A/N - I bet you guys weren't expecting an update this soon! I just thought that this chapter was necessary. Hopefully it clarifies a few things. Hope you like it! (Sorry, but I think it's shorter than the last chapter...)

Chapter Eight

Hermione's Afternoon Chat

Hermione was seriously panicking. In mere seconds, Draco would see Alexia! Hermione was rooted to the spot, unable to move. "Please don't let him see her!" she pleaded silently.

Suddenly, Hermione's prayers were answered. Her office door swung open, revealing a grumpy looking Cornelius Fudge.

"Those darned goblins! They're completely stubborn!" he shouted, stopping Draco in his tracks.

"What is it Minister?" Draco drawled, moving towards the door, away from Hermione's desk. Hermione sighed, relieved.

"I sent a ministry worker to Gringotts, to try to persuade them to get rid of those carts, but they refused to listen! And not only that! They pelted the poor man with coins!" shouted Fudge. "It seems they especially like throwing coins!"

"We're currently working on the matter Minister," said Hermione, "It's just proving to be quite difficult. We can't come up with anything that'll please both parties.

"Well," said Fudge, "I've prepared an emergency meeting in my office. We have to resolve this quickly, before the press has a field day. It's becoming quite a danger, as well as a hindrance."

Hermione couldn't believe her good fortune. Draco was so close to seeing Alexia. Hermione was almost unable to contain her relief as she followed Draco to Fudge's office.

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After work, Hermione dropped Alexia off at Harry's and headed off to the Leaky Cauldron. She was meeting Ginny for an afternoon drink.

"There you are," said Ginny. She was sitting at a table in the middle of the Leaky Cauldron. The table already had two butterbeers sitting on the table. Hermione assumed that Ginny had already ordered their drinks before Hermione got there.

Hermione gave Ginny a quick hug and sat down on the chair across from her. Ginny had not changed much since Hogwarts. She still had the same straight, flaming red hair (which was now well past her shoulders) and deep blue eyes.

"I just had the most nerve racking day," said Hermione, taking a sip of her butterbeer.

"Oh really?" asked Ginny curiously, raising an eyebrow as she took a gulp of her drink.

"Yup," began Hermione, "I took Alexia to the ministry with me, and Draco Malfoy nearly saw her. Oh, and did I tell you that he started working there yesterday?"

Ginny choked on the gulp she just took, her blue eyes got wide, "You saw Draco Malfoy? Wow, we haven't seen him in a while... It's been what? Four years since we last saw him?"

"Nearly four years," said Hermione. "The last time we saw him was after Harry killed Voldemort. It was about a few months after I gave birth to Alexia."

Ginny looked thoughtful for a moment, then quickly took a sip of her butterbeer.

"What?" asked Hermione, noticing Ginny's look.

"Well ..." started Ginny

"What is it?"

"It's just, well, I was wondering why exactly you don't want Draco seeing Alexia. I mean, you never really did tell me."

"Ginny ..." Hermione began.

"Hermione, don't say it's because he's 'evil', because the whole wizarding world knows that he isn't. He was in the Order. Even Dumbledore trusted him."

"I know Gin, but ... I don't know. I guess my mind is just holding on to the memory of Draco being a complete jerk. He made our lives miserable during our first six years at school. It was only during my seventh year that he started to become more decent."

"Well, he isn't that bad Hermione. After all ... you DID have sex with him," replied Ginny, grinning mischievously.

"Ginny!" exclaimed Hermione, laughing.

"You know, when you first told me you were pregnant with his child, I thought he raped you! And then you told me that it wasn't! It was just a huge shock! You consenting to ... doing him," said Ginny, snorting into her butterbeer.

"Yeah," said Hermione, smirking, "it's pretty shocking. But still, a part of me still resents him. That's the same part that's refusing to let him know about Alexia."

"But why Hermione? It might be good for Alexia, knowing her father and all."

"I know. I would love for her to have a father, but I don't know if that's possible. I'm afraid he'll turn into the jackass he was. I'm afraid he'll hate her. I don't know Gin, I'm just afraid of his reaction."

"Did you ever think that maybe he'll simply fall in love with her? He's not a monster Hermione. He must have some compassion. Alexia IS his daughter. He'll love her."

"I hope so Ginny. For Alexia's sake."