A/N: Hey all! Yes, poor Pansy lost her baby in the previous chapter and wedding plans for Harry and Ginny are fully under way! Anyway thanks all for the reviews… and here we go for chapter ten!

DISCLAIMER: I own only those I create, such as Michelle, and the plot, the rest is J.K ROWLINGS creation!

Chapter Ten: Merle's Secret

Hermione gratefully kicked her shoes off as she lay back on her bed with a deep sigh. Harry and Ginny had asked her too go have a few drinks, non-alcoholic ones on Ginny's side, with the group but one look at Ron's stony face made Hermione decline. Sure it had been over a month since they had broken up, but still Ron wouldn't speak to her. She couldn't blame him completely; after all it was only a few days after they got together engagement wise that she called it off. But still, she had been almost 100 percent honest with him when she did break up with him, couldn't he at least keep that in mind?

Crookshanks meowed and jumped up onto the bed beside Hermione. He ran up to her to earn his scratch behind the ears before settling down besides her purring.

"Hey there boy," murmured Hermione, "What do you think Australia is going to be like? I know it will be warmer than England during the summer… but where about should we live? Hmm… I think I am going to have to do some research on that, don't you think?"

Crookshanks just purred on, he even kept on purring when Hermione stood up to go cook her dinner for that night and prepare to watch Home and Away.

"I wonder if Hayley will see she loves Scott and not Kim," murmured Hermione to herself.

O

The hours passed with Hermione going to bed at 10pm and Draco spending the night checking patients, Pansy, attending new patients and filling out reports. By 6am he was definitely ready to relax for a few hours. After signing out and checking Pansy one last time he apperated to the one place he could relax.

The house was silent at this time of the morning, which wasn't unusual seeing as it was an hour before Hermione woke up to get ready for work. Draco crept down the hall and pushed open the bedroom door. Lying on her stomach, her hands under the pillow and her face turned away from Draco was Hermione sound asleep. Draco walked over to the bed and ran a hand down her cheek. He stepped back as Hermione stirred from the touch and rolled onto her back yawning. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked at him in surprise.

"What time is it?" she mumbled looking up at him.

"Six in the morning," he replied pulling off his robe, "About yesterday-"

"Wait… I want to talk to you about that. Sit down beside me."

Draco walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down beside Hermione who slid upwards into a sitting position.

"I did a lot of thinking and talking to someone I can trust yesterday," admitted Hermione looking down at her hands, "I know I am not in love with you but I am falling that way. Love is unexpected even at the wrong times. You just have to accept it and treasure it whilst it lasts. I guess what I am saying is, if you want to, I am willing to keep what we have happening between us until either you get married or I move away. We both know we can't make this I long time thing, Draco. It's bound to have an end to it."

Draco sighed and took hold of one of Hermione's hands. He smiled at her and kissed her hand softly, "I want too."

Hermione grinned before a sly look came across her face, "It was your birthday yesterday and I never gave you your birthday gift."

"Hmm… you didn't. I cooked you breakfast."

Hermione pushed the blankets back and crawled over to Draco, pushing him down onto the pillows. She straddled him and leant down to kiss him tenderly on the lips.

"Happy Birthday Draco," she murmured before attacking him with her lips.

O

Luna looked up from a file she was tidying, a humming sound had entered the room and it was coming from a blissful looking Hermione. Hermione walked over to the desk and grinned at Luna, who smiled back.

"Merle called in sick again. I think the stress is getting to her," said Luna, "You look happy. Did yesterday go well?"

"Yesterday went great. Ginny's dress is absolutely stunning! So are the bridesmaids and my dress. The tuxedos look great. All the same except Harry's coat is longer and he wears a pastel blue vest and white tie under the coat, Ron wears a pastel blue vest and pastel blue tie while Seamus and Neville just wear the ties. Now all that will be needed are shoes. But Bernadette will help us organise those at the next fitting… which is next week I think."

Luna nodded, "What about Merle?"

"Send her an owl. Tell her I demand to see her today in my office."

"Okay. Oh Michael also needs the name of the hairdresser you use to get your clients hair done at. Apparently this woman's wedding he is doing demands she has the best."

Hermione pulled a pen out of her pants pocket and grabbed one of her business cards out of the cardholder on the counter and wrote the name, address and number down, "Give that to Michael when you see him. Tell him to tell Telo that I gave Michael the name and address."

Luna nodded and placed the card on Michael pile of folders, "Will you miss being here?"

Hermione nodded as she thought of Draco, "Yeah but I can't throw everything away because I'll miss this place and people. I mean I will visit as much as possible."

Luna nodded, "Well before you leave we should go to Enchanted one more time."

Hermione laughed, "Just as long as I don't return home completely drunk again."

Luna smiled, "Yes or you may end up kissing Draco Malfoy again."

Hermione's laugh faltered but she forced a smile onto her face, "That would be ah… awful."

O

Narcissa rushed down the Manor's stairs at the sound of her sons voice. She ran through the reading room and out the doors leading to the garden.

"… stupid ignorant fool didn't contact me sooner!" was the first thing Narcissa heard Draco saying to a listening Lucius, "Had he contacted me I could've saved the baby!"

"How is she Draco?" asked Narcissa worriedly, "How is Pansy?"

"How do you think?" replied Lucius before Draco spoke, "Upset, hurting… just like anyone would feel in her situation. I should go visit her father before he leaves for work."

Narcissa nodded, "Did you try everything you could Draco?"

"The baby was dead before I had the chance. It's Emery's entire bloody fault anyway. I am going to be writing to the Ministry about him! He is the cause of most of those deaths in that Hospital anyway. When I start my own hospital I swear that no one who is sick or injured will be cast aside just because the Doctor they request isn't on their shift!"

Narcissa and Lucius frowned at their son's comment causing him to curse under his breath. This was something he wasn't meant to tell them. They were always against Draco's decision to become a MEDI Doctor and this would just infuriate them even more. Sometimes he felt they treated as though he weren't in his twenties and was still a mere seventeen year old.

"What do you mean start your own hospital, Draco?" asked Narcissa in a calm motherly like tone.

"Nothing, nothing at all," he replied waving his hand as if to dismiss the topic.

"Draco haven't we already decided you would leave that career to join me in working at the Ministry?" inquired Lucius.

Draco snapped. Enough was enough, "I'll marry who you want me too, have children when you tell me too but I will not change my career from something I love doing just to please you two! When are you both going to take the hint and realise I don't want to be a carbon copy of you both? I am a unique individual person with personal beliefs and views on life!"

"Is this the trash that… woman you are sleeping with has brainwashed you with?" snarled his mother.

"No. I have believed this all along."

"Who is this woman?" asked Lucius, "Do we know her?"

"Oh we do know her Lucius," replied Narcissa looking from her son to her husband, "We mightn't know her personally or her family but we know of her and her famous friend."

Lucius frowned and looked at Draco. He started chuckling as though everything was a joke, "Narcissa my dear, you make it sound as though our son is dating Potter's mudblood friend."

Lucius continued to chuckle while Narcissa looked at him sternly and Draco glanced at the door in hopes of escaping. Once Lucius realised he was the only one laughing he stopped and looked from Narcissa to Draco three times to be exact.

"What is going on?" he demanded glaring now at Narcissa, "Are you telling me that our son is dating Harry Bloody Potter's mudblood friend?"

"Why don't you talk to Draco about that one Lucius," replied Narcissa turning to Draco, "Tell him of your relationship with Miss Granger, Draco. NOW!"

"It was a physical thing," sighed Draco, "It's become more. But before either of you talk I want you both to hear me out. We have agreed that when it comes time for me to marry Destinee it will end… and she's moving away anyway."

"You have… dirtied the Malfoy name! How can you do any sort of thing with a girl of her blood?" shouted Lucius.

"When will you wake up and smell the roses, Father? It has been a common thing for centuries that Purebloods date Muggleborns! And besides there is no Dark Lord to tell us what is wrong and what is right!"

"I want you to end this affair now! I will not have my son seeing a muggleborn, no matter how much wealth she has or whether she is pretty!"

"I am not going to end it with her."

Lucius glared at his son, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. For years I have been obeying your every wish and command but I have real feelings for this girl Father and maybe if you just got to know her. Even a little; you will see she is an amazing human being. She's smart, intelligent, funny, caring… Merlin, everything about her is breathtaking!"

"Narcissa this is not the son we raised!" cried Lucius in outrage, "Draco you will end it with her now!

"No."

"Do not disobey me."

"I will and I am. Like Hermione told me. Love is unexpected even at the wrong times. You just have to accept it and treasure it whilst it lasts. I mightn't be in love with her just yet but I know it's heading that way and nothing you say or do is going to stop me father," snarled Draco in a very Malfoy like tone before storming into the manor and slamming the doors behind him in the process.

"Why didn't you tell me as soon as you found out?" asked Lucius who was pacing.

"I thought it was harmless fun. Obviously it has become more… a lot more," replied Narcissa taking a seat on one of the glass chairs.

"What do we do now? We obviously cannot let this charade last any longer or the boy will fall in love with her."

"I'll work something out. Just give me time."

"Be quick about it we leave in August… it is June."

"I know what month it is Lucius," replied Narcissa before standing and heading inside the house to speak with her disobeying son.

O

Draco grabbed the nearest breakable ornament in his room and threw it at the wall. He watched with no satisfaction as it slammed into the wall and shattered into hundreds of pieces. Instantly house elves appeared to clean the sudden mess.

"GET OUT! ALL OF YOU! OUT NOW!" he roared throwing another breakable antique Malfoy heirloom.

The elves looked at him in sudden fear and were all gone within a second. Draco walked around his room in anger, knocking and breaking things to release his anger at his father and betrayer of a mother. All his life he believed he could tell Narcissa anything without having the fear of her telling his father. That was no longer the case.

Behind him, his bedroom door opened and slammed shut. Draco whirled around and found himself glaring at his mother.

"Quit acting like a teenager, Draco," snapped his mother.

"I am not acting like a teenager… what about you? I trusted you and you go and tell father everything! You knew I was going to end with Hermione when the time came!"

"Draco you haven't even told her you already have a woman you are to marry!"

"I will tell her when the time comes."

"For someone who is falling in love you sure don't sound very trusting seeing as you cannot even tell Miss Granger you are already set up with another."

"Trust? You want to talk about trust? What about you Mother? I trusted you and you couldn't even keep one secret."

"It was and still is becoming something it never should become Draco."

Draco walked over to his bed and sat down, "Why won't you two just let me be happy for once? All my life I have done what you both wanted… yet that is still not enough is it?"

"As soon as you marry Draco you can do what you want. Except for date that mudblood."

Draco stood up and kicked his desk leg in anger, "Leave her out of this! All she has done is made me happy!"

"I am giving you till the end of July to end this relationship with her Draco. If you haven't done so, I will be the bringer of bad news and hatred from her too you."

Without another word Narcissa stood and left the room, leaving Draco to calm his anger and work out a way to tell Hermione.

O

"Merle. So nice of you come," said Hermione coolly as the girl took a seat in front of Hermione's desk, "So Luna tells me, in the past two weeks, you have only been at work for three of them. Is there a reasonable explanation for this or am I going to have too fire you?"

Merle tugged at the sleeves of her shirt and looked up at Hermione, "I can't say."

Hermione sighed and threw Merles employee file on her desk, "Merle I don't understand! You showed so much promise in this career. A few years from now I could see you doing weddings where people would pay millions of galleons! Now all I can see is you… applying for financial help at the Ministry."

"I'm sorry Hermione!" cried Merle breaking down in tears, "I do love this job so much! He won 't let me do anything!"

Hermione frowned and handed Merle the box of tissues over the table, "Who won't let you do what?"

Merle looked up at Hermione wiping her face and making visible a nasty looking purple-blue bruise under her right eye.

Hermione stood and pulled her wand out. She pointed it as a terrified looking Merle and murmured a spell. Instantly all over Merles face were visible bruises, cuts and grazes. Her lips had to cuts that looked fresh.

"Merle!" cried Hermione kneeling down beside the girl, "What has happened to you? Is this why you haven't been at work a lot lately?"

"I don't know how it started Hermione! Everything was perfect… and then he became possessive. I can't see my family or reply to their letters. He won't let me come to work… I sneak here when he's asleep or gone to work himself an-"

"Hermione!" cried Luna running in, "There is this men outside demanding to see Merle… oh my Merlin! What happened to you? Someone hit you good."

"I-is he w-wearing a… b-black robe with red trimming?" asked Merle nervously.

Luna nodded, "Did that man do this too you?"

"I have to go!" cried Merle standing up, "He'll be really angry."

"No," said Hermione sternly, "Luna stay with Merle in here. I'll deal with him."

"Hermione he gets angry easily!" cried Merle.

Hermione ignored her plea and exited her office gripping her wand tightly. She saw the man in a black robe with red trimming and strode over to him, "My receptionist tells me you wish to see Merle?"

"Yes. Where is she?" he snarled.

"Busy in a meeting. She has clients to see."

"Well those clients can take a hike because Merle is coming home with me now!"

"Sir I am going to have to ask you to tone your voice down or leave."

"I will not do what a WOMAN says!"

"I run this business sir and I will not tolerate such rude and arrogant behaviour in my building. Merle is working and would like you to leave her alone."

The man glared at her angrily, "My name is Emery Flint and Merle is my girlfriend! She will come home with me now or you will be knocked out of my way."

"Flint? As in Marcus's Flint's relative?"

"Yes, his cousin."

Hermione nodded, "Thought so. You both have similar teeth. Well Emery, please leave."

Emery glared at her and stepped forward only to be met with the tip of Hermione's wand. By now Hermione was glaring at him in anger.

"I know what you have been doing to Merle, Emery, and I will not have my employees missing work because some arsehole is being a control freak and beating her at every given moment! You, Emery, are nothing but an egotistical bastard who believes women are second-class citizens! I suggest you turn around and walk your arse out of my store and come nowhere near Merle again! Or perhaps you would like me to report you to the Aurour department? I do have very good connections in there."

Emery glared at Hermione and stepped forward.

"Pertrificus Totalus!" cried Hermione applying the spell on Emery instantly. His body snapped together and fell to the ground with a thump. She turned and ran back into the office and hurriedly scrawled an urgent note to Harry and sent Luna to send it. She then turned to Merle and sighed, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Emery said if I did he would kill me and my family," sobbed Merle, "What happens now?"

Hermione sighed, "I'm not sure… Harry will be here soon, perhaps he can give us more of an insight as to what happens… is this why you left urgently on that day at the Café?"

"Draco Malfoy was there and he works with Emery… well for Emery."

Hermione nodded just as Luna ran in, "Michael and the other guys are guarding that man for you and the letter has been sent."

"Thanks Luna. Merle would you like a drink?"

Merle shook her head and carefully touched her face, "I never went a day without him hitting me."

Hermione placed a hand on Merles should only to have her wince, "Oh, sorry. After Harry has been I will have you sent to St Mungo's. I'll pay for you to have the best treatment and a private ward, okay?"

Merle nodded and smiled a little.

"Harry's here," said Luna after sticking her head outside the office, "Ron and a few others are with him."

Hermione nodded and left the office to be greeted by a confused Harry.

"What's going on?" he asked looking around, "Who are those four guarding?"

Hermione looked over at Michael and a few other guys who were wedding planners, "Domestic violence. Does Emery Flint ring a bell?"

"Yes. He's the head of St Mungo's."

"Some Doctor then. He has been abusing Merle, a girl who works for me. She's only young and had been missing a lot of work… I had Luna call her in today and after a few minutes Emery Flint turns up demanding to see Merle and take her home."

Harry nodded, "Ron, Dean go and take Emery to the Ministry. I need to see Merle. Lindsay, Jack and Mimi go and collect witnesses accounts."

Harry followed Hermione into her office and looked at Merle in concern when he saw her.

"Hello Merle, I'm Harry Potter. I work at the Ministry in the Aurour department. Hermione has told me about you… now I can take it from your cuts, bruises and other injuries you have been the victim to domestic abuse."

Merle nodded, "W-will he be charged?"

"From what I can see yes. But you will have to undergo mental tests, physical tests and recount your experiences to Doctors at St Mungo's. After that it will be necessary that you stay with someone while the case is held in court."

Merle nodded, "I wrote everything in my journal… and I have clothes with blood stains on them… will that help my case?"

"Definitely. I will have members of my group sent there as soon as possible. In the meantime I will need to escort you to St Mungo's."

"Wait!" cried Hermione scrawling a note then handing it to Harry, "I want the best for her. Don't worry. I can afford it. Including her legal representation."

Harry nodded and led Merle to the reception where she was met with a mouthful of abuse.

"STUPID BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU, I SWEAR I WILL!" screamed Emery, "YOU WAIT! YOU WAIT YOU WENCH!"

"Ron! Silence him!" ordered Harry.

Ron nodded and muttered the spell before him and Dean apperated away with Emery.

Hermione folded her arms and stood beside Luna who watched on in silence as well.

"Just when things were on the up for her," sighed Luna.

"Things will start going up again," replied Hermione, "I know someone who will look after her."

A/N: Don't think she is speaking about Draco… she might be but Hermione knows other people who will look after Merle when she moves to Australia. Anyway, review!

Bye for now!

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