Recap:

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.

Chapter 7: Confrontations and Invitations

"I was wondering when you'd come find me," Draco said smugly, leaning against the Slytherin House entrance. He had been about to say the password where there was a rush of hurried footsteps behind him. Only seconds saved him from receiving a black-eye.

"I'm going to make this real easy for you, Malfoy," Harry spat, his wand already held before him. He had a flashback to second year, the pure exhilaration that ran through his veins as he watched his worst enemy hurled across the room. "Leave Hermione and her baby alone, or deal with the disfiguring effects of my curses for the rest of your life."

"I'll take option 'C' and do whatever the hell I want, Potter. No one, especially not you, is going to tell me if I can or cannot see my own child."

"The only reason she's having your baby is because you raped her!"

"Lower your wand and stop playing the hero," he sighed. "I didn't rape anyone and it's disgusting of you to even suggest it."

"Then how else would you explain it!"

"Face it, Potter. Me and Hermione were in a relationship that you knew nothing about. The real reason you're coming after me is because you're sore about being left out."

Not even a second later Malfoy was sprawled on the floor, a good amount of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He attempted to stand, not even thinking about drawing his wand. Harry had him on the ground once more, his foot pressed on top of his Adam's Apple, crushing his airways. Still Malfoy didn't fight back. Not that he didn't want to, not that he wasn't itching to. But, if he stayed calm and didn't lift a finger, Harry would be a hundred times more angry, and in the end it was all about getting to Harry in any way possible.

He smirked up at his Gryffindor enemy, very much aware of the fact that he could hardly breathe.

"Even Weasley knew," he laughed, using up his last supple of air. But it was worth it to see the look of utter shock and pain on his face.

"Have it your way," Harry seethed, his wand aimed at the center of his forehead. "I gave you options. You chose to mock me, and you will pay for hurting Hermione!"

His lips had only just formed around the words, when he was knocked off his feet, his back slamming against the wall behind him. He had his glare set for Malfoy, ready to stand, when his eyes fell on the most unexpected sight.

Hermione.

And Ginny was trailing behind her, out of breath.

"Hermione!" Harry cried in disbelief.

She ignored him, helping Draco to his feet. Harry was about to spring to his feet, when she brought her arm back and slapped him hard across the face.

"I hate him as much as you do, Harry," she said, her anger seeming to not be focused on anyone. Or was it everyone? She came over to him and helped him up, pushing some hair from his eyes. "But I won't have my child grow up fatherless."

"But he—"

"Come on, Harry," Ginny said, pulling his arm over her shoulder to help him back to their dormitory. He'd twisted his ankle when Hermione plowed into him. "I'll make you some hot chocolate."

"Hot chocolate isn't going to fix anything!" He felt horrible immediately after the words passed his lips. Ginny hadn't done anything wrong. "Sorry," he sighed, pressing on. They were almost around the corner, when he realized Hermione wasn't following. "'Mione?"

"Go on, Harry," she said, not turning to face him. "I need to discuss some things with Malfoy. Alone."

He was crushed the way a small child is crushed when they hear their parents arguing just before a messy divorce. But he respected her more than he was willing to give in to his urges and slug Malfoy a few more times. He murmured a good-bye, then disappeared into the shadowed hallway with his girlfriend.

Hermione waited until she could no longer hear their footsteps to speak. And when she did it was Malfoy's turn to be shocked.

"Thank you," she said, pulling her cloak closer. The halls were always so drafty at night without the warm bodies of the Hogwarts students.

"I don't remember purposely doing anything for you."

She gritted her teeth. No, of course he couldn't simply accept her apology and move on. He had to make some biting remark and make her regret it. Bastard.

"You didn't fight back when I know you wanted to," she said, forcing her hands from balling into fists. "That's why I'm thanking you."

"He's damn lucky I didn't draw my wand."

"Look, Malfoy. If this parenting thing is going to work, then we're going to have to find a middle ground. I've accepted my fate, now we have to deal with it."

"I already worked everything out," he said, stepping forward. "The money, the house, a nanny for when we're still in school. What's there left to deal with?"

"Us!" she stammered, nearly stamping her foot like a three-year-old. "We hate each other, Malfoy! How are we supposed to live together? We'll curse each other into oblivion before the first week's over."

"We somehow managed to be together before," he pointed out, taking another step towards her. She didn't know where he was going with this, but she did not like the signals he was sending out. "What's to say it won't happen again?"

"I'm to say."

This time, when he stepped forward, she stepped back and right into a wall.

"Don't fight it." His voice was so soft, yet husky, and soothing to her ears after all the yelling. It was a tone he'd never known him to use, and it terrified her that she was drawn to him.

Because he's your baby's father, she thought, furious with herself for thinking—even for an instant—that she and Malfoy could have anything but hatred between them.

"Hermione," he purred and pressed himself firm against her, leaving her no room to escape. Gently, he took hold of her wrists, pinning her arms to the wall, his lips finding hers as if they were a destination he knew by heart. She wanted to protest, to bite his lips and draw even more blood. She wanted to knee him in the groin to prevent another unwanted pregnancy. And she wanted to break him down in every way he'd done to her for the past six years.

Instead, however, she submitted, kissing him back with such force one would think she'd initiated it. And by the time she'd regained her senses, the kiss was so passionate she had no hope of stopping it.

Until something happened. Something she could never have ignored. She shoved Draco off her, her hands hugging her just-barely-there belly.

"It moved!" she squealed, a happiness flooding through her that she never thought she'd feel again. Without thinking, she grabbed Draco's hand, pressing it to the spot where her hand had been. They stood there for a full minute before Draco frowned and stepped back.

"I don't feel anything," he said as if Hermione were the cause of it.

"Well he is inside me," she laughed. This was so amazing! She couldn't wait to tell Ginny!

"He?"

"Yes, he."

"How do you know?" He didn't remember Madame Pomfrey saying anything about the sex.

"I just know," she said matter-of-factly. "I am his mother, after all."

"Well someone's attitudes have changed. A month ago this baby was a curse."

"I was scared," she said, not caring in the least that he knew this. Who wouldn't have been scared in her position? "But, now that I've gotten used to the idea, I'm excited."

"Even if it's my baby?"

"I'm not going to hate my son just because you're his father. I reserve that for you, Malfoy," she said with a wide grin.

"Stop calling me that."

"What?"

"Malfoy. If we're going to be parents we're going to have to act like parents."

She smiled and nodded.

"I'm proud of you, Draco." Her tongue tingled a little from the unfamiliar word, but she ignored it. She was going to have to get used to it. "You really do care about our baby."

"Our baby?" he laughed. "I thought it was your baby."

"Shut up," she sighed, her smile not fading in the least. In fact, it grew even bigger. She was actually happy right now, save the situation with Harry, and the travesty with Ron. Draco was being nice and helpful and caring. She never thought she'd live to see the day any of the three would happen.

"What are you doing this weekend?"

The question caught her so completely off guard that she actually choked on the air.

"Homework," she managed to say, her smile replaced with a look that was a mixture of caution and shock. His screws must have come loose, she reasoned. "Why?"

"Come to the Manor with me," he said, everything about him telling her that he was serious.

Again she found herself asking, "Why?"

"If you're going to live there you're going to need to be shown around, more than once. It took me ten years to not get lost."

"I'm only living there until I can find a place of my own." Or if she reconciled with her parents before the summer. But, after having not heard from them in over a month, she doubted they would ever be the same again. Three days ago she'd sent them an owl—she was still waiting for a reply.

"Still," he said, coming towards her. Her body stiffened at that all too familiar tone. He was right against her again, and tucked some hair behind her ear. "Come with me. You might be there longer than you think."

"Mal—"

"No," he whispered, pressing a finger to her lips. "It's Draco."

"Draco, why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" he asked innocently, kissing her cheek. She shivered and pulled her head back.

"You've gone mental!" she yelled, jumping away from him. "We are not a couple! So stop trying to kiss or touch or come within five feet of me!"

"Fine." He let out an agitated groan, crossing his arms over his chest. She always had to go and ruin his fun, didn't she? "But only if you agree to come with me this weekend."

"Alright, but if you—"

"I'll keep my hands to myself," he said slyly, rocking back on his heals. "I promise."

"Can I ask you something?"

He nodded, a smile dancing playfully on his lips. He was enjoying her discomfort far too much.

"Do you want there to be something between us?"

Again he nodded, shameless to a fault.

It was official. Draco Malfoy had been kidnapped and someone was using a Polyjuice Potion to pretend to be him.

"Draco?" She came towards him and placed her hand on his forehead. "Are you ill?"

"I feel great." And he took this rather unexpected opportunity to steal another kiss. She was prepared for this, however, and as their lips touched her wand pressed into his throat. He pulled back an inch and said, "Tell me what's so wrong with us having a relationship."

"I hate you."

"Besides that."

"You hate me."

"Besides that."

"The universe would implode."

"Good one," he chuckled. "But really, why not?"

"I think you need to get to bed," she said, choosing not to answer him. "You must be sleep-deprived."

"Very well." After all, he was tired. "Meet me outside the main entrance Friday after classes."

"For what?" She lowered her wand and stepped away.

"So we can go to the Manor," he said, rolling his eyes. "You forget so soon."

"And you forget that I only agreed if you didn't make anymore moves, and you did. So I'm not going."

"You know," he said, leaning against the wall in the exact same place he had when Harry was there. "I've been awfully good about this whole situation. I've been calm and helpful and I even refrained from giving Potter a well-deserved beating. But you know who I haven't even seen since the paternity test?"

The color drained from Hermione's face so fast her stomach lurched and she thought she'd be sick.

"Fine! I'll go!" she huffed. "But if you come anywhere near him I'll—"

"You'll curse me. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

"You know you're mental, right?"

"Yup," he said with his trademark smirk.

"And that there's no chance in hell we'll ever be together?"

"Oh, we'll see about that."

The next morning Hermione woke up feeling almost as tired as she had before going to bed. She sat up and was instantly nauseous. She swung her legs out and was about to stand, when her conversation with Malfoy the night before hit her full blast. The queasiness intensified tenfold.

"Thank God it's only Tuesday," she grumbled, slipping into her robe. She still had a good hour or so before breakfast. Hopefully by then her stomach would settle and she'd be able to eat something.

After getting ready, she went down to the common room, her school bag slung over her shoulder. She figured she might as well study a bit before her first class. She had a good feeling that there was going to be a pop quiz. She got herself cozy on the couch and cracked open the book, very pleased with herself that she knew everything by heart she was reading.

"Hermione!"

She looked up and smiled warmly as Ginny descended the staircase.

"Morning, Gin."

"Well someone's cheery this morning." She plopped down next to her. She was neither dressed nor had her things ready. Definitely a Weasley.

"You would be too if you felt your baby move for the first time," she beamed with pride.

"Are you serious!" she gasped. "That's amazing!"

"Yeah. I think I'm the only one who can feel it right now, but it's so wonderful. I mean, before I felt it, it wasn't even like I was pregnant."

"I'm so happy you've finally come around. You're going to make a perfect mother."

"Well I'm going to have to be to counteract Draco's parenting."

"Oh!" Ginny jumped excitedly and bolted from the room. She returned moments later waving an envelope. "I almost forgot." She handed the envelope to Hermione and sat back down. "It came for you last night, while you were still talking to Malfoy. I fell asleep before you came back."

But she wasn't listening to a word she said. She was staring at the letter, her hear racing so fast it could burst any second.

It was from her parents.

I'm a busy bee! Yay! Two chapters at once! Don't I rule all! Hopefully, if you didn't like the last chapter, you'll like this one. I certainly do! Though I may be a little bias :P Oh, and don't worry, I'll explain Draco's crazy behavior in due time. For now you can all ponder it, because there's so much more story to go!

REVIEW! And maybe Draco will come see you ;)