Chapter 7: The Hardest Conversation of Her Life

When they got to the Granger's, Judith and Hermione took Draco on a tour of the house then showed him the guest room where he'd be staying.

Judith turned to him and smiled. "I'll let you get settled in then. Supper's downstairs in an hour."

Draco nodded and turned to Hermione when her mother was gone. Her lower lip was quivering and he could see that tears were threatening again. He was over to her in two quick strides and pulled her into to his arms. "They won't hate you, Hermione," he said reassuringly, guessing what was on her mind. "They're your parents. They won't hate you."

She sniffled. "I know. I just…" A quiet sob escaped.

He rubbed her back and kissed her temple. "I know, love. I know. It'll be okay."


Out in the hallway Judith braced herself against the wall and closed her eyes, having fully overheard the teens' conversation. Voices tended to carry in this hallway. Please don't let them mean what I think they mean. Please, oh please, oh please. This was right near the top of the "Every Mother's Worst Fears" list.

Finally deciding it was pointless to worry when she didn't know all the facts, she headed downstairs to start on dinner, though she still wasn't able to get the teenagers' words out of her head.


Hermione let out a sigh as she looked at the clock. It was time to go down for dinner. Not wanting to move, since Draco's shoulder was quite comfortable, she literally had to force herself to get up.

He stood with her and silently offered his hand to her. She took it, gratitude welling up in her once again. They made their way quietly downstairs and into the kitchen where the dinner table was.

Her mother turned from the stove and smiled. "I was just about to call you down. Dinner's ready." Robert showed up directly behind them and they all took their seats. Robert and Judith were seated at the ends of the table and Draco and Hermione took the two middle seats, Draco beside Robert and Hermione beside her mother.

"It smells wonderful, Mrs. Granger," Draco commented, though he had no idea what the food was. It did smell good though.

Judith waved her hand. "None of this Mrs. Granger business. Makes me feel far too old. Just call me Judith."

"Um, all right."

"And call me Robert. The whole "Mister" thing is far too formal. Butter?"

"Pardon?"

"Would you like some butter, for your bread?" Robert said, holding out the plate of butter and gesturing to the loaf of bread with it.

"Oh. Yes, please." Draco reached for the plate and at the last second Robert shoved it forward, effectively coating Draco's thumb in butter.

The teen blinked in surprise then wiped the slick substance off on his napkin as if nothing had happened. He turned back to his plate and started eating again, deciding to pass on the bread and butter altogether. Only then did he realize everyone else at the table was trying to hold back their laughter. "Okay, what did I miss?"

This appeared to be the last straw and the Grangers all broke out laughing. Several minutes later they all finally calmed down, Hermione holding a stitch in her side from laughing too hard. Draco was still thoroughly confused and finally Hermione had pity on him and explained.

"Sorry, Draco. My dad grew up in a family of five boys and one girl. My granddad did that to all my aunt's boyfriends that she brought home and my dad's been planning on doing it to my boyfriends since before I could walk."

"Not like I've gotten the chance to before this," her dad cried indignantly.

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "That's because I've never had a boyfriend before this, Daddy!"

"So? How am I supposed to get you married off then?"

She rolled her eyes again and turned back to Draco. "He's also been trying to get me married off since I hit puberty."

Draco grinned at this, loving the lively banter that had been so lacking in his childhood.

"But Precious," Robert said seriously, addressing Hermione. "You do know what this means, don't you?"

She shook her head and raised an eyebrow. Though, knowing her father like she did, a small smile still made its way to her lips. She was proven right when her father continued.

"He's passed the butter test and he has nice teeth so now you have to keep him."

She giggled then did a mock salute. "Sir, yes, sir. I shall try my utmost, sir."

"See that you do. At ease, soldier."

Draco snorted then quickly tried to cover it up with a cough. He wasn't fast enough though and Hermione caught it.

"Draco Malfoy, did you just snort?"

He shook his head innocently. "Malfoys never snort, Hermione. It isn't proper."

"I don't believe you! You're blushing!" She leaned in and examined his face. "Look, Daddy! He's blushing!"

Robert leaned in from the other side and examined the blond. "You're right, Precious. He is blushing!"

Draco felt his face flame even brighter and he laughed in spite of himself.

"All right, that's enough." Judith declared, bringing a halt to her family's playful banter. "Let the poor boy finish his supper."

The other two Grangers returned to their meal without a comment but Draco could see Hermione casting him sideways glances from the corner of his eye. He could tell her eyes were sparkling merrily and she was biting her lip to keep from giggling again. It took all the Malfoy composure he could muster to keep from joining her in the giggle fest. Even then it was very close.


After all the dishes were done the Grangers and Draco gathered in the living room. Draco sensed that Hermione was a lot more subdued now and figured she was working up the nerve to tell her parents. He sat down beside her on the loveseat and took her hand in his. The Grangers seemed to sense her preoccupation as well and turned to them expectantly.

"Hermione, what is it?" her mother asked after a few moments of silence.

Hermione's gaze flew to Draco's who nodded in encouragement. She took a breath to calm her nerves then turned back to her parents. This would be the hardest conversation of her life. "Mum, Dad, a big part of the reason I wanted Draco to come home with me was… um… well, I don't know how to tell you this… please don't hate me…" she trailed off in a whisper.

"Hermione, are you pregnant?" Her mother whispered just as softly, almost afraid of the answer, though she knew in her heart what that answer would be.

Hermione nodded miserably and broke down into tears. Her mother was at her side in an instant, rocking her back and forth and stroking her hair. Draco stood to let her have his seat and turned reluctantly to meet Robert's gaze.

He appeared to be in shock.

"I'm sorry, sir. Truly I am. We never meant for this to happen."

Robert nodded and took a step toward him. Draco recoiled slightly, half-afraid the man would beat him to a bloody pulp. Instead he just took his arm and firmly directed him out of the room and into the kitchen.

"What are your intentions with my daughter, Mr. Malfoy?" Robert asked softly, fixing him with a fiercely protective glare.

Draco forced himself to breathe and met the man's gaze directly. "I plan on staying with your daughter throughout this whole thing and I will help her raise this baby. You have my word on that. I" he hesitated, then added softly, "I also think I'm well on my way to falling in love with her, sir. I would marry her in a second if that's what she wanted."

Robert considered this for a second then held out his hand. "Then welcome to the family."

Draco took the offered hand but was surprised when Robert pulled him into a hug. After he got over his initial shock he hugged the man back, a small tear sliding down his cheek.

"Daddy?" Hermione asked tentatively from the door.

He released Draco and turned to his daughter. "Yes, Precious?"

"Do you hate me now?"

He shook his head and hugged her to him. "Never, honey. Never."


a/n: eee! Seven chapters already! I'm on a roll! Oh, and the butter thing? (which I hope made sense, by the way) Totally my dad. I've contemplated warning my future boyfriends about it, but where's the fun in that? But my daddy also did it to his father-in-law when he first met him and my mom's parents have thought him a little, um, "special" ever since. So basically Hermione's dad is based almost entirely on my dad. Eccentricities and all. Only difference is, my dad's an engineer, not a dentist. Anyway, hope you like it! Toodles!