Recap:

"Thank you," she said, kissing him on the cheek before leaving the room.

He flopped back on his pillows and let out an exaggerated sigh, followed by a yawn. He closed his eyes and thought, "I'll take a nap while Ginny's in the shower," and he didn't wake up until the sun hit his face the next morning, Ginny nowhere to be found.

Chapter 6: The Brink

Ginny shut off the water, rang out her hair, put it up in a towel, wrapped another towel around her dripping body, opened the shower stall and screamed.

"Hermione!' she cried, falling to her side under the sink, on the opposite side of the room.

"Ginny!" Hermione gasped, shrinking away as fast as she could before hitting the wall. She had been so far into her own world that she hadn't heard the shower running.

"Hermione, what the hell are you doing!" She grabbed her roughly by the arms, jerking her forward. The small thin razor fell, in seemingly slow motion, clanging to the floor. The gashes were deep and so red they appeared almost black, bubbling thick round pools that stretched and splashed to the smooth white tiles. And for nearly a full minute all Ginny could do was stare. She'd never seen anything like this before.

"My baby," she whispered, spit trailing from her lip. There was blood smeared on her clothes, and splotches of dried blood caked on her cheeks and chin and forehead, as if she'd run her arms all over her face. "My baby…My…"

"Hermione," Ginny wept, grabbing her face, kissing her nose. "Why did you do this? Hermione—"

"Because!" she cried, and slapped her hands away furiously. Her blood was getting everywhere. "Ron hates me! My parents hate me! You hate me! I hate me! My life is ruined and my baby…my baby—"

"Is the baby alright!"

"My baby…"

"Hermione! Is the baby ok?"

"The baby's fine!" she screamed, scrambling to her feet. She clung to the sink for support, which she was slowly losing. "The baby's healthy!"

"Then what's wrong?" Neither were thinking about their fight a month before. Neither cared. It wasn't relevant anymore.

"You already hate me," she laughed. "Why not?"

Ginny ignored the chill that ran down her spine and gathered bandages and antiseptic from the cabinets. Her wounds were deep, but by no means life threatening.

"We didn't go to the infirmary for a check-up…There's something we didn't tell you about the night we were found by the lake—"

"Malfoy was with you," she blurted out, unsure of where the thought had come from.

"Yeah," she sighed and dropped to the floor. Ginny was immediately at her side, wrapping a towel around each arm and applying as much pressure as possible.

"How is he involved?" she asked to keep her talking. She looked about ready to pass out.

"You won't believe me. Hell! I didn't believe it. I cried and screamed and punched and kicked…That's why they kept me over night in the infirmary…That's why Ron came storming back up here."

"Wait." No, there was no way what she was thinking could be true. Not in a million upon a million upon a million years. "Ron is the father, right?"

Hermione sunk further to the ground, until she was lying down, and then she curled into a tight ball, pressing her towel-covered arms to her chest.

"No," she said after some time. "No, he's not the father."

"But that—"

"Makes no sense, I know," she sighed and took the bottle of rubbing alcohol from Ginny's hands. With her teeth she removed the towels and poured the stinging liquid over her wounds. The pain was enough to make her grit her teeth, but as far as she was concerned, she deserved it. When the alcohol had fully cleaned out the cuts, Ginny wrapped them just tight enough with gauze and medical tape, then pulled her friend into her arms, her head resting on her shoulder.

"You found out who the father was yesterday?"

She nodded, feeling surprisingly better. But only just a little. Still, that was something. That was a step away from where she'd just been: suicidal.

"And?"

"Who do you think it is?"

"I couldn't begin to guess if it's not Ron."

"Think," she said, pushing her face into her shoulder to quell the oncoming tears. "Who were we just talking about?"

"Malfoy!" she gasped. "But how! When? Why?"

"That was my reaction exactly."

"Hermione, what are you going to do? How are you going to raise this baby? I mean, does Malfoy want to be involved?" The words came in such a rush even Ginny had a hard time hearing them.

"Completely," she groaned. Of course he did, because that meant it would make her life miserable, what he aspired to every day of his life. "He's being so childish about the whole thing. He's actually taunting me!"

"I just don't see how this could have happened."

"I'm with you there…Our memories were cut off way before any sort of civility occurred between us."

"Do you think—" She lowered her voice significantly, bowing her head slightly. "—he…he raped you?"

Hermione's body stiffened, then shuddered as a new onslaught of tears assaulted her.

"No," she cried. "He didn't…He's evil, but he's not that evil. He actually wants what's best for the baby."

"You don't think there's the smallest chance that he could have?"

"No," she said quickly. "He's been having these dreams, memories of what happened. They're all scattered and some are blurry. He tried to convince me they were real before and I wouldn't believe him…But now, for some reason, I do."

"And what happened in these dreams of his?" Ginny thanked God a thousand times over that she could keep Hermione talking, could keep her…alive.

"He wrote them all down…We were a couple. We were a happy couple, and we planned on raising the baby together."

"He could be making it all up to cover his own ass. What makes you believe him now when you didn't before?"

"I feel it in my gut, Gin. I felt it then too, but I ignored it because I refused to believe that he could be the father…Now I have no choice…Ron's never going to forgive me…"

"Don't think about him right now."

Hermione half laughed, half scoffed. It was just what Ron had said to her about Ginny a month ago. How many times was her world going to turn upside down before she could lead a normal life?

"I'm so sorry about this," Hermione said, looking up at her. "You were never supposed to see me like this."

"Well you're damn lucky I was able to save you,' she said, trying to sound motherly but failing miserably. How could she scold her?

"Well you better take these then," she said, reaching into her pocket. It was a bottle of sleeping pills, the seal still unbroken.

"Hermione," was all she could say. Her heart had been split in two.

"You know me," she sighed. "I'm efficient."

Ginny couldn't help but laugh at her friend's obvious attempt to lighten the mood.

"And just a little bit mental."

"Hey Gin."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." And within seconds she was fast asleep, her head resting comfortably in Ginny's lap.

"You're welcome…"

Hermione wouldn't even look at him, but sat straight-backed in the chair across the desk from Dumbledore, who she kept her eyes on, welcome to his warm smile. At least he wasn't judging her the way her parents had. And she was eternally grateful for that, and for everything he promised to do for her.

"Do we have any ideas?" he asked, looking to both students.

Hermione shook her head, forcing her frown at bay.

"I have everything taken care of," Draco said, grinning ear to ear. Hermione wanted to rip his cheeks off with her bare hands.

"Do you?" Dumbledore asked happily. "What arrangements have you made?"

"Well," he said smugly, looking only at Hermione, "my parents did all in their power to keep me from inheriting a dime when they died after I refused the Dark Mark." Hermione tried desperately to keep herself from reacting. But all she could think was: What! Draco didn't want to be a Death Eater! "But, I made alliances with certain family members who were spies for the Order of the Phoenix. They'd all received their Marks, but were working secretly against Voldemort. My parents left all their money to their closest relative after me—And she is a member of the Order."

"You mean your Aunt Melantha?"

"Yes, and she's put the money into my vault at Gringotts. When we graduate we'll have more than enough money to raise ten babies."

"And a place to live?"

"Why Malfoy Manor, of course. Melantha was given that too."

"And what makes you think I'm going to move into your stupid house and spend your money on my baby?"

"I thought your parents disowned you," he shot back acidly. "You have no other choice."

"Children, please," Dumbledore stepped in. "Draco, what about the last three months of school after the baby comes? Hermione is determined to graduate on time, as I'm sure you are too."

"Melantha agreed to watch him until we—"

"I am not going to let some woman I don't even know—who's involved with Voldemort—to come within ten miles of my baby!"

"Would you stop it with your crusade against me!" Draco snapped. "I have suggested nothing but what's best for our child! Well what the hell do you think we should do if my plans are all rubbish!"

Hermione's mouth snapped shut.

"Well? I'm listening."

"How am I supposed to trust this woman?" she sighed. Who was kidding? Without her parents or Draco she would be raising this baby on the streets. She should have been grateful. Instead she was bitter and resentful.

"She is completely trustworthy," Dumbledore said, and as far as she was concerned that was good enough. "I would put my own life in her hands. She's a wonderful asset to the Order."

"But how is Draco going to get the money and the house when everyone else thinks she's a Death Eater? Won't they catch on?"

"She's willing to risk that for us," Draco said matter-of-factly.

"Well then I have just one more question."

"What?"

"How the hell are we supposed to live together?"

"Why are you doing this?" Hermione demanded, grabbing Draco almost violently by the arm, swinging him around to face her once they were in the hall. "What do you think you'll gain?"

"Your trust, for one," he shot back, and stepped closer. Their faces were inches apart. Every muscle in Hermione's body tightened. Somehow, somewhere in time, they had been together. Touching, kissing, loving. And they had both forgotten it all. She wanted to forget it all over again. She wanted to die now more than ever. Angrily she cursed Ginny in her head for vowing to watch her like a hawk. Who was she to say when she lived or died? It was her life.

And the baby's, she thought sadly. That was why the cuts hadn't been nearly deep enough to cause serious harm. She had wanted so badly to die, to be past the pain, but in the back of her mind she knew she was wrong, and so her hands didn't press hard enough, and the bottle of pills remained sealed and harmless. And that was also why she would not try it again. Last night had showed her just how much she loved her unborn child.

"Neither of us wanted this, Granger. But we're stuck together, so we might as well make a good life for this baby."

Her hands went up into her hair, and for a moment he thought she might rip it out. He could almost feel the scream that was struggling in the back of her throat. A scream she wanted so badly to release. Instead, however, she said, "I know. You're right," and sighed heavily. "I just…I'm going to need some time to think things over. I mean, it's us, Malfoy. My brain is still trying to grasp that…And the fact that you're being so…responsible."

"My parents screwed up with me. My child will not end up the same way."

"At least that's something we can both agree on."

Harry jumped off the sofa and went barreling towards the porthole door. Seamus yelped in surprise when he grabbed him by the shoulders, having come out of seemingly nowhere.

"Sorry," Harry sighed. "Thought you were someone else."

"Well I feel bad for whoever you're looking for."

But already Harry's eyes were back on the door, and so Seamus continued on his way to his room, shared with Neville, Harry, and Ron since first year. Perhaps Ron would be up for some chess today, or at least normal functioning behavior.

"Hermione!" He had her wrapped so tight and so quickly in a hug that she actually screamed. Ginny climbed in behind her, prying her boyfriend's hands off her best friend.

"Harry please," she sighed, irritated. "Come here." She brought him to sit on the couch he'd just sprung from. "Hermione has something she needs to tell you."

Hermione sat opposite the couple, smiling nervously. How could her life have come to this? She missed Ron. She wanted to run upstairs, pull him from his bed, and smother him in an unnecessary amount of kisses. He was who she loved, who she belonged with, who the father of her baby should be. Why was the world against her? Hadn't she done goof? And this was her reward! She had little reason to try anymore.

"First of all," she said, avoiding looking into his emerald green eyes, "me and the baby are perfectly healthy, but…that's not the reason we went to Madame Pomfrey's."

Harry's smile dropped. He was about to find out why Ron had holed himself up in his bed for two days. And he wasn't so sure he wanted to know anymore. The mood in the room had taken a drastic turn. Would he be able to handle this?

Hermione took a deep breath, then told her complicated story, pausing regularly incase he wanted to speak. He never did, and by the time she was finished she was to tears, again.

"Harry, please, say something."

He lifted his head, his eyes blazing with anger. And when he stood she could see that his entire body was shaking.

"I am going to kill that bastard." And by the time the girls realized what he'd said, he was long gone out the porthole.

Well, that was that. I know it's sort of cheesy and predictable, the whole suicide thing, but it's something I've read in a lot of fics (and know a lot about) so I wanted to include it. Hermione needed to almost fall over the edge before she was able to agree to anything with Draco. So it makes sense, damn it:P Let me know if it was too much. There's always room for change, and I won't take anything to heart, unless people are really mean :( I know how cliché it is, but it's so true and it affects so many teenagers. I know I was surprised when I realized just how common it was. And it'll play a more important roll as the story progresses. I shall not fail you!...I hope :)

REVIEW! Or Harry will come after you next.