A/N: This chapter is dedicated to an incredible fellow author Sweetsacrifice (and I mean that hon!). Not only is she a prime reason for some of my newest readers, but she is someone who has a sincere heart even after some life altering occurrences. It's obvious darling that you're a strong person.

Forsaken - Chapter 27

"Just a few more minutes, love," pleaded Draco whose face was pressed against Hermione's belly, the covers wrapped around them. She shook her head and giggled as she pushed him away, leaving him alone in the sleep-warm bed.

"Today is not the day to stay in bed. We have to get up and help with the wedding," said Hermione as she shuffled over to the large closet to find a fitting and appropriate maternity outfit for the day. Draco grumbled into his pillow much like a child, but Hermione did not give into him.

"Draco you know you have to go."

"Why? Iz not as though iz goin ta be tragic if we don go. We'll be swumped once we geet into Diagan Allay by reporters and autogrof zeekers. Let's ust say home." Most of that was muffled by his pillow, but Hermione could easily distinguish what he said, knowing him the way she did. She shook her head at him and swatted him playfully on his boxer covered backside.

"Get up. You're going."

Draco knew when he lost with her so after much more grumbling into his pillow, he got out of bed to take a quick shower downstairs seeing as Hermione already was occupying their bedroom shower. Normally he would have jumped in there with her, but with the baby they could not risk doing such things like that. So he went to his shower, but not with much more protest. In other words, he whined all the way down the hall.

Draco was sitting downstairs waiting for Hermione. He loved that it was never much of a long wait since she was not an ultra-feminine girl who needed hours upon hours to get ready. A simple ten minute shower would suffice her and changing into her clothes had never been much of a hassle for the dark-haired beauty. In fact, had she not been pregnant, he knew she would have already been ready. However, she had slowed down seeing as her eight month bulge did need a fair amount of care and constant protection.

Yet, this particular morning, she was not moving slow on account of her belly, but on account of a letter she had received a few days before. She knew without a doubt who it was from. Lucius. He had requested her to meet with him in Azkaban, but she had avoided it, not sure if it was right for her to go. She could not tell Draco for he would never let her go, certainly not alone. No, if she told him then he would keep her from this and she felt that it was her choice whether or not to go. Bless his heart, he wanted what was best for her, but then she would never know.

And if there was one thing to know about Hermione Granger, it was that curiosity often times got the better of her.

She stared at herself in the full length mirror, noting her shape. It did not bother her being pregnant like it did most women. Hermione liked the way she looked with her bulging belly and lovely skin, really the pregnancy had been good to her. She had put on a solid twenty-two pounds, Draco monitoring her all the time. He was so protective of her and, while she enjoyed the return of her headstrong independence, she could not deny that Draco's fortified nature when it came to her was something she appreciated.

Five more minutes had passed before she decided that it was time to go. It was her who scolded Draco earlier, telling him to get up.

It was when he looked up that he saw her descending the stairs dressed elegantly in a comfortable green dress, her hair pulled back in a loose knot allowing tendrils of her hair to spill out. Draco did not know how she managed to do it, but she always took his breath away when she did such things, even something as mundane as walking down the staircase.

"Ready to go?" she asked with a smile.

"You look beautiful," he said breathlessly.

"Oh yeah I'm just a jewel. I'm big, round, and I want this bloody baby out. This is all your fault, you know?" Draco just shook his head. She always complained, lovingly of course, that it was his fault, that he did this to her. He would always smirk seeing as it was him who managed to knock up the Gryffindor princess without being wed, a temporary morph into his teenage-self, but he knew she was just as happy about the baby as he was. Never in all of his life did he see a woman look so radiant as Hermione did when she was pregnant, with his child.

"I know Angel. It's always my fault and you do well to remind me every chance you get."

"Of course," she quipped making Draco laugh. Together they walked through the lower level of their mansion to the area which held a large fireplace allowing them to floo to the Leaky Cauldron. Though it was not the most discrete place to go considering they were the famous Hermione Granger and once infamous Draco Malfoy, current couple of the year, but there were only so many places they could floo to with Hermione so far in her pregnancy. Draco would have walked there carrying her if he found no other solution. He cared for her and his child that much.

They landed on their feet upon the ground, Draco gripping her closely so he took the blunt of the fall. Hermione smiled as she gently brushed off a piece of soot that had fallen on his face. He kissed her palm before they hastily walked through the pub avoiding contact with anyone and everyone. It was not the time to socialize with well-wishers and fans.

Quickly they ventured through Diagon Alley, people practically clawing at the couple in an attempt to get an autograph or picture, but they were not in the mood, nor had the time for such things. Hermione could hear Draco sighing irritably making her want to get through the crowd even faster. If Draco's Slytherin temper acted up then it would not be a fun day for her. Plus, her hormones were completely altered so she did not need anymore added stress.

The famous couple reached their destination, a small dining lounge where they all were planning on finalizing the plans for Harry and Ginny's upcoming nuptials, to find everyone waiting on them. However, two more guests were present that Draco and Hermione did not expect to see.

"Mum?" asked Hermione flabbergasted.

Sure enough, Mr. and Mrs. Granger nodded at their daughter, the girl they had not seen in nearly six years, before she had married Alan, someone that they had never met by the way. Draco gripped her tight realizing abruptly who the people, striking a strong resemblance to his brown-eyed girl, were.

"Yes, love. We ran into the Weasley family and they said that they would be meeting you here. They asked us to join them and we did not hesitate," said Mrs. Granger, walking towards them. However, her movements halted.

"Mum? Um it's–"

"You're pregnant? Darling why didn't you tell us? Is this the young man you mentioned six years ago?"

Hermione tensed up next to Draco, he could feel her mounting apprehension at answering all of the questions, let alone on the very delicate subject matter.

"Um...well um–I think..."

"Perhaps," cut in Ginny, too sensing the tension; "You should all discuss this over lunch. We got you a private table figuring that it um...might be best."

Hermione gave Ginny an appreciative look before the redhead sauntered off to venture into the main area of the restaurant. Draco squeezed Hermione gently, a sign to reassure her that he was there with her, but that did little to help the expectant mother.

"Shall I show you to your table?" asked the young waitwitch. Draco took action noting nobody else seemed to move; he nodded. Without any conversation they walked to the table, seated across from each other; Draco next to Hermione; Mrs. Granger next to Mr. Granger.

From there, they sat in silence for several minutes.

"So," said Hermione, suddenly tired of the silence engulfing the group; "Um, I guess introductions are in order. Mum, dad, this is Draco Malfoy. Draco these are my parents."

"Draco?"

"Yes um...things did not exactly work out with Alan."

"Hermione what's going on?" asked Mr. Granger, the tone telling them that he sincerely wanted an answer to a particular question. Hermione knew precisely what the particular question was.

"I'm sorry I did not write to you for years, but...oh where do I begin?" she asked rhetorically. None the less, she got an answer;

"The beginning," said Draco softly. Hermione nodded at him realizing all too well that he was correct.

The Grangers sat in silence as their daughter, their only daughter whom they had not seen in years, told them about her life with her first husband. She told them about their wedding, who he was, what he did to her (of course leaving out certain parts that she would tell nobody...not even Draco. She knew him well enough to know that it would kill him to hear about certain matters that Alan forced her to do in the bedroom), how she was not allowed to write to them, and broke off when it came time to discuss a few matters about her life with Draco.

"Oh darling," sobbed Mrs. Granger quietly, "That is just atrocious. How could somebody do that?"

"Lucky for him, he's dead. If he weren't then he would be dealing with me," said Mr. Granger firmly. Draco had only just met the man, but he was quite sure the man's threat was true to word.

"So then this child...this child is–"

"The child is mine," said Draco steadfastly.

Mrs. Granger gave a glance toward her husband, but he kept his eyes focused on the blond man sitting next to his daughter, the one who was the father of his grandchild.

"You two are not wed," said Mrs. Granger, more so to herself than anyone else.

"Mum, Draco and I have a wonderful relationship. We just...well we are not planning on getting married. Maybe someday, but not right now and it's our decision. Strictly because the child is born without married parents does not mean that the baby will be any less loved or cared for. Draco and I are committed to each other just as much as we are committed to this child." There was a tone of defiance and cheekiness that Draco liked.

"So Draco, you're going to stick around for this? You'll be in the life of this child?" asked Mr. Granger, with Draco noticing how there was an uncertainty in his voice.

"Hermione is my life and this child is a part of her and me. I'll be with them until the end of my days." Mr. Granger knew the man was serious.

"This is so much to take in. Um...will you...I mean you'll see us again, right? This is our first encounter in six years and Hermione...it's been killing us," wept Mrs. Granger, tears flowing down her cheeks. Draco prepared himself knowing that Hermione would soon follow into a crying state. The woman was always bursting into tears because of the pregnancy.

"Oh mum, Draco is not like that at all. He saved me from Alan, he's a better person than anyone I've ever met, and he...he's wonderful to me and to this baby. I'm my own person when I'm with him and he would never keep me from you," cried Hermione, the tears Draco expected sliding down from her brown eyes. Draco gripped her tighter, offering her his shoulder. However, she did not take it and instead kept her gaze locked on her mother.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I'd never keep Hermione from you. She is a very independent and feisty witch so I doubt I could stop her if I tried," he smirked. Hermione looked up at him, smiling through her tears. "Hermione is your daughter and I know, as an expectant father, that nothing can keep me away from my baby. I can only imagine that you would feel the same for your daughter."

The Grangers could not help but feel a large amount of respect and gratitude towards Draco. This man had saved their daughter from a terrible fate, one which could have kept her from them until the end of their days. They did not want to think about it, but what would have happened had he not come along? They were blessed to have this man in their daughter's life.

"Well um," said Mrs. Granger softly, "On a lighter note, what are you having? A boy or a girl?"

Hermione perked up immediately with that as she said, "We're going to be surprised. We think that certain things should not be foreseen."

"What about names then?" asked Mr. Granger with interest.

"We're going to look at our child first to see what we come up with. Draco taught me that the best things in life are spontaneous." Draco smiled down at her.

Hermione cringed slightly as she looked down at her belly, running her hands over the bump. Draco reacted instantly, gripping her tightly as he asked, "What's wrong? Is it the baby?"

"The little brat just keeps on kicking. Honey, mummy needs you to stop kicking me so much," she whispered, running circles over her swollen stomach. Mrs. Granger laughed at this.

"Oh I remember that. Hermione use to kick me like crazy the last few weeks."

"I can imagine that," said Draco with a smile. Hermione scoffed at him making the Grangers laugh.

"Draco is just annoyed because now he knows that this baby is going to be Gryffindor, like me," she said smugly. Draco's eyes widened.

"Oh no, I don't think so. Any kid that belongs to me will be a Slytherin and nothing less."

"Draco you just have to face that this child will be in Gryffindor."

The Grangers smiled in silence, not understanding completely but could tell that it was joking banter between the couple. They remembered doing the same thing when Mrs. Granger was pregnant with Hermione, only it was about which parent she would end up looking like; apparently, they both won. They just smiled when the two stopped their bickering to share a gentle kiss before turning their attention back to the older couple.

"You seem lovely Draco. We would love to get a chance to know you better and reconnect with Hermione. I'm afraid that there is still much we need to understand about all of this," said Mrs. Granger kindly.

"Would you care to come to dinner tomorrow night? I'd say tonight, but it appears that you have other plans that we interrupted." Mr. Granger looked at them with hope twinkling in his eyes. Draco rubbed his hand over her belly making Hermione giggle.

"Of course," said Draco, "We'd love to. What time tomorrow?"

"All day!" screamed Mrs. Granger, excitement dripping out from every inch of her. The three others at the table just laughed.


Hermione and her mother had left to use the restaurant lavatory. Actually, they had gone so Mrs. Granger could look at Hermione's very pregnant abdomen in the flesh. Hermione was wearing a dress and Mrs. Granger said forcefully, "Either we go to the privy to look at your belly or we look at it right here. The choice is yours Hermione."

Draco and Mr. Granger were left at the table, a good thing because Draco had been wanting to ask the man something the entire time, without Hermione present.

"Mr. Granger?"

"Please call me John," said the man brightly. Draco nodded; his mouth was just so dry.

"Well John, I have a question for you," sputtered Draco. Mr. Granger could sense that something was bothering the young lad, but could not tell what.

"I...Sir, I would like permission to marry your daughter."

That was not what he had expected and it showed; he was silent for quite a while.

"Sir?"

"I just saw my daughter for the first time in six years today. I had to listen as she told me how her husband was a cruel man, a vicious man, not a man really, and how he was the reason that she lost five years of her precious life. He was the reason that my daughter was taken from me. Her husband was responsible for all of this, someone that I never even met." His voice was almost awe-like, raw, and Draco just listened intently, knowing better than to ever interrupt someone pouring out their emotions the way he was.

"I'm finding out that my daughter is pregnant, currently unmarried, and living with a man that I do not know. I'm finding out that I should have been a part of her life for nearly a year, but she was worried that we would not understand this. She was ashamed, so ashamed that once she was able to contact us, she did not. Do you have any idea how much that hurts?"

Draco hoped that it was a rhetorical question; it was.

"Why do you want to marry her? If you tell me it's on the grounds of being 'the right thing to do' because she is pregnant then I will not be giving you my blessing."

"Sir that is not the reason at all. Hermione is and always will be my life. You see," he said, letting out a sigh, "Hermione gave you the wrong impression. She was the one that saved me. Your daughter brought me back to life after something dreadful and utterly ghastly happened to me. Hermione made me realize that life is something worth living and ever since then, well, it's what I've been doing. I feel alive when I'm with her and I'd do anything for that girl. This child is just an added bonus."

Mr. Granger fell silent again, deep in thought.

"Draco I just met you and while your intentions seem honorable, I just...I just can't bring myself to say yes. Not now at least. I'm not saying that I don't approve or that I do...I am just not ready for this. How about I'll give you an answer when I finally realize it myself?"

Draco nodded as he said, "That's more than fair."


Hermione was standing in front of Azkaban Prison, her legs shaking and her small hands running loosely over her baby bump. It had been such a lovely day so ending it by going to see her child's evil grandfather was not what she had in mind. If anything, she did not want to be there.

Curiosity is what brought her there.

She only was able to go because Draco was not present when she left, having gone back to the lounge to fetch Hermione's purse she had so carelessly forgot. He thought it seemed very unlike her, and truth be told, it was. She left it there on purpose.

Hermione hated herself for doing such a thing. It made her feel as though she was lying to him and lying was something she just did not do when it came to Draco. They were always honest with one another, yet she blatantly lied to him just so she could go meet his father in prison.

If something sounds bad, usually it's because it is bad.

Walking the damp, bleakly dark corridors would probably have scared anyone else, but Hermione had been to Hell and back so a murky area no longer disturbed her. Once upon a time, yes, but not anymore. None the less, she could not deny the sense of foreboding twisting behind her lovely eyes, the stinging sensation she felt prickling at her soul. Something was bound to go wrong, but that damn curiosity just kept plaguing her.

There he was. Lucius Malfoy was confined to the wall; his long hair draped over his face, grim covering his flesh. The man looked even worse than the last time she saw him in the castle which said something. In comparison to what he looked like now, she could safely say he looked like a fucking model for WQ (Wizard's Quarterly) back then.

"You...you came," he murmured, not looking up from the filthy ground.

"I came. What do you want?"

"I'm amazed really. I would have thought that Draco would have kept a tighter leash on his little mudblood." Hermione rolled her eyes at his remark. Typical Lucius thing to say.

"Spit out what you want or I'm leaving," snarled Hermione ferociously. If she had to do this, stand there strictly to be insulted by him then so be it, but she was not going to simply keep herself out there as a target.

"I only wanted to see for myself that you were in fact pregnant. How could you have done this to me? How could you poison generations upon generations of Malfoys with a half-breed? How could you do that you filth?!"

Hermione shook her head as she asked, "Are you kidding me? You asked me here strictly to say that?"

"No," he whispered darkly, "I have one thing more to say. Don't get too cozy with your peaceful life Miss Granger. My former son may have turned on me, but that does not change the fact that he is a Malfoy. I will make sure that your child does not enter the world for even one breath of air. I swear on the life of my wife–"

"Which is fading because of your sorry ass!" bellowed Hermione, furious on the outside, trembling within.

"Yes, but I still have a little power left and with the power that I have, I will use it to destroy not only you, but that disgusting creature within you. I'd kill Draco, but I find that him losing the ones around him tends to hurt him even more. I'd say his life would be about as meaningful as if he'd been kissed by a dementor; he'll be alive, but without a soul."

Hermione did not recall ever doing it, but before she could stop, water began dripping from her eyes. She brushed the tears back quickly, not wanting Lucius to see her scared.

"Perhaps you should not have come. Ignorance is, after all, bliss."

No kidding. Ignorance is fucking bliss!

"It's not even so much you. I could careless that it's you Granger, but I despise my son. I want to hurt him and hurt him well. He not only left my side, left the Dark Lord's side, but he left for a fucking muggle. I was happy when I found out she was killed. My happiness ended when I discovered his affair with you. You disgust me with your dirty, muddy blood and Draco was raised to hate you. He should have known better than to ever have a relationship with something so disgusting. I sacrificed my life to protect the Malfoy name and he destroyed it by impregnating you!"

"You will never be able to harm me, Draco, or our child. I swear to you on my life that I am capable of anything you so much as even think to throw at me."

"You better be right mudblood because I will be attempting to hurt you very, very soon. I may have lost everything, but I did it so my cause will live on. The light side has not won strictly because He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone. Evil never dies and another will triumph. Mark-my-fucking-words."

Hermione aspired for a smile to flash at Lucius, to show that she would not be brought down, but no smile was on her face when she left. Instead, she looked paler than ever before. In an essence, she looked like a walking corpse.


A/N: So what did you guys think?! I know it was a lot to take in, but there was a reason for me doing both of the parental meetings in the same chapter. The main focus was to show how their parents differ.

"Forsaken" is by the band Within Temptation. I must say that if you like Evanescence, you'll love Within Temptation. They're not as well known, but they've been around much longer and their music is amazing. Love them! Anyways, I feel that it is very important to say that I wrote this chapter after hearing this song. This song was definitely the inspiration, precisely why I'm going to post the lyrics. I think it'll help everyone better understand the chapter.

Now the day has come
We are forsaken this time

We lived our lives
In our paradise
As Gods we shaped the world around
No borderlines
We stayed behind
No boundaries is something fragile

Well we thought we were gaining
We turned back the time
It still slips away
Our time has run out
Our future has died
There's no more escape

Now the day has come
We are forsaken
There's no time any more
Life will pass us by
We are forsaken
We're the last of our kind

The sacrifice
Was much to hide
Our grief just made us all go on
We try to hide what we fear inside
Today is the end of tomorrow

As the sea started rise
And the land that we conquered
It just washed away
We all have tried
To turn back the time
It was all in vain

Now the day has come
We are forsaken
There's no time any more
Life will pass us by
We are forsaken
Only rules stay below

(Een hoop gebrabbel)

Now the day has come
We are forsaken this time

Now the day has come
We are forsaken
There's no time any more

Now the day has come,
The day has come

I don't normally post the lyrics, but I think it really will help everyone better understand the point of this chapter. I'm sorry if it's at all confusing so message me if you have any questions!

READ AND REVIEW!! If you can read it, then you can review it.

Iris is the work of fanfiction. The characters belong to J.K. Rowling, but the featured story is mine.