Chapter 7 - The Beginnings of a Plan

Draco Malfoy strode towards the library after the lunch bell rang signaling the free period. He was unsurprised to find that it was empty; no doubt Granger would be waiting for him the in back if she was already there.

He knew that he should be appalled at waiting for something as lowly as a mudblood. But he supposed that with the little bundle of joy she was lugging round she was bound to move a little slower than usual. It was strange how he kept getting flashes of almost caring feelings towards her. It wasn't as if he loved her or even liked her, perhaps it was simply that he didn't want her to die. At least not yet, let her bear his child, and then she could get stomped on by a hippogriff or get eaten by the giant squid for all he cared.

He walked to the very edge of the library, right before the entrance to the restricted section. He made himself comfortable, grabbing a book and putting his feet up, he settled in to wait.

He did not have to wait for very long. He heard the heavy library door open and the tell tale sounds of the Gryffindor's Mary Jane's on the stone floor. She seemed to have the same idea as him, this way, they would hear anyone enter before who ever entered saw them together, and they couldn't have that.

"Why do you need to speak with me?" she demanded.

Ah, the hormones have kicked in, this would be fun.

"Do you think that I will have no part in raising this child, Granger?" he asked, not looking up.

She sighed impatiently.

"Yeah, yeah, I know you won't leave me alone, whatever, we've moved passed that," she said rather haughtily. "Now why did you want to see me?"

Draco looked up at her, studying her intently.

"We are going to have hide this child from my father, and Voldemort, do you understand that?" he said.

Granger looked surprised as if she didn't even think to consider that.

"What's a matter?" she demanded acidly. "Ashamed to admit that you-"

She didn't get it? This was the smartest witch in his year and she didn't get it? Merlin, she was dense.

Draco rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, Granger," he said. "You don't understand?" she rolled her eyes but quieted. Draco very nearly sighed in exasperation; this was the bloody bint who consistently got higher marks than he did? "Any child that comes from us, Granger, can you imagine the potential?"

Hermione's eyes widened. She unconsciously moved her hands to her stomach as if to protect the unborn child.

"Malfoy we can't'-"

"Granger, I've already mentioned it." he said. "Which means that I've already given the matter some serious thought."

Granger sighed and sat down across from him.

"Well?" she asked. "Any ideas?"

Draco smirked.

"Granger, who are you talking to?" he asked cockily. "Of course I have an idea." he paused, mulling his idea over in his mind just one more time. "Though, perhaps not a very good one,"

"Not a very good one?"

His smirk deepened.

"Permit me to rephrase that, not a terribly enjoyable one." he said.

"Spare me the theatrics and get on with It." she said.

"We tell the headmaster."

As soon as he said that, her eyes got very large and all the colour drained form her face. Draco had to fight the sudden urge to laugh. Her transformation was almost comical.

"What?" she demanded. "We can't tell the headmaster! He'll kick us out!"

This time, Draco did roll his eyes.

"Of course not, Granger." he said scoffing. "You're one of his golden Gryffindors. So close that you are practically kin to great boy-who-lived-to-be-a-pain-in-my-arse. The most he'll do is shed a tear that you and potter didn't get it on so you would produce cute little noble headed Gryffindors."

She didn't look convinced.

"But still!" she cried. "I don't think I can live with him knowing what we-well, you know!"

She was blushing as she said it.

Draco frowned.

"Think of it, Granger, we tell them, and they will keep the baby from Voldemort." he said. "The old coot has to realize just how powerful this child will be and what an asset he or she would be to Voldemort provided he does turn us away, which he won't because he won't risk it. Then faculty will do all the heavy lifting for us."

She still looked skeptical.

"Granger, are you honestly going to jeopardize an innocent because you were unwilling to take responsibility for your actions?"

"Why are you doing this?" she demanded. "Thinking about this? I would have thought you would scorn me and leave me out all alone denying you ever had anything to do with me!"

"You would have thought wrong." he responded. "So are you going to go through with this? Because even if you aren't, I will tell Dumbledore myself."

He arched an eyebrow in a challenge.

"There is so much irony here I could write a poem." she said. "You are threatening to go to Dumbledore about this?"

He shrugged.

"Perhaps you are willing to take risks with our child," he said. "Because you don't want you saintly honor to be tainted, but I am not so stupid. If Lucius find out about him or her, he will kill him or her and if Voldemort finds out," he paused. "Let's hope he does not find out."

Hermione frowned thoughtfully. Could this work? Could they get Dumbledore to help protect their child? It seemed lit the best thing to do, after all there were no safer hands.

"How do you plan to inform him of this?" she asked. "You can't owl him, it's too risky, and one does not just strike up a conversation with Dumbledore and tell him about these things."

Draco sighed impatiently. Had she really thought him that sloppy?

"Of course not." he said. "Which is why were going to have to get through Snape first."

Hermione's eyes widened.

"Sn-"

"Don't worry, Granger," he added lazily. "I'll deal with him. He won't bite me."

Hermione nodded, steeling herself. That couldn't be the worst of it, right?

"You said that this would be uncomfortable." she paused realizing how much of an understatement that was. Just imagining the looks that Professor Snape would give her if he found out that she was carrying Draco Malfoy's child. "How much more uncomfortable are we looking at? Much more you think?"

Draco nodded.

"wholly." he said.

She bit her lip, mentally weighing the consequences and benefits of her actions.

"Why?" she asked. "What could be more uncomfortable than the Headmaster, Professor Snape along with the rest of the Hogwarts faculty knowing what we did and that we are now in trouble for it?"

"Are you agreeing to it, Granger?" he asked.

Hermione sighed.

"It isn't as if I have much of a choice now do I?"

"You always have a choice." he said seriously.

She looked at him strangely and then nodded.

"We have an agreement." she said.

Draco nodded.

"Now, why is this going to be so terrible?"

He frowned and looked down.

"We have to pretend we're in love."