To all of my reviewers, (I don't have your exact names right now), you guys
are the reason I keep writing. I LOVE YOU!!!! I don't want to keep you
waiting, especially with those psycho reviews I saw, so here's chapter 10,
The Sooner, the Better.
The next couple of weeks passed quite uneventfully, save Draco and Hermione's occasional kiss. Making out was actually the proper word for it, though it was anything but proper.
The morning of September 19th dawned bright and early.
Hermione awoke to the tapping of an eagle owl on her window.
Stretching and yawning, she let Draco's bird in. She ripped off the note from the bird's leg. It read:
Hermione,
Happy birthday! Yes, I remembered. Hard to believe, isn't it? I wanted to tell you to meet me at the Entrance Hall at 12:00. We can do a double birthday celebration, but you can give me my present later. See you in a few hours.
Love,
Draco
Hermione's heart skipped a beat. Love, Draco? Did he love her, or was he just used to putting that on letters? Everyone wrote "love" on letters. Do I love him? She thought. No, most definitely not. Then why do I care if writes "love"? Oh, because it would be great to have a guy love me again. I've missed being loved that way. Hermione's heart completely stopped, she thought, as she realized the truth: she was in love.
* * * *
Draco finished writing his letter to Hermione and collapsed on his bed. After a few minutes, he got up and fished around for another piece of parchment in his cherry wood desk. It was time for his weekly report to Lucius, as much as he hated doing it. He liked Hermione too much to be telling his father about his progress in seducing her. He wrote:
Dear Father,
The plan is coming along well. She has fallen for me and will probably be pregnant by Christmas at the latest. Say hello to mother and the Dark Lord for me. Just kidding about the Dark Lord part, actually.
With sincerity and respect,
Your son, Draco
He knew his father wouldn't like the snide remarks about Voldemort, but too bad for him. His father didn't have a sense of humor unless it included laughing at a person he was about to kill. It was sick, really.
His owl, Demon, returned from Hermione as he was signing his father's letter.
"Demon, this goes to Lucius, all right?" The bird took off again.
It was 9:00, and Draco had nothing to do but lie down and dream of Hermione. Her touch, her kiss, her eyes, her petite frame that he noticed when she was in his arms. Suddenly, it didn't seem important if he was going out with a Gryffindor even if there hadn't been a proven case of this before. If the love was there, it didn't matter. What the hell did I just think? He thought in horror.
"Holy crap!" he said aloud. "I love her!"
* * * *
At noon, Hermione and Draco met at the Entrance Hall.
"Where are we going?" Hermione wondered.
"There's a new restaurant in Hogsmeade I found," Draco explained as they walked. "So if it's crappy, you can't blame me."
"I have your present," Hermione said, gesturing to a big box that was draped in a cloth that she was carrying.
"Yours is in my pocket," he said.
"Watch it probably be a piece of paper," muttered Hermione.
"You think I'm cheap?" asked Draco in a mock offended tone. "For your information, unless your present is a Firebolt, I'm positive in saying mine is more valuable."
"Oh, you really didn't have to spend a lot of money on me!" exclaimed Hermione.
"I didn't pay for it," said Draco.
"Was that a diss?" asked Hermione.
"No."
They walked in silence into the village.
"Here we are," he said, holding open the door to a rather elegant restaurant. "We have a private room."
"Oh, good," she said. "My present will need a private room."
"Now I'm getting suspicious," said Draco. "What is it?"
"Just wait; you'll see," she said evasively.
After they had eaten a wonderful lunch, Hermione pulled out the box. Draco made to open it, but she cried, "Wait! I have another little gift here." She pulled out a little bottle of cologne. "It's a joke," she added.
He laughed. Hermione had made this cologne. It was called "Dracie" and had a natural scent of "Pansies."
"I'd curse you if I wasn't so worried about how I'd hurt you," he grinned. "Dracie. That is just- I don't know. My mum used to call me that when I was little."
"Yes, but you'll love your next present," she assured. He pulled of the cover of what turned out to be a cage.
He exhaled loudly; it was a black cobra that turned a metallic green when the light hit it.
"Its name is Viper," exclaimed Hermione.
"Thanks a lot," stammered Draco in gratitude. "Now I have Demon and Viper."
"Yeah, I'll have to talk to Harry," said Hermione.
"Why?" asked Draco protectively. He still didn't like Harry.
"I have to tell him to tell the snake its name and your name. He can talk to snakes, remember?"
Draco laughed. "I don't want Potter messing with Viper," he said. "I'd never know what he'd be saying to it. He'd probably be telling it to strangle me in my sleep."
"Harry'd never do that," said Hermione. "Now where's my present?"
Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. Hermione opened it: a ring.
"Oh, Draco!" Hermione gasped. "It's adorable! It's too beautiful!"
The ring was a sterling silver snake that wrapped around Hermione's finger and bit its tail to join. The two eyes were embedded, perfectly-cut rubies.
"A promise ring," he explained.
"I love it!" she sighed. "It must have cost a fortune!"
"It's a family heirloom. The oldest son of the family gives it to a special girl. My mother had it before you. She gave it to me last year."
Hermione leaned across the table and caught Draco's mouth in a kiss. She slowly allowed his tongue in, in love with his taste. They broke apart a while later.
"Let's go put Viper in his room," suggested Draco.
"Okay," agreed Hermione.
"Pureblood." Draco said the password when they got back to the castle.
"You're going to have to change that password," sighed Hermione.
"And you have to change yours, too," said Drco. " 'Malfoy sucks.' I don't know what you were thinking."
Hermione laughed. No one noticed that a Gryffindor was walking through the Slytherin common room, thankfully.
Once in his room, Draco put Viper next to Demon, who had returned from his father without an answer.
"You're going to start a zoo in here, Draco, I'm telling you," joked Hermione. "You have to buy me a lion now."
"You wish," muttered Draco. He fell onto his bed. "You know how much life has changed in these three weeks?"
"No kidding," sighed Hermione, lying down next to him. "Who would have ever thought that in less than a month I'd fall in love with Harry, break up with him, and then start going out with you, of all people?"
"What's wrong with me?" he asked. "You make me sound of awful. Me, of all people. What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing!" Hermione laughed suddenly.
"What?" he asked.
She shook her head, still shaking with laughter. When she had recovered herself, Draco repeated, "What?"
"Nothing," she said.
"Tell me what you were laughing about," he demanded.
"I just got the giggles, that's all," she reassured him.
"Will I have to tickle it out of you?" he threatened, dropping his hand dangerously to her stomach. This was surely a side to Draco no one had ever been granted the privilege of seeing.
"No!" she screamed.
"Then what?" he repeated.
"Nothing, I swear," she said.
"You are such a friggin' loser," Draco said.
They cuddled closer.
"Have you seen Harry and Pansy lately?" Hermione asked. "I see Harry at class and meals, but otherwise he's never in his room. It's really sad, too, because we share a dormitory and we never see each other."
"Yeah," said Draco. "He's always up in Pansy's room."
"Sick," Hermione whispered in horror. "That is gross."
"I know."
"I can't believe how far apart me and him have grown," sighed Hermione. "It's really depressing. He was my best friend."
"No, it's good for you," said Draco. "You probably would have gone mad if you stayed with him."
"He's not as bad as you think, Draco," said Hermione. "He was great until a couple weeks ago."
"I can hardly believe that," muttered Draco. "I don't like this topic. Talk about something else."
"I really want to find out more about your family," Hermione said. "I mean, I've encountered your dad a few times. No offense, but, er, he's not my favorite person in the world."
"No shit," said Draco. "And when have you met him anyway? Besides second year?"
"Well, besides the Chamber of Secrets, I guess fifth year," she replied.
"Department of Mysteries?" he asked sharply.
"How do you know about that?" Hermione questioned.
"He told me," shrugged Draco. "After all, I am supposed to be a Death Eater."
"Are you going to be?" asked Hermione, just making sure.
"Hell no!" Draco said.
"I didn't think so," she sighed, relieved. "But isn't he going to hurt you if you don't join Voldemort?"
"I can run away; I don't know; I'll think of something," he answered.
"You hate him, don't you?" asked Hermione.
"Déjà vu," said Draco.
"What?"
"My mother asked me that same thing a few weeks ago," he explained. "Yeah, we both do."
"You like your mum, I take it?" Hermione inquired. "Your whole face lights up when you talk about her."
"Yeah, we're pretty tight," replied Draco casually. "You remind me of her, so soft and fragile and pretty."
"Why, thank you," she said. "I'll have to meet her someday, when your father isn't home. I don't think we're the best of acquaintances; I've barely escaped being killed by him."
"Well, it would have been a pity if he'd finished you off for me," he said sarcastically.
"You know, you're still awful to me. I don't know why I like you. You're so-"
Draco didn't want to know what he was. He couldn't stand her talking so much, and what better way was there to stop her ranting than by occupying her mouth? And he was coming to love her more and more with every minute he saw her, as she was him. Neither would let it show, though.
When the kiss had ended, Hermione declared, "I believe that is the reason I stay with you."
"You know, I like talking with you," said Draco. "It's like I can tell you stuff. I can trust you. You're more like my mother than I thought."
"I thought you were the kind of guy that goes for how well a girl kisses, not her personality."
"You've got me all wrong, Granger. Sure, the kissing is a huge part of it. But the personality's got to be there; that's why it didn't work with Pansy."
"Well, then, I've underestimated you, Draco Malfoy," announced Hermione. "Your mom has got to be great, because you had to have got that niceness from somewhere, and it wasn't your dad."
"She's awesome," sighed Draco. "The only people in the world that I like are you and her." Draco now felt a strange urge possessing him. He had to tell Hermione to break it off with him, to go save herself and her future.
"Let's go," he said suddenly.
"What?"
"Let's go to my house," he repeated.
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"Dumbledore doesn't have to know," he decided. "We're going."
"Okay."
* * * *
The doorbell at Malfoy Manor rang.
Lucius Malfoy opened the door. No one there. He was about to close it when an Invisibility Cloak was pulled off the person standing there- Voldemort.
"Good afternoon, My Lord," said Lucius, bowing.
"It's a sudden arrival, I know, Lucius," snapped Voldemort, ignoring his Death Eater. "I wanted to check on your son's progress."
"Come in." Lucius gestured to the gigantic living room. The two men sat down in clear view of the kitchen, where Narcissa was cooking. When she was Voldemort, she dropped what she was doing, nearly screamed, and ran upstairs. Draco's room needed dusting.
"So, get to the point," Voldemort was saying. "She's not pregnant?"
"My Lord, Draco said she fell for him. And she will be pregnant by Christmas."
"That's too late!" barked Voldemort. "I will proceed my attack on the damn school as soon as the child is born. The sooner, the better. Would you tell your son that?"
"I shall."
* * * *
Draco and Hermione Apparated into Draco's bedroom. This time Narcissa did scream.
"Draco!" she gasped. "The Dark Lord is downstairs!" Then, she saw Hermione and said, "Uh-oh."
"Shit!" swore Draco.
"What? Your dad has him as a houseguest?" asked Hermione, shocked.
"Mother, this is Hermione," introduced Draco. "Hermione this is my mother."
Draco's mother gave a soft "Oh" of recognition.
"I'm going downstairs," announced Draco.
Hermione and Narcissa both cried, "No!" at the same time.
"I won't let them see me. I just want to see what they're talking about."
"Draco, dear, be careful," begged Narcissa.
"I will."
* * * *
Draco tiptoed down the spiral staircase. He'd expected them to be in the kitchen or something, but not right by the foyer. Draco had to duck to avoid being seen. But he had caught his first and hopefully last real glance of Voldemort. He knew that face was going to haunt him in his nightmares for the next few weeks. Those eyes.
"The sooner, the better," Voldemort was saying. "Would you tell your son that?"
"I shall," replied Lucius. Draco had not expected Voldemor tto get up, so he didn't have time to hide behind the closest wall.
"But, Lucius," started a gleeful Voldemort, "your son is here."
Lucius whipped around. Draco froze on the spot. "Draco, son, come sit down."
"No, I think I'll be leaving," replied Draco numbly.
"I want you to sit down," said Voldemort this time. It was an order.
Draco sank into the farthest armchair from both of them.
"Well, Draco," said Voldemort. "Your father was telling me about your progress. And I was saying I needed the kid soon. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I'm trying," stammered Draco, scared out of his wits. And Potter had survived this guy how many times? Maybe Potter was a little better than he thought.
"Try harder," hissed Voldemort. "And when are you going to get my Mark?"
Draco wanted to ask, "What if I don't want to get it?" but knew it would earn him a punishment, if not instant death.
But, staring at the rug, he wondered, "What would happen if I don't go along with your plan?"
"If, you son of a bitch?" hissed Voldemort even more viciously now. "If you don't, you die."
"What if I don't want to give you the baby?" Draco asked, still entertaining himself with a spot on the carpet.
"Draco, what would you do with a baby if you didn't give it to the Dark Lord?" questioned Lucius. "Give it to Granger to raise?"
"Maybe," he replied.
"Lucius, this boy has fallen in love with the girl. I can see it in his mind. And otherwise, he wouldn't be protesting the plan."
"Is this true?" asked Lucius sharply. When Draco didn't answer, Lucius went on. "I've told you not to ever fall in love, Draco! I've told you thousands of times. Love is for weak people! Love weakens people. Now you are a weak fool!"
"Draco," said Voldemort. "Just give me the kid, and no one will get hurt. You may leave."
Draco fled up the stairs back into his room, determined not to look worried to his mother and Hermione.
* * * *
After Draco left to go downstairs, Hermione said, "Draco's told me nice things about you."
"You two are dating?" asked Narcissa, pretending not to know anything about the plan.
"Yes," replied Hermione. "That promise ring is really pretty. He gave it to me. He said it was yours."
"He did?" asked Narcissa quickly.
"Yes," returned Hermione suspiciously.
"Oh, Merlin," sighed Narcissa, realizing the truth. "You love him, too, right?"
"I beg your pardon?" asked Hermione.
"Hermione, dear, Draco was supposed to give that ring to the girl he intended to marry and that he loved," explained Narcissa.
"But- but," stammered Hermione, words failing her. "But he just said that he was supposed to give it to a special girl! I don't think he loves me.."
"But my dear, this means he does!" exclaimed Narcissa. "Do you love him?
"Oh, I- well, yes," replied an embarrassed Hermione. "Oh, please don't tell him!"
"I won't," smiled Narcissa. Her son was in love! All grown up.
At that moment, Draco walked in. With what looked like great difficulty, he smiled. "So you met each other?"
"Yes," replied Narcissa suspiciously. "Hermione, I don't think it's too safe for you here. Would you mind leaving? I'll send Draco after you in a few minutes. Is that all right?"
"Of course," replied Hermione. She Disapparated.
"Love, what happened?" asked Narcissa, taking her son into her arms.
"I- well, he saw me and talked to me," said Draco.
"Poor lamb!" comforted Narcissa, holding him tighter. "Do you love her?"
"What kind of a question is that?" asked Draco angrily, stepping away. "No, no, definitely not." His mother gave him a smile. "Yes, of course," he admitted. "I don't know how it happened. It wasn't supposed to."
"Draco, if she has this baby, you mustn't give it to the Dark Lord," Narcissa said.
"How can I not?" asked an anguished Draco, twisting a strand of platinum hair.
"She isn't pregnant, right?" asked Narcissa.
"No," confirmed Draco.
"Draco, I don't know what to say. If she doesn't have the child, he'll kill you. And if she does have the baby, the poor thing. She doesn't know about this, so you'll have to tell her."
"She'd kill me!" cried out Draco.
"Draco, if she really loves you, she'll go through with this."
"How do you know?"
"She wouldn't want you to get hurt," she explained. "So tell her. The sooner, the better." All of these sooners. Everything was going to happen soon.
"And if I tell her, and by some miracle she agrees to this, when the baby's here, what the hell do we do with it? Run away?"
"The Dark Lord was going to have you give it to me. He thinks I'll raise it for the Dark Side. I'll raise the baby right. After school finishes, Hermione can move in."
"And father won't notice?" asked Draco sarcastically. "It's a bad plan, no offense."
"Draco, they're planning to attack Hogwarts when the baby is born. I think we should tell Dumbledore about this. He'll know what to do."
"I. I'll tell him today," assured Draco. "I have to go. Bye." He kissed his mother on the cheek and Disapparated.
* * * *
There was no way that Draco was going to tell Hermione now- maybe later.
He Apparated into Hogsmeade and ran back to his room; he had the impression that Hermione was going to be there. Sure enough, there she was, waiting for him.
"Are you okay?" she asked, running over to him. "What happened downstairs?"
"Nothing," he quickly replied.
"You can tell me," she said, touching his arm gently. "You said yourself that you could trust me."
"Really," he insisted. "I swear, nothing. I saw the guy and came upstairs."
"Then why did you look so worried?"
"I wasn't going to be laughing after I'd seen Voldemort," answered Draco.
"What were they talking about?" asked Hermione.
"You," replied Draco without thinking.
"Are you serious?"
"No," he lied, turning it into a joke. "They were talking about punishing some Death Eater."
"All of them need to be punished," Hermione said. She remembered Mrs. Malfoy's words about how Draco loved her. She smiled. "Your mum is nice."
"Told you so. Everyone likes her. Listen, I'm meeting Snape soon," he lied. "So I have to go."
Hermione snickered. "Have fun." She brushed his lips with her own and turned to go. "Bye, Draco."
"See you later, Hermione."
Draco waited for five minutes to be sure that she was gone and immediately headed for Dumbledore's office.
"Come in," said Dumbledore.
Draco walked in and sat down.
"Professor, I have some concerns dealing with my father."
Dumbledore eyed Draco suspiciously before saying, "Go on."
"You wouldn't know, but the Dark Lord has some new plans," started Draco.
"Oh, I do know," said Dumbledore coldly. "And I know you are part of this plan."
"Yes, but not how you think," explained Draco.
"Oh, really, Mister Malfoy? You aren't on the task of impregnating Hermione?"
"I am," replied Draco. "But you ought to know I didn't choose the job. And I'm asking you for help to get out of this."
"You are going against your father?" asked Dumbledore incredulously. "You want to join our side?"
"I do."
"Then, Draco, I suggest you tell me as much of the plan as you know first."
Draco related the whole story. Dumbledore didn't even blink, even when Draco told him about Hermione's parentage.
"I see," said Dumbledore slowly. "And so today he told you you'd die if you didn't carry out the plan?"
"Yes."
"Why did you go home in the first place?" asked Dumbledore. "Without asking me?"
Draco tugged at a lock of his white blonde hair nervously. "I wanted Hermione to meet my mum."
"Hermione?" asked Dumbledore. "You didn't already start the plan?"
"Well, yes, actually," replied Draco. "Long story, but the ending is that I. I've fallen in love with her, Professor."
"How interesting," said Dumbledore, grinning. "So you don't know what to do now, and you're asking me."
"Yes," replied Draco.
"First of all, good choice," smiled Dumbledore. "Then, does she love you?"
"I don't know," said Draco. "Why would she?"
"Because she's seen the kind side to you," answered Dumbledore. "So if you two go with the plan, as I will advise you to do, once the baby is born, Voldemort will attack the school. We will have to prepare. But that won't be for another year at least."
"So you want me to impregnate her?" asked Draco.
"Has Harry talked to you?" questioned Dumbledore.
Draco remembered Truth or Dare. "No. But I know he knows something about this."
"Indeed," Dumbledore nodded. "He plays quite a big part in this. Before, when I thought you were helping Voldemort, Harry and Hermione were dating. I don't know what happened there, but I take it they're not going together. So I told Harry a couple of weeks ago to keep an eye on Hermione, to keep her away from you. I set him on the task of impregnating her."
"You what?" shouted Draco. He quieted down. "Sorry."
"Well, Draco, I was thinking if he did, then you couldn't. I didn't know about you, though. But we'd know by now if she was pregnant, so she's not."
"Professor, I have something to confess. I. Two weeks ago, I made a Love Potion for Pansy Parkinson and Potter. So they fell for each other, and Hermione was free for me."
"That's what happened. I see," Dumbledore said. "Well, that wasn't too wise, as those Potions are illegal at this school. But you're off the hook. Special circumstances. I suggest you take off the charm, though."
"But what about Potter and Hermione?" asked Draco, appalled.
"We'll tell Harry that he. Well, do you think Hermione will go back to him if she realizes that he really didn't like Pansy?"
"No," Draco replied. "She told me he was better as a best friend. And she wouldn't just dump me. I know her."
"Oh, well," began Dumbledore. "Harry will have to accept the fact that he Hermione doesn't love him anymore. And that means a truce between you and him."
"What? Well, if it's for Hermione's good," Draco mumbled grumpily. He had no intentions of any truces.
"It is; I assure you. When everyone is settled, then we will start making war preparations. So, Draco, what you need to do is lift that Love Potion, and tell me when you have."
"Yes, sir," replied Draco. "Thank you." He left.
THAT'S THE END!! I BET YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!! IT'LL COME IN ONE DAY!! I PROMISE!! G2G!!
The next couple of weeks passed quite uneventfully, save Draco and Hermione's occasional kiss. Making out was actually the proper word for it, though it was anything but proper.
The morning of September 19th dawned bright and early.
Hermione awoke to the tapping of an eagle owl on her window.
Stretching and yawning, she let Draco's bird in. She ripped off the note from the bird's leg. It read:
Hermione,
Happy birthday! Yes, I remembered. Hard to believe, isn't it? I wanted to tell you to meet me at the Entrance Hall at 12:00. We can do a double birthday celebration, but you can give me my present later. See you in a few hours.
Love,
Draco
Hermione's heart skipped a beat. Love, Draco? Did he love her, or was he just used to putting that on letters? Everyone wrote "love" on letters. Do I love him? She thought. No, most definitely not. Then why do I care if writes "love"? Oh, because it would be great to have a guy love me again. I've missed being loved that way. Hermione's heart completely stopped, she thought, as she realized the truth: she was in love.
* * * *
Draco finished writing his letter to Hermione and collapsed on his bed. After a few minutes, he got up and fished around for another piece of parchment in his cherry wood desk. It was time for his weekly report to Lucius, as much as he hated doing it. He liked Hermione too much to be telling his father about his progress in seducing her. He wrote:
Dear Father,
The plan is coming along well. She has fallen for me and will probably be pregnant by Christmas at the latest. Say hello to mother and the Dark Lord for me. Just kidding about the Dark Lord part, actually.
With sincerity and respect,
Your son, Draco
He knew his father wouldn't like the snide remarks about Voldemort, but too bad for him. His father didn't have a sense of humor unless it included laughing at a person he was about to kill. It was sick, really.
His owl, Demon, returned from Hermione as he was signing his father's letter.
"Demon, this goes to Lucius, all right?" The bird took off again.
It was 9:00, and Draco had nothing to do but lie down and dream of Hermione. Her touch, her kiss, her eyes, her petite frame that he noticed when she was in his arms. Suddenly, it didn't seem important if he was going out with a Gryffindor even if there hadn't been a proven case of this before. If the love was there, it didn't matter. What the hell did I just think? He thought in horror.
"Holy crap!" he said aloud. "I love her!"
* * * *
At noon, Hermione and Draco met at the Entrance Hall.
"Where are we going?" Hermione wondered.
"There's a new restaurant in Hogsmeade I found," Draco explained as they walked. "So if it's crappy, you can't blame me."
"I have your present," Hermione said, gesturing to a big box that was draped in a cloth that she was carrying.
"Yours is in my pocket," he said.
"Watch it probably be a piece of paper," muttered Hermione.
"You think I'm cheap?" asked Draco in a mock offended tone. "For your information, unless your present is a Firebolt, I'm positive in saying mine is more valuable."
"Oh, you really didn't have to spend a lot of money on me!" exclaimed Hermione.
"I didn't pay for it," said Draco.
"Was that a diss?" asked Hermione.
"No."
They walked in silence into the village.
"Here we are," he said, holding open the door to a rather elegant restaurant. "We have a private room."
"Oh, good," she said. "My present will need a private room."
"Now I'm getting suspicious," said Draco. "What is it?"
"Just wait; you'll see," she said evasively.
After they had eaten a wonderful lunch, Hermione pulled out the box. Draco made to open it, but she cried, "Wait! I have another little gift here." She pulled out a little bottle of cologne. "It's a joke," she added.
He laughed. Hermione had made this cologne. It was called "Dracie" and had a natural scent of "Pansies."
"I'd curse you if I wasn't so worried about how I'd hurt you," he grinned. "Dracie. That is just- I don't know. My mum used to call me that when I was little."
"Yes, but you'll love your next present," she assured. He pulled of the cover of what turned out to be a cage.
He exhaled loudly; it was a black cobra that turned a metallic green when the light hit it.
"Its name is Viper," exclaimed Hermione.
"Thanks a lot," stammered Draco in gratitude. "Now I have Demon and Viper."
"Yeah, I'll have to talk to Harry," said Hermione.
"Why?" asked Draco protectively. He still didn't like Harry.
"I have to tell him to tell the snake its name and your name. He can talk to snakes, remember?"
Draco laughed. "I don't want Potter messing with Viper," he said. "I'd never know what he'd be saying to it. He'd probably be telling it to strangle me in my sleep."
"Harry'd never do that," said Hermione. "Now where's my present?"
Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. Hermione opened it: a ring.
"Oh, Draco!" Hermione gasped. "It's adorable! It's too beautiful!"
The ring was a sterling silver snake that wrapped around Hermione's finger and bit its tail to join. The two eyes were embedded, perfectly-cut rubies.
"A promise ring," he explained.
"I love it!" she sighed. "It must have cost a fortune!"
"It's a family heirloom. The oldest son of the family gives it to a special girl. My mother had it before you. She gave it to me last year."
Hermione leaned across the table and caught Draco's mouth in a kiss. She slowly allowed his tongue in, in love with his taste. They broke apart a while later.
"Let's go put Viper in his room," suggested Draco.
"Okay," agreed Hermione.
"Pureblood." Draco said the password when they got back to the castle.
"You're going to have to change that password," sighed Hermione.
"And you have to change yours, too," said Drco. " 'Malfoy sucks.' I don't know what you were thinking."
Hermione laughed. No one noticed that a Gryffindor was walking through the Slytherin common room, thankfully.
Once in his room, Draco put Viper next to Demon, who had returned from his father without an answer.
"You're going to start a zoo in here, Draco, I'm telling you," joked Hermione. "You have to buy me a lion now."
"You wish," muttered Draco. He fell onto his bed. "You know how much life has changed in these three weeks?"
"No kidding," sighed Hermione, lying down next to him. "Who would have ever thought that in less than a month I'd fall in love with Harry, break up with him, and then start going out with you, of all people?"
"What's wrong with me?" he asked. "You make me sound of awful. Me, of all people. What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing!" Hermione laughed suddenly.
"What?" he asked.
She shook her head, still shaking with laughter. When she had recovered herself, Draco repeated, "What?"
"Nothing," she said.
"Tell me what you were laughing about," he demanded.
"I just got the giggles, that's all," she reassured him.
"Will I have to tickle it out of you?" he threatened, dropping his hand dangerously to her stomach. This was surely a side to Draco no one had ever been granted the privilege of seeing.
"No!" she screamed.
"Then what?" he repeated.
"Nothing, I swear," she said.
"You are such a friggin' loser," Draco said.
They cuddled closer.
"Have you seen Harry and Pansy lately?" Hermione asked. "I see Harry at class and meals, but otherwise he's never in his room. It's really sad, too, because we share a dormitory and we never see each other."
"Yeah," said Draco. "He's always up in Pansy's room."
"Sick," Hermione whispered in horror. "That is gross."
"I know."
"I can't believe how far apart me and him have grown," sighed Hermione. "It's really depressing. He was my best friend."
"No, it's good for you," said Draco. "You probably would have gone mad if you stayed with him."
"He's not as bad as you think, Draco," said Hermione. "He was great until a couple weeks ago."
"I can hardly believe that," muttered Draco. "I don't like this topic. Talk about something else."
"I really want to find out more about your family," Hermione said. "I mean, I've encountered your dad a few times. No offense, but, er, he's not my favorite person in the world."
"No shit," said Draco. "And when have you met him anyway? Besides second year?"
"Well, besides the Chamber of Secrets, I guess fifth year," she replied.
"Department of Mysteries?" he asked sharply.
"How do you know about that?" Hermione questioned.
"He told me," shrugged Draco. "After all, I am supposed to be a Death Eater."
"Are you going to be?" asked Hermione, just making sure.
"Hell no!" Draco said.
"I didn't think so," she sighed, relieved. "But isn't he going to hurt you if you don't join Voldemort?"
"I can run away; I don't know; I'll think of something," he answered.
"You hate him, don't you?" asked Hermione.
"Déjà vu," said Draco.
"What?"
"My mother asked me that same thing a few weeks ago," he explained. "Yeah, we both do."
"You like your mum, I take it?" Hermione inquired. "Your whole face lights up when you talk about her."
"Yeah, we're pretty tight," replied Draco casually. "You remind me of her, so soft and fragile and pretty."
"Why, thank you," she said. "I'll have to meet her someday, when your father isn't home. I don't think we're the best of acquaintances; I've barely escaped being killed by him."
"Well, it would have been a pity if he'd finished you off for me," he said sarcastically.
"You know, you're still awful to me. I don't know why I like you. You're so-"
Draco didn't want to know what he was. He couldn't stand her talking so much, and what better way was there to stop her ranting than by occupying her mouth? And he was coming to love her more and more with every minute he saw her, as she was him. Neither would let it show, though.
When the kiss had ended, Hermione declared, "I believe that is the reason I stay with you."
"You know, I like talking with you," said Draco. "It's like I can tell you stuff. I can trust you. You're more like my mother than I thought."
"I thought you were the kind of guy that goes for how well a girl kisses, not her personality."
"You've got me all wrong, Granger. Sure, the kissing is a huge part of it. But the personality's got to be there; that's why it didn't work with Pansy."
"Well, then, I've underestimated you, Draco Malfoy," announced Hermione. "Your mom has got to be great, because you had to have got that niceness from somewhere, and it wasn't your dad."
"She's awesome," sighed Draco. "The only people in the world that I like are you and her." Draco now felt a strange urge possessing him. He had to tell Hermione to break it off with him, to go save herself and her future.
"Let's go," he said suddenly.
"What?"
"Let's go to my house," he repeated.
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"Dumbledore doesn't have to know," he decided. "We're going."
"Okay."
* * * *
The doorbell at Malfoy Manor rang.
Lucius Malfoy opened the door. No one there. He was about to close it when an Invisibility Cloak was pulled off the person standing there- Voldemort.
"Good afternoon, My Lord," said Lucius, bowing.
"It's a sudden arrival, I know, Lucius," snapped Voldemort, ignoring his Death Eater. "I wanted to check on your son's progress."
"Come in." Lucius gestured to the gigantic living room. The two men sat down in clear view of the kitchen, where Narcissa was cooking. When she was Voldemort, she dropped what she was doing, nearly screamed, and ran upstairs. Draco's room needed dusting.
"So, get to the point," Voldemort was saying. "She's not pregnant?"
"My Lord, Draco said she fell for him. And she will be pregnant by Christmas."
"That's too late!" barked Voldemort. "I will proceed my attack on the damn school as soon as the child is born. The sooner, the better. Would you tell your son that?"
"I shall."
* * * *
Draco and Hermione Apparated into Draco's bedroom. This time Narcissa did scream.
"Draco!" she gasped. "The Dark Lord is downstairs!" Then, she saw Hermione and said, "Uh-oh."
"Shit!" swore Draco.
"What? Your dad has him as a houseguest?" asked Hermione, shocked.
"Mother, this is Hermione," introduced Draco. "Hermione this is my mother."
Draco's mother gave a soft "Oh" of recognition.
"I'm going downstairs," announced Draco.
Hermione and Narcissa both cried, "No!" at the same time.
"I won't let them see me. I just want to see what they're talking about."
"Draco, dear, be careful," begged Narcissa.
"I will."
* * * *
Draco tiptoed down the spiral staircase. He'd expected them to be in the kitchen or something, but not right by the foyer. Draco had to duck to avoid being seen. But he had caught his first and hopefully last real glance of Voldemort. He knew that face was going to haunt him in his nightmares for the next few weeks. Those eyes.
"The sooner, the better," Voldemort was saying. "Would you tell your son that?"
"I shall," replied Lucius. Draco had not expected Voldemor tto get up, so he didn't have time to hide behind the closest wall.
"But, Lucius," started a gleeful Voldemort, "your son is here."
Lucius whipped around. Draco froze on the spot. "Draco, son, come sit down."
"No, I think I'll be leaving," replied Draco numbly.
"I want you to sit down," said Voldemort this time. It was an order.
Draco sank into the farthest armchair from both of them.
"Well, Draco," said Voldemort. "Your father was telling me about your progress. And I was saying I needed the kid soon. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I'm trying," stammered Draco, scared out of his wits. And Potter had survived this guy how many times? Maybe Potter was a little better than he thought.
"Try harder," hissed Voldemort. "And when are you going to get my Mark?"
Draco wanted to ask, "What if I don't want to get it?" but knew it would earn him a punishment, if not instant death.
But, staring at the rug, he wondered, "What would happen if I don't go along with your plan?"
"If, you son of a bitch?" hissed Voldemort even more viciously now. "If you don't, you die."
"What if I don't want to give you the baby?" Draco asked, still entertaining himself with a spot on the carpet.
"Draco, what would you do with a baby if you didn't give it to the Dark Lord?" questioned Lucius. "Give it to Granger to raise?"
"Maybe," he replied.
"Lucius, this boy has fallen in love with the girl. I can see it in his mind. And otherwise, he wouldn't be protesting the plan."
"Is this true?" asked Lucius sharply. When Draco didn't answer, Lucius went on. "I've told you not to ever fall in love, Draco! I've told you thousands of times. Love is for weak people! Love weakens people. Now you are a weak fool!"
"Draco," said Voldemort. "Just give me the kid, and no one will get hurt. You may leave."
Draco fled up the stairs back into his room, determined not to look worried to his mother and Hermione.
* * * *
After Draco left to go downstairs, Hermione said, "Draco's told me nice things about you."
"You two are dating?" asked Narcissa, pretending not to know anything about the plan.
"Yes," replied Hermione. "That promise ring is really pretty. He gave it to me. He said it was yours."
"He did?" asked Narcissa quickly.
"Yes," returned Hermione suspiciously.
"Oh, Merlin," sighed Narcissa, realizing the truth. "You love him, too, right?"
"I beg your pardon?" asked Hermione.
"Hermione, dear, Draco was supposed to give that ring to the girl he intended to marry and that he loved," explained Narcissa.
"But- but," stammered Hermione, words failing her. "But he just said that he was supposed to give it to a special girl! I don't think he loves me.."
"But my dear, this means he does!" exclaimed Narcissa. "Do you love him?
"Oh, I- well, yes," replied an embarrassed Hermione. "Oh, please don't tell him!"
"I won't," smiled Narcissa. Her son was in love! All grown up.
At that moment, Draco walked in. With what looked like great difficulty, he smiled. "So you met each other?"
"Yes," replied Narcissa suspiciously. "Hermione, I don't think it's too safe for you here. Would you mind leaving? I'll send Draco after you in a few minutes. Is that all right?"
"Of course," replied Hermione. She Disapparated.
"Love, what happened?" asked Narcissa, taking her son into her arms.
"I- well, he saw me and talked to me," said Draco.
"Poor lamb!" comforted Narcissa, holding him tighter. "Do you love her?"
"What kind of a question is that?" asked Draco angrily, stepping away. "No, no, definitely not." His mother gave him a smile. "Yes, of course," he admitted. "I don't know how it happened. It wasn't supposed to."
"Draco, if she has this baby, you mustn't give it to the Dark Lord," Narcissa said.
"How can I not?" asked an anguished Draco, twisting a strand of platinum hair.
"She isn't pregnant, right?" asked Narcissa.
"No," confirmed Draco.
"Draco, I don't know what to say. If she doesn't have the child, he'll kill you. And if she does have the baby, the poor thing. She doesn't know about this, so you'll have to tell her."
"She'd kill me!" cried out Draco.
"Draco, if she really loves you, she'll go through with this."
"How do you know?"
"She wouldn't want you to get hurt," she explained. "So tell her. The sooner, the better." All of these sooners. Everything was going to happen soon.
"And if I tell her, and by some miracle she agrees to this, when the baby's here, what the hell do we do with it? Run away?"
"The Dark Lord was going to have you give it to me. He thinks I'll raise it for the Dark Side. I'll raise the baby right. After school finishes, Hermione can move in."
"And father won't notice?" asked Draco sarcastically. "It's a bad plan, no offense."
"Draco, they're planning to attack Hogwarts when the baby is born. I think we should tell Dumbledore about this. He'll know what to do."
"I. I'll tell him today," assured Draco. "I have to go. Bye." He kissed his mother on the cheek and Disapparated.
* * * *
There was no way that Draco was going to tell Hermione now- maybe later.
He Apparated into Hogsmeade and ran back to his room; he had the impression that Hermione was going to be there. Sure enough, there she was, waiting for him.
"Are you okay?" she asked, running over to him. "What happened downstairs?"
"Nothing," he quickly replied.
"You can tell me," she said, touching his arm gently. "You said yourself that you could trust me."
"Really," he insisted. "I swear, nothing. I saw the guy and came upstairs."
"Then why did you look so worried?"
"I wasn't going to be laughing after I'd seen Voldemort," answered Draco.
"What were they talking about?" asked Hermione.
"You," replied Draco without thinking.
"Are you serious?"
"No," he lied, turning it into a joke. "They were talking about punishing some Death Eater."
"All of them need to be punished," Hermione said. She remembered Mrs. Malfoy's words about how Draco loved her. She smiled. "Your mum is nice."
"Told you so. Everyone likes her. Listen, I'm meeting Snape soon," he lied. "So I have to go."
Hermione snickered. "Have fun." She brushed his lips with her own and turned to go. "Bye, Draco."
"See you later, Hermione."
Draco waited for five minutes to be sure that she was gone and immediately headed for Dumbledore's office.
"Come in," said Dumbledore.
Draco walked in and sat down.
"Professor, I have some concerns dealing with my father."
Dumbledore eyed Draco suspiciously before saying, "Go on."
"You wouldn't know, but the Dark Lord has some new plans," started Draco.
"Oh, I do know," said Dumbledore coldly. "And I know you are part of this plan."
"Yes, but not how you think," explained Draco.
"Oh, really, Mister Malfoy? You aren't on the task of impregnating Hermione?"
"I am," replied Draco. "But you ought to know I didn't choose the job. And I'm asking you for help to get out of this."
"You are going against your father?" asked Dumbledore incredulously. "You want to join our side?"
"I do."
"Then, Draco, I suggest you tell me as much of the plan as you know first."
Draco related the whole story. Dumbledore didn't even blink, even when Draco told him about Hermione's parentage.
"I see," said Dumbledore slowly. "And so today he told you you'd die if you didn't carry out the plan?"
"Yes."
"Why did you go home in the first place?" asked Dumbledore. "Without asking me?"
Draco tugged at a lock of his white blonde hair nervously. "I wanted Hermione to meet my mum."
"Hermione?" asked Dumbledore. "You didn't already start the plan?"
"Well, yes, actually," replied Draco. "Long story, but the ending is that I. I've fallen in love with her, Professor."
"How interesting," said Dumbledore, grinning. "So you don't know what to do now, and you're asking me."
"Yes," replied Draco.
"First of all, good choice," smiled Dumbledore. "Then, does she love you?"
"I don't know," said Draco. "Why would she?"
"Because she's seen the kind side to you," answered Dumbledore. "So if you two go with the plan, as I will advise you to do, once the baby is born, Voldemort will attack the school. We will have to prepare. But that won't be for another year at least."
"So you want me to impregnate her?" asked Draco.
"Has Harry talked to you?" questioned Dumbledore.
Draco remembered Truth or Dare. "No. But I know he knows something about this."
"Indeed," Dumbledore nodded. "He plays quite a big part in this. Before, when I thought you were helping Voldemort, Harry and Hermione were dating. I don't know what happened there, but I take it they're not going together. So I told Harry a couple of weeks ago to keep an eye on Hermione, to keep her away from you. I set him on the task of impregnating her."
"You what?" shouted Draco. He quieted down. "Sorry."
"Well, Draco, I was thinking if he did, then you couldn't. I didn't know about you, though. But we'd know by now if she was pregnant, so she's not."
"Professor, I have something to confess. I. Two weeks ago, I made a Love Potion for Pansy Parkinson and Potter. So they fell for each other, and Hermione was free for me."
"That's what happened. I see," Dumbledore said. "Well, that wasn't too wise, as those Potions are illegal at this school. But you're off the hook. Special circumstances. I suggest you take off the charm, though."
"But what about Potter and Hermione?" asked Draco, appalled.
"We'll tell Harry that he. Well, do you think Hermione will go back to him if she realizes that he really didn't like Pansy?"
"No," Draco replied. "She told me he was better as a best friend. And she wouldn't just dump me. I know her."
"Oh, well," began Dumbledore. "Harry will have to accept the fact that he Hermione doesn't love him anymore. And that means a truce between you and him."
"What? Well, if it's for Hermione's good," Draco mumbled grumpily. He had no intentions of any truces.
"It is; I assure you. When everyone is settled, then we will start making war preparations. So, Draco, what you need to do is lift that Love Potion, and tell me when you have."
"Yes, sir," replied Draco. "Thank you." He left.
THAT'S THE END!! I BET YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!! IT'LL COME IN ONE DAY!! I PROMISE!! G2G!!