a/n: Hey guys, a shorter chapter today because I'm super busy. Thanks to Anon for the review! Glad you like it. I hope you guys like the next chapter and please review if you do or if you have any suggestions! I love to hear from you guys.

Chapter 25

She pressed her hands against his chest, and gentler than he had ever thought possible she pushed against him. He broke away from her, his eyes catching hers. He was having a hard time deciphering the look in her whiskey coloured eyes. Panic or maybe excitement, maybe both. He was panting and so was she, their chests rising and falling in unison. He pressed his forehead against hers and breathed her scent.
"Hermione," he whispered, carefully, afraid to break the glass bubble they were residing in.
"I can't do this," she whispered. "I don't know what you want me to remember, but it's not there. You and I don't act like this, we hate eachother. I don't know what is going on with you, but I want you to stay away from me," she answered, letting go of him and stalking off. His heart sank. There is nothing in the world that he could do to get her back. His Hermione was left in the past and he had absolutely no way of getting her back. He felt his last bit of sanity slipping. It was as if everything that had happened in the past had been erased, it was as if it never happened and he so desperately needed it to be real. He needed to be the Draco that loved Hermione and he needed her arms to help him through this mess. He would rather be Draco, the king of England than Draco Malfoy.

Months passed and Hermione grew bigger every day. She had been living a half life, desperately trying to move on and be strong for her baby, but remaining trapped in the memory of that final day with Draco. The queen mother had helped her organize the kingdom and Draco's death had united both hers and his kingdom into one had to deal with people questioning her reign, she had to deal with suitors desperately trying to get her to remarry, but worst of all, she had to deal with James's family. They blamed her for his death and even tried to steal her throne from under her, but she had chewed them out and taken all their belongings. She had arrested his father when it came out that he had planned the attack. She had arrested servants and guards, and she even kept Lola in the dungeons, not able to decide what to do with the girl. She spent most her days reading in her chamber, watching her belly grow and feeling her baby kick. She was exhausted and absolutely spent. She felt like she couldn't take any more. She wanted him back, she wanted him to hold her. She wanted to go home but she couldn't, for this baby was here and she knew that Draco would want her to take care of their child. Sometimes, Anna came and got her to go outside, walk for a little while. They often visited the crypt where Draco lay. She told him everything. How her baby kicked and she felt his movement in her belly. She told him she hoped he would have his eyes.

They brought in the paintings on a sunny winter morning. She remembered sitting for them.
"I hope you find the paintings to your liking, my queen." Hermione nodded towards the artist as he had them hung in the throne room. There was a velvet cloth covering both canvasses.
"We'll have a ceremony to reveal them later," the queen mother added.
"No, I want to see him now," Hermione whispered, pressing her hand against her swollen belly. "I need to see him." The older woman protested, but she had the last say. As the servants pulled off the covers, Hermione once more met Draco's stormy grey eyes. It looked just like him. He was wearing the suit he had been wearing on their wedding day, she was wearing her wedding dress, their hands were clasped together and they were both smiling. Hermione remembered the paintings in the book and they looked nothing like this. In some little ways, they had in fact changed history. They would for ever be pictured together and she found some comfort in that. Her hand came up to the canvas, the dried oil paint rough under her fingers.
"I miss you," she whispered softly as a tear slid down her cheek.

The same night, Draco woke to find an owl sitting on his bed. He recognized the snowy white animal immediately. Potter. What could he possibly want with Draco. The animal was carrying a package and a letter. The letter gave it away. It was wrapped in an envelope with elegant writing on it, his name in cursive. He gave the owl a treat and the animal left immediately, telling Draco that he wasn't to respond. He opened the letter and found and even more elegant note inside.

Draco,

I don't know what's going on with you or what you were talking about today. I do know that this somehow seemed important to you, and even if you were playing a trick on me, I still wanted you to have it.

Hernione

He reread the note a couple of times. It was so like her to always assume the best in people. He grabbed the package wrapped in parchment and opened it. Inside, he found the book that started it all. He sighed as he looked at it. The last thing he wanted was a reminder of everything that apparently didn't happen. He tried to stop himself, but couldn't help it. If he could see his Hermione this way, he would. He flipped through the pages until he found the short chapter on Argon. The page that used to hold the painting of Hermione was now void of any images and slightly panicked, Draco skipped pages looking for her. Had she been erased? His heart skipped a beat when he finally found her. The painting was nothing like the first ones they saw. There weren't two paintings, there was one and they were both on it. He remembered the day it was painted as if it was yesterday, every detail etched into his brain. She had looked so beautiful in her wedding dress. He would never get rid of this book, not even if he had to give his life to protect it, for it was the last connection he had to his Hermione.
"I miss you," he whispered, slowly tracing his finger over her face.