Magical Moonstone: I've never thought of that idea! Christine, finding out that she's pregnant??? No, no, I could never do that to Draco, and certainly not to Hermione and Daniel. But it is a cool idea – why don't you use it in one of your stories. :-) Oh, and by the way, do you really feel sorry for Christine? I mean, I know it's not her fault but she's the kind of character you're supposed to hate – she's only interrupting everything. I had to kick her out, because she annoyed me too. Anyway, perhaps she's pitiful in that chapter but I'm sure she'll overcome soon and find someone who's better for her. And she's American – she'll be better off back there.

Against All Odds

Chapter Fourteen

"Daniel, do you remember what will happen in two days?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. It'll be my birthday," Daniel answered, beaming.

"Right. Have you thought about how you wanted to celebrate your eleventh birthday? Where do you want the party to be? Ryan's place, as usual?"

"No. Actually, this year I'd like it to be here," Daniel answered, "I'll invite some kids from my class as well, but since they're Muggles, maybe I should do a separate party for them. They're not supposed see magic, you know."

"Good idea," Hermione answered. "And speaking of magic, guess what came for you earlier today and is waiting for you in your room."

"What?" Daniel asked, surprised.

"An owl," Hermione said in a mischievous grin, "an owl from a very, very far away place."

"The letter from Hogwarts!" Daniel jumped to his feet and ran to his room. And sure enough, the letter was on his bed: a thick envelope, with a purple wax seal bearing the Hogwarts' symbol.

The letter had been sent to Daniel Granger – that was written on it in emerald-green ink. Daniel felt his heart sink for a moment. Everyone he knew was named after their father. Harry and Ginny's daughters, for example, Emily and Alyssa, were named after Harry: Emily Potter and Alyssa Potter. Ginny used to be Ginny Weasley, but now she was Ginny Potter, because she had married Harry Potter. Ron and Luna's children's last name was Weasley after Ron, not Lovegood after Luna. Luna had kept her last name and was now Luna Lovegood-Weasley. Ryan was also named Weasley, after his father Bill. Why couldn't he, Daniel, be Daniel Malfoy? Why did he have to be Daniel Granger?

You know why, a small voice in his head told him. Your parents never got married, and your father didn't even know you were born. When you were born he was in America, and your mother named you after herself for a good reason, and you know that she was right.

He knew she had been right. But now that I know who my father is, shouldn't I be named after him? Another voice protested. Shouldn't I be named Daniel Malfoy? I'm sure Dad will like that. But what will Mom say?

"Daniel, honey?" His mom had stepped into his room. "Why don't I hear you yelling and screaming in delight?" she smiled, and her eyes fell on the envelope. "You haven't even opened it yet?"

Daniel held the envelope, and a strange feeling filled him from the inside. Daniel Malfoy. He liked the sound of that.

"Daniel...?" Hermione sat down on the bed and tried to look at him in the eye, but Daniel was still staring at his name on the envelope. Hermione tilted her head so she could read it as well.

As she raised her eyes again, she saw Daniel's face and realized... She knew what he wanted. She knew what he was thinking about. He was her son – she could read his will on his face like an open book.

"You want to change your last name, huh?" she asked quietly.

Daniel raised his eyes immediately. How the hell does she do that? Can she read minds or something?! His eyes met hers, and suddenly he felt himself blushing. "How did you know?"

Hermione shrugged. "It's not like I haven't considered that myself," she answered. "You know who your Dad is, and naturally, you would like to be named after him. I was named after my father as well – Hermione Granger, not Milano like my mother's maiden-name. You father's last name is Malfoy, after his father Lucius Malfoy – not after his mother, Narcissa Black."

"So... d'you think I can do this?" Daniel dared to ask.

Hermione took a deep breath and nodded. "I want you to be happy," she said. "I know that will make you happy. I'll go to the Ministry tomorrow morning and change it for you."

"To Daniel Malfoy?"

"Yes."

Later in her room, Hermione reprimanded herself for being so selfish and wanting Daniel to remain a Granger. He has every right to be named after his Dad, she told herself sternly. He is not only your child. He wants to be like the everybody else, and as his mother, you must allow that.

It was not easy, but she allowed that. The following day, at her morning break, she Apparated to the Ministry of Magic and changed her child's name. Daniel Malfoy. Draco will like that, she thought bitterly as she returned to St. Mungo's.

----

Daniel had a great party with his classmates in the afternoon of his eleventh birthday, and in the evening, after the kids left, everyone else started to show up: Harry, Ginny, Ron, Luna, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, and they all brought their children with them. Arthur and Molly were there as well. Several minutes later, Draco showed up as well. Daniel had a wonderful time with the children, especially with Ryan. They all played and laughed and talked, until Hermione announced: "It is cake time!"

Everybody cheered, and Hermione and Draco brought in the cake together. It was Daniel's favorite kind of cake – chocolate and vanilla with cream and cherries. It had twelve candles on it, and beautiful letters in Hermione's handwriting, that read Happy 11th Birthday Daniel.

"Now, before we all start eating," Hermione declared, "Daniel, come here. Blow the candles. And don't forget to make a wish!"

Daniel blew all the candles in one poof, and everybody cheered again.

"Did you make a wish, Dan?" Draco asked.

"Yes," Daniel replied, "can I tell you all what it was?"

"Oh, but you know what they say, Daniel, if you tell someone your wish, it won't come true," Ryan said.

"But it might just come true," Daniel said shyly, "because my mom can make it come true." And he looked at his mother with big, pleading eyes.

Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise, but Ryan called: "No problem, then! You can tell us your wish, and your mom will make sure it comes true. Won't you, Aunt Hermione?" he added and turned to Hermione.

"Uh... well, unless it's something too expensive..." Hermione mumbled, trying desperately to figure out what Daniel could possible wish for that only she was able to make it come true.

"No, it's not," Daniel answered happily, "actually, it won't cost you any money."

"All right then!" Ryan cried. "So you'll fulfill his wish, right?"

"I... well, sure," Hermione answered, hoping with all her heart that Daniel wouldn't ask for something too complicated.

"All right..." Daniel took a deep breath, and said: "I wished my mom and dad would kiss each other here, tonight."

Hermione wore a deep shade of crimson and turned quickly to look at Draco, all shaking and tense; but Draco did not seem surprised at all. On the contrary – he gave Daniel a great big smile.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," Draco answered innocently. "I've just told Daniel a few minutes ago... about a certain incident..." he gave her a very meaningful look, "and apparently, this is the result."

Hermione looked at him angrily. "Do you expect me to believe that you didn't talk him into this?" she demanded.

"He didn't, Mom," Daniel said, "he really didn't. Honest."

"Well, Daniel, I'm afraid your wish is not going to come true," Hermione announced angrily and folded her arms on her chest.

Everyone groaned in disappointment, and Daniel looked devastated. "But, Mom," he protested, "this is my birthday! I'm only going to be eleven once, and next year I'm going to Hogwarts and I won't be able to ask you for stuff like that..."

"I said no, Daniel," Hermione replied firmly.

"If I may..." Draco cleared his throat and Hermione fell silent, though she still looked upset. "I did not see this coming. I thought Daniel might do something, but I didn't think he'd go that far..."

"Can we have this conversation in private?" Hermione asked through gritted teeth.

"Oh, come on, Hermione, we want to see the kiss!" Harry and Ron cried out together. Hermione glared at them, but they didn't back off. "Kiss! Kiss!" they started to chant, and their kids joined in. Soon all the guests were stomping and yelling: "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

"Enough!" Hermione screeched eventually. Everybody fell silent, except for little Emily, Harry and Ginny's four-year-old, who chanted one more time after everybody had stopped: "Kiss!"

Hermione realized she had no choice but kiss Draco. Feeling really uncomfortable, she came closer to Draco and kissed him on the cheek.

"I didn't mean that kind of kiss, Mom."

Hermione groaned. "I'll kill you for that, Draco," she warned the blue-eyed man who was grinning at her.

"No problem," he answered in a mischievous laughter.

Hermione leaned in and kissed him on the lips. She felt tingles in her fingers, and to stop them, she raised her hands and put them on the back of his neck, entangling her fingers in his hair. Meanwhile, as he was kissing her back, with his arms around her waist; she was floating upwards towards heaven – then she forced herself to relax. She was not kissing him because she wanted to – she was kissing him because her son had asked her to. And with that thought, she counted to three and pulled away.

As everyone broke into applause, Hermione found out it was harder to pull away from Draco's gaze, but she did it and turned to look at Daniel, who was grinning.

"There you go," she said, still flushed.

"Thanks, Mom," Daniel said and gave her a hug.

The guests continued to laugh and talk, but Hermione felt the evening was over. She sat down and gazed out of the window, doing her best not to cry. She could not cry on her son's birthday. She didn't even know why she wanted to cry so badly.

Suddenly she heard a voice in her ear: "Feel like going outside?"

Startled, she raised her eyes to meet Draco's. "Don't scare me like that again," she scolded him. "I'm not going outside now, this is my son's birthday party."

"So let's just go to the balcony," Draco suggested in a low voice.

"Why do you want to go outside that much?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"Beause I want to tell you something," Draco replied.

"All right," Hermione sighed and got to her feet. She went over to Daniel and told him she was going out to the balcony for a few minutes. Daniel nodded and continued playing.

"Oh, before you begin," Hermione said as soon as they closed the balcony door after them, "there's something I need to tell you as well. Yesterday I went to the Ministry, and I changed Daniel's last name. He's not Daniel Granger anymore, he's Daniel Malfoy."

Draco stared at her. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

"Why did you do that?"

"Daniel wanted me to. He didn't say anything, but I know my son, I can see what he wants."

"But you are not happy about it, are you?" Draco asked, frowning.

Hermione couldn't lie. "No."

"Why not?"

"Well, I know he's your son too and everything. But..." she took a deep breath, "I feel that he's becoming more and more yours, and less and less mine."

"Hermione," Draco whispered, coming closer and making her breathe heavily, "Daniel is yours just like he's mine. Actually, he's much more yours than he's mine... you have no idea how much he loves you, how much he cares for you, how much he's connected to you. You have been everything to him for more than ten years. Do you really think there is any chance he'll ever forget you?"

Hermione lowered her eyes and tried not to cry. "Thank you, Draco," she whispered.

"Are you really angry about Daniel's wish?" Draco asked.

Hermione took a step back immediately. "Yes," she said in a very high, unconvincing voice, "you shouldn't have told him about that evening in the garden!"

"But I wanted him to know," Draco replied. "I know he wants this more than anything else, and I wanted him to know that I want this just as badly as he does."

Hermione closed her eyes and tried not to allow herself to give in. "You're engaged," she whispered.

"No, I'm not," Draco said softly, and she felt his breath on her face; she opened her eyes again to find him standing far too close to her.

"You're not...?"

"No. We broke up two days ago," Draco replied. "Just as I had promised you. I can't let anything stand in the way, Hermione. She was not my type, anyway; she was just like my ex-girlfriends before you, those who meant nothing to me. I hooked up with Christine just to make it up to myself for not being able to see you anymore, and it was the stupidist thing I have ever done in my life. Let me make it up to you too, Hermione."

And Hermione raised her eyes to meet his, and knew she was starting to give in. No, no, said her mind firmly, but her heart yearned for this. She had been longing for him for so long...

----

A/N: Ooh, another cliffhanger. Don't worry, I'll update soon. Review and tell me what you think!

Roni.