Hermione shifted impatiently on the sofa. Draco had said that he would owl her, telling her how about the meeting his father and whether or not it went alright. Lucius Malfoy was being released today and Hermione couldn't help the anxious feeling from rising up in her.
Despite Draco's protests, Mrs. Malfoy had insisted he come with her when she picked up Lucius from Azkaban. Draco had tried his best to defy his mother, but after a week of relentless asking, Mrs. Malfoy had finally convinced him to go with her.
"I'm only going to protect her. In case he goes mental or something," Draco had grumbled several times.
Hermione could understand why Draco was so adamant about not seeing his father, but she also realized that Mrs. Malfoy would need support. This notion did very little to comfort Hermione, however. And she was under no illusions that their lives would be unchanged once Lucius came home.
Scorpius sat on the floor of Hermione's living room keenly watching the television. Draco had insisted Scorpius not know about his grandfather's arrival. So, there Scorpius sat, blissfully unaware.
There was a knock at the door and it made Hermione jump. She rushed over, hoping it was Draco. However, Ginny stood there instead, James in tow.
"Scorp!" James shouted before bolting in and running over to his friend.
Scorpius, now excited that James was there, jumped up too, leaving the television behind. They boys immediately started chatting away about nonsense.
Ginny beamed at Hermione. "I thought that you could probably use some company," she said as she entered the house. "Keep your mind off things."
Hermione smiled appreciatively at the redhead. "Thanks. He was supposed to write, but I haven't heard from him yet."
Ginny moved to the living room and Hermione followed. "Maybe that means things are going well?" Ginny offered.
Hermione laughed sarcastically, "I highly doubt that."
Ginny shrugged, sitting down on the sofa. Hermione had told Ginny, Ron and Harry about Lucius. All of whom were pretty upset. Draco had suggested warning her friends was the best idea. Hermione agreed wholeheartedly.
"Are you feeling any better?" Ginny asked, watching the boys play.
Hermione sighed, "Yeah. I mean it comes and goes, but I'm feeling better."
Ginny looked at her earnestly. "Don't get mad with me, but do you think you could be – you know – pregnant?" Ginny hushed the last word, so the boys wouldn't hear.
Several emotions raced through Hermione at once. She wanted to both yell at Ginny and laugh in her face. But she was too shocked to do anything, so she just stared blankly at Ginny. A small, small sinking feeling knew that it was possible. It was possible.
Ginny grabbed her hand and ripped Hermione from the sofa. Once in the hallway, away from the boys, Ginny whispered harshly, "You shouldn't have to think about it, Hermione. If there is any doubt at all, you should do the charm." Ginny groaned, "Oh Merlin, you could be pregnant."
"No," Hermione shook her head in defiance. "No, it's not possible."Yes," Hermione said, but her voice shook a little. "I mean it wasn't even real, right? It's not like I was pregnant and lost the baby. It wasn't even there."
Ginny sighed, "Just do the test. Make sure."
Hermione dropped her head, embarrassed. "I don't know it," she muttered.
She looked up to see Ginny smiling smugly, "I know something you don't. Wow, this is a great feeling. Is this how you feel all the time?"
"I've never had to use it, now have I?" Hermione hissed. "Just do it." She sighed. She couldn't be pregnant. She just couldn't.
Ginny took out her wand. She muttered a few words and then said, "Lift up your shirt. If nothing happens then you're not pregnant."
Scrambling, Hermione lifted her shirt. "It will take a minute," Ginny continued.
It was the longest moment of Hermione's life. Mixed emotions rushed through her. What if she was pregnant? What then? She would keep it, obviously. There was no doubt about that. How would Draco react? Oh Merlin, there were so many questions swimming though her mind, that she almost didn't hear Ginny.
"Well, it looks like you are not pregnant, Hermione," Ginny stated.
The mix of emotions didn't end there, however. Hermione expected to feel relieved, happy, and she did, but she also felt loss. She couldn't understand why she was disappointed. She didn't want a baby, not now, anyways.
"Thanks for scaring the shit out of me!" Hermione growled. She yanked her shirt back down over her stomach.
"I was just making sure. You said you've been sick," Ginny justified. Hermione ran a hand through her hair. "You can't say that I didn't take your mind of Draco though," Ginny smiled.
"You're awful," Hermione groaned and headed back into the living room. "I knew it. I just knew it."
"Are you okay, though, Hermione," Ginny asked cautiously.
Ginny smiled sympathetically, "I know. I know." She grabbed Hermione's hand and squeezed hard. "It's normal to feel this way, even if you didn't want to be pregnant."
"I don't know. I don't want to be pregnant," Hermione sighed. "I guess for a moment I liked the idea," tears formed in Hermione's and her chest felt heavy. "It's fine."
The two girls jumped as Draco came through the fire place. He looked weary as he picked up Scorpius, who ran at him full force.
He looked at Hermione, one eyebrow going up in question. "Everything okay?" He asked.
Hermione nodded weakly and turned away from him.
Ginny sighed, "Well, I'll be going. You two must want to talk. Oh, how about I take Scorpius back with me? He and James didn't have that much time to play together and it will allow you guys to talk in private."
Scorpius smiled broadly, "Please, daddy!"
Draco smiled at his son, but Hermione could see that it was weary. "Okay, but I won't be long. I'll come and pick you up soon, okay?"
Scorpius nodded and hugged his dad around the neck. It was the most adorable thing Hermione had ever seen, but it made her wish even more so that she had a child of her own.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Once Ginny and the boys left, Draco slumped down on the sofa. He ran a hand over his tired face and groaned.
Hermione asked softly, "Would you like me to make some tea? It might calm your nerves."
He shook his head and motioned her to take a seat beside him. As did she, he placed a hand on her back and gently pulled her closer.
"I never want to see that man again," Draco stated simply.
"Did it go that badly?" Hermione asked, concerned.
Draco sighed heavily, "No. It didn't. I ignored him for the most part. I just can't stand him. He did ask me, however, how Scorpius was."
Hermione inhaled sharply before saying, "What did you say?"
"That it was none of his fucking business," Draco replied, taking Hermione's hand. "What was wrong earlier?"
Hermione waved her hand dismissively. "Nothing."
"You were crying, Hermione," Draco eyed her.
"Promise you won't laugh or get angry?" Hermione said quietly.
Draco nodded and waited her answer eagerly.
"I – uh – Ginny thought that this cold that I've had for the last week might have been morning sickness," Hermione murmured, almost hoping he did hear her. But he had, he took a deep breath and let go of her hand. Hermione timidly reached up to push the hair from her face.
"I didn't think I was, but Ginny insisted that we do a charm anyways, to see if I was – you know – pregnant," Hermione said a bit more forcefully. Draco's posture stiffened and he looked away from Hermione. He clearly was upset and Hermione wasn't sure how he was going to react next. He kept quiet so she could continue, but Hermione could tell that he really wanted to say something.
"It came back negative." Hermione breathed.
Draco's shoulders sagged in relief and he let out the breath he had been holding. "Oh, thank Merlin," Draco whispered, mostly to himself. "That's good then?"
He turned back to Hermione and she could see how relieved his face was. Why couldn't she have felt that way? Tears started forming in her eyes before she could stop them. She dropped her gaze from Draco to her hands in her lap.
Willing herself to pull it together, Hermione tried to take deep calming breaths, but they were choked off by a sob.
Suddenly, Draco enveloped her in a tight, comforting hug. "I don't understand, Hermione," he said softly. "Did you want to have a baby?"
Pulling back to look at him, she said, "No. I don't know why I feel so awful! I don't want a baby, not now anyways. But for the few seconds that I thought I was pregnant, I didn't hate it. Merlin, I don't even know how to explain!" Hermione cried.
Draco reached out and rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks, brushing away the tears. "I'm not going to say that I understand, because I am not sure I do. But I know that you will have a child some day and you're going to be a great mother. Until then, I know a little boy who is willing the fill the position."
Hermione smiled a little. "Okay. You're right. Thank you for trying to help."
Draco chuckled, "Well you've been there for me."