asked, putting a hand to her hip and slouching. It was unnatural on Hermione, who tried her best to stand up straight with her hands at her sides.

Draco opened his drawer and pulled out a black button-up. He put it on and smirked. "Finished," he commented, pushing past Hermione and exiting the room. He made it downstairs and then called back up, "Now who's the slow one?"

"Shut it," Hermione snapped, stomping down the stairs in a pout.

"Such a bossy one," Draco said quietly, just barely audible. He took Hermione's hand, and pulled her out the door.

He waited until they were just almost to the Great Hall until he spoke. "Do you remember when I told you I would take you to the manor for a while, if you wanted?"

"Yes, I do." Hermione said. "And it was a nice offer, but I can hardly leave school now that term has started."

"Ah, but you can." Draco stopped in the hall, stopping Hermione next to him. "I wrote to my mother this morning, and she wants us to come. Both of us," he added.

"She knows?"

"I told you she would," Draco said. "That doesn't matter, she said quite clearly that you could join me on a visit."

"That's not a good idea, Draco."

"And why in hell not?"

"Because," Hermione struggled for the right words, "Your mother doesn't have any interest in meeting me."

"We went over this, Hermione!" Draco said loudly. A couple students near them stared. Draco grabbed Hermione's elbow and pulled her down a different corridor. "I told you she would want to meet you!"

"Maybe I don't want to meet her."

"Well, you'll have to get over that. Like it or not," Draco said, dropping his voice down low, even though the corridor was empty, "there is a good chance that baby is mine."

"Don't say that," Hermione shot back. "It had better damn well be yours."

"Even if it's not, it's not as if I'll be leaving you."

"Do you really want your mother to find out that I'm pregnant before we know whose it is?"

"Not particularly, but she'll find out eventually anyhow."

"Can't we just wait until we know?"

"Oh lovely, show up and say what? 'Surprise, my girlfriends two months pregnant!'" Draco shook his head. "That's not any better."

"Oh, nice to meet you Miss. Malfoy. Who am I? Oh, no one really. Just your son's mudblood girlfriend who may or may not be knocked up."

"Oh, would you get off it? You are more concerned with your blood than my parents are."

"Oho, so your parents would be concerned, would they? And here you were telling me not to worry about it."

"Hermione-"

"What?"

"Would you just stop worrying about it and agree to come with me?"

"Even if I wanted to, I can't miss classes."

"You of all people could make up the work."

"You do realize this is the year we take the N.E.W.T.s, don't you?"

"I had realized that."

"How can I afford to miss classes?"

"Because you're brilliant, and you could probably outsmart the teachers if you cared to."

Hermione smiled at the compliment. "Now right now, Draco. Not so soon after… everything." Draco opened his mouth, but she stopped him. "I will go with you… but not now."

"I'll hold you to that, you know."

"I know."

"And I'll talk to Dumbledore about when we can leave."

"Sounds good." Her stomach grumbled. "Can I please get something to eat, now?"

"Yes, dear. You may."

It was exactly two weeks after that that Madam Pomfrey sent for Hermione during her Transfiguration class.

"Miss. Granger," the nurse greeted, providing the usually shove into a Hospital bed. She once again drew Hermione's blood to test, and she also took her temperature.

"Have you been eating properly?" the nurse added, taking out the thermometer and studying it.

"Yes, Draco has been making sure of it." The nurse pursed her lips at the sound of Draco's name.

"How very thoughtful of him. However, there are other things that can cause problems during a pregnancy; I'm sure you are aware of that. Too much stress is one I am particularly worried about in your case."

"You can hardly expect me not to be stressed," Hermione answered. "Especially with my parents acting as they did." It was true, Hermione's parents had yet to contact her after her last visit.

"Yes, Miss. Granger, but even so, I think other measures need to be taken into consideration, such as your work load."

"My work load?"

"I've already spoken to the Headmaster, and we are both in agreement that your schedule will have to be changed. I've also spoken to the teachers, and you will be leaving the books you don't need for that night in their respective classroom, so you won't need to carry them around. I've also requested that you be given a day off during the week to rest."

Hermione was speechless. "You can't just have me drop classes, if that's what you are hinting at. As for the day off, I can't miss an entire day of classes. Do you know how behind that will put me?"

"Quiet girl," Madam Pomfrey warned. "You do realize that this amount of stress and a pregnancy at your age is a health concern?"

"Of course I do, but I can't throw away my school career."

"You won't need to, but I do want you to consider my suggestions."

"I have, and they are out of the question."

Madam Pomfrey shot Hermione a look, but was cut off from speaking by the opening of the Hospital door. Draco stopped short at the door and stared at the pair.

"I went by McGonagall's to meet you, but she said you were here," Draco explained. He shrugged, and then continued to Hermione's bed, where he sat down next to her.

"Continue," he said, the heir of all arrogance.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "We were just about finished, weren't we?" she asked.

"No, Miss. Granger, we weren't. Mr. Malfoy, as I have instructed you on many occasions before, would you please wait outside?" Madam Pomfrey snapped at the boy.

Draco nodded reluctantly, but didn't press the matter. "Right outside," he clarified.

Hermione watched him leave. "Madam Pomfrey," she started again, taking a new route. "I have worked for six and a half years to get to the point that I am, academically. I made Head Girl this year. I plan on continuing my education next year after I graduate, in any field of my choice." She sighed. "I cannot throw that away, for anything. It's still not fully in my head that I am pregnant, I am still a child myself! I promise, I will take care of myself, I will eat right, and do whatever else you all instruct me to do, but I will not risk ruining my future for this… child."

Madam Pomfrey made a note on her clipboard. "Miss. Granger, you're work load is the heaviest of any student here. You are enrolled in every class you possibly can fit into your schedule, and judging by your book bag–" she pointed to the bag next to Hermione's bed, "You are carrying all your books with you. That kind of strain can be harmful."

"I'm sure it can… what if Draco carried my books? He's in most of my classes, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"That will have to be arranged."

"Madam Pomfrey?"

"What is it, child?"

"When do I find out… whose it is?"

"Not for another few weeks, I'm afraid. Two, at a minimum." She took Hermione's pulse. "I'm going to draw blood again." Madam Pomfrey drew out a needle, and Hermione offered the nurse her arm. When she had filled the cylinder, she pressed a small towel to the skin which she punctured. She held it there for a moment, and then pulled away from Hermione and turned to leave.

"Can you have Draco come back in?" The stopped and sighed, but didn't object. She gave the okay to Draco, and then disappeared into her office.

"What's going on?" Draco asked. He rejoined Hermione on her bed, and scooted her over so that he could share the single pillow.

"Nothing exciting, she's testing my blood again."

"I've spoken briefly to Dumbledore, and we can visit my mother this weekend."

"Draco, I–"

"Hermione, I was more than willing to accompany you to your parents house. We both know how well that turned out," he sneered. Draco muttered something under his breath that sounded very much like 'David'.

"But you weren't in danger there! And you weren't exactly willing, either." Hermione argued, for what felt like the hundredth time. "Maybe I am being unreasonable, and maybe I am being stubborn, but I know the outcome of this visit. I don't want to be snubbed from your family, on account of my blood."

"Can you not see how important this is to me? For you to meet my family? There is a damn good chance that this baby is mine, and my family will have to be a part of the baby's life."

"Fine." Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Fine," she said again. "I will meet your mother. Hell, I will meet your father. And when they turn me away, and you more than likely, where will we be?"

"Would you just give it a chance? Bloody hell, you are being as close-minded as you accuse them of being."

"I am not."

"Are too."

"Draco, I am not."

"Fine then, prove it. Meet my mother, see what happens."

"Fantastic. This weekend, then?" Hermione was almost determined to prove him wrong, even if it was by doing the one thing she didn't want to do.

"Ohh, you can bet on it." He smirked.

"Miss. Granger, you are free to go. Remember, three square meals a day, and make sure to eat a healthy snack in between. Try to keep the stress to a minimum, and when I say try, I mean do. I'm sure you know the rest, but here." The nurse thrust a small booklet at Hermione. "That goes over the basics for a healthy pregnancy. I'll want to see you again in a week, and if anything at all goes wrong, come straight to me."

Hermione nodded, glad to be free of the nagging nurse at last.

Now, just to make it through the weekend.

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