Disclaimer; I'm tired of writing this. So for the rest of the story, assume I don't own any JK Rowling characters.

WARNING; AUTHOR'S NOTE MAY CONTAIN DH SPOILERS! IF YOU HAVN'T READ, GO BACK.

A/N So! Deathly Hallows is finally over! I hope everyone finished it. If not...what the heck are you doing reading fanfic? Go get a copy and read, read, read. All in all the book was great. I wish it had a little more Harry/Ginny interaction. But I still liked that they got married. But the kids names...they have fanfiction written all over them. Lol. So many deaths, I was crying from one page to the next. Especially when Harry was walking back into the forest. That was a real tear jerker. And I loved it when Harry saved Draco, twice. Nice touch JK. When you review let me know how you liked DH and what you thought it was missing. Anyhow here is the next chapter. I hadn't decided whether or not Hermione would have a boy or a girl till I read ur reviews.

On a seperate note I am working on a new story that will begin when this one ends. It will not be HBP or DH compatable. It is seventh year at Hogwarts and the head boy and girl aren't getting along. So Dumbledore sends them on an assignment. One they can't return from until they complete the task he has set. Lots of Dramione fights and making up. I don't have a title yet but set me to your author alert if you want to know when I post it.

Breaking the news

"Oh my gods Hermione?" Ginny said. Half question, half shocked statement.

Hermione looked up startled that she had been interrupted. Ginny shut the door quickly and sat down next to Hermione as she pulled her shirt back over her flat stomach.

"I didn't hear you." Hermione said quietly as she avoided Ginny's eyes.

"Are you?" was all Ginny could muster. She had never thought of her friend as the type who would accidentally get pregnant. Hermione didn't answer. But tears were rolling gently down her cheeks.

"Hermione?" Ginny said putting her arm around her friends shoulder.

All Hermione could do was nod, burying her face into her hands.

"I take it that this was not planned?" Ginny asked soothingly. Hermione shook her head no.

"And it's not the reason you are now engaged?"

"How did you know about that?" Hermione asked.
"Draco told us down in the foyer."

"Is Harry here too?"

Ginny nodded. "And Ron is here as well."

Hermione jumped a bit.

"Ron is here? Why?"

"To apologize for being a prat. He feels bad about Claire and is making amends with your fiancé as we speak. I was coming up to get you so he could apologize to you as well."

"I've missed him so much." Hermione said, tears welling in her eyes again.

"So go down and see him." Ginny said trying to pull Hermione to her feet.

"I look terrible. And I feel even worse." she sniffed. "And how am I going to tell Draco about this? We have so much going on, looking for Claire, we were going to plan a wedding…"

"And you're not planning a wedding anymore?" Ginny asked.

"Not until we find Claire."

"Don't keep this from him. He deserves to know." Ginny warned. "Did you do a sex-specific test or just a standard pregnancy spell?"

"Standard." she said remembering the blue plus sign that had floated above her stomach just moments ago.

"You don't want to know?"

"No. But Draco might. Either way it can wait." she walked over to the mirror and used her wand to fix her red, puffy eyes. She pulled her messy hair into a sleek pony tail and applied some lip gloss. Smoothing her red cashmere sweater she walked to the door.

Ginny stood up to follow her.

"You are going to tell Draco right?"

Hermione paused before replying.

"Yes, but not in front of Harry and Ron. And I hope you can keep a secret from that lot until I'm ready to tell them."

"If that's what you want." Ginny said, "But it won't be easy."

Hermione gave her a weak smile before heading down the stairs.

Claire sat on the floor in front of the fireplace coloring the same picture as she had for the last hour or so.

Fin sat on the wing chair chugging a bottle of Firewhiskey and looking weary eyed at Claire. This task that his master had set for him was one he thought he had a handle on. He was wrong. Watching this child, this child of his bloodline was as boring watching paint peel. She whined incessantly for her 'daddy'. She was always hungry, always had to pee. She was always complaining that she was bored. He got her some bloody crayons and paper, what else did she want from him.

Claire's picture was very detailed. It showed a snow covered lane and a long line of brick flats with wooden doors. She didn't know how to spell much aside from her name. But she did know how to write her numbers. Carefully she printed '153' on the blank wall where no door appeared. And her name in the lower right corner. She glanced over at Fin. The Firewhiskey bottle was balanced precariously on the arm of the chair. His red rimmed eyes were closed and a loud snore just barely stirred the drunken man. She knew that she couldn't leave without him knowing. He had told her about the many charms on this place. She didn't have an owl. She just had to get this to her daddy and Hermione somehow. Quietly she snuck over to the bathroom and shut the door. There was a tiny window in there. She opened it silently and looked around at the rooftops. The sky was dark, the moon only a tiny sliver in the sky. After a week of being kept inside she inhaled the cool night air letting it fill her small lungs. A few minutes later she found what she was looking for. A small scops owl flew by the window and landed just a few feet from her. She called it to her gently and just a few minutes of coaxing brought the owl to where she was.

"Hello." she said gently. "Have you ever delivered a letter before?"

The owl twittered about excitedly before returning to where she was and holding very still. Claire fastened the letter to his leg as best she could with the string from her pajama bottoms.

"Take this to my daddy. His name is Draco Malfoy. Can you do that?" she asked as quietly as she could.

The owl hooted and flew in a small circle before flying off into the night sky. Claire watched the owl for a moment before shutting the window and flushing the toilet. She heard Fin snoring in the other room. She exited the bathroom and sat on her bed in front of the fireplace hoping that the small owl was up to the task. She took her aquamarine ring off and looked at the only word she recognized. 'Daddy'

Hermione and Ginny returned downstairs to find the three men waiting in an awkward silence. They stood up to meet the women and right away Draco could sense something was wrong.

"Everything alright?" he whispered. "If he," he thumbed at Ron, "is making you uncomfortable I will ask him to leave."

"No, it's nothing like that." she said smiling. "I'll talk to you in private later." She kissed him on the cheek before heading over to Ron. Neither one spoke a word at first, both looking at the floor, avoiding each other's eyes.

"Oh bloody hell." Ginny sighed.

"Isn't that your line?" Hermione said softly to Ron, trying her hardest not to grin. Ron looked up at her and grinned at her, causing her to break out smiling and soon the pair were hugging and Hermione was crying again.

"Can you forgive me?" Ron asked, eyes catching the gleam of her engagement ring.

"Of course!" she replied, hugging him again.

Harry squeezed Ginny's hand and smiled at his two best friends. Draco kept his distance for the moment. He knew that Ron's friendship meant more to Hermione than she would let on. He put on his most convincing smile and offered his guests to head into the living room and he would get some refreshments for all of them. As soon as Hermione sat down she started grilling Harry about the status of Claire's case.

"So you have nothing new Harry?" she said, sounding distressed again.

"I'm sorry Hermione. But we've looked everywhere for the name Fin Gillihan and have come up with nothing. His name isn't mentioned anywhere in Claire's file. I can't find information on Margaret Gillihan either. No marriage license was ever prepared by the ministry for her."

"Maybe it was before they started keeping track!" she proposed.

"We're still looking into it." Harry said smiling at his friend. "I am doing all I can."

"I know. It's just so frustrating." Hermione said sadly.

"I'll do whatever I can to help too." Ron told her, patting her leg reassuringly.

"Thanks Ron. I appreciate it."

Just then Draco appeared in the doorway carrying a tray with champagne and five fluted goblets.

"It is New Year's eve after all. And the trio is back together. I think a small celebration is appropriate."

"None for me thanks." Ginny said. "Breastfeeding."

"Okay…" Draco said uncomfortably. He poured four glasses and passed them out. "Would you like some juice or water?" he directed at Ginny.

"Cranberry juice would be great. Thanks." she replied. Her eyes were fixed on Hermione to keep her from taking a drink without raising suspicions.

Draco turned back to the kitchen and Hermione was just about to take a drink.
"Oi, Hermione!" she said shortly causing Hermione to spill the champagne down the front of her sweater.

"What?"

"You might not want to drink that after the calming potion I gave you upstairs, remember?"
"Calming potion?"

Ginny rubbed her stomach hoping Hermione would get the hint.

"You gave her a calming potion? For what?" Draco asked, just catching the backend of what was going on. He set Ginny's juice on the small table beside her and sat by Hermione, taking her hand in his own.

"Oh just to calm her down about Claire for a while. All that worrying isn't good for her."

"Oh, yes!" Hermione said catching on and setting her glass down. "Thank you so much for reminding me. Alcohol and potions don't mix."

"Well I guess just the three blokes are sharing this bottle." Ron said pouring himself a second glass. The three men sat there and finished the bottle while the girls sipped juice and Ginny gave hints to Hermione about telling Draco. Hermione just shook her head no and continued with listening to the men talk about Quidditch.

"Well we had better go. Mum's probably spoiling Arthur beyond repair." Ginny said standing up and waiting for Harry.

"I'll let you know if I hear anything 'Mione. Take care." Harry said hugging her tightly. Ron followed, hugging her as well.

"I'm happy for you." he said, "And I hope you find Claire soon."

Draco and Hermione walked their three guests to the fireplace and watched them floo back to the burrow. Then Draco took her upstairs for some more rest. She knew that she wanted to tell him now, but wasn't sure if it was the right time. He went downstairs and brought up a tray with some cookies and tea and sat on the small loveseat next to the fireplace in his room.

"Here we go." he said pouring her a cup of tea and adding 2 sugar cubes.

"Thank you."

"So, how are you feeling tonight?

"Better."

"Good. I know we will find her soon"

"I know."

He smiled and wrapped his arm comfortingly around her shoulders. She decided that now was as good of time as any.

"Draco?"

"Yes."

"I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I don't know how this will change what's happening. With everything going on and all…"

"What do you mean?"

"It's just such a bad time, with Claire gone missing and all…"

"Please just tell me. It can't be that bad."

"Oh no, it's not bad news. At least I don't think it is. I don't know what you will think about it…"

"I could use some good news." he smiled at her. His cool grey eyes flickered in the firelight.

"Well, Ginny came up here when I was doing something. A spell."

"What kind of spell?"

"A pregnancy spell." she replied tentatively.

"A what?"

"A pregnancy spell. To find out if…I'm, well you know, pregnant."

"And?"

"And what?"

"And are you pregnant?"

"Well the spell said I was…"

"You are?"

"Yes, I think so. That's why I've been so sick and dizzy."

"You're pregnant? That's wonderful!" he said excitedly picking her up off of the couch and hugging her happily.

"I'm glad that you are happy about it." she said smiling her best.

"Happy? Happy? Are you kidding?" he smiled broadly.

"Well with Claire gone and all, I just didn't think this was the best time for this to happen."

"I know, but this is good news. So Ginny knows then?"

She nodded.

"So Harry and Weasley probably know as well by now." he grumbled.

"No, I told Ginny to keep it hush until I had the chance to tell you." she replied.

"So that's why you didn't have any champagne, she didn't give you a potion." he deducted.

"Yes, she had to remind me though. This is going to take some getting used to."

"For both of us. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"No, I didn't do a sex-specific spell. Just a standard one. I didn't know if you wanted to know."

"I do if you do."

"Well I will if you want me to." she smiled.

"Please." he said grinning from ear to ear.

"Fine, if you insist." she replied grabbing her wand off of the nightstand and pointing it at her stomach. She muttered an incoherent spell and the small image of a baby, made entirely of smoke appeared. Hermione looked at it, giggled and then replied.

"Draco, you are going to be the father of a little baby boy."

Draco said nothing but picked Hermione up off of the bed and swung her around kissing her face and neck.

"Careful, that's how I got this way." she whispered. He laughed, actually laughed as he continued to hug and kiss her.
"You have made me the happiest man on earth. Now if we can just find Claire we can be a real family."

"All we can do is pray. And wait." she replied soothingly, touching her hand to his face.

At the window a little owl was pecking madly in the heavily falling snow.