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Chapter 16: Surprises and Explanations
Harry moved aside, knowing that that was what Hermione wanted. She obviously wanted Draco and Harry... well he just wanted her to be happy. He left the pair alone to sort out their differences.
"Draco?" Hermione called again, this time louder but her eyes remained shut.
"Yeah, I'm here," he said with a smile, taking Harry's seat and her hand. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." He kissed her forehead sweetly, allowing his lips to rest on her soft skin for a moment before pulling back.
"Draco... the baby!" she said panicking. She appeared to be trying to sit up in her bed but was very weak again. He pushed her back in her bed.
"Relax, relax my love. The baby is fine," he cooed comfortingly. "I had Madame Pomfrey check not too long ago. Everything is going to be fine now. Now that you're awake."
She looked at him with hurt in her eyes. "You betrayed me! You were going to kill me, AND my friends! You would have done it, too! I had to stop you by trying to kill you!"
"Yes but please understand that I'm sorry." He tried to take her hand in his but she continued to push him away. "I didn't mean to. It wasn't my choice. 'Mi, you have to believe me! I wouldn't have done it if I could have stopped myself. I love you too much to intentionally jeopardize any future we might..."
"I believe you," she cut him off. "I believe that it wasn't you. But how do I know that it won't happen again?"
"We should go talk to Dumbledore now."
"But... but if we tell him everything then... then they'll kill me."
"Hermione..." he said, helping her out of her bed. "Hermione, the spell is ended once they are dead. Pansy and Blaise were both killed. Potter took care of them."
"R-R-Really? Oh... okay then. Let's go ask Dumbledore for a way to cure you." She tried to begin to walk on her own but of course, her legs were still weak.
"Why don't you lay down and I'll go get Dumbledore."
"No need, Mr. Malfoy," a voice said from behind him. "I am already here. Madame Pomfrey informed me that you were awake so I thought I'd stop by for a visit. POPPY!" he called. The woman came bustling in and nearly fainted at the site of Hermione sitting up in her bed. "Poppy, it appears that Miss Granger has woken up. Will you please get her some food. I'm sure she is starving after not having eaten solid food for over two weeks." Madame Pomfrey ran out of the room, rushing towards the kitchen.
Dumbledore pulled over a seat to Hermione's bed as Draco just sat down next to her. "I believe we have some things to discuss," he said to them.
"Yes," Hermione admitted. "We've been... well we've been keeping a few things from you."
"Would you like to share them with me now?"
"Yes," she replied quietly. "Well you see, once I got back from St. Mungo's, I was kidnapped. It was Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zambini. They used me as blackmail to get Draco to become the Dark Lord."
"I see," Dumbledore said with a small smile, appearing as though he had already known this information. "I assume that your blood," he said to Draco, "was mixed with that of Lord Voldemort and Salazar Slytherin. Am I correct?" Draco nodded. "I see," he said once more.
"Well the thing is," Hermione began again. "He's become very awkward at times. He gets evil and cruel. It's almost as though he's got multiple personalities."
"I understand completely. He is the same as Tom Riddle once was. When he first became the Dark Lord, the man was kind and caring. Little by little, you could see it taking over him. How long has it been since you became the Dark Lord?"
"Christmas," Draco replied, looking down at his shoes which he pretended were rather interesting.
"I see." Hermione felt as though if he were to say 'I see' one more time, she might strangle him.
"Am I going to go to Azkaban?" Draco asked.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Now why would I send you to the prison if you were no longer the Dark Lord, Mr. Malfoy?"
"HUH?" Hermione and Draco said at once.
"I understand everything that you have told me but there's something you must know. I've known all of this for a while now. I first became suspicious when you, Ms. Granger, left Mr. Wood. I knew there must have been a reason. So I began to watch you as you fell in love with Mr. Malfoy once again. I know that you did a memory charm, Mr. Malfoy and it is all right. There are no penalties because you did it in order to help Hermione. Anyway, I watched you two and I talked to the portraits in your rooms that heard all of your conversations. I'm sorry for getting involved in your personal business but it was for the good of the school. So I heard of your being involved in the Dark Arts, Mr. Malfoy and I watched even closer. I knew everything. I allowed it to play out because I had heard the prophecy that was to come. And indeed you fell, Mr. Malfoy. Your equal struck you down."
"I don't understand," Draco said. "I'm still alive though."
"In the literal sense. Your equal killed the darkness inside of you. Mr. Malfoy, when you were brought here, you had lost a severe amount of blood. In fact, it was a miracle that you were still alive. Then, we gave you blood transfusions. We took Mr. Potter's blood. What you must understand is that wizard blood is different from muggles. Our blood, just like us, is magical. It has the power to control our actions if it does so chose and with you, it very much rules over who you are. You were infected with evil blood, but part of you was still good so you had the chance to fight it. Mr. Potter has pure good in his blood. When you lost so much of your own blood, only small portions of the remainder of it were evil. Then, when we added Mr. Potter's blood, it basically canceled out the evil bits. All that was evil in you is now good."
"But..." Hermione said with a frown. "What about our child? Draco still had evil in him when the child was conceived. Will our child be evil?"
"No, Miss Granger. You and I both know that YOU are the purest good in this world. Your blood is much stronger than even the most evil of evils. The good in you overruled the SMALL bit of evil in Mr. Malfoy."
Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck, screaming in joy. "Oh Draco, that's such great news. Don't you think?"
"Yes, the best of news," he said with a smile. "So... I'm not evil?" he asked the headmaster with happiness in his voice and a grin that reached his eyes.
"No... you are not evil. Now if you'll excuse me," the headmaster said. "I have to go looking for a new Transfigurations professor for next term and a new potions professor as well."
"What happened to Professor Snape?" Hermione asked in curiosity.
"Nothing happened to him, my dear. He is getting promoted."
"To what?"
"He is taking the position of headmaster. I am old and weary. I have no business with young children any longer. It is time I moved over and let someone else take over."
"Who are you looking at to take over their spots?"
"Well... actually I was thinking that YOU, Miss Granger, would make an excellent Transfiguration professor."
"ME?"
"Yes, you. And Mr. Malfoy, you would be terrific as the potions professor. Do you not agree, the both of you?"
"Well I... I..." Hermione was speechless. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that Dumbledore would ever offer her the job of her dreams. Yes, it was sad to be getting it because her favorite teacher was killed but she still loved the idea.
Draco sat there, taking it all in. This had been a very eventful day. Hermione had woken up, the Dark Lord had officially been killed, and now he was offered the position of Potions Master, something he had dreamt about all his life.
"I'd be honored, Professor Dumbledore," he replied.
Hermione smiled. Of course if Draco was going to do it, so was she. "Count me in. I'd love to teach and mold young minds. It will be fascinating to watch their eyes grow wide as I fill their little noggins with new information."
Draco laughed. "Leave it to 'Mi to be so ecstatic to spend more time in school."
She playfully slapped is arm. "Stop teasing me," she whined.
"But I can't help it," he said honestly. "You get so cute when you are mad." He kissed her lightly but stopped when he heard Dumbledore clearing his throat. "Sorry, professor. Forgot you were there."
"It's all right, Professor Malfoy." Draco winced at the sound of it. Professor. He would have to get used to the title. "Now if you don't mind, I have papers to fill out, saying who the new professors will be. Ms. Granger, you have two very patient guests who have been waiting outside in the hall. Shall I send them in?"
Hermione thought for a moment. She knew who he was talking about but she wasn't exactly sure if she was up to any visitors yet. "I guess so," she said meekly, flashing Draco an apologetic smile. Dumbledore rose from his seat and Draco followed.
"I'll give you some time with your friends," Draco said. "I'll be back in about twenty minutes or so. That should give you time."
"Thanks, sweetie."
"Yuck... the nicknames," he said with fake disgust.
"Oh stop pretending. You know you love it." She smiled as he kissed her right before leaving.
As soon as he was gone, all Hermione could see was a red spot moving towards her. It was Ron. He began to take her in an embrace. "OH HERMIONE! I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! WE WERE SO WORRIED!"
"Thanks, Ron. I was worried too."
"Hey 'Mione," a voice said. It was Harry and he looked a bit... embarrassed? Hermione couldn't quite understand what would make him so afraid of her but he was definitely embarrassed or afraid of something.
He came over and gave her a pat on the arm. That was it.
"Harry, what's wrong?" she asked.
Ron knew instantly what was going on. Harry was coming to terms with the fact that Hermione would never be his. She would never love him the way she did Malfoy and worst of all, she would never know that he ever wished that she would.
"N...Nothing," Harry stuttered. "I'm just a bit shaken up is all. It's been quite a past couple of weeks or so and I could use a good nights rest."
"Couldn't we all," Hermione laughed.
They sat there for the next twenty minutes, talking and joking like old times, discussing anything that popped into their minds. When Draco returned, they had all loosened up and were practically rolling around in their laughter.
"What's so funny?" he asked, almost angry that he had not been part of the joke.
Hermione was the one to respond. "We were just discussing the time that you got turned into a ferret. Remember that?"
He scowled. "How could I forget?" He really hated when she brought those things up.
"I see that you still keep SOME of your evil traits. Really, Draco, you must stop with the scowling. It's not very attractive on you, SWEETHEART." She called him that just to annoy him and he knew it but he decided not to take the bait. Instead, he just smiled and patted her head.
"You're such a lovely person to be around, Hermione." She stuck her tongue out at him but as soon as she did, he gave her a warning look. "Don't do that. Your tongue makes me think of the very things that made us parents in the first place and I don't think you want to do that HERE in front of your friends."
"You're what?" Ron asked. "Did you say... p-pa-parents?" He looked as though he were going to pass out. Hermione looked from Ron to Harry. If you thought Ron's reaction was bad, wait until you saw Harry's. He was absolutely livid. He wouldn't even speak to her. He just ran out of the room. Hermione was about to chase after him but Ron stopped her. "Let him be. He'll calm down in a bit. Just give him time to adjust to the idea."
Draco looked even angrier than Harry had been. He loved Hermione and he was definitely afraid of the competition. It wasn't necessarily the fact that there was competition. It was more the fact that the competition was Harry Potter. He had always suspected something going on between them. Now he knew how Harry really felt. He knew that Hermione had no idea but it didn't matter. He still didn't want her to spend time with Harry alone.
But he kept his mouth shut. Why bring up bad thoughts if there's no need to yet? Ron left soon and Hermione moved over in her bed, making room for Draco.
"Why are you upset?" she asked him, almost as if she could read his mind.
"I'm not upset," he lied.
"That's a dirty lie!" she said with a smile, happy to have caught him in the act of a lie. She could never tell when he was lying and he could always read her like a book.
"No, it's a fib. There's a difference."
"Sure there is," she said sarcastically. "Well then, keep your secrets. I'm too tired to fight. Can we sleep now?" she asked with hope in her eyes.
He chuckled a little. "You've been sleeping for two weeks. You'd think that you'd be wide awake now." He looked at her face and saw exhaustion written all over it so he decided not to give her a hard time. "Oh all right. But when we wake up, I think we need to start our preparations for the wedding. I want to be married before the baby is born. Sound good?"
She nodded her head but he knew she wasn't really listening. She was too tired to listen. She was drifting off into a dreamland. Hopefully it was a happy dreamland.
That summer, Hermione and Draco stayed at Hogwarts, preparing their new lesson plans and also their wedding plans. They wanted to have the wedding on August 17. Draco had chosen the date. He decided on a summer wedding because that way, they didn't have to worry about school and they could still have their honeymoon. Draco kept teasing Hermione and saying that their honeymoon would be to the inn in Diagon Alley that they had stayed at before coming back to school but she would always wrinkle her nose at that. She wanted a big, fancy honeymoon. And he would give it to her but he wouldn't tell her where they were going until they were leaving for their destination.
Hermione had begged and pleaded with Draco to make Harry or Ron the best man and Draco finally had given in. When he asked Harry and Ron to choose amongst themselves, he knew right away that Harry wouldn't want it. It would be painful to watch the girl you love marrying another. But he told them that whoever wasn't the best man at the wedding would instead be the godfather of the child. Ron wound up with the position of Best Man at the wedding.
Hermione's maid of honor would be Ginny. She didn't have many female friends so Ginny was the closest thing.
Instead of having her parents walk her down the aisle, she would go alone. The idea of it made her sad but she didn't admit this to Draco. She didn't want to bring up bed memories in the process of their wedding. Everything was to be perfect and she didn't want to ruin it.
He knew though. He didn't say anything but he could tell she missed her parents, just as she missed Professor McGonagall. They had meant a lot to her.
The day before the wedding, which was supposed to be a rehearsal dinner, Hermione and Draco sat in the castle in their room, ignoring what they were supposed to do. Hermione felt as though she needed to relax. The wedding was going to be small and that made it a lot less stressful but she still felt overwhelmed.
Their guest list consisted of the entire Weasley family, Harry, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, and all of the Hogwarts professors. Draco didn't have anyone coming for him but it made no difference. Soon, that would all change. Soon, he'd have a wife and a child that would love him so it was insignificant if anyone was there for him now.
They rested their heads on the same pillow and faced each other. His hands rubbed her belly and she giggled.
"Hello, little baby," he said to her stomach. "I'm going to be your father."
"Draco, I don't think it can hear you."
"Why do you say that? YOU can always hear me when you're asleep. I can hear you when I'M in a coma. Why can't our baby hear me when he's in your belly?"
She looked at him with a smile. "You said HE. Is that what you want? Do you want a little boy?"
He thought for a moment. A boy would be great. He could take after Draco and he would raise his son to be strong and brave. His son would play Quidditch and be a great Slytherin. On the other hand, a daughter would be just as divine. A daughter would definitely take after her mother to become a strong-willed, persistent Gryffindor with the intelligence of her mother. He would pamper her and treat her like a princess. She would be his little angel.
"Either or," he replied, feeling the happiest he had felt in a long while. They were at peace. Tomorrow, they would take their vows and bind themselves to each other forever. Everyone kept asking them if they were scared. Apparently it was supposed to be some sort of nerve racking experience but they didn't see it as that. They were both calm and that is why they didn't want a rehearsal dinner. They didn't want to risk getting stressed out right before the bid day.
"Well I'm glad to hear it," she whispered. "Because we're going to have one of each."
"What do you mean?" he asked confusedly. What on Earth was she talking about? Was she planning on having another child right after this one?
"Now don't freak out but I talked to Madame Pomfrey today. She did a magical sonogram."
"You know what we're going to have?"
"Yup."
"But I thought we agreed that we didn't want to know. That we were going to be surprised."
"I know but I couldn't help it! Anyway... do you want to know?"
"No."
"But..."
"I don't want to know! I want to be surprised."
"Fine. Suit yourself." She stood up and began walking to the bathroom.
"I lied," he said as she reached the door.
She stopped in her tracks and turned around. "HUH?"
"I want to know."
"Really? Or are you just saying that?"
He took a second to think about it. There were pros and cons to each choice. "I want to know."
She ran back to the bed and jumped on it excitedly. "We're going to have..."
"WAIT!" he screamed. He sat up and took three deep breaths. "Okay, I'm ready."
"We're going to have..."
"WAIT!"
"What now?"
"Okay I'm ready."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you positive?"
"Yes."
"Okay. We're going to have," and before he could interrupt her once more, she shouted. "TWINS!"
"WHAT?"
"Yep. We're going to have both a boy AND a girl!"
He stood up and gathered her in his arms and began rushing to the door.
"Where are we going?" she asked in curiosity.
"We have to start preparing. We have to go into Hogsmeade and buy some baby clothes. Now we have DOUBLE the shopping to do. We don't have enough time to do everything in. Maybe we should skip the honeymoon and..."
"Not in a million years. Draco, put me down. Not everything needs to be done tonight or even within the next few months. We have until February to get everything ready."
"Oh, right," he said sheepishly, feeling a bit foolish for jumping into everything. "What time is it?"
"It's already eleven. I think we should go to sleep. I want to be well rested for the ceremony."
"All right. A mother-to-be needs her rests anyway, regardless of if she is getting married the next day or not. Let's get you all tucked in bed and off to sleep." He carried her to the bed and tucked her in, placing a light kiss on the top of her head.
"You're not joining me?" she asked as he began walking in the opposite direction.
"No. I'm going to take a seat and think about some things."
"Like what? Talk to me about them, won't you?'
"You need your sleep and I need a walk. We'll talk tomorrow."
"But tomorrow will be too hectic. I won't get a chance to see you until the ceremony. Talk to me now."
He sat down on the bed and rested his head against her chest as they lay down in one another's arms. "I just don't want anything to go wrong tomorrow, 'Mi. Something bad always happens on important occasions and I don't want that to be the case. Everything has to be just so."
"I know what you mean. Draco, I have a question for you."
"What is it, my love?"
"Have you invited your mother to the wedding? Did you even inform her of our marriage?"
"I wrote her a letter a little while back, telling her that we were to be married but she never wrote back. I don't really want to think about her right now, though."
"But she was a death eater, right? Did she fight in the battle?"
"All Death Eaters fought in the battle."
"Then what happened to her? Didn't all Death Eaters either go to Azkaban or die?"
"She escaped without being found out. But Hermione, there's something you don't understand about my mother. She was never really evil. When Lucius and she first met, she was kind and good and she married him, not knowing just how far in he was with the inner circle of the Dark Lord. But when she found out, she tried to leave and he hexed her. The hex he placed on her sucked out all the good in her, making her cold and evil, just like him. It wasn't what she wanted though. I try to remember that each time she does something for the dark side. It's easy to forget though."
She was shocked by all that information but it made her glad to know that Draco really DID have good in him, it was just overpowered by Lucius' blood.
Hermione knew that he didn't want anyone to look down on his mother so she kept her mouth shut. It was hard to believe that there was actual good in the woman that had attacked her all those months ago but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that there was good in him, no matter how it got there.
He flipped over in the bed and laid on his stomach, facing away from Hermione. He was tired now, as was she. She snuggled up to him and began rubbing his back.
"I wouldn't have cared either way, whether she was good or evil. I love you just the same."
They drifted off to sleep, preparing for tomorrow.
A/N... okay... here is one of the final chapters. Now it could go one of two ways. I could have two more chapters left, and end the story there, or I could have one more chapter and then start a sequel that I've been planning. Which would you prefer? Please tell me in a review. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks so much to all of my faithful reviewers. I know I haven't thanked each and every single one of you by name so far and I'm sorry but by the end of writing each chapter, to add special thanks would make each chapter way too long and my fingers always hurt when I'm done so... I'm really sorry. But I really DO appreciate all of your reviews and if I hope you keep up with your precise reviews
Chapter 16: Surprises and Explanations
Harry moved aside, knowing that that was what Hermione wanted. She obviously wanted Draco and Harry... well he just wanted her to be happy. He left the pair alone to sort out their differences.
"Draco?" Hermione called again, this time louder but her eyes remained shut.
"Yeah, I'm here," he said with a smile, taking Harry's seat and her hand. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." He kissed her forehead sweetly, allowing his lips to rest on her soft skin for a moment before pulling back.
"Draco... the baby!" she said panicking. She appeared to be trying to sit up in her bed but was very weak again. He pushed her back in her bed.
"Relax, relax my love. The baby is fine," he cooed comfortingly. "I had Madame Pomfrey check not too long ago. Everything is going to be fine now. Now that you're awake."
She looked at him with hurt in her eyes. "You betrayed me! You were going to kill me, AND my friends! You would have done it, too! I had to stop you by trying to kill you!"
"Yes but please understand that I'm sorry." He tried to take her hand in his but she continued to push him away. "I didn't mean to. It wasn't my choice. 'Mi, you have to believe me! I wouldn't have done it if I could have stopped myself. I love you too much to intentionally jeopardize any future we might..."
"I believe you," she cut him off. "I believe that it wasn't you. But how do I know that it won't happen again?"
"We should go talk to Dumbledore now."
"But... but if we tell him everything then... then they'll kill me."
"Hermione..." he said, helping her out of her bed. "Hermione, the spell is ended once they are dead. Pansy and Blaise were both killed. Potter took care of them."
"R-R-Really? Oh... okay then. Let's go ask Dumbledore for a way to cure you." She tried to begin to walk on her own but of course, her legs were still weak.
"Why don't you lay down and I'll go get Dumbledore."
"No need, Mr. Malfoy," a voice said from behind him. "I am already here. Madame Pomfrey informed me that you were awake so I thought I'd stop by for a visit. POPPY!" he called. The woman came bustling in and nearly fainted at the site of Hermione sitting up in her bed. "Poppy, it appears that Miss Granger has woken up. Will you please get her some food. I'm sure she is starving after not having eaten solid food for over two weeks." Madame Pomfrey ran out of the room, rushing towards the kitchen.
Dumbledore pulled over a seat to Hermione's bed as Draco just sat down next to her. "I believe we have some things to discuss," he said to them.
"Yes," Hermione admitted. "We've been... well we've been keeping a few things from you."
"Would you like to share them with me now?"
"Yes," she replied quietly. "Well you see, once I got back from St. Mungo's, I was kidnapped. It was Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zambini. They used me as blackmail to get Draco to become the Dark Lord."
"I see," Dumbledore said with a small smile, appearing as though he had already known this information. "I assume that your blood," he said to Draco, "was mixed with that of Lord Voldemort and Salazar Slytherin. Am I correct?" Draco nodded. "I see," he said once more.
"Well the thing is," Hermione began again. "He's become very awkward at times. He gets evil and cruel. It's almost as though he's got multiple personalities."
"I understand completely. He is the same as Tom Riddle once was. When he first became the Dark Lord, the man was kind and caring. Little by little, you could see it taking over him. How long has it been since you became the Dark Lord?"
"Christmas," Draco replied, looking down at his shoes which he pretended were rather interesting.
"I see." Hermione felt as though if he were to say 'I see' one more time, she might strangle him.
"Am I going to go to Azkaban?" Draco asked.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Now why would I send you to the prison if you were no longer the Dark Lord, Mr. Malfoy?"
"HUH?" Hermione and Draco said at once.
"I understand everything that you have told me but there's something you must know. I've known all of this for a while now. I first became suspicious when you, Ms. Granger, left Mr. Wood. I knew there must have been a reason. So I began to watch you as you fell in love with Mr. Malfoy once again. I know that you did a memory charm, Mr. Malfoy and it is all right. There are no penalties because you did it in order to help Hermione. Anyway, I watched you two and I talked to the portraits in your rooms that heard all of your conversations. I'm sorry for getting involved in your personal business but it was for the good of the school. So I heard of your being involved in the Dark Arts, Mr. Malfoy and I watched even closer. I knew everything. I allowed it to play out because I had heard the prophecy that was to come. And indeed you fell, Mr. Malfoy. Your equal struck you down."
"I don't understand," Draco said. "I'm still alive though."
"In the literal sense. Your equal killed the darkness inside of you. Mr. Malfoy, when you were brought here, you had lost a severe amount of blood. In fact, it was a miracle that you were still alive. Then, we gave you blood transfusions. We took Mr. Potter's blood. What you must understand is that wizard blood is different from muggles. Our blood, just like us, is magical. It has the power to control our actions if it does so chose and with you, it very much rules over who you are. You were infected with evil blood, but part of you was still good so you had the chance to fight it. Mr. Potter has pure good in his blood. When you lost so much of your own blood, only small portions of the remainder of it were evil. Then, when we added Mr. Potter's blood, it basically canceled out the evil bits. All that was evil in you is now good."
"But..." Hermione said with a frown. "What about our child? Draco still had evil in him when the child was conceived. Will our child be evil?"
"No, Miss Granger. You and I both know that YOU are the purest good in this world. Your blood is much stronger than even the most evil of evils. The good in you overruled the SMALL bit of evil in Mr. Malfoy."
Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck, screaming in joy. "Oh Draco, that's such great news. Don't you think?"
"Yes, the best of news," he said with a smile. "So... I'm not evil?" he asked the headmaster with happiness in his voice and a grin that reached his eyes.
"No... you are not evil. Now if you'll excuse me," the headmaster said. "I have to go looking for a new Transfigurations professor for next term and a new potions professor as well."
"What happened to Professor Snape?" Hermione asked in curiosity.
"Nothing happened to him, my dear. He is getting promoted."
"To what?"
"He is taking the position of headmaster. I am old and weary. I have no business with young children any longer. It is time I moved over and let someone else take over."
"Who are you looking at to take over their spots?"
"Well... actually I was thinking that YOU, Miss Granger, would make an excellent Transfiguration professor."
"ME?"
"Yes, you. And Mr. Malfoy, you would be terrific as the potions professor. Do you not agree, the both of you?"
"Well I... I..." Hermione was speechless. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that Dumbledore would ever offer her the job of her dreams. Yes, it was sad to be getting it because her favorite teacher was killed but she still loved the idea.
Draco sat there, taking it all in. This had been a very eventful day. Hermione had woken up, the Dark Lord had officially been killed, and now he was offered the position of Potions Master, something he had dreamt about all his life.
"I'd be honored, Professor Dumbledore," he replied.
Hermione smiled. Of course if Draco was going to do it, so was she. "Count me in. I'd love to teach and mold young minds. It will be fascinating to watch their eyes grow wide as I fill their little noggins with new information."
Draco laughed. "Leave it to 'Mi to be so ecstatic to spend more time in school."
She playfully slapped is arm. "Stop teasing me," she whined.
"But I can't help it," he said honestly. "You get so cute when you are mad." He kissed her lightly but stopped when he heard Dumbledore clearing his throat. "Sorry, professor. Forgot you were there."
"It's all right, Professor Malfoy." Draco winced at the sound of it. Professor. He would have to get used to the title. "Now if you don't mind, I have papers to fill out, saying who the new professors will be. Ms. Granger, you have two very patient guests who have been waiting outside in the hall. Shall I send them in?"
Hermione thought for a moment. She knew who he was talking about but she wasn't exactly sure if she was up to any visitors yet. "I guess so," she said meekly, flashing Draco an apologetic smile. Dumbledore rose from his seat and Draco followed.
"I'll give you some time with your friends," Draco said. "I'll be back in about twenty minutes or so. That should give you time."
"Thanks, sweetie."
"Yuck... the nicknames," he said with fake disgust.
"Oh stop pretending. You know you love it." She smiled as he kissed her right before leaving.
As soon as he was gone, all Hermione could see was a red spot moving towards her. It was Ron. He began to take her in an embrace. "OH HERMIONE! I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! WE WERE SO WORRIED!"
"Thanks, Ron. I was worried too."
"Hey 'Mione," a voice said. It was Harry and he looked a bit... embarrassed? Hermione couldn't quite understand what would make him so afraid of her but he was definitely embarrassed or afraid of something.
He came over and gave her a pat on the arm. That was it.
"Harry, what's wrong?" she asked.
Ron knew instantly what was going on. Harry was coming to terms with the fact that Hermione would never be his. She would never love him the way she did Malfoy and worst of all, she would never know that he ever wished that she would.
"N...Nothing," Harry stuttered. "I'm just a bit shaken up is all. It's been quite a past couple of weeks or so and I could use a good nights rest."
"Couldn't we all," Hermione laughed.
They sat there for the next twenty minutes, talking and joking like old times, discussing anything that popped into their minds. When Draco returned, they had all loosened up and were practically rolling around in their laughter.
"What's so funny?" he asked, almost angry that he had not been part of the joke.
Hermione was the one to respond. "We were just discussing the time that you got turned into a ferret. Remember that?"
He scowled. "How could I forget?" He really hated when she brought those things up.
"I see that you still keep SOME of your evil traits. Really, Draco, you must stop with the scowling. It's not very attractive on you, SWEETHEART." She called him that just to annoy him and he knew it but he decided not to take the bait. Instead, he just smiled and patted her head.
"You're such a lovely person to be around, Hermione." She stuck her tongue out at him but as soon as she did, he gave her a warning look. "Don't do that. Your tongue makes me think of the very things that made us parents in the first place and I don't think you want to do that HERE in front of your friends."
"You're what?" Ron asked. "Did you say... p-pa-parents?" He looked as though he were going to pass out. Hermione looked from Ron to Harry. If you thought Ron's reaction was bad, wait until you saw Harry's. He was absolutely livid. He wouldn't even speak to her. He just ran out of the room. Hermione was about to chase after him but Ron stopped her. "Let him be. He'll calm down in a bit. Just give him time to adjust to the idea."
Draco looked even angrier than Harry had been. He loved Hermione and he was definitely afraid of the competition. It wasn't necessarily the fact that there was competition. It was more the fact that the competition was Harry Potter. He had always suspected something going on between them. Now he knew how Harry really felt. He knew that Hermione had no idea but it didn't matter. He still didn't want her to spend time with Harry alone.
But he kept his mouth shut. Why bring up bad thoughts if there's no need to yet? Ron left soon and Hermione moved over in her bed, making room for Draco.
"Why are you upset?" she asked him, almost as if she could read his mind.
"I'm not upset," he lied.
"That's a dirty lie!" she said with a smile, happy to have caught him in the act of a lie. She could never tell when he was lying and he could always read her like a book.
"No, it's a fib. There's a difference."
"Sure there is," she said sarcastically. "Well then, keep your secrets. I'm too tired to fight. Can we sleep now?" she asked with hope in her eyes.
He chuckled a little. "You've been sleeping for two weeks. You'd think that you'd be wide awake now." He looked at her face and saw exhaustion written all over it so he decided not to give her a hard time. "Oh all right. But when we wake up, I think we need to start our preparations for the wedding. I want to be married before the baby is born. Sound good?"
She nodded her head but he knew she wasn't really listening. She was too tired to listen. She was drifting off into a dreamland. Hopefully it was a happy dreamland.
That summer, Hermione and Draco stayed at Hogwarts, preparing their new lesson plans and also their wedding plans. They wanted to have the wedding on August 17. Draco had chosen the date. He decided on a summer wedding because that way, they didn't have to worry about school and they could still have their honeymoon. Draco kept teasing Hermione and saying that their honeymoon would be to the inn in Diagon Alley that they had stayed at before coming back to school but she would always wrinkle her nose at that. She wanted a big, fancy honeymoon. And he would give it to her but he wouldn't tell her where they were going until they were leaving for their destination.
Hermione had begged and pleaded with Draco to make Harry or Ron the best man and Draco finally had given in. When he asked Harry and Ron to choose amongst themselves, he knew right away that Harry wouldn't want it. It would be painful to watch the girl you love marrying another. But he told them that whoever wasn't the best man at the wedding would instead be the godfather of the child. Ron wound up with the position of Best Man at the wedding.
Hermione's maid of honor would be Ginny. She didn't have many female friends so Ginny was the closest thing.
Instead of having her parents walk her down the aisle, she would go alone. The idea of it made her sad but she didn't admit this to Draco. She didn't want to bring up bed memories in the process of their wedding. Everything was to be perfect and she didn't want to ruin it.
He knew though. He didn't say anything but he could tell she missed her parents, just as she missed Professor McGonagall. They had meant a lot to her.
The day before the wedding, which was supposed to be a rehearsal dinner, Hermione and Draco sat in the castle in their room, ignoring what they were supposed to do. Hermione felt as though she needed to relax. The wedding was going to be small and that made it a lot less stressful but she still felt overwhelmed.
Their guest list consisted of the entire Weasley family, Harry, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, and all of the Hogwarts professors. Draco didn't have anyone coming for him but it made no difference. Soon, that would all change. Soon, he'd have a wife and a child that would love him so it was insignificant if anyone was there for him now.
They rested their heads on the same pillow and faced each other. His hands rubbed her belly and she giggled.
"Hello, little baby," he said to her stomach. "I'm going to be your father."
"Draco, I don't think it can hear you."
"Why do you say that? YOU can always hear me when you're asleep. I can hear you when I'M in a coma. Why can't our baby hear me when he's in your belly?"
She looked at him with a smile. "You said HE. Is that what you want? Do you want a little boy?"
He thought for a moment. A boy would be great. He could take after Draco and he would raise his son to be strong and brave. His son would play Quidditch and be a great Slytherin. On the other hand, a daughter would be just as divine. A daughter would definitely take after her mother to become a strong-willed, persistent Gryffindor with the intelligence of her mother. He would pamper her and treat her like a princess. She would be his little angel.
"Either or," he replied, feeling the happiest he had felt in a long while. They were at peace. Tomorrow, they would take their vows and bind themselves to each other forever. Everyone kept asking them if they were scared. Apparently it was supposed to be some sort of nerve racking experience but they didn't see it as that. They were both calm and that is why they didn't want a rehearsal dinner. They didn't want to risk getting stressed out right before the bid day.
"Well I'm glad to hear it," she whispered. "Because we're going to have one of each."
"What do you mean?" he asked confusedly. What on Earth was she talking about? Was she planning on having another child right after this one?
"Now don't freak out but I talked to Madame Pomfrey today. She did a magical sonogram."
"You know what we're going to have?"
"Yup."
"But I thought we agreed that we didn't want to know. That we were going to be surprised."
"I know but I couldn't help it! Anyway... do you want to know?"
"No."
"But..."
"I don't want to know! I want to be surprised."
"Fine. Suit yourself." She stood up and began walking to the bathroom.
"I lied," he said as she reached the door.
She stopped in her tracks and turned around. "HUH?"
"I want to know."
"Really? Or are you just saying that?"
He took a second to think about it. There were pros and cons to each choice. "I want to know."
She ran back to the bed and jumped on it excitedly. "We're going to have..."
"WAIT!" he screamed. He sat up and took three deep breaths. "Okay, I'm ready."
"We're going to have..."
"WAIT!"
"What now?"
"Okay I'm ready."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you positive?"
"Yes."
"Okay. We're going to have," and before he could interrupt her once more, she shouted. "TWINS!"
"WHAT?"
"Yep. We're going to have both a boy AND a girl!"
He stood up and gathered her in his arms and began rushing to the door.
"Where are we going?" she asked in curiosity.
"We have to start preparing. We have to go into Hogsmeade and buy some baby clothes. Now we have DOUBLE the shopping to do. We don't have enough time to do everything in. Maybe we should skip the honeymoon and..."
"Not in a million years. Draco, put me down. Not everything needs to be done tonight or even within the next few months. We have until February to get everything ready."
"Oh, right," he said sheepishly, feeling a bit foolish for jumping into everything. "What time is it?"
"It's already eleven. I think we should go to sleep. I want to be well rested for the ceremony."
"All right. A mother-to-be needs her rests anyway, regardless of if she is getting married the next day or not. Let's get you all tucked in bed and off to sleep." He carried her to the bed and tucked her in, placing a light kiss on the top of her head.
"You're not joining me?" she asked as he began walking in the opposite direction.
"No. I'm going to take a seat and think about some things."
"Like what? Talk to me about them, won't you?'
"You need your sleep and I need a walk. We'll talk tomorrow."
"But tomorrow will be too hectic. I won't get a chance to see you until the ceremony. Talk to me now."
He sat down on the bed and rested his head against her chest as they lay down in one another's arms. "I just don't want anything to go wrong tomorrow, 'Mi. Something bad always happens on important occasions and I don't want that to be the case. Everything has to be just so."
"I know what you mean. Draco, I have a question for you."
"What is it, my love?"
"Have you invited your mother to the wedding? Did you even inform her of our marriage?"
"I wrote her a letter a little while back, telling her that we were to be married but she never wrote back. I don't really want to think about her right now, though."
"But she was a death eater, right? Did she fight in the battle?"
"All Death Eaters fought in the battle."
"Then what happened to her? Didn't all Death Eaters either go to Azkaban or die?"
"She escaped without being found out. But Hermione, there's something you don't understand about my mother. She was never really evil. When Lucius and she first met, she was kind and good and she married him, not knowing just how far in he was with the inner circle of the Dark Lord. But when she found out, she tried to leave and he hexed her. The hex he placed on her sucked out all the good in her, making her cold and evil, just like him. It wasn't what she wanted though. I try to remember that each time she does something for the dark side. It's easy to forget though."
She was shocked by all that information but it made her glad to know that Draco really DID have good in him, it was just overpowered by Lucius' blood.
Hermione knew that he didn't want anyone to look down on his mother so she kept her mouth shut. It was hard to believe that there was actual good in the woman that had attacked her all those months ago but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that there was good in him, no matter how it got there.
He flipped over in the bed and laid on his stomach, facing away from Hermione. He was tired now, as was she. She snuggled up to him and began rubbing his back.
"I wouldn't have cared either way, whether she was good or evil. I love you just the same."
They drifted off to sleep, preparing for tomorrow.
A/N... okay... here is one of the final chapters. Now it could go one of two ways. I could have two more chapters left, and end the story there, or I could have one more chapter and then start a sequel that I've been planning. Which would you prefer? Please tell me in a review. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks so much to all of my faithful reviewers. I know I haven't thanked each and every single one of you by name so far and I'm sorry but by the end of writing each chapter, to add special thanks would make each chapter way too long and my fingers always hurt when I'm done so... I'm really sorry. But I really DO appreciate all of your reviews and if I hope you keep up with your precise reviews