Chapter Four: The Fight

"Excuse me," Hermione said as people were running around cleaning, cooking, and doing other things. They all stopped at looked at her.

"Mrs. Malfoy, is there something we can get for you?" the head servant said. They had always been kind to her ever since she said they could leave if they wanted to, but they had been with the Malfoy family forever so they wouldn't leave.

"Just your attention." Hermione said as another tear fell down her face. Everyone stopped what he or she had been doing and stood to listen to her. "Um, some of you may want to sit down." She said, but no one moved. "Right well, I have some extremely bad news for you," a few people sat down at those words, "and I've yet to tell my children, so I ask that none of you do so. It's my place to tell them, but I don't know how to bring it up to them.

"I was informed last night about the thing that Draco and I were both suppose to do yesterday, but as you know due to Gabrielle I stayed home. Unfortunately as it turns out, Draco will not be coming home…" she looked around at everyone's face, "…ever." A few tears fell down her face. "He was killed last night, and that's all I know it. I'm telling you because a lot of you have been with him since he was young."

A few people stifled a few sobs; some had tears running down their face, and some were speechless.

"Miss, is there is anything we can do, just let us know." The head servant said.

"As of right now there is nothing. I do understand if a few of you take some time off. I recommend that all of you take a few days off. Now if you don't mind, I have to go tell my children." Hermione said trying not to cry. Once she walked out of the kitchen she heard a few people muttering to themselves.

Hermione slowly made her way to her room to think about how to tell Gabrielle and Septimus and to write Harry a letter asking if he would be able to teach Septimus how to fly. As she walked more memories came back to her.

That next afternoon once Harry and Ron had left for Quidditch Practice, Hermione grabbed a book and headed down by the lake. She figured she might be a few minutes early so she was planning on reading some. Hermione slowly made her way around the lake as she read her book. She finally reached the rock that she was meeting Draco at and say down to read and wait.

After about ten minutes Hermione heard someone walking up behind her. She kept reading pretending not to hear him. Draco sat down next to her and waited for her to put the book down. When she didn't, he moved the book away from her face and looked at her.

"Oh, Hello. I didn't hear you." She said smiling.

"I bet you didn't." he said with a smirk with on his face. "so, how are you?"

"Just fine." Hermione closed her book and looked at him, "you?" she asked.

"Okay. I had to come up with some lame excuse for getting away from the Slytherins this afternoon. Any problem getting away from Potter and Weasley?" he asked looking out at the lake.

"No, I left after they left. They wanted me to come and watch, but I told them I'd rather read." She said playing with a piece of her hair. "Why don't we move into the trees so no one can see us?" she suggested. They moved from the rock to behind a few of the trees. Hermione tried to make sure that they were hidden from view of the Quidditch Pitch.

Ron hovered by the goals waiting for Katie to go over the rules yet again with the new chasers. Harry was flying in circles around the pitch while he waited and searched for the Golden Snitch. Ron was looking out toward the lake when he spotted a girl and somebody that he couldn't see. The person the girl was with was standing behind a tree. Ron squinted to try and see who was girl was. His eyes opened wide when he realized it was Hermione. Ron motioned for Harry to come over by him.

"What Ron?" Harry said stopping in front of him.

"Look over by the lake. Hermione is with someone." Ron said pointing over by the lake. Harry flew to the edge of the pitch and looked down at the lake. He saw Hermione talking to someone. Harry moved just enough to see whom she was talking to. Harry's eyes popped out of his head when he saw. He flew back over to Ron.

"Who is it?" Ron asked.

"Malfoy." Harry said. Ron's jaw dropped and he stared at Harry.

"You're joking, tell me you're joking." Ron almost yelled. Harry shook his head at Ron. Harry turned to fly back up to his lookout spot for the snitch, but before he could get there Ron yelled to him. "She's kissing him!" Harry turned to look, and sure enough Hermione was kissing Malfoy.

Back down at the lake Hermione said her good-bye to Draco and headed back to the Common room so she was there before Harry and Ron got back. There was no one in the common room, but she figured so since it was such a nice day outside. She sat down in her favorite chair and waited for Harry and Ron to get back.

Ron burst through the portrait hole with Harry pulling on his robes, trying to keep him from attacking Hermione.

"Malfoy! All the people in the school and your blind date was Malfoy." Ron yelled at her.

"Ron, cool it." Harry said trying to pull him back.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione said putting her book down.

"Don't play that game with me. Bloody hell Hermione, you were snogging Draco Malfoy by the lake!" Ron yelled.

"I've been here reading." Hermione said standing up and walking to face Ron.

"I bloody seen you!"

"Ron!" Harry said threateningly still holding Ron back.

"So what Ron, it's not like you care." Hermione said.

"It's Malfoy! How thick do you have to be Hermione?" Ron said throwing his hands in the air.

"You inconsiderate, low life, thick headed, little boy! You have no right to say anything about him Ronald. So I like him, get over it!" Hermione said.

"I'm inconsiderate? You're the one kissing the son of the man trying to get Harry killed! Come on Hermione. He's only using you to get to Harry!" Ron yelled talking a lot with his hands. With that Hermione smacked Ron across the face.

"Don't, don't even go there. I can't believe I'm friends with you! I'm finally happy and you have the right to tell me that I'm being used to help kill Harry. I hate you. I absolutely hate you!" Hermione yelled into Ron's face as tears began to form in her eyes.

"Fine! I don't know how we ever stayed friends all we do is fight. At least now I don't have to worry about you!" and with that Ron turned and walked up to the boys' dormitories. Hermione watched him go as tears fell down her face. Harry turned to look at Hermione who was crying now.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked.

"Why is he like that? Why isn't he happy for me?" she asked still looking at where Ron had gone.

"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me." Harry told her.

"What about you? Are you going to tell me off now too?" Hermione said in a harsher tone then she meant.

"No, I'm glad you're happy. I may at approve of the person you picked, but it's your life. I'm just going to stand back and support you, until he hurts you, then I'll kill him." Harry said with a small smile. Hermione gave a small laugh through her tears and then hugged Harry.

"I'm glad I have a friend like you." She said.

Hermione shook her head as she thought of the fight between her and Ron. A slight smile made its way onto her face as she bit her bottom lip. She sank onto the edge of her bed and looked down at the pile of robes still lying on the floor. Draco had thrown then on the floor in an attempt to get ready yesterday morning.

Draco rolled over and wrapped his arm around Hermione. She made a small groan about not wanting to get up.

"Good morning." She whispered into her ear and then kissed it. She made another small groan. Draco got out of bed was trying to find the robes he needed for today.

"Second from the right." Hermione said sitting up in bed as she watched her husband trying to find his robes. Draco pulled them out and put them on. He then walked over to the bed and kissed Hermione. "I wish I was going with you." She said after he pulled away and sat down by her feet.

"Now what kind of mother would you be if you left a sick child at home?" he said with a smirk talking about their daughter who was sick.

"Not a very good one." She replied smiling. "Just come home to me tonight."

"I will, don't worry." He gave her one last kiss and headed toward the door when suddenly their son came through it.

"Are you still going to teach me to fly tomorrow?" their son asked Draco. Draco bent down and picked up his son. He set in on the edge of his and Hermione's bed and knelt down in front of him.

"Of course, I'll teach you to be the best flyer out there." Draco said ruffling up this son sliver-blond hair.

"Good, 'cause I wanna be just like you." He said hugging his father.

"Well, I don't think your mother would want to you be exactly like me." He said with a smile.

"Very true." Hermione said. "I dealt with you growing up, I don't need my son to be the same."

"Well I have to get going. I'll see you all tonight. Now Sep, take care of the house, you're the man while I'm gone." He said giving his son a kiss on the forehead.

"You got it." He said. And Draco got up to leave. "I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, son. I'll see you tonight." Draco said and walked out of the room. Septimus climbed into bed next to Hermione and fell back asleep.

Hermione began to cry again. It was going to so hard to tell her children that their father was never coming home.