Disclaimer: I own nothing.
6 MONTHS POST-DECREE
"Let me see if I've gotten this all right. Your mother gave Hermione a strong tonic, not a contraceptive potion, that would postpone her reproductive tract, till she took another potion that would ensure she had a boy at the appropriate time, but she gave this responsibility to Theodore who put the potion in your pumpkin juice by mistake and it poisoned you half to death?"
Draco shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Blaise began to piece his mother's lies and chaotic series of foolishness together. "Just about what transpired, yes."
Blaise shook his head and took a sip of the fire whiskey in front of him. "Then she struck up a plan with Theodore and the parent union, that is slowly growing..from what I hear from mother… to try and wedge Daphne between you and Hermione?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Mmmhm."
"What of the letter?"
"Hermione understands now that mother is very apologetic, she apologized. She's going to forgive her of course."
Blaise nodded but his expression was skeptical. "Seems an awful lot to forgive so quickly."
…..
Narcissa sighed slowly as she entered the Zabini estate. It had been too long since the new year started and she had yet to catch up with her friend Natalia. She had had little to no communication with Natalia for months, this had started to worry her. She hoped that turning up unexpectedly she could surprise Natalia and get rid of some of the stress from the holidays.
Narcissa waited impatiently at the gate of the estate. Realizing after waiting several minutes that the gate was open. She thought it quite rude to disapparate into someone's home unannounced, so she went about announcing herself the traditional way. Ringing a small button at a large green door.
Narcissa heard shuffling before the large door finally opened. A young girl, no older than seven answered the door. The girl stared blankly at Narcissa, looking her black robes up and down several times before looking past her.
"Hello, there," Narcissa said softly. She was met with silence and a look of confusion on the child's face.
The girl continued to look beyond Narcissa as if she was expected someone or something else to arrive.
"Who's there Chloë?"
Narcissa looked up and smiled when she heard her friend's voice in the distance. She glanced down at the young girl who has begun to withdraw from the door slowly.
Natalia came into view moments later arms outstretched to Narcissa.
"Cissy! What a surprise! What are you doing here?" Natalia ushered Chloë away from the door and down the hall.
Narcissa smiled and stepped into the room. "Who is— I realized I hadn't seen you in quite some time and I wanted to…see you."
Narcissa's voice dropped noticing her friend fidgeting with her robes. Natalia was looking around nervously.
"Oh? A-are you alone Cissy?"
Narcissa looked confused. "Why, yes. Of course. Of course, I am alone. Who would I bring with me to your home?"
Natalia gave Narcissa an incredulous look then. She let out a low sigh. Narcissa shifted by the door uncomfortably.
"Talia? What's going on?"
Natalia couldn't maintain eye contact with Narcissa. After several moments passed her shoulders sunk, she let out a deep breath. She looked her friend over slowly then let out a hearty laugh.
Narcissa looked at her friend ever more confused.
Natalia continued to laugh but held out her arm to her friend. "Come now my friend, there have been too many secrets between us as of late, it is time we talked."
Narcissa took Natalia's arm cautiously, bewildered by the laughing and strange welcome from her good friend.
"Yes, that's why I came..to talk."
"It's time you knew, I've already seen what's to come."
…..
Hermione shifted on the armchair across from Draco, balancing a book in one hand and a small glass of water in the other.
"Hermione, it is time for you to change into something a little more…visually appetizing, and come to bed." Draco drew back their bedcovers and sat on the edge of the bed.
Hermione responded by flipping a page and taking a sip of her water.
"Hermione, it's late."
Hermione shifted slowly, eyes still on her book. "I'm not tired, you go to bed."
Draco groaned. He stood up quickly and took the book out of Hermione's hands, causing her to fidget and spill her water in her lap. She stood up and stormed to the other side of the room.
"What is wrong with you? Last week there was a different energy in this room."
Draco tossed her book in the chair and crossed to her side of the room, drawing her into him.
"What's bothering you, Hermione? Have I done something wrong?"
Hermione huffed and mumbled something under her breath that he couldn't hear.
"I'm still upset about everything we learned over the holiday Draco." Her eyes dropped to the floor as he exhaled.
"You have been to see Madame Pomfrey, the potion for reversal should have worked fine."
"How do I know that?"
Draco chuckled leaning in to kiss her neck. "There's only one way to know.."
Hermione shoved him back. "This is serious Draco!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "I am fully aware, I am sure everything is fine and we'll know when it's time for us to know."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What's to be done about your mother?"
Draco paused. "What do you mean?"
Hermione looked up at him. She didn't respond, she just stared into his eyes.
"She's-she's apologized. She is sorry, she meant it. I'm sure she would—
"How do you know what she'd do? How do you know what she's capable of? She was plotting with other parents to kill me Draco. That was the end to all of this for her, for you to leave me, for me to be found inadequate and subsequently put to death, can you believe that—
"Hermione, don't do this."
Hermione gently took Draco's hand in hers.
"If..or whenever I do become pregnant—
"You will! When we're ready to—
"I don't want her involved." Hermione released his hand.
Draco let out a long sigh. This was his worst nightmare. He loved his mother more than anything, and he was now in love with his wife who wanted nothing to do with her. He turned slowly as Hermione began to undress and climb into bed.
"Now, I'm tired."
Draco gave Hermione a half-hearted smile as he got into bed as well. The night was not going at all how he thought it would, he wondered how future nights would be with the competing worlds in his head.
…..
Blaise looked at Ginny impatiently as Madame Pomfrey finished her examination. Ginny pulled her undergarments and skirt on quickly and sat on the edge of the cot.
Madame Pomfrey excused herself and left the room without notice.
Blaise knew that Ginny's nausea and aversion to most smells lately, likely lead to one conclusion. He was hopeful that they'd been careful enough to avoid this for at least a year, but it seemed they had not.
Blaise placed his hand on Ginny's as her legs began to shake slowly.
"All is well, no need to worry."
Ginny tried to smile but her panic was on full display. "Your dream—" she was cut off by Madame Pomfrey shuffling back into the room.
"Yes, yes dear. Three months and a quarter to be exact. Baby brewing in there unnoticed for some time."
Ginny flushed and exhaled loudly. Blaise clasped his hands and reached down to take both of Ginny's hands in his.
"Well, this is quite the surprise. Three months already."
Madama Pomfrey nodded quickly. She handed Ginny a small bag. "Here is a tonic for nausea."
Ginny nodded and stood slowly. "Thank you."
"I'd take it easy on the Quddittich pitch my dear."
Ginny and Blaise exchanged looks. Blaise smiled at Madame Pomfrey, Ginny gave her a soft nod before walking out of the room ahead of Blaise.
Blaise gave Madame Pomfrey an apologetic smile. "She's really..exhausted."
…..
Hermione lay still next to Draco, she watched silently as his chest rose and fell. She liked to watch him sleep occasionally, the last few weeks they'd spent their weekend mornings together, waking slowly and doing things normal married couples might do.
Though she'd tried her best, Hermione couldn't shake the resentment she felt for Narcissa. She was repulsed by what she'd allowed to be done to her body. She had trusted Narcissa to give her a proper contraceptive potion, but she hadn't checked her smelled it before downing it. She had been silly to believe that she'd be welcomed with open arms by Draco's mother or that she was better than to pull off schemes like this.
Hermione was torn between the feelings she felt for Draco and the hate that was growing inside of her for his mother.
The last month since the holiday had been bliss for them. They went to bed together almost every night. She was learning new things and every day she was excited to come home and be alone with Draco.
She had fallen completely for his touch, his attention, the feel of his lips on her skin, the feel of him inside of her. She was beginning to understand what it meant to love her husband.
Hermione brushed the side of Draco's cheek. She blushed thinking back to what they had been up to the night before.
Hermione kissed the top of his head and turned her back to him. As happy as she was that her marriage seemed to be working, there was a small voice in her head that told her something wasn't right.
Would she be able to get pregnant?
The decree required a child. They hadn't exactly been being careful, and since there had been no contraceptive potion after all, would she be pregnant soon? Would she ever be?
She knew that she didn't want to have a baby right away, she knew this with certainty at the start of the school year, but now her panic was outweighing her logic. She had to find out if she was able to get pregnant.
If she wasn't able to, what was her fate? More importantly in her mind, what was Narcissa's?
…..
A/N: Hi everyone… to the supporters of this story: I am very sorry that it took me so long to update, I know it had to be annoying if you enjoyed this but, life happened.
To the people sending me rude, mean reviews on this: I hope sending people nasty comments makes you feel good? I'm not sure why so many people are angry with me for updating the story. I have decided not to continue after the slew of hate I've gotten from several people. I used to write fan fiction as a way to escape and relive old HP memories. Not to be attacked by people online.
That is all, I'm done with this fic. I'm done with The ending would just have been everything working out, Blaise's visions being wrong, him confessing too Ginny about having foresight.. Draco and Hermione happy, with a baby on the way. Narcissa happy and on her way to redemption. Theo trying to come between Luna and Neville (was excited about this arc but alas!)
Goodbye.
