Don't worry I'm not going to leave you (or me for that matter) without Draco for months! I mean, what's the point in a Dramione story without Draco? So here we go, I'm going to press the fast forward button...

FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS LATER

Hermione was walking to the infirmary. Actually she felt like she was waddling which was no-where near the case because although she now had a small bump she had only just started to look pregnant. She also felt absolutely fine, no sickness or tiredness yet which was a good thing because she had found the last few months trying enough. She still found it very strange to actually be pregnant and the little bump in her normally flat stomach was making it seem all the more real to her.

The day that Draco had gone to sleep seemed like years ago to her and the time between then and now had dragged. She had found the first few weeks intolerable. She felt lonely and unbelievably sad, as if someone close to her had died. She'd spent almost all her time in the rooms she and Draco shared until Neville gave her a talking to and told her in no uncertain terms that she needed to join in with the rest of them and stop feeling sorry for herself.

So she had tried to do what he had suggested and very gradually she began to feel better. Neville was right when he reminded her that Draco wasn't gone forever. Every day was a day nearer to him waking and hopefully he would be completely recovered when he did. So, when she began to feel that sinking, depressing feeling she would try and remind herself of this. Harry and Ron were frequent visitors, having easy access to the castle through their jobs. Ginny had even been twice but her visits were far more difficult to arrange.

There had been three more attacks on the castle, two had been stopped almost before they had started but the third, just a week ago had been terrifying. The Ravenclaw Tower had been attacked directly, the spell that was used worked like a huge cover being thrown over the tower. It had blacked out the light and then started to remove the oxygen. They had all been literally suffocating and it had been the scariest experience of Hermione's life, which was saying something considering all the things she had been through. It had been a close thing and the Aurors had immediately set about installing special protection around the top room of the tower so that the pregnant women could be sent there should another attack occur.

Harry had told her that they had captured many of Adina's followers who seemed to be numerous but as yet they were no nearer to actually catching her. She appeared to be a clever and persistent foe and Hermione could see many resemblances between her and Abraham. Thankfully he used his similar traits for good rather than evil.

She had been offered a test to tell her the sex of the baby but she had refused. She didn't want to have it confirmed either way as she was happier to go with Draco's feeling that the baby was a girl. Until he was back with them, she wanted his feeling to be right. She had no preference herself but she didn't want to prove Draco wrong while he was still unconscious.

Today was the day they were going to wake him and she felt excited, nervous and terrified in equal measure. If it went according to plan, she would have him back with her and they could fight this thing together but because he had been unconscious for so long, Hermione knew that it would be almost like starting over again. She didn't let her mind venture to the other possibility that Abraham might be wrong and that the baby's blood wouldn't cure Draco. That was unthinkable so she closed her mind to it.

She entered the infirmary to find it quite full. Madam Pomfrey was by Draco's bed accompanied by Abraham, Professor Kealing and Harry. Hermione felt a little warm feeling that Harry had taken the trouble to come here today and she wondered what she would do without him. As she walked toward the group of people she acknowledged Tamara who was bedridden. She had nearly lost her baby, not because of any attack, just an unlucky medical condition so she had to stay in bed now until they could be confident that she would be able to carry the baby safely. She was extremely unhappy about her situation and Hermione had spent a few hours each day with her to try and ease her boredom.

"Today's the day then, Hermione?" Tamara called from her bed and Hermione smiled and nodded at her but she didn't stop to speak because the truth was she was nervous.

Abraham greeted her warmly and he seemed completely relaxed and happy which made Hermione feel better. She hugged Harry and thanked him for coming but he just waved her thanks away.

"Believe it or not, I actually want him to be okay as well!" he admitted. "Weird or what?"

Hermione gave a nervous giggle and she felt Harry take her hand, not convinced by her attempt to appear at ease. He knew her too well. Madam Pomfrey asked Hermione to lie on the bed next to Draco's and she would perform the spell to extract the baby's blood. Hermione did as instructed, trying not to panic about the baby or Draco.

"Relax, this is a painless procedure," Madame Pomfrey examined Hermione's stomach, poking and prodding for a good few minutes. She then fetched a small bottle and holding it in one hand she waved her wand over Hermione's stomach. Hermione felt a small, pulling sensation and the bottle in Madam Pomfrey's hand filled slowly with a deep, red liquid. "There! It's done and the baby is fine." Madam Pomfrey nodded at Hermione and helped her sit up. She then handed the bottle to Abraham who took it and poured it into a larger bottle he was holding. The blue liquid turned purple and Abraham shook the contents vigorously before holding them up to the light. Eventually he smiled.

"Yes, that is perfect. We are ready to begin," he announced.

"What if you're wrong and the potion with the baby's blood doesn't work?" Hermione asked, unable to keep the anxiety from her voice.

"I'm not wrong," Abraham answered, busying himself with the potion and not turning to look at her but Hermione grabbed his arm.

"What if you are? Will Draco die?"

Abraham turned to her slowly. "I'm not wrong, this will work, I'm sure of it." Hermione went to speak again but he held his hand up. "If it doesn't work then Madam Pomfrey will be ready to use the spell she utilized before to keep Draco alive. I will then work quickly to put him straight back to sleep. I won't lie to you, Hermione. There are risks involved and if we have to take that route then I'm not sure what the answer is to save Draco. What we should do now is believe this will work and cross the other bridge should we come to it."

Hermione swallowed nervously but nodded her head. Abraham turned back to Madam Pomfrey.

"If you would be ready with your spell. There may be a few seconds gap between him waking and me administering the potion. We should be cautious and have you say the spell to protect him." Madam Pomfrey nodded and raised her wand over Draco's prostrate form. Hermione wanted to cover her eyes and not watch but she knew she had to. Abraham waved his own wand over Draco, saying the incantation and after just a few seconds Draco's body began to shake as it had done before. Abraham nodded to Madam Pomfrey who began to say her spell and he quickly opened Draco's mouth and placed just two drops of the potion onto his tongue. For a few agonizing seconds, Draco continued to shake and Hermione felt her stomach lurch and then abruptly the shaking stopped and he became totally still again. Hermione jumped off her bed and tried to see him, fearing the worst but Abraham put his arm out to stop her getting any closer.

"Wait," he instructed.

Draco's eyes shot open and he blinked rapidly before turning his head to look at the crowd around his bed. As soon as he saw her he smiled.

"Hermione!"

She nodded her head at him. "Yes, I'm here. It's all okay."

Abraham leaned in close to Draco. "Can you see properly, Draco? Can you hear me clearly?"

Draco nodded, still looking slightly bemused. "Yes, yes it's all fine."

"Do you remember what happened? Do you know why you're here?" Abraham asked these questions slowly.

Draco hesitated for just second then he nodded again. "Yes, I was really ill...the black smoke..."

"Excellent!" Abraham straightened up. Madam Pomfrey began fussing over Draco, taking his pulse, feeling his forehead.

"Did it work? The cure did it work? Is the baby okay?" Draco tried to raise his head but Madam Pomfrey pushed him back again.

"Yes, all is well," she said. "But I must insist you stay still for now. You're body has been inactive for many months, we can't rush things." She turned to the group. "If I could ask you all to leave, just for half an hour or so. I want to make sure Draco is fully recovered before we attempt to move him."

Everyone moved away, heading to the doors apart from Hermione who just stared at Madam Pomfrey. Surely she didn't expect her to leave as well? After all these months just waiting for this moment. Madam Pomfrey turned back to Hermione and called her closer.

"I'm going to shut the curtains, Hermione, while I fetch some instruments. Please step in closer, I'll be back in a few moments."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and moved next to the bed. She lowered herself into the chair next to Draco's bed, feeling a little shaky. It had all been so nerve racking! As soon as she sat down she realised Draco's eyes were on her and she looked back at him, not really knowing how to act. Should she be affectionate or would he just make some cutting remark? His next words answered her unspoken question.

"You're fat." He gave her a wicked grin and nodded his head at her stomach. She immediately felt a wave of relief hit her because, despite his insult, it was just so good to hear his voice again and to see his evil smirk. She wasn't sure if she felt like grabbing him and kissing him or grabbing him and slapping him but she managed to stop herself doing either. She decided to run with the tone of his conversation, rather than taking offence.

"I've had no-one to argue with so I've been eating to amuse myself."

Draco's grin widened. "I don't believe you haven't found someone else to argue with while I've been stuck here."

"Oh, I tried but it turns out that no-one is half as annoying as you are. It was very disappointing."

Draco burst out laughing and received a disapproving look from Madam Pomfrey as she entered the cubicle. They remained silent while she conducted what seemed like hundreds of test on Draco involving bottles, wands, potions and general poking and prodding. Eventually she stood back from the bed.

"Everything appears to be fine. It would appear that the potion has worked – you're cured." Hermione didn't think that she'd ever seen Madam Pomfrey with such a wide smile on her face and she brushed a couple of tears away before anyone could notice them. "Let's do this slowly. Hermione, if you wouldn't mind helping me to sit Draco up. After a few minutes he can then attempt to get out of bed."

But before she'd finished her sentence Draco was upright in bed, grinning at them. "I don't need help. I feel totally fine! The best I've felt since this disease started."

Madam Pomfrey still managed to look disapproving despite Draco's reassurance but she nodded. "Very well. Please stay like that for a while. I will go and fetch your clothes and personal items." She turned to leave then stopped. "Please don't try and be clever, Mr Malfoy. Stay in bed until I get back."

Draco nodded. "Of course...oh and thank you." As he added the last few words Madam Pomfrey stared at him. She then gave a little smile before sliding out of the cubicle. The look on her face made Hermione giggle and Draco turned to look at her. She suddenly felt self conscious. She wasn't used to his penetrating gaze. It seemed like forever since she'd been the recipient of it. His voice broke into her thoughts.

"Is the baby okay? Do you feel okay?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, the baby is fine and I feel very well. I've felt well all the way through."

"What happened? How did they get rid of the smoke? Were all the babies okay?" Draco's questions came fast now but Hermione wasn't sure where to start to answer them.

"Errr..." Before she could 'errr' any further Draco spoke again.

"What happened with Daniela? Where is she?"

Hermione sighed, unhappy that she hadn't managed to drag it out a little longer before she answered this question. She studied his face, which was still pale, trying to decide if he was up to hearing this news yet.

"I'll tell you everything. Let's make sure you're okay first." She tried to stall but he put his head to one side and she tried not to stare at him because amazingly, Draco even managed to make being unconscious for four months look good. His hair had grown and it was a mess on his head, his fringe in his eyes, his hair longer than usual in his neck and over his ears. Somehow it suited him and although he was pale, paler than even he normally was, his eyes were deep grey and sparkling. Just how did he do it? It should be illegal to look this good after being so ill!

"You're staring at me," Draco observed. "You can't tell me that you haven't had ample opportunity to do that these past months! I bet you've been in here for hours a day just so you can sit and look at my handsome face."

Hermione sighed loudly. "For Merlin's sake! I'd forgotten just how annoying you are! If you don't stop right now I'm going to fetch Abraham and have him put you back to sleep again!"

Draco laughed again at her teasing. "You don't mean that."

"Try it and you'll find out," Hermione warned but she looked up at him from under her lashes and smiled. "There's lots to tell you but let's get you out of here first."

"Okay but I won't let you stall me for long." Draco's expression changed and he reached out his hand and gently touched her stomach. "You're properly pregnant now, I feel like I must have missed so much." His fingers gently traced the gentle curve of her tummy, his eyes following their path until he looked up again. "Amazing."

Hermione grinned at him. "Funnily enough, amazing isn't one of the words I've used every morning having spent fifteen minutes trying to fasten my clothes up!"

There you go - he's back. I don't usually like stories that jump in time but as I said above, what is the point of a Dramione without Draco? I tried to fill the gap as well so that we haven't missed what happened to Hermione in the months. Hope you all found this okay and I might have to have another jump as well as I'm sure you'd all like to hear about the birth of the baby. Anyway - lets have a bit of Dramione first shall we...? x