DISCLAIMER: None of these characters are mine of course.

A/N Also, it's been a long time since I updated time has slowed down a bit and that's okay; welcome this Christmas chapter with open arms So I was supposed to post this on Christmas Eve…life happened. Then I thought I'd keep it going, make it long and push through till New Years, never happened. Then I started writing a novel, reading too many books, living life and forgot about posting this. I'm so sorry. I know how so many of you have supported this story from the beginning, you deserve an ending. I'm really going to try and give you one this year!

Chapter 19

Hermione rolled her eyes at Draco taking her hand from his as soon as they'd disapparated into the castle. Draco sighed giving her a pitiful look.

"How long is this argument going to last?"

Hermione waved her hand at the question, tightening her grip on her bag when he tried to take it from her.

"I can carry that—

"I'm not disabled." She stomped off ahead of him towards their dormitory.

Draco let out a long huff and trailed after her.

When they reached their dormitory they were greeted with silence and cold air blowing through the open windows in the common area. Hermione passed her wand over each window and they shut loudly. They walked silently into their room. Hermione set down her bag and began to undo her coat and boots.

"Are you going to let this ruin our holiday?" Draco stared at her as she sat on the bench in front of their bed to remove her boots.

Hermione said nothing as he watched her.

"Honestly Hermione!" Draco threw down his bag and stormed into the bath. Hermione flinched when the door slammed behind him.

She sat back in the bench pulling her legs up to remove her socks. She glanced toward the bath door and sighed. She didn't know why she was carrying out her annoyance from the campfire but she wasn't ready to forgive him for being so unpleasant with her friends. There was that and another concern making her thoughts swarm together in confusion.

Sitting back she placed a hand on her stomach and exhaled.

Harry paced around his dormitory waiting for Pansy to exit their bath.

"Pansy?" He knocked slowly on the door. She didn't respond. "Can I get you anything?"

Pansy stirred inside the bath. He knew her morning sickness had been terrible but she'd been in the bath for almost an hour now.

"I'm okay Harry." Pansy rose from the toilet to sit up against the sink. She felt awful and didn't want Harry to see her in this state. She knew he was concerned but she couldn't let him in.

"Just let me in, I'll help you…"

"No no love, its fine...I'm fine."

Pansy stood and turned on the faucet. She splashed water in her face and waited for color to come back to it. She brushed her teeth and pulled her hair into a bun. Taking one last look at herself in the mirror, she leaned against the door for a moment before opening it to a worried Harry.

"Are you alright? This is the third time today you've vomited...I want to make—

"I said I'm fine Harry." Pansy wiped at water on her chin. "I'm fine, honestly...just the baby."

Harry nodded slowly. He didn't know much about pregnancy but he knew Pansy looked weak and nothing like herself. He worried she wasn't be honest.

"We should go to Madame Pomfiry tomorrow, just to be sure."

Pansy winced at the name. She shook her head slowly but gave him a small smile.

"If that will make you feel better."

Hogwarts was beginning to sparkle in its holiday fashion. Most students were either so relieved they couldn't focus on anything but Christmas, or so overwhelmed they hadn't noticed Christmas was here.

Ginny wasn't feeling either. She was a bundle of stress knowing she'd spend the holidays at the Zabini manor, away from her family and the Burrow for the first time in her life, but also a bit relieved that she wouldn't have to go home and explain any of Blaise's odd behavior to her mother or answer questions about why she hadn't conceived yet. She didn't want questions because she herself had no answers.

Blaise had been a bit elusive since the camping trip. His behavior hadn't gotten any less odd and his relationship with Luna had started to puzzle her more than ever. He'd started staying out with Luna till the last moments of his curfew, claiming they were out studying who knows what and chatting up about her marriage. How was it, Ginny wondered, that she was excluded from all of these conversations, when she surely had more in common with Luna that Blaise. Didn't she?

She was hoping the holidays would bring them closer together but she didn't know if she wanted to be cooped up with Blaise and all of his secrets for a week either.

She sighed at the thought. How did she wind up with the perfect husband, the one she didn't know if she could trust?

…..

Hermione leaned awkwardly against the side of the sofa as Draco handed a small parcel to Blaise.

"Happy Christmas mate!"

Blaise smiled smugly. He took the small parcel and dropped it into his coat pocket. "And a Happy Christmas to you." He in turn handed Draco a small parcel that looked identical to the one Draco had given him.

Hermione rolled her eyes at this. She didn't want to guess what the pair exchanged every year and she had no energy to pry the information out of Draco.

"Happy Christmas Hermione." Blaise handed Hermione a small package that looked the size of a book. She gave him a small smile.

"Happy Christmas, and you shouldn't have Blaise." She took the package and dropped it into her bag. She gave Draco a side eye. "How...thoughtful."

Blaise nodded and looked to her then Draco.

"Well, I guess you two will be going."

Draco nodded and clasped his hands together. He stole a glance at Hermione who was still giving him the cold shoulder.

"I guess we will be off...to the manor." He tapped Hermione on the shoulder and led to the doorway. She waved to Blaise and walked to Draco.

"Goodbye then." Blaise waved to them as he led his own luggage out into the common area.

"You'll give Ginny my goodbyes; I can't imagine where she's run off to." Hermione looked around the room quickly wondering why Ginny wasn't here.

Blaise frowned down at his luggage. "I haven't the slightest idea either, but I will tell her for you."

Hermione nodded and turned to Draco who was waiting with his hand outstretched to her.

"Ready?"

She rolled her eyes and took his hand

Ginny took in her surroundings slowly as she mulled around Blaise's old bedroom. There were no old relics or sentimental belongings in his room, only immaculate tile outlined with gold and black specks. Everything shined as if it was brand new to the world and no one had ever inhabited the room before.

Ginny winced when she heard the door swing open behind her.

"Aw...have you unpacked?"

Blaise approached Ginny wiping her hair away from her face and studying her perplexed expression. Ginny wriggled away from his hand and gaze.

"Yes. Yes, I've put all of my things...just there." She pointed to a small wardrobe near the window and walked towards it as she spoke.

Blaise followed her in slow strides till she was peering out of the window her back to him but touching.

"You seem…angry."

Ginny's eyes followed the landscape of the mansion she was looking out from.

"Oh?"

Blaise inhaled and put his hands on her shoulders.

"I know you have questions." He paused to run his fingers down her back. "I will have answers soon." He kissed the nap of her neck and slowly turned her towards him. "I promise."

Ginny nodded slowly but couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"I didn't sign up for a life of secrets Blaise."

Blaise sighed. "Gin…if you knew how silly it was for you to behave this way…"

Ginny scowled and swatted his hands away from her. "Silly?"

Blaise chuckled. "Silly."

He took her hand and led her toward the sofa in front of his bed. He sat down and she withdrew her hand from his. Ginny folded her arms in front of him.

"Ginny." He tried to unfold her arms, she glared down at him.

"Blaise."

Blaise began to laugh causing Ginny to throw up her arms in annoyance, she began to storm off but he dragged her back to the sofa.

"Do you really think I've been out on secret rendezvous with Luna because I prefer her company to yours?"

Ginny eyed him suspiciously.

"Of course not, Luna is ...well she's…"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Just tell me!"

Blaise sighed. "I can't tell you." He leaned forward and drew her into his lap. "I want to…but I can't tell you."

Ginny inhaled harshly. "Why?"

"There are a lot of things about your friends you don't know." Blaise looked away from Ginny taking in his bedroom. "This Marriage Act just escalated many things that were already in motion, Luna…well, she may not be safe and I've been doing my best to protect her."

Ginny frowned. Leaning into Blaise now. "Does this have anything to do with Theodore?"

Blaise patted her softly and shook his head. "Enough of this Ginny, I can't say anymore."

"It does doesn't it?"

Blaise winced. "What does he want with Luna? She has to be the least harmful of all of—

Blaise silenced Ginny with his lips.

"Blaise! This is not the time to—

Ginny gasped as he began to kiss her neck.

"You can't just say things and—

Ginny groaned when he began to lift her into the air. Blaise laughed at her frustration.

"This really is not funny, not one bit."

Blaise chuckled. "Well, at least I tried to loosen you up before—

Ginny straightened hearing a loud knock at door.

"That will be dinner, you better get changed."

Ginny glared at him as he exited the room. He was painfully cheery and full of holiday cheer, far too much for her liking.

….

"Can I help you with anything?" Hermione walked into the parlor slowly where Narcissa was staring across the room to the enchanted dining room.

Narcissa winced, the interruption breaking her concentration. "No-no, no need." She clucked her tongue finalizing the centerpiece in the room and turned away from it. Drawing her wand up to the walls she began to play with the decorations she'd set out.

"I'm sure you'd be of better use to Draco than me."

Hermione frowned. Narcissa's back was to her but she could feel the scowl on her face from across the room. If she'd thought she was going to get a warm holiday, this definitely was not it. She turned and went to search for her husband.

….

"How have your classes been my dear?"

Ginny hiccupped trying to swallow and respond at the same time. "F-fine."

Natalia nodded taking in Ginny and smiled. "Blaise tells me you're quite the seeker; I myself have never had the time to see any of the Gryffindor matches."

Ginny gave Blaise a side eye. "Blaise is over exaggerating, I'm just okay—

Blaise snorted. "Nonsense! I'd rush to say she's better than Potter mother."

Natalia's eyes lit up at the Harry Potter reference. "Well, well. Then you must be exceptionally good."

Ginny's cheeks burned red. She whispered. "Just okay."

The courses changed and new food swirled in and out of the kitchen as Natalia flicked her wand this way and that. Ginny was already full and drunk on the food and conversation. Natalia had spent the night fixated on her, saying little to Blaise. She had hoped it would've been the opposite so she could sit in silence and observe the two.

Ginny began to stretch as the last course of dessert was placed on the table. She could smell five different pies and a variety of puddings on the table.

"This meal...it's, it's delicious." Ginny felt a twinge of guilt saying this. Suddenly missing the Burrow.

Natalia watched her face fall and adapted quickly. "I'm sure your family is missing you. I hope that we can all share a meal one day soon."

Blaise sighed uneasily. "I hope that too."

Ginny nodded. "One day."

"Mother, honestly!"

Naricissa rolled her eyes at Draco as he set down his glass.

"I have had enough of this. What right do you have to be angry with me? Or Hermione? After what you've done with Theodore!"

Narcissa gasped. "Why! Don't you bring him up, it's a holid-

"Mother!"

Hermione patted Draco's hand attempted to calm him. "Draco let's eat and—

"You poisoned me!" Draco threw down his handkerchief and stared his mother down. She looked at him shocked. "Yes, I know what your plans were. Poison Hermione, get her sick enough to be unfit to carry a child our first year, so I'd have to remarry."

Narcissa held her handkerchief to her mouth and began to cry. Hermione looked between the two in horror.

"What?!"

Draco turned to her slowly, one hand resting on her knee. "Yes...I didn't tell you because it's made no sense till—

"Tell when? We came to spend the holidays with your mother who means to poison us?"

Draco let out a long sigh. Hermione pushed her plate away and tried to leave the table. Draco pulled her back down to her seat.

"Can we please discuss all of this now?"

Narcissa shook her head.

"Please, mother."

Narcissa coughs softly, wiping tears away. "Fine, fine. If I must." She throws down the handkerchief and plants her hands in her lap. "How was I supposed to know the boy was so stupid?" She shakes. "He even came to threaten me you know!"

Draco glares down at his plate. "…and?"

"I knew something was stirring when I didn't hear from Daphne or Astoria that first week. I knew you hadn't been paired with either of them. I just didn't know how severe the problem wa—

"Mother!"

Narcissa rolled her eyes at Draco and gave Hermione a side glance. Hermione glared back at her.

"At St. Mungos, I realized something had to be done. Theodore had just been released from Azkaban; I knew he wouldn't be paired with anyone. I also know he has a mind for mischief. I trusted him to put a small flask of earlessence in her pumpkin juice. Just the size of a quarter. It disables the reproductive system no longer than six months. Since you'd decided to wait until after the semester ended, it was an excellent plan to prove inaptitude on her part and—

"Mother. This is awful." Draco stared down at his hands. "How could you do this?"

Narcissa's mouth curled. "I did it to protect my son, none of the other things...the other people matter to me. I thought I was protecting you and your future children. I wanted you to be happy."

Draco's face screwed into a mix of anger and disbelief. "Happy?"

Narcissa sighed. "Luckily, he put the mix in the wrong pumpkin juice and the Greengrass's were just as useless and you two can live happily ever after."

Draco stared at her silently.

Narcissa threw up her hands and huffed. "Your father's in prison and you're happy with that—that—

"Mother! Stop it!" Draco stood, shaking the plates and glasses on the table. "Hermione is a part of this family now and I won't have you disrespect her any more than you already have."

Hermione's gaze didn't leave Narcissa.

Narcissa stood slowly; she wiped her robes slowly and left her seat to stand face to face with her son. She stared at him for an agonizingly long time then turned to Hermione.

"I'm sorry."

…..