A/N: Hey peoples. Hope I haven't lost you all in the mingled lives of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. They are an odd couple aren't they? Opposites attract though and these two definitely are from opposite sides of the universe so too speak. Anyway enough of my droning and onto the chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I only own the plot!

Chapter Six: Destiny.

Lily had loved the day she spent at the zoo with Hermione. She had told everyone about the lions, snakes, monkeys and all the other animals she loved there. By dinnertime that night she had recounted her trip to the zoo so many times everyone in the Weasley house knew what she was going to say before she said it.

Another month passed this time without anything going wrong for Hermione. She was now so big that she was having trouble doing simple things like tying her own shoelaces and helping Lily to tie hers. It was Christmas in two weeks time and Hermione hadn't even done her Christmas shopping yet. She had totally forgotten to and this showed how much stress she was under with the weight of a new baby on her shoulders. Draco Malfoy telling her he has feelings for her, raising a daughter but most of all it was because now when she thought of Harry she wasn't upset. She smiled every time someone mentioned his name and hadn't cried over his death in a few months. She had also started to realize that even though she loved Harry, she also had begun to grow feelings for Draco.

Hermione hadn't contacted Draco about his offer for coffee but she decided that now was as good of a time than any. She pulled out some parchment and a quill.

Malfoy,

Sorry that it has taken me this long to take you up on your offer for coffee. To be honest I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing. Is it wrong by Harry to have a date with another man less than 12 months after his death? Sorry. I am available anytime of the day although I think it would be best to have coffee sometime in between breakfast and dinner for two reasons. One, I have a four year old daughter, and two I am heavily pregnant.

Please let me know a time and date that is suitable for you.

From

Hermione Granger.

She tied the letter to Mallee and watched as her beloved owl flew out the window and off into the distance. Afterwards she read a magazine and tried to help Molly with the housework but Molly practically yelled at her to sit down and rest. Hermione raised her hands in defeat and retreated back into the lounge room.

The next day Mallee returned with Draco's answer.

Hermione,

I would love to have coffee with you. How does tomorrow…11am sound? I have the day off. Meet me at the new coffee shop in Diagon Alley.

From Draco.

Hermione folded the letter and smiled to herself. She felt bad for liking Draco so soon after Harry but she had also promised herself not to get involved with him. Not yet anyway.

The next day came sooner than Hermione would have liked. She had thought about canceling but she also knew that she needed to talk to Draco. For some reason she felt as though she owed him an explanation even though she had hated him for 12 years but she still had the nagging feeling in her mind like she was betraying Harry.

Hermione made sure she wore something nice and warm. She didn't bother getting dressed up for Draco. At 10:55am Hermione kissed her daughter and the forehead and appirated to the Leaky Cauldron. She went out the back and tapped the appropriate bricks and stood back as Diagon Alley appeared in front of her. She made her way up the cobblestone street and headed over to the coffee shop that Draco had told her to meet him. He was sitting at a table when she arrived and so she walked right up to him and took a seat.

"Hi. I was starting to think you weren't going to come." Draco smiled at Hermione.

"I wasn't going to but I have to talk to you."

"What about? Anything serious?"

"Well you know how you told me about your feelings? I just wanted to have a chance to tell you how I feel."

"Do you want to order coffee first?" Hermione nodded and Draco signaled to the waiter who took their order and came back a few minutes later with a flat white coffee for Draco and a cup of chamomile tea for Hermione.

"Ok so you were saying that you wanted to tell me how you feel about what I told you."

"Yeah…Listen Draco it's complicated ok. I…I have got feelings for you although I don't know why. We hated each other for 12 years and now all of a sudden I feel as though I knew this would happen all along. Like I've always had feelings for you but I changed them into hate because of the way you were. Does that make sense?"

"In a complicated way it does but why is it complicated?"

"Because I am still in-love with Harry."

"So? You will always be in love with Potter. He is the father of your daughter and your unborn son."

"It isn't right Draco. I can't be with you now or ever. I just can't do it to Harry. It would be an insult to his memory if I dated you. Don't get me wrong Draco I like you it's just that we are enemies, we always have been and time doesn't change things like this."

"So why did you come here? Why did you tell me you have feelings for me but we can never be together because of your dead fucking boyfriend?"

Hermione looked at Draco stunned. He had basically insulted her and the tears welled behind her eyes.

"How dare you? I came here today to explain to you what I have been thinking and you go and say…that! To think that I thought you had changed but once again I was right. We are still enemies and we always will be. From now on you just be my doctor. Have a nice life Malfoy." She stormed away leaving Draco sitting there feeling like a total wanker. He paid for the drinks and appirated back to the Malfoy Manor. He didn't know what to do know. He had just ruined his chances with Hermione for good so he decided to visit someone who he knew would take his mind off his troubles. He picked up some parchment and a quill and wrote a short note inviting Pansy Parkinson over for the night. She replied instantly telling him she would be there at 9pm.

Hermione arrived back at the Burrow around 1pm. She had walked around London after she left Diagon Alley with Draco's words playing constantly through her head. She knew in some strange way he was correct but she was angry at the way he had said it to her. Why was he always such an arsehole?

"Hello Hermione dear. How was your day?" Molly asked as Hermione walked into the kitchen.

"It was ok. I just walked around and cleared my head a bit." Hermione started to sob and Molly rushed over to her, "Why is life so complicated?" she said through her tears.

"What has happened? What has got you so upset?"

"I have made the biggest mistake of my life Molly."

"Why?"

"Draco Malfoy…He told me that he liked me a few weeks ago and I like him too but I can't. It's wrong."

"Draco Malfoy? Is that where you went today? To meet up with him?"

Hermione nodded. She continued to cry and Molly just held her.

"Is it true that Dumbledore was dying? That's why Snape killed him?"

"Yes it is. No one is supposed to know but I guess that now…6 years later it is time for the truth. Dumbledore left Harry a note but the order was told not to give it to him unless…"

"Unless what?"

"Unless this happened."

"This? What do you mean?"

"Hermione you remember when you were in 5th year? The prophecy that had Harry's name on it. Professor Trelawny made that prophecy. She also made a prophecy about you."

"What? About me? When?"

"The year you started at Hogwarts. Albus told me that she predicted that two enemies from Hogwarts would meet up 5 years after they graduated and they would become an item. These two people hated each other with passion…that passion would be the fuel to their relationship."

"But how did that mean me and Draco?"

"Because it was also said that one of the enemies would be older than her friends. Hermione prophecy's are not to be taken too seriously."

"But we do set a lot by them. Do you think that Draco and I were destined to be together?"

"If that is your interpretation than yes you are. Only you can decide what to do Hermione."

"Molly…where is Dumbledore's letter?"

"Upstairs. Would you like to read it? I is actually addressed to Harry but I am sure that Albus would not mind if you read it." Molly disappeared up the stairs and came back down a few moments later carrying a letter that looked similar to the ones they had received before a new year at Hogwarts. Molly passed Hermione the letter and Hermione tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Dear Harry,

If you are reading this letter then I have passed on. I know my death has had an impact on you and so I have written this letter to explain a few things to you.

Severus Snape 'murdered' me on my orders. I was ill Harry and I didn't have much left in me. We planned for you and I to go to that cave to retrieve the fake horcrux, yes Harry I knew it was fake. I knew before we left that the necklace was fake but I had to remove you from the school so that Draco Malfoy could carry out Lord Voldemort's plan. If he didn't his mother would have been murdered.

Please trust me when I say that Draco Malfoy is not nor was he ever a Death Eater. He has been working for the Order of the Phoenix ever since he was assigned the task of finding a way to allow Death Eater's into Hogwarts.

I am sorry that I could not tell you Harry. You were dealing with enough as it was and had I told you, things may not have gone as planned, you would not want me murdered.

Please remember this Harry. You were my number one priority. Of course I cared for everyone else's well being but I made sure you were kept safe, well as safe as I could keep you. Without me watching over you and helping you throughout your first few years at school, you would never have gotten through the hurdles that had been thrown into your path.

One last thing before I go. Keep a close eye on Hermione. I know this may come as a shock to you but someone is going to come into her life within the next 6 years. Everyone has a destiny and for Hermione this will be hers. You must allow her to be with this person. Please take care of yourself Harry Potter.

Regards,

Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry.

Hermione read through the last part of the letter a couple of times before the words had registered. She looked at Molly with wide eyes.

"Molly it is too soon for me to date anyone. I am not fully over Harry and at the moment with the new baby coming I won't have time to date anyone."

"It is up to you what you choose to so Hermione. It is your path to choose. I told you earlier that it is not necessary to set yourself by a prophecy. For some it only brings misery."

Hermione thanked Molly and went off to find Lily. She had a lot of thinking to do but her daughter came before anything. She found Lily in the lounge room with Ginny and while Lily played with some toys, Hermione and Ginny talked about what they hoped life would have been like if Lord Voldemort hadn't gone after Harry. Hermione was fine when it came to talking about Harry. It made her proud that she had a daughter to him and was due to have a son to him also. Hermione tried her hardest not to think about Draco and she was doing a very good job at it.

A/N: Hey my dear readers. I have to apologize for a huge mistake in this story. I got so into writing it that I forgot to make sure I was keeping up with Hermione's pregnancy…I mean the dates and months and all that. Sorry about that. Well just so you all know Hermione is due around Christmas time…that makes it two weeks time. I am really sorry for the stuff up guys. Thanks for your reviews anyway and a special thanks to the person who first spotted the mistake.