Chapter Fifteen
XXX
/Ginny,
It is with much sadness that I reply to your letter. I am aghast, that you continue to believe your brothers lies, even after physical proof was provided, such as the child Lavender produced nine months after I discovered you brother's betrayal. I do wish to know how you think 20 months is moving on fast considering you left Seamus and two days later declared yourself and Harry where an item?
I wish to make this crystal clear; Draco did NOT give me a love potion. Draco was there for me in a time when you, Harry and the rest of your family turned their backs on me! As to My pregnancy, the father is no secret. Those I consider my friends knew of my pregnancy and engagement to Draco!
I do not and have never needed to be rescued and I especially do not want; as you so crudely wrote, want the spawn removed from me and it is with much sadness that you receive this letter from my Lawyer with a restraining order. As you must surly know, a mother will do anything to protect her child. I do however wish to congratulate you on your first child and hope you never have to go through the nightmare, I had to endure when you and your family destroyed my life! And I truly hope that you and Harry welcome a healthy child.
Just to prove that I am writing this with no coercion.
I have performed a blood print on this letter. Harry will be able to test this blood to prove that I have written this and I have done so of my own freewill and am not under the influence of any potion.
I hope one day you can move past the bitterness you hold against me and my fiancée until then I wish you the best.
Regards H. GRANGER/
XXX
She cast the blood print spell upon the paper causing a sharp point to appear in the bottom right of the parchment, which Hermione pressed her thumb against it breaking the skin and leaving a bloody print in its place.
She neatly folding the parchment and securing it in an envelope. She could hear Draco in the other room
"She need more time! She's basically blacklisting herself from her old friends, let her have the time to write it" Draco snapped,
"I'm sorry Draco but Susan has agreed to do the interview but can only spare twenty minutes to see you. We need to leave now" came Blaise voice
"Draco, it's fine, I'm done" she said coming into the kitchen, and passing Blaise the envelope.
"Are you sure?" Draco asked moving to her side, she smiled and nodded before giving Draco a kiss,
"I'm sure" she smiled "Thank you Blaise, for organising everything"
"Come on then" Blaise said, Hermione smiled taking Draco's hand in her own, Blaise placed a hand on Draco's shoulder and with a pop they apparated.
They sat in Blaise's office with Susan for over three hours, minus a few minutes where she slipped out to cancel the rest of her appointments today. She took notes by hand and asked them questions every now and then. It was late when she rose to her feet,
"I think I have enough here" she smiled "Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger, I will be honest with you, when Mr Zabini approached me I was convinced this was a prank but I can see the two of you are very much in love and the real crime here is people trying to separate you. I will get this written up and it will be in the morning edition of the prophet."
Hermione gave her former class mate a hug, Draco shook her hand,
"I want first dibs on the birth" she winked, before stepping out of the office and leaving.
XXX
Blaise arrived at Noon the next day with a rolled copy of the prophet under one arm and his briefcase.
"How did they take…the" Hermione asked biting her lip
"Harry said he'd see us in court, Ginny refused to open the letter and they will never believe anything a Death Eater says! They didn't like it much when I pointed out I was never a death eater. But the good news is that the restraining order is in place and no one from the Potter or Weasley family can not knowingly come within fifty feet from either of you."
"I guess that's something" she mumbled, she really hadn't wanted it to come to this but they had threatened her child.
"I have the article for you" he smiled changing the subject and passing her the paper. After pouring four hot drinks, Hermione joined the others at the table spreading the paper out flat where there was a beautiful photo of Hermione and Draco, he was standing behind her his hands resting on her baby bump,
"I love that Photo" Narcissa smiled,
"I'm sure Susan can get us a copy" Draco Smiled
XXX
/The truth behind the myth an Interview with Hermione Grange and Draco Malfoy.
I was sceptical when I was contacted, I like most of you could not see this pair as friends but after being in a room with the two I am under no doubt that the two are very much in love.
For those of you who missed Rita Skeeter's shocking article yesterday, we are overjoyed to confirm that Miss Hermione Granger is indeed with child, she and her Fiancée Draco Malfoy stating they do know the sex of the child but want to keep that information along with the exact due date to private.
Quote from Draco: Hermione has been through a lot and we are doing everything in our power to reduce the amount stress she's under.
Although Mr Malfoy, did not specifically say it, I believe their fear stems from the miscarriage that Miss Granger experienced with her ex-husband Ronald Weasley. Knowing that my readers would want to know the unlikely love story, I asked how the two changed from school enemies and became the lovebirds in front of me today.
Quote from Hermione: on a cruise, I was feeling a little under the weather and before he even knew who I was he came over to make sure I was ok and at first I couldn't understand why he had helped me, but as days went by I realised he had changed from school, he was a gentleman and swept me of off my feet. /
"I'm glad they brought that" Draco sighed, "so far so good" he pressed his lips to Hermione's temple.
/Having attended Hogwarts at the same time as Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger I can attest that from the outside this was very out of character or Mr Malfoy, however as many other couples can confirm the mandatory community service is a successful rehabilitation and re-education programs have changed the views of many people whose parents chose to teach them in ancient, outdated beliefs. Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy are not the only odd couple that have come to light, such as Mr Zabini and Miss Lovegood, Mr Goyle and Miss Chan, it is wonderful to see how far we have come since the war and Miss Granger put it best when she was asked why she was fighting to keep her relationship despite people disapproving and attempting to sabotage it?
Quote from Hermione: "We few survived a war, one fought amongst ourselves, it no longer matters who we supported, it matters that we live our lives and live happily for those who didn't make it. If we continue fighting, continue walking the same road our as fore fathers, we will be leading the next generation, our children, down the same paths with the same discriminations. It's time we lay a new foundation of acceptance and friendship. /
XXX
"That was beautiful" Narcissa smiled, she hadn't been there during the interview and had been told by Draco to wait to read the article,
"With that I have some more good news" Blaise announced, "The ministry are dropping the charges"
"What?" the three said in unison
"Yup, apparently there was a document error and your papers where 'misplaced' and have subsequently now been found" They could hear the sarcasm in Blaise's voice when he said Apparently Misplaced and Found.
"You're not playing a sick joke…" Draco asked, Blaise shook his head "So, I can leave the house and go for a walk?" Draco said amazed, he truly was suffering from cabin fever. He didn't want to leave the house meaning get away from the people around him, but leave the house when he felt like it, when Hermione had an appointment "I can be there for the birth" he whispered scared to say it louder just encase Blaise was playing a sick joke on him or he would jinx it.
"No excuses to miss it!" His mother smiled
"Let's go out for dinner to celebrate!" Hermione smiled, "there's a lovely Italian just in town" she smiled
"Sounds great" Draco smiled still in shock, "Blaise bring Loo...Luna too"
"I'll see what she says" Blaise laughed.
That evening the five of them sat freely in the dimly lit restaurant, the joy evident between the group, Blaise and Draco enjoying a glass of muggle beer each, Hermione being a bit of a buffer between Narcissa and Luna. They had had forgotten to warn Narcissa that Luna was a bit of an acquired taste.