PART 8
OK... let's see... there are some spoilers in the rest of the fic for OotP. But they won't really ruin anything unless you're a total puritan and if you are, you've most probably read the book already. Some ground rules for the rest of the fic, regarding OotP: the person who died DID NOT DIE (I'm still in disbelief, by the way); the stuff that happened over the summer (i.e. them hanging at number twelve Grimmauld Place, knowing...er... that person's past, etc) didn't happen either. I WILL use some stuff from the book (i.e. Sirius's family history), but nothing much bigger than that.
Sorry for the delay in posting, I got caught up in lots of stuff; OotP coming out, the new DV chapter, beta-ing, trying to find a new college, etc. Now that summer's here, hopefully I'll be able to post more.
I obviously don't own Harry and the gang, if I did, SOMEONE wouldn't have died. And I'd have a car. And a faster computer. And all of the Sims expansion packs. And I'd be able to properly write Hagrid's accent (I shall attempt that in this chapter).
Lyrics are from Celine Dion's "Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable)". Don't worry, for all you non-Celine fans (what's WRONG with you?), there's some non- Celine lyrics coming. Oh, and I think I might do a page with the soundtrack to my fic... depends on how much bandwith Angelfire will let me use, not much I'm guessing.
Oh, and one more thing (I'm uber sorry for all these notes, this is the last one I promise), if anyone would like to donate a LiveJournal code to me I would be UBER grateful.
Star_Tracer@hotmail.com
I did not know there was a plan
Somewhere a perfect plan
I don't believe in the stars
Then you smiled at my pretense
As you broke down my defenses
Just want to be where you are ***
Hermione lay in the hospital wing, watching Hagrid pace in front of her bed.
"Hagrid!" Hermione pushed herself into a sitting position. "It's alright. I'm okay. I promise."
Hagrid shot a disbelieving look at her. "Well, then maybe yeh'd like te explain te me why Ron hit yeh."
Hermione sighed. "You're going to be furious if I tell you, Hagrid."
"Why? What's goin' on with yeh, Hermione?" Hagrid stopped at the foot of her bed and peered at her.
"It's Draco." Hermione said softly.
"Draco? Malfoy?"
Hermione nodded.
"What did he do te yeh?!" Hagrid raged. "I'll kill him!"
"No! NO!" Hermione nearly threw herself out of bed in agitation. "He didn't do anything to me!" she paused, considering. "Well... that's not entirely true..." she shook her head and tried again. "He and I are dating." she blurted out and winced horribly, waiting for the inevitable roar.
But it didn't come.
Hermione squinted an eye open. Hagrid had dropped into the chair beside her bed, which looked as if it was about to give any moment, his mouth open in shock.
"Datin'?" he repeated. "Yeh're seein' Malfoy?"
Hermione nodded.
"Malfoy and... yeh?"
"Yes."
Hagrid shook his great head. "And this is... yeh... he's not forcin' yeh? No potions or curses or anythin'?"
"No."
Hagrid ran a hand through his hair. "Are yeh happy?" he said after a long while.
"Yes."
"Why?"
For a moment Hermione was confused. "Why? Why what?"
"Why Malfoy?" Hagrid raised his eyes to hers. "Hermione, yeh know what he's like. He's tried ter get me sacked. He's always causin' trouble. He's jest a little..." he paused, then finished lamely. "Well, yeh know."
"Hagrid, he's changed." Hermione implored. "He's different. He's nice to me. He hasn't caused trouble once this year... or last! Ever since his father disappeared, he's been different. You've noticed, haven't you?"
Hagrid nodded. "I have. But he's a dark wizard, Hermione - "
"No he's not!" Hermione bolted up. "His *FATHER* was! He's not! For Merlin's sake, Hagrid he's only fifteen!"
"So was Yeh-Know-Who when he set th' baslisk on Hogwarts." Hagrid said darkly.
"He's not the same! He's not his father!" Hermione was so mad she was shaking. "How would you like to be judged by your mother's actions?! Just because she - "
"Now hold on, Hermione." Hagrid held a hand up. "There's no need ter bring my mam inter this. I jest asked what yeh saw in Malfoy."
"Haven't you ever been in love?" Hermione asked desperately. "You can't explain it. I... I don't know why I love him. I just know that he makes me happy. I know that when I'm not around him I'm wondering when the next time I'll see him. I would die for him and I know he feels the same way about me! Isn't that enough?!"
Hagrid was silent for a moment and Hermione felt on the verge of vomiting. Was she going to lose Hagrid too? Finally, after what seemed ages, Hagrid reached a hand out and touched her arm gently.
"I don't understand it and I'm not happy about it." He began and Hermione's heart plummeted. "But if yeh really love him and he loves yeh back then... then..." Hagrid looked as if he was trying to swallow something large and particularly distasteful. "I care about yeh, Hermione. Yeh're one of the smartest witches I know and if yeh see somethin' in Malfoy that makes yeh feel this way, who am I ter stand in yer way?"
"Oh Hagrid!" Hermione burst into tears and threw her arms about Hagrid, who awkwardly patted her on the back. "I was so afraid you were going to hate me like Ron!"
Hagrid gently pushed Hermione back onto the bed. "Ron doesn't hate yeh."
"He does, Hagrid. He doesn't want me to be with Draco. He - "
Madam Pomfrey's sudden entrance from her office caused Hermione to abruptly stop talking.
"Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey's voice was full of disbelief. "Your tests came back with some interesting results. It seems, and I'm sure it's a mistake, that - " she raised her head, saw Hagrid and stopped suddenly. "Rubeus." she nodded briskly.
"Poppy." Hagrid inclined his head towards her.
"It's okay, Madam Pomfrey." Hermione said breathlessly. "What's wrong?"
Madam Pomfrey frowned and peered over the tops of her glasses at Hermione. "If you say so. Miss Granger, it appears that you are pregnant."
There was a pause and Hermione opened her mouth to confirm Madam Pomfrey's diagnosis, when Hagrid let out an almighty roar and upended the table at the end of Hermione's bed.
"Pregnant?!?! That... that... great spoiled bully got yeh pregnant?! How could yeh, Hermione?"
"Now, Rubeus..." Madam Pomfrey reached a hand towards Hagrid. "It's hardly only her fault."
"I don't care!" Hagrid raged. "She let him...." he seemed at a loss for words. "Hermione!"
"Hagrid..." Tears were coming unbidden to Hermione's eyes.
"Rubeus." came a soft voice from the doorway and all three turned to see Dumbledore, flanked by Harry, Ron and Draco, standing at the entrance portrait.
"Albus." Madam Pomfrey started, but Dumbledore interrupted her.
"Poppy... Would you mind giving us some time alone?"
Madam Pomfrey eyed Hagrid uneasily. "If you're sure, Albus..." she began.
"I am, Poppy." Dumbledore said softly.
Madam Pomfrey nodded sharply and entered her office, closing the door behind her.
Draco stood his ground, but eyed Hermione worriedly. "All right, Hermione?" he asked, his voice betraying the worry he felt.
Hermione sniffled an affermative answer and Draco made to step towards her but stopped short and backed up when he saw the glint in Hagrid's eyes.
"Now, Miss Granger," Dumbledore began in his soft voice. "I have heard some, how shall I put this... interesting, explainations regarding today's altercation in the Great Hall. Perhaps you'd like to give me your own?"
Hermione looked confused for a moment. Did Dumbledore not believe Draco and the others? What had they said?
"Hermione?" Dumbledore prompted.
Hermione glanced at Draco. "Well... Draco and I are dating, have been since August."
At that Ron made a choking noise and turned bright pink. "August?" he spluttered. "August?! And you only NOW deemed us worthy to know?"
"Ron - " Hermione felt tears welling up behind her eyes again and Draco ground his jaw together, half hoping Weasley wouldn't do something that required him to rip the other boy's head off and half hoping he would.
"Mr Weasley." Dumbledore started. "Please allow her to finish."
"And... " Hermione glanced around, trying to figure out how much to tell them. Should she tell them how she felt when she was around Draco? How they had lingered behind after Arthimancy, when everyone else rushed to lunch, and kissed, the thrill of being caught tingling in their stomachs? How they had found a corner of the library with just the right amount of privacy and they had never once been intruded upon? How Draco had smuggled her into his dorm using the invisibility cloak his father had bought him when he was eight? Caught up in her memories, she started when Harry gently touched her arm.
"Hermione..." Dumbledore nodded. "Continue."
She sighed. They wouldn't appreciate her memories, especially Ron and Hagrid. "I'm pregnant." she said simply. Beside her Hagrid growled softly and Draco cringed.
"I see." Dumbledore nodded, a flash of regret passing across his face so quickly that no one was sure it had been there, that it hadn't been a trick of the light. He took a deep breath. "Your parents will have to be informed, of course."
Hermione paled dramatically. "My parents?" she stuttered.
"Why yes, Miss Granger." he said dryly. "After all, despite your actions, you are still a minor and therefore your parents must still be informed of your goings on."
Her parents? Hermione reached for Draco, who had subtly inched closer to her until he was standing beside her. Her parents would slaughter her.
"What about my mother?" Draco said, and in the silence his voice was jarring.
Dumbledore inclined an eyebrow. "What about her?"
"Are you going to owl her as well?"
"Of course, Mr Malfoy. The rules apply to all students, regardless of their social standing."
Draco was now so pale he matched both Hermione and the standard issue hospital sheets behind her.
"If that's all," Dumbledore glanced around the room. "I'd best be going. I have owls to send. Hagrid, Ron, follow me." Dumbledore swept out of the room, trailed glumly by Ron and Hagrid.
"Oh Jesus, Draco." Hermione wailed. "My parents?! They'll murder me."
"I'll just be going then." Harry, looking distinctly uncomfortable, attempted to point in several directions at once, then sidled towards the portrait, his eyes on Hermione. "Um.. Hermione, if you... er... need anything, you can always come to me."
Draco nodded sharply at him and then turned to Hermione and for the first time, Harry got a glimpse of the person Hermione claimed the Slytherin was. He made to say something but the portrait swung closed on him.
~*~*~*~
Draco wearily pushed open the door to his dorm, exhausted both mentally and physically.
Madam Pomfrey had given them both a stern talking to and mounds of literature on birth and child care and what not to eat when you are expecting and the top ten ways to reduce pregnancy pains.
Draco shuffled through the literature and wondered ruefully why there was no pamphlet on what to do when you got pregnant with your ex-arch enemy's child.
He sighed and dropped the leaflets on his bed, thankful once again that he was a prefect and got his own room. He would have happily murdered Crabbe and Goyle had he had to spend any amount of time with them tonight.
He ran a hand through he hair and was unbuttoning his shirt when the knock came at his window. He strode across the room to open it, recognizing the knock of a mail bird and curious as to how Dumbledore's letter had already reached his mother.
But the owl that hopped onto his desk from the sill was an unfamiliar one and an uneasy, cold feeling started to spread through Draco's chest. He gingerly took the envelope from the bird's claws and it immediately alighted and swept out the window.
Draco looked at the envelope in his hand, saw his name scrawled on the front in that horribly familiar handwriting. A little voice in his head was screaming and he knew if he opened his mouth he would echo the voice and never be able to stop.
Almost without his will, his hands opened the flap and lifted out a single sheet of parchment. Draco stared at the paper, feeling as if this was all some horrid dream. He stood there, parchment in hand eyes locked on the two words inscribed across it until it suddenly burst into flame and crumbled to ash at his feet, the words still burnt across his brain.
The words, written in a handwriting he would never forget, the delicate spidery handwriting of a "true" Malfoy, formed in a way that he had never been able to force his to come out of his pen, sent a chill through him so cold he thought he would never be able to thaw: "I know."
OK... let's see... there are some spoilers in the rest of the fic for OotP. But they won't really ruin anything unless you're a total puritan and if you are, you've most probably read the book already. Some ground rules for the rest of the fic, regarding OotP: the person who died DID NOT DIE (I'm still in disbelief, by the way); the stuff that happened over the summer (i.e. them hanging at number twelve Grimmauld Place, knowing...er... that person's past, etc) didn't happen either. I WILL use some stuff from the book (i.e. Sirius's family history), but nothing much bigger than that.
Sorry for the delay in posting, I got caught up in lots of stuff; OotP coming out, the new DV chapter, beta-ing, trying to find a new college, etc. Now that summer's here, hopefully I'll be able to post more.
I obviously don't own Harry and the gang, if I did, SOMEONE wouldn't have died. And I'd have a car. And a faster computer. And all of the Sims expansion packs. And I'd be able to properly write Hagrid's accent (I shall attempt that in this chapter).
Lyrics are from Celine Dion's "Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable)". Don't worry, for all you non-Celine fans (what's WRONG with you?), there's some non- Celine lyrics coming. Oh, and I think I might do a page with the soundtrack to my fic... depends on how much bandwith Angelfire will let me use, not much I'm guessing.
Oh, and one more thing (I'm uber sorry for all these notes, this is the last one I promise), if anyone would like to donate a LiveJournal code to me I would be UBER grateful.
Star_Tracer@hotmail.com
I did not know there was a plan
Somewhere a perfect plan
I don't believe in the stars
Then you smiled at my pretense
As you broke down my defenses
Just want to be where you are ***
Hermione lay in the hospital wing, watching Hagrid pace in front of her bed.
"Hagrid!" Hermione pushed herself into a sitting position. "It's alright. I'm okay. I promise."
Hagrid shot a disbelieving look at her. "Well, then maybe yeh'd like te explain te me why Ron hit yeh."
Hermione sighed. "You're going to be furious if I tell you, Hagrid."
"Why? What's goin' on with yeh, Hermione?" Hagrid stopped at the foot of her bed and peered at her.
"It's Draco." Hermione said softly.
"Draco? Malfoy?"
Hermione nodded.
"What did he do te yeh?!" Hagrid raged. "I'll kill him!"
"No! NO!" Hermione nearly threw herself out of bed in agitation. "He didn't do anything to me!" she paused, considering. "Well... that's not entirely true..." she shook her head and tried again. "He and I are dating." she blurted out and winced horribly, waiting for the inevitable roar.
But it didn't come.
Hermione squinted an eye open. Hagrid had dropped into the chair beside her bed, which looked as if it was about to give any moment, his mouth open in shock.
"Datin'?" he repeated. "Yeh're seein' Malfoy?"
Hermione nodded.
"Malfoy and... yeh?"
"Yes."
Hagrid shook his great head. "And this is... yeh... he's not forcin' yeh? No potions or curses or anythin'?"
"No."
Hagrid ran a hand through his hair. "Are yeh happy?" he said after a long while.
"Yes."
"Why?"
For a moment Hermione was confused. "Why? Why what?"
"Why Malfoy?" Hagrid raised his eyes to hers. "Hermione, yeh know what he's like. He's tried ter get me sacked. He's always causin' trouble. He's jest a little..." he paused, then finished lamely. "Well, yeh know."
"Hagrid, he's changed." Hermione implored. "He's different. He's nice to me. He hasn't caused trouble once this year... or last! Ever since his father disappeared, he's been different. You've noticed, haven't you?"
Hagrid nodded. "I have. But he's a dark wizard, Hermione - "
"No he's not!" Hermione bolted up. "His *FATHER* was! He's not! For Merlin's sake, Hagrid he's only fifteen!"
"So was Yeh-Know-Who when he set th' baslisk on Hogwarts." Hagrid said darkly.
"He's not the same! He's not his father!" Hermione was so mad she was shaking. "How would you like to be judged by your mother's actions?! Just because she - "
"Now hold on, Hermione." Hagrid held a hand up. "There's no need ter bring my mam inter this. I jest asked what yeh saw in Malfoy."
"Haven't you ever been in love?" Hermione asked desperately. "You can't explain it. I... I don't know why I love him. I just know that he makes me happy. I know that when I'm not around him I'm wondering when the next time I'll see him. I would die for him and I know he feels the same way about me! Isn't that enough?!"
Hagrid was silent for a moment and Hermione felt on the verge of vomiting. Was she going to lose Hagrid too? Finally, after what seemed ages, Hagrid reached a hand out and touched her arm gently.
"I don't understand it and I'm not happy about it." He began and Hermione's heart plummeted. "But if yeh really love him and he loves yeh back then... then..." Hagrid looked as if he was trying to swallow something large and particularly distasteful. "I care about yeh, Hermione. Yeh're one of the smartest witches I know and if yeh see somethin' in Malfoy that makes yeh feel this way, who am I ter stand in yer way?"
"Oh Hagrid!" Hermione burst into tears and threw her arms about Hagrid, who awkwardly patted her on the back. "I was so afraid you were going to hate me like Ron!"
Hagrid gently pushed Hermione back onto the bed. "Ron doesn't hate yeh."
"He does, Hagrid. He doesn't want me to be with Draco. He - "
Madam Pomfrey's sudden entrance from her office caused Hermione to abruptly stop talking.
"Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey's voice was full of disbelief. "Your tests came back with some interesting results. It seems, and I'm sure it's a mistake, that - " she raised her head, saw Hagrid and stopped suddenly. "Rubeus." she nodded briskly.
"Poppy." Hagrid inclined his head towards her.
"It's okay, Madam Pomfrey." Hermione said breathlessly. "What's wrong?"
Madam Pomfrey frowned and peered over the tops of her glasses at Hermione. "If you say so. Miss Granger, it appears that you are pregnant."
There was a pause and Hermione opened her mouth to confirm Madam Pomfrey's diagnosis, when Hagrid let out an almighty roar and upended the table at the end of Hermione's bed.
"Pregnant?!?! That... that... great spoiled bully got yeh pregnant?! How could yeh, Hermione?"
"Now, Rubeus..." Madam Pomfrey reached a hand towards Hagrid. "It's hardly only her fault."
"I don't care!" Hagrid raged. "She let him...." he seemed at a loss for words. "Hermione!"
"Hagrid..." Tears were coming unbidden to Hermione's eyes.
"Rubeus." came a soft voice from the doorway and all three turned to see Dumbledore, flanked by Harry, Ron and Draco, standing at the entrance portrait.
"Albus." Madam Pomfrey started, but Dumbledore interrupted her.
"Poppy... Would you mind giving us some time alone?"
Madam Pomfrey eyed Hagrid uneasily. "If you're sure, Albus..." she began.
"I am, Poppy." Dumbledore said softly.
Madam Pomfrey nodded sharply and entered her office, closing the door behind her.
Draco stood his ground, but eyed Hermione worriedly. "All right, Hermione?" he asked, his voice betraying the worry he felt.
Hermione sniffled an affermative answer and Draco made to step towards her but stopped short and backed up when he saw the glint in Hagrid's eyes.
"Now, Miss Granger," Dumbledore began in his soft voice. "I have heard some, how shall I put this... interesting, explainations regarding today's altercation in the Great Hall. Perhaps you'd like to give me your own?"
Hermione looked confused for a moment. Did Dumbledore not believe Draco and the others? What had they said?
"Hermione?" Dumbledore prompted.
Hermione glanced at Draco. "Well... Draco and I are dating, have been since August."
At that Ron made a choking noise and turned bright pink. "August?" he spluttered. "August?! And you only NOW deemed us worthy to know?"
"Ron - " Hermione felt tears welling up behind her eyes again and Draco ground his jaw together, half hoping Weasley wouldn't do something that required him to rip the other boy's head off and half hoping he would.
"Mr Weasley." Dumbledore started. "Please allow her to finish."
"And... " Hermione glanced around, trying to figure out how much to tell them. Should she tell them how she felt when she was around Draco? How they had lingered behind after Arthimancy, when everyone else rushed to lunch, and kissed, the thrill of being caught tingling in their stomachs? How they had found a corner of the library with just the right amount of privacy and they had never once been intruded upon? How Draco had smuggled her into his dorm using the invisibility cloak his father had bought him when he was eight? Caught up in her memories, she started when Harry gently touched her arm.
"Hermione..." Dumbledore nodded. "Continue."
She sighed. They wouldn't appreciate her memories, especially Ron and Hagrid. "I'm pregnant." she said simply. Beside her Hagrid growled softly and Draco cringed.
"I see." Dumbledore nodded, a flash of regret passing across his face so quickly that no one was sure it had been there, that it hadn't been a trick of the light. He took a deep breath. "Your parents will have to be informed, of course."
Hermione paled dramatically. "My parents?" she stuttered.
"Why yes, Miss Granger." he said dryly. "After all, despite your actions, you are still a minor and therefore your parents must still be informed of your goings on."
Her parents? Hermione reached for Draco, who had subtly inched closer to her until he was standing beside her. Her parents would slaughter her.
"What about my mother?" Draco said, and in the silence his voice was jarring.
Dumbledore inclined an eyebrow. "What about her?"
"Are you going to owl her as well?"
"Of course, Mr Malfoy. The rules apply to all students, regardless of their social standing."
Draco was now so pale he matched both Hermione and the standard issue hospital sheets behind her.
"If that's all," Dumbledore glanced around the room. "I'd best be going. I have owls to send. Hagrid, Ron, follow me." Dumbledore swept out of the room, trailed glumly by Ron and Hagrid.
"Oh Jesus, Draco." Hermione wailed. "My parents?! They'll murder me."
"I'll just be going then." Harry, looking distinctly uncomfortable, attempted to point in several directions at once, then sidled towards the portrait, his eyes on Hermione. "Um.. Hermione, if you... er... need anything, you can always come to me."
Draco nodded sharply at him and then turned to Hermione and for the first time, Harry got a glimpse of the person Hermione claimed the Slytherin was. He made to say something but the portrait swung closed on him.
~*~*~*~
Draco wearily pushed open the door to his dorm, exhausted both mentally and physically.
Madam Pomfrey had given them both a stern talking to and mounds of literature on birth and child care and what not to eat when you are expecting and the top ten ways to reduce pregnancy pains.
Draco shuffled through the literature and wondered ruefully why there was no pamphlet on what to do when you got pregnant with your ex-arch enemy's child.
He sighed and dropped the leaflets on his bed, thankful once again that he was a prefect and got his own room. He would have happily murdered Crabbe and Goyle had he had to spend any amount of time with them tonight.
He ran a hand through he hair and was unbuttoning his shirt when the knock came at his window. He strode across the room to open it, recognizing the knock of a mail bird and curious as to how Dumbledore's letter had already reached his mother.
But the owl that hopped onto his desk from the sill was an unfamiliar one and an uneasy, cold feeling started to spread through Draco's chest. He gingerly took the envelope from the bird's claws and it immediately alighted and swept out the window.
Draco looked at the envelope in his hand, saw his name scrawled on the front in that horribly familiar handwriting. A little voice in his head was screaming and he knew if he opened his mouth he would echo the voice and never be able to stop.
Almost without his will, his hands opened the flap and lifted out a single sheet of parchment. Draco stared at the paper, feeling as if this was all some horrid dream. He stood there, parchment in hand eyes locked on the two words inscribed across it until it suddenly burst into flame and crumbled to ash at his feet, the words still burnt across his brain.
The words, written in a handwriting he would never forget, the delicate spidery handwriting of a "true" Malfoy, formed in a way that he had never been able to force his to come out of his pen, sent a chill through him so cold he thought he would never be able to thaw: "I know."
