Summary: Hermione's life is left in pieces, all because of Draco. She finds herself lying often, betraying her friends' trust.
Draco meets a mysterious woman, who has a thing against him. He finds himself spending more time than he cares to stomach with Kyle Thompson—the only guy to ever win Hermione's heart.
As for this mystery woman, well, there's a deeper meaning than Draco could ever comprehend as to why she's sneaking around, bent on being there at every turn of his life. A deeper meaning that she herself doesn't want to remember.
Last Time:
[Both]
Draco looked deathly solemn. "Tell me something. What did that night mean to you?"
Now is my chance.
Her mouth opened, but for a brief moment, nothing came out. He had admitted to loving her, sure. But…what would he do, knowing—
Stop looking for excuses, she scolded. Just say it.
"It meant the world," Hermione began softly. "You gave me the greatest joy of my entire life."
For a cocky second, he looked overly self-assured and smug. She mentally urged him to understand.
"Wait…there's no way you'd compliment me like that…" he began slowly. "So…what did that mean?"
She braced herself, and inhaled deeply. What was the best way to phrase this for the unexpecting father? "I…we…Draco, what I'm trying to say, I guess, is that we…" Hermione paused. "Draco, you're a father," she finished, barely audible.
Ok, not the best way to put it.
Draco shoved back his shaggy blonde hair, his eyes wide and unsuspecting. He stepped back slightly as he sputtered out, "I'm a—what?"
"A father," she repeated, letting it sink in.
Disclaimer: Not mine, only the Hopes, Carrie, and Kyle! Lol
Chapter Eight: Kiss It Good Bye
Awful. Horrific. Guilty. Shamed. Unforgiving.
All these harsh words pounded through Harry's head as he flopped onto his couch. He was finally understanding Hope's view, and could see in her deep eyes how much harm he had potentially caused to a great friendship.
How could he have been so…cold? Certainly, he was quick to jump to conclusions.
Anger was his way of dealing with things, Harry reasoned. When I'm stressed, or frustrated, I get mad. I burst.
Inside, he knew it was no excuse. But the rest of him waved off that realization and scribbled it off as such.
Finally, he hopped off, suddenly and decisively, heading for Hermione's. An apology like this was just not something that could be held off.
Hermione is my best friend, after all. She deserves my support…it's quite clear that Malfoy isn't aiming to help her any. Ignoring her would be almost exactly like being Draco, Harry thought wisely.
A good point, which he was glad Hope hadn't thought of. The low opinion she held of him was really a blow to the ego.
~*~
Draco saw red. He knew that in some demented, twisted way they had just made up. So why did she have to pull that?
Anger took over his body, and he was no longer in control of his words or actions. The evil "Malfoy" side of him took over.
"So…what? You thought that I shouldn't have the right to know this? You didn't think I was good enough to be a father?" he hissed demandingly. "Please tell me why you've been on my back about deserting you! But…in an odd, funny twist of fate, it is you who deserted me."
Hermione was taken aback, but quickly recovered. "Oh? And how exactly do you get an insane idea like that?"
"Think about it, Granger. I may have 'cruelly left you', but I knew nothing about a baby! Don't you think I would've come running if I had a child? Obviously, you think I'm some sort of bigger bastard than I figured you thought."
"Boy, you sure do catch on quick," she snapped sarcastically. "And here I was thinking you'd never get it."
"I tried making things right, Hermione. I attempted apologizing, explaining, begging, and pleading…" Draco listed, his silver eyes stormy with emotions. "I tried to put back together the pieces that fell apart. Which is certainly more than I can say for you!"
"Is that it?" Hermione asked unbelievingly. "You think you can fix a broken heart with apologies? I hate to break it to you, Draco, but there are some things that a simple 'sorry' or money can't fix. I'm not some cheap whore!"
Draco scowled, unable to believe they were having this fight. "Give a man some credit! I knew I was wrong. Coming from me, an apology should be a life-altering experience! Malfoys don't apologize! But I did, Hermione, because I knew I had screwed up big time."
She scoffed. "Don't be so full of yourself. No amount of excuses in the world could get me to understand how you could do a thing like that."
"It wasn't as though we were in love! It was just sex! It was a release from the sexual tension we had been feeling."
Completely wrong thing to say.
Hermione's eyes grew hard. "Just sex? If it was just sex, then why are we fighting? Why did you bother apologizing? If it were just sex, then Carrie should mean nothing to you!"
Heat of the moment, Draco protested internally. I got caught up in the heat of the moment! Yes, at first, it was 'just sex'. But…it turned out to be more than that.
He figured that maybe he should voice this, until he noticed Hermione shoving him out the door.
"Just get out! Stay away from our child, stay away from me, stay away from my family, and stay away from my friends!" she screeched, tears streaming down her face. "You just never change! You'll always be the snotty Draco Malfoy!"
"Hermione, no—"
She paused foolishly, and stared blankly. "What is it?"
"I want to see her," Draco insisted, moving her aside. "I think I deserve that much."
"No," Hermione retorted. "Don't come anywhere near my daughter."
He burst again. It seemed like he couldn't manage to keep his temper around the one witch who broke down his walls.
"Oh, so Kyle Thompson is good enough to know about my daughter? Better yet—you planned on just marrying him, and he could be her dad? So…what? Pass her off as his? You think I wouldn't get suspicious? I was never even going to find out, was I? You were…" Draco paused, his eyes briefly flashing with hurt, and his voice cracked with his next words. "…You were going to marry him, and never tell me. Weren't you?"
"GET OUT!" she shouted violently, lone tears streaming down her face. "I don't want to hear it. I don't pity you," Hermione whispered, shoving him.
Draco bit his lip forlornly, and stumbled out the door. There was no reasoning with her.
Give her two days. No, just give her one. Just enough to think, and mentally picture my death over and over. But not enough to think of moving away, and changing her identity, he rationed, staring at the door.
"I didn't even get to see my little girl," Draco whispered sadly, turning away.
~*~
Hermione slouched against the door she had just slammed, breathing hard. Peeping out the hole, she scowled, seeing Draco standing there stubbornly.
Go away, she mentally commanded wearily, eyeing the darkened hallway containing her daughter.
She realized suddenly that she had failed to correct Draco on the entire Kyle issue. He had believed she was truly marrying him.
Let him think it. Maybe he'll have the sense to let go, and move far, far away like he should have five years ago, Hermione thought.
The doorbell rang not long after, and she groaned out loud. "GO AWAY!" she screeched through the door.
Didn't you get the hint? I can't stand you; I don't know what I was thinking!
"It's me," a muffled voice responded, sounding rather surprised. "Er, I know I'm not really someone you want to see—"
Hermione flung the door open, 99% sure it wasn't Draco, by the defeated tone to the person's voice.
"—but I really need to talk to you," Harry finished softly, realizing she had opened the door. "Hi."
She leaned against the doorframe, biting her lip. "Hello," she whispered meekly, bracing herself. "Look, I really don't need another lecture; nor am I in the mood. So if that's what you came for, please go home, Harry."
Harry's eyes looked down at her pityingly as he shook his head. "I'm sorry about yesterday…it's just a lot to take in."
Hermione looked at the floor in embarrassment, refusing to meet his eyes. Scuffing her foot on the floor, she nodded. "Don't apologize. I suppose I deserved that. After all, who keeps secrets from their best friends?"
"To be fair…you did say you knew we would hate you. I don't condone it," he added seriously, forcing her to make eye contact. "But I can see where you came from."
She remained silent, contemplating his words. Harry was always so nice, so forgiving. She didn't deserve a friend like him, at all. "Thank you."
It was a simple, noncommittal phrase that Hermione hoped didn't send out hopeful signals. He could just as easily reject her friendship.
"So."
"So…" Hermione repeated, urging him on.
"Is everything ok between us?" Harry asked timidly, avoiding her eyes. "I already know that—"
She couldn't stand it anymore. She pulled him towards her, hugging him tightly in need of dire comfort.
Just the sturdy, safe, comfortable feeling of being in his arms made Hermione break down. "I'm so sorry!" she wailed.
Harry pat her head awkwardly. "Err, there, there."
She sobbed against him, falling apart in his own arms. "He came by," Hermione choked out, rocking back and forth, forcing Harry with her. "He came by, and he apologized."
~*~
"Well…isn't that good?" he asked slowly, assuming she meant Draco.
He could feel her shaking with tears. "It should be, shouldn't it?" she whispered quietly. "But I messed up, Harry. I messed up."
"I hardly think that—"
"I was being selfish. All I want is for Carrie to have her father, even if it is him," Hermione began, wiping her tears. "I pushed him away, Harry! We had just made up, and I kept at it! I…he…I let him think I was marrying Kyle."
"That's doesn't quite qualify as messing—"
"I yelled at him. I-I…he got so angry, Harry. He said it was just sex. I know he was only angry, but I—I pushed him out."
Harry stared at his fragile friend sternly. "That's exactly what you should have done. Heat of the moment or not."
"I did the wrong thing," Hermione insisted, inhaling shakily, rubbing her eyes. "He wasn't thinking—"
"That's no excuse!" Harry yelled. "I'm so sick of you acting like this! He's not your world. Draco is not your only means of a father to your girl!"
With his name finally being said, she sobered up a little. "Up until now, Draco has been. Harry—I didn't know whether or not you'd ever want to see me again."
"Don't be ridiculous," Harry assured her, grasping her hand.
He was irritated that Draco Malfoy could reduce Hermione to this. She was torn up, and her last entire five years had been nothing but a lie. Even without trying, Draco was still a bully.
~*~
Draco leaned against the back of his door, with his jaw set. "Hello, Father," he greeted stonily.
Lucius tossed aside his cane. "So you just thought you could leave, did you? You thought I wouldn't have anything to say in the matter? This is my manor, and you are my son. You spend my money, and you bend to my WISHES!" he roared, glaring harshly at Draco.
Draco stared coldly back, and shrugged. "I was unaware that even past the age of 18, I was still your bitch, Father."
"Do you think you're funny?" his father demanded, commanding an elf forward to retrieve his cane.
"If I did, I'd be a comedian, wouldn't I?" Draco retorted, shrugging off his cloak. "But I never said I was, so I'm not."
He was amazed Lucius hadn't threatened to hit him yet, or just blast him with a curse. The man had miraculously found tolerance and patience.
"I didn't raise you to be such an insolent," Lucius sneered, his empty blue eyes flashing. "Neither did your mother."
"Don't play the mother card, Father. It doesn't work anymore."
Draco's father tilted his head, with an ugly, twisted smile on his face. "You like to think you're nothing like me, don't you?" he asked abruptly.
"I don't think it," Draco answered roughly. "I know it."
"No, if anything, I'd say I'm a better father than you are."
Draco's fists balled up. "What did you just say?" he hissed dangerously, his heart pounding furiously.
What did Lucius mean? He was insane! What could he possibly know about anything? He was completely clueless to so many things…
Lucius twirled his cane once before loftily answering, "At least I knew you were created. I was there for you, your entire life."
"Fat load of good that did anyone, Father," he ground out, wishing his wand was still handy. He would've hexed the bastard to oblivion.
Unfazed, his father continued, "But what about my son, who thinks he's a better person than I am?" Lucius paused, pretending to ponder the question. "No…my son makes a half-blooded baby. And has no idea about it."
Draco's entire world froze. "What are you talking about?"
"But it won't be a problem for long. Because that Mudblood wants nothing more to do with you, does she, son? No. In fact, right this very moment, she's in the obnoxious arms of Potter and Weasley. If I'm not mistaken," Lucius began, his crystal blue eyes twinkling with malice, "they're offering to help her take care of the squalling brat."
Draco distractedly and absent-mindedly ran a hand through his short hair. His breathing was noticeably heavier, and he looked hurt. No wonder Lucius let him have his moment.
He'd never let me get away with it otherwise, Draco thought. Not unless he had some enormous blow to issue to me.
"So what about it, son? Whose the better father now?" he asked cruelly.
~*~
"How long have you known about this?" Draco asked him quickly.
Lucius granted his only son a small smile, feeling completely powerful. It was as if he held Draco's emotions, heart, and future in the palm of his hand.
"Not much longer than Granger has known it," he replied coolly, glancing at his son with the utmost triumph.
"How?"
"Dumbledore can be such a helpful man," Lucius mused aloud. "I just simply asked if the bitch had been in for any sort of illness, because I had heard of your night with her, and wanted to make sure nothing had come from it.
"But imagine my surprise…when your Headmaster expressed to me that it was none of my business, however, yes, I was a 'proud' grandfather. He was always such a fool," Lucius exhaled. "He knew full well we were going to have nothing to do with that child."
" 'We'?" Draco echoed, perfecting his cold glare even more. "I wanted everything to do with her!"
"Which is precisely," Lucius exclaimed, slamming his cane down on the floor, and sweeping towards his son, "why I didn't tell you! It didn't take a genius to figure out that the Mudblood wasn't going to say anything about it, either. No, not after seeing you with Pansy."
"Me with…?" Draco trailed off, when his eyes began flashing. "There was another motive behind you forcing me to be with Pansy! It would have been just as bad to have left her alone and been cold, but you needed…"
"I had my suspicions," he granted. "And if they were right, I had to make sure that Granger wanted nothing more to do with you. Do you honestly think I would allow that half-breed to continue on my family?" Lucius asked in a dangerously calm whisper.
"Then in answer to your question, Father, I'm still the better father. Only a monster would—"
He swiftly cut off his son's rants with a quick blow to the shoulder. "But I never expected the Mudblood to still harbor unwanted feelings for you. I never expected her to dare enter my house with Thompson. It was a dangerous thing to do, Draco."
"I bet you feel disgusted that you hit on her then," Draco spat.
"If I had found her out," Lucius continued, "it wouldn't have been a good thing, needless to say. She is a fool playing a fool's game. Love is nothing but stupidity."
At the very least, he was pleased to see that his son wasn't protesting anything to that effect.
"I don't even understand why I need to be back here," Draco insisted, folding his arms angrily. "I'm leaving."
"You are my only remaining heir, and like it or not…you will stay here. I won't have you leaving again. I refuse to tolerate it."
"I refuse to stay," Draco countered. "So it seems that we're at a problem here. Because I can and will leave, Lucius."
"Leave, and kiss your entire fortune good bye," Lucius threatened.
"As long as I don't have to kiss you good bye."
A/N: Ok, so some of it was iffy…but yeah. I'm sorry I took so long, feel free to stone me in your reviews and whatnot. Or, you know, you could look on the upside, and give me a cookie for my long overdue update. ^_^
And yes, a bit shorter than usual, but I just wanted to get this out. Be proud, I'm updating every last one of my stories!! Hehe, even Restless Dragon, Icy Queen! IMAGINE!
So as always, read, review, enjoy. And don't hesitate to check out my other stories.
[Submitted: December 7, 2003]