Hermione was distraught. It was early evening and there had been no news from Draco. Evangeline, Tamara and Hannah had all tried to keep her distracted but now she was frantic, pacing up and down.

"I want to go there!" she demanded of Neville who shook his head.

"Not in a million years, Hermione."

"But they could all be dead!"

"And so could you and the baby if we let you out of the Castle."

Hermione was now alone in her room and she gently touched her stomach. Neville was right of course, she had to look after the baby and it had no relevance to Hermione whether her baby was The One. It was her baby and she already felt a bond to it.

That was when the ground shook, her chair moving a few inches and pictures falling from the wall. Like an earthquake but Hermione knew it wasn't an earthquake and she jumped up and went out to the corridor. Several people were doing the same when everything shook again and Hermione was thrown against the wall.

Grabbing her wand she ran along the corridor and down the stairs to the bottom of the tower. The entrance hall was busy with Professors and Aurors running here and there. One of them saw her and instructed her to go back upstairs.

"But what's happening?" she asked.

"Some Aurors from the Ministry were trying to join us and they're being attacked. There are spells being fired at the Castle."

Hermione ran back up the stairs, right to the top of the tower. It was enclosed but she could see figures in the distance and then a flash of light as the whole tower seemed to shake. She felt totally helpless and she was scared to death that Draco might be out there.

The whole tower shook again and Hermione was thrown to the ground. She didn't know what spells were being aimed at the castle but she'd never felt anything like this before. It was then that she felt a pain in her stomach and she grabbed it, groaning in pain. The pain subsided before the building shook again and another wave of agony hit her. She could hear screams from the floor below but she couldn't move, the pain leaving her gasping. As the next wave hit her she blacked out.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

When she opened her eyes again, she recognized her surroundings immediately. The infirmary and it was daylight. She sat up, feeling absolutely fine and Madam Pomfrey, still looking exactly as she had when Hermione had been a student here, approached.

"Hermione!" she said and touched her forehead. "How do you feel?"

"Fine. Is the baby okay?" Hermione asked, immediately.

"Yes, all the babies have been saved."

"Saved? What do you mean?"Hermione frowned. What had happened?

"Of course! You don't know – they found you at the top of the tower. The spells that were hitting the castle were aimed directly at the babies. They were directly attacking them, that was the pain you felt," Madam Pomfrey said all this calmly.

"But the babies are okay?" Hermione sounded worried.

"Yes, Hermione. The Aurors stopped the attack in time and I was able to save the babies. They have put up some further protection to stop it happening again." She patted Hermione's arm comfortingly but Hermione still had more to ask.

"The Aurors? Are they okay? Was Draco with them?"

"Some were injured, Draco was among them..."Madame Pomfrey put her hand up as Hermione went to speak again. "But he's fine, we've kept him in because of his condition but he's been a terrible patient."

"I can hear you!" Draco's voice came to them and Madame Pomfrey pulled back the curtain to reveal him in the bed across from hers. He held up his arm which was in a sling. "Bones shattered I'm taking Skele-grow." He didn't seem at all concerned about Hermione or the baby but this just made Hermione feel better because it meant that there really couldn't be anything to worry about.

"Well, Hermione you're free to leave. Just take it easy for a few hours," Madame Pomfrey passed Hermione her robes. She turned to Draco who had sat up eagerly. "Sorry, Draco. You'll have to stay a little bit longer. All the physical effort of the fight seems to have decreased the effectiveness of the potion further. We may have to consider contacting Mr Mason."

Draco lay back down in his bed with a groan. "No, I'm not ready yet!"

Hermione walked over to him. "What about Harry and Ron? Are they okay?"

"They're both fine during the fight at the ministry. They came back with me and Potter's parading the corridors right now with everyone oohing and aahing around him." Draco waved his hand over to another bed across the room. "Weasley's there – he was thrown from his broom and had a heavy fall but he's fine, just recovering."

Hermione glanced over but Ron was obviously asleep. She heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank Merlin you're all okay. Why did they attack the Ministry?"

"They're trying to split our defences. They knew we'd have to send some Aurors back there once they attacked it. Also they were trying to get information on how we are protecting the castle."

Hermione poked Draco's good arm with her finger. "And don't you dare ever do that to me again!"

Draco grinned knowing very well what she meant but he still asked anyway. "Do what?"

"Sneak off right in front of my face!"

"Blame Longbottom, I couldn't have done it without him," Draco rubbed his head and Hermione noticed he looked unwell.

"You're ill aren't you? It's not working is it?" she asked, anxiously. Draco turned his eyes on her.

"Not so much but don't tell Pomfrey. I'm not ready for a long nap yet."

Hermione looked at him with a frown but she said nothing because she wasn't ready for Draco to take his long nap yet either. He didn't know this though so when she called Madam Pomfrey over he started to protest.

"No! Hermione! Please don't tell her..."

"What's the matter?" Madam Pomfrey came over to them.

"Draco is almost better, Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said and Draco snapped his mouth shut in surprise. "If we promise to stay in our quarters for the rest of the day and take it easy can he please leave now with me? I can look after him perfectly well and we do know that we may need Mr Mason soon." Hermione put on her best sad face, hoping that Madam Pomfrey might feel sorry for them and understand that they want to spend time together before Draco had to be put into his sleep.

Madam Pomfrey's face twisted a little as she was obviously torn between her professional duty and the look on Hermione's face. "Very well. But I must restrict you to your rooms and you must return immediately if Mr Malfoy gets any worse."

"Of course."

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Draco was sitting on the sofa, a huge grin on his face.

"You were bloody brilliant!" he said for the third time. "I'd still be in that bloody place right now!"

"You look better," Hermione said.

"I've taken three drops," Draco frowned. This wasn't good news as up until recently he could survive easily on one drop every few days. "We will need to contact Abraham soon." Hermione sat by him and put their drinks down. She felt slightly sick at the thought of Draco being unconscious for so long. She'd know where he was and that he was safe, but nevertheless she knew she was going to miss him intensely. She didn't speak so Draco continued. "I want this whole Adina thing sorted before I get Abraham to put me out. I need to know you're safe." He didn't seem to realize what he was saying or how his words made her feel. She wasn't sure when or how this had happened but they had both suddenly committed to their marriage and she knew that she was no longer just pretending to be his wife.

"You need to stop that," Hermione said, her voice quiet but she tried to make light of it. "Being nice doesn't suit you."

And then Draco did something that shocked them both because he leaned forward and gently kissed Hermione's cheek. It was a ridiculously chaste gesture but it seemed to mean so much because it was something that a friend might do. Hermione felt tears forming behind her eyes and she bit her lip. Right now she needed him to be the malicious, evil Draco that she had attended Hogwarts with. That would make all this much easier.

"I didn't think that being married to Hermione Granger would suit me either," Draco said, his eyes sparkling. Hermione felt a little thrill run through her at his words and her eyes wandered over his face, her breathing increasing.

"And does it?" she asked, her voice breathy.

Draco's expression was a mirror of her own, his perfect eyes holding her gaze. "It's beginning to suite me just fine..." his voice also sounded breathless and for a moment they just stared at one another before Draco reached his hand out and very gently touched her still flat stomach. "We're going to be parents, Hermione." He sounded slightly amazed and Hermione covered his hand with hers. "And before she's even born she's amazing because she is going to save my life."

Hermione grinned at him. "How do you know it's a girl? You're calling the baby 'she'."

Draco shrugged and gave her a small smile. "I don't know, it's just a feeling." He pulled his hand away. "If you dare to tell anyone about this conversation I might have to hex you."

Hermione laughed. "It was a bit sappy."

"Exactly! So keep this zipped, Granger." Draco pulled an imaginary zip across his lips and Hermione chuckled.

"Don't worry, earlier I practically told poor Neville that if you died it would be his fault!"

Draco laughed out loud. "Did you?"

"I was being all girly and emotional."

"I don't believe it!" Draco chuckled. "Anyway, enough idle chit chat. I'm feeling a bit hungry – can you get me something to eat?" It was like he could just flick a switch and change from one Draco to another and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.

"Get something yourself!"

"I distinctly heard you tell Pomfrey that you would look after me..." Draco smirked his sexy smile at her and lifted his bad arm in it's sling. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Look after you not wait on you," she corrected him.

"Surely an adoring wife wouldn't mind helping her wonderful husband?" Draco teased and he was still grinning.

"I don't think either of those people are present in this room right now..." Hermione chuckled at her own joke. "I don't think I'm quite at the adoring phase yet."

"And I'm not at the wonderful phase? I thought I was doing so well!" Draco put the corners of his mouth down.

"You've just about managed to reach good," Hermione volunteered and she stood up. "Go on then - just this once what would you like to eat?"

Draco just waved his good hand dismissively. "Good! Huh! I'll show you!" He jumped up suddenly and grabbed her around the waist suprisingly easily considering he only had one arm to do it with. He pulled her close up against him. "I haven't failed in any of my marital duties yet." He lowered his head so that his lips were dangerously close to her ear. "Or do I need to remind you?"

There was a loud knock at the door and they both pulled away from each other and stared over in surprise.

"What now?" Draco asked and he strode across the room and flung the door open.

Professor Kealing was standing there, his face serious. "I think you should come with me to the entrance hall right now, Draco. I have a young lady who has somehow managed to get through the protection, we have no idea how but she made it and she is insisting she speaks with you."

Draco frowned. "Who?"

"Her name is Daniela."

Mmmm...sorry it's a cliffy I know some of you hate them but it was the right place to break the chapter. So what does Daniela want then? Hands up who wants Hermione to confess to Draco before he has to be put unconcious? x