Recap:

"Don't you dare scare me like that again," Draco said, though it sounded more like a command to her.

"You really do want this baby, don't you?"

"He's all I have…"

Chapter 9: More Than Meets The Eye

The following morning Hermione awoke to warm rays of autumn sun pouring in through her window. No matter the circumstances, it was always great to be home. She quickly pulled on her robe and shuffled out the door and down the hall to the guest room. Without making even a hint of a sound—because she of course knew this house like the back of her hand—she opened the door and slipped in.

She had to cover her mouth with both hands to keep from bursting out in laughter. Because there before her laid Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Prince, his arms and legs sprawled out as if he'd been flattened by a piano. His perfect kissable lips were slightly parted, but he made no sound, as if she'd actually believed he would. Draco Malfoy would never—ever—snore!

"Hermione," he murmured, rolling over as if he meant to face her.

"Yes Draco?" she whispered huskily into his ear, fighting a massive case of the giggles. He was dreaming about her! And though he'd openly admitted it before, it was a far different experience to witness first hand.

"Mmm," he hummed, while simultaneously opening his eyes. Immediately he shot up, so startled he was actually unable to glare. "How long have you been here?"

"Long enough," she laughed, and straightened herself up, rubbing the small of her back. All the extra weight she was putting on was beginning to affect her.

"Stupid witch," he grumbled under his breath as he slid out of bed, his neck stiff due to the "cheapness" of the pillow he was provided. He wondered what the chances were that she'd give him a massage. And maybe a little more, he thought with a wry smile. "Have a staring problem?"

Hermione's eyes snapped up to meet with his. She had been staring at him and hadn't even realized. But who could blame her! With a body like that and wearing only silky green boxers—what girl wouldn't stare?

"Now don't be bitter just because I heard you call my name in your sleep," she said quickly, recovering expertly from her embarrassment.

"And why would I be bitter about that?" He asked with his standard smirk, taking a step towards her. Why did she always find herself in this situation with him? "You already know what I want from you, Hermione."

"And what is that, Draco?" She played dumb, not at all ready to throw in the towel.

Before she could react, he had her pressed against the door, crushing his lips on hers. She tried to yell at him to stop, but all that came out was a suppressed moan. One of his hands crawled up into her bed-messed hair, while the other slipped under her tank top to rest flat against her bump of a belly.

"Draco," she whispered, pulling him closer.

"Yes?" he whispered back, his mind in a haze.

"If you don't back off in three seconds I'm going to make sure you can never have another child."

He jumped back before he could realize she was bluffing, and was left to watch her back as she walked away in triumph, laughing quietly to herself.

"He seems like the perfect gentleman to me," Mrs. Granger said, setting a steaming cup of tea in front of Hermione, who groaned inaudibly and rolled her eyes.

"He comes from money and power, mum. He can be anyone if that means he gets what he wants."

"And what does he want? Other than to provide for you and your child?"

"Me…" she mumbled into her cup, taking a small scalding sip.

"I don't see how that's a bad thing." She placed a tray of chocolate biscuits on the table and took a seat, nursing her own mug. "You must have thought he had some good qualities for you to be in the situation you're in now."

"Well unfortunately I have no clue what those qualities are seeing as I can't remember giving Draco so much as a smile."

"So you're just going to allow some harmless teasing to keep you from falling in love?"

Hermione's eyes widened. Not only had she referred to Malfoy's years and years of cruelty as harmless, but she'd actually had the audacity to suggest she could love him!

"What does it matter to you?" Hermione hissed, her chair crashing back behind her before she knew she was standing. "I've screwed up any chance I had at a full and happy life! I'm eighteen and pregnant! And the father is my worst enemy! Tell me where you see love mother! I'm willing to listen!" (A/N: I know she said before that she's seventeen, in chapter 5, but as I was writing this I realized she would be eighteen, seeing as she turned twelve upon entering her first year at Hogwarts. Sorry for the stupidity:P)

"Give him a chance, Hermione!" Were those tears she saw in her eyes? "I can't bear the thought of you never finding happiness!" And all at once she was being smothered in her mother's arms, her cheeks wet. Was she crying too?

"Does this mean we're going to be ok?" Hermione asked softly, her voice trembling.

"All I ever wanted was to be a mother. A good mother…I don't think I could have succeeded more when I had you."

"So, what happened with you and your mother this morning?" Draco asked, hefting her bag onto the floor outside the Fat Lady's portrait. He'd insisted, much to Hermione's protests, that he carry her bag what with the "state" she was in.

"She wants me to give you a chance," she said honestly, much to his surprise.

"Really?" He leaned against the railing, smugness painted like clown make-up on his face.

"She also wants me to become a dentist like her and dad," she laughed. "It's sort of cute that she thinks those things could happen."

Draco's bubble was proverbially popped.

"Good luck with Weasley," he spat harshly, and turned and stomped down the stairs and out of sight. Her stomach was in an instant knot, and she had to calm her breathing before she was able to say the password and step through the porthole.

And, of course, as her luck would have it, who should be sitting in the common room but Ron himself? Not only that, but he was smiling and laughing as he played a game of Wizard's Chess with Harry, who looked quite a bit less enthused, though that was only because he was losing, and badly.

She managed to tiptoe halfway across the room before Harry caught sight of her and flagged her down. Ron's smile promptly fell from his face and he hunched his shoulders, as if for protection. With her bag now dragging behind her, she cautiously approached the corner they were sitting in, only looking at Harry. Did she look as guilty as she felt? One glance in Ron's direction would give her all the answers—for now she was content with questions.

"How was your parents'" Harry asked casually. She wanted to jab one of those little moving chessmen into his eye calling her over. Couldn't he see how agonizing this was for them both!

"Bearable," she answered frankly. "Mum cried."

"Really? What for?"

Hermione shrugged and glanced back at the staircases. What she needed right now was a good long nap, anything to free her from this.

Harry noticed her want to flee, but decided to press the subject. After all, Ron had to come around sooner or later, and Harry wanted sooner.

"Are they going to stay in England for a while then?"

She shook her head, biting her lip. She hadn't told Harry about the arrangements Draco had made. She hadn't told anyone save her parents.

"Where are you and the baby going to live?" He was genuinely concerned. How could they just pick up and leave in a situation like this!

Her response came in the form of a muffled whisper.

"Come again?"

"Malfoy Manor!" she snapped, her arms flying up in a wild gesture.

"What!" Harry and Ron cried in unison, both to their feet.

"When did this happen?" Harry demanded.

"When Draco and I went to see Dumbledore…Apparently he has this aunt that works for the Order and Dumbledore trusts her completely…I didn't want to say anything unless it was final."

"Is it?" came Ron's hurt and angry voice. She definitely couldn't look at him now.

"Yes…"

"Why!"

"Because if I run off to America with the baby Draco will come after us and win custody! I'd rather live my life in hell with him than have my child taken from me!" Harry was now beginning to see the error he'd made in trying to bring them together so soon. Ron was still bitter about "losing" his child and his happily-ever-after life with Hermione, and she was ravenous in her love for her yet to be born son.

"So you're going to live with Malfoy!"

"Yes Ron!" Finally their eyes met, and anyone in the room could see that any chance at a quiet night in was ruined. Not that anyone was thinking that, however. The whispers could be heard all over the common room.

"Hermione's pregnant?"

"She's going to live with Malfoy!"

"Does that mean he's the father!"

"So we're over then?"

"I thought you made that perfectly clear the day we found out who the father was," she said crossly. "Seeing as I'm not even worth your words, how am I worth a relationship with you?"

"I was angry!" he stammered.

"Did it ever occur to you that that was the worst possible thing you could have done at that moment?"

"Hermione! You're having Malfoy's baby for God's sake! How could I be anything but angry!"

"You think you were the only one crushed? How do you think I felt? Not only did I have to find out I was pregnant, but that I was pregnant with my worst enemy's child! That's not something I can erase, Ron! My baby is going to be around forever, and Draco is going to be right there along with him. Tell me how a relationship can work?"

"I love you, Hermione," he whimpered, coming forward. She scrambled back as if he were coming at her with a torch.

"It's too late, Ron."

"Why!"

"Because I needed you the most and you turned your back on me! I won't risk having my heart broken again!"

"Your heart! What about mine!"

"Shut up!"

They stared at each other a moment, then turned to see Lavender Brown stomping down the stairs. She had been the one who yelled, and she was advancing on them like an angry mama bear.

"I can't stand this anymore!" All anyone could do was stare at her rage. What was she so angry about? "I could stay quiet when I found out Hermione was pregnant, because I thought it was Ron's baby. I never even knew Draco Malfoy was involved, but I can't keep this to myself any longer."

"How did you know I was pregnant?" Hermione sputtered.

"I have ears," she shot back. "Ron," she said, turning to him. "I think I can help explain some things."

"Like what?" He didn't mean to snap at her, but he was still so mad and would have snapped at anyone.

"The reason I thought the baby was yours is because you and Hermione were dating at the end of sixth year."

Simultaneously everyone's jaws dropped. How did she know when no one else did!

"You were only together a week or so, when I…when I told you I fancied you. But I had no idea you were with her! No one did!" she yelled as if someone were doubting her, when really they couldn't have been listening more intently. She was their only gateway into the past, like it or not. "You told me you were with Hermione, so I backed off…"

"How does that explain anything?" Hermione asked venomously. How dare she waltz in here and interrupt their argument! And not only that, but she'd tried to hone in on her boyfriend!

"Because the next night he stopped me in the hall and told me he'd fancied me as well!" She rounded on Hermione, her finger jabbing into her shoulder. "But that he couldn't be with me because he was with you!...So I started to walk away, when he grabbed me and kissed me. He said he didn't want to…he didn't want to miss out on having me—"

"Are you trying to say that you and Ron snuck around behind my back while we were together!" Hermione was about ready to pounce on her.

"Well I'm not proud of it!"

"You're lying!"

"Ask him yourself," she said almost smugly. "He told me he's liked me since third year."

Ron was suddenly as quiet as he'd been all week.

"Ron?" Harry said, catching his eyes. "Is what Lavender said true? Did you like her?"

"Just because I liked her doesn't mean I did what she said I did!" he protested.

"Then how the hell else do you explain how Hermione and Draco wound up together!" Lavender pointed out. "She found out about us and you two broke up. A week later he dumped me too, because he couldn't stand what he'd done. I didn't see him all summer, and when you two were all cozy last month I figured you'd finally made up."

"Even if that is true," Hermione said icily, ignoring Lavender's hot glare, "it still doesn't explain how Draco fits into this."

"After we broke up he tried to get you back. I was angry and jealous," she admitted, her ears glowing red. This was not at all easy for her. "I followed him a few times when I knew he was going after you. You would never listen to him, and one night he got really desperate…He pushed you against a wall and demanded you hear him out. I was about to step in, when Draco came out of nowhere and knocked Ron to the ground. I guess he thought he was hurting you, because he threatened him with his wand. Ron tried to explain himself, but you grabbed your wand too, so he walked away…I don't know what happened next because I followed Ron back to the dormitory."

The entire room was shrouded in complete silence. There was no way she would have made all that up for no reason. Even if she did like Ron, she wouldn't go this far—she wasn't a Slytherin. And so there was only one other option, and that was that she was telling the truth.

Hermione held her belly and stepped back.

"This is all your fault!" she screamed at Ron. "You cheated on me and broke my heart and I was so distraught I slept with Malfoy!" She didn't believe her own words, there had to be more to it than that, but right now it was about putting Ron in his place. "How could you do this to me!"

"She's lying Hermione!" he cried, running after her. She had her wand out so fast he nearly ran into it. "Please! Don't do this! I love you!"

"Well I don't love you," she said with hardened finality, then turned and made for her room.

Ron attempted to go after her, only to end up falling down the stairs-turned-slide. He curled his knees into his chest and cried right there in front of everyone. Harry reluctantly came to his side. Who were these people? Where were the Ron and Hermione he once knew?

"Come on mate," he said, pulling him to his feet. "I think we better get to bed."

Ron only managed a weak nod, allowing himself to be dragged up the opposite staircase, all the while wondering how he could have thrown away his one shot at true love.

Important Notice! Please read!

Before I go any further in this story, I need to pose a question to you, my readers. I am currently debating over two options, so I figured I'd let you be the deciding factor. What I want to know is should I a.) reveal the past in this story through dreams, flashbacks, and when and if they get their memories back, or b.) do a prequel to this story. I was leaning towards prequel, mostly because I hate to have the story before this one be squished and because I don't want to let go so soon! Heehee! Let me know and I'll do whatever the majority wants.

I really hope everyone liked this one. The Ron/Hermione/Lavender confrontation has been in the making since the beginning, only I didn't know quite where to put it. I needed Ron to stay out of the picture for a while and stew over his broken heart. I figured Hermione's revelation about living with Draco would be just the springboard I needed, and voila! It worked like a charm :P Heehee! I bet no one saw that coming! Weee!

REVIEW! And you shall find out what happens next :)